Thursday's Minute: 9.21.23: Island towns seek to bolster fire suppression systems; ending the silence on suicide, mental health; and a boy sails to Martha’s Vineyard.

fire grant teaser rewrite: "Following the horrors in Maui, all Island towns except Oak Bluffs are seeking state grant funds that would bolster their ability to respond to brush and other fires. In Aquinnah, discussion of fire suppression also comes after a resident was denied homeowner's insurance due to fire protection concerns. Aquinnah's fire chief says there was a misunderstanding, but also that all up-Island towns are ranked near the bottom of a scale for insurers. Read more here."

Suicide Prevention Walk
The 6th annual Darkness Into Vineyard Light Suicide Prevention and Awareness Walk will take place this weekend on Saturday, September 23. Meet at 5 am at Bend in the Road for a sunrise gathering of Islanders who are passionate about mental health and destigmatizing mental illness. Now a nonprofit, organizers hope to play a bigger role in Island mental health care and community resources. Read more about the nonprofit and how to participate in this weekend’s walk here.

Edgartown Waterfront Estate Sponsored

Spectacular 35-acre Boldwater Association waterfront estate on Edgartown Great Pond with breathtaking views over 1,000-ft wide low brushy pond front terrain and across the 3/4-mile wide Lyles Bay, dreamy Swan Neck Point, the 1-1/2 mile wide main pond and barrier beach to the ocean beyond. The handful of well pruned trees on the property enhance the water views. The sophisticated and charming house was built by Andrew Flake, arguably the finest Vineyard builder over the last 40 years. Mark Hutker created an innovative design with an arc shape nautical theme so every room faces the water. The three second floor bedrooms enjoy large terraces and the first floor primary bedroom opens to a nice deck and quiet garden sanctuary. The handmade luxury kitchen cabinetry and extensive woodworking were done by Smallbone, a British Company noted for time-honored design and craftsmanship. Adding to this estate, reflecting decades of careful planning and development, is a lovely private pool and pool house, four-room guest suite over the garage with large deck, two stone-wall enclosed specimen fruit tree meadows, a large field circled by a grand stone wall, a idyllic lily pond and two miles of private trails.

Quote of the Day
"When we foraged, and our foraging capabilities took us far and wide, it gave me an understanding of who they were, and instilled the knowledge of who I was yet to become. The knowledge of the ground that was around me here has rooted me in my culture and my history, and the history of my people who have been there for centuries."
— Juli Vanderhoop on a food forest coming to Aquinnah

Hot Topic Comment
"The whales are the allies—the big troops—for maintaining planetary balance and atmospheric health, also for humans. They are not just a 'charismatic' ornament."
— Katherine Scott on efforts to protect the Right Whale

Hot Topic Letter
J.R Mell, Big Brothers Big Sisters regional director, extends his gratitude towards the Black Dog and the Douglas family for hosting Vineyard Bigs and Littles aboard the Alabama: "The captain and crew did a phenomenal job sharing the history of the ship in its past life and current life as an icon of Vineyard Haven Harbor. Our Bigs and Littles thoroughly enjoyed every aspect of this opportunity, and are already looking forward to next year."

Today: Come Drum and Dance by the Fire at the Milokan Cultural Center at Native Earth Teaching Farm. The thing about drumming is that it’s always cool, isn’t it? And anybody can enjoy it. Don’t get me started about dancing. My sister was a go-go girl. 7 pm. –Connie Berry

Island Theatre Workshop brings us "Little Shop of Horrors" live on stage this weekend and next. It’s a pretty wild premise, but famously fun. You may think twice about visiting a florist. Performing Arts Center. 7:30 pm. –C.B.

Dining out?

The Barn Open Monday through Saturday 11:30 am to 11 pm for lunch, dinner & bowling. Text Barnmv to 508/696/9800 to receive deals & specials.

The Sweet Life Open year-round! Serving dinner Tuesday through Sunday at 5:30 pm. @sweet_life_mv 508/696/0200 sweetlifemv.com

The Dunes Open for the season! Dine with an ocean view. 31 Dunes Road, Edgartown. thedunesmv.com

Click here for more details and specials

Restaurant owners: Are you open? Let our readers know, and support local journalism while doing so!

Contact jenna@mvtimes.com to discuss promoting your dining specials with the MV Times.

For an oven-roasted autumn meal so delicious that you can literally eat the entire bowl, try Stuffed and Savory Acorn Squash, a recipe shared by Jenna Lambert. She also gives a tip on how to tell if an acorn squash is ripe. It's the opposite from fruit, so what you think might be a good gourd could actually be a bad apple.

If you'd like to share a recipe with the community, send it to us at recipes@mvtimes.com, and include a photo of the dish and a brief backstory if you have one.

Click here to browse more recipes from the Island community.

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