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Articles by Joanne Lambert
Oak Bluffs - MV Times
“To be on an island is to breathe deeper and feel lighter, helping to reset one’s pace to the rhythm of the waves.” –Henry David Thoreau This time of year, we can all feel the reset. Even though it’s dark earlier, the beauty of the days and the quieter pace is a pleasure. There is parking, and you don’t have to carefully time your trips to the grocery store. I have even been able to get back into Mocha Mott’s and see Scott, Hallie, and crew. What are we going to complain about now?
Oak Bluffs - MV Times
“She’s always loved Halloween. A magic night. A night when anything could happen. Monsters could be real. Magic could whisper in the air.” –Cynthia Eden Halloween does bring magic, doesn’t it? Kids out after dark, neighborhoods lively with houses decorated, grown-ups wearing costumes. I loved it as a kid; I love it still. In fact, I got married on Halloween. So happy anniversary to Jeff Lambert, who was lucky enough to marry me on Oct.
Oak Bluffs - MV Times
“How bravely Autumn paints upon the sky the gorgeous fame of summer, which is fled.” –Thomas Hood Photos of the bright foliage colors up north do not make me jealous. I just love Island autumn colors, which come more quietly but are equally stunning — the feathery grasses on the edge of the ponds, the yellow goldenrod popping along the beach dunes. And especially the sky, with bright red sunrises and painted pink sunsets, followed by clear, starry nights.
Oak Bluffs - MV Times
“October is the treasure of the year, and all the months pay bounty to her store.” –Paul Laurence Dunbar It’s time to VOTE. Early voting for the November election begins on Oct. 17. In Oak Bluffs, we can vote at the town hall from 9 am to 4 pm, Monday through Friday, starting on Oct. 19 through Oct. 30, plus two Saturdays: Oct. 17 and 24, also 9 am to 4 pm. Voting information and support for voting will be provided at the No Kings: Vote Early rally on Saturday, Oct. 17, from 1 to 2 pm at Five Corners.
Oak Bluffs - MV Times
“Wampanoags did not lose their land, any more than Indians elsewhere on the continent. Colonists and their successors took it, through every means at their disposal.” –“This Land Is Their Land,” David J. Silverman Sassafras Earth Education will partner with Felix Neck Wildlife Sanctuary to honor Indigenous Peoples’ Day on Monday, Oct. 12, from 2 to 3:30 pm. This year’s program promotes reflection and healing through words and music, with Wôpanâak speakers, drumming, and activities.
Oak Bluffs - MV Times
“If you think you are too small to make a difference, try sleeping with a mosquito.” –Dalai Lama XIV This quote made me think of all the big differences being made in our lives by something very tiny: a tick. Of course, it’s not just one tick, it’s the multitude and variety of them that are wreaking havoc in so many lives. I had a conversation with Meg Carman from the new Express Clinic at the hospital.
Oak Bluffs - MV Times
“There is a time in late September when the leaves are still green and the days are still warm, but somehow you know that it is all about to end, as if summer was holding its breath, and when it let it out again, it would be autumn.” –Sharyn McCrumb This September has been just the way we like it — the crowds have thinned, the days are mostly sunny, and the nights are cool.
Oak Bluffs - MV Times
Shout-out and big thanks to our parks and recreation department for all their hard work creating beautiful new plantings in town parks! Chris Joyce and crew have been spotted all over town digging in new shrubs and plants — it really makes a difference. My favorite community event is coming up on Saturday, Sept. 19 — Tivoli Day! I just read a great article by Ken Goldberg about the origin of Tivoli Day in 1978.
Oak Bluffs - MV Times
I agree with Shakespeare, as summer does seem too short when September suddenly arrives! On this Island we are lucky, because September usually brings us an extension of lovely weather without the crowds and chaos. Summer vacations may be over, but this is when we remember how lucky we are to live here! Besides parking spaces, September means Tivoli Day, which is coming on Sept. 19. More later! Our library has some ocean-oriented events on its calendar to celebrate Maritime month. Sept.
