Al Johnson’s Presents Donation to Northern Door Children Center

• Northern Door Children’s Center in Sister Bay was recently the recipient of a very generous donation of $12,060 from the Al Johnson Memorial Fund. Northern Door Children’s Center is a private, not-for-profit early childhood care and learning facility, serving children ages six-weeks to 11 years. This donation assists the Children’s Center in the continued operations of its Infant/Toddler Looping Program, Prescholar Mixed-Age Preschool, Four-Year-Old Kindergarten and Camp Cool School-Aged Day Camp.

The Board of Directors, staff, and families of Northern Door Children’s Center are deeply grateful for this donation from the Al Johnson Memorial Fund and members of the Door County community.

• United Way of Door County encourages community members to donate a bag of non-perishable items (canned foods, pasta, rice, cereal, etc) to be collected by letter carriers as they deliver mail on May 14.

“Stamp Out Hunger” is a national partnership between NALC, the U.S. Postal Service, United Way, the AFL-CIO, the National Rural Letter Carriers’ Association, Campbell, Feeding America, Valpak, AARP and Uncle Bob’s Self Storage. The nation’s 230,000 active letter carriers will take the donations to local food banks, pantries and shelters.

For more information contact the United Way of Door County at 920.746.9645 or visit http://www.unitedwaydc.com.

• The American Red Cross Lakeland Chapter has dispatched disaster volunteer Diane Knutson of Sturgeon Bay to Little Rock, Arkansas to assist with the response to April tornadoes that devastated so much of the south.

This will be Knutson’s seventh national disaster deployment. For this assignment she will be deployed as a supervisor for damage assessment.

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

• The second annual Thomas Paine “Common Sense” fundraiser dinner will be held Thursday, May 26 at 5:30 pm at Bjorklunden, just south of Baileys Harbor at 7590 Boynton Lane (entry on Highway 57 across from Anschutz Plumbing).

Sponsored by the Democratic Party of Door County, the event will feature a social hour cash bar, catered dinner and a “White Donkey” silent auction. For the entertainment and edification of the guests, short readings from Paine’s famous treatise will be offered by some of Door County’s actors followed by remarks from last year’s popular speaker, Dr. Harvey Kaye, author of Thomas Paine and the Promise of America and Thomas Paine: Firebrand of the Revolution. Dr. Kaye is the Ben and Joyce Rosenberg Professor of Democracy and Justice Studies and director of the Center for History and Social Change at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay.

The cost of the event is $25.

For more information or to make reservations contact Francha Barnard at 920.839.2829 or via email at [email protected].

• The Health & Wellness Cabinet of Northern Door will host a new series of Community Health Information Programs (CHIPS) at St. Rosalia’s Catholic Church in Sister Bay. The programs will be held from 4 – 5 pm, with time for questions.

The first program, “What is a Stroke?” led by retired neurologist and neuro-surgeon, Dr. Phil Hansotia from the Marshfield Clinic, will take place Sunday, May 15.

John Jones will present “The Bulletproof Myth: Words from the Mouth of a Stroke Survivor” on Sunday, June 12; Deb Witlaw-Gorsky, the Rehabilitation Therapies supervisor of Ministry Door County Medical Center, will present “Coming Back From Stroke: The Role of Rehabilitation Therapy” on Sunday, July 24; and stroke survivor Erv Hitzman, along with his wife Carolyn, will present “We’ve Been There: Journey Back from Stroke” on Sunday, August 12.

• Sara Powers, a senior at Sturgeon Bay High School, has been named the winner of the 2011 Bordui Foundation scholarship competition. She will be awarded $10,000 toward her university attendance.

Powers plans to attend the University of Minnesota and major in engineering. She was selected from a group of 11 applicants by the foundation’s trustees, following consideration of grade point average, test scores, an essay submission, an interview, and input from the school’s faculty scholarship committee.

The Bordui Foundation is a charitable foundation established by Peter Bordui, a 1978 graduate of Sturgeon Bay High School, who also serves as a trustee. The other trustees are his wife, Marie Bordui-Gilson, and John Hauser, senior vice president of Baylake Bank in Sturgeon Bay.

The Foundation has awarded over $200,000 to graduating SBHS seniors since 2003.

• The Door County YMCA will honor Carla and Ellsworth Peterson for their dedication to philanthropy and community at their annual Heritage Club Dinner on Thursday, June 30 at Stone Harbor Resort at 5:30 pm. This event was rescheduled due to the cancellation of the event originally planned for the fall of 2010.

