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Peninsula Pulse January 22-29, 2021

In this issue

  • Bits & Bites

    Valentine’s Day in a Box Door County Delivered is accepting online orders for a special Valentine’s Box. This box full of love – and chocolate – includes goodies from DC Chocolate Design and Door County Confectionery. Boxes will ship Feb. 1, just in time for Valentine’s Day.  Drive-though Reopens at Door County Coffee & Tea Co. After […]

  • Letter to the Editor: Not a Fan of Biden-Harris

    Currently, unemployment in Wisconsin is 5 percent. WPS is charging us $0.11118 per kilowatt-hour. Gasoline is $2.14 per gallon. We are not in any new wars, and there is peace in the Middle East. Please respond to me one year from now on how the Biden-Harris era is working out for you.    Kevin Forsman  Ephraim, […]

  • Registration Now Open for Community Support Groups Summit

    Registration for the fifth annual Community Support Groups (CSG) Summit – to be held Feb. 3-4 virtually via Zoom – is now open. For the past four years, CSGs nationwide have met at annual summits to discuss the J-1 Visa Summer Work Travel category of the Exchange Visitor Program – now BridgeUSA. They share best practices, trends […]

  • Jake Dittmann Receives Promotion from Bank of Luxemburg

    Bank of Luxemburg (bankofluxemburg.com) has promoted Jake Dittmann from commercial loan sales officer to assistant vice president of commercial lending. He’s been with the bank since 2015.  In his new role, Dittmann will manage his portion of the bank’s growing loan portfolio and remain active on numerous bank committees, including the process-improvement team, which works […]

  • Solar Power Coming to Kress Pavilion

    The Village of Egg Harbor’s trustees approved a public bid by Eland Electric of Green Bay to install ground-mounted solar panels at the Kress Pavilion, the village’s community center and library. The project, set to be completed this summer, is the latest to coincide with Egg Harbor’s Green Tier initiatives and takes advantage of Solar […]

  • Southern Door Superintendent Patti Vickman to Retire

    Southern Door School District Superintendent Patti Vickman will retire, effective June 30, after 45 years in education and nine years serving as superintendent. She returned to Southern Door in 2012 as an alumna of the Class of 1972. Vickman has steered the school district through several referendums, including a significant building project that renovated the […]

  • Packerland Conference Math Meet Results

    PACKERLAND CONFERENCE MATH MEET Jan. 18, 2021 (Name, high school, points) Seniors: Abram Abeyta, Sturgeon Bay, 35; Jack Hitzeman, Gibraltar, 33; Serena LaLuzerne, Southern Door, 32; Carter Henry, Sturgeon Bay, 29; Kobe Rose, Kewaunee, 28 Juniors: Maggie Stephens, Sturgeon Bay, 38; Elijah Ellis, NEW, 28; Phillip McKeefry, Oconto, 28; Andrew Konop, Sturgeon Bay, 28; Arry […]

  • Letter to the Editor: Opposed to Increasing Regulation on Short-Term Rentals

    As I write this, the Town of Sevastopol’s Plan Commission will continue a discussion about short-term rental (STR) properties Jan. 21. Any restrictions that are solely for STR and not for other lodging facilities are wrong! We pay the same taxes and provide clean, safe environments. Why would anyone want to jeopardize even one extra […]

  • Letter to the Editor: What It Takes to Rebuild Trust

    At last, a few Republicans, including Mike Gallagher, seem seriously concerned about a president who lied to exploit his base and sought to divide the nation between those who want to believe lies and those who don’t. Mike Gallagher is a bright guy. During an interview with the Green Bay Press-Gazette and in his article […]

  • Letter to the Editor: Truth and Character Matter

    As we ponder not only the last four years, but also the last three months, a number of thoughts come to mind. First, as children, most of us learned that just because someone says something over and over doesn’t make it true. Second, after watching the Biden inauguration versus Trump’s, the difference in the two […]

  • Letter to the Editor: Why Republicans Don’t Need the Filibuster

    Why do the Republicans need the filibuster? All the Southern states have full and fair representation in the Senate. Kansas, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wyoming, Montana, Idaho, Utah and all ultraconservative states with almost no population each have two senators, so they are grossly overrepresented. Southern states and ultraconsertative states are within a hair’s […]

