At 7:59 this morning, Doug McConnell set off from Nantucket to Martha’s Vineyard, looking to complete the long distance swim he just barely failed to finish in 2019. The swim is a fundraiser for ALS research.

State wildlife officials and the Mass Audubon bird conservation group are advising residents to bring in their bird feeders and birdbaths until more is known about a mysterious avian ailment.

The Vineyard Gazette today released the first episode in a new nine-part podcast called Shed: Conversations about Race. Hosted by Island therapist Eric Adams, the podcast will unfold in interviews released weekly.

Vineyard doctors, allergists and biologists have identified at least a dozen Islanders who have been formally diagnosed with alpha gal syndrome, a largely unstudied new syndrome.

Shed host Eric Adams shapes each discussion through the lens of his profession, working with couples and people suffering from addiction issues. He likens racism to a social illness.

This week’s adoption news is that the Springer Spaniel brothers, Captain and Beacon, have been adopted and moved on their forever home.