Islanders have long been acutely aware of the problems of health care access. Cut off from the larger medical community by Nantucket Sound, Vineyarders are twice as likely as other Massachusetts residents to be uninsured. On Friday afternoon Martha’s Vineyard Community Services held a panel discussion about the recent national health care bill, and how it would improve access as well as hit home.

With 351 surveyors and 17,500 households, the grand tally of Martha’s Vineyard residents is still unknown as the 2010 U.S. Census comes to a close this month.

Six weeks have passed since John Newsom finished surveying Vineyard residents for the 2010 census; quality control officers concluded their surveys this week, and now all that’s left to do is count.

“Overall it was good. I can’t let out any government secrets,” Mr. Newsom said over the phone with a smile you could hear earlier this week.

Mature Workers

The Mature Workers Program is an employment service for Island residents 55 years old or older who are on limited incomes and who would like to get back to work.

The program offers paid work experience and skills training opportunities on the Vineyard.

For more information, call 508-394-4630 or 1-800-244-4630 to speak with Mary at extension 543 or Gloria at extension 542.

Former Vineyard elementary principal Geraldine Moriarty has the answer to your worries about the onslaught of company arriving at your house this summer. What to do with the children or grandchildren? Get them a copy of the new Funhunters Scavenger Hunt! This former educator and longtime Island resident has developed a portable, compact and educational scavenger hunt that will provide days of family fun and ideas for exploration and adventure.

Police Receive Grant