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Peninsula Pulse July 17-24, 2020

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  • Golf League Results: July 17, 2020

    IDLEWILD Senior Men’s Thursday 8:30 am Group  July 9, 2020 • Closest to pin #3: Jim Schaefer • Longest drive #5: Bill Borchardt • Closest third shot #7: Rick Krueger • Longest putt #9: Jim Schaefer • Low gross: (first) Jim Schaefer 41, (second) Rick Krueger 42, (third) Glen Herlitz 43 • Low net (tie): Mike Eliason 33, Mark […]

  • Know Your Grower: Cold Climate Farms

    Location: Southern Door County Acreage: 60 acres total; three acres cultivated in vegetables Meet your growers: Benjamin Blohoweak, Sarah McCarty and their 30 laying chickens that produce farm-fresh eggs Blohoweak and McCarty had been working in the farm-to-table industry in Madison before moving to Door County in 2014. The lure was a homesteading way of […]

  • Learning from the Unconscious Image

    You’ve heard of yoga, and you’ve heard of doodling, but you probably haven’t considered these two activities in partnership – let alone in a partnership aimed at improving your day-to-day life. This week, Jodi Rose Gonzales (JodiRoseStudio.com) hosted two workshops at Ephraim’s Spa at Sacred Grounds to introduce participants to the combined power of yoga […]

  • Framed: Cana Island Hay Wagon

    The Cana Island hay wagon takes visitors across the causeway, which is completely underwater this year. Cana Island is open seven days a week, 10 am – 5 pm, weather permitting, through October. Photo by Julie Piggush.

  • Manners Matter: With Facebook, Less May Be More

    Dear Mary Pat, My father-in-law is new to Facebook. He seems to think that: • Facebook will answer you if you ask it a question. (He confuses this with Siri.) • His opinions are the only ones that are correct. • Spending hours on Facebook will somehow make him better informed. • If he posts […]

  • Server of the Week: Maria Grasse at Grasse’s Grill

    Miss Maria Grasse is always classy While taking orders, she’s never sassy If you want a burger, some fries or a cold brew to go, Dial up Maria – you know she’s a pro Her middle name is “Service with a smile” She does her job with a boatload of style So what are you waiting […]

  • Door to Nature: A Season of Butterflies

    July is one of the best months to learn about butterflies in our area. The numbers so far have not been as high as during other summers because of the colder-than-normal spring weather, but now with July’s heat wave, the numbers are increasing. Monarchs showed up along the Lake Michigan shores sooner than inland, where […]

  • Wild Things: Kewaunee/Door Salmon Tournament: A Breath of Fresh Lake Air

    Coronavirus concerns haven’t derailed the largest summer salmon-only fishing contest on the Great Lakes. “There’s a lot of excitement for the K/D,” said Tom Kleiman of Accurate Marine & Tackle in Kewaunee. “Boat sales are through the roof, and we’re seeing a lot of families coming in. I think in these crazy times, a lot […]

  • Metatheater and Chaos: A Play Review of ‘Well’ by Lisa Kron

    I miss watching live theater this year. I do. I try to take in as much of the scene as I can each summer, and like many things this year, we’ll be going without for a while longer. That’s not to say that the theaters up here aren’t still doing great work – they are, and […]

  • Preview: 15th Annual Door County Plein Air Festival

    During these times of social distancing, painting “en plein air” (French for “in full or open air”) is, in some ways, the ideal activity. One imagines the solitary artist standing in a field, alone and at one with nature, squinting her or his eyes to better discern blocks of light and holding a paintbrush at […]

  • Closed Down to Open Up: Under the Stars Night Market Debuts

    Large festivals are events of the past this year with COVID-19 restrictions and guidelines in place. Yet Destination Sturgeon Bay (DSB) and the City of Sturgeon Bay have partnered to put on an alternative – the Under the Stars Night Market – to draw people downtown for some togetherness at safe social distances. Every Saturday […]

