The domino effect of a few 2006 property sales that have doubled some assessments and taxes in two West Tisbury neighborhoods are simply part of a trend toward sharply increasing values on waterfront and high-end properties, the town principal assessor said this week.

A number of Tisbury Great Pond and Seven Gates Farm homeowners are in the eye of the tax bill storm, while other West Tisbury tax bills have increased moderately, are unchanged or even lower than in 2007.

Chilmark selectmen last week expressed reluctance to join a lawsuit filed recently by the town of Tisbury intended to challenge the state-imposed formula for funding the regional high school.

Selectmen received a press release from the town of Tisbury explaining the lawsuit, which was filed in Dukes County Superior Court two weeks ago. The release invited other Island towns to take part in the complaint.

Oak Bluffs selectmen on Tuesday said goodbye to a pair of longtime business owners with a combined 70 years of experience as they approved the transfer of licenses for the Ritz Café on Circuit avenue and King’s Rentals on Circuit avenue extension to new owners.

In a busy meeting, selectmen also heard plans for the dredging of a new channel in Sengekontacket Pond that could vastly improve that waterway’s tidal flow and approved a contract for town administrator Michael Dutton a full 18 months after he was hired.

With little fanfare, the Martha’s Vineyard Commission on Jan. 17 unanimously approved a $1.3 million operating budget for the fiscal year starting July 1.

The budget represents a 4.3 per cent increase in spending over last year; town assessments will go up 3.5 per cent overall.

A majority of the commission’s income comes from the assessments, which are calculated using a formula based on equalized valuations.

Dean’s List

Jacqueline Panek of Vineyard Haven made the dean’s list at Nichols College in Dudley for the fall 2007 semester.

West Tisbury Library

Receives Generous Gift

Summer resident Betty Franklin has donated $50,000 to the Friends of the West Tisbury Library, one of the largest gifts ever made on behalf of the library.

Susan Wasserman, president of the Friends, announced the gift at a joint meeting of the library trustees and the Friends on Jan. 17.