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Peninsula Pulse September 4-11, 2020

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In this issue

  • Celebrating 100th Anniversary of Women’s Right to Vote

    The 100th anniversary of women winning the right to vote was celebrated Aug. 26 with a car parade through downtown Sturgeon Bay that ended at Martin Park for a reading of the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. People from throughout the county joined the festivities by decorating their cars, ringing bells and honking horns. […]

  • Karate Group Earns Brown, Black Belts

    Belt testing for the YMCA’s Goju Ryu karate class took place Aug. 27. Wolfgang Virgin, age 11, advanced to Black Belt, and those who advanced to Brown Belt were Dan, Roger and Kathy Barnard; Tracy Steiner; Mary Cram; and Eli Chlubna. Their Kyoshi (instructor) is Shaun Koulias. Because of the pandemic, the upper belts have […]

  • LuLaRoe Recognizes Brandenburg for Giving Back

    Sturgeon Bay business owner Jenny Brandenburg of Sparkle Boutique recently hosted a fundraiser to benefit Neighbor to Neighbor and donated $1,100 to the organization. LuLaRoe has recognized Brandenburg for her commitment to giving back to her community. She has donated $11,360 locally thus far in 2020 and has an additional four fundraisers planned before the […]

  • Blood Drive Sept. 10

    The Community Blood Center and Destination Door County are hosting a blood drive Sept. 10, 10 am – 2:30 pm, at 1015 Green Bay Road in Sturgeon Bay. Because of COVID-19, many blood drives have been canceled, so the number of available units of blood are shrinking. Thirty-four donors are needed, so be a part […]

  • Featured Pet: Grover

    Meet Grover (wihumane.org/adopt/animal?id=45219130), a one-year-old cat who’s available for adoption at the Wisconsin Humane Society (WHS) Door County Campus. This handsome fellow loves to play so much that he sometimes gets overstimulated by all the fun. Younger kids look too much like playmates, so he would do best in a home with older children who […]

  • Pose by Sunflowers: Check!

    This group from Kenosha stopped in Carlsville Saturday morning to pose by the sunflowers on their way to Ephraim, where they were spending the weekend. Photo by D.A. Fitzgerald.

  • Server of the Week: Joy Lang at Jerry’s Flowers

    How long have you been with Jerry’s Flowers? Forty-two years – 31 of those years as the owner. Last year we had our big 30th-anniversary party. What do you like to do when you aren’t working? Chase waterfalls and sunsets! What is your favorite fall décor? Grapevines and natural elements that you can find locally, […]

  • Framed: Bette Gadient

    Scandia Village resident Bette Gadient recently celebrated her 98th birthday with an ice cream sundae and an ice cream cone hat for the occasion. Happy birthday, Bette! Photo submitted by her son, Greg Gadient. 

  • Manners Matter: Can’t Say No

    Dear Mary Pat, I have a problem with saying no. I sign up for every committee, meeting, spring cleanup, fall cleanup and even the odd bake sale. I help out at my kids’ school when I can, even though I work full time. There is a limit to my time, and I feel overwhelmed most […]

  • Golf League Results: Sept. 4, 2020

    IDLEWILD Ladies’ Sundowners Golf League Aug. 26, 2020 • Top golfers: Mary Aiken 41, Anna Larsen 43, Pat Krueger 49, Rita Hunt 50, Pam DeMelle 54, Debbie McDermid 56 • Pars: Mary Aiken 5, Anna Larsen 2, Debbie McDermid 1 • Fewest putts: Debbie McDermid 14 • Special event: most bogeys: Anna Larsen 7 IDLEWILD Senior Men’s Thursday 8:30 […]

  • Borycki Achieves Hole-in-One

    John Borycki had a hole-in-one Aug. 25 on the fifth hole at Maxwelton Braes Golf Course.

  • Fall Flowers Help Fuel Monarch Migrations

    It seems everyone loves monarch butterflies – arguably the most charismatic insects in North America. Certainly these black and orange creatures are gorgeous, but many butterflies are beautiful. Monarch caterpillars feed exclusively on one plant, but that’s true of almost all butterfly species. They probably spread pollen from flower to flower, but monarchs are not […]

  • KerberRose Ranked Among Top 300 Accounting Firms

    INSIDE Public Accounting has ranked KerberRose (kerberrose.com) among the nation’s top 300 firms for the fifth consecutive year. It moved to number 206 from number 216 last year. “Given the uncertain and difficult circumstances of this past year, we are incredibly proud of our team members,” said KerberRose managing shareholder Michael Ruby. “We have shown […]

