A New Year’s Day fire caused severe damage to an Oak Bluffs home, with Oak Bluffs fire chief Peter Forend saying the home is likely “a total loss.” The cause of the fire at 17 Spruce avenue has yet to be determined.

The two-story home was “pretty well gutted out,” said Mr. Forend. “There wasn’t much we could do.”

Two renters were home at the time of the fire but escaped without injury, he said. The home is owned by Vineyard Haven residents Ronald Jackson Jr. and Rene Jackson.

Rep. Keating to Visit

U.S. Rep William R. Keating (D-Mass.) is scheduled to visit Martha’s Vineyard Monday for a series of tours and meetings.

The West Tisbury selectmen say they will need to call a special town meeting to secure additional funds for the roundabout lawsuit after preliminary attorney fees have quickly drained the town’s legal funds budget.

Prompted by by a 40 per cent drop in ridership and scheduling inconsistencies, beach officials said Tuesday they are considering eliminating the summer bus route connecting Chilmark inns to Lucy Vincent Beach.

Beach superintendent Martina Mastromonaco and beach committee chairman Kristen Maloney said at the Chilmark selectmen’s meeting that last summer’s schedule was the most difficult to manage in recent years.

Edgartown selectmen Tuesday praised a proposal to have the Martha’s Vineyard Preservation Trust take stewardship of the Edgartown library building, possibly transforming the building into a cultural and educational center, if it is replaced by a new library.

Hotel Earns High Praise

The Charlotte Inn in Edgartown continues to attract awards. The luxury Edgartown hotel has been named to British magazine Tatler’s list of 101 Best Hotels in the World. Only eight hotels in the United States were chosen for the list.

The inn also has been included on Forbes Travel Guide’s 54th annual list of five-star and four-star hospitality establishments worldwide, and was chosen as one of the top 30 small resorts in the United States in Conde Nast Traveler’s annual readers’ choice awards.

As the second month of winter sports gets under way, all four regional high school varsity teams maintain their winning records, with boys’ basketball still undefeated.

The boys play Bishop Feehan at home tomorrow at 3 p.m. Girls’ hockey will also be on home ice tomorrow, taking on Hanover/Cohasset at 12:30 p.m.

Who will gather leaves for the children’s craft?

Who will sort the harmless reds from the poison?

Who will fold and unfold the octagonal star?

Who will care less for the flower than for its unfolding?

Who will look at a rock and see a king, a loser, a lost you?

Sylvia-Haveard Benefit

On Saturday, Jan 7, from 6:30 p.m. to midnight there will be a fundraiser for the family of Bethany (Sylvia) Haveard. The event will take place at the P.A. Club in Oak Bluffs and includes appetizers, a cash bar, silent and live auctions, and music featuring Morgan Reltza, Megan LaRoque and guests.

Please Adopt Us

Do you own your own home with a nice fenced-in yard and no other animals? Have you always wanted just one dog? If so, we have a special dog just for you at the Animal Shelter of Martha’s Vineyard. Her name is Missy and she is a year-old purebred pit bull. Missy is extremely well behaved and loves people, but doesn’t like other dogs. If you would like to come see her, and you fit the bill for adopting her, she will make a wonderful pet.