VINE THE
Features
PAGE 13
2024 Holiday Gift & Shopping Guide
• Bunches of Books
• Eat, Drink and Be Merry!
• Comfort and Joy
• Notecards for Giving
By Molly Coogan, Laura Holmes Haddad, and Susie Middleton
22 THE WISHING TREE
A tradition begun to honor those lost on September 11th, the Wishing Tree is now a Simpkins family – and William street – tradition.
By Polly Simpkins
From the Editor THE TRUE SPIRIT
When Polly Simpkins sent me her essay, The Wishing Tree (p. 22), I felt the true spirit of the holidays tumble out of it right into my heart. It’s the story of how her family began a community tradition in honor of neighbors and friends lost on September 11 – and carried that tradition to their front yard on William street when they moved permanently to the Vineyard 12 years ago.
I knew it was the perfect piece for this edition of the Vine, because holiday shopping isn’t entirely what this season is all about. Except! Yes, except on the Vineyard, where holiday shopping can actually be lovely and heart-warming. And, as we mention in the introduction to this year’s Holiday Gift Guide (p.13), you also get a chance to support your neighbors – and keep money in the Island economy – by shopping local.
On top of that, we have so many great special events to enjoy, like Christmas in Edgartown. Sissy Biggers checked in with Edgartown Board of Trade director Erin Ready (p.8) to find out how the plans are coming together for this year’s event, Dec. 12 to Dec. 15.
And if you find yourself in need of a pick-me-up while shopping this holiday, stop in Curio MV in Oak Bluffs to meet shop dogs Cosmo and Zephyr (p. 28). But be forewarned – Cosmo may try to kiss you!
Happy Holidays!
— Susie Middleton
Departments
4 EDITOR’S NOTE
8 Q&A
Ready for Anything:
An Interview with Erin Ready
10 HOLIDAY POP-UPS AND FAIRS
25 BY THE NUMBERS
Joy to the Island
26 INSTA ISLAND
The Year in Photos
28 THE VIEW
Meet the Shop Dogs
Cover Photo: Erin Ready photographed at Donaroma’s Nursery
Photo by Jeanna Shepard
EDITOR
Susie Middleton
ART DIRECTOR
Jared Maciel
CONTRIBUTORS
Sissy Biggers, Chris Burrell, Molly Coogan, Mindy Dutka, Ray Ewing, Laura Holmes Haddad, Jeanna Shepard, Polly Simpkins
PUBLISHER
Monica Brady-Myerov
GENERAL MANAGER
Sarah Gifford
AD SALES MANAGER
Frederica Carpenter sales@vineyardgazette.com
AD SALES TEAM
Carrie Blair, Isabela Fernandez, Serena Ward
MARKETING CONSULTANT
Kharma Finley-Wallace
AD PRODUCTION
Jane McTeigue, Jared Maciel, McKinley Sanders
Copyright 2024 by the Vineyard Gazette Media Group. No part of this publication may be reproduced without the written permission of the publisher.
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P.O. Box 66, 34 So. Summer Street, Edgartown, MA 02539 thevine@vineyardgazette.com | 508-627-4311
Ready for Anything
An Interview with Erin Ready
BY SISSY BIGGERS • PHOTOS BY JEANNA SHEPARD
Erin Ready, the vibrant and hands-on executive director of the Edgartown Board of Trade, plays a central role in cultivating Edgartown’s lively business environment and thriving tourism. With a dedicated board of seven and the support of volunteers, Erin leads every detail of a year-round calendar of events designed to foster Edgartown’s economic vitality. Through Erin’s efforts, signature events such as the spring Porchfest, the summer Edgartown Village Market, the Bass in the Grass art fundraiser and the ever-popular Christmas in Edgartown showcase the town’s history and
charm, support local enterprise and enhance the experience for everyone who visits or calls Edgartown home.
Erin and her now-husband Sean Ready met at the University of Colorado Boulder. After graduation, Erin joined him on Martha’s Vineyard to build on his established family business with the opening of the Edgartown Meat & Fish Market in the summer of 2011.
I caught up with Erin to discuss her role with the Edgartown Board of Trade, her inspiration, and how she finds time to enjoy the special holiday weekend with a young family and a local business to tend to as well.
Q. Tell me about your first impressions of the Vineyard as a born and bred California girl.
A. In 2008, I came here on vacation with Sean’s family, but unfortunately I fell ill. So I spent the entire week in a house in Katama. I only mention it because, at the time, I thought the little airfield in Katama was the main airport! So when Sean suggested we move to Martha’s Vineyard, I pictured my home on an Island with tiny planes and a grass runway.
Q. I love that story! That’s so quaint!
A. Obviously I figured it out and we moved here in 2011 and were married at the Old Whaling Church in 2012. Since then, we’ve expanded into three businesses: here, Nantucket’s Meat &
Fish Market and a location in Hilton Head, South Carolina. We opened a new business with the birth of each of our three children!
