Cellcom Presents Green Gift to Whitefish Dunes and Ridges Sanctuary

• Cellcom presented The Ridges Sanctuary a green gift of $1,500 and Whitefish Dunes State Park a green gift of $2,500.

The Ridges Sanctuary will use the gift to support their “No Family Left Inside” programs. Whitefish Dunes will use their gift to monitor current and potential invasive species.

A total of $30,950 was given out to 17 green organizations in Cellcom’s service area.

Since 2004 Cellcom has offered a cell phone-recycling program where customers can bring in their old or unwanted phones to be reused and recycled. Cellcom sends the phones to recyclers who in return send money to Cellcom for the materials that were saved from the phones. Cellcom has always donated this money back to local non-profits. Cellcom’s recycling program has generated over $105,000 for local charities over the past seven years.

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

• The Door County YMCA was selected by YMCA of the USA (Y-USA) to participate in Pioneering Healthier Communities – a national initiative that empowers community leaders with strategies to ensure that healthy eating and physical activity options are within reach for everyone who lives, works, or visits Door County.

Pioneering Healthier Communities is part of the YMCA’s Healthier Communities Initiatives which focus on making policy and environmental changes that support healthy lifestyles. They are built on the concept that local communities can work together to give all community members healthy choices. Through grants awarded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), a total of 10 communities from throughout the United States have been selected to join the initiative.

Door County YMCA applied for this initiative and was selected after a competitive review process.

For more information visit http://www.ymca.net/healthier-communities.

• Nov. 5 and 12, Dr. Melissa Nelson will provide opportunities for interested members of the Door community to learn and experience workshop training in the “Art of Healing Touch” from 9 am – 4 pm studying with Indigenous Grandmother Tassie at the Nelson Healing Center in Sturgeon Bay.

The techniques of healing touch can be learned and understood by combining lessons in theory with the actual practice of treatment. In these classes, participants will first learn to read the human energy field and then experience “hands on” demonstrations and training in the Native American traditions of energy medicine.

The cost is $65 per day (lunch included). For more information or to register call 920.818.0045.

The Nelson Healing Center is located at 44 S. 2nd Avenue in Sturgeon Bay. To learn more about other services, classes and learning opportunities visit http://www.NelsonHealingCenter.com.

• The Women’s Fund of Door County will be announcing its fall grant recipients at a Grants Reception on Nov. 2 from 4 – 5:30 pm at Crossroads at Big Creek in Sturgeon Bay. The entire community, including donors, charities, and other supporters of Door County non-profits are invited to join in celebrating the Fall 2011 grantees. Leaders from the grant recipients will be on hand to share information about how their programs provide opportunities for women and girls in Door County.

Refreshments will be provided and are donated by the Board of the Women’s Fund of Door County.

This is the third round of awards given by the Women’s Fund since its founding in 2009. The Women’s Fund of Door County is a component fund of the Door County Community Foundation, Inc.

More information is available online at http://www.womensfunddoorcounty.org.

Carmen Shroeder

• November is American Diabetes Month and Ministry Door County Medical Center is hosting a free community event on Nov. 5 from 10 am – noon at Crossroads at Big Creek in Sturgeon Bay. The topic is, “Embracing life with diabetes, learn strategies to live with diabetes and how to cope with the ups and downs,” and will include presentations by Certified Diabetes Educators, Ruth Norton, RN and Carmen Schroeder, RD, CD, CDE. Sarah Keller, MD will also share her experiences of living with diabetes.

Once diagnosed, Schroeder explains that self-management involves a variety of daily interventions and choices.

For more information about Ministry Health Diabetes Services or to schedule an appointment with Carmen Schroeder or Ruth Norton, call 920.743.5566 ext. 3920.

• More than 500 cats and dogs have found shelter at the Door County Humane Society through the first nine months of 2011. The Humane Society recently released its third quarter operations summary, enabling the community to get a sense of the growing number of lost, abandoned, and surrendered animals cared for in the course of a year.

“Every one of the 19 municipalities is represented,” explained Executive Director Carrie Counihan. “We are here to serve the City of Sturgeon Bay as their pound, and the other towns and villages as the safety net for homeless companion animals. Right now we are asking all the municipal governments to commit to make a donation in the 2012 budgets.”

Counihan added that the Door County Humane Society is an adoption guarantee shelter. No animal is euthanized because of lack of space, and many are there for a year or more awaiting adoption. However, in calculating what the municipalities would owe if they actually paid the real cost of animal care, only the first eight days at $15/day is considered.

The Humane Society building on Park Drive was constructed in 1999 to house 28 cats and 28 dogs. The population as of October 21 was six dogs and 157 cats. DCHS is conducting a capital campaign to enlarge that facility.

