Woodin firing was ‘difficult decision’
By Timothy Sweet
Following extensive consideration and discussion, the Martha’s Vineyard Hospital board of trustees voted this morning to terminate the employment of Joseph Woodin as president and CEO of the hospital. This difficult decision...
A narrow ruling by the First Circuit Court of Appeals: A case analysis
The April 10 ruling by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit confirming the Wampanoag Tribe’s right to operate an electronic bingo parlor on tribal land in Aquinnah was narrowly focused. The...
'Community policing' article is indeed warranted
There is some confusion about the “community policing” article that is on the warrant in each town (March 29, “Is Island-wide warrant article on police policy warranted?”).
Some say it adds nothing, because the police...
Taking up turf
One walk on the high school athletic fields leads to the obvious conclusion that the fields are in dire need of a significant upgrade. Right now, with no sign of the sparse grass coming...
Our Vineyard housing crisis, thinking outside the box
The shortage of affordable housing on Martha’s Vineyard is clearly a major crisis and requires some creative “outside the box” solutions.
As a real estate professional, father, and grandfather, I have critical concerns about the...
Planning for an Island Marshall Plan
Hopefully, by now you know that officials across Martha’s Vineyard, working with professional consultants, will hold a series of three public meetings in each town, beginning next week, to talk about the Island’s housing...
Why care about housing?
By Daniel Seidman, All-Island Planning Board housing work group
Why should you care about housing if you have acquired your piece of Martha’s Vineyard? Or locked down a 12-month lease you can afford? You did...
Visiting physician’s statements about Lyme disease require correction
Dr. Nevena Zubcevik’s suggestion during her recent appearance at grand rounds at Martha’s Vineyard Hospital (July 14, “Visiting physician sheds new light on Lyme disease”) that “recent research debunks several commonly held beliefs about...
Sorting through science and belief on Martha’s Vineyard
There has been a lot of focus on addiction in general, and the opioid crisis in particular, on Martha’s Vineyard recently. The discussion on social media and in local venues is passionate, and sheds...
We reap what we sow
After a period of relatively moderate growth between 2007 and 2012, the tax levy for the Town of West Tisbury has risen steadily and dramatically over the past four years:
5.5 percent in 2013
...
It’s time to bag the plastic
We’ve all used them. If you are anything like me, you might have an unruly kitchen drawer, frustrating all attempts at properly closing, from which glimpses of plastic handles protrude. Or maybe it’s a...
A seawall for the greater good
The town of Oak Bluffs is committed to planning for the impacts of climate change on our shoreline. The North Bluff seawall replacement project is one part of this planning effort. We are working...
Chilmark must address the need
Chilmark has long recognized the importance of affordable housing to the well-being of the town. Without housing for people who were born and raised here, without housing for those who teach our children, police...
Why we said no to the West Tisbury budget
In an unprecedented decision, we, the members of the West Tisbury Finance Committee, voted to “not recommend” the warrant article enabling the town to spend money on its budget. The reasons are simple.
By current...
Commentary: MVC planner, not climate czar needed
Having lived for better than 80 years (40 full-time on this Island) I know climate changes. I was here for the blizzard of ’78, and plenty of hot humid days since. And I was...
Smart wastewater management needed
Sooner or later, the nitrogen pollution threatening the health of Martha's Vineyard coastal ponds will affect us all. Some, because we swim, fish, kayak, or sail in the Island’s 27 saltwater or brackish ponds,...
No sense in solar mediocrity
A client of ours recently asked, "What's the story with this noisy solar installation in Edgartown?" (MVTimes, Sept. 25, “Solar array generates electricity, contractor generates complaints”). We will tell you what we told her,...
The automatic association of Lyme disease with deer may be flawed
Although last winter was particularly severe both in its cold and snow cover, many Vineyarders complained early this summer that there were more ticks than ever. This is intriguing because the proliferation of these...
The promise of Cape Wind
This winter found many of us trying to get inside from the cold, where the comforts of modern life awaited — warmth, lights, electronics, appliances, and a hot meal.
You may not have realized it,...