Community Notes

• Door Community Auditorium has again been designated a drop-off location for “Toys for Tots,” which collects new, unwrapped toys, games, and books for children who might not otherwise have a merry holiday.

Donations to the site can be made through Friday, Dec. 19. All contributions are tax deductible.

Door Community Auditorium is located at 3924 State Highway 42 on the north side of Fish Creek. Office hours are 10 am – 3 pm Monday through Friday. For more information call 920.868.2728.

• Everyone is invited to attend the annual indoor Tailgate Party sponsored by The Knights of Columbus to benefit Feed My People on Dec. 13 at the Sister Bay Bowl. The event starts at 10 am, and the kick off for the Packer vs. Bears game is at noon. The $10 admission includes all you can eat Chili, Brats, BBQ Brisket, Dessert and more. There will be Packer Pools, an Auction and Spin the Wheel for added fun. Special thanks to Flanigan Distributing, Main Street Market, AC Tap and Piggly Wiggly for their donations.

• The School District of Sevastopol would like to invite all senior citizens who are residents of the Sevastopol School District to an afternoon of musical enjoyment and good food. Our elementary students and band will treat all to a concert beginning at 12 noon on Tuesday, Dec. 15 in the elementary gym. Following the concert, a grand holiday meal will be served at 1 pm in the Sevastopol cafeteria. The event is a combined effort of our students and staff to show our appreciation for our senior citizens’ support of education. Please call 920.743.6282 ext. 117 by Monday, Dec. 14 for reservations.

• The Door County String Academy (DCSA), a non-profit music school offering a positive, professional music education on violin, viola, cello and string bass, recently received a grant from the Door County Community Foundation. This grant provided DCSA with the funding to purchase 24 music stands and 12 chairs for the music school.

“Having our own chairs and stands is such a wonderful addition to the school’s equipment. Over 40 students are making use of them and are overjoyed to have such nice equipment to use when they come to lessons and rehearsals. We greatly appreciate the Door County Community Foundation for making it possible!” said DCSA Director Lori Meyer.

The Door County String Academy offers music lessons in three different locations, but the main classroom is in Sturgeon Bay at Sawyer Elementary School. For more information on DCSA contact Director Meyer at 920.421.0753 or visit http://www.dcstringacademy.com.

• Holly Days in Egg Harbor benefited from the great weather conditions, and there was a fantastic turnout for the event’s Elf Hunt and Mistle Dough. Approximately 150 people were at the Christmas tree lighting with Santa leading the countdown!

The winners in this year’s Elf Hunt include: 1st – Jack Fitzpartick; 2nd – Molly Fitzpatrick; 3rd – Anna Jansson; and 4th – Cole Schultze.

The winners in this year’s Mistle Dough include: 1st – Mary Temp; 2nd – Mason Wright; 3rd – Clanda Barmuk.

A thank you is extended to Egg Harbor businesses that donated prizes, including Cinnamon Windmill, Double Delights and Meadow Ridge, and another thank you goes out to others that made the event a success, including Santa, The Carolers, Liberty Square, Village Café and The Lions Club.

Also thank you to everyone that participated this year!

For more information on Holly Days visit http://www.EggHarborDoorCounty.org.

• This holiday season, when economic conditions are tough and people really want their gifts to matter, the Northeast WI Region of the Red Cross is kicking off a new holiday campaign that offers a way to give a gift that has real impact.

Gifts that Save the Day is a new holiday giving campaign that inspires people to make a gift that can help those in need. Through the online catalog at http://www.redcross.org/gifts, people can make a donation that could provide food and shelter for a disaster victim for a day; a military comfort kit with a robe, phone card and other supplies for a wounded warrior; or a month of basic necessities for a family in another country who lost everything in a disaster.

For more information contact the Northeast region headquarters at 920.231.3590 or visit http://www.NewRedCross.org.

• The Sturgeon Bay Visitor Center is pleased to announce the 2009 Christmas by the Bay Parade winners from the 45 entries. This year’s winners include: 1st place and winner of the Door County Visitor Bureau’s award for Best Business entry went to Saguaro Day Spa; 2nd place – Path and Paddle Outfitters; and 3rd place – Sneakers and Boots.

Organizations and not-for-profit winners included: 1st place – Cub Scouts – Pack 4124; 2nd place – St. Peter’s Lutheran Church; and 3rd place – Sturgeon Bay High School Band.

The cool temperatures and dusting of snow really added to the excitement of the annual Christmas parade and arrival of Santa. Next year’s holiday parade will be Saturday, November 20, 2010.

For more information visit http://www.SturgeonBay.net or call 920.746.6246.

• The Leadership Door County organization has announced the new class members for their 2009 – 2010 program. Selected participants will have the opportunity to enhance their leadership skills, learn about Door County resources and increase their community involvement.

Members of this Leadership Door County class are Amanda Brown, Heather Dachelet, Julie Dragseth, Laura Kayacan, Matt Luders, Kevin Lukes, and Chelsy Neuville.

Now entering its 20th year, Leadership Door County is an organization committed to identifying existing and potential leaders. 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. The experience prepares participants to make a personal commitment to continued service within the Door County community.

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

• Lieutenant Colonel Julie Schaffer, a 1986 graduate of Gibraltar High School and an 18-year veteran of the United States Marine Corps, assumed command of the 6th Motor Transportation Battalion on Nov. 15. The change of command ceremony took place at battalion headquarters in Red Bank, New Jersey.

The ceremony is a Marine Corps tradition that formally restates to the Marines of the command the continuity of the authority of command and is a transfer of total responsibility, authority and accountability.

Lt. Col. Schaffer is the daughter of Pat and Cathy Mangan of Sister Bay and a 1991 graduate of the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana, where she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration.

Schaffer deployed to Fallujah, Iraq from 2005 – 2006 as part of a Civil Affairs Group and is currently in the Marine Corps Reserves. She resides in Middleton, WI with her husband Rob and their two sons.

• For six weeks in November and December, the students of Northern Door Children’s Center’s 4K class are studying the ancient tradition of martial arts. Taught by Joel Toerpe, the once weekly class offers the 4K students an opportunity to learn not only kicks and blocks, but also focus, self-discipline, and the ability to listen and follow directions.

Toerpe, who holds a black belt in Karate, is emphasizing what he calls the “Three Rules of Karate.” The rules are: never start a fight, help younger people, and use your words. In addition, the children are learning that, unlike in the movies, martial arts are never to be used on another person.

The martial arts class is part of Northern Door Children’s Center’s series of “4K Specials.” The next class, starting in January 2010, will be “Fine Art” with art teacher Brandi Phipps. The focus for this class will be activities related to important works of art by well-known artists.

For more information visit http://www.northerndoorchildrenscenter.org or call 920.854.4244.

• The weekends of December 11 – 13 and 18 – 20, Cinnamon Windmill, located in the Main Street Shops in downtown Egg Harbor will be supporting the Door County Humane Society through sales of DCHS’s leftover 2009 merchandise.

One hundred percent of the proceeds from the sale of this merchandise, which includes DCHS merchandise apparel, hats, balls, leashes and mousepads goes right back to the shelter.

“I do it for the animals, plain and simple,” said Jan Luser, owner of Cinnamon Windmill. “Business owners don’t always have the time for hands on volunteer work. This is just one small way that I could help this very worthy organization.”

Cinnamon Windmill is located in the Main Street Shops in downtown Egg Harbor. Jan Luser has operated her shop, which carries a variety of fun and inspirational gifts, for the past 18 years. Winter hours are Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 10 am – 4 pm. For more information call 920.868.2448.