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Tim Graul: Keeping the World Afloat
Retired boat designer keeps his hand in as a consultant Growing up on the banks of the mighty Mississippi River in the industrial town of Alton, Illinois, Tim Graul had boats on his brain from a young age. “I always liked boats,” he said. “In the margins of my notebooks and school papers, I got […]
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Sturgeon Bay Native Takes Command of Carrier Strike Group
Rear Adm. Paul Schlise relieved Rear Adm. John Meier as commander of Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 10 during a ceremony aboard the CSG’s flagship, the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower, on June 21. Meier will next report as commander of Naval Warfare Development Command in Norfolk, Virginia. Schlise comes to CSG-10 following a tour as the […]
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Ken ‘The Bike Man’ Retiring After 23 Years
When Ken “The Bike Man” Hollenbeck retires from his volunteer post with Door County’s BRIDGES Bike Program this fall, he’ll leave behind a huge void. For 23 years, he’s been servicing and delivering bikes to the many J-1 international students who come to work in the county for each summer season. This year Ken has […]
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Northern Sky Theater Mourns Cherished Former Staff Members
Hundreds of people have contributed to the growth and success of Northern Sky Theater – formerly known as American Folklore Theatre (AFT) – over nearly three decades. Now, as the theater company begins its most exciting season – it will open its new campus this fall – the Northern Sky staff, cast members, crew, volunteers and friends […]
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Perspectives: Tony Haen and the Freedom to Give Yourself Away
The minister giving the eulogy had been at hundreds of funerals and saidhe had never seen anything quite like this: The church in Sturgeon Bay was overflowing with people for the memorial service that Saturday morning. It was even more amazing because some folks had already come by to pay their respects at the visitation […]
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Death’s Door Knockers Are Here to Play
The Door County Comedy Channel on YouTube is officially live thanks to the members of the improv comedy troupe Door County Knockers. The Knockers began as a way to encourage play when founder Ross Dippel sent out an open invitation in April 2018 to anyone interested in joining in the interactive fun. “The original thought […]
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Third Avenue Playhouse (TAP) welcomes Jimmy Balistreri as its new production manager. He’ll run lighting, sound, stage management and all of the other behind-the-scenes functions. The recent Ripon College graduate has spent the last three summers in Door County working at Northern Sky Theater and Wild Tomato. The TAP board of directors recognized outgoing President […]
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Downsizing the festival to nurture the dream A message from pat mAcdonald Not everyone is cut out to be P.T. Barnum. Some of us shy away from any glint of grandiosity, finding greater fascination in subtler, more mysterious constructs. All the people I’ve met in my life could maybe fill a stadium, but I doubt […]
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Cheryl Wilson Retires from DC Library After 30 Years
Cheryl Wilson, technical support specialist at the Door County Library, will retire this spring after 30 and a half years of service. She began working part time at the circulation desk in 1988 while finishing her work with the Department of Natural Resources. Throughout the years, she’s worked with three library directors, was in charge […]
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The Matriarch of the Bowl: Remembering Rita Willems
When Earl Willems asked Rita Baeten out on a date in 1945, she stood him up. “I heard he was a rounder,” she recalled 72 years later. “He got in a lot of trouble with the ladies.” But they had shared a dance at Geisman’s Bar in Egg Harbor, and Earl was sold on the […]
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‘You Dropped Your Fremmel On the Gris!’: Students remember their eccentric art teacher, Tom Smith
On April 22, I learned of the passing of my former art teacher, Mr. Smith. My initial reaction was that it was a horrible rumor, but the obituary online confirmed my worst fears. Tom Gerhart Smith passed away on April 15, 2019. Smith was hired as a substitute teacher at Gibraltar in 1996 before coming […]
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The Barney Fun Run: A Refresher Course on Joyful Running
How often has exercising become a strain on your schedule or just another obligation to check off? For me, it happens more often than I’d like to admit, especially now that I live here in Door County, where running trails and quiet, curving cycling roads seem endless. Perhaps it’s too many years of training for […]
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Williamsons Share Thoughts on 65 Years of Marriage
Zion United Methodist Church was buzzing with good cheer and geniality on April 14 as friends of Patty and Howard Williamson stopped by to celebrate the couple’s 65 years of marriage. The Missouri natives have called Door County their summer home for three decades and have made many friends through their community involvement. Among their […]
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WPR Hires New Rural-communities Reporter
Wisconsin Public Radio (WPR) has selected Robert Mentzer as its new rural-communities reporter, and he’ll begin work on April 22. Based in Wausau, he’ll focus on the challenges, opportunities and life in the state’s rural communities and small cities, and he’ll cover breaking news and regional stories of statewide importance in north-central Wisconsin. “We are […]
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The Face of the Bayside: Remembering Smilen Bob MacDonald
Door County has lost one of its worst bartenders. Well, maybe worst isn’t right. For sure Bob MacDonald wasn’t the fastest drink slinger in town, nor was he always great at remembering your order, but for years he was the guy you went to see at the Bayside Tavern in Fish Creek. “He wasn’t the […]
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Beacon Award Winners Announced
The Algoma Area Chamber of Commerce has announced the recipients of its Beacon Awards. Scenic Shore Inn won in the business category for its addition, which doubled the number of rooms and added a pool, sauna and large deck. Co-owners Bob Davis and Laurie and Kristina Griffin seek to provide a quiet, scenic, small-town stay […]
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Sevastopol Announces Valedictorian and Salutatorian
Sevastopol High School’s Class of 2019 valedictorian is Ashley Ellefson, the daughter of Amy and Lance Ellefson; and the salutatorian is Reetika Jandu, the daughter of Parvinder and Renuka Jandu. Ellefson has maintained a 4.0 GPA and participated in a variety of extracurricular activities in school and in the community. She will attend UW-Green Bay […]
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Habitat for Humanity Approves Partner Family for 42nd Home Build
Door County Habitat for Humanity (DCHH) has approved Kari and Paul Bright and their children, Will, Tatiana and Zoey, as the partner family for its 42nd home build. DCHH partner families go through a rigorous approval process, and each adult in the family is responsible for 200 hours of sweat equity. This can include helping […]
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Benefit Held for Algoma Fisherman, Hunter Jossie, April 13
Hunter Jossie – the son of Brad and Pam Jossie, the fiancé of Meagan Jones and the brother of Taylor, Logan and Jordan of Algoma – was involved in a devastating accident on March 16 as he returned home after working a full day ice guiding on Green Bay. The accident caused major brain trauma […]
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Lil’ Davy Max Plays the Blues for Double-Whammy Occasion
Mojo Rosa’s will be rocking the Chicago blues Saturday in a double celebration of St. Patrick’s Day and owner Kim Jensen’s 50th birthday when Lil’ Davy Max returns for the fourth consecutive Jensen birthday celebration. “We are her favorite band,” said Dave Janke, a.k.a. Lil’ Davy Max. “She just loves what we do. I’m very […]