The Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School varsity boys hockey team lost 4-1 to Plymouth North in Buzzard’s Bay on Saturday. The Vineyard’s Jonas Lukowitz scored the first goal 12 minutes in, assisted by Joshua Forend, but Plymouth North’s Dylan Figueroa caught up early in the second period, and by the beginning of the third period, the Islanders were down 3-1. A score by Plymouth North’s Josh Kierstad sealed the game’s fate. Saturday’s contest left the Vineyard team with a 0-2 record, and 1-1-1 with Plymouth North.

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Dec. 17, 2015

Angela Gulinello, Vineyard Haven; DOB 2/11/81, assault and battery on a family/household member: dismissed at the request of the commonwealth and failure of alleged victim to cooperate; two additional charges of assault and battery on a family/household member: dismissed at the request of the commonwealth and failure of alleged victim to cooperate.

Angela Gulinello, Vineyard Haven; DOB 2/11/81, violate abuse prevention order: dismissed at the request of the commonwealth.

Vincent V. Manning, West Tisbury; DOB 8/1/84, assault on a family/household member: dismissed at the request of the commonwealth and failure of alleged victim to cooperate; assault and battery with a dangerous weapon: dismissed at the request of commonwealth and the failure of alleged victim to cooperate.

Kathryn Retmier, West Tisbury; DOB 6/26/58, negligent operation of motor vehicle, unregistered motor vehicle, marked lanes violation: continued to pretrial conference.

Dec. 21, 2015

Christopher J. Camacho, Oak Bluffs; DOB 1/30/93, assault and battery: continued without finding for 18 months, must pay $50 VW and $50 PSF; disorderly conduct: dismissed at the request of the commonwealth.

Victoria A. Cervone, Vineyard Haven; DOB 5/10/93, unlicensed operation of motor vehicle: dismissed at the request of the commonwealth; uninsured motor vehicle: dismissed at the request of the commonwealth; unregistered motor vehicle: not responsible; speeding in violation of special regulation: not responsible; OUI-drugs: dismissed at the request of the commonwealth; OUI-liquor or .08%: continued without a finding for one year, the defendant is to attend the driver alcohol education program with a loss of license for 45 days and must pay a state fee of $250, $125 HIF, $50 VW, $50 VDD, and $65 PSF; negligent operation of motor vehicle: dismissed at the request of the commonwealth.

Zachary W. Graves, Boston; DOB 5/25/90, uninsured motor vehicle: to be dismissed upon payment of $50 court cost; unregistered motor vehicle: not responsible.

Brandie M. Lewis, Vineyard Haven; DOB 9/24/75, assault and battery on a family/household member: dismissed at the request of the commonwealth and failure of the alleged victim to cooperate.

The post Martha’s Vineyard court report: Dec. 17 – 21 appeared first on Martha's Vineyard Times.

Chilmark

Dec. 17, Paula H. Noe, trustee of Paula H. Noe Qualified Personal Residence Trust for Jason Sco and the Paula H. Noe Qualified Personal Residence Trust for David Isa and the Paula H. Noe Qualified Personal Residence Trust for Alex Mich sold 2 Youngs Way to Laurie J. Colombo, trustee of Joytown Trust for $2,462,500.

Edgartown

Dec. 15, Michael J. Crato sold a ½ undivided interest in 46 Hamblen Way to Timothy F. and Joan M. Creato for $331,500.

Dec. 15, Gary A. and Shoshana A. Lichtenstein sold 15 Sampson Ave. to Michael P. Adams and Frederick A. Davie for $370,000.

Dec. 17, Paul Wales sold 5 Old Pocha Rd. to Lionel Spiro for $125,000.

Dec. 18, 29 Smith Hollow Drive LLC sold 39 Smith Hollow Drive to Charbrook Inc. for $745,000.

Dec. 18, Jennifer F. Myers and Eric M. Myers, trustees of the Jennifer F. Myers Trust and Amy M. Mazzocco and Phillip J. Mazzocco, Jr., trustees of the Amy Melissa Mazzocco Revocable Trust sold 37 Witchwood Lane to Ralph P. Fargnoli, Jr. and Judith R. Fargnoli for $3,675,000.

Dec. 18, David B. Murphy and Tanya Lapinski, f/k/a Tanya Murphy sold 8 Armstrong Lane to Tanya Lapinski for $27,500.

Oak Bluffs

Dec. 15, Kurian LP sold 40 County Rd. to Barry Lavalle for $362,500.

Dec. 15, Ocean Investments LLC sold 222 East Chop Drive to Kevin Grassa for $1,200,000.

Dec. 15, Deborah Dixon n/k/a Deborah Dixon Toledo sold a portion of 18 Wendall Ave. to Roger A. Graham for $600.

Dec. 16, Ronald L. Monterosso, and Robyn B. Nash, personal representatives of the estate of Naomi Jones Quisenberry sold 12 Greenleaf Ave. to 12 Greenleaf LLC for $650,000.

Dec. 17, Martha’s Vineyard Savings Bank and Carolyn R. Brown, personal representatives of the estate of Richard C. Brown sold 55 Wing Rd. to Timothy J. Millerick and Rene J. Will for $401,000.

