Despite hours of debate and five drafts of an operating budget, the up-Island regional school committee has yet to agree on a financial plan for 2015. Now under discussion is a draft that asks for an increase of 8.09 per cent, $752,000 more than last year.

Delays in supply deliveries sets Oak Bluffs fishing pier completion back.

John J. Varkonda, who served as superintendent of the state forest for 26 years, died suddenly at age 55. The cause was abdominal aortic aneurysm. Mr. Varkonda was 29 when he assumed the superintendency of the state forest, only the second person to oversee the property.

On Saturday four Vineyard men went hiking on Mount Washington in New Hampshire. On the descent Conor, 22, and Adam, 24, took a wrong turn onto Tuckerman Ravine, triggering an avalanche. They plunged 800 feet but miraculously survived.

Two Oak Bluffs men survived an 800-foot avalanche slide over the weekend while hiking on Mount Washington in New Hampshire, park officials confirmed Monday morning. Due to poor visibility, Conor Lodge and Adam Herman “unknowingly” took the wrong path to Tuckerman Ravine.

On Friday night Mocha Mott's in Vineyard Haven began hosting what is to be an ongoing series of musical coffeehouse events. “Long live Mocha Mott’s music!” Adam Lipsky said after playing his first set of jazz. “I hope this continues for years.”