Ahnapee Hill Cleaning Services Donated Cleaning to CCDC

• The Community Clinic of Door County (CCDC) recently received free window cleaning from Ahnapee Hill Cleaning Services. When Executive Director Laura Moeller contacted Ahnapee Hill Cleaners for an estimate on what it would cost to have the clinic’s windows thoroughly cleaned, owner John Hill said he would contact the clinic with an estimate. Moeller was pleasantly surprised when she received a call from Hill not even a week later, stating that they would clean the windows free of charge.

In just a few short hours, Window Technician Jason Barfell had the inside and outside windows of the Community Clinic sparkling clean.

CCDC is the only clinic in the county that sees strictly uninsured or underinsured patients. While the Community Clinic is not a “free” clinic no one will be turned away due to an inability to pay. Patient service fees are based on family size and income and are offered on a sliding fee scale. Patients are asked to contribute what they can, when they can, if they can. CCDC also depends largely on charitable donations from individuals, businesses, churches, and foundations to help support its program services.

For more information call 920.746.8989 or 888.698.8989 or visit http://www.communityclinicofdoorcounty.org.

• September is National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month, and the Door County YMCA is reminding parents about the importance of incorporating regular physical activity and healthier eating habits into their children’s lives.

Childhood obesity rates have soared over the last few decades. Nationally, one in three children is obese or overweight. More alarming, obesity puts children at risk for chronic diseases often seen in adults, such as high cholesterol, cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure and type-II diabetes.

One key to fighting childhood obesity is prevention. Regular physical activity – 60 minutes a day for children – and nutritious foods like fruits, vegetables and whole grains can lower children’s chances of becoming obese or overweight and developing chronic diseases.

The Door County YMCA offers programs such as youth sports, martial arts, gymnastics, swimming, dance and SWEAT!, a new exercise program for youth using the Wii Just Dance.

To learn more about the programs for youth at the Door County YMCA contact call the Sturgeon Bay YMCA at 920743.4949 or the Northern Door YMCA at 920.868.3660. For more information visit http://www.doorcountyymca.org.

• The Gibraltar Historical Association will continues its Legacy Brick Campaign with proceeds going toward 2011 projects and activities. The Legacy Brick Campaign is designed to place personalized brick “pavers” along the walkways surrounding historic Noble House, circa 1875, and its beautiful gardens. Bricks are sold for $75 each and a personal legacy message of three lines will be engraved on them.

By purchasing a brick, donors will be accomplishing two objectives: helping with the continued restoration of the Noble Square property and setting a lasting tribute in stone. Order forms may be completed and returned to GHA, PO Box 323, Fish Creek, WI 54212.

• Registrations are being accepted through September 23 for upcoming guided discussion groups for parents of gifted and talented children. The group sessions will be held on Thursday evenings from 6:30 – 8 pm, September 29 through November 17 at Birchwood Lodge, located at 10571 Highway 57 in Sister Bay. There will be eight weekly sessions covering 10 topics related to giftedness and parenting.

The groups will be facilitated under the SENG Model for gifted parent groups. SENG (Supporting the Emotional Needs of Gifted) was founded in 1981 in response to the widespread need for resources and services for parents of gifted children.

“These groups are not gifted advocacy groups or a place to gripe about what the school is or isn’t doing,” said Jennifer Dahl, lead facilitator. “They are guided discussions which offer a safe environment for parents to not only share their successes, but to express their concerns and difficulties.”

Registration is limited to 20 participants. The cost is $50 for up to two individuals concerning the same child. One copy of the book, A Parent’s Guide to Gifted Children, is included per registration. Parents may register by calling Dahl at 920.854.7100. Financial assistance is available.

For more information about SENG visit http://www.sengifted.org.

• The Door County Soil & Water Conservation Department, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WI DNR), two local meat processors, and two local charitable organizations are teaming up with deer hunters to donate venison to needy families in Door County.

Since the program began in 2000, hunters in Wisconsin have donated over 77,000 deer that were processed into over 3.4 million pounds of ground venison. In Door County a total of 1,693 deer have been donated in the last 11 years.

