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
July 11, 2025
Starry Nights in July
The brilliant gibbous moon is moving its way into our morning sky. Each night ahead, you notice the moon rises later and later in the east. This is great news for those of us who love to do deep sky observing. Without the moon in our night sky until later, the nights are darker. Without…
Acclaimed Poet Fanny Howe Dies at 84
Fanny Howe, an award-winning poet who preferred the quiet life to center stage, died on Tuesday, July 8.
Lifting Up the Serendipity of Life
The bell rang, chairs scraped, and two students — last names close in the alphabet: Tom Dresser, Joyce Cournoyer — slid into their usual seats. They had shared homeroom for four years, served together in student government, but never really knew each other.
Vineyard Wind Blade Break Reverberates One Year Later
While the Vineyard Wind blade failure was an initial black eye for the industry as it was attempting to get started, offshore wind energy finds itself in an even more vulnerable position one year later.
A Full Plate of History and Cuisine
In Jessica Harris’ latest cookbook, Braided Heritage: Recipes and Stories on the Origin of American Cuisine, the author, professor and culinary historian describes food from three cultures that are foundational to America’s history and cuisine.
With Gratitude
Now that July Fourth has passed and the Island summer is in full swing, I feel compelled to express gratitude for all public-facing employees working on the Vineyard.
Big Thanks
Thank You Edgartown to all our businesses, homeowners and renters who displayed flags and patriotic fence banners throughout Edgartown.
Parade Pitfall
Most of the Fourth of July parade was beautiful and fun as always.
Enough
In the Edgartown parade, just ahead of the scampering chicken and the playful sharks with squirt guns, there came Indivisible with “No Kings” shirts and a Thomas Paine quote.
Power of Motion Explores Timely Issues
Time Lapse Dance ensemble, along with founder and artistic director Jody Sperling, are in residence at The Yard for the next few weeks.
Journey of the Interior Life Never Ends
When Gail Straub was growing up in Wilmington, Del. in the 1960s, she didn’t have many vivid examples of travel — or worldliness — before her.
Cottagers House Tour Is Foundational Fundraiser
The Cottagers, Inc., a 70-year-old philanthropic organization comprised of 100 African American female homeowners on Martha’s Vineyard, will host its 38th annual house tour event on Wednesday, July 17
Honoring the Vineyard Spirit of Giving Back on Land and Sea
The Impossible Dream is celebrating 10 years of docking on Martha’s Vineyard, and recently honored Menemsha harbormaster Ryan Rossi for allowing them to dock there every summer for the last decade.
Dock Dance Returns to Memorial Wharf
Barefoot and ready to dance, people of all ages gathered at Edgartown Memorial Wharf on Tuesday for the first Dock Dance of the summer season.
Please Adopt Us: Week Ending July 11
We have a number of adoptions to report this week. Guinea pigs, Molly and Mia, have found their forever home, and all four kittens have also moved on to their new homes.
Gael Arrives
Julia Farias and Luca Scatolin, of West Tisbury, announce the birth of a son, Gael Benicio Farias Scatolin, born on July 8 at the Martha’s Vineyard Hospital.
Tick Mess
By removing all predators decades ago (bears, wolves, coyotes, foxes, bobcats, fishers, etc.) we changed the natural balance of the Island.
An Alarming Necessity
Using geoengineering to mitigate climate change’s effects is an alarming prospect, but there are no non-terrifying paths forward through the crisis.
Steamship Concerns
Is the SSA concerned about anyone but itself?
Select Boards Mixed on SSA Term Limits
Island select boards are being asked to weigh in on a bill that would place term limits on the Steamship Authority board of governors.
Land Bank Revenues as of July 3
The Martha’s Vineyard Land Bank reported revenues of $623,220 for the business week ending on Thursday, July 3, 2025. The land bank receives its funds from a two per cent fee charged on many Vineyard real estate transactions.
Recent Real Estate Transactions for Week Ending July 6
Chilmark Timothy Broderick purchased 0 North Road from Linda Ludwig, Bank of America, US Trust Company of New York and Anna Glen Butler Vietor Estate for $60,000 on June 30. 10 Basin Road LLC. purchased 10 Basin Road in Chilmark from Richard B. Osterberg Trust, Virginia F. Poole Revocable Trust and Everett H. Poole Estate…
North Water Gallery Hosts Work by Meg Mercier
This week, Meg Mercier is being featured at the North Water Gallery, with an opening reception on Thursday, July 10 at 4 p.m.
Traveling In the Wake of Capt. Benjamin Clough
The roots of Paul Magid’s latest book began in 2005, when he found at a flea market what appeared to be a letter written by a whaler who sailed aboard the Northern Light.
