bluffs

South Shore Erosion Divides Lucy Vincent Beach in Two

Coastal erosion has split Lucy Vincent Beach, temporarily cutting off a portion frequented by nude bathers at the point of a fossil-encrusted cliff, stretching the beach patrol and putting swimmers at risk.

Father and son

Street Fair Wipes Away Tisbury’s Tears

At the very end of Main street Tuesday night, a bright green Tisbury fire truck stood with nothing to do and nowhere to go until one small boy came along and, too shy to do so on his own, had his father ask if he could climb up into it.

Keith

Museum Manages Operating Deficit

In its sixth year of a capital campaign, the Martha’s Vineyard Museum is carrying an operating deficit from 2007 as it considers a different location for a future museum campus.

Keith Gorman, executive director of the museum since January of this year, has taken control of the nonprofit business at a difficult time. Determined to avoid a repeat financial performance in 2008, he is also presiding over a reassessment of the campaign to expand the museum which began in 2002 with a $27 million price tag and is currently undergoing a period of major reassessment.

West Tisbury Tax Abatements Show Record Numbers

West Tisbury assessors in recent weeks have approved a record number of real estate tax abatements, with more to come in the aftermath of flood of abatement applications this spring.

Some $197,000 in abatements, representing more than $44 million in real estate value, had been approved by the end of the fiscal year on June 30 and the final total will be higher, said principal assessor Kristina West.

The town granted about $130,000 in abatements in 2005, likely the previous record, she said.

Swimmers Sent Out of Sea Following Shark Sighting

Swimmers at South Beach, State Beach and Tashmoo were told to get out of the water yesterday by Edgartown and Tisbury public safety officials, following the sighting of a shark close to shore. The shark sighting off South Beach was confirmed later by a private airplane flying over the beach.

There also was one report of two sharks being seen late yesterday morning at the eastern end of the Joseph A. Sylvia State Beach, in an area also known as Bend in the Road Beach, but there are serious questions about that report.

Don Johanson

Lucy in the Soil (And on Island) With Discoverer

Think of a someone older than dirt. Someone you would never expect to have made a discreet visit to Martha’s Vineyard. Someone who has political problems with religious fundamentalists.

No, not John McCain.

We’re talking about a woman, remarkably well preserved considering all she went through, often referred to by a single, four-letter first name associated with John Lennon and the Beatles.

Nope, not Yoko, either.

The name we’re looking for is Lucy.

Zoning Board Approves Special Permit for Winery

Defying the law of negativity, an Edgartown couple secured a special permit to operate a winery out of the former Old Colony building on the West Tisbury Road following a public hearing Wednesday.

Josh and Angela Aronie, both in their thirties, plan to establish a wine production and retail space in the building, which is the site of a former car dealership but has been vacant for a number of years. They secured approval for the project at an evening hearing held by the zoning board of appeals attended by more than a dozen would-be neighbors.

Teen Center Closes Due to Lead Paint

The discovery of potentially harmful lead paint has forced the closure of the YMCA teen center at the Cottager’s Corner building on Pequot avenue. The center was closed in May and remains closed now. YMCA officials are hoping the center will reopen sometime by the end of the summer.

Oak Bluffs Selectmen Okay Later Closing Time for Bars

Oak Bluffs selectmen Tuesday unanimously agreed to permanently adopt a new policy allowing bars and nightclubs to serve drinks until 1 a.m. Patrons will be allowed to stay inside bars until 1:30 a.m.

The board voted to allow the later closing times on a temporary basis in May. The decision to accept the policy permanently took place Tuesday with little discussion. Police Chief Eric Blake said he met with several bar owners who told him the later closing times have not created additional problems.

Correction

Correction

A story in Friday’s Gazette contained two errors. Jon Nelson Jr., owner of the Bunch of Grapes Bookstore in Vineyard Haven, has not yet sold his West Tisbury home. And Mr. Nelson’s father Jon Nelson is still living. The Gazette regrets the errors.

Pages