A trio of enterprising young men appeared before Oak Bluffs selectmen Tuesday with a proposal to reduce summer traffic, raise money for charity and help the environment: bicycle rickshaws to transport people up and down Circuit avenue and other parts of town.

The three men are from Newburyport Pedicab — John Pasquina, 26, Blake Harris, 19, and William Pasquina, 29. Their pedicabs are basically bikes that haul a small sitting area behind them.

In a change of course from previous years, the Dukes County Commission on Wednesday unanimously voted to endorse a bill, now before the state legislature, that would merge the Island sheriff’s department into the state system and place it under control of the Executive Office of Public Safety.

Giving voice to what has long been a source of tension during budget season, Oak Bluffs selectmen on Tuesday held a sometimes lively discussion with the finance and advisory board over their differing views on the budgets of the town police department, elementary school and regional high school.

Oriental-Martha’s Vineyard Lodge recently welcomed one of its own Masonic ambassadors, John Hirt, back from a trip to New Orleans. While there, Mr. Hirt carried warm fraternal greetings from Masons on Martha’s Vineyard to Étoile Polaire (Pole Star) Lodge No. 1, with which he is still affiliated. Founded in 1794, this is one of the two oldest in Louisiana.

April is National Poetry Month, and the Vineyard Haven library is issuing a call to all Island poets who would like their work shown in the library’s main display case.

Poets may submit a maximum of three poems. They should leave their names off the poems, but include another sheet of paper with their names, phone numbers, and the titles of the poems.

Poems can be left in a box on the Friends’ table just inside the main entrance of the library.

The Vineyard Committee on Hunger along with several of our local houses of worship and Reliable Market are working together to ensure that Island families in need will have a great Easter meal. Help by contributing the cost of one family’s meal, $25.

The Easter Basket includes a ham, five pounds of potatoes, three pounds of apples, three pounds of oranges, a pound and half of onions, a pound of carrots, sweet potatoes and more.

The internet is a great boon to birders. We can share our sightings daily, or if you are really intent, hourly. The net is also a way to keep birders honest.

By LYNNE IRONS

Island Pools and Spas, Inc., a family owned and operated pool design, construction and servicing company, took home two awards Tuesday, March 17 at the APSP Region 9 Design Awards Competition: first place winner in the Water Feature category, and second place in Pool & Spa Renovation category. The Design Awards Competition recognizes outstanding achievement in the design, construction and installation of residential and commercial pools, spas and water features. APSP Region 9 includes all of Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont, Maine and Rhode Island.

Robert W. Sylvia, formerly of Oak Bluffs, now of East Falmouth, was inducted into the Telephone Pioneer Hall of Fame in New Orleans, La. in February. The Telephone Pioneers consist of active and retired employees of nation-wide telephone companies. They are the largest industrial-connected volunteer organization in the world. The organization performs many community service projects and contributes to many charities around the world.