In this issue
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Anglers Play Risky Game on Thin Ice
With ice rescues becoming more common in recent years, one can’t help but wonder if social media and online fishing report pages are playing a role. Anglers posting photos of early or late-season success – when ice conditions are sketchy at best – may be attracting less-experienced fishermen hungry for action. It’s one thing to […]
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Pluff Gets Assist From Late Father on Big Night
After the biggest night of her career, Gibraltar’s Payton Pluff was humbled. In the first quarter of a 54-42 victory against Peshtigo Dec. 20, Pluff took an entry pass on the right block, turned, and scored the 1,000th point of her career, sending a packed gym into a roar. “It feels so much greater than […]
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OBITUARY: Raymond J. “Slim” Mattie
Raymond J. “Slim” Mattie, 92, of Sturgeon Bay, died at his home Dec. 12, 2018. He was born May 14, 1926, in Sturgeon Bay to Arthur and Louise (Neimeyer) Mattie. On June 18, 1949, he married Joyce Chase in Sturgeon Bay, she preceded him in death Feb. 28, 2003. Slim served his country in the […]
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William “Bill” Reed, 82, of Sturgeon Bay, died at his home Dec. 18, 2018. He was born June 30, 1936, in Green Bay to Alfred and Marguerite (Engels) Reed. Bill graduated from East High School in Green Bay and then attended UW- Madison where he earned his bachelor’s degree. He married Jacquelyn Liedeka on Aug. […]
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OBITUARY: Nathaniel “Nate” Grosbeier
Nathaniel “Nate” Grosbeier, 25, of Brussels, died Dec. 18, 2018. He was born April 28, 1993 to Thomas and April (Servaes) Grosbeier. He graduated from Southern Door High School in 2011. Nate was currently employed as a carpenter for Buhr Construction. He loved wood working projects, loud trucks and working on his mustang. Nate also […]
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Gloria Ann Bley, 81, of West Jacksonport, died Friday, Dec. 14, 2018 at Good Samaritan Society-Scandia Village in Sister Bay. She was born Dec. 19, 1936 in Egg Harbor, the daughter of Milton F. and Marvel A. (Schultz) Haberli. Gloria initially attended Pleasant Grove Grade School in Egg Harbor and then Fairview Grade School in […]
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2018 Letter of the Year: I Was Wrong
Each year we get hundreds of letters to the editor submitted to our desks at the Pulse, but only a handful stand out from the stacks. This year none struck us more than this one from Tom Torinus about Egg Harbor’s Kress Pavilion. At a time when so many leaders and citizens would rather stubbornly […]
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Best of the Web: Our Top 20 Articles of 2018
The pulse of business and the pull of nostalgia drew readers to DoorCountyPulse.com in 2018, when news of old icons going up for sale and new businesses opening dominated the list of the top news and feature articles of the year. PODCAST: Myles Dannhausen Jr. and Andrew Kleidon discuss the top articles and why readers […]
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Gibraltar’s Payton Pluff Scores 1,000th Point [VIDEO]
Nearly five years to the day she lost her father to cancer, Payton Pluff had a moment with him on the court at Gibraltar High School Thursday night, scoring the 1,000th point of her career in a home game against Peshtigo. “It was kind of cooI to get it around that time because it made […]
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Top 20 Stories of the Year: Pulse Podcast
Andrew Kleidon and Myles Dannhausen wrap up 2018 with the Pulse Year in Review, and the 20 most read articles of the year on doorcountypulse.com. Can you guess which articles were the most popular of the year?
