Councilman acquires Evergreen Fitness

To bring more fitness opportunities to residents of the Port Townsend area, city council member Neil Nelson recently purchased Evergreen Fitness, taking over operations on Jan. 31.

“My wife and I were both very involved in PT Athletic Club, and this opportunity came up, and we’d been looking around for a place to create a day spa,” Nelson said. “Our real immediate goal is to foster and increase the amount of group fitness going on in the area.”

Nelson said that the pandemic crushed most of the area’s group fitness opportunities, and since then, they’ve never really come back.

Nelson said he plans to transform two lower studios into one larger studio, capable of hosting larger fitness classes such as Bodypump, spin, step aerobics, Flow Fitness, Pilates and yoga.

Nelson also said members can expect upgrades to the carpet and paint, and future amenities could include cold plunge facilities, hot tubs, saunas and a variety of day spa services.

Nelson said the fitness center will remain open during remodeling, and added that he and his wife are certified Les Mills instructors.

“I spend a lot of time in the gym,” Nelson said.

SR 20 roadwork near PT terminal 

Travelers should plan for possible delays near the Port Townsend terminal for the next four months.

The city is replacing sewer lines on State Route 20/Water Street west of the dock.

The road may be reduced to one alternating lane of traffic, and the bike lane may be closed during work hours, from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Travelers will be guided by flaggers when necessary.

Ferry officials expect little to no disruption to traffic entering and exiting the ferry terminal.

LWV endorses journalism bill 

The League of Women Voters of Washington announced its endorsement for Senate Bill 5400, in support of local journalism.

This bill would enable grants to support news journalists covering civic affairs in underserved communities.

Funding will come from a surcharge on payments major social media platforms already make.

A 2022 League of Women Voters study tracked the loss of local news outlets in Washington state over the last two decades.

The study found that a reduction in access to local news contributes to lower voter turnout, less civic engagement, fewer candidates running for local office and an increase in government costs.

Additional findings include increased political polarization and challenges for health officials communicating with the public when needed.

“Senate Bill 5400 bears directly on the mission of the League of Women Voters: to empower voters and defend democracy,” LWVWA President Mary Coltrane said. “Democracy cannot afford these harms. The League strongly urges approving this legislation to safeguard our democratic legacy.”

Tax Credit window open

The Department of Revenue began accepting applications for the Working Families Tax Credit (WFTC) for tax year 2024 on Feb. 1.

The credit provides payments up to $1,290 to individuals and families who meet certain eligibility requirements.

Since the WFTC program launched in 2023, over 359,000 refunds have been issued, totaling more than $263.4 million.

The program returns a portion of sales tax paid each year.

Last calendar year, the WFTC team issued $135.9 million in refunds to nearly 158,000 families with children, resulting in more than 287,000 children benefiting from the program. Applicants can apply for WFTC refunds they were eligible for, but did not previously claim, for up to three calendar years from when their federal tax return was due.

Grants for affordable housing

Gov. Bob Ferguson and the Washington State Department of Commerce announced $14.6 million in grants to support shovel-ready housing projects, to create more than 1,800 affordable units in 10 counties.

These awards represent the latest round of the state’s Connecting Housing to Infrastructure Program.

The competitive program pays for below-ground infrastructure, such as water and sewer pipes, and reimburses waived development fees typically associated with new housing construction.

The grants will support projects ranging from affordable housing for seniors to permanent supportive housing for people experiencing chronic homelessness.

Ferguson committed to putting Washington on the path to building 1.1 million housing units in Washington over the next 20 years.

In his inaugural address, Ferguson said, “Washingtonians need more housing — lots more housing. We must make it easier, faster and less expensive to build housing of all kinds.”

Scholarships for Chimacum grads

The Friends of Chimacum Schools Education Foundation is seeking students who have graduated from Chimacum High School within the past five years, and are wanting to pursue a higher education in trade or vo-tech schools, community colleges or four-year universities.

Applicants must be currently enrolled in school or college, or be planning to enroll in the fall quarter of 2025.

For an application or additional information, contact Marianne Walters at pjandmariwalters@outlook.com or by text at 360-301-2908, or Susan Phillips at susanjphillips@hotmail.com or by text at 360-301-6910.

Tourism tax grants open

The city of Port Townsend’s Lodging Tax Advisory Committee (LTAC) and Arts Commission (PTAC) are inviting proposals for 2025 grant funding. Community organizations interested in LTAC grants can apply in one round this year. Event organizers are also asked to demonstrate the success of bringing visitors to Port Townsend for overnight stays, with a focus on the shoulder seasons (October through May).

$50,000 is available in LTAC grants this year, with awards for projects, events, and marketing ranging between $1,000 to $10,000.

The application deadline is Monday, March 3, and proposals will be considered at a regular meeting of LTAC scheduled for Tuesday, March 11.

Guidelines, criteria, and an application portal are available on the city’s website. Port Townsend Arts Commission grants will be awarded in three rounds in 2025, with $27,000 available ($9,000 in each round) for artists and arts organizations.

Agate Pass Bridge delays Feb. 18-27

Travelers driving to the Bainbridge ferry terminal over the State Route 305/Agate Pass Bridge should plan extra travel time this month.

From Tuesday, Feb. 18, through Thursday, Feb. 27, the bridge will be reduced to one alternating lane of traffic from 8:45 a.m. to 2 p.m. each weekday for annual bridge maintenance work.

There will be no lane closures on Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 22-23.

Travelers can expect 30-minute delays, if not more.

Consider traveling early or late in the day, or reschedule discretionary trips.

Alternatives include taking the Bremerton or Kingston ferries.