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
June 14, 2024
Local Businesses Shine at Best of the Vineyard Party
More than 2,400 Vineyarders cast more than 65,000 votes during the past year for their favorite businesses on the Island. The results were announced Wednesday at the annual Best of the Vineyard party.
Moon and Spica
On Sunday night the gibbous moon appears close to the bright star Spica in the zodiacal constellation Virgo. Spica is one of the largest and thus brilliant stars in our night sky making our own sun as little beach ball by comparison. Spica is 12,000 times brighter than our own sun and it is seven…
Nonprofit Files Plan to Overhaul Vineyard Haven Harborfront
Vineyard Lands for Our Community, a fledgling nonprofit, filed plans this week with the Tisbury conservation commission for a sweeping new development, kicking off a lengthy permitting process for the multi-million dollar project.
Island Officials Say Housing Transfer Fee Still Has Hope
A proposal to allow cities and towns across Massachusetts to assess a fee on high-end home sales has been left out of a revamped housing bill unveiled by state lawmakers last week. But housing advocates say the idea, which has long been a priority for the Vineyard, is far from dead.
An Oak Bluffs Boy, an Island Man
Islander idly rumbles in her slip calmly churning in the dying light
Juneteenth Celebrations Arrive on-Island
Juneteenth on the Vineyard arrives next week with a full schedule of community, culinary and academic events to celebrate the holiday.
Land Bank Revenues: Week Ending June 7
The Martha’s Vineyard Land Bank reported revenues of $55,423.04 for the business week ending on Friday, June 7, 2024.
Real Estate Transactions: Week Ending June 7
Caroline C. Pam and Timothy N. Wilcox purchased 1081 State Road in West Tisbury from Gabrielle Chronister and Tyler Chronister for $985,000 on June 7.
Tracing the Legacy of Black Homeownership on the Island
Co-authors Richard Lewis Taylor and Tom Dresser have a new book out called Black Homeownership on Martha’s Vineyard: A History.
Celebrating the Life and Art of James Joyce
Bloomsday aims to pay homage to Joyce with performance, poetry and music. It arrives once again on June 15 at the Katharine Cornell Theatre.
Please Adopt Us: June 14
Good news, Torbi cat Flo has found her forever home. Here’s to years of love and happiness.
Father and Son Comedy Duo Delight
Teasing is a fundamental bond for many a father and son. For comedy duo Marty and Charlie Nadler, it’s an art.
Island Hosts First Brazil Fest
The Agricultural Hall will fill with the sound of forró music and the smell of sweet rice this Sunday for the Island’s first Brazil Fest.
Missing Permit Sends Trustees Back to Planning Board
The Trustees of Reservations, which manages the miles of oversand vehicle trails on Chappaquiddick, must go through another layer of review, potentially bringing more scrutiny to the controversial pastime of driving trucks and SUVs out to the pristine beaches.
Steamship Authority Head Grilled by Oak Bluffs Board
Select board chair Gail Barmakian invited Robert Davis to the board’s Tuesday meeting after Oak Bluffs wasn’t notified about the potential of 41 North Offshore using the Steamship’s Oak Bluffs terminal to ship freight and heavy equipment to and from New Bedford.
West Tisbury Town Column: June 14
The Island’s Brazilian community is putting on a show, a festa, and all are bem-vindo — which means welcome.
Chilmark Town Column: June 14
The entire community has fallen into a state of grief with the sudden loss of neighbor, friend, Island advocate and town counsel Ron Rappaport.
Edgartown Town Column: June 14
We have been enjoying some great summer weather. The sun is shining, the sky is that beautiful blue and just enough breeze to be comfortable.
Oak Bluffs Town Column: June 14
There is much activity and planning this week as the Vineyard Preservation Trust prepares to host its annual Patrons Party and Auction, chaired this year by trustee Debi Crews.
Vineyard Haven Town Column: June 14
The first First Friday in Vineyard Haven was a great success. Throughout the summer, the first Friday of every month will be a town party.
Chappy Column: June 14
There are still tee times available for the community center golf tournament on Saturday, June 22.
Chilmark Community Center Goes in New Tennis Direction
The Chilmark Community Center announced its summer programming and staff on Tuesday, with longtime tennis pro Eddie Stahl notably not on the list.
Aquinnah Eyes Summer Special Town Meeting
The Aquinnah select board announced plans Tuesday to host a special town meeting in the third week of August to address issues not covered at annual town meeting in May.
Linda Coombs Lifts Up the Wampanoag Story
Historian and Wampanoag tribal elder Linda Coombs recently published Colonization and the Wampanoag Story. On Monday, she spoke at Aquinnah town hall about her book and her career.
