Notes from the Door County business community

• Annette Anderson has joined the staff of Door County Interiors & Design in Egg Harbor as a full-time interior designer.

Annette Anderson

At Door County Interiors & Design, Anderson will be focusing on residential interiors and helping homeowners create styles that suit their homes and personal preferences.

Anderson, of Sturgeon Bay, most recently had her own interior design business in Alabama for five years before returning to Door County. Her work experience includes interior design services at Green Bay and Manitowoc-based furnishings and design studios. She earned her degree in interior design at Fox Valley Technical College.

For more information call 920.868.9008 or visit http://www.doorcountyinteriors.com.

• Door Shakespeare has expanded its company with the hiring of Terese Boeck as Company and Business Manager.

Uniquely qualified to understand the history of the company and its current culture, Boeck provides Door Shakespeare the opportunity to expand its management criteria, organization and administrative tools. Her experiences with local business and other non-profits on the peninsula created a perfect fit for this unique theater company’s organization.

“We couldn’t be more pleased with bringing Terese on board,” said Executive Director, Suzanne Graff.

Boeck has contributed to the company since 1999 as Box Office Manager and Playbill Advertising Sales Manager as well as other volunteer positions during the summer season and off-season.

For more information call 920.839.1500 or visit http://www.doorshakespeare.com.

• Chuck Ryan and Tom Young are pleased to announce the opening of Watcha Have in Egg Harbor, a homemade fast food restaurant.

The restaurant features authentic spit roasted gyros, fajitas, minute steaks, a traditional Cuban sandwich and a wide assortment of hot dog creations, as wells as homemade caramel corn, cheddar cheese corn, caramel apple wedges, and homemade seasoned tortilla chips.

Mark Ryan, who has over 30 years experience in the hospitality industry, will manage the kitchen of the new establishment, which is home to the Miller Meal: a Chicago dog, sack of French fries and a Miller Lite for $7.50.

Watcha Have is located in the Harbor Square condominium building on Horseshoe Bay Road adjacent to Harborview Park. To view the menu and schedule of upcoming events visit http://www.watchhave.com or call 920.868.2724.

• T.Ashwell’s in Ellison Bay will officially open for the 2010 season on Friday, May 14 at 5:30 pm.

“We are happy to be opening the restaurant a little earlier than usual,” says Chef Ashwell. “We’re excited to kick off the season – and we’re hoping to experiment with some new things, like special price-fixed menus and themed dinners.”

T.Ashwell’s will be open Friday, May 14 as well as Saturday, May 15, and for an extended weekend from Thursday, May 20 through Sunday, May 23. The restaurant will be open five days a week from the end of May (closed Monday and Tuesday) through the middle of June. After that, the restaurant will be open seven days a week.

T.Ashwell’s is located at 11976 Mink River Road in Ellison Bay. For dinner reservations or more information, call 920.854.4306 or visit http://www.tashwells.com.

• Opening for the season on Friday, May 21, the Eagle Bluff Lighthouse Museum welcomes Patti Podgers as curator/manager.

Patti Podgers

A graduate of Northern Illinois University, Podgers received a Bachelor’s Degree in Education. She has worked for the Rock County Historical Society in Janesville, Wisconsin and has formerly served on the Gibraltar Historical Association board of directors.

“I hope to bring a fresh approach to the lighthouse,” Podgers explained. “There are so many aspects of life in the lighthouse during the late 1800s that have not been explored.”

The Eagle Bluff Lighthouse Museum will open weekends Friday, May 21 through Sunday, May 23, and Friday, May 28 through Monday, May 31. Beginning Friday, June 4, the lighthouse will be open daily, 10 am – 4 pm. Both guided and self-guided tours will be available. Group tours are welcome by reservation.

Admission to Eagle Bluff Lighthouse Museum is $5 for adults, $2 for students, and $1 for children. Located within Peninsula State Park, a state park sticker is required. For additional information contact Podgers at 920.495.7330 or 920.421.3636.

• The Door County Economic Development Corporation (DCEDC) reminds new and existing business owners that the organization offers monthly office hours in Northern Door County, providing business counseling and entrepreneurial services.

DCEDC Economic Development Manager Sam Perlman offers free, one-on-one business counseling sessions, providing advice on business planning, financing, business incentives and other issues.

The final session will be held on Tuesday, May 18 from 8 am – 12 pm at the Sister Bay Fire Station, 2258 Mill Road. To schedule an appointment call 920.743.3113 (extension 204) or email [email protected]. Walk-ins are welcome, based on availability.

• The Jacksonport Craft Cottage is now open daily from 9 am – 5 pm for the summer season. Celebrating 26 years, the Craft Cottage features the work of over 125 artists and craftsmen, as well as Amish families, from across the Midwest.

Owners Sue and Joe Jarosh recently returned from their annual trip, visiting Amish families in Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, Iowa, Minnesota, and Wisconsin. The couple gathered Amish quilts, wall hangings, table runners, placemats, hot pads and other Amish made goods.

The Craft Cottage, located at 6275 Highway 57 in downtown Jacksonport, also features lighthouse art of all kinds as well as handcrafted dolls, baskets, and rugs in a 1860s era restored log home. Also available is the Jaroshs’ favorite Amish treat, the cashew crunch.

• Sunshine House Inc. has named Anni Lampert Director of Development. Lampert, who offers a solid understanding of Door County’s economic dynamics and a strong background in raising interest and funds to Sunshine House Inc., will head up fundraising efforts as well as perform public relations and marketing duties.

“My ten years as Membership Director at the Door County Chamber of Commerce (now the Door County Visitor Bureau) along with board and committee service on behalf of many area charities over the last 20 years have given me a strong sense of how interconnected we are here in Door County,” said Lampert. Sunshine House Inc. is a diverse community service organization whose purpose is to achieve the full participation in society of individuals with special needs. For more information call 920.743.7943 or visit http://www.sunshinehouseinc.org.

• Van’s Lumber and Custom Builders of Dyckesville congratulates and acknowledges employee milestones.

Accountant Jean Willis and carpenter Chad Martin both celebrate 10 years with the company. Celebrating five years of service is framing carpenter Adam Fidler.

Van’s Lumber and Custom Builders, with locations in Dyckesville and Egg Harbor, has been building homes for over 50 years. For more information visit http://www.vanslumber.com.