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
June 5, 2026
Jacqueline Morby Helped Make a Difference
Jacqueline Morby taught her daughter Michelle many things. Some were her secrets to life: always dance, read poetry often, find a partner who is curious and loves adventure.
Please Adopt: Week Ending June 5
We are delighted to report that we’ve had two litters of kittens that have found their forever homes with people on our kitten list.
Edgartown Town Column: Week Ending June 5
When 2026 arrived, I think Mother Nature decided to let us know who is in control. We had record breaking snow, it was cold and windy all winter.
Chilmark Town Column: Week Ending June 5
Outdoor weddings are often planned with visions of golden hour light, gentle breezes and perfect sunshine. However, for Ben Sinnett and Hannah Kauffman, their Allen Farm wedding did not follow this idyllic script.
Chappy Town Column: Week Ending June 5
Good news, the long awaited Chappy Community Center calendars have arrived. Remember that this annual calendar is a fundraiser for the center.
West Tisbury Town Column: Week Ending June 5
The world around us says June. Trees, grasses, flowers beds are glowing with youth and are robust with vitality. Nature is thumping its breast.
Vineyard Haven Town Column: Week Ending June 5
I usually do not begin my column with an obituary but here we are. My beautiful Toby passed away at age 18 years and two months old on April 15.
The Caprice of Fate
From the June 8, 1928 edition of the Vineyard Gazette: Forty years ago and more there was a hotel of considerable size and many cottages in the section of Lagoon Heights, Oak Bluffs, where now there are but few houses and many scrub pine trees.
Humble Bees
“Life is hard. After all, it kills you.” This dramatic statement came from no other than actress Katharine Hepburn, who was not thinking of big buzzy bees when she uttered it. But it could be these insects’ tag line.
Venus and Jupiter Conjunction
The two brightest planets in our evening sky will be only 1.6 degrees apart next Tuesday night.
Locust Trees
It was yet another chilly, windy and rainy weekend. Too bad the rain actually did not amount to much in the gardens. By Tuesday, I was hauling hoses around. There is so much on which to report in garden world.
Migration Wanes
Four migrant warblers were spotted this week. Jacob Llodra found one blackburnian warbler along Pease’s Point Way on May 25, and Nick Teague spotted a bay-breasted warbler at Seven Gates on May 25 and a worm-eating warbler at the Hoft Farm on May 30.
Land Bank Revenues For Week Ending May 29
The Martha’s Vineyard Land Bank reported revenues of $262,300 for the business week ending on Friday, May 29, 2026. 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 May 29
William Bihrle, Jacqulyn Bihrle, Joshua Johnson and Marian Johnson purchased 116,122 and 124 Old Farm Road in Chilmark from Robert L. Green Trust and Allerton Farm Realty Trust for $3,700,000 on May 28.
Samuel Arrives
Graciela Brito and Fabio Brito, of Vineyard Haven, announce the birth of a son, Samuel Bozan Brito, born on June 30 at the Martha’s Vineyard Hospital. Samuel weighed 7 pounds, 11 ounces at birth.
Co-Valedictorian Penelope Haddad Thrives on Community
At the regional high school, Penny Haddad dove headfirst into into extracurriculars: she played soccer for three years and hockey for one, she wrote for the student newspaper and volunteered with Interact Club for causes across the Island.
No Ocean View
Please deny the Ocean View hotel rebuild proposal, passed by the Martha’s Vineyard Commission (MVC) in December.
Historic Character
As an owner of the national historic landmark building across from Oakwood for nearly 50 years, we have consistently ensured the building’s important historic character.
No Welcome Mat
Just to be clear, the production company of The Real Housewives of New York, trash TV, just my opinion, did not obtain permission to film or use Lookout Tavern’s name or likeness.
Giving Thanks to the Island Community
I would like to take a moment to extend my warmest wishes and deepest gratitude to our Island community.
The Magic and Make Believe of Parenting
I have been thinking about fairy houses lately, those tiny structures created out of whatever materials are lying around in nature.
Co-Valedictorian Katherine Becker Blossomed on Island
Over the past four years, co-valedictorian Katherine Becker has found a place for herself in music, languages and academics at the high school.
Slow Food Founder Had Big Influence on Island Life
Carlo Petrini died last month, and that should not go unnoticed on Martha’s Vineyard.
Attack on the Commission Is an Attack on the Vineyard
For more than 50 years, the Martha’s Vineyard Commission (MVC) has been the Island’s first line of defense against overdevelopment.