Dec. 17, Nathaniel H. Dickerson sold 7 County Rd. to Elizabeth A. Slaughter and Sylvester W. Albert for $380,000.

Dec. 18, David W. Walker and Simone Renee Scott-Walker, f/k/a Simone Renee Scott sold 15 North Meadow Lane to John D. Schumacher for $914,500.

Tisbury

Dec. 15, Melinda J. Costa a/k/a Melinda J. Lockwood, Stacey M. Costa a/k/a Stacey M. Gardner sold 96 Spring St. to James C. Bradberry for $375,000.

Dec. 16, Barry J. Clifford, Barry L. Clifford and Birgitta A. Parker sold 13 Beach ST. Extension to Larking B. Reeves, trustee of Larking B. Reeves Family Trust for $1,000,000.

Dec. 17, Paula M. Sullivan sold 65 Spring Hill Rd. to Keith M. Fullin and Whitney Burke for $500,000.

West Tisbury

Dec. 17, Catherine C. Gelpke sold her interest in Lot 12 Watcha Division to Daniel F. Grossman, trustee of Mabel Johnson Family Trust for $5,000.

Dec. 17, Ann G. Appleton sold her interest in Lot 12 Watcha Division to Daniel F. Grossman, trustee of Mabel Johnson Family Trust for $5,000.

Dec. 17, Ellen Gelpke sold her interest in Lot 12 Watcha Division to Daniel F. Grossman, trustee of Mabel Johnson Family Trust for $5,000.

Dec. 17, Robert M. Gelpke sold his interest in Lot 12 Watcha Division to Daniel F. Grossman, trustee of Mabel Johnson Family Trust for $5,000.

Dec. 18, Lynda F. MacDonald sold all right, title and interest in Lot 12 Watcha Division to Ann C. and William H. Brine, Sr., trustee of the Mabel Johnson Family Trust for $330,000.

Dec. 18, Donna K. and Joseph M. Diaz sold 32 Oak Courthouse Rd. to Wade William Simmons and Christina Nicole Simmons for $850,000.

Gosnold

Dec. 16, Marlies M. Veeder sold 14 Cemetery Rd. to Christopher W. and Lisa M. Cottrell for $495,000.

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Dean’s list

Mia Arenburg of Oak Bluffs, at Savannah College of Art and Design

College athletics award

Alistair Rizza of Vineyard Haven, a 19-year-old sophomore on the swim team at Bard College at Simon’s Rock, was honored at the 2015 Athletic Awards Banquet.

Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School Honor Roll

Grade 12, high honors

Brenda DeOliveira, Nelly Katzman, Jared Livingston, Shannon Morris, Amadine Muniz, Emma Riemer, Kyra Whalen, Amber Willoughby.

Grade 12, honors

Nils Aldeborgh, Madeline Alley, Christopher Aring, Aurora Austin, Arden Bezahler, Keliane Boldrin, Benjamin Booker, Zachary Bresnick, Jacob Cardoza, Emma Caron, Hadley Chapman, Noell Coburn, Nathan D’Angelo, Krishna Datta, Sofia de Geofroy, Marcelle De Sousa Alves, Elissa DeCosta, Andrew Dimattia, James Dimattia, Connor Downing, Lucas Dutton, Penelope Dutton, Chanaporn Eksiri, Peter Engley, Elliot Ferland, Edwin Gould-Hatt, Olivia Green-Lingren, Celena Guimaraes, Karem Guimaraes, Samantha Hargy, Elizabeth Hayman, Jacquelyn Hegarty, Molly Houghton, Courtney Howell, Olivia Jacobs, Maisie Jarrell, Mason Jeffers. Wyatt Jenkinson, Jason Lages, Marlla Julia Lemos, Kaitlyn Marchand, Casey McAndrews, Tucker McNeely, Helen Meegan, Jeremey Mercier, Anders Nelson, Finn Norton, Jacob Pagliccia, Megan Piche, Michaela Piche, Sara Poggi, John Reagan Jr, Olivia Rogers, Emily Santana, Julia Sauter, Ian Shea, Oliver Silberstein, Chase Silvia, Lucie Soares, Jessica Sonia, Emily Turney, Corey Vanderhoop, Kaela Vecchia-Zeitz, Oshantay Waite.

Grade 11, high honors

Amanda Bernard, Pia Bonneau, Emma Bunker, Cana Courtney, Lily Davey, Julia Hart, Caroline Roddy, Whitney Schroeder, Lucy Ulyatt.

Grade 11, honors

Savanna Aiello, Tristan Araujo, Emma Baldino, Andrei Bernier, Olga Bernier, Pierre Bonneau, Robson Borges, Gabriella Carlos, Taber Caron, Monica Carroll, David Caseau, Madison Csapo-Moreis, Alison Daigle, Zachary Danz, Karn Datta, Barbara De Paula, Douglas DeBettencourt, Lucas DeBettencourt, Elizabeth Dourian, Juniper Ezanno, Elias Fhagen-Smith, Daniel Gaines, Aivaras Gedvilas, Joshua Groulx, Emma Hall, Malcolm Hammond, Elinor Hanjian, Lena Hanschka, Caroline Hermann, Owen Hess, Erin Hill, Danielle Hopkins, Anna Keenan, Adelaide Keene, James Kelliher, Violet Kennedy, Natalija Lakis , Anna Leblanc, Matthew Luce, Sophia McCarron, Mary Morano, Benjamin Nadelstein, Pia Ohlsen, David Packer.

