A newly formed Vineyard philanthropy group with a core mission to support Island youth and an innovative funding model will commit $4 million over the next four years to an array of youth causes. Founders include a number of first-generation summer homeowners.

A report from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has found that cod stocks in the Gulf of Maine are at an all-time low.

The struggle to understand the role of oceans in sustaining life is the theme Tuesday during the Walter Cronkite awards ceremony.

The 7.5-acre oceanfront south shore property in West Tisbury and site of the first gunning club has been held by the same family for more than 50 years. The asking price is $11.5 million.

Matthew Stackpole of West Tisbury grew up on the grounds of the Mystic Seaport Museum. Today he is the 67-year-old ship historian for the Chas. W. Morgan who speaks of his lucky life.

Throughout the weekend the Vineyard mourned the loss of the longtime West Tisbury moderator and well-known Islander, who was the victim of a robbery and homicide on a remote hiking trail in northern California Friday. Mr. Gregory was 69.

A key piece of historic coastal farmland on Chappaquiddick will be conserved, thanks to a purchase announced this week by the Martha’s Vineyard Land Bank.

The land bank said Wednesday that it had signed a contract to buy 25 acres of the former Tom’s Neck Farm off the Dike Bridge Road. The purchase price is $5.175 million.

The last annual town meeting of the year and two town elections top the political agenda on the Vineyard this week. Voters in Aquinnah convene their annual meeting Tuesday and head to the polls Wednesday. Tisbury voters go to the polls Tuesday to elect a new selectman and town clerk.

Oak Bluffs will spend $15 million for a new town hall and fire station, Edgartown intends to change its town clerk from an elected to an appointed post, and West Tisbury will pay to complete a watershed study of the Mill Pond — but not to dredge it. All three towns finished in one night.

A memorandum announced by the Tisbury selectmen Tuesday calls for Stop & Shop to make a large payment to the town and meet other conditions. For its part, the town has agreed to support the expansion plan before the Martha's Vineyard Commission.