UP THE ANTE FOR CYCLING
During the review of major residential developments by the Planning Board, developers can, if they're feeling generous, contribute to the construction of a nearby bike path project. Currently, the formula for suggested contributions is $25 per lineal foot of frontage of development, but the planning staff, namely Transportation Planner Michael Burns and Senior Planner Leslie Woodson, both felt that the existing formula fostered an attitude of meager contributions among island developers, considering that it costs around $200 a foot to build a bike path on Nantucket.

Although no change to the existing formula occurred at the board's Aug. 13 meeting, its members, guided by Burns, discussed changing the formula for suggested contributions to $2,000 per dwelling. The board did not rule on this proposal, preferring to resume discussion at its next meeting on Monday night.

ILLUMINATING THEIR KEEPERS You may already have this year's Trustees of Reservations beach vehicle sticker on your SUV, and the Trustees certainly appreciate your contribution to its continuing conservation efforts on the Coskata-Coatue Wildlife Refuge, but there's a group of 125 people who deserve more recognition.

Last May, Sam Furrow's house at 87 Baxter Road in 'Sconset sat precariously on the edge of the bluff, above left. Last week, building mover Atlantic AEolus moved the house back, out of harm's way. It has thus far been a quiet hurricane season for the entire eastern seaboard.

They are the members of the Great Point Circle who dig a little deeper into their pockets each year to help the Trustees, this year raising $91,000. If you are in this elite flock of refuge protectors and have been too busy to read your mail, the Trustees are holding a celebration in your honor at Great Point Lighthouse tomorrow night.

Great Point Circle members and their guests can enjoy cocktails and hors d'oeuvres at the lighthouse from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. while touring the historic stone structure and relishing the spectacular views. For more information, call Julie Williams, Associate Director of Annual Giving at 978-771-4798.

FLIGHT PLAN FILED It will be business as usual for 18 months when Nantucket Memorial Airport breaks ground at the end of October on a new addition to the north end of the existing terminal. Airport Operations Manager Al Peterson said that airport operations will continue, although there will be several airline ticket counter changes during construction that could last until the summer of 2009. Eleven days after the addition's groundbreaking ceremony on Oct. 4, perimeter fencing for the project area will go up in preparation for breaking ground on the foundation.

PHOTOS BY ROB BENCHLEY/The Independent

Foundation work and renovation of the existing terminal space will go on this winter. Ticket counters for the air taxis, Island Air and Nantucket Air are to be moved to the annex building that now houses Continental's counters, while Cape Air and Colgan Air will move to the Jet Blue trailer behind the terminal this winter. Patrons of these carriers will enter the terminal and go straight through the trailer onto the ramp.

Peterson said he hopes to put at least Cape Air back at its new ticket counter next summer and move the rest of the carriers back during the winter of 2008/2009. Perimeter fencing take-downs, ramp paving and landscaping will happen late winter through late spring in anticipation of a grand opening for the summer of 2009.

25 HOURS WITH SBPF The Siasconset Beach Preservation Fund's public hearing resumes on Aug. 27 from 3:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the Siasconset Casino and continues on Aug. 29 for another five-hour session in the same location. Beyond that, there will be additional five-hour meetings on Sept. 10, 24 and 26, from 3:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., but the ConCom has yet to nail down a venue for these three meetings. It is working on securing space either at the town's 2 Fairgrounds Road building or at the high school. To confirm the details of these meetings, call the Conservation

Commission office at 228-7230. I