MV Times May 21, 2026

Voices bySharisse: Who gets to call

Porchfest rockin’ the groove of summer

Edgartown crowds show up for the third annual music festival. BY

EUNKI SEONWOO

Storefronts across Edgartown became live performance stages under a dazzlingly bright blue sky as talented Island musicians showcased their lyrical and instrumental craft.

Downtown Edgartown shone light on

musicians who call the Island home at the third annual Porchfest on Saturday. The event drew a lot of attention from the first batch of summer visitors to the Island — from the passersby in front of Rosewater Market to the crowd that grew to spill out

onto the road in front of Eisenhauer Gallery.

Some performance locations were farther away from the town’s main hub, and the festivities began with a set by DJ Smooth B at the Martha’s Vineyard

Continued on A8

Taken from Menemsha

A father and a teenage son were detained by ICE Monday.

BY EUNKI SEONWOO AND NICHOLAS VUKOTA

After a father and son were detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) early this week, a network of Islanders are scrambling to keep them from being sent out of the state to Texas.

Rogerio da Silva Lima and his son, Nycolas de Al Varenga Lima, 15, were taken into ICE custody in Woods Hole on Monday morning. According to the Vineyard chapter of LUCE Immigrant Justice Network, the father and son were “picked up by the [U.S.] Coast Guard off of a fishing boat in Menemsha,” and handed over to ICE. This detention comes nearly a year after ICE came to the Island for the first time.

A friend of the father and son, who asked to remain anonymous for safety reasons, said the trio had gone out recreational fishing around 5 am on Monday, but were stopped by the Coast Guard within two hours of being out in the water. After being told they were free to go, the Coast Guard came back around 30 minutes later to check on their fishing license. According to the friend, the Coast Guard came back a third time to ask for da Silva Lima’s ID, to which he showed a passport, before taking both him and his son to Woods Hole.

LUCE, the grassroots organization, stated in an Instagram post that the pair were taken to the agency’s facility in Burlington, which is where the ICE’s Boston Field Office is located. ICE’s online detainee database doesn’t list whether the father and son are currently held at the Boston Field Office, but The Times has reported in the past that many detainees were held there. The database said to call the agency for details. An ICE representative was not immediately available for comment.

Da Silva Lima and his son, who is a Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School student, are originally from Brazil. ICE planned to take the father-son pair to Texas, according to

Why does the high school building project cost so much?

As the June 2 Island-wide vote for the costly project nears, high school building committee members posed the question to themselves Tuesday.

BY SARAH SHAW DAWSON

The Island is less than two weeks away from voting on its most expensive building project ever. And on the eve of the consequential vote, with only a few more public discussions left on the docket, the Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School (MVRHS) building committee posed a question to themselves, one that

Islander detained on aid flotilla to Gaza

Ames Simmons in custody of Israeli officials for a second time in a month. BY

SARAH SHAW DAWSON

ARegional High School graduate who grew up as an avid sailor on the Island, was placed in custody in Israel after being detained for a second time.

He was part of the Global Sumud Flotilla to Gaza, a civilian-led maritime mission that aims to break a naval blockade restricting aid from reaching Palestinian people who live in the Gaza Strip.

The initiative has received international attention through the efforts of those aboard the flotilla, and recently, through the advocacy of environmental youth activist Greta Thunberg, who sailed on a mission to Gaza in early 2025, and has more than 21 million fol-

lowers across social media platforms.

Like Thunberg, Simmons, 23, was detained by Israeli forces. On Monday, Simmons’ ship was boarded, and he was taken as a prisoner for the second time in a month.

Last Friday, Simmons spoke with The Times on a secure call app. Two days later, he said he was planning to go on a hunger strike with his crew if detained by Israel again. On Monday at 8:48 am Eastern

Continued on A9

Twenty-three-year-old Islander Ames Simmons on the L'Arq. Simmons was detained by Israeli forces for the second time in a month on Monday.

Blue Yonder at Salte.

MVRHS

seniors dance the night away at prom

It was a night to remember for students from Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School. On Saturday, dressed in tuxedos and flowing dresses, high school seniors congregated at the Edgartown Yacht Club for prom, capturing memories through photos and enjoying the venue.

The high school wished the students an “unforgettable prom night” on social media during the morning of the event.

“Dance, laugh, make memories, and celebrate all you’ve accomplished. These are the times you will remember!” the post reads Check out photography by Brody Royal from the High School View, the student paper published by The Martha’s Vineyard Times.

Aquinnah voters approve all funding requests

The unofficial results of the Aquinnah annual town election are in.

Residents of Aquinnah voted 96–32 in favor of allowing the town to assess an additional $100,000 in real estate and personal property taxes to fund both the department budgets of the Up-Island School and Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School.

They also voted 104–23 to allow the town of Aquinnah to bypass state law Proposition 2½ to pay a bond to repair the town hall parking lot, as well as repair trim at the firehouse and replace siding and windows at the town office building in a 109–17 vote.

Both of these questions on the ballot were preceded by articles passed at the town’s annual town meeting on Tuesday. Residents agreed in their vote to allow the town to borrow $300,000 for repairs to the firehouse, as well as $150,000 for the town hall parking lot. Their subsequent vote at the polls was to allow the town to increase taxes to pay off the loan.

All races for town official seats were uncontested this year. Julianne Vanderhoop won for select board; Kayla Darcy won for town clerk; James Benoit won for board of health; Audrey Jeffers won for constable; Laura Jordan and James Newman won for planning board; and Tobias Vanderhoop won for library trustee.

Oak Bluffs welcomes first ferry of the summer

In another sign of the upcoming summer season, the Steamship Authority (SSA) brought a little more fanfare to the annual opening of the Oak Bluffs terminal this year.

The SSA hosted its inaugural “First Ferry” event on Thursday, with organizers celebrating as the crew of the ferry Martha’s Vineyard brought Oak Bluffs’ first batch of passengers. The first vehicle to disembark was an FTI Coach charter tour bus.

“It’s the first boat of the year into Oak Bluffs. It’s cause for celebration,” Alex Kryska, SSA general manager, said, noting that a similar celebration took place when the fast ferry Iyannough made its first trip of the year between Hyannis and Nantucket.

news in brief

In Oak Bluffs, a blue banner reading “Shipship hooray,” and pleated American flag bunting decorated the terminal.

Ted Gavin, the Vineyard’s representative on the Steamship Authority board, called the traffic brought in by the SSA a “lifeline for Oak Bluffs businesses.”

The event was a collaborative effort between the ferry line and Oak Bluffs’ economic development council, a group formed last month that aims to advise the Oak Bluffs Select Board in revitalizing the town’s businesses. It is currently a working group, and no official members have been appointed by the board yet.

Mark Leonard, the Oak Bluffs Select Board member who turned the final crank of the winch to connect the Martha’s Vineyard vessel to the transfer bridge at the dock, spoke to The Times about the recent turnover of businesses in the town. While there are new restaurants that are planned to join downtown Oak Bluffs, Leonard noted the shuttering of several longtime, yearround staples, such as Phillips Hardware.

With the seasonal nature of the Vineyard, Leonard noted the ferry line plays a vital role for Oak Bluffs’ economic future.

“It’s really the heartbeat and the start of our summer season,” he said. “Our businesses rely on it. Our residents rely on it as our continued lifeline.”

Sarah Hughes, vice president of Marsh McLennan Agency, who enthusiastically welcomed the passengers, said while talks are early, there is an incredible amount of passion for the town’s future.

The Oak Bluffs terminal will be open through Oct. 22.

Harbor Homes secures permanent executive director

The interim executive director of the organization with the only shelter for unhoused people on Martha’s Vineyard was appointed to the permanent position Tuesday.

Jeannette de Jesús has served in the interim role at Harbor Homes since October, a month shy of the winter shelter opening.

A press release from the organization said that de Jesús “brings deep experience in nonprofit leadership and a demonstrated commitment to the community Harbor Homes serves.”

“It was clear from the outset that Jeannette’s educational background and depth of professional experience uniquely positioned her to lead an organization with a complex and multifaceted mission, bringing the strategic insight, operational discipline, and compassionate leadership necessary to meet its challenges and advance its long-term vision,” Maura FitzGerald, Harbor Homes board president, said in the release. “Even more important, Jeannette has proven to be a great cultural fit with a vision for the future of Harbor Homes.”

De Jesús previously served as a senior advisor on health reform to the governor of Connecticut, as chief strategy officer for Fair Haven Community Health Care, and as an executive director for Connecticut Hospital Association.

“I’m looking forward to building on the strong progress already underway,” de Jesús said in the release. “The people we serve guide our priorities and shape what comes next. That means strengthening core systems, supporting staff with greater clarity and consistency, and ensuring our services remain reliable, coordinated, and responsive. It also means listening carefully — to staff, partners, donors, and the people who rely on Harbor Homes — so our work stays grounded in real needs, and a shared commitment to lasting stability and dignity.”

In the past six years, Harbor Homes has had several different executive directors. Karen Tewhey first served in the position from 2020 to 2022. Sue Diverio then took over the position, followed by Rebecca Jamieson, Kristin Leutz, Brian Morris, Mike Bellissimo, who resigned in August, and now, de Jesús.

Harbor Homes recently finalized the purchase of a permanent shelter and location for the future Harbor Homes Center, after what they said was a “successful winter shelter season with a record number of guests.”

Real estate company facilitates $500,000 in donations

Feiner Real Estate, a company based on Martha’s Vineyard that specializes in vacation rentals and real estate sales, officially surpassed $500,000 in donations to Island nonprofits.

Ten years ago, principal broker Jim Feiner created the Client’s Choice Program as an “experiment” that allows buyers and sellers to choose to direct 10 percent of the real estate company’s commissions to an Island nonprofit of their choice for free.

In a press release about the milestone, the company said that the program has benefited more than 30 nonprofits that support housing, healthcare, conservation, education, food insecurity, and community services since 2016. The donations “create a network of individuals who are directly investing in the well-being of Martha’s Vineyard,” the release stated.

“As a business, we believe that real estate has a significant role in the community,” Feiner said in the release. “Reaching $500,000 in donations is a reflection of our clients’ desire to make a difference when they buy or sell one of their biggest assets. The marriage of our generosity and their commitment to this community makes this possible, and it’s something we’re incredibly proud to be part of.”

The company decided to expand this model nationally through its sister company, Refer2Give, a real estate referral platform that connects buyers and sellers to real estate agents who donate a large portion of commissions to a nonprofit.

“This started as a local initiative, but the program works flawlessly everywhere,” Feiner said. “People want to make a difference, and we created Refer2Give as a way for them to be impactful with our commission, literally for free, no matter where they are.”

PHOTOS: BRODY ROYAL

MVRHS graduates enjoying “their” day.

Wendy Brough selected to be next Oak Bluffs town administrator

BY EUNKI SEONWOO

Afamiliar face has been selected to take the helm at Oak Bluffs Town Hall.

The Oak Bluffs Select Board held a special meeting on Saturday morning to interview two finalists for town administrator: Wendy Brough, who’s been the acting town administrator since April 9, and James Kreidler, former town manager of Winchendon, and founder of Muni-Sun LLC, a firm that helps municipalities with solar projects.

After more than three hours of interviews and deliberation, the board unanimously voted to enter into contract negotiations with Brough. Emma Green-Beach and Sean Debettencourt will be the select board representatives of the negotiation team. The town will also consider whether to fill the assistant town administrator position held by Brough.

The board commended both candidates as excellent finalists. Ultimately, they decided to move forward with Brough, highlighting her 22-year dedication to the town and her skills as a project manager. Brough was also viewed as a long-term solution as someone with extensive knowledge of the town, and who already has housing on the Vineyard, where available units are scarce.

Brough has worked in Oak Bluffs for 22 years and became assistant town administrator in 2021. She held the town administrator seat twice in an interim capacity,

including in 2021, before being selected on Saturday. Brough had also interviewed to be town administrator in 2021.

Dion Alley, select board chair, said the Saturday decision was a “significant milestone” for the search process that began in March. Alley also said he felt the town will have an opportunity to grow alongside Brough in her new role.

“I’m excited for what comes next,” Alley said.

Bill Cleary, the newest select board member, joined his fellow board members in a desire to work with Brough to craft a vision to improve Oak Bluffs.

“We’re not a sleepy little fishing village or a sleepy little tourist town anymore,” said Bill Cleary, the newest select board member, who highlighted the town’s now more than $45 million annual budget.

If contract negotiations are successful, Brough will replace Deborah Potter, who entered her final town administrator contract in August and retired last month. Potter, who was hired as town administrator in 2021, will help ensure a smooth transition. Potter also attended the meetings over Zoom.

While Brough admitted she was still learning about a “multifaceted” leadership position, she said she understands 80 percent of the town administrator’s role, and is becoming more accustomed to topics less familiar to her, such as housing. She also said she has some off-

Island town administrators who have offered to help her.

“You need every skill,” Brough said of being a town administrator.

She cited a need for clear communication with town department heads and the community, especially to retain talented employees, but also to determine where efforts should be focused for capital projects and budgets.

Brough highlighted that Oak Bluffs has various costly projects it is undertaking, including strengthening infrastructure against rising sea levels, and dredging. She highlighted that the town needs input from the community and its various departments to determine where money should be allocated.

And Oak Bluffs needs to keep monitoring its funding, as could be seen when a $1.9 million override to fill gaps in the town budget was needed last month. She underscored that keeping tabs on town finances was even more important now because of the looming reconstruction of Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School, a massive undertaking expected to cost $333.5 million. An Island-wide vote is taking place June 2.

During her interview, Brough highlighted

Ribbon cut on major affordable housing project

The ribbon was officially cut last week on the largest affordable housing project the Island community’s seen in two decades. It took more than ten years to complete. Around 50 attendees gathered on a rainy Thursday afternoon this month for the ceremony at the Edgartown site, as housing advocates praised the effort to provide affordable units for the families who are increasingly citing that they are struggling to stay on the Vineyard.

And with the snip of large scissors through a green ribbon with large scissors and a few speeches, Meshacket, which translates to “Great House” in the Wampanoag language, was opened.

Edgartown Town Administrator James Hagerty said in a speech that the town is invested in building affordable units because members of the community are invested in propelling the cultural and economic fabric of the Vineyard forward.

When a town stops maintaining that balance and ensuring young people can stay in the

corrections

In the story “MVC approves massive Green Villa project in split decision,” published on May 1, the votes of two commissioners, Ernie omas of West Tisbury and Mark Gauthier of Oak Blu s, were not recorded. omas voted in favor of Green Villa, while Gauthier voted against it.

In the story “Running a kitchen in alpha-gal times,” published on May 6, Charlie Granquist’s wife went into anaphylaxis within two hours of eating a burger, not 20 minutes as originally stated.

place they contribute to, he said, “All at once, the town dies. Without young people, without communities like this, the town will turn completely seasonal, and the town dies.”

Located at 38 Meshacket Road in Edgartown, Meshacket Commons is a small community in itself. It consists of 36 rental homes and four ownership homes. Single-family homes are positioned closely together on the more than six-acre property, each with a small front yard. A connective walking path loops through the area. In the center, a multi-use building is open for use by all inhabitants, named the Mark Hess Community Center after the now retired Edgartown affordable housing committee member who pioneered the project with the town.

“We’re seeing the effects of the housing crisis more clearly than ever. Essential workers are being forced to commute off-Island because they can’t find a place to live,” Philippe Jordi told the crowd on Thursday. Jordi is the CEO of Island Housing Trust, the affordable housing nonprofit that managed the construction of the new neighborhood.

The entire project cost $34 million to build, and took nearly 11 years of approvals and construction. It will provide homes for more than 100 Island residents and families, and was created in partnership with Affirmative Investments and the town of Edgartown, among many other donors and collaborators. All of the houses are deedrestricted as year-round and affordable.

Jordi said the affordable units “couldn’t have come any sooner” for those Islanders who are scrambling for housing. Just this month, other large housing projects in Edgartown, namely the 40B projects Green Villa and Edgartown Gardens, were also approved, but not always

with the same vigor or regional support. Chapter 40B is a state law that allows municipalities to approve affordable housing developments if at least 20 to 25 percent of the units have longterm affordability restrictions.

One of the families who won the housing lottery, the Lowes, said their new Meshacket property was their only shot at homeownership on the Island where the median home price often exceeds $1.5 million.

“There’s no other place I would rather raise my children, and I’m not sure where I would be if we had not won this lottery,” Kate Lowe said. Lowe’s husband and two young children were also in attendance.

The Meshacket Commons project was built on town-owned land, and due to its affordability, will add units to the subsidized housing inventory (SHI) in Edgartown. So far, none of the Island’s towns besides Aquinnah meet the state standard that 10 percent of all housing units in a county be affordable.

However, not all units in Meshacket Commons will contribute to the town’s SHI, which takes into account homes and rentals that are available to those making 80 percent or below the median income. The 36 rental units will go toward the SHI.

On the Island, the income needed to afford a home is $300,000 annually, according to data collected by the University of Massachusetts Amherst Donahue Institute in May.

The Meshacket rental units were made available for year-rounders

various ways she thinks the town can improve its governance, including earlier preparation for town meetings and more direct communication to residents through the help of schools and churches.

Pursuing the town administrator role wasn’t an overnight decision. Brough said she thought hard about it, but ultimately came to the conclusion, “Why not?” because she already has extensive knowledge of the town and feels she can represent the characteristics valued by Oak Bluffs residents: hard work and honesty.

Brough also said she doesn’t “step back from a challenge.”

“I discovered I have a bit of fearlessness, which is exciting,” Brough said, adding she wants to help Oak Bluffs and bolster support for town departmental leaders.

who make between 30 percent and 110 percent of the 2025 Dukes County area median income (AMI), which is between $31,550 and $115,600 annually for an individual, and $45,050 and $165,100 annually for a family of four. The homeownership houses were available to Islanders making between 90 percent and 120 percent of AMI, or between $137,970 and $180,100 annually for a family of four; these units won’t go toward the SHI. Hagerty said the availability of the units to Island families is a win for the town, even though it took a long time to culminate.

“Edgartown is a town that follows through. And I think Meshacket is proof of that,” Hagerty said in his speech. “I drive by this development on my way home, and over the past few weeks, I started to notice things: bikes in the yard, kids outside, the sound of a neighborhood coming to life. And I thought, ‘That’s what 10 years of work looks like … and that’s most importantly what follow-through looks like.’”

The town and Brough now enter contract

Meshacket Commons welcomed families into their new homes this month. BY SARAH SHAW DAWSON

EUNKI SEONWOO

Wendy Brough was selected as the next Oak Bluffs town administrator.

SARAH SHAW DAWSON

The Lowe family outside their new home at Meshacket Commons in Edgartown.

EDITORIAL

A dance we know all too well

With Memorial Day upon us, Vineyard temperatures have been hitting summertime levels in recent days, and the whole Island seems to be swinging into what is anticipated to be another busy summer; that means many Islanders are performing a familiar dance step: the Island shuffle.

We all know this one, where someone is forced to temporarily shuffle out of their home while they or their landlord lean in to make ends meet by renting during the lucrative summer rental market.

It’s not easy on those who have to pull up stakes, and the root cause here is the lack of affordable housing. That’s no secret on the Island, and there is a growing consensus that we have to do more to solve that problem.

More than half of all housing units on the Island sit empty during the winter, and houses have become astronomically expensive over the years, at a median of more than $1.5 million. And in a continuously evolving housing dynamic, a legislative tool that can bolster Vineyard efforts to fight the housing crisis still sits in committee at Beacon Hill: the transfer fee.

It’s an idea that has widespread support as a way to help local famlies to stay on the Island. Local leaders, housing advocates, and six town meetings have continually backed the legislation to establish the fee, which would

LETTERS

Changes needed before Chappy Ferry license transfer

To the Editor:

We fully support Brian Scall as the new operator of the Chappy Ferry

Let us make one crucial point perfectly clear from the start: All of us on Chappaquiddick, including the board of the Chappaquiddick Island Association (CIA) and its membership, are profoundly grateful to Peter Wells and Sally Snipes for the essential and excellent service the Chappy Ferry has provided during their tenure, and are in full support of Brian Scall as a fine candidate to take over as operator of the Chappy Ferry.

Neither of these two points is at issue for us. What is at issue is the governance and future of the ferry as a wellregulated enterprise that will continue to operate in the best interests of our residents who rely upon it.

We support the recommendations of the Chappy Ferry steering committee

We are concerned that a group of unidentified investors, unconnected to our island, proposes to take over the town license to operate the ferry “as is.” “As is,” the 40-plus-year-old license provides woefully inadequate protection of both services and costs for the hundreds of Chappy homeowners who depend upon the ferry for everything from groceries to life-threatening emergencies.

The Chappy Ferry steering committee, appointed by the Edgartown Select Board to advise it, has made 11 recommendations for vetting the proposed new owners and strengthening the license terms to better protect the public. A supermajority (70 percent) of nearly 400 respondents surveyed by the CIA — members and nonmembers alike — supports the steering committee recommendations. We as a board also support them.

We support ferry license revision now, before new owners rely on license terms

We vigorously oppose the suggestion made by some that the select board transfer the license to the new investors “as is,” putting off any changes to the license until its next automatic renewal in 2028. A legal

allow the Island to have a dedicated Martha’s Vineyard Housing Bank.

The transfer fee as proposed for the Island is a one-time 2 percent fee on property sales of more than $1 million. The money would be managed through a newly developed housing bank, and the funding would be funneled toward affordable housing initiatives across the Island, and even purchase deed restrictions to preserve units for year-round tenants.

A recent report conducted by the UMass Donahue Institute, a public-service research arm of the University of Massachusetts, at the request of the Martha’s Vineyard Commission, found that there would be little downside, and that the fee would offer a tool to bolster the local housing market and economy. This approach is particularly needed in a community like the Island’s that relies on seasonal tourism.

This is a critical initiative that we feel the Island needs, and it has been made clearer with a recent string of events that have brought up issues about the resources available to us. Last month, the massive 116-unit Green Villa project was approved by the commission. While it still needs some permitting from Oak Bluffs, its size and location, right next to the 60-unit Tackenash Knoll under construction, raised questions for Islanders. How much room does the Island truly have for new housing projects? Is there enough accessible water for the Vineyard if buildouts continue? How much of the Island’s character will be sacrificed?

opinion letter solicited by the town makes clear that the town has the legal right to change the terms of the license upon transfer, the same as it would if a new license were being issued. At the point of automatic renewal, the legal authority of the town to change the terms would be far less certain — and the arguments by the investors would be stronger that any change to the terms would be unfair to them, and perhaps unlawful.

The time is now for Peter and Sally to take their well-earned retirement; for Brian Scall to begin his tenure as the Chappy Ferry’s new operator; and for the select board to adopt the recommendations of the steering committee to protect the public reliant on the ferry. All three of these goals can — and should — be met at the same time.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the Chappaquiddick Island Association board.

Carmin C. Reiss

Chappaquiddick Island Association Board

Tisbury works best together

To the Editor:

It is with profound gratitude that I wish to thank the Island-wide community for their tremendous support throughout my campaign for a position on the Tisbury Select Board. I promise to address the issues mentioned in my campaign materials — issues which citizens brought to me. Fiscal stability, astute capital planning, equitable wastewater policies, diverse housing opportunities, and broader opportunities for communication and collaboration are all urgent issues. We need to position Tisbury to answer its challenges.

I am honored to be a representative of your voices. To paraphrase Kent Healy, former West Tisbury Select Board member, I was running for office, not against anyone. I want to thank Greg Martino for his congenial campaign and consistent encouragement. Many folks have told me that they hope to see us work together in the future. I agree. Remember, Tisbury works best together!

Connie Alexander Tisbury

Not only that, an April ruling by the state Housing Appeals Committee deemed the Martha’s Vineyard Commission a “local board,” a categorization that essentially pushes out the commission from making major decisions on projects proposed under a state housing statute — called Chapter 40B — which allows developers to curb some local zoning if at least a quarter of units are affordable. The MVC, which has acted as a guardrail for decades from overdevelopment on the Island, has appealed the decision and is awaiting an answer.

These housing cases have highlighted a phrase Vineyard planning regulators have repeatedly stated over the years regarding the Island’s housing crisis: “We can’t build ourselves out of this.” Vineyard towns are bracing to launch ambitious housing construction plans, which follow a roadmap so at least 10 percent of community housing stocks are affordable. So far, only Aquinnah meets that threshold. So, the housing bank can be an important part of this process of ensuring there is affordable housing for all. More houses that were previously inaccessible will gradually become available to Islanders, a vital part of keeping talented year-round teachers, tradespeople, and first responders on the Vineyard.

We believe that is a dance floor that will serve the whole Island, and do so without stepping on toes or forcing some of us to have to trudge through that forced march known as the Island shuffle.

Thank you from the M.V. Center for Living

To the Editor:

On Saturday, May 16, what felt like the first true day of summer, our community came together in support of Martha’s Vineyard Center for Living’s Dementia and Caregiver Services. We were heartened to welcome more than 100 walkers, pledgers, and supporters, and we are deeply grateful for the community spirit that made the day such a success.

We extend our sincere thanks to our corporate sponsors: Mirick, Araujo Brothers, Donaroma’s, Hutker Architects, Bridges by Epoch, Cronig’s Market, Green Room, M.V. Insurance, Our Market and Your Market, and Tea Lane Associates/Forbes. Their support plays an important role in sustaining the vital services we provide at MCVL.

We are equally grateful to our volunteers, walkers, and pledgers, whose enthusiasm and commitment made the event so meaningful. We would also like to offer special thanks to Nomans, the Seven Hills Band and to our many friends at Seven Hills, and Vineyard Independence Partnership (VIP) for keeping the party going.

On behalf of M.V. Center for Living and our board of directors, Sandy Joyce, Martha Solinger, Beverly Wright, Chris Murphy, Larry Gomez, David Fielder, Barbara Reynolds, and Martina Thornton — thank you for standing with us.

This work is about helping families remain together, and ensuring that older Island residents living with cognitive changes can age in place, remain connected to their community, and continue doing the things they love for as long as possible.

Mary Holmes, executive director Martha’s Vineyard Center for Living

The storied history of Israel and Palestine

To the Editor:

I’m writing in response to Ms. Dawson’s article covering the recent fundraiser held at the Grange Hall to aid the children of the Middle East who have been victimized by war (“Rais-

ing money and awareness for children of war,” May 15). While I am in full support of anything that is being done to bring aid to the children of the Middle East regardless of religious or ethnic background, I take issue with the characterization of the Palestinian Nakba (catastrophe) as a result of the independence (and existence) of the state of Israel.

When Israel declared its independence on May 14, 1948, it did so in acceptance of the U.N.’s 1947 partition plan creating both a Jewish state and an Arab state from the former British Mandate of Palestine. The Palestinian Arabs rejected this plan and initiated a civil war against the Jewish population. Upon Israel’s declaration of independence, it was attacked by the armies of Egypt, Jordan, Syria, Iraq, and Lebanon. During the course of this war (which Israel won), land was conquered and occupied by both Israel and Jordan — which occupied the West Bank, and later annexed it in 1950. During the course of the fighting, roughly 800,000 Palestinian Arabs were displaced from their former homes. What many people do not remember is that after the war concluded, roughly 800,000 Jews were forcibly displaced and exiled from the surrounding Arab countries and compelled to emigrate to Israel. What many people also do not remember is that despite all this, Israel extended full citizenship to the Arab population that remained. To this day, 21 percent of Israeli citizens are ethnically Arab, and 10 members of the Israeli parliament are Arabs. So, to correct the story’s history. The Nakba was not the “mass displacement and dispossession of Palestinian people as a result of Israeli independence.” It was the mass displacement and dispossession of Palestinian people as a result of a war that was started not by Israel, but by five neighboring Arab nations who shared the goal articulated by Azzam Pasha, the secretarygeneral of the Arab League, to wage “a war of extermination and momentous

Charles M. Sennott • Publisher

The vote on the multiyear project nears; school committee makes its case ESSAY

DEAR ISLAND VOTERS,

We are writing to ask for your support on June 2, 2026, when the Island voters will decide whether to approve an addition-renovation of the Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School.

