Martha's Vineyard

Martha’s Vineyard’s newest representative to the Steamship Authority board of governors says his top priorities are reliable service, better communication, and fair prices.

James Malkin, a Chilmark selectman, was sworn into the position on Tuesday after a unanimous vote by the Dukes County Commission.

Public bus drivers on Martha’s Vineyard have been striking since last Friday, but as the island welcomes tourists for one of the busiest weekends of the year Vineyarders are bracing for the strike to last through the holiday, and possibly beyond.

Two plaques on Martha’s Vineyard commemorating confederate soldiers will be removed, says the Oak Bluffs select board. The decision was met with surprise and joy by many of those who gathered at Oak Bluffs Elementary School for a community forum before the board on Tuesday night.

The Mill Brook in West Tisbury on Martha's Vineyard used to run "thick with fish," but that's no longer the case. As its waters warm from pollution and climate change, the trout, which require cool water temperatures, are becoming less and less numerous. Environmentalists say the trout are indicator of a challenged ecosystem.

The Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah) has begun construction of a high-stakes bingo hall on tribal lands at the westernmost end of the island of Martha’s Vineyard. Within the tribe, many are questioning the move.

In the past few weeks, the Steamship Authority has struggled to maintain ferry service to Martha’s Vineyard. Its two large boats have suffered repeated mechanical issues, while another large ferry was undergoing a winter overhaul. A fast ferry was brought in to provide service in the meantime—and it’s gotten plenty of attention from ferry riders. 

As the fourth storm in as many weeks struck the Cape and islands, a determined group of linguistic holdouts says there is no such thing as “nor’easter.”

Oh, the snow and the wind are real, but the word is not. 

Deer hunting season is open across the state. On Martha's Vineyard, thanks to a unique three-way partnership, hunters aren't the only ones showing up with expectations at the island's weigh-in station. 

This season marks the 140th for the Flying Horses, the oldest operating carousel in the country, and a major attraction in Oak Bluffs, Martha's Vineyard. The carousel has a special feature that has mesmerized generations of riders: a ring-dispensing arm. As riders go around, they reach out their hands in the hope of catching the legendary "brass ring" and thereby winning a free ride.

The relocation of the iconic Gay Head Lighthouse moved ahead much faster and more smoothly than anyone expected. Although much more work remains to be done at the site, the hard part – moving the 400-ton brick structure to its new location – is now complete. And a number of people were on hand to witness the event.

By Saturday morning, the lighthouse already was within a few yards of its new home – a cement foundation 134 feet from its previous location, where it sat dangerously close to the edge of a cliff. Rick Pomroy is Project Manager for the move.  

The move of the iconic Gay Head lighthouse on Martha’s Vineyard got underway late this morning, about two weeks ahead of schedule. The 400-ton brick structure, which had stood just 46 feet from the eroding cliffs, is expected to reach its new foundation, 134 feet away, by Saturday.

After months of preparation, workers are ready to move the Gay Head Lighthouse on Martha's Vineyard away from its spot above the picturesque cliffs of Aquinnah. The lighthouse has been in the same location since 1856, serving as a crucial navigation aid for local mariners. But the cliffs are eroding, leaving the lighthouse a mere 46 feet from the edge. On Thursday the Gay Head Light begins a slow-motion journey to a new, safer home.

Gleaning is an ancient practice, as old as the Torah. It means to gather leftover grain or other produce from farm fields after a harvest, and traditionally was a form of charity. In most places, the tradition has died out. But today on Martha's Vineyard thanks to a program called Island Grown Gleaning, it's alive and well. This week on the Local Food Report, Elspeth Hay attends a potato glean with a group of eighth graders from West Tisbury.

Many homeowners install renewable energy technologies like solar panels in an effort to become less dependent on conventional energy sources. But could an entire island eventually achieve that goal? Edgartown on Martha’s Vineyard is taking the first steps to harness the strong tides that flow just off its eastern shore. It’s new technology, and there are many financial and regulatory hurdles still in the way. But the hope is that one day the ocean will supply a significant portion of the Vineyard’s energy needs.  

It’s a moonlit August night on Martha’s Vineyard, and deep in the woodlands on the island’s south shore, wildlife biologists Luanne Johnson and Liz Baldwin are setting up a weighing station for northern long-eared bats.

“Martha’s Vineyard and Long Island are among the few places where you can still find a northern long-eared bat,” Johnson said.