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Peninsula Pulse June 11-18,2021

In this issue

  • Door County Public Health Thanks the Community

    This past year has been tough for everyone. Door County Public Health created a video to thank all community members, partners and those who went above and beyond during the pandemic.

  • DCEDC Seeks Residents and Businesses’ Input on Broadband Needs

    The Door County Economic Development Corporation (DCEDC) is currently working with a consultant to determine broadband needs throughout all of Door County as one of two priority projects (the other is housing). As a part of the DCEDC Broadband Infrastructure Engineering Assessment, input on Door County residents and businesses’ current experiences with broadband services and needs is critically important. […]

  • Server of the Week: Abbi Sitte

    Abbi Sitte @ Analog Ice Cream and Coffee, 10649 N. Bay Shore Dr. in Sister Bay Whether you’re ordering coffee, lemonade, cookies or ice cream, Abbi’s service is as great as it seems. She’s ready for work bright and early with the morning sun, But after work, you’ll find her soaking up sunshine for fun. […]

  • Packers Will Tee Up for Boys and Girls Club

    After a one-year hiatus, former Green Bay Packers and fellow supporters of the Boys and Girls Club of Door County will tee it up next week for a good cause.  The golf outing at Horseshoe Bay serves as the organization’s major fundraiser, and event promoter Dave Resch said golfers quickly reserved all 144 tee times […]

  • Postage Increases Planned

    The United States Postal Service (USPS) plans to adjust postage rates as of Aug. 29 for the public and commercial mail users. The cost of a first-class stamp will increase from 55 to 58 cents.  For community newspapers using periodicals mail to reach readers (such as the Peninsula Pulse), the average rate increase will be […]

  • Scenic Byway Ribbon-cutting June 17

    A ribbon-cutting ceremony celebrating the designation of the Door County Coastal Byway as a new National Scenic Byway will be held Thursday, June 17, 1:30 pm, at Lakeside Park in Jacksonport. In February, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration named the Door County Coastal Byway a National Scenic Byway. The scenic, 66-mile route […]

  • Gibraltar Aims for Quick Turnaround

    In the wake of the April and May resignations by Gereon Methner, secondary-school principal; Tim Mulrain, director of instruction and pupil services; and Brian Annen, elementary-school principal, the Gibraltar School Board authorized Superintendent Tina Van Meer on June 3 to communicate with candidates who express interest in the work, ascertain their interests and strengths, and […]

  • Liberty Grove Puts Home Up for Sale

    The Town of Liberty Grove is seeking bids for the home formerly owned by Betty Weborg on the Gills Rock shoreline at 12695 Hwy 42. The buyer must remove the home from the parcel by Dec. 31, 2021, and will be responsible for the costs to move the building. The underlying land will not be […]

  • Kitchens Pushes City PRAT

    Rep. Joel Kitchens (R-Sturgeon Bay) asked Gov. Tony Evers last week during a one-to-one talk to support a budget motion that would authorize a premier resort area tax (PRAT) for the City of Sturgeon Bay. A PRAT is a 0.5% increase in the sales tax of a tourism-dependent area that helps to fund infrastructure used […]

  • U.S. Senate Candidate Alex Lasry Visits Door County

    The race is forming for the 2022 midterm elections, with five Democrats already running for U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson’s seat in Wisconsin. Johnson has not yet announced whether he’ll run for a third term during the November 2022 race. The U.S. Senate primary will be held Aug. 9, 2022. One from that field of five, […]

  • GALAXY GAZING: Spring Galaxies: M81, Bode’s Galaxy

    Amateur astronomers always look forward to spring because the nights are warmer; our fingers don’t stick to frozen mounts; and our breath won’t instantly frost up our eyepieces. As a bonus, spring skies are often known as the Galaxy Season: the Northern Hemisphere’s ideal time of the year, when most of the larger, brighter and […]

  • Town of Gibraltar Sues Alibi Dock over Alleged Town Dock Issues

    The Town of Gibraltar has moored itself to a legal battle with a local business owner by bringing a suit against the owners of the Alibi Marina. The suit stems from the town’s contention that North Point Marina, LLC, the owner of Alibi Marina, is using its easterly pier, known as Pier 4, for transient […]

