Vineyard public schools will see a full-time director hired for the English language learners program in the coming year, under a $5.8 million budget for the school superintendent. The all-Island school committee voted 11-3 to approve the shared services budget last Thursday.

The Edgartown National Bank was awarded the coveted rank of “outstanding” under the Community Reinvestment Act, a rare achievement for an Island bank. Loans and other assistance to affordable housing groups helped to boost the ranking.

On Cape Cod ambitious efforts are underway to remediate ponds and estuaries. And when coastal ponds decline, so do property values, the executive director of the Cape Cod Commission, told a meeting at the Katharine Cornell Theatre.

The rivalry game between the Vineyard and Nantucket football teams ended in victory for the Vineyarders, who defeated the Whalers 21-7 in a rough, penalty-filled game. Junior running back Jacob Cardoza scored two touchdowns.

On Friday afternoon, about a half dozen high school football players arrived at the First Baptist Church in Vineyard Haven. Prayer time before the big game? No, they were there to help distribute food for the Family to Family program which helps local families in need receive a Thanksgiving meal.

Vineyarders joined countless others this week in mourning the loss of Mike Nichols, the noted film director who died Wednesday in Manhattan at the age of 83. The cause was cardiac arrest. Mr. Nichols and his wife, broadcast journalist Diane Sawyer, were longtime seasonal residents of Vineyard Haven. They were married in 1988 at the Federated Church in Edgartown.

During a tour of Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School early Tuesday morning, new principal Gilbert Traverso outline several building maintenance concerns. The schools superintendent said a revenue shortfall meant money was not put aside for maintenance.

Sand mining was the talk of the town in at least four Island communities this week, as officials lined up on both sides of whether to support dredging for sand in waters off the Vineyard.

The average gas price nationwide has declined steadily for almost 50 days — the longest decline since 2008 — and has reached its lowest point since 2010. But Island gas prices are still among the highest in the state.

Call it Clean Slate Saturday. Anyone who has seen the Vineyard football team face off against rival Nantucket will say the same thing. Win-loss records don’t matter. It’s the Island Cup. The teams face off at 1:30 p.m. Saturday at the regional high school.