Claiming a mandate from town voters that supports turning the southern woodlands into a private luxury golf course, Oak Bluffs selectmen this week officially joined forces with Connecticut developer Corey Kupersmith in a plan aimed at making the golf club a reality - even if it means leaving the Martha's Vineyard Commission.
State public health officials yesterday confirmed this year's third case of pneumonic tularemia, the rare and potentially fatal disease that killed a Chilmark man two years ago and has baffled scientists for the last three summers.
New Bedford Suit Against SSA Brings Sharp Queries from Judge
By JULIA WELLS
BOSTON - In a courtroom grilling that went on for nearly three
straight hours, a federal judge put the lead attorney for the city of
New Bedford on a hot spot this week, prodding him to produce a set of
plausible legal arguments that show why he should not dismiss the
Whaling City's case against the Steamship Authority.
Smooth sailing has all but disappeared underneath the Lagoon Pond
drawbridge these days.
Three weeks ago, bridgetender Robert Maciel detected some shaking as
cars passed over the 70-year-old bridge.
"I've been the bridgetender for 26 years, and it's
worse now than I've ever seen it," he said late yesterday
morning from his home in West Tisbury, a time of day he typically spends
at the bridge.
Holy Ghost Feast Honors Heritage of Portuguese
By MARK ALAN LOVEWELL
Two days of celebration begin tomorrow in the annual Feast of the
Holy Ghost. Islanders of Portuguese heritage and their friends will
party, dine and parade in a festival whose traditions date back more
than half a century.
"This is our heritage," said Bobbie Ann Gibson of Oak
Bluffs, president of the Holy Ghost Association.
Commissioners Open Review of Southern Woodlands Plan
By JULIA WELLS
Battles lines were drawn last night when a Bolton developer who
wants to build a massive housing project in the Southern Woodlands gave
the Martha's Vineyard Commission its first glimpse of the project.
In fact a glimpse was all that was available, as developer Brian
Lafferty unveiled only the barest outlines of his plan to build 320
homes on 288 acres in Oak Bluffs.
The great thing about yesterday's memorial service for Francis (Pat) West Jr. was hearing the echo of his voice.
Emotions ran high throughout the final night of public testimony regarding a Chapter 40B affordable housing development that, if approved, would place 20 homes on 4.9 acres of land near Tisbury's center.
Congressman Ties New Bedford to Full Pay for Any Ferry Deficit
By JULIA WELLS
Gazette Senior Writer
If New Bedford and the state legislature want the Steamship
Authority to run ferry service between the Whaling City and the Islands,
then the port should agree to pay 100 per cent of any deficit incurred.
That was the opinion of Cong. William Delahunt, delivered bluntly in
a conversation with the Gazette yesterday morning.
Federal Business Loans Help Fire Recovery Effort
By JOSHUA SABATINI
Visiting the sandy lot on Main street where the Tisbury Inn stood
before it was destroyed in a December fire, Cong. William Delahunt
joined Tisbury officials and businessmen yesterday morning for a
groundbreaking ceremony.
Mr. Delahunt announced as part of the event that the inn's
owners, Sherman and Susan Goldstein, had received nearly $400,000 in
loans from the federal Small Business Administration to help rebuild
their landmark hotel.
