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Peninsula Pulse – August 25-September 1, 2017

In this issue

  • Funding for River Pollution Study Approved by Finance Committee

    State Representative Joel Kitchens released the following statement following the Joint Finance Committee (JFC)’s decision to provide funding for a TMDL Study: “I am incredibly pleased that yesterday the Joint Finance Committee approved my motion requesting funding for a Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) Study for the rivers of Door, Kewaunee, Manitowoc and Sheboygan Counties […]

  • DNR Collects Feedback for Recreational Use Planning

    The public had an opportunity to speak with nearly two dozen Department of Natural Resources (DNR) officials about recreation on state land in the northeast part of the state. DNR officials hope the Recreational Opportunities Analysis (ROA) will fill a gap in the planning process after the department reorganized that process earlier this year. “We […]

  • Deer Hunting Opening on Plum Island by Permit

    The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is partnering with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources to implement a Nuisance Deer Control Program on Plum Island in the Green Bay National Wildlife Refuge. There is an overabundance of deer, which are impacting sensitive plant communities. Controlling the deer on Plum Island will have a positive impact on […]

  • Distillery, Workforce Housing Proposed for Egg Harbor

    Just two days after the iconic Shipwrecked Brewpub burned in the heart of the Village of Egg Harbor, the village Plan Commission heard on Aug. 22 about a distillery that wants to open just down the street on the long-vacant Lena’s property. Chris Roedl, the entrepreneur behind the Hatch Distillery, and Mark Nysted of Keller, […]

  • Baldwin Recognized for Maritime Support at Bay Shipbuilding

    Representatives of the Great Lakes maritime industry gathered at Fincantieri Bay Shipbuilding in Sturgeon Bay on Aug. 22 to present Sen. Tammy Baldwin with the Great Lakes Maritime Task Force’s Great Lakes Legislator of the Year Award. The award is presented annually to a legislator who has helped advance waterborne commerce on the Great Lakes […]

  • State News: State Budget, Health Care, White Supremacy

    Walker: Budget Deal Reached ‘In Principle’ Gov. Scott Walker said state lawmakers are nearing agreement on the delayed 2017-2019 state budget. Speaking with reporters in Madison, Walker said legislative leaders have reached consensus “in principle” on issues including transportation funding. “There’s a few little details (remaining), but nothing that will stop or impede the process,” Walker […]

  • Sturgeon Bay Granary Placed on State Historic Registry

    The Granary on Sturgeon Bay’s West Waterfront was unanimously approved for placement on the Wisconsin State Registry of Historic Places Friday, Aug. 18. In July the Sturgeon Bay Common Council voted to tear down the Granary if a viable rehabilitation and funding plan is not presented to the council by Jan. 1, 2018. In May […]

  • Ephraim Considers Expanding Stormwater Project

    A special committee tasked with solving Ephraim’s stormwater and flooding problems hopes contracted engineers can develop a plan for nearly a majority of the village, with emphasis on Hwy 42, with a Nov. 1 deadline set by the Department of Transportation (DOT). The deadline imposed by the DOT is for a financial commitment by the […]

  • Danish Mill Fire Caused By Electrical Malfunction

    The fire that destroyed The Danish Mill on Washington Island was likely caused by an electrical malfunction. That was determined through an investigation by state fire marshals and the restaurant’s insurance company. The fire was traced to the front counter, where computers were plugged in. “It was definitely accidental,” said Washington Island Fire Chief Paul […]

  • Pet Talk: Paw Licking Could Mean Many Things

    Q: Our dog Abby licks her feet a lot. It is annoying when she wakes us up in the middle of the night doing it. Is there a reason why she does this and any ideas on how to make her stop? A: Paw licking is part of a dog’s normal grooming behavior. It only […]

  • USS Little Rock Sea Trials in Lake Michigan

    The USS Little Rock was recently performing sea trials in Lake Michigan. The Freedom-class littoral combat ship was built at Marinette Marine and is expected to be commissioned in Buffalo, New York, in November. In this photo taken by Capt. Jim Robinson of Shoreline Scenic Cruise & Charters, the Little Rock is coming through Deaths […]

  • Featured Pet: Graham

    This week’s featured pet from the Door County Humane Society (DCHS) is Graham, a two-year-old domestic shorthair cat with some grey and white tabby markings. He came to DCHS as a stray and he’s a super sweetheart. Graham might seem a little shy at first (he loves to sleep in his covered cat bed), but […]

