A green sea turtle named Quiddick that was rescued from the chilly waters of Cape Pogue Pond 11 months ago reentered Vineyard waters last Friday as a fully recovered wild animal.

A crew of New England Aquarium personnel, together with a veterinarian with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Fisheries service in Woods Hole, watched with pleasure as Quiddick and an even more rare Kemp's Ridley sea turtle named Kiwi moved from the beach to the surf. The release took place in the early afternoon at Long Point Wildlife Refuge, owned by The Trustees of Reservations.

Landowner Offers to Settle Tax Case

William Graham Hand Delivers Letter Asking the West Tisbury
Selectmen to Intervene with Assessors

By IAN FEIN

West Tisbury resident William W. Graham appealed to the town
selectmen this week to intervene in his costly tax case with the
assessors and help negotiate a settlement.

Reviewing an Edgartown town report from the 1920s, town shellfish constable Paul Bagnall said two of the highest paid town officials were the police chief and shellfish constable. At the time, he said, the constable routinely oversaw between 150 and 200 licensed shellfishermen.

Today there are 49 commercial bay scallop fishermen in Edgartown.

The decline in the number of commercial scallopers was just one of the many changes in the fishery that Mr. Bagnall, Oak Bluffs constable David Grunden and Tisbury constable Derek Cimeno spoke to this week.

HYANNIS - In the latest skirmish in the continuing battle between the Tisbury board of selectmen and the Steamship Authority, the port council yesterday backed a boat line plan to shift three summer trips from Vineyard Haven to Oak Bluffs.

The decision by the council, which advises the SSA board of governors, came over the bitter protests of council member and Tisbury selectman Thomas W. Pachico and fellow selectman Tristan Israel. The council voted 5-1, with Mr. Pachico dissenting and Nantucket member Nathaniel Lowell absent, to back the SSA plan.

Lure Shopping Stirs Memories of the Big One

By MAX HART

It comes as no surprise that Steve Amaral has a unique collection of
stories and secrets hiding inside his tackle bag.

To find the small plot of land that celebrates one of the
Island's most famous and respected residents, just stroll up to
the back of the building that bears her name.

Hot Tin Roof Under Agreement for Sale to Rosenthal Brothers

By JULIA WELLS

The Hot Tin Roof, the 26-year-old Vineyard nightclub that has
weathered the bumps of age alongside the baby-boomers who were its first
patrons in 1979, is slated to be sold to new owners before the end of
the year.

Barry Rosenthal, a West Tisbury resident and marketing and
communications executive who is president of B/R Creative, has signed an
agreement to buy the Roof along with his brother, Dr. Arthur Rosenthal,
a Ph.D. scientist who lives in the Boston area.

Blue Heron Farm, the sprawling gentleman's farm overlooking
Tiah's Cove in Chilmark and West Tisbury that was the former
residence of the late M. Anthony (Tony) Fisher and his wife Anne, was
sold last week to a Mississippi couple for $20.35 million.

The buyers are William and Mollie Van Devender of Jackson, Miss.

Sheriff Took Training with Tisbury Police

Controversy Over Nantucket Sheriff Spills Onto Vineyard Turf with
News of Assault Weapon Instruction Here

By JAMES KINSELLA
Gazette Senior Writer

The Nantucket County sheriff, mired in controversy, including over
his recent decision to buy assault weapons, obtained training and
certification for the weapons several weeks ago from the Tisbury police
department.

MCAS Scores Stay Even; High School Math Rises for Fourth Year
Running

By RACHEL KOVAC

Vineyard MCAS scores remained relatively flat overall this year,
although math scores at the Martha's Vineyard Regional High School
and West Tisbury eighth grade rocketed well above state averages.

Scores for the Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System exam
were released by the Department of Education Wednesday, pushing
educators into a tailspin as they rushed to analyze the results for
their students, teachers and communities.