Good morning! High School commencement ceremonies begin at 1:30 p.m. Sunday at the Tabernacle in Oak Bluffs. Read the Tuesday Gazette for full coverage.

A new report released this week by the Martha’s Vineyard Commission lays out an ambitious plan to fill in the gaps in the network of bike paths that runs through the three up-Island towns to create a continuous loop with better access to downtown areas while avoiding dangerous intersections like Five Corners in Vineyard Haven.

In these tough times, Steamship Authority general manager Wayne Lamson is as eager as anyone else to find some tiny cause for optimism, and thinks he might at last have found one.

The number of people riding the ferries to the Vineyard has ticked up at last, just as the tourist season is starting.

Not by much. The number of passengers carried by SSA ferries rose 0.9 per cent for the month of May, compared with the same month last year. And the number of cars rose 2.4 per cent.

A state board that controls the sale of alcohol has been keeping an eye on the town of Oak Bluffs this spring, and the result this week was citations to four establishments for selling alcohol to minors.

The most serious violator is The Ritz Cafe, which has been ordered to close its doors for 10 days in July by the state Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission (ABCC).

The Martha’s Vineyard Magazine last week was a finalist for the 2009 National City and Regional Magazine Awards in two categories: general excellence and ancillary publications for its Home and Garden magazine.

“Martha’s Vineyard succeeds at its mission to capture the character of the Island while focusing on issues for locals and visitors alike. Each issue offers an eclectic mix of features, a bit of history and good service information,” judges wrote in their comments on general excellence.

North Road Closes

Beginning Monday, the eastern end of North Road in West Tisbury, from its terminus at State Road to the Chilmark town line, will be closed to through traffic from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. due to paving. The closure is expected to last about three days. For information call the West Tisbury police at 508-693-0020.