“Seabreezes” Wins Award

The Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School literary magazine Seabreezes was selected to receive a rank of excellent in 2008 by the National Council of Teachers of English in their program to recognize student literary magazines. A total of 489 schools entered the competition.

The Martha’s Vineyard Chamber of Commerce has announced that applications for the 2009-2010 Jim Lambert Memorial Scholarship are available now at the Chamber office on Beach Road in Vineyard Haven. The office is directly across the street from the Tisbury fire station. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Applications may also be downloaded from the Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School Web site, mvrhs.org.

The Martha’s Vineyard Savings Bank board of trustees awarded $40,000 in donations at their fiscal year-end to 22 local nonprofit organizations and community groups. The donations will help fund programs in support of the arts, education, the elderly, the environment, health care and youth.

Water Talk

William E. Marks of Edgartown presented a 90-minute workshop titled Awakening To Water at the Conscious Life Expo in Los Angeles recently. After his presentation, Mr. Marks performed a flute meditation on stage with actor David Carradine and his Cosmic Rescue Team in the grand ballroom before a live audience with filmmakers in attendance.

Announcing Evren

Terrence and Simone McCarthy of Oak Bluffs, William and Gayle Manley and Johnny and Sandra Smith, of Tallahassee, Florida announce the birth of Evren Patrick McCarthy. Evren was born to Jeremiah and Catherine McCarthy of Oak Bluffs on February 19, 2009, weighing 8 pounds, 8.2 ounces at birth.

The Island Alpaca Company participated in the 2009 Symposium and Fleece Event in Syracuse, New York in early February, with the submission of two of alpaca fleece blankets. Made from the super-soft prime fleece that is shorn from the backs of two different alpacas, Estrada and Angelina; these blankets were each awarded blue ribbons. In competition, fleece is judged for fineness and handle, brightness, crimp and density, lack of modulation and, finally, cleanliness. This is the third blue ribbon Estrada has taken home for his fleece alone.

Two Island men were arrested this week in connection with a nearly 10-month investigation into a large-scale drug trafficking operation by the federal Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) and the Martha’s Vineyard Drug Task Force. The arrests led to search warrants being issued in three different states.

Sean Herrmann, 31, was arrested by a federal drug enforcement task force at his residence in East Greenbush, N.Y. last Wednesday on federal charges of drug possession and distribution, DEA special agent Erin McKenzie-Mulvey said.

Hello, Emily

Marcileia and Adeilton Dasilva of Oak Bluffs announce the birth of a daughter, Emily Rodregues Dasilva, born on Feb. 15, 2009, at the Martha’s Vineyard Hospital. Emily weighed 7 pounds, 8.8 ounces at birth.

Gas

You’ll be tacking on another 19 cents per gallon soon if Governor Deval Patrick has his way. But that’s okay because that tax will preclude the need to raise tolls on roads you don’t use. Wait, what? The Massachusetts Turnpike Authority just approved a set of toll hikes before the vote on the gas tax increase. Is this part of the stimulus package?

Prices for regular unleaded gas as of Feb. 25:

Edgartown

Airport Mobil2.699

Depot Corner2.599

By SAM BUNGEY

An Aquinnah special town meeting postponed three times since last October and now scheduled for Tuesday, has picked up steam with a new proposal to stage a seasonal performing arts program at the Aquinnah Cliffs, and a growing host of housekeeping issues becoming more pressing as the fiscal year end approaches.

The meeting begins at 7 p.m. Tuesday at the old town hall; 39 voters are needed to make a quorum.