Island Library Amnesty

All six Island libraries have declared an amnesty on overdue material fines from Dec. 17 to 30. Instead of fines, the libraries will be collecting canned goods for the Island Food Pantry. Patrons who return overdue materials during this period will not be charged fines if they make a non-perishable food donation.

On the eve of the black powder deer season, Island marksmen participated in the Martha’s Vineyard Rod & Gun Club Black Powder Shoot Sunday.

In the open sight division, Nicholas Giliberto, 15, of Vineyard Haven bested marksmen with considerably more experience. Nicholas had a high score of 61.

The young Island student hit two eight marks in the standing deer category; an eight and ten mark in the running deer, and shot an eight, reloaded in 68 seconds and shot a ten in the reload portion of the contest.

NANCY GARDELLA

508-693-3308

(vhavenvgazette@yahoo.com)

Stephen Dunham’s back and Vineyard Haven has him. Stephen returned a few weeks ago from South Dakota and is at his Mom’s, Martha’s. Soon his two kids, Stephen Jr., and Rebecca, will return from college for the holiday break. The whole gang is almost here!

The following Tisbury School students received honors for the first quarter:

Eighth Grade High Honors: EmmaJean Holley, Christine Janak, Allison McAndrews, Courtney Mussell, Noelle Nelson, John Shannon, Drew Teora, John Tripp.

Eighth Grade Honors: Riley Donegan, Frederick Hehre, Haley Hewson, Margaret Johnson, Alyssa Laslovich, Rafael Maciel, Trevor Maciel, Michael Montanile, Olivia Cimeno, David Seidman, Michael Sylvia, Liam Wallace, Andrew Williamson.

The Polly Hill Arboretum will be able to produce the accession tag and display labels which are used on every plant in the arboretum’s living collection, thanks to an Epilog laser engraving label system it will purchase with a $14,400 grant from the Stanley Smith Horticultural Trust.

Having the ability to produce these labels in-house helps arboretum staff to upgrade curatorial management of their collections and allows data linkage between computerized collections records.

Deadline Looms for

Island Health Insurance

Saturday, Dec. 15 is the last day that Islanders can sign up for health insurance with Vineyard Health Care Access Program and get accepted by Jan. 1.

Massachusetts residents will lose their personal deduction on their state income tax if they cannot prove they have health insurance by that date.

The program, which began in 1999, helps Islanders who need access to affordable plans and related health-care resources. More information is available by calling 508-696-0020.

Dukes County has received a grant for $55,000 from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Executive Office of Health and Human Services to conduct outreach and enrollment services for the state’s affordable insurance programs.

The programs are MassHealth and Commonwealth Care and, for people with higher incomes, Commonwealth Choice.

JOHN S. ALLEY

508-693-2950

(alleys@vineyard.net)

The weather has been seasonally cold with rain on and off. In the evenings the past several days, however, the temperature dipped below freezing and sand trucks were called out. All sorts of decorations, wreaths, outdoor lights and Christmas trees are being put up and decorated each day around town. The spirit of the holiday season is upon us.

JANE N. SLATER

508-645-3378

(slaterjn@comcast.net)

It’s important we open this week with the real news about me, your correspondent. The rumors are true: I did fall and did sufficient damage to my shoulder and that I needed help to produce this column. My very kind neighbor, Barbara Armstrong, happens to be also pretty skilled on the computer and I am appreciating her tireless energy so we will proceed from here.

JUNE MANNING

508-645-2574

(lthslnks@gis.net)