It has been more than 40 years since the publication of the book The Archaeology of Martha’s Vineyard, which identified a long, rich history of human habitation stretching back at least 4,000 years, “on this relatively unravaged Island.”

Now, finally, the last of the Vineyard’s towns, Tisbury, is moving to find out just where that history may lie, lest it be ravaged accidentally in the future.

Tisbury is seeking $20,000 in a grant under the Community Preservation Act to map its archaeology.

The Edgartown Library building committee hit yet another bump in the road this week when the town historic district commission said it will not allow the Warren House to be torn down.

The building committee’s latest plan calls for razing the historic colonial-era house and replacing it with a parking lot for the expanded and renovated library at the Carnegie building on North Water street

But after meeting on Tuesday with the historic district commission, that plan, like others before it, now must be scrapped.

It seems, on its face, a ludicrous mismatch.

On the one side, the legal might of the United States Coast Guard and Department of the Interior, and on the other a small bunch of fishermen armed with books of raffle tickets, bags of shellfish and, reportedly, Warren Doty’s banjo.

The Denniston house was issued a stay of execution this week as Oak Bluffs residents and officials railed at the prospect of losing a part of Island history.

On Tuesday night Edgartown voters will decide whether to take the first steps to withdraw from the Martha’s Vineyard Commission, marking the first time in nearly a decade for an Island town to seriously consider withdrawal from the Island’s only regional planning agency.

The article is one of six on a special town meeting warrant. The meeting begins at 7 p.m. in the Old Whaling Church; longtime moderator Philip J. Norton Jr. will preside over the session.

The Oak Bluffs Police Department won the AAA National Gold Award, for the town’s outstanding community traffic safety education and enforcement programs.

The award was presented to officers James Morse and Christopher Wiggin at a ceremony on Nov. 9 at the annual AAA Community Traffic Safety Awards.

Police departments are recognized for five or more years without pedestrian fatalities or for taking steps to improve traffic safety and education in the community.

UNHELPFUL DIATRIBE

Editors, Vineyard Gazette:

The Annual Black Powder Shoot, enabling the primitive firearms shooters to make ready for their hunting season, will be held on Sunday, Dec. 12 at the Rod and Gun Club in Edgartown.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers this week began field work to ensure Vineyard beaches used for practice bombing training during World War II are cleared of practice munitions.

The work, which will continue into 2012, also involves the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation and The Trustees of Reservations.

Spice of Life

Storytelling is her game, Susan Klein is her name. The name of her hugely popular memoir-writing workshop is Spice of Life.

If you want the benefit of Ms. Klein’s organization and writing advice, sign up now for the Spice that arrives in January: the next workshop will be held on Thursday afternoons, 1 to 3:30 p.m. weekly from Jan. 6 to March 3 next year at the Tisbury Senior Center, 34 Pine Tree Road in Vineyard Haven.