The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office responded to a total of 292 calls for service from Sept. 27, 2024, through Oct. 4, 2024. Deputies conducted 118 traffic stops, of which seven resulted in …
The “Paws-N-Claws” 4-H Club of Jefferson County is inviting youth and their adult guardians to the 4-H’s “Cat Project” for an orientation meeting. Paws-N-Claws …
    The East Jefferson Trails Connection’s October meeting is set to address a succession of trail connections that are being worked toward, not only within Jefferson …
State wildlife managers plan to use drone flight technology to assist in surveying seal and sea lion habitat and populations along the state’s coast and inland waters, according to agency …
Arts and Entertainment
When Joyce Hester serves as one of the tour guides for the “Haunted Walks,” she dresses for the occasion.

‘Haunted Walks’ to reveal PT’s spooky past

    Port Townsend has long embraced its past, and this month sees the Port Townsend Main Street Program offering historic walks and tours with an appropriately spooky theme in …
April Bederman makes felt items.

Felter, abstract painter take center stage at Gallery 9

Gallery 9 in Port Townsend is featuring the artwork of fiber artist April Bederman and mixed media abstract artist Lisa Dawson for the month of October. Bederman was introduced to felt while …
John  Tornow (Casey Raiha) gets ready to roar in Wild Man of the Wynoochee.

Key City’s strangely moving Wild Man on Wynoochee

    To someone new to Washington State, Key City Public Theatre’s premiere of the new musical, Wild Man of the Wynoochee, might conceivably sound like an invitation to an …

Call for artists for Small Expressions; Showcase 2025 extended

    Northwind Art is extending its call for art submissions for its “Showcase 2025” exhibition of local and regional artists, at the Jeanette Best Gallery in downtown …
The Salish Surf Rockabillies band are set to play the Oct. 19 Northwind Art Gala at Fort Worden’s USO Hall. From left, the band’s lineup includes singer-guitarist Jessica Logan, drummer Dana Sullivan, upright bassist Tracy Grisman and guitarist-vocalist Chile Dog Quiroz.

Northwind aims to connect with community at biggest event

    Leadership at Northwind Art say the organization is based on the belief that art makes us human and helps us to connect with each other, including through galleries or …

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

Wesley Oliver Reed

Wesley Oliver Reed passed away peacefully at the age of 97 at his home in Port Hadlock on September 25, 2024. Wesley was born on December 16, 1926, in Pueblo, Colorado and spent his early years …

Richard David Holtman

Richard David Holtman, aged 62, beloved father and husband, of Port Ludlow Washington suddenly passed from this world on August 13, 2024. Rich was born in Seattle to Richard and Rose Holtman on …

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 …
Calendar of events
Opinion & Columnists
Voting is mandatory because life depends on it | As I See It
The upcoming Presidential election is about far more than the future of our ever-evolving democracy. Due to America’s outsized influence on outcomes worldwide, the next election will …
Carole Marshall
The facts, and the art of nurturing the good ones | Aging In Good Spirits
“Would you like to renew for six years or eight?” The woman behind the counter was pleasant and efficient. She walked me through each step of the process, asked a few questions and …
This map shows Washington’s Climate Commitment Act programs on the Olympic Peninsula. Symbols denote categories, including electric transportation, freight and facilities, roads and bridges, clean energy buildings, tribal projects, electric ferries, natural and working lands, fish habitat, etc., and may include multiple projects.
Understand what’s at stake with Initiative 2117 and vote no | Guest Column
It’s difficult to imagine an election season more politically fraught, or with higher stakes, than what we’re enduring this year. Understandably, folks are mostly focused on the national …
Karen Mullen holds her newborn son, Bruce Arthur Mullen, at Point Hudson.
For the boys and girls who aren’t | Mullen It Over
The afternoon started as usual for me; finish classes, wrangle up the boys, grab a six pack and see what the night holds. That night there would be a frat party to attend. While I never had an …
‘The Yellow Kid’ was a popular comic in the 1890s  in New York City. 
Journalism 101, standards of conduct, and ‘The Yellow Kid’ | Mixing Metaphors & Doubling Entendres
Mayor David Faber took The Leader to task in an Oct. 2 social media post for covering the ethics complaints made against him, because a) the person who filed it should not be taken seriously, b) we …
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 …
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
    • Building or be gone

        It is very disheartening what is happening at the Jefferson County Foodbank Association (JCFBA). The Quilcene Foodbank is in need of …

    • Board should not renew

        It is perplexing to understand why a volunteer Food Bank decided to hire an executive director. It seems excessive to spend money on …

    • Look into this

        My opinion is that I got screwed going through our justice system. I was prosecuted based on someone’s statement to a …

    • Kamala is only choice

        I’m 74 years old, which means I’ve been voting in presidential elections for more than 50 years. Mostly Democratic, a …

    • Bill Mann’s earnestness

      This year I was fortunate to volunteer for the highly organized Port Townsend Film Festival and earn a pass for my first festival. After nine …

    • Vote Upthegrove: Environment on the ballot

        Washington state is one of only two states in the country that directly elects the person who manages our public natural resources. …

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 (EJ) had their one home meet of the season on Tuesday, Sept. 17, hosted by the Camas Prairie Park. A total of seven Nisqually League schools …
  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 …