Good news is coming Wednesday for city residents who face the steepest climb when it comes to finding affordable housing in Sturgeon Bay. The city and representatives from community development financial institution Cinnaire and real estate developer Spoerl Commercial will break ground on Phase 1 of the development known as The Avenue.

The new construction will bring 39 affordable housing units to 14th Avenue between Georgia Street and Iowa Drive. Thanks to low-income housing tax credits, the project will feature a mix of apartments for individuals and families earning between 30% and 60% of Door County’s median income, including eight units reserved for residents with special needs.

Door County Economic Development Corporation Executive Director Michelle Lawrie hopes area leaders will have a better idea of the housing situation in their communities by early next year as work continues on an updated study.

DCEDC is working with Place Dynamics to conduct the study as it looks to assess the current housing inventory and development activity, factors influencing housing supply and demand, and strategies to address housing needs over the next five, 10 and 20 years. The report will update a 2019 study that showed a significant disparity between available housing units and demand. The analysis estimated that the housing shortage cost the county approximately $25 million.

Lawrie says DCEDC is currently planning opportunities for the community to engage in the process so residents can share what they are seeing and how they believe public and private entities can work together to address housing issues in Door County.

Lawrie adds that a schedule of community engagement opportunities will be released in late September.

As the final visitors depart the peninsula on Labor Day, Destination Door County President and CEO Jon Jarosh is ready to kick off the fall tourism season. While the county is known for its summer fun, approximately 30% of Door County’s lodging room activity occurs over the next several weeks through the end of November as people look to experience Door County’s fall foliage and other activities.

Last weekend’s Sister Bay Marina Fest kicked off a busy stretch of fall events, including Baileys Harbor Autumn Fest on Sept. 12, Sturgeon Bay Harvest Fest on Sept. 18 and 19, Egg Harbor Pumpkin Patch on Oct. 10 and 11, and Sister Bay Fall Fest from Oct. 16-18.

With fall, however, come different hours and other impacts due to reduced staffing. Jarosh says it is a great time to visit, especially if you have been waiting for some of the heavier crowds to disperse.

If you are keeping track, Travel Wisconsin is predicting that Door County will reach peak color during the third week of October, weather permitting.

The Door County Historical Society will welcome a special guest to its centennial celebration Wednesday as the organization marks its 100th anniversary. The organization is inviting the community to Heritage Village in Sturgeon Bay for the presentation of the 2026 Reuben Gold Thwaites Trophy for Local History, the Wisconsin Historical Society's highest honor for affiliated local historical organizations.

The traveling trophy, which dates to 1958, recognizes the organization's work in the community over the past five years. The award, which was announced in July, coincided with the Door County Historical Society's efforts to restore the Eagle Bluff Lighthouse to its former glory. The restoration also earned the Door County Historical Society the Historic Rehabilitation Award.

“These awards celebrate what we've accomplished together over the past 100 years,” Door County Historical Society Executive Director Amy Frank said. “They remind us that preserving history isn't just about protecting old buildings or collecting artifacts — it's about connecting people to the stories that define our community.”

Christian Overland, Ruth & Hartley Barker director and chief executive officer of the Wisconsin Historical Society, along with society staff and members of the Board of Curators, will be in attendance for the ceremony, which will take place at 3:30 p.m. at Heritage Village.

The Door County Housing Partnership will reach a major milestone later this month when it breaks ground on its 10th home. Formed in 2021, the Door County Housing Partnership operates on a community land trust model designed to keep homes and their properties affordable for low- to middle-income working families to purchase.

The homes built during that time have been split between Sister Bay and Sturgeon Bay. The 10th home will be on Galley Place, close to others built by the organization, including its first home in 2022. The organization has worked with Door County Habitat for Humanity and private homebuilders to help make affordable homes a reality for people wanting to live and work in the area.

Mariah Goode has worked in affordable housing for more than 25 years, and she is proud of the work the Door County Housing Partnership has done in the community.