  • Quantum PC Services Selected as Rural Small Business of the Year

    Quantum PC Services in Sturgeon Bay has been selected as the Small Business Administration’s (SBA) Rural Small Business of the Year 2020 for the state of Wisconsin. Nathan Drager, founder and president; and Erin Helgeson, executive VP, received the honor Sept. 3 from Eric Ness, SBA district director, at the Quantum PC headquarters.  This award […]

  • Destination Door County Partners with Leave No Trace Center

    Destination Door County (DDC) has formed a partnership with the Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics, becoming the first tourism destination in Wisconsin to do so. The partnership is designed to help minimize environmental impacts on the county by ensuring that both residents and visitors have information about sustainability and easy-to-practice skills in order […]

  • Vandalism Heightens Campaign Intensity

    GOP offices, signs spray painted When the offices of the Republican Party of Door County were spray painted the night of Aug. 29, it marked a new level of tension during an already inflamed political season. Across Door County, yard signs in support of President Donald Trump have been stolen, run over and spray painted. […]

  • In Pursuit of Fair Maps

    Door County voters will weigh in Nov. 3 On the ballot for Door County voters in the Nov. 3 general election will be an advisory referendum that asks, “Should the Wisconsin legislature create a nonpartisan procedure for the preparation of legislative and congressional district plans and maps?” “The reason it’s so important is the lines […]

  • What’s Up at the Governor’s Task Force on Broadband?

    Hear the complete conversation at doorcountypulse.com/podcasts/ Providing affordable broadband internet access to all state residents by 2025 is one of the goals of the Governor’s Task Force on Broadband Access, created by executive order in July. That task force has begun meeting, and to get some insight about where it may be heading, we spoke […]

  • Johnson Is among Senators Demanding HCQ Answers from FDA

    U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), chair of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs committees, was one of three senators who sent a letter to Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Commissioner Stephen Hahn asking the FDA to provide information about its decisions that have led to discouraging outpatient use of hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) for the early treatment […]

  • Baldwin Cosponsors Legislation to Help Restaurant Workers

    U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.) has cosponsored the bipartisan Real Economic Support That Acknowledges Unique Restaurant Assistance Needed to Survive (RESTAURANTS) Act to establish a $120 billion revitalization fund. It’s intended to help independent restaurants deal with the long-term structural challenges facing the industry because of COVID-19 and support the reemployment of 11 million workers. […]

  • USPS Launches New Election Mail Website

    As part of its ongoing effort to ensure that voters and election officials have the information they need to successfully use the U.S. mail to vote in the November general elections, the U.S. Postal Service has launched a new election mail website to provide information about voting by mail. The site, available 24/7, is usps.com/votinginfo. […]

  • Kewaunee County Seeks Input on Housing

    Kewaunee County wants to know how residents and nonresidents view housing in the county as part of an online survey being conducted by the Bay-Lake Regional Planning Commission. The 20-question Kewaunee County Housing Survey asks participants about current housing choices, whether the county needs more housing and what the preferred types of housing are. “We […]

  • City Locks in Debt at Less Than 1 Percent

    The Sturgeon Bay Common Council passed a resolution Tuesday evening awarding the sale of roughly $4.3 million in general obligation notes. The debt will finance various city-improvement projects and the acquisition of vehicles and equipment during the next decade. The sale also included refinancing outstanding debt at an interest cost savings of $36,000.  Brad Viegut, […]

  • State Historical Society Questions Plan to Demolish Potawatomi Tower

    DCHS also issues statement of support The State Historic Preservation Officer (SHPO) answered compliance-specific questions from the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) regarding Potawatomi Tower this week, according to a letter the Sturgeon Bay Historical Society Foundation (SBHSF) received.  Tyler Howe, compliance section manager with the Wisconsin Historical Society, said the SHPO considers the tower […]

  • Bay View Park Protection on the Way

    Payne and Dolan in Greenville, Wisconsin, won the bid award for a shoreline-protection project at Bay View Park in Sturgeon Bay. At $112,755, the bid was the lowest of the eight submitted bids, which ranged up to $262,000. The price includes mobilization, clearing and grubbing, restoration, and the stone required for the job. With city […]

  • The Ridges, Land Trust Begin Partnership Talks

    The Door County Land Trust and The Ridges Sanctuary have entered into discussions about a potential merger of the two organizations into one operating entity. The board presidents of both organizations characterized the discussion as very preliminary and exploratory.  Land Trust President Donna DeNardo said the discussions began during the spring as COVID-19 clouded the […]

