Community Notes for March 5 – 19

• Chef Andy Mueller, owner of Chef Andy’s Nautical Inn in Sturgeon Bay and Chef Andy’s Hillside Inn in Ellison Bay, has joined 10 celebrities that will be playing in the Jim Larsen Boys and Girls Club’s 1st Celebrity Golf Outing.

Horeseshoe Bay Golf Club will host the June 14 event, which will include the NFL’s Nick Greisen, Joel Pryzbilla of the Portland Trailblazers, and former NFL players Chris Greisen, Al Johnson, Ben Johnson, Harry Sydney, Fuzzy Thurston and Randy Wright.

WLUK Sports Director Drew Smith and philanthropist Marti Spittell Zeigelbauer will also appear.

In addition to playing in the event, Chef Andy is supporting the fundraiser by offering to prepare a dinner for eight at a private residence in Door County.

For more information regarding this celebrity dinner or golf outing, call Sally Weber-Hasenfus at 920.255.3181.

• If you help an older relative or friend, you could benefit from the educational program “Powerful Tools for Caregivers.”

Participants will learn to reduce stress, improve self-confidence, communicate your feelings, balance your life, increase your ability to make tough decisions and locate helpful resources.

Classes consist of six, 2.5 hour sessions held each Wednesday from March 31 – May 5. Sessions run from 9 – 11:30 am at the United Methodist Church of Sturgeon Bay, 836 Michigan Street.

Facilitators are Pam Peterson of the UW-Extension and Orlaine Gabert from HELP of Door County.

Participants will receive a free copy of The Caregiver Helpbook. Contact Pam Peterson at 920.746.2260 or [email protected] for information.

• The Sturgeon Bay Jaycees will host a casino night fundraiser March 13 at the Jaycee Hall. The event will raise funds to send Jared Meyer to Australia in July, as he has been selected to participate in the People To People Ambassador Program. Admission is $20 and includes Mexican buffet, free beer, soda and a chance to win great prizes. Blackjack, Texas Hold ‘em and other games will be played. Call 920.421.1571 for more information.

• The Door County String Academy (DCSA) received a $450 Anderson Foundation Grant from Bay View Lutheran Church in Sturgeon Bay to help pay for its Spring Music Festival.

The festival will be held Saturday, April 10 from 9 am – 4 pm at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church in Sturgeon Bay.

Two professional judges will be listening to 50 to 60 music students perform at the festival featuring beginning, intermediate and advanced level student pianists and string players living in Door County. This year’s judges are Judith Jackson (piano) and Kim Souther (strings). All student performances are free and open to the public. More information about the festival and the Door County String Academy can be found at http://www.dcstringacademy.com, or by calling Festival Coordinator Lori Meyer at 920.421.0753.

• The Door Kewaunee Business Education Partnership (DKBEP) will hold the 3rd Annual DKBEP Golf Challenge on May 23 at The Orchards Golf Course in Egg Harbor. Tournament registration and free use of the driving range will begin at 10:30 am with a shotgun start at noon.

The 4-person scramble includes golf, cart, beverages, gifts, snacks, dinner, hole contests and fabulous door prizes. The event is sponsored by American Transmission Company and Dominion Power along with Donny’s Glidden Lodge Restaurant, which is catering the 19th Hole Dinner Social.

Proceeds will benefit youth career awareness and workforce training initiatives for the Door Kewaunee Business & Education Partnership, such as the High School Home Construction Program, High School Certified Nursing Assistant Program and many career awareness programs.

The cost of the event is $100 per player (tax-deductible). Players and foursomes of men, women and co-ed teams are welcome.

To register, become a tournament sponsor or to learn more, visit http://www.doorcountybusiness.com/dkbep or call Tara LeClair at 920.743.3113 ext 205.

• The Fishing Hole will host the 2nd Annual Chili Cook Off to benefit Feed My People March 6 from noon – 4 pm.

Prizes will be awarded for 1st –3rd places, and there will be raffles, specials, and much more. Donation for the chili tasting is $3, and any donations of nonperishable food items are also appreciated. All proceeds benefit Feed My People. For more information or to enter contact Sheila or Brian at 920.743.9814. The Fishing Hole is located at 6962 County Tk M, Sturgeon Bay.

• The Door County Board of REALTORS® has named Bob Erickson of Door County Realty as the 2009 REALTOR® of the Year.

A self-described “finance guy,” Erickson enjoys performing the behind the scenes tasks that has allowed Door County Realty to expand and thrive. This has been especially challenging during the nation’s current financial state.