Grade 10, high honors

Gabriel Ambulos, Nicolas Andre, Anna Bettencourt, Samuel Bresnick, Margarett Burke, Kiana Casey, Samantha Cassidy, Molly deBettencourt, Rose Engler, Dominic Mahfuz, Evelyn Medeiros, John Morris, Samuel Rollins, Evan Sauter, Meghan Sawyer, Benjamin Tillman, Elizabeth Williamson, Garrett Zeilinger.

Grade 10, honors

Miles Albert, Gabriel Bellebuono, Rose Capobianco, Marissa D’Antonio, Kanika Datta, Harrison Dorr, Julia Felix, Curtis Fisher, Greta Gannon, Lohen Goodwin, Belle Hattingh, Julian Herman, Alexis Hughes, Sydney Jasny, Miles Jordi, Leolani Kaeka, Grace Kenney, Teika Lampart, Hillary Lauer, Coltrane Leport, Shannon Levesque, Rebeca Lima, Marguerite Mayhew, Dillon McAndrews, Alana Morris, Thiago Muniz, John Murray, Gabriel Nelson, Lila Norris, Elizabeth O’Brien, Finn O’Callaghan, Sean O’Malley, Kayla Oliver, Amanda Pachico, Mia Pagliccia, Larner Peak, Matthew Perzanowski, Lily Pigott, Lia Potter, Tau Rios-Dryfoos, Katharine Roberts, Matteus Scheffer, Debora Soares, Devon Teves, Anya Vickers, Amber Warenski, Megan Warenski, Bennington Whalen, Opal Wortmann, Salyn Yancey.

Grade 9, high honors

Meredith Carlomagno, Cassandra Casey, Alexis Condon, Mackenzie Condon, Isabelle Custer, Reinaldo Dos Santos, Skylar Eddy, Allyse Guyther, Astoria Hall, Adeline Hayman, Christian King, David Krauthamer, Abby Marchand, Owen Porterfield, Victoria Scott, Emma Searle, Meghan Sonia, Ava Stearns.

Grade 9, honors

Kazara Aldeborgh, Giovanna Alvares, Richard Barlett, Owen Bresnick, James Breth, Gino Chick, Hunter Cleary, James Cordray, Samuel Cranston, Jack Creighton, Jason Davey, Erin DeBettencourt, Meghan Delphous, Mariah Donahue, Patrick Dutton, Kayla Eddy, Owen Engler, Alley Estrella, Kassidy Fogt, Nathaniel Garcia, Andrea Guyther, John Habekost Jr., Henry Hitchings, John Howell II, Matthew Jenkins, Andrew Karlinsky, Hollis Kelly, Harold Lawry V, Blake Leasure, Raven McCormack, Emma McCorquodale, Benjamin McMahon, Michael Metcalf, Victoria Miranda, Mary Morgan, Katherine Morse, Alexander Nagle, James Norton, Aidan Nunes, Michael O’Brien, Nathaniel Packer, Nolan Pavlik, Jillian Pyden, Charlotte Rooney, Talon Russillo, Christian Schmidt, Jack Schroeder, Maxwell Smith, Mataya Trusty, Emma Van Lohuizen, Alicja Vickers, Weston White, Gabrielle Wilbur.

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The Farm Neck Foundation board of directors announced its list of recipients for 2015 grants totaling $50,267. The Farm Neck Foundation is an independent charitable corporation created by Farm Neck Golf Club to provide charitable assistance exclusively for Martha’s Vineyard, according to a press release.

Grants went to the following groups: Island Community Chorus ($2,950 to help fund a 20th anniversary concert); the Farm Institute ($1,265 to fund a beekeeping program with the purchase of a “Flow Hive,” bees, and other materials); Martha’s Vineyard Community Services ($6,500 to help with outreach for an elder abuse prevention program); Biodiversity Works ($5,929 to fund two seasonal intern positions for 2016); Creative Entrepreneur with Opportunities ($2,700 to fund the publication “I Am a CEO, Women in Small Business”); the Polly Hill Arboretum ($3,273 to purchase a rototiller); the Martha’s Vineyard Film Society ($2,500 to help fund the second annual “Nature as Inspiration” Environmental Film Festival); the Martha’s Vineyard Museum ($5,000 to support a yearlong exhibit on the whaling industry on Martha’s Vineyard); the Nature Conservancy ($4,000 to purchase a walk-behind brush cutter to aid in sandplain grassland restoration); Healthy Aging Task Force ($2,970 to provide supplies and materials for the second year of the “Powerful Tools for Caregivers” program; Featherstone Center for the Arts ($6,000 to help fund the arts component of the Memory Support Group Program); Niantic Park Playground Project ($5,000 to help fund the groundcover for the playground); Martha’s Vineyard Film Festival ($2,500 to help bring filmmakers and special guests to speak at the Film Festival); Martha’s Vineyard Shellfish Group, Inc. ($3,180 to help fund the continuance of the Martha’s Vineyard Shell Recovery Partnership).

