The Jefferson County Beacon (2024)

06/11/2024

Last night, every table at the Old Whiskey Mill was filled with Jefferson County Democrats eating dinner and nervously staring at the election coverage as presidential results came in from around the country.

“The nerves kick in, the votes are being counted, we’ve got to wait and see what happens,” said Marty Gilmore, chair of the Jefferson County Democrats, at around 7 PM, his eyes frequently wandering to one of the big-screen TVs showing national election results.

By Nhatt Nichols Last night, every table at the Old Whiskey Mill was filled with Jefferson County Democrats eating dinner and nervously staring at the election coverage as presidential results came in from around the country.

05/11/2024

Welcome to The Beacon’s 2024 Election Coverage.

We’ve partnered with the AP to provide up-to-the-minute state and national elections coverage.

“We welcome comments that critique the article and its subject. We won’t publish comments that have a link to an outside source or that critique the writer instead of the story. Please remember that we’re a small community: be rude, and there is a pretty good chance you’ll have an awkward ...

01/11/2024

"I was first drawn to the Chronically UnderTouched Project (CUT) because my own touch story is complicated. My parents were divorced when I was less than three years old, and as a result I was under-touched by my father and then over-touched by my mother. My father was black and my mother was white."

Citizen Screen: 'Dark and Tender' Explores the Healing Power of Touch Among Black Men ColumnistPerforming Art Oct 28 Written By Nhatt Nichols Citizen Screen is a monthly column dedicated to film and film-related topics, sourced and curated by Port Townsend Film Festival. This month’s column is by ...

31/10/2024

Atop the hill, in a humble red shed, festooned with lights above wood-paneled walls, two bands costumed themselves in the guise of two other huge hitmakers, though from two vastly different eras.

The Good Time Dispatch: Roll Me Over and Turn Me Around, Philthy Exhumes Thin Lizzy for Halloween Benefit Performing Artlocal newsColumnist Oct 28 Written By Nhatt Nichols Philthy bringing the spooky jams to the Hilltop. Band from left to right: Emily Madden on fiddle and vocals, Charlie Burns o...

30/10/2024

On a beautiful historic property in Quilcene stands the nearly 100-year-old barn that may be a key to the future of music in Jefferson County. In 1935, the Iseri family, who immigrated to the US from Japan, built the barn on their land that stands solid to this day.

By Michael Peter Clarke On a beautiful historic property in Quilcene stands the nearly 100-year-old barn that may be a key to the future of music in Jefferson County. In 1935, the Iseri family, who immigrated to the US from Japan, built the barn on their land that stands solid to this day. This his

29/10/2024

There’s construction on Lawrence Street. The city of Port Townsend has designed a beautiful, easy-to-use new sidewalk with public safety in mind for rolling strollers, playing, hauling inventory, moving with a disability, the elderly, and the beauty of the beloved Uptown.

By Angela Downs There’s construction on Lawrence Street. The city of Port Townsend has designed a beautiful, easy-to-use new sidewalk with public safety in mind for rolling strollers, playing, hauling inventory, moving with a disability, the elderly, and the beauty of the beloved Uptown. Laura Pa

24/10/2024

Editor Nhatt Nichols spoke with Margaret Killjoy about her new book, The Sapling Cage, a tale of earth magic, power struggle, and self-invention in an own-voices story of trans witchcraft.

Killjoy is a transfeminine author, musician, and podcaster. Some of her other books include The Lamb Will Slaughter the Lion, A Country of Ghosts, We Won’t Be Here Tomorrow, and Escape from Incel Island. She is the host of the radical history podcast Cool People Who Did Cool Stuff and the individual and community preparedness podcast Live Like the World is Dying.

She’ll be reading from The Sapling Cage at The Gray Coast Guidhall in Quilcene on Sunday, October 27th at 7 pm.

Editor Nhatt Nichols spoke with Margaret Killjoy about her new book, The Sapling Cage , a tale of earth magic, power struggle, and self-invention in an own-voices story of trans witchcraft.

23/10/2024

Even before Oregon, Washington, and Idaho were states, there were Grange Halls. “Its primary function back then was to help farmers help themselves and to provide education to farmers from trusted sources.” Says current Quimper Grange President, Doug Groenig.

By Angela Downs. Even before Oregon, Washington, and Idaho were states, there were Grange Halls. “Its primary function back then was to help farmers help themselves and to provide education to farmers from trusted sources.” Says current Quimper Grange President, Doug Groenig.

22/10/2024

The Quilcene School Board on October 16 once again discussed a proposal to remove books from the Quilcene School District Library that include LGBTQ+ content. This discussion has been ongoing since it was raised at the July board meeting.

The issue raised by board member Jim Hodgson concerns books purchased with a donation to the library by Olympic Pride in 2022 to buy books that give students access to stories and information that reflect LGBTQ+ identities and help them feel seen and supported.

By Nhatt Nichols The Quilcene School Board on October 16 once again discussed a proposal to remove books from the Quilcene School District Library that include LGBTQ+ content. This discussion has been ongoing since it was raised at the July board meeting.

20/10/2024

Dear Feral Feelings,

I’ve been in a long-term relationship for years, and though I love him, my partner doesn’t make me happy anymore. We don’t connect like we used to, and I feel very alone in our relationship. He’s in his video games or on his phone when he gets home from work and every weekend, or he just wants to watch tv. There are other issues, too, but those feel too personal to share here. I’ve told him I want more romance and intimacy for a long time, and he says he understands, but nothing changes. It’s been like this for several years now. Most days I want to end our relationship, but I don’t want to hurt him. I’ve tried to end it, but it just feels too overwhelming and complicated, so I shut down. I’m miserable. What should I do?

