Door County Pulse Podcast

Debra Fitzgerald sits down with Don Niles, President of Peninsula Pride Farms, a farmer-led organization that's committed to addressing agriculture's role in improving water quality in Kewaunee and Southern Door counties.

Andrew Kleidon sits down with Pulse Co-Founder David Eliot and his dog Oxford to tell the story of the Peninsula Pulse. In a time when artists, restaurants, and concert venues weren't posting every upcoming event on social media, how did a fledgling newspaper find stories to tell each issue? Where were young people hanging out in the late 90's in Door County, and are they still there today?

Andrew Kleidon and Myles Dannhausen sit down to talk about how cold it's been, and what that's meant for winter recreation like skiing and broom ball. Also, a look into 2020's sales tax numbers and how they compare to 2019, and where we're at in Door County with vaccinations, delays, supply and demand, and more.

Andrew Kleidon sits down with Pulse Co-Founder David Eliot and his dog Oxford for the first time on the Door County Pulse Podcast to tell the story of the Peninsula Pulse. On this episode Dave recounts his youth, how he reinvigorated both his high school and college newspapers with a shift to digital layouts, and how he, along with Tom McKenzie and a small group of young artists, came to publish the very first issue of the Peninsula Pulse newspaper in 1996.

Debra Fitzgerald sits down with Captain Dale Stroschein of Wacky Walleye Guide services to talk about the conditions that lead to 66 people being rescued by the coast guard at one location off Sherwood Point in the town of Nasewaupee; another location in the Sand Bay area in the town of Gardner; and a third location in the Little Harbor area in the town of Sevastopol, as well as tips for ice safety.

Andrew Kleidon and Debra Fitzgerald sit down to talk about what's going on in the state legislature, namely COVID relief and mask mandates, and how they will effect the county. Also, a look into the arts and entertainment pages of this week's Pulse, and the artists, musicians, and designers profiled within.

Myles Dannhausen Jr. talks to the writers behind a special report from Wisconsin Watch about the political divisiveness that plagues the state. In the article “In Evenly Split Wisconsin, Partisan Divides May Only Grow,” Anya van Wagtendonk and Nora Eckert investigate why the state has become such a political hothouse, and how Door County exemplifies the shift.

Andrew Kleidon and Myles Dannhausen discuss the next round of vaccinations in Door County, as well as a look at the work of the late Bob Hastings, former executive director of the Door County Chamber of Commerce (now Destination Door County). After the break, Debra Fitzgerald talks with Mayor Dave Ward about accomplishments made during the pandemic in 2020, and what work is still to be done in the new year.

Door County has become a public beta testing site for SpaceX’s emerging satellite internet service, Starlink. The company intends to deliver high-speed broadband internet to locations where access has been unreliable, expensive or completely unavailable. Debra Fitzgerald sits down with Nathan Drager, owner of Quantum PC Services, to talk about his initial findings with the beta, and what residents might want to know about the service as it rolls out.

Andrew Kleidon talks to Myles Dannhausen Jr. about vaccines, what Ryan Heise leaves behind in Egg Harbor, and how one group of local students found a way to perform without a stage. Then they dive into Gibraltar’s plan to assess property owners for sidewalks and lights and why it has some people frustrated, again.

Morgan Mann of the Door County Library stops in to unveil this years selection for Door County Reads, an annual series of events, book discussions, and community gatherings centered around one title, available to pick up for free at your local library.

Andrew Kleidon and Myles Dannhausen discuss the latest in COVID-19 information in Door County, including positive cases and percent positives in each municipality, how Washington Island is dealing with their first major outbreak of the virus, and more. After the break Myles talks with Dr. Jim Heise about the vaccine rollout, who has been vaccinated thus far, and when he expects the vaccine will be available to the general public.

Stories of good news this week as Andrew Kleidon and Myles Dannhausen Jr. talk about some local residents and businesses who have stepped up to make the holidays brighter for people in our community. Then they discuss Myles’s column in this week’s Pulse about people who have filled the leadership void as the community muddled its way through the pandemic.