  • FEATURED PET: Tabbytha

    The Wisconsin Humane Society (WHS) Door County Campus is now open for adoptions by appointment! Meet Tabbytha (wihumane.org/adopt/animal?id=44905944), a two-year-old cat who’s available for adoption at the WHS Door County Campus. All that fur is deceiving because she weighs a mere six pounds! She came to us as a stray, so we don’t know much […]

  • West Waterfront Project Out to Bid

    With the design-work finish line in sight, Sturgeon Bay’s West Waterfront project was expected to be sent out to bid by the end of this week.  The design phase was 95 percent complete as of last week, according to Marty Olejniczak, community development director. “Now we’re fine-tuning to place it out to bid for the […]

  • Governor Creates New State Task Force on Broadband Access

    Gov. Tony Evers signed Executive Order #80 on Tuesday to create the Governor’s Task Force on Broadband Access.  It will advise the governor and Wisconsin State Legislature on broadband actions and policy, including strategies for successfully expanding high-speed internet access to every residence, business and institution in the state; initiatives for digital inclusion; and pathways […]

  • Egg Harbor Cancels Pumpkin Patch Festival, Sister Bay Deciding Fate of Fall Fest

    The Village of Egg Harbor has voted to cancel its remaining 2020 festivals, including Egg Harbor Ale Fest in September and the hugely popular Pumpkin Patch Festival scheduled for Oct. 9-11. The village will continue to hold its farmers’ market and concerts in the park, however.  The cancellations come in response to the increasing cases […]

  • Police Chief Arleigh Porter Announces October Retirement

    Sturgeon Bay Police Chief Arleigh Porter announced his retirement to the Sturgeon Bay Common Council last week, saying that he’ll be “riding off into the sunset” after Oct. 2.  “It’s been a great run, but it’s just time,” Porter said. 

  • Construction Clips Along on Lighthouse Observation Tower

    The pace of construction on the Door County Maritime Museum’s (DCMM) Lighthouse Observation Tower has been steady-as-she-goes since the ceremonial groundbreaking for the 10-story tower in November.  The structure will have indoor and outdoor observation decks atop it and community event space on the second floor. Each of the floors in between will be dedicated […]

  • League Hosts Candidate Forum for County Treasurer

    For the first time in its history, the Door County League of Women Voters (LWV) sponsored an online candidate forum for the Office of Door County Treasurer. The forum was held July 13.  There are five candidates in the Aug. 11 partisan primary: Democrats Jan Arbter Anderson and Ashley DeGrave, and Republicans Christine A. Moe, […]

  • Confined by Lockdown, A Senior Citizen Decides to Move Out

    “This article is part of Outbreak Wisconsin, a series co-produced by WPR and Wisconsin Watch which chronicles people’s journeys through the coronavirus crisis.” Last summer, Beverly Blietz spent her spare time driving for Uber in Door County. She shuttled visitors among hotels, campgrounds, bars and restaurants, and she said she absolutely loved talking to people while […]

  • Baileys Harbor Green Site Temporarily Closed

    A few bad apples have spoiled the bunch for users of Baileys Harbor’s Green Site. The town was forced to temporarily close the Green Site last week because of an “astronomical amount of illegal dumping,” according to Town Clerk Haley Adams.  The Baileys Harbor town board is expected to take up the issue during its […]

  • Baileys Harbor Town Chair Resigns

    Baileys Harbor Town Chair Doug Smith resigned July 12 after serving 14 months of his two-year term. In a letter to the board, Smith cited “private matters” as the reason for his resignation.  Vice Chair Barbara Anschutz will run the next regularly scheduled board meeting, during which the board will set a date for a […]

  • If All Else Fails, Create Mask-free Zones

    Last week the City of Sturgeon Bay amended its ordinance to include vaping in public places where smoking was already prohibited. No vapers were present to say the ordinance was infringing on their freedoms. No one said a word, and the ordinance passed quietly into city law. There was a time when this would have […]

  • Letter to the Editor: Why Can’t We Solve the Problem of COVID-19?

    I am 68 years old, and this is my fourth pandemic. I was sick only once, and that was with the H1N1 strain of 2009. The Asian Flu/H2N2 came out of Singapore in 1957, and 10 years later, that mutated strain gave rise to a less stringent character known as the Hong Kong Flu in […]

  • Letter to the Editor: Profiling: Not So Fast!

