Door County Pulse Podcast

Few destinations offer the experience found in Door County – great wages for seasonal work, easy proximity to beaches and incredible outdoor experiences, great nightlife, and as much work responsibility as you want to take on. That’s why Peninsula Pulse is launching a workforce recruitment campaign to put the peninsula back on the agenda of high school students, college students looking for summer jobs, and parents who want to see their kids make money, take on a challenge, and get great work and life experience. Myles Dannhausen Jr. is joined by David Eliot to talk about their experiences working as young adults in Door County, and the need they are seeing to bring a stronger workforce back. Then, a conversation with Peninsula Filmworks intern turned Pulse photographer Rachel Lukas about her experience working in the county for the first time, and why she's chosen to stay.

Morgan Mann and Steven Rice from the Door County Library stopped by the Peninsula Pulse recording studio to talk with Grace Johnson about the featured books, event highlights and 15 years’ worth of Door County Reads. There may even be a few trivia questions, too!

Andrew Kleidon is joined by Myles Dannhausen Jr. to round up all of the upcoming Thanksgiving and Holiday events happening over the next three weekends in Door County.

Andrew Kleidon and Myles Dannhausen Jr. discuss what may be the peak of AJ Dillon's career – getting the key to Door County. Then a discussion of COVID-19 hospitalizations. And, on Monday, voters in the Town of Gibraltar approved the purchase of 0.49 acres of property on the shoreline adjacent to the town dock for $3.5 million.

Andrew Kleidon is joined by Grace Johnson to talk about what she's been diving into lately. From her epic homemade Beetlejuice halloween costume, to beginning NaNoWriMo, and her experience with the new Door County Pilates studio. Also, a few weeks back we pondered whatever happened to the Scholastic Book Fair of our youth, and we had several people write us with more information. Johnson did a deep dive into the book fair's inner workings, and answered the question, though the journey left her feeling conflicted.

Andrew Kleidon and Myles Dannhausen Jr. share sneak peaks of the Winter 2021 Door County Living Magazine, and the Peninsula Pulse's newest publication, the 1842 Review, a literary magazine which contains this years Hal Prize winners. Also, a look back at the past as the historic ship, the SS Badger, returns to Bay Shipbuilding. And, a reflection on the life of Ephraim artist Franne Dickinson, who passed away in October.

For five years Cal Poly professor Dave Amos has been making complex planning and zoning topics interesting and even fun through his YouTube channel, CityBeautiful. The Sturgeon Bay native joins Myles Dannhausen Jr. for a conversation about what makes a beautiful neighborhood. What makes a neighborhood walkable? What role do trees play in making great public spaces? Should we get rid of parking minimums? Do wider roads make for safer communities? How does single-family zoning drive up the cost of housing? Amos touches on all these topics and more in this episode and dives in even deeper in his video series, which we urge you to explore at https://www.youtube.com/c/CityBeautiful

For the past few months the Peninsula Pulse has been working in support of the team at Wisconsin Watch on a series of articles examining how a climate “tug of war” is driving extreme shifts in Lake Michigan’s water levels. Wisconsin Watch reporter Mario Koran speaks to Myles Dannhausen Jr. about what he learned reporting on the issue from Door County. The first story is available here: “The Water Always Wins”: Calls to protect shorelines as volatile Lake Michigan inflicts heavy toll

Andrew Kleidon grabs David Eliot for a quick chat before hundreds of runners make their way into Peninsula State Park for the Door County Half Marathon this weekend. The race was postponed from May 2020 to October 2021, which means runners will have a full summer of training under their belt as they run through the fall colors of the park.

This week on the podcast we have stories about what this community means to us, and to others discovering it for the first time. Green Bay Packers running back AJ Dillon joins the podcast (at the 28:42 mark) to talk about his love of all things Door County and the Packers’ five-game winning streak as they prepare to take on the Washington Football Team. But first, Andrew Kleidon and Myles Dannhausen Jr. catch up on the news of the week, including a look at what July’s room tax returns tell us and a recap of the sporting event of the year – the Fall Fest Derby.

