News
The annual fireworks display in Oak Bluffs will continue this August, thanks to a substantial donation from the cable network Black Entertainment Television (BET).
The future of the long-standing Ocean Park show was called into question last October when the Oak Bluffs Firemen’s Civic Association, the sponsor of the event, said it could no longer bear the costs of the show.
Former Gov. Mitt Romney is popular among Edgartown donors, while people in Chilmark tend to donate to President Barack Obama more than other Islanders. Minnesota Sen. (and former Saturday Night Live star) Al Franken has pockets of support on Martha’s Vineyard, as do politicians from Texas to Wisconsin.
Plum TV, the lifestyle cable television network that abruptly went bankrupt last year, is expected to see some kind of revival this spring under new ownership.
Fire destroyed a two-story home in the Sea Glen neighborhood of Oak Bluffs Thursday afternoon. The cause of the blaze is now under investigation, said Oak Bluffs fire chief Peter Forend. No significant injuries were reported.
More than 80 firefighters from Oak Bluffs, Edgartown and Vineyard Haven responded to the call, which came in just after 3 p.m., Chief Forend said. By the time they arrived, the home was fully engulfed in flames.
“It was already gone,” he said.
Welcome Lucas
Lucas Parsons Westover was born on Jan. 10 at Newton-Wellesley Hospital in Newton. He weighed 6 pounds 9 ounces, and was 19 and 3/4 inches long. He is the first son of Jeffrey and Brenna (Parsons) Westover of Norwood. Proud grandparents are Gerald and Coleen Westover of Wolfeboro, and David and Donna Parsons of Wolfeboro. Proud great-grandparents are Evelyn George of Dover, N.H., Douglas Parsons of Tuftonboro, N.H., Suzanne Parsons of Dover, N.H., and Ruth Metell of Oak Bluffs.
As the second week of postseason sports draws to a close, one Vineyard team remains in the hunt for a championship title. The boys’ basketball team traveled to Taunton Wednesday evening, defeating Westwood 89-69 to advance to the final round of the MIAA division 3 south section tournament, where they will play number-one seed Wareham, an undefeated team.