    Profiling has caused great harm in our society, rightly sparking outrage against it. It’s a basic element of rage, rightly or wrongly held, against monuments to our past. But in dealing with it, dispassionate thought is necessary. What exactly is profiling?  Two examples of bad: Some Black individuals smash windows and loot; therefore, all Black […]

  • Letter to the Editor: A Conservative Speaks about Mask Wearing

    I was impressed by conservative Republican Karen Hughes’ thoughts about wearing masks. The following are excerpts from her opinion piece published July 1, 2020, in the Washington Post. Hughes was counselor to the president and undersecretary of state for public diplomacy and public affairs during the George W. Bush administration. “When leaders said, ‘We are […]

  • Letter to the Editor: An Open Letter to the Door County Board of Supervisors

    Dear Supervisors, I’m extremely disappointed with the Door County Board of Supervisors’ decision not to pursue a mask ordinance for Door County. The reasoning seems to be that “it’s too difficult.” These are difficult times for everyone. We will get through it if we all do our part. I feel your part is to take […]

  • Letter to the Editor: Impromptu Parade a Reminder of ‘How Lucky We Are’

    It was all so serendipitous: Let’s have a parade! That’s all it took for three friends and residents of Glidden Drive to pull off an impromptu parade. Our “town crier,” Barbara Mallien, got the word out to all of the residents. We invited folks to join the parade. On the Fourth of July, there were […]

  • Letter to the Editor: Let’s Get to a New Normal

    Just want to say that according to Dr. Richard Hogan of Door County Medical Center in an article published in the Pulse on May 29, “Wearing masks should be the new normal in Door County.” The Door County Board of Supervisors needs to revisit this topic, and this time have a roll call. How embarrassing […]

  • Green Tip: Just Wash Your Dishes

    Paper and plastic plates and utensils, disposable diapers, paper towels and napkins, cheap plasticware and other nondurable consumer goods make up about 20 percent of America’s waste, which came to 50 million tons in 2015, according to the EPA. Instead, keep durable dishes and silverware on hand and wash them after use, and switch to […]

  • Green Tip: Find Someone to Take Your Old Threads

    According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the average American throws away about 80 pounds of clothing every year. Additionally, the BBC says the global fashion industry is the second most polluting industry in the world, accounting for about 10 percent of global carbon emissions and nearly 20 percent of wastewater.  To help combat this, […]

  • PHOTOSYNTHESIS: Brush Your Boots

    Peninsula State Park and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources encourage all hikers and park-goers to use boot-brushing stations because invasive exotic plant species often stick to boots and travel to new places in that way.  Hikers should use a boot-brushing station before entering a trail because they may be introducing seeds such as crabgrass […]

  • New Sustainability Committee Moves toward Adopting Green Tier Resolution

    One of the first orders of business for the newly created Door County Sustainability Committee has been to recommend a resolution for consideration for the county to become a Green Tier community.  Green Tier is a voluntary program of the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) that recognizes and rewards environmental performance that exceeds the […]

  • Nor Door Athletics Baseball: Jul. 17–24

    Results July 10 Sister Bay 8, West Jacksonport 1 July 12 Egg Harbor 3, Washington Island 1 Institute 8, Baileys Harbor 4 Kolberg 2, Maplewood 0 Standings Egg Harbor, 3-0 Sister Bay, 3-0 Kolberg, 2-1 Institute, 1-2 Maplewood, 1-2 Baileys Harbor, 0-3 Washington Island, 0-3 Schedule July 17 Kolberg at Baileys Harbor July 19 West […]

  • Door County Triathlon Training Days

    The Door County Triathlon is hosting the second of four training days at Egg Harbor’s Murphy Park on July 18.  The turn arrows for the bike and run courses for the Sprint and Half Iron courses will be marked with white paint. In addition, a turn buoy has been installed off Murphy Park beach for […]

