The Ritz Cafe, a well-known family-owned tavern on Circuit avenue in Oak Bluffs, is under agreement to be sold.

The buyer is John Reveruzzi, a Connecticut businessman with ties to the Vineyard. Mr. Reveruzzi is a part owner of David Ryan’s restaurant in Edgartown and the Sugar Shack, a Caribbean pub and eatery on the Oak Bluffs harbor.

The Ritz has been on the market since November, said Janet King who, along with her siblings, has managed the bar for the past 28 years.

Health insurance administrators report fielding a rush of Island residents before a Jan. 1 state deadline that requires all commonwealth residents to have coverage.

Under the health reform law, signed by former Gov. Mitt Romney in April 2006, people without health coverage in 2007 will lose their individual personal income tax exemption, which amounts to a penalty of $219. State residents will not face the penalties until 2008 when they file their tax returns for the current calendar year.

The American Red Cross, Cape Cod and Islands Chapter, will organize an extensive number of adult, infant and child review and first aid classes. They will be held at the Martha’s Vineyard YMCA at Cottager’s Corner in Oak Bluffs.

The four-hour adult CPR/AED class costs $45. The certificate is valid for one year. The class is offered on any of three Saturdays: Jan 12, Feb. 9 or March 8, from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. or on Monday, March 24, from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m.

The Dukes County Health Council has announced openings for new members in 2008. The council has vacancies in its consumer, public official and health care practitioner categories.

Membership on the Dukes County Health Council requires attendance at a monthly meeting and active participation in at least one of its committees.

The council is a coalition of community members, public officials, health practitioners and health organizations working together to promote community-wide health and wellness.

Corrections

A story in the Dec. 28 Gazette about news stories in 2007 misidentified the town in which Chickie the rooster and his owner reside. They live in Vineyard Haven.

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In a story in last week’s edition on David Belcher, the first name of Foster Silva, the original superintendent at Cape Pogue and Wasque for The Trustees of Reservations, was misspelled. Also, Route 28 in Falmouth was misidentified.

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Hello, Lea

Andrea Finlay and Myron Maynard of Oak Bluffs announce the birth of a daughter, Lea Madison Maynard, born on Dec. 26 at the Martha’s Vineyard Community Hospital. She weighed 8 pounds, 3 ounces at birth.