MV Times July 2, 2026

VOICES OF FREEDOM

VINEYARDERS REFLECT ON NATION'S 250TH BIRTHDAY

Special pullout section A9. Publisher's editorial A8

SAILING INTO THE FOURTH

As the country approaches its 250th anniversary,

one of Martha's Vineyard’s most beloved symbols of maritime heritage is sailing into its final season. The 108-foot wooden topsail schooner Shenandoah, a regular majestic sight in Vineyard Haven Harbor, and the only vessel of her size known to operate without an engine in the world, will retire after its annual voyage with Chilmark students in their first week of school after Labor Day. Designed and built in 1964 by Island legend Capt. Robert S. Douglas Sr., and modeled after an 1849 revenue cutter called Joe Lane, the Shenandoah has sailed 63 seasons and shaped tens of thousands of lives through hands-on education programs, now run through the Martha’s Vineyard Ocean Academy. While bittersweet, the retirement paves the way for Shenandoah II, a steel-hulled successor designed by Douglas himself. Current Capt. Ian Ridgeway, executive director of the academy, said they plan to preserve the original hull as a waterfront exhibit, ensuring her legacy as a piece of American history that lives on for future generations. Michael Blanchard, photographer of the above picture, plans to create a “Shenandoah Through the Years” video later this summer.

Gov. Healey backs Island leaders on tick mitigation

At a roundtable discussion last Wednesday, the governor met with Islanders on ticks.

BY SARAH SHAW DAWSON

This summer, ticks are the talk of the town on Martha’s Vineyard. And on Wednesday, they were also the subject of a roundtable discussion at the Agricultural Hall in West Tisbury, where Gov. Maura Healey gave her support to Island organizations and town efforts, urging locals to push on with tick mitigation and preparedness. The event brought the governor into a local — and national — conversation about what some local health experts say is the largest public health issue the Island has faced since the COVID-19 pandemic.

MNew SSA terminal opens in Woods Hole

Construction finishes after two years.

BY EUNKI SEONWOO

As the Island enters the heart of summer and visitors sail in from the mainland, ferry passengers will be welcomed in Woods Hole at the Steamship Authority’s newly completed terminal, a project that was fraught with controversy throughout more than a decade of development.

The new terminal building for the Steamship Authority (SSA) was opened to the public for the first time on Thursday, June 25, capping two years of a noisy, multiphased construction project in the heart of the seaside village of Woods Hole.

The management of this $37 million building project is not without its critics, and the SSA has much work to do to improve its standing both in Woods Hole and on the Island, but by many accounts, the design and function of the new terminal are winning some hearts and minds.

Ted Gavin, the Vineyard’s representative to the SSA board, said while there’s still work to be done, he felt relieved that the terminal was open and that there won’t be any more construction during the summer, as the ferry line seeks to enter a “new normal.”

“I’m glad it’s finally done,” Gavin said. He told The Times that the building will serve people for the next 50 years, and while “we can quibble about design,” the new terminal seems to be meeting the needs of travelers.

Alex Kryska, SSA general manager, said in a statement, “The opening of this terminal marks a tremendous milestone in the decadelong project to totally reimagine and rebuild the Woods Hole terminal.”

Discussions of a new terminal began more than 10 years ago as the ferry line pursued a building to upgrade its facilities and counter rising sea levels. But it hasn’t exactly been smooth sailing, with pushback from Woods Hole neighbors over the size and location of the building as well as concerns over

Housing close to the land

artha’s Vineyard has culturally shifted since the 17th and 18th centuries, when agriculture was the primary economic driver of the year-round community, but the Island continues to be a hub for farms and the workers who tend them. The still-prosperous industry results in an influx of seasonal workers when the weather turns warm, which means an increased need for housing.

Three seasonal farm hands recently unpacked their bags of clothes, art supplies, and books into circular dwellings called yurts, which they were provided as their summer workplace accommodations. The wood-and-canvas shelters, which originated 3,000 years ago in Central Asia with nomadic tribes on the windswept plains, are one solution among many for an ongoing local crisis in affordable housing availability.

“I could not have gotten this job without having housing,” Isabel Villanueva, 31-year-old

Island Grown Initiative constructs yurts for seasonal farmers. BY SARAH SHAW DAWSON

MICHAEL BLANCHARD

Thursday, July 2, 2026

MARTHA’S VINEYARD TIMES

Isabel Villanueva and Lina Raciukaitis outside one of the yurts.

Vineyard youth head to Gillette for World Cup

Donated tickets were given to Massachusetts youth through state initiative. BY

MARIA BARROS

Alarge crowd of approximately 64,146 people gathered at Gillette Stadium for the FIFA World Cup, in Foxborough last Friday to watch the match between France and Norway.

Among them was a group of 16 eager Island soccer fans from the Martha’s Vineyard Boys & Girls Club and four chaperones, who stood out in the stands with their matching World Cup–themed bright blue shirts.

Chaperones Kendall Robinson, Mike Daniel, Ana Julia da Silva, Ana de Paula, and a diverse group of club members, who ranged in age from 6 to 14 and whose families hailed from France and Brazil, representing a true cross-section of the diversity of Martha’s Vineyard, traveled to the stadium and spent the day cheering loudly for the French team as they won the game and three points. Robinson, who is also the program director at the Martha’s Vineyard Boys & Girls Club, said the whole experience was riveting for the students, who were chosen by the club’s staff with the intent of bringing Island youth of diverse socioeconomic backgrounds.

Robinson grew up going to the same Boys & Girls Club for afterschool programs, and said those memories made the experience more special.

“When I was a kid, I came to this club,” Robinson said in an interview with The Times. “Now that I'm older, and I look back at the experiences that it provided me, I'm like, ‘Oh, wow.’”

This trip extended beyond soccer, Robinson said, and fostered new friendships and a stronger sense of community among the group. Robinson said the students see one another every day, but don’t necessarily mingle that often. That changed in Foxborough, which during the World Cup has been referred to on global television feeds as “Boston Stadium.”

“It was such a ‘togetherness’ experience that France would score, and all of a sudden, all of our kids were jumping up and hugging each other and high-fiving, and just celebrating and yelling at each other, saying, ‘Oh, did you see

Habeas petition filed for attempted murder case

The man charged with attempted murder for an alleged knife attack in Tisbury June 29 is prevented from being transported out of the state by federal immigration agents while his case continues in court.

At a detention hearing in Edgartown District Court on Friday, Judge Benjamin Barnes ordered Brandao Geraldo Alves Caldeira, 38, to be held without bail for dangerousness. A habeas corpus petition was also filed for Caldeira on the same day.

Habeas petitions are used to challenge alleged unlawful detentions and prevent defendants from being moved out of a state or deported while court proceedings are underway.

Caldeira was arrested on Sunday, June 21, after an alleged domestic violence incident that took place at a Cook Road home in Tisbury. He allegedly attacked a female victim and threatened to kill her and others at the scene. He was arraigned on Monday, June 22, on seven counts: attempted murder, assault and battery on a family or household member, threatening to commit crime, assault with a dangerous weapon, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, malicious destruction of property valued over $1,200, and intimidation of a witness, juror, police, or court official.

that?’ It's like you would have thought these kids spend every second of every day together with how much joy they were sharing with one another,” she said.

The entire excursion was also a surprise to the selected youth by Boys & Girls Club staff.

“They had no idea they were going,” Robinson said. “We had sunglasses for them that looked like soccer balls. And they were like, ‘What are these for?’ and then we put up on the big screen, ‘We’re going to the World Cup!’”

The trip was made possible through collaboration between the office of Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey, the state Boys & Girls Club, the Department of Children and Families (DCF), Airbnb, and other community organizations across the state, with 1,100 tickets donated to Massachusetts youth programs.

“The World Cup is coming to Massachusetts, and we want young people from every corner of our state to have the chance to be part of it,” Healey said in a press release.

“These tickets will help make sure that kids who otherwise may never have the opportunity to attend a match can experience the excitement of the world's biggest sporting event. We want to spread that opportunity as widely as possible, create memories that will last a lifetime, and inspire children across the state to dream big and chase their goals.”

Between the seven FIFA matches hosted in the state, a total of 704 tickets will be distributed through the Massachusetts Alliance of Boys & Girls Clubs, which will coordinate regional distribution across Massachusetts. The remaining 396 tickets (out of the 1,100 total tickets donated) will be distributed through state community organizations represented in the World Cup matches, along with youth involved in the DCF.

Robinson said she deeply appreciated the opportunity. “We're so grateful for Gov. Healey and the Massachusetts Alliance of Boys & Girls Clubs because, of course, without them, this trip wouldn't have been possible,” she said.

news in brief

District court documents show Caldeira was born in Brazil, and he required a Portuguese translator at his arraignment.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) said in a statement that the agency had lodged a detainer request with Dukes County Jail and House of Correction on June 22. While the agency listed the same charges, ICE identified Caldeira as Geraldo Gomes-Alves.

When asked about the discrepancy, an ICE spokesperson said in a statement that the agency “does not comment on pending litigation. We refer you to Edgartown District Court regarding potential aliases being used.”

Edgartown District Court had closed by the time ICE declined to comment on the name discrepancy. A representative of the Dukes County House of Corrections confirmed to The Times that there is no Geraldo Gomes-Alves at the jail.

According to court records, a probable cause hearing is scheduled for July 24. Meanwhile, a status review hearing on his holding is set for Oct. 23.

Chilmark speeds through budget-balance vote

At a special town meeting lasting about five minutes, Chilmark voters unanimously approved the town allocating $200,000

“I just hope they remember how cool of an experience it was — that they realize that Boys & Girls Clubs offer so much more than just childcare,” she added.

The young attendees also got a backstage pass at the game.

“They all got special badges that they got to keep as a souvenir, that says that they went to the World Cup. We got to walk through an activity tent where all kids were allowed to take a picture with the match ball, and then got to see all the signed jerseys,” Robinson said.

The global atmosphere of the event, Robinson said contributed to the children’s understanding of different cultures beyond their backgrounds. The trip was a success in cultural exchange, Robinson said. The children were excited to experience the famous Norwegian cheer that mimics Vikings rowing and chanting in unison.

“And what's so beautiful for our club anyway is that we are so diverse within our own walls here. So even just the kids that we brought, it was exciting,” Robinson said. “Some kids had family that were from France, or a lot of our kids had a Brazilian Portuguese background.

“Being in that stadium and seeing how many people are also enthusiastic and excited about the sport, the kids were just so excited to be in there,” she said.

of unused funds to balance its budget.

About 50 Chilmarkers gathered at the Chilmark Community Center for the meeting Monday night. Prior to the vote, Chilmark Select Board member Rebecca Haag read a statement by fellow board member Matt Poole, who wasn't in attendance.

“While regrettably I cannot be with you in person, I appreciate your attendance, and have trust in the collective wisdom of the voters to make a thoughtful decision,” Poole wrote.

The town sourced $100,000 of these unused funds from available money in the treasury. The other $100,000 came from unspent funds initially designated for a window replacement project at the Chilmark School during the annual town meeting in June 2020.

The need to balance the budget stems from expenses of $62,225 for snow and ice removal after last winter's snowstorms, as well as $115,903 for an ongoing lawsuit between a town board and waterfront real estate developers who were denied a permit.

In the story “Aggressive plan to harvest the herd,” published June 24, the Martha’s Vineyard Hunt Club is not the only organization with a deer-processing facility on the Island, but it is the only one that operates outside of the hunting season.

COURTESY MARTHA’S VINEYARD BOYS & GIRLS CLUB

The Martha's Vineyard Boys & Girls Club group outside Gillette Stadium.

M.V. Diversity Coalition honors legacy of Richie Smith

The Martha’s Vineyard Diversity Coalition (MVDC) awarded retiring Martha’s Vineyard Public Schools (MVYPS) Superintendent Dr. Richard (“Richie”) Smith with its inaugural Friend and Leader Award, and premiered its oral history film project at its annual Truth and Joy Festival on Saturday evening.

The festival celebrated the Island’s cultural diversity through storytelling, music, and art. About 100 people gathered at the Performing Arts Center in Oak Bluffs to take in speeches, performances, and videos by community members.

The evening opened with the screening of a music video for the MVDC Educational Committee’s song “Change.” Other acts, such as a dance ensemble by the Rise Dance Company, and the performance of a blessing song by the Black Brook Singers, a group comprised of members of the Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah), paid

tribute to Smith. The MVDC also premiered “Martha’s Vineyard Living Legends: The Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC) Elders Oral History Project,” an ongoing film project of high school student interviews with the Island’s BIPOC elders. Oak Bluffs eighth-grade student Latanah Lowe was also honored as the winner of this year’s Marie B. Allen Creative Arts Contest for her poem titled “Freedom Across Time.”

Many people who joined the celebration highlighted Smith’s contributions to the Island’s schools and the wider community.

Jocelyn Coleman Walton, co-chair of the MVDC Education Committee, presented Smith with the award.

“Richie has been a dedicated ally of our committee for many years. He attended our meetings regularly as assistant superintendent, and remained completely accessible and supportive after becoming superintendent,” Coleman said.

“His unwavering support set the stage for meaningful and measurable improvements in creating inclusive environments by endorsing our many activities.”

Smith, who is retiring as superintendent after 25 years as an educator, expressed his gratitude as the recipient of the award.

“Receiving the Friend and Leader Award means more to me knowing who is bestowing the award,” Smith said. “That such amazing human beings can think so highly of me is incredibly humbling.”

In attendance was Smith’s wife, Melissa, and their two sons, Zach, 22, and Renny, 19.

Zach Smith emphasized to The Times his pride in his father. “I see every day how hard he's working. He's really put his heart and soul into it,” he said. “It feels like the Island is giving a thank-you.”

Renny Smith echoed this sentiment: “A lot of the things he does go unsung, so it's just so nice to see all this appreciation toward him, and all these

people gathered for him.”

MVDC Board Member Sandra Pimentel emphasized the strength of unity.

“Tonight is a night of truth and joy,” Pimentel said. “It is a time for us to be together and to feel the power of our community, while honoring our BIPOC friends who add so much to the fabric of our community, and to recognize Richie Smith, who has proven that one person can make a difference.”

MVDC Board Member Bob Tankard wished Smith well on his retirement. “I know with your heart and your mind, you will help us fill that void. We wish you the best, you and your family,” Tankard said. “I just told your two sons that their responsibility for the next four years is to take care of you.”

Former MVYPS Assistant Superintendent Marge Harris joked about Smith’s commitment to civic participation.

“The community owned him. He never wavered from showing up at each and every

More Island towns back MVC’s Chapter 40B fight

As the Martha’s Vineyard Commission (MVC) continues litigation to retain its ability to review Chapter 40B projects, several Island towns have decided to back the planning authority.

Starting with the Chilmark Select Board on June 17, a total of four Vineyard town select boards decided to send letters to state legislators who represent the Island, State Sen. Julian Cyr and State Rep. Thomas Moakley, to urge their support for the MVC and its continued review of 40B developments. The other three towns are Edgartown, Oak Bluffs, and West Tisbury. Chapter 40B was created in 1969 to bolster the development of affordable units amid a national housing shortage, an issue that persists. The state statute gives developers more leeway in local zoning if at least a quarter of units in a proposed project are designated as affordable; It ensures that large housing projects have a portion of units that are

affordable to residents of an area by giving that incentive to developers.

The letters from the towns stated the MVC has protected the Island from “rampant overdevelopment” since it was created 50 years ago, ensuring that housing projects are “balanced against the need to maintain our rural character, and coordinated in a manner that prioritized regional interests over those of any single town.”

Housing is a balancing act on the Island. While the Vineyard faces one of the toughest housing markets for year-round residents, with more than half of units empty during the winter, regulators are careful to prevent overdevelopment. The issue is magnified for an area with limited resources, like land, and lingering questions of how many people can actually be supported through the available land and infrastructure.

The outpouring of support is a concerted response following an April ruling by the Massachusetts Housing

Appeals Committee (HAC), which determined the MVC as a “local board,” a designation that places these reviews outside the commission’s jurisdiction. The ruling not only essentially stripped the MVC’s power to review these types of projects, it also clashed with a 2003 Massachusetts Superior Court ruling that determined the MVC was not a local board, and had jurisdiction over 40B projects.

The HAC decision followed an appeal filed by the developer of Edgartown Gardens, one of the developments proposed by William Cumming of Falmouthbased Atwood Co. LLC, which was unanimously denied by the MVC in October.

The towns’ letters state the Vineyard is now “once again under threat from development that fails to respond to the particular needs of this Island.” Boards highlighted to the legislators that “the consequences of failing to act now are both significant and irreversible.”

“Under the 40B statutory

meeting, especially if it involved students,” Harris said. “Thank goodness for his wife, Missy, for she never saw the man.”

Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School (MVRHS) Physical Education Department Chair Sheryl Taylor evoked a quote by Shirley Chisholm, the first Black congresswoman.

“There’s a quote attributed to Shirley Chisholm, that says, 'If they don't give you a seat at the table, bring a folding chair,’” Taylor said. “What I have appreciated most about Richie is that he’s never made people bring their own chair. He intentionally makes room at the table.”

Brad Lopes, educational director for the Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah), recalled how Smith impacted him personally at a meeting.

“Richie made a point to come talk to me and pat me on the back as he expressed joy over seeing me there,” Lopes said. “That kindness dissipated any sense of anxiety I held in the same way the fog does as it rolls over the ocean and toward the Cliffs.”

Julie Fay, former executive director of Martha’s Vineyard Community Services, expressed her fondness for the frequent meals she shared with Smith.

“Over the years, we ate a lot of those chicken shawarma

sandwiches,” Fay said. “I thoroughly enjoyed the intelligence, the width, and the honesty of the conversations that went along with them.”

Toni Kauffman, former president of the Martha’s Vineyard branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, used an excerpt from country musician Eric Church’s commencement speech at the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill to underscore Smith’s individuality.

“The world does not need another cover song. It needs an original,” Kauffman said. “It has been a pleasure and an honor to work with you. I am humbled by the faith that you've had in me to serve our Island youth. I will miss you, Richie. You are an original.” Oak Bluffs Chief of Police Jonathan Searle spoke on behalf of the Island police chiefs and the Dukes County Sheriff’s Office.

“Our missions have always been closely aligned. Every day we work toward the same goal, which is creating a safe, supporting environment where all of our young people can learn, grow, and thrive,” Searle said. “Throughout your tenure, you’ve been a valued partner in that effort, demonstrating a steadfast commitment to the well-being and success of our Island students.”

have been more susceptible to homes taken out of the housing stock from year-round community members for decades.

“If there’s no restriction, that unit is going to be a second home, an investment unit,” Cyr told The Times. “That is where we are at in this ravenous real estate market.”

scheme, in exchange for a small percentage of incomerestricted units, towns are rendered largely powerless against inappropriate density, demands on our infrastructure, and impacts to our environment, including our great ponds and open spaces,” the letters read.

The letters also said that the towns would be unable to require developers to provide the year-round workforce and community housing “the Island desperately needs.”

Cyr told The Times that he’s been working with the MVC to analyze potential options to “remedy and respond to” the committee’s ruling since “the minute this decision came down.”

“This is a real departure from long-standing precedence,” Cyr said.

So far, a definitive path forward has not been determined. While Chapter 40B is a longstanding state statute that’s been used to boost housing availability in Massachusetts, Cyr said areas reliant on seasonal tourism

At a time when home costs are rising and more summer homes are popping up, there’s also affordable housing available throughout the entire year. Only Aquinnah has reached a 10 percent threshold for affordable units in its housing stock, a requirement to achieve safe harbor status, a status that allows municipalities to block special permits for 40B affordable housing projects. This status can also be achieved through a housing production plan, though Island towns are still in the process of finalizing and adopting their five-year plans.

Adam Turner, executive director of the MVC, and Peter Wharton, MVC chair and Oak Bluffs representative, were not immediately available for comment. But Wharton and MVC housing planner Laura Silber previously expressed the need to preserve the commission’s ability to review projects, citing a need to protect the Vineyard’s finite resources and how 40B projects have exacerbated the housing crisis in other communities.

Peter Freeman, the at-

torney who represents the sprawling Green Villa project in Oak Bluffs, was not available for comment. Jason Talerman, the attorney who represents Edgartown Gardens, said he wasn’t surprised about the towns’ support of the MVC. He was particularly critical of Chilmark, the first town whose board took up the issue of a letter, since it is an Island town without affordable housing units in its inventory. Considering the other municipalities in Massachusetts that are subject to Chapter 40B regulations, Talerman saw no reason the Vineyard should be an exception.

Talerman said the pushback on the housing appeals committee’s ruling was spurred by anti-housing fearmongering masqueraded as protecting the Island. “The notion the sky is falling is garbage,” Talerman said. And Talerman said Chapter 40B projects are not a zero-sum game, and “we think we’re good developers” willing to work with towns to make projects more palatable. But he said the onus is also partly on towns to be proactive, such as developing affordable housing or having a housing production plan.

“Under the law, if you make progress, you get safe harbor,” Talerman said. “That allows you to control your own destiny.”

The Truth and Joy Festival highlighted contributions of BIPOC Island elders. BY SARA CREATO

Four select boards agreed to send letters to state legislators. BY EUNKI SEONWOO

Cottagers honored by Gov. Healey

The local nonprofit was awarded a Governor’s Citation. BY SARA CREATO

Gov. Maura Healey honored The Cottagers, a nonprofit in Oak Bluffs composed of African American women homeowners on the Island, for their philanthropic efforts. At the nonprofit’s grand reopening of its headquarters on Wednesday, June 24, commemorating its 70th anniversary, Healey awarded The Cottagers with a Governor’s Citation. This is an official recognition given by the governor’s office to individuals and organizations to acknowledge milestones, such as anniversaries, birthdays, and positive deeds.

“We commend your ongoing efforts to support charitable educational community service projects built by African American women homeowners,” Healey said.

Cottager Charlena Seymour welcomed attendees to the renovated space.

“Welcome home, Cottagers. We are crazy in love with our building,” Seymour said. “We celebrate more than a renovated building. We celebrate the countless members, leaders, volunteers, and supporters whose dedication has sustained this organization and made this moment awesome.”

Founded in 1956 by Thelma Garland Smith, the nonprofit aims to support educational and community service initiatives on the Island, such as through scholarships awarded to graduating high school students and partnerships with other community organizations. Currently, The Cottagers boasts 100 members.

In 1968, The Cottagers purchased their current headquarters, Cottagers Corner at 57 Pequot Ave. After a routine building inspection in 2019 revealed significant deterioration of the property’s foundation, the group began planning renovations. Improvements made to the building include the additions of an elevator, accessible restrooms, an upgraded kitchen, and structural repairs.

Cottagers Vice President Linda Silva Thompson blessed the new building.

“This is our inheritance. This is our holy ground,” Thompson said. “This is our special quarter who sacrificed giving and providing the funds to preserve this important gathering place for generations.”

Cottagers President Patricia Bush reflected on the renovation process. “The renovation of Cottagers Corner was guided by a vision larger than construction alone. The goal was to preserve the spirit and historical character of the building, while thoughtfully preparing it for future generations,” Bush said. “Every decision was shaped by the desire to honor what Cottagers Corner had meant in the past, and to create a renewed space that could continue serving a diverse community of women with dignity, warmth, and purpose.”

Gov. Healey emphasized the strength of The Cottagers’ community throughout the years.

“They understood something that I think we need to be reminded of today, that communities and villages, they don't just happen by accident,” Healey said. “They happen because people brought intentionality and energy and community spirit together.”

Healey also expressed commitment to continued support for the organization. “We have an obligation to support you in your stew-

ardship,” she said. “Happy 70th anniversary, and may Cottagers Corner continue to shine as a beacon of community heritage, hope, and joy for generations to come.”

Following the speeches, the Martha’s Vineyard Garden Club presented Gov. Healey with floral arrangements before she and Cottagers members cut the ribbon to inaugurate the building.

Healey highlighted to The Times the importance of promoting the cultural heritage organizations like The Cottagers preserve.

“Whatever we can do by way of cultural educational programming and grants that would benefit an organization like The Cottagers is something you know I hope we can always support,” she said.

Gov. Healey and State Rep. Cyr helped with cutting the ribbon at the ceremony.

PHOTOS: DENA PORTER

Gov. Healey stated that it was important to preserve the history and contributions of The Cottagers.

VINEYARD GALLERY

At Featherstone Center for

Wednesday, July 15, at 7:30 pm

Writing on the Edge: New models for reporting and the current state of journalism

Jane Mayer ~ Nathaniel Horwitz ~ Charles Sennott

Thursday, July 16, all day

8 am: Wake Up and Write!

An hour-long writing workshop with Judith Hannan

Arts

9:30 am: Book Reviews and the Art and Business of Reviewing

Brooke Allen ~ Bob Drogin ~ Joshua Hammer

10:30 am: The Pitch Panel

Five writers will pitch their book projects to publishing professionals Torrey Oberfest ~ Nancy Star ~ Rosemary Stimola ~ Gretchen Young

11:30 am: The Gatekeepers: Editors, Agents, and Publishers on How They Think about Books

Vicky Bijur (literary agent) ~ Dawn Davis (editor and publisher) ~ Adriana Stimola (literary agent)

Gretchen Young (editor and publisher) ~ Kate Fei er (moderator)

1:00 pm: Writing about People: Obits, Interviews, and Biographies Bob Drogin ~ Mary Jordan ~ Linsey Lee ~ Kevin Sullivan

2:00 pm: Creating Credible and Complex Characters

Carole Hopson ~ Elisa M. Speranza ~ Nicole Galland ~ Martha Hall Kelly

3:00 pm: Comic Approaches to Serious Subjects

Cazzie David ~ Annabelle Gurwitch ~ Sarah Kernochan (moderator)

4:00 pm: Memoirists in Conversation

Keisha Lance Bottoms ~ Belle Burden ~ Sherry Sidoti (moderator)

Coffee, pastries, and food from the Scottish Bakehouse on Thursday - CASH ONLY

Author signings and book sales at the Edgartown Books Pop-up

Free to attend. No advance registration needed. First come, first seated.

*Please note there is no seat saving permitted. islanderswrite.com

With thanks for the support of:

Chappaquiddick’s other lifeline

On an “island within an Island,” Chappaquiddick’s residents, somewhat cut off from the rest of the Vineyard community and its services, can experience isolation even deeper than the rest of the Island. Particularly vulnerable to this is Chappy’s elderly population, who often are unable to drive, and can face travel challenges.

To make transportation more accessible, two elderadvocacy groups, the Edgartown Council on Aging (COA) and Healthy Aging M.V., partnered to create Chappy Connect, a free, door-to-door transportation service for Chappy residents ages 60 and older.

And a year into the service, for some residents, it’s become a lifeline that allows them to remain on the smaller island.

In 2025, Chappy Connect conducted a total of 397 rides, according to the 2025 Community Health Needs Assessment by Island Health Care.

Launched last April, the service picks up residents from their homes and drives them to medical appointments, the grocery store, errands, and social activities. Edgartown

COA Director Lyndsay Famariss said that concerns about the well-being of elderly Chappy residents inspired them to act.

“We were very concerned about the isolation of older adults on Chappy,” Famariss said. “We just want people to feel a part of the community, whatever that looks for them.”

Healthy Aging M.V. Executive Director Cindy Trish described Chappy Connect as a “lifeline,” a term also often associated with the Chappy Ferry or even the Steamship Authority, for elderly people’s physical health and social well-being.

The service means “consistent access to healthcare and the ability to do other things, including stopping at Dairy Queen for ice cream,” Trish said.

To schedule a ride, passengers must call the COA by Thursday at 3 pm to be on the upcoming week’s agenda. Passengers are allowed to bring a companion with them, and the accommodation of last-minute stops is up to the driver’s discretion.

Under the operators of the Chappy Ferry Peter Wells and

Sally Snipes, Chappy Connect could bypass the ferry line to ensure that passengers can arrive at their appointments punctually. Incoming ferry owner Brian Scall told The Times that he doesn’t plan on changing that policy.

Initial funding for Chappy Connect came from Chappy Point to Point, an annual road race that raises money for initiatives serving the Chappy community. As a part of the conditions to receive this funding, Chappy Connect uses an electric vehicle, and there’s a designated charger on the Chappy side of the harbor.

Avery Dewing, a driver for Chappy Connect, said that the program gives its elderly passengers more autonomy, and relieves responsibility from their family members.

