Year in Pictures: 2019
Solstice Hannagan, the first Vineyard baby of 2019 entered the world in dramatic fashion in the back of a Tri-Town ambulance.
Solstice Hannagan, the first Vineyard baby of 2019 entered the world in dramatic fashion in the back of a Tri-Town ambulance.
Retiring clerk of superior courts Joe Sollitto (center) descended the steps of the courthouse for the last time.
Retiring clerk of superior courts Joe Sollitto (center) descended the steps of the courthouse for the last time.
To combat sea level rise the Edgartown Yacht Club raised its building.
To combat sea level rise the Edgartown Yacht Club raised its building.
Development director Kelsey Cosby and camp director Liza Gallagher tour the new construction at Camp Jabberwocky.
Development director Kelsey Cosby and camp director Liza Gallagher tour the new construction at Camp Jabberwocky.
IGI brought 13-ton cylindrical composter to the Vineyard and set it in place at the Farm Hub.
IGI brought 13-ton cylindrical composter to the Vineyard and set it in place at the Farm Hub.
Tribal land off State Road was cleared in preparation for bingo hall.
Tribal land off State Road was cleared in preparation for bingo hall.
A pre-dawn fire at Flat Point Farm in West Tisbury Tuesday destroyed the main barn and claimed the lives of almost 90 animals.
A pre-dawn fire at Flat Point Farm in West Tisbury Tuesday destroyed the main barn and claimed the lives of almost 90 animals.
The Vose family boathouse on the Edgartown harbor got a facelift.
The Vose family boathouse on the Edgartown harbor got a facelift.
The historic Mill House in Vineyard Haven overlooking the lower entrance to the harbor was torn down.
The historic Mill House in Vineyard Haven overlooking the lower entrance to the harbor was torn down.
An emotionally charged debate over two plaques on the Civil War monument in Oak Bluffs.
An emotionally charged debate over two plaques on the Civil War monument in Oak Bluffs.
For the fifth straight year the Vineyard girls tennis team has won the state championship.
For the fifth straight year the Vineyard girls tennis team has won the state championship.
Bus drivers for the Vineyard Transit Authority went on strike in June.
Bus drivers for the Vineyard Transit Authority went on strike in June.
Striking drivers crowded a meeting of the transit authority advisory board.
Striking drivers crowded a meeting of the transit authority advisory board.
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers confirmed the discovery of a World War II-vintage Helldiver buried off Cape Pogue.
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers confirmed the discovery of a World War II-vintage Helldiver buried off Cape Pogue.
The morning sun rose over Nantucket Sound as the Polar Bears gathered in a friendship circle.
The morning sun rose over Nantucket Sound as the Polar Bears gathered in a friendship circle.
Dr. Shelley Einbinder, the new principal of the Edgartown School greets students.
Dr. Shelley Einbinder, the new principal of the Edgartown School greets students.
Climate strike day saw children and students protesting the planets future.
Climate strike day saw children and students protesting the planets future.
The historic stone bank in Vineyard Haven got its clay tiles back.
The historic stone bank in Vineyard Haven got its clay tiles back.
A strong northeast storm whipped up high winds and heavy seas around the Vineyard.
A strong northeast storm whipped up high winds and heavy seas around the Vineyard.
A new barn went up at Flat Point Farm in West Tisbury this week, seven months after a devastating fire destroyed the historic farm's main barn.
A new barn went up at Flat Point Farm in West Tisbury this week, seven months after a devastating fire destroyed the historic farm's main barn.
Ten-year-old Aubrey Warburton became the youngest angler in the derby's history to take home the grand prize.
Ten-year-old Aubrey Warburton became the youngest angler in the derby's history to take home the grand prize.
The boys cross country team won the sectional championship.
The boys cross country team won the sectional championship.
The year began with an emergency birth, as six-pound, 15-ounce Solstice Hannagan came into the world just short of the Tisbury drawbridge - the first Vineyard baby of 2019.
Later that day, longtime Clerk of Courts Joe Sollitto descended the courtsteps while celebrating his last day on the job. The hardest part, according to Mr. Sollitto, was losing his coveted Edgartown parking spot.
Over the winter, two historic buildings on the Edgartown Harbor received face lifts - and actual lifts - as the Vose Family Boathouse and Edgartown Yacht Club responded to the threat of rising seas.
Other Vineyard institutions received makeovers as well, including Camp Jabberwocky and the Gay Head Light. Island Grown Initiative got an in-vessel composter. The Santander Bank roof got its historic clay tiles back.
In March, the Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah) broke ground on a class II gaming facility in the tiny up-Island town of Aquinnah. Later in the month, crisis struck in West Tisbury, with a pre-dawn fire razing historic Flat Point Farm and claiming the lives of 90 animals.
The Island confronted its history during April and May. The historic Mill House was demolished without review, sparking concern from town officials, residents and the Martha's Vineyard Commission. A long-lost World War II-era plane was extracted from the Cape Pogue seafloor. And Oak Bluffs selectmen voted to remove two plaques from an Ocean Park statue that referenced Confederate soldiers.
Throughout the year, the Island's youngest generation made its presence felt, protesting climate inaction, winning the Derby and continuing a historically dominant run in girls tennis and a state title in boys cross country.
A VTA strike shook the Vineyard during the busiest summer months. Then a fall gale blasted the Island for three days, causing massive waves and 50-mile per hour gusts - perfect practice for the coasties.
And the working waterfront came into focus, with a series of projects proposed for Beach Road and a bumper crop to start scallop season in Tisbury.