News
Richard Knabel unseated two-term incumbent selectman Glenn Hearn by a vote of 380 to 294 in the annual town election yesterday.
“The town wanted to make a change and they did. I’m delighted with their confidence and support. We’re a big community and we’re all in this together,” Mr. Knabel said after the votes were counted last night.
F rom behind a closed door, and to the untrained ear of a reporter, it sounds like The Omen soundtrack. In fact, the Island Community Chorus is rehearsing an aria from Felix Mendelssohn’s Elijah, the most ambitious piece director Peter Boak’s choir has attempted in its 11-year history.
“The fire descends from heaven!” calls the director. The assembled hundred-or-so altos, basses and sopranos, blast the line around the back room of the Performing Arts Centre.
In an extraordinary outcome, Tisbury’s referendum on whether town restaurants should be allowed to sell beer and wine with meals has ended in a tie vote, 690 in favor and 690 against. The result means the controversy over the proposed measure, which has run for almost three years, will run for at least a few days more, pending a manual recount of all the computer ballots.
Tisbury town clerk Marion Mudge said in her 24 years in the position, she could not recall any other tied vote.
Fred Natusch is Honored
For Nstar Customer Care
Vineyard resident Fred Natusch, a veteran lineworker at Nstar, recently received the company’s Champion for the Customer award for outstanding dedication on the job.
In a release, the electric utility stated Mr. Natusch is known by coworkers and customers alike for his strong work ethic and caring response to customer calls.
Margaret Serpa held on her seat as Edgartown selectman yesterday evening, beating out challenger Bob Fynbo 504-397 votes in the closest contest for selectman in more than 25 years.
A total of 915 voters turned out, 31 per cent of the 2977 registered voters, on one of the first full days of sunshine this year.
Aquinnah selectmen this week raced to prepare language for a new bylaw aimed at regulating wind turbines that is due for review by the Martha’s Vineyard Commission early next month and for voters at the annual town meeting on May 13.
A public hearing is scheduled before the town planning board on May 5; the commission will hold its own public hearing on May 8.
The draft bylaw is aimed at creating regulations for a townwide energy district of critical planning concern (DCPC) which went into effect last December.