Brevity has rarely been a hallmark of town meeting season in Oak Bluffs, and next week's line-up of 52 articles spread across two warrants could well last more than one night. Voters will act on a range of issues - from affordable housing and funding for the hospital emergency room to new regulations for cell phone towers.

Casting aside deep differences, moped dealers and their politically active opponents formally agreed yesterday to implement a nine-point plan aimed at one goal - reducing injuries to moped riders.

Vineyard Hospital Hikes Rates to Ease Pressures on Rising Budget
Deficit

By JULIA WELLS

Fees went up at the Martha's Vineyard Hospital this week for
the third time in 18 months, as hospital leaders work to tame a stubborn
six-digit operating deficit amid an industry climate that is gloomy on a
good day.

"If misery loves company, then I guess we are okay, but we are
trying to present numbers here that really work," said hospital
chief executive officer Kevin Burchill this week.

Town Meeting: Edgartown

By KATHERINE WILEY

At this year's annual town meeting, Edgartown voters will
decide issues that range from allowing affordable housing on substandard
lots to accepting $300,000 from the Sheriff's Meadow Foundation.

The meeting will take place on Tuesday, April 10 in the Old Whaling
Church at 7:30 p.m. This year's warrant contains 53 articles and
is not viewed by town leaders as particularly controversial.

For the Vineyard it means expanded ferry service using high speed
travel from the port of New Bedford and no new double-ended ferry to
replace the beloved Islander.

For Nantucket it means replacing three familiar old ferries with one
new multi-purpose high-speed ferry whose design has never before been
tested in this country.

Plan Asks Full New Bedford Ferry Ties;

By JULIA WELLS

Gazette Senior Writer

Adding a new kink to the tangled business affairs of the Steamship
Authority, a private freight hauler submitted a license request this
week to run year-round ferry service between New Bedford and the two
Islands.

"We are confident that we can operate these routes
successfully at no cost to the Steamship Authority," wrote Craig
Johnson, who is the director of operations for Seabulk International
Inc., formerly known as Hvide Marine Inc.

Hospital leaders gave themselves a checkup this week, and while no
crisis was detected, there was a prescription - for more work.

Hospital leaders gave themselves a checkup this week, and while no crisis was detected, there was a prescription - for more work.

The Vineyard community turned out in force at noon on Monday to
celebrate the life of Edmond G. Coogan. Friends and family members were
pleased by the outpouring of love and sensitivity at his funeral
services at the Old Whaling Church in Edgartown, and they repeated the
thought over and over again.

Mr. Coogan, 57, a Vineyard Haven attorney and selectman with as many
years of public service to the community as years of residence on the
Island, died last Friday at his home.

A single car crash on County Road in Oak Bluffs Wednesday afternoon claimed the life of high school senior Eric MacLean, who had just turned 18.