(Airdate: January 7, 2026) Happy New Year, listeners! The hosts of Nature Now, Jackie Canterbury, Nan Evans, and Debaran Kelso, start the year by sharing their favorite books about natural history. The conversation roams from bees to wolves, research to poetry, and beautiful photographs to whimsical illustrations. Laugh with them, listen to the awe and amazement they share, and find a new favorite book to read.
Port Townsend’s high school campus, a nearly 100 year-old collection of wonderful brick buildings, sits at the top of the hill overlooking our town. Over the years these historic buildings continue to be held together and maintained by band-aid fixes. The time has come to examine the critical and overdue needs of a campus that should match the acclaimed status of its students and faculty. Here to tell us how this can be done, and how our community can invest their time and treasure in a bright future are Jennifer James Wilson, who served four terms on the Port Townsend School Board, having passed the baton to our second guest, Amanda Grace, recently elected as the Port Townsend School District At-Large Director.
(Airdate: January 6, 2026) Maryanne interviews Sam Harper, construction boss for the new Hadlock Sewer System. It’s literally taken decades to get a sewer system underway in the tri-area (Hadlock, Chimacum & Irondale). As 2026 gets underway, the first couple of dozen businesses and residences are finally free from their septic systems. The waste water treatment plant was constructed first. But you need “waste” to run through the plant before you can even begin to hook people up. So the city of PT graciously provided truckloads of untreated waste. Sam (aka Samantha) explains that it’s sort of like starter for sourdough bread. She says fourth graders really get the concept of the big “farts” — gases being expelled in the process. The underlying economics of the peninsula will be changed dramatically with the new sewer system and the changes in zoning it will allow.
(Airdate: December 30, 2025) We’re in Xinjiang province in the town of Hami, the melon capital of China. After spending a day pedaling around town and seeing the sights, we finally boarded the 8 o’clock evening express to Turfan. And lo and behold, the conductor sold us a couple of berths in the soft sleeper section. The train line doesn’t go to Turfan but runs about 60 kilometers to the north, where travelers can catch the bus into town.
This is the January 2026 Jefferson County Health and Emergency Management Report to the Board Of County Commissioners with Dr. Allison Berry and Willy Bence, which was broadcast live on KPTZ.
(Airdate: January 2, 2026) KPTZ’s Taylor Clark and Jefferson County Commissioner Greg Brotherton were joined by Thera Black, the former coordinator of the PRTPO (Peninsula Regional Transportation Planning Organization, www.prtpo.org) and much of the discussion was about the Hood Canal Bridge.
(Airdate: January 1, 2026) In our January episode, Dianna and Mary Beth talk about favorite alliums and getting onions ready to transplant in the spring for a fine harvest in summer and fall. Julia and Barbara advise on the benefits of winter weeding before weeds have a chance to flower. January is also a time for new seed starting, and Julia shares a method to start seeds without equipment like heat mats or a greenhouse. The show airs Thursday from 6-6:30 pm.
To learn more about seed starting, visit: All the Dirt on Winter Sowing
