MV Times May 28, 2026 by marthasvineyardtimes

Songs of resilience after a cold winter B10

‘Art of Conservation’ student exhibit B15

Father and son released from ICE custody

Island rallies to stand up against unlawful search and seizure. BY MV

TIMES STAFF

The father and teenage son who were out fishing together when they were taken into ICE custody were ordered by federal judges to be released from the custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) during the past week. The son has already returned to the Island, and the father may return to the Vineyard as soon

CFate of MVRHS project in hands of Island voters

The $333 million high school building project on ballot for June 2.

BY SARAH SHAW DAWSON

Islanders across the towns are set to vote on the most expensive building project they’ve ever seen next week. A decade of work culminated in a plan for the regional high school building that addresses what school officials said are necessary upgrades and renovations, and is projected to cost more than $300 million.

It is evident through months of interviews over the course of this year while the project was introduced to the public that the expense weighs heavy on the minds of Islanders, who will shoulder a lot of the cost. But the facilities at the school aren’t up to par, and as a decision nears, teachers and students told The Times that they’re increasingly impacted by the conditions of the high school, including reports of adverse health effects.

Island voters head to the polls Tuesday, June 2, in their respective towns, to approve or deny the school committee to authorize the borrowing of $333,490,457 to pay for the costs of designing, constructing, equipping, and furnishing the new school. What hangs in the balance for that vote is an up–to–$75 million reimbursement from the state that took a decade to secure. And if the vote doesn’t go through, some improvements still need to be made, and those would lack a lot of necessary upgrades, and still cost around $200 million.

as today after being released Wednesday.

The arrest early last week of Rogerio da Silva Lima and his 15-year-old son, Nycolas de Al Varenga Lima, who were plucked from a fishing boat and taken into federal custody, came almost one year to the day after masked ICE agents raided the Island and arrested 20 indi-

Chappy Ferry rides into new chapter

After months of discussion, Brian Scall will be the new ferry owner.

BY NICHOLAS VUKOTA

apping off months of heated debate that garnered statewide attention, the Edgartown Select Board unanimously approved the transfer of the Chappy Ferry license, from longtime operators Peter Wells and Sally Snipes to current Captain Brian Scall, on Tuesday night.

The decision allows Scall to officially take ownership of the ferry service, subject to approval of final legal review of documentation by the town counsel. This is the first time in nearly 20 years that ownership has changed for the ferry, the sole year-round transportation service between Chappaquiddick Island and Edgartown.

viduals. This time Islanders were more galvanized in response, raising a legal defense fund and taking to the streets to protest ICE’s attempt to thwart constitutional guarantees for due process. One march was led by students in a walkout at Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School,

The long-awaited decision came out at the meeting pretty quietly.

“The select board voted to transfer the ground lease and ferry license to Chappy Ferry LLC contingent upon final legal review,” James Hagerty, Edgartown town administrator, told The Times.

Hagerty clarified that this means the Edgartown town counsel will review the ground lease and ferry license agreement, and Scall will need to accept his obligation under the license agreement.

Arthur Smadbeck, select board member, introduced the Chappy Ferry license Continued on A3

The Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School (MVRHS) building was constructed in 1959. While some sections of the building, such as the gym and Performing Arts Center (PAC), were renovated in the 1990s, many hallways, classrooms, and career and technical education programs are operating in the same structures as they were decades ago, just with a few new coats of bright blue or purple paint.

The Times conducted a walk-through of the building at the start of this school year and reported on the conditions, which included mold, asbestos, and leaking pipes.

Hundreds of Islanders walked through Menemsha on Saturday to protest ICE and support the father and son who were detained.

The On Time III, a Chappy Ferry boat, sailing to Edgartown.

NICHOLAS VUKOTA

BARBARA ARMSTRONG

Honoring those who gave their all

Rainy weather forced the annual Memorial Day ceremony indoors at the Tisbury School gymnasium.

BY NICHOLAS VUKOTA AND EUNKI SEONWOO

There was less pomp and circumstance during this year’s Memorial Day on the Island, as heavy rain forced the annual ceremony inside. But even still, during the 250th anniversary of the country’s founding, veterans from around Martha’s Vineyard said the honoring of their fallen comrades was never diminished.

The Island community gathered in the new gymnasium at the Tisbury School on Monday morning before heading for food and refreshments to American Legion Post 257, a nonprofit that advocates and raises money for veterans.

Wreaths that are traditionally placed on monuments in the Oak Grove Cemetery in Vineyard Haven were not laid down inside, to protect the gymnasium’s new floors, and no parade was held, but organizers and veterans alike said the message of remembrance remained.

“Jo Ann [Murphy] did a magnificent job bringing something that was outside inside the gym, and making it so personal,” Bob Tankard, Martha’s Vineyard Community Services veterans outreach coordinator, said. “It still honors the fallen vets that we honor. Some of them are friends, and our family members … and that was the most amazing thing to see, how many spectators came when they could have stayed home.”

At the ceremony, Jo Ann Murphy, American Legion Post 257 commander, led the honors and welcomed the crowd. Natalie Wood sang the National Anthem, and Stephen Harding, Tisbury Fire Department chaplain and rector of Grace Church, led a prayer.

The Girl and Boy Scouts directed the crowd in the Pledge of Allegiance, and new Tisbury Select Board member Connie Alexander read the Memorial Day Proclamation.

George Pimentel, who served in the U.S. Army for almost seven years as a captain and Airborne Ranger, and is now the direc-

tor of veterans services for Dukes County, was the guest speaker.

“We are standing on special and sacred ground with a long memory,” Pimentel said in his speech. “The people of this Island, the Wampanoags, the families who came later, the fishermen, farmers, tradesmen, and many more who built our towns, have been sending their sons and daughters to war for centuries.”

Pimentel also highlighted that it was New England sailors and Minutemen who defended the harbors and shipping lanes against the British Navy during the Revolutionary War.

“It was our grandfathers, grandmothers, and great-grandparents who held the home front through two world wars, who rationed, worked hard, and waited, and then grieved,” said Pimentel at the podium. “That tradition of showing up, of believing that freedom is not free, and that our families have stood together for the right, runs through this region like bedrock. It runs deep through this Island we call home.”

Veterans at the ceremony shared accounts of their past service. Walter Burke, a fulltime Island resident for 20 years, recalled serving aboard the USS Forrestal, a supercarrier. Burke said after just days aboard the ship, a 1967 Vietnam tour was cut short when a catastrophic explosion killed 134 sailors in a noncombat incident.

“We went over to Vietnam to serve a ninemonth tour,” said Burke. “But on the fifth day, we had major explosions on the ship.”

Carl Malmquist, who served in the Army under President Lyndon Johnson, said he was thankful to everyone who showed up for the ceremony. “I’m glad. People always seem to thank you for being a part of the Army,” said Malmquist.

Other local veterans in attendance included

Tommy Morrison, who’s lived on the Island for 26 years and spent 20 years in the Army infantry, and Charles Smith, a 70-year-old Edgartown resident and Marine Corps veteran who served as a senior captain in the Edgartown Fire Department for almost 40 years.

“I think it’s great, the amount of people who showed up today. They keep the tradition going, and it means a lot to veterans,” said Smith.

Murphy, the event organizer, said, despite no parade, “the whole point is to remember all of our fallen.”

Tankard, who enlisted in 1964 during the Vietnam War, and served at the Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), said the responsibilities he took on while in service transformed him from a boy to a man.

“There were four military officers when I was in Korea,” said Tankard.

“They told me, ‘You get out of here, you go back home, go to school, and go back to your

community and serve,’ and that’s exactly what I did. It was like I could hear them today.”

Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School students also contributed to the day’s honors, hosting their third annual fundraiser at the Portuguese-American Club to support affordable housing for moderate-income veterans. Led by Matt Macmillan, a junior football and hockey player at MVRHS, the project was passed down from Cal Darcy, a 2024 MVRHS graduate, and Harrison Lazarus, a current senior at MVRHS, and has raised roughly $28,000 over the past two years in silent auctions, donations, and T shirt sales. All proceeds are dedicated to the Island Housing Trust’s Bellevue Veteran Housing Project, a neighborhood dedicated to veterans in Oak Bluffs.

“The goal of the project is to raise money for units specifically for veterans,” said Macmillan. “We want to help the veterans here because that community specifically has had a hard time coming and integrating back into normal life.”

And in the lead-up to Memorial Day, Vineyard elementary schools conducted their own commemorations of the holiday with their annual Marches to the Sea. In Tisbury, around 300 students walked down Spring Street and onto Main Street on Friday to honor fallen service members. Residents met them on their march, waving small American flags. At the newly built Owen Park pier, students threw their flowers into the harbor one at a time, while a somber hush fell over the crowd. Each flower represents a service member of a family lost.

Tisbury School Principal John Custer, who participated in the March to the Sea when he was a Tisbury student, highlighted that veterans not only served the country but also support the school, such as when the American Legion allowed students to use its building when there were facility issues at the school.

He also said that it was important to teach students about the sacrifice of veterans. He recalled a student who recently learned of four family members who served in the military.

“They may seem small, but they’re pretty significant for that child, and their family, to recognize and take a moment to reflect,” Custer said.

In our editorial “Amid a rise in alpha-gal, hope springs eternal,” published May 15, the alpha-gal support group meets every third ursday of the month, from 5 to 6 pm, at the Up-Island Council on Aging, located at Howes House on 1042 State Road in West Tisbury. correction

NICHOLAS VUKOTA

Tommy Morrison at the Memorial Day celebration at the Tisbury School.

NICHOLAS VUKOTA

A firing detail saluted fallen comrades outside the school’s gymnasium.

DENA PORTER

Tisbury School children sang the National Anthem for the audience.

Chappy Ferry rides into new chapter

Continued from A1

transfer agenda item Tuesday, and all three board members said they were in favor of the transfer.

After the license transfer was approved, some members of the crowd were surprised by how quickly the decision had been made.

One resident in the audience asked, “Can you just explain what was just voted on?”

“We just voted to transfer the license to Brian,” said Smadbeck.

There wasn’t any prior public discussion at Tuesday’s meeting before the decision was voiced, but the select board had held a public hearing earlier this month, and had also deliberated the matter in executive session.

The ferry transports thousands of passengers each year across the 527foot stretch of water between the smaller island

and Edgartown, and is one of the oldest businesses on the Island, operating since at least 1807, when a rowboat was used to cross the channel. While the business is privately owned, it operates under a license awarded by the Edgartown Select

Board and needs approval from town officials before major changes are made, such as rate increases and transfers of ownership.

The license transfer process was long and controversial, with some Chappaquiddick residents calling for more

transparency surrounding the ferry line’s operations and finances and raising concerns about the undisclosed group of investors backing Scall’s ownership.

Earlier this month, on Monday, May 11, Edgartown residents and Chappy Ferry Steering Committee members gathered in the Edgartown town hall for a public hearing, where they aired

Massachusetts House passes epinephrine access bill

The Massachusetts House of Representatives unanimously voted 149–0 on Tuesday to pass a bill that increases access to epinephrine auto-injectors throughout the state, after years of advocacy by an Islander whose husband died from a wasp sting.

Initially petitioned by several state lawmakers, including State Rep. Thomas Moakley and State Sen. Julian Cyr, Bill H.5443 will make it easier for businesses, schools, restaurants, day camps, theme parks, and other organizations across Massachusetts to carry and administer epinephrine auto-injectors in emergency situations. The bill also contains provisions for staff training and exemptions from civil liability for individuals who administer the medication in good faith.

In 2023, Megan Shai Brown’s husband, Michael Brown, went into anaphylactic shock after being stung by a wasp at a benefit golf tournament for Island first responders. Despite being surrounded by trained EMTs, paramedics, firefighters, deputy fire chiefs, and police officers, Brown couldn’t be saved, because no one carried epinephrine.

Epinephrine, the medication that treats severe allergic reactions, is administered through injectable EpiPen devices. Massachusetts is one of a handful of states that don’t have “entity laws” that allow public venues, like restaurants, sports arenas, and daycares, to stock epinephrine for emergency cases.

In his speech addressing the House of Representatives, Moakley emphasized the urgency required to treat anaphylactic shock. “This legislation represents a straightforward and life-saving expansion of access to epinephrine auto-injectors across the commonwealth. It is grounded in a simple but urgent truth: In cases of anaphylaxis, every second counts,” he said at the state house.

Rep. Moakley also highlighted the prevalence of anaphylaxis-induced deaths in Massachusetts.

“Michael Brown’s story is one that echoes in all corners of the commonwealth through other families that have suffered loss as a result of anaphylaxis,” he said. “Every member of this House can take pride in casting their vote in favor of this bill.”

Following her husband’s death, Sahi Brown launched an initiative to make

many of these concerns.

While there were supporters of Scall, some Chappaquiddick residents questioned why his investors remained unnamed and wanted a guarantee for more access to the available data on the ferry, from its finances to some operational decisions, for improved transparency.

The pushback came largely from members of the Chappaquiddick Island Association, an organization that works for the well-being of the smaller island community, and the Chappy Ferry Steering Committee, which acts as an advisory body to the select board regarding the ferry.

In an interview following the meeting Tuesday, Scall said he always welcomed the residents’ input over the monthslong process, highlighting that he had met with a hundred people, including Chappaquiddick residents, to hear their opinions and ideas for the ferry.

news in brief

EpiPens available in all Island first-responder vehicles and to promote its general availability in public spaces. Many police on the Island, including in Edgartown and Oak Bluffs, carry EpiPens in their cruisers.

“This is extremely important, especially with the surge of alpha-gal,” Jonathan Searle, Oak Bluffs Police Chief, said.

Shai Brown testified in front of the Joint Committee of Public Health at the Massachusetts State House in support of the legislation last June.

The bill now awaits review by the Massachusetts Senate.

MVRHS students honored

As another school year comes to a close at the Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School, students were recognized for their academics, extracurricular activities, and character.

Last week, the high school hosted its Honors Night to celebrate the accomplishments of their students over the school year.

Top 20 in the class of 2026 with special mention of essayist, salutatorian, valedictorian Valedictorians Katherine Becker and Penelope Haddad, 1 and 2; salutatorian Teagan D’Arcy, 3; Eleanor Mone, 4; Eirene (Pickle) Eville, 5; Nora Motahari, 6; Ella Ehrman, 7; Harrison Lazarus, 8; Syius Rivera Rigali, 9; Emily Boyd, 10; John Hoff, 11; Grace Bennett-Rock, 12; Grace Cotton, 13; Nola Savard, 14; Lucy Mag-

den, 15; Holden Graczykowski, 16; Adriana Young, 17; Eva Giordano, 18; Milo Sullivan, 19; Charlotte Sebastian, 20.

To see all of the awards from Honors Night, go to mvtimes.com.

Edgartown man pleads guilty; bomb threat charges dropped

David M. Capato, 58, an Edgartown man charged in 2025 for making a bomb threat at the Vineyard Haven Steamship Authority terminal, pleaded guilty Wednesday, May 21, in Dukes County Superior Court, and was sentenced to five years of probation on multiple counts.

At the change-of-plea hearing before Superior Court Judge Elaine M. Buckley, Capato pleaded not guilty to disorderly conduct, improper storage of a firearm, and threat to commit a crime. Several of his felony charges, including a bomb and hijacking threat and felony possession of a firearm, will be dismissed as long as Capato complies with his probation conditions.

Capato was sentenced to five years of probation, with conditions to maintain appropriate medical care until professionally discharged, take all prescribed medication, engage in mental health counseling until professionally discharged, and not possess or in any way control firearms or explosive devices, or apply for a permit to carry a firearm.

According to a sentencing recommendation

Residents were first publicly introduced to Scall at a virtual meeting on Wednesday, April 1.

“I think people are very passionate about Chappy, about where they live, and their access,” Scall also said Tuesday. “That’s part of the reason why I’m interested in doing it. It’s to be my part of a solution for them.”

Scall also praised town officials. “The amount of research, due diligence, that they have done through this process has been a lot more than people give them credit for,” he said. “It makes me feel good about the town that I live in.”

Wells, who has operated the ferry with Snipes for almost 20 years, said he was delighted by the select board’s decision. He highlighted that he will still drive the ferry, and added that he is confident with the ferry line’s future in Scall’s hands. “I see in him the energy I had 50 years ago,” said Wells.

filed by Capato’s defense attorney, Robb Moriarty, Capato’s actions were the “product of psychosis brought about by illness and genuine human frailty.” Moriarty recommended five years of probation to the court.

Capato, a former New York City Police officer, made threats during a standoff with Tisbury Police at the terminal, where he threatened to vaporize the officers with a bomb in his vehicle. He was also in possession of a firearm.

According to police reports, while no explosives or detonators were found in the vehicle or terminal, Massachusetts State Police found a disassembled “AR-15-style rifle” and “several media devices,” such as laptops, cell phones, and a recording device Capato wore on his collar in the vehicle.

Capato was deemed a danger to the public and sent to the Bridgewater State Hospital for mental health evaluations in March 2025. Evaluators concluded that Capato was not criminally responsible for his actions on Jan. 15, 2025. He originally pleaded not guilty to all charges in April 2025.

Small fire temporarily closes Lagoon Pond Road

A small fire at Island Color Center in Tisbury temporarily closed Lagoon Pond Road by Five Corners last Thursday morning. Three Tisbury fire engines were deployed to the local paint shop while Tisbury Police closed the road to vehicular traffic; cars were allowed to use the U.S. Post Office parking lot to bypass the emergency vehicles. The sidewalk was also temporarily closed for a short time. The roads were back open by 9:15 am.

Tisbury Fire Chief Patrick Rolston told The Times he received a call on his personal cell phone at around 8:35 am about the fire, which was extinguished before firefighters arrived at the scene. Rolston said the fire had stemmed from a light fixture in the building, and caused minor damage to the ceiling. Nobody was hurt in the incident, and Rolston said the response was to ensure that the fire had not expanded to other parts of the building.

Jen Ingraham, owner of Island Color Center, said they put out the small flame with a fire extinguisher after a customer noticed smoke coming from another room.

“It’s good to have the quick response of the fire department,” Ingraham said, commending the “very professional” and “amazing job” done by the first responders.

COURTESY MVRHS

MVRHS students were honored for various academic, extracurricular, and character achievements.

Scan QR code to read full story online.

The Edgartown Select Board approved the Chappy Ferry license transfer to Brian Scall.

NICHOLAS VUKOTA

EDITORIAL

LETTERS Vote yes for a new high school

Don’t miss a historic opportunity for future generations. Islanders head to the polls next week to vote on the largest capital project the Island’s ever seen. And despite the high cost, The Times believes voters should step up and approve this ambitious $333 million upgrade and renovation plan for a new Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School (MVRHS).

The Times’ Island Writer on health, housing, and education, Sarah Shaw Dawson, has tirelessly covered the climax of the detailed and lengthy process that brings us to this point, including a revealing story last year that exposed disrepair and neglect, and evidence of asbestos and mold inside the school. Dawson’s stories, and a decade of hard work by a team of educators, community leaders, and state officials, offer a convincing body of evidence that this project is necessary.

The ballot question Islanders vote on next week is not actually asking whether we should renovate and upgrade the school or not. That is an unavoidable necessity due to years of deferred maintenance and the natural degrading of the facility over six-plus decades. The question is whether the Island should commit to the entire $333 million project as laid out by school officials who’ve studied what’s needed, and thereby be eligible to receive an up to $75 million reimbursement from the state. That state funding took years to secure, and it would be nothing short of foolish to throw it away or squander years of work by pushing back improvements and not addressing all of the problems prevalent at a place where a majority of young Islanders spend years of their lives. Students, their families, and our educators all deserve better. A complete denial of the project by voters would result in a loss of that state reimbursement, a quandary that Tisbury voters

Voting is crucial for high school project

To the Editor:

About 15 years ago or so, I wanted to help out my kids’ school, so I joined the Tisbury School PTO. Before long, I found myself as the parent representative for the PTO on the school building committee for the Tisbury School (round 1). I was prepared to work hard, alongside my community, to build a world-class school for many future generations of students. How could it be anything other than a rewarding and exciting experience?

For a while, it was. Though the commitment entailed hundreds of hours of meetings over three years, we pulled together as a family, and each of us embraced our part. (My husband, a Tisbury School administrator at the time, was also on the committee.) My young kids often had to fend for themselves by asking for rides home from practices, or preparing their own dinners on nights when we had meetings. They didn’t mind; they understood the importance of this commitment!

Looking back, I was naive. I assumed that our town would rally behind its school and trust that educators who work and teach in the school every day know what’s best for kids’ education. I believed in the painstaking and thoughtful work of the committee, that we considered all viewpoints, and designed a beautiful school that the town would be tremendously proud of. I eventually realized that maybe this wasn’t the case.

Though there were plenty of naysayers at the town meeting, the project still passed by a good margin, and went to a vote two weeks later. My kids and I

already experienced when they voted down the Tisbury School plan and eventually paid around $30 million more for the project.

What we hope the public understands is that regardless of the vote, the school needs remediation for mold and asbestos and mechanical renovations. And those who have worked on the plan for MVRHS insist that the minimal code upgrades, such as cooling and heating systems that are past service life and need to be replaced, and roof replacement and water damage repair, could cost more than $200 million, which would also be at the Island’s expense.

The MVRHS school building committee has said that even through these code upgrades,

many deficiencies, such as general and specialized classrooms below state standards, makeshift classrooms that lack windows, an undersize cafeteria, and outdated science and tech labs, would remain, even after the Island spends more than $200 million.

This is the important moment. The Times and our readers are keenly aware of the crisis in affordability seen all over the country, and the crisis in housing that’s exacerbated here on the Island. We get it that people are wary of the tax increases that come from this project. But the high costs are a product of how bad the conditions are, as well as what’s called the “Island factor,” which means prices for materials are usually around 30 percent higher here than on the mainland. None of these factors is going to change, though. In fact, they’ll likely worsen in the coming years, if the past five years are any indication.

campaigned all day. We were so excited for the future Tisbury School.

It was dark when the polls closed. My kids had homework to do. Still, we waited outside. Our committee chair came out and calmly said we lost by 21 votes. We were stunned. My kids cried. To this day, I cannot think about that moment without feeling queasy.

Our leaders had three days to request a revote or an extension. One reiterated they would not support a project more than $30 million; the town could not afford it. In the end, they voted to end the project and give back the nearly $15 million gift from the state, which would have made our portion less than $32 million.

