How safe is our groundwater?
In this issue
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Article posted Thursday, April 23, 2015 10:25am
A few weeks ago I was talking with Jerod Santek from Write On, Door County and the subject of “found poems” arose and this led me to mention a collection of “found poems” by Annie Dillard.
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What I Learned at Legislative Days
I attended the reception featuring Door/Kewaunee cuisine after a day of lobbying our legislators. Door County’s favorite wineries, Al Johnson’s Swedish Restaurant and Waseda Farms all made an appearance.
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1 in 68 The average estimate of children identified with Autism Spectrum Disorder throughout the United States, as reported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on March 27, 2015.
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As the nation celebrates Arbor Day (April 24), let’s reflect on the value of trees, and highlight the important ability of trees to restore hope, bring healing, and lift spirits after natural disasters.
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Our Representatives in the News
Representative Joel Kitchens Kitchens applauded the Joint Finance Committee for its decision to remove all non-fiscal policy items from the biennial state budget, including proposed changes to the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Board.
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County of Door: The Museum Committee meets at 8:30 am on April 28. Board of Adjustment meets at 6:30 pm on April 28. The Risk Management & Insurance Committee meets at 2 pm on April 30.
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Article posted Thursday, April 23, 2015 10:15am
A Google executive with a desire for adventure broke both the sound barrier and the skydiving record in October of 2014. The daredevil wore a special pressurized suit that allowed him to breathe at high altitude and prevent his blood from boiling.
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County Stakeholders Fight for Change in Madison
Water was the keystone agenda item at Legislative Days and delegates felt their efforts were mostly successful. The day consisted of meeting with individual legislators and presentations to a panel of Wisconsin’s agencies.
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The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) recently announced that the organic industry continues to show remarkable growth domestically and globally, with 19,474 certified organic operations in the United States and a total of 27,814 certified organic operations around the world.
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This year’s Grosbeaks Galore: Birds on Your Landscape workshop will be held May 9 in Two Rivers, Wis. Attendees will learn how to manage their land for migratory birds and protect key habitat.
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Sign Petition for National Lakeshore
The Friends of the Grand Traverse Islands recently announced the creation of a petition to make the Grand Traverse Islands a national lakeshore. The petition calls for Congress and the U.
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Chambers Island is considered a peaceful retreat for its visitors, with the lack of commercial energy as part of its charm. Access to public safety and cell phone coverage have become necessities on the island, pushing Cellcom to use mother nature and finely tuned technology to deliver reliable communication year round.
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The Climate Change Coalition of Door County will present its second annual Climate Change Forum on May 9, at Stone Harbor Resort, 107 N. First Ave., Sturgeon Bay.
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The Village of Egg Harbor has begun a process of self-examination to enhance its downtown corridor. Public meetings were held on April 21 and 22 to discuss options and ideas for making the area from County E to Harbor School Road more biker and pedestrian friendly.
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Door County Humane Society Rebounds from Fraud
When an organization is defrauded by a trusted employee, there is always much more than lost revenue. Discovery of the theft can also result in negative publicity for the organization and often leads to a decrease in productivity and morale among staff.
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As the world’s climate continues to change, people in northern regions, including Wisconsin, are seeing pronounced changes. Some of the most recognizable shifts are an increase in less stable and more extreme weather conditions.
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WHAT HAPPENED • Judge D. Todd Ehlers excused himself from hearing the case against C. Frank Shaw in Door County Circuit Court on April 20 because Ehlers is a member of the Jacksonport Historical Society.
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One of the most pleasant sights in nature we’ve had so far this year was the Mourning Cloak Butterfly seen by Charlotte on Friday, March 20, 2015, with the outdoor temperature up to 52 degrees F.
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The Inspirational Temple Grandin Speaks at Southern Door
It was January 2010 when I last spoke with Temple Grandin, just weeks before the HBO film Temple Grandin starring Claire Danes was about to be released.
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A very small wildflower genus with gigantic popularity will soon be carpeting many of the deciduous woods of eastern Wisconsin. Its genus and best common name are the same, Hepatica.
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The Northern Door Volleyball Association is looking for teams to join in the Summer Volleyball League on the County A courts. Each summer, teams join on Wednesday nights for friendly competition under the Door County stars.
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Schedules from Door County high schools.