On this week’s Door County Pulse Podcast, Myles Dannhausen Jr. talks to Pam Seiler and Cameryn Ehlers-Kwaterski about what’s next for Destination Sturgeon Bay as Seiler hands over the reins of the organization. Ehlers-Kwaterski and Dannhausen also discuss how the changes to the city and throughout the county are helping to draw home young families like hers.

Andrew Kleidon is joined by a very tired Myles Dannhausen Jr., who had just come away from two back-to-back Egg Harbor Plan Commission meetings, to discuss Shipwrecked's denied proposal to expand their restaurant, and One Barrel Brewing's accepted proposal to add additional parking spaces, as well as add a storage building. Also, Dannhausen talks about Fish Creek's accepted $3.5 million bid to expand their town dock, and Destination Door County's hiring of Julie Gilbert as their new President and CEO.

Myles Dannhausen Jr. talks to Louise Howson about what’s coming at Sister Bay’s 75th annual Fall Festival this weekend, including the return of a long-lost event and a Sunday surprise. Get the details on the key times for the big events, music, food and what makes Fall Fest so special.

Andrew Kleidon is joined by former Pulse intern turned Pulse photographer Rachel Lukas to talk about how she approaches photographing the sights, people, and events of Door County.

Door County Medical Center is building a 30,000 square foot clinic in Sister Bay, bringing a dramatically expanded service to northern Door County. Brian Stephens talks to Myles Dannhausen about the plan, what it brings to the community, and the future of health care in northern Door County.

In August, the U.S. Census Bureau released the data necessary for state and local governments to redraw the political-district maps that will be in place for the next 10 years. While state lawmakers wrangle new district lines into place for the state’s 99 Assembly seats, 33 Senate seats and eight congressional districts, counties map out their own districts. Door County appointed an ad hoc committee that worked with county staff to get the job done, and the Door County Board of Supervisors approved those once-in-a-decade maps last week for the county’s 21 county supervisory districts. The number of districts has remained the same, but the configurations have changed – some significantly. Andrew Kleidon is joined by Debra Fitzgerald for a civics lesson on what these maps do, how they are drawn, and what special considerations are placed upon them to ensure equal and fair representation for voters.

Andrew Kleidon is joined by Sara Rae Lancaster to talk all about food and Fall. Sara breaks down a number of stories she's done on local efforts to reuse food waste through composting, as well as some tips she has for the aspiring homesteader on harvesting, foraging, and preserving your bounty through the winter. Also, a look at the science behind the fall colors, when they may peak, and how vibrant they might be this year – and some tips for fall camping.

After a brief conversation on event fashion, Andrew Kleidon and Myles Dannhausen Jr. talk about a number of recent galas and gatherings, including the Door County Economic Development Corporation’s (DCEDC) reimagined and expanded award ceremony, which honored new faces and old during the DCEDC’s annual investors’ meeting and luncheon Sept. 22 at Stone Harbor Resort in Sturgeon Bay. Also, Paula Anschutz has worked hard to preserve several cabins from the Little Sister Resort property, which she plans to convert into affordable seasonal housing, and Myles breaks down the Egg Harbor Village Board's new parking ordinance.

Andrew Kleidon is joined by Grace Johnson to talk about her journey to visit all of seven of Door County's independent booksellers from Algoma all the way to Washington Island. Johnson shares her experience at each shop, what they stock, and where to find what you're looking for whether you're a casual book reader, or a die-hard enthusiast.

Room tax rates will go up to 8% on Jan. 1, which has caused many people to ask why we need more money for tourism attraction. But Dave Eliot, who has led the room tax charge, said it’s not about getting more money for marketing, but creating a tool to invest in our biggest problems.

Debra Fitzgerald talks with Nickolas Butler, author of the internationally bestselling and prize-winning Shotgun Lovesongs, which has been optioned for film development, The Hearts of Men – short-listed for two of France’s most prestigious literary prizes even before being published in America – as well as Little Faith, Beneath the Bonfire, In Western Counties and newly released this year, Godspeed. Butler talks about his process, his inspirations, and his return to Door County this year for the Write On Gala on Thursday, Sept. 23.