The school still needed to be rebuilt. That was always a given. The new school design was smaller, and required students to learn in trailers for the two years it was being built. The final cost? More than $80 million. Will history repeat itself? Will we spend less and get more? Or spend more and get less?

I wonder what Tisbury could have done with an extra $50 million? Voting takes 5 minutes.

Erika Mulvey Tisbury

High school improvements needed for Island workforce training

To the Editor: As the Island’s nonprofit workforce training organization, ACE MV strongly endorses the proposed upgrades to and investment in MVRHS career and technical education (CTE) facilities, which are now not up to code, and can-

not provide the training that existing and future generations of students require for today’s economy. In addition to serving high school students, the proposed state-of-the-art learning labs and training equipment will also be available to Island community members of all ages interested in after-hours workforce training and community education.

ACE MV now facilitates evening courses for adults in partnership with MVRHS and regional training providers to prepare electricians, certified nurses’ assistants, elementary and early educators, clean energy technicians, and working English language learners. With an expanded facility, ACE MV plans to add programs for automotive mechanics, plumbing apprentices, and maritime workers. With adequate space and equipment, all Island community members will now have access to training and employment support, facilitated by ACE MV at low or no cost, and without leaving the Island.

Across the nation, educators are rethinking and restructuring how young people prepare for work. With college expenses out of reach for many, CTE has become a magnet for young people seeking an economically sound adulthood. This is not the vocational education of old — not a default, but a wise choice of many young people who want to learn the latest technologies and get hands-on work experience while keeping postsecondary education as an option.

Please join ACE in voting yes on the high school building project. A yes vote is a vote for the Island’s future.

Alexandra Bullen Coutts, executive

director Nancy Hoffman, board chair ACE MV

But the larger point is that repairing the school is inevitable. We can’t expect infrastructure built in 1959 to stand up against standards more than 60 years later. The building needs to have security infrastructure, get the fire protection system up to code, and do an electrical overhaul.

Students deserve to work in classrooms that at a minimum meet state standards. And teachers, who care for and shape the minds of young Islanders, deserve to teach in classrooms that don’t have mold.

People are often a product of their environment, and the current environment at the high school isn’t a conducive place to learn, nor to thrive. We have a chance to change that and take the high school from a symbol of deferred maintenance to a shining example of the excellence that is the hallmark of our community. Let’s not miss this chance.

Vote down the school project To the Editor: Deception.

Why I’m voting against the High School funding ballot (and why you should too).

Lately, I’ve been thinking a lot about that word. It is the foundation of corruption, theft, crime, and de-community. It’s the premier tool of politicians, marketers, grifters, thieves, scammers, propagandists, the selfish, the self-interested. America, today, seems deception-saturated — in big and small ways.

Deception is intentional: like colored packaging concealing imperfect food; print too faint or small to see; omitted information; hidden defects; sealed liability settlements; nondisclosure clauses. I could go on. You understand. In your head, add as many instances as you want. It might approach infinity.

It’s on vivid display in Washington, where colossal egos and money jettison ethics, morality, and honesty to dupe the citizenry. Each day it fills a couple of sections in the national newspapers.

It’s the core amorality that rationalizes: “Sure, it’s wrong; but heck, it’s not illegal.” The eclipsed corrosion that exhausts citizens, impairs democracy, and coalesces in collapse, chaos, tyranny.

It’s relentless. But it is most depressing when it seeps down to the local level.

Thanks to our high school committee, it has arrived on each of our porches like a hand-delivered box of dung wrapped with a deceptively pretty ribbon. The new high school’s

Charles M. Sennott • Publisher

SARAH SHAW DAWSON

Wires and antiquated systems in the MVRHS electrical room.

ESSAY

A new

public health threat is emerging — and we can still get ahead of it

BY CLAIRE SEGUIN AND JACOB LEMIEUX

New England has long been an epicenter for tick-borne disease. Today, the region is also on the front lines of an emerging public health threat: expansion of the range of the lone star tick (Amblyomma americanum) and the disease it brings: alpha-gal syndrome (AGS).

AGS is a serious allergic reaction to the carbohydrate galactose-alpha-1,3galactose (alpha-gal). AGS is spread through the saliva of the lone star tick, an invasive species now rapidly spreading across Massachusetts and the Northeast. Though once rare, both AGS and the lone star ticks are increasingly common in the region. Martha’s Vineyard has the highest tick-borne disease rates in Massachusetts, and was among the first areas affected by lone star ticks. Yard surveys show their rapid spread, and related diseases have increased. In 2020, Martha’s Vineyard Hospital (MVH) ran nine alpha-gal tests; last year, that number jumped to 1,632, with 724 positives. This year, MVH’s

ESSAY

Older adults need a thriving community

BY ROBERT LASKOWSKI

funding formula is the dung; the committee’s “we-are-one-schooldistrict” Island-wide-ballot con is the pretty ribbon: the grift.

So where is the deception? First, we are not one school district (never have been). In the past, each town voted separately to approve capital projects, and all six towns needed to approve the project. That required capital projects to have broad support in all six towns, despite the unfair funding formula. But the high school committee is worried that the heavily overtaxed Tisbury residents (and/or Oak Buffs) might vote

allergist has already seen more than 400 patients with AGS, highlighting the rapid impact on the community.

The invasion of lone star ticks and the emergence of AGS have far-reaching consequences for the people of Massachusetts, as AGS is life-altering and difficult to recognize. Unlike most food allergies, reactions to red meat can occur hours after eating, often in the middle of the night, making the connection difficult to recognize. Symptoms range from hives and gastrointestinal distress to more serious, potentially life-threatening reactions such as anaphylaxis.

A food that was once routine can suddenly become deadly, disrupting daily life in ways both unexpected and difficult to manage.

High disease rates can significantly impact Massachusetts’ economy and local communities. As tick season approaches, and with thousands of seasonal tourists expected throughout the state, awareness of tick risks is crucial. Our goal is not to discourage visitors looking for outdoor activities, but to provide information so people can stay safe.

While treatment and prevention of AGS is still being studied,

individuals can reduce risk by using insect repellent, wearing protective clothing, checking for ticks after being outdoors, and removing ticks promptly. Raising awareness helps people take preventive steps and recognize symptoms. Public education is currently one of the most effective tools we have today.

Additionally, public health agencies, including the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, have raised awareness about lone star ticks and AGS, and medical providers play a critical role as well.

At Martha’s Vineyard Hospital, we are collaborating with Mass General Brigham to improve recognition of AGS, support patients, and share emerging knowledge — including through a new research study on AGS. Our experience highlights how early awareness and coordinated action can make a meaningful difference as the science evolves.

Yet despite these efforts, prevention and awareness alone are unlikely to curb the rise of lone star tick–related disease, including AGS. Broader action is needed, including government measures to address ecological drivers such as growing

deer populations. As AGS spreads, we must accelerate research and strengthen public health systems so clinicians can identify cases earlier, track prevalence more consistently, and advance prevention and treatment options.

With summer about to begin, people naturally wanting to spend more time outdoors, and Massachusetts welcoming visitors in the months ahead, we encourage everyone, residents and visitors alike, to take simple steps to protect themselves and to understand the risks associated with tick exposure.

At the same time, we urge public health leaders, healthcare systems, and researchers across Massachusetts — and New England — to recognize alpha-gal syndrome for what it is: an emerging public health challenge requiring urgent attention.

The opportunity to get ahead of this is still within reach, but the time to act is now.

Claire Seguin, DNP, is president and COO for Martha’s Vineyard Hospital. Jacob Lemieux, M.D., Ph.D., is an infectious diseases physician at Mass General Brigham.

The health of our schools should be a concern of all Island residents, including older adults. Healthy Aging Martha’s Vineyard exists to help make the Vineyard a community in which “older adults thrive.”

We at Healthy Aging study the things that older adults need to live a full, healthy life. “Community” tops the list. For older adults to thrive, they need to live in a community that thrives. On June 2, Island citizens will have a once-in-a-generation chance to vote for an investment critical to our community’s vibrance and health, the funding for a revitalized high school. The vital importance of education speaks for itself. The adage, “Our children are our future,” is more than a trite saying. It is a powerful truth. Strong education requires a strong educational infrastructure. The benefits of excellent education resonate through all aspects of a community. Research supports the association between

against the enormously unfair bill that the committee is sending them. Hence the committee’s Island-wide-ballot deception — heck, it’s not illegal — to electorally dilute one town’s power to resist a massively unfair confiscation.

If the high school committee wants us to be “one district,” then tax all property at the same rate. If they don’t have the courage to do that, then abide by the rules: six separate towns; six separate votes. I’m not falling for their deceit. The end does not justify the means. I’m voting against the new high school. Here are the numbers: Total tax on a $1,000,000 property in Tisbury = $20,150, Oak Bluffs = $16,210, West Tisbury = $13,220, Aquinnah = $10,840, Edgartown = $8,690, and

a community’s investment in its educational infrastructure and the desirability of that community as a place to live. Surveys demonstrate that communities with excellent education are more desirable places to live. Real estate values are higher. The quality of life residents report is better. Communities that support education are more satisfying places to live — for all residents. Older adults need community to thrive. Social isolation is often a fatal disease for the elderly. This should be a stark reminder to all of us who focus on the needs of older adults that we need to think about the whole community, not just the part that older adults occupy. The education of young people leads to availability of services that frail, older adults depend upon. Young people often become professionals who enable older adults to live at home. Today’s parents need firstrate education for their children if they are going to choose to live on the Vineyard. The services of health professionals, builders, store owners, and many others who choose to live on the Island form the skeleton on which an excel-

Chilmark = $6,010. Tisbury property is taxed 232 percent more than in Edgartown, and 335 percent more than in Chilmark. Do you really think that is fair?

Brian Hughes Oak Bluffs

Our immigrant community needs our help

To the Editor:

When people find out I live on Martha’s Vineyard, they invariably say “It must be soooo beautiful,” and I tell them it is, but that is not the key to what makes it an exceptional place to live. (We’ve been here 26 years.)

“What,” I say, “makes it exceptional is

lent quality of life is built. Without them, no older adult can “thrive.”

Investments in one’s community can be costly. The future returns of any investment should be carefully scrutinized. We are at a time of rising costs. Financial pressures on many of our Vineyard neighbors threaten their security. These threats can impair their health. The pressures can be especially acute among older adults. We all need to be sensitive to acute financial issues, and creative in addressing the needs of our neighbors. We also need to keep in mind that investments like the high school renovation are long-term. The consequences of our decision will span decades rather than years. Our attention to the acute stress many feel today should not deter us from making prudent longterm decisions.

We built our regional high school in 1959. The last significant renovation, the building of the Performing Arts Center, occurred in 1995. Our facility is well past the usual life of 50 years. Much study has led to the current recommendations that blend “addition

the sense of community. That when you go to the supermarket, you bump into a half-dozen people you know or might like to know. When someone dies, it’s not unusual for hundreds of people to show up for a celebration of life.”

So where was everyone, this past Saturday, when a demonstration against ICE’s abduction of a father and son was announced? Maybe 150 people were there. Five hundred people show up if someone dies. One hundred fifty show up when a father and son are kidnapped by ICE. By our government! There’s something wrong with this picture.

I am Jewish, and many of my parent’s friends despised the Germans for not standing up while laws against Jews

and renovation.” The plans envision the revitalized campus that will be a community resource for all. As a prime example, we have all experienced the vibrance that the Performing Arts Center brings to the Vineyard.

The facts are clear. Our high school needs reinvigoration. Substantial state funding to help is available now, and will not be in the future. And much more than having a “nice building” is at stake as we as a community make our decision on June 2. Our vote will reflect on the character of our community in a very tangible way. We are a great community because we have invested in it. It is where we live, and where we all want to thrive. The vast majority of Island older adults want to live the rest of their lives on the Vineyard. For this to become reality and not a dream, we older adults need to support investments in our future, and encourage our neighbors to do the same.

Robert Laskowski is the chair of the board of directors at Healthy Aging Martha’s Vineyard.

were enacted (1935, the Nuremberg Laws), and they began disappearing in the dead of night. We are acting like those Germans who said they could do nothing, and understandably, that’s the way we feel about what’s taking place in our country. But now there is something we can do. We can do our utmost to defend immigrants, our neighbors, from some of the terror they are experiencing. This summer, a few of us will be trying to raise money for pro bono legal services to protect our foreign neighbors. Please be on the lookout, and please give generously. The immigrant community needs our help!

Paul Lazes Vineyard Haven

Notice of 2027 Schedules for the Steamship Authority

The Steamship Authority is seeking public comment on its proposed 2027 Operating Schedules.

WOODS HOLE / MARTHA’S VINEYARD

The proposed 2027 operating schedules from January 6, 2027, to January 7, 2028, would start one (1) day later and end one (1) day later than the 2026 schedule for the Martha’s Vineyard route. Other than the summer schedule, which would see an increase in the number of vessels running, the 2027 Martha’s Vineyard operating schedule would be essentially the same as 2026, with the exception of the assigned vessels and the start and end dates of the schedules.

, 2027 – MARCH 30 , 2027

indicates

The proposed 2027 operating schedules from March 31 to May 17, 2027, would start one (1) day later and end four (4) days later than in 2026. The schedule would see no changes to the

times, quantity of trips, vessel crewing, or the assigned vessels during this period. The M/V Island Home, M/V Martha’s Vineyard and M/V Woods Hole would each be triple-crewed and operate up to seven (7) round trips per day. The M/V Martha's Vineyard is scheduled to operate in place of the M/V Nantucket May 12-May 17, 2027. The 5:30 a.m. departure from Vineyard Haven may be added back to the schedule during this period depending on the timing of planned slip construction at the Vineyard Haven Terminal.

MARCH 31, 2027 – MAY 1 7 , 2027

and 228 may be removed from the schedule, dependent on slip construction in Vineyard Haven. The proposed operating schedules from January 6 to March 30, 2027, would start one (1) day later and end one (1) day later than in 2026. The schedule would see no changes to the trip times, quantity of trips, or vessel crewing during this schedule. The M/V Martha’s Vineyard and M/V Aquinnah would each be triple-crewed and operate up to seven (7) round trips a day. The M/V Nantucket will run January 6–February 22, 2027, and the M/V Island Home will then run February 23–March 30, 2027; in both cases, the

M/V Martha’s Vineyard — 03/31/2027–05/11/2027 M/V Nantucket

Notice of 2027 Schedules for the Steamship Authority

WOODS HOLE / MARTHA’S VINEYARD

Notice of 2027 Schedules for the Steamship Authority

WOODS HOLE / MARTHA’S VINEYARD

Bold indicates freight vessel limited passenger capacity. * Trips 207 & 212 may operate as non-hazardous on Monday through Friday, if needed. ** Trip 200, 227 and 228 may be added back onto the schedule, dependent on slip construction in Vineyard Haven. # Unscheduled trips are available to operate, if needed.

Operating vessels are subject to change. Freight vessel trips may not appear on pocket schedules or color brochures. During peak travel periods, such as school vacation weeks, unscheduled trips may be added to meet traffic demands. If you have any comments, please submit them by 4 p.m. June 29, 2026, via email to schedules@steamshipauthority.com, or by mail to: Steamship Authority, Attn: Proposed 2027 Operating Schedule, 228 Palmer Avenue, Falmouth, MA 02540. Martha’s Vineyard Times Publication Date: May 28, 2026

FatherandsonreleasedfromICEcustody

where Nycolas is a sophomore, and another rally took place in Menemsha, the fishing village where the pair were transported by the U.S. Coast Guard to ICE custody across the ocean. In fighting for the release of the father and son, legal experts and community activists have also driven home the constitutional rights of due process.

The father and son, who are among an estimated 20 percent of year-round Islanders who are immigrants from Brazil, were taken last Monday by the U.S. Coast Guard in Menemsha and handed over to ICE agents in Woods Hole. The Coast Guard boarded a small fishing boat, which belonged to a friend, after noticing the lack of a vessel registration number on the side of the hull, and suspicion of possible other violations. After checking the ID of the adults, the Coast Guard discovered an outstanding warrant on Da Silva Lima from a 2023 removal order, which led to his and his son’s transfer to ICE. Their detainments provoked movement from Island immigration activists who successfully banded together and filed habeas corpus peti-

On Tuesday afternoon during a virtual hearing at the U.S. District Court of Massachusetts in Boston, Judge Indira Talwani ordered the release of Da Silva Lima, citing that federal immigration officials had not followed the proper protocols after he was initially notified of his removal order in 2023. Da Silva Lima was held at Plymouth County Correctional Facility, and

by ICE within the 90 days after the removal order was placed on him; proper protocols by federal immigration agents would mean the clock would have started in January 2024 after his appeal was dismissed. This is a requirement for the process of deporting an individual.

Additionally, Talwani noted an order of supervision was not placed on Da Silva Lima, which provides certain protections for him even if the agency pursues deportation, like preventing indefinite detention and allowing him to stay in his community.

tember in Teaticket. Waite is currently in an ICE facility in Buffalo, N.Y.

A shared sentiment to protect Island immigrant neighbors manifested itself during the demonstrations over the weekend. At MVRHS, roughly 200 students poured out of the school to wave signs along the sidewalk of Edgartown–Vineyard Haven Road in support of their peer Nycolas. In Menemsha, an even higher number of people showed up, with an estimated 275 supporters overflowing the streets. Portuguese translators spoke after each speech.

“When they belong to us, we are going to keep them safe,” Tobais J. Vanderhoop, the council secretary of the Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah), told the crowd at the Menemsha rally. “They should not wonder if someone is going to come and snatch them up and take them away. That is unacceptable. We live in a nation of laws, and those laws are meant to protect us, not assault us.”

Only around 25 Brazilians attended the Menemsha protest, according to leaders in the local Brazilian community. Marcia Borges, a historian and Island resident who volunteered as an interpreter at the event, said she believes Brazilians didn’t go because they were afraid.

tions to prevent the father and son from being sent to Texas, where ICE has a facility for families. Habeas corpus is a legal procedure that allows those detained by the government to challenge their detention in court, and often enforces every person’s right within the U.S. to due process. After the Coast Guard transferred Da Silva Lima and his son to ICE, the federal officials took them to an undisclosed hotel rather than a Burlington facility, since minors can’t be detained with unrelated adults. It was announced at the rally in Menemsha on Saturday that the son was released. Nycolas’ case remains ongoing in federal court, but he’s been with his brother since his release on Friday by Judge Julia E. Kobick. Amelia Lynn Ritenour, the attorney from Haven Immigration Law who represented Da Silva Lima and his son, declined to identify the brother or Nycolas’ location out of safety concerns.

Da Silva Lima’s release was processed at ICE’s facility in Burlington on May 27.

“Judge Talwani saw that it’s inappropriate and unconstitutional for ICE to detain people without any constitutional protections anytime they want,” Ritenour told The Times on Tuesday.

According to immigration officials and statements made by attorneys in hearing, Da Silva Lima and his son illegally entered the U.S. in 2021. While Da Silva Lima was initially detained that year, he was released under recognizance, which allows him to remain in the country as long as he attends his immigration hearings and doesn’t commit any crimes. In 2023, an immigration judge issued a removal order against Da Silva Lima after his asylum application was rejected, which he unsuccessfully appealed to the U.S. Board of Immigration Appeals.

Judge Talwani said that Da Silva Lima was not detained

Vincent Engingro III, the attorney from the Justice Department’s Defensive Litigation Unit representing ICE and the Department of Homeland Security, argued that the 90-day period begins when a detention occurs.

But Talwani disagreed, saying the protocols weren’t followed. “Why do you get a new bite at the apple?” Talwani said.

Additionally, Da Silva Lima was not viewed as a flight risk.

Talwani said the order wasn’t an “open invitation for Mr. da Silva to stay here,” but it won’t be in detention. ICE can still file for an order of supervision on Da Silva Lima.

The detainments came nearly a year after an Island-wide sweep led by ICE resulted in the arrest of 20 individuals. 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 had no criminal record, like Newton Waite, the owner of Vineyard Caribbean Cuisine in Oak Bluffs, who was detained in Sep-

“What I observe, in general, is that people are keeping to their domestic spaces, which is very understandable — they continue working, going about their things, but trying to protect themselves as much as they can.” One source who asked not to be identified because of their immigration status said, “I know many people who would have liked to join the protest, but were afraid; I’m one of them. They [ICE] are killing even Americans.”

More people in the Brazilian and other immigrant communities felt safer to join the walk-out at the Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School last Friday. “A year after the raid, the initial panic has calmed down, but this episode involving father and son was shocking, an unexpected situation that hit the Brazilian community hard,” one of the sources said. People got used to living in an uncomfortable situation, they said, adding, “You can’t stop your life, it needs to go on, but at the same time everyone has kept in an alert mode.”

The Times spoke to people within the Brazilian community who preferred not to be named, but commented that they know of a handful of families who left the Island in the past winter, and others who, after the latest episode, defined their return date because of the psychological pressure.

Eunki Seonwoo, Sarah

DAILY 11-3PM

Dinner

SUN- TUES 3-6PM & WED-SATURDAY 3-5PM

WED-SATURDAY 5-8PM

*Reservations available on Resy*

Shaw Dawson, Nicholas Vukota, and Paula Moura contributed to this report.

MVRHS students gather on the side of Edgartown-Vineyard Haven Road.

A photo of Rogerio da Silva Lima, left, and Nycolas de Al Varenga Lima that was on a poster at the MVRHS walkout.

NICHOLAS VUKOTA

COURTESY MVRHS

AtlantisHardscapeLLChas openpositionsondifferent crews.

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

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SS#,validMAdriverslicense required.

Text774-563-0181

Emailnwatlantismv@gmail.com

MVPCS SPECIAL EDUCATION TEACHER

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

CIRCULATION ASSISTANT AT THE WEST TISBURY LIBRARY

COUNSELOR NEEDED FOR CULTURALLY AND ENVIRONMENTALLY CONSCIOUS

CREATIVE ARTS CAMP

Must love children, be spontaneous, kind and creative. For more information Please call 508 693 3142

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.

FULL TIME YEAR ROUND ATTENDANT

building and maintaining local relationships, conﬁdence with social media, Google Suites, Canva etc, and excellent customer service and communication skills. Nights and weekends required. This is a beneﬁted F/T position (35 hrs/week, $33.50/hr), beginning July 1, 2026.

