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Peninsula Pulse – Dec. 23-31, 2015

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In this issue

  • Polar Bear Swim, Mini Golf, First Day Hikes & More Weekend Plans

    From the annual polar bear swim in Jacksonport to a frosty mini golf tournament in Ephraim (not to forget Egg Harbor’s yearly New Year’s Day Parade), we’ve got the top picks to start your 2016 off right! Friday, January 1 Jacksonport Polar Bear Swim Take a plunge in the brisk waters of Lake Michigan for […]

  • Monday Night Volleyball: Dec. 23, 2015

      STANDINGS As of Dec. 14, 2015 A League, W-L Nicolet Beach Concessions, 18-0 Music Masters DJs, 9-6 Bayshore Powerballers, 8-10 Bay Area Transplant, 6-12 YMCA, 1-14   B League, W-L Red Room, 20-1 Renard’s Cheese, 17-4 Brick Lot, 10-11 Hatco, 9-12 Para Tran, 9-12 Econo Double Baggers, 7-14 Whiskepedia, 7-14 Peninsula Podiatry, 6-15   […]

  • Pet Talk: How Can We Keep A Blind Dog Happy?

    By Sally Salopek Q: We have an older border collie who is almost blind. We have had her to the veterinarian who said there isn’t anything we can do for her. Any suggestions on how we can keep her comfortable and happy in our home? A: Dogs are truly amazing at their adaptability. I grew up […]

  • Prospective St. Norbert Music Students Eligible for Scholarship

    If you’re an incoming first-year student who plan to pursue a major or minor in music at St. Norbert College, or simply enjoy music, are eligible to audition for a music scholarship on Saturday, Jan. 30 (register by Jan. 22), or Saturday, Feb. 20 (register by Feb. 12). To reserve a spot, go to snc.edu/music/auditionform.html.

  • Arlene Stanger’s “Atonement” Awarded in “Black & White” Photo Contest

    Baileys Harbor resident Arlene Stanger’s image “Atonement” has been chosen for Black & White magazine’s 2016 photo contest Special Issue. Black & White has a circulation of more than 40,000 in 60 countries. The issue will be on newsstands this month. All winning images will also be displayed on bandwmag.com. Arlene’s images have been juried […]

  • Announcing Door County Reads 2016 Selection

    It’s that time of year – wintertime, and there’s a new book for all of us to read. Door County folks are invited to read, think about, learn, and discuss current and historic issues by reading the same book for Door County Reads 2016. The chosen book is American Dervish by Ayad Akhtar. Courtesy of […]

  • Commentary: Simple Gifts Wisconsin Politicians Could Give the People

      By Todd A. Berry, President, Wisconsin Taxpayers Alliance   On “slow” news days during this time of year, journalists sometimes resort to suggesting tongue-in-cheek gifts for public officials. Here, the practice is turned on its ear, and state politicians are offered simple gift-giving ideas. Safeguarding the process The first two gifts relate to lawmaking. […]

  • Edgewood Raises $32,000 for Write On

    When Nell and J.R. Jarosh decided to make the final show of their Edgewood Orchard Galleries season a benefit for Write On, Door County, they were optimistic that they could help provide needed support for Write On’s programming, but they never expected to raise $16,000. Thanks to the generosity of a matching gift from an […]

  • By the Numbers: Governmental Salaries

    $50,950 Annual Wisconsin legislator’s salary   $68,566 Wisconsin Secretary of state’s salary   $76,261 Lt. Governor’s salary   $144,423 Governor’s salary   $146,000 Wisconsin Associate justices’ salary   $154,000 Wisconsin Supreme Court Chief Justice’s salary   $174,000 Salary for U.S. Congressional rank-and-file members   $193,400 Salary for majority and minority party leaders   $223,500 Speaker […]

  • Governor Scott Walker Visits Sturgeon Bay

    Gov. Scott Walker touted the state's 4.2 percent unemployment rate in a visit to Sturgeon Bay in December.

  • Extra Crispy Brass Band Welcoming 2016 in NOLA Style

    It wouldn’t be a proper New Year’s Eve on the peninsula without the sounds of local and visiting bands. On Dec. 31, Door County Brewing Co. will kick off the countdown to 2016 to the beat of Milwaukee’s Extra Crispy Brass Band. The eight-man New Orleans-style brass band models itself after the full range of […]

  • Enter Lottery for Landowner Conservation Report

    Landowners can once again enter a lottery to obtain a free customized report from Department of Natural Resources Natural Heritage Conservation program to discover what unique plants and animals may live on their land.This time, people who previously entered the lottery but were not selected in 2014 or 2015 will get preference points that improve […]

  • Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe Celebrated at Corpus Christi

    The feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe was celebrated Sunday, Dec. 13, at Corpus Christi Catholic Church in Sturgeon Bay. It recalls Mary’s appearance to an Aztec Indian, Juan Diego, in Mexico in 1531, and traditionally features a big feast. There was an outdoor procession, Aztec dancers, Mass in Spanish, and a big feast afterward.