  • Door County Pond Hockey Tournament Registration Is Open

    Door County doesn’t go to sleep in the winter. Experience another side of Door County at the 4th Door County Pond Hockey Tournament Feb. 10, 2018. Join more than 40 teams in eight divisions competing for the coveted Stanley Thermos, taking hockey back to the pond on Kangaroo Lake in Baileys Harbor to play the […]

  • Turkey Permit Drawing Winners Announced Next Week

    Hunters who were successful in the fall turkey permit drawing will begin receiving notification in the mail early next week. It is possible that the notifications may arrive after the leftover permit sales begin. Leftover fall turkey permits go on sale Aug. 26 for the season that opens Sept. 16. Hunters can check to see […]

  • No Excuses: Morrison Reaches 1,000 Straight Days on His Bike

    Carl Morrison notched several remarkable achievements on his bike the last few years. He once rode 225 miles in a single day. He rode 100 miles every day for 12 days, just to see how long he could do it. When he broke his collarbone in a bike crash he rode another 10 miles, and […]

  • Door County Property Values Still Below 2008 Levels

    A report from the Wisconsin Taxpayers Alliance (WISTAX) following the release of property valuations from the Department of Revenue show the state has recovered property values since the 2008 recession, but some counties continue to lag behind, including Door and other tourism communities. According to the report, the total value of property in Wisconsin is […]

  • Obituary: Irma V. Johnson

    Irma V. Johnson, 98 , died peacefully on August 20, 2017 at Hearthside Cordial Care in Sister Bay, WI. She was born in the Country of Sweden on January 27. 1919. Irma was married to Penfield Johnson on May 18th 1955 in Chicago, IL. They made their home in Ellison Bay, Wisconsin until he died […]

  • Obituary: Donabelle Mae Pritchett

    Donabelle Mae Pritchett, 94, of Sister Bay died peacefully on the morning of Aug. 18, 2017. Her children and husband were by her side when she passed away in Scandia Village, Sister Bay. Dona was born on her family farm in Sister Bay in 1922 and attended Appleport school in Liberty Grove. At age 11 […]

  • Obituary: Patricia Metido

    Patricia Metido, 79, of Sturgeon Bay, formerly of Illinois, passed away on Aug. 18, 2017 at Door County Medical Center.  She was born May 1, 1938 in Villa Park, Ill. to Frank and Hannah Pecoraro.  She lived most of her life in Illinois, moving to Door County several years ago. She is survived by 3 […]

  • Obituary: Carl T. Carlson

    Carl T. Carlson, 70, of Ellison Bay, died peacefully at The Milwaukee Veterans Medical Center on August 16, 2017. He was born in Chicago on April 1, 1947 to Carl M. and Helen (Fredin) Carlson. He lived all of his life in Ellison Bay. He owned Carlson Contracting and the Europe Lakeside Guest House. He […]

  • Obituary: Arthur Glen Turnquist

    Arthur Glen Turnquist, 47, of Baileys Harbor, WI. died peacefully while surrounded by those closest to him at 11:24 a.m. on Tuesday, August 15th after a year and a half battle with an extremely rare and aggressive form of brain cancer.  Arthur was born on October 8th, 1969, to Carol Ann (Drew) and James A […]

  • Obituary: Rodney Andrew Campbell

    Rodney Andrew Campbell died of heart disease on June 23, 2017 at his home in Anza, Cali. He was 65. Rodney was born December 20, 1951, the son of the late Merlyn John Campbell and Florence June (McCabe) Campbell. He grew up in North Prairie, Wis. and graduated from Mukwonago Union High School in 1971. […]

  • Door County Medical Center Introduces Jody Boes Scholarship for Graduate Nursing Degrees

    Door County Medical Center has a new opportunity for their nursing staff – the Jody Boes Scholarship. In 1969, Jody Boes’s childhood dream was realized when, at the age of 18, she received a scholarship of $800 from a local hospital auxiliary to attend Bellin’s nursing program. Since then Boes has worked in Door County […]

  • Door County Humane Society Seeks Donations for Washington Island Cats

    As of Aug. 17, the Door County Humane Society (DCHS) retrieved 40 cats from a single property on Washington Island. These 40 cats have been received at DCHS where shelter staff – with the assistance of a veterinarian – will continue to assess each individual cat’s health and behavioral status and specific medical needs. The […]