“They've regained some independence by not having to rely on family members,” Dewing said. “It could be a point of stress to be making your kids bring you to the grocery store, and then they have to rush.”

Dewing, whose grandmother has lived on Chappy for 40 years, enjoys interacting with his passengers.

“It's been a fun experience to hang out with all the oldtimers on Chappy,” Dewing, who lives with his grandmother, said. “They all know my grandmother, and they knew my grandfather too. It definitely helps with making [the rides] more comfortable.”

Dewing first learned about Chappy Connect from his grandmother, who frequently goes to the COA. He said that although many of the elderly passengers are initially hesitant to use the service, they ultimately enjoy using it.

“My grandmother needs a little bit of coaxing because she's a homebody, and a lot of seniors are that way,” Dewing said. “Once they try it, they're much more likely to use it again. Pretty much every person that's tried it ends up calling back for more rides.”

Dewing added that there are challenges to informing residents about the service.

“Some people are hard to reach on Chappy. There are some people who are not exactly hermits, but they're elderly,” he said. “They don't use the internet, and you know they don't have access to information.”

Bob and Marvene O’Rourke use Chappy Connect about one to three times per week for medical appointments and trips to the grocery store. Marvene said that the assistance she receives from the Chappy Connect drivers, such as with

Hospital solar to help cut Islanders’ energy bills

Asolar project on the roofs of Martha’s Vineyard Hospital’s (MVH) workforce housing project promises to deliver hundreds of thousands of dollars in electricity bill assistance for low-income Islanders over the next few decades.

The 138-kilowatt rooftop solar array is the first in PowerOptions Connect’s Solar-

Share program, a press release read Tuesday, and is supported by grants from the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center’s EmPower Massachusetts program and Island nonprofit Vineyard Power. PowerOptions Connect, a nonprofit, hopes to expand this new community-benefit model for solar across the Northeast.

The arrays are on the roofs

of three MVH workforce housing buildings at 480 Edgartown–Vineyard Haven Road, which is adjacent to the Navigator Home nursing facility, and are fully constructed and operational.

The idea behind the SolarShare program is to produce onsite renewable energy generation and deliver broader community benefits. The proj-

ect aims to provide both energy savings at the workforce housing units in Edgartown and contribute to as much as $550,000 in electricity bill assistance to the overall Island over the next 25 years.

Michael Cosgrave, executive director of administration for MVH, said that when energy is captured via the solar arrays and delivered to the grid, a credit is generated for each kilowatt-hour; the credit

The Board of Water Commissioners voted unanimously to implement a Mandatory Outdoor Water Ban for the Town of Oak Blu s in June 2006 under the Water Use Restriction By-law of April, 2000.

This notice is a re-a rmation that the Mandatory Water Ban is still in e ect for the 2026 season (May 1-Sept 30) and is instituted not only to promote water conservation measures during our peak summer season, but is also intended to satisfy our Water Management Permit conditions with the State for water withdrawal.

Using the Enhanced 911 address system, all water customers who have odd-numbered street addresses may use outdoor water during odd-numbered calendar days. All water customers who have evennumbered street addresses may use outdoor water during even-numbered calendar days.

Please help us conserve water during the peak usage of the summer months.

transporting Bob’s rollator walker, is relieving.

“What surprised me most was how much pressure, stress, and anxiety having somebody else drive took away from me,” Marvene said. “I’m quite capable … but I’m always grateful when I get a helping hand.”

Marvene also admires the care and dedication of drivers like Dewing. She said that Dewing shoveled snow out of her driveway last winter.

“Avery is a wonderful and kind person,” Marvene said. “I joke with Lindsay [Famariss] that if Avery could, he would carry us individually to the car.”

Marvene, who serves as co-chair of the COA board, expressed her gratitude to the COA for funding Chappy Connect.

“I’m grateful to the town for agreeing to pay for part of the expenses,” she said. “Sometimes people who don't live on Chappy don’t realize how difficult it can be for us as we age, to get to appointments.”

Bob echoed Marvene’s sentiments. “It gets more difficult as you get older, and somebody who is single needs all the help they can get,” Bob said. “As isolated as we are, it’s a wonderful service to have that transportation back and forth.”

Judith Buss, another Chappy senior resident, uses Chappy Connect about two to

can be used to offset utility bills. “Rather than claiming 100 percent of those energy credits, Martha’s Vineyard Hospital will share 50 percent of those credits (estimated to be $550,000 over the next 25 years) with local energyburdened households on the Island,” Cosgrave said in a statement to The Times.

Which Island households are allocated the funds is determined by Vineyard Power’s Resiliency and Affordability Program (RAP) Advisory Committee; they must earn 60 percent less than the area median income. The RAP funds come from a community benefits agreement between the nonprofit and developers of the offshore wind farm Vineyard Wind. The agreement, officially released last summer but signed a decade prior, exchanges support of

three times per week for physical, occupational, and speechtherapy appointments. Buss, a stroke survivor who wears a gait belt and requires assistance with walking, appreciates the drivers’ politeness and the timeliness of the service. “They’re prompt and pleasant, and we don't have to wait in line for the ferry,” Buss said. Buss’ husband, Paul Cardello, highlighted the usefulness of Chappy Connect, since Vineyard Transit Authority buses don’t operate on Chappy. “It’s less stressful for us, knowing that getting over to our point, we can be there on time,” Cardello said. “It’s the door-to-door service that makes it outstanding.”

Mary Dimattia, a Chappy resident, uses Chappy Connect once a week for medical appointments, errands, and for coffee runs to Espresso Love in Edgartown. She said that being able to grab coffee and shop at the grocery store feels empowering. “It definitely gets me out of the house,” Dimattia said. “You feel like you’ve accomplished something.”

Dimattia, who has significant visual impairments, and lives with her husband and two sons, said that her family wouldn’t be able to stay on Chappy without the service. “More people need to know about it,” she said. “It’s an important service to be able to survive out here.”

the Vineyard Wind 1 project with benefits for the Island, such as $7.5 million over 15 years for energy resiliency programs like this one. Many public officials never saw the document prior to its release, and as some Island residents said the contract included a conflict of interest, towns decided to pursue their own agreement with the developer, even after the project finished construction.

“The Resiliency and Affordability Program is a community benefit secured from Vineyard Wind that was designed to enable local renewable energy generation, increase resilience, and advance energy affordability through local initiatives that deliver tangible benefits to the community,” Richard Andre, president at Vineyard Power, said.

David Joseph, Larry Glick, Anne Grandin, Harriet Bernstein, L.A. Brown + MVAA Members

Reception: July 5 Exhibition Dates: July 5 - 10 / Open Daily

Chappy Connect bridges the smaller island’s elderly community with the broader Vineyard. BY SARA CREATO

Deborah Susanne Spillane

Deborah Susanne Spillane, 59, passed away peacefully on June 25, 2026, surrounded by her loving family.

Debbie was a devoted mother, grandmother, sister, and friend, whose kindness, strength, and unconditional love touched the lives of everyone who knew her. She will be deeply missed and lovingly remembered by all.

Debbie dedicated many years of service to the Steamship Authority before retiring.

A certi ed nutritionist health specialist, she was passionate about health and wellness, and enjoyed staying active, cooking, and encouraging others to live healthy lives. She was incredibly strong and resilient, enduring pain that most people could not imagine with remarkable courage and determination. Debbie was

goal-oriented and worked tirelessly to achieve her dreams, including owning a home on Martha’s Vineyard and, one day, retiring to Florida.

Although that dream was cut short, she never lost her hope, determination, or love for life.

Above all else, Debbie treasured the time she spent with her family. Her greatest joy was being a mother to her son, Jimmy, and a Gigi to her cherished granddaughter, Cam. She was also a devoted sports enthusiast who loved cheering on the New England Patriots while watching games with family and friends, creating many treasured memories together.

Debbie is survived by her beloved son, James Mahoney and his wife, Paige; and by her cherished granddaughter, Camryn Mahoney, who brought her endless joy. She was the loving daughter of George S. Moses and the late Martha E. Moses. She is also survived by her loving siblings, Martha and David Hester, Janet and addeus Johnson, George and Patricia Moses, and Marilyn Moses and Alan Schweikert.

She is also lovingly remembered by her many nieces, nephews, cousins, extended family members, and dear friends, all of whom will cherish the memories they shared with her.

obituaries

A memorial Mass celebrating Debbie’s life will be held on Saturday, August 29, at 11 am at St. Augustine’s Church, Franklin Street, Vineyard Haven. Family and friends are warmly invited to attend and celebrate her life.

Dolores Worthington

It is with deep sorrow yet profound gratitude for a life well-lived that we announce the passing of Dolores Worthington, who left this world peacefully on June 12, 2026, at the age of 97.

Born on August 4, 1928, in Philadelphia, Pa., Dolores was the cherished daughter of Marion and Robert Dockett, who predeceased her. Dolores' early years were spent in the vibrant borough of Queens, N.Y., where she graduated from Jamaica High School in 1946. Her journey into adulthood was marked by her graduation from the Sepia

Modeling School in 1947. With an innate grace and elegance, she pursued a career in modeling, capturing the essence of beauty and style that would become her lifelong signature.

In 1949, Dolores embarked on the most rewarding journey of her life — motherhood. She was a devoted homemaker and a nurturing presence in the lives of her children, Jonathan and the late David Coles Worthington, who predeceased her. Her unwavering love and dedication to her family were the cornerstones of her existence.

Dolores shared a lifetime of love and companionship with her beloved husband, Robert T. Worthington. Together they built a home filled with laughter, love, and countless memories. Dolores was a strong stabilizing force, known for her organizational prowess and flair for interior design and fashion. Her ability to manage family affairs and business with grace and efficiency was unparalleled, often requiring extraordinary personal sacrifice. Her career as a switchboard operator at ATT from 1950 to 1952 showcased her dedication and work ethic. Beyond her professional endeavors, Dolores was an active member of the Vivants Social Club, where she formed lasting friendships and shared her zest for

life. Dolores had a passion for gardening, finding solace and joy among her flowers. Her culinary skills were renowned, as she lovingly prepared meals that brought family and friends together. Her church was a source of spiritual strength, grounding her in faith and community.

Dolores loved vacationing in Oak Bluffs, staying with her friends, the Alston family, residents since the 1960s, who owned and operated a B and B. She was a beach lover and sunbather, and enjoyed the Inkwell, Edgartown's Sandy Beach, and Gay Head (Moshup), with the breathtaking vista of the Atlantic Ocean, and the beautiful, glacier-formed multicolored clay Cliffs.

Dolores is survived by her loving son, Jonathan Worthington, who carries forward her legacy of kindness and resilience. Her life was enriched by the companionship of her family, friends, and the many lives she touched with her kindness and generosity.

The Worthington family wishes to express their heartfelt appreciation to the Northwell Health hospital system of Nassau County, the Platinum home aide service, and the InPeace funeral company for their kind and diligent service during this difficult time.

A celebration of Dolores' life will be held at a date to be an-

nounced, where family and friends will gather to honor her remarkable journey and the indelible mark she leaves on our hearts.

In remembering Dolores, we celebrate a life filled with love, laughter, and unwavering strength. Her legacy lives on in the hearts of all who were privileged to know her. May she rest in eternal peace, reunited with those she loved and missed.

Donald McIntosh Fisher Jr.

Donald McIntosh Fisher Jr. of Butte, Mon., and West Tisbury passed away on June 23, 2026. He was 77.

Memorial services will be private. A full obituary will appear in a later edition of this paper.

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING 2 P.M.

THURSDAY, JULY 9, 2026

Held via video conferencing on Zoom

The public may participate in the meeting, including offering testimony, by going to zoom.us and using meeting ID 863 6840 7258.

Participants can also use the same meeting ID and join telephonically by calling one of the following numbers: (305) 224-1968, (309) 205-3325, (646) 931-3860, (929) 436-2866, or (301) 715-8592.

Notice is hereby given that the Woods Hole, Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket Steamship Authority (SSA) will conduct a public hearing on its proposed 2027 Operating Schedules for the period from January 6, 2027, through January 6, 2028. The public hearing will be conducted at 2 p.m. on Thursday, July 9, 2026, via Zoom videoconferencing pursuant to Section 20 of Chapter 20 of the Acts of 2021, as amended.

This public hearing is being conducted pursuant to Section 15A of chapter 701 of the Acts of 1960, as amended, because after the SSA advertised the proposed changes in several local newspapers in May 2026, it received a petition signed by not less than 50 persons who are residents of the Town of Falmouth requesting a public hearing on the proposed changes.

The Authority will consider the testimony given at the public hearing when deciding whether to maintain the original proposed schedule changes or to make modifications thereto. It will also consider written testimony that is submitted regarding the proposed schedule changes, which testimony can be submitted electronically to schedules@steamshipauthority.com or in writing addressed to General Manager Alex Kryska, Steamship Authority, 228 Palmer Avenue, Falmouth, MA 02540.

More information about the hearing and the proposed schedules can be found at www.steamshipauthority.com/about/news

EDITORIAL

Celebrating independence for America — and the press

BY CHARLES M. SENNOTT

Before the Declaration of Independence was signed 250 years ago, there was an aspiring new industry known as the free press. It took shape thanks to the earliest practitioners, such as the young Benjamin Franklin, who as the printer and publisher of the influential Pennsylvania Gazette, is widely believed to be the first newsman in what would become the United States of America.

So on this 250th birthday of our nation, while a deeply divided country tries to come together around the shared ideals articulated on that yellow parchment paper dated July 4, 1776, we should remember that it was journalism that helped spark the cry for independence — ultimately leading to the Revolutionary War and forging our democratic republic. The very First Amendment of the Constitution would enshrine — and protect — the role of a free press.

A full 11 years before the Constitution was signed, the Declaration of Independence stated the purpose and the promise of a new nation: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”

The key word in the document is in the title, as “independence” is an attribute that is necessary in any democracy, and most definitely for a free press. At the time, it was all about freedom from control of the crown, which oversaw the media in the colonies, freedom from control of business interests, and freedom to establish a voice by the people and for the people. The battle to control newspapers was a fixture of a political debate for the colonies, and the leaders of the colonies were focusing their ire on the so-called Stamp Act — which imposed a royal tariff on paper used for everything, but most particularly used by the nascent press in the new country.

Through the tax, the Crown was also able to curtail the rise of the so-called ”pamphlets,” which were essentially long essays bound up as small publications that could easily be hidden in a pocket and be hidden from the British redcoats, who were increasing in number in Boston and beyond, and seeking to quell a revolutionary spirit in the air.

Indeed, the Stamp Act of 1765 decreed that a tax would be paid for all paper that carried the stamp of the British Crown, which the colonists deemed unfair since they had no elected officials offering input. The resistance to the Stamp Act set in motion the rallying cry “No Taxation Without Representation,” which in turn gave shape to the Boston Tea Party protests that proved to be the historic point of no return for the rebels challenging the authority of the monarchy.

The most famous author of these pamphlets was Thomas Paine, who wrote “Common Sense” in January 1776. The 47-page pamphlet argued for American independence from Great Britain using clear, persuasive language accessible to common people. It attacked the monarchy, and presented a compelling case for a republican government; it became an instant bestseller, and galvanized public opinion toward revolution.

ing their doors in far too many corners of the country. Major news organizations like CBS News have found themselves under the heavy thumb of an autocratic president in the White House. Oligarchs like the billionaire Jeff Bezos, the owner of the Washington Post, are facing critics who feel he has used his vast wealth to shape the legendary watchdog newspaper in a way that will favor his own corporate interests. There are many examples of how the free press is being challenged, but there is no question these are tough days for an independent press. We are proud at The Times to be an independent news organization with a local owner. Steve Bernier, who bought the paper in January 2023, saved it from shutting down, and allowed our small Island to have two newspapers that serve to keep each other honest, and to be sure that together, we are listening to the whole Island. Bernier has generously invested in the paper, allowing us to expand staff, to improve the website, and most of all just giving us a chance to be sustainable and to serve the community. We are not there yet on sustainability, candidly, but we are not giving up, and we are going to keep doing our best to serve as a watchdog, and to be sure we are hearing all of the voices of this diverse Island. Indeed, that

"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."

—TheFirstAmendment,theConstitutionoftheUnitedStates

The tariff undercut the financial sustainability of the press, and the founding fathers knew that the Crown had every intention of weakening the independent voices that newspapers like the Pennsylvania Gazette and the Boston News-Letter, which would become the first continuously published newspaper in the country, were gathering.

This is definitely a truncated history, with more angles than there is space to share here, but that was the essence of the role of the free press when the Revolution was born. We could think of Thomas Paine as an early prototype of what these days we might call digital influencers or creators, who are increasingly rising up as independent voices challenging mainstream media and questioning the status quo.

The Founding Fathers believed deeply that a free press was the cornerstone of a democracy. These days a free press is truly in jeopardy as perhaps never before in our history. Local news organizations are suffering mightily, and clos-

is why we have cleared four pages for opinion essays from many different corners of the Island, to hear from our community of readers and to give them a voice. At the end of the day, giving voice is what democracy is all about, and freedom is all about. Happy 250th birthday to America, and wishing a happy Fourth of July to all.

Charles Sennott is the editor and publisher of the Martha’s Vineyard Times. He is the founder of The GroundTruth Project, which launched Report for America, and he writes the GroundTruth newsletter on Substack.

VOICES ON FREEDOM

MARTHA’S VINEYARD SPEAKS OUT • JULY 2, 2026 •

Two hundred and fifty years ago, a group of 56 white men signed a Declaration of Independence in Philadelphia and declared that all men are created equal and entitled to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

Yet for many women and people of color, those promises remained out of reach. For indigenous communities, freedom came alongside displacement and the continued fight to preserve culture, land, and sovereignty. For African Americans, freedom was delayed by generations of enslavement, segregation, and systemic barriers. For immigrants, freedom often arrived hand in hand with uncertainty, sacrifice, and the challenge of building a new life. For countless others, the meaning of freedom has continued to evolve with each generation.

And yet, despite our different histories, freedom remains one of the most enduring and powerful ideas in American life.

As the nation prepares to commemorate the 250th anniversary of its founding, I invited members of Martha’s Vineyard’s diverse communities to reflect on a simple but profound question:

What does freedom mean to you and your community?

Before sharing their responses, I found myself sitting with the question myself. The truth is, freedom has never felt simple to me.

As a Black woman, I have spent much of my

life searching for belonging. Not because I lacked community, but because belonging often felt conditional — dependent on where I was, how I spoke, how I dressed, how much space I took up, or whether I made others comfortable.

I have watched my family be free on paper, yet constrained by the realities of what it means to be Black in America. I have watched hard-working people do everything they were told would lead to success, only to encounter barriers they did not create. I have watched generations carry burdens that freedom alone did not erase.

And yet, I have also witnessed something remarkable. I have watched my people build lives anyway.

Sharisse Scott-Rawlins

I have watched my grandparents create community. I have watched families create traditions. I have watched people transform houses into legacies, gatherings into institutions, and ordinary moments into something sacred.

Perhaps that is why freedom, to me, is

not simply the absence of chains. It is the presence of possibility. It is the ability to exist fully and authentically. To belong without explanation. To move through the world without constantly having

EDITORIAL NOTE

to prove your worth, your humanity, or your right to be here. To dream beyond survival.

As a third-generation Islander, I have often thought about the role Martha’s Vineyard has played in that pursuit. For so many communities, this Island has represented something larger than a destination. It has been a place to gather, to celebrate, to preserve traditions, to reconnect with family, and, for many, to experience a sense of belonging that can feel elusive elsewhere.

The responses that follow are thoughtful, honest, and deeply personal. Together, they remind us that freedom is not experienced in the same way by everyone. It is shaped by history, identity, culture, opportunity, and lived experience.

That is precisely why this conversation matters. No single voice can define freedom for an entire community. We understand ourselves more fully when we listen across generations, cultures, experiences, and identities. As the curator of this section, my hope

Perhaps that is why freedom, to me, is not simply the absence of chains. It is the presence of possibility.

is not to offer one answer, but to create space for many — to preserve these reflections as part of Martha’s Vineyard’s living history, and to remind us that every community is stronger when every voice has the opportunity to be heard.

On an Island shaped by Wampanoag ancestry, Colonial history, Black legacy and waves of immigration and seasonal migration there are generations upon generations of families who have called this place home. These reflections offer a glimpse into the many ways freedom continues to be understood, challenged, celebrated, and pursued here on our Island.

Because 250 years later, perhaps the question is not simply whether America is free. Perhaps the question is what freedom asks of us now.

Sharisse Scott-Rawlins is a storyteller, fashion designer, and creator of Voices bySharisse, dedicated to preserving the stories, histories, and cultural legacies that define Martha’s Vineyard for generations to come.

No single publication could capture every perspective on freedom, nor should it. These reflections are only the beginning. Throughout the summer, Voices on Freedom will continue inviting Islanders from every corner of our community to share their opinions on this question, because the story of freedom is still being written — and every voice helps shape its legacy.

DENA PORTER

Brad Lopes

I’m not sure what freedom is.

It’s a word uttered with such reverence and passion, from school classrooms to town halls. It’s a word that has been both a motivation and a weapon. While one may run toward freedom, another may seize it to take the ground away from underneath your feet. To me, freedom is a chameleon, with shades of red, white, and blue fluctuating as it changes nature. In its patriotic camouflage , one’s eye may be distracted from the tree branch the chameleon calls home, the very structures of power and hegemony that define freedom, both here and in every part of the world the tree roots reach.

“All real living is meeting.” –Martin Buber

Iwas asked to write about what “freedom” means to me. I think I was asked because I was born and raised in Warsaw, Poland; I am a Jew, nonbinary, queer; and I didn’t sell my pierogi to Alan Dershowitz. I was blessed, and cursed, by having the innate ability to do what feels right by me.

Different versions of “not-freedom” live in my body. From Jews enslaved in Egypt to the Temples destroyed, or Poland gone from the map of the world for 123 years; one grandmother was in a concentration camp, the other fled Jewish persecution in Russia. In 2020, I was arrested at a LGBTQ rights protest in Warsaw, detained for 24 hours, charged with crimes I didn’t commit. Throughout my life, strangers on the street would tell me that people like myself should not exist.

I experience anger, anxiety, and attachment. I catch myself judging others, having expectations.

My experiences have convinced me that there is always more. I know what I know, but I also know that I don’t know. I am open to learning, unlearning, and relearning. I can disagree with you, and still want

In a world that so often rewards certainty, I feel free when I am able to say, “Maybe.”

gro Proprietors in Marshpee,” in Barnstable County, an oppressive legislative act meant to enact systems of state-centered control on the Wampanoag community of Mashpee, Ebenezer Webquish and 31 members of the community submitted a petition to the General Court. In this petition, one of more than 4,000 from Native communities in the commonwealth from 1640 to 1870, the community expressed their objection to this act and highlighted the hypocrisy of having fought and died in the American Revolution, just to return home and be met with a loss of sovereignty and freedom.

If freedom is dependent upon others’ unfreedom, does it constitute freedom or, rather, privilege and power?

received in facing the enemies of America. At the close of the war and since, we say, how were and still are our pleasing anticipations blasted! How could we conceive of a people who were exhibiting such illustrious proofs of their attachments to freedom and so enlarged ideas of civil liberty and of the origin and design of government, that they should not respect those rights in others which they contended for themselves?”

In this way, freedom constitutes a trickster more than an objective reality. If one’s freedom is dependent upon another’s unfreedom, does it even constitute freedom or, is it rather, privilege and power? How could such a society claim to value liberty for all when it has been built upon this unfreedom?

In reflecting on this question, I am reminded of two moments — two moments among a multitude of many more where Wampanoag communities and individuals expressed our lived experience within this hypocrisy and pushed back. After the 1788 passing of “An Act for the Better Regulation of the Indian, Mulatto and Ne-

In a section that was later crossed out, the authors state, “Why do you violate our natural right? Why do you subject us to bondage?” Thus, liberties inherent to us as Wampanoag people were wholly denied. Moses Pocknet, alongside 27 others from Mashpee and Herring Pond, reiterated this hypocrisy with a subsequent petition only 13 years later, stating, “At the close of a long and successful war, in which we had been honorably distinguished, that one-half the Inhabitants of Mashpee fell victims in the cause of their country and of liberty; and that many who now remain are subscribers to this petition can exhibit the traces of wounds

Krem Miskevich

I’m also reminded of the speech Frank Wamsutta James gave at Cole’s Hill during the first National Day of Mourning in Plymouth. Having been censored by the governor after a review of his speech, the speech was incorporated into a group effort that had been an ongoing planning process to address the upcoming 350th anniversary of the arrival of the Mayflower and establishment of Plymouth Colony in 1970. Joined by leaders such as Tall Oak Weeden, Shirley Mills, Rayleen Bey, and many more, Frank was able to give his speech in its original form. More than 150 years after the petitions just discussed, Wampanoag people were continuing to point out the hypocrisy of freedom in the middle of a place home to romantic notions of being the birthplace of democracy from the Mayflower Compact to the Constitution. And in this reflection, I’m reminded of one line: “We fought as hard to keep our land as you the whites did to take our land away from us.” Is this freedom, or is it power and control? Given the nature of how French Jesuits often described the “wicked liberty of the savages” in reference to social systems that recognize freedom as inherent, not granted by a centralized body, and that all beings have rights, one could argue the latter. Freedom, as defined here, and the hoarding of wealth and resources are intimately woven together. And still today, many who are unfree form the foundations of those who are.

Brad Lopes is a citizen of the Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah), and an educator whose work centers on indigenous history, cultural preservation, and decolonizing education through community engagement.

to know where you come from and how you arrived at your opinion. In a world that so often rewards certainty, I feel free when I am able to say, “Maybe.”

To me, freedom is not the ability to do whatever, whenever you want. I feel the most free when my heart softens in the most challenging situations. When I offer and am offered understanding, and when there is the ability to be truly you and myself without the fear of being reduced to a label.

Being on Martha’s Vineyard has made me think about the difference between formal and lived freedom. At first, I felt what probably every person feels here (especially if they get on the dirt roads in West Tisbury) — an awe of the beaches, the big open water, and leaving the mainland. Not having to lock my car gives such a feeling of safety and freedom, and I miss it when I am elsewhere. On the surface, it seems like coming here is an escape from reality. Five years later, I see it very differently. I think that out of all places I’ve lived in, this Island can be the most unfree place to be (unless you hide in the West Tisbury forests and can afford to be invisible). In a community that claims to celebrate diversity, I see a lot of fear of (making) genuine difference. I have noticed that living here means you are under a microscope, performing for the people who pay your bills. I don’t care, but a lot of folks here do. When I was about 18 years old, I wrote a Facebook status that said, “The world would be a much prettier place, if we just f_____ off from each other” (loose translation from Polish). And I still stand by it. My idea of freedom is a world where we make room for each other. More room to be human, more room for the possibility that I might be wrong about you.

Krem Miskevich is a Polish-born chef, writer, and founder of Good Pierogi, whose work explores identity, belonging, and community through food and storytelling.

American historians have long analyzed how the promise of American independence has worked out in practice. As Americans celebrate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, they should note that it was also a declaration of war. The American colonies comprised a backwater country with no organized government or military force. And they faced the British Empire, with the largest, most well-trained army and navy in the world.

The late Vineyard historian David McCullough wrote the key historical assessment of the year 1776 in a book by that title. His analysis focused on the severe military struggles faced by the Continental Army, but he credits George Washington with forcing the British into a stalemate. It should not be forgotten that these were essentially farmers and craftsmen who were setting out to win a war against the most powerful nation in the world. It turned out to be a long, hard grind that they would have lost without the financial and military assistance from two longtime enemies of Great Britain, namely France and Spain. Second, they experimented with the idea of creating a constitution 11 years later, which was rare in the 18th century because it was based on the idea of self-government.

The American Revolution was essentially an unfinished one: Historian Thomas Richards’ new study, “The Unfinished Business of 1776,” includes a subtitle, “Why the American Revolution Never Ended.” The signers of the Declaration, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights were all welleducated white men of means. The American Civil War and Reconstruction revealed many class and racial divisions, especially the issue of enslavement and women’s subordination to men. Historians like Douglas Blackmon in “Slavery by Another Name” have extensively covered the 19th century’s development of Jim Crow laws that essentially kept Blacks in subservient positions even as women fought for the right to vote.

