Vineyard Epidemic: Lyme Disease on the Rise: Health Experts Track
Cases

By BRIEN HEFLER

The Martha's Vineyard Hospital reports a large increase in
Lyme disease cases this summer - over double the number seen last
year - fueling concerns about what many public health experts say
is now an epidemic of the disease carried by tiny deer ticks.

Football Squad Opens at Home Tonight

By MAX HART

It wasn't the best of times for the Martha's Vineyard
Regional High School football team, and it wasn't the worst
either.

Selectmen in Five Island Towns Confer on County Government

By IAN FEIN

Raising questions of cost and effectiveness, selectmen from across
the Vineyard agreed this week to reexamine the role of Dukes County
government.

The decision marks the first step in a process that could imperil
the future of regional government on the Vineyard.

Fuel Costs Drive Rate Hikes at SSA

By JAMES KINSELLA
Gazette Senior Writer

Vineyard and Nantucket governors on the Steamship Authority
anticipate that fuel costs will drive boat line rates higher in the
coming year.

"We haven't had a rate hike since 2003," said
Vineyard governor and board chairman Marc Hanover. "We're
certainly due . . . we've had a nice ride of it, but the ride is
over."

"We're hoping for a little more efficient operation, but
there's only so much you can do," Nantucket governor Flint
Ranney said.

MVC Advises Additional Review of Draft Bill for Housing Bank

By IAN FEIN

The Martha's Vineyard Commission last week recommended that
draft legislation for the proposed Martha's Vineyard Housing Bank
receive one more round of public comment across the Island before it is
filed with the state legislature.

Housing bank representatives said yesterday they do not think it is
necessary.

The fall sports season is under way for the athletes at the
Martha's Vineyard Regional High School, with all the teams other
than football having played their opening games. Both varsity field
hockey and boys' soccer are looking to repeat their tournament
runs of last year - and with a strong cadre of upperclassmen
returning to each, they are positioned to do just that.

Six stripers over 30 pounds each were weighed in in the first 36 hours of the Martha's Vineyard Striped Bass and Bluefish Derby, and if the early catch is any indication it is going to be an exciting 35 days of fishing.

Chappaquiddick Residents File Appeal to Stop Homesite Plan

By RACHEL KOVAC

A small group of Chappaquiddick residents went to state court last
week to try and block a decision by the Edgartown zoning board of
appeals to allow three affordable homesites on substandard lots.

The appeal will delay the real estate closings on the three lots for
five young Island residents.

Edgartown Set for Tax Review

Local Assessments Bureau Studies Abatements on Chappaquiddick;
Officials on Island and Beyond Monitor West Tisbury Case

By IAN FEIN

One week after testimony concluded in the protracted West Tisbury
property tax appeal, a Massachusetts Department of Revenue bureau chief
confirmed that the state will conduct a rare supplemental review of
Edgartown property values after a spate of unusual abatements were
granted on Chappaquiddick.

Steamship Authority Projects Rate Hikes on Vineyard Route for the
Coming Year

By JAMES KINSELLA

Steamship Authority managers confirmed yesterday that they expect to
recommend rate increases for the coming year on the state-chartered boat
line that provides the only year-round car and passenger service to the
two Islands.

SSA general manager Wayne Lamson said the staff is including
proposed increases in the draft boat line operating budget, which will
come before the SSA board of governors at their meeting next Thursday in
Hyannis.