Manmade dune riles former Edgartown selectman
By Lauren Folino
Published: May 28, 2009
Edgartown selectmen got an earful Tuesday from Bob Carroll, a former selectman and well-known businessman. Mr. Carroll complained about a large dune created on Bend-in-the-Road Beach during a recent dredging project. He said the newly created dune is ugly, it obscures the view of the water from the road, and blocks access to the beach.
"I have to tell you, if I was sitting behind that desk, the town bulldozer would be up there Saturday morning at 6 o'clock," Mr. Carroll said. "We'd have that damn heap straightened out by noontime."
The new dune is a result of a beach restoration project intended to expand the beach, jointly managed by the Edgartown parks and recreation department and the dredge committee.
Edgartown conservation agent Jane Varkonda explained that the beach restoration project is a multi-phase operation, which has been reviewed at public hearings.
Due to a lack of sand, the project could not be completed this year. Ms. Varkonda said the dredge committee plans to pump more sand from Sengekontacket Pond onto the beach this year and hopes to have 75 feet of beach at the bend by next winter.
"The park department and the dredge committee are going to do the best they can to make sure that the beach nourishment project happens at the Bend in the Road, and at Cow Bay next year," said Ms. Varkonda.
Selectman Margaret Serpa said that more communication is necessary between town officials and the public, so that people can be kept up to date on the plan's progress.
A meeting will be held by the park commissioners and the selectmen on Thursday at 10 am at the beach to discuss the course of action that will be taken.
In other business, the Vineyard will be getting a taste of Vermont this summer. Musically, at least.
Selectmen approved an application from Noel Donnellan and Christopher Walsh, owners of Nectar's nightclub in Burlington, Vt., for a seasonal liquor license at Outerland nightclub. Mr. Donnellan and Mr. Walsh were acting through the company Vineyard Venue LLC.
Outerland co-owner Barry Rosenthal closed the venue last fall and put it up for sale. In a previous conversation with The Times, Mr. Rosenthal said the costs of keeping the business going and the economic downturn were the reasons for closing the nightclub.
Nectar's of Vermont is a well-known restaurant and bar that has been headquarters to thousands of local and big-ticket acts since the 1970s. The nightclub has a strong relationship with the
members of jam band Phish, and according to co-owner Christopher Walsh, Nectar's on the Vineyard is working to get some of the members of the funky foursome to play on the Island this summer.
Mr. Donnellan and Mr. Walsh plan to open the club as soon as permitting is complete. They said they plan to be open Wednesday to Sunday, from 5 pm to 1 am until November 30.
Selectmen turned down a request from the owners of Vineyard Pedicab, a bicycle cab company, to operate in the town after the police chief expressed concern about safety and obstructing traffic.
