On today’s Brewocracy Now KPTZ host Tim Quackenbush was joined by City Manager John Mauro and special guest East Jefferson Fire Chief Bret Black. Topics discussed included the proposed temporary homeless encampment; and the provision of Fire and EMT services in the county.
KPTZ congratulates the classes of 2021 on their achievements and is pleased to present broadcasts of the Port Townsend and Chimacum High School Graduation Ceremonies, live from Memorial Field in Port Townsend. Port Townsend’s commencement ceremony was broadcast live on Friday, June 11 on KPTZ, and was hosted by KPTZ’s Larry Stein with Port Townsend High School’s longtime Secretary Jan Boutilier as co-host. Listen here:
Chimacum’s ceremony was broadcast on Saturday June 12 on KPTZ, and was hosted by KPTZ’s Peter Robinson, with Chimacum High School’s Matt Orr as co-host. Listen here:
These graduation presentations were produced in collaboration with The Production Alliance and the Port Townsend and Chimacum School Districts. In the spirit of community, Graduation broadcast sponsors are: Finnriver: Farm and Cider Garden, and Corvus Crafts: Print, Design, and Marketing. Thanks from KPTZ to our valued business supporters and community partners.
For a compendium of upcoming featured programs, check out KPTZ’s Spotlight. Many of our program hosts provide specifics about what’s planned for the second half of June.
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See KPTZ’s current Weekly On-Air Schedule and Daily Program Schedule.
(Airdate: June 16, 2021) Wander the woods with Nature Now’s Mary Robson and Gary Bullock for summer bird activities, especially fledglings.
(Airdate: June 15, 2021) Our Town host Maryanne McNellis interviews Ian Plagmann, founder of Greener Groundskeeping, an innovative gardening company. Ian uses a bike to carry all of his equipment from site to site. His haul includes lawnmower, leaf blower, edger and any number of all-electric gardening tools. His bike is indeed a sight to behold. It started out as a three-person tandem bike. But it has been modified carefully, balancing multiple engine weights to keep the bike’s delicate balance. The frame is the size of a mid-sized sedan. The goal of Greener Groundskeeping is simple: a zero emission gardening company. It’s an ambitious goal, but one he sees as a crucial component of climate reform.
The following is a summary of the presentation made by Dr. Tom Locke, our local Public Health Officer and Willie Bence, Director, DEM, Jefferson County, during the Public Health briefings at this week’s Board of County Commissioners meeting. The summary was provided by and used with the permission of Jefferson County Government.
County Health Officer Dr. Tom Locke said Jefferson County has 18 new COVID-19 cases this month: during the first week of June we had four cases; in the second week we had 14 cases; eight of them were over this past weekend. They are occurring in clusters of unvaccinated people. He reported that there were three hospitalizations: one was transferred out, one was discharged, and one is in the hospital as of today.
“There’s still plenty of COVID around that you can be exposed to … it’s mostly what is now known as the Alpha variant – the UK variant – which is considerably more infectious,” explained Locke. “If you’re exposed to it, you’re more likely to get it. And I think that risk is going to increase as Washington State moves away from its COVID restrictions, as there are more people in indoor spaces and not wearing masks. If you’re unvaccinated your risk will go up.” Dr. Locke reported that testing is becoming more available and home test kits are popular.
“We’re trying to change from this kind of emergency response mode that we’ve been in, into something that’s a lot more sustainable, long-term, and accessible to people,” Locke said. “The only place you can get tested is to come to Port Townsend.“ He said testing should be available everywhere around the county, through the use of the rapid testing technologies in clinics. Washington state has received hundreds of millions of dollars to support testing in schools. “That’s going to be a key way that we can bring schools back to full in person – testing and controlling transmission,” Locke said.
Another option is home testing using the BinaxNOW COVID-19 self test which is readily available, costs about $20 for two tests, and can be found online.
Director of Emergency Management WIllie Bence said on Wednesday, June 23 from 9:30am to 2pm, a pop-up clinic will be held at the Trial-Area Food Bank in Chimacum with both the Moderna and Johnson & Johnson vaccines. You don’t need to be receiving Food Bank services to receive a vaccination. Call 360-344-9791 for an appointment, however walk-ins are welcome.
(Airdate: June 14, 2021) Larry Stein interviews Daniel Ferland, Music Director of PT HIgh School, about another local music venture he is establishing. YEA Music is a series of 5-day summer camps at the end of June, July, and August. Camps will offer music instruction for students entering 5th to 12th grades. No previous music experience is necessary. Camps will be held at Fort Worden. These camps are inspired by the very successful El Sistema program that started in Venezuela, and has spread around the world.
