News in Brief

Posted April 13, 2006

Driver smashes into Park Corner Bistro
A section of wall was damaged when the car jumped the curb and hit the side of the restaurant.

An elderly driver mistakenly pressed the gas pedal of her car and slammed into the side of the Park Corner Bistro Restaurant in Oak Bluffs Monday. There were no diners in the restaurant at the time, and the driver was unhurt.

"Her foot slipped," said Jesse Martin, restaurant co-owner. "She was very apologetic. It wasn't as bad as it could have been."

The wall has been repaired, and the restaurant will be open for business this evening, Mr. Martin said.

SSA proposes to adjust same day reservation policy
The Steamship Authority (SSA) members will meet in New Bedford Tuesday. The agenda will include a management request to allow ticket holders to change vehicle reservations on the day of sailing.

Wayne Lamson, SSA general manager, said that in the course of revamping the SSA web site, management reviewed the policy that prevents an Islander from changing a reservation to an earlier or later time on the same day. "It did not make sense to me," said Mr. Lamson, "especially in the off-season when there is lots of space."

The policy change has the support of Marc Hanover of Oak Bluffs, the Vineyard member. "The whole point is to make things easier for the customer," said Mr. Hanover. "I think it will be a real enhancement."

Management will also introduce the boatline's revamped web site. Mr. Lamson said many of the changes came about as a result of a close working relationship with Mark Snider, a seasonal resident of Edgartown and owner of the Winnetu Inn and Resort in Katama. Mr. Snider has been a candidate for Vineyard member in the past.

Mr. Snider approached Mr. Hanover last year with some suggestions for improvements that would be more customer-oriented. The end result was a close working relationship between boatline management and Mr. Snider.

"He volunteered an unbelievable amount of time over the last five or six months," said Mr. Lamson, who credited Mr. Snider with helping management to approach the web site from a different vantage point. "He really put us in the position of a customer looking for information."

One change is that travelers who want to check on the availability of vehicle space do not need a profile number until they actually want to make a reservation.

"I think people will find it easier to navigate and get information," said Mr. Lamson.

VNA introduces File of Life Program in Tisbury
The File of Life Program is designed to provide public safety officials such as police and emergency medical technicians with critical information at times when someone may not be able to communicate effectively, due to illness or injury.

On Thursday the Martha's Vineyard Community Services Visiting Nurse Service will introduce the File of Life Program from 10 am to 12 noon at the Tisbury Council on Aging on Pine Tree Road in Vineyard Haven with the cooperation of the Tisbury Board of Health, the Tisbury Council on Aging and the Tisbury Ambulance Service.

Residents with severe medical problems, seniors, and other interested citizens are provided a free File of Life packet that consists of a program door decal, a File of Life Information Card, and a vinyl cardholder for placement on a refrigerator door.

The File of Life records personal information concerning medical conditions, drug allergies, emergency contact numbers for friends and family members, doctors' information, prescription information, and any special circumstances of which rescue personnel should be aware. To facilitate registration, those planning to attend are asked to bring the following: a list of medical conditions; medications, including the dosage; and medical insurance cards. For more information, call the Visiting Nurse Service at 508-693-7900 x255

Charity poker game will benefit Rotary and Big Brothers Big Sisters
The Rotary Club of Martha's Vineyard and Big Brothers Big Sisters will hold a No Limit Texas Hold'em Charity Poker Tournament on Saturday, April 29 at Farm Neck Golf Club in Oak Bluffs.

First prize is a $1,000 cash equivalent prize, with second and third place winners taking home $750 and $500 cash equivalent prizes, respectively. An ongoing silent auction will also be held throughout the evening.

For those new to the finer points of the Texas game, Ashley Adams, a professional poker player and author of several books on the art of playing poker, will provide a 30-minute instructional session starting at 6 pm.

Registration begins at 5 pm and play begins at 7 pm sharp. Players must be over 21 years of age, and play is limited to the first 100 entries. The entry fee is $100 prior to April 21 and $125 thereafter.

Money raised will benefit charities supported by the Rotary Club of Martha's Vineyard and Big Brothers Big Sisters. For more information, call 508-627-3337.

Help MVC plan your future
A steering committee appointed by the Martha's Vineyard Commission has begun work on an Island master plan, and the committee wants Vineyarders to describe what kind of future they want for the Island. Islanders will be asked to respond to a survey and join a network of people who will contribute to the planning effort.

The survey, which may be found at islandplan.org is the first of many. It asks about the purpose, priorities, and principles of the plan itself. Copies of the survey are also available at all Island libraries.

The MVC plans to create a network of planning advisors who have interest in the planning process. They will be asked for comment at key times in the planning work through surveys, forums, work groups, and other planning activities. Members will also be invited to comment on draft documents. Survey respondents will be given an opportunity to join the network.

For further information, contact Mark London at 693-3453 or london@mvcommission.org.

Services Saturday for Marilyn Morse
Marilyn J. Morse, 66, of Oak Bluffs and Duxbury, died unexpectedly at her Island home on April 10.

Services will be held at the Shepherd Funeral Home, 216 Main St. (Rte. 106), Kingston, on Saturday, April 15, visiting hours will be from 2 to 4 pm, with a service immediately following at 4 pm. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Tabernacle Restoration Fund, Martha's Vineyard Campmeeting Association, P.O. Box 1176, Oak Bluffs, MA 02557.

A full obituary will appear in next week's Times.

Firefighters remove injured SSA employee
Tisbury firefighters were called to the Vineyard Haven Steamship Authority terminal Wednesday afternoon to help remove a boatline employee who sustained a head injury.

