One year after the first wind phone was installed in Door County, you will soon see one at the top of the Peninsula at Isle View Park in Ellison Bay.  The first wind phone in the area was placed in Sunset Park by the Gregory family of Sturgeon Bay in memory of their mother, Judy.  Keith Mellen, who has a summer residence in Ellison Bay, wanted to memorialize their son Ryan, who he lost from committed suicide 18 months ago.  He reached out to the Liberty Grove Parks Committee and worked out the details of having a wind phone available to people to grieve the loss of their loved one.  Town Supervisor Cathy Ward suggested Isle View Park after Mellen initially chose a different one.   He says the wind phone in Ellison Bay differs slightly from the one in Sturgeon Bay with a "little hearts project."

The Mellen family will install the new wind phone on November 16th at Isle View Park in Ellison Bay. The tradition of wind phones started in Japan in 2010 when a landscaper built a disconnected phone booth in his garden to 'talk' with a cousin he lost. The idea gained popularity worldwide and now has two homes in Door County.

For those hoping to avoid resetting your clocks altogether, you will be waiting longer. The Sunshine Protection Act, introduced by legislators in 2018 and 2022, has stalled in the hall of Congress.

Protecting you from the impact of cyber crimes is a moving target for Carl Waterstreet and Jon Gilson of the Door County Sheriff's Department. According to Forbes magazine, over 2,300 cyber attacks in 2023 impacted more than 343 million victims. Many of these cyber attacks occurred via email, affecting approximately 94 percent of organizations and accounting for more than $2.9 billion in losses. While some scammers are still remedial with their tactics, Waterstreet says others are becoming even more sophisticated with their attacks. He adds that the threats are only becoming more prevalent with the world becoming more connected beyond computers and cell phones.

Gilson's forte is financial crimes, and he says scammers do their homework ahead of time to try to ensure success when they contact you.

Waterstreet and Gilson encourage people to use unique passwords, adopt two-factor authentication, and show phishing awareness to protect themselves.

Click on this link to listen to our full interview with Waterstreet and Gilson.

You will learn how the state's universities are addressing the most significant challenges to our water supply during a special forum at Crossroads at Big Creek in Sturgeon Bay on Friday. Representatives from more than a dozen universities will present research on eight areas, including PFAS, lead and clean drinking water, agriculture, water management concerning phosphorus and nitrates, aquaculture, and more. The work showcases the state investment made to look for potential solutions for the state's freshwater supply. State Senator Robert Cowles was one of the legislators responsible for securing the funding for the Freshwater Collaborative of Wisconsin to do the work that they are doing. Despite retiring from the State Senate at the end of this year, Cowles says it was vital for him to help get the ball rolling on the research and the potential projects that could follow.

The Freshwater Collaborative of Wisconsin informational hearing will occur from 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.

For the second day in a row, multiple departments were called to respond to a fire partially caused by the area's dry conditions. Firefighters from the Sister Bay/Liberty Grove Fire Department responded to an area near Timberline Road and Europe Lake Road, where downed power lines caused a fire in nearby woods. Due to the location of the fire and the dry, gusty conditions, the fire departments from Baileys Harbor and Ephraim were also called into action. Sister Bay/Liberty Grove Fire Chief Chris Hecht says chainsaws and other tools were needed to extinguish the fire, even applauding Appel Outdoor Maintenance for assisting their efforts with a Bobcat. While storms predicted for Wednesday night into Thursday could cause more downed power lines that they will have to respond to, Hecht says the rain will be a welcome relief for an area that entered the day as one of over 20 counties experiencing very high fire danger levels.

The fire burned approximately 1.5 acres and took about 90 minutes to fully extinguish. In addition to Wisconsin Public Service having to respond to return power to the area, roads around the fire were temporarily closed while firefighters fought the blaze. According to the National Weather Service, some parts of Door County could get as much as 1.5 inches of rain beginning Wednesday night into Thursday morning.

You can get into the holiday spirit early as the Southern Door High School is showcasing their version of the classic musical “White Christmas” next week.  The musical will pay homage to the 1954 film and feature 17 of Irving Berlin’s greatest hits.  Marketing Committee member and cast member parent Sierra Grovogel says the kids and staff have been working on the performance since June with two summer camps.  She notes the collective effort that is needed to pull together the entire production.

The “White Christmas” show will be performed at the Southern Door Community Auditorium for the middle school class this Thursday, before public performances are slated for 7 p.m. on Thursday, November 7th, Friday, November 8th and Saturday November 9th.  A Sunday matinee will be offered on November 10th at 2 p.m.  You can purchase tickets online with this link or by calling the Southern Door Community Auditorium. 

Sevastopol High School will have its fall performances next week as well:

November 8: Sevastopol Fall Play "Revenge of the Space Pandas" at 7:00 PM in the Elementary Gym.
November 9: Sevastopol Fall Play "Revenge of the Space Pandas" at 7:00 PM in the Elementary Gym.
November 10: Sevastopol Fall Play "Revenge of the Space Pandas" at 2:00 PM in the Elementary Gym.

Given the wet conditions expected on Thursday, your children celebrating Halloween this year might want to take extra precautions. The National Weather Service forecasts high temperatures in the low 60s but also an 80 percent chance of rain for Door and Kewaunee counties. Besides dressing to keep the kids' outfits dry, parents you are advised to follow some tips when getting your children ready to "trick or treat."   All costumes, wigs, and accessories should be fire-resistant. If your children are out after dark, fasten reflective tape to their costumes and bags or give them glow sticks. Opting for nontoxic Halloween makeup over masks, which can obscure vision, is a better choice. A responsible adult should accompany young children on the neighborhood rounds. Plan and review an acceptable route if your older children are going alone. 

Other safety tips include: 

Agree on a specific time children should return home

Teach your children never to enter a stranger's home or car

Instruct children to travel only in familiar, well-lit areas and stick with their friends

Tell your children not to eat any treats until they return home.  

Motorist tips: 

Motorists should keep an eye out for children walking on roadways, medians and curbs

Enter and exit driveways and alleys carefully

At twilight and later in the evening, watch for children in dark clothing

Discourage new, inexperienced drivers from driving on Halloween

Below is the list of local communities celebrating with "Trick or Treat" hours on Thursday.

Algoma (city) - 4:00-7:00 p.m.

Kewaunee - 3:00-6:00 p.m.

Red River - 4:00-7:00 p.m

Jacksonport: 3 to 7 p.m.

Sister Bay: 3:30 to 7:30 p.m.

Forestville: 5 to 8 p.m.

Sturgeon Bay: 4 to 7 p.m.

Baileys Harbor: 4 to 6 p.m.

The U.S. Coast Guard is hosting the Haunted Ship on Wednesday night. There will also be a canned food drive from 5 to 6 p.m. for young children and from 6 to 8 p.m. for those wanting a scarier experience aboard the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Mobile Bay on Sturgeon Bay's west side waterfront.  

If you are a first responder and member of the Door County YMCA, you can now receive savings on your membership.  With Tuesday marking National First Responders Day, the Door County YMCA announced that they are honoring all those who are actively serving in the area with a special membership discount.  YMCA Kane Center Branch Executive Director Holly Butenhoff says, effective now, all first responders will get a ten percent discount off membership and also pay no joiners fee if they are new members.

The benefit covers all firefighters, law enforcement, EMS, and EMT personnel.  All eligible employees just need to show a badge or proof of service to receive the discount.  The Door County YMCA already offers a 20 percent membership discount to all military veterans in the area.

A wildfire in the town of Brussels Tuesday afternoon eventually required the response of 11 fire departments from Door, Brown and Kewaunee counties.  The Brussels-Union-Gardner Fire Department was dispatched shortly before 3 p.m. to a wooded swamp area near the corner of Tru Way Road and Swamp Road to fight a wildfire for more than two hours.  BUG Fire Captain Dalton Everard says flames were shooting ten feet in the air when crews arrived with winds spreading the blaze quickly to the northwest, prompting a MABAS call to other fire departments.   

Everard estimates between two and three acres of land was burned.  A drone from the Egg Harbor Fire Department was used to look for hot spots before crews left the scene Tuesday night.  The cause of the fire is unknown at this time. 

Before you wonder why it is crucial to figure out ways how to fund child care, a summit held in Sturgeon Bay on Tuesday explored why it is essential in the first place. The United Way of Door County, Door County Economic Development Corporation, and the Women’s Fund of Door County hosted the Door County Child Care Summit on Tuesday to discuss important topics related to child care. The industry has been a significant topic of discussion for the United Way of Door County and the Door County Economic Development Corporation because of how it relates to workforce development and the area’s ALICE (Asset-Limited, Income-Constrained, Employed) population. One important reason why child care is so essential is that it gets the child off on the right foot. Door County Medical Center Pediatrician Dr. Shane Colvin discussed what impacts early brain development. The first few years of a child’s life are very important as it lays the foundation for their future regarding their learning and behavior. By building a strong foundation now, Colvin says they will be better ready for school, and their learning potential can take off.

Speakers also addressed the child care marketplace and the industry’s funding models during the morning summit, which was attended by dozens of stakeholders.

A 22-year-old Ellison Bay man was transported to Door County Medical Center after he lost control of his vehicle and drove into a tree in the Town of Liberty Grove last Thursday. The crash occurred shortly before 7:10 p.m. on County NP. The man was driving south on the road when he failed to turn along with the road when it took a sharp left. According to the accident report, the vehicle drove off the road and into a ditch before striking a tree. The car had to be towed due to disabled damage while the man was transported himself to be treated for suspected minor injuries. No citations were issued as a result of the crash.

