Nantucket Inquirer and Mirror

Hundreds gathered at Children’s Beach this morning for the annual cold turkey plunge. The plunge is hosted by the Nantucket Atheneum and supports the library and its various community programs. 🥶❄️🧊 Happy Thanksgiving!!!

Sperm whale tugged off Nantucket's north shore (Nov. 25, 2025) The end of the dead sperm whale saga was reached late last week when one of Trevor Barrett’s excavators and a Robert B. Our tugboat were used

The dead sperm whale found on Nantucket’s north shore has been relocated after days in the surf. Marine officials are now evaluating next steps and what may have caused its death.

For updates, check our live coverage: www.ack.net/news/sperm-w...

NHS senior found her footing on the football field (Nov. 13, 2025) Up until eighth grade, Nantucket High School senior Ashley Klatt wanted to be a cheerleader with her twin sister Katie.

Finding your place in high school isn’t easy, but for one Nantucket High School senior, joining the football team helped her discover confidence, community, and a sense of belonging.

Read Ashley’s story here: www.ack.net/news/nhs-sen...

Hurricane Melissa’s devastation in Jamaica felt deeply on Nantucket (Nov. 5, 2025) When Hurricane Melissa, a powerful Category 5 storm and one of the strongest ever to make landfall in the Atlantic, tore across Jamaica last week, its devastation

As Jamaica recovers from Hurricane Melissa, Nantucket’s Jamaican community feels the impact and is stepping up to support loved ones back home.

Story: www.ack.net/news/hurrica...

Voters approve unrestricted short-term rentals, after years of debate (Nov. 4, 2025) After years of heated debate, islanders voted decisively Tuesday to allow short-term vacation rentals without restriction, resolving the legal uncertainty that has loomed over the pract...

After years of heated debate, Nantucket has finally made a decision on the fate of short term renting on the island. 🏡🏡🏡

The island voted to approve unrestricted rentals, a turning point in the Nantucket housing and renting debate.

More details on the decision: www.ack.net/business/vot...

Photo Gallery: Halloween in downtown Nantucket (Nov. 1, 2025) Main Street was packed with costumed islanders Friday evening for The Inquirer and Mirror's annual Halloween parade, costume and pumpkin-carving contests, and trick-or-treating.

ICYMI Check out our photo gallery from the Halloween Costume Parade on Friday! 🎃👻🕸️🕷️

We loved seeing all your amazingly creative costumes!

www.ack.net/photo-galler...

Cisco homeowner accused of cutting neighbor's trees has charges dropped Editor's Note: An earlier version of this story said the civil case was dropped, it has been transferred to a different court.

Charges have been dropped against the Cisco homeowner accused of getting down his neighbor’s trees without permission. The police investigation determined the defendant “knowingly and willingly” trespassed and damaged the property. A civil case is still ongoing.

www.ack.net/news/cisco-h...

Nantucket real estate hits new highs – but not for everyone (Oct. 23, 2025) Nantucket’s real estate market topped $1 billion in annual sales in September, weeks ahead of last year’s pace.

Nantucket real estate sales have soared to record highs — but not everyone is celebrating. Local agents say affordability remains out of reach for most islanders and increased volume of “big ticket” houses may be inflating the market.

Full story: www.ack.net/business/nan...

If it’s on Nantucket, we cover it! 🗞️🗞️ Go to ack.net/subscribe to learn more about how YOU can get Nantucket’s trusted news source in your hands.

"No Kings" protest on Nantucket draws hundreds downtown (Oct. 18, 2025) An estimated 850 people blocked a portion of Main Street Saturday afternoon, taking part in another "No Kings" protest against Donald Trump and his administration.

Nearly 1,000 people gathered in Downtown Nantucket for the “No Kings” protest this weekend. The protest on island was one of many that happened across the country.

Read more: www.ack.net/news/no-king...

Divided boards latest indication of short-term-rental rift (Oct. 16, 2025) Eight hours of public debate split between the Planning Board and Finance Committee last Thursday and Friday underscored what most islanders already know: Nantucket’s long-running, oft...

As tourist towns everywhere wrestle with housing and short-term rentals, Nantucket’s debate is heating up. Two town boards are split on what’s best for the island as we approach the Nov. 4 Town Meeting.

Full story: www.ack.net/housing-cris...

Land Bank, Nourish Nantucket, Food Pantry to partner on Boynton Lane purchase (Oct. 16, 2025) The Nantucket Land Bank is partnering with Nourish Nantucket and the Nantucket Food Pantry to purchase a Boynton Lane property intended to serve as a shared hub

Good news for Nantucket! The island’s food pantry, which recently lost its space, has found a new home. The Food Pantry, Land Bank, and Nourish Nantucket are teaming up to buy a property on Boynton Lane — a move that will ensure greater food security on island. 🥦🥕🍅

www.ack.net/news/land-ba...