  • Baptism By Ice: Jarosh Family Celebrating 30 Years of New Year’s Day Plunge

      The seed for the Jacksonport Polar Bear Plunge was planted in 1984 when 11-year-old J.R. Jarosh challenged his father, Joe, to compete in the five-mile race during Sister Bay’s Fall Fest. “Being an overconfident 11-year-old, I thought I could beat this 39-year-old geezer,” J.R. said. “He bet me, and the bet was whoever lost […]

  • Register Now for The Clearing Classes

    Register now for The Clearing Folk School’s winter classes. Join friends and neighbors snowshoeing, painting, woodturning, wine and ales tasting, working with fabric and fibers, or discussing literature and other intriguing subjects. More than 80 classes are offered from Jan. 4 through Feb. 26 in the arts, fine crafts, humanities and nature studies. In addition […]

  • Manners Matter: Dec. 23, 2015

    Dear Mary Pat, My girlfriend is really cheap. She hates to spend money. Her car has 289,000 miles on it and she will drive it till the wheels fall off. She bought the least expensive house she could find which needed a lot of repairs and will only work on the essentials. For the other […]

  • What Does the Hike in Interest Rates Mean?

    Last week, the Federal Reserve hiked short-term interest rates for the first time in nearly 10 years, since the beginning of the Great Recession. The increase of 0.25 percent is considered small and the literal long-term effect on the economy is expected to be small as well. But the increase means a lot for an […]

  • Remembering Peninsula State Park’s Olden Days With Janet and Alvin “Itsie” Krause

    Itsie and Janet, married for 67 years, are two of the few remaining people who remember the park in its simpler days

  • In Egg Harbor, Library Fundraising Moves Forward With $4 Million Goal

    There are still many details to be worked out regarding the building, including how green the village wants to make it.

  • Take Part in Pen Park’s First Day Hike

    On Jan. 1, Peninsula State Park will sponsor a First Day Hike, offering visitors the opportunity to start the year off with a family friendly trek led by Friends of Peninsula State Park and Volunteer Master Naturalist Jan Mills. Chris Holicek, president of the Friends, says, “Think of it as the start of a new […]

  • Cheri Boock Named Sister Bay/Liberty Grove Volunteer of 2015

    The Sister Bay Advancement Association awarded the 2015 Sister Bay/Liberty Grove Volunteer of the Year award to Cheri Boock of Sister Bay and Ephraim. Boock was nominated for her volunteerism with the SCAND Auxiliary, Bargains Unlimited resale store, and Shepherd of the Bay Lutheran Church. Boock has volunteered for the SCAND Auxiliary for six years. […]

  • The Bestseller List: Dec. 23, 2015

    HARDCOVER FICTION 1. All the Light We Cannot See, by Anthony Doerr 2. Fates and Furies, by Lauren Groff 3. Rogue Lawyer, by John Grisham 4. The Girl on the Train, by Paula Hawkins 5. Felicity, by Mary Oliver HARDCOVER NONFICTION  1. The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up, by Marie Kondo 2. Thing Explainer, by […]

  • Climate Change Coalition to Hold Talk at Björklunden

    Tom Eggert, executive director of the Wisconsin Sustainable Business Council, will give a talk titled “Wisconsin Businesses are Embracing Sustainability! What’s Happening and Why” at the Climate Change Coalition of Door County’s program on Jan. 6 at 7 pm at Björklunden in Baileys Harbor. Eggert will discuss the exciting initiatives many Wisconsin businesses are taking […]

  • We Are HOPE, Inc. Staff Receives National and State Certifications

    A number of We Are HOPE, Inc. staff members received national and state certifications this year for work in career and employment support services and energy conservation. Cari Wild completed the national Certification for Employment Support Professional (CESP). The CESP program is the first in the nation to create national guidelines to validate and support […]

  • Rogue Theater Holds Holiday Shows at Jaycee Hall

    Rogue Theater will present its annual Holiday Show from Dec. 26 – 28 at the Jaycee Hall in Sturgeon Bay. The show is entertaining and family oriented, with a combination of performers from many of their past productions and some new talent. It’ll be a night filled with hilarious holiday skits, songs of the season […]

