Navigation

Peninsula Pulse February 1-8, 2019

In this issue

  • Kewaunee Snowmobile Sections Open

    Kewaunee County Promotions and Recreation Department reports that all four snowmobile sections in Kewaunee County are open. Trails are reported to be in fair-poor condition due to early-season conditions. In addition, the Black Ash Swamp north of Algoma remains closed at this time. Riders should use caution because trail conditions may be less than ideal […]

  • Big Bundle Up Campaign Collects 21,452 Winter Items

    The ninth annual Big Bundle Up campaign concluded earlier this month. The Door County tourism industry and local community worked together to collect 937 winter clothing items. The Wisconsin Department of Tourism led the campaign, and the Door County Visitor Bureau (DCVB) organized it locally. The DCVB Welcome Center – along with community visitor centers […]

  • Bills to Watch: Arts in School, Citizens United, CAFO Permits

    LRB-1258 This bill, authored by Rep. Joel Kitchens, would require the Department of Public Instruction to report data on the percentage of students in each school who participate in music, dance, drama or the visual arts. The bill proposal follows findings of a study in La Crosse that found students who participated in music earned […]

  • News From This Week’s Past: Cherry Birds and Smoking Cars

    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 January 28, 1876 PROBABLY LOST:  Mr. Simonson and son residing at the Door, started from Washington Island on Sunday, Jan. 9, in a skiff to cross […]

  • DNR Secretary Cole Adds to Leadership Team

    Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Secretary Preston Cole announced additional appointments to his leadership team. Todd Ambs has been named DNR assistant deputy secretary. He served as DNR Water Division administrator from 2003 to 2010 and has worked in the environmental-policy field for more than 35 years, most recently as the director of Healing Our […]

  • Cold Enough for You? Remembering Winters Past

    After a foot or so of snow was dumped on us Monday, we braced for a cold wave the like of which, we were told, hadn’t been seen in a generation. How soon we forget the long, bleak winter of 2013-14. That was the winter when the term “polar vortex” entered the lexicon. That winter […]

  • Door to Nature: Buteos of Door County

    I occasionally see a red-tailed hawk sitting on a power pole or on the electric wires along Highway 42 about a mile north of Carlsville. These birds used to be more plentiful, as were other large hawks, but their numbers have decreased during the past few decades. The red-tail is the most common open-country hawk, […]

  • Soo Locks Close to Undergo Planned Repairs

    The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Detroit District announced the Soo Locks in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, are closed to navigation until March 25. The Corps will use this time to perform critical maintenance on the lock structures. “The Soo Locks are critical to the Great Lakes Navigation System, and we have a tremendous team […]

  • Featured Pet, Door County Humane Society

    DCHS Featured Pet: Husky

    Husky was so excited for extra attention that he would barely hold still for a picture. Once he realized it was a photo shoot, he started modeling like a pro. Husky was brought in as a stray, so the Wisconsin Humane Society (WHS) doesn’t know much about his past. After getting to know him a […]

  • Financial Coffee Club for Women Meeting Feb. 13

    Tara Pierre, a local Edward Jones financial adviser, will host a coffee club for women Feb. 13, 8 am, at GLAS Coffeehouse, 67 E. Maple, Sturgeon Bay. She will provide education on financial-market topics. Seating may be limited, so reserve a spot by calling Pierre at 920.746.0781.

  • DCEDC’S Work Plan Focused on Sustainability

    by Jim Schuessler, DCEDC Executive Director The Door County Economic Development Corporation (DCEDC) is very excited about Door County’s future. Local unemployment is at an all-time low. Retail sales are at an all-time high. Median household income is growing.Still, there are headwinds: The county’s population has declined 2.7 percent in the past 15 years, and […]

  • Tanum Forest Church Hosts Healing from Loss Support Group

    Bay View Lutheran Church and Tanum Forest Lutheran Church will host a Healing from Loss grief support group for men starting Feb. 5 and continuing every first Tuesday of the month. All men in the community are invited to hear from experts and others who are also walking a journey of grief. Attendees are welcome […]

