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Peninsula Pulse September 9-16, 2022

In this issue

  • Destination Sturgeon Bay Opens Photo Contest

    Destination Sturgeon Bay is hosting a photo contest to encourage photographers to capture the lifestyle, beauty and culture of the community through a camera lens. The individual who takes the winning photo will receive $500. The photo will appear in globally distributed marketing efforts, and, with the help of The Gnoshery, it will be converted […]

  • Dunk Tank Fundraiser Makes Splash at Marina Fest

    The 2022 Sister Bay Marina Fest started off with a splash on Saturday morning, when local personalities stepped up to the Dunk Tank for Defibs fundraiser. The event raised close to $5,000 for the Defibs4DoorCounty campaign of the Door County Fire Chiefs Association.  Volunteer dunkers Lars Johnson of Al Johnson’s Swedish Restaurant, Chad Kodanko of […]

  • Letter to the Editor: Beautiful Nature, Good-natured People

    We were visiting and enjoying the beauty of Door County – beautiful lakes, bees, birds, butterflies – when our day was marred by locking the keys in the car.  We were visiting Whitefish Bay State Park. We had just finished a lovely hike, and I had questions to ask park staff. Thinking the keys were […]

  • Letter to the Editor: Democracy, Please – Not Violence

    President Biden’s address on Sept. 1 was spot on. MAGA [Make America Great Again] Republicans frequently advocate and/or condone violence instead of democratic processes, as seen during the Jan. 6 insurrection, in record numbers of death threats against government officials with whom they disagree, and through support for enforcing pregnancies caused by violence.  In my […]

  • Letter to the Editor: Fan of Mosquito Abatement

    Here is why we have a mosquito-abatement sign at the end of our driveway. About four years ago, I saw a lot of signs for mosquito abatement at an assortment of Door County restaurants and outdoor theaters, so I called a mosquito-abatement company. After hearing the rates, I decided I could continue to purchase foggers […]

  • Legal Brief: The Power of the Prosecutor

    by JOAN KORB, [email protected] Along with calls for police reform have come calls for curtailing the power of prosecutors, often acknowledged as the most powerful party in the criminal justice system.  District attorneys, who are constitutional officers elected to serve four-year terms, have mostly unfettered discretion in deciding whom to charge, what to charge and […]

  • Letter to the Editor: Free Lunch!

    How many of us still hold out for a free lunch? When it comes to politics, it seems to me that that promise of a free lunch infiltrates every candidate’s platform. It’s either the rich that will be taxed at higher rates so others can have more money, or everybody will have their taxes reduced. […]

  • Enrollment Open for Ridges’ Forest School

    Enrollment for The Ridges Sanctuary’s Forest School in Baileys Harbor is open. This new program – intended for homeschooled children ages 5-9 who enjoy outdoor, hands-on learning – will be offered Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, 9-11:30 am.   During this program, students will hike through diverse ecosystems and learn how to record their observations and questions. The […]

  • Fall Tree Giveaway

    During September, Destination Door County and the Climate Change Coalition of Door County are teaming up for a tree giveaway. Representatives from the two organizations will be at farm markets and festivals this month to hand out free trees and other Door County items. Trees (with planting instructions) will be available on a first-come, first-served […]

  • Trauma-informed Training Precedes New School Year at Gibraltar

    While other Door County school districts began the 2022-23 school year Sept. 1, Gibraltar Area School District students didn’t have their first day until after the Labor Day weekend. The district’s teachers and all employees were in school Sept. 1 and 2, however, attending “trauma-informed training,” which included a full day of training with Marci […]

  • Herbal Tea Time

    Join pharmacist and herbalist Dave LaLuzerne for a wild take on high tea Sept. 21, 4 pm, at Kick Ash Coffee, 12001 Mink River Road in Ellison Bay.  LaLuzerne, who’s renowned for his herbal tea gatherings, will serve a selection that includes chicory/chocolate mint, linden flower and wild marjoram, as well as herbal hors d’oeuvres. […]

  • Mighty Oak Meditation Throne in the Making

    This northern red oak tree began growing in 1846, according to the estimate of the late Roy Lukes and his wife, Charlotte. It soared 63 feet in the yard of a house on Nautical Drive in Sturgeon Bay owned by Jen DuPont. The tree stood sentry for centuries, surviving development and Mother Nature, the Peshtigo […]

  • Grant Funding for Local Nonprofits

    Application period ends Oct. 28 Several local nonprofit organizations described the services they provide and their need for funding back in January when the County of Door held a public hearing to get feedback about how to spend $5,374,185 in federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) dollars. The ARPA money can be spent on a […]

  • What to do With Baileys Harbor’s Brann Field

    How to use and access Brann Field in Baileys Harbor was a topic of conversation last month during the Baileys Harbor Town Board meeting, and it’s expected to be taken up again during the town board’s Sept. 12 meeting. Located directly behind Lakeshore Rental Properties and kitty-corner to the Baileys Harbor Cornerstone Pub and Door […]

