Celebration Traces Portuguese Heritage

Feast of Holy Ghost Draws Hundreds for Sopa Ritual

By BRIEN HEFLER

Anyone who came to this weekend's Feast of the Holy Ghost,
whether for food or community spirit, didn't leave hungry.

East winds, fog and shifting breezes challenged the best sailors in
last week's 82nd Edgartown Yacht Club Regatta. More than 200
sailboats competed in the one-design sailboat race that ran from
Thursday through Saturday.

Cooper A. Gilkes 3rd has been known nationally for his fishing prowess - and now he has an appropriate award to match. Field and Stream magazine has named Coop's Bait and Tackle Shop as one of the top 10 tackle shops in the country. In the August issue, on the newsstands now, Mr. Gilkes is listed at the top of the survey in a colorful five-page spread.

On Sunday Mr. Gilkes was all smiles behind the counter of the Edgartown shop. He had known about the designation for months but was only getting to share it now that the magazine was out.

School Leader Wants Change

Chairman David Rossi Proposes Reopening Regional Agreement to Create
Single Committee; Merits Debated, Not Voted

By RACHEL KOVAC

The chairman of the all-Island school committee this week called for
reopening the regional school agreement, which is nearly four decades
old, with an eye toward creating one school committee to create more
accountability and efficiency in the disparate Vineyard school system.

Even on an Island that knows a little something about shark
hysteria, the upcoming Boston Big Game Fishing Club Monster Shark
tournament is a frenzied event.

Riparian Landowners Grumble at Tribal Aquaculture Venture

By IAN FEIN

A public hearing called by Aquinnah selectmen to discuss the
management of Menemsha Pond turned instead this week into a debate about
private aquaculture licenses and the Wampanoag Aquinnah Shellfish
Hatchery.

Drawbridge Committee Advocates Outside Study

By James Kinsella

Over the objections of the county engineer, the Lagoon Pond
Drawbridge Committee on Wednesday recommended that Vineyard Haven and
Oak Bluffs fund an $11,700 study of what, if anything, can be done to
prolong the use of the existing drawbridge.

And the Pitch: Cong. Mel Watt Steadies Game in Washington

By JAMES KINSELLA
Gazette Senior Writer

In 1963, a young man named Melvin Watt tried out as a pitcher for
the freshman baseball team at the University of North Carolina.

Today, Mr. Watt does not recall the other hopefuls as being
appreciably different in playing ability. But there was at least one
thing that set him aside from the other players: he was
African-American, and the others were not.