Lanny McDowell took a break from painting in 2007 to focus on his bird photography, which appears in a variety of publications and videos. One can often find his work accompanying the bird column or other articles in the Gazette. His photographs also stand alone and are in private collections around the country.

The new Coast Guard boathouse, designed to withstand fires and 100-year floods, is up and expected to be done by December. Two stone jetties are set to be replaced by the Army Corps of Engineers this winter. Selectmen toured Menemsha this week to see the work firsthand.

A complicated housing proposal in Oak Bluffs received a preliminary nod from the Martha’s Vineyard Commission last week. The plan calls for building for 25 housing units on 32.5 acres off Barnes Road. Nitrogen loading in the Lagoon is the biggest stumbling block.

Mark London quietly announced at the end of a commission meeting Thursday night that he would retire by the end of next summer. Mr. London has been executive director of the commission for the past 12 years.

People and pets around the Island may have found themselves enjoying an evening hike or backyard barbecue a little more than usual this summer. Without much rainfall, there were hardly any mosquitoes on the Vineyard.

The Vineyard has led the way when it comes to taking a regional approach on Community Preservation Act spending. That was the message from Stuart Saginor, executive director of the Community Preservation Coalition, when officials and residents gathered in Oak Bluffs on Tuesday to brainstorm ways for the six Island towns to more effectively share state funding for capital projects.