West Tisbury Annual Town Meeting Decides to Remain in School District

By JULIA WELLS

The people of West Tisbury refused to pull out of the Up-Island Regional School District, axed a plan for a gate at the entrance to town beach and cheered their resident historian and Pulitzer Prize winner this week at an annual town meeting that was in many ways an example of democracy straight up.

"I have stood here for years wearing many hats, and tonight I wear my favorite hat of all - it just says citizen," declared Jeffrey (Skipper) Manter.

In a marathon annual town meeting, Edgartown residents voted down the Martha's Vineyard Commission's designation of Chappaquiddick as a district of critical planning concern (DCPC).

Voting 195 to 134 not to establish the boundaries of the Chappaquiddick district, the town eliminated the district designation in one fell swoop.

Oak Bluffs voters swept their incumbent leaders back into office yesterday, giving both Richard Combra and Michael Dutton fresh three-year terms on the board of selectmen.

A skateboard park, a new $3.8 million library and locker rooms for the ice arena - Oak Bluffs voters this week gave all three a resounding hurrah, affirming a commitment to Island youth and the literacy of their townspeople.

Fred C. Raskin: Meet New Head of the Boatline

By JULIA WELLS
Gazette Senior Writer

Two days on the job - actually not even two days - and already the message slips have begun to litter the desk like fallen leaves.

MVC Approves Plan to Rebuild Old Inn After Main Street Fire

By JULIA WELLS

Acting with record speed and expressing open compassion regarding the tragic fire that destroyed a historic hotel at the head of Main street in Vineyard Haven four months ago, the Martha's Vineyard Commission voted last week to approve a plan to rebuild the Tisbury Inn.