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Overheard & Shout Outs: Dec. 21, 2018
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? “A muskrat’s dying out there.” “Nobody’s getting out of this alive – that’s life.” “It’s like a book my grandma kept in […]
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Year in Review 2018: The Year in Sports
Introducing your state champion Sevastopol Pioneers football team. Yes, 2018 was the year when that sentence became possible to write, as the school that once lost every conference game for a decade took home the hardware in the inaugural Wisconsin eight-man football championship after a 38-30 victory against Luck. Nathan Stenzel led the way with […]
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Learn How to Address Discrimination at Educational Workshop
Have you ever witnessed an act of discrimination and not known what to do? The Bystander/Upstander workshop will prepare participants to intervene safely and appropriately when witnessing incidents of discrimination, harassment or harm. Participants will engage with real-life scenarios specifically customized for Door County to enable them to effectively identify and challenge negative narratives and […]
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Forestville Official Not Convinced About Millpond Drawdown
Earlier this month two county committees met in joint session and unanimously approved the idea of a two-year drawdown of the Forestville Millpond as the best solution for improving water quality and eliminating invasive species of both the plant and piscatory kind. The idea is to do a gradual drawdown, which in theory should compact […]
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Sheriff Responds to Robbery in Casco Dec. 17
Shortly after 8 pm on Dec. 17 the Kewaunee County Sheriff’s Department responded to a report of a robbery on County C near the intersection of County A in the Town of Casco. The victim stated that she was southbound on C when she saw a vehicle stopped in the northbound lane. She stopped to […]
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2018 Year in Review: Finding Perspective in a Year of Change
Greg Casperson in the funeral home his family has operated in Sister Bay for 97 years. Rita Willems in the dance hall of the Alpine Resort, where she held her first job 70 years ago. Bill Bertschinger, in the halls of the Alpine as well, where he still works 12-hour days barking orders and tending […]
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Door County Baseball Hall of Fame 2018 Inductees
The Door County Baseball Hall of Fame banquet was held Sept. 15 at the Lodge at Leathem Smith in Sturgeon Bay. The following players were inducted: Joe Hoffman, Institute; Adam Bretl, Kolberg; Jack Schartner, Egg Harbor; Steve Jilot, West Jacksonport; Jason Annis, Institute; Bill Kroll, Egg Harbor and Institute; Dave Neinas, Kolberg; Craig Bastian, Baileys […]
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Community Invited to Dec. 21 Service at Friends Community Church
The public is invited to attend The Longest Night: A Service of Light in the Midst of Darkness, Dec. 21, 6:30 pm, at Friends Community Church, 204 W. Maple St., Sturgeon Bay. Of all holidays, Christmas can be particularly difficult for those challenged by the loss of a loved one, broken relationships, health concerns or […]
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Northern Sky Theater presents Home for the Holidays, Dec. 28-31 at the Old Gibraltar Town Hall in Fish Creek. This is the theater company’s final Home for the Holidays performance in this location before it moves to its new Creative Center. Home for the Holidays will reunite with Northern Sky favorite Jeff Herbst and his friends […]
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DCMC CEO Gerald Worrick Retires After 31 Years
On Jan. 5, Door County Medical Center (DCMC) will bid farewell to current president and CEO Gerald (Jerry) Worrick, who retires after 31 years of service to the Door County and northeast Wisconsin community. DCMC Chief Administrative Officer Brian Stephens has been with DCMC for 13 years and will assume the role of CEO in […]
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Server of the Week: Jared Nicks at Walgreens
He seems so nice, I would value his advice. And his smile warms my heart, Makes me enjoy shopping at Walgreens. I’ll be there again tomorrow. I must need something, maybe a box of candy. – Submitted by Dorothy Lindsey
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Year in Review 2018: Changes Bring Drama to the Town of Gibraltar
It’s been a rough year for the Town of Gibraltar. Residents resisted a handful of projects, and the April town-board election drew fierce and funded skirmishes between candidates. Meanwhile, the town remains embroiled in litigation over its early 2018 decision to ban food trucks throughout Gibraltar. Modification of a 1970s-era ordinance effectively banned food trucks […]
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Year in Review 2018: The Year in Food
Door County has become a truly exciting place for food, drink and all things involved in the dining experience. Our seasonality means that some items are here today, gone tomorrow. Season to season, we see new restaurant concepts coming and going, moving and growing. Looking back at this past year, here are some noticeable trends. […]
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Clearing Class To Look at India Pale Ales
Paul Regnier recalls the bad old days when macrobreweries produced nothing but homogeneous American lagers, yet people still had allegiance to a beer brand. He said in the case of the crowd he rolled with as a young man, “You were either a Bud person or a Pabst person.” For the record, he was a […]
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Trivia: Who was the narrator in ‘How the Grinch Stole Christmas?’
Question: Who voiced the narrator/The Grinch in the 1966 movie, How the Grinch Stole Christmas? Answer: Boris Karloff
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DCHS Featured Pets: George and Kit
Meet George and Kit – a pair of 7-month-olds who look like typical tabbies, but their personalities are one-in-a-million. They are not a bonded pair – just roommates at the Wisconsin Humane Society (WHS) Door County Campus – so they are not required to go home together. They would be very happy to leave together, […]
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Year in Review 2018: Fits and Starts in Sturgeon Bay
A familiar pattern continued in Sturgeon Bay in 2018, with each step forward followed by a step backward. When the year began, the idea of preserving the much-discussed Teweles and Brandeis grain elevator appeared doomed. The common council awarded a demolition contract to Kiesow Enterprises, and it seemed the controversy – for better or worse […]
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Lakeside Community Church Schedules Christmas Eve Services
Lakeside Community Church will hold its Christmas Eve services at 4:30 and 6 pm. Childcare will be provided for children ages two and younger. Lakeside Community Church is located just off Highway 42 on County K on the south edge of Algoma. For more information, call 920.487.3906 or visit Lakeside-Church.com.
