The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources has Door and Kewaunee counties listed in the high danger level for the risk of wildfires as of Monday afternoon.  Arid conditions and high winds have most of the state under a very high or high fire danger.  Six wildfires were reported in the state in recent days, and the fire danger ratings describe the potential for a fire to start and the intensity it would spread in the wildland.  Southern Door Fire Department Chief Rich Olson says it is advisable to avoid outdoor burning until the dry and windy conditions change.

The weather forecast calls for more rain this weekend, but windy conditions are expected on Friday and Saturday. The DNR provides more information on the fire danger levels in Wisconsin and safety tips here.

You could see over a dozen cruise ships come to Algoma again this summer after welcoming hundreds of guests last year. Viking Cruises already has eight days on the calendar in 2024, from May 29^th to October 1^st. Two other cruise liners are also considering stops in the lakeshore community. Last year, dozens of volunteers helped guide day trips into Green Bay and Door County while community members welcomed guests carrying free bags passed out by the chamber. Algoma Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Rosemary Paladini believes the city has established its standing as a friendly place to visit, and it is already paying dividends beyond the additional cruise stops in 2024.

Paladini says they are currently recruiting volunteers to assist in welcoming visitors. Below is the current schedule of cruise ships stopping in Algoma this summer.

Viking Cruise Algoma, WI Port Visits 2024 and Approximate Arrival & Departure Times

Wednesday, May 29, 2024: Viking Octantis (Direction: Toronto to Duluth), 0800-1800/ 8 AM – 6 PM CT

Tuesday, June 11, 2024: Viking Octantis (Direction: Duluth to Toronto), 0700-1500/ 7 AM – 3 PM CT

Friday, July 12, 2024: Viking Polaris (Direction: Toronto to Duluth), 0800-1800/ 8 AM – 6 PM CT

Thursday, July 25, 2024: Viking Polaris (Direction: Duluth to Toronto), 0700-1500/ 7 AM – 3 PM CT

Wednesday, August 7, 2024: Viking Octantis (Direction: Toronto to Duluth), 0800-1800/ 8 AM – 6 PM CT

Tuesday, August 20, 2024: Viking Octantis (Direction: Duluth to Toronto), 0700-1500/ 7 AM – 3 PM CT

Wednesday, September 18, 2024: Viking Octantis (Direction: Toronto to Duluth), 0800-1800/ 8 AM – 6 PM CT

Tuesday, October 1, 2024: Viking Octantis (Direction: Duluth to Toronto), 0700-1500/ 7 AM – 3 PM CT

Arrival and departure times are subject to change depending on weather conditions.

Engaging the local workforce, unifying equitable housing efforts, improving mental health, and building an engaged and supportive sober community are the goals of the 2023-2025 Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP) released this week by the Door County Public Health Department. The Community Health Assessment and its corresponding plan are a requirement of every public health department in the state to be updated every five years. For Door County, that means navigating a process that started during a global pandemic and weathered staffing changes. Public Health Strategist Shauna Blackledge says one of the essential aspects of this CHIP is the collaboration, incorporating 25 individuals across more than a dozen organizations. Blackledge adds that the buy-in from so many shows that physical health is a tiny part of someone’s overall health.

Each one of the CHIP’s four goals is marked by multiple strategies to help achieve them by the end of 2025. You can click this link to read the CHIP online now or pick up a hard copy at one of the many partner organizations, such as the Door County YMCA, Door County Library, United Way of Door County, and more after April 25th. 

Organizations across the country are celebrating National Volunteer Week, and it is not just the humans who are saying thank you. The Wisconsin Humane Society and its campuses across the state rely on volunteers inside and outside their shelters. For some volunteers, it is as simple as taking them for walks and cleaning cages. For others, it requires welcoming a pet into their house to give them a respite from the shelter and prepare them for their forever home. Tanya Ditzman from the Wisconsin Humane Society says that, like many organizations, volunteers make their mission possible.

In addition to celebrating National Volunteer Week, the Wisconsin Humane Society-Door County Campus is preparing for its annual rummage sale next week. You can donate items to be sold during the sale on May 2nd from 4 to 8 p.m. at Arle Memorial Hall in Sturgeon Bay. The sale will also take place on May 3rd and 4th. 

