In this issue
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Letter to the Editor: The Golden Rule 2020: A Call for Dignity and Respect in Politics
The Door County Civility Project’s steering committee members, holding different political views, have come together to express concern about the polarization and incivility that are tearing our country apart. We are also deeply troubled by the rhetoric being used during the 2020 political campaign season, which is causing further division among the people in our […]
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Kewaunee County Tavern League Gives to Veterans
The Kewaunee County Tavern League (KCTL) of Wisconsin surprised the Kewaunee County Veteran Service Commission with a $1,500 check for its Veterans Relief Fund during a September meeting. The KCTL raised the money during its 25th annual golf outing at Royal Scot Golf Course, where American Legion Posts 29, 262 and 538 provided veteran support […]
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Door County Medical Center Welcomes Allycia Bretl
Door County Medical Center (DCMC) Behavioral Health has welcomed Allycia Bretl, a licensed clinical social worker and substance-abuse counselor, to provide behavioral health services at the Sturgeon Bay DCMC campus. Bretl is a Door County native and Southern Door alumna who completed her bachelor’s degree in psychology and chemistry at Ripon College and her master’s […]
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Emergency Response Fund Awards Grants
The Door County Emergency Response Fund has awarded a grant to the Boys and Girls Club of Door County to make considerable investments in sanitary equipment before welcoming young people back to its facility. From retrofitting toilets with touchless equipment to installing touchless water coolers and hand sanitizers, this investment will help keep children safe. […]
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Therma-Tron-X, in partnership with the Community Blood Center, will host a blood drive Oct. 9, 12:30-4:30 pm, at 1155 S. Neenah Ave. in Sturgeon Bay. Friends and family of Therma-Tron-X employees are welcome! To schedule your life-saving donation, call 800.280.4102, or sign up online at save3lives.org using sponsor code OT84. Registering in advance is encouraged.
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Cold and flu season is coming, so get your flu vaccination! Call Door County Medical Center (dcmedical.org) at the numbers listed to make an appointment. No walk-ins will be accepted at this time. Cash will be accepted at the time of service, or insurance will be billed. Algoma: Oct. 5, 7 and 8, 8:30 am […]
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Oct. 2 Named Manufacturer’s Day
Both the Sturgeon Bay Common Council and the Door County Board of Supervisors passed a joint resolution during the past week naming Oct. 2 “Manufacturer’s Day in Sturgeon Bay and Door County, Wisconsin.” The resolution states that the manufacturing sector is “not fully celebrated,” given its importance to Door County’s economy. “It may sound like […]
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Preliminary Room-Tax Returns Nearly Even in July
Data from the Door County Tourism Zone confirm what many business owners and residents have been saying since the middle of June: The pandemic hasn’t deterred people from visiting Door County. Room-tax revenue in July appears to be on track to nearly equal or possibly surpass 2019 returns based on the Tourism Zone’s preliminary reports. […]
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Door County Snapshot: YTD 911 Calls
Dan Kane, director of Door County Emergency Management and Communications, submitted this chart and graph of 911 calls to the Door County Public Safety Committee on Sept. 14. It was part of his department’s operational reporting for August. The committee has oversight responsibilities for the Emergency Management and Communications Department, Emergency Services Department and Sheriff’s […]
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Cutting the Ribbon on New Child Care Center
With a ceremonial cutting of the ribbon, parents, staff and supporters celebrated the opening of the new Door Community Child Development Center on Sept. 19 in Sturgeon Bay. The center replaces the former Barker Child Development Center, which shut its doors this summer, leaving the parents of 80 children scrambling for child care. Sisters Alexis […]
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New Police Chief Is Door County Native
One of Door County’s own has been selected to lead the Sturgeon Bay Police Department starting Oct. 2, when Chief of Police Arleigh Porter retires from his 40-year career. The Sturgeon Bay Police and Fire Commission (SBPFC) promoted Lt. Clint Henry to chief of police Sept. 18 after interviewing Henry and the only other candidate, […]
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Judge Declares Gibraltar Food Truck Ban Unconstitutional
Ruling says town board used its power to stifle restaurant competition Door County Circuit Court Judge D. Todd Ehlers ruled that the Town of Gibraltar’s ordinance prohibiting food trucks was unconstitutional and had been enacted as a way to protect restaurant owners from competition. The Sept. 3 decision wipes the 2018 ordinance and subsequent 2019 […]
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Fraud Not a Concern in Local Absentee Voting
Experts at the Bipartisan Policy Center predict that as many as 70 percent of all ballots cast in the November election will be cast by mail because of the pandemic. As county and municipal clerks contend with an increased quantity of absentee ballot requests this year, voters everywhere have expressed concerns about how reliable the […]
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Kitchens Touts Steady Leadership, Jensen Vows to Stir the Pot
