International man of tartan, Philip D. Smith, Jr., PhD., has recently designed a tartan design for Martha’s Vineyard.

The tartan was to be introduced by Dr. Smith at the National Tartan Day Conference held on Tartan Day, April 6.

Dr. Smith’s expertise in the oeuvre of plaid lies in both talking the talk and walking the walk. He has designed over 120 tartans and authored over 60 books on the subject.

Join Red Cross Team

The Martha’s Vineyard Red Cross of the Cape Cod and Islands is conducting trainings for those who want to learn more about becoming a volunteer for Red Cross disaster services as well as becoming a member of the Vineyard’s disaster assistance team.

The trainings are scheduled for Friday, April 29, from 6 to 9 p.m. and Saturday, April 30, starting at 8:30 a.m. at the Oak Bluffs Council on Aging at 21 Wamsutta avenue. All Red Cross disaster training is free of charge.

Edgartown selectmen this week directed town highway superintendant Stuart Fuller to shave down a berm on Curtis Lane that has proved problematic for drivers. The Massachusetts highway department and the department of transportation have already approved the work. The berm was installed to prevent water runoff onto Curtis Lane, but at Monday’s selectmen’s meeting Curtis Lane resident Sylvia Thomas said that she was afraid of hitting the undercarriage of her car every time she passed over it.

Expecting to come up with more than $400,000 by early next week, Edgartown attorney Edward W. (Peter) Vincent is negotiating to delay a hearing set for Monday in Suffolk superior court, according to his lawyer.

A man who was convicted of rape in Dukes County 20 years ago has been granted a new trial. Chad Edward served time in state prison after a jury found him guilty of rape in 1991 following an incident in the Dark Woods section of Edgartown in the summer of 1990 involving a 15-year-old babysitter.

A Cairn terrier that killed chickens and a cat will be allowed to move out of state, Chilmark selectmen agreed this week. After killing four hens, badly maiming another and killing a cat, the 12-pound terrier owned by Heather and Geordie Gude has taken refuge in a New York city home. The Gudes said the terrier will never return to the Island but, just in case, selectmen, on the recommendation of dog officer Chris Murphy, have ordered the dog to be euthanized should it ever return.

The Martha’s Vineyard Prescribed Fire Partnership plans to conduct controlled burns today, Friday, April 8, at the Polly Hill Arboretum in West Tisbury and the Department of Fisheries and Wildlife property in Edgartown, west of Katama Airpark along Herring Creek Road.

Smoke may be visible Friday morning west of State Road, between North Road and Panhandle Road. In the afternoon, smoke may be visible above Katama. The odor of smoke may be temporarily noticeable as far as Edgartown center.

Tisbury police are hopeful they have ended a long string of Peeping Tom incidents with the arrest of a man, spotted peering into a house in Franklin Terrace, on Monday night, chased and detained by neighbors.

Reginaldo DeSouza of Clough Lane in Vineyard Haven was arraigned in Edgartown district court on Tuesday on a charge of disorderly conduct and in violation of a town bylaw on Peeping Toms.

Tourism at the Gay Head Cliffs may get a boost this summer. The executive director of the Martha’s Vineyard Museum told the Aquinnah selectmen this week that the Gay Head Lighthouse will be open weekdays beginning June 21.

David Nathans said the new hours at the lighthouse will provide more sightseeing opportunities for tour bus companies by being open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Art in Film

Tonight at the Grange Theatre in West Tisbury, the Island Theatre Workshop is presenting a program entitled Art Immersion in Film. The event includes Valerie Sonnenthal’s Visual Diary Project with original music by Sergio Cervetti and a program of short films including a premiere of Richard Skidmore’s latest work. Following the presentation there will be a question and answer session with the artists.

Mr. Skidmore has worked in film, video and television for forty years.

The event beings at 8 p.m.