That old gas in your garage, expired oil-based paint in the basement, and used ink cartridges in your drawer would be better off at the Kewaunee County Fairgrounds this Thursday than in your home. The Kewaunee County Emergency Management Department is hosting its Clean Sweep hazardous waste collection event this week, accepting everything from ammunition and medications to household chemicals and agricultural pesticides.

Household hazardous waste can pile up after a while, with the average U.S. household generating about 30 pounds of it each year. Kewaunee County Emergency Management Director Tracy Nollenberg says if you have it, you should bring it in before something happens.

Registration is requested through the Kewaunee County Emergency Management Department. Some items are not accepted at the event and will need to be taken to the Riverview Transfer Station for a fee. You can find the full list of accepted and non-accepted items below.

A 29-year-old Baileys Harbor man is behind bars after multiple collisions Saturday that included damage to a Sturgeon Bay Police Department vehicle.

The department was called to assist the Door County Sheriff’s Office after the man rear-ended a vehicle on State Highway 57 near Jorns Road while traveling south. He continued south until exiting the roundabout from State Highway 42/57 onto Michigan Street.

The man then struck a police vehicle head-on and stopped near the intersection of Michigan Street and 18th Avenue. A second squad car boxed in the man before officers ordered him to show his hands and exit his vehicle. He instead ignored the commands and told responding officers he had a gun.

The man eventually exited the vehicle and walked toward officers, continuing to ignore their commands until he was stunned with a Taser and arrested. He remains in the Door County Jail awaiting charges.

One police officer suffered minor injuries when his squad car was struck head-on. He was taken to a hospital, where he was treated and released.

The start of Saturday’s Walk to End Alzheimer’s began before a single dollar was donated, a single person registered or a single step was taken. The walkers, many of them donning shades of purple and carrying spinning flowers, brought stories of their loved ones’ struggles with the disease that slowly destroys memory and thinking skills and accounts for the majority of dementia cases. For some walkers, like Rachel, it was a chance to remember the fun times they had with grandparents before they died.

For others, like Jamie, Carla and Mark, the walk was about supporting their moms as they struggle with Alzheimer’s every day.

As of Monday morning, the Walk to End Alzheimer’s Door County was approximately $8,000 short of its $107,500 goal. If you missed Saturday’s walk, you still have one more chance to participate when the Walk to End Alzheimer’s comes to Fish Creek this Saturday, Sept. 19, at Stella Maris Church.

A 63-year-old Manitowoc man was taken to a Green Bay hospital Saturday after his motorcycle collided with an oncoming car. The crash occurred shortly before 2 p.m. on Mathey Road near the Wisconsin Motorcycle Memorial in the town of Sevastopol.

According to the incident report, the motorcyclist was attempting to turn left out of the memorial when he noticed a car driven by a Sturgeon Bay teenager heading north. The motorcyclist tried to accelerate out of the driveway and around the car as its driver changed lanes in an attempt to avoid the collision, but it was too late.

The motorcyclist was thrown from the motorcycle after the collision tore off its rear wheel. Both drivers were shaken up after the crash, but the motorcyclist was cited for failure to yield while making a left turn.

The crash closed the road for about an hour while the vehicles were towed and the area was cleaned up.

With many projects either already underway or about to get going in the coming weeks, Sturgeon Bay Mayor David Ward hopes the city is making a significant dent in its housing needs. The Sturgeon Bay Common Council will have a light agenda when it meets Tuesday at 6 p.m. at City Hall.

One item the council will address is an updated development agreement for the DOCO Iron Gate and DOCO Bay Heights developments along Division Road. Once built out, the developments are expected to yield 30 workforce dwellings, 36 market-rate dwellings and 34 storage units with optional living spaces.

The meeting comes on the heels of continued work at Heron Crossing and the groundbreaking for The Avenue, which is slated to bring 39 affordable housing units to 14th Avenue between Georgia Street and Iowa Drive. Ward says some lengthy meetings earlier this summer are allowing these types of projects to get off the ground and will keep the area busy for years to come.

After Tuesday’s meeting, much of the focus will turn to the city’s budget. Ward says officials need to gauge how the Premier Resort Area Tax and the new stormwater utility are affecting the city’s bottom line.

