Door County Pulse Podcasts

When Brett Kosmider pulled out his camera on main street in Fish Creek last July, he didn’t anticipate getting a photo to define the pandemic summer. But that’s what he got when Matthew Moellendorf showed up in a suit and a mask. Mollendorf and Kosmider join the Podcast to share the story behind the photo of the year, which was recently awarded second place in the Wisconsin Newspaper Association’s Better Newspaper Contest.

Myles Dannhausen Jr. sits down with Dave Eliot for an expansive conversation about the future of room tax. They talk about why Eliot is making the case to raise room tax from 5.5% to 8%. They discuss how room tax was originally implemented (1:58), how it has helped to market the county and improve amenities (15:10), and how an increase could be used to address the needs of local communities (23:06). They also explore the arguments against the increase (39:52), how it can be used (43:38) and what might be possible (49:55).

The owners of Shipwrecked Brew Pub are proposing an expansion that would make the restaurant one of the largest in Door County. But with parking at a premium in the center of Egg Harbor, that raises a lot of issues for the plan commission. Myles Dannhausen Jr. breaks down the proposal and the issues at play. Then, Andrew Kleidon and Dannhausen take a look at the latest info on the condominiums proposed for the former Little Sister Resort site, and good news on the COVID-19 vaccine front.

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.