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Peninsula Pulse September 30-October 7, 2022

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In this issue

  • Letter to the Editor: Please Don’t Drink and Drive

    My nephew – a husband and the father of four young children – was killed by a drunk driver. I know the impact that such a tragedy can have on the entire family and their community, and so I was dismayed to read the “Can You Afford to Drink and Drive?” essay in last week’s [Sept. […]

  • Letter to the Editor: Republicans Have Our Best Interests in Mind

    Every time there is an upcoming election, the Peninsula Pulse gets flooded with comments almost entirely by Democrats and liberals. They complain about the Republican candidates and continue to complain about President Trump while ignoring and not mentioning anything positive about President Biden. All they bring up is the “insurrection,” but they ignore the hundreds […]

  • Letter to the Editor: Letter on Freedom Doesn’t Bear Up

    A letter in your recent letters to the Peninsula Pulse deserves comment.  To characterize as “freedom” the ability for a woman to snuff out the life of her unborn child is a very difficult position to justify. It is certainly not a freedom guaranteed by the Constitution of the United States nor justified as simple […]

  • Letter to the Editor: Republicans Vote for Us

    I have seen signs around Door County saying, “Vote for Democrats; they vote for us.” Really? If you cut police budgets, you will get more crime on the streets. So if you intentionally cut police budgets, you wanted more crime on the streets. If you cut back the supply of oil, gas prices will go […]

  • DOME HOUSE SWINGIN’ SOIRÉE FUNDRAISER

    Tickets are on sale for the Miller Art Museum’s fall fundraising event, Swingin’ Soirée at the Dome: A Mid-Century Modern–Inspired Evening, on Oct. 15, 5-8 pm.  The event will include cocktails; mid-century–inspired fare by Culinaria; live music by the Milwaukee Hot Club; special recognition for the evening’s honoree, William C. “Bill” Parsons; and an online […]

  • The Art of Mental Health

    Improving your mental health could be as simple as picking up a piece of paper and a pencil, according to Sturgeon Bay creative-arts therapist Tanya Kavicky-Mels. That’s because art provides a direct connection between the mind and the body, allowing people to physically work through mental blockages, Kavicky-Mels said. When people undergo trauma, they often […]

  • Short Courses Provide Great Practice, Fun Rounds

    It was 6 pm on a Saturday, south of Sturgeon Bay at 27 Pines Golf Course, half of which occupies former rich farm ground and half of which sits on soil that barely covers sand from an ancient dune west of Lake Michigan. One group of about 25 people was finishing a potluck meal on […]

  • Birds of North America Takes Flight at TAP

    Despite its name, Third Avenue PlayWorks’ (TAP) upcoming play Birds of North America is more about humans than birds, according to lead actor C. Michael Wright.  Spanning the course of a decade, the story follows the relationship between a father, John (played by Wright), and his daughter, Caitlyn, as they bond over watching birds. Though […]

  • JOIN THE SISTER BAY FALL FEST PARADE

    The Sister Bay Advancement Association welcomes businesses, groups and individuals to be part of the 76th Sister Bay Fall Fest Parade. Participation is free, and the winning entry will receive the Best Float trophy.  The parade will take place Oct. 15, 11 am. Participants can line up as early as 9 am, east on Maple/County […]

  • Half Marathon Registration Opens

    The Door County Half Marathon and Nicolet Bay 5K will be back in Peninsula State Park on Saturday, May 6, 2023.  Registration for the race opens Oct. 1. Fees for the race that’s been likened to “running in a cathedral in the woods” are $65 when you sign up in October, or $40 for the […]

  • Up Next: Shakey Graves on the DCA Stage

    When Shakey Graves steps onto the Door Community Auditorium (DCA) stage Sunday, Oct. 2, 7 pm, you’ll hear a little bit of everything from the cool, charismatic musician who’s known for a smoky, spectral fusion of blues, folk and rock.  Since his beginnings as a one-man band of epic sonic proportions, Shakey Graves – the stage […]

  • Fish Creek’s New Late-Night Hangout

    Hill Street serves simple food and good times After a season of sitting vacant, there’s a bustle of activity again on the corner of Hill Street and Main Street in Fish Creek. And although fall isn’t the time when most new restaurants in Door County host their ribbon-cutting ceremony, the timing feels perfect for owners […]

  • Escarpment Geotourism Program Available

    The Niagara Escarpment Resource Network has a new geotourism program that offers a comprehensive guide to northeastern Wisconsin’s 230 miles of Niagara Escarpment.  Users mainly access the program through an ESRI StoryMap interface to create the desktop and mobile-friendly WI-LEDGE Rambler Map Guide, which features more than 50 (and growing) publicly accessible sites and trails […]

