Leaders of the Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah) now have until July 2 to decide whether they will try to convince the United States Supreme Court to hear their appeal of the much-watched case over tribal sovereignty.

Attorneys Pressing Tax Case Underscore Serious Flaws in Town Assessment System

By IAN FEIN

BOSTON - Attorneys for Island resident William W. Graham at a legal hearing this week charged the fundamental system West Tisbury assessors use to determine land values and property taxes throughout the town is seriously flawed.

NStar Labor Strike Hits Home Hard; Workers Decry Abrupt Benefit Cutoff

By JAMES KINSELLA

Striking NStar Electric & Gas employees on the Vineyard grew more bitter yesterday as word spread that the power distribution company had suspended health insurance benefits for workers on strike.

"It doesn't say much for how they feel for their employees," said Glenn Dickson of Vineyard Haven. "Usually there's a grace period. It seems like they don't care."

Middle Line Housing Project Goes to a Hearing in Chilmark

By MAX HART

A third and final public hearing is set for next week on Chilmark's first town-sponsored affordable housing project, when residents will have the chance to discuss the details of the Middle Line Road plan.

But debate on the hot-button topic of the day - whether to build rental units or resident homesites - will have to wait until the project comes before voters at a special town meeting next month.

Long Island Ferry Concern Eyes Martha's Vineyard for Possible New Route

By James Kinsella
Gazette Senior Writer

Owners of a Montauk, N.Y., ferry company have launched a federal lawsuit that could open the way for car ferry and fast ferry service between Long Island and Martha's Vineyard.

In the lawsuit, entities with ownership interests in the Viking Fleet want to strike down a ban by the town of East Hampton against car ferries and fast ferries operating out of Montauk harbor.

The trappings of a resort community may be the Vineyard's bread and butter, but the flipside - the seasonality, the economic pressures, a housing market far out of reach of most working people and even the private beaches - may be the ingredients underlying rates of depression, substance abuse and suicide that are higher than the state and even national averages.