Ticks on the Vineyard: What we Know w/ Virginia Barbatti
2026-05-21 17:00 - 18:00 (America/New_York) | Virtual
Ticks on the Vineyard: What We Know
Hosted by the Martha’s Vineyard Museum
Ticks have become an everyday part of life on Martha’s Vineyard—but understanding how they move, how risk is changing, and what actually helps can still feel uncertain. This updated online lecture series brings together local experts in public health, medicine, ecology, and community prevention to share the latest information about ticks on the Island—and how that knowledge can help us make informed decisions outdoors.
Across the series, speakers explore ticks from multiple perspectives, including changing environmental patterns, emerging health conditions, clinical care, and community-based prevention strategies. Each program is designed to translate evolving science into clear, practical information grounded in local experience.
This series is intended for residents, outdoor workers, families, healthcare providers, and anyone seeking reliable, Island-specific insight into tick-borne disease. The goal is not fear, but understanding—because informed awareness remains one of the most effective tools we have.
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Single speaker events are virtual, on Zoom, from 5:00-6:00pm. The final event is an in-person panel of all speakers at Martha’s Vineyard Museum. Admission is $10 per event, or $50 for the full series.Full series details available on the Martha’s Vineyard Museum here: https://mvmuseum.org/events/ticks-on-the-vineyard-series/
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THE SCHEDULE

April 29The Changing Tick Landscape: Prevention & Practical StepsSpeaker: Patrick Roden-Reynolds, Director of the Martha’s Vineyard Tick Program and Public Health Biologist with the Inter-Island Public Health Excellence Collaboration.Public health biologist Patrick Roden-Reynolds shares the latest data on tick activity across the Island and practical steps for prevention.
May 7Ticked Off: Public Health’s Role in Understanding and Tracking Alpha-Gal SyndromeSpeaker: Lea Hamner, MPH, Epidemiologist with the Martha’s Vineyard Tick ProgramLearn how Alpha-Gal Syndrome is tracked and understood in public health, and what new reporting means for the Vineyard.
May 14Alpha-gal Syndrome: What You Need to Know (and How to Cook for It!)Speaker: Led by Aubrey Stimola-Ryan, MS, PA-C, a clinician and educator with more than 17 years of emergency room experience.A clinician and local chef explore Alpha-Gal Syndrome, offering medical insight and practical cooking strategies.
May 21TICK FREE MV: What the Aerial Deer Survey Reveals About TicksSpeaker: Virginia Barbatti, Executive Director of TICK FREE MVExplore results from the Island’s aerial deer survey and what they reveal about tick populations and disease risk.
May 26LIVE & IN PERSON – The Tick Panel: What’s New, What’s True, and How to Stay SafeSpeaker: Virginia Barbatti, Aubrey Stimola-Ryan, Patrick Roden-Reynolds, Chef Gina StanleyA panel of local experts shares the latest updates on ticks, prevention, and Alpha-Gal, with audience Q&A.

Ticks on the Vineyard: What we Know, In-Person Panel
2026-05-26 17:00 - 18:00 | Martha’s Vineyard Museum, 151 Lagoon Pond Road, Vineyard Haven, MA, 02568, United States

Tick Talk Thursdays on Zoom, 12-1pm
2026-05-28 12:00 - 13:00 | Virtual
Tick Talk: Community Q&A with the Martha’s Vineyard Tick Program
Description:Tick science can be complicated—but getting answers shouldn’t be.
The Martha’s Vineyard Tick Program is hosting weekly open office hours as a space for the community to ask questions, share experiences, and learn more about ticks, tick-borne diseases, and Alpha-gal syndrome.
These sessions are informal, conversational, and grounded in local experience and public health science. If we don’t have an answer on the spot, we’ll help find it.
Drop in anytime—whether you have one question or many.
*Note that individual medical advice will not be provided. Please consult your medical provider if you have questions about your own health.

Register at the Vineyard Haven Library Events Calendar. The same Zoom link will be used each Thursday.

This event will run on Thursdays from April 30 – May 28, 2026, 12pm-1pm.

[Rescheduled] Ticked Off: Public Health's Role in Understanding and Tracking Alpha-Gal Syndrome
2026-05-28 18:00 - 19:00 | Aquinnah Public Library, 1 Church St, Aquinnah, MA, 02535, United States
[Rescheduled] Ticked Off: Public Health’s Role in Understanding and Tracking Alpha-Gal Syndrome
This event has been rescheduled due to conflicts with the Aquinnah Town Meeting.
Join Lea Hamner, epidemiologist with the Martha’s Vineyard Tick Program, for a conversation about the growing public health response to Alpha-Gal Syndrome (AGS), a tick-associated condition now designated as a reportable disease in Massachusetts. Lea will explain what this shift means for disease tracking, clinical care, and community understanding. The program also addresses a common misconception: a positive Alpha-Gal test alone does not make an allergy diagnosis, and diagnosis requires the presence of allergic symptoms. By clarifying how AGS is identified, tracked, and understood, this program offers important context for a condition that continues to raise questions across the Island and beyond.
WHERE: Aquinnah Public Library, 1 Church St, Aquinnah, MA 02535
WHEN: [RESCHEDULED] May 28, 2026 from 6pm-7pm
COST: Free!

Alpha-Gal Syndrome Support Group
2026-06-18 17:00 - 18:00, 2026-07-16 17:00 - 18:00, 2026-08-20 17:00 - 18:00, 2026-09-17 17:00 - 18:00, 2026-10-15 17:00 - 18:00, 2026-11-19 17:00 - 18:00, 2026-12-17 17:00 - 18:00 | Up Island Council on Aging, 1042 State Road, West Tisbury, MA
Click for the: AG Support Group Flyer
3rd Thursday of each month from 5-6PM
Join our Alpha-Gal Support Group for a welcoming space to connect with others who understand the challenges of managing food allergies, lifestyle changes, and ongoing health concerns related to Alpha-Gal.

Peer Support & Shared Experiences
Education & Coping Strategies
Resources for managing symptoms & navigating care
A safe, judgement-free environment

For more information, contact:
Cheryl Kram
Clinical Services Supervisor for the VNA of Cape Cod
508-957-7664
