Who will review Edgartown Cove?
The Edgartown zoning board of appeals (ZBA) unanimously voted to refer the already-controversial Edgartown Cove project to the Martha’s Vineyard Commission (MVC) during its first review on Wednesday, but a consultant hired by the town said a state ruling from the spring complicates the matter. The uncertain territory that was referenced at the meeting was…
Tisbury home condemned for alleged overcrowding
A home in Tisbury was condemned by town officials this week after an inspection revealed alleged overcrowded conditions, which town records show to have been a pattern over three years. The condemned home on 182 Lake St. is owned by Khanh and Quynh Tran, who also go by the first names John and Selena. The…
Heading for a clash over new housing proposal
A new housing proposal backed by a developer who is behind some of the most contentious projects in recent Island history is already fanning the flames of ongoing conflict with the Martha’s Vineyard Commission (MVC). The project and the developer William Cumming are again bringing into sharp focus the question of whether the MVC has…
MVRHS golfer earns strong state placement
Jacoby Light, the senior captain of the Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School (MVRHS) varsity boys’ golf team, closed out his high school career during the state championship at the Franklin Country Club Monday. He represented MVRHS with a 17th-place finish out of 104 golfers in the Massachusetts Division 2 tournament.
One more tug
Dave Balon caught his biggest bluefish (16.33 pounds) ever on the last day of the Derby. He is currently in third place for shore bluefish in Octoberfish. —Lisa Belcastro Kevin Lord was out for a sunset drive on Chappy with his wife Leigh when he spotted people catching fish. He grabbed his rod, got soaked,…
A tempest in Tisbury Town Hall
Updated Oct. 28. The curtain seems to have closed on a yearlong drama that town officials say undercut the Tisbury planning board’s ability to function at full capacity and cost the town thousands in legal fees.
Harbor Homes winter shelter opens Nov. 1 with new director
Updated Oct. 28 at 11:55 am. The only nonprofit and shelter that assists unhoused people on the Island is entering the fall season with a new shelter director and a plan, as homelessness on Martha’s Vineyard continues to rise.
Vineyard soccer beats Cape Cod 6-0
Moses Thomson (No. 19) takes a long free kick. —Nicholas Vukota Victor Daghetti (No. 10) controls the ball with pressure on. —Nicholas Vukota Davi De Souza (No. 15) battles for ball control. —Nicholas Vukota Moses Thomson (No. 19) defends the ball from a slide tackle. —Nicholas Vukota Victor Daghetti (No. 10) scores on a free…
Study on Lyme disease includes Martha’s Vineyard
After a warm October weekend, 165 Islanders lined up to donate their blood at the Agricultural Hall and Morning Glory Farm for a study on the public health burden of tick-borne conditions, specifically chronic or persisting Lyme disease. A mini-laboratory was set up under the wooden rafters of the Agricultural Hall on Oct. 12 for…
Lula wins Brazilian presidential reelection
Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, president of Brazil. —Wikimedia Commons Updated Oct. 28. Brazil’s President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, often referred to as Lula, was re-elected Sunday after the electoral court announced he had 4.4 million votes (51.8 percent) over Flávio Bolsonaro.
Two state troopers suspended in relation to barracks rape case
Updated Oct. 28. Massachusetts State Police suspended two troopers, Ryan Costello and Robert Branca, with pay, on Thursday, Oct. 22, for what officials said was their conduct in connection to an individual who was a guest at the State Police barracks on-Island and is now accused of rape in an incident that occurred there in…
A new Menemsha–New Bedford ferry service?
With a vision to eliminate transportation hurdles for up-Island residents, Hugh Taylor is pitching a water taxi between Menemsha and New Bedford. Taylor, who leases a lot in Mememsha, presented his proposal to the Aquinnah Select Board on Oct. 20, and noted that this maritime connection would allow up-Island residents to avoid the hassle of…
Sheriff’s Meadow receives largest land acquisition in its history
One of the largest land trusts on the Island just got a little bigger. In “an historic agreement” announced Thursday, the Vineyard Open Land Foundation (VOLF) handed over stewardship of all its lands to Sheriff’s Meadow Foundation, the largest conservation land acquisition in Sheriff’s Meadow’s history, according to a press release. “We are honored that the…
Years-long project for Tisbury dinghy docks completed
Updated Oct. 27. The Tisbury Harbor Department announced Friday the completion of a $66,000 project to extend the Lake Street dinghy docks to help alleviate overcrowding in the summer months.
