(Airdate: June 4, 2025) Nan Evans talks with Thor Hanson, biologist and author, to explore the wonders of biodiversity. Biodiversity is the variety of life on earth from genes and species to ecosystems. Biodiversity encompasses the interactions between all living things, animals (including humans), plants, fungi, microorganisms and the environments they inhabit and communities they create. Biodiversity has been attributed with holding the world together.
Amanda Milholland is Executive Director of Jefferson County Farmers Markets. They’ve been selected to lead the Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program for the 2025 and 2026 seasons. It’s a nutrition assistance program that gives seniors with low incomes the buying power to purchase fresh, locally grown fruits and vegetables. We broaden our conversation to discuss food access and food security, focusing especially on seniors, with Patricia Hennessy, Executive Director of Jefferson County Food Bank Association, and Matt Sircely, Data Systems and Music Coordinator for the Farmer’s Market, about those impending government cuts and what plans are afoot to address them.
(Airdate: June 3, 2025) Barbara Sjoholm visits Booklovers’ Cafe to talk about her latest novel The Reindeer of Chinese Gardens. This is indeed an intriguing novel that brings to life the history of Port Townsend from 1897 to 1907. We meet a trio of immigrants from Norway, China, and Lapland, all women and all strong and unique. This is a story of friendship intertwined with the themes of class, gender, and racial prejudice. This is a fresh and riveting history of our town, with very specific details of everyday life in Port Townsend as well as vivid images of the Klondike Goldrush and Sami camps.
Dr. Allison Berry is on maternity leave, so Director of Emergency Management Willie Bence gives a report on this year’s fire season (raised to MODERATE fire danger as of June 1), public safety, and evacuation protocols. The BOCC issues two public declarations at the start: One: for Public Transit Month, and Two: for PRIDE Month. The All-County Emergency Preparation Event is on June 28 at Finnriver in Chimacum (formerly it was held at the All-County Picnic). Anyone with a cellphone can sign up for NIXLE alerts by texting JEFFCODEM to 888777.
KPTZ’s Taylor Clark heads on down to Point Wilson to talk with David Ehnebuske of the US Lighthouse Society and Mel Carter, caretaker at Pointt Wilson for a tour and to hear more about the upcoming Lighthouse Celebration on Saturday June 7.
For a compendium of upcoming featured programs, check KPTZ Spotlight for June 1-15. Many of our program hosts provide specifics about what’s planned for this half month. If you’re not already a Spotlight subscriber, you’re invited to join our Mailing List. See KPTZ’s current Weekly On-Air Schedule and Daily Program Schedule.
(Airdate: May 30, 2025) Co-hosts Jim Burke and Commissioner Heidi Eisenhour talk with Chris Macklin, Assistant Manager of Parks and Recreation, and Sam Miller, Recreation Supervisor for Jefferson County about athletic and recreational programs with Parks and Recreation this summer and fall mostly for children but also adults.
KPTZ’s Taylor Clark and Port Townsend City Manager John Mauro welcomed the Port Townsend Main Street Program to BrewNow: we where joined by outgoing Executive Director Mari Mullen who reflected on her 26 years running the program, and we also celebrated the new Executive Director Natalie Maitland.