  • Scaled-Down Development Still Draws Opposition

    The Door County committee charged with oversight of land use took a first look at the conceptual plans for a bluff-top development of condominium units across Bay Shore Drive from George K. Pinney County Park within the Town of Sevastopol. There are no special permits required, but the project does need to meet the requirements […]

  • Sevastopol STR Ordinance up for Second Board Discussion

    Sevastopol’s town board is scheduled to discuss its short-term-rental (STR) ordinance for a second time, but it will again defer a decision.The discussion-only topic will be on the board’s agenda on Monday, June 21. Also known as “tourist rooming houses,” STRs are any residential dwelling offered for rent for fewer than 29 consecutive days. They […]

  • WILD THINGS: Lake Michigan Salmon, Trout Provide ‘Reel’ Thrill

    If you’re into the high-flying acrobatics of Lake Michigan rainbow trout or the sizzling-drag runs of Chinook salmon, now’s the time to book a trip or hook up with friends and family members on a private rig.  The Big Pond is off to one of its fastest starts in years, and anglers are hoping things […]

  • Pebble Beach: Restoring a Hidden Gem

    The landscape of ridge swales inland from Pebble Beach was transformed after just a few hours. Garlic mustard was yanked from the ground, allowing native ferns and sarsaparilla to breathe. Red, yellow and green flags that dotted the property were swiftly replaced with young choke cherry trees, ninebark and white cedars. Many hands made for […]

  • Celebrate 15 Years of the Steel Bridge Songfest Online

    Listen up before you tune in June 12 The Steel Bridge Creative Foundation has made Steel Bridge Songs Volumes 1-15 available for streaming and download on Spotify, Apple Music and all other digital platforms. More than 300 Steel Bridge songs, written at the Holiday Music Motel in Sturgeon Bay, are available to listen to ahead […]

  • Suds With Sophie: Countdown to Beer Fest

    I recently talked to Kait Shanks about the Door County Beer Festival, to be held June 19 in Baileys Harbor. She works with a team from the Peninsula Pacers to put on the event, and her responsibilities include selecting, coordinating and organizing the many breweries that will showcase their beers. But Shanks takes the role […]

  • Construction Craze Continues

    Demand for materials outpaces supply Sturgeon Bay Mayor David Ward said 2021 is shaping up to be a strong year for new-home building in his city.  “In a typical year – in the entire year – seven or eight housing starts would be a pretty good year,” he said. “So it’s been at a very […]

  • Peninsula Poetry: Lee LeVoy

    Peninsula Poetry is a monthly column curated by the Door County Poets Collective, a 12-member working group that was formed to publish Soundings: Door County in Poetry in 2015 and continues to meet. Originally from Chicago, Lee LeVoy moved to Door County in 1999 with her husband, Hugh. Their dream of living on their 17 […]

  • From Functional to Fine Art: Wendy Carpenter’s abstract textiles

    After 40 years of creating textile art, Wendy Carpenter still uses a  methodology that leads her to focus, simplify and eliminate; to make her work better and stronger; and to be inspired by nature – but in an abstract way. “It was in the mid-70s, when weaving was just becoming an art meme instead of […]

  • Metal Sculptures Hoisted into Place at Kress Pavilion

    The works of Richard Edelman will be on display for a year Two truckloads of art sculptures – some abstract, others not at all – arrived in Egg Harbor last week and will remain on public display for the next year in the form of a free exhibition inside and outside the village’s Donald and […]

  • Hike This: A Learning Experience at The Ridges Sanctuary

    Wandering along trail after trail last year was a nice way to get to know the great hikes of the county, but now that group hikes are returning, guided hikes offer a more educational experience. Although there’s a variety of terrains throughout The Ridges Sanctuary, it’s hard to get lost here – just walk parallel […]

  • Wild Ones: PlayCleanGo

    Understanding and preventing the spread of invasives Last year brought an increase in our collective appreciation for outdoor activities. People became interested in gardening and landscaping, and many folks took advantage of our local parks and preserves. That’s wonderful, except when the increase in outdoor activity results in the spread of invasive species. Could it […]

