While town and school officials up-Island continue their years-long debate over the fairness of their regional school district, the Massachusetts department of education is preparing to enforce statewide changes that could dramatically alter not only up-Island district finances, but also how every Vineyard town pays for the regional high school.

Nancy Gardella, the new executive director of the Martha's
Vineyard Chamber of Commerce, had a lesson in Island living shortly
after moving here and starting her job last month.

Eighteen years ago, when Cronig's Market and Up-Island
Cronig's owner Stephen Bernier first decided to open his grocery
stores on Sundays through the off-season, he was met with outrage in the
community.

Nonprofit Collaborative Tracks Charitable Giving on Vineyard

By JAMES KINSELLA
Gazette Senior Writer

A new study shows that philanthropic giving to many Island-based
nonprofit organizations fell from 2003 to 2004.

The study, conducted by the Martha's Vineyard Donors
Collaborative, is based on the filings that the organizations are
required to do with the Internal Revenue Service as part of their
nonprofit status.

Hospital Plan Peppered with Questions

By IAN FEIN

Neighbors last week aired concerns about plans for the new $42
million Martha's Vineyard Community Hospital, while other Island
residents asked pointed questions about the wisdom of rebuilding such a
critical facility on the vulnerable 13-acre property off Beach Road in
the Eastville section of Oak Bluffs.

The comments came during a public information session hosted by the
Martha's Vineyard Commission last Thursday at the Tisbury senior
center.

Hurricane Katrina Anniversary Stirs Memories

Vineyard Residents Who Helped Vividly Recall Battered Region

By TOM DRESSER

During the eight years that former West Tisbury teaching assistant
Jill Dresser (who is my daughter) lived in New Orleans, the common
refrain she heard was that it was a doomed city, a bowl that had sunk
below water. Potholes were frequently seen gushing up water. Rain storms
quickly became momentary afternoon floods. And there always was talk of
The Big One.

Police Arrest Tisbury Man in Connection with Assault

Police last night apprehended a Vineyard Haven man in connection
with a violent sexual assault that took place in the early morning hours
Monday at the home of a 36-year-old woman.

Listening to Hard Lessons of Hurricane Katrina

By JAMES KINSELLA

The anguished crying went on and on, echoing within the walls of the
Old Whaling Church in Edgartown, where hundreds sat in silence.

On the screen at the front of the hall, a mother was walking away
from the grave of her five-year-old daughter, who drowned when the
levees outside New Orleans broke last August 30, sending the swollen
waters of Hurricane Katrina pouring into the streets of the mostly
black, mostly poor Ninth Ward.

Town Leaders Struggle to Place Controls on Taxi Fares With Little
Success; for Consumers, Caveat Emptor

The debate has swirled for decades, and the issue seems to resurface
every year during the hot summer months, when tourists are plentiful and
taxicabs are flush with fares: why does the Island not have a uniform
set of taxi regulations?