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State News: Dairy Struggles, Kimberly-Clark, Commercial Fishing
Record-Breaking Loss of Dairy Farms in 2018 Wisconsin lost 638 dairy farms in 2018, according to the latest data from the state Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection. That’s a 7.25 percent decline in the number of registered dairy herds, the biggest drop since records started in 2004. Bob Cropp, professor emeritus of agricultural […]
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By the Numbers: It’s a Wonderful Life
Director Frank Capra’s It’s a Wonderful Life was a financial flop upon its 1946 release but today is one of the most revered Christmas films, with its tale of redemption for suicidal George Bailey (Jimmy Stewart), who is given the chance to see his small town of Bedford Falls fall into disrepute without his influence. […]
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Jorns Named 8-Man Football Defensive Player of the Year
Jeremy Jorns of Sevastopol High School has been selected as the 2018 8-Man Football Defensive Player of the Year by WisSports.net. Jorns is a repeat finalist for the WSN 8-Man Defensive Player of the Year award. He’s also a repeat selection as the MONLPC-8 Defensive Player of the Year after recording 142 tackles, 11 tackles […]
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National Shrine of Our Lady of Good Help Announces Mass Schedule
The National Shrine of Our Lady of Good Help is ready to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ this Christmas and has announced the mass schedule and other holiday activities. The Christmas schedule includes the Novena for the Nativity of Our Lord (daily prayers are emailed to participants; sign up online; Dec. 17-25); Midnight Mass […]
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The New Year’s Eve FM 106.9 The Lodge Cherry Drop event is adding more fun activities to ring in the New Year. Watch a professional ice sculptor carve unique designs; ice skate with friends and family; see a fireworks show; get your picture taken at the Cherry Drop photo booth; buy Cherry Drop gear; listen […]
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Reps in the News: Kitchens Named Chairman of Environment Committee
Assemblyman Joel Kitchens Rep. Kitchens had already been meeting with conservation groups and the Department of Natural Resources for direction going forward in his newly appointed position as chair of the Assembly Committee on Environment for the 2019-20 legislative session: “I couldn’t be happier to be selected as the chair of the Assembly Environment Committee. […]
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Huehns Purchases Casperson Funeral Home
After 97 years in the family, Casperson Funeral Home has been sold to Huehns Funeral Home of Sturgeon Bay. The sale became official Oct. 1. Greg Casperson said it’s time to retire after 47 years in the business his grandfather started in 1921. “As the third generation of the Casperson family, it has been […]
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Year in Review: 2018 Was a Big Year for Beer, Wine and Spirits
The growth of the craft beer evolution/revolution appears to continue unabated, with some 6,600 craft beer makers in operation in these United States. The Brewers Association is expected to release 2018’s official number of craft breweries in the new year. This year marked the first national ad campaign from the Brewers Association, based on the […]
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Velvet Gentleman returns to Third Avenue Playhouse (TAP) for the holiday season. The play is a colorful journey into the mind and music of the witty and eccentric composer Erik Satie, whose music ranges from comically bizarre to hauntingly beautiful. Created and performed by TAP’s co-artistic director James Valcq, this multimedia theatre piece featuring Satie’s music, […]
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Letter to the Editor: Season Greetings
In this most Holy Season two important messages come to mind that we need to think about every now and then: “Love your neighbor as yourself” and “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” How different our world would be if we all lived by just those two statements. This coming […]
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Letter to the Editor: That Holiday Spirit
The holiday season brings about countless acts of kindness and generosity. My 93-year-old father was the recipient of such a gesture. No longer driving, he is homebound in his apartment at The Meadows of Scandia Village. Unable to be with dad on his birthday, I called his favorite restaurant, Al Johnson’s of Sister Bay, from […]
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Framed: Making Gingerbread Houses
Maggie, Amy and Char Sullivan, of Sturgeon Bay, decorate gingerbread houses during a United Way of Door County fundraiser on Nov. 30 at Hope Church in Sturgeon Bay. Photo by Len Villano.
