With less than two weeks until election day, an endorsement race has begun between two of the four candidates for the Cape and Islands state representative seat being vacated by Eric T. Turkington. The other two candidates downplayed the significance of endorsements and argued that they can come at a political price.

A lone Democrat and three independents are running for the seat.

In the face of complaints that it would inconvenience large numbers of customers and potentially damage business, Steamship Authority management will abandon a plan to reduce summer ferry service out of Oak Bluffs.

The plan, which would have cut two inbound and two outbound sailings from Oak Bluffs and run them instead to and from Vineyard Haven, would have reduced costs by allowing the Oak Bluffs terminal to close earlier.

A detailed preliminary report from the National Transportation Safety Board draws no conclusions on what caused the Cape Air crash which killed pilot Capt. David Willey, a resident of Vineyard Haven, on Sept. 26.

But the full report, according to Luke Schiada, chief investigator of the crash for the NTSB which has involved local, state and federal authorities, may take six to eight months to complete.

“It is important to note we are still in the information gathering stage. There is a lot of data we are still waiting to get,” he said.

Crisis Management

The Martha’s Vineyard Women’s Network will host an evening program, What to Do When Life Happens: Crisis Management from Those Who Have Been There, on Tuesday, Oct. 28 from 6 p.m. to 8 at The Old Whaling Church. Moderated by Plum TV’s Guinevere Cramer, the program will feature a panel of business owners who will discuss the challenges facing business owners. Panelists will include Jaime Hamlin, Maria Metters, Susan Gibbs and Heather Kochin.

A four-week introductory class in the Alexander technique begins Oct. 27. Certified instructors Sue Collinson and Margaret Knight will lead the class.