Large clouds of billowing smoke rose over Chappaquiddick on Wednesday afternoon, on what was a perfect day for a controlled burn. State and Island firefighters helped the Nature Conservancy staff burn about 27 acres of grasslands at Wasque. The two hours of thick smoke was temporary, the smoldering landscape left behind was blackened.

Tisbury shellfish constable Danielle Ewart has a birthday wish, a new Dodge pickup truck for her shellfish department. She hopes to get approval to replace the nine-year-old truck at the annual town meeting on Tuesday, April 12, which is the day Ms. Ewart turns 29.

The troubled truck has driven over 92,000 rough-and-tumble miles. “Russ Maciel and Patrick Murphy, the town mechanics, have kept that truck running,” she said. “But, it has more problems.”

By MARK ALAN LOVEWELL

The Martha’s Vineyard Center for Living is seeking to build a new facility on approximately two acres of land, formerly the Edgartown Water Company office off Meshacket Road. The endeavor, still subject to town approval and to a $3 million capital campaign, is in its infancy.

Jeff Kristal and Tom Pachico almost bumped, then warily skirted one another as they went to take their seats at Tuesday’s Tisbury candidates’ forum.

With the collision averted, the crowd laughed, but there was no denying a certain tension in the air as the two big men lined up to put their respective cases to be elected selectman.

Three years ago, Mr. Kristal won the position from Mr. Pachico, the incumbent, by a mere 14 votes. Now, Mr.Pachico is back for a rematch, in the one and only contest of Tisbury’s upcoming town elections.

By PHYLLIS MERAS