Norton Point was reopened Wednesday morning after a dead fin whale was towed out to sea.

Norton Point will be closed to swimmers and vehicle traffic Wednesday to accommodate efforts to remove a dead fin whale.

While watching whalers may be a pastime for some Islanders, I prefer to watch whales.

David Tilton and Lynn Silva were out making their typical derby rounds Friday afternoon when they came across a whale in 20 to 25 feet of water just off the Brickyard on the Chilmark north shore.

A minke whale entangled in fishing gear 40 miles southwest of Martha’s Vineyard was freed Sunday by the Center for Coastal Studies Marine Animal Entanglement Response. Responders said they expected the 15-foot whale to recover.

The following is an award-winning essay written by Womsikuk James for the Young Native Writer’s Essay Contest.