Picture courtesy of Wisconsin Humane Society

Little Leaguers and their families enjoying games at Red River County Park in northern Kewaunee County will see some improvements soon. After its organizational meetings, the Kewaunee County Board will vote to accept a donation from the Dyckesville Lions Club and approve a donation agreement for a concession stand addition at the park. The measure received unanimous support at the Kewaunee County Finance and Public Property Committee meeting earlier this month. The approximately $15,000 addition will be attached to the existing pavilion, providing more indoor space to provide concessions. During the previous meeting, Kewaunee County Promotions and Recreation Director Dave Myers and Committee Chairperson Tom Romdenne both commented on how much use the park receives.

The organizational meeting will elect a new chairperson and vice-chairperson and divide up new committee assignments. Doak Baker, Paul Zeitler, and Wendy Shelton are the newest faces on the Kewaunee County Board after they replaced the retiring Dennis Langteau, Douglas Doell, and John Mastalir.

Almost everywhere you look, and everywhere you go, there seems to be an area where construction is taking place in Door County.

The Wisconsin Department of Transportation announced its annual bridge maintenance schedule for Door County. The Bayview Bridge in Sturgeon Bay will be closed on Monday, April 22, from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., and the Maple/Oregon Bridge in Sturgeon Bay will be closed on Tuesday, April 23, from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Sturgeon Bay City Engineer Chad Shefchik provided an update on the various construction projects around the city. Contractors started pouring all of the curbing and sidewalks to reconstruct the N 2nd Ave parking lot (between Michigan Street and Louisiana Street), and the concrete work was completed early this week. Motorists are encouraged to use the parking lot along N 2nd Ave between Louisiana Street and Kentucky Street as an alternative until the restoration work is completed.

Shefchik’s update also included the concrete work schedule for the following efforts:

Concrete cutting started yesterday on:

• N 12th Place (from Bluebird Street to Eagle Street)
• Eagle Street (from N 12th Place to N 12th Place)

After these roadways are completed cutting will begin on:

• W Maple Street (from Bayfield Ave to Baraboo Ave)
• N Fulton Ave (from W Hickory Street to W Juniper Street)
• N 17th Drive (from Michigan Street to Jefferson Place
• Kentucky Place (from N 16th Place to N 17th Drive)
• Louisiana Place (from N 16th Place to N 17th Drive)
• N 16th Place (from Louisiana Place to Kentucky Place)
• N 16th Drive (from Louisiana Place to Kentucky Place)

The contractor is currently removing concrete on:

• Huron Street (from N 14th Place to N 15th Place)
• Huron Court (from Huron Street to N 15th Place)
• N 15th Place (from Huron Street to Georgia Street)

After they are done in these areas they will head to the roadways being cut listed above.

Concrete removals where completed this week on:

• N 18th Place (from Georgia Street to Jefferson Drive)
• Jefferson Drive (from N 18th Place to N 18th Ave)
• Iowa Street (from N 18th Place to N 18th Ave)

The pouring crews will be headed to these streets after they complete the concrete work on at the N 2nd Ave parking lot.

Shefchik asks motorists to avoid these areas if possible to keep the area clear for construction workers and to limit congestion.

Further north, work on Wisconsin 42 continues with more culvert pipe work and grading of the roadway near Monument Point. You will also see crews start to milling and asphalt paving as well. The highway is closed to through traffic between the WIS 42/57 Mid Junction and County T, but local traffic will be maintained using flagging operations. You are considered local traffic if you live, shop, or work inside the closed area, and it can only be accessed by Wisconsin 42. Highway improvements are expected to be done by the end of June, but it will be open to all traffic for the Memorial Day and Juneteenth holidays.

You can root, root, root for your favorite Door County League team with the comfort of knowing that a lifesaving device is nearby. On Friday, the Door County League announced that it has raised enough money to outfit all its baseball diamonds with Automated External Defibrillators for the 2024 season. League officials began the push last year after a Maplewood Mets pitcher took a line drive ball square to his chest. On-site athletic trainers and nurses ensured a happy ending to the story, but it alerted team officials and fans about the need to have AEDs on–site. DCL teams raised $9,000 through different methods to purchase an AED for each of the eight fields. It was an essential effort for Sister Bay/Liberty Grove Fire Chief Chris Hecht, who not only led his own campaign in the county to install AEDs at businesses and public places but also has a son who plays on the Sister Bay Bays.

