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Community News for May 28 – June 11

• Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced that USDA is accepting applications for grants to help low income rural residents repair their homes.

“The costs associated with maintaining a home are a challenge for many rural homeowners,” stated Vilsack. “The Obama Administration and USDA are working to ensure that rural homeowners have safe, sanitary, energy-efficient places to live.”

Housing Preservation Grants are distributed to qualified homeowners or owners of multi-family rental properties or cooperative dwellings who rent to low- and very-low-income residents. The grants can be used to weatherize and repair existing structures, install or improve plumbing or provide access to people with disabilities.

USDA Rural Development’s mission is to deliver programs in a way that will support increasing economic opportunity and improve the quality of life of rural residents. As the lead federal agency for rural development needs, USDA Rural Development administered nearly $744 million dollars this past year to rural Wisconsin communities. For more information visit USDA’s website at http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/wi.

• The Door County Silent Sports Alliance (DCSSA) is sponsoring a Volunteer Trail Work Day at Peninsula State Park in recognition of National Trails Day on June 5, 9 am – 1 pm.

DCSSA’s fall Trail Work Day at Peninsula State Park had a record turnout of 24 volunteers, and with as much help this time around, more improvements will be seen along the hiking, biking and skiing trails within the county’s most popular state park.

Individuals interested in lending a helping hand can register by contacting Fred Bexell ([email protected]) or Margaret Carroll ([email protected]). The work will commence from Lot 5, and participants should dress comfortably for trail work, as well as bring work gloves.

For more information on DCSSA visit http://www.doorcountysilentsports.org.

• The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development Wisconsin State Director, Stan Gruszynski, announced the availability of funds for Homeownership Loans and Home Improvement financing to rural Wisconsin residents.

USDA Rural Development’s Rural Housing Programs offer a broad range of homeownership assistance to individuals and families who wish to or currently live in rural areas, cities, and communities. Direct Single Family Housing Loans are available at 100 percent financing with no down payment for lower income households. These loans are made directly through USDA Rural Development for a period of 30-38 years at an interest rate of 4.875 percent.

In addition, USDA Rural Development offers a Home Repair loan. Loans can be made for health and safety hazards, as well as improving and modernizing a home. These loans are at a one percent interest for a maximum term of 20 years. The loan amount depends on required income guidelines and the ability to make a monthly payment.

For further information on Rural Development programs, call 715.524.8522 (ext. 4) or visit http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/wi.

• The Door County Home Builders Association (DCHBA) has awarded a $1,000 scholarship to Sturgeon Bay resident Amber Grovogel.

Grovogel, a senior at Southern Door High School, plans to study interior architecture and interior design at UW Stevens Point. Her cumulative grade point average of 3.64, volunteer experience, and enthusiasm for interior architecture and design impressed the DCHBA. Grovogel was recognized at the DCHBA’s general membership meeting May 13.

This summer season, Grovogel will work at Door County Interiors & Design in Egg Harbor, as a general office assistant.

The DCHBA’s scholarship program awards up to two $1,000 scholarships each year to local students who show promise in the home industry. For more information visit dchba.org.

• More than 100 people attended the Door County Humane Society’s inaugural “Be Kind to Animals” Week kickoff celebration on May 1. The fundraising event, an open house at Liberty Square in Egg Harbor, raised more than $1,700 to support the not-for-profit shelter and its ongoing mission in the community.

Led by Something Fishy, Egg Harbor businesses offered extended hours on May 1. Many of those businesses donated a percentage of that day’s sales to the humane society, raising an additional $500.

The open house also incorporated the DCHS annual meeting. Amy DeMain and Pat Keenan-Creed were elected to the board of directors, and the organization presented its 2009 financial report.

DCHS’s “Be Kind to Animals’ Week proclamation, signed by all Door County supervisors, is on display in the shelter lobby.

For more information call 920.746.1111 or visit http://www.dooranimals.com or find DCHS Facebook.