While their humans are in the fields chopping corn for the silage harvest, the heifers at Brey Cycle Farm in Sturgeon Bay are enjoying the sunshine and fresh air before the seasons turn. In 2022, Brey Cycle Farm turned more than 140 acres of row crops into pasture for its heifers to roam freely while enjoying a mixture of cover crops and grasses. The switch allowed the farm to reduce soil erosion and phosphorus runoff while saving money on feed costs and other inputs.

When Brey Cycle Farm hosts Tuesday’s Peninsula Pride Farms Conservation event at 5 p.m., owner Jacob Brey hopes farmers can see a great way to do right by their cows, their land and their bottom line.

Do not be mistaken: Brey and other farmers are working hard to make sure their herds have plenty to munch on during the winter months when delicious winter rye and summer cocktail mixes could be under snow. According to the USDA Crop Progress and Condition Report, Wisconsin farmers are 14% complete with their corn silage harvest, 6 percentage points ahead of the five-year average.

Corn in the dough stage, at 93%, and soybeans dropping leaves, at 12%, were also several percentage points ahead of their five-year averages, while winter wheat planting, at 7%, was slightly behind.

What was once old is new again for the City of Algoma as the clock is officially ticking on its new city hall and police station. Bayland Buildings announced Wednesday that it had been awarded the contract to renovate the former Associated Bank building into the new city hall and police station.

The contract also includes upgrades to the HVAC and electrical systems and new utility services for the existing public library. Earlier in the process, all three were going to share the former bank building, but the library will stay in its current space thanks to the generosity of a donor.

Algoma City Administrator Matt Murphy says the building is in great shape but still requires some changes to fit the needs of city government and its police department.

Murphy adds that crews are slowly moving over to the building as work at the soon-to-be-opened fire station finishes. Once city hall and police operations move into their new home, Murphy says the current city hall and police station property will be put on the market.

For those who take the time to look, autumn's transition is already underway, even if summer's warmth still lingers.

Along the Lake Michigan shoreline, monarch butterflies are gathering before beginning their remarkable journey to Mexico. Warblers, thrushes, shorebirds, and other migratory birds are passing through local forests, fields, and shorelines, stopping to rest and refuel before continuing south. Trees are quietly storing nutrients for winter, even while their leaves remain green, and bats are feeding heavily before migrating or settling into hibernation sites.

According to Interpretive Naturalist Jess Poppie, migration season offers a reminder that Door County sits along one of nature's busiest travel corridors.

"Many people are noticing monarch butterflies gathering along the shoreline right now," Poppie said. "At the same time, we're seeing a variety of migrating birds passing through Crossroads preserves. Some of these travelers have come from northern Wisconsin or Canada and are headed thousands of miles south. It's a season filled with incredible journeys."

Some migratory birds may eventually reach destinations in the southern United States, Mexico, Central America, or beyond. Many songbirds travel under the cover of darkness, taking advantage of cooler temperatures and favorable winds. Before departing, they build up fat reserves that fuel astonishing long-distance flights. A Wood Thrush, for example, may eventually cross the Gulf of Mexico on its journey south.

Our popular Wandering Wednesday hike returns on Wednesday, September 23, at 1:30 p.m. As monarchs drift overhead, migrating birds move through local habitats, and splashes of gold begin appearing along trails and wetlands, participants can join a naturalist-led walk through the preserve to see what signs of fall are emerging. No two hikes are ever quite the same, which is part of the fun.

The arrival of fall also signals a new season of exploration for Crossroads' youngest naturalists. Beginning Tuesday, September 29, at 10 a.m., Junior Nature Club invites children ages 3 to 5 and their adults to discover the wonders of nature through a six-week series focused on observation, exploration, and learning through the senses.

Fall's beauty can also be found right in our own backyards. On Tuesday, September 29, at 6:30 p.m., Crossroads will host Leave the Leaves, a presentation sponsored by the Door County Master Gardeners Association and Wild Ones Door Peninsula. The program will explore how fallen leaves support pollinators and other wildlife, improve soil health, and contribute to a healthier ecosystem while reducing yard work. As trees prepare for winter and begin their annual leaf drop, it is a timely reminder that nature's processes often work best when given a little space.

