Tisbury’s select board has approved a common victualer’s license for the dual eatery proposed for the former site of the Golden Bull steak house at Five Corners Restaurateur Anderson Martins was seeking to operate from 7 a.m with Vineyard Caribbean Cuisine providing take-out breakfast and lunch on one side of the building while MVTap serves burgers and bar food on the other Select board members voted unanimously to recommend 7 a.m which will be officially determined and set by the planning board when it issues a permit to Mr All alcohol service in Tisbury ends at 11 p.m. Martins had hoped the board also would approve his liquor license application at the March 11 meeting but board members said they wanted more information about how he will handle outdoor dining and alcohol service said time is a concern because it can take weeks for a locally-approved application to make its way through the state’s Alcoholic Beverage Control Commission (ABCC) “You cannot issue the license until it comes back from ABCC,” Mr The board agreed to hold a special meeting March 18 at 4:30 p.m board chair John Cahill introduced the public to town administrator Joseph LaCivita Police chief Christopher Habekost introduced his department’s new executive assistant is a former dispatcher for the Dukes County sheriff’s department who is fluent in Brazilian Portuguese and lived in Brazil for eight years of the town’s Vineyard Haven Harbor Cultural District outlined plans for the monthly First Friday celebrations hosted in partnership with the Vineyard Haven Business Association This year’s First Friday events are set for June 6 Chief Habekost and police lieutenant Bill Brigham said that Vineyard Haven is not very busy on the Fourth of July when most people head to Edgartown for the parade and fireworks The select board also voted to establish a town hall task force consisting of Mr with potentially two more members to be added if desired The task force is charged with recommending which town-owned property Tisbury should choose for a consolidated municipal center Subscribe or become a Friend of the Vineyard Gazette and receive our free newsletters and free and discounted tickets to Gazette events along with our award-winning news and photography CIP Director Robert Greenlaw gave the City Council an update on the Five Corners project at the Feb the project had completed 85% of the cultural resource assessment Greenlaw said they have started on underground utilities along the eastern side of Avalon Canyon Road next to City Hall He said they met with owners of the abutting properties on the north side of Tremont Street “Hopefully we’ve come to a conclusion that’s going to be a happy conclusion for everybody,” Greenlaw said “That will require a few minor encroachment permits but they will be in front of council and we’re anticipating that’s going to be in March that we’ll be talking about the specifics on that,” Greenlaw said “We’re going to build the new storm drain along Tremont Street through the five corners intersection,” Greenlaw said He said they would continue undergrounding utilities along Tremont They are also removing the overhead utilities along the south side of Tremont Street He said the schedule was showing that by mid-May they would install the frontage improvements on the north side of Tremont Street and then replace it immediately before moving on to the next block,” Greenlaw said Greenlaw said they were not going to have the whole block torn up “We want to get that done before the visitor season,” Greenlaw said “So it’s a priority for the contractor to get that done while he’s doing the other underground utilities and storm drain,” Greenlaw said He said the new storm channel would be wider and would have slopes that are angled to make a trapezoid ditch with the sides at 45-degree angles He said there would be a grassy bottom for water quality like oils or stuff that comes off the roadway that’s what mitigates that,” Greenlaw said “We’re laying about 82 more feet of pipe,” Greenlaw said In response to a question from Councilmember Mary Schickling Greenlaw confirmed that the storm channel would be an open-air part of the drainage system Greenlaw said he would be back in about a month and a half with another report Log in to leave a comment When heavy rain drenches Martha’s Vineyard flooding at Five Corners sometimes feels inevitable the rising water wasn’t the only spectacle in the Vineyard Haven streets 25-year-old Island resident Ben deBettencourt took a more whimsical approach paddling a friend’s kayak through the flooded intersection more following up on a challenge from a friend and doing it for the sake of having a good time DeBettencourt said a friend jokingly mentioned in a group text earlier Monday that someone should paddle through the flooded Five Corners I thought that was a great idea,” deBettencourt told The Times “I’ve been creating content on social media and thought it would be a great video for it.”  I never considered doing something like that in the past but I had the day off from work today and had nothing else going on so why not kayak in front of XtraMart and get a good laugh in?” he added DeBettencourt said he went to a family friend’s house to borrow the kayak and although they didn’t know he would be doing it in the middle of the street noting that a friend saw him paddling through the flooding and gave him some extra wake: “The freakin’ kayak almost tipped over from the freakin’ wake I got from that dude!”  because that water was disgusting,” said deBettencourt I’m sure drivers who were there were thrilled about having to worry about this potential problem on top of navigating through the high water And there was an opportunity just a few years ago to raise the road surface and add drainage ( that was already purchased and on the construction site ) – but it did not happen due to poor management of the project What a great idea to draw more attention to what everyone already knows is a major problem – that never seems to get fixed Going shirtless and a bathing suit in a kayak on St Patrick’s day requires a special kind of courage some flooding deniers will think this is some sort of a hazard for people in cars let’s put this photo op prank up there so we can have a discussion about this ever more frequent problem The reality is that you can Kayak on Beach road pretty frequently I know some people don’t like sharing the road with bicycles and I’m sure they don’t like having to share with Kayakers– But “the times How many more times a year does five corners flood than it did 20 or 30 years ago The MV Times comment policy requires first and last name for all comments which includes a 108-unit apartment building and a second building containing four condo units and a retail space even with a delayed start due to an inflationary market “It’s going to be a valuable addition to the neighborhood,” said James Randolph, Holladay Properties development manager of the 5 Corners project Apartment units will have an in-unit washer and dryer and most will have a balcony deli and café are possibilities for the retail space that shares a building with four luxury condo units The location is at the intersection of Indiana 23 (or Eddy Street) and Corby Boulevard on South Bend’s northeast side situated across the street from Trader Joe’s Condo units are anticipated to be available for move-in starting May 2025 Availability of the apartment units for lease will be a phased turnover with the first 11 units available for lease in November 2025 and the final units of the 108 anticipated available for lease in March 2026 “We’re ahead of schedule in the first unit turnover,” Randolph said of the condo units While the 5 Corners project was initially scheduled to start in September 2023 and complete in fall semester 2025 the start was delayed due to an “inflationary market” with unexpected higher interest rates and rising construction prices To help curtail the unexpected increase in cost which delayed breaking ground until April 2024 “We’ve been able to adapt to the late start and make good headway,” Randolph said Warmer winter weather helped extend the construction season, said Caleb Bauer, Executive Director of the Department of Community Investment of the City of South Bend “I feel very good on the timeline,” Bauer said Even with making the design more cost-effective the total estimated cost of the project has now risen to roughly $32 million This increase in cost has affected the price the condo units are selling for The size of the condo units may have also increased compared to initial estimates The cost of leasing each of the 108 apartment units is anticipated to remain the same as earlier estimates — $920 to $2,600 a month for a range of studio Horizon Construction Group, Inc. is the general contractor, Studio M is the architect and Abonmarche the civil engineer for which Holladay Properties is the developer The project is under Holladay Properties’ HP Irish Corner LLC was founded in 1952 and is currently headquartered in South Bend four-floor building that includes 108 apartment units on the top three floors and parking on the ground floor; a smaller three-floor building with the four condo units on the top two floors and a roughly 5,000 sq retail space on the ground floor; and an outdoor parking lot for the smaller building Holladay Properties is still committing six apartment units Bauer said having housing for a variety of incomes in South Bend “[We] need to be able to accommodate a mix of incomes in our community for people to be able to thrive here,” Bauer said the South Bend Common Council gave final approval for a tax abatement to waive roughly $1.5 million in property taxes over 10 years for the 5 Corners project which applies to the apartment complex and retail space but not the condo units Holladay Properties will have “paid more than twice in taxes as what is being abated,” he said A new restaurant partnership is preparing to reinvent the long-vacant Golden Bull steakhouse in Vineyard Haven as a pair of casual eateries: MV Tap and Vineyard Caribbean Cuisine Vineyard Caribbean Cuisine is a buffet-style restaurant with a busy take-out business in Oak Bluffs and a second location in Falmouth MV Tap is a new company headed by president Anderson Martins who is leasing the former Golden Bull from Flowerwood LLC Martins told the Tisbury planning board this week that his restaurant will focus on burgers while Vineyard Caribbean Cuisine will offer its buffet and carry-out menus with some seating but no alcohol but their indoor and outdoor seating areas will be separated MV Tap has 40 indoor seats and another 20 on the patio while Vineyard Caribbean Cuisine also has about 20 patio seats The Tisbury select board decided last week to hold off on issuing a liquor license for MV Tap until after Mr Martins has completed other town permitting processes Select board member Christina Colarusso was excited that someone may breathe life into the building at Five Corners “I am so excited about the idea of getting that space filled,” she said at the Feb “It’s been vacant and it’s the heart of our little hub down there.” the property holds a nearly-forgotten place in the Vineyard’s musical history it was the last home of the Wintertide Coffeehouse The live album Big Times in a Small Town was recorded there in 1993 musician Andy Herr and artist Taylor Stone of the Vineyard Haven Harbor Cultural District appealed to the planning board to allow live music at the prominent location “[We’re] advocating for more music and performances and artists and beautification,” Ms “We are planning a very fun and responsible place [where] people can enjoy and see Vineyard Haven as a happy place,” he said The planning board’s public hearing will continue March 5 at 6 p.m The Five Corners protest was part of rallies held across the country Hundreds of Vineyarders packed Five Corners on Saturday afternoon to protest the Trump administration a gathering that was part of the nationwide Hands Off The rallies are fueled by backlash against Trump administration policies and funding cuts, as well as centibillionaire Elon Musk’s role in the federal government. Major news outlets have reported that more than 1,000 Hands Off! rallies across the country pulled together millions of attendees on Saturday amounting to the largest mass protest since Trump’s second inauguration The Vineyard crowd was also one of the largest held on the Island in the Trump era Organizer Mona Hennessy told The Times that more than 500 people came out on Saturday of course … is to actually try to make our voices heard in Washington that we are not accepting what’s happening with Musk thinking he runs the country and with the Trump administration tearing apart … our democracy taking away from people their rights in so many ways,” Hennessy said amid chants and honks of support from cars Taking up all five corners of Vineyard Haven’s main intersection “Hands off USAID,” “Hands off Social Security,” “Defend Ukraine,” and “Immigrants are persons with rights,” were just a few of the messages along with a “Know your parasites” sign with photos of a deer tick and a “Lunatic” (President Donald Trump) Some in attendance on Saturday called for unity. Vineyard Baker Teri Culletto brought a cardboard bagel sign which read “E Pluribus Unum.” The everything bagel “It’s exactly what I feel — that we’re all one,” she said said she’s wary of rising intolerance under the Trump administration “[My son] did tell me that some people were taken out of his troop that were openly gay,” she said “I’m afraid it’s going to be really hard to undo all the damage that’s already been done,” she added Other