Selection of the Door County REALTOR® of the Year is made by the Distinguished Award Committee, a group comprised of past REALTORS® of the Year. The decision is based on a REALTORS® commitment to the board and leadership roles taken in ad hoc committees as well as their involvement and positive impact in the community as a whole.

• Mark your calendars for a Pancake and Porkie breakfast on Saturday, March 6, from 8 am to 1 pm, at the Sturgeon Bay United Methodist Church.

Proceeds will help support church youth and adults on their mission trip as they travel to Tijuana, Mexico. Mission team members will work with Caravan Ministries to build shelters for Mexican families.

Tickets at the door are $7 for adults, $4 for youth ages 6–12, and kids 5 and under are free. Advance tickets for adults are $6. Each ticket is put into a drawing for a $50 gift certificate to Andy’s Nautical Inn.

Purchase tickets through the Methodist Church office. Call 920.743.5678 or at the Methodist Church 10 am – 2 pm, Monday through Thursday.

• Applications for the Fourth Annual United Way of Door County Scholarship Program are available. Those who have demonstrated strong community involvement during their high school career, and who are beginning college in fall of 2010, are encouraged to apply. There will be a one-time $500 scholarship for college or technical school tuition awarded to one Door County Class of 2010 student.

The application is also available at http://www.unitedwaydc.com. All high school seniors, including home-schooled students, are eligible. Scholarships are given on the basis of their community involvement, rather than academic achievement.

The service-based scholarship program was initiated by former United Way Youth Board members Jacque Jorns and Michele Lodl of Sturgeon Bay.

The deadline for submitting applications for the program is March 31. For more information call 920.746.9645.

• Is Egg Harbor one of America’s Coolest Small Towns? The village was nominated for the title by Budget Travel. Visit http://www.budgettravel.com and scroll down to “Web Exclusives” to vote. 
In addition to a brief write-up, the site offers readers the opportunity to comment and upload photos and video to the town profile.

• Northeast Wisconsin Technical College in Sturgeon Bay is offering a free workshop at the end of March to help job seekers learn skills and assess abilities.

The workshop will help participants with basic computer skills, find job interests and aptitudes, learn tips for getting hired, and much more. Kristine Briski will be the instructor at the Sturgeon Bay campus for the three-part series scheduled for March 23, March 30, and April 6 from 3:30 – 5:30 pm. The workshop is also offered on Thursdays, March 25, April 1 and April 8 from 12:30 – 2:30 pm.

Call 920.746.4910 for more information to register by March 12.

• The Door County Sail and Power Squadron 56th Change of Watch and Recognition Dinner took place Feb. 20 at Stone Harbor Resort and Conference Center in Sturgeon Bay.

The Blaine P. Dreutzer Commander’s Cup Award was given to Baumann for outstanding service by a new member.

The squadron’s cooperative charting program allows members to supply information to the Marine Chart Division of NOS/NOAA resulting in corrections to nautical charts, small craft charts, and Coast Pilot publications. Also, each season the squadron schedules several VSCs throughout the county, which are offered to all recreational boaters, both residents and visitors.

Upcoming educational opportunities include the ABC-3 Boating Safety Course beginning in April and six free seminars covering topics such as understanding weather, boat handling, and using GPS, scheduled April through September.

To inquire about membership contact DeNoto at [email protected] or 920.493.0287, or visit http://www.usps.org/door.

• The Flying Scot North American Championship regatta (NAC), hosted by the Ephraim Yacht Club (EYC) was named the 2009 One-Design Regatta of the Year by US Sailing, the governing body of the sport of sailboat racing in the United States.

The award recognizes “excellence in development, promotion and management of the year’s outstanding regatta.” The NAC was nominated by NAC participants for the award.

Visiting sailors voiced high praise after the NAC. Dave Thinel of Florida called it “the best run and organized regatta I have ever attended and nothing else has even come close.” Others praised the county’s beauty. “I knew Door County would be nice, but I didn’t expect it to be that nice,” said John Kreidler of South Carolina. “We had a great time checking out one village after another.”

Over 200 volunteers helped run the NAC. The event drew to Door County 74 boats and more than 300 visiting sailors, volunteers and family members from states as far away as Vermont, Massachusetts, Maryland, Virginia, Florida, Louisiana and Texas for six days of racing from Aug. 2 – 7.

The Ephraim Yacht Club is a volunteer-managed, family-oriented, community sailing organization focusing on sailing education and amateur sailing competition. Membership does not require sponsorship or recommendation, and reduced price junior memberships are available. The EYC maintains a fleet of approximately 20 sailboats for the free use of its members. To learn more visit http://www.eyc.org.