Larkin Stallings to Receive Art Buchwald Award
Larkin Stallings has been selected by Martha’s Vineyard Community Services as the winner of the third annual Art Buchwald Award for Outstanding Community Service.
Summer Heat
I write on Tuesday evening for the Wednesday morning pick-up. I hope the weather forecasters are right that we are due for a cold front. We are so hot and miserable and by me I’m including my poor garden.
Not Expected
Jaegers are a group of three large stocky seabirds that are infrequently seen from shore and can be extremely difficult to identify.
Living Large
“I like big bugs and I cannot lie.” This entomological paraphrasing is an improvement to American rapper Sir Mix-A-Lot’s crass song Baby Got Back.
Rushing It
Gazette Chronicle: From the July 13, 1982 edition of the Vineyard Gazette: Tom Rush was arrested for skinny-dipping in Chilmark. With his clothes on.
West Tisbury Town Column: Week Ending July 11
Last Saturday morning in downtown Edgartown I overheard a grandmother telling the small child who was holding her hand: “There are no people here in the winter.”
Vineyard Haven Town Column: Week Ending July 11
There has been quite a lot of excitement at my house. After not seeing my family from Rockford, Ill. for three years, my son, Chris Clark, his wife, Lilly and my youngest grandson, Dominic, drove out here from their home.
Oak Bluffs Town Column: Week Ending July 11
The week leading up to Independence Day weekend festivities got an early start with the highly successful Evening of Discovery fundraising event at the Martha’s Vineyard Museum on June 28.
Chilmark Town Column: Week Ending July 11
The fireworks may be over, but early morning swims, satisfying sunsets and the late-night blinking of fireflies among the trees continue and will for the foreseeable future.
Chappy Town Columns: Week Ending July 11
The Chappy Community Center is looking for a yoga instructor. You have your pick of any day except Monday. Classes are from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. Anyone interested email Tina at chappyccenter@gmail.com.
Officials Assure Cuttyhunkers that Ferry Service Can Stay
New proposals to redevelop the New Bedford State Pier include accommodations for the Cuttyhunk Ferry, a relief to residents and visitors who depend on the service to the small island.
Steamship Continues to Grapple with Woods Hole Traffic Woes
Traffic backups approaching the Steamship Authority terminal in Woods Hole remain a pain point for both travelers and residents of the village.
Community Foundation Announces Creative Living Award Winners
The Martha’s Vineyard Community Foundation has picked an Island pastor and the editor of the Gazette as the 42nd winners of the Creative Living Award.
Tisbury Selects Boston Firm for Town Hall Study
The Tisbury select board voted last week to approve up to $70,000 for an architecture firm to identify a site where town hall offices can be brought together under one roof.
Chilmark Puts Farm Event Policy on Pause
Chilmark is pumping the brakes on a new policy that allowed farms to host summer events after feedback from both farmers and members of the public.
Sara Bareilles to Headline Tabernacle Show
Sara Bareilles, named one of the Top 100 Greatest Women in Music in 2012 by VH1, will be taking the stage at the Tabernacle this summer as part of a fundraising concert for the Martha’s Vineyard Camp Meeting Association.
Three Men in a Boat Take on a Broken Shark
The Shark is Broken, playing through July 20 at the Martha’s Vineyard Performing Arts Center in Oak Bluffs, takes a fresh look at the filming of Jaws from the conflicting perspectives of its three Hollywood stars.
West Tisbury Stretches Sticker Hours at Lambert’s Cove Beach
Parking stickers at Lambert’s Cove Beach are now required starting at 7 a.m.
Vineyarders Embrace the Words of Frederick Douglass
As July Fourth celebrations took place around the Island over the weekend, so did a Vineyard tradition that lifts up the words and legacy of Frederick Douglass, the famed orator, abolitionist and former slave.
Pilot Makes Emergency Landing on Cape Pogue
No one was hurt Sunday after an engine issue forced a sightseeing biplane pilot to make an emergency landing on a Chappaquiddick beach.
Marching With Pride at Edgartown Fourth of July Parade
Music and cheers were heard across Edgartown on Friday afternoon as the 181st annual Fourth of July parade wound its way through town.
Islanders Celebrate Independence Day
Oak Bluffs and Aquinnah were flooded with red, white and blue Friday morning as the two towns held their annual Fourth of July parades.
Fishermen’s Trust Set to Move Into Former Poole Property
Sarah Bernard and James Seppala purchased 10 Basin Road, the former home to the Poole Fish Plant, and will lease the property out to the fishing nonprofit and the former managers of the Menemsha Market.
