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Mike Alberice braves the cold after the Freezin’ for a Reason 5K at Long Point Wildlife Refuge. The race benefited veterans and the West Tisbury School Scholarship Fund. — Lexi Pline
Gannon and Benjamin opened their doors to guests to celebrate the Vineyard Haven wooden boatbuilder's 40th anniversary. — Lexi Pline
Brian Packish, who was Oak Bluffs selectmen chair at the time, read a prepared statement about then-Fire Chief John Rose and the controversy that swirled around him. — Lexi Pline
Times staffers got together to bake pies, and this one, from reporter Brian Dowd, was a hit. — Lexi Pline
Steve Maxner and his dog Ollie on Eastville Point Beach. Maxner, a Vietnam War veteran, creates art from objects he finds on his walks. — Lexi Pline
Alysha Norbury cheers as a passing car honks in solidarity at a rally held on the anniversary of the Women's March. — Lexi Pline
Islanders gathered at the Agricultural Hall for the annual Meat Ball, a celebration of all things made from meat. — Anthony Esposito
The Chappy Ferry at work on a Monday evening. Chappaquiddickers met with Edgartown selectmen to demand a ferry governing board. — Rich Saltzberg
Former Steamship Authority board member Marc Hanover receives a standing ovation from SSA management, the board, and the port council at his last meeting. — Rich Saltzberg
Jaiden Edelman, performing in "Big Fish" at the Performing Arts Center. Playwright Edward Bloom focused on the complexity of familial relationships. — Lexi Pline
Islander Lynn Thorp is determined to revive Martha's Vineyard sign language, which was a basis for American Sign Language (ASL). Here, she gives the ASL sign for the letter V. — Lexi Pline
Julie Scott, left, vice president of the Ag Society and mastermind behind the annual Meat Ball, dances with volunteer Prin Van Gulden. — Lucas Thors
Spencer Binney, Benita Dobel, Dylan Fernandes, Julie Fay, Denise Schepici, Jeremy Norton, and Kelly McCarron at the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Peer Recovery Support Center. The state awarded a $400,000 contract for the joint project between M.V. Community Services and Martha's Vineyard Hospital. — Mila Lowe
Amelia and Seraphine Smith look at the offerings available at Island libraries from their home computer. — Photo: Michael Craughwell; Photo Illustration: Kristófer Rabasca
Early on in the pandemic, Martha's Vineyard Hospital employees made a plea to the public to stay home, as all across the country there were pleas to "flatten the curve" of COVID-19. — Courtesy Katrina Delgadillo
Chef Amy Johnson in her Tisbury food truck. The truck won approval of the Tisbury select board, but only after it had been operating without proper permits. — Lexi Pline
A blacklight shows what parts of their hands Chilmark school kids missed in their efforts to wash hands and avoid getting the coronavirus. — Lexi Pline
Emma Bena holds a sign in support of Plastic Free MV at the Vineyard Haven polling place. Down-Island towns were supposed to take on the plastic ban, but the pandemic got in the way. — Lexi Pline
Paraglider pilot John Gallagher glides over Oak Bluffs Town Beach one early spring day. — Glenn Sauder
“A social distancing hike at Cedar Tree Neck. We each took or own car - it was to be in the woods and by the sea!” — Lisa Leonard
Tillie Taylor, a first grader at the Chilmark School, meets with her classmates for a class. — M.V. Times
Tisbury Police Officer Nick Sidoti helps unload a shipment of personal protective equipment for Island first responders. — Lexi Pline
Marion Cardoza, 98, and Lillian Anderson, 74, were married on the front steps of their home. — Courtesy of Dolores Borza
The Martha's Vineyard Airport terminal building was eerily quiet during a visit to drop off a rental car on March 21. — Kate Feiffer
