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Peninsula Pulse December 30, 2020 – January 8, 2021

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In this issue

  • This Old Store: Kerscher’s Foodland’s 80-Year Legacy

    “There was a store on almost every corner,” Jim Kerscher said, “but every family was loyal to just one.” Friday nights were the busiest. People got their paychecks that day and went in to stock up for the week. From 1941 to 1958, Lawrence and Loretta Kerscher operated Kerscher’s Market at 368 Jefferson St. in […]

  • Little Lake Restoration Project Remains Stalled: Donations needed for dredging phase

    The wait continues for the second phase of the Little Lake cleanup project in Sturgeon Bay’s Sunset Park. Meanwhile, Lake Michigan’s high water levels have seeped in during the past two years, deepening the normally shallow water body and helping to mitigate water-quality issues. “I’ve heard over the years, ‘The solution to pollution is dilution,’” […]

  • Proper Christmas Tree and Wreath Disposal Protects the Environment: Door County Invasive Species Team offers tips

    The 2020 holiday season is wrapping up, and as the decorations come down, many people are left wondering what to do with their live wreaths and trees.  Wisconsin produces more than 1.8 million Christmas trees and 600,000 wreaths annually, helping to supply more than 25 million American households with real Christmas trees, and millions of […]

  • Letter to the Editor: Let’s Hope This Was All a Nightmarish Anomaly

    How does one confuse citizens, reinforce biases, dilute truth and, ultimately, attempt to undermine the established norms of democratic values and behavior – with the complicit support of elected enablers/“leaders”? Apparently, it’s remarkably simple. Develop a tactical playbook and repeatedly accuse political rivals of theft, cowardice, cheating, lying, or being really, really sleepy, senile, stupid, […]

  • Letter to the Editor: Where Were You over the Holidays?

    The president was at Mar-a-Lago playing golf. Vice President Pence was at a fancy resort in Vail. The secretary of the treasury was at his luxurious rental property in Mexico.  Yet at the end of 2020, 19.5 million Americans remained on unemployment; 341,000 (and growing) Americans had died from COVID-19; and of the 40 million […]

  • Letter to the Editor: Political Aspirations Put before Democracy

    I’m embarrassed to admit I’m a lifetime Republican. The first time I was eligible to vote, I voted for Barry Goldwater, which tells you my political leanings.  Shame on the charade the Republicans are putting on, putting their political aspirations above democracy. Hello?! The election is over, and T**** lost. That’s nothing new. In 2016, […]

  • Letter to the Editor: Lights over the Darkness

    Thank you, community of Sister Bay (churches, schools, businesses, neighbors and friends).  Two small words to convey our deep feelings of gratitude for your outpouring of support and concern for the residents of Scandia Village, its staff and administrators.  You are truly the “light over the darkness.” We appreciate the church services, beautiful poinsettias in […]

  • Letter to the Editor: Rep. Gallagher: Let Them (Us) Eat Cake

    On Dec. 28, Rep. Mike Gallagher (R) gave what might be his final Christmas present to his constituents in Wisconsin Congressional District 8: He voted “nay” on the Caring for Americans with Supplemental Help (CASH) Act (HR 9051). This measure would provide $2,000 of COVID-19 economic relief to each eligible adult in his district. Gallagher […]

  • Perspective: Looking Back to Find Our Way Forward

    The sun is coming up again today. I know it always does, but at this time of year it is not always visible. The sun is often clouded over, leaving us with long, gray days. It helps, during these rather tumultuous times, to see those rays of light shine through the barren branches.  We are […]

  • Pulse of Philanthropy: Generosity, the Next Beauty Trend

    There’s something wonderfully lyrical about the idea that beauty and generosity are inherently linked. Perhaps the classical Greek poet Sappho said it best: “He who is fair to look upon is good, and he who is good will soon be fair also.” Numerous studies have demonstrated that giving and perceived attractiveness are intertwined, yet for […]

  • Server of the Week: Tracey Steebs at Kick Ash Coffee

    Maybe you’ve seen her in the shop, Maybe you’ve seen her online, If you haven’t met her at all yet, just pop In to Kick Ash for some coffee so fine! Tuesdays with Tracey, she’s on social media, Staying connected with you – have no fears. As retail manager, she’s always there to greet ya, And […]

  • Door County Writes: Writing through This Holiday Season 2020

    Nonfiction by Albert DeGenova So, this is the 2020 holiday season in the year of COVID-19. The season of sentimentality. I’ve been fumbling and stumbling for too long now, day to day, under a fog of sadness and fear … exhausted (2020 has been a rough year).  But then, reading in my favorite chair next […]

