A rolling meadow that has been used for sheep grazing off State Road in Tisbury will be protected thanks to the purchase of a conservation restriction by the Martha’s Vineyard Land Bank.

The land bank commission announced on Tuesday that it has signed a contract to buy a restriction on seven acres owned by Kristen Kingsbury Henshaw. The purchase price is $301,000. The field is located about .2 miles from the land bank’s Tisbury Meadow Preserve.

Real Estate Course

New requirements for obtaining a Massachusetts real estate license take effect in the spring of 2011 requiring three years of experience as a salesperson as a prerequisite for obtaining a broker’s license; currently one year is required.

The classroom requirements for a salesperson or a broker’s license will also be increased from 24 to 40 hours, and the require.

Dukes Academy, a state licensed real estate school based on the Vineyard, is offering classes beginning Oct. 26.

A 10-article warrant will come before Edgartown voters at a special town meeting next Thursday, with spending requests for fire truck maintenance and a new police cruiser, among other things.

The session begins at 7 p.m. at the Old Whaling Church on Main street; moderator Philip J. Norton will preside.

Two West Tisbury men were arrested last week in connection with the brutal beating of a man at an August party in West Tisbury.

Officer Frank Pacheco of the Oak Bluffs Police Department was recognized with an award for bravery at the Wednesday, Oct. 13 Southeastern Massachusetts Police Chiefs Association meeting.

Vineyard schools superintendent Dr. James H. Weiss presented his draft, a $3.8 million budget for next year to the All-Island School Committee last Thursday. The budget represents a 7.45 per cent increase over this year; the bulk of the increase can primarily be tracked to three new programs.

Mr. Weiss wants to expand the Bridge Program, a program for children with autism, add an at-large physical therapist and expand the summer school program at a total cost of $236,900, which translates to a 6.6 per cent budget increase.

Medicare

All seniors who have Medicare Part D Prescription Drug coverage should review their current plan to see if it remains cost-effective and has all of their drugs for 2011. Medicare posts formularies, premiums and drug costs for all Part D plans for next year on the Medicare Web site, medicare.gov, on or about Oct. 15.

Unless you are a Prescription Advantage member or meet a limited number of special cases criteria, you can only change your Part D plan once a year between Nov. 15 and Dec. 31.

The Army Corps of Engineers, U.S. Coast Guard and state officials have approved preliminary plans for the new West Dock in Menemsha. Engineer Kent Healy and a draftsman are finalizing bid specifications for the project to rebuild the car-way destroyed in the July 12 fire.

Chilmark executive secretary Tim Carroll told the selectmen at their meeting Tuesday if everything stays on schedule, construction should be complete by May 1, at which point electricians can install power cables with the aim of completing their work by June.

The 22nd annual Howard W. Leonard Golf Scramble to benefit Big Brothers Big Sisters of Martha’s Vineyard took place on Sunday, Sept. 19, with beautiful weather for the 45 golfers who took to the Mink Meadows course following breakfast provided by the Black Dog Cafe.

Samuel Donegan

Samuel Donegan of Vineyard Haven has been admitted to Bryant University in Rhode Island.