(Airdate: December 26, 2023) Maryanne interviews Steve Shively, an Elder of the First Presbyterian Church. This is Part #2— covering the 150-year history of the Church and simultaneously examining the history of Port Townsend itself. The venerable church became an elegant 600-seat gathering place just before the vaporization of the dream of PT becoming the NYC of the West. Each decade it echoed the ups and downs of the local economy. According to Steve, it has been ahead of the curve on some social trends —including ordaining women in the 1950s. “We want to be an incubator for social change,” he says. ECHHO, the group that loans or gives medical equipment such as wheelchairs or walkers is actually housed in “the manse,” which was built as housing for the pastor of First Presbyterian. In addition, it is currently partnering with groups on issues as diverse as immigration rights, affordable housing, LGBTQIA rights and more. On a very practical local note, there’s a free charging station for electric vehicles in its parking lot.