The chair of the Martha’s Vineyard Commission came to the Chilmark Select Board Tuesday to ask why some larger projects in the up-Island town never came before the regional planning agency.

A wood-shingled new fire station has emerged across from Beetlebung Corner, and behind it, down a winding path, is another addition: the new Tri-Town Ambulance building.

With a new emergency services headquarters on the horizon, selectmen have allowed the ambulance service to settle an old debt with the town.

West Tisbury selectmen agreed last week to back a shared funding concept for a new Tri-town ambulance headquarters in Chilmark.

A property abutting the town hall could become the new headquarters for Tri-Town ambulance, if voters agree at the annual town meeting next spring.

The ambulance service which provides EMS to the three up-Island towns is undergoing a change in leadership. Tri-Town chief Paul (Zeke) Wilkins has stepped down following a period of medical leave, while deputy chief Ben Retmier has been named acting chief.

Picking up on efforts that began more than a decade ago, a committee in Chilmark is taking another stab at finding a location for a new fire station.

Although blue lights flashed at the Aquinnah police and fire station Saturday afternoon, there was no emergency. At Aquinnah's first ever public safety day, the biggest concern was whether the hamburger supply was low.

As the summer season gains momentum, Vineyard emergency medical crews are working overtime and drawing from off-Island resources in order to meet an increased demand for service. Fewer paramedics are available this summer for ambulance calls, leading to increased cross-town efforts.

Chief medicine man Luther T. Madison blessed the latest ambulance of the tri-town fleet in a ceremony held on the lawn of the tribal administration building on Sept. 17. Present were tribal members, members of tribal council, tribal staff, tri-town emergency medical technicians, Aquinnah selectmen, Aquinnah fire chief Walter Delaney and Aquinnah police chief Randhi Belain.