The sapping humidity that plagued the Island for much of August washed away with last week's heavy rain. Friday broke clear and crisp for the home opener of the high school fall sports season. Four minutes into the soccer game that afternoon, striker Lucas Brewer found the net, all the boys' varsity team needed in their 1-0 victory over Sandwich.

Saturday's 26th annual George Moffett Race in Vineyard Sound was a tough sailing contest. A fleet of 64 sailboats started, but only 28 were able to finish. It wasn't that the weather was horrific. Hugh Schwarz, the co-organizer of the race, said that light winds were the challenge this year.

Duel Goes on in Woodlands

Planning Commission Hearing Is Closed, While the Developer Continues to Press Case on Multiple Fronts

By JULIA WELLS
Gazette Senior Writer

The gavel came down one more time late last week and a public hearing was closed on a plan to build 320 homes in the last unbroken stretch of oak and pine forest in Oak Bluffs.

Fabian, the season's worst hurricane so far, is expected to pass far out to sea this weekend, to the relief of many Vineyarders. The threat of an approaching big storm and a summer of gray skies kept weather in the fore as a topic this week.

Wednesday, Sept. 3: Freshman Orientation Day at Martha's Vineyard Regional High School. It is gray and oppressive outside, the dark sky a harbinger of later months, when yellow buses will gather the Island's teenagers from street corners and the ends of dirt roads before sun-up.

Last week, weather like this would have been a tragedy. But this morning, it's a comfort to the ninth graders: whatever their fate within these walls, no one is missing a beach day.

Fast Ferry Deal Set, Ending a Long Path

Dockage and Parking Agreements Part of the Package that Will Establish New Service Starting Next Spring

By JULIA WELLS
Gazette Senior Writer

The high-speed ferry deal is done - or almost done.

Final agreements were signed this week that are now expected to clear the way for high-speed passenger service between New Bedford and the Vineyard beginning next summer.