At Dune, It’s a Man’s World
A man should be able to lose his suitcase and pick up everything he needs at Dune. This is the mantra co-owners Annette Luna and Jamie Kiersted had in mind when planning their new men’s clothing store.
Cutrer Fends Off Write-In Campaign in Tisbury Select Board Race
Select board chair Roy Cutrer beat write-in candidate Mary Bernadette Budinger-Cormie in a vote of 274-139 at Tisbury’s annual town election Tuesday.
Boys Tennis Falls to Weston in Semifinal Match
The Martha’s Vineyard boys tennis season has come to a close after a hard-fought 4-1 loss against top seeded Weston High School in the state Division III semifinals Tuesday afternoon.
Tastes of Summer Abound at Food and Wine Festival
The Martha’s Vineyard Food and Wine Festival transformed parts of the Island last weekend into culinary and oenological destinations.
Chilmark Considers Zoning Change for More Housing
On June 4, the select board debated potential amendments to town regulations that currently only allow for one rental of affordable housing on every 1.5 acres of land – limiting the number of units town housing projects can have.
District Attorney Takes Sheriff to Court Over Records Dispute
On Monday, the Cape and Islands District Attorney’s Office filed a complaint with the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court, demanding that the sheriff’s office hand over 20 years of employee records that the district attorney could deem necessary to go to trial in several cases.
Celebrating a Rainbow of Diversity at the Pride Parade
Pride Parade marchers traversed the route up Circuit avenue in style — on high heels, on horseback, on a bright-orange dune buggy outfitted with a glittering disco ball.
Methodist Bishop Visits Oak Bluffs Congregation, Bringing Message of Inclusion
United Methodist Church Bishop Peggy Johnson came to the Island Monday to meet with the United Methodist Church of Martha’s Vineyard, just weeks after the international church conference voted to drop church language that banned same sex marriage and openly gay clergy.
Island Born Son Put the Community First
Ron Rappaport traversed the Island on two wheels or four, always working, always talking, always listening, always smiling and always arguing one case over and over: how to preserve the Island’s values and way of life for everyone.
The Ron Rappaport We Knew
I had the great privilege of being Ron Rappaport’s law partner for over 25 years. Ron’s passing is a great loss for his family, the Island community and our law firm.
Class of 2024 Celebrates Graduation Day
Family, friends and the Island community welcomed the Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School class of 2024 with raucous cheers as the students made their way into the Tabernacle Sunday afternoon for this year’s graduation ceremony.
Vineyard Students Receive Over $2 Million in Scholarships
The Vineyard community helped pave the way for local students by bestowing over $2 million in college scholarships and workforce tuition at its annual Class Night celebration.
West Tisbury Finalizes Short-Term Rental Committee
The seven member committee consists of Bea Phear, John Rau, Karen Overtoom, Sheila Morris, Doug Ruskin, Cass Lukin and Andy Kaye.
Rural Scholars Look Back to Look Forward
The rural scholars returned last week to look back at the 14 annual studies they conducted on the Vineyard and examine common themes.
Commission Lifts Up Longtime Member Christina Brown
The Martha’s Vineyard Commission opened its weekly meeting Thursday by remembering former commissioner Christina Brown, who died on May 27.
Boys Tennis Team Headed to Semifinals
The boys tennis team is headed to the final four of the division three state championships with a win Saturday over Apponequet Regional High School.
Attorney, Mentor and Champion of the Island Community, Ronald Rappaport Dies at 74
Ronald H. Rappaport, the respected and ubiquitous Martha’s Vineyard attorney whose work cut across nearly every aspect of Island life, died unexpectedly Friday night in Vineyard Haven
Young Artists Lead the Way for Preschool Fundraiser
Artwork co-created by Chilmark preschoolers and Colin Ruel were in high demand at a preschool fundraiser Thursday at the Ruel gallery in Menemsha.
Experts Help Educate the Public About Animal First Aid
Equine experts and small animal veterinarians held a class recently in animal first aid to help address the lack of veterinary care on the Island.
Chilmark Community Center Committee Chosen
The Chilmark Community Center Committee met for the first time Thursday to lay out an agenda and a possible path forward for issues surrounding the Chilmark Community Center.
Governor Healey Visits Island to Talk Wind and Youth Sports
Gov. Maura Healey visited the Island Thursday for a tour of the Vineyard Wind facility and to honor a local figure in youth sports.
Marijuana Regulators Look To Preserve Island Access
State cannabis regulators came to the Island Thursday to hear from local cannabis producers, retailers, and medical and recreational consumers who say that a ban on the transport of cannabis by ferry will put the Island’s legal cannabis sellers out of business.
