Here’s what’s happening on Martha’s Vineyard today.
It’s April Fools’ Day. We share with you a photo from Lisa Vanderhoop from Aquinnah today on what is one of her favorite days of the year. Today is also National One Cent Day. Penny for your thoughts? If your friend sent you this, sign up for yourself here.
He said what? Terry Donahue, an advocate for a synthetic turf field at MVRHS, was caught during a Zoom meeting making a vulgar comment about Susan Desmarais — an Oak Bluffs woman who was speaking out against the project. Desmarais has demanded an apology from Donahue and school officials are calling Donahue’s comment "disgusting." Reporter Lucas Thors has this story. Meanwhile, there’s an Oak Bluffs select board candidate who has what he acknowledges are some objectionable memes on his Facebook page. Editor George Brennan spoke to James Bishop about it and has this story.
Pandemic milestone TestMV closed on Thursday. It’s a sign that the pandemic is easing its grip, but as health agents on the Island have warned recently, COVID-19 remains something to be diligent about. On Thursday, TestMV bagged up its last sample and held a celebratory lunch for the testing site’s volunteers after closing down the testing site in West Tisbury for the last time. Reporter Abigail Rosen has this update.
Help is on the way There are a lot of help wanted signs on the Island already, but U.S. Rep. Bill Keating has some good news. Help is on the way in the form of H-2B visas. Keating told The Times that the federal government has agreed to allow even more foreign workers this summer season to help fill the needs of employers. Reporter Rich Saltzberg has this story.
MEETINGS The Edgartown select board meets at 4 pm Monday. Remote access. Here is the agenda. The MVRHS school committee meets at 6 pm Monday. Remote access. Here is the agenda.
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Quote of the Day "The only impediment I can see is that if we try to throw in on top of trying to figure out how to divide up the cost of this building — to try and throw anything else in at this point, until we finish that, it is going to be a distraction. I would encourage you not to do that."–Edgartown select
board member Arthur Smadbeck during Wednesday’s joint meeting between the school committee and all six select boards
Hot Topic Comment Ted Jochsberger commented on a plan in West Tisbury to widen the North Tisbury Bridge. "While I agree that widening the bridge might make it safer, the downside is it will encourage some folks to move faster across the span. Right now, most drivers slow down as they approach the bridge. I’m not sure widening will produce more safety. Just a thought."
Hot Topic Letter Tonya Leonard Katz and Brielle Leonard-Palin wrote to wish their father, Richard Leonard, a happy retirement. "Finishing his career with the Cape Cod 5 Cent Savings Bank has been the perfect way to say goodbye to a lifetime of banking on Martha’s Vineyard. He was able to continue doing what he loved — helping to build up and fortify the Island where he was born and raised — while also helping to bring another local banking option to our shores."
Today:The big weekend go-to is the MVRHS production of "Les Miserables." We’ve heard it’s
amazing. That’s Emmett Favreau on the barricade as Inspector Javert. Tonight at 7 pm, Saturday night at 7 pm, and Sunday afternoon at 2.–Connie Berry
The M.V. Film Center is screening "The Moon has Risen," based on a screenplay written by Yasujiro Ozu and Ryosuke Saito. 7:30 pm.–C.B.
This weekend:Vineyard Confections gives us an Islandwide Spring Egg Hunt from 8 am to noon, and for that I am grateful. I’ll keep my eyes peeled all weekend. Fiber Arts take precedence at the Oak Bluffs library from 10 am to 2 pm. Bring something to work on, anything you’d like. The West Tisbury library hosts Garden Flowers and Florist Flowers in-person with gardener and floral design teacher Helene Barr. 2 pm. I love Kurt Vonnegut, so I plan to go to this documentary "Kurt Vonnegut: Unstuck in Time." M.V. Film Center. 7:30 pm. –C.B.
On Sunday join the UU Church for some thoughts and music about liberation nearing the start of Passover with special guests: Kohenet (Priestess) Batya Diamond. Click the website link for information about Zoom access. 11 am. Join the Land Bank staff on a guided natural history walk of Quansoo Preserve. Meet at the Quansoo Farm trailhead off Quansoo Road at 1 pm. Zoom Information Session: Preserve West Tisbury happens before town meeting, so check it out. 3 pm. Short and sweet folks, Lucas Thors is pressuring me to finish before 3 pm so we can go to our charm school class. –C.B.
Queen’s gambit "Staunton tournament chess set. 4 inch king, Italian 2.5 inch board. $99.50. 508-939-0909 or rcarlson2222@icould.com."
Click here for more finds in our Classifieds section.
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.
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.
Staying in?
We realize we’ve been a little heavy on the cocktail recipes lately, but you know what? It’s been that kind of week. Try Paul W. Bagnall’s Cranberry Ginger Beer Bourbon. We’re going to put one together right now.
Do you know this mother and daughter? 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.
Thursday’s answer: Woody Geissman and Peter Simon
Inventing Anna You may have heard of the infamous fake heiress, Anna Sorokin, a.k.a Anna Delvey. Now Netflix has a nine-episode series that begins with Anna already at Rikers as she awaits trial, and is partially told through the lens of reporter Vivian Kent (not her real name) and the fictional "Manhattan" magazine that falsely illustrates Anna’s story. Editor George Brennan voices his two cents on the Netflix take on a classically mysterious series of events in the most recent What Are You Watching (he’s got some strong words for "reporter" Vivian Kent).
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