At an emotionally charged public hearing Wednesday night, over 100 teachers, students, parents and citizens turned out in force to protest proposed budget cuts to the Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School drama and music programs.

“What I learned shaped me as person,” said a teary-eyed Lydia Fisher, a Minnesinger currently in her senior year, of her time in the performing arts programs. “I wasn’t excelling in academics — and to wake up with a song in my head . . . it’s incredible.”

None of the houses on North Water street in Edgartown are small. But tucked among the old whaling captains’ homes, with their broad lawns stretching down to private docks on the outer harbor is a comparatively diminutive Greek revival building known as the library. The fate of this home has hung in the balance since September, when plans for its demolition were first presented to the Edgartown historic district commission in the wake of strong neighborhood opposition to the project.

A leading opponent is neighbor John Connors.

Two leading Island recreational fishing organizations have called on the state Division of Marine Fisheries to end the controversial practice known as yo-yoing, which laces bait fish with lead that ends up in the bellies of striped bass.