  • Riley to Pursue Career in Auto Repair

    As a new graduate of Gibraltar High School, Jenna Riley is crystal clear on her goal: to operate her own repair business for trucks and autos in northern Door County. “I plan to come back here and run my own shop,” she said. She’s already completed a few classes at Northeast Wisconsin Technical College in […]

  • NWTC Creates New Diversity Position on Leadership Team

    Taking a critical step toward achieving its diversity, equity and inclusion goals, Northeast Wisconsin Technical College (NWTC) has created a new position on its executive leadership team: chief officer for diversity, equity and inclusion.  NWTC President Jeff Rafn said the new position “will help us initiate, sustain and evaluate efforts to close achievement gaps, bring […]

  • Southern Door’s Farm to School Program Gets Boost with $50K Grant

    There is an abundance of farms within the Southern Door School District, yet only 2 percent of the school’s food budget, if dairy products are excluded, is spent on local producers, said Patti Vickman, superintendent of the Southern Door School District (SDSD). Vickman wants to change that – and a $50,000 grant that the district has […]

  • Medical Center Auxiliary Names New President

    During the June Door County Medical Center Auxiliary board meeting, Maribeth Hetherington turned over the reins of auxiliary president to Bruce Shewchuk. Hetherington spent 33 years as a nurse in numerous clinical, management and leadership positions. Door County Medical Center enticed her out of retirement to become its chief change officer, an eight-year role during […]

  • Sunshine House Launches Clean Seals

    A little more than a month ago, Sunshine House launched Clean Seals: stickers with lightweight adhesive and a perforation in the center that breaks if a hotel room has been entered after cleaning.  “These seals are designed to assure guests at hotels, motels, B&Bs and resorts that their safety is important,” said Jeremy Paszczak, director […]

  • County Residents Save More Than $450,000 in Medical Expenses Thanks to Neighbor to Neighbor

    Neighbor to Neighbor (N2N) services benefited 1,563 individuals in 2019. Door County residents saved more than $450,000 in medical expenses by using the organization’s services. Ninety-eight volunteers donated 2,277.5 hours to facilitate medical-equipment loans in three Door County locations, maintain equipment, serve as peer companions for homebound individuals, provide respite care for family caregivers, staff […]

  • Wait of Nicolet Welcome Service to Provide Resources to Newcomers

    Linda Wait will be welcoming newcomers in and around the Door County area through the Nicolet Welcome Service and will provide a welcome packet filled with gift certificates and information about educational and medical options, local retailers, restaurants, recreation and more. To participate in Nicolet Welcome Service and receive a welcome to the community, contact […]

  • Ridges’ Director to Pursue Master’s in Public Health

    After 14 years as executive director of The Ridges Sanctuary, Steve Leonard is leaving in August to pursue a master’s degree and career in public health, with a focus on global environmental health. Leonard said that although this was not an easy decision, he felt it was the right time to pursue his interest in […]

  • North Shore Bank Offers Free Coin Counting and Exchange

    There’s a shortage of coins circulating nationwide, which is especially affecting retailers who accept and give change in cash and must alter their business operations. In response, North Shore Bank (NSB) is offering community members free coin counting and will exchange the coins for paper dollars. According to the bank, a reduction in coin production […]

  • Savory Spoon Hosts Traveling Sharpener, Lavender Fair

    The Savory Spoon Cooking School, 12042 Hwy 42 in Ellison Bay, will host Kelly Lewis, The Traveling Sharpener, July 25, 10 am – 2 pm. Sharp knives are best for kitchen safety, so now’s the time to get knives – as well as scissors, garden clippers and more – professionally sharpened. (Lewis has separate sharpeners for garden […]

  • Suds with Sophie: Barley, The Perfect Brewing Grain

    by Sophie Nelson, [email protected] This is part two of a series on beer ingredients. Find part one here. Beer has been an important part of cultures that has been brewed in a – sometimes speculated – culturally vital way for millennia. This is especially interesting considering the lack of scientific understanding of the brewing process until […]

