Middle Line Worries Center on Funding, Potential Conflicts

By MARK ALAN LOVEWELL

The Chilmark selectmen this week took up an array of concerns relating to the Island Housing Trust's bid to build the town-sponsored Middle Line Road affordable housing project.

Among the legal questions under discussion were those relating to potential conflicts of interest for a number of people involved, and also relating to the proper use of Community Preservation Act (CPA) funds to build the project.

The Steamship Authority continued to make money last year, though not as much as boat line managers anticipated.

Amid the stacks of DVDs and under the piles of papers, press photos and programs, the sixth annual Martha's Vineyard Independent Film Festival is coming together.

Slowly.

"This is the crunch time, for sure," festival founder and director Thomas Bena says one afternoon last week from the festival headquarters in North Tisbury. "We still have a lot to do."

An increase in the number of primary care physicians employed at the Martha's Vineyard Community Hospital is improving its financial performance, according to the chief executive officer.

Housing Bank Plan Wins Key Legislative Support

By IAN FEIN

The proposed Martha's Vineyard Housing Bank picked up key support on Beacon Hill this week, where the legislative committee that reviewed the bill this winter voted unanimously to award it a favorable recommendation.

After years of planning, discussion and often heated debate, the Oak Bluffs conservation commission Tuesday unanimously endorsed the $10 million Steamship Authority plan to expand and improve the ferry terminal on Sea View avenue.

Commission members voted 4-0 to approve an order of conditions, which is the permit required under the Massachusetts wetlands protection act and the town wetlands bylaw.