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
October 18, 2019
Moon and Taurus
Tonight’s gibbous moon appears in the zodiacal constellation Taurus.
Early Numbers for Rental Tax Revenue Indicate No Windfall Yet
Early returns are in for the Island’s first short-term rental tax, and while they show a marked increase, they haven’t quite matched up with lofty predictions.
Free Flu Shot Clinic Is Set for Saturday
With influenza season approaching, the Island boards of health will be hosting a free flu immunization clinic on Saturday, Oct. 19, from 10 a.m. to noon at the regional high school.
High Winds and Fickle Fish as Derby Heads Into Final Weekend
The final weigh in for the 74th Striped Bass and Bluefish Derby ends on Saturday at 10 p.m. The awards ceremony is Sunday at 1 p.m..
Land Bank Revenues: Week Ending Oct. 11
The Martha’s Vineyard Land Bank reported revenues of $69,060 for the business week ending on Friday, Oct. 11, 2019.
Grand Jury Hands Down New Indictments
A Dukes County grand jury handed down new indictments this week in two cases that have moved from district to superior court.
Climate Change Awareness Is Crucial
Eight years ago I wrote a series for the Vineyard Gazette on the growing impacts of climate change on Martha’s Vineyard.
A Life Spent With Cats Is One With Many Golden Lives
There is an apple tree in my West Tisbury back yard. It bears no apples because cedar trees line Tiasquam Road and bring with them cedar-apple rust.
Vineyard Bookshelf: Saving America’s Cities
A new book about Edward Logue, the legendary urban planner who later retired to the Vineyard.
Senescence
When fall comes down off the shelf
Affordable Housing
The West Tisbury affordable housing committee is looking for property to develop.
Gabrielle Muzzarelli to Wed Matthew Planell
Gabrielle Marie Muzzarelli and Matthew Bave Planell, both of Brooklyn, N.Y., will celebrate their wedding on Saturday, Oct. 19.
Hooked
From the Oct. 17, 1958 edition of the Gazette:
Big Thanks from Flat Point Farm
Our new barn went up this week. It was mesmerizing to watch the eight workers of Riehl’s Construction of New Holland, Pa., perform.
Farewell to the Postmaster
It was a dark and stormy night.
Wrong Approach
People are going to kill because they like to and they can.
Phenomenal Response
We would like to thank everyone who participated in the second annual Darkness into Vineyard Light Suicide prevention and awareness walk on Sept. 28.
Crop Walk
This year’s Crop Walk is Sunday, October 20 beginning at 2 p.m.
Health Care Access Anniversary
The Vineyard Health Care Access Program will celebrate its 20th anniversary with a community gathering on Thursday, Oct. 24 from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Grange Hall in West Tisbury.
Announcing Kazae
Announcing Kazae Tillica Moreis Richards and Jovance Richards, of Oak Bluffs, announce the birth of a son, Kazae.
Hello Sophia
Deborah Amanda Borges Battaglia and John Salvadore Battaglia, of Oak Bluffs, announce the birth of a daughter, Sophia.
Aquinnah Town Column: Oct. 18
That was quite a northeaster with winds that never subsided for nearly 72 hours.
Chilmark Town Column: Oct. 18
Our saltwater sportsmen are enjoying the last few days of derby fishing.
West Tisbury Town Column: Oct. 18
The three-day northeaster finally loosened its grip on the weather on Saturday.
Vineyard Haven Town Column: Oct. 18
My tribe of turkeys continues to visit twice daily.
Chappy Town Column: Oct. 18
The winter schedule on the Chappy Ferry begins on Sunday, Oct. 20 with an increase in service hours. That is, weather permitting, the ferry will begin operation at 6:30 a.m. and operate continuously until 10 p.m., then again from 11 to 11:15 p.m. Also, beginning on Sunday, Oct. 20, only one ferryboat will be in…
Edgartown Town Column: Oct. 18
The weather was the main event this week.
Storm Brings High Winds, Shuttering Ferries
A powerful storm brought high winds to Martha’s Vineyard Thursday, downing trees, knocking out power and forcing a day of canceled ferries.
After the Storm
Birds are on the move after the remnants of sub-tropical storm Melissa finally left us on Oct. 12.
Stocking Up
I was surprised after the days-long wind and rain last week that there was not nearly as much tree and plant damage as I feared.
Shark Bark
This dog had already had its day.
Kate and Fiona
For anyone in Boston on Sunday, Oct. 20, Kate Taylor and her eight-year-old grandaughter Fiona Brown will be participating in the concert Can’t Stop Singing That Song at the Berklee Performing Arts Center.