  • Len Villano, Fishing Shed, Door County, fishing, Door County photography

    Len’s Pick of the Week: Old Fishing Shed

    For my pic of the week I chose this photo of an old fishing shed. Door County is known for its fishing history and communities, which are unfortunately disappearing. I feel this image captures that fading past. Winter is sometimes thought of as a less-welcome season that marks the end of summer, when trees and […]

  • Liberty Grove Hosting Economic Development Session Feb. 13

    In conjunction with the Door County Economic Development Corporation (DCEDC), the Town of Liberty Grove will host an economic-development session at the Liberty Grove Town Hall on Feb. 13 from 9 am to 12 pm. The purpose is to gather information from town residents and businesspeople regarding how to proceed with development in the town. […]

  • 106.9 The Lodge Contends for Wisconsin’s Best Radio Station

    Found in Wisconsin has put FM 106.9 The Lodge in the running for Wisconsin’s best radio station. Broadcasting from Ephraim for more than 10 years, The Lodge is competing in a field of 30 stations across the state. Voting will continue through February, with the winner announced in March. Visit FoundInWisconsin.com to vote.

  • Great Waffle Breakfast Held Feb. 2

    Long overdue for a great breakfast? Gather with the staff and volunteers of The Ridges for the 11th annual Great Waffle Breakfast on Feb. 2, 9-11 am, at Baileys Harbor Town Hall. Enjoy your fill of waffles – in all shapes and sizes – topped with Door County maple syrup, homemade cherry topping and whipped […]

  • FFA Alumni

    FFA Alumni Wine & Cheese Gala Fundraiser, March 8

    Tickets for the 2019 Door County Wine and Cheese Gala – an elegant, annual favorite presented by the Southern Door FFA Alumni – are now on sale. The gala will be held March 8, 6-9 pm, at Mr. G’s Logan Creek Grille, 5890 Hwy 57 in Sturgeon Bay. Attendees will enjoy wine from six award-winning […]

  • Manners Matter: Dreaming of Disney

    Dear Mary Pat, After four years of saving, this is the year that we were finally going to take our kids to Disney World during spring break. Unfortunately, my wife’s hours got indefinitely reduced to one day a week instead of five days. This is really going to hit on our regular day-to-day budget. The […]

  • Reps in the News: Gov. Evers Fights Lame-duck Laws with Private Lawyer

    Governor Tony Evers Democratic Gov. Tony Evers will use a private lawyer to represent him in a lawsuit that seeks to overturn all of the laws passed by Republicans in December’s lame-duck session. Evers will be represented by the firm of Lester Pines, a Madison attorney who frequently works for Democrats in high-profile cases. Evers’ […]

  • Thorp House Inn & Cottages Under New Ownership

    Matt and Darlene Ranzau are the new owners of Thorp House Inn & Cottages in Fish Creek. After Matt and Darlene married in 1993, they honeymooned at the Thorp House Inn & Cottages B&B, a registered historical property in Fish Creek. Fast forward 24 years. Matt wanted to surprise Darlene for their upcoming 25th wedding […]

  • St. Luke’s Donates to Adopt a Soldier Door County

    In light of the reality that Coast Guard members and retirees were not being paid during the partial federal government shutdown, the Outreach Ministry at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Sister Bay purchased more than $1,000 worth of gift cards to distribute through Adopt a Soldier Door County. The church is at 2336 Canterbury Lane, […]

  • Online Applications Open Feb. 4 for Wisconsin Public School Enrollment

    Parents and guardians can apply to send their children to any public school in the state through the Wisconsin Public School Open Enrollment Program. The online-application period for the 2019-20 school year opens Feb. 4 and runs through April 30. Applications will be available on the Department of Public Instruction (DPI) website. Traditionally, children in […]

