Reduce the number of birds and leash the dogs.

That's the translation of a technical study released this week by a leading marine biologist which concludes that a flock of invasive cormorants and - to a lesser extent - a group of domesticated dogs are responsible for the high levels of fecal contamination in Sengekontacket Pond.

None of the houses on North Water street in Edgartown are small. But tucked among the old whaling captains’ homes, with their broad lawns stretching down to private docks on the outer harbor is a comparatively diminutive Greek revival building known as the library. The fate of this home has hung in the balance since September, when plans for its demolition were first presented to the Edgartown historic district commission in the wake of strong neighborhood opposition to the project.

A leading opponent is neighbor John Connors.

In a move that has outraged Island homeowners and their elected state representatives alike, the Massachusetts Division of Insurance, with only scant publicity, recently agreed to hike to the roof certain deductibles for people insured under the FAIR plan.

Two leading Island recreational fishing organizations have called on the state Division of Marine Fisheries to end the controversial practice known as yo-yoing, which laces bait fish with lead that ends up in the bellies of striped bass.

When celebrity chef Jamie Oliver found students at an English elementary school eating a quarter-ton of chips each week in lunches that cost less to make than those at nearby prisons, he did something completely unexpected. He signed up as a lunch lady — bringing his fame, culinary skill and television production crew. In the four-episode series that followed, the ebullient Mr. Oliver faced student revolts, cafeterias losing money, and parents smuggling junk food over school fences.

Edgartown wastewater authorities believe a plan to sewer hundreds of homes in the watershed of the Edgartown Great Pond can achieve the 30 per cent reduction in nitrogen pollution required to restore it to health.

A draft report of the Massachusetts Estuaries Project, obtained and published by the Gazette last week, finds the Great Pond’s water quality is significantly affected by heavy nitrogen loading. The biggest single contributor to the problem is household septic systems, the report found.

In a classic double bind, Edgartown will need to rely on voter turnout to reduce the number of voters required for future quorums at town meetings. The quorum question will form part of a special town meeting on Tuesday night.

The meeting begins at 7 p.m. in the Old Whaling Church and will be moderated by Philip J. Norton Jr.

Apologies to Ethan

An announcement in last week’s Gazette provided incorrect information about a son born to Scott and Lila DiBiaso of West Tisbury. The DiBiasos have announced the birth of a son, Ethan Ryder DiBiaso, born on Nov. 10 at Martha’s Vineyard Community Hospital. Ethan weighed 8 pounds, 1 ounce. Big brother Owen welcomes Ethan.

The Gazette regrets the error.

Receives Degree

Patrick Rolston of Vineyard Haven received a degree in marketing in May from Johnson & Wales University in Providence, R.I.

After a slow start due to poor weather, the shotgun season for deer is in full swing.

As of Wednesday afternoon — the third day of the two-week shotgun season — a total of 67 deer had been checked in at the station at Manuel F. Correllus State Forest, while 35 had been checked in at the Wampanoag tribe station in Aquinnah.

Through the first week of shotgun season last year, by comparison, 200 deer were checked in at the state forest and 122 were checked in with the tribe.