  • Letter to the Editor: Vote for Fair Maps on Election Day

    Thanks to the Door County Board of Supervisors, we can cast a nonpartisan vote on Nov. 3! Our ballot will include a referendum for a nonpartisan procedure for the preparation of legislative and congressional district plans and maps that will be in effect for the next 10 years. Backstory: The districts where we vote for […]

  • Letter to the Editor: We Need Real Relief from our Congressional Leaders

    We are facing an unprecedented crisis as a community and as a nation. Our workers and their families are facing tremendous uncertainties, both in the workplace and at home. Now more than ever, we need clear and decisive leadership. We need leaders who will work for their constituents and help deliver the relief they so […]

  • Letter to the Editor: Just This Once

    To my Republican brothers and sisters, I know that many of you had something else in mind when you voted for Donald Trump in 2016. You didn’t realize how things would turn out. That happens sometimes.  In fact, many would argue that this Republican Party isn’t their Republican Party at all; it’s the party of […]

  • Letter to the Editor: To All the Trump Naysayers

    To the oh-so-typical lemmings who so frequently vent in the editorial section of this paper, I would like to ask one thing: Instead of merely echoing the worn-out refrain of “Trump lies,” could you please just cite some examples? You and others like you keep repeating this but never seem able to explain what so-called […]

  • Letter to the Editor: To the Village Board, Fire Commission and Community of Egg Harbor

    I have long admired the men and women who protect and serve our community and country. My father was a WWII Army Air Force lieutenant. Anyone who heads toward danger instead of away from it to protect everyday citizens like you and me is a hero – not motivated by praise and awards but performed honorably […]

  • Letter to the Editor: More Community Togetherness Starts with Smaller Signs

    I read with great interest Myles Dannhausen Jr.’s article in the Aug. 26 edition of the Pulse concerning billboard regulations in Door County and breathed a huge sigh of relief in reading that recent clarifications to the existing sign ordinance should prevent new billboards from popping up. That got me to thinking about all the […]

  • Face Masks Donated in Part of Back to School Program

    Dozens of handmade fabric face masks donated by the Kewaunee Artisan Center were the first of the school supplies that families chose during the Kewaunee County Public Health Department’s annual Back to School Program.  More than 320 children chose from more than 4,000 donated school and hygiene supplies Aug. 19, including backpacks, notebooks, folders, crayons, […]

  • Wisconsin Citizen Lake Monitoring Network (WCLMN) Honors Clark Lake Resident Schumacher

    The Wisconsin Citizen Lake Monitoring Network (WCLMN) has honored Clark Lake resident Paul Schumacher with an award for his 30 years of volunteer water-quality monitoring. Schumacher records regular information on the lake’s clarity, as well as phosphorus and chlorophyll levels, water temperature and dissolved oxygen concentrations throughout the spring and summer.  The WCLMN supports more […]

  • National Suicide Prevention Week Approaching

    Nearly 800,000 people die due to suicide every year, which is one person every 40 seconds, according to the World Health Organization. Navigating a pandemic and national unrest may contribute to this troubling statistic because fear and anxiety can overwhelm people as they try to understand what’s happening around them. As National Suicide Prevention Week […]

  • Peninsula Poetry: Charlotte Johnston

    compiled by the DOOR COUNTY POETS COLLECTIVE Charlotte Johnston was only 10 when she spent a week at Eagle Bluff Lighthouse with her grandparents. Since that first visit, Door County has remained her constant while she and her husband, Richard, have divided their time between Madison and Ephraim. Johnston grew up on a farm in […]

  • Le Guin’s Lessons Shine through Science Fiction and Fantasy

    Welcome to a new installment of the Door County Readers series. Twice a month, we invite readers to talk about which books have been most influential to them, their favorite authors, what they’re reading now and more. This week, Logan Thomas shares his newfound appreciation for Ursula K. Le Guin. Let the discussion begin! by […]

  • Ephraim’s Budding Nightlife

    The village of Ephraim – which had been the state’s last remaining dry town – is slowly changing its reputation when it comes to nightlife. Now when the spectacular sunset concludes over Eagle Bay, the twinkle lights come on, and the quaint courtyards and outdoor dining patios near Church Street illuminate the evening with a […]

  • Gourmet Grilling Made Easy with Chef Nick Dawson

    Barringer’s Chef Nick Dawson has turned a challenging situation into an opportunity for diners to take their at-home cookouts to new levels. Dawson – who has been at the Fish Creek restaurant as the chef de cuisine since it opened its doors in 2016 – had to face some hard challenges this year when the 2020 […]

