Door County Community News and Notes

• Door-Tran, Inc., and the Door County Transportation Consortium (DCTC) invite everyone to attend the transportation voucher program launch event on March 26 from 4 – 6 pm. With a brief ceremony at 5 pm at the Cherry Point Mall in Sturgeon Bay, the event will be an opportunity to learn more about how Door-Tran and DCTC are working to make transportation more affordable to Door County residents.

Door-Tran travel vouchers are accepted by authorized non-profit and for-profit providers offering service in and out of the county, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. A Door County resident may purchase a voucher from Door-Tran, which they pay half the cost of the voucher ($2.50 for a $5 voucher and $5 for a $10 voucher) and Door-Tran pays the other half. The savings allows the rider to take more trips for less money.

Businesses, churches, and other agencies may also purchase travel vouchers for anyone who uses their services or are somehow connected with their organization. These entities must pay full price for the vouchers; however, they can then opt to either give the vouchers to those needing transportation or they can sell them at half price.

For more information call Pam Busch at 877.330.6333 or 920.743.9999.

• A program on “Eye Health” will be presented by Dr. Eric Paulsen from Door County Eye Associates on Thursday, March 12 from 1 – 2 pm in the Peninsula Room of the Door County Government Center on Nebraska Street.

This program is free and open to the public, but registration is required by calling the Extension Office at 920.746.2260 no later than March 9. Please leave a voice message after office hours.

This program is sponsored by the Door Association for Home and Community Education.

• The Family Centers of Door County is presenting a 1-2-3 Magic Parenting program Saturday, March 21 from 1 – 5 pm at the YMCA Northern Door Program Center in Fish Creek. Three simple steps in the 1-2-3 Magic program developed by Dr. Thomas Phelan will help parents get results quickly.

In the four-hour workshop, parents will learn powerful strategies that reinforce the bond with their children, a simple technique that gets kids to stop unwanted behaviors and start wanted behaviors, the Six Kinds of Testing and Manipulation, and handling misbehavior in public. The course includes a DVD of program creator Phelan offering strategies for parents of children age 2 – 12 followed by discussion and practice.

There is no cost to attend the workshop that is sponsored with funding from the United Way Endowment Fund. Snacks and on site childcare and activities are provided for children. Pre-registration is required by calling 920.825.1430 or 800.856.1651.

• The Door County YMCA Board of Directors has approved a new Economic Down-Turn Lay-Off Grant Program for current YMCA members during their time of crisis.

This membership grant program will provide financial assistance to current adult members who have a demonstrated need by granting the adult membership dues fee to the member for a period of up to 60 days. This program is also available to members with a family membership. In these instances, the member would just need to pay the difference between the adult granted membership fee and the family membership fee.

YMCA members interested in grant assistance can request a grant from the membership welcome center at either branch by sharing documentation in regard to their laid-off status from their employer. They will then receive the financial assistance with their bank drafts as long as they continue to use the YMCA at least once each week. If the member remains unemployed beyond 60 days and ongoing financial assistance is required, they can be referred to apply for the Circle Of Friends scholarship program, which is funded by the Strong Kids Campaign and always available to anyone who feels they cannot include the cost of a YMCA membership into their monthly budget.

For more information contact the YMCA at 920.743.4949 in Sturgeon Bay or 920.868.3660 in Northern Door.

• The Door County Community Foundation reminds high school seniors and their parents that the Community Foundation’s deadline for submitting scholarship applications is March 10.

While most of the Community Foundation’s scholarships are administered by the individual high school guidance offices, three of its scholarships are handled by the Community Foundation itself. They are the Johnny G Scholarship, Robert J. Stoffel, Sr. Memorial Scholarship, and the Bill & Yvonne Boettcher Golf Scholarship.

Scholarship application materials are available online at http://www.doorcountycommunityfoundation.org. Applications and supporting materials must be received at the Community Foundation by Tuesday, March 10.

• The fourth biennial Door County Legislative Days in Madison is confirmed for Tuesday and Wednesday, May 12 – 13. The purpose of Legislative Days is to educate state officials about Door County, and to lobby for state action to help address local issues and concerns. This year’s events are building directly on the success of the Door County Legislative Days in 2003, 2005 and 2007, which brought the specific concerns of the community directly to elected representatives and influential government appointees.

A volunteer committee is working to develop the 2009 legislative and state agency agenda topics and issues that will be presented in Madison. To view the agendas and accomplishments of Legislative Day 2003, 2005 and 2007, or to provide input for the 2009 event, visit the Door County Legislative Days website at http://www.dclegislativeday.com/Issues.htm or contact the Legislative Days Agenda Committee Chair, Rob Burke, at 920.743.2260.

If you are interested in volunteering to help with the planning of Legislative Days 2009, please contact Bill Chaudoir at 920.743.3113 x203 or email [email protected].

• Baylake Bank is alerting the public of a “phishing” scam that is utilizing a cell phone text message to obtain debit card account information.

According to calls received by Baylake Bank representatives, the text message states that debit card information has been compromised and asks the recipient to call a phone number where a recorded message requests specific and personal account information.

The bank is warning that this a fraudulent attempt to obtain debit card account information and notes that Baylake Bank, as with most other legitimate financial institutions, will never ask for an individual’s password or Personal Identification Number (PIN).

