Land Trust Completes Grand View Purchase

• The Door County Land Trust announced that after nearly three years of negotiations it has completed the purchase of the iconic Grand View property along Highway 42 at the top of the bluff in Ellison Bay. This purchase permanently protects a popular scenic vista that has recently been threatened by development.

In 2010, the Land Trust, a local non-profit organization, entered into a purchase agreement with the owners of the property and began efforts to raise the $1,133,000 needed for the purchase and short-term land management activities. The Land Trust secured over $900,000 in grants from the National Highway Department’s Scenic Byways program and Wisconsin’s Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Fund and received nearly $250,000 from private donors. The effort culminated with the Land Trust’s March 7 purchase of the 16-acre property.

The Land Trust plans to establish the “Grand View Scenic Overlook and Park” and to ultimately turn the property over to the Town of Liberty Grove for ownership and long-term management.

For more information about the Land Trust visit http://www.doorcountylandtrust.org.

• Curves International kicked off the 2012 Curves Food Drive on March 1 with a challenge to all Curves Clubs to meet or exceed last year’s donations. Each club, including Curves of Sturgeon Bay, is asking its members to donate bags of non-perishable food or cash throughout the month of March to support their local community food bank.

In addition, Curves of Sturgeon Bay will waive the joining fee for new members who bring in a bag of non-perishable food or donate $30 to their local food bank by March 25.

For more information about Curves of Sturgeon Bay, located at 3034 Park Drive, call 920.746.0399. For more information about Curves, visit http://www.curves.com.

• The Door County Home Builders Association (DCHBA) is accepting applications for a $1,000 scholarship to be awarded to a Door County high school student who shows enthusiasm and promise in the home building profession.

Applicants must complete an essay answering why they are interested in the home building industry, have a grade point average of 2.5 or higher and intend to pursue their education in the home building industry.

Applications are due by March 30. For more information visit http://www.dchba.org or call Dennis Van Bramer at 920.743.8211.

• Brad Pfaff, State Executive Director of the Wisconsin USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA), reminds dairy producers of some important program requirements to be eligible for payment under the Milk Income Loss Contract (MILC) program.

“At this time, prices have not fallen to a level to trigger a MILC payment,” Pfaff said. “However, all dairy producers need to be aware of the program requirements should there be an opportunity for payments.”

For dairies currently enrolled in MILC, it is important to notify the local county office if there have been any changes to the dairy operation.

If a payment rate is announced, dairy producers enrolled in the MILC program will need to provide the local county office with documentation showing the eligible milk production and commercial milk marketing for the months with a MILC payment rate in effect.

MILC program participants are also required to comply with FSA’s Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) requirements each fiscal year. This certification, on a CCC-931, must be completed prior to a payment being disbursed.

New dairies that have not previously participated in the MILC program will need to fill out the CCC-580, Milk Income Loss Contract.

For more information on the MILC program, please contact the local county office or visit http://www.fsa.usda.gov.

• The Inn at Cedar Crossing, located on Third Avenue in Sturgeon Bay, will once again be holding United Way Wednesdays in March.

When customers have dinner at the Inn at Cedar Crossing on Wednesdays in March, 10 percent will go to United Way of Door County.

To learn more about United Way of Door County visit http://www.unitedwaydc.com, call 920.746.9645 or email [email protected].

• Every February in support of Children’s Dental Health Month the Ministry Door County Medical Center’s Mission & Values Team sponsors the Tooth Fairy Project to benefit the dental clinic. The Tooth Fairy stands by a donation display inside the hospital. He also walks around and visits the pediatric waiting room to remind children to take care of their teeth and keep smiling.

“It’s an effective way to raise awareness and some money for a very worthwhile project in our community. The children’s dental health clinic does very important work and makes a tremendous difference in the lives of many hundreds of people,” explained Cory Dahl, a MDCMC board member and this year’s Tooth Fairy.

• 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 his or her 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, high school transcripts, and any other information he or she feels is appropriate for this music scholarship. Letters of recommendation must be sent from a music professional and the student’s high school principal. Applications and complete instructions are available by visiting http://www.musicfestival.com. Information is also available from principals, guidance counselors and music teachers at each of the Door County public high schools.

Applications must be received at the PMF by April 6, 2012 and the recipient will be notified by May 1, 2012.

• March is Red Cross Month, first proclaimed in 1943 by President Franklin D. Roosevelt. Since that time, every president, including President Obama, has designated March as Red Cross Month.

The Red Cross collects and distributes more than 40 percent of the nation’s blood supply and trains more than 9 million people in first aid, water safety and other lifesaving skills every year. It responds to nearly 70,000 disasters in the U.S. annually, providing shelter, food, emotional support and other necessities.

To volunteer for the Red Cross contact Volunteer Director Jody Weyers at 920.227.4287.

To learn more about local Red Cross programs, volunteer opportunities, and how you can help, visit http://www.NEWRedCross.org.

• Sturgeon Bay Lions are selling roses. Roses are $15 per dozen and can be purchased by contacting Lion Greg Virlee at 920.743.8359 or by visiting http://www.sturgeonbaylions.org.

