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 12, 2026
Oak Bluffs Town Column: Week Ending June 12
Gratitude and Thanksgiving for the life of Margaret Lee Price Willams, longtime Oak Bluffs resident, as friends and colleagues said goodbye to her in a service at Union Chapel on June 11.
Agricultural Society Announces Fair Poster Winner
The Agricultural Society unveiled this year’s fair poster on Friday. The artwork was done by ICU social worker Sydney Smith.
Community Parity
I agree with Peter Wharton about the importance of the Martha’s Vineyard Commission in ensuring that growth on the Island is balanced.
Educator Honor
Martha’s Vineyard superintendent of schools, Dr. Richard (Richie) Smith, is retiring at the end of this school year.
Ocean View Proposal
On June 15, the Copeland Plan District Review Board will hear a proposal for building a 26-room hotel on the site of the burned out Ocean View Restaurant in Oak Bluffs.
Farm and Field: Farmers’ Market Time
Sixteen years of formal education gives each year a predictable seasonal schedule. Months of class, a final test or essay, then summer: vacations as a child, summer jobs as a teenager.
The Story of Captain Quint Is a Family Tale
Christopher Shaw Myers, an author who spent most of his life working in tech, has written a book about his uncle, Robert Shaw, who played the salt encrusted shark hunter in the 1975 summer blockbuster Jaws.
Evening Planets and Moon
A thin crescent moon returns to our evening sky next week, just in time for the planetary lineup.
Chappy Town Column: Week Ending June 12
Very soon the operation of the Chappy Ferry will no longer be my personal responsibility. That 24 hours a day, seven days a week obligation will be taken up by a younger person.
Vineyard Haven Town Column: Week Ending June 12
I had to process this for a long time before I could write about it. The recent passing of Kay Mayhew hit me hard. Kay wrote the Tisbury column for the Martha’s Vineyard Times.
Bloomsday Returns
Bloomsday returns on Saturday, June 13, thanks to Arts and Society, and the steadfast creative determination of organizer John Crelan.
Land Bank Revenues For Week Ending June 5
The Martha’s Vineyard Land Bank reported revenues of $286,015.60 for the business week ending on Friday, June 5, 2026.
Calvin Arrives
Kelly Bowse and Ted MacInnes, of Chappaquiddick, announce the birth of a son, Calvin Thomas MacInnes, born on June 4 at the Martha’s Vineyard Hospital.
Please Adopt: Week Ending June 12
Meet our pet of the week, Pippi. Pippi is a six-year-old, spayed tabby cat. She is an indoor cat who is not fond of young children or other animals so would do best as an only pet.
The Growing Impact of Ticks on Martha’s Vineyard
In this week's 10-minute wrap-up of the news from the Vineyard Gazette newsroom, Martha’s Vineyard businesses are adapting to growing concerns about ticks by providing information to residents and visitors to overcome fears.
As Tick Issues Soar, Fear Becomes a Factor
For stakeholders in the Island’s economy — from food and hospitality to recreation — striking a balance between tick awareness and not spreading too much fear has become something of a highwire act.
After School Vote, Towns Mull Expenses
The additional cost to the taxpayers from the school building project will shift the calculus for towns come budget season, and already has some officials wondering if they need to downsize capital projects to keep town finances from rising even further.
Shellfish Group Celebrates 50 Years
Over its now 50-year history, the Martha’s Vineyard Shellfish Group has spawned billions of shellfish, growing them into seed to keep the industry and ponds thriving.
Students Get Front Row Seat to Workings of Island Nonprofits
When students from Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School toured the Martha’s Vineyard Fishermen’s Preservation Trust building this year, it wasn’t just for a field trip. They were there as potential funders.
Sheriff’s Office Plans to Rebuild Portion of Jailhouse
The Dukes County Sheriff’s Office is moving forward with a $8 million renovation of its jailhouse in Edgartown, one of the first major upgrades in decades, as the state grapples with how sheriffs operate in Massachusetts.
House Burns Down on Chappaquiddick
No one was hurt Thursday after a fire burned down a home on Chappaquiddick.
Island Towns Look at Kratom Crack Down
Kratom, a substance that is often sold in gas stations and convenience stores on the mainland, has come to the attention of the Island boards of health in recent months. Responding to the potential adverse health effects, the Edgartown board of health voted to ban the sale of the drug on Tuesday.