SSA hires first workforce training and development manager
The Steamship Authority (SSA) announced Friday that it had hired its first workforce training and development manager: Simone Aguilera, a trilingual learning and training professional. According to the press release, Aguilera, who officially entered her role on Monday, will be coordinating the SSA’s “twice-yearly Training and Development Expo,” a two-week event in which various training…
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The High School View
SWEAR retreat empowers fight against sexual assault
Last Sunday, members of the group Stand With Everyone Against Rape (SWEAR) embarked on their annual two-day retreat off-Island to Camp Burgess in Sandwich, where students and faculty engaged in…
Running on empty: Students fall short on sleep
For many students at Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School (MVRHS), getting enough sleep can be difficult. Between homework, sports, extracurricular activities, jobs, and time spent on phones, students often find…
Turning things around: Football team makes their comeback
Last Friday night, Zeke Vought, the new head football coach of the Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School (MVRHS) led the team to an exciting overtime victory against Monomoy at the…
Environment
Scallop season set for each Island town
Opening dates are set for the scallop season in Oak Bluffs after the town’s select board passed the recommendations of the town’s shellfish committee. According to Oak Bluffs Select Board meeting minutes from Sept. 22, the opening date for recreational shellfishing was Oct. 17 in Sengekontacket Pond, with commercial shellfishing beginning on Oct. 26 for…
Health
A grand opening for M.V. Community Services’ new headquarters
After 18 months of construction, the new campus and headquarters of Martha’s Vineyard Community Services (MVCS) was officially opened Friday afternoon in a ribbon-cutting ceremony. The campus at 111 Edgartown–Vineyard Haven Road, across from Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School, has served Islanders for six decades. The new headquarters, built by West Tisbury-based South Mountain Co.,…
Housing
Katama Meadows overwhelmingly denied by MVC
This is the print edition of this story, updated Oct. 21. One of the largest housing proposals ever evaluated by the Martha’s Vineyard Commission (MVC) was overwhelmingly rejected Oct. 15 after seven long and heated sessions in which commissioners weighed not only the plan in front of them but also the consequential impacts of vast…
Education
High school serves up discussion about varsity volleyball program
A varsity volleyball program at Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School (MVRHS) was raised as a possibility during an MVRHS committee meeting Monday. Volleyball is currently a recreational club at MVRHS. All recreational, or intramural, sports are required to “exist successfully” for a minimum of two years before changing to a varsity program, according to MVRHS…
Politics
Early voting underway as Island counts down to midterm election
The whole country is counting down to the much-anticipated midterm elections, which will determine the congressional sway of a divided country and serve as a referendum of sorts on the presidency of Donald Trump. While Massachusetts isn’t a battleground state, there’s still excitement, which could be seen when Islanders congregated at Five Corners in Tisbury…
Cops and Courts
State Police close door on overnight guests at barracks
Updated Oct. 21, 5:34 pm. The Massachusetts State Police barracks located at 51 Temahigan Ave. in Oak Bluffs is officially closing its doors to overnight guests at the temporary housing units where troopers stay during seasonal assignments on the Island and Nantucket.
Immigration
Brazil’s fateful presidential election heads to a second round
Logo of the Consulate General of Brazil in Boston. Updated Oct. 8. The first round of Brazil’s presidential election took place Sunday, Oct. 4, and Brazilians voters on Martha’s Vineyard were able to cast their ballots in Framingham and Malden.
Ferry and transportation
SSA standby line still nixed
After public outcry from Falmouth, the Steamship Authority (SSA) board opted not to reinstate a general standby line. The board unanimously voted on Oct. 27 to keep using only the Blue Line, a standby line meant only for Islanders, a change that was implemented last year over concerns about congestion from construction in Woods Hole…
Opinion
Ballot Question 7 addresses affordable housing
As the clock ticks down to what is expected to be a historic midterm election on Tuesday, Nov. 3, Islanders will have plenty to consider in this election cycle, from…
Understanding ballot question 7
To the Editor: Question 7 on the November ballot would require every Massachusetts town to allow a single-family home on any lot of 5,000 square feet with 50 feet of…
Keep Island Theatre for the arts
To the Editor: With businesses leaving town (Basics, Linda Jean’s, Phillips Hardware, Murdick’s, etc.), this is the perfect opportunity to encourage business growth within the downtown area year-round. I strongly…