Vineyarders worried about immigrants and feared that some locally could be deported “I have a bunch of friends here on the Island who never bothered to get their green cards “Hands off our constitutional rights,” read Malin’s sign Some Vineyarders climbed up a stepladder outside the Post Office and grabbed a microphone to speak out against the Trump administration Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah) member Bangii-Kai Bellecourt and Martha’s Vineyard Public Charter School students Bellecourt spoke against cutting federal funds for reservations citing the Lakota tribe’s struggles for fresh water and the housing struggles of the Wampanoag tribe on-Island and I am fearful for what this means for my future and the future of my people,” he said Charter School student Zora Morais told the crowd that people need to stand up for human rights “Women are forced to have their rapists’ children whether by bombs in Gaza or school shootings,” Morais said Not all Vineyarders protesting on Saturday did so at Five Corners. Oak Bluffs resident Phil Cordella took a bus filled with Islanders to Boston, where the Boston Herald reported that tens of thousands attended Cordella told The Times that it was exciting to see so many people taking action in what he said was the largest protest he’s attended since the ’70s “It was very exhilarating,” he said of the three-hour rally and march from Boston Common to City Hall Plaza “I enjoyed everyone’s impressions as to what is happening to this country.” One message that struck Cordella was a sign warning of a darker future for young people in the U.S “One [sign] in particular had to do with a child’s future being trampled on According to Hennessy, the rally and bus to Boston were coordinated by Indivisible Martha’s Vineyard, the local chapter of a national network connecting people with pro-democratic groups. She also said that the on-Island rally was coordinated with the Island’s chapter of Show Up for Racial Justice Hennessy said the Saturday showing won’t be the last opportunity for Islanders to make themselves heard “It’s really just the beginning,” she said “This isn’t a one-shot deal.” I can speak for our group in saying that we are grateful to Indivisible MV And thanks to all of you: little ones to elders who showed up in community and peaceful protest Deep respect for all who were there in spirit but cannot feel safe enough to join in person now let’s keep going – we can’t do everything I would love to see people in this group and movement come out strongly opposed to vandalizing in the name of a protest I believe our actions or rather inaction(not vandalizing) speak for us In the communications for a nation-wide call to action https://handsoff2025.com/about : “A core principle behind all Hands Off events is a commitment to nonviolent action.” but I’m not sure how you’d like to see “strongly opposed” expressed… how many people from MV have vandalized tesla’s what has that got to do with trump’s vandalizing America but what Trump and Musk are doing is not Constitutional It’s not about cutting out the bloat and creating a rich environment for civil war and can only stand back and watch as they destroy America I really can’t feel sorry for either of them at this point they have brought the coming backlash on themselves especially against Tesla owners that had no idea I do hope they are eventually brought to trial and put in jail for a very long time Bob– I am totally opposed to the vandalizing of any public or private property churches and Large Government buildings in Washington D.C in the name of any protest about that “Government building” in Washington D.C — Not to bring up the past BUT– I really have to say that I didn’t hear much in the line of condemnation when a group of protestors caused $ 30 Million in damage to the Capitol and an estimated $2.7 Billion in associated costs including violent ones’ who assaulted police officers and civilians were pardoned There is now talk about “reparations” for them Would you care to step up for “your side” and strongly condemn any vandalism to places such as abortion clinics community centers where the LGBTQ community or Muslims or Jews gather I would love to see that group and movement that is opposed to such things come out strongly opposed to vandalizing in the name of a protest Bob-why don’t you start with condemning all of the January 6th protesters who vandalized the capital and attacked police officers Why don’t you start with the condemnation of the pardon of those convicted of those crimes Because if you really are against vandalism and you think those that committed vandalism should be punished https://www.dcnewsnow.com/news/local-news/money/consumers/trump-tells-investors-to-buy-low-this-is-a-great-time-to-get-rich/amp/ And I would love to hear Republicans condemn the actions of January 6th Got any evidence to your claim of teslas being vandalized on MV Bob– It’s been a couple of days since you said you would like to ” see people in this group and movement come out strongly opposed to vandalizing in the name of a protest.” It seems 7 people have 8 commenters have asked you and your “group and movement for condemnation of vandalism” by your side Donald Trump added $6.7 trillion to the national debt during his first four years compared to Obama’s $8.6 trillion over eight years Ronald Reagan increased the debt by 186% — Joe Biden will likely surpass this when the final math is tallied (and rural counties will still not have broadband) Both parties are equally successful at spending money we don’t have and in perpetuating sketchy economic health behaviors Both parties lie about their budget shenanigans The GOP lies about the consequences of giving tax breaks to the wealthy and corporations — and never admit they are purposefully shifting the burden of the debt & deficit on to the middle-class and working poor The Dems lie about their proposed “programs” being “fully funded” They never are — additional funding to maintain these programs into the future will always be necessary Over 21,000 people were murdered that year — all tragic About this trump protest l would like to say my Opinion on it I’m a Brazilian man whole lived on my for 6 years.l did my job at Extramart gas station.So in 2001 l was there and on this island had some criminal people from my country maybe others too.So on this cause Trump are doing Right to protect USA citizens Many people were crossing the mexico border since year 2000 maybe before l just can say for the years l was on island MV But it not my business too if people were right or Wrong.It’s a politicians trouble Right or wrong Biden didn’t care for the USA security border.So Donald Trump are doing the job and doing good Those people are using to be pawns on the hands of Left Open your Eyes Good Vineyard’s People.GOD bless you and my Friend Joe from MV Murphy and his movement coming out strongly opposed to vandalizing as well How about starting with the group at the Capitol on January 6th Teslas are the least of the very concerning issues right now I was very glad to see that Islanders supported the protests against injustice Hopefully the movement will continue and even grow This administration must realize that the people oppose the dismantling of our democracy and a failed economy are all part of the plan We’ve all lost the best thing we’ve ever had and we did it willingly Caribbean carry-out food will not be on the menu at a new restaurant planned for the former Golden Bull steakhouse in Vineyard Haven after MVTap owner Anderson Martins streamlined his application to do business at the long-empty Five Corners spot “We’ve simplified the plan,” said Geoghan Coogan at a public hearing before the Tisbury select board Tuesday afternoon Martins earlier this month received a common victualler’s license to operate a shared-kitchen eatery where Vineyard Caribbean Cuisine would serve take-out breakfast and lunch on one side of the building and MV Tap would provide burgers small plates and drinks on the other side from late morning to late night His application for an all-alcohol license has taken longer with select board members and chief of police Chris Habekost previously expressing concern about the potential pitfalls of alcohol service on the restaurant patio and the allocation of outdoor seating between the two eateries simple restaurant and a very simple licensed premises for you to review,” Mr Chief Habekost told the select board he’d like to see a barrier around the outdoor eating and drinking area that would keep people from carrying alcohol off the premises and also be sturdy enough to prevent a car from crashing onto the patio Planning board chair Connie Alexander said her board members would keep Mr Habekost’s concerns in mind as they consider Mr Martins’s application for a special permit which is set for a public hearing April 16 The select board voted unanimously Tuesday to approve MVTap’s request for permission to apply to the state Alcoholic Beverage Control Commission for a license to serve alcoholic drinks Assuming the restaurant receives the state commission’s assent the select board will then vote once more on whether to approve the all-alcohol license for MVTap The board also set hours of operation for alcohol service at the restaurant Vineyard Haven Library director Amy Ryan reported that the library on Main street is set to close in mid-April for renovation and construction Tisbury voters approved $4.8 million for the roughly $9 million library project which also has funding from earlier town appropriations and private donations The construction is estimated to take at least six to 12 months who told the Gazette that a more precise timeline is expected soon from the contractor The interim library will be at 15 Church street A rain storm led to flash flooding along Beach Road and Five Corners in Vineyard Haven on Monday afternoon Water had reached the doors of a few area businesses by the early afternoon though meteorologists expected rains to diminish The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration stated it was notified of the flash flooding at 2:30 pm on Monday via “amateur radio.”  a meteorologist at the National Weather Service’s Norton office told the Times close that rain was expected to let up shortly after 3 pm He said there are no additional showers south of the Vineyard and the current rain was drifting north toward the Cape He said the rain was not related to Hurricane Ernesto The National Weather Service also released a coastal flood statement saying up to a half-foot of flooding may be possible in low-lying shorelines and tidal waterways from 8 pm on Monday to 3 am on Tuesday Maybe the Times should report on whether or not the sun rises tomorrow Not the best spot for a huge waterfront project is it so the homes washing away in Connecticut don’t matter to you The climate has been changing for billions of years We are insignificant in the scope of everything The electric outlets were shoulder high when I started working there I wondered if they had always been that way I think the building had been a Town Garage CB Stark’s store still had a garage door The “throne” was up several steps hosted a protest at Five Corners in Vineyard Haven under gray skies as part of a nationwide movement against the Trump administration’s dismantling of people’s rights and freedoms Hundreds showed up to let their voices be heard and their concerns shown The event was co-sponsored by Indivisible Martha’s Vineyard and Showing Up for Racial Justice — MV More photo galleries... The global movement of people seeking to flee tyranny or to search for freedom in a distant land It is as ancient as the biblical Book of Exodus and as modern as demonstrations this week at Vineyard Haven’s Five Corners in solidarity with the Brazilian community Amid the Trump administration’s two-week onslaught of executive orders and hastily shaped policies we are watching an organized approach to doing nothing less than taking full control of the federal government and transforming immigration policy in America Let’s be clear: This is not the same as the ritualistic changes from one White House to the next So let’s look at what exactly Trump has done on immigration in his first two weeks in office He has signed 10 executive orders on immigration and issued a stream of edicts that called for mass deportation and greater border security and he has unleashed a torrent of fear among immigrant families including among those right here on the Island officers can now arrest people without legal status if agents happen upon them while looking for migrants targeted for removal These are known as “collateral arrests,” and were banned under Joe Biden and other previous administrations as a violation of due process Trump also has removed time-honored guidelines that restricted ICE from entering and making arrests at so-called “sensitive locations” such as schools That decision has worried many migrants and advocates — across the country and all around our Island — who fear children will be traumatized by seeing their parents arrested in the drop-off line at school or that migrants needing medical care won’t go to the hospital for fear of arrest Trump has also said he will target so-called “sanctuary” cities and states where local authorities have said they will welcome immigrants There are new threats from the Trump administration to cut off federal funding for such places and there is already pushback on that from this Island and the state of Massachusetts The green light for immigration enforcement agents to step up their efforts has had a direct impact on the number of arrests nationally, but