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Refabulous Decor recently expanded its local home decor business into a new venue in Vineyard Haven, at 29 Main Street. Refabulous opened almost two years ago near the harbor, at 13 Beach Street Extension, across from the Black Dog, and has, according to a press release, become a major destination for do-it-yourselfers and home decor enthusiasts.

The store features handpainted vintage furniture, transformed by proprietor Anne-Marie Eddy, for sale in unique colors and finishes, and also sells Chalk Paint, an acclaimed decorative paint, and all the tools needed to use it yourself. Chalk Paint is easy to use, very low in VOC, dries fast, goes on almost any surface, and comes in 32 colors that can be mixed to any shade.

Anne-Marie Eddy teaches easy techniques using Chalk Paint, and hosts regular workshops in studio space at the new premises. In-store, customers can experiment with paint colors and mixing shades at the Paint Bar.

The new Refabulous Decor is located on the corner of Main Street, next to Tisberry Frozen Yogurt — “and frozen yogurt will be allowed in the shop!” says Anne-Marie.

Refabulous Decor; open daily 10 am to 6 pm; new store at 29 Main Street, Vineyard Haven; original location still at 13 Beach St. Ext., 508-338-2358, Annemarieeddy@gmail.com; refabulousdecor.com.

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The Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School girls varsity basketball team earned a convincing victory Monday over Dennis-Yarmouth Regional High School, thumping the Dolphins 73-15 at home in Oak Bluffs. After dropping three close contests to start the season, Monday’s victory was the first of the year for the Vineyarders.

The home team came out strong, winning the opening tip-off and taking a quick 2-0 lead thanks to sophomore Molly deBettencourt, who sank a shot just seconds into the game. That was a lead the Vineyarders would never relinquish. Strong performances in the first quarter from deBettencourt and fellow starters senior co-captain Sam Hargy, junior co-captain Erin Hill, senior Emily Turney, and junior Whitney Schroeder gave the Vineyard a 27-0 lead to close out the first quarter.

“I thought everyone did really well, and I thought what was especially impressive was the passing,” head Coach Maureen Hill said, referring to the ease with which the purple and white moved the ball around the court throughout the game. “We came out and did a 1-2-2 half-court trap, and the girls just really worked hard.”

The Dolphins finally answered with the first point of the second quarter, scoring a free throw 1:21 in. That didn’t deter the Vineyarders, however. Immediately after the Dennis-Yarmouth free throw, Schroeder took the ball down the court, ultimately getting fouled and putting another point on the board for the Vineyard with a free throw. Play was relatively even for the next few minutes, up until the Dolphins’ Seyla O’Hearn netted the first three-pointer of the game, making the score 34-8. After that three-pointer, play was again all Vineyard, with the half ending at 42-8 right after deBettencourt sunk a long field goal from just inside the three-point line.

“Our last three games were really, really hard, and against some of the top teams in the state,” Coach Hill said, when asked what caused the team to gain such a commanding lead in the first half. “I said to the girls, ‘Look, let’s play like we’re still playing those teams.’ So that’s the mindset we had.”

That fire was still there in the second half, which started off with Hargy scoring a quick basket on a pass from Hill. After the Dolphins got the ball back, deBettencourt stole it away, took it down the court and passed to Hill, who immediately passed back to deBettencourt, who sunk the Vineyard’s first three-pointer. Dennis-Yarmouth answered with a bucket immediately after deBettencourt’s three, but would then allow the Vineyarders to go on an unanswered 22-point run, making the score 69-10 before the Dolphins would put another on the board. That wasn’t enough to worry the Vineyard. Schroeder answered the Dolphins’ score by hurling a full-court pass to sophomore Rose Engler, who sank a bucket for the home team.

Things weren’t all rosy for the Vineyarders, however. With about two minutes to go in the fourth quarter, Schroeder went down in a scary tussle for a loose ball, colliding with a Dennis-Yarmouth player and staying down on the court for a few minutes in pain. Thankfully, she was able to stand up under her own power, and returned to the bench to cheer on her team.

The Vineyard didn’t put any more points on the board after Schroeder’s collision, but the team’s play was just as impressive. With the clock winding down, Dennis-Yarmouth made a hard drive for the net, but as one of the Dolphins went to make the layup, deBettencourt made a brilliant jump to stuff the attempt. Ultimately the Dolphins would sink a shot right at the buzzer, but it wasn’t anywhere near enough to worry the Vineyarders, who took the game handily, 73-15.

While the victory was indeed impressive, Coach Hill was quick to point out that teams from the Cape generally aren’t as strong as teams like Cathedral, Abington, or St. Mary’s — all three of which handed the Vineyarders losses this season.

“The point of playing those tough teams is that when it comes time for the state playoffs, we’ll have seen some of the best teams in the state already,” Coach Hill said. “We’re battle-tested, so when it does come time for the state tournament, we’ve seen it all and been through it.”

After Monday’s convincing victory, it appears the Vineyarders are not only battle-tested, they are battle-ready.

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The Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School indoor track teams kicked off their season with two meets at Wheaton College. All teams in the Eastern Athletic Conference compete at Wheaton each week.