Visitors can also enjoy the changing season at their own pace through Crossroads' current Trail Tales Storybook Walk. Beginning at the West Trailhead and following the Meadow Trail, families can experience Hiking Day by Anne Rockwell, beautifully illustrated by her daughter Lizzy Rockwell.

As pages of the story unfold along the trail, readers are invited to share the simple pleasures of spending time outdoors. With lyrical text and vibrant illustrations that practically leap from the page, Hiking Day is a perfect companion for an autumn walk, encouraging children and adults alike to slow down, explore, and appreciate the natural world around them.

As migration season continues, Crossroads encourages visitors to keep an eye on the skies and listen for the calls of birds moving through Door County. Simple actions, such as making windows more bird-friendly with decals, screens, or other visual markers, can help reduce collisions and make the journey a little safer for these remarkable travelers.

Whether you're watching monarchs prepare for migration, listening for a passing warbler, noticing the first hints of color in the canopy, leaving the leaves beneath your trees, or sharing a story along the trail, fall offers countless opportunities to connect with nature.

All programs are held at the Crossroads at Big Creek Collins Learning Center, 2041 Michigan Street, Sturgeon Bay, unless otherwise noted. Thanks to the generosity of our donors, we are able to offer free programming for all ages. If you cannot attend a program, remember that the trails at Crossroads and Ida Bay Preserve are open all day, every day, free of charge. Fall migration is already underway, and there is plenty to discover outside.

Upcoming Programs

Wednesday, September 23

1:30 p.m. | Wandering Wednesday

Join a naturalist-led hike through the preserve. Enjoy easy walking and seasonal discoveries during this approximately one-hour outing. Well-behaved dogs are welcome on leash.

Registration is not required. This program is free and open to the public. Meet at: Crossroads at Big Creek Collins Learning Center, 2041 Michigan St, Sturgeon Bay, WI

Thursday, September 17

1:00 p.m. | Nature Club: Fall Session

Nature Club is a free, six-week program for children ages 6-8 who love to discover, investigate, and learn about the outdoors. Each week, kids will connect with nature through hands-on activities that encourage movement, friendship, and a lifelong sense of wonder. Class is full; contact us to join the wait list. Meet at: Crossroads at Big Creek Collins Learning Center, 2041 Michigan St, Sturgeon Bay, WI

Tuesday, September 29

10:00 a.m. | Junior Nature Club: Fall Session

Six-week program for ages 3-5 and their adults, learning about observing nature with their senses. Drop in. Registration is not required. Meet at: Crossroads at Big Creek Collins Learning Center, 2041 Michigan St, Sturgeon Bay, WI

6:30 p.m. | Talk: Leave the Leaves

Presented by Door County Master Gardeners Association and Wild Ones - Door Peninsula, those fallen leaves aren’t yard waste—they’re an essential part of a healthy ecosystem. Discover how leaving leaves can enrich your soil, protect overwintering pollinators and other wildlife, and support a healthier landscape—all while reducing fall yard work. Speaker: Coggin Heeringa of Wild Ones – Door Peninsula Chapter. Free and open to the public. Meet at: Crossroads at Big Creek Collins Learning Center, 2041 Michigan St, Sturgeon Bay, WI

It is not every production where the cast has the show’s playwright looking on, but that has been the case for Third Avenue Playworks’ world premiere of “The Call List.”

Written by Brian James Polak and starring Eva Nimmer, “The Call List” tells the story of a young woman who is handed a list of names to call to alert them of a law firm client’s death, only to discover a mystery unfolding in front of her.

It is a show Artistic Director Jacob Janssen has been helping Polak develop for many years. “The Call List” was previously workshopped at the Door Kinetic Arts Festival before being completely rewritten. Janssen says it has been exciting for everybody to be part of the show’s evolution from words on a page to a production on stage.

“The Call List” is part of the World Premiere Wisconsin Festival and will first take the stage at Third Avenue Playworks on Sept. 23. You can also expect more premieres in the future as Janssen’s team reads through more than 700 scripts that could be part of a winter festival of productions. You can listen to our full conversation with Janssen here.

Earlier this summer, I had the opportunity to spend some time with the Wisconsin National Guard, where we convoyed to northern Minnesota for our training. Operating large vehicles in a convoy for that distance is a unique experience that I truly enjoyed, and it provided me with a different perspective regarding the respect we show for large vehicles operating on our roadways.