The proposed project totals $333.5 million, with funding from the state of approximately $77 million by participating in the Massachusetts School Building Authority grant program, bringing the net

cost to approximately $256 million. Notably, the school district has already received more than $400,000 in reimbursements for the feasibility study phase. This funding may not be available again.

What the project includes

• A three-year addition-renovation to address space and mechanical deficiencies with minimal disruption to students.

• Updates to the Performing Arts Center and gymnasium.

• A new two-story academic wing with appropriately sized classrooms (as defined by the state), a new cafeteria and library.

• Integrated spaces for our special education and career and technical education programs.

• No modular classrooms during construction, reducing cost and disruption to daily education.

• Long-term borrowing to finance the project.

Why now?

• Every design option (20-plus options originally) evaluated during 2½ years by a committee of 25 representatives from every Island town was scrutinized, including a basic code upgrade.

• A basic code upgrade exceeded a $200 million base price before borrowing. The project before you after reimbursement is $256 million. The committee ruled out the basic code upgrade as too risky to retain the state reimbursement, because it did not meet the school’s defined educational needs in the application to enter the MSBA program.

• The $77 million reimbursement is tied to this project only; delays risk losing it entirely as

construction costs continue to rise. There are no other projects for consideration today.

• The building’s 67-year-old mechanical systems are outdated, inefficient, and costly to maintain.

• Current facilities do not adequately support the school’s diverse educational and community programs.

• A code-only upgrade would fail to address critical space deficiencies, making a full addition-renovation the right long-term solution.

During the past 2½ years, your voices have shaped every step of this process. This design reflects your input on cost, aesthetics, and community needs. Please vote on June 2, 2026.

Thank you, School Building Committee

massacre” against the Jews of Israel. War (when it comes) creates victims on both sides of the conflict, but the 1948–49 War of Independence was not a war that Israel chose.

The Rev. Matthew Splittgerber, lead pastor Vineyard Assembly of God

A necessary investment in the Island’s future

To the Editor:

Tuesday, June 2, 2026, is a critical day for all Islanders to cast their vote on the proposed addition-renovation of Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School. On June 2, we have a chance

to honor a Vineyard tradition to provide an engaging and robust educational experience for our ninthto 12th-graders. In the ’50s, bold Vineyarders took a leap of faith to consolidate three separate town high schools (Oak Bluffs, Tisbury, Edgartown) to insure Martha’s Vineyard would have a new facility capable of housing a full-bodied, comprehensive curriculum.

My life has been steeped in public education. I spent five decades teaching in public high schools, and thanks to being married to a public school administrator, I have lived through lots of yes/no votes on school building proposals. Over time, I have noticed a pattern to these yes/no votes. Routinely, school construction ballots

draw voters whose mantra often is “NO! Too expensive!”

Recall that recently, Tisbury voters, faced with a proposal to replace their elementary school, built in 1929, rejected funding for a new school. Once this happened, the town had to forfeit the state aid, which would have supported 38.74 percent of the cost for a new facility, to say nothing of the necessary preliminary work. The total cost of the MVRHS additionrenovation project is $333.5 million dollars; the state contribution will be $71 million, if Islanders say yes.

Two weeks ago, my husband and I took up the building committee’s invitation to tour the school. Given what we heard and saw, we agreed, “Yes, this plan is expensive, but it is clearly not

only a wise, but necessary, investment in the Island’s future.”

Finally, let me suggest: 1) Check the MVRHS website for times and places you can gather information to inform your decision; 2) while you are thinking about your vote, you might consider the questions that grew out of our tour of the school. We decided evidence we have gathered supports a yes to each of these questions.

Is it reasonable to consider that sometimes what we call “expensive” may turn out to be “less expensive?”

Is it reasonable to trust the citizens on the MVRHS school board and building committee after 10 years of deliberation, research, and planning?

Is it reasonable to believe the quality of a high school facility has an

impact on a) students’ desire to learn; b) creating an upbeat environment to work in; c) the economic well-being of the community?

Finally and importantly, isn’t it reasonable to think voting YES is our way of affirming a belief that quality public education strengthens our democracy?

One last suggestion: Please enter the time and date of the vote in your datebook, or any other place you keep track of your appointments. If you are like me, post the message in more than one spot. A sign on the front door works. June 2, 11 am to 7 pm, at your usual town ballot voting location.

Judith Miller Vineyard Haven

A rendering of the renovation and addition of the Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School.

COURTESY MARTHA’S VINEYARD REGIONAL HIGH SCHOOL BUILDING COMMITTEE

Housing bank would not overly impact real estate, study finds

Areport by a state university research department found that a transfer fee on luxury real estate would make a minimal impact on the Martha’s Vineyard market, addressing the main concern from opponents of a proposed affordable housing funding mechanism for the Island.

The study, conducted by the University of Massachusetts Amherst Donahue Institute (UMDI) at the request of the Martha’s Vineyard Commission (MVC), found that a transfer fee could add $10 million annually to affordable housing projects and initiatives, like rental assistance, on the Vineyard.

On an Island where many year-round residents are burdened by housing costs, more than half of the units that exist are seasonally owned, and the median home price

is well over $1.4 million, a transfer fee on luxury real estate has been one way legislators and housing advocates hope to balance the scales.

“Our economic impact analysis suggests that using proposed transfer fee revenues to support a balanced portfolio of programs has the potential to strengthen both the housing market and the local economy,” the report stated.

Dr. Kerry Spitzer, the lead author of the report and senior research manager at UMDI, said in an interview with The Times that the Vineyard’s year-round community, when compared with other areas with similarly robust seasonal tourism economies, ultimately faces one big challenge: affordability.

“The seasonal communities in Massachusetts, they’re all unique,” Spitzer said. “But they’re all kind of facing these

similar dynamics, where there’s been increasing prices and just real struggles with being able to have a year-round workforce and have a diverse community in terms of income.”

The institute joined with the MVC and the Nantucket Planning and Economic Development Commission to take an in-depth look at how a transfer fee could work in seasonal communities. But Spitzer said it’s still up to the people who live in those areas to clarify their needs using the data.

“This will help inform decisions going forward, which really need to be community decisions,” Spitzer said of the findings.

The option to create a fee on real estate purchases is currently being proposed legislatively through multiple bills in seasonal communities like

Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket. The bills, filed by Cape and Island’s State Sen. Julian Cyr and State Rep. Thomas Moakley, would introduce a onetime fee on real estate purchases of more than $1 million.

On the Vineyard, that fee is being proposed at 2 percent of the total sale, which is to be added to the final price. The revenue from that additional onetime fee would be funnelled into a housing bank, to be used for housing initiatives.

Spitzer used data from the Island and Nantucket, and compared it to another resort area: the Hamptons, where a transfer fee was introduced in 2023 on luxury real estate.

“We had a hunch that demand in these markets is strong and less sensitive to changes in price. And so I think that’s what that Hamptons data showed, that these

markets are different from other markets,” she said.

The report acknowledged that in “urban and national markets, there is evidence of modest negative impacts of fees on transaction volume, sale prices, and in turn property tax revenue,” which led some residents in Massachusetts to oppose the transfer fee.

“However, there is evidence that real estate transfer fee impacts vary depending on housing market conditions, and that in resort markets with limited supply and inelastic demand, like the Islands and other seasonal communities, effects on transactions and prices will be minimal,” the report reads.

Also included in the report was a survey of 242 Vineyard businesses. Half of business owners said they don’t supply housing assistance to their workers. And 51 percent said they have lost employees in the past two years because of a lack of housing and high costs.

When business owners were asked about the summer economy and housing, The Times found there was a significant shortage of affordable seasonal workplace units, and that managers and business owners feared what losing employees could mean for their sustainability.

“Housing is the biggest issue that we face,” Spring Sheldon, owner of S&S Kitchenette, told The Times in early May.

“There’s no question that the Island needs the staffing, and we have insanely limited housing,” Larkin Stallings, owner of the Ritz Café and president of the Oak Bluffs Association, said in an interview this spring.

One local group, the Coalition to Create the M.V. Housing Bank, has been advocating for this funding stream for more than five years. Its first effort failed to pass in 2024, largely due to pushback from real estate brokers in Massachusetts who said the fee could impact the market.

Many Vineyard town representatives, including planning

boards, select boards, and affordable housing committees have submitted letters in support of the initiative. If passed, it could create a funding stream for affordable housing projects.

But the goal isn’t just to build more. Those involved say the revenue stream would be used to diversify existing housing stock, provide rental assistance to Islanders, and purchase deed restrictions to ensure housing is affordable and year-round in perpetuity. Plus, programs like Lease to Locals, which gives cash incentives to seasonal homeowners to rent to year-round residents, could be bolstered. The program is underway in Chilmark, and just approved in West Tisbury.

“The islands’ geographies and environmental concerns mean that the housing supply is largely fixed,” the report stated of Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket. The report pointed to the many year-round residents who are having to leave the Island due to the rising cost of living. Almost one in two households on the Vineyard feel cost-burdened by their rent or mortgage, meaning they spend a third or more of their income on housing alone.

“A consequence of rising housing costs in seasonal destinations is that essential workers are frequently priced out. This has negative consequences for the individual residents and the community,” the report found. While the effects of a transfer fee were the focus of the report, other data about the affordability of housing emerged as well. The researchers found that an average Islander needs to make $321,000 to purchase a home, three times the Dukes County annual median income of just over $150,000.

“I’m just hoping that this report helps to inform these debates over the legislation,” Spitzer said.

The report compared resort areas like the Hamptons to M.V. BY SARAH SHAW DAWSON

MV TIMES

The Martha’s Vineyard Commission.

Taken from Menemsha

Continued from A1

court records, but a team of Islanders helped to file a habeas corpus petition, which is used to challenge alleged unlawful detentions, in the U.S. District Court of Massachusetts on Monday. U.S. District Court Judge Richard G. Stearns accepted the petition, and the father and son are now represented by Amelia Lynn Ritenour of Haven Immigration Law, LLC, of Maine.

While the cases progress, the petition keeps the two in Massachusetts while a federal judge reviews each case. Ritenour declined to comment because the case is ongoing.

Vincent Engingro III, an attorney with the defensive litigation unit of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Massachusetts representing ICE and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, was not immediately available for comment.

According to a U.S. Department of Homeland Security spokesperson, da Silva Lima and his son entered the U.S. illegally in 2021, and an immigration judge from the U.S. Department of Justice ordered their removal in 2023.

Some Islanders, who were in Menemsha at the scene Monday, said they didn’t realize the arrests were related

to ICE at the moment. John Keene, president of the Martha’s Vineyard Fishermen’s Preservation Trust, said he saw a gray-white fishing boat escorted by a Coast Guard vessel. Ryan Rossi, Chilmark harbormaster, said the operator of the Coast Guard boat informed him that the maritime security branch conducted a “law enforcement boarding on a vessel” that needed to be brought into Menemsha for the task to be completed.

“I provided them with temporary docking options,” Rossi said. “However, I did not receive any details about the vessel, the number of individuals on board, or any law enforcement action taken.”

Coast Guard spokesperson Alex Gray told The Times that Coast Guard watchstanders had received a report of a “vessel possibly in distress south of Martha’s Vineyard on Monday morning.”

“Coast Guard Station Menemsha personnel conducted a boarding of a recreational vessel at approximately 10 am, and identified individuals requiring additional immigration status verification,” Gray said. “Sector Southeast New England

co-ordinated with ICE to confirm the individuals’ legal status. One passenger on the vessel was found to be a Brazilian national.” Gray said after the Coast Guard learned that da Silva Lima was traveling with a minor, his son, they “worked with ICE to ensure the family remained together during the transfer process.” The friend, meanwhile, said the Coast Guard had denied da Silva Lima’s request to allow his son to remain on the Island. The case has caught the attention of lawmakers. Cape and Islands State Sen. Julian Cyr, a Provincetown Democrat, said he was “outraged and deeply troubled that a father and teenage son were arbitrarily detained by the U.S. Coast Guard after a routine safety check off the Martha’s Vineyard coast and transferred to ICE custody.”

“The Coast Guard’s primary mission is to protect people on our waters — this action violates that core mission, and appears to be yet another example of the capricious and racially charged immigration practices carried out by federal agencies with no role in immigration enforcement,” Cyr said. According to a member of LUCE, a volunteer network that supports immigrants and keeps tabs on ICE, Islanders sprang into action after a call about the situation came into the network’s hotline. Members of the Chappaquiddick Wampanoag Tribe coordinated efforts to connect those who wanted to help, and LUCE set up a GoFundMe for legal fees, which as of Wednesday had raised more than $9,000, and the public school system provided support. They also received help

Whydoesthehighschoolbuildingprojectcostsomuch?

Continued from A1

many Islanders have asked for months: Why does this project cost so much?

“You hear a lot of people talking about, ‘Why is it more?’” Jim Mahoney, school committee member, said at a meeting on Tuesday. “You have to do everything and more to get it here and get the project moving.”

The high price tag for the renovation and addition of the regional high school is in an animated discussion across the Island — at dinner parties, coffee shops, and quick run-ins at the supermarket. Many property owners, who will shoulder an estimated $256 million of the cost burden (plus $180 million in interest over 30 years of payments), have expressed hesitations about the total price, most recently estimated at $333.5 million, which is higher than any other project ever built on Martha’s Vineyard.

The simple answer: Costs to build on the Island are steeper than on the mainland. And yet, many other school building projects across the states, albeit in larger school districts, are much more costly.

The less-simple answer is multifaceted and not set in stone, as the cost of any building project is subject to change over the course of planning and construction. If the price increases, school officials said at the meeting, it has to be ap-

proved by voters again.

The vote is on June 2 at each town’s polling sites.

Here are the details

• Building materials are more costly on the Vineyard. And tariffs imposed by the Trump administration on steel and lumber have increased the price of raw materials.

• There’s a high payout for transporting, housing, and feeding workers, who have to be hired from off-Island because no Vineyard businesses are qualified to construct high schools to state standards.

enon describes a higher cost of building projects on the Island versus the mainland. “The costs generally are 25 to 30 percent more, and there are a lot of reasons,” Dillon said. He pointed to

state, which have dramatically risen in cost in recent years. Since the COVID pandemic, construction costs for schools have spiked. A Boston Globe report found that since 2022, the cost of

from Andrea James, criminal justice reform advocate and a part-time Oak Bluffs resident making an independent campaign to become Massachusetts’ governor. She is helping fund the habeas corpus process. James underscored she was helping as a citizen, outside of her campaign.

James said the “unjustifiable situation … required quick mobilization” by the community. She said she personally knows da Silva Lima, who she described as a hard-working man, and his son, who she said should be back in school.

“My heart sank to think of his son, who is the kindest kid on the planet, who was abducted,” she said. She also highlighted the “terrible” conditions of the Burlington facility. The Times previously wrote about the conditions at these detention centers based on

While questions continue to swirl in private conversations across the community, school committee members said that they haven’t heard many concerns at the educational sessions and tours they’ve offered through the past year. But that’s also because they haven’t had a lot of attendance.

higher costs for materials, plus the transport and accommodation of workers.

• The increase in square footage of the school is a requirement of the state agency that is set to reimburse taxpayers with about $71 to $75 million of the project, which means decreasing the price by limiting the size is not an option for project planners.

• The cost to build or renovate a high school is skyrocketing across the state.

Billy Dillon, a Chilmark representative on the school committee and a local carpenter, pointed to what he calls the “Island factor” regarding construction on the Vineyard. This phenom-

He said concrete is $200 a yard off-Island. Here, it’s $240. A dumpster is $900 off-Island, and $1,500 on the Vineyard, he added. “All these things are things that add up,” Dillon said. What the extra distance in travel and work means for the project is that materials could always go up in price. “The only thing we control is doing it now,” Dillon said. “If we wait, it’s going to cost more.”

Although the estimated total cost of the project is far higher than other buildings on the Vineyard, it’s nearly in line with other high school building projects across the

high school rebuilds cross the $100 million threshold. And a state record was hit this year when estimates for a full rebuild of Lexington High School came in at $660 million for the total project. Another school project that is similar in population size to MVRHS is Watertown High School. It has 720 students enrolled; MVRHS has 744. The Watertown project is proposed at $220 million; MVRHS’s full renovation and addition plan is 35 percent more. And the total proposed cost of the Watertown High School project comes in at 15 percent less than the amount of the project Island taxpayers will be responsible for, which is $256 million.

interviews with an individual who was detained on the Island. He described crowded sleeping conditions on floors and being bound by zip ties. This detainment comes nearly a year after an Islandwide sweep led by ICE last year resulted in the arrest of 20 individuals, who were taken from the Vineyard. While there haven’t been any large-scale arrests since last May, there were several individual arrests. Although some of those arrested carried criminal charges, others who were arrested had no criminal record, such as Newton Waite, the owner of Vineyard Caribbean Cuisine in Oak Bluffs, who was detained in September in Teaticket. Waite is currently in an ICE facility in Buffalo, N.Y.

“We’ve seen this before — indiscriminate and dramatic removal of Islanders from our community with no transparency and no due process, timed to capture national attention just as the weather gets nice at the start of the summer season,” Cyr said. “Targeting immigrant Islanders instills a culture of fear and disrupts the stability of our region just as we are preparing to welcome scores of visitors. No one should live in fear or be uprooted without cause and due process.”

ing, namely the central air system, asbestos under the floorboards, mold in the walls, leaks and floods, and mechanical issues, will have to be fixed anyway within the next few years. This is due to the health risks many of these deficiencies cause to students and teachers.

“It’s been very frustrating and unclear why no one is coming,” Sally Rizzo, a Tisbury representative on the school committee, said to the other members. She urged them to get the word out about the events, and committee members discussed new ways they could bring the issue to the forefront of Island talks.

If the project is voted down at the Island-wide vote on June 2, many of the repairs on the school build-

The cost of these needed repairs could still exceed $200 million if the entire building project is not approved, and would not result in a fully renovated school for students. The vote on June 2 would also allow the project to access a $71 to $75 million reimbursement.

“Education is the backbone of every great community, and I hope that we’ve made that really clear to people that this is something that needs to be done,” Mahoney said. “It’s an incredible amount of money, but we’ve paid attention to, ‘How do we keep control of that?’”

MARTHA’S VINEYARD ART ASSOCIATION

COURTESY MARTHA'S VINEYARD REGIONAL HIGH SCHOOL BUILDING COMMITTEE

U.S. Coast Guard responding in Menemsha Harbor.

GrooveofPorchfestdrawsEdgartowncrowds

Boys & Girls Club at 11 am.

Porchfests occur across the country as a way to celebrate local musicians while forging a sense of community. The first porchfest took place in Ithaca, N.Y., in 2007, and inspired the Edgartown Board of Trade to eventually bring the event to the Vineyard.

In Edgartown, 24 acts performed a variety of genres throughout Saturday, such as relaxing bossa nova from the Ostinato Duo, energetic guitar and vocals by Rose Guerin, and original songs by Sarah Shaw Dawson.

While setting up for their show at Rainy Day, Seán McMahon and the Agreeable Men (Ted MacInnes and Chris Knott) talked about how excited they were

to spread joy, playing music under the pink flowers on the tree branches.

MacInnes said he sees the potential to grow Porchfest even more on the Vineyard.

“It could be one of the biggest things the Island does,” he said of the music festival. McMahon highlighted how many musicians performed on Saturday. “When you look at the lineup, you realize just how many bands and musicians there are active on the Island,” he said. “So I think it’s a good one-stop for people to realize just how creative and musical this Island is.”

As live music played in various parts of downtown Edgartown, curious visitors attracted to the music also wandered into the stores where musicians per-

formed. There was a symbiotic harmony between musicians gaining visibility — some having tip jars with callouts to their websites taped to the side — and foot traffic driven to local businesses.

Liz Hynes, owner of the home lifestyle shop Salte, and a member of the Edgartown Board of Trade, said she’s been a part of the Island’s Porchfest every year so far. This year, the band Blue Yonder played on Salte’s patio. Hynes said that beyond the foot traffic, the festivities bring “good energy” just before the busy season really kicks off.

“I think it’s been a huge success so far,” Hynes said. “Obviously, it’s still in its infancy, but it’s growing every year, and the musicians seem to enjoy it as much as the business owners appreciate it.”

The day ended at the Memorial Wharf with a performance by the Dock Dance Band, whose guitar riffs spurred dancers to sway with the breeze.

Engage with writers and publishing professionals for discussions about the art, craft, and business of writing.

Join us July 15 for our kick-off event at 7:30 pm and all day July 16 at Featherstone Center for the Arts.

Free to attend!

Continued from A8

Mike Benjamin and Jodie Treloar Sampson at Edgartown Inn.

Sean McMahon & Agreeable Men at Rainy Day.

Buck Shank and Rose Guerin at Kenworthy.

PHOTOS: NICHOLAS VUKOTA

Sarah Shaw Dawson & Friends at Eisenhauer Gallery.

Standard Time, which would have been late afternoon in Israel, Simmons messaged The Times, “Hunger strike starts now!”

The Times confirmed with a representative for the Global Sumud Flotilla that the ship, L’Arq, was intercepted by Israeli ships at about 5 pm their time. The crew, including Simmons, who says he served as first mate, was taken aboard the Israeli vessel, and Simmons was detained again.

“What we know so far is that the boats were attacked, and all of the civilians were abducted,” Huwaida Arraf, a Palestinian-American lawyer and co-founder of the International Solidarity Movement, which is among the organizers of the flotilla, told The Times on a phone call on Tuesday.

Arraf said, “To the best of our knowledge, they are being held right now on a floating prison ship.” She added, “It looks like that prison ship that’s carrying all of these civilians is headed toward the Israeli port of Ashdod.”

The Israeli embassy in Washington, D.C., did not respond to a request for comment. Simmons’ family on the Island also did not respond to The Times.

An official account by the Israeli Foreign Ministry posted on X on Monday stated, “All 430 activists have been transferred to Israeli vessels, and are making their way to Israel, where they will be able to meet with their consular representatives. This flotilla has once again proved to be nothing more than a PR stunt at the service of Hamas. Israel will continue to act in full accordance with international law, and will not permit any breach of the lawful naval blockade on Gaza.”

Simmons said his efforts and those of the flotilla are fueled by a sense of empathy and support for human rights. Simmons never mentioned Hamas, an Islamist militant group that controls Gaza, to The Times, as having anything to do with his choice to go. His start with the flotilla, he said, was a quick and easy decision. In the interview on Friday, he said his reason for going was not only to help people he saw were suffering, but also that he is an experienced seafarer. The entire journey was one of aid, but mainly to bring awareness to what the group believes is an illegal sea blockade around Gaza that is preventing food and aid from getting into the country.

Since his ship was captured, Simmons has been unreachable. His friends, fellow Islanders who grew up with Simmons, have been incessantly contacting state and local representatives to ensure his release from Israel. “[Simmons has] sailed

around the world before, so was gone for 18 months last time, but it wasn’t as dangerous,” Jo Orr, Simmons’ childhood friend, told The Times. “I’ve been calling all the representatives … There was a live stream from all of the boats with the cameras from the boats, and when

for everyone to be heartbroken and not look away from things, even though they’re really intense.”

Simmons arrived in Italy on April 25, and spent a few weeks training in nonviolent maneuvers and drills. He is an experienced sailor, and mentioned he had even

made demands for food and first aid, and to see six detainees who had been taken to solitary confinement. When they weren’t listened to initially, they protested by banging on the storage containers and shouting through the night. Then, a glimmer of land flashed in the distance.

That day, they landed on Greek shores, Simmons said. At this point, the de-

tainees started refusing to comply with orders from Israeli officers. Simmons said this is when “excessive force” was used.

“They were shooting flashbang canisters; I had one go off like five feet from my head … They kneed me in the face when it was my turn to be dragged, I lost my glasses — that’s how I lost my glasses — never saw them again,” Simmons said.

their camera went down, we kind of knew they had been intercepted.”

In a video posted on the Global Sumud Flotilla Instagram page, Simmons was seen with his crew. Six of them sat on the hull of a narrow, tall ship. All wore bright orange life jackets.

One person in the group announced, “If you’re watching this, we have been intercepted by the IOF [Israeli offensive forces].”

The collapse of the humanitarian effort has caused critical food shortages in Gaza, and in September, the U.N. declared that parts of Gaza were suffering what was determined to be a famine. Since an October ceasefire, delivery of aid has improved, but remains severely restricted, according to international aid experts.

According to Simmons and a growing list of international organizations, including the U.N. Independent International Commission as well as Amnesty International, Israel’s actions in Gaza amount to genocide. Israel and many Jewish organizations around the world strongly disagree, and the issue is hotly debated.

“As a collective, we’ve stopped feeling the weight of genocide,” Simmons told The Times. “There’s a genocide basically being live-streamed all the time; that we’ve collectively sort of stopped thinking about it is really strange. So I think that it’s important

sailed around the world in a tall ship after high school. His start, though, was the Sail MV summer camp, where he learned how to tack and jibe on a 13-foot 420 sailboat. At a young age, Simmons was hooked.

After training, Simmons boarded one of 22 ships, a vessel named Marea, and sailed the Mediterranean Sea along with more than a hundred other activists from roughly 56 countries. Simmons was sailing for only about three days before drones were spotted circling their vessel off the coast of Crete, about 600 miles from the coast of Gaza.

“We’d done so many drills for interception, and were prepared for it … It was mostly just sort of tedious. I feel like I messaged like every person who’s ever smelled me,” Simmons said with a laugh.

For five hours, the crew waited to be boarded by the small motorboats that were circling their fleet of ships, the largest maritime flotilla mission so far. Once they were taken on Israeli vessels, they were moved to a “massive cargo vessel,” where Simmons said they were made to “kneel in the water in stress positions for a while” and searched.

The flotilla crew of about 100 was led to a makeshift ship prison, made from storage containers and barbwire fences.

Simmons said the group

After the sailors were taken to the shore, Greek officials took over. Israeli officers released Simmons and the others, who were detained into their custody. Simmons said the events that happened after were a blur, literally: He could barely see without his glasses. They were taken to the middle of nowhere, and eventually ended up walking miles to an airport to deal with their passports. Some crew members went to the hospital to get treated for injuries inflicted by the soldiers; others went their own way. Simmons decided to continue in the Global Sumud Flotilla, joining the L’Arq. There, serving as first mate, he sailed alongside 54 other vessels, all determined to get to Gaza with aid in the hold of the ships.

Reflecting on his journey after being detained once in pursuit of delivering aid, Simmons said, “I think that they just wanted to freak us out, and like, definitely wanted to disrupt our numbers, but all they’ve done is make me firmer in my resolve.” He was closer to Gaza than he had ever been when he was intercepted by Israeli officials again. The event was caught on a live stream on the Global Sumud Flotilla website, which showed Israeli officers in green padded armor and face masks in a motorboat surrounding the ships.

The crew of L'Arq, a vessel in the fleet headed to Gaza.

ART TEACHER, ELEMENTARY GRADES MVPCS

The Martha’s Vineyard Public Charter School has an opening for a 3 days-per-week (.60 FTE)

Art Teacher for grades K to 6 to start September 1, 2026. Must hold a BA/BS; teaching experience preferred. 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.

AtlantisHardscapeLLChas openpositionsondifferent crews.

•LandscapeMaintenance Foreman-managedaytoday operations,identifyandprune plantmaterial,abilitytospeak withclientswhenneeded.

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SS#,validMAdriverslicense required.

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BEACH PATROL DUKES COUNTY IS LOOKING TO HIRE PART-TIME BEACH PATROL FOR THE SUMMER SEASON.

Will be responsible for issuing parking tickets on State Beach, informing patrons of beach rules and do general maintenance tasks. Candidates must be at least 18 years old. CPR certification preferred. Job application and job description available at https://www.dukescounty. gov/employment-opportunities

BRUNO’SROLLOFFINC.IS LOOKINGFORARELIABLE, SAFETY-CONSCIOUSINDIVIDUAL TOJOINOURTEAMASA TRANSFERSTATIONLABORER. Thisroleisessentialtomaintaining anorganized,clean,ande cient facility.Thisjobrequirestheability toworkoutdoorsonyourfeetfor extendedhourseachday.Thisisa seasonalpositionspringthrumidNovember.Requestsfor applicationscanbesentto job@brunosmv.com

CARDETAILER DriversLicenserequired.508-4006171.300StateRd. Tripbarnes@comcast.net.

