Passenger Traffic Rises on Steamship Ferries

Passenger and automobile traffic between Woods Hole and the Vineyard on Steamship Authority ferries increased in August, while truck traffic dipped.

The boat line reports that 345,864 passengers traveled on the route this past month, up 4.9 per cent over the same month a year ago. The SSA also transported 50,775 automobiles, up 4.5 per cent over August 2006.

Truck traffic, however, fell 1 per cent to 8,710 this past month. The decline stemmed from an 8.2 per cent decrease in trucks less than 20 feet in length.

For the first eight months of the year, passenger traffic between the Vineyard and Woods Hole is up 2 per cent, automobile traffic is up 1 per cent, and truck traffic is off 6.6 per cent.

Bank Shareholders Consider Merger

A special meeting of the shareholders of the Martha’s Vineyard Co-operative Bank is scheduled for 6 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 13 in the library of Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School in Oak Bluffs.

At the meeting, the shareholders will be asked if they wish to approve the proposed merger of the co-operative bank with Dukes County Savings Bank under a merger plan dated May 31.

To go through, the merger agreement and merger must be approved by at least two-thirds of the shareholders present, qualified to vote, and voting at the meeting. The merger also remains subject to approval by federal and state regulators.

Should the merger be realized, the resulting bank would be known as the Martha’s Vineyard Savings Bank. Participating bank officials expect the new bank to have combined assets of $460 million, deposits of $335, a capital base of $48 million, eight branch offices and 12 automatic teller machines.

More information about the proposed merger is available by calling the co-operative bank at 508-693-0161.

Tisbury Business Group Hosts Coffee Today

The Tisbury Business Association will hold a coffee meeting at 9:30 a.m. today, Sept. 11 at the Mediterranean Restaurant on Beach Road in Vineyard Haven.

Scheduled topics include support for the Tisbury Police Relief Association and updates on continuing efforts to allow the sale of beer and wine at restaurants in Tisbury. More information is available by e-mailing tbamvy@yahoo.com or visiting tisburybusinessassociation.com.