While I was traveling down the road, the topic for this article became very clear to me as I witnessed numerous passing maneuvers by motorists with either a high sense of urgency or a low sense of patience. The topic is the statute related to passing.

Wisconsin State Statute 346.07, “Overtaking and passing on the left,” states the following: The operator of a vehicle overtaking another vehicle proceeding in the same direction shall pass to the left at a safe distance and shall not again drive to the right side of the roadway until safely clear of the overtaken vehicle. Statute 346.07 goes on to state that the driver of a motor vehicle may not drive on the left side of the center of a roadway in any portion that is marked as a no-passing zone.

One of the questions has been, “Is it allowable to pass a vehicle as long as I start the passing maneuver in a passing zone, even though I may be in a no-passing zone before I return to the right lane?” The answer is no. You must be able to initiate and complete your passing maneuver in a passing zone. It is also worth mentioning that even if you are in a passing zone, you are not allowed to pass if your view of oncoming traffic is obstructed.

Another question was, “Is it allowable to speed while executing a passing maneuver?” Again, the answer is no. The speed of the vehicle you are overtaking must be slow enough that you are able to execute the passing maneuver without exceeding the posted speed limit.

An interesting exception to the no-passing law is that if a vehicle is traveling at less than half the posted speed limit, you may legally pass that vehicle. An important exception to that exception is that you cannot pass any implements of husbandry, or farm equipment, in a no-passing zone, even if they are traveling at less than half the posted speed limit.

Another interesting provision of State Statute 346.07 is that if you are driving the vehicle being overtaken, you are not allowed to increase your speed while being passed.

Putting yourself and your vehicle in the opposite lane of traffic is a risky maneuver at best and a fatal maneuver at worst. Please consider this before you place yourself, as well as others on the roadway, in peril because of your need to save a little bit of time. Plan ahead, leave early and enjoy the ride!

The outdoor Museum that has come to be called Escarpment Park in Ellison Bay (11876 Highway 42, Ellison Bay), will dedicate four new educational panels on Sunday, beginning at 1pm. 

GEO-DC President Nancy Goss said there will be a short presentation and official unveiling of the panels. Very detailed information handouts will be available for those who visit between 1-3pm.

These panels are the first of 6 that the GEO-DC members have completed, with the help of grant money from the Door County Community Investment Fund. The purpose of these panels is to provide educational information for all to learn about the geological feature that is the Niagara Escarpment. One of these first panels details the impact of the historical Menominee tribes, which Nancy Goss, president of GEO-DC, said was the most challenging, yet satisfying aspect of completing these panels.

For more information on GEO-DC, stop by on Sunday or visit their website. 

The throaty rumble of classic cars and motorcycles will fill downtown Baileys Harbor Saturday during the community's annual AutumnFest.

From 9am until 4pm, arts and crafts vendors will sell autumn-themed goods around the Baileys Harbor Town Hall. Food and beverage vendors will be set up behind the town hall in Kendall Park. 

Classic cars and motorcycles are encouraged to attend, and may register from 9-11am Saturday morning at the tent near the intersection of County F and Guy St.
Vehicle entrants may vote for their favorite vehicles in 12 class categories. 

The Modern Day Drifters will entertain Autumnfest attendees with their tunes from 11am-3pm.

All Autumnfest proceeds support the Baileys Harbor Community Association. For details, check out the AutumnFest event page.

The tragedies of 9/11 may have taken place hundreds of miles away, but the pain felt in Door County made them feel much closer to home.

It has been 25 years since terrorists hijacked planes that crashed into the World Trade Center in New York City and the Pentagon in Washington, D.C. A fourth attack was thwarted by passengers aboard Flight 93 before the plane crashed in a field in Pennsylvania.

According to the Wisconsin 9/11 Memorial in Kewaskum, 18 people with Wisconsin connections were killed in the attacks. One of those individuals was Barbara K. Olson, who was buried at Ellison Bay Cemetery after her remains were recovered following the crash of American Airlines Flight 77 into the Pentagon.

According to the 9/11 Pentagon Memorial, Olson was a well-known conservative legal analyst and author who called her husband, U.S. Solicitor General Theodore Olson, as the plane was being hijacked. Her burial in Ellison Bay placed her near her family’s longtime vacation retreat.