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“I was rich, if not in money, in sunny hours and summer days.” –Henry David Thoreau It makes me feel rich to go to the beach in the early morning when there is nobody there, walk along the shore, breathe the air, and float in the sea. Then I go back to work, of course, but later I go watch the sunset at East Chop. I never take for granted the beauty of this Island. The Ag Fair starts this Thursday, August 13, and runs through Sunday.
Oak Bluffs -
Sen. Raphael Warnock, who is also the senior pastor at Atlanta’s Ebenezer Baptist Church, will be the guest speaker at the Festival of Worship in Word and Song on August 9 at the Tabernacle. This collaboration between West Tisbury CC, Union Chapel, and the MVCMA will begin at 2 pm. The Tabernacle will also be hosting its annual benefit concert on Saturday, August 15, this year featuring the Wallflowers, with special guest Wolftrap.
Oak Bluffs -
“August is the border between summer and autumn; it is the most beautiful month I know. Twilight is the border between day and night, the shore is the border between sea and land.” –Tove Jansson We are somehow always astonished when August arrives. It is such a mix of feelings here — it is truly a beautiful month, filled with garden and sea abundance, long summer days, and beautiful sunsets. But for us, the pace of life accelerates, the traffic gets worse, and it is easy to find it annoying.
Oak Bluffs -
“Her work championed the dignity, beauty, and resilience of Black culture.” –Andrea Taylor, Della Hardman’s daughter July 25 is Della Hardman Day! All are invited to “savor the moment” and honor the legacy of this brave and brilliant woman, born into segregation in West Virginia in 1922, who became a world-renowned artist, educator, and journalist, and lived her later years in Oak Bluffs, where she received the first Humanitarian Award from the NAACP for her community service.
Oak Bluffs -
“I have studied many philosophers and many cats. The wisdom of cats is infinitely superior.” –Hippolye Taine My big news is that I adopted a kitten. Or perhaps she adopted me! It had been a few years since my last cat died, and I thought I was ready to begin another feline journey. What I forgot is how they entertain you endlessly with crazy antics, find dangerous corners of your house you didn’t know existed, and grab hold of your heart.
Oak Bluffs - The Martha's Vineyard Times
“The fool doth think he is wise, but the wise man knows himself to be a fool.” –Touchstone the court jester, in “As You Like It” by William Shakespeare Circuit Arts and the M.V. Playhouse have joined forces, as you probably know. Their calendar is full of shows, concerts, and movies. This year, their annual Shakespeare at the Tisbury Amphitheater presentation will be “As You Like It,” and it opens on July 15.
Oak Bluffs - The Martha's Vineyard Times
“Freedom is the open window through which pours the sunlight of the human spirit and human dignity.” –Herbert Hoover July Fourth is upon us, and the summer schedule is officially full. It’s that time of year to pay attention to the calendar and plan ahead so you don’t miss out! Sometimes the best plan is to stay on your porch, and that’s O.K. too! The Martha’s Vineyard Polar Bears are celebrating 80 years this summer with joy, music, and community.
The Martha's Vineyard Times
It certainly feels like it’s all happening in Oak Bluffs! The Harbor Festival kicked off summer last Saturday. It was a great time; thanks to all who put it together! Be sure to check out the new community art installation by Galaxy Arts MV. The theme for “Art In The Park 2026” is housing, and the artists were asked to celebrate the architecture of the Oak Bluffs cottages. The result is 45 unique pieces, dotting the walking path around Sunset Lake.
The Martha's Vineyard Times
“There is no life that does not contribute to history.” –Dorothy West Dorothy West was born in June 1907. She started writing in her teens, was part of the Harlem Renaissance in the 1920s, and became one of the few Black women to be published in major literary magazines in the 1930s and ’40s. In 1948, after moving to Martha’s Vineyard, she wrote her first novel, and she also started a weekly column about Oak Bluffs in the Vineyard Gazette.
The Martha's Vineyard Times
Celebrate love this weekend with the annual M.V. Pride Weekend. Come to downtown Oak Bluffs for festivities all weekend to lift up our LGBTQ community. The struggle is real and ongoing; the freedom to be yourself and love who you love is at risk. The parade is the spotlight, filled with joy and hope. See the full schedule of events at marthasvineyardpride.com and obamv.com. Keep the party going on Saturday at the P.A. Club with ESP, playing from 6 to 9 pm.