DIRECTOR OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES Responsible for managing County programs, including Health Care Access, Public Benefits Access, and Vineyard Smiles as well as direct client service as needed. Includes program planning and development; grant writing, management and reporting; hiring and supervising staff; oversight of systems used to access and document benefit applications; acts as liaison to town governments, local and regional health and human services coalitions and boards. Knowledge of the health and human service needs of diverse Islanders preferred. Must have excellent interpersonal and communication skills and knowledge of Microsoft Office. Full job description and job application available at https:// www.dukescounty.gov/employment-opportunities

DISHWASHER NEEDED! Beetlebung Farm is looking for a reliable, hardworking dishwasher to join our kitchen team. Daytime position in Chilmark. Competitive hourly pay. To apply, email jobs@beetlebungfarm.org.

DRIVERS WANTED: We are looking for people for full time/ part time. All shifts available. Applicants must possess a Massachusetts Driver’s License and have at least 2 years driving experience. Any questions please call BOB @ HARBOR TAXI 508-693-0037.

DUKESCOUNTYISHIRING.COME JOINOURTEAMOFDEDICATED PUBLICEMPLOYEES. TheDirectorofHealth&Human Services managesmultiple departmentsandinitiativesthat improveaccesstohealthand humanservicesacrossDukes County;ensurescompliancewith stateandfederalguidelinesfor benefitsandhealthinsurance programs;servesasakeyliaisonto towns,serviceproviders,and communitypartners. Responsibilitiesincludegrant writingandreporting,supervising staff,managingprograms,handling complexcustomerserviceissues, andcoordinatingpublicoutreach. Thepositionrequiressubstantial knowledgeofpublichealthand benefitssystems,strongleadership andcommunicationskills,andthe abilitytomakeindependent decisionsinadynamic environment.

BeachPatrol -Responsiblefor issuingparkingticketsonState Beach,educatingpatronsofbeach rules,andkeepingthebeachclean. Candidatesmustbeatleast18 yearsold.CPRcertificationispre ferred.

TemporaryReceptionist/ AdministrativeAssistant --greet clients,answerphones,andprovide basico ceassistancetothestaff attheDukesCountyHealthCare Accesso ce.Bilingualpreferred (English/Portuguese) DukesCountyisanEqual OpportunityEmployer.Fulljob descriptionsandjobapplication availableathttps:// www.dukescounty.gov/employmentopportunitiesSendletterofinterest tomanager@dukescounty.gov

DUKESCOUNTYSHERIFFS'OFFICE PUBLICSAFETYTELECOMMUNICATIONSOFFICERS **$500MonthlyHousingStipend forFullTimeIslandResidentTelecommunicators** Areyoulookingtokick-startyour career,whilehelpingtheIsland Community?

Dutiesinclude,butnotlimitedto receiving,processing,transmitting and/ordispatching emergencyandnon-emergencycalls forpolice, fire,emergencymedical, andotherpublicsafetyservicesvia telephoneandothercommunication devices. Effectiveoralandwritten communicationsskills,sensitivityto workingwithconfidential material; flexibilityandwillingnessto adapttochangingenvironmentand priorities;positiveattitude,integrity and,excellentjudgment. Workscheduleincludes assignmentstotheday,eveningand night,weekend,andholidayshifts. Paidon-sitetraining,aswellas off-islandAcademytrainingupon completionofprobationaryperiod. Full-timepositionwithagenerous benefitpackage,includingpaid leave,insuranceand retirement.Fulltime Tele-Communicator-In-Trainingpay rangeis$71,140.94$78,545.22annually,plus$500 monthlystipend.Applicationsand jobdescription availableatdukescountysheriff.com/ careers

EDGARTOWN DENTAL GROUP SEEKING A DENTAL ASSISTANT, 3 DAYS/WEEK. Friendly team, competitive pay, great work environment. Email resume to jdimaiolo@teamadb.com FULL TIME YEAR ROUND ATTENDANT

The Martha’s Vineyard Refuse District is seeking a Scale Attendant / Recycling Attendant to work at one or more of our District’s local drop off areas. Assisting and directing the public in proper disposal of waste and recycling materials. This position is a full time 40 hr per week and participates in the CCMHG benefits program and Dukes county retirement system. Starting pay rate is $28.41 Please stop by the office or email us to pick up an application during our regular business hours. M.V. Refuse District located at, 750 Edgartown West Tisbury rd. Edgartown Ma. 02575 or email to mvrefuse@com-

ISLAND LAW FIRM SEEKS INDIVIDUAL FOR FULL-TIME SECRETARIAL OR PARALEGAL POSITION.

ill train and promote ualified s land resident. mail letter resume to info bfmlegal.com.

JOIN THE ALEX MILL TEAM ON MARTHA’S VINEYARD

e re opening on artha s ineyard and looking for friendly people to oin us for the summer season. f you e got an eye for style care about the little things and en oy helping people find the pieces they ll actually ear you ll be in good company. nterest

Please email your resume and a short introduction to lori ale mill.com

LAWN MAINTENANCE

stablished andscape Design and uild Company has an opening in our a n aintenance Dept. no ledge of machines helpful. ust ha e legal orking papers speak uent nglish and ha e a alid dri er s license. Please email info indigofarm.com

MARTHA’S VINEYARD REGIONAL HIGH SCHOOL

seeking applicants for a one year only . of less than school year Administrative Support Personnel

o submit an application isit our ebsite at .m yps.org under mployment ne obs correspond ing choolspring Job d Deadline ay tarting ugust

o person shall be e cluded or discriminated against on the basis of race color se age religion nation al origin se ual orientation gender identity or disability.

.

MARTHA’S VINEYARD REGIONAL HIGH SCHOOL seeking applicants for the follo ing coaching position

J irls occer

o submit an application isit . m yps.org under mployment forms or at the ffice of the uperintendent of chools Pine treet ineyard a en

Return completed application to the uperintendent s ffice

o person shall be e cluded or discriminated against on the basis of race color se age religion nation al origin se ual orientation gender identity or disability.

.

MARTHA’S VINEYARD MUSEUM IS HIRING SEASONAL VISITOR SERVICES ASSOCIATES

Join our team for a uni ue part time seasonal opportunity orking both at the useum and the dgarto n ighthouse e are seeking friendly re liable and enthusiastic isitor er ices ssociates to elcome guests and support daily operations. Please see m museum.org careers for a com plete ob description and instructions on ho to apply.

TRIPBARNESNEEDSASSISTANT DriversLicenserequired,phone skills,speaksenglish.508-4006171.300StateRd. Tripbarnes@comcast.net.

NOWHIRING

TransitConnection,Inc.,theprivate operatingcontractorforthe Martha’sVineyardTransitAuthority (VTA),hasthefollowingopenings. Allapplicantswillbesubjectto drivingandcriminalrecordchecks, aswellasalcoholandcontrolled substancepre-employmentand randomtesting.Vehicleoperators mustalsopassaDOTstandard physical.Workschedulescanvary andwillincludeweekendsand holidays.TheVTA/Transit Connectionisanequalopportunity employer.

ParatransitCoordinator FTyear-roundpositionreceiving clientrequestsandschedulingtrips forTheLift.TheLiftprovidesADA paratransitvantransportationfor peoplewithdisabilities.Serviceis shared-ride,door-to-doorfor individualswhosedisabilities preventthemfromusingthebus system.Computerliteracyanda goodknowledgeofMartha’s Vineyardrequired.Paystartsat$28/ hour.

ParatransitDriver FTandPT/Year-Roundpositionin systemservingamedicallyqualified passengergroup.Exemplarydriving, customerserviceand communicationskillsrequired.Pay startsat$28/hour.

VehicleOperator,Fixed-Route FT/PTSeasonalandYear-Round.

Safelyoperateavarietyof commercialtransitvehiclesona scheduledbasis,providingexcellent customerservicetopassengers, obeyingallDOTandtra c regulations.Worktimevaries,early morningtolatenight.Knowledgeof Martha’sVineyardisveryhelpful. CommercialDriverLicensetraining isavailable.Paystartsat$28/hour. Pleaseapplyat: 11AStreet Edgartown,MA02539 Ordownloadapplication atwww.vineyardtransit.com THE BOATHOUSE & FIELD CLUB JOIN OUR TEAM THIS SUMMER Seasonal positions — June through Labor Day

Swim Instructor e are seeking a certified ater afety nstructor to lead s imming lessons and a uatic programming for our members. certification is re uired. Lifeguard Current lifeguard certification required

Membership Front Desk elcoming presence at the heart of our member e perience. Responsi bilities include greeting and assisting members managing in uiries and

Jobs

supporting day to day operations. Prior customer ser ice or hospitality e perience preferred. o apply at boathousem .com or emailing Da ina. ebb boathouse m .com e look for ard to elcoming you to the team.

OFFICEMANAGER

AdamT.Incorporatedisseekingan O ceManagerforathriving residentialconstruction firm.This isanopportunitytogrowwithinthe companywithagoodwageand increasingbenefits.Flexiblehours 30to40hrs/wk.Musthavestrong organizationalskills,computer savvy,andproficiencyin QuickBooks&Excel.Position requires:processingpayroll, invoicing,handlinginsurances, answeringphone,processing buildingpermits,variousadditional documentation,and have communicationsw/staff.Training isavailable.Emailresumeto adam@adamtinc.comortextto 508-958-4041.

OFFICESTAFFPOSITION

JohnKeeneExcavation,Inc.is lookingforamotivated individualtojoinouro cestaff.The roleincludesclerical work,assistingcustomers,and othero ce-relatedtasks. Thisisayear-roundpositionwith excellentbenefits. Pleasestopbyouro ceoremailus ato ce@johnkeene.comforan application.

POLICE OFFICER

TOWN OF OAK BLUFFS

er e the to n and sland that you lo e and oin the ak luffs Police Department. e are recruiting for a full time Police fficer through a rolling application process. e anticipate hiring one full time police officer by July st . e offer competiti e pay and benefits a orkout on duty option education incenti es an e cellent ork sched ule consisting of days on and days off a robust employee ellness program and e are fully accredited through the assachusetts ccredi tation Commission. ull list of re uirements and applica tion process can be found on the ak luffs ebsite under employment opportunities oakbluffsma.go obs. ak luffs is an .

PROFESSIONAL OFFICE POSITION dministrati e assistant bookkeeper anted for island based real estate management team. perience in uickbooks and ffice and dobe crobat and filing systems sought. ood ages and benefits package. mail Resume and contact info to admin. ob realestateofmar thas ineyard.com

PROJECTFINANCEMANAGER

Supportthe financialcoordinationof constructionprojectsatSouth MountainCompany. You'llensureproject financesare accurate,organized,andaligned fromearlyestimatingthroughbilling andcloseout. WorkingcloselywithourDirectorof Construction,DirectorofFinance andProjectLeads,you'llmaintain clearrecords,supportdecisionmaking,andkeepprojects financiallyontrack. Weofferanexceptional, family-friendlycompensation package,includingmedical/dental/ visioninsurance(SMCocoversthe fulldeductible),profitsharing,401k, andthepotentialforownership. Learnmoreaboutthisposition,how toapply,ourcompensationpolicy, andourcultureathttps:// southmountain.com/meet/

SAVATREEISLOOKINGFORTREE CLIMBERS,LANDSCAPE MAINTENANCESPECIALISTS, LANDSCAPECONSTRUCTION SPECIALISTSANDGROUND OPERATIONSTREECREWSFOR OURWESTTISBURYLOCATION! Allexperiencelevelsneeded. Wehavehousingoptionsavailable torentonislandaswellassignon bonuses!!!! Pleasereachoutto Lchabot@savatree.comortextto 774-218-9355.

TEACHER’S ASSISTANT MVPCS he artha s ineyard Public Charter chool has an opening for a full time lementary eacher s ssistant to start eptember . e are looking for a creati e enthusiastic indi idual ishing to e plore or ad ance a career in education ithin our pro ect based learning curriculum. Competiti e salary and full benefits pro ided. Please email a resume and letter of interest to Peter teedman chool Director at psteedman m pcs.org and com plete an application on our ebsite . PC .org.

THE TOWN OF TISBURY IS LOOKING FOR AN INDIVIDUAL TO ASSIST THE PLANNING BOARD TEMPORARILY. his is ubcontract ork ap pro imately hours a eek unbenefited. Pro ides administrati e support to the Planning board in the area of applications processing bills payable account recei ables assist ith agendas and meeting packets and ans ers phones. pplicants should submit resume and letter of interest to uman Resources Department at pbennett tisburyma.go . o n of isbury is an . Please submit by ay th. pen until filled.

WEARELOOKINGTOADDTO OURTEAM!

Thefollowingthreepositions availableare: *SiteSupervisor/Experienced MachineOperator–CDLlicensea plus* *Laborer* *CDLClassAorBTruckDriver* Thesepositionsareyear-round andincludeexcellentbenefits! Pleasecallouro ceat(508)6935975or emailusato ce@johnkeene.com

WEARESEEKINGRETAIL ASSOCIATESFOROURSUMMER SEASON!

TheSalesAssociateisakey memberofourcustomerservice teamwhowillexudeenergythatis upbeatandfriendly,whiledoing whatittakestocreateamemorable impactonourcustomers!Please email lauren.pagliccia@fahertybrand.com formoreinformation!

TheHumanResourcesGeneralistwillperformthedaily functionsoftheHumanResources(HR)departmentincluding interviewingandhiringstaff,administeringpay,benefits,and leave,andenforcingcompanypoliciesandpractices.

UndertheDirectionoftheDirectorofHumanResources,key responsibilitiesinclude:

HRAdministration&Compliance

Onboarding Payroll&Recordkeeping

Administration,orarelatedfieldrequired;equivalentrelated experiencemaybeconsidered.Thispositionisfull-time,40 hours/week,withasalaryrangeof$65,000-$75,000/year.

SEASONAL GARDENER P seeks a seasonal gardener ho en oys orking outdoors appreciates plants and alues being part of a collaborati e team. Responsibilities include planting maintaining garden beds pruning atering and engaging ith garden isitors. hour. reat opportu nity to learn and build horticultural skills. pplication found at pollyhil larboretum.org

Bachelor’sdegreeinHumanResources,Business Administration,orarelatedfieldrequired;equivalentrelated experiencemaybeconsidered.Thispositionisfull-time,40 hours/week,withasalaryrangeof$65,000-$75,000/year.

Real Estate

$1,245,000MARILYNMOSES617462-0381OCEANPARKREALTY, OAKBLUFFSCLASSICCAPE

Charmmeetsmoderne ciencyin

thismove-in-ready3-bedroom home.Thoughtfullymaintainedand beautifullypresented,thehome featuressun-filledlivingspaces,an updatedkitchen,andcomfortable bedroomsdesignedforeasy everydayliving.Enjoyyear-round comfortwithenergy-e cientminisplitsystemsprovidingbothheating andairconditioning,offeringcosteffectiveclimatecontrolinevery season.The finishedbasement addsvaluablebonusspaceidealfor amediaroom,homeo ceor workoutroomgivingyouthe

flexibilityto fityourlifestyle. Outside,aprivateyardoffersthe perfectsettingforrelaxingor entertaining.Awonderful opportunityforayear-round residence,vacationgetaway,or investment...thisclassicCape blendstimelessstylewithmodern upgrades.

$895,000 22MONTGOMERYSQUARE OAKBLUFFS

MARILYNMOSES|617-462-0381 OCEANPARKREALTY,INC.

Charmingyear-roundrenovated Victoriancottageinthehistoric Martha’sVineyardCampMeeting Association,locatedintheheartof WesleyanGroveinOakBluffs.This 3-bedroom,1-bathhomefeatures shiplapwalls,knottypineceilings, originalwood flooring,andsun-filled interiorsthroughout.Theupdated kitchenoffersquartzcountertops,a farmhousesink,stylishlighting,and newerenergy-e cientappliances. ImprovementsincludeMarvinwood windows,anewerroof,hotwater tank,andenergy-e cientheat pumpsforACandheat.Enjoya welcomingfrontporchwithcolorful gardensandaslatepatiowith fencedgardenspaceforoutdoor diningandrelaxing.Juststepsto CircuitAvenue,OakBluffsHarbor, andnearbybeaches.

UpscaleWaterfrontcommunitywith tennis.VacationhomeorYear round!

Sunnythreebedrooms(2huge)plus largefamilyroomw/priv.entrance. Privatecommunitydinghydockw/ Kayakstorage,&tenniscourts. Peacefulquietassociation. Fantasticlocation!Veryreasonably pricedat$1,399,000. CallAustinREPropertiesofMV 508-314-5833

$2,250,000MARILYNMOSES OCEANPARKREALTY 617-462-0381 NEWCONSTRUCTION

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

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

OCEANPARKREALTY

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

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

Real Estate Transactions

May 11 – 15, 2026

Edgartown

PRICEIMPROVEMENT

46KENNEBECAVENUE

OAKBLUFFS,MA

$$1,495,000

CALLORTEXTALANSCHWEIKERT 508-221-1708ORMICHAEL SCHWEIKERT774-563-9112

OCEANPARKREALTY

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

SALEPENDING NEWLISTINGINOAKBLUFFS $999,000 ALANSCHWEIKERT OCEANPARKREALTY 508-221-1708

OakBluffs:HomeSweetHome Situatedonoveraquarteracreof beautifullylandscaped,level groundswithcolorfulperennial plantingsandmaturetrees,this sun-filledranchoffersaperfect blendofcomfortandcharm.The openkitchen,dining,andliving areasfeaturecathedralceilings, classicverticalknottypinewalls, andacozybrick fireplace.Enjoya convenient first-floorbedroomanda spacioussecond-floorprimary bedroomwithaprivatedeck.The finishedbasementprovides additionallivingorhobbyspace. Updatesincludea2017oilburner andRothoiltank.Aninviting outdoorshowercompletesthiswellmaintainedhome,offeredfurnished andreadyforyourpersonal touches. Locatedinaquietresidential neighborhoodclosetoallthatOak Bluffshastooffer.

PRIVACYMEETSCONVENIENCEIN

OAKBLUFFS

JAYNEISFORD|203-962-4317

$1,795,000

Nestledattheendofaquietstreet, thisroomyandspaciousCape-style homeoffersprivacyand conveniencejustashortdistanceto theOakBluffsSchool,towncenter, andwithinwalkingdistancetothe Lagoon. Sun-filledmainlevelwithopen floor plan,largewindows,andagenerous kitchenwithamplecounterspace, openingtothediningarea.Sliders leadtoabackdeck,yard,and bluestonepatio..perfectfor entertainingorrelaxing. Radiantheated floorsintheprimary suiteandlower-levelplayroom.Twocargaragewithbonusspaceabove. Beautifulstoneworkdriveway. Updatedfurnace(2020)andwater heater(2024).

Oak Bluffs

SOLD&CLOSEDIN30DAYS $1,995,000CALLORTEXT

MARILYNMOSES617-462-0381

HOUSE&STUDIOABOVE GARAGE~ Welcometo26TiaAnnaLane!This exquisiteresidenceisimmaculate, stylish,andfullyrenovated,readyto welcomeitsnewowners!Situated onabeautifullylandscaped0.30acrelotadornedwithvibrant plantings,thehomeboastspristine conditionsbothinsideandout, featuringnewerHardiPlanksiding. Theinvitingfarmer'sporch, completewithMahoganydecking, setsthetoneforthischarming property,whilealovelypergola gracesthebackofthehouse.Upon entering,youarewelcomedbya whitewashedwoodwithhighceiling thatenhancesthewarmambiance. The flooringthroughoutthehomeis first-growthSouthernPine, meticulouslycraftedwithpegged andbungeddetails.Theexpansive entranceleadsintothelivingand kitchenareas,whicharebathedin naturallight,creatinganairy atmosphere.Uncoverthecharmof thewood-burningstovenestledin thefamilyroom,equippedwitha circulatingfanaddswarmth, e ciencyandfocalpointfor gatherings.Culinaryenthusiastswill appreciatethekitchen,whichis outfittedwithstainlesssteelGE CafeSeriesappliances,attractive quartzcountertops,walkinpantry andamplecabinetspacetostoreall yourcookingessentials.The screenedporchoffersanideal settingforentertainingguestsor enjoyingapeacefulmorningcoffee amidstthelushsurroundings.All bathroomsinthehomehavebeen meticulouslyrenovated,ensuring moderneleganceandfunctionality, whilecustomwindowtreatments elevatetheaesthetic.Additional updatesinclude,ahotwaterheater (installedin2020),pull-downstairs toafullyinsulatedattic(upgraded in2021),energy-e cientheatand airconditioningwithmini-splits,in groundsprinklersystemforeasy maintenanceandaforcedhotwater boilerforoptimalcomfort throughouttheyear.Thebeautifully landscapedyardprovidesample spaceforoutdoorenjoyment,and deededaccesstotheLagoonfrom GullLandingopensupopportunities forkayaking,swimming, fishing, boating,clammingorsimply savoringthepicturesquewaterfront scenery.Callnowforyourprivate tour!

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May 13, Michael J. Cassidy and Debra J. Grant, trustees of Cassidy-Grant Realty Trust, sold 357 West Tisbury Road to 357 West Tisbury Road LLC for $2,500,000. May 14, Glen S. Shea, trustee of Blackwell Shea Winsor Realty Trust, sold 69 Whalers Walk to KLE Trust LLC for $2,275,000. May 15, Matthew K. Nelson and Elizabeth Thompson Nelson sold 99 Cooke St. to Ayman F. Labib and Erica L. Labib for $3,250,000.

May 12, Joseph Tankersley, trustee of Gordon-Campbell Family Living Revocable Trust, sold 7 Upper Meadow Lane to 7 Upper Meadow Lane LLC for $1,625,000. May 13, Kerry Quinlan-Potter sold 58 Munroe Ave. to James M. Hazelton and Jessica R. Hazelton, trustees of Hazelton Family Trust, for $1,875,000.

Tisbury May 13, Eric W. Frederick and the Estate of Jay W. Frederick, also known as Jay Fredrick, sold 140 Midland Ave. to Workforce Housing LLC for $1,000,000.

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

SALEPENDING PRICEADJUSTMENT,NOW $2,600,000 COMMERCIALB-2OR RESIDENTIAL OFFEREDBYRENE’BENDAVID/ REALTOR®,OCEANPARK REALTYINC. 23CircuitAveExtension Cell508-847-4864 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.

SOLD

$839,000CALLORTEXTMARILYN MOSES617-462-0381 OCEANPARKREALTY

Juststepsfromtheiconic TabernacleandTrinityPark,this charmingcottageisnestledinthe heartofthehistoricMartha's VineyardCampMeetingAssociation adesignatedNationalHistoric LandmarkDistrict.Surroundedby colorfulgardensandpicturesque pedestrianwalkways,itoffersan easystrolltoOakBluffsHarbor, beaches,ferries,artgalleries, restaurants,andallthevibrant charmoftown.Thisdelightfultwobedroom,onefullbathroomcottage blendshistoriccharacterwith thoughtfulupdates,makingitan ideal3-seasonorextended seasonalretreat.Withadditional insulationunderthehouse,abuyer couldpotentiallymakeitsuitablefor year-rounduse.Anexpansive wraparoundfarmer'sporchwith classicgingerbreadtriminvitesyou torelaxandsoakinthe community’suniqueatmosphere. Inside,paintedwood-beamceilings, archedwindows,andtimelessbuiltindetailsenhancethewelcoming livingspaces.Aversatilebump-out areaoffers flexibleuseasaguest sleepingnookoro ce,withdirect accesstotheporchforsummer breezes.Thediningroomprovides aninvitingspacefordinnerparties andentertaining,whilethekitchen withadjoininglaundryandpantry addsconvenienceandcharm.The cottagecomfortablysleepsseven, includingtwobedrooms,asingle bedinthebump-out,andasleep sofainthelivingroom.Theproperty ispartiallyinsulatedandfeatures propaneforcedhot-airheatinthe kitchen,bathroom,diningroom,and onebedroom,withanewfurnace installedin2019.Additional featuresincludeanelectricstove, refrigerator,washer,dryer,garbage disposal,50-gallonpropanehot waterheater,andapproximately200 sq.ft.ofstorage.Maturegardens andlawnwithirrigationfurther enhancethisspecialoffering.Best ofall,thecottageisoffered TURNKEYandFULLYFURNISHED, readyforyoutoenjoyfromdayone.

SOLD BEINGOFFEREDBYRENEBEN DAVID/OCEANPARKREALTYINC.

CELL508-847-4864

$1,250,000

11ONONDAGAAVE,OAKBLUFFS OPENHOUSE

ComfortableIslandHomeona QuietDead-EndRoadinOakBluffs: Welcometo11OnondagaAvenue, thesecondhomeontheleftona short,quietdead-endroadinawellestablishedOakBluffs neighborhoodenjoyedbybothyearroundandseasonalresidents.This well-cared-for3-bedroom,2.5bathroomhomeoffersspace, comfort,andatrulyinvitingisland lifestyle—justashortwalktothe OakBluffsSailingCampParkand beach,wherebeautifulsunsetsover thewaterawait.Inside,theopenconceptlayoutconnectsthekitchen anddiningareatothelivingroom, creatingabrightandfunctional spaceperfectforbothentertaining andrelaxeddailyliving.Aninviting deckoffthediningroomextends yourlivingspaceoutdoorsintoa serenelandscapedsettingidealfor enjoyingmealsinthefreshVineyard air.Thehomeissetonapeaceful lotwithbothfrontandbackyards offeringasenseofseclusionand spacetoenjoy.Upstairs,theprimary bedroomfeaturesanensuitewitha shower,providingacomfortableand quietretreat.Twoadditional bedroomsandafullbathcomplete theupperlevel,andahalfbathwith washer/dryerisconveniently locatedonthemain floor.Thefull basementincludesbothindoorand outdooraccess,offering flexibility andadditionalpotential.A finished roominthebasementisreadyfor yourcreativetouch—whetherasa mediaroom,homeo ce,playroom, orguestoverflow.Thepropertyalso includesaspaciousstorageshed andadrivewaythateasily fitsthree tofourcars.Anewroofinstalledin 2023addspeaceofmindandvalue. Locatedminutesfromdowntown OakBluffs,localbeaches,ferries, andallthecharmtheVineyardhas tooffer,thishomeisreadytobe yourislandgetaway,year-round residence,ornextinvestment.

Real Estate

SOLD BEINGOFFEREDBYRENE'BEN DAVID,REALTOR®ATOCEAN PARKREALTYINC.

CALLORTEXT508-847-4864. $999,999.00

Location,Location,Location!This uniquepropertyonthebeautiful islandofMartha’sVineyardpresents anincredibleopportunityforthe buyerwithvisiontocompleteand personalizeahomefullofpotential. Theoriginalresidence,builtin1920, offers2bedroomsand1bathand hasbeenexpandedwitha substantialneweraddition,creating increasedlivingspaceanda finishedgarageareasuitablefor storageorfutureuse.Abovethe garage,another2bedroomsanda fullbathawait finaltownapprovals providingtheperfectframework foranAccessoryDwellingUnit (ADU)oradditionallivingquarters. Withcreativityandplanning,this propertycouldbetransformedinto a spacioussingle-familyhomeora multifamilyresidence.Setonalarge cornerlotwithinwalkingdistanceto town,theferries,andtheharbor,the locationalonemakesthisamustsee.Thepropertyalsofeaturesa newer4-bedroomsepticsystem installedin2006,whichhasalready beeninspectedandpassed.After beinglovinglycaredforbythesame family,thethreesiblingswho inheritedthehomearenowreadyto passitalongtonewownerswho canbringtheirownvisiontolife. Thisyear-roundresidenceistrulya propertyyouneedtovisitinperson tofullyappreciateitspossibilities. Sellerisofferingbuyer’sbroker compensation.