Martha’s Vineyard competed against West Bridgewater on Thursday, and the boys won handily 74-21. The boys were victorious in 10 out of 12 events.

Multiple winners included Tom Irwin in the 55m hurdles (9.4) and long jump (18′ 5½”) and Nevin Wallis in the 600m (1:32.4) and high jump (5′ 4″). First-place finishers included Anders Nelson (shot put); Jake Janek (55m dash); Caio Protti (300m); Aivaras Gedvilas (1 mile); and Nate D’Angelo (2 mile). The 4x200m relay team of Irwin, Protti, Janek, and Wallis were first with a time of 1:41.6.

On the girls side, Livi Smith managed to score 16 points by herself. Smith was first in long (15′ 7″), 300m (45.0) and 55m hurdles (9.4). The girls team will struggle for points this year, as West Bridgewater prevailed on the scoreboard.

On Monday, the times and distances improved, but so did the opponent. Bishop Feehan is once again one of the top teams in the state, and their depth was too much for the Vineyard boys. The score was 64-36.

Gedvilas (mile, 4:45), Wallis (600m, 1:28.4), and Irwin (55m hurdles, 9.2) were victorious, as was the 4x200m relay (Protti, Nick Bonneau, Nelson, Wallis).

Livi Smith had a big meet versus Feehan, scoring 18 points. Smith registered 9.22 in the 55 hurdles, 16′ 1″ in the long jump and 44.9 in the 300m. She also was second in the high jump (4′ 6″).

State qualifiers to this point are Smith (LJ, 55m hurdles, 300m), Wallis (600m), Irwin (LJ), Janek (55m dash), Gedvilas (mile), and the boys’ 4×200 relay.

The next meet for the Vineyard is the Holiday Challenge on Sunday at Reggie Lewis Center in Roxbury.

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1 of 10

The Martha’s Vineyard Times has been featuring stories about Island merchants for almost as long as we’ve been in business ourselves. The reasoning has always been that most of us year-rounders have been merchants at some point in our lives here, and we might as well learn from one another’s joys, pains, mortifying mistakes, and eternal wisdom.

Recently, we looked through several folders of black and white photos from the 1990s. They were filled with shots of shop owners and landscapers, fishermen and designers, standing proudly (or maybe it was bravely) in front of their businesses. Now, 25 or 30 years later, there were many people we recognized (under a lot of big hairdos) as still in business, at the same job, in the same place. What might have started as a summer landscaping job or a pie-in-the-sky idea for a little jewelry store has become for some a life’s work. Others had moved on.

At the end of 2015, we salute those who have dreamed up their own business, hung out a shingle, worked endless 90-hour weeks, and stuck it out. Or, closed up shop, or moved away.

We thought it would be fun to ask: Do you know the people in these photographs? Do you recognize where they are standing, and what year it was, and what else was going on?

We’d love to hear your stories about these photos. Send them to onisland@mvtimes.com.

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To the Editor:

In response to Bill Haynes’ letter of Dec. 16, “Manmade Mill Pond,” I think Bill is missing the point here. The Mill Pond debate is not about “manmade” versus “not manmade.” As he points out, if that was the case, none of us would be here. Martha’s Vineyard would look just like Nomans Land (without the unexploded bombs).

No, the debate is about being good stewards and periodically asking ourselves if the impediments to nature we’ve built serve a purpose any more. My house, your house, manmade structures for sure, serve very important purposes in our lives today, as do most roads and bridges for that matter. Ocean revetments, like the North Bluff that Bill mentions, require a harder look. In the North Bluff area, we are protecting significant infrastructure — things we’ve pretty much unanimously judged to be important to our lives today. It was a different story with the lighthouse in Aquinnah, though, wasn’t it, where we moved the structure rather than impede the natural process of cliff erosion?

The only purpose the Mill Pond serves today is aesthetic — some people like looking at it. Is that aesthetic preference more valuable than the important ecological gains that would happen if we removed the dam? Obviously, many think so. However, I and many others, in fact most of the scientific community, disagree. Dam removal is happening all over the country, and to good result.

It’s really about our basic values — aesthetics and nostalgia versus ecological imperatives such as biodiversity and habitat restoration. And I think that in a civil society, it’s important to keep an open mind and continue the dialogue about these basic value differences, respecting one another’s opinions rather than stooping to name-calling. What’s the real purpose of labeling an opinion different from yours “insanity”? Another letter writer derisively (Nov. 24, “Beware sidewalk biologists”) calls anyone in favor of dam removal a “sidewalk biologist.” A third (Dec. 12, “Fond support for the Mill Pond dam”) taunts those who support dam removal with “Go back to New York.”

Can’t we aim for civility and mutual respect in the future? Can’t we talk about the issues of the day without denigrating one another? Or has the bitter tone of so many of our national debates infiltrated West Tisbury now?

Ebba Hierta

West Tisbury

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Across Martha’s Vineyard on Christmas day, Islanders young and old will awake with anticipation, eager to know what Santa may have left under their trees, or in their Christmas stockings.

