The season's first big snowstorm turned the Island into a
winter wonderland yesterday and last night. It marked the first time in
years the Vineyard has seen so much snow before Christmas.

Edgartown officials will soon get their foot in the door of every rental property in town, the result of a selectmen-endorsed regulation which forces property owners to license rental properties and allow inspectors to ensure dwellings meet state habitation codes.

Vineyard Officials Ask Wider Public Role in Deliberations on Airport
Master Plan

By JONATHAN BURKE

Island officials, from the town of Aquinnah to the Dukes County
Commission to the Martha's Vineyard Commission, have requested a
broader public process in connection with the airport commission's
consideration of its 20-year master plan.

The Vineyard's winning season ended on Saturday afternoon with a narrow 25-20 loss to Nantucket. The annual Island Cup match at Nantucket was a decisive game for the Vineyard, the last hurdle the team needed to clear in order to advance into post-season play.

In the first half, when winds gusted close to 30 knots, both teams managed one touchdown. Nantucket's extra point gave them a 7-6 lead at halftime. The wind factor was most apparent after the Vineyard's touchdown when Ben

Tisbury Severs Firm in Wastewater Plan

Selectmen Drop Earth Tech Engineers in Sharp Dispute Over Money
Issues; Rhode Island Company Gets Nod

By JONATHAN BURKE

Tisbury selectmen voted unanimously Tuesday night to terminate the
town's relationship with its wastewater engineers and to jump to
another firm on the eve of the town's largest municipal project in
decades.

Confronted with a fee hike request from Earth Tech, the selectmen
decided to move forward with the engineering firm of BETA Group Inc.,
based in Lincoln, R.I.

Edgartown's senior statesman Fred B. Morgan Jr. closed a chapter for the town Tuesday afternoon when the longtime selectman announced he will step down from his leadership post after nearly 31 years of public service.

Junk Cars Remain on Eve of Deadline

By MANDY LOCKE

One day shy of the deadline to rid 172 battered automobiles from
Edgartown's unofficial junkyard, the property is still littered
with nearly 140 junk cars, dozens of kitchen appliances, countless tires
and even a dilapidated doghouse.

"This is a difficult situation for everyone. The town wants it
cleaned up; we want it cleaned up. Everyone's been working in good
faith," said Benjamin Hall Jr., attorney for his parents'
60-acre subdivision off Edgartown-Vineyard Haven Road.

Health Survey Seeks Broad Profile of Medical Needs to Strengthen
Delivery of Care to All Islanders

By JULIA WELLS
Gazette Senior Writer

Marking the first-ever study of its kind on the Island, a
wide-ranging scientific health survey will be launched this winter that
is aimed at developing a comprehensive health report for the Vineyard.

Vineyarders Join Faiths to Offer Holiday Thanks

By NIS KILDEGAARD

"For the beauty and wonder of your creation, in earth and sky
and sea," read Varian Cassat from her place at the pulpit, and the
congregation sent its response echoing from the high ceilings of Grace
Church: "We thank you, God."

The litany of gratitude found its cadence and continued:

"For our daily food and drink, our homes and families, and our
friends:"

"We thank you, God."

Diana Reilly's cookbook calls for 30 pounds of vinyl, two
turntables, a mini disco ball and a fistful of blue marbles. For Scott
Hershowitz, the concoction is a little more bizarre: two conga drums, a
twisty little mallet, a roll of duct tape and two elastic strands beaded
with camel toenails.