  • Northern Door Broomball League Standings

    NORTHERN DOOR BROOMBALL LEAGUE Standings Johnson’s Park 3-0Door County Brewing Co. 1-1Alexander’s 2-1CHOP 2-1Husby’s 0-2JJ’s 0-3 Week 3 Results 6 pm: JJ’s 1, Alexander’s 87 pm: Door County Brewing Co. 0, Johnson’s Park 128 pm: Husby’s 0, CHOP 5

  • Packerland Conference Standings

    Girls Basketball Jan. 23, 2021 (School, won-lost) Kewaunee 5-0Southern Door 6-1 Peshtigo 5-2Sevastopol 5-3Gibraltar 3-4Oconto 3-5 NEW Lutheran 2-4Algoma 1-5Sturgeon Bay 0-6 Boys Basketball Jan. 23, 2021 (School, won-lost) Southern Door 7-0Kewaunee 5-1 Oconto 6-2Gibraltar 5-3Sturgeon Bay 3-3Peshtigo 3-4 NEW Lutheran 1-5 Algoma 0-6 Sevastopol 0-6 Wrestling (final standings) Jan. 23, 2021 (School, won-lost) Southern […]

  • Bowling League Results

    Apple Dumpling League Jan. 15, 2021 • High team game: Killer Bs 860 • High team series: Sandbaggers 2,314 • High game (women): Kathy Franke 228, Judy Schuyler 212, Nicole Sperber 212, Jen LeMieux 211 • High series (women): Judy Schuyler 593, Jen LeMieux 593, Kathy Franke 587, Nicole Sperber 567 • High game (men): Doc […]

  • Shortages Slow Vaccine Deployment

    County receives just a third of anticipated supply The nationwide shortage of doses of the COVID-19 vaccine is trickling down to Door County, making a complicated logistical endeavor even more difficult.  Door County Health and Human Services Director Joe Krebsbach said his department received about a third of the vaccine doses it was expecting this […]

  • ‘Discover Wisconsin’ Reruns Door County Episode

    Discover Wisconsin will shine the spotlight on Door County during a rerun episode Jan. 30, 6:30 pm, on WKOW TV 27 and WFRV Channel 5. It’s also available for streaming at discoverwisconsin.com and on Roku, Apple TV, SmartTV, Google Chromecast and Amazon Fire. The show kicks off in Sturgeon Bay, where Pam Seiler, executive director […]

  • Lumberjack Supper Canceled

    COVID-19 has caused the Lumberjack Supper – held annually in January at the Sturgeon Bay United Methodist Church – to be canceled this year. The supper began in 1933 and has been canceled only one other time, during WWII. The members of the church’s Men’s Club thank all the volunteers and diners who have made this […]

  • Kewaunee Public Health Encourages Healthy Habits with BINGO Challenge

    The Kewaunee County Public Health Department encourages the community to participate in a health-and-wellness BINGO challenge in partnership with Bellin Health, Fit Families, Kewaunee Health & Fitness Center and Stodola’s IGA. The goal is to complete 20 squares on a BINGO card of activities such as snow tubing or skiing at Winter Park, eating five […]

  • Door-Tran Receives Grant

    Door-Tran has received a $2,500 grant from the Door County Community Foundation to support the Peninsula Transit Coalition’s continuing investigation of the feasibility of a countywide public-transportation system.  The grant is a recognition of the importance of the mission. Since early 2019, a group of local residents and business owners has been studying options for […]

  • Money Management and Jodi Rose Partner to Offer Financial Coaching Program

    Give your financial future a fresh new look with the Money Mindset Makeover, a six-week virtual coaching program cosponsored by Money Management Counselors of Door and Kewaunee Counties and Jodi Rose Studio, with support from the Women’s Fund of Door County and the Door County Community Foundation. The program will run Jan. 27 – March 3. […]

  • Women’s Giving Circle Meeting Jan. 25

    The next quarterly meeting of the 100+ Women Who Care of Northern Door County giving circle will be livestreamed on Zoom on Jan. 25, 7-7:30 pm. That night, the organization will award more than $19,000 to local nonprofits. Three nonprofits will be considered this quarter: Door County Cradle to Career, Operation Not Alone and Peninsula […]

  • Egg Harbor Business Owner Saves This Old House

    An Egg Harbor business owner found a way to get a “new” home and save three buildings at the same time. In 2020, the owners of Shipwrecked bought land next to their brew pub for eventual outdoor expansion or parking, and on that land, a historic cottage and modern two-car garage went up for sale. […]

