Dylan Thomas
The birds of the winged trees flying my name Above the farms and the white horses I rose in rainy autumn And walked abroad in a shower of all my days. – Dylan Thomas
December 14, 2018
Mars and First Quarter Moon
The first quarter moon appears tonight near the bright red planet Mars.
County Will Seek Additional Funds from Island Towns
Facing a budget shortfall, county leaders agreed this week to seek additional funding from Island voters to help balance a $1.74 million budget.
Answering the Call of Domestic Violence
Asked about the hundreds of domestic disturbance complaints they respond to each year, Island police were in agreement: it’s not an easy call.
Bomb Threat on Ferry Proves to be False Alarm
A Steamship Authority ferry from Vineyard Haven was delayed briefly Thursday afternoon as authorities investigated a bomb threat. No explosives or devices were found.
Clear and Transparent
The recent discovery of chemical contaminants in a few private wells near the airport might easily have become a public relations disaster for airport officials.
December Days
A crescent moon hung in the inky December sky this week surrounded by twinkling winter constellations.
Land Bank Revenues: Dec. 7
The Martha’s Vineyard Land Bank reported revenues of $258,724.73 for the business week ending on Friday, Dec. 7, 2018.
Average Year Projected for Deer Harvest
About 190 deer were checked in at the Manuel F. Correllus State Forest check in station during the first week of deer shotgun season this year.
Oak Bluffs Tree Lighting
Tiny faces filled with glee await the lighting of the tree.
Hoping to be Heard
The Steamship Authority offers many benefits to the town of Falmouth. The SSA also causes many problems for the town of Falmouth.
When Farm and Family Grow Roots Together
In the mid 1960s, my sister Marie started a vegetable garden on the property under our father’s tutelage and the name Beetlebung Farm was established.
Treasure Hunter
Barry Clifford leaned back in his chair and smiled; the delicious, self-satisfied smile of a fellow who figures he’s found a fortune in buried treasure.
Rise Holiday Show
The Rise dance troupe will be performing its holiday show on Sunday, Dec. 16 at the Performing Arts Center.
Building Bridges Through Song
Roberta Kirn finds songs wherever she goes, a wandering minstrel for music as part of her Song Exchange Project.
Yard’s Winter Season Brings Light Into the Darkness
The Yard is on a mission to help Vineyarders beat the winter doldrums with dance.
City Boy Heads to the Country
This charming little book about an eight-year-old city boy’s adventures in the country is written by 91-year-old Heidi Shultz of West Tisbury.
Art With Miss Lani
Miss Lani is back on Island, hosting art classes for children at the Island Children’s School.
West Tisbury Town Column: Dec. 14
The winter season officially begins next Friday. It also marks the winter solstice and is the shortest day of the year.
Chilmark Town Column: Dec. 14
There are a number of semester schools out there for high schoolers but The Island School sits right at the top of the list.
Protracted Legal Dispute Over Fishing Shack Nears an End
A longstanding heated legal dispute over a small fishing shack in Menemsha came to the fore at the Aquinnah selectmen’s meeting on Tuesday.
Aquinnah Town Column: Dec. 14
The winds have swept through Aquinnah over the past week, shaking most of the remaining leaves from the trees.
Town Leaders Begin to Map New School Project
Forging a new future for the Tisbury School building was the subject of a working session Monday night with school and town leaders at the table.
Cedar Tree Neck Bench
A new bench was recently placed at Cedar Tree Neck Sanctuary. The bench was built and donated by Scotty Young of West Tisbury.
Hello Oliver
Kiera and Nate Schaff, of West Tisbury, announce the birth of a son, Oliver James Schaff.
Vineyard Haven Town Column
Our first dusting of snow. I love to see it come, love to see it go.
On Chappy: Dec. 14
The annual ferry captain and crew appreciation potluck supper last Wednesday was a great success.
Edgartown Town Column: Dec. 14
“Baby, It’s Cold Outside” was probably the song choice this weekend. The sun was shining but that did not help the day warm up.
Axel Arrives
Jennifer French and Seth Abbott, of West Tisbury, announce the birth of a son, Axel Bronson Abbott.
