etcetera
1. A number of unspecified additional things; 2. pl. additional items, odds and ends

PETER B. BRACE/The Independent

DOLPHIN SIGHTING Apair of common dolphins believed to have become disoriented at sea, are now trapped in Hither Creek on the south side of Millie's Bridge, swimming in circles and unable to find their way back out to open waters. One of the dolphins appears to be ailing. Marine Mammal Stranding Team member Debbie Miller said team members from the Cape Cod Standing Network were en route to the island Tuesday afternoon to assess the situation.

Members of the Stranding Team are keeping a constant watch over the dolphins to ensure no humans or dogs harass them while awaiting a directive from the New England Aquarium and the National Oceanographic & Atmospheric Administration on how to help the dolphins.

POINT BREEZE LAYS OUT DEWATERING PLANS Finally answering the vexing question of construction and long-term dewatering for phase II of the Point Breeze properties redevelopment, Bob Matthews had his team of engineers explain to the Planning Board on Monday how he plans to keep his site dry using his own harbor outflow pipes.

Matthews, who plans to build a second hotel on the corner of Easton and North Beach streets - this one to be 17,235 square feet with 39 rooms, five cottages along Easton Street and three tennis courts over 149 underground parking spaces - needs to keep the soggy site dry, both during and after construction. To do this, one of Matthews' engineers, Dale McKinnon of Nantucket Surveyors, described how steel sheeting will be installed 19 feet into the ground around the perimeter of the property.

During construction, collection wells placed around the property will pump water through a filtration system and aboveground pipes into the harbor via outflow pipes at Children's Beach. For permanent dewatering, when the town upgrades its downtown stormwater collection system this fall, Matthews will run his own pipes to the harbor when the town opens the streets to complete its project.

BOARD APPROVES NORTH BEACH STREET PLANS Satisfied that the new uses going into 1 North Beach St., recently purchased by the Great Point Properties real estate firm, would not add more vehicle congestion to Brant Point, the Planning Board approved two modifications to the firm's major commercial development special permit.

The board agreed unanimously Monday night to amend the special permit by eliminating a condition that prohibits high intensity retail uses. In doing so, the Planning Board gives Amber and David Cantella zoning permission to open Epernay, an upscale wine, microbrew and gourmet food shop in one of three retail spaces in the building. The board denied the use of the second retail space by a personal fitness training business. The third space will house the offices of the merging firms Sanford Real Estate and Great Point Properties, which will operate under the latter name.

Great Point Properties also persuaded the Planning Board to allow the business to use the square-footage equivalent of 54 percent commercial space.

WEEZIE LIBRARY CLOSED MARCH 1-4 The Nantucket Atheneum will close the Weezie Library for Children from Saturday, March 1 through Tuesday, March 4 for the installation of new rugs. The Weezie Library reopens March 5.

NHAADDS AMERICANA FROM AUCTION TO COLLECTIONS About one month ago, the collection of artifacts belonging to the Nantucket Historical Association grew a little bigger. Two important pieces were purchased at a Christie's auction in New York City on Jan. 17 and 18, including a pair of whale ivory and whalebone candlesticks, which are an unusual find in today's market.

Also purchased was an inlaid mahogany work table with scrimshaw detailing and applied ivory strips that formerly belonged to Grace Brown Gardner and was made for her grandfather's wife, Charlotte. Acquisitions such as these are made possible through funds provided by The Friends of the Nantucket Historical Association.