When Lorraine Clark walks into Grace Church in Vineyard Haven on the morning of Dec. 17, Christmas officially begins.

There, packed high to the ceiling and filling almost every available space will be over 250 large, white bags - each one stuffed with dozens of wrapped gifts. Each bag will be marked with its own number, and soon people will trickle in to claim them.

For the first time in 13 years, there will be a new chairman of the Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah). Donald Widdiss, the first chairman to lead the tribe after it gained federal recognition in 1987, returns to the top post after ousting incumbent Beverly Wright, 132-105, in the tribe's annual election on Sunday.

When taken out of context, listening to Gustavo Simoes talk about football can be quite confusing.

"I played football all the time as a kid in Brazil," the high school senior and Vineyarders center said after practice Monday. "And I had seen football on TV, too, but I never played it until I came here."

Put in context, the confusion is easily sorted out.

The signs around the high school all point toward a showdown.

Like the handwritten message taped to the wall inside the boys' locker room.

"10-game preseason is over. KHUNA Nantucket!!!"

Or the chants echoing in the halls, through the gymnasium and out into the crisp November air.

"Keep the Cup, keep the Cup, keep the Cup!"

On Wednesday morning, under a warm sun and blue sky, David and Karen Berube were out on Cape Pogue Pond, at it again.

Three separate police investigations have led to several major drug arrests, the Martha's Vineyard Drug Task Force announced this week.

An Oak Bluffs man was arrested Sunday at the Stop & Shop in Vineyard Haven, while two separate incidents on Tuesday and Wednesday led to the arrest of three others. All have been charged with various drug-related crimes.