Amy Sertl looks like a pro. She's only 10, but the strip of
measuring tape dangling from her shoulders is not just a silly prop.
Miss Sertl is part of the costuming team at the Vineyard Playhouse, and
she's got that tape now cinched around Sarah Felder's
cranium.

NANTUCKET - - The people of Nantucket had their crack at the
podium this week, turning out more than 150 strong to urge a special
governor's ferry task force to protect the Steamship Authority and
their lifeline.

"The rate-payers of the Islands are not responsible for
reviving the economy of New Bedford. Folks, the Steamship Authority is
not an entitlement program," declared Steve Tornovish, a member of
the SSA financial advisory board from Nantucket.

School superintendent Kriner Cash this week blasted a proposed zero-tolerance policy for high school athletes caught using drugs or alcohol, calling it an "ignorant" response to the problem and demanding new consideration of the draft policy.

One of the Island's most historic mansions, the Corbin-Norton house on Ocean Park burned to the ground in the midst of a heavy gale Monday night.

By the time firemen arrived, the house was fully involved, fanned by northeast winds as high as 40 miles per hour. Oak Bluffs fire chief Dennis P. Alley said it took firemen from three towns more than four hours to gain control of the fire and prevent it from spreading into the neighborhood. Mr. Alley said he determined the cause of the fire to be electrical wiring in an outlet behind the wall in the first-floor living room.

The all-Island selectmen discussed both the near and distant future
at their monthly meeting Wednesday night, examining educational finances
and planning for the Vineyard meeting of the governor's ferry task
force.

Though he was not in attendance, Dan Flynn, the Island's ferry
task force representative, sent a letter urging the all-Island selectmen
to send a representative to the Feb. 22 meeting at the Performing Arts
Center.

An investigator into the Jan. 30 crash of a Cape Air plane in the
state forest this week released the transcript of the dialogue between
the pilot and air traffic controllers. It is still unknown what caused
the airplane crash that seriously injured both the pilot and passenger.

He has been on the job two months now, and no one calls him Mr.
Dresser anymore.

NEW BEDFORD - Encouraged by hundreds of applauding onlookers,
New Bedford political leaders, transportation planners and tourism
promoters last night issued their demand for full ferry service to the
two Islands - and for a place on the Steamship Authority governing
board, all in the name of commerce and progress.

The surprise decision by the Steamship Authority governors last
month to buy the New Bedford passenger ferry Schamonchi was pitched as a
sound business decision for the public boat line, but an internal
financial analysis done by the SSA shows that in fact the ferry is
expected to lose large amounts of money.

The boat line board of governors voted last month to buy the
Schamonchi for $1.75 million.

The Martha's Vineyard Commission acted swiftly last night to set in motion a plan that could preserve the north shore between the West Chop and Gay Head lighthouses as it is today - pristine and virtually free of any piers, docks or groins.