Remy Tumin
The dirt is still fresh driving down Middle Line Road and along the way your car collects a coating of brown dust. Still, the road is pristine compared to the normal potholed, rollercoaster of rural Vineyard roads. And once you drive through the beguiling tunnel of Chilmark trees, a new neighborhood appears, its homes tucked onto hilltops.
Oak Bluffs is not out of the woods yet with its severe financial straits. Deep deficits remain, including a $252,822 operating shortfall for the current fiscal year, the newly-appointed interim town administrator said this week. But Robert Whritenour, meeting in public with the selectmen for the first time on Tuesday night, said that he has now a clear picture of the problem, which is the first step toward solving it.
Julie Sierputoski pulled her pickup truck into the parking lot behind the Oak Bluffs School. It was Labor Day, school had not started yet and Ms. Sierputoski’s truck was the only one in the parking lot.
Down came the tailgate and off the truck came tomatoes, cabbage, yogurt and string beans.
“What about these, will your kids eat these?” Ms. Sierputoski said, holding up a lemon cucumber.
“You know me, I’ll take whatever I can get,” replied school chef Leah Miranda.
Wearing empty backpacks and new outfits, their cheeks still rosy from the summer sun, a long line of students stood outside the Oak Bluffs School waiting to meet their new principal, Richie Smith, on Thursday morning.
Huddled under the awning, the students and Mr. Smith refused to let a September downpour dampen their spirits. This was the first day of school, and everyone was ready for a fresh start.
Chilmark selectmen this week approved a warrant for a special town meeting later this month, reviewed damage from tropical storm Irene and discussed a draft revision of the Tri-Town Ambulance Service agreement.
Kevin Gover wants to set the record straight on the story of Pocahontas. It may come as a shock to a generation of children who grew up on beloved Disney movies, but the familiar story of the American Indian princess is largely falsified.