The Door County Housing Partnership will host its groundbreaking at 2:30 p.m. on Sept. 15. The event coincides with the kickoff of its annual campaign to raise enough money to support the construction of two or more homes in 2027.

To break the stigma surrounding suicide and mental health, the best place to start could be with a single step. Prevent Suicide-Door County will host its annual Walk for Hope and Awareness on Sept. 13, beginning at 1 p.m. at Sawyer Park in Sturgeon Bay.

According to USAFacts.com, 920 Wisconsinites died by suicide in 2024, representing a suicide rate of 14.8 deaths per 100,000 people, which exceeds the national average. The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention reports that more than 90% of people who die by suicide have a diagnosable and potentially treatable mental health condition, although the condition often goes unrecognized or untreated.

A simple conversation about mental health could make a difference.

“Our goal is to break the stigma, to get the word out there. If we don't talk about it, it still becomes a hidden thing in our county,” said Prevent Suicide-Door County Secretary and member April Grosbeier. “We really need to talk about it because it's here, it's not going away, it's not getting better.”

The event will feature local counselor and licensed clinical social worker Kathy Bandstra, MSW, LCSW, as a guest speaker. Bandstra will address the crowd at 1:30 p.m. before the walk officially begins at 2 p.m. Walkers are encouraged to bring a large picture of a loved one that they can affix to their shirt or to a banner at the park.

You can find more details about the walk here.

If your kids are looking to get involved in their community, local organizations like 4-H would like to hear from you. Sept. 2 marked the official start of enrollment for 4-H, with hundreds of youth choosing clubs to join and projects to explore.

In Kewaunee County, some of the new offerings include a veterinary science project, a livestock judging club, an arts club, a creative writing project, and a junior leaders association. 4-H Youth Educator Erin Dahle says 4-H has grown beyond what is done in the barn and helps youth find their spark.

Current members and volunteers have until Nov. 1 to re-enroll, while new families have until Feb. 1. 4-H is not the only youth organization in recruitment mode. Girl Scouts of the Northwestern Great Lakes is holding membership recruitment events at Lambeau Field on Sept. 12 and 13, in addition to other events at Green Bay-area schools and libraries. Individual units of Scouting America and Girl Scouts of the USA may also schedule their own recruitment events at area schools.

The signs of fall are already beginning to appear across Door County. Monarch butterflies are gathering along the Lake Michigan shoreline before making their journey south. Trees are quietly storing nutrients and energy in preparation for winter, even while their leaves remain green. Bats are feeding heavily before migrating or settling into winter hibernation sites. For those who take the time to look, autumn's transition is well underway.

At Crossroads at Big Creek, many of this month's programs connect directly to these seasonal changes and the natural rhythms that shape life in Door County.

The week begins on Wednesday, September 16, with a unique opportunity to explore a hidden world beneath the Great Lakes. Crossroads will livestream freshwater filmmakers and explorers Zach Melnick and Yvonne Drebert (filmmakers of All Too Clear) as they partner with Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary and Great Lakes Now for the first-ever live broadcast from Middle Island Sinkhole, an underwater time capsule located 80 feet below the surface of Lake Huron.

Using a high-tech remotely operated vehicle (ROV), the team will descend into the sinkhole, following advanced divers as they collect samples from the remarkable microbial mats that thrive on the lakebed. The livestream is expected to begin at 10 a.m. CST.

During Sinkhole Odyssey | Hidden Below, visitors will journey into an underwater environment that mirrors conditions on Earth more than 2.5 billion years ago. While wildlife above ground is preparing for winter, participants will discover the fascinating ecosystems that exist deep beneath the water's surface and gain a rare glimpse into one of the Great Lakes' most extraordinary hidden wonders.

While wildlife above ground is preparing for winter, participants can discover the fascinating ecosystems that exist deep below the water's surface.

Later that afternoon, Crossroads will host Wandering Wednesday at 1:30 p.m. As monarch butterflies continue their migration and hints of fall color begin appearing along trails and wetlands, participants can join a naturalist-led walk through the preserve to observe the season unfolding in real time. Easy walking and seasonal discoveries make this outing a favorite for visitors who enjoy experiencing nature at a slower pace.