  • Kress Pavilion Screens Documentary on Stress

    A free public screening of Resilience will be held Feb. 7, 5-8 pm at the Kress Pavilion in Egg Harbor. The documentary film Resilience: The Biology of Stress and the Science of Hope chronicles the promising beginnings of a national movement to prevent such childhood trauma, treat toxic stress and greatly improve the health of […]

  • Municipal Meetings: Feb. 1 – 7

    DOOR COUNTY City of Sturgeon Bay:  The common council meets at 7 pm Feb. 5. County of Door:  The Highway Safety Commission meets at 9 am Feb. 7. Town of Gibraltar:  The town board meets at 7 pm Feb. 6. Town of Jacksonport:  The Parks Committee meets at 7 pm Feb. 4. Town of Sturgeon […]

  • Commentary: An Open Appeal to All Elected Officials

    by Steven W. Stanger “At a time like this, scorching irony, not convincing argument, is needed. O! Had I the ability, and could I reach the nation’s ear, I would today, pour out a fiery stream of biting ridicule, blasting reproach, withering sarcasm, and stern rebuke. For it is not light that is needed, but […]

  • Openings and Closings: Winter 2019

    Door County’s winter months aren’t as slow as they once were, especially when it comes to businesses opening and closing. Several big moves and openings have been announced or completed, or are underway as of January, but unfortunately, there are a few closings as well. November Get Real Cafe, which had shut down its Madison […]

  • Technological Revolution: Growth at Quantum PC

    by Tom Groenfeldt Three years ago, Quantum PC consisted of Nathan Drager running a personal-computing shop on Sturgeon Bay’s Kentucky Street from 7 am to 9 pm – single-handedly for the first month. Today it has a staff of 11, three fully equipped contractor vans with ladders strapped on top and a sister company called […]

  • American Legion Post 527 Meeting Feb. 5 Cancelled

    There will be no regular meeting of Billy Weiss American Legion Post 527 on Feb. 5. The next scheduled meeting will be March 5 at 6 pm at the Sister Bay Village Hall.

  • Server of the Week, Door County, Artists Guild

    Server of the Week: Ernest Beutel

    Good with Artists Guild customers young and old, It’s clear Ernest Beutel is an educator at heart without being told. Sharing his knowledge is a great part of his job, Helping people create works that are more than mere blobs. As an artist, he knows his way around canvases and acrylics.His abstract representational works are […]

  • Peninsula Preschool Trivia Returns Feb. 28

    Peninsula Preschool is gearing up for another installment in a long tradition: its Trivia Night. The 16th annual event will be held Feb. 28 at Alexander’s in Fish Creek. Doors open at 5:30 pm, and trivia begins at 6:30 pm. Twenty-four teams of six compete in 10 rounds of questions. The cost of $35 per […]

  • Room-Tax Collections Up 2 Percent in November

    Countywide room-tax collections in November increased 2 percent compared to last year, according to a preliminary report from the Door County Tourism Zone Commission. The absolute growth in dollars was just $1,908, but the off-season growth signals a consistent trend of gains through 2018. The additional revenue in November was primarily due to an increase […]

  • Kiwanis Club of Northern Door Disbands After 49 Years

    When French diplomat Alexis de Tocqueville made a nine-month tour of America in 1831, he marveled at the robust civic organizations he found doing much good work here. As he wrote in his resulting book, Democracy in America, “Americans use associations to give fêtes, to found seminaries, to build inns, to raise churches, to distribute […]

  • Walgreens Wins Sister Bay Shopko Pharmacy at Auction

    The Sister Bay Shopko pharmacy was one of 63 Shopko pharmacies that Walgreens won at auction as the Green Bay-based retailer gets out of the pharmacy business in a financial restructuring. The company had 120 pharmacies on the auction block. CVS, Rite Aid and grocers Albertsons and Kroger were among other successful bidders. “Prescription records […]

