Editors, Vineyard Gazette:

My wife and I have had the pleasure of being able to spend almost the entire summer on-Island, rather than just a week or two here or there. The big advantage in spending a longer, concentrated period is that you can get to know some of the people who live here, who make the Island much more than a collection of beautiful beaches. To do so, we tried hard to support local growers and businesses, which turned out to be very easy because the Vineyard has so many terrific ones, each owned by terrific people who were very friendly and appreciative.

I hope it’s not inappropriate to name names (or at least first names and business names), but I wanted to give a particular thank-you to Mermaid Farm and New Lane Sundries. In both cases I think I might be their best retail customer. Also, the West Tisbury Farmers’ Market is world-class, and I’d particularly like to thank Douglas, Rich, Bucky and Suzanne, and of course Khen, a.k.a. The Egg Roll Lady of Martha’s Vineyard. Not to mention local service providers, like Emily, Dave and the ER staff that patched up my foot after I stepped on another oyster shell. (This is becoming one of our Vineyard traditions, as I also did it last year.)

Perhaps maybe, though I don’t remember when, I’ve visited places with more beauty or where people are more welcoming, but certainly I have never been to a place where people are both, creating truly a world-class destination. I now see why the Island’s slogan is, “People who could go anywhere, come here.” Or if that’s not the Island’s slogan, perhaps it should be.

Al Lewis

Chilmark