Andrew Kleidon and Myles Dannhausen look back on the whirlwind of a year that was 2020, including the most read articles on doorcountypulse.com, the year in theater, food, and more.

Andrew Kleidon and Myles Dannhausen recap some COVID-19 news this week as vaccines are due to arrive at Door County Medical Center in short order. This week in the paper Tamara Jilot recounts her experience with the virus, the timeline from infection to symptoms, and her hospital stay and aftermath. Also Andrew parts the curtain with insights on how actors create unique and compelling characters for stage and screen.

Jake Nyberg’s parents have tried out the Door County life multiple times, including once when Jake was a kid. Now Nyberg is 40 with his own family in Minneapolis and feeling the pull of Door County himself. Myles Dannhausen Jr. talks to Jake about how Door County gets its claws in you, the mental battle of wanting a piece of the peninsula to call your own without becoming “that guy” who plays a part in ruining it, and life as a cursed Minnesota sports fan.

Andrew Kleidon and Myles Dannhausen break down this weeks news, including two new proposals for condo developments in Sister Bay, one of which is planned for the former Fred & Fuzzy's and Little Sister Resort property. Also, a look at a piece by Polly Fitz which takes us on a tour through Cheryl and Hugh Zettel’s recently remodeled home to see how one family put accessibility first and how accessibility considerations can increase ones ability to age in place.

Andrew Kleidon and Myles Dannhausen go over the news from the past few weeks, including Dave Lienau stepping down as president of the Village of Sister Bay take a position as manager of the Sister Bay Marina. The board unanimously selected former president Denise Bhirdo, who has served on the board for 22 years, to complete the remainder of Lienau’s term as president. Also this week The Village of Sister Bay has reached an agreement to purchase almost 56 acres of orchard and farmland from the Wiltse family, and Gibraltar residents approved the town budget Monday after 90 minutes of questions and comments during an annual meeting held through a combination of Zoom and in-person attendance.

A Plea From the Hospital with Dr. Jim Heise and County Chair Dave Lienau by Door County Pulse Podcast

Andrew Kleidon and Myles Dannhausen sit down this week to crack open all the Egg Harbor news of late, including: The village is considering a referendum that would provide more than $100,000 annually to support operations at the Kress Pavilion, the ongoing challenge of parking in the village, and a lawsuit is looming between the village and the owners of Shipwrecked over a small portion of land on Horseshoe Bay Road.

This week on the Podcast, Myles Dannhausen Jr. and Andrew Kleidon discuss the latest in Wisconsin’s neverending election cycle and get you the latest on the local Covid-19 implications. Then they dive into a new proposal for affordable housing in Sister Bay that one village board member says “could be a turning point” in the village’s long-running quest to attract housing for its workforce.

Andrew Kleidon and Myles Dannhausen Jr. break down Door County’s election results, including what surprised them, what didn’t, and how the county’s voting patterns are changing. Then Dannhausen talks to Debra Fitzgerald about Fincantieri Bay Shipbuilding’s big expansion plans in Sturgeon Bay, and why some neighbors don’t love it.

Election day is almost here, and Andrew Kleidon and Myles Dannhausen Jr. break down the ballot for Door County voters as we prepare to go to the polls. The presidential race gets all the attention, but Door County residents will also be electing their state representative, Congressional representative, and treasurer. Plus, voters will weigh in on two school referendums and a question on fair maps.

Andrew is joined by Terrie Cooper, the Community Conservation Director at the Door County Land Trust, to talk about the history of the non-profit, the importance of preserving natural areas and fragile ecosystems, as well as the Land Trust's most recent land acquisitions on Washington Island.

Andrew and Myles take a look at a few stories this week, including the removal of two Institute barns, as well as the Sevastopol girls cross country teams run at the state championship. Also a drive-through benefit will be held for Dan Krowas who is currently battling MDS. After the break Myles chats with Louise Howson of the Sister Bay Advancement Association about creating a Halloween light display that can be enjoyed safely this weekend.

