Medicare statistic: A statistic in an article from the June 5 edition (“Federal funding cuts cause financial unease for island nonprofits”) was inaccurate. We reported that nearly 30% of islanders are over the age of 65, a rate 1.5 times higher than the state, and that of that population, about 20% are on Medicare. It is true that nearly 30% of islanders are over the age of 65. However, the 20% figure refers to the total percentage of islanders on Medicare — not just those over 65.

Inaccurate happening: We erroneously reported in “Happenings” last week that “Word Play” with Vashon poet laureate Margaret Roncone would take place on Wednesday, July 3. We had the day right but the date wrong: The event was scheduled for Wednesday, July 2.

Clarification: “Scene & Heard: Seniors create keepsake books for kinders” (June 26) has been clarified online to make clear the scale of a collaborative project between kindergarteners at Chautauqua Elementary School and Vashon High School seniors. Approximately 70 students, from four kindergarten classrooms taught by Kate Davidson, Kelly Fox, Carolyn Stearns and Manda McCoy, took part in the project.

Ferry fares: We unintentionally omitted some key information in a news brief in the June 26 edition about proposals to ferry fare changes. As we reported, the state Transportation Commission has proposed boosting passenger and vehicle fares by an average of 3 percent on October 1, and again on May 1, 2026; raising the summer surcharge from 25 percent to 35 percent; and extending the expiration date on multiride passes from 90 days to 120 days.

However, we left out two changes mandated by the state legislature which, though they do not contribute to the commission’s ferry fare revenue target, will nonetheless also boost ferry rates: Doubling the capital/vessel surcharge from 50 cents to one dollar by October 1, 2025; and applying a 3% fee to support cost recovery of processing credit card transactions by March 1, 2026.

To read more about the proposals, visit wstc.wa.gov/2025-ferry-fare-setting. That website includes a table estimating what fares would look like after the hikes in October this year and May next year (though the estimates don’t include the summer surcharge or credit card fee). On Vashon, those changes include: Passenger fares rising from $6.75 to $7.45, then $7.60; senior/disabled passenger fares rising from $3.35 to $3.70, then $3.80; and standard vehicle fares rising from $23.75 to $24.95, then $25.65.

Anyone can submit comments on the ferry fare proposal through Aug. 5 by email to transc@wstc.wa.gov, by visiting wstc.wa.gov/contact-us, or by mail to PO Box 47308, Olympia, WA 98504-7308, or in a virtual public hearing at 10 a.m. on Aug. 6 via tinyurl.com/FerryFareHearingAug25.