Attention Please!

(Airdate: June 27, 2022) This reprise show, produced by KPTZ DJ host and kayaker Chris Bricker on the subject of kayak safety, was motivated by the tragic deaths of two kayakers just off the Dungeness Spit in April of 2015, along with more recent incidents involving ill-fated kayakers. These are beautiful and spectacular waters, but it’s important to remember the essentials when venturing out in this region to enjoy this great sport. We speak with veteran kayaker and adventurer Chris Duff, Dr. Sam Baker on cold water immersion, leaders of the Olympic Peninsula Paddling Club, and rescue swimmers from the U.S. Coast Guard Station in Port Angeles.  Experienced Kayaker, KPTZ’s Mermaid Keri introduces the show.

(Airdate: June 20, 2022) Jim Burke introduces a Ken Jones interview from our sister station KBOO with our own Buzzy Donahue about her life in radio, and also discusses her father, “Big Daddy” Tom Donahue, who started “free form” radio in San Francisco in the 1960s.

(Airdate: June 13, 2022) Rocky Friedman, who established the Rose Theatre in 1992, and has run it since then, has put the business up for sale. Larry Stein and Ann Katzenbach spoke to Rocky in the Rose Theater about its history, and Rocky’s hopes for finding a new owner to continue this very important Port Townsend institution. Also featured is Renata Friedman, Rocky’s daughter who grew up with the Rose Theater, and continues to help run it from her home in New York.

(Airdate: June 6, 2022) This edition of Attention Please! begins with a short interview about the Jefferson County Master Gardeners Foundation’s Secret Garden Tour.  The second part of the show is about bicycle touring and camping on Vancouver Island.

(Airdate: May 30, 2022) Attention Please begins this week with a discussion of Car Free Day on June 1, the work of Students for Sustainability at Port Townsend High School and Local 2020. The second part of the show presents the work of Accessible Community Advisory Committee.

(Airdate: May 23, 2022) About one hundred men, women, and playful children gathered under the central ramada at Chimacum’s HJ Carroll Park on a blustery afternoon in early May to celebrate an event aimed at raising money for reparations not only to the Chemacum, a local tribe incorrectly dismissed as extinct, but also to one African-American family. KPTZ ‘s Steve Evans was on hand.

(Airdate: May 16, 2022) This week’s Attention Please! is all about Rhody, the Port Townsend Rhododendron Festival. Joining host Phil Andrus are Festival organizers Laina Amerson, Mary Baker Crozier, Melanie Bozak, and Wyatt Ranson.

(Airdate: May 9, 2022) The Fort Worden Creative Alliance has been announced as a collaboration of 7 major arts organizations on the Fort Worden Campus.  This week’s Attention Please! features leaders from three of the member groups, Rob Birman, Executive Director of Centrum, Kate Ingram, General Manager of KPTZ, and Julie Johnnson, Finance & Operations Manager of Copper Canyon Press. Host/producer of the program is Larry Stein.
** Note: More discussion of this topic can be found in the podcast of Community Tides of May 6, 2022, where Hosts Chris Bricker and Siobhan Canty interview Teresa Verraes, Exec. Director of Northwind Art.

(Airdate: May 2, 2022) This week’s edition of Attention Please! begins with a pair of spring plant sales, one by the Jefferson County Master Gardeners Foundation and another by Swan School with their annual Plant-a-Palooza. The second half of the show is an update of the programs which fulfill the purposes of the organization Olympic Neighbors.  Produced and hosted by Phil Andrus.

(Airdate: April 25, 2020) April is Earth Month, so this week on Attention Please! host Steve Evans meets down at the Recycling Center with Environmental Specialist Laura Tucker to talk the nuances of solid waste and how our practices in relation to it affect the health of the planet.

(Airdate: April 18, 2022) This edition of Attention Please! is a two-part show on two quite different topics. The first segment features the AAUW’s Home and Kitchen Tour with Karena Wells and Jean Stasney of the American Association of University Women. In the second segment, PT Potential’s Roarke Jennings and Ronnie Crusta describe their vision for reducing the use of plastics in our area while at the same time recycling what we use. Hosted and produced by Phil Andrus.

(Airdate: April 11, 2022) Danielle McClelland, the new Executive Director of the Port Townsend Film Festival, shares her excitement about the upcoming Women & Film Festival (April 22- May 1 – a virtual online festival).  She also looks ahead to the Fall Film Festival, which will be a hybrid – mostly in person, with an additional virtual component.  Host and Producer – Larry Stein.

