MV Times August 6, 2026

Father dies trying to save two sons

A tragedy in Long Point’s rip current. BY

HAYLEY DUFFY AND NICHOLAS VUKOTA

A55-year-old Cambridge man died after getting caught in a strong rip current 100 yards off the beach at Long Point Wildlife Refuge Friday, the Cape and Islands District Attorney’s Office told The Times Monday.

A sunny day on the beach with his wife and two teenage sons turned to tragedy when Kevin Foster swam out to his sons, “who were struggling to swim, and yelling

for help,” according to the District Attorney’s Office. West Tisbury Police responded to Long Point Friday after receiving a report of a party of swimmers in distress at Continued on A8

A strain on public safety

The summer struggle of overworked and understaffed first responders.

BY NICHOLAS VUKOTA

Aseries of serious emergencies have strained the Martha’s Vineyard community this summer, and understaffed departments of first responders across the Island are raising concerns about public safety.

Many local chiefs are saying the severity and complexity of the calls have increased, even though the total volume of calls, according to data shared with The Times by local departments, has not surged Island-wide. July brought some of the most severe incidents and emergencies so far this summer.

A fight outside the Ritz Café in Oak Bluffs left a man paralyzed from the waist down on July 17; Kevin Agatep was charged after allegedly punching Daniel Serusa in the face during the incident. Days earlier, a woman had been struck in a crosswalk in Oak Bluffs, and on July 10, an electric dirt bike collided with a truck, sending the two bikers to the hospital, including a child, who was placed in an induced coma. The family of the young boy, Nolan Ellis, and his father, Michael Ellis, said they are doing better now, but the recovery journey will be long.

Most recently, on Friday last week, at Long Point Wildlife Refuge in West Tisbury, a swimmer, Kevin Foster of Cambridge, died after getting caught in a rip current. Late in June, an alleged knife attack in Tisbury resulted in an attempted murder charge and an injured victim. The alleged attacker, Brandao Geraldo Alves Caldeira, was arraigned on June 20 in the Edgartown District Courthouse, where he seemed to still have blood from the attack stained on his shirt. The police report states that Caldeira released the victim only after he was physically separated from her by officers. Fire departments also responded to a series of car fires throughout July, including a box truck on Barnes Road, a fire in the beach grass at Inkwell Beach on July 4, and a fire on Chappaquiddick that burned a house to the ground in early June.

On July 8, a 91-year-old woman crashed her vehicle on board the Steamship Authority Ferry into a side wall of the vessel after

Debate heats up on Katama Meadows

It remains unclear whether a final decision may be made today — August 6 — on the controversial and evolving Katama Meadows project, but if last week’s meeting is any guide to where this is going, the Island community and the Martha’s Vineyard Commission can expect more debate.

There’s a lot at stake and alot of history here.

In 2017, 54 acres off Meetinghouse Way and Division Road in Edgartown were purchased by Utah developers Richard Matthews and Douglas Anderson for $6.6 million to create a sprawling housing development. But the plan for that development has endured several stops and starts. The fourth iteration of a proposed subdivision of homesite lots for the acreage has been in front of the Martha’s Vineyard Commis-

sion (MVC), a regional planning committee and county land-use regulator, all year. Unlike previous proposals, the one before commissioners again this week has garnered town support for its potential to house moderate-income residents, who officials say are underserved due to state-subsidized income restrictions for affordable housing projects. Proposed conditions, deliberations, and an ultimate decision to approve or deny the projects have already taken longer than usual for a large-scale development. Last Thursday, commissioners spent more than three hours grappling with around 15 conditions, which are compliances the MVC can assign to the developer of a project that go into effect if approved, unless

The MVC to continue discussion on 52-lot development in Edgartown. BY SARAH SHAW DAWSON Thursday, August

The 54-acre site in Edgartown where the Katama Meadows development is proposed.

Prodigal groundfish permit comes back to the Island

The permit returns to a commercial fishing family after years of nonprofit stewardship. BY

HAYLEY DUFFY

More than a decade ago, Greg Mayhew was set to retire as a commercial fisherman and decommission his 75foot dragger Unicorn, a staple on Dutcher Dock in Chilmark. But the loss of him and his vessel from the Menemsha docks would mean the loss of the Island’s last federal groundfish permit, and there was no Island buyer to take his place.

Rather than sell to an off-Island fisherman or corporation and lose the quota forever, Mayhew sold his permit in 2015 to the Nature Conservancy, which partnered with the then-nascent Martha’s Vineyard Fishermen’s Preservation Trust (MVFPT) to act as a steward of the permit and retain the lucrative license to eventually be accessible to future Island fishermen.

“It was clear that I wouldn’t be able to keep fishing, partly because of regulations and partly because I’m getting older,” Mayhew said in a telephone conversation with The Times back in 2015. “I didn’t want to see the permit go to a conglomerate that already had 25. I want to see fishing continue in Menemsha, so it’s not just a place you go to see sailboats, but somewhere you can get fresh fish and not truck it in from somewhere else, not knowing what you’re getting.”

And that’s exactly what’s happened. Greg Mayhew has since passed away, but more than a decade later, his federal groundfish permit, appraised at around $75,000, is back in the hands of an Island fisherman, specifically his nephew, Matt Mayhew, who targets squid and fluke on the Lady M out of Menemsha.

Survey seeks to identify health needs for Island children and mothers

A survey is open for mothers and families on the Island that seeks to zero in on existing gaps in services, from childcare to postpartum needs, with the goal to improve year-round community services in the long run.

The survey, called the “Maternal Child and Family Health Assessment,” is spearheaded by Martha O’Donnell, a University of Massachusetts Amherst rising senior who has an internship with the Inter-Island Public Health Excellence Collaborative this summer. O’Donnell is majoring in public health policy, and her goal is to identify health needs for families on the Island, Nantucket, and Gosnold.

Although O’Donnell went into the survey with an understanding of public health, she said she was surprised by how few infant and toddler care options there are on the Vineyard, an issue that has been of high concern for providers this year.

“There are some things that stand out. Like a big one is childcare on-Island, especially from six months, and it’s so expensive,” O’Donnell told The Times. Finding a pediatrician on-Island, she said, is difficult for many families, and the waitlists are long. Without access to a local provider, traveling to the mainland for appointments is a costly venture. In 2025, there were only 10 spaces for infant care on the entire Island, while an estimated 150 babies are born here each year. While some services, such as a new infant care center at Vineyard Montessori School, have stepped up to meet the gap in care, young families continue to face the reality of few safe and affordable options. As a result, many opt to stay home while their child is young, which is an economically challenging decision for the average local family.

Through the survey process, O’Donnell has identified and partnered with 42 local organizations, like Martha’s Vineyard Community Services and Health Imperatives, and is working with those groups to gather holistic infor-

The conservancy announced in a press release Tuesday that it had transferred the permit to the trust, which has a permit bank to lease quotas or the right to catch fish or shellfish to local fishermen. Shelley Edmundson, executive director of the MVFPT, said the conservancy sold the permit for a dollar.

A decade ago, there was no fisherman with a vessel set up to harvest the groundfish fishery, which became less profitable as stocks declined. Now, the younger Mayhew’s boat, which has an otter trawl, is the only one on the Island that can utilize the permit; the Martha Rose, a 77-foot sea scalloper owned by Wes Brighton, already has a federal groundfish permit. This license allows for Mayhew to fish in federal waters for species like cod, haddock, and flounder.

news in brief

mation and do outreach to more locals. The survey closes on August 12, and is available in Portuguese and English.

“The survey tries to get how your care went at prenatal and postpartum, and how that went if you had to go off-Island, if you plan to have your baby on-Island or off-Island, and just those very basic questions about your pregnancy, and then also raising a child,”

O’Donnell said.

It’s the second survey distributed in the past few months that hopes to document the current problems facing the community’s most vulnerable and underserved. The other was also conducted through the Inter-Island Public Health Excellence Collaborative, called the “Martha’s Vineyard Substance Use and Behavioral Health Survey,” and asked for personal experiences from locals about mental and behavioral health and substance use for the purpose of thoughtfully distributing opiate abatement funds.

Sarah Toste, the assistant board of health agent in West Tisbury, headed up the survey. She said the opiate abatement funds come from a state funding stream that is the direct result of a lawsuit Gov. Maura Healey brought against opioid prescription companies when she was the attorney general. She won the suit on behalf of the state, and now the funds are distributed annually to counties on need and population bases.

“The goal of this project really is to identify the nature and extent of substance use problems and related behavioral health issues within Dukes County, to assess existing resources, and to determine service gaps to understand lived experiences, barriers to care, and look at culturally specific, trauma-informed needs,” Toste told The Times. “And we wanted to give particular attention to high-risk populations.”

While the behavioral health and substance use survey has closed, and Toste said the report will be published on Sept. 1, both surveys seek to understand the limitations of the Island and who gets left behind when services fall short.

O’Donnell said locals haven’t filled out the survey as often as she hoped, and she wants

The trust owns and manages the permit, and while used by Mayhew now, it can stay on the Island indefinitely through the trust’s permit bank and be recycled out to future fishermen. Mayhew will pay an annual fee to utilize the permit, Edmundson said, and the funds generated by the fee will be used to support the trust’s conservation and research initiatives and partnerships.

“It’s been a long process, but is worth the wait,” Edmundson said. She added that the “right thing is happening,” because not only is the permit back in Island waters but within the same family.

Chris McGuire, ocean program director for Massachusetts and the Northeast at the conservancy, called this stewardship a “longterm community benefit,” as the permit can

to urge Islanders and seasonal residents, especially those who are actively dealing with possible gaps in care, to fill out the form.

There are flyers with information for filling out the survey posted at local businesses, and O’Donnell is also setting up at events like the Tisbury Street Fair and Edgartown Village Market.

‘Seized’ examines stability of free local press

Viewers were transported more than 1,600 miles from the Island to the rural community of Marion, Kan., on Saturday night during the screening of the documentary “Seized” at the Martha’s Vineyard Film Center.

The documentary investigates the 2023 raids of the town’s local newspaper, the Marion County Record, and the home of the publisher and co-owner, mother and son Eric and Joan Meyer. During the raids, Marion County Police seized several cell phones belonging to reporters and computers containing sensitive information, including content about the town’s police chief. The documentary begins one year after the raids with Finn Hartnett, a newly hired reporter, during his first day of work at the Record. New to the community, Finn is left making sense of the raids’ aftermath as he covers local issues, including the paper’s ongoing litigation with city officials involved in the raid.

The screening was part of the Martha’s Vineyard Film Society’s 12th annual Documentary Week, which showcases new films,

Continued on A3

corrections

In a story from July 29, 2026, titled “Gimme that old-time baseball,” Brian Travers was incorrectly spelled as Brian Traverse due to an editing error.

Our July Sports Letter went out later than anticipated due to a scheduling error, and therefore, made references to July in the present rather than the past.

be shared by many people over the years. He added that the groundfish fishery is a limited-access fishery, which means federal regulators decided in the ’90s that they wouldn’t issue any more permits in order to rebuild the fish stocks. That means any new anglers to the fishery need to get the permit from someone else. McGuire said sellers used to hand them down to their kids or someone who worked on their boat, but that doesn’t happen as much anymore as the industry becomes harder to enter and sustain. And the permits don’t come up for sale that often.

“This is a forward-looking move,” McGuire told The Times back in 2015 of the permit acquisition. That intent has come back around, McGuire said Tuesday.

MV TIMES

The fishing permit of Capt. Greg Mayhew, shown here aboard the fishing vessel Unicorn, has been passed down to his nephew Matt Mayhew.

Healey appeals Trump’s federal aid denial

BY EUNKI SEONWOO

In an appeal filed last week, Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey urged President Donald Trump to reverse his denial of the state’s major disaster declaration request, a move that blocked federal aid to communities hit by the February snowstorm.

In a letter dated July 31, Healey highlighted the severity of the impact from the storm that pummeled southeastern Massachusetts, including the Island, which saw conservative estimates of around 20 inches of snow alongside widespread power outages, hurricane-force winds, and toppled trees. Some parts of the state were hit even harder with record-breaking precipitation, like the 41 inches of snow that accumulated in Fall River.

Healey wrote in her appeal that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) confirmed that the state has incurred around $45 million in “eligible disaster costs” since the storm, but the Trump administration denied Massachusetts’ request for a major disaster declaration last month.

“This February, Massachusetts experienced one of the worst winter storms we’ve seen in decades,” Healey said in a Friday press release. “Our first responders, public works crews, and local communities worked around the clock to keep people safe, and FEMA validated that Massachusetts exceeded the threshold for federal disaster assistance.”

As the state waits for a resolution, Healey wrote in the appeal that Massachusetts made $100 million in emergency relief available for municipalities across the whole winter season. She also argued that snow is an “eligible event” for a major disaster declaration.

Disaster assistance, whether from state or federal funding, is allocated to municipali-

followed by moderated discussions with film subjects and directors.

Following the screening of “Seized,” director Sharon Liese discussed her documentary with Charles Sennott, publisher of The Martha’s Vineyard Times. The pair took questions from an audience of 155 people as well.

Liese, who lived two hours away from Marion, and first learned about the raids from listening to NPR, said that she was surprised to learn about the community’s animosity toward the newspaper.

“I thought I would go there and that the whole town would be outraged that this happened to their newspaper. When I got there and found out that half the people were and half the other people were not, that just shocked me, and I wanted to dig deeper into that,” Liese said. “A part of it seems to be, ‘If I don’t like you, then what I think about the First Amendment may change a little bit.’”

Liese told The Times about her persistence in persuading town officials to participate in the documentary during the film’s more than two years in production. “The thing about documentary that’s different than news is that you have more time. Over 2½ years, we were able to be there consistently, talk to people, ask them many times if they would talk to us, and meet with them without cameras,” Liese said.

For example, she said, Marion Mayor Michael Powers admired one of the documentary’s producers for his work on the reality show “Wicked Tuna.” “He wanted all the ins and outs about that show. So they went and had a conversation. Once [city officials] learned that we really did want to tell the other side of the story, and that we wanted to hear what they had to say, they started talking,” Liese said. “Once the mayor told them, ‘I trust these guys,’ then they started talking.” Liese also highlighted how the documentary balanced the heaviness of the raids’ unconstitutional nature and the death of the newspa-

ties through the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA). If Healey’s appeal is successful, it would open up federal disaster aid to towns across the state, including on the Vineyard. In July, Dukes County Manager Martina Thornton said “virtually all” towns submitted for reimbursements.

Even with some potential state assistance available, Vineyard towns incurred hefty costs to clear roads of snow and repair damages from the storms. While the county incurred relatively lower costs for post-storm recovery, $12,000, there were Vineyard towns that accumulated six-figure expenses, like Edgartown’s $140,000 cleanup costs.

Oak Bluffs was one of the highest, at $188,791 in “response costs,” and Wendy Brough, the town administrator, said the town plans to seek state reimbursement through Massachusetts’ Winter Recovery Assistance Program, which can be used to cover expenses associated with responding to the blizzard, such as contracted services, personnel expenses, and highway operations.

“Funding is distributed statewide using a ‘fair share’ formula, with $80 million available to municipalities,” Brough wrote in an email. “Oak Bluffs is expected to be eligible for reimbursement of up to approximately $90,000.”

Smaller Island towns were also not spared from high costs. “The town of West Tisbury spent around $120,000 for snow [and] ice in response to the blizzard,” Chelsea Joiner, West Tisbury town accountant and finance director, wrote in an email.

Kevin Devine, chair of the Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head tribal council, said, “We didn’t receive anything, nor request” federal aid after the blizzard.

Healey admonished Trump, and said he

“shouldn’t play politics with disaster relief.”

“Our communities did everything that was asked of them. They shouldn’t be left to shoulder these extraordinary costs alone,” she said in the statement.

Trump has been accused of playing politics with disaster relief after a significantly higher number of Democratic-led states were denied disaster aid compared to states led by Republicans. Three other states impacted by the February blizzard — Rhode Island, New Jersey, and New York — were also denied federal aid, and Politico reported last week that Trump overrode agencies’ evaluations that these areas met federal thresholds for disaster aid.

A major disaster declaration can provide a wide range of support for states overwhelmed by an emergency, although whether a declaration is actually made is at the discretion of the president.

Abigail Jackson, a White House spokesperson, did not address the allegations of the Trump administration playing politics, instead claiming the president “provides a more thorough review of disaster declaration requests than any administration has before him.”

“The president responds to each request for federal assistance under the Stafford Act with great care and consideration, ensuring American tax dollars are used appropriately and efficiently by the states to supplement, not substitute, their obligation to respond to and recover from disasters,” Jackson said in a statement to The Times. “The Trump administration remains committed to empowering and working with state and local governments to invest in their own resilience before disaster strikes, making response less urgent

news in brief

per’s 98-year-old co-owner, Joan Meyer, the day after the raids with the amusing personalities of Marion’s inhabitants.

“It was really important for us to include the humor and the color of the characters that we met in Marion,” Liese said. “We also didn’t want to be laughing at anyone. We just wanted to be able to laugh, and we also wanted to pay respect to the people in the town, and to Eric’s mother, who died, and also not take away from the seriousness of the violation of the First and Fourth Amendments.”

Sennott underscored that 2.5 newspapers close in the U.S. every week, and urged the audience to support local journalism. “Local journalism in America is in a deep crisis. This film lands at a time that we all have to think about this crisis … this is about a time-honored and deeply cherished tradition of our democracy, to have local newspapers that can bring you sets of facts around which we can come together and try to solve the challenges we face.

[The raids] were a unique attack, but small newsrooms all over the country are struggling every week,” Sennott said. “I think it really is super-important to support your local newspaper, to understand the battle that’s out there.”

Three Islanders recognized by M.V. Museum

During the 103rd annual general membership and board meeting of the Martha’s Vineyard Museum, three Islanders were recognized on July 27 for their years of committed service and leadership.

Ronald H. Rappaport, Jocelyn Coleman Walton, and MJ Bruder Munafo were the recipients of the museum’s 2026 Martha’s Vineyard Medals. Since 2009, the Martha’s Vineyard Museum annually honors individuals whose work in historical preservation, education, literature, the arts, and community activism contribute to

the Island community.

Martha’s Vineyard Museum Executive Director Heather Seger said in a press release, “This year’s honorees remind us that preserving history is about preserving the people, stories, and values that shape our community.”

Lifelong Islander and attorney Rappaport, who passed away in 2024, was celebrated posthumously for his years of leadership and public service on the Island. In his work at Reynolds, Rappaport, Kaplan & Hackney as an attorney and civic leader, Rappaport’s career spanned four decades, shaping the local community through municipal law, charity work, and civil counseling.

Walton, a Vineyard resident for more than 80 years, was recognized for her dedication to education, historical preservation, and racial equity. Walton’s book, “The Place My Heart Calls Home,” published in 2018, highlights her family’s links to Coleman Corners in Oak Bluffs and the larger history of African American life on the Island. Walton also spearheaded initiatives to expand educational opportunity and inclusive curricula, and to provide a place for younger generations to see themselves reflected in the Island’s history, according to a press release from the museum.

Munafo was honored for her contributions to the Vineyard’s artistic and cultural life. Munafo was the executive director of the Martha’s Vineyard Playhouse in Vineyard Haven for three decades, and worked there for 40 years total. She shaped performing arts on the Island as a director, writer, producer, and arts leader, the release stated.

The annual meeting also highlighted that 2025 was the busiest year in the museum’s history, with 34,856 visitors, more than 6,000 public program attendees, and more than 2,700 Island students who participated in educational programs.

“The annual meeting is an opportunity to celebrate not only the museum’s accomplish-

and recovery less prolonged.”

Healey said in her appeal that Massachusetts has exhausted state and local resources to respond to the storm. She noted that the state’s 2025–2026 snow and ice budget was $85 million, $65 million of which was spent by the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (DOT) to “maintain state roadway networks and to support municipalities.”

“That $65 million was well short of [the] $180 million DOT spent on snow and ice removal for the whole season,” Healey wrote. “For the February 22–23 blizzard alone, DOT spent $26 million, but we have requested only $8.5 million of that as a reimbursable expense in the submitted declaration request. Cities and towns across the state are facing the same crippling overrun.”

Budgetary overruns were faced by municipalities across the state this spring, including three towns on Martha’s Vineyard. The overruns came from a confluence of factors, including inflation and overall higher costs, and towns looked to property tax hikes to cover the gaps.

Since the blizzard, Vineyard emergency managers have pushed for bolstered coordination across the Island when emergency situations arise. An Island-wide emergency coordinator is under consideration.

Dawn Brantley, director of MEMA, said in a statement that the state is “well-equipped to manage winter storms,” but that the February storm was different because of the unprecedented costs incurred by the state.

“Federal disaster assistance is intended for exactly these situations, helping offset extraordinary response costs so communities aren’t forced to shoulder the financial burden of a historic event on their own,” Brantley said in the statement.

ments, but the people whose dedication continues to strengthen Martha’s Vineyard,” Seger said in the release.

Community foundation opens grant applications

Island-based nonprofit organizations are once again invited by the Martha’s Vineyard Community Foundation (MVCF) to apply for program-based funding through the Community and Impact Grants. Applications can be submitted online until noon on Sept. 28. Awards will be announced by midNovember.

MVCF, in West Tisbury, was established in 1982 with the intent of granting charitable contributions to local nonprofit organizations that serve the Island.

MVCF encourages new nonprofit projects as well as established ones to apply for a grant. Its press release states that the project should benefit the Vineyard community and find solutions for emerging and persisting local issues, such as food and housing insecurity, healthcare, environmental sustainability, and access for people of different abilities.

Last year, the program awarded $600,000 to more than 54 Vineyard organizations, which marked a record level of funding in the annual competitive process. The average award size surpassed $11,000.

With almost 500 registered nonprofit organizations on the Island, according to a 2025 report from the Martha’s Vineyard Nonprofit Collaborative, the Vineyard relies heavily on these entities for support, and with help from MVCF, numerous organizations have established themselves in the past four decades. MVCF has awarded more than $17 million in grants and built an endowment of $14 million. All nonprofits are encouraged to review the foundation’s website before entering the process of application.

EDITORIAL

Tragedy reminds us to beware of rip currents

The tragedy at Long Point will be remembered for generations, and it offers powerful lessons for all of us about navigating the treacherous waters of a rip current.

A father died after trying to rescue his teenage sons amid a rip current late last week at Long Point Wildlife Refuge. What the father, Kevin Foster, 55, of Cambridge, tried to do is nothing short of heroic, and The Times extends our deepest condolences to his family, and our gratitude to first responders who raced to the remote strip of beach and were able to save his sons and two other people struggling to make it back to shore.

In light of this tragedy, we urge swimmers and families to be especially diligent while at Island beaches, especially on the south shore, over the summer. The Times talked to a federal agent and a local swimming coach about safe swimming, including where this incident took place and other deaths have occurred. On Friday, July 31, when the incident occurred, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s National Weather Service (NWS) reported a high risk of strong rip currents for Nantucket and a moderate risk for Martha’s Vineyard. But Frank Nocera, a warning-

coordination meteorologist for NWS, said that there’s a pretty short distance between the two islands when it comes to the severity of rip currents. It’s like “splitting hair,” Nocera said.

A lot of rip current fatalities happen at unguarded beaches near rocks and jetties, and while Long Point doesn’t have jetties, it is unguarded; rangers at the beach do have access to rescue boards. Nocera, who’s swum at South Beach before, said that the most dangerous rip currents occur in the days before and after a storm. He said Monday’s rainstorm, which received a high surf advisory, closed beaches, and produced strong southerly winds, is a perfect example of that. He advised swimmers to be aware of weather patterns, and understand that the day before and after a storm have the highest risk of rip currents.

Rip currents are always there, but vary in strength. At every beach, there is a sandbar, and at low tide, they are exposed off in the distance. At high tide, however, they disappear, and they’re not uniform. There are little cuts and inlets in the sandbar, and waves crash on shore and then go back out to sea, the water looks to go over the area of least resistance and accelerates over shallower depths of water.

Jen Passafiume, director of aquatics at the Island’s YMCA, has taught scores of Islanders to swim. She was sailing on Friday, and decided not to go toward the Island’s south shore because it was so choppy east of the Vineyard,

where it’s often tamer. In the third grade, every Islander goes to the Y for water safety training, which includes a makeshift rip current (simulated by the waterslide). The trouble, Passafiume said, is that while Islanders get training in their elementary years, the same isn’t always true for visitors. Passafiume’s best advice is that people need to stay calm. She said that a swimmer in a rip current should let themselves float on their back and allow the current to move them to another location, then swim perpendicular to the current, especially if the current doesn’t go, in typical fashion out, but curves toward the beach. She also advised that no one, unless they’re trained or have a flotation device, go out to try and save anyone else. She said that while people wait for first responders, they should throw something out in the current that floats. There aren’t any lifeguards at several beaches on the Island, and we want to continue to remind people to swim safely, and be wary of the forces of the ocean that aren’t visible from the shore. Here are some helpful resources from federal agencies:

• A forecast rip current risk-level map: weather.gov/beach/forecast?site=box&action=

• A rip current risk map: nhc.noaa.gov/ripcurrents/map.html

See A8 for more coverage of the rip current, and a graphic on how to swim out of one.

LETTERS

Thank you to Edgartown’s first responders

To the Editor:

June 25, 2026. I have recently completed the trifecta of Edgartown’s emergency services. I have had the misfortune to have fallen and broken my back, been viciously assaulted at my back door by drunken bachelor party celebrants, and my home was struck by lightning during last weekend’s thunderstorm.

The EMTs got me safely off the ground and to the hospital; the police found and arrested my assailant, who fled the Island, within 24 hours. In the early morning hours of Sunday last week, the smoke detectors sounded, and my wife, our pets, and I got out of the house. The 911 officer was quick and professional, the Edgartown Fire Department arrived in minutes. The lightning came up through the ground — unusual, but it happens. It ignited the vapor barrier and melted the foam insulation in our crawl space, slowly filling the house with toxic fumes. Nothing was obvious about the source of the smoke. The Edgartown Fire Department used thermal imagery and searched the entire house, located and extinguished the fire. Powerful fans vented the house of smoke. Once certain the fire was out, the air quality was checked with

meters to ensure it was safe to remain. The Edgartown Police Department asked if we needed assistance with housing. I saw the EMTs in the street on standby.

I remember selectman Ted Morgan once said at the town meeting, “Never say ‘no’ to motherhood or the fire department.” I would only add to that wise advice, any of our town’s emergency services. I hope you never need them, but trust me, they are excellent. We are very fortunate to have such quality and welltrained personnel in such a small town.

Stephen and Karyn Caliri Edgartown

Learning to swim is critical

To the Editor:

The incident at Long Point on Friday is a heartbreaking reminder that the ocean is incredibly dangerous. The beach that runs along the entire south coast of the Island fronts the open sea, the North Atlantic Ocean. As magnificently seductive as this beach is, a swimmer there must anticipate the possibility of life-threatening circumstances arising in an instant, with the horrifying panic that may accompany it.