  • Prevea Offers COVID Recovery Clinic

    Prevea is now offering a COVID-19 recovery clinic for those who experience ongoing symptoms for 14 days or more after they initially tested positive for COVID-19.  Often called post-acute COVID-19 syndrome, these ongoing symptoms prevent people from feeling “normal,” even after recovering from the initial illness. Symptoms may include shortness of breath, cough, fatigue, body […]

  • Kewaunee Health Dept. Encourages Radon Testing

    January is National Radon Action Month: a time to learn how to protect yourself from exposure. Radon is a radioactive, odorless gas that comes from trace amounts of natural uranium in the ground. Radon seeps through cracks and openings in the basement and foundation of homes. Breathing indoor air with high levels of radon can […]

  • United Way Exceeds Campaign Goal

    In mid-April 2020, the United Way of Door County’s board set a campaign goal of $650,000: an increase of $107,000 over what was raised the previous year. The Community Investment Committee reviewed grant applications in November and December – a process usually done much earlier – and found that applicants’ needs were high for 2021. “It […]

  • Focus Group Offers QPR and Mental Health First Aid Training

    Recent suicides in Door County have sounded an alarm in our community. From 2015 to 2018, 22 lives were lost to suicide in the county, and in 2019, there were seven deaths by suicide. The Brown County Medical Examiner’s Office, which serves Door County, reports at least seven deaths by suicide in the county during […]

  • Prevea Opens Community COVID Vaccination Clinic

    The Prevea Community COVID-19 Vaccination Clinic – the first of its kind in northeast Wisconsin and one of the largest in the state – opened Jan. 18 inside UW-Green Bay’s Kress Events Center. It has the capacity to provide vaccinations to more than 10,500 people weekly as doses become available and as the Wisconsin Department […]

  • Main Street Districts Grant Program

    As small businesses continue to weather the challenges of the pandemic, Destination Sturgeon Bay has teamed up with Brother International on the At Your Side Small Business Grant Program. It awards grants of $5,000 to $10,000 on a competitive basis to assist brick-and-mortar small businesses located in designated Main Street districts as they adapt to […]

  • WI National Guard Offers Free COVID Testing

    Door County is partnering with the Wisconsin National Guard to offer free COVID-19 testing for the community on Mondays through March 8, 8 am – 4 pm. Testing will be held at the Door County EMS Facility, 916 N. 14th Ave. in Sturgeon Bay, on Jan. 25, Feb. 8 and 22, and March 8; and […]

  • Real Estate Taxes Lagging, COVID-19 Precautions Blamed

    The Door County Treasurer’s Office is behind on processing real estate property-tax payments paid by the end of 2020. “Everyone wants their taxes dated with an end-of-the-year date” to benefit from the deductions, said Door County Treasurer Ryan Schley. This year, the office had encouraged mail-in rather than walk-in payments due to COVID-19 precautions, which […]

  • Ephraim Will Hold Referendum on PRAT in April

    Residents in the Village of Ephraim will vote on a referendum about whether to adopt a Premier Resort Area Tax (PRAT) during the spring election on April 6. The referendum was originally scheduled for a Feb. 16 vote, but the village did not complete the required notice to the Door County clerk within 70 days […]

  • Egg Harbor Business Owner Saves This Old House

    An Egg Harbor business owner found a way to get a “new” home and save three buildings at the same time. In 2020, the owners of Shipwrecked bought land next to their brew pub for eventual outdoor expansion or parking, and on that land, a historic cottage and modern two-car garage went up for sale. […]

  • A New Option for Rural Internet Access

    New satellite service achieving high speeds, testers say If you’ve noticed a linear, pearl string of lights gliding low and uniform from a northeasterly direction across the evening sky, you’ve witnessed not an alien encounter but a Starlink satellite train. Yes, they’re here. Door County has become a public beta testing site for SpaceX’s emerging […]

  • Wild Things: Time to Split Door for Deer?

    CDAC to vote virtually Jan. 25 Is there enough support for Door County Deer Advisory Council (CDAC) members to vote to split the management unit north and south? We’ll find out Monday night, when CDAC members meet via Zoom or phone to finalize three-year goals on what direction they’d like to see the local deer […]

  • Wild Ones: Native Plants Attract Pollinators

    During the darkest, gloomiest days of midwinter, they arrive: seed catalogs! These colorful publications have been around for more than a century, delivering hope every year to housebound, frustrated gardeners and would-be gardeners. For rich and poor alike, in the city or the country, poring over seed and plant catalogs is a cherished winter tradition. […]

