Her talents drive her life. She works full time at the hospital day
care center, coaches two youth hockey teams and plays three instruments
- alto sax, bass clarinet and some drums. But she's not sure
she would have realized those talents if she hadn't been placed in
the care of the Vineyard Haven foster family that eventually adopted
her.

Commission Review on Hospital Stalls in Procedural Tangle Over
Parking Lot

By IAN FEIN

The Martha's Vineyard Commission this week put off its final
vote on the Martha's Vineyard Hospital expansion project.

A decision had been scheduled for this coming Thursday, but the
commission instead now plans to reopen the hospital public hearing the
following week, on Dec. 14, to accept additional testimony on a proposed
offsite staff parking lot that has emerged as a potential stumbling
block for the $42 million project.

Housing Bank Backers Renew Efforts to Pass Legislative Bill

By IAN FEIN

An ad-hoc group of Vineyard housing advocates have decided to
continue their pursuit of controversial legislation that would tax
Island real estate transactions to fund affordable housing projects.

The Martha's Vineyard Regional High School district committee
this week reviewed a draft $14.3 million operating budget for the
2007-2008 fiscal year, a 4.7 per cent increase over last year.

The draft budget was presented to Island selectmen at a special
meeting this week; the school committee is set to vote on certifying the
budget at a meeting Monday night. A majority of Island towns must
approve the budget at their annual town meetings in the spring.

The Steamship Authority is expected to impose higher fees and new
restrictions on the operations of its main competitor, Hy-Line Cruises,
when the SSA board meets to consider Hy-Line's new licensing
agreement on Tuesday.

A former member of the Oak Bluffs zoning board of appeals who is
also an architect was fined $3,000 this week by the Massachusetts Ethics
Commission for violating the state conflict of interest law. William
(Chuck) Sullivan represented clients on six occasions in front of his
own board, the ethics commission found.

The Martha's Vineyard Hospital will be fully covered for any
decrease in Medicare funding that flows from a proposed affiliation with
the giant Partners Health Care group, a gathering of Island residents
were promised this week.

The Red Stocking Fund is the Vineyard's holiday Santa. Red Stocking elves are already quietly working behind the scenes to make sure every Island child with needs has a warm and love-filled season. Last year 275 children in 173 families got a boost of holiday cheer, thanks to Red Stocking. This year the number is expected to be higher.

Energy Conservation Lagging on Vineyard

By IAN FEIN

Climate change has been at the top of nearly every political agenda
this fall.