If you go, please be sure that anyone in your group who goes into the water is a strong swimmer who knows how to

deal with rip currents, concussive waves, hidden rocks (particularly in Chilmark), and unknown currents of ocean that may not only sweep you deep very quickly, but may also prevent you from comfortably returning to shore. Unimaginably, as “Jaws” warns us, it can mercilessly pull you down.

Dusty Burke Oak Bluffs

Galibois should not get another term as Cape and Islands DA

To the Editor:

As Islanders look ahead to the upcoming district attorney elections, I urge voters to take a hard look at whether Robert Galibois has earned another term. His public record includes serious concerns that go beyond politics and speak directly to judgment, transparency, and office management.

As a Vineyard resident, I think it is important to remember that Galibois represented the only publicly charged defendant in the tragic 2019 shooting death of Eric Voshell. Whatever one thinks of the defense work itself, the only prosecution in that case did not result in a conviction.

More recently, Galibois was ordered to pay a $5,000 ethics fine after the State Ethics Commission found that he violated conflict-of-interest law in connection with a motor vehicle incident in Hyannis. According to police reports, Galibois made an illegal U-turn in a state-owned vehicle, struck another motorist, and had to be chased down to acknowledge the crash. He was cited by Barnstable Police for failing to report the crash, along with other traffic violations. He was found to have used office resources improperly by having a prosecutor draft a favorable press release related to the matter. Finally, the state auditor’s report raised other serious concerns about how Galibois runs his office. The report found deficiencies in sexual assault kit tracking, employee settlement procedures, and cybersecurity training. District attorneys play a crucial role in upholding the laws that hold our society together. I ask voters whether this is the kind of leadership we can trust with that responsibility.

I hope readers will support new leadership for district attorney in the Sept. 1 primary and the Nov. 3 state election.

Aaron Wilson Oak Bluffs

M. Sennott • Publisher

ESSAY

Ways to give back to the community

BY ROBYNE JENKINS BROWN

After speaking with several of my aunties and elders about the state of the Island, this has been on my heart to write for a few days … As we enjoy another beautiful summer on Martha’s Vineyard, let’s remember that paradise isn’t the same experience for everyone.

Beyond the beaches, restaurants, and unforgettable sunsets are actual residents — families, seniors, and workers who help make this Island so special every single day. Many quietly face challenges that aren’t always visible, including food insecurity, housing insecurity, seasonal employment, and the rising cost of simply living on the Island. This list only begins to highlight what is really going on.

If Martha’s Vineyard has brought you joy, consider giving something back. Here are a few meaningful ways to help:

• Donate food or make a financial contribution to the Island Food

Katama Meadows and the limits of the Island

BY ANDREW BERRY

I attended the Martha’s Vineyard Commission (MVC) meeting on July 23 hoping to witness a vote on the Katama Meadows project proposal, essentially a reworked version of a previously denied plan, following some end-run maneuvers by the applicants. First, I would like to acknowledge the thoroughness and professionalism of the commissioners in considering the applicants’ proposal. I completely understand the importance of giving full and fair consideration to all aspects of the proposal, and the subsequent delay in the vote. God bless all of you for doing this work. I listened to the presentation of the applicants’ proposed offerings. Although there were nods to nitrogen mitigation and housing affordability, nowhere did I hear any indication

Pantry (behind Black Joy).

• Support organizations working to provide affordable housing for year-round residents.

• Shop at locally owned businesses throughout your visit.

• Leave generous tips for hospitality and service workers.

• Volunteer your time if you’re spending an extended stay on the Island.

• Support local school supply drives and youth organizations.

• Check on and support programs that serve Island seniors.

• Donate gently used clothing, household items, or other essentials to local charities.

• Learn about the unique challenges of year-round Island life, and share that knowledge with others.

A thriving community isn’t built only during the summer months; it depends on caring for the people who call this Island home all year long. Let’s leave Martha’s Vineyard better than we found it — not just by protecting its natural beauty, but by investing in the people who make this place extraordinary. Here are a few organizations

where folks can help out. This is not a complete list, it’s just a preliminary list to point you in the right direction.

Island Food Pantry (Island Grown Initiative) Provides groceries, fresh produce, and healthy food to Islanders in need. igimv.org, 508-296-8384.

Island Housing Trust

Works to create affordable housing for year-round residents. ihtmv.org, 508-693-1117.

Dukes County Regional Housing Authority

Provides affordable housing and rental assistance. dcrha.org, 508-693-4419.

Martha’s Vineyard Community Services

Supports mental health, disability services, veterans, families, and children. mvcommunityservices.org, 508-693-7900.

Chicken Alley Thrift Shop Donate gently used clothing and household items. Every purchase and donation supports Martha’s Vineyard Community Services. mvcommunityservices.org/

chicken-alley, 508-693-2278.

Good Shepherd Parish Food Pantry Provides food assistance to Island families throughout the year. goodshepherdmv.com, 508-560-8764.

Island Autism Group Provides education, housing, and life-skills support for individuals with autism. islandautism.org, 508-338-7509.

Vineyard House Supports Islanders recovering from substance use disorders. vineyardhouse.org, 508-693-8580

Martha’s Vineyard Community Foundation

Provides grants to local nonprofits addressing housing, food insecurity, education, and emergency needs. marthasvineyardcf.org, 508-939-1346.

Martha’s Vineyard Nonprofit Collaborative Find volunteer opportunities with dozens of Island nonprofits. mvnonprofits.org, 917-855-1891.

Robyne Jenkins Brown is a summer Island resident and Oak Bluffs homeowner whose family has been coming to the Vineyard since the early 1900s.

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Chabad on the Vineyard should apologize

To the Editor:

As Chabad on the Vineyard’s fourth annual Jewish Cultural Festival has now concluded, I want to respond to the events that occurred, which were covered in The Times.

This year, the festival headliner was Lior Raz: an ex–Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) commando turned Netflix star. Some members from MV for Palestine

demonstrated outside the festival in support of Jewish culture and against Lior Raz and his show “Fauda,” which some view as Israeli propaganda. While Chabad on the Vineyard characterizes Fauda as being “embraced across political lines,” Jewish Currents writes that the show is “locked into an Israeli Jewish point of view.”

In his speech quoted by The MV Times, Lior Raz said on the question of peace between Israel and Palestine, that it may not be possible because of “how vicious they are.” While speaking about the protesters, Raz gave them the middle finger, and told the crowd that they should do the same. It says something

that the applicants truly understand, much less care about, the uniqueness of this Island and the impact their proposal would have on the livability of this place. They do not live here and, while they will realize enormous profit, they will not have to experience the outcomes of what they propose. There is no need to recount all the reasons why the detriments far outweigh the merits of this proposed development. The Vineyard Conservation Society has documented them well. The overwhelming majority of public responses are strongly opposed to approval of a project of this scope and impact in the watershed of the Edgartown Great Pond. Needless to say, I trust the MVC will reject this plan. Again.

Assuming for the moment that the applicants will not prevail in the argument that the MVC is not a legal entity, the response by the commission in this case will be very important. If the threats of ongoing litigation persuade some commissioners to cave to the applicants’ demands and to allow the development to go forward, this

about how he treats his neighbors that he thought a group of Islanders would want to give their neighbors the finger. Having grown up on the island — and being an American Jew — I take offense.

Why Chabad on the Vineyard chose to host Lior Raz, who dutifully proved the point that the protesters were trying to make, prompts a more fundamental question: What is Chabad?

As outlined on Wikipedia, Chabad is a messianic sect of Hasidic Judaism headquartered in Crown Heights, Brooklyn, that follows the teaching of the seventh Lubavicher Rebbe (RehBeh), Menachem Mendel Schneerson, known as “the Rebbe.” Chabad’s website

Island is in deep peril. It will be a signal to aggressive, off-Island developers everywhere that there is plenty of profit to be realized if they simply hang in there with the review process and keep their lawyers active. We cannot let that happen. I believe most Islanders would support the use of their tax dollars to defend their home.

In the recent VCS annual meeting, Ewell Hopkins addressed the issue of capacity. The numbers reveal why this decision is so important. While 43 percent of the Island is in some form of conservation, there is sufficient land remaining to allow for an additional 11,000 dwellings, a 65 percent increase in the current housing stock. As I try to get around in the summer, I am having difficulty imagining where all those people and cars will fit, to say nothing of what will happen to the Island environment. Each development, like Katama Meadows, is ultimately self-defeating if the ponds die and the infrastructure is overwhelmed. It is long past time to address capacity, and this decision will be a critical message.

states it “is the largest and fastestgrowing Jewish organization,” and that it operates “over 3,500 Chabad institutions located in more than 100 countries, with a new center opening on the average every 10 days.”

Being apolitical may be its public relations approach. However, Chabad quotes the Rebbe: “[the Land of Israel] is ours by Divine covenant [...] and the ‘facts of life’ and ‘truth’ are that Jews are not ‘occupiers’ or ‘aggressors’ in their homeland, but that [the land] is rightfully ours by Divine will and grace, not by the ‘false grace’ of the United Nations.”

If that’s not a political statement, I

That the Katama Meadows applicants contest the legality of the MVC and make litigation threats is further evidence that they are uninterested in the serious issues of capacity that ongoing development poses for this Island. It is further evidence that they are driven solely by self-interest. I understand the difficulty of this decision, but the mission of the MVC as constituted is to balance the need for continued change with protection of what exists. It is one of only a few tools available to address capacity. Katama Meadows is far out of balance, and an approval sends the wrong message. Decades ago, Henry Beetle Hough saw this coming and warned us about damaging this “fragile outpost.” I am hopeful that the Commission will find the fortitude to make the right decision and reject this plan.

Thank you for your dedication to this vital effort, and for employing your constituted authority to protect the greater good.

Andrew Berry is an Edgartown resident.

don’t know what is.

Lior Raz’s inflammatory words were a repugnant representation of the ideology of Greater Israel, which fuels the genocide in Gaza, and leaves no room for the rights and safety of the Palestinians. His words should be apologized for by Chabad on the Vineyard.

Adam Lipsky

West Tisbury and New Palz, N.Y. Adam Lipsky is Jewish American, a member of MV for Palestine, and was a part of the group that protested Lior Raz headlining Chabad on the Vineyard’s Jewish Culture Festival. This letter was shortened for space.

David Michael Alton

David Michael Alton, a beloved husband, father, grandfather, brother, and friend, passed away peacefully on July 23, 2026, at the age of 78.

Born on May 1, 1948, in Pittsburgh, Pa., David was the cherished son of David Alton and Helen (“Sue”) Alton. David’s early years in Forest Hills were marked by the warmth and love of his family and the beginnings of lifelong friendships in the neighborhood and at Central Catholic High School. His journey of learning continued at the University of Pittsburgh, where he earned his bachelor’s degree. David was a diehard fan of the Pittsburgh Pirates and Pittsburgh Steelers.

In 1973, David moved to the Vineyard, where he fit into the Island like he was born here. He thrived in roles that allowed him to meet and engage with people, first as a bartender at the Colonial Inn, and later in construction and as caregiver for Mary Wakeman. After her passing, David embraced his entrepreneurial spirit and purchased the Quarterdeck Restaurant, dedicating two decades to

running his business.

Post-retirement, David shared his passion for the Island by driving private tours, proudly declaring his “Jaws” tour the best on the Island. David had an adventurous spirit and a heart that yearned to explore the world. He cherished traveling, exploring abroad in Ireland, Austria, Moldova, and Russia, as well as stateside from New York to Hawaii. His winter travels took him to the Caribbean and Costa Rica, which he enjoyed with family and friends. He celebrated his 75th birthday with an unforgettable, bucket-list trip to Africa.

Known as the plant whisperer, David found solace and joy in his garden. Inspired by his mother, Sue, he and his wife Coreen cultivated a sanctuary of vibrant plants and blossoms, a passion he passed on to his daughter Michelle. His gardens were a testament to his nurturing spirit and appreciation for life’s simple beauties.

David’s family was his greatest pride and joy. He was partners with Kristine Hanna from 1984 to 2003. He is survived by his devoted wife, Coreen Alton, who stood by his side since their marriage in 2007. He lovingly embraced his role as father and stepfather, leaving behind his daughter Michelle O’Donnell and her husband James, stepson Sean DeBettencourt and his wife Sarah, stepdaughter Klaire Shaw and her husband Wyman, and stepdaughter Jennifer Hanna. His legacy lives on through his six grandchildren: Benjamin and Sienna O’Donnell, Ivy DeBettencourt, Ella and Ivy Shaw, and Mackenzie Searle. David is also survived by his

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obituaries

siblings, Mary Stickel, Kathryn Krause, Suzanne McPherson, Mark Alton, J.T. Alton, and John Alton, along with numerous nieces and nephews.

David was a man of warmth, humor, and kindness. His life was a tapestry of rich experiences, loving relationships, and enduring friendships. His memory will forever be cherished by all who had the privilege of knowing him.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the P.A. Club Scholarship Fund or the P.A. Club Benevolent Fund in David’s honor.

David’s life was a testament to love, laughter, and the joys of living fully. He will be dearly missed but never forgotten. His spirit lives on in the hearts of all who knew him.

A celebration of life will be held on Sept. 27 at the P.A. Club, from 1 to 4 pm.

Peter Vinton Ferguson

Peter Vinton Ferguson, 90, of Macungie, Pa., and Oak Bluffs, passed away on July 30, 2026, with his family by his side. Born in Richmond, Va., he was the son of Mary Todd (Sawhill) and Thomas Wells

Ferguson Jr.

Peter was a graduate of Wilbraham & Monson Academy, and was awarded an ROTC scholarship to Cornell University before earning his bachelor of fine arts degree from the Massachusetts College of Art. His professional career spanned decades as an advertising and marketing executive in Manhattan, Connecticut, and Massachusetts.

Peter had a deep love for music. He enjoyed playing the guitar, banjo, and ukulele, and could often be heard singing along to his favorite folk tunes. A devoted Red Sox fan and lifelong sports enthusiast, he played soccer throughout high school and college, and enjoyed golf, tennis, and many other sports, maintaining his fitness well into his late 80s.

Having moved multiple times throughout his adulthood, he was an active member at the local church in every hometown, most recently Faith Presbyterian Church in Emmaus, Pa.

Peter’s love of Martha’s Vineyard began in 1953, when he spent his first summer working with his best friend. In 1989, Peter and his wife purchased their treasured cottage in Wesleyan Grove in the Martha’s Vineyard Camp Meeting Association. Having vacationed in the circle with family since 1970, this special place became central to their lives. Peter continued his tradition of service by participating in multiple committees within the Camp Meeting Association, and serving on its board.

Peter’s quick wit, fun-lov-

ing nature, and unique ability to connect with people left an indelible mark on all who knew him. Whether through shared interests or heartfelt conversations, he made everyone feel valued.

Peter is survived by his daughters, Sue (Bill) Greenough, Amy (John) Victor, and Deb Ferguson; grandchildren Pete (Briana), Rob, Jason, Justin (Amela), and Chelsey; as well as several great-grandchildren who brought him immense joy. He is also survived by his sister-in-law, Patricia Ferguson; and his nieces, Jane Hueber and Jill Warmbier, and their families. He was predeceased by Barbara Lamont Ferguson, his wife of 49 years, and his brother, Thomas Wells Ferguson III.

A celebration of life will be held at a later date.

John B. Freeman

John B. Freeman of Oak Bluffs passed away on July 29, 2026.

John was an educator for 30 years before retiring to Martha’s Vineyard. He was a very active member of the United Methodist Church of

Martha’s Vineyard, and all the ministries connected to UMC of M.V. He loved reminding people he met that God loved them just as they were. He posted several hundred “thoughts and prayers” on the UMC of M.V. Facebook page, focusing on observations, Bible quotes, and prayers.

John also loved working for the Island Queen, where he interacted with all the people coming and going in the boarding area in Oak Bluffs. He’d entertain the passengers by playing tunes on his harmonica, and get people talking about their experiences on the Island.

John was much loved by his wife, Marilyn Freeman; and children, Kerry and Brian (Becca); and grandson Charlie.

John’s lifelong involvement with folk music and as a contradance caller brought him great joy. When you hear thunder, assume John has organized and is calling a dance in the kingdom above.

Debate heats up on Katama Meadows

Continued from A1

countered through an appeal in court. There are two conditions left for commissioners to discuss Thursday, August 6. After conditions are agreed upon, deliberation on the benefits and detriments begins; then the commission will make a decision. Whether the project will get a final approval or denial this Thursday is unknown.

Prior to the conditions discussed at last week’s deliberation, the Katama Meadows proposal was a single-family residential subdivision of 26 market-rate lots for up to 4,000-square-foot homes, 12 lots for middle-income, year-round residents priced at $225,000, and 14 donated lots to the town of Edgartown for future affordable housing projects. That plan includes a clearing of native and non-native brush and trees for the lots, but half of the acreage would remain open space. Homes built on the site would be connected to town sewer, with nitrogen-diversion systems.

The conditions proposed last Thursday, however, changed that. One condition decreased the market-rate lots from 26 to 19, which commissioners noted was a drastic change, and one of the most substantial in MVC history.

“The tenor of the project has changed dramatically in the past 10 minutes,” Commissioner Joan Malkin said after that particular condition passed.

But Katama Meadows made history well before Thursday’s meeting. While the project has garnered support from Edgartown boards and the Edgartown fire chief for its potential to house moderate-income residents, input from the community has been critical.

Katama Meadows has been the subject of lively public outcry, including the requested recusal of affordable housing committee member Julia Livingston from the developer’s counsel, claims of removal from one former commissioner, Kate Putnam, because of her opposition to the project, and email chains and letters to the editors of local papers in protest of the project.

The development has become a totem for the clash between affordable housing, conservation, and tourism, and a symbol of the challenges the year-round community faces. Through letters and input, Islanders have asked for more support, with Katama Meadows as the catchall for larger questions about the sustainability of life for the people who actually live and work here.

Organizations like the Vineyard Conservation Society and Great Pond Foundation (GPF) have been opponents of the project from the beginning, pointing to potential harm to Edgartown Great Pond, which

abuts the development, and is only recently showing signs of bouncing back after longterm environmental strain.

Emily Reddington, executive director of the GPF, wrote a letter to the MVC in January that said Katama Meadows would have “detrimental impacts” on the “future health of the pond’s ecosystem.” The 52-homesite lot development, she said, would be the “tipping point” for the health of the pond.

Afterward, Robb Moriarty, the attorney representing the project, raised questions about the potential bias of the Edgartown Great Pond Foundation and Vineyard Conservation Society. “In stoking fear of this apparent imminent collapse of the ecosystem, [Reddington] ignored several critical facts and glossed over others,” Moriarty wrote in a rebuttal. He went on to write that the nitrogen load from pri-

vate Title 5 sewer systems is far less than wastewater that’s connected to town sewers, as the Katama Meadows homes will be.

Aside from the nitrogenload discourse, the moderate-income offerings have made Katama Meadows a standout as well. The project is modeled after the McCarron model, coined from a development that catered to moderate-income Islanders, often referred to as the “missing middle.” The McCarron model offered some buildable lots at market rates, and others for purchase by locals. Moriarty has upheld the McCarron project and the Katama Meadows proposal as a direct response to the changing economic reality on the Vineyard, where teachers, firefighters, police officers, and municipal workers make too much to qualify for statesubsidized housing, but not

enough to afford the Island’s median home price of around $1.5 million.

The proposed development is before the MVC, which reviews large projects, like Katama Meadows, that could affect the entire Island; from wastewater to character, elements of the project are weighed for benefits and detriments to the land and community. Commissioners from each town are tasked with deciding not only about the project in front of them, but about the housing, conservation, and economic landscape as a whole. Every approval informs future proposals and sets new possible precedents that can then be referenced by developers.

The MVC is facing ongoing litigation, separately from Katama Meadows, about its right to evaluate and approve Chapter 40B housing developments, a designation by which a

1. Commissioners debated conditions on Katama Meadows last Thursday.

2. Jane Bradbury and Jennifer Blum sat in the commission meeting room last Thursday, and advocated for a denial by the regional planning committee.

tions for year-rounders on the Island — where more than 60 percent of houses are seasonally occupied, according to the MVC — and highlight the need to carefully consider each large development through the lens of maximum benefit. Others have focused on the environmental implications of any increase in nitrogen into Edgartown Great Pond.

On Thursday, community involvement continued.

Islanders Jane Bradbury and Jennifer Blum wore signs on their chest that said “Deny Katama Meadows” and “Edgartown Voter Pleads Vote No!” in the MVC meeting room.

A final denial or approval from the MVC was deferred for another week. But the three-hour-long public hearing last Thursday included new and amended conditions, which would be imposed on the developer (a common practice for large projects) should the MVC sign off on the project.

While commissioners are continuing discussions again next week, the ones on Thursday ranged from solar use and energy efficiency of the homes in the development to use of fertilizer, herbicide, and pesticides on the lawns. More than a dozen conditions were broached, with several to go next week before a decision is made.

developer is able to curb local zoning if a quarter of a project’s units are affordable. In April, the Massachusetts Housing Appeals Committee deemed the MVC a nonlocal board after a developer sued the MVC over its capacity and standing on the Chapter 40Bs called Green Villa and Edgartown Gardens.

If approved by the MVC, a development is then presented before applicable town boards, where the MVC greenlight holds power.

Some critics cite a lack of viable affordable housing op-

Several conditions were stricken by commissioners throughout the meeting, such as year-round restrictions on the market-rate lots, which means the homes built there could be seasonally owned, occupied, and rented on a short-term basis. Commissioners did vote through a reduction in the lots for market-rate homes, from 26 to 19. This move, proponents argued, addressed both environmental implications of the project, as the lots would become open space, and worries raised by the public that Katama Meadows would introduce a significant amount of luxury properties for potentially seasonal and short-term usage.

“Do we really need 26 more vacation homes for the people who live here?” Doug Sederholm, West Tisbury commissioner, questioned.

Read the rest of this story online.

3D Scanning & Modeling

Katama Meadows subdivision plan.

COURTESY MARTHA'S VINEYARD COMMISSION

PHOTOS: SARAH SHAW DAWSON

Fatherdiestryingtosavetwosons

Continued from A1

“Kevin lived his life with kindness, generosity, and a deep instinct to help others. He lost his life in a place that meant so much to him, surrounded by people he loved, on an Island that has given our family some of our most treasured memories over many years.”

3:47 pm. “Initial calls were chaotic and unclear, and reported several people in the water,” the West Tisbury Police incident report states.

Police didn’t initially specify on Friday how many people were rescued from the water. But Mary Dettloff, director of public relations for the Trustees of Reservations, which manages the area, said in an email to The Times Monday that five people were pulled from the water, and four of them were “physically OK.”

Foster’s family said in a statement to The Times that while enjoying the beach, Foster noticed people were struggling in the water, and “true to the person he was, tried to help.” His family includes his wife Nadia Foster and their sons, Kenneth and Kaden.

“Tragically, he was caught in a powerful rip current,” the statement said. The statement was shared with The Times by Marjorie Decker, a friend of the family and a state representative in Cambridge, who remembered Foster in a social media post as a loving father who was dedicated to public service, specifically as an affordable housing advocate.

“Kevin lived his life with kindness, generosity, and a deep instinct to help others. He lost his life in a place that meant so much to him, surrounded by people he loved, on an Island that has given our family some of our most treasured memories over many years,” the statement said.

West Tisbury Police requested a mutual aid ambulance from Edgartown immediately as they were dispatched, and police arrived at the beach parking area, located between Long Cove Pond and Big Homer’s Pond north

crews said there was a strong rip current in the water, and Foster was having trouble getting back to the beach.

“Every available lifesaving measure was taken in an attempt to save the individual,” Cortez said Friday after the incident.

Cortez added that they were able to get him off the beach, and he was transported by ambulance to the Martha’s Vineyard Hospital. The police report states that Foster was “unresponsive, and CPR was initiated by first responders.” A LUCAS machine, which is portable and gives automated chest compressions, was placed on Foster, and he was secured on a long board, transferred to a stretcher and placed in the ambulance.

There are no lifeguards at Long Point, Dettloff said. “While we do have signage indicating conditions, on the highly exposed south-facing

beaches, conditions change rapidly. Rip tides and strong currents are almost always present,” Dettloff added.

There is rescue equipment, including two rescue boards and two rescue buoys, at the beach, and Trustees rangers are trained to use them: “We have an emergency response plan that our rangers deployed on [Friday] during the incident, and we are grateful [that] many lives were saved that day.” She commended the bravery of all those involved in the rescue.

“Our family is deeply grateful to the lifeguards, firefighters, EMS personnel, law enforcement, and the brave members of the public who selflessly entered the water to help those in distress, and who did everything they could in an extraordinary and heartbreaking situation. Their courage, compassion, and professionalism will never be forgotten,” the Foster

family said in the statement.

West Tisbury Police and Fire officers, Trustees personnel, Tri-Town Ambulance, and the lifeguards from South Beach all responded to the call. Chilmark Fire was also stationed at Quansoo Preserve, west of Long Point, to offer support.

Cortez commended the professionalism, teamwork, and rapid response demonstrated by everyone who assisted during this difficult incident, and Retmier said on Friday that interagency operations went smoothly.

About the lifeguards, Cortez said they were incredible: “They drove the whole way.”

Darci Schofield, Islands director for the Trustees, is working with the staff at Long Point to make sure they’re taking care of their mental health after the incident, Dettloff said.

The Trustees closed down Long Point Wildlife Refuge

beaches on Saturday, August 1, and Sunday, August 2, according to social media posts from the group, and refunded all reservations due to the “tragic incident” Friday.

“At this time, our priority is supporting the efforts of the community and the wellbeing of all visitors and staff,” the post by the Trustees read.

The area was set to reopen Monday, August 3, but rough water conditions closed the south beach; people could still swim at Long Cove Pond at Long Point.

A GoFundMe for the Foster family was set up by friends of the family to support the education of Kevin’s two sons, Kenneth and Kaden.

“We are deeply comforted knowing Kevin spent his final moments in a place he cherished, embraced by a community that has always held a special place in our hearts,” the statement from the Foster family said.

FOSTER FAMILY

of the south-facing beach at Long Point, with EMS personnel, where West Tisbury Fire Chief Gregory Pachico assumed command, according to the incident report.

“We loaded personnel and lifesaving equipment onto several [utility terrain vehicles] and made our way onto the beach,” the reporting officer from West Tisbury, Steven Mathias, wrote in the report. He wrote that he “observed several individuals approximately 100 yards offshore in the heavy surf” that didn’t appear to be “making any headway toward the shore.” The incident took place 15 feet left of the beach entrance, according to West Tisbury Police Chief Bradley Cortez.

West Tisbury Police and lifeguards from South Beach, who traveled about five miles via all-terrain vehicle (ATV) and arrived as police officers did from their station east of Long Point, worked together to pull Foster out of the water, Ben Retmier, chief of TriTown Ambulance, said Friday. Retmier added that his

COURTESY FOSTER FAMILY/MARJORIE DECKER

Emergency vehicles path from Edgartown-West Tisbury Road.

