There are new VHS rules in effect. The fish disease Viral Hemorrhagic Septicemia was found in Lake Michigan last year. VHS is a deadly fish virus and an invasive species that is threatening Wisconsin's fish. VHS was diagnosed for the first time ever in the Great Lakes as the cause of large fish kills in lakes Huron, St. Clair, Erie, Ontario, and the St. Lawrence River in 2005 and 2006. The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources set up some rules last season to avoid spreading the disease to other bodies of water. The new
VHS rules will allow anglers statewide to keep leftover minnows purchased from a Wisconsin bait dealer and use them in certain conditions. Door County Conservation Warden Chris Kratcha says live fish or water may not be taken away from a landing (that is a rule from last year) but minnows can be used again in the right situation. Kratcha says the new rule in effect should be more accommodating for anglers.
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Kratcha says anglers should not be transporting possibly contaminated water.
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VHS is spread when contaminated water or fish are moved from one body of water to another. The new rules allow anglers who reuse minnows as long as they are not
contaminated. Kratcha says if an angler has filled their bait bucket with water from the bay, they may not use those minnows at Clark Lake or any other body of water. Anglers filling bait buckets with water from the bay may only use that bait in the bay.
In addition, there are other VHS rules created by the DNR:
· People must drain all water from boats and equipment when leaving any state waters or before entering the state over land. Anglers allowed to take live purchased minnows away under other rule provisions may transport the minnows in up to 2 gallons of water. No other fish may be kept in the same container with the minnows. Containers of drinking water don’t need to be drained.
· People who live on a lake or are vacationing at a resort may keep live minnows in submerged or floating containers tethered to a dock or boat. Any unattended containers holding minnows or fish must be labeled with the owner’s name and address.
· May use dead fish, fish eggs or fish parts for bait in certain instances, explained below.
Fresh or frozen fish are okay to use as bait on the water from which it was harvested or on Lake Michigan or Green Bay and their tributaries upstream to the first barrier impassable to fish.
Fish preserved by a method that does not require refrigeration or freezing is okay to use as bait on any water.
· People may not use or possess live fish or live fish eggs for use as bait if obtained outside Wisconsin. Exceptions: bait from Iowa or Minnesota may be used on the Mississippi River "between the tracks" and imported bait may be used if it was imported in compliance with Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection rules.

The opening reception for the 34th Annual Salon of School Art was held Monday night in the Miller Art Museum galleries in Sturgeon Bay. All five Door County high schools and home school students are represented by work in the exhibition that continues through May 27. Art work by 120 high school student artists is featured in the exhibit, according to Miller
Art Museum Director Bonnie Hartman. Work runs the entire spectrum of media, technique, and interpretation to include painting, drawing, photography, sculpture, graphics, jewelry, and ceramics.
An eagerly anticipated event, the student show reflects the high standard of inspired teaching in each school.
Door County is especially fortunate to have such a strong art program in each district, said Hartman. Art teachers in Door County are: George Ouimette, Southern Door; Nicole Herbst, Sturgeon Bay: Tom Hokkanen, Washington Island; Jim Rericha, Sevastopol; and Tom Smith, Gibraltar.
The exhibition is a collaboration between the Museum and the schools and has been an annual event beginning in 1975. The mission of the
Museum has been steadfast in supporting young students by hosting this exciting exhibit.
On Thursday, May 8 at 10:30 am in the Museum, the public is invited to attend a Gallery Talk by Sevastopol High School Art Teacher, James Rericha who will give a presentation on the art curriculum. Interested parents and community members will be intrigued by the depth and breadth of his art program. The Museum opens at 10:00am for viewing the exhibit.
Museum Hours: Mondays 10-8, Tuesday - Saturday 10-5, closed Sundays and holidays. Admission is free, donations appreciated. For more information call 920-746-0707 or email bmam@dcwis.com.You can also visit www.millerartmuseum.org

The Sheriff's Department wrapped up with an investigation involving six burglaries in Northern Door County yesterday. Four of the burglaries occurred at one business in, the other two were at separate businesses. These incidents happened in Ellison Bay and in Sister Bay over the past month.
Door County Sheriff Terry Vogel says the suspects in custody are two adults and one juvenile. The robbers took cash, food and some other miscellaneous items.
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Vogel did not know the value of the items that were stolen. All charges have been forwarded to the District Attorney's Office.