MCAS results still lagging behind pre-pandemic numbers (Oct. 9, 2025) MCAS scores for the Nantucket Public Schools are still lagging far behind pre-pandemic levels. But with the statewide standardized test no longer required for graduation, some educators

MCAS scores on Nantucket remain below pre-pandemic levels, mirroring a statewide trend that could potentially take years to reverse.

Full story 🗞️🗞️🗞️: www.ack.net/education/mc...

The Harvest Moon over Nantucket Monday night 🌕🌕🌕 nights like these remind us why this island is so magical ✨✨

Concerns raised about risks of high-powered e-bikes on-island (Oct. 2, 2025) Town officials are growing increasingly concerned e-bikes are getting out of control.

As e-bikes get faster and more powerful, towns everywhere are debating how to keep roads and paths safe.

On Nantucket, police are warning that high-powered models are creating new risks for riders and pedestrians alike. 🚲⚡️

Full story: www.ack.net/crime-courts...

Unresponsive paddle boarder pulled from Polpis Harbor (Oct. 1, 2025) An unresponsive man was pulled from Polpis Harbor Wednesday evening after authorities responded to the area for reports of a missing paddle boarder.

A paddle boarder was found unresponsive in Polpis Harbor. Members of Coast Guard Station Brant Point and the Nantucket Harbormaster responded to the scene around 3:30 p.m. Wednesday. The condition of the paddle boarder is unknown at this time.

Check here for updates: www.ack.net/unresponsive...

High school motivational speaker’s social media accounts full of gender bias (Sept. 30, 2025) School officials were prompted Monday to explain themselves after it was revealed a motivational speaker who took the stage at Nantucket High School Friday espouses controversial beli...

Nantucket High School brought in a motivational speaker to inspire students. Instead, students and parents discovered his social media was full of misogynistic and gender-biased content — sparking debate over how schools vet outside speakers.

Read more: www.ack.net/education/hi...

Proud moment for the Inquirer and Mirror 🎉 The Inky was honored with the Distinguished Newspaper award at the New England Newspaper & Press Association conference, recognizing excellence in journalism across the region. 📰💙

Read more here: www.ack.net/business/i-m...

Last night, the Nantucket Chamber of Commerce held their annual membership awards. Congrats to the winners! 🏆🏆

- St. Paul’s Episcopal Church
- Bill Hoenk Photography
- 97.7 ACK FM
- Cisco Brewers
- Nantucket Golf Club
- Nantucket Pharmacy

Two STR articles likely at November Town Meeting (Sept. 24,2025) It appears there will be a Special Town Meeting this fall on short-term rentals after all.

It appears there will be a Special Town Meeting this fall on short-term rentals after all… 🏡🏡🏡

Read the full story here:
www.ack.net/news/two-str...

“60 Minutes” chronicles efforts to combat Lyme disease with genetically-modified mice (Sept. 20, 2025) For the past five-plus years, researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology have been working with genetically-modified mice in an attempt to find ways to combat Lyme

Nantucket residents and Lyme Disease researchers featured on “60 Minutes” @60minutes.bsky.social this week. www.ack.net/health-care/...

Land Bank considering new tool to reduce deer herd (Sept. 11, 2025) The state’s new “deer damage permit” program could become a powerful tool for large landowners confronting Nantucket’s deer problem, offering more options than the regular hunting sea...

Land Bank considering new tool to reduce deer herd www.ack.net/conservation...

SSA proposing fare hikes for next year (Sept. 10, 2025) The Steamship Authority is proposing another round of fare hikes to cover an expected increase in operational costs next year, and for the first time since 2021,

SSA proposing fare hikes for next year www.ack.net/news/ssa-pro...

Wind industry strikes back: Ørsted sues to overturn stop-work order The battle between the Trump administration and the offshore wind industry is heating up.

Wind industry strikes back: Ørsted sues to overturn stop-work order www.ack.net/news/wind-in...

Laura Gallagher Byrne forms new youth stage company Laura Gallagher Byrne’s name has been synonymous with youth theater on the island for decades, so it only made sense that she announced the formation of her own nonprofit stage

Laura Gallagher Byrne forms new youth stage company www.ack.net/arts-and-ent...

Transfer fee pitched as missing link in housing approach www.ack.net/housing-cris...

Ignoring feds, Massachusetts will ensure access to vaccines (Sept. 6, 2025) Massachusetts will require insurance companies to cover vaccinations for all state residents, no matter what the Trump administration recommends, Gov. Maura Healey said Thursday.

Ignoring feds, Massachusetts will ensure access to vaccines www.ack.net/health-care/...

Water restrictions tighten as island faces long road out of drought www.ack.net/news/water-r...

Planning Board rejects doctor's proposed Naushop office www.ack.net/health-care/...

Another buoy lifted off Great Point www.ack.net/news/another...