The Shore Thing Podcast

Anna Hamilton Talks Cook County Topics

Anna Hamilton is well known across Cook County. She's an entrepreneur, has owned multiple businesses in the community, and is never afraid to say how she feels about some of the most important or sensitive topics facing the county.
Anna is playing a key role in addressing the local housing crunch, including the formation of Hamilton Habitat, along with her sister Sarah.
In today's episode, Joe and Steve talk with Anna about housing, drug use in Cook County, what crime does to families and the community, and why Anna has dedicated so much of her time to addressing these topics.

Sam Usem On Local Healthcare and Running For Hospital Board

Sam Usem is a Cook County resident who is interested in local healthcare issues. Sam has been attending meetings of the North Shore Health Hospital Board for many months, including meetings before the situation with Dr. Bruce Dahlman's dismissal from the local hospital.
Sam is intending to run for the District 4 seat on the NSH board in this year's election. The seat is currently held by Kay Olson, who is serving as chair of the board at this time.
In this episode of the podcast, Sam talks with Steve and Joe about local healthcare issues, the hullabaloo at the hospital following Dr. Dahlman's firing, the grassroots Concerned Citizens for Cook County Healthcare group, and other topics related to healthcare in the community.

EDA And HRA Director Talk Housing And Local News

Theresa Bajda and Jason Hale remain relative newcomers to Cook County. Yet, their work addressing local housing and economic issues facing Cook County often have them working alongside "the old guard" of the community. The notion of the old guard refers to people who have been working for many years, decades in most instances, to address some of the community's most pressing needs.
Bajda is the director of the local EDA. Hale is the director of the HRA. They joined Steve and Joe on the podcast to discuss housing, economic diversity, the complexities of living in a small community that relies on tourism to support the economy, and what their experience has been like living in Cook County.

Cook County Commissioner Deb White

Cook County Commissioner Deb White represents the east end of the county. She was first elected in 2022.
White sat down with Joe and Steve to discuss a variety of topics, including the county's capital improvement plan, an upcoming courthouse remodel, and the notion raised recently that "toxic leadership" is impacting the county board of commissioners.

Steve And Joe Discuss The Situation At North Shore Health

The local hospital in Grand Marais continues to make headlines in 2024. Much of the news coverage the past several months focused on the hospital involves the firing of Dr. Bruce Dahlman.
Dahlman was let go Nov. 1. The hospital says Wapiti Medical Staffing, an organization in South Dakota that technically employed Dahlman. Community members have responded with varying degrees of anger, confusion, and concern over Dahlman's dismissal. Others continue to support the hospital administration.
In this episode of the podcast, Joe Friedrichs and Steve Fernlund share analysis on the situation and the community's response.

Cook County Commissioner Dave Mills

In this episode of The Shore Thing Podcast, Steve and Joe talk with Cook County Commissioner Dave Mills. Topics discussed include funding for the Birchwood Apartments in Grand Marais, the North Shore Health hospital hullabaloo, pay increases for the county commissioners, and a marijuana dispensary in Cook County.