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A Wisconsin literary hero, Ellen Kort, 79, died early on April 21 in her hometown of Appleton, Wisconsin; her long struggle finally subsided. I pray her final moments were as she predicted in the perfectly penned “If Death Were A Woman”: I’d want her to come for me smelling of cinnamon wearing bright cotton purple maybe hot pink a red bandana in her hair She’d bring good coffee papaya juice bouquet of sea grass saltine crackers and a lottery ticket … I am not alone in writing about Ellen as a friend.
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Door County History in Pictures
Gathering Maple sap and a sweet drink, April 1940. Photo courtesy of the Door County Historical Museum, 18 North 4th Ave., Sturgeon Bay. Open 10 am – 4:30 pm daily, May 1 through Oct.
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Article posted Wednesday, April 22, 2015 4:09pm
Travels with Charlie? This shelter cat would love to be with a new family wherever they’re heading. At 11 years of age, Charlie has just hit his prime.
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BIRTH Arieana Becker and Zackarie Clark, Sturgeon Bay, are the parents of a daughter born April 14, 2015 at Ministry Door County Medical Center, Sturgeon Bay. Maternal grandparents are Jason and Echo Becker, Sturgeon Bay. Paternal grandparents are Trudie Clark-Collman and Jamie Collman, Algoma. PASSINGS Margaret “Mugsy” Elizabeth DeVault Sept. 1, 1920 – April 21, […]
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Belgian booyah and bread will be served at the Belgian Heritage Center at 1255 County DK, Brussels (the former St. Mary of the Snows Church) on April 26, 11 am to 2 pm.
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Protect Your Vital Records from Identity Theft
The Wisconsin Register of Deeds Association is continually working to prevent identity theft. One of the most commonly used documents for fraud is a birth record.
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Altrusa Receives Grant for Back-to-School Fair
The Sturgeon Bay Noon Rotary presented a grant to Altrusa International for its Back to School Fair. The fair supplies hundreds of children with the basics they need to be successful in school.
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Know Any NWTC Distinguished Alumni?
The Northeast Wisconsin Technical College Alumni Association is currently seeking nominations for the 2015 Distinguished Alumni Award. Nominees must have graduated from NWTC, and will be considered based on their professional accomplishments, community service, and contribution to technical education.
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Stella Maris Hosts “Hospice Nurses & Heaven” Program
The program “Hospice Nurses & Heaven” will be held on May 4, 6:30 – 8 pm, at Stella Maris Parish in Fish Creek. The featured speaker is Tina Poppe, a former hospice nurse.
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Learn about AED, CPR and First Aid
The Sister Bay & Liberty Grove Fire Department is partnering with the American Safety & Health Institute to offer classes to educate the community in the proper method of using an AED and performing CPR.
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St. Luke’s Hosts Rummage Sale for Good Causes
St. Luke’s Episcopal Church is raising money for HELP of Door County and Thistle Farms. As part of their giving back, both locally and nationally, St.
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Northern Door Health & Wellness Ministry continues its Community Health Information Programs on May 31 at 4 pm with “A Little Magic Pill” at First Baptist Church in Sister Bay.
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Three Door County lodging establishments are among a dozen being considered for the cover of the 2016 Wisconsin Lodging Directory. The Beachfront Inn in Baileys Harbor represents the Lake Michigan side of the peninsula while two Ephraim establishments – the Bay Breeze Resort and the Edgewater Resort – represent the other side.
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Do you have a new business in Door County? We would like to help you get the word out. When we compiled the list of new businesses for the 2014 season, the Door County Economic Development Corp.
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Northern Sky Theater Looks to Expand
Northern Sky Theater, the new name of American Folklore Theatre, recently submitted a petition for zoning amendment. The petition requests rezoning of a 17-acre parcel of land on the southeast corner of County A & F in Fish Creek to “Commercial.
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Business Counseling Sessions to be Held May 7
The Door County Economic Development Corporation and the UW-Green Bay Small Business Development Center will be offering free, one-on-one business counseling sessions on Thursday, May 7, 8:30am to 5pm, for any new or existing business owners in Door County.
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Harbor Pie Co. is coming to Sister Bay and will open its doors at 10647 N. Bay Shore Drive on April 25 at 8 am. Featuring sweet and savory pies, baked goods, strong coffee, beer and wine, Harbor Pie Co.