• Door County Community Foundation, Inc. awarded a grant of $3,000 to Door-Tran to support the half-price voucher program. Door-Tran’s mission is to make transportation more affordable, available, and accessible to all residents of Door County. The half-price voucher program began in November 2008, and to date has served over 165 individuals and provided funding for over 6,000 rides to local businesses, health care facilities, work and social events.

Door-Tran has seen a small decrease in unmet transportation needs in Sturgeon Bay; however concerns have increased for the rural areas of Door County. Funding received will support the voucher program and the increased needs of rural transportation.

Door-Tran also offers referral to transportation services and free countywide car pool matching for individuals interested in sharing rides. For more information call 920.743.9999 or 877.330.6333.

• A group of Door County 4-H members are planning their 6th Annual Cardboard Congregation fundraiser for Habitat for Humanity. The 4-H Junior Leaders along with friends and classmates 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, June 4 at the West Side Ball Field in Sturgeon Bay beginning at 5 pm until 9 am Saturday morning.

Over the past five years, the youth participating in this event have raised over $10,000 for the local Habitat for Humanity Chapter. This year’s event will feature the cardboard home decorating contest, an auction with great prizes, and entertainment. The public is welcome to attend, and bid on auction items.

For more information or to register, call 920.746.2260.

• The Door County Land Trust announces the purchase of an addition to the Bay Shore Blufflands Nature Preserve.

The property is located at the base of the Niagara Escarpment approximately 10 miles north of Sturgeon Bay just inland of the shores of Green Bay. It is surrounded on the north, east and west by lands already protected by the Land Trust and hosts a large colony of the state threatened Ram’s Head Lady’s-slipper Orchid.

“We’re very excited about the acquisition of this property,” states Terrie Cooper, land program director for the Door County Land Trust. “Although it’s a small tract, it connects land that is already preserved and creates a corridor of specialized habitat.”

The Door County Land Trust was able to purchase and protect this latest addition to the Bay Shore Blufflands Nature Preserve with the help of Land Trust supporters and a grant from Wisconsin’s Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Fund.

To find out more about the Door County Land Trust, view maps or make a contribution, visit http://www.doorcountylandtrust.org.

• Celebrating the 90th birthday of the League of Women Voters, current and former members and guests gathered at Mr. G’s Supper Club on Thursday, May 13 for the Door County League’s Annual Meeting. In addition to their annual business meeting and dinner, the audience enjoyed a presentation showcasing the league’s achievements. Ruth Fahey, a charter member of the league, blew out the candles on the birthday cake for the highlight of the evening, and members and former members shared memories of their time in the organization.

The league is a grass roots non-partisan organization that includes both women and men. While the league is best known for its voter service work and its nonpartisan policy of not supporting candidates and political parties, it is also an organization that takes a stand on issues, such as water quality, protection of wetlands, health care, drug and alcohol issues, funding of public education, voter registration, and Open Meetings laws. For more information call President Shirley Senarighi at 920.743.1691.

• Unity issued its annual report to the community, disclosing 2009 charity care expenses totaled more than $1.2 million.

In 2009, Unity cared for 1,977 people through hospice and palliative services and an additional 6,888 people through bereavement care. Two-thirds of the patients were cared for at home, while almost one-third were cared for at nursing homes and assisted living facilities in Unity’s 12-county service area. An additional 115 patients received care at the Jack and Engrid Meng Residence, Unity’s hospice residence in De Pere. This is nearly a 16 percent increase in people served over 2008.

The hospice benefit’s Medicare reimbursement structure does not cover the full cost of care: labor, supplies, medication and bereavement services for loved ones.

Unity is based in the Green Bay area with offices in Marinette, Shawano and Sturgeon Bay.

To view a copy of Unity’s 2009 annual report or access a donation form to contribute to Unity’s 2010 appeal, visit http://www.unityhospice.org/donations or call Unity at 800.990.9249.

• The Jim Larsen Boys & Girls Club of Door County is pleased to announce that Dan Riley will emcee the dinner for the Club’s 1st Annual Celebrity Golf Outing. The Celebrity Golf Outing will be held on Monday, June 14 at the Horseshoe Bay Golf Club.

