Tri-Lingual Attorney Luca Lopes Fagundes Opens Law Office in Sturgeon Bay

• Attorney Luca Lopes Fagundes has opened a law office in Sturgeon Bay. Fagundes, who speaks fluent English, Spanish, and Portuguese, will be concentrating in the areas of immigration, criminal defense, family law, and business law.

Fagundes graduated from the University of Wisconsin Law School and received a Bachelor of the Arts from St. Louis University, majoring in International Business. Prior to law school, he owned and operated a marketing firm.

Fagundes recently moved to Door County to establish his practice. He lives in Egg Harbor with his wife Kelly and daughter Isla, and serves as Vice-President of the Door County Silent Sports Alliance.

“I love everything about Door County,” said Fagundes. “And yes, I have spent a winter here before!”

To schedule an appointment, call 920.421.4700, visit http://www.fagundeslaw.com or email [email protected].

• The Door County real estate market experienced a slight uptick in 2010.

The median price of a Door County home in 2010 was $189,000, up from $163,000 in 2009, according to the 2010 Wisconsin Realtor® Association’s year end report. Kewaunee also showed some improvement in this area with the average home value experiencing a 15.8 percent increase to $117,500.

The number of homes sold during 2010 showed Door County with a 5.1 percent increase to 432 homes sold and Kewaunee experiencing a slight drop from 150 homes sold in 2009 to 147 homes sold in 2010.

When comparing 2010 area numbers to the statewide numbers. Door and Kewaunee counties seem to be fairing better than most. Overall, the State of Wisconsin experienced a slight decrease in the state’s median home price to $141,000 and a 7.5 percent dip in total homes sold.

For more information visit http://www.dcbr.org or call 920.743.9651.

• AcclaimSocial is up and running in Sister Bay. Located in the lower level of the Country Walk Shops, Catherine (Kitty) Hooper is helping businesses take control of their digital brand.

Social Media has taken over the Internet, and with Facebook and Twitter, users comment on businesses they like or dislike, foods they enjoyed, crowds they preferred to avoid, and more.

“Customers are talking about them, whether they know it or not,” said Hooper. Business owners may have difficulties answering all the comments and reviews, as they are busy running a business, so Hooper responds for her clients. AcclaimSocial monitors the many reviews and comments, and is the voice of the business.

For more information, contact AcclaimSocial at 920.854.5333.

• The Door County Economic Development Corporation (DCEDC) is soliciting nominations for the annual Door County Industry of the Year Award and the Door County Entrepreneur of the Year Award. The award winners will be announced at DCEDC’s Annual Meeting this spring.

The Industry of the Year award recognizes a construction, service or manufacturing business that has made a substantial impact on the community and enjoyed significant accomplishments during the past year. Last year’s award winner was Roen Salvage Company.

The Entrepreneur of the Year Award – last year given to Northern Door restaurateurs JJ and Kristine Johnson – celebrates those individuals who have taken the initiative to start and grow a successful small business in Door County. Eligible businesses include those with fewer than 50 employees that exhibit recent growth and future potential through job creation, innovation and investment in the business, have at least three years of successful business experience and demonstrated civic and community involvement.

Any Door County resident or business can nominate a business or entrepreneur by contacting DCEDC. Self-nominations are also encouraged. Forms are available from DCEDC or online at http://www.doorcountybusiness.com. Nominations are due to DCEDC by Friday, Feb. 18.

• Thea Sophia Thompson was recently hired as Ephraim Historical Foundation’s first assistant director.

Thompson grew up on her family’s dairy farm near Hollandale, WI. Her Norwegian ancestors settled the farm in the 1850s, so she was immersed in Norwegian heritage from the start. As a teenager, Thompson worked as a guide at Little Norway, a museum outside Mt. Horeb, WI. She later studied Anthropology and Art History at UW-Madison and attended an archeological field school in Gotland, Sweden.

She moved to England to attend graduate school at the University of Cambridge and received her Master’s degree in Archaeology in 2006. She successfully completed her Ph.D. thesis this past spring, focusing on Viking Age art.

“My decision to return to Wisconsin, in part, has to do with the fact that this is my home, but also, because I wanted to contribute to the preservation and presentation of this state’s unique history and culture,” she said. “I am looking forward to working with the community to ensure that our heritage is preserved for future generations.”

For more information, visit http://www.ephraim.org, call 920.854.9688, or email [email protected].

• Saguaro Day Spa now offers yoga classes led by instructor Lori Rasmussen. After Sunrise Yoga, LLC elected not to renew its lease on rental property in Sturgeon Bay, Connie Hafenbredl, owner of Saguaro Day Spa and regular yoga participant, felt it was important for the group to have a venue going forward.

“I’m thankful to have a space that’s both large enough for groups and conducive to yoga,” said Rasmussen, owner of The Flow of Yoga, LLC.

Rasmussen, a native of Alabama, began practicing yoga 10 years ago and has been an instructor for the past seven. Her classes are Vinyasa Flow based, meaning the pace is energized yet comfortable, and the poses are easily adaptable for varying levels of fitness and ability.

Classes meet in the lower lounge of Saguaro Day Spa. Classes are held Tuesdays and Thursdays from 5:30 – 6:30 pm and 6:45 – 7:45 pm; and Wednesdays from 6:45 – 7:45 pm. Participants are encouraged to arrive 15 minutes prior to class on their first visit and 5 – 10 minutes early regularly. No prior registration is necessary.

Saguaro Day Spa is located at 3899 Old Highway Road in Sturgeon Bay. For more information, contact Lori Rasmussen via email at [email protected].

• True North Real Estate LLC proudly welcomed Broker Associate Patty Chaudoir, a veteran Realtor® in the Door County market. Chaudoir began her real estate career in 1994 after relocating from the Chicago area. A graduate of Elmhurst College in Elmhurst, Illinois, Chaudoir was previously affiliated with another top-producing agency, also located in Fish Creek.

“Not only is Patty known for her professionalism and market knowledge, she also has the reputation of being one of the friendliest agents in the county,” said partner Sara Massey.

Chaudoir holds a Wisconsin real estate broker’s license and has earned both the Certified Residential Specialist (CRS) and Accredited Buyer Agent (ABR) industry credentials. In 2001, the Door County Board of Realtors named her Realtor of the Year. During her 17-plus years as a local agent she has achieved $50,000,000 in personal production.

“I am delighted to join the dynamic and professional staff at True North,” said Chaudoir.

To contact Chaudoir, call the True North office at 920.868.2828 or email [email protected]. For more information, visit http://www.TrueDoorCounty.com.

• The Door County Economic Development Corporation (DCEDC) recently launched a new website at http://www.doorcountybusiness.com. The new site, created by Boettcher Communications of Sturgeon Bay, incorporates significant improvements over the prior DCEDC site, including search functionality, social media links and other Web 2.0 interactivity.

“This new site will help us communicate the Door County business story in a much more effective manner,” said DCEDC Executive Director Bill Chaudoir.

“It was a pleasure working with DCEDC on their new website,” said Dina Boettcher, President of Boettcher Communications. “From concept to completion, they were the ideal client and made our job so easy! I’m confident that this new site will provide current Door County business owners and those considering a business move to our county, the information and tools necessary for growth.”

For more information visit http://www.doorcountybusiness.com or http://www.boettchercommunications.com.