  • Big Step for Door County Granary

    Structure lowered and reattached to base The project to restore the Teweles and Brandeis grain elevator on the city’s West Waterfront reached a milestone Aug. 31 when DeVooght House Lifters & Building Movers lowered the building onto its 18-foot-tall column legs. Door County Granary project manager Nicole Matson said the building’s upper two floors, which […]

  • Yoga at the Kress

    An altar frame was set for a wedding to take place at the Kress Pavilion in Egg Harbor on Aug. 20, but the regular Saturday-morning yoga class always takes place regardless, sometimes “framing” instructor Kathy Navis. Photo by D.A. Fitzgerald.

  • DCHS Featured Pet: Blanca

    Beautiful Blanca is a 1-year-old kitty who’s available for adoption from the Wisconsin Humane Society (WHS) Door County Campus. This sweet gal’s gorgeous green eyes are sure to win you over.  Like all cats at WHS, Blanca (wihumane.org/adopt/animal?id=50899705) has been spayed, vaccinated and microchipped, plus she goes home with a starter bag of food and […]

  • Open Discussion Group About Death

    Steve Freier hosts a free, open discussion about death monthly on the third Thursday, with the next meeting set for Sept. 15, 1-2 pm, at the ADRC of Door County, 916 N. 14th Ave. in Sturgeon Bay. Freier has spent more than 20 years researching the afterlife and has reviewed hundreds of books and video […]

  • Dispute Over Connecting Grant Avenue and Sawyer Drive Continues

    Rather than having to go to court, the City of Sturgeon Bay will make another attempt to reach a settlement to purchase approximately four acres of land that the city wants to acquire to connect Grant Avenue and Sawyer Drive on the city’s west side, Mayor David Ward said. The land is part of approximately […]

  • Rezoning Hearing for New Sturgeon Bay Business

    A sewer-drain–clearing business is looking to locate at the southeast corner of South Lansing Avenue and West Spruce Street in Sturgeon Bay. The city’s plan commission has scheduled a public hearing for Sept. 21 to consider a request from Andy Loch to rezone the parcel from General Commercial (C-1) to Commercial-Residential (C-5). “The comprehensive plan […]

  • Sons of Norway Potluck Meeting

    The Door County Sons of Norway H.R. Holand Lodge will hold a potluck meeting Sept. 13, 11 am, at Bay View Lutheran Church, 340 W. Maple St. in Sturgeon Bay. District officer Peg Schroeder will present a program on the runestone after lunch. Members, friends and the public are invited.

  • Volunteer to Help Manage Nasewaupee’s Short-Term Rentals

    A volunteer has come forward to help manage the Town of Nasewaupee’s short-term-rental (STR) ordinance. Town chair Steve Sullivan announced at the town board’s monthly meeting in August that Nasewaupee resident Jacob Schartner has volunteered his time without pay to go through reports online that determine who is not in compliance with the town’s ordinance. […]

  • Early Registration for Care Walk

    St. Peter’s Lutheran Church is hosting its annual St. Peter’s Cares Walk on Oct. 1, 8:30-10:30 am. All money raised will be donated to JAK’s Place in Sturgeon Bay. Early registration – $20 per individual and $30 per family – is due by Sept. 24. After Sept. 24, registration will be $25 per individual and $35 per […]

  • Town-Wide Review of Sevastopol Property Assessments Pending

    The Town of Sevastopol is due for a revaluation: a town-wide review of all property assessments. It’s been 16 years since the town’s last one. “We obviously need to do it,” said town board chair Dan Woelfel during the town’s Aug. 15 meeting, when a revaluation was on the agenda for discussion.  Revaluation, according to […]

  • Fire Damages Sturgeon Bay Garage Structure

    A row of detached garages located behind the Alabama Place Apartments at 919 Alabama Place sustained significant damage Aug. 31. The Sturgeon Bay Fire Department was called to the scene shortly before 4 pm. A cloud of smoke produced by the blaze could be seen billowing from the site through a portion of the city’s […]

  • Get to Know The League of Women Voters

    The League of Women Voters of Door County invites everyone to learn more about the organization and how to make a difference while enjoying refreshments and stimulating conversation Sept. 27, 4-6 pm, at the Baileys Harbor Town Hall, 2392 Cty F. Visit lwvdoorcounty.org to find out more.

