Today on Brewocracy Now, KPTZ host Taylor Clark and City Manager John Mauro focused their discussion on the City’s response to the need for a variety of housing solutions for populations ranging from those experiencing homelessness to market rate housing. Mauro also encouraged members of the public to participate in the ongoing housing discussion by going to the Engage PT section of the City’s website.
(Airdate: May 18, 2022) Guess what? Rains will cease and Summer’s coming, with predictable challenges to local water supplies. Listen to Nature Now with Ann Soule, Water Resource Manager for the city of Sequim, as she joins Mary Robson to evaluate what’s known about these strange cold weeks, current snowpack, and suggestions for managing during limited rain months. She’s watched that snowpack for over twenty years.
(Airdate: May 17, 2022) Our Town host Maryanne McNellis interviews Monica MickHager, a first-term Port Townsend City Council member. Monica has been involved in city politics for years, serving over a decade on the Planning Commission, many years on Parks & Recreation and School District committees plus 19 years with the PT Film Festival. But running for elected office was a big step. She took office in January 2020, just before the pandemic shut everything down. Monica had campaigned aggressively on getting the town’s debt load under control and repairing our pothole-riddled streets. But with the city under strict emergency orders, there was little chance for major change. Still, Monica’s stint as a council member has been eye-opening. She understands more fully why it takes so very long for the city to change policies. That doesn’t mean she has given up on her goals. In addition to focusing on debt reduction and streets, she is also working on affordable housing, renters’ rights, and parking management. And then there’s the ever-growing deer herd in Port Townsend. Monica has meticulously studied every issue and is ready to suggest what she sees as better solutions. Not everyone agrees, of course.
The following is a summary of the presentation during the Public Health briefings at this week’s Board of County Commissioners meeting made by Jefferson and Clallam County Public Health Officer Dr. Allison Berry. Also Willie Bence, Director, Director of Emergency Management, gave a report. The summary below was provided by and used with the permission of Jefferson County Government.
(Airdate: May 16, 2022) Some Mornings: Paintings by Meg Kazcyk from poems by Linda M. Robertson.
Larry Stein interviews painter Meg Kaczyk and poet Linda M. Robertson about their exhibition pairing poems by Robertson with paintings by Kaczyk, inspired by those poems.The exhibition is on view through May 30.
The following is a summary of the presentation during the Public Health briefings at this week’s Board of County Commissioners meeting made by Jefferson and Clallam County Public Health Officer Dr. Allison Berry. Also Willie Bence, Director of Emergency Management, gave a report. The summary below was provided by and used with the permission of Jefferson County Government.
County Health Officer Dr. Allison Berry said today the U.S. will pass 1 million deaths related to COVID-19. “That’s a sobering number, but I don’t think any of us ever thought we were going to pass and many of those deaths were unnecessary,” Dr. Berry remarked.
COVID-19 rates are rising rapidly across the county, with hospitalizations up 20%. That is true for Washington state. The numbers don’t tell the whole story, however. Dr. Berry said the numbers are affected by case ascertainment – many people are taking home antigen tests. She said when looking at state numbers, to multiply them by six to gain a more accurate count. In Jefferson County, there are 66 new cases reported over the weekend for a total of 3,770 with a case rate of 646 per 100,000. With our case ascertainment rate, that gives a rough estimate of about 1,300 cases per 100,000, with 9% positivity. We have no one currently in the hospital for COVID-19 for a total of 127 hospitalizations so far in this response and 29 deaths. Last week, one person in his 70s died out of state, but he did die due to COVID-19 pneumonia so we are counting it. He’s a Jefferson County resident. “We are starting to see hospitalizations right now, but more slowly than in prior variant waves,” Dr. Berry remarked. “That is still predominantly those who are unvaccinated or unboosted elders, but we are starting to see a small rise in boosted hospitalizations for people over 65.” Dr. Berry “thinks it’s appropriate” at this time to recommend an additional booster for those over 65, and everyone should wear a high quality, well-fitting mask.
Dr. Berry said she is beginning to see small clusters of COVID-19 transmission in schools. She said it is most likely due to students not masked in a room with 25 others, and older kids walking between multiple classes. “We are likely to see additional need for masking requirements in schools. In the coming weeks just due to the amount of transmission,” she said. “The primary goal there is that we want to see our schools open and our kids able to attend school. And, if we get too much transmission in school, if we get too many teachers infected in particular, we lose the ability to keep kids in person in school.”
There is high demand for the antiviral Paxlovid for treating mild-to-moderate coronavirus. Jefferson Healthcare is administering this medication up to 5 days after first symptoms. The treatment is for people over 65, or anyone 12 and up who has underlying medical conditions like asthma, COPD, heart disease, immunosuppression, or are being treated for cancer. If you have a positive test and seek this med, call the Nurse Consult hotline at 360-344-3094. Leave a message and someone will call you back. Monoclonal antibodies are also available, and can be given up to 7 days after your first symptoms.
Dr. Berry gave the following guidance for dealing with COVID-19: If you test positive, isolate for the first five days after symptoms begin. If you’re asymptomatic or if your symptoms have gone away by the end of day five, it is okay to leave isolation and wear a high quality mask. But avoid high-risk settings. Wearing a mask around a small group of people after day five is also very reasonable if your symptoms have gone away.
Submit your Public Health questions to Dr. Allison Berry and to Willie Bence by emailing [email protected]. Note: The weekly deadline for these to be submitted is on Fridays at noon, to be answered at the following Monday’s BOCC meeting.
(Airdate: May 16, 2022) This week’s Attention Please! is all about Rhody, the Port Townsend Rhododendron Festival. Joining host Phil Andrus are Festival organizers Laina Amerson, Mary Baker Crozier, Melanie Bozak, and Wyatt Ranson.
