A plan by the Dukes County sheriff to build a 140-foot emergency services tower in Oak Bluffs won unanimous approval from the Martha’s Vineyard Commission Thursday night.

For the past 40 years, Shearer Cottage — the rambling, red-sided building in the East Chop highlands — has been the annual destination for a group of doctors from Vermont.

A large oak tree that graces the east side of Music street near Middle Road will soon die, the West Tisbury tree warden told selectmen this week.

A post-summer report says tick populations are up, especially the newest species of disease-carrying arachnid to invade Martha’s Vineyard: the lone star tick.