  • Back-to-School Events at Algoma Lakeside Church, Aug. 26

    Algoma’s Lakeside Church is holding a couple of events to celebrate the start of the school year. The community is invited to the back-to-school block party Aug. 26, 1 – 4 pm at Legion Park in Algoma. This will be a great time of entertainment, snacks, inflatables for kids, and activities for all ages. The […]

  • Reps in the News: Walker Praises Passage of Foxconn Bill by Assembly

    Governor Scott Walker Gov. Walker released the following statement Aug. 17 after the Wisconsin State Assembly passed the Wisconn Valley Special Session legislation on a bipartisan vote of 59-30. “As the world’s largest electronics manufacturer, Foxconn’s $10 billion investment and 13,000 new jobs will be transformational. Today’s vote in the Assembly was the next big […]

  • Steve Brunstrom, Petty Officer Jacob Whitsell Recognized at Mariner Awards Dinner

    Fifteen iconic figures in the rich maritime history of the Door Peninsula and three local Coast Guardsmen were honored at the annual Mariner Awards Dinner held Aug. 7 at the Sturgeon Bay Yacht Club. A joint effort by the Door County Maritime Museum and Sturgeon Bay Yacht Club, the Mariner Award is presented annually to […]

  • Municipal Meetings: Aug. 25 – Sept. 1

    DOOR COUNTY City of Sturgeon Bay:  The Finance/Purchasing & Building Committee meets at 4 pm Aug. 29. Town of Liberty Grove:  The Finance Committee and the town board will meet at 6:30 pm Aug. 29 to discuss the 2018 budget. Village of Egg Harbor:  A beach design community meeting will beheld at 2 pm Aug. […]

  • Final Hymn Sing of the Summer at Zion United Methodist Church, Sept. 3

    Zion United Methodist Church will hold the second of its two annual hymn sings at 5 pm Sunday, Sept. 3. Begun in 1993 at the little country church that is now 142 years old, the activity features old-time hymns picked by the audience. The Rev. Don Heeringa, a former Zion pastor, will serve as song […]

  • Kewaunee County Promotion & Recreation Committee Takes a Parks Tour

    The summer months have kept the Kewaunee County Promotion & Recreation Department busy, as staff and volunteers enhance parks that are continuously drawing more outdoor enthusiasts. Improvement projects include: the Magic Carpet conveyor belt on the snow tubing hill at Winter Park, a new swing set at Red River Park, the addition of a baseball […]

  • Door County Fair Organizers Announce Exhibitor Awards

    Door County Fair exhibitor awards were announced. The following are Open Class Exhibitors from the 2017 Door County Fair in the non-animal categories that received special recognition. Flowers and House Plants: Grand Champion – Pat Wickman; Champions – Wendy Woldt, Anthony Birdsall and Pat Wickman; Best of Show – Anthony Birdsall, Mary Tlachac, Sally Schlise, […]

  • Sheriff Joins State Drive Sober Campaign

    The Door County Sheriff’s Office is participating in the Wisconsin DOT Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over initiative that runs now through Sept. 4. Alcohol-related crashes killed 143 people in Wisconsin last year. The Door County Sheriff’s Department is participating in the “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” national enforcement campaign to try to save […]

  • Door County Witnesses the Solar Eclipse

    The Door Peninsula Astronomical Society welcomed visitors to their grounds who wanted to witness the solar eclipse on Aug. 21. Photo by Tim Sweet.

  • Sister Bay Lodging Up Nearly 19 Percent Through June

    Sister Bay has collected 18.54 percent more room tax revenue through June of 2017 than in the same period last year. Returns were up 19.11 percent in June, year over year. Jacksonport, Baileys Harbor and Washington Island also saw significant increases, while the Village of Egg Harbor experienced a slow month in June, with returns […]

  • Pulse Price Report: Aug. 22, 2017

    Crop prices (August 22) Rio Creek Feed Mill – Algoma Commodity Price (per bushel) Basis Last Year Corn $3.06 -0.41 $2.66 Soybeans $8.49 -0.85 $8.89 Wheat $3.24 -0.80 $3.07 Oats $2.05 -0.35 N/A   United Cooperative – Denmark Corn $3.02/bushel -0.45 New-Crop Corn $3.03/bushel -0.58 Wheat $3.31/bushel -0.73   Basis: The difference between the local […]