Q. You were instrumental in bringing the Edgartown Village Market to town on Tuesdays in the summer, and it is a wonderful addition to the Island market culture.
A. Yes, thank you. While we do try to leave our partners alone in their busy season, something we heard from our membership is the need for an intown market of our own. The farmers’ market at the Ag Hall and the artisan festival at the Grange Hall have their own identities. And we worked to create our own – a curated mesh of both arts and crafts and farmers to
allow Edgartown residents to walk into town, provision, and well, see friends and neighbors! It has been especially well-received by Chappy residents.
Q. The scarcity of parking in Edgartown is a big part of the summer conversation.
A. Yes, it is an identifiable problem, and it’s our job to be a part of the solution by educating people about other places you can park. People are not taking advantage of the shuttle (from The Triangle), and we need to let people know how quickly you can walk from the Edgartown School and that it’s a lovely way to experience our Main street. We’re hoping that the Edgartown master plan will address that.
Q. What’s something about Edgartown that people don’t really realize — one really cool, more hidden aspect?
A. What I’ve come to really appreciate is that anyone can show up in Edgartown and get a sense of what a special historical place it is from the impressiveness of the [Old] Whaling Church to our beautiful Main street which goes right down to the stunning harbor. What I think is important is the care that goes on behind the scenes to maintain the beauty and historical integrity of Edgartown, thanks to the municipality and residents who volunteer to serve on those oversight boards.
Q. Christmas in Edgartown is just about upon us. Tell me a little bit about the history of this incredible weekend.
A. This event started 43 years ago when Carol Fligor and a couple of the other shopkeepers put up some decorations and began programming a weekend on a really small scale to support the brickand-mortar businesses in town. It’s been volunteer-driven since it started. And since that first effort, the mission has expanded beyond economics into a weekend of charitable events!
Q. What are you looking forward to this year?
A. Donaroma’s is bringing back their magical Evening of Enchantment – now more focused on kids – on Thursday evening. And we will be building on last year’s success of bringing the Edgartown Village Market into the Village Green on Saturday, providing a central location postparade to stop, have a bite to eat and
continue on your merry way! The beverage sales from the Village Market benefit Amity Island Running Club and the Martha’s Vineyard Boys & Girls Club. One thing we’ve improved upon is offering more places to eat and drink throughout the day; we worked very closely with the town hall to make sure that restaurants had the option to expand their seasonal liquor license.
Q. How many organizations will benefit from the weekend of events?
A. This year I think I can count 30 to 40 for whom we will provide a non-profit platform. New this year is The Holly and Ivy Holiday Ball at the Harbor View [Hotel] to benefit the Martha’s Vineyard Boys & Girls Club. The annual Handmade from the Heart artisan fair to benefit Hospice and Palliative Care of Martha’s Vineyard (HPCMV) returns to the Dr. Daniel Fisher House. The Plum Hill School Annual Elves Faire is an amazing children’s fair at the Federated Church. The Edgartown School is setting up what I think is their 45th Maker’s Fair in the gymnasium to benefit the eighth grade class trip. I feel like we’ve done a great job finding a place for everyone. And some of the longest and most traditional events are really mission-driven.
Q. With all you have on your plate, are you able to step back and savor the magic of the weekend with your family?
A. It’s awesome, I love it. It’s the day when I finally have a little street cred with my kids when we are the first to meet Santa when he gets off the truck. It makes the hard work really worth it to see it through their eyes. I get emotional just thinking about it.
Q. Once Christmas in Edgartown is in the rearview mirror, what’s the off-season like for you and your husband raising a young family on the Island?
A. It’s great. It’s community focused. You take the time to do small family things, whether it’s learning to skate at the rink or art classes at Featherstone [Center for the Arts]. And hopefully getting off the Island to take a trip or two to see family. My kids are in the great montessori school program, and it’s nice to spend time with the communities we are a part of year-round.
Sissy Biggers lives in Oak Bluffs and is the Q&A columnist for The Vine.
READY TO SHOP
Though Christmas in Edgartown officially runs from Thursday, Dec. 12 to Sunday, Dec. 15, the festive spirit starts now, with shops all over town decorated for the holidays. Don’t miss Donaroma’s – a destination unto itself (photo opposite page). For a full calendar of Christmas in Edgartown events, visit christmasinedgartown.com.
SALTE
NELL
BACKWATER TRADING CO.
Holiday Pop-Ups and Fairs
WORLD MARKET HOLIDAY POP-UP SHOP
November 14 to December 24
10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Capawock Theatre, 43 Main street, Vineyard Haven
HOLIDAY GIFT SHOW
November 12 to December 17
noon to 4 p.m.
