Nantucket Current

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Nantucket’s Town Meeting has endorsed a $126 million appropriation to fund the construction of a new skilled nursing facility. Nantucket is the only town in Massachusetts that operates its own nursing home. The spending must still be approved on the ballot: nantucketcurrent.com/news/our-islan…

The 2026 Annual Town Meeting is here. Nantucket residents across the island have packed the high school’s auditorium and gymnasium to speak their minds and exercise their rights on the 84 articles set to be voted on over the course of the next two days. The Current spoke to island residents as they were arriving Monday afternoon to learn more about what brought them to town meeting this year and what they’re looking forward to.

@meg_blair_ack @DraftKings I think Land & Water Council had a bingo card! And I’ll take the over on 5:45p!

@ACKCurrent So do we have a bet line on the over under on when first article hits the floor for discussion? @DraftKings could really get some engagement on this one. Also- did someone make a ATM bingo card?

Nantucket’s Annual Town Meeting is kicking off now. We’ll be sharing live updates at this link: nantucketcurrent.com/news/live-upda…

Rainbows Pottery, the controversial Boston pottery studio, has abandoned plans to open a new location in downtown Nantucket amid intense community pushback on the island, according to its owner. nantucketcurrent.com/news/amid-cont…

Golden Heather blooming on the Sconset Bluff today 🤩 📸: Diane Dietle

Nantucket Current’s 2026 Annual Town Meeting primer. Voters will decide on more than $200 million in capital projects, including whether to fund a new skilled nursing facility, or get the town out of the business for good. nantucketcurrent.com/news/nantucket…

DUCKLING RESCUE! We could all use a little good news on this Sunday morning, right? Members of the Nantucket Fire Department, including firefighter Raymond McClure (pictured here), rescued 12 ducklings that fell into a storm drain this morning. The neighbors are keeping an eye on the grate and hoping the 13th comes back up the drainage pipe!

The legal disputes stemming from the devastating Veranda House fire in downtown Nantucket in 2022 have finally reached a trial. Three neighbors of the Veranda House who filed lawsuits against the owner of the hotel and its staff who were employed when the massive fire struck the historic structure nearly four years ago presented their claims to a jury in Nantucket Superior Court this week. They are seeking millions in damages. The trial is expected to last well into May. nantucketcurrent.com/news/veranda-h…

“While I would like to share more information, I am not able to do so at this time," Kasper stated. "More broadly, as Chief of Police, I have a responsibility to address concerning behavior within our work environment. I hold myself and members of this department to the high standards that our community expects and deserves. When those standards are not met, it is my duty to ensure that the matter is addressed appropriately. I remain committed to maintaining a department grounded in professionalism, integrity and service.”

Updated story on Considine’s firing: nantucketcurrent.com/news/dispatche…

One day after speaking out publicly against Nantucket Police Department chief Jody Kasper and town manager Libby Gibson, island 911 dispatch supervisor Pat Considine was fired by the town. Here are his comments on Wednesday, the day before he was axed:

Danielle Lewis and Myah Johnson were named the 2026 Nantucket Scholars Tuesday evening at the Nantucket Golf Club, awarding them both with a full four-year college scholarship for all tuition and fees to the university of their choice thanks to the generosity of the Nantucket Golf Club Foundation, which just completed the Nantucket Scholar program's 21st year and has raised over $51 million to benefit Nantucket's youth since being founded in 2002. nantucketcurrent.com/news/danielle-…

Photo Gallery: 50th Annual Nantucket Daffodil Festival nantucketcurrent.com/news/photo-gal…

Rollover accident on Orange Street/Daves Street. Two people in the vehicle, one person transported to the hospital. Injuries don’t appear to be serious. Glass and debris all over the road. Also a down, live wire on the side of the roadway. National Grid has been called to the scene to address it.

It is officially Daffodil Weekend on Nantucket, and we don’t think there is anyone on the island more excited for all of the festivities than Mike Felger is ahead of the Saturday antique car parade. Don’t get too excited Mike!

The Nantucket Serengeti is alive and well after welcoming some new arrivals Thursday morning! Three dinosaurs, made by the students in the Nantucket High School’s woodworking class taught by NHS wood shop teacher Mike Girvin, have officially found their home in the Serengeti. They were painted by students in Melissa Cristo’s High School art class. “We do something for the Conservation Foundation every year but Ms. Christo and her Art Classes took this to the highest level ever,” Mike Girvin said in a post last week. Photo courtesy of the Nantucket Conservation Foundation (@ackconservation) and Girvin (@nhsworkshop).

Coast Guard Station Brant Point and the Harbormaster’s office responded to a barge that capsized in the water Monday afternoon with two people on board. Master Chief John Lowell told the Current both people were pulled from the water and rescued, and that no one is missing. “We responded,” Lowell said. “We were heading out for training and the barge happened to capsize right in front of us. Luckily our crew was right here and were able to grab both of the people from the water. All safe and no one missing, thankfully!” The rescue came just hours after the Coast Guard completed their annual tradition of hanging the daffodil wreath on the Brant Point Lighthouse