Resident Sue Jenkinson sends wishes to her daughter Sandy and Granddaughters Jen and heather. — Courtesy Betsy Burmeister
Jen Maxner, Amy Upton, Diana Reilly and Amanda Mead, AKA the “Corona Stompers,” handed out hand-made masks and other saftey equipment at Morning Glory Farm on Wednesday. — Lexi Pline
Max Davies (left) and Jacob Cardoza are following proper health and safety protocols while working at their job site. — Lucas Thors
A piling snapped and broke a railing at the Oak Bluffs Pier. Coastal Marine Construction was doing emergency repairs to get the pier ready for the season, and recently completed the full repair project. — Ron Zentner
Signs announcing curbside pickup, like this one at Rainy Day, became the norm around the Island in late spring. — Rich Saltzberg
It was a different kind of Memorial Day ceremony, but deceased veterans were remembered with Vineyard Haven's "Avenue of Flags." — Lexi Pline
With virtual graduation ceremonies for college students the "new normal," Denison University graduates Meg Chandler, Lee Hayman, and Isabel Davis jumped off Big Bridge in their caps and gowns to celebrate. The three classmates quarantined together on the Island. — Lexi Pline
Duncan MacDonald thanks members of the Scottish Society for stopping by to celebrate her 104th birthday in May. In July, she passed away. — Lexi Pline
Firefighters, police, and others held a parade at Martha's Vineyard Hospital to say thanks to the healthcare workers on the frontlines of the pandemic. — Lexi Pline
Katie Friedman, a nurse practitioner, created a sign with her hospital coworkers for the frontline workers' parade. Island first responders staged a parade with police cars, ambulances, and more that traveled to essential businesses on the Island, honoring their workers during the pandemic. — Lexi Pline
Ryan Murray, center, at the beach with his mom, Rose, and dad, John. Remote learning was a particularly difficult challenge for special needs students. — Lexi Pline
Tracy Briscoe, an employee of Benito's in Oak Bluffs, takes the temperature of a customer. Benito's limited the shop to one employee and one customer at a time after finally reopening. — Lexi Pline
Daily drawing exercises at Featherstone Center for the Arts attracted Islanders of all sorts. — Courtesy Featherstone
The annual Felix Neck bird-a-thon took place with a twist this year. Along with binoculars covering the eyes of participants, there were masks covering faces. — M.V. Times
Passengers, many wearing masks, walk off the 6:45 am boat in Vineyard Haven. It took a mandate by Gov. Charlie Baker for the SSA to require its passengers to wear masks while on the ferries. — Lexi Pline
West Tisbury School students, parents, and members of the community placed messages of hope on a clothesline in front of the school. — Lucas Thors
The Lucy Vincent Sentinel, a remnant of Super Storm Sandy, came toppling down due to high surf and drenching rains. — M.V. Times
Baby chicks at North Tabor Farm. Chickens and the eggs they lay were a big commodity on the Island during the past year. — Lisa Vanderhoop
When they couldn't hold graduation on time, MVRHS held a parade for seniors that included a stop in Oak Bluffs. — Bowen Fernie
After George Floyd was killed by police, Dana Nunes organized daily vigils at Beetlebung Corner in Chilmark. Comedian Amy Schumer, pictured wearing all black and a green baseball cap, became another frequent participant in the demonstrations. — Kyra Steck
When Amelie Loyot arrived on Island this year, she made sure Vanessa, the sea serpent of Farm Pond in Oak Bluffs, was wearing a mask. — Lucas Thors
West Tisbury held two town meetings in Oak Bluffs at the Tabernacle, because social distancing wasn't possible in town buildings. — Rich Saltzberg
Demonstrators show their solidarity with Black Lives Matter at a rally in Vineyard Haven. — Lexi Pline
