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
August 14, 2026
Recent Real Estate Transactions for Week Ending August 7
Mildred Austin purchased 24 Atwood Circle in Edgartown from Cynthia Thomas and Cynthia Margolis for $2,588,000 on Augst 6.
Land Bank Revenues For Week Ending August 7
The Martha’s Vineyard Land Bank reported revenues of $365,898 for the business week ending on Friday, August 7, 2026. The land bank receives its funds from a two per cent fee charged on many Vineyard real estate transactions.
Baby Chicks
I wish I had gone to weather school. I am always interested in the subject. Usually, in August I start fretting about the possibility of hurricane. This year, the experts say that the El Niño in the Pacific will most likely deter storms forming in the Atlantic. They are predicting a snowy winter, which is…
Venus is as High as it Gets
The brightest planet in our western sky, Venus is ideally placed this weekend and in the nights ahead.
Zucchini Season
Be a kook for zukes. Grow them, love them and eat ridiculous amounts of them. Tis the season.
Chipping Sparrows
Chipping sparrows are common. Axelrein Teoste spotted one behind the Chappaquiddick community center on July 30.
Bonito Arrives
Sophia Solomon and Hans Broscheit, of West Tisbury, announce the birth of a son, Bonito Solomon Broscheit, born on August 6 at the Martha’s Vineyard Hospital. Bonito weighed 8 pounds, 13.1 ounces at birth.
Edgartown Town Column: Week Ending August 14
To say it has been hot would be an understatement. Plus, there was a lot of humidity. I am glad we are here because in a city, when you add tall buildings with no air circulation, I could not imagine the heat. Thank goodness for our sea breezes.
Chilmark Town Column: Week Ending August 14
Balancing summer jobs and family vacation could be considered a competitive sport, but for the youngest generation in the Athearn/Parsons/Taylor clan they have successfully managed to balance work schedules, friends, family dinners, fishing, swimming and reconnecting.
Chappy Town Column: Week Ending August 14
This coming Saturday, the Chappy Community Center will present a concert by the Harlem Quartet. This is the final concert of this season. Tickets can be purchased online or at the door. Music starts at 7:30 p.m.
Vineyard Haven Town Column: Week Ending August 14
I met the nicest first time visitor to the Island over the weekend. Ryan Dvorak of Arizona came here with our friend Chris Hulbert. The two had met up in New York and attended rock concerts of course. Ryan is delightful.
Harbor View Hotel Launches Hospitality with Heart
Edgartown’s Harbor View Hotel has launched a new initiative to give back to the Island community through its Hospitality With Heart program.
Hutchins Forum Continues to Put Politics of Race Center Stage
It was 1995, and Henry Louis (Skip) Gates Jr. was four years into his tenure at Harvard University, when he was tasked with building the “greatest center of African and African American studies in the world.”
History and New Traditions Thrive at Agricultural Fair
When the clock struck noon Thursday, the long line of people waiting for the 164th Martha’s Vineyard Agricultural Fair marched in to enjoy the rides, see the animals and taste the culinary delights.
Farm and Field: College Exodus
Mid-August. Watermelon and peaches are in, corn is in full swing, red peppers are finally ripe and Ag Fair excitement is surging around the Island. For many college kids, mid-August is also back to school time.
Being a Friend to Land and Sea
The first thing you notice on a Vineyard beach the morning after a busy weekend is everything the tide didn’t take back: bottle caps pressed into the sand, the torn corner of a chip bag.
Taking Time for the Things That Matter
August on the Vineyard has a particular kind of blur to it, especially if you work for a nonprofit. Our calendars are packed, our days are long and our brains are holding so much.
A Bad Idea
“The project did not provide sufficient benefits to outweigh the overwhelming detriment to the rural, natural character of the area, and the Vineyard as a whole.”
No to Police Cameras
I am writing regarding the proposal to install a police camera on Circuit avenue in Oak Bluffs.
Attuned to the Decisive Moment
Larry Glick is a member of the Martha’s Vineyard Art Association (MVAA), a nonprofit collective of artists that showcase their work at the Old Sculpin Gallery in Edgartown. This year, he will take on the role of president of their executive board.
Aquinnah Tribal Member to Sing at Red Sox Game
Tobias Vanderhoop, a member of the Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah), will be singing the Wampanoag tribal honor song at a Boston Red Sox game next week during ceremonies to honor Indigenous people.
Inspired by the Creative Pairing of Art and Sports
Maxwell Pearce’s artwork appears to leap off the canvas as he illustrates the intersection between sports and art.
Trustees Exceeded Easement Rights on Cape Pogue, Judge Rules
In a long, technical order that deals with deeds going back more than 100 years, state Land Court Judge Sarah Turano-Flores found that the Trustees of Reservations, which manages miles of unpaved trails, has overburdened an easement that allows passage to the outermost point on Cape Pogue.
Wolf’s Den Shut Down for Unpermitted Food Storage Container
The two Wolf’s Den Pizzeria locations on the Vineyard were closed last week due food being stored at an unpermitted storage container in Oak Bluffs, according to down-Island health officials.