  • TAP Hosts Environmental Roundtable

    As part of its performance of Birds of North America and its related community-outreach programs, Third Avenue PlayWorks (TAP) will host an environmental roundtable Oct. 4, 7 pm, at TAP, 239 N. 3rd Ave. in Sturgeon Bay. TAP’s artistic director, Jacob Janssen, will facilitate the free event, bringing together representatives from the area’s environmental organizations […]

  • Backyard Invasives with Master Gardeners

    The Door County Master Gardener Association will continue its gardening lecture series with “Backyard Invasives: It’s Not All Bad News” on Oct. 6, 6:30 pm, in the Collins Learning Center’s lecture hall at Crossroads at Big Creek, 2041 Michigan St. in Sturgeon Bay.  Samantha Koyen – a conservationist with the Door County Soil and Water […]

  • Climate Change Programs in October

    The Climate Change Coalition of Door County will host “The Earth Beneath Our Feet: Climate Change and the Soil-loss Crisis” on Oct. 12, 7 pm, at the Kress Pavilion, 7845 Church St. in Egg Harbor. Presenter Jo Handelsman will discuss our soil, the causes for its degradation, its relationship to carbon transfer and climate, and […]

  • Cape Cod Commission Director Visits Door County

    The Door County Environmental Council will host Erin Perry, deputy director of the Cape Cod Commission, on Oct. 11, 7 pm, for a program about balancing tourism with protecting the environment. Door County is sometimes referred to as “the Cape Cod of the Midwest.” Geologically, both are peninsulas that jut out into large bodies of […]

  • DCHS Featured Pet: Feather

    Meet Feather! This beautiful, nine-month-old bunny is available for adoption at the Wisconsin Humane Society (WHS) Door County Campus. Feather has a velvety soft coat and weighs just seven pounds. She enjoys munching on veggies, especially carrots, and would love to live in a home where she’s showered with attention.  Feather (wihumane.org/adopt/animal?id=49215371) has been spayed, […]

  • Kewaunee Hosts Waste Collection for Residents

    Kewaunee County Emergency Management has opened Clean Sweep registration for county residents, farmers and ag businesses seeking to properly dispose of unwanted chemicals, pesticides, household waste, dry medications, opioids, sharps and more. The Clean Sweep event will be held Oct. 22, 8 am – 12 pm, at the Kewaunee County Hillside Highway Shop, E2180 Hwy 54 […]

  • Electronics Recycling for SBU Customers

    Sturgeon Bay Utilities (SBU) is hosting a free electronics-recycling event for its customers Oct. 5, 8 am – 5 pm, when staff members will unload items from cars during the contactless drop-off. Eligible items to recycle include phones, monitors, speakers, laptops, DVD players, microwaves, game systems, power supplies and more. Call 920.746.2820 if you have questions.

  • Deb Hogan to Receive 2022 Angel Award

    The Door County Medical Center (DCMC) Auxiliary will present its Angel Award to Deb Hogan during the Oct. 22 Angel Scholarship Gala at Stone Harbor Resort.  Hogan is passionate about health care for all and giving back, and her positive attitude and ability to inspire others are key to her leadership success. As an Ambassador […]

  • Annual Dinner Highlights a Year In Review

    Destination Door County will host its annual dinner at The Alpine Resort on Oct. 18, 5-8 pm, to review the year’s activities and accomplishments and provide a glimpse of what’s to come in 2023. The cost of $50 per ticket includes a choice of entrée plus a salad and dessert. Registration is required by Oct. […]

  • Maritime Series Opens Oct. 6

    The Door County Maritime Museum, in partnership with Door County Medical Center, hosts a Maritime Speaker Series monthly on the first Thursday, October-May, 7 pm, on the second floor of the museum in Sturgeon Bay, as well as online. There is no cost to attend, but a suggested donation of a nonperishable food item is […]

  • Support Group Changes Meeting Location

    The Door County Parkinson Disease Support Group will meet Oct. 12, 1 pm, at Hope United Church of Christ, 141 S. 12th Ave. in Sturgeon Bay. The Apple Bazaar at the United Methodist Church caused the location change. The speaker for this meeting will be Kelly Cieslak, executive director of the Wisconsin Parkinson Association in […]

  • Flu and COVID-19 Vaccination Clinics

    The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that everyone 6 months and older get an annual influenza (flu) vaccine. And, with the recent release of the bivalent COVID-19 vaccine, the CDC also recommends that everyone 12 years and older receive one age-appropriate bivalent booster dose after completing the primary series.  The standard flu […]

