Unofficially the first poet laureate of the Island was Dionis Coffin Riggs, who began hosting a poetry group at the Cleaveland House in West Tisbury in 1960.
Here is Dionis’s poem Wait, Spring, which was published in the April 19, 1996 Gazette:
Photography
Despite the humidity of recent days, this has been a relatively hot and dry summer.
July 23, 2022
In Vineyard Haven the ferry Island Home rounds the breakwater and sounds her horn, loaded to the gunwales with day trippers and loaded below with cars.
July 21, 2022
July is prime season for shorebirds and summer residents. It is also the season for baby birds, and adult birds are busy bringing food to their young.
July 19, 2022
Eighteen catboats participated in the Catboat Rendezvous in the procession of sail — from the Katama Narrows, past the downtown waterfront and out to Edgartown Outer Harbor.
July 18, 2022
July is filled to brimming over with revisited joys that we both remember and anticipate with the passage of each new year.
July 17, 2022
The West Tisbury Library’s revamped annual book sale opened Sunday, with book enthusiasts mulling through hundreds of donated books collected on the library’s back porch.
July 13, 2022
The two-day Fluke for Luke fishing tournament concluded with an awards ceremony at the Portuguese American Club Sunday afternoon.
July 11, 2022
The bunting, pin wheels and top hats are put away for another year and the hamburgers, hot dogs and potato salad are safely in the fridge. Now the sun is shining and beaches await.
July 10, 2022
Main street in Vineyard Haven was the place to be for the annual Tisbury Street Fair to peruse outdoor shopping and listen to live music, but the biggest lines could be found at the food tables.
July 9, 2022
It’s haying season again on Island farms. The Fischer family gathered at Flat Point Farm to gather their hay using the traditional method.
July 8, 2022
After the parade, after dinner, after ice cream, all eyes turned to the skies above Edgartown harbor for the return of town's annual Fourth of July fireworks display. Islanders and visitors headed to beachs, town streets, porches and the waterfront to view the rocket's red glare.
July 7, 2022
Marking 25 years of crowd-pleasing performances, the annual summer concert by the Island Community Chorus was also Peter Boak’s final concert as director of the group.
July 6, 2022
Edgartown's streets were a vision of red, white and blue with decorated floats and parade-goers in patriotic dress as the Vineyard celebrated the nation's birthday with the annual Fourth of July parade.
July 4, 2022
Stepping off to the sound of the McDonald Canon, the convoy of eclectic cars and trucks in the Aquinnah Kids Parade featured all kinds of patriotic decorations and enthusiastic passengers, along with some political statements.
July 4, 2022
Postcard-perfect weather brought people out in a celebratory mood, filling downtowns, beaches, and harbors on the Fourth of July.
July 4, 2022
The sun rose on the morning of July Fourth, and the Vineyard starts the day with morning walks, coffee, and waking up late from weekend festivities. Summer crowds have filled the Island for the Fourth of July holiday, flags are flying and families are gathering.
July 4, 2022