(First airdate: January 15, 2019) BRENDA WILDCAT: A MOTHER’S UNCONDITIONAL LOVE. Our Town Host Maryanne McNellis interviews Brenda Wildcat, the mother of a transgender child. Brenda survived a childhood in foster care, with multiple moves and schools. By the age of 21 she was a single mother with two kids to support. The brutal custody fights over her son culminated in her getting custody when he was 12 year old. He grew up,  married and had a child of his own before coming out. A reality television show on TLC has documented his transition from male to female, including multiple surgeries. Brenda has struggled with questions. But, in the end, a mother’s love led to her acceptance if her child and the difficult decisions made.

This Friday, Phil Andrus brings us another varied and interesting Tossed Salad program of local folks doing interesting things. Take a listen:

1:00 - Bread and Gravy, Port Angeles duo
2:00 - Will O’Donnell, Jefferson County PUD
2:30 - Samara Jade, songs of her own making
3:15 - Jefferson County Master Gardener Foundation, with Candice Gohn and Honey Niemann
3:45 - Nikki Rummer, performance artist
4:15 - Nan Toby, pianist
4:30 - Don White, reading The Killers by Ernest Hemingway

Nan Evans talks with Dr. Jan Newton, a biological oceanographer, about how climate changes are affecting life in the sea and how scientists are learning to predict these changes in different areas of the oceans. And what does that mean for human communities?

This week on the Compass, we talk with a matchmaker (YMCA’s Building Futures Program Coordinator Dana Nixon) who brings selected local school-kids together with the adult mentors who can change the direction of their lives.

(First airdate: January 6, 2018) K.J. Dell'Antonia, former editor of the New York Times Motherlode Blog and contributor to the New York Times Well: Family section talks to Cris Wilson about her positive and encouraging book How to be a Happier Parent: Raising a Family, Having a Life, and Loving (Almost) Every Minute.

2018 has been a momentous year for KPTZ, marked by growth in leaps and bounds. Because of you, our listenership, our inspiration to be the soundtrack for life on the Olympic Peninsula brings out the best in us ~ and we hope, in you.

Since our broadcast debut in May, 2011, it has been our end-of-year tradition to mail a status report to our membership along with a fresh KPTZ bumper sticker and other mementos. This year, in part because we ~ and Port Townsend ~ tragically lost our trusted printer, combined with undue delays beyond our control, our letters only arrived at the post office for mailing late last week.

It’s ironic, because our message is the most compelling and informative of any year to date. So in case you wish to read it before it gets delivered in the mail, the 2018 letter can be viewed and downloaded here.

At this annual time when it is customary for people to share their bounty with needful causes, we ask that you make a donation to our continued efforts to bring music, news and interviews of importance and relevance to your daily quality of life.

While waiting for our printed letter, if you care to contribute online, the link is at the top of all our web pages as well as just below. If you prefer to mail in your own envelope, our address is KPTZ, P.O. Box 2091, Port Townsend WA 98368.

Another way to donate is to stop by the KPTZ studios at Mountain View Commons during our normal business hours (from 10am to 5pm weekdays, other than holidays). We always enjoy hearing from and meeting listeners, and we very much appreciate your valued contributions.

Wishing you the very best for 2019, we look forward to our continued partnership.

In appreciation,
All at KPTZ