On her 25th birthday, Sophia Art found herself knee-deep in our planet’s plastic trash problem. She was visiting Bali and had booked a surfing class for her birthday. As she excitedly waded out …
The Chimacum Schools Culinary Arts Program received a much-needed financial boost on March 4, with grant funding that will allow them to transform the current classroom into a modern, commercial …
Chimacum High School’s Knowledge Bowl team picked up several new recruits and remained consistently competitive against larger schools throughout the season, but missed qualifying for state …
For Port Townsend High School senior Elijah Hill, music has been the driving passion of his life for at least the past five of his 18 years. The self-taught, college-bound composer, vocalist and …
Arts and Entertainment
Bustin’ ghosts spans multiple generations in “Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire.” Courtesy photo

‘Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire’ made by and for fans, both old and new

As was the case with 2021's "Ghostbusters: Afterlife," I can't help but register the divergence in reactions to "Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire." As with the previous film, many reviewers can't …
Lagoon/Chinese Garden in Fort Worden State Park

Poetry from our readers

Burble of blackbirds     Thrum humming froggy chorus     Blade and bud greening    — Melissa Layer  
Victoria Foster Harrison in her studio.

IN THE STUDIO: A conversation with Victoria Foster Harrison

When collage and encaustic are combined, as they are in Victoria Foster Harrison’s spacious studio, the results are fantastic. Encaustic is a painting technique that involves mixing pigments …
Singer-songwriters Margot Merah and Kathryn Claire are set to perform at The Palindrome at Eaglemount Cidery on Friday, April 12. Courtesy photo

Multi-genre duo from Oregon and Netherlands set for Palindrome

Although singer-songwriter Kathryn Claire is a newcomer to The Palindrome at Eaglemount Cidery, at 1893 S. Jacob Miller Rd. in Port Townsend, she’s no stranger to Port Townsend itself, since …

Port Townsend singers perform in Threshold Choir

By Kirk Boxleitner   The Threshold Choir of comfort singers was started by Kate Munger in Northern California around the turn of the millennium, and has since expanded into more than …

News from local businesses

First Fed Celebrates Customers with Appreciation Week

First Fed team members at the Eastside branch in Port Angeles.

Now in their 101st year in the PNW, First Fed is celebrating its annual Customer Appreciation Week this March 25-29, 2024. All community members are invited – whether a First Fed customer or …

Commercial fishing on the Adventurous

With crabbing season just around the corner, the five-person crew of the fishing vessel Adventurous is about to embark. Led by owner and captain Shon Landon, they face brutally long days prepping and …

In other news ...
Obituaries

Susan Mae Cavanaugh

Susan Mae Cavanaugh passed away peacefully in her Port Hadlock home February 15, 2024 with her family at her side. She was 75 years old. Susan was born March 19, 1948 in CourD'Alene Idaho to …

Dorothy Irene Fishel

Dorothy was born on July 15th to Sara Katherine and Harry Bruce Huntley. She married Harry Fishel on February 22nd, 1964. They had their son Nick and daughter Sara in the years following. Dorothy …

Lucas James Snyder

Lucas James Snyder, 52, Born February 21, 1972, in Port Townsend passed away on March 2, 2024. Luke is survived by his parents Bill and Laura Snyder, brother, Scott Snyder, two daughters Julianne and …
Calendar of events
Opinion & Columnists
What will it take to get you to volunteer?
You are a volunteer, aren’t you? You get all those benefits like dealing with people. You are a volunteer ticket taker at a concert and the line gets a little long, precipitating somebody …
Are you ready for a little ultraviolence?
The best description I ever heard for pro football was “expert violence.”  But I watch it anyway. And I should know better. As a young sports writer just out of college, my …
Father and son take on newbie
During the summer season, Kiwi Ferris and his son, Buster, make the morning trek from their cozy beds to the cold and wet boat ramp at the Boat Haven in Port Townsend. They do this without fail, …
‘Central Park’ idea is fatally flawed
As a bogey golfer, and a lifelong resident of Port Townsend who has spent four decades as a volunteer and elected in city government, I have some familiarity with how consultant-driven processes …
Ned Luce
Is there a seagull conspiracy in PT?
I confess, I enjoy washing my car and on occasion I enjoy washing BJ’s car. Last weekend was a great weekend to wash a car, so I did. I started out last Friday afternoon in Port Townsend. …
Bill Mann
New movie radiates historic events
On July 16, 1945, the Atomic Age began. And this weekend, a film detailing it, “Oppenheimer,” opens at the Rose. I’ve taken an interest in the Manhattan Project for years. I …
TOONS

BLOGS
Sidonie Maroon, Culinary Educator for the Food Co-op   My inner spring cleaning happens while at the sink with soapy hands, hanging up a pot, or grabbing the milk bottle from the …
Letters
    • A Simultaneous Solution

      I recently attended “The Climate Restorers — Part 1” at The Commons in Fort Worden. (Thank you, Skeeter a.k.a. Michael …

    • Quilcene: Turnout matters!

      There are only about 1,700 registered voters in Quilcene.  It’s a pretty small community.  That means your vote really counts! Last month …

    • Harmony with nature 

      “Nature” always has the last laugh, just as it’s forcibly reminding us now. Harmony with nature was never a choice, but forced …

    • Letters

      Vote Yes in April Quilcene voters are facing a school levy April 23. As a former school board member, many community members have reached …

    • Letters

      Connecting through the arts   This letter is to express my praise for all the ways we make connections in our community. Through …

    • Letters

      Religious Fervor   It is hard to have guessed that one of the current threats to our 248-year-old democracy would spring from the …

Sports
Special to The Leader   On Feb. 28, East Jefferson Middle School wrestlers traveled to Sequim to engage in their first competitive meet of the season. There were 65 matches wrestled by …
Public comment sought on short-term rentals Jefferson County will hold three public sessions to invite comment and shape regulations regarding short-term rentals such as Airbnb and HIP Camp. …
By Ryan White   On Wednesday, Jan. 24, the East Jefferson Rivals wrestlers traveled to Life Christian to compete in their final League Dual Meet of the season. The EJ Rivals …
By Leader Staff   Swan School on Kuhn Street in Port Townsend recently celebrated 40 years of service as a community-based educational non-profit. Two special open house events, coming …
Photo Gallery