The United Way of Door County wants to help your organization with the funds it is currently raising through its annual campaign. The organization is at 38 percent of its $1 million target for the 2025 annual campaign. On Monday, the United Way of Door County announced that it is accepting applications for the 2025 funding cycle. Any non-profit agency that serves Door County's basic needs, education, economic mobility, and health are invited to apply. Earlier this month, Executive Director Amy Kohnle said that this is an important time for non-profits as they plan what they would like to accomplish in the community.

Applications are due by November 15th and all applicants are asked to schedule a 30-minute interview so the United Way of Door County can learn more about the funding you require so they can help them the best that they can.

You can honor the veterans in your life and community with musical concerts before Veterans Day in Door and Kewaunee counties. The Algoma High School Bands, Algoma Community Band, and the Peninsula Symphonic Band have Veterans Day concerts scheduled next week. The performances start on November 6th when the Algoma High School Concert Band and Wind Ensemble and the Algoma Community Band host a joint concert on Wednesday, November 6th, at 7 p.m. inside the Algoma Performing Arts Center. The event honors veterans and supports the Kewaunee County Food Pantry. Audience members are encouraged to donate personal care products, cleaning supplies, and canned soup for the cause. On Thursday, November 7th, the Peninsula Symphonic Band will host its Veteran’s Day Concert at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church in Sturgeon Bay at 7 p.m. Directed by Jason Palmer, the show will feature the Swingin’ Door Big Band to honor our veterans as well. 

You may not witness the vast lines you have seen in Green Bay and Milwaukee, but your neighbors in Door and Kewaunee counties are taking advantage of early voting ahead of Election Day. According to the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, early voting is up in Wisconsin nearly 40 percent over 2020, with more than 292,700 people casting a ballot since Tuesday. Algoma City Clerk Erin Mueller and Sister Bay Village Clerk Heidi Teich say early in-person voting is certainly up in their communities, with more than 160 ballots cast in Sister Bay and over 200 in Algoma as of Monday morning. Teich says residents have also been quick to mail in their ballots too.

Mueller says that at the end of each day, they ensure that the ballots are safe and secure and ready to be counted on Election Day.

Early in-person voting ends on November 3rd, though hours and days may vary by municipality. All absentee ballots must be received by 8 p.m. on November 5th. Mueller and Teich both urge voters to bring in all necessary documents if you plan on voting, but especially if you plan registering too.

If you rely on Door 2 Door Rides or Door County Connect to get around the area, you are certainly not alone this year. The two services are on track to eclipse 47,000 rides this year, potentially more than last year’s 45,300. Transportation Manager Pam Busch credits the services’ shedding the image that they are only for the elderly or disabled. While they are still significant sections of their total ridership, Busch says more residents are treating it like any other public transportation option.

Door 2 Door Rides has served the area for almost 15 years while Door County Connect, formerly the Aging and Disability Resource Center Bus/Van service, has served the community for over 35 years. Door County Connect and Door 2 Door Rides are offering no-cost rides to the polls on Election Day (November 5th), thanks to the League of Women Voters of Door County and to all veterans on November 11th.

The Door County Maritime Museum will honor the lives lost during the Vietnam War on a Sturgeon Bay-built ship on Friday. The museum will dedicate three plaques in honor of the USS Westchester County, one for its home port of San Diego, its birthplace in Sturgeon Bay, and its namesake in New York. During the Vietnam War, the USS Westchester County was stationed 40 miles upriver near My Tho, Vietnam, when Viet Cong frogmen were able to attach upwards of 500 pounds of explosives to the starboard side of the vessel in the form of two limpet mines during a change of watch. The explosion not only tore two 10-foot wide holes into the ship but claimed the lives of 25 men, making it the Navy's most significant single-incident combat loss of life during the Vietnam War. Executive Director Kevin Osgood says stories like the USS Westchester County's are ones that should be told, even if they are stained in tragedy.

After the vessel earned three Navy Unit Commendations, two Meritorious Unit Commendations, the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, and the Vietnam Service Medal with 14 service stars, it was transferred to the Turkish Navy, where it served until 2005. It was sunk as part of a military exercise in 2014. The memorial service will take place on November 1st at 11 a.m. behind the Door County Maritime Museum and will feature crew members from that ship.

Nearly five months after it was placed on the Wisconsin State Register of Historic Places, a Sturgeon Bay shipwreck was put on another list celebrating history. Earlier this month, the Pride shipwreck was placed on the National Register of Historic Places, becoming one of the more than 30 Door Countyshipwrecks to earn the designation. The Ohio-built schooner rests 250 feet north of the intersection of West Juniper Street and North Lansing Avenue. After being built in 1866, the Pride operated in the Great Lakes lumber and bulk cargo trades until a tornado in Egg Harbor in August 1898 caused it to capsize, killing the ship’s mate. It was righted and moved to Sturgeon Bay for repairs, but ultimately abandoned around 1900. According to the Wisconsin Historical Society, the Pride is partially embedded in the lakebed, which is in eight feet of water. Still, it retains its archaeological integrity, with most vessel hull components protected by sediment in the bay. The next shipwreck that could make the National Register of Historic Places resides near Port Washington after the St. Peter Shipwreck was listed on the StateRegister of Historic Places over a month ago. 

Photo courtesy of the Wisconsin Historical Society

Educators from the Luxemburg-Casco School District this month took part in a professional development training program – Project RESPECT – designed to assist them in effectively teaching multilingual learners, a growing part of the L-C student population. Participating teachers and staff represented different grade levels from K-12 and a variety of academic content areas.

Approximately 35 teachers and staff took part in the initial training session, held Oct. 8 at Luxemburg-Casco, with a facilitator from WIDA, Dr. Terri Mossgrove. WIDA is an educational services organization within the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Education.

WIDA was recruiting small, rural districts in Northeast Wisconsin to participate in Project RESPECT, and L-C originally was approached to join a cohort of area districts. In the end, because of the district’s size and its high interest in the program, Luxemburg-Casco became a stand-alone district.

Project RESPECT is an acronym for Rural Educators Self-Reflecting and Practicing Equity-Centered Teaching for English learners (EL). The program, which launched in 2021, is funded through a federal grant from the U.S. Department of Education.

“Our overarching goal is to increase the capacity of rural K-8 teachers to provide effective and equitable literacy instruction for multilingual learners,” says Elizabeth Cranley, principal investigator of Project RESPECT for WIDA.

Nearly 70 percent of school districts in the state, including Luxemburg-Casco, are considered rural, according to the Wisconsin Rural Schools Alliance.

“The number of multilingual learners at L-C is increasing each year, and meeting the needs of these learners adds another degree of complexity to teaching,” says Jo-Ellen Fairbanks, Ph.D., Luxemburg-Casco superintendent. “We are being proactive in providing this opportunity to teachers, giving them the specific tools and strategies to help these learners reach their full potential.”

The Luxemburg-Casco School District served 66 multilingual learners during the 2023-24 academic year among approximately 2,000 enrolled students. The multilingual learners were spread across six different levels of English proficiency, ranging from newcomers to proficient.

Multilingual learners are a growing segment of the student population in rural school districts, according to WIDA, but historically many of the available professional learning resources cater to teachers serving multilingual learners in urban and suburban schools.

As many as one out of every seven students in the United States is enrolled in a rural school district, according to Rural English Learner Education, a June 2020 research paper published in conjunction with the American Educational Research Association (AERA). AERA this month shared that English learning students represent the fastest-growing student group in the U.S. over the last two decades, and that the number of EL students has soared in “new destination” states in the Midwest and South.

At Luxemburg-Casco, both regular classroom teachers and EL teachers work with the district’s EL students.

“Project RESPECT provides us with the valuable opportunity to focus on a frequently overlooked and underserved student population, multilingual learners,” says Jodi Kinnard, EL coordinator at L-C. “It is truly inspiring to collaborate with over 30 mainstream teachers who have volunteered to be part of this project, dedicating themselves to prioritizing language development in their classrooms. I greatly appreciate my colleagues’ commitment to creating positive learning environments for all students.”

Project RESPECT aims to support teachers who are linguistically and/or culturally different from the students they serve, adds Cranley. Roles represented by teachers participating in the program include EL specialists, reading/intervention specialists, music and arts teachers, and classroom teachers.

“The vast majority of our classroom teachers were not taught best practices in college on how to teach English Language learners,” says Mike Snowberry, director of learning services for the Luxemburg-Casco School District. “We have students that transfer into the district at every grade level, so it is important for all teachers to understand how to best teach the multilingual learners. These teaching practices actually end up benefitting our entire student population.”

The same cohort of teachers and staff will participate in follow-up training sessions at Luxemburg-Casco scheduled for later this year (Dec. 17) and early next year (March 4) as part of a two-year professional learning program.

WIDA researchers also will be doing site visits to L-C. They will be meeting with teachers in the classroom on Nov. 8.

Like it or not [and our friends in Door Peninsula Astronomical Society actually do like early darkness!], the time changes this weekend. And here at Crossroads, we are observing more than the time changing.

In an article in SELF called “The Scientific Reasons Why the Smell of Autumn Makes You So Emotional,” Lauren Mazzo wrote of “anticipatory nostalgia—the sensation of missing the present moment before it’s even gone. Because the season is so fleeting, there’s an urge to hold fall in all its glory because it will be over soon.”

But then, we know about the progression of the seasons. It must have seemed that the world was ending to early prehistoric humans. The days would get short, cold would replace the warmth of summer, leaves would die and fall from the trees.

Thanks to science, we understand that plants and animals have evolved in the temperate forest biome to use winter as a time for rest and renewal. Trees go into winter dormancy—a deep sleep—long before the weather becomes harsh. The date trees enter dormancy seems to depend on latitude and elevation. For example, deciduous trees in the far north drop their leaves long before trees in milder climates. Trees use day length to signal the time to be dormant. Their discarded leaves provide a blanket for their roots.

The brilliant colors of autumn fade,  but discarded foliage more than compensates with something just as special---the aroma of late autumn.