SOLD COASTALCHICCONDO

PRICEIMPROVEMENT$1,149,000 SENGEKONTACKETWATERFRONT COMMUNITY|MARTHA’S VINEYARD

Stylish,sunlit,andsuperblylocated —thisarchitecturallydesignedendunittownhouseoffers2bedrooms, a flexiblethird-floorloft,and1.5 bathsacross1,323sq.ft.Enjoya sleekchef’skitchenwithstone countertops,custombuilt-ins,anda 288sq.ft.privatedeckidealfor entertaining. Withupgraded flooring,windows, systems,andasuccessfulrental history,thispropertyisperfectfor year-roundlivingorasastrong investment.

Communityamenitiesinclude: •Accesstofresh&saltwaterponds •Oceanaccessdock+boatramp •Clubhouse,tennis/pickleballcourt s Kayakstorage+potentialmooring MinutestoFarmNeck,bikepaths & beaches

Offered$1,149,000

Exclusivelyby:MarilynMoses| REALTOR® 617-462-0381| marilyn@oceanparkmv.com

SOLD OAKBLUFFSSENGEKONTACKET

$1,995,000CALL ORTEXTJAYNEISFORD 203-962-4317

Thisdelightfulhomeisonascenic lotnestledwithinthe SengekontacketAssociation.Every roominthehomeis filledwith naturallightandbeautifulviews.It isaveryshortwalkingdistanceto thecommunityboatdockand kayaking,aswellasthewalking trailsofSengekontacket.Updatedin 2008bythearchitectowner,this homehas3bedroomsinthemain houseandalovelybedroomand bathroominthestudiothatis attachedtothemainhomebya stunningoverheadtrumpet walkway.Cathedralceilingsinthe mainfamilyroomandkitchenwith lightfromeveryangle.The renovatedkitchen,livingroomand additionofascreenedporch completethemain floorofthe home.Thelowerlevelofthehome has3setsofslidingglassdoors thatwalkouttothegardens.There are2largebedrooms,onefull bathroomandaseparatewasher anddryerroom.Thetop floorhasa completelyupdatedandverylarge masterandensuitewithlovely viewsofthepropertyand surroundingwoodlands.This propertyhasanintimatefeel becauseofthecaretakenwiththe designbutalsoallowsforeveryone tohavetheirownprivatespacefor relaxationduetothelargesquare footageandopen floorplan.There isalsoanoutdoor firepitandlarge wraparounddeckoffofthemain floor.Solarpanelsonthemain home.Familymembersandfriends leaveaftertheirvisitsto26Box Turtleeachyearsaying,"Whencan wecomeback".Aspecialhomeina speciallocation.The SengekontacketAssociationhasan activegroupofpickleballandtennis residentswhowillwelcomeyouon thecourts.Ownerswilloffera1997 IslandJeepWranglertobeincluded inthesaleofthispropertywith roughly55,000mileages.

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 afullyrenovatedapartment. Whetheryou'reaninvestorseeking steadyincome,abusinessowner lookingfora flagshiplocation,ora developerexploringmixed-use potential,thispropertydelivers exceptionalvalueinoneofMartha’s Vineyard’smostdesirable commercialcorridors.

LAND-VINEYARD HAVEN RARE OPPORTUNITY TO PURCHASE A TRANSFERABLE, DEEDED LAGOON POND PARCEL, ALLOWING YOU TO HAVE YOUR OWN MOORING *Parcel is not buildable. $299,900. MV Sales &

132 SOUTH RD CHILMARKMAY 23RD 9 AM -2 PM: Prints irrors itchen are abric CDs ooks unkbeds urniture more. 508.314.0041 GROUP YARD SALE eba ua Rd ak luffs aturday rain date time pm

SABADO 23 DE MAIO AQUINNAH 6 RAYMONDS HILL: Grande bazar 4 familias.Muitos itens domésticos,moveis,colchas,tapetes roupas calcados coleciona veis vintage, tigelas,articos de vidro, oias e pe uenos eletrodom sticos. tem algo para todos Das por favor não cheguem antes do horário

SAT MAY 23 AQUINNAH 6 RAYMONDS HILL

SATURDAY, MAY 23, 10-3

ramed prints and originals house hold clothing furniture old books baskets bo es buttons misc. pring ill Road ineyard a en.

1979O’Day22’Sailboat Lotsofextra,3sails, anchor+line,cushions.Comeswith HDdual tandemboattrailer.Ano.$1,250. 508-560-0888.Gary

TO OCTOBER. leeps no smoking no pets. irst month and security deposit. Call 508 696 3831. PETS & LIVESTOCK HORSES FOR HALF LEASE TO GOOD RIDERS ONLY. tunning oating gaits. o able and gorgeous chestnuts both. n o Dressage umper famous sire in lympics Indoor arena and out door ring. Also his friend Diamond. or trails and light ring ork much less e pensi e. e t isa 5472.

4 Family Sale. many household items, furniture bedspreads rugs clothing ,shoes, vintage collectables, bowls, glass are e elry small kitchen appli ances. something for everyone 9-4 NO EARLY BIRDS PLEASE Sat.May23&Sun.May24,9-3. RAINORSHINE.EPICYARDSALE Tom’s&Rachel’sNEWestate finds! Antiques;Vineyardart,books, postcards;LISTEDART;NAUTICAL; sterling;costume&high-end JEWELRY;vintageclothing! Decorating?8FullingMillHILLRD CHILMARK!Pleaseobserveposted PARKINGsigns.

LASER SAILBOAT – FAST, RACE-READY BOAT IN EXCELLENT CONDITION. READY TO SAIL. $4,200 Drascombe Lugger – Classic, versatile boat. Stable and seaworthy with a centerboard that pulls up for easy beach access. $4,000. Contact Noah: (718) 360-3062

SUNFISH SAILBOAT Excellent condition. Not used much at all. One owner and no trailer. Call 401-578-9827.

MARSHALLSANDERLING18’ SAILBOAT–CLASSIC CENTERBOARDCATBOATWITH TILLER. Sailsbeautifullyinshallowwater andcanbebeached—the quintessentialCapeCod/Martha’s Vineyardboat.Includestrailer,sail, cushions,lifevests,bronzestep— fullyequippedandreadytoenjoy. Storedundertarp;needswashand freshbottom/cockpitpaint.$6,400 OBO.Vineyardsalepreferred.Must pickup;sellercannottransport.Text fordetails(407)625-1475

NISSAN3.5L.S.OUTBOARD Runsgreat!$250. 508-560-0088.Gary.

NISSAN3.5L.S.OUTBOARD Runsgreat!$250. 508-560-0888.Gary.

NISSAN3.5L.S.OUTBOARD Runsgreat!$250. 508-560-0888.Gary.

COUNTY FUEL OIL BID

ADVERTISEMENT

The County of Dukes County will accept sealed bids for the supply and delivery of approximately 133,000 gallons of #2 Heating Oil for Dukes County and other public agencies for the period of July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027. Bid forms are available www.dukescounty.gov . Bids must be recei ed at the ffice of the County Manager, Dukes County Administration Building, 9 Airport Road, P.O. Box 190, Edgartown, MA 02539 NO LATER THAN 2pm, June 11, 2026.

ELECTION WARRANT THE COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS

MARTHA’S VINEYARD REGIONAL SCHOOL DISTRICT

Dukes, ss.

To the registered voters of the Towns of Aquinnah, Chilmark, Edgartown, Oak Bluffs, Tisbury and West Tisbury, Massachusetts, GREETINGS:

ou are hereby notified and arned that the inhabitants of the Towns of Aquinnah, Chilmark, Edgartown, Oak Bluffs, Tisbury and West Tisbury, Massachusetts registered to vote in any of said Towns being the members of the Martha’s Vineyard Regional District, are to meet at their respective polling places, to wit, In the TOWN OF AQUINNAH, at TOWN HALL, located at 955 STATE ROAD, AQUINNAH, MA 02535, in the TOWN OF CHILMARK, at THE CHILMARK COMMUNITY CENTER, located at 520 SOUTH ROAD, CHILMARK, MA 02535, in the TOWN OF EDGARTOWN, at TOWN HALL, located at 70 MAIN STREET, EDGARTOWN, MA 02539, in the TOWN OF OAK BLUFFS, at THE LIBRARY, located at 56R SCHOOL STREET, OAK BLUFFS, MA 02557, in the TOWN OF TISBURY, at THE EMERGENCY SERVICES FACILITY, located at 215 SPRING STREET, TISBURY, MA 02568, in the TOWN OF WEST TISBURY, at THE PUBLIC SAFETY BUILDING (STATION 2), located at 454 STATE ROAD, WEST TISBURY, MA 02575, on Tuesday, June 2, 2026 at 11:00 a.m., to vote by BALLOT on the following question:

“Do you approve of the vote of the Regional District School Committee of the Martha’s Vineyard Regional School District adopted on March 9th, 2026, to authorize the borrowing of $333,490,457 to pay costs of designing, constructing, originally equipping and furnishing a new District high school and related athletic facilities to be located at 100 Edgartown Road, Oak Bluffs, Massachusetts, which vote provides, in relevant part, as follows:

“VOTED: That the Martha’s Vineyard Regional School District (the “District”) hereby appropriates the amount of $333,490,457 for the purpose of paying costs of designing, constructing, originally equipping and furnishing a new District high school and including the rehabilitation of the running track and grass fields on the est side of anderson Avenue, located at 100 Edgartown Road, Oak Bluffs, Massachusetts, including the payment of all costs incidental and related thereto (the “Project”), which school facility shall have an anticipated useful life as an educational facility for the instruction of school children of at least 50 years, and for which the District may be eligible for a school construction grant from the Massachusetts School Building Authority (“MSBA”), said amount to be expended at the direction of the School Building Committee. To meet this appropriation the District is authorized to borrow said amount, under and pursuant to G.L. c. 71, §16(n), and the District Agreement, as amended, or pursuant to any other enabling authority. The District acknowledges that the MSBA’s grant program is a non-entitlement, discretionary program based on need as determined by the MSBA, and any Project costs the District incurs in excess of any grant approved by and received from the MSBA shall be the sole responsibility of the District; provided further that any grant that the District may receive from the MSBA shall not exceed the lesser of (1) forty-six and thirty-one hundredths percent (46.31%) of eligible, approved Project costs, as determined by the MSBA, and (2) the total maximum grant

Legal Notices

amount determined by the MSBA, and that the amount of borrowing authorized pursuant to this vote shall be reduced by any grant amount set forth in the Project Funding Agreement that may be executed between the District and the MSBA. The debt authorized by this vote of the Committee shall be submitted to the registered voters of the District’s member communities for approval at a District-wide election to be held on Tuesday, June 2nd, 2026 in accordance with the provisions of G.L. c. 71, §16(n) and the District Agreement.”

Yes_____ No_____

The polls will be open from 11:00 a.m. to 7:00p.m.

The District Secretary is hereby directed to serve this Warrant by posting an attested copy thereof in at least one public place in each of the Aquinnah, Chilmark, Edgartown, Oak Bluffs, Tisbury and West Tisbury, Massachusetts, and by publishing a copy thereof at least once in a newspaper of general circulation in the District, said posting and publication to occur at least ten days before the day of election as aforesaid.

The District Secretary shall make due return of this Warrant with his or her doings thereon to the District Secretary, on or before the day of the aforesaid election.

[The balance of this page is intentionally blank.]

Given under our hands and the seal of the Martha’s Vineyard Regional School District as of this 9th of March, 2026.

School Committee Signatures:

/s/Jeffrey Manter

_/s/Rizwan Malik

_/s/Marsha Shufrin

_/s/ Kathryn Shertzer

_/s/Kelly Scott

_/s/Robert Lionette

_/s/Amy Houghton

_/s/Jennifer Cutrer

_/s/Sarah Murphy

MORTGAGEE’S NOTICE OF SALE OF REAL ESTATE

By virtue and in execution of the Power of Sale contained in a certain Mortgage given by Dolores Williams and Cheryle Williams to Option One Mortgage Corporation, dated February 7, 2005 and recorded with the Dukes County Registry of Deeds at Book 1030, Page 179, subsequently assigned to Deutsche Bank National Trust Company, as Trustee for Carrington Mortgage Loan Trust, Series 2005-OPT2, Asset Backed Passhrough Certificates eries OPT2 by Sand Canyon Corporation f/k/a Option One Mortgage Corporation by assignment recorded in said Dukes County Registry of Deeds at Book 1243, Page 114 for breach of the conditions of said Mortgage and for the purpose of foreclosing same will be sold at Public Auction at 3:00 PM on June 4, 2026 at 124 Skiff Avenue Unit G-11 aka Unit 11 aka Unit 11C, Tisbury (Vineyard Haven), MA, all and singular the premises described in said Mortgage, to wit: The Unit (hereinafter referred to as “the Unit”) known as and designated Unit Number 11 (11C) of the Causeway Harborview Condominium, a condominium situated in Tisbury (Vineyard Haven), County of Dukes County in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, created pursuant to Master Deed dated 3/18/1976 and recorded on 3/23/1976 with Dukes County Registry of Deeds in Book 332, Page 253, in accordance with and subject to the provisions of Chapter 183A of the General Laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Said Unit is conveyed together with an undivided percentage interest in the common areas and facilities. Said Unit is shown on the plan of the said Condominium entitled “Causeway Harborview” dated August, 1975, and recorded with said Deeds as Tisbury Case File No. 68 and 69. Legal Address: 124 Skiff Avenue, Unit 11(C), Vineyard Haven, MA 02568 Mailing Address: 124 Skiff Avenue, Unit G-11, Vineyard Haven, MA 02568 Being the same premises conveyed to the herein named mortgagor (s) by deed recorded with Dukes County Registry of Deeds herewith. The premises are to be sold subject to and with the

benefit of all easements restrictions encroachments, building and zoning laws, liens, unpaid taxes, tax titles, water bills, municipal liens and assessments, rights of tenants and parties in possession, and attorney’s fees and costs. TERMS OF SALE:

A deposit of TEN THOUSAND DOLLARS AND 00 CENTS ($10,000.00) in the form of a certified check bank treasurer’s check or money order will be required to be delivered at or before the time the bid is offered. The successful bidder will be required to execute a Foreclosure Sale Agreement immediately after the close of the bidding. The balance of the purchase price shall be paid within thirty (30) days from the sale date in the form of a certified check bank treasurer’s check or other check satisfactory to Mortgagee’s attorney. The Mortgagee reserves the right to bid at the sale, to reject any and all bids, to continue the sale and to amend the terms of the sale by written or oral announcement made before or during the foreclosure sale. If the sale is set aside for any reason, the Purchaser at the sale shall be entitled only to a return of the deposit paid. The purchaser shall have no further recourse against the Mortgagor, the Mortgagee or the Mortgagee’s attorney. The description of the premises contained in said mortgage shall control in the event of an error in this publication. TIME WILL BE OF THE ESSENCE.

FinCEN reporting will be required of all successful purchasers, absent a lawful exemption. Other terms, if any, to be announced at the sale. Deutsche Bank National Trust Company, as Trustee for Carrington Mortgage Loan Trust, Series 2005-OPT2, Asset acked Pass hrough Certificates Series 2005- OPT2 Present Holder of said Mortgage, By Its Attorneys, ORLANS LAW GROUP PLLC PO Box 540540 Waltham, MA 02454 Phone: (781) 790-7800 24-014029

O DEPARTAMENTO DE MONITORAMENTO DAS ESCOLAS PÚBLICAS (PSM) DO DEPARTAMENTO DE ENSINO

Fundamental e Ensino Médio realizará uma Revisão de monitoramento integrado do(a) Martha’s Vineyard Regional Public Schools durante a semana de May 25, 2026, Cada distrito escolar, escola autônoma (charter), escola vocacional e escola virtual passará por uma Revisão de monitoramento integrado a cada três anos. As áreas abordadas durante esta revisão foram organizadas em dois grupos, conhecidos como Padrões universais do Grupo A e Padrões universais do Grupo B. O(A) Martha’s Vineyard Regional Public Schools passará por uma Revisão de monitoramento do Grupo ue se concentra na identifica o de alunos de duca o special e nos cronogramas de elegibilidade para duca o special desen ol imento do Programa Educacional Individuali ado P programa o e ser i os de apoio; requisitos processuais para suspensões e oportunidades iguais. Para obter informa es adicionais consulte tamb m a rienta o inte grada para pais e famílias. O processo inclui entrevistas com funcionários e administradores do Distrito, uma análise dos registros dos alunos, políticas e procedimentos e visitas aos prédios escolares. O processo também pode incluir reuniões de grupos de foco de pais/cuidadores, alunos e professores para a coleta de informa es adicionais. er fornecida interpreta o se necessário.

O Departamento também enviará uma pesquisa para os pais, em vários idiomas e formatos, conforme necessário, aos pais/ responsáveis legais de alunos de duca o special para coletar informa es importantes sobre os processos e procedimentos de duca o special. Os pais/responsáveis legais e outras partes interessadas podem ligar para Henry Ndakalu, Diretor(a) de Revisão de monitoramento, pelo número de telefone (781) 338-3706 ou entrarem em contato pelo e-mail: henry.ndakalu@mass.gov para solicitar uma entrevista por telefone. Se alguém precisar de alguma acomoda o como interpreta o tradu o para participar de uma

entrevista, o Departamento tomará as providências necessárias. Em aproximadamente 60 dias úteis após a visita ao local, o(a) Diretor(a) da revisão fornecerá ao(a) (district or charter school) um relatório com informa es sobre outras medidas ue possam ser necessárias. O público pode acessar o relatório no site: https://www.doe.mass.edu/psm/tfm/ default.html.

THE DEPARTMENT OF ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION’S OFFICE OF PUBLIC SCHOOL MONITORING (PSM) WILL CONDUCT AN INTEGRATED MONITORING REVIEW OF MARTHA’S VINEYARD REGIONAL PUBLIC SCHOOLS DURING THE WEEK OF MAY 25, 2026.

Each school district, charter school, vocational school, and virtual school undergoes an Integrated Monitoring Review every three years. The areas addressed during an Integrated Monitoring Review are organized into two groups, known as Group A Universal Standards and Group B Universal Standards.

Monitoring Review of Martha’s Vineyard Regional Public Schools will be undergoing a Group A monitoring review that focuses on special education student identification and special education eligibility timelines; Individualized Education Program (IEP) development; programming and support services; procedural requirements for suspensions and equal opportunity. For additional information please also see Integrated Monitoring Parent and Family Orientation

The process includes interviews with district staff and administrators, a review of student records, policies and procedures, and school building visits. The process may also include parent/ caregiver, student and teacher focus group meetings to gather additional information. Interpretation will be provided, if needed.

The Department will also send a parent survey, in multiple languages and formats, as needed, to parents /guardians of special education students to gather key information on the special education processes and procedures.

Parents/guardians and other stakeholders may call Henry Ndakalu, Monitoring Review Chairperson, at (781) 338-3706 to request a telephone interview. If anyone requires an accommodation, such as translation, to participate in an interview, the Department will make the necessary arrangements. Within approximately 60 business days after the onsite visit, the review chairperson will provide the (district or charter school) with a report that includes information on further actions that may be required. The public can access the report at https://www.doe.mass.edu/psm/tfm/ default.html.

LEGAL NOTICES TISBURY

TOWN OF TISBURY OFFICE OF PLANNING BOARD PO BOX 602

VINEYARD HAVEN, MASSACHUSETTS

WWW.TISBURYMA.GOV

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

Pursuant to MGL Ch. 40A, s. 9; and section 04.02.01 (a) (ADU’s) and 04.04.03 (multiple ADU’s) of the Tisbury Zoning Bylaw, the Tisbury Planning Board will hold a hybrid (zoom link below) public hearing on June 17th, 2026 at 5pm at the Town Hall Annex at 66 Highpoint Lane and via zoom at a regularly scheduled meeting to consider the addition of a second Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU). ocus ay o er ane isbury Ma - Assessor’s Parcel 53-A-3.9

Property Owner: Marc Petricone

Applicant: Tim Greene (AT&T)

Join Zoom Meeting

https://us06web.zoom. us/j/82818796017

Meeting ID: 828 1879 6017

Passcode: 854324

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

WEST TISBURY ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

On Thursday, May 28, 2026, at 5:35pm the ZBA will hold a public hearing at the nd oor meeting room on an application for a Special Permit from Vineyard Land Surveying & Engineering, Inc. on behalf of Edmund C. Cottle, Jr. to allow the construction of a deck addition to the side of an existing dwelling requiring 10 feet of side yard setback relief under Section 4.3-3D of the West Tisbury Zoning Bylaw at 274 Lamberts Cove Rd. (recently reassigned as 35 Cottle Ln.), Map 7 Lot 27.1, in the RU district. Interested parties are invited to send comments via email to: zba@westtisbury-ma.gov or mail comments to: Zoning Board of Appeals, PO Box 278, West Tisbury, MA 02575. Please call 508-696-0107 for information on the application.

LEGAL NOTICES OAK BLUFFS

Cottage City Historic District Commission

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

Wednesday June 17, 2026 at 5:15 PM RE: 51 Katama Av Map 18 Parcel 13 Jeffrey & Claudia Leidinger

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/84046665011?pwd=WTjoDv33x8VwbvbWFPiBlq1jum5ZaN.1 Meeting ID: 840 4666 5011 Passcode: 469577

Remove and replace the later addition, raise the roof by 2’, rebuild the porch. Proposed plans are on file in the uild ing 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

LEGAL NOTICES EDGARTOWN

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

EDGARTOWN CONSERVATION COMMISSION

On Wednesday May 27, 2026 at 4:30

PM the Edgartown Conservation Commission will hold a public hearing via Zoom on a Request for Determination of pplicability filed by ourati Engineering Group on behalf of Pickles Place LLC under the Edgartown Wetlands Protection Bylaw and the Massachusetts Wetlands Protection Act. The applicant is seeking a determination regarding the planting and maintenance of twelve (12) Eastern Red Cedars within the buffer of a coastal bank and within the FEMA ood one.

The property is located at 93 Edgartown Bay Road (AP Map 51-41)

For a copy of the application or for questions related to observing the meeting via Zoom, please contact: conservation@edgartown-ma.us

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

EDGARTOWN CONSERVATION COMMISSION

On Wednesday May 27, 2026 at 4:35

PM the Edgartown Conservation Commission will hold a public hearing ia oom on a otice of ntent filed by MV Engineering & Design on behalf of John Reilly under the Edgartown Wetlands Protection Bylaw and the Massachusetts Wetlands Protection Act.

The applicant is seeking permission to build a new retaining wall (removing an e isting one add fill on Pierce Ln to raise the grade, renovate the existing dwelling on 13 Pierce Ln, and various landscaping elements.

The property is located at 9 & 13 Pierce Lane (AP Map 20D Lots 78 & 79)

For a copy of the application or for questions related to observing the meeting via Zoom, please contact: conservation@edgartown-ma.us

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

EDGARTOWN CONSERVATION COMMISSION

On Wednesday May 27, 2026 at 4:40

PM the Edgartown Conservation Commission will hold a public hearing via Zoom on a Notice of Intent filed by ineyard and ur eying & Engineering on behalf of Peter & Joan Kumpitch under the Edgartown

Wetlands Protection Bylaw and the Massachusetts Wetlands Protection Act. The applicant is seeking approval for proposed restoration plantings in response to an Enforcement Order issued as a result of unpermitted cutting in the buffer to wetlands. The property is located at 64 Harbor View Ave (AP Map 47-82)

For a copy of the application or for questions related to observing the meeting via Zoom, please contact: conservation@edgartown-ma.us

PUBLIC NOTICES

Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School District Invitation for Bids Surplus School Vehicles (#26-36)

Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School District invites bids for the sale of four (4) surplus vehicles: one (1) 2012 Ford Econoline Van, one (1) 2012 Ford Escape Hybrid, one (1) 2015 Ford Expedition, and one (1) 2015 GMC Savcut. All vehicles are being sold as is and all sales are final. ehicles must be remo ed from the property by Wednesday, June 17, 2026. Vehicles can be inspected by appointment only through Troy Vanderhoop, Transportation Manager by calling 508-560-2003 or tvanderhoop@mvyps.org. Bid documents can be obtained by emailing Jocelyn Broadley at jbroadley@mvyps.org. Bids will need to be per vehicle and must be submitted in a sealed envelope addressed to Mark Friedman, School Business Administrator, and be received at 4 Pine Street, Vineyard Haven, MA 02568 by Wednesday, June 3, 2026, before 4:00PM (Eastern Standard Time). If Bids are being delivered in person, bids must be placed in secure drop box at front door at 4 Pine Street, Vineyard Haven, MA 02568. Bids will be opened on Wednesday, June 3, 2026 at 4:00 PM. The Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School District reserves the right to reject any or all bids.

PUBLIC NOTICE MASSACHUSETTS DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION Division of Wetlands and Waterways 100 Cambridge St., Suite 900 Boston, MA 02114 Pursuant to 33 U.S.C. 1341 and M.G.L. c. 21 § 43, notice is given of a ater uality Certification application for Statewide Utility Maintenance and Operations Activities by Eversource Energy, 247 Station Drive, Westwood, MA 02090. Eversource Energy performs routine maintenance, repair, and replacement activities on its existing aboveground and subsurface utility lines as well as at associated utility facilities and along access roads to these facilities within its existing rights-of-way (ROW) throughout the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Eversource Energy is requesting comprehensive authorization under a ection ater uality Certificate for activities that result in the discharge of dredged or fill material associated with routine maintenance, repair, or replacements; such as replacement of utility poles, placement of construction mats, or overhead line work. These activities are authorized by the United States Army Corps of Engineers under Section 404 of the Clean Water Act and applicable Nationwide Permits (NWPs). Additional information may be obtained from the Applicant’s Representative: David Halliwell, Weston & Sampson Engineers, Inc., 774-332-1326, halliwell.david@ wseinc.com. Written comments should be sent to the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection, Wetlands Program, Attention Christina Y. Wu at christina.y.wu@ mass.gov (preferred) or by mail to 100 Cambridge Street, Suite 900, Boston, MA 02114, within twenty-one (21) days of this notice.

The Department will consider all written comments on this Application received in accordance with the Public Comment deadline above. Any group of ten persons, any aggrieved person, or any governmental body or private organization with a mandate to protect the environment who submits written comments may appeal the Department s Certification. ailure to submit written comments before the end of the public comment period may result in the waiver of any right to an adjudicatory hearing.

Daniel Halperin

Daniel Halperin of Cambridge and Oak Bluffs died peacefully on May 12, 2026, at Care Dimensions Hospice in Lincoln, surrounded by his family.

Daniel was born on Jan. 2, 1937, in Brooklyn, N.Y., to Harry and Lillian Halperin. His childhood in Brooklyn was filled with a love of sports, especially baseball, and spending time with his brother Morton, friends, and cousins.

A product of the New York City public schools, he graduated from City College of New York and earned his law degree at Harvard Law School. Dan began his career in private practice in New York City, and twice served in the Office of Tax Policy at the U.S. Treasury Department, from 1967 through 1970 and from 1977 through 1980, including as Deputy Assistant Secretary for Tax Policy.

Widely recognized as one of the top tax scholars in the country, he spent more than 40 years as a law professor at the University of Pennsylvania, Georgetown Law School, and Harvard University. From 1996 until he retired from teaching, Dan was the Stanley S. Surrey Professor of Law at Harvard Law School. He focused on how the tax system shapes the way people save for retirement, how it treats nonprofit and charitable institutions.

He believed deeply that people who worked hard for their entire lives deserved to be able to retire with security and dignity. Whether formulating policy, writing academic articles, or teaching, he was driven by a belief that a fair and equitable tax and pension system was essential for a just society.

Dan was a humble, generous, and thoughtful colleague, and was particularly proud of his students. They will carry forward his example that rigor and kindness can and should co-exist in their teaching and practice.

In December 1961, Dan met Marcia Hellman at a party. They started dating, but in what he always called the dumbest thing he ever did, he did not cancel a long-planned New Year’s Eve date with someone else. Fortunately, Marcia forgave him, and they began a nearly 65-year love affair full of travel, music, family, and dancing in the kitchen.

Dan loved spending time with his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. They

all brought him immense joy. He taught them many things, including how to calculate Parcheesi moves without needing to count spaces (a pattern-recognition trick that showed how his mind was always working on multiple levels). He also instilled his love of baseball, and taught them that there are two types of baseball fans: those who leave, and those who stay until the last out.

