It seems like the Schifter project on Chappy is making its way to the pages of newspapers both on and off-Island. And yet in this epic battle of man versus nature, it is unclear who will end up the winner. Nature seemed to stage a strong first offensive, but by some armoring and then a historic move, it now appears nature has, at least temporarily, been evicted from the property. Maybe there isn’t a real winner.

Refusing to accept the verdict of the 2012 election, the Republicans have launched a campaign to nullify it, using their control of the House and cloture-proof filibusters in the Senate to block any Obama moves. Their most powerful ally is a “news” network, whose bias may be seen in these ways:

Passing by the Mill Pond, I am always struck by its beauty and the variety of wildlife that enjoy its waters all year round: the otters sliding on the ice or diving under water, the ducks and geese

The friend of the Tisbury Council on Aging wish to thank supporters who attended our springtime tea introducing Tisbury town administrator John (Jay) Grande to the senior community. Addressing questions on waterfront reconstruction, parking congestion and long-term planning, Mr. Grande outlined the direction proposed for Tisbury. The friends (508-696-4205) reconvene on Thursday, June 13, at 2 p.m. in the Tisbury Senior Center for their annual meeting.

It seems Chilmark needs a monstrosity law (as did Lower Manhattan for the World Trade towers and the Upper East Side for the Guggenheim Museum) in addition to limiting square footage of houses.

My 1937 Winston Simplified Dictionary defines monstrosity as the state or quality of being deformed or hideous (frightful) or extremely unusual; 2, anything huge, hideous, or deformed.

From the Vineyard Gazette editions of May, 1955: The project of the regional high school is now before the Island towns again. We believe it is still true that no authority in the field of education has recommended any other solution than this for the Vineyard’s high school problems. This does not mean that a regional school plan can ever represent perfection. It does mean that educators find here the conditions for which a regional school is most nearly ideal, and that such a school can offer better opportunities for Island children than any other.

The Yard recently received a major three-year gift with a 2013 challenge matching goal of $250,000. While the donors have requested anonymity, the gift launches the Yard’s concurrent three-year Back (The) Yard! Challenge Match. Goals for 2014 and 2015 will be set at a later date.

Adeline Mae Chandler took her first breath at noon on Friday, May 3, to the great delight of her parents Abigail and Curtis along with grandmother Sharlee, who arose very early that morning to be by her daughter’s side for the birth of her first granddaughter. Adeline weighed in at 7 pounds, 2 ounces and measured 19 and a half inches long.

Oak Bluffs, the biggest little town on the third largest unconnected island on the east coast, is not the only one to have a song named after it. (New York and San Francisco come to mind.) Little information is available about Etta Godfrey, who wrote The Oak Bluffs Galop [sic] in 1872, which highlighted the Victorian pastime of “bluffing,” moonlight strolls down the boardwalk to Lover’s Rock.

Oh, boy! I have butterflies in my stomach, or perhaps a couple of crows. I head off into the wild blue yonder today for another white-knuckle flight, but the reason I’m traveling is really worth it. I’ll let you know next week how it all comes out. For those of us terrified of flying, it was anxiety-ridden enough before, but I’ll never forgive the terrorists for making it so unpleasant now. Stay tuned.