Submit Town of West Tisbury application and resume to Alexandra, Library Director, West Tisbury Free Public Library at apratt@clamsnet.org by June 5th. Applications and job description are available at the Library or online at the town of West Tisbury website: https://www.westtisbury-ma. gov/391/Employment-Committee-Openings EOE.

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

The West Tisbury Free Public Library is hiring! We are looking for a full time (40 hours) Library Circulation Assistant. This position will have hours that will include weekends and some nights. The ideal candidates will have excellent customer service skills, an enthusiasm for learning, and strong knowledge of computers and new technologies. Work standing, stooping, carrying, lifting up to 30 lbs. Previous library experience and Associate’s degree or higher strongly preferred. Starting wage is $27.69 an hour.

Submit resume and Town of West Tisbury application (available at the library or on the Town of West Tisbury website) to Alexandra Pratt, Library Director, West Tisbury Free Public Library, 1042 State Road, Vineyard Haven MA 02568 or by email at apratt@clamsnet.org by June 5th, 2025. Equal Opportunity Employer.

COMMITTEE VOLUNTEERS NEEDED

The Town of Tisbury is seeking Tisbury residents to serve on town Committees and Boards. For a full list visit the town website Committee Volunteers Needed | Town of Tisbury MA . Please submit letters of interest including address, experience, knowledge and board or committee you have an interest. We look forward to hearing from you. Please submit letter by June 19, 2026 to Select Board oﬃce email jgatchell@tisburyma.gov or pbennett@ tisburyma.gov.

Some vacancies include the Sewer Advisory board, Community Preservation Committee, Embarkation, Historic Commission, Affordable housing.

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@comcast.net. 508-627-4501

ISLAND LAW FIRM SEEKS INDIVIDUAL FOR FULL-TIME SECRETARIAL OR PARALEGAL POSITION. Will train and promote qualiﬁed Island resident. Email letter & resume to: info@bfmlegal.com.

JOB POSTING

PROGRAM CO OR DI NA TOR

The West Tisbury Free Public Library seeks organized, technology-savvy, creative and charismatic candidates for our Program Coordinator position. This position is responsible for all development, planning, coordinating, promoting and execution of adult library programs and use of the library’s social media accounts. High School Degree required, Associate’s or Bachelor’s Degree preferred; 24 years of experience in event planning; experience working with computers; experience working with the public and responding to customer service requests or any equivalent combination of education and experience. The ideal candidate would have strong familiarity with public event planning,

JOIN THE ALEX MILL TEAM ON MARTHA’S VINEYARD We’re opening on Martha’s Vineyard and looking for friendly people to join us for the summer season. If you’ve got an eye for style, care about the little things, and enjoy helping people ﬁnd the pieces they’ll actually wear, you’ll be in good company. Interest? Please email your resume and a short introduction to:lori@ alexmill.com

LANDSCAPER / GROUNDSKEEP ER. Bilingual candidates preferred. Seasonal position. Year round position for the right candidate. Competitive pay, based on experience. Work is on one large property. Please email landscapeadmv@gmail.com

LAWN MAINTENANCE

Established Landscape Design and Build Company has an opening in our Lawn Maintenance Dept. Knowledge of machines helpful. Must have legal working papers, speak ﬂuent English, and have a valid driver’s license. Please email info@ indigofarm.com

MARTHA’S VINEYARD REGIONAL HIGH SCHOOL PERFORMING ARTS CENTER ASSISTANT PART-TIME (.4) YEAR ROUND POSITION

Assist in all aspects of running the PAC; Be able to work flexible work hours as needed; Work alongside and fill in for PAC Director as needed; Knowledge of lighting; sound mixing, and carpentry Ability to lift and move heavy objects, Ability to work in high places; Strong technical theater background a plus Application of Support Staff can be found at: www.mvyps.org under “Employment forms” or at the Office of the Superintendent of Schools, 4 Pine Street, Vineyard Haven, 02568 508-693-2009

Return completed application to the Superintendent’s Oﬃce Deadline: June 1, 2026

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

MARTHA’S VINEYARD REGIONAL HIGH SCHOOL seeking applicants for the following coaching position JV Girls Soccer

To submit an application visit www. mvyps.org under Employment; forms or at the Oﬃce of the Superintendent of Schools, 4 Pine Street, Vineyard Haven, 02568 508-693-2009

Return completed application to the Superintendent’s Oﬃce No person shall be

MILKWEED FARM IS HIRING

SEASONAL FARM CREW

MEMBERS IN CHILMARK

Full and part-time positions available now through October. Outdoor physical work including harvesting, planting, weeding, and washing produce. Positive attitude and strong work ethic required. Competitive pay based on experience. Email mallory@milkweedfarm-chilmark. com to apply.

MVHEBREWCENTERSEEKSA

SKILLEDPART-TIMEOFFICE

MANAGERTOSUPPORTDAILY OPERATIONS,MANAGE COMMUNICATIONSAND CALENDARS,ANDSERVEASA WELCOMINGPOINTOFCONTACT.

Idealcandidatesareorganized, tech savvy,andcomfortable jugglingmultiplepriorities.Flexible scheduleandcompetitivepay.Apply witharesumeto info@mvhebrewcenter.org.

OFFICEMANAGER

AdamT.Incorporatedisseekingan

ﬃceManagerforathriving residentialconstruction rm.This isanopportunitytogrowwithinthe companywithagoodwageand increasingbene ts.Flexiblehours 30to40hrs/wk.Musthavestrong organizationalskills,computer savvy,andpro ciencyin 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 individualtojoinourofficestaff.The roleincludesclerical work,assistingcustomers,and otheroffice-relatedtasks. Thisisayear-roundpositionwith excellentbene ts. Pleasestopbyourofficeoremailus atoffice@johnkeene.comforan application.

VPNE IS LOOKING FOR VALET ATTENDANTS. Pay is $23-27/hour. Must have valid license and clean driving record. Please email resume to kvella@vpne. com for consideration.

POLICE OFFICER

TOWN OF OAK BLUFFS

Serve the town and Island that you love and join the Oak Bluffs Police Department. We are recruiting for a full-time Police Officer through a rolling application process. We anticipate hiring one full-time police officer by uly st . We offer competitive pay and benefits, a workout on duty option, education incentives, an excellent work schedule consisting of 4 days on and 3 days off, a robust employee wellness program and we are fully accredited through the Massachusetts Accreditation Commission.

Full list of requirements and application process can be found on the Oak Bluffs website under employment opportunities: oakbluffsma.gov/jobs. Oak Bluffs is an EOE/AAE.

PROFESSIONAL OFFICE POSITION

Administrative assistant, bookkeeper wanted for island based real estate management team. Experience in uickbooks and S Office and Adobe Acrobat and filing systems sought. ood wages and benefits package. Email Resume and contact info to admin.job@realestateofmarthasvineyard.com

MARTHA’S VINEYARD TRANSIT

AUTHORITY (VTA)

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY

Mobility Manager / Transportation Coordinator – Full Time

Salary Negotiable

The Martha’s Vineyard Transit Authority (VTA) is seeking a motivated, community-focused individual to assist with transportation education and outreach services for the island community, older adults, and people with disabilities.

The ideal candidate must enjoy talking to people and have strong problem-solving skills. Applicants should be comfortable with technology and icrosoft Oﬃce, able to work both independently and collaboratively, and demonstrate strong communication and interpersonal skills. Experience in training, travel training, outreach, customer service, education, or human services is preferred.

VTA is willing to consider splitting the role into two part-time positions if a full-time candidate cannot be secured.

Please send resume and cover letter to: Lauren Thomas, Deputy Administrator, info@vineyardtransit.com

HELP WANTED AD

Looking for Laborer for Some Small Tree Business -5 3-5 . Call after 4 pm.

VINEYARD GARDENS IS SEEKING ENERGETIC, MOTIVATED INDIVIDUALS FOR OUR NURSERY AND LANDSCAPE CREW. Openings: Cashier, Landscape Foreman, Garden Designer, Irrigation Specialist, Stone Mason, and Groundskeeper. Eligible positions include health/pension beneﬁts.

Jobs

PROJECTFINANCEMANAGER

Supportthe nancialcoordinationof constructionprojectsatSouth MountainCompany. You'llensureproject nancesare accurate,organized,andaligned fromearlyestimatingthroughbilling andcloseout. WorkingcloselywithourDirectorof Construction,DirectorofFinance andProjectLeads,you'llmaintain clearrecords,supportdecisionmaking,andkeepprojects nanciallyontrack. Weofferanexceptional, family-friendlycompensation package,includingmedical/dental/ visioninsurance(SMCocoversthe fulldeductible),pro tsharing,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.

VINEYARDGARDENSISSEEKING ENERGETIC,MOTIVATED INDIVIDUALSFOROURNURSERY ANDLANDSCAPECREW. Openings:Cashier,Landscape Foreman,GardenDesigner, IrrigationSpecialist,StoneMason, andGroundskeeper.Eligible positionsincludehealth/pension bene ts. Applyonlineat www.vineyardgardens.netoremail yourresumeto mv@vineyardgardens.nettoday!

THE BOATHOUSE & FIELD CLUB

JOIN OUR TEAM THIS SUMMER SEASONAL POSITIONS — JUNE THROUGH LABOR DAY

Swim Instructor

We are seeking a certiﬁed Water Safety Instructor (WSI) to lead swimming lessons and aquatic programming for our members. WSI certiﬁcation is required. Lifeguard

Current lifeguard certiﬁcation required

Membership Front Desk

A welcoming presence at the heart of our member experience. Responsibilities include greeting and assisting members, managing inquiries, and supporting day-to-day operations. Prior customer service or hospitality experience preferred. To apply, at boathousemv.com or emailing Davina.webb@boathousemv.com We look forward to welcoming you to the team.

TOWN CLERK

ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT

Town of Tisbury seeks individual to perform Assistant duties. Administrative support for the activities and operations of the Town Clerks office. Some duties include: Answering phones, Administering Oath of office, Posting meetings and hearing notices in compliance with Open Meeting Law, Dog licensing, Managing open gov licensing portal, updating website, Payments, Issues ZBA and Planning board permits once appeal period is over. Full-time ( hrs/weekly year-round, starting pay $33.57 /hour, Grade 3 step or commensurate with experienced and generous benefits package under union contract including retirement. Application available on website under uman esources. ualified applicants should submit application and resume to pbennett@tisburymag.gov. Open until filled. Town of Tisbury is EOE. job description available on website under employment opportunities.

VINEYARD HAVEN YACHT CLUB TAKEOUT KITCHEN HELP

Fun work with the best view ofVH Harbor! Breakfast/Lunch takeout counter kitchen help needed. Experience in food prep preferable, but not required. Competitive pay. Contact galley@vhyc.com.

CHRISTMAS COTTAGE

THE ISLANDS ONLY CHRISTMAS

SHOP SANTA IS LOOKING FOR A COUPLE OF PART TIME ELVES TO HELP OUT THIS SUMMER.

We’re celebrating our 54 Anniversary of spreading Christmas cheer to islanders and visitors alike. If you would like to join us this summer we’d love to talk with you. Add something a little different to your week and make some $ at the same time. Perfect for retirees and anyone else who loves Christmas.

We’re located overlooking Oak Bluffs harbor (best view in town). If you’re interested please give us a call at 5 3- 3 or -

TheHumanResourcesGeneralistwillperformthedaily

WEARELOOKINGTOADDTO OURTEAM!

Thefollowingthreepositions availableare: *SiteSupervisor/Experienced MachineOperator–CDLlicensea plus* *Laborer*

*CDLClassAorBTruckDriver*

Thesepositionsareyear-round andincludeexcellentbene ts! Pleasecallouroﬃceat(508)6935975or emailusatoﬃce@johnkeene.com

COUNSELOR NEEDED FOR CULTURALLY AND ENVIRONMENTALLY CONSCIOUS CREATIVE ARTS CAMP

Must love children, be spontaneous, kind and creative. For more information. Please call 5 3 3 .

WEARESEEKINGRETAIL ASSOCIATESFOROURSUMMER SEASON!

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

ON-SITE MOBILE REPAIR INC. IS LOOKING FOR AN AUTO/DIESEL MECHANIC TO JOIN OUR TEAM.

Needs to have at least 5 years experience, has own tools and the willingness to work with others. Starting pay @ -5 /hour depending on experience. Paid vacation and holidays. (5 - . obs@ onsitemv.com

ART TEACHER, ELEMENTARY GRADES MVPCS

The Martha’s Vineyard Public Charter School has an opening for a 3 daysper-week (. FTE Art Teacher for grades to to start September , . ust 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.

TOWN OF EDGARTOWN HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT

The Town of Edgartown Highway Department is looking to fill the following temporary position for the Summer Season ighway/Cemetery aborer .. /hour Applications, position requirements, and full job descriptions are available at edgartown-ma.us or in the uman esource Office. Please send completed applications to HR@ edgartown-ma.us or P.O. Box 5 3 ATTN: Human Resources, Edgartown, A 53 . The Town of Edgartown is an equal opportunity employer. Positions are open until filled.

($63,000-$78,000 per year)

We’re looking for a compassionate, culturally responsive leader who honors families lived experiences, diversity, and cultural values. In this role, you’ll direct programming and support families in navigating complex systems, accessing resources, and exploring self-directed options across the lifespan. Experience preferred but paid on the job training may be provided. Apply at: mvcommunityservices.org/employment Family Support Center Service Navigator ($23.07-$27.40 per hour)

Do you love helping families thrive? We’re seeking a compassionate and resourceful Service Navigator to support families in identifying resources, solving problems, and building strong community connections. oin a team that values family strengths, diversity, and self-direction across the lifespan. Experience preferred but paid on the job training may be provided. Apply at: mvcommunityservices.org/employment

MECHANIC’S APPRENTICE

Are you looking for a new challenge in a new place everyday? Not afraid to get your hands dirty? Looking for a job with room to grow? Some repair knowledge a plus, training provided. Competitive pay and beneﬁts. (5 - . obs@onsitemv.com

TEACHER’S ASSISTANT MVPCS

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

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

UndertheDirectionoftheDirectorofHumanResources,key responsibilitiesinclude:

Payroll&Recordkeeping

HRAdministration&Compliance

Onboarding Payroll&Recordkeeping

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

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

Charmmeetsmodernefficiencyin thismove-in-ready3-bedroom home.Thoughtfullymaintainedand beautifullypresented,thehome featuressun- lledlivingspaces,an updatedkitchen,andcomfortable bedroomsdesignedforeasy everydayliving.Enjoyyear-round comfortwithenergy-efficientminisplitsystemsprovidingbothheating andairconditioning,offeringcosteffectiveclimatecontrolinevery season.The nishedbasement addsvaluablebonusspaceidealfor amediaroom,homeofficeor workoutroomgivingyouthe exibilityto tyourlifestyle. Outside,aprivateyardoffersthe perfectsettingforrelaxingor entertaining.Awonderful opportunityforayear-round residence,vacationgetaway,or investment...thisclassicCape

SOLD&CLOSEDIN30DAYS

Real Estate

$2,250,000MARILYNMOSES

$895,000

PRIVACYMEETSCONVENIENCEIN

SALEPENDING NEWLISTINGINOAKBLUFFS

$999,000 ALANSCHWEIKERT OCEANPARKREALTY

508-221-1708

OakBluffs:HomeSweetHome Situatedonoveraquarteracreof beautifullylandscaped,level groundswithcolorfulperennial plantingsandmaturetrees,this sun- lledranchoffersaperfect blendofcomfortandcharm.The openkitchen,dining,andliving areasfeaturecathedralceilings, classicverticalknottypinewalls, andacozybrick replace.Enjoya convenient rst- oorbedroomanda spacioussecond- oorprimary bedroomwithaprivatedeck.The nishedbasementprovides additionallivingorhobbyspace. Updatesincludea2017oilburner andRothoiltank.Aninviting outdoorshowercompletesthiswellmaintainedhome,offeredfurnished andreadyforyourpersonal touches. Locatedinaquietresidential neighborhoodclosetoallthatOak Bluffshastooffer.

$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 ooringthroughoutthehomeis rst-growthSouthernPine, meticulouslycraftedwithpegged andbungeddetails.Theexpansive entranceleadsintothelivingand kitchenareas,whicharebathedin naturallight,creatinganairy atmosphere.Uncoverthecharmof thewood-burningstovenestledin thefamilyroom,equippedwitha circulatingfanaddswarmth, eﬃciencyandfocalpointfor gatherings.Culinaryenthusiastswill appreciatethekitchen,whichis out ttedwithstainlesssteelGE 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-eﬃcientheatand airconditioningwithmini-splits,in groundsprinklersystemforeasy maintenanceandaforcedhotwater boilerforoptimalcomfort throughouttheyear.Thebeautifully landscapedyardprovidesample spaceforoutdoorenjoyment,and deededaccesstotheLagoonfrom GullLandingopensupopportunities forkayaking,swimming, shing, boating,clammingorsimply savoringthepicturesquewaterfront scenery.Callnowforyourprivate tour!

OCEANPARKREALTY 617-462-0381 NEWCONSTRUCTION

WelcometoLagoonRidge,Oak Bluffs’newestandmostsoughtafterneighborhood.Buildyour3bedroomdreamhomeinthis elevatedenclave,set95feetabove LagoonPondandcapturing sweepingskyviews,colorful sunsets,andrefreshingsea breezes.Thisexceptionalhomesite representsoneofthe nal opportunitiesinthisthrivingnew community.Tobebuilt—The Naushon—features3bedrooms, 3.5bathrooms,andover2,400 squarefeetofthoughtfullydesigned livingspace.Agrandwrap-around coveredporchprovidesawelcoming entryandtheperfectplacetoenjoy morningcoffeeorcoolevening breezes.Inside,theopen-concept oorplanconnectsthechef’s kitchenwithspaciouslivingand diningareas,idealforentertaining familyandfriends.Eachbedroom suiteincludesatileden-suitebath withcustomizable xturesand nishes,andthesecond- oorsuites mayofferprivatebalconiesfor addedrelaxation.ClassicOakBluffs cottagearchitecturemeetsmodern comfortandenergyeﬃciency, makingTheNaushonanidealyearroundorseasonalretreat.Lagoon Ridgeoffersdirectaccessto conservationlandswithwalkingand bikingtrails,andnearbyLagoon Pondinviteskayaking,sailing,and shell shing.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!

22MONTGOMERYSQUARE OAKBLUFFS

MARILYNMOSES|617-462-0381

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

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

Estate Transactions May 18 - May 22, 2026

FY 2026, Year to Date: $17,271,585.15 $900,000

Edgartown

May 20, Joao Silveira Barbosa and Sonia Cardoso Barbosa, trustee of Barbosa Family Trust, sold 27 Seventh St. North to Ocean Heights MV LLC for $2,337,500. May 21, JP Morgan Chase Bank North America sold 56 and 56B North Neck Road to the Martha’s Vineyard Land Bank Commission for $1,500,000. May 21, JP Morgan Chase Bank North America sold 56, 56B, and 56A North Neck Road to North Neck Sanctuary LLC for $1,900,000.

Oak Bluffs

May 20, Carol A. Lindsey sold 78 Forest Ave. to Stuart Rodegast and Kerry E. O’Donogue for $1,050,000.

Tisbury May 18, Salopia LLC sold 79 Beach Road Units 4 and 5 to Santoro Seafood Inc. for $871,250. May 22, Stephen Lachlan May and Elizabeth Cowan May, trustees of Stephen Lachlan May Trust and Elizabeth Cowan May Trust, sold 61 Causeway Road to Willie Woods for $2,448,000.

OAKBLUFFSWATERVIEWLOT FORSALE $1,200,000

CALLORTEXTRene's Cell508-847-4864 OCEANPARKREALTY 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 acustomresidencethatembraces allthebeautyandlifestyleMartha’s Vineyardhastooffer.Enjoyashort walktoEastvilleBeach,whereyou cantakeinspectacularsunsets, watchtheferriescomeandgo,and experiencethecharmofisland living.Justashortdriveaway,you’ll haveaccesstoeverythingthat makesOakBluffssospecial— additionalbeaches,shell shing, 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.

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

Stylish,sunlit,andsuperblylocated —thisarchitecturallydesignedendunittownhouseoffers2bedrooms, a exiblethird- oorloft,and1.5 bathsacross1,323sq.ft.Enjoya sleekchef’skitchenwithstone countertops,custombuilt-ins,anda 288sq.ft.privatedeckidealfor entertaining. Withupgraded ooring,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

OAKBLUFFS JAYNEISFORD|203-962-4317

$1,795,000

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

SALEPENDING PRICEADJUSTMENT,NOW

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 oorplanthatincludes fourbedrooms-oneconveniently locatedonthe rst oor-alongwith afullbathroom,twohalfbathrooms, alaundrystoragearea,aneat-in kitchen,andacozylivingroom.The homeisadornedwithstunning wood ooringthroughout,brightand airyroomswithoriginalwindows,a newhotwaterondemandsystem, andacharmingfrontporch,perfect forleisurelyafternoons.Withits fourbedroomsandprimein-town location,thispropertyoffers substantialrentalpotential,making itanexceptionalopportunityfor bothpersonalenjoymentand investment.

$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 bene tfromoneofthemostvisible andvibrantlocationsinOakBluffs. Walktoeverything—ferries,beaches, themarina,restaurants,movies, shopping,OceanParkconcerts,the OB shingpier,andthebelovedOak BluffsFireworks.Thisisamust-see, legacypropertywithrarepotentialin alocationthatcan’tbebeat.Very easytoshow.Pre-approvalorproof offundsrequiredwithalloffers.