Black Lives Matter became a rallying cry throughout the summer. Here, demonstrators show their signs at Five Corners in Vineyard Haven. — Lexi Pline
Garde East's picnic baskets came with a number of hors d'oeuvres, and were perfect for the beach. Restaurants had to get creative because of the pandemic. — Lexi Pline
Caroline Hunter raises a fist in protest after making a short speech at a rally in Oak Bluffs. — Lexi Pline
When the season kicked off, there was tremendous concern on the Island when visitors showed up in Oak Bluffs without wearing face coverings and masks. Photos like this one led to mandatory mask zones in Island towns. — Lucas Thors
When you can't make it to the gym, they bring the gym to you. Melissa Aldeborgh organized the YMCA’s schedule of more than 50 virtual classes during the Y's closure. — Courtesy YMCA
The Fourth of July was different on-Island, but there were still celebrations. Here, Julian Mandel waves a flag during Aquinnah's vehicle parade. — Lisa Vanderhoop
MVRHS held its graduation outdoors on the Martha's Vineyard Agricultural Society grounds. All graduates were given a class of 2020 mask. — Jeremy Driesen
Vineyarders gathered for peace and justice in Edgartown, along with Micki Miles, third from right, who identified herself as a counterprotestor and held a sign that read "I am proud to be an American." — Bowen Fernie
The view of the comet Neowise from East Chop. According to the Earth Sky website, it was visible in the northeast through July 26, just after sunset, by looking toward the northwest. — Michael S. Cohen
Drive-in theaters made a comeback around the country. Here, children watch "Jaws" outside the Martha's Vineyard Ice Arena. — Isabel Gitten
Edgartown Police Chief Bruce McNamee with Eugene Langston-Jemison, co-organizer of a Black Lives Matter march, held in Edgartown. — Lucas Thors
Graduates were spaced six feet apart on the field at Martha's Vineyard Agricultural Society property to celebrate their commencement. — Courtesy Jack Baer
John Schilling retired as the Tisbury fire chief after serving with the department for 18 years in the top job. — Rich Saltzberg
Long lines at Martha's Vineyard Post Offices, including this one in Vineyard Haven, were the norm during the summer months, as capacity was limited. — Kyra Steck
Dylan, Chloe, and Paige Satler got ready to enjoy music and a movie at the Martha's Vineyard Film Festival drive-in at the Martha's Vineyard Ice Arena. The drive-in was a big hit all summer long. — Jeremy Driesen
The League of Women Voters on Martha's Vineyard celebrated 100 years of voting rights wearing their yellow and purple sashes — the colors of the suffrage movement. — Kyra Steck
Finley Slavine and Brandon Barua give some pats and scratches to their respective goat pals at the FARM Institute's summer camp. — Kyra Steck
Chris Hulbert takes part in a rally at Five Corners to show support for the U.S. Postal Service. The Post Office was operating under threats of budget cuts at the time. — Lucas Thors
Castelet perches on the head of Tasmin Strom, pictured here with his sister Ayla. Castelet is a Rhode Island red pullet, and won a blue ribbon at the virtual Agricultural Fair. — Courtesy M.V. Ag. Society
Charles Morgan, a West Tisbury husband and father, was murdered during a visit to Florida. Police say the alleged killer had been convicted previously in a killing. — Courtesy Jackie Flynn-Morgan
Charles Morgan with his father, Virgil Morgan, and his brother, Dennis Metivier. Morgan was killed during a visit to Florida, where he was scheduled to meet up with his father and brother. — Courtesy Jackie Flynn-Morgan
NAACP members, organizers, and faith leaders participated in a conference call to discuss the proposed police reform bills on Beacon Hill. That Zoom screen became something we'd see over and over again in 2020 covering public meetings.
