After a long, sultry August day in Oak Bluffs, summer residents were doused with a bucket of cold water on Tuesday at the annual summer taxpayers meeting when they learned of the town’s dire financial situation and across-the-board cutbacks in services.
“You call us summer taxpayers but I’m a year-round taxpayer,” said Thelma Baxter. “As a year-round taxpayer I’m concerned about all these cuts.”
Following the lead of Edgartown and Tisbury, West Tisbury has taken the first steps toward developing a municipal solar project. On Wednesday selectmen signed a letter of intent with the Cape and Vineyard Electric Cooperative to request proposals for solar projects at the town landfill.
“All this allows us to do is entertain the possibility of putting solar panels at the dump,” said town administrator Jennifer Rand.
The former Falmouth town manager was selected for the top administrative post in Oak Bluffs in a unanimous vote by the town selectmen Tuesday.
Robert Whritenour, who served as Falmouth town manager for 10 years, and the Mashpee town administrator for a decade before that, will be offered the job of interim town administrator. He was the only final candidate for the position after a second finalist dropped out last week.
Selectmen cited Mr. Whritenour’s strong financial background and managerial experience as pluses.
As members of Congress limp back to their home districts and the president heads for summer vacation on the Vineyard, still bruised from the debt ceiling showdown, Vineyard Democrats turn their eyes to the next fight: the 2012 election. On the expected day of Mr. Obama’s arrival, the chairman of the Democratic National Committee will also travel to the Island to headline an evening of speakers and performers at a fundraiser at the Union Chapel in Oak Bluffs.
President Barack Obama and the First Family are expected to return to the Vineyard in a little over a week for their third consecutive summer vacation on the Island.
The White House press office yesterday could not officially confirm the dates of the president’s arrival. But it is understood that Mr. Obama, First Lady Michelle Obama and their two children will visit the Vineyard between August 17 and August 28 this year. The expected arrival date is understood to be August 18.
A long queue of summer vacationers walked off the Island Home on Friday night to the blaring sirens of the Tisbury and Oak Bluffs fire departments. A column of the American Legion’s color guard stood at attention at the foot of the steamship walkway and greeted their arrival. All the hospitality was reserved for one passenger in particular.
A roar erupted from the crowd as Staff Sgt. Chris Willis disembarked, still decked out in camouflage and smiling from ear to ear, marking the end of his long journey home from Afghanistan.
