Junk Cars Spur Town Reaction

Edgartown Cites the Hall Family For Zoning and Health Code Violations; Officials Hope Will Lead to Final Cleanup

By MANDY LOCKE

Eight months after a dangerous brush fire pushed cleanup of an illegal car dump to the top of Edgartown's priority list, officials finally lost patience with the property owners - formally citing the Benjamin Hall Sr. family this week for flagrant zoning and health code violations.

Seven minutes before midnight Tuesday, Edgartown town meeting voters wrapped up a long list of business - supporting a $19 million operating budget and killing proposed house-size caps on Chappaquiddick.

But the night's liveliest debates for those in the crowded pews at the Old Whaling Church, and perhaps the most interesting result of the week, centered around a funding request to hire a housing inspector to license the town's 1,500 rental properties.

Bottle Message Links Pen Pals Across Atlantic

By MANDY LOCKE

Ten-year-old Dylan Rice has a new pen pal.

This Edgartown school student wasn't exactly looking for an extra hobby; he's pretty busy with school, Cub Scouts and the FARM Institute. But ever since 17-year-old Juan Braìs Garcia Liz had the courtesy to respond to Dylan's message in a bottle, this Vineyard student has been paying extra attention in Spanish class.

Edgartown Overrides Appear on Ballot

By MANDY LOCKE

Scores of pocketbook-pinching articles and a few tough zoning questions face Edgartown citizens Tuesday at the annual town meeting at 7:30 p.m. in the Old Whaling Church.

Voters will be asked to approve a $19-million operating budget - swallowing a $707,000 general override to cover a five-and-a-half per cent increase in town operations.

Questions of house size caps in certain neighborhoods - a hot topic - come at the end of the 74-article warrant.

Edgartown Grants Land Owner Choice on House Size Plan

By MANDY LOCKE

The Edgartown conservation commission Wednesday night drew a line in the sand - forcing an Edgartown Great Pond property owner to reduce his house proposal or take his case to the Martha's Vineyard Commission.

Iraq Countdown Separates Young Vineyard Family

By MANDY LOCKE

Seventeen hours before Jared Meader joined his comrades in Western Massachusetts, he sipped a whiskey sour, chatted with his buddies from the sheriff's department and helped his daughter, Hailey, grab a Cheeto just beyond the reach of her two-year-old arms.