Welcome Matheus
Leidiane DeLima and Denilson Candido, of Vineyard Haven, announce the birth of a son, Matheus Felicio DeLima Candido.
Madison Hughes to Wed Jesse Straus
Philip and Alleyne Hughes of Oak Bluffs announce the engagement of their daughter, Madison J. Hughes, to Jesse T. Straus.
Fire and EMT Volunteers
The Oak Bluffs Fire and EMT Departments are holding a volunteer recruitment day on Saturday, Jan. 5 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the firehouse located at 6 Firehouse Lane in Oak Bluffs.
Real Estate Transactions: Nov. 28 to Dec. 4
Jessica Del Prete and Crawford B. Del Prete purchased 217 Indian Hill Road in West Tisbury from Amy-Lynn Remondi and Christopher C. Remondi for $1,950,000 on Nov. 28.
Goods from the Woods
There is no need to get a bee in your bonnet about bugs in your Christmas tree.
Razor Sharp
Three species of mergansers visit the Vineyard at this time of the year. Two of them — the red-breasted and the hooded mergansers — are quite common, but the third is not.
Andromeda on Earth
I do not mind cold weather. I spend a good part of the day outdoors no matter the weather.
Oak Bluffs, Tisbury Near Agreement on Shared Building Inspector
Tisbury and Oak Bluffs are nearing agreement on sharing a building commissioner who would cover both towns.
Selectmen Frown on Assessors, Call for Joint Meeting
Tisbury selectmen showed their disapproval this week over the decision by town assessors to tax eight nonprofits based in Vineyard Haven.
Tribe’s Casino Plans Stay Mostly Under Wraps
An Aquinnah selectman met with the chairman of the Wampanoag tribe to discuss the current status of the bingo hall project. But there were few new details.
Selectmen Sign Off on Yellow House Project
Edgartown selectmen completed a final step in the Yellow House saga, signing preservation and historic conservation restrictions for the vacant property.
Beetlebung Farm Changes Hands for $2.4 Million
The iconic small farm near the Chilmark town center that has been held by the Fischer family for generations, changed hands this week.
Record Quahaug Spawn Is Boon for Island Ponds
A record quahaug spawn at the Martha’s Vineyard Shellfish Group comes as a boon to Island towns this year where saltwater ponds are seeded annually as part of shellfish management programs.
Airport Hosts Meeting With DEP Expert
An expert from the state Department of Environmental Protection will discuss the recent discovery of groundwater contamination near the airport at a meeting that begins at 2 p.m. Thursday in the West Tisbury public safety building.
A Heartfelt Sendoff for Dr. Henry Nieder
A retirement party Monday afternoon for Dr. Henry Nieder abounded with memories, anecdotes and tributes for the longtime family physician.
Stalking the Elusive Bay Scallop
When giving tours of the shellfish hatchery, I find that scallops attract the greatest attention.
Police Manage Holiday Crowds, Respond to Hunting Incidents
Island police investigated more deer hunting incidents and managed large holiday crowds over the weekend.
Carnegie Show Features Small Works by Island Artists
The Carnegie, Edgartown’s former public library on North Water street, has opened a short-term gallery show with new works by well-known Island artists including Allen Whiting, Jeanne Staples and Margot Datz.
Ringing in the Holiday Season Down Main Street
Dozens of floats, hundreds of spectators, and thousands (or what seemed like thousands) of people dressed up in red, green and “Grinch” gathered along Main street for the annual Christmas in Edgartown parade.
First Friday Event Is Filled With Good Cheer
In Vineyard Haven, Islanders flocked to the old Bowl & Board building to ring in the holiday season for December’s First Friday event.
Verizon Tower Set for Vote in New Year
A public hearing on a plan to increase the height of a Verizon communications tower in Vineyard Haven was closed Thursday after the MVC received written testimony from Island arborists.
Cold Night, Warm Hearts as Edgartown Lighthouse Glows
A decided chill, no doubt blowing down from the North Pole, caused a festive crowd to bundle up tight for the annual lighting of the Edgartown Light.
A Volunteer Who Doesn’t Know How to Say No
On Thursday evening Chris Porterfield was celebrated with the Spirit of the Vineyard Award. The ceremony was held in a place he knows well.