-Stuck

By Amber Autumn Leaves Huntsman Dear Feral Feelings, I’ve been in a long-term relationship for years, and though I love him, my partner doesn’t make me happy anymore. We don’t connect like we used to, and I feel very alone in our relationship. He’s in his video games or on his phon

18/10/2024

"In September, I spent 7 days in Philadelphia, knocking on doors of swing voters for the Harris/Walz ticket. I returned home to Irondale for work, but realized I could do more. I left again as soon as I could, this time to Racine, Wisconsin."

By Danielle Fodor In September, I spent 7 days in Philadelphia, knocking on doors of swing voters for the Harris/Walz ticket. I returned home to Irondale for work, but realized I could do more. I left again as soon as I could, this time to Racine, Wisconsin.

11/10/2024

"I’m talking with Greta Montagne of Gentle Strength Botanicals in Arcata, CA. She has been sharing about her back-to-nature upbringing, emergency medicine, herbal grief care, and hope for the revolution of home medicine (see last month's column to catch the first half of our conversation)."

A Grief Column by Angela Downs Greta Montagne is the founder and owner of Gentle Strength Botanicals, a garden-to-shelf apothecary outside of Arcata, CA, offering Western Clinical Herbalism, Herbal First Aid, and Ayurveda.

10/10/2024

"Returning to the Port Townsend Film Festival for a second year, I experienced the event through an entirely new lens. The festival itself maybe hadn't changed dramatically, but my understanding of its essence certainly had.

Last year, after having just moved to town, I approached the festival with a singular focus: to watch as many films as possible. I was alone, and I filled my days with four screenings each day, believing this marathon viewing was the core of the festival experience. How mistaken I was."

Citizen Screen is a monthly column dedicated to film and film-related topics, sourced and curated by Port Townsend Film Festival. This month's column is by Ricardo Gomez Returning to the Port Townsend Film Festival for a second year, I experienced the event through an entirely new lens. The festiva

09/10/2024

The median-priced home in Jefferson County is now selling for over $600,000, and based on the median income, most people who live in Jefferson County cannot afford to buy a home here. Fortunately, there’s The Olympic Housing Trust (OHT), which focuses its work on building and stewarding permanently affordable housing. Currently undertaking The Dundee Hill Project.

By Angela Downs The median-priced home in Jefferson County is now selling for over $600,000, and based on the median income, most people who live in Jefferson County cannot afford to buy a home here. Fortunately, there’s The Olympic Housing Trust (OHT), which focuses its work on building and stewa...

08/10/2024

As conflict continues at the Port Townsend Food Co-op, employees are asking for a greater voice through a unionizing effort.

“We seek a union in order to have a clear and heard voice and to have proper accountability,” wrote the Food Co-op Workers and Member-Owners Union Committee in a draft of a letter leaked to The Beacon. The letter ends by asking employees to authorize UFCW Local 3000 to represent them for the purpose of collective bargaining.

By Derek Firenze As conflict continues at the Port Townsend Food Co-op, employees are asking for a greater voice through a unionizing effort.

25/09/2024

The west side of Jefferson County is often forgotten, blocked off from the more populated east by the Olympic Mountains. The Hoh Tribe have felt this separation even more keenly, having been pushed to the margins by colonization. So when the New Old Time Chautauqua offered to tell their stories with a new mural, it was a big deal in more ways than one.

The 8-foot tall and 24-foot wide mural went up last Thursday, September 19, outside the Hoh Tribal Library. It was created as a service project by the New Old Time Chautauqua (NOTC) in conjunction with the Hoh Tribal Council, elders, and youth.

By Derek Firenze The west side of Jefferson County is often forgotten, blocked off from the more populated east by the Olympic Mountains. The Hoh Tribe have felt this separation even more keenly, having been pushed to the margins by colonization. So when the New Old Time Chautauqua offered to tell t

18/09/2024

Though Farm Tour weekend was rainy and cold, the spirits were high at Beaver Valley’s Gray Fox Farm. When the farm was put on the market last month, owner Laurae Hughes didn’t think it would be possible to raise enough money to buy the land she had been farming for the past six years. Thankfully, friends and community members believed in her vision for the property and she was able to raise the money to buy out her former partner.

You can find the complete article at www.jeffcobeacon.com
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By Nhatt Nichols Though Farm Tour weekend was rainy and cold, the spirits were high at Beaver Valley’s Gray Fox Farm. When the farm was put on the market last month, owner Laurae Hughes didn’t think it would be possible to raise enough money to buy the land she had been farming for the past six ...

12/09/2024

Dear Feral Feelings,

I am a mom of a wonderful 4-year-old I love very much, but I am drowning in the stress of being a mom, and I don’t know what to do about it. Every day I am awash in chores, tantrums, errands, and emotional breakdowns (mine, to be clear). I love my kid, but I don’t always like being a mom. I feel guilty for feeling this way, I have a loving partner and good support system, and I know so many parents are doing it all alone. But my child doesn’t want to be with anyone other than me, so it’s like I can’t even use the support I have. I am resentful of the demands for my attention, which I’m sure my kiddo feels. I am really stuck. Any advice you have is appreciated.

-Exhausted Mom

By Amber Autumn Leaves Huntsman Dear Feral Feelings, I am a mom of a wonderful 4-year-old I love very much, but I am drowning in the stress of being a mom, and I don’t know what to do about it. Every day I am awash in chores, tantrums, errands, and emotional breakdowns (mine, to be clear

The Jefferson County Beacon