Hunters can help feed needy people throughout Door County this fall by taking six simple steps.

1. Legally harvest a deer outside of the CWD zone during any open deer season.

2. Field-dress the deer.

3. Register the deer at a WI DNR Registration Station.

4. Call a participating processor to verify there is space to accept your deer.

5. Drop the deer off at the participating processor during business hours through February 1, 2012.

6. Sign a simple login sheet at the processor to verify the donation. Hunters must donate the entire deer, except for the head and antlers.

The participating meet processors and food pantries take it from there, processing the donated venison and distributing to needy Door County families. There is no cost to the hunter who donates the deer.

Participating Door County Processors include Door County Custom Meats and Haberli’s Deer Processing.

For more information contact Greg Coulthurst of the Soil & Water Conservation Department at 920.746.2214.

• The Health & Wellness Cabinet of the Shepherd of the Bay Lutheran Church has planned for three informational sessions dealing with stress and medical expenses to take place in September, October, and November.

The first session will take place September 18 at 4 pm at the Sister Bay Moravian Church on Old Stage Road in Sister Bay. The presenter will be Brian Stephens, the director of Patient Financial Services for Ministry Door County Medical Center. He will speak about health care costs at the hospital in Sturgeon Bay as well as at other facilities throughout Door County. Attendees will learn about patient billing, payment plans, medical service charge estimates available online and more. The presentation is free and open to the public.

• Christ Child Society will meet at St. Michaels in Jacksonport on September 26. The public is welcome to attend at 12:30 pm for snacks and conversation followed by the meeting at 1 pm. New members and friends are welcome.

This school year, Christ Child Society will partner with Kathy Tellstrom of YAPS (Young Adult Parent Support) in teaching about Shaken Baby Syndrome to high school freshmen.

• Seven churches in Northern Door County are supporting the 2011 Crop Walk. Crop Walk is a way to help Church World Service. Last year, Northern Door Church members gave $5,400 to Crop Walk.

This year, church members will meet on October 1 at 9 am at Newport Park, Lot #3 and walk 5 miles. Crop walk financial support goes to many places around the world where food, water and medical assistance are needed. 25 percent will be donated to Feed My People in Door County. To walk, help, or sponsor a walker call Jim Gelhaar at 920.854.4789.

• From 4 – 8 pm on September 25, Fred & Fuzzy’s Waterfront Bar & Grill in Sister Bay will host a benefit evening for Door County Habitat for Humanity. Ben There, Dan That will perform an eclectic variety of covers and original songs. Food and beverages will be available for purchase, and a portion of the evening’s proceeds will benefit building and critical repair programs of Door Habitat.

Door Habitat is the only developer of affordable homes in Door County that works with qualified low-income partners to provide them with no-interest loans for both new homes and critical repair work.

For more information, contact Rick Nelson at 920.743.2869, email [email protected] or visit http://www.doorcountyhabitat.org.

• Local high school students and their parents are invited to learn more about spending a year abroad as an exchange student.

The Rotary Youth Exchange program is one of the pre-eminent student exchange programs in the world. For nearly three decades, each year a handful of Door County students spend a year overseas sponsored by the Sturgeon Bay Rotary Club and the Sturgeon Bay Breakfast Rotary Club.

An informational meeting for interested students and parents will be held on September 28 at 6:30 pm at the Sturgeon Bay Public Library, located at 107 S. 4th Avenue in Sturgeon Bay.

Local Rotary Club representatives will outline specifics of the 11-month exchange program. Students who have (or currently are) involved in the Rotary Youth Exchange programs will be on hand to answer questions as well.

The meeting will also outline Rotary International’s rules and expectations, financial obligations of participating students and families, and address the application process.

For more information about Rotary Youth Exchange contact Sue Anschutz at 920.743.1057 or Bret Bicoy at 920.746.1786.

• The Sister Bay Advancement Association is again offering the Sister Bay/Liberty Grove Volunteer of the Year award to recognize someone who has volunteered his or her time, skills and expertise. The deadline for nominations is October 5.

