A Middlesex Superior Court judge last week upheld the validity of a unique townwide planning and zoning district in Aquinnah.

The decision, which was entered on Friday by the Hon. Julian T. Houston, found in favor of the town and the Martha's Vineyard Commission against a developer who is seeking to open access to and subdivide parcels of vacant land off Moshup Trail. The developer, James J. Decoulos, has filed more than 10 different legal challenges against the town, a number of which are still ongoing.

Power Research Institute Challenges Practicality of Tidal Energy
Project

By JAMES KINSELLA
Gazette Senior Writer

Engineering analysis has raised questions about
the practicality of a proposed tidal energy farm near the Middle Ground
in Vineyard Sound.

Roger Bedard, ocean energy leader at the Electric Power Research
Institute in Palo Alto, Calif., said the tidal flow through the Sound is
not fast enough to make a tidal turbine energy project feasible.

Boat Line Pursues Government Grants

Oak Bluffs Ferry Terminal Renovation Is Delayed Until Steamship
Authority Acquires State and Federal Funding

By JAMES KINSELLA

The $10.1 million renovation of the Oak Bluffs ferry terminal and
several other major Steamship Authority projects will remain on hold
until the boat line succeeds in landing state or federal government
grants.

p> After over a week of cool temperatures, rain and fog, the clouds
parted on Sunday morning just in time for the 47th annual commencement
of the Martha's Vineyard Regional High School. Before the ceremony
even began, Tyler Meyst was beaming.

Aquinnah Voters Adopt Balanced Budget

By IAN FEIN

It took a month and a good dose of grief, but Aquinnah voters last
week completed their annual town meeting and adopted a balanced $2.6
million town budget.

The approval did not come a moment too soon for town officials, who
needed to have a budget in place for the start of the 2007 fiscal year
only three weeks away.

Did you know that it is illegal to roller skate on most parts of
Circuit avenue in Oak Bluffs? Or that all raw milk and cream sold in
Edgartown is supposed to come from cows certified by the town inspector
of milk?

And don't even think about driving your horse at a furious or
immoderate gait in Tisbury or at an unreasonable rate in Oak Bluffs.
Both are also illegal, and could net you a fine, or worse, a night in
jail.

Selectmen Appoint Veteran Patrolman to Be Acting Chief

By MAX HART

The Tisbury police department remained in the spotlight this week,
as selectmen appointed one of the town's veteran officers to serve
as temporary chief of police after outgoing chief Theodore (Ted)
Saulnier announced he would step down three weeks earlier than
anticipated.

Shrugging Off Conventional Rules, Miss McCarthy Writes Own Script

By MAX HART

Ask high school valedictorians around the country what they like to
do in their free time, and you will likely hear a variety of
conventionally high-brow answers: write poetry, play a musical
instrument, paint watercolors, perform community service.

Now ask Simone McCarthy, valedictorian of this year's
graduating class at the Martha's Vineyard Regional High School,
what she likes to do when free from the constraints of studying.

Senate Debates Housing Bank

Legislation Laid on Table Twice, but Senate Vote Expected Soon;
Robert O'Leary Speaks Out for the Cape and Islands

By IAN FEIN

Special legislation to create a Martha's Vineyard Housing Bank
is nearing a vote in the Massachusetts state senate.

They have won prestigious awards in art, journalism and sports and
have played a stronger role in student government than any class before
them, taking the first strides against racial tension in the school.

When the Martha's Vineyard Regional High School class of 2006
graduates on Sunday afternoon at 1:30 p.m. under the shelter of the
Tabernacle on the Camp Ground in Oak Bluffs, 204 young men and women
will leave their school a better place than when they first arrived.