President Barack Obama and his family took a vacation on Martha's Vineyard. The Associated Press reported that Obama took his wife, the first lady Michelle and his daughters Mali and Sasha on a bike ride Friday morning through Manuel F. Correllus State Forest in West Tisbury. President Barack Obama says he's having a "great time as always" on vacation on Martha's Vineyard.
Obama took his wife, Michelle, and daughters Malia and Sasha on a late Friday morning bike ride through the Manuel F. Correllus State Forest in West Tisbury.
The AP reported that Obama rode with his 15-year-old daughter Malia while Michelle rode with 12-year-old Sasha.
"Before heading out on his sixth full day of vacation, the White House said Obama was briefed on the violence in Egypt by national security adviser Susan Rice, who is traveling with the president," reported the AP.
Bloomberg reported that an arts and craft event in Martha's Vineyard was closed off by Secret Service for the Obamas.
Andrea Rogers who started the annual artisans festival said to Bloomberg, "I understand you have to protect the president, but you have to take into consideration the livelihood of people who work here year-round."
Bloomberg reported that August is a busy time for the island and the population grows from the year round 17,000 to over 100,000 in the summer.
"Tourists spent $122 million in Martha's Vineyard businesses that employed 1,200 people, according to the latest state figures that don't include foreign visitors," reported Bloomberg.
"When Obama comes, you hear sirens and it's better than the circus coming into town," said Alan Schweikert, who owns Ocean Park Realty in Oak Bluffs to Bloomberg. "You do get the feeling that it makes us unique and desirable."
Schweikert said to Bloomberg that she saw President Obama playing golf at Farm Neck Golf Club driving range.
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