Remy Tumin
The Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School district committee approved changes to the student handbook at their monthly meeting this week that include revised policies on discipline, tardiness and academic honesty.
The new disciplinary section of the handbook reflects how the school wants students to behave rather than what they should not do, assistant principal Andrew Berry told the committee. Renamed code of conduct, the section addresses general conduct and dress expectations.
Aquinnah voters will choose between two veteran leaders next week for selectman, both women, one with an extensive record of public service in town, especially in planning, and the other with a long history of service with the Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah).
Incumbent selectman and board chairman Camille Rose is seeking a third term; former tribal council chairman Beverly Wright is challenging her.
The annual town election is Wednesday; polls will be open from noon until 7 p.m. at the Aquinnah town hall.
Chilmark voters made speedy work of their annual town meeting on Monday night at the Chilmark Community Center, approving an overhaul of the town personnel bylaw, a new set of rules for swimming pools and tennis courts and a $7 million budget in two hours flat.
A total of 107 voters attended; longtime moderator Everett Poole presided over the session.
The budget, up $238,000 over last year, includes a 2.6 per cent cost of living increase for town employees, the highest on the Island. Chilmark town employees received no increase last year.
The Dukes County commission approved a $5.57 million budget at their monthly meeting on Wednesday, a three per cent increase over last year.
The increase is due to a larger Martha’s Vineyard airport budget and a two per cent cost of living increase for county employees. County employees have not received a COLA in the past two years and $10,000 has been set aside for the adjustment.
Town Provisions owner Brion McGroarty told the Edgartown selectmen this week that he is making another attempt to build a liquor store near the airport.
The selectmen gave Mr. McGroarty their blessing to proceed with the permitting process to build an addition to the building now owned by Nectar’s and the Vermont pizza company Flatbread. Mr. McGroarty will need approval from the town, airport commission, the state alcoholic beverage control commission and likely the Martha’s Vineyard Commission.
In his small office with wide floorboards and rippled glass windows, Edward Hoagland sat in front of his bookshelf at his 18th century Edgartown home earlier this week. Behind him on his desk was a 1968 Olympia typewriter, the ink still wet from the essay he had been working on earlier that morning. Old New Yorker magazine covers with circus scenes on them decorated the walls, a few African masks hung above the windows and classical music played in the background.