BEACH COMPROMISE

Editors, Vineyard Gazette:

In November 2011 at a special town meeting, West Tisbury park and recreation proposed a regulation that would allow dogs access to Lambert’s Cove Beach from Sept. 16 to June 14, not allowing them access from June 15 to Sept. 15. The new regulation passed with much discussion. Petitioners have brought the issue back again, to be decided at this April’s annual town meeting.

Oak Bluffs voters face a choice at the ballot box next week, with three candidates — none new to the town, or to Oak Bluffs voters — vying for two seats on the board of selectmen. Incumbents Gregory A. Coogan and Kathleen A. Burton are running for re-election, while former selectman Roger Wey has thrown his hat back into the ring for a seat on the board. There are no other contests or questions on the ballot. The annual town election is Thursday, April 12; polling hours are from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. in the meeting room in the public library.

By SARA BROWN

Oak Bluffs voters face a choice at the ballot box next week, with three candidates — none new to the town, or to Oak Bluffs voters — vying for two seats on the board of selectmen. Incumbents Gregory A. Coogan and Kathleen A. Burton are running for re-election, while former selectman Roger Wey has thrown his hat back into the ring for a seat on the board. There are no other contests or questions on the ballot. The annual town election is Thursday, April 12; polling hours are from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. in the meeting room in the public library.

West Tisbury voters will go to the polls next Thursday to decide whether to allow the sale of beer and wine at restaurants in town and at special events.

The annual town election is April 12; polling hours are from noon to 8 p.m. at the town public safety building. There are no contests for elected office this year; selectman Jeffrey (Skipper) Manter 3rd is running unopposed for a fourth three-year term.

While there are few contested races on the ballot for Edgartown’s annual election next Thursday, voters will be asked to weigh in on the contested roundabout and some expensive town projects.

The first of three ballot questions asks for a Proposition 2 1/2 exemption for $4.9 million for the town’s share of a new library at the site of the old Edgartown School. A second override question asks voters to assess an additional $272,000 in taxes to pay for the town’s portion of a Massachusetts Estuaries study for four towns.

MVTV Airs Roundabout

MVTV will begin airing a two-part presentation this week with details on the Oak Bluffs proposal to build a roundabout at the blinker intersection.

All About Roundabouts is in two half-hour segments, produced by longtime summer visitor John O’Keefe. It features extensive footage from four existing roundabouts in southeastern Massachusetts and takes a detailed look at the one proposed here. Construction is planned to begin in the fall and is envisioned to be complete by early 2013.

The sound of gavels banging will be heard around the Island when the annual town meeting season begins with our own version of Super Tuesday, as voters in Tisbury, West Tisbury, Edgartown and Oak Bluffs gather to conduct the annual business of their towns. Town reports and paper warrants will be stacked on laps, the soft clack of knitting needles will be heard in the back of the room and moderators will call the meetings to order.

Annual town meetings will follow in Chilmark on April 23 and in Aquinnah on May 8.

From Gazette editions of April, 1937:

Four three-masted schooners crossed Vineyard Haven harbor mouth early Monday, all being in sight from the shore at once. This is a rare sight in these days of steamers, but skippers of these coasters report that strikes of steamers’ crews and freight handlers have brought a number of schooners out of their retirement and into traffic once more.

Israel in recent years has become a travel destination of choice for a number of Vineyarders, Jewish and Christian alike. I am among them and am recently back from Jerusalem. As Passover and Easter arrive, I have been recalling that ancient city’s holy sites. In any season Old Jerusalem on its hilltop is a city of spirituality and beauty, but at this holiday time it is especially so.

Ebb and Flow of Beer and Wine Question:

Reasons to Say Yes

Editors, Vineyard Gazette:

I want to express why Ben and I have decided to support the beer and wine proposal coming up for vote on the ballot April 12.

We are writing in support of Question 2 on West Tisbury’s April 12 town ballot. Question 2 authorizes the selectmen to grant beer and wine licenses to restaurants which seat 50 or morepatrons. It also authorizes the selectmen to grant one-day beer and wine licenses to organizers of fundraisers held at venues in West Tisbury.