The Martha’s Vineyard Commission voted unanimously last week to approve a new two-story building at the Tisbury Marketplace on Beach Road in Vineyard Haven. The vote is a victory for developer Sam Dunn, who originally created the marketplace in 1984 and plans to build the new mixed-use retail and apartment building.

The vote concludes a process that began over a year ago when Mr. Dunn’s proposal was referred to the commission as a development of regional impact last fall.

The plan now goes to the town of Tisbury for review at the local level.

There is a world of difference, says Mike McCormack, between the role of a police officer and that of a sheriff. And between himself and his challenger.

“He’s about putting them behind bars. The sheriff’s job is about preparing them to go back into the community. They are totally different jobs,” said Mr. McCormack.

His point, if not already obvious, is that experience in one job does not equate to qualification for the other. And Mr. McCormack is running on experience

Neal Maciel’s policy manifesto relates almost exclusively to the running of the jail. It begins with a promise to prohibit transfers of prisoners from off-Island, something he claims the current sheriff allows too often and as a favor to his counterparts in other counties.

It’s a practice, he says, which has contributed to the Vineyard jail’s reputation as a place where fortunate prisoners can do soft time.

Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School quarterback Randall Jette walked off the practice field in the brisk fall air on Wednesday night after a hard practice that ran until almost 7 p.m. under the lights in preparation for tonight’s pivotal league game against Somerset at home. “Friday night is our Super Bowl,” Jette said.

Last year the Vineyarders lost 20-0 to Somerset and Jette is candid about what went wrong. “Me,” he said.

After days of bad weather, most of it wind, the fall derby busted open last weekend with great fishing from off Wasque to Devil’s Bridge in Aquinnah. This is the closing week of the 65th annual Martha’s Vineyard Striped Bass and Bluefish Derby. With more than 2,700 fishermen registered in the contest, a lot of fishermen were out on the water to make up for lost time. The contest ends at 10 p.m. tomorrow night.

Columbus Day weekend was the last chance most anglers would have to devote high energy to the sport.

Farm Pond, the 42-acre great salt pond that hugs the edge of the Harthaven section of Oak Bluffs along Beach Road, is ailing and at risk due to too much nitrogen, a draft study for the ongoing Massachusetts Estuaries Project concludes.

The draft report, which is now circulating among town leaders and water quality planners, also finds that rehabilitation of the pond is easily within reach and could be largely accomplished by significantly widening the culvert that allows tidal exchange between the pond and Nantucket Sound.

The search for a permanent West Tisbury police chief suddenly turned from straightforward to complicated this week, beginning on Tuesday when selectman Jeffrey (Skipper) Manter 3rd, who is also a longtime sergeant on the force, turned up as a name on a list of four finalists recommended by a town search committee. Then two days later, a letter surfaced signed by eight of the nine members of the town police force endorsing acting chief Dan Rossi for the job.

Chowder

From the Chowder Files:

NANCY GARDELLA

508-693-3308

vhavenvgazette@yahoo.com

JUNE D. MANNING

508-645-2574

(lthslnks@gis.net)

The Committee to Elect Neal J. Maciel for Sheriff of Dukes County will present a night of food and laughs on Wednesday evening, Oct. 20, from 7 to 10:30 p.m. at Sharky’s in Edgartown. One of our favorite Vineyard comedians, Lenny Clarke, will keep us laughing for hours with his wit and wisdom. Tickets are $20 at the door, or from Neal’s committee members.