we have not been able to confirm any locally as of yet. According to the Associated Press which averaged 311 nationally in the year ending Sept stayed fairly steady in the first days after Trump took office those numbers would mark the highest daily average since ICE began keeping records and are about 10 percent higher than during the administration of President Obama which was also aggressive in its enforcement of immigration law While some of these changes took place immediately there are other strategies that will face legal challenges but have nonetheless managed to instill widespread fear across immigrant communities in America Going forward, a great deal of this effort will come down to levels of funding. Congress is expected to consider additional support soon. The Supreme Court already ruled that Trump may use emergency powers to tap Defense Department funding for the border wall started in his first term an estimated 40 percent of the students speak Brazilian Portuguese at home — some In the Island’s Brazilian community this week the fear was palpable and the expressions of it were complex has shared in her coverage over the past two weeks Workers fearing they might be deported were not showing up at job sites and students were being kept home from schools by parents who were reacting to unconfirmed rumors that ICE agents were descending on the Island and an erroneous report on social media that there were charter planes at the local airport that would be used for mass deportation Our reporters on the ground did not see ICE agents nor did they see any planes preparing to assist in deportations The officials they spoke with confirmed the rumors were false who gained notoriety when she stood up to the antics of Florida Gov Ron DeSantis in 2022 when he led a cynical ploy to deceive approximately 50 Venezuelan asylum seekers into being flown from Texas to Martha’s Vineyard with false promises of jobs and housing Self serves as an attorney for these Venezuelan asylum seekers in an ongoing court case and she was at the center of an Island response in which the Venezuelans were warmly received and helped by Island families and local advocates for immigrants recognizing the asylum seekers were being used as pawns in a political game have remained in touch with the Venezuelan immigrants who were among the 600,000 granted what is known as Temporary Protected Status under the Biden administration in recognition of the severe humanitarian and economic crisis in Venezuela under the dictatorship of President Nicolas Maduro The Trump administration’s Department of Homeland Security has just revoked those protections Amid the panic of the new Trump administration but powerful statement: She says being undocumented is not illegal without documentation is not a crime under federal law Congress refused to make undocumented presence a crime in 2005 … People in the U.S. So it turns out the situation on the ground is far more complex than all of the simplistic hyperbole and the shouting in Washington that impacts the people in local communities like ours the Brazilian immigrant community on this Island is increasingly aware of their rights to due process But their faith and their experience in life also mean they share some of the same political views as Trump supporters and indeed many in the community have voiced support for Trump but that is also what makes for good journalism We hope our coverage can reflect all of the complexity that unfolds in the real world when real people are caught up in real problems and we are always going to be on the lookout for anyone who is proposing real solutions Moura is from the Brazilian state of Minas Gerais which most of the immigrants to Martha’s Vineyard still consider home and she was reporting last week on the public schools how parents who are immigrants are handling the rising fear and what local school officials are doing to try to restore an atmosphere of safety The school administration has made us all proud by being among those searching for practical solutions in helping students and staying focused on its mission to educate and protect children Moura interviewed a Brazilian woman who was on an afternoon shift and nervously looking out the window of the shop where she was working worried that ICE agents would soon be circling She felt consumed with fear that if she were to be arrested she could be separated from her 12-year-old daughter who was home alone until her husband would get home from his job in construction She said her neck was sore from all of the tension and worry and she explained that she and her husband are undocumented but that they work hard and serve the community If her family and other Brazilian immigrants are deported “Who is going to serve the super-rich in the summer Her question and the dark cloud of fear that descended over the Island in the past few days is truly what authoritarianism is all about: Fear Democracy is built on trust; dictatorship is based on fear The challenge for local journalists like those in our newsroom is to serve our community by bearing witness to unjust efforts by Trump’s immigration agents to instill fear to divide communities and fulfill his campaign promise for mass deportations The job of journalism and the work in our newsroom right here on Beach Road is to and to do our best to present human stories that challenge the climate of fear and try to help communities build upon trust A version of this essay was first published on Substack, where MVTimes publisher Charles Sennott’s GroundTruth newsletter can be found every week at charlessennott@substack.com How many examples of ICE raids have there been at “sensitive locations” such as schools If Trump just talks a talk and doesnt do what he says he will no one on the island has anything to worry about It is hysteria to believe people want MV washed off the map with a hurricane I worked in healthcare for 42 years and I remember ICE style raids in a few of the hospitals and other healthcare facilities I worked in We had staff from countries all over the world who were in the US with work visas and green cards that perhaps had run past their expiration dates Most of these people had appointments to renew their documents and many of them were waiting for appointments to go through the citizenship processes most Americans citizens couldn’t pass the test these people were required to take to get their citizenship The facilities would empty out in a New York minute before authorities could even enter Of course there was communication from one facility to the next that immigration authorities were coming I’m a citizen but even with that I experienced the bone chilling feeling of something evil about to happen This is bad enough but do you want to visit this upon school children who are already deeply traumatized by the possibility of active shooters wandering their halls because the Republican Congress is owned by the NRA? This country has plenty of room for productive tax paying immigrants who come in through the proper channels We desperately need immigrants to keep our country going If everyone who lives in severe economic and humanitarian conditions were allowed unvetted entrance into the US we would have a billion people at our doorstep but the dissolution of USAid by Trump and his Deputy of Evil Elon Musk will surely contribute to the despair of people around the world who live in areas where fascist dictatorships thrive That’s exactly where we’re heading if Trump’s fulfillment of Project 2025 is not stopped Only the courts can save our democracy at this point Your essays will add so much comfort to the current fear in our country especially for the immigrant populations and those of us who are outraged by Trump’s latest actions The immigration process must be fixed by Congress but until that time a lot of them with expired work permits and green cards live in peace and remain in the fabric of America as all of our forebears did None of us want criminals roaming our cities and towns American citizen criminals or immigrant criminals They succeed and add so much to our society and culture I wish everyone could read your piece from the MV Times The history and truth you tell would hopefully make those who are less tolerant of this situation perhaps feel a bit ashamed of their attitudes We can’t let Trump’s hate and fear mongering prevail but I must respond to your description of our “forebears” as people who peacefully allowed “others” to live free from fear and sudden deportations None of that is true by any historical rendering — please review Native American history was founded on colonialism and imperialistic ideals — and it’s clear this viewpoint continues to thrive and motivate the current administration (and the people who voted for them) It is really hard to run away from history — it continues to determine all of our actions today I’ve struggled to make a company of legal workers on this island Ive watched contractors hire people illegally And then send all the money to their country via western union This “American dream” gets to be lived in some other country while taking the work that would support me living in this country I was born in We have fought for these rights to maintain this “freedom” if other countries are so bad that you would want to defend your rights please go back to your country and fight your oppressors as our forefathers had to do against an English monarchy Why does everyone assume the Brazilian community is illegal productive citizens who voted for President Trump “The global movement of people seeking to flee tyranny When you speak of island solidarity with the Brazilian community likening the Brazilian struggle to biblical times about unnamed humans seeking freedom from oppression and violence it is important to mention who those biblical Exodus-ers were– Israelites They ended up in Canaan (today’s Israel Let’s not use the Bible for convenience A new restaurant in a well-known location got the green light Wednesday from the Tisbury planning board which voted unanimously — but with conditions — to issue a special permit for MV Tap Business owner Anderson Martins still must must submit a site plan and a landscaping plan to the planning board before a certificate of occupancy can be issued board member Ben Robinson told the Gazette after the meeting Mr. Martins is planning a casual year-round eatery for the prominent Five Corners spot where the Golden Bull steak house closed its doors more than two years ago The town permit allows MV Tap to serve three meals a day The Tisbury select board approved the restaurant’s all-alcohol license application last month with the state alcohol control board expected to follow suit once it has reviewed the paperwork told the Gazette the state usually takes six to eight weeks to notify license applicants with late May a likely time for MV Tap to hear from the alcohol board If the state board has not responded by the time Mr Martins has met all of his permitting requirements from the town he will open MV Tap for food and non-alcoholic drinks until the liquor license is confirmed MV Tap is permitted to have 52 seats for dine-in customers with the option of moving some seating to the restaurant patio in warm weather A meat smoker on the patio is also part of Mr Martins will install boulders outside to create a barrier that keeps vehicles off the property while allowing access for first responders Tisbury police chief Christopher Habekost and fire chief Patrick Rolston both told the planning board that the boulder proposal was satisfactory to them Board chair Connie Alexander asked the applicants to make sure that Mr Rolston see the final site plan with the boulder array the planning board agreed to nominate three segments of Mud Puddle Road an old rural byway west of Edgartown-Vineyard Haven Road to the Martha’s Vineyard Commission for designation as a special way The move is intended to preserve the undeveloped nature of the road “Designating it a special way doesn’t change how it’s currently being used It’s really about locking it in the way it is today and just not allowing [abutters] to expand the uses or expand the width of the road,” he said The planning board’s nomination to the MVC is supported by a citizen petition as well the board approved two outdoor signs for Ocean Club the fine-dining restaurant under development in the former Stone Bank lobby and vault on Main street Owner Reid (Sam) Dunn declined to confirm a target opening date “We’re going to be open and hopefully this summer Officials want to explore state funding for what they say is an Island-wide concern Tisbury is looking at yet another partial solution to mitigate flooding at Five Corners, after a complex state permitting process led the town to indefinitely suspend a similar plan earlier this year Tighe & Bond engineering company presented a new plan — meant to require a less complex permitting process — at a Dec. 10 town select board meeting. The plan is a modification to a design first suggested by University of New Hampshire engineers in March that was delayed indefinitely this fall Tighe & Bond’s approach comes with a probable construction cost of $1 million but funding amounts and sources are yet to be worked out Businesses, pedestrians, and motorists who rely on the town’s main intersection have long complained of poor drainage, even during minimal rain events. After a trio of rough storms last winter many renewed their calls to the town and state But with a more comprehensive state plan an estimated decade away town officials have been scrambling to find a partial It looks like the intersection will go another winter