The two candidates for Wisconsin’s 1st Assembly District give voters a choice as to who will represent them in Madison. Incumbent Joel Kitchens (R-Sturgeon Bay) is leaning on his experience as he seeks a fourth term, pointing to his work on water-quality, environmental and education issues. Egg Harbor restaurateur Kim Delorit Jensen proudly wears the […]
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Polish Soul Food and Pumpkin-Spice Pierogi at Prince of Pierogi
“It’s been a busy season!” said Krzysztof Krol, owner of Prince of Pierogi, which opened in Ephraim in late May. “In the beginning [of the season], we were running out of pierogi,” he said. “Now we are able to have 10 flavors of pierogi daily.” As the season went on and staff members worked through […]
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Family-Friendly Fall Farm Tours at Door County Creamery
Taking a Door County Creamery farm tour through the end of October allows guests to get to know the goats that create the delicious milk that becomes fresh chèvre, other cheeses and gelato. “Visiting our goat farm is a full sensory experience,” said owner Rachael Johnson. “You get to see where the goats live, pet […]
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When Fred and Fuzzy’s closed Sept. 6, it wasn’t just a normal curtain call on the summer season. It was also a final farewell for Greg “Fuzzy” Sunstrom, who has been managing the bar and grill for 20 seasons, and involved with the resort for 47 seasons. The parcel of land on which the restaurant […]
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Suds with Sophie: Celebrate Oktoberfest at Home
by Sophie Nelson, [email protected] Even though Oktoberfest events – from local shindigs to the weeklong event in Germany – are canceled this year, that doesn’t mean you can’t still celebrate at home! Many breweries nationwide are brewing up their version of an “Oktoberfest” beer, and some German imports are on the shelves as well. Let’s […]
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Common Council to Select District 2 Alder
Replacement applications accepted until Oct. 8 The next person to lead District 2 on the Sturgeon Bay Common Council will be selected by the council itself. The vacancy was created when David Hayes tendered his resignation Sept. 11, effective Sept. 30. Hayes first took office in April 2018. Those interested in filling the seat should […]
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Artist, dentist and hotelier Ed Fenendael has made a career in teaching, traveling and painting It’s 3 pm on a warm, September afternoon, and students at Ed Fenendael’s watercolor workshop are slowly leaving the painting studio’s classroom. Some are headed to their cars; others are walking into the gallery and shop to look at paintings […]
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Know Your Grower: Schartner’s Farm Market
Location: 6476 Hwy 42, Egg Harbor Acreage: 220 acres Your growers: Dave and Karen Schartner Currently selling: Lots of things, but apples, pears, plums, pumpkins, squash and other autumn-themed fruits are front and center. Specialty items: Seasonal fruits and vegetables are always available, but don’t forget the home-tapped maple syrup and home-baked pies. In March […]
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Golf League Results: Sept. 25, 2020
IDLEWILD Thursday 8:45 am Fall After Senior Men’s Group Sept. 17, 2020 • Closest to the pin #13: Jim Schaefer • Closest second shot #15: Gene Ackatz • Longest putt #18: Bill Utley • Low gross: Jim Schaefer 39, Steve Osterhaus 42 • Birdie on #16: Harold Forbes Play will continue until there is an insufficient number of players. The […]
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Door to Nature: Poisonous Mushrooms
Autumn is the best time to hike the woodland trails in pursuit of wild mushrooms. Once the growing season winds down, that’s when fungi can take advantage of their many sources of food. Mushrooms are like the apples on trees in that they are the “fruit” of the actual plant, whose generic name is mycelium […]
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The peak weeks of fall color are yet to come, but – as always – they can be hard to predict. How long will they last? When will they peak? How varied will the colors be? These questions are all difficult to answer with certainty, but there are some biological and meteorological insights that can […]
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Wild Things: Dude Perfect? This Columnist Needed Google to Find 2020 NHF Day Chairs
Sports and the outdoors were a big part of my youth, and they still are. So when legendary Major League Baseball pitcher James “Catfish” Hunter was named the first honorary chair of National Hunting and Fishing Day (NHF Day) in 1976, I was thrilled. Celebrated the fourth Saturday of September ever since Richard Nixon signed […]
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Hike This: Ephraim Preserve at Anderson Pond
The historic acreage that makes up this preserve near the heart of Ephraim has been in the Anderson family name since 1858. It was in that year when Aslag Anderson, a hardworking Norwegian, was hired by Ephraim’s founder, Rev. Andreas Iverson, to build a large pier for the fledgling community. The pier he created is […]
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‘La La Land’: The Musical as a Mechanism
Often when I’m watching a musical that was written for film rather than adapted from the stage, I find that my enjoyment begins to wane around the middle of the run time. It seems to me that someone in the creative chain – whether it’s the writer, director or producer – must feel that, in order […]
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The folks at the Door County Alpaca Ranch in Baileys Harbor shared this photo of three of their white alpacas – (from left) Bocelli, Nicholas II and Princess Alexandra – relaxing in the field.