The changing season is also a reminder of the people who help care for Door County's natural spaces. On Thursday, September 17, at 5 p.m., Crossroads will celebrate the volunteers whose dedication supports environmental education, habitat restoration, and community programs throughout the year. Volunteer Appreciation Night will offer an evening of dinner, stories, and fellowship as staff and volunteers reflect on another successful season.

As gardeners know, fall is a time of abundance. While trees are busy storing resources for winter, home gardens are producing their final harvests. On Saturday, September 19, from 9 to 11 a.m., gardener and educator Stacia Dick-Schuster will present Putting Up Your Harvest, a workshop designed to help gardeners make the most of their late-season bounty. Co-sponsored by the Door County Seed Library and the Door County Master Gardeners Association, the program will explore practical ways to manage and preserve fresh produce as the growing season comes to a close.

Fall's beauty takes center stage on Monday, September 21, from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m., during Let's Get Artsy! Participants will create clay leaf prints inspired by the colors, textures, and shapes that make autumn in Door County so memorable. As trees begin revealing the brilliant pigments hidden beneath summer's green leaves, this hands-on art program offers a creative way to celebrate the season.

The arrival of fall also signals a new season of exploration for Crossroads' youngest naturalists. Beginning Tuesday, September 22, at 10 a.m., Junior Nature Club invites children ages 3 to 5 and their adults to discover the wonders of fall through a six-week series of nature-focused activities while exploring their senses.

Visitors can also enjoy the changing season at their own pace through Crossroads' current Trail Tales Storybook Walk. Beginning at the West Trailhead and following the Meadow Trail, families can experience Hiking Day by Anne Rockwell, beautifully illustrated by her daughter Lizzy Rockwell. As pages of the story unfold along the trail, readers are invited to share the simple pleasures of spending time outdoors. With lyrical text and vibrant illustrations that practically leap from the page, Hiking Day is a perfect companion for a fall walk, encouraging children and adults alike to slow down, explore, and appreciate the natural world around them.

According to Crossroads new Naturalist Jess Poppie, autumn offers some of the best opportunities to observe nature in action.

"Many people are noticing monarch butterflies gathering along the shoreline right now," Poppie said. "Some of these butterflies will travel more than 2,000 miles to central Mexico. At the same time, trees, bats, birds, and many other species are preparing for winter in their own ways. It's a season filled with incredible stories."

Whether you're watching butterflies fuel up for a long migration, noticing the first hints of color in the canopy, preserving the harvest from your garden, or sharing a storybook walk with family, fall offers countless opportunities to connect with nature.

All programs are held at the Crossroads at Big Creek Collins Learning Center, 2041 Michigan Street, Sturgeon Bay, unless otherwise noted. Thanks to the generosity of our donors, we can offer free programming for all ages, and our trails are open to the public all day, every day, free of charge.

Upcoming Programs

Wednesday, September 16

10:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. | Live Movie - "Sinkhole Odyssey | Hidden Below"

Join a livestreamed exploration of one of the Great Lakes’ most extraordinary underwater environments and discover a world that resembles the Earth as it was 2.5 billion years ago. This program is free and open to the public. Registration is not required. Meet at: Crossroads at Big Creek Collins Learning Center, 2041 Michigan St, Sturgeon Bay, WI

1:30 p.m. | Wandering Wednesday

Join a naturalist-led hike through the preserve. Enjoy easy walking and seasonal discoveries during this approximately one-hour outing. Well-behaved dogs are welcome on leash.