without a fix The new plan involves installing a precast concrete structure to combine the three existing drainage lines at Five Corners higher-capacity reinforced concrete pipe or box culvert and a new concrete outfall or overflow structure in the same footprint as the current structure This solution would primarily be located underground and would not erode the beach where water is emptied Tighe & Bond’s Fran Hoey told the select board Tighe & Bond employees did note that their plan is a partial fix Hoey did not give a timeline for when work could begin “I would … stress that we really haven’t started design yet on this,” said Hoey who would be the project’s principal were work at Five Corners to begin “This will be a solution that addresses some of the severity and frequency of flooding but there are probably additional solutions a more holistic solution that [you] might want to get put into play over time,” he told the board Tighe & Bond senior consultant Briony Angus said that the initial plan from the university would “This relatively small stormwater outfall project would have required a full environmental impact report a significant amount of community engagement Town officials on Tuesday were primarily concerned with funding Town administrator Jay Grande asked the select board to consider approving Tighe & Bond to continue working with the town He also asked them to consider asking town DPW Director Kirk Metell to explore alternative funding sources Grande also expressed interest in asking the Martha’s Vineyard Commission to accept the project in its transportation improvement program and in seeking state-level funding as part of an Island-wide transportation improvement plan Tighe & Bond’s plan also comes as town officials have expressed frustration with a more comprehensive solution at Five Corners from the Massachusetts Department of Transportation Metell told The Times in October that the state approach could take at least another decade Grande hoped on Tuesday that Tighe & Bond’s work could facilitate future coordination with the state “I have heard nothing definitive from MassDOT,” Grande said of a comprehensive state solution there really is not any MassDOT project that is moving forward I would hope that this project with Tighe & Bond could facilitate that more holistic review Grande noted that the town might consider filing a warrant article for the upcoming annual town meeting in April in order to fund further design on the project that would help attract those outside funding sources “I would just indicate that we need to get this design progressed to a higher level of engineering so that in fact there is something tangible that MassDOT can respond to as well as our joint planning transportation committee at the commission,” he said Funding for this additional design could also come from Chapter 90 funds managed by Metell’s department State funding could be on the table for Five Corners because the intersection is important to all six Vineyard towns “The other aspect of this is we believe this is a project of Island importance and we believe the other Island communities support us in this effort and that they would support us in including it in a transportation improvement plan for the Island for consideration in the future for funding,” he said “And so that the full burden wouldn’t have to be on the town of Tisbury in terms of having this project implemented.” Traffic signals are one solution that the M.V As the Martha’s Vineyard Commission studies ways to improve road safety around the Island a new report has revealed the Vineyard’s most dangerous roadways Among some of the takeaways: Five Corners was one of the more dangerous intersections on the Island; the number of accidents where substance use was cited was double the rate of the state average and the Island has a higher crash rate compared to the state average which include installing roundabouts and traffic signals The study was presented online on Wednesday prepared for the Martha’s Vineyard Safe Streets and Roads for All Program — a project with the commission and with funding from the U.S The 30-page study ranked the top 20 intersections on Martha’s Vineyard by crash severity from 2018 to 2022 The Five Corners intersection in downtown Vineyard Haven saw one severe crash and two crashes resulting in other injuries The intersection of Franklin Street and Woodlawn Avenue was the second most dangerous with Edgartown–West Tisbury Road and Barnes road third All but one of the top twenty intersections were down-Island — State Road and Old Courthouse Road in West Tisbury made spot 18 on the list The study also ranked the most dangerous roadways with the area of State Road and Tomahigan Avenue as the most dangerous There was one severe crash and 16 other injuries in the area over the course of the study State Road followed as the second most dangerous and Edgartown–Vineyard Haven Road was third The roadways list also heavily represented areas down-Island Now that the commission has data on where severe crashes occur presenters said that they will consider proven traffic solutions for the Vineyard and where different solutions might be applied These solutions could include significant changes for Vineyard roads including installing turn lanes and traffic signals and converting intersections to roundabouts They did not match any solution to a specific Vineyard location on Wednesday Biker and pedestrian safety was also a focus; expanding shared-use paths and reducing curb cuts could help reduce crashes Active Transportation and Safety Sector Co-Lead at firm Nelson/Nygaard The traffic study came with other revelations about injuries on Vineyard roads where from 2018 to 2022 there were an average of 186 reported crashes per year and three percent resulted in a suspected serious injury The Vineyard has a higher rate of fatal crashes than the statewide average with a rate of 4.9 fatal crashes per 100,000 residents The standout trend identified in the study was the number of crashes involving a single vehicle transportation planner Zack Gavel of Nelson/Nygaard said “The majority of crashes on the Island are only involving a single vehicle and that’s also disproportionately the types of crashes that are represented in the most serious outcomes,” he said The Vineyard’s rural roads also stand out when it comes to crashes with pedestrians “Martha’s Vineyard is actually somewhat anomalous in that it’s the only rural jurisdiction that is above the statewide average for pedestrian-involved crashes Biker and pedestrian safety was another focus Six percent of all crashes in the study involved a pedestrian or biker but a disproportionate 28 percent of crashes with fatal or serious injury involved a pedestrian or biker Substance use also plays a role in Vineyard crashes; crashes resulting in death or injury on-Island were twice as likely to cite alcohol or drug use compared to crashes statewide with crashes in July and August higher than in statewide statistics Next steps for the safety program will involve creating project descriptions for the Vineyard’s most dangerous locations and will target the Vineyard’s most common types of crashes Enforcement strategies could come out of the commission’s work as well including targeted speed limit enforcement on certain roads The study and presentation are available on the commission’s webpage for the presentation The commission is still seeking public input about traffic conditions on the Vineyard through a survey and comment section on their website Vineyarders can also point out areas where they have safety concerns on this interactive map Repaving the West Tisbury-to-Edgartown bike path would be a start The last time that was done was the early 1990s Arrows instercetion by the edgartown stop an shop i seen lot close calls at intersection If substance was a factor to high accidents In five corners so reinforcing no drinking and driving would be the most obvious solution! Also I think every major intersection should have a camera installed I couldn’t help but notice the juxtaposition of this article on traffic safety citing Five Corners as “one of the more dangerous intersections on the island” and the role of substance abuse in the most serious accidents with an article in the same MV Times “Minute” heralding the opening of a new bar and outdoor patio abutting the aforementioned Five Corners intersection Appreciate the thoughtful and data driven efforts with a robust effort and opportunity for community feedback I have high hopes that this could lead to many short and long term improvements as funding approves but traversing that little bridge in West Tisbury near where Humphrey’s used to be is my least favorite place to drive on MV so I’ll have to look closer to recognize it as a bridge I do remember several years ago someone hitting a beautiful vintage railing there and it got replaced with an ugly new railing Next time I head to the post office I’ll check this dangerous bridge out This island isn’t a tiny rural farmland anymore It’s a uber-rich narcissists place to trash for a week every year We are paying traffic police instead of using the traffic light – invented well over 100 years ago TRUE that- and one of the first should be at the dual-entrance Stop and Shop parking lot stretch on Upper Main in Edgartown around where it intersects Chase Road and pedestrians are often nearly taken out by people speeding thru all summer ignoring 3 crosswalks and the people in or trying to use them it’s the people’s inability to follow the rules of the road everyone thinks that their destination is more important than any others and the rules go out the window It’s like the Wild West of driving out there Maybe if the police actually participated in deterring these types of drivers we wouldn’t need lights Please complete the survey linked in the article Responses will help inform which solutions to pursue The Five Corners Shoppes — Westwood’s historic retail dining and community destination — is celebrating its official Re-Opening on October 19 The Grand Celebration features a ribbon cutting with Westwood Mayor Ray Arroyo the various shoppes from The Five Corners building The Grand Re-Opening Event kicks off at 10:30 am Family-friendly festivities include live music don’t miss exclusive offers from the Five Corners Shoppes throughout the day The Good Life Boutique will have discount racks and a photo station for kids Not to mention a raffle for a chance to win a $100 shopping spree at the store Collected Works: A boutique known for its unique home accessories and gifts Maxine’s Bake Shop: A French/American Bakery featuring delicious pastries viennoiseries (think croissants and brioche) Stack Creamery: An ice cream shop with a twist, offering customizable ice cream sandwiches and a variety of handmade flavors. Visit their Website Supp Hub: A health and wellness store offering high-quality nutritional supplements and expert advice on fitness and wellness. Visit their Website Craft Taco Co.: A vibrant eatery known for its inventive tacos and fresh, locally-sourced ingredients. Visit their Website At the crossroads of Westwood Ave and Kinderkamack Rd The Five Corners Shoppes aim to provide a unique shopping experience the Five Corners Building has long stood at the heart of Westwood symbolizing the town’s growth and resilience Its recent renovation breathes new life into the building With updated facades and exterior features the building remains a proud link to Westwood’s past But don't expect to get through the five roads that converge in one of Lower Bucks County's busiest thoroughfares. The Bristol Township Police Department is expecting crowds and won't tolerate irate drivers caught off-guard by the celebration "In light of several national tragedies recently where vehicles have struck civilians during celebrations or events being held we are requesting the intersection remain clear," the department said in a press release Friday afternoon NFC expectations Eagles favored to beat Commanders; are Birds also the early favorite to win Super Bowl 59? "There will be a large officer presence and any person entering the intersection will be removed and face criminal penalties We understand this is an exciting time but we strive to keep everyone safe 24/7 and this is no different Please consider celebrating at a local establishment or your home," the police said Super Bowl LII Keeping an eye on the thousands of Eagles Super Bowl revelers in Levittown Five Points filled twice in 2018 after two Eagles wins 21 after defeating the Minnesota Vikings for the NFC win and after leaving Patriots quarterback Tom Brady and the Patriots defeated in Super Bowl LII public nudity (a woman flashed the crown from her boyfriend's shoulders) The police ended their alert Friday with a hopeful message: “GO BIRDS!” JD Mullane can be reached at jmullane@couriertimes.com An official website of the United States government As a new federal courthouse was being developed in lower Manhattan in the early 1990s in fulfillment of its obligations under the National Historic Preservation Act and related federal legislation undertook archeological investigations at a location once known as Five Points It was named for the points created by the intersection of Park Today, the Five Points neighborhood, once known as a center of vice, crime and debauchery throughout the nineteenth century is occupied by a center of justice — the Daniel Patrick Moynihan U.S. Courthouse. Learn more about the history of Five Points in New York’s Mythic Slum booklet [PDF - 6 MB] Home Rates are available between 10/1/2022 and 09/30/2025 WESTWOOD—The historic Five Corners Building