Ellsworth and Carla Peterson’s support has been monumental and instrumental in creating and sustaining the Door County YMCA over the past 25 years. The Carla and Ellsworth Peterson Foundation has contributed millions of dollars to the Y and local organizations like the Maritime Museum, Peninsula Players, Door County Land Trust, American Folklore Theatre, Ministry Door County Medical Center, Birch Creek, and many others.

This is an opportunity to not only recognize Carla and Ellsworth Peterson for their work, but to thank all who are part of the Heritage Club.

The cost of the dinner is $25 per person. Seating is limited and reservations are required by June 23. Tables and individual tickets are available for reservations by contacting the YMCA at 920.743.4949.

(Left to right) Barbara Pfeifer on behalf of Altrusa of Door County (Group), Mary Caroline Georges (Youth), George Husby (Lifetime of Service), Kaaren Northrop (Arts & Culture) and Imelda Delchambre (Adult). Photo courtesy of Matt Normann Photography.

• The Volunteer Center of Door County honored area volunteers at the 9th Annual Golden Heart Volunteer Celebration April 28.

Imelda Delchambre was honored in the Adult category, Kaaren Northrop in the Arts & Culture category, Altrusa of Door County in the Group category, MaryCaroline Georges in the Youth Category, and George Husby in the Lifetime of Service category.

Kimberly Sawyer, Miss Wisconsin 2010, provided the keynote address based upon her personal platform, “Service for the Soul: Finding Your Passion in Volunteerism” and ended her speech with a moving rendition of Simon and Garfunkel’s “Bridge over Troubled Water.” Marti Spittell Ziegelbauer returned for her 9th year as Master of Ceremonies, bringing each nominee’s contribution to light. Each nominee received a crystal sun catcher created by Tara Niko Rossman and a complimentary dinner. Youth nominees received a gift card compliments of Wal-Mart.

Award recipients received $500 to donate to a Door County charity of their choice in addition to a custom designed art piece by Chad Luberger of Plum Bottom Pottery. The Youth winner received a $500 academic scholarship as well as a Pandora Bracelet and heart charm donated by Wilkins and Olander.

For more information, visit http://www.VolunteerDoorCounty.com or call the Volunteer Center at 920.746.7704.

• Door County 4-H members are planning their 7th annual Cardboard Congregation fundraiser for Habitat for Humanity. The 4-H Junior Leaders and other youth will be camping out in cardboard boxes, simulating inadequate housing, to raise money for Door County Habitat for Humanity. The group will be camping out on Friday, May 20 starting at 5 pm at the John Miles County Park in Sturgeon Bay and will continue until Saturday morning at 8 am.

Over the past six years, the youth participating in this event have raised over $12,000 for the local Habitat for Humanity Chapter. This year’s event will feature the musical talents of Sommer, performing at 9 pm on Friday, May 20. (There will be a $10 cover charge for the band portion of the evening.)

The auction, which will begin at 7 pm, will feature items for all ages, including tickets to see the Milwaukee Bucks or the Green Bay Gamblers, and an autographed football from the 2010-11 Green Bay Packers. Donations will be accepted at the event.

For more information or to register, contact the UW-Extension Office at 920.746.2260.

• Christ Child Society will meet on May 23 at the Social Hall of St. Michael’s Church in Jacksonport. Refreshments and coffee will be served at 12:30 pm; the meeting will begin at 1 pm. The meeting will focus on planning the Christ Child Society’s Fundraiser Luncheon to be held on August 3.

• The Door County Alcohol and Other Drug Coalition aims to prevent adult hosted drinking parties in Door County using the “Parents Who Host Lose the Most: Don’t Be a Party to Teenage Drinking” campaign.

“Parents Who Host Lose the Most” is a community effort that alerts parents to the legal and health related consequences of purchasing, providing or pouring alcohol for anyone under age 21, other than their own child.

“Too many people think underage drinking is harmless or worse – acceptable if parents take cars keys away from youth. Every year we hear about teens dying from alcohol poisoning or alcohol related poisonings and drowning that occur after adults provide alcohol to youth,” said Amy Bremel, coalition coordinator. “Nobody has the right to endanger the welfare of someone else’s child by providing them with alcohol.”

She added, “We want this to be a happy prom and commencement season, underage drinking isn’t part of that picture.”

• Door County Habitat for Humanity will host a Volunteer Interest Fair on Saturday, May 21 from 3 – 5 pm at 410 N 14th Avenue in Sturgeon Bay. Representatives from the work sites, the ReStore and the office will be available to speak about each area and share their own experiences, as well as answer questions on an individual basis. People of all ages and interests are welcome to attend. Short presentations will be made at 3 and 4 pm, with information tables set up throughout the event. Light refreshments will be provided.