Since most of the parks also host other events, the use of the AEDs will be open to everyone. The AEDs will be in place for the DCL’s opening day on May 12th, including a rematch of last year’s playoff championship between Washington Island and Sister Bay that will air live on 105.1 The GOAT. You can click this link for the full DCL schedule, including our broadcasts on 105.1 The GOAT.

You can have your mom saluted with the Women’s Fund of Door County’s Mother’s Day feature coming next month.  The Women’s Fund is planning to recognize women's vital role in the Door County community.  Board member Abby Grommet says the feature post selected photos and quotes about Door County women that were submitted to the Women’s Fund of Door County’s Facebook page beginning the week of May 12.  She says Mother’s Day is an extraordinary day to honor women in our lives, whether in the traditional sense of a mom or as a grandma, an aunt, a sister, a mentor, or someone else who has impacted your life.

Grommet encourages you to submit photos and quotes to recognize the remarkable woman in your life.  Submissions to honor the mother figure in your life can be emailed to womensfund@givedoorcounty.org or sent as a Facebook message by Friday, May 10.  This weekend, the Women’s Fund of Door County is working with Northern Sky Theater to present the “Tales of our Lives” event at the Gould Theater in Fish Creek at 7 p.m. Saturday, with five women story slammers sharing their stories with a musical accompaniment.  

At Crossroads at Big Creek, we are celebrating the predictable progression of the seasons.

“The boom and bust of the seasons has produced much variation in animal and plant life resulting in complex ecosystems,” wrote Russell Foster, a professor of circadian neuroscience at the University of Oxford and co-author of "Seasons of Life"

Without seasons, he wrote, there would be “fewer species with much less diversity in form and behavior. It is also possible that life would not exist at all. Because the Earth had a huge diversity of life-forms, there has always been some form of life that has been able to bounce back after major extinction events.”  [note: Biodiversity is more important than most of us realize.

Foster also explained that the seasons shaped our ecosystems and by extension, human history.

If we did not have seasons, we would not have deciduous trees…think fuel and building materials and fruits and nuts.

If we did not have seasons, we would not have annual (cold season dependent)  plants so agriculture as we know it would not have been possible. And agriculture was absolutely necessary to support increasing human populations, and for the establishment of cities, thus the development of advanced civilizations (but alas, also of wars).  And on and on. Pondering the “what ifs” of our Earth without  seasons boggles the imagination.

But even on a small, peninsula-sized scale, the progression of the seasons shapes our lives.  On Tuesday,  April 29 at 6:30, The Door County Master Gardeners and Wild Ones-Door Peninsula, are bringing Charlotte Lukes  to present “Seasons of Nature in Door County.” She will discuss wildlife and plants in the four seasons. A special feature will be some aerial photos that her late husband Roy took 20 years ago of some state parks, The Ridges Sanctuary and the islands at the northern tip of the peninsula.

On the last Wednesday of the month, the  Crossroads Book Club will gather around the fireplace to  discuss “Rooted, Life at the Crossroads of Science, Nature and Spirit” by Lyanda Lynn Haupt.  This collection of essays,  as the book jacket states: “is cutting-edge science that supports the truth that poets, authors, mystics, and earth-based cultures have proclaimed over the millennia.” Not surprisingly, this book repeatedly describes how plants and wildlife respond to the ratio of daylight to night and the resultant progression of the seasons.

On Wednesday, May 1, the Door County Library in collaboration with the Door County Master Gardeners, the Seed Library and Crossroads will host a watch party for a live-stream webinar featuring nationally-known and Wisconsin-based horticulturist Melinda Myers called “Ornamental Fruits and Vegetables”. Growing varieties of these season-dependent plants that are both ornamental and productive will increase the nutritional value and beauty of a landscape.  

To help people learn more about how wildlife responds to the seasons,  on Thursday, May 2 at 6:00, Joel Vos, Refuge Manager of the  Green Bay and Gravel Island National Wildlife Refuges will present a program called “Green Bay’s Wildlife Refuges.” The presentation will discuss the important federal wildlife and habitat conservation work going on in Door County on the federally managed islands that make up the two refuges and the Wisconsin Islands Wilderness Area, and the historic preservation efforts ongoing at Plum and Pilot Islands.

The community is welcome to celebrate the changing seasons by exploring the trails of  Crossroads' three preserves all day, any day free of charge.  

