A rising tide lifts all boats, they say. But the old aphorism about the economy apparently does not hold true for Vineyard real estate, as the most recent property valuations show.

The All-Island School Committee voted to ratify a three-year agreement with Island school secretaries last Thursday, after nearly nine months of negotiating. Vineyard schools superintendent Dr. James H. Weiss said yesterday the contract, which is retroactive to July 1 of last year, will include no salary increases this year (2011), a two per cent increase next year and a 2.75 per cent increase the following year.

Tisbury is looking to reduce the cost of health insurance by pushing town employees to shift themselves onto the policies of family members who don’t work for the town.

In return for getting themselves off the town’s health insurance, workers could be offered thousands of dollars toward subsidizing the cost of alternate arrangements.

The suggestion was one of a number of cost-saving and revenue-raising measures which came up at Tuesday’s meeting of the selectmen.

Tisbury selectmen have confirmed the town will abide by the existing funding arrangements for MVTV, thus ending a week of confused speculation that Tisbury could pull its support for the Island’s community broadcaster.

The concerns were fueled by comments from Tisbury’s Department of Public Works director, Fred LaPiana, indicating that the town could claim the $80,000 a year which now goes to MVTV on its behalf, and siphon some or all of the money off for other projects.

To the Mansion

Vineyarders are invited to book a room at the Mansion House for $26 per person during the month of January to celebrate Sherm and Susie Goldstein’s 26 years as innkeepers.