News
Boaters may soon be prohibited from dumping or discharging effluent from their boats in most state waters around Martha’s Vineyard. On Monday, the state office of environmental affairs secretary Richard K. Sullivan Jr., submitted an application to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), designating most waters around Martha’s Vineyard, Nantucket and southern Cape Cod as a no discharge area. The area comprises 807 square miles of water.
With growing evidence the Norton Point breach is appearing to close — lessening the current running through the harbor—there is buzz on the waterfront that the summer ahead will be easier for a lot of visiting boaters, particularly the local fleet of day sailboats.
No Contest Up-Island
Chilmark voters will elect a new selectman next month.
Four-term selectman Frank Fenner has decided not to seek reelection, and William Rossi will run for the seat. Mr. Rossi, a real estate agent in Edgartown and owner of the Chilmark Store, ran against selectman Jonathan Mayhew and lost in 2010.
Nomination papers were due this week. The annual town election is April 25.
There are no contested races and no candidates have filed nomination papers for the position of fence viewer.
Zephrus Open
Zephrus restaurant in Vineyard Haven opened Thursday for dinner after a spring cleaning. The restaurant is serving a full dinner menu nightly, seven days a week from 5 p.m. Chef Benjamin deForest will offer nightly specials and a tasting menu.
The dropout rate at Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School remains lower than the state average, with 1.2 per cent of the school’s students failing to complete high school.
According to data presented at this week’s high school committee meeting, the school’s dropout rate in the 2010-2011 school year was unchanged from the 2009-2010 school year. Guidance director Michael McCarthy said eight out of 676 students dropped out last school year.
Boston has its famous St. Patrick’s Day parade and revelry. This year, Edgartown will have its own, smaller, celebration of all things Irish.
On Monday, the Edgartown selectmen approved the Kelley House Inn’s proposal for the first annual St. Patrick’s Day parade on Saturday, March 17. The parade route is small enough for a leprechaun: from Dock street to the Newes from America Pub on Kelley street. Parade organizers estimate the event will take five or 10 minutes.