Our Town

(First airdate: May 8, 2018) PARTY TIME AT THE MARITIME CENTER. Our Town Host Maryanne McNellis interviews Angela Hewitson, the Community Engagement Coordinator at the Northwest Maritime Center. That tongue-twister title means that Angela is in charge of running down a list of some 1,400 “active volunteers” and getting about 500 of them lined up for the annual Wooden Boat Festival. She’s also helping out with the R2AK race, now in its fourth year. Hopefully Angela’s love of woodworking and her hospitality industry background will help her bring off the parties (and, yes, the Festival too).

(First airdate: April 24, 2018) MATT WALLACE: A VIEW FROM THE ROOF TOPS. Our Town Host Maryanne McNellis interviews Matt Wallace, the new owner of Hope Roofing. Matt’s a long-time roofer but new at running a business the size of Hope Roofing. He has backing from a group of private investors known as LION (Local Investing Opportunities Network). Matt wants to continue and expand this local institution – a company that’s been roofing the peninsula since 1977.

(First airdate: April 10, 2018) TICK, TOCK: IT’S FATHER TIME. Our Town Host Maryanne McNellis interviews Bob Farr, the guy behind Father Time Clock Repair. Super-mechanic Bob worked his way from cars to jet planes and finally to grandfather & cuckoo clocks. Every clock has a story, he says, if only they could talk about the generations they have watched. One peninsula clock dates back to 1741. That family has the multigenerational story memorized. Some clocks he worked on came from the great sailing vessels, some are more modest family mantle clocks. But all are lovingly restored.

(First airdate: March 27, 2018) AUDITOR ROSE ANN CARROLL – A HEAD FOR NUMBERS. Our Town Host Maryanne McNellis interviews Rose Ann Carroll, Jefferson County’s Auditor. Marriage licenses, car registration and taxes on your home are all handled by the Auditor’s office. Perhaps one of her most complex responsibilities is handling all elections from small county elections to the presidential races. Rose Ann has her fingers on the pulse of Jefferson County – a county that has seen the 60+ age category increase by over 25% since 2010.

(First airdate: March 13, 2018) SHIPWRIGHT MARTIN MILLS – A PASSION FOR BOAT BUILDING. Our Town Host Maryanne McNellis interviews Martin Mills, who is one of the 12 partners in the Port Townsend Shipwrights Co-op. Not everyone realizes that there are as many – if not more – people employed down at the Boat Haven than at the Mill. The maritime trades are a key underpinning of the local economy. The Co-op’s business model means these skilled tradesmen share in things like rent, bookkeeping and even many tools. All receive an hourly wage and if there’s an annual profit, it’s shared.

(First airdate: February 27, 2018) JOHNPAUL DAVIES – A TASTY MARITIME TRADE AT KEY CITY. Our Town Host Maryanne McNellis interviews Johnpaul Davies, owner of Key City Fish Company. As a young man fishing in Alaska, Davies had no idea he’d end up running a successful fish (& meat) operation in Western Washington. His skills as a salesman meshed with his knowledge of how to cut, handle and display seafood. It’s a much more complex job than you might think. Even his nuclear physicist father was impressed.

(First airdate: February 13, 2018) SHERIFF STANKO: ALIGNING COMMUNITY & COPS. Our Town Host Maryanne McNellis interviews Sheriff Dave Stanko, who explains his mission to improve and humanize the police force in Jefferson County. During his first term, Stanko – who ran and won without the support of either major political party – has ambitiously revamped the sheriff’s office. He set up a Citizen’s Advisory Panel; sent officers into the schools; arranged for “coffee with a cop” meetings, and even put his entire force through extensive training sessions.

(First airdate: January 16, 2018) TOASTING THE TOWN: JUDY LUNDGREN, HILLTOP TAVERN. Our town host Maryanne McNellis talks with Judy Lundgren, co-owner of the Hilltop Tavern, one of the few authentic taverns left around the region. As drinking habits have changed, so has the tavern. Judy’s been doing charity bingo nights for about 20 years now – raising tens of thousands of dollars for community causes. Music events range from honky tonk to punk or metal. And now she’s added a ‘painting night’ where a local artist coaches people to create their own masterpiece.

(First airdate: January 2, 2018) CAPTAIN PETE TALKS WHALES & THE VIBRANT PORT BUSINESS. Our Town Host Maryanne McNellis interviews Pete Hanke, owner of Puget Sound Express and a Commissioner for the Port of Port Townsend. PSE will add another high-speed boat to its fleet this spring as the public’s appetite for whale watching continues to grow. Meanwhile, the Port is grappling with multiple issues including a failing breakwater at Port Hudson. Marine trades are an economic underpinning for the region, with jobs at the Boat Haven rivaling the number of jobs at the Mill. Port Commissioners want to make sure there will be a steady flow of educated young tradesmen for this seafaring town.