‘Grease and Grit’
Andrea Dello Russo’s journey to becoming a mother, educator, motorcycle rider, and business owner running a successful auto repair shop here on the Vineyard is a circuitous and compelling tale. “Grease and Grit: A...
Second Acts: Lucian Nastasi
Lucian Nastasi considers himself lucky. Lucky that he was raised by a loving Romanian family who valued education. Lucky he learned to speak English starting in the second grade (with help from the Cartoon...
In the service of others
Rachel Elion Baird is a multitalented conceptual artist and author who uses a range of media, plus poetry and music, besides having a full-time healing practice. She is also a delegate for Servas International,...
Second Acts: Jovana Balaban
How does a young woman from a landlocked Eastern European country, educated to become a literature and language teacher, end up a serial entrepreneur on the Island of Martha’s Vineyard? Jovana Balaban’s story is...
Second Acts: NaDaizja Bolling
From as long as she can remember, NaDaizja Bolling spent her summers on Martha’s Vineyard. Raised near Boston, she went off to Syracuse University to study public health, but came back to the Vineyard...
Second Acts: Irene Ziebarth and Doug West
Doug West began coming to Martha’s Vineyard in summers as a kid, back in 1952, and later his family bought a cottage in Oak Bluffs. When he met Irene Ziebarth in California, she had...
‘A home away from home’
Even without kids, I’m aware of the fabulous children’s librarians in our local libraries. All you need to do is read the myriad of programs they offer — and hear the squeals coming from...
Stars among us: Howard Attebery and Cynthia Riggs
Cynthia Riggs never expected Howard (“Howie”) Attebery to come back into her life 60-plus years after meeting him. But he did. And the rest, as they say, is history. To catch you up to...
Life with a mission
Hellie Newman thought I ought to meet Rachel Vaughn, an Island chef and caterer, before she returns to Ukraine. I caught up with Rachel in Chilmark on a cold and rainy Sunday. Though sockless...
New beginnings
Laurel Redington is one of those people you are glad to know. She is endlessly gracious, enthusiastic, supportive, and well-connected. With deep roots in the community and breadth of knowledge about the Island, she...
Second Acts: Jocelyn Coleman Walton
“My grandmother, Luella Coleman, came to the Vineyard as a domestic and through perseverance and vision, she bought a house. And I spent every single summer here from my first birthday in 1940. I've only missed...
Second Acts: Jennifer DaSilva
For most people, taking a work break means not working. But for Jennifer DaSilva, it means coming up with her next line of work. That’s how she went from corporate attorney to Martha’s Vineyard...
Traveling memories
What does the $100 million collection of some 500 unique rock ’n’ roll, pop culture, and American history items belonging to Jim Irsay — owner and CEO of the National Football League's Indianapolis Colts...
Melissa Patterson is ‘All About Signs’
What’s your favorite sign on Martha’s Vineyard? I have many.
I had never needed a signmaker until this year when I connected with Melissa Patterson of About Signs. Initially we worked together online, as well...
Setting roots on the Vineyard
Gazing at the ferry entering Vineyard Haven Harbor from the second floor of Martha’s Vineyard Hospital, pharmacy director Valci Carvalho reflected on his path to being a part of the Island community.
Originally from Rio...
Second Acts: Heidi Feldman
Usually this column is about someone who, at some point in life, finds a new and different path — a second act. But today’s installment is no mere second or even third act. Heidi...
A conversation with Frank Rapoza
Interview by Geoff Currier
I grew up south of Falmouth in Padanaram, went to Dartmouth High School, and graduated in 1970. From a very early age I knew what I wanted to do with my...
Second Acts: Debbie Hale
“From the first time I tried it, it spoke to me; it just spoke to my soul and made me look at everything differently.” Debbie Hale was a business manager, a self-described left-brained person....
A Vineyard Vignette
I was 13 when I left the Island to board at Westtown School, a Quaker school outside Philadelphia. My first-year roommate there was Emilie, a biracial student also from Massachusetts, whose parents were known...
A life of service
Patricia Bergeron has just begun her well-deserved retirement, having started at the Martha’s Vineyard Hospital 47 years ago. She was born on the Island, left for Florida, and came back after school to be...