One of the largest privately-owned properties on the Vineyard goes on the market today with a record asking price. The 314 acres in West Tisbury feature dry oak forest, a private freshwater pond and some 1,200 feet of unspoiled Atlantic Ocean beachfront.

When Allie Joseph was a little girl, she would spot mermaids while on the ferry to Martha’s Vineyard, insisting to her mother that they were there, in the depths of Vineyard Sound.

On a recent Tuesday Allie, now in college, stood with parents David and Chris and sister Nikki.

It’s been 65 years since the first Steamship Authority was created, signed into existence by Massachusetts Gov. Robert Bradford in 1948 as the New Bedford, Woods Hole, Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket Steamship Authority. Regular ferry service had existed prior to that date, beginning in the early 1800s. The arrival of the Old Colony Railroad in the 1870s brought train tracks right to the wharf in Woods Hole, spearheading the growth of both the Island summer tourism industry and the boat lines, which were then privately owned.

Island waters have been invaded by Portuguese man-of-war in at least three towns in the past week, beach managers are reporting. The jellyfish-like creatures have washed up on beaches in Edgartown, Aquinnah and Chilmark, as well as in Westport, according to mainland news reports.

Running Free, a 36-and-a-half foot sailboat that ran aground at Norton Point beach on Friday, was still languishing on the beach nearly a week later after salvage and refloating efforts failed. Meanwhile, visitors to the site were reported to be stripping the boat of its contents as it remained lodged in its sandy berth, prompting the Edgartown police to open an investigation Thursday.

Expanding transportation services among airlines, ferries, buses and trains have made the Vineyard more accessible than ever this summer.

Four airlines are now operating summer service between the Island and three major metropolitan areas. And two months ago train service began between Boston and the Cape that connects with a shuttle to the Steamship Authority.

Malcom E. Scully and Tamara L. Thome purchased 91 Pepperbush Way in West Tisbury for $775,000 for July 3.

The water isn’t the only thing heating up midsummer in Oak Bluffs. At a Tuesday meeting of the town selectmen, residents held passionate debates about the new lifeguard force at Inkwell Beach and parking safety in the North Bluff neighborhood.

Moviegoers should not look to Oak Bluffs to catch the latest blockbusters, as both the Island and the Strand theatre are closed until further notice. The historic Island, currently roofless, will most likely not be in commission before next summer. And despite efforts to reopen it, the Strand remains out of use.

State Sen. Daniel A. Wolf, who represents the Cape and Islands on Beacon Hill, announced his candidacy for governor this week.

“With your encouragement and support, with an entrepreneurial spirit and love for our great commonwealth, I’m excited to announce my candidacy to be your next governor,” Mr. Wolf, a Democrat, said in a video posted Wednesday on You Tube and his campaign website.