In this complex world, it seems everything affects everything else. And so, because Wall Street bankers metaphorically trashed much of the U.S. economy, the town of Tisbury was forced to literally trash much of its recycling effort.

Truly. It’s a bit of a convoluted story, but it begins with the amount of trash generated by the town of Tisbury, which was down 17 per cent last year, according to Tisbury’s director of public works, Fred LaPiana.

Despite a shortage of money and qualified instructors to teach foreign languages, Vineyard schools officials expressed support at their meeting last Thursday for the goal of graduating students from the high school with fluency in a language other than English.

Tisbury town officials will discuss the beer and wine proposal that goes to vote once again in April, at a public hearing on Tuesday, March 23 at 5 p.m. at Katharine Cornell Theatre. Voters split evenly on the issue in the first count of the 2008 ballot, with no votes deciding the question in a recount.

The new proposal, as previously reported in the Gazette, authorizes the selectmen to grant up to 19 licenses to restaurants seating 30 people or more to sell alcohol with meals. The unusual number reflects the fact there are 19 eligible establishments in town.

Grief Support

Is someone close to you dying or been struck by a terminal illness? Do you feel that you are already grieving? Hospice of Martha’s Vineyard is forming an anticipatory grief group, to support those undergoing the fear, frustrations and other emotions that accompany the grieving process that often begins before death.