A grammar school, a historic church and a high school performing arts center: what do these three locations have in common? On Tuesday, they will each play an integral role in the ongoing democratic traditions of the Island.

Town meeting season is here again, and opens on April 8 in West Tisbury, Edgartown and Oak Bluffs. On Tuesday, voters will travel to the West Tisbury School, the Old Whaling Church and the Performing Arts Center to debate in public on matters essential to the towns.

Chilmark, Aquinnah and Tisbury town meetings take place later this spring.

The discourse will be passionate but civil, overseen by moderators tasked with keeping the discussions lively but moving forward. And then votes will be tallied and honored.

Each of the towns are considering restrictions on leaf blowers out of concern about noise and pollution; Edgartown and Oak Bluffs will vote on multi-million dollar wastewater projects; and West Tisbury residents will decide on a $1.6 million override and school debt exlcusions.

Just as important as the final decisions are what happens during the proceedings, from dropping off young children at West Tisbury School classrooms to be cared for while their parents head to the gym to attend to town matters, to the smiles and waves of Islanders who may have not seen each other during the long hibernation of winter.


It is democracy as community, and community as democracy, with everyone on equal footing, having their say by speaking at the microphone or by a show of hands.

The Old Whaling Church was built in 1843 and has long been a center of life in Edgartown and the Island. The West Tisbury School and the Performing Arts Center are much newer editions but make up for what they lack in historic longevity through youthful activity and the rigors and excitement of education.

Each, in its own way, stands for what the country has been built on ­— that the institutions of the past, present and future matter, and it is up to the people to continue to make it so.

Aquinnah
Town Meeting, May 13, Aquinnah Town Hall, 7 p.m.
Town Election, May 15, Aquinnah Town Hall, noon to 8 p.m.

Chilmark
Town Meeting, April 28, Chilmark Community Center, 7 p.m.
Town Election, April 30, Chilmark Community Center, noon to 8 p.m.

Edgartown
Town Meeting: April 8, Old Whaling Church, 7 p.m.
Town Election: April 10, Town Hall, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Oak Bluffs
Town Meeting: April 8, MVRHS, 7 p.m.
Town Election: April 10, Town Hall, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Vineyard Haven
Town Meeting: Tisbury School, April 29, 7 p.m.
Town Election: May 13, Emergency Services Building, noon to 8 p.m.

West Tisbury
Town Meeting: April 8, West Tisbury School, 6 p.m.
Town Election: April 10, Public Safety Building. 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.