Phyllis “Sallie” Johnson Lawler died at her home in Port Ludlow, on July 28, 2023 at the age of 96. She was born in Minot, N.D. and was the last survivor of 10 children. Her family moved … more

Richard Allan Harmon is known for being a quiet, gentle man who was generous with what he had and served the Lord with his whole being. He had a great sense of humor and could tell a pun off the … more

You are cordially invited to a celebration to honor Jane Minniham on August 19 at 1:30 p.m. at 35 W. Fir Street, Port Ludlow. Bring a hot dish and a story about Jane to share. more

Kenneth George McConnell, Ph.D., a resident at Aegis in Bellevue (Wash.), passed away with his loving family by his side on July 4, 2023. He was 89. The Multiple System Atrophy (Parkinson’s) … more

All Jefferson County email accounts have been unable to send or receive any messages since 10 a.m. last Friday, Deputy County Administrator Chris Goy told The Leader at press time Tuesday. “We’re hopeful to have it restored soon. We have all the outside expertise necessary for us to complete a restoration quickly, including Microsoft. CDW-G, who has been leading a transition to a cloud-based server. CBW-G said we just got unlucky, they know how to fix it, we just need time,” Goy told the Leader. In the meantime, contact the Board of County Commissioners (360-385-9100) or visit in person at the Jefferson County Courthouse. Emails sent prior to that time have been preserved, Goy said. Until it has been announced that email service has been restored, please do not rely on emails to County officials being received. We have been working closely with industry leaders to provide us with the outside assistance necessary to restore email service as soon as possible. If you have questions or concerns for County officials, calling the department/office in question or showing up in-person is always welcomed. A phone directory can be found here: https://co.jefferson.wa.us/directory.aspx If you would like to submit public comment for a public meeting, contact the Board of County Commissioners at 360-385-9100 or visit the office in person at the Jefferson County Courthouse. Jefferson County Courts: Please be advised that protection orders submitted electronically are being received once daily. Court offices have been and will continue to receive in-person, fax filings, and bench copies for the judges. All inquiries are encouraged to be made via phone or in-person. For Superior Court matters please use, Phone: 360-385-9395 / Fax: 360-385-5672. For District Court matters please use, Phone: 360-385-9135 / Fax: 360-385-9367. If you would like to submit a Public Records Request, you may submit your request online at: https://co.jefferson.wa.us/1078/Public-Records, complete an in-person Public Records Request Form at a relevant Jefferson County Office, or you can mail your request to the Public Records Officer at 1820 Jefferson St. P.O. Box 1220, Port Townsend, WA 98368. more

Patrick Williams, former resident of Quilcene, Wash., and long-time resident of Baker City, Ore., left this world on July 27, 2023, after a long battle with Alzheimer’s. Pat was born on … more

Dear Editor: Regarding the fate of our beautiful Port Townsend golf course, no ‘third option’ lacking a hybrid golf course is acceptable. Mayor Faber is quoted as saying, “If … more

The Port Townsend Police Department received a total of 145 calls for service last week. The following were selected from the report. Saturday, July 22: At 2:25 a.m., officers received reports … more

Dear Editor: What does it cost to build an aquatic facility? I hadn’t a clue what the cost should be. The information below is the subject of a NextDoor post that I have been asked to … more

Dear Editor: They move among us day and night, mostly unseen and unknown to most, yet they are a vital part of our community. They are wingless angels who serve the infirm, the weak, and … more

Dear Editor: To piggyback on last issue’s important letter from Anna Maria Wolf, the LGBTQ+ community is currently under siege at home and abroad. Looking for a convenient target to … more

Dear Editor: I read the “Do better” article in the forum 7/26/23. The author is cancelling The Leader subscription because of a lack of reporting on LGBTQ gay pride. Many people are … more

Dear Editor: The evolving public discussion about the proposed Healthier Together aquatic facility would benefit from factual information about past, present, and future pool usage. In … more

Dear Editor, As we sort through reports of record breaking heat, wildfires and drought, it's challenging to peer into the future without grave concern. The recent news of increased risk of … more

Dear Editor: St.Paul’s not only belongs to the Church, it’s a historical component of Port Townsend. Hey everyone, listen up! You may not know about St. Paul’s, but … more

Dear Editor: I want to get this straight. Ignoring the public and their own stakeholder process, Faber & Co. kill the oldest public golf course in Washington, a paid for asset that costs … more

Dear Editor: The consultant team that was hired to make a recommendation to council proposed supporting a hybrid course and also acknowledged that the hybrid course designed by the golfing … more

Dear Editor: I’m appalled after reading Lloyd Mullen’s article in last weeks’ Leader. In it he stated that Mayor David Faber has opined the sport of golf is declining. … more

Dear Editor: I attended the City Council meeting on July 17 where the future of the Port Townsend Golf Course was to be decided. Three council members said they did not feel welcome and had … more

Dear Editor: In regard to the idea of closing the golf course as we need more public space and that this area is being under utilized, here are some points. Next to the golf course is Kah Tai … more