  • 24 Miles a Day

    Nate Bell’s biking journey may improve road conditions for all cyclists Being stuck at home during the COVID-19 pandemic gave many people more downtime than ever before. Some used that time to improve their cooking skills. Others baked. Some covered their dining room table in jigsaw puzzles.  And then there were those who used the […]

  • Five Authors Visit Bearded Heart

    Bearded Heart Coffee in Baileys Harbor will host media maven and entrepreneur Julie Lokun, along with four authors from her indie Media Queens Publishing House, on June 20, 12-2 pm. Lokun invites the public to meet the authors, purchase a signed book and enter their drawing. She’s also planning a simultaneous live podcast.  The featured […]

  • Wiemer Shares ‘The Assignment’ on Washington Island

    Liza Wiemer, author of the young-adult novel Hello?, will sign copies of her latest novel, The Assignment, on June 18, 1:30-3 pm. She’ll be under the garden tent at Fair Isle Books (fairisleshop.com), 1885 Detroit Harbor Road on Washington Island. While Wiemer was traveling to promote her first book, she saw a news story in […]

  • Revolinski Shifts to Fiction With ‘Stealing Away’

    Kevin Revolinski, author of Wisconsin’s Best Beer Guide and Best Tent Camping, has published a new collection of 12 fictional stories called Stealing Away. He’ll sign copies June 12, 2-4 pm, at Novel Bay Booksellers (novelbaybooks.com), 44 N. 3rd Ave. in Sturgeon Bay. Stealing Away tells the tales of a high-school runaway, two orphans with […]

  • Croyle Signs New Book, ‘Joyfinity’

    Algoma author Tricia Jeane Croyle will be signing her fifth book, Joyfinity: The WOW of Energy Mastery, on June 12, 10 am – 2 pm, at Café Tlazo, 607 4th St. in Algoma. Her book is available at bookstores, on Amazon and as an e-book.  Want to experience what happens when joy meets infinity? Croyle’s book […]

  • Write On, Door County and ‘8142 Review’ Receive WAB Grant

    The Wisconsin Arts Board (WAB) has awarded a Creative Communities Grant to Write On, Door County, in partnership with the Peninsula Pulse and 8142 Review. This grant program supports projects that further WAB’s goals in the areas of arts education, folk and traditional arts, and local arts development in the state. Write On has received […]

  • Exhibit Depicts Ephraim Through the Years

    The Ephraim Historical Foundation’s (EHF, ephraim.org) 2021 feature exhibit, Depicting a Village: Ephraim through Artists’ Eyes, will open June 19. Works by Edgar S. Cameron, Mayble Holland, Karsten Topelmann and more will offer a glimpse into how artists have portrayed Ephraim’s landscape, landmarks, experiences, memories and connections since the 1860s. The exhibit opening is part […]

  • DNR Stamp Contest Supports Species Management

    The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is accepting entries for the Wild Turkey, Pheasant and Waterfowl Stamp design contests. The winning artwork will appear on the 2022 Wisconsin Wild Turkey Stamp. “This is a unique opportunity for Wisconsin artists to showcase your artwork statewide, while also promoting wildlife management,” said Alaina Gerrits, DNR assistant […]

  • Tullbane Captures Disappearing Landscapes

    Village Green Lodge will host an exhibit by watercolor artist Joe Tullbane June 19-20, 1-6 pm. The artist considers himself a realist who offers views of the disappearing landscapes he’s visited. Tullbane (watercolorartbyjoe.Ecwid.com) paints many subjects, including birds, flowers, Wisconsin and Florida scenery, and sights from his international travels as a retired Army officer, former […]

  • Egg Harbor Installs New Sculpture

    The Egg Harbor Public Arts Initiative (paiofeggharborwi.org) and the Kress Pavilion are hosting Expression in Metal: Sculptures by Richard Edelman, which comprises one bronze and six large-scale steel outdoor sculptures that will be on display through May 2022. Small models, casts, sketches, photos and text about the creative process will also be available for viewing […]