The Martha's Vineyard Times
“The demand for equal rights in every vocation of life is just and fair; but, after all, the most vital right is the right to love and be loved.” –Emma Goldman June is Pride Month, a time to honor the right to love. So many came before and fought the battle for freedom and equal rights, and the battle continues today. We take the time to celebrate our LGBTQ community, and Oak Bluffs will have a weekend full of celebrations to bring people together over June 12 to 14.
The Martha's Vineyard Times
“In early June the world of leaf and blade and flowers explodes, and every sunset is different.” –John Steinbeck Memorial Day weekend was rainy, which was too bad for the many folks visiting and trying to sightsee — but hopefully it was good for the shops and restaurants. And we really needed the rain! The highlight of my weekend was getting over to the VFW to hear Gordon Healy sing the blues with the incomparable band of Don Groover, Barbara Puciul, Buck Shank, and Tess Walsh on drums.
The Martha's Vineyard Times
“Quietness is an essential part of all awareness. In quiet times and sleepy times, a child can dwell in thoughts of his own, and in songs and stories of his own.” –Margaret Wise Brown Memorial Day is here, I guess our quiet time is ending. This holiday gives us time to honor those who fought and died while serving in the U.S. military. The weekend also brings the official reawakening of the Island to a new summer season.
The Martha's Vineyard Times
“Behind all your stories is always your mother’s story, because hers is where yours begins.” –Mitch Albom Here is your official reminder: Mother’s Day is this Sunday, May 10. Most of the time, mothers get taken for granted. They work behind the scenes, hoping to give their children what they need. They don’t do it for applause, they don’t want any spotlight on them.
The Martha's Vineyard Times
“When you replace negative thoughts with positive ones, you’ll start having positive results.” –Willie Nelson We will celebrate the amazing life of Roy Scheffer on May 2 at the M.V. Agricultural Hall at 2 pm. Please join Roy’s family and friends as we all try to absorb the loss of Roy and Tricia Bergeron this year. There will be a raw bar and BBQ; bring dessert if you like.
The Martha's Vineyard Times
“You can meet saints everywhere. They can be anywhere. They are people behaving decently in an indecent society.” –Kurt Vonnegut Wasn’t it thrilling to watch the Artemis II mission make that incredible journey around the moon? It was just amazing to me that we could see the astronauts in real time, watch and listen as they experienced time in a capsule hurtling though space.
The Martha's Vineyard Times
“I think that I shall never see /A poem lovely as a tree.” –Joyce Kilmer This windy winter has done a number on trees all over the Island. Lots of cleanup is in progress already, and piles of branches along roadsides are a normal visual these days. Pine trees seemed to take the worst beating, especially from the blizzard. The Oak Bluffs Tree Stewards need you! This group has been doing a fantastic job planting and maintaining new trees throughout our town.
The Martha's Vineyard Times
“When a flower doesn’t bloom, you fix the environment in which it grows, not the flower.” –Alexander Den Heijer This lovely quote is seen often in early-childhood circles, and can also apply to so many other aspects of life — gardening, friendship, marriage. Thanks to Annie Palches for sharing it with me! No fooling — the April full moon rises on the 1st. It is called the “Pink Moon” for the wildflowers that traditionally begin to blossom in April.
The Martha's Vineyard Times
“April is the kindest month. April gets you out of your head and out working on the garden.” –Marty Rubin Isn’t that what we crave? To get out of our heads (I’d substitute houses) and work in the garden? Of course, out here we tend to have a cool and rainy April — but the seeds can be started and the planning can begin. And if your yard looks like mine, there is a lot of cleanup to be done this year before getting to the garden.
The Martha's Vineyard Times
“If we had no winter, the spring would not be pleasant; if we did not sometimes taste of adversity, prosperity would not be so welcome.” –Anne Bradstreet I suppose this is true. This winter we have had is most certainly making the approach of spring a welcome thought! You can see the effects of our winter all over the Island, in downed branches and street signs, and yellow grass. But our town beaches look cleansed, with windswept sand and new tide pools.
