A final August vacation for a sitting president. An Island grappling with the heroin crisis. A community rallies around the family of a fisherman lost at sea. Here’s look at major stories that engaged Gazette readers in 2016.

Ending weeks of discussion over who will serve as the town appointed member to the Martha’s Vineyard Commission, the Oak Bluffs selectmen voted Tuesday to appoint Gail Barmakian to the post.

Preliminary plans are underway to designate part of Oak Bluffs as a cultural district, a special state designation. The Aquinnah Circle and Vineyard Haven Harbor were recently designated districts.

Oak Bluffs selectmen again postponed a decision about their appointment to the Martha’s Vineyard Commission after lengthy discussion Tuesday.

Selectmen will commission a report on how much it would cost to bring the crumbling, 101-year-old Island Theatre into a safe state.

Gov. Charlie Baker’s decision to slash more than $98 million from the state budget could affect key programs on Martha’s Vineyard.