If a group of West Tisbury restaurateurs are successful the town may join Tisbury and Aquinnah in the ranks of the Island’s formerly dry towns.

It’s been a long time since West Tisbury residents have been able to imbibe at a local establishment. In the mid-19th century, proprietor Sanderson Manter Mayhew held a license for the sale of rum at what is now Alley’s General Store, but for a century and a half West Tisbury has been dry.

While other towns are scrambling to make ends meet, West Tisbury continues pushing ahead with capital project plans to upgrade its town buildings. The latest is an effort to replace the tiny police station headquarters on Mill Pond. After reviewing a number of possible sites, the West Tisbury police station siting committee has recommended the town locate the new station on the town property in North Tisbury that houses the town public safety building, including a fire station.

Tri-Town Ambulance committee members are calling for major changes in the structure of their organization.

Last week Tri-Town committee member and Chilmark police chief Brian Cioffi met with Chilmark selectmen to discuss a $300,000 or 60 per cent increase in next year’s Tri-Town budget; the increase is aimed at covering the cost of four full-time paramedics to satisfy a state mandate that would allow the organization to continue to provide advanced life support services to the three up-Island towns.

The Martha’s Vineyard Commission’s so-called DRI checklist — which determines what projects go to the commission for review as developments of regional impact — is under pressure from all sides.

Targeted recently by businessmen and elected leaders who feel it is chilling commercial growth in the down-Island towns, the checklist was the subject of lively discussion this week — but not only by those who would loosen the rules for referring development projects to the commission.

The Oak Bluffs selectmen kicked off their first meeting of the new year on a sour note as town officials scrambled to slash money from a budget that is already $238,000 in the red.

“The good times are not going to come for a couple years,” predicted selectman Ron DiOrio gloomily.

Clarence (Trip) Barnes 3rd, the colorful Island business owner long associated with his namesake trucking company, is now seeking a new title: green technology pioneer.