Quick Notes

• Rear Admiral Michael Parks, Commander of the Ninth Coast Guard District, (the Great Lakes Region) was at Sturgeon Bay USCG facilities on June 14. Admiral Parks made stops at the USCG Station Sturgeon Bay and USCG Cutters, Mobile Bay and Mackinaw. He was accompanied by Ninth Coast Guard District Command Master Chief Jeffrey D. Patton, Captain Luann Barndt, Commander Coast Guard Sector Lake Michigan and LTJG Scott McGrew.

Personnel from USCG Sturgeon Bay Marine Safety Detachment, USCG Station Washington Island and USCG Auxiliary were also invited to USCG Station Sturgeon Bay for the Admiral’s visit. Admiral Parks took questions from the group after his brief talk.

• The Glacierland Resource and Conservation Development Inc have hired two part-time boat inspectors. The inspectors will be at regional lakes in various counties beginning July 3 through the fall, teaching watercraft users how to inspect their watercraft for aquatic invasive species (AIS).

Glacierland boat inspectors will raise awareness of Clean Boats Clean Waters Boat Inspection program and update boaters on the new “transport law” that requires boats to be clean of AIS before leaving a landing with aquatic plants or animals attached. A first citation of the transport law carries a penalty ranging from $232 to $767.50 and a second offense within three years carries a penalty that ranges up to $2,657.

Before launching or leaving a launch, boaters must follow these required steps:

•INSPECT boats, trailers and equipment.

•REMOVE all attached aquatic plants and animals.

•DRAIN all water from boats, vehicles and equipment.

•NEVER MOVE live fish away from a water body.

•BUY YOUR BAIT only at Wisconsin bait dealers.

For more information call 920.465.3006 or visit glacierlandrcd.org.

• The League of Women Voters of Door County will offer forums for the upcoming fall election. As the July 13 filing deadline for nomination papers nears, the league urges any citizen or candidate interested in a candidate forum to contact Voter Service Chairman Barbara Graul at 920.743.6842 or Susan Kohout at 920.743.1527.

Any candidate, group, or individual citizen can request forums. However, the league will proceed only if the position is contested and at least two of the candidates agree to participate. It is also important for requests to be made as soon as possible as each forum requires a minimum of five to six weeks to organize. Requests will be honored in the order in which they are received.

If there is a September 14 primary, the forum will be held before the primary election. If there is not a primary, the forum is held during the general election season.

The goal of League of Women Voter sponsored candidates forums is to inform citizens about candidates and their stands on issues. As an organization, the League does not support or oppose political parties or candidates for public office.

• Registration is underway for the Fifteenth Annual Grand Scandia Golf Benefit on Sunday, July 18. The Grand Scandia golf benefit begins at noon and includes 18-holes of golf with a cart, fun contests throughout the day, and great prizes including a guaranteed winner of $1,000. Teams may also dress in costume for a chance to win a prize.

The event will conclude with a sit-down dinner prepared by Bruce Alexander of Alexander’s Restaurant. The cost is $110 per person, $85 for Peninsula Park seasonal pass holders. Friends and families may form teams, though individual players are welcome as well.

The proceeds from this year’s event will specifically benefit the residents of Scandia Village’s Special Care Unit that cares for residents with Alzheimer’s or other dementias. With enough support, all flooring in the resident rooms and bathrooms will be replaced along with new carpet around the nurses’ station, dramatically improving the residents’ home.

For more information call Nicki Scharrig at 920.854.2317, email [email protected], or visit 10560 Applewood Road in Sister Bay. Registration deadline is July 9.

• A meeting for Sturgeon Bay High School students who want to participate in sports during the 2010-11 school year will be held on Monday, August 2 at 7 pm in the auditorium. All parents and student athletes are required to attend the meeting. The Co-Curricular Code of Conduct Eligibility Criteria and Standards as well as the WIAA Parent-Athlete Rules of Eligibility will be reviewed. This year’s meeting will also include a presentation by Jack Renkens, a national recruiting expert featured on numerous TV and radio shows across the country.