Featherstone Center for the Arts 30 Featherstone Lane, Oak Bluffs; closed on Thanksgiving
ISLAND MADE HOLIDAYS AT GAYLE GARDENS
November 22 to December 24
10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Gayle Gardens, 377 State Road, West Tisbury
VINEYARD ARTISANS
THANKSGIVING WEEKEND
November 29 and 30
10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Martha’s Vineyard Agricultural Society Hall, 35 Panhandle Road, West Tisbury
HOLIDAY OAK BLUFFS OPEN MARKET
November 29 and 30
10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Strand Theatre, 11 Oak Bluffs avenue, Oak Bluffs
AQUINNAH ARTISANS
HOLIDAY FAIR
December 7 and 8
10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Aquinnah town hall, 65 State Road, Aquinnah
GIFT ARTFULLY!
December 13
4:30 to 7 p.m.
Martha’s Vineyard Bank, 78 Main street, Edgartown
CHRISTMAS FAIRE
December 14
9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
First Congregational Church of West Tisbury, 1054 State Road, West Tisbury silent auction online at wtcongregationalchurch.org
MORNING GLORY FARM
CHRISTMAS IN EDGARTOWN OPEN HOUSE
December 14
noon to 3 p.m.
Morning Glory Farm, 120 Meshacket Road, Edgartown
EDGARTOWN VILLAGE HOLIDAY FAIRE
December 14
10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Edgartown Village Green
HANDMADE FROM THE HEART
December 14
10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Dr. Daniel Fisher House, 99 Main street, Edgartown
31ST ANNUAL CHRISTMAS IN EDGARTOWN ARTS & CRAFTS FESTIVAL
December 14
10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Edgartown School, 30 Edgartown-West Tisbury Road, Edgartown
PLUM HILL SCHOOL ANNUAL ELVES FAIR
December 14
10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Federated Church, 45 South Summer street, Edgartown
VINEYARD ARTISANS
HOLIDAY FAIR
December 21
10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Grange Hall, 1067 State Road, West Tisbury
Jeanna Shepard
NOVEMBER 12TH – DECEMBER 15TH
2024 Holiday Gift & Shopping Guide
We’re very lucky. Holiday shopping on the Island is a whole different experience from shopping off-Island. It’s actually enjoyable! You bump into friends on the streets, you visit the small businesses you love, you stop for coffee or cocoa, and you walk back to your car – which isn’t parked in a giant tower at a mall with a line of cars waiting to get out. You might even pass a horse-drawn carriage on your way.
No, holiday shopping Vineyardstyle is only partly about the gifts themselves. It’s mostly about the camaraderie and connection of living in a small community.
Of course, the gifts are pretty swell, too. Why go online to order what
anyone, anywhere, can send anyplace? Instead, you can buy beautiful jewelry made by artists right here – or socks with the soft fibers of an Alpaca you may have visited this summer (p. 19). Uber local? A freshly baked bread share (p.16). And when you visit our local bookstores, you can actually browse – and ask a real live bookseller for recommendations. (To give you a jumpstart, Molly Coogan, co-owner of Bunch of Grapes, has 12 suggestions when you turn the page.)
Don’t forget, many Island businesses offer gift certificates, too, if you can’t decide on the perfect gift. And be sure to pick something up for yourself while you’re out shopping for others!
Jeanna Shepard
A Bunch of Books
BY MOLLY COOGAN
No matter the time of year or the state of the world or the moment in history, books offer solace and escape, wisdom and joy. They also make wonderful holiday gifts, and Bunch of Grapes has some recommendations to please everyone on your list. If you don’t see
1. What is the holiday season without Handel’s Messiah? Every Valley: The Desperate Lives and Troubled Times That Made Handel’s Messiah (Doubleday Books, $32) by bestselling historian Charles King is the dramatic story of the men and women behind the making of this masterpiece: “a depressive political dissenter; an actress plagued by an abusive husband; an Atlantic sea captain and penniless philanthropist; an African Muslim man held captive in the American colonies; and Handel himself.”
2. A flood of new releases by beloved authors will make Jólabókaflóð (the Icelandic “Christmas book flood” tradition of gifting and reading books on Christmas Eve) a tradition everyone can celebrate. The Serviceberry: Abundance and Reciprocity in the Natural World (Scribner, $20) by Braiding Sweetgrass author Robin Wall Kimmerer offers a vision for how to embrace gratitude, reciprocity and community by drawing lessons from the natural world.
what you’re looking for, we’re happy to connect you with other great fiction, history, biographies and more. And if you’re still not sure what to get, a gift card is perfect for any reader in your life. Happy holidays and happy reading!
3. Another book exploring the natural world is the highly anticipated adult release by award-winning children’s author Katherine Rundell, Vanishing Treasures: A Bestiary of Extraordinary Endangered Creatures (Doubleday, $26), “a globe-spanning tour of the world’s most awe-inspiring animals currently facing extinction.”
4. The City and Its Uncertain Walls (Knopf, $35), the long-awaited new novel by Haruki Murakami, his first in six years, is “a love story, a quest, an ode to books and to the libraries that house them, and a parable for our peculiar times.”
5. Niall Williams, author of This Is Happiness, returns to the small Irish village of Faha in Time of the Child (Bloomsbury, $28.99), a heartwarming novel set during the Christmas season of 1962.