Wednesday, April 24                                                                                                                 

10:00 Crossroads Book Club

Gather around the Learning Center fireplace to  discuss “Rooted, Life at the Crossroads of Science, Nature and Spirit” by Lyanda Lynn Haupt. This collection of essays,  as the book jacket states: “is cutting-edge science that supports the truth that poets, authors, mystics, and earth-based cultures have proclaimed over the millennia.” You need not have read the book to attend. Free and open to the public. Meet at the Collins Learning Center,  Crossroads, 2041 Michigan Sturgeon Bay.

Saturday, April 27

10:00 Family Program: Science Saturday-Fossils

Learn a bit about how Door County fossils were formed and then, pick up some tips and tricks for picking up fossils. Weather permitting, the learners of all ages will venture outside for a real fossil hunt, so dress for the weather. Each participating family  will receive a free Door County fossil pamphlet. Free and open to the public. Meet at the Collins Learning Center. Crossroads, 2041 Michigan Street, Sturgeon Bay.  

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Tuesday, April 30

6:30 Master Gardener/Wild Ones Lecture: “ Nature through the Four Seasons”

Join Charlotte Lukes and travel through Door County to see stunning images of wildlife from spring to winter including wildflowers, trees and birds along with some animals, insects, reptiles and mushrooms. There will be a few aerial photos of our parks and preserves as well. Sponsored by Door County Master Gardeners, Wild Ones-Door Peninsula and Crossroads at Big Creek. Free and open to the public. Meet at the Collins Learning Center, Crossroads, Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin.

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Wednesday, May 1

6:30 Webinar Watch Party: Ornamental Fruits and Vegetables with gardening expert & author Melinda Myers

Increase the nutritional value and beauty of your landscape by incorporating attractive fruits and vegetables into your landscape, garden beds, and containers. Growing varieties that are both ornamental and productive increases the opportunities for creating a beautiful space right outside your door. We will look at new and proven fruit and vegetable varieties suited to both gardens and containers.  Sponsored by Door County Library, Seed Library and the Door County Master Gardeners.  Free and open to the public. Meet in the Lecture Hall of the Collins Learning Center, Crossroads 2041 Michigan, Sturgeon Bay.

Thursday, May 2

6:00 Lecture: Green Bays Wildlife Refuges“

With family-friendly outdoor adventure, fascinating cultural sites, and state and federal public lands ready to be explored, Door County, Wisconsin is special for many reasons. But, did you know that Door County is home to 2 National Wildlife Refuges, and a federally designated Wilderness Area? Join Refuge Manager, Joel Vos, from Green Bay and Gravel Island National Wildlife Refuges for a presentation about the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), the Green Bay and Gravel Island National Wildlife Refuges. The presentation will discuss the important federal wildlife and habitat conservation work going on in Lake Michigan, the federally managed islands that make up the two refuges and the Wisconsin Islands Wilderness Area, and the historic preservation efforts ongoing at Plum and Pilot Islands. Part of the 570 refuges across the nation, you'll leave with a better understanding of the important work the USFWS does as part of the rich conservation traditions of Wisconsin and Door County. Free and open to the public. Lecture hall, Collins Learning Center, Crossroads, 2041 Michigan Sturgeon Bay.

You can help make Door County greener, and it won’t cost you anything when the Ephraim Green Tier hosts the Big Plant at the end of the month.  Member Cindy Nelson says the annual event is part of a county-wide initiative to see 8,000 trees given away during the weeklong campaign.  The Ephraim Green Tier has given away over 500 trees in the past five years, and the Climate Change Coalition of Door County coordinates the event.  Nelson explains why the tree giveaway is so important and helpful to the Door County environment.

Nelson notes the native trees that will be given away are three-year-old balsam fir, red pine, and white pine varieties.  She adds that the trees usually go fast and that you can preorder your trees by emailing cindyandbruce@gmail.com.   The Ephraim Green Tier Big Plant will be held from 11:30 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. on Tuesday, April 30 at the Ephraim Village Hall on Water Street. 

Here are the other locations in Door County that is hosting the "Big Plant"

The Climate Change Coalition is planning "Every Day is Earth Day" activities for the next week as Earth Day is officially on Monday, April 22.  You can find a complete list of events happening throughout Door County here. 

Be prepared now for the sticker shock coming next year from the Wisconsin Public Service.

