Friday's Minute: 4.21.2023: Chilmark finance committee supports high school budget cut at town meeting; West Tisbury narr owing in on accessory dwelling unit pilot program; and Tisbury tackling timeshares at town meeting.

Quote of the Day
"Our inventories are really, really low. We’re trending at below 25 percent of normal inventory levels."
— James Feiner of Feiner Real Estate on the abnormal housing market in a post-COVID world.

Hot Topic Comment
Richard Knabel comments on our story about a local historic district commission disputing the replica steeple on the Katharine Cornell Theater: "The original one is elegant, has class, and excellent scale. The replacement steeple is a stunted pale shadow of the original. A ‘lick-and-a-promise’. Historical authenticity can be a real bother, but would you paint the building chartreuse if you got a good deal on the paint?"

Hot Topic Letter
Peter Jones of Edgartown writes to us about the lack of a luggage cart on a Steamship Authority ferry: "What about elderly passengers without cars? Are they supposed to haul heavy bags up and down the stairs? What about island residents who have gone off island to do shopping? Perhaps this was just another Authority "mechanical failure," though this time on the cart and not a boat."

This weekend: On Saturday, the Martha’s Vineyard Bird Club invites you to "Birding 101" led by David Padulo at Sheriff's Meadow Sanctuary in Edgartown. They’ll show you what to look for. Free. 8 am. You can celebrate Earth Day by volunteering at Felix Neck Wildlife Sanctuary from 9 am to noon. There will be various projects happening all morning, and then we'll head to the M.V. Museum for an Earth Day Celebration. You can also bring your family and friends to help clean up almost 30 beaches around the Island. Volunteers will be there with bags and gloves. 10 to noon. The Oak Bluffs library offers another way to honor Earth Day by leading an activity for the kids in this Textured Treasures Walkabout that leads to Sunset Lake. 11 am to 12 pm. The M.V. Museum hosts the mother of all Earth Day celebrations, with about 18 organizations from the Island's conservation community at the 1st annual Earth Day Conservation Festival. Information tables, touch tanks, activities for the whole family, educational presentations, a Vineyard Conservation Society after-party, a community sing, and more. 12 to 4 pm. Melissa Knowles (a great photographer, by the way) leads a Live Well Art Workshop at the Oak Bluffs library. Explore creative activities that you can incorporate into your everyday life. Primarily for seniors and children 10 and up, but open to all ages. 1:30 pm. The West Tisbury library hosts a presentation by Marsha Winsryg of the African Artists Community Development Project. I barely have time to wash my hair yet Marsha is helping with the Zambezi Communal Farm. Free. 2 to 3 pm. There’s a Bivalve Ball Fundraiser for the M.V. Shellfish Group at the Chilmark Community Center. Raw bar, chowder, other deliciousness, and Johnny Hoy and the Bluefish play, which is fitting. 6 to 10 pm. –C.B.

Sunday at the Unitarian Universalist Society, Rebecca Gilbert and Ursula Goodenough will explain why they have chosen a green burial. I think this is pretty fascinating. 10 am. Join the M.V. Rubik's Cubing Club (Cube MV), where cubers can gather to exchange ideas, strategies, helpful websites, and other cube-solving hints and tricks. Vineyard Haven library. 2 to 3:30 pm. This one speaks to my secret obsession with celebrity gossip (maybe not-so-secret now). "The Lost Weekend: A Love Story" plays at the Film Center. It’s about May Pang and John Lennon and Yoko Ono. 4 pm. Let’s end the weekend with a little Nightclub Two-Step. That’s how we should end every weekend. Unitarian Universalist Society. All ages welcome. Bring a partner or not. 4:30 to 6 pm. I’m seriously considering raking up all the sticks in my yard this weekend. But I probably won’t do that. –C.B.

Movies! Check out what’s playing this weekend at Island theaters here.

Real Estate Confidential: Real Estate Confidential: This week's look at values
Sponsored

With all the bad news you read about the Vineyard real estate market, I thought it was a good time to take a look at some properties that might be better than average values. My determination includes looking at properties that are below average in price per square foot and whose asking price is less than average compared to the town assessed value. These are all properties that have 3 or 4 bedrooms as they are best for families and also as a rental investment.

I guess the question is: If prices continue their upward curve, is there even such a thing as a best value? We are seeing more houses coming to market, but still not enough to move us into what I would consider a buyer’s market. So, for Islanders and vacationers alike, this is our current reality. There are always going to be the occasional property that for one reason or another needs to sell quickly and might provide some negotiation room. Others might need some upgrades that at first glance might seem overwhelming and at a closer look are just not as problematic.

I continue to believe there can be better negotiation in the current market with fewer buyers competing for the same house. I am already seeing an increase in showings and interest in buying, so if your plan is to buy this year, we might be in the best position for you to make an offer. As I look through the group, many lots have better potential for the future than the price might indicate, including potential for a guest house and/or a pool.

In West Chop, at 11 Pine Tree Lane, is a classic, four-bedroom, ranch-style home with a finished lower level and large private yard with mature trees and plantings. You are just steps to the Grove Street town beach. The home has had many renovations, including hardwood floors throughout and central A/C. Conveniently located just one mile from town, it is an easy walk to the yacht club, library, lighthouse, and all that Vineyard Haven has to offer . . .

For the rest of this Real Estate Confidential, click here. For more Real Estate Confidentials, click here.

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 Wednesday through Saturday, and brunch on Sunday. Live music with Jeremy Berlin on Thursdays.
@sweet_life_mv 508/696/0200 sweetlifemv.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.

Here's a great recipe for when you have many leftovers or the fridge needs to be cleaned out: Creamy Pot Pie, shared by the Oak Bluffs library a few years ago. Anything goes when it comes to filling up the crust. In the Times kitchen, it would become a veritable mishmash of mystery bits.

For more stories that celebrate local food, farming, and the community, visit Edible Vineyard, and look out for the next issue on newsstands in May.

Click here to browse more recipes from the Island community.

Creating Amity Island
A new exhibit at the Martha’s Vineyard Museum depicts the true story of how our little Island was transformed into Amity Island, and how the legendary production "Jaws," was filmed in a small seaside community. Though the movie debuted in 1975, the culture it created lives on, and the many locals who either acted in, helped film, or participated in the production of this major blockbuster will never forget the memories they made. Read the story here on "Jaws: Creating Amity Island" on display at the museum through March of next year.

We sent you The Minute because you gave us your email address at an Islanders Write or Islanders Read the Classics event (or at the Ag Fair), or you responded to an ad for The Minute and signed up on our website. The Minute will arrive Monday through Friday by the end of the workday, and features the day's news, important meetings and events, and even what to make for supper, along with some newsletter-only coupons and insider tips. We may produce special weekend editions and occasionally send you special offers from select advertisers. Got this forwarded from a friend? Sign up for yourself here. See past newsletters here.