News
Headmaster’s List
Vineyarder and National Guardsman Chris Brown was honored last Friday with the highest award given in the state, the Massachusetts Medal of Merit Award, for saving a life in recent ice storm.
Specialist James Norman Christopher Brown 2nd — known in the Guard as James, though Islanders know him as Chris — was one of two guardsmen based in Agawam who responded to a 71-year-old Blandford woman who is alive because of the efforts.
There is no more gratifying sight than a well-run community outreach program. In operation for only a few years, Family to Family, the branch of Serving Hands (nee The Surplus Food Program) on the Vineyard, which dispenses turkey dinners to families in need before Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter, outdid itself on Friday, Dec. 12.
The Farm Institute has hired longtime Island educator Sidney Morris to fill the new position of year-round manager of education programs, aiming to improve its connections with Island schools and full-time Vineyard residents.
Executive director Matthew Goldfarb described Mr. Morris as dedicated and passionate community educator with over 30 years of experience working in a broad range of Island educational initiatives.
New NAACP Officers
The Martha’s Vineyard NAACP has elected new leadership. They were sworn into office on Dec. 9, 2008, by Police Chief Erik Blake. Officers and committee members are: Laurie Perry-Henry, president; Marie B. Allen, first vice president; Carrie B. Tankard, second vice president, and executive committee members Francine James, Rev. Marcia Buckley, Elaine Weintraub, Don Goss and Vera Shorter.
While Methodists once came by the hundreds to worship on Martha’s Vineyard, now they come by the handfuls. The congregation that helped shape the Island’s history is grappling with such declining church membership that three of the four United Methodist congregations on Martha’s Vineyard have voted to consolidate into a single congregation.