Jack Ryan lives in Oak Bluffs and works at the West Tisbury post office. Each morning he takes the Vineyard Transit Authority bus to work.

“Normally there are some teachers and students and people who work at Cronig’s on the bus with me,” he said. “But now I’m the only one.”

Mr. Ryan was worked at the West Tisbury post office for five years, and the Vineyard Haven post office for two years before that. The postal service is one of the few businesses running regular hours and in close contact with the public. Mr. Ryan said there are protocols in place.

Forced out of New Orleans by Hurricane Katrina in 2005, John Hirt and his wife sought refuge with family on Martha's Vineyard. Ten years later, Mr. Hirt, the new West Tisbury postmaster, is still calling the Vineyard home.

A small framed list on the wall of the West Tisbury post office lists the names of each of the town’s postmasters. Soon a new name will be added to the lineup — postmaster Paula Sullivan has retired, capping a postal service career of nearly 30 years.

When Dave Medeiros started working at the West Tisbury post office three years ago, some things were bound to change.