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
January 17, 2020
Nelson Bryant: 1923-2020
My friend, Nelson Bryant, died last week. He was 96.
Mars is Back
The red planet Mars, missing for much of the last months of 2019, is now easily visible, far enough away from the brilliant sun.
Oak Bluffs Selectmen’s Statement on Fire Department Matters
What follows is the complete text of the statement read by Oak Bluffs selectmen Tuesday night. In an effort to reassure that the town is acting responsibly in regard to complaints involving the fire chief, the following points should be made: Management Issues In late October 2019, the board and the chief…
County Prepares to Appoint Steamship Authority Governor
A contest appears to be shaping up for who will represent Martha’s Vineyard on the Steamship Authority board of governors for the next three years. Vineyard governor Marc Hanover will apply.
Land Bank Revenues: Week Ending Jan. 17
The Martha’s Vineyard Land Bank reported revenues of $607,815 for the business week ending on Friday, Jan. 10, 2019.
Coach of the Year, Joe Schroeder Leads the Pack in All Seasons
Thirty-one years ago, Joe Schroeder was living in Boston with 10 of his friends who had all moved east after graduating from Ohio Wesleyan University.
Please Adopt Us: Jan. 17
The new year has brought a number of adoptions.
Nelson Bryant: 1923-2020
Excerpted from the Martha’s Vineyard Magazine, by Nelson Bryant, who died Jan. 11.
Martin Luther King’s Message Lives On
In years past we all have looked forward to celebrating and remembering the birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., as we recalled his leadership and contributions during the civil rights struggles.
A Man Wise in Words and in Life
I count myself as among the very fortunate to have been a close friend of Ward Just.
Progress on Social Justice
As 2020 begins, we believe it is important to reflect on the injustices, struggles, and challenges of this past year (and decade), but also to recognize seeds of change and generative action.
Winter of Dance
Kudos to Lisa Gross for curating and to Pathways for hosting such a stirring festival dedicated to dance films this past weekend.
Angels, All
As we at Red Stocking are fond of saying, there are angels everywhere.
Tashmoo Inn
From the Jan. 16, 1970 edition of the Gazette:
Lifetime Achievement Award
Heather MacDonald Norton will be the recipient of the Society of Camera Operators Lifetime Achievement Award for Camera Technicians in Los Angeles.
Kudos to West Tisbury Library
The West Tisbury Library has been chosen for a 2019 Special Recognition Award by the U.S. Department of State for its accomplishments as a passport acceptance facility.
New Board Member for Polly Hill Arboretum
Dr. Murphy Westwood, director of the Global Tree Conservation Program at the Morton Arboretum in Lisle, Ill., has joined the board of Polly Hill Arboretum in West Tisbury.
Recent Real Estate Transactions: Week Ending Jan. 10
46 Caleb LLC purchased 46 Caleb Pond Road in Edgartown from Ebersol-Susan St. James Family Trust and Duncan D. Ebersol Trs. for $9,000,000 on Jan. 7.
Aquinnah Town Column: Jan. 17
Oh what a pleasure to enjoy 60-degree spring like weather over the weekend.
Chilmark Town Column: Jan. 17
Save that date! Come February we’re all going to be itching for something to do and what’s better than getting out to rock the winter blues away with Johnny Hoy and the Bluefish?
West Tisbury Town Column: Jan. 17
Monday is Martin Luther King Jr. Day and all federal, state and local buildings will be closed, making it the first long weekend of the New Year.
Vineyard Haven Town Column: Jan 17
We shall call it the January thaw. Crazy winds but mild temperatures.
Chappy Town Column: Jan. 17
Buenos Dias from sunny San Miguel de Allende, Mexico.
Edgartown Town Column: Jan. 17
It is January and we are feeling warm weather. Sunday was so nice even with the wind. It was a great day to take down outside Christmas decorations.
Martin Luther King Events Honor His Legacy
Martin Luther King day is Monday, Jan. 20 and the weekend events begin Friday with a Shabbatt service at the Hebrew Center beginning at 5:30 p.m.
