HYANNIS - In the latest skirmish in the continuing battle between the Tisbury board of selectmen and the Steamship Authority, the port council yesterday backed a boat line plan to shift three summer trips from Vineyard Haven to Oak Bluffs.

The decision by the council, which advises the SSA board of governors, came over the bitter protests of council member and Tisbury selectman Thomas W. Pachico and fellow selectman Tristan Israel. The council voted 5-1, with Mr. Pachico dissenting and Nantucket member Nathaniel Lowell absent, to back the SSA plan.

Lure Shopping Stirs Memories of the Big One

By MAX HART

It comes as no surprise that Steve Amaral has a unique collection of
stories and secrets hiding inside his tackle bag.

To find the small plot of land that celebrates one of the
Island's most famous and respected residents, just stroll up to
the back of the building that bears her name.

Hot Tin Roof Under Agreement for Sale to Rosenthal Brothers

By JULIA WELLS

The Hot Tin Roof, the 26-year-old Vineyard nightclub that has
weathered the bumps of age alongside the baby-boomers who were its first
patrons in 1979, is slated to be sold to new owners before the end of
the year.

Barry Rosenthal, a West Tisbury resident and marketing and
communications executive who is president of B/R Creative, has signed an
agreement to buy the Roof along with his brother, Dr. Arthur Rosenthal,
a Ph.D. scientist who lives in the Boston area.

Blue Heron Farm, the sprawling gentleman's farm overlooking
Tiah's Cove in Chilmark and West Tisbury that was the former
residence of the late M. Anthony (Tony) Fisher and his wife Anne, was
sold last week to a Mississippi couple for $20.35 million.

The buyers are William and Mollie Van Devender of Jackson, Miss.

Sheriff Took Training with Tisbury Police

Controversy Over Nantucket Sheriff Spills Onto Vineyard Turf with
News of Assault Weapon Instruction Here

By JAMES KINSELLA
Gazette Senior Writer

The Nantucket County sheriff, mired in controversy, including over
his recent decision to buy assault weapons, obtained training and
certification for the weapons several weeks ago from the Tisbury police
department.

MCAS Scores Stay Even; High School Math Rises for Fourth Year
Running

By RACHEL KOVAC

Vineyard MCAS scores remained relatively flat overall this year,
although math scores at the Martha's Vineyard Regional High School
and West Tisbury eighth grade rocketed well above state averages.

Scores for the Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System exam
were released by the Department of Education Wednesday, pushing
educators into a tailspin as they rushed to analyze the results for
their students, teachers and communities.

Martha's Vineyard Hospital leaders told the Oak Bluffs
selectmen Tuesday they are confident in their fund-raising abilities and
plan to begin the permitting process for the $42 million hospital
building project soon.

Vineyard Residents Pour Out Stories of Tick Illnesses Before
Wildlife Agency

By IAN FEIN

After listening to a crowd of Vineyard residents describe the high
prevalence of tick-borne diseases on the Island as a public health
crisis, the chairman of the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries &
Wildlife board promised this week that the state agency will take action
to address the Dukes County deer population.

Frank Words Punctuate County Discussion

By JAMES KINSELLA

A planned goal-setting session for the Dukes County Commission was
interrupted abruptly this week when county commissioner Leonard Jason
Jr. of Chilmark questioned whether the county would even continue to
exist.

"The first thing you've got to do is determine if there
will be county government," Mr. Jason declared at the regular
county commission meeting Wednesday night.