A Taste of the Vineyard draws record crowd

Incredible sense of community at forefront of Thursday’s summer kickoff event.

Although the weatherman said rain, the weather was clear for the start of the iconic two-day event in Edgartown that typically indicates the start of summer.  Guests in floor-length dresses and tailored suits gathered on the lawn of the historic Dr. Daniel Fisher House on Main Street and enjoyed everything from PBRs in red solos…

Feds cut global ocean-observing network

Amid future data loss, two Menemsha fishermen join effort to collect bottom-water temperature.

The federal government’s new plans to dismantle a deep sea system worth hundreds of millions of dollars means weather forecasts, which any New Englander knows are already unpredictable, may become even more so. As the scientific world reels from the loss of years of future data on the goings-ons of the ocean, two Menemsha fishermen…

The music ‘Comes in Waves’ for Carly Simon

A new album by the legendary singer-songwriter is coming out in full on August 14.

After a recording hiatus of nearly 20 years, Carly Simon is back with a new studio album, called “Comes in Waves,” which releases in full on August 14. The first single, titled “Howl,” was released on YouTube this Tuesday. Simon, a Grammy award winning singer-songwriter and inductee into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame,…

The scoop on change

In a shifting Island business landscape, the Ice Box is one of many stores to change hands.

To the long list of changes in ownership of Island businesses that includes the legendary Linda Jeans in Oak Bluffs and even stalwart enterprises like the Chappy Ferry in Edgartown, add The Ice Box, a seasonal ice-cream shop in the Tisbury Marketplace.  The Ice Box transaction deed shows that Salopia LLC sold the Ice Box…

Nobody hurt after Chappaquiddick home lost in fire

Updated June 11 A fire on Chappaquiddick Island burned a house to the ground early Thursday morning. The Edgartown Fire Department wrote in a social media post Thursday that it received a 2 am call for a house fire on Chappaquiddick. Before first responders arrived, the resident and her dog were able to safely exit…

M.V. Shellfish celebrates 50

Shellfish constables and the public gather for the 50th anniversary of the Martha’s Vineyard Shellfish Group featuring a short documentary “50 Years at the Shellfish Group” about all the work it takes to keep the Island shellfish thriving. The celebration took place at the Grange Hall in West Tisbury on Tuesday, June 9, and included…

A lot to celebrate

With the World Cup and the nation’s 250th birthday, a new state law could extend drinking hours.

Bars and restaurants across the Island are gearing up for big summer crowds that may be made even bigger by the World Cup and America’s 250th birthday party.  This Friday, Team USA will play its opener in the World Cup against Paraguay at Boston’s Gillette Stadium, and Brazil will face off against Morocco on Saturday,…

What $49 million can buy you

Edgartown property hits global market for a record asking price.

A coastal compound in Edgartown with sweeping views and a cluster of parcels for possible multigenerational living is making waves in the real estate industry this week, and if it goes for  asking price, another real estate record for the state would be set by the Vineyard. The property is named Great Point and located…

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Environment

If at first you don’t succeed …

LG Sonic Buoy results were mixed but hopeful.

Earlier this spring, the Chilmark Pond Foundation held a community briefing and presentation to discuss the results of the 2025 LG Sonic MPC-Buoy launch, dredging efforts, and a preview of its 2025 Chilmark Pond Ecosystem Monitoring report. The MV Times covered the first launch of the LG Sonic MPC-Buoy, which took place in July 2025.…

Health

Breaking down the Island’s food waste

Composters are now in Vineyard public schools. 

With the press of a few commands displayed on a touchscreen monitor, the Martha’s Vineyard Public Charter School’s new composter whirs to life as the internal blades rotate inside the metal container and paddle leftover food inside. An earthy, vinegary-sweet odor quickly fills the air next to the machine. The composter is managed by Charter…

Housing

MVC fights to keep power over Chapter 40B reviews

The lawsuit challenges a ruling made by a state agency in April. 

With its authority to review housing developments in flux, the Martha’s Vineyard Commission (MVC) is attempting to reverse the ruling that reduced its power in court.  In Dukes County Superior Court, the MVC and the Edgartown zoning board of appeals jointly filed a challenge against the Massachusetts Housing Appeals Committee (HAC) and Edgartown Gardens LLC,…

Education

MVRHS graduation launches seniors into the world

The high school graduated 173 seniors at the Tabernacle Sunday.

About 600 people converged onto the Tabernacle for the Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School’s (MVRHS) 67th Commencement Ceremony on a sunny Sunday afternoon.  Donning white regalia and an array of stoles ranging from the school’s traditional purple to U.S. and Brazilian flags, the graduating seniors took in speeches by their classmates and school officials and…

Politics

Chilmark plans special town meeting to cover costs

Chilmark is asking voters to return for another round of voting, just weeks after their five-hour-long annual town meeting, in order to cover certain costs in the town budget.  The town scheduled a special town meeting for June 29 at 7 pm at the Chilmark Community Center to cover various pieces of funding. The decision…

Cops and Courts

State deems hunter shooting to be accidental

The Massachusetts Environmental Police deemed the shooting of a hunter on the Island over the winter as an accident. State officials say the victim is still recovering at home.  In December, a man was shot in the abdomen while hunting in Manuel F. Correllus State Forest, a day before shotgun season ended. According to a…

Immigration

UPDATED: Father detained by ICE released

Rogerio da Silva Lima was scheduled to be released by Wednesday at noon. 

Updated May 27. The father and teenage son who were out fishing together before they were taken into ICE custody were ordered by federal judges to be released from the custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in the past week. The son, 15-year-old Nycolas de Al Varenga Lima, has already returned to the…

Ferry and transportation

Oak Bluffs welcomes first ferry of the summer

In another sign of the upcoming summer season, the Steamship Authority (SSA) brought a little more fanfare to the annual opening of the Oak Bluffs terminal this year. The SSA hosted its inaugural “First Ferry” event on Thursday, with organizers celebrating as the crew of the ferry Martha’s Vineyard brought Oak Bluffs’ first batch of…

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