Art Buchwald opened last night's Possible Dreams auction with the same wit that over 24 years has helped raise $4 million dollars for Martha's Vineyard Community Services: "Despite the 250 cars waiting at the blinker light," he declared, "we're going to start."

Nearly four hours later, Mr. Buchwald ended the benefit by auctioning the hat off his head for $4,000, bringing the night's total to more than $500,000, organizers said, an auction record.

The Martha's Vineyard Commission announced yesterday that it
will join the town of Aquinnah and ask a superior court judge to
reconsider his recent ruling in favor of the Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head
(Aquinnah).

Two months ago the Hon. Richard F. Connon found that the tribe
cannot be sued because of sovereign immunity.

Oak Bluffs Selectmen to Check Moped Dealers' Record Books

By CHRIS BURRELL

In the years of controversy and political wrangling over the safety
of mopeds on the Vineyard, dealers have kept close guard over one vital
statistic: the actual number of mopeds they rent and set loose on Island
roads.

Charging Bigotry, Applicant Attacks Commissioner Role

By JULIA WELLS

In a tense exchange that left members of the Martha's Vineyard
Commission stunned, the developer of the Down Island Golf Club took off
the gloves last night, repeatedly calling a senior member of the
commission a bigot.

Health Survey Results in; Report Sunday

By JULIA WELLS

The people of the Vineyard are healthy - healthier, in fact,
than the general population on the mainland. They have lower rates of
obesity, they smoke less, they are conscientious about prevention and
they visit their doctors regularly.

A 55-year-old Steamship authority crew member is in Providence
Hospital, recovering from a near-drowning suffered yesterday when a
routine man-overboard drill aboard the Steamship Authority ferry
Islander went suddenly and catastrophically wrong.

The Summer the Music Stopped: Local Venues See Crowds Thin

By CHRIS BURRELL

They're all tuned up and ready to rock and roll. There's
only one problem. The dance floor's empty, and there are just
three guys standing up against the wall waiting for the music.

Not even the band can avoid commenting on the dismal turnout:
"It's a lonely night at the Ritz," says Bear, lead
singer in Bear and Company.

NANTUCKET - Walter Beinecke's name is spoken with a sense of awe and an undercurrent of resentment. He's the fellow, people here will tell you, who in the 1960s awoke this sleepy little island. He's the entrepreneur, who, owning much of Nantucket's downtown and practically all of the working harborfront - jammed with more fishing vessels than tourists in those days, did the math. He figured the place could benefit more from 100 people spending $100 each than 1,000 people buying a $10 T-shirt.

Complaining that Edgartown officials turned a deaf ear to their appeals to limit operations at Katama Farm, a group of four Katama residents will go to court Tuesday - pleading with a superior court judge to evict the FARM Institute, newest tenant of the town-owned farm.

County Commissioners Delay on Manager Hire

By MANDY LOCKE

The Dukes County commissioners stalled again this week -
failing to resolve questions raised about newly hired county manager
Laurie Perry's college degree.

"I'm dismayed it's taken this long to resolve the
issue. It does sound like a broken record, but this will be resolved at
our next meeting. There isn't any more to talk about," said
John Alley, chairman of the county commission.