The streets were packed with people sporting Jaws merchandise, Richard Dreyfuss, who played the oceanographic institute scientist Matt Hooper, held court with fans, and just about any way visitors turned, the black eyes of Bruce the shark loomed. 

Dating back to the late 1870s, the Dragonfly House was owned by a staunch abolitionist before becoming a home known for accommodating Black visitors to the Island.

The drum and bugle corps is on screen for just a few seconds in Jaws, reminding the audience that the height of summer is near. But for the Island kids in that band, the scene lasts a lifetime.

The Jaws 50th celebration officially gets underway this weekend, but Island businesses have been hard at work in the preceding months gearing up with merchandise tied to the iconic film.

After 21 years, the Martha's Vineyard Youth Task Force continues to hone its original mission as a holistic approach to addressing substance use and other concerns for Island youth.

The state office of housing and livable communities announced the funding on Monday, granting $2.1 million to the project on Bellevue avenue.