Local News for 10/14/21
Jefferson County Teen Center
(Airdate: October 14, 2021) A Place to Go, A Place to Grow. Teens across the world have been challenged by the isolation during the Pandemic. Becoming a young adult can be challenging in the best of circumstances. On this episode of Everybody Can, Missy Nielsen visits with the folks behind the scenes at the Jefferson Teen Center, a space that provides socializing interactions, academic support, and most of all simply a place where teens can feel accepted. Oh, and did we mention snacks, pool table and foosball? Listen in as Executive Director Shayann Hoffer-Paulety and Board President John Barrett discuss why they view their work as vital to our collective future.
Southern Resident Killer Whales of Puget Sound
(Airdate: October 13, 2021) In recognition of Orca Recovery Day on October 16, Coastal Cafe focuses on the Southern Resident Killer Whales of Puget Sound and related recovery efforts. We speak with Tara Galuska, the Orca Recovery Coordinator in the Governor’s Salmon Recovery Office, and Julie Watson, the Killer Whale Policy Lead at Washington’s Department of Fish and Wildlife. Tara and Julie share the recovery efforts background, current status of the pods and actions taken towards recovery.
Nature Now #537
Orcas: Shared Waters, Shared Home
(Airdate: October 13, 2021) Seattle Times writer Lynda Mapes joins Nan Evans to talk about Lynda’s new book, Orca: Shared Waters, Shared Home. Listen in to explore these unique individuals who astound us with their intelligence, strong culture and family structures, elaborate communications skills, and playfulness.
Local News for 10/13/21
PT Marine Science Center Searching for a New Director
(Airdate: October 11, 2021) Janine Boire, Executive Director of the PT Marine Science Center, recently announced that she will step down as Director, and that the organization will look for a new leader for the next phase of the Center’s move to their new headquarters on Water Street in PT. Janine and Diane Baxter, the Board Chair of the PTMSC, discuss the leadership change, and the search for a new Executive Director. Host is Larry Stein.
Local News for 10/12/21
Our Working Waterfront ~ 10/08
The Port of Port Townsend’s south county facility is located on Quilcene Bay at the southern terminus of Linger Longer Road. The property encompasses 58 acres of waterfront and uplands. Five months ago, the Quilcene Outreach Project was launched in order to involve area residents in helping to paint a picture of the future for this Community treasure. In this edition of Our Working Waterfront, Jeannie McMacken, Communications Consultant for the Port, along with the Port’s Deputy Director Eric Toews, share their personal takeaways from this listening experience and give us a preview of the formal public presentation and workshop to take place on October 13 at 6pm.
County Public Health Report ~ 10/11
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. Spokespeople from Jefferson Healthcare joined to address the meeting. Also Willie Bence, Director, Director of Emergency Management, gave a report. The summary was provided by and used with the permission of Jefferson County Government.
County Public Health Report ~ 10/11
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. Spokespeople from Jefferson Healthcare joined to address the meeting. Also Willie Bence, Director, Director of Emergency Management, gave a report. The summary was provided by and used with the permission of Jefferson County Government.
During her Monday briefing to Commissioners, County Health Officer Dr. Allison Berry said Jefferson has the second lowest COVID-19 rate in the state, although it is still quite high. Our current case rate is 226 per 100,000, second only to San Juan County. No one is currently a patient at Jefferson Healthcare with COVID-19. She reported that most of our household cases in the last few days have been from known positive cases. “We are not seeing widespread community transmission like we’ve seen in earlier days. However, we are seeing folks get COVID-19 from traveling, and then through household contacts here.”
Dr. Berry said there was a cluster related to the Brinnon school district, with a total of 16 cases, nine of which were traced to school; primarily the risk factor was bussing. She reported that all of these kids are doing well. There were three adults affected, and they, too, are all doing well. “The kids have to travel a very long distance on those buses and they were not eligible for vaccination. The schools are doing a really good job and we have not seen additional cases from that and we have not seen any other cases in any of our other school districts. But, I think this does highlight that our unvaccinated kids are at risk of contracting COVID-19.”
She said you are nine times more likely to get COVID-19 if you are unvaccinated, and then you are up to 26 times more likely to get hospitalized if you are unvaccinated. It really does make a difference to reduce transmission in our community, and to reduce subsequent strain on our hospital system.
Dr. Berry said that there have not been any positive cases of Influenza on the Olympic Peninsula, and there’s very, very low level activity in Washington. She said now is a really good time to get your flu shot before the flu gets here, “so that we can prevent a significant surge of flu, as well as COVID-19.” She recommends a flu vaccine for nearly everyone six months and older.
Director of Emergency Management Willie Bence said the Pfizer booster clinic at Chimacum on Saturday was a success, with 635 people receiving the vaccine. Next Saturday, the clinic at Blue Heron Middle School is scheduled to handle 600 people, but Bence said there is a waiting list of 150 and those people may be accommodated and will be contacted if a decision is made to do so. The vaccination clinic in Quilcene on October 23 has plenty of appointments still available. Sign up for these appointments through the Public Health website or the call center (360- 344-9791). These appointments are for the Pfizer vaccine only. Information on the Moderna and J&J boosters will be coming in the next week.
If you lost your original vaccine card, it cannot be replaced. The best way to get your vaccine records reissued is through: https://wa.myir.net. This is acceptable documentation to allow you to get into restaurants and bars when they ask for proof of identification. It is also helpful at vaccination clinics to certify that you got the vaccine and are eligible for your COVID-19 booster. You can download to your phone or print out a copy and bring it to the clinic.
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.
