Each month, KPTZ’s Chris Bricker and his co-hosts, Port of Port Townsend’s Director Eron Berg and Port Commissioner Pam Petranek cover the waterfront — its boats, its people and their stories. Eron gives us this month’s update about goings-on about our Port.  Then Pam and Chris bring you a reprise broadcast about their visit aboard Arningali, a 38-foot Orca Sailing Cutter, with owner Kevin Stearns and friend Sally Harden, along with shipwright Ryan Chadwick (pictured above) from Cape George Boatworks. Port Townsend is “The City of Dreams,” and dreams are at the heart of our waterfront community. We’ll learn about how a 40 year old dream has finally come true!

As Peter Marsh, journalist and Volunteer Director of Astoria’s Hawthorn Cannery Museum writes, “The Hawaiian Chieftain, a classic sailing ship with a bright yellow hull and traditional square rig, has been a popular sight on the waters in the Pacific Northwest for almost 30 years. But wherever it went, this unique steel vessel was often overshadowed by its wooden partner Lady Washington -the state of Washington’s official historic tall ship.” As we stand in the Boatyard below the Chieftain’s steel hull, we’re about to take a tour with Arren Day (pictured above), Lead Shipwright for the Chieftain’s restoration, and one of the twelve partners of the Port Townsend Shipwrights Co-Op. We’ll learn about some of the ship’s history and witness the work of the incredible variety of Boatyard artisans involved with the project. We’ll also find out what may be in store for her once the Hawaiian Chieftain’s owners take her back to her birthplace in Lahaina, Hawaii.

KPTZ’s Chris Bricker joins co-hosts Eron Berg, Port of Port Townsend’s Director, and Port Commissioner Pam Petranek to explore people, boats and stories surrounding our Working Waterfront. Nestled in along the Working Waterfront and across from the Boat Haven Marina, the aromas of freshly baked muffins and fresh coffee spill from the windows and doors of the Marina Cafe. The eatery, run by Jen Takaki and Shawn Meyer, serves up hearty food to a mixture of shipwrights and town folk rolling through for coffee and a muffin, a take-out special, or a sit down breakfast or lunch. Part of the week, there’s even an evening tapas menu. We thought we’d stop in today and visit with Jen, Shawn, and some of the regulars to see what hopes and dreams lie ahead for 2024.

Join KPTZ’s Chris Bricker and his co-hosts, Port of Port Townsend’s Director Eron Berg for this month’s update, and then Chris and Port Commissioner Pam Petranek come aboard the 38ft Orca Sailing Cutter Arningali, with owner Kevin Stearns and friend Sally Harden, along with shipwright Ryan Chadwick from Cape George Boatworks. As we look around the cabin, we see superb craftsmanship and the integration of a collection of unique features from around the globe. His father’s last wish was that Kevin finish building the boat they began together over 40 years ago.  Now, we find ourselves sitting aboard a stunning masterpiece!

Part Two of a special tour of Port of Port Townsend’s Boatyard with students and faculty of the Williams College/Mystic Connecticut Seaport Coastal & Ocean Studies Program. This episode is all about “the Catch” – fishing and life on the water. Hosts Chris Bricker and Port Commissioner Pam Petranek visit Brian Dafforn, skipper and owner of the Polaris, one of the twenty remaining historic vessels of the Longliner Fleet; Captain Ozzie Anderson, owner of the fishing tender Sunnyvale: and Rick Ottman, captain and owner of schooner Cape Cleare, along with crew member Kaila Janders.

KPTZ’s Chris Bricker and Port Commissioner Pam Petranek join students and faculty from the Coastal & Ocean Studies Program at Williams College and the Mystic Connecticut Seaport Museum for Part Two of a special tour of Port of Port Townsend’s boatyard. This episode is all about “the Catch” – fishing and life on the water! We’ll finish our conversation with Brian Dafforn, owner and captain of the Polaris, one of the twenty remaining vessels of the historic longliner fleet; Captain Ozzie Anderson, owner of the 1949 fishing tender Sunnyvale; and finally Rick Ottman, owner and captain of the schooner Cape Cleare, along with crew member Kaila Janders. 

Chris, Pam, and Eron join students and faculty from the Coastal & Ocean Studies Program at Williams College & the Mystic Connecticut Seaport Museum, for a special tour of Port or Port Townsend’s boatyard. In this episode, Part One of our visit, we meet up with Blaise Holly, alumnus of the Williams/Mystic Program and owner of Haven Boat Works, and then pay a visit to Brian Dafforn, owner and captain of the Polaris, one of the twenty remaining vessels of the historic longliner fleet.

Each month on alternate weeks, Tuesdays at 5:30 and Sundays at Noon, KPTZ’s Chris Bricker and his co-hosts, Port Director Eron Berg and Commissioner Pam Petranek bring you updates and stories from Port Townsend’s working waterfront. A new tradition was born this year, right here in our Boatyard!  A special celebration took place under the stars and in the glow of the full moon above the giant Marine Travelift. It was organized by the Port of Port Townsend and its sponsors to welcome our Fishing Fleet home. There were crew members, skippers, shipwrights and apprentices who keep these boats alive. There were brokers, townies, families, and children of all ages. They all gathered in a corner of the Yard for a truly local and authentic gathering. Roving the festivities with a field mic was never more fun!

Welcome to our extended format and new time slots! We’ll air in alternate weeks with KPTZ’s Community Tides, at 5:30pm on Tuesdays and at noon on Sundays.
Each month, KPTZ’s Chris Bricker joins his co-hosts, Port of Port Townsend’s Director Eron Berg and Port Commissioner Pam Petranek, to explore people and stories surrounding our beloved Working Waterfront and Port. This month, seniors from Port Townsend High School tag along to tour the boatyard and visit some of its business owners, cooperatives, and artisans. Opportunities abound in our local maritime industry, which creates 20 percent of the jobs in Jefferson County – from entry-level employment, to mentorship and training, to eventual careers.

Each year the Jefferson County Chamber of Commerce presents Leadership Awards in four categories: Business Leader, Citizen, Rising Entrepreneur, Young Professional, and Future Business Leader from our County’s youth. Pete and Kathy Langley are the 2023 recipients of the Business Leaders of the Year Award. They’ve been married and in business together at Port Townsend Foundry for over 40 years. Together, Pete and Kathy  share a life commitment to the phrase, “A Rising Tide lifts all boats.”  Both of them freely admit that it takes the two of them together to run their business! KPTZ’s Chris Bricker joins co-hosts Port of Port Townsend’s Director Eron Berg and Port Commissioner Pam Petranek for a Port update, and then a conversation with Pete and Kathy about what it means to create a “circular economy” here in this region, about their leadership and mentorship roles, and their longstanding involvement in our beloved community.