Three ATVs path from South Beach to Long Point

West Tisbury, Martha’s Vineyard

Emergency routes taken to Long Point Wildlife Refuge

COURTESY FOSTER FAMILY/MARJORIE DECKER

Kevin Foster with his wife, Nadia Foster, and their sons, Kenneth and Kaden.

GRAPHIC: NICOLE JACKSON

Astrainonpublicsafety

Continued from A1

suffering a medical emergency. The passenger, identified as Ann Lees, later died at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston.

Additionally, a series of false alarms occurred in early July. Reports of a woman stranded on a paddleboard outside the Oak Bluffs Harbor dominoed into multiple false alarms, including a call about a young boy being swept out by the current. By the time officers arrived, the boy had swum to shore by himself. In Tisbury on July 6, a single call dominoed into more serious incidents. After an ambulance responded to a medical call near Five Corners, it struck a car on its way to the hospital. Not long after, a traffic officer called in to assist the ambulance leaving the busy intersection was struck by a gray Prius. Luckily, he wasn’t injured. And early last month, an individual demanded $2,000 be brought to the roof of the hospital, but described no plan to pick up the demanded money, in what was deemed a hoax bomb threat.

“We’ve also experienced periods where multiple incidents occur simultaneously, requiring officers to prioritize calls while maintaining coverage throughout the town. From the perspective of our officers, this has been one of the busiest seasons in recent memory,” said West Tisbury Police Chief Bradley Cortez.

West Tisbury Police numbers show a steady increase in police incidents in the past three years from around Memorial Day to Labor Day, reporting 897 in 2025, 878 in 2024, and 716 in 2023.

“Statistics tell only part of the story,” said Cortez. “While the total number of calls for service may not show a dramatic increase, the nature and complexity of many of those calls have required significantly more time, resources, and personnel.”

Island-wide figures from the Dukes County Sheriff’s Office (DCSO) communication center, which fields the entire Island’s emergency calls, show that the number of police response calls haven’t actually increased.

From mid-May to mid-September, or Memorial Day to Labor Day, calls peaked in 2021 at 12,951, then fell to 11,136 in 2022. In 2023, call volume was 11,750; it was 11,122 in 2024, and the lowest was 10,857 in 2025.

A partial count through late July stood at 6,053 calls so far this year. Emergency room visits to the Martha’s Vineyard Hospital over the summer have remained relatively flat for the past three years, but in terms of incidents that required a response from Police, Fire, or EMS, those are up. From May to around the end of July in 2022, there were 308 visits that came from a police or fire response; in 2025,

there were 404, and in 2026, there were 407.

Still, during some of the busiest months, several departments are recording a steadily large volume of calls.

Tisbury Police have already logged 2,039 incidents from Memorial Day, May 25, to the end of July this year, one short of the department’s 2025 total from the same time frame of 2,040. The most notable change came in motor vehicle accidents, which have almost doubled, from 17 in 2025 to 33 this year.

One problem several departments are discussing is staffing. Tisbury Police are down five full-time officers. Lt. Bill Brigham said remaining staff are covering the gaps through a lot of overtime hours. “We are down five full-time police officers right now,” he said in an interview with The Times. “We have three that we are hoping to send to the academy in the fall, but we won’t have them graduated and back until this time next year.

“Everybody is working additional hours,” Brigham said. “Some people may be working a 16-hour day above the 40 hours to maintain coverage. Everybody is dealing with a ton of medical calls. There’s all kinds of different accidents, car versus car, car versus bicycle.”

Brigham suggested that calls are up because there are more people here on the Island. “Traffic is noticeably higher” and there are more pedestrians, he said. But data from the Steamship Authority has actually, so far, shown a decrease in visitors. Traffic to the Island decreased in June, with 562 fewer vehicles (down 1 percent) than last June and 9,489 fewer passengers (down by 3.5 percent). According to the Steamship Authority, from Jan. 1 of this year through June, Vineyard vehicle traffic is down 7,725 (3.2 percent) from last year, and passenger volume has dropped by 55,375 (5.5 percent).

Tisbury Fire Chief Patrick Rolston reported increases in calls. From Jan. 1 through July 28, the department handled 505 fire incidents, compared with 357 during the same period in 2025, an increase of 41 percent. EMS calls in Tisbury also rose from 402 to 443, up 10 percent. From Memorial Day through July 28, fire incidents increased from 149 to 199 (34 percent), and EMS calls rose from 164 to 186 (13 percent).

“Our calls have jumped a significant amount, especially in the summertime, but overall this year, it jumped extremely high,” Rolston said.

Local fire departments have sought to fill the gap by relying heavily on volunteers and per diem staff.

“It can’t just be strictly volunteers, because the volunteer

base is somewhat dying a little bit,” Rolston said.

Edgartown Chief of Police Chris Dolby described the incident rate this summer as “typical,” but he noted the department is two officers short of their ideal strength. “It would be more ideal if we were fully staffed, but we’re lucky to have a great staff that continues to rise to the challenge,” said Dolby.

The Edgartown Fire Department is reporting a consistent increase to its incident responses, recording 476 emergency incidents from Memorial Day through July 27 this year. The summer total from May 25 to Sept. 7, in 2025, reached 803 total. In 2024, numbers were a little lower at 760, and in 2023, 662.

Chief of Edgartown Fire Alexander Schaeffer said the greater challenge is not the number of calls but the severity of the incidents, alongside the shrinking pool of on-call members across the Island.

“There are fewer and fewer of us,” said Schaeffer. “I have been raising concerns about that for a while now.”

Local fire departments rely heavily on volunteer and on-call members, and with a dwindling year-round population and higher age demographic, it makes it hard to find new volunteers.

“For Edgartown, we aren’t doing that great for people stepping up, but every community is different. In Edgartown, we have a huge summer population, and in those spaces that are for shortterm rentals, those are places year-round residents can’t have, and that translates to less community-based people in town,” Schaeffer said. “We may have enough for an initial response, but after that first five to 10 minutes, we need another string of people to go in, and whether we are pulling

mutual aid or volunteers, that’s a daily gamble.”

On top of that, Schaeffer said, volunteers have other jobs, businesses, and responsibilities, and aren’t always available to respond to incidents.

Oak Bluffs Fire Chief Stephen Foster said his department is running ahead of last year’s pace. From Memorial Day weekend, May 25, through late July, the department recorded a total of 472 responses to calls, compared to 455 through the same time period in 2025, and in 2024, 454. Full year totals were 1,659 in 2025, 1,591 in 2024, and 1,255 in 2023.

“The numbers have increased, and I think that’s a growing trend,” said Foster. “We’ve seen a steady amount of motor vehicle accidents or accidents involving e-bikes or scooters. I suspect we will be up 30 to 40 runs.”

Other departments are showing more consistent numbers or declining totals.

Oak Bluffs Police calls for service from May 1 through Sept. 1 have dropped in recent years: 1,302 in 2021, 893 in 2022, 1,057 in 2023, 863 in 2024, and 822 in 2025. Chilmark Police recorded 1,582 calls in 2024, 1,520 in 2025, and the department has handled 478 so far in 2026.

Chief Jonathan Searle of the Oak Bluffs Police Department echoed the same sentiment as other departments, saying the incidents this summer are “probably more intense, rather than more in numbers.”

Searle said that the department handled the summer bustle well, but similar to other departments, they are working a lot of overtime hours. “Are we comfortable? Yes. Are we hard-worked? Yes,” said Searle in an interview with The Times.

Searle said overtime hours are used to offset the busy

would be a closed system and not shared anywhere.”

For Aquinnah, the numbers tell a bit of a different story. Aquinnah’s annual total of incidents have stayed in the low 300s: 275 in 2020, 277 in 2021, 279 in 2022, 333 in 2023, 308 in 2024, and 302 in 2025. The police department in Aquinnah, however, has dealt with severe staffing issues.

Aquinnah Chief of Police Randhi Belain described 2025 as an “unprecedented” staffing crisis in that year’s annual report. Office David Murphy retired in April of that year, Sgt. Paul Manning left on medical leave in June, and Detective Steven Mathias left for West Tisbury in October, leaving Belain as the sole Aquinnah officer for nearly a year. According to annual reports shared with The Times, as a result of the department’s lack of personnel, motor vehicle stops fell from 225 in 2024 to 67 in 2025, citations dropped from 85 to 12, and parking tickets from 274 to 171.

months, and Oak Bluffs, Edgartown, and Tisbury amount to a similar number of overtime hours annually, at approximately 500 hours a year.

The industry standard benchmark for police staffing targets 2.4 officers per 1,000 residents, but there is no state mandate. Searle said that if they were to follow the benchmark, it would call for roughly 57 police officers in Oak Bluffs during the busy summer months. They currently have 19.

“In the summer months, I speak for the Cape and Islands especially, with our population influx, we miss the former special police officers,” said Searle.

Since the Police Reform Law was passed in 2021, special officers are required to train as full-time police officers. “You can still have special police officers, but they have to be trained as full-time police officers, and if anyone has full-time training as a police officer, they find a full-time job,” said Searle.

A possible new camera system to be installed on Circuit Avenue was discussed by Oak Bluffs Police and the Oak Bluffs Select Board at a meeting on Tuesday, July 28, in response to the serious incidents occurring on the busy street.

Chief Searle clarified in an interview with The Times that if they did eventually plan to install cameras, they should be “town-driven” and accessible only to authorized town employees.

“We have zero town-owned cameras, and I think we should look into that,” said Searle in the interview. “We are behind the times — we are understaffed in the summer months, due to the lack of number of police officers, so now [that] we can’t line the streets anymore, cameras could be a useful tool, and it

Belain was at the Aquinnah Select Board meeting Tuesday to ask that several officers from Chilmark and the DCSO be designated special police officers. Belain told The Times after the meeting that this is a standard mutual aid request with Chilmark, but he wanted to make sure that DCSO officers were also designated for the winter months. Belain also announced that his last day of work with the force is Nov. 6, 2026, and he’s going to start advertising for a new chief as he enters retirement.

“West Tisbury seems to be busier,” Gregory Pachico, West Tisbury Fire Chief, said in a message to The Times. “However, the numbers show that the incidents are what’s expected. Volunteer fire departments are always looking to add members. West Tisbury has been fortunate enough over the last six months to take on five new recruits.”

The West Tisbury Fire Department has two full-time officers — the chief and a fire prevention officer. The deputy chief, three captains, six lieutenants, and 30 firefighters are all volunteers.

Interviews with department chiefs across the Island showed that while there might not always be more calls year to year, there are increasingly more difficult calls, made even harder by staffing shortages on an Island that sees huge population shifts between the winter and summer months.

The numbers presented from local departments incorporate all calls to service made, including all activity recorded in the departments systems, not just serious emergencies. The data included crashes, arrests, noise complaints, motor vehicle stops, burglar alarms, welfare checks, disturbances, alarm checks, property checks, all 911 calls, and other law enforcement actions, and should not be interpreted as representing only emergency calls from the public.

A screenshot from footage that showed a Tisbury Police officer being hit by a car.

A 1988 Jeep Wrangler on fire in Chilmark in July.

MV TIMES

CLASSIFIEDS

**NON-CDLDRIVERSAND LABORERS**

Bruno'sRolloff,Inc.iscurrently seekingfull-timeandpart-time NON-CDLDriversandLaborersfor bothyear-roundandseasonal positions.Applicantsmustbe availableforearlymorningshifts andseasonalovertime.Weoffer competitivewages,excellent benefits,andyearlybonuses. Applicationscanbepickedupatour o ceat11EastLineRoad, Edgartown,orrequestedby emailingadmin@brunosmv.com. Forfurtherinquiries,pleasecontact usat(508)693-5454.

BOOK KEEPER/ OFFICE ADMINISTRATOR

The Martha’s Vineyard Refuse District is accepting applications for the position of Book eeper Office Administrator. This is a full time year round, with a benefit package that includes health insurance paid leave and enrollment onto the Dukes County Retirement System. Duties include: performing the District’s routine accounting functions including payroll and monthly warrants, posting and verifying accounts payable and receivable, posting

cash receipts and expenditures, reconciling accounts and balances and trial balances, prepared District correspondence and assisting the general public with information, etc.

The applicant should have experience with Quick Books, Microsoft Word, Excel and posses experience and familiarity with principals and practices of bookkeeping and municipal finance. Pay range is $40.13- $50.78 per hour. Applicants should respond with a resume and cover letter to: Martha’s Vineyard Refuse District P.O. Bo 190, est Tisbury, Ma 02575. or by email to mvrefuse@comcast.net

CIRCUIT ARTS SEEKS A DIRECTOR OF FILM PROGRAMMING TO LEAD THE MARTHA’S VINEYARD FILM FESTIVAL AND YEAR-ROUND

FILM PROGRAMMING

This leadership role combines curatorial ision with filmmaker relations and community engagement. Learn more and apply: circuitarts.org/jobs.

DIRECTOR OF HUMAN RESOURCES AND ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES

TOWN OF OAK BLUFFS

Reporting to the Town Administrator, this executive-level position provides strategic leadership and hands-on administration of the Town’s human resources and administrative services functions.

The Director leads workforce planning, recruitment and retention, labor and employee relations, collective bargaining, compensation, risk management, workplace investigations,

policy development, and compliance with employment laws. The position also oversees procurement, public records, contract and grant administration, organizational improvement initiatives, communications support, and special projects, while serving as the Town’s ADA Coordinator and providing professional support to the Personnel Board.

Bachelor’s degree in Public Administration, Human Resources, Business Administration, Organizational Leadership, or a related field; Master’s degree preferred.

Minimum of seven (7) years of progressively responsible experience in human resources, municipal administration, or a related management field, preferably in local government. Starting salary range:$115,884 - $131,544, commensurate with experience, plus an excellent municipal benefits package. For a complete job description and the online application portal, visitoakbluffsma.gov/jobsor contactwbrough@oakbluffsma.gov. Application deadline is August 24, 2026, at 4:00pm. Oak Bluffs is an EOE/ AA Employer.

OFFICE ASSISTANT

Established landscape company in est Tisbury is seeking an office assistant to help with office and admin tasks. Typing skills, bilingual- Portuguese and experience with QBO, Excel, and Word is a plus but not a must. ood pay with benefits. Call 0 -696- 69 or e-mail oakleafm gmail.com.

DUKESCOUNTYSHERIFFS'OFFICE CORRECTIONALOFFICERS

$1,000MonthlyHousingStipendfor FullTimeIslandResidents Lookingtokick-startarewarding careerwhileservingtheIsland community?

CorrectionalO cersattheDukes CountyJail&HouseofCorrection areresponsibleforthecare,custody, controlofinmates,aswellasother assignedduties. Mustbeatleast19yearsofage withavalidMADriver’sLicense, haveeffectiveoralandwritten communicationsskills, flexibilityand willingnesstoadapttochanging environmentandpriorities;positive attitude,integrity,andexcellent judgment.Workscheduleincludes assignmentstotheday,eveningand night,weekend,andholidayshifts. PaidCorrection Academytraining(maybehostedon oroff-island)withastrong commitmenttosupporting employees’ongoingprofessional growth.

Full-timepositionwithagenerous benefitpackage,includingpaid leave,insurance,state pensionanddeferredcompensation matching.Fulltimepayrangeis $65,516.88-$70,933.46 annually,plus$1,000monthly housingstipend.Candidatesmust passinterview,background check,andpost-conditional-offer medicalevaluationsandmeetthe physical fitnesstesting requirements. Applytoday!Downloadapplications andjobdescriptionsat dukescountysheriff.com/careers

FamilySupportCenterService Navigator ($23.07-$27.40perhour) Doyoulovehelpingfamiliesthrive? We’reseekingacompassionateand resourcefulServiceNavigatorto supportfamiliesinidentifying resources,solvingproblems,and buildingstrongcommunity connections.Joinateamthat valuesfamilystrengths,diversity, andself-directionacrossthe lifespan.Experiencepreferredbut paidonthejobtrainingmaybe provided.Sign-OnBonusavailable toemployeesingoodstanding! Applyat:mvcommunityservices.org/ employment

StaffGeneralistatDaybreak Clubhouse ($23.00-$27.60perhour) Lovesupportingothersasthey grow,learnandconnect?We’re lookingforadynamicteammember toprovidevocational,educational, andsocialsupporttomembersin ourDaybreakClubhouse.Wevalue livedexperienceandstrongly encourageindividualswithpersonal experienceofmentalhealthillness toapply.Applyat: mvcommunityservices.org/ employment

FamilySupportWorker–MV FamilyResourceCenter ($23.00-$28.50/hour) Helpconnectfamilieswith communityresourcesandsupport serviceswhileassistingwithparent andyouthprogramming,support groups,familyevents,andvolunteer coordination.Responsibilities includeprovidingreferrals, maintainingprogramdata, participatingincommunity outreach,andsupportingFamily ResourceCenteractivities.Evening andweekendhoursrequired. Qualifications:Backgroundinsocial servicesoramentalhealthsetting preferred.Strongcommunication, organizational,andteamworkskills required.Abilitytomaintain confidentialityandworkeffectively withdiversepopulations.Valid Massachusettsdriver'slicenseand reliabletransportationrequired. Applyat:mvcommunityservices.org/ employment

pension and deferred compensation matching. Full time Telecommunicator-In-Training pay range is $73,986.64- $81,687.06 annually, plus $500 monthly stipend. Candidates must pass skills-based aptitude testing, interview, background check, and post-conditional-offer medical and audiology evaluations. Apply today! Download applications and job descriptions at dukescountysheriff.com/careers

FELIX NECK IS HIRING! Full time/seasonal position: Felix Neck is looking for a dedicated Property Steward to help manage buildings, trails, and grounds, assist with animal care, support staff and volunteers, and maintain clean facilities. Full job description and application at https://www.massaudubon. org/about/careers

Jobs

Full-Time

Bookkeeper–VineyardGardens VineyardGardensLandscapingand GardenCenterinWestTisburyis seekinganexperienced,in-person Bookkeepertomanageday-to-day financialoperations.

TheRole:Accountspayable/ receivable,payrollprocessingforup to50seasonalemployees,POS retailreconciliations,jobcosting, andCPAtaxprep.

Requirements:3+years bookkeepingexperience,advanced Excel,andabsoluteproficiencyin QuickBooksOnline(QBO). ExperiencewithADPand CounterpointPOSisamajorplus. Highattentiontodetailand discretionrequired.

Bene

fits:Competitive compensation,comprehensive healthinsurance,PTO,and retirementoptions.Islandhousing maybeavailablefortherightlongtermcandidate.

ToApply:Emailyourresumeand coverletterto mv@vineyardgardens.net.Please include"bookkeeperposition+your favoriteplant"inthesubjectline. Foramoredetailedexplanationof thepositionpleasevisit www.vineyardgardens.net.

MANAGER

KITCHEN

p-Island Council on Aging eneral Duties Manages the foodser ice and nutrition program for the p-Island Council on Aging. Pro ides for the planning, preparation, ser ing, and cleanup of meal programs to clients of the ICOA both on site and ICOA sponsored e ents in the community. Minimum ualifications igh school education or e ui alent one to two years’ food handling e perience or any e ui alent combination of education and e perience.

Special Re uirements Ser eSafe Cer-

tification, CPR irst Aide AED certification preferred or ability to obtain upon hiring. alid dri er’s license re uired. ourly rate 26.0 - 2 .72per hour. 10 hours per week. The Town anticipates hiring at Step 1 ( 26.0 ). The Town may offer a higher starting step, up to Step ( 2 .72) depending on ualifications and e perience. ull ob description and re uired application can be found on the Town of est Tisbury’s website atwww.westtisbury-ma.go . Resume & application must be recei ed by August 12th 2026 at p.m. by mailing to p-Island Council on Aging, P.O. Bo 000,PMB 17 , est Tisbury, MA 02 7 , or hand deli ered to the Council on Aging located at 10 2A State Rd., est Tisbury, or e-mailing to coa-director westtisbury-ma.go . Must complete a Criminal Offender Record Information check. This is a benefited position. The Town of est Tisbury is an E ual Opportunity Employer.

ISLAND ALPACA

ENTHUSIASTS WANTED!

Seeking outgoing indi idual. Parttime position for this & upcoming season Ticket sales & farm store. Tell us about yourself To re uest an application, email us info islandalpaca.com or stop by pick one up

SEEKING CAREGIVER

Seeking a compassionate and dependable caregi er for appro imately 6 hours per day. Responsibilities include assisting with dressing, bathing, and light housekeeping. References are re uired. Competiti e compensation offered. Please call ackie at (617) 697- 617 for more information.

OAK BLUFFS SCHOOL

Seeking a one year only part-time (.2) less than school year Administrati e Support Personnel To iew a brief description and submit an application isit www. m yps.org under Employment new obs corresponding Schoolspring ob Id 9 7 Deadline August 10, 2026 starting September , 2026 o person shall be e cluded or discriminated against on the basis of race, color, se , age, religion, national origin, se ual orientation, gender identity, or disability. EOE.

JoinOurTeam–Insurance AccountManagerSterling InsuranceGroupisgrowing! We'rehiringmotivatedindividuals forourMartha'sVineyard&Boston o ces.Noinsuranceexperience required—we'lltraintheright person.Competitivepaystartingat $62,400witharaiseuponlicensure. Full-time.Applyat insurewithsterling.com.

MARTHA’S VINEYARD REGIONAL HIGH SCHOOL

PAD Accompanist M R S PAD seeks a piano accompanist for the 2026-2027 school year. This person would play for the four department concerts (October, December, March, May), raduation ( une), and possibly more e ents. Rehearsals are held during the school day, depending on class schedules, ahead of each concert. Classes to be played for may include choruses, orchestra, band, and or theater classes. 0 hr, 2, 00 for the year. Email interest and ualifications to achandler m yps.org.

Minnesingers Costumer The M R S Minnesingers seeks a costumer for the 2026-2027 school year. Ideal candidate is organi ed, has sewing ability, and interest in working with teenagers in a sometimes intense performance setting. A ailability leading up to concerts (December and May) for fittings, organi ing, and help during the shows. ork with the director and student costumer on concepts for each show and ordering of pieces. This is an Appendi A position. Email interest and ualifications to achandler m yps.org.

NOW HIRING MEDIA ACCOUNT

EXECUTIVE: JOIN OUR AWARD-WINNING TEAM!

e are seeking a dri en, community-minded Account E ecuti e to support our ad sales and marketing efforts. elp local businesses grow while supporting e ceptional local ournalism. Part-time (20 hrs wk) with potential for full-time adancement. Primarily in-person with

remote fle ibility. 2 hr ( 26k yr) plus bonus and commission potential. 1-2 years of sales or marketing e perience preferred. To apply, email your resume to sean m times.com.

PerDiemReceptionist/ AdministrativeAssistant Greetclients,answerphonecalls, scheduleappointmentsandprovide basico ceassistancetothestaff attheDukesCountyHealthCare Accesso ce.Bilingualpreferred (English/Portuguese).Startingpay is$30.90/hr.

DukesCountyisanEqual OpportunityEmployer.Fulljob descriptionsandjobapplication availableathttps:// www.dukescounty.gov/employmentopportunitiesSendletterofinterest tomanager@dukescounty.gov

HealthAccessSpecialist

TheHealthAccessSpecialist providespublichealthinsurance applicationandenrollmentservices forstateandfederalsystems includingMassHealthand Medicare.Excellentinterpersonal andcommunicationskillsrequired. Proficiencywitho ceequipment, MSO365andrequisitesoftware programs,abilitytoinput/manage data,andmaintainconfidentiality required.Mustbeabletowork independentlyandbeapositive teammemberinourbusy multiculturalHealthCareAccess o ce.40-hour/weekposition, Portuguese-andorSpanishspeakinghelpful.Startingpayis $37.39/hr.Benefitsincludehealth insurance;discounteddentalplan; andafullretirementpackagebased onyearsofservice. DukesCountyisanEqual OpportunityEmployer.Fulljob descriptionsandjobapplication availableathttps:// www.dukescounty.gov/employmentopportunitiesSendletterofinterest tomanager@dukescounty.gov

SEEKINGAFULL-TIME, YEAR-ROUNDLISTINGMANAGER &OWNERLIAISONTOSERVEAS PRIMARYCONTACTFOROUR HOMEOWNERS. Responsibilitiesincludeowner relations,listingonboarding, propertyvisits,rateconsulting, marketing/photography coordination,andinventory performancetracking.Ideal candidateisteam-focused, organized,detail-oriented,and skilledatbuildingstrong relationships.Pleasesubmit interestto info@sandpiperrental.com.

SEEKINGELECTRICIANFORFULL TIMEYEARROUNDEMPLOYMENT. Self-starterswithexperienceinboth residentialandcommercial installationsdesired. Pleasecall508-693-7786orforward resumeto o ce@warrenelectricmv.comfor moreinformation.

SEEKING RECEPTIONIST FOR BUSY MEDICAL PRACTICE, SUMMER OR YEAR ROUND, PART TIME WORK MONDAY- THURSDAY. Must be prompt, detail oriented, patient and kind with elderly persons, and ha e computer skills. ear round. Contact Michelle 0 - 60-117 .

SOLARINSTALLER

Joinatalented,collaborativeteam workingtostrengthentheVineyard's energyresilience.You'llinstallsolar systemsforresidential,commercial, nonprofit,affordablehousing,and communityprojects,helpingclients reducetheirenergycostsand environmentalimpact. Weofferanexceptional,familyfriendlycompensationpackage, includingmedical/dental/vision insurance(SMCocoversthefull deductible),profitsharing,401k,and thepotentialforownership. Learnmoreaboutthisposition,how toapply,ourcompensationpolicy, andourcultureathttps:// southmountain.com/meet/

ROOM TO RENT - WEST TISBURY SEPTEMBER 15TH TO JUNE 15TH. Single gentlemen required with full-time enrollment outside. House documented financial ability. Designated spacious bedroom, attached full both. ouse has wifi, outdoor deck, shower, grill, cable, full kitchen. 2,000 month, utilities included. Inquiries: effali19 icloud.com

0 - 61-9 20

COZY NORTH TISBURY OFF-SEASON RENTAL SEPT 10-JUNE 20TH. Dates are fle ible. BR, two baths, AD AC air & AC. ,000.00 a month plus electric and propane heat. I I included. Call 20 -9 - 72 for more info. APARTMENTS/ROOMS

YEAR-ROUND W. TISBURY Studio apartment, one person, day-worker. o smokers, no pets. A ail. early Sept. Mostly furnished, or not. 1,700 mo. all utilities incl. irst, last, security. Application & references. 0 69 9199.

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NewConstruction! Onebedroom575sqftgarage apartmentavailable9/1/26.No smokingandnopets.Parking, washer&dryer.Referencesneeded. Yearroundonly.I'dconsiderastaff housingoption.$2700/month utilitiesinc.Owncableandinternet ifcoaxisneeded.Twoweeksin Augustof'27itwillneedtobe vacant.508-944-5188.

AUTO SALES

FUNINTHESUN(FISH) 14ftsunfishinverygoodcondition, completew.sails,2centerboards,2 rudders.Inaddition,anearlynew trailerw.fattirelaunchingbuggy. Newcoverforall.$3200. 508-693-1039.

