Martha's Vineyard Katie Ruppel

Charter Students Learn Dance as a Unifying Language

Katie Ruppel | Monday, February 23 2015 - 6:26am

For four weeks, Godfrey Muwulya, a native dancer from Uganda, has been teaching traditional dances from his country to fifth and sixth grade social studies students at the Martha’s Vineyard Public Charter School, thanks to The Yard.

Martha's Vineyard Public Charter School

Dance

Highest Honors for Student Magazine

Katie Ruppel

For the past 10 years art teacher Janice Frame has met with students after school on Tuesday afternoon in the school library. She and the students meet to review poems, short stories and artwork for the Martha’s Vineyard high school student literary magazine Seabreezes. Ms. Frame, along with English teacher Bill McCarthy, acts as an advisor for the magazine.

Window Shopping on Circuit Avenue

Katie Ruppel

Winter on Circuit avenue can be quiet. Down at the Good Ship Lollipop only a few customers find their way to the door seeking chocolate treats. And yet the candy store does have at least one daily customer who keeps knocking, literally, at the window.

On the Hunt for Elusive Island Otters

Katie Ruppel

During winter, when there is significant snowfall, wildlife biologist Luanne Johnson begins the hunt for otter trails.

Only in the snow can she easily track the round-toed trails at Sepiessa Point Reservation or the smooth belly slides along the hills of Cranberry Acres. Otherwise, the elusive otter remains mostly a mystery. This winter has been a good one for observations.

County Budget Decreases, State and Towns Will Pay More

Katie Ruppel

The Dukes County commission voted this week to approve a $1.5 million budget for the coming fiscal year. The budget marks a 17.9 per cent decrease over last year due to the state takeover of administrative affairs for the county sheriff’s department. Last year the sheriff’s portion of the county budget totalled $300,000. Under the upcoming budget, total town assessments will drop from $649,279 to $492,739, county manager Martina Thornton told the commission at their meeting Wednesday.

Tisbury Town Administrator Signs on for Three Years

Katie Ruppel

Tisbury selectmen signed a three-year contract this week with their new town administrator John W. Grande. Mr. Grande, who is 53, will begin work in the top town administrative post on March 13. At a selectmen’s meeting Tuesday, board chairman Tristan Israel said the selectmen had met twice in executive session to review and settle the contract, and now “have a contract that’s amicable.” The two selectmen present, Mr. Israel and Jonathan Snyder, signed the contract Tuesday evening. Mr. Grande traveled to the Island on a morning ferry Wednesday to sign the contract at the town hall .

Tribe Translates Oral Tradition for School Curriculum

Katie Ruppel

In an attempt to establish consistency and accuracy in history classes, the Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah) education committee and tribal historic preservation office are developing a curriculum on Wampanoag history and culture for the Island public schools.

On Tuesday night, members of the tribal education committee joined the up-Island regional school committee for a broad discussion on communication between the tribe and the schools. The tribe has 24 children in the school system.