“We want to continue to recognize the people in these two communities who give their heart and soul toward helping the communities they live in be better places,” said Ron Kane, president of the SBAA. “This is our way of saying thanks, of recognizing the time, energy and selflessness of volunteers.”

The SBAA Board of Directors will review all nominations to select the Volunteer of the Year recipient, based on descriptions of the nominee’s volunteer activities, as outlined on the Volunteer of the Year form. The chosen volunteer will be announced at the 66th annual Fall Fest during the Saturday morning parade (Oct. 15), and will receive a unique piece of art created by a Sister Bay/Liberty Grove artist.

To be eligible for the Volunteer of the Year award, nominees must have volunteered their time and services within the Village of Sister Bay or the Town of Liberty Grove, within the last year and must not have received monetary compensation. All volunteers are eligible, even if nominated the previous year.

For more information or to fill out a nomination form visit http://www.cometosisterbay.com, call Paige Funkhouser at 920.854.3230, or email [email protected].

• The Door County YMCA is gearing up to start a new session of the LIVESTRONG on September 20 in Sturgeon Bay and October 4 in Northern Door. This community-supported program offers those living with, through and beyond cancer a safe environment where they can participate in physical and social activities that address the special wants, needs and interests of cancer survivors.

Participants work with trained Y staff to build muscle mass and strength, increase flexibility and endurance and improve functional ability. In addition to physical benefits, the program is also focused on the emotional well being of survivors and their families by providing a supportive “community” environment where people affected by cancer can connect during treatment and beyond. Throughout this program participants have been introduced to programs at the Y including walking, Silver Sneakers, swimming, Zumba, weight lifting and cardio equipment training, as well as had opportunities to listen to speakers on various wellness topics. Any cancer survivors interested in participating in LIVESTRONG at the YMCA are encouraged to contact the Door County YMCA. Since this program is supported by donations to the YMCA, there is not cost to participants.

For more information or to donate to LIVESTRONG contact Christine Webb-Miller of the Sturgeon Bay Y at 920.743.4949 or Kristin Kirkham of the Northern Door Y at 920.868.3660. For more information about LIVESTRONG, visit http://www.LIVESTRONG.org.

• Actress and activist Kathleen Thompson will perform See Me! Hear Me! on October 1 at 7 pm at St Mary’s of the Lake Catholic Church, located on Highway 57 in Baileys Harbor. The program will explore the topic of human trafficking, which Thompson was a victim of.

“It left me scarred with a sense of deep responsibility to try to do something for the voiceless victims of this crime,” said Thompson, “some as young as five years old. There are more slaves in the world today than at any time in history.”

See Me! Hear Me! concerns the whole subject of global slavery. Human trafficking is the second largest crime industry in the world. The production shines a light on the victims of this international crime. Her performance is designed to inform and entertain. A free-will offering will be collected and a discussion will follow the performance.

For more information call Karen Cruz at 920.746.2159.

• The Top of the Hill Shops will host their annual Taste of the Top Festival on September 24 to benefit the Door County Humane Society and the Door County Art League. The day will feature food, music, wine tasting and shopping.

A log cabin doghouse and original painting will be up for raffle. Tickets, $1 each or 5 for $4, can be purchased prior to the event from participating Top of the Hill shops. Tickets will also be available at the Door County Art League and the Humane Society booth during the Taste of The Top. Hourly prizes will be given throughout the day, and the grand prizewinners will be announced at 5 pm.

Volunteers for the Humane Society will be on hand to answer questions and accept applications for pet adoptions. Weather permitting, members of the Art League will be painting outside all day.

Face painting will take place from 11 am – 3 pm; the annual pet parade will take place at 2 pm. Trolley rides will be available from 10 am – 5 pm.

Wine tasting will be hosted all day. It’s A New Season will present floral demonstrations. And The Top of The Hill Café will be serving their specialty dishes both inside and out. Other tasty treats will include Crusty Uprising’s home baked breads, barbecue beef sandwiches by the Knights of Columbus, specialty olive oils by the Oilerie and the original Dried Door County Cherries by Country Ovens.

The Top of the Hill Shops are located on the corner of Highway 42 and County F in Fish Creek.