I’m the very model of the modern model citizen, although I’m not as beautiful a model as Heidi Klum, which explains why I have never been featured in the Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue.

Still, I am proud and slightly flummoxed to say that I do not (as yet) have a criminal record. On the advice of my attorney, who is in jail, I can’t say anything else except that I am disappointed I wasn’t chosen to serve on a court case when I was called recently for jury duty.

An important source of housing support on Martha’s Vineyard will be one focus of the next few weeks of town meeting discussion. Votes on funding for the coming fiscal year’s rental assistance program totaling $560,000 are spread across the Island’s six towns. So too are the 77 households who currently use rental subsidies to help maintain themselves and their families.

PAY RAISE QUESTIONS

Editors, Vineyard Gazette:

During a time where everyone is being asked to tighten their budgets, I find it interesting that the Oak Bluffs fire chief is asking for a $30,000 raise. Remember, this is not a full-time position. The department is still a volunteer department, meaning that the members receive yearly stipends, including the chief.

It took 10 years for the voters of West Tisbury to make up their collective mind about what to do with the historic town hall building, left to our care by previous generations. Its maintenance had been ignored for decades, not by any malign intent, until it became obvious to enough people that something had to be done. So after an extended and bumpy decision process, we now have an impressive building to meet our needs for the 21st century and beyond, and one that more than respects the 19th century external sensibility of the original structure.

Spring Songs

Keep the Skate Park Open

The recommendation from an Oak Bluffs town insurance inspector on the skate park came out of the blue last week, catching everyone by surprise, including the nonprofit organization that operates the park across the road from the Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School. Citing equipment safety hazards and liability concerns, the insurance inspector has recommended that the park be closed.