Follow the Tastebuds to the Food and Wine Festival
The Martha’s Vineyard Food and Wine festival returns next week for its 12th year, beginning Wednesday Oct. 23 and running through Sunday Oct. 27.
Good Music for a Good Cause at Ladyfest
Ladyfest, the rocking annual Oak Bluffs street festival that puts some of the Island’s most talented female artists center stage, is set to take place this Saturday evening on Circuit avenue.
Red Stocking Fund
Red Stocking applications are available at the following Island locations: public schools, most banks, Health Care Access, Community Services, Island Wide Youth Collaborative, Food Pantry, Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head, and M.V. Insurance Agency offices.
Please Adopt Us
We have lots of adoption news this week. Rudy, the pit bull/beagle mix, found his forever home with a wonderful family.
Playhouse Delivers Timely Performance of Our Town
The Martha’s Vineyard Playhouse is off to a strong post-season start with its new production of Thornton Wilder’s Pulitzer-winning Our Town, playing weekends through Nov. 3.
Conroy Apothecary in Oak Bluffs Will Close
Conroy Apothecary will close its Oak Bluffs location on Nov. 1 after 10 years of filling prescriptions and providing over-the-counter medicines in the down-Island community.
Aquinnah Voters Take Up Legal Spending at Special Town Meeting
Faced with rising legal expenses on more than one front, Aquinnah will hold a special town meeting Tuesday to see if voters will transfer $125,000 into the town’s 2020 legal budget.
Work Begins to Eliminate Giant Puddle on County Road
Construction began this week on a project to repair a longstanding drainage problem on County Road in Oak Bluffs. The road will be closed on Oct. 21, 22 and 23.
SSA Explains Storm Cancellation Policy
At a meeting on the Vineyard Tuesday, SSA senior managers found themselves explaining the cancellation policy for ferries after hundreds of travelers were stranded during last week’s storm.
Police Respond to Morning Collision
West Tisbury EMS responded to a morning accident on the Edgartown-West Tisbury Road after two pickup trucks collided.
Tisbury Voters Back $1.5 Million Plan To Reunite School Kids
Voters overwhelmingly backed a plan to remediate chipping lead paint at the town school at a meeting Tuesday night.
Renovation Work Begins on the Yellow House
With the crush of a sledgehammer and the grind of heavy machinery, construction has finally begun on the long-awaited Yellow House renovation project in the heart of Edgartown.
West Tisbury Seeks Land for Affordable Housing
The West Tisbury affordable housing committee is looking for property to develop.
Red Stocking Time
Red Stocking applications are now available at designated Island locations.
New Officer Sworn In
Michael Maliff was sworn in as a full-time Oak Bluffs police officer on Sept. 11 during a ceremony at the station.
Bank Donates to IHT
Rockland Trust senior vice president Delos (Dee) Lander recently presented a check to the Island Housing Trust.
Health Care Access Marks 20th Anniversary
The Vineyard Health Care Access Program will celebrate its 20th anniversary with a community gathering on Thursday, Oct. 24.
For 74th Derby, It’s Into the Home Stretch
As the 74th Martha’s Vineyard Striped Bass and Bluefish Derby enters the final week, competition is picking up. Bluefish are one case in point.
No Swan Songs at Any Age When the Dance Floor Calls
In early August on a Saturday night this past hot summer, I wanted to go dancing at the Portuguese American Club.
New Barn Goes Up at Flat Point Farm
A new barn went up at Flat Point Farm in West Tisbury this week, seven months after a devastating fire destroyed the historic farm’s main barn.
No Winners or Losers in Battles of the Islands
It was ties across the board for boys and girls soccer and field hockey, as fans from two Islands packed the athletic fields at the Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School to watch the Whalers battle the Vineyarders Sunday afternoon.
Cellist Kicks Off Chamber Society Fall Festival
Today’s world melted away for an audience of about 50 music lovers Saturday when cellist Benjamin Swartz played at the First Congregational Church of West Tisbury Saturday.
Vineyarders Fall to Sandwich in Homecoming Heartbreaker
For the second straight week, Antone Moreis lit up the scoreboard and stuffed the stat sheet but the Vineyarders came up just short in a hard-fought battle with Sandwich
Oak Bluffs Mixed-Use Plan Gets Five Thumbs Down
A proposed mixed-use building project at 3 Uncas avenue in Oak Bluffs has not found favor with the town selectmen, who voted 5-0 Tuesday to oppose it.
Superintendent Outlines Short-Term Plan for Tisbury School
A plan to install modular classrooms at the Tisbury School has been scrapped, less than a week before voters will convene a special town meeting.
