Jobless Island

How many Islanders are out of work? No one knows for certain, but we know the numbers are rising to near record levels, mirroring the rest of the country and now apparently the world. The New York Times reported last weekend that fifty million people are forecast to be out of work by the end of this year, as unemployment spreads around the globe like wildfire.

And the year has just begun.

Shelter in a Storm

By 5:30 p.m. on a midwinter evening, the traffic into and out of Vineyard Haven had thinned; there wasn’t much anyway, the whole day had been blustery, with snow squalls off and on. No strollers and not many shoppers. The stores got ready to close, and people hurried about their business, finishing errands, getting to their cars and leaving town. It was dusk, and snowy, with just a tiny bit of pink sunset showing through the black clouds in the west. Red sky at night sailor’s delight; maybe the weather would be clearing tomorrow.

Harnessing Cape Wind’s Royalty Payments

Hold the Colas

The Martha’s Vineyard Commission’s budget has been thrust under the spotlight, like all government budgets as town and county leaders strive to develop responsible spending plans for the coming fiscal year without drastically cutting services, as a national recession worsens and state aid is slashed by millions of dollars. The regional planning commission’s unusual powers extend to its budget process which is autonomous and not subject to approval by the six towns.

February Medicinal