The Port Townsend & Jefferson County Leader

The Port Townsend & Jefferson County Leader Serving Port Townsend and Jefferson County since 1889

After 36 years, Silverwater Cafe owner bids farewell with loveBy Alex FrickWhen Alison Hero stepped away from the Silver...
11/13/2025

After 36 years, Silverwater Cafe owner bids farewell with love

By Alex Frick

When Alison Hero stepped away from the Silverwater Café in late October, it didn’t feel like an ending — it simply felt right.

After 36 years in business, she and her former husband, now partner and friend David Hero, have officially passed on the restaurant they built together, which became a Port Townsend institution. Since 1989, the Silverwater Café has been known as much for its warmth as for its food. And for Hero, she has enjoyed every moment of the journey.

“I don’t have one minute of remorse in my body,” she said. “I’m so happy right now I could just burst.”

For Hero, the Silverwater was never just a business. It was a vision — a living connection of care and love — and a home for the community that shaped her life.

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

City budget up $20 millionBy Mallory KrumlCity spending is set to rise by $20 million next year as staff funnel capital ...
11/12/2025

City budget up $20 million

By Mallory Kruml

City spending is set to rise by $20 million next year as staff funnel capital project dollars into the 2026 budget.

“If our budget seems higher than previous years it’s due to a number of factors including inflation, changes we’re making so that our budget is easier to understand, and a lot of exciting capital projects happening in 2026,” said Finance Manager Jodi Adams.

City documents show the budget broaching $88 million in expenditures, which marks a near doubling of expenditures since 2023.

The budget fund summary, presented to council members during a public hearing on Nov. 10, shows $89.8 million in revenues and $88.6 million in expenditures for next year, which reflects a 35.6% increase in revenues and a 30.3% increase in expenditures from the 2025 budget.

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

Port Townsend’s top cop celebrates 30 years of service By Mallory KrumlDetective Sgt. Jason Greenspane is something of a...
11/11/2025

Port Townsend’s top cop celebrates 30 years of service

By Mallory Kruml

Detective Sgt. Jason Greenspane is something of an institution in town.

In 1995, he donned his Port Townsend Police Department (PTPD) badge and took to the streets for his first solo patrol as an officer.

“I believe it was my first call for the day on my own, and it was a legit bank robbery,” he said. “Those can be violent situations, but luckily it wasn’t.”

Now, 30 years later, he is one of the longest-serving member of the department, and has been named — at least twice — as Port Townsend’s favorite law enforcement officer in The Leader’s Readers’ Choice awards.

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

JeffCo Repair events build community while reducing wasteBy Cameron SiresPeople sit in rows of chairs, accompanied by la...
11/10/2025

JeffCo Repair events build community while reducing waste

By Cameron Sires

People sit in rows of chairs, accompanied by lamps, vacuums, articles of clothing, bicycles and an assortment of other items, waiting their turn to see if their broken belongings can get a second life at the Port Townsend JeffCo Repair event.

The Port Townsend Marine Science Center (PTMSC) and local partners launched the first free JeffCo Repair event in 2020, which brought in volunteers with engineering and textiles skills to help community members with almost any broken item.

The goal, said Mandi Johnson, PTMSC’s outreach coordinator, to keep items out of landfills and advance the nonprofit’s mission of conserving the Salish Sea.

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

Zoning and infrastructure shaping housing futureBy Alex FrickEditor’s note: This is part 13 of a series that explores th...
11/09/2025

Zoning and infrastructure shaping housing future

By Alex Frick

Editor’s note: This is part 13 of a series that explores the housing crisis affecting Port Townsend and Jefferson County.

For more than two decades, Jefferson County’s zoning map has appeared primed for growth — on paper that is.

In Port Townsend, zoning reform is a hotly-debated centerpiece, while outside the city limits, Jefferson County is tackling the issue from another angle — establishing infrastructure to support a growing population in Port Hadlock. Port Townsend Mayor David Faber said the city’s zoning code has spent many years manufacturing scarcity.

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

Hotel plan moving forward, shuttle service requiredBy Mallory KrumlAn appeal regarding parking at the proposed 50-room h...
11/08/2025

Hotel plan moving forward, shuttle service required

By Mallory Kruml

An appeal regarding parking at the proposed 50-room hotel in Port Townsend’s historic downtown has been partially upheld, with Hearing Examiner Phil Olbrechts ordering hotel ownership to implement a “mitigation measure” to address concerns about parking trespass on the appellant’s property.

The developer, Anacortes-based Nivair LLC, proposes to demolish the Sanderling Building at 1136 Water St. and build a hotel on the site. Located at 1136 Water St. the Sanderling property is across from the Port Townsend Plaza, home of Quimper Mercantile and the ferry terminal. Shadelands Land Partners LLC, based in Walnut Grove, California, owns Port Townsend Plaza and boasts the largest private parking lot in the city.

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

SNAP cuts hit homeBy Cameron SiresAfter a year of mounting demand, Jefferson County food banks are bracing for impact as...
11/07/2025

SNAP cuts hit home

By Cameron Sires

After a year of mounting demand, Jefferson County food banks are bracing for impact as community members grapple with cuts to Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits amid the ongoing government shutdown.

