An annual forum for summer taxpayers in Aquinnah turned quickly into a light grill session for two town selectmen this week about plans by the Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah) to bring some kind of casino gambling onto tribal lands in the smallest town on the Vineyard.

Summer residents asked the selectmen why they had not engaged in more open dialogue with the tribe.

Martina Thornton was sworn in as the new county manager on Wednesday evening. Mrs. Thornton, who served as executive assistant to the county manager for four years, said she is pleased with the contract she negotiated with the seven-member elected commission last week in executive session.

The terms of Mrs. Thornton’s contract include an annual salary of $67,709.

Rainfall on the Vineyard has been as varied as the weather itself. There is no question that it has been hot. For much of July there were drought-like conditions, weeks of no rain, followed near the end of the month by a few hours of torrential rain.

The temperature rarely gets to 90 degrees on the Vineyard. But this summer the Island has seen the temperature hit 90 degrees three times in July and twice in June. The highest temperature recorded thus far this summer, 95, came on two days in the middle of June.

Tisbury selectmen, the town fire chief and citizens joined the chorus of frustration this week over the Emergency Services Facility which sits unfinished and unoccupied on West Spring street.

At the selectmen’s meeting Tuesday, fire chief John Schilling chided the selectmen for diverting too much of the project manager’s attention to the issue of landscaping for abutters, leaving less time to focus on the more pressing matters at hand with the building, which now include a half-failed asphalt test and interior humidity problems.

West Tisbury selectmen this week called for a comprehensive study of the Mill Pond watershed before any decisions are made about dredging the historic pond.

At their meeting Wednesday, the selectmen asked the Mill Pond committee to draft a warrant article for a special town meeting in November that would include details of the scope of work needed to study the watershed system. The watershed includes Mill Pond, Mill Brook, Tiasquam River, Priester’s Pond and Scotchman’s Lane.

Veteran journalist Charlayne Hunter-Gault and Vineyard youth Shavanae Anderson are the recipients of the Stone Soup Leadership Institute’s 2012 Walter Cronkite Award. The awards, given to those who use the power of the media to build a more educated and sustainable world, were presented at a ceremony at the Old Whaling Church in Edgartown on August 2.

Ms. Hunter-Gault, who was unable to attend the ceremony, commented in a prepared speech on the meaning of the award and the man for whom it was named.

Announcing Bo

Whitney Burke and Keith Fullin of Edgartown announce the birth of a daughter, Bo Katherine Fullin, born on August 5 at the Martha’s Vineyard Hospital. Bo weighed 7 pounds, 11 ounces at birth. Bo joins big sister Emery.

Please Adopt Us

It was a wonderful week at the Animal Shelter of Martha’s Vineyard. Five of the shelter’s long-term beautiful cats were adopted and the cages are almost empty. The shelter still has one special cat — Mango — who is very sweet and would make a wonderful lap cat for an older person who needs companionship.

There are three new cats who will be ready for adoption next week after they have been checked by a vet and had their shots.

Annie and Jake Sylvia of Edgartown announce the birth of a son, Benjamin King Sylvia, on August 4 at the Falmouth Hospital. Benjamin weighed 7 pounds, 7.7 ounces at birth.

Amid the many connecting hallways that make up the Martha’s Vineyard Hospital campus is tucked a 400-square-foot trailer that houses Hospice of Martha’s Vineyard. The organization has achieved and maintained a tangible presence on the Island since its inception 31 years ago, but its physical presence remains confined to a small, hidden space. The trailer has been an enduring home, said Hospice executive director Terre Young, but now it is time for change. “The trailer says we’re impermanent — almost invisible. We’re 31.