6. Football season – a season nearly as beloved as the holidays – is winding down, so the sports fanatic on your list will appreciate Why We Love Football: A History in 100 Moments (Dutton, $30) by bestselling author Joe Posnanski. It’s like a highlights reel that spans the history of the sport and includes some lesser known moments that are sure to surprise and intrigue even the most devoted fans.
7. The rerelease of A Kwanzaa Keepsake and Cookbook: Celebrating the Holiday with Family, Community, and Tradition (Scribner, $30) by James Beard Award–winning culinary historian – and Oak Bluffs summer resident! – Dr. Jessica B. Harris offers proverbs, ceremonies, family projects, inspirational biographies, blessings, and, of course, wonderful recipes.
8. Another culinary keepsake, Ottolenghi Comfort: A Cookbook (Ten Speed Press, $37.99), by the bestselling and award-winning chef and restaurateur Yotam Ottolenghi, is cause for celebration (Puttanesca-style sheet pan salmon, anyone?), and it’s even available with a groovy-looking special edition cover. Who doesn’t love comfort food on a dark winter’s day?
9. For the design aficionado, The African Decor Edit: Collecting and Decorating with Heritage Objects (Abrams Books, $45) by UgandanAmerican designer Nasozi Kakembo is a really cool book that not only offers up stunning interior photos, but also delves into the origin and meaning behind the furnishings and accessories shown. (And yes, that is a Vineyard house on the cover, with a painting by Island artist Jennifer Christy over the mantel.)
10. Like all art, poetry offers us a different lens through which to examine history, and Latino Poetry (Library of America, $40), edited by Rigoberto González, is a timely collection of more than 180 poets that spans five centuries of the rich Latino American poetry tradition and offers a vision of a nation enriched by the stories of immigrants, exiles, refugees,and their descendants.
11. If you’ve got kiddos on your list, we’ve got recommendations for them too! Caldecott Honoree Aaron Becker’s latest, Winter Light (Candlewick Studio, $17.99), is an absolutely gorgeous boardbook with colorful die-cut insets that is like a stained-glass ode to the quiet peacefulness of the season.
12. Another beautiful new children’s book, A Symphony of Stories: Musical Myths and Tuneful Tales (Crocodile Books, $22.95) by James Mayhew, introduces children to six dramatic and spellbinding classic orchestral works, including The Four Seasons by Antonio Vivaldi and The Firebird by Igor Stravinsky. Lush illustrations and suggested recordings of the works enhance this volume, making it a lovely addition to any imaginative reader’s library.
Eat, Drink and...
BY LAURA HOLMES HADDAD
1. Pepper Grinder
$59.95
Every foodie is on the hunt for the perfect pepper grinder, and this rustic yet stylish grinder from Lennox & Harvey just might be it. Made of ash wood and ceramic by Danish housewares design company Rosendahl, the ergonomic shape makes it easy to use and refill. The grinder is on the top, keeping things mess-free. The grinder can also be used for salt.
Lennox & Harvey 53 Main St., Unit B, Vineyard Haven
2. Baking Kit
About $100
For the tween or teen that loves to bake, head straight to LeRoux. You can’t go wrong with a basic springform baking pan ($22.99); a set of decorating tips for the perfect icing swirls ($9.99 to $25); an offset spatula for frosting a cake ($8.99 to $11.99); and a few decorating sugars to let loose their creativity ($6.99 to $8.99).
LeRoux at Home
62 Main St., Vineyard Haven lerouxkitchen.com
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3. Bread Ahead
$245
Plan ahead for the cold, quiet months of January, February and March — and do a good thing while you’re at it — by gifting a subscription to The Grey Barn’s Community Supported Bread (CSB) Program. The bread lover in your life will receive 10 weeks of fresh bread (plus one pastry each week), while for each CSB share, there will be another loaf of bread delivered to the Island Food Pantry. The program begins Jan. 13, 2025 and runs through March 17, 2025; pick up at The Grey Barn farmstand.
The Grey Barn 22 South Road, Chilmark thegreybarnandfarm.com
4. Extra-Virgin Olive Oil
$21 to $36
Every cook loves trying a new variety of olive oil, and a bottle of Canaan extra-virgin olive oil from Olive Branch Fair Trade in Vineyard Haven makes a thoughtful hostess or holiday gift. Canaan partners with 1,000 small growers in Palestine to produce seven types of organic extra-virgin olive oil, ranging in flavor profiles from spicy to fruity.
Olive Branch Fair Trade 459 State Road, Ste.21, Vineyard Haven olivebranchfairtrade.org
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Laura Holmes Haddad
Susie Middleton
Molly Glasgow
Be Merry
5. The Big Bottle
$45 to $750
Nothing says "celebrate" like a largeformat bottle of wine, and Rosewater Wine & Spirits has an excellent selection of rosé, white and red wine — as well as Champagne and port — in 1.5-liter bottles.
