Jacksonport Craft Cottage of Door County Donates to Firefighters Association

• Sue Jarosh of Jacksonport Craft Cottage presented a check for $250 to Jacksonport Fire Chief, Tom Ash, for the Jacksonport Firefighters Association. The Craft Cottage has sold several hundred Feed The Fish DVDs; a portion of each DVD sale is earmarked for the Jacksonport Firefighters Association fund. The Craft Cottage also received a number of donations.

The Jacksonport Polar Bear Plunge is featured in the film and the Jacksonport Fire Department plays a vital role in the annual event.

There are DVDs still available at the Craft Cottage, located in downtown Jacksonport on Highway 57.

• The Door County Community Foundation announced that local charities are welcome to submit grant applications to the Community Foundation’s Health & Human Needs Fund.

“It’s hard to appreciate the beauty and quality of life in Door County if your basic needs aren’t being met,” said Bret Bicoy, President and CEO of the Community Foundation. “The Health & Human Needs Fund is designed to assist those who live in the shadows of our society.”

Human service and health care related charities are certainly invited to apply. However, the Community Foundation also invites arts, environmental and other kinds of charities to apply by considering how they might also serve the less fortunate in our community.

Health & Human Needs Fund application materials may be downloaded at http://www.doorcountycommunityfoundation.org. Applications and supporting materials must be received at the Community Foundation by Tuesday, March 22.

The Health & Human Needs Fund is one of the Community Foundation’s Community Impact Funds. Because of the generosity of both year-round and seasonal residents, the Community Foundation also administers grants to charities out of the Door County Green Fund, the Women Fund of Door County, the Arts Fund, the Children & Youth Fund, and the Education Fund.

• The Door County Renaissance Development Group, organizers of the Door County Renaissance Faire, has been accepted for an Empowerment Grant from the Jazz for Peace Foundation, an internationally renowned organization. Empowerment Grants raise funds, publicity, and awareness for 501(c)3 nonprofit organizations.

Jazz for Peace is an organization that performs benefit concerts for various nonprofit organizations across the world. Since their original concert performed at the United Nations in New York in 2002, the concert series has continued to raise funds, publicity, and awareness for over 800 non-profit organizations.

The Renaissance Development Group will be pre-selling 25 pairs of tickets at a reduced price to the Jazz for Peace concert. Once tickets have sold, the venue and date of the Jazz for Peace event will be announced. For more information visit http://www.jazzforpeace.org/ega6.html.

For more information about the Renaissance Faire, to volunteer or be a sponsor, or for Jazz for Peace advance ticket purchases, call 920.973.8233 or visit http://www.doorcowirenaissance.com.

• The Door County Medical Center Auxiliary will be offering scholarships to high school seniors who are planning a career in health care, to Ministry Door County Medical Center employees, and Door County residents who are currently studying health care.

Applications are available for high school seniors in Door County Schools from the guidance counselors. Applications for Ministry Door County Medical Center employees are available on the Ministry Intranet. Applications for Door County Residents are available by visiting http://www.ministryhealth.org, selecting ‘Ministry Door County Medical Center’ and clicking on ‘Giving Opportunities/Foundation.’ Applications are due by April 4, 2011.

The auxiliary scholarship committee will interview each applicant in early May. The Angel Ball, which is sponsored by the auxiliary, is the main funding source for these scholarships.

For more information contact Barbara Herdina at 920.743.8492.

• The League of Women Voters of Door County is sponsoring a Candidate Forum for the contested races for Sturgeon Bay City Council. This forum is scheduled for Thursday, March 17 in the Sturgeon Bay City Council Chambers, beginning at 7 pm. Should there be inclement weather, listen to local radio for an announcement; the forum will be rescheduled for March 22.

A Candidate Forum is held to acquaint the public with candidates for public office and their position on issues of importance to the voters, helping voters select the most qualified person for the office. These forums are not debates. Each event consists of anonymous written questions from the audience.

The League of Women Voters is a non-partisan political organization of men and women. They promote informed and active involvement of citizens in government and encourage qualified citizens to run for office. For more information visit http://doorcounty.wi.lwvnet.org.

