Sewing with Guidance

Come Sew, the sewing studio for the general public, will switch from a single advisor to a team of experienced, volunteer, sewing advisors. This free studio provides space while making available four sewing machines, a large fabric cutting table, sewing tools such as scissors, rulers, thread, other notions, some patterns, an ironing board, a serger and most importantly expertise to help you with your project. The studio does not offer sewing classes so some experience is requested. Its regular operating hours are Wednesday through Saturday from 1 until 5 p.m. 810 Water Street #2 in Port Townsend. Visit them at website at http://comesew.com.

Hybrid-electric ferries coming

Washington State Ferries officials signed a contract with Eastern Shipbuilding Group (ESG) to build three new 160-vehicle hybrid-electric ferries. Ferry officials said the company’s bid “was tens of millions of dollars lower than the other bid we received,” adding that the savings mean the agency can build three vessels instead of just two. The contract also includes the cost of delivering the boats to Washington.

With the contract signed, ESG will help finish the design of the boats and create a detailed project schedule. The process is estimated to take about a year, followed by construction, which is estimated to take four years.

Ferry officials expect the first vessel to start service as early as 2030, with contract incentives to finish sooner.