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Metals Class Inspires SBHS Junior’s Artistic Endeavor

Also: Southern Door closes meeting for capital projects discussion

A freshman metals class inspired a Sturgeon Bay student to take a break from paints and pencils to try welding and cutting instead.

Cihlar stands in the birdfeeder aisle next to sunflowers she crafted this winter from metal pieces and rebar. Photo by Craig Sterrett.

Now a junior, Lilly Cihlar devotes much of her free time at home to turning metal into art – and it has not gone unnoticed. Cihlar works part time at Door County Ace Hardware, and her story wound up in the North American Hardware and Paint Retailing trade publication this winter.

Door County Ace Hardware owner Amy Austad LaBott saw some of the young employee’s work and invited her last summer to sell items in the Sturgeon Bay store, with all proceeds going back to the artist.

“I think her pieces really complement our outdoor section, and it is nice to have some original pieces in the store,” LaBott told the trade publication.

Cihlar said she needed an elective during her sophomore year and remembered enjoying freshman metals, so she took a more advanced metals class from instructor Brian Pahl, who has since moved on to Sevastopol High School.

“It was a different way to be creative rather than just drawing and painting,” Cihlar said.

At the end of the class, she asked Pahl how she could learn more. He asked her whether her dad, Mike, had welding equipment and suggested that she practice with that. Cihlar started using the MIG welder, and her father helped her to acquire a plasma cutter. She then pitched in for some of the metal and equipment for her projects.

Last summer, she displayed several metal boxes cut with her designs – ranging from flowers to a county map – and set some of them up with a lightbulb inside. This year she started adding color to her works, which she enjoys almost as much as the sparks when she’s working in the garage.

Southern Door Considering Capital Project

Southern Door’s school board was scheduled to convene and then quickly enter closed session Monday “for the purpose of reviewing information and hearing presentations regarding capital projects.” The district cited Wisconsin Statutes §19.85(1)(a), (c), (e), (f); 118.125; and 120.13 as the basis for discussion of capital projects in closed session.

When asked about the need for a closed session, the district office emphasized that the matter of discussion was allowed under the statute. 

The agenda cited (e) “Deliberating or negotiating the purchasing of public properties, the investing of public funds, or conducting other specified public business, whenever competitive or bargaining reasons require a closed session.”

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