Three post–Civil War amendments to the Constitution supposedly “fixed” some of the problems left unresolved in 1776: the 13th, ending slavery, the 14th, guaranteeing

Jack Fruchtman

due process of law, equal protection, and birthright citizenship, and the 15th, promising the right to vote. Historian Eric Foner calls this moment “the second founding” in a 2019 book by that title. The status of women had to wait another 50 years.

Meantime, several revisionist American historians have appraised important contributions to the U.S. made by women, Black people, and Native Americans: Kathleen DuVal (University of North Carolina), Christopher Brown (Columbia), Ned Blackhawk (Yale), and Vincent Brown (Harvard). Historians like Taylor Branch

Amanda WouldGo

Reaching back into my ancestral memory, I imagine the community to be found on Martha’s Vineyard before Noepe was usurped in the name of liberty. Those days between Moshup and the Mayflower welcome me, a near stranger to this place. I am indigenous, Aquinnah Wampanoag and Secwépemc, born and raised in Washington State. I can count the number of times I have visited the Vineyard on my fingers.

And yet, this place feels like home. Last summer, after a near 20-year absence, I returned to Martha’s Vineyard for a visit. I wandered up the Cliffs at Aquinnah, certain to find family, but not knowing whom to expect. I was greeted warmly by cousins and aunties, and quickly swept to the beach for a birthday party with people who look like me. Being raised offIsland, on the West Coast of this 250-yearold nation, amid this immediate familiarity, it is tempting to think that I would find

culated the Voting Rights Act.

Another trend beginning at America’s founding to the present day is what Thomas Jefferson proclaimed to be “the empire of liberty.” American exceptionalism carries with it the imperial thrust of American global power. Historian Daniel Immerwahr, in “How to Hide an Empire,” has tracked American imperialism: from Jefferson to the 1823 Monroe Doctrine, and then the mid-19th century Mexican War, on to the late-19th century Spanish-American War and the seizure of Cuba, Puerto Rico, the Philippines, and Guam.

In the 20th century, the U.S. overthrew democratically elected leaders in Guatemala and Iran, took possession of the Northern Mariana Islands, and militarily intervened in Vietnam and elsewhere. American power expanded by establishing some 750 military bases worldwide. The current administration seized the Venezuelan president and that country’s oil production, and launched a new war in the Middle East.

Other historians have tracked the uncertain future of our constitutional republic. They ask whether the goals Americans strove to achieve in 1776 are crumpling in 2026. Here is a sampling of titles of some recent historical studies: Timothy Snyder’s “On Tyranny”; Steven Levitzky and David Ziblatt’s “How Democracies Die”; Anne Applebaum’s “Autocracy, Inc.”; and Thomas Madden’s “The Fall of Republics.”

The American Revolution was essentially an unfinished one.

have reviewed how the civil rights movement culminated in the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965, even as the Supreme Court recently emas-

the most freedom in precolonial times. I just read the book “Yesteryear” by Caro Claire Burke. The non-native, tradwife, influencer protagonist is suddenly thrust back in time to live a zero-antiseptic colonial existence of butter churning and patriarchy. Accustomed to touting “traditional” forms of cooking and child rearing on social media, when faced with the harsh realities of self-sufficiency in the past, all she wants is to return to the days of internet followers and uncertain politics. Her romanticized version of colonial living is quickly darkened by her status as a woman, imprisoning individualism, and the realities of not having nannies to manage her many children. However, that wouldn’t have been my story. I would have been on a more pristine Vineyard, sans multimillion-dollar homes and housing crises. Precolonial traditional structures were more communal, and the land was truly free. I could practice tradi-

It is wild to be viewed as a visitor, returning via Steamship Authority to the land of my ancestors.

Today the American republic is experiencing fraught times: rising inflation, an American war of choice in the Middle East, a Congress with declining authority. These problems deplete the optimism that some Americans have for the future of their country. Those who signed the Declaration of Independence knew that republics may fail. Republics were historically fragile. They sometimes fell apart. Do Americans face that today? Hopefully not, but it will take the profound effort of a unified people to reap the promise declared in 1776.

Jack Fruchtman is an author, constitutional historian, and professor emeritus whose scholarship on America’s founding and democratic ideals has spanned more than four decades. He is a regular contributor to The MV Times opinion pages.

tional arts without having to monetize them for survival. I could sit on any beach and dream. The work would have been hard, but the autonomy would have been real. I come from a people whose liberty was stripped in the 1600s. When aliens landed, took control of the Island, put up their striped flags, and pushed us to the far corners and off into the distance. Strangers built structures here that, to this day, remove Wampanoag ability to access our homelands.

Thus, I am a sojourner, albeit one who still feels connected to the land. It is wild to be viewed as a visitor, returning via Steamship Authority to the land of my ancestors. My strong connection to my Wampanoag heritage calls to me deep in my soul. I can and will do the work of reintroducing myself to my community here. However, it is hard to wrap my mind around the freedom I feel when I’m here, and the reality of how little access I have to this place.

Two hundred and fifty years is something, Dear Martha’s Vineyard, Dear America. As we all lose our freedoms under increasingly fascist-like leadership, I can see the ways that I have benefited from our democracy and the freedoms therein. However, as an off-Island person without a solid place to land on the Vineyard, it’s hard to celebrate when our lands are hard to access, our view is obstructed by wind farms, and there isn’t enough room or financial stability for someone like me to return home.

Amanda WouldGo is a Secwépemc and Wampanoag storyteller, multidisciplinary artist, and writer whose work explores indigenous identity, healing, and the transformative power of story.

Next Tuesday, July 7, I will be standing in the Vineyard Preservation Trust’s Old Whaling Church for Voices of Independence, the Trust’s signature MA250 event — an evening of spoken word and music bringing together Islanders, historians, community leaders, descendants of presidents, and new Americans, to reflect on the meaning of independence while reviving a tradition once at the heart of Independence Day celebrations: public oration in a place where such commemorations have taken place for generations.

The inspiration for the evening came from an unexpected place.

In the Vineyard Preservation Trust’s Old Whaling Church, I was looking through materials on Island history last August when I came across a slim volume, with a very simple title: “A Poem Recited by David Davis Before the Citizens of Edgartown, July 4, 1836, Being the Sixtieth Anniversary of American Independence.”

I was immediately captivated by the 15-page poem and its soaring language — heroic sway, gleaming blades, richer laurels, fearless might, patriot zeal, and freemen’s fire. The words leaped off the page, capturing both the drama and inspiration of the Revolution, still alive in the memories of the Vineyard’s own Revolutionary War veterans.

A little research led me to the educator David Davis, founder of Davis Academy. Davis was one of Edgartown’s leading civic figures in the mid-19th century — an attorney, judge, state representative, and advisor to Massachusetts governors. He also found time to be a poet.

What captivated me was not just the poem itself, but the act of its performance — the idea of a community gathering to mark Independence Day through words and reflection. The more I thought about it, the more I wondered what a modern version might look like. Thus was born Voices of Independence at the Old Whaling Church.

I couldn’t imagine creating a program inspired by American history without reaching out to the family of David McCullough, the Island’s pre-eminent historian, Pulitzer prizewinning author, and recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Author of “1776,” “The Pioneers,” “The American Spir-

As we approach our nation’s 250th birthday, it’s tempting to lean on jingoistic slogans and nod in somber solidarity over the grandiose accomplishments of the United States. Let’s not forget the audacious statements from our founding fathers in 1776: “We hold these Truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal … with certain inalienable Rights … Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.” Those words stand as a beacon of hope today as they did then. If liberty is freedom, we are still hoping to fulfill that promise.

Freedom is not the same as independence. Independence is to be free from the control and influence of others, to be self-reliant, self-sufficient, autonomous, to rely on oneself rather than external forces. Freedom is in some ways quite the opposite. It requires humility and dependence to be part of something bigger than the self — to be allied with “we the people.”

Human beings need one another, are inspired by and depend upon one another. Only together can we be free as one. We at Gannon & Benjamin know that in a very tangible way.

When our boatyard burned to the ground in 1989, it was not “us” that rebuilt it. It was “we,” the Island community, that saw our

Sissy Biggers

it,” and many other acclaimed works, McCullough helped generations of Americans better understand the people and events that shaped our nation. I reached out to Dorie Lawson McCullough, whom I had recently heard at the Martha’s Vineyard Museum speaking about “History Matters,” a collection of her late father’s writings.

When we met over a video call, I was prepared to change the date if it meant securing the family’s involvement. “July 7th,” I said. Dorie paused for a moment, smiled, and replied, “That would have been my dad’s 93rd birthday. That’s perfect.”

As I started exploring the idea, one Islander led to another. A conversation suggested a name. A chance meeting sparked a new idea. A passing comment opened

I think the best synonym for freedom is courage. And if courage is freedom, fear is bondage.

need and came to our rescue. Our freedom to rebuild and prosper did not come from autonomy but from acceptance and gratitude. It came from a partnership with something bigger than ourselves.

I think the best synonym for freedom is courage. And if courage is freedom, fear is bondage. Fear is silent against injustice, inequality, and corruption. Fear is complicit. Inalienable Rights are for all people. We need courage to achieve them, and when we do, our covenant with all people will be sealed and self-evident.

ized that while Davis’ celebration of freemen’s fire may have provided the spark, the more voices that joined the program, the less the evening became about the Declaration of Independence and the more it became about Martha’s Vineyard itself — its people, their stories, and the many ways independence is lived and understood on this Island.

Three days after Edgartown’s beloved Fourth of July parade and the last fireworks over the harbor, Voices of Independence offers a moment for reflection. Through words and music, we will consider what independence has meant to Americans, to Islanders, and to each of us. History lives in our buildings, but it truly comes alive when people gather inside them. This summer, that is what we are celebrating at the Vineyard Preservation Trust: not simply the anniversary of a document signed 250 years ago, but the many independent voices that continue to shape Martha’s Vineyard today.

Sissy Biggers is a storyteller, television host, and program director for the Vineyard Preservation Trust, where she brings Martha’s Vineyard’s history to life through community programming and public engagement.

another door. One musician led to another, and soon contributors became collaborators. Before long, I realized I had assembled exactly the kind of room I had hoped for — one that only Martha’s Vineyard can provide: a chorus of independent voices unique to our Island home.

Knowing that David McCullough Jr. would represent his father, I began shaping the final program. Portions of Davis’ 1836 poem found company alongside the words of the prolific President Adams and his wife Abigail; I was led to descendants of presidents in our very midst — a Roosevelt and a Monroe; voices from the Wampanoag and Brazilian and African American communities, newly naturalized citizens, and lifelong Islanders. Somewhere along the way, I real-

The more voices that joined the program, the less the evening became about the Declaration of Independence and the more it became about Martha’s Vineyard itself.

Benjamin

Nat Benjamin is a master boatbuilder, sailor, and co-founder of Gannon & Benjamin Marine Railway, where craftsmanship, com-

munity, and a love of the sea have shaped Martha’s Vineyard’s maritime legacy for more than 40 years.

IslandCounselingCenterislookingfora FrontOffice&IntakeSupportSpecialist

($24.00-$26.00/hour)

($24.00-$26.00/hour)

($24.00-$26.00/hour)

Island Counseling Center is looking for a Front Office & Intake Support Specialist IslandCounselingCenterislookingfora

Joinourteamservingasthefirstpointofcontactfor individualsseekingmentalhealthandbehavioralhealth services.Responsibilitiesincludewelcomingclients, answeringphones,schedulingappointments,assistingwith intakeprocesses,maintainingclientrecords,supportingthe NewPathsRecoveryProgram,andmore.Afternoon,evening (4–8PM),andoccasionalSaturdayhoursrequired.

Joinourteamservingasthefirstpointofcontactfor individualsseekingmentalhealthandbehavioralhealth services.Responsibilitiesincludewelcomingclients, answeringphones,schedulingappointments,assistingwith intakeprocesses,maintainingclientrecords,supportingthe NewPathsRecoveryProgram,andmore.Afternoon,evening (4–8PM),andoccasionalSaturdayhoursrequired.

**NON-CDL DRIVERS AND LABORERS**

Joinourteamservingasthefirstpointofcontactfor individualsseekingmentalhealthandbehavioralhealth services.Responsibilitiesincludewelcomingclients, answeringphones,schedulingappointments,assistingwith intakeprocesses,maintainingclientrecords,supportingthe NewPathsRecoveryProgram,andmore.Afternoon,evening (4–8PM),andoccasionalSaturdayhoursrequired.

CIRCUIT ARTS SEEKS AN EXPERIENCED MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER to lead strategy, creative production, and audience engagement across year-round arts programs. Full-time, in-person role on Martha’s Vineyard. 4+ years experience required. circuitarts.org/jobs

CONSERVATION AGENT, TOWN OF TISBURY

Qualifications: Experienceinbehavioralhealth,outreach,case management,orarelatedfieldpreferred.Strong communicationandorganizationalskillsrequired.Bilingual (BrazilianPortuguese/English)andRecoveryCoach certificationareaplus.

Qualifications: Experienceinbehavioralhealth,outreach,case management,orarelatedfieldpreferred.Strong communicationandorganizationalskillsrequired.Bilingual (BrazilianPortuguese/English)andRecoveryCoach certificationareaplus.

Bruno's Rolloff, Inc. is currently seeking full-time and part-time NON-CDL Drivers and Laborers for both year-round and seasonal positions. Applicants must be available for early morning shifts and seasonal overtime. We offer competitive wages, excellent benefits, and yearly bonuses. Applications can be picked up at our o ce at 11 East Line Road, Edgartown, or requested by emailing admin@brunosmv.com. For further inquiries, please contact us at (508) 693-5454.

BOOKKEEPER WANTED –HIRING ASAP

Forfulljobresponsibilitiesandtoapplyplease checkourwebsiteorscantheQRcode: mvcommunityservices.org/employment

Forfulljobresponsibilitiesandtoapplyplease checkourwebsiteorscantheQRcode: mvcommunityservices.org/employment

Qualifications: Experienceinbehavioralhe alth,outreach,case management,orarelatedfieldpreferred.Strong communicationandorganizationalskillsrequired.Bilingual (BrazilianPortuguese/English)andRecoveryCoach certificationareaplus.

Forfulljobresponsibilitiesandtoapplyplease checkourwebsiteorscantheQRcode: mvcommunityservices.org/employment

The Great Put On, a high-end retail clothing boutique in Edgartown, is seeking an experienced Bookkeeper. Responsibilities include accounts payable/receivable, bank reconciliations, payroll assistance, invoicing, and maintaining financial records. Must be organized, detail-oriented, reliable, and experienced with bookkeeping software (QuickBooks preferred). Please send résumé to thegreatputonmv@gmail.com or call 508-560-9821.

The Town of Tisbury (population 4,740) is seeking to fill the position of Conservation Agent. Candidate should have strong communication skills, both written and verbal. Must be able to work collaboratively with governing board, Management, all departments, and the public. Bachelor’s degree preferred in Environmental Science or related field and two years of related experience or any equivalent combination. Must have Valid Massachusetts driver’s license. Some duties include review all applications, site visits, Enforce state and local environmental laws and regulations, $45.65-$48.61 per hour M2 step commensurate with experience. This is a 24 hour a week position. Interested candidates should send a town application available on the town website www.tisburyma. gov, cover letter, and resume to Pam Bennett at pbennett@tisburyma.gov by July 9th by 4:00 PM. Open until filled. Contact Human Resources for job description.

DUKES COUNTY IS SEEKING A RELIABLE INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR TO PERFORM PROPERTY AND BUILDING MAINTENANCE TASKS AND MANAGEMENT AS NECESSARY.

Duties include basic facility upkeep, light repairs, general maintenance tasks, and troubleshooting across county buildings. Prior experience required, construction license preferred. Applicants should be dependable, able to work independently, and capable of occasional physical tasks. Please send a letter of introduction, including proposed hourly rate and references, via email to manager@ dukescounty.gov

DUKES COUNTY SHERIFFS' OFFICE PUBLIC SAFETY TELECOMMUNICATIONS OFFICERS ** $500 Monthly Housing Stipend for Full Time Island Resident Telecommunicators** Are you looking to kick-start your career, while helping the Island Community?

Duties include, but not limited to receiving, processing, transmitting and/or dispatching emergency and non-emergency calls for police, fire, emergency medical, and other public safety services via telephone and other communication devices.

Effective oral and written communications skills, sensitivity to working with confidential material; flexibility and willingness to adapt to changing environment and priorities; positive attitude, integrity and, excellent judgment.

Work schedule includes assignments to the day, evening and night, weekend, and holiday shifts.

Paid on-site training, as well as off-island Academy training upon completion of probationary period. Full-time position with a generous benefit package, including paid leave, insurance and retirement. Full time Tele-Communicator-In-Training pay range is $71,140.94$78,545.22 annually, plus $500 monthly stipend. Applications and job description available at dukescountysheriff.com/ careers

The Health Care Access Specialist provides public health insurance application and enrollment services for state and federal systems including MassHealth and Medicare. Excellent interpersonal and communication skills required. Proficiency with office equipment, MSO 365 and requisite software programs, ability to input/ manage data, and maintain confidentiality required. Must be able to work independently and be a positive team member in our busy multicultural Health Care Access office. 40-hour/ week position, Portuguese- and or Spanish-speaking helpful. Benefits include a competitive salary; health insurance; discounted dental plan; and a full retirement package based on years of service. Dukes County is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Full job descriptions and job application available at https://www.dukescounty.gov/employment-opportunities Send letter of interest to manager@ dukescounty.gov

ISLANDALPACA

ENTHUSIASTSWANTED! Seekingpositive,outgoing individualforapart-time positionasbarn&farmassistant/ host.

Tellusaboutyourself.Torequest anapplication,emailus: info@islandalpaca.comorstop bytopickup!

JOIN OUR TEAM AS AN OFFICE MANAGER FOR THE 2026 SEASON!

As an integral part of our operation, you’ll play a key role in ensuring smooth sailing for our customers and staff alike.

Responsibilities:

- Creating reservations

- Ensuring all excursions are paid for

- Creating a daily report of profits for each activity

- Assisting customers with filling out all waiver releases

- Providing stellar customer service by answering inquiries over the phone, in person, and via email

- Collaborating with a team to ensure all boating excursions depart punctually

Must-Have Qualities:

- A sunny disposition and a willingness to work hard

- Experience in high-stress situations and exceptional problem-solving skills

- Great customer service skills

- Organizational prowess

Schedule: Full-time or part-time from now h to end of August. Great pay & bonuses!

Preference for candidates who can continue working until Labor Day

Sterling Insurance Group is growing! We’re hiring motivated individuals for our Martha’s Vineyard & Boston offices. No insurance experience required — we’ll train the right person. Competitive pay starting at $62,400 with a raise upon licensure. Full-time. Apply at insurewithsterling.com.

Navigator ($23.07-$27.40 per hour)

Do you love helping families thrive?

We’re seeking a compassionate and resourceful Service Navigator to support families in identifying resources, solving problems, and building strong community connections. Join a team that values family strengths, diversity, and self-direction across the lifespan. Experience preferred but paid on the job training may be provided. Sign-On Bonus available to employees in good standing! Apply at: mvcommunityservices.org/ employment

Staff Generalist at Daybreak Clubhouse ($23.00 - $27.60 per hour)

Love supporting others as they grow, learn and connect? We re looking for a dynamic team member to provide vocational, educational, and social support to members in our Daybreak Clubhouse. We value lived experience and strongly encourage individuals with personal experience of mental health illness to apply. Apply at: mvcommunityservices.org/ employment

MARTHA’S VINEYARD REGIONAL HIGH SCHOOL

The Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School District is seeking qualified candidates for the parttime (0.50 FTE) position of School District Treasurer

The school district Treasurer is the chief financial custodian responsible for the receipt, disbursement, investment, and reporting of all funds belonging to the School District ensuring absolute adherence to Massachusetts General Laws, District policies, and established financial practices.

For a list of job responsibilities and qualifications, and to apply, please visit www.mvyps.org. under Employment; new jobs corresponding Schoolspring Job Id: 5803060 508-693-2009 Deadline: ntil Position is Filled

Start date is to be determined

No person shall be excluded or discriminated against on the basis of race, color, sex, age, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability. EOE.

VINEYARD SCRIPTS IS HIRING A YEAR-ROUND CERTIFIED PHARMACY TECHNICIAN

Pay commensurate with experience. 117 Beach Rd., VH. Please stop by for an application or email your resume to vineyard.scripts@gmail. com.

Jobs

MVCS ISLAND WIDE YOUTH COLLABORATIVE EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES:

Program Director ($73,000$88,000/year).

The Program Director will lead the IWYC, a Massachusetts Family Resource Center. Responsibilities include program oversight, designing and planning the IWYC program, supervising staff, working with Leadership to develop program budgets, managing state and federal contract compliance, and collaborating with community partners. Some evening and weekend hours are required. SignOn Bonus available to employees in good standing!

Qualifications: Bachelor’s degree required (relevant field preferred) and 1–3 years of nonprofit program management or leadership experience. Strong communication, leadership, and organizational skills required. Passionate about helping families thrive? We encourage you to apply at: mvcommunityservices.org/ employment

School Liaison ($23.00-$28.50/ hour)

The School Liaison will serve as a resource to families, schools, and the community, connecting families experiencing CRA-related issues with services and supports. Responsibilities include providing referrals, helping develop Family Support Plans, maintaining family service data, meeting regularly with Island schools, and assisting with IWYC/FRC programming and events. Some evening and weekend hours are required.

Qualifications: Background in social services or a mental health setting preferred. Strong communication, organization, confidentiality, and collaboration skills required. Valid Massachusetts Driver s License and reliable transportation required. Apply at: mvcommunityservices.org/ employment

MVPCS LEARNING FACILITATOR

The Martha’s Vineyard Public Charter School has an opening for a Learning Facilitator in our special education department starting September 1, 2026. Please email resume, letter of interest, and completed application to Peter Steedman, Director, psteedman@mvpcs. org. Applications can be found on the school website: mvpcs.org MVPCS SPECIAL EDUCATION TEACHER

The Martha’s Vineyard Public Charter School has a part-time opening for a Special Education Teacher. Applicants should hold a MA teaching license in Moderate Disabilities or have a degree in special education. Please email resume, letter of interest, and completed application to Peter Steedman, Director, psteedman@ mvpcs.org. Applications can be found on the school website at MVPCS.org.

NOW HIRING MEDIA ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE: JOIN OUR AWARD-WINNING TEAM!

We are seeking a driven, community-minded Account Executive to support our ad sales and marketing efforts. Help local businesses grow while supporting exceptional local journalism. Part-time (20 hrs/ wk) with potential for full-time

advancement. Primarily in-person with remote flexibility. $25/hr ($26k/ yr) plus bonus and commission potential. 1-2 years of sales or marketing experience preferred. To apply, email your resume to sean@ mvtimes.com.

OUTREACH COORDINATOR

UP-ISLAND COUNCIL ON AGING

General Duties: Provide case management; analyze, assess, advise and coordinate programs and services for older adults. Conduct home visits, connect clients to resources, provide education and promote awareness of Council on Aging services.

Minimum Qualifications: Bachelor’s Degree in Human Services or related field: two years of developing and implementing programs for seniors; or any equivalent combinations of education and/or work experience. Hourly rate $34.67 - $38.23per hour. 37.5 hours per week. The Town anticipates hiring at Step 1 ($34.67). The Town may offer a higher starting step, up to Step 3 ($38.23) depending on qualifications and experience. Full job description and required application can be found on the Town of West Tisbury’s website atwww.westtisbury-ma.gov. Resume & application must be received by July 21 st 2026 at 4p.m. by mailing to p-Island Council, P.O. Box 3000,PMB 3174, West Tisbury, MA 02575, or hand delivered to the Council on Aging located at 1042A State Rd., West Tisbury, or e-mailing to coa-director@westtisbury-ma.gov. Must have a valid MA driver’s license and complete a Criminal Offender Record Information check. This is a benefited position. The Town of West Tisbury is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

PART-TIME

Customer Service/Office Assistant Friendly, dependable, detail-oriented person to assist our Office Manager for the summer. Handling customer calls; assisting with office and administrative tasks. Excellent telephone and communication skills; courteous and reliable. Monday - Friday 8:00 - 1:00 Join our friendly team in a busy, customer-focused office.

Island Source Attn: Danielle 508-693-8700 or info@island-source.com

ROSEWATER MARKET IS ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR A FULL-TIME YEAR-ROUND FRONTOF-HOUSE POSITION. For consideration, e-mail jared@ rosewatermv.com with a resumé and availability.

TEACHER’S ASSISTANT MVPCS

The Martha’s Vineyard Public Charter School has an opening for a full-time Elementary Teacher’s Assistant to start September 1, 2026. We are looking for a creative, enthusiastic individual wishing to explore or advance a career in education within our project-based learning curriculum. Competitive salary and full benefits provided. Please email a resume and letter of interest to Peter Steedman, School Director, at psteedman@mvpcs.org and complete an application on our website, www.MVPCS.org.

TISBURY SCHOOL

Seeks qualified applicants for a school Custodial position.

Daytime hours during the summer and school vacations; evening hours during the school year Competitive pay based on experience; ($60,070-$91,250 off of the MVEA Custodial agreement) Full benefits including health/dental & retirement

To submit an application visit our website at: www.mvyps.org under Employment; new jobs corresponding Schoolspring Job Id: 5800103 508-693-2009

Deadline: ntil Position is Filled

No person shall be excluded or discriminated against on the basis of race, color, sex, age, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability. EOE.

UP ISLAND REGIONAL SCHOOL DISTRICT

The p-Island Regional School District is seeking qualified candidates for the part-time (0.29 FTE) position of School District Treasurer. The school district Treasurer is the chief financial custodian responsible for the receipt, disbursement, investment, and reporting of all funds belonging to the School District ensuring absolute adherence to Massachusetts General Laws, District policies, and established financial practices

For a list of job responsibilities and qualifications, and to apply, please visit www.mvyps.org. under Employment; new jobs corresponding Schoolspring Job Id: 5803074

508-693-2009

Deadline: ntil Position is Filled Start date is to be determined

No person shall be excluded or discriminated against on the basis of race, color, sex, age, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability. EOE.

VINEYARDHAVENYACHTCLUB TAKEOUTKITCHENHELP

FunworkwiththebestviewofVH Harbor!Breakfast/Lunchtakeout counterkitchenhelpneeded. Experienceinfoodpreppreferable, butnotrequired.Competitivepay. Contactgalley@vhyc.com.

MARTHA’S VINEYARD PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Seeks qualified applicants for a 1715 Administrative Support Personnel

Responsibilities include:

* Coordinating bi-weekly payroll

Maintaining time & attendance records

Maintaining payroll & personnel

files

* Assisting with other associated duties and all other duties requested by the Superintendent and/or Business Manager Payroll and BudgetSense experience a plus Proficiency in Excel, Word, and other related office software a plus Applications can be submitted by visiting: www.mvyps.org, under Employment; new jobs-corresponding Schoolspring Job Id: 5770135 Deadline: ntil Position is Filled No person shall be excluded or discriminated against on the basis of race, color, sex, age, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability EOE.

LOOKING FOR PART-TIME HELP FOR 75 YR OLD FAMILY MEMBER WHO RECENTLY LOST ABILITY TO DRIVE

Seeking help to run errands together, garden, take walks, cook together and companionship. Pay is negotiable and hours are too, ideally 10-12 hrs a week, year-round. Please contact summerhelpinfo@ yahoo.com to schedule an interview.

LOOKING FOR RESPONSIBLE FULL-TIME TEAM MEMBER.

Starting pay based upon experience with regular raises with new learned skills. Valid driver’s license, the ability to show up on time, follow directions and communicate are necessary. Potential housing available. Call 508-863-9956

Classifieds

Real Estate

$1,245,000 MARILYN MOSES 617462-0381 OCEAN PARK REALTY, OAK BLUFFS CLASSIC CAPE Charm meets modern e ciency in this move-in-ready 3-bedroom home. Thoughtfully maintained and beautifully presented, the home features sun-filled living spaces, an updated kitchen, and comfortable bedrooms designed for easy everyday living. Enjoy year-round comfort with energy-e cient minisplit systems providing both heating and air conditioning, offering costeffective climate control in every season. The finished basement adds valuable bonus space ideal for a media room, home o ce or workout room giving you the flexibility to fit your lifestyle. Outside, a private yard offers the perfect setting for relaxing or entertaining. A wonderful opportunity for a year-round residence, vacation getaway, or investment...this classic Cape blends timeless style with modern upgrades.

