Court Dismisses Lawsuit Brought by New Bedford, but City May Sue
Again
By JULIA WELLS Gazette Senior Writer
Quoting archaic academic political scientists and pointedly avoiding
a position on any substantive issues of law, a federal judge this week
dismissed a lawsuit between the city of New Bedford and the Steamship
Authority.
State Finance Crisis Places New Strains on Budget of MVC
By JULIA WELLS
State budget cuts are expected to hit the Martha's Vineyard
Commission hard in the coming fiscal year, and town assessments will go
up as grant money goes down - way down.
MVC executive director Mark London said this week that state and
federal grant money is expected to drop by some $200,000.
"We have tightened up every expense we can, but as we take on
new planning responsibilities it is important that we keep our staffing
intact," Mr. London said.
NANTUCKET - The people of Nantucket clashed openly with the
Steamship Authority yesterday, raising tough questions about boat line
spending and demanding that the SSA abandon a new marketing venture that
will allow J. Crew to hand out catalogues on ferries and in terminals
during the popular Nantucket Christmas Stroll.
State's Doug Foy: Guiding Four State Agencies in New Regime
By JULIA WELLS
He switched teams, changing from private to public, from advocacy to
bureaucracy, from an attorney who led the fierce charge for
environmental protection to an Uber-secretary with a lofty title and a
post in state government to match.
But on Doug Foy, the drape of the new uniform appears to be just
right.
Hospital Leaders Attempt to Blunt Financial Crisis at the Windemere
Facility
By JULIA WELLS Gazette Senior Writer
Leaders at the Martha's Vineyard Hospital stepped in this week
to try to contain an escalating financial crisis at the Windemere
Nursing Home and Rehabilitation Center. Hospital senior managers said
the crisis at the Island's only nursing home could pose a threat
to the Island's only hospital.
Waiting List for English Classes Is Long; Indicator of Intent to
Stay
By CHRIS BURRELL
They are, said Jeanne Burke, the people who sustain the Island, the
ones who ring up the groceries, paint the houses and tend the gardens.
They are also the ones knocking on Ms. Burke's door in
staggering numbers, looking for a place in one of the six English
classes taught through the Martha's Vineyard Adult Learning
Partnership, where Ms. Burke is the director.
Boat Line Faces Decline in Revenues; High-Speed Service Meets Legal
Snag
By JULIA WELLS Gazette Senior Writer
The plan to run high-speed ferry service between New Bedford and the
Vineyard hit a major snag this week when Steamship Authority managers
learned that they may run afoul of the Pacheco Act, the state
anti-privatization law.
State House Compromise Clears Path for Special Vote in May on a
Petition in Oak Bluffs to Secede from Commission
By JULIA WELLS Gazette Senior Writer
After a week of back-room politics on Beacon Hill that left one Cape
and Islands legislator openly fuming at what he called "outside
muscle," a petition by the town of Oak Bluffs to withdraw from the
Martha's Vineyard Commission is now set to come before voters at a
special election in the middle of May.
Interim Manager at Woods Hole Started Out at the Ticket Window
By JULIA WELLS Gazette Senior Writer
His first summer job was in a hardware store where he learned how to
fix screen doors.
Today at age 53, Wayne Lamson has been called on to fix something
bigger than a screen door - way bigger - but those who know
the soft-spoken, highly capable Steamship Authority treasurer think he
is more than up to the job.
For the fifth time in three decades, this week Mr. Lamson stepped in
as interim general manager of the SSA.
Aquinnah Incumbent Returns to Office in Close Vote Cast by Record
Turnout
By JULIA WELLS
Incumbent selectman Michael Hebert squeaked back into office this
week, beating challenger Camille Rose by just six votes in the Aquinnah
annual town election. The final count was 108-102; Mr. Hebert will begin
a third term as selectman this week.