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Real Estate

$2,250,000MARILYNMOSES OCEANPARKREALTY

617-462-0381 NEWCONSTRUCTION

WelcometoLagoonRidge,Oak Bluffs’newestandmostsoughtafterneighborhood.Buildyour3bedroomdreamhomeinthis elevatedenclave,set95feetabove LagoonPondandcapturing sweepingskyviews,colorful sunsets,andrefreshingsea breezes.Thisexceptionalhomesite representsoneofthe final opportunitiesinthisthrivingnew community.Tobebuilt—The Naushon—features3bedrooms, 3.5bathrooms,andover2,400 squarefeetofthoughtfullydesigned livingspace.Agrandwrap-around coveredporchprovidesawelcoming entryandtheperfectplacetoenjoy morningcoffeeorcoolevening breezes.Inside,theopen-concept floorplanconnectsthechef’s kitchenwithspaciouslivingand diningareas,idealforentertaining familyandfriends.Eachbedroom suiteincludesatileden-suitebath withcustomizable fixturesand finishes,andthesecond-floorsuites mayofferprivatebalconiesfor addedrelaxation.ClassicOakBluffs cottagearchitecturemeetsmodern comfortandenergye ciency, makingTheNaushonanidealyearroundorseasonalretreat.Lagoon Ridgeoffersdirectaccessto conservationlandswithwalkingand bikingtrails,andnearbyLagoon Pondinviteskayaking,sailing,and shell fishing.Allutilities—electric, townwater,andaprivate,state-ofthe-artAmphidromewastewater system—arelocatedatthestreet. Thisinnovativesystemservesthe entireneighborhood,providing convenienceandpeaceofmind. LagoonRidgeisacovenantprotectedcommunitywith architecturalreviewand professionalmanagementbyFirst PropertyManagementCo.This beautifulhomesiteisreadyforthe constructionofyourVineyarddream home.Elevenlotshavesold—only tworemainavailable.Callfor details!

$429,000

MarilynMoses 617-462-0381

WelcometoUnitB-12atthe

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IMPROVEDPRICE:$1,795,000** CONTACTMARILYNMOSESAT 617-462-0381FORMORE DETAILS!

OCEANPARKREALTY

Discoverthebeautyof**THE PRESERVEatTHEWOODLANDS** inthehighlycovetedOakBluffs community!Thisisyourchanceto ownoneofthelastremaining buildinglotsinthisprimelocation, justmomentsawayfromtown, beaches,harbor,ferryports,andthe FarmNeckGolf&TennisClub. Undergroundutilitiesarealreadyin place,makingthisrareoffering perfectfordevelopingyourdream familycompound.Enjoyapeaceful andprivatesetting,surroundedby conservationlandandtrailsidealfor hiking,walking,andbiking. Don’tmissoutonthisincredible opportunitytoembracetheOak Bluffslifestyle!

OAKBLUFFSWATERVIEWLOT FORSALE

$1,200,000

CALLORTEXTReneBenDavid's Cell508-847-4864

OCEANPARKREALTY

PRIVACYMEETSCONVENIENCEIN OAKBLUFFS

JAYNEISFORD|203-962-4317

$1,795,000

Nestledattheendofaquietstreet, thisroomyandspaciousCape-style homeoffersprivacyand conveniencejustashortdistanceto theOakBluffsSchool,towncenter, andwithinwalkingdistancetothe Lagoon.

Sun-filledmainlevelwithopen floor plan,largewindows,andagenerous kitchenwithamplecounterspace, openingtothediningarea.Sliders leadtoabackdeck,yard,and bluestonepatio..perfectfor entertainingorrelaxing. Radiantheated floorsintheprimary suiteandlower-levelplayroom.Twocargaragewithbonusspaceabove. Beautifulstoneworkdriveway. Updatedfurnace(2020)andwater heater(2024).

PRICEIMPROVEMENT 46KENNEBECAVENUE

OAKBLUFFS,MA

$1,350,000

CallorTextCathyGargiulo 203-530-1008

SOLD$1,150,000

MARILYNMOSES617-462-0381

OCEANPARKREALTY, OAKBLUFFSCLASSICCAPE Charmmeetsmoderne ciencyin thismove-in-ready3-bedroom home.Thoughtfullymaintainedand beautifullypresented,thehome featuressun-filledlivingspaces,an updatedkitchen,andcomfortable bedroomsdesignedforeasy everydayliving.Enjoyyear-round comfortwithenergy-e cientminisplitsystemsprovidingbothheating andairconditioning,offeringcosteffectiveclimatecontrolinevery season.The finishedbasement addsvaluablebonusspaceidealfor amediaroom,homeo ceor workoutroomgivingyouthe flexibilityto fityourlifestyle. Outside,aprivateyardoffersthe perfectsettingforrelaxingor entertaining.Awonderful opportunityforayear-round

OPENHOUSE WEDNESDAYAUGUST5THAND SATURDAYAUGUST8TH 145VINEYARDMEADOW FARMSROAD

CLASSICOAKBLUFFSVICTORIAN

$2,575,000MARILYNMOSES 617-462-0381

OCEANPARKREALTY,INC

Builtin1875byrenownedarchitect SamuelPratt,thisclassic4bedroomVictorianisjustoneblock fromthebeachandmomentstothe harbor,ferries,shops,and restaurants.Enjoywaterviewsfrom themahoganywrap-aroundporch andprivatebalcony.Historiccharm iscomplementedbythoughtful updates,includingmini-splitheating andcooling,Harveyreplacement windows,arebuiltmahoganyporch, newerroof,updatedelectrical, outdoorshower,andtownwaterand sewer. Establishedrentalhistorywith2026 bookingsinplace.Partially insulated3-seasonhome.

Welcometo#0TemahiganAve& DoverStreet,OakBluffs.BuildYour Martha’sVineyardDreamHome. Rareopportunitytoownalevel, clearedcornerlotindesirableOak Bluffs,withpavedroadsbordering twosides,readyforconstructionof yourMartha’sVineyarddream home.Approvedforupto6 bedrooms,thisexceptionalproperty includesanapproved6-bedroom septicdesign,withroomfora possiblefuturepool.Locatedinthe sought-afterEastvillearea,where manyhomesenjoybeautifulwater views,thislotoffersthepotentialto capturestunningviewsofVineyard Soundandbeyondfroma thoughtfullydesignedhome.Create a customresidencethatembraces allthebeautyandlifestyleMartha’s Vineyardhastooffer.Enjoyashort walktoEastvilleBeach,whereyou cantakeinspectacularsunsets, watchtheferriescomeandgo,and experiencethecharmofisland living.Justashortdriveaway,you’ll haveaccesstoeverythingthat makesOakBluffssospecial— additionalbeaches,shellfishing, swimming,boating,andthevibrant energyofCircuitAvenue,featuring boutiqueshopping,diverse restaurants,andconvenientferry servicetoandfromtheislandvia theiconicOakBluffsHarborand nearbyports.Thisismorethanjust land—it’sanopportunitytocreate somethingtrulyspecial.Don’tjust dreamit—makeitreality.Owninga pieceofMartha’sVineyardisan investmentinalifestyleyou’llnever regret.Pleaseincludeapreapproval orproofoffundswithoffer.Selleris offeringabuyersbroker consideration.

OCEANPARKREALTY

ThisexquisiteVictorianhome, lovinglypreservedbythesame familyforoverageneration,stands inoutstandingconditionandis perfectlysituatedinthevibrant heartofOakBluffsCenter.Enjoythe convenienceofbeingjuststeps awayfromthePublicBeach, SteamshipAuthority,OakBluffs Harbor,asupermarket,andavariety ofcharmingrestaurantsandshops thatcontributetoOakBluffs'allure asapremiersummerdestinationon Martha'sVineyard.Thisdelightful three-seasoncottagehasbeen carefullymodernizedovertheyears, offeringarareinvestment opportunity.Locatedwithinthe highlysought-afterB1Zone,this residencehasbeencherishedasa familyhomewhilealsoprovidingthe potentialforcommercialendeavors. Thepropertyfeaturesawelldesigned floorplanthatincludes fourbedrooms-oneconveniently locatedonthe first floor-alongwith a fullbathroom,twohalfbathrooms, a laundrystoragearea,aneat-in kitchen,andacozylivingroom.The homeisadornedwithstunning wood flooringthroughout,brightand airyroomswithoriginalwindows,a n ewhotwaterondemandsystem, andacharmingfrontporch,perfect forleisurelyafternoons.Withits fourbedroomsandprimein-town location,thispropertyoffers substantialrentalpotential,making itanexceptionalopportunityfor bothpersonalenjoymentand investment.

Save1/3offconventionbuilding methods.Newhomesand additions.High-endhomeshellsare customdesigned,constructedina controlledenvironment,and deliveredtoyourMVsiteforabout $135/sq.ft.(Estimatedpricefor finishedhouse:$550/sq.ft.) Packagesinclude:Customdesign, postandbeams,roofandwalls, doorsandwindows,sidingand trim,insulationand floors.Thepreconstructionwallandroofpanels goupinab out3weeks.Viewmodel inAquinnahbyappointment.(508) 645-3572Brokerparticipation invited Posner@MVPostAndBeam.com

NEWLISTING INEASTCHOPOAKBLUFFS

MARILYNMOSES 617-462-0381

$1,199,000.52ACRES 66MunroeAvenueand17Madison AvenueOakBluffsEastChop~Build yourcustomislandretreatin covetedEastChoponthisoveronehalfacreparcel.Offeringthe potentialfora6+bedroom residence,thisexceptionalhomesite includesatopographicmapand featuresexpansivegroundsthat mayaccommodateapool,subject tolocalapprovals.Ideallylocated justminutesfromtheEastChop BeachClub,OakBluffsHarbor, beaches,ferries,restaurants,shops, andvibrantdowntownOakBluffs. Buyersshouldperformtheirown duediligencewiththeappropriate townagenciestoverifyall informationregardingbuilding requirements,approvalsand intendeduse.Alloffersshould includeproofoffunds.

COMMERCIAL-VINEYARD HAVEN

WestTisbury$1,399,000CallorText MarilynMoses617-462-0381 Coastalcontemporaryresidenceis locatedonaprivate1.60-acrelotin WestTisbury,withconvenient accesstoLongPointWildlife Refugeandaccessto"Coveted" Lambert'sCoveBeach.Thehome featuresfourbedroomsandtwofull bathrooms.Onthe first floor,you'll findtwobrightbedrooms,a modernizedbathroom,andsliders fromthelivingareathatleadtoa newAZEKdeckandenclosed fencedgardens,perfectforoutdoor enjoyment.Theopen floorplan includesattractivebeadboard ceilingsthatcreateasenseof spaceandlight.Recentupgrades featurearemodeledkitchenwitha tiledbacksplash,granite countertops,andanLGinduction stovealongwithmatching stainless-steelappliances.The firstfloorbathroomhasbeenfully renovatedwithatiledshowerand glassdoor,tiled floor,newtoilet, vanity/mirror,rainfallshowerhead, andallnewhardware.Additional updatesincludeanewerroof,Azek windowtrim,anoutdoorshower enclosure,andgutterswithleaf guards.Thebasementhasa9-foot ceilingwithfourwindows,providing potentialforfurther finishingwith townapproval.Otherimprovements includeupdatedplumbingand electricalsystems,anewwell pressuretank,newCulliganWater FiltrationandConditioningsystem, andaGeneracwhole-house generatorinstalledin2022.

WESTTISBURY

NEWLISTING$1,399,000 CallorTextMarilynMoses 617-462-0381 Coastalcontemporaryresidenceis locatedonaprivate1.60-acrelotin WestTisbury,withconvenient accesstoLongPointWildlife Refugeandaccessto"Coveted" Lambert'sCoveBeach.Thehome featuresfourbedroomsandtwofull bathrooms.Onthe first floor,you'll findtwobrightbedrooms,a modernizedbathroom,andsliders fromthelivingareathatleadtoa newAZEKdeckandenclosed fencedgardens,perfectforoutdoor enjoyment.Theopen floorplan includesattractivebeadboard ceilingsthatcreateasenseof spaceandlight.Recentupgrades featurearemodeledkitchenwitha tiledbacksplash,granite countertops,andanLGinduction stovealongwithmatching stainless-steelappliances.The firstfloorbathroomhasbeenfully renovatedwithatiledshowerand glassdoor,tiled floor,newtoilet, vanity/mirror,rainfallshowerhead, andallnewhardware.Additional updatesincludeanewerroof,Azek windowtrim,anoutdoorshower enclosure,andgutterswithleaf guards.Thebasementhasa9-foot ceilingwithfourwindows,providing potentialforfurther finishingwith townapproval.Otherimprovements includeupdatedplumbingand electricalsystems,anewwell pressuretank,newCulliganWater FiltrationandConditioningsystem, andaGeneracwhole-house generatorinstalledin2022.

HOUSES-OAK BLUFFS HOUSES-OAK BLUFFS HOUSES-OAK BLUFFS

COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS

LAND COURT

DEPARTMENT OF THE TRIAL COURT

COMPLAINT TO FORECLOSE TAX LIEN

[seal] No. 20 TL 000110

TO ALL WHOM IT MAY CONCERN, and to Lesley A. Foster, deceased, formerly of New York, in the State of New York; Valerie L. Foster Ponti and Sharyn J. Foster Gonzales, both now or formerly of New York, in the State of New York; or their heirs, devisees, or legal representatives:

A Complaint has been filed by the Plaintiff Town of Tisbury. The Complaint asks the Court to enter a judgment ending any ownership rights or interests in the land described below. The Complaint is about a parcel of land located in the Town of Tisbury, Dukes County, Massachusetts, described in the Complaint as follows:

Land in said Tisbury, at Clover Hill Drive, shown as parcel 16, block A, on Assessors map 19, recorded in Dukes Deeds, Book 365, Page 335.

To respond to the Complaint, you or your attorney must take these steps by the Deadline to Answer, which is September 28th, 2026.

First, prepare a written Answer. You may write your own Answer or use the form or the online guided interview program on the Court website.

Second, file your Answer with the Land Court Recorder’s Office, or in the Assistant Recorder’s Office at the Registry of Deeds where the land is located, or using the Court’s online eFiling system. Third, serve a copy of your Answer to the Plaintiff by mail or e-mail.

Recorder

Plaintiff’s Attorney: Thomas W. McEnaney, Esq., 101 Arch Street, 12th Floor, Boston, MA 02110 Tel: (617)654-1755

LAND COURT USE ONLY

TOWN OF TISBURY Office of PLANNING BOARD PO BOX 602

VINEYARD HAVEN, MASSACHUSETTS

WWW.TISBURYMA.GOV NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

Legal Notices

Join Zoom Meeting

https://us06web.zoom.

us/j/84473018696

Meeting ID: 844 7301 8696

Passcode: 475649

One tap mobile

+16468769923,84473018696# US (New York)

+16469313860,84473018696# US

A copy of the application and plans are available to review. Please send an email to tisburyplanningboard@ tisburyma.gov with your request. Interested parties are invited to send comments and/or attend the virtual meeting.

Town of West Tisbury Invitation for Bids

The Town of West Tisbury is soliciting bids for the installation of an enhanced septic system at the Public Safety Building located at 454 State Rd.

To receive a detailed description of specifications, go to the town website https://www.westtisbury-ma.gov/bids

Contact: Jennifer Rand, Chief Procurement Officer

Town of West Tisbury PO Box 278, 1059 State Road West Tisbury, MA 02575

Telephone: 508-696-0102

FAX: 508-696-0103

townadmin@westtisbury-ma.gov

LEGAL NOTICES OAK BLUFFS

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

RE: Balbino Appeal

via email: zbaadmin@oakluffsma.gov or mailed to: PO Box 1327, Oak Bluffs, MA 02557

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

RE: Johnson Appeal

Eugene Johnson 37 Menahan St Map 7 Lot 153

The Oak Bluffs Zoning Board of Appeals will hold an In-Person Public Hearing on Wednesday, August 19, 2026 at 6:00PM in the Oak Bluffs Town Hall Downstairs Meeting Room, 56 School Street, on the application of the referenced petitioner seeking: A Special Permit within Oak Bluffs Zoning By-Laws 3.5.5 and 4.2.7, or any action related thereto, for: construction of a 17x20 carport with footings placed no further than the existing extents in the R1 District. Relevant documents and/or proposed plans will be available on the Town of Oak Bluffs’ web site: https://www.oakbluffsma.gov/443/ ZBA-Regular-Meetings

Written correspondence can be addressed to the Board of Appeals via email: zbaadmin@oakbluffsma. gov or mailed to: PO Box 1327, Oak Bluffs, MA 02557

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

RE: Neptune Appeal

Maxwell & Brenda Neptune

26 Double Ox Rd. Map 27 Lot 21

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING RE: Riordan Appeal

John Riordan and Caitlin Riordan 84 Washington Ave. Map 22 Parcel 103

The Oak Bluffs Zoning Board of Appeals will hold an In-Person Public Hearing on Wednesday, August 19, 2026 at 6:00PM in the Oak Bluffs Town Hall Downstairs Meeting Room, 56 School Street, on the application of the referenced petitioner seeking: A variance within Oak Bluffs Zoning ByLaw 10.2.2 for a project consisting of permitting an existing basement access into a pre-existing, non-conforming single family residence located in the R-1 Zoning District. The basement access is located 17.8+/- from the rear property line. Relevant documents and/or proposed plans will be available on the Town of Oak Bluffs’ web site: https://www.oakbluffsma.gov/443ZBA-Regular-Meetings Written correspondence can be addressed to the Board of Appeals via email: zbaadmin@oakbluffsma.gov or mailed to: PO Box 1327, Oak Bluffs, MA 02557

LEGAL NOTICES EDGARTOWN

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING EDGARTOWN CONSERVATION COMMISSION

PM via Zoom to consider a Request for Determination of Applicability filed by Michael Rits (SDE, Inc), on behalf of Michael & Lynn Ditchfield, under the Edgartown Wetlands Protection Bylaw and the Massachusetts Wetlands Protection Act, to upgrade a septic system, with a portion of the system located within the 100-foot buffer zone to a vernal pool, at 80 Chase Road, AP Map 21, Lot 90. For more information, contact the Edgartown Conservation Commission at conservation@edgartown-ma.us

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

EDGARTOWN CONSERVATION COMMISSION

The Edgartown Conservation Commission will hold a public hearing on Wednesday, August 12, 2026 at 4:40 PM via Zoom to consider a Request for an Amended Order of Conditions (SE20-1799) filed by Tighe & Bond, on behalf of Town of Edgartown (Affordable Housing Committee), under the Edgartown Wetlands Protection Bylaw and the Massachusetts Wetlands Protection Act, to modify a previously approved septic system design based on Board of Health requirements, at 294 Chappaquiddick Road, AP Map 34, Lot 238. For more information, contact the Edgartown Conservation Commission at conservation@edgartown-ma.us.

Pursuant to MGL Ch. 40A, s. 9; and section 06.06.03, 06.06.08 of the Tisbury Zoning Bylaw, the Tisbury Planning Board will hold a hybrid (zoom link below) public hearing on August 19th, 2026, at 5pm at the Town Hall Annex at 66 Highpoint Lane and via zoom at a regularly scheduled meeting to consider live music.

Locus: 52 Beach Rd., Tisbury, Ma -

Assessor’s Parcel 09-C-08

Property Owner: Acme Vineyard Haven MA LLC Applicant: Milan Basnet

If you do not answer the Complaint by the above Deadline to Answer, this Court will find you in default. You may lose the chance to answer or dispute the facts listed in the Complaint or pay the taxes owed. You may lose all ownership rights or interest in the land described above. If a judgment of foreclosure is entered, you will lose ownership of your property. If the property is worth more than the amount owed to cover the tax debt and foreclosure costs, you may be entitled to receive any remaining funds (excess equity) from the Plaintiff. It is ordered that this citation be published right away, once in the Martha’s Vineyard Times a newspaper circulated in Town of Tisbury. Witness, GORDON H. PIPER, Esquire, Chief Justice of said Court, this Fourth day of August in the year two thousand and twenty-six. Attest with Seal of said Court. Deborah J. Patterson

BargainBox

Large, clean, styroform “Omaha Steal” coolers.508-62-8438.

3 CUSHION SOFA 78 x 36 x 34, light tan 2 throw pillows, can send foto, $100, 267-566-2596.

Silomar Balbino

6 Sachem Way

Map 50 Parcel 72

The Oak Bluffs Zoning Board of Appeals will hold an In-Person Public Hearing on Wednesday, August 19, 2026 at 6:00PM in the Oak Bluffs

Town Hall Downstairs Meeting Room, 56 School Street, on the application of the referenced petitioner seeking:

A Special Permit within Oak Bluffs Zoning By-Law section 3.5.5, or any action related thereto, to expand an existing structure on a pre-existing/ non-conforming lot in the R3 District. Relevant documents and/or proposed plans will be available on the Town of Oak Bluffs’ web site: https://www.oakbluffsma.gov/443/ZBA-Regular-Meetings Written correspondence can be addressed to the Board of Appeals

The Oak Bluffs Zoning Board of Appeals will hold an In-Person Public Hearing on Wednesday, August 19, 2026 at 6:00PM in the Oak Bluffs Town Hall Downstairs Meeting Room, 56 School Street, on the application of the referenced petitioner seeking: A Special Permit within Oak Bluffs Zoning By-Law 4.4.5.2(2), or any action related thereto, for: setback relief for a swimming pool in the R3 District. Relevant documents and/or proposed plans will be available on the Town of Oak Bluffs’ web site: https://www.oakbluffsma.gov/443/ ZBA-Regular-Meetings

Written correspondence can be addressed to the Board of Appeals via email: zbaadmin@oakbluffsma.gov or mailed to: PO Box 1327, Oak Bluffs, MA 02557

On Wednesday, August 12, 2026 at 4:30 p.m. the Edgartown Conservation Commission will hold a hearing via Zoom on a Request for Determination of Applicability filed by Robert Moriarty (MMV) on behalf of the Edgartown Yacht Club under the Edgartown Wetlands Protection Bylaw and the Massachusetts Wetlands Protection Act.

The applicant is seeking permission to replace a tennis court with a padel court in the flood plain and it’s buffer. The property is located at 94 Peases Point Way North (AP Map 20B, Lot 64). For a copy of the application or for questions related to participating in the meeting via Zoom, please contact: conservation@edgartown-ma.us

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING EDGARTOWN CONSERVATION COMMISSION

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

EDGARTOWN CONSERVATION COMMISSION

The Edgartown Conservation Commission will hold a public hearing on Wednesday, August 12, 2026 at 4:45 PM via Zoom to consider a Notice of Intent filed by Darci Schofield, on behalf of the Trustees of Reservations/Poucha Partners LLC, under the Edgartown Wetlands Protection Bylaw and the Massachusetts Wetlands Protection Act, to reauthorize a 450-linear-foot historic over-sand vehicle (OSV) trail at Wasque Point, to be incorporated into SE20-1702, connecting over-sand vehicle access between the 200-acre Wasque Reservation and the 98-acre Leland Beach, at 35 Pocha Road Ext., AP Map 48, Lot 1.6. For more information, contact the Edgartown Conservation Commission at conservation@edgartown-ma.us.

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local journalism. Choose

The Edgartown Conservation Commission will hold a public hearing on Wednesday, August 12, 2026 at 4:35

MARTHA’S VINEYARD DISTRICT COURT REPORT

June 29

Elias Rushing, 30, Wallkill, N.Y.; four counts of assault with a dangerous weapon, strangulation and suffocation, and kidnapping, arraigned and held, bail set at $3,500 with potential for bail revocation, conditions to not leave the U.S., stay away from the alleged victim, and remain alcohol-free, continued to pretrial hearing.

Elias Rushing, 30, Wallkill, N.Y.; assault and battery on family/ household member, kidnapping, assault and battery with dangerous weapon, arraigned and held, bail set at $3,500 with potential for bail revocation, conditions to not leave the U.S., stay away from the alleged victim, and remain alcohol-free, continued to pretrial hearing.

July 3

Jay M. Cashman, 25, Quincy; unlicensed operation of motor vehicle, use of motor vehicle without

authority, intimidation of witness/ juror/police/court official, malicious destruction of property less than $1,200, assault and battery, arraigned and held, conditions to stay away and not contact alleged victim, bail set at $3,000 with potential for bail revocation, continued to pretrial hearing.

July 6

Jay M. Cashman, 25, Quincy; fugitive from justice on court warrant, arraigned and held, bail set at $5,000 with potential for bail revocation, continued to pretrial hearing.

July 9

Tiffany E. Rodriguez, 37, Naples, Fla.; assault and battery on family/ household member, arraigned and released on personal recognizance, continued to pretrial hearing.

July 13

Sean P. Buckley, 60, Vineyard Haven; operating motor vehicle

with license suspended, unregistered motor vehicle, arraigned and held, bail set at $100 with potential for bail revocation, continued to pretrial hearing.

Sean Steves, 63, Tisbury; operating motor vehicle in violation of license class, speeding in violation of special regulation, arraigned and held, bail set at $100 with potential for bail revocation, continued to pretrial hearing.

July 16

James W. Hart, 30, Vineyard Haven; municipal bylaw or ordinance violation, arraigned and released, continued for payment.

July 20

Gunnar D. Graham, 20, Tisbury; negligent operation of motor vehicle, operating under the influence of liquor, marked lanes violation, person under 21 possessing liquor, arraigned and released on personal recognizance, continued to pretrial hearing.

Abraham T. Rendon, 37, Oak Bluffs; possession class B, arraigned and held, bail set at $300 with potential for bail revocation, continued to pretrial hearing.

Chrystal L. Angelini-Thomas, 53, Oak Bluffs; municipal bylaw or ordinance violation, disorderly conduct, resisting arrest, arraigned and released on personal recognizance, continued to pretrial hearing.

Calvin T. Grimes, 40, West Tisbury; assault and battery, arraigned and held, bail set at $300 with potential for bail revocation, condition to not abuse alleged victim, continued to pretrial hearing.

Adam J. Castro, 30, Edgartown; assault and battery, arraigned and held, bail set at $400 with potential for bail revocation, conditions to stay away and not contact alleged victim, continued to pretrial hearing.

Bus union pauses strike plan, calls for administrator’s resignation

Riders discuss how a lack of bus accessibility would impact their daily lives. BY

EUNKI SEONWOO

As Vineyard Transit Authority (VTA) buses continue to traverse Island roads even after the contract for unionized drivers expired, the looming threat of a strike has been put on pause as the two sides make their cases to Island officials.

Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1548, the union that represents local VTA drivers, announced on July 24 that its members had voted to potentially hold a strike if a satisfactory contract isn’t reached with Transit Connection, the company contracted to hire, train, and schedule vehicle operators and staff for the Island’s public bus line. The most recent contract expired on July 31.

While the strike is on hold, it’s not off the table. The union is pushing various demands, including higher pay for drivers, allowance for vacations during the summer, and making Memorial Day and Independence Day holidays for unionized drivers.