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Manners Matter: Adult Child Seeks Less Parenting
Dear Mary Pat, If you looked in the Urban Dictionary under “helicopter parent,” not only would you find my mother’s picture there, but it would also be highlighted and circled as well. I’m 31 and chose to move back home and work remotely due to a COVID-19 spike in the city I’ve called home for […]
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Servers of the Week: Rae Jungwirth, Adelle Carlisle, Dylan Weghaupt, Quentin Murre at Wilson’s
If you’ve driven through Ephraim this summer, you’ve no doubt seen the long line of people waiting eagerly to place their order for sundaes, cones and dishes of ice cream at Wilson’s. This summer, the owners and team of young staffers at this century-old mainstay had to reinvent how they served their crowds safely, but […]
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Arts Board, 100+WWC Support Northern Sky
Northern Sky Theater has received a $11,000 matching grant from the Wisconsin Arts Board to support its ongoing commitment to developing new musicals and an $8,000 CARES Act grant as a form of emergency support during the pandemic. State grants are awarded through a competitive process, so they are an indication of Northern Sky’s high-quality […]
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Thrills on Third is back, and new this year will be the Sturgeon Bay Spooky Scavenger Hunt! Pick up a scavenger hunt map at the Destination Sturgeon Bay welcome center beginning Oct. 5, and return it to the center no later than Nov. 6 for a chance to win a Destination Sturgeon Bay gift certificate. […]
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Obituary: Margaret Jane Emmerich
January 4, 1931 ~ September 21, 2020 Margaret Jane Emmerich, 89, of Sturgeon Bay, died Monday evening, September 21, 2020 at Door County Medical Center with family at her side. She was born January 4, 1931 in Wild Rose, the daughter of James Orval Jones and Margaret Enid (Owens) Jones. Margaret graduated from Wild Rose […]
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Obituary: Alice Marie Bitto (Delcorps)
October 11, 1993~September 21, 2020 Alice Marie Bitto (Delcorps), 26, passed away peacefully at home surrounded by family and friends on September 21st, 2020. She is finally free of the pain and suffering of the last few years. Alice was born in Green Bay on October 11th, 1993 to Steve and Jeanette Delcorps. Shortly after, […]
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Get Outside at The Ridges Sanctuary
Take a trip to The Ridges Sanctuary in Baileys Harbor for a variety of outdoor experiences. Ridges naturalists lead guided hikes for all ages Tuesday – Friday, 10 am, which include seeing the Upper Range Light lantern room and historical cabins. Try a Solitude Swale guided hike Sept. 29, 1-3 pm; or a Rustic Trails guided […]
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Celebrate National Public Lands Day at The Cove Preserve
Crossroads at Big Creek will celebrate National Public Lands Day 2020 with a socially distanced outdoor open house Sept. 26, 10 am – 3 pm, at The Cove Preserve, 817 S. 20th Place in Sturgeon Bay. Observe one of the initial land-restoration projects that will take place at Crossroads during the next three years. Cream City […]
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International Observe the Moon Night at Crossroads Astronomy Campus
The Door Peninsula Astronomical Society (DPAS) and Crossroads at Big Creek, with support from the Wisconsin Space Grant Consortium, will sponsor a free public viewing event at 7 pm on Sept. 26 – International Observe the Moon Night – at the Crossroads Astronomy Campus, 2200 Utah St. in Sturgeon Bay. Groups of participants should not exceed […]
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Schools, Child Care Centers Navigating COVID Challenges
Sevastopol and Sturgeon Bay schools have both switched multiple classrooms to remote learning after teachers or students tested positive for COVID-19. Both started the school year offering in-person classes. On the afternoon of Sept. 21, Sturgeon Bay announced that a high school student had tested positive. Four grades have had to move temporarily to virtual […]
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October 12, 1929 ~ September 11, 2020 Helen Marie Marik, 90, of Sturgeon Bay, died Friday evening, September 11, 2020 at Door County Medical Center with family at her side. She was born at the home built by her father at 728 N. 4th Avenue in Sturgeon Bay on October 12, 1929, the daughter of […]
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Ephraim Historical Foundation Names New Director