  • Former Gov. Schreiber to Speak About Alzheimer’s

    Martin (Marty) Schreiber, Wisconsin’s 39th governor, will present an Alzheimer’s support message at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Door County, 10341 Water St. (Hwy 42) in Ephraim, on Sept. 18, 10 am. All are welcome.  Schreiber will share his 18-year experience of watching his wife, Elaine, transform into a person who no longer recognizes him […]

  • Village of Sister Bay Hears Support for Hall

    The Village of Sister Bay’s Parks and Properties Committee hosted two public-input sessions to gather comments about the fate of the old village hall. About 40 people tuned in to a session held via Zoom on Aug. 30, and a full house of approximately 50 people attended an in-person meeting at the Sister Bay Fire […]

  • Developer Keeps Rezoning for Highway Corridor

    When the Town of Sevastopol’s board of supervisors sat down for a special meeting Sept. 2, its members were fully prepared to kill a commercial and residential development intended for a prime Door County corridor. They believed the developer had misrepresented his intentions for the land, and they had no time to waste if they […]

  • Run/Walk Events Help Those in Need

    On Sept. 17, the St. Joseph Catholic Church Conference in Sturgeon Bay and the Stella Maris Catholic Church Conference headquartered in Egg Harbor will host their only public fundraising events for this year. All donations are tax deductible and will be used in their entirety to help those in need. The St. Joseph Conference has […]

  • Money Mindset Makeover

    Give your future a fresh financial destination with Money Mindset Makeover, an eight-week, virtual coaching program co-sponsored by Money Management Counselors of Door and Kewaunee County and Jodi Rose Studio. The program will run Sept. 28 – Nov. 16. The program helps participants to understand and rewrite limiting beliefs about money by using visual thinking […]

  • Vote Door County for Best Fall Foliage

    Door County has been nominated for USA Today’s 10 Best Readers’ Choice Award in the Best Destination for Fall Foliage category. Voting is underway at 10best.com through Sept. 12. Winners will be announced Sept. 23.

  • Making Way for Sunset Estates

    Demolition has begun on the former Sunset School in Sturgeon Bay to make room for the construction of four apartment buildings with 26 total units known as SCS Sunset Estates. A groundbreaking ceremony for S.C. Swiderski’s new residential development is set for Sept. 22. Photo by Kevin Boneske.

  • $10,000-Plus Raised to Fight Childhood Cancer

    The ninth Play It Forward benefit concert at Stabbur Beer Garden, held June 12, raised $3,455 for the Go Bo Foundation and for Alice Mattson, an 8-year-old in Door County who has been diagnosed with acute lymphocytic leukemia. The Johnson family matched concertgoers’ contributions with $3,500. In the week leading up to the event, $1,435 […]

  • Girl Scouts Awarded $4,000

    The Girl Scouts of the Northwestern Great Lakes recently received a $1,000 sustainability grant from the Women’s Fund of Door County and a $3,000 sustainability grant through funds at the Door County Community Foundation.  This support will help Girl Scouts throughout the region to learn, grow and discover through girl-led programs that provide outdoor adventures, […]

  • Take the Internet-Speed Survey

    Residents, property owners and business owners are strongly encouraged to take an internet-speed survey to show which internet services are in place in Door County. This information will be used to update county broadband service maps with accurate readings of the internet speeds being delivered to each premise. To make affordable broadband service available to […]

  • Qigong Classes in Sturgeon Bay

    Golden QiBall and The 8 Pieces of Brocade classes are being offered Tuesdays, 6-7 pm, through Oct. 25, at SWY231, 231 N. 3rd Ave. in Sturgeon Bay. The cost is $95. Register at doorcountystudio234.com. Wuji Hundun Flow is being offered Wednesdays, 8:30-9:30 am, through Oct. 12, at Studio234, 234 N. 3rd Ave. in Sturgeon Bay. […]

  • Journal Through Grief

    Marggie Moertl of Embrace Your Inner Self is introducting Journal through Grief, an online group that will meet monthly to harness the healing power of writing to help participants process their grief. This group is not intended to be a support group, but rather, it seeks to facilitate healing through writing in community with others […]

  • Mystery Novel Focuses on Belgian History

    Rebecca Derenne of the Belgian Heritage Center in Brussels will lead the next meeting of the UntitledTown PageTurners Book Club on Sept. 22, 6 pm, at St. Norbert College’s Mulva Library in De Pere. The group will discuss The Lace Maker’s Secret by Kathleen Ernst. Greed, uncertainty and death become entangled in the mystery of […]

  • Lisa Vihos Book Reading and Signing

    Author Lisa Vihos will read from her novel, The Lone Snake: The Story of Sofonisba Anguissola; answer readers’ questions; and sign books Sept. 17, 1-2 pm, at Yardstick Books, 317 Steele St. in Algoma. In The Lone Snake, Vihos brings Renaissance artist Sofonisba Anguissola to life as a woman who’s yearning for recognition in a […]