marked its grand re-opening on a bright Saturday revitalizing one of the most cherished landmarks in the heart of Westwood The event brought together Westwood Mayor Ray Arroyo—his ceremonial oversized ribbon-cutting shears at the ready—members of the Borough Council; Roger Gross president of Paramus-based NIA National Realty and owner of The Five Corners Building; and the enthusiastic shop owners who have infused this newly renovated space with fresh energy and community spirit who has an office in the borough and joined the celebration in support of local businesses House of Representatives’ congratulations to the borough a contingent of Junior Cardinal Cheerleaders wowed the crowd with a lively routine Happy supporters thronged the sidewalk and pressed back to parked cars to capture wide-angle photos of the action The grand re-opening marks the culmination of extensive renovations to the Five Corners Building which was constructed before 1927 and is known for its distinctive Flemish architectural style ensuring that the 13,000-square-foot building’s historic charm was preserved while modernizing it for a new generation of retailers “We’ve carefully preserved and honored its original design while bringing in new features that make it a modern hub for the community,” Gross said during the ceremony Gross played a central role in planning the event and revitalizing the space His vision was not only to restore the building but also to make it a home for impressive and businesses that would further the viability of small business in Westwood and Bergen County “It was important for me to preserve this historic structure and support small businesses I didn’t want to sell the building to a corporate store that would knock it down and we’d lose that hometown feeling,” Gross said Finally being able to make this dramatic improvement to the East’s ‘Gateway to Westwood’ will surely have a positive and lasting effect on all visitors the our dramatically improved and now vibrant downtown.: “From Five Corners to Five Dimes [Brewery]” — where the old L.N nearby — “Westwood continues to thrive The Hub is Ground Zero for a soft landing!” the renovated Five Corners Building is now home to a diverse mix of businesses Gross’s dedication to bringing in noteworthy entrepreneurs — fronting both Westwood Avenue and Kinderkamack Road — is evident in the lineup: Five Corners represents more than a place to shop—bookending Westwood Avenue with the historic train station and Veterans Park at the head of the Central Business District—they play an important role in Westwood’s local economy creating jobs and drawing visitors from surrounding areas With the addition of new retailers and revitalized storefronts are set to be a driving force in the economic growth of Westwood and indeed Bergen County For shop owners such as Joe Bosco and Burt McCarroll the opportunity to be part of this community-driven project is invaluable and we started Supp Hub to provide the best in fitness and wellness supplements while offering expert guidance,” McCarroll said “Being part of Five Corners is a great way to connect with our neighbors and help people meet their health goals.” The grand re-opening wasn’t just about cutting the ribbon—it was a full day of celebration for the Westwood community Local groups also benefitted from fundraising efforts explored a range of special offers and promotions from the new shops. Stack Creamery wowed the crowd with their customizable ice cream sandwiches letting visitors mix and match cookies and ice cream flavors for a one-of-a-kind dessert experience we’re all about creating the perfect treat and it was amazing to see so many people enjoying themselves today,” said the team For more information about Five Corners and upcoming events, visit www.celebratewestwood.org All content on this website is the property of The Press Group and is protected by copyright. Reproduction, distribution, or use of any material without prior written permission is strictly prohibited, unless otherwise stated. To report any misuse, please contact us at PascackPress@ThePressGroup.net For more than a century, the Five Corners building has marked the eastern entrance to Westwood's mom-and-pop downtown It was almost replaced by a chain drug store — until a nostalgic son stepped in to restore some of its former charm merchants and residents gathered in late October for the grand reopening of the building at Westwood Avenue and Kinderkamack Road after a 10-month refurbishment that cost $400,000 and added a new roofline and other architectural touches to the prewar building The ceremony also celebrated several businesses that have moved in over the past two years has been a fixture in the borough since before the 1920s He bought the property from his family a few years ago after one of his siblings suggested turning it into a Walgreens The location had a special place in his heart a gift shop his mother had owned for 20 years “I thought it would be so much nicer to keep the mom-and-pop-type stores,” Gross said in an interview He originally planned to add apartments on a second floor of the building but that became economically infeasible during the COVID pandemic His renovations raised the roofline and added six gables and other touches to match the structure's original Flemish Revival architectural style Nine tenants now use the building: Craft Taco Company Beautiful Buds florist and Collected Works She moved into the space when renovations were about 75% done and was excited to help attract customers to the refurbished building “She thought it would be a better splash if all the stores celebrated,” Gross said More: Westwood's 'Blue Angels' looking out for seniors who live alone Maxine’s Bake Shop will be the newest addition when owners Clement and Abby Fourmont open their store at the end of December The couple met while working in a pastry kitchen in New York City and decided to open their first business together “We’re hoping to have a cozy little spot where people come drink coffee and try our pastries,” Abby Fourmont said “We’re really excited to be part of the town Mayor Raymond Arroyo said the restoration shows that “Westwood’s commercial property owners can upgrade and restore even during the worst economic inflationary period in 40 years and still fill the storefronts with viable and serendipitous goods and services.” without jamming more density and intensity onto small footprints that cannot handle the bulk volumes traffic generation and parking,” the mayor added in an email the council liaison to the Historic Preservation Commission and vice president of the Westwood Heritage Society said the borough's streetscape has retained its unique stylings by embracing “gradual intentional growth” rather than an “architectural boom” in one particular era Downtown Westwood includes buildings that range from turn-of-the-20th-century artifacts to 21st-century additions “Five Corners Building serves as a gateway to Westwood,” she said tenant changes and the pulls of economic challenges over the decades .. it continues to be a destination for shoppers and diners.” She praised Gross and Westwood-based architect Vincent Chioffi for a ”well-considered facelift.” Although the building has a legacy in town Gross said he won't seek an official historical designation by the state you restrict yourself in terms of what you are able to do to renovate in the future,” he said Stephanie Noda is a local reporter for NorthJersey.com For unlimited access to the most important news from your local community please subscribe or activate your digital account today Email: noda@northjersey.com Twitter: @snoda11 The Berkshire's mightiest independent alternative newsthing POST YOUR EVENT to our Calendar. 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He’s received support from organizations including Bread Loaf and the Hambidge Center He serves as a poetry editor at Bear Review and lives in Atlanta LIZZY BECK (she/her) lives with her family in Western Massachusetts Her poems have appeared or are forthcoming in The Adroit Journal She is a graduate of the MFA Program for Writers at Warren Wilson College and is at work on her first collection of poems MICHELE BOMBARDIER’s debut collection “What We Do” was a Washington Book Award finalist She is the inaugural Poet Laureate of Bainbridge Island Washington and the 2024 winner of the NORward Prize in Poetry She has received fellowships from Hedgebrook Michele teaches workshops and leads retreats in support of humanitarian work specifically medical care in the Middle East and Gaza ZITE EZEH is a Nigerian-Kenyan-American writer Her recent literary work braids indigenous Igbo cosmologies with elements of today’s world She is particularly interested in how her characters carve out slices of home for themselves—often against the backdrop of a world that has othered them Zite is an MFA candidate in Fiction at UC Riverside and an incoming resident at Vermont Studio Center They received the 2024 Abraham Polonsky Endowed Award “The Ruins,” was published by Beyond Worlds magazine in 2023 Her writing has been supported by fellowships from MacDowell Melenie’s essay “Message from Your Inmate” won the annual nonfiction contest at Vela Magazine and her recent work can be seen in Provincetown Arts Magazine A graduate of the MFA Acting Program at California Institute of the Arts she has performed in theatres across the country THADDEUS HAAS has lived many different lives writing has given him a way to make sense of his experience that he has dared to think of himself as a writer he spends his days working on an assortment of projects in between his son’s school drop offs and pickups His current focus is a memoir of sorts about his years working as an elite wildland firefighter in Western Montana IRENE JIANG is a Chinese-American filmmaker and writer of genre and literary fiction She writes about unruly outsider women who navigate migration and aspiration with feminine rage Her short fiction has been published or is forthcoming in Pinch Journal and her personal essays can be read in Joysauce and The New York Times “Immoral Purposes,” about a young Chinese woman in 1880s California who escapes sex trafficking and seeks revenge on her abusers MICHAEL JEROME PLUNKETT (he/him) served in the United States Marine Corps He is the co-founder and Executive Director of the Literature of War Foundation a nonprofit dedicated to building libraries on military bases His writing has appeared in The Wrath-Bearing Tree “Zone Rouge,” is forthcoming from UnnamedPress BRENTON SIZWE ZOLA is a first-generation writer Informed by experiences of childhood homelessness and a lineage of African spiritual leaders He is a recipient of the Marianne Russo Award for a Novel-in-Progress at the Key West Literary Seminar an Adult Fiction mentorship at The Word and his poem “Multiplicity” is one of the official poems of the City of Denver The notice that “You must log in to create events…” will remain after you log in Drive into Five Corners in Vineyard Haven from any direction and one is confronted with a hodgepodge of commerce and signage A neurologist might call it over-stimulation A recent study by the Martha’s Vineyard Commission put the intersection at the top of the list for vehicle accidents on the Island as navigating the area requires both patience and the will to dive into the unknown And yet the entire area was once a safe harbor a water filled channel that connected the main harbor to the Lagoon the research librarian at the Martha’s Vineyard Museum the channel was wide and deep enough in 1771 to allow the town’s whaling fleet to moor in Lagoon Pond A barrier beach by the Lagoon also helped provide shelter for smaller ships “Ferries from Falmouth would drop people off at the foot of Beach Street and it would anchor in the protection of the barrier beach which is now that tiny island behind Beach Road,” said Mr Digging deeper into the history reveals a slow accretion of details rather than the arrival of some grand plan The result is an odd welcome mat for the Vineyard with tourists streaming from the Steamship Authority terminal and then immediately confronted with an ungainly decision tree of towns to visit and the mileage it takes to get there there’s a crosswalk leading to Cumberland Farms and the post office another crossing Lagoon Pond Road where a bike shop And that little street leading to the Black Dog Tavern although that’s a test most Islanders would probably fail Townspeople lent a hand and “every man and boy in the village turned out to help fill the schooner with earth and rocks,” according to an early Vineyard Gazette account That new earthen corridor allowed the construction of a wharf a block up from Five Corners and townspeople could now walk and drive along the front of the village the basic plan of the Five Corners intersection was in place Other expansions and innovations led to much of what we see today Developers in Cottage City wanted more direct access to Vineyard Haven so a causeway was built to what would become the Marine Hospital in 1900 and now the home of the Martha’s Vineyard Museum That row of small houses along Lagoon Pond Road across from Chicken Alley thrift store water ran up the southern edge of that stretch right up to the doorstep of what is now the paint store and the bike shop Van Riper said that from the late 1930s to 1946 that area was filled in and commercial development emerged in and around the harbor oil tanks and another commercial operation that packed salted codfish Dukes County Garage already anchored the corner opening in 1913 where it remained until the Douglas family bought the property in 1974 as Five