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Walmart is holding a job fair on April 29, 2 – 4:30 pm, at the Door County Job Center at the Cherry Point Mall in Sturgeon Bay. Hourly positions available are: cashiers, garden center associates and truck unloaders.
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Attorneys to be Honored for Pro Bono Work
The Legal Aid Society of Door County, Inc. will hold a reception to honor attorneys who have served on their board or supported the organization by providing pro bono legal services to low-income residents of Door County.
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Lois Pluff Awarded CRCM Designation
Lois Pluff, vice president & compliance/risk manager, Baylake Bank, was recently awarded the Certified Regulatory Compliance Manager (CRCM) designation from the Institute of Certified Bankers (ICB).
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Julia Maskell Promoted at Glas
Julia Maskell has been promoted to team lead at Glas, the green coffeehouse in Sturgeon Bay. Maskell has been a barista for more than nine years, including the last two years at Glas.
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Mona Christensen Steps into Executive Director Role at Birch Creek
The Board of Trustees announces the appointment of Mona Christensen as the new executive director of Birch Creek Music Performance Center, effective May 18, 2015.
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Artists from all over the country are busy putting the finishing touches on their unique and creative sturgeons for the 2015 Sturgeon Bay Visitor Center (SBVC) Street Art Project, and sturgeon sponsors are needed.
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From The Forty Hosts Next Buy Local Mixer
Door County Buy Local is holding its next business networking mixer on May 6, 5:30 – 7 pm, at From The Forty, S1579 Hwy. 42, Maplewood/Sturgeon Bay. The event will feature a presentation from the Southern Door Business Association on what Southern Door has to offer and From The Forty owners Geoff and Holly Hansen talking about how their hobby turned into a business.
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Pucker up! Coggin Heeringa holds up a sucker at Big Creek at the Crossroads at Big Creek campus last week during the annual sucker run. Approximately 75 kindergarten students from Sunset School in Sturgeon Bay had an exciting afternoon watching the sucker run.
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Asked again to name my favorite beer, I had to pull out the pat answer to any leaky old question, “Depends.” Really, how could anyone have just one favorite beer? Sometimes my favorite beer is the one I am drinking at that moment.
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Congratulations to Katie Glabe, of Blue Horse Cafe!
If you need a jolt of caffeine to start your day, Then Katie Glabe is who you should see at Blue Horse Cafe! She loves the customers and environment of the coffee shop in Fish Creek, Where she serves up coffee, bakery and sandwiches five days a week.
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Article posted Wednesday, April 22, 2015 2:53pm
Dear Mary Pat, My friend overshares about her son in person, but when she’s on Facebook she really lets loose. This poor boy is only 10 years old and she shares everything, and I mean everything.
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Are there tid-bits of conversations you’ve heard while standing in line at the grocery store, serving a table, or walking down the sidewalk that make you smile, cringe or laugh out loud?
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Article posted Wednesday, April 22, 2015 2:50pm
How many hearts does an earthworm have?
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Watch Out for Woodcocks and Mushrooms at The Ridges
Two sure signs of spring round out the April program schedule at The Ridges – woodcocks and mushrooms. Join a Ridges naturalist for a Woodcock Watch on April 24 at 7 pm to learn about the rotund little shorebird known as the American Woodcock and observe its distinctive courtship sky dance.
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Search for Signs of Spring at Crossroads
Frogs are peeping and croaking in Hauser Pond, suckers are running in Big Creek, and any day now, wildflowers will be in bloom at Crossroads at Big Creek in Sturgeon Bay.
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Celebrate Arbor Day with a Nature Walk
In 1872, a Nebraskan newspaper editor advocated for a tree planting holiday. Today, we call it Arbor Day. Celebrate Arbor Day this year with a nature walk at Peninsula State Park.
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Ahnapee-Western Railway Subject of Historical Society Meeting
The Door County Historical Society will host its monthly dinner meeting featuring a presentation on the Ahnapee-Western Railway on April 27. The catered dinner meeting will be at 6 pm at Prince of Peace Church, 1756 Michigan St.
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Square Dancing for Everyone at Island Party
“If you can walk and know your right from your left you’ll do fine,” stated Mike Grill about square dancing. Grill is president of The Door County Folk Alliance.
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Join Beatlemania at Stone Harbor Ballroom
On April 25 at 7:30 pm, Ministry Door County Medical Center and the Door County YMCA invite the community to attend their Beatlemania Dance with music provided by The Cavern Beat, the well-known Beatles tribute band.