Earlier this week, Wisconsin Public Service announced that it had filed a proposal with the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin for new customer rates for electricity and natural gas. WPS expects the average residential electric bill will increase by $11-$12 a month in 2025 and $3-$4 for natural gas if the rate increases are approved. WPS says the increases will help the company’s efforts to reduce customer outages, build the infrastructure needed to support jobs and economic growth in Wisconsin, and meet new Environmental Protection Agency rules. According to WPS, typical electric bills in Wisconsin fall in line with the rest of the Midwest and well below the national average ($112.59 in Wisconsin vs. $138.90 nationally, according to SaveOnEnergy.com). WPS customers will learn more about the specific impact of these increases in May, and the PSCW will conduct hearings on the proposals before making a final decision. If approved, the new rates would take effect in January 2025.

You are encouraged to sign up for Kewaunee County's latest round of well testing. In January, UW-Stevens Point groundwater education specialist Kevin Masarik shared with the Kewaunee County Land and Water Conservation Committee his findings of a study that showed many residents have nitrate levels in their water above the state average despite improvements in recent years. His data came from Kewaunee County's latest round of testing in October. At the committee's meeting earlier this month, Land and Water Conservation Department Director Davina Bonness said they would still have the program despite not having the funding to make it free as it has been in recent rounds.

Thanks to community donations, you can purchase a homeowner kit that tests for bacteria, nitrates, alkalinity, and chlorides for $30. The test date is May 13th, and you have until May 10th to register.

If you are looking for housing in Door County but still need to qualify for conventional financing, a group of organizations and businesses is offering you an opportunity to learn more about how it can still be accomplished. Money Management Counselors, NeighborWorks Green Bay, Partners for Community Development, Workforce Housing Lending Corporation, Shorewest Realtors, and CrossCountry Mortgage organized the 90-minute seminar to address some of the questions many in the housing market face. According to the Wisconsin Realtors Association, a mild winter aided the growth in housing inventory across the state in February. The statewide median price still went up 5.7 percent to $275,000 over the last 12 months. When coupled with higher mortgage rates, the Wisconsin Housing Affordability Index fell 7.4 percent between February 2023 and February 2024. 

Housing had been a significant issue in Door County for several years, prompting a study by the Door County Economic Development Corporation in 2019. The study showed a countywide shortage, especially in affordable housing. Sturgeon Bay is addressing their shortage by teaming up with a developer to build several homes with the stipulation that they be reserved for people who are working in the county. Sister Bay hosted a meeting in January addressing its affordable housing concerns.

Realtor Carri Busse hopes with an extra knowledge that buyers and renters that do not qualify for conventional financing can still be successful.

The seminar will provide an update on the housing market in Door County and highlight community resources that are available such as lending programs, down payment assistance, and more. The event takes place at Stone Harbor Resort on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

Picture courtesy of Pixabay

Affordable housing and the environment are two areas you will hear more about as a part of a destination stewardship plan presented on Wednesday. This results from a community-driven process with residents, business leaders, and other stakeholders sharing their vision with Destination Door County leadership. Destination Door County President and CEO Julie Gilbert says the plan's goal is to help guide tourism strategy and investment and identify opportunities for the county’s 19 distinctive communities and its business leaders to take advantage of in the future. She adds that in many discussions, they have confirmed issues they already knew and placed extra urgency on addressing them.

Gilbert says many destination communities like Door County around the world are developing similar plans because of the challenges they are all facing. The community presentation will begin at 9 a.m. on Wednesday at the Kress Pavilion in Egg Harbor and will be live-streamed via Zoom at this link. It will also be available on-demand at this link after April 24th.

According to a Wisconsin Rapids Daily Tribune report, Luxemburg-Casco may become the next local school district to hop on the superintendent carousel. The publication listed Luxemburg-Casco Superintendent Jo-Ellen Fairbanks and Wisconsin Rapids Lincoln High School Principal Ronal Rasmussen as finalists for the soon-to-be-open superintendent position in the Wisconsin Rapids School District. Its current superintendent, Craig Broeren, resigned in February after being named St. Croix Falls's new superintendent. Fairbanks became Luxemburg-Casco’s fifth superintendent in July 2022 and guided the district through its first operational referendum vote this month. The Wisconsin Rapids School District expects to decide at its May 13th school board meeting.