  • Open House at Vintique Resale Aug. 28

    Vintique Resale is holding an open house Aug. 28, 7 – 10 pm. Be among the first customers to see the debut of their eclectic fall and holiday collection. Enjoy refreshments and the chance to win in the raffle drawings. Vintique is located at 10254 Water St., Ephraim. For more information, call 920.854.8060 or visit […]

  • Affordable Service Repair Offers Another Option for Repair Work

    Affordable Service Repair is Door County’s newest independent service company that focuses on providing an affordable option for customers in need of service of major appliances, electrical, heating and plumbing repairs with an emphasis on maintaining existing equipment, avoiding expensive replacement and protecting our environment. He plans to work with local dealers if replacement or […]

  • USDA Releases Farm Computer Use Report

    Seventy-three percent of Wisconsin farms own or lease a computer, one percentage point higher than the U.S. percentage, according to the latest USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service Farm Computer Use report. Seventy-seven percent of Wisconsin farms report having access to a computer, unchanged from 2015. Farms using computers for their farm business increased slightly to […]

  • Dr. Melissa Nelson Passes Lead Role at Healing Center to Dr. Kathleen Arnold

    After 37 years dedicated to the betterment of her community and her patients, Dr. Melissa Nelson is passing the lead role at her clinic to Dr. Kathleen Arnold. Nelson Healing Center will now be known as the Door County Healing Center. Dr. Nelson will remain on board seeing patients but said she looks forward to […]

  • Cheers ufo

    Cheers! Beam Me Up, Huckleberry!

    Two things attracted me to this beer, and both are in its name, UFO Huckleberry. Number 1 was the huckleberry component. While I’ve never had a huckleberry, as a kid I was a big fan of Huckleberry Hound, and a little later of Huckleberry Finn, and later still of Val Kilmer’s performance as Doc Holliday […]

  • Baileys Harbor Fiber Artist in Madison Quilt Expo

    The upcoming Quilt Expo in Madison, taking place Sept. 7-9, will feature sessions led by an area resident renowned for her quilting and sewing expertise. Susan Hoffmann of Baileys Harbor will lead a hands-on workshop titled “Landscape Painting With Fabric.” Hundreds of lectures, workshops and presentations at Quilt Expo provide an opportunity for quilters of […]

  • By the Numbers: Lake Michigan

    1 Lake Michigan’s ranking as the deadliest of the Great Lakes. It has had nearly as many drownings and water rescues since 2010 (223) as the four other Great Lakes combined. 4 The number of feet Lake Michigan has risen since the Jan. 2013 record low. 21 The number of Lake Michigan drowning victims so […]

  • framed

    Framed: Happy 80th Birthday to Ron Klimaitis

    Ron Klimaitis (Vintage 1937) of Ellison Bay celebrates his 80th birthday with his entire family alongside the Wildwood Market 1937 Chevy Truck. Photo by Kay McKinley.

  • Trivia: A November 1951 Argument Inspired the Creation of Which Reference Book?

    Question: A November 1951 argument over which was the fastest game bird in Europe – the golden plover or red grouse – inspired the creation of which annual reference book? Answer: The Guinness Book of World Records.

  • Crossroads Hosts Documentary Screening Aug 29

    Forget about the heat of summer in the air-conditioned lecture hall at Crossroads at Big Creek Aug. 29 for a screening of Chasing Ice at 2 pm. This award-winning documentary gathered evidence of the Earth’s changing climate in the far north. The film shows exquisite photography with a message. The screening is free and open […]

  • Hat Ladies

    Rogue Theater Presents: “Hat Tricks” Aug 25-27

    Rogue Theater’s next production is Dori Appel’s Hat Tricks. A staged reading performed by three powerful local actors, Hat Tricks has something for everyone and will be particularly meaningful to so many women. Directed by Lola DeVillers, actors Ginger Auld, Chris Milton and Gwen Severson bring their special talents to create a beautiful picture of […]

  • Write On Announces 2017 Norbert Blei Poetry Award Winner

    Steve Tomasko of Middleton, Wis., is the recipient of the 2017 Norbert Blei Poetry Award, administered by Write On, Door County. Judge Alice D’Alessio selected Tomasko’s poem “That sure was a close and holy time,” from among 37 entries. The award includes a prize of $250 and complimentary registration to the Washington Island Literary Festival. […]

  • Science Snippet: Trash and Ocean Currents

    Way out in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, some 3,000 miles from a city of any size, is tiny and unpopulated Henderson Island. Recently a marine biologist visited the island and discovered it was covered with more than 17 tons of trash, driven there by winds and ocean currents. There were 672 pieces of […]