Dan and Marcia loved spending time on Martha’s Vineyard. A delight of Dan’s was to map the “ancient ways” paths in the woods near their home.

Dan is survived by his wife, Marcia; his children, Marla Schnall (Peter), Terri (Alex Wolman), and Eric (Susannah Fox); his grandchildren, Matthew Schnall (Hannah), Kathryn Knechtli (Lucien), Elias Wolman, Scarlette FoxHalperin, Lida Wolman, and Natasha Fox-Halperin; his great-grandchildren, Kevin Knechtli and Ryan Schnall; his brother, Morton (Diane Orentlicher); his brother- and sister-in-law, Gordon and Ilene Goldman; and his five nephews and their families.

Following a private burial on Martha’s Vineyard, a memorial will be held in the future, with details to be announced. The family suggests that donations in his honor be made to the Pension Rights Center, online at pensionrights.org/support-us, or an organization of your choice that embodies his spirit.

To read the complete obituary, go to mvtimes.com.

Katherine Mary Palches Yolton

Katherine Mary Palches Yolton (“Katie”) passed away the morning of Saturday, May 9, 2026, at the age of 96, at Navigator Homes in Edgartown.

Born on July 22, 1929, in Brockton, to the Rev. Peter Palches and Lois Grant Palches, she grew up in Plymouth. She graduated from Plymouth High School, where she loved playing basketball and was known as “Hot Shot Palches.” She graduated from Boston University, and attended Katherine Gibbs Secretarial School in Boston, graduating first in her class, with a typing speed, on a manual typewriter, of 120 wpm!

She met her husband, the Rev. L. William Yolton (“Bill”), when he was attending Harvard and they were

obituaries

both involved in campus ministry. They were married in Osterville on May 24, 1952. Living in New York City while Bill attended Union Theological Seminary, Katie had the first two of her three children, Beth and Debbie. She attended the Juilliard School of Music as a scholarship piano student for a brief period of time. Her son Bruce was born when they returned to Cambridge. Through it all, there was music, playing the piano and organ in churches and homes. Chopin, Scarlatti, Beethoven, Sinatra, Peggy Lee, spirituals, jazz, hymns, and the latest pop — she could, and did, play them all with verve and a smile.

In the late ’60s, Katie shepherded her family all around the world when they lived just outside Melbourne, Australia, for a year, traveling on the way via Asia and returning via Europe. The family moved back to the Boston area in the ’70s, in Arlington. Her marriage ended after 24 years, and Katie was on her own. She didn’t always have an easy time of it, but she made her way. With failing health, she was able to move into Windemere Nursing and Rehabilitation in Oak Bluff 14 years ago. They provided her with a safe and loving home where she had many friends, residents and staff alike. Her family is forever grateful for their support. Katie battled with a major bipolar disorder as an adult. In the first two decades of her illness, without the discovery of modern medications, she endured several ineffective treatments including analysis, which only put a strain on her and her supportive family. It wasn’t until the drug lithium was discovered and prescribed that there was a modicum of relief for this recurring ailment. Despite the handicaps of her chronic illness, Katie adapted, persevered, and much to her credit, still managed to live an incredibly rich life. She is missed.

She is survived by her brother, Peter Palches of Oak Bluffs and his wife Ann Palches; by her daughter, Deborah Yolton Kiest and her husband Dr. Curtis Kiest of Pacifica, Calif.; by her son, David Bruce Yolton and his husband Dr. Stephen Billick of New York City; and by her grandson, Nicholas Peter Kiest and his wife Megan Kiest-McFarland of Seattle. Her eldest daughter, Elizabeth Grant Yolton, predeceased her from breast cancer.

The memorial service will be on Saturday, May 30, at 11 am at the Unitarian Universalist Society of Martha’s Vineyard. Interment will be at Sleepy Hollow Cemetery in Concord, next to “Author’s Ridge,” where Emerson, Hawthorne, Thoreau, and Alcott are buried.

Donations can be made in her name to organizations in your communities that support the mentally ill.

To read the complete obituary, go to mvtimes.com.

Services this week for Elaine Costa Carroll

Elaine Costa Carroll, born March 14, 1943, in Oak Bluffs, passed peacefully on May 9, 2026, in Virginia, with loved ones by her side. Though she later moved away from Martha’s Vineyard, the Vineyard was always her true home, and she remained an Islander through and through.

Elaine was devoted to her family, and found her greatest joy in spending time with those she loved. She especially cherished her children and grandchildren, always finding thoughtful ways to stay close to them as the years passed.

Early in her career she was a real estate broker at Jane Brown Associates in Edgartown, before becoming a paralegal for attorney Rosemarie Hagazian.

A creative spirit, Elaine loved making beautiful baskets, wreaths, and coasters, sharing her talent and warmth with others through the things she created by hand. She also loved baking brownies, cupcakes, and other sweet treats — a passion that began in her youth while working at Walmsley’s Bakery in Oak Bluffs as a student.

Elaine enjoyed traveling, and embraced opportunities to see new places and visit family. For many years she was able to spend winters in Florida, avoiding the cold New England winters. She enjoyed traveling with her Vineyard friends to Ireland, Barbados, and Croatia. She also treasured trips to Colorado and South Carolina to spend time with her children.

She was an active and dedicated member of the Rotary Club of Martha’s Vineyard, and truly lived by the organization’s motto, “Service Above Self.”

Elaine was known for her grace and style, and could almost always be seen wearing one of her scarves adorned with a lovely brooch. Following protocols of the Emily Post Institute, Elaine taught many classes at the Vineyard Montessori School about grace and manners.

Later in life, Elaine was fortunate to reconnect with her high school sweetheart, with whom she shared the last 15 years of her life.

She is survived by her son, Michael T. Carroll and his wife Carol Carroll; her daughter, Elizabeth J. Carroll (Stephen); her beloved granddaughters, Monica A. Carroll and Molly J. Car-

roll; her companion of many years, Dan Hasting; her first husband, Michael Carroll; and many nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her father, Eugene A. Costa; her mother, Alberta E. Costa; and her sister, Jean E. Gomes.

Elaine will be remembered for her creativity, kindness, love, and devotion to family, and the warmth she brought into the lives of those around her.

Her visitation will be held in the Chapman Funeral Home, 56 Edgartown Road in Oak Bluffs, on Thursday, May 21, from 5 to 7 pm.

A funeral service will be held in the funeral home on Friday, May 22, at 11 am, officiated by Fr. Joseph Pasala. Please arrive between 10 and 10:45 am.

Burial will follow in the Oak Grove Cemetery in Vineyard Haven. All are invited to the P.A. Club afterward; please bring a dish to share.

Bruce Balter of Oak Bluffs passed away on April 23, 2026, after a long illness.

He was born in 1933 in Bridgeport, Conn., to Leon Balter and Eva Karp Balter. In 1906 his parents fled their birthplace of Mariupol, Ukraine, then part of the Soviet Union, to come to America. His father became a member of the Workmen’s Circle, a secular fraternal Jewish organization devoted to social justice and labor activism.

Bruce was the youngest of five children, an excellent multi-sport athlete with a curious mind. He joined the Navy during the Korean War and went on to receive a B.A. in English, and taught in Detroit before obtaining his M.A. in social work. As a creative and intuitive thinker, he was drawn to the work of Carl Jung, which led him to study at the C.G. Jung Institute in Zurich. He studied there for two years, training in analytical psychology. He had a thriving practice, and was a beloved therapist both in Connecticut and on the Vineyard until 2024.

He and his wife, Renee Balter, married in 1984. They had briefly been sweethearts late in high school, and propitiously crossed paths many years later. Bruce arrived at a restaurant in Norwalk and was greeted by the stirringly familiar scent of Wind Song perfume. He walked into the rear room, and there was Renee having lunch with friends. And so it began, a devoted love affair that went on for

more than 40 years.

After moving to the Island in 1988, Bruce became involved with Community Services, the Buddhist Center, and local theater and the arts. He and Renee enjoyed nothing more than a weekend sail on their treasured catboat and listening to music while Renee worked on her paintings. Bruce was an astute enthusiast of all things jazz, and despite his quiet, stillwaters-run-deep demeanor, he was a fantastic dancer. He also treasured his weekly discussions with a noetic study group. An intellect and a lifelong reader, often of abstruse, arduous books, he left behind nearly 100 yellow notepads filled with his musings and insights. He will be deeply missed by all his patients, friends, and family. He was predeceased by his beloved wife, Renee Balter, in 2025. He is survived by two stepdaughters, Denby Olcott and Dana Olcott; his grandsons, J.J. Crabtree and Zach Crabtree; his nieces, Barrie Balter, and Nina Balter; and cousin, Lee Balter. The family is thankful for the devoted care provided by his caregiver, Malu, in the last months of his life.

funeral

will be held on Saturday, June 6, 2026, at 10 am at Saint Augustine’s Church in Vineyard Haven. That evening, family and friends are invited to gather at Menemsha Beach any time after 6 pm to celebrate Marcelle’s life. All are welcome. Please feel free to bring a chair or blanket. Food will not be provided; guests are welcome to bring their own meal or order takeout. If you are joining the family in Menemsha, feel free to bring a single-stemmed flower to honor Marcelle.

Bruce Balter

Marcelle BenDavid

A

Mass for Marcelle BenDavid

Girls tennis undefeated as postseason looms

As spring sports wind down, several Vineyard teams prep for postseason runs.

BY NICHOLAS VUKOTA

As the spring sports regular season comes to an end, the Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School (MVRHS) girls’ varsity tennis team still holds a perfect record after defeating Monomoy on Friday 3–2, and Sharon High School 4-1 on Saturday.

Their wins over the weekend bring the Vineyarders’ record to 14-0, keeping them in first place in the Cape and Islands League rankings, and first place in the Massachusetts Interscholastic Ath-

letic Association (MIAA) Division 3 power rankings. Last year, the girls’ tennis team placed second in the MIAA finals, falling to Dover-Sherborn 5–0 in the championship at MIT’s DuPont Tennis Courts. The girls avenged that championship loss in April this year when they defeated Dover-Sherborn in a close 3–2 match. Now the Vineyarders are eying another strong postseason run.

Bill Rigali, head coach of MVRHS varsity girls’ tennis, who was recently honored

as Coach of the Year at the inaugural Cape and Islands Scholar Athlete Awards ceremony, said he was proud of his team’s performance on Friday against Monomoy.

“It was a very good team,” said Rigali of Monomoy after the game on Friday. “It came down to some clutch doubles play from Zoe [Trietmen] and Josie [Johns].”

Rigali said as the Vineyard tennis team looks toward the playoffs, they still have some work to do. “We have things we want to keep working

MVRHS athletics honored at inaugural Cape and Islands Scholar Athlete Awards

Martha’s Vineyard athletics received high recognition this past weekend at the Cape and Islands League’s first annual Scholar Athlete Awards ceremony. Students from Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School (MVRHS), Eleanor Mone and Syius Rivera Rigali, both received a 2025–26 Cape and Islands League Scholar Athlete of the Year award at the Sunday event, held at Cape Cod Academy in Osterville. Mone plays

soccer and ice hockey at the high school, and Rivera Rigali participated in football and swimming.

Bill Rigali, head coach of the Martha’s Vineyard girls’ tennis team, also received Coach of the Year in honor of a “remarkable 2025 season,” a press release from MVRHS said. The girls’ tennis team went 15-1 in the regular season last year, captured the Cape and Islands League championship, and advanced to the MIAA State

Championship before they fell to Dover-Sherborn in the state final. This year, they are so far undefeated, and even beat Dover-Sherborn recently.

John Mattson, athletic director at Nauset High School, served as the master of ceremonies of the awards, and Emma Mawn, a graduate of Monomoy Regional High School and currently the assistant field hockey coach at Saint Anselm College, was a guest speaker.

sports@mvtimes.com

on,” said Rigali. “Strengthening our serves, our net play, and finishing with our overheads and our aggressive shots. We’re making strides, and we’re going to keep focusing on that.”

A few other Vineyard teams are also rounding out their league matches and preparing for the MIAA state Division 3 postseason runs. Vineyard baseball is ranked 23 in the MIAA state Division 3 rankings, with a 9–9 record; boys’ tennis is 11–4, ranked 12; boys’ lacrosse is 5–10, ranked 36; girls lacrosse is 8–6, ranked 38; and softball is 3–13, ranked 72.

Girls’ tennis have one more regular-season game before moving onto the postseason. They played Nantucket Tuesday and won 5–0. They play Barnstable away Wednesday at 3:30 pm, after our print deadline.

NICHOLAS VUKOTA

Leah Thomson returns a volly against Monomoy High School.

COURTESY MARK MCCARTHY

MV representatives, from left: Keily Rigali, MJ Rivera Rigali, Saiid Rivera, Coach Bill Rigali, Sandy Rigali, Syius Rivera Rigali, Eleanor Mone, Nika Mone, Greg Mone, and Rising Tide Athletic Director Thom Holdgate.

THURSDAY, MAY 21, 2026

Art and craft at the year’s first Vineyard Artisans Festivals. SEE B14

FCELEBRATING ISLAND DIVERSITY

or many, the Martha’s Vineyard they know begins Memorial Day weekend. It begins with ferries cutting across bright blue water. With beach chairs unfolded beneath the July sun. With Circuit Avenue alive again at night, and the feeling that the Island somehow exists outside of time. But for the people who live here — and the people trying to remain here — the Vineyard begins long before summer arrives.

By May, the Island starts to awaken quietly. Hydrangeas stretch back toward the light. Porch furniture reappears. Restaurant lights flicker back on against chilly evening air. And almost overnight, the rhythm begins to change. As Memorial Day approaches and the Island edges toward its official summer season, the shift becomes impossible to miss.

Before Martha’s Vineyard becomes the version people romanticize each year, there is another version that exists first — one built by preparation, anticipation, labor, memory, and survival. Because summer on Martha’s Vineyard does not simply arrive. People build it.

For attorney Arthur HardyDoubleday of Doubleday Law Offices, who spends time on the Island throughout the year while checking in on his aging mother, the seasonal transition carries both warmth and tension.

“As winter turns to summer, I look forward to the conversations, the porch parties, the random beach days, and meeting people from everywhere,” he says. “What I don’t look forward to is the line out the door at Reliable, losing my regular coffee spots for a few months, and honestly, some of the entitlement that comes with visitors paying premium dollar.” Still, he says the Vineyard’s most beautiful season is often the one visitors miss entirely: “The best season is summer easing into fall, when the lines thin out, the days are still long, and the sun is still warm.” That in-between space — not fully quiet, not fully crowded — feels like the emotional center of the Island itself.

For seasonal workers, the Vineyard exists in an entirely different rhythm. For many, arriving on Martha’s Vineyard each summer means stepping into long hours, crowded housing, and constant movement. Yet for some, what begins as seasonal work slowly becomes something far more permanent.

Terrence James knows that transition firsthand. After migrating from Jamaica to Florida with his family, James eventually found his way to Martha’s Vineyard through seasonal work opportunities. Like many workers arriving on the Island for the first time, he explained that “most Jamaican people who come to the Island are introduced to it either through a visa program or through people already living within the States.”

bySharisse

comes tied directly to affordability. Talia Luening recently made the decision to move back to Martha’s Vineyard after five years away. “I decided to move back home specifically because I miss the community and the support I feel there when I am struggling,” she says. “My mom died two years ago this upcoming August, and she was a huge part of the Vineyard community. People loved my mom so much, and I wanted to be back somewhere where I can feel that love.

“I worry about the cost of living and what housing options I will have in the long run there,” Luening says. “But ultimately, I felt ready to attempt to figure it out so I could be home.”

Luening also pointed to one of the Island’s biggest misconceptions: the assumption that everyone connected to Martha’s Vineyard comes from wealth. “People often don’t even know there are people who are poor on the Vineyard,” she said.

Who gets to call Martha’s Vineyard home?

The people behind the Island’s busiest season. BY SHARISSE SCOTT-RAWLINS

having already established relationships with the Island and the communities they built within it.

Housing and stability often depend on relationships and experience navigating the Island itself.

“People who are more familiar with the Island,” he explains, “they’ve been able to develop a network and seek out housing and different jobs

the Island becomes more than a temporary workplace. Careers are built here. Families are built here. Futures are built here.

That same unseen preparation exists for small business owners across the Island.

I’ve been a fashion designer selling my work on Martha’s Vineyard for the past 16 years through my

Summer on Martha’s Vineyard is not magic by accident. It is built by people. Sustained by people. Experienced differently by everyone who calls this Island home.

they might be more interested in.”

James first arrived on Martha’s Vineyard working with a property management company. Over time, summer after summer turned into something deeper than employment.

The Island became community.

Finding work, however, is only part of the equation. “It’s almost like a lottery system among the applicants,” James says while reflecting on the uncertainty many workers face each season. Some of his friends are not selected to return, despite

Opportunity. A place where relationships were built alongside careers.

“One year I came, and I met the girl of my dreams,” James shared.

“Then I knew I had to find a way to stay year-round after that, and build a home here.”

For many seasonal workers,

fashion design and production brand, bySharisse, and one thing

I’ve learned is that summer on the Island doesn’t just happen overnight. Behind every busy street, packed restaurant, pop-up, gallery opening, and unforgettable event is an off-season full of preparation, pressure, creativity, and rebuilding.

While visitors experience the finished product, many business owners spend the quieter months brainstorming, redesigning, and preparing for another season. Restaurants develop new menus. Art-

ists create fresh collections. Event organizers work to create experiences that still feel fresh.

That pressure is something Bee Blunt Studio founder Portia Blunt understands deeply. Bee Blunt Studio has become more than a seasonal shopping destination on Martha’s Vineyard. Rooted in storytelling and contemporary Black style, the brand has built a loyal community through curated pop-ups that blend fashion and culture.

“People see the beautiful finished store — the sweaters folded perfectly, the music playing, the doors opening for summer — but what they don’t always see are the months behind the scenes that make it possible,” Blunt notes. “Reopening for the season is equal parts dream and endurance.”

After years of pop-ups, this season carries new meaning for the brand. “We’re no longer just returning,” she says. “We’re planting roots.” And on an Island where permanence can often feel out of reach — especially for Black-owned businesses and younger creatives — that decision carries weight far beyond retail. It is legacy.

For younger Islanders especially, the question of belonging often be-

Her reflection speaks to a reality many Islanders quietly navigate. Yet despite those realities, people continue returning.

For Toni Tanner-Scott, a content creator who focuses on travel and lifestyle for women 50 and up exploring joy, style, and self-care around the world, Martha’s Vineyard became a tradition long before it became a feeling. “I’ve been coming nearly every year since 2019, and somewhere along the way, it became home,” she shared. “Not because I own anything there, but because I know my way around.”

For her, home exists in familiarity and returning with the same close friends year after year.

“We’ve built traditions there,” she said. “There’s no better place to exhale, unwind, and just … be.”

And perhaps that is what makes Martha’s Vineyard so emotionally layered. The Island means something different to everyone connected to it. For some, it is home by birth. For others, home by ritual. For others, home through labor, memory, or the communities they’ve built here over time. Yet despite those different relationships to the Island, everyone feels the shift when summer begins to arrive. As June approaches, the transformation becomes impossible to miss. Ferries arrive fuller. Restaurant windows glow later into the night. Music drifts once again through Circuit Avenue. The Island begins accelerating back into the energy, movement, and intensity so many people wait all year to return to.

But by then, the work has already been done. Because summer on Martha’s Vineyard is not magic by accident. It is built by people. Sustained by people. Experienced differently by everyone who calls this Island home — whether for three months, three generations, or a lifetime.

And maybe that is what makes this brief moment before summer so revealing. Before the beaches fill. Before the Island fully steps into summer once again, there is still a quieter version of the Vineyard lingering underneath it all. One where you can still see the people beneath the postcard. The people preparing the Island. The people returning to it. The people fighting to remain part of it. Because long before Martha’s Vineyard welcomes the world each summer, it first has to reckon with what it means to belong to itself.

Steamship Authority brings crowds of people to the Island.

Live music at Porchfest in Edgartown.

Vineyard Artisan Festival

Vineyard Caribbean Cuisine

Caleen's Day Spa

The Island population summer surge. DENA PORTER

IBOOKS

Finding humor in unexpected places

Annabelle Gurwitch’s

BY KATE FEIFFER

friend was managing. She contemplated the devotion to juicers that many cancer patients develop, writing, “Juicers are the Waterford crystal bowls for the newly diagnosed.”

COMMUNITY NOTES

MVRHS at the Amphitheatre: ‘MidsummerNight’s Dream’

went to hear Annabelle Gurwitch speak about her new book, “The End of My Life Is Killing Me: The Unexpected Joys of a Cancer Slacker” (Zibby Publishing) in New York last month. Gurwitch told a story about getting a COVID test with her college-age son early in the pandemic. She mentioned that she had a little cough, and was sent to get an x-ray. She had what she thought might be a flirtation with a handsome doctor who said her x-ray looked fine. Gurwitch was driving home with her son when the front fender fell off the car, and the handsome doctor called — unfortunately, not to ask her out, but to apologize. He told her, “I made a mistake. I read the wrong results. You have a concerning mass on your right lung.”

a bouquet of colorful sticky notes sprouting out of it.

After Gurwitch was diagnosed with Stage 4 lung cancer, she found out she was a candidate for a new “biomarker targeted therapy” treatment. She was told, “Now is the best time history to be diagnosed with lung cancer.”

When she was told it was her one year “cancerversary,” “What’s the one-year gift?” She asked. “Silver, diamonds, a bound leather commemorative copy of my medical records?”

She got involved in advocacy for cancer patients, and she wrote. “I began writing this book in the winter of 2020 with the publication of ‘The Coronavirus Saved My Life’ in the New York Times,” Gurwitch told me in a recent email exchange. “I had a chance to weave in themes I'd never written in depth about,” she added. “If any readers have read my satire in the New Yorker or my other books, ultimately, I can't resist a comedic premise, and am currently developing the ‘I'm With the Band’ story (that was the trip to Europe to sell band merch) as a film.”

The Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School performing arts department, together with the Martha’s Vineyard Playhouse, is delighted to present an allstudent production of Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.” Under the direction of Haley Hewson and Brooke Hardman Ditchfield, this inaugural outing gives the students an opportunity to perform in the iconic Tisbury Amphitheatre, the perfect setting for this raucous rural comedy.

Saturday and Sunday, May 22 and 23, at 2 pm, at the Tisbury Amphitheatre by the Tashmoo Overlook. Pay what you can.

Rise Vineyard Performing Arts presents ‘Road

Trip’

host of “Dinner and a Movie” on TBS. She knows how to tell a good story, even an incredibly personal and difficult one. As one reviewer succinctly put it: “A very funny writer tackles the ultimate unfunny topic: lung cancer.”

As she explains, “The best time in history turned out to be conditioned by a combination of luck and privilege. If you have access to testing for these mutations, if your local government has approved the treatment, and if the meds work for you.”

This, of course, is not a funny story. Except the room filled with people who had come to Gurwitch’s book event were laughing as she told the story. Gurwitch is a best-selling author and humor writer. She is also an actress and the longtime co-

The night I heard her speak, Gurwitch signed a copy of her new book to me. I didn’t want to mark it up when I read it to write this piece, so I stuck sticky notes on the pages which had passages I wanted to remember, or that made me laugh. The book now has

Taylor Toole

HARRIS

Taylor Toole, Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School class of 1997, played soccer, lacrosse, and also did theater. He had mixed feelings about high school, but remembered Mr. Sharkovitz’s class requiring seniors to make a video and present it to the class as a highlight. “Our group did a great job on a surreal comedy with lots of gags about

getting to school, and then winning a trophy and accolades from fellow students,” he noted. And more importantly, Taylor believes that that experience had a significant impact on why making films and videos is his life's work today.

Taylor chose to major in film production at Emerson College because, unlike some of the other colleges he visited, there he was allowed to access the camera equipment right away. It was a perfect

With a terribly frightening diagnosis in hand, she joined a support group. “I rallied against the battling cancer metaphors and the exhortations to summon Herculean strength … ‘I’m already in a competitive business,’ I said. ‘My goal is to be an underachiever at cancer. Cancer warrior? Can’t I be a cancer slacker?’” She also decided to carpe the diem, when possible, and traveled to Europe to sell merch for a heavy metal band that her new boy-

fit since Taylor liked to do hands-on work, and he spent his undergraduate years collaborating on countless short films throughout the streets of Boston. During the summers, he returned to the Island and worked as a landscaper for Matt Tobin at Tea Lane Nursery. After Taylor finished at Emerson, he moved to Los Angeles, where he worked entrylevel jobs on the HBO shows “Project Greenlight” and “Deadwood.” He was also able to attend the Sundance Festival in Utah. (No, he did not meet Robert Redford — I asked him.)

After a few years on the West Coast, Taylor returned home to make a feature film, ”Mow Crew,” an indie comedy based on his experiences as a landscaper. He learned how difficult it was to produce a movie while working full-time, but he did it, editing commercials by day and his film by night.

Gurwitch has been visiting the Vineyard for the past 10 or so years, and worked on her previous book, "You're Leaving When?" on the Island. And with “The End of My Life Is Killing Me,” she hit send on the final version from the Vineyard last August.

A year later, the biomarker targeted therapy is still working, and she’s on a book tour, which she describes as “an improbable combination of comedy and talks at cancer centers.”

We are delighted that Annabelle Gurwitch will be speaking at Islanders Write on a panel with Cazzie David, moderated by Sarah Kernochan, on Thursday, July 16. She will also be at Edgartown Books signing on July 17 from 2 to 4 pm. son early in the pandemic.

“Mow Crew” went on to play at film festivals across the country, garnering a shelf full of awards. A career in advertising as a director and editor followed, punctuated by personal film projects every few years.

Today, Taylor and his family live in Arlington, where he produces videos for clients ranging from the Office of Problem Gambling Services to the Boston Beer Co. Working freelance has allowed him and his wife, Jen, to focus on their favorite project of all, raising their two children, Charlie and Jasper. Taylor, we are so proud of your persistence in developing your skill in an area that started way back in that high school class with Mr. Sharkovitz!

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

In “Road Trip,” Rise dancers explore the concept of traveling the country, and the fun and excitement that comes from experiencing new adventures. This year-end performance highlights the accomplishments of Rise students in jazz, tap, ballet, acrobatics, contemporary, and hip-hop. The dancers will perform two shows, each with individual programming, at the Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School Performing Arts Center. “Road Trip” performances are open to the public and are family-friendly. Tickets will be available for purchase on Saturday, May 30, at the Performing Arts Center, and at the door on show day, Sunday, May 31, at 10 am and 4 pm.

Visit risevpamv.com or call 508-693-2262 for more information. For press tickets, please email info@risevpa.com.

Tisbury School’s March to the Sea

On Friday, May 22, in recognition of Memorial Day, students in grades K–8 will leave the Tisbury School at 12:15 pm and walk to Owen Park via Spring Street and Main Street. Students will have a flower (or flowers) to carry in the parade and to throw in the harbor, honoring those who have given their lives for their country. The Tisbury band will be playing, and flags will be waving. Students in grade 8 will be helpers on the pier and with elementary classes. Community members are welcome. The ceremony will take approximately 45 minutes. Students will be dismissed from Owen Park at approximately 1 pm.

Maeve Louise Perry

Anna Perry and Robert Perry of Oak Bluffs announce the birth of a daughter, Maeve Louise Perry, on May 12, 2026, at Martha’s Vineyard Hospital. Maeve weighed 8 pounds, 8 ounces.

Moses Avansini Pereira

Maira A. Pereira and Marcio G. Pereira of Edgartown announce the birth of a son, Moses Avansini Pereira, on May 11, 2026, at Martha’s Vineyard Hospital. Moses weighed 6 pounds, 10 ounces.

Alice Merrill Martineau

Taylor Achin and Philip Martineau of West Tisbury announce the birth of a daughter, Alice Merrill Martineau, on May 14, 2026, at Martha’s Vineyard Hospital. Alice weighed 8 pounds, 2 ounces.

