News
A wide range of Island leaders — including selectmen, public health officials and police chiefs — gathered on Wednesday for a special meeting hoping to finally designate an emergency dispensing site for the Vineyard in the event of a terrorist attack or outbreak of infectious disease.
And although the meeting, held at the Vineyard Transit Authority building, was marked by a spirit of cooperation and good will, no consensus about a site was reached.
Katherine Arrives
Dianne and Gerret C. Conover of Edgartown announce the birth of their second daughter, Katherine Alexa Conover, born Dec. 5 at the Falmouth Hospital. She weighed 7 pounds 13 ounces and is welcomed by her big sister Caroline. The grandparents are Paula and Gerret D. Conover of Edgartown, Sheila and Paul Lister of Falmouth and Ellen and Charles McCluskey of Vineyard Haven.
My granddaughter Shealyn Smyth attended the West Tisbury story time recently. She loved the other children in the group, sat quietly while the story was read and appreciated the friendly atmosphere. At two, she’s already a book-happy person.
The year just past brought its share of mourning for the well-known Islanders who died.
On Jan 5 Robert T. Morgan died at the age of 84. Perhaps most widely known for his role as Island legislative liaison from 1985 to 1992, he was a ubiquitous presence around the place, a farmer, swordfisherman, scalloper, harbor master and civic leader.
Peter M. Williamson died on Jan. 23. He served 32 years with Oak Bluffs, 28 as chief. He was 70 years old.
Sarah and Christopher Lynch of Edgartown announce the birth of a son, Jon (Jack) David Lynch, born on Dec. 19, 2008, at the Martha’s Vineyard Hospital. Jack weighed 5 pounds, 14 ounces at birth.
On July 8, four days after the devastating fire that burned Café Moxie and the Bunch of Grapes Bookstore, Tisbury defiantly held its summer street fair. Gazette photographer Jaxon White captured the event with a shot of an eight-year old girl on Main street, beaming through new front teeth and swirling a balloon. Her name was Hope. Hope Alwart.
And there was a single-frame metaphor for 2008, adversity and hope.