Help With Benefits

Donald Brown, director of the Massachusetts Department of Transitional Assistance, is now offering regular office hours on the second Wednesday of each month at the Martha’s Vineyard Hospital, to assist Island residents in applying for benefits. Call 508-862-6600 for information.

CPR Teacher Training

The American Red Cross, Cape Cod and Islands Chapter is looking to train CPR and first aid instructors to teach classes on the Vineyard. Instructor training courses will be held at the Chapter House at 286 South street in Hyannis on Dec. 5 and 8 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The cost of the course is $145.

Adagio Arrives

Rebecca and Charles Esposito of Vineyard Haven announce the birth of a son, Adagio Esposito, born on Nov. 14, 2008, at the Martha’s Vineyard Hospital. Adagio weighed 5 pounds, 14 ounces at birth.

The town of Oak Bluffs emerged a winner from Tuesday’s monthly Steamship Authority meeting, which set next year’s summer and fall operating schedules. Vineyard Haven was a loser, as was the boat line itself. Marc Hanover, the Vineyard’s governor, was just angry.

Credit hard economic times for all of the above.

A second attempt to attract a quorum failed in Aquinnah last Thursday, with just 17 voters turning up for a special town meeting.

Four per cent of the electorate made the journey to the old town hall on Thursday night. The minimum quorum requirement is 39 voters, or 10 per cent of the 396 registered in Aquinnah.

As a result, town moderator Walter E. Delaney dissolved the special town meeting, already continued from October, and in the process indefinitely delayed action on some $25,000 in spending requests.

Hello, Lily

Ellie and Steven Wise of New York announce the birth of a daughter, Lily Wise, born on Oct. 26 at St. Vincent’s Hospital in New York city. Lily weighed 8 pounds at birth. Lily joins her sister Anna and brother Henry.

Ellie Wise is the daughter of David and Molly Finkelstein of West Tisbury.