News Briefs
Chamber of Commerce Island Books now available
The latest edition of the Martha's Vineyard Chamber of Commerce Island Book, which features telephone listings and municipal information, is now available at a variety of outlets.
Nancy Gardella, Chamber executive director, said that the Island Book will not be delivered to Island residents through the post office, as it has been in the past. Instead, books will be available at 19 distribution centers that include local banks and businesses and at the chamber.
This year's cover features drawings of Martha's Vineyard lighthouses by students Erik Faber, Bella Maidoff, Franklin Pilcher, Derek Rogers, Jack Slayton, and Peter Tennant.
Women Empowered launches grant program
Women Empowered (WE), an Island nonprofit that provides life skills coaching services for women, men and families struggling with financial challenges, presented a $3,000 grant to Mass Audubon Felix Neck Wildlife Sanctuary. It was the organization's first grant.
Felix Neck plans to use the award to provide on-the-job training in the skills needed to become a visitor service assistant at Felix Neck. There will be a small salary for the trainee, who will be selected from applicants supplied by Women Empowered, according to a press release.
The grant is made possible by a donation to WE from Malcolm Jones of West Tisbury.
"We clearly stated that we wanted to see our first grant going to an organization that, like Women Empowered, wanted to help women and families trying to improve their lives and trying to transition to stability. The Mass Audubon at Felix Neck grant request was a perfect match," WE executive director Sheila Bracy said.
Police, restaurateur warn of scams
State Police sergeant Neal Maciel told The Times that a telephone scam intended to trick Island residents into transmitting sensitive information about their bank accounts has reappeared.
He said the recorded call purports to be from the Bank of Martha's Vineyard alerting the customer that is a problem with a mortgage account and provides an 800 number that claims to connect the caller to Sovereign, the parent company. The person who answers the phone requests the account holder to key in personal account information.
Bank officials advise customers to never provide account information over the phone unless they initiate the call. To verify whether a call is legitimate, call your bank or visit its website, using phone numbers or Internet addresses from your bank statement or account documentation. Do not call back a number provided over the phone, or click on a link in email.
Another scam targets restaurants. J.B. Blau, owner of Sharky's Restaurant, the popular Mexican eatery located in Edgartown and Oak Bluffs, said that a recent experience provides a warning to other Island business people.
Mr. Blau said he was recently contacted by a William Susan and asked to cater an event for 200 people. Mr. Susan used the services of a special operator for the hard of hearing.
Following an exchange of emails over the course of two weeks, Mr. Susan said he had arranged for a private shipper to pick up the food. Mr. Williams asked Mr. Blau to add $950, the pickup and delivery charge, to his bill so that all the charges would be on one credit card. And he asked Mr. Blau to send $950 to the "shipper."
The poor English and the odd request made Mr. Blau suspicious enough so that he did not conclude the deal. He said such scams waste precious time and pose a risk for Island businesspeople.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation provides advice on how to avoid Internet business scams at www.fbi.gov/majcases/fraud/internetschemes.htm.
For information on protecting your identity and financially sensitive information, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) maintains a helpful website. The page with advice to avoid phone and e-mail scams is onguardonline.gov/topics/phishing.aspx.
Edgartown Wastewater Commission secures grants
The Edgartown Wastewater Commission has received two grants totaling $258,200 to improve energy efficiency at the wastewater facility. The upgrades and modifications to plant systems will result in a savings of $36,321 in energy costs annually, according to a news release from the commission.
The grants come from the Cape Light Compact, and the state Department of Energy Resources.
"The Edgartown Wastewater Commission would like to recognize Plant Operator Matthew Rodenbaugh for his efforts in helping to secure these grants for the Town of Edgartown," the commission said in its release.
The commission has also lined up additional grants of $58,467 toward a replacement and upgrade of heating systems. The overhaul is expected to cost a total of $95,000. The commission will ask voters at an upcoming town meeting to appropriate the difference, $36,533. The new heating systems will save the town $120,000 over the 20-year life of the equipment.
Helping Island soldiers serving in Afghanistan
You can help support Vineyard soldiers stationed in Afghanistan and elsewhere around the globe. Estelle Burnham of Edgartown, owner Bob Pacheco of Reliable Market, and Dukes County's veteran's agent Jo Ann Murphy are organizing a new effort to supply Island soldiers with sundries they need and enjoy. A similar effort last year was very successful. Many Islanders contributed. The goal is to send parcels of food - not mess hall food or field rations, but highly desirable and badly wanted supplements - and needed tee-shirts to Vineyarders in the military wherever they are posted, but particularly in the Afghanistan war zone. Call Ms. Burnham at 508-627-9521 for information, or address donations to her, at RFD 140, Edgartown 02539.
"If you can do anything at all, please," Ms. Burnham asks.
State House News Service
Seat belt enforcement blitz planned
State and local police and public safety officials will launch a seat belt law "enforcement blitz" Thursday featuring additional traffic patrols and public awareness efforts between July 23 and July 30. Organizers say more than 30 percent of Massachusetts drivers fail to wear seat belts even though state law requires it. Efforts to pass a tougher seat belt law enforcement bill have failed on Beacon Hill, despite the lure of more federal highway safety funds. Officials will describe details of the enforcement effort at the southeastern Massachusetts State Police barracks in Dartmouth. That area of the state has the lowest level of seat belt law compliance in the state, with 41 percent of drivers opting to ride unbuckled.
Senate backs bill for study of Cape energy
A bill ordering state utilities regulators to explore Cape Cod's energy generation won unanimous approval in the Senate Tuesday as its lead sponsor, Sen. Robert O'Leary, said Cape residents had paid $200 million in higher-than-necessary electricity rates to meet a federal standard. When Sen. Michael Knapik noted that Cape Wind has the potential to infuse many megawatts of energy to Cape homes and businesses, O'Leary replied, "As you well know, the wind blows sometimes, and sometimes it doesn't blow." He said Cape Wind wouldn't help the Cape meet the federally imposed energy generation requirements. "The kilowatt we save is the kilowatt we don't have to produce," he said.
Corrections
A news brief published July 16, "A lifesaving lunch," misidentified the first name of the manager of MV Holistic Retreat. It is Linda, not Pam Haigazian.
