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Our Working Waterfront ~ 1/13/26

Mike Hogan at work in the Boatyard

On alternate weeks, Tuesdays at 5:30 and Sundays at noon, KPTZ’s Chris Bricker joins his co-hosts, Port of Port Townsend’s Director Eron Berg and Port Commissioner Pam Petranek, to bring you news, updates and stories surrounding our vibrant maritime community. This month, we’re down in the boatyard, visiting with shipwright and metal fabricator Mike Hogan.
Mike’s never at a loss for a story or two. He’ll tell you of run-ins with past Boatyard managers, how he once saved a vessel from its  precarious perch beneath one of of the Boatyard Travel Lifts, how he share’s innovative dreams for the Yard’s future with a current staff who’s visionary qualities and support he deeply respects, and about two heaping platters of chocolate chip cookies.

Silk

(Airdate: January 6, 2026) We’re rolling through the desert in a bus that shuttles passengers between the train station at Daheyuan and the town of Turfan, 60 kilometers away. Even though our watches say 7 o’clock, it’s pitch dark outside, and dawn is still two hours away. Everyone in China lives and dies according to Peking time. It was after 8 o’clock when we finally pulled into Turfan, and the sun was just coming up. Actually, we didn’t quite pull into Turfan….

St. Vincent de Paul

(Airdate: January 12, 2026) KPTZ’s Taylor Clark sat down with Debbi Steel to learn more about her rewarding experience volunteering at St. Vincent de Paul and helping out our neighbors. She was joined by Norm Tonina who is the VP of the local conference of St, Vincents. For more information about St. Vincent de Paul, including about volunteering you can call 360-379-1325, or go online to svdpejc.org,

County Connections

(Airdate: January 9, 2026) KPTZ’s Taylor Clark and Jefferson County County Commissioner Heidi Eisenhower were joined by Joey Deese from Waste Connections, who is on the Transfer Station Task Force and the Solid Waste Advisory Committee (SWAC); as well as Al Cairns, the Jefferson County Solid Waste Manager. We talked about the planned relocation of the Transfer Station, which is about five years out and planning is underway now. There will be a special meeting of the Solid Waste Facilities Task Force & Board of County Commissioners Joint Meeting at the Tri-Area Community Center on January 26, 2026 at 6pm. where you can find out more.

Brewocracy Now ~ 1/08/26

KPTZ”s Taylor Clark and co-host Port Townsend CIty Manager John Mauro reviewed the significant achievement of the PT city government in 2025.

#756 Favorite Books of 2025

(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.

Community Tides ~ 1/05/26

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.

#277 Sam Harper, Sewer Magic

(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.

Silk

(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.

County Public Health Report ~ 1/05/26

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.

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