Friday Harbor Postmaster Dan Fleming is being transferred to Oak Harbor, effective Saturday.

Fleming, Friday Harbor's postmaster since April 1, 2008, said Thursday he was notified the day before that he was being transferred and that his first day at Oak Harbor is Saturday. His last day in Friday Harbor is today. In Oak Harbor, he is reportedly succeeding a postmaster who was transferred to another job.

The transfer is being made by Fleming's superior, Les Stewart, manager of postal operations for the Seattle district, which includes Washington and Northern Idaho. Stewart "will put into plan what's going to happen in this office. It's going to be somebody, but I'm not sure who it's going to be," Fleming said.

Friday Harbor was Fleming's fourth office as postmaster; he was previously postmaster in Newport, Wash. He has been a Postal Service employee for 30 years.

Fleming said he was surprised to learn he was being transferred — and that he is sorry to be leaving San Juan Island. He was hoping to buy the home he was renting at Cape San Juan, which he carefully landscaped and manicured. He applied those skills to personally improving the appearance of the Friday Harbor Post Office. And in July, he participated in the Relay for Life fund-raiser for the American Cancer Society, even kissing a pig to bolster donations.

"This community is outstanding. I've felt more welcome here than anywhere else I've served in the postal service," Fleming said. "It's been home for me."

As Friday Harbor postmaster, Fleming oversaw a staff of 19. "I've got an outstanding staff. They have exceeded all of my expectations. They've done very well for me, and I'm very proud of them," he said.

He will also fondly remember his fund-raising activities. However, he remarked with false regret about the pig he kissed, "She never called back."