Corners has become a notorious flood zone threatening to return to its watery past The stormwater run-off and the corresponding narrow outflow to the harbor led former Tisbury Selectman Tristan Israel to once remark: “It’s like trying to take a bucket of water and pour it into a small soda bottle.” A couple of developments over the years certainly contributed to the flooding issues the wetland adjacent to Lagoon Pond Road was filled in to create playing fields and a park the First National supermarket began construction where the post office and Cumberland Farms stand today Both the wetlands and the open field helped soak up stormwater but an entire corner of asphalt offers no relief Today the town is working in partnership with the University of New Hampshire Stormwater Center to create a larger underground basin to allow for better water flow The idea is to combine three existing catch basins into a single underground structure at the beach But for now the intersection remains a test for nearly every visitor to the Island but not before white knuckling it through Five Corners New traffic patterns at Five Corners in Granby at the intersection of Route 202 and Pleasant Street works on stamping concrete at the new roundabout at the intersection of Route 202 and School Street in Granby works on stamping concrete at the new roundabout at the intersection of Route 202 and School Street in Granby GRANBY — A new roundabout is taking shape along Route 202 at its intersection with School Street — not far from The MacDuffie School — one of two busy intersections undergoing renovations under a combined $4.2 million project led by the Massachusetts Department of Transportation The work at the two heavily-trafficked sections on Granby’s portion of Route 202 — the other is at the Five Corners — is being completed to address traffic and safety concerns from residents as well as increase the road’s pedestrian and bicycle safety the Five Corners intersection traffic signal reconstruction will recenter stoplights on a new arm mast create a left turn lane in both directions of Amherst Street and redesign the entrance to Amherst Street The roundabout at the Route 202-School Street intersection will aid the flow of traffic between the state highway and parents dropping children off at The MacDuffie School Both areas of the project will construct total of 4,000 feet of sidewalk environmental controls and safety controls The project has been in the works since 2012 according to MassDOT’s online project tracking system A public hearing was held in June 2019 to gauge community feedback on the design and project proposal A post from the Granby Police Department says construction on the project started in April 2024 According to MassDOT communications office the project is 48% complete and is expected to finish by July 2026 you agree with our use of cookies to personalize your experience measure ads and monitor how our site works to improve it for our users Emergency responders tend to an injured person on Friday following a high-speed chase through the Five Corners intersection in the town of Cedarburg CEDARBURG — A West Bend man is facing a felony charge after causing an accident in the town of Cedarburg after a vehicle pursuit with police is charged in Ozaukee County with one count of second degree reckless injury Harmon is being charged with vehicle operator flee/elude officer and resisting or obstructing an officer Records state that he is a repeat offender in these charges The Town of Trenton Police Department stated in a press release that a traffic stop was conducted on Harmon at approximately 12:40 p.m Harmon had a suspended driver’s license and was on probation Probation and Parole ordered that Harmon be taken into custody The Trenton police press release states that Harmon resisted attempts to be taken into custody and then fled from the scene in his vehicle the Cedarburg Police Department and the Ozaukee County Sheriff’s Office were advised by the Washington County Sheriff’s Dispatch of a vehicle pursuit that was traveling into their jurisdictions on Highway NN near Highway 60 in the town of Cedarburg according to a press release from the Cedarburg Police Department SIGN UP The vehicle was being pursued by the Town of Trenton Police Department with the assistance of the Washington County Sheriff’s Office the police chief of the Town of Trenton Police Department stated that he terminated the pursuit as he was approaching Five Corners driving through a red stop light and colliding with a vehicle which Cedarburg police identified as being driven by a 46-year-old woman The Cedarburg Police Department stated it was not involved in the pursuit The woman in the other vehicle had to be extricated and transported to the hospital with serious bodily injuries 10 things to know this week from the WOW counties (Waukesha Ozaukee and Washington) sent on Sundays Get the latest Ozaukee County news delivered Tuesday and Thursdays so you don't miss out on updates Have Ozaukee County breaking news alerts sent to your inbox as they happen Your browser is out of date and potentially vulnerable to security risks.We recommend switching to one of the following browsers: (WTVF) — Five Points Pizza is expanding to the Gulch Five Points Pizza will expand to the Gulch’s newest hotel set to open in early 2025 and located at 920 Division St “We are super excited to partner with Canopy Nashville to bring the slice window experience to the Gulch.” said Tara Tieman “We have been working with their amazing team for almost a year and can’t think of a better brand to partner with on our first stand-alone slice window.” More details to come as we get closer to the opening Do you have more information about this story You can email me at kelly.broderick@newschannel5.com Rebecca: https://ewscripps.brightspotcdn.com/a2/d9/fb69982545c59e9836fbe80fe431/rebecca-recommends.png Carrie: https://ewscripps.brightspotcdn.com/2e/72/be0f23854c54a228c9d6138c9847/carrie-recommends-header.png Ben: https://ewscripps.brightspotcdn.com/df/c4/19fa7c504480938f39a431e3b276/ben-recommends-header.png Rhori: https://ewscripps.brightspotcdn.com/5b/25/a224d13d47739165c92b94e643db/rhori-recommends-header.png Lelan: https://ewscripps.brightspotcdn.com/af/54/833bf879454097a398bd44f723de/lelan-recommends.png I'm not sure there is a story that's brought a bigger smile to our faces than this one celebrating Ms The story of her service during World War II is amazing in itself — she is a true Rosie the Riveter What was also amazing was to see was how an entire community turned out to celebrate her Five Points is New York City’s mythic slum Named for the points created by the intersection of Park the neighborhood was known as a center of vice and debauchery throughout the nineteenth century Outsiders found Five Points threatening and fodder for lurid prose Charles Dickens wrote: “This is the place: these narrow ways diverging to the right and left and reeking every where with dirt and filth The coarse and bloated faces at the doors have counterparts at home and all the wide world over Debauchery has made the very houses prematurely old See how the rotten beams are tumbling down and how the patched and broken windows seem to scowl dimly like eyes that have been hurt in drunken frays Do they ever wonder why their masters walk upright in lieu of going on all-fours and why they talk instead of grunting?” The archaeological excavation of the Foley Square Courthouse block provided the opportunity to examine the physical remains of life in this infamous place This virtual exhibit begins to tell the story of what was found Five Points was a frightening slum; from the inside it was a thriving working-class neighborhood Through the study of the artifacts recovered in 1991 the daily lives of the people who lived at Five Points become visible and historians is currently analyzing the 850,000 artifacts recovered from the Foley Square courthouse block Out of the analysis will come a richer story about the working-class residents of Five Points the neighborhood’s reputation as New York’s most notorious slum and its overcrowded tenement neighborhood teeming with newly arrived immigrants struggling to succeed in an alien city wells) subsequently used as trash repositories are often the focus of urban archaeology A wealth of information can be derived from people’s garbage — information about their private lives Sign In Register Gibsons is looking at reducing speed limits approaching the 5 Corners intersection –– and perhaps more broadly across the municipality is reducing the speed limit to 30 km/hr the length of Marine Drive (within town boundaries) and the length of School Road as well as Gibsons Way from Killarney Lane to the intersection The changes come out of safety discussions incited by the Billy’s Walk development which is adjacent to the corner and will add 49 dwellings to the neighbourhood.  However, a staff report indicates the town’s busiest pedestrian centre is not as dangerous as some may think.  15 crashes occurred at the intersection and just three of those resulted in injury according to ICBC data. “While the geometry of the intersection is complex and the perception may be that the intersection is unsafe evidence indicates that there is a low rate of traffic incidents at 5 Corners,” said the report.  That said, staff recommended reducing the 50 km/hr speed limit to 30 km/hr approaching the busy intersection, and a Nov. 19 committee of the whole concurred.  Staff will also investigate removing old wayfinding Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure signs making curb changes and improving the definition of the Molly’s Lane/Wharf Lane/Marine Drive intersection.  Municipalities such as Bowen Island and Cumberland have imposed blanket speed limit reductions which staff say is a “valid consideration for Gibsons given the challenging topography and geometry of the town’s road network and council's priority to enhance transportation options.” The committee voted to include an assessment of such a reduction in the upcoming Transportation Master Plan with councillors generally voicing support for a town-wide reduction particularly given Gibsons is a tourist town.  Stafford Lumley pointed to studies showing small time savings for speeding “I don't think slowing down is going to impede anybody from getting somewhere on time,” he said.  “I see a lot of people driving a little bit too fast with big trucks in small streets,” said Coun David Croal’s eye. “Gibsons was listed as one of the top 10 laid-back communities So if we're going to have the reputation we might as well practice what we preach.” The speed limit changes in the 5 Corners vicinity still need to pass at the council level.   Tensions were high in Jack Katz Stadium as No Despite Duke gaining momentum and driving the ball down the field many times two zeros were still on the scoreboard after four quarters and two overtime periods Everyone held their breath as the teams entered a shootout which consisted of five scoring opportunities per team in a 1 vs The stroke-off started strong with two back-to-back goals from Saint Joseph’s Maaike Gorissen and Duke’s Alaina McVeigh A miss-streak of four shots was broken by the Hawks’ Julia Duffhuis a goal from the Saint Joseph’s would have secured the game Goalie Frederique Wollaert blocked the shot but that was initially blocked and then hit wide In the end, the Blue Devils fell to the Hawks 2-1 for their second straight loss after a disappointing 1-0 loss at No. 12 Liberty last Sunday.  two very disappointing outcomes,” head coach Pam Bustin said "Who are we as we go into the ACC and who do we want to be and it’s really got to come from the team … we’re there to help them.” The dampened feelings seemed to be present Sunday as Saint Joseph’s dominated the first quarter with five shots and five corners while the Blue Devils took one shot and received zero corners The next two quarters were more competitive with Duke giving up no shots and having five of their own The final quarter was more similar to the first with the Hawks shooting five times and taking two corners; the Blue Devils had no shots or corners.  The Duke defense worked hard against Saint Joseph’s throughout the competition While this seems like a substantial number to give up Bustin noted that many of the corners were given up off of well-defended corner plays themselves a lot of experience back there,” Bustin said and I thought [Frederique Wollaert] had a phenomenal game again today to keep us in it.” the teams entered overtime with six field players and a goalkeeper The period was dominated equally by both teams with possession being kept on both sides of the field Due to many promising scoring opportunities The sun beat down on the already exhausted 14 players leading to more and more fouls being called.  