New health regulations aimed at reducing groundwater contamination
will result in many homeowners in Ocean Heights and Arbutus Park paying
tens of thousands of dollars for new water and septic systems.

The regulations, finalized this week, will apply to all new
developments and will also, over time, require modifications to hundreds
of existing homes built on substandard lots.

Tisbury Finds that Urbanity Can Be Costly

By RACHEL NAVA ROHR

Normally, it would not surprise people to learn that the Tisbury
School is no longer considered "rural" enough to qualify for
a federal grant called the Rural Education Achievement Program (REAP).

But given that 2004 was the first year that the Island's most
densely populated towns - Tisbury, Oak Bluffs and Edgartown
- were awarded the REAP grant, and Tisbury alone was the only
school district to lose the grant last fall, the loss has raised some
eyebrows.

Aquinnah Voters Approve Town-Tribal Land Use Pact, Possible Alcohol
Sales

By IAN FEIN

Opening a new chapter in the sometimes strained relationship between
the town and Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah), Aquinnah voters at
a special town meeting last night endorsed a land use agreement that
will attempt to resolve a longstanding jurisdictional dispute for the
two governments.

Among the many speeches given at the commissioning of the new ferry Island Home last Saturday, Boyd (Butch) King's was both the briefest and most touching.

Trying to get people's thoughts on the new Island Home ferry
during its maiden voyage Monday afternoon was kind of like asking a
child what they thought of their new stepmom or stepdad the same day
their parents got divorced.

Trying to get people\'s thoughts on the new Island Home ferry
during its maiden voyage Monday afternoon was kind of like asking a
child what they thought of their new stepmom or stepdad the same day
their parents got divorced.

The Steamship Authority board of governors is expected to declare
the Islander surplus and put the vessel up for sale when it meets next
week.

The general manager of the boat line, Wayne Lamson, said he would
recommend the board invite potential buyers to submit sealed bids, with
a view to disposing of the 57-year-old ferry within three or four
months.

Officials from Martha's Vineyard Regional High School joined
forces with a determined group of student athletes this week to fight
the recent decision by the South Coast athletic conference to remove
several Vineyard sports teams from its ranks.

The Vineyard school is mounting a double-barreled effort, lobbying
mainland officials for support while mulling a legal challenge to the
removal.

Forced to choose the assessment method that is most likely to gain
the needed approval - or else face the possibility of entering the
next fiscal year without a budget - the regional high school
district committee voted Monday to continue using the long-held
enrollment-based formula in the regional agreement, rather than the
"statutory" formula put forward by the state.

Town-Tribe Pact on Land Use Comes to Vote Next Thursday

By IAN FEIN

A much-debated land use agreement between the town and Wampanoag
Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah) will come back before Aquinnah voters at a
special town meeting next week.