  • DAHI Meets Every Month

    Door Advocates for Hearing Impaired (DAHI) will meet on the fourth Wednesday of each month at 10:30 am at the Aging & Disability Resource Center (ADRC), 916 N. 14th Ave., Sturgeon Bay. DAHI is working to form a new chapter of Hearing Loss Association of America (HLAA) in Door County. HLAA provides assistance and resources […]

  • Seedings Set for Feb. 17 Broomball Tournament

    The seedings for the annual Hilander Cup Tournament are set. Alexander’s went undefeated on the season to earn the top seed, while defending champion Johnson Park is the number 2 seed. The Hilander Cup Tournament takes place Sunday, Feb. 17, with food and beverages provided by Husby’s, Door County Brewing Co., Casey’s, Boathouse on the […]

  • Southern Tier Brewing, Cheers, Jim Lundstrom, Beer, beer review, Door County

    Cheers!: Overdosing on Cinnamon Roll

    Disappointed last night by something calling itself a Scotch ale, tonight – an impossibly cold and rainy night – I reached deep into the magic fridge and hoped I would have better luck. And struck black gold in the form of a bottle of beer from Southern Tier Brewing of Lakewood, N.Y. This is a […]

  • Overheard and Shout Outs: Feb. 1, 2019

    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? “You have to work really hard to be kicked out of Walmart.” “The pod hole runneth dry.” “Is damp better than moist?” […]

  • Queen of Families Prayer Series Held at National Shrine of Our Lady of Good Help

    Families will be the focus of nine days of prayer and reflection – Feb. 1-9 – at the National Shrine of Our Lady of Good Help in Champion. The Novena to Our Lady of Good Help: Queen of Families is a prayer series with daily themes that fosters reflection on the importance of family in […]

  • Commentary: A Community Worth Fighting For

    I remember June 13, 2015, very clearly. It was a typically beautiful Saturday in Door County. The sun was shining; people were smiling; and seemingly all was right with the world. I was standing in front of a party tent, looking out over the crowd, waiting to be invited to the microphone to speak. We […]

  • Trivia: Where’s the coldest place in the universe?

    Question: Where’s the coldest place in the universe? Answer: The Boomerang Nebula, where the temperature is -458 Fahrenheit.

  • Southern Door Blood Drive Feb. 15

    The Southern Door Student Council and the American Red Cross are sponsoring a blood drive on Feb. 15 in the high school gym from 9 am to 2 pm. Anyone who is at least 17 years of age (or is 16 with parental permission), weighs at least 110 pounds and is in good health may […]

  • Salvation Army, Red Kettle Campaign, Door County, bell ringers, bell ringing

    Salvation Army Has Record-setting 2018 Red Kettle Campaign

    The Salvation Army of Door County had a record-setting 2018 Red Kettle Christmas campaign thanks to the hard work and generosity of the community. The donation total surpassed the $70,000 milestone, which is about a 16-percent increase over 2017. Of the total, $9,000 was collected in Northern Door. Since the Northern Door Kiwanis Club helped […]

  • Egg Harbor Historical Society Presents on “Earliest Settlements”

    The Egg Harbor Historical Society will present its program “Earliest Settlements” Feb. 4 at 1 pm at the Kress Pavilion in Egg Harbor. Interesting and even humorous, it will cover the shoreline and inland settlements from the southern county line to the northern islands – about 52 settlements total. In 1835, Increase Claflin was listed […]

  • Lasagna, Jim Lundstrom, Door County, recipe, zoodle, zucchini noodle

    Enjoying Lasagna Without the Carbs

    After dropping carbohydrates from my diet (except for beer, which I have to drink for work), I also dropped a bunch of weight, going from a size 36 trouser waist to a 30. I occasionally miss the idea of a deep-dish pizza or a sub sandwich or even a slice of buttered toast with morning […]

  • Paula Englebert Earns Board of Realtors Award

    The Door County Board of Realtors awarded its Affiliate of the Year honor to Paula Englebert in 2018. Susan May, a sales associate for ERA Starr Realty, presented the award at the January membership meeting. “Paula has an incredible amount of energy, always has a smile and is ready to go,” May said. As a […]

