Postal service lacking basic transparency
The higher-ups in the U.S. Postal Service on Martha’s Vineyard have some explaining to do. The Times has tried on numerous occasions to get even the most straightforward information from the service, only to...
A needed boost for abortion access
Women should be able to get an abortion in the U.S. if they so choose, as a majority of Americans believe.
But the right to an abortion and access to safe abortions are different issues....
Where are we going with the turf debate?
Voters on Martha’s Vineyard should be concerned about who is representing their interests on the Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School School Committee.
Three town meetings on the Vineyard this spring voted very decisively against the...
Juneteenth: A time for celebration, yes, but also for reflection
Martha’s Vineyard will be brimming with Juneteenth celebrations this weekend. The Amistad — a replica of a slave ship that was taken over by a group of enslaved people in the 1830s — will...
Be wary of the Tisbury police boat
The Tisbury Select Board’s waffling on a proposal to introduce a police patrol boat to Vineyard Haven is unfortunate. The proposal seems more like the town is looking for a solution to a problem...
Massachusetts needs to own nitrogen cleanup
The town of Tisbury deserves praise for developing a plan to address wastewater issues in Tashmoo and the rest of the community. With Massachusetts regulators proposing new, statewide Title 5 regulations, Martha’s Vineyard residents...
Consider the coyote
It could be only a matter of time before Martha’s Vineyard has a breeding coyote population. The public has reported coyote sightings up-Island. Wildlife experts differ, but some estimate there could be up to...
What the bots are saying about Martha’s Vineyard’s seasonal economy
Below is an editorial generated by Chat GPT-4, an open-source, Artificial Intelligence “chatbot.” The editorial staff at The Times simply asked Chat GPT (by typing into a chat search bar): “Generate an editorial on...
Review of school committee membership warranted
There has been a spotlight on the MVRHS School Committee the past several months. Many voters have shared their frustration over the committee’s ongoing lawsuit in support of a synthetic turf field; some have...
Let the flags fly
The reluctance of the Oak Bluffs Select Board to allow certain flags to fly is overly restrictive, and creates a perception of intolerance.
The town’s select board has quarreled off and on for more than...
Happy Earth Day
“Our heedless and destructive acts enter into the vast cycles of the earth and in time return to bring hazard to ourselves.” –Rachel Carson, testifying before a congressional subcommittee 70 years ago
Earth Day is...
Settle before it gets worse
West Tisbury residents at town meeting last week voted to reject the Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School’s proposed budget.
The vote — which was overwhelming — was in protest of the MVRHS School Committee’s lawsuit...
Keep Oak Bluffs’ vibe alive
The Oak Bluffs Select Board voted last week to move up the closing time for bars an extra half-hour. With that, last call will be earlier as well — the same time as Edgartown...
Keeping housing momentum rolling
More than 200 Vineyarders — with fellow Islanders from Nantucket — assembled at the State House last month, demanding the passage of legislation that would help the development of workforce and affordable housing across...
Keep Tashmoo open
Lake Tashmoo is a gem of Martha’s Vineyard.
Many locals flock there to take in a sunset, to watch the seabirds, or to quahog and fish; it’s a calm spot, and generations of families have...
Voting by mail should be an option
The decision by Tisbury not to allow voting by mail during the town election in the spring is puzzling.
Tisbury is the only town on Martha’s Vineyard that will be opting out of what has...
A more modern democracy
Massachusetts lawmakers appear ready to allow cities and towns to hold remote meetings for another two years. The current rules expire at the end of the month if lawmakers don’t reach a deal, which...
Reap what we sow
We were stunned to read in an email from Island Grown Initiative that there are now approximately 4,000 registered clients at the Island Food Pantry — nearly 20 percent of the year-round population, IGI...
Comment option has returned
After much anticipation, we are bringing our online comment option back.
Providing maximum latitude to commenters, insulating readers who like the idea of comments but can be alienated by the harsh voice many commenters adopt,...
Make events free for students
The Martha's Vineyard Regional High School Committee has made sporting events — aside from playoffs — free for students for the rest of the year. We applaud them for that.
The committee is also considering...