Martha’s Vineyard Community Services has welcomed Angela Wheeler as its new director of development, providing strategic direction and management to its fundraising and marketing efforts.

Nearing its 50th anniversary, Community Services is hoping to increase its fund-raising and outreach efforts, to benefit a range of essential programs and services which are open to Vineyarders. These include the Island Counseling Center, Early Childhood Programs, the Thrift Store, disability services, and Connect to End Violence.

The fate of the Martha’s Vineyard Family Center surfaced again this week, with the center’s supporters urging the high school committee to consider ways to keep the center at the high school.

The high school, citing low enrollment numbers, has decided to phase out its early childhood vocational program. As a result, the family center will need to relocate by 2014.

The statistics sketch a picture of the other Vineyard, the one rarely seen or understood by those who harbor images of the Island as an idyllic vacation spot. Substance abuse rates here are 21 per cent higher than the state average. There are high levels of depression and domestic conflict and violence. The Island has a significant Brazilian community whose people are often isolated and apart, and sadly sometimes targets of ugly acts of racisim.

Drug Abuse Forum

Martha’s Vineyard Community Services and the Youth Task Force will host a community forum on prescription drug abuse at 5 p.m. on March 21 at the regional high school library conference room.

Guest speaker Dr. Charles Reznikoff, a world-renowned expert on addiction medicine at the University of Michigan heads the agenda, along with a panel that will include a pharmacist and representatives from the police, hospitals, the task force and community services and the treatment community.