Andrew and Myles break down several smaller stories this week, including Ephraim's long-term plan to shore up their waterfront and protect the streets as well as the Hardy Gallery from the high water levels. Also, some COVID-19 related updates, a look at a special cover on this weeks Pulse, and more.

Myles Dannhausen Jr. talks to Congressman Mike Gallagher (R-Green Bay), who is seeking his third term as representative of the 8th Congressional District. Gallagher is running against Wisconsin Assembly Representative Amanda Stuck, who was on the podcast last week. Dannhausen talks to Gallagher about his background, how his military service impacts his role in Congress, and a host of issues on voters’ minds as election day nears including health care, Covid-19, the economy, and the tone of politics in the Trump era.

Myles Dannhausen Jr. talks to Amanda Stuck, Democratic candidate for the 8th Congressional District. The three-term Wisconsin Assembly representative from Appleton talks about her background, how her days as a single mom impact how she approaches policy, and her priorities if she is the choice of voters in northeastern Wisconsin. She is seeking the seat held by Republican Mike Gallagher, who is scheduled to be a guest on the podcast next week.

Andrew is joined by Jerod Santek and Lauren Ward to talk about Write-On Door County's past programming, how they've adapted their offerings in response to the pandemic, and their virtual grand opening of their brand new writing center on October 9th.

What has it been like to operate a restaurant through a busy summer in Door County? Myles Dannhausen Jr. talks to Todd Frisoni of the Door County Ice Cream Factory and Meredith Coulson-Kanter of the White Gull Inn about their experiences changing practices, finding staff, and struggling to keep the doors open through the pandemic. They also take a look forward about what they think the winter and 2021 might be like.

Andrew and Myles break down this weeks stories, including Door County Public Health announced they are no longer able to contact trace people who have been in close contact with people who test positive for COVID-19, instead pivoting to working closely with businesses and schools dealing with positive cases. Also, Camp Zion in Ellison Bay faces difficulty as they look to build a 12,000 square foot dining hall and conference space to replace the cramped, aging dining hall it built in 1984, and Dollar General looks to build a new store in the town of Egg Harbor.

Myles Dannhausen Jr. is joined by Dr. Jim Heise, Chief Medical Officer of Door County Medical Center, to discuss the state of the Covid-19 virus in Door County. They discuss what we've learned about the COVID-19 pandemic, where we are today, and why the status of hospital in the Fox Valley and Green Bay matters for Door County.

Andrew and Myles break down a few stories including June's room tax numbers coming in near last year's numbers, the upcoming grand opening of Write-On's new writing center, and the next phase of the Pulse's election coverage. After the break a discussion on where we find ourselves six months into this pandemic, what we've learned, and how we might move forward as cases continue to climb in Door County.

Andrew is joined by Pulse Creative Director Ryan Miller to talk about how he helps tell the stories of Door County every week through his layout design in the paper, as well as some of the original art he creates for special issues and the Door County Living magazine.

This week on the podcast Andrew and Myles discuss preliminary partnership talks between the Ridges Sanctuary and the Door County Land Trust, and an affordable housing project begins to take shape in Liberty Grove. After the break, COVID-19 numbers continue to increase in September, with Door County reaching it's highest active case count this week.

Andrew and Myles go over the latest COVID-19 numbers in which the county sees the highest number of active cases yet. Also, a look inside some of the stories and profiles featured in the latest issue of the Door County Living magazine, as well as some insights on the stunning photography and graphic design that really makes each issue so special.

Andrew and Myles are back for a second week of sign discussion spurred on by an act of vandalism which took place at the GOP headquarters in Sturgeon Bay over the weekend. Also this week the Door County Land Trust and the Ridges Sanctuary have begun potential partnership talks which may merge the organizations into one entity, and Destination Door County announced their partnership with the Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics, becoming the first tourism destination in Wisconsin to do so.

