For many people on the Island, summer begins like a head cold, around Memorial Day each year, with a sniffle or a sore throat. Then comes the headache.

It’s the pollen; this is the allergy season.

Over at the Martha’s Vineyard Hospital, too, the Memorial Day sniffles are a traditional indicator of the headache to come. The number of people presenting at the hospital emergency room jumps dramatically, a harbinger of the crazy-busy summer.

Out-of-towners leave your dogs at home, the West Tisbury parks and recreation committee has decided, at least if you are going to Lambert’s Cove Beach with your pooch.

On Wednesday the committee agreed to restrict dog privileges to town residents, amid increasing complaints from beachgoers who have watched sunset picnics blemished by uncontrolled canines and unretrieved dog droppings.

It was a routine meeting and a routine set of appointments, but the West Tisbury selectmen paused when they came to one office that was not so routine: fence viewers. After the death of Daniel Prowten last year the town is down to just two fence viewers and suddenly along with the appointment the question was there to consider: Does the town still need fence viewers?

“If we need them we should have three, if we don’t need them we should have zero,” said selectman Cynthia Mitchell.

This Sunday marks not just high school graduation for seven students, but the 10th commencement in the Martha’s Vineyard Public Charter School’s history and the end of the school’s 15th year. Even before its first day of school on Sept. 16, 1996, the charter school has been attracting attention and a legion of admirers.

The fallout from last week’s Oak Bluffs special election continues as town officials question why the election was improperly posted and department heads face the reality of a more frugal future with still more cuts to come — including the spectre of layoffs.

Last Thursday 559 Oak Bluffs voters turned out for a special election to roundly reject two Proposition 2 1/2 override questions that would have restored some $484,361 in line items for various town departments.

Gathered around the picnic table at the Polly Hill Arboretum this week, the graduating class of the Martha’s Vineyard Public Charter School reminisced about their time there. The group of six (one was absent) felt like a family. They smiled and laughed as they shared stories of their years at the charter school and spoke of the deep affection they had for the school. They loved the feeling of community, the ability to do their own thing, the self-accountability that the school instilled in them along with a love of learning.

A consultant’s report into construction work on Tisbury’s new emergency services building has found a long list of deficiencies inside and outside, from the foundation to the roof shingles.

Parts of the building off Spring street will have to be rebuilt, according to the report done by Building Enclosure Consultants (BEA), the Cambridge firm engaged by the town to assess the trouble-plagued project, which originally was due for completion this week.

Jai Berger

Jai Berger of Vineyard Haven received his bachelor’s degree in communications studies from Bridgewater State University. He was honored as magna cum laude at the ceremony. Jai is the son of Dr. Nancy Berger of Vineyard Haven.

Brenden M. Cooney

Brenden M. Cooney of Vineyard Haven has earned a paramedic certificate with honors from Cape Cod Community College.

BANISH BIGOTRY

Editors, Vineyard Gazette:

I was dismayed to read about the anti-immigrant blog that is spreading poison about our Brazilian Islanders. I hope our Brazilian immigrants know that you are most welcome on Martha’s Vineyard. All of you whom I have met are hardworking, honest people, who are also warm and easy to talk to. It has been a pleasure to get to know you, and I believe the vast majority of Islanders feel the same.