  • Photography Show at Plum Bottom’s Downtown Gallery

    Visit Plum Bottom Gallery’s downtown Egg Harbor location June 12, 10 am – 4 pm, to see photographic works ranging from images of the county printed on aluminum to works created through fractal photography.  Photographers Paul and Lisa Schultz hope to inspire viewers of their work to appreciate the natural beauty surrounding them. Mixed-media artist Lori […]

  • ARTicipation Hosts Opening Celebration

    Join photographers Mike and Laura Caplan of Caplan Studios Vault, and mixed-media artist Claudia Scimeca of Claudia Scimeca Art, on June 11, 5-8 pm, for an evening of hors d’oeuvres, beverages and fun to celebrate the opening of their new studio and gallery, ARTicipation, at 10 E. Oak St. in Sturgeon Bay. Find out more […]

  • Textile Art Featured at Turtle Ridge

    Turtle Ridge Gallery Boutique continues its passion for natural fibers by featuring the work of Illinois fiber artist Andrea LeBeau during June. The textile-art form of fusion or nuno felting blends recycled and sustainably harvested silk and natural fibers with a water-and-soap massage to produce a strong, resilient textile that’s luxuriously soft, flowing and versatile. […]

  • Painting Meets Sculpture in Peninsula School of Art

    Peninsula School of Art is presenting a free exhibit, 2.5 D: Breaking the Surface, June 4 – July 17 to highlight the work of 10 regionally and nationally recognized artists who are exploring the intersection of painting and sculpture. Mary Ellen Sisulak of Ellison Bay stretched leather over a manipulated wood panel to form the […]

  • DCHS Featured Pet: Stormy

    Meet Stormy (wihumane.org/adopt/animal?id=47830536), a five-month-old puppy who’s available for adoption at the Wisconsin Humane Society (WHS) Door County Campus in Sturgeon Bay. She was transferred to WHS from an overcrowded shelter in Alabama and can’t wait to find a new, loving home here in Door County.  Stormy currently weighs 34 pounds and likely has a […]

  • St. Luke’s Grant Helps Zimbabwe Community Build a Well

    The people of Beitbridge in southern Zimbabwe have a new community well thanks to a $5,000 grant from St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Sister Bay. Beitbridge is in the Diocese of Masvingo, which has a companion relationship with the Episcopal Diocese of Fond du Lac. Interest in this relationship blossomed when the Rt. Rev. Godfrey […]

  • Anonymous Donor Pledges $50,000 for a Matching Challenge to DCMM Lighthouse Tower

    During the christening of the Jim Kress Maritime Lighthouse Tower, an anonymous supporter pledged $50,000 for a matching challenge between May 22 and Aug. 31. The donor will match, dollar for dollar, the first $1,000 of all contributions made to the project this summer, up to a total of $100,000. This means that every contribution, […]

  • NWTC Offers CPR and AED Classes, June 29 and Aug. 16

    The NWTC Learning and Innovation Center is partnering with the American Heart Association to offer classes in CPR Heartsaver AED, 8 am – 12 pm; and Heartsaver First Aid, 1-5 pm, on June 29 and Aug. 16. Each class costs $38 per person. A CPR mask is required for the CPR course; take one or purchase […]

  • Blood Drive Held at Sturgeon Bay Church, June 18

    Sturgeon Bay Community Church, 515 N. 12th Ave., will host a blood drive June 18, 12-5:30 pm. To schedule your donation (appointments are required), call 800.280.4102, email Laura Roberts at [email protected], or visit communityblood.org/donor. Log in, click Donate Now, and search for sponsor code OT141.

  • Door County Coastal Byway Receives National Scenic Byway Status

    The Door County Coastal Byway has been awarded National Scenic Byway status, which gives it national recognition as it provides a natural and cultural experience along the 66-mile loop of Highways 42 and 57. Byway Experience Hubs along the route offer stories about each community and tell about nearby sites to explore. A ribbon-cutting ceremony […]

  • Orthober Returns to the Door County Historical Museum for Taxidermy Demonstration

    The Door County Historical Museum will host internationally renowned taxidermist Mike Orthober on June 12, 10 am – 4 pm, for the first of three live demonstrations this summer. Orthober, creator of the museum’s Seasons of Life diorama and a member of the Taxidermy Hall of Fame, will demonstrate his skills as he prepares a […]

  • Tour the Door

    By land or by water, you can explore the Door in so many ways. The organizations listed below offer regular tours. To learn more details, call the organization or visit its website. Some organizations only offer tours during the summer and have modified tour operations or regulations due to COVID-19. Please review them before scheduling. […]

  • Volunteer to Get Beer!