  • TAP to Hold Talk-Backs After “Candide” Matinees Aug 27, Sept. 2

    Third Avenue Playhouse’s (TAP) company of Candide will hold talk-backs with the audience following the Sunday matinee performances on Aug. 27 and Sept. 2. James Valcq, TAP co-artistic director and Candide director, is the moderator for the talk-backs. Talk-backs give the audience a chance to ask questions of the cast and get a glimpse of […]

  • Looking for “Iconic Wisconsin” Entries

    What do you think of when you think Wisconsin? Artists in a great variety of media are eligible to submit entries to Cedarburg Art Museum’s fourth annual juried show, Iconic Wisconsin. Man-made structures, unique natural landscapes as well as special foods, sports, and idioms of our state are all ripe for interpretation by artists. A […]

  • Clearing catalogue

    The Clearing Folk School Announces Fall Catalogue

    The Clearing Folk School continues its workshop program of one- and two-day classes this fall. Most classes take place at The Clearing Folk School’s Jens Jensen Visitor Center located at 12171 Garrett Bay Road, Ellison Bay, from 9 am to 4 pm through Nov. 4. Fall workshop program classes are in the arts, fine crafts, […]

  • Marina fest

    Sister Bay Celebrates Labor Day With Marina Fest

    Sister Bay’s celebration of its waterfront returns Labor Day weekend, Sept. 2 – 4, with Marina Fest. The festival brings a fabulous wooden boat show, street food, beverages, live music, activities all along the waterfront, plus fireworks Saturday night. Bring kids to enjoy the carnival with bouncy castles and rock climb, camel rides and a […]

  • "First Wind" by Ginnie Cappaert.

    Solo Show by Local Artist in Santa Fe

    Local artist Ginnie Cappaert is feeling the accumulation of a year’s worth of painting coming into fruition as she is preparing for her first solo show in Santa Fe, New Mexico at Globe Fine Art. Cappaert owns her own studio/gallery in Door County and also maintains a studio in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Edgewood […]

  • A Few Walks In the Newport Wilderness

    It had just rained all night when I arrived at Newport State Park one Wednesday morning in June. Everyone was in rain jackets and galoshes. It was still spitting a little when we hopped on the trail. New growth surrounded stubborn evergreens, wet leaves leaving streaks on shoulders as the trail wandered through a carpet […]

  • Climate Corner: Knowns and Unknowns of Climate Change

    By Dr. Stephen Vavrus Widespread flooding. Rising sea levels. Another global temperature record. We are awash in news of extreme weather and climate change, but the topic of climate change has become a political football. The unfortunate result is a perception of greater uncertainty than actually exists. We would like a simple answer to the […]

  • Red Crossbill

    DC Hist. Museum Nature Diorama Gets Another Bird Aug 26

    Master taxidermist Mike Orthober will be at the Door County Historical Museum Aug. 26, 10 am – 4 pm. Orthober designed and built the museum’s nature diorama and he will mount another bird for inclusion in the diorama and answering questions about the art and craft of taxidermy. Orthober, of Egg Harbor, is a sharp-eyed […]

  • From Baileys’ Streets to Stonehedge’s Greens: Constable Mark Merrill

    Constable Mark Merrill is a familiar face in Baileys Harbor. After 33 years as a constable and 26 as a road deputy, he’s spent his fair share of time on his law enforcement career. What isn’t widely known about Merrill, though, is he’s been a greens superintendent for almost 40 years. Born in Chicago, Merrill […]

  • Jacob Beranek

    Midsummer’s Music Festival Announces Labor Day Concerts

    Midsummer’s Music of Door County resumes its 2017 festival season with the Labor Day series of concerts. Composer-in-residence Jacob Beranek returns for The Czech Spirit program, with Sempre nella luce, a piece that was recently selected as a winner of the Dolce Suonno Ensemble’s Young Composers contest. Widely regarded in his homeland as the father […]

  • Edgewood Artist Earns Place in Permanent Lambeau Art Collection

    Tom Nachreiner has huddled against his bleacher-mates in chilling rain and blustery autumn weather to watch his beloved Green Bay Packers take on their rivals at Lambeau Field, but he’s never once donned a snowmobile suit or risked life and limb to watch the green-and-gold-clad warriors take to The Frozen Tundra. So when the oil […]