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

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 exibleuseasaguest sleepingnookoroﬃce,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 oor.Thefull basementincludesbothindoorand outdooraccess,offering exibility andadditionalpotential.A nished roominthebasementisreadyfor yourcreativetouch—whetherasa mediaroom,homeoﬃce,playroom, orguestover ow.Thepropertyalso includesaspaciousstorageshed andadrivewaythateasily tsthree 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 nishedgarageareasuitablefor storageorfutureuse.Abovethe garage,another2bedroomsanda fullbathawait naltownapprovals 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 OAKBLUFFSSENGEKONTACKET

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

Thisdelightfulhomeisonascenic lotnestledwithinthe SengekontacketAssociation.Every roominthehomeis lledwith naturallightandbeautifulviews.It isaveryshortwalkingdistanceto thecommunityboatdockand kayaking,aswellasthewalking trailsofSengekontacket.Updatedin 2008bythearchitectowner,this homehas3bedroomsinthemain houseandalovelybedroomand bathroominthestudiothatis attachedtothemainhomebya stunningoverheadtrumpet walkway.Cathedralceilingsinthe mainfamilyroomandkitchenwith lightfromeveryangle.The renovatedkitchen,livingroomand additionofascreenedporch completethemain oorofthe home.Thelowerlevelofthehome has3setsofslidingglassdoors thatwalkouttothegardens.There are2largebedrooms,onefull bathroomandaseparatewasher anddryerroom.Thetop oorhasa completelyupdatedandverylarge masterandensuitewithlovely viewsofthepropertyand surroundingwoodlands.This propertyhasanintimatefeel becauseofthecaretakenwiththe designbutalsoallowsforeveryone tohavetheirownprivatespacefor relaxationduetothelargesquare footageandopen oorplan.There isalsoanoutdoor repitandlarge wraparounddeckoffofthemain oor.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- oor retailstorefrontswithexcellent streetvisibilityandtwoupdated1bedroomapartmentsabove—ideal forstaffhousingorrentalincome.A fullbasementprovides exible storageorutilityspace,anddeeded rearaccessallowsfordeliveriesand logisticalease.Recentupdates includeplumbingimprovementsand afullyrenovatedapartment. Whetheryou'reaninvestorseeking steadyincome,abusinessowner lookingfora agshiplocation,ora developerexploringmixed-use potential,thispropertydelivers exceptionalvalueinoneofMartha’s Vineyard’smostdesirable commercialcorridors.

Save1/3offconventionbuilding methods.Newhomesand additions.High-endhomeshellsare customdesigned,constructedina controlledenvironment,and deliveredtoyourMVsiteforabout $135/sq.ft.(Estimatedpricefor

oors.Thepreconstructionwallandroofpanels goupinab out3weeks.Viewmodel inAquinnahbyappointment.(508) 645-3572Brokerparticipation invited Posner@MVPostAndBeam.com

2LINE TELEPHONE. Panasonic KXTG9581: 3 cordless+base. $75. Manual included. $75. Text 914-261-0234. 2LINE TELEPHONE. niden DECT 5 cordless+base, needs batteries. $25. Manual included. Text 914 261-0234.

LASER FOR SALE Laser I, SeiTech dolly, and Trailex aluminum trailer. Complete rigging and laser cover included. $1,000 OBO. Call 508-693-5801 APARTMENTS / ROOMS APARTMENTS/ROOMS ROOM SHARE BEDS Available $250 per person per week. 3 weeks = $750 upfront to move in. Must be kind, clean and quiet. Email story/ details to pacnwest1@yahoo.com COMMERCIAL RENTALS STUNNING NON TOXIC (NO CARPET/NO MOLD) COMPLIMENTARY/MEDICAL/ OR OTHER RETAIL SPACE 2000 sq.ft. West Tisbury across from Cronigs. Two full baths. laundry. Three offices and huge central space where work spaces could fit. ew appliances in Kitchen . Ample parking (15 cars) Coy pond. Outdoor space. $6,500 per month or share 4500 with single doctor . Text Lisa 310-213-5472. FURNISHED OFFICE SPACE VH S FT.Suitable for office use only. Includes conference room, 2 offices reception area. tilities not included. Includes 2 parking spaces. 508-221-0858.

BOAT SALES

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

NISSAN 3.5 L.S. OUTBOARD Runs great! $250. 508-560-0088. Gary.

SUNFISH SAILBOAT

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

Excellent condition. Not used much at all. One owner and no trailer. $2,500.00 Call 401-578-9827.

PETS/LIVESTOCK

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HOUSES-OAK BLUFFS

FateofMVRHSprojectinhandsofIslandvoters

Continued from A1

Since that report in September, the building is largely unchanged, and recent interviews with teachers who operate there daily have illustrated a concerning picture around health.

“We’re constantly trying to find a balance,” English teacher Galen Brown told The Times as the sound of a fan in front of her classroom drowned out conversation between students. “I’m concerned about the school that my children will be going to. I have a soon-to-be kindergartner, and one right behind her, and I hope that they’re going to get to have a school building that’s made for the 21st century. I went to this high school, and it’s definitely seen its time.”

Inside the school on Tuesday afternoon, a week prior to the vote, the air was humid and heavy. Most classrooms were equipped with a large fan on a chair, which many teachers said they brought in from home. William Brown’s history classroom had heat pumping in, something he said happened often, so he piled books on top of the vents and opened all the windows.

Teachers and students both said their attention and health were often affected by the conditions in the school, and quick-fix solutions, like Brown’s stacks of books, are not enough anymore.

“There’s only so many buckets in the world,” Spencer D’Agostino, the information technology teacher, said of the frequent ceiling leaks.

D’Agostino said the infrastructure of the school is being maintained as much as possible by custodial staff, but the building is simply past its working life. “When you go to fix your deck, the dude that fixes your deck isn’t like, ‘What did you do to the deck? Why is it so broken?’ Because it’s time. Time does things.”

He estimated that the boilers in the high school, and the main heating and cooling mechanism, are likely from the year the structure was built. He questioned with a chuckle, “Whose house even has a boiler?”

Two state education groups came to a similar understanding after assessing the high school. In an evaluation by the New England Association of Colleges and Schools (NEACS), which accredits schools in the region and is a nationally recognized marker of program and facilities functionality, a representative reported that MVRHS has good programs but a below-standard space. The Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA), in its eventual approval of the MVRHS building project for a consequential financial reimbursement of more than $70 million, came to the same conclusion.

“NEACS is saying that the building condition has got-

ten to such a point where it’s directly impacting education — we’re already there,”

D’Agostino said. He added that the school’s academic accreditation is not at risk because of the state of the school building.

Teachers and school committee members have also often pointed out that the high school building is a shared resource. There are often events at the PAC, like plays, concerts, and annual town meetings, plus nightly adult education courses in classrooms.

Despite belowstandard building conditions, and as the heat steadily surges in classrooms, studies at MVRHS continue.

Graduation is just around the corner for seniors, and underclassmen are lamenting the extra days they’ll have to spend at school due to the winter storms that kept them home this year.

math teacher, said one year, when she came back for the summer, her “entire classroom — walls, chairs, desks, everything — was covered in black mold.”

In addition, multiple teachers mentioned to The Times that a colleague left the school because of health issues, although for the sake of their privacy, they requested anonymity for the former educator. Braillard said she often experiences migraines, but can’t pinpoint the cause of them.

air they’re breathing in.”

“Closing [students] in a room with no windows and locked doors is not how you teach kids,” Roten added.

The project proposal to fix some of these conditions is now in the hands of voters, after a decade of planning by the MVRHS School Building Committee. Members of this committee say that there are very few options if voters don’t pass the project, which would add 34,000 square feet to the layout, include upgraded facilities and mechanical systems, and be a completely sustainable, all-electric build.

The alternative is a minimal code upgrade with mold and asbestos remediation that would cost an estimated $200 million alone, and wouldn’t include some other necessary fixes, such as to below-state-standard classroom sizes.

the streets of Island towns expressed they’re on board for educational initiatives, many said the high price tag gave them pause, but added they still support the project.

“I noticed how much more it’s costing our taxes right after we got a reduction for being year-round residents,” Susan Austin, a West Tisbury resident, said as she strolled with her family in downtown Oak Bluffs. “But I have a grandson graduating, I have a son who works there, I have a grandson coming into high school another year; so I think we probably need it.”

with cost and efficiency in mind. But he’s unable to vote on the project since he’s a registered voter elsewhere. “Taxation without representation,” he said.

“I don’t have children in the school district, but obviously, I pay taxes,” Giordano said. “School systems are very important for the community … I just think about the fight over the turf fields, so how is this going to work out?”

But the temperatures are so unavoidable that conversation about the conditions is commonplace in the halls, and even within lesson plans. One science teacher, Anna Cotton, decided to incorporate air quality and other environmental issues into a physics lesson recently.

When one component of a building is deficient, the entire system can crumble, Cotton taught her students. An example she used to drive this lesson home was the boiler room at the high school, which is visibly moldy, old, and functioning below capacity for the 160,000-square-foot school. She added that the air quality is affected by it.

“There’s been a lot of concerns about mold and asbestos. I think mold has been an issue for a long time, especially with the roof leaking,” Cotton said. She explained to The Times that her rooms are larger and have more crossventilation than other departments, but the health and safety factor is still a concern.

Along with her students, Cotton said she’s “really concerned, consistently, with air quality.”

Students in Cotton’s class learned about the efficiency of air circulation through a tour of the boiler room. “You can see it’s a pretty antiquated system, as far as moving heat around,” Cotton recalled. This causes an unequal distribution of heat, and energy inefficiencies, a phenomenon that students and teachers experience in real time every day.

But according to staff, no other department has seen that as clearly as the math wing. Melissa Braillard, a

For years, people working and learning in the school have experienced unknown symptoms — health concerns that many said they couldn’t assign to the mold in the building, but that have given them reason to be wary. Headaches, stuffy noses, and even compounded symptoms from increased time spent in the building were all cited to The Times during Tuesday’s visit.

Even the students who will see only the construction of a new building if the project is approved, and will not be able to use the upgraded facilities, were adamant that the mold and asbestos must be remedied.

Bristol Roten, a sophomore, said when she was participating in the school plays and spending more time in the building, she was more frequently sick. “The more time I spent [at rehearsals], the more I was sick,” she said.

“When I come into school, I find it harder to not stay uncongested or stuffy. I’ve gotten sick, I think, three times in the past year, and I’ve never gotten that sick before,” Roten told The Times as she waved a light blue fan in front of her face to cool down.

Roten and her friend sophomore Lacey Leonard said they frequently worry about the mold and asbestos in the school. “In my home room, there’s a giant hole in the floor,” Roten said.

“There’s a lot of broken tiles all over school.”

There are students, Leonard told The Times, who “can’t focus because of how sick they’re getting, or they can’t focus because of the type of

But if conditions are the immediate concern, the longterm balancing act is the high cost of the project. In the current plan for a renovated school, property owners would see a substantial rise in their taxes over the next 30 years.

In a time of increased affordability issues, including rising gas prices, food, and housing, some Islanders have expressed concerns about the high cost of the project, which for most people increases their tax bill by a few hundred dollars annually. In some towns, like Tisbury, the additional cost will be much higher.

The high cost of the project is due to multiple factors, such as housing and food provisions for workers, the issue of high school buildings costing more across the state, and what contractors call the “Island factor,” which is an estimated 30 percent higher price for materials here versus on the mainland.

The Times went out on the town to find out what voters are feeling regarding the $333.5 million renovation plan — of which they’ll be responsible for more than $250 million, plus an estimated $180 million in interest over 30 years. While passersby on

Austin said the cost seems “bizarre.” She brought up other building projects that aren’t high schools that have cost much less. “The Island’s changing,” she concluded.

“There’s so many people with big, big money coming in, so I think that you have to provide the services for locals, for the kids growing up.”

The Times also interviewed a seasonal resident who spends about four months on the Vineyard — one of the Island homeowners who will be shouldering the primary burden of the project, since more than half of property here is seasonally owned. Under wide oak trees on Main Street in Edgartown, Anthony Giordano said he hopes the project is thoughtfully designed

The central point made by most people who spoke with The Times is that the regional high school, with its many parts and history, is missing one component — a safe learning environment. As Cotton taught in her physics lesson, the entire operation can be adversely affected by one issue.

Plus, as teachers and committee members pointed out, about $71 million to $75 million in MSBA reimbursement is on the line. It took educators a decade and seven attempts to get approval and funding from the state, an asset they’re not confident they could get again.

“If this doesn’t pass, the building doesn’t change. There’s currently no ‘plan B,’ and anything we do in the future is going to cost us more, because we won’t get the MSBA rebate,” information technology support teacher Rick Mello said.

Teacher William Brown points to mold in vents above his desk.

SARAH SHAW DAWSON

sports@mvtimes.com

Girls’ golf poised for state championships

For the second time ever, MVRHS girls’ golf heads to states. BY

In only their second season ever, the Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School (MVRHS) girls’ golf team is preparing to again head to the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association state championship, with an overall 8–3 record for the season. Despite a tough match

someone for two hours.”

In the match that Thursday, Head Coach Mike Joyce said regardless of the score card, the Vineyard team played a pretty steady match.

“It was good,” said Joyce of the team’s performance.

“For us, scores were a little higher than average, but it was like what we’ve done all year — pretty steady, [golfers] one through eight.”

Joyce noted that playing against Duxbury, a skilled team that is a contender in the state championship, was a valuable learning opportunity for the young Vineyard squad. “They’ve got some really good players,” he said. “Anytime we can get them an experience where you can watch people that are really good play, it’s better than other sports. In golf, you can do it a little less painfully.”

The Vineyard girls’ golf program, which transitioned to varsity competition for the first time in 2025, has had a successful first two seasons. Last year, they reached the state tournament with a 5–5 record. This year, with an improved record at 8–3, including a notable win over strong league competitor Barnstable, their standing in the league continues to rise.

Joyce said from their first golfer to their eighth golfer, the girls’ skill levels are similar, and are separated by only a few strokes.

In the state tournament, Joyce said, their goal is “a solid showing,” ideally finishing middle of the pack among 15 other teams expected to compete.

last week, the girls’ spirits remained high as they made their way to the championship tournament at the Foxborough Country Club Wednesday, after

our print deadline. The team, made up entirely of freshmen, sophomores, and juniors, lost to Duxbury High School last Thursday, 323–267.

Joyce highlighted that the girls’ team has shown strong sportsmanship and camaraderie throughout the season, forming relationships with opponents as they play long rounds.

“They have more fun with their opponent than any other team I’ve seen,” said Joyce. “That’s what happens when you’re just walking with

Joyce highlighted the resilience of the golf team, which began practice amid windy conditions in mid-March, when temperatures were in the low 40s and 30-mph winds hit the Island. He said their resilience will be important in the postseason.

“They’re tougher than me, for sure,” said Joyce. “That resilience is really good. They go out there and really battle it out.”

Where in the world is Janice Haynes?

Before you left us, you told me where you wanted your ashes spread: in all the places that brought you joy. A lot of places brought you joy. As we near the second anniversary of your moving on, I’ve completed the ash-distribution circuit, and you’re now forever frolicking and lurking in all those special spots. For your karmic pleasure, here’s an accounting: e rst place you went was the Bridge of Flowers in Shelbourne Falls, and yes, I had a big ol’ cry there, so thanks a LOT for that, honey. en while we were there, the Potholes got a dose of you.

Back on the Vineyard, Menemsha: out on the jetty, on the beach, by the Coast Guard station (see, I’m not jealous – you’ve got memories there that pre-date me), Wayne’s BBQ spot on the Driving Dock, and of course the Galley (not in any of the food, I promise). en Lucy Vincent Beach, not far away where a coven of your women friends also gathered, to o er a little of you to the surf of Squibnocket. at’s the weekend we went to the Ag Hall for your “going away party,” and part of you stayed behind forever – not just the hall but all over the grounds.

And then I brought you home. At home, you’re everywhere: your corner, the kitchen, your studio, the outdoor shower, and of course the pond. It’s possible one of the koi is now a little bit Janice Haynes.

O we went again for another adventure: Steve and Cat’s house in Holderness, in the front left ower pot (something I didn’t tell Cat for a year!). Also the barn on Mountain Road where they were wed. And along the way, all the obvious haunts for you to haunt: the Almost

ere Diner, Rosie’s Diner, the store at Epsom Circle, the lighted waterfall on Rte 28, past the Globe sign. I continue to visit whenever I’m near there; remember we always stopped here to stock up. Another big cry.

Onward, to your favorite B&B – the Woodstock Inn. I slowly spread your ashes from out of my coat pocket, through the lobby, down the ramp to the bar, on to the dining area and patio – all during happy hour and dinner, like a scene out of the Shawshank Redemption. I could hear you laughing.

And then there was the hiking: Hancock Campground, Jigger Johnson Camp, Bear Notch Road, Wayne’s Market, Sawyer Rock (the diving spot), Pemigewasset Overlook, Mt. Washington Hotel, Faybians Restaurant, Upper Ammonoosuc Falls (the jumping spot!), the base station for the Cog Railway, the Flume… we got around. And now you still get to be around. ere was also Lake George, where we double-date-vacationed with Beckie and Doug. And Witch City Mall, on Essex Street in Salem, MA – on Halloween, 15 hours of shoulder-to-shoulder costumes and fun. You would have loved it!

And then, of course – Niagara Falls. You wanted to go over in a barrel – and you did, if by “barrel” we can agree to mean a folded up scrap of paper I found in the car.

I came home, with the rest of you, and you’re still with me. Presently you’re living in some mason jars, in all my vehicles – along for the ride, ready to go wherever my memories take us. I love you, now and forever.

-Jeremiah (with a little help from Nicki)

June 3rd 2024

NICHOLAS VUKOTA

Clara Rabeni plays out of the rough at Edgartown Golf Course.

NICHOLAS VUKOTA

THURSDAY, MAY 28, 2026

NICHOLAS VUKOTA

Rose Guerin’s new album offers warmth after a cold, hard winter.

IN THE KITCHEN WITH Laura Grahame

BY ALLISON ROBERTS

Grilled Swordfish with herbs and garlic, new potatoes, and Swiss chard.

For our May “In the Kitchen With,” I had the pleasure of interviewing food writer and editor — and cook extraordinaire — Laura Grahame. On her website, Grahame describes herself as a food writer, a cook, a recipe maven, and a copy editor. She also shares that she enjoys “falling down the rabbit hole of history.”

Throughout her childhood, Grahame’s family moved frequently. “My father was a U.S. diplomat. We lived in India, Luxemburg, Malta, England, and we lived a few years in Washington, D.C., when I was in high school. I spent my senior year in Israel,” Grahame said. Those experiences helped shape her interest in food, hospitality, and different cultures. After a meandering career working for a sports magazine, a lingerie and body-wear company, and other ventures, she wound up in the food business. Her first job was helping a friend who was a caterer, hired to run a massive party on a boat in New York City. “The Fugees were holding a party there. There were like a thousand people. I got sucked into the food world.”

Catching the hospitality bug, Grahame went to NYU for a master’s in food studies that focused on food writing. “I got a fellowship at the Wall Street Journal for its food sec-

Ingredients for grilled

GRILLED SWORDFISH WITH HERBS AND GARLIC, NEW POTATOES, AND SWISS CHARD SERVES

1½ lbs. swordfish, 1 inch thick (one piece or several)

3 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil

2 Tbsp. lemon juice

3 cloves garlic, crushed ¼ cup white wine (optional)

1 Tbsp. tarragon or white wine Dijon mustard

2 Tbsp. chopped fresh herbs (tarragon, parsley, dill, rosemary, etc.)

tion,” she continued. She also worked for the magazine Food and Wine, and for the Emmywinning independent media and production company Roads and Kingdom, known for its collaborations with Anthony Bourdain. Grahame and her husband John moved to the Island in 2023. Since then, Grahame has been involved with Island Grown

Initiative, and assisted foodie and writer Julia Blanter with her “Martha's Vineyard Cookbook” — a culinary love letter to the island featuring 100 recipes from local chefs, farmers, and fishermen.

For our “In the Kitchen with,” Grahame chose Grilled Swordfish with herbs and garlic, new potatoes, and Swiss chard. “This is a typical spring/summer meal I’d make. And it’s easy,” she said. The idea of keeping things easy warms my heart. Time, expense, and cooking ability play a role in preparing meals, so not getting too complicated or spending a ton of money on ingredients is a win.

I asked Grahame what she’d like to tell people who aren’t knowledgeable cooks. “I’d tell them not to stress about things being complicated. You can just make simple food. Just make sure the ingredients are good.” She was right. The ingredients were good — many of them local — and the meal was relatively easy. Most important, it was delicious with a capital D.

Rinse and pat dry the fish. Place in a deep dish. Mix the remaining ingredients, and pour them over the fish. Let marinate 20 to 30 minutes. Heat a grill pan brushed with olive oil on medium-high heat. When a drop of water sizzles, it’s ready. Remove the fish from the marinade, and place it in the grill pan. Cook on one side for 4 minutes. Carefully turn over. It should release easily. If it sticks, give it another minute. Cook on the other side for 2 to 3 minutes, or until an instant-read thermometer reads 130°. Place on a plate or platter. Let it rest for 5 minutes (it will cook a bit more from the residual heat). Season with salt and pepper, then slice and serve.

ROASTED NEW POTATOES

1 lb. new potatoes, cut into 1-inch pieces

2 Tbsp. fresh rosemary, chopped

2 cloves garlic, minced

3 Tbsp. olive oil

Preheat oven to 425° or, if using convection, to 410°. Clean potatoes to get rid of any dirt. Then cut them up and place them on a sheet pan. Add rosemary, garlic, and olive oil, and toss to mix. Try to place the flat sides of potatoes down. Roast for 15 minutes. Then check, turn them a bit to brown evenly, and roast for about 10 more minutes. Season with salt and pepper.

SWISS CHARD WITH GARLIC AND CHILI

3 Tbsp. olive oil

2 large bunches of Swiss chard (about 1 pound), well-rinsed, but leave them wet, and sliced into ribbons

3 cloves garlic, thinly sliced or chopped

½ tsp. chili flakes, or to taste

½ medium lemon

Heat olive oil on medium in a large skillet. Trim stems off chard leaves, chop into small pieces, and sauté for 5 minutes in olive oil on medium heat. Add garlic and chili, and cook for 1 minute. Add sliced chard leaves to the skillet, lower the heat, and cover. Cook for 5 minutes, or until the chard is wilted. Squeeze lemon juice on chard, and season with salt and pepper. Enjoy!

Laura Grahame holding the finished dish.

Finished dish ready to serve and eat.

swordfish, new potatoes, and Swiss chard.

PHOTOS: ALLISON ROBERTS

Writing From The Heart

BY NANCY SLONIM ARONIE

The greatest adventure is being in the moment.

The hero's journey

Oest of hearts my desire for safety was almost pathological. And that I would never have any great or noble enterprise. Which was totally fine with me, if the tradeoff was guaranteed safety.

I’m afraid I’ve written this a million times. Sorry for the repetition, but it’s my trauma and my column.

My father died in a minute in front of me when I was 15. I know that explains my need for control. “This will never happen to me again” became my inner mantra. If I control everything in my world, I can keep my world predictable.