Registration is not required. This program is free and open to the public. Meet at: Crossroads at Big Creek Collins Learning Center, 2041 Michigan St, Sturgeon Bay, WI

Thursday, September 17

5:00 p.m. | Volunteer Appreciation Night

We’ve accomplished some incredible things this year, and none of it would have been possible without our amazing volunteers! To show our appreciation for your time, energy, and dedication, we’d love to celebrate with you! Are you a Crossroads volunteer? Join us for an evening of dinner, stories, and community! Please RSVP 920-746-5895. Meet at: Crossroads at Big Creek Collins Learning Center, 2041 Michigan St, Sturgeon Bay, WI

Saturday, September 19

9:00-11:00 a.m. | Putting Up Your Harvest: Education Series

Congratulations! Your vegetable garden has given you fresh produce, but what do you do with the bounty? Stacia Dick-Schuster will explain what to do with the garden as it ripens. This workshop, co-sponsored by the Door County Seed Library and Door County Master Gardeners Association, is free and open to the public. Meet at: Crossroads at Big Creek Collins Learning Center, 2041 Michigan St, Sturgeon Bay, WI

Monday, September 21

1:30-2:30 p.m. |Let's Get Artsy!

Create make-and-take leaf prints with clay. All materials provided - just bring your curiosity! Free and open to the public. Please register at crossroadsatbigcreek.org/event/lets-get-artsy/ or call 920-746-5895. Meet at: Crossroads at Big Creek Collins Learning Center, 2041 Michigan St, Sturgeon Bay, WI

Tuesday, September 22

10:00 a.m. | Junior Nature Club

Six-week program for ages 3-5 and their adults, learning about observing nature with their senses. Drop in. Registration is not required. Meet at: Crossroads at Big Creek Collins Learning Center, 2041 Michigan St, Sturgeon Bay, WI

11:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. | Nature Center Closure

The Collins Learning Center at Crossroads at Bigg Creek will be closed to the public this afternoon for a special event. Trails remain open all day, every day at no charge.

Two months after a summer storm knocked out power in southern Door County and damaged the transmitter for 96.7 WBDK, listeners to Door County’s Playlist will be rewarded for their patience Tuesday. NEW Radio, Inc., the parent company of 96.7 WBDK, U-102.1, The Pirate, 104.1 WRLU and 105.1 The GOAT, recently completed the installation of its fourth solid-state transmitter.

Since mid-July, 96.7 WBDK has been operating under Special Temporary Authority after its transmitter took a direct lightning strike, forcing the station to broadcast at reduced power. With the installation of a new Nautel solid-state transmitter, listeners will experience the station's full power beginning at 9 a.m. Tuesday.

As usual, it is hard to determine whether the kids or the parents are more excited to begin the new school year.

I hope that all had an enjoyable summer, and I would like to take some time to refocus on some safety reminders that we should all be aware of. For those driving on country roads, be aware that you will once again be sharing the road with school buses. Give them the attention and respect they deserve. If you are driving on the streets of cities and villages, be aware of the increased pedestrian traffic. Do not assume that a child about to cross the street will see you and stop.

For this week, I would like to focus on the rural environment and touch on a few of the basic statutes that relate to school buses. From time to time, I get asked, “When does an oncoming vehicle need to stop for a school bus about to load or unload?”

State Statute 346.48, “Vehicles to stop for school buses displaying flashing lights,” states that any vehicle approaching from either the front or the back of a school bus with its flashing lights activated must stop not less than 20 feet from the bus and remain stopped until the bus resumes motion or the operator of the bus has extinguished its flashing lights. This statute also directs the driver of the bus to activate those flashing lights 100 feet before the location where passengers will be loaded or unloaded.

State Statute 346.485, “Owner’s liability for vehicle illegally passing a school bus,” describes the process by which the driver of the school bus documents the incident and reports it to law enforcement, allowing law enforcement to cite the owner of the vehicle regardless of who was driving. This is different from most statutes, under which we issue the citation to the driver.

These laws do not pertain to drivers on the opposite side of a divided highway when the school bus is loading or unloading.

Aside from these two statutes, it is also important to note that school buses can and do make wide right turns and that due caution should be used when near a bus at or near an intersection. Finally, please remember that those drivers have a lot going on inside that bus. Please give them the space and time they deserve, considering the cargo they are carrying.

