Vineyard Health Care Access Program was recognized this month at the State House for its leading part in enrolling 1,479 previously uninsured kids in health care coverage as part of a statewide challenge.

While Massachusetts boasts the highest coverage rate in the nation, there were still thousands of uninsured children living in Massachusetts before the statewide challenge. The Health Care Access Program, along with 65 other organizations in the state, redoubled their enrollment efforts to cut down on the number of uninsured children.

Last weekend several upstanding West Tisbury citizens were met with an unhappy surprise when they went to buy their beach permits for the summer.

“There was a small glitch,” town administrator Jen Rand told selectmen this week, explaining that residents of West Tisbury are unable to purchase town permits if they owe taxes.

The Possible Dreams Auction will hold its 33rd auction on August 1 in Ocean Park in Oak Bluffs. Established in 1979 as an event where bidders can win “unbuyable opportunities with a Vineyard connection,” it remains one of the most enduring celebrity auctions in the country.

The Chilmark selectmen this week discussed the details of a management agreement for the Middle Line Road housing development, which is due to be finished now in August.

A minimum rent scheme for the property was approved and selectmen are still working on a management agreement with O’Brien Property Management. David Vigneault, executive director of the Dukes County Regional Housing Authority, attended the Tuesday selectmen’s meeting.

Goast Guard

Coast Guard and other marine law enforcement officers will be out in force this weekend, June 24 to 26, focused on the detection and enforcement of boating under the influence (BUI). Operation Dry Water is aimed at reminding all boaters that it is unsafe as well as illegal to operate a boat under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

The Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School committee approved a series of capital improvement projects for the next five years at their final meeting of the school year on Monday night.

The projects include $147,000 to renovate the track, $50,000 for reshingling parts of the exterior of the building and $9,000 to improve the door security system. Studies for a roof evaluation, heating system efficiency check and Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) access expansion project were also approved.

Catherine Kilduff has a childhood memory of summering in Vineyard Haven and having a day at the beach when she found a number of spider crabs. She recalled hand-feeding one of the crabs with the meat she plucked from a limpet. It was June, an early visit to the Island. “I must have been 11 or 12 years old,” she said.

By JOHN AMABILE

The Holmes Hole Sailing Association commenced its summer season of handicap sailboat racing from Vineyard Haven Harbor with a tune-up race on June 18.

Practicing last weekend, the eight and nine-year-old dancers of the Rise dance troupe appeared a bit sloppy. Seems it had been a few days since their last rehearsal.

“Where’s your ’tude?” asked Jil Matrisciano, their passionate choreographer and the director of Rise Vineyard Performing Arts studio.

Edgartown selectmen voted this week to back a special variance for David Vietor’s historic bulkhead at his South Water street that would allow him to skirt a state law that requires public access to the water.

Selectmen will recommend that the State Department of Environmental Protection grant the variance, which if approved will allow a monetary contribution to the town in lieu of providing public access.