In the early years of my marriage, when my husband would make a phone call, I would sit right next to him and tell him what to say. Even though he knew exactly what to say.

I chose our friends, our cars, our vacations. I have a memory of what our social calendar looked like. I had every square filled in. If I didn’t have a plan on a Saturday night, I worried. I always had to know what was happening at any given moment. No randomness was safe. And then in 1977, I read “Be Here Now,” by Ram Dass, a book that changed my life. (Another story I have told you a million times, but hey …) It was the catalyst for my personal transformation. It was mostly about being present. I had no idea what being present even meant, since I was always thinking about the past (what I should have said, what I should have done) or thinking about the

being, I realized you can’t be in the moment and be thinking about the next moment at the same time.

At 15, after the shocking death of my father, I could have become the kind of person my husband is: someone who understands that nothing is permanent, so why try to change the way things are? He knows (and all of you people who are not control freaks know) things will simply change on their own. It’s the nature of things. No point pushing a boulder up a mountain.

But I became a scaredy-cat who thought if I made all the decisions for absolutely everyone, I would be safe. It turns out nothing could be farther from the truth.

Safety from sorrow is an

said, I don’t want to have plans every weekend. In fact, I don’t want to have plans at all. Can’t we just do nothing?

ne of the messages of Joseph Campbell’s work was that there are two ways of living your life; one is to stay safe in your original community, and the other is to venture out into the unknown. He says, “Here, if you venture out, you will live a life of danger, of creativity.” He calls it “the hero’s journey,” and says, “You will bring forth something that was never brought forth before.” When I first read those words, I was pretty young, and I had no idea what “bringing forth” even meant. And the only thing I wanted to bring forth was to be thin and meet a guy. (Preferably tall.)

Spontaneity could be unplanned joy. Choosing safety was a creativity killer. Not venturing out of my comfort zone was a prison of my own making.

And then at some point in my more mature years, I read the words of the Roman historian Tacitus. He said, “The desire for safety stands against every great and noble enterprise.” And I knew in my heart-

Ready for their entrance

The merger of two major arts organizations is providing an unprecedented opportunity for students at the Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School. Brooke Hardman Ditchfield is the MVRHS theatre teacher, and also the new artistic director of the Martha’s Vineyard Playhouse. Wearing both professional hats at once, Ditchfield is bringing her students to the Playhouse stage to perform Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.” A dozen young actors and two backstage contributors, representing all grades and levels of theater experience, have been rehearsing regularly for the past month and a half. They will be offering two public performances tonight and tomorrow, May 28 and 29, at 6 pm, at the Playhouse. Because Ditchfield’s new double-duty schedule is so intense, she entrusted primary directing duties to her fellow teacher, Project Vine English teacher Haley Hewson. Hewson grew up doing theater on the Island, and their off-Island

teaching life included directing student productions. “I was very grateful that Brooke trusted me with this,” says Hewson, “and that I have the opportunity to help support this production.”

Most of the students involved are new to Shakespeare. A couple of experienced students handle the material almost as fluidly as contemporary speech, but it’s striking that those who are unfamiliar with the language appear unselfconscious about having to make an effort. The company radiates a collective energy of mutual patience, acceptance, and trust.

And when my son Dan was bar mitzvahed, I chose his outfit: a white linen jacket and white jeans, a skinny black leather tie, and white sneaks. I don’t know if he had anything in mind that he wanted to wear. I never asked.

I chose the restaurants, the movies, the TV shows we watched. I picked out the colors for our walls, our rugs, our clothes.

peer. Xeandre doesn’t react.

Then Hewson reminds him he is the King of Athens: “You’re being spoken to by a commoner, which has never happened to you before. How do you feel about that?”

“Ohh, I’m not gonna be happy with that,” he realizes, and his face and body language adjust. The moment is not just an acting exercise; it’s a lesson for the whole group on social hierarchy and power dynamics.

Different things brought the students to this project. Some signed on because they’ll do any kind of theater, like senior Jason Jarrell (Bottom) who has acted, assistantdirected, and stage-managed.

future (what I will do, what I plan to do, what I might do). Finding out there was an actual moment that was NOW was so far from my reality. And yet when I started to consciously watch when I was thinking instead of

came to Shakespeare for less lofty reasons. Hydee Turner (playing Helena) had done plenty of theater, but only began doing Shakespeare last year, “because they needed people, and Jason Jarrell told me they’d get me candy if I did it — but I actually enjoyed it, so I did it again this year.”

Senior Brady Vought (Demetrius) explains that last year, during rehearsals for the musical ‘Anything Goes,’ “I was [in the theater room] skipping a math exam, and someone quit the show and Brooke came in, head in hands, and said, ‘We need someone.’” He played five small parts, enjoyed it, and earlier this year played Hades in “Hadestown.”

impossibility. Safety from failure is a fantasy. Safety from unexpected tragedy is make-believe. And learning those facts (even late in life) is a weight that freed me up.

Somewhere in about year 20 of our marriage, my husband

Frightened, but knowing he was right, I stopped filling up those squares. I began my own hero’s journey of sorts. And I saw how not knowing what was coming was actually liberating. And I experienced magic for the first time. Spontaneity could be unplanned joy. Choosing safety was a creativity killer. Not venturing out of my comfort zone was a prison of my own making. The world is filled with people who are risk-takers. People who run for office who have never been in politics, folks who go back to school in their 60s and get their GEDs, seniors in their 70s who apply to art school, women joining the military, men taking yoga training, just shaking things up enough to push boundaries and take chances. What I’ve learned in my dotage (from my husband and all the non-control-freaks in my life) is since there’s no guarantee that things will go my way, I might as well go with whatever way things go. It’s never too late to embark on your own hero’s journey.

Three Poems

By Susan Puciul

seed

A recent rehearsal found Hewson working with Xeandre Miller, who is playing King Theseus. In the play, a group of earnestly inept craftsmen (known as “the Mechanicals”) perform a skit — or try to, anyhow — at his wedding feast. When Theseus gently heckles their goofy incompetence, one of them talks back to him as if to a

Some wanted to get more familiar with Shakespeare, like sophomores Lillian Claussen (Hermia) and Gabriela Cuadros-Preston (Peter Quince). Adagio Esposito was specifically drawn to the chance to play the mischievous fairy Robin Goodfellow, a.k.a. Puck, one of the play’s best-known and oft-quoted characters. “I’m really excited to play Puck — he’s a diva,” they say, slyly pleased.

Other students initially

What the students share is an appreciation for the experience itself, regardless of what they’re saying or where they’re saying it. “I love romantic stories, and Shakespeare is a romantic. And I’d like to share that love with these guys, and just have fun and enjoy it while it lasts,” says senior Tahirah Waite (Snout). Freshman Griffin Tiernan (Lysander), adds, “I really love being in all sorts of theater, and I think this community is great and I want to be a part of it.”

The public is welcome to be a part of it as well. Tickets are available for May 28 and 29 at 6 pm, at the Martha’s Vineyard Playhouse at the door.

snowdrops burn white in the dark swells of this land wrap a cave around me then I will be caught a soft thing forced to be a seed hand when you’re lonely as a cloud your hands at least they have each other nest

catbirds: chalk grey mother in morning sun black eye edged in tenderness

four mouths open in leaping greed for all the treasures of the world

Susan Puciul is a member of the Cleaveland House oets. Her work has appeared in many poetry journals and anthologies. She lives in Chilmark with her family. Poets with a connection to Martha’s Vineyard are encouraged to submit poems of 120 words or fewer to m@mwest.com. Please include a two to three sentence bio at the end of your poem.

MVRHS students perform at the M.V. Playhouse. BY NICOLE GALLAND

language appear

Some wanted to get more Adagio Esposito as Puck.

COURTESY OF MVRHS THEATER DEPT

TOWN COLUMNS

Tisbury

By Taylor Stone tisburycolumnist@gmail.com

Continuing my stint on Beach St. Extension, I can report: Visitors are arriving! So many people pre- and post-holiday visiting M.V. for the first time ever, or the first time in a long while. I was also blessed with a visit from a respectable tabby who wandered through our open doorway to meow at me … before continuing on its way. Another (human) visitor staying just a stone’s throw from the Steamship Authority noted, “That boat horn is so loud — I didn’t ask for a wake-up call!” When I

first moved to town, hearing the boat was my very favorite part of living in Tisbury. But to each their own, and I guess all this means summer is truly upon us. In other news, did you know there are now several spots in Tisbury where you can enjoy live music? Last Friday I found myself in the incredible predicament of deciding between seeing Marciana Jones and Maryse Smith at S&S Kitchenette, the Washashores MV at Vineyard Grill, or Johnny Hoy and the Original Bluefish at the Black

Edgartown

By Marnely Murray marnely@gmail.com

Starting off with two very important pieces of news I missed last week: Celeste Zyla was born to Edgartonian mom Tilma Zyla on May 4. A sweet new baby that was introduced to us during Porchfest weekend: What could be more local than that? Then a round of applause for Joan Connolly, who had a birthday on May 23, turning 96 years old — cheers to such a long, incredible life! Reflecting on community milestones like that make me sit a bit with the thought of a full arc of life in a small town

like Edgartown, the way everyone knows each other, what it means to be born into or grow old in a place like this.

Memorial Day marks not only the unofficial start to the season, but it’s a re-

Dog Tavern. In the end we grooved along with Johnny Hoy and his Original Bluefish: Barbara Puciul and Don Groover, with Mark Hurwitz on percussion, backdropped by the harbor at sunset. (And I didn’t even notice any loud ferry horns!)

This is the final weekend of the Louisa Gould Gallery’s annual “Spring Group Show,” featuring Sean Roach, Christie Scheele, Teek Eaton-Koch, Juliean Jarreau, and Paul Beebe. It’s open 11 am to 4 pm.

Tuesday, June 2, at 6 pm,

head to the Katharine Cornell Theatre for the next Open Mic Night. Come to play, or just to listen. Sign up on arrival; it’s free and open to all. Saturday, May 30, from 9 am to 2 pm, is the next Electronics Disposal Day. As a fairly frequent flyer to these biannual events, I can say from experience: It won’t take as long as you think, and it feels great disposing of your old, unwanted electronics on-Island in an environmentally safe way while also benefiting both M.V. Community Services and

the MVRHS Junior Class. Last, I have to shout-out about Rise Vineyard Performing Arts’ annual recital, on Sunday, May 31, at 10 am and 4 pm at MVRHS. I can’t believe I’m saying this, but I remember back when Rise first opened in 2007, when I was still in high school. At that time Jil Matrisciano was our Minnesingers dance choreographer, and I even taught dance classes at Rise as a senior in high school. I remember opening my college acceptance letter in the Rise studio, and for my last

We grooved along with Johnny Hoy and his Original Bluefish: Barbara Puciul and Don Groover, with Mark Hurwitz on percussion, backdropped by the harbor at sunset.

minder of this life we have; a moment to appreciate those that might not have had such a long life as Joan, because they made the ultimate sacrifice for us, and for that, I am thankful. Looking back at Memorial Day weekend, the weather wasn’t what we all wished for, but there might be nothing better than a cloudy, rainy day in town for our retailers to rejoice — every visitor I saw last weekend was walking around with one, two,

even three bags from local shops! Because it was not an ideal “beach weekend,” the next best thing to do is to hit the shops. Interestingly, rain can also influence your purchasing decisions. I did some research, and it indicates that rainy days often lead to higherpriced purchases. This might be because you seek comfort or indulgence during dreary weather, which makes a lot of sense.

You’ll note that this column is deeper into read-

After having spent about 12 years working in the restaurant industry on-Island, and now living the life of a recovering hospitality worker, I do want to recognize everyone who goes above and beyond to welcome the crowds into town.

Oak Bluffs

By Joanne Lambert joannelamber@gmail.com

“In early June the world of leaf and blade and flowers explodes, and every sunset is different.”

–John Steinbeck

Ming human emotions and experiences than my usual events listings, because it seems that the week after Memorial Day weekend is a slower one in terms of activities, so how about we talk a bit about the mix of emotions locals feel this time of year? Because two things can be true at once: loving the season and bracing for it at the same time. After having spent about 12 years working in the restaurant industry on-Island, and now living the life of a recovering hospitality worker who gets to actually travel during Memorial Day weekend, I do want to recognize everyone who goes above and beyond to welcome the crowds into town. From the VTA and taxi drivers, the front desk associates at hotels and inns, the waitstaff at restaurants and coffee

recital, I performed alongside my very young students dressed as an octopus for a memorable rendition of “Octopus’s Garden.” To all the dancers out there this weekend: Merde! Happy 10th anniversary to Nobnocket Boutique Inn this month, and belated birthday wishes to our First Friday music maestro, Andy Herr. Do you have something you want shared in a future Tisbury column? Email me at tisburycolumnist@gmail. com with your own stories of our town, favorite memories from Kay’s columns, and anything coming up that you want spotlighted here. I certainly don’t want to miss anyone’s rightful “big bunches of birthday balloons,” or the next best event not to be missed in our corner of the island.

shops, the retail associates, and everyone in between — thank you, thank you, thank you. The work you do is invaluable to this Island, and is the reason it continues to be a world-renowned travel destination. With that, I leave you for now. As aforementioned, I’m off for two weeks traveling to Madrid and London to visit family — not something I could ever do before leaving the restaurant industry, so I’m grateful I can do this now. Make sure to thank someone in the hospitality industry this week! Happy birthday to Suzy Crowley (find her at Morning Glory Farm, always with a smile on her face) on May 30 and Julie Scott (find her on a field somewhere, surrounded by farm animals, any day of the week) on June 3. Cheers to you both!

emorial Day weekend was rainy, which was too bad for the many folks visiting and trying to sightsee — but hopefully it was good for the shops and restaurants. And we really needed the rain!

The highlight of my weekend was getting over to the VFW to hear Gordon Healy sing the blues with the incomparable band of Don Groover, Barbara Puciul, Buck Shank,

and Tess Walsh on drums. Most people know Gordon from the Animal Shelter, but if you have ever heard him sing, you know that is his true calling! The VFW is such a hidden gem in O.B., a real hometown gathering place where everyone knows your name. The Honorary Tavern serves delicious home cooking, and the music in the canteen is the best.

You can support the wonderful work of our Animal Shelter by attending its grand Garden Party fundraiser on June 28. Tickets are at animalshelterofmv.org

Now June is coming, and it’s such a delicious month! We get to enjoy the early

summer weather without the big crowds. The weather keeps getting better, the beach roses are blooming, and the gray landscape has turned to green. Take a moment to look around and enjoy!

MV Sound Series continues on Thursday, May 28, with Delanie Pickering, Honey and Gravel, Wolftrap, and Meredith Sheldon. It’s at the Strand in Oak Bluffs, the music starts at 8 pm, and tickets are at mvsoundfest.com.

Town flags were lowered this month to honor Steve Durkee, who passed away too soon in May. Steve will be sorely missed by our Island community. My con-

dolences to his wife Liz and their family.

“Preparing for Extreme Weather Together” is the Community Climate Discussion on May 30 at the O.B. library, 1:30 to 3 pm. Be part of the solution as all Island towns work toward being better prepared for winter storms and hurricane season. See details and how to join via Zoom at oakbluffslibrary.org.

Tom Dresser will also be at the library, before the climate discussion, to talk about his new book, “Historic Storms of Martha’s Vineyard,” which chronicles some of the dangerous storms the Island has experienced, with photos and stories. That talk is at 12:30 pm. Sundays in the Park will feature the Dukes Duo on May 31 — bring your chairs and enjoy the music from 5:30 to 7:30 pm.

Sundays in the Park will feature the Dukes Duo on May 31 — bring your chairs and enjoy the music from 5:30 to 7:30 pm.

Last week I congratulated Don and Pam Herman on the birth of a grandson, and then I found out there were two — daughter Gail added Eli Douglas Rutherford to the family on May 1! Big congratulations also to Anna and Bobby Perry on the birth of a daughter; welcome to Maeve Louise Perry! Happy birthday to Patti DeFelice on June 28! Also celebrating are Mary Yancey, Sheryl Dagostino, and Mattie Long. Stacey Porterfield celebrates on May 29. May 31 brings birthday balloons for Melanie Bilodeau, Sarah Shaw Dawson, and Lacey Dinning. Happy birthday on June 2 to Eddie Pacheco, Mia Rebello, and Mary Johnson! Send me your news!

Oliver Boldrin da Silva

Keriane Boldrin and Wellington da Silva of Oak Bluffs announce the birth of a son, Oliver Boldrin da Silva, on May 21, 2026, at Martha’s Vineyard Hospital. Oliver weighed 3 pounds, 6.5 ounces.

TOWN COLUMNS

Aquinnah

By Kathie Olsen aquinnahcolumn@gmail.com

We began last week with the troubling news that Nycolas de Al Varenga Lima, 15 years old, and his father, Rogerio da Silva Lima, had been detained by the U.S. Coast Guard and transferred to ICE custody. The two are members of the Vineyard’s Brazilian immigrant community. Nycolas is a student at the M.V. Regional High School. Both are respected and loved. The news brought a swift response from the community. MV LUCE sprang into action and filed a habeas corpus petition that kept them in Massachusetts.

They were joined by a coalition of others, including leaders of the Wampanoag, in organizing a rally in Menemsha last Saturday. The rally, attended by more than 150 people, was heartfilled, resolute, peaceful, and hopeful after hearing the heartening news that young Nycolas had been released

from ICE custody.

The struggle is not over, however, not by a long shot. Immigration courts have a backlog of 3.3 million cases, according to the American Immigration Lawyers Association. The current federal administration has been shutting down local courts nationwide, and has fired more than 100 veteran judges, replacing them with inexperienced “deportation judges.” People wait for hearings for months. Those in custody are held in warehouses that are overcrowded and unhealthy. And Rogerio da Silva Lima is still in custody, at the mercy of this severely bro-

ken immigration system. People come to this country for many reasons. The vast majority of those who come without papers are good people, desperate for safety and an opportunity to make their lives better. They come here peacefully and work hard, often at difficult jobs that are most often underpaid and unwanted by others. They are not people who are here to do harm.

Our Constitution is meant to protect all who are here. We have something called due process, with laws to be followed, requiring systems created that implement

Create your own 8- by 8-inch needle felting masterpiece, with fiber artist Laura Hearn guiding the way.

Chilmark

By Claire Ganz cganz@live.com

Last Wednesday, members from the Wampanoag Tribe of Aquinnah (Gay Head) and the Chilmark School community, students, and teachers gathered on the campus for the inaugural raising of the tribe’s flag on the newly erected flagpole that stands next to the one flying our American flag. Two nations side by side waving in the sky. On Friday the Chilmark School children marched to the sea, played music, and tossed blossoms into the sea honoring soldiers who fell during our nation's wars. Does anyone else read

magazines when they can’t sleep? Or turn on music?

Priscilla Warner’s recording of a healing sound bath is remarkably effective. It was an honor to be invited to attend the final presentations from students from the “Civics” classes of Mr. Brown, Ms. Goethals, and Amy Jacques’s class at the high school, thanks to Ken Armstead, Kathy Laskowski, and Kris Vrooman from the Island’s chapter of the League of Women Voters. The problems they identified and solutions they sought included the profound: the impacts violence and the threats of

West Tisbury

By Hermine Hull hermine.hull@gmail.com

May 30, 1868, was the first official Memorial Day ceremony. Originally called Decoration Day, it was held at Arlington National Cemetery, where 16,000 Civil War soldiers had been buried. Rep. James Garfield, a former major general, and eventual 20th U.S. president, gave the commemorative speech, stating, “What other spot so fitting for their last resting place as this under the shadow of the Capitol saved by their valor?”

Arlington National Cemetery was laid out on the grounds surrounding Arlington House, the home of

Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee. It was purchased by the U.S. government in 1864, and established as a national cemetery later that year. A bridge built in 1932 across the Potomac River connects the White House grounds and Lincoln Memorial to Arlington House and the National Cemetery. The president’s proposed trium-

violence have on those working in law enforcement; the complex: immigration laws, due process, and cruelty; the concerning: shooting threats; and the head-slapping how this simple thing had not been solved before: Perhaps next year we will see a sailing team banner honoring the years the sailing team won the championship hanging somewhere in the school. There are reasons to be proud of our students and schools. It rained, and the Blessing of the Fleet service was moved from Menemsha

to the Chilmark Church. Cups of blossoms were offered so folks could scatter their prayers, blessings, and remembrances. We bless and pray for Menemsha’s Coast Guard, and our commercial captains and their vessels: Wes Brighton, Martha Rose and Martha Elizabeth; Carl Flanders, Sherrye Lynn; Wayne Iacono, Freedom; Chris Mathew, Miss Mia; John Larson, Summer’s Dawn; Steve Larsen, Esther’s Pride; Chris Murphy, Skiff; Jonathan Mayhew, Skillie;

those laws efficiently and humanely. We are not meant to be a country ruled by fear and anger. Here on the Vineyard, we depend on our Coast Guard. Station Menemsha reports that they are aware of the concerns of the community, and that anyone who is out on the water and in trouble will be treated the same. We are grateful that they are here to keep us safe. I am proud of our community for saying “enough.”

Meanwhile, life goes on.

On Saturday, May 30, at 1 pm in the Aquinnah Town Hall, join Brad Lopes, education and public program manager of the Aquinnah Cultural Center. He will be reconsidering the familiar narratives regarding the War for the Dawnland, otherwise known as King Philip’s War. Lopes is a welcoming, knowledgeable, and

Matt Mayhew, Lady M; Steve Broderick, Cachalote; Johnny Osmers, Greyhaven; Bob Sloan, Trinket; Chris Stein, Merlin; Nick Wilbur, Little Feet; Lev Wylodyka, Honey Badger; Otto Osmers, Fierce; Casey Ellison, Aurora; Matteus Scheffer, Mary Knight; Paul MacDonald, Shearwater; Vinny Iacono, Betty Anne; and Teagan Gale, Solitude. Iggy’s is open Saturday and Sunday, 7 am to 2 pm. Last weekend, it offered delicious puffs with fresh raspberries.

It rained, and the Blessing of the Fleet service was moved from Menemsha to the Chilmark Church. Cups of blossoms were offered so folks could scatter their prayers, blessings, and remembrances.

phal arch would be built on the Virginia side of the river, framing a view of Arlington House, while obscuring the Lincoln Memorial when looking toward the Capitol.