According to researchers, late fall fragrance is a combination of chemicals. Throughout the year, evergreen trees exude volatile oils called terpenes… mostly pinenes. These odors are familiar: the scents of fresh Christmas greens—the smells of a growing pine forest on a summer day. Fermenting autumn leaves also releases volatile chemicals. 

Virginia Eifert wrote in the charming Door County classic Journeys to Green Places: “ The air is full of scents which have been distilled from the organic vapors given off by every leaf and flower during the growing season just past.....They are the perfumes of autumn."

Native wildflowers have adapted to seasons as well. Seeds of many native plants don't start growing during winter thaws because they require a period of stratification, meaning they need to experience a cold, moist winter period to break dormancy and trigger germination when spring arrives.  A brief thaw alone isn't enough to initiate growth because the seeds are genetically programmed to wait for the consistent warmer temperatures of spring before sprouting.  

The late autumn changes are featured in Crossroads activities this week. 

On Saturday morning, November 2, at 10:00, the Door County Seed Library will offer a Native Seed Collection Day. Seed Library volunteers will help participants identify and gather seeds in Crossroads' gardens and meadows. They will also explain which seeds require stratification and how to store them.

At our family program, Science Saturday (offered every week starting at 2:00), the topic will be the “Sense of Smell.” After some indoor experiments and a demonstration in the lab, the group will hike into the forest to inhale the autumn aromas.

At 10:00, the first Monday of each month, we hold our Current (Ecological) Events Club. All are welcome. This month, we will explore articles about the aromas of autumn and speculate about how the changing climate will affect dormancy in trees and flowers. Folks are welcome to stop by the Learning Center prior to the Current Events Club to pick up copies of the articles for discussion.  

Embrace fall in all its glory. It will end too soon—it always does. So head to the forest to inhale the heady aroma of autumn, which psychologists assure us is mood-elevating.

Saturday, November 2

10:00 Native Seed Collection Hike Participants will be invited to collect native seeds from the Crossroads meadow. The event will start with a short (~15-minute) presentation in the Collins Learning Center auditorium; then participants will go to the meadow to collect seeds.

Free and open to the public, presented in collaboration with Door County Master Gardeners, Door County Seed Library, and Crossroads at Big Creek. Meet at the Collins Learning Center, Crossroads, 2041 Michigan, Sturgeon Bay

2:00 Science Saturday; Sense of Smell

Join this indoor/ outdoor program and explore the science of scent. This weekly family program is intended for elementary students, but learners of all ages are welcome. Meet at the Collins Learning Center. Registration is not required. Thanks to the generosity of donors like you, this program is open to the public and free!

7:00  DPAS Planetarium Show and Viewing Night at the Astronomy Campus

The Door Peninsula Astronomical Society will offer a  Halloween-themed planetarium show featuring some of the spooky things in the night sky including ghosts, witches, specters, and other things that give us those creepy feelings.  From constellations to nebulas, we will explore some of the eeriest things visible in the night sky.  Shows are repeated every half hour. Sky viewing begins if and as soon as stars become visible. Meet at the Stonecipher Astronomy Center, 2200 Utah Street, Sturgeon Bay.

Monday, November 4

1:30 Current Environmental Events Club

This month, we will explore autumn aromas and tree dormancy with a deep dive into current ecological articles for lively discussions, new friendships, and deepening our understanding of the natural world! Stop by the Collins Learning Center anytime before the meeting to receive free copies of the articles for the next meeting. Free and open to the public.

Wednesday, November 5

1:30 Wandering Wednesday

Join the naturalist for a gentle but fragrant hike through the late autumn forests at Crossroads. No reservations are needed. Meet at the Collins Learning Center, 2041 Michigan, Sturgeon Bay.

3:30 Environmental Exploration: Bubbles

This program is geared to elementary students, but learners of all ages are invited to learn about Bubbles. Reservations are not needed. Meet at the Collins Learning Center, 2041 Michigan, Sturgeon Bay.

If you're carrying precious cargo in your vehicle, the Door County Public Health Department wants to help you keep them safe. The department offers car seat checkups on the fourth Monday afternoon and fourth Friday morning of every month with a certified child passenger safety technician checking things out. The National Digital Car Seat Check Form shows that 74 percent of car seats inspected last year were improperly installed or used. Teri Van Lieshout from Door County Public Health says there are a lot of items she looks for when she looks at a car seat.

The inspection also includes training on how to properly install your car seat and harness your children, especially if you consistently swap your equipment between vehicles. Van Lieshout says their inspection program was previously done by the Sturgeon Bay Fire Department, and there are efforts to get more people from the two agencies certified. According to AAA, more than four million children 11 and under were involved in car crashes between 2018 and 2022, causing more than 547,000 injuries.

Supporting organizations in Door County next weekend could be as simple as starting your car. The Door County Jeep Run is scheduled to take place on November 2nd from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Jeep owners and other motorists are invited to take a drive through West Jacksonport, Valmy, Baileys Harbor, and Ellison Bay while building a poker hand at area restaurants that could net them a $500 prize from the Bank of Luxemburg. Following the drive, participants are invited to The Thirsty Cow to partake in music, prizes, raffles, and live music. John Jorns from the Bank of Luxemburg says the event will be a great fundraiser for the United Way of Door County.

You can click this link to purchase your tickets. Earlier this week, United Way of Door County Executive Director Amy Kohnle said the organization is at 36 percent of its $1 million annual campaign goal.

Candidates up and down your ballot are making sure they visit northeast Wisconsin just over two weeks from Election Day, and it is not to see the fall colors. Former President Donald Trump announced this week that he will visit Green Bay on October 30th for a rally at the Resch Center. The event comes two weeks after Vice President Kamala Harris made her own visit to Titletown at the neighboring Resch Expo. This is life living in a swing state, which national media like the Washington Post, New York Times, and 60 Minutes have spent time covering. Working on campaigns up and down the ballot is nothing new for Kirt Johnson, who now serves as the chairperson for the Republican Party of Kewaunee County. He says signs for Republican candidates are flying out of their Luxemburg headquarters, and membership is up 50 percent. He says visits like Trump's and Harris' only fan the flames of enthusiasm for both parties.

U.S. Senate candidates Tammy Baldwin and Eric Hovde and Eighth Congressional District candidates Kristin Lyerly and Tony Wied are also crisscrossing the area for campaign appearances. Early in-person voting opened on Tuesday in Wisconsin.

Things will be spooky for your families in Door and Kewaunee counties this weekend. Area municipalities begin celebrating Halloween on Saturday, and some communities even host their trick-or-treating hours.

Sturgeon Bay kicks off the season with Friday’s Halloween at the Y event at the Door County YMCA and Saturday’s Thrills and Chills presented by Destination Sturgeon Bay. The event begins with the annual costume parade at 10 a.m. that stretches down 3rd Ave. toward Martin Park, where they will be greeted by inflatables, kids activities, and music until 1 p.m. Families will also be able to trick or treat at area businesses, check out the haunted house at the Boys and Girls Club of Door County, and take part in the Spook-tacular Sturgeon Bay Scavenger Hunt. The U.S. Coast Guard is also bringing back its Ghost Ship on October 30th. Taking place on the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Mobile Bay, younger children are encouraged to check out the ship between 5 to 6 p.m. before Coast Guardsman lean into the frights for the older guests between 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. The Ghost Ship will also collect non-perishable food items to distribute to area food pantries.

Fish Creek will have its own share of ghoulish activities when its Door County YMCA branch holds its Halloween at the Y event on Saturday. Jack O’Lantern Days takes place at multiple locations around Fish Creek on Saturday with activities including Family Art Day at the Peninsula School of Art, a Halloween Costume March ahead of trick-or-treating through the village at 1 p.m., and the haunted trail from 6 to 8 p.m. at Fish Creek Park. Saturday is also when the Gibraltar Fire Department will host its Open House  South of Fish Creek, the Egg Harbor Business Association will host their safe trick-or-treating event on Saturday from 2 to 4 p.m. at approximately two dozen businesses.

Baileys Harbor will host a fair share of Halloween activities on the lakeside of the peninsula, with The Ridges Sanctuary hosting its Halloween Hike on Saturday at 5 p.m. The Baileys Harbor Community Association will host its Spooktacular Halloween Party on October 31st, beginning at 6 p.m., after trick-or-treating in the town is finished. The Sister Bay Lions Club hosts a similar event at the Sister Bay/Liberty Grove Fire Station beginning at 5:30 p.m.

Speaking of trick or treating all but two communities will wait until October 31st for kids to go door-to-door for candy. The exceptions are in Kewaunee County, where Casco (12 p.m.-2 p.m.) and Luxemburg (2 p.m.-4 p.m.) will have trick-or-treating on Sunday afternoon. You can find the trick-or-treat schedule for all the communities below:

KEWAUNEE COUNTY
Casco: 10/27 12 p.m.-2 p.m.
Luxemburg: 10/27 2 p.m.-4 p.m.
Algoma: 10/31 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Kewaunee: 10/31 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.

DOOR COUNTY
Baileys Harbor: 4 to 6 p.m. Oct. 31
Forestville: 5 to 8 p.m. Oct. 31
Jacksonport: 3 to 7 p.m. Oct. 31
Sister Bay: 3:30 to 7:30 p.m. Oct. 31
Sturgeon Bay: 4 to 7 p.m. Oct. 31

Sister Bay/Liberty Grove Fire Chief Chris Hecht is advising homeowners to hold off on some of the final touches of their yardwork after his department tended to another brush fire on Thursday. The fire department responded to the 50-foot-by-50-foot plot of land on Highview Road in Ellison Bay, where windy conditions caused a fire started by the homeowner to burn brush to grow out of control. Firefighters on the scene were able to put out the fire quickly before it spread further. Hecht says the homeowner was unaware of the countywide burn ban placed by Door County Emergency Services earlier this month. He understands that many property owners are trying to close up their cottages and second homes for the winter. Still, Hecht advises that they find other ways of disposing of their leaves and brush due to the extremely dry conditions.

