Moments before seven Island teenagers set to sea this June in a 28-foot wooden vessel bound for the Hudson River, the students speculated that the journey ahead would likely be eventful. One week, 180 miles and several storms later, the novice sailors and their vessel Mabel made it to the shores of New York. Ragged yet safe, the teens agreed: The adventure had been memorable.
Advocate for Summer Housing Pushes for Property at Airport
By ALEXIS TONTI
A leader in the push to build group housing for summer workers on
the Vineyard is calling for the Martha's Vineyard Airport
commissioners to reconsider a plan to site the housing on county land
near the airport business park.
"This is a great Island initiative and it shouldn't fail
because of shortsightedness," said Norman Rankow, chairman of the
Summer Workforce Housing Task Force. "I plan to do whatever I can
to bring the airport commissioners on board."
Vineyard Ushers in 2004 with Festive Air
Fireworks in Tisbury Mark Celebration of Last Night, First Day
By ALEXIS TONTI
Tisbury's Last Night, First Day festival offered Islanders
both the intimacy of a dinner party and the spirit of a large-scale
celebration. And at a time of year when people tend to look back and to
look ahead, it was refreshing to stop, for a few hours, and simply enjoy
the best of what the Island had to offer.
Debate over an innocuous-sounding bill in the state legislature is
pitting one up-Island school system against another.
State Attorney General Will Intervene to Appeal Tribal Sovereignty
Case
By JULIA WELLS
Gazette Senior Writer
Massachusetts Attorney General Thomas F. Reilly quietly announced
this week that he will intervene in the Aquinnah court appeal over
sovereign immunity, adding clout to a case that will ultimately test the
strength of a historic 1983 Indian land claims settlement agreement.
"We intend to enter into the appeal on behalf of the
commonwealth," said Corey Welford, a spokesman for the state
attorney general, on Tuesday.
Port, Airline Security Ramping Up Again
By ALEXIS TONTI
As the nation moves toward the new year under a heightened terror
alert, Island security continues to tighten at the direction of the
federal Department of Homeland Security, which is again pumping money
into port and airline security on the Island.
The Steamship Authority and Hy-Line Cruises have received $515,000
from the federal department to improve security measures at their Cape
and Islands terminals.
Tisbury's Two-Day New Year's Affair Aided by Donation
By ALEXIS TONTI
No one regards the first of January with indifference, and this year
Tisbury is inviting the Island community to welcome 2004 with two days
of celebration highlighted by a fireworks display over Vineyard Haven
harbor New Year's Eve.
The Last Night, First Day festival, now in its third year, has
always run on the contributions of the Island community, but this year
an unexpected $10,000 donation from Ernie Boch Jr. and his family has
gone a long way toward funding the event.
Out of Shadows and Into Light, a Mother Marks a Big Moment
By C.K. WOLFSON
She walks through the chilly arena, pointing out details of the
rink, the pro shop, first aid room, coaches' rooms and the trophy
case, pausing in front of the framed displays, the board posting the
week's schedule: open skating, instruction, Mites, Squirts,
Bantams, captain's practice, figure skating, boys' and
girls' hockey, adult league.
"This is where my heart is," she says firmly.
Just in time for the holidays, there is closure to the long-standing
discussion over how to dispense a $16,500 gift to Martha's
Vineyard Community Services workers.
The gift - from singer Carly Simon and author Norman Bridwell
- funded a one-time bonus to nonmanagerial employees of the health
service agency; the money was divided equally among more than 100 of
them, amounting to something above $100 each.
Island's Clergy Eye Holiday Symbols
By C.K. WOLFSON
"Christmas, like sex, sells," says Rev. Judith Campbell,
of the Unitarian Universalist Society.
"I think that any religious significance that might have been
attached to the holiday is so completely downed by commercialism. People
go broke putting lights up and vie with each other for who has the best
display. If it were a toss up between having lights or having more
social services, I would opt for more social services."