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

• The Women of Ephraim Moravian Church will host their Annual Fall Luncheon & Sale on Saturday, October 29 from 11 am – 2 pm. The “famous” sloppy Joe sandwich accompanied by generous slices of pie will be served for lunch. Homemade bakery items, Moravian holiday items, and plants will also be available for purchase.

Proceeds from the Ephraim Moravian Church Annual Luncheon & Sale will support special projects. “This year we are working on the restoration of church furnishings,” said event chair Eunice Rutherford. “Handicapped accessibility to the church is an immediate need, and this event will help provide for removal of the old carpeting and the restoration of the hardwood floors.”

The event will be held at the Ephraim Village Hall located at 9996 Water Street. The Ephraim Moravian Church is located at 9970 Moravian Street. For more information contact the Rev. Dawn Volpe at 920.854.2804.

• Northern Door Children’s Center’s Fifth Annual Holiday Home Tour will usher in the Spirit of Christmas on Thanksgiving weekend – Nov. 25 and 26. The popular self-guided tour will feature five distinct Northern Door homes, beautifully decorated for the season. In addition, the Stella Maris Parish St. Paul Catholic Church in Fish Creek will host the Bake Shoppe featuring home-baked treats for purchase, no ticket required.

For $20, attendees will receive a detailed map to the welcoming homes, each one unique and special in its own way. Homes in Fish Creek will include the historic Door County farmstead of Vicki and Wes Maynard and the newly constructed home of Polly and Don Helm. In Ephraim, attendees will find the lovely Weborg home, where Santa himself is making an appearance. Sister Bay will offer the beautiful family home of Kathy and Tom McCarthy and the spacious home of Sandy and Bernie Friendenfels, where there will be bonfires both Friday and Saturday evenings.

Tickets may be purchased from local merchants, at Northern Door Children’s Center and online at http://www.northerndoorchildrencenter.org. Tickets will also be available at each home and the church on the days of the tour, Friday from 4 – 8 pm and Saturday from 10 am – 4 pm. All proceeds will benefit the Children’s Center, a non-profit organization dedicated to the care and education of children ages six weeks to 11 years.

For more information call 920.854.4244.

• Ministry Door County Medical Center and the Family Centers of Door County is hosting an event that will honor and celebrate individuals who are leaving their mark on the Door County community. “Leaving a Legacy: Celebrating Those Who Inspire” will take place on Nov. 1 at Stone Harbor Resort from 5:30 – 8 pm. The event is open to the public and will consist of a supper and short program to honor the nominees and announce each category winner.

Tickets are $35 per person and can be ordered by visiting http://www.familycentersdc.com or by calling 920.825.1430. Proceeds will benefit the Family Centers of Door County.

• The establishment of a Legacy Endowment Fund has been announced by Fred Johnson, president of the Sister Bay Historical Society. The fund, which will operate under the management of the Door County Community Foundation, is the result of a generous bequest from the estate of Margaret (Peg) Foster.

Foster, a former college professor, became a Sister Bay resident following her retirement in 1977 and embarked on a second career as a restaurant owner, antique dealer and as the volunteer director of the Eagle Bluff Lighthouse Museum.

A portion of the funds from the Foster bequest have also been invested through the Community Foundation as an Operating Reserve Fund, which will eventually be used to finance significant capital and operational projects at the museum.

“Since we opened The Corner of the Past historical museum in 1997 our responsibility has grown from the original Old Anderson House to include a total of 15 vintage buildings and many artifacts, all supported by contributions and volunteer labor,” Johnson noted. “As we have grown, so has the need for long-term financial stability for the organization.”

Individuals, estate planners or financial advisers may obtain information about the historical society’s funds through the Door County Community Foundation’s office in Sturgeon Bay.

• Neighbor-to-Neighbor Volunteer Caregivers of Door County is holding their third annual Door County Rib Fest on Nov. 12 from 4 – 7:30 pm at the Sturgeon Bay Yacht Club. The night’s fare will include samples of each chef’s signature ribs, baked beans, coleslaw, and desserts. The event also includes DJ/Karaoke by Ken-Ya-Sing, and a silent auction with items from Door County businesses. Tasters will vote for their favorite ribs in the professional and amateur categories.

Tickets are $15 for adults and $5 for children and are available by calling 920.743.7800. All proceeds from this event will go to support Neighbor-to-Neighbor programming.

• The pubic is welcome to learn about the traditional Medicare and Medicare Advantage plans at the Community Health Information Program to be presented at Sister Bay Moravian Church on Oct. 30 at 4 pm. This will be the second in a three part series about Billing and Health Care Reform to be presented by Brian Stephens from Ministry Door County Medical Center.

