Community Corner
Obama Detours Traffic, Bumps Golfers on Vineyard Vacation
Some Up-Island businesses say they're not happy about the detours required during President Barack Obama's vacation in Chilmark. But golfers who lost their tee time to Obama Sunday told WBZ they didn't mind.
Having the president of the United States choose Martha's Vineyard for his summer vacation destination is a distinctive honor, for sure.
But it can also be a royal pain.
Obama's motorcade of more than a dozen vehicles leads to traffic delays and attracts onlookers wherever he travels.
And his choice of a vacation rental has prompted the Secret Service to close the adjoining section of South Road.
The resulting detours are not only affecting drivers but could be hurting the local economy at the peak of the season: Just ask the proprietors of market events at the Grange in West Tisbury, which has the misfortune of being located between the detour signs and the road closure itself.
Managers of both the West Tisbury Farmers Market and the Vineyard Artisan Festivals told the Vineyard Gazette this week that they're concerned about the detour signs' impact on their Grange events.
On Facebook, the proprietor of kara taylor fine art lamented:
"The Obama's residing on South road this week is surely causing a lull in my business. Please help me spread the word, (share this post) -The gallery is open this week Wed-Saturday 12-5:30 and Sunday 5-8pm. The road is only closed starting at meetinghouse, a mile after my galleries location at 24 south road. Come by- its a beautiful day for a picnic in the field- I'm hanging a new show for sunday's opening reception."
On the recreational side of Island affairs, Obama's fondness for golf means no tee time is safe: WBZ reports that when the president arrived at Farm Neck Golf Course on his first day of vacation, the Secret Service halted a foursome that was just setting out.
“So, first he took our tee time but it was our privilege,” golfer Bill Hait told the CBS affiliate. “And then the Secret Service held us back but also helped us find one of our lost balls, so all in all it was extremely positive.”
Obama was back on the golf course Wednesday for his second visit this trip to the exclusive Vineyard Golf Club in Edgartown.
More stories:
- Obama Orders Fried Seafood, Plays Hoops in School Gym, Dines with First Lady
Obama Vacation, Day 2: More Golf, Cocktails with Friends - Obama's Vineyard Vacation: "We're Going to Need a Bigger Island"
- Golf at Farm Neck, Dinner at Sweet Life: Obama on the Vineyard, Day 1
- Obamas Welcomed on Martha's Vineyard
- Obamas Arrive on Martha's Vineyard
- South Road Closed for Obama Visit: Buses Rerouted
- Obama's Chilmark Neighbors to Face Checkpoints
- Obama Visits Martha's Vineyard: 9-Day Road Closure Planned
- How to Meet President Obama: A Vineyard Confidential Classic
- Mysterious Mr. President: Obama on the Vineyard, by Holly Nadler
- Obama Family Expected on Martha's Vineyard During Agricultural Fair in August
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