The Coast Guard began work in the Menemsha harbor Wednesday to remove several sunken boats, and the harbor has been reopened to recreational boating, as the town takes steps to restore function in and around the village after the fire that destroyed the historic Coast Guard boathouse early last week..

The charred remains of the boathouse and wooden pier leading out to the West Dock remain largely untouched, but town officials and employees, in conjunction with the Coast Guard, are working diligently behind the scenes to facilitate the reconstruction process.

Matt Tobin of Chilmark won the Klays for Kids Charity Skeet Shoot at the Martha’s Vineyard Rod and Gun Club. Held under ideal weather conditions on Sunday, July 18 at the club’s skeet range, this was the 13th annual Klays for Kids, which benefits the club’s three projects for Island kids.

Mr. Tobin bested seven other skeet shooters to take the first place in the shoot, while Phil Hughes of Oak Bluffs picked up second place, followed by Bill Damora of Point Pleasant Beach, N.J., who took third place.

Six years after the conclusion of a Supreme Court case in which the Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah) battled with Aquinnah taxpayers and the town over sovereignty rights, a new battleground has potentially sprung up on a sandy path to the sea.

The tribe has blocked off access to the path which leads to Lobsterville Beach, and town leaders are up in arms about it.

Tisbury selectman Geoghan Coogan’s letter to state authorities about the unsafe condition of State Road was understandably emotional, given the bicycle tragedy which had recently occurred the previous day right outside his office.

A tourist, Dina Dececca, 40, was killed on July 6 when she fell from her bike into the path of an oncoming truck. As Mr. Coogan put it in his letter, he had become “intimately involved with the details as the situation unfolded.”

It was 175 years ago next month that six devout Edgartown Methodists decided to establish a summer religious community of their very own and selected the largest oak grove in New England, near Eastville, to be its site. Camp meetings that provided prayer, preaching, hymn-singing and repentance had come into vogue in America at the turn of the 19th century. In 1827, one had been established at West Chop in the community of Holmes Hole — today’s Vineyard Haven.

Last summer the Vineyard Conservation Society succeeded in convincing Islanders that their ponds were indeed in peril. At this year’s Ponds in Peril forum, Islanders learned what they could do about it.

The year was 1978, and Martha’s Vineyard confronted a big decision about its character. It could take a big step toward becoming part of generic America or fight to maintain its individuality.

A property had come up for sale on Vineyard Haven harbor, and the multi-national purveyor of junk food, McDonald’s, was lined up to build its 5,110th restaurant on it.

They’re not moving far away, but the upcoming departure of the Edgartown Hardware store from Main street will mark the end of an era for downtown Edgartown.

“One of the core businesses, the only core business left, is leaving,” said Edgartown zoning board of appeals chairman Martin V. (Skip) Tomassian Jr., at a public hearing where Edgartown Hardware owners John and Pat Montes were granted permission to move their business into the former Old Colony car dealership building on the Edgartown-West Tisbury Road.

Firemen’s Car Show

The fourth annual Tisbury volunteer fire department car show will be held on July 24 at Boch Park, directly across from the Xtra Mart on Beach Road in Vineyard Haven.

The fun begins at 4 p.m. with a variety of special interest cars — and for the first time this year motorcycles — followed by live music and a pig roast. No alcohol will be allowed at this family-friendly event.

Kathryn Aaron, an established interpreter of 16th and 17th century music, will perform at Trinity Episcopal Church in Oak Bluffs, on Sunday, July 25, accompanied by Trinity organist Wesley Brown.

A graduate of the Peabody Conservatory of Music, Ms. Aaron is studying for her master’s degree at Yale’s Institute of Sacred Music. She has performed internationally and is a member of the choir of Trinity Episcopal Church in Southport, Conn.