You will not find a shortage of worthy people for this year’s Golden Heart Awards, which will be awarded later this week.
Created in the same vein as a similar event produced by the former Volunteer Center of Door County, nominees were listed in six categories. Bill Aune, Kathy Wagner, William Nick, Ronald Delwiche, Barb Chisolm, Madelyn Ostrand, and Barbara Graul were nominated for the Karl May Lifetime of Service Award. The teachers and staff of St. Peter’s Lutheran School, St. John Bosco Catholic School, and every public school in Door County earned nominations for the Essential Workers of the Year award. Southern Door teacher Shannon Finger earned special recognition in the category, as did Door County Medical Center’s Michelle Johnson and Sturgeon Bay’s police and fire departments. Guy Fortine and Judy Samida from Crossroads at Big Creek and Marilyn Hansotia from the Door County Land Trust are vying for the Environmental Stewardship Award. At the same time, Anna Olson, Shaun Tooley, and Andrea Vandertie received nominations for the Youth Volunteer Scholarship Award. Group Volunteers of the Year Award nominees include the volunteers of the Door County Medical Center Auxiliary House and Garden Walk, Door County Seed Library, Habitat ReStore, Scandia Village Birchwood Art Project, YMCA, Miller Art Museum Desk, Door County Candle, Meals on Wheels Program, and the 100+ Women Who Care Door County chapter. Taylor and Kaden Stahlke, Jane and Karl Wise, Patricia Ploor, Robert Lindahl, Micaela Inman, Wayne Humbles, and Clarice Brey are all up for the Adult Volunteer of the Year Award.
The awards will be passed out on April 6th, beginning at 6 p.m. The ceremony will be streamed live on the Golden Hearts Awards YouTube channel, but limited in-person seating will be available at the Sturgeon Bay High School auditorium.