The Gibraltar School Board began a conversation on a revenue limit override referendum for the November 4, 2008 general election ballot for $2,425,000 in 2009-10 and $2,875,000 2010-11. The board began conversation last night and they will continue the talks at the first meeting of May with the intention of approving appropriate resolutions at the May meeting.
Gibraltar Superintendent Dr. Stephen Seyfer said this referendum would aid future education program funding. The Gibraltar Schools are now in their fifth biennial approval of a revenue limit override. That equates to an entire decade of community support and payment of extra tax money to pay for school programming.
The school district is accustomed to voting on school related referendum. A year ago this past November, a referendum for a general revenue limit override for the purpose of educational programs occurred. In addition, last April, the school issued a facilities improvement referendum. Seyfer talked about the timing of the November referendum.
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By doing it in two-year chunks, the board and the community are always able to discuss what is needed rather that predicting needs in the future. The board strategy is always very specific, according to Seyfer.
The school district voted in favor of the last educational programming referendum totaling $1.6 million in year one and $2.0 million for year two. Seyfer talked about how that money was used.
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The Financial Planning and Political Action Committee at Gibraltar Schools believe they offer great programs, high graduation rates, outstanding attendance and spectacular performance on state and college prep tests. Seyfer said if they want to continue to see these results, the district will probably need to do all it can to give students more options in the classroom.
The facilities improvement project referendum provided $4 million over a five-year period. The work for that project will be completed before school begins next year. Residents living in the Gibraltar School District will likely be faced with another referendum decision in November. This time a two-year total of $5.3 million is being requested through a revenue limit override referendum that will allow educational programming to continue at its current pace.

The Sturgeon Bay Police Department used a taser gun to subdue a man that was lunging at officers with a knife Sunday night at about 7:55 p.m. The Police Department responded to a report of an emotionally unstable man at an eastside residence.
As officers entered his home, the man fled and ran outside. The officers pursued on foot. The Sturgeon Bay resident tripped and fell and the officers approached the man. When one of the cops was 3-5 feet away, the man got up with a knife in his hand and lunged at the officer. Law enforcement attempted to use a taser gun. The taser knocked the man down, but he continued to lunge at the officer with the knife. A second officer deployed his taser on the subject and they were then able to take the man into custody. Sturgeon Bay Police Chief Dan Trelka said his officers did a good job of controlling the situation without putting themselves or the emotionally disturbed man in danger.
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Trelka said the officers were expecting the situation to unfold and escalate quickly. With his taser gun drawn, the officer reacted with a non-deadly weapon. Whereas if he had improperly calculated the situation, a firearm could have been drawn on the man who was endangering a police officer..
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The man was in his early twenties and was searched after being taken into custody. Officers found a second knife and several razor blades on him. Trelka said this was a dangerous scenario that played out for his officers.
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The Door County District Attorney will determine the appropriate charges to pursue against the man.

If you have some extra time on Saturdays, Door County Habitat for Humanity needs your help. Habitat is a non-profit organization that helps to provide affordable housing to those who would not normally be able to own their own home. Construction crews are on the jobsites Tuesdays and Thursdays and that means those working full time jobs during the week are not able to help. The Saturday work days means more people can volunteer. Habitat executive director Rick Nelson is excited to see some new faces on the job sites this season. 
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Nelson knows there are many who would like to volunteer for Habitat, but the Tuesday and Thursday work days make that difficult for some people.
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Crews will work on Habitat homes on the second and fourth Saturdays of the month. For information on where to meet, phone the Habitat office in Sturgeon Bay at 743-2869 or email doorhabitat@sbcglobal.net

A wooden mosquito in your front yard will help fight Malaria in Africa. This Rotary Interact project is raising awareness and money to fight Malaria. Interact is a service club for young people age 14-18. The club is sponsored by Rotary. Interact supervisor Ben Rikkola says
Malaria is the number one killer among children. The mosquitoes you see around town will help raise awareness and money.
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More information about the Mosquito Project can be found at the YMCA in Sturgeon Bay. Rikkola says those interested in hosting a mosquito can contact an Interacter or give him a call at the YMCA. Once you've hosted a mosquito, its your job to pass it on to someone else. 
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The Mosquito Project will go until June and the Rotary Interacters are hoping to raise big bucks to save many lives. Funds from the Mosquito Project will be used to purchase mosquito nets for kids in Africa and other parts of the world. For more information on how you can help, please contact Ben Rikkola at the YMCA 743-4949 or brikkola@doorcountyymca.org