$2,250,000 MARILYN MOSES OCEAN PARK REALTY 617-462-0381 NEW CONSTRUCTION

Welcome to Lagoon Ridge, Oak Bluffs’ newest and most soughtafter neighborhood. Build your 3bedroom dream home in this elevated enclave, set 95 feet above Lagoon Pond and capturing sweeping sky views, colorful sunsets, and refreshing sea breezes. This exceptional home site represents one of the final opportunities in this thriving new community.To be built The Naushon features 3 bedrooms, 3.5 bathrooms, and over 2,400 square feet of thoughtfully designed living space. A grand wrap-around covered porch provides a welcoming entry and the perfect place to enjoy morning coffee or cool evening breezes. Inside, the open-concept floor plan connects the chef’s kitchen with spacious living and dining areas, ideal for entertaining family and friends. Each bedroom suite includes a tiled en-suite bath with customizable fixtures and finishes, and the second-floor suites may offer private balconies for added relaxation. Classic Oak Bluffs cottage architecture meets modern comfort and energy e ciency, making The Naushon an ideal yearround or seasonal retreat. Lagoon Ridge offers direct access to conservation lands with walking and biking trails, and nearby Lagoon Pond invites kayaking, sailing, and shell fishing. All utilities electric, town water, and a private, state-ofthe-art Amphidrome wastewater system are located at the street. This innovative system serves the entire neighborhood, providing convenience and peace of mind. Lagoon Ridge is a covenantprotected community with architectural review and professional management by First Property Management Co. This beautiful home site is ready for the construction of your Vineyard dream home. Eleven lots have sold only two remain available. Call for details!

CLASSIC OAK BLUFFS VICTORIAN

OAK BLUFFS WATERVIEW LOT FOR SALE

$2,575,000 MARILYN MOSES

617-462-0381

OCEAN PARK REALTY, INC

Built in 1875 by renowned architect Samuel Pratt, this classic 4bedroom Victorian is just one block from the beach and moments to the harbor, ferries, shops, and restaurants. Enjoy water views from the mahogany wrap-around porch and private balcony. Historic charm is complemented by thoughtful updates, including mini-split heating and cooling, Harvey replacement windows, a rebuilt mahogany porch, newer roof, updated electrical, outdoor shower, and town water and sewer.

Established rental history with 2026 bookings in place. Partially insulated 3-season home.

IMPROVED PRICE: $1,795,000** CONTACT MARILYN MOSES AT 617-462-0381 FOR MORE DETAILS!

OCEAN PARK REALTY

Discover the beauty of **THE PRESERVE at THE WOODLANDS** in the highly coveted Oak Bluffs community! This is your chance to own one of the last remaining building lots in this prime location, just moments away from town, beaches, harbor, ferry ports, and the Farm Neck Golf & Tennis Club. Underground utilities are already in place, making this rare offering perfect for developing your dream family compound. Enjoy a peaceful and private setting, surrounded by conservation land and trails ideal for hiking, walking, and biking.

Don t miss out on this incredible opportunity to embrace the Oak Bluffs lifestyle!

$1,200,000

CALL OR TEXT Rene Ben David's Cell 508-847-4864

OCEAN PARK REALTY

Welcome to # 0 Temahigan Ave & Dover Street, Oak Bluffs. Build Your Martha s Vineyard Dream Home. Rare opportunity to own a level, cleared corner lot in desirable Oak Bluffs, with paved roads bordering two sides, ready for construction of your Martha’s Vineyard dream home. Approved for up to 6 bedrooms, this exceptional property includes an approved 6-bedroom septic design, with room for a possible future pool. Located in the sought-after Eastville area, where many homes enjoy beautiful water views, this lot offers the potential to capture stunning views of Vineyard Sound and beyond from a thoughtfully designed home. Create a custom residence that embraces all the beauty and lifestyle Martha s Vineyard has to offer. Enjoy a short walk to Eastville Beach, where you can take in spectacular sunsets, watch the ferries come and go, and experience the charm of island living. Just a short drive away, you’ll have access to everything that makes Oak Bluffs so special additional beaches, shellfishing, swimming, boating, and the vibrant energy of Circuit Avenue, featuring boutique shopping, diverse restaurants, and convenient ferry service to and from the island via the iconic Oak Bluffs Harbor and nearby ports. This is more than just land it s an opportunity to create something truly special. Don’t just dream it make it reality. Owning a piece of Martha s Vineyard is an investment in a lifestyle you’ll never regret. Please include a preapproval or proof of funds with offer. Seller is offering a buyers broker consideration.

MAIN HOUSE PLUS GUEST APT WITH ROOM FOR A POOL! OPEN HOUSE

SUNDAY 7/5, 12:30-2:00, 44 TIFFANY DRIVE

Classic Vineyard charm meets modern luxury. Set on 1.38 private acres, this beautifully renovated 4BR/4.5BA Cape offers over 4,000 sq. ft. of living space, a gourmet kitchen, large living room with fireplace, dining room, large family room with propane fireplace o ce/game room, two ensuite bedrooms, multiple entertaining areas, a screened porch, and a separate onebedroom guest apartment above the garage. All new appliances, windows, mini-splits. Plenty of room for a pool. Listed for $3.095M, contact Perry Patterson, Realtor, MV Luxury Homes, 973-789-1264

PRICE IMPROVEMENT

46 KENNEBEC AVENUE

OAK BLUFFS, MA

$$1,495,000

CALL OR TEXT ALAN SCHWEIKERT 508-221-1708 OR MICHAEL SCHWEIKERT 774-563-9112

OCEAN PARK REALTY

This exquisite Victorian home, lovingly preserved by the same family for over a generation, stands in outstanding condition and is perfectly situated in the vibrant heart of Oak Bluffs Center. Enjoy the convenience of being just steps away from the Public Beach, Steamship Authority, Oak Bluffs Harbor, a supermarket, and a variety of charming restaurants and shops that contribute to Oak Bluffs' allure as a premier summer destination on Martha's Vineyard. This delightful three-season cottage has been carefully modernized over the years, offering a rare investment opportunity. Located within the highly sought-after B1 Zone, this residence has been cherished as a family home while also providing the potential for commercial endeavors. The property features a welldesigned floor plan that includes four bedrooms-one conveniently located on the first floor-along with a full bathroom, two half bathrooms, a laundry storage area, an eat-in kitchen, and a cozy living room. The home is adorned with stunning wood flooring throughout, bright and airy rooms with original windows, a new hot water on demand system, and a charming front porch, perfect for leisurely afternoons. With its four bedrooms and prime in-town location, this property offers substantial rental potential, making it an exceptional opportunity for both personal enjoyment and investment.

PRIVACY MEETS CONVENIENCE IN OAK BLUFFS JAYNE ISFORD | 203-962-4317

$1,795,000

Nestled at the end of a quiet street, this roomy and spacious Cape-style home offers privacy and convenience just a short distance to the Oak Bluffs School, town center, and within walking distance to the Lagoon.

Sun-filled main level with open floor plan, large windows, and a generous kitchen with ample counter space, opening to the dining area. Sliders lead to a back deck, yard, and bluestone patio ..perfect for entertaining or relaxing. Radiant heated floors in the primary suite and lower-level playroom. Twocar garage with bonus space above. Beautiful stonework driveway. Updated furnace (2020) and water heater (2024).

SOLD & CLOSED IN 30 DAYS

$1,995,000 CALL OR TEXT

MARILYN MOSES 617-462-0381 HOUSE & STUDIO ABOVE GARAGE~

Welcome to 26 Tia Anna Lane! This exquisite residence is immaculate, stylish, and fully renovated, ready to welcome its new owners! Situated on a beautifully landscaped 0.30acre lot adorned with vibrant plantings, the home boasts pristine conditions both inside and out, featuring newer Hardi Plank siding. The inviting farmer's porch, complete with Mahogany decking, sets the tone for this charming property, while a lovely pergola graces the back of the house. Upon entering, you are welcomed by a whitewashed wood with high ceiling that enhances the warm ambiance. The flooring throughout the home is first-growth Southern Pine, meticulously crafted with pegged and bunged details. The expansive entrance leads into the living and kitchen areas, which are bathed in natural light, creating an airy atmosphere. Uncover the charm of the wood-burning stove nestled in the family room, equipped with a circulating fan adds warmth, e ciency and focal point for gatherings. Culinary enthusiasts will appreciate the kitchen, which is outfitted with stainless steel GE Cafe Series appliances, attractive quartz countertops, walk in pantry and ample cabinet space to store all your cooking essentials. The screened porch offers an ideal setting for entertaining guests or enjoying a peaceful morning coffee amidst the lush surroundings. All bathrooms in the home have been meticulously renovated, ensuring modern elegance and functionality, while custom window treatments elevate the aesthetic. Additional updates include, a hot water heater (installed in 2020), pull-down stairs to a fully insulated attic (upgraded in 2021), energy-e cient heat and air conditioning with mini-splits, in ground sprinkler system for easy maintenance and a forced hot water boiler for optimal comfort throughout the year. The beautifully landscaped yard provides ample space for outdoor enjoyment, and deeded access to the Lagoon from Gull Landing opens up opportunities for kayaking, swimming, fishing, boating, clamming or simply savoring the picturesque waterfront scenery. Call now for your private tour!

SOLD FULL PRICE IN 5 DAYS !!

$895,000 CALL OR TEXT MARILYN MOSES 617-462-0381

Charming year-round renovated Victorian cottage in the historic Martha s Vineyard Camp Meeting Association, located in the heart of Wesleyan Grove in Oak Bluffs. This 3-bedroom, 1-bath home features shiplap walls, knotty pine ceilings, original wood flooring, and sun-filled interiors throughout. The updated kitchen offers quartz countertops, a farmhouse sink, stylish lighting, and newer energy-e cient appliances. Improvements include Marvin wood windows, a newer roof, hot water tank, and energy-e cient heat pumps for AC and heat. Enjoy a welcoming front porch with colorful gardens and a slate patio with fenced garden space for outdoor dining and relaxing. Just steps to Circuit Avenue, Oak Bluffs Harbor,

23CircuitAveExtension Cell508-847-4864

Oak Bluffs: Home Sweet Home Situated on over a quarter acre of beautifully landscaped, level grounds with colorful

3bedrooms/1bathroom,Rare OpportunitywithEndless Possibilities – UnmatchedHarbor& VineyardSoundViews.Location, Location,Location!Atrulyrare offeringintheheartofOakBluffs, wherepropertieslikethisseldom becomeavailable.Positioned directlyacrossfromtheiconicOak BluffsHarbor,thispropertyboasts unobstructedharborviewsand sweepingvistasofVineyardSound asettingthatcapturestheverybest ofislandliving.Fromyourfrontyard, watchferriescomeandgo,boats driftthroughtheharbor,andenjoy thestunningbackdropofopen waterstretchingtowardVineyard Sound.Thisisapropertythatputs yourightinthemiddleofeverything, whilestillofferingthecharmand characterofaclassicislandhome. ZonedB-2Commercial,the opportunitiesaretrulyendless. Continuethelegacyofasuccessful tourist-orientedbusinesslikethe longtimeAndersonBikeRentals, createanewcommercialventure,or reimaginethepropertyasyour personaldreamhome.Whetheryou renovatetheexistingstructureor buildfromthegroundup,you’ll benefitfromoneofthemostvisible andvibrantlocationsinOakBluffs. Walktoeverything ferries,beaches, themarina,restaurants,movies, shopping,OceanParkconcerts,the OB fishingpier,andthebelovedOak BluffsFireworks.Thisisamust-see, legacypropertywithrarepotentialin alocationthatcan’tbebeat.Very easytoshow.Pre-approvalorproof offundsrequiredwithalloffers.

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

Real Estate

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

OFFICE FOR RENT IN VINEYARD HAVEN

1,200 sqft Beach Road location for office use only. Call 508-627-2750.

SOLD$2,400,000MarilynMoses 617-462-0381,Michael Schweikert774-563-9112,Alan Schweikert508—221-1708 15MainStreetVineyardHaven $2,900,000

PrimeCommercialBuilding–Main Street,VineyardHavenExceptional opportunityintheheartof downtownVineyardHaven.This well-maintainedmixed-useproperty offersover3,100sqftofversatile space,featuringtwoground-floor retailstorefrontswithexcellent streetvisibilityandtwoupdated1bedroomapartmentsabove—ideal forstaffhousingorrentalincome.A fullbasementprovides flexible storageorutilityspace,anddeeded rearaccessallowsfordeliveriesand logisticalease.Recentupdates includeplumbingimprovementsand a fullyrenovatedapartment. Whetheryou'reaninvestorseeking steadyincome,abusinessowner lookingfora flagshiplocation,ora developerexploringmixed-use potential,thispropertydelivers exceptionalvalueinoneofMartha’s Vineyard’smostdesirable commercialcorridors.

WESTTISBURY NEWLISTING$1,399,000

CallorTextMarilynMoses 617-462-0381

nishedhouse:$550/sq.ft.) Packagesinclude:Customdesign,

trim,insulationand floors.Thepreconstructionwallandroofpanels goupinab out3weeks.Viewmodel inAquinnahbyappointment.(508) 645-3572Brokerparticipation invited Posner@MVPostAndBeam.com

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.

CITATION GIVING NOTICE OF CONSERVATOR’S ACCOUNT

Commonwealth of Massachusetts

The Trial Court

Probate and Family Court

Docket No.

DU13P0010PM

In the matter of:

Sumner M. Grover

Of: Vineyard Haven, MA

Protected Person/Disabled Person/ Respondent

To the named Respondent and all other interested persons. you are hereby notified pursuant to Rule 72 of the Supplemental Rules of the Probate & Family Court, that the CONSERVATOR’S ELEVENTH (11th)

ANNUAL accountis) of Jeanne M. Francisco of Vineyard Haven, MA as Conservator of the property of said Respondent has or hale been presented to the Court for allowance.

Dukes Probate and Family Court PO Box 237

81 Main Street

Edgartown MA, 02539

You have the right to object to the accounts). If you with to do so, you or your atorey must file a written appearance and objection al this court on or before 10:00 A.M. on the retum date of 07/14/2026. This day is NOT a hearing date, but a deadline date by which you have to object to the accounts). If you fail to file the writen appearance and objection by the retur date, action may be taken in this matter without further notice to you, including the allowance of the accounts). Additionally, within thirty days after said retum day (or within such other time as the Court upon motion may order), you must fle a writen affidavit of objections stating the specific facts and grounds upon which each objection is based and a copy shall be served upon the Conservator pursuant to Rule 3 of the Supplemental Rules of the Probate & Family Court. You have the right. to send to the Conservator, by registered or certifed mail, a written request to receive a copy of the Pestion and counts) at no cost to you.

IMPORTANT NOTICE

The outcome of this proceeding may limit or completely take away the above-named person’s right to make decisions about personal affairs or financial affairs or both. The abovenamed person has the right to ask for a lawyer, Anyone may make this request on behalf of the abovenamed person. If the above-named person cannot afford a lawyer, one may be appointed at State expense

WITNESS, Hon. Susan L Jacobs, First Justice of this Court.

Date: June 17, 2026

Register of Probate

MARTHA’S VINEYARD

COMMISSION PUBLIC HEARING

The public is invited to a public hearing concerning the following Development of Regional Impact #783 Jordan’s Nursery

Applicant: Bayes Norton Farm, Inc.; Michael Donaroma; Doug Hoehn (Agent) Location: 218 Edgartown-Vineyard Haven Road, Oak Bluffs. Map 40, Lot 12 (approximately 17 acres).

Proposal: Creation of a retail and commercial nursery

Date & Time: Thursday, July 9, 2026 at 6:30 p.m.

Place: Hybrid Meeting MVC Office - 1st Floor, 33 New York Ave, Oak Bluffs, MA and Zoom Meeting ID:

878 2830 8183; Password: 475306

The application and plans are available on the MVC website. Written testimony may be submitted prior to or during the hearing. Check for updates on the online calendar.

MARTHA’S VINEYARD COMMISSION PUBLIC HEARING

The public is invited to a public hearing concerning the following Development of Regional Impact #784 Aquinnah Headwaters

Applicant: Northeast Native Network of Kinship & Healing; Matt Coffey (Agent) Location: 759, 761 & 765 State Road, Aquinnah. Map 9, Lots 150, 149 & 148, respectively (approximately 7.76 acres) Proposal: Development of a safe living facility comprised of three participant residences, a caretaker residence, a food hub building and a healing center building. Date &Time: Thursday, July 9, 2026 at 6:35 p.m.

Place: Hybrid Meeting MVC Office - 1 st Floor, 33 New York Ave, Oak Bluffs, MA and Zoom Meeting ID: 878 2830 8183; Password: 475306 The application and plans are available on the MVC website. Written testimony may be submitted prior to or during the hearing. Check for updates on the online calendar.

LEGAL NOTICES W. TISBURY LEGAL NOTICE TOWN OF WEST TISBURY REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS WEST TISBURY, MASSACHUSETTS

The Town of West Tisbury, acting through its Owner’s Project Manager, CHA, is soliciting proposals from qualified bidders to retain the services of Mechanical / Electrical Engineering Designer firms to provide HVAC engineering and design services for improvements to the West Tisbury Police Department facility, as governed by the selection of designers for any municipality or local public agency building project subject to the state designer selection law, M.G.L. c. 7C, §§ 44-57. Copies of the Request for Qualifications (RFQ) document with instructions and requirements are available via email request on July 8 th , 2026, by contacting the Owner’s Project Manager Thomas Downie at tdownie@chasolutions. com and c/c Prajakta Patil at ppatil@ chasolutions.com. Interested firms must submit proposals no later than 4:00 PM on Thursday, July 23rd , 2026. Proposals must be submitted electronically via email in pdf format, and firms should request for confirmation of receipt upon submitting the proposals to the Owner’s Project Manager Thomas Downie at tdownie@chasolutions.com and c/c Prajakta Patil at ppatil@chasolutions. com. All questions should be emailed to Thomas Downie at tdownie@ chasolutions.com and c/c Prajakta Patil at ppatil@chasolutions.com no later than 12:00pm Friday July 17th, 2026.

In order to be considered eligible, Prospective Proposers must attend a mandatory site visit on Thursday, July 16 th , 2026, at 10:30am at location 454 State Rd, West Tisbury, Massachusetts 02575. Based on the qualifications and scoring there will be interviews scheduled for August 10th, 2026, and August 11th, 2026 More information will be provided by Interview notices to the designer

firms. Proposals received after the time and date established herein for the opening of Proposal shall not be accepted or considered, regardless of the cause for delay in the receipt of such bids.

The fee Designer’s services will be negotiated. The Town of West Tisbury reserves the right to reject any and all bids, to waive any informality in bidding, and to make the award as may be determined in the best interests of the Town.

“An Equal Opportunity MunicipalityAA/MBE”

LEGAL NOTICES OAK BLUFFS

AMENDED NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

RE: Brice Appeal

Eugene D. Brice 25 Circuit Ave. Extension Map 8 Parcel 292

The Oak Bluffs Zoning Board of Appeals will hold an In-Person Public Hearing on Wednesday, July 15, 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 Sections 3.5.5 and 8.1.5.2, or any action related thereto, to: construct addition/renovation including rebuilding existing decks and exterior stairway on a pre-existing non-conforming structure on a pre-existing non-conforming lot in the Floodplain Overlay 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

Cottage City Historic District Commission NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

Wednesday July 8, 2026 at 5:15 PM

RE: Naushon Park Map 17 Parcel 34-1, Map 11 Parcel 100, Map 11 Parcel 101

This is a HYBRID meeting with both in person & Zoom participation available.

The meeting will be held in the downstairs meeting room at the Oak Bluffs Town Hall, 56 School Street, Oak Bluffs MA or Join Zoom Meeting https://oakbluffs.zoom.us/ j/82682453302?pwd=7ds7miF18CNaIJbJwlHRDlqJy1A8za.1

Meeting ID: 826 8245 3302 Passcode: 397196 Naushon Park - Map 17 Parcel 34-1, Map 11 Parcel 100, Map 11 Parcel 101 Antone Lima, Chair Parks & Recreation Installation of a split rail fence on all four sides of each parcel

Proposed plans are on file in the Building Department at Town Hall. Written correspondence can be addressed to: Cottage City Historic District Commission Attn: Lee Ann Tavares, PO Box 1327, Oak Bluffs – 02557 email: buildingadmin@oakbluffsma.gov

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING RE: Gloria A. Hickey Trust Appeal

Gloria A. Hickey Trust 27 County Rd. Map 7 Parcel 12

The Oak Bluffs Zoning Board of Appeals will hold an In-Person Public Hearing on Wednesday, July 15, 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 Sections 8.1.5.1.5: Septic Upgrade in FPOD; 8.1.5.2.1: Construction of Dwelling in FPOD; 8.1.5.2.4: Construction of Garage in FPOD; and 9.1.A(7)(a)(i): Height Relief Within Coastal District, or any action related thereto 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: Zarba Appeal John Zarba and Susan Lemoie-Zarba 2 East Side Rd. Map 13 Parcel 7

The Oak Bluffs Zoning Board of Appeals will hold an In-Person Public Hearing on Wednesday, July 15, 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 9, Section XVIII(1)(A)(6)(a)(i)for alterations to buildings and additions to existing residential structures, provided that such additions or alterations shall not result in additional sewage flow or sewage capacity if said building or structure is served by onsite sewage disposal facilities. 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 LEGAL NOTICES EDGARTOWN NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING EDGARTOWN CONSERVATION COMMISSION

On Wednesday, July 8, 2026 at 4:30 p.m. the Edgartown Conservation Commission will hold a hearing via Zoom on a Notice of Intent (SE201844) filed by Doug Hoehn (SBH) and Peter Fletcher (Ahearn Architects) on behalf of 80 EBR LLC under the Edgartown Wetlands Protection Bylaw and the Massachusetts Wetlands Protection Act. The applicant is seeking permission to demolish an existing dwelling and construct a new dwelling, garage, barn, carriage house, pool, utilities, landscaping, and related site activities. The property is located at 80 Edgartown Bay Road (AP Map 46, Lot 42). For a copy of the application or for questions related to participating in the meeting via Zoom, please contact: conservation@edgartown-ma.us

PUSH CARTS, ONE RED (MODEL 3.0) ONE BLACK Collapsible. In good condition. $100 each. 215-962-0109. AFFORDABLE SAILING 19 foot O’Day Weekender Sailboat, includes gear for sailing his summer, trailer, 6HP Yamaha 4 - stroke (separately available)$100. Jerry 508-560-7291 COOKING MUSTS-NEW Thermos Heat Distribution Plate for Grill, $10. Foley Turn Over Broiler Rack (still in box) $10. Call-508-627-8438.

FREE 22 foot hunter sailboat with new roller furling jib, bottom clean painted, 9.9 outboard motor, no trailer. 508-627-2139.

FREE 3 window air conditioners, good condition. Call. 508-221-0076.

FREE

Armchair 30”; x 34”;; child’s hobby horse; 30’ runner rug; IKEA child’s bed; white desk, 36”; x 18.5”;; we deliver; text 202-280-8257 FREE Grey and beige upholstered chair, IKEA child’s bed, child’s hobby horse, grey 30’ runner rug. Take some or all. We can deliver. 202-257-5609. FREE KAYAK. 8’. Red. Fully functional, with very slow minor leak that is fixable by someone with know how. Text 585-781-0301

size. 10” thick. Easy to inflate. Free. Allan 617-676-8160 KLH-HT3300 HI-QUALITY 5

SPEAKER HOME THEATRE SYSTEM

Brand New in original carton, original inner packaging.$95.00. PICS 508274-8131

NEW Men’s rain jacket with hi-vis reflective bands, commercial grade-$40. Rain pants, horizontal reflective bands on legs-$20. Men’s size large. email cmarcmail@gmail.com pictures/ to see.

TWO 20”;

ESSAY

It’s still my flag

BY ELIZABETH ST. JOHN VILLARD

The United States of America celebrated the 200th anniversary of the country on July 4, 1976. Richard Nixon had resigned on August 9, 1974.

The war in Vietnam had ended on April 30, 1975.

In the 12 years before those events, the country saw a growing tension between those in power and those who objected to their actions. It began with student protest against racial injustices, and rapidly expanded to frustration with what students saw as embedded and uncaring professors and administrators. Those early protests laid the groundwork for protests against the Vietnam War.

I am sure for most people reading this, these events are far in the distant past. Maybe there was reference to protest in their advanced-placement history class, or an odd song referring to death in Ohio. Unlikely things safe in the distance.

Not for me: I lived through it. I was a freshman in a women’s liberal arts college when a high school classmate wrote me from jail. She had been part of the sit-in at Berkeley University in California in the fall of 1963. Even in her heavily redacted letter, it was clear what she was saying: “I am in jail. Why aren’t you?” Her words echoed the probably apocryphal comment by Emerson to Toreau: “Henry, what are you doing in jail?” to which Thoreau is supposed to have replied: “Waldo, what are you doing out of jail?”

The anger behind that sit-in spread rapidly across the academic world. In the spring of 1966, I was part of a group of five students who disrupted our Spring Convocation to hand the college president a peti-

LETTERS

Changes to Edgartown ADU rules

To the Editor:

We are writing to let Edgartown property owners know that the town has changed its approach to the construction of new accessory dwelling units (ADUs) to resolve a lawsuit we filed last year. The zoning board of appeals had refused to issue a permit for a new garage ADU because we needed to build it 15 feet from our property line, and the lot is zoned for 25-foot setbacks. We argued in the lawsuit that a 2024 state law required the town to consider whether it would be reasonable to enforce the setback requirement if that would prevent the construction of an ADU.

The town offered to reconsider its position, and we refiled our application with the building inspector. She recently issued a permit allowing the garage ADU to be built 15 feet from our side boundary, based on her finding that the 25-foot setback requirement was an unreasonable restriction under the new law, because there is no other place on our property that we could build the ADU.

This decision has big implications for ADUs in Edgartown. Most of our part of town has half-acre lots that were laid out when we were in a zoning district with 10-foot side setbacks, but the area was later rezoned into a district with 1.5-acre minimum lots and 25-foot side setbacks. Because Edgartown has been unwilling to waive the increased setback requirement, it has been impossible for many of our neighbors to build new accessory structures. Now the town has recognized

tion. He was upset enough to go off his written text and call us “a burp from Berkeley.” He was roundly booed by the student body.

In the spring of 1970, I joined a street theater group protesting the politics behind the war in Vietnam. We were not movie or rock stars, just Columbia University students who felt passionately that the war was wrong, and that we had an obligation to try and bring that message to anyone who stopped by and listened.

I have tried since then to explain to my daughters just how frightened the group was as we sang and danced our way through what even we knew was a very small, perhaps pathetic, effort. But that May, we had reason for our fears. It was May 4, 1970, when four students died at Kent State University in Ohio. It was May 8 in New York City when men building the World Trade Center took their lunch hour to attack students protesting on Wall Street. And finally, it was May 15 when three more died at Jackson State College.

Somehow during that turbulent time, something odd happened. Ownership of my country’s flag was taken over by the Republican Party. Nixon wore a flag on his lapel, and conservatives waved large flags as if they were the only true patriots. The only thing a liberal Democrat like me could do was to childishly refuse to stand as the American flag — my flag — went by in parades.

On July 4, 1976, I joined 6 million people in and around New York City Harbor to celebrate our country’s 200th anniversary. At the very end of the fireworks, an American flag covering half of the Verrazzano Bridge was unfurled, the simulcast radio program played “The StarSpangled Banner,” and, yes, the sky

an exception under the new ADU law for accessory structures that have areas for sleeping, eating, and a bathroom.

We thank Inspector Reade Milne for her professionalism and willingness to work with us throughout the permitting process. ADUs can be an important part of the Vineyard’s efforts to create affordable housing, and we hope that other towns will follow Edgartown’s lead and re-examine their zoning requirements and procedures under the new law to make that happen.

Ted and Roberta Scallet Edgartown

Health needs to be a united effort

To the Editor:

I am writing in response to the recent actions of the West Tisbury board of health having denied access to the town's tick data to epidemiologist Leah Hamner. Both she and Betsy Van Landingham have the gratitude of the Island for their work in keeping up with the evolving tick issues. A kerfuffle doesn’t help much except to point out the several agents and agencies getting involved, and the need to figure out how to keep everyone informed, on track, and paid. Why doesn’t the county take this role? That way Hamner would not be fundraising for herself (she is self-employed, not a nonprofit), and we could keep her here, costs to be shared by each town.

