This fall, Friends of Fort Worden will make their biggest habitat restoration planting ever, putting over 2,000 native trees and shrubs in the ground.  Clear-cutting …
Hundreds of public schools across Washington are located in areas where they could suffer damage in a major earthquake. But more than a decade after the state set out to evaluate school seismic …
    With much of the southeastern side of the country grappling with an unprecedented range of catastrophic damage and a high number of deaths from Hurricane Helene, it’s …
A city of Port Townsend police officer works the scene of a four-car collision near the intersection of Water and Adams streets. According to Deputy Chief Jeff Thaxton, at about 12 p.m. on Sept. 30, …
Arts and Entertainment
A misplaced robot finds its place in an island ecosystem in “The Wild Robot.”

‘Wild Robot’ will keep kids entertained and perhaps make moms cry

    Writer-director Chris Sanders’ big-screen adaptation of Peter Brown’s “The Wild Robot” series of illustrated books for children will appeal to parents …

Rare stop-motion animation workshop for youth but don’t delay

    Veteran animation artist Jim Bradrick is offering a new stop-motion animation class for young people, but if it doesn’t have a minimum of four signups by Oct. 9, it will …
“The Rough Side of the Mountain” is among Jeanne Toal’s paintings in “Elemental,” the new show at Northwind Art’s Jeanette Best Gallery.

‘Elemental’ showcases abstract art duo’s paintings, sculptures

  Abstract artists Jan Hoy and Jeanne Toal are bringing their works to Northwind Art’s Jeanette Best Gallery starting this month. The two-woman exhibition “Elemental” …

Finistère hosts local lensman David Rowe’s Pacific Coast photography

    Visitors to the Finistère restaurant in uptown Port Townsend will have an opportunity to take in a rare reception with local photographer David King Rowe IV on Sunday, …
Marie Muma, right, and her trio of therapy alpacas have been visiting with the residents of the Life Care Center in Port Townsend to help maintain their mental and physical health.

Alpacas lift spirits of local seniors

    They’ve recently become local celebrities, appearing at events such as the Quilcene Fair and Parade, but the Cape George Highlands Alpacas have continued their day jobs …

News from local businesses

Holistic Care through North Olympic Healthcare Network

Community Outreach by the NOHN team.

The North Olympic Healthcare Network (NOHN) stands as a testament to the power of patient-centric, holistic healthcare. As a nonprofit organization in Port Angeles, NOHN's mission goes beyond just …

Guide to Teen Money Management

Managing money effectively is important for everyone, especially teens who are just beginning to understand financial independence. Whether they earned money from a summer job or …

In other news ...
Special sections

Readers' Choice 2024

At long last! The 2024 Reader's Choice Awards are upon us. Want your favorite shop, service provider, or restaurant to be nomitated? Well look no further! Cast your vote & nominate your favorite …

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Obituaries

Raymond Eugene Hunter

Raymond Eugene Hunter, aged 85, passed away on September 27, 2024, in Discovery Bay, Washington. Born on June 28, 1939, in Port Townsend, Washington, Ray led a life marked by dedication to his …

Stephen T. Leslie

Steve Leslie was dedicated to the Olympics Mountains and to the safety of all who enjoyed them.  Born in Seattle and lived on the Kitsap Peninsula from age 10. A graduate of Bainbridge Island HS …

