Kellie Bettencourt to Wed

Michael and Maria Bettencourt of Edgartown announce the engagement of their daughter, Kellie Marie Bettencourt, to Jesse James Martin, both of Oak Bluffs. Jesse is the son of Judy Rose and Alan Hasty of Santa Cruz, Calif., and Jim and Geri Anne Martin of Burlingame, Calif.

A fall wedding is planned

The Vineyard Tennis Center, Workout and Spa hosted its winter classic tennis tournament on Jan. 22 and 23. Tournament proceeds were donated to Doctors Without Borders for Haiti.

The Martha’s Vineyard Sharks of the Futures Collegiate Baseball League (FCBL) have announced that Gary Simmons will be the club’s assistant coach for the 2011 season.

Mr. Simmons has been the varsity baseball coach at Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School for the previous five seasons. He also spent five years as the high school’s junior varsity head coach.

The Vineyard boys’ basketball team wrapped up the Eastern Athletic Conference (EAC) title in Attleboro on Thursday with a 55-53 squeaker over Bishop Feehan. Randall Jette led all Vineyard scorers with 22 points, with Del Araujo and T.J. VanGervan pitching in 13 and 11 respectively.

The win comes on the heels of another conference win last Friday night over Bishop Stang, 75-63. The Vineyard is 12-2 for the year and a league best 7-0 against EAC opponents.

BUSING BREWSTER: By Richard Michelson, illustrated by R.G. Roth, Alfred A. Knopf, New York, N.Y. 2010. $16.99, hardcover.

By ROB HAMMETT

Editor’s Note: What follows is a selection of comments posted on the Gazette Web site last week in response to the story about a preliminary application by Tara and Daniel Whiting to tear down the Old Parsonage house in West Tisbury.

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A majority of the citizens decided to secure by peaceful means if possible, a change in the existing form of government and an adhesion to a democratic system of elections of officers. Desiring to spare the aged head of the government any unnecessary personal humiliation, they addressed a letter to him which stated “First our wish for you is that you would be pleased to lay aside your government and act with us so we shall choose you to be in place this year, and afterward as the yearly choice by election shall fall.”

For Valentine’s Day, an essay about love and something more, first published in the Gazette in February, 2011.

Land Bank Position

Editors, Vineyard Gazette:

The following letter was sent to the Edgartown selectmen from the Martha’s Vineyard Land Bank.

I am writing regarding the mini-park on Main street. You had asked the land bank to consider contributing to its acquisition.

The land bank commission has now discussed this matter several times in the past few weeks and has determined that it does not support land bank involvement here. The central reason is financial. Allow me please to explain.

CALL FOR CANDIDATES

Editors, Vineyard Gazette:

A functioning democracy requires the participation of its citizens.

That is something which we in the United States take for granted.

But the reality is that very few people actually take the time and trouble to take part in their local political processes, leaving decisions that affect them to be made by the very few activists.

By participation, I don’t just mean speaking up at annual town meeting.