Door County Community News

• For those living paycheck to paycheck, a membership in a gym or local YMCA can seem a luxury. The Door County YMCA knows this, so to help people avoid having to choose between food and exercise, the YMCA offers a scholarship program that allows hundreds of area families and individuals to maintain both their physical and financial health.

The annual Strong Kids Campaign is a key component of making this possible. The Y is half way to its goal of raising $375,000 to fund the scholarship program this year. A gift to the campaign helps ensure that no one is turned away from using the facilities or programs because of financial constraints.

To donate or learn more, contact Cindy Weber at 920.743.4949 or email [email protected] or visit http://www.doorcountyymca.org.

• Door County will receive $11,895.00 to supplement emergency food and shelter programs under the Emergency Food and Shelter National Board Program. The county was selected by a national board chaired by the Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency. A local board will distribute the funds appropriated by Congress to help expand the capacity of food and shelter programs.

Public or private voluntary agencies interested in applying for Emergency Food and Shelter Program funds must contact Amy Kohnle at 920.746.9645 or [email protected] for an application. Applications are due April 15.

Door County has distributed Emergency Food and Shelter Funds previously with Door County Housing Authority, HELP of Door County, Lakeshore CAP, and Salvation Army.

• The Door County Humane Society will host its Pancakes for Pets fundraiser at Al Johnson’s Restaurant in Sister Bay Monday, April 13 – Friday, April 17.

Anyone who comes in during the fundraiser and orders the pancake breakfast (including Al Johnson’s famous Swedish pancakes with lingonberries) with bacon or sausage and coffee for the price of $10 for adults and $5 for children under 12 is helping DCHS, as 100 percent of the proceeds go straight to the care of the animals.

“Pancakes for Pets is an easy, delicious way to get out and support your local shelter,” said Carrie Counihan, Director of the Door County Humane Society. “We are so thankful to Al Johnson’s Restaurant for their generous support of this fundraiser.”

The Door County Humane Society’s mission is to provide a safe haven for lost or homeless pets while working to reunite them with their owners or place them with a new loving family. The shelter is located just south of the city of Sturgeon Bay at 3475 Park Drive. Financial gifts may be sent to PO Box 93, Sturgeon Bay.

The Humane Society also announced a new program that allows local businesses to show their support of the shelter by becoming a certified DCHS Pet Friendly Business.

“There are tons of businesses out there who want to communicate to their customers how much they care about them and their pets,” said Counihan. “The Pet Friendly Business Program gives these businesses the opportunity to ‘get certified’ as pet friendly by our staff and let the world know that they support our mission.”

The process is simple. DCHS staff will evaluate interested businesses to determine their level of commitment to visiting pets. If the business passes evaluation, it then makes a $250 donation to solidify its pledge to the shelter and its mission. The new Pet Friendly business receives a handsome window cling to hang at their entrance, alerting visitors to their pet friendly status. Businesses are also given a high quality water dish for thirsty four legged visitors and are listed on the Door County Humane Society’s website, http://www.dooranimals.com.

Contact shelter staff at 920.746.1111 for more information.

• The 31st Annual Sister Bay Lions Sports Night was held for 115 local youth March 23 involved in scouting and athletic activities. The guest speaker was Green Bay Packer Special Teams Coordinator Shawn Slocum.

• Neighbor-to-Neighbor Volunteer Caregivers of Door County has launched an updated, user-friendly Web site, http://www.neighbor-to-neighbor.org. Information about Neighbor-to-Neighbor’s services, volunteer opportunities and donating to the local non-profit are easily accessed through the site designed by Jeneen McDonald of Strategraphics.

Neighbor-to-Neighbor oversees four programs: peer companions, respite care for primary caregivers, medical equipment lending (wheelchairs, walkers, shower chairs, etc. for people of all ages who might experience a temporary or long-term disability) and The Lemonade Club, a cancer-survivor support group. If interested in volunteering or donating, contact Jan Scoville, Executive Director, at 920.743.7800. Neighbor-to-Neighbor is part of the national Faith in Action Consortium.

• The Northern Door Moravian community will continue a 200 year-old Moravian tradition of Holy Week Readings with nightly readings at Ephraim Moravian Church April 6 – 9 at 6:45 pm each night.

The Sister Bay Moravian Church will present the entire readings between Noon and 3 pm on Good Friday afternoon, April 10, at the Sister Bay Church 10924 Old Stage Road. This approach recalls the tradition of Northern Door Christians who gathered in ecumenical prayer and worship at the Village Hall in years past. Those participating in this reading are welcome to come and go as they have opportunity during those three hours of Good Friday.

For more information call Pastor Bill Hosking at the Ephraim Moravian Church, 920.854.2804, or Pastor Maggie Wellert of the Sister Bay Moravian Church, 920.854.4080.

• A “Living Well with Chronic Conditions” self-management workshop will be held on Wednesdays April 15 – May 20 from 4:30 – 7 pm at Door County Memorial Hospital in Conference Room 1, Lower Level.

The workshop is designed to improve the self-management skills of people living with chronic health issues. Conditions like arthritis, heart problems, anxiety, asthma, depression, stroke, pain, cancer, osteoporosis, diabetes, obesity, high blood pressure and emphysema can cause those affected to lose physical conditioning and suffer health problems over many years. Caregivers can also benefit from this action-oriented, problem-solving course.

Developed at Stanford University, the workshop has been offered at hundreds of locations throughout the United States.

Taught by specially trained leaders, some who have health conditions themselves, the program covers a new topic each week and provides opportunities for interaction and group problem solving.

For more information or to enroll in the Living Well workshop, call Linda Stone Winter at Door County Social Services at 920.746.2300.

• One of the most challenging issues for a county that is as long and narrow as the Door Peninsula is transportation. Without public transportation, getting to work, a doctor’s appointment, shopping, or social events can become very difficult, costly, and even at times impossible. This is a very real daily challenge for many county residents.

Since the Door County Transportation Consortium was organized over two years ago, progress has been made to address these needs. Pam Busch, the Door-Tran Mobility Manager for the consortium, will provide an overview of Door-Tran’s activities and progress at an April 16 roundtable of the League of Women Voters of Door County. The discussion is at the Mill Supperclub in Sturgeon Bay with a meal at 5 pm and program at 6:15 pm.

RSVP by calling Susan Kohout at 920.743.1527 or [email protected] by Friday, April 10 to reserve a spot.

• Door County Legislative Days 2009 will require at least 100 local delegates to call on legislators in Madison. Main events are scheduled for Tuesday, May 12, when delegates will call on state legislators in the afternoon and enjoy a reception, authentic Door County fish boil, and entertainment with legislators and guests that evening. The remainder of the May 12-13 event will be reserved for visiting state officials and selected state agencies.

The cost to participate for delegates is only $20, made possible by a variety of local financial sponsors, including local governments, civic groups and private businesses. Anyone interested in participating in Legislative Days can register at http://www.dclegislativeday.com no later than Friday, May 1. Registration forms are also available from the Door County Economic Development Corporation offices at 185 East Walnut Street, Sturgeon Bay, (920.743.3113 x200 or [email protected]). Rooms starting at $89 at the Legislative Days headquarters hotel, the Inn On The Park on Capitol Square, are available until April 17. For hotel reservations, call 800.279.8811.

Door County Legislative Days is planned and executed by a volunteer steering committee. If you are interested in volunteering to help with the planning of Legislative Days 2009, contact Bill Chaudoir at 920.743.3113 x203 or email [email protected].