Dead Whale on Beach
By JOSHUA SABATINI
An object drifted toward the South Beach shoreline early Friday afternoon. Pauline Martin, who was visiting Edgartown residents Kosta and Louise George, saw it in the ocean and wondered what it was. When the object washed ashore, they discovered the answer - a male, juvenile sperm whale.
After a day, brown and green pigments dappled the once black-and-white flesh. The tail fin lost its firmness, became a yellow membrane swishing about in the breaking waves.
A four-year-old boy from Newton is this year's first confirmed case of tularemia on the Vineyard, but state and Island health officials stopped far short of sounding an alarm this week over a new outbreak of the rare bacterial infection.
New Housing Director
By JOSHUA SABATINI
Last year the average house on Martha's Vineyard sold for nearly $600,000. "Unless you are making well over $100,000, it's very difficult to even imagine owning a home here," said Philippe Jordi, the new executive director of the Dukes County Regional Housing Authority. By accomplishing many goals and using several techniques, Mr. Jordi has an optimistic vision of managing 100 affordable housing units by the year 2005.
Mr.
Meet the Valedictorian
By MANDY LOCKE
Alicia Agnoli would rather talk about the playing court than the classroom.
This soon-to-be high school graduate can discuss both with the mastery that only a four-year varsity athlete and valedictorian can. Her fans have watched her kick soccer balls, dribble basketballs and serve tennis balls, but this weekend, all eyes will follow Alicia to center stage as she delivers her valedictory address.
Cape and Islands state Rep. Eric T. Turkington was in no mood to mince words Tuesday at a committee hearing on Beacon Hill as he openly challenged both the author and the findings of the special governor's task force report calling for an overhaul of the Steamship Authority board of governors.
Housing Survey Issued
By MANDY LOCKE
The Island Affordable Housing Fund (IAHF) will put a face to
the Island housing crisis this summer through an extensive
information gathering effort. Islanders will notice miniature
yellow houses stationed across Martha's Vineyard to distribute
and gather responses from residents caught in the summer shuffle
of the housing crisis.
The private nonprofit group launched the project this week
with distribution of the Vineyard Rental Survey in today's
Gazette.
Class of 2001 Looks Ahead
By JOSHUA SABATINI
The Martha's Vineyard Regional High School is about to send off the largest graduation class in its history, 158 students. As every class has its own distinct characteristics, the 2000-2001 student body formed its own spirit while dealing with tragedy and triumph.
"One thing about this class is the amount of bonding that has gone on over the 12 years.
The debate may have divided residents of Chappaquiddick, but the Martha's Vineyard Commission voted unanimously last night to designate the little island at the eastern end of Edgartown as a district of critical planning concern (DCPC).
The Vineyard home of the late Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis remains in family ownership and is being extensively renovated to accommodate the needs of a new generation.
Windemere Suffers Losses
By JULIA WELLS
Gazette Senior Writer
Operating losses at the Windemere Nursing Home and Rehabilitation
Center spiraled to $567,000 last year, triggering poor marks from
auditors and raising hard new questions about whether the Island's
only nursing home can ever escape the destitute financial condition that
has plagued it since day one.
