KPTZ 91.9 FM Radio Port Townsend

Our Working Waterfront ~ 12/08

(Airdate: December 8, 2020) In this edition of Our Working Waterfront, Port Director Eron Berg gives us a recap of the month’s activity at the Port. The budget is finished, and the Intergovernment Collaborative Group is underway. The airport runway is finished after resurfacing hit a snag with the contractor.

Both Eron and Port Commissioner Pam Petranek emphasize the importance of the new Facility Engineer and maintenance team in keeping the Port’s infrastructure healthy and functioning. Pam talks about the vibrant synergy that exists among educators, designers and makers, that contributes in such a healthy and sustainable way to our maritime economy’s circle of giving and receiving.

Ric and Top Kop

(Airdate: October 2, 2020) Ric and Top Kop from Kinetics Sculpture Race on COVID-19 Kinetics.

Wendy Davis

(Airdate: October 2, 2020) Wendy Davis on Lila’s Kitchen and the future of food trucks in Port Townsend.

County Public Health Report ~ 12/07

Today, Public Health Officer Dr. Tom Locke shared about the recent Jefferson County increase in COVID-19 cases. He answered questions from KPTZ listeners about:
*Case count in WA state is up by 20%, which overwhelmed the state’s data system causing it to be down some in the past week.
* Jefferson County has the lowest case rate in the region.
* People with public health backgrounds are welcome to volunteer to assist Jefferson Co. Public Health with contact tracing.
* Distancing is the most important technique for avoiding the virus. Outdoors, at least 6 feet. Masking does not substitute for physical distancing. Even though not required, wearing a mask while bike riding is also recommended.
* Current recommendation is to stay home and stay healthy for at-risk individuals. Doctors’ offices are not at high risk for transmission.
* Cooked take-out meals are minimum risk, and helps the local economy.
* The real risk in dining out is when gathering with non-household members. The safest way is to dine only with one’s own household.
* Best time for testing is 5 days following a close contact with someone who contracts Covid-19.
* The 25% occupancy (of fire capacity) is up to the store itself to maintain.
* Discussion of vaccines: the government has purchased enough for the entire US population, so they will be available at no out of pocket cost.
* Vaccination levels need to be at least 70%, and perhaps more, before it will be possible to stop wearing masks.
* Vaccines have not been tested on children under 18, which will delay rollout of the vaccine to youth.
* WANotify phone app system is recommended, for anonymous contact tracing of both time and distance.

Department of Emergency Management Director Willie Bence said that 45,000 additional N95 masks are being delivered, prioritizing hospitals and first line workers. This represents an increase in capacity.

Submit your Public Health questions to Dr. Tom Locke by emailing [email protected].

Community Call to Action for Housing

Even as we hold the big picture in the affordable housing challenge, we need to focus on immediate solutions using lessons from 2008, and in the context of remote workers moving here and housing prices skyrocketing.

KPTZ reporter Chris Bricker talks with Justine Gonzalez-Berg, Network Weaver for the Housing Solutions Network about the Housing Declaration and what it all means: Why it was crafted, who was involved in crafting it, what it says, and how we can show support.

Compass for 12/05/20

As the Olympic Peninsula, in lock-step with most of the nation, enters a new period of elevated risk for COVID-19, with the threat of an overwhelmed health-care system being forced to ration care, this week on the Compass we bring back Jefferson County Public Health Officer Dr. Tom Locke to talk about the safest path forward.

Community Tides ~ 12/04

In honor of this year’s Give Jefferson Campaign, in this edition of Community Tides, we decided to spotlight a very special organization here in Jefferson County—The Benji Project. We speak with instructor Heather McCrae Wolf about the Project’s mission and its eight-week program aimed at ages 11 to 19 and their parents. It’s called “Making Friends with Yourself” and it offers stress management and resiliency training to teens, using mindfulness and self compassion. The Benji Project is dedicated to the memory of Benji Kenworthy, who died at age 15 by suicide.