Eli Douglas Rutherford

Gail Rutherford and Doug Rutherford announce the birth of a son, Eli Douglas Rutherford, on May 1, 2026, at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston. Eli weighed 6 pounds, 15 ounces. Proud grandparents are Debra and Bruce Rutherford of Moon Township, Pa., and Pam and Donald Herman of Oak Bluffs; greatgrandparents are Stan and Marie Mercer of Chilmark. Sevrene Theia Malsch

Daphne L.V. Hickman and Walter W. Malsch of West Tisbury announce the birth of a daughter, Sevrene Theia Malsch, on May 15, 2026, at Martha’s Vineyard Hospital. Sevrene weighed 7 pounds, 12 ounces.

Filmmaker at large. BY MARGE

new book.

JEFF VESPA

TOWN COLUMNS

Tisbury

By Taylor Stone tisburycolumnist@gmail.com

Lately I’ve been spending my days on Beach Street Ext. inside the Miner Family Gallery. Witnessing the inner workings of this mysterious strip off Five Corners has so far meant a front-row seat for the repaving project, and cherry blossoms blowing in the doorway from the Post Office. I’ll be stationed here through the beginning of June, so if you’re curious to meet this newest columnist in person, come by, enjoy some art, and say hello! In other news, when was

the last time you walked West Chop Woods? Visiting recently, it is quite a different trail after all the tree removals due to pine beetle damage. If you go on a sunny day, think about wearing sunscreen: It’s much sunnier now, with so much foliage cleared out, and even the trails themselves seem wider too. It makes me wonder if this will make it easier to spot the hidden glass floats next time “Treasure on the Trails” comes back around.

Happy Memorial Day

Edgartown

By Marnely Murray marnely@gmail.com

Edgartown was alive with the sound of music this past weekend thanks to the third annual Porchfest. I’d like to give a standing ovation not only to the performers, but also to the leadership at the Edgartown Board of Trade, and specifically to Jared Salvatore, for putting together such a diverse and interesting lineup of local artists! It was also the first real weekend in town where every two steps you’d stop to say hello

to a friend you haven't seen all winter long. It’s one of the many reasons that this town is so special — the close-knit community and deep relationships we make are truly outstanding, and unlike anywhere else I’ve lived. On Saturday, May 23, don’t miss showstopping

weekend! Businesses continue to open, and art festivals have officially begun. Since 2015, this weekend for me meant participating in the Vineyard Artisans Festivals. This summer I’m pulling back on art shows to better balance some of the other responsibilities that have crept into my life recently (column writing included), but it’s hard not to think back on all the Memorial Day weekends spent over in West Tisbury at the historic Grange Hall. I was so nervous walking

into setup that first time as a young 20-something newly returned to the Island and about to show my artwork at the prestigious Vineyard Artisans Memorial Day weekend festival. The first artists I ran into were Bob and Debra Yapp of Miles from Mainland, an Island maker couple who also happened to both be teachers of mine back at Edgartown School, who welcomed me in with big smiles. That broke the ice. Then I was lucky enough to be stationed between Laura

Silber and Janet Woodcock; I couldn’t have asked for better examples to learn from all weekend long.

The first art show of the season still always has me teeming with nervous energy. In the off-season you can spend months working in solitude, hoping your visions will align with others once you share your creations with the world come summer. And each year I finish that first show with my creative cup overflowing: seeing friends, talking art, sharing inspirations, and remember-

When was the last time you walked West Chop Woods? Visiting recently, it is quite a different trail after all the tree removals due to pine beetle damage.

sales from local clothing stores in one convenient location,the Great Edgartown Sidewalk Sale, happening from 10 am to 4 pm! Bring cash, as some vendors will not be able to process credit cards or accept checks. At the Edgartown Village Green, 12 North Water St.; see you there! Two book signings happening at Edgartown Books this coming weekend: “The Summer of Second Chances” by K.L. Walther signing is happening on May 23 from 2 to 4 pm, and “Morning Glory Girl” by Maria Anne Leni-

han signing is the next day, May 24, also from 2 to 4 pm. Looking to see some art this weekend? "Eclose" is a Memorial Day exhibition at the Eisenhauer Gallery on May 23 from 6 to 8 pm. Featuring Janine Robertson's crashing waves, Ekaterina Medvedok's tender blooms, Elizabeth Lennie's odes to summer, Aidan Weichard's dynamic bouquets, Cheri Christensen's sun-drenched pastoral scenes, Gemma Di Grazia's elegant still lifes, Anne Harney's oysters, and Santiago Garcia's whimsical animals, this is nature in its

Our local Edgartown restaurants are mostly back open and ready to welcome the crowds.

Oak Bluffs

By Joanne Lambert joannelamber@gmail.com

“Quietness is an essential part of all awareness. In quiet times and sleepy times, a child can dwell in thoughts of his own, and in songs and stories of his own.”

–Margaret Wise Brown

Memorial Day is here, I guess our quiet time is ending. This holiday gives us time to honor those who fought and died while serving in the U.S. military. The weekend also brings the official reawakening

of the Island to a new summer season. Flowers are blooming, shops and restaurants are opening, it’s all happening! The 32nd Memorial 5K Road Race to benefit Hospice of Martha’s Vineyard will take place on Sunday, May 24. You can register to run or walk online at runsignup.com, or in person in the lobby of Summercamp Hotel between 3 to 5 pm on May 23 — which is also when you can pick up your number bib and T shirt. Latecomers can regis-

ter on the morning of the race from 8 to 9 am. But remember, the kids’ Fun Run starts at 9:30 am, and the 5K starts at 10 am sharp. Good luck!

Music is happening at the Strand Theater. MV Soundfest is bringing a mini-concert series to Oak Bluffs, every Thursday through June. This Thursday it is Big Weather, Peter Halperin and Gabi. Next week it will be Delanie Pickering along with other bands –you can see the whole schedule at mvsoundfest.com. The

music starts at 7:30 pm, and tickets are $20. Thanks to Phil daRosa for his commitment to providing quality music experiences to our community!

Speaking of music, Sundays in the Park concerts have begun! Every Sunday you can bring your chairs and picnic to Ocean Park for live music at the Bandstand from 5:30 to 7:30 pm. This week it will be the soulful and fun music of John O’Toole. Save the date for Electronic Disposal Day: May 30, from

most hopeful state. Guests are invited to sip on celebratory libations, mingle with artists and fellow collectors, and explore a thoughtfully curated selection of works that reflect the joy, resilience, and ever-expanding vision of Eisenhauer Gallery. Our local Edgartown restaurants, the ones that take a little winter nap, are mostly back open and ready to welcome the Memorial Day weekend crowds. 19 Raw, Atria, Atlantic, Bad Martha, Behind the Bookstore, Ben & Bills, the Dunes, Fish House, Ice Cream & Candy Bazaar, L’Etoile, and Mad Martha’s are all back. Don’t forget to also thank those year-round places that stay open for us through the dead of winter — shout-out to Bettini, Cozy

9 am to 2 pm at MVRHS.

Gather your useless electronics to safely dispose of them for a fee that benefits M.V. Community Services and the high school’s junior class. I was sad to learn of the passing of Roland Goulart.

ing why I do this weird thing called making art. Find the 28th Vineyard Artisans at the Grange Hall on May 23 and 24, from 10 am to 4 pm. Or visit the P.A. Club for a Memorial Day weekend craft show on May 23 from 11 am to 4 pm, with a completely different lineup of artists. And good luck all you brave makers: May the weather be ever in your favor! I want to wish my inaugural birthday balloons here to Kris Ivory: Have a very happy birthday on May 27. If you want a birthday shout-out, please email me at tisburycolumnist@gmail.com. As I get my feet wet, I would love to hear your own stories of our town, favorite memories from Kay’s columns, and anything coming up that you want spotlighted here.

Corner, Edgartown Meat & Fish, Espresso Love, Indigo, Morning Glory Farm, the Newes, Rockfish, Town, Wicked Burger, and more — we are so thankful you kept us fed this winter! Every Memorial Day, I am reminded that the best thing we can do to honor the people we have lost is to live fully and love generously. In a town that knows something about community, loss, and showing up for one another, that sentiment seems like the perfect way to start the season. To all military personnel who have made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty, there are not enough words to thank you. May your friends and family be held by the prayers of our community, today and always.

I worked with Roland at David’s Island House when I first moved to the Island, and through the years I loved running into him and reminiscing. He was a kind, smart man with a great sense of humor. My sympathies to his family and friends. Congratulations to Pam and Don Herman on the birth of a new grandson! Son Adam and his wife Kayla introduced Cole Reed Herman to the world on March 6. Best wishes to all! Happy birthday to Ben Durrell on May 22! May 23 is the birthday of Margaret Wise Brown. Aloha and Hau’oli La Hanau to Dana Anderson on May 24. Hugs to my first grandson, Elijah Cheney, who will turn 13 on May 25! And hugs to you, too, Jamie Kageleiry! Heather Boyle celebrates on May 26. Happy birthday to our favorite Shakespearean actor, professional clown, and aerialist Liz Hartford, who celebrates on May 27! Send me your news!

TOWN COLUMNS

Aquinnah

By Kathie Olsen aquinnahcolumn@gmail.com

Alast word on our town election: I admire anyone with the courage to run for public office. That said, I believe that the extraordinary love of community on display during the Aquinnah Variety Show could better be sustained if candidates for town positions signed up on time, to avoid being write-ins and in time to have a candidate forum. What happened instead is that voters were left in the dark, grabbing only at the names they knew and happened to hear about. We could not know the inten-

tions or viewpoints of writeins, leaving decisions made based on neighborly loyalties and not on substantive issues. We missed an opportunity to know one another better.

The Aquinnah library invites you to come to Aquinnah Town Hall on May 21 at 3 pm for an extraordinary performance. Local musician David Mintz will be performing the Great American Songbook, highlighting the elegance and beauty of earlyto mid–20th century popular songs and jazz standards. The performance is free, funded in part by the Martha’s Vine-

Chilmark

By Claire Ganz cganz@live.com

Grateful for the spring hazardous waste disposal day. Thank you to all who directed traffic and sorted. It is not an easy task. The expanded road that swings around the back seemed to be enough to keep the West Tisbury–Edgartown Road from backing up. Cleaning out the old included things marked “War Supplies,” which sparked a few moments of concern. Note to self: Pause and read the labels so you have some idea of what it is in those dusty and rusty containers. For me, the first weekend of

summer and Memorial Day brings a mixture of hopeful anticipation and gratitude and somber reflection. This Sunday at 9 am is the service of the Blessing of the Fleet in Menemsha, offered by the Chilmark Community Church. Chairs will be set up next to the Texaco. I bring a

yard Cultural Council. Come and breathe in the music of Cole Porter, Jerome Kern, George Gershwin, Irving Berlin, and more, along with timeless bossa nova by Antonio Carlos Jobim, and others.

On Tuesday, May 26, from 4 to 6 pm, go to the Aquinnah library for its Container Garden kickoff event. Help to plant seedlings at the new library container garden, play lawn games, and enjoy refreshments. This program, a collaboration with Lydia Fischer and the

Garden Farm, is free, and all ages are welcome.

On Wednesday, May 27, at 9 am, come for the official ribbon cutting and dedication ceremony for our new bus shelter at the Circle. It’s lovely, and this is an opportunity to say thank-you to those who made it happen. Shelter designer and engineer Tim Laursen will be there to answer questions, as will Jay Macleod, Aquinnah representative to the VTA board, and mover behind the project. So drop by and appreciate.

Tuesday, May 26, from 4 to 6 pm, go to the Aquinnah library for its Container Garden kickoff event. Help to plant seedlings at the new library container garden, play lawn games, and enjoy refreshments.

basket of flowers and bubbles for folks to offer with their prayers. Life is not easy. Grief is inescapable, many struggles are hidden, and kind spaces take tending.

Thank you, Katie Carroll, for being my mother’s favorite — “an encourager.”

Last week, the artist and author John Churchman announced the loss of his dog with these poignant words, “Our brave and beautiful boy Laddie has passed over the Rainbow Bridge. He went quietly and peacefully, knowing he was always loved. I am happy that so

many young and old friends … enjoyed patting his soft fur and experiencing his gentle and kind soul. I look forward to seeing him again on the further shore.”

I’m putting “know you are always loved” to use. We make magnets in Sunday school. I need to make a few more, to help me keep track of my laundry when I’m using the machines at the airport laundromat.

Beetlebung Farm’s plant sale has started, and runs now through early June. The stand is open Wednesday through Saturday, 8 to 5.

Irene Wong is cooking up mouthwatering food at North Tabor Farm, and posting wonderful reels on the Instagram account. I need some of her chicken-foot broth.

West Tisbury

By Hermine Hull hermine.hull@gmail.com

It got warm so fast, almost 80° over the weekend. Some of the early pleasures to enjoy: wearing shorts and sleeveless tops, reading on my porch, coffee or lunch on the porch, walking barefoot, weeding, picking bouquets. My favorite is watching the daily changes as our yard and surrounding woods green up, preparing for summer. There have been beautiful mornings of lavender-gray skies, misty and mysterious, or cobalt-blue-sky mornings that make a cloudless backdrop to the emerging oak leaves. My sky views will soon disappear, sunrises and sunsets blocked by

thick foliage until autumn. Welcome to our newest columnist, Taylor Stone, artist and writer of the Tisbury column. I enjoyed reading your introductory column, and look forward to your weekly observations of life down-Island. There was a band concert last Thursday evening at the PAC that Iyla and several of her friends were in. Iyla is learning to play the saxophone. This was her first concert. The eighth graders wrote and performed their own music. One, played exclusively on xylophones, was spectacular. It was a special treat to see Pat Waring, who was at the

concert with her daughter, Diana, to watch Diana's daughter, Hazel, perform.

The Martha's Vineyard Horse Council held a horse show at the Ag Hall last Sunday morning. I went to watch Iyla in several divisions. I am accustomed to watching her ride during her lessons, but seeing her, and all of the riders, dressed in their formal show clothes was impressive. So was seeing the skill shown by riders, children and adults alike, as they walked, trotted, cantered, and played games on horseback.

The Polly Hill Arboretum plant sale opens this weekend, 9:30 to 4 pm. Take a

stroll while you are there to enjoy peak bloom of rhododendrons and azaleas.

“Preparing for Extreme Weather Together” is a Climate Committee program of island-wide importance, to be held at the Oak Bluffs library next Saturday, May 30, 1:30 to 3 pm. All of our towns have been awarded a $50,000 state grant to design and implement protocols for dealing with extreme weather events, such as blizzards, hurricanes, wildfires, floods, and severe heat. In preparation, the committee has interviewed residents, especially vulnerable elders, people with disabilities, homeless people, and other

Also on Wednesday, May 27, at noon, seniors are invited to Town Hall for the monthly luncheon hosted by the Up-Island Council on Aging. RSVP to 508-693-2896. Gay Head’s favorite Hammond B3 player, Maxwell Butler, is keeping the Southern rock vibe alive and crankin’. He’s touring the country with the Duane Betts Band. Duane is the son of Dickey Betts, lead guitarist for the Allman Brothers Band. Max is the son of Len and Mallory Butler, and aren’t we proud. Don’t know of a close-by concert date yet, but I’ll let you know. If the world seems like a bit too much for you these days, the weekly Community Gives Us Courage walking meditations have resumed. They take place every Saturday at 7:30 am at the Circle. If you have questions, contact Mitzi Pratt. Take a wander down Lighthouse Road from the Circle (follow the signs). You will find a stand selling beautiful fresh eggs presented in gorgeous blue cartons, presented by the Decker family. Go a bit farther, and from Thursday through Monday, from 11 to 5, you can find the studio of the Aquinnah Seaweed artist. Birthday shout-outs go to Stacey Slate on May 24; Janis Vogel, Lily Melyawati, and Putu Crowell on May 25; and to Marcia Shufrin on May 26.

Rebecca Gilbert of Native Earth Teaching Farm says the farm’s self-serve plant sale has started. Heirloom tomato plants in compost, $5. Figs $20, and rosemary $15. The farm is open on Sunday afternoons, 1 to 4 pm.

Hollis Greene of Plimouth Violins beautifully restored a dulcimer made for Rebecca Gilbert by her father, John, in the ’70s. Rebecca is teaching herself to play, and looking to meet dulcimer fans.

The Menemsha Fish Market is open 11 am to 5:30 pm, Friday and Saturday until 6, and Sunday from noon to 5:30 pm. Keep your eyes out for local yellowtail flounder, black sea bass, and sardines.

Larsen’s Fish Market is open for the season, 10 to 6 pm daily, and recently offered soft-shell crabs.

Irene Wong is cooking up mouthwatering food at North

at-risk residents to hear their concerns. The program will update everyone on progress made, and planned projects toward addressing these priorities. The program will be both in-person and on Zoom. For information, call 508-693-9433 or email oakbluffslibrary.org.

Jennelle Gadowski of the West Tisbury emergency management department will present “Wildfire Ready: Protecting Your Home, Family, and Community” at the West Tisbury library on Saturday, May 23, at 3:30 pm. Other library programs include:

An invitation to kids 8-plus to play Capture the

The Polly Hill Arboretum plant sale opens this weekend, 9:30 to 4 pm. Take a stroll while you are there to enjoy peak bloom of rhododendrons and azaleas.

Tabor Farm, and posting wonderful reels on the Instagram account. I need some of her chicken-foot broth. I was surprised and annoyed to find every spot at the Chilmark library taken one afternoon, and parked over at the church and walked back to pick up an interlibrary loan book. I realize that it was school pickup time, and wonder if some parents are parking in the library lot not appreciating that afternoon is a nice time for other people to go to the library. We were taught that taking up a space when the library is open while we run over to do something else blocks someone — so don’t do it. Sigh: I’m becoming my elders. It turns out “Revenge Wears Prada: The Devil Returns,” by Lauren Weisberger is a great read and not the same as the movie. I recommend both.

Flag on the Field Gallery lawn on Wednesday, May 27, at 1 pm, as it is a half-day at school. Melissa Knowles will lead “Living Love: Story and Grief Circle,” at 5 pm. At 5:30 pm, the Memoir Book Club will meet to discuss Jeanette Winterson’s book, “Why Be Happy When You Could Be Normal?” Thursday, elementary and high school “Book Buddies” will meet at 3:30. The MVRHS Building Committee will host an information session at 4:30. Friday at 3, Peter Halperin, Jim Orr, and Hudson Bausman’s “Group Therapy Concert” will play country, blues-rock, jazz, and more. MV Community Seed Library will hold their annual seedling swap on Saturday, 10 to noon, on the library porch. The library will begin closing on Sundays through the summer. It will be closed on May 25 in honor of Memorial Day.

BOOKS

When I was a preschooler, Memorial Day started with interminable journeys to cemeteries scattered across the Twin Cities, laying wreaths on graves of relatives I had never known. I had known none of my grandparents, nor the baby brother dead almost a generation before, nor most of the other relatives where we stopped, laid wreaths, said the Lord’s Prayer.

When this somber pilgrimage was finished, we went home, grilled hamburgers and hot dogs, often joined by my godparents and their brood.

When I got to grade school, I discovered Memorial Day was meant to honor the dead from our wars, not just dead relatives, though time has mingled the two.

Memorial Day is a day to honor those who are now gone forever, a holiday that swirls into the same mix: the somber and the joyful, remembrance and relaxation, the unofficial beginning of summer while contemplating the endings marking our lives.

It is a holiday birthed from the carnage of the Civil War, a war possibly costing as many lives as all our other wars combined. A scarred, traumatized country, shakily recombined, searched for a way to honor the dead, help those left behind nurse the holes in lives left by those never coming back. The holiday was called Decoration Day. In 2026, it feels we might still be fighting the Civil War, two sets of principles warring. One demanding submission, the other requiring liberation. A North versus South of the mind.

The Civil War wound in this country is complex, a war holding a fierce grip on the country, never left behind, never fully resolved.

On a quiet night after Edgartown Books had closed, I wandered the store, thinking what books I should mention in this piece.

The Island’s own Tony Horwitz spent much of his life sur-

Around the Bookstore: Memorial Day, 2026

Reading to honor what we’ve lost. BY MATHEW TOMBERS

veying the ongoing complexity of the Civil War. His amazing book “Confederates in the Attic” explores why the Civil War demands so much of our national imagination. Civil War re-enactors on both sides go to extremes to be authentic, crash-

Cribbage Club results

BY PATRICIA BERGERON

Our apologies for the delay in this week’s official cribbage report, as we celebrated the lives of our beloved Roy Scheffer and Tricia Bergeron. Both were dearly loved, deeply missed, and forever part of our cribbage family. In true Royster fashion, he has managed to still hang around the Top 10 from above, proving once again that some sharks are just impossible to knock off the board. Meanwhile, three others are now circling in a very quiet ocean full of peg holes

and bad math. Stay tuned to see Bill Russell, Jack Silvia, and Collin Evanson swim to the top!

Ed Montesion gruffly skunked three people on May 6. That impressive sweep gave him the first-place victory, and apparently that was not enough. Ed returned this week and doubled down, claiming first place again, just in case anyone thought last week was a fluke or clerical error. Mary Alice Russell, running in the Top 5 this season, and known as the

dieting to be starving Confederate soldiers, Union re-enactors eating worm-infested tack. We are obsessed with the Civil War, which gave birth to this holiday.

And on Memorial Day 2019, Tony Horwitz died, suddenly, while pro-

Cribbage Queen, had a slight fall from grace, claiming the first-place grand slam win on May 6, and last place on the 13th. Results for the last three tournaments are as follows:

Monday, May 4 (makeup tournament)

First, Mary Alice Russell with a 13/6 +131 card

Second, Sharon Barba with a 10/5 +40 card

Third, Judy Lorusso with a 10/4 +50 card

Fourth, Andria Jason with a 9/4 +53 card

Wednesday, May 6

First, Ed Montesion with a 13/5 +128 card

Second, Jack Silvia with an 11/5 +60 card

moting his latest, sadly last, book, “Spying on the South.”

“Memorial Days,” by his wife Geraldine Brooks, chronicles her processing his passing, the enormous task of dealing with the details of death, while having no real

Third, Judy Lorusso with a 10/5 +58 card

Fourth, Suzanne Cioffi with a 10/4 +58 card

Fifth, Bill Russell with an 8/4 +7 card

Wednesday May 13, 2026

First, Ed Montesion with an 11/5 +30 card

Second, Bob Hakenson with a 10/5 +66 card

Third, Bill Russell with a 9/4 +80 card

Fourth, Andria Jason with a 9/4 +62 card

Fifth, Suzanne Cioffi with an 9/4 +26 card

After careful consideration, we selected a winner for our $1,000 scholarship! It was awarded to a graduating se-

process in our culture to deal with grief. Brooks retreated eventually to a desolate island off Australia, and gave herself the gift of grieving. I read the book in one sitting, an amazing chronicle of grief and life.

Another memoir of grieving is Joan Didion’s “The Year of Magical Thinking,” chronicling the year following the death of her husband, John Gregory Dunne, also a famous writer, of a sudden heart attack while dining with her.

Greg Harrigan was a year ahead of me in high school. He teased me one day; saw it hurt, became a friend. I stood at his graveside after his death in Vietnam, have touched his name on the Vietnam Memorial, a hole in my heart because he is not here.

To understand the war in Vietnam, a conflict which divided the country, read Tim O’Brien’s “The Things They Carried.” It celebrates, in a very human way, all those who fought that war. Or the recently deceased Philip Caputo’s “A Rumor of War,” a searing account of his time in Vietnam.

Since 9/11, we are living in a time some call “the Forever War.” Our country has been engaged in conflict for a quarter-century — Afghanistan, Iraq, military excursions in Africa, now Iran.

David Finkel’s books “The Good Soldiers” and “Thank You for Your Service” are heart-wrenching tales from the Iraq War period, not about just the dead but the living who returned — also what Memorial Day should be about, I think: those who survived but are wounded by what happened, what they’ve seen, hurts searing souls, driving them to drink, suicide, drugs, broken marriages. The returning victims of war, hoping to salve the wounds no one sees but which are so very real.

On this Memorial Day and on all Memorial Days, there is so much to be remembered, so much to celebrate, so much to mourn.

Mathew Tombers is the manager of Edgartown Books.

nior who will be continuing their education and career path in the trades field. We are proud to support a young person building a future with skill and hard work.

And finally, we are very happy to notify everyone that our Cribbage Club will continue playing at the American Legion in Katama, as our lease agreement has been extended for another year. Around here, space is very limited, so holding onto a place to gather, play, laugh, complain about cards, accuse each other of “getting lucky again,” and enjoy good company and great food is truly something to celebrate.

So the race for first place continues, Ed appears to be

on a skunking spree, Mary Alice is working on her comeback story, and Roy is still holding his ground in the Top 10 from the heavens. As always, shuffle fairly, peg honestly, and remember: In cribbage, no lead is safe, no ego is protected, and someone is always one bad cut away from becoming next week’s headline. We regularly meet on Wednesdays at the American Legion in Katama; if you like cribbage please come join us! 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, call, or text Mary Alice Russell at maonmv@mac. com or 508-524-1220.

FRI 5/22 SUN 5/24

M.V. Environmental Film Festival 2026

This is the 12th year for the Martha’s Vineyard Environmental Film Festival, which will showcase films and speakers exploring environmental issues, advocacy, nature, and wildlife. From $12 to $15, 5 to 9:30 pm. Martha’s Vineyard Film Center, 70 Beach Road, Vineyard Haven, mvfilmsociety.com.

SAT 5/23

Great Edgartown Sidewalk Sale

Showstopping sales from local clothing stores in one convenient location. Bring cash, as some vendors will not be able to process credit cards or accept checks. Fit-

ting rooms will be scarce, so wear leggings or light layers for try-on ease. From 10 am to 4 pm at the Edgartown Village Green, 12 North Water St., visitedgartown.org.

This workshop with Ethan BuchananValenti will start with an overview on growing, looking at different methods and practices, with a focus on growing regeneratively. Participants will gain tips, tricks, and explore challenges in the field or garden — everything from sowing and growing to harvesting, serving, and storing. From 1 to 2:30

Seaweed art

Corinna Kaufman’s greatest joy is inspiring children to fall in love with the ocean. When she saw a bookmark made with green seaweed, 11-year-old Corinna began experimenting with seaweed herself. Head to the Aquinnah Seaweed Art Gallery and view all the creative seaweed

art on display. From 11 am to 5 pm, 2 Mariners View Lane, Aquinnah. ken@ newlivingexpo.com.

Aquinnah library Community Garden

Kick off the Aquinnah library’s Community Container Garden by planting seedlings, playing lawn games, and enjoying refreshments. The library container garden is a collaboration with Lydia Fischer and the Garden Farm. This program is free, and all ages are welcome. From 4 to 6 pm. Aquinnah library, 1

Church St., Aquinnah; aquinnahlibrary.org/ event/container-gardenkickoff-event.

Events

Growing Potatoes, Peppers, and Eggplants

Event spotlight for the week of 5•22 — 5•27 TUES 5/26 MON 5/25 WED 5/27

Capture the Flag

Play Capture the Flag on the half-day off from school. Meet Hannah in the center of the Field Gallery lawn for a game starting at 1 pm and running until 2:30 pm. First team to retrieve the other's flag wins. Free. westtisburylibrary.

org/publiclibrary/calendar. West Tisbury library, 1042 State Road.

THURSDAY, MAY 21

Dance Fitness and Strength

Training with Kris Martin

Balletics

Seaweed art

7-8 am, Airtport 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, info@airportfitnessmv.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.

Mindfulness & Meditation

Open Practice Group

8-9 am, Aquinnah Town Hall. Mindfulness & meditation practice group, open to anyone interested in being more intentional and practicing with others. 413-575-0110, ruthfolchman@me.com.

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.

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. 508-627-4850, felixneck@massaudubon.org. Alida O’Loughlin Photography 9 am-5 pm, Martha’s Vineyard Community Television, Oak Bluffs. The Show, “Forms, Shapes and Patterns” allows for many sights unseen in Nature and in Daily Life. 508-560-2648, alidamv@comcast.net. Social Security Assistance for J1 applications 10 am-3 pm, Oak Bluffs Library. Social Security Assistance for J1 applications 508-693-9433, cphelan@clamsnet.org. Wiggle with the Words Storytime 10:30-11 am, Edgartown Library. Fun props and interactive stories. Geared for ages 1-5, but all are welcome. No sign-up. programs@ edgartownlibrary.org, 508-627-4221.