A very true quote from Alice Walker, author of The Color Purple: “Time moves slowly, but passes quickly!” Summer sure did pass quickly! Wasn’t it just the other day that I was hitting the waters of Door County to start the season in early May, and now it’s Labor Day weekend! The good news is, don’t put those kayaks and that fishing gear away yet. September and October, and even into November, can be outstanding months to get out and view our Door County beauty from your kayak, and it’s a good time for catching and releasing those smallmouth bass. Door County is the No. 1 location in the Midwest for viewing the fall colors from the water. I’ve done it many times, and it’s spectacular. Pick a day with light winds, and you have dozens of great locations to paddle and enjoy the beauty!

I’ve talked about this in the past, but as we got into summer, many of the bigger smallies went deeper, which is a challenge for anglers in boats or kayaks. However, as the water cools, those smallies begin to come back into shallower water. Probably not as shallow as in the spring, but in a normal fall, you’ll find them in the 6- to 15-foot range. For my fall fishing, I’m still using the Ned Rig and love using it with the Z-Man Finesse TRD. Tube jigs in the 2.5-inch size can be tremendous in the fall. The last several years, soft plastic swimbaits, like the Keitech USA 2.8 and 3.3 FAT Swing Impact, have also been winners. Work the Ned Rig and tubes very slowly on the bottom with almost no movement, and the swimbaits should be retrieved after a long cast, slow and steady. Be sure to pay attention to those bottom lures so the smallies don’t take them too deep. The local tackle shop carries the items I mentioned and can also point you toward some of the better spots for those fall smallies.

Two points of caution with fall kayaking and fishing from a kayak: Be sure to wear proper cold-weather gear as water temperatures begin falling, and be sure to check the forecast for wind conditions. I only kayak and fish close to shore just in case of an emergency.

It’s been great sharing my thoughts about kayaking and kayak fishing with you again this year, and, as always, if you have any questions, email me at kayakfishingwisconsin@gmail.com. As we get into the late winter months and spring 2027, some of you may be looking to buy a new kayak or paddle. I would be very happy to be a resource for you, especially when it comes to fishing kayaks.

Your child’s mental health could receive a boost with a box of crayons and the help of members of the Boys & Girls Club of Door County. More than 45 teens contributed to the creation of “Creative Coping,” a coloring and activity book designed by kids for kids to help manage stress and build emotional wellness.

The idea came from the Strong Minds, Strong Futures program, supported by the Women's Fund of Door County. From those lessons, the teens were challenged to create a project about a health issue that mattered to them. Mental health rose to the top of the list, with 1 in 5 children struggling with a diagnosable mental, behavioral, or developmental disorder. Boys & Girls Club of Door County Development Director Kacie Mueller says the kids took it from there, designing the book from cover to cover.

Mueller adds that she is proud of the teens for helping their peers find a creative outlet when they might be struggling.

More than 400 copies have now been distributed across the community, including to members of other Boys & Girls Clubs in the region and visitors to places such as Door County Medical Center, Door County Public Health, United Way of Door County and HELP of Door County.

Organizations in Door and Kewaunee counties were among those receiving $1.6 million in grants distributed by the Green Bay Packers Foundation earlier this week. Door CANcer, Open Door Bird Sanctuary, Sunshine House, United Way of Door County, Washington Island Community Health Program and the Bruemmer Park Inclusive Playground were among the 402 civic and charitable groups statewide that received funding through the program.

According to Packers.com, this year's grant cycle focused on organizations that will direct the funds toward areas of need, including animal welfare, homelessness, and human services. Some of the local organizations receiving grants celebrated the awards on their social media channels. The Bruemmer Park Inclusive Playground posted that the grant brings the organization closer to its $250,000 goal to break ground this year.

Door CANcer said its funding will allow the organization to “continue providing non-medical financial assistance to Door County cancer patients, allowing families to focus on healing instead of bills.”

The Green Bay Packers Foundation has distributed more than $33 million for charitable purposes since its inception in 1986, including approximately $3.5 million this year.