Door County Maritime Museum Deputy Director Sam Perlman was nine months removed from moving to Door County from New York City when the attacks occurred. Perlman’s Brooklyn residence served as a point of reference when he would visit Windows on the World, the restaurant that sat on the 106th and 107th floors of the World Trade Center’s North Tower.

As a freelance writer for the Door County Advocate, Perlman shared stories not just about Olson, but also about his time in New York City and the friends he still had there.

“The whole thing seems totally unreal to me,” Perlman wrote 25 years ago. “I cannot imagine the next time that I return to New York and see where the World Trade Center used to be. The idea of the skyline of the city without the Twin Towers there is unbelievable.”

Linda Schultz was working at Sevastopol School when she got the call from the Red Cross to spend three weeks in New York City providing respite care to first responders and rescue dogs working at Ground Zero. Her Red Cross group attended several funerals for firefighters, and she can still see and smell the devastation in her memories. She wishes people could come together as they did in the days following the attacks, and she treasures the keepsakes and relationships she formed while serving in New York City.

All told, 2,977 people died in the 9/11 attacks, including more than 400 New York City emergency personnel and more than 50 military personnel at the Pentagon. Fire departments in Door and Kewaunee counties have participated in the 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb at Lambeau Field in past years, with many firefighters donning their turnout gear while carrying the name of a fallen hero.

Even though summer is in its twilight and school is back in session, you will have to pay extra attention to the roads this weekend with two major events taking place in Door County.

On Saturday, dozens of Jeeps will take to the road to benefit DOOR CANcer during the annual Door County Jeep Jam. The event takes Jeep owners and DOOR CANcer supporters on a drive through Baileys Harbor, Sister Bay, Ephraim, Fish Creek and Peninsula State Park before returning to Thirsty Cow Tap House for live music, food and auctions.

You can still register for Door County Jeep Jam, which raised more than $19,000 for DOOR CANcer last year. During the event, Jeep drivers will have a police escort, allowing them to proceed through red lights and stop signs.

On Sunday, the Jeeps give way to 3,000 bicycles as the Door County Century hits the pavement. Starting at John Miles County Park in Sturgeon Bay, the event offers four distances ranging from 30 to 100 miles, taking cyclists as far north as Ellison Bay. All four distances are sold out.

Motorists and cyclists are encouraged to travel cautiously and follow the rules of the road.

A 79-year-old Ellison Bay woman believes she injured her hand while trying to alert a skid steer driver before he backed into her vehicle.

The accident occurred near the intersection of State Highway 42 and Gooseberry Lane in the town of Liberty Grove at 9:45 a.m. Thursday. According to the accident report, the woman was traveling east on Gooseberry Lane when she encountered a dump truck and an accompanying skid steer.

After she stopped her vehicle, the skid steer driver continued backing up, causing her to honk her horn to get his attention. The skid steer driver, a 57-year-old Ellison Bay man, said he has a backup camera and was using it periodically as they leveled gravel along the side of the road.

He told the deputy he never saw the vehicle. The report notes that sunlight coming through the trees may have affected his ability to see.

The man checked on the woman to see if she needed medical assistance. She told him and emergency personnel that she would drive to the clinic later to have her hand examined.

No citations were issued in connection with the accident.

The Griffon String Quartet and Eric Lewis will tour Door County once again this fall, but this time with songs you may not have heard before. The pairing will play one show in Green Bay on Sept. 17 before performing at MUSE in Sturgeon Bay on Sept. 18, Shepherd of the Bay Lutheran Church in Ellison Bay on Sept. 19 and Woodwalk Gallery in Egg Harbor on Sept. 20.

Some of their set will come from their new album, “Under the Harvest Moon,” the follow-up to their record “Beneath the Waves.” Midsummer’s Music Executive Director Allyson Fleck says the combination of bluegrass and chamber music seems to work well when Lewis and the Griffon String Quartet perform together.

The concerts serve as a precursor to the larger Autumn Fest that will take place throughout Door County and Green Bay in October. The Griffon String Quartet, the Pro Arte Quartet, and David Perry and Friends will be among the performers during the three-show series.