• The Peninsula Music Festival (PMF) is now accepting applications for its college scholarship. This three-year, $1,000 per year, scholarship is to be awarded to a graduating senior who desires to further his or her education in music. The recipient must be an outstanding music student, who has demonstrated ability as a performer and has shown a sustained interest in music-related activities. Also, the student must major or minor in music while attending college.

To apply, a student must write an essay outlining his or her qualifications, including accomplishments in music, future plans, academic achievements, high school transcripts, and any other appropriate information. Letters of recommendation must be sent from one music professional and from the student’s high school principal. An application is available at http://www.musicfestival.com, along with complete instructions. Information is also available from principals, guidance counselors and music teachers at each of the Door County public high schools.

The Executive Committee of the Board of Directors will review applications and select the recipient. Applications must be received by April 15, 2011; the recipient will be notified by April 29, 2011. Applications should be postmarked no later than April 15 and sent to Peninsula Music Festival, P.O. Box 340, Ephraim, WI 54211. For more information call 920.854.4060.

• March is Red Cross Month, and the American Red Cross is asking people to join them in helping those in need by volunteering their time, making a donation, taking a class, or giving blood.

“When someone provides a hot meal to a disaster victim, gives blood, takes a first aid class or helps someone in the military, they join the Red Cross,” said Steve Hansen, Regional Chapter executive. “We want to say ‘thank you’ to all who support us. That support enables us to provide help and hope to those who need our assistance.”

Across the Northeast Wisconsin Region, Red Cross chapters responded and provided assistance in 163 local disasters last year. The chapters served 676 military families, taught 45,503 individuals lifesaving skills, and collected 38,404 units of blood.

To learn more about local Red Cross programs and volunteer opportunities, call 920.231.3590 or visit http://www.newredcross.org. For more information about the Red Cross, visit http://www.redcross.org.

• Egg Harbor area residents will have the opportunity to have their old family photographs and documents scanned and preserved in the Egg Harbor Historical Society’s growing photo and document files on March 6 and 7.

Members of the society will be on hand at the Egg Harbor Town Hall (County I) March 7 at 6 pm and at the Berschinger Community Center March 8 at 6 pm to collect memorabilia and answer questions.

Area residents have been writing family and business histories that will be included in the society’s first book that will be published in July, to coincide with the 150th anniversary of the founding of Egg Harbor Township.

• Baylake Bank Premier Club and the YMCA Sturgeon Bay Program Center are sponsoring an informational program on “Successful Aging for the “New” Older Adult: Senior Services in Door County.” The free seminar will take place at the Door County YMCA in Sturgeon Bay on Wednesday, March 9, from 9:45 – 10:45 am.

Erin Szakala, a social worker with the Door County Department of Social Services, and Christy Wisniewski, outreach specialist with Memory Care Connections and Ministry Memory Clinic Door County, will share information and services designed to keep older adults living a healthy, safe, and fiscally-sound lifestyle. Attendees will learn about what services are available, how to access them when needed, and what programs exist to help cover the costs. Special emphasis will be placed on the support available to individuals providing care for a loved one.

The YMCA is located at 1900 Michigan Street, Sturgeon Bay. Refreshments will be served. For more information and/or to register, call 920.743.4949 or 920.743.5551.

• Sevastopol School students will present two artistic events in the upcoming weeks, including the high school spring play “The Baseball Show” and an elementary school benefit concert.

“The Baseball Show,” an American tale about pine tar, bleacher seats and hometown heros, will be presented on March 11 and 12 at 7 pm in the elementary school gym by a cast of students and faculty. Cast members include: Isaiah Spetz, Sean McDowell, Trevor Hietpas, Burke Minahan, Dominique Bowers, Arielle Kohls, Mirahda Brandt, Bryce Ellsworth, Dylan Thornton, Madi Jilot, Millar Minahan, Rylee Nelson, Sam Spohn, Matt Gosser, Mr. Leline, Ms. Brandt, Ms. Spetz, Mr. Anderson, Rustom Engineer, along with several elementary students.

General admission tickets, available at the door, are $7 for adults, $5 for students/children.

On Thursday, March 17 the Sevastopol School will host a 4th, 5th, and 6th Grade Benefit Concert for the Door County Habitat for Humanity, the Door County Humane Society, Sunshine House, and Goodwill Industries. The concert will take place at 6:30 pm in the Sevastopol Elementary Gym.