  • DPI Seeks Sponsors to Help Provide Meals to Disadvantaged Children

    The Department of Public Instruction (DPI) seeks new and renewal sponsors to meet the food needs of economically disadvantaged children during the 2019 summer break from school. Last summer, 240 sponsors provided 2.9 million free meals to children from low-income families across the state through the Summer Food Service Program. Sponsors operated 965 sites statewide […]

  • Packerland Conference Standings: Jan. 27

    Boys Basketball School, Won-Lost Southern Door 10-0 Peshtigo 7-1 Kewaunee 6-4 Gibraltar 5-4 NEW Lutheran 5-5 Sturgeon Bay 5-5 Oconto 4-6 Sevastopol 1-9 Algoma 0-9 Girls Basketball School, Won-Lost Kewaunee 11-0 Gibraltar 8-2 Algoma 7-3 Peshtigo 5-4 Southern Door 6-5 Oconto 5-6 NEW Lutheran 4-7 Sturgeon Bay 1-10 Sevastopol 0-10 Wrestling School, Won-Lost-Tied Kewaunee 3-0-0 […]

  • High School Sports Schedule: Feb. 1 – 8

    GIBRALTAR Boys Basketball Feb. 2 vs. St. Lawrence Seminary, 2:30 pm Feb. 4 @ Kewaunee, 7:30 pm Feb. 7 vs. NEW Lutheran, 7:30 pm Girls Basketball Feb. 1 @ NEW Lutheran, 7:30 pm Feb. 5 vs. Oconto, 7:30 pm SEVASTOPOL Boys Basketball Feb. 7 @ Southern Door, 7:30 pm Girls Basketball Feb. 1 vs. Southern […]

  • Letter to the Editor: Political Process

    Process is the heart of our democracy. The recent lame duck session of the Wisconsin Legislature was an end-run around fair play, regardless of the merit or lack of merit in the legislation that was passed. The lame duck disrespected the voters and reduced trust in the electorate – just what we don’t need in […]

  • Letter to the Editor: The Mess in Sturgeon Bay

    Look at the mess the Sturgeon Bay City Council is creating. Now, we have that ugly, smelly piece of garbage also known as the “Granary” back on the west side. One councilman, Mr. Wiederanders, wants marijuana legalized. Miss Catarozoli melted down at the meeting and told the people commenting that anyone that didn’t support her […]

  • Letter to the Editor: Cooperation, Discussion, Compromise

    That’s what we say we want from our government. But there’s no compromise these days. It used to be that if one party wanted something enacted, the other would counter with, “OK, here’s what we want in return.” Then negotiations would ensue. Now, if one party wants something enacted, the other says, “No way! Under […]

  • Science Snippet: Fox Facts

    Foxes are both cunning and smart, and biologists have observed them using novel hunting practices. A fox’s repertoire includes playing dead: lying on its side with its tongue hanging out to make it look like a corpse. When a curious crow or other small animal stops by to grab a bite, it ends up in […]

  • Garden and Landscape Expo Offers Respite Feb. 8-10

    If the recent wintry blast has you dreaming of a vernal retreat, take a trip to Madison Feb. 8-10 for the 26th annual Wisconsin Public Television (WPT) Garden and Landscape Expo, held in the Alliant Energy Center’s Exhibition Hall. All proceeds support WPT’s programming, educational initiatives and events. This year’s event features innovations in gardening […]

  • Remembering A Basketball Junkie: John Toppe Dies at 79

    Door County lost a lifetime of basketball knowledge Jan. 27 when John Toppe, who coached the sport at all four mainland high schools, died at the age of 79. Toppe’s coaching career spanned 50 years, four schools and every level of the sport. Some teams were awful; some teams scraped the pinnacle of the sport, […]