  • Walk or Run This: A Walk through Historic Downtown Sturgeon Bay

    by Victoria Linstrom If you’re up for an urban walk or jog, consider this Sturgeon Bay loop that takes you from the East to West Waterfront and back, and offers a little bit of everything. Start at the end of 3rd Avenue outside On Deck, travel the half mile down to Michigan Street, then go […]

  • Manners Matter: Staying Motivated during the Pandemic

    Dear Mary Pat, The new year is now upon us, and it’s once again time to make good on those New Year’s resolutions. I, like many others, typically make a goal for better health in the new year through dieting and exercise. It’s already hard enough to keep up with my goals, but we’re still […]

  • Ephraim Historical Foundation is a Museum on a Mission

    New director working to make Ephraim museums fun, inviting The Ephraim Historical Foundation’s new executive director wants to spread the word about what the organization has to offer and make it even more inviting to visitors and residents. “Making museums accessible and fun is what I’m known for industry wide,” said Kelly Klobucher, who was […]

  • The Abstract Inspirations of Anne Egan

    The work of Door County artist Anne Egan is best described by Dan Cross, who got to know Egan’s working methods through Idea Space, an intensive, two-week cooperative of several artists at Idea Gallery in West Jacksonport.  “Annie’s working processes are mixed-media paintings, sometimes incorporating collage, [and] envisioning a sense of wonderment influenced by the […]

  • Wisconsin Names New Poet Laureate

    Dasha Kelly Hamilton of Milwaukee is Wisconsin’s new poet laureate for 2021-22. This individual who holds this title plays a crucial role in keeping the arts accessible and vital to all age groups and serves as a statewide emissary for poetry and creativity. “Dasha Kelly Hamilton’s infectious energy and demonstrated history of transforming lives through […]

  • ‘Wisconsin People & Ideas’ Opens Writing Contest

    Participate in Wisconsin’s largest and longest-running writing contests, hosted by Wisconsin People & Ideas, the quarterly magazine of the Wisconsin Academy of Sciences, Arts & Letters.  Contest winners in both the fiction and poetry categories will receive awards of $500 to $100, publication in Wisconsin People & Ideas and a reading at the Wisconsin Book […]

  • Sturgeon Bay Cousins Release Children’s Book

    Two cousins who live in Sturgeon Bay – author Amy Phimister and illustrator Christine Degeneffe – have created a new children’s picture book, A-B-C the Animals. They’ve talked about a collaborative project for decades and are glad to see it come to fruition. Degeneffe’s drawings – of a Tibetan monastery, a jungle with a juggler, a winter woodland, […]

  • Hatala Hosts Writing Circle

    Make 2021 your year for a fresh start by exploring your inner self. Gather several friends, family members or coworkers, and form your own private writing circle. Author and inner-life coach Marggie Hatala will lead your group to grow together through meditation, writing prompts and quiet writing time. Three-, six- and 12-month package subscriptions are available […]

  • Hal Prize Extends Submission Deadline

    Changes to the Hal Prize creative writing and photography contest are coming in 2021. Typically, entries must be submitted by May, and contest winners are announced in August. This year, submissions will be accepted until Sept. 15, and winners will be announced in November. Announcements of the judges and more will be coming for the […]

  • Chronicling Family Stories with Write On, Door County

    Are you interested in writing your family’s story? Author Robin Sauerwein will lead a four-week Writing Our Stories program beginning Feb. 2. Also on Feb. 2, 6 pm, award-winning novelist Kathleen Ernst – creator of the Chloe Ellefson mystery series – will share fiction techniques to enhance your memoir or family stories.  There’s still time to […]

  • Artisan Pop-Up Market Continues Feb. 13-14

    The Door County Artisan Pop-up Market will continue into 2021, beginning with the “Love, Door County” gift market Feb. 13-14, 10 am – 1 pm, at the Door County Fitness Studio, across from Piggly Wiggly in Sister Bay.  The market will feature 10-plus Door County-based artisans and makers, including Door County Wildflower Candles & More, […]

  • New Miller Exhibit Highlights Abstract Art

    On Jan. 16, the Miller Art Museum in downtown Sturgeon Bay will unveil a new abstract-art exhibition. From Deep Within: Meditations of Wisconsin Abstractions will feature the work of Marjorie Mau of Green Bay, Cristian Andersson of Appleton and Alyssa Krause of Milwaukee. Seven new works by Mau contemplate the compressed spaces and stacked rock […]

  • Legislative News: Vaccine Rollout; Redistricting; Palm Joins Biden Administration