A bit of national history for the holiday weekend. For more, read Heather Cox Richardson’s May 23 “Letters from an American.”

Our holiday weather has been rainy and cool, hardly conducive to beach time or a parade. I had all of my errands and shopping done by Friday, so I could stay home, away from the crowds. Fortunately, the rain has been soft, nice for gardening or reading on the porch, so it’s

been a lovely weekend to be quietly homebound.

I attended Jennelle Gadowski’s program about wildfire preparedness and prevention at the library last week. Jennelle is West Tisbury’s director of emergency management. Her talk gave everyone attending plenty to think about, and to do. We were encouraged to have a plan for family members and for pets, including gobags ready near the door with important documents, medical records, medication, food, and water for people and pets, clean clothes, etc. Some simple things to remember to reduce risk around

Don’t forget the Island-wide MVRHS building project vote on Tuesday, June 2, at the Public Safety Building, 11 am to 7 pm. It’s important. Vote!

thoughtful teacher, and an entertaining speaker. The program is offered by the Aquinnah Cultural Center. It is free, and all are invited to attend.

The Aquinnah library is offering a beginner-friendly workshop on needle felting. On Saturday, May 30, at 2 pm, come to the library and create your own 8- by 8-inch wool masterpiece, with fiber artist Laura Hearn guiding the way. This program is free, and all teens and adults are welcome. Space is limited, so please email gwilbur@ clamsnet.org to register.

This week brings us the birthdays of Susie Bologna and Nonie Madison on May 28 and the wedding anniversary of Noli and Isaac Taylor on June 2. Those birthdays and that anniversary are profoundly worthy of celebration. Send me your news!

Colin Ruel’s gallery is open Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, 10 am to 5 pm. I adore the new paint-splatter hats and Martha’s Vineyard flag pennants.

Last weekend you could book a sauna with Emily, and now she is taking private bookings, and can bring her portable sauna almost anywhere this summer: schvitzymv.com.

North Tabor Farm’s chef in residence, Irene Wong, is as warm and engaging as her food. Wow, are we lucky! The menu is announced on its Instagram, @northtaborfarm, and weekends are special. The farm is also collaborating with sibling chefs Alexa and Trevor Worthington’s Island Table on June 7. It will be a family style multicourse meal with speakers, and includes a tour of the farm. Tickets are at bit.ly/IslandTableTix.

your house: Clean gutters and porches, and under stairs; keep leaves, pine needles, debris, and wood piles away from the house; keep grills at least 10 feet away from the house, and away from low branches and shrubbery; never toss cigarette butts or any smoking materials in dry vegetation, mulch, or brush.

I remember one summer when there were several fires caused by grills on wooden porches and decks, even one where somebody tossed burning coals from their grill into a paper bag, then left it on the wooden deck.

Dukes County has a system of free emergency alerts that everyone can sign up for. Phone: 774-563-6110, or online at dukescounty-ma. myfreealerts.com. There is also information on the town website, westtisbury-ma.gov.

Lest you think you have to clear-cut your yard to mitigate fire danger, I have met an

ecological horticulturist and wildfire policy analyst who recommends a well-irrigated residential landscape that contains plants with significant internal moisture. Granted, she works in California in an urban setting, but the principles should still apply. Her website is dianaznicole.com. At the library, the M.V. Community Seed Library annual seedling swap is this Saturday, May 30, 10 am to noon. A five-week series of ukulele lessons with Andy Herr begins Saturday at 10:30 am; sign up at wt_mail@ clamsnet.org. On Wednesday, June 3, kids are invited to an IGI program, “Soil Superheroes” at 3:30 pm; kids will learn how worms and insects help our soil. Don’t forget the Islandwide MVRHS building project vote on Tuesday, June 2, at the Public Safety Building, 11 am to 7 pm. It’s important. Vote!

Seasonal Vineyarder Elisa Speranza’s new historical fiction, “Triage,” is an intimate, beautifully nuanced portrait of a woman whose past makes her present-day existence dangerously precarious. Speranza skillfully draws us into Laura Marino’s journey, alternating between her challenging life as an Army nurse during World War II and her work at New Orleans’ Charity Hospital in 1951.

Having read “Triage” twice, first as a proofreader and now for this article, I was eager to interview Speranza, starting with a question about the book’s origins. “I had the seeds of the story in ‘The Italian Prisoner,’” she tells me. “The main character is Rose, who receives letters from her big sister, Laura. The more I learned while researching the nurses, the more I wanted to know about them, what they went through, and what it was like when they came home.”

Speranza did a deep dive, reading nurses’ journals, letters home, and memoirs. Because few addressed what it was like to return from war, Speranza researched more recent conflicts and interviewed nurses on the frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic about their experiences during and after it: “I think there is a broader question in ‘Triage’ about any kind of trauma that goes untreated or unresolved, and the choices people make in coping with that.”

'Triage: A Novel' by Elisa M. Speranza

A novelist revisits her source material. BY ABBY REMER

Speranza’s title suggests urgency. On one level, it applies to the grueling pressure Laura faces as an Army nurse to rapidly assess and prioritize patients by need for immediacy, severity, and likelihood of survival. This work, during her time in North Africa and then in Europe — including the horrific, relentless siege at Anzio, Italy — has left deep scars.

We sense the war’s legacy in the opening pages, when Laura wakes up in New Orleans: “Even awake … she’s back at the front. Her back is stiff, her hands like claws from gripping forceps and clamps … The terrifying, ceaseless clatter and boom of the artillery is so close the hospital tent quakes. The stench of the dead and dying. The sharp antiseptic tang of alcohol, the metallic smell of blood, the gut-wrenching odor of infected gas gangrene wounds. A boy’s desperate, clammy hand is clutching hers, its grip fierce, missing his family, his limbs, his mind. His youth.”

When Laura learns that Frances, her closest friend from the war, has taken her own life, Laura spins out of control, leaving us to question whether she can triage the situation and emerge a survivor. Speranza’s sharp, cinematic writing makes Laura’s life visceral, both as she struggles in the present and as she revisits the past by reading her wartime journal. We follow Laura and Frances’ friendship from the start of their tour of duty. Frances,

In “Triage,” it is Laura’s life on the line, in the past and from 1951 to the present, not just the lives of the boys on the battlefield — leaving us turning pages to discover if she will find a way to heal.

Asked how she approached writing her braided timelines, Speranza explains, “I enjoy books that go back in time, because I think, if you do it well, you get to see the underpinnings of why the people are making the decisions they are in the current day. I wrote the war scenes alternating with the 1951 ones so that each section fed into the next.”

a Texan, is larger than life. Irreverent and audacious, she finds the intensity of war a welcome escape from the pain of her empty existence at home: “This is the first time in my life that I’ve mattered, that I’ve made a difference.” Laura comes from a close-knit Sicilian family in New Orleans, but she joined the Army to escape her mother’s expectations that she become a traditional wife and mother. She is particularly sustained by letters from her sister Rose, the protagonist of Speranza’s first novel, “The Italian Prisoner.” Speranza’s ability to convey the intensity of the nurses’ harrowing work, their complete devotion to their patients, and the strong bonds that develop among the women transports us to the very feel of the time and place. All is not bleak, as there are beautiful moments of camaraderie, and romance enters the picture as well, with Laura and a married doctor, Nicholas, falling in love.

Although Laura and Nicholas are married in the present day, their relationship is fraught. She questions how much the war might have influenced their initially illicit affair, an escape from so much loss and death. Their life together, six years later, is fraying at the seams. Nicholas’ solution to the personal tragedy they faced after they married, as well as any remaining war trauma, is to run away. He tells

Laura not to dwell, creating emotional and physical distance. When seeking help herself, Laura notes, “They told me nurses don’t get battle fatigue. That we weren’t in combat …They told the women to get over it. That women were strong.”

Laura knows that having made it home, she should be happy. Yet she is unable to put the war behind her, or to overcome the grief and guilt about Frances’ death. She is also at risk of being passed over for promotion at Charity Hospital, having lost seniority upon returning from duty. And for Laura, work is her identity: “Nursing isn’t just business to her. It’s her only source of pride, her whole life, really.”

Speranza made what she refers to as the affirmative decision to self-publish, including establishing her own imprint, Burgundy Bend Press: “I had a great experience selfpublishing ’The Italian Prisoner,’ which has found its way to thousands of readers. After over four years of work, I was anxious to get the next book out. Independent publishing gave me complete control over the timeline, and I assembled a terrific team to help with design and production. I enjoy being involved in every aspect, from writing to choosing cover art to distribution and publicity. Not all writers do. Luckily, I had a 30-something-year-long career in project management, marketing, and communications, so that part is actually fun for me.”

Asked what she would like readers to take away from her book, Speranza replies, “I hope people will consider the corrosive effect of unprocessed grief and trauma and grant grace to those who are wrestling with it. Another is the question of how to turn survivor’s guilt into the more positive emotion of gratitude, and find healthier strategies for coping with chaos. The third thing is embodied in the title. The essence of triage work is fixing your worst problem first. How can we accept that we can’t fix everything or everybody?”

Speranza adds, “This all sounds very heavy, but there are also lighter moments in the book, including female friendships and the ways camaraderie and humor can carry us through the toughest times. If someone asks what the book is ultimately about, I say it’s about the redemptive power of love, service, and friendship.”

“Triage: A Novel” by Elisa M. Speranza, is available at Edgartown Books and Bunch of Grapes. Speranza will speak with Robin Rivera at the Vineyard Haven library on August 6 at 6 pm.

“I think there is a broader question in ‘Triage’ about any kind of trauma that goes untreated or unresolved, and the choices people make in coping with that.” –ELISA SPERANZA

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

For more details scan here or visit: islanderswrite.com Join us July 15 for our kick-o event at 7:30 pm and all day July 16 at Featherstone Center for the Arts. Free to attend!

This week, please find all Cribbage Club results online at mvtimes.com/island-life. Last week, we had Patricia Bergeron’s byline on the piece. It was, in fact, written by Samantha Burns. We apologize for this error. We are still getting used to the absence of this beloved icon. Meanwhile, The Times regrets the error.

Elisa M. Speranza CHERYL GERBER

Catch a wide gamut from blues-rock, country, jazz, and more. Peter Halperin will perform songs from his “Bring On the Storm” album and soon to be released new songs he’s just recorded in Nashville. Jim Orr brings his own great original material. They are joined by drummer Hudson Bausman. Free, 3 pm, West Tisbury

Group Therapy Concert

library, 1042 State Road, West Tisbury, westtisburylibrary.org.

Blue Yonder

Looking for something to do on a Monday night?

Catch some live, soulful country music from Rick O'Gorman,

Jessie Leaman, George Davis, and Jim Orr of Blue Yonder. From 7 to 9 pm. P.A. Club, 137 Vineyard Ave., Oak Bluffs.

THURSDAY, MAY 28

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

Virtual Kripalu Flow Yoga

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

Open Practice Group

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

Event spotlight for the week of 5•29 — 6•4

SAT 5/30 FRI 5/29 SUN 5/31

Block Printing Workshop

Learn the basics of relief block printing by carving small designs into soft-cut printing blocks, inking using a brayer (small roller), and transferring the image to paper. After designing your blocks, you will be able to create a small set of prints. Class is $65, noon to 3 pm, Featherstone Center for the Arts, 30 Featherstone Lane, Oak Bluffs, featherstoneart.org/ printmaking.html.

CCup of Karma Cafe

up of Karma Cafe is an afternoon of relaxing and listening to an Island community member’s story. Polly Simpkins hosts the events, which are designed for you to take a break from your life, have some tea and delicious snacks, and enjoy the telling of a story. All are welcome. This month the guest is 11th-generation Islander Albert Fischer. Please RSVP. The suggested donation is $10. From 2 to 3:30 pm.

TUES 6/2 MON 6/1 WED 6/3

Open Mic Night

Come to play, or just to listen. Open Mic Nights are cohosted by Vineyard Haven library and the Vineyard Haven Harbor

Cultural District. Sign up on arrival. Free and open to all. Katharine Cornell Theatre, 51 Spring St., Vineyard Haven, vhlibrary.org.

Events

Balletics

9-10 am, Up Island Council on Aging, West Tisbury. Total body conditioning, learning body’s strengths & weaknesses, how to prevent injury. coa-staff@ westtisbury-ma.gov, 508-693-2896. Fit for Flow with Maggie Bucci

9-10 am, Stillpoint, West Tisbury. This fitness class, led by Maggie Bucci, is designed to get you fit to flow with the journey of life 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.

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. 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. Tech help 11 am-1 pm, Up Island Council on Aging, West Tisbury. Free tach help 508-693-2896, 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. 508-693-7373, 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. Virtual Art History: American Revolutionary Painters–John Singleton Copley 2 pm, Vineyard Haven Public Library. Explore the work of 1760s Boston portrait painter, John Singleton Copley. Led by art historian Martha Chiarchiaro. 508-6964211, vhpl_programs@clamsnet.org

Pão de Queijo Make and Eat

Make pão de queijo (Brazilian cheese bread) after school. Kids will learn basic food preparation skills and practice

teamwork. Relax and socialize after the school day. For kids ages 8-plus, 3:15 to 4:15 pm, free. 56R School St. #R, Oak Bluffs, oakbluffslibrary.org.

Chef Look Cooks - Patron Favorites: Black Bean Soup

2-3:30 pm, Edgartown Library. Chef Look Cooks - Patron Favorites: Black Bean Soup 508-627-4221, programs@edgartownlibrary.org

Chair Yoga

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

Wings of Fire Book Club

2:45-3:30 pm, Edgartown Library. Come read and discuss the Wings of Fire books with other kids who love the series! 508627-4221, programs@edgartownlibrary.org Book Buddies

3:30-4:30 pm, West Tisbury Library. High schoolers reading to kids! 2nd and 4th Thursdays 3:30-4:30 WT Library 508-693-3366, hburbidge@clamsnet.org.

Naptime with David Stanwood

3:30-4:30 pm, Stillpoint, West Tisbury. Experience the calming effect of harmonic vibration, with pianist and acclaimed piano technician David Stanwood. info@stillpointmv.org.

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. MVRHS Building Project Community Information Sessions

4:30-5:30 pm, West Tisbury Library. 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.

Raising Tech Healthy Families Together 5-6:15 pm, MVRHS Library, Oak Bluffs. Parent/caregiver session for ages 8–12 on digital health and well-being, including community discussion, digital tools, and Q&A.aknapp@mvyouthtaskforce.org.

Table Tennis

5 pm, Tisbury Senior Center, Vineyard Haven. Table tennis for all ages and skill levels. 508-728-5898, raeobmv@gmail.com.

Stillpoint, 20 Stillpoint Road, West Tisbury.

‘Stolen Kingdom’ explores Disney’s derelict backstages

BY ABBY REMER

Joshua Bailey’s subtitle, “Bad Things Happen at the Happiest Place on Earth,” for his documentary, “Stolen Kingdom,” gives us a hint at the film’s subject. The film, playing at the M.V. Film Center starting Friday, May 29, takes us on a deep dive into the odd world of underground urban explorers at Walt Disney World and its Epcot theme park.

“Stolen Kingdom” premiered to rave reviews and sold-out crowds at the Slamdance and Big Sky film festivals. In it, we meet several urban explorers, individuals who trespass into restricted, backstage, or abandoned areas of the parks to document them. Throughout, they recount what turn out to be their old exploits, since most of them have been caught over time and banned from the parks. Bailey mixes contemporary interviews with old footage explorers

Continued from B7

Contra Dance at the Grange Hall

5:30-7:30 pm, Grange Hall, West Tisbury. The Vineyard Preservation Trust invites the community to an evening of music and movement, and a lively Contra Dance! 774549-9107, thecarnegie@mvpreservation.org Pilates Flow with Camille Beauzile 5:30-6:30 pm, Stillpoint, West Tisbury. This upbeat Pilates class blends preventative medicine, mind-over-matter focus, and joyful movement info@stillpointmv.org Raising Tech Healthy Teens Together 6:30-8 pm, MVRHS Library, Oak Bluffs. Parent session for ages 13–17 on reflective parenting, teen tech trends, practical

took while clambering deep behind the scenes of the exhibitions and rides.

The explorers are particularly drawn to going backstage at old, abandoned Disney sites. One explorer says, “It’s basically opening a casket and seeing a place that hasn’t been used, is falling apart, and at one time served a purpose … but doesn’t anymore. People love that kind of stuff.” He’s referring to the thousands of followers these

explorers had when they posted their videos online. For instance, the late Adam the Woo, identified as the titan of theme park exploration, had half a million subscribers on YouTube.

While the explorers get a kick out of their fan base’s adoration and the risk of getting hurt in these dilapidated locations, part of the pull seems to be the excitement of whether they will get caught. Matt Sonswa, for instance,

shares, “It’s terrifying, but I want to show people things they normally can’t see. That feeling of not knowing what’s going to happen next is unreplaceable [sic].”

As the narrative unfolds, early pranks and antics are shown to have inspired more recent crimes. Toward the end, we learn about a black market in stolen goods from these abandoned exhibitions. Not all explorers necessarily did so, but it seems there are those willing to pay exorbitant amounts for their loot.

Joel Magee speaks about having the world’s largest privately owned collection of memorabilia, which he estimates is now worth $7 million to $10 million.

“Stolen Kingdom” begins Friday, May 29, at the M.V. Film Center. For more information, visit mvfilmsociety.com.

Bailey opens the film with news of the Buzzy audioanimatronics figure’s disappearance in 2018 from the Cranium Command attraction at the Wonders of Life Pavilion at Epcot. Buzzy was a 300-pound animatronic emcee for a show exploring the human mind that ran from 1989 to 2007. Bailey revisits the mystery of its theft, valued at nearly half a million dollars, at the end. None of the interviewees admits to taking it. But Patrick Spikes, one of the explorers, says in an interview, “To be honest, I stole a lot cooler things [that] nobody knows about, because I don’t talk about them and never will.” Thus, after meeting this community of explorers and hearing their tales of friendship and shared passion, we are left with the lingering question, Who stole Buzzy?

Events

family tools, and meaningful community discussion.aknapp@mvyouthtaskforce.org

Jazz at Sweet Life with Jeremy Berlin

6:30-8:30 pm, Sweet Life, Oak Bluffs. Jeremy Berlin plays jazz piano every Thursday at the Sweet Life starting at 6:30 617-835-3756, emhaggerty@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 29

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.

508-696-8000, info@airportfitnessmv.com

Fourth Amendment Workplace Training

7:39-8:45 am, Tisbury Council on Aging, Vineyard Haven. What to do if ICE comes to your workplace -- protocols, warrants, private areas, know your rights, and support immigrants.

508-696-4205, mv4aproject@proton.me

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

Kayak & Stand Up Paddle Board Quest

508-627-4850, felixneck@massaudubon.org

Alida O’Loughlin Photography

Coffee and Conversations-

Let’s Talk About Tech

9:30-11 am, MV Family Center, Vineyard Haven. Open parent discussion for ages 2–8 on raising tech-healthy kids. Bring questions, concerns, and experiences. acastro@mvcommunityservices.org

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/ 774-549-9107, 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. 774-5499107, THECARNEGIE@mvpreservation.org Kid’s Music Class

10:30-11 am, West Tisbury Library, West Tisbury. 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! 508-6274221, programs@edgartownlibrary.org

Seaweed art

Coffee and ConversationsLet’s Talk About Tech

11 am-12 pm, MV Family Center, Vineyard Haven. For parents of ages 0–2: a relaxed conversation on digital well-being, techpositive lives, and raising tech-healthy families.acastro@mvcommunityservices.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. Toddler Time 11-11:30 am, Chilmark Library. We’ll read classic and current children’s literature, and sing, move, and play together. Ideal for preschool ages. chilmarklibrarykids@gmail.com 508645-3360, chilmarklibrarykids@gmail.com.

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. West Tisbury Book Sale Donations 1-2 pm, Friends of West Tisbury Library Shed, West Tisbury. Donate your lightly used books for the annual Friends of the West Tisbury Library Book Sale. 617-543-7898, westtislibraryfriends@gmail.com. Group Therapy Concert: Peter Halperin, Jim Orr & Hudson Bausman 3 pm, West Tisbury Library. This all original show runs a wide gamut from blues-rock, to country, to jazz, and beyond! 508-693-3366, wt_mail@clamsnet.org.

COMEDIAN CHRISTIAN FINNEGAN

7:30-9:30 pm, Martha’s Vineyard Film Center, Vineyard Haven. Comedian Christian Finnegan live at the martha’s Vineyard Film Center, Friday May 29 7:30pm 774-392-2972, rich@mvfilmsociety.com.

SATURDAY, MAY 30

Birding 101 with Robert Culbert & Luanne Johnson

8-10 am, Manuel F. Correllus State Forest Headquarters, Edgartown. Free Birding 101 Walk - Hosted by the Martha’s Vineyard Bird Club. Ideal for beginners and welcoming to all experience levels! mvbirdclub_president@biodiversityworksmv.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.

Electronics Disposal Day: Fundraiser for MVCS and MVRHS Junior Class 9 am-2 pm, Vineyard Haven. facebook.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

Seastone Papers Studio Sale

10 am-4 pm, Seastone Papers, West Tisbury. Handmade paper odds and ends sale including books, sculpture, bags, and more. 508-693-5786, sandy@seastonepapers.com

Seedling Swap

10 am-12 pm, West Tisbury Library, West Tisbury. Bring heirloom and openpollinated vegetable, flower, and fruit seedlings or cuttings to swap and share. 508-693-3366, wt_mail@clamsnet.org

Compost How-To for the Home Gardener with Jack Morgan 10-11 am, The Polly Hill Arboretum, West Tisbury. 508-693-9426, pollyhillarboretum.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-4 pm, the carnegie heritage center, Edgartown. Admission: $5 (ages 12+). vineyardtrust.org/events/ 774-5499107, thecarnegie@mvpreservation.org.

Exhibit: Margot Datz: Recreator

Baby and Toddler Storytime

10:15-10:45 am, Oak Bluffs Public Library, Oak Bluffs. 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.

Beginner Ukulele Class

10:30-11:30 am, West Tisbury Library, West Tisbury. Meets 5/30, 6/6, 6/13, 6/20, and 6/27. Sign up by emailing wt_mail@ clamsnet.org. Please commit to all sessions. 508-693-3366, wt_mail@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

Spring Spectacular Show

11 am-4 pm, Louisa Gould Gallery, Vineyard Haven. Annual Spring Group Show: Sean Roach, Christie Scheele, Teek EatonKoch, Juliean Jarreau, and Paul Beebe. 508-693-7373, louisa.gould@gmail.com.