For anyone that believes they may have released any information in response to this “phishing” text message, or those that believe their account information has been compromised, please immediately contact your bank and close the card (if after regular business hours call the 1-800 number on the back of the card), as well as contact the local law enforcement agency.

For more information contact your local Baylake Bank Financial Center or call 800.267.3610.

• Visit either Door County YMCA Program Center to enjoy some chili on Monday, March 9 in support of the 2009 Door County YMCA Strong Kids Campaign.

Chili will be for sale to enjoy with fresh bread and all the fixings at the YMCA for $3 a bowl or $5 all you can eat. Guests can also take it to go for $4 for a large 16oz. container or $8 for a family size 32oz. container. All proceeds will go towards the 2009 Strong Kids Campaign.

The Northern Door YMCA chili cook-off will be held from 10 am until the chili is gone. The Sturgeon Bay YMCA chili cook-off will be held from 4 – 7 pm. A select group of judges will be choosing the chili champion.

March 9 will also be a Strong Kids campaign calling night, so anyone who joins the YMCA to make calls to past Strong Kids Campaign donors will receive free chili.

For more information about the chili cook-off, contact the Door County YMCA at 920.743.4949 in Sturgeon Bay, 920.868.3660 in Fish Creek or visit http://www.doorcountyymca.org.

• The Door Kewaunee Business Education Partnership (DKBEP) is pleased to announce its 2nd Annual DKBEP Golf Challenge to be held on May 17 at The Orchards Golf Course, Egg Harbor. The tournament registration and free use of the driving range will begin at 10:30 am with a shotgun start at noon.

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

Golfers are invited to take advantage of the Economic Stimulus Bailout Special at a rate of $75/golfer or $300/foursome for early registrations up to March 31. After that, the cost of the event is $100 per player (tax-deductible).

Proceeds will benefit youth career awareness and workforce training initiatives for the DKBEP.

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

• Baylake Bank locations throughout Door and Kewaunee Counties are accepting donations for local food pantries through mid-March. Food collection bins will be available at each Baylake financial center for the duration of the food drive.

“With the economic difficulties our country is experiencing, we recognize that the need for community support like this is very important…Even in our hometown, people are going hungry, and a small donation of a few items can go a long way in this time of need,” said Julie Blaha, Director of Retail for Baylake Bank’s Lakeshore Region.

For more information call 920.743.5551 or 800.267.3610.

• Neighbor-to-Neighbor Volunteer Caregivers of Door County made a tremendous impact on the community in 2008, and it is predicted that 2009 will be a very busy year for the organization as well.

In 2008, 606 Door County residents benefitted from services provided by Neighbor-to-Neighbor Volunteer Caregivers of Door County. Residents saved more than $300,000 in medical expenses by utilizing the non-profit’s services, and 96 volunteers donated 4,859 hours facilitating durable equipment loans, befriending individuals who are isolated and/or immobile, providing respite to long-term caregivers, staffing the Neighbor-to-Neighbor office and serving on the non-profit’s Board of Directors.

Jan Scoville, Neighbor-to-Neighbor’s Executive Director states that as of February 15, 2009, more than 100 equipment loans have been completed and five new volunteers are in training. These statistics are predictors for a very busy 2009.

“It is our hope that Door County residents will utilize our services even more in the coming year,” she said. “We ask for no information about finances or personal situations. Our services are free to anyone needing them.”

Neighbor-to-Neighbor is supported entirely through donations from individuals and grants. For more information about Neighbor-to-Neighbor’s services or to make a difference by donating, please contact Jan Scoville at 920.743.7800.

• The Health & Wellness cabinet Ministry of Shepherd of the Bay church in Ellison Bay will present the third session in their Pain Series on March 15 at 3 pm. Dr. Sarah Keller will discuss “What is Pain?” – with an overview of inflammation, the causes and mechanisms of pain in relation to back, head, joints, migraines, neuropathy, stress, arthritis and fibromyalgia. She will discuss the medical approach to treatment and the pluses and minuses of different prescribed and over the counter medications. For more information call 920.854.2988.

• The Sturgeon Bay Visitor Center is happy to announce the slate of winners for the annual Fire & Ice Event, which was held all over town on Valentine’s Day weekend.

In the Advanced Category, winners included: 1st place – Dave Bartels and his carving of a bear and owl, in front of Madison Avenue Wine shop; 2nd place – Adrian Murre, with a tower of hearts in front of Monticello; 3rd place – Tricia Simon, with a cool valentine carving in front of T. Simon Jewelers.

In the Intermediate Category, winners included: 1st place – Max Martin and his sailboat, sponsored by Associated Bank; 2nd place – Bill Vandermause’s carving of Al Capone in front of Simon Creek Market; 3rd place – Matt Stender and the Lochness Dragon, sponsored by Wilkins & Olander.

In the Beginner Category, winners included: 1st place – Ralph Murre, bird and fish carving in front of Bliss; 2nd place – Philip and Crystal Stichman, valentines bouquet, sponsored by Sturgeon Bay Florist.

The People’s Choice Award was quite a race with six carvings split by just a few ballots by the voting public; however, this year’s award went to Matt Stender for his dragon carving.

For more information call 800.301.6695, 920.743.6246 or visit http://www.SturgeonBay.net.