  • New Child Care Benefit for Employers

    Employers, would you like to help your employees cover the cost of child care?  United Way and the Women’s Fund of Door County may be able to assist through a new child care benefit pilot program that will soon be available. Door County employers are invited to participate in this nine-month pilot program, which will […]

  • Around the Door: DCEDC Investor and Partner Reception

    The new team at the Door County Economic Development Corporation (DCEDC) hosted a gathering at The Lodge at Leathem Smith on Tuesday evening to highlight DCEDC’s successes, introduce its new team and preview its 2023-25 strategic plan. Shown (from left) is Brian Stephens, DCEDC board chair and president/CEO of Door County Medical Center; with DCEDC […]

  • Grown-up Band Kids Help Energize the Crowd

    Gibraltar High welcomes adults to practice and play in pep band Traditionally, high school music booster clubs help raise funds for trips and to purchase equipment or materials that the district budget doesn’t cover, but the Gibraltar Music Boosters took their support for the music program to a new level this month.  Boosters, along with […]

  • Egg Harbor Couple Hurt in Accident That Killed Florida Man

    Richard F. Straubel, 78, of Cape Coral, Florida, and Ephraim, was pronounced dead last week at the scene of a two-car crash just north of where Highways 42 and 57 split off in the Town of Sevastopol. The Egg Harbor residents in the other vehicle – Tracy C. Ahola, 60, and his wife, Kimberly J. […]

  • Gibraltar Residents Respond to New Utility Bills

    Employees at the Gibraltar town office in Fish Creek fielded numerous phone calls and in-person visits from residents inquiring about the traffic utility bills that recently arrived in their mailboxes. The new utility, created by the town board in June, treats the town’s 58 miles of road as a utility and then charges town residents […]

  • Ground Broken for New Sturgeon Bay Apartments

    Rubble from demolition work on the former Sunset School was visible Sept. 22 when S.C. Swiderski held a groundbreaking ceremony for the four apartment buildings with 26 total units being constructed at the site on Sturgeon Bay’s east side. The development, to be known as SCS Sunset Estates, includes two two-story, eight-unit buildings with attached […]

  • State Not Partnering on Safety Improvement

    The Door County Board of Supervisors committed $100,000 in August to make safety improvements where Gordon Road/County BB and Highways 42/57 meet, also known as the Culver’s intersection in Sevastopol. The plan is to reconfigure the island at the intersection to prevent motorists from turning left/north onto the highway from Gordon Road. Instead, those motorists […]

  • Baileys Harbor to Consider STR Ordinance

    The Baileys Harbor Planning Commission is working on a short-term-rental (STR) ordinance that it could submit to the town board for consideration during its Oct. 10 meeting. The ordinance is similar to others passed in Door County, with its purpose being to establish safety and maintenance standards, determine owners’ responsibilities and allow for rule enforcement. […]

  • Six Apply for Gibraltar Town Board Vacancy

    The town has received six letters of interest from people who’d like to fill the vacancy on the Gibraltar Town Board that was created when Tim Luettgen resigned effective Sept. 30.  The six applicants are Tom Birmingham Sr., Scott DeVillers, Kathaleen Diltz, Jack Moore, John Selenica and Karl Stubenvoll. The deadline for receipt of the […]

  • DCEDC Investor and Partner Reception

    The new team at the Door County Economic Development Corporation (DCEDC) hosted a gathering at The Lodge at Leathem Smith on Tuesday evening to highlight DCEDC’s successes, introduce its new team and preview its 2023-25 strategic plan. Shown (from left) is Brian Stephens, DCEDC board chair and president/CEO of Door County Medical Center; with DCEDC […]

  • Real Estate Market Surges by $1.5 Billion

    Equalized values up 18% Door County’s equalized values increased by more than $1.5 billion, for an unprecedented growth rate of 18%. The value of all real estate and personal property in Door County is now $10,079,363,600 – up from last year’s $8,556,994,600. The equalized value is the Wisconsin Department of Revenue’s (DOR) estimate of the […]

  • Change Recommended to Accommodate Fleet Farm

    Sturgeon Bay’s Plan Commission recommended amending the city’s comprehensive plan, which could allow Fleet Farm to build a new store along the west entrance to Sturgeon Bay. The plan calls for changing the designation of about 40 acres of land from Agricultural/Rural to Regional Commercial across from the Salty Seagull miniature golf course along Highway […]

  • Wheel Tax under Consideration in Sturgeon Bay

    Absent the City of Sturgeon Bay being allowed to impose an additional 0.5% sales tax to raise additional revenue for roads, the Sturgeon Bay Common Council is considering whether to impose a wheel tax on motor vehicles registered in the city. The wheel tax was discussed Monday when council members met as a committee of […]

  • Sister Bay Village Hall Gets Reprieve

    In August, it appeared that the Sister Bay Village Hall might be on its last legs, but after two public-input sessions and new consideration by the village’s Parks and Properties Committee, sentiment among village officials has shifted.  Almost 50 people showed up for an in-person input session Sept. 6, forming a crowd that was almost […]

  • Editor’s Note: Godspeed, Patty Williamson, Ph.D.

