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The Port Townsend & Jefferson County Leader

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The Port Townsend & Jefferson County Leader

Serving Port Townsend and Jefferson County since 1889

08/21/2025

From the streets to the kitchen to people

By Alex Frick

Editor’s note: This is the third part of a series that explores the housing crisis affecting Port Townsend and Jefferson County.

Each week, Michael McCutcheon briskly moves between prep tables and stacked freezers, his hands in constant motion while portioning out food for the next community meal. Dozens of donated produce boxes lean against the wall as the smell of seasoned chicken fills the air.

The people who line up for his food don’t see a stranger — they see someone who has stood where they stand.

For the full story pick up a copy of The Leader or go to ptleader.com

08/20/2025

Beloved local commercial fisherman confirmed lost at sea

By James Robinson

The search for Joel Kawahara, a Quilcene-based fisherman lost at sea, ended Aug. 13, when U.S. Coast Guard crew members boarded Kawahara’s salmon troller F/V Karolee about 60 miles southeast of Eureka, California, and confirmed that no one was aboard.

“Suspending a search for someone is the toughest decision we make in the Coast Guard,” said Cmdr. Chelsey Stroud, search and rescue mission coordinator for the Coast Guard’s Northwest District. “Our crews diligently searched hundreds of miles. We are grateful for the numerous Coast Guard crews along the West Coast who assisted in this search. We send our deepest condolences to the family, friends, and loved ones of the missing man.”

For the full story pick up a copy of The Leader or go to ptleader.com

08/19/2025

Lawsuit against OlyCAP, center and commissioner, winding through system

By James Robinson

The civil case filed in federal court against staff with Olympic Community Action Programs (OlyCAP), the Quilcene Community Center and Jefferson County Commissioner Greg Brotherton, continues, with two depositions completed in July and apparently more to come, according to the plaintiff, Michelle Oliver.

“This is going to trial,” Oliver said. “Trial is in January. We start our onslaught of depositions next month.”

Oliver’s suit, filed in Western District Court on July 30, 2024, is linked to a series of events in 2022 in which Oliver alleges the defendants bullied and intimidated Oliver and her husband, John DiMaggio — who appears unnamed in the documents — after they urged a deeper financial review of OlyCAP’s management of the Quilcene Community Center.

For the full story pick up a copy of The Leader or go to ptleader.com

08/18/2025

Staff to update council on Evans Vista project at next meeting

By James Robinson

City planning staff are poised to present an update on the Evans Vista project to members of the Port Townsend City Council during the council’s regular meeting at 6 p.m. on Aug. 18 in city council chambers.

Once built out, the 14-acre site northwest of the Port Townsend Paper Corporation mill, is meant to alleviate the city’s affordable housing crisis, according to city staff and elected officials.

Although city council approved the Evans Vista Master Plan at its meeting on Nov. 20, 2023, Emma Bolin, the city’s planning director, said the city has not yet published a request for proposals for actual site development.

For the full story pick up a copy of The Leader or go to ptleader.com

08/17/2025

Ferry fare increase on the way

By Alex Frick

Washington State ferry riders will have to pay 3% more to travel beginning this fall, with an additional 3% next year, for a total of 6%. Seasonal rates are also being hiked, from the current 25% surcharge to 35%.

However, other changes to multi-ride car and walk-on passes stand to benefit those who frequently use the Port Townsend-Coupeville route.

On Aug. 6, the Washington State Transportation Commission (WSTC) approved a package of fare increases and policy changes intended to meet the Legislature’s $408.8 million revenue target for the 2025–27 budget cycle. The new rates are detailed in Washington Administrative Code (WAC 468-300-010) and will take effect in phases beginning Oct. 1.

For the full story pick up a copy of The Leader or go to ptleader.com

08/16/2025

Feasibility study to weigh pool site

By Alex Frick

The long-discussed Jefferson County aquatic center project has taken another step forward.

The JeffCo Aquatic Coalition (JAC) has hired architectural firm MIG to conduct a feasibility study on a proposed 10-acre Chimacum School District parcel north of the Jefferson County Library. The $34,000 study, expected to be completed in October, will evaluate and address questions about parking, transportation and whether the site can accommodate both an aquatic facility and potentially, a recreation center.

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08/15/2025

Plaza owners appeal hotel’s OK’d parking

By Mallory Kruml

A proposal for a 50-room, four-story hotel on Water Street in downtown Port Townsend is facing a formal challenge from a neighboring property owner.

Telegin Law PLLC has filed an appeal challenging the City of Port Townsend’s State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) Mitigated Determination of Non-Significance for the development.

