Long Island Ferry Concern Eyes Martha's Vineyard for
Possible New Route
By James Kinsella
Gazette Senior Writer
Owners of a Montauk, N.Y., ferry company have launched a federal
lawsuit that could open the way for car ferry and fast ferry service
between Long Island and Martha's Vineyard.
In the lawsuit, entities with ownership interests in the Viking
Fleet want to strike down a ban by the town of East Hampton against car
ferries and fast ferries operating out of Montauk harbor.
The trappings of a resort community may be the Vineyard's bread and butter, but the flipside - the seasonality, the economic pressures, a housing market far out of reach of most working people and even the private beaches - may be the ingredients underlying rates of depression, substance abuse and suicide that are higher than the state and even national averages.
The trappings of a resort community may be the Vineyard's bread and butter, but the flipside - the seasonality, the economic pressures, a housing market far out of reach of most working people and even the private beaches - may be the ingredients underlying rates of depression, substance abuse and suicide that are higher than the state and even national averages.
Principal Assessor Questioned for Hours; Town Tax Trial Heads Into a
Third Week
By IAN FEIN
BOSTON - West Tisbury principal assessor Jo-Ann Resendes this
week defended the town's property tax values during two days of
testimony marked by contested exchanges in a legal case that carries
far-reaching implications for the community.
After a long, cold winter, Vineyard property owners are getting some welcome news: people are still willing to pay thousands of dollars a week to rent homes on the Island in summer.
"I'd say it's just as strong as last year," said David Cron, a partner at Island Real Estate in Vineyard Haven.
At Tea Lane Associates in West Tisbury, broker Mary Jo Goodrich also reports a strong market, with rents staying about the same.
"We are about on par with where we were last time," said Judy Federowicz of Coldwell Banker Landmarks in Vineyard Haven.
Steamship Authority Downsizes; Savings Estimated at $1 Million
By James Kinsella
Gazette Senior Writer
Senior managers at the Steamship Authority quietly announced
yesterday that a total of 23 positions were eliminated earlier this year
by offering severance packages to employees.
It began 10 months ago as an idea.
This week, the idea took a giant step closer to reality when Aquinnah became the sixth town to support the creation of a housing bank, modeled after the Martha's Vineyard Land Bank.
The concept is called the Martha's Vineyard Housing Bank.
Now the heavy lifting begins.
In order to become law, the housing bank needs approval from the state legislature and also every Vineyard town.
In a race that pitted experience against idealism, Camille Rose defeated Faith Vanderhoop for a seat on the board of selectmen in Aquinnah's annual election on Wednesday.
In a race that pitted experience against idealism, Camille Rose
defeated Faith Vanderhoop for a seat on the board of selectmen in
Aquinnah's annual election on Wednesday.
A record turnout of voters came out to the polls in the second
smallest town in the commonwealth. In fact, two-thirds of the 368
registered voters - a total of 248 voters - cast ballots on
a bright spring day. The final tally was 131-111.
Buoyed by an eleventh hour surprise of almost $300,000 in free cash,
Aquinnah voters wrapped up their annual meeting Tuesday night in an
unfamiliar way: $2.7 million in spending with no need for a Proposition
2 1/2 override.
And with a turbulent fiscal year now nearly a memory, the town heads
into a new year on July 1 with its financial house in order.