  • Featured Pet: Burton

    Hi, my name is Burton. You may have seen me before because I recently became a celebrity! On Dec. 14 I appeared on WBAY Channel 2 News with Communications Coordinator April promoting the Door County Humane Society’s Home for the Holidays event. If my great looks on TV didn’t fully win you over, allow me […]

  • Neighbor to Neighbor Receives Packers Foundation Grant

    The Green Bay Packers Foundation has awarded a grant of $1,500 to Neighbor to Neighbor Volunteer Caregivers to support their Medical Equipment Loan Program through the purchase of wheelchairs and equipment labeling. This grant is one of 236 grants totaling $600,000 to civic and charitable organizations throughout the State of Wisconsin in its annual distribution […]

  • DNR Surface Water Management Grant Deadline Approaching

    Local units of government, lake and river organizations and nonprofit organizations have until Feb. 1, 2016, to apply for grants to help implement projects that protect and improve water quality and aquatic habitat and control aquatic invasive species in lakes, rivers and wetlands. The $3 million surface water management grant program, administered by the Wisconsin […]

  • Pulse Price Report: Dec. 23, 2015

    Crop prices (Dec. 21) Rio Creek Feed Mill – Algoma Commodity Price Basis Corn $3.32/bushel -0.42 New-Crop Corn $3.47/bushel -0.50 Soybeans $8.28/bushel -0.60 New-Crop Soybeans $8.32/bushel -0.75 Wheat (SRW) $4.27/bushel -0.56 New-Crop Wheat (SRW) $4.34/bushel -0.66   Fox River Valley Ethanol – Green Bay Corn $3.37/bushel -0.38 New-Crop Corn $3.57/bushel -0.40   Basis: The difference […]

  • CCR Column: Affirm Self-Worth in Others

    By Amy Jung, HELP of Door County, Inc. Did you ever have a school bully? Someone who made you feel as though no matter what you did it just wasn’t right? What if you were in a relationship with that bully? Your personal life offered you no break from the constant criticism, so eventually the […]

  • DNR Removing Fire Towers from Service

    Following evaluation of how fires are reported and considering the age and condition of the state’s network of fire towers, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources is implementing plans to remove the towers from service. In addition, the department will begin making changes to emphasize electronic options for obtaining burn permits. During the past year, […]

  • Zipperer, Brann Among 4 Supervisors Who Won’t Seek Another Term

    WHAT HAPPENED Four county board supervisors have filed non-candidacy papers for the April 2016 election, including longtime board member Leo Zipperer, representing District 14, serving Wards 2-4 in Sevastopol. Former Door County Sheriff Chuck Brann is also stepping down as District 11 supervisor, serving eight Sturgeon Bay wards. Union Town Board Chair John Bur also […]

  • Holy Nativity Episcopal Church to Hold Christmas Eve Mass

    The traditional Episcopal Christmas Eve mass will be celebrated at Holy Nativity Episcopal Church, 3434 County V, at 5 pm. Father Marcus Cunningham will be the celebrant. The service will include choral and organ music, and a festive reception will follow in Jameson Hall. Father Cunningham will also celebrate the Christmas Eucharist at Christ the […]

  • Steve Grutzmacher: Nostalgia and a Christmas Present

    I ran across a good friend of my father’s recently and after some general pleasantries and a little catching up, he commented that he missed my father’s Christmas poems. In particular he mentioned the poem that I shared in my column in 1998, the year my father died, and the remarkable backstory behind the poem. […]

  • Server of the Week: Mary Hansen of Island Orchard Cider

      Mary, Mary Quite contrary How your beverages flow. You’re so pretty And your drinks are cheery, It makes all our lives go!   ~ submitted by Carrie Baldwin Smith

  • Home for the Holidays: Northern Sky keeps tradition going with new cast

    Holiday tunes of old and new, along with a heavy dose of wit, are part of Northern Sky Theater’s repertoire for its ninth annual “Home for the Holidays” concert show at the Old Gibraltar Town Hall from Dec. 26 – 31. This year’s show was conceived by Northern Sky Theater co-founder Doc Heide, singer and […]

  • Roy Lukes: Land Stewardship

    The New Year is approaching and it is a good time to hike on the land and “take stock” of all the great preserves we have in Door County. The old year is waning and it is time to think of the natural world and make a few resolutions for the New Year. In addition […]

  • Overheard and Shout Outs: Dec. 23, 2015

    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?   “What’s this little shower cap doing on my desk?”   “You don’t want to kiss me. I don’t even know you.” […]