This spring season has people ready to help their neighbor. The Volunteer Center of Door County has multiple opportunities for you to meet new people, discover a passion, or learn new skills in a fun and relaxed environment. Contact the Volunteer Center and speak with Chris Henkel or Holly Feldman for more information on volunteer opportunities.
Feldman said the Volunteer Center's website is a valuable tool that more people are utilizing. Contact information, general volunteer opportunities and news is available by visiting them on the web.
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April and May volunteers are needed at Whitefish Dunes. Now is the time to put your love of our environment into action. Call now to help remove invasive
species on any of these dates: April 26th 9 - 11am & 1 - 3 pm, April 28 1- 3pm, and April 29 1- 3 pm. Gloves, safety glasses and identification training provided.
Animal lovers, help is needed with cleaning cat and dog kennels, feeding, and dog walking. You must be at least 18 years old. Volunteers of any age can assist with festivals, brat fries, or shopping days. Volunteer orientations scheduled for April 22, 11:00am-Noon in Sturgeon Bay and May 20, 10am-11am in Sister Bay.
Help to create a magical memory for young children and their caregivers as they journey through the world of wee folk at the Elf & Fairy Tea Party. Lead or assist with an art or science project, be a storyteller, or facilitate dramatic play activities at the Northern Door YMCA on May 13, from 6 pm-7 pm.
Finally, help is needed for the Lighthouse Walk. Staff is needed for the Cana Island lighthouse tower on May 17 & 18. In mid-July, volunteer docents are needed aboard the tug John Purves. Full and half day shifts available for each opportunity. Training is provided.

If you're thinking of growing a vegetable garden this year, you may want to start now. Owner of Briggsville Gardens Richard Briggs says because of our short season, many people get a jump start on their seeds indoors. 
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There are some plants that take time to get going. Tomato and pepper seeds are just a couple many gardeners have already started indoors.
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Gardeners are gearing up for their favorite season right now. Many have been waiting for their seeds to arrive in the mail and others have already started planting indoors. Starting plants indoors is easy. Some soil, water, light and seeds are all you'll need to get started.

To catch a glimpse of Fish Creek from the 1950's and 1960's most would head to the library or internet to see pictures or view paintings. This spring, painter Andrea Kinsey-Jauquet's large-scale works visit the Fish Creek of her childhood during the 50's and 60's in "A Painted History of Fish Creek," on display in the Guenzel Gallery at Peninsula Art School. They are located at 3900 County Highway F in Fish Creek.
The exhibit runs from May 2 through June 14. A reception will be held on Saturday, May 3, from 7-9pm in the Gallery. The exhibit and reception are both free and open to the public.
Kinsey-Jauquet's 18 landscapes and street scenes, in acrylic and oil, are joined by the extensive collection of plein air paintings created by former Fish Creek summer residents and siblings, Alice Apfelbach and Ferdinand Hotz. Apfelbach and Hotz painted during a 50-year time span, from the 1930's through the 1980's.
Relying on memories and photographs of the time, Kinsey-Jauquet paints a more "open" Fish Creek, where fishing boats in the harbor could be seen from almost any point on Main Street.
As a young girl, she bonded with the natural beauty of her hometown, Kinsey-Jauquet said. "Making each painting has brought forth its own story and memories. It has been a rich and rewarding endeavor and in a sense it has preserved Fish Creek."
Kinsey-Jauquet received a grant from the Peninsula Arts Association in 2006 to aid in the completion of many of these works. Also, the timing of the exhibit dovetails with the 150-year celebration of the founding of Fish Creek.
The Peninsula Art School will be handing out a guide to a walking tour of the sites of Kinsey-Jauquet's paintings, as well as other information regarding "A Painted History of Fish Creek."
The Art School will feature free, exhibit-related activities for its Family Day on May 17, from 10am-2pm.
For more information about these events and other PAS workshops, exhibitions, and community programs, call 920-868-3455 or email staff@peninsulaartschool.com.

