Living — and Buying — Locally

Try buying a souvenir T-shirt these days and you can see through the window that it’s half off, but the store is never open. Need some watertight Wellington boots, however, and you can find them here all winter during normal business hours. There are good Island businesses committed to serving Islanders’ needs, but the state of the economy is making every retailer’s challenge greater. We are all shopping less, so we all ought to shop strategically when we do.

Next Monday night’s Snow Moon, a full moon, appears in the zodiacal constellation Cancer, a constellation we associate with spring. Though snow was in the air this week, spring isn’t that far away. More stars of spring start showing up late in the evening, after 11 p.m.

The Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School boys’ hockey team bounced back from a rough mid-season stretch to win big against Cambridge Rindge and Latin at home on Saturday, scoring five goals in the second period en route to an easy 8-0 win.

With the win the Vineyarders’ record stands at 8-3-2 on the season.

Longtime Oak Bluffs selectman Roger Wey said this week he will not seek reelection in April.

Mr. Wey, who has been a selectman since 1994 and has served a total of eight terms over 21 years, told the Gazette he decided not to run after much consideration. “I thought about it a long time, and the decision didn’t come easily,” Mr. Wey said. “But in the end, I just decided it was the right time to hang it up.”

Barbara Bick says she is neither journalist nor historian. Despite what she says, she looks at the worlds she encounters with the curiosity of a journalist, the eye of a historian — and always with the passion of a feminist. Rarely has she taken a trip — and she has been to many places most of us never get to — where she does not ask about and seek out the local women. How do they live? How are they faring?

Two years away from its centennial celebration and Martha’s Vineyard Rod and Gun Club is already preparing. The club is in the process of rebuilding their clubhouse and they’d like it to be done by spring. The construction of the $150,000 to $200,000 project is getting the support of members and their friends. President Robert De Lisle said they are not sure of the final cost because people keep stepping up to help, often offering services for free or at cost. “They are donating their time and saving us a lot of money,” Mr. De Lisle said.

Members and friends of the Martha’s Vineyard Surfcasters Association got a flavor of a busy season ahead on Saturday. The club now in its 20th year held their annual afternoon banquet at the Edgartown Whaling Church. More than 100 anglers showed up for the luncheon, to sip soda and eat fried chicken. The event included the delivery of plaques to first place winners of the club’s own summer-long fishing tournament and included the election of officers and a report on plans for the new year.

Consumer Price Watch

By SUSAN CATLING

Gas

Prices for regular unleaded gas as of Jan. 27:

Edgartown

Airport Mobil 2.59

Depot Corner 2.599

Edgartown Mobil 2.659

Oak Bluffs

deBettencourt’s 2.579

Jim’s 2.599

Vineyard Haven

Citgo 2.599

Tisbury Shell 2.599

West Tisbury

Up-Island Automotive 2.369

In the face of possible legal problems and sharp criticism over their actions, Tisbury selectmen this week reversed their decision to sponsor a warrant article reopening the contentious issue of beer and wine sales in the dry town.

The most remarkable aspect of the about-face was the fact that alcohol sales proponent Jeff Kristal, who initiated the move for selectmen to get involved in the matter at the previous board meeting, also initiated the move at this week’s meeting for the selectmen to step aside in the matter.

There was a lot wrong with the warrant for an Aquinnah special town meeting planned for Feb. 3, but a posting error was the official cause for a last-minute cancellation.

The decision, made at the selectmen’s meeting Tuesday, further postpones votes on some $20,000 in town housekeeping measures outstanding since last fall, and action on a proposal from Ted Cammann and Jim Glavin of Chilmark to stage a seasonal performing arts program at the Aquinnah Cliffs.