Under the countywide burn ban, only small fires for warming and cooking are allowed. Although The Weather Channel shows four days of rain on the horizon over the next two weeks, it is unknown if it will be enough to break the current drought conditions.

You don't have to travel to the North Pole to get an early jump on your Christmas celebrations. Next month, Destination Sturgeon Bay will expand its Christmas season offerings from one weekend to two. On November 16th, the Christmas by the Bay Parade begins at 10 a.m. ahead of the Winer Market at Third Avenue Playhouse, a visit from Santa's reindeer at the Door County Community Foundation, and the kickoff of the Door County Maritime Museum's Festival of Trees. On November 22nd, the Unwrapping Community Car Cruise will begin at the Door County Fairgrounds at 5:30 p.m. and go through the city as area businesses unveil their holiday window displays. The weekend continues on Saturday with its new Holiday Hop, Sip, and Shop and a visit from Santa at the Door County Historical Museum. Destination Sturgeon Bay's Alexa Soto says no matter the holiday, she is thrilled that the city is welcoming the community to spend it with them.

Door County's Christmas Playlist 96.7 WBDK is a major sponsor of Destination Sturgeon Bay's Christmas activities. You can find the full schedule for Destination Sturgeon Bay's two Christmas holiday weekends by clicking on this link.

Long-time family physician Dr. George Harlan Roenning is being remembered for his legacy of kindness, humility, and dedication.  Roenning, 79, passed away last weekend at his Sevastopol home.  Having dedicated his professional career for over 30 years at Door County Memorial Hospital and North Shore Clinic (now Door County Medical Center), Roenning retired in 2012.  DCMC CEO Brian Stephens says Roenning remained active at the hospital after retirement, helping in the quality department and addressing patient concerns.  Stephens adds that Roenning had a huge impact on the organization and community.

According to his obituary, Roenning served in the United States Army during the Vietnam War era and was deployed to Alaska as a medical administrator.  He went to medical school at Rutgers in New Jersey before his residency at UW-Madison and relocation to Door County in 1979.

Visitation for Dr. George Roenning will be held at Huehns Funeral Home this Saturday beginning at 9 a.m., followed by military honors by the U.S. Army and AMVETS Post 51 at noon.   You can read his complete obituary by clicking this link. 

For 100 members of the Boys and Girls Club of Door County, homework just got a little bit easier to complete.

 

 

 

 

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On Thursday, AT&T Wisconsin and Human-I-T provided refurbished laptops for members, many of whom have little to no access to technology at home to do their school work. In Wisconsin, it is estimated that 10 percent of households don't have access to the internet or connected devices. During Thursday's presentation, Boys and Girls Club of the Bay and Lakes Region CEO Johanna Wicklund said that AT&T's Connected Learning initiative will help bridge the digital divide among the youth in Door County.

Club member Hazel said prior to the announcement tech time at the club was one of her favorite things to do because it allowed her to get her homework done rather than wait for her parents and brother to get done using their computer at home. She said afterward that it meant a lot to her to receive a laptop of her own. 

The company is committing $5 billion to help 25 million people get and stay connected to high-speed internet by 2030. AT&T has partnered with the Towns of Egg Harbor, Sevastopol, and Sturgeon Bay to bring reliable broadband internet to those communities.

If you need more than Santa Claus to help make your family's Christmas more merry, organizations in Door and Kewaunee counties are making their lists now. The Door County Toys for Kids Drive officially opened its registration earlier this week after serving more than 560 families last year thanks to approximately 90 businesses collecting gifts and monetary donations. Door County families can register their families before the distribution dates of December 14th in Sturgeon Bay and December 15th in Sister Bay. Kewaunee County opened its Toys for Tots registration on November 1st, and Kewaunee County residents were encouraged to call the Kewaunee County Public Health Department to apply. Over 30 Kewaunee County businesses will collect toys before its distribution date on December 21st. Kewaunee County Sheriff Matt Joski asks families not to feel bad about asking for extra help if money is tight at home.

Since 1991, when the U.S. Marine Toys for Tots program was created at the behest of the Marine Corps, it has distributed more than 677 million toys to 301 million children. Below are additional links and information for the Door County Toys for Kids and the Kewaunee County Toys for Tots programs.

DOOR COUNTY

Application (English)
Application (Spanish)

KEWAUNEE COUNTY

Application Information

Drop-off Sites

You will see how some of your favorite art pieces produced in Sturgeon Bay are made during a special two-day event this weekend. More than 30 artists specializing in media like ceramics, painting, and glass will open their doors for the Sturgeon Bay Fall Art Crawl on October 26th and 27th. The event has been a tradition since 2007 when artists like Jeremy Popelka were among the few to participate. A glass blower by trade, Popelka has enjoyed how much the Sturgeon Bay art community is supported in the community and how it has grown over the years.

The Sturgeon Bay Fall Art Crawl runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, with the extra incentive of potentially winning an art piece produced by artist Michael Doerr to visit all the different locations. You can click this link for an interactive map.

Despite the warmer temperatures, you still see plenty of hunters leaving the woods with deer in tow. According to the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, deer hunters in Wisconsin have harvested more than 28,400 deer this season, which is good for about a two percent increase over last year. That is being buoyed by a 24 percent increase in the northern forest region of the state, which includes Oconto and Marinette counties. The central farmland region, which provides for Door and Kewaunee counties, is up four percent over last year. Specifically, Door County has harvested 409 deer (178 antlered), and Kewaunee County has claimed 290 deer (136 antlered). Despite the reported increase, some hunters still say it has been slower than usual. Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Conservation Warden Chris Kratcha points to the youth deer hunt numbers at the beginning of October as one possible indicator. After being at over 100 deer harvested last year, Door and Kewaunee counties each claimed just 89 deer apiece during the two-day season. He suggests the warm weather is not just limiting deer movement and is also taking some of the ambition away from hunters who may need to track deer before their venison spoils in the heat.

The weather will help hunters out over the next two weeks as the low temperature will be below 50 degrees for 12 of the next 14 days. There are still plenty of opportunities to hunt in the coming months, with the gun deer season coming on November 23rd and the muzzleloader season starting on December 2nd. Door and Kewaunee counties are two of the several in the state that will also have a holiday hunt season stretching from December 24th to January 1st and an extended archery season through the end of January.

By participating in a statewide effort this weekend, you can safely dispose of unused and expired medications that help protect the people around you and your environment.  Drug Take Back Day is Saturday, and there are more than 100 collection events around the state, including at the Door County Sheriff's Office and the Sister Bay Fire Station. 

The Wisconsin Department of Justice works with local law enforcement to properly dispose of expired and unused drugs.  The Door County Sheriff's Office will collect unused prescriptions, over-the-counter medications, ointments, patches, non-aerosol sprays, inhalers, creams, vials, and pet medications for disposal. You can drop off old medications from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. Saturday. 

Door County Chief Deputy Pat McCarty explains why this method of drug disposal is better than throwing or flushing drugs in the trash.  

Both Door and Kewaunee County have drop boxes available for proper disposal year-round.   The 24/7 drop-off in Kewaunee County is at the Sheriff's Department Safety Building/Jail in Kewaunee.

(Photo courtesy of the Door County Sheriff's Department) 

You will see a new face around the Southern Door School District office this fall. The school announced Tuesday that Heather Kraeuter has been hired as the new business manager. Kraeuter will be relocating from Kenosha, where she gained 16 years of experience in financial consulting, auditing, and financial operations in both the public and private sectors. She says she is excited to join the Southern Door team and has family in the Door County area. 

Superintendent Dr. Kevin Krutzik said, "We are thrilled to welcome Heather to our leadership team.  Her vast experience in educational finance and her commitment to innovation will help ensure that our district remains financially sound while continuing to meet the needs of our students and community."   

Kraueter graduated from UW-Milwaukee with a Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting and has a CPA license.  She is currently traveling in Italy for a family wedding and will start her new position as the Southern Door School District business manager on November 5th. 

Your child can expect a different experience at this year's Door County YMCA Halloween Dance Party. For the first time, the event will be held at the outdoor classroom at the Sturgeon Bay Program Center. Youth and Sports Director Paul Briney says the fun-filled evening will showcase the expanded area with various festive activities for kids.

Registration is $8 per child, and you can sign up for your child online at the Door County YMCA website.  Briney adds that volunteers are needed for the event and can contact him at the YMCA to help.  The Halloween Dance Party will be held from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. this Friday at the Outdoor Pavilion near Peterson Park.   

The partnership between Door County Medical Center (DCMC) and Common Ground Healthcare Cooperative (CGHC) will continue after reaching an agreement.

DCMC announced on Tuesday that the agreement between the two parties comes as a result of extensive community feedback and collaboration between both organizations.

Brian Stephens, DCMC CEO, emphasized the agreement's importance, stating, "The health exchange is an important platform for our community, enabling those who are seasonally employed, self-employed, and early retirees to obtain the health insurance coverage they need. This agreement between Door County Medical Center and Common Ground Healthcare Cooperative will ensure that our local residents have all the options available to them on the exchange and can continue to receive their care locally."

Stephens said there was enough give-and-take with Common Ground to get the new agreement through 2025 while working on a more long-term agreement. 

Common Ground Healthcare Cooperative CEO Cathy Mahaffey said that "CGHC and DCMC both recognize our importance to the Door County community, and we agreed that prioritizing the needs of our members and patients is essential.  With this shared understanding, we were able to reach a mutually agreeable compromise so service to our members and patients will continue uninterrupted."

