Mary Oliver
The wind wags its many tails. And in the evening the piled firewood shifts a little, longing to be on its way. —Mary Oliver
August 31, 2018
Losing Venus
Have you noticed that Venus is getting harder to find in the west?
Passengers First
How to explain the fawning first-year performance review given by the Steamship Authority board of governors this week to Robert Davis?
Legal Fellowship Awarded
Mary Clare Costello Esq. has been accepted as a fellow of The Massachusetts Bar Association Leadership Academy for the class of 2018-2019.
Vineyard Students Head Back to School Tuesday
More than 2,350 Island children will head back to school Tuesday as Island public schools reopen for the year.
Scientists and Derby Officials Team Up to Help Save Leatherback Turtles
Sea turtle specialists have documented a high number of leatherback turtle boat strikes this summer, including at least one off the Vineyard.
New Charter School Director Likes Learning Curve, Songs and All
Classes begin Tuesday at the Martha’s Vineyard Public Charter School, but new director Peter Steedman has been hard at work since July.
The Wrath of Hurricane Carol
If there were any radio warnings of the impending storm, we were in dreamland and didn’t hear them.
The Churning Pulse of Albie Season
One caught off of Great Point in Nantucket, one caught off Point Judith, a school found in Buzzards Bay. They are here. It’s albie season.
World Peace for All
I am 86 years old, and I seem to spend a lot of time thinking mostly about peace.
Before Fall Sports Comes Hell Week
Hell week has earned its name this year for fall sports teams at the Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School.
Land Bank Revenues: August 24
The Martha’s Vineyard Land Bank reported revenues of $74,367 for the business week ending on Friday, August 24, 2018.
Losing Tranquility
It was quite a sight, a page from the Old West…manes flying, hooves thundering.
West Nile Virus Found in Tisbury Mosquito
A mosquito collected from the Veterans Park area in Vineyard Haven has tested positive for West Nile virus, the Tisbury board of health confirmed Thursday. Town health officials said there is no cause for alarm.
Picking a Puppy Is Heart and Science
When someone comes to the house with a four-legged fur-friend, we melt into mezzo-soprano cooing and wooing.
Land Bank Arrogance
I recently went to a dispiriting land bank commission meeting.
Cultural Council Appeal
Imagine Martha’s Vineyard without the arts.
Mind Over Matter
I very much enjoyed Michael Pollan’s recent talk on his latest book, How to Change Your Mind.
Moped Report
Good news: the long-sought home rule petition to prohibit rental mopeds has been filed by our state representative.
Edgartown School Principal Announces His Retirement
John Stevens, longtime educator and principal of the Edgartown School, announced Thursday he will retire next summer.
Tisbury Police Chief Search Yields Lone Finalist
An administrative lieutenant from Sturbridge is the lone finalist among five applicants for Tisbury police chief. Mark Saloio of Brimfield will be invited for a public interview on Sept. 19.
Senior Men’s Tennis Tour
From Sept. 28 to 30, the Senior Men’s Doubles Championships will be held at the Farm Neck Tennis Center.
Union Chapel Closes Season with Final Speaker
Rev. Larry Christian Green, Sr., will give his sermon, Oh Freedom, on Sunday, Sept. 2.
Bob Douglas Wins World Speed Title
Rob Douglas from Vineyard Havenwon his third world speed sailing title at the 2018 International Kiteboarding Association Speed World Championships.
Lea Eileen Cardona Weds Leif Dylan Hopkins
Lea Eileen Abesamis Cardona and Leif Dylan Hopkins were married on Moshup Beach on June 28.
To Serve, Protect and Teach Spinning
Oak Bluffs chief of police Erik Blake took the outside route to inside bicycling. Now he teaches a Tuesday morning spin interval class at Blitz Fitness in West Tisbury.
Land Swap Finishes Old Business at Southern Woodlands
The Oak Bluffs selectmen voted this week to complete a complicated, long-delayed land swap between the town and the Martha’s Vineyard Land Bank involving parcels in the Southern Woodlands.
Meditation Classes at Hospital
Elliot Dacher will host his meditation program at the Martha’s Vineyard Hospital, beginning on Wednesday, Sept. 26.
Creative Process Feeds on Island Love
Rows of small paint brushes were lined up by the window of Ashley Medowski’s studio Monday morning in West Tisbury.
Cinema of the World Opens Minds
Mr. Paradise gears up to host the 13th annual Martha’s Vineyard International Film Festival.
SSA General Manager Sails Through Performance Review
Steamship Authority governors voiced their strong approval this week for the job Robert Davis has been doing in his first year as general manager.
Keeping It Simple Through Layers of Artistic Intricacies
In a world filled with the visual complexities of multimedia art, contemporary artist Stelios Mormoris has always prided himself on keeping his paintings simple.
Edvard Munch Is More Than the Scream, Much More
On Monday, the Martha’s Vineyard Playhouse will do a reading of Dear Edvard, Mr. Michelson’s recent artistic collaboration with composer Steven Schoenberg and director Kevin Newbury.
