To protect a large group of coastal birds nesting on Norton Point Beach, The Trustees of Reservations have closed the stretch of barrier beach betw

Public school came to a screeching halt last week - tests and final projects one day, sweet freedom the next. But at least 16 Island youths will merely slow their studies, instead of stopping altogether. Some may not even acknowledge the two-and-half-month academic bump in the road called summer vacation.

Decision Set for Today in Graham Tax Case

By IAN FEIN

The Massachusetts Appellate Tax Board is expected to rule this morning in favor of the town of West Tisbury and against resident William W. Graham in a property tax appeal that began three years ago and has attracted attention across the commonwealth and beyond.

Commission Decides to Review Chilmark Girl Scout Camp Plan

By IAN FEIN

The Martha's Vineyard Commission last week voted to review as a development of regional impact (DRI) a plan to demolish and expand a Chilmark summer camp owned by the regional council of the Girl Scouts of America.

The commission considered the project on Thursday after a rare discretionary referral by the Chilmark selectmen. The two commission members from Chilmark said the regional planning agency should grant a review any time it is requested by a town board of selectmen.

The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has found elevated levels of lead in two samples of the Edgartown water supply, a violation of state clean drinking water standards.

The violation forces the Edgartown water department to perform additional testing on the public water supply and to inform the public of the violation. An advertisement alerting residents to the violation and paid for by the town appears in today's edition of the Gazette.

Boat Line Considers Merchandise Sales

By JAMES KINSELLA
Gazette Senior Writer

The elusive Holy Grail of supplemental Steamship Authority revenue - the marketing of Authority cups, glasses, T-shirts and other marine-related items - reappeared Tuesday at the monthly boat line meeting in Oak Bluffs.

Nantucket governor Flint Ranney proposed issuing a request for proposals to market Authority-branded items.

"I think we're missing the boat," Mr. Ranney said about the SSA's mostly nonexistent efforts.