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Peninsula Pulse June 9-16, 2023

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In this issue

  • Gibraltar Awards Liquor License to Welcker’s Lounge

    The Town of Gibraltar has awarded its reserve Class B liquor license to Welcker’s Lounge, a new restaurant and bar located in the former Whistling Swan restaurant space. Welcker’s was up against three other applicants for the $20,000 license: the White Gull Inn, Wild Tomato Wood-Fired Pizza and Grille, and Pelletier’s Restaurant & Fish Boil.  […]

  • Past and Future Collide at Kewaunee Fantasy Fair

    History and fantasy will come together for the third Times of Future Past festival June 10-11, 10 am – 5 pm, at Kewaunee’s Winter Park, N3787 Ransom Moore Lane.  Produced and managed by an all-female steering committee, this event combines historical figures such as Mark Twain, Mary Todd Lincoln and Sarge’s Heroes from WWII, alongside […]

  • Hickory Clubs in Action

    A park employee has helped to schedule an old-fashioned golf event as part of Peninsula State Park Golf Course’s centennial observation this year. When course general manager Jason Daubner, park superintendent Eric Hyde and new park manager Matt Ernst met to discuss the July 28-30 celebration, Ernst had an idea: Why not invite players who […]

  • Letter to the Editor: Emergency Veterinary Service Needed

    Folks, we’ve been coming to Baileys Harbor year-round for over 51 years and bought our condo 20 years ago, so we’re not new to Door County.  Recently, on a Friday afternoon, my Illinois vet recommended I take our 1-year-old puppy to a vet for a suspected kennel cough. Though it was not an emergency, I […]

  • Crossroads Launches New Website

    Crossroads at Big Creek in Sturgeon Bay has launched a new website at crossroadsatbigcreek.org to better reflect the organization’s growth during recent years and what it offers today. The site, designed by Brilliant Marketing, features photography that highlights Crossroads’ natural beauty and wildlife, as well as a user-friendly events calendar, one-click sign-up for volunteer opportunities, […]

  • Forever Grateful Boutique, Brian Pier Gallery Open Second Location

    Bonnie Mirkiewicz and Brian Pier – the owners and operators, since 2015, of Forever Grateful Boutique and the Brian Pier Gallery – have leased the former Northern Territory building at 20 S. Madison Ave. in Sturgeon Bay. The establishments at both locations offer a mix of new, vintage and consignment merchandise and art.

  • Child Care Benefit Pilot Program

    United Way of Door County’s Child Care Benefit Pilot Program is giving Door County employers the opportunity to offer a child care stipend to employees who use child care services through matching funds provided by the Women’s Fund of Door County. Families with full-time employment and at least one child younger than 5 in child […]

  • Open Houses at New Sister Bay Clinic, DirectCare

    On June 11, 11 am – 2 pm, Door County Medical Center (DCMC) will host an open house at its new clinic and rehab facility, 2345 Canterbury Lane in Sister Bay. Brian Stephens, DCMC’s CEO and president; and Patti Vickman, president of DCMC’s board of directors, will host a dedication ceremony at 11 am, followed by […]

  • Around the Door: Wildfire Skies and High Fire Danger

    A paddling group takes a quiet journey on the bay of Green Bay near Fish Creek, beneath the haze of a wildfire sky. Wildfire smoke from western Canada caused hazy skies in mid-May over Door County. This week, the haze was back, but, according to the National Weather Service, it was coming from a different […]

  • J-1 Social Security Sign-Up Days

    Business owners with J-1 visa students are invited to join Destination Door County on June 21 and July 14 at the Ephraim Village Hall, 9996 Hwy 42, to get BridgeUSA Summer Work Travel Program participants signed up to receive Social Security cards. All sign-ups are by appointment only, and appointments are scheduled in the order […]

  • Egg Harbor, Baileys Harbor Tackling STRs

    The Village of Egg Harbor and the Town of Baileys Harbor are the latest Door County communities to revisit existing short-term rental (STR) ordinances or adopt new ones with an eye toward stricter regulations.  Sevastopol tightened up its restrictions in April in an attempt to slow the growth of new STRs within its communities, and […]

  • Weigh-on-the-Water Fishing Rules Approved for Sturgeon Bay

    Use of the City of Sturgeon Bay’s launching ramps and other facilities for holding catch-and-release bass tournaments will be limited in May and June to only the weigh-on-the-water variety, beginning next year, following action Tuesday by the Common Council. Mayor David Ward broke a 3-3 tie vote in favor of implementing the changes, which also […]

  • Three Manure Spills in Door County This Season

    Three manure spills occurred this spring in Door County – an unusually high number, according to Tim Dahl, conservationist with the Door County Soil and Water Conservation Department (SWCD). The first one happened in Union on April 17, the second in Clay Banks on April 27 and the third also in Union on May 3. […]

  • How Much Manure Is Too Much?