Rosewater Wine & Spirits
6. Whiskey Island
$89.99
For the whiskey lover in your life, wrap up a bottle of award-winning Uncle Nearest Single Barrel Premium Whiskey, bottled exclusively for MV Wine & Spirits. While you’re there, pick up a pack of Recess Zero-Proof Craft Mocktails for a non-alcoholic option for holiday entertaining ($10.29 for four).
7. Whale Tails
$65
You may know Zach Pinerio’s fabulous salad bowls carved from hardwood in his Chappy workshop. But did you know that he also makes salad servers? A set of his hardwood whale tails would make a truly thoughtful, local and useful gift this holiday season. Find Zach at the Vineyard Artisans Festivals and the Christmas in Edgartown Village Market (see p. 10) in the next few weeks.
chappaquiddickwoodcompany.com
8. Yeti Rambler 10-Ounce Tumbler
$20
You can’t have too many Yeti tumblers, the double-walled, vacuum-insulated drink carriers that do such an awesome job at keeping drinks hot or cold. This year we’re obsessed with a smaller, slimmer tumbler – the 10-ounce Rambler with the MagSlider lid.
The Green Room
9. Stocking Stuffers
$7 to $20
For a small gift that packs a punch, grab a jar of Pepper Powder at Ghost Island Farm in West Tisbury. Made from dried, farm-grown peppers, there are five varieties with different heat levels, each in a small glass jar that looks lovely on a shelf; $7 each.
The best way to keep a loaf of bread fresh is by placing it in a cotton bread bag. The 100% cotton bread bags at LeRoux come in two sizes (baguette or boule size); $9.99 each.
MV Wine & Spirits 17A Airport Road, Edgartown mvwinestore.com 6 7 9 9 8 5
71 Main St., Vineyard Haven greenroommv.com
Tinned fish is having a moment. We love the quality, the flavors, and, yes, the packaging of the Fishwife Tinned Seafood Co.’s offerings, including Albacore Tuna in Spicy Olive Oil and Smoked Salmon with Sichuan Chili Crisp. Prices range from $10 to $16.99. Available at Alley’s General Store in West Tisbury.
Add a little panache to your next gathering (or bring to the hostess with the mostess) with a box of Two’s Company Hors d’oeuvres Picks at
Nell Home in Edgartown. These little spears have a shell top that makes it easier to nab that stuffed mushroom; $16 for a box of 40.
Laura Holmes Haddad
Laura Holmes Haddad
Laura Holmes Haddad
Zach Pinerio
Susie Middleton
Susie Middleton
1. Light as Air
Starting at $20
A gift that will keep on giving is a lovely way to embrace the spirit of the season, and a low-maintenance plant to enjoy throughout the winter months is just the thing for all ages. Donaroma’s has a variety of beautiful air plants that sit inside glass orbs that can hang from the ceiling or rest on a windowsill. No
Home for the Holidays
BY LAURA HOLMES HADDAD
2. For the Birds
$5 to $90
For the birdwatcher or bird lover in your life, visit Donaroma’s for a selection of holiday birdseed ornaments in a variety of shapes, each ready to hang on a tree or porch. Or choose from a wide range of bird ornaments that would make great stocking stuffers or table decor. We especially love the vibrant red cardinals and the white snowy owls in all materials and sizes.
4. Valencian Vase
$71.95
The flower lover in your life would be thrilled with one of these 100% recycled glass vases from Middletown Nursery. Made in Valencia, Spain, the elegant vases are available in two colors and will look beautiful filled with fresh or dried flowers.
Middletown Nursery
680 State Road, West Tisbury middletownnurserymv.com
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5. Coasting
$24.99 for two
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3. Beach Bells
6. Old-Fashioned Octopus
$70, set of four
Every entertainer needs a set of coasters, and we’ve found a practical and stylish set for the Vineyard host 1 2 3
$15 to $35
Another thoughtful gift that can be enjoyed long past December is a hanging door bell from The Beach House. Based on classic sleigh bells, these come in more than 20 shapes and four colors, and include holiday, beach and animal themes. They’re made by an artisan in New Hampshire. The Beach House 30 Main St., Vineyard Haven thebeachhouseofmv.com
At Nell Home, find something to rest on those coasters (and to hold that Uncle Nearest whiskey) – four double old-fashioned glasses decorated with an octopus design, each with a surprise saying at the bottom of the glass. Nell Home
20 Main St., Edgartown nellmv.com
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Laura Holmes Haddad
Laura Holmes Haddad
Laura Holmes Haddad
Laura Holmes Haddad
Comfort & Joy
BY SUSIE MIDDLETON
1.
Sock it to Me
$24
We all know someone who loves the practical things in life, and a pair of super cozy winter socks fits the bill. The All-Weather Comfort Alpaca Sock from Island Alpaca is warm but light, has a terry-cloth-like interior, is perfect for outdoor activities and comes in four colors and four sizes.