Deb Fitzgerald sits down with Kurt Kiefer, Assistant State Superintendent at the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, and member of Governor Ever's Task Force on Broadband Access, to discuss the hopes of the task force, and some potential solutions to spotty internet access throughout the state by looking at similar places throughout the country who have solved their internet woes.

Andrew and Myles sit down to talk about billboards in Door County, which most folks figured were banned back in 1985, until Link Media submitted applications for 15 new sign permits to expand existing billboards and to erect two new freestanding billboards in May of 2019. Turns out a 2015 United States Supreme Court ruling in a case known as Reed v. Town of Gilbert opened the door for Link Media to pursue new billboards in the county.

Andrew sits down with Michael Stebbins, Artistic Director of Door Shakespeare, to talk about some of the challenges they faced this season, all culminating in the premiere of their virtual production of Rosalind by J.M. Barrie, in which actors were filmed performing remotely from their homes, which was then edited into a full play. Rosalind premieres online September 2nd.

Andrew and Myles break down this weeks news, including Bellin Health and Door County Medical Center hosting a no-cost, drive-up COVID-19 testing event Aug. 27, 10 am – 6 pm, at the Door County Fairgrounds in Sturgeon Bay. Also The Village of Egg Harbor’s Plan Commission approved the proposal for the Village View Residences condominium and retail project on Aug. 18th.

If you've completed a crossword puzzle in the last 15 years there is a good chance it was one of Myles Mellor's. Myles has been writing the Pulse crossword for years, and this week Myles Dannhausen sits down with him to talk about how he got his start writing puzzles, and how he turned the crossword into his career.

Andrew and Deb sit down to go over each of the Door County schools currently fluid plans to reopen next month. What considerations are being made inside the classroom and beyond? Also, the DNR doubles down on their intent to demolish Potawatomi tower.

Andrew sits down with Carly Sarkis, Marketing and Events Director at Destination Sturgeon Bay to talk about many of the events that have been canceled this summer, but also some events that were modified to be safer, as well as new events that were created in response to COVID-19. Also we dig into some of the challenges and considerations Carly faced as a destination marketer during a pandemic.

Andrew Kleidon and Myles Dannhausen Jr. discuss the latest COVID information after the Wisconsin Mask Mandate became effective over the weekend, including Door County's positive case total entering triple digits. Also this week an update on the Egg Harbor Condo proposal, as well as some discussion on July's record breaking water levels.

Andrew sits down with Pulse Intern Maddy Schierl to reflect on her 2nd summer writing interesting pieces for the Pulse, and how she was able to explore unique topics from a fresh perspective. Also, as Maddy begins to pack for her senior year at college, we discuss the considerations she had to make when deciding whether to go back as schools across the country are asking tough questions about how to re-open.

Andrew and Myles break down some stories from this week including the Pulse's decision not to post news articles to Facebook in order to foster higher quality conversations, and how some businesses have responded to positive COVID-19 cases among their staff. Also, the Sister Bay Plan Commission denied a request for a change of use for the property that contains the waterfront portions of Little Sister Resort and Fred and Fuzzy’s Waterfront Bar and Grill.

Andrew sits down with Door County's first certified cicerone Sophie Nelson to talk about interesting beer facts, what a cicerone is and what the lengthy certification process entailed, and how she's been able to put her knowledge to practice in the county and within the pages of the Peninsula Pulse in her column: Suds with Sophie.

Andrew and Myles have some updates on a few stories, including new life for the Barker childcare center in Sturgeon Bay, which will soon become the Door Community Child Development Center as soon as September. Also Sister Bay has approved an ordinance which will fine anyone caught removing stones from Pebble Beach, and Andrew and Myles talk about how Husby's closure last week due to COVID-19 sent ripples through the community, and what the current climate is regarding the virus locally.

Andrew is joined by Pulse writer Maddy Schierl to talk about the myriad of different topics she's been able to write about this summer, from her weekly beach showcase, to her adventures on the water, as well as her art and literary endeavors including a piece on yoga and art journaling, as well as her installment of our ongoing literary series, and much more.