Seth’s Pond in West Tisbury has been reopened, health agent John powers announced Thursday.

The popular freshwater swimming pond was closed July 9 after water samples revealed high levels of enteroccocus bacteria.

The pond was also briefly closed in June due to bacteria.

Imagine our shock on Saturday after a lovely family stroll through the gingerbread houses when we came upon the shark tournament. It was a truly barbaric display and the antithesis of the Vineyard we know and love. Adults encouraged children to participate in the dismemberment of the sharks and all celebrated the grisly displays of bloodied, severed sharks’ heads.

About 30 years ago one law school student could choose to take a break from his academic responsibilities and spend a few days on the Vineyard, where young Barry would be welcomed by his friends. If he came by Cape Air, no one on its flight path would be alarmed. And no one would record or care how he spent his time before the return flight.

It has been brought to my attention by a number of people in Oak Bluffs that a crosswalk that was accessible for disabled individuals in wheelchairs was recently painted over, one way of stopping the use of the crosswalk. At first, I didn’t understand this move, but then lo and behold they started to park taxis in the area that now blocks the use of the sloped ramp altogether.

I need to point out some contradictions that exist on the Island regarding dogs. A letter to the editor on July 19 about dogs on the beach generalized dog owners as “idiots” and “irresponsible.” This I take issue with as I would never act in the way the Walkers describe their beach and dog situation. Right underneath this exhortation is a sensitive story written by Peter Robb about his love for his dog, Lucca, and the kind loving act of adopting dogs. Quite a contrast.

One of the reasons I love living on the Vineyard is that almost every Sunday morning, I get up at dawn and go walk on the beach.

We have such a variety of different beaches on this Island, and I think they are all beautiful.

From a 1995 column by Arthur Railton: Nothing good is happening. The sky is falling in. Run for your lives, the dam has burst. Family values have taken flight. We abuse our children, kill our parents, rape our neighbors, murder our ex-wives. Nowhere is the sun shining.

With the school year nearing and many personnel out on vacation, there are still three major regional administrative positions to be filled.

The Cape Cod Collaborative conducted a search for assistant superintendent of schools beginning two weeks ago that has yielded five candidates, including three off-Island and two local applicants. None of the candidates are currently employed by the school district, Vineyard schools superintendent Dr. James H. Weiss said.

Seven players from the Martha’s Vineyard Sharks represented Team Massachusetts in the Futures Collegiate Baseball League All-Star Game, held Thursday in Pittsfield. Pitchers Trevor Breton (Western New England University), Matt Calomoneri (University of Scranton) and Bob Carbaugh (Seton Hill) were named to the squad, as were infielders Dylan Tice (Indiana University of Pennsylvania), Nick Sell (University of Massachusetts - Amherst) and Nik Campero (Seton Hill). Outfielder Ryan Siegel (Mercyhurst) rounded out the Sharks roster.

Fifty windsurfers representing four different countries competed in three classes of racing Friday and Saturday at the Vineyard Haven Yacht Club. Races were cancelled Sunday due to no wind, but wind conditions for the first two days were gusty, challenging all levels of racers.