  • Cherry Picking Season is Here

    The time is now to find sweet cherries in Door County’s orchards and markets! The sweet varieties have ripened and are ready to pick yourself or purchase by the pint, quart or pail. It will be another week or so before the famous “Door County cherry” – the Montmorency – will fully ripen. This tart variety […]

  • Sister Bay Bowl Adds Outdoor Seating

    Few restaurants have faced as big of a challenge during the COVID pandemic as the Sister Bay Bowl, the generational mainstay known to serve as many as 800 fish-fry lovers on a Friday night in addition to a full bowling alley.  Just before Independence Day weekend, the restaurant’s owners added a new outdoor seating area […]

  • Red Oak Winery Opens at New Location

    A new wine-tasting room has opened in Carlsville. Red Oak Winery owners Gigi and Andy Wagener have moved from their operation at 3017 Enterprise Dr. in Sturgeon Bay to 5781 Hwy 42 in Carlsville.  The winery opened in 2004 and had been at the previous location since 2012. The new tasting room opened officially on […]

  • Peninsula Players Receives CARES Act Grant

    Peninsula Players Theatre has received a Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act grant from the Wisconsin Arts Board in the amount of $8,000: the maximum amount an organization can receive.  The grant is made possible with additional CARES Act funding from the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA). As a form of emergency […]

  • Northern Sky Theater Cancels Fall Indoor Season

    Northern Sky Theater has canceled its 2020 fall indoor season in the new Gould Theater because of ongoing concerns related to the pandemic. It had hoped to present Naked Radio in September and October, plus And If Elected in October.  Instead, Northern Sky Theater will instead host a virtual season that includes a July 17 […]

  • Peninsula Players Theatre Cancels Remainder of Season

    Peninsula Players Theatre has canceled the remainder of its 2020 season, which had included an autumn performance of Richard Dresser’s Rounding Third.  In mid-April, the nonprofit professional theater company had announced the cancellation of its 85th summer season for the safety of its artists, volunteers, patrons, employees and the community. Peninsula Players has kept its […]

  • Crossroads’ Virtual Trail Run a Big Success

    Crossroads at Big Creek’s 2020 virtual trail run – Going the Distance … at a Distance – provided motivation for 168 runners and walkers to explore their stay-at-home locations, other places in the state and beyond while holding Crossroads Learning Center and Preserves in their hearts. Walkers and runners sent in selfies from their many trail-run […]

  • Sail thru the Avenues Sidewalk Sales July 30

    Sail thru the Avenues sidewalk sales will take place July 30, 9 am – 5 pm, throughout Sturgeon Bay. Discover interesting finds and great bargains during this citywide event that includes, but is not limited to, Jefferson Street, Madison Avenue, Egg Harbor Road and Green Bay Road. In addition, 3rd Avenue will be closed to […]

  • Join the LGHS for A Day in the Country

    The Liberty Grove Historical Society (LGHS) is continuing the tradition of the Antique Tractor and Arts Festival by hosting A Day in the Country in Liberty Grove on July 25, 10 am – 3 pm. LGHS is partnering with Door County North and local eating establishments in offering the LGHS grounds, 11831 Hwy 42 in  […]

  • Join the Work Parties at Crossroads at Big Creek

    Want to do something good for the Earth? Join Habitat Healers at Crossroads at Big Creek for work parties on Tuesdays, 6-8 pm; and/or Fridays, 7-9 am. Tackle buckthorn, honeysuckle and reed canary grass; build boardwalks; tend the Bird and Butterfly Garden; and more, all in a COVID-safe way.  Meet at the Crossroads maintenance building, […]

  • Hike with a Naturalist at The Ridges Sanctuary

    Join a naturalist at The Ridges Sanctuary (RidgesSanctuary.org) for a relaxing, informative hike through the sanctuary, including the Upper Range Light lantern room and historical cabins. The hikes, held Tuesday – Friday, 10 am, are appropriate for all ages.  Advance registration is required, and hiking groups are limited to six participants. The cost is $5 […]

