Middle Line Housing Project Goes to a Hearing in Chilmark

By MAX HART

A third and final public hearing is set for next week on Chilmark's first town-sponsored affordable housing project, when residents will have the chance to discuss the details of the Middle Line Road plan.

But debate on the hot-button topic of the day - whether to build rental units or resident homesites - will have to wait until the project comes before voters at a special town meeting next month.

It began 10 months ago as an idea.

In a race that pitted experience against idealism, Camille Rose defeated Faith Vanderhoop for a seat on the board of selectmen in Aquinnah's annual election on Wednesday.

A record turnout of voters came out to the polls in the second smallest town in the commonwealth. In fact, two-thirds of the 368 registered voters - a total of 248 voters - cast ballots on a bright spring day. The final tally was 131-111.

Buoyed by an eleventh hour surprise of almost $300,000 in free cash, Aquinnah voters wrapped up their annual meeting Tuesday night in an unfamiliar way: $2.7 million in spending with no need for a Proposition 2 1/2 override.

And with a turbulent fiscal year now nearly a memory, the town heads into a new year on July 1 with its financial house in order.

In a race that pitted experience against idealism, Camille Rose defeated Faith Vanderhoop for a seat on the board of selectmen in Aquinnah's annual election on Wednesday.

FARM Institute Pulls the Plug on Huge Summer Concert Plan

By MAX HART

A budding plan to stage a huge summer concert at Katama Farm evaporated when the FARM Institute abruptly withdrew its application for the event before a special meeting of the Edgartown conservation commission on Wednesday night.