For members of the Island's Brazilian population, one of the most frightening prospects is a visit to the hospital. Rather than a lack of health insurance, what keeps many away is the fear of not being understood.

Quoting legendary college basketball coach John Wooden and expressing pride at his own accomplishments, Kevin Burchill, the embattled chief executive officer at the Martha's Vineyard Hospital, announced last weekend that he will resign.

\\\\\\\"This will offer the hospital the best possible options to move forward - for everyone,\\\\\\\" Mr. Burchill said in a prepared statement read at the outset of a community forum on hospital affairs.

Trustees at the Martha's Vineyard Hospital scrambled to contain the damage this week in the aftermath of last week's announcement by a respected Vineyard surgeon that he will sever his contract with the hospital.

Fran Resendes lit the tree of lights on Wednesday.

A long-time friend of Martha's Vineyard Hospital and its volunteers, Mrs. Resendes flicked the switch at dusk before a small gathering, and hundreds of red and white lights lit the familiar 30-foot tree at the entrance to the hospital. Anyone driving past this holiday season has an opportunity to remember friends, both here and gone.

Contract talks between management and nurses at the Martha's Vineyard Hospital are now at a bitter standoff, and hospital chief executive officer Kevin Burchill said this week that he is prepared for the possibility of a strike.

"Everything is now off the table. We're prepared for the worst but we expect the best," he said.

Hospital leaders gave themselves a checkup this week, and while no crisis was detected, there was a prescription - for more work.