We are not certain that St. Nick, busy as he is, pays much attention to the wish lists of editorialists, but here goes:

An end to the tribe’s Island casino quest

The Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah) has expended much time, money, and Island goodwill in its so far unsuccessful quest to overturn the settlement agreement tribal leaders signed in return for federal recognition, and turn its long-unfinished community center shell into a so-called “boutique casino.”

In attempting to claim a cut of the state’s as yet not fully baked casino pie, tribe chairman Tobias Vanderhoop and members of the tribal council have ignored the overwhelming sentiment of tribal and nontribal Island residents who oppose the creation of a gambling hall, knowing full well the detrimental effects the added traffic and inevitable disturbances would have on the smallest town on Martha’s Vineyard, as well as on neighboring towns.

In an early Christmas present, U.S. District Court Judge F. Dennis Saylor issued a 40-page decision on Nov. 13 that blocked, for now, the tribe’s effort to bring gaming to the Island. The tribe’s Arizona-based lawyer has asked Judge Saylor to reconsider his ruling, and said that if the motion to reconsider is not successful, he will file an appeal with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit.

With a casino planned for the Boston area, a slot parlor in Plainridge, and a private casino developer and the Mashpee Wampanoags squaring off to build a casino in southeastern Massachusetts, it is hard to understand what the tribe’s endgame is, or who is funding this effort, and why.

Just think what a Christmas party might have been planned this week had the tribal leadership met its obligation and completed its community center more than 10 years ago.

A regional rental-housing plan

Those familiar with the dire lack of affordable and market-rate year-round rental housing on Martha’s Vineyard, a need that real estate professionals predict will only grow worse as the the economy strengthens and rentals are snapped up by seasonal homebuyers, agree on the need for action. If current trends continue, the core of the Island’s workforce and economy — teachers, hospital workers, municipal employees, salespeople, tradesmen — will have even more limited housing opportunities than now exist.

Density is the key, and it is also the hurdle. It is easy to understand why abutters to projects that exceed zoning limits would be concerned about increases in traffic and noise. Taxpayers understandably worry about the costs associated with a rise in the number of school-age children in their town.

Morgan Woods in Edgartown, some 60 units completed in 2007, was the Island’s last major rental development. Currently, there are a few small projects in the regulatory pipeline. What is needed is political leadership, fueled by a sense of urgency, to bring together all of the major stakeholders in a concerted regional planning effort that targets the need in a serious way.

That is what happened on Nantucket, where voters recently approved zoning bylaw changes that will allow a private developer to construct a 325-unit development that will be comprised of 225 rental apartments and 100 single-family homes on two parcels totaling 32 acres.

Oak Bluffs is in the best position to address the Island need for a major rental development. If and when the town completes a long-delayed land swap with the Martha’s Vineyard Land Bank, it will have a centrally located 24-acre parcel of land, buffered by the Southern Woodlands, off Edgartown–Vineyard Haven Road.

If Oak Bluffs is willing to host housing that will be filled by people who will contribute to the overall well-being of the entire Island community, the town ought to be able to rely on the entire community for support. For example, Chilmark can hardly hope to address its need for affordable housing through its current program of doling out one-acre house lots, but it could partner up with Oak Bluffs, knowing that a down-Island development is where its future teachers, nurses and police officers might live. Martha’s Vineyard Hospital, the public school system, and business owners ought to be at the table ready to help out, or anticipate a workforce of commuters.

Absent strong action, there will be fewer and fewer Christmas stockings hanging on Island mantles.

A trimmed DRI checklist

The Martha’s Vineyard Commission (MVC) is currently reviewing the checklist of triggers under which local boards must refer a project for mandatory review as a development of regional impact. This checklist has grown from a two-page, 12-question checklist in 1975 to an 18-page tome with about 75 different triggers.

Are there more subdivisions? Have projects grown larger or more complicated? Are local boards less competent? Not really. What has grown is the commission’s appetite for exercising its authority over projects that town boards are quite capable of handling, and for chiming in on the smallest details of a project, details that could be left to local boards — Is there really a shortage of pitch pine and scrub oak such that the commissioners need to insist on “indigenous” plants?

The MVC ought to curb its appetite and trim its checklist.

Merry Christmas.

The post Editorial: Dear Santa appeared first on Martha's Vineyard Times.

To the Editor:

This past Thursday, I was walking in a heavy rain from our home on East Chop Drive to Bink’s auto repair to pick up our car. Just short of my destination, I tripped and fell face-forward. I think I tripped in a submerged pothole, but I was also exhausted from the walk. I woke briefly when the ambulance arrived and picked me up. The ambulance crew asked me questions en route to determine how conscious and aware I was.

I remember scattered details about arriving at the hospital and being wheeled into the emergency room. I heard someone say I had a lot of blood on my face. I was hooked up to EKG, and then pushed down the hall by a nice guy named John, who x-rayed my head and one damaged hand. Then back to my initial room, where a nice nurse named Nancy cleaned my face and applied some soothing ointment. And a nice doctor named Kate talked with me, and later came to bid me farewell.

All in all, I can’t say I “enjoyed” my hospital visit, but bless the folks there (and also, especially, the anonymous person who phoned for the ambulance after seeing me fall) for all their efforts on my behalf. Thanks.