Kelly Klobucher is the Ephraim Historical Foundation’s new executive director. She has executive leadership experience in museums and nonprofits and most recently served as the executive director of the Illinois Association of Museums. Klobucher’s prior work has involved managing the preservation, programming, marketing and interpretation of a National Historic Landmark in Illinois, and she regularly […]
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ADRC Offers Aging Mastery Kits
The Aging and Disability Resource Center (ADRC) of the Lakeshore has a limited number of Aging Mastery Starter Kits available for qualified individuals who are 60 or older. The kit is a fun, hands-on experience that encourages users to embrace the gift of longevity by doing things that are good for themselves and others. Designed […]
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Kewaunee County Hosts Flu Vaccine Clinics
The Kewaunee County Public Health Department is hosting influenza vaccination clinics for adults ahead of flu season. Clinics will be held at the Ahnapee Town Hall on Oct. 2, 10 am – 12 pm, and Oct. 6, 1-3 pm; and at the Kewaunee County Fairgrounds Expo Hall on Oct. 2, 1-3 pm, and Oct. 6, […]
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Since the end of May, Door County Medical Center Auxiliary members have volunteered more than 1,000 hours in the hospital as door monitors: those who ask people entering the hospital whether they have any COVID-19 symptoms, and ask them to sanitize to their hands and wear a free mask if they aren’t already. Volunteers also […]
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Fair Maps Presentation Sept. 23
The ballot for the Nov. 3 election in Door County will include an advisory referendum question: “Should the Wisconsin legislature create a nonpartisan procedure for the preparation of legislative and congressional district plans and maps?” Door County Pulse Podcasts · Why the Way We Draw Legislative Maps is Hurting Wisconsin Politics But what does the […]
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In the 1992 movie Forever Young, Mel Gibson plays a pilot who’s frozen during a cryogenics test in 1939 and reawakened in 1992. You won’t be able to get that kind of service in the building recently constructed south of Egg Harbor at 6452 Hwy 42, although it, too, uses very low temperatures to affect […]
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Housing Market Hot Through Pandemic
Chances are, the extra traffic you’re seeing around the county isn’t all courtesy of tourists. Door County real estate brokers say they’ve seen a surge in home sales during the summer. “The market has been absolutely on fire,” said Craig Bastian, a real estate broker with Kellstrom-Ray Agency in Sister Bay. Kevin Nordahl, a broker […]
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Southern Door School Annual Meeting Sept. 21
The Southern Door County School District’s annual meeting and budget hearing will be held Sept. 21, 6:30 pm, in the auditorium. Resolutions will be presented to district residents for student transportation, board salaries and the proposed tax levy. Other information will include the treasurer’s report and audit summary, the State of the District report and […]
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Southern Door to Dedicate Facilities Project Sept. 19
The Southern Door County School District will host a virtual dedication ceremony to celebrate the completion of facilities projects. Join the livestream Sept. 19, 9 am, to hear from district leaders and construction partners and to watch a video showcasing the new spaces. In November 2018, residents supported a $6,270,000 referendum to invest in the […]
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Porter Reflects On 40 Years With Sturgeon Bay Police Department
Arleigh Porter, police chief of the Sturgeon Bay Police Department, will reach only 64 years in November. That may be younger than many when they retire, but it’s getting up there for a police chief with 40 years on the job, he said. His last day will be Oct. 2. “You can retire with a […]
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Blowout: Inside America’s Energy Gamble
Join the nonpartisan Climate Change Coalition of Door County (climatechangedoorcounty.com) for an outdoor screening of the compelling documentary Blowout: Inside America’s Energy Gamble on Sept. 25, 7 pm, in the back parking lot of Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, 1756 Michigan St. in Sturgeon Bay. The screening is free, but donations will be gratefully accepted […]
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More Ways to Connect to Nature: Teach by Example
Major environmental restoration project will show the way to restore degraded properties Like thousands of national and state parks, federal and private preserves, and nature centers throughout the United States, Crossroads at Big Creek will be celebrating National Public Lands Day on Sept. 26. The Crossroads festivities will take place at The Cove Preserve, 817 […]
