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ELECTRIC CABLE OVERHEATS; MAIN ST. BUSINESSES LOSE POWER Power was shut off to about 12 businesses on one side of Main Street about 10:20 a.m. yesterday after an underground electrical wire outside the Even Keel restaurant overheated and began to smoke.

Main Street was closed off by the fire department and the Even Keel restaurant and upstairs apartment were evacuated as a precaution. "Smoke was coming into our basement, so we evacuated the building," Even Keel owner Marshall Thompson said.

Steve Holdgate, operations manager for National Grid, said insulation on a secondary voltage wire that connects to an underground transformer overheated and started to smoke. "As soon as the electric company shut the power off everything was fine," fire chief Mark McDougall said. When the utility cut the power, however, every building on the block, except the end businesses the Sportslocker and Mitchell's Book Corner were without electricity. Most businesses remained open despite the power outage, save the Even Keel.

Power was restored just after 2 p.m.

WALK RAISES OVER $330,000 The inaugural Nantucket Walk Now for Autism at Jetties Beach last Saturday raised over $330,000 for the advocacy organization Autism Speaks.

Autism Speaks Co-Founders and Nantucket residents Bob and Suzanne Wright, along with fellow event chairs Heather and Chris Kennedy, joined approximately 1,000 walkers, including individuals with autism, their families and friends to raise funds for critical scientific research and to increase awareness about the nation's fastest-growing developmental disorder, now diagnosed in one in every 150 children.

BROSSMAN HONORED WITH WOMEN IN SCIENCE AWARD Cynthia A. Brossman, Director of the Learning Resource Network (LERNet) at Boston University is the Maria Mitchell Association's recipient of its 2007 Women in Science Award.

Brossman, said Maria Mitchell Executive Director Dr. Janet E. Schulte, uses leadership, creativity and dedication to allow LERNet to offer an outreach program that is collaborative, systemic, practical and replicable to encourage young women and underserved populations to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering and math.

The Women in Science Award is Maria Mitchell's way of honoring astronomer Maria Mitchell, while recognizing the vital work of present day women in scientific careers who pave the way for female access to scientific professions. The Maria Mitchell Association will honor Brossman at dinner on Sept. 28 that also pays tribute to Nantucket Schools' science fair winners. The dinner, costing $75 per person is at 6 p.m. at the Coffin School at 4 Winter St. Contact Maria Mitchell at info@mmo.org or 228-9198 for details.

SCHOOL SUPPLIES FOR A SAFE PLACE ASafe Place, the island's provider of services for survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault, is holding a school supply donation drive this week. Donations of pens, pencils, notebooks, backpacks and other important items will be given to children in families who have been affected by domestic violence.

There will be table set up at Stop & Shop this Friday, Aug. 31, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. where a list of school supplies will be provided. The hope is that shoppers will purchases one item from the list. Non-perishable food items for families who use A Safe Place services will also be collected.

SPECIAL NP&EDC MEETING The Nantucket Planning & Economic Development Commission will hold a special meeting tomorrow night at 7 p.m. at its 2 Fairgrounds Road offices for several items that cannot wait until its next regular meeting on Oct. 1. On the docket for the Aug. 30 meeting are discussion-votes on the Planning Department's proposal to hire a housing planner and consensus on a tidal energy partnership with Edgartown and UMass Dartmouth along with the transportation planner's report. Call 228-7237 for details.

25 HOURS WITH SBPF The Siasconset Beach Preservation Fund's public hearing schedule will resume with five-hour meetings on Sept. 10, 24, and 26 from 3:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., either in the town's 2 Fairgrounds Road building housing the Planning Department and other town offices, or the high school. To confirm the details of these meetings, call the Conservation Commission office at 228-7230.

Also, if you know you have comments about this project, the ConCom urges you to send them to, or drop them off at, the commission's office in the Town

Annex building at 37 Washington St. I