John G. Early, a longtime West Tisbury selectman and volunteer on many committees and organizations across the Island, has been honored with the Spirit of the Vineyard award. The community room at the West Tisbury Library was overflowing as friends and supporters listened to one speaker after another praise Mr. Early.
John Early has contributed so many years of public service it's difficult to come up with an actual number without a high powered calculator. Hospice of Martha's Vineyard did the math, though, and chose Mr. Early to be this year's recipient of their Spirit of the Vineyard award.
Margot Schwarz Weston, 99, was presented with the Spirit of the Vineyard award Satuday night in recognition of her decades of volunteering and community service. The award, now in its 17th year, is given out annually by Hospice of Martha's Vineyard and Vineyard Village at Home to honor individuals who work to enhance the Island in quiet ways.
Nominations for the Spirit of the Vineyard Award, sponsored by Hospice of Martha’s Vineyard, are open. The annual award honors those who have served one or more nonprofit organizations on the Island, and whose work has made a difference to individuals and to the community. The criteria for selection includes selflessness, range and depth of service performed, the length of volunteer service, the effect on the individuals served and for the Island community as a whole.
Polly Brown of Tisbury, a founder of the Spirit of the Vineyard Award, was herself honored with that award Saturday morning by her colleagues at Hospice of Martha’s Vineyard.
Hospice established the award a decade ago to honor volunteers who have given their time, talent and energy to a wide range of Vineyard charities over a long period of time.
More than 40 of her friends, including her brother, Daniel Putnam Brown Jr., gathered for a morning social and speeches at the Howes House in West Tisbury. The gathering was festive and the praise high.
Hospice of Martha’s Vineyard announced this week that Melinda Loberg of Vineyard Haven has been chosen to receive the annual Spirit of the Vineyard award.
“Melinda Loberg is a woman who can’t say no. As a result, she is very busy. And her work makes a difference to many people in diverse ways,” declared a press statement from hospice about the award.
Denys and Marilyn Wortman of Hines Point were honored on Friday as the joint recipients of this year’s Spirit of the Vineyard award, given annually by Hospice of Martha’s Vineyard. The Wortmans’ work and community support was praised, and their sense of humor celebrated, by their friends and associates who made the atmosphere a jovial one at the celebration in the regional high school’s culinary arts room.
Emily Bramhall’s many labors for Islanders has earned her this year’s Spirit of the Vineyard Award. The honor, sponsored by Hospice of Martha’s Vineyard, thanks volunteers who have put their hearts and souls into service to their community.