  • Puzzle Man: How Myles Mellor Made Crosswords a Career

    Puzzle creator Myles Mellor didn’t set out to craft a new career when he first sketched a crossword puzzle by hand 20 years ago. He was simply trying to cheer up his dad back home in England.  “My mom died, and my father was quite devastated by it, and I was trying to think of […]

  • Wild Things: Plum Island Deer-Hunt Draw Set for This Week

    If you applied for a shot at a limited gun deer hunt on Plum Island this year, watch your email. David Bolin, assistant refuge manager for the Green Bay National Wildlife Refuge (which includes Plum Island), said the drawing would take place this week.  Last year was the first year when the U.S. Fish and […]

  • Hike This: Toft Point State Natural Area

    The Toft Point Natural Area is one of my favorite hikes at any time of the year. The trail begins off Ridges Road, where there’s a small parking area, and it travels northeast through a mile of forest toward a spectacular, rocky dolomite shoreline on Moonlight Bay.  Round trip, the easy hike is about two […]

  • Birch Creek Faculty, Alumni Offer Online Studio Sessions

    Renowned Birch Creek faculty and alumni will share their musical expertise during online Studio Sessions on three September Saturdays at 10 am. Music students will have a new opportunity to add to their musical tool kit with these one-hour Zoom sessions.  Violinist Renée-Paule Gauthier, a Birch Creek Symphony faculty member, will present Effective Mindful Practice […]

  • Midsummer’s Music to Present Outdoor and Virtual Concerts

    Midsummer’s Music will present a live, socially distanced, outdoor chamber-music concert at Woodwalk Gallery on Sept. 5, 5 pm. The rain date is Sept. 6, 5 pm. Wisconsin Public Radio broadcaster Norman Gilliland will serve as the concert host for the Friends of Old program, spotlighting Anton Reicha’s Clarinet Quintet in F Major and Ludwig […]

  • ‘Rosalind’: A Virtual Production Performed Remotely

    The challenge of working with strict limitations can often create surprising bursts of creativity and innovation – necessity is the mother of invention, after all. The COVID-19 pandemic has hit arts and entertainment organizations particularly hard this year, and theater has faced some of the most challenging limitations: ones that reach to the very core of […]

  • Fall Lighthouse Festival Better Than Ever

    The Door County Maritime Museum (dcmm.org) will host the Fall Lighthouse Festival Oct. 3-4: a weekend of air, land, boat and adventure tours that, together, will reach all 11 of the county’s treasured lighthouses. Many of the excursions are exclusive to the festival weekends and provide visitors with lighthouse access that is not typically available […]

  • Pro Fisher Wins $200,000 in Local Competition

    Destination Sturgeon Bay hosts the six-day Tackle Warehouse TITLE competition, featuring the top 50 professional anglers from the 2020 Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit season. They fish for a piece of $820,000, including the top prize of $200,000. Pro fisher Spencer Shuffield of Hot Springs, Arkansas, caught 25 smallmouth bass totaling 86 pounds, 13 ounces, to […]

  • Maritime Museum Bestows Annual Awards

    The Door County Maritime Museum (DCMM) has announced its annual award recipients.  Presented jointly by the DCMM and the Sturgeon Bay Yacht Club, the Door County Mariner Awards went to William C. Parsons and posthumously to John D. Thenell. The honor recognizes those who have had a significant, positive, lasting impact on the county’s maritime […]

  • Parallel 44 to Host Harvest Fest Sept. 12

    Parallel 44 (44wineries.com), N2185 Sleepy Hollow Road in Kewaunee, will host Harvest Fest on Sept. 12, 12-6 pm. Enjoy live music by Talk of the Town, pizza from Wild Fire Pizza, wine tastings, discounts and prize giveaways. There will be no tours or grape stomping this year.

