The Sheriff's Meadow Foundation, now celebrating its 30^th anniversary, owes its existence to the vision, courage and determination of two remarkable people: the late Henry and Elizabeth Hough. In 1920, Henry's father gave the Vineyard Gazette as a wedding present to the two young graduates of the Columbia School of Journalism. Active as managing editor of the New Bedford Evening Standard, the father had introduced Henry to the exciting possibilities of small-town community journalism.

The historic Harbor View and Kelley House hotels in Edgartown were sold at public auction this week to First Winthrop Corp., a Boston real estate company which owns 160 commercial properties on Nantucket. Purchase price was $12,305,000.

The Vineyarders should have known better. No one eats whale meat anymore, and they couldn't change that Saturday on Nantucket.

More than 500 Vineyard fans chanted: "What do we eat? - Whale meat," as the Martha's Vineyard Regional High School football team lost to its Whaler rivals, 14-0.

Ten years ago, the Chilmark Road Race was small. Barely two hundred showed up for the inaugural run. But even this number was more than organizers expected, as they busily hand printed extra numbers and apologized for running out of T-shirts.

Before Monday, Erik Hollander, Chuck Gramling and Mark Burton had never stepped foot on Martha’s Vineyard, but they knew parts of the Island very well.

The trio of college-age Floridians recognized the storefronts of Edgartown, the Chappaquiddick ferry landing and the lighthouse off Starbuck’s Neck.

Upon arrival they scanned the Vineyard phone book looking for familiar names.

The came on a pilgrimage.

They came to visit the New England resort village of Amity; the birthplace and home territory of the Academy Award-winning movie Jaws.

It was 13 years ago that the Vineyard’s place in Hollywood history was assured, and the career of filmmaker Steven Spielberg established, with the making of a movie Jaws.

The best-selling novel turned blockbuster movie is just a memory in the minds of those who were around when it came out. Thirteen years and three Jaws sequels after the original Universal Studios Inc. Film was released and broke all previous box office records (amounting to $130 million in ticket sales through 1987), most agree it is finally safe to go back into the water.

The Vineyard Gazette today announced new publishers for the newspaper in changes that take effect immediately.

Richard Reston, presently editor in chief of the newspaper, assumes The position and added responsibilities of editor and publisher of the Vineyard Gazette.

Mary Jo Reston, now the newspaper’s general manager, moves up to the role of publisher and general manager, with full responsibility for the financial affairs of the Gazette.

James Gutensohn, commissioner of the state Department of Environmental Management (DEM), plated a crucial role in the public effort to save South Beach from private developers.

A chapter in American maritime history will close Tuesday when the last car and passenger-carrying steamboat in North America sails out of Woods Hole harbor.

The retirement of the SS Naushon from the Steamship Authority fleet marks the end of a 170-year era of steam ferry service along the Eastern seaboard.