Ladies in the area are urged to enjoy an evening of Pampering and Practicalities at the Family Centers of Door County's annual Women's Night Out. Executive director Gina Wautier says this evening for women combines health and wellness information with plenty of pampering. 
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Interactive display booths include complimentary chair massages, free paraffin hand treatments, skin care demonstrations, fashion and beauty tips, fitness information, easy creative cooking, breast care education and much more.
Following that, a guest speaker will take the podium to talk about "taking charge of your life through change and taking care of yourself in the process."
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The Door County Family Centers' Pampering and Practicalities evening will be on Friday. The event will be held at Stone Harbor Resort & Conference Center in Sturgeon Bay. The cost to attend this Family Centers event is $35.00 and reservations are required.

The Sturgeon Bay Visitor and Convention Bureau is a busy place even though the tourism season is not at its peak. Director Todd Trimberger is working hard to coordinate a number of fun events that will bring people into the community and get residents involved is their community. Sturgeon Bay does not completely shut down in the winter, on the contrary to common belief from our friends south of the state line. Trimberger is excited about a number of events coming up in the next three months.
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The SBVCB has joined a statewide campaign to get women out of the house and out enjoying what their communities have to offer on the last weekend of April. The Groovin' Sisterhood weekend will feature wine tasting, dance classes, yoga, shopping, a fashion show and a disco party at Stone Harbor. Karen Klement and I will host the disco party on Saturday April 26 from 9:00 p.m. until close.
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Todd Trimberger and the staff are excited about the opportunities visitors and residents will have to get out in Sturgeon Bay and have fun in the upcoming months. For more information on their schedule of events visit http://www.sturgeonbay.net.

People have been talking about what to do with Sturgeon Bay's Little Lake for years now says Park & Recreation Superintendent Bob Bordeau. As steps are taken towards determining Little Lake's future, everyone concerned should attend the informational meeting tomorrow. Bordeau stepped into the superintendent position in 2000 and he says people were talking about this topic since before he took on the role. Lots of talk went on during those first few years but nothing serious came of it says Bordeau. 
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That study is underway right now says Bordeau. A contractor was hired over the summer to evaluate Little Lake during 2008 and the early part of 2009.
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To learn more about Sturgeon Bay's Little Lake, you are invited to attend an informational meeting tomorrow. A question and answer segment will follow. The Little Lake meeting will begin at 6:00PM at Crossroads at Big Creek.

Door and Kewaunee county residents have been opening their pocket books for a homeless shelter in Green Bay. New financial advisor in Sturgeon Bay Jim Strutz works with the St. John the Evangelist Church. He has been amazed with the number of supporters that make their home on the Door Peninsula. The homeless shelter provides care from 6:00 p.m. until 7:00 a.m. and gets the homeless off the streets during the cold of the night. Strutz talked about what St. John's is able to provide.
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The program started three years ago when the church noticed an overflow of homeless people in need in downtown Green Bay. The program hit home with the Sturgeon Bay financial advisor. He was volunteering at the facility when he ran into a former business acquaintance that had fallen on hard times and was in need of the shelter's care.
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Strutz said homelessness is more of a real concern than many of us will ever realize. Last night alone Strutz said there were 42 people at the shelter. Good will donations are accepted as well as calls and letters of encouragement. Items like carpet, blankets, old clothes and toiletries are always welcome. The St. John the Evangelist’s Homeless Shelter is on 425 St. John Street in Green Bay, WI 54301. You can get in touch with them at (920) 436-6380.