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Letter to the Editor: Be Good Stewards of Our Land
I’ve just read the entirety of the December 2018 Newsletter of the Door County Environmental Council (DCEC). It contains a clear and detailed article about how Door County owners of property (residential, commercial, agricultural) can be effective stewards by their own practices to maintain and improve water quality, both in the great bay and mighty […]
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Christmas Eve Family Program at Crossroads at Big Creek
During the run-up to Christmas Day, Crossroads at Big Creek is offering a number of family programs and outdoor activities. Enjoy the winter solstice on Dec. 21 with a Health Hike at 4 pm. Walk through the solstice, and begin the slow progression of longer days. The hike will take about an hour. Hikers should […]
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Commentary: Spread the Word – Civility Always
In choosing to communicate civilly, we are acting for ourselves, but we are also setting an example because those with whom we interact will be observing civility. This is just a start: we can do a lot more to move civility forward as well. Most of us have experienced being treated uncivilly or have witnessed […]
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Groups Purchase Horseshoe Bay Farms
Horseshoe Bay Farms, Inc., a newly created historic preservation nonprofit organization, has funded and secured the purchase of 8.5 acres of original farm property, nine barn structures, and remaining historic farm artifacts. The group also spearheaded the efforts to move two historic cottages from the shoreline to the farm property in order to ensure their […]
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NWTC Innovation Center Offers Herb Workshop
The NWTC Learning and Innovation Center in Sister Bay is offering an Herbs for Healing and Sleep workshop on Jan. 9, 10 am-2 pm. Participants will learn to identify, grow, harvest and use a variety of herbs for personal wellness. This hands-on class will include making a salve for skin irritations, a calming room spray […]
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News From This Week’s Past: First Xmas Tree in History
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 Expositor December 19, 1873 THE FISHING INTEREST. We are informed that the fishermen at Fish Creek will use about 1000 gill nets, as soon as the […]
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Supporters Hopeful New Leadership Leads to New Marine Sanctuary
Will a change in leadership be enough to revive a proposal for the first National Marine Sanctuary in Lake Michigan? Supporters hope so, and some believe it should include Door and Kewaunee counties, where an incredible number of underwater shipwrecks are worth protecting and promoting. In February — after nearly a decade of work by […]
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Year in Review 2018: State and County Reflect National Trend of Electing More Women
Both Door County and the state of Wisconsin have followed the national trend of electing more women to public office. Perhaps one of the biggest wins for women in Door County came in November when voters elected Lt. Tammy Sternard to replace outgoing Sheriff Steve Delarwelle, rather than Delarwelle’s chief deputy, Patrick McCarty. According to […]
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Washington Island School Receives $41,010 Grant
The Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development (DWD) awarded the Washington Island School District a Wisconsin Fast Forward Teacher Training and Development Grant for $41,010. The grant will be used to train up to three teachers in the areas of general science, chemistry, physical science, biology, STEM, early childhood-kindergarten, and guidance and counseling education. “We could […]
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Jerry Kobishop Featured Musician at United Methodist Christmas Eve Service
Country singer/songwriter Jerry Kobishop will be featured as a guest musician on Christmas Eve at the United Methodist Church on Michigan Street in Sturgeon Bay. He will sing “O Holy Night” in the style of John Berry at the 7 pm service. The public is welcome to attend. Kobishop wrote his 2016 song “If Tear […]
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Washington Island Police Receive Grant for New Laptop
The Washington Island Police Department has received a Crime Prevention Sustainability Grant of $1,000 to assist in purchasing a laptop computer for one of its patrol vehicles. The grant from the Door County Community Foundation allowed the Washington Island Police Department to replace a 10-year-old laptop computer in one of its patrol vehicles. These laptop […]
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Year in Review 2018: Development in Sister Bay
Now that Sister Bay’s waterfront and highway projects are safely in the rearview mirror, the biggest issues in the village center on questions about what type of developments are allowed to capitalize on the massive investments in public improvements. No community has been hotter than Sister Bay the last three years, with an influx of […]
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Three Gills Rock Shorefront Planning Meetings on Jan. 14
The Gills Rock Waterfront Access Ad Hoc Committee will host three meetings at NWTC, Sister Bay on Jan. 14. They will be at 10 am, 1 pm and 7 pm and will be for information gathering only. If you would like to see this property used for a specific purpose please attend one of these […]
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Year in Review 2018: Elections, Elections and More Elections!
Voters had plenty of opportunities to help shape the future of their communities, regions and state in 2018. The election season officially began in late December 2017 when 1st District Sen. Frank Lasee stepped down from the elected position to accept a post in Gov. Scott Walker’s administration. Rather than having a successor elected in […]
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High School Sports Schedule: Dec. 21 – 28
SEVASTOPOL Boys Basketball Dec. 21 @ Sturgeon Bay, 7:30 pm Dec. 27 & 28 @ Lena, 5 pm SOUTHERN DOOR Boys Basketball Dec. 28 vs. Sheboygan Falls, 7:30 pm Girls Basketball Dec. 27 & 28 @ Oostburg, TBD Wrestling Dec. 28 – Invitational @ UW-Oshkosh’s Kolf Sports Center, 9:30 am STURGEON BAY Boys […]
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Manners Matter: Naughty or Nice List?