Duke’s Josephine Palde received a green card putting the Blue Devils down a player for two minutes with “Let’s Go Duke” being chanted from the sidelines Duke was able to successfully defend another corner “One thing that we've always been strong in is the energy from the sideline and the bench,” Bustin said “After we unfortunately didn’t capitalize on some great opportunities [the new players] really wanted to help push the team through overtime.” with the Blue Devils taking on Virginia Friday and Syracuse Sunday Entering conference play after two back-to-back upsets Duke will need to make numerous improvements in order to build on last year’s success 10 Saint Joseph's in nail-biting shootout ” on social media Sign In Subscribe Now A planned 'improvement project' at White Rock's Five Corners that had neighbourhood businesses and residents up in arms last year has been revised by staff Gone is the least popular feature – closure of the south leg of Johnston Road which would have removed parking and cut off some long-established businesses from vehicle traffic 27 in a report from city engineering and operations manager Jim Gordon – the alternative design concept calls for re-landscaping in the area traffic safety improvements and an option for temporary traffic closure of the area for one-day special events only Also gone from the revised project is a proposed public washroom A majority of council voted to direct staff to proceed to a preliminary design stage for the alternative concept which will be brought back to council. Gordon said the intention would be to develop a detailed design that would be subject to further public input, with a 'likely' construction date of 2027 Gordon said that the original concept designs were developed in alignment with the city's Integrated Transportation and Infrastructure Master Plan (ITAIMP) staff proceeded with extensive public engagement through the spring and summer of 2024 "The online survey results were slightly unsupportive of the initial concept design while the hard-copy results were strongly opposed," he noted "We developed an alternative concept listening to the feedback...to reflect the input while still meeting the needs of the ITAIMP traffic improvement." Gordon said the alternative concept keeps the south leg of Johnston "open for through traffic and the same parking on a regular basis." if there's a one-day event – and I don't think there's very many I can think of the Christmas tree lighting there was a Concert for the Pier there once In the case of those events we could close the road "The focus is on traffic safety improvements at the intersection." In answer to a comment from Mayor Megan Knight Gordon confirmed that that the alternative plan would mean Five Corners would not lose any existing parking Gordon said there was $40,000 in the budget for the improvement project and the preliminary design work would be less than that I've come to two conclusions," Chesney remarked "The community really doesn't support this and the businesses in the area certainly don't support it and I don't believe the majority of council I would suggest we pretend this never happened and move on and leave it exactly the way it is that the washroom be moved uptown where the foot traffic is far more intense than it is right there." Christopher Trevelyan said what he liked best about the updated plan was that it included improvements to traffic safety "That Five Corners spot is known to be a bit of a traffic hazard so I'm really supportive of that – that's a great start." Gordon declined to speculate on overall costs for the project as he said the design would be dependent on specific safety features and also input received from council and the public "It's important to note that it's not just a beautification project," Coun "There were safety concerns that were brought to the city I think it's important that we move forward to be a safer city." Council voted to endorse preliminary design work said they were pleased that their concerns about closing off traffic to the area – and their own and neighbouring businesses – had been heard "I don't have any objection to temporary closures for special events or traffic safety improvements," said Catherine Honeywell I've been at Five Corners most days for years and I can't recall any serious traffic incidents there – and I would have seen or heard them Dialogue and debate are integral to a free society and we welcome and encourage you to share your views on the issues of the day. We ask that you be respectful of others and their points of view, refrain from personal attacks and stay on topic. To learn about our commenting policies and how our community-based moderation works, please read our Community Guidelines This is being shared on behalf of Middlesex County Middlesex County is planning a major reconstruction of Glendon Dr Much of this work will take place in Middlesex Centre The Environmental Study Report for the project which includes drawings (maps) for the reconstructed road can be found on the Middlesex County website Environmental Study Report for Glendon Dr. The County's first major work on the Glendon Dr reconstruction is the installation of a roundabout at the "5-Corners" intersection in 2024-2025 The first stage of the project - construction of the roundabout - was completed in mid-November and will include the realignment of Coldstream Road to Springfield Way The County expects that all work should be complete by August 2025 Note that all businesses are open throughout construction Please see the County of Middlesex Project Page for additional information including project stages and expected route changes Lane closures and detour routes will be in place throughout the spring and summer and slow down to posted speeds for your safety and the safety of construction crews Dates are subject to change due to weather and other unforeseen delays Please follow posted detour route signs.  Detours remain in place for Coldstream Road. These are posted on the Municipal 511 site and on the County of Middlesex Project Page Additional maps and information will be posted as they become available.  Middlesex County staff presented an update on the project to County Council at their January 14 County Council Presentation Slides Middlesex County and Stantec Consulting provided Council with an update on the project at their December 6 meeting.  This presentation included information on the construction work planned for Spring to Fall 2024 Council Presentation Video - Starts at 50min mark Council Presentation Slides improvements is a roundabout at the intersection of Glendon Dr A public information centre (PIC) for this project was held May 10 Glendon Dr. Public Information Centre Presentation Phone: 519-666-0190Toll Free: 1-800-220-8968Fax: 519-666-0271 Municipal Office:10227 Ilderton RoadIlderton MUNICIPALITY OF MIDDLESEX CENTRE | COPYRIGHT © document.write(new Date().getFullYear()) Multiple fire crews responded to a garage fire attached to a residential home on the 4000 block of Five Corners Road Friday morning A representative from the Hermantown Fire Department said the garage is a total loss and that the home suffered minor exterior damage.No injuries were reported Any person with disabilities who needs help accessing the content of the FCC Public file should contact Vicki Kaping at vkaping@wdio.com or (218) 727-6864 A White Rock city project to improve and enhance the Five Corners area may be in for a rough ride from businesses and the public judging by reactions expressed at a public open house at White Rock Community Centre Monday night Noting the elaborate graphic presentation offered by city staff and consultants neighbourhood resident Gillian Mah said it "looks like you're putting the cart before the horse." and this looks more like the Phase 3 of a project (rather than the stage of seeking public input)," she commented "It seems like we skipped the early stages of design." Most contentious aspect of the plan — as it now stands — is the permanent closure of the continuation of Johnston Road south of Buena Vista Avenue and Pacific Avenue Instead, Five Corners would feature more extensive pedestrian pavers "intersection enhancements" and low concrete-walled planters for a cluster of trees in the small triangular parklet between existing buildings (Stager Park).  would remove all direct vehicle access to longtime businesses in the block of Johnston Road between Buena Vista Avenue and Beachview Avenue — a move store owners there say would be a business-killer.  "Businesses will be compromised if the road is closed," said open house participant Catherine Honeywell noting that there is not back alley vehicle access to any of the businesses in the block — which would seriously complicate delivery of supplies as well as discouraging trade from people travelling any distance to the stores representing the family-owned Damiano's Pizza said that the business depends heavily on home delivery "It's going to affect deliveries," he said "We have a certain time frame to get pizzas and other orders out of the door and to the customers and if our delivery drivers have go out and around the corner He added that people who phone in orders for pickup all tend to park on the side of the street in front of the store and closure of the street would likely impact that part of Damiano's operation with irony, that closing the lower section of Johnston would block the most direct route of vehicles to the beach "Is White Rock going to change it's slogan from 'Our City By The Sea' now?" he asked It was not just businesses in that block that expressed concern immediately to the north of the proposed improvement, said she also opposes the plan "And that road is our access to all those businesses." Many at the meeting also voiced concerns about how the closure of that stretch of Johnston would drive traffic patterns and affect the limited supply of parking in the area Some noted that traffic directions included in the presentation would complicate traffic flow around the Five Corners intersection Access to apartments in the area would be affected as well as emergency access for fire trucks and ambulances and other first responders Honeywell said this was not indicative of lack of interest or concern about the project She had only been informed of the open house by city staff the previous Thursday and theorized that greater numbers would have attended with more advance notice (another open house on the proposal will take place this Thursday Both business owners and residents were quick to pick apart the plan presented by city staff and consultants — although the latter underlined repeatedly that what was on display was only a conceptual design being offered for public feedback at this stage Potential cost of the project has not been announced and it will likely not be started until 2026 Michele Partridge noted in conversation following the project presentation Partridge (who attended the open house along with Coun Ernie Klassen) reassured Honeywell and Sidhu that she were very supportive of the business community "This is not set in stone whatsoever," she said The project — prioritized in the city's Integrated Transportation and Infrastructure Master Plan (ITIMP) — could also include "artistic bike racks," a public washroom integrated street furniture and a public drinking fountain Not everybody was against the idea — planning student Arden English said he was "all for it" apart from some practical objections to "artistic bike racks." He said that he believes parking in the area has been increased while the fact that some Five Corners businesses are currently "packed" is evidence that people are already managing getting to and from them He also noted that while some were concerned with the possibility of 'bollards" or concrete posts blocking off the area which allow access for deliveries or emergency vehicles.    Part of the intent of the Five Corners Improvement is to expand urban and public space for social gatherings and events according to materials on the city website But Honeywell disputed how much a revamped Stager Park — which is already landscaped and equipped with benches — would actually engage the public "I look out at it every day of the week and it's not being used now except by a few people from the (nearby) apartments who walk their dogs." She also doubted the city's ability to adequately maintain any improvements saying landscaping maintenance around the parklet has already fallen to herself and other business owners "You're not looking after what you have now," she said who is co-owner and manager of the Shop Next Door which displays work by a collective of local artists and artisans said she could entertain the idea of some city improvements to the parklet — including a public washroom — but not removing the street in front of the store "I'm confused as to why this is happening," she said Why couldn't we just beautify the park that is there?" she also noted that while part of the city's intent with the improvement is to encourage walking and cycling, the steep topography of the immediate area will likely work against that "The hills are insane — nobody is going to be going north and south," she said "It would be better to give a lot more thought to what we have now." Other residents said that the suggested low concrete planter walls would likely be more of an attraction for skateboarders than pedestrians Neighbourhood resident Ken Weins noted that Five Corners and Stager has already seen an influx of the city's homeless population and that he feared that the public washroom and other amenities would draw even more there from other areas "I think everybody in this room has empathy for homeless people," he said "But unless you are doing something different for them (elsewhere) "While the idea is to make (Five Corners) a focal point it won't be a focal point — it will be a problem point," he said.      