  • Singers Needed for DCA Performance

    Door Community Auditorium (DCA) invites all singers and music lovers onto the DCA stage Feb. 19 to perform with Damien Sneed and his ensemble as they present We Shall Overcome, a musical celebration of Martin Luther King Jr. Inspired by the words and action of Martin Luther King Jr., We Shall Overcome showcases repertoire from […]

  • Roger Kuhns and ‘Words on Water’ at DCA

    Door Community Auditorium (DCA) is hosting Winter Water Fest through Feb. 2, a weekend of activities inspired by this year’s Celebrate Water Door County initiative. Roger Kuhns will deliver this week’s Door County Talks presentation on Feb. 2, 10 am, in DCA’s Fireside Lobby. He will discuss water, the risks it faces and ways to […]

  • All Invited to Join Groundhog Day Parade

    The eighth annual Ellison Bay Groundhog Day Parade will be held Feb. 2 at 4 pm. Everyone is invited to build a float, decorate a car or walk a dog for the parade. Participants should meet at Nicolet Bank at 3:15 pm. The parade route goes through Ellison Bay and ends at the Mink River […]

  • Kress Pavilion and Miller Art Museum Collaborate on ‘The Water in You’

    The Miller Art Museum and the Donald and Carol Kress Pavilion are working together to present The Water in You, an exhibit that celebrates art and water. The Miller Art Museum is lending the artwork on display to the Kress Pavilion and welcomes this opportunity to share works from its permanent collection in a different […]

  • New Website for Northeast Wisconsin Arts Association

    The Northeast Wisconsin Arts Association (NEWAA) is a creative network and grassroots social enterprise whose mission since 2017 has been to connect, celebrate and shine a spotlight on the creative communities of the 18 counties that make up the “New North.” NEWAA’s members are arts organizations and artists – visual artists, musicians, writers, performers, photographers, filmmakers, […]

  • Ski for Free, Viewing Night, Cranberry Lecture at Crossroads

    Finally it looks and feels like winter at Crossroads at Big Creek. On Feb. 2, 9:30 am – 3:30 pm, and Sunday, Feb. 3, 1-3:30 pm, if conditions permit, Crossroads will run the Ski for Free program. The Crossroads Ski for Free program lends, free of charge, an array of ski and snowshoe equipment in […]

  • Guided Hikes at The Ridges

    After The Ridges Sanctuary’s great waffle breakfast, burn off some calories by joining a Ridges naturalist for a guided hike on the Sanctuary trails to learn about the cultural and natural history of the ridges and swales. These hikes take place Fridays at 1 pm and Saturdays at 10 am and 1 pm through March […]

  • ‘Open Day’ at Bird Sanctuary

    Open Door Bird Sanctuary will open its doors – so to speak – on Feb. 2, 11 am – 2 pm, to host its first winter “open day.” Executive Director Rob Hults said, “Many of our visitors ask about using the property in winter, so we are really excited to give everyone this opportunity.” Stop by to […]

  • Welcome Spring at the Garden and Landscape Expo in Madison

    If the recent weather blast finds you tired of winter, get a dose of vernal relief at the 26th annual Wisconsin Public Television (WPT) Garden and Landscape Expo at the Alliant Energy Center’s Exhibition Hall in Madison, Feb. 8-10. All proceeds support WPT’s programming, educational initiatives and events. This year’s event features innovations in gardening […]

  • Master Gardener Presentation Rescheduled for Feb. 12

    Due to an anticipated winter storm on the original date, the Door County Master Gardeners Association (DCMGA) has rescheduled Nate Bremer’s presentation for Feb. 12, 7 pm, in the Collins Learning Center at Crossroads at Big Creek. All lectures in the DCMGA Gardening Education Series are free and open to the public. Bremer, the owner […]

  • The Peninsula’s Poetry

    Curated by the Door County Poets Collective Beginning in January 2019 and continuing in the first week of each month, the Door County Poets Collective will send poems for publication in these pages. The collective is a 12-member working group that was formed to publish Soundings: Door County in Poetry (Caravaggio Press, 2015). For this […]