(Airdate: April 4, 2022) Interviewed in this edition of Attention, Please! are Anne Harvey of Sound Defense Alliance and Larry Morrell of Not in Our Parks. Sound Defense Alliance was formed in response to the increased activity of the U.S. Navy Growlers based at the Whidbey Island Naval Air Station. Not in Our Parks was formed in response to the Navy’s application to conduct training activities in 28 Washington State Parks. Produced and hosted by Phil Andrus.

The recorded show airing this week was recorded prior to the Friday, April 1 court ruling that overruled WA Parks Commission’s earlier decision, so that military exercises are not allowed on State Parks property. Phil Andrus spoke with Larry Morrell on April 4, for the following addendum.

(Airdate: March 28, 2022) This week on Attention Please! host Steve Evans is given a tour of Discovery Bird Rescue by Cindy Daily, the amazing woman who has spent up to 12 hours a day, seven days a week for 13 years (without pay) to build a showcase hospital, rehabilitation center, haven, and conservation educational center for the wild birds of the Olympic Peninsula and beyond.

(Airdate: March 14, 2022) This week’s program features two stories by new contributors to Attention Please! Emillia Nunn, a 2021 graduate of PT High School, took on the controversial issue of the developing plan for the Poplar trees that line Sims Way as you enter Port Townsend. George Marie talks with the new managers of Fort Worden Hospitality, Aislinn Diamanti and Natalie Maitland, about their plans for welcoming the public to the enjoyment of the Fort and its varied services and activities. The producer for this week’s program is Larry Stein.

(Airdate: March 7, 2022) The directors of the two libraries in our county tell what’s coming to their libraries in the coming months. Tamara Meredith, Director of the Jefferson County Library, talks of leading her library out of the COVID-19 pandemic after implementing innovations to keep it open. Melody Sky Weaver, Director of the Port Townsend Library, introduces this year’s Community Read and upcoming library activities.

(Airdate: February 28, 2022) This week on Attention Please! KPTZ host Steve Evans visits with four people who bubbled together during the pandemic to articulate the skeleton of a grey whale that died of starvation in 2019 for an educational display that will reside in one couple’s back yard.

(Airdate: February 14, 2022) Larry Stein talks with Kathleen Garrett, the new Exhibits Director of Northwind Art, and Danielle McClelland, new Executive Director of the Port Townsend Film Festival.

(Airdate: February 7, 2022) Learn about the history, the mission, and the adventures of the Far Reaches Botanical Conservancy in this interview of its co-founders and co-directors Kelly Dobson and Sue Milliken.

(Airdate: January 31, 2022) Coming to Attention Please this week are two presenters in the Jefferson County Historical Society’s program, Chinese American Voices: graphic artist Tessa Hulls and filmmaker Valerie Soe, with support from Tara McCauley of the Historical Society staff.

(Airdate: January 3, 2022) Phil Andrus interviews Suzanne Eggleston and Candice Gohn of the Master Gardeners Foundation, who have organized this year’s virtual Yard and Garden Lecture Series for the Foundation.

(Airdate: January 24, 2022) KPTZ host Steve Evans talks with electric vehicle advocates Tony Billera and Cyndy Bratz about the important role they believe EV’s quick widespread adoption must play in addressing the rapidly unfolding climate crisis.

(Airdate: January 17, 2022) Attention Please! this weeks focuses on Kellen Lynch, campaign manager for Housing Solutions Network. Kellen narrates a panel discussion on housing issues affecting us in Jefferson County.  Joining him in the panel are City Councilor Aislinn Diamanti and Brett Black, Fire Chief of East Jefferson Fire and Rescue.

Raised in Port Townsend, Kellen Lynch is committed to sustaining the community that supported him. As a small business owner and community volunteer, he has built connections across Jefferson County while witnessing the rapid disappearance of available and affordable housing. Kellen’s professional work extends to his energy analysis consultancy, New Story Studio, and as an occasional instructor at the Institute for Energy Studies at his alma mater, Western Washington University.

(Airdate: January 10, 2022) Larry Stein talks with Gary Larson and Will Barrett, two board members of Friends of Fort Worden, a volunteer organization that helps maintain and improve the Fort for all of us. Gary is Communications coordinator, and Will is the head of Trail Team projects, which take on specific maintenance and upgrades for the Fort’s network of trails. Also featured are the two AmeriCorps Service members who work with the Park Rangers, and the Friends of Fort Worden. They plan to be leading some interpretative Nature Walks in the Spring and Summer, in addition to their maintenance  work on trails.