Roses will be delivered for free on April 13 and 14. Among other charities, proceeds from this sale will support the Wisconsin Lions Camp. The camp near Rosholt, Wis., provides a free camping experience for the blind and visually impaired, deaf and hard of hearing, mild cognitively disabled and children with diabetes. Roses can be purchased until March 22.

• Applications are now available for the 2012 United Way of Door County Endowment Fund Grants. The United Way Board of Directors established this fund in 1997 to assist in the future financial stability for the organization and community. The amount of money available for Endowment Fund Grants for the calendar year 2012 is $3,419.

Proposals are awarded based on grant application criteria. Specifically, the Endowment Fund Grant Committee will be looking to see if the proposed project coincides with one of the four Community Impact Areas and supports the Goals. Approved grant money must be used for the specified purpose within a specified amount of time, or returned to the United Way of Door County Endowment Fund.

Application forms, along with the Impact Areas and Goals, are available at the United Way office, 57 N. 3rd Avenue, Sturgeon Bay, by calling 920.746.9645, or visiting http://www.unitedwaydc.com. Proposals should be submitted to the United Way of Door County, Endowment Fund Grants, P.O. Box 223, Sturgeon Bay, WI 54235.

• Tim Siehr, director of USDA’s Kewaunee County and Door County Farm Service Agency, announced that an informational meeting will be held on March 27 at 1 pm at the Casco Branch of the Bank of Luxemburg.

“The informational meeting is an opportunity for farmers and landowners from Door County and Kewaunee County to learn about the many Federal Farm Programs available in the county,” said Siehr.

Speakers will include Dana Clark from the Kewaunee County Natural Resources Conservation Service, Dean Volenberg from the Door County University of Wisconsin Extension Service, as well as Brian Rueckl and Siehr of the Farm Service Agency.

The Casco Branch is located at 100 Old Orchard Avenue, Casco Wis. For more information call Siehr at 920.845.1360 ext. 105.

• The Women’s Fund of Door County posted their Spring Grant Application online at http://www.womensfunddoorcounty.org. Through grants, the Women’s Fund of Door County utilizes the ideas and expertise of charities and non-profits in Door County to create solutions and initiatives that support women and girls.

In the fall of 2011, grants were awarded to Sevastopol and Southern Door High Schools, NWTC Education Foundation, Help of Door County and the Wellness Center of Door County.

Grants are due April 12 to the Door County Community Foundation to the email indicated on the application or directly to the office on Third Avenue in Sturgeon Bay. Decisions regarding funding will be made on or about May 17 and celebrated at the June 6 grant reception.

For more information contact the Door County Community Foundation at 920.746.1786 or email [email protected].

• The Door County YMCA will host Wisdom Wednesday on March 21 from 9:50 – 10:50 am. The free program will feature an information-packed hour about the opportunities and challenges of senior home care.

The 85-and-older population is expected to more than triple between 2008 and 2050 in the United States alone. This staggering statistic not only proves the growing need for elderly home care, but also the fact that thousands of families are facing the same critical decision. Chris Moylan, Community Service Representative at Home Instead Senior Care will answer questions and present information on this important topic.

For more information about senior home care, and Home Instead Senior Care, visit http://www.homeinstead.com. To register for the program, contact the YMCA at 920.74.-4949.

• Area residents are invited to partake of their choice of soups made and donated by Door County YMCA staff, board members and community volunteers on March 19 at the Northern Door Program Facility in Fish Creek. The annual Strong Kids Soup Challenge is slated from 8 am until the soup is gone. The following day, March 20, soup will be available at the Sturgeon Bay Program Facility from 3 pm until sold out.

The soups will also be sampled and scored by a team of top-secret judges. Awards will include grand champion, first, second and third place winners.

Soup for dine-in may be purchased for $3 per bowl or $5 all-you-can-eat. Take outs will be $4 for 16 ounces and $8 for 32 ounces. Cookies and water will also be available for $1 each.

All proceeds from the Strong Kids Soup Challenge will benefit the 2012 Strong Kids Campaign, which provides financial assistance for those who cannot afford a Y membership.

For more information call 920.743.4949.

• Another February Heart Month has come and gone, but Ministry Door County Medical Center’s (MDCMC) heart healthy services and programs are available throughout the year. The week of March 11 – 17 is also National Pulmonary Rehabilitation Week, and MDCMC also offers services and programs to benefit those with pulmonary disorders.

The cardiopulmonary rehabilitation program at MDCMC reduces the risk factors for heart disease with adult inpatient and outpatient cardiac rehabilitation, pulmonary rehabilitation and cardiac monitoring services.

The pulmonary rehabilitation program features exercise to help increase endurance, strength and flexibility; breathing training to help control feelings of shortness of breath; and education to provide help with medications and prevent infections.

In addition to testing services, the hospital co-sponsors an exercise and education program with Northeast Wisconsin Technical College to encourage participants to maintain a healthy lifestyle. The supervised and monitored exercise program is called Hearty Conditioning and is held at the Sturgeon Bay YMCA. Class participants do not need a YMCA membership to join. The classes are held on Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays.