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News in Brief
Two vie for Tisbury selectman's seat
Incumbent selectman Tom Pachico will face challenger Jeff Kristal in Tisbury's annual town election on April 15. Mr. Pachico is Tisbury's board of health inspector and chairman of the selectmen. Mr. Kristal owns and manages the Crocker House Inn.
In another contested race, Rebecca J. Cass and John L. Johnson face off for one three-year position on Tisbury's school board.
The other races are uncontested.
New candidates Kenneth C. Garde and Larry J. Gomez are seeking three-year terms as public works commissioners, joining incumbent David J. Ferraguzzi, who is running for another three-year term.
Marilyn Wortman, Sandra A. Johnson-Pratt, and Sharon Anne Knipmeyer seek three-year seats as library trustees. Jo B. Weinberg is running for the first time for a one-year term as a library trustee.
Deborah Medders is seeking another three-year term as moderator, and Marion A. Mudge another three-year term as town clerk.
Thomas M. Robinson is seeking reelection to the Martha's Vineyard Land Bank Commission for a three-year term.
Roy Cutrer Jr. is running for another three-year term as assessor. Herbert F. Custer is seeking reelection for a three-year term on the board of health. David Schwab is running for another three-year term as a water commissioner. Henry Stephenson seeks reelection for a five-year term on the planning board.
Although there are four three-year positions open on the finance and advisory committee, no candidates applied.
Driver faces OUI charges after Edgartown crash
Susan Austin of West Tisbury will face a drunken driving charge and four other motor vehicle violations after an accident in Edgartown early Tuesday morning.
Police say Ms. Austin, 54, went through a stop sign at the end of Atlantic Drive. Her 2001 Jeep Cherokee overturned in a shallow pond.
"The vehicle was traveling east on Atlantic Drive," said Edgartown police detective Craig Edwards. "The vehicle drove through the intersection, hit the dune, which put the vehicle airborne." The vehicle came to rest on its roof in about two feet of water, Detective Edwards said.
A passing motorist spotted the overturned Jeep and called police about 6:30 am, Tuesday morning, but police believe the accident happened earlier.
"The operator did report that she had been out there for quite some time. She referenced hours," said detective Edwards.
The driver was treated at Martha's Vineyard Hospital.
Police say she will be charged with operating under the influence of alcohol, negligent operation of a motor vehicle, speeding, a stop sign violation, and a lane violation.
Oak Bluffs crash ends in OUI charge
Oak Bluffs police and fire department personnel responded to a one-car crash on Sea View Avenue in the Harthaven section of town Tuesday night. Police said Nelson Tuck, 26, of Dolphine Merry Way in West Tisbury, was driving a 2002 BMW northbound when he lost control and struck guardrails on both sides of the roadway.
The crash caused major damage to the car. One front wheel was sheared off the vehicle, police said. Officer James Morse estimated Mr. Tuck was traveling in excess of 50 miles per hour. That stretch of roadway is posted for 25 mph.
Mr. Tuck and his passenger, Heather Kelley, were taken to Martha's Vineyard Hospital and released a short time later. The fact that both passengers were wearing seatbelts and that air bags deployed may have prevented more serious injuries, police said.
Following his release from the hospital, police arrested Mr. Tuck for operating a vehicle under the influence of alcohol. He was arraigned yesterday morning in Edgartown District Court on charges of OUI, negligent operation of a motor vehicle, and speeding.
Unlicensed driver charged in West Tisbury mishap
West Tisbury police cited a driver for unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle following an accident Wednesday on Lambert's Cove Road, near Uncle Seth's Pond in West Tisbury .
Adriana Messias, 23, of Tisbury was the driver cited.
The owner of the car, Roberto Lacerda of Oak Bluffs, will be cited for allowing an unlicensed operator to drive his vehicle.
Police say Ms. Messias was trying to reverse direction and steered onto a steep embankment, well off the roadway. The car rolled up on its side. Ms. Messias, a child, and two other passengers were unhurt.
"They couldn't make the turn, and it rolled on its passenger side," said Sergeant Matt Mincone. "It was 30 feet off the main road."
EPA fines Packer company
R. M. Packer Company of Vineyard Haven, the petroleum storage and distribution company, has agreed to pay a $78,000 fine for violating the federal Clean Water Act and Oil Pollution Prevention regulations, according to a press statement from the Environmental Protection Agency.
The Packer company, according to EPA, failed to adequately implement a "Spill Prevention, Control, and Countermeasure" (SPCC) plan and did not sufficiently maintain proper containment for its tanks and loading rack. Upgrades required by the facility's SPCC plan had not been implemented, including installing high level alarms and level monitors on tanks, installing secondary tank bottoms with corrosion protection, and testing tanks for soundness. The EPA said that because the Packer fuel depot is on the harbor shore, "these violations presented a significant threat of an oil spill into navigable water."
