Terrorism War Poses Risk for Island Charities

By MANDY LOCKE

As American spending habits are tempered this fall by a soft economy and the recent outpouring of generosity to new national causes, leaders of Island charities and nonprofit organizations cross their fingers that donors will continue to reach deep into their pockets to provide for the ongoing needs of the Vineyard community.

Island Escapes Deep Cuts In Aid to Towns, Schools

By MANDY LOCKE

On the last day of the session, state legislators finally approved a five-month overdue budget slated to trim $650 million from the commonwealth's spending. But the sweeping cuts in the $22.25 billion state budget did not dip drastically into local Vineyard aid for towns and schools.

"It could have been worse," said Cape and Islands Rep. Eric T. Turkington Wednesday morning, after having studied the budget proposal for less than a day.

Tribal Chairman Wins Election with Plurality

By JOSHUA SABATINI

The three-way race for chairman of the Wampanoag tribal council concluded Sunday afternoon with the tribe re-electing incumbent Beverly Wright.

Mrs. Wright will serve a fourth consecutive three-year term. After her victory, Mrs. Wright spoke with the Gazette about her plans for the future.

Mrs. Wright said she wants to create a better communication with the surrounding Island towns and residents of Martha's Vineyard.

By a heavy majority, Chilmark voters this week approved plans to expand and renovate their public library. At a Monday night special town meeting, more than 300 voters filled the Community Center to overflowing and strongly backed the project.

Hospital Nurses Union Takes Its Case to Island Community

By JULIA WELLS

Nurses at the Martha's Vineyard Hospital this week fired back at chief executive officer Kevin Burchill, charging that he has forced them into a bitter contract dispute that, left unresolved, could spell the end of high-quality nursing at the Island's only hospital. The nurses also said they will now take their case into the Vineyard community in a public appeal for support.

Forget the season behind them; forget the playoffs ahead.