Charles Ryan, president of the union, said while an exact strike date hasn’t been determined, action will soon be taken if the VTA doesn’t meet their demands. “If I don't get a response in the next seven days, we’ll go on strike,” Ryan told The Times on Tuesday.

In a July 31 letter to Island select boards, Ryan stated, “It is not my desire to call a strike which would disrupt the lives of the citizens and visitors to the Island,” but underscored a need for change at the VTA. While the letter highlighted drivers’ pay raises, it also escalated rhetoric and called for the resignation of Angie Gompert, the VTA administrator.

“At this time, the union is calling for the administrator to tender her immediate resignation,” Ryan wrote. “I am going through other channels to try and make this a reality. I take this misappropriation of funds very seriously, as I am sure others in state government will.”

The alleged misappropriation Ryan referred to in his letter revolved around the VTA’s share of the $25 million awarded to regional transit authorities through the Fair Share Supplemental Budget last year. Ryan wrote that this funding was supposed to be used for regional transit authorities’ workforce recruitment and retention, but said the VTA had already spent the money by the time the union asked for raises for drivers. He claimed that a portion of the funding was spent on Gompert’s salary, which rose from $165,516.03 in 2024 to $193,966.24 in 2025, or a near $30,000 increase, according to the bus line’s payroll documents.

Gompert, meanwhile, refuted Ryan’s claims in her own August 3 letter to Vineyard select boards. She noted that the VTA’s share, $548,434, wasn’t just for staff wages. It was also meant to “increase frequency on our busiest routes to at least prepandemic service levels.” According to the VTA’s 2025 annual report, the bus line “continues to recover from the [COVID-19] pandemic,” and carried 1.14 million riders since the previous fiscal year, a period from July 1, 2024, to June 30, 2025. In fiscal year 2019, the VTA served 1.3 million riders, and the lowest point since then was in fiscal year 2021, at 547,750 riders.

Gompert also said that the VTA conducts annual internal audits on its operations, and noted that its budget had increased by more than 60 percent since 2019, or from $5.51 million in fiscal year 2019 to $8.87 million in fiscal year 2025.

According to Gompert, the VTA heavily relied on federal pandemic relief funds, such as ARPA, to “stabilize operations,” noting that fiscal year 2020 was the first time the VTA had spent more than $1 million in federal funds, which came from a onetime $8 million disbursement that has now been used up. And while regional transit authorities received one-

time funding on an annual basis to support operations, she wrote that no increase in the state budget means “a fiscal cliff is likely on the horizon” for many of the public bus lines, especially “with local funding constrained by Proposition 2½,” a state law that restricts collecting no more than 2.5 percent of property values in taxes, which can be overridden if approved by voters.

Gompert noted the possibility of service cuts in three years unless more state funding is secured.

“In my 30 years with the VTA, transit funding in Massachusetts is at unprecedented levels, but operating costs are also at unprecedented levels,” Gompert wrote.

Ryan told The Times on Tuesday he had not heard from the VTA or Transit Connection since the announcement of a potential strike.

A sign of the collapsed negotiations and lack of dialogue between the two sides is a discrepancy in the wage-increase offers they’ve publicly disclosed. The union states it called for an annual 6 percent raise for the next three years, and Ryan said the VTA counteroffer was an annual 3.5 percent increase during the same period. The VTA instead states it offered wage increases “averaging approximately 13.5 [percent] over three years.”

Even if a strike occurs, some people may not feel an immediate impact. Currently, the VTA is split between 32 year-round drivers, both full- and part-time, and a similar number of seasonal drivers. If unionized drivers picket for better pay, the bus line plans to continue to run services with the nonunion summer operators.

“It’s hard to say exactly what the impacts will be at this time,” Gompert told The Times in an email. “I’m sorry my answer seems vague, it’s not intentional — it’s just we don’t know how many drivers will strike, and when [they] strike.”

If the strike lasts as long as the 2019 one, it also brings into question what happens once September hits, when both ridership and bus services decrease as the Island enters the offseason. Ryan said that during the strike in 2019, from late June to late July, over drivers’ pay, the VTA brought in additional drivers through Boston-based Yankee Line, something he thinks could happen again.

“The problem is, it’s going to be at a premium cost,” Ryan said. A similar issue arose in 2023, when a records request conducted by the union showed the VTA paid the Boston bus service more than $240,000 from January to early June for additional drivers.

Bus drivers, who asked to remain anonymous, told The Times a strike is planned to

happen in the next two weeks as of Tuesday evening. Even if rides continue, they noted, a strike would most impact the full-time unionized drivers and the passengers who regularly use the buses. And while they wanted higher pay, a seasonal driver has no stake in the conflict, and a part-time unionized driver said he considered the position a side gig.

And the uncertainty is on the minds of those who utilize the buses. On Friday, a woman rolling a travel bag halted at the Church Street stop in Edgartown to ask a bus driver whether a strike was going to happen. The driver was seasonal, and didn’t have information to provide.

A variety of people utilize the buses throughout the year, from locals to commuters to tourists, and the buses are a lifeline for Steve Soriano, a resident of Hillside Village in Vineyard Haven.

For Soriano, the buses are a necessity. He has cerebral palsy and he can’t drive, so he relies on the VTA for “everything,” whether that is to complete errands, go to doctors’ appointments, or commute to Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School, where he works as a mail clerk. Even while schools are on summer vacation, Soriano buses weekly to MVRHS for work.

“I use buses every day,” Soriano said, while waiting for a bus at the Vineyard Haven Steamship Authority stop on Friday. He was out for groceries that day, and a container of green grapes poked out of the tote bag that hung from his powerchair.

Soriano recalled that the 2019 strike didn’t hinder his ability to traverse the Vineyard, and he said he backs the drivers receiving a pay raise. “It’s very hard to live with the income that they make,” Soriano said.

Besides Vineyarders, commuters from off-Island also regularly use the buses to get to work.

Alaina Darr used to live on the Island, and chose to ride the bus during the 22 years she lived in Vineyard Haven. She works in Edgartown as a secretary in the law office of Benjamin Hall Jr., but has commuted from Bourne since 2022, when she moved off-Island due to high living expenses. Now she ferries over Tuesdays and Fridays before riding the bus to work.

Darr noted she sees “all demographics” ride the buses. “I see everybody,” Darr said, such as grandmothers with grandkids going to the beach or the grocery store, tourists going to destinations like Island Alpaca in Vineyard Haven, workers and regular riders in the winter, and professionals headed to the Edgartown courthouse.

Some riders come from even farther away. Lesley Rosenthal, owner of Gypsy Barbershop in Edgartown, and Nicole Downing, a stylist with Benito’s Hair Styling, travel from New Bedford.

Rosenthal has traveled to the Island from the South Coast for a decade, now coming three days a week. She relies on the bus’ reliability to meet her appointments with clients. And Downing comes five days a week, first starting to cut hair on the Vineyard five years ago to avoid working for the corporate shops back home.

The stylists noted that the traffic from Edgartown to Vineyard Haven makes returning home a logistical hurdle to make sure they get the boats they want. And if a strike halts buses, Rosenthal said, it’d be a problem for her.

“It would definitely make it stressful,” Rosenthal said. “Three out of the five people who work for me come on the bus.”

One of the Gypsy Barbershop stylists is Michelle Kovarik from Falmouth, who comes to the Island every day during the summer, and five days a week during the off-season. She noted that commuters need to be careful of when they leave work, noting that she had to leave twice as early as usual to board a bus and ferry to meet a doctor appointment on July 30. Kovarik gets dropped off in Woods Hole, so commuting to the Edgartown shop can take a little under an hour and a half one way. From New Bedford, including the hourlong drive to the Palmer Ave. parking lot in Falmouth, the shuttle ride to the Woods Hole terminal, the ferry and then the bus, getting to Edgartown takes more than two hours. For Downing, her summertime commute increased after Benito’s moved from Oak Bluffs to the Gypsy Barbershop building, but she said she still loves coming to the Vineyard.

“There’s a sense of community here. People here, for the most part, are respectful. Back home, that’s not how it goes where I worked,” Downing said.

After retirement, the buses act as a way for those who do not or cannot drive to reach services and continue to socialize. Jennifer Gadowski, administrative assistant at the Up-Island Council on Aging, told The Times at Howes House in West Tisbury that older Islanders use the buses to access their services. At least two come near daily from down-Island.

Gadowski noted how the buses being fare-free was a “godsend” for some Islanders, especially older residents on a fixed income. The latest stretch of state-subsidized bus rides has been ongoing since November 2024. Before, the riders paid based on how many towns the bus goes through, including the passenger’s original stop ($1.25 per town in the off-season, $2 per town inseason), with various pass offerings.

If a strike ends up impeding their commutes, regular passengers are considering how to get to where they need to go. While Darr said she can likely get a ride from coworkers, Rosenthal and Downing are considering sharing travel costs by carpooling in a taxi or through a rideshare app with workers at the barbershops.

Though having varying experiences with the bus line, those who spoke with The Times were in consensus that drivers should get a fair wage.

“I’m not into the politics of it, but I have a feeling in my heart … I hope they can speak to one another and resolve this in a timely fashion, or before it happens,” Gadowski said. “August is a tough month. We don’t need any more ups and downs and bumps in the road.”

EUNKI SEONWOO

Passengers getting off a VTA bus at the Church Street stop in Edgartown.

You’re invited to the party

Ilove a good party. Whether I’m cooking dinner for 10 and we’re dining on the deck, or it’s a beach party for a few or a lot, parties are fun.

Last week, I went to one of my favorite parties — the Skipper party boat out of Oak Bluffs Harbor. I’ve been on the Skipper with Capt. John Potter at least a dozen times. I’ve gone out with friends, and taken out youth groups. When it feels as if there are no fish from shore, Capt. John will prove to you that there are plenty of fish in the sea.

We boarded the Skipper on a gorgeous, sunny morning. John’s son Zak, a media management major at the University of Miami in Florida, was aboard as first mate. I chatted with Capt. John as we motored out to our first location. I had no idea the Skipper is the oldest working party boat in the U.S. Built in 1941, the Skipper was one of 12 original New Jersey “head boats,” named so because people pay by the head to board.

“I’ve been doing this since I was 13, and I’m 64,” said Capt. John. “I was a bait boy on the Ranger, which was also one of the 12 head boats, and sadly sunk in Hurricane Bob.”

Capt. John bought the Skipper in 1987. He originally partnered with Todd Alexander for the first six years, before Todd became the Oak Bluffs harbormaster. Fun fact: Todd retired after 29 years as harbormaster, and has returned to captain the Skipper for a few trips each week. Sounds like the perfect retirement job to me.

We reached our first location, and Capt. John shouted for everyone to drop their lines. Hooks were baited with squid, and thumbs pinched the line so weights carried the tempting morsels slowly to any fish that might be hungry 70 feet below. Rods were soon taut with fish. Capt. John had found a productive spot.

Immediately to my right, Ceci and Owen Schickel were enjoying their annual outing on the Skipper. “We’ve been coming to the Vineyard for about 20 years. Owen was 3 when he first visited. We probably come on average every other year,” said Ceci. “I believe we’ve gone out at least eight times with Skipper John. It’s one of our favorite things to do. It’s a highlight for us.”

“I still look forward to it,” said Owen, who’s now 23. “It’s partly tradition, and it makes the trip if we do it. And we get to eat the fish.”

I had a lot of fun watching Ceci and Owen catch black sea bass and scup. They definitely caught enough keepers to have fresh fish for two or three

PHOTOS AND STORY BY LISA BELCASTRO

in dinner, and the taste of fresh fish that you personally harvested from the sea: That’s a trifecta that can’t be beat.

I asked Capt. John the best part of his job.

nights during their vacation.

As I helped Ceci release a small sea bass, we heard a shout from the other side of the boat. I looked over and saw Capt. John helping two people. Drake and Tina Kolarik had double-hooked a big scup. The keeper size for charters is 11 inches. This fish was definitely a keeper. Capt. John measured the fish and called out, “17½ inches!”

I don’t know about you, but if I was visiting the Vineyard, or anywhere, for the first time, I can’t think of a better souvenir than catching a big fish.

Of course, the Kolariks didn’t take their giant scup home to St. Louis, Mo. The dinner and memories, though, were perfectly portable.

We’d been on the boat for about an hour, and I hadn’t dropped a line yet. I was having so much fun watching others fish, baiting hooks for people, and either releasing fish or putting keepers into a bucket.

Yara Lopes and Ethan Lenahan were near Ceci and Owen, and we got to chatting. Ethan was no stranger to the Vineyard or the Skipper. He’d been to the Island six times with his family, and they’d been aboard the Skipper on three of their vacations. Yara, on the other hand, was fishing on a boat for the first time.

“I thought it would be all splashes and fish smell. I thought I would get seasick, but it’s so nice. I love it. This is the first time I’ve caught a fish. I’ve fished before on the beach, but I’d never caught a fish,” said Yara, after reeling in her 12th or so fish.

Yara hauled in dinner with scup and sea bass, and she also caught and released a sea robin. I shared with her that sea robins talk, and then held the fish so she could hear it grunting after I released the hook.

“That’s the cutest one. It’s the creepiest, but the cut est,” said Yara, 20.

We saw many sea bass, scup, sea robins, and even a few sand sharks reeled in. I have no idea how many fish were caught, released, or kept, but I can tell you Larry Mack had the hottest rod.

Larry lives on the Hudson River in Highland, N.Y. He’s been vacationing on Martha’s Vineyard for 23 years. He comes for two weeks, and he fishes on the Skipper every day of those two weeks. “This is my happy place,” said Larry, who admitted he was too busy at home to fish. “I like to be on the boat, and I like helping out. It’s a friendly atmosphere. John’s become a good friend of mine. We keep in touch all year.”

“Every day I help a kid catch his first fish,” said Capt. John. “I’m grateful. It’s a good life.”

I’m one of Capt. John’s repeat customers. The Skipper is on my list of activities for visitors, and it’s a great way

to introduce children of all ages to the simple pleasure of fishing.

I hope to see you on the beach, or on the Skipper, with a group of us reeling in dinner.

I watched Larry put a few nice sea bass into his bucket and smiled. “I eat fish every night I’m here,” said Larry, adding, “and I take them home too.”

I walked back over to Capt. John and mentioned that a lot of the people on the Skipper had been there before.

“I’m in the business of repeat business,” said Capt. John.

As someone who loves going out on the Skipper, I understand why folks keep coming back. The tug on the line, the joy of reeling

Owen Hight-Schickel was all smiles as he reeled in his dinner.

Capt. John Potter and son Zak bring the fun every day aboard the party boat Skipper.

After nail-biter games, Sharks out of playoffs in bittersweet conclusion

The Martha’s Vineyard Sharks players had a busy week, with three decisive playoff games that resulted in a bittersweet losses last Saturday and this Tuesday. But with record-breaking crowds at home that exceeded 3,000 attendees for each game and nail-bitingly close scoreboards, the Sharks left it all on the field.

On Saturday, Sunday, and Tuesday, the Martha’s Vineyard Sharks played a bestof-three playoff round. All three games were against the Mystic Schooners, a collegiate team from Mystic, Conn.

The Sharks lost Saturday and Tuesday, and won on Sunday.

After a regular-season record of 30–12, the Sharks stood in first place in the New England Collegiate Baseball League (NECBL) South Division. The championship is decided by games organized in an eight-team bracket, consisting of three best-of-three rounds, with the last two standing teams playing for the Fay Vincent Sr. Cup.

The collegiate baseball playoff game Tuesday night at the Shark Tank at the Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School baseball field drew a packed home crowd that rallied behind the Sharks’ matchup against the Schooners. The crowd was hoping to see one more chapter added after the Island’s team began a postseason playoff run on Saturday.

Instead, after a back-andforth battle that came down to the final outs, the Sharks’ season ended one run short,

MARIA BARROS

with a 7-6 loss to the Schooners in the deciding game for their playoff run.

Tuesday’s game marked the Sharks’ 48th game of the summer, and brought their season to a close. The crowd was right there with the players as the Sharks came to bat at the bottom of the ninth inning, and chants of “Let’s go, Sharks!” echoed throughout the diamond.

Beneath a starry sky and cool breezes, 3,567 fans filled the stands of the Tank for the winner-take-all game, marking the largest crowd of the summer. Many fans attended the game for the high stakes of playoffs, like local 15-year-old Rory Carestia. Carestia said those “are way more exciting.”

And the crowd was watching every move by the Sharks’ players up until the end.

the mound, pitching fastballs through thick, humid air.

The night’s turning point was at the top of the fifth, when Justin Best hit a triple,

For what ended up being their final game on Tuesday, Sharks’ pitcher Ryan Gold opened on the mound, dealing strikes as the playoff atmosphere crackled like lightning through the Shark Tank. The first inning became electric when Mystic Schooners’ Anthony Ruggiero drove a sacrifice fly to left field, allowing his teammate Jack Harley to score while a third teammate, Anthony Belisario, advanced to third, giving the Schooners an early advantage.

MV Sharks’ Head Coach Payton (“Skip”) Fuller told The Times that the Sharks went into the game with a grounded mindset, knowing this one would be late and close. “We’ve played [the

Shooners] eight times at this point. So I told them, ‘It’s going to be a close game. Let’s just play hard and have fun, see what happens,’” he said. Minutes after Ruggiero's sacrifice play, the Schooners’ Jamie Zee was at bat, wearing his eye-catching golden helmet. Fans gasped as Zee swung his bat, driving the ball to right centerfield as he dashed across the bases just behind Belisario, who made it home for a run. Zee slid for home plate as the call “Safe” rang out, followed by jeers from the bleachers. Only 20 minutes into the game, the score was 3-0, with the first inning closing at 3-1 after Carter Bently scored the first run of the night for the Sharks.

The Sharks started to show their teeth in the bottom of the third, with the top of the inning marking two more runs by the Schooners. The Sharks’ third baseman, Nick Rubino, broke the silence with a clean hit, allowing shortstop Wesley Scott to score from second base. To top their last clean play, Sharks centerfielder Griffin Craine batted the ball to the centerfield, making it safely to first base, with shortstop Jackson Taylor advancing to second, in a sweep that sent Taylor and Rubino home for the Sharks, bringing the score to 5-4.

At the bottom of the fourth inning, Sharks shortstop Jackson Roper batted the ball into center field, which

ended up being caught by the Schooners on a sacrifice fly that got centerfielder Kevin Hall home from third base, catching the Sharks up at 5-5. The play brought the crowd to its feet in celebration.

However, the Schooners did not let the tied score remain too long. From a fly ball catch to a swift home run; another tied score at 6-6; the Mystic Schooners shortstop Chris Walsh ran toward home for the winning run of the night, bringing the score to 7-6.

With the victory, the Mystic Schooners move on to the NECBL final-four matchups, where they will face the Sanford Mainers. The date of the game has not yet made it to the calendar.

to watch the game tonight,” he said.

After intermission, the game rapidly picked up in the seventh inning with the Sharks’ Will Hampton swinging his bat and hitting the ball with a crack that had spectators out of their seats and biting their nails as he scored the second home run Saturday night for the Sharks. Hampton brought the score to 3-2, but the Sharks were still behind.

At 10 pm, the game was in the bottom of the eighth inning when the Sharks’ Jackson Taylor was hit by a pitch from Schooner Nick Santivanez. On a thrilling note, Bryce Detweiler of the Schooners tried to steal home from third base, only to be stopped by Taylor on a groundout play.

This year’s cohort of Sharks players kicked off their NECBL run on Saturday with a game that brought the crowd to its feet in the final innings. The game hosted animated fans whose eyes were trained on the scoreboard right up until the moment when the Sharks fell to the Mystic Schooners after a late and close 3-2 score.

More than 3,400 spectators watched players through patchy fog on Saturday for the team’s 46th game of the season. Before the record was broken Tuesday, this was the largest number of attendees all summer at the Tank, according to a press release from the team.

Toby Taftpearman, a 17-year-old from Westwood who attended the game, said he followed the Sharks all summer. “They have been playing really well this season, and their record is really impressive,” he said.

The Sharks’ Ryan Gold started the Saturday game on

The game ended with the Mystic Schooners celebrating around the mound, as the announcer’s voice echoed through the field: “End game with two runs, five hits, and zero errors.”

Despite two losses over three games, the playoff matchups were well-attended and extremely close. The last game of the season was bittersweet to many fans. Melissa Braillard, who has been housing Sharks players for the past five years, told The Times, “For a host parent, if they lose, they leave.” She added, “And they don’t want to leave, because they want to keep playing baseball, so I guess that adds to the intensity of the game.”

Despite the results of the game, Coach Fuller noted that he feels at peace with the season’s close, saying, “No regrets. We had our chances. We just didn’t play it enough.”

NICHOLAS VUKOTA

Ben Waterman (No. 13) pitches for the Martha's Vineyard Sharks.

THURSDAY, AUGUST 6, 2026

African American Film Festival Summer 2026.

SOUL PATROL

Peak summer on Martha's Vineyard is built by thousands of hands. This month, we celebrate both the marquee events and the people who make them possible.

Sometimes I feel like everyone treats summer like it owes you happiness. The air is warm and the Island is alive — what more could we possibly need? When The MV Times publisher and I conceptualized this brand, we wanted to cover Vineyard events and hospitality, while keeping the Times slogan, “Real News for Real Islanders,” at the heart of what we do. The goal is to spotlight the people behind the scenes — the cooks, bartenders, servers, event crews, florists, dishwashers, musicians, planners, farmers, drivers, housekeepers, and everyone else who keeps the Vineyard running. While my smiling hospitality side was compelled to talk about rainbows and ice cream cones in this August article, the real news from this Islander (and most like me in this industry, at this time of year) is: I am tired. I can’t tell you the last day I have taken completely off, and I see the beach most often on the wallpaper of my computer screen. I write about the infinite list of summer happenings here each month, but it is rare I actually have the time to attend any. All of that said, I know these long days will be gone in an instant, and I will deeply miss the rush of the summer season, and the beauty that us industry folk create day after day. But at the top of the list of reasons I’ll miss this time of year as soon as it has left is the fact that many of our seasonal workforce will be leaving too. The moments we come together to create are often so grand: a team of servers delivering a sparkling dessert course to a family celebrating a milestone, an event coordinator squeezing a bride's hand just before sending her down the aisle, a production crew finding the perfect balance of sound before the show begins. There is undeniable magic in those moments. But the quieter moments shared behind the scenes — the teamwork, the anticipation, the laughter, and the unspoken understanding between those who make it all happen — hold their own kind of magic, too. So this month I asked local workers to send in their behind-the-scenes photos

Here comes August

Behind the season.

BY JENNA SYLVIA

from the season: setting up before sunrise, the organized chaos of service, quiet moments with their team, or anything that shows the work that visitors rarely get to see. The response served as a reminder that the comradery here exists beyond your own colleagues, and spans the whole Island. We are all tired, but we are all in this together, and the happiness we create for our guests and for each other is what makes it all worth it. So before I move on to showcasing all August happenings on M.V., I want to encourage you to continue sending in the photos of the moments we will miss once the Island slows down and the summer comes to a

close. Because long after the tents come down, the dining rooms quiet, and the ferries carry everyone home, these are the moments that will remind us what summer on Martha's Vineyard truly felt like. These photographs aren't just snapshots of a busy season, they're a record of the people whose hard work quietly shapes some of the Island's most meaningful memories. Thank you for letting us tell your stories.

If July is the steady hum of summer on Martha’s Vineyard, August is the crescendo.

If July is the steady hum of summer on Martha’s Vineyard, August is the crescendo. Nearly every corner of the Island offers something to see, hear, taste, or celebrate. From nationally recognized film festivals and cultural gatherings to the

Agricultural Fair, Illumination Night, fireworks, live music, art shows, road races, and community fundraisers, the month ahead is truly the peak of the season. It is also a particularly meaningful time to celebrate the rich contributions of Black artists, filmmakers, entrepreneurs, and community leaders, as many of August's signature events do.

This printed issue of the Grapevine is coming out as HBCU Legacy Week concludes, but the online newsletter highlighted the many joyful, meaningful activities enjoyed by the alumni of historically Black colleges and universities.

The month has plenty of opportunities to gather around art, music, and community. The Martha’s Vineyard Comedy Festival runs from August 3 through 21, bringing a rotating lineup of Black comedians to the Strand Theatre

equal parts block party, art walk, and community reunion. That same day marks the beginning of one of the month’s biggest cultural events: the Martha’s Vineyard African American Film Festival.

Running August 7 through 15 at the Martha’s Vineyard Performing Arts Center and other locations, the nine-day festival showcases feature films, documentaries, shorts, conversations, and special events created by and centered on Black filmmakers and storytellers. Now in its 24th year, the Oscar-qualifying festival has grown into one of the most prominent events of the Vineyard summer, attracting filmmakers, actors, industry leaders, and audiences from across the country.

and other Island venues.

The festival has become part of the cultural fabric of August in Oak Bluffs, offering both established performers and rising voices a place to take the stage.

Dance takes center stage beginning August 6, with the return of the Built on Stilts Festival. Held at Union Chapel in Oak Bluffs over two weekends, August 6 through 9 and August 14 through 17, the festival brings together professional dancers, emerging artists, and community performers. Built on Stilts has always maintained a distinctly Vineyard spirit: ambitious art presented in an accessible, welcoming environment where audiences can take in the art of movement.

On Friday, August 7, First Friday returns to downtown Vineyard Haven. Businesses, artists, food vendors, and musicians spill into the streets and along the waterfront for an evening that feels

Saturday, August 8, offers two very different Vineyard traditions. Runners will take on the Chilmark Road Race, following the famously hilly route along Middle Road toward the Chilmark Community Center. Later, Martha’s Vineyard Community Services will hold its annual Possible Dreams Auction at Allen Farm. Founded in 1979, the fundraiser offers guests a chance to bid on exclusive experiences while supporting the Island’s essential behavioral health, disability, recovery, childcare, and family services. Art lovers can make their way to Featherstone Center for the Arts on Sunday, August 9, for Anonymous Art. The annual show features hundreds of small works displayed without artists’ names attached, inviting visitors to choose the piece they love before discovering who made it. Classical-music audiences can also find concerts throughout the month at Island churches and arts venues, while the Vineyard Artisans Festivals continue bringing local jewelry, pottery, photography, textiles, painting, and other handmade work to the Grange Hall in West Tisbury.

On Monday, August 10, the Tabernacle hosts a free Hitsville NEXT Revue celebrating the music and legacy of Motown. The community concert draws inspiration from artists including the Temptations, the Supremes, Martha Reeves, Stevie Wonder, and Marvin Gaye, with a performance designed to bring generations together through some of America’s most enduring music. Then comes a major change to one of the Island’s most deeply rooted

1. The Quitsa Kitchen team. 2. Busing tables at Sweet Life.

3. Stoney Hill Pizza giggling between courses.

4. Marta's Kitchen MV prepared for dinner service.

Maggie Haberman on ‘Regime Change’

The MV Author Series.

