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And what's for supper on Friday
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Got a minute?
Here’s what’s happening on Martha’s Vineyard today.
On this day in 1970, the Environmental Protection Agency opened. Today is also National Bartender Day. Tip accordingly. If your friend sent you this, sign up for yourself here.
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Today's Minute is sponsored by: Island Housing Trust

Please consider donating to our year end appeal. Your support helps us build the year-round, affordable housing we desperately need to preserve our vibrant community. You can make a difference. Click here to donate now. photo by Randi Baird Photography
Plot thickens
The two suspects in custody on charges connected to the armed robbery of Rockland Trust will face federal charges in the case. More information emerged at Edgartown District Court today as Omar Johnson made his trek from a Connecticut jail cell to one on the Island to be arraigned on charges of armed and masked bank robbery and conspiracy. Johnson was picked up in Connecticut on a warrant and is accused of being one of the three men involved in the heist at Rockland Trust. One suspect remains at large. Reporter Rich Saltzberg has this story.
New spin zone
You’ll have to get used to another roundabout. The Martha’s Vineyard Commission has approved a plan by the town of Oak Bluffs to install a new roundabout in the area where the Island Queen docks. Reporter Abigail Rosen has this update.
House call
The Affordable Housing Group at the MVC turned its focus from short-term rental tax revenue to accessory dwelling units (ADUs) at a meeting this week. What is an ADU? That’s a fancy way of saying a garage or guest house available for rental. Although ADUs won’t solve the housing problem, it could potentially provide some housing quicker than anything else that’s been talked about and as the headline on the story states, "we don’t have years to wait." A busy Abigail also has this story.
MEETINGS

The Edgartown select board meets at 4 pm Monday. Remote access. Here is the agenda.

The Martha's Vineyard Regional High School committee meets at 6 pm. Remote access. Here is the agenda.
The MVTimes: Our reporting makes a difference
Journalism that matters, where you need it, when you need it. Want more?
Quote of the Day
"I don’t know why in Massachusetts utility companies have as much muscle as they do, for lack of a better expression right now, but … they seem to have an unfair number of cards from the end-user, so to speak, because of the way it’s regulated. There’s a lot of rules, and a lot of those rules don’t come up until the application’s in and they actually come out to review it, which is frustrating and expensive."
–Angie Gompert, VTA administrator, on the difficulty in getting Eversource to work with the bus service on a transformer location


Hot Topic Comment
Carla Cooper commented on the appeal by Aquinnah select board member Gary Haley. "Can I agree with everyone? He should have not engaged himself in the work, but honestly – have you TRIED to get an electrician on short notice these days? In Aquinnah??"

Hot Topic Letter
Cindy Trish, executive director of Healthy Aging MV, wrote about a lift provided by an Martha’s Vineyard Bank grant. "The Martha’s Vineyard Bank Foundation’s recent gift of $10,000 designated for the GoGoGrandparent Program will make it possible for this pilot program of the Island-wide Transportation Coalition to continue to offer rides on the Island for aging adults. We appreciate the bank’s continuing support of these vital community programs."
Today: Play Magic: The Gathering at the Oak Bluffs library, for all levels. I still don’t know what this is, but I’m happy for those who get together and play. 6 pm. –Connie Berry

It’s
Paint Night at the Barn Bowl & Bistro. I see the artwork from this event all over Facebook and yet I’ve never been. Maybe Lucas Thors will meet me there. He barely makes the 21-plus cutoff so I’m sure he’d like to hang out with an old lady he works with. 7:30 pm. –C.B.

This weekend: Jesse Jason teaches us all some moves at Adult Community Dance Class at the West Tisbury library. 10:30 am. The Aquinnah library hosts From Sheep to Shawl, which will take you from wooly sheep to carding, spindling, and felting. I’ve always wanted sheep, a sheep dog, and a monkey. 11 am. Check out the African Crafts Porch Sale in West Tisbury with authentic crafts. The sales benefit families there with children with disabilities. I love that. Noon to 4 pm. Celebrate the winter holidays at Polly Hill Arboretum and help them decorate the giant holiday wreath on the barn. Free. 3:30 pm. Join the Martha’s Vineyard libraries and Atlas of Life program director (and our terrific Wild Side columnist) Matt Pelikan as he shares highlights of the newly launched MVAL website where the community can share their sightings of flora and fauna. West Tisbury library. 3:30 pm. Celebrate the Spirit of the Vineyard Award recipient Patricia Moore for outstanding volunteer service to the community. First Congregational Church of West Tisbury. 4 pm. Edgartown library hosts a great (and free) way to listen to terrific live music with Workman Song. 6:30 pm. We Dance at Pathways features performances by local dancers and then an open floor dance party with a DJ. Bring your boogie shoes. 7 to 10:30 pm. A real seasonal highlight: Island Community Chorus’ Holiday Concert happens Saturday at 7:30 pm and Sunday at 3 pm at the Old Whaling Church. Now it feels like the Christmas season. –C.B.

