I had to process this for a long time before I could write about it. The recent passing of Kay Mayhew hit me hard. Kay wrote the Tisbury column for the Martha’s Vineyard Times. We knew each other for years. Whenever we ran into each other, either downtown or at meetings we both attended and community events we chatted away as two writers representing our beloved town would. She popularized the phrase “heard on Main Street.” She was also a scholar and contributed so much to Island history and to the Martha’s Vineyard Museum. She was energetic, lovely and measured her information accurately. I shall miss her so much.
I am sure Kay would be happy to know the building project for our high school passed in a landslide vote. She would also be happy to know our Martha’s Vineyard Boys & Girls Club had a successful 32nd annual golf tournament at Farm Neck. And I know that she would agree with Susan Shea’s post reminding us to plant flowers friendly to our bees. Rest in power, Kay. Nobody did it better.
We are thrilled to learn that on June 4 our retired Barbara Dacey was inducted into the Massachusetts Broadcasters Hall of Fame.
In other talented Islanders news, please look out for the poetry of Ambrose William Seward. I met him on Island when he was eleven. Ambrose certainly has a way with words. His poems make you think.
Certainly summers bring on an explosion of music. Richard Paradise of the Martha’s Vineyard Film Center announces that the performance Jorma Kaukonen gave at the film center last week was electrifying. I have attended many concerts and the various permutations of bands Jorma worked with; they were always amazing. This week on Wednesday the return of Dead Night at the P.A.Club in Oak Bluffs commences for the season. If you are a Deadhead be there every Wednesday. Music begins at 8:30 p.m.
The birthday bandwagon pulled along Wendy Fitting on June 8. Tuesday June 9 celebrated Michael J Fox, our beloved actor and tireless worker for his Parkinson’s Foundation. Susanna Sturgis also took the cake on June 9. Many happy returns.
This article appears in June 12, 2026.