Door County Medical Center announced this past July that they were terminating its contract with CGHC because the two sides could not agree on reimbursement for medical services.

The agreement comes just in time for the open enrollment period for the federal marketplace which opens on November 1st.

Whether you are checking out a book, paying your bills, or casting your ballot, you will soon be heading to a different place to do all of that in the City of Algoma. Over the weekend, Mayor Steve Lautenbach announced that the city entered a contract with Associated Bank to purchase its building at 208 Steele Street for $200,000. The Algoma City Council unanimously approved the purchase at its meeting on October 15th. The funds for the purchase and renovations of 208 Steele Street will be paid for with a fund balance from the capital projects fund, and they are not part of the 2024 capital borrowing. City Administrator Matt Murphy said its current city hall and police department building, located at 416 Fremont Street, requires several upgrades and repairs to keep it viable, including $1 million for a new heating and cooling system. That system is also connected to the current library facility. Murphy says that caused the city to start looking for alternatives that had been previously explored.

He adds that the city will work with Bayland Buildings to redesign the layout of the new building with a vision he expects will take a few months to complete.

A farmer in the Town of Sevastopol received some unplanned assistance clearing his fields Monday morning when some of his freshly harvested fields caught fire.

The Sturgeon Bay Fire Department responded to the fire near Whitefish Bay Road and Ploor Road before 11:15 a.m., which stretched several hundred feet across the field. Firefighters went toe-to-toe with the fire in brush trucks while also doing some additional plowing to prevent it from jumping the road into another field. Sturgeon Bay Fire Chief Kalin Montevideo says the farmer was working hard in his combine when he noticed a fire trail behind him.

Approximately 10 to 15 acres of the field burned due to the fire, requiring firefighters to use 12,000 gallons of water to put it out and saturate the field. Door County remains unseasonably dry thanks to warm temps and windy conditions drying things out. Door County is among the over 50 counties with high fire danger. Across the bay and in the central part of the state, more than a dozen counties at the very level, while six others in southeastern Wisconsin have moderate fire danger. 

When you toast your friends and family at select bars in Door County on Thursday, you can help end polio worldwide. The noon and breakfast Rotary Clubs of Sturgeon Bay are joining forces to host Pints for Polio to commemorate World Polio Day. According to the World Health Organization, wild poliovirus cases have decreased by over 99 percent since 1988, dropping from an estimated 350,000 across more than 125 countries to just six in 2021. A big reason for that is a reliable vaccine that has been available in some form since 1953 after an outbreak in 1952 killed more than 3,000. Bob Shogren from the Noon Rotary Club of Sturgeon Bay says bars and restaurants are jumping on board to help provide polio vaccines to kids worldwide.

Other Rotary Clubs across the country are hosting similar events commemorating World Polio Day, with matching funds being provided by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. A list of participating bars and restaurants can be found below.

Brick Lot

Cherry Hills

Cherry Lanes

Door County Fire Company

Kona Bay

The Red Room

Sturgeon Bay Yacht Club

Valmy Happy Hour 

Waterfront Marys

If you want to beat the crowds or cannot make it to your polling place on Election Day, your wait is over.

In-person absentee voting began Tuesday morning at municipalities across the state with a referendum and national, state, and county races on the ballot. The hours you can cast your ballot will vary by municipality. When you head to your municipal office, you are reminded to make sure you have your proper photo identification and, if you need to register to vote, other additional paperwork to prove your residency.

You have until November 3rd to cast your ballot in person absentee, or you will have to wait until election day, November 5th, to vote. 

The other deadlines you have to consider according to MyVote.wi.gov:

• October 31, 2024 @ 5:00 p.m.- Deadline to Request an Absentee Ballot- Regular and Permanent Overseas Voters-  If you are a regular or a Permanent Overseas Voters, your absentee ballot request must be received by your municipal clerk no later than 5:00 p.m. on October 31, 2024. 
• November 1, 2024 @ 5:00 p.m.- Deadline to Register in Your Municipal Clerk’s Office- Voters may register in-person in their municipal clerk’s office during the clerk’s business hours until 5:00 p.m. on November 1, 2024. You will still be able to register to vote on the day of the election.
• November 5, 2024 @ 5:00 p.m.- Deadline for Hospitalized Voters- Voters who are in a hospital may request a ballot be brought to them by an appointed agent if they are hospitalized in the 7 days preceding the election.  Hospitalized electors may request an absentee ballot between October 29, 2024 and November 5, 2024 at 5:00 p.m.
• November 5, 2024 @ 5:00 p.m.- Deadline to Request an Absentee Ballot- Military If a voter is in the military and away from home, then your absentee ballot request must be received by your municipal clerk no later than 5:00 p.m. on November 5, 2024.
• November 5, 2024 @ 8:00 p.m.- Deadline to Return Absentee Ballot-  If you have already received an absentee ballot, you must return your absentee ballot by mail or delivery to your municipal clerk.  Your ballot must be received by your municipal clerk no later than 8:00 p.m. on Election Day, November 5, 2024.

A long stretch of dry weather this fall has allowed area farmers to take advantage of the fields with a faster harvest.   Jim Wautier of Church-Site Farms in Brussels says the dry fields make it nice for all combine drivers and truckers who don't have to worry about mud, allowing farmers to get the crops off fast this fall.  He says the highly wet spring caused corn and soybean crops to be slightly less than average this year.  

Wautier notes that the arid conditions make it easier for the corn to dry down in the fields for harvesting.  According to Wisconsin Ag News, farmers in Wisconsin had 44 percent of the corn grain crop harvested and 93 percent of the soybeans.  That reflects 13 days and one week ahead of last year, respectively.  Wautier says prices are holding steady for corn and soybeans, but seeing the impact next year will be interesting.  

The occupants of a rental property in Sister Bay learned a valuable lesson about space heaters after its operation led to a fire Saturday night. The Sister Bay/Liberty Grove Fire Department responded to the home on Beach Road at 10:10 p.m. regarding the possibility of a structural fire. Firefighters discovered light to moderate smoke throughout the two-story cottage when they went inside the home before discovering a laundry basket full of clothes sitting on top of its propane space heater. It is believed that after the renters left for the evening, the inside of the house was cool enough that the space heater kicked on, eventually causing the fire. Hecht says it is a teaching moment for people about space heaters, whether they use them consistently or not.

Hecht says the damage was confined to the clothes and the space heater, along with some minor smoke damage and odors. 

A fire on Washington Island late Sunday night has required the entire county to respond, with some departments still on the island tending to hot spots as of mid-Monday morning. After 9 p.m. on Sunday, the Washington Island Fire Department was paged to the intersection of Range Line Road and Jackson Harbor Road, where an area between 10 and 20 acres was burning. Before 9:30 a.m., the department activated the Mutual Aid Box Alarm System to the second alarm level, which calls in resources from the entire county. Spread across two separate trips from the mainland to the island, 60 firefighters helped load ten brush trucks, two tenders, two command vehicles, three man-powered squads, and eight UTVs onto the Washington Island Ferry to assist in the efforts. With all the activity occurring in the dead of night, Justin MacDonald, the Fire Chief for Egg Harbor and Ephraim Fire Department and the incident's public information officer, said responding could be dangerous.

As of 9:30 a.m., MacDonald said the fire was under control, but members of some of the fire departments from northern Door County stayed on the island to tend to hot spots over the next several hours. Members from fire departments in the southern half of the county were able to head back to the mainland at 3 a.m. MacDonald added that the blaze showed how dry Door County is and why a burn ban is still in effect.

The fire remains under investigation.

While many firefighters were still fighting a blaze on Washington Island, others had to go to a Baileys Harbor campground to fight another one. Firefighters were dispatched to Baileys Grove Campground just before 3:30 a.m., where a camper had caught fire. What made the response more interesting than usual is that most units that would have responded were fighting a large fire on the island. Baileys Harbor Fire Department was limited to just one truck to respond to the fire, so the department relied on units from Egg Harbor and Nasewaupee for assistance. Fire Chief Brian Zak said Sunday night and early Monday morning showed how important the county's Mutual Aid Box Alarm System is in responding to incidents.

The fire was mostly out when responding firefighters arrived on the scene, thanks to the camper's owner spraying it down with a garden hose. The fire is still under investigation, but Zak suggested it could be related to the water heater. The camper suffered significant damage to its front end due to the fire.

A 77-year-old Milwaukee woman was cited for following another vehicle too closely after causing a two-vehicle crash that left her with suspected minor injuries. The crash occurred just before 2:30 p.m. on Sunday on State Highway 42 near  Holiday Drive in the Town of Egg Harbor. According to the accident report, a vehicle being driven by a 68-year-old Solon, Ohio man and his 67-year-old wife were slowing down to turn left onto Holiday Drive when they were rear-ended from behind by the Milwaukee woman. Both of the women involved in the crash suffered minor injuries that did not require a visit to the hospital. Still, the Solon, Ohio woman chose not to be evaluated by emergency medical services. 

Your travels on Highway 57 around Sevastopol will need to continue on a detoured route as the Wisconsin Department of Transportation continues to work on improvements to drainage structures.  Crews are replacing a concrete box culvert and installing a new box girder bridge at Geisel Creek.

This week, construction crews at Geisel Creek will pour the bridge deck, finish the removal of the temporary diversion channel, and begin grading activities of the roadway and roadway embankment. Crews at Lily Bay Creek will begin structure backfill and removal of the temporary diversion channel.

The work is expected to be finished by the end of November. Areas around the closures will allow local traffic, but crossovers where the work is being done will not be allowed.

The project is part of a $3.3 million improvement plan contracted for Door County and will include work next spring and fall in Jacksonport at Logan Creek and Hibbard Creek.   

