The Vineyard should be a refuge from stress, an Island oasis where Islanders and off-Islanders can recharge their batteries and commune with the beauty of God’s creation. This is how I have felt since my first Vineyard trip in 1972.

Many Islanders do not want traffic lights because they symbolize “mainland sensibilities.” I get that.

However, the lights would ease at least some of the congestion and reduce stress relatively inexpensively with minimal environmental impact.

Here is a small but fun and creative solution:

Create a contest to make the traffic lights and posts into public art pieces.

Artists, crafts people or anyone could enter his or her original designs online. The judges could be famous artists, designers, etc., many of whom live on or visit the Island.

No cash prizes need to be awarded. The “prize” for each artist would be the legacy of having a permanent piece of public art on Martha’s Vineyard. A plaque would be attached to the posts of each winning creation with the artist’s name and title of said piece. As an artist myself, I’d love this!

Local Vineyard artisans would fabricate the lights and poles. Of course they would have to be paid for their time and materials. There are many grants available at the local, state and federal levels for public art projects. There is also an abundance of private public art grant money available.

The poles and lights would have to follow the public safety and durability standards that I am are already in place. Surely, with all of creativity and professional expertise on the Island, this little stumbling block could be overcome.

For the folks who hate the idea of those nasty mainland light contraptions, this offers a possible solution. Instead of proudly stating that “we have no traffic lights,” they now could boast of having the most charming, creative, artistic and stress reducing traffic lights in the world!

Hey, if it works out, maybe other communities would follow the pioneering efforts of the greatest Island in the world, Martha’s Vineyard.

Just food for thought.