  • Local Author Receives Gold from Military Writers Society

    Each year, the Military Writers Society of America recognizes noteworthy authors and their works nationwide, and this year, local author Annette Langlois Grunseth earned a gold medal in the Memoir/Biography category for her book Combat and Campus: Writing through War. The work combines correspondence from Grunseth’s older brother, Sgt. Peter Langlois, during the Vietnam War […]

  • Book Recommendations: Children’s Banned or Challenged Books

    Recommended by Barb Husch, Branch Manager, Forestville Library During Banned Books Week, Sept. 18-24, we often review lists that include books that have been challenged or banned over the years. Children’s books are not immune to being challenged or banned, so I’m recommending a couple that are sometimes found on various lists. Walter the Farting […]

  • Culture Club: Crossings and Crossroads

    Washington Island Literary Festival celebrates 10 years of reading and writing by ELIZABETH SACHS, Festival Committee Member Heading to Washington Island in 2014 for my first experience of the literary festival I’d heard raves about, I caught the mystical, 10 pm “late boat” at Northport. I’d driven straight through from Buffalo, New York, and was […]

  • Last Call for Hal Prize Submissions

    The Hal Prize is still accepting submissions in poetry, fiction, nonfiction and photography at thehalprize.com. The submission deadline is Sept. 16. Why submit your creative work to the Hal Prize? We’ll let some previous entrants tell you their reasons why. Below are some of the answers we received to our 2020-21 Hal Prize feedback-survey question, […]

  • Questions & Authors: Adrian Matejka, Hal Prize Poetry Judge

    Adrian Matejka grew up in Indianapolis and is the author of seven books, with a graphic novel coming out in 2023. His poetry collection The Big Smoke earned the Anisfield-Wolf Book Award and was a finalist for the National Book Award and Pulitzer Prize in poetry. Among Matejka’s other honors are fellowships from the Academy […]

  • Glassblowing Demonstrations at Burnt Bluff Stone and Glass

    Since opening Burnt Bluff Stone and Glass at the end of the 2021 season, owners Ryan and Kari Dayton have operated their business according to a mission to make glassblowing accessible to everyone.  Prior to opening the studio, Ryan had been blowing glass for the previous eight years – on and off on the side, whenever […]

  • Judge Overrules Shipwrecked Project Denial, Village to Appeal

    Shipwrecked Brew Pub in Egg Harbor may get its expanded beer garden after all. In a decision issued Aug. 17, Door County Circuit Court Judge Todd Ehlers overturned the village’s denial of a permit for Shipwrecked to build a large beer garden adjacent to the restaurant in the center of Egg Harbor.  In October 2021, […]

  • Wild Things: Hunt Is On for Opening-day Spots

    Whitetails top target as seasons begin Sept. 17 by KEVIN NAZE, [email protected] If you don’t own or lease hunting land, there’s a good chance you’ll be one of many hunters who are competing for a prime spot to take a stand this season.  Even though the percentage of public land on the peninsula is much […]

  • Tickets Available for Write On Gala

    Carrie Fountain Featured at Fall Gala  Take a journey into the Poem Forest at Write On’s fall gala Sept. 29 on the grounds of the Writing Center. The gala features keynote speaker Carrie Fountain, in a celebration of where words meet nature and old friends unite with new.  Get your tickets before they’re gone for […]

  • Obituary: Theresa Carol Smith

    November 8, 1938 ~ September 3, 2022 Theresa Carol Smith, 83, formerly of Barrington, IL died on Sept. 4, 2022, in Westmont, IL.  She was born Nov. 8, 1938, in Chicago, IL to Joseph and Stephanie (Obrzut) Dzik.  On Oct. 28, 1961, she married Thomas O. Smith in Chicago.  He preceded her in death in […]

  • Obituary: Keith Alan Homeier

    April 19, 1951 ~ August 29, 2022 Keith Alan Homeier, 71, of Egg Harbor, died on Monday, August 29, 2022. He was born April 19, 1951 in Chicago Heights, the only son born to Gilbert Adelbert and Helen Louise (Wishnewski) Homeier. Keith graduated from Bloom High School with the Class of 1969. He worked at […]

  • Obituary: Marajen Mosier (Mosier) Lee

    February 5, 1937 ~ August 25, 2022 Marajen M. Lee, 85 years, of Sister Bay, died Thursday, August 25, 2022 at Scandia Village in Sister Bay. She was born February 05, 1937 in Urbana, IL the daughter of the late George and Opal (Davison) Mosier.  On August 11, 1956 she married David G. Lee in […]

  • Obituary: Shawn A. Martinson

    January 16, 1972 ~ August 30, 2022 Shawn Andrew Martinson, 50, Sturgeon Bay died at his home on August 30, 2022.  He was born January 16, 1972, in Milwaukee to Richard and Linda (Larson) Martinson.  He enjoyed cooking, campfires, playing cribbage, visiting with friends, and helping people. Survivors include his mother, Linda Sewell; three brothers, […]