The Chilmark Planning board this week debated requiring special permits in order to build large houses — the latest movement in a series of efforts to curb the development of so-called McMansions on Island.

At a meeting with members of the Martha’s Vineyard Commission on Monday, Chilmark planning board members considered issuing special permits for homes that exceed a certain size. Doing so would allow the planning board to review, and potentially reject, certain large-scale homes.

In a few weeks, Sundays won’t be the same for Tisbury volunteer firefighters. The fire department plans to move into the new $5.5 million emergency services facility next to the Tisbury School on April 1.

While the new, spacious facility contains state-of-the-art technology and public safety equipment, there will be a bit of sentimental sadness among the firemen moving out of the old fire station. That feeling will be felt especially for those who have enjoyed many breakfasts on Sunday at the station, even though the Sunday morning breakfasts will continue.

Airport Drill

The Martha’s Vineyard Airport will conduct a mass casualty incident drill on Sunday, March 18 from 10 a.m. to noon. Multiple emergency response vehicles, flashing lights, sirens, smoke and simulated fires may be visible in the airport area during that time, and may result in traffic delays. Emergency responders from all Island towns will participate in the training.

The drill is mandated by the Federal Aviation Administration.

In the event of severe weather the drill will be rescheduled for March 25.

With prescription drug abuse increasing on Martha’s Vineyard, some Islanders are calling for a new course of action: awareness about the problem.

“One of the things we have to address is the use of prescription drugs,” said Tom Bennett, senior clinical advisor with the Island Counseling Center at Martha’s Vineyard Community Services. “It will take a whole community effort to address this issue.”

Efforts by the Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah) to advance its bid for a casino license in southeastern Massachusetts were hampered this week by state and local officials who say they want more information about the tribe’s plans before taking steps that could keep the tribe in the running.

Though Vineyard harbors are empty of most boats, and the North Wharf boat lift is quiet, George J. Rogers Jr. and his wife Sheryl, owners of Edgartown Marine, have been working through the winter, morning until night.

Leave it to Boomer; A Look at Life, Love and Parenthood by the Very Model of the Modern Middle-Age Man, by Jerry Zezima, iUniverse, Inc., New York, Bloomington, 2010, 154 pages (paperback, $15.95)

Jerry Zezima is a funny guy. You may have read some of his columns in the Vineyard Gazette over the years. In his first book, Leave it to Boomer, he traces his life as a middle-age father and husband. When someone tells his wife and daughter that Jerry is “very witty,” they both respond: “We just ignore him.”

Temperature: Precip.

Day Max. Min. Inches.

Fº Fº

March 9 58 39 .08

March 10 46 30 .00

March 11 41 25 .00

March 12 50 41 .00

March 13 61 46 .02

March 14 52 45 .06

March 15 53 39 Trace

Water temperature in Edgartown harbor: 50º F.

You can’t miss them. Jupiter and Venus, the two bright planets high in the western sky after sunset, have started to part company.

It’s official: Martha’s Vineyard is among the country’s most desirable places for second homes, according to Barron’s. This year, the Vineyard ranks third, behind the Hamptons, N.Y. and Kauai, Hawaii. Not that this will send most year-round Islanders into self-congratulatory dances in the aisles of Stop & Shop and Chicken Alley. Particularly in these trying economic times, many Vineyarders are pressed to afford the next tankful of gas, rent or first mortgage payment, let alone a second home.