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.

Tech help

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

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. 508-693-3366, hburbidge@clamsnet.org.

Spring Spectacular Show

11 am-4 pm, Louisa Gould Gallery, Vineyard Haven. Annual Spring Group Show: Sean Roach, Christie Scheele, Teek Eaton-Koch, Juliean Jarreau, and Paul Beebe. 508693-7373, louisa.gould@gmail.com.

Tick Talk Thursdays: Community Q&A with the Martha’s Vineyard Tick Program 12-1 pm, Vineyard Haven Library. Open office hours: ask questions, share experiences, and learn more about ticks and tick-borne

diseases. Register on VH Library event calendar. 508-696-4211, vhpl_programs@clamsnet.org. Red Dragon Mah-Jong 1-3 pm, Oak Bluffs Library. Come join us for a fun weekly Mah-jong meetup! Bring your board or use one of ours, subject to availability. 508-693-9433, cphelan@clamsnet.org. Community Knitting Circle 1-3 pm, Chilmark Library. Join us for a relaxed afternoon of knitting in the Martha’s Vineyard Room. Our knitters love to share their knowledge and beginners are welcome! 508-645-3360, chil.programs@gmail.com. VHPL Book Club Reads “A Marriage at Sea” by Sophie Elmhirst 2 pm, Tisbury EMS Facility, Vineyard Haven. Come enjoy a lively discussion in a casual “hybrid” format. Send an email to vhpl_programs@clamsnet.org to be added to the list. Everyone is welcome! 508-6964211, vhpl_programs@clamsnet.org. Chair Yoga

other kids who love the series! 508-6274221, programs@edgartownlibrary.org. The Great American Songbook with David Mintz

2:30-3:30 pm, Up Island Council on Aging, West Tisbury. Chair Yoga 508-693-2896, coa-staff@westtisbury-ma.gov. Wings of Fire Book Club

2:45-3:30 pm, Edgartown Library. Come read and discuss the Wings of Fire books with

3-4 pm, Aquinnah Library. Local musician David Mintz will perform of early-to-mid 20th-century popular songs and jazz standards. This program is free and all are welcome. 508-645-2314, gwilbur@clamsnet.org. 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.

12th Annual Martha’s Vineyard Environmental Film Festival

4-9:30 pm, Martha’s Vineyard Film Center, Vineyard Haven. Martha’s Vineyard Film Society iPresents 12th Annual Martha’s VineyardEnvironmental Film Festival May 21-24, 2026 774-392-2972, rich@mvfilmsociety.com. Anime and Manga Club

4-5 pm, Oak Bluffs Library. For kids and tweens is grades 4th-7th Come talk about your favorite anime and manga! Draw and snack. Take a look at our manga collection.

508-693-9433, mlynch@clamsnet.org. Table Tennis 5 pm, Tisbury Senior Center, Vineyard Haven. Table tennis for all ages and skill levels. 508-728-5898, raeobmv@gmail.com. Old Westside, Edgartown Graveyard Walking Tour

5-6:30 pm, Old Westside Graveyard, Edgartown. Gravestones are a window into the past. Walk through Old Westside graveyard with historian Elizabeth Villard. Fee $20. Information. Text 508 627 2529, evillardmv@gmail.com. Regenerative Grazing and the Island Meat Economy 5:30-7 pm, Martha’s Vineyard Agricultural Society, West Tisbury. Panel with Ridge Shinn of the Northeast Grass-Fed Beef Initiative, and four island farmers about the past, present, and future of island-raised meat! lea@ngbi.org. Found Foods Supper Club: A Hands-On Culinary Experience

5:30-7 pm, Farm Institute, Edgartown. Join Chef Jenny DeVivo for a unique hands-on culinary experience that celebrates food rescue, zerowaste cooking, and local seasonal ingredients. 508-627-7007, lbrown@thetrustees.org.

Continued on

pm, Beetlebung Farm, 410 Middle Road, Chilmark, bit.ly/MVAS_TatersPeppersEggplant.

M.V. Environmental Film Festival playing now

BY ABBY REMER

The Martha’s Vineyard Film Society, in collaboration with the Vineyard Conservation Society (VCS), is bringing the 12th annual Martha’s Vineyard Environmental Film Festival to the screen from May 21 through 24. With a plethora to see, I’m touching on only three films in the lineup. The festival opens on Thursday at 6:30 pm with music and libations, rolling right into “The Shepherd and the Bear” at 7:30 pm, followed by a prerecorded Zoom conversation with director Max Keegan.

The documentary focuses on Yves, a 63-year-old shepherd in the French Pyrenees who has worked on the mountain since he was 12 or 13, learning the profession from his elders in a traditional shepherding community, the likes of which have been around for centuries. Yves faces a serious problem these days: His sheep are being killed by brown bears. (The French and Spanish governments reintroduced them into the area as part of a conservation effort after the bears were wiped out in 2004.) We follow Yves’ efforts to find a successor in a

Partner Dancing Class with Maria & Tad Lawcewicz

5:30-6:30 pm, Edgartown Library. Learn partner dancing with Maria and Tad Lawcewicz 508-627-4221, programs@edgartownlibrary.org.

Jazz at Sweet Life with Jeremy Berlin

6:30-8:30 pm, Sweet Life, Oak Bluffs.

community divided between those who wish to kill the bears despite their protected status and the environmentalists who insist, “We need to learn how to live in harmony with the natural world.” We also follow a teenage boy who becomes obsessed with tracking the bears, “hunting” only with his camera. Throughout, Keegan, without taking sides, immerses us in the natural beauty of the landscape where all the different agendas unfold, deliberately leaving us without any easy answers.

“The Keeper” screens at 7:30 pm on Saturday, May 23, followed by a discussion with director Jon Bowermaster and Capt. John Lipscomb. In this moving documentary, Lipscomb takes center stage aboard his 36-foot wooden boat, fighting to protect the health of what he calls America’s “First River” — the Hudson. He calls himself a citizen watchdog and “the voice of the river.” Over 24 years as Riverkeeper’s patrol boat captain, Lipscomb has logged some 80,000 nautical miles up and down the waterway. This nonprofit environmental organization is dedicated to protecting and restoring the Hudson River, its tributaries, and the New

Jeremy Berlin plays jazz piano every Thursday at the Sweet Life starting at 6:30 617-835-3756, emhaggerty@gmail.com. Ghosts, Gossip and Downright Scandal Walking Tours

7-8:30 pm, Edgartown Historic District. A walking tour of Edgartown with four ghosts, four scandals and lots of gossip. Tuesdays and Fridays at 7 pm. For questions, text

York City drinking water watershed. Through Lipscomb, we learn about the organization’s work to protect endangered species like the Atlantic sturgeon; to advocate for removing obsolete dams, allowing fish to return to spawn in their original tributaries; and to fight pollution from powerplant cooling systems.

Riverkeeper also maintains a large-scale water-quality monitoring program, testing for pathogens and contaminants, including unauthorized oil discharges and wastewater overflows. The organization has brought more than 300 successful legal actions against polluters under the Clean Water Act, securing billions in remediation funds.

Traveling with Lipscomb along the beautiful waterway, it would be easy to think Riverkeeper’s work is largely done. But for all its accomplishments, there’s so much more left to do. “The Hudson looks better, but PCBs and sewage are still a real problem,” Lipscomb says. “We’re the real keepers of whatever needs keeping … If the river could talk, what would it want me to do? It all gets very simple when you look at it that way … Just get to work.”

“The Last Dive” screens at 4 pm on Sunday, May 24, followed by a Zoom interview with director Cody Sheehy. The visually stunning and emotionally resonant documentary follows Terry Kennedy, the unlikeliest of conservationists at the start of his life, through his last dive at more than 80 years of age. Kennedy fell in love with scuba diving at 12, after admiring Jacques Cousteau’s adventures. But after disturbing experiences in the Navy during Vietnam, Kennedy rode with the Hells Angels and ran a rough bar. He also ended up spending time in jail for involvement in a violent crime. When released, Kennedy sold his bike for a boat, naming it Erotica, and headed off to Mexico, racking up some 14,000 dives in the Sea of Cortez over the decades. Along the way, he developed a remarkable relationship with many manta rays, especially one in particular, the 22-foot Willy Wow. The manta ray would slap his wings against the hull of Kennedy’s sailboat to signal their next dive, and together they explored the ocean’s depths. Kennedy tells us, “I’ve never had any fear underwater at all. Above the surface just

Events

508-627-2529. evillardmv@gmail.com.

MV Sound Series at the Strand Theatre

7:30-10:30 pm, Strand Theatre, Oak Bluffs. Martha’s Vineyard Sound Series is a weekly celebration of the island’s creative pulse info@mvsoundfest.com.

FRIDAY, MAY 22

Cardio and Conditioning with Alyson Parker 7-8 am, Airport Fitness, West Tisbury. Cardio and strength work with weights and conditioning using your own body weight for resistance. 508-6968000, info@airportfitnessmv.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, info@airportfitnessmv.com.

Pilates Flow with Camille Beauzile 9-10:15 am, Stillpoint, West Tisbury. This upbeat Pilates class blends preventative medicine, mind-over-matter focus, and joyful movement 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.

Alida O’Loughlin Photography

9 am-5 pm, Martha’s Vineyard Community Television, Oak Bluffs. The Show, “Forms, Shapes and Patterns” allows for many sights unseen in Nature and in Daily Life. 508-560-2648, alidamv@comcast.net.

For more information about the 12th annual M.V. Environmental Film Festival, visit mvfilmsociety.com.

disappears for me. I’ve seen a lot of bad things in my life, but the best thing was meeting Willy.” Footage of the two over the 19 years they swam together is breathtaking for its beauty and in conveying the depth of their touching connection, which also led to Kennedy’s activism gaining governmental protection for the sea creatures he loved.

Sheehy intersperses archival footage with that filmed on this final voyage to fulfill Kennedy’s dying wish to see Willy one more time. On the journey, we learn how this one man’s years with manta rays, and his tireless efforts to protect them, led to impressive achievements that leave us

TGIF Super Clearance Day

10 am-6 pm, Chicken Alley Thrift Store, Vineyard Haven. First ever TGIF Super Clearance Day. Spend $20 in the thrift store, and you will be given a coupon to enter the Free Zone outside. Take what you want. 508-560-9686, lbelcastro@mvcommunityservices.org. Carnegie Heritage Center Opening Weekend

10 am-4 pm, the carnegie heritage center, Edgartown. Carnegie Heritage Center reopens Easter weekend, Friday and Saturday,. Admission: $5 (ages 12+). vineyardtrust.org/events/ 774-549-9107, thecarnegie@mvpreservation.org. Exhibit: Margot Datz: Recreator 10 am-3 pm, THE CARNEGIE HERITAGE CENTER, Edgartown. This exhibition highlights the creative process of muralist Margot Datz, whose work transformed the Old Whaling Church and Flying Horses Carousel. 774-549-9107, THECARNEGIE@mvpreservation.org.

Kid’s Music Class

10:30-11 am, West Tisbury Library. Sing fun songs and play instruments with friends! Ages 0-5 508-693-3366, hburbidge@clamsnet.org. Seasonal Crafting

10:30 am-4 pm, Oak Bluffs Library. Craft projects for ages 3-11. Fresh craft each week! Drop in. 508-693-9433, mlynch@clamsnet.org. Mini-Maker Craft Club 10:30 am-2 pm, Edgartown Library. A different-themed craft will be offered every week, drop in and get creative! 508-627-4221, programs@edgartownlibrary.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.

Spring Spectacular Show 11 am-4 pm, Louisa Gould Gallery, Vineyard Haven. Annual Spring Group Show: Sean Roach, Christie Scheele, Teek Eaton-Koch, Juliean Jarreau, and Paul Beebe. 508-693-7373, louisa.gould@gmail.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 508-645-3360. 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. Drop-in Tech Help at the Anchors 12-1 pm, Edgartown Council on Aging (The Anchors), Edgartown. To help with your laptop, smartphone, iPad, or other devices. Tech help is also available at the library. programs@ edgartownlibrary.org, 508-627-4221. West Tisbury Book Sale Donations 1-2 pm, Friends of West Tisbury Library Shed. Donate your lightly used books for the annual Friends of the West Tisbury Library Book Sale. 617-543-7898, westtislibraryfriends@gmail.com.

12th Annual Martha’s Vineyard Environmental Film Festival 4-9:30 pm, Martha’s Vineyard Film Center, Vineyard Haven. Martha’s Vineyard Film Society iPresents 12th Annual Martha’s VineyardEnvironmental Film Festival May 21-24, 2026 774-392-2972, rich@mvfilmsociety.com. The Man Who Saves The World?

Martha’s Vineyard Premiere 4 pm, Martha’s Vineyard Film Center, Vineyard Haven. Documentary premiere May 22 exploring prophecy, peace, and our planet! 508-6969369, team.polskyproductions@gmail.com.

in awe of the extraordinary intelligence of these graceful “gentle giants.”

Zada Clarke, director of advocacy at VCS, says about this year’s festival, “We strongly believe that our connection to and the protection of our environment is a deeply personal journey — that just like us, it evolves. It is not static; it tells a story. This year’s selection of films highlights just this, bringing to the screen a diverse variety of beautifully told stories. I promise these films are NOT climate change doom and gloom; they are a celebration of nature and the people advocating for its protection.

Sound Bath

5-6 pm, The Red House PRSC, Vineyard Haven. Healing modalities designed to aid creativity by inducing flow-state. 508-6932900, jtau@mvcommunityservices.org. Old Westside, Edgartown

Graveyard Walking Tour

5-6:30 pm, Old Westside Graveyard, Edgartown, Edgartown. Gravestones are a window into the past. Walk through Old Westside graveyard with historian Elizabeth Villard. Fee $20. Information. Text 508 627 2529 508627-2529, evillardmv@gmail.com. Paleface & Mo / Blue Switch - Live Music Co-Bill in Oak Bluffs

7-9 pm, Portuguese American Club, Oak Bluffs. Get your dancing shoes on for eclectic powerhouse duo Paleface & Mo, followed by soulful blues band Blue Switch 508-693-9875, Palefaceonline@gmail.com. Ghosts, Gossip and Downright

Scandal Walking Tours

7-8:30 pm, Edgartown Historic District. A walking tour of Edgartown with four ghosts, four scandals and lots of gossip. Tuesdays and Fridays at 7 pm. For questions, text 508-627-2529. evillardmv@gmail.com.

Weekend of Women

7:30 pm, Katharine Cornell Theatre, Vineyard Haven. An evening of women’s experiences brought to life through short plays and readings 508-627-2456, vineyardtenor@gmail.com.

SATURDAY, MAY 23

Loving Kindness and Mindfulness Meditation: A 90-Minute Journey

8:30-10 am, Stillpoint, West Tisbury. This class offers a blend of loving-kindness

meditation, mindfulness practice, and shared experiences through personal reflection info@stillpointmv.org.

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, info@airportfitnessmv.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.

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. 774-563-8282, vsonnenthal@gmail.com.

Barnyard Buddies

9:30-10:30 am, Farm Institute, Edgartown. Spend your Saturday morning exploring the farm and meeting our friendly animals in this program for families! For ages 2-5, pre-registration required. 508-627-7007, thefarminstitute@thetrustees.org.

Tyke Hikes

9:30-10:30 am, Felix Neck Wildlife Sanctuary, Edgartown. Skip, waddle, or walk with your little ones alongside a Naturalist as you explore a new habitat on this one-hour program. 508-627-4850, felixneck@massaudubon.org.

28th Annual Memorial Day Festival

10 am-4 pm, The Grange Hall, West Tisbury. The Vineyard Artisans Festivals provide an important link between the community and the Arts. artisan02557@yahoo.com.

Martha’s Vineyard Garden Club Plant Sale

10 am-2 pm, Old Mill West Tisbury. MVGC Spring Plant Sale Bring new life to your garden! Your support helps us continue our community gardening projects & educational programs. media@ marthasvineyardgardenclub.org.

Community Greenhouse Plant Sale!

10 am-3 pm, Community Greenhouse, Oak Bluffs. Community Greenhouse Sale! Get your annual and perennial plants! Beautiful herbs and flowers. Discounts for members and memberships available on site. 774-563-8417, smiller8690@gmail.com. Carnegie Heritage Center Opening Weekend

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/ 774-5499107, thecarnegie@mvpreservation.org.

The Great Annual Edgartown Sidewalk Sale

10 am-4 pm, The Edgartown Village Greenº. Don’t miss show-stopping salesfrom local clothing stores in one convenient location! 603-489-9155, edgartownvillagemarket@gmail.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. Baby and Toddler Storytime

10:15-10:45 am, Oak Bluffs Public Library. Join us for a fun-filled storytime with stories, songs, and shakers! Tummy time for our smallest pals!Great space for post storytime play. 508-693-9433, mlynch@clamsnet.org 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.

Mini-Maker Craft Club

10:30 am-2 pm, Edgartown Library. A different-themed craft will be offered every week, drop in and get creative! 508-6274221, programs@edgartownlibrary.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. Spring Spectacular Show

11 am-4 pm, Louisa Gould Gallery, Vineyard Haven. Annual Spring Group Show: Sean Roach, Christie Scheele, Teek Eaton-Koch, Juliean Jarreau, and Paul Beebe. 508693-7373, louisa.gould@gmail.com.

Memorial Day Weekend Craft Show

11 am-4 pm, PA Club / Mo’s Lunch Oak Bluffs. Memorial Day Weekend Craft Fair 978-270-3161, gillybmv@gmail.com. Colonial Kitchen Gardening: How Did Their Gardens Grow?

11 am-1 pm, Oak Bluffs Library. Colonial Kitchen Gardening: How Did Their Gardens Grow? 508-693-9433, cphelan@clamsnet.org.

Sensory-Friendly Barnyard Buddies

11 am-12 pm, Farm Institute, Edgartown. Spend your Saturday exploring the farm and meeting our friendly animals in this dedicated hour with a reduced number of guests & quieter environment. 508-6277007, thefarminstitute@thetrustees.org.

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. 12th Annual Martha’s Vineyard Environmental Film Festival

1-9:30 pm, Martha’s Vineyard Film Center, Vineyard Haven. Martha’s Vineyard Film Society iPresents 12th AnnualMartha’s VineyardEnvironmental Film Festival May 21-24, 2026 774-392-2972, rich@mvfilmsociety.com.

Pokemon Club

1-2 pm, Oak Bluffs Library. Bring your Pokémon cards to show to others! This is a club to talk about Pokémon, look at cards, and draw! There is no trading allowed. Ages 5-11. 508-693-9433, mlynch@clamsnet.org. Stitched Floral Fabric Collage Workshop

1-4 pm, Featherstone Center for the Arts, Oak Bluffs. Come and play with color, line, textureand pattern using recycled fabric pieces, thread and paint in this fabric collage workshop! 508-693-1850, featherstone@featherstoneart.org. India Rose Collective & The Hat Social 2-5 pm, India Rose Collective, Vineyard Haven. Join us for styling, heritage, and signature details. This traveling hat bar brings a hands-on, elevated experience where each piece is styled to you. thehatsocial.myshopify.com. All Ages Chess Club 2-3:30 pm, Oak Bluffs Library. Join us in a fun and welcoming environment. oakb_mail@clamsnet.org, 508-693-9433. Book Signing: ‘The Summer of Second Chances’ by K.L. Walther 2-4 pm, Edgartown Books. Celebrate the release of ‘The Summer of Second Chances’ with a signing by K.L. Walther, the #1 NYT bestselling author of ‘The Summer of Broken Rules’. 508-627-8463, info@edgartownbooks.com. Obstacle Course

2:30-3:30 pm, Oak Bluffs Library. Located on the Oak Bluffs Library lawn. Potato Sack Hop, Hurdle Jump, Balance Beam, Bucket Stilts, Pool Noddle Toss, and more! Drop-in. 508-693-9433, mlynch@clamsnet.org. Career Navigation Office Hours with AceMV 3-4 pm, West Tisbury Library. Visit the West Tisbury Library downstairs conference room on Saturdays in May from 3-4pm to learn about the career navigation resources of ACE MV 508-693-3366, wt_mail@clamsnet.org.

Events

Kick Off to Summer Ice Cream Making Party

3:15-4 pm, Farm Institute, Edgartown. Kick off summer in this hands-on ice cream class, complete with a sweet treat! For adult/child pairs, ages 4 & up, pre-registration required 508-627-7007, lbrown@thetrustees.org.

Presentation - Wildfire Ready: Protecting Your Home, Family & Community 3:30 pm, West Tisbury Library. Emergency Management Department presents on wildfire awareness, prevention, and preparedness. 508-693-3366, wt_mail@clamsnet.org. Spring Spectacular Show Reception 5-7 pm, Louisa Gould Gallery, Vineyard Haven. Annual Spring Group Show: Sean Roach, Christie Scheele, Teek Eaton-Koch, Deborah T. Colter, and Juliean Jarreau. 508-693-7373, louisa.gould@gmail.com.

“Éclose” a Memorial Day Exhibition at The Eisenhauer Gallery 6-8 pm, Eisenhauer Gallery, Edgartown. “Éclose” a Memorial Day Exhibition. 508627-7003, eisenhauergallery@gmail.com.

High School Building Tours

6:30-7:30 pm, MVRHS - Library, Vineyard Haven. The Martha’s Vineyard School Building Committee is hosting informational tours of the existing high school 518-369-6224, mary.korba@mvyps.org.

An Evening with Tom Rush

7 pm, The Strand Theatre, Oak Bluffs. Folk legend Tom Rush headlines and rising roots artist Brendan Cleary opens, blend timeless songs, storytelling, and fresh energy 508-560-2134, boxoffice@circuitarts.org.

Weekend of Women

7:30 pm, Katharine Cornell Theatre, Vineyard Haven. An evening of women’s experiences brought to life through short plays and readings 508-627-2456, vineyardtenor@gmail.com.

SUNDAY, MAY 24

Chilmark Church Blessing of the Fleet

9-10 am, Menemsha Harbor, Chilmark. Blessing of the Fleet 508-693 645 3100, pclarkgoff@comcast.net.

28th Annual Memorial Day Festival

10 am-4 pm, The Grange Hall, West Tisbury. The Vineyard Artisans Festivals provide an important link between the community and the Arts. artisan02557@yahoo.com.

Martha’s Vineyard Garden Club Plant Sale

10 am-2 pm, Old Mill , West Tisbury. MVGC Spring Plant Sale Bring new life to your garden! Your support helps us continue our community gardening projects & educational programs. media@marthasvineyardgardenclub.org.

“Remembering (To Be Human)” with Rev. Scot Hull

10 am, Unitarian Universalist Society of Martha’s Vineyard, Vineyard Haven. Please join us in person or online on Sunday! uu.society.mv@gmail.com. Community Greenhouse Plant Sale!

10 am-3 pm, Community Greenhouse, Oak Bluffs. Community Greenhouse Sale! Get your annual and perennial plants! Beautiful herbs and flowers. Discounts for members and memberships available on site. 774-563-8417, smiller8690@gmail.com.

32nd Annual Martha’s Vineyard Memorial Road Race

10 am-12 pm, Summercamp Hotel, Oak Bluffs. Join us for the 32nd Annual Martha’s Vineyard 5K Memorial Road Race to support Hospice and Palliative Care of Martha’s Vineyard on Sunday, May 24t 508-693-0189, fundraising@hospiceofmv.org.

Mixed Media Collage Workshop

10 am-2 pm, Featherstone Center for the Arts, Oak Bluffs. Join us to create one-of-a-kind mixed media collages from paint, newspaper, pictures, fabrics, and photographs! 508-6931850, featherstone@featherstoneart.org. Spring Spectacular Show

11 am-4 pm, Louisa Gould Gallery, Vineyard Haven. Annual Spring Group Show: Sean Roach, Christie Scheele, Teek Eaton-Koch, Juliean Jarreau, and Paul Beebe. 508693-7373, louisa.gould@gmail.com.

Sunday B-Side Brunch

11 am-2 pm, Martha’s Vineyard Museum, Vineyard Haven. Sunday B Side Brunch: 11–2 at First Light Café. Great food, views, and soulful vinyl by DJ Vincent Patricola. Free and open to all. 508-627-4441, rpierce@mvmuseum.org.

Meditating With The Body, Turning Toward The Heart 11:30 am-12:30 pm, Stillpoint, West Tisbury. An Exploration of Somatic Meditation, breathwork, and visualization practices, that focus on tending and listening to the heart. jenna@awakeningthewildheart.com. 12th Annual Martha’s Vineyard Environmental Film Festival 1-9:30 pm, Martha’s Vineyard Film Center, Vineyard Haven. Martha’s Vineyard Film Society iPresents 12th AnnualMartha’s VineyardEnvironmental Film Festival May 21-24, 2026 774-392-2972, rich@mvfilmsociety.com. Growing Potatoes, Peppers, and Eggplants with Ethan Buchanan-Valenti 1-2:30 pm, Beetlebung Farm, Chilmark. A workshop on growing potatoes, peppers, and eggplant 508-693-9549, programs@mvagsoc.org. Book Signing: ‘Morning Glory Girl’ by Maria Anne Lenihan 2-4 pm, Edgartown Books. Summer resident Maria Anne Lenihan will be at the store today signing copies of her popular Vineyard-inspired novel, ‘Morning Glory Girl’. 508-627-8463, info@edgartownbooks.com. Sound Bath with Anna Marden 4-5 pm, The Yoga Barn, West Tisbury. Join us this Memorial Day Weekend (Sunday) to ring in the season with a restorative, meditative sound bath. anna.marden@gmail.com. Radio show - The Secret Museum of Mankind

7:30-9:15 pm, WVVY - MV Community Radio, Vineyard Haven. Radio show “It’s a Big World, Open Yer Ears”. This week: vintage tunes from around the world. Excellent stuff. 96.7 lpfm or www.wvvy.org 617-676-8160, egik_egak_egoogimak@yahoo.com. Weekend of Women

7:30 pm, Katharine Cornell Theatre, Vineyard Haven. An evening of women’s experiences brought to life through short plays and readings 508-627-2456, vineyardtenor@gmail.com.

MONDAY, MAY 25

Dance Fitness and Strength Training with Kris Martin 7-8 am, Airtport 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, info@airportfitnessmv.com. Core Stability, Strength and Balance with Alyson Parker

8:30-9:30 am, Airport Fitness, West Tisbury. A class featuring core stabilization, strength and balance; we target all major muscle groups and include some intermittent cardio. All levels welcome 508-696-8000, info@airportfitnessmv.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.

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. Alida O’Loughlin Photography

9 am-5 pm, Martha’s Vineyard Community Television, Oak Bluffs. The Show, “Forms, Shapes and Patterns” allows for many sights unseen in Nature and in Daily Life. 508-560-2648, alidamv@comcast.net.

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.

Spring Spectacular Show

11 am-4 pm, Louisa Gould Gallery, Vineyard Haven. Annual Spring Group Show: Sean Roach, Christie Scheele, Teek Eaton-Koch, Juliean Jarreau, and Paul Beebe. 508693-7373, louisa.gould@gmail.com.

Memorial Day Picnic

12-4 pm, Tashmoo Spring Park, Vineyard Haven. All are welcome to the Memorial Day Picnic May 25 12-4 at Tashmoo Spring Park: Grilling, boating, games, music. Bring your picnic, but sorry, no dogs. 508-939-0338, lwells1332@gmail.com. West Tisbury Book Sale Donations

1-2 pm, Friends of West Tisbury Library Shed. Donate your lightly used books for the annual Friends of the West Tisbury Library Book Sale. 617-543-7898, westtislibraryfriends@gmail.com. Switch Games for kids and teens 3-5 pm, West Tisbury Library. Switch club Mondays from 3-5pm in the Community Room 508-693-3366, lhearn@clamsnet.org. MVRHS Building Project Community Information Sessions

5:30-6:30 pm, West Tisbury Library, Vineyard Haven. Representatives from MVRHS and the building project team will share the latest design updates, outline next steps, and answer questions from attendees 518-369-6224, mary.korba@mvyps.org.