Three Door County organizations focused on emergency housing will each receive approximately $2,500 in funding thanks in part to a pop-up campaign organized by United Way of Door County. In early August, the organization launched an approximately three-week campaign to raise $30,000 for The Salvation Army, St. Vincent de Paul-St. Joseph Conference and HELP of Door County.

The request came as the rising cost of housing and other basic necessities has left the area’s ALICE population — Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed — with little financial flexibility to cover unexpected expenses such as medical emergencies and vehicle repairs. While the campaign fell short of its goal, United Way of Door County Executive Director Amy Kohnle says the community’s support was still important, and the three organizations will be able to put those funds to good use.

The emergency housing relief appeal served as an appetizer for United Way of Door County’s annual campaign, which launched last week at Woodwalk Gallery in Egg Harbor. The $1.25 million annual campaign goal will support nearly two dozen programs and partners, including United Way of Door County’s Child Care Initiative, Healthy Door County, STRIDE — School-Based Mental Health Services, the Door County Alcohol and Other Drug Coalition, and the Door County Partnership for Children and Families.

If there was not enough on your ballot already this fall, voters are being reminded about three constitutional amendments that will also be among the decisions they make. The three measures made the ballot after the Wisconsin Legislature approved the proposed language by a majority in two consecutive legislative sessions.

One referendum measure would prohibit the government from closing places of worship during emergencies. The proposal dates back to the COVID-19 pandemic, when Gov. Tony Evers’ Safer at Home order limited mass gatherings. The Wisconsin Supreme Court struck down the statewide restrictions two months later after the stay-at-home order was extended, allowing churches to decide for themselves whether to reopen.

A second referendum question will focus on the governor’s partial veto powers by barring the governor from using them to create or increase any tax or fee. Governors representing both political parties have used Wisconsin’s broad partial veto powers, but this measure grew out of a recent budget in which Evers used his partial veto authority to extend a school funding provision from two years to 400 years.

The third referendum question would prohibit state and local governments from discriminating against or granting preferential treatment to certain groups. If approved, the amendment would prohibit certain affirmative action practices in government hiring and contracting and public education.

All three measures will be on the Nov. 3 ballot. Municipal clerks must send absentee ballots to voters with active requests on file by Sept. 17, with in-person absentee voting beginning Oct. 20.

Door County Economic Development Corporation Executive Director Michelle Lawrie says bringing new people in is not the only challenge facing area employers — keeping them around is also an issue. Online job boards show approximately 3,200 jobs available in Door County, whether it is a CNC machinist at a local manufacturer, a server at an area restaurant, or a health care professional at the hospital.

Lawrie says DCEDC has focused heavily on employee attraction and retention since the pandemic, and the issue is not going away as retirements continue and businesses look to grow. The upcoming Talent Attraction and Retention Employer Forum is for businesses of all sizes and will showcase tools at the local, state and regional levels designed to help employers attract, engage and retain their workforce.

Lawrie says it is not just about getting new people to come and work at a business, but also getting them to become part of the county as a whole.

She adds that the forum will serve as a launch point for new resources DCEDC will offer employers to help recruit and retain their next longtime employees. You can register for the Talent Attraction and Retention Employer Forum on Sept. 22 at Stone Harbor Resort in Sturgeon Bay at this link.

The fruit of orchard owners’ labor will come to a store or farmers market near you as soon as the apple harvest season gets underway. The state’s orchards produce approximately 49 million pounds of apples each year across 4,000 acres, according to the Wisconsin State Climatology Office.

Those acres include Hillside Apples in Casco, which opened its 30th season last week. Owner Bill Roethle says the weather has been good for growing apples this year, with one exception. Earlier this summer, a storm hit the region that brought hail to the orchard. Depending on where each apple variety was in its development, the fruit may have suffered some minor damage. Roethle says the damage could have been worse if the storm had brought high winds along with the hail.

Roethle says it will still be a good crop for apple lovers to choose from, dents and all.

