Heard on Main Street this week: There’s a new Tisbury columnist in town.
Hello, world, Tisbury, and Tisbury-adjacent enthusiasts. My name is Taylor Stone, your newest MV Times columnist, and this marks my very first time writing to you all. While I admit I’m new to town columns, I’ve been studying the trails of footprints set out by all the current columnists, and I’m excited to share my own perspective as a year-round resident of Vineyard Haven. Because such a thorough introduction was published here last week, I’m going to skip right to what you really care about:
For the past 40 years, Kay Mayhew shared her stories with you week after week, representing her personal view of Tisbury with pride. She started writing in 1986, and five years later I was born over in New Hampshire. Then, to add insult to injury, my family had the gall to move to Edgartown when we came to the island full-time in 2001. So I write to you as a humble Edgartown School graduate, who lucked into Vineyard Haven about 10 years ago when a customer came into EduComp (where I worked at the time) asking if we sold rental agreements. The answer was no — but I’d be happy to tour the place on my lunch break! And I’ve been here ever since.
Congratulations to my fellow Tisbury residents for surviving two long nights in the Tisbury School Gymnasium bonding through the annual town meeting. I was sitting right along with all of you, sketchbook in hand. Shout-out to everyone who came, listened, and voted, with honorable mentions to the committed attendees sitting in the “nonresident” section each night; to Bow Van Riper for his impromptu lesson on ballast stones and the historic significance of our stone walls around town; and to all the noteworthy hats on display at the mics both evenings.
As Memorial Day weekend draws closer, more and more stores open back up for the season. Lani Beach Club, Rinpo, Lennox & Harvey, Island Vintage, the newly revealed India Rose Collective, and more all welcomed visitors with open doors last weekend. Walking through town you can feel the days warming, and listen to the springtime soundscapes of rustling critters, returning birds, morning leaf blowers, and through-the-night roadwork as the entire Island wipes off its spring pollen and prepares for the soon-to-be summer season.
Tisbury School’s annual March to the Sea parade in recognition of Memorial Day is on Friday, May 22. Students leave the school at 12:15 pm, and parade to Owen Park via Spring Street and Main Street.
On Monday, May 25, from noon to 4 pm, Tisbury’s annual Memorial Day Picnic will be held at Tashmoo Waterworks. Come enjoy live music, boating, games, and more!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 event not to be missed in our corner of the Island.