According to U.S. Census Bureau, in 2022, 3,282 individuals in Jefferson County received SNAP benefits.

Between 2017 and 2021, the Food Research & Action Center reported 9% of Jefferson County households received SNAP benefits.

Nationally, about one-in-eight U.S. residents get an average of $187 per person, per month in SNAP benefits, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture which administers the program. Of that number, nearly 39% are children and adolescents under 18.

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

City issues trespass notices as Evans Vista clearance imminentBy Alex FrickShortly after 5 p.m. on Nov. 3, Port Townsend...
11/06/2025

City issues trespass notices as Evans Vista clearance imminent

By Alex Frick

Shortly after 5 p.m. on Nov. 3, Port Townsend police officers Eric Morris and Daniel LaTourette posted “no trespassing” warnings throughout the encampment behind the Department of Social and Health Services building, signaling the city’s intent to clear the site this week and phase out services.

The notices were stapled to posts on the property, replacing the 24-hour notice to vacate that was posted early in the evening on Nov. 2.

The signage instructed campers to remove all belongings and that dumpster and toilet services would be discontinued, and that items “with apparent value — personal documents, credit cards, passports, etc.” would be stored at the Port Townsend Police Department for 90 days, according to the notice.

Beneath the removal order was a section titled “Why Now?” where the city cited public health and safety concerns:

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

Jefferson County faces $5.2M deficit; staff cuts loomBy Mallory KrumlStaff painted a bleak forecast of the county’s fina...
11/05/2025

Jefferson County faces $5.2M deficit; staff cuts loom

By Mallory Kruml

Staff painted a bleak forecast of the county’s finances at the Nov. 3 county commissioners meeting.

Budget projections show general fund expenditures, along with requests and fund transfers, outpacing revenues by $5.2 million.

Total expenditures reach $32.6 million, and revenues are at $27.4 million, said Finance Director Judy Shepherd.

“That is not a balanced budget,” Shepherd said. “We are mandated by state law to have a balanced budget. So, therefore, the best recommendation I can come up with at this point is in 2026, reduce our general fund expenditures by 12%.”

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

Obee, Hasse, Ready take lead in early ballot countBy Mallory KrumlPolls closed promptly at 8 p.m. Tuesday, and the first...
11/05/2025

Obee, Hasse, Ready take lead in early ballot count

By Mallory Kruml

Polls closed promptly at 8 p.m. Tuesday, and the first batch of ballots has been tallied for the Nov. 4 general election.

Of the 28,875 registered voters in Jefferson County, 8,985 ballots have been counted as of 8:19 p.m. on Nov. 4 — 2,845 ballots remain to be counted.

The Leader will make periodic updates to the following results.

Jefferson County Transportation Benefit District

58.65% of voters voted in support of a measure proposing a 0.2% increase to the Transportation Benefit District sales tax in unincorporated Jefferson County.

Port of Port Townsend Commission District 2

Incumbent Carol Hasse leads Clayborn Burleson with 88.2% of the vote.

East Jefferson County Hospital District No. 2 Commissioner

Incumbent Matt Ready leads Stu Kerber with 53.97% of the vote.

City of Port Townsend Council Member, Position 1

Fred Obee leads Dylan Quarles with 72.92% of the vote.

Quilcene School District No. 48 Director District 2

Naomi Stern leads incumbent Jon Cooke with 54.81% of the vote.

Port Townsend School District No. 50 Director At Large Position 4

Amanda Grace leads Timothy S. Hawley with 80.76% of the vote.

East Jefferson Fire District No. 1 Commissioner District 2

Incumbent David Seabrook leads David Codier with 74.22% of the vote.

Quilcene Fire District No. 2 Commissioner, Position 1

Incumbent Art Frank leads Ken McEdwards with 72.6% of the vote.

Fire District 3 Commissioner Position No. 3

Bill Miano leads Mike Taggart with 57.5% of the vote.

Jefferson County hires new community development directorBy Mallory KrumlOn Dec. 1, Jeremy Williammee will assume the ro...
11/04/2025

Jefferson County hires new community development director

By Mallory Kruml

On Dec. 1, Jeremy Williammee will assume the role of community development director for Jefferson County.

Williammee, one of five finalists for the position, joins the department following a career as a foreign service officer and diplomat with the U.S. Agency for International Development.

In that role, he led governance, transparency and community development programs around the globe, focused on improving public service delivery, strengthening accountability systems and fostering partnerships among local governments, community organizations and the private sector.

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

Pernsteiner targets staffing, homelessness and scams in next termBy Kirk BoxleitnerWhen Andy Pernsteiner was appointed a...
11/03/2025

Pernsteiner targets staffing, homelessness and scams in next term

By Kirk Boxleitner

When Andy Pernsteiner was appointed as interim sheriff of the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office on Feb. 24, he stated that he sees the department’s most significant challenge as staffing.

As Persteiner runs unopposed, on this fall’s general election ballot, to be retained as sheriff, he noted that the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office was fully staffed as of August, making it one of the few sheriff’s departments on the peninsula to achieve full staffing.

“The patrol side of our department has been fully staffed for several years,” Pernsteiner said. “Keeping the corrections side fully staffed has been more of a challenge, and not just for us, but for sheriff’s departments across the state.”

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

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