Early-season apples such as Paula Red and Zestar are ready to be picked, while other varieties such as McIntosh, Cortland and Honeycrisp are still a couple of weeks away.

An unwanted sight off the shores of Baileys Harbor will be addressed in court after a case was filed in Door County Circuit Court on Tuesday. According to court records, the state of Wisconsin is suing Jeremy Schultz, Michael Cole, ABC Insurance Company, Iron Works Construction, DEF Insurance Company, Sarter Marine Towing Company and XYZ Insurance Company to force the removal of the tug Donny S from the waters of Baileys Harbor.

The action follows resolutions approved by officials from the Town of Baileys Harbor and Door County urging the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources to inspect and remove the tugboat, which has sat aground and abandoned since 2021.

According to the Peninsula Pulse, dozens of citations and more than $20,000 in fines have accrued over the years in an effort to get the tugboat removed. As of Thursday, no court date had been set.

Just in time for one final boat ride ahead of Labor Day, the dredging operation at Chaudoir’s Dock County Park has been completed. The popular dock and boat launch had been closed since mid-July for the second phase of a dredging project that carried a price tag of more than $551,000. The project was funded through a grant from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and county boat launch fees.

According to the county website, the outer entrance to the harbor was dredged in 2001, again in 2005 during bin wall repairs caused by ice damage, and once more in 2014 because of low water levels.

It is not completely clear sailing for boaters just yet. According to the Door County Parks Department, dredging activity can sometimes bring submerged logs, debris and other hazards into navigable areas. The department urges boaters to use caution as they operate around the harbor entrance in case they encounter one of those hidden hazards.

The park will also be closed Sept. 8 and 9 to accommodate construction equipment needed for the next phase of improvements, which will include resurfacing the upper parking lot. That portion of the project should be completed by Sept. 10.

A 55-year-old Appleton woman suffered a possible injury and was taken to the hospital Monday after her vehicle was rear-ended by another vehicle driven by an 18-year-old Sturgeon Bay man.

The crash occurred shortly after 5:15 p.m. at the intersection of Idlewild Road and State Highway 42/57. According to the crash report, the woman was stopped at the stop sign on Idlewild Road and looking to turn onto Highway 42/57 when the man approached from behind. When she pulled closer to Highway 42/57 to gauge traffic, the man struck her vehicle from behind after he thought she was pulling into the intersection.

The woman was taken to Door County Medical Center for further treatment. The man was cited for following too closely and operating a motor vehicle without insurance.

The crash closed a lane of traffic for about 20 minutes, with the lane reopening before 5:45 p.m.

“A Cherry Pie Christmas” may have started more than just a holiday movie tradition after its debut last winter. Not only did it prompt Wisconsin officials to open a film office and award grants to future movie projects, but it also garnered Travel Wisconsin and Destination Door County additional recognition for the innovation it created within the tourism industry.

At last week’s U.S. Travel Association ESTO Awards, Destination Door County was a finalist for the Bridging Communities Award for its Door County Christmas Movie Trail, which had more than 3,000 participants from 35 states and generated more than $36,000 in trackable sales between Nov. 1 and Jan. 5.

Travel Wisconsin won the Innovation Award for its role in developing “A Cherry Pie Christmas,” which not only increased lodging revenue and room rentals during a slower time of year for Door County but also built national awareness of Wisconsin as a winter destination. Destination Door County President and CEO Jon Jarosh says it was an honor to be celebrated by the industry for doing something remarkable.

Much like your tree and ornaments, the Door County Christmas Movie Trail will be brought out again this winter, with some new wrinkles added to the promotion. “A Cherry Pie Christmas” will also appear on streaming platforms for American and international viewers, in addition to a potential DVD release and a live showing at the Southern Door Auditorium on Dec. 12.

If you plan on spending time outside this weekend, make sure you pack the bug spray. Early September is usually when the mosquito population starts to dip along with temperatures. According to the UW-Madison Insect Diagnostic Lab, insects like mosquitoes become less active when temperatures are in the 50s, something Door County can usually count on in September. That may not be the case for the early part of September this year, when low temperatures will be 5 to 8 degrees warmer than normal.

