News
Edgartown town employees may get their cost of living increase after all this year.
A little over three months into the fiscal year, Edgartown selectmen said this week that the town’s financial position is better than expected, and as a result they will now recommend a three per cent cost of living increase for all town employees.
The news stands in sharp contrast to early last year when Edgarown led the way on recommending no cost of living adjustments (Colas) as the national recession set in.
Grace Potter took the stage in early August to delight her many fans and Tarrus Riley played to a sold-out house that many said was the best reggae concert since Peter Tosh played here more than two decades ago.
And the owners of Nectar’s, the new nightclub in the building that once housed the legendary Hot Tin Roof, said this week that they are ready to sign on for another season.
The town layoffs are over, and now Oak Bluffs voters must come to terms with their budget crisis, which includes a combined operating deficit of $800,000 between last year and this year.
“These are difficult times that call for hard choices,” said selectman and board chairman Greg Coogan at the weekly selectmen’s meeting Tuesday night.
At a special town meeting that has been set for Oct. 20 voters will be asked to cut nearly $500,000 from the town’s current operating budget.
Citing diverse issues from bird strikes and toxic unexploded munitions to ancient spirituality and hard economics, Islanders lined up on Wednesday night to express their concerns about the possible effects of planned commercial wind farms near the Vineyard.
Well over 100 people attended the public hearing called to receive feedback on the Oceans Management Plan, billed by the state government as a first-in-the-nation attempt to manage all development in Massachusetts waters. But just one issue dominated proceedings: wind generation.
Please Adopt Us
To everyone who has asked about Susie — our mascot for the Animal Shelter of Martha’s Vineyard — she had some surgery this week and is recovering well. She still needs more tests so any donations for her medical expenses are gratefully accepted.
By MARK ALAN LOVEWELL
The largest false albacore caught from the shore was landed last Saturday. Keith A. McArt of Somerville, a well-respected derby fisherman, caught a 16.55-pound false albacore while fishing off Lobsterville Beach. Quite a few fishermen saw him land the fish.
The 64th annual Martha’s Vineyard Striped Bass and Bluefish Derby is now entering its third week with still two weeks to go.