A love of the arts is just one aspect of the Vineyard that sets it apart from other communities.

And on Saturday Islanders who love the arts will have the opportunity to attend a free concert titled Drops in the Stream: A Concert of Music, Poetry, and Dance. Performed by the Row Twelve Music Ensemble at the Chilmark Community Center. The concert is the brainchild of Chilmark resident Frederic Hotchkiss and the result of a community collaboration to bring a fusion of music and performing arts to the Vineyard.

Cuts to state aid for child care have left Island families and early childhood workers struggling to develop new ways to subsidize programs here.

“We do have a suspicion that unless we can figure out a local solution . . . fewer children will [have access to child care],” said Ann Palches, early childhood coordinator for the Martha’s Vineyard Public Schools, who added: “This is a statewide issue, not just a Vineyard issue.”

Rent subsidy in the amount of $16,000, to be divided among five families living in the Morgan Woods affordable housing complex, was approved by Edgartown selectmen this week. The money will come from the town’s affordable housing trust fund.

Citing continued concerns about the need to clean up Menemsha Pond from a failed oyster propagation project of the Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah), the Aquinnah selectmen this week directed town coordinator Jeffrey Burgoyne to set up a meeting with tribe leaders to discuss the problem.

Again.

Edgartown town employees may get their cost of living increase after all this year.

A little over three months into the fiscal year, Edgartown selectmen said this week that the town’s financial position is better than expected, and as a result they will now recommend a three per cent cost of living increase for all town employees.

The news stands in sharp contrast to early last year when Edgarown led the way on recommending no cost of living adjustments (Colas) as the national recession set in.