Robert Lee “Cougar” Garten

Long time Shine resident passes On August 31, 2024, Robert Lee “Cougar” Garten passed away at his home in Shine. He was dearly loved by his family who were continually with him …
Calendar of events
Opinion & Columnists
A western North American monarch on a Stokes’ aster. The butterfly faces extinction.
The king isn’t dead, but his prognosis is poor | Wild Neighbors
We nearly lost the western king of the insect world four years ago following a reign lasting more than 1 million years. 2020. That was the year biologists feared the western North American …
Whether you enjoy pears on their own or paired, they never fail to delight.
Pairing Pears | Kitchen to Kitchen
I wrote on the shopping list — a pair of each kind of pear, and delighted in imagining my husband slowing down enough to find two pears of each type from the abundant fruit at the Co-op during …
Bill Mann
Ferries, yard signs and Saturday Night Live | Mann Overboard
Has this happened to you, PT resident? I’m betting yes. Let’s call it the “Too Not Live” crew effect.  We’d driven 100 miles from …
Ned Luce
Some vintage cars, a dose of irony about newer ones, and some music | Life in Ludlow
Where do you go to see two Porsche 356s, two vintage Chevy Corvettes, one Ford GT, a Mercedes Benz SL, and a Porsche 911 Cabriolet? The East Jefferson Rotary car show last Saturday in the parking …
Fred Obee
Look at the big picture and stop fighting volunteer groups | Guest Column
Volunteers say Mayor David Faber’s plan to build high density housing on Golf Park acres, which will require reconfiguring the golf course and eliminating the driving range, will hurt the Golf …
Sen. Maria Cantwell centers a group picture taken on Sept. 6 at the Jefferson Healthcare expansion project. From left to right is CEO Mike Glenn, Dunia Faulx, chief planning and government affairs officer, Cantwell, COO Jake Davidson, Commissioner Marie Dressler, Aaron Vallat, construction and planning manager), and Commissioner Jill Buhler-Rienstra.
Hospital’s growth revs up local economy | Mixing Metaphors & Doubling Entendres
It’s easy to grasp the visible expansion of Jefferson Healthcare on Sheridan Street and to understand that it benefits the community. We are a bit isolated here on the peninsula, and having …
TOONS

Smokey says take care

This painting, done shortly after Smokey Bear was chosen as the new face of the Forest Fire Prevention Program in 1945, has resonance after weeks that have included a wildfire near Brinnon and another brush fire that was quickly extinguished on Mill Road.

This painting, done shortly after Smokey Bear was chosen as the new face of the Forest Fire Prevention Program in 1945, has resonance after weeks that have included a wildfire near Brinnon and …

BLOGS
  After seeing her star-making turn in Martin Scorsese’s “Killers of the Flower Moon” last year all that Hulu had to do to get me to watch its true-crime miniseries …
Letters
    • Instead of transparency, Howard calls names

        Theo Howard would have better served the public by using his letter to the editor to assure the public that he has no financial …

    • Rhody needs you

        If you’re thinking you’d like to be a part of one of the most popular and fun events in Port Townsend, now’s …

    • Taxpayer pride

        I have never swum in the PT pool. I have never played golf on the PT golf course (or anywhere else). I’ve never had …

    • Premature contempt

        For the second year in a row Bill Mann has disparaged the PT Film Festival without even attending any of the movies. He particularly …

    • Due diligence was provided

        In response to the Leader Food Bank article last week, I would say the Quilcene Food Bank Project has been DE-energized by the …

    • Gratitude for EMTs, PT

        On a recent trip my family and I visited Port Townsend to enjoy the abundant beauty, rich history and varied experiences the area …

Photo Gallery

Photos of efforts to contain Jupiter fire near Brinnon

John and Christy Strickland sit in lawn chairs and watch as ground and airborne firefighters attempt to tame the wildfire on Mount Jupiter, west of Brinnon on Friday, August 17.
Photos taken of the wildfire on Mount Jupiter near Hood Canal, where firefighters have been battling the blaze since Wednesday, Aug. 14.
Sports
  The East Jefferson Rivals cross country team traveled to Bellingham to compete in their season opener on Saturday, Sept 14. The Gear Up XC Northwest Preview was hosted by Sehome High …
The runners returned to the rural streets of Quilcene for the eleventh annual Oyster Races. This years event, on Sept. 15, attracted nearly two hundred runners, many from beyond Jefferson County. The …
Interest in women’s golf in Port Townsend was on the rise in August as more club women turned out for weekly golf play on Tuesdays at Camus Prairie Golf Park and on Thursdays at Discovery Bay …
  East Jefferson’s high school baseball team struggled to find wins, but built toward a brighter future for the program. EJ’s season dawned with promise as nearly 30 …