A number of Door County residents interested in sustainability are excited about the Wisconsin Sustainable Business Conference. The Alliance for Sustainability will hold the conference April 24 and 25 at Northland College in Ashland, Wisconsin. The conference will provide small business owners and managers the opportunity to learn about sustainable business practices, hear practical examples of what can be done within a business and leave with the ability to begin exploring their own goals and initiatives. Owner of Perry's Cherry Diner in Sturgeon Bay Perry Andropolis recently visited a similar convention with a major focus on hydrogen vehicles. He said the Wisconsin Sustainable Business Conference will be another great opportunity for people concerned about our environment to bring great ideas back to the county.
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Additionally, the conference will address the new and changing roles communities can play in setting the stage for a healthier, more sustainable local economy. For more information on the conference, email info@wisustainablebusiness.org or call the Alliance for Sustainability at 715-682-1189. Door County Economic Development Corporation Economic Development Manager Sam Perlman said this is a great conference.
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Keynote speakers will provide extensive combined experience in sustainable business and sustainable community development. John Ikerd, Professor Emeritus of Agricultural Economics with University of Missouri, will discuss issues related to sustainable agriculture with an emphasis on the economics of sustainability. He has authored a number of books on these topics including A Return to Common Sense and Sustainable Capitalism. Bob Willard will deliver messages on the business values of corporate sustainability practices. His books include The Sustainability Advantage and The NEXT Sustainability Wave.

The Door County Sustainability Fair is an opportunity for residents to envision a more sustainable future for Door County. In addition, the fair give people a chance to share ideas for a sustainable society with presentations, exhibits and activities for all ages. Exhibit coordinator Peter Sigmund says this is a very appropriate celebration of Earth Day.
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While the word "sustainability" is being thrown around a lot these days, some people have no idea what it really means.
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There will lots going on at the Sustainability Fair says Sigmund. 
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Learn about sustainability at a special event next Sunday (April 20). Sigmund says this Sustainability Fair is for people of all ages. Lots of information will be available for adults and there will also be plenty of activities for kids. The Door County Sustainability Fair will be Sunday, April 20 from noon until 5:00PM at Crossroads at Big Creek. Admission is free.

The Lakeshore Natural Resource Partnership (LNRP) is holding a Sustaining Our Water - Our Health, Our Livelihoods seminar at the Farm Market Kitchen in Algoma next Saturday. Gary Becker, Mayor of Racine will kick off the half-day forum on the status of water resources in Kewaunee County. He will be joined by local experts from 8:30 am to 1:30 pm. The seminar will begin with coffee and conversations, followed by a series of lectures and panel discussions, and ending with an interactive lunch.
UW Extension Community Development Educator Claire Thompson is coordinating this event with LNRP Executive Director Jim Kettler. Thompson said the seminar is a great opportunity for government officials, community leaders, business professionals, and the interested public to learn more about the challenges of sustaining our waters and potential solutions that can improve our environment, keep our water supply healthy, and sustain the quality of life.
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Mayor Becker will launch the day with a presentation on how the city of Racine has taken on the challenge of closed beaches and poor water quality. Racine has earned national recognition for their accomplishments. Other speakers will be part of two concurrent sessions.
One session will offer Pat Robinson from the UW Extension examining the ecological history of northeastern Wisconsin and our impact on water quality, and Davina Bonness, Kewaunee County’s groundwater specialist discussing the quality of groundwater and education efforts designed to raise awareness of groundwater issues.
The second session will offer Kevin Naze, a local angler and writer and Mike Toneys, retired DNR Fisheries Biologist exploring the state of the Lake Michigan fishery among others. Jim Kettler said the lineup of speakers is impressive.
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At 12:30, the Farm Market Kitchen will provide lunch for $6 per person for those with reservations. For more information, or to make a reservation for lunch, contact Jim Kettler at (920) 693-2199 or jim@lnrp.org
The forum is being sponsored by the Lakeshore Natural Resources Partnership, UW Extension, the Farm Market Kitchen, the Bay-Lake Regional Planning Commission, the Tri-Lakes Association, the League of Women Voters, and Algoma Kewaunee Area Great Lakes Sport Fishermen, Inc.