The Martha's Vineyard Times
“Always remember to forget the things that made you sad. But never forget to remember the things that made you glad.” –Irish proverb St. Patrick’s Day is March 17, the day to celebrate Irish culture. Mo’s will reopen that day to serve us corned beef and cabbage, and you can stop in to the P.A. Club for the craic and some traditional Irish music. Slainte! Did you survive the time change to daylight savings?
The Martha's Vineyard Times
“I can calculate the motion of heavenly bodies, but not the madness of people.” –Sir Isaac Newton Hey, March is Women’s History Month! This started with International Women’s Day, which was designated as March 8 back in the early 1900s. It has been recognized as a monthlong focus in the U.S. since 1987. I just wish it translated into more women in power, which has been one step forward, two steps back for too many years.
The Martha's Vineyard Times
“I say from time to time that the vote is precious. It’s almost sacred. It is the most nonviolent tool or instrument that we have in a democratic society. And we must use it.” –John Lewis, Feb. 21, 1940–July 17, 2020 John Lewis was a hero of the U.S. civil rights movement who championed the right to vote for every American. He was also a very nice man, who let me get a photo with him when I met him at Inkwell Beach! I hope we can continue his work and protect the vote.
The Martha's Vineyard Times
“Kindness is like snow — it beautifies everything it covers.” –Khalil Gibran This is quite a wintry winter! You know the weather is extreme when Islanders Talk is taken over by discussions about plowing and shoveling. It is a nice moment for the group, with neighbors helping neighbors and sharing info about warming shelters and ride-shares. The snow and cold is fun for kids and difficult for older folks, so bundle up, and check on your friends.
The Martha's Vineyard Times
“Hold fast to dreams, for if dreams die, life is a broken-winged bird that cannot fly.” –Langston Hughes Langston Hughes was an American poet, social activist, novelist, playwright, and columnist who lived a short life, from 1901 to 1967, but left a legacy by paving his own path and writing his truth. His words continue to inspire today. As I write this, we are waiting for a big snowstorm.
The Martha's Vineyard Times
“If you eat right, and you work out daily, and you get lots of sleep … you will die anyway. Now open the wine and cut the cake!” –Hallmark card received for my birthday Good reminder that every day is a gift! Gina Patti and Rob Oslyn traveled to the West Coast over Christmas break to meet the newest family member, Lucy Elizabeth Oslyn, who was born on Nov. 17. Parents Justin and Hannah are doing well, as Lucy patiently teaches them about parenting.
The Martha's Vineyard Times
“Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can.” –Arthur Ashe These are feeling like dark and confusing times. We are grieving on the Island for loved ones lost, and the news is all about chaos and controversy in the world. These words by Arthur Ashe are simple but powerful. When the world seems dark, we must do what we can to bring light.
The Martha's Vineyard Times
“My humanity is bound up in yours, for we can only be human together.” –Archbishop Desmond Tutu The Island has lost two great humans. As I write this, my thoughts are with the families of Tricia Bergeron and Roy Scheffer, who lost their lives on New Year’s Day in a tragic accident on the water. Roy and Tricia grew up here, and between the two, I think it is safe to say, they touched the life of every person who lives here.
The Martha's Vineyard Times
Mary Wolverton, 59, passed away on Dec. 24, 2025, at her home and surrounded by family in Vineyard Haven, after battling breast cancer for several years. Mary was born in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, in 1966, to Ann and Ben Wolverton Jr., and grew up on the family’s sustainable farm in Troy Mills, Iowa. She attended North Linn High School, and graduated with a B.A. in theater arts from the University of Iowa in Iowa City.
The Martha's Vineyard Times
“And numerous indeed are the hearts to which Christmas brings a brief season of happiness and enjoyment.” –Charles Dickens, “The Pickwick Papers” Christmas does bring a rush of emotions, along with all the ritual and busy activity. In early childhood education, we talk about “big feelings,” and even adults experience those around the holidays.
