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 21, 2026
Onions Everywhere
Mother Nature is having quite a summer. There have been fatal earthquakes, floods, droughts and hurricanes worldwide.
Spiny Oysters
Fossil Fred Hotchkiss is still making discoveries.
Predictions
Birdcast is a Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology website that uses Doppler weather radar to daily document the intensity of nocturnal migrants and predicts the most likely species passing through.
Chappy Town Column: Week Ending August 21
Last Wednesday, the new owner of the Chappy Ferry, Brian Scall, held a listening session with community members at the Chappaquiddick Community Center.
Land Bank Revenues For Week Ending August 14
The Martha’s Vineyard Land Bank reported revenues of $248,900 for the business week ending on Friday, August 14, 2026.
Recent Real Estate Transactions for Week Ending August 14
John Helxer and Christina Funston Thatcher Helzer purchased 177 West Tisbury Road in Edgartown from William G. Veno and Aubyn Barnstorm Veno for $1,695,000 on August 11.
Partial Lunar Eclipse
The bright full moon will enter the Earth’s shadow and fade considerably next Thursday night.
Edgartown Town Column: Week Ending August 21
We had some much-needed rain, the humidity calmed down for a few days and we got to enjoy some outdoor activities. If we could just keep this weather, we could all enjoy the last few weeks of the summer.
Oak Bluffs Town Column: Week Ending August 21
The Vineyard has become a major place for elected officials to host a range of fundraisers for Congress and other positions.
Chilmark Town Column: Week Ending August 21
For the Ruimerman/Weidner family, royalty doesn’t wear a crown — she arrives in a car seat, often holding a stuffed animal.
Robert Frost
I have wished a bird would fly away, And not sing by my house all day; Have clapped my hands at him from the door When it seemed as if I could bear no more.
Julia Wetherell Weds Jeremy Barber
Julia Katherine Wetherell and Jeremy Barber were married on August 1 at the Outermost Inn in a celebration that brought together their families and friends from the worlds of film, fashion, design, music and the arts.
Turning 80 Is Not for the Faint of Heart
I’ve turned 80 and then some. This is something I warn people about, although it’s too late for my fellow college classmates.
When West Chop Summers Began at Moody’s
In the early 1970s I was the head tennis professional (actually the only tennis professional) at the West Chop Club.
Comcast Connections
Martha’s Vineyard is a community that values connection, whether it’s connecting neighbors, supporting local businesses, or ensuring residents and visitors can access opportunities online, including healthcare, education and emergency services.
Cottagers at 70
In praise of Cottagers / One Hundred members strong / Black women at the nexus / For so long done wrong / “Ain’t I a woman” / Sojourner’s truth / “I’m sick and tired / of being sick and tired.”
Speaking for The Trees at Polly Hill
Ian Peach started as the new executive director at Polly Hill Arboretum in July. He hopes to continue the legacy of education at the property and take a hard look at the impacts of climate change on the arboretum’s collection of species.
Steamship Grapples With Budget Worries
The Steamship Authority is looking at ways to steer through economic headwinds, as revenue has fallen off in the first half of 2026 and new tariffs add hefty sums to maintenance expenses.
Healing on The Front Lines
A new mental health program, paid for by an anonymous donor, offers counseling to Island first responders in crisis and in their everyday life.
A Swiss Army Knife Farming Invention
Island farmer Andrew Woodruff has created a machine for regenerative farming that recently won best mechanical tool at a competition in California.
Farm and Field: Skillet Toss is a Heated Competition
The Ag Fair adopted the skillet toss in 1998. Women are divided into six age groups and throw an indestructible, 3-pound, 11-once steel frying pan in a straight line as far as they can. No boys allowed.
Art Exhibits Abound in Late Summer
New art shows at the Granary Gallery in West Tisbury and Miner Family Gallery in Vineyard Haven open this weekend.
Love of Art Equals Love of Animals
Menagerie of Marvels, a new exhibition by Eleanor Hubbard at the Martha’s Vineyard Museum, is fueled by compassion.
From North Tabor to Netflix Is a Tasty Journey
Irene Wong, this year’s chef in residence at North Tabor Farm in Chilmark, is also the creator of On The Road, a new Netflix show that premiered on Tuesday.
Shirley’s Owner Revives Mini Golf Course
The Island’s only miniature golf course is back in business after changing hands earlier this year.
Book Sale Thank You
On July 23, 24 and 25, the Library Friends of Oak Bluffs welcomed our neighbors of all ages to the library and town hall for our annual summer book sale.
Aimee Cotton Indicted on Murder Charge
A Dukes County grand jury returned indictments of murder and reckless endangerment of a child for Aimee Cotton, the Oak Bluffs babysitter who allegedly left two-year-old Frank Rodenbaugh in her SUV alone.
Man Contracts Rare Vibrio Infection
A man who was swimming in multiple bodies of water around Edgartown with an open wound on his foot has contracted vibrio vulnificus, a potentially fatal infection, according to Edgartown health officials.
Fishing Derby Expands Boating Boundary
When the Martha’s Vineyard Striped Bass and Bluefish Derby kicks off next month, boat fishermen will be able to fish in all of Buzzards Bay for the first time.
District Attorney Race Headlines September Primary
Sitting district attorney Robert Galibois is being challenged by Michael Giardino in the Democratic state primary next month.
Cape Pogue OSV Trails Remain in Limbo
A Land Court judge is considering a request from Chappaquiddick homeowners for a preliminary injunction to halt public vehicle traffic along some of the sandy trails at the northern end of Cape Pogue.
NYT Puzzle Makers Give a Peek Behind the Popular Games
Daily puzzle editors at the New York Times visited the Island last week as part of the Summer Institute to explain how the games are made and talk about how they’ve become a big part of the news business.
Agricultural Fair Delighted on Every Level
Islanders spent the weekend flocking to the 164th Agricultural Fair — screaming in delight high atop the midway, chowing down fair food favorites, competing in all manner of competitions and getting a look at newborn piglets.
Fudge Shops Remain Closed After Accident
The three Murdick’s Fudge locations in Edgartown, Oak Bluffs and Vineyard Haven have been closed this summer after the operating manager was involved in an accident, according to signs posted on the confectionaries’ doors.
Former Tisbury Town Official Sues Over Alleged Retaliation
A former Tisbury planning official is claiming that the town retaliated against her for reporting illegal activity by the building department.
Elizabeth Warren Asks Vineyarders For Input on Housing Bills
Sen. Elizabeth Warren met with housing experts and Island leaders on Friday to find out how the federal government can help the Vineyard increase its stock of attainable year-round housing.
Vineyard Emerges Victorious in Inter-Island Bioblitz
Martha’s Vineyard was declared the winner of the first annual Inter-Island BioBlitz competition this week, narrowly beating out Nantucket in a friendly competition to identify different species on the two Islands.
