Obamas prepare for last summer vacation as first family
ASSOCIATED PRESS
In this Aug. 22, 2015 photo, President Barack Obama, his daughter Malia, right, and first lady Michelle Obama, left, ride their bikes in West Tisbury, Mass., on Martha’s Vineyard.
BOSTON >> President Barack Obama and his family are beginning their seventh and final vacation on Martha’s Vineyard as first family.
The Obamas officially arrive Saturday to start their two-week vacation, and islanders say they appreciate that the family generally keeps a low profile.
“That’s what vacation should be about. It’s more about him and the family and not making a show. I respect that,” said Rhonda Backus, a lifelong resident and manager at Alley’s General Store, a shop where the family and their staff have been known to pop in.
The Obamas have summered every August on the famous resort island off Cape Cod since the president took office in 2009, except when he was campaigning for re-election in 2012. He and first lady Michelle Obama, both Harvard Law School graduates, vacationed on the island prior to moving into the White House.
The president is typically seen golfing or riding bikes or hiking with his daughters, 18-year-old Malia and 15-year-old Sasha. The family also has been seen getting ice cream, munching on fried seafood or perusing shops in one of the island’s quaint New England town centers.
Chilmark Selectman James Malkin says the only time the Obamas visit raised some local ire was in 2013, when they rented a house off a busy road and the president’s security detail re-rerouted traffic. The family picked a more secluded rental the following year.
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“Looking back, it really wasn’t that horrible. It was an inconvenience, but it wasn’t a major catastrophe,” Malkin said. “The president and his entourage are less aggressive than many of our other summer visitors. They’re very conscious of their impact on local people, and we appreciate that.”
The Obamas are expected to return to a home they’ve rented in recent years in Chilmark, located on the more remote western end of the island.
The seven-bedroom, 8,100-square-foot residence features views of Vineyard Sound, an infinity pool and a dual tennis-basketball court.
Nancy Gardella, executive director of the Martha’s Vineyard Chamber of Commerce, says the minor inconveniences of having the first family in town — including a presidential motorcade that’s been known to snarl traffic — are far overshadowed by the buzz and excitement the visits make for local businesses.
August is the island’s busiest month of the year, with the roughly 17,000 year-round residents sharing space with nearly 120,000 more visitors on any given day.
“It’s been our own little economic stimulus to have them vacation with us, especially during the recession years,” Gardella said. “We’re really honored and a little bit sad that this will be their last visit as first family.”
The Obamas are expected to end their vacation Aug. 21. The White House has said no public events have so far been scheduled.
55 responses to “Obamas prepare for last summer vacation as first family”
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Made In Hawaii: Consideration of others! Mahalo, Mr. President of showing the aloha spirit with those at Martha’s Vineyard!
There goes the neighborhood.
Are you this constantly miserable in you offline life?
Does everything, in every context, make you bitter and angry?
You must have one really lousy life.
Does Ike know you are out?
So what!
Klastri, Are you in Florence now?
Bill says: “In law school, Hillary worked on legal services for the poor.”
The facts are: Hillary’s main extra-curricular activity in law school was helping the Black Panthers, on trial in Connecticut for torturing and killing a federal agent. She went to court every day as part of a law student monitoring committee trying to spot civil rights violations and develop grounds for appeal.
She developed an affinity for blacks at an early age.
Klastri, can you hear me now?
lespark – We’re in Paris until the 12th and then we go to Florence to meet up with our kids. Then to London and then home to Maui.
Great bike ride with my wife today and a couple we’re friends with here (the Dean of a law school and his wife) and we’re meeting up with them for dinner at 8. My wife is napping – I’m all messed up with jet lag.
klas..On vacation and still on the SA comments board and you talk about my life. Gotcha Enjoy your trip.
Klastri, I will accept the part of your comment that says “I’m all messed up” and leave it there.
Ronin006 – Thanks for reminding me how very, very clever you are!
Thank God it’s almost over.
Thank You for putting a wonderful family back in the White House. A family that has seen daughters grow up to be inspiring young adults.
You’re right. That is one great family. They’ve done everything right. Good luck to them!
Except that they’re the wrong color, of course. Just read the negative comments on here today. Bitterness even for an article about a Massachusetts vacation.
And sadly for the folks here perpetually stuck in Obama Derangement Syndrome, they’ll all be black tomorrow too.
Oh well!
I hear one of his daughters is working at a coffee shop in the morning —they will have all the secret service there to guard her. What a waste of our taxpayers money.
The secret service agents are required to order coffee.
That’s you. Always looking on the bright side.
That must be one miserable life. Wow ….
And if some sicko were to do something to her because there was no secret service there…then what would you post?? Probably nothing I’m guessing. Typical!
Typical lib, missed the point.
I didn’t miss anything, but you obviously in your typical fashion start making excuses! Try just answering the question !
Klastri,
One more,
Bill says: “She served on the board of the Arkansas Children’s Hospital.”
