Peninsula State Park in Door County Hosts Presentation by Autumn Sabo

• UW-Madison graduate student Autumn Sabo is the featured speaker at Friends of Peninsula State Park (FPSP) annual meeting on August 27. The public is welcome to join staff and volunteers for a potluck picnic at noon, followed by a short business meeting. Sabo’s presentation will begin by 1 pm. The event will take place at Weborg Shelter.

Limited parking is available in a day-use lot adjacent to Weborg Campground or at nearby Nelson’s Point. A park vehicle sticker is required but the program is free and open to the public. For more information call 920.868.3499 or email [email protected].

Sabo is the first recipient of a $1,000 FPSP grant. Her project examines the impact of white-tailed deer on the forest herbivore by surveying exclosure cages at Peninsula and other Door County sites. Peninsula’s three exclosure cages were constructed in 1992 at the suggestion of ecologist James Zimmerman.

FPSP established the research endowment fund in 2010. “Friends want to ensure that Peninsula’s second century is as successful as its first,” said Chris Holicek, FPSP Board president. “The research endowment helps secure the park’s future. It informs management decisions with sound science, while directly supporting the higher education of future natural resource leaders.”

To find out more about the FPSP research endowment fund or to make a contribution contact Bret Bicoy, Door County Community Foundation, at 920.746.1786 or via email at [email protected].

• A celebration in memory and appreciation of Ginka Cohn, who passed away in May, will take place at the Door Community Auditorium in Fish Creek on August 21 at 2 pm. The community is invited to join Abraham Cohn and his family for this occasion.

• The annual “Bark in the Park” fundraiser for the Door County Humane Society (DCHS) will take place in Sunset Park, located on 3rd Avenue in Sturgeon Bay, on August 27. The event marks the one day of the year that dogs are allowed in the city park. According to shelter’s Executive Director Carrie Counihan, the fundraising goal this year is $17,000.

“I really love this event,” said Counihan. “It’s a chance to truly celebrate our dogs, and we get to meet the animals who are so dear to our members. Recent adopters are often there as well, and it’s a lot of fun to see how well they’re doing with the additions to their families.”

Registration will open at 9 am. For $25 per person or $50 per family, participants will receive a commemorative t-shirt, goody bag, and lunch. The walk will begin at 9:45 am.

Setting the pace this year will be baby camel Harley Junior owned by Lisa and Ken Jeansonne. Many sponsors and supporters will set up booths around the park. New this year will be pet photos with Fran Klotz. Enhancing the festivities are Master of Ceremonies Chuck Lakefield, live music by Mike and Bob Starr, and the award announcements. Each dog will receive a prize as well.

Door County visitors and seasonal residents are welcome for the daylong celebration.

Registration forms for “Bark in the Park” may be downloaded from the DCHS website, http://www.dooranimals.com/events. For more information call 920.746.1111 or check out DCHS on Facebook.

• The Health & Wellness Cabinet of the Shepherd of the Bay Lutheran Church is presenting the fourth and last session in its series on “Stroke.” The meeting will take place August 21 from 4 – 5 pm at the St. Rosalia’s site of the Stella Maris parish. The church is on Highway 42 in Sister Bay.

This presentation is entitled “We’ve Been There – Journey Back from a Stroke” and will be presented by well known area realtor Carolyn Hitzeman whose husband Erv suffered a stroke. Terry Weisner, who is also caregiver to a husband who suffered a stroke, will also speak.

The program is free to the public.

• On August 6 the Jacksonport Historical Society, Inc. celebrated the cherry harvest at Lakeside Park in Jacksonport with the 17th annual Cherry Fest. Large crowds attended the event to listen to music and shop the many artists’ stands.

Keith and Jaci Birnschein from Door County Custom Meats served cherry hamburgers, cherry brats, and pork sandwiches. Sandy De Master demonstrated the fine art of spinning wool sheared from her own sheep.

Matt Wahl played folk music and later the Modern Day Drifter performed. The Jacksonport Historical Society food booth sold cherry pies from Grandma Tommy’s Market. The Jacksonport Women’s Club provided delicious funnel cakes.

The raised money will go to help develop the museum property located on the south end of Jacksonport.

The 2012 Cherry Fest will take place Saturday, August 4 at Lakeside Park.

• On August 26 the Door County YMCA will be dedicating a tree in honor of the late Hartley Barker at the Northern Door Program Center in Fish Creek at 11 am. The dedication will include a short program followed by a social and refreshments. Hartley and Ruth Barker have been instrumental supporters of the Door County YMCA for many years.

When the YMCA Endowment Fund was in the formative stages Ellsworth and Carla Peterson and other Y leaders made an overture to Ruth and Hartley for help in establishing this important fund. The Barkers were the first to step up to be counted in with a bold gift of $1 million to set the pace and the tone for others to follow.

In the years since, the Barkers have continued their generosity and support to the Y as lead donors in the annual Strong Kids scholarship campaign, by serving as members of the Y’s Endowment Board, and by generous support of capital projects. (The original plan for the Northern Door Program Center did not include a gymnasium until the Barkers stepped forward with a donation that made sure the gym was possible.)

All are welcome to join the YMCA for the tree dedication ceremony. For more information call 920.868.3660.

• The August meeting of Christ Child Society will be a luncheon meeting at the Village Café in Egg Harbor on August 29. Attendees will meet at 12:30 pm in the Porch Room for lunch with a meeting to follow.

• The month of August has marked the Door County YMCA’s 25th year in Door County. The Y will be kicking off this yearlong celebration at their Annual Meeting and Volunteer picnic on August 25.

The picnic will be held at the Sturgeon Bay Program Center with a social at 5:30 pm, potluck dinner at 6 pm and a dinner at 6:30 pm. All are welcome and invited to join the YMCA as they celebrate this great milestone, along with the achievements of the past year. There will be live music, inflatable bouncers, volunteer recognition and looking back on the YMCA over the past 25 years.

For more information about the picnic or to RSVP contact the YMCA in Sturgeon Bay at 920.743.4949 or Northern Door at 920.868.3660.