Oak Bluffs Police Seize Man, Shotgun

By JULIA WELLS

A 17-year-old New Bedford man spent the holiday weekend in the Edgartown house of correction after he was found by the Oak Bluffs police with a stolen, loaded sawed-off shotgun in his backpack and an open bottle of cognac in his hand.

Justin Barry was arrested and charged with a long list of weapons and alcohol violations. Arraignment was set for yesterday morning in Edgartown district court.

The incident took place behind Jim's Package Store in Oak Bluffs just after 9:30 p.m. on July 4.

The Aquinnah selectmen heard a distinct plea from their up-Island neighbors this week to formally appeal the recent superior court decision that found the Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah) cannot be sued because of sovereign immunity.

Once More Before the Court: Power of the Commission

By JULIA WELLS

The unique power of the Martha's Vineyard Commission to review low and moderate income housing projects under Chapter 40B, a section of state law commonly known as the anti-snob zoning statute, will come under scrutiny again later this month in the Massachusetts Land Court.

Aquinnah Case in Towns' Eye

Up-Island Selectmen Will Meet; Neighbors Support an Appeal of Ruling That Favored Tribe on Zoning

By JULIA WELLS
Gazette Senior Writer

The town of Aquinnah will join the Gay Head Taxpayers Association in asking a superior court judge for reconsideration of his recent decision in favor of the Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah).

Although the Aquinnah selectmen have agreed to join the move to reconsider, they have not yet decided whether to take the next step and appeal.

Developers Bring Their Housing Plan Back to Commission

By JULIA WELLS

Alternately cracking shrill jokes and smacking the table with his hand, a Bolton housing developer last night unveiled a new version of a plan to build 320 homes on the southern woodlands property once planned as the site for the Down Island Golf Club.

Brian Lafferty, who works for property owner and would-be golf club developer Corey Kupersmith, wasted little time before throwing down the gauntlet in front of the Martha's Vineyard Commission.

Boat Line Faces Decline in Revenues; High-Speed Service Meets Legal Snag

By JULIA WELLS
Gazette Senior Writer

The plan to run high-speed ferry service between New Bedford and the Vineyard hit a major snag this week when Steamship Authority managers learned that they may run afoul of the Pacheco Act, the state anti-privatization law.