The Griffon String Quartet hopes playing the right tune can help bring back memories for you or loved ones with a little help. Collaborating with viola player and Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine staff member Clara Takarabe, the Griffon String Quartet will play two shows on November 13th and 14th as a part of the B Double Sharp Program, based on the Musical Museum concert series designed for individuals suffering from neurocognitive disorders and their families. Research has proven that music can help make lives better, and the program will include familiar tunes from the 40s and 50s aimed at making you feel good and helping you remember. Executive Director Allyson Fleck says they have tried to do similar things with their programming in the past.

The B Double Sharp Program will occur at 2 p.m. on November 13th at Third Avenue Playworks in Sturgeon Bay and November 14th at 2 p.m. at Peninsula School of Art in Fish Creek. The performances are free to attend. On Friday, the Griffon String Quartet was awarded three generous grants totaling $14,116 from the Classics for Kids Foundation, Wisconsin Public Service, and the Wille Legacy Fund, which will provide funding to support the ensemble's mission to captivate northeast Wisconsin residents and visitors of all ages through music.

Halloween is coming, and we at Crossroads at Big Creek are noticing skeletons everywhere! But we aren't talking about holiday decorations. This time of year, we start noticing leaf skeletons, tree skeletons, bat skeletons, and, thanks to our resident coyotes, random skulls and bones scattered throughout our preserve.

As we pass the peak of color in the trees, our Wandering Wednesday hiking group will probably be looking at fallen leaves—some intact, but some looking like fancy, intricate lace. The caterpillars of several moth species are classified as "skeletonizers" because, at different stages of development, they feed on the juicy green tissue of the leaves. They do not eat the veins. Consequently, we find perfect skeletons of the leaves still clinging to trees or blanketing the forest floor.

Then, on Wednesday afternoon, participants of the Environmental Exploration activity, which is geared toward elementary students but open to learners of all ages, will observe "Leaves in the Creek," or at least the skeletal remains of them.

 In autumn, every leaf that drifts into the water infuses nutrients into the complex stream ecosystem. As soon as a leaf hits the water, food is leached from the tissues and quickly colonized by fungi and bacteria, which, in turn, provide carbohydrates and proteins for aquatic insects.

But then, the "shredders"… the leaf-eating aquatic insects such as caddisfly and crane fly larvae and herbaceous stoneflies eat the remaining tissue. The energy from last summer’s sunshine eventually passes through the food web to fish and other aquatic creatures, simply because in fall, leaves fall.   

Saturday Science (our weekend family program) will look at Tree Skeletons and will do a bit of forest forensics by examining the leafless branches of deciduous trees.

On the day before Halloween, the Environmental Exploration lesson will be on Bats! Even though we don’t have live bats to observe, we have the opportunity to examine the skeletons of these mammals. The inside bend of a bat wing is the elbow. The hook at the top of the wing is the thumb.

The other “fingers” function as bracing for the wing. The finger bones are sandwiched between two layers of skin. The skin is also attached to the hind legs at the ankles, and a very short tail is enclosed.

With this skeleton (essentially the same as that of a human--just longer fingers and shorter legs), bats can fly. And their flying ability is remarkable. 

While bats snap up insects with their mouths, they can also use their hands/wings or the membranes around their tails, which work rather like baseball gloves. 

The world has many kinds of bats. Understand that bats in Wisconsin do not suck blood. They do not pollinate flowers. They do not get caught in people’s hair.

Instead, according to the DNR website, “Bats in Wisconsin are insectivorous and are major predators of night-flying insects, including agricultural and forestry pests. “A single bat can consume up to 1,000 mosquito-sized insects in an hour, and a pregnant female can consume her weight in insects every night. It has been estimated that bats save farmers in North America over $22 billion yearly in [chemical free] pest control services.” 

So those are the bones of the Crossroads activities this week, but the Door Peninsula Astronomical Society will be sponsoring the “School's Out” program at 2:30 on Friday, October 25.  Open to all ages but geared to middle and high school students, the "Are We Alone in the Universe?" exercise is a good introduction to the DPAS Citizen Science Exoplanet research. Know (and share with promising young people) that the Astronomy Society hopes to mentor Door County pre-college students in this exciting research opportunity next summer.

Finally, our Monday afternoon adult program this week is a screening of the Wisconsin Public Television documentary Wisconsin Water from the Air.

 Wednesday, October 25

1:30 Wandering Wednesday

Join a naturalist-led hike through falling leaves and still green forests. It's easy walking and will take about an hour. Meet at the Collins Learning Center, Crossroads at Big Creek, Sturgeon Bay. Registration is not needed. The hike is open to the public and free thanks to our donors.

3:30 Environmental Exploration: Leaves in the Creek

This program, intended for elementary school students but open to all ages, will explore leaves in the creek, which provide an infusion of nutrients into the complex stream ecosystem. Dress for the weather. Meet at the Collins Learning Center. Registration is not needed. It is open to the public and free, thanks to the generosity of donors like you!

Friday, October 25 

2:30 School's Out Excursion: DPAS Sponsors: "Are We Alone?"

To interest middle and high school students in Exoplanets, the Door Peninsula Astronomical Society is sponsoring this activity in hopes of recruiting young people to experience authentic astronomical research during their pre-college years. This program is free and open to all.  Free and open to the public.  Meet in the Lecture Hall of the Collins Learning Center, Crossroads, 2041 Michigan Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin 

Saturday, October 26 

2:00 Science Saturday: Tree Skeletons

The family Saturday Science (our weekend family program) will look at Tree Skeletons, and the indoor/outdoor program will include a bit of forest forensics as we examine the leafless silhouettes of deciduous trees. Meet in the Collins Learning Center, Crossroads 2041 Michigan, Sturgeon Bay.

Monday, October 28

1:30 Film Documentary  "Wisconsin Water from the Air"

Wisconsin Water From the Air" takes viewers above, atop, and along state waterways that inspire reflection, wonder, and adventure. From the routes that the Wisconsin, Mississippi, and St. Croix Rivers carve through the state’s landscape to the wide-stretching shores of Lake Michigan, celebrate the waterways that shape Wisconsin. Meet at the Collins Learning Center, Crossroads, 2041 Michigan, Sturgeon Bay.

Wednesday, October 30

1:30 Wandering Wednesday

Feel the crunch of fallen leaves and inhale the special scent of late autumn as you participate in this one-hour hike through the Big Creek Preserve. Free and open to the public. Meet at the Collins Learning Center, Crossroads, 2041 Michigan, Sturgeon Bay

3:30  Environmental Exploration: Meet the Bat

One of the quintessential Halloween icons, bats are an essential part of our Door County ecosystem. Geared to elementary students, this program on our favorite flying mammals is free and open to learners of all ages. Meet at the Collins Learning Center, 2041 Michigan, Sturgeon Bay.

You will be able to hear from both candidates vying for the First District Assembly seat on Wednesday, approximately two weeks out from Election Day. State Rep. Joel Kitchens and his Democratic challenger Renee Paplham were originally scheduled to participate in a League of Women Voters Door County forum on October 6th before unforeseen circumstances postponed the first meeting. The forum will now occur on October 23rd from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Southern Door High School Library. Before the first forum, Dan Powers from the League of Women Voters shared the importance of the forums, especially for smaller races like this one.

You are invited to email potential questions to vsforums@lwvdoorcounty.org before October 21st. The forum takes place one day after in-person absentee voting begins in Wisconsin.

For the military community, November is unofficially recognized as Ruck March month. The phrase Ruck March is unique to the Army, as in Marines we either called it a Forced March or simply a “Hump”. By any name the experience is very similar; it is an extended walk while loaded with tactical gear. There are times these marches are regulated by an allotted time to complete or the minimal load you must carry. These are done for various reasons, including physical conditioning as well as building team cohesion and individual confidence. Historically, such training was crucial as it was the essential way to move troops from one area of operations to another. Even today, the ability for a unit to move great distances and sustain itself without mechanized support is a vital capability.

     For those whose service is now a part of their past, the opportunity to experience such an activity has grown as they are now a means by which to maintain connection to those you have served with, as well as a fundraising and awareness event. From the Norwegian Foot March Challenges to the Veteran Suicide Awareness Ruck Marches held throughout country, men and women come together in a common goal to confront an all-too-common tragedy of Veteran suicide. The basic premise to these marches is that we carry a weight which symbolizes the weight of pain and depression that too many of our brothers and sisters carry every day, and to show we are willing to support them and their journey of healing. It is truly an awe-inspiring experience to see people fight through blisters, muscle pain and even losing toe nails, as they endure to the finish.

     The image of a ruck march is also a lesson for each of us in our daily lives, as we all walk through our journey of life with a symbolic pack on our backs. In our early years, this pack is light as we are full of hope, dreams, and optimism. As we grow older, we add weight to our own packs. These weights come in the form of anger, regret, jealousy, or grudges. Each time we allow ourselves to succumb to such emotions, the weight increases and our journey becomes that much more of a struggle. Only we have the ability to free ourselves from such weighted souls. We can do this by forgiving others who have wronged us. Not because they deserve it, but because we deserve it. We lessen the load by forgiving ourselves for the mistakes of our past, by mending relationships that may have been damaged, and by never giving into the cynicism that we encounter.

The most critical part of our symbolic Ruck March through life, is that just as in actual military Ruck Marches, purpose is everything. On our long journey, we will be confronted by many challenges, both internal and external, and the only way you will be able to endure those challenges is to be able to call upon your purpose. There is a quote from Lance Armstrong that says it best: “Pain is temporary. It may last a minute, or an hour, or a day, or a year, but eventually, it will subside, and something will take its place. If I quit, however, it lasts forever.”

For more information on the Veterans Suicide Awareness Ruck March go to: www.hooahinc.org

After five years of waiting, you could not blame the students of Sturgeon Bay School District’s Sunrise Elementary School for taking a couple of trips down the slide before Friday’s grand opening. Dozens of community members joined the student body for the ceremony commemorating the completion of the school’s new all-inclusive playground. The school’s playground was over a quarter-century old when officials decided to chase the dream of a new playground in 2019.