Power of Storytelling Shines at African American Film Festival
The 24th Martha’s Vineyard African American Film Festival continued on Wednesday evening with a screening of Boo-Yah: A Portrait of Stuart Scott presented by ESPN 30 for 30.
Carly Simon’s New Album Is a Gift of Acceptance
An Island rock legend is dropping a new album Friday. Carly Simon, the five-time Grammy-winning singer-songwriter and Vineyard resident, is releasing a 12-track album titled Comes in Waves on August 14.
Chilmark Eyes Bylaw Change to Improve Cell Service
Chilmark is on its way to improving cell service in town. This week, the Chilmark select board held a joint meeting with the planning board to initiate a zoning bylaw change that would allow the town to build additional cell towers. The boards are trying to expand the reach of cell service in areas prone…
Tracing the Struggle for the Rights of Black Creators
Entertainment lawyer Lisa E. Davis has built her career protecting and advancing the rights of musicians, writers and filmmakers.
The Dink Gets a Boost from Local Pickleball Ace
Connie McHugh, owner of Airport Fitness and the mother of pickleball on Martha’s Vineyard, was hanging a lamp over her kitchen table when she received the call that would lead to her very first film credit.
West Tisbury Town Column: Week Ending August 14
The crew and volunteers who assembled and organized the fair this past week are mourning the loss of one of their own. Dianne Powers used to map out the placement of the booths. She also helped during the fair itself, as she quietly and modestly did many other unpaid tasks in the community.
Island Bat is First Confirmed Rabies Case Since 2019
A dead bat that a cat brought into a Tisbury home last month tested positive for rabies, according to town health officials.
Possible Dreams Raises More than $500,000 for MVCS
The Possible Dreams auction and fundraiser raised more than $570,000 on Saturday for Martha’s Vineyard Community Services (MVCS).
WHOI Captures Close-Ups of Famous Shipwrecks
Scientists from Woods Hole have completed some of the most detailed surveys on shipwrecks tied to two storied Antarctic explorers.
Chasing Your Dreams, No Matter What
The original Dreamgirl made an appearance on Island this weekend. Jennifer Holliday, who originated the role of Effie White in the hit 1981 Broadway musical Dreamgirls, took part in a fundraising event for the Boston Arts Academy Foundation.
MVC Continues to Wrestle with Katama Meadows Plan
The Martha’s Vineyard Commission continues to grapple with the controversial Katama Meadows project in Edgartown, one of the largest housing proposals to come before the regional planning agency in decades. After voting earlier this month in favor of a condition that would reduce the number of market-rate lots on the 54-acre property from 26 to…
The Emilys Is a Readable Feast
On Friday, August 14, author Heather Abel will give a talk at the West Tisbury Library about her new book, The Emilys. The event begins in 3:30 p.m., where Ms. Abel will be in conversation with writer and podcaster Gabriel Roth.
Rebuilding Democracy With a Black-Jewish Alliance
Van Jones, lawyer, civil rights activist and CNN host and political commentator, was the featured speaker Thursday at the Summer Institute Speaker Series at the Hebrew Center.
Aquinnah Ponders Future of Philbin Beach Parking Lot
A desire to increase accessibility to Philbin Beach prompted Aquinnah town officials last week to debate the merits of expanding the nearby beach parking lot.
Federal Government Weakens Habitat Protections Under Endangered Species Act
Changes to the definition of “harm” under the Endangered Species Act have Massachusetts conservationists worried for the future of endangered species habitat.
Possible Dreams Auction Helps Make All Things Possible
The 48th annual Possible Dreams fundraiser takes place at the Allen Farm this Saturday, headlined by comedian Seth Meyers.
A Celebration of Black Storytelling and Creativity
The 24th Martha’s Vineyard African American Film Festival began on Friday its nine-day residence at the Performing Arts Center. It continues through August 15.
Lionette Captures the Win at Chilmark Road Race
Jack Lionette, who grew up not far from the starting line, won the Chilmark Road Race on Saturday with a time of 15:51. Marian Johnson earned first place in the women’s division with a time of 17:53,
Addressing Attacks on Diversity Initiatives
Since 2023, diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives have faced an uphill battle from the federal government and Supreme Court, leaving companies, grant committees and universities scrambling to comply with new policies.
West Tisbury Joins Lease to Locals Program
This month, West Tisbury is joining an initiative that aims to turn short-term rentals into year-round housing by providing a cash incentive to prospective landlords.
MVC Approves Indigenous Shelter in Aquinnah
The Martha’s Vineyard Commission voted unanimously Thursday to approve plans for Aquinnah Headwaters, the state’s first Native-run safe living and healing center for tribal women and children.
Housing Transfer Fee Stalls at State House
Attempts to get a reliable funding source for housing on Martha’s Vineyard fell short at the State House, meaning it will likely be at least two years before Islanders see a local transfer tax and housing bank.
West Nile Virus Detected in Tisbury Mosquito
Officials say the risk of West Nile virus is low but urged people to protect themselves.
Zoning Board Denies OSV Appeal
A long-running debate about the permitting process for the oversand vehicle trails on Chappaquiddick came to a swift halt on Wednesday at the Edgartown zoning board of appeals.