The Martha's Vineyard Times
“Look at how a single candle can both defy and define the darkness.” –Anne Frank Hanukkah has begun –– wishing everyone a joyous season of light, comfort, and hope! As I write, the Island is being blanketed by a beautiful snowfall. It felt like waking up in a snow globe this morning! We took a drive to see the landscape transformed from gray to glistening white. Oak Bluffs just looks so lovely and peaceful in the snow.
The Martha's Vineyard Times
“I like to compare the holiday season with the way a child listens to a favorite story. The pleasure is in the familiar way the story begins, the anticipation of familiar turns it takes, the familiar moments of suspense, and the familiar climax and ending.” –Fred Rogers “A Country Christmas” at the Strand Theater on Dec. 13 will feature performers from the M.V. Songwriters Festival, including Nashville recording artists Martin & Kelly and C.J. Solar.
The Martha's Vineyard Times
“Everything will be O.K. in the end. If it’s not O.K., it’s not the end.” –John Lennon John Lennon was a poet, a musician, an activist, and a visionary. He was also my favorite Beatle. I remember him on Dec. 8, when he left this world too soon. I was out in Western Massachusetts over Thanksgiving, and it was winter out there! It snowed, which was pretty, but it was frigidly cold. With a daytime high of 32°, it was painful-to-the-face kind of cold.
The Martha's Vineyard Times
“After a good dinner, one can forgive anybody, even one’s own relations.” –Oscar Wilde Wishing you all a Thanksgiving Day that makes you feel thankful! Some people will be gathered with family or friends, some folks will be working or volunteering, some will be traveling, some will be alone. Gratitude can find you where you are, and it is a feeling that can change everything.
The Martha's Vineyard Times
“Yesterday is the past, tomorrow’s the future, but today is a gift. That’s why it’s called the present.“ –Bil Keane, American cartoonist This time of year, time seems to speed up. Especially if you go off-Island, like we did last weekend, and walk into stores where Christmas is in full swing! November can feel deliciously slow — if you can keep December simmering on the back burner.
Woodrow Williams
Woodrow Williams (“Woody”) of Vineyard Haven died peacefully at home with his loving wife, Phyllis, and his daughter, Vanessa, by his side. Woody was a member of the U.S. Marine Corps and a veteran of the Vietnam War. He died on Veterans Day, Nov. 11, 2025, which was the day after the 250th birthday of the U.S. Marine Corps. He was 74 years old. A full obituary will follow in another edition of this paper.
The Martha's Vineyard Times
“Be thankful for what you have; you’ll end up having more. If you concentrate on what you don’t have, you will never, ever have enough.” –Oprah Winfrey I am thankful for our Island community, which has gone into action to protect and feed people as winter gets closer and times are getting harder.
The Martha's Vineyard Times
“Let the trees show us how beautiful it can be to let things go.” –Anonymous The Best-Fest parade on Circuit Ave. last weekend was a lot of fun! Thanks to Kathleen Cowley, owner of Enchanted Chocolates, for spearheading the event and recruiting the fabulous and talented Upis Land Band and all the dancers. It was a Nov. 1 community street party, with great vibes all around, and made me proud to be from O.B.! There is a lot going on at the YMCA.
The Martha's Vineyard Times
“There are three things I have learned never to discuss with people: religion, politics, and the Great Pumpkin.” Linus in “It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown” Although you might have thought that Halloween was last weekend, with all the costumed kids roaming the towns and fun events, Halloween is actually this Friday! It is kind of my favorite holiday, because it is fun AND spooky, and it brings out the kid in all of us. Vineyard Ave.
The Martha's Vineyard Times
“Small acts, when multiplied by millions of people, can quietly become a power that no government can suppress, a power that can transform the world.” –Howard Zinn I saw many signs and quotes at the No Kings rally here on M.V., and in pictures from across the world. It was heartening to see that people everywhere are paying attention and standing up to express their voices, in peaceful protest against injustice and against threats to democracy.
The Martha's Vineyard Times
“Wampanoags did not lose their land, any more than Indians elsewhere on the continent. Colonists and their successors took it, through every means at their disposal.” –“This Land Is Their Land,” David J. Silverman Indigenous Peoples’ Day will be celebrated on Monday, Oct. 13.
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