Acting as mediators in the second such neighborhood dispute in as many months, Edgartown selectmen approved taking legal action against a resident of Slough Cove Road who has failed to remove junk from his property.

Robert Sequeira is in violation of zoning laws, according to members of the Dunham’s Corner residents association who appeared at a selectmen’s meeting Monday.

Attorney Daniel Larkosh, who was representing the residents, argued that the junk on Mr. Sequeira’s property poses a potential threat to the groundwater.

Martha’s Vineyard Hospital and Windemere Nursing and Rehabilitation Center joined Partners HealthCare to celebrate the 13th annual Partners in Excellence award program at a ceremony held at the hospital on Jan. 30.

Established in 1996, the awards recognize individuals and teams at all levels. Award recipients are nominated by their colleagues. This is the second year the Vineyard hospital and Windemere employees have been eligible for nomination.

Dean’s List

Tara Reynolds of Edgartown was named to the dean’s list at the Savannah College of Art and Design in Savannah, Ga., for fall quarter 2008. She is an illustration major.

The Vineyard Gazette won 12 awards in the annual New England Newspaper Association Better Newspaper Contest this year, including six first place awards that recognized the 163-year-old weekly newspaper for excellence in journalism across the spectrum from advertising to editorial.

The Martha’s Vineyard Commission last week unanimously approved a revised budget for next year which does not increase assessments for the six Island towns.

But it does preserve salary increases of about four per cent for commission staff.

MVC chairman Christina Brown, an elected member from Edgartown, opened last Thursday’s discussion by explaining that the commission’s budget was drafted before recent cuts in state aid by Gov. Deval Patrick.

Consumer Price Watch

By SUSAN CATLING

Gas

Prices for regular unleaded gas as of Feb.11:

Edgartown

Airport Mobil 2.599 Depot Corner 2.599

Edgartown Mobil 2.659

Oak Bluffs

deBettencourt’s 2.579

Jim’s 2.699

Vineyard Haven

Citgo 2.659

Tisbury Shell 2.769

West Tisbury

Up-Island Automotive 2.459

A new review of the Bradley Square affordable housing project in Oak Bluffs last Thursday by the Martha’s Vineyard Commission brought a fresh round of criticism from neighbors and abutters.

Opponents remain firm in their position that the project is too large for the neighborhood, despite changes that have been made to the plan. The commission closed the public hearing and is scheduled to deliberate and possibly vote on the project at its regular meeting on Feb. 19.

Walking around downtown Edgartown in February, it is easy to discover just how many ways there are to say, “We’re closed.”

There is the restrained: “Closed. See you in May.” The effusive, “We are EXCITED to be reopening on Main Street this Spring 2009!” The amicable: “Have a great winter,” and the downright cryptic: “Closed . . . Tea leaf reading is available by appointment.”

Vineyard Haven poet, journalist and human rights activist Rose Styron has been named a resident fellow for the spring semester at Harvard University’s Institute of Politics, located at the John F. Kennedy School of Government.

Over the course of the semester, Mrs. Styron and other resident fellows will lead weekly study groups, interact with students, participate in the intellectual life of the Harvard community and pursue their own individual studies or projects.

Accepted at Law School

Vanessa Williams of Dobbs Ferry, N.Y., has been accepted to Pace University’s Law Program for the fall of 2009. Vanessa is a 2002 graduate of the Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School and a 2006 graduate of Marlboro College in Vermont. She is the daughter of Woody and Phyllis Williams of Vineyard Haven.