TUESDAY, MAY 26

Cardio and Conditioning with Alyson Parker

7-8 am, Airport Fitness, West Tisbury. Cardio and strength work with weights and conditioning using your own body weight for resistance. 508-6968000, info@airportfitnessmv.com.

Kaiut Yoga

8:30-9:30 am, Peaked Hill Studio, Chilmark. Kaiut Yoga works through chronic pain and injuries, general aches andstiffness, and is good for the inflexible, hyper flexible and the aging body. 774-5638282, valerie@peakedhillstudio.com. Pilates Flow with Camille Beauzile 9-10:15 am, Stillpoint, West Tisbury. This upbeat Pilates class blends preventative medicine, mind-over-matter focus, and joyful movement 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.

Alida O’Loughlin Photography

9 am-5 pm, Martha’s Vineyard Community Television, Oak Bluffs. The Show, “Forms, Shapes and Patterns” allows for many sights unseen in Nature and in Daily Life. 508-560-2648, alidamv@comcast.net.

Little Naturalists

9:30-11:30 am, Felix Neck Wildlife Sanctuary, Edgartown. Let curiosity lead the way in this playful program for children and caregivers. Explore nature through free play, sensory activities and time outdoors 508-627-4850, felixneck@massaudubon.org

Play Kitchen and Store

10 am, Oak Bluffs Library. Come enjoy watching your kids be creative and solve problems! For ages 2-6. Drop in between 10amnoon. 508-693-9433, mlynch@clamsnet.org.

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

Free Range Fun

10:15-11 am, West Tisbury Library. Enjoy a room filled with parachutes, scarves, bubbles, music and more to explore! Recommended for ages 0-5 508-693-3366, hburbidge@clamsnet.org.

Work From Home, From The Library

11 am-12 pm, West Tisbury Library. Get help working remotely with child watch at the library. 11-12pm on 2/3, 2/17, 3/10, 3/24, 4/7, 4/28, 5/12, 5/26 508-6933366, hburbidge@clamsnet.org.

Spring Spectacular Show

11 am-4 pm, Louisa Gould Gallery, Vineyard Haven. Annual Spring Group Show: Sean Roach, Christie Scheele, Teek Eaton-Koch, Juliean Jarreau, and Paul Beebe. 508693-7373, louisa.gould@gmail.com. SQUAD FITNESS with Triva Emery • BeWell-MV 11 am-12 pm, Oak Bluffs Library. SQUAD FITNESS with Triva Emery • BeWell-MV 508-693-9433, cphelan@clamsnet.org. Balance with Kanta Lipsky 11:30 am-12:30 pm, Stillpoint, West Tisbury. This is a one-hour class based on the gentle, flowing movements of Qigong (Chi Kung) info@stillpointmv.org. Drop in for our Teen and Tween Art & Craft Class

3:30-4:30 pm, West Tisbury. Teen and Tween Art & Craft Class at the library-meets every Tuesday, from 3:30-4:30pm. ages 10-18, supplies provided. 508-693-3366, lhearn@clamsnet.org. Aquinnah Library Community Garden Kickoff Event

4-6 pm, Aquinnah Library. Join us for a garden party on the library lawn! Plant with us, or enjoy lawn games and refreshments. All ages are welcome. 508-645-2314, gwilbur@clamsnet.org. Staff Picks Book Club

4-5 pm, Edgartown Library. For more info, visit the calendar at edgartownlibrary.org. 508-627-4221, programs@edgartownlibrary.org. kundilini Yoga

4:30-5:30 pm, The Red House PRSC, Vineyard Haven. Ancient spiritual energy rising through chakras for awakening consciousness 508693-2900, jtau@mvcommunityservices.org. ASL Practice Group 4:45-5:45 pm, Oak Bluffs Library. Want to learn ASL? Come drop in on our conversational practice group! No experience necessary. 508-693-9433, sschofield@clamsnet.org. Knitting Group

5-6 pm, West Tisbury Library. Creativity and conversation. Use supplies provided or bring your own. Adults and teens. No sign-up. wt_mail@clamsnet.org, 508-693-3366. Ticks on the Vineyard: What We Know 5-6 pm, Vineyard Haven. A five-part online series with local experts exploring tick trends, health risks, and prevention strategies on Martha’s Vineyard. 508-627-4441, events@mvmuseum.org. Table Tennis 5 pm, Tisbury Senior Center, Vineyard Haven. Table tennis for all ages and skill levels. 508-728-5898, raeobmv@gmail.com. Book Talk -- A Kids Book about Boundaries 5-6 pm, Oak Bluffs Library. Join Ashley Bendiksen, national speaker and author, for an introduction to her new children’s book. The event will include coloring activities. 508-693-9433, mlynch@clamsnet.org. Author Talk: “Historic Storms of Martha’s Vineyard” by Tom Dresser 6 pm, Katharine Cornell Theatre, Vineyard Haven. Join local author and tour guide Tom Dresser for a discussion of the fiercest weather challenges of the past four centuries on Martha’s Vineyard. 508-696-4211, vhpl_programs@clamsnet.org.

WEDNESDAY, MAY 27

Library Walking Group

8:30-9:30 am, Edgartown Library. Join Library Director Lisa Sherman for a walk around town! 508-627-4221, programs@edgartownlibrary.org. Barre Fusion with Maria McFarland 8:30-9:30 am, Airport Fitness, West Tisbury. Ballet styled flows, barre work, balance and weights using disks, loop bands and Bender balls. Come with sneakers, barre sox, or bare feet 508-696-8000, info@airportfitnessmv.com.

Revolutionary

Martha’s Vineyard at the Vincent House.

BY ABBY REMER

’’Independence on Martha’s Vineyard: Then, Now, and Forever” is the brainchild of Norah Van Riper, consulting historian, who cooked up the concept in partnership with the Vineyard Preservation Trust as part of its celebration of the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence and the founding of the U.S. on July 4, 1776. Van Riper says, “I love having directly in the exhibition title that we’re talking about American ideals of independence and freedom in the past, present, and even into the future.”

Continued from B11

Last summer, Van Riper worked as a local historian at the art installation

“Our Golden Hours” at the Preservation Trust’s Vincent House, one of the oldest homes on the Vineyard, built circa 1672. “I really started thinking about the stories a pre-Revolutionary War era house could tell. I said, ‘I think we can do something unprecedented for the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration.’”

Van Riper continues, “The story we really want to tell is multilayered. It begins with the events leading up to and surrounding the American Revolution here on the Island. Throughout the exhibit, the emphasis is on how broader global events impacted us. We are not as isolated as we are sometimes made out to be. And our neutrality during the war has not been standing up to hard scrutiny.”

As you move through the house, each room shifts forward 50 years – all the way to 2076.

Van Riper points out that even before the Revolution ended, people were already quarreling about its meaning and how the narrative of those events should be told. By 1826, sectionalism and partisan politics debated whether the Declaration or the Constitution was more important, because the

You will open the drawers, read the letters, try on the clothes in the closet, and play the games to get a sense of what life was like at each of those intervals. It will be like a treasure hunt.

way it was presented would favor one party’s cause over that of the other.

items from our thrift stores, Facebook’s “MV Stuff for Sale” page, flea markets, yard sales, loans, and donations. For the 300th-anniversary section, Van Riper is fashioning a small room as a time capsule, where people can leave their remarks about their hopes and dreams for what America and the Vineyard will be like 50 years hence. She says, “These will be sealed in a box at the end of the exhibit, and hopefully we’ll be opening it up in 50 years to see what did and didn’t come true.”

— NORAH VAN RIPER

“We know about the history of the Revolution through the prism of all the interpretations that have happened in the last 250 years,” says Van Riper. “We will never be able to tell the ‘pure’ story of the Revolution, because even John Adams and Thomas Jefferson, when they were exchanging letters about how to tell this history, said, ‘We can’t.’”

As a result, Van Riper has chosen to focus on popular memory and how that has shaped this year’s celebrations. Along with interpretive labels, the

entire exhibit will be immersive and interactive, allowing visitors to learn through investigation and exploration. Van Riper explains, “You will open the drawers, read the letters, try on the clothes in the closet, and play the games to get a sense of what life was like at each of those intervals. It will be like a treasure hunt.”

Since the entire exhibition will be hands-on and there is no climate control in the historically accurate Vincent House, the artifacts can’t come from museum collections. Instead, Van Riper has been hard at work sourcing

Van Riper wants visitors to realize that history is far more complex than we tend to believe. “It’s not a straight line or a single narrative. Who’s telling the story absolutely shapes it. And that’s been true for as long as human beings have been telling narratives about the past, because they shape our identity as Islanders, Americans, and citizens of the world.”

“Independence on Martha’s Vineyard: Then, Now, and Forever” opens Memorial Day weekend, and will be open Wednesday through Saturday, 11 am to 2 pm. Docents will be on hand for questions. Starting June 16, visitors can meet the curator, Norah Van Riper, on Tuesdays from 10 am to 2 pm. Vincent House, 99 Main St., Edgartown. For more information, visit vineyardtrust.org.

1. Local historian Norah Van Riper sat at a replica of a game table at the Vincent House. 2 The oldest house on Martha's Vineyard, the Vincent House, was built circa 1672. 3. Visit the Vincent House exhibition, which will open by Memorial Day weekend in Edgartown. 4. Locals would relax in a period chair, warm their feet on a foot stove, and rest their muskets in a safe place. 5. The Betsy Ross flag, adorned with 13 stars and stripes, was adopted in 1777. 6. The exhibition will present stories of locals' activism, such as the demolition of the Holmes Hole Liberty Pole. 7. Patriotic colonists boycotted imported tea following the Act of 1773 because of duties levied upon it. When tea was served, turning the cup upside down and placing the spoon on top indicated that the drinker would "take no tea." 8, 9. Pieces of eight, Spanish milled coins,

IZZIE ANTHONY

The High SchoolView

The High School View is staffed and prepared entirely by students from the

High School, and published on their behalf by The Martha’s Vineyard Times.

Ms. Carlomagno will retire after 23 years

BY ISABELLE ANTHONY AND PICKLE EVILLE

In Room 517, one can often find math teacher Mary Lee Carlomagno chatting with students between classes, creating a warm and welcoming atmosphere for them. Students’ math projects are displayed on the walls, alongside robots and other creations they’ve engineered. After 23 years of teaching at Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School (MVRHS), Ms. Carlomagno is preparing now to say goodbye to both this classroom and a career she didn’t originally plan for — but quickly came to love.

Before becoming a teacher, Ms. Carlomagno worked as an electrical engineer. When

she moved to Martha’s Vineyard, she continued to work remotely for a while before taking an opportunity to tutor MVRHS students and run the school’s math lab, a place where students could get extra help in math outside their classes. She quickly found that she loved working with students. There, she tried to teach students to see how math could be an easy class, because you only need to learn an equation once before you’re able to apply it to many problems. “You don't have to study if you're going to take a math test. You know how to solve the

problems. But if I'm taking a history test and I don't know the capital of Colombia, I'm not going to figure it out, right? So it just, to me, seems like the easy class. But I know some people definitely don't feel that way,” she said.

Throughout her time in the MVRHS math department, Ms. Carlomagno has taught a variety of courses including pre-calculus, calculus, financial literacy, and engineering. This year marked her first time teaching honors calculus, which she described as a highlight of her career. “I really wish I would have started that years ago, because I loved teaching it,” she said. “I had to go back and remember everything, but I just found that I really enjoyed working with a small class.”

Outside of the traditional math courses, Ms. Carlomagno has especially enjoyed teaching engineering, where students build and program

Retirement looks sunny for Leon Hawksley

BY MARIA BARROS

Since September, the halls of Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School (MVRHS) have been a little brighter. Between class periods, amid the rush of students heading to their next class, head custodian Leon Hawksley can always be spotted in colorful Hawaiian shirts splashed with vibrant florals and eye-catc hing patterns. His celebratory in-

tent was to signal his impending life-changing milestone: his retirement.

“Usually in the summertime, that’s all I wear,” said Leon, of his Hawaiian shirts. “All my summer shirts are like this. And I just looked at these shirts and thought, You know what? It’s time for retirement. I am going to wear something [all year] that says retirement, that says

Florida, that says vacation.”

Leon has been a custodian at MVRHS for the past 11 years, having first joined the staff in 2015.

“My girlfriend worked in the [MVRHS] cafeteria, and she suggested coming here and getting a job, and she said, ‘You need a job for the future.’ I was a house painter, and there’s no real future in house painting,” he said.

school year.

hands-on projects such as robots, bridges, and cars. She hopes those engineering opportunities continue for students after she retires. “I'm going to try to make sure somebody carries on with it, because I think it's really important,” she said.

For everyone who knows Ms. Carlomagno, it is clear that the heart of teaching for her is the relationships she has developed along the way.

Leon was offered the position of head custodian four years after starting at the school. “I’m getting a better salary here than I was painting houses,” he said, “and all the benefits I get too, like vacations, sick time, and more responsibilities.”

Leon’s favorite parts of the job come down to being there for students. “I love supporting the students. Every time they have a project, or need help with something, they ask, and I’m always willing to help them. We come down here and I get them tools, and certain things they need,” he said.

“I just think the experience of teaching has been amazing. To meet so many young people, I think it’s kept me young,” she said.

Senior Abby Horrigan said, “Ms. Carlomagno is one of the sweetest teachers I’ve had the pleasure of having. She’s not only been my teacher this year, but also my friend. I’ve gotten to know so much about her, like hearing about her children, and now her new grandchild.”

the health and well-being of students and staff.

“My job is to make sure the building is safe and everything is running as smoothly as it can. Day to day, I usually get in at 6:30 in the morning, and I go turn the lights on, open a couple of doors, and make sure everything looks good and is ready for students to come in,” he said.

Senior Maeve Cook-Martin is a student in her pre-calculus class. “Even if she is having a bad day, she always manages to have a smile on her face,” Maeve said. Ms. Carlomagno’s parting words of support for her students are validating and encouraging, as always: “I think you guys are enthusiastic, I think you’re caring, and I think you’re going out in a world that’s so much harder than when we were young,” she said. The connections she’s made are also what makes retirement bittersweet for her. Ms. Carlomagno is excited to begin a new chapter and is looking forward to spending time with her new grandson (born just a month ago), traveling to Alaska, and visiting family in Ohio. But she is finding that walking away from the classroom is not easy. “I’ll miss it every single day,” she said. HSV

EDITORS' FAREWELL

BY PICKLE EVILLE AND IZZIE ANTHONY

Editors-in-Chief:

Junior Eliza Belle Carestia appreciates the work and care Leon continues to put into keeping the school safe. “I appreciate Leon very much for all that he does for the school. He keeps the halls clean and shiny. And he does a lot for the safety of the school too, like making sure everything is working,” she said.

Over the years, Leon said some of his most memorable moments have come from unexpected acts of appreciation from students. “One time, before I was even head custodian, I was sitting here having my lunch break with the other guys and somebody from the Minnesingers came over and said, ‘Can you come here for a minute?’ So I walked into Abigail [Chandler’s] room, and all the Minnesingers sang me ‘Happy Birthday’!” he said.

Though sometimes overlooked, Leon’s role is essential to the school, as constant upkeep and attention are necessary to support

Leon plans to spend his retirement in central Florida, where he wants to pick up new hobbies including weightlifting and golf. Leon said that leaving the MVRHS community will be the hardest part about retirement. “What I'm going to miss the most are the students,” he said.

“Just seeing the students in the halls and saying hi to them. I’m going to miss the school, I’m going to miss the staff, just the camaraderie I’ve made through the years with people.” HSV

As Editors-in-Chief of The High School View, it has been amazing to work alongside such dedicated, talented writers and photographers as we report on the issues and stories that matter to the MVRHS community. As we move on to Yale University and Providence College this fall, we can only hope that we find communities as supportive as The High School View team and the broader school and Island community has been. Thank you to Maria Barros, our Assistant Editor-in-Chief, for your dedication and beautiful writing this year. Thank you also to The MV Times for its support, expertise, and for providing the platform for us to communicate these stories. If there is one thing we’ve learned as editors, it’s that a player is nothing without a team. We have been lucky to have such a great team supporting us. Thank you so much to everyone who has contributed. Whether you agreed to sit for an interview or are a reader of the stories we publish, you have made this experience remarkable. HSV

Izzie Anthony and Pickle Eville • Assistant Editor-In-Chief: Maria Barros • Faculty Advisers: Kate Hennigan and Rachel Schubert

Martha’s Vineyard Regional

BRODY ROYAL

Math teacher Mary Lee Carlomagno will be retiring at the end of the

MARIA BARROS

Head custodian Leon Hawksley in his custodial office at MVRHS.

Let the sea

Art and craft at the year’s first Vineyard

Thirty-one years ago, when the “new” Agricultural Hall was being built, Andrea Rogers was inspired to start the Vineyard Artisans Festival. She notes that at the time, Island crafters and artists had never before showcased their work together. “Big-time artists like Allen Whiting, Jules Worthington, and others had always been in galleries or doing their own shows. It took a lot of convincing, but once I got Jules Worthington, everybody else followed,” Rogers notes.

The first show was Labor Day weekend, shortly after a concert by Carly Simon and James Taylor. Rogers recalls, “I asked the concierge at that concert if he would announce that, in a week, there would be a brand-new show at the hall. We were inundated. I’ll never forget how many people showed up. We had 65 or 70 artists and artisans, and they all were selling out and had to send their family home to get more items.”

People are retiring here, and retired people love to keep busy with their art.”

Cynthia McGrath, who has been exhibiting since the very beginning, says some years have been harder economically than others: “It’s taught me resilience and flexibility — learning how to adapt creatively and how to price things.” McGrath is a jeweler, fashioning her pieces primarily from items she collects on the beach. When she saw the sign for the first festival, McGrath explains, “I was working at Beadniks in Vineyard Haven, making a lot of jewelry, and thought it would be a great opportunity to sell it at a big art show and become an artist full-time, which is the ultimate dream.”

1-3. The Vineyard Artisans Festival is held at the Grange Hall in West Tisbury. 4. Made On MV serves up hand-crafted frozen treats. 5. Rita Stinga's stand By Rita Homemade Goods is packed full of soaps. 6. Purses and bags with Vineyard flair on offer. 7. Gillian Badot, owner of Gilly B, works on her hand-stitched baby clothes. 8. Jannette Vanderhoop of Island Naturals. 9. Peruvian jewelry designer Coco Paniora Salinas speaks to a customer. 10. Bracelets by Jannette Vanderhoop of Island Naturals at the Vineyard Artisans Festival.

Two years later, Rogers approached the Vineyard Preservation Trust, which was renovating the Grange Hall, to ask whether they would host the festivals throughout the summer. Except during COVID, they’ve been at the Grange every year, twice a week, from Memorial Day weekend through Columbus Day.

Rogers expects about 60 to 70 participants this year, signaling a recovery from the loss of about 25 percent of artists who didn’t return after the pandemic. “We’ve had to rebuild, but this year in particular, we’ve got a lot of new artists and artisans. I thought people moving to the Vineyard now would not be artists, but that’s simply not true.

Camaraderie and community are what keep her coming back. “I love being surrounded by other artists, and making a lot of friends with them and the customers throughout the years. It’s the face-to-face sales that I love the most. To be able to look at people and see their reaction.”

Bill Rovero is one of the new participants with his company, Tradewinds MV. He began crafting functional, artisanal wooden items after “quitting the rat race,” as he puts it, working as an engineer designing consumer products. Many of his handsome cutting boards, clocks, cribbage boards, games, and whiskey smokers feature an image of the Island: “This is the first time I’ll be in front of a crowd. Most everything I’ve sold so far has been through word of mouth or online.” Rovero is inspired to participate for several reasons. “It’s difficult to get a storefront, and the cost associated with that. This is a good way to get the name and products out there and to meet people in the artisan world. Also, it’s just fun,” he admits.

PHOTOS: MV TIMES

son begin

Artisans Festivals. BY ABBY REMER

from B14

Rovero isn’t concerned about the economy at the moment. “These products are given as gifts for weddings, housewarming, or to yourself. I haven’t noticed a downturn, but let’s be honest; it’s the Vineyard. People who are coming on vacation, hopefully, have some money in their pockets.”

Lisa Strachan, a ceramicist and bronze sculptor, credits the Artisans Festivals with playing an important role in her ability to work as a full-time artist in the place where she grew up: “I’ve been able to stay here and buy a house with my husband in a place where my family’s been for generations. I directly link that to my success at the Artisans Festivals.”

Strachan originally participated in the Chilmark Flea Market. Recalling her first year with the Artisans Festivals, she says, “I was timid

jeweler Ken Pillsworth, who has also been exhibiting since 1995. He originally apprenticed with a few jewelers here before going off on his own: “I sold to galleries, but that was wholesaling. Having the Artisans Festivals as a retail venue really did change my life — not only my business, but I also met my wife there.” He notes that whether people are new customers or return year after year, they are drawn to buying from local artisans: “It becomes part of people’s trip to the Vineyard.”

Asked about his thoughts for the upcoming season, Pillsworth reflects, “Every year, it seems like there’s something, whether like now with high gas prices or different calamities in other years. It’s like, ‘Oh, no. The summer is not going to be great.’ There’s always that worry, but, knock on wood, everything has always worked out.”

“It’s unique because the artist and the customer meet one another directly. We know each other’s lives over the years. It’s really an incredible relationship.” –LISA STRACHAN

about moving over, but once I did, there was no going back. It was incredible to be among only artists. It elevated my work.”

Strachan continues, “It’s about the relationships I’ve made through the show. It’s unique because the artist and the customer meet one another directly. We know each other’s lives over the years. It’s really an incredible relationship. They love talking to the artist directly. It’s different from in a gallery.”

Strachan has found that, aside from the COVID years, the market here has been fairly steady: “People who live here and visit are very intentional about supporting the arts. There is a whole range, from movie stars to people I grew up with and have known my whole life. I have had amazing patrons who want to see me succeed, and I didn’t expect that when I started out. They’ll commission a dinnerware set, or gifts for their daughter’s wedding or a family reunion.”

Rogers has a very good feeling about the upcoming season. Long-term, she says, “My dream for the future is that the Artisans Festivals never die when I’m no longer running it."

McGrath says, “Andrea’s vision for the artisans has been so incredible, giving all of us a platform for doing our creative work fulltime. It’s also good for tourism and the local community. We love everyone who comes to our shows, and we’re giving them something they’ll use on their dining room table or for the holidays to remember their time here. It’s special that they’re using things we’ve made, and knowing they love buying handmade items from us is inspiring. I think that’s what keeps all of us going.”

The Artisans Festival occurs at the Grange except on Labor Day and Thanksgiving, when it is at the Agricultural Hall. For more information about dates and locations, visit vineyardartisans.com.

The Artisans Festivals have been vital to

Garden Notes

BY ABIGAIL HIGGINS

Engulfed by greenery, the mid-May transformation always startles. Town meetings have concluded. Yard signs for candidates or movements are a relatively recent phenomenon here. Do they influence anyone? Are they just more visual litter?

Perfumed air is a welcome contrast. Lily of the valley, lilac, viburnum, and more, are able to influence entire neighborhoods, in a pleasurable and benign way.

Lilacs

It has been a gorgeous lilac season, maybe because these plants are cold-adapted and were unfazed by the past winter’s cold. The bushes are so powerfully fragrant that they fill the air: How we forget these pleasures when the calendar flips to another season.

While common lilac, Syringa vulgaris, abounds on the Vineyard and does well here, sometimes it is fun to try something a little different. A hybrid I planted in 2011 flowers a bit earlier than the rest. ‘Clarke’s Giant’ Syringa x hyacinthiflora produces highly fragrant, enormous, lilac-blue florets the size of a quarter, and flowers ahead of the rest of the usual lilacs.

Storm damage and wood chips

An article in the Royal Horticultural Society’s March

Garden described the efforts at the gardens of West Dean to showcase increasingly eco-friendly approaches to management at this beautiful estate and public garden in West Sussex, U.K.

According to Tom Brown, the head gardener, “We’re creating more deadwood habitats, such as dead hedges.” One fun solution to a dead tree, available to anyone, is to leave it: “If a tree dies, we leave it as habitat, with an owl box on top.”

Here, broken branches and damage from winter snow and storms continue to show up as spring growth commences. Prune out if it is a manageable size: Cut just outside the branch collar, the faint ridge that marks where the branch originates from the larger branch or trunk. Consider creating a dead hedge of your own, à la West Dean. It is very encouraging to see that after chipping the storm damage, many have opted to retain the chips. The Island’s biomass belongs to the Island, on the Island. There are so many ways woodchips can be utilized. More practically, however, Keene’s pit is overflowing, chips are not being accepted at this time, and chips are being sent to the mainland for disposal. Why not leave them on the land where they originated?

Retaining the chips, composting them, or finding other uses for them aligns

with the view that the biomass a piece of land produces belongs to that land, and should remain there.

Bird-sown

Bird-friendly habitat is a natural form of insect control. Birdfeed, what we buy and place in bird feeders, is unusable by nestlings. Baby birds require the insect protein their parents capture and bring to the nest. Gardeners hope this includes juicy grubs, caterpillars, and other insect pests plucked from gardens. Keep your eyes peeled. If you wish a bird-friendly garden, and most gardeners do, you must expect to find many seedlings of plants adult birds like to eat: smilax (greenbrier), oriental bittersweet, barberry, poison ivy, bush honeysuckle, privet — to name only a few. Often these seedlings will be found beneath the branches of trees that are excellent roosting places. Early in the season is when

many are easy to spot, and easy to pull. Pictured is an oriental bittersweet seedling, at this stage easy to pull and to identify by the orange roots. Similarly, though, desirable seedlings are emerging now in beds and borders. A bleeding heart seedling that sprouted in an inconvenient place is being transplanted to a more appropriate location. Forest, next phase

And speaking of trees that are excellent roosting places — large beeches near me are slowly losing ground against beech leaf disease and beech bark disease, and are shedding branches that have died. It is indescribably sad, the thought of losing these graceful queens of the woodland. However, we must be prepared to plant a tree where one has been lost. Oaks, hickories, and sassafras appear to be the next phase of the Island forest that will plant itself; humans can promote them. I have tried a number of

North American tree species here at home. All are growing well. Liriodendron, Aesculus, Juglans, Taxodium, Ilex, Acer, Castanea, Morus, Oxydendrum, Magnolia, Hamamelis: There is much to choose from.

Hippeastrum vacation

Once their turn as holiday decoration is over, hippeastrum (amaryllis) revert to their more natural inclination to bloom around Easter. After that, they do well being placed outdoors in a quiet, out-of-the-way spot to grow as many leaves as possible. The foliage fuels the bulb to produce the next flowering. During this phase, bulbs need very little attention, although experts recommend an occasional liquid feed.

In the garden

Weather prognostication is that a strong El Nino is building faster than predicted (bit. ly/WCVB_ELNinoComing).

This may mean less rainfall

and a drier winter. The Vineyard is facing greater pressure than ever on water resources, with housing intensity and landscaping styles that treat water as never-ending. I commend Laurisa Rich for her 2012 and 2014 promotion of durable rain barrels on behalf of the Lagoon Pond Association. We bought two; they are sturdy and well-designed. Recently, the screens on the inlets needed replacing: an easy fix in this design.

Soils are borderline warm. Hill potatoes. Remove flowering stems from rhubarb. Keep garlic and onions weeded. Replace cardoons that failed to overwinter by severing offsets from survivors to pot up individually. Community Greenhouse, a community nonprofit organization at 114 New York Ave. in Oak Bluffs, is accepting plastics for recycling use. Purchase its plants at the greenhouse, and bring your nonbranded plastic for reuse.

‘Clarke’s Giant’: Lilac-blue florets the size of a quarter.

Oriental bittersweet seedling.

Volunteer bleeding heart awaiting transplant.

Hill potatoes, or mulch with straw.

Sapling cryptomeria’s snow damage emerged later.

PHOTOS: ABIGAIL