Don Hinkle

Oak Bluffs

The post Unpleasant but wonderful appeared first on Martha's Vineyard Times.

To the Editor:

Imagine my surprise upon opening last week’s MVTimes and there, sandwiched between a full-page photo of Santa riding atop a firetruck in the Edgartown Christmas Parade and this week’s Stop and Shop flyer, was another insert. The additional insert was a holiday-season appeal from the Island Housing Trust (IHT) for $137,000, that proclaimed in bold letters: “Real Impact Starts With You.”

Having just pledged $25 to get an WMVY coffee mug, I was in the spirit of giving and started to write out a check to the IHT for the entire donation request when I happened to glance at my account balance and noticed it was $136,977 short of the amount. While pondering this embarrassing dilemma, I sat gazing out my kitchen window at the empty woodlot next door when an eerie voice that I could barely make out whispered, “Impact starts with yoooou …” My blood ran cold as the voice trailed off. Suddenly it manifested itself in the form of a terrifying vision — a huge cluster of apartment units appeared in the once empty woodlot.

I was still in a cold sweat when I snapped out of it. That’s when it dawned on me: This was no figment of my overactive imagination, but rather the real vision of the Ghost of Christmas Future, Island Housing Trust executive director Philippe Jordi. Not content to continue on the IHT’s present path of keeping density where density already is, like the Water Street project in Tisbury, Mr. Jordi has instead embarked upon a far more ambitious goal of acquiring $6 million in state low-income housing grant money so he can cram 22 rental units onto a 5-acre parcel in a rural area of Tisbury, where town R50 zoning would only allow a maximum of four residential homes. Never mind the groundwater study, which determined that this housing project would sit atop the aquifer for the town wells, and that the high concentration of septic systems would create a sewage plume that would migrate downhill to an already nitrogen-overloaded Lake Tashmoo. Never mind that this development would push the sprawl of the commercial district almost to the West Tisbury town line on an already busy and dangerous section of State Road. Never mind what the intrusion of streetlights and noise generated by a densely packed 49-bedroom community would inflict upon the neighborhood.

These inconvenient truths have been conveniently swept aside by what proponents of this scheme tell us is an overwhelming need for affordable housing. That need may be real, but overwhelming what is left of rural Vineyard Haven with urban-scale housing developments is not the solution.

If Mr. Jordi is determined to change the direction of the Island Housing Trust from smaller low-profile proposals in favor of large projects of this nature, then the only thing that makes sense is to require that they are in an appropriate location where utilities, town water, and sewering are already in place. The only way to ensure that this happens is to voice concerns to your selectmen, zoning board of appeals, board of health, building inspector, and members of the Martha’s Vineyard Commission, and insist that they carefully review not only the impact, but the legal and environmental aspects of this project before it is too late, otherwise the vision will become a reality and set a precedent that will change our town forever. Remember: Real impact starts with you.

Chris Crawford

Vineyard Haven

The post With apologies to Dickens: A Vineyard Christmas Tale appeared first on Martha's Vineyard Times.

To the Editor:

Are the coffers of Oak Bluffs overflowing? There is a movement to duplicate the current bike path that now goes in front of our lovely hospital and then curves gently in back of several Eastville properties and a wetland area, bringing the user to the intersection in front of the former entry of the Martha’s Vineyard Hospital emergency room.

There is a somewhat ambiguous sign along the way in front of the hospital that didn’t encourage me to follow this existing path, thus avoiding walking, riding a bike, etc. along the dangerous stretch of roadway. Yet this pedestrian/bike path does exist, and functions perfectly well. It is paved, safe, avoids disturbing the wetland area, and even has lighting.

So my question to our Oak Bluffs citizens is, Why do we want to spend quite a lot of money duplicating this existing bike/pedestrian path in the Eastville area, disrupting and destroying property owners’ front yards, interrupting a wetland area, cutting down trees and other vegetation, and still have folks walking/riding along a treacherous curve, when we have a lovely bike/pedestrian way already in place?

Sandra McDonald Mott

Oak Bluffs

The post Bike path duplication questioned appeared first on Martha's Vineyard Times.

To the Editor:

I am outraged once again.

I received a call this morning from a business that has been trying to mail me a letter in West Tisbury. Yup, that’s all, just mail me a letter, which they had mailed and it had been returned to them twice, and guess what, it was sent to my address. But no, to paraphrase a line from Seinfeld — no mail for you.

I know, never write a letter to the editor when you are mad, however, I am at a loss as to what course to take.

So many folks commented to me about a letter to the editor I wrote regarding this atrocity last year, and here I am again, still not receiving mail. Imagine what I and others do not get. It is really scary to think of all the undeliverables. The shame of it amazes me. It is just mail, sent to an address. I should not be thinking about this, never mind getting my lovely blood pressure up.

So if any my dear neighbors know how to fix this ridiculous situation, please let me know. I’m at wit’s end. I have received no response from the West Tisbury selectmen or from the United States Postal Service. Oh dear, still.

Joanne Scott

West Tisbury

The post No mail for you appeared first on Martha's Vineyard Times.

To the Editor:

Monday morning, while on a quick trip from Martha’s Vineyard Community Services to Tisbury Printer, I hit the curb before the roundabout and it totally ate the side of my tire — instant flat.