During the pandemic we had the Tisbury health agent, Maura Healy, in charge of the Island-wide public health

turned red from the fireworks. I was on a yacht in the harbor. We stood, some of us for perhaps the first time in many years, and we sang along as our national anthem played. Around us, on the water, on the shore, and on the bridge above, multi-generation and brand-new citizens sang. Refugees and immigrants joined in. And beyond the bridge, the Statue of Liberty kept watch over her harbor and our liberties.

I have written at length about the protests 50 years ago to try and explain my reaction to a young man who turned up at a No Kings Rally with two flags: a Trump banner and an American flag displayed together. I wanted to scream, “They’re doing it again! They’re trying to steal my flag!” Now, don’t get me wrong. I believe deeply in every human being’s right to life, right to liberty, and right to turn up at a No Kings Rally with a Trump banner. He clearly thought he was protecting the U.S. from those who dared to question its actions, and was unconcerned with how little impact his presence had.

The No Kings protesters handled his presence in a dignified manner: We did not scream; we just ignored him. Symbolically, the double flag display became too heavy for him, and he was reduced to displaying only one flag. But I was left with the frustrating feeling that once again, the right, particularly the MAGA right, was trying to claim my flag. They were once again projecting their self-righteous belief that they were the only ones who had the right to display the flag of the U.S. and the symbols connected to it.

So I went home and did something whimsical but satisfying: I bought a 250th anniversary hat. It has an American eagle, flanked by the Statue

response. It worked very well. (Maura has since retired.) The M.V. Hospital and other health providers covered medical issues, too.

This time things are becoming more diverse. At least for now we should stick together.

Marie Laursen Vineyard Haven

food, utilities, medical expenses, transportation, clothing, and programs that will benefit our Vineyard veterans. Admission is free for all veterans and all Gold Star parents, whether you are from on- or off-Island! Thank you, Sharks! Enjoy the game, and thank you for your service! “The land of the free because of the brave.”

of Liberty and the Liberty Bell, with a colonial flag draped behind them. I had no idea what I had started. It turned out that the algorithm attached to that hat believed that anyone who wanted to order a patriotic birthday hat was male, with appalling taste in T shirts. The topics ranged from the chauvinistic to the gross to the anti-anyone-not-a-white-male. The sort of pop-up ads that produced this stream of disgusting T shirts rarely last long, so I figured if I waited a few days, they would go away. At some point, however, some far-right organization bought or found my phone number, and is now sending me MAGA texts. They started with “Are you still a Republican?” and have moved on to asking me to immediately support something that Trump is doing.

The odd thing about that algorithm is how bad a job it is doing. It has completely missed that I am a knee-jerk feminist liberal, and that I buy T shirts with quotes such as Benjamin Franklin’s “Justice will not be served until those who are unaffected are as outraged as those who are,” and Sojourner Truth’s “If the first woman God ever made was strong enough to turn the world upside down all alone, these women together ought to be able to turn it back, and get it right-side up again!” Despite all this nonsense, I am still committed to not letting anyone take my flag away. So on this 4th of July, I intend to put on my 250th anniversary hat with my flag and my eagle and wear my “All of My Heroes Have FBI Files” jacket. See you at the parade.

Elizabeth St. John Villard is president of the Rotary Club of Martha’s Vineyard.

This is one of several ways the CPA helps, along with the voters of Tisbury, to support a safe, healthy, and diverse community.

The Community Preservation committee looks forward to continuing to help Tisbury’s goals with future projects.

Paul Munafo, chairman Tisbury Community Preservation committee

Thanking veterans with the M.V.

To the Editor:

Sharks

“No duty is more urgent than that of returning thanks.” –James Allen

Our veterans were there when our country asked them to serve. We need to ensure that we are there to support them upon their return. From time to time, they ask us to help out, and we try. There are many Martha’s Vineyard veterans we may see in our daily lives, and never know of their struggle each day. Those of us working with our veterans see and hear their stories, and all too often, we have limited resources to help. Tuesday, July 7, at 7:05 pm, the M.V. Sharks will be honoring our Vineyard veterans as they host the fourth Vineyard Veterans Night game. The Sharks and the Veterans Advocate Group will be hosting a silent auction. Proceeds from the game will be donated to our Vineyard veterans through the MVCS Outreach Program. Proceeds will go into the “Veterans Grant Fund,” and will support and honor our veterans who have served our country. All the funds will be spent on such things as housing,

Bob Tankard, veterans outreach coordinator

Tom Bennet, director of veterans services

Jane Chandler, veterans’ advocate

Anita Botti, veterans’ advocate Martha’s Vineyard Community Services

Tisbury CPC’s role in the new Owen Park pier

To the Editor:

Thank you for your coverage on Tisbury’s beautiful new pier at Owen Park (“Ribbon-cutting ceremony celebrates reconstruction of Owen Park Pier,” June 10). As the chair of the Tisbury Community Preservation committee, I would like to point out an important omission in your article.

It was Community Preservation Act (CPA) funding that provided the seed money ($250,000) over the years 2019, 2020, and 2025, that in turn led to the town of Tisbury receiving the $1,000,000 Seaport Economic grant for the project.

As a committee, we are delighted that the CPA has the capacity to provide seed money that can lead to obtaining other funding sources, contributing to the success of such a large municipal project.

Dispose of U.S. flags properly To the Editor:

We have a lot of flags dropped off at the post, and we can't burn them. Because modern synthetic flags (nylon/polyester) can melt and release hazardous, toxic fumes, burning them isn't recommended.

The U.S. Flag Code allows for ceremonial separation, where you carefully cut the blue field of stars (the union) away from the stripes. Once separated, it is no longer officially a flag. How to do it:

• Separation: Lay the flag flat on a clean surface, and carefully cut the union (blue background) completely away from the stripes.

• Result: You will have multiple pieces — the blue star field, seven red stripes, and six white stripes — meaning the fabric is no longer recognizable as a U.S. flag.

• Disposal: Once it is no longer technically a flag, you can safely and respectfully discard the individual pieces in the trash.

Jo Ann Murphy, commander American Legion Post 257

Gov.HealeybacksIslandleadersontickmitigation

Continued from A1

“My first concern is public health and the devastating harm that ticks cause for people,” Healey told The Times after the roundtable.

“I've met a lot of people who have had alpha-gal, who,ve had other tick-borne diseases, and that s my first concern. It,s a public health issue, and we need to address it.”

On Wednesday, Islanders who are involved in initiatives aimed at controlling a rising tick infestation and curtailing widespread tickborne conditions and allergies that come with them, through both public and private associations, welcomed Healey. Joining her were state officials including Department of Fish and Game Commissioner Tom O’Shea, Department of Public Health Commissioner Dr. Robert Goldstein, and Cape and Islands Sen. Julian Cyr. The talk was moderated by the executive director of Tick Free MV, Virginia Barbatti. Each local representative highlighted the efforts underway to mitigate tick-borne conditions. One of those is a more aggressive form of deer culling through what are known as “deer damage permits,” which allow qualifying agricultural properties to recruit hunters to act as pest control against deer and reduce their damage. Healey threw her support behind this last Wednesday. Deer are the main reproductive hosts for ticks, and the primary vector through which they are spread across the Island. But the top recommended mitigation is preventing ticks from latching on to skin.

The Island’s only tick epidemiologist, Lea Hamner, spoke on Wednesday about the severity of ticks and

tick-borne conditions. She referenced her journey from a public health official in Washington to her move to the Vineyard.

“I thought I was getting away from an epidemic, leaving COVID behind in the rearview,” Hamner said.

“Here I am dealing with a new version, and it really is stunning, having actually handled the pandemic and

the 100-square-mile Island is becoming defined by a minuscule arachnid.

The Times asked Healey about the economic impact of ticks after the roundtable discussion, and she said it’s one of her top considerations after the public health implications of rampant tickborne conditions.

“The Vineyard is such a special asset for our state,

posters on buses, the Steamship Authority, and tourism hubs. She also suggested increasing access to EpiPens, and pledged potential financial assistance from the state for initiatives like a new deerprocessing center.

Tick-borne conditions can range from Lyme disease to a relatively new and increasingly prevalent syndrome, alpha-gal. The steady increase in alpha-gal syndrome, which is an allergy to mammalian products caused by lone star tick bites, is believed to be due

tive. So it,s a really dramatic change to life here.”

And since January, 200 additional Lyme cases have emerged.

photo of a deer that was recently killed by a hunter was passed around to Healey and state representatives. More than 150 ticks were found on the deer’s left ear alone.

Expanding hunting access and deer-damage permits to conservation land was also discussed, since the Island’s separation from the mainland and development of housing over time has resulted in higher concentrations of deer in wooded areas and sprawling backyards of private homes.

dealing with this. There,s definitely differences, but it,s truly remarkable the growth of alpha-gal syndrome on this Island that has happened in the past five years.”

The situation is getting increasingly distressing for Islanders, seasonal residents, and tourists, not just because of the health risk, but also through a pervasive fear that has the potential to impact the Island economy, which relies heavily on summer tourism. The Vineyard community has been careful to maintain the land as a continually sought-after vacation spot through restrictive zoning and sweeping conservation efforts. But now,

Housingclosetotheland

Continued from A1

seasonal farm hand at Island Grown Initiative (IGI) and yurt dweller, told The Times on a recent Thursday afternoon. “The housing crisis around here is so real.”

At the IGI campus in Vineyard Haven, just past the pickup for Community Supported Agriculture produce shares and plots of community gardens, three yurts are propped up on sandy terrain. The structures are 16 feet in diameter and are manufactured by Pacific Yurts. They’re situated next to a small building that has a kitchen, bathroom, and dining area. In that shared space, a few bikes are stored in the entryway and a guitar is propped next to a dining table.

The three farm hands, who each live in an individual yurt, often meet for meals and coffee in the shared building. Since the yurts are out in the open and barely

insulated, the heat can get intense, so the AC in the shared space has already come in handy for them.

IGI administrators pursued the yurts for seasonal workers while building yearround housing for their mainstay employees. The effort to build those units was substantial, and the cost to construct on the Vineyard is higher than on the mainland.

“We just knew that kind of expenditure was not realistic for seasonal employees. But with a farm, the workload really does shift and is so much greater in the summer,”

Caroline Pam, co-executive director at IGI, said. “This is a perfect solution — a more cost-effective, affordable housing opportunity.”

Pam added that “in order to attract skilled, experienced people who want to learn about regenerative farming, it’s really hard to attract people

and we want to make sure that our tourism industry and the economic productivity of the Vineyard continues,” Healey said. “I heard today about all the folks on the Island who work outdoors for their livelihoods and to support their families, and the presence of ticks and the presence of something like the lone star tick and alphagal is something that really limits and interferes with their ability to earn a living. That's a problem.”

Healey advised those present at the Ag Hall to be even more vigilant through tick education. She offered ideas for more preventive techniques to the public, such as

to come for six months of the year without being able to provide housing.”

The other co-executive director of IGI, Noli Taylor, pitched the idea of yurts. She and her husband, Isaac, lived in one while their home was being built 20 years ago.

“It was such a wonderful space to live in,” Taylor told The Times. “We loved it. So that opened my eyes to the value of yurts, and I’m so glad that we’re now able to offer this housing to our seasonal farm staff.”

Yurts are not the first line of defense against a stark shortage in affordable units, but they are one option and an increasingly popular one. Across the country and in many corners of the Island, yurts have been touted as a possible housing solution, especially in areas with less severe weather. The size of the structures are comparable to small accessory dwelling units, but their impermanence and lower costs have made yurts a sought-after addition to

While there is antibiotic treatment available for Lyme disease and some other ticktransmitted illnesses, there is no approved medical treatment for alpha-gal syndrome. For some, the allergy goes away on its own. But with every additional tick bite from a lone star tick that carries alpha-gal, the condition gets worse. This puts outdoor workers at higher risk. And the allergy, like any severe allergic reaction, can be fatal if anaphylaxis occurs and no EpiPen is on hand.

to a higher number of ticks. It is also partly due to a brandnew system of data collection for the condition. Alpha-gal became a reportable condition on April 1, and the data are still coming in.

During just three months of research, Hamner said, there have been 300 new reports of alpha-gal-positive Islanders. The boards of health in each town now have to investigate each of those, the severity of the allergy, and when the person started seeing symptoms.

“That,s a stunning change,” Hamner said. “Six years ago, only nine tests were performed in the hospital period, and two were posi-

backyards and workplaces.

“Everyone who’s tried to build housing here knows how difficult it is to make it work financially, and a solution like ours is practical for a farm environment,” Taylor said. “As a nonprofit with limited resources, finding affordable, creative solutions that also help our staff have healthy, humane lives is a priority for us.”

She added that the Martha’s Vineyard Commission was supportive of the idea.

On the Island, workplace housing is scarce. Overcrowded conditions, last-minute Facebook posts on local housing groups, and even outdoor living in tents are all commonplace on the Vineyard when space gets tight in the summer for families and business owners looking to house employees. The relatively primitive dwellings are stark against the backdrop of extreme wealth. According to reports by the Martha’s Vineyard Commission, the average rent cost is $3,000 for a one-bedroom

And those who work outside aren’t the only locals with elevated risk. Bret Stearns, Chilmark Police officer and acting resource officer for the Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah), said tribe members have greater odds of getting a tick-borne condition because so much of their lives take place outdoors.

The Wampanoag Tribe members on-Island, Stearns said, are also concerned about chemical tick treatments. He said spraying backyards doesn’t just keep ticks away. It can harm the entire Island ecosystem.

“Outdoor sustenance harvesting has had a profound effect on all age levels, and I d say the goal from the tribal perspective and my own personal perspective is to work through the local, state, and federal organizations … to find ways that we can reduce the impact, the human impact, by minimizing the amount of chemical interference in wildlife and in our environment,” Stearns said.

For Stearns, hunters, and private tick groups on the Island, deer culling is the most appealing solution to the tick problem. At one point, a

apartment in the off-season. On local sites that list shortterm rentals, prices can be around $50,000 a month for a vacation stay, with some homes so lavish, visitors are charged in the hundreds of thousands for a brief visit.

Building is also an estimated 30 percent higher here than on the mainland, according to a phenomenon, which came up in talks around the Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School building project, called the “Island factor.” This difference is largely due to transportation costs.

The three yurts cost a total of $55,000 for IGI to purchase and $130,000 to install, much lower than the average construction costs to build a home. They required building inspector and town approval, but since they’re small and can be deconstructed, it was a less rigorous process. And at $500 a month, the lodging for the farm hands is a fraction of the rent average.

“They’re charging very little as far as Martha’s Vine-

“These deer populations are now getting more and more concentrated,” said Joseph Capece, president of the MV Hunt Club.

There’s a deer cooler, one of a few on the Vineyard, at the Agricultural Hall’s campus, which the organization has plans to expand. Healey pledged support for that initiative. Processed deer are donated to Island Grown Initiative for their food pantry, and given for free to Islanders as a protein-rich food source.

Co-executive director of Island Grown Initiative Noli Taylor said the Vineyard has “the fifth highest food costs in the country, and many, many Islanders struggle to access the food that they need.” But she added that through the food pantry and partners, they’ve distributed 3,000 pounds of venison since 2019.

Outside the Agricultural Hall after the roundtable, Healey doubled down on the public health risk of tick prevalence.

“Frankly, with climate change, we've seen more things come north,” Healey said. “So my message to the public is: Make sure you're out there checking for ticks … Check your kids for ticks. If you see something that's concerning, make sure you get to a doctor for your care.”

yard rent prices go, and it’s really nice to roll out of bed and just be like: ‘I’m at work!’” Villanueva said. She added that their commute is a mere 30 seconds.

The other two farm hands, 31-year-old Lina Raciukaitis, from Worcester, and recent Kenyon College graduate Jen Novick, 22, said the yurts have made for rather easy living so far.

“It’s very spacious inside — like it’s honestly way bigger than many bedrooms I’ve had before,” Novick said as she sat cross-legged in one of the chairs in their common area.

The farm hands said their daily routines are defined by a close proximity to their jobs and access to homemade lunches and fresh produce to cook with.

“It’s very comfortable,” Novick said. “I would say, it’s not the most weatherproof.” And that closeness with the land means more than just temperature fluctuations and

Gov. Maura Healey met with Island leaders in tick mitigation and conservation at the Agricultural Hall.

ELLA MUNNELLY

NewSSAterminalopensinWoodsHole

Continued from A1

traffic congestion. Several revisions were made to the design until the current, singlestory version was approved in 2019 by the SSA board.

Since the old terminal, which used to be where the third ferry slip now is, was demolished in 2018, the ticket office served as the Woods Hole terminal until the new building was opened. The temporary ticket office was closed on Thursday, and all operations have now moved to the new terminal.

The new terminal, which cost $37 million to build, is noticeably larger than the temporary ticket office, which was around 3,600 square feet. The new terminal, designed by Bostonbased BIA.studio, is 5,418 square feet. An accompanying utility building on the edge of the property for employees is 5,981 square feet.

Woods Hole is the SSA’s busiest port, and according to the ferry line, 2.4 million passengers and 550,000 vehicles passed through it in 2025.

“It’s exciting to see it finally open, people using it, people hanging out and sitting waiting for the next boat to come in,” Alex Kryska, SSA general manager, told The Times Thursday. Construction of the terminal and utility building began in October 2024.

Mark Amundsen, SSA COO, touted the energyefficient building design as a part of Gov. Maura Healey’s goal of being net zero by 2050. He highlighted that 18 out of 39 geothermal wells are drilled underground and circulate groundwater to heat and cool the terminal; the remainder are located on other parts of the project site. There are also plans to

install two solar canopies and solar panels in an effort to obtain its Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification, a rating system that grades a building’s sustainability and energy efficiency.

Amundsen also said the building was built to sustain hurricane-force winds and storm surges, as it’s elevated by concrete walls and has deployable flood barriers.

In Woods Hole on Tuesday, many people interviewed about the new terminal haven’t been inside the terminal yet, but reactions varied depending on how close they lived. People who work in Woods Hole but live elsewhere in Falmouth, the town Woods Hole is a part of, were either indifferent to the project or approved of the building.

“I think it’s great,” said Therese Steele, manager at Soft as a Grape clothes store in Woods Hole.

But those who call Woods Hole home still felt apprehensive about the building, highlighting its size and erasure of the waterfront view from certain parts of the village. Bob Morris, a longtime resident, said, “All you can see is the roof of that damn building” from the Crane Street bridge and the Woods Hole Public Library.

“That building is a desecration of a beautiful thing,” Morris said, referencing the waterfront views which are now largely obstructed.

Nat Trumbull, a resident who’s long advocated for less congestion in Woods Hole through his organization, the Southeast Massachusetts Regional Transportation (SMART) Citizens Task Force, said he hasn’t seen

how the terminal operates just yet. But he shared Morris’ sentiments.

“The building was designed for the Steamship to look out onto Woods Hole, but was not designed for Woods Hole residents,” Trumbull said.

On the Vineyard, two of the founders of the SSA Citizens Action Group, Beth O’Connor and Amy Cody, were also not celebratory over the project. They highlighted that Islanders who travel to the mainland also have to deal with the impacts in Woods Hole, such as congestion. To O’Connor and Cody, the terminal was an

solid building, and we’d be happy,” she said.

Still, Cody said, they were hopeful of better days with Kryska, who began general manager duties in January, and a changing board.

Housingclosetotheland

Continued from A18

fresh food. The three farm hands all spoke about the rising public health concern on the Island of ticks and the tick-borne conditions like alpha gal that they are causing. The housing issues on the Island are different for the farm hands, who were familiar with difficulties with lodging in their hometowns and cities. But on Martha’s Vineyard, they faced a new version of a familiar hurdle.

“I have friends who are putting their stuff in storage units, trying to do the Island shuffle. I feel like I vaguely did it last year, but I was really lucky to have IGI behind me,” Villanueva said. The ‘Island shuffle’ is a colloquial phrase that refers to locals moving out of their homes or rentals to make room for seasonal visitors.

Villanueva worked at IGI last season, and lived in a

example of mismanagement and overspending by the SSA over the years.

“It’s kind of bristling when a Vineyard resident or a visitor says it’s a beautiful building,” Cody said. Cody and O’Connor questioned the size of the building and its design, believing the SSA overspent on a “legacy building.”

“We’re New Englanders at heart … give us a

house provided by IGI as she waited for the yurts to be built, and met a lot of yearrounders and seasonal workers in the farm community.

Novick said she was alarmed by how much housing affects year-rounders, especially “workers here who are the backbone of this community.”

She added that she knows a lack of affordable housing availability is “the case across the country,” but she’s observed that the crisis is “under a magnifying glass” when the space to build is limited by a surrounding ocean.

But all three farm hands discussed their delight in the way agricultural workers are treated on the Island. “People care so much about farmers here,” Villanueva expressed.

“I didn’t really realize how big the agricultural scene was here before I moved. I was sort of surprised to learn about that, but it does make a lot of sense, and I’m happy that it exists,” Raciukaitis said with a smile.

The terminal was initially supposed to open in mid-May, but Kryska said the process was snagged by underground boulders that needed to be moved and delays caused by winter storms in February. The ferry line also only received an occupancy permit about a week and a half before it was opened. With the

“soft launch” taken care of, Kryska expects an official ceremony to be held at some point deeper in July. Now the ferry line is turning its attention to the next phase in renovating the area. That means getting rid of the temporary ticket office and the two construction trailers in order to open up more parking. Afterward, landscaping and further construction, like paving, relighting, and the installation of solar panels, will take place.

“That’ll start at some point in the fall, probably not until January,” Kryska said.

The new Woods Hole terminal was completed this month.

The revamped ticket counters in the terminal.

PHOTOS: EUNKI SEONWOO

Mike Platt, a longtime caddy at Vineyard Golf Course, known to some in the community as “Chappy Mike,” hit a little shot around the big tree on the ninth hole of the Royal and Ancient Chappaquiddick Links on Monday, June 22. He thought the ball rolled over the green, but after he peeked into the hole, he realized that he had hit the first ever hole-in-one albatross on the Island course’s ninth hole, a feat that still hadn’t quite

hit him when he spoke with The Times on Wednesday, June 24.

Platt said he did not bury the shot without help. While in his hands was the driver of a friend, it wasn't that either which sank the ball. He said it was Nala, his best friend and dog from the other side, who gave it the nudge it needed.

“I know she helped with that,” said Platt in an interview with The Times. Platt, a seven-year member at the Chappaquiddick course,

Pickleball

For the first time ever, Airport Fitness has invited professional pickleball players to Martha’s Vineyard to teach and com-

pete, offering local players a rare chance to learn from top talent as the sport continues to become popular among younger players.

A gift from Nala

was playing with friends when he made the hole-in-one, and Chris Kennedy, general manager of the course, was there to record the moment.

“It was wild, first one on record over there for hole nine,” said Platt. “It was special to share it with them; everyone was fired up. It was a cool moment, and thanks to Brad [Woodger] and Chris for keeping that place around and keeping it in shape.”

If you have ever played the serene Chappaquiddick course, you’ll remember the ninth hole. It’s longer than the rest which, for the most part, require only irons to reach the green. But the ninth is a driver hole for most, and at the back of the long hole, there is possi-

bly the most quaint lake in the world: Lake Nala, marked by a small blue-and-orange sign. For Platt, Lake Nala is more than just a small body of water on a beautiful course. It's a remembrance of his dog and best friend, who watched, supported, and trekked alongside him across hundreds of hours’ golfing on the course. But most important, Nala’s favorite part of the rounds was always cooling off in what would otherwise just be known as a simple puddle at the back of the ninth hole.

“She just always liked to find a puddle, and there was always a puddle behind that green, so whenever we would get to that hole, she would cool herself off in that little lake,” Platt

said. “So that was kind of always her spot, and we made a sign.”

As Nala got older and couldn't trek the fairways like she used to, Brad Woodger, a business partner of the course's owner, Douglas Halbert, and Chris Kennedy allowed Platt and Nala to use a course golf cart to continue their travels over the greens in her final days.

The shot at hole nine also marked Platts’ third holein-one on the course. Platt said he previously sprinkled Nala’s ashes on hole seven of the Chappaquiddick Course, before he hit a hole-in-one there. Platt said he also hit a hole-in-one on hole three.

“You gotta think a higher power or something is going on when something like that happens,” said Platt in an interview with The Times.

“All credit to the old doggy Nala.”

Connie McHugh, the gym owner and tennis pro who has more than 30 years of teaching experience, and has operated Airport Fitness for

the gym's entire 30-year history, said the sport’s popularity has surged throughout the country in recent years, especially among younger people. McHugh credited this increase in participation to the fun social experience combined with exercise and competition.

Camps will be held at Airport Fitness from July 16

through 19. The pros will face off in an exhibition match after the July 17 camp session at the fitness club.

“We teach all the time here, but this is the first time we are having people travel to the Vineyard who are professional players,” McHugh said. “The cool thing about the exhibition: It features a woman, Angie Walker, a

Fu, international premier teaching professional at Moore Elite Pickleball, said. Cobi Moore, the founder of Moore Elite Pickleball, who’s competed internationally in professional tournaments through the Professional Pickleball Association (PPA) and the Association of Pickleball Players (APP), said the team from Moore

collegiate tennis player who turned pro in pickleball.”

Each camp session has 16 spots; sessions on the 16th and 17th are already full, and McHugh said the second set of sessions is filling quickly.

Four instructors will lead the camps, three from Moore Elite Pickleball, a pickleball program that hosts camps in New Hampshire, and one of the Island’s very own, Brendon Ryan, a pickleball pro at Airport Fitness.

"We're excited to spend the week in Martha's Vineyard. It's a great opportunity for our athletes to grow as players, build stronger friendships, and create memories they'll carry for years," Ryan

Elite is excited to make the most out of the camps.

"Any time you can combine high-level instruction with a memorable location like Martha's Vineyard, it's a special opportunity,” said Moore. McHugh, alongside her son Andrew, and Airport Fitness pickleball pros Ryan and Michael Reidbord organized the camp.

At the camps, coaches will provide on-court instruction and real-time critiques. McHugh said it was the first major professional pickleball event of its kind on the Island.

“I think it's going to be really cool,” McHugh said.

Mike Platt hit the first ever albatross on the ninth hole of Royal and Ancient Links. BY NICHOLAS VUKOTA

Professional pickleball players are traveling to the Island to coach and play. BY NICHOLAS VUKOTA

Mike Platt and Nala on Chappy.

Mike Platt after hitting his hole in one.

1. Cobi Moore, founder of Moore Elite Pickleball; pro player, APP and PPA Tours, 5.5+ Level Elite coach. 2. Brendon Ryan, pickleball pro at Airport Fitness. 3. Ryan Fu, international teaching professional, with Moore Elite Pickleball. 4. Oscar Serra, Italy's finest, with Moore Elite Pickleball.

PHOTOS: COURTESY MIKE PLATT

PHOTOS: COURTESY AIRPORT FITNESS

THURSDAY, JULY 2, 2026

DENA PORTER

It was a February morning in 2026. I peeked my head over a thick blanket to see heavy snowfall outside my window. Turns out local meteorologists weren’t being alarmist — we had been hit with another blizzard, and this one was for the record books. My husband and I suited up to shovel the driveway for the umpteenth time that winter, and the frosty air burned my nose as soon as I opened the door. I dug my overworked shovel into the weighty powder, and it snapped in half. I looked up toward the gray sky and asked, “WHY CAN’T IT JUST BE JULY ALREADY?”

I promised myself I would remember that moment during this time of year, and frankly I apologize for taking you back to it, too. But the frozen landscapes and days filled with cabin fever are behind us, and Martha’s Vineyard is in its prime, with that abundant sunshine, the turquoisecolored ocean, and those roadside farmstands in full bloom. Our local event calendar is so full, I think I have whatever sickness is the opposite of cabin fever — the kind where you wish you could split yourself in two just to experience everything that’s going on. Working in event coordination actually means I have spent most of my time over the past month, and will continue to in the months to come, under a Sperry tent, wearing all black and clutching a clipboard and a walkie-talkie.