Island Embraces Pride Celebrations in Style
Saturday’s pride parade in downtown Oak Bluffs anchors the many celebrations taking place this week. At 3 p.m., marchers from organizations all over the Island will depart from the Island Queen dock and head up Circuit avenue to Ocean Park.
Peas Please
I come from a long line of worriers. Hence weather events tend to bring out the worst in me. To wit: I am convinced about the lack of rain and the promise of El Niño this summer.
Semis Sweep Sends Girls Tennis Back to State Championship
The regional high school girls tennis team will play in state championship match for a second year in a row after beating Weston 5-0 Tuesday, with a chance to avenge last year’s state final loss in a rematch against Dover-Sherborn.
Donaroma’s Seeks Retail, and Potentially Housing, at Oak Bluffs Site
Edgartown-based gardening giant Donaroma’s Nursery and Landscaping has applied to add retail sales, parking and, potentially, employee housing at a property on the Edgartown-Vineyard Haven Road in Oak Bluffs, where Donaroma’s currently runs its wholesale operations.
State Declares Vineyard in Significant Drought
After two years of below-average rainfall across Massachusetts, the state declared the Vineyard to be in a significant drought Tuesday. Martha’s Vineyard is among the regions that received the least precipitation this past month, a deficit that has strained local water resources and caused worsening dry conditions. “Many parts of the state have gone months…
School Committee Votes for Independent Audit of Payroll Procedure
School bus drivers in the Martha’s Vineyard public school system have been paid without the required school committee authorization for nearly a year, leading the high school committee to commission an independent audit of the transportation department’s internal processes.
Circuit Arts Adds Music to its Artistic Lineup
A new wing of Circuit Arts aims to create a year-round musical series of local and national acts at various Island venues. It is being spearheaded by Jared Salvatore.
Belle Burden Opens Summer Author Series
In conversation with author Alexandra Styron, Belle Burden spoke in front of a packed audience at the Winnetu Oceanside Resort about the genesis of her book Strangers and the aftermath of its release. The memoir has spent 20 weeks on the New York Times bestseller list.
Old Sculpin Gallery Celebrates Student Artists
Old Sculpin Gallery will host an opening reception this Sunday, June 14, showcasing artwork by members of the Martha’s Vineyard Art Association (MVAA) in addition to three of the Island’s graduating high school seniors.
Road Work Begins on State Road
On, Tuesday, June 9, MassDOT will begin doing comprehensive paving work on State Road in West Tisbury, between the intersections of Stoney Hill Road and Davis Look Road.
Dispute Over Oak Bluffs Event Space Name Results in Lawsuit
Kahina Van Dyke filed a complaint in U.S. District Court last week alleging that Inkwell Beach House, a planned restaurant and event venue, is infringing on her hotel, which has the same name.
Community Gives Back to Students at Class Night
On Friday evening at the annual class night presentation at the Tabernacle, the Vineyard Community gave over $1.2 million in scholarships to the class of 2026.
Celebrating a Commitment to Community at Charter School Graduation
The Martha’s Vineyard Public Charter School class of 2026 celebrated their graduation on Saturday, walking to the stage on the school grounds wearing the traditional purple and white flower crowns perched atop their heads.
Vineyarders Cheer on the Regional High School Class of 2026
Friends, faculty and family joined the Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School’s graduating seniors Sunday at the Tabernacle to celebrate the class of 2026, a group of 173 students that prioritized community, excelled in academics and had fun the entire way.
Hunting Shooting Ruled an Accident
The Massachusetts Environmental Police wrapped up its investigation into the shooting in May and decided to not file charges after they determined that the hunters involved did not act negligently or without care.
Sharks Baseball Is Back on the Menu
The 2026 Martha’s Vineyard Sharks have migrated from their corners of the country to the Vineyard and are finding their footing in the competitive summer college baseball league.
Girls Tennis Heads to Final Four
Girls tennis advanced to the semifinals on Friday in the division 3 playoffs after defeating Wilmington 4-1. They take on Weston next, on Tuesday, June 9 at 3:30 p.m. at Falmouth High School.
