A perfect fit with tailor Francois Delphin
Francois the tailor works alone, every day, in his narrow space across from busy Vineyard Haven Harbor on Beach Road. He is the boss, the manager, the customer relations person, and the workforce. He...
Beauty is more than skin-deep
The National Institute of Mental Health defines self-care as “taking the time to do things that help you live well and improve both your physical and mental health. This can help you manage stress,...
Marcelle De Sousa Alves travels to law school
While immigration is peppering the news of late, it’s been near and dear to Marcelle De Sousa Alves’ heart since she arrived with her mother on the Island from Minas Gerais, Brazil, at 7...
Reflections with Matthew Stackpole and Nat Benjamin
Matthew Stackpole and Nat Benjamin are entertaining raconteurs who delight in each other’s company. A full house of ready listeners filled the room at the Martha’s Vineyard Museum to hear the dear companions share...
The Henrys’ dream
Black History Month was created to focus attention on the extraordinary contributions of African Americans in the U.S. In honor of this initiative, this February edition of “Voices bySharisse” highlights the extraordinary story of...
Marc Fournier: Jack of all trees
Have you ever met a person who is so passionate about their work that they nearly bounce when they talk about it –– sort of like Tigger, in “Winnie the Pooh”? During a walking...
Paul Munafo and the Island stage
Paul Munafo’s ties to the Island began from a distance — a great distance. His first connection came while traveling in Southeast Asia in the early 1970s, when he spent a little over a...
The Island’s ‘Barbara Walters’
To be interviewed by Ann Bassett is a pure pleasure. I know, having been on her show, “Vineyard View,” which is aired on MVTV Wednesdays at 7 pm. Gracious and with extensive experience and...
The lives and passions of Laurel Redington
Laurel Redington sparkles when speaking of our Island: “I love this community because everybody holds space for each other.” Her bountiful soul first embraced Martha’s Vineyard in 1989, when she came to help her...
Ray Gale: Nautical MacGyver
Being on the water is Ray Gale’s lifeblood. Whether on Tashmoo, on the Lagoon, or in Vineyard Haven or Oak Bluffs Harbor, he has been the one to call for marine-related aid. Gale has...
Second Acts: Courtney Daly’s second thought
‘Second Acts’ stories are about people who followed one career or profession or path, but found it was not their passion, not their fulfillment. And then somehow, the “magic” of the Vineyard gave them...
Building trust, trades, and company
South Mountain Co. (SMCo) is a well-known name on the Island. On the SMCo website, founder and former CEO John Abrams explains how the company came to be: “The company began as a cabinetmaking...
Islander Toni Kauffman
Toni Kauffman is passionate about our community, which she has been immersed in since moving here full-time in 2016. It’s dizzying how many boards, organizations, and events she has been involved in. And while...
Juli Vanderhoop: A woman of the first light
Wampanoag translates to “people of the first light.” One of the Vineyard’s Wampanoag matriarchs and one of its brightest lights is Julianne Vanderhoop, who goes by Juli. With her genuine energy and positive outlook,...
Vineyard Caribbean: One love
From the warm-spirited patois of the taxi drivers when you land on Martha’s Vineyard soil to the rich Caribbean flavors on many of the menus around the Island, you can feel the Jamaican presence...
Second Acts: Zachary Townes
“When I grow up, I want to be a policeman.” Think of how many little kids say that. Most, as they get older, find other paths, and rarely look back. But not Zachary Towne: “Growing up...
Elio Silva: A Brazilian Entrepreneur
The word for ‘entrepreneur’ translated from Brazilian Portuguese is: ‘empreendedor.’ And Elio Silva embodies that word.
Since he emigrated 36 years ago from Brazil, a country with a deep tradition for entrepreneurship, Silva has certainly...
The drive to fly
Capt. Carole Hopson sparkles. She exudes joy, has the vibrancy of a shooting star, and appears to be as driven as Kobe Bryant, Simone Biles, and Sheryl Sandberg combined. A few of Hopson’s accomplishments...
Second Acts: Stephanie Browne
Stephanie Browne’s labor of love — introducing others to the joys of good wine — has brought together two very significant, but seemingly unrelated pieces of local history. First, the name of the Island:...
The power of storytelling
Talking to Polly Simpkins is inspiring, which is not entirely surprising, given that part of her life’s work is to inspire others. Simpkins is a ceremonialist, Interfaith Minister, DJ at MVY Radio, death doula,...