Woman flown to Boston after SSA crash
Updated July 9. A medical emergency involving the driver of a white car careering into the walls of a Steamship Authority (SSA) ferry prompted swift action by first responders at the Vineyard Haven terminal Wednesday. The incident occurred before 10 am as the MV Island Home was boarding vehicles for the 9:30 am departure from…
Civil suit against Aimee Cotton paused
Proceedings of a wrongful death lawsuit brought against Aimee Cotton, 42, are on pause after her attorneys filed a motion to stay the case, citing her ongoing criminal charges that stem from the same incident. The motion submitted by Cotton’s attorney, Marielise Kelly, contended that continuing with discovery in the civil case would violate Cotton’s…
Progress made on affordable duplexes in West Tisbury
At a construction site in West Tisbury, a cluster of duplexes is almost completed in a project by the nonprofit Island Housing Trust (IHT). Shared front porches are still empty, the grass has yet to be planted, construction dust still hangs in the air, and the four buildings still await finished house siding. But for…
Heavy rain floods Beach Road
Heavy rain and choppy seas impacted travel for many on the Vineyard Tuesday. While the National Weather Service forecast the Island would see less than two inches of rain Tuesday at most, Vineyard Haven was hit hard with flooding at Five Corners and a stretch of Beach Road. Both are major transportation routes, especially to…
Mako shark mascot to make waves next year
Regional high school students will officially begin the upcoming school year with a mascot meant to blow the competition out of the water — or into it. A decisive vote at the Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School (MVRHS) committee meeting on Monday night sealed the deal for students to purchase a mako shark mascot costume,…
One emergency call dominoes into several at Five Corners
A medical call, an ambulance collision, and a police officer struck by a vehicle created a chaotic scene Monday at Five Corners. Heavy rain and ferry diversions also contributed to traffic jams at the busy intersection. The string of incidents began with a medical call from Beach Street Extension midday Monday. At the time of…
Oak Bluffs officials say fireworks caused beach grass fire
Updated. A grass fire early Saturday morning in Oak Bluffs is under investigation after fireworks set off by individuals on the beach ignited dry beach grass, officials said. Oak Bluffs Fire and EMS were dispatched around 1:33 a.m. for a report of a brush fire on the beach in front of 65 Seaview Ave, across…
A patriotic march down Main Street
The buzz of excitement and loud chatter from thousands of attendees draped in red, white, and blue echoed throughout Edgartown on Saturday afternoon as the 182nd annual Fourth of July Parade, on the nation’s 250th birthday, marched its way along the town’s narrow streets. With a heat wave advisory from the National Weather Service, families…
Hospital president’s first summer at the helm
Claire Seguin is stepping into her first summer leading the largest provider of healthcare for Martha’s Vineyard. As new president and chief operating officer, she’s been the face of the hospital for the past six months. She took over the position just before the Island was rocked by winter storms that downed trees and blocked…
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Environment
How much more can the Island handle?
A 1.5-mile drive on Edgartown–Vineyard Haven Road took 40 minutes. It felt impossible to send a text or get a call through. Parking at State Beach was haphazard and unattainable. Want a quick cup of coffee? Forget it. These inconveniences and disruptions didn’t overshadow the patriotic spirit of the annual parades or obscure the bursts…
Health
Yommi and Morning Dew Juice open new storefront
After the Island’s business landscape shifted over a harsh winter, the summer has ushered in a new set of storefronts. Among them are four Islanders who recently moved from farmer’s market stands to a shop on State Road in Vineyard Haven. The space previously housed Pie Chicks, but now, handpainted white lettering on the front…
Housing
More Island towns back MVC’s Chapter 40B fight
As the Martha’s Vineyard Commission (MVC) continues litigation to retain its ability to review Chapter 40B projects, several Island towns have decided to back the planning authority. Starting with the Chilmark Select Board on June 17, a total of four Vineyard town select boards decided to send letters to state legislators who represent the Island,…
Education
Vineyard youth head to Gillette for World Cup
A large crowd of approximately 64,146 people gathered at Gillette Stadium for the FIFA World Cup, in Foxborough last Friday to watch the match between France and Norway. Among them was a group of 16 eager Island soccer fans from the Martha’s Vineyard Boys & Girls Club and four chaperones, who stood out in the…
Politics
Chilmark speeds through budget-balance vote
At a special town meeting lasting about five minutes, Chilmark voters unanimously approved the town allocating $200,000 of unused funds to balance its budget. About 50 Chilmarkers gathered at the Chilmark Community Center for the meeting Monday night. Prior to the vote, Chilmark Select Board member Rebecca Haag read a statement by fellow board member…
Cops and Courts
Heat, flooding, and mayhem
The holiday weekend’s commemoration of the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Declaration of Independence brought packed parades, booming firework displays, and an unrelenting heat wave. Days of soaring temperatures, which felt even hotter due to high humidity, were interrupted by torrents of rain and choppy seas that combined to create flooding on Beach Road and…
Immigration
On fishing and freedom
The father and his son had always been knotted together through a shared love of fishing, a narrative throughline from their homeland in Brazil and throughout their journey as immigrants to America. When his son was just a little boy, the father provided him with a bamboo pole to go for tilapia in the pond…
Ferry and transportation
New SSA terminal opens in Woods Hole
Updated July 1. As the Island enters the heart of summer and visitors sail in from the mainland, ferry passengers will be welcomed in Woods Hole at the Steamship Authority’s newly completed terminal, a project that was fraught with controversy throughout more than a decade of development. The new terminal building for the Steamship Authority…