Island Alpaca
1 Head of the Pond Road, Vineyard Haven islandalpaca.com
2. Indoor-Outdoor Fun
$39.99 to $49.99
Popdarts is a popular suction-cup dart game that can be played indoors or out as long as you have a surface. It’s great for all ages, but especially fun for anyone with a competitive streak. Popdarts Pro Pack Game Sets come in different colors and sizes, and are available – along with hundreds of other indoor and outdoor games and activities for the family – at the Lazy Frog.
Lazy Frog
42 Circuit Ave., Oak Bluffs lazyfrogmv.com
3. Table Top Corn Hole
$19.99
Here’s another way to bring the outside in for the winter – a mini wooden version of Corn Hole to play on the dining room table or the coffee table, with a drink — or without! (It’s a family gift, after all.) Pick up Table Top Corn Hole, wooden toys, puzzles and all kinds of nostalgic games and activities at Alley’s General Store.
Alley’s General Store 1045 State Road, West Tisbury
5. Double Up
$79
The trend now is to double up (or triple up) on chains, necklaces and bracelets. Stefanie Wolf’s Ocean Medley Two-Strand Bracelet is a gorgeous way to sport this style. The bracelet features freshwater pearls, ocean quartz, crystals and Czech glass, with an adjustable sterling silver toggle closure. You can shop online or at Stefanie’s store.
Stefanie Wolf Designs 37 Circuit Ave., Oak Bluffs stefaniewolf.com
53A Main St., Vineyard Haven 10 Main St., Edgartown cbstark.com 1 3
4. Shark Stuffies
$29.95
With Jaws’ 50th anniversary coming up this year, every kid needs a shark stuffed animal – but maybe one’s that not too scary looking. Rainy Day has a nice selection; we especially like this corduroy fellow who appears to be grinning.
Rainy Day
66 Main St., Vineyard Haven rainydaymv.com
6. Three’s the Charm
$115
CB Stark’s beautiful charms aren’t just for your wrist; this Mini Charm Necklace in sterling silver comes with a little Island, a scallop shell and an anchor. It would be a lovely way to introduce a friend to the charms of the Island or a keepsake for a daughter who’s going off-Island to school or work.
CB Stark Jewelers
34 Main St., Vineyard Haven claudia.jewelry 4 5 6 7
7. Wise Owl
$265
For the fashionista in your life, a oneof-a-kind glass-beaded purse by Mary Frances Accessories at Claudia jewelry store is just the thing. This stunning wise owl is a cross-body handbag that comes with a chain and a strap and two pockets, and is big enough to fit a phone.
Claudia
51 Main St., Edgartown
Susie Middleton Jeanna Shepard
Take Note! Send a Side of History with Your Holiday Cards
BY HILARY WALLCOX
It’s holiday card season and, for better or worse, the writing and mailing out of greeting cards likely holds a spot on your to-do list. This year, just in time for the holidays, the Vineyard Gazette has created a series of blank note cards to help you share those messages of good cheer, or to give as the perfect gift to the Vineyard lover on your list.
Since 1846, the Vineyard Gazette has maintained an archive of printing equipment that includes an assortment of foundry type, type cases, linotype matrices, wood cuts and metal plate printing blocks. In the earliest days of the newspaper’s publication, the small seven-point type would be carefully assembled with the occasional linecut illustration on long trays called galleys. The galleys of type would form the columns and pages that would be
inked with a hand-roller and printed on the old Adams Press, No. 248.
Computers have now taken over in the production room, but these beautiful cards hark back to that era of typesetting — an ode to the Vineyard Gazette’s long history in the business.
The set of six 5” x 7” cards are made from the original metal–plate printing blocks used in the early and mid-1900s. Each card was printed on a letterpress by the Vineyard Gazette’s operations manager, James Pfeiffer.
The set of cards includes three prints of a schooner used for advertising in the 1950s and 1960s, and three prints of an antique map of Martha’s Vineyard. The map, by J. Hector St. John de Crèvecoeur, is one of the earliest depictions of the Island, first published as part of Crèvecoeur’s
Letters from an American Farmer in 1782. In 1922, the Vineyard Gazette used the map to illustrate a story about Chappaquiddick and a proposed channel to be dug from Cape Pogue Pond. The map is remarkably detailed, showing the Island’s typography, ancient ways and meeting houses.
Pfeiffer has also printed a set of six 3.5” x 5” cards with the original metal –plate printing blocks from 1973 that accompanied a report published by the Vineyard Open Land Foundation concerning changes to the Island. The set includes two prints of each map: one shows the natural forces that helped shape the Vineyard, another shows the high points on the Island and the last identifies popular locations visited by day-trippers.
Thankfully, printing technology has improved over the years. That’s not to say that creating an attractive layout and design is any less of a labor of love. And, in this adaptation of the Vineyard Gazette’s 1955 Chevy pickup truck piled high with presents (below), the hand of the artist is no less apparent. The Vineyard Gazette's award-winning graphic designer Jane McTeigue created this card in the same production room that has seen three of the five Gazette printing presses in action every Thursday night.
Cards can be purchased at vineyardgazettestore.com. Proceeds support community journalism.