    We received sad news Wednesday morning that Patty Williamson, Ph.D., had passed away peacefully the evening of Sept. 27 at her home on Kangaroo Lake, with her husband of 68 years, Howard, by her side. (They had met when they were 8 years old in their native Marceline, Missouri.) It should not have been so […]

  • Support Local Authors This Weekend

    Write On, Door County will host its second Door County Author and Book Fair on Oct. 1, 10 am – 3 pm. The free, family-friendly event will take place outdoors under a large canopy tent, where authors and attendees will be protected in the event of inclement weather. The fair welcomes 34 authors and creatives […]

  • Hal Prize Draws Nearly 700 Entries

    What comes next? Thank you to everyone who submitted creative work to the 2022 Hal Prize! It was another successful year, with 686 total submissions. Now that submissions have closed, what happens next? A panel of prescreening judges who live in Door County and are skilled in their respective genres will review the submissions, and […]

  • Author Releases Second Book in Mystery Series

    Bonnie Jo (Britzke) Moore has published Murder and the Arts, the second installment in her Mia Zielinski Northern Door Mystery series, set in Sister Bay. It continues the story of Mia Zielinski, a gutsy polio survivor with a playful sense of humor and an uncanny ability to sense things. Six weeks have passed since Zielinski, […]

  • Retired Police Officer Publishes Book

    After 41 years in law enforcement, John Good has drawn on his professional experiences to write Blood on the Badge and incorporated his personal insights into the mental-health challenges that police officers face when one of their own falls in the line of duty. In the book, a fictional police force in Greenfield, Illinois, is […]

  • Dickinson Poetry Series Welcomes Milwaukee Poet

    Stephen Anderson, a Milwaukee poet and translator, will be the next featured poet in the Dickinson Poetry Series, set for Oct. 12, 7 pm, at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Door County, 10341 Water St. (Hwy 42) in Ephraim. Anderson’s work has appeared in Southwest Review, Latin American Literature Today, Verse Wisconsin, Foundling Review, Twist […]

  • Write On Hosts Author Readings, Discussions

    In October, Write On, Door County will host several free opportunities to talk with writers from around the country at its Writing Center. Camille Beredjick, Özge Gunday and Jonathan Jones from the nonprofit StoryStudio – Chicago’s book-in-a-year program – will visit Oct. 4, 10-11:30 am. They are the first writers selected for a new residency exchange with […]

  • TAP and Library Expand Partnership

    Third Avenue PlayWorks (TAP) launched a partnership with all eight Door County Library branches early this year to create the Checkout TAP program, which is making more than 1,600 free theater tickets available by using a library code. This partnership will expand in October with the debut of the monthly Play Reading Club, based out […]

  • Book Recommendation: ‘Fahrenheit 451’ by Ray Bradbury

    Recommended by GRACE JOHNSON, Pulse staffer and bibliophile This month, our book recommendations have featured banned or challenged books to highlight Banned Books Week, which ran Sept. 18-24 this year. For my recommendation, I’m choosing Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury. The story follows firefighter Guy Montag, whose job is to burn books, which have become […]

  • Sevastopol Invites All to Celebrate Refurbished Stadium

    Gibraltar asks community for more answers in survey Sevastopol school leaders have planned more than two hours of activities to celebrate two years of construction around the stadium. The fun will start at 5 pm on Friday, Sept. 30, prior to the Homecoming game against Suring. Brooke Tanck, Sevastopol Schools’ athletic director and gifted-and-talented coordinator, […]

  • If These Streets Could Talk

    Fish Creek’s Kinsey property and its role in heritage tourism What gives a community its sense of place? Is it the people? The scenery? The history?  The answer “all of the above” would be correct to some extent, but a 2022 survey by the online travel-planning firm Priceline reports that one-third of Americans say that […]

  • A Century of Bird Research in Ephraim

    The Ephraim Historical Foundation will present a program about Harold Wilson of Ephraim on Oct. 13, 1-2 pm, at the Ephraim village hall, 9996 Hwy 42; and that same day, 7-8 pm, at Crossroads at Big Creek, 2041 Michigan St. in Sturgeon Bay. During the 1920s, Wilson began to band birds on the Little Sister […]

