Island Veterans Groups Withering Away

By MARK ALAN LOVEWELL

Vineyard veterans are disappearing. Membership in all three of the prominent Island veterans' organizations is at its lowest in decades.

The bluefish are in. For at least one fisherman, the arrival was like an old-fashioned Wasque bluefish blitz.

On Monday, Ed Amaral drove to Chappaquiddick to get his line wet and perhaps catch the first bluefish of the season. While he didn't get the first one, he certainly got more than he expected.

The discovery last week of a dead mink on the side of an Edgartown road has brought on a furor of questions over whether a mink population still ex

In the weeks ahead, a group of Edgartown residents plans to take a new step to preserve and protect the town's ancient ways and roads.

As many as 30 volunteers will be sworn in by the town as byway wardens. Their mission will be to keep an eye out for illegal dumping and misuse.

In their continuing effort to support local commercial fishermen, Chilmark selectmen want to better define such fishermen in the town.

At stake is who qualifies for Menemsha perks in matters such as dock space and fuel prices - and who doesn't.

Missing Whale Stumps Museum on Beach Dig

By MARK ALAN LOVEWELL

A dead 52-foot fin back whale is missing.

Last Friday, two officials from a museum in Oklahoma City, Okla. went to Norton Point with the hopes of recovering the whale, buried in beach sand two years ago.

They hired a Vineyard Haven excavating firm to do exploratory digging. After hours of effort, they couldn't find it. The project has now been abandoned.