U.S. Coast Guard Orders Increased Ferry Security After London Bombings

The United States Coast Guard has ordered the Steamship Authority and Hy-Line Cruises to increase security measures on their ferries following the terrorist bomb attacks in London last Thursday.

Coast Guard officials said they are not sounding an alarm, but are simply taking necessary precautions following the London attacks, which as of mid-day yesterday had accounted for 52 deaths.

From Rotary Phones to Wireless, Cuttyhunk Enters Electronic Age

When it comes to telephone service, Cuttyhunk may be going cutting edge.

As part of a plan to upgrade service on the island, part of the town of Gosnold, Verizon has proposed putting up a 45-foot pole on town property on Tower Hill Road.

Landscaper Contracts Tularemia in Case Considered Unusual

The Vineyard's first tularemia case of the year, a 50-year-old male landscaper, may have contracted the potentially fatal disease after handling a dead rabbit he found while working in Edgartown, state public health officials said this week.

Wampanoag Tribe Drops Appeal in Federal court; State High Ruling Prevails

The Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah) announced this week that
it will not appeal the landmark sovereignty case to the United States
Supreme Court.

The decision means that the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court
(SJC) decision from late last year will be allowed to stand, and the
case will now return to the superior court for a remedy.

Pond Stays Closed for Further Study

Pond Stays Closed for Further Study

State Environmental Affairs Secretary Rejects Land Bank Management
Plan at Lambert's Cove Road Kettle Pond

BOSTON - Citing concerns about potential impacts to water
quality and protected species, the Massachusetts Secretary of
Environmental Affairs last month denied the Martha's Vineyard Land
Bank management plan for its proposed Ice House Pond Preserve.

Main Street Campaign Begins in Edgartown

Main Street Campaign Begins in Edgartown

By RACHEL KOVAC

A group of Edgartown business owners have launched an ambitious
campaign to revitalize the heart of downtown, from voluntary facade
improvements to strolling a capella singers to the return of Christmas
in Edgartown.

Slippery Work: American Eels Are in Decline; Species Studied

The American eel, once as abundant as shellfish in Island coastal ponds and rivers and all along the Atlantic seaboard, is in such decline that the federal government is considering placing it on the list of endangered species.

On Wednesday the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service opened a 90-day public comment period on whether to declare the American eel endangered.

West Tisbury Landowner Tells Tax Board Town Valuations Rooted in Faulty System

West Tisbury Landowner Tells Tax Board Town Valuations Rooted in
Faulty System

By IAN FEIN

West Tisbury resident William W. Graham testified in a legal hearing
last week that town assessors overvalued his land by more than $30
million, a figure that resulted in an alleged overpayment of more than
$300,000 in property taxes for 2003 and 2004.

An Old Ferry Sails to New York; Schamonchi Reborn as Party Boat

An Old Ferry Sails to New York; Schamonchi Reborn as Party Boat

By James Kinsella
Gazette Senior Writer

The old ferry Schamonchi has sailed off into the sunset -
literally.

The unwanted remnant of Steamship Authority ferry service between
New Bedford and Martha's Vineyard left its Fairhaven dock around 7
p.m. last Wednesday and steamed west for New York city. Fourteen hours
later, the vessel arrived in Queens, three to four hours faster than
expected.

Paramedic Training Is Lifesaving Device

He had already showered and taken the dog out for a walk by the time he realized the pain in his chest was serious enough to bother disturbing his wife, who was fast asleep.

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