It’s official: I’ve been writing this column for a little over a month, and haven’t been asked to stop yet! Thank you to everyone who has bumped into me lately and mentioned they’ve read at least a few lines here or there. (If I’m lucky they might even admit to laughing, or learning something new about Tisbury.)
With this weekend being Father’s Day, I want to give a super-big shout-out to my dad: Bruce Stone. Edgartown resident, best known in West Tisbury, and frequent golfer at Tisbury’s Mink Meadows. He was the town accountant of West Tisbury for 20 years, and even got a shout-out in the West Tisbury column when he retired two years ago. Always quick to thank everyone but himself, his own retirement speech ended with thanking “the police, the firefighters, the guys who do the roads, the legal services people” (the list went on). “Sometimes people who work in the public interest get forgotten about what a key role they play — and they are really valued, important parts of the community.”
Recently skimming through my old journal scribblings, I came across this note written two years ago on the night of my dad’s retirement party:
“I think I want to be like my dad.
Stay in my lane, where my flashlight shines brightest.
Show up. Consistently. Be dependable.
I don’t need to know everything or help everyone. I just need to be honest and meet expectations whenever I can.”
Dad, thank YOU for being such a consistent, dependable role model throughout my life. I love you. And shout-out to everyone this weekend celebrating Father’s Day in all its many forms.
Following in my dad’s footsteps, thank you also to all the hard-working Tisbury employees installing new lampposts, celebrating our new Owen Park dock ribbon cutting with homemade donuts, (repeatedly) staying late in public meetings, or grilling burgers at a First Friday V.H. event. And if you’re a local resident — it’s easy to jump in any time of the year and help make a difference in the community! Attend a public meeting, vote, join a committee, or just sign up for the text or email system at tisburyma.gov/list.aspx to stay in the loop on what’s important to you.
This Saturday, June 20, from 1 to 4 pm is a Dad and Me Backyard Bash at the Martha’s Vineyard Family Center (35 Greenwood Ave., V.H.). Cookout, lawn games, raffles and FREE for families and kids ages 6-12.
In West Tisbury (this weekend only), my very favorite art show of the year is happening: Blooming Art at the Old Mill, Friday through Sunday, 10 am to 3 pm. Martha’s Vineyard Garden Club members are tasked with bringing artwork by Island artists to life (literally) through interpretive floral arrangements.
Do you have an upcoming birthday or something you want shared in a future Tisbury column? Email me at tisburycolumnist@gmail.com with your own stories of our town, 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 an awesome upcoming event in our corner of the Island.