Mike Mesko was mesmerized by a ferry trip to the island in August of 1972 and has made Vinalhaven his home ever since. He was married to Stevie Kaimmer aboard the herring carrier Amaretto at the western bight of Seal Island in 1978 and their son Farley was born in !987. He initially taught the K-12 Art program at Vinalhaven School and worked as a stern man while transitioning to commercial fishing full time in Vinalhaven and Alaska. “I have always believed that local fishermen are good 'common sense' stewards of their resources. Unfortunately, the traditional waterfront and island lifestyle are currently facing a very tenuous horizon. VLT has always been a very supportive organization with that same core value of taking care of the island resources for future generations of islanders. That is why the work they do is so important and why I became involved."