Raising enough funds to build the playground became a passion for community member Kendra Vandertie, and a summer school lemonade stand class for the district. A school referendum, business donations, and a Destination Door County grant helped accelerate the project.

Principal Katie Smullen pointed out during and after Friday’s ceremony how so many little hands had a role in making the playground a reality.

Vandertie and Smullen hope the community’s generosity doesn’t stop at Sunrise. Last summer, students of the summer school lemonade stand class spent a few days slinging drinks and selling other items to help fund the construction of a similar playground at Sawyer Elementary School.

 

 

 

 

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You may rely on Door County's dozens of non-profit groups in your times of need, but where do those organizations go when they need help? Enter the Door Community Non-Profit Group, a collective of over 30 non-profit groups in Door County dedicated to helping their neighbors and each other. United Way of Door County's Cami Peggar says the group was born over a decade ago to share resources regarding running events for the area's non-profits. She says the group has grown, and its purpose has evolved with the organizations they serve.

Peggar hopes the Door Community Non-Profit Group continues to expand to serve other organizations in the future. It is hosting its Open House & Annual Breakfast on November 13th from 8:30-9:30 AM at the Sturgeon Bay Aging and Disability Resource Center.

Peninsula Pride Farms members want you to see the latest technology used to protect surface and groundwater in Door and Kewaunee counties.

The organization's upcoming Conservation Conversation takes farmers and residents to Kinnard Farms in Casco, where a phosphorus removal system is being used to filter water running through a field's tile system. According to Ohio State University, the system uses materials like iron, aluminum, calcium, and other metal ions to absorb the phosphorus as the water passes through. Excess phosphorus is blamed for causing water quality issues that lead to algae blooms that can harm humans and wildlife. Barry Bubolz from the Natural Resources Conservation Service says the system is one of the only ones of its kind in Door and Kewaunee county, and it could be something other farmers should consider.

You can learn more about the process below or attend the Conservation Conversation on Tuesday at 4 p.m. at Kinnard Farms.

Despite getting more than an inch of rain in some parts of Door and Kewaunee counties on Sunday, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources still wants you to think twice about lighting a match outside for the immediate future. Sixty-three of the state's 72 counties, including Door and Kewaunee counties, are listed at the high fire danger level. The other nine counties, primarily in southeastern Wisconsin, are in moderate fire danger. The DNR issued a burn ban in the 25 counties where it has jurisdiction, which does not include Door and Kewaunee counties. However, some Fire Departments in Door County never lifted their burn ban earlier this month, which means no permits would be issued for burning brush piles or using a burn barrel. Under the burn ban, small fires used for camping, cooking, and warming are still allowed. Despite Sunday's rain, Door County has received about a third of the precipitation it gets in an average year. Relief could be on the way next week as rain is in the forecast on Wednesday.

The Manitowoc County District Attorney has filed charges in connection with the death of three-year-old Elijah Vue.

Katrina Baur, Elijah’s mother, and her boyfriend Jesse Vang face multiple charges.  Elijah’s body was found last month after being reported missing on February 20 in Two Rivers.

Vang is charged with physical abuse of a child, repeated acts causing death, concealing a corpse, and obstructing an officer.  Baur faces charges of chronic neglect of a child, neglecting a child, and resisting or obstructing an officer. 

Both Vang and Baur were jailed on child neglect charges shortly after Vue’s disappearance.

A hunter on private property discovered Vue’s body near Camp Manitou in Manitowoc County last month.

A bail hearing for Vang and Baur is scheduled for Friday.   

If you’ve been keeping track at home, Door and Kewaunee counties are home to four 2024-2025 National Merit Scholarship Semi-Finalists. Southern Door School District became the latest to share the good news earlier this week, announcing that senior Ben Grota had made the list. Grota is one of more than 16,000 students who earned distinction from the initial pool of 1.3 million test takers. In addition to being a good student, Grota has excelled outside of the classroom as an all-conference cross country and track runner, the Southern Door High School newspaper editor, and the district’s representative at Badger Boys State. As a semifinalist, he will now have to submit an in-depth scholarship application to become eligible for $26 million in scholarships next spring. He joins Sturgeon Bay’s Luke Selle Luxemburg-Casco’s Cady Bevins and Hudson Thiry as National Merit Scholarship Semi-Finalists.

A referendum on your ballot this November affirms that non-U.S. citizens are not allowed to vote in elections, though support for the measure falls along party lines. The referendum language reads as follows:  "Eligibility to vote. Shall section 1 of Article III of the constitution, which deals with suffrage, be amended to provide that only a United States citizen age 18 or older who resides in an election district may vote in an election for national, state, or local office or at a statewide or local referendum?" A yes vote, largely supported by Republicans, would support amending the constitution to clarify that only U.S. citizens who are 18 or older and reside in an election district can vote. A no-vote, primarily defended by Democrats, would keep the Constitution as is, which dictates that every U.S. citizen has the right to vote. In support of the yes vote, Republican Party of Wisconsin Chairperson Brian Schmming told WEAU-TV that in some states, non-citizens are allowed to vote in local elections. "It puts the bottom line in, if you're going to vote in U.S. elections or state elections, you have to be a citizen of this country," he said. Common Cause Wisconsin Executive Director Jay Heck says non-citizen voting is essentially a non-issue in Wisconsin, and he fears it could lead to more changes.

This will be the third time this year that voters statewide have had to weigh in on a referendum question on the ballot, having voted on four separate questions during that span. 

The only streak longer than Door County picking the eventual Presidential winner is Jeff Herbst singing about the Presidential elections of yesteryear. Years before he ever penned the first words of his show "And If Elected," Herbst's thirst for presidential knowledge began when he was a young boy when he substituted his love for Batman reruns for learning trivia about our founding fathers. Presidential facts play a role in the show, which has spanned three iterations of Northern Sky Theater, five U.S. Presidents, and nine elections. Playing only during presidential election years, Herbst keeps the show up-to-date in every cycle, discovering presidential campaign songs and recollecting other moments. Even as the tenor of the country has changed with recent elections, Herbst is proud that "And If Elected" has not just stood the test of time but also the test of political discourse.

"And If Elected" runs through October 26th at the Gould Theater. 

Kewaunee County Economic Development Corporation Executive Director Ben Nelson took advantage of his report during Tuesday's Kewaunee County Board meeting to showcase the entity's efforts to address the area's housing concerns and defend their actions. During the county's finance committee meeting held earlier this month, members questioned why the organization received funding at all, let alone a proposed increase from $40,000 to $60,000. Following a challenge from KCEDC Board Member Dan Porath for county board members to walk in Nelson's shoes, Nelson addressed the concerns during the committee meeting. He spent his opening statement addressing its non-profit status and progress on different projects. His comments on Project Homestead, the KCEDC's housing initiative, included an explanation as to why the organization was requesting an additional $20,000. Nelson says they have made tremendous progress in the short term with the project by acquiring special grants, hiring a consultant, and beginning a market analysis to learn about its next steps.

Kewaunee County Board members defended themselves as well. Vice Chairperson Gerald Paape requested a quarterly report or presentation in exchange for the county investment, something Nelson admits he fell short of during the past year.  Other board members made clear that they still supported funding for the KCEDC, even if it was not at the increased amount. The rest of the meeting included Administrator Jeremy Kral giving an update on the budget process, celebrating the award received by the county's Director of Human Services, Melissa Annoye from the Wisconsin Counties Association, and the unanimous approvals of its five resolutions. 

Watch the full meeting below

Starting next week, you can start finding your path to better fitness and health as the Door County YMCA will start its Fall II registration on October 21.  Healthy Living Coordinator Sarah Gavin says YMCA members will have the first chance to sign up on Monday, with registration opening up next Wednesday for community members.

The Fall II sessions at the Door County YMCA run from October 28 through December 22.   No classes are scheduled over Thanksgiving weekend from November 28 through December 1.  You can find the programs offered at the Sturgeon Bay and Kane Center program centers online at the Door County YMCA website.  

You can expect to see the fall colors and the weather peak this weekend as the peninsula readies for the Sister Bay Fall Festival.  According to travelwisconsin.com, Door and Kewaunee counties are at 75 and 60 percent peak color as of Tuesday.  Door County Destination Chief Communications Officer Jon Jarosh says the long-range weather forecast looks great, and the next couple of weekends will be important for the county businesses.

Even though there are no tourism numbers for the season, Jarosh notes that the exceptionally good weather since the Labor Day weekend has helped people get out and about to enjoy all that Door County has to offer. 

The Sister Bay Fall Festival, known as the granddaddy of Door County festivals, begins Friday and runs through Sunday.  The three-day event includes live music, street food, a Sunday parade, Kids Derby Race, and the Ping Pong Ball Drop.

On Tuesday night, the Sturgeon Bay Common Council took the first step in finalizing the City's 2025 budget and also altered the hours of operation at City Hall.

The 90-minute meeting was led off by Mayor David Ward making a proclamation recognizing October as Manufacturing Month and citing two industry business representatives from Hatco and ExacTech who were in attendance.

After a lengthy review and explanation of the Tax Increment Districts (TID) by City Administrator Josh Van Lieshout, the council approved the 2025 budget. However, before the council can sign off on it, it will still need to go through a public hearing on November 5 at 6:00 p.m.

Mayor Ward says the review of the TIDs was valuable. The city now has ten active ones and many newer ones that will offer funding after the new projects are completed.

The Sturgeon Bay Common Council also approved a recommendation from the Personnel Committee to change the office hours at City Hall. Mayor Ward notes that the change will mean a four-and-one-half-day work week, with office hours opening one hour earlier at 7 a.m. during the week and closing at 11 a.m. on Fridays.