A reminder of the rankings process: Voters gave us their best 10 players at a position then we compiled the results and ranked candidates based on number of top-10 votes composite average and dozens of interviews with research and film study help from ESPN NFL analyst Matt Bowen nearly 80 voters submitted a ballot on at least one position Additional voting and follow-up calls with those surveyed helped us break any ties Each section included quotes and nuggets from the voters on every ranked player -- even the honorable mentions The objective was to identify the best players for 2024 This was not a five-year projection or a career achievement award No position saw more turbulence year-over-year than cornerback Five corners entered the top 10 for the first time with the 2022 and 2023 draft classes showing up big The honorable mention list reads like an All-Pro list several former top-five corners were left out and a veteran out of the AFC North makes a surprise jump into the top two with one star in particular taking a surprise hit among some reputable voters I don't think there's [been] an elite shutdown corner," an NFC executive said "Obviously everything favors the passing game so it's probably a tougher task than ever before so it's about placing a strong value on the guys that can add to the game as a blitzer in run support or have knacks to make plays vs Let's look at some of the game's top corners as ranked by execs More than 50% of voters consider Surtain to be the best cornerback the game has to offer "Complete corner that can play in any coverage and has size ball skills and will tackle," an NFL personnel director said But several evaluators saw slippage in his play in 2023 and his grip on the top spot wasn't overwhelming Surtain allowed 58 receptions for 790 yards 4 touchdowns and 1 interception on 90 targets as the nearest defender good enough for a 102.5 passer rating for opposing quarterbacks "He did not have the best year," an NFL coordinator said and you can do the most with him as far as coverage Ward makes the biggest jump in the rankings in what feels like long-overdue recognition as he misses at least a few games every year 0 touchdowns and 2 interceptions along with a 17.5% ball-hawk rate (the percentage of targets where the nearest defender made a play on the football with upper-tier coverage skills and high football IQ," an NFL personnel evaluator said "Can create ball production in man or zone but can match up against just about any No And he has the elite movement skills to cover in the slot when asked." Cleveland's top-five defensive breakthrough under coordinator Jim Schwartz has enhanced the profile for Ward and others on that defense Gardner gathered fewer top votes than he did after his rookie year when he pushed Surtain for the top spot "Who else with his length and size (6-foot-3) can cover like him?" a veteran AFC scout said "One of the most overrated players in the league," a high-ranking NFL personnel evaluator said "You could call holding on him every play." Supporters say Gardner is so good that quarterbacks stay away from his side Gardner was targeted 57 times last year and allowed 366 yards and two touchdowns He has the coverage production -- with 31 pass breakups and two touchdowns allowed over his first two seasons -- but hasn't shown a knack for turnovers His 19.3% ball-hawk rate is among the best and a few established personnel executives left him off the top 10 altogether "He doesn't get a lot of balls thrown at him," a scouting director with an NFL team said "He locks down and has been that good where teams throw away and don't test him "He's such a pain in the ass," an NFC offensive coach said "You're in for a long day when you play him." We're back with another year of ESPN Fantasy Football and it's time to get started. Create a league with friends and family and draft before the start of the season! Sign Up Now >> committing an NFL-high 17 penalties last year And his 13 pass deflections on 90 targets and zero touchdowns allowed speak for him he can dominate as a physical press corner because of his physicality and he's always up for the challenge," an AFC defensive coach said and he will come up in run support and tackle." One thing to watch is how Sneed's knee holds up and the lingering issue was a consideration when Tennessee traded for him One personnel director with an NFL team perfectly summarized Ramsey who has a Hall of Fame case as the best corner for a stretch of the past decade "Outstanding when he wants to be," he said Opposing quarterbacks recorded a 66.2 passer rating against Ramsey who allowed 269 yards and two touchdowns in coverage His three interceptions in 10 games played last season were impressive and he has earned a Pro Bowl nod in nine straight seasons Ramsey's rep the past few years is that he's not always motivated to dominate "He might be declining a little at this stage but he can still impose his will on a game," a veteran NFL offensive coach said McDuffie has made a quick impression in two NFL seasons earning first-team All-Pro honors with 80 tackles On 77 targets with McDuffie as the nearest defender quarterbacks completed 51 passes for 573 yards "He's such a good player -- he lacks unique physical skills but he's about as good as they come with technique quickness and feel," an NFC executive said "He continually shows up with big plays in key moments." Might not be as physical as him but that's coming with experience -- he has that gear He missed 10 games in 2023, one via suspension for anointing himself a game captain against the Carolina Panthers and nearly botching the coin toss This comes two years after he missed 13 games "He's been up and down, but he's always good against Justin Jefferson," an NFC executive said "The guys who match up well with the top guys will always be on the list." Alexander allowed a 114.5 passer rating to opposing quarterbacks as the nearest defender Everything came together for Johnson, who earned a four-year, $76 million contract off the strength of a banner 2023 286 yards and one touchdown while making four interceptions No cornerback was hotter in the second half of the season. He was probably Chicago's best overall player. It was a good thing the Bears didn't trade him at the deadline as he requested "Competitive corner with man traits and excellent zone vision," an NFL personnel evaluator said "Physical in press and fluid at the break point Only thing he lacks is top-end recovery speed." Witherspoon wasted little time becoming a top player in the competitive NFC West from instinctive cover man (16 pass deflections) to effective blitzer (3 sacks "Witherspoon is a baller," an AFC scout said Witherspoon's play earned him a Pro Bowl nod and a fourth-place finish in the Defensive Rookie of the Year race Stingley went one pick ahead of Gardner in the 2022 draft -- Nos respectively -- and while Gardner captivated earlier Stingley had major ball production in 2023 with five interceptions and 13 pass breakups in 11 games This is a case where the stats and the eye-test skills match "So smooth and athletic," an AFC scout said Derek Stingley Jr. has snagged six interceptions in two seasons for the Texans. Photo by Ken Murray/Icon SportswireHonorable mentionsMarlon Humphrey, Baltimore Ravens: Over seven seasons Humphrey has 13 interceptions and 58 pass breakups He hasn't made the impact plays in recent years," an NFC offensive coach said scoring and rules to play in the league you want to play in Create a league today! A.J. Terrell, Atlanta Falcons: Over four seasons with the Falcons Terrell has 36 pass breakups and four interceptions but where's the ball production?" an NFL personnel evaluator said Charvarius Ward, San Francisco 49ers: Ward had a big role in the 49ers' defensive success in 2023; he played 878 snaps and collected five interceptions "Probably the most underrated corner in the league but he's a problem for the top receivers," an NFC coordinator said Christian Gonzalez, New England Patriots: Before his season came to an early end due to a shoulder injury two pass breakups and one quarterback hit in four games "I'd have him really high had he not gotten hurt [last season] Marshon Lattimore, New Orleans Saints: Across 90 games "Still love the physicality and the man-coverage traits but he's no longer an ascending player and he's missed a lot of time in recent years," an NFL personnel evaluator said the University of New Hampshire has presented a new plan physical labor may be underway to significantly reduce the amount of flooding at Vineyard Haven’s Five Corners intersection A new plan outlined in front of town officials Wednesday would combine three outfall pipes at Beach Street Extension into one structure that engineers say would be more effective at keeping back rising seas The plan also calls for adding an emergency outlet that would distribute more-extreme flooding waters away from Five Corners The town’s select board voted to move forward with a plan from the University of New Hampshire Town administrator Jay Grande says that the installations will cost no more than $400,000 to complete which has been working to reduce flooding at the intersection On Wednesday, Jamie Houle, a research professor from the University of New Hampshire’s Stormwater Center, presented plans at a Tisbury select board meeting. The center has been working with Tisbury for several years with funding from the federal Environmental Protection agency who called the intersection’s existing outfall system “dilapidated,” explained the planned improvements “What we’re proposing to do is intercept these three outfall pipes and combine them into one structure that would be maintainable … [as well as] providing a backflow preventer that would prevent water from coming from the Atlantic and pushing back on the existing drainage elevations coming down Beach Street Extension and Beach Road and everything uphill,” Houle said He added that two years of monitoring Five Corners shows a 95 percent chance of flooding after more 1.3 inches of rain This backflow preventer is a proprietary neoprene Tideflex fitting that would go over the outfall pipe but won’t allow sediment or seawater to be pushed through the pipe “We feel that we can greatly reduce the recovery time for these floodings,” Kirk Metell director of Tisbury’s department of public works (DPW) said of the plan at Wednesday’s meeting addresses a key cause of flooding at Five Corners the three outfall pipes at Beach Street Extension release water at the shoreline But since these pipes are located where the tide rises “What that means is that [the pipes] often get overburdened with sediment that reduces their hydraulic capacity and this results in additional flooding,” Houle said He says that the emergency outlet would provide further support “Instead of pushing everything to Five Corners it flows toward the sea through this secondary emergency outlet,” Houle explained These outfall installations will be located underground except for a two-foot reveal where the outfall system ends at the shoreline The current outfall system also requires vigilance and frequent maintenance “Our current outfall pipe gets covered with harbor spoils at the changing of every tide That requires the DPW to go down and remove those spoils before every rain event,” Metell said Grande said that he does not have a precise cost estimate for the project but that he predicts a maximum cost of $400,000 He also said that the town can afford this “We do have the funding in place to carry out the project and to move the engineering and design forward,” he said at the meeting Grande added that he understands that the joint transportation committee of the Martha’s Vineyard Commission will work to support the plan and pursue outside funding we can shoot for a fall build,” Metell said at the meeting “I don’t think we can afford to miss another season and go through what people have gone through in the last year,” Grande said The select board unanimously voted at the meeting to move forward with the center’s plan and with the plan’s engineering and implementation are to develop a biddable outfall plan and confirm that the project will require no significant state permitting An ownership agreement will also have to be reached with the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) stating which parties will conduct long-term operation Metell added that the outfall plan will take place at the same time as a project to run new water lines on Beach Road Extension This will involve digging up and repaving the road Houle did emphasize that the outfall plan will not eliminate all flooding at the intersection “I’m not going to mince words here There is no perfect situation,” he said “If we were going to design this to current standards — we just don’t have the elevations here.” Grande also stated at the meeting that MassDOT’s plans for Five Corners have not met town officials’ expectations “We’ve waited four years for this other planning process to unfold,” said Grande of MassDOT’s efforts “And I know that many in our committees were quite disappointed with the design that was put forward.” Houle said that his work on Five Corners originally involved close collaboration with MassDOT but that the state agency’s plans involved further work in the harbor which would have involved a different approach than the center’s plan He added that MassDOT does not plan to implement a solution at Five Corners this year and that it might take seven years before they can do so If they decided today they were going to take this on it would possibly occur in seven years,” Houle said How can Tisbury leadership screw up this project I’d hoped you guys had solved this and could show us something Careful of those duckbills-they kept the stormwater IN on Easy St Since cutting the bottoms off there has been no issues other than super high tides-because water can’t go anywhere The db’s had created ponding almost any time it rained hard Just a little bit of elevation over a large area will allow for additional storage capacity while draining We are likely going to have to raise the rd over here at some point soon The MV Times comment policy requires first and last name for all comments.