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
November 14, 2025
Hello Francine
Julia Tarka and Zachary Tarka, of Edgartown, announce the birth of a daughter, Francine Joe Tarka, born on Nov. 7 at the Martha’s Vineyard Hospital. Francine weighed 8 pounds, 12 ounces at birth.
State Road
From the November 12, 1965 edition of the Vineyard Gazette:
Please Adopt Us: Week Ending Nov. 14
It’s been another great week for adoptions! Exso, the young tuxedo, and her son Fugee have been adopted together, as we’d hoped for
Leo Arrives
Anna Markwica Owen and Dominic Owen, of Oak Bluffs, announce the birth of a son, Leo William Owen, born on Nov. 6 at the Martha’s Vineyard Hospital. Leo weighed 7 pounds, 5 ounces at birth
Land Bank Revenues as of Nov. 7
The Martha’s Vineyard Land Bank reported revenues of $294,500.02 for the business week ending on Friday, Nov. 7, 2025.
Recent Real Estate Transactions for Week Ending Nov. 9
Maria Carmona and Ari Fitzgerald purchased 3 Fulling Mill Road in Chilmark from Prudy Carter-Donovan Trust and Tabula Rasa Nominee Trust for $1,775,000 on Nov. 7.
Edgartown Town Column: Week Ending Nov. 14
We have had a buffet of weather this week — rain, wind, warm and our first of the season very cold temperatures and some snowflakes on Monday.
Chappy Town Columns: Week Ending Nov. 14
The Board of the Chappaquiddick Island Association (CIA) thanks the Edgartown Fire Department for their successful Chappy Fire Prevention Day that was recently held at our firehouse.
Northern Lights Seen Here
Quite a number of Vineyarders saw and photographed the Northern Lights on Tuesday night.
Cure-All
You name it — everyone else did. Mullein has made a name for itself, and still so many folks have also bestowed their own label on this ubiquitous plant.
Colorful
My friend Sharlee lives on Chappy. For years we have traded garden and/or weather related anecdotes.
West Tisbury Town Column: Week Ending Nov. 14
There is an interesting connection between Florence, Italy, West Tisbury and Livingstone, Zambia. The link is Marsha Winsryg.
Oak Bluffs Town Column: Week Ending Nov. 14
November is Native American Month around the nation. But it is every month on the Vineyard because we have the blessing of the Wampanoag tribe’s culture, history, businesses and presence every day.
Chilmark Town Column: Week Ending Nov. 14
They may or may not be the ones we were born into, but if you’re truly a member of a community, you’re there because you belong.
Winter Finch Irruptions
Every year the Finch Research Network predicts whether winter finches will irrupt southward from the boreal forests of northern Canada.
New Leadership at the Steamship and at Martha’s Vineyard Playhouse
In this week's 10-minute wrap-up of the news from the Vineyard Gazette newsroom, the Steamship Authority is getting a new general manager, and the Martha's Vineyard Playhouse is losing its iconic director.
Deer Population Cuts Held Back By Lack of Butchers
A drop in deer hunting this season combined with the rise of tick-borne illnesses has Vineyard hunters wondering if increased access to butchering could help manage the Island’s overgrown herd.
Curtain Closes for Icon of the Vineyard Arts Scene
Longtime Martha’s Vineyard Playhouse artistic and executive director MJ Bruder Munafo announced this week that she will retire at the end of December after more than 40 years with the nonprofit theatre, with 30 of them in the top job.
The Walk
The early morning walk with Scout, who remains a puppy at heart even as she approaches the age of two, is a duty, but it’s also an act of solace. We both need the outdoors.
Wildfire Education
In August of 2023, all of us were shocked by the wildfires that devastated Lahaina, Hawaii, and immediately began wondering how to prevent such tragedies from happening on Chappy.
The Moon and Beyond
My aunt in her heyday / Scanned the skies / For signs of alien life, / Her skeptical husband bemused.
Honoring History Across the Sound
The African American Heritage Trail is traveling across the Sound. On Tuesday, Nov. 18, in partnership with the Marine Biological Laboratory (MBL) in Woods Hole and Falmouth Public Schools, the trail will dedicate its 42nd site.