On Sunday, start the day with the Unitarian Universalist Society’s speaker Dr. Ursula Goodenaugh with her presentation "Natural Wonder" at 10 am. Visit the Louisa Gould Gallery in Vineyard Haven for the Small Works Show — beautiful works of art at affordable prices. 11 am. Vineyard Haven turns into a Winter Wonderland on Sunday with "snow," music, and elves on Main Street. And great buys that support the Vineyard Committee on Hunger. 12 to 2 pm. Island artists and musicians present a free Offering of Music and Light at the Chilmark Community Church to brighten the darker winter days. Celebrate the memory of Lia Littlefield Kahler. Candle lighting and refreshments included. 5 pm. Well that sounds like a lovely way to end a nice weekend. –C.B.

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

Real Estate Confidential: The gift of a new home
Sponsored

Real Estate Confidential is a biweekly chit-chat about new listings, sales, or other insider information on the
Martha’s Vineyard Real Estate market, presented by Fred Roven, owner/broker of Martha’s Vineyard Buyer Agents. It appears every other Friday in The Minute.

With the holiday buying season fast approaching, it is almost time to think about the perfect gift for that special someone in your life, even if that someone is you! In past holiday columns, I have pointed to the prime gift from Neiman-Marcus and noted the price pales in comparison to the value of a home on Martha’s Vineyard. Well, this year you can buy a brand-new home with a pool on Martha’s Vineyard for less than that $3,100,000 diamond tiara from Neiman-Marcus.

What better time to be house hunting than during a time of limited buyer activity. While others are out celebrating and shopping, so reducing buyer volume, you will be met with builders ready and willing to make a deal. If you find a home that meets you and your partner’s must-haves, especially when our inventory is so limited, do not let the holidays deter you from making an offer when demand is at its lowest point of the year.

How much fun to spend the day before Christmas decorating that new home with decorations, knowing you would be driving the family by late afternoon for the big surprise. Although you could put the deed and property information in a stocking hanging from the mantlepiece, think of a simple house key tied to a ribbon. Unless you are planning a valuable antique, you would never consider giving your special someone a used gift, so why would you give them a previously owned home? The selections this week are all new construction and include a couple at prices lower than we have seen this year.

With its five bedrooms, five baths, and a 30-foot heated swimming pool on a quiet street in Edgartown, 28 Holly Bear Lane stands out as an opportunity. This expanded Colonial has an open floor plan, oak floors throughout, high ceilings, a fireplace, a large custom kitchen, a powder room, and a laundry. The ground floor suite has direct exterior access to the patio and pool. Central forced-air heat and air conditioning provide year-round comfort, and an unfinished 1,400-square-foot basement with high ceilings awaits all your toys. Professional landscaping finishes out this perfect gift package. The home is sited close to the bike path and the boat landing on Sengekontacket pond . . .

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


Winter is coming
"Storm door, white aluminum. 3ftw x6ft-8in.h, upper half glass/ screen, hinged on right, one year old-cost $280. New looks new, now $90. Text/pic 508-776-0146."


Click here for more finds in our Classifieds section.
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.

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.





Staying in?
Looking for something really tasty this weekend? Try this recipe for New England-style Game-day Mussels. It’s way less complicated than you might think, and we think it pairs well with football or World Cup watching. (That’s Stan Larsen with a handful of the good stuff.)


Click here for more Fast Suppers

Do you know this woman? Submit your best guess to newsletters@mvtimes.com within 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.

Thursday’s contest answer:
Jane Searle


Storm door finds
Bugwatchers like Matt Pelikan don’t get as much action in the wintertime, when many insects are hiding away in their nests. Occasionally, however, some bugs seek shelter inside warm and convenient spaces like storm doors, basements, and pretty much any crevice they can crawl into. Recently, Pelikan found a fascinating wasp species inside his storm door. In his recent Wild Side column, Pelikan describes some interesting facts about this mystery wasp. Read the story here.
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.
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