Howes House & the Up-Island Council on Aging: A Guide for Seniors in West Tisbury, Chilmark & Aquinnah
There's a stretch of State Road in West Tisbury that quietly holds some of the best things going on the island for seniors — and most people drive right past it without knowing.
At 1042 State Road, Howes House is the home of the Up-Island Council on Aging, the regional senior center serving the up-island communities of West Tisbury, Chilmark, and Aquinnah. Right inside the same building, the West Tisbury Free Public Library runs a Community Freedge — a free refrigerator and pantry stocked with fresh produce, frozen meals, and canned goods, open to anyone who needs it, no questions asked. And just a few steps away at 1050 State Road, the Field Gallery spreads its whimsical outdoor sculpture garden across a wide open field that has been stopping people in their tracks since 1970.
In a single morning or afternoon, you can drop in for yoga, pick up free groceries, and spend an hour wandering among larger-than-life sculptures. That's a pretty remarkable cluster of things for one stretch of road on a small island.
Here's everything you need to know.
The Up-Island Council on Aging at Howes House
1042 State Road, West Tisbury | (508) 693-2896 | Monday–Friday 8:30am–4:00pm
The Up-Island Council on Aging (UICOA) has been at the center of island life for older adults for decades. Based at Howes House in West Tisbury, it serves adults 55 and older across the three up-island towns — West Tisbury, Chilmark, and Aquinnah — with a range of programs, services, and human connection that you won't find anywhere else on the island.
The mission is straightforward: help older adults remain as physically mobile, mentally sharp, and socially engaged as possible, for as long as possible. And Howes House takes that seriously.
What's On: Programs at Howes House
The schedule at Howes House changes seasonally, but the range is impressive. Regular offerings have included:
Fitness & Movement: Yoga, Balletics, Qi Gong, Strength Training — a genuinely varied lineup for a community senior center, and all offered at low or no cost.
Arts & Creative Programs: Watercolor classes, a Writers Group, and rotating creative offerings. The arts have always been a thread running through life on the Vineyard, and Howes House keeps that tradition alive.
Social & Recreational: Mah Jong, discussion groups, and community lunches give regulars a reason to show up even when they don't have a specific appointment.
Health Services: Blood Pressure Clinic, Pedicare Clinic, Chair Massage, and a Parkinson's Support Group for those navigating that particular road.
Practical Support: SHINE (health insurance assistance), Fuel Assistance enrollment, SNAP (food benefit) application support, Notary Services, Telephone Reassurance Calls, and access to Durable Medical Equipment. These are the services that make a real difference when someone is trying to manage aging at home without a lot of help.
Technology Help: A Call-a-Tech-Pro program runs on Thursdays from 11am to 1pm — free, drop-in help with smartphones, tablets, computers, apps, email, and video calls. In 2026, this has become one of the most popular offerings at the center.
The center is open Monday through Friday, 8:30am to 4:00pm, for both scheduled programs and drop-in visits, information and referral, and case management.
Director Bethany Hammond and Assistant Director Susan Merrill lead the team and are genuinely knowledgeable about the full range of resources available to up-island residents. If you're not sure whether Howes House can help with something, call and ask — (508) 693-2896.
Free Food assistance at the Library Next Door: The Community Freedge
Right inside the West Tisbury Free Public Library — which shares the Howes House campus at 1042 State Road — is something that has become quietly essential to the up-island community: the Community Freedge.
It's exactly what it sounds like: a free refrigerator and pantry stocked with food, open to everyone, no application required, no income limit, no questions asked.
The Freedge operates in the main lobby of the library, stocked with fresh produce, frozen meals, soups, stews, and canned goods. Island Grown Initiative, Slough Farms, the MV Fishermen's Preservation Trust, and the Good Shepherd Parish food program all contribute to keeping it stocked. You can take what you need whenever the library is open — and you can also drop off fresh, uncut produce or unexpired canned goods if you have something to give.
This is the Vineyard doing what the Vineyard does best: neighbors looking after neighbors, quietly and without fanfare.
For seniors on a fixed income, or anyone navigating the real cost of island living, the Freedge is a resource worth knowing about and worth using. The library is open to all, and the Freedge is there for all.
West Tisbury Free Public Library: (508) 693-3366 | 1042 State Road, West Tisbury
The Field Gallery Sculpture Garden — A Short Walk Away
After a morning at Howes House and a stop at the library, there's one more reason to linger on this particular stretch of State Road.
The Field Gallery at 1050 State Road — just steps from Howes House — is one of the most beloved spots on Martha's Vineyard, and one that is genuinely easy to miss if no one has told you to look for it.