While drier-than-normal conditions have limited the mosquito population somewhat, Door County Public Health Environmental Health Specialist Allison Reckelberg says mosquitoes and even ticks can be around much longer if the circumstances are just right.

The Wisconsin Department of Health Services confirmed West Nile virus activity among mosquitoes in Milwaukee County and in a bird in Bayfield County earlier this summer, but there have been no such cases in Door County and no human cases statewide. Tick activity in northeast Wisconsin has been on par with 2025. Reckelberg also encourages you to wear a light-fitting, long-sleeved shirt and pants, in addition to using bug spray containing DEET, to protect yourself.

Pack your patience along with a couple of extra bucks if you plan on traveling this Labor Day weekend. AAA is expecting heavy traffic Thursday through Monday as millions of Americans hit the road and take to the skies for one last summer hurrah.

That comes despite higher prices at the pump for motorists and at the ticket counter for air travelers. According to GasBuddy, gas prices in Door County are around $3.80 a gallon. While that is lower than the nationwide average of $4.09 a gallon and the $3.91 a gallon motorists were paying a week ago, it is still a far cry from the $2.99 a gallon they were paying a year ago.

AAA also reports that airfare costs are up 2% from a year ago and nearly 20% for some of the top destinations.

If you are driving to your Labor Day destination, AAA recommends avoiding travel between 2 and 7 p.m. Thursday, noon and 8 p.m. Friday, 1 and 5 p.m. Sunday, and 2 and 5 p.m. Monday.

Labor Day ranks as the fifth-busiest holiday travel weekend of the year, trailing Thanksgiving, Christmas/New Year’s, Independence Day and Memorial Day.

You may notice a new face poolside at the Door County YMCA’s program centers in Sturgeon Bay and Fish Creek. In this week’s episode of the Y-Wednesday Podcast, we met new Door County YMCA Aquatics Executive Byron Rodriguez.

Originally from the Green Bay area, Rodriguez got his start in aquatics as a lifeguard. After college, he took a position with the YMCA in Brown Deer before finding an opportunity closer to home in Door County.

Rodriguez talked about the need for lifeguards, especially as traffic at the program centers increases with swim lessons, the Door County YMCA swim team and the Door County United high school swim team all sharing the space throughout the day.

You can listen to the entire interview with Rodriguez here.

Do not be shocked if you start seeing farmers harvest corn for silage in the coming days. According to the USDA Crop Progress and Condition Report, the corn silage harvest is about 5% complete, about 2 percentage points ahead of average. The western part of the state is responsible for most of that, but 1% of the crop in northeast Wisconsin has been harvested.

Farmers in Door and Kewaunee counties will get a better idea of whether their corn is ready for harvest beginning next week when UW Extension holds corn dry-down events Sept. 9 at Rio Creek Feed Mill in Luxemburg and Sept. 15 at Door County Cooperative. Corn needs to have a moisture content between 60% and 70%, depending on how it will be stored. By comparison, corn harvested for grain usually has a moisture content between 13% and 25%, depending on storage methods.

The dry weather has been good for fieldwork, with six days suitable for activities such as harvesting potatoes and oats, cutting alfalfa hay or starting fall tillage. It has not been great for the corn and soybeans still developing in the fields. Both crops saw their condition ratings slip 2 to 3 percentage points in the last week and 9 to 10 percentage points over a longer period. Even with some rain in the forecast, Weatherology meteorologist Laura Lockwood says only time will tell if it makes much of a difference.

Earlier this month, Deer Run Dairy owner Duane Ducat said harvesting underdeveloped corn reduces the nutritional value of what farmers feed their cows. According to the University of Wisconsin Agronomy Department, the corn silage harvest typically starts around Sept. 10, with the most active period running from Sept. 20 through Oct. 15 and harvest wrapping up by Nov. 1.