  • Science Snippet: Dec. 23, 2015

    Ever wonder why the eyes of cats, rattlesnakes and lizards have vertical pupils? Or why goats’ eyes have horizontal pupils? Or why your pupils are round? To attempt to answer these questions, researchers completed a study of the eyes of 214 species of animals. (Pupils of some animals are shown in the accompanying figure.) Using […]

  • Wendy Carpenter’s Guatemalan Collaboration

    “Creating Revenue through the Arts” is a mission project that Wendy Carpenter of Interfibers Design Gallery developed seven years ago with the support of Shepherd of the Bay Lutheran Church, and a special exhibit and donation from the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship in 2013. Each winter Carpenter travels to Guatemala and works for three months sewing […]

  • Letter to the Editor: I Am An Energy Voter

      Have you seen this ad on TV? I see it every day. There is no indication who is sponsoring this ad. The ad is a feel-good, “Ra Ra for America” ad. Jobs, economic growth, sounds great doesn’t it? Then why does the sponsor not take credit for it, why are they hiding? My suspicion […]

  • BreakThrough Coaching Service Now Offered in Door County

    An executive coach now offers new BreakThrough Coaching Service in Door County. Trouble making important decisions, especially on short notice? If so, an executive coach can help. Through a Values Blueprint and BreakThrough Discovery Session with Door County Executive Coach you’ll experience what it’s like to move forward with rapid momentum in whatever area of […]

  • Marina Parking Is Big Concern in Fish Creek Redevelopment Survey

    At a meeting of the Town of Gibraltar’s Waterfront Redevelopment Steering Committee, SEH presented the data and their drawings since the project began in October.

  • Boys & Girls Club Members Invited to Shop at Bargains Unlimited

    Children ages 6 to 17 were ecstatic after a two-hour shopping spree at Bargains Unlimited in Sister Bay on Dec. 13. For the second year in a row, Boys and Girls Club members were treated to a pre-Christmas shopping event by Bargains Unlimited staff and volunteers. Babler Bus once again donated their services to transport […]

  • El Niño: White Christmas Unlikely

    “There’s pretty good odds that it’s going to be above average temperatures,” Hodges said.

  • Bling, Bling at Plum Bottom

    Plum Bottom Pottery and Gallery invites the public to their last show of the year: Bling, Bling! They will feature sparkling druzy jewelry by artist Aimee Rivka Dec. 30 & 31, 10 am – 4 pm. Browse the extended collection with a glass of wine and find the perfect touch of bling to help bring […]

  • Trivia: Dec. 23, 2015

      This week’s question: What classic holiday movie was the inspiration for Santa’s workshop and the elf uniforms in the 2003 Christmas movie Elf, starring Will Ferrell? Answer: In next week’s issue.   Last week’s question: On average, one inch of rain is equivalent to how many inches of snow? Answer: 10  

  • Fireworks Show at New Year’s Poppin’ Eve in Sister Bay

    El Niño may be holding back Jack Frost from making ice at the Sister Bay Ice Rink, but the Village’s second New Year’s Eve celebration will pop! New Year’s Poppin’ Eve is scheduled for Dec. 31 at 8 pm at the Sister Bay Ice Rink, 2155 Autumn Court, Sister Bay. Sister Bay is home to Door […]

  • Sturgeon Bay High Schooler Wins Fourth Place in Wisconsin Association of School Boards Exhibit

    Sturgeon Bay High School student Emma Johnson has earned a fourth place award in the Student Art Exhibit and Awards sponsored by the Wisconsin Association of School Boards, the Wisconsin Art Education Association, and Liberty Mutual. Johnson’s artwork will be displayed at the 95th State Education Convention in January where more than 3,000 attendees will […]

  • Pioneer Basketball Coach Comments on WIAA Rule Changes

      By Justin Skiba The high school basketball season is in full swing in Wisconsin. If you have attended games this season, you would be sure to notice a few changes that have taken place for the 2015-16 season. Most notable is the WIAA’s decision to adjust the format of games from quarters to halves, […]

  • Art and Wellness Meet at Angela Lensch Gallery

    Art meets wellness this season at Angela Lensch Gallery. Among the fine art and jewelry, you can now find a collection of Liz Moriarty’s handmade herbal products from her line, HERBOLOGIE. The gallery is now featuring a vast array of Moriarty’s remedies, formulated with an understanding of traditional use of herbs and Western energetics, combined […]

  • Letter to the Editor: Reflections

    During this most holy season, a “reflection” over the past year is what a lot of us do. Things we are grateful for: family, friends or whatever was important to us. If we were lucky we would have realized that joy is not in things but is in us. Much has been said, written and […]