The area has seen one superintendent hired and another resign in 2024. Southern Door filled its open superintendent position when it named Kevin Krutzik to the role in February. On Wednesday, the Sevastopol School Board accepted the resignation of its superintendent, Kyle Luedtke.

Something rare and something brand new were among the highlights at the Door County Economic Development Corporation Annual Meeting held in Sturgeon Bay on Wednesday.

John Asher, who has worked at Roen Salvage since he was a teenager working in the family business since he was 16, and has been involved in other efforts throughout the county, including the Door County Maritime Museum, was given the lifetime achievement award. He became the fourth business owner to earn the award since 1978.  On the opposite spectrum, Southern Door senior Sophia Counard received the inaugural Door County Youth Apprentice scholarship award because of her work at Destination Sturgeon Bay. Amy LaBott received the Light Keeper Award for a woman, minority, or veteran-owned business as the operator of the county’s two Ace Hardware stores in Sister Bay and Sturgeon Bay. Just In Time Corporation, a Sturgeon Bay-based manufacturer, received the Lighthouse Established Business of the Year Award, while Peter Gentry of One Barrel Brewing Company was honored with the Range Light Award for emerging business.

“DCEDC is delighted to recognize the outstanding contributions of these individuals and organizations to the Door County community," said Michelle Lawrie, Executive Director of DCEDC. "The stories of this year's award winners are a source of inspiration for our organization's Board of Directors, staff and investors toward DCEDC’s mission to enhance the economy and quality of life in Door County."

MORE ABOUT THE WINNERS

Sophia Counard – Youth Apprentice of the Year
Sophia Counard, a senior at Southern Door High School, was awarded a $1,000 scholarship from the DCEDC Board of Directors as Youth Apprentice of the Year for her work at Destination Sturgeon Bay. Her first experience as a Youth Apprentice, Sophia quickly learned to manage key community events, such as the Moo-La-La three-week holiday shopping promotion. Filling a key role on the Destination Sturgeon Bay team, Sophia has exceeded all expectations. Sophia will be attending UW-Stevens Point in the fall of 2024.
 

Amy LaBott, Door County Hardware – Women, Minority or Veteran Owned Business of the Year
Following in the footsteps of her grandfather, father and uncle, Amy LaBott has taken the reins at Door County Hardware, making it her own. Over the past two years she has not only expanded her business in a new location, but rejuvenated her former location into leasable spaces in the heart of Sturgeon Bay and taken over a new location in Sister Bay. Amy is also deeply involved in philanthropic efforts, including a partnership with Habitat for Humanity.
 

One Barrel Brewing Company – Emerging Business of the Year
Peter Gentry started brewing beer with a home brew kit he bought for his father, and opened his first small brewery in Madison in 2012. In just five years, Peter and his wife Jennifer have made One Barrel Brewing Company a staple, year-round destination in Egg Harbor. Now calling Sturgeon Bay home, the Gentry’s are heavily involved in the community where they are raising their two children and are ambassadors for everything Door County.
 

Just In Time Corporation – Established Business of the Year
Operating now for more than three decades, Just In Time Corporation began in the corner of Rick Jeanquart’s garage. Even in the face of such growth, their customer-centric model remains at the core of the business. Led by Rick and his three children – Collin, Chis and Melanie – Just In Time Corporation serves a varieties of industries in Door County, including Original Equipment Manufacturers, Maritime and Food Service industries.
 

John Roen Asher – Lifetime Achievement
John Roen Asher has committed more than 50 years to his company, Roen Salvage Company, and to the Door County Community. John’s dedication has positioned Roen Salvage Company as one of the premier marine construction companies on the Great Lakes. Involved with dozens of charitable organizations throughout his life in
Door County, John has played a role in in many Door County nonprofit projects. John has served on the Board of the Door County Maritime Museum for 31 years, playing an instrumental role in fundraising for the new 10-story Maritime Tower at the Museum.
 

Picture from Door County Economic Development Corporation

You have seen their medals, but the road to that point started a lot further back for the area’s Special Olympians who participated in last weekend’s state basketball tournament on the campus of UW-Oshkosh. The Kewaunee County Special Olympics Lakers took third place in their division, with members Tammy taking 4th place and Ollie earning seventh place in the individual basketball skills competition. The Door County Tigers took fourth place in Division 11, and the Door County Clippers won the state title in Division 4. For Tony Hoffman, Josh Leitner, and Nathan Klaubauf, last Saturday culminated in years of hard work. Many have been playing on the team for the last five to six years, helping the squad climb up divisions yearly, with the pandemic being their biggest obstacle. The trio said winning a gold medal was a highlight, but they were happy just to play with each other.

