Listen
Live!

Virus Watch Podcasts

Compass for 7/18/20

In ordinary times, the Port Townsend Main Street Program serves as an essential behind-the-scenes booster for the economic well-being of the town’s commercial prospects. From keeping the uptown and downtown retail districts spruced up with everything from hanging flower baskets to holiday decorations, to luring tourists to town with programs like the Concerts on the Docks and the Uptown Street Fair, the volunteers and staff of the non-profit organization work tirelessly year-round to keep the local economic engine purring. But these are not ordinary times, and like the rest of the economy, the Main Street Program has been forced to curtail much of its activity. This week on the Compass, we check in Main Street Program Director Mari Mullen about how the town’s businesses, and their biggest booster, are doing.

Brewocracry Now with John Mauro ~ 7/16

Port Townsend City Manager John Mauro is on KPTZ with a web-based format, in a weekly time slot Thursdays, from 12:10 to 12:40pm. Discovery Road DJ host Tim Quackenbush hosts John’s virtual online meeting as a live broadcast, with updates on the fast-changing local world in and around Port Townsend.

Topics covered included: Update on status of City services, City Council Ad Hoc Committee on Policing, Call-In Questions about COVID-19 advice, and Community engagement.

Stay tuned for the weekly chance to learn more about developments for the City of Port Townsend. John will take questions and encourage productive dialogue (and exemplary virtual meeting etiquette) to steer through a range of topics. 

County Public Health Report ~ 7/13

At today’s meeting, Public Health Officer Dr. Tom Locke addressed the questions from KPTZ listeners. Topics included the mask directive and enforcement, and overall public health strategies. The last 2 weeks, Dr Locke has announced the increase in case count since the previous Friday, yet the online page typically hasn’t gotten updated until Monday in the mid-afternoon.

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

Compass for 7/11/20

Downtown and uptown, Port Townsend comprises small businesses, the most vulnerable of all enterprises to the economic ravages of our 2020 pandemic. Will they survive? This week on the Compass, the owner of Abracadabra, a landmark gift store for more than 30 years in Port Townsend, gives us the inside story what’s happening on Water Street, and how she and her husband Dave managed to keep their business alive just long enough to get their green light to re-open.

Through Science to Health ~ 7/10/20

Lynn Sorensen, RN, and Chris Bricker shared commentary regarding continued issues around masking to help prevent the spread of COVID-19, the future of international travel, what a Quaran-team is, and the government’s Operation Warp Speed program financing vaccine development.

.

Brewocracy Now with John Mauro ~ 7/09

Port Townsend City Manager John Mauro is on KPTZ with a web-based format, in a weekly time slot Thursdays, from 12:10 to 12:40pm. Discovery Road DJ host Tim Quackenbush hosts John’s virtual online meeting as a live broadcast, with updates on the fast-changing local world in and around Port Townsend.

On July 9, topics covered were: the status of city meetings, air B&Bs, open streets, the no mask – no service requirement, and downtown parking.

Stay tuned for the weekly chance to learn more about developments for the City of Port Townsend. John will take questions and encourage productive dialogue (and exemplary virtual meeting etiquette) to steer through a range of topics. 

County Public Health Report ~ 7/06

At today’s meeting, Public Health Officer Dr. Tom Locke addressed the questions from KPTZ listeners. Topics included the increase in case count and specifics concerning the importance of the mask order in effect, Director of Emergency Management Willie Bence discussed availability and distribution of PPE and masks.

Compass for 7/04/20

This being the first Compass to fall squarely on Independence Day, the Compass Team decided to focus this week on two local institutions that have proven their worth in creating the kind of independence and resilience that has given Port Townsend a distinct local advantage in dealing with the global COVID-19 Pandemic.

First, Dave Cunningham talks with Jefferson County Emergency Operations Manager Willie Bence about the special challenges the pandemic has presented, and how the EOC responded. And then Chris Bricker talks with former Port Townsend Mayor and long-time Local 20/20 leader Deborah Stinson about the role neighborhood preparedness groups have played in meeting the crisis.

New Thursday Time Slot for Brewocracy Now ~ 7/02

Port Townsend City Manager John Mauro is on KPTZ with a web-based format, in a new weekly time slot Thursdays, from 12:10 to 12:40pm. Discovery Road DJ host Tim Quackenbush hosted John’s virtual online meeting as a live broadcast, with updates on the fast-changing local world in and around Port Townsend.

On July 2, topics were: Establishment of the City Council Public Safety Committee to Address Policing Issues, Fiscal impacts of sales tax loss to City of Port Townsend employees, the upcoming renewal of the paper mill water contract, and Phase 3 re-opening.

Stay tuned for the weekly chance to learn more about developments for the City of Port Townsend. John will take questions and encourage productive dialogue (and exemplary virtual meeting etiquette) to steer through a range of topics. 

County Public Health Report ~ 6/29

During the weekly Public Health Briefing from Jefferson County Public Health Officer Dr. Tom Locke, we learned that Jefferson County last week added 6 COVID-19 cases. The count is now 38. Four of the recent added cases were asymptomatic and were discovered through test screening prior to medical or dental procedures. Also discussed: masking use, enforcement, and the efficacy of face shields. The four key facets for mitigating disease spread continue to include masking, physical distancing, hand washing and sanitizing, and not touching faces.

In addition, Willie Bence, Director of the Jefferson County Department of Emergency Management, delivered a briefing on potential arrival of masks with clear plastic over the mouth, for ease of communication with deaf people. He also spoke about face shields, and the availability of PPE. 

To submit your questions to Dr. Locke in the following week’s Board of County Commissioners meeting, send them to [email protected].

Part 1: Dr. Locke – Public Health and Willie Bence – DEM Briefings
Part 2: BOCC Discusses Considerations of Moving to WA Safe Start Phase 3, prior to vote.

Shortly following the nearly complete meeting broadcast on KPTZ, the County Commissioners voted to submit an application for Safe Start Phase 3 reopening to the WA State Department of Health. The almost two-hour special meeting held today focused on the concerns about gatherings of up to 50 people indoors and out, and the concern of outbreaks around the region. It was agreed that once approval is received from the state, the Board of Health may revisit the elements of Phase 3 — or any phase — and put a hold any activity that they deem concerning.

KPTZ broadcasted via 91.9FM and streamed at KPTZ.org this timely COVID-19 information, which was also videostreamed live and recorded for online viewing any time thereafter at the Jefferson County website.

Currently Spinning on KPTZ