Vineyard Haven poet, journalist and human rights activist Rose Styron has been named a resident fellow for the spring semester at Harvard University’s Institute of Politics, located at the John F. Kennedy School of Government.

Over the course of the semester, Mrs. Styron and other resident fellows will lead weekly study groups, interact with students, participate in the intellectual life of the Harvard community and pursue their own individual studies or projects.

A new review of the Bradley Square affordable housing project in Oak Bluffs last Thursday by the Martha’s Vineyard Commission brought a fresh round of criticism from neighbors and abutters.

Opponents remain firm in their position that the project is too large for the neighborhood, despite changes that have been made to the plan. The commission closed the public hearing and is scheduled to deliberate and possibly vote on the project at its regular meeting on Feb. 19.

The Vineyard Gazette won 12 awards in the annual New England Newspaper Association Better Newspaper Contest this year, including six first place awards that recognized the 163-year-old weekly newspaper for excellence in journalism across the spectrum from advertising to editorial.

Dean’s List

Tara Reynolds of Edgartown was named to the dean’s list at the Savannah College of Art and Design in Savannah, Ga., for fall quarter 2008. She is an illustration major.

The Martha’s Vineyard Commission last week unanimously approved a revised budget for next year which does not increase assessments for the six Island towns.

But it does preserve salary increases of about four per cent for commission staff.

MVC chairman Christina Brown, an elected member from Edgartown, opened last Thursday’s discussion by explaining that the commission’s budget was drafted before recent cuts in state aid by Gov. Deval Patrick.

Martha’s Vineyard Hospital and Windemere Nursing and Rehabilitation Center joined Partners HealthCare to celebrate the 13th annual Partners in Excellence award program at a ceremony held at the hospital on Jan. 30.

Established in 1996, the awards recognize individuals and teams at all levels. Award recipients are nominated by their colleagues. This is the second year the Vineyard hospital and Windemere employees have been eligible for nomination.