11 units coming to Baileys Harbor at the Lakeshore Adventures location in Baileys Harbor, Door County Economic Development Center executive director Steve Jenkins' idea to build a modular home factory in Door County, and Paula Anschutz's attempt to save some cabins from the Little Sister Resort property to use for seasonal housing in Sister Bay. Also, an update on the steadily growing COVID-19 numbers in Door County, and a quick look at the upcoming Walk to End Alzheimer's on Sept. 11.Also, an update on the steadily growing COVID-19 numbers in Door County, and a quick look at the upcoming Walk to End Alzheimer's on Sept. 11.

Storytellers wanted! Want to get published in 25,000 copies of the Peninsula Pulse and in the inaugural 8142 Review, the new literary journal from the Peninsula Pulse and Write On, Door County? The Hal Prize offers prizes for works of fiction, nonfiction, poetry and photography. Work will be judged by a prestigious panel of writers and photographers. Coburn and Tad Dukehart will lend their eye to the photography contest in 2021. Coburn is the multimedia director for the Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism, and Tad retired to Door County after a 40-year career in news photography in Washington DC. Faith Adiele takes on the mantle for nonfiction this year. Adiele has won a Pen Award, been featured in a documentary for PBS and was Thailand’s first Black Buddhist nun. She has worked in collaboration with HBO’s Calm, where her story was read by actor Idris Elba. Lan Samantha Chang joins this year’s lineup as the fiction judge. This Appleton native is is the director of the Iowa Writers’ Workshop and has received creative writing fellowships from Stanford University, Princeton University, the Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study, the Guggenheim Foundation and the National Endowment for the Arts. Mark Wunderlich, the author of four books and winner of the Rilke Prize, will judge poetry. He is a member of the Literature Faculty at Bennington College in Vermont, and where he became the first director of Poetry at Bennington. He is the recipient of Writers at Work Award, the Jack Kerouac Prize and fellowships from the Bread Loaf Writers Conference and the MacDowell Colony. Prizes First place in all categories receives $250 and a Hal Prize mug from Clay Bay Pottery Second place in all categories receives $100 Third place in all categories receives $50 The 8142 Review will be published in November 2021, when winners are announced. Visit www.thehalprize.com to enter and for more information.

Debra Fitzgerald talks with Egg Harbor resident and retired Marine Lt. Col. Craig Harvey, a 24-year veteran who served two combat tours in Iraq and a year of duty in Afghanistan. They cover the execution of the withdrawal from Afghanistan, how the war has been framed for the American people over the past two decades and America's role in foreign countries.

Andrew Kleidon sits down with his wife, Victoria Linstrom, to talk about Fika Bakery and Coffeehouse, located just north of the Fish Creek YMCA. Fika is a family run bakery with deep Swedish roots going on its 5th season in Door County, offering baked goods, coffee, cafe items, and – of course – cinnamon rolls as big as your head.

Peninsula Pulse Editor Debra Fitzgerald sits down with Pulse freelancer Jackson Parr, a fellow with the Wisconsin Department of Health Services, to discuss some of the findings that emerged from the Door County Budget Project. A year in the making, the project commissioned by the Pulse allows readers to compare and contrast the spending habits and values of all Door County’s 19 municipalities and the County of Door based upon the 2021 budgets. The report is intended to increase transparency between residents and their local governments, educate municipal officials and their constituents on trends and challenges in local government finance and improve local budget reporting at the Pulse.

David Eliot and Thomas McKenzie became co-founders of the Peninsula Pulse in the summer of 1996. In this episode of the Story of the Pulse, Andrew Kleidon is joined by Eliot and McKenzie, who share stories about meeting at Lawrence University, their eventual move to Door County and the first five years of the publication.

Andrew Kleidon and Myles Dannhausen Jr. discuss some interesting takeaways from the recent census, including that the county's population has increased by the most significant margin in decades. Also, a look at the increasing COVID-19 numbers and hospitalizations, and more.

