Federal Forum
Cong. Bill Delahunt will host an informational forum on the Vineyard today to discuss the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s rural development programs.
Hosted by the Dukes County Commission, the forum will be held at 10 a.m. at the Martha’s Vineyard Transit Authority meeting room in the airport business park, Edgartown. Speakers will include Tom McGarr, area director for USDA-RDA.
Three men, two from the Vineyard and one from Bourne, were charged with rape and indecent assault last week following an incident in early April when they allegedly attacked and sexually abused an exotic dancer from Maine who was paid to perform at a party in Oak Bluffs.
William J. Bernard, 39, of Oak Bluffs; Christopher McNally, 19, of Bourne and Anthony D. Somoano, 28, of Oak Bluffs were arraigned last Thursday on charges of rape and indecent assault and battery.
Menemsha may have a new lunch option this summer, after the Chilmark selectmen approved an innkeeper and common victualler’s license for Dennis Barquinero, the new general manager of the Home Port, Beach Plum Inn and Menemsha Inn, with the understanding that Mr. Barquinero may open the Home Port’s take-out window for lunch.
At a special town meeting Tuesday, West Tisbury voters will consider whether to spend money to hire a part-time administrative assistant in the town hall, and whether to grant the selectmen authority to sell three affordable lots in the Bailey Park subdivision off Old County Road.
The special town meeting — the first in West Tisbury in three years — begins Tuesday at 7 p.m. at the West Tisbury School. Moderator F. Patrick Gregory will preside over the session.
Spirituals by the Shelves
James (Jim) Thomas, president of the U.S. Slave Song Project Inc., will direct the Spirituals Choir in performance on Wednesday, June 9 at 7 p.m. at the Vineyard Haven Public Library.
Mr. Thomas has earned the American Red Cross’s National Diversity Award and President’s Award for Leadership.
The Spirituals Choir was created in 2005 as a diverse and educational choir who sing examples of the tunes presented by the narrator.
By MEGAN DOOLEY
The search for a new assistant principal at the Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School will continue, after the school officials decided this week that neither of the two final candidates were a good fit for the position.
“No one was chosen,” said school superintendent Dr. James H. Weiss yesterday. “We’re going to repost.”
They studied ancient Roman attire, wrote a series of memoirs, documented leaving the family business for the first time and excelled in photography.
And now this small group of distinguished artists, writers and self-directed learners will graduate this weekend from the Martha’s Vineyard Public Charter School. Known for their enthusiasm and creativity, the graduating senior class of nine students will accept their diplomas at a ceremony tomorrow afternoon in West Tisbury.
Health Plan Options
Massachusetts residents with health insurance through the Commonwealth Care health insurance program can change their health plan for any reason between June 3 and June 22, according to Network Health, one of five local health plans with a Commonwealth Care product. Any health plan changes become effective July 1, 2010.
HOLLY NADLER
508-274-2329
Location, location, location equals Lemonade, Becca Rogers’s new accessories boutique, just opened over Memorial Day weekend. This sleek and cheerful shop sits between Linda Jean’s and Mary’s Linen and two doors down from Sharky’s. Everybody visiting Oak Bluffs for the first time saunters at least halfway up from the harbor into town, so Lemonade will skim the crème de lacrème looking for any type of apparel beyond a T-shirt.
NANCY GARDELLA
508-693-3308
Welcome to the Island, Ashley Sheping! Ashley’s folks have had a home here for 30 years; her dad and I reminisced about talking to their neighbor, noted columnist and author, Nelson Coon. Ashley has arrived today and is looking for her on-Island friends but doesn’t have all their cell phone numbers. Many of her friends live here now, a lot of them were in school with her at the University of Vermont. Kate McGovern is a name that pops up. Please, contact Ashley this week!