  • Vintage Market in Ellison Bay Sept. 12

    The Liberty Grove Historical Society will host a vintage market Sept. 12, 10 am – 3 pm, on its grounds at 11831 Hwy 42 in Ellison Bay. The property’s historical buildings will be closed, but visitors are encouraged to explore the grounds on self-guided walking tours. Attendees should wear masks and observe social distancing. The […]

  • Volunteer for Crossroads Ecological-Restoration Project

    Crossroads at Big Creek (crossroadsatbigcreek.org), 2041 Michigan St. in Sturgeon Bay, is looking for volunteers to work on an ecological-restoration project Sept. 5, 10 am. Social distancing will be observed, and volunteers are asked to supply their own water, sunscreen and boots. All other equipment and instruction will be provided. Meet at the workshop, 2041 […]

  • Northern Sky Hosts Lumberjack Car Wash Sept. 5

    Northern Sky Theater’s 2020 season is entirely virtual, and its new Gould Theater at the corner of County Roads F and A in Fish Creek has sat empty. But Northern Sky fans will have a chance to see some of their favorite actors in the parking lot Sept. 5 when the theater presents its first […]

  • It’s a Great Time for a Hike at The Ridges

    Join a Ridges Sanctuary naturalist for a relaxing, informative, guided hike through the sanctuary Sept. 4-11, 10 am. The walk includes the Upper Range Light lantern room and historical cabins.  Ridges naturalists will also lead a Solitude Swale guided hike Sept. 8, 1 pm; and a Rustic Trails guided hike Sept. 10, 1 pm. These […]

  • The Power of Sunflowers

    There’s a new patch of sunshine in Egg Harbor this summer that’s been eliciting smiles from all who visit. Do a quick search on Instagram, and you’ll easily discover many smiling faces in a sunflower field in Egg Harbor.  Kaaren Northrop, owner of Main Street Market in Egg Harbor, has been watching the field of […]

  • Barre Classes at About Thyme Farms

    About Thyme Farms in Baileys Harbor will host 45-minute barre classes every Monday and Wednesday in September, starting at 9:30 am. These classes combine ballet technique, yoga and Pilates to tone, sculpt and lift the body while building a stronger physique. Everyone is welcome, with plenty of social-distancing space inside and outside. Participants must supply […]

  • Hellen Memorial Scramble Debuts Sept. 15

    The first Pat Hellen Memorial Scramble will be held Sept. 15 at Maxwelton Braes Golf Course. Proceeds ($10 from every player) will be donated to the Northern Door YMCA in Hellen’s name, and additional donations will be accepted. With the skins game, your team could win some money. The cost is $30 per person for […]

  • Obituary: Thomas Doumouras

    November 12, 1934 ~ August 28, 2020 Thomas Doumouras, 85 years, of Fish Creek died Friday, August 28, 2020, at St. Vincent’s Hospital in Green Bay following complications after a stroke. He was born November 12, 1934 in Sheboygan, the son of the late James Thomas and Jiannoula (Bmpenos) Doumouras.  Tom grew up in Sheboygan […]

  • Obituary: Ann Josephine Hickey

    June 16, 1950 ~ August 29, 2020 OBITUARY Ann Josephine Hickey, also known as “Grandma Kitty” to those who loved her, miscreant, elf, and occasional personality, 70, of Sturgeon Bay, died at home late Saturday evening August 29, 2020. She was born in Green Bay on June 16, 1950 to James Howard Hickey and Lois […]

  • Obituary: Lee J. Grota

    May 12, 1937 ~ August 29, 2020 Lee J. Grota, 83 years, of Sturgeon Bay, died at his home Saturday, August 29, 2020 surrounded by his dear family. He was born May 12, 1937 in Sturgeon Bay, the son of the late Dr. Hubert and Carrol (Bartmann) Grota. He attended St. Joseph grade school and […]

  • Obituary: Katie McConkey

    March 5, 1988 ~ August 25, 2020 Katie McConkey (and her smile), 32, of Sturgeon Bay, formerly of Fish Creek, died early Tuesday morning, August 25, 2020. Katherine Lynn McConkey was born March 5, 1988 in Bloomington, IL, the daughter of Gary Lynn McConkey and Kathy Ann (Davis) McConkey. Her family moved to Door County […]

  • Obituary: Lois “Jean” Walker

    March 18, 1923 ~ August 26, 2020 Lois “Jean” Walker, 97, of Sturgeon Bay, died on August 26, 2020, at Sturgeon Bay Health Services.  She was born March 18, 1923, in Cambria, WI to Milton and Myra (Jenkins) Jones.  After high school, she worked for the Wisconsin Telephone Company and returned to Berlin to work […]

  • Obituary: Muriel Jean Seegers

    September 8, 1927~August 20, 2020 Muriel Seegers died on August 20, 2020, in her sleep, after living with Alzheimer’s disease for several years. She was born on September 8, 1927 in Chicago. After graduating from Oak Park High School, Muriel attended University of Wisconsin at Madison and Kathryn Gibbs Secretarial School. She met Glen Seegers […]