Myles Dannhausen Jr. catches up with new Door County YMCA Director Heidi Erickson and membership director Tonya Felhofer. They talk about how the Y is bouncing back from COVID, why Erickson came back to the Door, and big plans for the Sturgeon Bay program center.

Andrew Kleidon is joined by Myles Dannhausen to go over Egg Harbors decision on whether or not to bury their power lines as a part of their highway project, as well as a look at room tax numbers from spring, and what they might tell us about how many people are visiting the county.

David Eliot and Thomas McKenzie became co-founders of the Peninsula Pulse in the summer of 1996. In this episode of the Story of the Pulse, Andrew Kleidon is joined by McKenzie to talk about his recollection of spending time with his uncle, James McKenzie, backstage at the Peninsula Players Theatre, his meeting Eliot at Lawrence University, and how the Pulse was born.

Andrew Kleidon is joined by Myles to talk a bit about Egg Harbors upcoming meeting on whether or not to bury their power lines, as well as a slew of other happenings coming up this weekend and beyond, including Sturgeon Bay’s Maritime Week, the Peninsula Pulse Presents: The Danberry’s, Andrew’s thoughts on Northern Sky’s Not Even Remotely, and much more.

The father/daughter duo of Tad and Coburn Dukehart discuss capturing faces behind masks, what makes a great photograph, and what they’ll be looking for as co-judges of this year’s Hal Prize for photography, (and what they’re NOT looking for).

Andrew Kleidon is joined by Myles Dannhausen to discuss the latest COVID-19 numbers, and how Door County compares to the rest of the U.S. and abroad, and Myles shares his feelings coming away from a meeting this week where the Ephraim Planning Commission denied O'Malley's Inn into affordable, workforce housing.

Andrew Kleidon is joined by Sara Rae Lancaster to talk about the tips, stories, and vendors featured in the all new 2021 Door Wedding magazine.

Andrew Kleidon and Myles Dannhausen talk about the battle for Door County League supremacy between the first-place Sister Bay Bays and the second-place Washington Island Islanders that took place on Washington Island. Also, a look at the importance of exploring Cave Point County Park safely, after multiple water rescues and fatalities in the County over the last year. And, Myles remembers Bob Lautenbach, and looks at what he spent his life building, after his passing last week.

In 2002 journalist Dan Egan wrote an article for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel titled “Is Door County too pretty for its own good?” about fears the peninsula was attracting too many people. Sound familiar? He joins Myles Dannhausen Jr. to give some historical context to the debate about overtourism. Plus, they discuss his recent New York Times article about how climate change threatens Chicago, and what to take from this summer’s declining water levels. Dan Egan is an environmental journalist and author of the book The Death and Life of the Great Lakes. Dan is one of the foremost chroniclers of the Great Lakes region, He now lives in Milwaukee where he is a journalist in residence at the Center for Water Policy at UW - Milwaukee, but he’s also a longtime visitor to Door County. Chicago: A Battle Between a Great City and a Great Lake https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2021/07/07/climate/chicago-river-lake-michigan.html

Andrew Kleidon recently sat down with Peninsula Players Artistic Director Greg Vinkler on the Door County Pulse Podcast, to talk about projects the Players embarked on in 2020, why in-person seasons look different at professional theaters this year, and what people can expect from the Players 2021 season.

The Door County Triathlon returns July 17-18, which can’t come soon enough for director Sean Ryan. He joins Myles Dannhausen Jr. to talk about what it was like to be an event director without events during the pandemic and what to expect at this year’s event. They also discuss the impact silent sports events have had on the local economy and the changing face of the Door County visitor.

Andrew Kleidon and Myles Dannhausen Jr. discuss the latest on Egg Harbor's highway construction project, including their plans for developing Church Street, as well as a look at Liberty Grove's ongoing discussion on Short Term Rental regulation. Also, a look at The Peninsula Pulse Presents: A Tale of Two, the southern gothic rock band performing in Door County this summer, Lars Topplemann takes his wing foil out into Ephraim harbor, and more.

