Dropout Rate Sees a Decline

State Report Reveals Vineyard Students Are Staying in School; Strong Network of Support Cited as a Key Factor

By RACHEL KOVAC

The student dropout rate at the Martha's Vineyard Regional High School has been steadily declining over the past five years and now stands at just 1.7 per cent, compared with the state average of 3.7 per cent.

Engineering Report Targets Bridge Safety

By MAX HART

The committee charged with studying the replacement of the Lagoon Pond drawbridge approved an engineering consultant's report on the condition of the bridge this week, but the central question of whether to replace the bridge in two phases or one remains unresolved.

Biga Bakery Is Leavened with Much Friendship

By IAN FEIN

During the most of their nine years together at Biga Bakery, owners Beth Kramer and Douglas Reid, who are married, rarely saw each other.

Ms. Kramer would work through the night - putting in more than 15 hours to bake as many as 1,000 loaves per night - while Mr. Reid would spend 14 hours behind the Biga counter during the day, cooking countless breakfast sandwiches.

More than a year after the Tisbury planning board first floated its ambitious proposal to link State and Edgartown-Vineyard Haven roads, voters this week endorsed the layout for a connecting system of streets that would ease congestion on the heavily trafficked corridors.

Biga Bakery Will Be Sold to Fella and Jane Cecilio

By IAN FEIN

After fulfilling Island residents with its signature bread, fresh coffee and famous breakfast sandwiches for almost a decade, Biga Bakery next week will close its doors for good.

Owners Beth Kramer and Douglas Reid are selling the West Tisbury landmark and business to Jane and Fella Cecilio of Vineyard Haven.

Caroline B. Kennedy yesterday filed a family subdivision plan to create six building lots on the stunningly beautiful and secluded 375-acre property in the township of Aquinnah that she inherited from her mother, the late Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis.