The bugs are coming. This is the year of the locusts.

Actually, these cicadas have been around all along, but have yet to
emerge from underground. They come out of hiding, taking to the bushes
and trees once every 17 years.

William Wilcox, water resource planner for the Martha's
Vineyard Commission, is getting ready and he'd like the community
to do the same. Just listen for their sound and watch for their
appearance. He'd like to document all the reports.

A federal judge ruled in lawsuits brought by conservation groups and
last week issued a new set of restrictions for the fishing of groundfish
in waters off the Cape and Islands. But the tight new regulations
regarding cod, yellowtail flounder and haddock have spurred an avalanche
of criticism from fishermen up and down the northeast coast.

A crowd of Vineyard residents registered their concerns with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers regarding a proposed private energy project that aims to plant 170 windmills in 28 square miles of shallow water in Nantucket Sound. For nearly two hours last Thursday night an audience of 60 entered comments into the formal record during a scoping session held in conjunction with a Martha's Vineyard Commission meeting in the basement of the Old Whaling Church in Edgartown.

Vineyard House: Women Find Island Haven For Recovery

By ALEXIS TONTI

On March 19, 2001, the first woman moved into Vineyard House's
third and newest residence - a house dedicated solely to Island
women in need of a safe living environment during the early stages of
recovery from drug and alcohol addiction. More than a year later, 14
women have already moved through the house, most staying for between one
and three months. Four live there now.

In Tisbury: Tisbury Voters Back Main Street Renovation

By JOSHUA SABATINI

Tisbury residents this week green-lighted major structural
improvements in town by approving both the initial phases of the
ambitious Main street project and the construction of a harbor
master's facility at the foot of Owen Park.

A 19-year-old Vineyard man was sentenced to five years in state
prison yesterday after he was convicted of raping a 15-year-old girl in
a late-night incident in Oak Bluffs two years ago.

Promising to show moped dealers no mercy this summer, Oak Bluffs selectmen have begun to toughen up moped bylaws, adding new language that will increase licensing fees, set higher penalties for violations and establish a minimum height limit for child passengers.

Counseling Center Employees Take Grievances to Island Public

By MANDY LOCKE

Island Counseling Center employees, locked in a labor dispute at
Martha's Vineyard Community Services, will take their grievances
to the public Monday night in a forum at the Oak Bluffs School library.

Chilmarkers at their annual town meeting this week backed a $1.5 million plan to expand their town hall, but shot down a proposal that would have banned piers on their ponds.

Off to Wisconsin

Wortzels Leave After Years of Caring Service

By ALEXIS TONTI

The boxes are packed, the walls are nearly bare and still the phone
is ringing. One, two, three, four calls in an hour. So many calls that
they take turns answering. They are spending each day - attending
meetings, leading discussions, fulfilling responsibilities - as
though they will be on the Island for the next year. They are, in fact,
leaving next Friday.