(Airdate: December 15, 2021) Hydrologist Ann Soule reviews with host Mary Robson the water year up to October 2021 and considers the effects of storms in November and December 2021.
(Airdate: December 14, 2021) Our Town host Maryanne McNellis interviews Steve King, PT’s Public Work Director. Steve literally started his job on pandemic lockdown day – March 20, 2020. The office was pretty empty and the town was a ghost town. But, as an essential worker, Steve jumped right in. He has a long background in government work. Most of his career, he worked for the city of Wenatchee. He rose through the ranks there for 18 years. But then he got an itch. He took off some banked vacation time and set out to walk the world-famous Camino de Santiago – a 500 mile trek across the Pyrenees through France and Spain. When he returned he decided he needed a career change. Port Townsend seemed like the perfect fit. Starting during the pandemic hasn’t been easy. Now he’s involved in almost every infrastructure project around town – including the new water contract with the mill, upgrading our roads, and overseeing several new housing projects. Did you know there’s a 100-unit project called Madrona Ridge that’s coming down the pipeline? That’s the tip of the iceberg.
(Airdate: December 14, 2021) Host Missy Nielsen of Everybody Can speaks with a couple of rising stars in our non-profit sector here in Jefferson County. Danny Milholland and Megan Claflin from The Production Alliance organization, commonly known as TPA, works to uphold cultural traditions through inclusive, annual gatherings that celebrate community and improve the quality of life for those living in Jefferson County. Listen in and hear how they are in partnership with the Jefferson County Historical Society, to present the 10+ year tradition of First Night – an all-ages New Year’s Eve extravaganza, celebrating light, music, and forward momentum.
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.
County Health Officer Dr. Allison Berry told the Commissioners Monday morning that the United States is experiencing a surge of COVID-19 cases, up 43%, with hospitalizations up 23%. Most of the surge is being driven by the Midwest and Northeast, with the highest hospitalization rates in Michigan, and significant rises in the Southwest, in particular Arizona.
Washington State was bucking this trend, seeing cases decrease. However, over this last week the numbers have started to rise again. Dr. Berry said she anticipates a surge through the holiday season. Jefferson County is doing well, she reported. Case rates have dropped a bit – 165 per 100,000. Two people are currently hospitalized; neither is a local patient. No new deaths have been reported.
Dr. Berry said, as she reviews our local epidemiology, the majority of our cases are tracing back to Thanksgiving gatherings. In Jefferson County, most of those have actually been children who were either unvaccinated, under-vaccinated, or household contacts of positive cases. There are no large-scale outbreaks in Jefferson County.
“Your risk of dying due to COVID-19 if you are unvaccinated is 14 times your risk if you weren’t fully vaccinated,” Dr. Berry explained. “With the rise of Delta, we are reminding everyone about the importance of getting boosted, especially if you’re in that elder population,” she continued. “But with the new Omicron variant, we’re also recommending that the rest of us get boosted as well.”
She said 77% of our population is fully vaccinated and 67% of elders have received their boosters. Omicron has not been detected in Jefferson. Data suggests that it is more transmissible than Delta. “The data that we have really shows that if you’re not vaccinated, now is really the time to get vaccinated with the Omicron variant circulating,” Dr. Berry said. “The protection you get from prior infections alone – it’s just not holding up. If you are fully vaccinated, you do still have a protection but we do recommend that you go ahead and get a booster as well.”
Emergency Management Director Willie Bence said this Saturday, December 18, there will be a Vaccination Clinic at the Chimacum School multipurpose room. The morning session from 9 to noon will be dedicated to first and second doses for five to 11 year olds. There are 50 spaces available in that clinic. In the afternoon between 1 and 4pm, Moderna boosters will be available for anyone who is eligible -anyone who’s six months out from their Pfizer or Moderna second dose, or two months out from their one single dose of J&J. There are 125 spaces available in that clinic.
Go to the Public Health website or contact the call center at 360-344-9791 for information and appointments. This is the last and mass vaccination clinic in Jefferson for the year. More information for programming in January will be forthcoming.
Submit your Public Health questions to Dr. Allison Berry and 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: December 13, 2021) Maria Coryell-Martin, artist, and Katie Morrison, science educator, created the exhibition Witnessing Climate Change at the Jefferson County Historical Museum. Their field work, on the North Slope of Alaska, brings the long-term research of ornithologist George Divoky to us in multiple dimensions – with artifacts, data, and on-location art. Also, PT High School Media Lab student Zoe Cook presents a report on the school’s annual Dia De Los Muertos celebration.
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.
Every holiday season should have at least one festive party, so this year we here at KPTZ put together our own Holiday Extravaganza with the Jefferson County Historical Society (JCHS). On Saturday, December 11 from Noon to 4pm, KPTZ DJ Phil Andrus will host this live event from Jefferson Museum of Art & History in downtown Port Townsend and you’re invited! The event will be broadcast “live” on KPTZ and will feature music and a whole lot more.
Live music will be provided by:
– The Alternators (Peter Evasick and George Radebaugh)
– Le Coeur Criminel
– The Summer Band Brass Quintet
– Jean Lenke Jazz Quartet
– Guitarist Trevor Hanson
Other events include holiday card-making and other wonderful winter activities.
There’ll be plenty of room for one one and all to join in the fun while observing safe social distancing. Room capacity is limited due to Covid-19 restrictions, and all attendees must provide proof of full vaccination status. If you can’t make it in-person, listen to KPTZ’s Holiday Extravaganza at 91.9 FM or stream it at kptz.org.
In this episode of Our Working Waterfront, we follow sixteen young students from the Port Townsend Maritime Academy as they tour the Boat Haven with Instructor Kelley Watson, Port Commissioner Pam Petranek, and Port Director Eron Berg. They learn from young shipwrights about the different ways each has come to their craft. They also learn about the abundant and varied opportunities our bustling Shipyard offers to those who already possess hands-on skills or to those willing to learn them as apprentices to master craftspeople. Jobs in the boatyard pay well and they are rewarded well by hard work and the desire to learn.