    Governors Accuse Trump of Botching Vaccine Rollout Gov. Tony Evers, along with Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, sent a letter to Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar on Jan. 15 expressing frustration with what they referred to as the “Trump administration’s botched COVID-19 vaccine distribution” and urged Azar to grant […]

  • Southern Door Superintendent Vickman to Retire

    Southern Door Superintendent Patricia Vickman announced she will retire at the end of the school year.  A 1972 Southern Door graduate, Vickman will step down after 45 years in education and nine years serving as Superintendent for the Southern Door School District.  “Mrs. Vickman’s high standards and expectations have moved our district forward and set […]

  • Bob Hastings Remembered as A Man of Ideas

    Former Chamber director died Jan. 3 Bob Hastings didn’t do small.  “Small” is a hard thing to do when you stand six-foot-seven and dominate a room by walking through the door. He didn’t do small goals, small projects or small thinking. The former executive director of the Door County Chamber of Commerce (now Destination Door […]

  • Obituary: John F. LeClercq

    September 9, 1954 ~ November 23, 2020 John Francis LeClercq, age 66, of Sturgeon Bay, died on Monday, November 23rd, 2020.  John’s life ended abruptly after a diagnosis of stage four pancreatic cancer. John was a man of multitudes.  A self starter, precise and detailed.  He was by way of land, sea and sky…Captain John […]

  • Obituary: Jean F. Malcore

    February 22, 1928 ~ January 18, 2021 Jean Florence Malcore, 92, of Brussels, WI, died peacefully at Anna’s Healthcare on January 18th, 2021. She was born February 22nd, 1928 to Cyril and Lillian (Pierre) Neuville in Brussels. She was a lifelong member of St. Francis & St. Mary’s Parish in Brussels. She graduated from Brussels […]

  • Obituary: Gail (McGrath) Bowman

    April 17, 1935 ~ January 14, 2021 Gail (McGrath) Bowman, born April 17, 1935, died at her home on Thursday, January 14, 2021. After a long battle with multiple cancer complications, she finally let go after a stubborn fight – some of which left those wonderful angels from Unity Hospice scratching their heads. Mom was […]

  • Obituary: Arlene M. (Hoerres) Peterson

    November 27, 1946 ~ January 13, 2021 Arlene Mary (Hoerres) Peterson was born in Sturgeon Bay on November 27, 1946 and raised in a home next to Lily Bay on Lake Michigan. She had fond memories of spending time with her cousins and siblings, playing along Lily Bay’s beaches, creek, and around two of her uncle’s […]

  • Obituary: Leslie Ann Holliday-Soto

    August 16, 1956 ~ January 16, 2021 Leslie Ann Holliday-Soto, 64, of Sturgeon Bay, died on Saturday, January 16, 2021 at Aurora BayCare Medical Center in Green Bay. She was born August 16, 1956 in Sturgeon Bay, daughter of the late Jack William and Georgia Lee (Gigstead) Schaefer. Leslie graduated from Southern Door High School […]

  • Obituary: Ernest J. Wiegand

    February 1, 1939 ~ January 15, 2021 Ernest John Wiegand, 81 years, of Sturgeon Bay died early Friday morning, January 15, 2021 at his home.  He was born in Sturgeon Bay on February 1, 1939, the son of the late Arthur and Dorothy (Jome) Wiegand. Ernie graduated from Sturgeon Bay High School in 1957. For […]

  • Obituary: Charles H. Bassford III

    November 2, 1923 ~ January 9, 2021 Charles (“Charlie”) Bassford died on January 9, 2021, while in Yuma, Arizona, with family at his side. Charlie was born to C. Hollis II and Florence (Norton) Bassford at the Norton family homestead in Sevastopol Township, Door County, Wisconsin on November 2, 1923. He was a graduate of […]

  • Obituary: Mary Glenn Torinus

    October 24, 1938 ~ January 8, 2021 Mary Glenn Torinus, mother, wife, dancer, and massage therapist, died peacefully on January 8 in Egg Harbor, Wisconsin after a long illness. It was a graceful finish to a generous and elegant life of motherhood, community service, and creative movement. Mary was born the second of three children […]

  • Obituary: Thomas R. Torinus

    November 21, 1938 ~ January 8, 2021 Thomas R. Torinus, distinguished journalist, poet, spiritual director and teacher, died peacefully Jan. 8 in Egg Harbor after a long battle with rheumatoid arthritis. Tom sauntered through life with a wise and graceful presence. He loved big ideas, good writing, and deep conversation over cups of coffee with […]