Telegin, in the May 21 appeal, is representing Shadelands Land Partners, LLC, which owns the parking lot outside of Quimper Mercantile: the Port Townsend Plaza.

Nirvair LLC, out of Anacortes, is listed as the proponent on the appeal, and is represented by Houlihan Law of Seattle.

Telegin argues that the parking lot “is likely to be adversely affected by the proposed hotel, which will exacerbate the existing parking deficit in downtown Port Townsend and lead to increased illegal parking on Shadeland’s property.”

For the full story pick up a copy of The Leader or go to ptleader.com

08/14/2025

Housing: Some uncounted. Some don’t fit statistics

By Alex Frick

Editor’s note: This is the second part of a series that explores the housing crisis affecting Port Townsend and Jefferson County.

This is a story about people who don't always meet the definition of unhoused. Their names won't be found on shelter logs or in official housing data but they are vulnerable. Experts say across Jefferson County, a growing number of working-class people, retired citizens and young adults are finding themselves cost-burdened — living in RVs, shared spaces, garages or built-out trailers.

The underlying shifts in market conditions include rising rents and a shrinking supply of affordable homes as well as rising costs in everything from utilities to groceries. Even solidly middle class residents are feeling the pinch. As the city and county prepare to adopt updated comprehensive plans, they face a daunting challenge: How do you plan for a population that is both hard to see and in some cases might not even enter into statistics?

For the full story pick up a copy of The Leader or go to ptleader.com

08/13/2025

Voters choose Obee, Quarles in primary for city council

By Mallory Kruml

The results are in.

Fred Obee and Dylan Quarles — both candidates for Position 1 on the Port Townsend City Council — will advance to the general election in November.

Jefferson County counted 4,098 ballots out of 9,410 registered voters in the Aug. 5 primary election, for a turnout of 43.55%, according to the auditor’s office. Of those who returned a ballot, 3,900 voted for a council candidate.

Obee, who failed to secure a council seat in 2024, emerged as the frontrunner, securing 69.36% of the vote. Quarles, a first-time candidate, came in second, earning 25.31%.

Mikki Porter, the third candidate, received 4.94% of the vote and will not advance to the general election.

For the full story pick up a copy of The Leader or go to ptleader.com

08/12/2025

Airport Day takes off with vintage planes, choppers and community spirit

By Alex Frick

The familiar whirlwind sound of helicopter blades provided the soundtrack for an energetic and entertaining return of Airport Day at the Jefferson County International Airport on Saturday, Aug. 2.

The event, hosted by the Production Alliance in partnership with the Port of Port Townsend, saw vintage aircraft lining the tarmac as with guests getting up close and personal with historic planes, helicopters, antique fire engines and classic cars — all while enjoying live music, food vendors and hands-on exhibits.

For the full story pick up a copy of The Leader or go to ptleader.com

“It’s a sweet event,” said Danny Milholland, director of The Production Alliance. “It’s been really fun to be part of it.”

This marked the second consecutive year of the event, but Milholland said Airport Day has roots in the community.

08/11/2025

New filtration system to help Boat Haven meet Ecology standards

By James Robinson

The Port of Port Townsend has undertaken a major overhaul of its stormwater management and discharge system, specifically at Boat Haven Marina, with a focus on improving water discharge quality and meeting stricter environmental regulations, and port leadership say the project is on schedule and nearing completion.

“The project is on track, I believe it's scheduled for completion later in September,” said Eron Berg, the Port of Port Townsend’s executive director. “Seton Construction is continuing to install structures and pipe for the stormwater system as we speak. It's pretty exciting in the boat yard.”

The goal of the Boat Haven Stormwater Improvement Project is to meet the state’s more stringent environmental standards for water discharge quality while creating an environmentally friendly, adaptable design, efficiencies in long-term operations and maintenance, and infrastructure that enables the planned future expansion to the southwest of the boat yard.

For the full story pick up a copy of The Leader or go to ptleader.com

08/10/2025

Fort Worden tenants begin process of landing long-term leases, starting with Centrum

By James Robinson

With Centrum's summer arts season and its summer-only management of food service nearly complete, it's now up to top leadership with the Washington State Parks & Recreation Commission to decide how to manage the park and its leases with various park tenants going forward.
“That lease conversation has just started with Parks,” said Centrum’s Executive Director Robert Birman. “They [State Parks] needed to have an appraisal done, which evidently is now complete," he said, adding that he hadn't seen it.

For the full story pick up a copy of The Leader or go to ptleader.com

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