  • Egg Harbor’s Charles Cady

    Join the Egg Harbor Historical Society for a program about Charles Cady on Oct. 6, 1:30 pm, at the Kress Pavilion, ​​7845 Church St. in Egg Harbor. It will include a recorded interview with his granddaughter Bonnie Cady. In 1907, Charles R. Cady – at the young age of 25 – purchased Levi Thorp’s Cupola House and […]

  • Questions & Authors: Amy E. Casey

    As we head into autumn and the spooky season, I start to reach for books that really give me fall vibes – essentially things that are very atmospheric. I kicked off my fall reading with The Sturgeon’s Heart by Amy E. Casey. I learned about this title through Novel Bay Booksellers in Sturgeon Bay, which hosted […]

  • Obituary: Barry Duane Lawrence

    October 16, 1954 — September 20, 2022 Barry D. Lawrence, 67, died peacefully on Tuesday September 20th, 2022 at Thedacare Regional Medical Center in Appleton with his loved ones by his side. He was born on October 16th, 1954, in Michigan City, IN, the son of Edward and Elnora (Halfacre) Lawrence. Barry was united in […]

  • Obituary: Patricia Jean Lenius

    December 17, 1964 ~ September 23, 2022 Patricia Jean Lenius, 57, of Sturgeon Bay and formerly of Pewaukee, WI, died on Sept. 23, 2022.  She was born Dec. 17, 1964, in Sturgeon Bay to Milton and Karen (Corbisier) Lenius. Patti grew up in Sturgeon Bay and graduated from Sturgeon Bay High School in 1983.  She […]

  • Obituary: Linda Carol Wilke

    December 24, 1953 ~ September 23, 2022  Linda Carol Wilke, 68 of Sturgeon Bay, died Friday, September 23, 2022 at Bridge Care Nursing Home in Kewaunee. Linda was born Christmas Eve in 1953, the daughter of the late Henry George and Jeannette Alice (Grimberg) Wilke. Linda was a familiar face at the Sunshine House in Sturgeon Bay […]

  • Obituary: Betty Jo “BJ” Cassidy

    March 22, 1947 ~ September 19, 2022 Betty Jo “BJ” Cassidy died on September 19, 2022. BJ died while doing what she loved – being with her family. She was born March 22, 1947 in Milwaukee, the daughter of the late Jack and Betty (Clark) Gustafson. BJ received her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the […]

  • Obituary: Merriett A. Cox

    November 15, 1963 ~ September 10, 2022 Merriett A. Cox II, 58, of Sturgeon Bay, died Saturday, September 10, 2022. He was born November 15, 1963 in Traverse City, MI, the son of the late Andrew and Merry (Cox) Nickerson. Merriett was a talented musician throughout his life. Life had its difficulties, and Merriett struggled to […]

  • Obituary: Jacalyn Anne Lutz Margittay

    1952~September 16th, 2022 Jacalyn Anne Lutz Margittay, 69, of Sturgeon Bay, died in the early morning of September 16th, 2022 after a fatal accident while vacationing in Scotland. Jacalyn was born in Philadelphia, PA, in 1952. She moved with her family to St. Paul in the late 60’s and graduated from Bloomfield Hills Andover High […]

  • Obituary: David G. Detert

    March 15, 1938 ~ September 20, 2022 David G. Detert, 84 years of Sturgeon Bay, died Tuesday September 20, 2022, while a patient at Good Samaritan Scandia Village. He was born March 15, 1938, in Billings, MO the son of the late Donald and Nancye (Glascock) Detert.  Following his graduation as valedictorian from East Lyden […]

  • Obituary: Marilyn Ruth Haugen

    January 20, 1930 ~ September 14, 2022 Marilyn Ruth Haugen (nee Siggens) died on the morning of September 14 with her son, Tim, at her side.  Marilyn was born in Racine, Wisconsin, on January 20, 1930, the youngest of two children born to J. Clifford and Charlotte Siggens.  Marilyn attended Eau Claire High School, graduating […]

  • Obituary: Raymond Kostiuk

    April 6, 1925 ~ September 16, 2022 Raymond Kostiuk, 94, of the Town of Gibraltar, died Friday evening, September 16, 2022 at Good Samaritan Society-Scandia Village in Sister Bay. He was born April 6, 1928 in Hazleton, PA, the son of Onufrey and Rozalia (Strack) Kostiuk. Ray attended St.Basil Preparatory School in Stamford, CT. Ray […]