Escape from Siberia

As America takes a long weekend to remember the sacrifices made by our men and women in uniform, Islander Anita Hotchkiss and the Vineyard Haven library are offering Islanders an opportunity to learn more about the kind of atrocities that Allied forces fought and died to end.

In 1939, amid the political turmoil that eventually erupted into World War II, a treaty between the Soviets and Germany was signed dividing Poland in half.

The halls of the Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School were flooded with green and yellow on Friday, as students celebrated the first Brazilian awareness day to honor the Island’s large Brazilian population.

Sitting in a coffee shop in Oak Bluffs this week, Casandra Paasche could barely contain her hands as she spoke. Though speaking to a hearing person, her hands followed up every word with a signed gesture. As a sign language interpreter, she has made a career of translating spoken English for the deaf, and signing comes as naturally to her as breathing.

FerryFind is the first iPhone application that allows users to find every ferry crossing serving Cape Cod and the Islands of Martha’s Vineyard, Nantucket and Cuttyhunk.

The application, now available on the App Store, sorts through data from all 12 carriers (departing from Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New York city and New Jersey) and displays their schedule times, prices, services, parking availability and dock location so travelers can find a crossing that fits their schedule.

Green Inn

The Capricorn House in Oak Bluffs is the first bed and breakfast establishment in Massachusetts to be certified as a green business by the Institute for Green Business Certification.

Committed to the community’s environmental health, the Capricorn House is dedicated to preserving the delicate environment that is Martha’s Vineyard. For 17 years, the current owners have tried to diminish their own personal footprint, encouraging guests to do the same.

The town of Tisbury is considering withdrawing from an arrangement with the Martha’s Vineyard Hospital under which it provides an ambulance for off-Island transports.

The reason is that the agreement, which originally was hoped to provide funds sufficient for the town to upgrade its ambulance service, is not paying for itself.

A letter has been drafted to the hospital, seeking talks on possible ways to amend the agreement, so the town will be able to continue operating without placing an extra tax burden on residents.

By JIM HICKEY

A custodian at the Tisbury school was arraigned in Edgartown district court last Thursday on charges of sexual assault against a child. Richard McElhinney, 48, of Vineyard Haven, has been charged with rape of a child with force, indecent assault and battery of a child under the age of 15 and enticement of a child under the age of 16.

To increase seat belt use and decrease motor vehicle fatalities Chilmark Police began a special two-week crackdown on seat belt use on Monday which will continue through June 7, billed as Click It or Ticket.

Chilmark police chief Brian Cioffi is teaming up with the Menemsha Texaco Station to offer a special reward to child passengers who are found to be properly secured: Chilmark police officers will give a coupon for an ice Popsicle at the Menemsha Texaco to any child they find using proper car seats and safety belts during this safety campaign. 

The First Baptist Church of Vineyard Haven and the Gay Head Community Baptist Church of Aquinnah have been saddened by the news that their pastor of 14 years, the Rev. Dr. Roger Spinney, is leaving the Island.

“Roger is an all-around good guy and a down-to-earth person,” said Melvin Thornhill, a deacon at First Baptist.

Roger is taking a full-time position at Hospice on Cape Cod. His wife Sharon will continue to commute to her job at the Vineyard hospital, so the Spinneys will continue to maintain their Vineyard connection.

Regional high school administrators have narrowed their search for a new assistant principal to two candidates, who were both invited to the school for daylong final interviews this week.

One candidate is Anne Wagner, who works as a dean of students and advanced placement English teacher in Gardner. The other is Michael Richard, an assistant principal in Belchertown.