Door County Community News Briefs

• Adults age 50 or older are invited to the Family Centers monthly Breakfast Social that features great food, fun with friends, and informational resources. The event will be held on August 4 at 9 am at the Town Hall Building located in the village of Maplewood at 7705 County Trunk H.

This month’s speaker is Laurie Thiede, a YMCA Instructor of “Silver Sneakers.” She will talk about fitness and then instruct a mini fitness class that includes a variety of chair exercises designed to increase muscular strength, range of movement, and activity for daily living skills. There is no cost to attend, however reservations are required.

For more information or to make reservations, call 920.825.1430.

• Scholarships, Inc., a local organization dedicated to supporting area students meet the rising costs of a college education, announced that students will be awarded $350,000 in scholarships on August 4 at the Lamp of Knowledge Celebration. Qualifying Brown and Door County high school graduates and returning adult students will be awarded scholarships that evening at the KI Convention Center in downtown Green Bay.

2002 Scholarship recipient, Robert VerBruggen, will be the keynote speaker that evening. VerBruggen graduated from Ashwaubenon High School and went on to earn his undergraduate degree from Northwestern University. He is currently the Associate Editor of the National Review in Washington, D.C.

Scholarship candidates were selected based demonstrated financial need, academic excellence, leadership, and community contribution. Recipients must attend a fully accredited two- or four-year degree granting institution or a technical college following the successful completion of their high school diploma. Each scholarship will range from $750 to $25,000.

Scholarships, Inc. is also distributing $60,000 to students outside of Brown and Door Counties through its administrative partnership programs.

For more information, contact Joanne Angeli at 920.430.1363.

• Kimberly Sawyer, a Door County native and current Miss Wisconsin, was featured on the American Red Cross National website on July 20. The article captured her passion for the American Red Cross and volunteerism in general.

In June, Sawyer was crowned the 2010 Miss Wisconsin and her platform is “Service to the Soul.” She will compete in the Miss America Pageant in January 2011.

To read the article, visit http://www.redcross.org and search for “Kimberly Sawyer.”

• The Door County Humane Society’s (DCHS) annual “Swing for the Shelter” kicks off at 6:30 pm on Friday, August 6 under the Big Top by the Bay in Sister Bay’s Waterfront Park. Tickets are $75 each; $50 of each ticket is tax-deductible, and proceeds benefit the humane society.

“The buzz has really picked up,” said Carrie Counihan, DCHS’s executive director. “Especially since the Sister Bay Village Board has proclaimed the first week of August ‘Friends of Door County Humane Society Week.’”

The event will feature swing dancers jumping and jiving with the Mr. Big Note orchestra. More than 20 of Door County’s top restaurants and chefs will be under the Big Top, providing a variety of savory and sweet treats.

When guests are taking a break from all the refreshments and dancing, they can visit the special Tribute Tree. For a donation, DCHS will honor special pets – those who are still living and those who have passed on.

“This is such a valuable fundraiser for us,” Counihan said. “From the tickets to the cocktails to the Tribute Tree, every dollar helps us offset the hefty cost of our operations and services, which runs approximately $900 per day.”

For more information and/or to reserve tickets call 920.746.1111, extension 4 or visit http://www.dooranimals.com.

• As part of its effort to expand Door County Classic Wooden Boat Festival and recognize significant maritime achievement, the Door County Maritime Museum is initiating the Mariner Award Dinner Thursday, August 5, at the Sturgeon Bay Yacht Club.

“The award recognizes an individual who’s had a significant, positive and lasting impact on the Door County maritime community,” said Maritime Museum Executive Director Bob Desh.

This year’s nominees include John “Cap” Roen, Ellsworth Peterson, John R. Asher, Arni Richter, John H. Purves, Arnold Petersen, Joseph Harris Sr., Fred Peterson, Leathem D. Smith, and Robert Purves.

The Mariner Award, a handcrafted original work by noted wood carver David Frykman, will be presented annually to a living nominee. The selection committee will also bestow the honor on deceased individuals. Their names will be added to the Mariner Award plaque that will be prominently displayed at the museum.

All nominees will be recognized and the winners announced at the award dinner. Social hour begins at 6 pm with dinner at 7 pm.

Reservations were to be made by July 26.

For more information call 920.743.5958.

• The long awaited public transportation system, Door 2 Door Rides, will be up and running on Monday, August 2.

The initial service area of Door 2 Door Rides will be a three-mile radius from the center of Sturgeon Bay. It is the intention of the coordinators of this project to eventually expand the program to include other Door County communities.

Door 2 Door Rides will start off with two brand new, handicap-accessible vans. The vans will accommodate regular passengers, as well as those with special needs.

Rates for the shared ride service will be $3 per adult ride, with a half price fare at $ 1.50 for seniors, persons with disabilities, or children ages 3-18. This is a flat rate fee per stop, regardless of distance traveled within the service area. Individuals can arrange a ride by advance reservation or request to be picked up within 30 minutes of their call.

Door 2 Door Rides will operate Monday – Friday, 6 am – 10 pm, Saturdays, 7 am – 6 pm, and Sundays, 7 am – 3 pm.

For more information, visit http://www.door-tran.com or contact Pam Busch, Door-Tran’s Mobility Manager, at 920.743.9999 or 877. 330.6333.

• Flood, fire and wind created a whirlwind disaster response for multiple American Red Cross Chapters. Throughout Wisconsin, trained volunteers have traveled across the state to open shelters, distribute clean-up kits, conduct disaster assessments, and support the emergency needs of those affected by the storms. Red Cross volunteers have also supported emergency crews with water, Gatorade, snacks, and shelter.

All disaster assistance is free. To donate to the Red Cross National Disaster Relief Fund and help Wisconsin residents affected, call 1.800.RED.CROSS or visit http://www.redcross.org. To make a quick $10 donation, text the word REDCROSS to 90999.

• Raffle tickets are now on sale by the Fish Creek Civic Association (FCCA) for a chance to win two, Pierspeed Key West, 49cc Motor Scooters. Tickets are $10 each and can be purchased at the FCCA Information Center as well as participating Fish Creek business. A maximum of 2,000 tickets will be sold.

The winner will be announced at the 24th Annual Fish Creek Winter Festival to be held February 4 – 6, 2011. The drawing will take place on Saturday, February 5 at 3 pm at the main tent in Clark Park. The winner needs not be present to win.

The two new, black motor scooters, purchased by Door County Motorsports in Sturgeon Bay, are now on display at rotating Fish Creek locations.

The winner will also receive two helmets, and must be at least 18 years of age. No special license (outside of a standard driver’s license) is required for operating the motor scooters.

All proceeds from the raffle tickets will benefit the FCCA, and will assist with Winter Festival’s expenses.

For more information contact the FCCA information center at 800.577.1880 or visit http://www.visitfishcreek.com.