Hilary Wallcox is the archivist and librarian for the Vineyard Gazette.
Old is new again! The Vineyard Gazette has used original metal–plate printing blocks and a letterpress to print two new sets of Vineyard notecards. One set (right) includes a schooner and a 1782 map. The second set features three maps (two shown at left) originally used in a 1973 report about changes to the Island.
3.5" x 5"
5" x 7" 5" x 7"
The Wishing Tree
A tradition begun to honor those lost on September 11th, the Wishing Tree is now Polly and Brad Simpkins’ annual invitation to celebrate hope and gratitude, as well as to set intentions and good wishes for the new year.
BY POLLY SIMPKINS
This black and white photo (at right) is of our very first Wishing Tree. It was taken in December of 2001 in front of our home in Fairfield, Conn., just outside New York City. My husband Brad worked on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange for many years, and our two young boys were used to their dad leaving early for his commute into the city and coming home just in time for dinner.
The morning of September 11, 2001, was filled with the usual goodbye kisses from dad, giggles through breakfast and me wrangling the boys to get dressed, in the car and off to school. It was a beautiful sunny day and after dropping my boys off, I reluctantly made my way to the gym. I was jogging on the treadmill, watching the screen above me, when I saw it for the first time: The black billows of smoke, the towers and the horror of the planes crashing against the bright blue sky.
There are no words for what it felt like to wait for the phone to ring after rushing home. Finally, I heard my husband’s voice – steady but tinged with fear. “Polly, it’s bad. We are not exactly sure of all the details yet, but I wanted you to know I am okay and that I love you.” He told me he would call me back soon and not to worry.
Panic spread in my body as we were asked to come pick up our children from school. Back at home, as the afternoon passed, the phone never did ring, and I became numb with worry. The boys wanted to sit on the front porch and wait for dad to come home. I sat with them all day and into the night. Every second we waited, the possibility that he might not ever come home became more real.
As the boys sat barely eating chicken nuggets and applesauce on the front steps that night, they suddenly bolted up in unison screaming, “There he is!” And sure enough, there was Dad walking toward us. Still in his business suit, he was completely covered from head to toe in thick white dust. As the boys ran to him and he came closer, I saw the tears begin to fall from his eyes. He fell sobbing into my arms as
our boys jumped up to hug him. As if in a dream, he was finally home, just in time for dinner.
We began to learn of the many from our community who never came home that day. The weeks and months that followed were a blur of funerals, memorials and gatherings of support for the families who had lost loved ones, as they struggled to figure out how to move forward.
As the holidays approached, we hung the 4th of July banner I had made with the boys on our house that read “The land of the free and the home of the brave.” We dug a hole in our front yard and took the boys to get an “outside” Christmas tree, then secured the tree in the hole.
We sent out invites to all the neighborhood families to come and gather around our tree. We put out hot chocolate and candy canes, ribbons and paper for writing wishes, and we wondered if anyone would actually come.
On a quiet Saturday afternoon in December they all did come, and together we reminded ourselves of the love and gratitude we felt for each other as a community. We filled that tree with decorations, prayers, wishes and memories of all who had been lost, but also for the hope of the good that was to come in the new year.
From that day forward, the Wishing Tree has become a symbol of hope, compassion and everything that matters in all of our lives. Since we moved back to the Vineyard in 2012 to care for my father after a very severe stroke, the Wishing Tree tradition has continued.
Just like we did so long ago, we still dig a hole in our front yard on William street in Vineyard Haven and fill it with a beautiful tree. We put out the hot chocolate and candy canes and we invite the entire Island community to come visit. We put the tree out over Thanksgiving weekend, and sometimes we still wonder if people will come and take a moment to put a wish, a prayer or an intention on the tree. But somehow, they always
show up and fill the tree with beautiful wishes. We take the wishes off the tree on New Year’s Eve, read each one aloud and burn them so that they rise up to manifest! It’s a wonderful way of honoring all of the beautiful messages and intentions.
I hope you will have time to visit our Wishing Tree soon, and may it inspire you to enjoy this time of year a little more deeply, to find the time to remember those who have passed from this life who you miss or to set forth an intention for the new year. All
are welcome!
And as you set the table, light the candles, trim the tree and prepare to welcome those you love this holiday season, may you never take for granted the moment they finally walk through your door, just in time for dinner.
Polly Simpkins is an interspiritual minister, a ceremonialist and the founder of Petal Sky, which provides spiritual care for all stages of life, including death. She is also a fourth-generation Islander, a story gatherer and a DJ at MVY Radio.
Photos courtesy Polly Simpkins
Outside the Simpkins home in Vineyard Haven, the Wishing Tree beckons you to leave a wish, a prayer or an intention — or tie a ribbon in memory of a loved one.
