Thursday, June 19, 2025

Essays

Re-entry isn’t easy, although another Vineyard summer will come

Almost every day since I've been back from the Vineyard, I've walked my dogs around Fresh Pond, the local reservoir in Cambridge, a city of 100,000.

How about a cookie for us?

I have been very troubled for quite some time about an issue of great concern to all Vineyard lovers, near and far.

One rooster finds a happy home

A mournful crowing for a couple of days, in other yards.

Where to from here for Martha’s Vineyard Housing Fund

Several years ago, a property located at the corner of Dukes County Avenue and Masonic Avenue in Oak Bluffs captured the attention of the Island Affordable Housing Fund (IAHF), the neighborhood and eventually the entire Island.

TTOR – a winter’s preparation for Martha’s vineyard summer

Summer has arrived and with it fishermen, kayakers, beach walkers, swimmers, and more. TTOR's Martha's Vineyard properties are ready.

Round us a roundabout

A request to the powers that be to confirm a legacy franchise grant for the establishment of a for-a-fee comfort station at the new roundabout.

New Medicare rule endangers access for home care patients

For thousands of homebound and chronically ill older Massachusetts citizens, getting the home care they need just became more challenging in ways that will have cost implications for the entire delivery system and care implications for patients.

A debate: Pay down Tisbury’s multi-million liability, or not

Tisbury's finance and advisory committee has debated whether to begin funding the town's other post-employment benefits (OP-EB) liability, estimated at between $13- and $20 million, depending on certain assumptions.

In West Tisbury – Time to grow a library for all

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Nelia Decker stopped by the other day and we found ourselves reminiscing about our time together — she as children's librarian and me as a library trustee.

Looking back down a long line of Christmas trees

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My advancing age is being measured out in store-bought Christmas trees. We bought a Christmas tree from Tea Lane Nurseries again this year. Salty sold us a beautiful Frazier fir, just the right size...

Red Stocking Fund – a mission of unmixed caring for children

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Last Friday, after weeks of shopping, wrapping, packing, and fundraising, Red Stocking joyfully distributed clothing, food, and toys to 419 Vineyard children from 274 families.

Are you Christmas or Hanukkah?

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At my elementary school growing up, the teachers would have us form a long line outside the door before we could enter the school in the morning.

After all these years, waterfowling still

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Weeks before the November 18 arrival of the Vineyard's waterfowl hunting season, I was checking out my shotguns and decoys, refurbishing duck blinds and testing cold weather waders and hip boots for leaks.

Fair to offer immigrant services

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What Every Immigrant Needs to Know, hosted by the Martha's Vineyard Council for Young Children, is an informational fair with various providers offering services all should know about.

The schoolhouse beckons – for learners, it’s a matter of ardor, not mere facts

We haven't a lot of ceremony left in American life, alas, but commencements do go on, year after year, and in the grand tradition, with full, appropriate panoply, bringing together, as we see here today, people from all walks of life, all parts of the country, and indeed of the world, to pay tribute to genuinely worthy accomplishment.

A perfect heart

Following is a reflection on the life of Patricia Neal, who died August 8, at her Edgartown home.

We face a ‘silver tsunami’ and its accompanying health care costs

It's no secret that the baby boomer generation has influenced this country in areas from pop culture to politics and the economy.

Toward a framework for Martha’s Vineyard wind energy regulation

In the coming year the Vineyard and Gosnold communities will be deciding what kind of wind energy development we want, both on land and offshore in state and federal waters.

Step up to the school committee – somebody has to do it

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All five seats on the Up-Island Regional School District (UIRSD) committee will be up for election on the first Tuesday in November this year.

We promise safe, regulated beer and wine sales

As we wind up the town meeting season and head into the ballot there is one vote that many will be coming out on Tuesday to cast.