I am finishing writing this on a beautifully sunny Sunday morning. After hearing all last week how we should expect weekend-long rainy weather, I’m glad the forecast got it wrong. I’m sure everyone celebrating the graduating class of 2026 at the Tabernacle in Oak Bluffs agrees, and a big congratulations to all you seniors, your families, and everyone that helps all our graduates walk across that finish line.
Taking a stroll around Vineyard Haven right now means being greeted by so many beautiful irises! Maybe it’s because I’ve been drawing so many flowers lately, but I never realized before how many varieties there are in color: from pale yellows to deep purples; solid-colored, speckled, or two-toned. And while the chestnut trees may seem to have passed, you can now catch some early dogwoods showing up.
As of last week, my stint at the Miner Family Gallery has ended. I will miss the excitement of watching cars on that little strip of road trying to find parking, visitors timidly following their GPS directions to the Black Dog Tavern, and customers with their arms full of clothing to be dropped off with Deloris. The inaugural First Friday is officially checked off, with the brand-new dock finished just in time. If you went, you may have noticed we moved some things around a bit in Owen Park and on the beach, but it seems like the improvements were a success overall!
With June being Pride Month, I wish everyone happy, safe, proud, colorful celebrations, especially in Oak Bluffs during its big weekend events (including the fifth annual Pride Parade on June 13 at 3 pm). This also marks the 10th year of Tisbury’s M.V. Film Society hosting Spectrum, a film series focusing on LGBTQ stories, voices, issues, and creators, in honor of Pride Month. Fun fact: I made the Spectrum logo and poster when they were starting this festival way back when! Working closely with Bob Dutton, we designed the image together before I converted it to translucent vellum to mimic film strips.
Also coming up: the 46th Bloomsday celebration of the life and writings of James Joyce. Enjoy “music, drama, and humor,” starting at 8 pm on June 13 at the Katharine Cornell Theater.
On Wednesday, June 17, at 2 pm, catch Tom Dresser at Island Elderly Housing’s Hillside Village, where he will be giving an overall historical view of Martha’s Vineyard, with a chance for questions and comments on Vineyard history.
Very happy birthday to Stephen Engley on June 16, and Calvin Corwin on the 17th.
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 the next best event not to be missed in our corner of the Island.