Anecdotal reports suggest it was an average or slightly above-average season for tick-borne illnesses on the Vineyard. By far the most prevalent illness is Lyme disease. A new venture intends to focus on clinical research into tick-borne illnesses.

Islanders experiencing mental health and substance abuse crises are expected to benefit from a Martha’s Vineyard Community Services crisis stabilization unit that will be run on hospital grounds. The so-called red house will be renovated to house the program.

A long-awaited project to bring improved cell service to the Katama part of Edgartown moves forward this week, following the completion of a lease with telecommunications company AT&T.

The company will pay the town $28,000 per year for the use of an abandoned silo at Katama Farm.

The 4-1 vote clears the way for brothers Greg and Dan Martino to begin a pioneering aquaculture venture. There were complaints from abutters and concerns about navigation, but the town strongly backed the project as a boost to the shellfishery.

Reading is alive and well on the Vineyard, librarians agreed this week, as they reviewed circulation numbers that show material lending is trending upwards across the Island. Circulation statistics from each of the six Vineyard libraries tell similar stories.

It was a busy and profitable year for summer traffic to the Island by ferry and by air.

But the big transportation success story of the summer is the Vineyard Transit Authority which set ridership records in July and August.