Here’s what’s happening on Martha’s Vineyard today.
Today is National Fly a Kite Day. Seems like a strange time of year for this day. Today is also Safer Internet Day, a day to highlight ways to protect from identity theft and other internet scams. If your friend sent you this, sign up for yourself here.
More details have emerged about the fire that destroyed a house on Owen Little Way Monday. Firefighters had such difficulty with the fire that they called in an excavator to knock down the structure. The cause of the blaze remains under investigation, though we have confirmed that sadly two dogs died in the fire. Meanwhile, with the help of Bow Van Riper we are learning more about the history of the house. Reporter Rich Saltzberg and editor George Brennan have this update.
Holding pattern The Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School committee is in a holding pattern while they wait to hear if the Massachusetts School Building Authority will accept the district’s application for funding. As we reported, the six towns offered support for a school project, but Oak Bluffs sent its own letter raising concerns with the funding formula for the district. Reporter Lucas Thors has this update, which includes a request from Beach Road Weekend that the school district is considering.
Bill targets SSA At a press conference on Tuesday, state Sen. Julian Cyr and state Rep. Dylan Fernandes outlined a bill that seeks to amend the Steamship Authority enabling act. The two legislators want the SSA to hire a chief operating officer and are also seeking term limits for SSA board members. Reporter Rich Saltzberg has this story.
MEETINGS The West Tisbury select board meets at 4:30 pm Wednesday. Remote access. Here is the agenda.
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Quote of the Day "As a coach I can’t even express the feeling of pride that I have for you all. Yesterday, as a team, the boys all worked together and made school history. We are the champions for the first time."–MVRHS swimming head coach Jen Passafiume about her team’s conference championship knocking off Nantucket
Hot Topic Comment Tom Pallas commented on our recipe for spicy chicken tenders. "Instead, the first step should be to open the bag of chips to snack on while you whisk, etc. Stop snacking when you’re 3/4 of the way through. Keep a 2nd bag on hand in case you get carried away."
Hot Topic Letter Susan Desmarais shared a letter she wrote to the Oak Bluffs board of health. "The students at MVRHS deserve good athletic facilities. They also deserve good health. Our community deserves safe drinking water. Our sole source aquifer will supply that if we take care of it. And yes some PFAS chemicals are being detected. This creates urgency. We need only look at the PFAS chemicals reaching wells in West Tisbury from the airport to know what can happen. We cannot gamble on the health of our water and Island community."
Today: The Oak Bluffs library’s Graphic Novel Club meets tonight. I never really got into graphic novels, but worked at a library long enough to know a whole lot of other people are into them. I really do need to broaden my horizons. 7 pm.–Connie Berry
Let’s stick with the literary, shall we? (It’s sort of fancy to say "shall we" isn’t it?) Pathways hosts its Open Writing Poetry Series both in person and online, which is pretty sweet. Come read something aloud or just listen. 7 pm. –C.B.
Tomorrow:We’re on a roll with the words today. Tracey Thorpe at the Chilmark library let us know that there is an open M.V. Poetry Contest going on. With prizes. So break out your quills or your keyboard and get to it. Anytime. –C.B. Movies! Check out what’s playing this weekend at Island theaters here.
Deflategate "AC/DC Tire Inflator. This like new compressor shows tires’ current and desired air pressure and has automatic shut-off. $35. 508-693-1129."
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Dining out?
The Barn Open for lunch & dinner Tuesday through Saturday 11:30 am to 9:30 pm. Bowling available Tuesday through Saturday at 5 pm. Text Barnmv to 508/696/9800 to receive deals & specials.
The Sweet LifeOpen year round! Serving dinner Wednesday through Saturday, and brunch on Sunday. Featuring a pre-fixe 3 course dinner for $50 on Wednesdays! @sweet_life_mv 508/696/0200 sweetlifemv.com.
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Staying in? Remember when Amelia Smith shared her recipe for Sugar Cookies? Well, we do and we were thinking we should share it so that you can prep for making some this weekend for Valentine’s Day. Or just to enjoy some on your own, make yourself a little treat.
Do you know this woman? Submit your best guess to newsletters@mvtimes.comwithin 24 hours and check the next Minute for the correct answer. That’s right, you asked and we listened. You won’t have to wait until the end of the month to find the answers. We’ll throw all winning guesses into a pot at the end of the month and someone will win their choice of a $100 Lift certificate to an Island business or $100 to go toward an Island charity of their choice. For previous Do You Knows? see our archive. Monday’s correct answer: Painter Allen Whiting
Let the good times roll As the weather begins to become more bearable and the tourist season can be seen on the horizon, a bustle begins on Vineyard bike paths. Our beautiful beach vistas and quaint town centers are great places to explore on two wheels, and it’s no secret that biking is one of the main forms of recreation that draws seasonal visitors here. But what about the woods? There are acres upon acres to explore while cruising around on a mountain bike, but recent land use issues have brought tough conservation questions around off road biking to the surface. Read reporter Lucas Thors’ story on why mountain bikers think it’s important that they have a seat at the table during these discussions.
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