Martha's Vineyard Megan Dooley

Chappy Native Pens Kids’ Book, Talks About Growing Up Different

Megan Dooley | Thursday, December 17 2009 - 1:04pm

As a student at the Edgartown School, a counselor once told Chappaquiddick native Stephanie Duckworth-Elliott that she wouldn’t go to college, and implied that Ms. Duckworth-Elliott would not achieve in life. The young girl had a background and home life that already separated her from other kids her age — she was a member of the only Wampanoag family living on Chappy at the time, and raised primarily by her grandfather — and the counselor’s prediction made her feel even more detached from her peers.

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Island Hip-Hop Dancers Win Prize

Megan Dooley

A Martha’s Vineyard dance crew led by choreographer Kelly Peters rocked a Times Square Hard Rock Cafe in a national dance competition sponsored by Clearasil.

The skin-care giant hosted the Pimple Blocker Battle, a dance-off between five dance groups from around the country. The competition was designed as a promotion for Clearasil’s new Ultra Pimple Blocker Pen.

The Vineyard team, dubbed the CompleXion Crew, was made up of dancers Alise Haigazian, Jessica Francis, Jessica Donahough, Evan Hall, Grant Meacham, Zion Morris and Ana Thibodeau.

Nine Charter School Graduates Shine

Megan Dooley

As the Martha’s Vineyard Public Charter School’s ninth graduating class prepares for commencement tomorrow, this small community will celebrate the achievements of its largest group ever — nine students, fittingly.

Women Empowered Honor Founder, and Woman of Year

Megan Dooley

Guests swarmed to Mediterranean restaurant early Saturday afternoon to honor Empowered Woman of the Year Cindy Doyle and to observe the passing of the torch from former Women Empowered executive director Kaye Flathers to successor Sheila Bracy.

“We were thrilled with the turnout,” said Ms. Bracy. She attributes the success of the brunch to the volunteers who dedicated their time to organizing the event.

Longtime Florida Educator is Picked to Head Chilmark School

Megan Dooley

Vineyard schools superintendent Dr. James H. Weiss announced on Friday the appointment of Susan Stevens as the new Chilmark head of school.

Currently a guidance counselor and special education coordinator at the Bak Middle School of the Arts in West Palm Beach, Fla., a public magnet school, Mrs. Stevens has been a summer resident of Edgartown for 27 years. Her career in education began in 1976 and includes a wide array of teaching, from gifted to special needs, guidance and some administrative work. She has a sub-specialty in teaching children with autism.

Girls’ Lacrosse Team Ends Dream Season With a Tough Loss to Powerful Hingham

Megan Dooley

The dream season for the Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School girls’ lacrosse team came to an end on Friday in a 12-8 loss to Hingham in the Division 2 South quarterfinals of the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association tournament.

After defeating Oliver Ames on Wednesday, the Vineyard girls had advanced to the second round of the state tournament.

For Swimming Against Apathy, Cindy Doyle Is Woman of Year

Megan Dooley

It all began as a quest for a swimming pool.

Cindy Doyle spent five mornings a week swimming at her local YMCA in Providence. The only downside of her decision to make the Vineyard her year-round home in 2001 was the absence of a pool for her daily workout. “I found out about this group that was trying to build a pool here. And I thought, well that’s something I could get behind,” explained Mrs. Doyle.