JOY TO THE ISLAND
BY SUSIE MIDDLETON • ILLUSTRATIONS BY CHRIS BURRELL
70 TINY BUILDINGS
IT TAKES A VILLAGE. At The Carnegie Heritage Center in Edgartown, the annual Dickens Christmas Village display consists of 70 miniature buildings and approximately 150 accessories. Highlights include a Lionel train, ice skaters on a frozen pond, a harbor and lighthouse with real sand and animated interior scenes of holiday parties.
$400,000
BEAR NECESSITIES. During Christmas in Edgartown, The Teddy Bear Suite, hosted by Point B | Compass, features teddy bears of all sizes, from six inches to six feet. After 13 years, the collection, which numbers in the thousands, is now one of the largest on the East Coast. It has raised a total of more than $400,000 for The Martha’s Vineyard Boys & Girls Club.
35 YEARS
JOLLY RIDERS. Every year for the past 35 years, Santa has led a pack of motorcycle riders – members of the Martha’s Vineyard Harley Riders Club – around the Island in an annual ride that takes place in November and raises money for The Red Stocking Fund. The fund has provided new toys and warm clothing for Island children in need for 85 years.
20 TREES
REUSE AND RECYCLE. After the holidays, Island Christmas trees find new and interesting homes. Some are used to protect eroding shorelines. But last year, 20 trees found their way to Native Earth Teaching Farm, where Rebecca Gilbert’s goats chomped on the needles and bark until the branches were bare. “They need their roughage,” Rebecca said.
HOLIDAY TRADITIONS
40
Years of competition for the Chowder Cup at the Dr. Daniel Fisher House.
32
Years running for the Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School Minnesingers Holiday Concert.
5
Years straight for the World Market Holiday Pop-Up at the Capawock Theatre.
1
Year and counting for the new Vincent House Christmas tours.
Top Photos 2024
@vineyardgazette
To more than 35,000 followers @vineyardgazette is a daily dose of Island inspiration. It’s no surprise, then, that many of the most popular photos of 2024 are (once again!) views over water and of wildlife — including an
The most photographed – and Instagrammed – event of the year was the appearance of the Northern Lights in Vineyard skies in October; photographer Larry Glick's shot of the Menemsha
Harpooner beneath the Northern Lights in Menemsha.
Tim Johnson (@timmjaws)
Ray Ewing (@ray.ewing)
Larry Glick (@larryglickphotos)
Liz Durkee (@dolandurkee)
Tim Johnson (@timmjaws)
Ray Ewing (@ray.ewing)
Jeanna Shepard (@jeannashepardphotography)
Get ready to roll into the holidays! The red antique Vineyard Gazette truck is decked out for the season, packed with holiday cheer and ready to deliver your warmest greetings in this blank note card.
Choose from two sets of blank letterpressprinted note cards featuring prints from archival metal plate printing blocks from the Vineyard Gazette’s archive. A majestic schooner or a retro map make great holiday gifts for Island lovers.
Order them online or stop by the Vineyard Gazette office to buy yours today!
These two Oak Bluffs pups have a few stories to tell.
In the heart of Oak Bluffs on Healey Square, Curio MV is a shop where you’ll find “Martha’s Vineyard coastal curiosities,” including housewares, beachwear, kites, Japanese lanterns and more. But not everything that Amelie Loyot and her husband, Robert, have stocked in the store can be popped in a shopping bag. In fact, two of the shop’s most endearing curiosities are large, furry, four-footed and frisky. That would be Cosmo, a bernedoodle, and Zephyr, a goldendoodle.
When I met these two, for some reason, I couldn’t help but imagine what they might share if they both had journals about life in the store. Maybe it’s because I’m a dog photographer whose company tagline is “Because Every Dog Has a Tale,” but I just had to give these guys a chance to tell a story. If you stop by the store during the holidays, give these two a high-five. Mindy Dutka is a photographer, dog advocate, and founder of dogsimeet.com.
STORY AND PHOTOS BY MINDY DUTKA
Her mom seemed a bit anxious, keeping a close eye on her as she explored all the goodies in our store. The girl seemed to sense me even before she saw me. When she found me behind the counter, her face lit up. She asked Rob and Amelie if she could pet me, and we both felt an instant connection.
As she stroked my fur, I could feel her energy shift — she relaxed, and her smile grew. She stayed with me for a long time while her mom shopped peacefully. When it was time to leave, her mom had to coax her away from me. I overheard her mom mention that her daughter was neurodivergent and that spending time with me had been the best thing for her. They left with smiles, and I know we shared something special.
COSMO’S TALE: STEALING A KISS
I was in my favorite spot, standing on my hind legs and leaning on the counter, watching people shop. A woman leaned over to get a closer look at the jewelry display, and her face was so close to mine that I couldn’t resist — I gave her a little kiss! For a moment, time stood still. I knew I probably shouldn’t have done that. I glanced at Amelie — she looked shocked — and then at the woman, who looked startled too. I braced myself for trouble, but to my relief, the woman let out a belly laugh. Better still, she bought the jewelry!
She was still chuckling as she walked out the door. Crisis averted! I was pretty proud of myself for making her day, and she had a good story to tell too.