Founded in 1970 by artist Tom Maley, the Field Gallery has been a fixture of Vineyard artistic life for more than five decades. The gallery itself hosts three exhibition spaces with rotating shows of paintings, sculpture, photography, and jewelry by more than 25 artists, all with an island connection. But what stops people cold is the outdoor sculpture garden — a wide, open field where larger-than-life figures stand among the grass, quietly commanding attention.
Maley's signature pieces — elongated, white human figures in motion — have become inseparable from the visual identity of West Tisbury. They are whimsical and a little otherworldly, and spending time with them on a clear summer afternoon is one of those experiences that is hard to explain but easy to remember. In 2026, the MV Museum marked Maley's legacy with a dedicated exhibition, Tom Maley: Dancing in the Field, which opened in March — and the gallery itself continues his tradition with biweekly Summer Premiere receptions on the sculpture lawn through August.
Admission to the outdoor sculpture garden is free. The gallery is open daily 10am–5pm and Sundays 11am–4pm. You can walk through at your own pace, stop on a bench, take in the views, and leave whenever you're ready. For seniors who enjoy art and the outdoors without the noise and crowds of more tourist-heavy spots, the Field Gallery is one of the best-kept secrets on the island.
Field Gallery: (508) 693-5595 | 1050 State Road, West Tisbury | fieldgallery.com
Putting It Together: A Perfect Up-Island Morning
Here's what a morning at this stretch of State Road could look like:
9:00am — Drop in at Howes House for a fitness class or just a cup of coffee and conversation with the staff and regulars.
10:30am — Stop into the West Tisbury Library to check the community bulletin board, pick up something from the Freedge, or browse.
11:00am — Walk next door to the Field Gallery, wander the sculpture field at your own pace, and maybe step inside to see the current exhibition.
12:30pm — Head to lunch, either back at Howes House on a lunch program day, or at one of West Tisbury's neighboring spots.
That's a full, meaningful morning — social, active, culturally rich, and almost entirely free.
How Snug Harbor Home Care Supports Martha's Vineyard Seniors
At Snug Harbor Home Care, we believe that staying connected to your community is one of the most important parts of healthy aging. Getting to Howes House for a program, picking up groceries at the library Freedge, or spending an hour at the Field Gallery — these are the kinds of outings that make a genuine difference in how a person feels.
Our caregivers serve clients across Martha's Vineyard and the South Shore, providing transportation, companion care, and the kind of consistent, attentive support that helps seniors stay active and independent in the communities they love. Whether a client needs a ride to Howes House twice a week or simply someone to accompany them to the Field Gallery on a summer afternoon, that's the kind of care we're here to provide.
If you're exploring home care options for yourself or a loved one on the Vineyard or South Shore, we'd love to talk.
Call or text: 508-444-2051 Email:welcome@snugharborhomecare.comLearn more:Contact Snug Harbor Home Care
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Up-Island Council on Aging? The Up-Island Council on Aging (UICOA) is a regional senior center serving adults 55 and older in West Tisbury, Chilmark, and Aquinnah on Martha's Vineyard. Located at Howes House, 1042 State Road, West Tisbury, it offers fitness classes, arts programs, health services, practical support, and social activities. The office is open Monday through Friday, 8:30am to 4:00pm. Phone: (508) 693-2896.
Where is Howes House located? Howes House is located at 1042 State Road, West Tisbury, MA 02575, in the same building as the West Tisbury Free Public Library.
Is the Up-Island Council on Aging free? Most programs and services at Howes House are offered free or at very low cost to adults 60 and older in West Tisbury, Chilmark, and Aquinnah. Call (508) 693-2896 for current program details.
What is the Community Freedge at the West Tisbury Library? The Community Freedge is a free refrigerator and pantry located in the main lobby of the West Tisbury Free Public Library at 1042 State Road. It is open to everyone, with no income limit or application required. It is stocked with fresh produce, frozen meals, soups, stews, and canned goods through contributions from Island Grown Initiative, Slough Farms, the MV Fishermen's Preservation Trust, and Good Shepherd Parish. Anyone may take what they need whenever the library is open.
Is the Field Gallery free? Yes — the Field Gallery outdoor sculpture garden is free and open to all. The gallery is located at 1050 State Road, West Tisbury, open daily 10am–5pm and Sundays 11am–4pm. No admission fee.
Does Snug Harbor Home Care serve Martha's Vineyard? Yes — Snug Harbor Home Care provides personalized home care and companion care services on Martha's Vineyard as well as throughout the South Shore. Call or text 508-444-2051 or visit snugharborhomecare.com to learn more.
Sources: Up-Island Council on Aging — West Tisbury MA, Friends of Howes House, West Tisbury Free Public Library — Community Freedge, Field Gallery — fieldgallery.com, Martha's Vineyard Times — Healthy Aging February 2026