You will have to watch out for more than just law enforcement vehicles on the road this weekend. Door County is one of five counties that will receive aerial enforcement by the Wisconsin State Patrol this weekend and the only one that will be targeted twice.

State Highway 57 will receive extra attention from the Wisconsin State Patrol on Friday and Sunday. Aerial enforcement is one of the ways the Wisconsin State Patrol tries to enhance public safety efforts since it is easier to spot drivers who are speeding or driving aggressively from the air. If a pilot spots a violation, the pilot will contact officers on the ground to pull over the offending driver.

Eau Claire, Washburn, Columbia, and Waupaca counties will also receive aerial enforcement.

You can expect to see hunters entering the woods beginning Saturday, when deer hunting season opens for archery and crossbow hunters. It kicks off a period of more than four months during which hunters can harvest deer. Based on recommendations from county deer advisory councils, hunters are eligible for additional antlerless tags in Door and Kewaunee counties when they purchase their licenses. The archery and crossbow season runs through Jan. 31.

Other opportunities include the gun deer hunt for hunters with disabilities Oct. 3-11, the youth deer hunt Oct. 10-11, the traditional gun deer season Nov. 21-29, the muzzleloader season Nov. 30-Dec. 9, and the antlerless-only holiday hunt Dec. 24-Jan. 1. With hunters entering the woods, DNR Warden Chris Kratcha wants hunters to think about safety, especially when setting up their tree stands.

Anyone born on or after Jan. 1, 1973, must complete a hunter education course and have a hunter education safety certificate on file to purchase a hunting license in Wisconsin unless they are hunting under the hunting mentorship program or have successfully completed and can provide proof of basic military training. You can find course information on the DNR website.

If you missed the Walk to End Alzheimer’s on Washington Island last month, you are in luck this month. The Walk to End Alzheimer’s will return to Sturgeon Bay on Sept. 12 in conjunction with Sunshine Resources’ Sunflower Fest at the city’s Martin Park. The walk will begin at 8:30 a.m. As of Thursday morning, more than $91,000 has been raised, which is 85% of the Door County chapter’s $107,500 goal. With positive momentum building to support people with Alzheimer’s, event organizer Cari Josephson says every little bit helps.

If you cannot make it to Sturgeon Bay this weekend, you can still participate in the third Walk to End Alzheimer’s in Door County this year. The Fish Creek walk will begin and end at Stella Maris Church at 8:30 a.m. You can register at this link or in person at the Sturgeon Bay and Fish Creek events.

The opportunity to make a bigger impact in the community required Sunshine Resources to add a second day to its biggest event of the year at Sturgeon Bay’s Martin Park. Sunflower Fest will kick off Friday night with a commemoration of the 25th anniversary of 9/11 at 5 p.m. The solemn start to the evening precedes a performance by Boogie and the Yo-Yoz.

With a portion of the proceeds from Friday night going to support Door County first responders, Sunshine Resources CEO Barry Metzentine says it is a great opportunity to showcase not only the work of the organization, but also the work of others in the community.

Saturday begins at 8:30 a.m. with the Sturgeon Bay edition of the Walk to End Alzheimer’s ahead of a busy day of cornhole, kids' activities, raffles and music by Big Mouth and the Power Tool Horns. Sunshine Resources Director of Business Development Jeremy Paszczak says Sunflower Fest shows how partnerships can help organizations play to their strengths and make a bigger impact.

Proceeds from Sunflower Fest support the work of Sunshine Resources. Earlier this year, the organization launched its “Five Initiatives, Five Years, $5 Million” plan, which will touch people of all ages and abilities throughout the county.

The plan includes creating an alternative school program; developing a Northern Door facility and program; building a new Sunflower Cottage; renovating the PATH building; modernizing its Yew Street facility; and establishing an endowment fund. All are on the calendar within the next five years.

Expect to rely on the Bayview Bridge or Michigan Street Bridge to get through Sturgeon Bay next week. Wisconsin Department of Transportation officials announced Tuesday that routine maintenance is scheduled for Sept. 14 and 15 on the downtown bridge, with work possibly extending into Sept. 16 if weather conditions are poor.

The bridge will be closed from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. to accommodate crews as they repair developing potholes and apply epoxy overlay patches. WisDOT Engineering Specialist Jim McDowell says this is routine maintenance for a span like the Maple/Oregon Street Bridge.

