Our Town

Dear Friend of KPTZ,

This has been an incredible year for KPTZ, perhaps nearly as momentous as going on the air for the first time, nearly nine years ago. Donations from people like you and a few key grants are allowing us to build new state-of-the-art studios at Fort Worden in Building 305, keystone of the developing Makers Square. Joining the arts community at Fort Worden is a wonderful opportunity for KPTZ, allowing us to deepen our collaboration with other organizations like Centrum, PT School of the Arts, and others.

Today, as I write this letter, construction of our new studios and offices is proceeding rapidly, and our dream is taking shape! Thank you for helping build that dream!

As the end of the year approaches along with holiday cheer, for many of us it is the time when we consider gifts to causes that matter to us. If building a strong KPTZ future is important to you, I humbly ask you to consider making your year-end gift to our local community radio station.

Thank you, and may you have a joyous new year!

Robert Ambrose, Board President

NOTE: KPTZ now has capacity to accept donations of securities and stock, with significant tax benefits for donors. Likewise, directing Required IRA Distributions to non-profit KPTZ results in the distribution incurring no federal income tax.

Photo: New studio construction at Fort Worden Bldg 305 by Barney Burke, burkedigitalpix.com

December 26 Update: Alas, technical challenges prevent KPTZ from broadcasting live the Crush in the Slush games planned for Friday, December 27 starting at 6:30pm.  The Port Townsend Basketball Club games will still occur, so we encourage you to attend in person. Starting at 6:30pm, Port Townsend High School plays the Granite Falls Girls, followed at 8:45 by the PTHS-Granite Falls Boys game. In its place, FreeSpin (5-7pm), ReSpin (7-8pm), and Friday Night Blues (8-10pm) will air as per our normal schedule.

Much appreciated supporters for KPTZ’s association with Crush in the Slush are First Security Bank of Washington, FYZICAL Therapy and Balance Centers of Port Townsend and Sequim ~ and the many listener supporters of KPTZ!

Led by president Alex Little along with tournament planner Josh Colvin, the nonprofit Port Townsend Basketball Club has been organizing the famous Crush in the Slush basketball tournament since 2006. The event hosts 14 high school teams (boys and girls) for 48 hours of playoff intensity. Held in Port Townsend shortly after Christmas each year, Crush in the Slush has been the site of some of Washinton’s most intense and memorable high school basketball games.

As media partner with PT Basketball Club for the event, KPTZ joins the community to applaud this year’s tournament sponsors: Coldwell Banker, Homer Smith Insurance, Jefferson Healthcare, Subway, The Business Guides, the YMCA, and PT Leader.

As your grandfather clock tolls the final two hours of the night before Christmas, KPTZ would like your good company for a gift package of songs, tunes and readings for the Solstice season, with host Phil Andrus. For KPTZ’s Solstice to Twelfth Night Special, from 10pm to midnight on December 24, Christmas Eve, you’re welcome to email Phil at tossedsalad@kptz.org. He will read your greetings on the air.

Perhaps you have memories you would like to share with other listeners, memories of Christmases past or Hanukkah’s celebrated. Memories from childhood or from yesterday. Or, you may have greetings to send to a special someone, or to everyone, through your radio partners on KPTZ. Featured music will be “Brother Heinrich’s Christmas” by English composer John Rutter, a tale of melody-making and a musically-gifted donkey.

We hope you’ll join Phil (and Emmy Lou too) on Christmas Eve for this special night of holiday magic. 

We all know it’s cold outside, yet some of us don’t have a roof over our heads and depend on shelters for a safe night’s sleep and a meal. Locally those in need can go to the Jefferson County Winter Shelter. To benefit the shelter, for the 5th year, local musician and friend of KPTZ, maestro Paul Rogers is presenting this year’s Holiday Hi-Jinx Concerts for two shows ~ on Saturday and Sunday, December 21st and 22nd. The fun begins at 6pm Saturday at Finnriver in Chimacum, and 4pm Sunday at Port Townsend’s American Legion building on Water Street.

KPTZ is media partner for these two upcoming benefit performances. The hilarious Holiday Hi-Jinx show has become a Port Townsend tradition, featuring Paul’s original tunes and a cast of top notch local talent. This year it includes Kurt Festinger, Tom Svornich, Dirk Anderson, and John Maxwell, with Carla Main singing solo at the Sunday event. And Rogers is importing SF Bay Area musicians Tim Eschliman (Commander Cody, Etta James) and Austin de Lone (Elvis Costello, Nick Lowe, Fabulous Thunderbirds) from the legendary SF Bay Area Christmas Jug Band to round out the ensemble. 

Paul has also been playing with the CJB for over 30 years. They will be performing selections from their new CD Live from the West Pole.  This non-stop sleigh ride of laughs and holiday delight is open for all ages. Tickets available at both venue doors and at BrownPaperTickets. Warning ~ this is an upbeat holiday benefit event, and it just might take till June to wipe that smile off your face!