  • Haiku: Summer 2016, Door County, Wisconsin

    I White birch-trees, stone cliffs; Summer sun: such sweet, soft air! Spiders in their webs.   II Blackberries, cherries; Thimbleberry pie, ice cream; Cedars: crystal moon.   III Queen-Anne’s Lace, sweet-pea: Purple, yellow, white, green, blue; Chicory, daisies–grass.   IV So long summer sun! Flip-flops, fish-boils, ferries, fires: Footprints in the sand.   V Wild […]

  • SS-CarolinaWEB

    DCHS Hosts “The Islands of Door County” Program Aug 26

    The Door County Historical Society will host its Saturday afternoon yesteryear programming with “The Islands of Door County,” presented by Paul Burton, Aug. 26 at 2 pm in the Collins Learning Center adjacent to the Heritage Village at 2041 Michigan Street in Sturgeon Bay. Surrounding the Door County peninsula are 27 individual islands, each one […]

  • Perspective: ‘Southern Change Gonna Come at Last’?

    Back around the turn of the century I was talking to an eccentric Texas musician during a break in one of his first Wisconsin shows, when he informed me that a lot of his Texas buddies didn’t want to play for us Yankees, but he thought we were all right and didn’t mind playing for […]

  • Ridges Sanctuary Hosts Grosbeak Workshop Sept. 9

    Learn how to make a small investment that will have a big impact for migratory birds during the Grosbeaks Galore workshop, Sept. 9 at the Ridges Sanctuary. From 9 am to 5 pm, speaker Bill Volkert will instruct people about the best foods, shelter and roosting spots for birds on your landscape. The fee is […]

  • SOW i34

    Server of the Week: Martin Lozano @ Old Post Office Restaurant

    Martin’s the man, yes he is, His service makes you happy like fizz- -ie water with lemons on a hot day. Ahhhhh, refreshing.   Stop by the Old Post Office Not for mail, not for stamps but hearty fare that’s a bit of bliss!   Break your fast or boil some fish Martin will rock […]

  • bella and nalani

    Sturgeon Bay Students Attend Birch Creek Jazz I Session

    This summer, two talented students from Sturgeon Bay spent two weeks studying at Birch Creek Music Performance Center. Nalani Bicoy and Isabella Dippel, both from Sturgeon Bay High School, were among 56 other musicians from throughout the country to attend the Jazz I session at this prestigious academy whose unique mission is to provide intensive, […]

  • Harbor Ridge Winery Hosts Quilt Sale Sept. 1-4

    Area quilters will again display their talents over Labor Day weekend at Harbor Ridge Winery in Egg Harbor. More than 250 quilted items will be for sale Sept. 1 – 4, 10 am – 5 pm, in the winery distribution building. Admission is free. Projects include art, quilts, table runners, wall hangings, children’s quilts and […]

  • Water Street Hot Shots

    Water Street Hotshots Play Woodwalk Aug 25

    The Water Street Hot Shots are experts at performing blues, rags, hokum, and novelty tunes in the style of the 1930s jug bands. They’ll take the stage as part of the Woodwalk Concert Series Aug. 25, 7 pm. Michael Lee Ammons grew up just a mile away from the Paramount Records studio in Grafton, Wisconsin, […]

  • Finally! Perfection With A Home Burger

    Making hamburgers at home has always gotten the better of me. I almost always prefer a “store-bought” burger. I have tried many techniques over the years, but I have never had one that caused me to exclaim, “This is a great burger,” as I have done more than once at places such as the Anchor […]

  • Intern Group

    Pen Players Interns A Continuation of a Dream

    For 82 years, Peninsula Players Theatre has thrived amidst the lush woods, vibrant bay and storied traditions that brother and sister founders, Caroline and Richard Fisher built upon in 1935. One of these honored traditions was their dream of a professional company where apprentices and interns learn by doing. That dream is alive today, as […]

  • Miller Art Museum Receives Multiple Grants

    For the Miller Art Museum in downtown Sturgeon Bay, like many institutions comprising the museum sector across the globe, volunteers are vital to the work of the organization – they are its heart and soul. With the help of the Ruth & Hartley Barker Memorial Fund, Anne and Richard Egan Charitable Fund, William C. and […]

  • Chambers Island Lighthouse

    Forgotten Charms of Chambers Island

    In 1860, one organized town in Door County had a population of 46 whose voters, according to Door County historian Hjalmar Holand, “gathered once a year in solemn concave to discuss the needs of the roads and bridges, distribute political honors and damn the state tax.” It had a full array of state officers with […]

