On behalf of all the graduates, I would like to start by thanking all the teachers, guidance counselors, administrators, secretaries, custodians and other faculty members who have made today possible. Your dedication and professionalism have had a positive impact on all our lives. I would also like to thank the families of the graduates, whose love and support is the driving force behind all our accomplishments.

Sixteen days ago I was in Mr. Brissette’s room and had the pleasure of putting the final touches on my last drawing. Even though the lines turned out to be straight, I’m pretty sure I was shaking because I had been anticipating that moment for four years. I was more than excited. It was my last Friday ever, my last day of classes. I had finished every single assignment that needed to be done. High school was over for me, save the daunting task of writing this speech.

The Edgartown board of health this week took enforcement action against a Chappaquiddick homeowner who has advertised his Sampson’s Hill properties as luxury vacation rentals, saying the homes may exceed their allowed septic capacity.

In a June 12 letter, health agent Matthew Poole told Stephen Olsson that the board of health is concerned that his Chapel avenue and Chappaquiddick avenue homes are being marketed “for rental occupancy significantly in excess of the permitted septic system design capacities.”

Senior Graduate Scholarships and Awards

Albridge C. and Margaret Righter Smith Scholarship Fund: PEF, Harcourt, Maya, $1,000.

Alfred F. Ferro and Arthur T. Silva Scholarship Fund: PEF, McCormick, Victoria, $700; Tripp, Ian, $700.

Alfred Metell Memorial Health Sciences Scholarship: DeBettencourt, Kelsey, $1,500.

Alice Blackwood Memorial Scholarship: Yukevich, Anna, $750.

Alida Carey Gulick Memorial Scholarship: Gonsalves, Adahy, $500.

American Legion Ladies Auxillary Scholarship: Poole, Natalie, $500.

Six years ago Vickie Thurber filled a void.

In spite of the numerous horse farms and riding barns dotting the roads and fields of the Island, there was, Ms. Thurber felt, something missing in the equestrian community: therapy riding.

Superb weather and good fishing helped participants enjoy the 21st annual Martha’s Vineyard Rod and Gun Club Flyrod Striped Bass Catch and Release Tournament held last Saturday night. There were 129 fishermen in the event and a total of 123 fish were caught and released. The largest fish measured 43 inches in length and was caught and released by Rene Sehr. This tournament is the only one on the Vineyard where fishermen don’t take their fish home.

They are one of the most successful Vineyard teams of the year, their record only surpassed by their undefeated male counterparts and the 21-3 boys’ basketball squad. They won a second league title in the Eastern Athletic Conference; their only two regular-season losses came at the hands of Barnstable, an undefeated Division 1 powerhouse.

Welcome back, wooden bats. The Martha’s Vineyard Sharks are back for their second season as the Island’s representative in the Futures Collegiate Baseball League. The league, also in its second season, has added five more teams to its ranks since its inception.

Thimble Farm has been rescued once again from possible sale into private hands. And a collective sigh of relief went around the Vineyard farming and conservation community this week at the news that thirty-seven acres of friable farmland in the center of the Island will remain in active food production, hopefully this time forever.

It began in June of 1929. That was when the publishers of the Vineyard Gazette made the announcement that the newspaper would begin publishing twice a week.

Twice a Week for Summer