The Door County Habitat for Humanity office and ReStore are located at 410 N. 14th Avenue in Sturgeon Bay (across from Bonnie Brook Gardens). For more information call 920.743.2869 or visit http://www.doorcountyhabitat.org.

• Applications are being accepted for the Lucy J. Erdmann scholarship. This scholarship is open to any graduate of a Door County high school who is enrolled in a certified nursing program and who has successfully completed two semesters of work toward a nursing certificate.

The amount of the award is anticipated to be not less than $1,000 per year for up to three years. Scholarship application forms are available through the School Counseling Office of each of the Door County high schools.

Completed applications should be submitted to Robert Nickel, Sturgeon Bay High School principal, by June 1, 2011.

• Eric Frater, son of David and Julia Frater, Fish Creek, has been initiated into the Lawrence University chapter of Phi Beta Kappa, the oldest honorary society in America. Phi Beta Kappa awards membership to seniors who have demonstrated superior scholarship. A physics major at Lawrence, Frater is a 2007 graduate of Conserve School, Land o’ Lakes. For more information about Lawrence University visit http://www.lawrence.edu.

• A rummage sale to benefit the Door County Humane Society (DCHS) will take place from 7:30 am – 2 pm on Saturday, May 21 at the Jaycee Clubhouse in Sturgeon Bay. Timing of the rummage sale corresponds to the beginning of a large influx of lost, abandoned, or surrendered animals to the shelter, located on Park Drive across from Cherryland Airport.

Donations to the Humane Society rummage sale are sought with the exception of clothing, computers and appliances. Clean, usable items may be dropped off on Friday, May 20 between 9 am – 6 pm at the JayCee building, located off 12th Avenue. DCHS can provide an IRS donation letter to anyone who requests one. Volunteers are welcome to help with pre-sale preparation on Friday or to work a three-hour shift on Saturday.

For more information contact Sharon Peterson at 920.495.1562 or via email at [email protected]. For additional information call DCHS at 920.746.1111.

• Ministry Door County Medical Center (MDCMC) is hosting two free workshop series: Powerful Tools for Caregivers and Living Well with Chronic Conditions.

Both classes consist of six, two-and-a-half hour sessions held once a week. Two class leaders will conduct the series. Classes will take place at MDCMC, located at 323 S. 18th Avenue in Sturgeon Bay, from 4:30 – 7 pm. Sessions are held every Monday from June 20 through August 1 (not including July 4).

For more information or to register for either program, contact Pam Peterson at 920.746.2260 or via email at [email protected]. Class size is limited and registration is required by June 8.

• Miracle-Ear Service Center in Sister Bay supports the Speech-Language-Hearing Association’s (ASHA) designation of May as Better Hearing and Speech Month. Miracle-Ear believes that educating the public about the causes, signs of, and treatments for hearing loss is the key to improving the quality of life for the 31 million Americans who are dealing with a hearing loss today.

“Hearing loss can develop gradually, so people often don’t know what they’re missing,” said Paulette McDonald, owner of Miracle-Ear Service Center in Sister Bay. “That’s why we offer a free hearing test to everyone who walks into our store.”

For more information, stop by the Miracle-Ear Service Center located at Sister Bay & Liberty Grove Fire Department, 2258 Mill Rd in Sister Bay, email [email protected] or visit http://www.miracle-ear.com/.

• The National Society of High School Scholars (NSHSS) announced that Cushing Academy student Elliot Taillon from Ephraim has been selected for membership. The announcement was made by NSHSS Founder and Chairman Claes Nobel, a senior member of the family that established the Nobel Prizes.

“On behalf of NSHSS, I am honored to recognize the hard work, sacrifice, and commitment that Elliot has demonstrated to achieve this exceptional level of academic excellence,” says Nobel.

For more information about NSHSS, visit http://www.nshss.org.

• Rotary Interact, a teen service club comprised of Door County high school students, is working to support A Drop in the Bucket charity organization by funding a well for a needy community in Africa. The students have constructed and painted many wooden water buckets that will travel from house to house throughout Door County for the next several weeks. When a bucket shows up in a yard, it was left by a friend or neighbor who has donated to the cause. Upon making (or not making) a donation, the individual with the bucket is encouraged to pass it on.

Those who do not find a bucket, but wish to donate, can send a check to Door County Rotary Interact/Water Project, c/o Door County YMCA, 1900 Michigan St., Sturgeon Bay, WI 54235.

The teens will also be hosting a “Mr. Door County” pageant and raffle to raise funds. The event will take place on Friday, May 13 at 7 pm at the Sturgeon Bay High School Auditorium. Tickets are $5 and will be sold that night at the door.

For more information, contact Ben Rikkola, Rotary Interact supervisor, at 920.743.4949.