  • Obituary: Mary C. Graf

    Mary C. Graf, 72, Allouez, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, December 15, 2015. The daughter of the late Werner “Bud” and Martha (Ferron) Graf was born on December 4, 1943 in Sturgeon Bay. Mary worked as an OB/GYN Physician’s Assistant for 38 years. She was a member of St. Francis Xavier Cathedral. Mary loved to […]

  • Gibraltar Students Visit Pen Park Logging Operation

    Gibraltar Elementary School fourth graders and high school students visited a logging operation site in Peninsula State Park in early December. In addition to removing non-native Scotch Pine, loggers are selectively thinning a number of conifer plantations on several small parcels (two percent of total park acreage). Students learned how thinning improves forest health and […]

  • Letter to the Editor: Too Many Changes Motivated by Business

    I became a regular summer visitor to Door County beginning in 1959. Since 1991, my wife and I have made the peninsula our year-around home. My wife’s first visit to the area was with her family in 1939. Over the years, we have observed many changes in the fabric of the county, especially those that […]

  • Give Back By Donating Blood and Platelets This Holiday

    As millions of Americans make their final gift purchases this holiday season, the American Red Cross reminds eligible donors to give the most meaningful gift of all – life – by donating blood or platelets. Blood donations often decline during the holidays when busy schedules, inclement weather and seasonal illnesses can make it more difficult […]

  • Finish the Year with Seed Spreading Hikes at Crossroads

    On Christmas Eve at 2 pm, Crossroads at Big Creek will offer an indoor program, a lecture called “Greeting Card Birds.” Those attending will learn a little about the natural history of the birds depicted on greeting cards, and find out which species, based on the frequency of its depiction on greeting cards, will be […]

  • Door County Rubber Stamp & Scrapbook to Close Egg Harbor Location

    The Door County Rubber Stamp & Scrapbook Company, located in northern Door County for the past 26 years, has made the difficult decision to close their Egg Harbor retail location in the Main Street Shops in Egg Harbor. All aspects of the Egg Harbor business will move into the permanent Sturgeon Bay headquarters on Jefferson […]

  • Sturgeon Bay Florist Will Soon Be Healthy Way Market

    Sturgeon Bay Florist, owned and operated by Thomas and Sandra Blahnik, was recently acquired by Adam Goettelman. The real estate located at 142 S. Third Avenue in downtown Sturgeon Bay, will be the new location for Goettelman’s business Healthy Way Market. The transaction was brokered by Thomas Alberts, VR Lakes Business Group.  

  • Reps in the News: Dec. 23 – 30

    Governor Scott Walker The Governor and Major General Don Dunbar, adjutant general of the Wisconsin National Guard, released a holiday video message for our troops and veterans this holiday season. See it here: https://vimeo.com/149192374. Source: Walker press release Representative Reid Ribble Ribble released the following statement after voting with a majority of the House of […]

  • Photo Poll: What was the best part of your year?

    “Getting a new job and being able to promote beautiful Door County.” – Libby Spencer “Moving up here and getting to make all the yummy treats that everyone loves at Rowleys Bay.” – Angela Woodward “The birth of my second child.” – JP Kelnhofer “The best part of my year was our CD release concert […]

  • Cheers!: Kicking the Tires of A 72 Imperial

    After a long and taxing day, I relaxed once I got home by hopping in the driver’s seat of a 72 Imperial. Let me be more precise: A 72 Imperial Chocolate Cream Stout from the Breckenridge Brewery of, according to the screen-printed label, Denver, Colo. Creamy, rich darkness washes over me with each sip. The […]

  • High School Winter Athletics: Dec. 23, 2015

    SOUTHERN DOOR   Girls Basketball Dec. 28 & 29 – Tournament @ Cambridge, 2 pm Dec. 31 @ St. Mary Catholic, 1:30 pm   Wrestling Dec. 29 – Varsity Invitational @ UW-Oshkosh Kolf Sports Center Field House, 8 am   STURGEON BAY   Boys Basketball Dec. 29 & 30 – Invitational @ Sheboygan North, 6 […]

  • SantaLand Diaries, Dirty Deuce & More Weekend Plans

    Christmas may start the weekend but the celebration doesn’t end that night. Enjoy the remaining cheer of the holiday season by taking in a show, visiting a gallery, or enjoying the unseasonably warm weather with a winter hike at Crossroads. Saturday, Dec. 26 Visit A Gallery Many of the Door Peninsula’s art galleries have winter […]