Firefighters had a tough time navigating the narrow confines below deck on the ferry, Tisbury Fire Chief John Schilling said. The extent of the employee's injury was not known at press time.

Nominations sought for Creative Living Award
The Permanent Endowment Fund for Martha's Vineyard is currently accepting nominations for candidates to receive the Creative Living Award for 2006, established and funded by Ruth Redding in 1983 in honor of her friend, Ruth J. Bogan.

The award honors Islanders whose lives reflect the "luminous and creative" spirit that marked Ruth J. Bogan's versatility in photography, painting, sculpture, jewelry, cooking, gardening, and in encouraging fine craftsmanship, creativity, and ingenuity in others, according to a press release. Nominees should reflect these qualities of creativity and caring within their lives every day and should serve to promote these qualities throughout the Vineyard Community.

Previous recipients include MJ Bruder Munafo, Stan Murphy, Gus Ben David, and Art Buchwald.

The deadline for nominations is April 25. Letters of nomination, detailing how each candidate represents the spirit of this award, should be forwarded to the Permanent Endowment Fund for Martha's Vineyard/ Creative Living Award Nominations, Box 1774, Edgartown, MA 02539 or e-mailed to gail@permanentendowmv.org.

MVC approves Kennedy Red Gate Farm estate plan
The Martha's Vineyard Commission (MVC) last Thursday approved an estate plan proposed by Caroline Kennedy and Edwin Schlossberg for a subdivision of their Red Gate Farm property in Aquinnah.

Red Gate Farm, formerly owned by Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, consists of 31 separate parcels on 366 acres off Moshup Trail, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean and Squibnocket Pond. The approved plan would create seven large lots, to include the 106-acre family homestead lot, three equally-sized lots for the Kennedy-Schlossberg children, two lots which could be sold to pay taxes and/or expenses, and one lot declared forever non-buildable, to preserve the coastal environment.

The MVC reviewed the estate plan as a development of regional impact (DRI) because of the property's size. Throughout their review, the commissioners struggled with defining their oversight role in regulating development and addressing environmental concerns and habitat protection on the property years into the future, in concert with strict regulations already imposed by Aquinnah's town boards and state agencies.

"I feel that we need to respect the extraordinary efforts that the town has made by abrogating our responsibility, if you will, by trusting them to do some of the things that we usually insist on doing," Linda Sibley, MVC chairman, told the commissioners.

The MVC approved the plan, 10-2, with conditions as offered by Ms. Kennedy, and the additional condition of their own regarding wastewater systems and further subdivision and development.

Ms. Kennedy thanked the commissioners for their careful review. "We put a lot of care and effort into this plan, and a lot of thought. I believe it is such a special piece of property, and I know my children feel the same way. Obviously that sentiment is shared across the Island, so that is something that we're very conscious of," Ms. Kennedy said. "We do feel that we are stewards of this property and hope to be very happy here for many generations, and this plan really is a critical component in our ability to take care of the land."

Ms. Kennedy also offered to donate $100,000 to the Aquinnah Affordable Housing Committee and contribute up to $15,000 to the Mass Estuaries Project, a sum equivalent to Aquinnah's share of the cost.

Business Briefs

Child Magazine ranks Winnetu Inn as best Northeast family resort
The May 2006 issue of Child Magazine, now available on newsstands nationwide, ranked the Winnetu Oceanside Resort in Katama by South Beach as the best in the Northeast and listed it number two out of a short list of ten prestigious resorts in the U.S. as part of a special section on family travel.

The magazine's survey was the culmination of a six-month investigation, which examined more than 340 U.S. resorts that focus mainly on warm-weather travel, according to a press release.

This spring Winnetu will launch a new Island Adventure & Wellness Center that will include Aquatics, Pilates, Strength Training and Yoga classes, power walks and bicycle hikes. A new workout area has state-of-the-art Paramount™ circuit training equipment, free weights, designated stretching areas and a series of cardio machines.

A new Teen Program features a selection of bike trips, hikes, socials, fitness programs, tennis events and easy access to Main Street in Edgartown. The inn has also teamed up with Katama Farm Institute so that guests have the opportunity to join in farm activities.

For more information, visit www.winnetu.com, or call 978-443-1733.

Bank of Martha's Vineyard scholarship applications available
Bank of Martha's Vineyard, a division of Sovereign Bank, will award four $2,000 scholarships for Martha's Vineyard high school graduating seniors.

Applications may be picked up at the high school or Charter School guidance departments, or at any Bank of Martha's Vineyard branch. To be eligible, students must attend an accredited college or university and plan to pursue a business-related degree program.

Applicants with questions regarding the scholarships or application process should contact Mary Spencer at the Bank of Martha's Vineyard 508-696-4408 or e-mail mspence1@bankofmv.com.

"It's In the Bag" opens in new Main Street location
"It's In the Bag" recently moved a few doors from its former location to 58 Main Street in Vineyard Haven, formerly the site of the Thrift Shop and then Atlantic Traders.

Owner Amy Levine invites shoppers to visit. She has added a large selection of fun and fashionable women's shoes to her inventory of handbags, jewelry, cosmetics, hair accessories and more.

The store's grand reopening takes place tomorrow. Spring hours are Monday through Saturday, 10 am to 6 pm, and Sunday, 11 am to 4 pm.

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Correction:
In an article about Dominion Retail published last week, Kate Warner, director of the Vineyard Energy Project, estimated the average Vineyard family would save about $6 a month by switching from Cape Light Compact to Dominion Retail. She based her estimate on a cost difference of one cent per kilowatt-hour. In retrospect, Ms. Warner said the difference actually amounts to 2 cents per kilowatt-hour, or about $12 in savings each month.