As for the other bridges, McDowell says the Bayview Bridge will likely undergo maintenance in November that will require it to close for a few days. The Michigan Street Bridge is expected to remain open until its spring maintenance.

Some of the people who benefit from the Sturgeon Bay Farmers Market are faces you do not regularly see on Saturday mornings. For the last few years, the Sturgeon Bay Farmers Market has participated in a food rescue initiative that takes fresh, unsold produce donated by market vendors and brings it to Lakeshore CAP for distribution to local families in need.

More than a dozen businesses have helped Destination Sturgeon Bay collect more than 1,000 pounds of food through the program, ensuring that families who rely on Lakeshore CAP to help keep their pantries and refrigerators full have healthy options to choose from.

In this week’s episode of the Faces of the Farmers Market Podcast, Door County Media Group’s Bryan Mazur discussed the Food Rescue program with Door County Mutual Aid’s Carol Jensen-Olson, Grow Door County’s Matt Peter and Dromhus’ Heather Popp.

You can learn more about the program and listen to the full Faces of the Farmers Market Podcast by clicking the link.

The calendars and colors are turning, which means the hours and programming at the Door County YMCA are changing as well. In the latest episode of the Y-Wednesday Podcast, Steve and Jackie Kane Center Executive Director Holly Butenhoff shares details about the programming and hours that come with the fall season.

One of the highlights is a collaboration with the Alzheimer’s Association and Sunshine Resources that will bring former Wisconsin Gov. Marty Schreiber to the Jackie and Steve Kane Center in Fish Creek for a special presentation at 10:30 a.m. Sept. 18. His book, “My Two Elaines: Learning, Coping, and Surviving as an Alzheimer’s Caregiver,” shares stories from his experience as a caregiver for his wife as she battled the disease.

Butenhoff also spotlighted upcoming tailgates on Sept. 24 ahead of the home opener at Lambeau Field and a special membership promotion in October.

You can listen to the full podcast at this link.

It will soon be easier to charge up and explore the area if you drive an electric vehicle in Door County. Gov. Tony Evers and the Wisconsin Department of Transportation announced that 42 locations, including one in Sturgeon Bay, will receive grants to build fast, reliable electric vehicle charging stations across Wisconsin.

The awards are part of $25 million in funding from the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure program, which was created through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.

“From the start, we’ve planned an EV charging station network that will benefit both EV drivers and Wisconsin communities. The stations provide fast charging at convenient locations where drivers can also take care of other errands while charging up,” WisDOT Secretary Kristina Boardman said.

For Sturgeon Bay drivers, the new charging station will be located at the Kwik Trip near the intersection of State Highway 42/57 and Duluth Avenue. The investment of more than $436,000 was welcome news for Destination Door County President and CEO Jon Jarosh, especially with the area being a cul-de-sac of sorts for motorists. He says it is a step forward compared with many of the charging stations in the county, which are approximately 10 years old and feature slower Level 1 and Level 2 chargers.

Jarosh adds that Destination Door County still offers businesses up to $1,000 in reimbursement for electric vehicle charging station installation costs through its mini-grant program.

To date, WisDOT has awarded approximately $62 million through three rounds of funding to support 120 projects throughout Wisconsin. Previous grants supported charging station projects at businesses along the state’s Alternative Fuel Corridor system. The network is designed to serve more than 43,200 electric vehicles registered in Wisconsin, as well as travelers and visitors. Twenty-five stations funded through the program are currently operational.

A 48-year-old Fish Creek man was pulled from the water at Peninsula State Park on Monday and later died at the hospital.

According to a joint statement from the Door County Sheriff’s Department and Gibraltar Police Department, the two agencies responded to Nicolet Bay after receiving a report that Grant A. Vytlacil had been found unresponsive in the water. Lifesaving measures were performed after Vytlacil was pulled from the water, but he later died at the hospital.

Gibraltar Fire and Emergency Services, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and Door County Emergency Services also assisted at the scene.

Officials with the Door County Sheriff’s Department and Gibraltar Police Department thanked bystanders who assisted agencies with bringing Vytlacil to shore.

The case is considered closed, and no further information will be released.