If you are semi or fully retired, Door County Learning in Retirement challenges you to exercise your mind (and body). LIR will begin another semester soon and Curriculum Committee Chair Linda Berns says courses are filling up quickly.
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Courses are held at Northeast Wisconsin Technical College and usually take place between 10AM and 3PM, although times vary. Courses this semester include titles like; Flower Arranging, Current Events, Conflict & Religion, What's Hot In Mystery, Organic Gardening, Basic Vehicle Care and Bonobos, Belgian Congo. Those are only a few of the 51 courses that were made available this semester. Berns says LIR is a great way to learn about many interesting topics as well as make some new friends.
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You must be a member to attend Door County Learning in Retirement courses. An annual membership is $50 or $35 for a semester. Course catalogues can be found at the YMCA, Door County libraries, NWTC and the Senior Center. The first course of the semester will be on January 28.

After the Green bay Packers failed to win in the NFC Championship last night, there is concern for more cold weather in Northeast Wisconsin. The Packers issued a number of recommendations for fans to stay warm but the cold temperatures are sticking around for a while. Here is a quick look at what needs to be done to stay warm in sub zero temperatures.
 Dress appropriately: Hypothermia and frostbite can occur even without subzero temperatures. Wear loose, dry layers, but don’t overdress. Give yourself the opportunity to shed layers to adjust to weather changes. Try a mix of cotton or wool underneath, with something waterproof on top.
Put a hat on: Most body heat, about 40 percent, is lost through the head, so wear a hat.
Try mittens instead of gloves: Mittens will offer more warmth to your hands than gloves.
Wear comfortable, waterproof, insulated boots: This will help prevent hypothermia or frostbite by keeping feet dry and warm.
Drink warm beverages: Drink something warm, not hot.
Alcohol: Alcoholic beverages prevent the body from generating heat and can cause dehydration, which leaves one more susceptible to cold weather. As always, please drink in moderation.
Watch for warning signs: Learn the signs of hypothermia, including severe shivering, dizziness, drowsiness and confusion. Watch for signs of frostbite, such as grayish, white or yellowed skin, pain or numbness or waxy skin. Get medical attention immediately if you notice any of these symptoms.
Get out of wet clothes immediately: Get out of your wet clothing and warm up using a blanket. Drink warm fluids but don’t immediately jump into a steaming hot shower or bath.
Whether you're shoveling snow, riding a snowmobile or playing outside in the winter season, this information could save you from severe frostbite or hypothermia.

Countless families were made homeless by the Great Depression of the 1930s. Images of the jobless are forever etched in our historical memories.. But the Dust Bowl was equally devastating as families left their homes, many submerged in sand, and wandered the roads that led to California and jobs. But it was not to be. Despondent, hungry, dressed in rags, it was the story of the dust bowl victims that John Steinbeck brought to life in his epic American novel “The Grapes of Wrath.”

Funded by an Endowment for the Arts Grant, with additional support from the Ray Brook Foundation and the Friends of Door County Library, The Great Read under the auspices of Peninsula Players Theatre is presenting a month-long schedule of activities related to “The Grapes of Wrath” and the community has responded with resounding enthusiasm.

“This has been an amazing collaboration between all of the different organizations within Door County. It was wonderful to see them all coming together,” said event coordinator Alan Kopishke, Peninsula Players Development Director. “And we still have two more weeks of Big Read activities.”

Book discussions for all ages, a concert featuring the music of Woody Guthrie, a reading of the play version of “The Grapes of Wrath,” and an environmental discussion of the dust bowl are among the remaining Big Read events. “The Grapes of Wrath: A Visual Story,” an exhibit hosted by the Fairfield Center for Contemporary Art in Sturgeon Bay, will continue through March 1. The first screening of the 1940s film version of the novel starring Henry Fonda will be held this afternoon at the Sister Bay Library at 1 pm. The film will also be screened on January 22nd in the Sturgeon Bay Library, and January 26 at Third Avenue Playhouse.

“There are a few free copies available at some of the libraries,” Kopishke said, “and there are a number of book discussions still coming up. So it isn’t too late. But even if you don’t read the book, attend one of the meetings.” All Big Read events and activities are free and open to the public.

For a complete schedule of Big Read events visit www.peninsulaplayers.com. Kopishke also requests participants of any events complete the online survey.