"Following the original EPA inspection, the company submitted a schedule for coming into compliance, including upgrading its tanks and containment areas. When RM Packer fell behind schedule, EPA sent a letter to the company notifying the company that its oil tanks on Beach Road were still out of compliance with the SPCC regulations. Due to the company's continued noncompliance, EPA subsequently issued an Administrative Order to RM Packer, requiring the company to comply with the storage tank requirements of the SPCC rule. Following continued delays to comply with the SPCC requirements, EPA initiated the current penalty action against the company."
"Oil spills can do significant damage to the environment," said Robert W. Varney, regional administrator of EPA's New England office. "EPA will continue to ensure that facilities handling oils follow established procedures to minimize risks of oil spills."
RM Packer has agreed to upgrade its facility and comply with the SPCC Regulations, according to the EPA. The company has poured concrete in the previously unpaved tank containment area, upgraded containment for other, smaller tanks, and installed high level alarms and corrosion protection for the active tanks. In addition, RM Packer is working with an engineer to update its SPCC plan.
Tisbury embarkation fee articles approved
The Tisbury selectmen voted to approve draft articles for the town meeting warrant for appropriations to be expended from passenger ferry embarkation fee receipts totaling $255,168 at a meeting Tuesday night at the Katharine Cornell Theatre. The articles were recommended by the Tisbury's embarkation fee committee after reviewing requests submitted from town departments.
The legislatively imposed 50-cent surcharge on one-way ferry passenger tickets generates considerable money for the SSA's port towns. The law requires that the money be used only for mitigating the impact of ferry service on the city or town. Those uses include providing harbor services, public safety protection, emergency services, or infrastructure improvements.
The articles approved by the selectmen include $30,600 for the ambulance department; $61,860 for the harbor department; $55,208 for the fire department; $20,000 for a bus shelter at the Steamship Authority terminal; $37,500 as the town's share of grant to purchase and install a new generator at the town's emergency shelter at the Tisbury School; and $50,000 to fund the wages of four or more traffic officers for the summer season.
Friends of Heather Jardin sponsor bottle drive
Heather Jardin of Edgartown, a 1999 graduate of Martha's Vineyard Regional High School, is battling acute AML leukemia. Her friends and the community have organized a redeemable bottle drive on her behalf.
People are asked to drop off redeemable bottles at specially designated bins left outside the Martha's Vineyard Boys and Girls Club adjacent to the Edgartown School. All proceeds will be used on behalf of Ms. Jardin.
A benefit party is planned for March 22 at the PA Club in Oak Bluffs.
Services set for Charles Leighton Jr.
Charles Leighton Jr., 85, of Edgartown, died Wednesday in Windemere Nursing Home. A memorial service is scheduled at 11 am Saturday, March 15, in the Federated Church on South Summer Street in Edgartown. Donations may be made in his memory to Windemere Nursing Home, P.O. Box 1747, Oak Bluffs, MA, 02557, or to the American Legion Post 186, P.O. Box 2131, Edgartown, MA, 02539. Arrangements are under the care of Chapman, Cole & Gleason Funeral Home, located on the Edgartown-Vineyard Haven Road in Oak Bluffs. Visit ccgfuneralhome.com for online guest book and information. A full obituary will appear in a future edition of The Times.
Business Briefs
Local realtors receive ABR designation
The Real Estate Buyer's Agent Council, Inc. of the National Association of REALTORS® recently awarded Robin O'Donnell and Nora Jardin of Island Real Estate in Vineyard Haven the Accredited Buyer Representation (ABR®) designation.
Ms. O'Donnell and Ms. Jardin join more than 32,000 real estate professionals who have earned the ABR® designation, according to a press release. Designees are required to successfully complete a comprehensive course in buyer representation and an elective course focusing on a buyer representation specialty, in addition to submitting documentation verifying professional experience.
Massage business will close doors
Almost Heaven Massage Therapy will close its doors at the end of March, after 10 years in business. Owner Prudy Magee reminds people holding gift certificates that they must be used no later then Wednesday, March 26.
She said, "I want to thank all my loyal customers, massage therapists and family who have helped support my business over the years."
Ms. Magee said she plans to work at other massage establishments and provide some house calls. For more information call 508-939-8400 or email her at Prudy.Magee @gmail.com.
Corrections
An item in News in Brief in the Feb. 21 issue, "Tashmoo Spring building committee solicits ideas," mentioned a summer campsite as one of the possible uses. To be more exact, it would be a summer theater day camp.
In the story "Multi-million override possible in Oak Bluffs" in the Feb. 21 Times, several names were misspelled. Somehow Cheryll Sashin became Cheryl Satin, Joe Alosso turned into Joe Alonso, and Greg Coogan's last name morphed into Cogan. Apologies all around.
The name of Cindy B. Andrews of Edgartown, wife of James Andrews, was omitted from the listed survivors in the obituary for Emily S. Giusti that appears on page 14 of today's Community section.