I called my husband, and he came right over, but when Molly (wish I knew her last name) saw us working on the tire change (we are 62 and 69 years old), she stopped and came right over to help. Then Fred Swartzman of New Jersey pulled right over and finished up the change, and loaded the tools and the tire into the trunk. Although buying a tire is not what we had in mind for Christmas, their generosity certainly infected us with the Christmas spirit. Thanks, Molly. Thanks, Fred.

Jan Hatchard

Vineyard Haven

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The post Santa’s helpers appeared first on Martha's Vineyard Times.

To the Editor:

I am writing this letter on behalf of a person who can no longer speak for herself.

My dear friend Elizabeth Norcross died recently. Prior to her death, Elizabeth had her apartment broken into numerous times by an individual in search of prescription drugs. A total of 27 of these crimes on a person over 65 were recorded by a camera.

I opened The MV Times on Thursday and turned to the court report. I was appalled and shocked to see that this same person had all 27 charges dismissed. Twenty-seven counts of felony breaking and entering is serious business. This person needs to be held accountable for her actions. What kind of example is this for young people on this Island?

Alan Peterson

Vineyard Haven

The post No accountability appeared first on Martha's Vineyard Times.

To the Editor:

In this time of giving and remembering, I wish to thank the many community members who have created and maintained the organization where I work, Hospice of Martha’s Vineyard.

When people say, “It takes a village,” I want to add that we have been able to exist since 1981, and do our important work, because of the “village.” Our ability to fulfill the promise of our mission, to care for the terminally ill and their families, giving them care, comfort, and compassion, and to support all of the community with grief and loss for free, without charge to the patient, insurance companies, or the government, brings me to this letter of thanks to you, my community.

Hospice of MV, like many Island nonprofits, holds several fundraisers during the year. We ask many a merchant to give us their specialty items to auction, drink, eat, sell, advertise, and honestly, everyone says, “Hospice, yes.” The community groups who hold events and give the proceeds to us are also to be thanked here: Kevin Ryan and his collections of musicians, the Harley Riders, Farm Neck Tennis, the Wesley Hotel, Martha’s Vineyard Savings Bank, Oak Bluffs Road Race Committee, Hand Made from the Heart donors, Martha’s Vineyard Preservation Trust and Our Island Club members, to name a few. I must include staff, board members, and the many volunteers who work with our patients and fundraising events. I would like to also mention both newspapers, the Gazette and the MVTimes, for consistently writing about us and inviting the public to know about our events and programs.

We are in a beautiful new home, thanks to the estate of Katharine Graham, and I am humbled in a daily way by the generosity and understanding the community has for our work. My job is to thank you all and I feel that I can’t quite do that enough, certainly not compared to the gifts received. Many of you remark that you want Hospice of MV to be around when it is your turn. My promise to you is that I will make certain that we do carry on and excel in offering quality care to all who ask. I thank you, my community, from the deepest place in my heart for your support and for bringing your loved ones to us. It is a privilege to be able to share this work with you.

To my village, I wish for all health, happiness, and peace during the winter months and throughout 2016.

Terre D. Young

West Tisbury

The post Thank you from Hospice appeared first on Martha's Vineyard Times.

Marianne L. Goldberg of Chilmark died on Tuesday, December 22, 2015 at her home. She was 63.

Marianne’s funeral service will be held on Tue., Dec. 29 at 2pm in the MV Hebrew Center, Center St., Vineyard Haven. Burial will follow at the Abel’s Hill Cemetery on South Road in Chilmark.

A celebration of her life will be held at a later date. Donations in her memory may be made to Pathways Project Institute Limited, PO Box 437, Chilmark, MA 02535. A complete obituary will follow in a later edition. Arrangements are under the care of the Chapman, Cole and Gleason Funeral Home, Edgartown Road, Oak Bluffs. Visit www.ccgfuneralhome.com for online guest book and information.

The post Marianne L. Goldberg appeared first on Martha's Vineyard Times.

Thursday morning, we received an email from Sanford “Sam” Low, the Oak Bluffs photographer (and author of “Hawaiki Rising”). He asked us to join a “flash crowd” at the Oak Bluffs post office. “Be there by 11:25,” it said, “So we can begin singing at 11:30.”

Every year the people of Oak Bluffs gather to celebrate Christmas and the dedicated and friendly staff at the Oak Bluffs Post Office by singing “We Wish You a Merry Christmas.” Because the post office boxes open right into the post office’s work area — many sing right into their boxes, creating a three dimensional blanket of voices.

This year was no different: residents gathered and sang from sheets Mr. Low had printed out. Thea Hanson sang into the window where residents usually do postal business. Tom Dresser gathered with another man and sang into the boxes numbered in the 700’s. Attorney Dick Walton mixed his voice with others near the mail sorting table.  A poodle tied to the light pole outside the glass doors wagged his tail.

Postmaster Paul Leonard came out from behind the counter smiling, took pictures, sang along, and thanked everyone.

Within five minutes, the flash crowd had gathered their parcels and their mail, smiled at each other, and went off to keep caroling at home home.

The post We wish you a merry post office appeared first on Martha's Vineyard Times.