    Local conservationist offers a typical scenario Some Door County residents may never see or smell a field receiving a fresh application of manure. Even if they do, the majority of those residents won’t be farmers – there are only about 1,000 producers remaining in Door County, according to the latest figures from the U.S. Department […]

  • Server of the Week: Andrea Polander

    In Baileys Harbor is where you’ll find Sway,With Andrea serving up treats that’ll make your day! Andrea is there to make your time fine,While you enjoy food and drinks in the sunshine. The community of people is what she loves most,Getting to know others, she makes a great host! Her passion outside of work lies […]

  • Yoga In Peninsula State Park

    This summer, on Saturdays at 8 am, Kind Soul Yoga will offer yoga in Peninsula State Park at Nicolet Bay.  Yoga instructor Janet De Voe – owner of Kind Soul Yoga – moved to Door County in 2019, but she and her family had already spent many years vacationing in the county and visited the park […]

  • Parent Corner: How Much Structure is too Much?

    by KAREN COREKIN-DeLaMER, Education and Community Relations Coordinator, Northern Door Children’s Center I’m a dad to two great children. My boy is seven, and my girl is three. I’ve recently been working remotely, and I’ve arranged my schedule to have them home with me two days a week this summer. They will be attending a […]

  • Sonnet Contest Winners

    Liesl Nelson, Madelyn Wind and Jill Melchoir were named the winners of Door Shakespeare’s Sonnet Contest, which asked contestants to harness the spirit of Orlando and put their pen to paper. “I was thrilled with the response from contestants and was excited to receive submissions from around the country,” said contest judge Jerod Santek, artistic […]

  • History Book Benefits Historical Society

    The Sister Bay Historical Society has recently released Kathy Springer’s Just a Farmer’s Daughter: a collection of almost 70 short stories that tap memories of growing up on the last operational family farm in the Village of Sister Bay.  The book – available to purchase soon – covers 80-plus years of history, beginning with Melvin Kramer […]

  • Artist, Writer in Conversation

    Join artist Rebecca Carlton and writer Camille LeFevre – the winner of Write On, Door County’s 2023 Dick Scuglik Memorial Fellowship – for a conversation about their creative process June 15, 6:30 pm, at Write On, Door County, 4210 Juddville Road in Juddville. The fellowship is awarded annually to a writer working in ekphrasis – writing in […]

  • Book Recommendation: ‘The City of Brass’ by S.A. Chakraborty, read by Soneela Nankani

    recommended by GRACE JOHNSON, Peninsula Pulse assistant editor When I listened to the audiobook for The City of Brass the first time a few years ago, I fell in love – not only with the story, but with the performance of narrator Soneela Nankani. When it comes to audiobooks, I’m fairly picky about narrators. The cadence, […]

  • Peninsula Poetry: Mike Orlock

    Mike Orlock is a retired high school teacher and coach who, with his wife, Liz, moved to Sturgeon Bay in 2008. He enjoys travel, reading, writing, films and spending time with his two children and five grandchildren. From 1989 until 2001, he wrote film reviews for the Reporter-Progress newspapers in suburban Chicago and was a […]

  • Hello, Peninsula Pulse!

    by EMMA CHAMLEY, [email protected]  My name is Emma Chamley, and I am so excited to be joining the Peninsula Pulse this summer as its Arts & Entertainment intern. I’m from Champaign, Illinois, and I’m going to be a junior in the fall at Butler University in Indianapolis. (Go, Dawgs!)  Starting college, I had a lot […]

  • Wild Things: Tagged Bass Cruising the Bay

    Scientists are hoping anglers will help with data collection by KEVIN NAZE, [email protected], Peninsula Pulse contributor Anglers fishing the waters of Green Bay and its tributaries are being asked to keep an eye out for smallmouth bass with tiny brown tags inserted behind the dorsal fin.  Though there’s no reward for reporting the four-digit number […]

