A classic northeaster early this week on top of an unusually wet and gray June left Islanders wondering if they would ever see the sun again. From Monday through Wednesday an offshore ocean storm spun 200 miles southeast of Nantucket, bringing sustained wind, ruining outdoor events and keeping sailors on dry land.

Meteorologists at the National Weather Service office in Taunton said the storm was an anomaly, not big enough to be a gale, but strong enough to pound away for three straight days.

With rising concern over the health of Sengekontacket Pond, an application to build near the shore of the pond may fail where others, grander in scale and more intrusive in scope, have succeeded.

The latest in a series of town conservation commission hearings on a plan by John Lacroix to build a modest home on his waterfront property on The Boulevard drew vocal opposition from neighbors and the Friends of Sengekontacket, a nonprofit group dedicated to protecting the pond.

A wandering domesticated goose that has been a frequent visitor on Circuit avenue in Oak Bluffs lately has been rescued and placed in a new home — at least for the time being — with Island naturalist Augustus (Gus) Ben David 2nd at his World of Reptiles and Bird Park in Edgartown.

A flood of foreign workers, a sagging economy and terrible weather have combined to create a turnabout in the Vineyard summer job market: too many workers and not enough work.

Employers across the Island report that they have many job applicants but far fewer jobs to offer this year as they tighten their belts, which includes cutting down on hiring.

Of course, when you are working on the largest cooperative project in the history of marine biology, a 10-year, $600 million census of all the world’s marine life, you need to know something about the tax regime in 14th century Czarist Russia.

Let professor Jesse Ausubel, cofounder of the project, explain.

Vineyard commercial fishermen scored a key win in the struggle keep them from being squeezed out of the groundfish industry yesterday when the New England Fishery Management Council voted to adopt the sector system, granting the Vineyard its own sector.

The vote came after three days of meeting in Portland, Me. The meeting was attended by a small group of Vineyard fishing activists.

Historic low interest rates that have led to a flood of mortgage refinancings in recent months have by accident exposed a marked trend of slumping property values on the Vineyard.

In roughly 75 per cent of June home reappraisals conducted on behalf of Martha’s Vineyard Savings Bank, the Island’s largest lender, properties were found to be below their assessed values.

According to bank president Chris Wells, it is an Islandwide, evolving trend.

This Tuesday, June 30, the Vineyard Conservation Society’s annual meeting will be held at the Wakeman Conservation Center off Lambert’s Cove Road in Vineyard Haven at 5:30 p.m. The society will have an opportunity to preview the New Views of Ocean Life Census of Marine Life program, a highly ambitious endeavour that began in 2000 and involves thousands of scientists from more than 80 nations.

A light dinner will be served. For details, call 508-693-9588.

RICK HERRICK

508-693-8065

(herricklr@verizon.net)

East Chop said goodbye to Ray Howick last Saturday night at the tennis club. The rain held off, the club looked great, all clean with new lighting, and the large crowd was enthusiastic about celebrating the life of this fine man.