  • A Girl in the Woods: The forest-inspired creations of Jodi Rose

    In a way, Jodi Rose spent 10 years working on the life-sized, bejeweled dress titled “Timberella 3,” even though she only started actually working on it in 2018. Completing the art piece required a journey that began with her departure from Door County, where she had been an active part of the Door County art […]

  • Door to Nature: Bird Beaks

    How would you survive if you had to pick up everything you wanted to eat by grabbing it with your mouth? For most birds, that’s their way of getting nourishment, so their beak is a vital part of their existence. The size and shape of a beak varies dramatically with each species, depending on what […]

  • Native Plants Are for the Birds

    by Coggin Heeringa, Wild Ones of the Door Peninsula A flash of red caught my eye. The bird near the feeding station was too small to be a cardinal, but not a purple finch either. A closer look revealed not one, but a whole flock of frenetically feeding common redpolls. But they weren’t at the […]

  • Wild Things: More Than 7,000 Deer Taken from Kewaunee/Door Peninsula in 2020

    Kewaunee and Door county hunters have trimmed more than 7,000 whitetails from the peninsula this season, and they’re not finished yet. The antlerless-only firearm deer “holiday hunt” runs through New Year’s Day, and the bow and crossbow deer season has been extended through Jan. 31. All hunters – except those taking part in a late Canada […]

  • Pitching In: Residents and Businesses Helping Neighbors in Need

    Amber Strege As a member of the Sister Bay/Liberty Grove Fire Department, Amber Strege wanted to pitch in to the department’s efforts to help the community through the Emergency Support Coalition. But when the Safer at Home order was lifted this spring, her time was dedicated to her dog-grooming business as customers flocked to make […]

  • Manners Matter: Thank-Yous Really Matter

    Dear Mary Pat, I have certain young family members (nieces and nephews) to whom I send carefully chosen presents every year, and every year, it’s like shipping the gifts to a black hole – I never hear how they liked the gifts or receive even a simple thank-you. It feels as though I’ve missed the […]

  • SUDS WITH SOPHIE: A Rare Treat: Dark Sour Beers

    If you’ve read any of my past articles, it’s probably become quite clear how much I love the sour revolution that’s taking place in today’s craft beer world. Sour beers – for those who are unfamiliar with the style – are made by introducing some sort of brewing bacterium into the beer to create tart […]

  • Sister Bay Ice Rink Now Open

    The Teresa K. Highlander Community Ice Rink in Sister Bay opened over the Christmas holiday and was filled with skaters. The rink will be open this winter as weather allows. When it’s cold enough to make ice, manager Cody Bolton expects to have the rink open each day, with limited access to the warming house […]

  • First Snow Causes Non-injury Accident

    The season’s first few inches of accumulated snowfall came Sunday afternoon – and with it, snow-covered, slippery road conditions.  The Ephraim Fire Department was dispatched Sunday at 3:45 pm, just after the snow began to fall heavily, to the site of this single-vehicle accident on Highway 42 in Ephraim. Fire Chief Justin MacDonald said the driver […]

  • Liberty Grove Paper Arts Offering January Classes

    Liberty Grove Paper Arts (libertygrovepaperarts.com) will offer a Basic Treasure Box class Jan. 9, 10 am – 12:30 pm. This class is perfect if you have never made a covered book board box before, would like to review the basics of paper cartonnage, or would simply enjoy a morning of creating a lovely piece of […]

  • Ellison Bay Pottery To Begin Winter Hours

    Ellison Bay Pottery will be open daily, 11 am – 4 pm, until the end of the year, when it will switch over to winter hours: Friday and Saturday, 11 am – 4 pm. The gallery will close for Christmas and New Year’s. Curbside pickup is always available, and masks are required.

  • Master Gardeners Recommend Virtual Presentations

    As all things green continue their winter slumber, gardeners can at least think green with these virtual gardening recommendations from the Door County Master Gardeners Association: • The Winter Interest Garden Tour (http://youtube.com/watch?v=51CTObMvRuc&feature=youtu.be) is a delightful virtual tour of a winter garden. It’s in Oregon, but the information and many of the plants are applicable to […]

  • DCMM Presentation: Circumnavigating Peninsula in a Kayak

    Join Mike McCarthy on Jan. 7, 7 pm, for his Door County Maritime Museum (DCMM) Speaker Series virtual presentation, during which he’ll share tales of his quest to circumnavigate the Northern Door peninsula in his sit-on-top pedal kayak. The presentation will also be available on DCMM’s YouTube channel and Facebook page afterward.​​​​​​​ The presentation will […]

