News
The Vineyard Haven July 4 fire gutted Main street’s center of commerce in a few hours, destroying Cafe Moxie and decommissioning the Bunch of Grapes bookstore on the traditional start date of the summer retail rush.
And as the final weekend of the season begins, store owners in and around Main street Vineyard Haven are still assessing the fire’s impact on summer business and adapting for a winter without two anchor outlets.
An abundant food supply, safe habitat and management protection that began years ago has contributed to the resurgence of seals in Island waters.
Gray and harbor seals are back. Though marine experts at the federal level don’t have actual numbers, there have been many reports this summer of seals around the Island. In short, not all bathers at the beach are humans.
The Tisbury selectmen are accepting letters of interest in a community garden. Tisbury has had numerous parcels of land left to the town with various restrictions placed on them. One of the allowable uses for any of these properties would be a community garden.
Town administrator John Bugbee said in a statement released to the press this week:
Habitat for Humanity of Martha’s Vineyard held a ground-breaking ceremony on Saturday, August 9, for the sixth house the organization has built on the Island. Thirty people gathered at the build site on 11th street in Edgartown to mark the event.
The Permanent Endowment for Martha’s Vineyard is accepting applications for its fall grant cycle. The endowment welcomes inquiries from Island nonprofit organizations seeking funding for programs and initiatives that will benefit the Vineyard community. In the past, the endowment has provided support for the arts and culture, civic affairs and community development, education, the elderly, the environment, health and youth.
The Daybreak clubhouse has joined with Tisbury beautification volunteers to clean up and improve Vineyard Haven. Beginning August 13, members of the clubhouse could be seen wearing fluorescent vests, wielding poles with nails on the end and picking up trash — discarded diapers, bottles, newspapers, soda cans and discarded cigarettes.
Clubhouse members will continue to patrol Vineyard Haven, Monday through Thursday, for as long as current funds last. The Tisbury beautification group gives a modest stipend to each member for the work.