  • Meditation 101

    Meditation is a popular source of stress relief and other benefits, and it’s easy to learn. By request, instructor Jamie Schmiling is again offering the Meditation 101 workshop on Feb. 2, 10-11:30 am, at Roots Yoga, 400 Second St. in Algoma. Participants will discuss and practice different types of meditation, learn about its benefits and […]

  • Kids’ Story Hour and Yoga at The Ridges

    Experience children’s literature that highlights compassion while incorporating movement and mindfulness. Story hour will begin at 11 am with a children’s story and corresponding movement activity, and an open-ended art opportunity will be available afterward. The Feb. 2 book will be Mia’s Mountain Hike by Giselle Shardlow. The yoga “hike” will encourage children to reenact […]

  • Lobby Gallery Winter Exhibit at Community Foundation

    The Lobby Gallery Winter Exhibit at the Door County Community Foundation features works by Dan Cross, Arlene Stanger and Steven Stanger. Cross earned a bachelor of arts in art education, with emphases on painting, ceramics and photography, at the University of Wisconsin – Green Bay. He lives in West Jacksonport and owns Idea Gallery/Studio, where he […]

  • Fish Creek’s Wacky Winter Fest

    Event schedule for Feb. 1-3 Fish Creek Winter Festival will celebrate its 32nd year in 2019. As the town’s longest-standing tradition and Door County’s most famous winter event, it features live music, quirky games, delicious food, the Fruit Loop Fun Run, a fireworks display and two featured events: an entertaining stumpf fiddle contest and the […]

  • PenArt Launches Winter Print

    The Peninsula School of Art (PenArt) invites all ages to participate in its first annual Winter Print event: a family-friendly, hands-on art-making event held during Fish Creek’s Winter Festival. Head to the school in Fish Creek on Feb. 2, from 10 am to 2 pm. Participants can choose to do one – or all three […]

  • Paper Quilling Revival

    Plum Bottom Gallery will hold its annual Valentine’s show on Feb. 2-3. Paper-quilling artist Heather Allard will be at the gallery for a demonstration on Feb. 2, 11 am – 2 pm. Allard’s delicate paper filigrees incorporate vibrant color, beautiful dimensions and textures. With nature as inspiration, Allard’s lilacs, daisies, roses, hearts and abstract compositions […]

  • ‘Late Nite Catechism’ Feb. 23

    The Southern Door Community Auditorium will present Late Nite Catechism Feb. 23, 7 pm. This uproarious piece of theater takes audience members back – sometimes nostalgically, sometimes fearfully – to the children they once were as the irrepressible sister teaches an adult catechism class to her “students” (the audience). Over the course of the play, Sister […]

  • A Community Creating Waves Together

    Door County Reads 2019 ScheduleThe 12th season of Door County Reads, presented by the Door County Library, begins Feb. 3 with a kickoff event at Birch Creek Music Performance Center. During Door County Reads, two books take center stage during the month of February. This year’s selections are The Death and Life of the Great […]

  • New Maritime Museum Exhibit

    This year the Door County Maritime Museum (DCMM) is celebrating a half century of educating visitors and preserving the rich maritime history of Door County and the Great Lakes, and a new exhibit opening Feb. 4 will kick it off. The Water Defines Us: DCMM@50 traces the journey of the museum from its early roots […]

  • Source & Spirit: A Journey to Creation and Creativity

    Native American artist and wisdom teacher Coleen Bins and musician and music producer Hans Christian are offering an event in February called Source & Spirit: A Journey to Creation and Creativity. Bins, who owns Chief Oshkosh in Egg Harbor, will offer ceremony, personal reflections, healing and wisdom from her Oneida tradition with a focus on […]

  • Love On Holiday Songwriting Retreat

    Love On Holiday is the Holiday Music Motel’s winter collaborative songwriting retreat: an entire week during which the motel houses more than 30 songwriters who write and record a new batch of “Songs of Love … and Love Gone Away.” As with the motel’s other two events – Dark Songs and the Steel Bridge Songfest […]

