Attention Please!

(Airdate: February 17, 2025) On this special edition of Attention Please!, we sit down with banjo virtuoso Danny Barnes, a world-renowned musician who happens to be our neighbor here on the Olympic Peninsula. Awarded the prestigious Steve Martin Banjo Prize in 2015, Danny has played with legends like Bill Frisell, John Paul Jones, and Dave Matthews – but remains remarkably humble about his influence. Danny talks about his musical roots, his time with the genre-blending band The Bad Livers, and what drew him to the banjo in the first place. He also gives us a preview of his upcoming free concert in Port Townsend, where he’ll explore the roots of American gospel music. He also gives us a preview of his free concert in Port Townsend Saturday, Feb. 22, 4pm at St Paul’s Episcopal Church Parish Hall, where he’ll explore the roots of American gospel music. He also gives us a preview of his free concert in Port Townsend Saturday, Feb. 22, 4pm at St Paul’s Episcopal Church Parish Hall, where he’ll explore the roots of American gospel music.

(Airdate: February 3, 2025) Are you interested in knowing more about what is going on at Fort Worden. Then listen in to KPTZ’s Attention Please! this week and find out. KPTZ’s Charlie Bermant talks with Chris Holm from Washington State Parks and Rob Birman, executive director of Centrum, as well as KPTZ’s general manager Taylor Clark about the current situation here on the Fort Worden Campus.

(Airdate: January 20, 2025) Today’s Attention Please! discusses the sad state of Port Townsend roads, how the problem started, and future steps to improve the situation. Port Townsend Mayor David Faber and Public Works Director Steve King discuss a new road improvement tax that starts the process, among other topics.  Additionally, it appears that buying online actually benefits local road rehabilitation. Hosted by Charlie Bermant.

(Airdate: January 6, 2025) This edition of Attention Please! brings together four individuals from two organizations.  We begin with Susanne Eggleston and Harry Hayward of the Jefferson County Master Gardeners Foundation. Our topic with them is the Foundation’s 2025 Yard & Garden Lecture Series, which begins on January 11. Our second pair of guests are Tracy Grisman and Margie McDonald of the A.I.R.E. program, now a part of Beyond Waste Action Group, which appoints an artist in residence to create art from refuse at the Jefferson County transfer station. Hosted by Phil Andrus.

(Airdate: December 30, 2024) This week on Attention Please!, host Jim Burke talks with Kellen Lynch, Outreach and Development Coordinator for Olympic Housing Trust about the Dundee Hill Project; and Richard Tucker, Executive Director of Jefferson Land Trust about the Chimacum Ridge Community Forest. He also talks with both of them about the cooperation between JLT and OHT to develop housing on the Chimacum Commons, 16 acres of land owned and protected by Jefferson Land Trust.

(Airdate: December 23, 2024) Larry Stein went out to get an update on Olympic Angels, our regional service and support group for Foster Parents and families in Jefferson and Clallam counties.  Attention Please! originally featured them in February of 2023.  Now , at the end of 2024, there has been a lot of growth, and some changes in the statewide approach to the Foster Care system. 

(Airdate: December 16, 2024) Host Jim Burke talks with Leila Block, filmmaker, ceramicist, and Education and Gallery Assistant with Northwind Art, about her art as well as the great things to see at the galleries this holiday season.

(Airdate: December 9, 2024) Attention Please! celebrates the Holiday season from Chimacum to Port Townsend with Flavia Heineman for the Chimacum Arts and Crafts Fair; Tara McCauley, Executive Director of the Jefferson County Historical Society, for our Holiday Extravaganza; Mari Mullen, Executive Director of Port Townsend Main Street, on festive activities Uptown and Downtown; and Nicole Witham, General Manager of the Chimacum Corner Farmstand, on Chimacum countryside celebrations.  Hosted by Phil Andrus.

(Airdate: December 2, 2024) This week on Attention Please!, host Charlie Bermant interviews Julia Cochrane, who is the Executive Director of the Winter Welcoming Center. They discuss resources for the unhoused during the colder months.
Closing music is an excerpt from “Guitar Peace” from the album, Home by Billy Strings. Produced and edited by Jim Burke.

(Airdate: November 25, 2024) Mark Musick, one of the founders of the organization originally known as Tilth – now known as Tilth Alliance – tells of the founding of Tilth, the influence of author Wendell Berry, and the growth of Tilth to become Tilth Alliance. Hosted by Phil Andrus.