Author Archives: Susanna J. Sturgis
Democracy Face-to-Face
On Martha’s Vineyard “ATM” stands for “annual town meeting” at least as often as for “automated teller machine.” We have that kind of ATM too, but I deal with non-automated tellers whenever possible because the ATMs (1) don’t know my … Continue reading
Rally at the Tennis Court
The weather being gloriously sunny and warm for mid-November, three of us went to the dogs on Sunday. Loose translation: We took over the public tennis courts for an hour and filmed ourselves and our dogs doing a Rally-O course. … Continue reading
Yesterday (Monday, November 14, if you’ve lost track <g>), the Edgartown board of selectmen voted unanimously to appeal the Martha’s Vineyard Commission’s approval of the roundabout in superior court. It’s hoped and even expected that the West Tisbury board of … Continue reading
Horsesitter
I’ve got a horsesitting gig this weekend, which rearranges my morning routine somewhat. Usually I get up, feed Trav, boot up Hekate the laptop, go downstairs (where my bathroom is) to brush teeth and splash water on face, and come … Continue reading
Veterans Day
He’s five foot two and he’s six foot four He fights with missiles and with spears He’s all of thirty-one and he’s only seventeen He’s been a soldier for a thousand years — Buffy Sainte-Marie, “Universal Soldier” Ambivalent about Veterans … Continue reading
Would Clicker Training Help the MVC?
What to make of last Thursday night’s Martha’s Vineyard Commission (MVC) meeting, at which a motion was made to rescind the October 6 vote to approve the roundabout project, with certain conditions pertaining to bicyclists, pedestrians, bus stops, and landscaping? … Continue reading
Slantwise
As far as slants go, the Leaning Tower of Pisa has nothing on Nelson Sigelman’s coverage of the Sheriff’s Meadow Foundation’s suit against Ben Ramsey and Nisa Counter. The latest installment was posted yesterday on the Martha’s Vineyard Times website. … Continue reading
Samhain Passes
Samhain is the pagan new year, the cross-quarter day that falls between the fall equinox and the winter solstice. It’s variously pronounced — I say “sah’-wen” — but if you want to keep calling it Halloween or All Hallows’ Eve, … Continue reading
Friends
Politics on Martha’s Vineyard, as in any small town or close-knit neighborhood, are not only local but personal — sometimes intensely personal. It’s not quite true that “everybody knows everybody,” but if you’ve been around a couple of decades or … Continue reading
London Tries to Gag MVC
The following memo was sent to all members of the Martha’s Vineyard Commission and the MVC staff late Tuesday afternoon (5:44 pm to be precise) by Mark London, MVC executive director. Nearly all the commissioners are either elected by Vineyard … Continue reading
From the Seasonally Occupied Territories . . . 