While the basketball season may be over, Hoffman, Leitner, and Klaubauf are not done showing off their athletic prowess this spring. All three will compete in multiple events at the Special Olympics track meet hosted at Ashwaubenon High School on May 18th.

When the Kewaunee High School National Honor Society hosts its Neon Run in June, it is about much more than just raising money and spraying paint powder onto people. Alum Cole Pawlitzky formed the event as his Senior NHS project as a way to bring back events like the Kewaunee Troutman Duathlon/5K and the Lakeshore Firecracker 5K that had brought the community together that had gone missing in recent years. Now in its third year, the current crop of Kewaunee High School National Honor Society members have made this their signature NHS project, raising more than $1,700 last year for Kewaunee Area Scholarships. The scholarships are excellent, but the Neon Run means something more to Kewaunee NHS President Hannah Morton and Vice-President James Joski. It is about learning the soft skills they will be able to use down the road and creating a legacy in the community they call home.

Joski and Morton are also happy that the event is inspiring future runners through the Kewaunee Running Club. Registration is open for the third annual Neon Run, which will occur on June 2nd at 10:30 a.m. 

You will not have to drive to Green Bay to have a unique experience watching the Griffon String Quartet perform. The outreach arm of Midsummer’s Music recently announced that its Gather with the Griffon Concert Series, which has been well received in the Green Bay area, will have dates in Door County in the coming weeks. The series features midday performances in intimate locations that features not just music, but conversations with musicans Roy Meyer, Alex Norris, Kayla Patrick, and Jesse Nummelin. Midsummer’s Music Executive Director Allyson Fleck says it is a great opportunity for community members who cannot make their evening performances or drive to Green Bay to experience their music and interact with the performers.

The quartet will play at noon on April 24th at Eagle Harbor Inn in Ephraim and Country View Farm in Baileys Harbor on May 22nd.

Giving you more options when it comes to voting is the goal of a renewed push by the state’s chief executive regarding absentee voting ballot boxes. Earlier this month, Governor Tony Evers urged the Wisconsin State Supreme Court to take up the case Priorities USA, v. Wisconsin Election Commission, arguing that the state’s election laws do not prohibit drop boxes. “All across our country, election officials have chosen to use drop boxes to ensure that all eligible voters can freely cast their ballots. And they’ve done so while keeping ballots safe and secure,” said Gov. Evers. “At the very heart of our democracy is the fundamental freedom to vote.” The voting method popularized in 2020 during the pandemic was axed in 2022 when the state Supreme Court ruled that state law does not permit drop boxes anywhere other than election clerk offices. Only state lawmakers could change that through new policy. According to the Movement Advancement Project, the decision made Wisconsin one of 12 states that ban the use of drop boxes, representing approximately 24 percent of the population. Common Cause in Wisconsin Executive Director Jay Heck hopes reinstating the practice is what is decided.

According to the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, the case regarding ballot drop boxes will be heard on May 13th. Adding extra urgency for voting rights advocates is the retirement of Justice Ann Walsh Bradley, who announced last week that she would not be running again for her seat in 2025. Bradley is one of the four justices of the court’s liberal majority that could flip back to conservatives next year.

Some changes could be made to a portion of the Ahnapee Trail in Kewaunee County to improve the user experience.

The Friends of the Ahnapee Trail and the county are discussing installing a rest area along the trail’s route in Algoma that would feature a covered shelter, benches, and picnic tables. Currently, the trailhead in Algoma has some signage and a parking lot but not much else for trail users. With over 30 miles of the Ahnapee Trail located within its borders, Kewaunee County Promotions and Recreation Director Dave Myers says investments like these are essential as the trail becomes even more popular.

Last year, an Eagle Scout project led to the installation of bike repair stations to select parts of the trail. Myers says approximately six of those are scattered along the trail for people to use in cases of emergency.