Following the meeting and presentation, the Sturgeon Bay Booster Club will host a social in the High School Commons. During the social, members of the club will provide information on club activities, answer questions, and provide sign-up opportunities for parent volunteers. Clipper clothing will be on sale.

Parents may also complete paperwork and pay participation fees after the meeting, as a number of items are necessary for students to participate in athletics. For more information call 920.746.1830.

• The Clearing Folk School and Midsummer’s Music Festival are co-sponsoring a benefit on Sunday, July 11. The event will celebrate important anniversaries for both institutions: The Clearing’s 75th Anniversary and Midsummer’s Music’s 20th Anniversary.

The event will begin at noon with a champagne brunch at T. Ashwell’s in Ellison Bay. After brunch, those attending will board the Door County Trolley for a ride to The Clearing, where they will be treated to a special concert in The Clearing’s historic Schoolhouse. Clearing artists will demonstrate their work outside the building as concertgoers arrive. After enjoying the concert, along with homemade desserts, concertgoers will return to T. Ashwell’s on the trolley.

Tickets for the benefit are $75 and include the brunch, concert, refreshments, and trolley rides to and from The Clearing. Proceeds benefit both organizations. Advance registration is required. For more information or to make reservations, call 920.854.7088 or visit http://www.midsummersmusic.com.

• USDA Rural Development Housing Director Dave Schwobe announced that the USDA Rural Development Direct Lending Program for low and very-low residential homebuyers will have adequate funding through the end of this fiscal year. The federal allotment for Wisconsin stands at $19 million still available to eligible homebuyers.

“With limited lending available for eligible low-income buyers through commercial lending institutions, our Direct Loan Program provides an exceptional opportunity for a no-down-payment loan to credit worthy low-income applicants with loan repayment ability,” Schwobe said.

The USDA Direct Loan Program provides qualified applicants funding to buy, build, and improve rural homes as the applicant’s permanent residence. Up to 100 percent of market value of the home may be financed; and the applicant may also be eligible for payment assistance on the loan.

Applications are taken directly at any of the USDA’s six area offices. For more information call 1.866.474.3600 or visit http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/wi.

• Jay Brickman, Rabbi Emeritus of Congregation Sinai in suburban Milwaukee, will lead a Bible study course each Saturday from 10 – 11:30 am beginning June 26 through August at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Door County.

Participants of the class will read and discuss passages from the Bible, examining their historical context and contemporary relevance. The series is free and open to the public. Participants are asked to bring a Bible. No registration is required and participants are not expected to attend all sessions.

The Unitarian Universalist Fellowship is located at 10341 Highway 42, Ephraim. For more information visit http://www.uufdc.org.

• The 3rd Annual “THE Event” to benefit the Door County YMCA will take place at Horseshoe Bay Golf Club on July 25 and July 26.

Featured at this year’s “THE Event” will be national wine expert Mark Phillips. Philip’s humorous approach has made him one of the nation’s most popular wine speakers. He has many of his own products on the market along with a television series on PBS.

On Sunday evening, July 25, a five-course dinner with wine pairings to compliment each course will be served. Phillips will present between courses and a silent and live art and wine auction will take place. Charisma will provide music for dancing following dinner. Cocktails begin at 5 pm and dinner at 6 pm.

On Monday afternoon, July 26, a scramble format golf outing will be held on Horseshoe Bay’s course with lunch at noon, a shotgun start at 1 pm, and a cocktail reception to follow.

Also on Monday afternoon, a “Y’ining Women” Wine Tasting and presentation will take place in the clubhouse at Horseshoe Bay. Mark Phillips will go into a more in-depth presentation at the tasting sharing his lively and fun approach to choosing the right wines. The tasting will take place at 3 pm and will be followed by raffles, cocktails, and hors d’oeuvres.

For more information on “THE Event” call 920.743.4949 or 920.868.3660. For more information about Mark Phillips and watch clips of his PBS show visit www.winetasting.org/Bio.