Article posted Wednesday, October 26, 2011 11:42am

New owners of the Sister Bay General Store, Linda & Terry Wurster. Photo by Paula Hedeen.

• New Owners at the Sister Bay General Store. Terry Wurster and Linda Hedeen Wurster are pleased to announce they have taken the plunge and acquired the former Door County Co Op. from Tom and Jean Kowalski. The Kowalski’s decided to retire from the business and have been a great help assisting with the transition.

The purchase reunites Linda with land that was owned by the Hedeen family prior to development. Her parents, Al and Betty, made possible the purchase of the surrounding acreage which is now home to two handcrafted dovetail log cabins. The parcel is now back to it’s original form.

Present plans call for the remodeled store to open in May of 2012 under a new heading. To offer advice, suggestions or a little moral support, the public is encouraged to visit http://www.dovetailtrading.com. Those who pass along their email address will be informed about any special promotions and updates on plans as they develop.

In the meantime, there will be self-service gas available around Nov. 10; the car wash will continue to operate without interruption.

• Ministry Door County Medical Center (MDCMC) in Sturgeon Bay was recently named to the list of “Top 100 Critical Access Hospitals in America” by The National Rural Health Association (NRHA).

The announcement was made by the NRHA at its Critical Access Hospital (CAH) Conference earlier this month. The Top 100 scored best on the Hospital Strength Index™, in this first-ever comprehensive rating of Critical Access Hospitals.

MDCMC’s overall Hospital Strength Index percentile ranking was 95.40, which puts it into the top 20 CAHs in the country. The ranking is based on the hospital’s performance in eight indices including Quality, Outcomes, Patient Perspective, Costs and Charges, Financial Stability, Competitive Strength and Intensity, and Market Size and Growth. Ten Wisconsin hospitals made the Top 100 list.

For more information visit http://www.ministryhealth.org.

• The Thorp House Inn & Cottages in Fish Creek, under the new ownership of Melanie Camp, recently made the Wisconsin Bed & Breakfast Association’s elite roster, having passed the organization’s requirements and on-site inspection by the association’s professional inspector.

The Thorp House and its cottages are listed in the National Register of Historic Places. In 1902, Freeman Thorp, nephew of Asa Thorp, founder of Fish Creek, began the building of the house. Tragedy struck on October 3, 1903, when the steamship Erie L. Hackley capsized in a sudden squall, claiming the life of Freeman and 10 others. Fate necessitated that the widowed Jessie Thorp begin renting rooms to tourists. Later named Cedar Ridge, Breezy Hill, and The Heritage, the Thorp home continued to accommodate guests well into the 1960s. In 1986, after extensive restoration, its doors opened to visitors once again, this time as a Door County Bed and Breakfast.

“Each room has been carefully furnished in fine antiques and accessories, wall coverings, authentic lighting and European lace to re-create romantic periods of the past,” said Camp

For more information or to make reservations call 920.868.2444 or visit http://www.thorphouseinn.com.

For more information about the Wisconsin Bed & Breakfast Association, visit http://www.wisconsinbandb.com.

• Jon A. Blahnik, Branch Manager of his Raymond James Financial Services office located at 242 Michigan Street, was recently named a member of the 2012 Executive Council. Securities are offered through Raymond James Financial Services, Inc., member FINRA/SIPC. Executive Council honors are presented only to those financial advisors who have demonstrated an extremely high level of commitment to clients through person service and professional integrity. This marks the seventh consecutive year that Blahnik has qualified for this recognition.

Blahnik, who joined Raymond James in 2002, has more than 15 years of experience in the financial services industry.

For more information, contact Mary Erickson at 920.743.9833 or visit http://www.raymondjames.com/doorcounty.

• Beginning early next year, it will cost just a penny more to mail letters to any location in the United States, the first price change for First-Class Mail stamps (Forever stamps) in more than two and a half years. The new 45-cent price for Forever stamps is among price changes filed with the Postal Regulatory Commission recently.

Prices also will change for other mailing services, including Standard Mail, Periodicals, Package Services and Extra Services.

“The overall average price increase is small and will help address our current financial crisis without burdening our customers,” said Sister Bay Postmaster Karen Sunstrom. “We will continue to take actions within our control to increase revenue in other ways and to aggressively cut costs.”

The Postal Service receives no tax dollars for operating expenses and relies on the sale of postage, products and services to fund its operations.

Also, the Postal Services is kicking off the 2011 holiday season by issuing its new Christmas stamps.

For more information visit http://www.usps.com.

• The Team Leadership Center (TLC) of Sturgeon Bay is extending the season for Door County’s Adventure Zip Line tour. They are open Sundays this fall by appointment only.

In an effort to promote activities the whole family can enjoy, the TLC is inviting the general public to get off the ground and enjoy the thrill of the adventure zip line tour. The tour takes participants on over 1,500 feet of multiple zip line rides in varying lengths.

The cost is $20 per person. Duration varies on group size. The TLC is located eight miles north of Sturgeon Bay at 4497 Ploor Road.

For more information visit 920.746.9999 or visit http://www.teamleadership.com.

• As part of its continuing efforts to improve customers’ wireless experience, Cellcom recently took steps to enhance coverage on Washington Island in Door County. Technicians have raised the height of the tower on Washington Island to 100 feet.

“Cellcom worked with the FAA to get more clearance for the tower,” said Jim Lienau, chief technical officer at Cellcom. “The extra 30 feet has improved signal strength to many locations around the island and is allowing some public safety organizations to share the tower space.”

The Door County Sherriff’s Department, Wisconsin State Police, Washington Island Fire Department and Washington Island Emergency Services have equipment co-located on the tower.

Cellcom has also added new equipment to the Gills Rock cell site, which improved the overall capacity for the site and extended coverage to Washington Island. These changes provide improved service continuity to customers in or traveling through this area.

For more information visit http://www.cellcom.com.

• Double Delites in Egg Harbor, celebrating their 6th fall season, is offering new items especially for the fall/winter season. Not only is the shop filled with the smell of freshly popped corn but also freshly ground coffee/espresso.

In the popcorn area Double Delites’ signature Cherry Bomb (caramel corn drizzled with Ghirardelli chocolate, roasted nuts and pastel chocolate cherries) makes an enticing gift that also teases the taste buds. Another new item is the Old-fashioned Honey Popcorn Balls that are rolling off the shelves. Customers are encouraged to order now for holiday shipping of popcorn or cinnamon frosted almonds in gift bags or tins.

Double Delites will also offer pumpkin and cinnamon flavored gelato for the fall and chocolate candy cane flavor for December.

Double Delites, located at 7818 Highway 42 in Egg Harbor, is closed Wednesdays in November and Tuesdays through Thursdays in December. For more information call 920.868.2221 or visit http://www.doubledelites.com.