Martha's Vineyard Megan Dooley

Chappy Native Pens Kids’ Book, Talks About Growing Up Different

Megan Dooley | Thursday, December 17 2009 - 1:04pm

As a student at the Edgartown School, a counselor once told Chappaquiddick native Stephanie Duckworth-Elliott that she wouldn’t go to college, and implied that Ms. Duckworth-Elliott would not achieve in life. The young girl had a background and home life that already separated her from other kids her age — she was a member of the only Wampanoag family living on Chappy at the time, and raised primarily by her grandfather — and the counselor’s prediction made her feel even more detached from her peers.

Authors

Promising Young Poets Program Finds Vineyard’s Finest Verses

Megan Dooley

The walls of the Unitarian Universalist Society church were lined with anxious teenagers last Friday night, as the group of 10 high school poets sat waiting to take the podium to read their work aloud to friends and family filling the pews.

Little Anglers Land Big Catches

Megan Dooley

The Island’s youngest fish ermen were treated to a quiet, still morning last Saturday. The anglers came early to Duarte’s Pond in West Tisbury to compete in the annual spring Martha’s Vineyard Rod and Gun Club trout tournament. The club hosted the event with a large crew of volunteers. Youngsters were treated to hot dogs on the grill.

The club had stocked the pond with plenty of large trout, but it was the native pickerel that gave fishermen the best catch. Native catfish were also plentiful.

Jonathan Mayhew Wins Board Seat In Chilmark Vote

Megan Dooley

Jonathan Mayhew was elected Wednesday to replace J.B. Riggs Parker on the Chilmark board of selectmen, who did not seek re-election this year after serving his second term. Mr. Mayhew, who previously served three terms on the board before stepping down in 1994, was elected with 245 votes. His opponent William Rossi received 181 votes.

Chilmark Rejects Turbine Moratorium

Megan Dooley

A townwide moratorium on wind turbines and a complicated question centering on the long-term impacts of affordable housing rules occupied much of the night when Chilmark voters gathered at their town community center on Monday for back-to-back town meetings, one special and one annual.

And while the annual town meeting warrant was a relatively straightforward affair, by contrast, a short, two-article special town meeting that kicked off the evening sparked wide-ranging discussion and debate.

High School Discipline Process Underway After Drug Incident

Megan Dooley

School officials are staying mum about a handful of freshman and sophomore students allegedly involved in a recent drug infraction at the regional high school, saying that no details will be made available until the disciplinary process is concluded.

Vineyard schools superintendent Dr. James H. Weiss said discussing the incident in public might jeopardize an ongoing case.

Ms. Smith,Teacher of the Year Nominee

Megan Dooley

“What’s the word for color?”

Kindergarten and first grade teacher Robin Smith dove head first into her class Spanish lesson at the Chilmark School on a recent Wednesday morning last week, despite not knowing the language. Parent and volunteer Anja May stepped in with the translation, sending Ms. Smith back to her task with the kids.