Donations of money, pet food and supplies, gently used clothing, books, and furniture will be accepted.

For more information call 920.743.6282 or visit http://www.sevastopol.k12.wi.us.

• The Wellness Center of Door County is pleased to announce that they have been awarded the Family Planning & Reproductive/Sexual Health Services Grant by the State of Wisconsin’s Division of Public Health of the Department of Health Services. The outcome of this competitive grant application process is a five-year contract which allows the Wellness Center to ensure the provision of affordable reproductive services to Door and Kewaunee County residents.

“The $48,469 performance-based grant for 2011 will help offset the costs we incur in order to provide reproductive health services,” commented Michele Geiger-Bronsky, executive director of the Wellness Center. “Nearly 80 percent of our patient base is on Medical Assistance with lower reimbursement rates than other third party payors and private insurers. The receipt of this Family Planning Reproductive Grant lightens the financial challenges for clinic operations such as utilities, rent for our Sister Bay satellite clinic, and the purchase of supplies and patient education materials.”

The Wellness Center is located at 312 N. 5th Avenue, Sturgeon Bay. For more information call 920.746.9444 or visit http://www.wellnesscenterofdoorcounty.com.

• The following individuals were inducted into the Sturgeon Bay chapter of the National Honor Society at the annual candlelight ceremony on Monday, Feb. 28: Brenna Dubick, Erik Elliott, Rebecca Fredrickson, Rachel Haight, Thomas Kitchens, Kali Knutson, Michael Kohlbeck, Adam LaLuzerne, Caimyn Lutze, Wynona Maravilla, Zachary Meredith, Ekaterina Mullendore, Natalie Rose, Casey Rosenthal, Linnea Schmelzer, Trevor Smith, Ali Sommerfeldt, Carmen Stearn, Eric Storlie, Savanna Townsend, Zachary Vander Velden, and Michael Wolfe.

The advisor for the Sturgeon Bay chapter is Mrs. Donna Harvey.

• Winter returned just in time for the annual Fire & Ice event held in Sturgeon Bay from Feb. 18 – 20. The Sturgeon Bay Visitor Center announced the following winners:

In the Advanced Category, Dave Bartels, who carved a cheesehead snowman on display at Bridgeport Resort, was awarded first place; Randy Burich, who carved a bee and beehive on display at On Deck Clothing, was awarded second place; and Garrett Wendtlandt, who carved a penguin on display at Spin, was awarded third place.

In the Intermediate Category, Hans Martin, who carved a swan on display at Gwendolyn’s, was awarded first place; Max Martin, who carved a maple sap time on display at Associated Bank, was awarded second place; and Matt Stender, who carved a lighthouse on display at Madison Avenue Wines, was awarded third place. Tina Heider, who carved an owl on display at T. Simon Jewelers, was awarded first place in the Beginner Category.

The People’s Choice Award went to Max Martin. Additional carvers who received numerous votes included Hans Martin, Karin Miller Knutson for her sun and moon carving, and Jim Flinn for his palm tree carving. Recognition went to the Sevastopol student carvers, Carla Brauer and Kaitlyn Newman, for their coyote carving.

For more information on upcoming 2011 events, call 800.301.6695 or 920.743.6246 or visit http://www.sturgeonbay.net.

• The Door County Classic Chess Tournament will take place on March 12 at Southern Door High School. Participants will play a game in every round and will earn a medal, and team and individual trophies for the top three spots in each of three divisions will be awarded.

Everyone knows that chess helps make kids smarter; but it is also fun, and the Door County Classic emphasizes the fun part by including an open gym (with basketball, badminton, and room to run), an interactive Smartboard with Chessmaster software that allows kids to physically move the digital pieces in animated games, and a skittles (relaxed) area with food for sale and boards to play chess and potentially get lessons from experienced players. This year we also have a quiet lounge with couches, a TV, a refrigerator, and a microwave for parents.

The fee is $10 if you register online at http://www.wisconsinscholasticchess.org, or show up before 8:30 am on March 12 and pay $15 at the door. If you know anyone else that might like to play chess, pass the word: Chess makes kids smarter, and its fun!