Andrew Kleidon is joined by Northern Sky's Artistic Director Jeff Herbst to talk about the 2021 season. What did the company learn from a year of virtual performances? What concessions had to be made to produce a live season this year, and why do those concessions have to be made? And a look at all of the shows coming up in Peninsula State Park and at the Gould theater in Fish Creek this year.

Dave Eliot joins Myles Dannhausen Jr. on the podcast to talk about the return of Fourth of July celebrations to the peninsula this weekend. They talk about where to go to catch big events, fireworks, parades, and why we love Independence Day in Door County. Plus, a look inside the pages of the new Door County Living magazine.

Andrew Kleidon and Myles Dannhausen discuss the latest at Mariners Park in Gills Rock, as well as the recent sale of the old Nicolet Bank building in Sturgeon Bay. Also, a number of festivals are coming up this weekend, from Open Door Pride, to new events like the Sol Grass Music Festival on Washington Island, and the Times of Future Past festival in Kewaunee.

Deb Fitzgerald sits down with Steve Vavrus, Sr. Scientist at the Nelson Institute at UW-Madison, to talk about climate change and what’s in store for Wisconsin in general and Door County’s specifically. They also discussed what’s causing climate change, and some ways people can change their behaviors to reduce their carbon footprints.

Last year parents in Sturgeon Bay nearly lost their primary child care provider. In northern Door County, talk of Gibraltar School adding 4 year-old kindergarten has the area's main child care provider on edge. Myles Dannhausen Jr. is joined by Cindy Trinkner-Peot of Northern Door Children's Center and Alexis Fuller of the Door Community Child Development Center to discuss the challenges that area child care providers are facing and what the future of child care might look like.

Andrew Kleidon is joined by Special Issues Editor Grace Johnson and Vanessa McGowan, musician and Pulse music writer, to talk about everything you can find within the 2021 Summer Music Preview. This years issue is full to the brim with featured musicians, including two bands presented by the Peninsula Pulse, weekly live music, performance venues, interesting band names, and more. For more live music, concerts, and more, check out the events calendar at https://doorcountypulse.com/events/

Andrew Kleidon and Myles Dannhausen sit down to talk about a trifecta of Gibraltar news stories, including a lawsuit between the town and the Alibi Docks, the school district looks at starting 4K kindergarten, and three administrators have resigned in less than a month. Also, Andrew recaps Northern Sky's production of Not Even Remotely, and looks forward to their first in-person show.

A Weekend Full of Festivals by Door County Pulse Podcast

Myles Dannhausen Jr. and Andrew Kleidon discuss the state of tourism in Door County, specifically whether the county is tapped out. They look back at tourism’s late-90s peak, the impact of room tax and public investments in attractions and infrastructure, and the data that could give us insights into whether tourism has - in fact - reached a new level in Door County. For more context on Door County’s recent tourism history: From 2007: Treading Lightly: Can Door County Maintain its Character While Attracting More Visitors? https://doorcountypulse.com/treading-lightly/ From 2009: How tourism expenditures are calculated https://doorcountypulse.com/playing-with-numbers/ From 2008: Tourism Spending Dropped in 2007 https://doorcountypulse.com/tourism-spending-dropped-in-2007-2/ From 2008: Steve Grutzmacher on the Stagnant Door County Tourism Industry https://doorcountypulse.com/an-outlook-10/ From 2008: Rebounding: Bringing Tourism Market Back Requires More than Marketing https://doorcountypulse.com/rebounding/ From 2010: Time for New Thinking: Expert gives perspective on how a community can retain its character https://doorcountypulse.com/time-for-new-thinking/ From 2012: Dead Zone: Sister Bay Business Climate Goes Cold https://doorcountypulse.com/dead-zone-sister-bay-business-climate-goes-cold/ From 2017: Dead Zone No More: How Sister Bay Came Back https://doorcountypulse.com/dead-zone-no-more-sister-bays-rebound/

Myles Dannhausen Jr. talks to New York Times best-selling author Andrew Maraniss, author of “Singled Out,” the story of Glenn Burke, Major League Baseball’s first openly gay player and the inventor of the high five. Maranis discusses why Burke was run out of baseball in his prime, as well as the importance of writing trusting young readers with difficult subjects.