Dear Mary Pat, My husband has used Santa’s naughty list as a motivation for better behavior from our three kids since they were toddlers. Now that they are a little older, he upped the ante and started threatening to throw presents in the fireplace if our kids don’t do as they are told. They don’t […]
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Winter Brings a Close to Woodcarver’s Studio
This year woodcarver David Frykman has been busy carving the reclaimed wood from the former Eagle Tower that stood in Peninsula State Park from the 1930s until 2015. Nature photographer Heather Frykman visited David’s workshop and captured pictures as he created a few more items, such as cardinal and eagle ornaments. Peninsula State Park’s Eagle […]
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Small Forest Christmas Concert
Small Forest (Jeanne Kuhns, Marybeth Mattson and Patrick Palmer) continue their Christmas concert tradition — with special guest George Sawyn — Dec. 21, 7 pm at Base Camp. Base Camp owner Joel Kersabet’s treats and drinks will accompany this evening of contemporary, classic, sing-along and original holiday music. Songs include “You’re a Mean One, Mr. […]
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Newly Fired Pottery and Extended Holiday Hours
Ellison Bay Pottery has fresh goblets, mugs and bowls from the final firing of 2018 now available at the gallery. John Dietrich and Diane McNeil are opening the gallery daily from noon to 4 pm until Dec 31, but it will be closed for Christmas. Gift cards are available online at ellisonbaypotterystudios.com.
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On Dec. 27, 7 pm, the Door Community Auditorium will present its sixth annual Play It Forward concert, bringing together Door County musicians to benefit a worthy cause. Through these performers’ donated time, as well as donations collected at the concert, Play It Forward celebrates the warmth and light of the holiday season. This year, […]
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The Egg Harbor Historical Society will begin its winter bingo schedule on Dec. 29 at the Kress Pavilion. Doors will open at 9 am, and bingo will start at 10 am. Bingo play will be wrapped up by noon. Morning snacks and beverages will be available for purchase. The remaining winter Saturday-morning schedule is Jan. […]
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Door County Artists Featured in Sharper Edges
Sharper Edges: Women Working on the Edge of Glass at the Bergstrom-Mahler Museum of Glass features the work of female artists exploring social issues. Incorporated into glass sculpture, the women express distinct viewpoints on politics, gender biases, stereotypes, consumerism and the environment. Women are a formidable force in the growth of contemporary studio glass despite […]
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By Carolyn Kane Where does Santa Claus go when he takes a summer vacation? How many snowflakes does it take to make a snowfall? How does a dinosaur celebrate Christmas? And why does Santa exclaim “Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night” after making a delivery? A curious reader can find the […]
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Bestseller List: Dec. 21, 2018
HARDCOVER FICTION 1. Kingdom of the Blind by Louise Penny 2. Unsheltered by Barbara Kingsolver 3. Virgil Wander by Leif Enger 4. There There by Tommy Orange 5. The Travelling Cat Chronicles by Hiro Arikawa HARDCOVER NONFICTION 1. Becoming by Michelle Obama 2. Educated by Tara Westover 3. Leadership: In Turbulent Times by Doris Kearns […]
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Base Camp Features Art by Don Howard
Base Camp reopened for the winter on Dec. 14, with the works of Don Howard on display. Howard is a versatile artist who works in many media, often combining them to achieve unique effects. His watercolors capture the warmth of Door County and the Midwest. Much of his work is created from photographs he has […]
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The sixth season of Wisconsin Life on Wisconsin Public Television (WPT) offers plenty to get excited about. Host Angela Fitzgerald connects viewers with what makes Wisconsin such a great place to live in and explore. The Door County Sled Dogs are featured in an all-new episode of Wisconsin Life, “Running Strong,” which originally aired Dec. […]
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Meadows Gallery Opens Holiday Show
The Meadows Art Gallery is once again hosting its holiday show, Right Off the Wall. This show offers Door County artists’ work as special holiday gift ideas. The featured artists are offering affordable art that is ready for immediate sale. Traditional 2-D and 3-D pieces from paintings to jewelry, as well as original art and […]
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City Settles with Hotel Developer, Hires Waterfront Consultant
In a 5-2 vote that echoed a similar vote on Dec. 4, the Sturgeon Bay Common Council overrode Mayor Thad Birmingham’s veto of a $360,000 payment to developer Bob Papke for his “good faith” effort to build a hotel on the west side waterfront. “In 2014 the City of Sturgeon Bay asked me to build […]