I am so grateful for that, because I truly love the magic of this industry, and seeing all our plans coming to fruition. June’s weather made up for a wet and chilly May, and from weddings to fundraising events and dinners under the stars, the beginning of the busy season has been pretty incredible. July begins with one of the Vineyard’s most cherished traditions: Edgartown’s Fourth of July celebration. The festivities include the Edgartown parade, followed by a fireworks display over Edgartown Harbor. The Preservation Trust will also host its annual community barbecue on the Daniel Fisher House lawn. Aquinnah will host a more intimate community parade, while Vineyard Haven will hold the

Summer at last

A portrait of peak season on the Vineyard. BY

“Ringing of Freedom Bells.”

The holiday weekend also features the annual Mike’s Run the Chop Challenge. The race has raised more than $140,000 for Island youth organizations, including Martha’s Vineyard Big Brothers Big Sisters, the Martha’s Vineyard Youth Running Club, and the Rotary of Martha’s Vineyard. This family-friendly Fourth of July tradition features a kids’ fun run, followed by two race options this year: the traditional 5.25-mile West Chop loop, or a new, 3.5-mile course, both beginning at the Tisbury School in Vineyard Haven. Early July continues with the Tisbury Street Fair on July 8. Main Street in Vineyard Haven transforms into a bustling gathering place featuring local vendors, food, music, family activities, and opportunities to connect with Island organizations and businesses. The event captures the welcoming spirit of our main port town and offers visitors a fun way to experience the community. History and patriotism take center stage on July 7 during “Independence on Martha’s Vineyard: Then, Now and Forever,” presented by the Vineyard Preservation Trust. This immersive exhibit at the historic Vincent House explores 250 years of independence

and self-determination on Martha’s Vineyard through artifacts and storytelling, and will be on display all summer. As part of the commonwealth’s MA250 commemorations, the exhibition highlights the lasting impact of Revolutionary ideals on Island culture and history. Architecture and history enthusiasts look forward to the Martha’s Vineyard Camp Meeting Association’s (MVCMA) cottage tour on July 9. The annual event provides a rare opportunity to step inside some of Oak Bluffs’ iconic

JENNA SYLVIA

One of the month’s signature sporting events is the Vineyard Cup Regatta, taking place July 10 through 12. Sailors from around the region gather to compete in races that showcase both skill and tradition. Spectators can enjoy views of colorful sails filling Vineyard waters while celebrating the Island’s longstanding maritime heritage.

Oak Bluffs Bluewater Classic, running July 11 through 17, attracts anglers from near and far for a week of offshore fishing and camaraderie.

the Island’s renowned courses and scenic landscapes. On July 25, the Flying Horses Carousel celebrates its 150th birthday. As the nation’s oldest continuously operating platform carousel, the Flying Horses is an enduring symbol of Oak Bluffs and an important piece of Vineyard history. The milestone celebration is expected to draw visitors of all ages, eager to honor this iconic landmark.

gingerbread cottages while learning about the history of the MVCMA and the unique architectural traditions that make the area nationally recognized.

Music lovers will have much to enjoy throughout July, including Sound of the Vineyard, starting July 1 and running all summer at the Grange Hall in West Tisbury. The concert series showcases local and visiting musicians across a range of genres, providing an intimate setting for audiences to experience live music while supporting the Island’s vibrant arts community.

On July 11, bargain hunters and collectors flock to the MVCMA flea market, a popular seasonal tradition featuring antiques, collectibles, handcrafted goods, and unexpected treasures. The same day, the community gathers for the Island Elderly Housing benefit concert at Featherstone, where music and philanthropy come together in support of affordable housing initiatives for seniors on Martha’s Vineyard.

Fishing enthusiasts have two major tournaments to follow this month. The Fluke for Luke fishing tournament, held July 11 and 12, combines friendly competition with fundraising efforts in memory of Luke Gurney, who lost his life at sea. Also, the prestigious

Mid-July brings one of the Island’s most beloved cultural celebrations: the Portuguese-American annual Feast, held July 18 and 19 at the Portuguese-American Club in Oak Bluffs. Featuring traditional Portuguese food, music, dancing, and community gathering, the feast honors the significant contributions of Portuguese immigrants and their descendants to Martha’s Vineyard history and culture.

Our local event calendar is so full, I think I have whatever sickness is the opposite of cabin fever.

That same weekend, the arts community gathers for the Featherstone Center for the Arts Gala. The gala serves as both a fundraiser and a celebration bringing together artists, patrons, and supporters for an evening of art, culture, and philanthropy.

The final week of July remains packed with activity. The Martha’s Vineyard Open, scheduled for July 24 through 26, welcomes golfers to compete while enjoying

Beginning July 26, the Island hosts Legacy Week on the Vineyard, continuing through August 2. The week features educational programs, cultural events, networking opportunities, and community discussions focused on preserving and celebrating Black history, culture, and achievement on Martha’s Vineyard. The month concludes with two highly anticipated cultural events. On July 30, the Union Chapel Social brings the community together for fellowship and celebration at one of Oak Bluffs’ most historic gathering places. Meanwhile, from July 27 to August 1, Martha’s Vineyard Documentary Week, presented by the Martha’s Vineyard Film Society, showcases documentary filmmaking through screenings, discussions, and opportunities for audiences to engage directly with filmmakers and storytellers. These events help illustrate why July is often considered the heart of the Vineyard summer. Whether through history, arts, athletics, philanthropy, food, music, or cultural celebration, each gathering contributes to the Island’s distinctive and diverse community. And even if you, like me, tend to exist more on the production side of the events, you can’t help but feel that the joy of the season and the sense of community here are unmatched. So next winter, when you find yourself swearing it’ll be your last one in New England, bring yourself right back to the beauty of the Vineyard in July.

NICHOLAS VUKOTA

Left, Pond View Farm's float of the Flying Horses was a crowd favorite in a previous July Fourth parade.

The latest from Brooke Allen, a longtime Vineyard visitor, is an eclectic collection of essays and reviews she has published in the past 30 years. Troubled deeply by waning literacy in the internet age, Allen here engages in a rear-guard effort to keep alive the contributions and life stories of important writers who risk being forgotten.

“Good Bones” (2025, Tivoli Books) is the result. The subjects of these essays, she writes, “are just a few of the thousands of literary artists who have given aesthetic and intellectual sustenance to many readers over many years … a few beautiful relics, the sacred bones of a literary culture being ground into dust by technology and AI and other distractions.” Gloomy. But one is compelled to read, largely because of the power of her writing. A critic’s critic — not to mention a critic of many other

critics — Allen adventures into the weeds at times, but emerges with something fascinating. And she’s not shy about sharing her opinions, whether mainstream or controversial.

Her subjects range in time from the mid–19th century to the start of the 21st. To most of us, especially outside of Sweden, the name August Strindberg (1849–1912) rings only a faint bell. Best known as a playwright in his day, this eccentric polymath “produced 60 plays, three books of poetry, 18 novels, nine works of autobiography, 10,000 letters, and a considerable corpus of journalism.”

While we’re on eccentricity, next up is George Sand, born Amantine Lucile Aurore Dupin, daughter of a former prostitute and an aristocrat, in 1804. Best known to many only as Chopin’s lover, she cut a wide swath through Parisian society and many, many men. A productive writer, she is best known as a narcissist who lived life as a performance.

‘Good Bones’ for good reads

Brooke Allen writes about writers. BY

WHIT GRISWOLD

At its heart, “Good Bones” is an homage to the novel, the form that has dominated literature for 200 years or so.

Celebrating Our MVRHS Grads

Becky Cournoyer

Returning to the farm.

BY MARGE HARRIS

Becky Cournoyer, class of 1985, runs a small farm in West Tisbury with her husband, Mark; they have chickens, goats, geese, visiting oxen and cows, and a huge garden. This is along with many other tasks such as beekeeping, mowing acres of land, chopping wood — and raising three boys. Becky remembered how difficult it was to be in an open classroom at West Tisbury, and so the small, structured classes at the high school worked much better for her. She was happy with her teachers, and especially liked English classes, where she enjoyed writing. She was not a fan of math, but that changed when Lou Toscano became her math teacher —

all her anxieties left. During high school, she worked at the up-Island supermarket (Cronig’s today) and was able to squeeze in one extracurricular club: hiking. Through her high school years, her mom was sick with cancer, and she died in Becky’s senior year. That was a powerful blow to Becky, who decided to take a break after high school. Today, perhaps it would be called a “gap year,” but in her case, she needed to catch her breath and figure out the next chapter.

During that year, Becky drove a cab and also babysat, and by the next fall, she decided that she would go to Cape Cod Community College. Some friends were doing the same, so she had a place to live and could avoid the daily commute. After completion of her associate degree, she transferred

to the co-op program at Northeastern University, entering the business program with a dual major in human resources and entrepreneurship. Becky remembers that a major requirement of that program was creating a business plan. She focused her plan on natural foods as the product, and a model for hiring practices.

After graduation, Becky came home to the Island and worked in human resources at Martha’s Vineyard National Bank for a few years, until it merged with Compass. She didn’t like the larger corporate world, so she moved over to Dukes County Bank, working as a teller and eventually branch manager for 15 years. Again, in response to a corporate merger, Becky left the bank. By this time, she and Mark had the three boys, and also a relative who needed caregiving. Becky had plenty to do as well as managing a small but very busy farm. During our interview, Becky shared with me some of the history of the land their farm is on. She is quite a local historian. I truly hope that she will use her love of writing to put some of that history into stories for all of us to read and enjoy. Kudos to you, Becky!

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

Allen writes about 20 other authors in “Good Bones,” some of them more familiar — Oscar Wilde, W. Somerset Maugham, Eudora Welty, Ogden Nash, Anthony Powell — than others. The last few — Anne Tyler, Richard Burton, John Updike, Truman Capote — feel almost current. All of them had warts (except Updike, in Allen’s view), both as writers and individuals, and Allen uses their idiosyncrasies to help explain why and how they wrote, why they still matter. As with any collection, the length and tone of the essays vary. The author of several books, Allen has taught literature at Bennington College and the history of thought at Bennington’s prison program. “The history of thought” sounds abstract enough to risk devolving into something almost incomprehensible,

but that is very unlikely in the hands of someone as well-read and as devoted to intellectual inquiry as Allen. Her classrooms, at both sites, must have been lively. At its heart, “Good Bones” is an homage to the novel, the form that has dominated literature for 200 years or so. We’d be lost without it, Allen believes, and she’s concerned about its future. Our numbers may be dwindling, but there are still plenty of us who won’t shy away from a 500-page novel, if it’s wellcrafted. It’s also reassuring that so many good young writers, especially women, are emerging all the time. And good on Brooke Allen for reminding us of the origins and early days of the form, while also honoring its pioneers, some of whom have disappeared, thanks to the inescapable distractions, even addictions, that have kidnapped us in this crazy contemporary world.

Brooke Allen will be part of a panel discussion about book reviewing, and will be signing books, at Islanders Write on Thursday, July 16, at 9:30 am. Go to slanderswrite.com for more information.

ACADEMIC HONORS

DEAN’S LIST

Rodeo T. Purves-Langer of Aquinnah, rst honors, at Clark University.

Sydney S. Emerson of West Tisbury, rst honors, at Clark University. Molly C. Burke of Oak Blu s, second honors, at Clark University. Maximillian Vaughn of Edgartown, at Dean College. Fawn Pelletier of Vineyard Haven, at SUNY Delhi. Jayden Baird of Oak Blu s, at Roger Williams University.

CHANCELLOR’S HONOR ROLL

Georgia Magden of Vineyard Haven, at the University of Mississippi.

Cribbage Club results

Eighteen members of the Vineyard Cribbage Club met on Wednesday night to play our favorite game of cribbage. We welcomed back a few more summer residents, and had a great time! The results of the night are as follows:

First, Ron Ferreira with a 10/5 +64 card

Second, Andria Jason with a 9/4 +67 card Third, Ed Roman with a 9/4 +21 card Fourth, Ray Lincoln

BY SAMANTHA BURNS

with an 8/4 +44 card

Fifth, Byram Devine with an 8/4 +32 card

Four whopping 24-point hands were dealt to, George Giosmas, Ed Roman, Ed Montesion, and Sammi Burns. There were a total of six skunks, a game lost by more than 30 points. We had only one infamous flush crib (very rare), by Sharon Barba. Big congrats to Mary Alice Russell on getting an extremely hard and rare

28-point hand this week! Wishing Jack Silvia and Sam Cron the best of luck in a grassroots tournament off-Island in Malden. We meet on Wednesdays at the American Legion in Katama. If you like cribbage, we have a potluck every week at 5:30 pm and we start playing at 6 pm SHARP.

If you’d like more info feel free to email or call, or text Mary Alice Russell at maonmv@mac.com or 508524-1220.

Allen blends context and detail to bring her subject, and postRevolutionary France, alive and into focus.

PETER AARON

TOWN COLUMNS

Tisbury

By Taylor Stone tisburycolumnist@gmail.com

And just like that, June becomes July. Markets are up and running all across the Island, with events big and small almost every day from now on. Summer reminder to all the busy residents out there: Get those feet in the water as much as you can! Sometimes when you live here year-round, it’s easy to forget just how cool it is being able to walk down to our harbor and listen to the waves roll in, watch a ferry boat float in, or an osprey swoop down right in front of you to snag its dinner.

Now this week is a BIG one if you’re a Tisbury fan. Starting with First Friday V.H. on July 3, this all-day art-themed takeover of Vineyard Haven Harbor returns for its second month this season. Enjoy our Daytime Market on

Beach Street Extension, 10 am to 2 pm, followed by live music and demonstrations from 2 to 5 pm along Main Street, before the evening festivities in Owen Park kick off at 5 pm. Full details, music lineup, food and artist vendors, and more at firstfridayvh.com.

Business participation in these events is growing each month! From extended hours, special deals, a Sip n’ Shop at Coastal Supply, Putt for Prizes at Vineyard Wealth Group, and even an artist reception featur-

ing Christie Scheele at the Louisa Gould Gallery (5 to 7pm). Our First Friday V.H. summer dates are also lucky enough to overlap with the famous Grace Church Lobster Rolls (3 to 6 pm) that you can even preorder and bring to the beach!

The following morning brings the 25th annual Run the Chop event on July Fourth. This year it’s renamed “Mike’s Run the Chop Challenge” in honor of Murdick’s Fudge general manager and Run the Chop organizer Mike McCourt.

This week is a BIG one if you’re a Tisbury fan. Starting with First Friday V.H. on July 3, this all-day art-themed takeover of Vineyard Haven Harbor returns for its second month this season.

Edgartown

By Marnely Murray marnely@gmail.com

This Fourth of July week is one of those summer weeks when you want to do it all and you genuinely cannot, but there’s no harm in trying! From a book signing with one of my favorite Island authors and a patriotic sing-along at a lovely church, to art opening, cooking classes, and a magical picnic, Edgartown has something going on every single day this week. Here’s what you should consider putting on your calendar:

July 3, from 2 to 4 pm: Book signing: “Such a Good Mom,” by Julia Spiro, at Edgartown Books. If you haven’t read it yet, head over and pick up a copy for you and a copy for your best mom friend. It’s a good one, written by the coolest mom I know!

July Fourth is always a fun day in town. Grab a good viewing spot and watch the Edgartown Parade, which starts at 5 pm. Filling the time between the parade and fireworks is always easy, but

Oak Bluffs

By Joanne Lambert joannelamber@gmail.com

“Freedom is the open window through which pours the sunlight of the human spirit and human dignity.”

– Herbert Hoover

July Fourth is upon us, and the summer schedule is officially full. It’s that time of year to pay attention to the calendar and plan ahead so you don’t miss out! Sometimes the best plan is to stay on your porch, and that’s O.K. too!

The Martha’s Vineyard Polar Bears are celebrating

80 years this summer with joy, music, and community.

The Trumpet Chics from Camden, N.J. are on-Island for a few performances. You can catch their show at the Strand on July 2 and 3 at 2 pm. This is a fun and fabu-

this year you can head over to St. Andrew’s Church for a God Bless America Fourth of July patriotic sing-along at 6:30 pm. The Vineyard Haven Band Concert at the Old Whaling Church starts at 8 pm, which is cutting it close to dusk, when the fireworks start, so you’ll make that call for yourself.

On July 5 at the Old Sculpin Gallery, check out Martha's Vineyard Artist Association members David Joseph, Larry Glick, Anne Grandin,

Harriet Bernstein, and L.A. Brown as they showcase their work. The gallery is open 9 am to 6 pm daily!

On July 6, go on “A Tour of the Cooke House: Everyday Life in the 18th Century,” from 4 to 5 pm at 51 School St.

On July 7, shop locally at the Edgartown Village Market from 10 am to 2 pm, and then attend the Voices of Independence at the Old Whaling Church, starting at 5:30pm. It’s a one-night

Good luck to all runners, families of runners, and those volunteering their time to make this special event happen!

Also on July Fourth in Tisbury is the Ringing of Freedom Bells. Two hundred and fifty years ago, the Liberty Bell at Independence Hall tolled at 2 pm to mark the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Then in 1963, President John F. Kennedy proclaimed the ringing of the bells as a nationwide tradition. In continuing with this custom, Bob Tankard, MVCS veterans advocate, and Tom Bennett, MVCS director of veterans services, will gather in front of the Beach House on Main Street to say some words before bells will ring out all over town at 2 pm sharp. Absolutely not to be

civic program commemorating America’s 250th anniversary, and should be an interesting time!

On July 8, attend a local cooking class, “Cooking From the Island: What's Fresh and What's Local,” at the FARM Institute at 5:30 pm (tickets start at $64 per person). I took one of these classes last year, and it was so fun and insightful.

On July 10, join the Vineyard Preservation Trust for the Generations Picnic at

On July 5 at the Old Sculpin Gallery, check out Martha's Vineyard Artist Association members David Joseph, Larry Glick, Anne Grandin, Harriet Bernstein, and L.A. Brown as they showcase their work.

lous show for all ages.

July 3 at 6 pm, Cousen Rose Gallery will present a special exhibit of art inspired by the Polar Bears. Attend the opening and meet some of the 20-plus artists who have captured the spirit of the Polar Bears experience.

July 4 is the official summer kick-off for Polar Bears’ daily water exercise and fellowship at 7:30 am. There are swimmers, there are aerobics, there is meditation, and most of all there

is joy. Later that day, the Trumpet Chics will perform a concert for the community at Ocean Park at 2 pm. The MVCMA “Sunset Concert Series” begins on July 3 with the music of Seán MacMahon from 6 to 7:30 pm. Bring your chairs to the lawn in front of the Tabernacle to enjoy this free concert. Please leave your dogs at home.

July Fourth is a busy day in the Campground. The children’s parade is at 9 am, and at noon the Tabernacle

July 4 is the official summer kick-off for Polar Bears’ daily water exercise and fellowship at 7:30 am. There are swimmers, there are aerobics, there is meditation, and most of all there is joy.

missed this Wednesday is our town of Tisbury’s annual birthday party: a.k.a. the Tisbury Street Fair, on July 8, starting at 6:30 pm. Shout-out to new organizer Heather Wolfenden for taking over the reins, and also the whole team at Mardell’s, who have been making these events happen for so many years up until now! This year’s proceeds will benefit the Tisbury Police Relief Association, and note: All parking along Main Street and any other ways dedicated to the fair will be closed at 5 pm. Do you have an upcoming birthday or 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.

the Dr. Daniel Fisher House, to celebrate community and togetherness, with an afternoon filled with magic and illusion! Tickets are still available online at vineyardtrust.org/events. Last, but certainly not least, I want to send a huge congratulations to Bob Gardner on retiring — and a happy belated birthday! When your best friend’s dad becomes one of your biggest column supporters, you make sure to give him his applause whenever possible! And now for this week’s birthday celebrations — all for incredible, hard-working Edgartown ladies: Kate Walpole on July 3, and Aubrey Sirois and Greer Boyle Thornton on July 6. If you see them in town, make sure to say happy birthday!

will host the reading of Frederick Douglas’s powerful speech, “What to the Slave Is the Fourth of July?” At 7 pm, the Tabernacle will be filled with music to celebrate America by the Island Community Chorus.

The Gingerbread Cottage Tour is back for the 26th year. Thursday, July 9, is the day six cottages will be open for tours from 10 am to 3 pm. See the interesting details and learn the history of each unique home. Tickets in advance are $50, with the proceeds benefiting the community programs of the MVCMA. Tickets, details and other events are at mvcma.org.

On Sunday, July 5, Concerts in the Park presents Rose-Coloured Glasses at the Bandstand, 5:30 to 7:30 pm. We have another chance

to hear Darby Patterson sing when she plays with her band at Featherstone on Monday, July 6, at 6:30 pm. Happy July birthday to Lexi Loyott on July 2! I hope Richard Michelson makes it back to his Island home to celebrate his day on the 3rd; Jeannie Delguidice celebrates on the 3rd also. On the Fourth of July, two famous songwriters were born in different eras: Stephen Foster, 1826 (“Oh! Susanna”) and Bill Withers, 1938 (“Lean on Me”).

Nick Diodati celebrates on July 5. He shares the day with Suzanne Rollins. Happy anniversary to Kim and Larry Jones on the 6th! Birthday balloons go to Phil daRosa, Barbara Puciul, Erin Pacheco, and Roger Maxfield on July 7. Send me your news!

Aquinnah

By Kathie Olsen aquinnahcolumn@gmail.com TOWN COLUMNS

Here we are again at the Fourth of July. This year, as y’all know already, is special because it is the 250th anniversary of the founding of this difficult, inspiring, deeply flawed, yet profoundly hopeful experiment we euphemistically call the United States of America. This year, I would like to remind our president that the celebration isn’t about him. It is about jazz and Title IX and the Civil Rights Act and peanut butter. It’s about the Bill of Rights and hosting the U.N., cranberry sauce and pigs in a blanket. It’s about the many

thousands who serve as first responders, or teachers. And it’s always about our people’s determination to try and get this governance and livingtogether thing right.

The Fourth is also my little sister’s birthday. As a child I believed that the fireworks and flag-waving were to celebrate her. Her name is Laurie Olsen, and this year she turns 79 years of age. In her lifetime, she has raised two sons, raised her voice in song, marched in support of peace and human rights, earned a Ph.D., and led important organizations. She has published books and worked

Chilmark

By Claire Ganz cganz@live.com

Summer activities have begun. And plans sometimes change because the dog threw up on the slip-covered couch, one of the pillows’ zipper had no stopper for the pull and is now useless, and the main cover fit so tightly that any shrinkage will make it impossible to get back on.

Note to self: Breathe in and out slowly, and repeat — don’t give up and don’t blow up. Did you know that if you lick your thumb and index finger, it makes it easier to

open doggie poop bags? And that logos and writing help identify which side is the top?

Every Tuesday, lobster rolls are sold by the Chilmark Community Church from 4:30 to 6:30 pm. The lobster and rolls come with

with hundreds of school districts across the nation to design and implement powerful pre-K- to 12th-grade English learner programs, including the SEAL of biliteracy program utilized at our own M.V. Regional High School. Her work, against tremendous odds, has improved the lives of thousands of immigrant children and lifted the spirits of their hard-working teachers. It is her ability to give them strength through her words and actions, along with her humor, her joy, her courage, her creativity, of which I am most in awe.

She is a model of what it is that I cheer for when I raise my voice in celebration. An American hero. Last week in Aquinnah we saw the spirit of the American community shine. On Wednesday, there was the monthly gathering of volunteers who cooked a great meal for seniors at Aquinnah Town Hall. Their work was enjoyed by the approximately 15 seniors who sat together to enjoy the fruits of their labors while making new friends or reminiscing about shared histories. Thursday evening saw a dif-

ferent gathering, this time up on the Cliffs, with folks enjoying Cliffhanger food, the music of Missis Biskis, the glorious view, and one another’s company. Paul Manning says that this will be a weekly thing again this summer, so plan on it. Then on Saturday, there was a work party behind the Aquinnah Town Offices as volunteers worked in a hot sun, spreading mulch under the new shelter by the food forest and around the playground. These comings together are the best of America, with folks working

Thursday evening saw a gathering up on the Cliffs, with folks enjoying Cliffhanger food, the music of Missis Biskis, the glorious view, and one another’s company. Paul Manning says that this will be a weekly thing again this summer.

chips. You can add seltzers, brownies, and Judy Mayhew’s perfectly baked chocolate chip cookies. The all-volunteer crew includes friends and neighbors, and teenagers to those in their 90s! It is lovely to catch up and meet up. Valerie Sonnenthal completed her certification, and is offering, by appointment, Four Winds Society Rites of the Munster-Ki. Her studio calendar is full of offerings from Yoga to sound healing. Check peakedhillstudio.com.

The Fourth of July won’t be the same without Jane Dean. Jane Dean of Edgartown died peacefully at home, surrounded by her loved ones, on May 31, 2026. She was 91. Jane’s motto was “Connect, connect, connect!” She never missed an opportunity to plug her latest favorite book, person, or project. Her funeral will take place at St. Andrew’s Church in Edgartown on Saturday, July 4, at 11 am.

Ruel Gallery is open from 10 am to 5 pm. Iggy’s Bread is

Did you know that if you lick your thumb and index finger, it makes it easier to open doggie poop bags? And that logos and writing help identify which side is the top?

West Tisbury

By Hermine Hull hermine.hull@gmail.com

We had much-needed rain, and some respite from summer heat, all behind us now. Everything needs watering again, and the weather report is that it will be hotter every day through the week.

This Fourth of July will be the 250th anniversary of the unanimous Declaration of Independence, the Semiquincentennial, a wonderful word for a celebration. Hard to feel celebratory when the state of our country is in such turmoil. I guess it bears remembering that America was founded in the turmoil of separation from England and the Revolutionary War, followed

by 250 years of disagreement and compromise. That seems our natural state.

I started looking up historical quotes, wanting to correctly quote what Martin Luther King Jr. said about the arc of something bending toward justice. Here is the full quote: “When our days become dreary with low, hovering clouds of despair, and when our nights become darker than a thousand midnights, let us remember that there is a creative force in this universe, working to pull down the gigantic mountains of evil, a power that is able to make a way out of no way, and transform dark yesterdays into bright tomorrows.

Let us realize the arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice.” What an orator he was; he spoke in soaring images.

That got me reading, initially searching comments regarding the Revolution, but found them from all periods, all still relevant.

“The States separately have very inadequate ideas of the present danger. Party disputes and personal quarrels are the great business of the day, whilst the concerns of the nation are secondary.”

–George Washington

“Those early patriots may have come from different backgrounds and different walks of life, but they were united by a belief in a simple truth: that we are all created equal, that we are all endowed by our Creator with certain inalienable rights, that among these rights are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.”

–Barack Obama

“An Elective Despotism was not the government we fought for, but one which should not only be founded on free principles, but in which the powers of government should be so divided and balanced among several bodies of magistracy, as that no one could transcend their legal limits, without being effectually checked and restrained by the others.”

–James Madison, “Federalist Papers, No. 45”

“Remember the Ladies.”

–Abigail Adams

“If this nation is to be wise as well as strong, if we are to achieve our destiny, then we need more new ideas for more wise men reading

open every day, 7 am to 2 pm.

The Chilmark library offers: Wednesday, July 1, at 4 pm, a reading with local authors published in the Washashores Review (Volume 2). This literary anthology is published by the Washashore Writers Collective in partnership with the Featherstone Center for the Arts.

Wednesday, July 8, at 4 pm, Kerry Docherty, cofounder of Faherty clothing company, author of the new memoir “Selfish: Unlearning, Reclaiming, and Telling the Truth” will be on hand to discuss her book.

I’ll be visiting with friends at the Chilmark Flea Market, Wednesdays and Saturdays 9 am to 2 pm.

Chilmark softball has begun. Sig van Raan writes, “A beautiful sunny morning

more good books in more public libraries. These libraries should be open to all — except the censor. We must know all the facts and hear all the alternatives, and listen to the criticisms. ...

For the Bill of Rights is the guardian of our security as well as our liberty.”

–John F. Kennedy

“True patriotism springs from a belief in the dignity of the individual, freedom and equality not only for Americans but for all people on earth, universal brotherhood and goodwill, and a constant striving toward the principles and ideals on which this country was founded.”