  • Sturgeon Bay’s Under the Stars Night Market

    Destination Sturgeon Bay is partnering with the City of Sturgeon Bay to host Sturgeon Bay’s first Under the Stars Night Market. It began July 11, 5-9 pm, and will run every Saturday until the end of August to allow businesses along 3rd Avenue to use the closed streets and sidewalks to extend their businesses. A […]

  • Live-Music Updates: July 17, 2020

    This week, pair live music with wine at Harbor Ridge, von Stiehl, Door 44, Parallel 44 and Simon Creek; or grab a brew and a show at One Barrel and Door County Brewing Co. Enjoy dinner with a soundtrack at Mojo Rosa’s, The Cookery, Sonny’s, Joe Jo’s and Kitty O’Reillys Irish Pub. Check out live […]

  • ADRC’s Drive-In Musical Performance Series

    Enjoy some relaxing music and a delicious carryout meal from the Aging & Disability Resource Center (ADRC) on July 17, 11 am, through its drive-in musical performance series. Listen to the music of Ben Larsen in your vehicle, or take a chair to sit outside. Audience members must sit a minimum of six feet apart […]

  • Helmets and Shields Purchase Back on the Table

    Helmets and shields are again being considered for the Door County Sheriff’s Office after Adopt a Soldier of Door County offered to donate $10,000 to pay for the gear. “We’re not considering this riot gear,” said Nancy Hutchinson, founder and president of the local Adopt a Soldier chapter. “We’re not looking at it that way. […]

  • Obituary: Wesley W. Fischer

    October 11, 1928 ~ July 11, 2020 Wesley W. Fischer 92, a loving father, husband, grandfather, farmer and mechanic died, Saturday, July 11, 2020, after a long simple life of providing for his family. He was born October 11th, 1928 at his family farm outside Egg Harbor. He attended grade school in West Jacksonport and Sevastopol […]

  • Obituary: Darlene Mae Davies

    April 7, 1938 ~ June 27, 2020 Darlene Mae Davies, 82 of Washington Island, Wisconsin, died on Saturday, June 27, 2020 at Bellin Memorial Hospital in Green Bay, Wisconsin. Darlene was born in April of 1938 in Chicago, Illinois, daughter of Louis and Ella Anselmini. Darlene grew up in Chicago and graduated from Lake View […]

  • Obituary: Rosemary Voight

    November 29, 1940 ~ January 23, 2020 Rosemary Voight, 79, died January 23, 2020 after losing her battle to cancer, in Winter Haven, Florida. She was born November 29,1940 in Waukegan, Illinois to Hannes and Lois Thorarinson. They lived on Washington Island, Wisconsin. As a child, Rosemary helped her father with just about everything that […]

  • Obituary: Christina “Tina” Vogel

    February 3, 1944 ~ July 7, 2020 Christina “Tina” Jean Vogel, 76 of Sturgeon Bay, died from breast cancer on July 7, 2020. Tina touched so many people’s lives over the 76 years she lived. She spent all of her living days taking care of others. That was her nature. She will leave special memories behind, […]

  • Gray-Aire Farms Diversifies with Hemp, Airbnb

    Like so many dairy farms in Door County, Gray-Aire Farms has a history stretching back for generations – and a corresponding history of necessary diversification to change with the times. For brothers John and Paul Gray, that means growing industrial hemp and selling all the products from their farm, including ground beef, maple syrup, eggs, sweet […]

  • No Easy Path Forward: Closure of Barker Child Development Center impacts families, employers

    The closure of the YMCA’s Barker Child Development Center in Sturgeon Bay has sent families and employers scrambling to fill the gap, but leaders say there’s no easy solution. The YMCA’s board of directors announced June 30 that it will not resume child care services at the Barker Child Development Center. The center discontinued its […]

  • Obituary: Peggy Ann Borgemeister

    June 10, 1951 ~ July 6, 2020 Peggy Ann Borgemeister (nee Walker), 69, of Fort Lauderdale, FL, died July 6, 2020 in Sturgeon Bay, WI, surrounded by loving friends and family members. Born on June 10, 1951 in Bartow, FL to Billard F. Walker, Jr. and Betty Ann Walker (nee Powell), Peggy graduated from Lakeland […]