  • Savory Spoon Announces New Workshops For Aug 26, 27

    Savory Spoon is welcoming students into their kitchen for a pair of upcoming workshops. In “Just Say Cheese,” Aug. 26 at 6 pm, award-winning artisan cheesemaker George Crave will lead a special class about exploring the craft of making fresh mozzarella. The Crave family has been in the dairy business for more than 20 years. […]

  • Open Door Theater Company Presents: Blue Material Aug 24-26

    Open Door Theater Company presents Blue Material, an original play written by Andrew James, Aug. 24-26 at the Old Gibraltar Town Hall in Fish Creek. The death of Vaudeville and the birth of Realism in America occurs at most peculiar time: the Great Depression. Richard Stone is one of Vaudeville’s last great headliners, but when […]

  • News From This Week’s Past: Aug. 25 – Sept. 1

    All items are from the Door County Library’s newspaper archives, and they appear in the same form as they were first published, including misspellings and grammatical errors.    The Independent, August 27, 1886 Mr. Beaumont, a gentleman from St. Louis, is at Geo. Pinney’s Evergreen Nurseries, superintending the manufacture of immense wreaths to be used […]

  • Buckthorn Blast at Bay Shore Blufflands

    The Door County Land Trust, in partnership with Bay Shore Property Owners Association, begins a multi-year restoration and buckthorn eradication effort on the Bay Shore Blufflands Nature Preserve, 5454 Bay Shore Drive, just south of Carlsville Road (between Sturgeon Bay and Egg Harbor). The Bay Shore Blufflands Buckthorn Blast will kick-off Sept. 1, 9:30 – […]

  • The Bestseller List: Aug. 25, 2017

    HARDCOVER FICTION 1. A Gentleman in Moscow, by Amor Towles 2. The Lying Game, by Ruth Ware 3. The Late Show, by Michael Connelly 4. The Underground Railroad, by Colson Whitehead 5. Into the Water, by Paula Hawkins HARDCOVER NONFICTION 1. Al Franken, Giant of the Senate, by Al Franken 2. Astrophysics for People in […]

  • The Transformation of Third Avenue Playhouse

    by Bob Boles, co-artistic director, Third Avenue Playhouse In the nearly six years since James Valcq and myself have taken over the leadership of the Third Avenue Playhouse (TAP), it has become a significant regional theater in the state of Wisconsin known for the quality and excellence and diversity of its programming. Our actors come […]

  • Birch Creek Announces Fall 2017 Concert Series

    Birch Creek Music Performance Center announces the return of their fall concert series. This year will feature five different evening performances, highlighting a selection of the Academy’s summer faculty members along with successful musicians from Door County and across the Midwest. All proceeds will benefit future Birch Creek students and the Birch Creek Scholarship Fund. […]

  • Overheard and Obsessions: Aug 25, 2017

    OVERHEARD Are there tid-bits of conversations you’ve heard while standing in line at the grocery store, serving a table, or walking down the sidewalk that make you smile, cringe or laugh out loud? “Then I come home and end up getting a Spiderman water shooter in my Lucky Charms…today was a good day.” “The world […]

  • Prince of Peace Hosts “Battle of the Praise Bands” Aug 27

    Battle of the Praise Bands is Aug. 27, 6 pm at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church in Sturgeon Bay. It’ll be a great night to come and enjoy live music from four local church worship teams – First Baptist, Crossroads, Sturgeon Bay Community and Prince of Peace. The Battle will take place in the sanctuary […]

  • Manners Matter: Watching Your Social Budget

    Dear Mary Pat, My friends give me a hard time for not being able to go out all the time. The main reason is budgetary and they can’t seem to understand that. I’m saving for school and my parents want me to put 80% of my paycheck into my savings account to help bump up […]

  • "Dancing Lilies" by Connie Glowacki.

