Vineyard, Nantucket, SSA Managers Turn Out to Oppose State House Bill
By MIKE SECCOMBE
BOSTON - Opponents of a union-backed move to water down the independence of the Steamship Authority and decrease control by the two Islands turned out in force on Boston on Thursday to fight it before the state Joint Committee on Transportation.
The forces which punched a hole in Norton Point and opened Edgartown harbor to the Atlantic Ocean might present a headache for town officials, but from an ecological viewpoint, they have all the benefits of a big natural spring cleaning.
Boat Line Bill Set for Hearing
Sleeper Legislation Would Dilute Island Control of SSA Board; Unions Back the Measure, Management Does Not
By MIKE SECCOMBE
The Steamship Authority is facing a fresh fight for its independence over union-backed attempts to change the composition of its board to dilute local representation and impose an increasing degree of state control.
Edgartown Selectmen Lead Initiative to Join Ocean Wind Turbine Proposal
By MIKE SECCOMBE
With Edgartown in the lead, the Vineyard is poised to join with Nantucket and Cong. William Delahunt in pushing for the establishment of an offshore energy zone to harness wind, wave and possibly tidal energy from waters between the two Islands.
The move is a first step toward the goal of making the Islands energy independent.
Edgartown officials have begun a major effort to warn boaters of treacherous tides in the town harbor and Katama Bay resulting from the breach which has opened at Norton Point Beach.
The direction of the tidal flow has reversed due to the breach, and currents are running three times faster in the narrows, posing a major threat of collision, as well as seriously hampering the operation of the ferry to Chappaquiddick, now the only access to Chappy.
Ferry Islander to Be Sold; Pricetag Set at $750,000
By MIKE SECCOMBE
To the extent that you can do a cost benefit analysis on sentiment, the Steamship Authority did one this week on the Vineyard's favorite ferry, the Islander, and settled on a figure of $750,000.
If the highest bidder could come up with that much money, boat line governors decided, they would be obliged to sell the venerable old ferry.