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PERSPECTIVE: My Frustration with COVID-19
I counted 146 cars lined up for food in an aerial photo of the Door County Food Pantry Coalition’s distribution at the Sturgeon Bay fairgrounds Aug. 5. The photo was taken 15 minutes before the first box was even handed out. Looking at the line, I was frustrated, and I was embarrassed. Like so many […]
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New Police Chief Expected to Be Selected Friday
The second and third in command at the Sturgeon Bay Police Department are vying for the job that Chief of Police Arleigh Porter will leave behind when he retires Oct. 2. Captain Dan Brinkman and Lieutenant Investigator Clint Henry have both applied for the position. The Sturgeon Bay Police and Fire Commission (SBPFC), which hires […]
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Kitchens, Jensen in Candidate Forum Sept. 19
Wisconsin Assembly District 1 incumbent Joel Kitchens (R-Sturgeon Bay) and Democratic challenger Kim Delorit Jensen will answer questions about current issues in the state and district during an online candidate forum hosted by the League of Women Voters of Door County (LWVDC) on Sept. 19. Assembly District 1 includes Door and Kewaunee counties and part […]
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Long-term Plans Prompt Liberty Grove’s Land Purchase
The Town of Liberty Grove has voted to purchase 5.1 acres of land adjacent to the town hall on Old Stage Road from owner Steve Carmody for $39,900. Town Chair John Lowry said the parcel makes sense for multiple items in the town’s long-term plans. The town now owns nearly 50 acres surrounding the town […]
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Vibrant, Smoke-enhanced Sunrises and Sunsets Forecast
The hazy days hanging around the peninsula lately are caused by some of the worst wildfires in history that West Coast states are battling. “The dense, continuous smoke from the wildfires out west made its way into the upper atmosphere, where upper-level winds have pushed it east across the country and even out over the […]
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Slow Down: Ridges, Land Trust Set Timetable for Merger Talks
The board members of The Ridges Sanctuary and Door County Land Trust have set a timetable for a decision on potentially merging the two nonprofit organizations. They are now targeting March for a decision after realizing that their initial November goal wasn’t realistic, said Ridges board president Linda Brooks. “We realized we have a lot […]
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Worldly Artist Drops Anchor in Door County
Melissa Resch quickly embraces her new home palette Melissa Resch – a painter, sculptor and fabric artist – came to Door County in 2017 and has wasted no time in settling in as an artist. At the end of a three-day scouting trip in December 2016, she was at a diner when Wence and Sandra […]
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Obituary: WILLIAM R WIESNER JR
September 12, 1950 – September 11, 2020 William R. Wiesner Jr, 69, better known as ‘Bearcrazy Bill’, died peacefully at home surrounded by family and friends following health complications. He was born to William and Sharon (Getzloff) Wiesner. Bill graduated from Sturgeon Bay High School in 1969. His nickname in his high school years was […]
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June 8, 1936 ~ September 15, 2020 Joan Laura (Molle) Seiler 84, Sturgeon Bay, passed away peacefully after a short courageous battle with cancer on September 15, 2020, in Algoma. She was born on June 8, 1936, in Algoma to Elmer and Ruth (Laubenstein) Molle. Joan graduated from Algoma High School in 1954. On April […]
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April 21, 1928 ~ September 14, 2020 Donald W. Rose, 92, Forestville died at the Algoma Medical Center and Long Term Care Unit on September 14, 2020. He was born April 21, 1928, in the Town of Forestville to Wendelin and Matilda (Schmidt) Rose. Father Rose was currently a member of the Holy Name of […]
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Obituary: Frances Ilene Buschmann
October 14, 1925 ~ September 13, 2020 Frances Ilene Buschmann (Wegehoft) 94, Sturgeon Bay died at Anna’s House, Sturgeon Bay on September 13, 2020. She was born to the late Virgil W. & C. Florence (Blimling) Wegehoft in Jacksonville, IL on October 14, 1925. She was a graduate of Arenzville High School in Mary of […]
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February 21, 1943 ~ September 13, 2020 Marianne Martinson Bennett died on September 13, 2020 at Tender Reflections Memory Care in DeForest, Wisconsin. She was born Marianne Louise Martinson on February 21, 1943 to Eunice (Christopherson) Martinson and Ivar Martinson in Winnetka, Illinois. Her childhood was spent in Winnetka and Evanston, Illinois, where she graduated […]