Tom Dresser – Historic Storms of Martha’s Vineyard

11 am-12 pm, Oak Bluffs Library. Tom Dresser – Historic Storms of Martha’s Vineyard 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, 508645-3360. chilmarklibrarykids@gmail.com. Wonderful Weeds with Rebecca Gilbert

12-3 pm, Native Earth Teaching Farm, Chilmark. Weeds have long been the enemy of a quintessential lawn, but a Vineyard Lawn welcomes them! Learn how weeds are healthy for you and your yard. 508-6939588, lucas@vineyardconservation.org.

Block Printing Workshop

12-3 pm, Featherstone Center for the Arts, Oak Bluffs. Learn the basics ofrelief block printingby carving designs into printing blocks, inking using a brayer andtransferring the image to paper. 508-693-1850, featherstone@featherstoneart.org.

Chain Reaction Building Activity

12:30-2:30 pm, West Tisbury Library. Kids building activity. Make your own Rube Goldbergesque contraption 5/30 12:30-2:30pm West Tis Library 508-6933366, hburbidge@clamsnet.org.

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.

Climate Change Discussion – Preparing for Extreme Weather Together 1:30-3 pm, Oak Bluffs Library. Climate Change Discussion – Preparing for Extreme Weather Together 508-693-9433, cphelan@clamsnet.org. Beginner Needle Felting Workshop with Laura Hearn 2-3 pm, Aquinnah Library. Create your own 8x8 wool masterpiece in this fun, beginner-friendly class. Space is limited. To register, please email gwilbur@clamsnet. org. 508-645-2314, gwilbur@clamsnet.org. 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. Paleface & Mo Live 2-5 pm, Nomans, Oak Bluffs. Eclectic powerhouse duo blending heartfelt lyrics, rhythm-rich melodies, acoustic warmth, and innovative electronic soundscapes. 508-338-2474, Palefaceonline@gmail.com. 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.

Jazz Film Screening with MVY’s Dave Kish 3 pm, West Tisbury Library. This month, we will be screening The Legend of Teddy Edwards. 508-693-3366, wt_mail@clamsnet.org. The Great American Songbook: Concert with David Mintz 3-4 pm, Edgartown Library. Join us for a concert by guitarist and singer David Mintz. 508-627-4221, programs@edgartownlibrary.org.

High School Building Tours

3-4 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.

Sound Bath with Anna Marden

4-5 pm, Stillpoint, West Tisbury. Experience a sonic journey featuring the ambient percussive sounds of multiple gongs, crystal singing bowls and more info@stillpointmv.org

Martha’s Vineyard Fly Rod Catch & Release Tournament

7 pm, Martha’s Vineyard Rod and Gun Club, Edgartown. The tournament rules are based on each team filling its fish quotas. Plaques are awarded based on each qualifying team’s earliest finish time. 508-627-3909, info@mvrodandgun.org.

SUNDAY, MAY 31

Seastone Papers Studio Sale

10 am-4 pm, Seastone Papers, West Tisbury. Handmade paper odds and ends sale including books, sculpture, bags, and more. 508-693-5786, sandy@seastonepapers.com. “Why Sing” with Roberta Kern 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. Get your annual and perennial plants! Beautiful herbs and flowers. Discounts for members and memberships available on site. 774-563-8417, smiller8690@gmail.com. Seaweed art

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. 508627-4441, rpierce@mvmuseum.org.

Events

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. Cup of Karma Cafe

2-3:30 pm, Stillpoint, West Tisbury. All are welcome to these gatherings, which are stress-free, peaceful, and for those who are interested in celebrating the journey of life. info@stillpointmv.org. The Vineyard Landscape Opening Reception

4-6 pm, Featherstone Center for the Arts, Oak Bluffs. Join us for The Vineyard Landscape opening reception! Light refreshments will be served. 508-693-1850, featherstone@featherstoneart.org Moonrise Kayak

6:30-8:30 pm, Felix Neck Wildlife Sanctuary, Edgartown. Nighttime is the right time for a Sengekontacket Pond Paddle with our naturalist guides. The full moon appears and shines the way! Ages 16+ only 508-6274850, felixneck@massaudubon.org.

MONDAY, JUNE 1

MV Bird Club - Birding at Long Point Wildlife Refuge - With Shea Fee

7-9 am, Long Point Wildlife Refuge - Winter Lot off Deep Bottom Road, West Tisbury. Birding with the MV Bird Club - Long Point Wildlife Refuge. All birders welcome! mvbirdclub_president@biodiversityworksmv.org. Virtual Chair Yoga with YogiJay

7:30-8:30 am, West Tisbury Library. Accessible to all levels and ages. Sign up for free by emailing wt_mail@clamsnet.org.

508-693-3366, wt_mail@clamsnet.org. Greenhouse Soil Therapy!

The Martha’s Vineyard Poetry Reading Group

10 am, Vineyard Haven Library, Vineyard Haven. No qualifications, except a love of poetry. Send an email to vhpl_programs@ clamsnet.org to be added to the list. A Zoom link will be provided. 508-6964211, vhpl_programs@clamsnet.org. Seaweed art

11 am-4 pm, Louisa Gould Gallery, Vineyard Haven. Annual Spring Group Show: Sean Roach, Christie Scheele, Teek EatonKoch, Juliean Jarreau, and Paul Beebe. 508-693-7373, louisa.gould@gmail.com. Online Balance with Kanta Lipsky 11:30 am-12:30 pm, West Tisbury Library. To strengthen our connection to Earth and maintain balance. To sign up, email wt_mail@clamsnet.org. 508-693-3366. Drop-in Mah Jongg 1-3 pm, Edgartown Library. Mats, tiles, and cards provided. No formal instruction. programs@edgartownlibrary.org, 508-627-4221. Switch Games for kids and teens 3-5 pm, West Tisbury Library, West Tisbury. Switch club Mondays from 3-5pm in the Community Room 508693-3366, lhearn@clamsnet.org.

Live Music: Blue Yonder 7-9 pm, P.A. Club, Oak Bluffs. Soulful country music from Rick O’Gorman, Jessie Leaman, George Davis, and Jim Orr. 3jbird@gmail.com.3jbird@gmail.com. Vineyard Haven Town Band Rehearsal 7:30-9 pm, Martha Vineyard Sailing Camp, Oak Bluffs. Join us! Bring your instrument and love of playing! We have music and stands. 508-889-9621, jschilling4@msn.com.

TUESDAY, JUNE 2

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. 774-563-8282, 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 10am-noon. 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. Spring Spectacular Show 11 am-4 pm, Louisa Gould Gallery, Vineyard Haven. Annual Spring Group Show: Sean Roach, Christie Scheele, Teek EatonKoch, Juliean Jarreau, and Paul Beebe. 508-693-7373, louisa.gould@gmail.com. MVRHS Building Project Vote 11 am-7 pm, Regular Polling Location, Oak Bluffs. Island-Wide Vote approving the Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School Building Project 508-693-1033, sam.hart@mvyps.org. 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. Lego Club

2:45-4 pm, Chilmark Library, Chilmark. Kids Lego Club 508-645-3360, chilmarklibrarykids@gmail.com Basics of Metalsmithing with Liam McGorman

3-6 pm, Featherstone Center for the Arts, Oak Bluffs. Learn the craft of jewelry making - create either a bracelet, ring,or necklace pendant using a variety of metals including, brass, copper and silver. 508-693-1850, featherstone@featherstoneart.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 librarymeets every Tuesday, from 3:30-4:30pm. ages 10-18, supplies provided. 508693-3366, lhearn@clamsnet.org.

Music Class for Littles

4-4:45 pm, Oak Bluffs Library. Come join us for Ms. Sarah’s music class! The class includes a combination of songs, rhythmsand movement. For 2-5 year olds. 508-693-9433, mlynch@clamsnet.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. 508-6939433, 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.

Table Tennis

5 pm, Tisbury Senior Center, Vineyard Haven. Table tennis for all ages and skill levels. 508-728-5898, raeobmv@gmail.com.

Brazilian Portuguese for Beginners 5:30-7:30 pm, Haven, Vineyard Haven. Explore the basics of the Brazilian Portuguese language and culture. 508-693-9222, info@acemv.org.

Open Mic Night at the Katharine Cornell Theatre!

6 pm, Katharine Cornell Theatre, Vineyard Haven. Come to play, or just to listen. Sign-up on arrival, free and open to all! 508-696-4211, vhpl_programs@clamsnet.org.

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 3

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.

Play Reading at Tisbury Senior Center

9 am-12 pm, Tisbury Council on Aging, Vineyard Haven. Play Reading for Artistic, Literary and Dramatic Pleasure 201-2077568, monahennessy1@gmail.com.

Greenhouse Soil Therapy!

Kayak & Stand Up Paddle Board Quest

Alida O’Loughlin Photography

Acrylic Painting with John Holladay 9 am-12 pm, Featherstone Center for the Arts, Oak Bluffs. Perfect your painting techniques and learn how to improve your composition, and use more dynamic color to give your work depth. 508-693-1850, featherstone@featherstoneart.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. Outside Storytime 10:15-10:45 am, Oak Bluffs Library. Join us for a fun-filled storytime with stories, songs, scarves, and a parachute. All ages are welcome. We’ll be inside with poor weather. 508693-9438, mlynch@clamsnet.org. Children’s Storytime 10:30-11 am, West Tisbury Library. Join Hannah for silly songs and stories. Ages 0-5 508-693-3366, hburbidge@clamsnet.org. Spring Spectacular Show 11 am-4 pm, Louisa Gould Gallery, Vineyard Haven. Annual Spring Group Show: Sean Roach, Christie Scheele, Teek EatonKoch, Juliean Jarreau, and Paul Beebe. 508-693-7373, louisa.gould@gmail.com. Mah Jong 1-3 pm, Up Island Council on Aging, West Tisbury. Come join us for Mah Jong every Wednesday from 1-3:00 @ The Up Island Council on Aging 1042 State Rd West Tisbury 508-6932896, coa-staff@westtisbury-ma.gov. Watercolor Wednesday 2:45-4 pm, Chilmark Library. Watercolor painting at the library 508-645-3360, chilmarklibrarykids@gmail.com. Virtual Reality for Tweens & Teens 3-5 pm, West Tisbury Library. For ages 10-18. Each participant’s time depends on the turn-out. lhearn@ clamsnet.org, 508-693-3366. 5 Science & Nature Book Club Reads Your Inner Fish” by Neil Shubin 3 pm, Grace Church, Vineyard Haven. For more information and to be added to the email list, contact vhpl_programs@ clamsnet.org or (508) 696-4211. Everyone is welcome! 508-696-4211, vhpl_programs@clamsnet.org. Drop-in Knitting Group with Cindy Bonnell 3-5 pm, Edgartown Library. All levels are welcome to bring their projects for support and inspiration. programs@ edgartownlibrary.org, 508-627-4221. Fit Camp with Bonnie Kingsbury 3-4 pm, Edgartown Library. This fun after-school youth fitness program 508627-4221, programs@edgartownlibrary.org. Pão de Queijo Make and Eat 3:15-4:15 pm, Oak Bluffs Library. Come make pão de queijo (Brazilian cheese bread) afterschool! Make and eat this delicious treat. For kids ages 8+. 508-693-9433, mlynch@clamsnet.org.

EXHIBITION DATES: MAY 29 - JUNE 5

Daily

Saturday 10am-5pm Sundays 12-5pm

White winter wolves survive the harsh Arctic cold because they have adapted to survive; they also rarely walk through life alone. That makes them the quintessential symbol of resilience and community in Rose Guerin’s new album, “Death and the Winter Wolf,” which details her experience with loss and the love that prevails.

Guerin found her own path, or rather, her own pack, with a family she chose. She’s an Islander, a vocalist, and a guitar player. She has performed with a variety of bands besides her own, like the Dock Dance Band and Johnny Hoy and the Bluefish, plus acts that tour internationally, like Vandaveer, Jim Kweskin, Joe Pug, and even Ringo Starr. She often performs as a duo with Buck Shank, another local guitarist. To many other musicians, Guerin is a master collaborator. To the Island community, she’s family.

Her impact on the Vineyard runs deep, and her new album is about the way others have impacted her, too. In an interview with The Times, Guerin discussed some of the people who have inspired her, those who are featured in the album, and those who have passed on — the losses that informed the songs themselves.

“I think that maybe speaking about grief, and writing about grief, makes it easier to write songs that are completely open and vulnerable,” Guerin said. “I’ve become a lot more comfortable with death, and honestly with the celebration of the life that somebody has lived.”

The 10 songs on the album are folkand blues-inspired, featuring resonant lyrics and vocals from Guerin herself. The album was produced by Justin Craig, and is Guerin’s second solo album; her first was self-titled, and was released in 2022.

Each track on “Death and the Winter Wolf” is an expression of raw emotion. The song “To Be Golden,” featuring Willy Mason, is about Guerin’s chosen uncle, a Wampanoag of Gay Head (Aquinnah) man named Horatio Malonson, who Guerin said passed away in 1984 when he was 30 years old and she was 9. Malonson was deaf, but used to tell Guerin stories by vocalizing sounds and motioning with his hands. “I see him on the beach, I see his footprints next to mine, and it’s a great comfort to me,” Guerin said of Malonson.

Another track that features Mason, titled “It’s Not Too Late,” is about the passing of Mason’s father and Guerin’s friend, Michael Mason, as well as Guerin’s stepmother, Jessie Benton.

a bright red wig or light, soft blond. She’s an emotive performer, her hands moving with the rise and fall of her voice. Her lyrics are descriptive, bold, and full of her history.

“I think that the only place that I’ve ever felt like I was supposed to be was onstage. It’s the most comfortable place for me there is. I can see everything, and I can just be my most authentic self,” Guerin said.

However, there’s another side to Guerin: the self-described “hippie” who loves others passionately. She communes with plants — which, she added, she’d be more than happy to discuss more often — towering trees, and the sand under her feet. “That is kind of my joy — [I’m] not as much of a social butterfly as people think I am,” she said with a laugh.

But along with that softness in her love of nature, Guerin has been a strong presence in the music scene on the Island. Guerin’s energy has made her a force to be reckoned with. Her passion led Guerin to start

DENA PORTER

“ I’ve become a lot more comfortable with death, and honestly with the celebration of the life that somebody has lived.”

– ROSE GUERIN

Rose Guerin’s new album offers warmth after a cold, hard winter.

BY SARAH SHAW DAWSON

Many of the songs feature Guerin’s drummer, Robby Cosenza, who passed away in 2024 from a rare form of cancer. The mastered tracks were sent to John Forté, a beloved Islander, mentor, and record producer, right before he died suddenly this winter at the age of 50. Some of the losses that inspired Guerin’s music are forever woven into the songs themselves. The track titled “Home,” featuring her chosen sister Samoa Wilson, is an homage to Guerin’s history in the place she chose to experience all the highs and lows of life: the Vineyard. “It was steep and rocky from the start … When fear would steal my sleep and dreams from me, she always had the sweetest songs to sing of home,” lull the lyrics of “Home.” Guerin grew up in Chilmark. Her childhood, she said, was “less than conventional,” but taught her the value of friendship and the natural world. As a 19-year-old, she moved to Spain. It was in that faraway country, by the waves of the Mediterranean, that she fell in love with performing.

“I met a lot of really incredible musicians, and started touring incessantly,” Guerin said. She spoke Spanish, made her way to Mexico, wrote songs, and eventually found her way to Washington, D.C. Finally, she felt the pull back to the familiar shores of the Vineyard.

“I moved home because I realized it’s where I wanted to be,” she told The Times. Since moving home, Guerin has written music and performed often. That’s how many Islanders know her. From behind the mic, her signature hair flip is a wash of color, occasionally

Ladyfest, a festival that features women and nonbinary musicians, and even pushed some now-famed locals to start performing.

Delanie Pickering, for example, met Guerin on one of her first nights after moving full-time to Martha’s Vineyard. Pickering said she ducked into the Ritz on a “gray, drizzly June evening” when Guerin was working behind the bar. Guerin told Pickering to come back the next day for blues music. “So I did,” Pickering said. The rest is history; Pickering is now a full-time musician, touring around the world with her own band and playing locally with Johnny Hoy and Jeremy Berlin.

“She was the first one to hire me to play gigs,” Pickering said. “She took a chance on a stranger.”

Pickering and Guerin played together for years after that initial meeting, both in Guerin’s band and with Johnny Hoy and the Bluefish. Guerin has also performed in a trio with beloved local musicians

Jemima James and Kate Taylor.

“Once you meet her, it’s as if you’ve always known her. She is a vibrant life force indeed,” Taylor said of Guerin. “Her songs are filled with her passion. She doesn’t hold back. I’ve loved all her songs, and I find [“Death and the Winter Wolf”] expresses her natural growth as a singer, a performer, a writer, and a woman. A glittering star of, and for, the Island.”

In her new album, Guerin reflected on the people who changed her, the love that stayed, and the losses that have left behind unfathomable grief, along with new perspectives. Her family, like a wolf pack, continues to walk with her, both in life and in the remembered imprint of their footprints in the sand.

“For me, with my family, it’s always been the people that I love, the people that I’m with — and we take care of each other,” Guerin said.

Rose Guerin really energized the crowd as funds were raised for our veterans.

1. The album cover of "Death and the Winter Wolf," by Guerin. 2. Rose Guerin at Kenworthy.

"The time to ﬁx

Michael

of product knowledge, craftsmanship, e ciency and follow through. Lynch is a third generation roofer, proudly and passionately following in the footsteps of both his father and grandfather.

Michael Lynch is justifiably proud of his company's work on homes throughout the island, as well as some of the areas classic New England churches incuding the historic Old Whaling Church in Edgartown as one Associate Roofing project that delivered significant satisfaction among many others. Associate Roofing has a rich legacy, a solid portfolio and a hard to match reputation, they deliver what they promise. Three Generations of Roofers -Since 1932.

in Shingle,

M.V.

A monthly newsletter from your local Councils on Aging and the Martha’s Vineyard Center for Living PO Box 1729, Vineyard Haven, MA Tel: 508-939-9440. By Mary Holmes

June 2026 - Vol. 30, Issue 6

SHINE NEWS

A new volunteer opportunity awaits!

The Cape Cod & Islands Regional SHINE program is now recruiting volunteers for our 2026 training class. No prior experience with health insurance is required — we provide comprehensive screening, training, and certification so you can become a Medicare expert.

As a SHINE volunteer, you can make a real difference by

• Counseling individuals one-on-one

• Speaking to community groups

• Providing office support

We’ll help you find the role that fits your skills and interests. All you need is integrity, a willingness to learn, and a desire to help others.

Medicare can be confusing. If you’ve navigated the enrollment process yourself, you know how challenging it can be. Now, you can guide others through their first enrollment, help them compare plan options, or troubleshoot issues.

CORE

Join the SHINE team and become a trusted resource in your community!

You know your community and neighbors best, that’s why your involvement matters. SHINE volunteers are highly trained and certified to assist with

• Original Medicare (Parts A and B)

• Medicare Advantage (Part C)

• Prescription drug coverage (Part D)

• Medicare supplement (Medigap)

• Programs that help reduce healthcare costs

Make a meaningful impact.

Become a SHINE volunteer today!

Please call the Cape Cod & Islands Regional SHINE Program Manager

Kristina Whiton-O’Brien at 508-3756762, and choose option No. 2 to sign up!

Ann Baird • 508-693-7900, ext. 210 • mvcommunityservices.org

Counseling, Outreach, and Referral for the Elderly (CORE) at M.V. Community Services works with at-risk and mostly homebound seniors in the community,

addressing significant physical, behavioral health, social, and casemanagement needs of seniors age 60plus, at no cost to the client.

Thank you to all who supported our Walk for Dementia and Caregiver Services! We could not have done this without the support of our sponsors: Mirick, Araujo Bros., Donaroma’s Nursery, Hutker Architects, Bridges by EPOCH, Cronig’s Markets, the Green Room, M.V. Insurance, Tea Lane Associates, Forbes, and Our Market and Your Market. Thank you to Nomans for hosting our registration and afterparty, and to the talented Seven Hills Band for playing for us. We can’t wait to do it again next year! Save the date: May 15, 2027.

Announcements

• MV Sharks Bat for Dementia Awareness! Join us on June 10 at 6:35 pm at the Shark Tank for a baseball game honoring Dementia and Brain Health Awareness Month.

• The center is welcoming volunteers for all interests! Call or email today.

• MVCL will be closed, Friday, June 19, in observance of Juneteenth.

Regular programs

Mon-Fri: 9 am – 3 pm, Supportive Day Program

Wed: Memory Support Group, 10-11:30 am Thu: Every third Thu. (June 18), 10:30 to noon, Music & Memory Cafe Fri: 11 – noon, Open House Fri: 10 – 11:15 am, Dementia Caregiver Support Group on Zoom. Call for a link!

Services

Fees may apply. Call for more information.

• Supportive Day Program - Activity and social program

• Respite Innovations - Home visits

• Dementia coaching - To make home life easier

• Support groups - Professionally led for both caregivers and those experiencing memory changes

• Resources and education - Remove stigma and learn strategies

The Supportive Day Program (SDP)

SDP is a daily program for older adults who may experience memory challenges or dis-

ability. Enriching activities and a family-style lunch create a day of community engagement, purpose, and meaning. Equally important is the respite provided for caregivers. When a caregiver has time for rest and self-care, the quality of life for both the caregiver and care recipient improves. Call Stacey Northrop (ext. 102) to learn about registration.

Respite Innovations

Respite Innovations brings person-centered engagement into the home, and affords caregivers time to take care of themselves. Call Ann Baird at MVCL if you are a caregiver who would benefit from a break! 508-9399440 ext. 105

Resources and education

• The Family Caregiver Support Program

This program advocates for caregivers, providing memory screenings, family meeting facilitation, ongoing Alzheimer’s and dementia education, and referrals to programs that can support your caregiving efforts. Our services at MVCL provide meaningful tools and tips for a better caregiving experience. We support any caregiver living on Martha’s Vineyard, or who is caring from afar for someone living here.