    Beer Fest is sold out, but you can still get in The Door County Beer Festival is sold out, but you can still join the tasting and fun by filling a volunteer shift. Shifts run 11 am – 1:30 pm and 1:30-4 pm. When you fill a shift, you’ll get a pass to hang out and […]

  • Life on Chambers Island

    The Blahniks have maintained the Chambers Island Lighthouse for 45 years Mary Ann Blahnik remembers the day her husband, Joel, pitched the idea of becoming caretakers of the Chambers Island Lighthouse.  “I wasn’t thrilled,” she said without hesitation. But at the same time, she understood why the Town of Gibraltar’s ad for volunteer lighthouse caretakers […]

  • Ride Door County’s Spring Century June 19

    There’s still time to register for the Peninsula Century Spring Classic to ride Door County on Saturday, June 19. Choose from routes of 25, 50, 62 or 100 miles that explore some of the most scenic byways on the peninsula.  Register at PeninsulaCenturySpringClassic.com through Thursday, June 17; in person at packet pickup on Friday, June […]

  • Watch Fireworks from Top of Kress

    BookNook Gardens is back hosting its third annual Top of the Kress fireworks-viewing celebration July 3, 7 pm. Tickets include a catered boxed meal from Mojo Rosa’s and Pink Bakery, a silent auction, piano entertainment, table activities, ice cream and popcorn to eat while enjoying the fireworks from a great vantage point.  Tickets ($50 for […]

  • Raffle, New Exhibits at Maritime Museum

    Tickets are on sale for the Door County Maritime Museum’s (DCMM, dcmm.org) annual wooden-boat raffle – this year for a 17-foot Rangeley lake boat, handcrafted by the instructors and students in the museum’s 2020-21 Wooden Boatbuilding Class. This one-of-a-kind wooden boat comes with a trailer donated by American Marine and Motor Sports. Raffle-ticket purchases support the […]

  • Crossroads Aids Well-Water Monitoring Program

    This summer, the Environmental Research and Innovation Center at UW-Oshkosh will again offer its community well-water monitoring program at Crossroads at Big Creek. Community members may pick up and drop off water-testing kits Monday – Thursday, 12-3 pm, throughout the summer.  The test for coliform bacteria costs $20; nitrates, $25: arsenic, $27; cumulative, $5; and […]

  • Tour Horseshoe Bay Farms June 12

    Horseshoe Bay Farms will host a guided tour June 12, 1 pm. During the approximately one-hour tour, a guide will lead participants around the property and into select historical barns to share the nonprofit’s rich history and future vision.  The tour at 7212 Horseshoe Bay Road in Egg Harbor is limited to 10 participants. Tickets […]

  • Public Health Takes Vaccination Clinics On the Road

    Door County Public Health continues to offer free COVID-19 vaccinations to people age 12 and up throughout Door County. This week the department will take its vaccine clinic on the road to make it even easier for residents to get their dose.  The vaccine is available at the following times and locations: • Every Wednesday […]

  • Obituary: Timothy Joseph Fuerst

    December 19, 1965 ~ June 5, 2021 Timothy Joseph Fuerst, 55, of Sister Bay, formerly of Sturgeon Bay, died early Saturday, June 5, 2021 at Door County Medical Center ER in Sturgeon Bay after a sudden illness.  He was born December 19, 1965, in Algoma, the son of the late William and Dorothy (Ehlers) Fuerst. […]

  • Obituary: Richard Allen Campbell

    September 1, 1935 ~ June 1, 2021 Richard Allen Campbell, 85, of Sturgeon Bay, died at home from natural causes with his wife, Jan, by his side on Tuesday, June 1, 2021. He was born September 1, 1935, in Anderson, Indiana, son of the late Jess and Laura Campbell of Whitewater, Wisconsin. He was a […]