A new bill authored by Cape Cod lawmakers that would extend a 9.75 per cent lodging tax currently in place for hotels to weekly rentals has already stoked opposition both here and across the state, primarily among real estate brokers and people who rent their homes during the summer months for extra income.

One month before the first day of spring, the Vineyard summer home rental market is sluggish, with many agents saying that advance bookings this year are down between 10 and 15 per cent — at least so far. The news from the Steamship Authority matches the trend, with advance reservations for automobiles down about 12 per cent from this time last year.

Teacher unions responsible for salaries of the single largest group of municipal workers on the Island will not be asked to give up cost of living increases next year.

A Wednesday meeting of the all-Island school committee turned down requests from various town bodies to reopen negotiations with the unions that control teacher salaries, in light of the national economic crisis.

Corrections

A story in Friday’s Gazette reported incorrectly on the reopening date of Alchemy restaurant in Edgartown. Alchemy reopened three weeks ago and is very much open for business.

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The Chappaquiddick column in Friday’s Gazette carried the wrong byline. The guest author of the column was Brad Woodger. Also in the column the e-mail address for Ron Whitney was missing a character. The correct e-mail address is [email protected].

The Gazette regrets the errors.

Welcome Laila

Laila Elizabeth Branca was born at 10:42 a.m. on Feb. 16 at the Martha’s Vineyard Hospital. She weighed 7 pounds, 10 ounces and was 20 inches long at birth. The happy parents are Kerry and Bobby Branca of Edgartown. The proud grandparents are Elizabeth Branca of Canton, Mike and Sandy Joyce, and Ray and Annie Long, all of Edgartown.

Announcing Arjuna

Nicole DerManelian and Mark Begle of Vineyard Haven announce the birth of a daughter, Arjuna DerManelian Begle, born on Feb. 7, 2009, at the Martha’s Vineyard Hospital. Arjuna weighed 7 pounds, 10.6 ounces at birth.