• The Peninsula Art Association’s 2nd Annual Artfund Benefit
 will take place Nov. 9 at The English Inn in Fish Creek. Dinner will be served from 5 – 8 pm; music will begin at 6 pm.

The event is sponsored by the publishers of DoorCountyChefs.com, DoorCountyGuide.com, DoorCountyLodging.com and DoorCountyStyle.com.

The event will feature performances by Mighty Mouth, Ben There, Dan That, Jeanne Kuhns with Lost Mothra, and Purgatory Hill.

Guests are invited to enjoy a buffet dinner, bid on a variety of silent auction items, win raffle items and a grand prize provided by local businesses.

Tickets for the event are $30 in advance and $35 at the door. Businesses wishing to contribute items to the silent auction are encouraged to call 920.785.3515 or 920.854.2688. To purchase advanced tickets email [email protected].

• The Women’s Group at Shepherd of the Bay tied 102 quilts together last winter. These beautiful quilts, which are made for Lutheran World Relief, are distributed all over the world.

The materials used to make these colorful quilts are all donated by the people of the congregation – most are the leftovers from home sewn clothing, drapes, curtains, etc.

This January the women will begin again to spend their Thursdays at the church busily making more quilts. They hope to beat their record of 102 this winter.

• Stella Maris Parishioners celebrated the 125th anniversary of the parish and the 75th anniversary of the dedication of the church at St. Mary of the Lake Church in Baileys Harbor on Oct. 23.

Mass was celebrated at 11 am by Fr. David Ruby and Fr. Anthony Birdsall. Over 150 people participated in the Mass. Many descendants of original St. Mary of the Lake families were in attendance also.

A majority of those attending gathered in the church hall following mass for dinner hosted by the ladies of St. Mary’s Altar and Rosary Society. Displays of memorabilia of the church history and a model of the original church were on display for everyone to enjoy.

• The Leadership Door County organization has announced the new class members for their 2011-2012 program. Selected participants will have the opportunity to enhance their leadership skills, learn about Door County resources and increase their community involvement.

Members of the 22nd Leadership Door County class include Jim DuFrane, Kevin Grohskopf, Jodi Hibbard, Erin Hoffman, Ryan Johnson, Cindy Koutnik, Elizabeth Meissner-Gigstead and Joe Mitchell.

The annual Leadership Door County program is designed to assist participants in developing and strengthening their leadership skills while providing them with a strong understanding of community issues.

In addition to participating in the monthly meetings, class members are asked to complete a team-directed class project, with the goal of addressing a previously unmet need in the community. The project for the 2010-11 class was to raise awareness and support for the 2-1-1 PLUS project and resource in Door County.

For more information visit http://www.leadershipdoorcounty.com or search for Leadership Door County on Facebook.

• Brian Ellison, president of Death’s Door Spirits, LLC, and Tom Koyen, owner of Tom Koyen Farming, LLC, announced the creation of the “Tom & Sharon Koyen Memorial Scholarship” for graduating high school seniors who wish to pursue an agricultural career. The announcement was made during Death’s Door Spirits’ 3rd Annual Juniper Fest on Washington Island.

“This is a step that has been a long time coming in the growth of our company,” explained Ellison. “We have always looked for greater opportunities to give back to the community of Washington Island in a meaningful way. I can think of no better investment than in future generations of Islanders.”

Starting in the spring of 2012, the scholarship application will be offered to graduating seniors from the Washington Island School District who are considering a career path in agriculture. A scholarship committee – in collaboration with the Washington Island School District – will award one student a $5,000 scholarship to apply toward their educational pursuits at a continuing college, technical school or university. Selection will be based on academic achievement, an essay and need.

• The Wellness Center of Door County is offering a breastfeeding information forum on Nov. 12 from 10 am – noon at United Methodist Church in Sturgeon Bay. All community members are invited to attend. The two hour session will include a short video, panel discussion with breastfeeding experts and experienced mothers, a resource packet, refreshments, and door prizes. The program is free and childcare will be provided.

The breastfeeding information session is part of a new, innovative monthly program called Woman Food. The purpose of Woman Food is to empower women of childbearing age to appropriately feed their own bodies and to tust their bodies to provide healthy, life sustaining food for their infants.

For more information or to register email [email protected] or call 920.746.9444.

• The Sister Bay Moravian Church is teaming up this winter season with Ephraim Moravian Church in offering a Free Community Lunch on the first Wednesday of the month November through April. The Ephraim Moravian Church will host lunch on the third Wednesday of each month.

Sister Bay Moravian Church is located at 10924 Old Stage Road; Ephraim Moravian Church is located at 9970 Moravia Street. Both free lunches are at noon. For more information call the Sister Bay church at 920.854.4080 or call the Ephraim church at 920.854.2804.