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 24, 2020
Venus, Mercury and Crescent Moon
The bright planet Venus is now high in the southwestern sky after sunset and can be spotted by just about anyone with some kind of view of the night sky.
Why It Matters
The perennial mild griping about the Steamship Authority among seasonal and full-time Islanders has taken on a new, sharper tone in recent months.
As Problems Pile Up, SSA Governor Will Step Down
Amid a growing crisis of confidence among Islanders and summer travelers, the Steamship Authority this week saw a website crash and the announcement that Marc Hanover is stepping down.
Oak Bluffs Ambulance Fund Comes Under Scrutiny
For much of the past decade, the Oak Bluffs ambulance reserve fund has held hundreds of thousands of dollars for the town.
Study Finds Climate, Not Humans, Shaped Early Forestland
New findings on decades-old ecological theories about land management on the Vineyard could potentially reframe the context of modern conservation practices.
MVC Proposed Checklist Would Include Review of Large Houses
With the threat of climate change pressing on one side and an increase in residential development squeezing on the other, the MVC is proposing changes to its DRI checklist.
League of Women Voters Steps Up With New Campaign
On the centennial of the historic suffrage movement granting women the right to vote, the League of Women Voters of Martha’s Vineyard is launching a year-long campaign that aims to register every eligible person on the Island to vote.
Please Adopt Us: Jan. 24
News of the week is that the feral kittens have gone to their new home at the Vineyard Golf Club, but Mona, the other feral kitten, is still available.
Land Bank Revenues: Week Ending Jan. 17
The Martha’s Vineyard Land Bank reported revenues of $456,197.76 for the business week ending on Friday, Jan. 10, 2019.
Early Voting for Presidential Primary
Early voting for the March 3 presidential primary begins Feb. 24 on Island and continues through Feb. 28 at the following sites:
MVYouth Launches Study to Assess Needs of Island Youth
MVYouth awarded expansion grants of $200,000 to the YMCA and $75,000 to Vineyard Family Tennis, announcing simultaneously a comprehensive study of the needs of Island youth and youth services.
Chappy Town Column: Jan. 24
When I was a kid, the Chappy ferry ramps were made of a dozen thick wooden planks bolted to a couple of cross pieces that formed the shape of a bold letter H.
Vineyard Haven Town Column: Jan 24
What was that? Quick snowstorm, plows out all night, then rain wiped all traces away by the next morning.
Edgartown Town Column: Jan. 24
The sun is shining but the temperature is cold. We cannot complain as we have had some pretty warm weather so far.
West Tisbury Town Column: Jan. 24
Well, the weekend weather was all over the map. Touch of snow, rain with high winds forcing several SSA cancellations.
Chilmark Town Column: Jan. 24
His name is always present and always before us and every third Monday in January we are prompted to take time to reflect on the positive impact his words, his work, and the overall civil rights movement has had on our daily lives today.
Aquinnah Town Column: Jan. 24
What a difference a day makes, as well as what a difference a week makes.
Recent Real Estate Transactions: Week Ending Jan. 17
Deirdre Juliet Chassman purchased 55 Bijahs Way in Chilmark from Stephen A. Spongberg and Harmony C. Spongberg for $1,587,500 on Jan. 17.
Project 351
Jahzarah McIntosh, an eighth grader from the Edgartown School, was selected as Edgartown Project 351 ambassador.
Silas Arrives
Bethany and Stephen Hammond, of West Tisbury, announce the birth of a son, Silas Ray Hammond, born on Dec. 18 at the Massachusetts General Hospital.
Hello Maria
Joyce L. Reis and Jairo Diniz Freitas, of Vineyard Haven, announce the birth of a daughter, Maria Lara Lima Freitas, born on Jan. 18 at the Martha’s Vineyard Hospital.
Greetings Miles
Catherine Walton and Kyle Anderson, of Oak Bluffs, announce the birth of a son, Miles Maxwell Anderson, born on Jan. 16 at the Martha’s Vineyard Hospital.
Passing Time the Old Fashioned Way
The day started off like most days. Waking, coffee, thinking. I was camping, sleeping in my clothes so the dressing part was taken care of.
On Land and Sea, Change Is Coming
Island life is infused with the rhythm of the sea.
