Cong. William Delahunt describes himself as an eternal optimist. Still, his optimism comes easier now than it did four years ago.

Opposition to the agenda of President Bush and, in particular, his Iraq war were not so popular back then. Today he finds himself on the right side of history and the popular mood.

House of Representatives Passes Coast Guard Spending Bill, Eliminating Governor's Veto for Offshore Wind Farms

Abandoning what could have been a fatal blow to the offshore wind farm proposed in Nantucket Sound, the U.S. House of Representatives last week approved a revised Coast Guard bill that eliminated veto power over the Cape Wind project for the governor of Massachusetts.

Words and emotions filled the air Monday night, when some 350 people packed the Martha's Vineyard Regional High School Performing Arts Center to air their views about the controversial Cape Wind project planned for Nantucket Sound.

Opinion split nearly straight down the middle among the 50-plus people who spoke at the public hearing, from local fishermen to high school students to powerful politicians. All spoke with passion and conviction.

One week after an Oak Bluffs selectman withdrew his support for the planned roundabout at the blinker intersection, new doubts are surfacing over the future of the project.

Selectman Richard Combra unexpectedly reversed his stance at the regular board meeting last week. Mr. Combra said he thinks the roundabout could create more bottlenecks at the Triangle intersection on the Edgartown end and the State Road intersection on the Vineyard Haven end.

In spite of a tumultuous first three years as Vineyard Steamship Authority governor, Kathryn A. Roessel wants more.

On Wednesday Ms. Roessel submitted a letter to the Dukes County commissioners, formally seeking reappointment to the high-profile volunteer position. Her current three-year term expires at the end of the December.

Town hall veteran Melissa Kuehne saved her job yesterday, winning the post of town collector by a margin of 165 votes.