–Eleanor Roosevelt

to make things right. They are worthy of celebration and gratitude. So please remember that with all that is heart-wrenching, wearying, infuriating, demanding of change, there is also much to celebrate. I suggest that you come on out for the 25th annual Aquinnah Fourth of July Parade on Saturday. Decorate your vehicle and line up behind the town police and fire trucks, starting at 10 am. If you want to just watch and cheer for the wild and wacky entrants, the parade will make its way toward the Aquinnah Circle starting around 11 am. Following the parade, a community picnic will be held at the Vanderhoop homestead. I want to say a happy birthday to Adrian Higgins on July 5. I also want to tell Genie O’Donnell that we missed her on Wednesday, and are sending her healing love.

hosted the opening of this summer's Sunday morning softball season. A good core group of about 20 players played 2 ‘practice’ games, as batters and fielders worked out the kinks, aches, and realities of, shall we say, ‘mature and well-seasoned’ bodies. Between games, the players gathered to memorialize and remember Jay Grossman, a longstanding player who died way too early, back in March. Joel Greenberg,a close friend of Jay, read a loving message to the team from Jay's son, Justin. Joel read his own moving piece about Jay. Following a few more comments by others, we all agreed, Jay would have said, ‘OK, enough of that — let's play ball. Gloves in!’ We expect a larger turnout on July Fourth weekend's Sunday game.”

“The work goes on, the cause endures, the hope still lives, and the dream shall never die.”

–Edward Kennedy

And finally, “It will be celebrated with pomp and parade, bonfires and illuminations, from one end of this continent to the other.”

–John Adams

On our Island, July Fourth will definitely be celebrated with the parade and fireworks. May we all stand together to celebrate our country’s founding principles on this holiday, then work to maintain those values, our enduring commitment. Happy birthday, America.

It bears remembering that America was founded in the turmoil of separation from England and the Revolutionary War, followed by 250 years of disagreement and compromise. That seems our natural state.

Odes to unity

Island Community Chorus celebrates the 250th.

BY NICOLE GALLAND

“With pomp and parade, with shews, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires, and illuminations.”

–John Adams, on celebrating Independence Day

‘‘Shews” means “shows,” and this weekend, the most American show on the Island will be Island Community Chorus’s Fourth of July concert. The chorus’ 2026 repertoire is vast, encompassing multiple genres and eras — but all the pieces share the distinction of being composed by American musicians.

The ICC has been performing since 1996, presenting an international range from Bach to local composers. The group has graced venues all over the Island, including the Whaling Church and the Performing Arts Center, where they performed Mendelssohn’s “Elijah” to a full house. For this

concert, however, they are returning to the Oak Bluffs Tabernacle, a space long associated with family-friendly sing-alongs of popular Americana.

This year is also notable because there will be a surprise guest, whose identity has been kept under wraps.

The ICC truly is a chorus for, and of, the Island community. People commit themselves to the weekly rehearsal schedule for more than the excellent music.

“The Island has its own unique ways of gathering individuals toward a common creation. It naturally generates a sense of being ‘part of,’” says Patty Howell, a relatively new member.

“For myself, joining … has been a tremendous example of that ability. Island camaraderie and choral music must be one of the finest combinations to be had, and I’m thrilled each week to be a part of it.”

“I first came to the ICC through the [Martha’s Vineyard M]useum,” re-

calls longtime member Phil Wallace. “There were a bunch of youths in our staff … and one of them wanted to do the Island Community Chorus, so I said, fine. She, of course, left the Island, and after three sessions, I decided, This is awesome.

I’m loving it. I'm going for it. And that was 10 years ago.

joined the chorus right after my wife, Linda, passed away 10 years ago. It’s helped to fill an empty space in my life for all of the years since. There’s something so healing and irreplaceable about singing together with other people.”

Sean Potts agrees. "As third spaces vanish and people seek deeper, screenfree connections, community singing is experiencing a massive revival both on and off the Island,” he notes. “In the two years since I’ve joined the Island Community Chorus, we've seen a surge of younger people joining our ranks. It’s incredible that the Island Community Chorus exists on Martha's Vineyard

In between, there is something for everyone.

The evening will begin with an even newer offering, published just three years ago. “We Belong” is an upbeat piece from Karen Marrolli, a young choral composer. “We just like its message,” says Bill Peek, music director. “It’s an ode to unity.”

Some of the music is iconic: It’s hard to imagine the Fourth of July without “America the Beautiful” (by Katharine Lee Bates and Samuel A. Ward), and no sampling of the country’s music is complete without a Black spiritual like “My Lord, What a Morning” by Harry T. Burleigh, who spent summers here.

“There’s something so healing and irreplaceable about singing together with other people.”

So it stuck with me. I look forward to the seasons of music, and the way Peter [Boak, former music director], and now Bill [Peek], have led us in different times. Christmas is a joyful celebration that’s really from the heart.

The spring is harder. It stretches us, and here we are at the 250th, which is a celebration, a joyful noise.”

Stephen Chapman, designer of all the concert posters, has a poignant backstory. “I

–STEPHEN CHAPMAN

at a time when so many need both a good musical outlet and a stronger sense of community."

The concert features an impressive chronological span — from Revolutionaryera hymns by one of the first American songwriters, William Billings, to Eric Whitacre’s “Sing Gently,” composed during the COVID-19 pandemic specifically to be performed by a worldwide virtual choir of thousands.

Nearly a third of the pieces share an interesting trait:

The composers have set to music already iconic prose by already iconic American writers. Randall Thompson’s “Frostiana,” for example, lends harmony to a series of Robert Frost’s poems.

Peek, who has arranged many of the evening’s numbers, composed the cantata “Soon It Is Day,” featuring the words of Edna St. Vincent Millay’s poem “Recuerdo.”

Langston Hughes’ “Hold Fast to Dreams” has been set to music by Susan LaBarr. And Emma Lazarus’ immortal phrases associated with the Statue of Liberty were made choral by none other than Irving Berlin, in “Give Me Your Tired, Your Poor.”

A favorite from ICC’s spring concert will be brought back: “I’m Glad There Is You” by Jimmy Dorsey and Paul Madeira, which Peek describes as “a song about a person’s appreciation for another person, which we think is a good positive message for this celebration. It’s a wonderful jazz arrangement.”

On a similar theme, Alison Frazier-Hayden will be a guest soloist — with her husband Paryss Hayden on guitar — for a pairing of Burt Bacharach’s “What the World Needs Now Is Love” with “Love Is What We Need” by Roderick Giles, a contemporary gospel composer. “We put them together because we feel it’s a sentiment that’s appropriate to share,” says Peek. “It’s what we need for our country as we’re celebrating the 250th anniversary.”

The Island Community Chorus will be performing at 7 pm at the Tabernacle on Saturday, July 4. No reservations required: Just show up. Donations will be warmly accepted.

PHOTOS FIRTSTNAME LASTNAME?

ICC's summer concert at the Tabernacle in 2022.

ICC director Bill Peek conducts the chorus alongside two young soloists, Dorian Lopes and Becky Williams.

Soprano section practices their parts in the dress rehearsal before the winter concert

An island-to-Island interview

Renowned historian Nathaniel Philbrick.

BY DAVID P.B. STEPHENS

Nathaniel Philbrick is the author of eight New York Times best-selling works of American history, including “In the Heart of the Sea” (winner of the 2000 National Book Award); “Mayflower” (a finalist for the 2007 Pulitzer Prize in history); a trilogy about the American Revolution that includes “Valiant Ambition” (winner of the George Washington Book Prize); and “Travels with George.” His latest, “The Rush: California Gold, the Civil War, and the Making of the Modern World,” is scheduled for publication in October 2026. He lives on Nantucket Island, where he co-founded the Egan Maritime Institute.

David P.B. Stephens:

I am going to keep this short, because I know you’re trying to get off the

island [Nantucket], and the Steamship Authority waits for no man.

Nathaniel Philbrick: Right, exactly.

DS: I hear you are coming to the Vineyard.

NP: That’s right, in July.

DS: And you are no stranger to the Vineyard.

NP: No, being a Nantucketer and a sailor, I’ve been getting to the Vineyard one way or another ever since we’ve been on the island here. I’ve actually sailed on the Vineyard and stayed on the Vineyard long before we moved here, and have a lot of good friends there.

DS: You live on Nantucket. How did you wind up there?

NP: I was born in Boston, raised in Pittsburgh, where my father was an English professor. I met my wife while teaching sailing on

the Cape. She grew up in West Falmouth. She got a law degree, and we had two children and were living outside Boston, where she was working at a law firm. I was at home with the kids

“It

fairly well, but those two islands, only 28 miles apart, may as well have been in different galaxies.

NP: Yes. The Vineyard was very rural, agrarian, and this place was a little city in the middle of the sea.

DS: You are coming to the Vineyard on July 14 as a result of a collaboration between the Martha’s Vineyard Museum and the Vineyard Preservation Society. How did that come about?

NP: I was contacted by Laurel Reddington, who is now at the Martha’s Vineyard Historical Society. I knew her through WMVY. I’ve been a huge fan of WMVY ever since we arrived on this island 40 years ago. It’s the best radio station in the world, definitely. I’ve got a very busy schedule this summer with the 250th American Revolution stuff, and we were able to figure out a date that worked. I’ve spoken at the Whaling Church before, and love the venue and look forward to returning.

DS: What is the focus of your presentation?

really. Nantucket is basically half the size of the Vineyard. The historic town of Nantucket reminds me a lot of Edgartown. But you guys have very different communities all over the Island.

seems the times are fraught,

times have always been

and each

but

Virtually all of Nantucket’s whaling oil went to London, and that was cut off. Nantucket struggled to be neutral, which was basically impossible. They ended up being attacked by both sides. Their sailors were impressed into the British Army and Navy. But the Nantucketers were by no means like Boston. They were, if anything, Loyalists. The last thing they wanted was a revolution, since England was their market.

DS: So you will speak about the American Revolution. The inevitable question is, How do we connect the events of 1776 with the realities of 2026? How do we celebrate this anniversary?

NP: I think we celebrate the fact that we are the longest living democratic republic on earth. And it seems the times are fraught, but in many ways the times have always been fraught. And we can look back to the Declaration of Independence as a kind of clarion call for an aspirational society — a society that is always trying to be better. There’s always a sense of disappointment and frustration, and crises. It’s kind of the American way. We were born in a revolution, and each generation is in the midst of its own revolution.

DS: And what will you be doing on this Fourth of July?

in many ways the

fraught … We were born in a revolution,

generation is in the midst of its own revolution.”

trying to write, and the commute was driving both of us crazy. She saw an ad for an attorney at a firm on Nantucket. This was in ’86, and our kids were 1 and 4, and we decided to go for it. And neither of us knowing much about the island at all.

DS: So you know the Vineyard, and you know Nantucket. What would you say are the essential differences between them?

NP: They’re very different,

–NATHANIEL PHILBRICK

Nantucket’s much more concentrated. Nantucket tends to attract people from the high-tech and financial world, while you guys get a lot of artistic, Hollywood writer types. There’s definitely a different character.

DS: Much as I admire “In the Heart of the Sea” as the tale of the loss of the Essex, what fascinated me most was your description of life on Nantucket in 1819. I know Vineyard history

NP: I’ll be talking about the Revolution. I’ve written three books about it, plus a fourth about the trip Washington took as a sort of listening tour he went on as president. It’s called “Travels with George.” So, the Revolution — lessons from it, what we can take away today, a little bit about how it affected the islands — but primarily this is about the country as a whole.

DS: As a Vineyarder, I know about Grey’s Raid and the skirmish up at Aquinnah. How did the war affect Nantucketers? They seemed to be held in high regard in England. You quote Edmund Burke referring to them as “a new American breed.” What was the war’s impact on your island?

NP: It was devastating.

NP: I’m supposed to be an anchor-buddy on “Good Morning America,” in New York. I’m not quite sure what I’m doing. I think I’ll be commenting on the tall ships. We’ll see.

DS: I hope you get to see some fireworks.

NP: Yeah.

DS: I wish you greasy luck.

Nathaniel Philbrick will speak at the Old Whaling Church on Tuesday, July 14, at 5 pm. Tickets are available at bit.ly/ MVM_PhilbrickJuly14.

COMMUNITY NOTES

‘Laughing Matters!’

Bluebird Improv

On Saturday, July 18, six members of Bluebird Improv will perform their hilarious brand of long-form improvisational comedy. Each performance is fully improvised: At the start of the show, the comedians will have a short conversation with the audience that inspires the spontaneous and sidesplitting comedy mayhem that ensues. The show features some of comedy’s most recognizable faces from TV and movies, including: Tim Meadows

(“Saturday

and

Emmy nominee from HBO’s “Veep”); Edi Patterson (star and writer of HBO’s “The

Righteous Gemstones”); Marc Evan Jackson (“Brooklyn Nine-Nine” and “The Good Place”); Brad Morris (“The Second City” and “Curb Your Enthusiasm”); and Joe Canale, 30-year veteran of international improvisational comedy, including Second City.

July 18 at 7 pm, Martha’s Vineyard Performing Arts Center, Oak Bluffs. Tickets: stillpointmv.org/ laughingmatters2026. To learn more about Bluebird Improv, visit bluebirdimprov.com.

Summer Institute speaker: Binaifer Nowrojee

The Summer Institute hosts speakers who are deeply and actively involved in politics, economics, science, and the arts. Featured speakers have included Nobel laureates, Pulitzer prizewinning authors and journalists, and political leaders.

The first in this year’s series is Binaifer Nowrojee: “Protecting Human Rights in a World Gone Wrong.”

Nowrojee is an activist, lawyer, former investigator at Human Rights Watch,

and current president of the Open Society Foundations. She will share their mission as the world’s largest private funder to protect human rights. Nowrojee will focus on the challenges to the future of human rights in the face of rising authoritarianism, laws to stifle NGOs and a free press, and intense political pressures. Thursday, July 9, 7:30 pm, at the Martha’s Vineyard Hebrew Center in Vineyard Haven. 130 Center St, Vineyard Haven, mvsummerinstitute. org/2026-speakers.

Night Live” legend

“Mean Girls” star); Matt Walsh (two-time

COURTESY STILLPOINT

Nathaniel Philbrick in his happy place.

COURTESY NATHANIEL PHILBRICK

Independence Day is the annual celebration of America's birthday — and so, on Martha’s Vineyard, it seems fitting that an innately American sport goes to bat each year on the Fourth of July.

While the whole Island will be focused on the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, the Island also has a 100th anniversary to mark in Chilmark at Flanders Field, at one of the oldest pickup softball games in the country. So Sunday morning, at the small diamond on Peaked Hill, the century-long tradition will continue as players arrive and — at the call of “Gloves in!” — throw their gloves in a pile to be randomly separated into teams.

To understand the start of this tradition, travel back 100 years ago to the Roaring Twenties, which would soon collapse into the Great Depression. The Island population back then was under 5,000, and by the early 1930s, onethird of the population was on some form of government relief under Roosevelt’s New Deal.

In this uncertain and relatively idle time,

people pulled together for Sunday gatherings, and a game called softball was just becoming popular. The lore is that the game was invented in 1887 on Thanksgiving Day, when a Princeton student rolled up a boxing glove and threw it at a Harvard student, who hit it with a broomstick. Softball, sometimes called “indoor baseball,” was born. It became a way to keep baseball skills sharp through the winter. The game officially adopted the name “softball” in 1926, and it grew in popularity throughout the 1930s.

During the early years of its history, the Chilmark softball game was established in the backyard of the Flanders family in Menemsha as a Sunday morning neighborhood pickup game. Following church services, families would gather, choose sides, and play until lunchtime. When the game outgrew the Flanders’ backyard,

it wound up in Muriel Toomey’s expansive yard off the road to Gay Head, now Aquinnah.

Fast-forward half a century to the mid-1980s. Toomey’s field was sold; the diamond moved to the softball field of the West Tisbury School, and then to behind the West Tisbury fire station. Here it remained for a decade.

During this time, photographer Peter Simon took on the unofficial role of softball manager. He and Jim Brooks, team captains, would choose sides. This was known as “the Era of the Chosen.”

It was in 1984 that this writer first started playing. By the seventh inning of my first game, I was hooked. Those games were serious and competitive — or so it seemed until the kibitzing began. There were arguments about everything. Sometimes the arguments almost took over the game.

But Bill Edison, the longtime commissioner, would stop the game when the quarreling got out of hand and consistently remind everyone, “Time is running short — play the game! Summer is fleeting.”

a great at

Around 2002, the game moved back to Chilmark, to a field off Peaked Hill Road. This was accomplished through the efforts of longtime players David Flanders, Billy Meegan, and Peter Simon, and of course Edison, among others. Some of these legends have sadly passed on, but their spirit remains, and the game remains, too — with opening day set, as always, for the Fourth of July. Those who have passed on are typically honored, as they were last Sunday at an informal gathering of the old guard for a practice game prior to the July 4 opener. There were fond words of remembrance for Jay Grossman, a longtime player who passed away in March after a battle with cancer.

“Dust Bowl”

There's

Flanders

David Flanders

The late Tony Horwitz.

“On the Outside Looking In,” 2010.

mer game. It was and still is an instrument transmitting and transferring us to our childhoods. There’s a reverence for the simple act of playing ball on a field with friends.”

On July 5, 2009, the field was dedicated as Flanders Field, in memory of legendary Chilmark player David Flanders, who had died the year before. Hans Solmssen, our oldest player at 89, reflects on Flanders as one of the true founding fathers of the game: “What I vividly remember is David Flanders stepping up to bat. All the infielders would drop their gloves, because we knew David would drive the ball into the pine trees for a home run.”

Once the game was moved back to Chilmark, it took on a gentler and much-improved culture. Longstanding player Jason Balaban remarks, “Although we were all trying our best, there was always something larger than wins and losses. Comradery, friendships, history, dreams were all being formed or played out in this universal sum-

Although there is no official dugout, there is a large players’ bench: the Tony Horwitz Honorary Bench, a tribute to the late Pulitzer-prizewinning author who was one of our most enthusiastic players, as well as the in-game scribe. Chilmark softball may not have had Babe Ruth visit, but still, it has a storied history. One of the more searing memories is of Hall of Famer Jackie Robinson, who attended one game back in the early ’60s. In the ninth inning, with men on base, Bob Crichton stepped back from the plate and announced, “Now batting for Crichton, Jack R. Robinson.” He handed the nearly blind Robinson his bat and stepped away. Robinson fondled the bat and peered out toward the pitcher. He clearly wanted to give it a try, but then he handed the bat

back. What followed was the silence of respect that no one else was ever accorded on the field. Edison’s most profound contribution to the re-establishment of the game in Chilmark was the promotion of friendships, good sportsmanship, and high-spirited fun. Paul Iantosca recalled taking his son-in-law to the game, assuming he himself would just watch it. But “everyone was warm and welcoming. I watched players from 14 to 84 just out on the field having an inordinate amount of fun and laughter. Everyone was enjoying the game as if they were kids again. I was hooked, and threw my glove into the pile for the second game. What I realized as the morning progressed was that I was amid a group of the kindest and

“Comradery, friendships, history, dreams were all being formed or played out in this universal summer game.”

— JASON BALABAN

warmest people I had ever experienced.”

At the end of the day, what makes this game so special is the spirit that has developed but which remains similar in its formula to those early days almost a hundred years ago. It’s about families — moms and sons and dads and daughters. It’s a social event where friendships have formed and exuberance and joy accompany a well-played game. It’s the game of summer.

Players have come and gone. The famous, the not-so-famous, the year-round Islanders and the summer folks. Hedge-fund founders and hedge trimmers, fishermen, artists, writers, carpenters, architects, teachers, doctors, lawyers, psychiatrists, surgeons, pilots, writers, poets, photographers. Moms and sons and dads and daughters. All playing a game that has no clock.  It’s the timeless game, and we’re all just kids again.

Heading out to Peaked Hill on Sunday mornings this summer, we will recite the resonant words of Bill Edison: “Time is running short — play the game! Summer is fleeting.”

Retired psychotherapist Sig Van Raan has been playing Chilmark softball since 1984. He has three grown children and a growing brood of grandchildren, who are regular visitors to his home in West Tisbury, where he lives with his wife, Susan Dickler. A longer version of this story was previously published in Arts & Ideas 2026.

Group shot, with photographer Peter Simon in the middle.

Safe at first: Writer Sig Van Raan and the younger generation.

Joel Greenberg and other softball players shared remarks in memory of their teammate Jay Grossman, who passed away earlier this year.

community of softball players who meet Flanders Field in Chilmark on Sunday mornings.

DENA PORTER

DENA PORTER

PETER SIMON

PETER SIMON

JOYCE CARLSON FRIEDMAN

The Strand Theatre presents two performances of “Seven Spools of Thread: The Musical.” The play is an African folktale about seven Ashanti brothers in Ghana who must put their differences aside to save their deceased father's inheritance. In doing so, they learn the power of unity and are able to make their village plentiful. This family-friendly event features the Trumpet Chics, and talented

Event

SAT 7/4 FRI 7/3 SUN 7/5

‘Seven Spools of Thread: The Musical’

high school actors and musicians who are part of the Preparing Artists for College Entrance Program at the Camden Repertory Theater. $10-$20, 2 to 4 pm, Strand Theatre, 11 Oak Bluffs Ave.

Aquinnah Fourth of July Parade

The 25th annual Aquinnah Fourth of July Parade invites participants and spectators alike. Decorate your vehicle and line up behind the Aquinnah town police and fire trucks. A trophy is awarded to the

best-decorated float. At 11 am the procession around the Aquinnah Circle begins. Kids’ games and awards, music, and BBQ to follow at the Vanderhoop homestead. Free. 10 am to 3 pm. Aquinnah Circle, Aquinnah.

Pollinator Walk: Matt Pelikan and Mary Sage Napolitan

Explore the Island Grown Initiative community garden and search for sweat bees, bumblebees, and other local pollinators. Mary Sage will also share her best strategies for pollinator plantings. Free and open to all, registration required. 1 to 3 pm, Island Grown Initiative, 80 Stoney Hill Road, Vineyard Haven. Visit marthasvineyardagriculturalsociety.org to register.

TUES 7/7 MON 7/6 WED 7/8

Children's afternoon art: Artist Exploration

Each week kids learn about a new artist and explore the different mediums they used. July 6, Alexander Calder; July 13, Pablo Picasso; July 20, Andy Warhol; July 27, Wassily Kandinsky; August 3, Jacob Lawrence; August 10; Alma Thomas. Ages 7-plus, 1:30 to

3 pm, $40. Featherstone Center for the Arts, 30 Featherstone Lane, Oak Bluffs. featherstoneart. app.neoncrm.com.

FMarine Discovery Tour

elix Neck Wildlife Sanctuary invites the public to explore Oak Bluffs Harbor and beyond aboard the Skipper fishing boat. Participants will observe and learn about marine life, seabirds, try fishing, and enjoy an evening on the water. 5:30 to 7:30 pm. The Skipper,

Slip No. 74, Oak Bluffs Harbor, Oak Bluffs. For more information, felixneck@massaudubon. org, 508-627-4850, bit.ly/ MA_FelixNeck.

Events

Nomans’ third annual Dog Show

Head over to Nomans for its third annual Dog Show. Think you might have a canine top model? Be sure to enter your

stunning furball by visiting toasttab.com. Free. Food and beverages are for sale. 4 to 8 pm. Nomans, 15 Island Inn Road, Oak Bluffs.

THURSDAY, JULY 2

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

Virtual Kripalu Flow Yoga

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

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.

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. 508-627-4850, felixneck@massaudubon.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. 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. 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. 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! 508-693-9426, info@pollyhillarboretum.org.

Goat Yoga MV

10-11 am, Native Earth Teaching Farm, Chilmark. Slow Flow Yoga with baby pygmy goats. goatyogamv@gmail.com. Milokan Cultural Center and Drum Museum Open House

10 am-2 pm, Milokan Cultural Center and Drum Museum, Chilmark. Come play with our collection of instruments from around the world. 774-563-0870, rick@drumrol.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 websitevineyardartisans.c artisan02557@yahoo.com.

Rachael Cassiani, Susie White, James Carter & Kenneth Pillsworth

10 am-5 pm, Field Gallery, West Tisbury. Artists’s Premiere: Rachael Cassiani, Susie White, James Carter & Kenneth Pillsworth 508-693-5595, info@fieldgallery.com. Artists’s premiere: Nancy Aronie, Cindy Kane, Marthe Rowen, Whitney Cleary

10 am-5 pm, Granary Gallery, West Tisbury.

Artists’s premiere of new work by Nancy Aronie, Cindy Kane, Marthe Rowen, Whitney Cleary. 508-693-0455, info@granarygallery.com. 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. Art Exhibition: Poehler and O’Callaghan 10 am-5 pm, Old Sculpin Gallery, Edgartown. Art Exhibition: Poehler and O’Callaghan 508-939-4092, art@oldsculpingallery.org. 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. Artists’s Premiere: Elise Phillips, Carol Maguire, Brandon Newton 10 am-5 pm, North Water Gallery, Edgartown. 4-6 PM - Artists’s premiere of new work by Elise Phillips, Carol Maguire, Brandon Newton. 508-627-6002, info@northwatergallery.com.

Art Class for Kids

10:30-11:30 am, Chilmark Library. Art class for kids 508-645-3360, chilmarklibrarykids@gmail.com. Seaweed art

11 am-5 pm, Aquinnah Seaweed Art Gallery, Aquinnah. Colorful, natural seaweed art made on handmade paper by local artist Corinna Kaufman. Victorian art form. Open till 7/15. Private showings available. ken@newlivingexpo.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.

Tech help

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

The Cottagers’ Children’s Initiative: Storytime 11 am-12 pm, Cottagers’ Corner, Oak Bluffs. Acclaimed young storyteller, Daphney, will capture imaginations with her spellbinding tales. 312-497-8515, mcgheeosse@gmail.com. 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. 508-693-1850, featherstone@featherstoneart.org. Seven Spools of Thread The Musical 2-4 pm, The Strand Theatre MV, Oak Bluffs. The Strand Theatre presents Seven Spools of Thread The Musical, a Broadway-style production featuring young actors and musicians and the Trumpet Chics 312-576-4890, stevecapers@icloud.com.

‘I Love Boosters’ playing at the M.V. Film Center

Just when you think you know where writerdirector Boots Riley is taking us in “I Love Boosters,” he throws in an extra twist … or two … or three. This surreal, anticapitalist crime comedy begins at the Martha’s Vineyard Film Center on Friday, July 3.

In a dark nightclub in the Bay Area, Corvette (Keke Palmer) has something to sell. Sidling up to a handsome young man, she suggests he come back to her place. We might think we know what she’s up to, but when Corvette opens the door, the man is sorely disappointed to find the apartment jammed to the rafters with all sorts of high fashion. Corvette is determined to make a sale at a third of the retail price.

It turns out Corvette is part of a small group of boosters, “the Velvet Gang.” She and her two

Continued from B10

Book Signing: ‘Last Kiss of Summer’ by Jessican Felleman 2-4 pm, Edgartown Books Cape Cod resident and Author Jessica Felleman signs her new book, ‘Last Kiss of Summer’, a young adult love story set on Cape Cod. 508-627-8463, info@edgartownbooks.com.

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.

Chair Yoga

2:30-3:30 pm, Up Island Council on Aging, West Tisbury. Chair Yoga 508-693-2896, coa-staff@westtisbury-ma.gov.

Family Movie

2:30-4 pm, Chilmark Library. Family movie with popcorn 508-645-3360, chilmarklibrarykids@gmail.com.

BY ABBY REMER

best friends, Sade (Naomi Ackie) and Mariah (Taylour Paige), boost (shoplift) to sell the goods at a discount, which they call “fashionforward philanthropy.”

We soon see the ladies at work when Corvette and Mariah go to a Metro Designers store, a mega high-fashion chain owned by the giant cutthroat designer Christie Smith (Demi Moore). The friends are dressed wildly and walk through the racks, stuffing mod fashions into their outrageous clothing. Smith goes ballistic at the gang’s continued success.

In a scene at an abandoned fastfood restaurant, where the ladies squat, we learn that Corvette aspires to be a fashion designer. In a bizarre caper, she meets Smith, who spouts absurd, nonsensical theories about her fashion design. Smith, though, not only admires Corvette’s outfit but also steals the design, which shows up in her stores, from which the Velvet Gang go boosting.

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.

