Tisbury Faces Buildout Issues

State Forecasts Show Potential for 1,000 New Homes and Over 2,000
More Residents Before Town Reaches Full Capacity

By MANDY LOCKE

In a town that claims the largest year-round population and the
smallest geographic area, many citizens feel the crowding these days.
And the thought of planting another 1,000 homes within Tisbury's
six square miles or adding more cars to the Five Corners intersection
adds fuel to recent public debates over growth within the town.

MVC Returns to Golf Project

Commission Confronts Pressures from Oak Bluffs Selectmen and
Developers to Expedite Plan; Compromise Is Reached

By JULIA WELLS
Gazette Senior Writer

The high-speed chase to force quick approval of a luxury golf and
housing project in the southern woodlands section of Oak Bluffs
continued without letting up last week when the Martha's Vineyard
Commission took up an unusual request to hold a high-speed public review
of the development plan.

FALMOUTH - - Adding fresh fuel to the fire that has burned around the Steamship Authority for months, the Falmouth selectmen voted 4-1 last night to take steps to remove Galen Robbins as the town boat line governor.

"Townspeople are in an uproar about this and I recommend we begin the process of removal," declared selectman Edward Marks.

"I believe that what's on the record is significant grounds and we may begin the process," said selectman Virginia Valiela.

The noisy, motley group of runners suddenly waxed silent and awaited
the bullhorn. When it blasted, the soles of more than a thousand running shoes
began pummelling Middle Road against a canvas of shadows and golden
light.

On Saturday morning the 25th annual Chilmark Road Race began just as
its predecessors - but with an even richer sense of history, and
featuring a wonderful new gadget.

The ferris wheel's been planted, the entry forms returned, the dogs bathed, allowances saved, curfews set.

In the final days before the 141st annual Martha's Vineyard Agricultural Society Livestock Show and Fair begins, volunteers are plugging through the fair's "to do" list. It's a list that Eleanor Neubert - fair manager for 19 years - knows well.

For Robert C. Cleasby, program director at the Martha's Vineyard Camp Meeting Association, there's no better time for singing and celebrating than tomorrow evening, minutes before the start of Illumination Night.

Illumination Night coincides with the culmination of many wonderful aspects of summer on the Vineyard. "This is the major Camp Ground festival as far as summer goes," Mr. Cleasby said. "It's the really fun one."

The water's too cold. The path's too long. There are too many rocks. And worst of all, you can't get a parking space.

Tisbury Inn Reconstruction Start Prompts Angry Complaints from
Business Owners

By JOSHUA SABATINI

A group of Main street business owners stood by helplessly this week
as their stores experienced earthquake-like conditions after
reconstruction work on the Tisbury Inn began Monday.

The former anchor of the downtown business district was destroyed by
a fire in December.

Hugh Weisman organized the first Chilmark Road Race in 1978 as a fun run for the kids at the Chilmark Community Center. He never imagined that tomorrow, he'd be presiding over the 25th annual event, nor that the road race would grow to landmark stature on the calendar of the Island summer.

"It's been very gratifying," said Mr. Weisman, who now gives up a week of vacation every year to run the race. "I ran into somebody in New York this winter who says he lives for the road race - he's flying up for it.

If it's bad news, gripes and complaints, Oak Bluffs selectmen don't want to hear it. This week they scrapped the annual meeting for the town's nonvoting taxpayers, saying they were in no mood to weather another barrage of criticism from the town's summer people.