The facts are: Yes, she did. But her main board activity, not mentioned by Bill, was to sit on the Wal-Mart board of directors for a substantial fee. She was silent about their labor and health care practices.
klastri, are you an adult?
In Hawaii many people of all races have learned to live with one another, accepting each other customs, religions, etc. There are always the rotten apples in any bunch such as we have here in Hawaii.
As far as our president, color is the last thing I would judge him on. You bringing in that card shows how prejudice or racist you may be.
Are you able to laugh and be comfortable hearing all the jokes from one of our greatest comedians here in Hawaii? Will not mention a name because you may throw sh_t on him) You sound like a person who is not.
A great leader first and foremost will do everything to protect its citizens and assure them, things will be done to right the wrong. How our country and its people has made great strides in working with all races and these attacks will not set us backwards. That we will continue for the good of all our citizens no matter what race or religion they may come from. No he makes it political and brings in the cards of color and religion in such a way to create more hate and anger, which is no where near the truth. A good leader will rally its citizens to be proud of their country which many are but cannot say that they are proud of our current leaders.
Thanks for your very scholarly social science thesis. It’s ridiculous, but you’re entitled to your opinion.
I’m sorry that you’re so fearful of everything. It must be a terrible burden to be such a coward.
Your hero is going to lose in a spectacular landslide, and will almost certainly now switch the Senate to Democratic control. Better for Mrs. Clinton’s SCOTUS choices.
Bad things really do happen to bad people. His loss cannot be too humiliating for me. If it’s done right, it will silence him forever. Good times!
Bumby…great post.
Bill says: “President Carter appointed Hillary to the Legal Services Board of Directors and she became its chairman.”
The facts are: The appointment was in exchange for Bill’s support for Carter in his 1980 primary against Ted Kennedy. Hillary then became chairman in a coup in which she won a majority away from Carter’s choice to be chairman.
And let’s review what else we have learned over the past couple of weeks…
-U.S. GDP growth came in at an extremely disappointing 1.2 percent for the second quarter of 2016, and the first quarter was revised down to 0.8 percent.
-The rate of homeownership in the United States has fallen to the lowest level ever.
-The Wall Street Journal says that this is the weakest “economic recovery” since 1949.
-Barack Obama is on track to be the only president in U.S. history to never have a single year of 3 percent GDP growth.
Interesting. If Mr Trump wins there U.S. presidential election, it will be the 1st time in history that a billionaire moves into public housing vacated by a black family.
The crickets are silent.
Mostly because it’s too loathsome and vile a statement to respond to. Some folks are just such losers in their lives that it’s not worth giving them the time of day or the respect of a response.
He’s one of them. Definitely.
Hey scud we got one.
scuddrunner, sarge22….spanking for you two for getting under his thin skin again.
Phew! Dodged a ….never mind.
delete your account
Who made you Boss?
lol
I’m getting hungry for a good lobster roll.
He’s been on vacation for 7 1/2 years. The guy looked confused in his press conference. He waits until now to go after ISIS? A day late and a buck short.
les, I would like to see one video of him when he’s not talking but listening. That has been his problem for those years–never listens. Bloomberg said HE called him in for breakfast and thought he could give some economic input, but HE talked the whole time–breakfast ENDED.
Being afflicted with narcissism is not a good thing…add to that a dysfunctional upbringing then you get a “WOW LAU LAU it’s all about me” pothead syndrome…and then you have O’s resume..Community Organizer & part time Senator…wonder how the liberals can justify putting him in office…sigh
Great observation. “Me SPEAK, you LISTEN”. That’s what he calls “Dialog”.
Next stop Hawaii – will it be their last?
Unless somebody pays for their trip back once they are off the government dole.
Martha’s Vineyard…I was concerned that they were considering coming “home” 🙂
they will be here to spend there last Christmas and new year in Hawaii.
I knew it was too good to be true… 🙂
lets see when Obama came to office in 2008 they always used tax the rich, they used that every time and when they did make the rich pay higher taxes to help out our economy what happens, the first lady takes all these world wide trips for fun and leisure with her daughters and there friends using our tax money to fund there pleasure which of course is illegal as far as I am concerned bring friends with them, the news won’t bring that up, so her trips for leisure and pleasure cost us a few hundred million dollars add in some of the 400 million and there went the money that they tax the rich to help the poor, it all went up in smoke for there fun and pleasure.
Are you bitter and angry because you can’t construct coherent sentences or paragraphs? WOW!
it does not matter how its written, because its the truth and you can’t stand it because the truth hurts.
“The perfect man” . ….WOW!
What an immature statement. What are you, 12 years old?
Obamacare losses spur HMSA to seek higher rates.
43%. This year. Just like some people said.
But, we still must endure their last Christmas vacation coming up in late December-early January 2017……After that intrusion…..Good Riddance!
A health American family under a microscope with every move subjected to nuanced interpretation. What can it mean that all of their bikes are different? Did you catch the symbolism of the red, white and blue brain buckets? Hey Mr. Mayor … Hawaii should have more bike paths!!