  • Bestseller List: Feb. 1, 2019

    TRADE PAPERBACK FICTION1. The Tattooist of Auschwitz by Heather Morris2. Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman3. The Power by Naomi Alderman4. Milkman by Anna Burns5. Tangerine by Christine Mangan TRADE PAPERBACK NONFICTION1. Killers of the Flower Moon by David Grann2. Sapiens by Yuval Noah Harari3. White Fragility by Robin DiAngelo4. Braiding Sweetgrass by […]

  • Wence and Sandra Martinez Juried into ‘Excellence in Fibers IV’

    Martinez Studio’s weaving “Tronco” – designed by Sandra Martinez and woven by Wence Martinez – has earned an Award for Excellence in Fibers for wall or floor work, and they will be profiled in the winter 2019 edition of Fiber Art Now magazine. The work rose above a pool of several hundred entries judged by […]

  • ‘Apparitions’ Reading

    Peninsula Players Theatre will present a reading of Apparitions, by award-winning playwright Kristine Thatcher, Feb. 4, 7 pm, at Björklunden, 7590 Boynton Lane in Baileys Harbor. Admission is free. In the mid-1990s, Peninsula Players commissioned Thatcher to write a play using Door County’s history and distinctive character as its major influences. Apparitions, which made its […]

  • Paintings, Ceramics at James May February Exhibit

    The James May Gallery’s February opening reception – to be held Feb. 1, 5:30-8 pm – will feature paintings by Brighton Smith and ceramic sculptures by Craig Clifford and Debbie Kupinsky. The sculptors will give a talk at 6 pm to discuss their process, inspirations, teaching and collaboration as artistic partners. Smith grew up in […]

  • 10 Years of Short Film Fest

    The 10th annual Door County Short Film Fest (DCSFF) – a grassroots, community-driven event – will take place in the Sister Bay Village Hall on Feb. 15 and 16. This year’s festival will again feature an opening-night party on Friday at 6 pm and the premiere of a Wisconsin-themed feature film, Lake Michigan Monster, directed by […]

  • Vehicle-Deer Collision Damage Tops $3 Million on Peninsula

    Motorists reported nearly 1,000 collisions with whitetails on the roadways in Door and Kewaunee counties last year. At an average somewhere north of $3,300 per accident, that’s collectively more than $3 million in damages. Barstool biologists and internet keyboard cowboys have long claimed that the insurance industry pays off the DNR to get hunters to […]

  • Eye on the Night Sky: The Stuff Stars Are Made Of

    By Tom Minahan How do we know the stars and galaxies are made of the same stuff that we are made of here on Earth? “Because science” – specifically, spectrography, chemistry and quantum physics. This sounds as though it could be complicated, but conceptually, it’s a few simple steps. The conclusion is that the whole of the known […]

  • OBITUARY: John Elmer “Coach” Toppe

    John Elmer “Coach” Toppe, 79, died with his wife by his side on Jan. 27, 2019.  He was born Aug. 8, 1939, to Elmer and Florence Toppe, the youngest of five children. He grew up and spent most of his life in Sturgeon Bay,.  After high school, he decided to follow in his parents’ footsteps and […]

  • Door County Closings and Cancellations for Wednesday, Jan. 30, 2019

    The National Weather Service reported a temperature of -16 degrees at the Ephraim-Gibraltar airport Wednesday morning, with wind chills making it feel more like 35 to 55 below 0 across Door County. The cold air is expected to last through Thursday. In these conditions frostbite can occur in as little as 5-15 minutes, so if […]

  • Door County Reads 2019 Schedule: A Community Creating Waves Together

    The 12th season of Door County Reads, presented by the Door County Library, begins Feb. 3 with a kickoff event at Birch Creek Music Performance Center. During Door County Reads, two books take center stage during the month of February. This year’s selections are The Death and Life of the Great Lakes by Dan Egan […]