(Airdate: March 16, 2022) Ron & Rosemary Sikes invite Nature Now host Debaran Kelso & recorder Meg Amos to their backyard wildlife sanctuary in Port Townsend to discuss how to create and improve wildlife habitat in our own backyards (Part 2 of a two-part program).
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.
Public Health Officer Dr. Allison Berry said that COVID-19 cases continue to fall in Jefferson County. Total case numbers are 3,130, putting the case rate at 189/100,000, dipping below her desired threshold of 200/100,000, Our percent positivity is 7.4 which is also downtrending. Jefferson is no longer in the high risk category, moving to medium risk for COVID-19 transmission rates. Dr. Berry is recommending mask wearing in indoor settings until the case rate is below 100/100,000. This is especially important in crowded indoor spaces where vaccination status is unknown. Masking is also recommended for those who are in a high risk group or who are immunocompromised, on cancer treatments, or taking immunosuppressive medications. She anticipates a small surge in cases in a couple weeks because the mask mandate has been lifted. She does not anticipate a super-spreader event like the previous ones. For the long term, Dr. Berry believes COVID-19 will become a more severe version of the flu that moves in a seasonal pattern. She said that summer will be a time to enjoy the outdoors, but anticipates next fall/winter there could be a spike in case numbers as the population retreats back indoors.
Director of Emergency Management Willie Bence today said the EOC emergency response to COVID-19 has turned the corner and is now in an ongoing maintenance mode. Meetings with Public Health and informational briefings with leadership and partners will remain in place on a weekly basis until the end of this month. The large mass vaccination clinics have been scaled back. Stores are being supplied with masks for the public. He had high praise for the many volunteers who turned out to help with the response. “We had hundreds of people come forward over the past few years and come out with a response for my department, whether it be doctors or nurses who are actually administering shots,” Bence recalled. “We have logistics volunteers who help with putting up parking cones and helping with traffic control. They’re helping set up and clean up after clinic, things like that. So we are absolutely going to maintain those those volunteer resources.” Bence said he has plans to establish the “Medical Reserve Corps,” a volunteer program composed of doctors and nurses who can be called upon during a future pandemic or emergency event. The next few months will be a time for the EOC to conduct focus groups and hold conversations about what worked and didn’t during the response to the pandemic. A report to the Commissioners will be provided when the information becomes available.
Submit your Public Health questions to Dr. Allison Berry and to 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.
(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.
In this special Fund Drive edition of Our Working Waterfront, KPTZ’s Chris Bricker, along with co-hosts Port Commissioner Pam Petranek and Port of Port Townsend’s Director Eron Berg, update us on happenings around our busy Boat Yard. Then we speak with marine trades and sailing icon Diana Talley about her project to explore the vast network of women here who love the sea and are deeply connected to it. She also arranged the first-ever group photograph of waterfront women, taken at Port Townsend’s City Dock on March 11.Then we pay a visit to Greg and Joey Veitenhans (pictured above) as they sit on the port rail of f.v. Voyager. Greg speaks of five generations of fishermen, tells us how he met his wive, Ava, and what it was like to raise two sons, Henry and Joey, on a fishing boat. Greg and family could ply us with enough stories for three more episodes! Joey, by the way, just earned his 100-ton Master Captain’s license at age 19.
This week on Brewocracy Now, City Manager John Mauro and KPTZ’s were joined by Port Townsend Police Department ‘s newest officer, Kamal Sharrif. Officer Sharrif comments on joining the Department from his previous assignment in King County, provides insight into the intricacies of policing, and the skills necessary to effectively and compassionately protect the public.
(Airdate: March 9, 2022) Mary Robson interviews Gary Bullock and Bob Boekelheide about a winter survey they conducted. They explain what they found and how raptors fit the balance of nature.
(Airdate: March 8, 2020) Our Town host Maryanne McNellis interviews Artis the Spoonman, a talented and eccentric musician. After dropping out of school in the 10th grade, Artis spent a few years in the Navy. He says his two goals from childhood were being a musician and seeing the world. He figures he’s accomplished that. Artis has played with the likes of Frank Zappa and showcased his spoon-playing skills on the David Letterman show (among many TV appearances). Over the years he’s played gigs all over the world. He’s as comfortable busking on the street as he is playing with the Seattle philharmonic in a white silk tuxedo. Artis is proud of his “heritage in the hippie world” thanks to his free-spirited Mother. A Northwest native, Artis was a fixture at the Pike Place Market in Seattle for many years. But he ended up here in Port Townsend a few years ago. He loves it here but he’s worried about gentrification. After all, he’s not all that gentrified.
(Airdate: March 8, 2022) The Port Townsend Heritage Association is coming out of COVID-19 and putting on the Port Townsend Victorian Heritage Festival for 2022, on April 29, 30 and May 1. KPTZ’s Missy Nielsen talks with board president Tracy Wirta and board member Kathy Knoblock about what’s going on. Learn more about how to get involved!
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.
Public Health Officer Dr. Allison Berry today said Jefferson County’s COVID-19 case numbers continue to drop. She announced that our documented case rate is 385/100,000 with a 10% positivity rate. “This week, we are transitioning from the pandemic phase of our response to the endemic,” Dr. Berry said. “In the endemic phase, we are transitioning to a period where where don’t think COVID-19 is going to overwhelm critical parts of our infrastructure.” She said our society will be able to function with this level of disease right now. She noted Jefferson is moving toward “not mandating” masks in indoor spaces, but rather “recommending them.” The reason: our case rates are still relatively high. “So right now, in Jefferson County, if you walk into a room with 25 people and you’re all unmasked, there is a 17% probability that one of those people has COVID-19,” she explained. “And so that’s why we still recommend you wear a mask because that’s a pretty high probability that someone has COVID-19. When we see those case rates continue to go down, when they get to less than 100 cases per 100,000, that probability goes down to 5%. And so that’s why we think it’s reasonable to start unmasking when we get to that rate.”
Director of Emergency Management Willie Bence said DEM efforts are focused on an after-action review of Jefferson’s COVID-19 response. His team is restocking KN95 masks in some stores and will continue as long as the state program is making them available. If you are looking for a booster dose, are homebound, or have limited mobility, call 360-344-9791 and leave a message. Bence said his team is “happy to come and pay you a visit.” Vaccinations are increasing at about 1% a week. There is a rise in vaccinations for kids in our community. Currently 53% of middle- and high school-aged kids are fully vaccinated.
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.
(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.
