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
January 13, 2023
Venus and Saturn
There is a beautiful planetary lineup happening in the nights ahead. The brilliant planet Venus is getting closer to the ringed-planet Saturn. You can see the two early in the evening. The two are setting, following the sun, in the western sky. Every night ahead, the two get closer. Venus and Saturn will be less…
New Brazilian Teachers Look to Focus on Language and Culture
The regional high school recently hired Daniel Soares and Carlos Trindade, both natives of Brazil, to join the school’s world languages department.
Tisbury Master Plan Presents Hard Truths for Moving Forward
Cramped, outdated public buildings, vaguely-worded bylaws and a lack of housing policies are among the obstacles to progress that came up during a virtual presentation to Tisbury’s master plan steering committee.
Community Suppers Around the Island
In the winter months, the Island’s churches have held free community suppers to help address food insecurity and the isolation of the off-season.
MVTV Keeps the Community Filming
When asked what kind of programming MVTV, the Island’s community access television station, allows, executive director Stephen Warriner replied, “We don’t judge.”
Asher Arrives
Jessica and Evan Shai, of Oak Bluffs, announce the birth of a son, Asher Lyon Sisou Shai, born on Jan. 4.
Welcome Esme
Katherine Marie Stackpole and James Hastings Smith of Birmingham (Kings Heath), U.K. announce the birth of a daughter, Esme Martha Elizabeth Stackpole-Smith, born on Dec. 16.
Finding Direction on Father-Son Road Trip
I stand on the outside ring of concrete at the Baltimore airport (Friendship for the very oldest of you reading this), waiting for my son Adin.
Red Stocking Thanks
Heartfelt thanks to the Martha’s Vineyard community both near and far for once again making the magic happen for over 300 children.
Library Love
Bravo and a hearty thank you to the Luce Playreaders for a superb performance of I and You to benefit the Vineyard Haven Public Library Building Fund.
Stewardship Matters
I am disheartened by recent articles indicating that The Trustees of Reservations, in giving up management of Norton Point Beach, also suggest that grant-funded projects in process be suspended.
Climate Action Plan Omission
One important event that took place in 2022 and was not mentioned in the Vineyard Gazette year-end article was the release of the Island’s first ever Climate Action Plan.
Protecting the Public Process
On Sept. 23, 2022, the Vineyard Gazette reported on deliberations at a Tisbury planning board meeting.
Charles W. Morgan
Recently the New Bedford column in the Boston Sunday Globe contained reference to a movement in that city to buy the old whaling bark Charles W. Morgan.
MLK Day Presentation
The NAACP of Martha’s Vineyard will host a virtual Martin Luther King Jr. event on Monday, Jan 16.
Arnie’s Poetry Cafe Features Tribute to Arnie
The legacy of Arnie Reisman lives on in many corners of the Island, but especially at the Poetry Cafe.
Documentary Gives Personal Side of Afghanistan Withdrawal
Matthew Heineman’s new documentary, Retrograde, follows both the Green Berets and the Afghanistan army in the lead-up and aftermath of the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan.
Winter Sports Teams Find Their Flow at Midseason Mark
It was the battle of the Islands on the ice last weekend as the Vineyard boys and girls hockey teams trekked to Nantucket to defeat the Whalers dramatically and defiantly.
High School Assesses Feasibility Study Funds
High school committee members had voted last year to reduce the $2 million feasibility study request for the new school by kicking in $500,000 in excess and deficiency funds. But this week, the committee voted to ask towns for the full $2 million instead.
Please Adopt Us
It’s been a week with no adoptions to report but we still have some lovely animals in need of homes.
Chilmark Chooses Firm for Menemsha Dock Project
The Chilmark select board voted to award a contract to Childs Engineering for phase two of the Menemsha commercial dock climate resiliency project, pending a review by town counsel.
Land Bank Revenues
The Martha’s Vineyard Land Bank reported revenues of $408,127.82 for the business week ending on Friday, Jan. 6, 2023.
