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County Public Health Report ~ 4/11/22

The following is a summary of the presentation during the Public Health briefings at this week’s Board of County Commissioners meeting made by Jefferson and Clallam County Public Health Officer Dr. Allison Berry. Also Willie Bence, Director of Emergency Management, gave a report. The summary below was provided by and used with the permission of Jefferson County Government.

Jefferson’s COVID-19 cases have reached a plateau in the moderate range which indicates a recommendation for masking in indoor settings, according to County Health Officer Dr. Allison Berry. The Health Department is monitoring the Omicron BA.2 variant which is a more contagious version than its BA.1 predecessor but not more severe. She advised that this version, which is now the dominate one, is moving though western Washington’s I-5 corridor. She expects it will arrive in Jefferson in the next couple weeks. Masking, vaccination and good quality air ventilation in indoor spaces are the tools that are working to keep the rate of infection down.

Dr. Berry reported that approval has been given for a second booster for everyone 50 years old and older in the U.S. According to Berry, it is “safe” and a “very reasonable choice to get an additional booster….The area where we have a little less data is really on the necessity of an additional booster at this time,” she said. We’re still seeing very good protection against severe disease from three doses.” Dr. Berry said that if you are over 75 with multiple underlying comorbidities, it might be a good idea to go ahead and get boosted. COVID-19 vaccines are available at pharmacies and at Jefferson County Public Health, as well as through your health care provider and Jefferson Healthcare.

Director of Emergency Management (DEM) Willie Bence said there are no plans to scale up the mass vaccination clinics that were previously held. The DEM is focused on provide any vaccines to those who are homebound or have mobility issues. Call 360-344-9791 for more information. Test kits are available though the health department and libraries. In south county, antigen tests are available at the fire departments. Test kits may also be purchased online.

Submit your Public Health questions to Dr. Allison Berry and Willie Bence by emailing [email protected]. Note: The weekly deadline for these to be submitted is on Fridays at noon, to be answered at the following Monday’s BOCC meeting.

Women & Film – 2022

(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.

Our Working Waterfront ~ 4/08/22

This month on Our Working Waterfront, KPTZ’s Chris Bricker and co-host Port Commissioner Pam Petranek visit with 3rd generation Quilcene resident Joel Kawahara. We meet by the stern of his 42-foot troller Karolee, now hauled out for maintenance near Dave Thompson’s shop at the north end of the Boatyard. He’s a career commercial fisherman who is widely known as an advocate for sustainable fisheries and habitat restoration. He’s involved with the Wild Salmon Coalition and the North Olympic Salmon Coalition and their efforts at preserving this important resource.
Joel is a guy who has never quite fit in the corporate world, but has combined his credentials, talents, and caring nature as a catalyst for bringing disparate interests to the table in order to affect significant change.

Nature Now #561 Bob Jepperson

(Reprise airdate: April 6, 2022) Bob Jepperson joins Mary Robson for exploration of the birds in the woods on Fidalgo Island. (First airdate: 1/13/21)

Recycling Styrofoam

(First airdate: April 5, 2022) On this episode of Everybody Can, we explore the world of recycling Styrofoam. Difficult and expensive to recycle, Styrofoam is not accepted in much of Washington’s residential recycling programs. The PT Styro Recyclers are working to mitigate this gap in our community. Polly Lyle and Judith Minzel discuss with host Missy Nielsen the process, the partners, and the potential for this organization to impact our growing environmental waste stream on the Olympic Peninsula.

U.S. Navy in Olympic Peninsula Skies and Olympic Peninsula Parks

(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.

Community Tides ~ 4/01

On alternate Fridays during the noon hour, KPTZ’s Chris Bricker and co-host Siobhan Canty, President and CEO of Jefferson Community Foundation, meet to discuss new developments, new paradigms and the new normal as we roll into the months ahead. Located near the water’s edge in Port Hadlock, the remodeled 1911 Classen Chemical Company’s Alcohol Plant reopened in 2016 as a hotel, nonprofit housing establishment, restaurant, and event center. Gary Keister is the Managing Member of Inn Properties, and he’s the founder and Executive Director of Bayside Housing and Services, connected to the property there. Gary joins us today to talk about the background and latest news from Bayside Housing and discusses the organization’s goals for transitioning our community’s unsheltered citizens from temporary to permanent supportive housing. He gives us exciting news about the recent purchase of the Hadlock Motel and describes Bayside’s vision for the property’s future there.

Brewocracy Now with John Mauro ~ 3/31/22

Today on Brewocracy Now, City Manager John Mauro and KPTZ’s Tim Quackenbush talked about an overview of community input related to the “Streelet and Parklet” proposal. Also, the status of Police Officer hires, and the impact of reduced summer service to the City’s summer festival season.

County Public Health Report ~ 3/28/22

The following is a summary of the presentation during the Public Health briefings at this week’s Board of County Commissioners meeting made by Jefferson and Clallam County Public Health Officer Dr. Allison Berry. Also Willie Bence, Director of Emergency Management, gave a report. The summary below was provided by and used with the permission of Jefferson County Government.

COVID-19 case rates are rising in Jefferson since the masking mandate was lifted, reported County Health Officer Dr. Allison Berry. With a two-week case rate of 65/100,000 and 2% positivity, the numbers are projected to go up. So far, no cases of the B2 variant have been reported and it is not projected to be the dominate strain here.

During her report to the Commissioners, Dr. Berry announced that Jefferson County has the highest number of boosted residents in the state, overtaking San Juan County. Dr. Berry said there is no data yet available as to whether the general population will need a 4th dose of vaccine. She said that those over 65 may be eligible if approval is given. Any high-risk individual with underlying immunity issues or severe disease is eligible for a second booster at this time. Dr. Berry strongly recommends that they receive all 4 shots.

Director of Emergency Management Willie Bence said the mass vaccination clinics that were so successful have wrapped up and local pharmacies are now able to meet the demand. He said there are no plans for 4th dose clinics at this time.The Department’s focus is partnering with public health to reach out to those homebound individuals who have limited mobility and offer booster shots. Call the hotline at 360-344-9791 and leave a message.

Submit your Public Health questions to Dr. Allison Berry and Willie Bence by emailing [email protected]. Note: The weekly deadline for these to be submitted is on Fridays at noon, to be answered at the following Monday’s BOCC meeting.

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