The flakes falling around Scott Hershowitz's leather boots look like snow. But this is September, and Mr. Hershowitz is sweating like crazy, the droplets sliding down his nose and off his chin.

Oak Bluffs selectmen gave the official go-ahead to the Island's first roundabout this week, awarding a $40,000 design contract for the traffic circle to an engineering and architecture firm in Stoneham.

Housing Committee Vetoes Restrictions

Oak Bluffs Resident Homesite Group Seeks Fewer Controls on Youth Lots, Uncorking a Fresh Controversy

By CHRIS BURRELL

The Dukes County Regional Housing Authority raised serious questions yesterday about a proposal in Oak Bluffs to ease restrictions on the resale of past and future resident homesite lots.

Low enrollment numbers coupled with strict state guidelines have forced the Martha's Vineyard Adult Learning Partnership to scrap its general education diploma (GED) classes which typically start up in September.

The decision leaves the Vineyard with no option for people needing preparation for the high school equivalency diploma - unless you're an inmate at the county jail.

Martha's Vineyard Regional High School committee members voted extra salary hikes this week for seven top Vineyard school administrators and high-level staff, but on the other end of the scale 170 teaching assistants, custodians, secretaries and lunchroom workers are still working without any raises over last year's pay.

Despite vocal protests and the lack of even one voice in favor of the project, Oak Bluffs selectmen say they are forging ahead with plans to construct a traffic roundabout at one of the Island's busiest intersections.

A single-lane traffic circle, the roundabout would replace the four-way stop signs installed more than a year ago at the junction between Barnes Road and the Edgartown-Vineyard Haven Road, a major east-west artery.