Commissioners Open Review of Southern Woodlands Plan

By JULIA WELLS

Battles lines were drawn last night when a Bolton developer who
wants to build a massive housing project in the Southern Woodlands gave
the Martha's Vineyard Commission its first glimpse of the project.

In fact a glimpse was all that was available, as developer Brian
Lafferty unveiled only the barest outlines of his plan to build 320
homes on 288 acres in Oak Bluffs.

The great thing about yesterday's memorial service for Francis (Pat) West Jr. was hearing the echo of his voice.

Emotions ran high throughout the final night of public testimony regarding a Chapter 40B affordable housing development that, if approved, would place 20 homes on 4.9 acres of land near Tisbury's center.

Congressman Ties New Bedford to Full Pay for Any Ferry Deficit

By JULIA WELLS
Gazette Senior Writer

If New Bedford and the state legislature want the Steamship
Authority to run ferry service between the Whaling City and the Islands,
then the port should agree to pay 100 per cent of any deficit incurred.

That was the opinion of Cong. William Delahunt, delivered bluntly in
a conversation with the Gazette yesterday morning.

Federal Business Loans Help Fire Recovery Effort

By JOSHUA SABATINI

Visiting the sandy lot on Main street where the Tisbury Inn stood
before it was destroyed in a December fire, Cong. William Delahunt
joined Tisbury officials and businessmen yesterday morning for a
groundbreaking ceremony.

Mr. Delahunt announced as part of the event that the inn's
owners, Sherman and Susan Goldstein, had received nearly $400,000 in
loans from the federal Small Business Administration to help rebuild
their landmark hotel.

At the westernmost tip of the Island just four years ago, the residents of Aquinnah knew the potential for total buildout loomed just ahead in an era of unbridled development.

Over the last decade, the community of 200 year-round residents watched development stretch the seams of the town's 4,056 acres, and they knew that the intensity and nature of new house construction threatened to devastate the rural character of Aquinnah.

Surfing Accident Leaves Visitor with Serious Injury

By MANDY LOCKE

A 51-year-old vacationer faces possible paralysis after being
thrashed against the South Beach shoreline by fierce waves Tuesday
afternoon.

George Medford of Ballston, N.Y., who had been bodysurfing close to
the South Beach shoreline with his son, snapped several vertebrae in his
neck when he struck his chin against the sand, officials said.

Deficit Crisis at Refuse District Angers Officials in Island Towns

By MANDY LOCKE

The Martha's Vineyard Refuse Disposal and Resource Recovery
district found itself on the hot seat this week as selectmen in both
Edgartown and Chilmark grappled with the six-figure hole in its books
- a deficit that the district's four member towns will
eventually be asked to carry.

SSA Bill Draws Sharp Criticism

Boat Line CEO Fred C. Raskin Warns Politicians Against Moves to
Force New Bedford Solution on the Steamship Authority

By JULIA WELLS
Gazette Senior Writer

The newly appointed chief executive officer of the Steamship
Authority jumped into the legislative fray over the public boat line
yesterday, calling on the state Senate to take a time-out and let the
SSA develop its own business solutions - especially when it comes
to ferry service out of New Bedford.

Francis (Pat) West Jr. Dies at Age of 96: Islander, Engineer and Man
of the Sea

Francis (Pat) West Jr., a major Island personality enjoyed by all
who knew him, died at the age of 96 at his Lake Tashmoo home on July
Fourth.

Mr. West was one of the founding organizers and commodore for life
of the Holmes Hole Sailing Association, which became the sponsor of the
now well-