  • Revisit the Story of Herman Birnschein

    The Egg Harbor Historical Society will revisit a previously offered program, “The Herman Birnschein Story,” on June 13, 2 pm, at the Kress Pavilion, 7845 Church St. in Egg Harbor. Eileen Roberts will tell the story of her uncle Herman Birnschein and his time in Egg Harbor. In 1931, Birnschein built a three-bay service station […]

  • New Subdivision Being Designed in Sturgeon Bay

    The Sturgeon Bay Common Council gave final approval Tuesday to hire Stantec for $58,000 for engineering and surveying services on 5.5 acres of city-owned property on the west side to develop affordable, single-family housing. The land fronts the west side of South Hudson Avenue and the south ends of South Fulton and South Geneva avenues. […]

  • Liberty Grove Meeting Times Updated

    The Town of Liberty Grove has adjusted the start times for its town board and plan commission meetings. The town board will meet on the first and third Wednesday of the month at 6 pm, and the plan commission will meet on the second and fourth Wednesday of the month at 6 pm.

  • Former Zak Property Soon Under Development

    The Sturgeon Bay Common Council gave final approval Tuesday to a pair of recommendations related to the future development of a 17.8-acre parcel the city owns on the west side between South Neenah Avenue and Shiloh Road. The council approved the city hiring R.W. Baird for consulting services to create Tax Increment District (TID) #9 […]

  • Public-Transit Rides Increasing in Door County

    Ridership continues to rise on the County of Door’s public-transit services, including Door County Connect (DCC) and Door 2 Door Rides. During pre-COVID 2019, these services provided more than 47,720 rides. Since then, ridership has remained just under 40,000 rides until last year, when 42,130-plus rides were provided.  “Rides continue to increase each month,” said […]

  • Baileys Harbor Marina Dredged

    The Baileys Harbor Marina is back in business for launching following a much-needed dredging that took place last week.

  • $500,000 in Budget for Potawatomi Tower

    When Republicans received Gov. Tony Evers’ proposed capital budget earlier this year, the budget contained $6 million in cash for a project that would repair the Potawatomi State Park observation tower and construct an attached helical ramp. The project was overkill for those who had been advocating repair of the tower, estimated to cost around […]

  • Visitor Economy Breaks Records in Wisconsin, Door County

    Wisconsin’s tourism industry broke records in 2022 for total economic impact, with Door County also realizing records by building on the 2021 surge and holding on to post-pandemic gains. Gov. Tony Evers and Wisconsin Department of Tourism Secretary Anne Sayers announced June 6 that the tourism industry generated $23.7 billion in total economic impact, surpassing […]

  • Lease Renewal Favored for Museum Tug John Purves

    A tugboat moored for tours by the Door County Maritime Museum (DCMM) in Sturgeon Bay would be able to dock there for $1 for another year under a recommendation backed last week by the city’s Finance/Purchasing and Building Committee. The 170 feet of waterfront dock space where the John Purves is moored was made available […]

  • Walmart Again Challenging Sturgeon Bay Property Assessment

    Walmart is again challenging the assessment of its three parcels along Egg Harbor Road in the City of Sturgeon Bay. The Walmart Real Estate Business Trust – which last year reached an out-of-court settlement with the city to lower its assessment for property-tax years 2021 and 2022 – has filed an objection to its 2023 […]

  • Kaden Nelson-Hein Awarded Schmelzer Scholarship

    The fifth Steve Schmelzer Memorial Scholarship, in the amount of $1,000, was awarded to Kaden Nelson-Hein on June 1 during the Sturgeon Bay School District’s senior award ceremony. Steve Schmelzer positively affected many students throughout his 25-year social studies and coaching career at Sturgeon Bay School District.  This scholarship is available to students who exhibit […]

  • Gibraltar Middle School Shines at Honors Band Auditions

    Eight Gibraltar Middle School students – the highest number of Gibraltar participants since 2006 – proved their musical-instrument prowess during the recent Wisconsin School Middle Level Honors Project auditions.  Two students – Mia Glocke (trumpet) and Olive Wisniewski (horn) – secured positions in the Wisconsin School Middle Level Honors Band. Steven Prescott (trumpet) and Luke McCormack (trombone) were selected […]

  • CNC Program Wraps Up Inaugural Year

    High school students Noah Johnson and Lucas Apsey of Sevastopol; and Jayden Bedell, Caleb Meier and Kody Marchant of Southern Door, have all completed the first year of the Door County High School Machining Program held at Sevastopol.  Under the instruction of Garrett Sowl, the students learned how to operate 11 machines and earned 16 […]