• Caregiver counseling:

We can help you navigate the system of public and private care for the best plan to meet your needs. Consultation can be provided in the home, at our office, or over the phone. We can meet with caregivers individually or as a family.

• Dementia Friends

Dementia Friends USA is part of a global movement that is changing the way people think, act, and talk about dementia. By providing a free, one-hour Dementia Friends Information Session for your staff, you are helping the community better serve our neighbors. Contact Mary Holmes, Dementia Friends champion, at maryh@mvcenter4living.org or 508-939-9440 to arrange a free session today!

JUNE 2026

Emergency Food Program

For emergency food, please contact your local Council on Aging.

Shopping Shuttle

Please see Healthy Aging MV’s article for exciting changes in this service.

M.V. Mediation

Serving our community by providing education, outreach, mediation, conflict coaching, facilitation and related services to help prevent and resolve conflicts. mvmediation.org, 508.693.2999.

Mary Holmes, Executive Director Program hours: Monday through Friday 9 am - 3 pm.

Medicare 101

Wednesday, June 17, 1 to 3 pm. Refreshments will be served. Join us for an overview of Medicare, covering parts A, B, C and D, Medigap plans, and programs that help lower costs for those with limited income or assets.

Presented by the Cape Cod and Islands regional SHINE program, offering free, unbiased Medicare counseling for beneficiaries, caregivers, and those nearing eligibility. RSVP to shine@capecod.gov by June 12. At the Oak Bluffs Council on Aging, 21 Wamsutta Ave., Oak Bluffs.

HEALTHY AGING MARTHA’S VINEYARD

Cindy Trish, Executive director • 508-693-7900, ext. 455

Shopping Shuttle

For several years, many Island residents have enjoyed the convenient, reliable Shopping Shuttle service offered by Martha’s Vineyard Center for Living. As of July 1, this service is being shifted to and expanded through a partnership between Healthy Aging M.V., the VTA, and your local Councils on Aging, with supporting funding from MassDOT.

As we approach the hectic summer season, consider alternative ways to get around our beautiful Island. Read on to learn more about the new Community Shopping Shuttle and more.

Community Shopping Shuttle

Do you want to ditch driving and retire from the hassle of traffic and parking? We’ll take you there! A friendly, reliable ride makes it easy to get out and about and to connect with friends and neighbors while getting your shopping and errands done.

• Mondays, Edgartown (Stop & Shop, Pharmacy, Morning Glory Farm, Triangle area)

• Wednesdays, Vineyard Haven (Stop & Shop, Post Office, Cronig’s, Medicine Shoppe, Main St.)

• Thursdays, Up-Island (Up-Island Cronig’s, Conroy Pharmacy, M.V. Bank)

• Fridays, Oak Bluffs (Reliable Market, Island Food Pantry)

Ready to ride?

To register for the shuttle, book a ride and learn more, call your local Council on Aging

Edgartown: 508-627-4368

Oak Bluffs: 508-693-4509

Tisbury: 508-696-4205*

Up-Island: 508-693-2896

Island Elderly Housing residents of Woodside village or Aidylberg, call 508-693-7009.

*Note: Residents of Hillside Village or Love House please call Tisbury Council on Aging

More transportation options from Healthy Aging M.V.

M.V. Connect

Free door-to-door transportation for medical, shopping, and cultural activity trips for older adults. Rides are scheduled in advance and fulfilled by volunteer drivers.

GoGoGrandparent

Schedules Lyft and Uber rides for older adults. HAMV maintains a partnership with GoGoGranparent and covers membership fees and provides a limited monthly stipend to help cover the cost of rides.

Call the HAMV mobility manager to learn more and register for transportation options at 508-240-4929.

Transportation options and updates: 508-240-4929.

UP-ISLAND COUNCIL ON AGING

Bethany Hammond, Director • 508-693-2896

Mondays:

• Strength and Fitness, 9 and 9:35 am *Virtual

• Yoga, 9:15 am *Virtual

• Balletics, 9 am

• Bowling and Lunch at the Barn, Bowl & Bistro, 11:30 to 1:30 pm.

• Let the staff know you are with the Up-Island COA to get the discounted price of $10!

• Parkinson’s Support Group, second and fourth Mondays at 1 pm Tuesdays:

• Strength and Fitness, 9 and 9:35 am * Virtual

• Keeping the Balance, 10 am

• Duplicate Bridge, 1 pm Wednesdays:

• Attorney Conni Baker (second Wednesday), by appointment only.

• Yoga, 9:15 am * Virtual

• Fitness with Margarita, 10 am

• Aging GREATfully (first and third Wednesdays), 10 am

• Soup Social (second Wednesday), noon Thursdays:

• Strength and Fitness, 9 and 9:35 am *Virtual

• Balletics, 9 am

• Tech Pro Help (first and third Thursdays), 11-1

• Weekly Lunch, 12:30 pm. Sign up by the

Monday before.

• Wellness Clinic with VNA nurse: Third Thursday, 12:15-1:15 pm

• NEW PROGRAM: Chair Yoga, 2:30 pm Fridays:

• Strength and Fitness, 9 and 9:35 am *Virtual

• Yoga, 9 am *Virtual

• Keeping the Balance, 10 am

• Fitness with Margarita, 10:30 am

• Lunch and Learn at Chilmark library (first Friday of the month), 11:30-1 pm.

June speaker: Historic Commission

• Watercolor Art Group, 1 pm

SPECIAL PROGRAMMING!

• Aquinnah luncheon

Wednesday, June 24, at noon, Aquinnah Town Hall. Delicious homemade lunch. Call 508-693-2896 to sign up.

• Office hours with outreach coordinator

Rocy Turner: Friday, June 12, @ 10:30 at Chilmark library, and Wednesday, June 17 at 10:30 am at Wampanoag Tribe. Call for an appointment: 508-693-2896.

• Creating Spaces with Paula Martin Thursday, June 11, at 1:15 pm. Tips to unclutter and organize!

TISBURY COUNCIL ON AGING

Catie Blake, Director • 508-696-4205

WEEKLY ACTIVITIES

Mondays

8:15, Tai Chi with Shaka

9:30 - 10:30, Line Dancing with Catie 11-12, Chair Yoga with Kat 1-3, Mah Jong

Call on Monday to make a lunch reservation for Thursday: 508-693-4393, ext. 466.

Tuesdays

8:30 - 9:30, Earlybird Fitness

10 - 11, Fitness with Catie 11:05 - noon, Chair Volleyball

Wednesdays

8:30, Town Walkers (meet at the Riverhead Frisbee Park on Barnes Road)

9, Play Readers with Discussion

1, Shredding with Cynthia (Living room)

1, Ukulele Players

1 Pick-Up Ping Pong (lower level)

12 Knitting Studio with Jo

Thursdays

8:30-9:30, Earlybird Fitness 10-11, Fitness with Catie 11:05 - noon, Cornhole, Lunch at noon. Reservations required on prior Monday. 508-693-4393, ext. 466. $4 suggested donation

Fridays

9 - 9:50, Yoga with Kat 10 - 11, Chair Yoga with Kat 11:15 - 12:15. Chair Volleyball 1, Tai Chi with Shaka Announcements

Visit our website, tisburycoa.com.

• Food Rescue, every M-F, 9:45 am

• Heart of Art featuring Frank Rapoza in the Living room.

• Please call 508-696-4205 to borrow or donate medical equipment. We have a large supply. Before you buy, check with us! Call for information on legal help, the home modification program, shopping assistance, and more.

EDGARTOWN COUNCIL ON AGING

Lyndsay Famariss, Director • 508-627-4368

The Anchors is closed on Friday, June 19, for Juneteenth.

Weekly events

Monday

12:30 pm: Bridge

2 pm: Katama Walk

Tuesday

Edgartown Shopping Shuttle; call the Anchors to register.

9 am: Yoga with Carol Vega

10 am: Knitting

12 pm: Tuesday lunch

1:15 pm: Mah Jongg

Wednesday

9:30 am: Tai Chi with Nan Doty

12:30 pm: Bridge

Thursday

9:30 am: Intro to Tai Chi with Nan Doty

11 am: Ladies’ Coffee

12-1 pm: Souper Thursday. Free!

Friday

Edgartown Shopping Shuttle; call the Anchors to register.

9-11 am: Men’s Group

12 pm: Friday Cafe

1:15 pm: Mah Jongg

June calendar

Visit edgartowncoa.com for more info on programs & services. Register for programs in advance by calling 508-627-4368.

Tues. and Fri. lunches: Meals served at noon. Call by noon the day before to register. Visit edgartowncoa.com for our menu.

VTA/ECOA Shuttle on Tuesdays and Fridays. The bus will pick up residents at their homes, take them to Stop & Shop, pharmacy, Post Office, and/or the ECOA,

and take them home. Please sign up by Friday at noon for Tuesday shuttle, and Wednesday by noon for the Friday shuttle. June 1, 15, 29: Cuts for Seniors by Dee Dee. By appointment only; call the Anchors. Cut for $20, or cut and blow-dry for $30.

June 2: Wellness Clinic and blood pressure checks during lunch. Drop in, 12-1 pm

June 8: 1-3 pm, Sight Loss support group meets at the Anchors. Please call for more information and to register for this new group, which will meet monthly on the second Monday.

June 9: 11 am, Coffee with a Cop. Come learn what’s new at the EPD. June 10: Hearing checks with Shawn Woodbrey of At Home Hearing. Call for an appointment. Shawn is here on the second Wednesday of the month. June 11: 1 pm at Edgartown library, “In the Whale,” a feature-length film about a Cape Cod lobster diver who was swallowed by a whale and lived to tell the tale. Followed by an exclusive Q and A with the director, David Abel.

June 12: 8:30 am, ECOA board meets at the Anchors.

June 12: Drop-In Tech Help with Rizwan Malik.

June 18: 12 pm, join us in welcoming the dynamic musical duo Beach Plum Jam! Rich Giaimo and Becky Williams will perform during our Souper Thursday Cafe. Free and open to all.

June 26: 12 pm, Birthday Cafe to celebrate June birthdays.

June 26: 9:30 am, Meeting of the Friends of Edgartown Council on Aging.

OAK BLUFFS COUNCIL ON AGING

Rose Cogliano, Director • 508-693-4509

Weekly activities

Daily: Beverages and Snacks all day, 9 am-3 pm

Mondays

• Exercise with Patience Campell and Marilyn Miller, in person or on Zoom, 9 am.

• Chair Volleyball, 1-2pm

• Blood Pressure Clinic with Nurse Faith Laskaris at 12-1 pm, June 8 and 22 Tuesdays

• Board Games, 1-3 pm

• Cornhole,1-3 pm

• Crochet and Knitting, 1-3 pm

• Peticare with Debbie, biweekly at 10 am, June 2 and 16. Call for a reservation. Pets must be leashed or crated.

• Wellness Clinic, June 9 at 12:30 pm.

• OBCOA and OBPD Luncheon, June 23 at noon. Call to make your reservations. Wednesdays

• Coffee with a Cop, June 3, at 10:30 am. Come join Chief Searle for informative and interesting conversation!

• Stroke and Memory Support Group weekly, 9:30 am, June 3, 10 am, and June 10, 17, and 24.

• Medicare 101, 1-3 pm, June 17. Refreshments will be served. Join us for an overview of Medicare covering Parts A, B, C, and D, Medigap plans, and programs that help lower costs for those with limited income or assets. Presented by the Cape Cod and Islands Regional SHINE Program. RSVP to shine@ capecod.gov by June 12.

• Bingo, 1-3 pm, June 3, 10, and 24 ursdays

• Exercise with Bill White, 9 am, in person or on Zoom.

• Board Games, 1-3 pm

• Crochet/Knit, 1-3 pm

• Pizza Party! Call Rose at 508-693-4509, ext. 3, to reserve. No reservation, no pizza! Fridays June 4, 25, at 1 pm

• Tai Chi with Floyd Lifton, 9 am, in person or on Zoom

• Back to OBCOA! Cell Phone Mastery, at 11 am, June 12 and 26

• Game Day, 12-3 pm Monthly programs

• June 3,Co ee, Tea, and Conversations with a Cop. Meet Chief Searle and his great team! Refreshments; 10:30 am Monthly Board of Directors Meeting, 10:30 am in person on Thursday, June 18, and live on Zoom.

• Social Security Video Display Program, June 22 at 9:30 am. Call for an appointment.

• Open Enrollment/SHINE. Please contact us to schedule an appointment if you have any insurance needs, questions, updates. Call 508-693-4509, ext. 3.

• Outreach with Susan von Steiger, 508693-4509, ext. 4.

• Applications and forms preparation

• Durable medical equipment

• Fuel assistance, by appointment with Susan

• Insurance assistance

• Lifeline

• Monthly Social Security Video Display Program

• SNAP

• Reassurance phone calls

Rose’s Wish List: We need adjustable metal canes with rubber bases, metal canes with four prongs. Also bath and shower seats in gently used and new condition. Please consider donating them to us to provide them for our seniors’ use!

WELCOME JUNE!

Happy summer to you and your family!

This year’s Vineyard Conservation Society’s “Art of Conservation” exhibition at the Feldman Family Artspace at the M.V. Film Center continues to shine a light on our Island’s talented and thoughtful youth.

VCS launched the “Art of Conservation” contest in 2014 to encourage MVRHS students to deepen their connections with nature and the habitats that sustain it — and to exhibit their creativity. This year’s theme was “threshold,” and students were encouraged to interpret it however they wished. The staff took them on field trips to Caroline Tuthill Preserve as an initial source of inspiration. Some went out on their own as well. Outside judges from the art community selected winners among the 42 submissions.

Student thresholds

Vineyard Conservation Society’s “Art of Conservation” exhibition.

BY ABBY REMER

Lucas Thors, programming and communications coordinator, noted about this year’s theme, “There are many concrete examples of thresholds in nature, whether it’s a coastline or the periphery of your yard. But there are also abstract interpretations, so I thought this gave students a variety of different angles to approach from.”

The process involves VCS pitching the contest to teachers at the school. Thors explains, “Some will integrate it into their

curriculum, some will offer extra credit, and others will simply present the contest to their classes and encourage submissions. High school drawing and painting teacher Tiffiney Shoquist and photography teacher Chris Baer really make this contest happen.”

The students explored the concept of threshold in various ways. Photography was the favored medium, with 34 submissions in that category; portraying the meeting of land and water attracted quite a few.

Caught in a single instant, Keiry Fonseca brings us eye-level with the cascading waves in “A Coastal Embrace.” Our eye moves back through the composition, from the soft sand at our feet to the rollicking white foam with the ocean blue behind, all topped with a crystal-clear aqua sky. Fonseca writes about the photograph, “A brief threshold where crashing waves meet rough sand dissolves into a quiet, passing embrace.”

The water in Rebecca Duarte’s photograph, “Rocky Ocean,” glimmers in a small pool between the rust-colored rocks, providing, as she says, “a new home for surrounding species at Caroline Tuthill. Sun beaming on the glistening water that reflects its beauty and warmth while it crashes against the sharp edges of the rocks nearby, creating this perfect harmony in nature.”

“Some [teachers] will integrate it into their curriculum, some will offer extra credit, and others will simply present

and encourage

For Davi de Souza, the threshold might be the line between what is visible and a concept, as embodied in the work’s title, “Follow Your Dreams,” in which we come upon a well-worn rowboat. The orange, tan, and brown tones create a unifying composition. De Souza starts the description with a poem:

Follow the light

Follow the Reflection

Follow the dream

De Souza adds, “The photo seems interesting because it looks to me like someone getting ready to start a new dream and follow their journey.”

Mayu Paniora-Vento’s photograph, “Waves Between Us,” depicts a group of close friends, knee-high in the water just off the shore at Lambert’s Cove Beach, with the

sunset on the horizon dividing them from the sky above. The youth are on the threshold of adulthood. Paniora-Vento says, “The moment captured more than a photo; it captured friendship and freedom.”

Charlie Sebastian takes us inland for his threshold in “Weathered Wood.” Sebastian writes about the close-up portrait of the tall, bare, textured trunk, “The tree is half dead but also half alive. Is it too far gone? What is the story behind the scarred, withered bark that is stripped on one side?”

Jasper Grow speaks of a metaphorical threshold in an unusual monochromatic image of a white tick against a dark background in the stark photograph, “The Leeches Limen.” A limen is a threshold — the point or boundary at which a stimulus is just strong enough to be perceived, or the physical or figurative boundary separating two distinct conditions. Grow writes, “The human’s low threshold for

tolerance is an immovable force; here, the Vineyard's most infamous parasite becomes a specimen under the light of the scanner, flattened, held down, and humbled by generic tape.”

Tahirah Waite’s threshold relates to the feeling of living on the Island in the drawing “Island Life,” depicting a large group of Polar Bears joyously gathered, arms aloft, in the turquoise ocean off the gray sandy beach. Waite says, “My work ties around the themes of living close to water and what being a part of community means to me. I have always admired parts of Martha’s Vineyard, like the Gay Head Lighthouse, Aquinnah Cliffs, and in Oak Bluffs, Inkwell Beach, where the Polar Bears go out into the water and circle around each other, representing years of tradition and Black culture.”

Floreana G. contrasts two drastically different environments in an untitled drawing: "My artwork connects to the

1. Mayu Paniora-Vento’s photograph, “Waves Between Us."

2. Charlie Sebastian's "Weathered Wood."

3. Tahira Waite's "Island Life."

4. Rebecca Duarte’s photograph, “Rocky Ocean."

5. Keiry Fonseca, "Coastal Embrace."

6. Davi de Souza, "Follow Your Dreams."

7. “The Leeches Limen,” by Jasper Grow.

8. An untitled drawing by Floreana G.

theme ‘thresholds’ because it shows the line between two different worlds, nature and the city. The girl in the middle represents standing at the point of change, caught between growth and life on one side, and pollution and destruction on the other.”

Thors says, “I think this year's theme was a bit more challenging than some prior years; it required students to think outside the box and not be too literal in their artistic interpretation. But I think many students really rose to the challenge, and I hope viewers see how much deep thought goes into conceptualizing each piece, before the artists even pick up their brushes or cameras.”

The Vineyard Conservation Society’s “Art of Conservation” is on view at the M.V. Film Center through June 14. For more information, visit bit.ly/VCS_Conservation2026.

Wild Side

BY MATT PELIKAN

If there is one mental trait that unifies naturalists around the world, it is probably being comfortable with not knowing all the answers. To be sure, I think we’re all driven by the impulse to know everything about everything in the natural world. But given how much biodiversity is out there and how complex the interactions among wild plants and animals can be, the best we can hope for is knowing a little bit about a few things.

Indeed, everything I learn seems to open more questions than it answers; the more I know, the less I understand. If you find that frustrating, then studying nature may not be for you. But if incomplete knowledge strikes you mainly as an opportunity to learn more, you’re likely to find the natural world infinitely captivating.

A good example might be a robber fly that has been much on my mind: Cyrtopogon marginalis, sometimes called the shinyedged bandit. Some aspects of this insect’s lifestyle are quickly grasped; others I think I’m figuring out; still others bewilder me.

C. marginalis is a distinctive insect, and as robber flies go, it’s rather sluggish, docile, and easy to observe. Its range spans the East Coast from New Jersey to New Hampshire, plus the

Great Lakes region, with a few scattered records at higher elevations in the Appalachians. Despite its broad distribution, Cyrtopogon marginalis appears to be common nowhere; it’s another on a long list of specialized insects that sparsely inhabit barren habitats.

Like all robber flies, it is a predator, taking aerial prey. But I think every individual I’ve ever seen has been basking complacently in the sun, usually on loose, sandy soil. With one exception, all of my Vineyard records of this species come from the productive fire lanes of Correllus State Forest.

Robber flies are typically hairy, spiny insects, and the shiny-edged bandit elevates this trait to an extreme. All six legs are densely covered with short spines. A row of spines rings the thorax, which otherwise features a row of four or five inexplicable shiny knobs along each side. The abdomen is hairy, with each abdominal segment edged by a band of white hair (I’ll return to this feature later). And the underside of this fly is covered with long, dense, white hair, which, I suspect, offers thermal insulation against the

sun-heated sand the species clearly loves to perch on.

The iNaturalist platform contains 58 observations of this species, and the photos associated with the vast majority of those observations show the insect basking on loose, sometimes gravelly sand. Moreover, on the one

heat? Why don’t the eggs dry out and fail? Why does this species persistently perch in such an exposed setting, standing out as a target for the convenience of any bird that would like to eat it? This fly has a lifestyle with a multitude of apparent downsides.

So one thing I do know about C. marginalis is that it really, really likes sand. But the question this raises is, very simply, Why?

or two occasions on which I’ve seen females laying eggs, they’ve been doing it in loose, dry sand, in full sun.

So one thing I do know about C. marginalis is that it really, really likes sand. But the question this raises is, very simply, Why? Bare sand in full sun is a hostile, desiccating environment. Why don’t the adults over-

A partial answer comes from examining the photos of the species in iNaturalist. A few of these, including one of my own, show an individual holding a prey item, and in all cases that item is a wasp or bee. So I know, or think I know, that this predator is a bee and wasp specialist, and the dense spines are likely protection

against defensive stings. I built on this idea as a result of a recent, momentary misidentification. Cueing on those white hair bands on the abdomen — a bee-like feature — I recently mistook a perched Cyrtopogon for a bee in the genus Colletes. Finally recognizing the mistake, I poked the fly with a finger, and, as this species usually does when disturbed, it weakly flew a couple of meters and perched, once again, on open sand. Botching the initial ID showed me how much this fly can look like Colletes. Now, one particular Colletes species, C. validus, overlaps strikingly with Cyrtopogon marginalis in its Vineyard distribution, its period of adult activity, and its fondness for sand (the bees nest underground in sandy soil, and male Colletes, especially, spend much

of their time patrolling low over the ground in sandy areas, searching for nesting females but easily targetable by Cyrtopogon). Mimicry of bees is a common evolutionary strategy for robber flies that prey on bees, presumably making it easier to get close to potential victims (the huge genus Laphria, for instance, has the common name “bee-like robber flies”). Finally, C. marginalis has a demonstrated fondness for hymenoptera prey. So my current hypothesis is that, at least on the Vineyard, Cyrtopogon marginalis is optimized as a predator of Colletes bees, quite specifically. In coming years, I hope to spend more time with this fly, watching it for long enough to see it take prey. It might confirm or deny my hypothesis — while undoubtedly raising new questions to explore.