BY KATE FEIFFER

On Sunday night, in a packed auditorium at the Performing Arts Center, Mark Leibovich turned to Maggie Haberman and quipped, “Maggie, look out at this crowd. Trump couldn’t draw a crowd like this.” Leibovich and Haberman are both veteran journalists and best-selling authors who have writ-

ten extensively about Donald Trump’s presidencies. They were on the Vineyard to speak at the MV Author Series about Habermen’s new

book, co-authored with Jonathan Swan, “Regime Change: Inside the Imperial Presidency of Donald Trump.”

“Regime Change,” which

“This is a form of regime change in our country. The title is really about our own country and what we’re experiencing right now.”

–MAGGIE HABERMAN

Celebrating Our MVRHS Grads

Kara Shemeth

BY

MARGE HARRIS

Kara Shemeth, class of 1998, found high school a time when she “grew into herself.”  What a neat way of describing those growing years, when she played several sports,  joined the National Honor Society, participated in band, and took many art classes. Following graduation, she attended Frank-

lin Pierce College in New Hampshire. It was a good experience: She continued to play soccer, met people who would become lifelong friends, and majored in international business.

After college, she applied to Americorps, a domestic Peace Corps run by the U.S. government. She had heard about this program as a sophomore at MVRHS when a former volunteer,

was published on June 23, is the breakout best-selling book of the summer. It is such a phenomenon that a recent headline in the Atlantic proclaimed, “Even Trump Can’t Believe How Well This Book Has Sold.” Haberman, who is a Pulitzer Prize-winning White House correspondent for the New York Times, said she and Swan signed the deal with Simon & Schuster to write the book in 2023, and had to throw out the first few months of research they did after realizing, ”We were covering a fundamentally different type of presidency than we had ever seen in this country before.”

“Regime Change” is a deeply researched account of the first 14 months of the second Trump presidency. “This is a form of regime change in our country,” Haberman said. “The title is really about our own country and what we’re experiencing right now.”

Haberman noted the difficulty of getting sources to talk during this current administration, and recalled that during the first Trump presidency, reporters “walked around with a bucket and the leaks just fell in.” She said that President Trump granted them only one fact-checking interview for the book.

During a question-andanswer session, someone asked, “What’s the nature of your relationship to the president?” To which Haberman replied, “I don’t have a relationship with the president.”

POET’S CORNER

Menemsha

By Caoimhín Byrne

MVRHS graduate Damien

Harris, came into her Social Studies class to talk about Americorps and national service. Kara served for two years outside Boulder, Colo., primarily involved in wildland firefighting and conservation. She loved the work, and this began a deeper connection with the land and environment.

Upon returning to the Vineyard, she applied for a position in surveying at Schofield Barbini & Hoehn, and attained the necessary certifications allowing her to work there, which she did for the next 16 years. Then she was granted a Vision Fellowship (the M.V. Vision Fellowship is a nonprofit that “empowers promising Islanders who are committed to the environmental and social sustainability of Martha’s Vineyard”).

While working full-time, Kara completed a master’s in environmental management and policy online from

American Public University. During this time, she met her husband, Tom, who had served with the Peace Corps in Nicaragua. They were kindred spirits who continue to be committed to community work as they raise their two young children on the Island. Today, Kara is the conservation agent for the town of Edgartown. She sees this role as a means to serve and protect our Island community, but also to protect nature and the environment. I am so impressed at the number of our graduates dedicated to nature and environmental issues. Hopefully, we at MVRHS played some small part in their development. Thank you, Kara, for stepping up to this important role and in doing so, truly serving our Island.

Marge Harris was a teacher at MVRHS for 27 years. You can contact her at margeharris@comcast.net. This column appears twice a month.

dusk is not dusk out here but a braze, a fireline blazing bright as a coin seared and settled at its plain. by dockside a bright lie of lobsters, fleet captains who remain in lank fine fettle as a day’s haul planked on trawler bins comes in while the constables congregate and good chowder cooks at Larsen’s kettle their catches, spearpoints gleaming among the ray-fins. the wisest like to laze reclining duneside just to see it fade maroon then watch it go. that bayside calm, its serene salve unbuckling us like oysters valves shucked, exposing our blistered pearls steeped now in a citrus mist. thus we leave it so, radiant sailing as suns seen by all into the sea.

Caoimhín Byrne is an educator and poet/author award fellow at the Martha's Vineyard Institute of Creative Writing in Edgartown, where he spent many a gorgeous summer in his youth. Poets with a connection to Martha’s Vineyard are encouraged to submit poems of 120 words or fewer to m@mwest.com. Please also include a two- to threesentence bio at the end of your poem.

Itai Levi Almeida

Kathleen Almeida and Diogo Almeida of Edgartown announce the birth of a son, Itai Levi Almeida, on July 30, 2026, at Martha’s Viineyard Hospital. Itai weighed 7 pounds, 3.7 ounces.

Millie-Michelle Juliet Smith

Samantha Bettencourt and Austin Smith of Oak Bluffs announce the birth of a daughter, Millie-Michelle Juliet Smith, on July 27, 2026, at Martha’s Vineyard Hospital. Millie-Michelle weighed 6 pounds, 7 ounces.

COMMUNITY NOTE

Featherstone Drawing Group exhibit

Local artists from the Featherstone Drawing Group will exhibit their art in the Edgartown library’s Program Room for the month of August. The exhibit, titled "The Beat Goes On: Work from

Featherstone Life Drawing Sessions,” includes work by Chip Coblyn, Patricia Kelly, Elizabeth Langer, Richard Limbar, Sharon O'Sullivan, and Virginia Stone.

A reception to meet the artists on August 6; light refreshments will be served. edgartownlibrary.org.

Mark Leibovich speaks with Maggie Haberman about "Regime Change" at the Performing Arts Center.

JEANNA SHEPARD

TOWN COLUMNS

Tisbury

By Taylor Stone tisburycolumnist@gmail.com

Time ticks on: August has arrived.

In my head, August is always a big, bright, blazing fire: the busiest month on Martha’s Vineyard. I’m not even sure if that’s true anymore, but to me if Wednesday is hump day, then August is a whole month of that feeling. It’s amazing, and busy, and loud — full of fairs, fireworks, and family time. But once we get through it, we all relax just a tiny bit before returning to school, work,

or whatever we consider our more “normal” lives.

This week marks the next First Friday V.H. event on August 7: our biggest one of the year! Come to town, explore local businesses, and see what our brandnew “passport project” is all about. The Daytime Art Market will be joined from noon to 2 pm by Papa J & Mo’ Soul, an electric band and longtime regular at B.B. King's in NYC. Don’t miss our evening festivities at Owen Park, with more

Edgartown

By Marnely Murray marnely@gmail.com

Summer is in full swing, and everyone’s calendars are packed with either 14-hour workdays or vacation days. If you’re in the latter group, enjoy your time on the Island — it’s what we all love to share, welcoming travelers from all over the world. If you’re in the group that’s working 14-hour days, I applaud you, and hope you get some respite soon.

Join Morning Glory Farm every Tuesday in August (August 4, 11, 18, and 25) from 4 to 6 pm for live blues music on the farm front

lawn, featuring Jeremy Berlin and Delanie Pickering. This is their third year hosting this summer tradition, and they’re making it even better with food available for purchase on the lawn while you enjoy the music. Bring a lawn chair, bring your favorite beverage, browse

Oak Bluffs

By Joanne Lambert joannelamber@gmail.com

“We Americans live in a great house that democracy built.”

– Raphael Warnock

Sen. Raphael Warnock, who is also the senior pastor at Atlanta’s Ebenezer Baptist Church, will be the guest speaker at the Festival of Worship in Word and Song on August 9 at the Tabernacle. This collaboration between West Tisbury CC, Union Chapel, and the MVCMA will begin at 2 pm. The Tabernacle will also be hosting its annual benefit

food vendors, activities, and live performances than ever: especially our fire dancer, Miss Molly Dazzle, with a new routine starting at 7:30 pm. Find all the details, full lineup, and more at firstfridayvh.com.

Did you know M.V. Summer Institute has been running a Jewish Film Series all summer at the M.V. Hebrew Center? Next on the schedule is “Art Spiegelman: Disaster Is My Muse” (2024) on August 9, which examines Spiegelman's life, roots, and development of

his groundbreaking graphic novel “Maus.” Also coming up is the gem that is Built on Stilts: an annual dance festival taking place over two weekends at Union Chapel in Oak Bluffs. While outside Vineyard Haven, this free community event celebrates 30 years on August 6–9 and 14–17. Inside this newly renovated historic property, experience an incredible mishmash of dance, live music, storytelling, theater, comedy, circus acts, drag, martial arts, fit-

ness demos, and more.

The brand-new Vineyard Haven library is holding a very special Open Mic Night with actress Cleo King emceeing on Thursday, August 13. Come enjoy or participate yourself in a genre of your choice: music, dance, drama, spoken word, or more. Free to the public, starting at 6 pm.

Good luck, everyone hosting or participating in the many events happening this month! Drive carefully, wear a helmet, enjoy the summer breeze,

and talk to you next week. Small correction from last week’s column: The public bathrooms located near the Stop & Shop in town will be continuing their usual hours, closing at 3:30 pm daily.

Reminder: Do you have an upcoming birthday, event, or just something you want shared in a future Tisbury column? Email me at tisburycolumnist@gmail. com with your own stories of our town, or upcoming events you’d like to see spotlighted here.

This week marks the next First Friday V.H. event on August 7: our biggest one of the year! The Daytime Art Market will be joined at noon by Papa J & Mo’ Soul, an electric band and longtime regular at B.B. King's in NYC.

the farmstand, and spend the afternoon listening to great live blues in a beautiful setting. Gather your friends and spend your Tuesday afternoons enjoying great music, good food, and a relaxing summer atmosphere. See you on the lawn! Tour the FARM Institute’s one-acre sunflower field! Pick-your-own sunflowers are available now through mid-August. Each family admission includes up to five guests and a total of a dozen sunflower stems per group. Additional sunflowers are available for purchase

onsite, $2 per stem. Preregistration is encouraged, as buckets and clippers are limited. More details at explore. thetrustees.org. On August 15 at 9 am, Run for Jabberwocky 5K takes place at the FARM Institute. Your registration fee not only gets you a very cool Run for Jabberwocky T shirt, but all additional donations received will benefit Camp Jabberwocky, one of the longestrunning summer camps for kids and adults with disabilities! Your donations help them keep camp completely free for all campers and their

families. Kids fun-run option, too! Register today at runforjabberwocky.org.

If you haven’t subscribed to The Grapevine, you should. My most recent piece is titled, “A pastry chef’s guide to ice cream on Martha’s Vineyard,” and dives into the world of sweet frozen treats. Whether you’re a soft-serve loyalist or a gelato enthusiast, I share how to best savor frozen sweet treats on Martha’s Vineyard.

Congrats to Leah and Zoe, the co-organizers for the inaugural Swim Across America — they have raised more

Congrats to Leah and Zoe, the co-organizers for the inaugural Swim Across America — they have raised more than $350,000 for the Mass General Brigham Cancer Institute at Martha’s Vineyard Hospital.

concert on Saturday, August 15, this year featuring the Wallflowers, with special guest Wolftrap. This amazing concert will benefit the MVCMA’s work to offer cultural, religious, and community programming all season long, and also their ongoing commitment to preserving the grounds and structures of our beloved Campground. Don’t miss this chance to see Jakob Dylan and band as they celebrate the 30th anniversary of their groundbreaking album, “Bringing Down the Horse.” Tickets at mvcma.org.

Sabrina Bayne and Chris Hendry were on-Island last week, visiting cousin Richard Bayne at the family home on Myrtle Avenue. Sabrina got to do all her favorite Island things and spend time at the home she has been coming to every summer since she was a teenager, before heading back home to Toronto.

Reminder: Built on Stilts begins this weekend. There will be so much great talent presented for FREE at Union Chapel, August 6 – 9 and 14 – 17. Our homegrown Island Hip-Hop will perform on Friday and Sunday the first week. The

Polar Bear dancers return this year to honor their dance leader, Esther Richmond. Kathy Costanza, who has been teaching dance on the Island for more than 50 years, will present a performance by her students, past and present. Too many other names to mention: Every night will be special, so don’t miss it! The doors open at 7:30 pm with the drum circle, and performances bring at 8 pm.

Cousen Rose Gallery on Circuit Avenue is presenting an opening reception on Saturday, August 8, for the work of E.B. Lewis,

award-winning artist who has illustrated more than 70 children’s books. His newest collection is watercolors inspired by his time on the Island. Check out his stunning pieces and meet the artist!

“Anonymous Art” is a fun art show at Featherstone Gallery on Sunday, August 9, from 4-6 pm. The show will feature 6-inch by 6-inch works of art, for sale for $100, and with a chance to win the piece you love. All proceeds will benefit the good work of Featherstone.

Musical Mondays on August 10 will feature the

than $350,000 for the Mass General Brigham Cancer Institute at Martha’s Vineyard Hospital. They are still accepting donations, so if you can, donate via this link: bit. ly/SAAMV_Donate. Last but not least, if you’re looking for a caffeine fix in town, the Harbor View Hotel, at its Behind the View bar, has a new coffee program that’s worth checking out! They’re pulling delicious espresso shots for your favorite drinks like lattes, cappuccinos, cortados, and more, including a hand-whisked matcha for the matcha lovers. It’s a great option for coffee (and a quick bite) with a gorgeous lighthouse view! Happy August, friends, and don’t forget to send me your news, updates, and birthdays — I’d love to share them! Email me at marnely@gmail.com.

Mike Benjamin Band — note the music is starting at 6 pm.

Happy birthday to Ezra Agnew on August 6! Kaya Seiman celebrates on August 7; she shares the day with Tom Crohan and Tonya Katz. Bob Gatchell celebrates on August 8. Marcia MacGillivray will blow out 96 candles on the 9th! Kati Alley and Deb Hammett share their birthdays on the 11th. Birthday balloons and hugs to Cecilia Minnehan and Terry McCarthy on the 12th. Stay kind out there, and send me your news!

“Anonymous Art” is a fun art show at Featherstone Gallery on Sunday, August 9, from 4-6 pm. The show will feature 6-inch by 6-inch works of art, for sale for $100.

TOWN COLUMNS

Aquinnah

By Kathie Olsen aquinnahcolumn@gmail.com

Friday, August 7, is National Lighthouse Day, and we are celebrating the 170th anniversary of the Gay Head Lighthouse. Drop on by to pick up a T shirt with a rendering of the historic light prepared by Rodeo Langer-Purvis and Adelaide DeForest, and made possible thanks to Beverly Wright and Robert MacDiarmid. The lighthouse is open daily from 10 until 4 pm, with sunset viewing every Wednesday and

Thursday evening. Admission is $6 for those 13 and older, and complimentary for those 12 and younger, as well as veterans and active-duty military members, and Aquinnah residents. It is a magic place,

and worthy of a special visit. While there, show gratitude and respect for all those who have tended and loved the Gay Head Light for all these years. Some of the best days of summer are just ahead. The Ag Fair begins earlier than usual this year, this time on Thursday, August 13. This means that if you want to make an entry, the time is now. Entry documents for items to be seen in the Hall need to be submitted by Thursday, Au-

gust 6, at 7 pm. Entry documents for barn entries are due by Sunday, August 9, at 5 pm. Paperwork can be submitted online or left in the box on the porch of the Ag Hall. So get your most beautiful vegetables and fruits and cakes and pies selected, get your courage together to submit your artwork, and look at your farmyard and identify what and who you will enter, and get ready to wash and brush up those who need it so they look their best. Full

The Ag Fair begins earlier than usual this year, this time on Thursday, August 13. This means that if you want to make an entry, the time is now.

Chilmark

By Claire Ganz cganz@live.com

Come see exquisite and moving paintings and drawings celebrating Chilmark’s people, culture, landscapes, and history at the Chilmark library. “The Chilmark Community Art Show,” curated by Virginia Stone, is on display in the meeting room of the Chilmark library till August 23. All are invited to the artists’ reception Saturday, August 8, 2 to 4 pm. This is also the week before the before the Martha’s Vineyard Agricultural Society’s Fair opens August 13 through the 16th.

The fair runs on volunteers, and could use more help in security and waste management. Those who volunteer at the fair are terrific humans and friends. Perks of volunteering include entry, a volunteer T shirt, and good food and beverages. Books listing the schedule and entries are available on the front porch of the Ag Hall in West Tisbury, and registrations to enter are due by Thursday, August 6, at 7 pm. Be sure to check out the criteria for the special awards; they are worth competing for.

West Tisbury

By Hermine Hull hermine.hull@gmail.com

The sign is up at the corner of State Road and the Panhandle announcing this year’s Agricultural Fair, which will open a week from today. Susanne Cronin and Nancy Rogers have lined up staff, judges, and hall monitors. The Fire Department has been working Sundays and two nights a week putting up the hamburger booth. Everyone has plans and lots to do. The air thrums with excitement.

I met Charles Pinck at a party this spring. He was showing around a copy of his book, “Why Can’t You Be Funny?” It was due to be published at the end of July. It’s a collection of cartoons, with a running commen-

tary about summer life and residents, mostly featuring up-Island kerfuffles from the past decade. He promised to bring over a copy, which he did. I bought it, and I have since spent several pleasurable hours laughing out loud. It’s a thin book, it’s worth its price, described by Charlie as “96¢ per cartoon.” It’s currently available at Alley’s, Bunch of Grapes and online at

This weekend, nonperishable entries can be dropped off Saturday and Sunday between 1 and 6 pm. All of these deadlines can sneak up on you, and are firm. It is with profound sorrow I note the death of the beloved, kind, generous, musical, funny, and faithful John Freeman. On June 22, he was recognized as a lay speaker. His 177 “Daily Thoughts and Prayers,” regularly posted through Apri 4, 2025, on the United Methodist Church of Martha’s Vineyard’s Facebook page, are profound and

encouraging. They would make a wonderful book. His memory is a blessing, and the grief of loss is real. Holding his family and all who loved him in the light.

The United Methodist Church of Martha’s Vineyard is located in Trinity Park, next to the Tabernacle in Oak Bluffs. The bread and veggies at Beetlebung Farm on Middle Road continue to delight. Tuesday night at the church, it’s lobster rolls and Judy Mayhew’s cookies, and the Chilmark Flea Market is on Wednesdays and Satur-

details and entry forms can be found by going to the Ag Society website, marthasvineyardagriculturalsocety.org. The fair will run through Sunday, August 16. The Hall will be open in the afternoons, closing at 10 pm, and the carnival will open at 11 am every day. The entry fee is $15 for adults, $10 for kids, seniors, and veterans, with children ages 4 and under and Ag Society members admitted free.

The Outermost Inn is serving breakfast sandwiches and homemade doughnuts every Sunday in August from 9 until 11 am. It’s laid-back, familyfriendly, and delicious. Check it out. They are also doing movie nights August 10, 17, and 24. Tickets for

days, 9 am to 2 pm.

I’m so pleased to offer the Mighty Sisters Club, welcoming all to tea, conversation, and craft supplies, Wednesdays at Stillpoint, 11 am to noon. Sign up at stillpointmv.org.

While sharing one of the wonderful tree round tables and seats at Iggy’s, the couple that arrived first, in response to Mum’s “Is this seat taken?” remarked, “It’s interesting, only the women ask. Men just take the seat.” I wonder what it would take for everyone to pause and check in with one another

“The usual mammoth home runs by Junior Farrel — over the trees in left field — and Ed Egers patterned Kerouacs on the road over right field.” –SIG VAN RAAN

whycantyoubefunny.com.

M.V. Democrats will meet this Saturday at 9:30 am on Zoom. The agenda includes guests who will speak about ballot questions on the November ballot. A reminder that Indivisible M.V. hosts a weekly meeting to write Postcards to Voters on Wednesday afternoons, 4:30 to 6:30 pm, at Howes House. Come and help. If you are interested in meeting some of the Democrats running for office in November, several fundraisers will be held on the Island. Highlights are Roy Cooper and Josh Stein, former and current governors of North Caro -

lina; Cooper is running for U.S. Senate; Keisha Lance Bottoms, former mayor of Atlanta who is running for governor of Georgia, Maryland Rep. Jamie Raskin, and Sen. Elizabeth Warren. For information: demsmv@gmail.com. This afternoon, Thursday, August 6, is the eighth annual “Dionis Coffin Riggs Day of Poetry” at the West Tisbury library. It’s an event celebrating Mrs. Riggs’ birthday, her love of poetry, and the affection of the Cleaveland House Poets who met in her parlor for many years. All are welcome to attend the event, from 4 to 5 pm, when poems by Riggs and

I met Charles Pinck at a party this spring. He was showing around a copy of his book, “Why Can’t You Be Funny?” It’s a collection of cartoons, with a running commentary about summer life and residents.

the outdoor movies are available on Eventbrite, with the movies TBD. You can go to the Outermost Inn website and see a short video of what the movie nights are like. They’re pretty special.

There are two birthdays to celebrate this week: On August 7, we cheer for David Elliott Vanderhoop, and on August 8, we honor Evan Hall.

Let me know your news, as well as any special days that you would like to have mentioned here. I’d also like to hear your thoughts about this place we call home, as I am working on an essay about the whole concept of home, and the nature of belonging. Meanwhile, enjoy the magnificence.

when joining a table. Clear communication is kindness. Wishing Susanne Cronin a very happy birthday this week and next. She is the manager of the entries and the Exhibit Hall at the Ag Fair. Kate Taylor said with wishes for the coming year, “You’re going to love this one.” Let’s carry this forward. Sig van Raan writes, “It's definitely August Sunday morning softball, as 25 players showed up to play two very well-played games. The usual mammoth home runs by Junior Farrel — over the trees in left field — and Ed Egers patterned Kerouacs on the road over right field.

“A great mix of older players and younger players — some great fielding by some of the younger guys, clutch hitting by the older guys: Chilmark Softball at its best.”

her protégés will be read by attending poets.

Other library events this coming week include Prof. Carol Gilligan discussing her new novel, “Solstice,” with Daphne Merkin at 3:30 pm Friday. Saturday, 3 pm, Island authors Elle Lash, Alice Early, and Kim Leaird will talk about their contributions to the “Washashore Review,” Vol. 2.

Next Wednesday, August 12, 10:30 am, Children’s Storytime will be held at the Grange with Martha’s Vineyard Shellfish Group members, tanks with live shellfish to touch, and a reading of “Skippy Scallop.”

“The Beat Goes On: Work From Featherstone Life Drawing Sessions” is the current exhibition in the Program Room of the Edgartown library. There will be an artists’ reception this Thursday, August 6, 6 to 7:30 pm. The artists, who meet every Tuesday afternoon, are Chip Coblyn, Patricia Kelly, Elizabeth Langer, Richard

Limber, Sharon O’Sullivan, Virginia Stone, and John Wolff. Several were members of Tom Maley’s weekly drawing group in West Tisbury. The name was changed when it moved to Featherstone. An art show celebrating Chilmark, its people, landscapes, fishing, farming, history, and culture is on view at the Chilmark library, which is hosting a reception for the exhibiting artists on Saturday, August 8, from 2 to 4 pm. The participating artists are Ellie Bates; Clayton, Georgiana, and Valentina Barbetti; Anne Ganz; Alexander and Calum Hart; Patricia Kelly; Elizabeth Langer; Isla and Fiona McMahon; Bill O’Callahan; Suzie Pachico; Colin Ruel; Virginia Stone; Elizabeth Taft; Linda Thompson; Deborah K. Silliman Wass; Marcia Wise; and Alexander Wright. The past days’ soft rain has kept everything looking lush and green. I wonder if being inside a cloud would feel like that?

BOOKS

The title of Rabbi Caryn Broitman’s “The Torah Is an Open Book: Radical Readings for the Seeker and the Skeptic” signals its thought-provoking nature. Stimulating us to think is, in fact, aligned with her strong message about the participatory nature of the Torah; the word comes from the Hebrew root meaning “teaching” or “instruction.” Broitman writes, “In Torah, meaning is not there to read. It is rather created, and therefore revealed by a process of serious searching, engaging, and interpreting.” At its essence, engaging with the Torah, and the Hebrew Bible as a whole, is an active, inquiring conversation.

She explains, “The word Torah has a very broad meaning. It includes not only the words on the page, the written scripture, but also the interpretations both written and spoken over millennia … The word Torah can be broader still, used to refer to contemporary interpretations voiced by any of us who engage in a meaningful and heartfelt way in discussions or learning.”

Broitman encourages us to read the Torah within the context of the challenging times we live in. “As I began to write the book, the horrific attack of Oct. 7 unfolded, followed by a war of destruction on Gaza that continues to this day, almost three years later … I think we have to see ourselves in the text during the times we most need it, and I think today is such a time. For myself, I have felt comforted by reading Lamentations and Psalms, and hearing the cries of other times and places in the midst of historical cruelty, knowing we are not alone. Where do we turn for a vision that keeps us together when our world is falling apart? For me, in the midst of these tumultuous years, it has been the Torah and other books of the [Hebrew] Bible that have spoken to me as if they were written for these moments.” She continues, “Yet, still, looking to the Bible for a coherent message and a vision can be complicated. The Bible is indeed a collection of voices over centuries, with interpretations and commentaries written over millennia. Within the Bible, we can find some verses that express love, and others that express the desire for revenge.” Broitman has noticed, however, that some people cannot find themselves in the text, so they either reject it or feel rejected by it. “The last thing I want to do … is to be an apologist for these very real challenges of the ancient biblical text. I do, however, want to bring home that the Bible’s power as revelation, as a sacred text, lies less in its literal and unchanging truth on the page than in the multiple voices within the Bible itself, addressing the deepest questions we as humans can address.”

A collection of voices

“The Torah Is an Open Book,” by Caryn Broitman.

BY ABBY REMER

alive … The text is holy not because it tells you what to think and what to believe … [but] because it asks you to put yourself in it, and confront those difficult questions.”

ing the Bible with Authenticity and Integrity when You Don’t Believe in the ‘God in the Sky’”; “Sodom and Gomorrah Has Nothing to Do With Sex: Liberating the Bible from RightWing Culture Warriors”; and “What’s Mine Is Mine? Not in the Bible! The Religious and Progressive Values of Biblical Economics.” Each one is a deep, multifaceted dive into the topic.

Speaking about how she came up with them, Broitman says, “Some of these questions are ones I’ve been asked as a rabbi and challenged to think about. For instance, I’ve often received the question ‘Is it true?’ But something can be ‘true’ in a deeper sense without it being historical or literal."  She addresses the issue of treating parts of the Bible as history. “They aren’t,” Broitman says. “Rather than a literal reading, if you take the Torah as addressing questions about what it means to be a human being, and think of the God depicted in the Bible not as a frozen idea but as a literary character whose depiction evokes those questions, the text evokes a lifetime of thought and conversation about what God’s presence is and can be in our lives.”

“The Torah has a comprehensive view of what it means to be a holy society within which everything is connected to each other, and everything is connected to God. In that sense, the Torah is neither ‘progressive’ nor ‘conservative.’ It is, however, radical in its vision, and in its implied critique of our own society, and may well be a meeting ground that inspires dialogue and change.”

Broitman skillfully draws us into “The Torah” through her learned scholarship, laced with a passion for the Bible’s intricacies, a sharing of her personal journey, and quotes from a wide range of individuals, including William James, Bernie Sanders, Marcel Proust, Virginia Woolf, and Homer.