When the Steamship Authority's computer and reservation systems crashed on the same day, and a storm forced Oak Bluffs ferries to divert or cancel trips, passengers were stranded at the Vineyard Haven terminal for hours, huddled under umbrellas. — Bob Kimberly
John Siffert usually only visits his home on the Island in the month of August, but this year he arrived in March and planned to stay into the fall. It was a common trend on the Island, as a result of people working from home during the pandemic. — Jeremy Driesen
Boats flying Trump flags and American flags floated through Oak Bluffs Harbor as part of a boat rally that launched from Falmouth. — Jeremy Driesen
Signs at a courthouse rally in Edgartown advocated for a shift in funding from mass incarceration to the support of youth, particularly minority children. — Lucas Thors
Gretchen Baer at the M.V. Playhouse, wearing the outfit she designed for flying across the country. — Jeremy Driesen
Town administrator James Hagerty cuts the ribbon on the Yellow House, which the town took by eminent domain, with selectman Arthur Smadbeck looking on. The completed renovation boasted several apartments and a Lululemon retail store. — Brian Dowd
Smoke from the wildfires on the West Coast created an interesting effect on sunsets for several days, including this one at South Beach. — Michael Blanchard
Perlman House tenants, from left, Shavanaean Anderson, Erin Brown, and Sarah Young, were part of a ribbon-cutting ceremony. The Island Housing Trust project turned a former inn into affordable housing. — David Steiner
The Martha's Land Bank and Sheriff's Meadow Foundation combined to purchase 304 acres adjacent to Red Gate Farm in Aquinnah. The property was owned by former First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis. — Courtesy Sheriff's Meadow Foundation
Steve Jones, a seasonal resident who paints on the Island, spent his off-work time building cairns near the Lagoon Pond Drawbridge. — David Steiner
Nevin Sayre sought to inspire people to vote by using his kite board to advertise Vote.org. — Marilyn Roos
Blue tape was used to indicate social distancing inside the Tabernacle. West Tisbury used the facility in Oak Bluffs for its special town meeting, a second venture outside the town limits to conduct town business. — Jeremy Driesen
A "Ridin' with Biden" cruise was held, in part to respond to the boat rally held for President Trump. The parade of Biden supporters traveled from Edgartown via Oak Bluffs to West Tisbury. — Jeremy Driesen
A pair of No. 5’s, Guilherme Faria, left, and Arthur DaSilva battle for the ball. MVRHS held a "senior day" of sports for its athletic teams, which were limited to intramurals in the fall. — Ralph Stewart
Liz Dengenis helps students look at objects through a microscope at Felix Neck, as part of an outdoor education project. — Lisa Vanderhoop
This superhero, Patti Peck, wears a cape and a mask. With the help of Jeremy Driesen, Amelie Loyot developed a campaign to change the narrative on mask wearing. — Photo by Jeremy Driesen
Early voting drew crowds across the Island, including at the Oak Bluffs polling place at the library. — David Steiner
Buck Shank, left, and Delanie Pickering had fun making music together at Ladyfest at the M.V. Museum. — Jeremy Driesen
Angella Henry, front, and Amber Henry celebrated the election of Joseph Biden as president with a plunge into the water at Inkwell Beach in Oak Bluffs. — Jeremy Driesen
Capt. William deBettencourt at the wheel and Lt. Todd deBettencourt in the passenger's seat of the Oak Bluffs Fire Museum's 1929 Maxim pumper. The pumper was used in the funeral of Allan (“Buddy”) deBettencourt, who served Oak Bluffs for nearly 60 years. — Jeremy Driesen
A few sharks showed up to help folks distribute candy at the West Tisbury library. Halloween took on a different look, including the closing of several typical hotspots like William Street in Vineyard Haven to trick-or-treaters. — Courtesy Dan Waters
A weather event in Aquinnah that the National Weather Service office in Norton labeled a funnel cloud resulted in a tornado warning for the Island. There was no damage reported as a result of the fast-moving storm. — Bart Jarek
Chris Petro delivers an order to a car at the Barn Bowl & Bistro. Year-round restaurants on the Island are struggling to stay open with the myriad of restrictions imposed by Gov. Charlie Baker. — Jeremy Driesen
Edgartown Lighthouse is lit up for Christmas in Edgartown. The celebration went on with some adjustments for the ongoing pandemic. — Jeremy Driesen
Dr. Karen Casper, left, and Sandra Carvalho were the first recipients of the COVID-19 vaccine at Martha's Vineyard Hospital. — Jeremy Driesen
When the clock strikes 12 am Friday, there may just be a universal sigh of relief. A pandemic, racial unrest, and a presidential election like none in our lifetimes all combined to make this year one to remember. There were moments of triumph, tragedy, and resilience. We take a look back in photographs.
Thank you to Martha’s Vineyard Bank for sponsoring this page.