• The results for the 2011 MS Snow Tour are finalized. Bob Schmidt and Paul Stoltman’s group of Door County Snowmobilers raised $41,245 during the 2011 snowmobiling season, the most money raised since 2004. The three-day ride took place from January 28 – 30.

The 21-year challenge established by Schmidt to raise one million dollars to aid in the fight against MS has now raised $928,248.63.

• Nearly 260 people helped celebrate Sunshine House Inc.’s 40 years of serving the Door community at the Annual Awards Dinner on Monday, May 2 at the Draft Haus in Sturgeon Bay.

The following individuals and companies received awards: Outstanding Achievement was awarded to Shannon Pesch in the female category and Zachary Wanke in the male category; Industry of the Year was awarded to Just In Time Corp.; Employer of the Year was awarded to Feed & Clothe My People; and Volunteer of the Year was awarded to Marilyn Beachler.

Community Partnership Awards were awarded to Door County Daily News, Dave Neuville, and The County of Door.

Jennifer Starr was awarded Staff Member of the Year and service awards were presented to retiring members of the Board of Directors.

For more information contact James Meyer, Sunshine House Inc. CEO, at 920.743.7943 or via email at [email protected].

• The executive director of Door County Habitat for Humanity will take the organization’s goals to a whole new ‘level.’ On Friday, June 10, Rick Nelson and his wife Barbara will set up housekeeping atop scaffolding in the parking lot of the Habitat office and ReStore. Over the course of the weekend, the Nelsons will sleep on a ReStore couch, eat microwavable entrées, and brave the elements – all in an effort to promote the issue of affordable housing. However, a wife can only tolerate so much – Mrs. Nelson has threatened divorce unless Habitat for Humanity can raise $15,000 by the end of the day on Sunday.

Door County Habitat for Humanity will be accepting pledges and donations to “Save the Nelsons’ Marriage” through Sunday, June 12. Volunteers are currently seeking individuals and businesses to match gifts made during the weekend of the event.

For more information or to donate, visit the Door County Habitat for Humanity office and ReStore at 410 N. 14th Avenue in Sturgeon Bay (across from Bonnie Brook Gardens) or call 920.743.2869.

• Stan Gruszynski, Wisconsin State Director, announced the availability of funds for Homeownership Loans to Wisconsin residents with the help of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).

USDA Rural Development’s Rural Housing Direct Home Loan Program will offer 100 percent financing with no down payment required for low and lower income individuals or families at a 4.5 percent interest rate. These loans are made directly through USDA Rural Development and are offered for a period of 30 – 38 years. The repayment on the loan may be subsidized by the Federal Government, based on the household income. Direct loans may be made for the purchase of an existing home or new home construction.

For more information call the USDA Rural Development Office at 715.524.8522 ext. 4 or visit http://www.rurdev.usda.gov.

• In preparation for Memorial Day May 30, VFW Post 8337 will place grave flags on May 24 and 25. Those who know of a gravestone that did not receive a flag last year are encouraged to call Lee Burnett at 920.746.0357.

Post members will offer poppies for a donation on May 28 and 29. The money donated goes to aid for local veterans.

The next Post meeting will be on June 7 at 7 pm at Liberty Grove Village Hall.

• The Annual Community Health Living Fair will be held at the Northern Door Program Center on Wednesday, May 18 from 10 am – 1 pm in Fish Creek.

The Health Fair is free and open to the public with vendors onsite performing screenings and teaching attendees how to live well. Throughout the morning, there will be massage therapy, skin cancer screenings, balance checks, and blood sugar tests. Bay Pharmacy will offer oxygen level testing, while the Door County Parish Nurses Network will check blood pressure and Miracle Ear will test hearing. Fasting cholesterol screenings will be available by appointment.

There will be free refreshments and free childcare if needed. This year’s health fair is sponsored by Ministry Door County Medical Center. For more information contact the Door County YMCA at 920.868.3660.

• The Door County YMCA is inviting parents to give their kids a chance to explore and grow at the Y’s many summer camp opportunities. YMCA campers gain new experiences, develop essential social skills and create lifelong friendships, while enjoying camp adventures along the way. The Door County YMCA provides exciting and educational camp and summer programming including: Day Camp at both program centers, City-Park half-day camp in Sturgeon Bay, tennis camp, team and youth gymnastics camp, Doorfins swimming camp, along with evening baseball, Art Fridays, sailing in Egg Harbor, kayaking with the Team Leadership Center and more.

Registration is now open with camps and summer programs starting in June.

The Door County YMCA offers financial assistance to make camp affordable for all families.

For more information visit http://www.doorcountyymca.org or call the Sturgeon Bay Y at 920.743.4949 or the Northern Door Y at 920.868.3660.