News
A large anchor, possibly dating back to the 19th century, was pulled out of the outer Edgartown harbor late Tuesday afternoon. Donald Benefit, an Edgartown conch fisherman who found the anchor, raised it from the waters between the Edgartown and Cape Pogue Lighthouses. It was too heavy to lift out of the water, so he towed it to the town dock, where boat and anchor spent the night.
When the Martha’s Vineyard Hospital embarked on its recent major expansion, it triggered Massachusetts Department of Public Health regulations to ensure that the expansion is needed and that the hospital gives a percentage of the project’s total cost to the community for health initiatives. As a result, the hospital will provide $1,075,000 for Vineyard community health projects over the next five years. This money will be available to the community through a grant process sometime in the late summer or early fall.
A report commissioned by the Martha’s Vineyard and Dukes County commissions analyzing the delivery of public services on the Vineyard suggests the six Island towns should consider combining some departments and services, mostly to save money.
But the 29-page report, prepared by Edward J. Collins of the Center for Public Management at the University of Massachusetts Boston, makes few specific recommendations and takes no position on the issue of regionalization.
Blessing the Bikes
A Blessing of the Bicycles will be held on Saturday, May 15, at 10 a.m. in front of the Federated Church, 45 South Summer street in Edgartown.
Garden Manager
Becca Munro has been named garden manager at the Farm Institute. She will be managing the farm’s eight-acre production garden, including its produce CSA program, its local farm stand and its stand at the West Tisbury Farmers’ Market.
From farm country in southeastern Pennsylvania, Ms. Munro is a graduate of Warren Wilson College.
The Edgartown selectmen opted not to accept a letter of resignation submitted by affordable housing committee member Alan Gowell at their meeting Monday afternoon.
“I’d like the opportunity to talk with him,” said town administrator Pam Dolby. “I think it would be a great loss to the affordable housing committee.”