  • Gibraltar Junior Cora Carriere Selected for Honors Orchestra

    Gibraltar High School junior Cora Carriere has been selected to perform in the Wisconsin State Music Association’s prestigious High School Honors Orchestra as recognition of her hard work and exceptional musical abilities on the flute. Mary Bell is her private flute teacher. The rigorous audition requirements set a high bar: Of the 72 flute players […]

  • Administrator Resigns from Southern Door School District

    Superintendent Peterson, board president still not commenting A press release last week announcing Chris Peterson’s resignation as district administrator for Southern Door County schools effective June 30 included mutually complimentary remarks from both the board and Peterson. However, it specified neither why Peterson had been on leave since mid-March nor what issue(s) had resulted in […]

  • Wine Trails: Anchored Roots Winery is Rooted in Agriculture

    When you enter Anchored Roots Winery in Egg Harbor, you know at once that you’ve walked into a family-owned, family-run operation. I was meeting with Amy Gale, who runs the business end of the winery, and her husband, Eric, who makes the wine and manages the vineyard.  “Eric is vine to bottle, and I’m bottle […]

  • Beer Fest VIP Tickets Sold Out; General-admission tickets still available

    The biggest celebration of beer of the year in Door County is coming your way June 17, the Saturday of Father’s Day weekend. That’s when the Door County Beer Festival will welcome representatives of more than 40 breweries and offer 150 different beers to taste on the Maxwelton Braes grounds in Baileys Harbor.  VIP tickets […]

  • Della Porta: Authentic Italian fare “of the Door”

    The taste of authentic Italian food is now as close as Ellison Bay. That’s where you’ll find Della Porta (“of the Door”) Trattoria e Pizzeria Napoletana, a newly opened restaurant that’s co-run by Joe Ouimet, Robin Brown, and Tesa and Joe Schulte. For many people, the phrase “Italian food” brings to mind all the wrong […]

  • Peninsula Symphonic Band Concert at DCA

    The Peninsula Symphonic Band – a 70-member ensemble composed of adult and high school musicians from throughout Door County – will perform June 15, 7 pm, at Door Community Auditorium (DCA), ​​3926 Hwy 42 in Fish Creek.  The concert will celebrate summer through a tone poem titled Homeward Shores that the band commissioned to celebrate its 30th […]

  • Midsummer’s Music Names First Development Director

    Midsummer’s Music has named Seth Hanford to its new position of development director. Prior to joining the organization, he was head of school and held other administrative and teaching positions at Elgin Academy. He has also worked in administrative, teaching, advising and coaching positions at other independent schools. “I am so honored to join the […]

  • “Percussion at the Movies” Opens Birch Creek Season

    This year marks Birch Creek Music Performance Center’s 48th year of orchestrating music education and concert performances, and it will present its opening-night concert, Percussion at the Movies, on June 22. It’s part of the Percussion, Steel Pan and World Music session, which takes place during the first two weeks of the season.  The concerts […]

  • Door Shakespeare Cast Prepares for 2023 Season

    Door Shakespeare has welcomed its cast members for the 2023 summer season. Audiences will recognize returning performers Mark Corkins, Scott McKenna Campbell and Amy Ensign, who is also the theater company’s producing artistic director. Although familiar to audiences through performances with other theater companies, Isaiah Spetz is debuting this season with Door Shakespeare. Enjoy additional […]

  • Peninsula Players Announces Casts for 2023 Season

    Peninsula Players Theatre has announced the artistic company for its 88th season. Artistic director Linda Fortunato will direct A Rock Sails By (June 13 – July 2), featuring the talents of debut actors Janet Ulrich Brooks, Rebecca Hurd, Sadieh Rifai and Travis Turner, along with Peninsula Players veteran actor Sean Fortunato. Blithe Spirit (July 5-23) […]

  • Obituary: Florence M. (Meyer) Vanderhoof

    September 27, 1928 ~ June 2, 2023 Florence Minnie Vanderhoof, beloved mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, died at her home on June 2, 2023. She was born in Sturgeon Bay on September 27, 1928, to Emil Meyer and Minnie (Magle) Meyer. On February 8, 1944, she was united in marriage to Thomas Robert Vanderhoof, Sr, in […]

