The Port Townsend Main Street Program held its annual membership event at the Old Whiskey Mill Jan. 23, awarding the titles of “Main Street Champion,” “Volunteer of the Year” and “Collaborator of the Year.”

The Jefferson County Historical Society, home to the Jefferson Museum of Art and History, was named the 2019 “Main Street Collaborator of the Year.” Under the leadership of Shelly Leavens, the Jefferson County Historical Society was commended as an excellent collaborator with the Port Townsend Main Street Program and Olympic Peninsula Steam on projects such as the Port Townsend Self-Guided Architectural Tour, the new Haunted Histories & Mysteries event last year, and a new city of Port Townsend wayfinding project.

Kris Nelson was named the “Main Street Champion” for her support of the Main Street Program, having served on its board since 2014, and as its president for the past three years. Nelson runs four businesses with 70 employees, and also helps raise funds for the Port Townsend Main Street Communications and Marketing Plan for the Water Street Enhancement Project, which won the Outstanding Special Project Award from the Washington State Main Street Program in 2019.

Nelson also helped plan and raise funds for the Main Street Winter Lighting Project, funded through the city of Port Townsend Lodging Tax Advisory Committee, and she’s been very involved in the development of the Creative Districts Project, which will support Port Townsend’s year-round economy through sustainable jobs in the arts and creative industries.

As for the “Port Townsend Main Street Volunteer of the Year,” Pam Gill has been a special event volunteer for the past three years, driving in from Chimacum to volunteer, and setting up hundreds of chairs for Concerts on the Dock, in addition to serving as a door person for the shows. She’s volunteered at Main Street meetings, the Main Street Downtown Trick-or-Treat, and at Main Street’s Girls’ Night Out, and was cited for her “positive spirit, kind heart and friendly, helpful attitude.”