The president’s visit popularized Oak Bluffs and made for national headlines as newspapers described every event, activity, church service and meal Ulysses S. Grant had on his visit in 1874, a story about other U.S. Presidents retold over the years and that will be told again, starting tomorrow when President Barack Obama, the leader of the free world, arrives with his beautiful family.

Dorothy and Fletcher Jones had a farm in Wisconsin in the 1940s. When not harvesting his crops, Fletcher taught in the agricultural college at the University of Wisconsin. Dorothy worked as a school teacher. They retired in their mid 50s, threw caution to the wind, and created a new life for themselves in the Near East. Their first assignment was in Amman, Jordan. After a brief stint there, they were reassigned to Kabul in Afghanistan in 1956.

The weekend weather was just delightful. The beaches were pleasantly full on Sunday and many cookouts were held over the weekend. The school, firehouse and town playground were also busy.

The president, first lady and family will be arriving tomorrow for a well-earned vacation. They will be staying in Chilmark.

I feel that the weather deserves mention. Widely criticized for its July failures, it is coming through with some stellar efforts of late. Kudos to you, weather, for recognizing your poor showing in July and taking the steps to provide some August magic.

As the weatherman keeps saying, we are being teased with the fall-like weather. I don’t think any of us are complaining. It’s cool at night and warm during the day. How perfect is that?

Happy birthday to all who celebrated their day this past week. Big balloons go out to Chimari Dockery, who celebrated his day August 3; Paige Herrick and Zachary Ward, August 5; and Brandon Hammond, who celebrates his day today, August 9.

Made in the U.S.A. That’s what I like to see. Somewhere on Island last summer I purchased two new plastic lawn chairs I desperately needed for my back deck. Got them home, they were so flimsy and weak I had to pile them on top of each other to hold anyone safely.

Each week the folks at Cinema Circus show a series of short films on Wednesday evening at the Chilmark Community center. The films begin at 6 p.m. but the circus — complete with jugglers, face painters, stilt walkers, food and music — gets underway at 5 p.m.

The historic Mayhew-Hancock-Mitchell House at Quansoo Farm is the topic of a presentation by Adam Moore of the Sheriff’s Meadow Foundation at an August 14 talk beginning at 5 p.m. at the Chilmark Public Library. The historic house, dating back to the 17th century, is one of a handful of homes in the U.S. that contain original wattle and daub construction.

The foundation is currently raising funds to preserve the house.

When Lorena Crespo moved to the Island six years ago, her English was shaky. So she enrolled in an English as a Second Language class taught by Lynn Ditchfield at the high school.

At first, she didn’t know many people here, but her classes in ESL and art education expanded her social circle. And when she wanted to advance her degree in early childhood education, Adult and Community Education of Martha’s Vineyard (ACE MV) offered her that opportunity also.

On Thursday, August 15, the corn dogs come to town. So does the Ferris wheel, Robinson’s racing pigs, goat and swine exhibits, woodsmen’s competition, chop stick knitting contest, the list just keeps going on and on as the 152nd Martha’s Vineyard Agricultural Livestock Show and Fair begins.