Editing Tisbury, Massachusetts (section)

==Government==
[[File:Tisbury Lighthouse 1891.jpg|thumb|200px|The Lighthouse of Tisbury ([[West Chop]] Light) in 1891]]
On the national level, Tisbury is a part of [[Massachusetts's 9th congressional district]], and is currently represented by [[William R. Keating|Bill Keating]]. Massachusetts is currently represented in the [[United States Senate]] by senior Senator Elizabeth Warren and junior Senator [[Ed Markey]]. On the state level, Tisbury is represented in the [[Massachusetts House of Representatives]] as a part of the Barnstable, Dukes and Nantucket district, which includes all of Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket, as well as a portion of [[Falmouth, Massachusetts|Falmouth]]. The town is represented in the [[Massachusetts Senate]] as a portion of the Cape and Islands district, which includes all of Martha's Vineyard, Nantucket and most of [[Barnstable County, Massachusetts|Barnstable County]] (with the exception of [[Bourne, Massachusetts|Bourne]], [[Sandwich, Massachusetts|Sandwich]], [[Falmouth, Massachusetts|Falmouth]] and a portion of [[Barnstable, Massachusetts|Barnstable]]).<ref>[http://www.mass.gov/legis/citytown.htm Index of Legislative Representatives by City and Town]</ref> All of Dukes County is patrolled by the Fifth (Oak Bluffs) Barracks of Troop D of the [[Massachusetts State Police]].<ref>[http://www.mass.gov/?pageID=eopsterminal&L=5&L0=Home&L1=Law+Enforcement+%26+Criminal+Justice&L2=Law+Enforcement&L3=State+Police+Troops&L4=Troop+D&sid=Eeops&b=terminalcontent&f=msp_divisions_field_services_troops_troop_d_msp_field_troop_d_station_d5&csid=Eeops Station D-5, SP Oak Bluffs]</ref>

Tisbury is governed on the local level by the [[open town meeting]] form of government, and is led by an executive secretary and a [[board of selectmen]]. The town has its own police and fire departments, both located within Vineyard Haven, just blocks from the steamship authority piers. The post office is also nearby. The Vineyard Haven Public Library is located just north of the heart of Vineyard Haven, and is a part of the [[Cape Libraries Automated Materials Sharing]] library network.

For 180 years, Tisbury was a "Dry" town; alcohol could not be sold or purchased. For a number of years, to encourage dining there, the town and its eating establishments practiced a policy of "[[BYOB]]." On April 27, 2012, town voters approved (by a vote of 881–747) a ballot initiative granting the town's selectmen authority to grant licenses for the sale of beer and wine. The first licenses were issued in July 2012. As of August 2012 eight establishments in Tisbury have beer and wine licenses.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.mvtimes.com/tisbury-uncorks-first-wine-beer-sales-1606/|title=Tisbury uncorks first wine and beer sales|date=July 15, 2010}}</ref>