Here’s what’s happening on Martha’s Vineyard today.
We hope you all had a restful holiday and enjoyed the fresh blanket of snow delivered on Christmas Eve. On this day in 1932, Radio City Music Hall opened in New York City. Today is also National Fruitcake Day.If your friend sent you this, sign up for yourself here.
Crunch time It was time for the Old Variety Store’s last call in Oak Bluffs on Tuesday. The historic shop, which had fallen into disrepair, was razed. An excavator made fairly quick work of it as passersby stopped to see it come down. It will be replaced by a retail shop on the first floor and an apartment on the second floor. Reporter Abigail Rosen has the story and a video of the
excavator in action.
Loan forgiveness The Martha’s Vineyard Airport got a little end of the year financial boost from the state. In a press release from state treasurer Deborah Goldberg, it was announced that the airport is one of the places in the Bay State that will benefit from more than $100 million in state grants. The airport will get close to a million dollars to help with its ongoing improvements to its wastewater treatment facility. Reporter Eunki Seonwoo has this update.
PFAS breakthrough? The University of California, Riverside, has announced a new method to break down per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) found in drinking water "into smaller compounds that are essentially harmless." This is a potentially big breakthrough in how to deal with the so-called forever chemicals that are showing up in everything these days. We reached out to some Island stakeholders about the potential breakthrough and what it might mean. Reporter Eunki Seonwoo has this story.
MEETINGS
There are no meetings scheduled for Wednesday as most boards take a holiday this week.
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Quote of the Day "What they’re looking for right now is a strong show of support from all the port towns." –Oak Bluffs finance committee member Sherri Countryman on a proposal to triple embarkation fees
Hot Topic Comment Bruce Stone commented on the proposed increase to embarkation fees. "If I go off-island, I always will be taking my car under the excursion rate which is exempt from the embarkation fee or, if without a car, using a 5-ride Lifeline pass which is also exempt from the embarkation fee. So, actually, islanders don’t have to pay the embarkation fee."
Hot Topic Letter Frank Brunelle wrote a parody about the dancing bridge gates of the Lagoon Pond Drawbridge. "The lines of vehicles, cars, trucks, scooters, and bikes all have a rest from driving, but only a lucky few hundred can actually see the performance, as the line of admiring lucky travelers wait for meaning in this dance, which is not purely for entertainment, but has a practical side to it as well."
Today:If I were a spice girl, I’d definitely be Scary Spice. Anyway, I’d rather be a member of this Spice Club at the Vineyard Haven library. Tonight they talk about ginger root powder. 6 pm. –Connie Berry
Tomorrow:This sounds sort of cool: Penpal Program Connecting the
Islands. M.V. Community Services and the West Tisbury library put together this way to connect with our friends on Nantucket. 3 pm. –C.B.
Movies!
Check out what’s playing at Island theaters here.
Zap in a snap "White Hamilton Beach microwave for sale. 21 inches wide x 15 inches deep. Excellent condition. Used seasonally. $25. 508-687-2487."
Click here for more finds in our Classifieds section.
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Contact jenna@mvtimes.com to discuss promoting your dining specials with the MV Times.
Staying in?
This recipe from Island Grown Initiative makes a great option for your New Year’s Eve celebration: Mushroom Spread. All you need is something to put it on, and we know you’ve got boxes and boxes of crackers leftover from the weekend.
Do you know this man? Submit your best guess to newsletters@mvtimes.comwithin 24 hours and check the next Minute for the correct answer. 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.
Friday’s contest answer: Lucas Thors
‘The Hobo Diaries’ Holly Nadler is an acclaimed writer and creative on the Island, and she’s just come out with a new book, "The Hobo Diaries: Down and Out on Martha’s Vineyard." This new tale chronicles Nadler’s travels around the Island and the world as she ponders her fluctuant future. The story is filled with good humor, raw facts about Nadler’s life, and lessons on everything from relationships with friends and family to the struggles of finding housing on the Vineyard. Read Abby Remer’s story on the recently released book here.
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