Halloween on Circuit avenue around 1 p.m. was full of big kids and little kids in costumes, strollers and wagons parading in and out of stores and businesses offering a variety of packaged candies, lollipops, popcorn and welcome greetings from merchants. My favorite was the Haunted House at Mocha Mott’s. The show was about five minutes long while those waiting in line enjoyed the sunny day. This is a wonderful time of the season when business proprietors can visibly thank local customers who patronize them all year. It was all “treats, no tricks“ on Circuit Ave in 2026!
It is traditional to wait for the “October surprise” in the political world as voters contemplate November elections. This year it was the “November surprise,“ and the Vineyard was a big part of the story. Oak Bluffs’ own Keisha Lance Bottoms, who has been a favorite at Union Chapel over the years, became the first Black woman to become a governor in United States history. Last summer the former mayor of Atlanta was saluted at a major fundraiser organized by Tiffany Whittaker in West Tisbury, with on-the-ground support from Willie Clemmons. After her victory on Nov. 3, many in Oak Bluffs praised Stacy Abrams who ran twice unsuccessfully for governor of Georgia but registered thousands during her campaign days and most recently as the founder of Fair Fight, organizing against voter suppression.
But Keisha was not the only Vineyard star campaigning during this political season. Former President Barack Obama, campaigning in Cleveland, Ohio, observed that President Donald Trump’s White House interior decor looked like “Saddam Hussein opened a Cheesecake Factory.” Shortly thereafter Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent staged a counter-protest by eating at a Cheesecake Factory. After lunch, he took aim at our lifestyle by saying, “I would tell the Martha’s Vineyard set to give it a try.”
At times when our nation seems to defy many aspects of the U.S. Constitution, the public finds a way to restore the confidence that the founders had in 1776. As Rob Sand, the Democratic Governor-elect of Iowa said while framing the tone of the American electorate and his campaign, voters were looking “not for the redder or bluer, better and truer.”
The Middlesex County Chapter of The Links, Inc. recently gathered on Martha’s Vineyard for their 2026 Chapter Friendship Weekend Retreat. The gathering was co-chaired by Vineyard residents Earlene Avalon and Jennifer DaSilva. The weekend welcomed 51 active and alumnae members who enjoyed fellowship, friendship, sisterhood and service.
A highlight of the retreat was a hands-on floral service project where members created and donated 50 floral arrangements to local Island organizations, including the Vineyard hospital, Harbor Homes and Navigator Homes. Earlene and Jennifer send a big thank you to Vivian Beard, Barbara Cruz, Jacqueline Glenn, Trina Martin, Angela Motley, Sabriya Targete, Shawnda Walker, Pat Washington and Sabrina Williams for opening up their cottages to host those attending. See you in 2027!
On Nov. 17, 1911 the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. was founded on the campus of Howard University. This past summer, the Rho Xi Nu Chapter was established on Martha’s Vineyard under the leadership of Greg Jones, Chris Greene, Niles Stewart and yours truly. Other Charter members include Ed Redd, Hansel Tooks, Rodney Sampson, Fred Lowery, Larry Jones and Rory Moreis. Congratulations on hosting their very successful First District meeting where they entertained over 50 brothers from around New England and contributed over $3,000 to the Island Grown Initiative. On Nov. 17 of this year they will celebrate the life and career of Founder Dr. Ernest E. Just (1883-1941), a pioneering African American biologist and experimental embryologist who spent over 20 summers conducting marine biology research starting in 1909 at the Marine Biological Laboratory in Woods Hole. His decades of meticulous work at Woods Hole left a permanent mark on cell biology. He received the very first NAACP Spingarn Medal in 1915 for his scientific achievements.
The Martha’s Vineyard Community Greenhouse located at 114 New York avenue, has issued a call for volunteers to join them on Saturday, Nov. 14 from 9 a.m. to noon to help with Fall Cleanup and Spring Prep. This involves cleaning up and staging the inside of the Greenhouse. Come on out for a very worthy community cause.
Paradise on earth is living the Vineyard experience. Enjoy it as life is fleeting!
Rest in Peace Randall Edward Taylor