After a bold foray to the Jefferson County Historical Museum last week, Tossed Salad is back home in the KPTZ studio. Phil Andrus brings us a show that mellows us closer to Christmas. Grab a hot cocoa and join us!

1:00 – “Short Step Back in Time” with Scott Wilson (Scott interviews Mark Welch)
1:30 – David Michael and Joe Breskin, two guitars and one harp
2:15 – Jane Hall, on no more Keith Lazelle calendars
2:30 – Amanda Milholland, PT Farmers Market
2:45 – Jeanie Murphy, “Banjo Tunes, Tunings, and Lore”
3:30 – David Schroeder, musical amusement surprise package
4:30 – Don White reading “Dancing Dan’s Christmas” by Damon Runyon

KPTZ and the Jefferson County Historical Society are teaming up to co-host the 2019 Tossed Salad Holiday Extravaganza on Friday, December 13 from Noon to 5pm at the Jefferson Museum of Art & History, in historic City Hall. This is an all-ages event, open to the public.

Host Phil Andrus will broadcast Tossed Salad live from the Museum for the station’s third annual holiday celebration of local music and lively personalities. This year’s lineup kicks off with jazz vocalist Carla Main, includes interviews with Key City Public Theatre luminaries, performance by kid-favorite Harmonica Pocket, a reading by Bruce and Flossie Bode, and much more. The full schedule is included below.

Extravaganza Extras! Guests are invited to participate in kid-friendly holiday card making with a printmaking open studio in the gallery and the entire museum will be free and open for all attendees to explore, including the “creepy jail.” The museum gift shop will be open with a supersale of major discounts on books and other merch for all your gift giving needs, with gift wrapping available.

The main floor of the museum is ADA accessible with an entrance off of Madison Street to an elevator. This is an all-ages, free event, open to the public, with a $5 suggested donation to benefit both JCHS and KPTZ Radio. In addition to the event’s live broadcast at 91.9FM, the 5-hour show can also be streamed at KPTZ.org. Find out more about Tossed Salad and KPTZ on Facebook. Find out more about JCHS and what’s new at the museum here.

This is the variety show to top all variety shows! Drop in, warm up, be amazed by local talent and usher in the spirit of the season. Thank you to our event sponsors!  Port Townsend Main Street Program and the Port Townsend Film Festival.

Full Schedule:
12:05 – Carla Main, with Mark Schecter on keyboard, Jim Oliver on guitar and Dirk Anderson on bass
12:45 – Shelly Leavens, Tara McCauley (JCHS) and Mari Mullen (Main Street)
1:00 – The Long Splice: Daniel Macke and Trevor Hanson, two guitars and one mandocello
1:45 – Scott Rosecrans, from County Prosecuting Attorney to Methodist pastor
2:00 – The Harmonica Pocket
2:30 – Drew and Pamela Elicker, Artist and Librarian
2:45 – Kathryn Claire, vocals, guitar and violin, with Sid Ditson on violin and Don Henson on piano
3:30 – Denise Winter and cast members of Key City Public Theatre’ s Spirit of the Yule
3:45 – Bobbi and Roland Nikles, fiddle and guitar
4:15 – Bruce and Flossie Bode reading Truman Capote’s A Christmas Memory
4:30 – Rebecca Rottsolk’s PT A Cappella

With December in full swing, Phil Andrus brings us a Tossed Salad with early gifts of the season, for your listening enjoyment all Friday afternoon:

1:00 – Shelly Leavens and Jessica Leventhal, Jefferson County Historical Society; Flavia Heineman and Danny Milholland, Chimacum Arts and Crafts Festival
1:30 – Courtney Campbell, singer, songwriter and storyteller
2:30 – Al Bergstein’s epistle, Deb Hammond’s Thanksgiving poem and more
3:00 – Cast members of Key City Public Theatre’s ”Spirit of the Yule”
3:30 – Lorna Smith and Cynthia Koan, Jefferson County Planning Commission, on shooting range ordinances.
4:00 – Tigran Arakelyan, Conductor, Port Townsend Symphony Orchestra, with violinist Myroslava Khomik
4:30 – Don White, reading “A String of Beads” by W. Somerset Maugham

On GivingTuesday December 3, Siobhan Canty, Executive Director of Jefferson Community Foundation, joined Robert Ambrose on his Rhythm Connection program ~ reminding our generous community to “Give Where You Live”. This year’s Give Jefferson! campaign infuses all the worthy local nonprofits as the backbone of daily life we all appreciate. Your contributions make a better world, starting right here at home!

Feeling lucky? We are! KPTZ volunteers and DJ hosts will be on hand at the Hilltop Tavern on Wednesday night, December 4 for an evening of Bar Stool Bingo. Your plus-ones, family, and friends, all are welcome! Everybody gets one Bingo card each round, with additional cards available by donation. This Bar Stool Bingo event benefits KPTZ. All prizes are courtesy of Hilltop Tavern.

Hilltop Tavern is located on your right when heading out of town on Sims Way, just beyond the second roundabout. KPTZ’s Bar Stool Bingo starts at 7pm Wednesday, December 4.