Holiday Cheer
My family and I wish to thank all those who visited our Christmas display.
Getting Involved
This past weekend, many of us honored Rev. Dr. King and Rabbi Heschel with the veneration they deserve by participating in a Shabbat service at the Martha’s Vineyard Hebrew Center led by Rabbi Broitman.
Snow Stories
It was thirty six hours after the heaviest snowfall of the winter, perhaps of several winters. The snow piled up by the plows lay in high, muddy heaps along village streets, or spread itself in varying depths out in the fields where no man traveled or animal grazed.
Greater White-Fronted Goose
Last week’s column mentioned Allan Keith’s unexpected sighting of a golden eagle at Sheriff’s Meadow Sanctuary.
Whine Time
I admit I’ve been lulled into denial about January weather.
Howl at the Moon
Nantucket now stands alone. Until this year Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard were thought to be the last holdouts for coyotes.
Plenty to Do in Quiet January
The last week of January approaches and with it perhaps the desire to try something new — after all, resolution fever may still be in the air.
Oak Bluffs Town Column: Jan. 24
For many, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day is always a time of national reflection given the movement that he led to make our nation a more perfect union.
New Radio Tower to Enhance Regional Communications System
A new tower is up, although not yet operational, but Dukes County sheriff Robert Ogden said this week that major strides have been made in the quest to improve emergency communications on Martha’s Vineyard.
Selectmen Mull Reviving Old Manning Snack Bar at Gay Head
Aquinnah selectmen are interested in renting out the historic Manning property situated just below the Gay Head Light, with an eye on potentially bringing the former snack bar back to life.
Girls Hockey Skates to Finals of Nan Rheault Tourmanent
The girls hockey team hosted the 20th annual Nan Rheault tournament over the weekend, advancing to the championship game but eventually losing to Ursuline Academy.
A Peek Behind the Scenes of A Beautiful Place to Die
Jamie Craig, son of the late Edgartown author Philip R. Craig, was the featured speaker at the recent Tuesdays in the Newsroom event, discussing the journey of his father’s books from page to small screen.
Vineyard Steamship Authority Governor Will Step Down
Amid rising turmoil, Vineyard SSA governor Marc Hanover said Wednesday that he will not seek reappointment after all, and will step down next month when his term is up.
Steamship Authority Seeks Millions in Bonds
Steamship Authority governors voted Thursday to issue up to $26 million in bonds to fund ongoing waterside construction at the Woods Hole terminal and repay $5.66 million in bonds issued in 2009 that will mature over the next few years.
Through Photography and Film, Championing the Rights of Children
The innocence and optimism of childhood are what stand out first in a new exhibit of portraits at the Martha’s Vineyard Playhouse curated by Media Voices for Children.
SSA Website Crash Irks Customers Seeking Summer Reservations
Groundhog Day came early for Steamship Authority customers seeking summer reservations for automobiles. The boat line website crashed at 5 a.m. Tuesday.
SSA Governors Meet Today
Updates on the Woods Hole terminal reconstruction project and ongoing internal management improvements are on the agenda when SSA governors meet in Falmouth this morning.
Martin Luther King Luncheon Remembers, Looks to the Future
The dining area of the Portuguese American Club in Oak Bluffs was filled on Monday afternoon for the annual MLK luncheon hosted by the Martha’s Vineyard Chapter of the NAACP.
Right Whale Documentary Brings Crisis, Hope Into Focus
In a new documentary Aquinnah filmmakers Liz Witham and Ken Wentworth are following the journey of right whale calves.
Meshing Hip Hop and Ballet, Rubberband Stretches Dance Definitions
As part of its winter programming, the Yard brought the choreography of Victor Quijada to the Island, a Los Angeles-raised, Montreal-based dance innovator.
Legal Fees Push Commission Budget Up for Coming Year
Encumbered by hefty legal fees, the regional planning commission approved a $1.7 million budget for the 2021 fiscal year at its meeting last week.
Ups and Downs as Winter Sports Season Settles in
Both boys and girls indoor track squads coasted to victories against Sandwich Tuesday afternoon at Wheaton College.
Photography Exhibit Travels to Sunrise, Sunset and the Moon
Paul Doherty’s career as a Martha’s Vineyard photographer began along the shore, with images of beach stones and sea glass.