  • Obituary: Dolores Violet Miller

    December 28, 1920 ~ June 2, 2023 Dolores Violet Miller, age 102 of Sturgeon Bay, died on Friday, June 2, 2023. She was born on December 28, 1920, to the late Clarence Anton and Emma C. (Alexander) Neuville in the Township of Gardner, WI. Dolores was united in marriage to Robert L. Miller on November […]

  • Medical Center to Host Open House for Sister Bay Clinic on Sunday

    Door County Medical Center (DCMC) will host an Open House at the new Sister Bay Clinic and Rehab Facility On Sunday, June 11 from 11 am to 2 pm. DCMC CEO and President, Brian Stephens, and DCMC Board of Directors President, Patti Vickman, will present a dedication ceremony at 11 am, followed by guided tours through […]

  • Obituary: Barbara Marie Shine

    July 1, 1933 ~ May 30, 2023 Barbara Marie Shine, 89, of Baileys Harbor, WI, and recently of Crystal Lake, IL, died Tuesday, May 30, 2023 at JourneyCare Hospice CareCenter in Barrington, IL. Her parents emigrated from Sweden, passing through Ellis Island, before putting down roots in Evanston, IL where Barbara was born on July […]

  • Obituary: Donald J. Clarke

    January 27, 1938 ~ June 3, 2023 Donald Jay Clarke of Sturgeon Bay, WI died on June 3, 2023, due to multiple complications stemming from cancer.  Don was born to William James (Jim) and Blanche Clarke on January 27, 1938, in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan.  Growing up he was an avid hockey player.  From 1951-1955 […]

  • Obituary: June Louise (Mickelson) Bell

    June 17, 1926 ~ May 29, 2023 June Louise Bell, 96, died on May 29, 2023. June was born June 27, 1926, and grew up in idyllic Sister Bay, WI. The first daughter to Albin W Mickelson and Pearl E (Brodd) Mickelson, she grew up in a close-knit community of family and neighbors. She and […]

  • Obituary: Meryl Cheney Cunningham

    January 23, 1939 ~ May 31, 2023 Meryl Cheney Cunningham, 84, of Washington Island, died at her home on Wednesday, May 31, 2023. She was born January 23, 1939 in Montclair, New Jersey, daughter of the late Harold Gordon and Constance (Goodwin) Cheney. She married Donald Frank Cunningham on September 26, 1959 in Wheaton, Illinois. […]

  • Obituary: Douglas Lee Van Vorous

    July 5, 1943 ~ May 30, 2023  Douglas Lee Van Vorous, 79, of Sister Bay died suddenly on Tuesday May 30, 2023, having just parred the fourth hole at Peninsula State Park. Born July 5, 1943, in Sturgeon Bay he grew up in Fish Creek, the son of the late Hudson and Marian (Johnson) Van Vorous. He […]

  • Obituary: James John Nelson

    James John Nelson, 65, of Appleton and formerly of Madison and Sister Bay, died peacefully at his home on Wednesday, May 24th, 2023. Born in Sister Bay on April 5th, 1958, to Donna and Gordy Nelson, he was raised on the family farm in Ellison Bay. After graduating from Gibraltar High School in 1976, Jim […]

  • Obituary: Dale R. Miller “Tarkus”

    Dale R. Miller better known as “Tarkus” age 68, passed away on May 28, 2023 at Aurora BayCare Medical Center with his daughter by his side. He was born on March 26, 1955 the son of the late Rueben and Lucille (Wilke) Miller. Dale attended Southern Door High School and created lots of memories and […]

  • Obituary: Daniel J. DeGuelle

    February 23, 1968 ~ May 30, 2023 Daniel Joseph DeGuelle, 55, of Kewaunee, died on May 30, 2023, at Bellin Hospital with his mother and nurses at his side.  He was born February 23, 1968, in Green Bay to Charles and Mary Jo (Tureur) DeGuelle.  Danny enjoyed listening to music and being outside. Survivors include […]

  • Obituary: Charles Hamilton “Ham” Rutledge

    September 22, 1935 ~ May 26, 2023 Charles Hamilton “Ham” Rutledge, 87, died Friday, May 26 at his home on Washington Island, WI.  Ham was born to Paul Edmund and Jean Louise (Hamilton) Rutledge on September 22, 1935, in Kirkwood, Missouri.  He graduated from Thomas Jefferson School in St. Louis in 1953 and from Harvard […]