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Rogue to Perform Final Show at The Depot
As Rogue Theater begins packing and taking down its theater space at The Depot Performing Arts Center, it continues to put on shows for the community.
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Annual “After Taxes” Concert Held in Algoma
The Algoma Community Band, under the direction of Tom Mueller, will present its annual After Taxes concert on April 29 at 7 pm at the Algoma Elementary School Performing Arts Center.
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Birch Creek Returns to Traditional Programming
The Board of Trustees at Birch Creek Music Performance Center has decided to return Birch Creek to its traditional instrumental program of Jazz, Symphony, and Percussion & Steel Band for the 2015 season.
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Pen Players’ Play Reading Series Comes to an End
Peninsula Players Theatre presented a reading of Waiting for Tina Meyer by Kristine Thatcher and Larry Shue and I Shall Love You Forever by Kathleen Thompson, at Björklunden, Monday, April 6.
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Mavis Staples, Jayhawks, Etheridge Coming to Door County Auditorium
Door Community Auditorium (DCA) is pleased to announce its 2015 performance schedule. Door County’s premier year-round music venue will present an eclectic variety of concerts this summer and fall, including national touring legends, beloved local performers, and music that runs the gamut from fiery fiddle tunes to introspective folk to straight-up rock and roll.
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Edgewood Orchard Galleries will celebrate the beginning of its 47th season on May 2 with a group show titled Nature’s Glory. An opening day reception will take place from 10 am – 5 pm, and refreshments will be served through out the day.
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Linden Gallery in Ellison Bay will open their doors on May 9 to begin their 19th year in Door County. The number nine is considered to be auspicious in China, so this will be a great season with new paintings on display and lots of one-of-a-kind items to discover.
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Kelly Goettelman of Avenson Photography is now offering a new kind of family photography experience – Mommy and Me sessions. Mommy and Me family portraits will capture moms and kids doing what they do best – having a great time together.
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Bay Art Gallery will now show the work of Curtis Crain, the gallery’s latest artist. Crain is a Milwaukee native, currently living in Whitefish Bay and Gills Rock.
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Two glass sculptures by Sturgeon Bay artist Stephanie Trenchard have been chosen to be included in the Smithsonian Women’s Committee 2015 Arts Invitational online auction.
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Randall Rasmussen, painter of contemporary impressionist art, and Audrey Off, artist and owner of Audrey Off Gallery, offered their combined talents for a Door County Humane Society (DCHS) fundraiser in February.
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The Gallery at Door Peninsula Winery is pleased to present the work of Lynn Gilchrist in a solo exhibit on the two floors of its central rotunda from April 24 to Aug.
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Peninsula Jeweler is moving its shop to 125 N. Third Avenue in Sturgeon Bay, in between The Brick Alley and Dal Santo Restaurant. They are still open at their old location (218 S.
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First Pottery Tour of the Season
On the first weekend in May, the Door County Potters Guild will host its annual pottery tour and sale. Guild members’ studios will be open for demonstrations and a variety of special events.
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Formatting artwork for online submission and for print media will be the focus of the Door County Art League’s first member meeting of the year, April 27 at the Bertschinger Community Center in Egg Harbor.
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The former St. Mary of the Snows church in Namur, now home of the Belgian Heritage Foundation, is the principle setting for the plot in the new mystery novel, Five-Alarm Fudge, by Christine DeSmet.
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Have you been thinking about writing a novel or starting your memoir, but aren’t sure how to begin? Do you have some ideas jotted down in a notebook and aren’t certain what to do with them? Write On, Door County offers a four-part workshop with author Lynda Drews that will move you from thinking about writing to actually working on your book.
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Gibraltar Secondary School welcomes spring with several school and community activities that promote reading amongst children, teenagers, and adults. All community members are invited to the Community Wide Book Fair and the Community Build-A-Book program.
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I have had friends who wonder why I bother collecting 45s. They’re so short. Two, three minutes and you’re up again changing the record. Unless you have a jukebox that plays 45s, no one wants to deal with them.
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Gibraltar Lightens Up for ‘Legally Blonde, the Musical’
After bringing the delightful 1950 musical Guys and Dolls to the Door Community Auditorium stage last spring, Gibraltar School District’s theater department will do a complete 180-degree turnaround, catering to the current generation and culture with Legally Blonde, the Musical from April 24 – 26.