  • Junction Center Yoga to Offer Classes via Zoom

    Junction Center Yoga Studio will offer live yoga classes via Zoom: Restorative Yoga on Tuesdays, 10-11:15 am; Level 1 Yoga on Wednesdays, 9-10:15 am; and Level 2 Yoga on Saturdays, 9-10:30 am.  Access the classes at momoyoga.com; then attend from the safety and comfort of your home. Momoyoga enables you to book and cancel your […]

  • Obituary: Wayne Albert Schley

    May 10, 1947 ~ December 16, 2020 Wayne Albert Schley, 73, of the Village of Pound, died on Wednesday, December 16, 2020 at St. Vincent Hospital in Green Bay. He was born May 10, 1947 in Sturgeon Bay, son of the late Albert and Mayburn (Van Dreese) Schley. Wayne worked at Peterson Builders for many […]

  • Obituary: John Edward Krebsbach

    September 1, 1943 ~ December 25, 2020 John Edward Krebsbach, 77, of Sturgeon Bay, died unexpectedly at home. He was born September 1, 1943 in Fond du Lac, son of the late Aloysius Peter and Dorothy Lucy (Mannenbach) Krebsbach. After graduating from St. Mary Springs Academy, he attended Spencerian Business College. John then began his […]

  • Obituary: Joan (Schroeder) Vieau

    May 22, 1939 ~ December 23, 2020 Joan H. (Schroeder) Vieau, 81, of Green Bay, died on December 23, 2020, in Green Bay, WI.  She was born in Nahma, Michigan to Chester and Juliana (Turek) Pollock on May 22, 1939.  She grew up in Sturgeon Bay where she loved swimming and ice skating.  She attended […]

  • Obituary: Larry R. Brunette

    January 14, 1951 ~ December 22, 2020 Larry Raymond Brunette, 69, of Maplewood, died late Tuesday night, December 22, 2020. He was born January 14, 1951 in Sturgeon Bay, the son of Ambrose Charles Brunette and Bernice (Malvitz) Brunette. Larry grew up on the family homestead and farm between Gregorville and Rio Creek in the […]

  • Antibody Treatment Available at Door County Medical Center

    Press Release  Investigational antibody treatment medications bamlanivimab, a monoclonal antibody; and casirivimab and imdevimab, a polyclonal antibody, are now available at Door County Medical Center for the treatment of SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus disease (COVID-19). The drugs have received an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).  Receiving bamlanivimab or casirivimab and imdevimab […]

  • Egg Harbor Moves to Change On-street Parking Ordinance

    As coronavirus vaccines were rolling out in record time, the Village of Egg Harbor inched forward on updating parking regulations several years into evaluating the situation. The Village’s Plan Commission forwarded two specific recommendations to the board of trustees. The first was to eliminate the rule that allows businesses to count all on-street parking within […]

  • Obituary: Edith E. Goldman

    December 24, 1934 ~ December 19, 2020 Edith E. Goldman, 85 years, of Sturgeon Bay, died Saturday, December 19, 2020 while residing at Anna’s in Sturgeon Bay. She was born December 24, 1934 in Portland, Oregon the daughter of the late Sherman and Goldie (Knieriem) Joy. She had worked in the health care field providing […]

  • Obituary: Roger Herbert Schinktgen

    September 19, 1942 ~ December 21, 2020 Roger Herbert Schinktgen, age 78, died of a very aggressive form of Stage IV Prostate Cancer on Monday, December 21, 2020, at home surrounded by family with support from Unity Hospice and Dr. Paul Maes. He was born on September 19, 1942 in Sturgeon Bay to John and […]

  • Obituary: Blake W. Penchoff

    January 24, 1964 ~ December 17, 2020 Blake W. Penchoff, 56, of Oconto died December 17, 2020.  He was born January 24, 1964 in Chicago to Dave and Judith (Johnson) (Pichette) Penchoff. Blake enjoyed spending time playing music with his guitar and drawing. Blake will be missed greatly by his children; daughters, Rachel (Donnie) Riesen, Angela […]

  • Obituary: Susan H. Axelrod

    September 23, 1947 ~ December 17, 2020 Madison and Egg Harbor – Susan H. Axelrod, age 73, died peacefully on Thursday, December 17, 2020, after a courageous battle with pancreatic cancer, with her husband and children by her side.  Susan was born on September 23, 1947 in Somerville, New Jersey to Frank and Johanna Hirschman. On […]