The Dukes County advisory board this week approved a $4.4 million county budget for fiscal year 2006 with one caveat - the $25,000
earmarked for legal expenses cannot be used to fund future rounds in the
ongoing legal battle between the county commission and the airport
commission.

The T-shirts spilling out of the brown paper bag onto A.V. and Dora
Morrow's floor may be nicely creased and look brand new, but
don't be fooled: 27 years and 83.7 miles worth of Middle Road in
Chilmark are locked inside those cotton fibers.

Island charter boat captains say they have hit rough water this summer when it comes to business, which is off for some and way off for others.

Although there is rarely consensus among charter captains, who are known for being mavericks, all can agree on one thing this summer: the cost of doing business, especially the price of fuel, has cut deeply into their ability to make a living. The fish are there and the weather in the last two months has been good, except for fog. But for many captains the numbers of new customers is down - way down.

Vineyard Vibes Is Music Extravaganza

By DANIEL WATERS

State Attorney General Thomas Reilly Brings Bid for Governor to the
Island

By James Kinsella
Gazette Senior Writer

On a warm Sunday afternoon, Thomas F. Reilly, the man who stands a
chance of becoming the next governor of Massachusetts, sits in the shade
of an East Chop porch and appreciates Martha's Vineyard.

"Every time we take the ferry across here, our eyes just light
up with the beauty of Martha's Vineyard and how relaxing it is and
what a wonderful place this is," he said.

State Concerns Aired in Trial

Department of Revenue Official Testifies West Tisbury Valuations May
Have Been Massaged; Accuracy Is Questioned

By IAN FEIN

BOSTON - The state official who reviewed the 2002 West Tisbury
revaluation expressed concerns in October 2001 that town assessors and
their third-party consultant may have "massaged" the values
of certain properties to fit their sale prices.

Motorcycle Mishap Results in Fatality

An Oak Bluffs man died following a motorcycle accident near the
Panhandle Road in West Tisbury on Sunday evening, marking the first
motor vehicle fatality on the Vineyard this summer.

Student Jazz Syncopation Enlivens Performing Arts

By JACOB KRAMER

Last Thursday, as six Vineyard students ambled out on stage at the
packed Performing Arts Center, it was clear they were unaccustomed to
playing for such a large crowd. Their apprehension was understandable.
They were about to play with Phil Wilson, a jazz legend in his own
right, and as he explained, they had only rehearsed on three occasions
- two days in Boston and once before the show.

Oak Bluffs Shakeup Continues as Inspector Fires Secretary

By JAMES KINSELLA

Newly appointed Oak Bluffs building inspector Jerry Wiener fired the
secretary to the building department yesterday because he said she was
not doing her job.

Eliza Usher, who has worked for the town building department since
May of 2001, was terminated by Mr. Wiener on Monday morning.

"The work wasn't getting done," Mr. Wiener said
yesterday afternoon.

Festival Attracts Readers Young and Old

Community Center Is Sunday Setting for Book Fair

By SAM TELLER

A new page was turned in Chilmark Sunday as hundreds flocked to the
first Martha's Vineyard Book Festival to seek autographs and hear
readings by more than 30 Island authors.