Celebrities that will participate in the golf outing include former NFL football players Chris Greisen, Al Johnson, Ben Johnson, Harry Sydney, Fuzzy Thurston and Randy Wright. Chef Andy Mueller, Drew Smith and Joel Pryzbilla of the Portland Trail Blazers will join the former NFL players.

Dan Riley specializes in parodies of popular music. He has worked with an array of entertainers including Bill Cosby, Dolly Parton, and Jay Leno. He performs for many Charity Golf Outings and his concerts fund the Dan Riley Scholarship for Young Performing Arts Students based in Wisconsin.

For more information contact Dave Resch (920.743.8705), Willie Schartner (920.495.1218) or Sally Hasenfus (920.255.3181).

• Linda and Dave Burke have been named as Parade Marshals for the 2010 Jacksonport Maifest Parade. Dave Burke, owner of Dave’s Tree Service is Jacksonport, started the tree service in 1968 and has owned and operated the business ever since. He also began another business, Grizzly Scenic Air Tours, in 2006, based at the Ephraim-Gibraltar Airport.

Linda Burke was born and raised in Jacksonport. She has done and continues to do the office work for Dave’s Tree Service, Grizzly Scenic Air Tours, and Port Storage in Jacksonport.

Over the years Dave Burke has donated both time and materials from his business to help beautify the parks in Jacksonport. In years past Linda Burke has volunteered to help the Jacksonport Women’s Club and the Jacksonport Historical Society bake cherry kolaches for both Maifest and Cherry fest.

Jacksonport is proud to recognize the couple’s positive contributions to the village.

• The Northern Door Children’s Center (NDCC) is encouraging Door County residents and visitors to channel their inner Englishman (or Englishwoman) by purchasing a ticket for the center’s annual car raffle. The NDCC and benefactor Judith Blazer have chosen a beautiful 2010 Mini Cooper Convertible as this year’s summer raffle prize.

Owned by BMW but manufactured in England, the NDCC 2010 Cooper features a six-speed manual transmission, power steering, 4-wheel anti-lock brakes, CD audio system, and a remote keyless entry.

The Mini Cooper’s next public appearance will be at Maifest in Jacksonport over Memorial Day weekend, where the public is encouraged to check out the car and purchase raffle tickets. The Cooper will be visiting various Door County locations throughout the summer and fall until Sunday, October 24 at 2 pm, when the winning raffle ticket will be drawn at the Northern Door Children’s Center in Sister Bay. The winner does not need to be present at the drawing.

Only 4,000 raffle tickets will be sold. Raffle tickets are $20 and available at the NDCC offices at 10520 Judith Blazer Drive in Sister Bay. All proceeds from the raffle benefit the NDCC’s non-profit work for early childhood education and care. For more information on the Center or to purchase tickets, call 920.854.4244 or email [email protected].

The Clearing Folk School’s Second Annual 9-hole Golf Scramble is scheduled for Monday, June 28 at Peninsula State Park Golf Course, starting at 1 pm.

Hole and tee sponsorships are available once more and may include a participant’s name or business name. Accommodations on The Clearing campus are also available, with special golf weekend package rates.

Registration is $65 per person or $260 per foursome. Register by calling The Clearing at 920.854.4088 by Thursday, June 24. For more information visit http://www.theclearing.org.

• The UU Fellowship is holding an “Above Average” Rummage Sale on Saturday, June 12 from 9 am – 4 pm. The sale proceeds will be designated for the development of the UU Memorial Garden.

Featuring an assemblage of holiday gifts, travel souvenirs, impulse purchases, inherited items, artwork, furniture, antiques and more, the sale has something for everyone.

Homemade cookies, lemonade, and coffee will be available for purchase as well as one pound packages of Free Trade coffee.

The Unitarian Universalist Fellowship is located in the Green Gables Shopping Area, 10341 Water Street, Ephraim. For more information visit http://www.uufdc.org.