Ruffled Feathers
My Vineyard backyard’s blooming, With three wild turkey celebrants, Of sex, emergent bright red snoods, Caruncles tumbling
Class of 2026 Works Hard and Plays Hard
This year’s graduating class of seniors at the regional high school was dedicated to their studies and knew how to have fun.
Keeping Students’ Needs Front and Center
Cheers rang out Tuesday at the Portuguese American Club as Martha’s Vineyard superintendent of schools Richard M. Smith arrived for an election night gathering to celebrate the historic high school project win.
Polly Hill Tries to Stop Pine Beetles Before They Arrive
As the spread of the southern pine beetle wreaks havoc on the Island’s forests, researchers at Polly Hill Arboretum are using the beetle’s own biology to try and stop the invasive species.
Islander Appointed Chair of Fisheries Commission
The Marine Fisheries Advisory Commission voted last week to appoint Shelley Edmunson, a West Tisbury resident and executive director of the Martha’s Vineyard Fishermen’s Preservation Trust, to serve as the chair of the commission.
Boys Tennis Team Falls to Newburyport
The boys tennis lost in a heartbreaker Wednesday afternoon, falling 3-2 to 3rd seed Newburyport in the second round of the division 3 playoffs.
Land Bank Buys New Chappy Property
The Martha’s Vineyard Land Bank purchased a 10.7-acre parcel on North Neck Road on Chappaquiddick for $1.5 million last month and hopes to open the property next week.
New VTA Route Planned Near Affordable Housing Project
A new bus route will begin operations later this month to serve vacationers and Island residents living along Meeting House Way and Meshacket Road.
Chilmark to Replace Multi-Grade Learning Model
Next year, the Chilmark School will replace its multi-grade classrooms with single-grade classrooms, ending a long-standing tradition in the K-5 school’s educational model.
School Project Passes in Landslide Vote
A sweeping plan to renovate and add on to the Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School gained voter approval Tuesday after unofficial tallies in the six Island towns showed overwhelming support for the $333.5 million project.
RFK Invokes the Vineyard in New Tick-Borne Illness Effort
The Island’s mounting tick-borne illness epidemic was highlighted by U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. last week, as he announced new federal initiatives to combat Lyme disease and alpha-gal syndrome.
Islanders Head to the Polls for Historic High School Vote
Voters flocked to the polls Tuesday for the special district election to decide on if the Island should move forward with the $333.5 million plan to revamp the Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School.
Girls Tennis Heads to the Quarterfinals
The girls tennis team faces 8th seeded Wilmington in the quarterfinals in a home match on Friday, June 5, beginning at 3 p.m.
MVC Fights for Jurisdiction Over 40B Housing Projects
The Martha’s Vineyard Commission is attempting to reverse a ruling that threatens to cut the Islandwide planning agency out of the review process for many large-scale housing projects.
Charter School Celebrates Second Largest Graduating Class
The Martha’s Vineyard Public Charter School graduates 15 seniors this year, the second largest class in school history. They are a close-knit group — like a family, or a “loud pack of cousins,” said senior Winter Muric.
New Wave Energy Testing Site Planned for Cuttyhunk
The Marine Renewable Energy Collaborative, a Massachusetts-based nonprofit, is in the process of installing a testing site to the south side of the island, where developers could measure the efficacy of hydroenergy devices in open ocean conditions before they go to market.
Chilmark Chooses New Building Inspector
The Chilmark select board voted unanimously on Friday to offer Reade Milne, the current Edgartown building inspector, the building inspector position left open by outgoing inspector Adam Petkus.
Giving Back on the Real Estate Front
Over the last decade, Feiner Real Estate has given out $500,000 to 30 nonprofits on the Island, supporting efforts in housing, healthcare, conservation, education and food insecurity.
Island Housing Trust Leader to Retire
The CEO of Island Housing Trust has announced he will retire in 2027.
Edgartown Lighthouse Undergoes Repairs
Visitors to the Edgartown lighthouse these days are encountering more of a mystery object fully encased in white wrapping rather than the usual iconic structure.
Vision Fellowship Chooses Next Executive Director
The Martha’s Vineyard Vision Fellowship has appointed Rebekah Thomson as its executive director.
Steamship to Sell M/V Governor Ferry
The oldest ferry in the Steamship Authority fleet, M/V Governor, is set to go on the market this fall after spending one last summer as a backup boat on the Woods Hole-Vineyard Haven route.
Vineyarders Advance in First Round of Playoffs
The girls and boys tennis teams, and the baseball team all won their first round playoff games this week. Girls tennis defeated Auburn High School on Thursday, boys tennis defeated Fairhaven on Friday, and the baseball team defeated Medfield on Friday.
