West Tisbury Annual Town Meeting Decides to Remain in School District

By JULIA WELLS

The people of West Tisbury refused to pull out of the Up-Island Regional School District, axed a plan for a gate at the entrance to town beach and cheered their resident historian and Pulitzer Prize winner this week at an annual town meeting that was in many ways an example of democracy straight up.

"I have stood here for years wearing many hats, and tonight I wear my favorite hat of all - it just says citizen," declared Jeffrey (Skipper) Manter.

MVC Comes Under Fire; Leaders Assess the Future

By JULIA WELLS
Gazette Senior Writer

For the first time in years, one Vineyard town has decided to take steps to withdraw from the Martha's Vineyard Commission, leaving the 25-year-old regional planning agency with a new set of quandaries and new battles to fight. On the surface it appears that the commission is under siege on a variety of fronts, both inside and out.

New Boat Line CEO Launches Hopeful Era After Contract Pact

By JULIA WELLS

Calling it an investment in the lifeline to the Islands, Steamship Authority governors announced this week that they had signed a six-year, six-figure deal with a veteran marine transport executive to take over the top management post at the public boat line.

Fred C. Raskin will start work on Monday morning as the chief executive officer of the SSA.

SSA Bill Issued by Committee

Joint Committee on Transportation Releases Revised Version of Bill with Changes to Makeup of Boatline Board

By JULIA WELLS

A legislative bill to reorganize the Steamship Authority board of governors emerged from the Joint Committee on Transportation this week, markedly changed and reshaped to put more distance between New Bedford and the public boat line that is the lifeline to the two Islands.

Triage, Not Planning, at Island Hospital

By JULIA WELLS
Gazette Senior Writer

The wreckage now includes one chief executive officer, two good doctors and a dozen Nightingales.

Hospital Board Addresses Forum as CEO Resigns

By JULIA WELLS
Gazette Senior Writer

Quoting legendary college basketball coach John Wooden and expressing pride at his own accomplishments, Kevin Burchill, the embattled chief executive officer at the Martha's Vineyard Hospital, announced last weekend that he will resign.

"This will offer the hospital the best possible options to move forward - for everyone," Mr. Burchill said in a prepared statement read at the outset of a community forum on hospital affairs.