    Meadows Gallery Celebrates Fifth Anniversary

    In October, the Meadows Art Gallery will finish its first five years in existence. The next exhibit, titled Old Guard, features some of the artists that started the Meadows. They are: Sharon Auberle, Beverly Hart Branson, Connie Glowacki, Marcia Nickols, Bonnie Sandstrom and Erland Sandstrom. The opening reception is Aug. 26, 2 – 4 pm. […]

  • Door to Nature: Tall Fringed Gentians

    Henry David Thoreau once described a cerulean marvel of a native wildflower as “Blue as the bluebird’s back.” Thoreau added that this wildflower, now in the early stages of its six- to seven-week blossoming season, “is too remarkable a flower not to be sought out and admired each year.” The incredibly beautiful fringed gentian, that […]

  • Dead Zone No More: How Sister Bay Came Back

    If you have enough Sister Bay friends on Facebook, you’ve seen some of them post gripes about traffic, crowds and packed parking lots this summer. Five years ago such complaints were only wished for. In 2012, Sister Bay businesses were coming off a disappointing season that had many shutting down early, or entirely, as the […]

  • Letter to the Editor: Let’s Hold Ourselves Accountable

    At HELP of Door County, we have had pause to reflect on the violence that was perpetrated recently by predominantly male, white supremacists in Charlottesville, Virginia. Our hearts go out to the families of those who lost their lives and were injured in this senseless violence. The images of white supremacists shouting angry words, pumping […]

  • Letter to the Editor: Solution for Washington Island Cat Situation

    I read an article in this week’s edition of the Peninsula Pulse (Aug. 18, 2017) titled “Humane Society Saddled with Abandoned Washington Island Cats.” If you haven’t read the piece, it basically explains how staff from our Door County shelter made a couple of trips to Washington Island to rescue a colony of community cats, […]

  • Letter to the Editor: Renewed Faith

    Senator Tammy Baldwin, Thank you so very much for your heartfelt, emotional and passionate speech this past Monday in Baileys Harbor. You have renewed my faith in knowing that there is someone in Washington that has the best interest of my family, my town, and the state of Wisconsin. Sorry for the brief interruption during […]

  • Letter to the Editor: Trump Is A Republican

    There are now a few Republicans trying to put distance between themselves and Trump. There is no daylight between any Republican and Trump. Ever since Nixon’s “Southern Strategy,” the Republican Party, and all Republicans, have courted the racists, haters and bigots to be the margin of victory so they could get their personal agendas through. […]

  • Letter to the Editor: Uniting States While on Vacation

    Mr. President, I want to thank you for interrupting your well-deserved, 17 day golf vacation to address some of the terrible things going on in the world. You’ve had a tough time, Sir, playing President and golf, all the while knowing that soon your vacation at your posh New Jersey golf resort will come to […]

  • Letter to the Editor: Confederates in the Attic

    I have been thinking about the latest national fury, the removal of Confederate monuments and flags from public places. These actions have been labeled as “revisionist history” and worse by some who wish them to remain as part of our national public landscape. To me, this is nonsense. In the first place, erasing the memory […]

  • Letter to the Editor: A Question for You

    When are you going to stand up for the country? Not a word on the record from you expressing disgust at what “the leader” of this country has said about his support for Nazis, KKK, and white supremacy. You, by your silence, have abdicated leadership to mayors and governors, the military, the business community, the […]

  • Letter to the Editor: Stand Up Against White Supremacy

    “First they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out – because I was not a socialist. Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out – because I was not a trade unionist. Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out – because I […]

  • Surly Brewing and Wild Tomato Team Up for Milkweed Planting

    On Aug. 30, Wild Tomato will team with Surly Brewing and Surly Gives A Damn (SGAD) to host a volunteer party & milkweed planting on the Monarch Trail in Newport State Park. Part of their monthly Donation Creation initiative, volunteers are invited to participate in the planting at the park to help restore critical monarch […]

  • Open House at LEED Platinum Home Candidate

    Door County’s third LEED for Homes Platinum candidate is now completed and ready for viewing. The fourth and final educational open house is Aug. 25, 10 am – 2 pm, at 10204 Kinsey Bay Lane in Sister Bay. LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) is a program developed by the U.S. Green Building Council […]

  • Eastern Europeans Speak Through Shakespeare in Midsummer’s Music Program

    Door County’s theater and performance season is coming to a close after a wonderful season. Midsummer’s Music Festival had a great turnout for its programs this year, in no small part because of their new Composer-in-Residence program featuring Wisconsin native Jacob Beranek. Door Shakespeare returned again with a better-than-ever cast and creative play choices. They […]

  • Jimmy ‘Daddy’ Davis Returns to Fishstock for Solo, Group Shows

    It must be something in the air up here. Maybe it’s the water. “The tear in my eyes is proof that this place is more than just peace of mind,” sings Jimmy Davis of Door County in his song, “Morning Glory.” This country/bluegrass/rock singer-songwriter from Memphis has had much love for the Door Peninsula ever […]