News in West Tisbury, MA

Vineyard Gazette · West Tisbury, MA

West Tisbury Town Column: Nov. 13

I remember what I was wearing 50 years ago. Unlike this year, with its balmy bright fall days, the season I recall was exceptionally chilly on the Vineyard and we were bundled up in woolly winter gear. My heavy coat was from L.L. Bean. It was a man’s navy blue pea jacket, double-breasted, with four big buttons. It was my husband’s old coat, and it was the only thing that wrapped all the way around my big belly. We were temporarily in Boston awaiting the birth of a child. The child took her sweet time but arrived on a raw and cold November day, so long ago. That was Chloe, who looked when she got here as exhausted as I felt. Chloe was born (taking her sweet time) with autism, but she now spends her weekdays in a happy place, the Island Autism Center, and she probably couldn’t be more content. For all of us, there is little that is more satisfying than having grown-up offspring who are content, if not jumping with joy.

Vineyard Gazette · West Tisbury, MA

Chappy Town Column: Nov. 13

The “Final Trip” gathering to remember Clarence A. Barnes III will be held on Saturday, Nov. 21 starting at 4 p.m. at the Ag Hall in West Tisbury. Bring a potluck and Trip stories to share. It was postponed from back in September due to stormy weather. I’m sure that as well as you might have known Trip, new information will be revealed on Saturday from unexpected sources. You need not doubt any of them. As I mentioned before, when it comes to Trip stories, he lived a life of “you don’t need to make this stuff up!” I’ll be away on a previously planned journey with my Mrs. to the southwest, but I’ve had my opportunity to tell a couple of Trip stories here already. Hers’s another one. Way back when the Schifter house got moved, Trip was hired to haul the big beams back to the Ferry Point to get loaded on the barge with all of the other paraphernalia used in that project. Two empty flat bed tractor trailers were at the point one evening when I was getting off of a shift driving the ferry.

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Vineyard Gazette · Chilmark, MA

Nearby: Chilmark, MA

Recent Real Estate Transactions: Week Ending Nov. 6

Chilmark Jennifer Chun and Daniel Kim purchased 28 Black Point Road and Black Point Beach (Lot 26) in Chilmark for $2,850,000 from Jackbo LLC on Nov. 6. Edgartown 37 Plain Field Way LLC purchased 37 Plain Field Way in Edgartown for $5,300,000 from Christopher D. Charles and Meghan C. Charles on Nov. 5. Brandon Willett and Alexandra Kruse purchased 23 Hamblen Way in Edgartown for $1,147,000 from Daniel G. Garab Trust and Gary Garab & Evelyn E. Garab Family Trust on Nov. 6. Oak Bluffs Helen and Edward Dee purchased 2 Winemack Street in Oak Bluffs for $1,025,000 from Corey Michael Randolph Sr. on Nov. 6. Vineyard Haven John H. Hale III and Nicole Y. Lamb-Hale purchased 21 Woodlawn Avenue in Vineyard Haven for $2,200,000 from Paula M. Lyons on Nov. 5. Debra Phillips and James Murrin purchased 26 Union Court in Vineyard Haven for $1,574,500 from Pieter Pil and Karen Casper on Nov. 6. Stephanie and Michael A.

Vineyard Gazette · Chilmark, MA

Nearby: Chilmark, MA

Chilmark Town Column: Nov. 13

Santa is beginning the process of checking his list twice, and Chilmark has some wonderful news to report to the North Pole. Thanks to a mini baby boom, our community has been fortunate to welcome several sweet new faces this year. Lucky us. To ensure the North Pole sorting room has everything perfectly prepped for the Chilmark delivery route, we want to make sure every single one of our town’s newest residents is included. If you have a new bundle of joy to add to Santa’s local roster, please reach out with their name and date of birth. Let’s make sure our littlest neighbors get an extra-warm welcome from the big man in red this December. Maisy Louise Natichioni made her grand entrance on Nov. 1 weighing a perfect 7 pounds 8 ounces. Parents Marc and Hadley (Chapman) Natichioni have officially handed over the keys to the house, as tiny Maisy has instituted a strict new schedule of midnight roll calls and a monopoly on everyone’s hearts.

MV Times · Tisbury, MA

Nearby: Tisbury, MA

Virginia Cecilio Gonsalves

Virginia (“Ginny”) (“Figa”) Cecilio Gonsalves, 96, was reunited with her beloved daughter, Paula, and her husband, Frank (“Chuck”) Gonsalves, on Wednesday, November 4, 2026. Born and raised in Tisbury, Massachusetts, Virginia was the second youngest of nine children. She graduated from Tisbury School as the valedictorian of her class, with strong aspirations of continuing her education. As a woman of color facing the limited opportunities and barriers of her time, Virginia was ultimately forced to put her educational dreams aside and began working alongside her mother, providing laundry and housekeeping services to local families. She would later take over her mother’s laundry business when her mother became ill. Shortly after high school, Virginia married the love of her life, Chuck. Together, they moved across the street from her childhood home, where they began building a family of their own.

Vineyard Gazette · Oak Bluffs, MA

Nearby: Oak Bluffs, MA

Oak Bluffs Town Column: Nov. 13

Halloween on Circuit avenue around 1 p.m. was full of big kids and little kids in costumes, strollers and wagons parading in and out of stores and businesses offering a variety of packaged candies, lollipops, popcorn and welcome greetings from merchants. My favorite was the Haunted House at Mocha Mott’s. The show was about five minutes long while those waiting in line enjoyed the sunny day. This is a wonderful time of the season when business proprietors can visibly thank local customers who patronize them all year. It was all “treats, no tricks“ on Circuit Ave in 2026! It is traditional to wait for the “October surprise” in the political world as voters contemplate November elections. This year it was the “November surprise,“ and the Vineyard was a big part of the story. Oak Bluffs’ own Keisha Lance Bottoms, who has been a favorite at Union Chapel over the years, became the first Black woman to become a governor in United States history.

Vineyard Gazette · Edgartown, MA

Nearby: Edgartown, MA

Edgartown Town Column: Nov. 13

Once again, our week was sunny and warm during the day. But when the sun goes down it is best to have a jacket or sweatshirt available. With the weather threatening freezing temperatures, and some places snow, it is time to put the hoses away after having to water with the past warm weather. Now we just have to deal with the leaves. Happy Birthday to all who celebrated their day this past week. Big balloons go out to Victoria Cezario, Michael Leahy, Sophia Dos Santos, Alice Martins, Rahjae Hall, Helena Da Silva, Addison Kral and Juliet Merrill who all celebrated their day this past week. The Edgartown School performed the production of Beetlejuice Jr. The production of this play was amazing and proved that we have some very talented young people. The great part of the play was that it involved all the children from kindergarten to the eighth grade. Of course, it was all made possible by teachers, and technical crew and of course costumes creators to make it all come together.