In her final chapter, Rabbi Broitman writes that the question isn’t what the vision of the Hebrew Bible is, “but rather ‘How does the Bible expand our vision? How does the Bible help us to transcend the limits of our human vision, so we can give birth, together with others, to a deeper and more expansive one? The question is a central part of an understanding of vision, because the Bible is more than a book that we read. It is a book we experience.”

Broitman notes, “We are living in such a fragmented time. The opportunity to read together and discuss a literature of meaning which has spoken to us through the generations can be healing. Our shared reading and openness are what make it a sacred text. It also makes our time together reading it sacred. When we listen to and learn from each other, even or especially with our disagreements, the text can bring us together and bring out the best in us.”

Broitman invites us to join in the interpretation: “Challenging the text is part of keeping it

Rabbi Broitman’s chapter titles pique our interest, compelling us to see how she will tackle them. Among others, we find “But Is It True? Surviving the Belly of the Whale and Reading for Meaning”; “But I Don’t Believe That: Read-

Rabbi Broitman will be appearing on August August 7 at Edgartown Books. “The Torah Is an Open Book: Radical Readings for the Seeker and the Skeptic,” by Caryn Broitman, available at Edgartown Books and Bunch of Grapes.

“Challenging the text is part of keeping it alive … The text is holy not because it tells you what to think and what to believe … [but] because it asks you to put yourself in it, and confront those difficult questions.” –RABBI CARYN BROITMAN

Rabbi Caryn Broitman.

RANDI BAIRD

Textiles and their meaning

“The Way We Wore: Clothing and Textiles During the Revolution,” with Norah Van Riper.

BY ABBY REMER

What we wear, the clothes on our backs, are always more than mere fashion statements. You can explore this fact by traveling back in time from English colonization to the American Revolution with freelance historical interpreter and educator Norah Van Riper on Monday, August 10, in the Legacy Gardens at the M.V. Museum’s Cooke House in Edgartown.

Van Riper, who will be dressed in period costume, will help visitors understand the creation of textiles at a granular level. She says, “The program will cover every step of processing wool, from when the sheep was wearing it until you are, then mending it and wearing it again. I will be doing the same for flax, showing how to turn the plant into linen. These are the two fibers that absolutely everybody wore — they were the ‘fiber of our lives,’ so to speak.”

Attendees will be able to experience all the equipment, including spinning wheels and a loom, hand cards and wool combs, a flax brake, a scutching stand and a scutching knife, and other items required to process wool and flax, as well as handle fiber samples at the various stages of processing.

Van Riper notes, “There will also be a lot of mythbusting, which is my signature way of dealing with history. One misconception is that everybody made their own clothing and textiles from scratch. Let’s pick apart the reality and figure

out whether it was actually feasible to do it all yourself.

Spoiler alert: The answer is no. When you place textile production in the larger context of people’s lives here on the Island and on the mainland, you must look at the whole household economy, and decide how much is practical to do yourself, based on who is in your home. Do you have lots of children, servants, and space for specialized equipment? Is it cost-effective to buy this specialized equipment?”

Van Riper continues, “Looking at probate records, you realize how little textile equipment there was in many households, which tells us that not as many people were involved in

home textile production as we might have thought.”

Then there was also the question of whether people had the time. “Beginning in 1642, with English colonization, almost everybody engaged in subsistence farming at least part of the time,” Van Riper explains. “We were never self-sufficient. And when you see all the steps laid out for linen or wool production, start multiplying how much time each step requires, and then think about all the other things you’ve got to do to support your household, it starts to click that this romantic notion that people made all their own clothes

is just that — a romantic notion, not a practical one.”

An incident here during the Revolution also had a direct impact on textile production

— one that affected the source at its starting point. Van Riper says, “Wool was the Island’s cash crop for about 200 years, ending pretty abruptly with

Grey’s Raid.” In September 1778, British forces under Major Gen. Charles Grey executed a massive, highly destructive foraging expedition on the Vineyard to seize provisions for troops in New York and Rhode Island. A fleet of nearly 40 ships and 4,000 troops intimidated the largely undefended Island into surrendering approximately 10,000 to 10,500 sheep (as well as more than 300 oxen and cattle, and weapons).

However, Van Riper points out that Vineyarders were importing yarn, fabric, and finished clothes from when Thomas Mayhew Sr. and company arrived here in 1642. “We don’t think about the idea that you could purchase ready-made cloth from someplace else and cut out all those preliminary steps. Now you’ve got fabric that you can sew into household textiles or simple garments. Most people didn’t have the skills to make tailored garments. You bought finished clothing, even secondhand, that was being brought over.”

Asked if Vineyarders boycotted English goods as a political statement during the Revolution, Van Riper replies, “In 1774, the folks in Edgartown decided they were boycotting pretty much all British imports, including several forms of textiles, in response to the closure of the port of Boston, which was what Parliament did in retaliation for the Tea Party, as we call it today. The words of that statement were fairly harsh. They were calling anybody who disagreed with this nonimportation agreement a traitor to the cause, which makes me chuckle, because historians have relegated the Island to being ‘neutral’ for pretty much the entirety of the conflict.”

“One misconception is that everybody made their own clothing and textiles from scratch. Let’s pick apart the reality and figure out whether it was actually feasible to do it all yourself. Spoiler alert: The answer is no.” — Norah Van Riper

Cribbage Club results

BY MARY ALICE RUSSELL

Twenty-one members of the Vineyard Cribbage Club met on to play our favorite game at the American Legion in Edgartown. The results are as follows:

First, Jack Silvia with a 10/6 +65 card

Second, Mary Waltermire with a 10/5 +49 card

Third, Bill Russell with

a 9/4 +65 card

Fourth, Frank Fenner with a 9/4 +49 card

Fifth, Nate Waltermire with an 8/4 +57 card

We had six 24-point hands this week! They were played by Merrily Fenner, Mary Waltermire, Jack Silvia, Nate Waltermire, Tim Stobie, and Alan Michaels.

Samantha Cron had the rare flush crib; and seven people were skunked (a loss of greater than 30).

If you are interested in cribbage, give us a try! We meet at 5:30 pm on Wednesdays — call 508-524-1220 or email me at maonmv@mac.com.

Van Riper says, “Ultimately, I hope that folks who come see ‘The Way We Wore’ really get that fashion has never been a simple story.”

has never

“The Way We Wore: Clothing and Textiles During the Revolution,” with Norah Van Riper. August 10 at 4 pm at the Cooke House and Legacy Gardens, 51 Cooke St. in Edgartown. For tickets and information, visit mvmuseum.org/ event/the-way-we-wore-2026.

COMMUNITY NOTE

Cleo King's Open Mic

On August 13, at 6 pm, the Vineyard Haven library presents an evening of music, dance, drama, and the spoken word, which will be emceed by acclaimed actress Cleo King. Participants are invited to perform in a genre of their choice. A sign-up sheet will be available at the event. Each performer will be given 5 minutes to display their talent.

Community members are invited to perform or simply sit back and enjoy the show.

Cleo King is an accomplished actor, singer, and dancer. She can be seen on such shows as “Grey's Anatomy,” “CSI,” “NCIS,” “Young Sheldon,” and “Deadwood,” among others. On the big screen, she has acted in “The Hangover,” “Pineapple Express,” “Dreamgirls,” and “Magnolia.” Her latest film is “The Dink,” where she plays a pickleball-obsessed attorney. Cleo’s Broadway and touring credits include “Chicken & Biscuits,” “Jelly's Last Jam,” “Ain't Misbehavin,” “Best Little Whorehouse in Texas,” and “Big River,” to name a few.

The Vineyard Haven library, 200 Main St. in Vineyard Haven. For more information, please contact the library at vhpl_programs@clamsnet.org or 508-696-4211.

DAN WATERS

Norah Van Riper in costume.

NORAH VAN RIPER

ally get that fashion

A display of textiles at Cooke House.

African American Film Festival Summer 2026.

BY ABBY REMER

It’s time to celebrate once again with the justly renowned Martha’s Vineyard African American Film Festival (MVAAFF), now in its 24th year of presenting important works of independent and established Black filmmakers. And quite a celebration it will be, with screenings daily from 11 am into the evening, from August 7 through 15 at the Martha’s Vineyard Performing Arts Center. The blockbuster lineup includes “Soul Patrol,” a documentary about the first Black special ops team in the Vietnam War. This will be immediately followed by a discussion moderated by Henry Louis (“Skip”) Gates Jr. and former Secretary of State John Kerry. The former secretary, a longtime seasonal Vineyard resident, is a decorated VIetnam veteran who led veteran protests against the war. “It’s a great piece of Black history that I didn’t know, so it’s a very important documentary on our contributions to that war,” Tavares-Rance notes.

The festival landed on the Vineyard by happenstance. Seasonal residents Floyd Rance, a cinematographer and director, and Stephanie Tavares-Rance, who has public relations and marketing expertise, initially planned to host a film festival in Barbados. However, following the Sept. 11 attacks, the husband-and-wife team pivoted to their personal “happy place,” Martha’s Vineyard — a location with deep historical significance for the Black community. The first MVAAFF had 10 films, and just two or three sponsors. It’s grown exponentially as the couple has nurtured it from its infancy to its current nine-day stellar event. “It’s exploding. We’re just so excited about what’s to come,” says Tavares-Rance about this August’s festivities.

Just a taste of the 57 films includes extended clips from the Paramount Pictures film “Children of Blood and Bone,” directed, co-written, and produced by Gina Prince-Bythewood on opening night, August 7. The feature, set in the fictional, mystical kingdom of Orisha, stars Thuso Mbedu as Zélie, a

young woman who embarks on a perilous quest to reclaim the magic violently stolen from her people. Following the special presentation, Prince-Bythewood and Mbedu will participate in a panel, one of many during the festival. The following afternoon is “Soul Patrol” and the Kerry/Gates conversation mentioned above.

There will also be a double feature of two Netflix special spotlight screenings that day. The first is the documentary short by Stephen Curry and Ben Proudfoot, “The Baddest Speechwriter of All,” which follows 95-year-old Clarence B. Jones, best known for writing Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s iconic “I Have a Dream” speech. Jones, Dr. King’s trusted lawyer and speechwriter, reflects on his role in the civil rights movement. The second is Quinn Whitney Wilson and Viridiana Lieberman’s feature documentary, “Jean-Michel Basquiat,” which examines how the artist, who died at 27 nearly four decades ago, is now one of history’s most celebrated creators. Basquiat’s sis-

ters lead an intimate and comprehensive portrait of their brother, augmented with personal archives, never-beforeseen works, and voices of those who knew him best. The screenings will conclude with a conversation featuring the film’s co-directors.

Also that night is the independent documentary “Romare Bearden: A Life in Collage” by Deborah Riley Draper. In his lifelong fight to forge a Black identity — on and off the canvas — Romare Bearden was an artist, athlete, and activist who challenged cultural gatekeepers. The film traces the unseen odyssey of one of America’s greatest artists, who traveled from Harlem to Paris and from Jim Crow to civil rights using art, community, and collective memory to challenge who holds the power in defining American history and the value of Black creativity.

On Sunday, August 9, the Roku Originals’ docuseries “Gamechangers: Mother/Athlete,” directed by Christine Turner, follows WNBA trailblazers Sheryl Swoopes, Skylar Diggins-Smith, Bria Hartley, Natalie Achonwa, and Allison Feaster as they share untold stories of motherhood while competing at the highest level of professional basketball. A discussion between Swoopes and Turner will follow this screening.

That day, there will also be Yemi Bamiro’s independent feature “Black Is Beautiful: The Kwame Brathwaite Story.” Through the lens of the 500,000 images by unsung Harlem photographer and activist Kwame Brathwaite, spanning a 60-year career, this documentary reveals the story of the man who popularized “Black Is Beautiful” and devoted his

“ I hope most importantly audiences walk something they didn’t African American want people to know history, and what

–STEPHANIE

THE BADDEST SPEECHWRITER OF ALL

THE BRITTNEY GRINER STORY

career to celebrating the joy and beauty of Black life.

The feature “Girl Dad,” by Solvan Naim, screens on August 13. Here, a guarded teenager (Marsai Martin) leaves Brooklyn for the first time to spend the summer with her estranged father (Courtney B. Vance), a struggling composer in Los Angeles. What begins as an awkward reunion deepens when a used refrigerator becomes the unexpected focal point of their conflict, forcing them to confront old wounds and rebuild what they’ve lost. A conversation with Vance will follow the screening.

Friday, August 14, features Alexandria Stapleton’s “The Brittney Griner Story,” a personal and profound odyssey following basketball star Brittney Griner from her playing career through her harrowing imprisonment in Russia and the extraordinary geopolitical battle to secure her freedom. There will be a discussion with Stapleton and executive producer Lindsay Kagawa Colas after the film.

Tavares-Rance, who is thrilled the festival will be helping the local economy in August, as usual, says, “I hope most importantly that audiences walk away with something they didn’t know about African American history. I also want people to know the Island, its history, and what it has to offer.” She concludes, “We hope to be doing this festival here for many more years.”

The 2026 Martha’s Vineyard African American Film Festival will run from August 7 through 15 at the Martha’s Vineyard Performing Arts Center. For the complete list of films, events, and tickets, see mvaaff.com/2026-festival-itinerary.

importantly that walk away with didn’t know about American history. I also know the Island, its what it has to offer.”

Event spotlight for the week of 8•7 — 8•13

FRI 8/7 SUN 8/9

Grace Kelly Benefit Concert

World-renowned saxophonist, vocalist, and composer Grace Kelly will celebrate more than 20 years of

music-making. Kelly will take audience members through her 15-album catalog, revisiting fan favorites while unveiling fresh interpretations, from the classic tracks that launched her career to the innovative sounds that continue to push creative boundaries. 7:30 to 9:30 pm. $30 to $100. Old Whaling Church, 89 Main St., Edgartown. bit. ly/EB_GraceKelly.

SAT 8/8

Seine Net Event

Attend this free event with Great Pond Foundation and Lagoon Pond Association scientists, and learn more about life in the Island’s coastal ponds. A rectangular net will be

dragged through the tides to collect species from the surface of the water to the bottom of the pond. 12 to 2 pm. Doug’s Cove, Lagoon Pond. greatpondfoundation.org/2026/05/06/2026gpf-events.

Alex Cohen Memorial Basketball Marathon

The Alex Cohen Memorial Basketball Marathon returns to the Chilmark Community Center basketball court. The marathon honors Alex Cohen,

a Chilmark summer kid who loved basketball and was deeply involved in the Community Center. Players of all ages and skill levels are welcome. Enter as a team of three for $75, or sign up solo for $30, and we'll find you a team. 10:30 am to 3:30 pm, free to attend. Chilmark Community Center, 530 South Road, Chilmark.hilmarkcommunitycenter.org/communityevents.

TUES 8/11 MON 8/10 WED 8/12

Motown Monday on Martha's Vineyard

Motown Museum brings the sound of Hitsville U.S.A. to the Island with “Motown Monday,” a concert featuring the

THURSDAY, AUGUST 6

Dance Fitness and Strength

Training with Kris Martin

7-8 am, Airport Fitness, West Tisbury. A creative blend of rhythmic resistance, cardio conditioning, manageable mobility and core strength exercises all set to crazy-FUN music. 508-696-8000, workout568@aol.com

Polar Bears MV Celebrate Their 80th Season on 4th July

7:30-8:30 am, Inkwell Beach Oak Bluffs. The Polar Bears of MV, a historic African American swim/ water aerobics club, open their 80th Birthday Season on 4th July at 7:30 AM at Inkwell Beach. 617-710-9312, jazzze3@aol.com.

Virtual Kripalu Flow Yoga

7:30-8:30 am, West Tisbury Library. On Zoom with Yogijay. Sign up for free by emailing wt_mail@clamsnet.org. 508-693-3366.

Early Birders Walk

8-10 am, Felix Neck Wildlife Sanctuary, Edgartown. The early bird gets the worm, and early birders, the binoculars. Walk with our birders to listen to and observe the sanctuary’s avian residents. 508-6274850, felixneck@massaudubon.org.

Hitsville NEXT Revue. The emerging artists from Hitsville NEXT will feature timeless hits from Stevie Wonder, the Temptations, the Supremes, Marvin Gaye, Martha Reeves & the Vandellas, and more. The concert is free for all ages. Seating opens at 5:30 pm. The performance will take place from 6 to 7 pm. MVCMA Tabernacle, 80 Trinity Park, Oak Bluffs.

Berry Tart or Pie

Chef Melissa McCullough will share expert tips and techniques for creating beautiful pies and tarts from start to finish. Participants will learn how to make homemade crusts, choose the best fruits for baking, assemble a double-crust pie, and create an impressive lattice top. Each participant will make their own pie or tart to take home and enjoy. Preregistration is required. Please contact the FARM with any allergy or food accommoda-

tion requests at thefarminstitute@thetrustees.org, or if you’d like to join as a member and receive discounted programming. Members, $48; nonmembers: $60. If you are unable to pay, please reach out to lbrown@ thetrustees.org. 5:30 to 7 pm. The FARM Institute, 14 Aero Ave., Edgartown.

Events

Morning Pages Mornings

8-9 am, West Tisbury Library. Meets on the library porch. Writing prompts and inspiration with Kate Feiffer. No sign up required. 508-693-3366, wt_mail@clamsnet.org. Kaiut Yoga

8:30-9:30 am, Peaked Hill Studio, Chilmark. Kaiut Yoga works through chronic pain and injuries, general aches and stiffness, and is good for the inflexible, hyper flexible and the aging body. 774-563-8282, valerie@peakedhillstudio.com. Balletics 9-10 am, Up Island Council on Aging, West Tisbury. Total body conditioning, learning body’s strengths & weaknesses, how to prevent injury. coa-staff@westtisbury-ma.gov, 508-693-2896. ACE MV presents a Latin Dance Class with Lorena Crespo 9-10 am, Stillpoint, West Tisbury. This Latin dance class is a fun and inclusive space where everyone is welcome to learn rhythms like salsa, bachata, merengue, pop, and more info@stillpointmv.org. Kayak & Stand Up Paddle Board Quest

9 am-3:30 pm, Felix Neck Wildlife Sanctuary, Edgartown. Enjoy Sengekontacket on this self-guided kayak tour. Clues lead you

through the pond. Call to reserve for up to 3 hours; returning the boats by 3:30. 508627-4850, felixneck@massaudubon.org. Active Arts Preschool Camp 9 am-1 pm, Island Children’s School, West Tisbury. We know that chidlren learn best while having fun... and what better way to do that than outside with your friends! 586-943-5559, activeartsmvy@gmail.com.

Tennis Morning Clinic Level 3.5+ 9-10:30 am, Airport Fitness, West Tisbury. 1.5 hours of group instruction with a focus on strokes, volleying, strategy and drills. Advance registration required, please call to reserve spot 508-696-8000, workout568@aol.com. Free Fairy Sculpture Trail at Island Folk Pottery

9 am-6 pm, Island Folk Pottery, Chilmark. The enchanting Island Folk Pottery Fairy Sculpture Trail meanders 1/4 mile through a magical wooded landscape populated with whimsical sculptures. 508-955-9944, islandfolkpottery@gmail.com.

Art Exhibition: Jemison, Hoeft, Cohan, Glick, Joseph, Fane

9 am-6 pm, Old Sculpin Gallery, Edgartown. Art Exhibition: Jemison, Hoeft, Cohan, Glick, Joseph, Fane 508-939-4092, art@oldsculpingallery.org.

Docent-Led Arboretum Tours

9:30-10:30 am, The Polly Hill Arboretum, West Tisbury. Learn about the incredible history, people, and plants that make the Polly Hill Arboretum a local and global landmark. Free with admission! 508-6939426, info@pollyhillarboretum.org. Goat Yoga MV 10-11 am, Native Earth Teaching Farm, Chilmark. Slow Flow Yoga with baby pygmy goats. goatyogamv@gmail.com. Carnegie Heritage Center 10 am-3 pm, the carnegie heritage center, Edgartown. Carnegie Heritage Center reopens Easter weekend, Friday and Saturday, 10 AM – 4 PM. Admission: $5 (ages 12+). vineyardtrust.org/events/ 774-549-9107, thecarnegie@mvpreservation.org. Origins -Drum Circle with Roots 10-11 am, Milokan Cultural Center and Drum Museum, Chilmark. More than just a jam.... 774-563-0870, rick@drumrol.org. JourneyDance with Deneen McQueen 10-11 am, Stillpoint, West Tisbury. Join us to move, breathe, stretch, and dance to get out of your head and into your body info@stillpointmv.org.

Chillin' In Chilmark: Teresa Thomason and Jeremy Berlin

The Chilmark Community Center and the Chilmark library are teaming up this summer to bring music and fun to the center of town all season long. Be sure to catch Theresa Thomason, and Jeremy Berlin and Friends. 5 to 6 pm, CCC, 520 State Road, Chilmark. chilmarkma. gov/node/29186/events/ month/2026-07.

Exhibit: Margot Datz: Recreator 10 am-3 pm, THE CARNEGIE HERITAGE CENTER, Edgartown. This exhibition highlights the creative process of muralist Margot Datz, whose work transformed the Old Whaling Church and Flying Horses Carousel. 774-5499107, THECARNEGIE@mvpreservation.org.

29th Annual Vineyard Artisans Summer Festival

10 am-2 pm, The Grange Hall, West Tisbury. Meet island artisans and browse a multitude of mediums, all handmade on Marthas Vineyard. For more information visit our website- vineyardartisans. com artisan02557@yahoo.com.

Art En Blanc in Oak Bluffs, MA by E&S Gallery & Black Crown Art Auctions

10 am-8 pm, The Cottagers, Inc., Oak Bluffs. Collect the Culture. Own the Legacy. trinity@eandsgallery.com.

Artists’s Premiere: Jennifer Christy & Jhenn Watts

10 am-5 pm, Field Gallery, West Tisbury. Artists’s Premiere: Jennifer Christy & Jhenn Watts 508-693-5595, info@fieldgallery.com.

Wiggle with the Words Storytime 10:30-11 am, Edgartown Library. Fun props and interactive stories. Geared for ages 1-5, but all are welcome. No sign-up. programs@ edgartownlibrary.org, 508-627-4221. Secret Gardens Watercolor Show 11 am-5 pm, The Moore Family Gallery, Oak Bluffs. Hannah Moore’s Secret Gardens, an exhibit of recent work in watercolor and ink 508-801-1052, hannahmooreportfolio@gmail.com. Felted Succulents with Laura Hearn 11 am-1 pm, Chilmark Library. Make a felted succulent with Laura Hearn. All materials provided. Registration required. 508-645-3360, chil.programs@gmail.com. Connected: Selected Works by Brooke Adams 11 am-4 pm, Martha’s Vineyard Playhouse, Vineyard Haven. Connected: Selected Works by Brooke Adams 508-696-6300, boxoffice@circuitarts.org. Paul Beebe & Gwen Marcus Show 11 am-5 pm, Louisa Gould Gallery, Vineyard Haven. Paul Beebe, Fellow ASMA, and

‘The Invite’ at the M.V. Film Center

BY ABBY REMER

As the M.V. Film Center’s website says about its powerful offerings for this year’s Doc Week film festival, “Documentary films have become the conscience of the nation, providing a deeper study of contemporary, and often unnoticed, social issues.”

Running from July 27 to August 1, the series features a Q and A after each film, giving audiences additional insight into the documentary. M.V. Film Society founder and executive director Richard Paradise explains, “The opportunity to have the filmmakers join us is very important.”

On opening night, director Ivy Meeropol will appear after her inspiring documentary, “Ask E. Jean,” on Monday, July 27, at 7:30 pm. Of late, E. Jean Carroll is best known for winning not one but two court cases against Donald Trump for sexual assault in 1996 and for subsequent defamation, in which he called her a liar and insisted, “She’s not my type.” Meeropol interweaves multiple layers throughout her film. We meet Carroll today, still as feisty and irreverent as she was at the height of her fame 25 years ago, when she was a trailblazing contributing editor at “Esquire,” an advice columnist at “Elle,” and host of her own wildly popular “Ask E. Jean” television show, where she championed women. Asked why she didn’t speak up at the time, Carroll candidly tells us that she was part of the generation that swept things under the rug and gritted their teeth, but after the Me Too movement, she knew she had

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view his new selection of Vineyard realist oil paintings along with award winning bronze sculptures by Gwen Marcus 508-693-7373, louisa.gould@gmail.com

Fault Lines

11 am-5 pm, Knowhere Art Gallery, Oak Bluffs. Group Exhibition: Fault Lines 917-960-9344, info@knowhereart.com.

Family Yoga Play

11-11:30 am, West Tisbury Library. Playful, fun yoga for littles & their caregivers. Rec. for ages 0-5! Free and no registration needed. Thursdays 11:00-11:30 WT Library 508-693-3366, hburbidge@clamsnet.org.

Loïs Mailou Jones: Sphere of Influence

11 am-5 pm, Center of Knowhere, Oak Bluffs. Group Exhibition - Lois Mailou Jones: Sphere of Influence 917-9609344, info@knowhereart.com.

Pokemon Club

11 am-12 pm, Oak Bluffs Library. Bring your Pokémon cards to show to others! This is a club to talk about Pokémon, look at cards, and draw! No trading allowed. Ages 5-11. 508-693-9433, mlynch@clamsnet.org.

Tech help

11 am-1 pm, Up Island Council on Aging, West Tisbury. Free tach help 508-6932896, coa-staff@westtisbury-ma.gov.

to take a stance. While deeply personal, “Ask E. Jean” examines the societal hurdles women face when confronting predatory men and their lies, highlighting the power of truth to combat gaslighting.

Tuesday, July 28, at 7:30 pm, the immensely powerful documentary “When a Witness Recants” is followed by a Q and A with film director Dawn Porter. It exposes the life-altering havoc caused by one teenager’s lie under police pressure. In 1983, author Ta-Nehisi Coates learned that a 14-year-old boy had been murdered at his Baltimore middle school. Revisiting the case, Coates uncovers the truth: Three innocent teenagers were wrongfully convicted and spent 36 years in prison — leaving a lasting impact on the accused, the witnesses, and their community.

