All of us at KPTZ are very grateful to our loyal listeners for the success of this year’s Fall Membership Drive.
For Giving Tuesday we encourage you to please reach out and support the nonprofit organizations serving needs in our community that are important to you.
If you’re inspired to make your Giving Tuesday donation to KPTZ ~ Thank You! Your support will help KPTZ increase our service to the deserving local community. Donate Now and Stay Tuned . . .
(Airdate: November 29, 2021) In the first part of the November 29 Attention Please!, Lily Haight interviews Erin Reading, a local leader of the group that is working to build a community around the use of natural psychedelic plants and fungi. In the second part, Phil Andrus interviews P. J. Harris, a board member of the Sequim Good Governance League, which successfully worked to elect and re-elect politically-moderate members to the Sequim City Council.
As you may know, we’re in the midst of preparing for the big move to Fort Worden. The first big task has been all of the painting that needed to be done, ahead of furnishing the 2500-square foot square new station. KPTZ gives special thanks to our supporters at Peninsula Paint, including Port Townsend store manager Greg Hope and owners Ray and Diane Donahue for their significant contribution of all the paint, primer and supplies. “They were so easy to work with, they were awesome,” says KPTZ board member and relocation coordinator Monica MickHager.
Monica is pictured above (at right) with volunteer paint lead Sheila Long, who is president of Quimper Grange. “Sheila was a huge help,” says Monica. “She showed up for every single paint party.”
We’re so very grateful to all the KPTZ volunteers who pitched in to help paint our new studios and offices.
Stay tuned to this page and our Facebook and Instagram pages for updates on the transformation of KPTZ’s new “Studio 305.”
This month on Through Science to Health, KPTZ host Chris Bricker speaks with Dr. Joseph Mattern, Chief Medical Officer for Jefferson Health Care. Dr. Mattern is also charged with overseeing the distribution of COVID-19 vaccines for JHC. Today, Dr. Mattern joins us to recap Jefferson Health Care’s journey over the past twenty months. He talks about current challenges and issues, vaccines and immunity, and the importance of our children in the big picture. He also gives us his thoughts about the status of health care providers at hospitals and clinics, along with his predictions for the future of health care in our community.
(Airdate: November 24, 2021) Coastal Cafe host Aaron Barnett speaks with Port Townsend Marine Science Center director Janine Boire. Janine talks about big changes at PTMSC such as plans for the newly acquired Flagship Building in downtown Port Townsend, removal of the existing dock at Fort Worden, and future plans for upland learning centers at Fort Worden.
(Airdate: November 24, 2021) As November ends, Laurel Moulton and Mary Robson discuss insect over-wintering tactics and current news on the Asian Giant Hornet. How do they stay alive?
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. The text is taken from the Peninsula Daily News for Nov. 23.
A Jefferson County resident has died from COVID-19, raising the total number of deaths in the county to 18 and increasing the total on the North Olympic Peninsula to 87 since the pandemic began. The most recent death was reported Monday and was a man in his 70s who had underlying conditions, said Dr. Allison Berry, health officer for Jefferson and Clallam counties. And while he had two doses of a COVID-19 vaccine, he had yet to have a booster, Berry said.
“We are seeing waning immunity, especially in folks over 70 who were vaccinated early on,” Berry said. “If you’re over 70 and you got your vaccine more than six months ago, it’s important to get a booster. “If you’re in that age group, you’re at a high risk of severe outcomes from COVID-19, and getting the first two doses decreases that risk, but it doesn’t decrease it to zero.” Boosters “dramatically” increase immunity for that age group, Berry said.
“People younger than 65 who have a chronic condition is another group we recommend getting a booster in,” Berry said. “For other people who are young and healthy, you’re eligible for a booster, but it’s not as critical to get a booster if you’re not in a high-risk profession. “But it does improve your immunity and does reduce your risk of transmitting the virus to other people. If there’s one available, it’s a good idea to get it. But it’s really important for our old population.” Residents can find locations offering booster doses by using the state’s vaccination locator at https://vaccinelocator.doh.wa.gov.
In addition to booster doses, health officials continue to work to vaccinate children 5 to 11 years old, Berry said. Jefferson County Public Health and the Department of Emergency Management will host two Pfizer vaccination clinics December for first and second doses for children 5 to 11: 9am to noon Dec. 4 at Blue Heron Middle School and from 9am to noon Dec. 18 at Chimacum Junior/Senior High School. Appointments can be made at https://prepmod.doh.wa.gov/appointment/en/reg/9069924918 or by calling the Department of Emergency Management at 360-344-9791.
Berry was tracking two long-term care facility outbreaks on the Peninsula as of Monday, with one each in Jefferson and Clallam counties. The Jefferson County outbreak has had a total of 13 cases so far, with one staff member infected and 12 residents, Berry said. Clallam County’s outbreak has had a total of 42 cases so far, Berry said. Both outbreaks are believed to have been started by unvaccinated staff members who were exempted for religious or medical reasons from the state’s vaccination mandate for long-term care workers, Berry said. “We’re working with the state to try to formalize that and have a more strict protocol to reduce risk that unvaccinated workers would bring into these facilities.”
Jefferson County added 19 new cases Monday from the weekend. The county has confirmed a total of 1,273 cases since the pandemic began, according to county public health data. Health officials recorded a case rate of 192.61 per 100,000 for the two weeks prior as of Nov. 17. Prior to that, the county had a case rate of 201.93 per 100,000 for the two weeks prior as of Nov. 10.
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.
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.
