Our Town

(Airdate: March 3, 2026) Maryanne interviews Amanda Grace, owner of Good Man Sanitation. Amanda was a high school drop-out who somehow turned her life around and graduated from both high school & college. After bouncing around in all sorts of jobs, she determined that she wanted to run a small business. A friend introduced her to the then-owner of Good Man. Negotiations began. Servicing septic systems might not be the most glamorous of businesses but there’s a huge market. Thanks to paying a living wage, good health insurance and other basics she has close to zero turnover. But she wants to ‘pay it forward’ so she actively gives back to the community. She was recently elected to the School Board and also serves or served on the Board of Health and the Jefferson Community Foundation. Then there’s her three kids…

(Airdate: February 17, 2026) Maryanne interviews Lori Hanemann, owner of Chums, a tiny shop in the heart of the Port Hudson Marina. Lori’s always been something of a rolling stone – trading in life in California for working for non-profits in Fairbanks, Alaska. Then there was her stint in Croatia. But a girl’s got to follow her passion and it turns out it wasn’t Croatia. She next moved back to California and helped some tech “bros” launch their startup. Somehow she visited Port Townsend and decided it was her dream town. Most people would try to find a job. But Lori decided on a different path. Her shop “Chums” is barely a year old now. She’s still refining her concept. Her location draws both the boat crowd and the RVers. In addition to the normal supplies and lots of beer, wine, soft drinks and ice cream, she loves to feature local artists. Come spring, her outdoor patio is the planned center for mini gatherings.

(Airdate: February 3, 2026) Maryanne interviews Michael McCutcheon, founder of Reach Out, a non-profit that helps feed those in need of food. Michael’s a recovering addict who wants to help others who have decided to free themselves from drugs. No one knows how difficult it is to end years of addiction than someone who is doing it himself. At times Michael works closely with law enforcement or city officials to find housing or medical assistance. He believes that there’s a fine line between compassion and enabling and he’s definitely against enabling. His volunteers take weekly truckloads of food to certain known locations, such as the bus station or skate park. He’s there — sharing his own story and offering help to those who actually listen.

(Airdate: January 20, 2026) Maryanne interviews Jon Pinnow, president of the Board of Directors for KPTZ. Jon’s a career radio man, starting off by including a radio station in the Lego towns he built as a kid. Thanks to the wonders of technology he now works full time for Colorado public radio while living here and steering KPTZ. The station’s now taking the next step in its development as a non-profit. Jon explains what’s happening and why it’s necessary to divide up management responsibilities. Growth sometimes requires rethinking priorities. KPTZ is now entering into its next phase as a solid media enterprise. It must balance priorities in news and entertainment while serving the community as a beacon for emergency management for floods, fires and other disasters.

(Airdate: January 6, 2026) Maryanne interviews Sam Harper, construction boss for the new Hadlock Sewer System. It’s literally taken decades to get a sewer system underway in the tri-area (Hadlock, Chimacum & Irondale). As 2026 gets underway, the first couple of dozen businesses and residences are finally free from their septic systems. The waste water treatment plant was constructed first. But you need “waste” to run through the plant before you can even begin to hook people up. So the city of PT graciously provided truckloads of untreated waste. Sam (aka Samantha) explains that it’s sort of like starter for sourdough bread. She says fourth graders really get the concept of the big “farts” — gases being expelled in the process. The underlying economics of the peninsula will be changed dramatically with the new sewer system and the changes in zoning it will allow.

(Airdate: December 9, 2025) Maryanne interviews Bob Wheeler, president of the Friends of the PT Golf Park. The nonprofit group has just received a 20-year extension on its 2-year trial lease. They have recently upgraded the grounds and driving range. Newer types of golf – both disc golf and fling golf – are attracting the younger crowd ($5 or $3 after 5pm). A kids’ playground will be opening soon as will what’s usually called “putt-putt” miniature golf. The clubhouse and pro shop are busy. With the restaurant open, plans are afoot to make the downstairs into a community center with pool tables, darts, etc. Golf tournaments are scheduled. In addition, it will soon be a venue for weddings and other large parties. The group’s mission is to make the 58-acre site enticing to PT’s entire population, not just hard-core golfers. Walking paths are being added. But golf is important too! The high school golf teams all play for free at any time. Lessons are available to kids and adults. “There’s a lot of fun activities planned such as ‘Manhattan Mondays’ and weekend brunch,” says Bob. Website: ptgolfpark.org.

(Airdate: November 25, 2025) Maryanne interviews Aaran Stark, Chef at Jefferson Healthcare. After five years of being closed to the public the café is finally open again. It closed for the pandemic and then construction of the new wing delayed reopening the café. Back pre-pandemic, the café was a favorite lunch haunt for locals who actually had no official business at the hospital. They came for the food! Stark is an immensely creative chef who both trained and taught at the Cordon Bleu. Patients and staff always had food during those five years. A new kitchen was constructed at the Fairgrounds and six trucks a day rushed meals the 2.7 miles to the hospital. That’s creative cooking!

(Airdate: November 11, 2025) Maryanne interviews Carly Lech, Certified Canine Behaviorist at the PT Humane Society. Carly has essentially been obsessed with animals since she was a small child. Her parents supported her dreams. She attended a zoo program in high school. She did papers on exotics such as Mandrills & Binturongs. College was also animal focused. Now that she’s joined our Humane Society she is determined to bring the right kind of care to animals who arrive there. But she cautions that being in any shelter is incredibly stressful for any animal. She also shares with our listeners some key tips for handling your own dogs (& other animals).

(Airdate: October 28, 2025) Maryanne interviews Steve King, Port Townsend’s Public Works Director. Steve’s been grappling with our complex issues since he joined the city five years ago. An early accomplishment was getting the mill to pay for water usage, just like any other customer. Some of the pipes for our water system are over 100 years old. Steve’s team is racing the clock – trying to replace those pipes before they collapse. That’s just one issue facing the town. The lack of affordable housing and the sorry state of our streets are also major issues. Voters overwhelmingly passed a measure to raise taxes to help pay for street repairs. Results aren’t in yet but that money only began to flow in 2024. The lack of workforce housing  – aka affordable housing  – is also on everyone’s radar.

(Airdate: October 14, 2025) Maryanne interviews Ned Schumann, founder of Olympus.net. This show delves into some deeply personal issues surrounding the death of his wife, Kate, who suffered from dementia. Early in her downward spiral, Kate, Ned and daughter Carrie decided to go the path of VSED (that stands for Voluntarily Stopping Eating & Drinking). Ned shares some of the issues involved and his heart-felt synopsis of what he feels the family did right and wrong. Hospice helped in the end. But he thinks one of the most important decisions was to inform and involve friends early in the process