Recent Real Estate Transactions: Week Ending Jan. 6
State Road Holdings LLC purchased 31 Colonial Drive in Vineyard Haven from Colonial Drive Real Estate Corp. for $1,500,000 on Jan. 3.
Edgartown Town Column: Jan. 13
I have yet to see snow and it is the middle of January.
Chilmark Town Column: Jan. 13
It was just lying there, begging me to pick it up and do something with it.
Chappaquiddick Town Column: Jan. 13
The Chappaquiddick Island Association has sent out a link to the updated local services directory.
Seabird Smorgasbord
On the Island we do not get to see a lot of pelagic species, primarily because they generally do not come this close to land.
Unseasonably Warm
Here we are, another week into January, and, in my opinion, unseasonably warm.
Stunning Specimens
David Stanwood couldn’t wait to show off his mussels.
Off-season Life Sits Center Ice in NHL’s Hockey Island Documentary
The NHL spared no expense making a documentary short on the Vineyard high school boys hockey team, shipping over an entire five-person camera crew in the run-up to its season opener against off-Island rival Whitman-Hanson.
Tisbury Select Board Candidates State Their Positions
The Tisbury select board election takes place Tuesday, Jan 24. Four candidates — Abbe Burt, Bruce Campbell, Christina Colarusso and Donald Rose — are running for one open seat.
High School Considers New Sports Ticketing Policy
Island students and their families won’t have to pay at the gate to attend high school sports events for at least the next month, as the Martha’s Regional High School committee works out a new ticketing policy.
Edgartown Police Officer Stephanie Immelt to Retire
After 22 years with the Edgartown Police Department, officer Stephanie Immelt has chosen to retire, Chief Bruce McNamee told the select board on Monday.
Federated Church Hosts Mayhew Parsonage Estate Sale
Last month, the Mayhew Parsonage in Edgartown went up for sale for the first time in its 200-year history. This Saturday, the contents of its attic go up for sale too.
Coast Guard Auxiliary to Hold Safe Boating Class
The Martha’s Vineyard Coast Guard Auxiliary will hold a Safe Boating Class in Jan. 28 at the West Tisbury fire station.
Volunteers Needed for Airport Noise Committee
The town of West Tisbury is seeking a volunteer to serve on a committee studying noise from the Martha’s Vineyard Airport.
Joyful Eatings Cooks Up Meals and Community
Conviviality is the word of the afternoon at Sunday’s Joyful Eatings gathering, the Federated Church’s latest initiative to provide weekly meals to the Harbor Homes winter shelter.
Tisbury to Resume Main Street Construction Project
Sidewalk improvements in downtown Vineyard Haven are about to begin again after the holiday lull. The project began last fall and left some Main street property owners disgruntled at what they said was a lack of notice.
MVC Begins Hearing on Southern Tier Housing Development
The Martha’s Vineyard Commission has begun its review of a proposed affordable housing complex in Oak Bluffs, called Southern Tier.
Nothing But Net at Maura Healey Inauguration
It was impossible to not be moved by what took place on the floor of the Boston Garden last week.
Deer Hunting Season Rebounds Over Last Year
As officials tally the numbers at the end of deer hunting season on the Island, signs point to an increase in the deer harvest over 2021, but not enough to help slow the upward trend in the Island’s deer population.
SSA to Begin Headstart Booking
The Steamship Authority begins its Headstart booking program for preferred and excursion customers on Jan. 10 at 7:30 a.m.
MVC Approves Safe Harbor Marinas Expansion
Nearly a year after its referral to the Martha’s Vineyard Commission as a development of regional impact (DRI), Safe Harbor Marinas’ plan to expand its Vineyard Haven facility received commission approval in a 9-3 vote.
Featherstone Seeks Submissions for New Exhibit
Featherstone Center for the Arts is accepting submissions for an upcoming exhibit exploring the theme Love Lives Here.
First Vineyard Baby of the New Year Is a Sunny Delight
Sol Cove Fischer Turner was born on New Year’s Day at home in Edgartown to parents Lila Fischer and Nic Turner.