One of the premier fishing contests on Lake Michigan, and the first of 2024, will launch this Thursday.  The 36th annual Baileys Harbor Brown Trout Tournament will start at 4:00 a.m. Thursday and run until noon on Sunday.   Over 100 anglers have already signed up to participate this year with weigh-in stations in Baileys Harbor, Sturgeon Bay, Algoma, and Kewaunee.  Baileys Harbor Destination Director Cynde Krowas says the tournament has drawn up to 400 anglers in the past, with the winning brown trout weighing in at 22 pounds last year.  During the four-day tournament, a special "Blessing of the Fleet" will be performed at the Baileys Harbor Marina. Krowas shares the history and details of the event, which will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday.

The Baileys Harbor Brown Tournament pays out to the top 25 anglers with a first-place price of $1,000 that will be distributed at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday during the Baileys Harbor Town Hall awards ceremony.  The Baileys Harbor Community Association sponsors the tournament. 

(photo courtesy of Baileys Harbor Brown Trout Tournament Facebook page)

Hundreds of Door County community members came together Tuesday evening in Sturgeon Bay to celebrate the United Way’s annual meeting and honor this year’s Bob Stiefvater “Magnificent” Volunteer Award winner. 

Mary Ellen Smith, who was known as the “shot lady” from her work at the Door County Public Health Department giving children their vaccines, was the 2024 recipient.  She has served on the HELP of Door County and Families Services of Northeast Wisconsin boards and worked with a group that developed the Door County Partnership of Children and Families, becoming the co-chair.  The United Way has given the Bob Stiefvater “Magnificent” Volunteer Award every year since 1998.

Denise Stillman will be stepping down as the president of the United Way, with vice-president Andy Anderson assuming that role on the Board of Directors.  Three outgoing board members were recognized for their dedication and service to the United Way: Heidi Neubauer and Jason Palmer for six years and Patti Vickman for three years.

The United Way also celebrated raising $800,728.42 during last year's annual campaign.  

Your children can participate twice in an annual free event at the YMCA that promotes and reinforces healthy lifestyles.   The Kane Program Center and the Sturgeon Bay Program Center are among more than 1700 YMCAs nationwide that bring a Healthy Kids Day to local communities.   Member Services Director Rachel Stoehr says the Healthy Kids Day will be celebrated in Fish Creek and Sturgeon Bay over the next two Saturdays.  She says facilities are open to everyone in the community and that over 20 vendors will be on hand, providing fun activities and valuable resources.

The Healthy Kids Day will be from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. on Saturday, April 20, in Sturgeon Bay, and Saturday, April 27, in Fish Creek. You will find the list of organizations and agencies with booths and displays below.

A packed gallery of over 40 people in Council Chambers at City Hall greeted the Sturgeon Bay Common Council on Tuesday night as they addressed an extended list of 25 agenda items over two hours

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The first piece of business was the presentation of a certificate of appreciation to Dennis Statz for his years of service as District 2 alderperson. The newly elected council member Matthew Huston was then seated to replace Statz.

During public comments, two local professional anglers asked the council to reconsider the proposed elimination of weigh-ins during fishing tournaments at city parks. Four people spoke against the proposed sidewalks and assessment for installation along S. 9th Avenue, South Hudson Avenue, and South Hudson Court.

Before the vote, the council talked extensively about the process of doing special assessments, namely new sidewalks, and the need to make it fairer and more consistent in the future. The council then approved the recommendation by the Local Transportation Board to remove the planned sidewalks from the east side of South Hudson Avenue and South Hudson Court and table the preliminary resolution for levy special assessments for sidewalk installation on the three streets until a better solution is found.

Another long discussion centered around the proposed recommendation by the Park and Recreation Committee/Board to change the fishing tournament rules in city parks to not allow for weigh-ins on land, making only the weigh-on-the-water format an option for tournaments utilizing the city parks. The city and the Department of Natural Resources collaborated to update the policy to omit references to spawning and fishing activities and focus more on what occurs on dry land. However, after the original proposal was amended, leaving out rule 1, which stated the “city park property shall not be used as a weigh-in site,” the council approved the amended, revised rules by a 4-2 vote with one abstention. This means the weigh-in option on land for future tournaments will still be allowed in city parks.

In other business, Dan Williams was re-elected as the Council President, and resolutions for designating public depositories and the official newspaper were approved. After a brief discussion, the increase in Sidewalk Café Permit Free without alcohol, which would go up from $55 to $110, was unanimously approved.

Second readings for rezoning parcel properties located on the corner of South Columbia Avenue, Highway 42-57, and Cove Road were also approved.