Vineyard Conservation Society Hosts Annual Meeting Wednesday

The Vineyard Conservation Society, an organization charged with promoting environmental advocacy and education, will hold its annual meeting Wednesday at the Wakeman Conservation Center in Vineyard Haven. Members will elect a new set of officers and hear presentations on rising sea level and moth and insect habitats on the Island.

Boil Water Order Remains; Oak Bluffs Waits for Test Results

The town of Oak Bluffs remained under a boil water order Tuesday, as the water district waited for the mandatory 48-hour water sample testing to be completed.

Paul Provost, superintendent at the Oak Bluffs water district, said he was surprised that the Department of Environmental Protection imposed the boil water order Monday morning because while the water did contain a background coliform bacteria, the sample did not come up positive for fecal matter.

“The water is safe,” Mr. Provost said. “Just boil it, and that boiling is really a precaution. The state wants to protect all the Oak Bluffs customers like they do every other town. This is why we sampled, because if we do have a problem in the well, you want to know and you want to deal with it.”

Commission Weighs Plans to Double Oak Bluffs Church

Plans to add a large expansion to an Oak Bluffs church continued to face scrutiny at the Martha’s Vineyard Commission late last week, as commissioners and neighbors questioned the impact on the neighborhood and the environment.

The Alliance Community Church (formerly Nova Vida) has applied to build a 9,000-square-foot addition to its Ryan’s Way building in order to build a 150-seat church.

Islanders Head to Polls Today for Special Senate Election

Polls will be open across the Island for an unusual June election today.

Republican Gabriel E. Gomez of Cohasset and U.S. Cong. Edward J. Markey of Malden, a Democrat, are vying to take the Senate seat vacated by John Kerry, who stepped down in January to become Secretary of State.

After Long Standoff, State Takes Possession of Drawbridge Home

Moving trucks arrived at the Lagoon Pond drawbridge Monday morning as the state took the next steps in a plan to raze a home tucked under the bridge that is owned by a longtime Vineyard summer family.

The home, owned by Charlotte Holloman, is slated to be demolished to make way for the new bridge project that begins in the fall.

Dukes County sheriff Michael McCormack confirmed that his office had issued a warrant of possession at the Holloman home, which is similar to an eviction notice.

Sunny Skies for Blessing of the Fleet in Menemsha

Reverend Arlene Bodge of Chilmark Community Church opened the start of the summer boating season with the annual blessing of the fleet ceremony on the Menemsha waterfront.

Little League Champions Take Center Field

One game ended with a huge hit to center right field driving in the winning run and the other game ended in a strikeout to secure the lead, but the reactions were much the same. Little League players raced from their dugouts to swarm the teammate who had clinched the win and secured the trophy.

Man Falls Overboard on Steamship Ferry Trip

A 19-year-old man fell from a Steamship Authority ferry Thursday night into the water off the coast of Martha’s Vineyard, according to the Steamship Authority.

Steamship Authority general manager Wayne Lamson said in a statement that Chris Connelly, 19, of Millers Falls, fell backward off the ferry Martha’s Vineyard at about 8:52 p.m. June 20 as the boat was sailing from Oak Bluffs to Woods Hole.

Dispute Over View at Tashmoo Overlook Could Be Getting Clearer

A long-running dispute between the town of Tisbury and a pair of private landowners over maintaining views across the Tashmoo Overlook is closer to being resolved, the town selectmen said this week.
At their meeting Tuesday the Tisbury selectmen worked to finalize wording on a memorandum of understanding between the town and the Payette family.

Wet June

We had a wet spring. June has been extremely wet and we are still nine days from the last day of the month. As of Tuesday, the Vineyard received 5.98 inches of rainfall in the first 18 days of the month. Rainfall is measured at the National Weather Service cooperative station in Edgartown.

Since June arrived, the Vineyard has received measurable rainfall on 13 of those 18 days. We’ve had three June days when more than an inch of rain fell.

February remains the wettest month of the year, so far, with 6.63 inches of precipitation.

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