Arisans Festival Says Farewell to Summer With Annual Event
The Vineyard artisans are moving from their regular summer location at the Grange Hall to their traditional Labor Day weekend home at the Agricultural Hall in West Tisbury.
Plein-Air Palooza
The opening reception for the seventh annual plein-air art show is Sunday, Sept. 2 from 5 to 7 p.m.
Jazz and Blues Summerfest
The Martha’s Vineyard Jazz and Blues Summerfest kicked off on Thursday, August 30.
Soil Sorcerers
Chilmark gardener Susan Straight has opened up quite a can of worms.
The Plight of the Plovers
Potential reasons for this low productivity include human disturbance, predation and the weather.
Mother and Child
When I was a little girl and we had a stretch of hot, humid weather at the end of August, we were forbidden to play outdoors.
Large Pod of Dolphins Frolics Off Menemsha
About 150 dolphins, with at least one pup, were seen about a mile offshore from Menemsha on Monday morning by a Vineyard family out on their boat.
Welcome Clive
Dyan and John Demers of Chilmark announce the birth of a son, Clive Philip Demers, born on August 25.
On Chappy: August 31
LILY WALTER (slipawayfarm@gmail.com) The water at East Beach was so clear over the weekend. Usually the visibility is obscured by some seaweed or silt, but this weekend, the sandy ocean bottom, all sifted into ridges, could be clearly seen from the water’s surface. Fish darted under kicking toes and a jellyfish floated quietly by one…
West Tisbury Town Column: August 31
Tuesday is the state primary election and polls are open from 7 a.m. until 8 p.m. at the public saftey building across from Conroy’s.
Vineyard Haven Town Column: August 31
What to say about John McCain? What a hero.
Oak Bluffs Town Column: August 31
The Martha’s Vineyard Center for the Visual Arts sits tucked away in the arts district at 99 Dukes County Road, but what a jewel.
Edgartown Town Column: August 31
Barry Burbank, channel four weatherman, brought things to perspective last week when he reminded us that we have lost almost two hours of daylight since summer.
Chilmark Town Column: August 31
I’ll be honest because honesty is the best policy. I wasn’t sure I had it in me to compose a column this week.
Aquinnah Town Column: August 31
Tuesday is the first day of school, so please keep everyone safe in their travels.
At the Bridge Table: August 31
Eric Stricoff used inspired deductive reasoning to tie for a top board on August 23 at the Island Bridge Club.
Real Estate Transactions: August 21 to August 27
John P. Albanese and Gina V. Albanese purchased 20 Narragansett avenue in Oak Bluffs from Michael S. Holley and Oni C. Holley for $710,000 on August 24.
Agreement Ends Bitter Labor Dispute with Fire Department
The town of Oak Bluffs has settled a long-running labor dispute inside the fire department.
Dead Right Whale Found Off Chappaquiddick
The decomposing carcass of a North Atlantic right whale was discovered off Chappaquiddick on Sunday.
SSA Agrees to Change Course on Commuter Cards
The Steamship Authority is preparing to resume its former policy of allowing the 10-ride commuter pass to be used by multiple people who are traveling together.
School Committee Approves Athletic Handbook
The district school committee voted Monday to approve a new athletic handbook without requiring same gender chaperones for off-Island games.
When the Art Work Speaks Louder Than the Artist
More than 70 Island artists contributed work for Featherstone’s anonymous art auction fundraiser.
VTA Receives $1.75 Million Grant
A $1.75 million federal grant announced last week will help the Vineyard Transit Authority as it changes over its bus fleet to electric vehicles.
Oars Up for Annual Kayak Race
A kaleidoscope of kayaks and paddleboards, along with one row boat, one Hawaiian outrigger, and one brave soul in a wetsuit all gathered at the mouth of Sengekontacket Pond for the 28th annual Oar and Paddle Regatta.
Ladies and Gentlemen, Introducing Slammy B and the Electric Snakes
On Thursday, four 14 year olds defied expectations and age limits when they strutted into the Ritz and instead of being tossed out started tuning up.
On Pace for Health and Happiness at Sullivan Run
Run, walk, crawl. The annual Louis Sullivan 5K to benefit the Martha’s Vineyard Hospital welcomed all.
Cruising in the Cool Lane at Tisbury Car Show
Each car at the 12th annual Tisbury car show, which benefits the fallen firefighters fund, hinted at a back story.
Grasshopper Sparrows Return to Katama Plains
The return of grasshopper sparrows at Katama this summer has been heralded by Island conservationists as a hopeful sign of ecological health.
VTA Drivers Stage Picket Over Union Issues
With contract talks set for next month, a small group of Vineyard Transit Authority bus drivers and union officials staged an informational picket Saturday morning at Five Corners, advocating for better pay and working conditions.
MVC Approves Changes for Stop & Shop Expansion
A major expansion of the Stop & Shop Store in Edgartown is closer to reality after a vote by the commission to approve revised architectural plans.
Sparks Fly Over Draft Gender Policy for School Sports Travel
A draft policy that would require gender-based chaperoning of sports teams has quickly become a sticky topic for the regional high school committee.
