Mr. Turkington Lands a Chairmanship

By JAMES KINSELLA

Marking the first time in eight years that a Cape and Islands representative has taken a committee chairmanship, Rep. Eric T. Turkington on Monday was named House chairman of the newly formed Committee on Tourism, Arts and Cultural Development.

The appointment by House Speaker Salvatore F. DiMasi places the nine-term representative for the Island in a position of power to influence important Island endeavors such as tourism and the arts.

Boat Line Board Goes Forward with Oak Bluffs Wharf Project

By JAMES KINSELLA

Revised plans for the reconstruction of the Oak Bluffs Steamship Authority terminal have won the backing of Vineyard SSA governor Marc Hanover.

"I think it looks great," said Mr. Hanover, a resident of Oak Bluffs as well as chairman of the boat line board, of the $10 million proposal to rebuild the wharf near the North Bluff section of downtown. At the monthly boat line meeting in Woods Hole yesterday, Mr. Hanover said the new terminal will be a welcome enhancement.

The Vineyard Gazette won the George A. Speers Newspaper of the Year award for 2004 last weekend at the annual New England Press Association winter convention in Boston. The coveted honor was given to five newspapers in five separate circulation categories this year, including two weeklies, one alternative weekly and two small dailies.

The Gazette has won the award seven times since 1990.

Since last fall Estelle T. Burnham has had a new friend, a companion in hard times. Confined to a wheelchair, Ms.

Aquinnah Town Leaders Scramble Anew for Fresh Revenues to Replace Shortfall

By MAX HART

Aquinnah selectmen learned this week that the town now faces another financial dilemma: a $25,000 budget shortfall for fiscal year 2005.

Wastewater Board Explains Mercury Mishap

By JAMES KINSELLA

The Oak Bluffs wastewater commission declared this week that the mercury exposure incident at the town treatment plant is no cause for public alarm and is being handled responsibly by plant superintendent Joseph Alosso.

"We are on top of this thing," said commission chairman John Leite 3rd. "Our manager has been on top of it. We don't micromanage. We give him latitude to run the plan. He has called us every step of the way. We are going to solve this problem, if it exists."