Vineyard Golfer Makes Some Noise at State Level
Jacoby Light, the captain of the high school golf team, capped off an impressive season with a top-25 finish on Oct. 28 in the state championship at Taconic Golf Club in Williamstown with an 81 on his scorecard.
SSA Picks West Coast Ferry Executive as Next General Manager
The Steamship Authority board voted Thursday to hire outside candidate Alex Kryska as members seek to embark on an era of change.
Shared School Services Budget Rising 9 Per Cent
The cost of services shared by public schools on Martha’s Vineyard could be going up by nearly 9 per cent, superintendent Richard Smith told the all-Island school committee Monday night as he presented an $11.4 million draft budget for the coming fiscal year.
Wastewater Won’t Be Available for Green Villa for Years
The Oak Bluffs wastewater commission determined this week that the town will not have the wastewater flow to support Green Villa, the largest Island housing project in recent memory, until roughly 2031.
Charting an Award-Winning Course
For Miles Wolff, growing up with the Island sailing scene served as a launchpad to his college career on the water. This fall, he captained his team at the College of Charleston to win the Kennedy Cup on Nov. 2.
Community Foundation Steps Up to Alleviate Food Insecurity
In response to the Trump administration’s decision to cut November SNAP benefits amid the government shutdown, the Martha’s Vineyard Community Foundation has released $25,000 to support food equity programs on the Island.
Chilmark Plumbs the Potential of Eco-Toilets
In the battle to prevent further pollution of the Vineyard’s ponds, Island officials are eying a new way of disposing human waste: cutting-edge toilets.
Tribal Council Chair Up for Grabs at Annual Election
Incumbent chairwoman of the Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah) Cheryl Andrews-Maltais will face a challenger in one of the several contested races at the tribal elections Sunday.
Cross Country Team Heads to States
The boys cross country team continued their successful season last weekend by placing sixth in the division 2C championship. The team now advances to the state finals, which take place on Nov. 15 at Fort Devens.
Veterans Day Tributes Honor Those Who Served
Veterans marched in step down Lake avenue on Tuesday morning, starting at Nancy’s Restaurant, as family and friends walked beside the procession.
Neighbors Take Sides in Tisbury Special Way Hearing
The Tisbury planning board’s quest for a special designation to protect the remains of a historic pathway drew both support and opposition at a public hearing before the Martha’s Vineyard Commission Nov. 6. At the request of a group of residents along Mud Puddle Road, a meandering, unpaved path that leads from Edgartown-Vineyard Haven Road…
Lightning Strike Knocks Out Power to Air Traffic Control Tower
The air traffic control tower at Martha’s Vineyard Airport was down for a day this week after a transformer that supplies its power was struck by lightning.
Breton Isn’t All It’s Cracked Up to Be
Living year-round on Martha’s Vineyard requires specific survival skills. These include stocking up on your favorite grocery items when they are on sale.
Making Sense of Aging Through Writing
Phil Weinstein’s new book, Time’s Bounty, is a collection of personal essays about getting older. The collection comes out on Nov. 11, and he will give a talk about the book on Nov. 13 at the Martha’s Vineyard Hebrew Center.
MJ Bruder Munafo to Retire from Playhouse at End of Year
MJ Bruder Munafo has worked at the Martha’s Vineyard Playhouse for 40 years and led the organization for the past 30 years, beginning in 1995.
Hospital Community Sets Up Community FREEdge
While over 1,000 Islanders go without SNAP benefits this month, Martha’s Vineyard Hospital is trying to bridge the gap with a new food equity program.
Legacy of Gus Ben David Soars at Sunset Lake
About 100 people gathered at Sunset Lake in Oak Bluffs Saturday for the unveiling of a statue dedicated to beloved Island naturalist Gus Ben David, who died last year at 81.
Tewksbury Cuts Vineyard Girls Soccer Playoff Run Short
The Vineyard girls soccer team fell to Tewksbury 2-0 Saturday at home in the second round of the Division Three playoffs.
Steamship Board Questions GM Finalists, Plans Decision Thursday
The two finalists for the general manager position told the Steamship board of governors Friday that they want to improve customer relations and seek out new sources of revenue to keep the ferry line afloat.
Building Inspector Admits to Assault at Town Meeting
West Tisbury building inspector Joseph Tierney admitted in court this week to sufficient facts in a case where he pushed an octogenarian at the annual town meeting in April.
