The sale of beer and wine has begun in two West Tisbury restaurants. Last Friday marked the first night the Lambert’s Cove Inn and State Road Restaurant sold beer and wine, thanks to last-minute license approval from the state Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission.

Both restaurants received their permits late Friday afternoon, shortly before the dinner hour. Lambert’s Cove Inn co-owner Scott Jones said he was not expecting it for another two weeks.

Harpooned swordfish, once synonymous with the Fourth of July holiday and a staple of the Menemsha fishing fleet, are no longer being caught by Vineyard fishermen.

Though prevalent in local fish markets this season, harpooned swordfish are now all being caught by fishermen from afar.

The reason has to do with a convoluted bureaucracy, an expensive permit system and waning interest in the age-old method of catching fresh swordfish.

The historic Dreamland building in Oak Bluff may soon be more than just a fading facade seen from the street.

JB Blau, a well-known Island businessman and restaurant owner, has announced plans to turn the second floor of the building into a music and entertainment spot. A grand opening is planned for July 13 with a group of Island bands, followed by a summer-long lineup of entertainment that includes comedy acts, a CD release party and more musical events.

On a recent sparkling morning at Inkwell Beach, summer resident and retired Boston judge Ed Redd emerged from his daily swim and carefully considered a question: Does Martha’s Vineyard still retain a certain magic for African Americans — longtime residents and new visitors alike? Judge Redd, a barrel-chested, affable ambassador for the Polar Bears, the historic group that finds invigoration and spirituality in morning swims at the Inkwell from July 4 to Labor Day, didn’t pause for long.

A 21-year-old New Hampshire woman remained in a Boston hospital with life-threatening injuries yesterday following a two-car crash on Barnes Road that marred Fourth of July festivities on the Vineyard Wednesday afternoon.

The crash left five people injured, three of them seriously, state police said.

The three people were later flown by medical helicopter to Boston hospitals, including Heather LaFlamme, 21, of Berlin, N.H., who was reported in critical condition at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston Thursday afternoon.

Neighbors to a large house that is now nearly built on Nashaquitsa Pond in Chilmark have asked the town zoning board of appeals to enforce what they claim are zoning violations on the property.

The 8,200-square-foot house being built by Adam Zoia on the former Harrison property has been the subject of widespread discussion in Chilmark during the last year, including at the town planning board over whether more rules need to be developed to regulate very large houses.

Citing a decline in use and changes to the health insurance industry, the Martha’s Vineyard Hospital is reporting an operating loss for 2011, the first unprofitable year in about a decade, the hospital said.

The hospital reported an operations income loss of $591,855 from April 2011 to April 2012. While total revenue was up from the previous year, expenses also increased at a higher rate.

Marcella Andrews of Chilmark, Emma Forbes of Oak Bluffs, Hannah Marlin of Vineyard Haven and Sarah Nelson of Vineyard Haven were named to the dean’s list at the University of New Hampshire for the spring 2012 semester. Ms. Andrews, Ms. Forbes and Ms. Nelson received highest honors; Ms. Marlin received honors.

A small gas leak at Church’s Pier in Oak Bluffs saw a quick response from the Oak Bluffs fire department on the afternoon of July 4.

Oak Bluffs fire chief Peter Forend received a call from the owner of Nancy’s restaurant at 4:14 p.m. reporting the leak. He said the leak originated from the holding tank at the fuel dock. The line was shut down immediately and foam was dispersed to prevent a fire hazard. A boom was placed in the water to contain the leak.

Chilmark voters will decide next month whether or not to endorse a state-funded harbor improvement plan in Menemsha.

At their regular meeting Tuesday, the Chilmark selectmen approved a two-article warrant for a special town meeting on August 6. The first article will ask for approval of a new dock system in Menemsha; the second is for $75,000 to go toward year-round housing assistance.