Tag Archives: island economics
Focus on Journalism
Twice a week the Vineyard Gazette sends out an e-newsletter that includes links to interesting stories in the current paper and a short editorial commentary. A few weeks ago, the newsletter included an open invitation from publisher Jane Seagrave: the Gazette was holding an “informal … Continue reading
Spring Planting
From late January till early March the snow was so deep at Misty Meadows that on our morning walks Trav and I avoided the big meadow that is usually on our route. Since then we’ve been walking around it again, watching … Continue reading
Cheap Gas
The day before yesterday I filled Malvina Forester’s tank for less than $40. If you live off-island but somewhere in the continental U.S., this will not seem worth a mention, never mind a blog post, but bear with me. In … Continue reading
Chambermaid Follies
My computer files and folders are pretty well organized. My paper files are a mess. Once the folders get into the file drawers, they’re out of sight, out of mind, but plenty of stuff never gets there. Folders and unsorted … Continue reading
Out of Sight? Not Quite
I lived in Washington, D.C., for 11 years and loved it. All those years I hardly ever thought about where my drinking water came from or where my trash or sewage went. All that changed after I landed on Martha’s … Continue reading
How to Survive Summer
With this year’s changeover I commence my 30th year as a year-round resident of Martha’s Vineyard. Traditionally the changeover is when the July people leave and the August people arrive. I’m not sure we have real changeovers anymore: it seems … Continue reading
Creative Economy?
In the last two weeks, I’ve been attempting to blog about two related events. One was my discovery that preview tickets for mainstage shows at the extensively renovated Vineyard Playhouse now cost $50. The other was the proclamation of the … Continue reading
How to Be a Good Tourist
In early April a story appeared in Business Insider: “How NOT to Behave in 12 Countries Around the World”. Water was still freezing in Travvy’s outside water dish, but the spring spruce-up was already under way at down-island shops and restaurants. What … Continue reading
Trustafarianism
Rumor has it that a photographer well known on Martha’s Vineyard coined the term “trustafarian.” This fellow comes from money and has ties to Jamaica, so the rumor may well be true. “Trustafarian” appears in various online dictionaries, like the … Continue reading
Betty Ann Bryant (1938–1994)
It’s not true that you can find everything on the internet. Not long ago I went looking for Betty Ann Bryant. Betty Ann was one of the most amazing people I’ve ever met. I dedicated my novel, The Mud of … Continue reading
From the Seasonally Occupied Territories . . . 