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Dream Jobs: Lizz Thomas Has Two of Them
Anyone who knows Lizz Thomas, Gibraltar’s effervescent kindergarten teacher and director of 28 superb musicals, will find it hard to believe that she was once so painfully shy that she was unable to go to a Dairy Queen and order an ice cream cone.
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Sister Bay Historical Society Builds Path to Future with Campaign
In 1998, volunteers with the Sister Bay Historical Society got on their hands and knees to lay a pathway leading to the front door of the Old Anderson House, considered to be the cornerstone of the Corner of the Past Museum in the village.
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Resident Holding Vegan, Vegetarian Potluck April 24
Blaine Tornow wants to talk seitan and tempeh with you, and if either is a regular part of your diet, you are definitely part of the community he is trying to bring together through his April 24 vegan and vegetarian potluck in Sister Bay.
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Atul Gawande’s best-selling book Being Mortal: Medicine and What Matters in the End targets not only those whose mortality looms before them, whether from a terminal illness or from the ravages of time, but their children and others who will be helping them make those decisions that affect the last years of their lives.
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“Why you puttin’ blankets on trees?!” “It’s art. People do this.” It was a valid question for Terry and Katy Murphy’s neighbor to ask when he saw them stitching knit afghans around two trees in their front yard.
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What To Do In Door County This Weekend: April 24 – 26
We’re slowly inching our way closer to May – celebrate the last weekend of April with our top picks for the weekend ahead ...
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Door County Recycling Guide: What, Where and When to Recycle
This Door County, Wisconsin recycling guide has all the info you need to take care of your waste responsibly.
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The Evolution of Door County Groundwater Policy
A timeline of water policy shows how Wisconsin and Door County, until very recently, barely regulated inputs to our topsoil and aquifer.
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Bill Schuster is Door County’s Man in the Middle of Agriculture and Groundwater Health
When you’re the man charged with enforcing new rules on a practice that went relatively unregulated for years, you can expect to be criticized.
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Davina Bonness, Kewaunee’s Soil and Water Dept. Head Has High Hopes for Future
When they went to the polls April 7, the residents of Kewaunee County overwhelmingly approved a big step to protect the area’s groundwater. Each of the county’s 14 municipalities voted to ban farmers from spreading liquid manure between Jan.
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For Scientists Maureen Muldoon and Mark Borchardt, Data Meets Politics
For three decades, scientists have studied groundwater and found public health often comes behind political, economic concerns.
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For new Assemblyman Joel Kitchens, groundwater issue a tough challenge
Joel Kitchens had barely warmed his seat in the Wisconsin State Assembly when he found out just how quickly his constituents expected action.
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The Advocates: Kewaunee CARES Fights for Air, Water Quality
Group has energized a community to fight for groundwater security, and tighter regulation of CAFOs.
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Searching for Solutions to Groundwater Problems in Door County
When it comes to groundwater safety, a lot of energy is used to point fingers to assign blame for problems, and too little to identify solutions.
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For Jacksonport Family, No Indication Water Was Contaminated Till Too Late
When Leona Lysne's son used the tap water at his parents' home to mix formula, there was no indication that he was mixing with toxic water.
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Evening Milking: Visions of Life on the Family Farm
A farm kid comes of age by an alternate route than does the average kid. I remember classroom discussions about home chores, how urban kids described their chores: take out the garbage, mow the lawn, sweep the garage, vacuum the rug.
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Door County Conservation Department Expects More From Farmers
When it examined 8 nutrient management plans last fall, the county found all 8 had errors.
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In Door County, Groundwater is Clear Priority for Residents, Government
When it comes to services provided by Door County government, surveys show nothing is more important to residents than the health of our groundwater.
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Renting Your Farmland – Do You Know the Rules?
More than half of all land farmed in Door County is rented, not owned, which can put responsibility for mishaps in question.
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Why Karst Features Make Door County Groundwater So Vulnerable
Any discussion about groundwater quality in Door County begins with our karst topography, a superhighway for bacteria.
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2015 Door County Farmers Markets
Find out where to buy from local growers, artisans, and farmers in our 2015 guide to Door County farmers markets.
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9th Sustainability Issues Asks: How Safe Is Our Groundwater?
Few of us think twice about the water coming from our faucets, but in our 9th Sustainability Issue, we wonder if we should.