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 15, 2023
New Election for Tribal Council Set After Recount Confirms a Tie
The race for the tribal council at-large seat for the Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah) will go to a run-off this weekend after November’s election resulted in a tie.
Cook the Vineyard Expands Offerings
Cook the Vineyard, the Vineyard Gazette Media Group’s popular newsletter about cooking and eating in season, is now available as a paid or free subscription.
Moon and Two Planets
On Sunday night the distant planet Saturn appears close to the setting waxing crescent moon. The two are in the zodiacal constellation Aquarius and you can't miss Saturn for it is the brightest celestial object nearest to the moon. You can see the moon the night before in the zodiacl constellation Capricornus, closer to the…
Tough Times for Island Softshell Clam Fishery
Though often taking a backseat to quahaugs, scallops and oysters, the softshell clam fishery was once a valuable economic engine for a select group of local shellfishermen.
Hotel Industry Shakes Off Covid Fatigue
While the number of vacation home rentals has exploded on Martha’s Vineyard since Covid, the proportion of lodging tax revenue from hotels grew sharply in the last two years, now accounting for about a third of lodging tax receipts Islandwide.
40B Projects Eyed for Affordable Housing
In the face of a persistent housing crunch, a controversial state law designed to spur development of affordable housing is once again being considered by Island housing advocates as key to meeting a critical need.
Playhouse Earns Its Holiday Wings
George Bailey needs your help — again.
Making the Past Come Alive On Boston Tea Party Anniversary
The typically raucous chatter of seamen was more nervous than usual at the Allen’s Tavern in old Holmes Hole (modern Vineyard Haven), where Islanders gathered to hear news of a restive colonial mainland.
Photographing in a Father’s Footsteps
When my father Doug Ewing died from cancer in 1995 I was not yet five years old.
Keeping Covid at Bay Still Requires an Islandwide Effort
Since early 2020, the Martha’s Vineyard community has lived and worked through the Covid-19 pandemic.
Elegant Edward
Edward T. Vincent of Edgartown took a few minutes on Wednesday to look back over the long course of years.
Chicken Alley Hosts a Holiday Market
Chicken Alley is placing its holiday haul front and center for its first annual Thriftmas Holiday Shop.
Building Damaged in Oak Bluffs Fire
A witness saw smoke coming from a work van parked at 79 Edgartown-Vineyard Haven Road around 9:15 p.m. Wednesday. The flames then spread to a second van and then to the building.
Land Bank Revenues
The Martha’s Vineyard Land Bank reported revenues of $149,120 for the business week ending on Friday, Dec. 8, 2023.
Recent Real Estate Transactions: Week Ending Dec. 8
Irene E. Ziebarth Trustee and the Irene E. Ziebarth 2017 Trust purchased 3 Tennis Lane in Chilmark from Douglas Del Vigna Trustee, Erika West Trustee and the Douglas M. West 2017 Trust for $1,311,000 on Dec. 7.
Holiday Thanks
The Oak Bluffs Association would like to thank all the individuals and businesses that helped make Light Up Oak Bluffs event so special and memorable.
The New Normal
So far this month we have only experienced a couple of below or near-freezing days.
Crystal Lake Shines
This week Crystal Lake has attracted a variety of ducks!
Officials Unveil Plans for Aging Grange Hall
After 150 years, the West Tisbury Grange Hall needs new roofing, insulation, a foundation, a basement, a new HVAC system and a revamped kitchen.
Oak Bluffs Extends Last Call For Some Holidays
The Oak Bluffs select board voted Tuesday to adjust last call for town bars on four holidays or holiday weekends.
Edgartown Town Column: Dec. 15
Warm, rain, wind, then cold was the weather of the last week.
A Bibulous Name
Whether the tavern was highbrow or lowbrow, we’ll never know.
Chappaquiddick Town Column: Dec. 15
Good news! The 2024 Chappy Community Center calendars will be available by the time you read this.
Chilmark Town Column: Dec. 15
As I turned up Middle Road last Saturday, I caught a glimpse of a red-tailed hawk sitting on a wire.
Funding Lacking for High Priority Jetty Repairs
A long-standing project to replace the Oak Bluffs harbor jetty was a topic of contention last week between residents and a town committee tasked with considering capital projects.
First Candidate Emerges For State Representative Seat
Thomas Moakley, an assistant district attorney who handles criminal cases in Edgartown court, is the first person to publicly say they will be running for the Barnstable, Dukes and Nantucket District state representative seat in the 2024 election.
Steamship’s Technology Debt is Overdue, IT Expert Warns
The Steamship Authority needs to overhaul its information technology systems as soon as possible, according to a long-awaited report presented Tuesday at a joint meeting of the boat line board of governors and port council.
High School Hires Manager For School Study
CHA Consulting has supervised numerous projects on the Island, including the Martha’s Vineyard Museum and the ongoing Tisbury School renovations in Vineyard Haven, the Chilmark School air-handling system replacement and the Tabernacle roof replacement in Oak Bluffs.
Welcome Jacob
Julia Keller and Theodus Crane, of Vineyard Haven, announce the birth of a son, Jacob James Crane, born on Dec. 8 at the Martha’s Vineyard Hospital.
Sullo Family Seeks Community Support
The family of Jon Sullo is organizing a GoFundMe fundraiser to help with his mental health journey.
Cape Cod 5 to Close Edgartown Branch
In a letter to customers Dec. 5, Cape Cod 5 said it was planning to shutter the Edgartown banking center in Post Office Square around March 1.
MVC Compiles Thousands of Stats in New Report
The 150-page Martha’s Vineyard Statistical Profile lays out everything from the Island’s population to electric use.
Tisbury Calls Off Special Town Meeting, Eyes New Town Hall
A special winter town meeting to consider using modular buildings for Tisbury town offices has been called off as town officials weigh plans for a new, $15 million town hall building.
Towns Consider Pitching in Opioid Funds for Islandwide Position
Boards of health across the Vineyard are considering using federal opioid settlements to fund an Islandwide substance use disorder coordinator position.
’Tis the Season: Hundreds Flock to Edgartown for Christmas Parade
Downtown Edgartown was packed Saturday with Islanders, visitors and their pet companions dolled up in holiday garb for the 42nd annual Christmas in Edgartown festival.
MVC Approves Consolidated Southern Tier Project
Southern Tier, a new neighborhood of 60 affordable apartments just east of the Martha’s Vineyard Ice Arena in Oak Bluffs, plans to be built in one phase instead of two after the Martha’s Vineyard Commission approved the change this week.
Former High School Student Mourned
Yossi Monahan grew up on the Island and attended the Chilmark School and the high school before moving off the Island in his sophomore year.
Historian Honored With New African American Heritage Trail Site
Robert (Bob) Hayden started a Vineyard branch of the Association for the Study of African American Life and History and sparked the creation of an African American resource collection at the Oak Bluffs library.
Falmouth Senator Calls for Steamship Audit
In a state committee hearing Tuesday, state Sen. Susan Moran told fellow legislators she requested that state auditor Diana DiZoglio conduct an audit of the authority in order to help “identify the current weaknesses of the authority as well as provide transparency and effective oversight.”
