Martha's Vineyard James Kinsella

Steamship Authority Weathers Changes Through Long Year

James Kinsella | Thursday, December 30 2004 - 7:00pm

Steamship Authority Weathers Changes Through Long Year

By JAMES KINSELLA

As 2004 got under way at the Steamship Authority, there was some question about whether there would be a Steamship Authority in the future.

In mid-January Nantucket governor Grace Grossman confirmed that she had been exploring since the previous summer whether that island should secede from the boat line, an entity created by the state in 1960 to ensure reliable, affordable ferry travel between Martha's Vineyard, Nantucket and the mainland.

Sentencing Is Near in Map Theft Case

James Kinsella

Sentencing Is Near in Map Theft Case

By JAMES KINSELLA

Federal authorities have asked that E. Forbes Smiley 3rd of Chilmark serve more than four years in prison and be fined at least $10,000 for stealing a rare 1578 map.

U.S. Attorney Kevin O'Connor said that although the court should take Mr. Smiley's cooperation into account when sentencing the felon next Wednesday, the court should not depart from standard sentencing guidelines.

Boat Line Fares Set to Go Up

James Kinsella

Boat Line Fares Set to Go Up

Steamship Authority Governors Review $78 Million Budget; Managers Say Tariff Hike Needed to Cover Costs

By JAMES KINSELLA
Gazette Senior Writer

Passenger fares are expected to rise more than eight per cent on the Martha's Vineyard route under a set of across-the-board rate hikes proposed Tuesday by Steamship Authority managers.

Victim in Theft, British Library Pushes for Tougher Sentence

James Kinsella

Victim in Theft, British Library Pushes for Tougher Sentence

By JAMES KINSELLA

The British Library, one of the institutions victimized by rare-map thief E. Forbes Smiley 3rd of Chilmark, has urged the court to increase the severity of his pending sentence.

The library, whose 1520 Apian world map was stolen by Mr. Smiley, has called on U.S. District Judge Janet Arterton to sentence him to 78 to 97 months in prison. The government and the defense have agreed that his sentence should range from 57 to 71 months.

Boat Line Receives No Offers to Purchase Ferry Flying Cloud

James Kinsella

Not one taker stepped forward Wednesday to put in a bid on the Steamship Authority's high-speed ferry, the Flying Cloud.

The lack of interest in the vessel, for which the boat line hoped to obtain at least $5 million, is the latest chapter in the Flying Cloud's mostly troubled six-year history at the boat line. The SSA paid $8 million for the ferry in 2000.

Steamship Authority Considers Increasing Rates on All Fares

James Kinsella

Steamship Authority Considers Increasing Rates on All Fares

By JAMES KINSELLA
Gazette Senior Writer

Steamship Authority managers plan to recommend across-the-board rate increases of about five per cent for the coming year.

State Primary Is Tuesday; Polls Open Until Evening

James Kinsella

State Primary Is Tuesday; Polls Open Until Evening

By JAMES KINSELLA

The key prelude to the state election in November arrives Tuesday with the Democratic and Republican party primaries. Polls will be open in each of the Vineyard towns from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.