(Airdate: March 2, 2022) Coastal Cafe‘s guests this week are George Harris, the President of the Northwest Marine Trade Association (NMTA) and Jay Jenning, Vice President of Government Affairs. George and Jay spoke with host Aaron Barnett about upcoming life jacket legislation in Olympia, Southern Resident Killer Whale regulations, boat sales in the age of COVID-19 as well the 75th celebration of the NMTA’s creation.
(Airdate: March 2, 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 1 of a two part program).
(Airdate: March 1, 2022) Host Cris Wilson has a conversation with T.J. Klune about his NY Times Bestseller and the 2022 Port Townsend Community Read The House in the Cerulean Sea, a fantasy story for all ages. Linus Baker, a caseworker in the Department of Magical Youth is on assignment for Exceedingly Upper Management. On the island he discovers a series of mysterious creatures and the Master of the orphanage, Arthur Parnassus. Linus finds love, an unlikely family, and discovers his own power to protect them. A land of color and magic is just the medicine we need.
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, Director of Emergency Management, gave a report. The summary below was provided by and used with the permission of Jefferson County Government.
During Dr. Allison Berry’s weekly update today, she noted that although Jefferson case decline is slowing, our case rate is improving. It stands at 525/100,000. Percent positivity is still high, at 13%. “When we do lift the mass mandates, in addition to recommending masking generally, I strongly recommend high quality masks for those who are at high risk of severe disease,” she said. “So if you have underlying medical conditions, if you’re over 65, it’s really, really important that you have a high quality mask – a KN95 or a KF94 or full N95 if you can tolerate that, That’s going to be really important in indoor spaces.” She also cautioned those who are unvaccinated: “It’s also important to remember that any of us who are unvaccinated are still at high risk of severe disease and so we would recommend that those who have not gotten vaccinated wear a high quality mask in indoor spaces, and that includes children.”
Following Updated CDC Recommendations, the Jefferson County public health order requiring masking in indoor, public places will be rescinded earlier than planned. That order will now lift on Friday, March 11 at 11:59pm, the same time the State of Washington lifts its masking order, also ahead of schedule. The date changes follow updated guidance the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued last week. “I am making this difficult decision because it is frankly untenable to maintain our mask mandate longer,” said Dr. Allison Berry, Health Officer for Jefferson County. “However, I continue to strongly recommend masking in indoor spaces until our case rates reach a safer threshold.” The current two-week case rate in Jefferson County is 525.00 per 100,000 people. Dr. Berry recommends reaching a case rate of fewer than 100 cases per 100,000 people over a 14-day period before unmasking in indoor spaces. She recommends high-risk individuals wait until that rate drops below 50. The health order that requires bar and restaurant patrons 12 and older to be fully vaccinated if dining indoors will lift on March 11 as well. Dr. Berry encouraged the community to support the decision of any businesses that choose to maintain a masking policy.
The COVID-19 response by Emergency Management is ramping down, according to Director Willie Bence. Vaccinations are readily available at local pharmacies. Masks are being delivered to local businesses and grocery stores including the Food Co-Op. For more information and inquiries about helping those with mobility issues, please call the hotline at 360344-9791.
Submit your Public Health questions to Dr. Allison Berry and Willie Bence by emailing contactus@kptz.org. Note: The weekly deadline for these to be submitted is on Fridays at noon, to be answered at the following Monday’s BOCC meeting.
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, Director of Emergency Management, gave a report. The summary below was provided by and used with the permission of Jefferson County Government.
(Airdate: February 28, 2022) This week on Attention Please! KPTZ host Steve Evans visits with four people who bubbled together during the pandemic to articulate the skeleton of a grey whale that died of starvation in 2019 for an educational display that will reside in one couple’s back yard.
Today on Brewocracy Now KPTZ host Tim Quackenbush and City Manager John Mauro were joined by Adam Zacks, founder of the THING music and arts festival, coning to Fort Worden on August 26-28. They discussed the event, its focus on the discovery and inclusion of non-white and women artists, and the effects of COVID-19 on the event planning process. More information is available at THINGNW.org.
(Reprise airdate: February 23, 2022) Nan Evans and Wendy Feltham talk about their experiences as naturalists during this strange last year of the pandemic – adjusting to stay-at-home orders, practicing social distancing, losing opportunities, discovering new ways of learning and sharing, finding new favorite places to explore in our own neighborhoods, and adapting to change. This show originally aired on March 3, 2021).
The following is a summary of the presentation during the Public Health briefings at this week’s Board of County Commissioners meeting made by Dr. Tom Locke. Willie Bence, Director, Director of Emergency Management, gave a report. The summary below was provided by and used with the permission of Jefferson County Government.
Deputy Health Officer Dr. Tom Locke this morning said COVID-19 cases continue to drop across the country and on the Olympic Peninsula. In Jefferson, there has been Omicron activity, but it is down 8% over the past two weeks, putting us at 618/100,000. ”This is a turning point in the pandemic,” Dr. Locke said, noting that now there is a transition from emergency containment mode to a more sustainable and less disruptive one. He noted WA State will be lifting its statewide masking mandate on March 21. Jefferson will lift its mandate at the same time. Health Officer Dr. Allison Berry earlier announced she will rescind the order requiring proof of vaccinations for restaurants and bars as of March 11. “We always will have some COVID-19 around at least for the next several years,” Dr. Locke admitted. “And it’ll occur in waves and really how it behaves will have a lot more to do with the virus than anything else. As we look to the future, not only are new variations or variants possible, they’re really to be expected. If we’ve learned anything from this last two waves, it’s to expect the unexpected.” Dr. Locke spoke about a new Omicron variant, BA2. Noting that it “is not a harmless subvariant,” health officials in Japan believe this strain is more transmissible than Omicron. Dr. Locke feels a wave of BA2 in this county will not occur.
Department of Emergency Management (DEM) Director Willie Bence said that the mass vax clinics that have been held for the past year have ended. If anyone is looking for a vaccine or other information, refer to the Jefferson County Public Health website or call DEM at 360-344-9791. He said most pharmacies have a supply of all of the vaccines. As for masks, Bence said K95 and KN95 masks have been pushed out the grocery stores, pharmacies, libraries, chambers, and all County food banks. Public Health also has them. For more information, call DEM.
Submit your Public Health questions to Dr. Allison Berry and Willie Bence by emailing contactus@kptz.org. 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: February 22, 2022) PHLUSH is an acronym for “Public Hygiene Lets Us Stay Human”. Through education and advocacy, PHLUSH consults with local governments and citizen groups to provide equitable public restroom availability, prepare for sanitation disasters and, recently, focusing on the linkages between our local housing challenges, public hygiene, and sanitation justice. Everybody Can host Missy Nielsen speaks with advocate and co-founder Carol McCreary to help us better understand the “plumbing” behind the effort to bring this topic to the forefront of our community discussions.