Ukulele Jam

3:30-5 pm, West Tisbury Library. All ages and abilities. The library has ukuleles to borrow, or bring a guitar or banjo, or come to sing. wt_mail@clamsnet.org, 508-693-3366. Summer Speaker Series: Washashores Review

4-5:30 pm, Chilmark Library,. Authors of the Washashore Writers Collection read from the Washashores Review Vol. 2. 508-645-3360, chil.programs@gmail.com. Table Tennis

5 pm, Tisbury Senior Center, Vineyard Haven. Table tennis for all ages and skill levels. 508-728-5898, raeobmv@gmail.com.

The twisting plot uses sci-fi elements to connect the Velvet Gang’s heists to a rebellion by the sweatshop workers in China who make Smith’s clothing. One of the factory employees, Jianhu (Poppy Liu), connects with the boosters, introducing an advanced teleportation device capable of deconstructing and accelerating matter, leading to a madcap adventure with larger implications to take down Smith’s empire.

The film and its title were inspired by a track Riley wrote 20 years ago with his hip-hop group the Coup. Ultimately, “I Love Boosters” is a raucous capitalist critique. Riley says in an interview on the “Breakfast Club” podcast, “[Capital] is what moves the needle. And the working class can have a say over what happens with that capital. We can have a movement where we can control the capital collectively.” Asked about his aim for the film, Riley says he wants to make a visceral impact that lingers after the movie ends.

Events

Chillin’ In Chilmark: The Hat Ladies 5-6 pm, Chilmark Community Center. Join the CCC and CFPL for Chillin’ in Chilmark Music Series, featuring The Hat Ladies - a Grammy nominated children’s band! Free! Bring a picnic! 508-6453360, chil.programs@gmail.com.

Music in the Square - Johnny Hoy and the Bluefish 6-8 pm, Eisenhauer Gallery, Edgartown. Eisenhauer Gallery presents “Music in the Square” with Johnny Hoy and the Bluefish 508-627-7003, eisenhauergallery@gmail.com.

Wit & Word: An Evening of Written Humor

6-7:30 pm, Edgartown Library, Edgartown. Local and visiting writers will perform their funniest essays, narratives, and short pieces. 508-627-4221, programs@edgartownlibrary.org.

Art In The Park Sunset Lake, Oak Bluffs. Art of more than 40 artists will be on display at Sunset Lake in Oak Bluffs from June 20th to July 4th. The online auction information posted on site 508-693-5444, Hollyalaimo@gmail.com.

FRIDAY, JULY 3

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. 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.

EFF’n Move Series with Tuni 9-10 am, Stillpoint, West Tisbury. EFF’n Move is a mindful, low-impact training approach focused onwhy you move, not just what you do. 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. 508-627-4850, felixneck@massaudubon.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

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. Rachael Cassiani, Susie White, James Carter & Kenneth Pillsworth 10 am-5 pm, Field Gallery, West Tisbury. Artists’s Premiere: Rachael Cassiani, Susie White, James Carter & Kenneth Pillsworth 508-693-5595, info@fieldgallery.com. Artists’s premiere: Nancy Aronie, Cindy Kane, Marthe Rowen, Whitney Cleary 10 am-5 pm, Granary Gallery, West Tisbury. Artists’s premiere of new work by Nancy Aronie, Cindy Kane, Marthe Rowen, Whitney Cleary. 508-693-0455, info@granarygallery.com. Bubble Fest 10-11 am, Oak Bluffs Library. Bubble Fest 508-693-9433, cphelan@clamsnet.org.

“I Love Boosters” screens at the M.V. Film Center starting on July 3. For tickets and more information, visit mvfilmsociety.com.

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.

Art Exhibition: Poehler and O’Callaghan

10 am-5 pm, Old Sculpin Gallery, Edgartown. Art Exhibition: Poehler and O’Callaghan 508-939-4092, art@oldsculpingallery.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.

Artists’s Premiere: Elise Phillips, Carol Maguire, Brandon Newton

10 am-5 pm, North Water Gallery, Edgartown.

4-6 PM - Artists’s premiere of new work by Elise Phillips, Carol Maguire, Brandon Newton. 508-627-6002, info@northwatergallery.com.

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.

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.

Seaweed art

11 am-5 pm, Aquinnah Seaweed Art Gallery, Aquinnah. Colorful, natural seaweed art made on handmade paper by local artist Corinna Kaufman. Victorian art form. Open till 7/15. Private showings available. ken@newlivingexpo.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.

Held In Tension

11 am-5 pm, Center of Knowhere, Oak Bluffs. Held In Tension - Group Exhibition 917-960-9344, info@knowhereart.com.

Fault Lines

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

Book Signing: ‘A Weekend at Gramps ‘97’ by Dave Mercaldo 11 am-1 pm, Edgartown Books. Proud MVRHS alumnus (Class of ‘05) Dave Mercaldo signs his debut Vineyard-based novel,‘A Weekend at GRAMPS ’97’. 508627-8463, info@edgartownbooks.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 508-6453360, chilmarklibrarykids@gmail.com.

Online Balance with Kanta Lipsky 11:30 am-12:30 pm, West Tisbury Library,. To strengthen our connection to Earth and maintain balance. To sign up, email wt_mail@clamsnet.org. 508-693-3366. Seasonal Crafting 12-4 pm, Oak Bluffs Library. Craft projects for ages 3-11. New craft each week! Drop in. 508-693-9433, mlynch@clamsnet.org.

Book Donations Welcome! Friend of the WT Library

1-2 pm, Friends Book Donation Shed at West Tisbury School, West Tisbury. Book Donations accepted for the annual Friends of the West Tisbury Library summer book sale. 617-543-7898, kjskin@comcast.net. Seven Spools of Thread The Musical 2-4 pm, The Strand Theatre MV, Oak Bluffs. The Strand Theatre presents Seven Spools of Thread The Musical, a Broadway-style production featuring young actors and musicians and the Trumpet Chics 312-576-4890, stevecapers@icloud.com.

Book Signing: ‘Such A Good Mom’ by Julia Spiro

2-4 pm, Edgartown Books Julia Spiro, bestselling author and year-round MV resident, signs copies of the new paperback edition of her latest novel, ‘Such A Good Mom’. 508-627-8463, info@edgartownbooks.com. Artist reception 36 Meditations at Sea Level

3-6 pm, Turpentine Gallery, West Tisbury. Artist opening reception for Mitch Gordon’s new paintings 36 Meditations Kayak Dreams at Sea Level, a sumptuous journey along coastal plains 508-693-5963, mitch@turpentinegallery.art.

Grace Church Lobster Rolls 3-6 pm, Grace Episcopal Church, Vineyard Haven. Grace Church Lobster Roll Fundraiser 508-693-0332, rector@graceepiscopalmv.org.

First Friday with Christie Scheele: Artist Reception

5-7 pm, Louisa Gould Gallery, Vineyard Haven. Meet Christie Scheele and view her new body of landscape oil paintings 508-693-7373, louisa.gould@gmail.com.

Magic the Gathering: Gaming Club 6-9 pm, Oak Bluffs Library, Oak Bluffs. All skill levels are welcome. You can bring food and drink. Under age 14 should be with an adult. mdaniels@clamsnet.org, 508-693-9433. An Exhibition: A Kaleidoscope Of Over Twenty Artists 6-8 pm, Cousen Rose Gallery, Oak Bluffs. Cousen Rose Gallery present an Exhibition in Celebration of the Polar Bears 80th Year: A Kaleidoscope of Over Twenty Artists, Friday July 3rd, 6pm-8pm 617-710-9312, jazzze3@aol.com. Tam Tam Majik - The Magic Drum 7-9 pm, Milokan Cultural Center and Drum Museum, Chilmark. Anbasadé: Bring-

ing the Steel Drum to Africa and Haiti 774-563-0870, rick@drumrol.org.

Drive-In Movie: Jaws

8:30 pm, The Vineyard’s Drive-In at the YMCA, Vineyard Haven. Drive-In Movie: Jaws 508-696-6300, boxoffice@circuitarts.org.

PathwaysARTS SILENT DISCO on Owen Park Beach

9-11 pm, Owen Park Beach, Vineyard Haven. 3 DJ’s on 3 channels for a medley of dance genres. Free headsets with I.D. Donations appreciated for the DJs. All ages love it! 508-627-2516, tanya4pathways@gmail.com. Art In The Park

Sunset Lake, Oak Bluffs. Art of more than 40 artists will be on display at Sunset Lake in Oak Bluffs from June 20th to July 4th. The online auction information posted on site 508-693-5444, Hollyalaimo@gmail.com.

SATURDAY, JULY 4

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. Inkwell Beach. 617-710-9312, jazzze3@aol.com. Dance Fitness with Kris Martin

8:30-9:30 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. Chilmark Flea Market

9 am-2 pm, Flea Market Field. Chilmark Flea Market 508-645-3100, chilmarkflea@gmail.com.

Greenhouse Soil Therapy!

9-11 am, Community Greenhouse of MV, Oak Bluffs. Get your hands in the soil and help the community greenhouse. Seeding, transplanting, and harvesting; gardening chats and advice are a bonus! 774-563-8417, smiller8690@gmail.com.

Vinyasa Power Yoga

9-10 am, Edgartown Library. Therapeutic and creative, with elements of strength building. programs@edgartownlibrary.org, 508-627-4221.

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.

Kaiut Yoga

9-10 am, Peaked Hill Studio, Chilmark. Kaiut Yoga is works through chronic pain and injuries, general aches andstiffness, and is good for the inflexible, hyper flexible and the aging body. 774-5638282, vsonnenthal@gmail.com.

Aquinnah 25th Annual 4th of July Parade

10 am-3 pm, Aquinnah Circle, Aquinnah. Aquinnah 4th of July Parade 206-604-7001, coridipi@gmail.com. Rachael Cassiani, Susie White, James Carter & Kenneth Pillsworth 10 am-5 pm, Field Gallery, West Tisbury. Artists’s Premiere: Rachael Cassiani, Susie White, James Carter & Kenneth Pillsworth 508-693-5595, info@fieldgallery.com.

Artists’s premiere: Nancy Aronie, Cindy Kane, Marthe Rowen, Whitney Cleary

10 am-5 pm, Granary Gallery, West Tisbury. Artists’s premiere of new work by Nancy Aronie, Cindy Kane, Marthe Rowen, Whitney Cleary. 508-693-0455, info@granarygallery.com. 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. Carnegie Heritage Center

10 am-4 pm, the carnegie heritage center, Edgartown. Carnegie Heritage Center Admission: $5 (ages 12+). vineyardtrust.org/events/ 774-549-9107, thecarnegie@mvpreservation.org.

Artists’s Premiere: Elise Phillips, Carol Maguire, Brandon Newton

10 am-5 pm, North Water Gallery, Edgartown. 4-6 PM - Artists’s premiere of new work by Elise Phillips, Carol Maguire, Brandon Newton. 508-627-6002, info@northwatergallery.com. Pilates Flow with Camille Beauzile 10:30-11:45 am, Stillpoint, West Tisbury. This upbeat Pilates class blends preventative medicine, mind-over-matter focus, and joyful movement info@stillpointmv.org. Seaweed art

11 am-5 pm, Aquinnah Seaweed Art Gallery, Aquinnah. Colorful, natural seaweed art made on handmade paper by local artist Corinna Kaufman. Victorian art form. Open till 7/15. Private showings available. ken@newlivingexpo.com.

Goat Yoga MV

11 am-12 pm, Native Earth Teaching Farm, Chilmark. Slow Flow Yoga with baby pygmy goats. goatyogamv@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.

Held In Tension

11 am-5 pm, Center of Knowhere, Oak Bluffs. Held In Tension - Group Exhibition 917-960-9344, info@knowhereart.com.

Fault Lines

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

Storytime 11-11:30 am, Chilmark Library. We’ll read classic and current children’s literature, and sing, move, and play together. Ideal for ages 3-6. adubno@clamsnet.org, 508-6453360. chilmarklibrarykids@gmail.com.

Book Signing: ‘The Little Bookshop By The Harbor’ by Jean Stone 12-2 pm, Edgartown Books Join us for an exclusive visit by author Jean Stone, who will be signing copies of her new Vineyard-based novel, ‘The Little Bookshop By The Harbor’. 508-627-8463, info@edgartownbooks.com.

All Ages Chess Club 2-3:30 pm, Oak Bluffs Library, Oak Bluffs. Join us in a fun and welcoming environment. oakb_mail@clamsnet.org, 508-693-9433.

Red, White & Boom: The Legacy Day Party ‘26 2-8 pm, MVRHS, Oak Bluffs. eventbrite.com.

Polar Bears of MV Present the Trumpet Chics Free Community Concert

3-5 pm, Ocean Park Bandstand, Oak Bluffs.

Polar Bears of MV Presents a Free Community Concert featuring The Trumpet Chics, energetic high schools musicians, Ocean Park, Saturday, July 4th, 3pm 617-710-9312, jazzze3@aol.com.

God Bless America Fourth of July patriotic sing-along at St. Andrews! 6:30 pm, St. Andrew’s Church, Edgartown. At 6:30pm, following the parade, Vineyard Sound will be at St. Andrew’s to lead us in song withtheir arrangement of the Star-Spangled Banner, 508-627-5330, office@standrewsmv.org.

Island Community Chorus

Concert with Special Guests

7 pm, The Tabernacle, Oak Bluffs. Island Community Chorus celebrates America’s 250th with guest artists on July 4 at 7pm at the Tabernacle in Oak Bluffs 508-693-0525, islandcommunitychorusmv@gmail.com. Vineyard Haven Band Concert

8 pm, Old Whaling Church, Edgartown. 508-627-4440, vineyardhavenband.com.

Art In The Park

Sunset Lake, Oak Bluffs. Art of more than 40 artists will be on display at Sunset Lake in Oak Bluffs from June 20th to July 4th. The online auction information posted on site 508-693-5444, Hollyalaimo@gmail.com.

SUNDAY, JULY 5

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

The Rev. Edwin Johnson

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. Seaweed art

11 am-5 pm, Aquinnah Seaweed Art Gallery, Aquinnah. Colorful, natural seaweed art made on handmade paper by local artist Corinna Kaufman. Victorian art form. Open till 7/15. Private showings available. ken@newlivingexpo.com. Rachael Cassiani, Susie White, James Carter & Kenneth Pillsworth 11 am-4 pm, Field Gallery, West Tisbury. Artists’s Premiere: Rachael Cassiani, Susie White, James Carter & Kenneth Pillsworth 508-693-5595, info@fieldgallery.com. Artists’s premiere: Nancy Aronie, Cindy Kane, Marthe Rowen, Whitney Cleary 11 am-4 pm, Granary Gallery, West Tisbury. Artists’s premiere of new work by Nancy Aronie, Cindy Kane, Marthe Rowen, Whitney Cleary. 508693-0455, info@granarygallery.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. Artists’s Premiere: Elise Phillips, Carol Maguire, Brandon Newton

11 am-4 pm, North Water Gallery, Edgartown. 4-6 PM - Artists’s premiere of new work by Elise Phillips, Carol Maguire, Brandon Newton. 508-627-6002, info@northwatergallery.com. Held In Tension

12-5 pm, Center of Knowhere, Oak Bluffs. Held In Tension - Group Exhibition 917-960-9344, info@knowhereart.com. Fault Lines

12-5 pm, Knowhere Art Gallery, Oak Bluffs. Group Exhibition: Fault Lines 917-960-9344, info@knowhereart.com

Art Exhibition: Joseph, Glick, Grandin, Bernstein, and Brown 12-6 pm, Old Sculpin Gallery, Edgartown. Art Exhibition: Joseph, Glick, Grandin, Bernstein, and Brown 508939-4092, art@oldsculpingallery.org Pollinator Walk with Matt Pelikan and Mary Sage Napolitan 1-3 pm, Island Grown Initiative, Vineyard Haven. Learn how to support your local pollinators! 508-693-9549, programs@mvagsoc.org. Weekly Museum Open House and Family Samba 3-6 pm, Milokan Cultural Center and Drum Museum, Chilmark. Come explore the world of percussion! 774-563-0870, rick@drumrol.org.

9-10 am, Trinity Episcopal Church on Ocean Park, Oak Bluffs. The Rev. Edwin Johnson, Director of Organizing for Episcopal City Mission and recently named Canon for Discipleship and Leadership Development. 508-566-9755, trinityoceanpark@yahoo.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.

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 websitevineyardartisans.c artisan02557@yahoo.com.

“Lessons I Learned From My Mother . . . About Resisting Oppression” 10 am, Unitarian Universalist Society of Martha’s Vineyard, Vineyard Haven. Please join us on Sunday! uu.society.mv@gmail.com.

Union Chapel Sunday Service

Featuring Claire Seguin

10 am, Union Chapel, Oak Bluffs. 7/5 Union Chapel Sunday Service Featuring Claire Seguin events@hoverflymedia.com.

Artist Reception: Joseph, Glick, Grandin, Bernstein, and Brown 4-6 pm, Old Sculpin Gallery, Edgartown. Artist Reception: Joseph, Glick, Grandin, Bernstein, and Brown 508939-4092, art@oldsculpingallery.org. Restorative Sound Journey 4-5:15 pm, Peaked Hill Studio, Chilmark. Relax and reset with a Restorative sound Journey using resonant vibrational healing instruments with Peaked Hill Studio owner Valerie Sonnenthal 774-5638282, valerie@PeakedHillStudio.com. LIVINGSTON TAYLOR LIVE IN CONCERT 7:30-9 pm, Martha’s Vineyard Film Center, Vineyard Haven. We are thrilled to welcome Livingston Taylor back to the Film Center stage for two new shows summer! 774-392-2972, rich@mvfilmsociety.com.

Nôepe, this Island where we live or visit, has been part of the U.S. for 250 years, but it has been a Wôpanâak homeland since time immemorial. On June 23, Vineyard Haven library hosted Brad Lopes, an Aquinnah Wampanoag citizen and the

is a structure that acts upon a place and people, and is, unfortunately, something that we still live with.”

European contact began before Thomas Mayhew Sr. purchased the “rights to inhabit” the Island in 1641 from both William Alexander, the second Duke of Stirling, and Sir Ferdinando Gorges, governor of Maine, with colonizers such as Bar-

The commonwealth of Massachusetts sought to divide ancestral tribal common lands into individual private parcels to dismantle the Wampanoags’ communal ownership and traditional way of life.

Aquinnah Cultural Center education and public program manager and education director for the Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah), in his first presentation this summer on the history of this Island from a Wampanoag perspective. The hour-plus talk was rich in information, and just a small selection of the highlights follow to whet the appetite.

Drawing on oral history and primary-source documents, Lopes began the journey at Nôepe’s origins, when Moshup, a benevolent being of gigantic frame, first created the Island. Lopes then grounded us in Wampanoag culture, which includes matriarchal social customs, a nonhierarchical worldview, and spirituality tied to land, water, cosmos, and one’s ancestors. He delved into one of his guiding questions: How has settler colonialism impacted Wampanoag people on the islands since the 17th century? “One of the biggest things I always want people to walk away with is that settler colonialism is not a singular event that occurs at a particular period of time. It

tholomew Gosnold, Thomas Dermer, and Captain Edward Harlow, an English explorer and slaver who abducted several Wampanoag men and boys, including the notable Nôepe leader Epenow.

The earlier epidemics of European diseases that killed 70 to 90 percent of the Wampanoag population throughout their homelands on the mainland resurged after colonial settlement on Nôepe. Missionaries, including Thomas Mayhew Jr., interpreted this through the lens of their faith and missionary work to convert Wampanoag people to Christianity.

In the second half of the 17th and early 18th centuries, English colonizers sought to purchase land rights from Wampanoag leaders to legitimize their occupation. This often led to coercive and manipulative efforts to dispossess Wampanoag peoples of their land through debt entrapment, land disputes, and court decisions. The remaining major Wampanoag communities on Nôepe included Aquinnah (Gay Head), Nunnepog, Deep Bottom, Chappaquiddick, and

Christiantown. Lopes noted, “There was a significant pressure from colonial parties on Wampanoag communities, typically thinking of them as wards — quite

The 1800s saw continued encroachment on remaining native land, and many Wampanoag people from these communities moved to Gay Head (Aquinnah),

The struggle and survival of our indigenous population

“A Wôpanâak History of Nôepe.”

BY ABBY REMER

literally, as children — over whom the state or the colony had control, which forced Wampanoag communities to adopt English customs and beliefs, including a proprietorship system.”

and Mashpee on Cape Cod. A series of laws significantly impacted the political and social relationship Wampanoag people had with the commonwealth. The 1862 Massachusetts Act stripped

them of their independent tribal governance and reorganized their homeland on Martha’s Vineyard into a state-controlled “Indian district.” This act effectively eliminated their sovereignty, paving the way for the area to be forcibly incorporated as the town of Gay Head in 1870: “When you incorporate, there is detribalization, where you are saying, ‘We recognized you as a tribe before, but now, if I divest of any legal recognition as an Indian community or town, then you are no longer a tribe,’ thereby essentially dispossessing a tribe from the right to be here.”

The allotment process in Gay Head (now Aquinnah), starting in the 1860s, further disrupted the Wampanoag people’s relationship to their land. The commonwealth of Massachusetts sought to divide ancestral tribal common lands into individual private parcels to dismantle the Wampanoags’ communal ownership and traditional way of life. Private ownership also brought property taxes, which led to a shift from a subsistence-based economy to a more capitalist one, either to pay these taxes or to sell one’s land to nonindigenous people.

Lopes said, “In 1974, the Wampanoag Tribal Council of Gay Head, Inc., filed a land suit to reclaim lands that had been taken away from the tribe, and provide a basis for revitalization to protect what was now being threatened by rapid changes in the community.”

The settlements of 1983 and 1987 brought about, among other things, the transfer of 325 acres of land into trust, the purchase of 160 acres, and the restoration of a trust and treaty relationship with the U.S. It also, however, largely extinguished any future aboriginal land claim efforts and requirement to abide by town and local zoning laws.

Today, there are 1,500plus enrolled citizens of the Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah), with some 300 able to live on the Island. Among the challenges Lopes mentioned are the growing housing crisis due to high property taxes and a large seasonal population, which further impacts tribal members’ ability to stay on their ancestral homeland.

Looking forward, Lopes said, “I would encourage local and state agencies and organizations to understand that we are a political sovereign entity that needs to be involved in conversations and decisions. There are a lot of opportunities for success left on the table or not considered, because we are not included. I would also encourage the support of the tribe so that there can be more of us here, doing this kind of work.”

Lopes continued, “This leans into equity, which for me is that what is fair is not always equal. I think there are equity issues both for non-native Islanders who have been here for generations, and those like us who are Wampanoag. Why is it that those of us who are being pushed out of the Island are these two groups of people? If we are practicing equity, it would be these two groups, particularly the Wampanoag people, who would first have that level of security and stability. If there are more of us at home, it benefits not only the tribe but everyone on the Island.”

Brad Lopes will present “Nôepe: A Wôpanâak History of the Island” at the Oak Bluffs library at noon and the Martha’s Vineyard Museum at 5 pm on July 11, and at Aquinnah Town Hall on Sept.26 at 2 pm. Lopes has also created “War for the Dawnland: Reimagining King Philip’s War Primary Source Set,” which is available through the Massachusetts Historical Society website.

PHOTOS: COURTESY AQUINNAH CULTURAL CENTER

Tryptic of Moshup.

The Island filled with the Wampanoag names of original Wampanoag sites.

Notes

BY ABIGAIL HIGGINS

The towering catalpas are in bloom in older Island neighborhoods. These magnificent native shade trees are worthy of notice, and yes, of planting.

Older places also sport the gently clashing colors of prolific tawny daylilies and rambler roses. Their bloom always seems to coincide with the Fourth of July, along with the flowering of privet and hydrangea.

The pink rambler is ‘Dorothy Perkins’ and the cerise is ‘Excelsa.’ More rarely seen is a white rambler, possibly ‘Evangeline.’

The ramblers were bred locally, in Woods Hole, and more of the two dozen or so of Michael Walsh’s Rambler introductions may be growing here on the Island.

Crazytown

An Island wag quipped years back that the only excuse for speeding on M.V. was to make the boat.

The bumper sticker says it all: “Slow down, you’re not off-Island anymore.”

Thousands more people and vehicles arrive here as the season commences, chasing a couple of bucks,

or a good time. Island roadways are small and overcrowded. Please, observe speed limits and stop signs. Traffic accidents are real vacation wreckers.

Swinging into summer

We enter a new season, and warily welcome a dry summer. The light shifts as Earth angles away from the sun: ornamental and food plants receive this information and shift their functions. Reproduction and ripening are what plants are now attempting. There are just a few more days for last-minute pruning of summer ornamentals that bloom later, such as rose of Sharon and clethra. Wait too long, and bloom is sacrificed. Now is also time to prune spring bloomers, such as azalea, which now form next year’s flowering wood.

Carthusian pinks

Years ago, a far more evolved gardener friend gave me Carthusian pinks (Dianthus carthusianorum). I had grown up with something we called “pinkeyed grass,” to differentiate it from “blue-eyed grass” (Sisyrinchium), so was not sure what to make of them.

I planted them anyhow. Little did I know at the time that these seemingly unpretentious little spreaders were a thing: knitters and weavers, color at the very tops of slender, threadlike stalks two to three feet high that form tapestries in and among the rest of the plants in a bed.

What is lacking?

The home garden I work has many, many pollinatorfriendly plants, annual, biennial, and perennial. What it lacks this year is pollinators. Unlike prior years, when this garden buzzed with insects at solstice, this year it is mighty quiet — a few bumblebees in the foxgloves. The February valentine I sent myself when I sowed annual poppy seed on the snow, has yielded lots of poppies, but few of the bees that should be collecting their ample pollen. Is there too much shade? Are there too many birds (no nesting flycatchers this year, first time in four decades)? Is there too much spraying?

In the garden

There are so many tasks begging to be carried out at this time of year it is hard to know what to prioritize. Triage is inevitable. Hold onto your Easter pansies. Trim them back, or repot even — they have surprisingly large root balls — and place in the shade. Many revive nicely at summer’s end.

A new month, a new round of side-dressing roses. Give them one to two cups of low-number organic soil food monthly, and deadhead them. Cutting back to the second five-leaf branchlet is the usual advice.

Self-cleaning Knockout types are said to require no deadheading. However, their appearance is improved by doing so. One inch of water weekly helps to keep roses healthy and blooming.

The above-mentioned Ramblers are once-blooming. Cleanup, if in a spotlight location, can be quite a job! Find and train next year’s canes, and deadhead the passé trusses. If there is no time for this, do not

worry. These hardy roses carry on, regardless.

Not so hardy are the many roses around the Island that suffered in last winter’s weather, such as our ‘Westerland,’ losing the graft and reverting to the understock.

This is typically ‘Dr. Huey,’ a dark-red, hardy bloomer — not unlovely — extensively used as understock material. Keep as ‘Dr. Huey’ if you do not mind this inadvertent substitution.

Otherwise, if replacing, read the information provided by RHS at this link: bit.ly/RHS_ReplantDisease.

“Rose replant disease” is a soil-based problem that may stymie efforts to replace one rose with another. Mycorrhizae are claimed to help establish the replacement.

Warm weather makes cucumbers, and beans in their great variety, happy. Bush beans are so prolific that only a short row, five to 10 feet, may be needed for a typical family. Sequential sowing may be good in their case, removing the plants after the second flush of pods, replacing with lettuces and other greens. Pole beans yield over an entire season.

Chipmunks and their friends are burrowing into hilled potatoes to beat us to the harvest, and were also a

real nuisance with strawberries this year. I am using Bobbex’s Animal Repellent with fingers crossed.

Drought conditions are possibly exacerbating problems with thirsty animal life. Keep birdbaths clean and full.

Weed the beds of Junebearing strawberries and reset runners, if plants are reaching the drop-off in production that happens after three or four seasons. Remove runners from everbearing strawberry plants, as the runners drain off their energy; weed them as well. Consider what replaces garlic crops after harvest frees up that space.

Asparagus beds

Asparagus season closes when June does. Treat the hungry crowns to compost if you have it; or another organic product that supports the soil and the immense output the crowns make for dinners. Let them fern, and take the opportunity to feed the bed. A nicely timed fix is to clean your henhouse — wear a mask — before fly season hits. The litter/manure combo is perfect for feeding asparagus beds.

Tick check: Inspect yourself, children, and pets frequently.

ABIGAIL HIGGINS

1. More bees should be collecting poppy pollen. 2. The bumper sticker says it all. 3. Little spreaders, knitters, and weavers.

Our ‘Westerland’ rose became ‘Dr. Huey.’