What Martha's Vineyard News Did I Miss?

When I go on vacation, I tend to unplug almost completely, going days without so much as checking Facebook or even my email more than once or twice.

I couldn't miss the Thanksgiving Eve storm — on which, oddly, with all the boat cancellations we wound up getting off-Island on an earlier ferry than the one on which we'd had a reservation — but on my Dec. 3 return from an eight-day break, I've had a lot of catching up to do.

Thanks to Patch super-editor Chris Helms, who fills in for me when I'm away — as I will be again Dec. 11-16 — I found these stories on MV Patch (and had a few thoughts in response):

• Governor Sues to Stop Tribe's Island Casino (A lot of people will be delighted if he succeeds, and not just on Martha's Vineyard: It would remove some competition for Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick's preferred casino tribe, the Mashpee Wampanoags, who are moving ahead with plans for a gambling resort in Taunton.)
• Ryan Family Amusements to Expand in Oak Bluffs After Renovations. (Could this be a response to developer Sam Dunn's reported plans for a bowling alley on Uncas Avenue a few blocks away?)
• The Oak Bluffs Christmas Tree Lighting is Wednesday, followed by Santa at Dreamland. (And don't miss the lights in Ocean Park!)
• 6 Popular Tax Breaks Could Disappear in 2014, including the popular $250 teacher's deduction for out-of-pocket classroom expenses, the deduction for higher education tuition and home energy efficiency credits. (We'll see whether Congress acts to keep these breaks due to expire at the end of this month.)

• Our discovery that Jimmy Cagney's former Edgartown summer home has been sold to a top CEO got picked up by Richmond Biz Sense, which very properly credited MV Patch for the original report. (Hello, Richmond! Thanks for the retweet!)

• November's Elder Tech Fair at Alex's Place Was a Hit (I love good news. Thanks for posting, Tony!)
• William Waterway posted his insider photo of author William Styron in his detached writing studio in West Chop. It was recently published in Sitting Pretty magazine. (Great shot, William. I am thrilled you shared it and will be reposting it in News with a link to the magazine. Thank you!)
  
• South Shore & Cape Cod Metaphysics Magazine is now available online for free.

• That $169,000 burned-down house with guest cottage in Oak Bluffs is already under contract. (Smart buy, but needs more than TLC: Wonder what it costs to remove a burned-down house on MV?)
• The Vineyard beat Nantucket again. (Like a drum.) 
• Shotgun Hunting Season is underway. (Note to self: Buy orange cap. Note to UPS drivers: Stay out of the woods.)