News
Debate about whether to build a public fishing pier on the harbor side of the Oak Bluffs Steamship Authority wharf grew contentious last Thursday, when neighborhood residents of the North Bluff protested the location, citing noise and garbage concerns.
While most in attendance at the Martha’s Vineyard Commission public hearing came to applaud the project, neighboring homeowners insisted the pier should be built on the far side of the SSA wharf.
The Martha’s Vineyard Commission voted unanimously last week to approve a new two-story building at the Tisbury Marketplace on Beach Road in Vineyard Haven. The vote is a victory for developer Sam Dunn, who originally created the marketplace in 1984 and plans to build the new mixed-use retail and apartment building.
The vote concludes a process that began over a year ago when Mr. Dunn’s proposal was referred to the commission as a development of regional impact last fall.
The plan now goes to the town of Tisbury for review at the local level.
There is a world of difference, says Mike McCormack, between the role of a police officer and that of a sheriff. And between himself and his challenger.
“He’s about putting them behind bars. The sheriff’s job is about preparing them to go back into the community. They are totally different jobs,” said Mr. McCormack.
His point, if not already obvious, is that experience in one job does not equate to qualification for the other. And Mr. McCormack is running on experience
Neal Maciel’s policy manifesto relates almost exclusively to the running of the jail. It begins with a promise to prohibit transfers of prisoners from off-Island, something he claims the current sheriff allows too often and as a favor to his counterparts in other counties.
It’s a practice, he says, which has contributed to the Vineyard jail’s reputation as a place where fortunate prisoners can do soft time.
Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School quarterback Randall Jette walked off the practice field in the brisk fall air on Wednesday night after a hard practice that ran until almost 7 p.m. under the lights in preparation for tonight’s pivotal league game against Somerset at home. “Friday night is our Super Bowl,” Jette said.
Last year the Vineyarders lost 20-0 to Somerset and Jette is candid about what went wrong. “Me,” he said.
After days of bad weather, most of it wind, the fall derby busted open last weekend with great fishing from off Wasque to Devil’s Bridge in Aquinnah. This is the closing week of the 65th annual Martha’s Vineyard Striped Bass and Bluefish Derby. With more than 2,700 fishermen registered in the contest, a lot of fishermen were out on the water to make up for lost time. The contest ends at 10 p.m. tomorrow night.
Columbus Day weekend was the last chance most anglers would have to devote high energy to the sport.