Media Voices for Children Screening and Photography Exhibit
Media Voices for Children, a local nonprofit focusing on children’s rights, is hosting a photographic exhibit and film screening on Saturday, Jan. 18 at the Martha’s Vineyard Playhouse art space.
Golden Eagle
An adult golden eagle was spotted by Allan Keith as it flew over Sheriff’s Meadow Sanctuary on Jan. 13, heading toward Oak Bluffs. That small property in downtown Edgartown has been in this column a lot this past year, as it has hosted a wide variety of unusual birds including common mergansers and common nighthawks…
Shoo Fly
In East of Eden, John Steinbeck describes flies as a “final and malicious burden” on the body of a character who had just died.
Tisbury Fire Chief Prepares for Retirement
After 18 years as Tisbury fire chief, John Schilling will retire at the end of June. No decision has been made yet on who will replace him, but his departure is reflected in the budget he presented to selectmen this week.
Lambert’s Cove Road to Reopen in February
Contractors arrive Monday to begin a two-week project replacing the collapsed culvert and headwall on the scenic road.
Wild Things
Last week’s record warmth, although wonderful, felt wrong somehow.
School Facilities Committee Regroups
The high school facilities subcommittee met Tuesday to plan its next steps after the school was rejected for an MSBA grant.
Coyote Sighting Caught on Camera in Oak Bluffs
Footage of a live Eastern coyote was recorded on a trail camera in Oak Bluffs, close to Goodale’s pit, Island wildlife biologist Gus Ben David confirmed. It marks the third sighting in the last eight months.
Selectmen Were Uncertain Over Handling of Fire Chief Matter
Meeting over a period of months beginning last summer, the Oak Bluffs selectmen were deeply torn over whether to fire John Rose for inappropriate behavior and lying about it, executive session minutes show.
In Rare Sighting, Golden Eagle Spotted Soaring Over the Vineyard
On Monday, Allan Keith identified a golden eagle, a rare visitor to the Island. How rare? “Probably about 10 sightings in the last 200 years,” Mr. Keith said.
Oak Bluffs Selectmen Stick to a Statement On Firehouse Controversy
Under pressure to clarify the status of fire chief John Rose following a settlement involving sexual harassment claims, selectmen stood behind their embattled department head.
Ferry Strikes Woods Hole Barge Again
The Steamship Authority freight ferry Gay Head had a minor scrape with a construction barge at the Woods Hole terminal over the weekend. Windy conditions were a factor in the incident.
Gosnold Gets $800,000 for Cuttyhunk Road Work
Paved roads on Cuttyhunk will be getting long-awaited repairs this year after the state announced an $800,000 grant to the Elizabeth Islands town of Gosnold.
First Calves Signal Hope for Right Whales
Less than a month into the calving season, four baby North Atlantic right whales have already been spotted off the coast of Florida and Georgia, offering a glimmer of hope for the species.
A Democracy Needs Fair and Balanced Reporting
Politicians of the Reagan era scuttled a time-honored tradition. They gutted the media doctrines of fairness, equal time and anti-monopoly practices.
Boys and Girls Basketball Earn Weekend Victories
Amid an action-packed Saturday of Vineyard high school sports, Rammon Dos Santos’ double-double led the boys basketball team to a 60-45 home victory over Cape Cod Academy.
Vineyard Welcomes First Baby of 2020
The first baby of the new year arrived Saturday. Rocco Robert Fiorito was born at the Martha’s Vineyard Hospital on Jan. 11 at 10:26 a.m. He is the son of Kate Hennigan and John Fiorito of Edgartown.
Nelson Bryant, Acclaimed Outdoor Writer Who Jumped Into Normandy, Dies at 96
The celebrated New York Times outdoor columnist and paratrooper who parachuted into Normandy during World War II, died Saturday.
Tisbury School Celebrates Being Reunited
On Friday, at their first assembly as a unified student body since the spring of 2019, nearly 300 Tisbury School students cheered and clapped when their school mascot took the floor.
Girls Basketball Digs Deep to Defeat Monomoy
Girls basketball bounced back in a major way after a tough loss to Cardinal Spellman by beating Monomoy Thursday afternoon 35-33.