Wednesday evening, July 29, at 7:30 pm brings us “Behind the Lines,” followed by a Q and A with film director and writer John B. Benitz and book author Andrew Carroll. The documentary follows renowned historian Andrew Carroll on his decadeslong global mission to track down roughly 200,000 pieces of correspondence written by active military personnel, veterans, and civilians caught in the crossfire, from the American Revolution to the present day. Instead of standard voiceovers, the film brings these historical records to life using live performances and dramatic readings by actors such as Laura Dern, Annette Bening, Michael C. Hall, and Gary Cole. Featuring interviews with Paul McCartney, Carole King, and other musicians, “Peter Asher: Everywhere Man” screens Thursday, July 30, at 7:30 pm, followed

Summer Show 11 am-5 pm, Louisa Gould Gallery, Vineyard Haven. New works by: Carol Caradimos, Wooley Dutton, Nadia Mahfuz, Joseph McCarthy, Donna Nyzio and Nick Paciorek. 508-693-7373, louisa.gould@gmail.com. Workshop: Writing to Uncover and Discover, with Jeff Kass 1-2:30 pm, Stillpoint, West Tisbury. Join acclaimed author and educator Jeff Kass for a two-day writing workshop info@stillpointmv.org. Farmer for a Day – Child Drop-Off Program 1-3 pm, The FARM Institute, Edgartown. Spend the afternoon on the farm with this hands-on program. 508-627-7007, thefarminstitute@thetrustees.org. Children’s Afternoon Art: Printmaking (ages 9+) 1-3 pm, Featherstone Center for the Arts, Oak Bluffs. These classes will introduce young artists to some printmaking techniques, while encouraging them to find their artistic voice. 508693-1850, featherstone@featherstoneart.org. Science & Nature Book Club Reads The Sixth Extinction by Elizabeth Kolbert 2 pm, Vineyard Haven Public Library. Contact VHPL to be added to list. Everyone is welcome! 508-696-4211, vhpl_programs@clamsnet.org.

by a Q and A with the filmmakers, Dan Geller and Dayna Goldfine. Asher’s extraordinary life has intersected with some of the greatest artists and musical moments of the past six decades. A child actor who became a British Invasion pop star (Peter & Gordon), head of Apple Records, and a defining architect of the American singer-songwriter era as a producer for the likes of James Taylor and Linda Ronstadt, he is a Zelig-like figure who remains a vital creative force to this day.

Amy Goodman is an awardwinning investigative journalist, author, and host and executive producer of ”Democracy Now!” which airs on more than 1,500 public television and radio stations worldwide. She is the subject of “Steal This Story, Please!” screening on Friday, July 31, at 7:30 pm, followed by a Q and A with Goodman and film directors Carl Deal and Tia Lessin. The documentary features 30 years of archival footage showing Goodman facing down armed soldiers, politicians, and riot police in global conflict zones ranging from East Timor and Nigeria to indigenous protests at the Dakota Access Pipeline. Set against the backdrop of shrinking newsrooms and deliberately eroded public trust, “Steal This Story, Please!” frames independent journalism as an essential pillar of a functioning democracy.

“Seized,” screening on Saturday, August 1, at 7:30 pm, will be followed by a discussion with director Sharon Liese and Charles Sennott, MV Times publisher. The gripping documentary investigates the controversial August 2023 police raid on the Marion County Record, a small-town

Events

Adult Cow Connection at The Farm Institute

2:15-3 pm, The FARM Institute, Edgartown. Come meet, cuddle, brush, and walk with our cows at The Farm Institute! 508-6277007, thefarminstitute@thetrustees.org. HBCU Arts Musical Showcases

3-4:30 pm, West Tisbury Inn (under the tent), West Tisbury. 413-218-1353, projects.yvomendez@gmail.com. Meet the Fleet

3-7 pm, Menemsha Docks, Chilmark. Join us on the Menemsha docks to celebrate our local fishing fleets and working waterfronts. Music, fishing competitions, demos, fish prints, + more! info@mvfpt.org. Opera Appreciation Lecture Series with Susan Grunthal

3-4:30 pm, Edgartown Library. Susan Grunthal will delve into the fascinating history and music of four operas 508-627-4221, programs@edgartownlibrary.org. Community Knitting Circle

3-4:45 pm, Chilmark Library. Join us for a relaxed afternoon of knitting. Our knitters love to share their knowledge and beginners are welcome! 508-6453360, chil.programs@gmail.com.

“The Invite” begins at the M.V. Film Center on August 6. For more information and tickets, visit mvfilmsociety.com.

newspaper in Marion, Kan. Through surveillance tapes and police body cameras, we are immediately dropped into the raid on the paper’s office and on the home of editor and co-owner Eric Meyer. The stress of the latter raid contributed to the death of Meyer’s 98-year-old mother, who was home at the time and was a former longtime editor and co-owner of the paper. The documentary explores how a local dispute, in part over the driving records of a woman with whom the police chief was romantically involved, exploded into a national constitutional crisis over press freedom and police overreach. Sundance Institute says, “‘Seized’ asks difficult questions about power, ac-

countability, and where journalism fits inside a community that doesn’t always want to be scrutinized. Who’s right? The paper or the town? Liese is smart enough to leave that question unresolved. The beauty of the film is that it trusts the audience to sit with the discomfort — and decide for themselves.”

Paradise says about his hopes for the festival, “Like with all the films we show at the center, I hope that the audience will be educated or enlightened on a subject or individual, and that they will be entertained. Some of the most powerful documentaries are the ones you’ll be thinking about many days after seeing them.”

Scavenger Hunt Photo Race

3-4:30 pm, Oak Bluffs Library. Ages 11-18. In teams of 3-5 people, race to photograph the listed items. The team with the most points wins! Prizes for all. 508-693-9433, mlynch@clamsnet.org. Stillpoint Book Talk with Kathleen DeLaski 4-6 pm, Stillpoint West Tisbury. Join best-selling author and workforce expert Kathleen deLaski for a conversation about her book,Who Needs College Anymore? 508-693-9222, info@acemv.org

8th Annual Dionis Coffin Riggs Day of Poetry

4-5 pm, West Tisbury Library Read your favorite local poem at this annual commemoration of the work of Ms. Riggs. This program is free and all are welcome. 508-693-3366, wtprograms@clamsnet.org. Table Tennis

5 pm, Tisbury Senior Center, Vineyard Haven. Table tennis for all ages and skill levels. 508-728-5898, raeobmv@gmail.com. Sunset in the Sunflowers: A Dinner with Charlie Granquist of Slough Farm 5:30-7:30 pm, The Farm Institute, Edgartown. A farm-to-table dining experience in the heart of the TFI’s one-acre sunflower field. 508-627-7007, thefarminstitute@thetrustees.org.

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Author Talk - Triage: A Novel by Elisa Speranza

6 pm, Vineyard Haven Public Library. Join local author Elisa Speranza for a conversation about her latest historical novel, Triage. In conversation with Robin Stratton Rivera. 508-696-4211, vhpl_programs@clamsnet.org.

Maker Café: Live Music in the Garden

6-8 pm, Maker Cafe, Vineyard Haven. Live Music in the Garden at Maker Café 508-687-9794, eat@makercafemv.com.

Featherstone Drawing Group Art Reception at Edgartown Library

6-7:30 pm, Edgartown Library. Featherstone Drawing Group will exhibit their art in the library 508-627-4221, programs@edgartownlibrary.org.

When Mothers Farm: A Zambian Story

6-7:30 pm, Oak Bluffs Library. When Mothers Farm: A Zambian Story 508693-9433, cphelan@clamsnet.org. Music in the Square - Mike Benjamin & The Keepers

6-8 pm, Eisenhauer Gallery, Edgartown. Eisenhauer Gallery presents “Music in the Square” with Mike Benjamin and The Keepers 508-627-7003, eisenhauergallery@gmail.com.

As You Like It 6 pm, Tisbury Amphitheater, Vineyard Haven. As You Like It 508-696-6300, boxoffice@circuitarts.org. Meditation

6-7 pm, Bodhi Path Buddhist Center, West Tisbury. Group meditation available both in person at Bodhi Path in West Tisbury, and online via Zoom. marthasvineyard@bodhipath.org.

Knowhere After Dark

6:30-8:30 pm, Knowhere Art Gallery, Oak Bluffs. An evening in the galleries with art, music, and easy conversation. 917-960-9344, info@knowhereart.com

Knowhere After Dark

6:30-8:30 pm, Center of Knowhere, Oak Bluffs. An evening in the galleries with art, music, and easy conversation. 917-960-9344, info@knowhereart.com. Summer Institute: Van Jones — Rebuilding the Black-Jewish Alliance

7:30-9 pm, Martha’s Vineyard Hebrew Center, Vineyard Haven. Van Jones takes on the topic of growing anti-semitism and the intersection of Jewish and Black bias in America. 508-693-0745, mvsummerinstitute.org.

THE INVITE

Events

.7:30 pm, Martha’s Vineyard Film Center, Vineyard Haven. THE INVITE 774-392-2972, rich@mvfilmsociety.com. Built on Stilts

7:45-9 pm, Union Chapel, Oak Bluffs. Built on Stilts, the island’s community dance and performance festival, celebrates 30 years of inspiring and egalitarian programming! 508-717-2887, builtonstilts97@gmail.com. Radio show - Hokum Blues w C.W.Stoneking and others WVVY - MV Community Radio, Vineyard Haven. Radio show “It’s a Big World, Open Yer Ears”. This week: Hokum Blues of C.W.Stoneking, plus others. 96.7 lpfm or www.wvvy.org 617-676-8160, egik_egak_egoogimak@yahoo.com.

FRIDAY, AUGUST 7

Barre Fusion with Kris Martin 7-8 am, Airport Fitness, West Tisbury. Ballet styled flows, barre work, balance and weights incorporating disks, loop bands and Bender balls. Come with sneakers, barre sox, or bare feet. 508-696-8000, workout568@aol.com.

Polar Bears MV Celebrate Their 80th Season on 4th July

7:30-8:30 am, Inkwell Beach Oak Bluffs. The Polar Bears of MV, a historic African American swim/ water aerobics club, open their 80th Birthday Season on 4th July at 7:30 AM at Inkwell Beach. 617-710-9312, jazzze3@aol.com. Pumped Up Intervals with Maria McFarland

8:30-9:30 am, Airport Fitness, West Tisbury. A class alternating cardio intervals and weight work intervals using heavier weights, body bars, loops bands, and weighted balls. 508-696-8000, workout568@aol.com.

Kayak & Stand Up Paddle Board Quest 9 am-3:30 pm, Felix Neck Wildlife Sanctuary, Edgartown. Enjoy Sengekontacket on this self-guided kayak tour. Clues lead you through the pond. Call to reserve for up to 3 hours; returning the boats by 3:30. 508-627-4850, felixneck@massaudubon.org. Art Exhibition: Jemison, Hoeft, Cohan, Glick, Joseph, Fane 9 am-6 pm, Old Sculpin Gallery, Edgartown. Art Exhibition: Jemison, Hoeft, Cohan, Glick, Joseph, Fane 508-9394092, art@oldsculpingallery.org.

Free Fairy Sculpture Trail at Island Folk Pottery

9 am-6 pm, Island Folk Pottery, Chilmark. The enchanting Island Folk Pottery Fairy Sculpture Trail meanders 1/4 mile through a magical wooded landscape populated with whimsical sculptures. 508-955-9944, islandfolkpottery@gmail.com.

EFF’n Move Series with Tuni 9-10 am, Stillpoint, West Tisbury. EFF’n Move is a mindful, low-impact training approach focused on why you move, not just what you do. info@stillpointmv.org.

Family Fishing

9:30-11:30 am, Oak Bluffs Library. For kids, teens and their adults. Join Librarian Jonathan on the OB fishing pier. Equipment and supplies provided. 508-693-9433, mlynch@clamsnet.org.

Art En Blanc in Oak Bluffs, MA by E&S Gallery & Black Crown Art Auctions

10 am-8 pm, The Cottagers, Inc., Oak Bluffs. Collect the Culture. Own the Legacy. trinity@eandsgallery.com.

Artists’s Premiere: Jennifer Christy & Jhenn Watts

10 am-5 pm, Field Gallery, West Tisbury. Artists’s Premiere: Jennifer Christy & Jhenn Watts 508-693-5595, info@fieldgallery.com.

24th annual Martha’s Vineyard African American Film Festival

10 am-11 pm, Martha’s Vineyard Performing Arts Center, Oak Bluffs. 508-693-1033, eventbrite.com. Polly Hill Arboretum Staff-Led Botanical Spotlight Tour 10-11 am, The Polly Hill Arboretum, West Tisbury. Learn more about the Arboretum and its plant collections on guided walks led by PHA collections staff. Free with admission. 508-693-9426, info@pollyhillarboretum.org. Seashore Discovery 10-11:30 am, Felix Neck Wildlife Sanctuary, Edgartown. Head to the edge of Sengekontacket Pond to net, catch, and release marine life and discover the coastal creatures that live in local waters. 508-627-4850, felixneck@massaudubon.org. Carnegie Heritage Center 10 am-4 pm, the carnegie heritage center, Edgartown. Admission: $5 (ages 12+). vineyardtrust.org/events/ 774-549-9107, thecarnegie@mvpreservation.org..

National Lighthouse Day 10 am-4 pm, Gay Head Lighthouse, Aquinnah. August 7 - Natl. Lighthouse Day & 170-year anniverary of the Gay Head Lighthouse 508-693-1039. First Friday Vineyard Haven 10 am-10 pm, Vineyard Haven Harbor Cultural District. First Friday returns to the Vineyard Haven Harbor Cultural District for an incredible day celebrating local art, food, and community! Hello@vhhcd.org. Pick Your Own Sunflowers

10 am-3:30 pm, The FARM Institute, Edgartown. Come tour our one-acre sunflower field and pick your own blooms! 508-627-7007, thefarminstitute@thetrustees.org.

Exhibit: Margot Datz: Recreator 10 am-3 pm, THE CARNEGIE HERITAGE CENTER, Edgartown. This exhibition highlights the creative process of muralist Margot Datz, whose work transformed the Old Whaling Church and Flying Horses Carousel. 774-549-9107, THECARNEGIE@mvpreservation.org.

Kid’s Music Class 10:30-11 am, West Tisbury Library. Sing fun songs and play instruments with friends! Ages 0-5 508-693-3366, hburbidge@clamsnet.org. Adopt a Stuffed Dino 10:30 am-4 pm, Edgartown Library. Visit the library every Friday and pick up a stuffed dinosaur 508-627-4221, programs@edgartownlibrary.org. Fault Lines

11 am-5 pm, Knowhere Art Gallery, Oak Bluffs. Group Exhibition: Fault Lines 917-960-9344, info@knowhereart.com. Toddler Time 11-11:30 am, Chilmark Library. We’ll read classic and current children’s literature, and sing, move, and play together. Ideal for preschool ages. chilmarklibrarykids@gmail.com 508645-3360, chilmarklibrarykids@gmail.com. Loïs Mailou Jones: Sphere of Influence 11 am-5 pm, Center of Knowhere, Oak Bluffs. Group Exhibition - Lois Mailou Jones: Sphere of Influence 917-9609344, info@knowhereart.com.

Connected: Selected Works by Brooke Adams 11 am-4 pm, Martha’s Vineyard Playhouse, Vineyard Haven. Connected: Selected Works by Brooke Adams 508-696-6300, boxoffice@circuitarts.org. Secret Gardens Watercolor Show

11 am-5 pm, The Moore Family Gallery, Oak Bluffs. Hannah Moore’s Secret Gardens, an exhibit of recent work in watercolor and ink 508801-1052, hannahmooreportfolio@gmail.com. Summer Show

11 am-5 pm, Louisa Gould Gallery, Vineyard Haven. New works by: Carol Caradimos, Wooley Dutton, Nadia Mahfuz, Joseph McCarthy, Donna Nyzio and Nick Paciorek. 508-693-7373, louisa.gould@gmail.com.

BUSINESS DIRECTORY

Everybody dance now

The staying power of Built on Stilts.

BY NICOLE GALLAND

For the 30th August in a row, the singular, joyful Built on Stilts returns to Union Chapel in Oak Bluffs. For those who’ve never had the delight of encountering it, Built on Stilts is an open-to-anyone, freefor-all happening. Founded chiefly as a modern dance performance, it has grown to include drag, tap, hiphop, ballet, jazz, poetry, singer-songwriters, structured improv, comedy, audience participation, line-dancing senior citizens, adorable kids, and even, yes, stilts. Anyone who wants to participate simply writes up a brief description of what they want to do, and as long as it’s no longer than seven minutes and contains no nudity or violence, it will be welcome.

Co-founder and director Abby Bender reflects on the resilience of the organization in changing times: “It always feels fresh because the work is new every year, but the

GRAPEVINE

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traditions. The 164th Martha’s Vineyard Agricultural Fair will be held from Thursday, August 13, through Sunday, August 16 — one week earlier than longtime fairgoers may expect. Beginning this year, the fair has moved from its traditional third full weekend of August to the second, separating it from Illumination Night and the Oak Bluffs fireworks later in the month. The change followed the arrival of a new carnival provider, and is expected to continue in future years.

The setting and spirit, however, remain familiar.

The Agricultural Hall grounds will fill with livestock, vegetables, baked goods, flowers, crafts, rides, games, food stands,

vibe never changes. It’s that same awesome, feel-good community stuff.”

But the Vineyard has changed a lot over the past three decades, and that has had a downstream impact on Built on Stilts. For one thing, the number of events has proliferated wildly. “The Island is overflowing with programming, and I think it’s great,” she says, “but we’ve never had to compete with Jewel before. It was us and the Fireworks and the fair and Illumination Night.”

This leads to a challenge that has affected nearly every facet of Island life: the expense. “We have fewer visiting artists, because nobody can afford to come here,” says Bender. “All the visiting artists are staying with someone they know, because there are just no options anymore, so that’s a bummer. So many would love to come if they could swing it. But the local professionals are rising to the occasion.”

Indeed they are. Built on

music, and generations of families comparing ribbons and fair memories. Traditional events such as the skillet toss, woodsmen competition, horse pull, dog and livestock shows, and shucking contests return alongside the midway. The fair runs from 10 am to 11 pm Thursday through Saturday and from 9:30 am to 6 pm Sunday.

The fair weekend also includes the Run for Jabberwocky 5K on August 15, supporting the beloved Island camp, as well as Jazz on the Vineyard and the beginning of Martha’s Vineyard SoulFest. SoulFest runs from August 15 through 21, and brings R and B, soul, comedy, nightlife, and cultural programming to venues around the Island.

The week after the fair brings two of the Vineyard’s most visually spectacular

“Local participation has skyrocketed. So while the arts are struggling, the arts are doing better than ever.”

Stilts generally runs for six nights total, with a dozen acts each night; they have expanded to eight shows with about 15 acts per show. And most of those are Vineyarders, or at least Vineyardadjacent. “There’s a company on Cape Cod,” Bender says by way of example, “that’s coming because its head is a librarian who knows librarians here.” Anna Lucky, who co-founded Built on Stilts with Bender and danced in it for its first 15 years, is returning to the Island to dance a duet with Bender. “We’re gonna create it in a week,” says Bender, with her usual infectious optimism. “Anna hasn’t danced in a long time;

traditions. On Wednesday, August 19, Grand Illumination Night returns to the Martha’s Vineyard Camp Meeting Association grounds in Oak Bluffs.

The evening begins with music and a community sing at the Tabernacle before thousands of colorful lanterns are illuminated across the historic gingerbread cottages. Dating back to 1869, the celebration transforms the Camp Ground into a glowing maze of porches, lanterns, neighbors, and visitors.

Two nights later, on Friday, August 21, the focus

it’s a big deal. And this has really rekindled her relationship to the Island.”

There are also new performers coming, whom Bender has never met; the festival is organized so that she never sees anyone’s performance prior to their technical rehearsal. “There’s a new company from New York that’s coming,” she says. “And a team of Irish dancers.” There will also be a radio show, and a number of Bender’s own works, including a comedic dance piece. What is most notable to Bender is that despite the challenge for off-Islanders to come, “local participation has skyrocketed. So while the

moves to Ocean Park for the annual Oak Bluffs fireworks. A band concert traditionally begins the evening before the fireworks are launched over the water after dark. Families arrive early with blankets and chairs, filling Ocean Park and the surrounding waterfront long before the first burst appears in the sky. Traffic, parking, and transportation require patience, but there may be no Island scene that captures peak August quite like the crowded park, illuminated cottages, harbor lights, and fireworks reflected over Nantucket Sound.

arts are struggling, the arts are doing better than ever.”

The organization overall is experiencing another sea change. After 30 years, “we’re newly 501(c)(3),” she says. “I have a board! This allows us to apply for more grants, to serve artists and the community.”

Previously, Circuit Arts had been the event’s fiscal sponsor. Now, 100 percent of all tax-deductible donations go to BOS and its associated programming. This includes Membership Down, a live variety/game show/fundraiser, as well as Bender’s winter programming at Chilmark Tavern’s Pathways. “Eventually, I

The month concludes with the Martha’s Vineyard Jazz Experience at the Tabernacle on August 22, along with gallery openings, concerts, author events, worship services, farmers markets, children’s programming, and performances across all six towns. The final Wednesday West Tisbury Farmers Market of the season takes place August 26, although the market continues on Saturdays into the fall.

August may be the busiest chapter of the Vineyard summer, but its appeal lies in more than the size of its

August may be the busiest chapter of the Vineyard summer, but its appeal lies in more than the size of its crowds or the number of events squeezed onto the calendar.

will be able to expand our programming,” Bender anticipates. “We’ll always be grassroots and gritty, because that’s just my nature. I will always have the brand of the underdog.” In the meantime, August means Built on Stilts. “Whether it’s for the thousandth time or the first time,” Bender beams, “I think it’s going to be wonderful.”

Built on Stilts will perform August 6-9 and 14-17 at 8 pm at Union Chapel in Oak Bluffs. Each night has a different lineup; all are familyfriendly. Admission is fee-free and reservation-free, with donations accepted at the door.

crowds or the number of events squeezed onto the calendar. It is a month in which very different versions of the Island exist side by side: livestock and lanterns, film premieres and farmers markets, national performers and local artisans, packed parks and quiet galleries. The challenge may be finding enough hours to experience it all — and remembering, amid the organized chaos, to appreciate the people working behind every stage, screen, tent, table, and glowing lantern. I can hardly believe we are already rounding the final corner of the summer season. See you in September! Event dates, locations, ticket availability, and weather plans may change, so confirm details directly with organizers before attending.

COMMUNITY NOTE

‘Pen Pals’ at the Playhouse with a joyful reunion of strangers

This weekend, the Martha’s Vineyard Playhouse will present Brooke Adams and Marilu Henner in “Pen Pals,” a smash hit from the 2025–26 OffBroadway season.

‘Pen Pals’ charts five decades of letters between Bernie and Mags, two women who have never met in person. In the original production, the cast rotated every two weeks. Directed by Michael Griffo, Adams and Henner will be reprising their roles at the Playhouse for three nights only.

“When we did it in New

York, [Henner] was slated to do it with someone else, and that person fell through, so she said, ‘How about Brooke?’” Adams notes. “It’s fun, and I love working with Marilu, and I get to do an English accent. Across the board, people just love this thing. I said, ‘It would be so fun to do this on the Vineyard,’ so I

called everyone and made it happen. I love the Vineyard, and I love Brooke [Hardman] and Brian [Ditchfield], and doing this just seemed like a nobrainer.”

“Pen Pals” will run August 7 to 9 at 7 pm at the M.V. Playhouse, Church Street, Vineyard Haven.

Brooke Adams and Marilu Henner.

COURTESY OF THE MV PLAYHOUSE

Work by Abby Bender (Bender on right), 2023.

ROBERTA KIRN

–ABBY BENDER

Wild Side

BY MATT PELIKAN

One of my projects this year, which sadly has progressed at only a desultory pace, is to learn about our square-headed wasps, named for a conspicuous body feature of some species in this family. Biologists know the family as Crabronidae, and it’s well worth getting acquainted with them.

It’s a fairly diverse family, with about 9,000 species worldwide and about 1,200 in North America. Of these, only 30 have been solidly documented on the Vineyard, though the number actually present is surely higher than that. Many species are hard to identify from photographs, and so far, there has been no concerted, Island-wide study that has involved the collection of specimens for examination.

Like most wasps, the members of this family are predators, feeding their young on other insects (a few species prefer spiders). Most, maybe all, Crabronids are groundnesters, with females digging burrows in sandy soil, excavating cells along the burrow for their young to occupy, and then laying eggs in each cell. The adult female finds a suitable prey item, paralyzes it with a sting, and drags it down into one of the cells, where it serves as food while the larval wasp develops. While larval Crabronids

enjoy tucking into a good arthropod for dinner, adults have a much more benign diet. They are flower visitors, taking pollen or nectar from any of the myriad types of flowers that offer these resources to insects, and because of this habit, Crabronids can be considered reasonably effective and probably fairly important pollinators.

It’s a ghoulish life history, to be sure, though it is shared by other groups of wasps. But it does mean that square-headed wasps play an important role in the ecosystem, helping to regulate the population sizes of their prey species. This type of nest provisioning is also a fascinating behavior to watch: If you spend time with this family, you grow familiar with the sight of a female wasp schlepping an immobile victim to a nest burrow and hauling it down to the basement.

I know little about it, but I’ve long been curious about how Crabronids, and indeed other predatory wasps, successfully locate their prey.

Staying concealed has developed into an art form among arthropods, since not being noticed is a critical first step in not getting eaten. Yet predator wasps seem to have no trouble zeroing in on suitable prey.

I expect the method of detection varies. Some Crabronids, like the fly-eating species of the genus Oxybelus, look to me like they are visual hunters, spending

much of their time cruising low over the ground in open habitat. Others, very likely, use chemical cues as at least part of their strategy, sniffing out their prey by detect-

ing characteristic odors or pheromones. Very little seems to be known about the exact mechanisms used, but it’s a fun subject for speculation. In the case of one of our

most prominent Crabronids, I wonder if sound plays a role in prey detection. The Eastern cicada killer, Sphecius speciosus, preys, as its name suggests, on cicadas.

What better way to find these loud insects than by zeroing in on their call? I have no evidence that this is the case, but it seems like too obvious a trick for evolution not to have invented it. In any case, Sphecius speciosus is a massive wasp, pushing two inches in length in the case of large females, and they dig correspondingly impressive burrows: a half-inch-diameter hole surrounded by a mound of sandy spoil. While the males (which, like all male wasps, cannot sting) can appear aggressive, flying up to investigate intruders including humans, cicada killers are like all wasps, much more interested in living their lives than in harming humans.

Another interesting group of Crabronids are the bee wolves of the genus Philanthus. The Vineyard hosts at least five species of the genus. True to their name, members of this genus provision their nests with bees. One member of the genus, Philanthus gibbosus, is extremely common on the Vineyard ,and is one of our most commonly observed wasps.

Like many other Crabronids, P. gibbosus (like our other members of the genus) is a black insect boldly marked with yellow. There are typically bands of yellow ringing some or all of the segments of the abdomen, and the pattern of those bands is a powerful cue for species-level identification. Philanthus also all have boldly and distinctly patterned faces, with yellow patches of various size and shape. So if you’re trying to identify a member of this group, a clear head-on shot can be very useful.

I’ve just given a sample of this interesting family: We have members of five of the six North American subfamilies of Crabronidae, and members of at least 22 genera. Calling to mind the figure of 30 Vineyard species that I cited earlier, you’ll surmise correctly that so far, many genera are represented here by just a single firmly identified species. That’s a sign of a lot of work yet to be done. There are many members of this colorful and interesting family out there, waiting for someone to recognize their presence.

Sphecius speciosus, a cicada killer.

The bee wolf, Philanthus gibbosus.

Oxybelus uniglumus, newest addition to the Vineyard Crabronidae checklist.