Aquinnah: Patriotism, summer reading, community lunches, and VTA buses
Aquinnah had a roaring good time up on the Cliffs celebrating the summer solstice, with great music, food, and crowds of neighbors and friends. Now we get ready to celebrate the Fourth of July...
West Tisbury: Howes House art show, local galleries, Archaeology ID Day, and author talk
No complaints about a lack of rain this week. I don’t know how much we had, but it definitely was enough to be spared from watering every day. Gardens are growing and thriving, producing...
Tisbury: Filmusic Festival, boatbuilding exhibit, library programs, and songwriters concert
Heard on Main Street: No matter what you hear on the radio, Hyannis is not on-Island, and there is only one “oak” in Oak Bluffs.
The Filmusic Festival runs from today through Sunday at the...
Oak Bluffs: Dorothy West exhibit, music concerts, and ‘Borders to Bridges’ launch
"If I'm an advocate for anything, it's to move. As far as you can, as much as you can. Across the ocean, or simply across the river. Walk in someone else's shoes, or at...
Edgartown: Monday Matinee, Chef Look Cooks, Village Market, and Discovery Days
Is it just me, or does it seem like there are more people here than usual for June? Or maybe it’s just that it isn’t beach weather, so they are out and about more...
Chilmark: A Long Talk, Yoga Barn, Flea Market, lobster rolls, and Vineyard Sound
Father’s Day was hard, and brought to mind memories of playing the chicken game on the freshly mown, sweet-smelling, uneven and sloping lawn in front of our farmhouse. It was Johnny Gilbert and his...
Aquinnah: Cliffhangers, library services, beach cleanup, and July 4th activities
If you live in a place like Martha’s Vineyard, summer frequently means visitors from far away. We have just had our first set — a niece and her husband from Virginia. It was a...
West Tisbury: Garden design, Polly Hill Arboretum, Blooming Art, and Featherstone exhibit
It’s been another lovely week, although even here we have been affected by the wildfires burning in Canada. I haven’t noticed anything, but Mike has mentioned smelling smoke, and I have heard it from...
Tisbury: Water refill stations, Filmusic Festival, Juneteenth cookbook, and ballroom dancing
Heard on Main Street: Wine is cheaper than gas. Drink, don’t drive.
Sunday is Father’s Day. He would really enjoy the paintings in Louisa Gould Gallery’s “Set Sail For Summer” show, now featuring truly guy...
Oak Bluffs: Blooming Bids for Kids, Juneteenth potluck, Amistad replica, and Harborfest
“A father carries pictures where his money used to be.” –Steve Martin
Father’s Day is Sunday, June 18. Be sure to give some love to the fathers in your life. I see them on the...
Edgartown: Interactive journal, Juneteenth picnic, weaving workshop, and PTSD
I’m so happy the sun is shining for the high school graduation. I’m happy it’s shining for other reasons too, but it is always nice when the ceremonies in the Tabernacle have a nice...
Chilmark: Derek Walcott poem, Menemsha docks, Children’s Fair, and books by locals
Love After Love
By Derek Walcott, 1971
The time will come
when, with elation
you will greet yourself arriving
at your own door, in your own mirror
and each will smile at the other's welcome,
and say, sit here. Eat.
You will...
Aquinnah: Tribal land, Father’s Day, Juneteenth, Community Picnic, and parking permits
The first day of summer arrives this week on June 21. The cars are already lined up at the Cliffs, sporting license plates from all over the country. It feels so good to watch...
West Tisbury: Farmers Market, Lambert’s Cove Beach, Bloomsday, and being unplugged
The cool days and nights have been lovely. We even had a little rain. Not enough, but something. I’m afraid that the wind just dries everything out in no time. Still, our world is...
Tisbury: Congressmen and D.C., ‘Amistad’ film and ship, Pride films, and climate talk
Heard on Main Street: Say what you will about the South, but no one retires and moves up North.
Did you know that the Martha’s Vineyard Playhouse says Friday nights are local nights? That means...
Oak Bluffs: Pride Month, Blooming Art Show, Big Brothers Big Sisters, and ‘Timeless’ exhibit
“When all Americans are treated as equal, no matter who they are or whom they love, we are all more free.” –President Barack Obama
I quote the former president in honor of Pride Month. In...
Chilmark: Native Earth Teaching Farm, local farmstands, author talks, and Children’s Fair
Summer has begun. People are coming. Friends are gathering. I welcome the upcoming season of vacation, connection, and conversations.
Every June, I revisit the following quotes, pasted years ago in a notebook.
“Conflict is the gadfly...
Edgartown: Spring weather, recycling ink cartridges, Alpaca Yoga, and Pride parade
It seems weird to be writing a column for June when the weather feels more like April. Gray, cold, windy, and folks wearing warm jackets while outside. And it looks like a whole week...
Aquinnah: Philbin Beach, Mataquhs Vanderhoop, Mato Wagner, and Up-Island Council on Aging
My oldest daughter, Laurie Dewan, is a brilliant woman. In the midst of her crazy, wonderful life as a working mother with two active boys to raise, she is studying time whenever she can....
West Tisbury: Lullaby video, Tom Thatcher, Music Street concert, and Lyme disease
Cool days and cool nights. Trees are mostly leafed out, leaves already darkening in color, and obscuring the view as they blow across my windows. I’m still writing upstairs in my aerie that reminds...