Article posted Thursday, September 3, 2009 11:51am

• The Ridges Sanctuary recently recognized and celebrated its over 200 volunteers at Bjorklunden in Baileys Harbor with food, music, dancing and conversation. With a theme of “Volunteers are Priceless,” the staff and board of directors of The Ridges welcomed and thanked the invaluable people who are the heart and soul of the oldest nonprofit nature preserve in Wisconsin.

Bruce Frudden, Maureen Sandstrom-McGrath, and Marilyn Mahlberg, all of Baileys Harbor, were announced as the Ridges’ Volunteers of the Year. Frudden and Sandstrom-McGrath are both active in the “Lighthouse Keepers,” a group of volunteers who help maintain the historic Upper Rangelight building, which serves as the office for sanctuary staff. They have also designed and created a number of historic gardens on the Rangelight grounds. Marilyn Mahlberg is a professional artist who created the poster for the Ridges’ 70th anniversary, as well as designs for notecards, children’s clothing, and illustrations for membership publications.

For more information call 920.839.2802 or visit http://www.ridgessanctuary.org.

• As part of the Door County YMCA’s ongoing commitment to youth development, the YMCA encourages parents throughout Door County to enroll their children in afterschool programs.

“At the Door County YMCA we provide youth with the skills they need to achieve academic success, interact with their peers and develop interpersonal skills – skills that are often lost when left unsupervised every day,” says Ben Rikkola, Youth Director at the Door County YMCA.

The Door County YMCA’s afterschool programs aim to keep youth motivated and provide extended learning opportunities that enrich their lives. Some of the fun and enriching programs for youth throughout the school year include after school sports, gymnastics, dance, martial arts, swimming, and afterschool Kids Clubs held right on-site at some of the local schools.

Sign-up is underway for the Fall I Session at the Door County YMCA. Call 920.743.4949 in Sturgeon Bay or 920.868.3660 in Northern Door visit http://www.dcymca.com to enroll in YMCA afterschool programs.

• On Sunday, September 13, Simon Creek Vineyard & Winery will host Chapter 164 of the Military Order of the Purple Heart for a fundraiser. All proceeds from this event will go to assisting US military veterans in need. The winery is located at 5896 Bochek Road, 3 miles east of Carlsville on County I.

The fundraiser will feature a sale, a BBQ, and free live music by popular singing artist Mickey Grasso from 1 – 5 pm on the deck overlooking the vineyard.

The Purple Heart is the most recognized military medal in the world, and is presented to all members of the US Armed Forces who are wounded in combat. Members of the Military Order of the Purple Heart are all recipients of the Purple Heart.

For more information, please call Simon Creek Vineyard at 920.746.9307 or visit http://www.simoncreekvineyard.com.

• Peninsula Players Theatre, America’s oldest professional resident summer theater, recently announced the appointment of Jim Nelson and Rik Warch to its Board of Directors.

“Peninsula Players is excited to add these two individuals to the board of directors,” said William D. Calkins, newly elected President of the Board of Directors. “Each ensures the board remains diverse in its experience, thus being prepared to continue its excellent tradition of overseeing the successful operations of Peninsula Players in the years to come.”

The board also voted on its officers at its annual meeting Aug. 19, 2009. Calkins was elected president, Julia Chomeau, vice

president; William Parsons, secretary; and Jerry Zaug remains treasurer. Additional board members include Ted Bird, Marilyn Bradley, James DeGroot, Bill Hartman, David Hawkanson, Jill Herlache, Ted Laitner, Douglas M. MacNeil, James Maronek, Sara Glenn Massey and Peter Trenchard.

For more information call 920.868.3287 or visit http://www.peninsulaplayers.com.

• The Jim Larsen Boys and Girls Club of Door County is seeking volunteers to tutor/mentor youth and to assist with other club activities. The club also seeks volunteers with expertise in marketing, accounting and financial development.

The Jim Larsen Boys and Girls Club of Door County is part of a national movement of 4,000 clubs that have served our nation’s youth for more than 100 years. Our mission is to inspire and enable all youth to realize their full potential as productive, responsible and caring citizens.

Please phone Sally at 920.746.5125 or Hugh at 920.854.4919 if interested.

• PepsiCo, one of the world’s largest food and beverage companies, has awarded the Door County YMCA a grant for $2,500 in support of health and wellness programs related to Activate America, a long-term initiative designed to strengthen and promote the YMCA’s abilities to help more Americans live healthier lives.

Specifically, the grant money will be used to ensure that children in Door County are able to swim, be safe and enjoy being active in and around the water. As a result of previous funding from PepsiCo in the spring of 2009, nearly 200 third and fourth grade students in Door County participated in the “10 yards by 3rd Grade” program, which included eight 45-minute lessons focusing on basic swimming and safety skills. This same program will be held during the upcoming school with the $2,500 received through this grant.

Contact the Door County YMCA at 920.743.4949 with any questions on this program.

• The public is invited to attend this months Wisdom Wednesday at the Door County YMCA in Sturgeon Bay on Wednesday, September 9 at 9:45 am. Dr. Daniel Tomaszewski, the new Orthopedic Surgeon at Door County Memorial Hospital, will share information on common “over-use” conditions and treatment. Wisdom Wednesdays – free monthly learning opportunities – are brought to the community by the Door County YMCA and Baylake Bank. Free refreshments will be served. Contact the Door County YMCA at 920.743.4949 to pre-register.