Walt Whitman
Weep not, child, Weep not, my darling, With these kisses let me remove your tears; The ravening clouds shall not long be victorious. – Walt Whitman
This week – October 16, 2026
Oak Bluffs Town Column: Oct. 16
For decades many summer enthusiasts have enjoyed the social and cultural advantages of Oak Bluffs and Sag Harbor.
Edgartown Town Column: Oct. 16
Layers are the answer for apparel these past few days. It starts out quite cool in the morning and by noon you are down to your long sleeves.
Chilmark Town Column: Oct. 16
The celebrations began back in July, when Sally Solmssen organized a wonderful, laughter-filled “guess who’s nearly 90” party for Hans.
Chappy Town Column: Oct. 16
The newest ferry Captain, Abe Whittaker comes to us from Maine.
Real Estate Transactions: Week Ending Oct. 9
NP Two LLC purchased 205 South Road in Chilmark from Tony Shalhoub TRS and Brooke Adams TRS for $4,550,000 on Oct. 6.
Taking Steps to Stop Hunger
Sunday marks the 36th annual Martha’s Vineyard CROP Hunger Walk, a three-mile walk to raise money to fight hunger on the Island and around the world.
Going South
Warblers abound this week, with 17 species seen — a low number only when compared to last week’s 26 species.
Gumption Galore
Vida Poole of Chilmark found herself with quite a sticky situation.
Wind’s Up
Last week’s rain and wind brought down tons of leaves from my sugar maple. I hated to see them go as they were so beautiful.
Derby Heads Into the Final Weekend
The 81st Martha’s Vineyard Striped Bass and Bluefish Derby, which concludes on Saturday at the final weigh-in, has been notable for some sluggish days at the weigh-in station but also some record catches.
Please Vote
I am a 92-year-old seasonal resident of Martha’s Vineyard, who has been coming to the Island for 48 years. I was here when the Soviet Union was collapsing and when 9/11 occurred.
Play Ball
The first game of Base Ball (National) ever played in this village came off last Saturday afternoon, between the “Regulars” and “True Blues,” both of this town.
On Tashmoo, Ospreys Soared
The last osprey I saw on Lake Tashmoo was in mid-September. He soared silently, without making any of the distinctive high-pitched whistles and chirps that are the background summer melody of the pond.
Calls for New Bedford Service Gain Support of Steamship GM
Alex Krsyka, who took over leadership of the Steamship in January, said Tuesday that he wanted to see New Bedford become a regular ferry destination like Hyannis, and was ready to dig into the potential of the idea.
Boston Man Charged in Alleged Rape at State Police Barracks
Edward Joseph Brown, 27, entered the not guilty plea during a virtual hearing in the Edgartown District Court on Tuesday. Prosecutors claim that Mr. Brown raped a woman he brought back to the barracks.
Airport Fitness Celebrates 30 Years
On Thursday, Oct. 15, Airport Fitness Center will mark its 30th anniversary with a party at the club from 5 to 8 p.m.
Aquinnah Hires New Police Chief
The Aquinnah select board chose a former patrol officer to succeed police Chief Randhi Belain in leading the Island’s smallest police department.
Rising Fuel Prices has Steamship Looking at Higher Fares
The Steamship Authority is eyeing fare hikes next year as the cost of fuel skyrockets and ridership is flat.
Saving Lives on the Front Lines
Community members gathered Saturday night at the Martha’s Vineyard Film Society for a screening of American Doctor, a 2026 documentary about three American physicians who traveled to Gaza to volunteer in hospitals under siege.
Community Services Names New CEO
Martha’s Vineyard Community Services has chosen Scott Turton, its two-time interim CEO, as its next chief executive officer.
Indigenous Peoples Day Celebration Highlights Wampanoag Culture
On Monday, Sassafras Earth Education, an Indigenous Wampanoag nonprofit based in Aquinnah, hosted its fifth annual Indigenous Peoples Day event at Felix Neck Wildlife Center.
Car-B-Q Celebrates Classic Rides
On Sunday afternoon, the Winnetu Oceanside Resort became a haven for car enthusiasts, who gathered for the Vineyard Gazette’s Car-B-Q classic auto show.
Keeping Conservation at the Forefront for Island Adventures
The Vineyard Conservation Society’s Island Adventure Book hit local bookstores recently, offering children and families a guide to exploring and caring for Martha’s Vineyard.
State Forest Cutting Plan Stalls
Though the DCR said it is committed to cutting 52 acres in the state forest, the agency can’t find anyone to swing the axe.
Scientists Study Erosion at Aquinnah Cliffs
The annual Coastal Conference highlighted work at the Gay Head Cliffs and other research going on around the Vineyard.
No Decision Yet on Katama Meadows
The Martha’s Vineyard Commission spent nearly three hours weighing positive and negative aspects of the proposed Katama Meadows subdivision Thursday night, without arriving at a final vote.
Students Walk Out Over Cornell Case
Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School students and faculty staged a walkout protest Thursday in solidarity with Jane Doe, the woman who has accused seven men of gang raping her at a Cornell University fraternity house in 2024.
New Water Taxi to New Bedford Proposed
For 40 years, Islander Hugh Taylor has had the idea for a water taxi from Menemsha to New Bedford. This year, he is working to make the plan a reality.
Tick Free MV Launches New Carcass Disposal Program
Tick Free MV announced it would underwrite the cost of deer carcass disposal for hunters at the Martha’s Vineyard Refuse Disposal facility in Edgartown.