In other business, the council approved a resolution for a special assessment for sanitary sewer and water extension on West Oak Street, a first reading on the amendment to the animal services ordinance, and an amendment to the Memorandum of Understanding for an industrial flex building between the City and Howard Immel Construction.  

You can watch the final shows of the season at Peninsula Players in Door County this week as Agatha Christie's psychological thriller "The Stranger" takes the stage for the finale.    Directed by Maggie Kettering, "The Stranger" kicked off the theater's autumn season on September 4 and will close this Sunday.  Sarah Coakley Price, who plays Enid, is making her debut at Peninsula Players and shares the story behind the show she is headlining.

Andres Enriquez, who plays Enid's new love interest Gerald Strange, says the Agatha Christie thriller will leave you on the edge of your seat.

"The Stranger" performances are nightly at 7 p.m. through Saturday, with a Sunday matinee finale at 2:00 p.m.  Tickets for the show are still available by calling the box office from 1:00 p.m. until 5 p.m. or by clicking the link here.

Your local hardware store is not going anywhere despite True Value declaring bankruptcy on Monday, opting to sell its assets to Do it Best.

According to a press release, True Value will continue its day-to-day operations of selling its hardware and other products to its 4,500 independently operated locations during its Chapter 11 bankruptcy. There are two True Value-branded hardware stores in Door County and one in Kewaunee County, but they are not included in the proceedings because, like most of the locations, they are independently owned. Do it Best is similar to True Value as it is a wholesaler with over 3,300 locations that sells hardware and other products to independent stores. "We believe that entering the process with an agreed offer from Do it Best, which has a similar decades-long history in the home improvement space and also operates with a focus on supporting members and helping them grow, is the most beneficial next step for True Value and our associates, customers, and vendor partners," said True Value Chief Executive Officer Chris Kempa. "We thank these valued stakeholders for their continued loyalty as we work to secure a stronger future for True Value." There are three Do it Best stores in Door County and two in Kewaunee County. The sale is expected to be finalized by the end of the year.  

Your trip through time at the Eagle Bluff Lighthouse inside Peninsula State Park will soon feature a structure you have not seen in nearly 70 years. Last week, Governor Tony Evers and the State Building Commission announced nearly $50 million in community projects, including $500,000 to the Door County Historical Society for the Eagle Bluff Lighthouse Barn reconstruction. After being built in 1893, the barn was rebuilt and relocated several times before being taken down for good in 1955. While the barn will not be used for its original purpose of housing animals for the lighthouse's keeper, Door County Historical Society Executive Director Amy Frank is thrilled to see the support they are receiving for the goals they have for the historic site.

The funding is just the latest win for the Door County Historical Society, which has raised more than $3.2 million to reimagine the site. In August, the organization received $50,000 from Destination Door County's Community Investment Fund to help reconstruct the barn and the summer kitchen.

The Town of Gibraltar wants your thoughts on a new building to be constructed on Chambers Island. With the grace of the town's electors, the Town Board of the Town of Gibraltar hopes to solicit bids for and approve using capital funds to purchase and construct a new fire/municipal storage building on Chambers Island. The estimated $130,000 building would be used to protect equipment already on the island used to tend to its roads and in the case of fires. Town Administrator Travis Thyssen says the building is a good investment for the community.

The special town meeting of electors will occur on October 28th at 5:30 p.m.

If the skies stay clear, you will be able to see the brightest moon of the year in Wisconsin and across the world this week. According to NASA, the next full moon will be slightly brighter than any so far.

NASA says the supermoon, a Hunter’s Moon, will be visible this Thursday at 6:26 p.m.   It will appear full for three days, from Tuesday night through Friday morning.  The best viewing time will be dusk when the moon rises on the eastern horizon. 

According to the Old Farmer’s Almanac, this supermoon is called the Hunter’s Moon because it’s the time of the year when hunters begin collecting food and storing it for the long winter and cold winter months ahead.

This will be the third of four consecutive supermoons this year.   

You can also see a rare comet in the skies this month.  Comet C / 2023 (A3), also known as Comet Tsuchinshan-ATLAS, last passed the earth about 80,000 years ago but was only discovered last year. The comet is now passing Earth at its closest distance in its current orbit and is expected to fade away gradually.   Because of this movement away from Earth, seeing the comet earlier in the month will likely provide the best viewing conditions.  

(photo of the Harvest Moon over Lake Michigan last month)

You will see 13 Door County businesses open their doors to high school students next week as a part of the Manufacturing Month celebration being spearheaded by the Door County Economic Development Corporation. On October 23rd, Door County Candle, Door County Coffee, ExacTech, Fincantieri Bay Shipbuilding, Hatco Corporation, Hi Tec Fabrication, Itasca, Marine Travelift, N.E.W. Industries, Pro Products, Renard's Cheese, Therma-Tron-X and WireTech Fabricators will all open their doors to approximately 300 students from Door County's four mainland high schools and Algoma to showcase the manufacturing careers that are available locally. Northeast Wisconsin Youth Apprenticeship Program Door County School-Based Coach Lauren Baumann credits the day of manufacturing tours for not just building up the apprenticeship program while the students are in high school, but also the workforce for the years ahead.

While Door County is known for tourism, the DCEDC says manufacturing is the largest contributor to the area's gross domestic product, generating nearly $285 million in goods and services in 2023.

The Door County Sheriff’s Department continues to investigate what may have led a 74-year-old Green Bay man to drive off the end of the Washington Island Ferry dock last week. On Monday, the department released that David M. Whitton was the man recovered from the single-vehicle incident in Northport on October 10th. The Door County Sheriff's Department, the fire departments of Sister Bay/Liberty Grove, Egg Harbor, Ephraim, Baileys Harbor, Gibraltar, Washington Island, and Sturgeon Bay, the United States Coast Guard, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR), Door County Emergency Services, and the Door County Dive Team, all responded after Whitton drove his sports-utility vehicle into the water at the end of the dock before 7:30 p.m. An autopsy of Whitton’s body was conducted on Monday, and the results are still pending.

Tuesday's Kewaunee County Board meeting will focus a lot on where your tax dollars will go over the upcoming year.

 Before Tuesday's regularly scheduled board meeting, Kewaunee County officials will host a public hearing on the 2025 budget. During last month's meeting, Kewaunee County administrator Jeremy Kral gave the board a peek at the budget as a part of his report. Thanks to an increase in equalized property values, Kewaunee County is proposing a 1.4 percent levy increase and a tax rate decrease of about 9.1 percent over last year.

One item that will not be included in the budget is an increase of $20,000 in county funding for the Kewaunee County Economic Development Corporation. The item failed to get out of committee during a meeting held on October 4th. During last month's open comment period at the Kewaunee County Board meeting, KCEDC Chairperson and Bluewater Services owner John Mastalir requested that the supervisors approve the organization's funding to go up from $40,000 to $60,000. Mastalir cited the rising costs of doing their work for the $20,000 increase despite the increase in donations from individuals and businesses and expressed fears the KCEDC may cease to exist as they try to address affordable housing and workforce development. During the county's finance committee meeting held earlier this month, members questioned why the organization received funding at all, let alone an increase.

The public hearing will take place at 6 p.m., ahead of the normal county board meeting. During the actual meeting, the board will hear reports from Kral and KCEDC Executive Director Ben Nelson and approve a new collective bargaining agreement with its sheriff's department, a budget adjustment for the public health department, and county conservation aids for use at Bruemmer Park.

Though Sunday's weather may have washed out your plans to attend the second day of Egg Harbor Pumpkin Patch or made you a little colder at the Packers game, plenty of good still came with the rain.

According to the rain gauge website RainDrop.farm, portions of Sturgeon Bay received between 1.19 and 1.51 inches of rain. Egg Harbor was forced to cancel the second day of its trademark fall festival when it received between 1.25 and 1.5 inches of rain. Kewaunee County saw a little less rain, with some portions of Kewaunee reporting less than 0.6 inches, and Luxemburg reported between 0.89 and 1.43 inches.

Sunday's rain will provide a break for area farmers taking advantage of the dry weather and firefighters tending to brush fires. According to the United States Department of Agriculture, the last time the state's farmers had less than 5.8 days suitable for fieldwork was Labor Day weekend. That has helped farmers be five days ahead of average on their corn harvest and two weeks ahead for the soybean harvest.   

By noon on Saturday, the Brussels-Union-Gardner Fire Department had already responded to two brush fires, reminding property owners that a burn ban covering several counties, including Door and Kewaunee counties, was still in effect. 

The script has flipped in the past 24 hours, with most of northeast Wisconsin in a low fire danger zone. Despite the rainfall,  Door and Kewaunee counties are still trailing its average precipitation for this time of year by over an inch.

As long as you are doing something, a new program through Do Good Door County wants to ensure that you keep doing it. Earlier this fall, the organization introduced the Vitality in Aging program to focus on the social, physical, and nutritional health of the area’s older adults. It is a throwback to yesteryear as the program is modeled off the old S&H Green Stamps program that rewarded people for doing everyday activities with the promise of possible prizes down the road. Whether participants ever redeem the stamps or not, Do Good Door County’s Cynthia Germain hopes it is enough to keep older adults out and about.

The Vitality in Aging program is the latest initiative by Do Good Door County to help older adults have a more positive experience while aging in place. You can enroll in the Vitality in Aging program by calling 920-333-1109 or emailing Do Good Door County at vitalityinaging@gmail.com.

Corn mazes, pumpkin patches, and harvest festivals are adding important tourism dollars to the state before the first snowflakes fly.,

Gov. Tony Evers last week visited communities across the state to celebrate Wisconsin's fall agricultural tourism season after declaring September 19th through October 31st as Wisconsin Agricultural Tourism Fall Season. 

Wisconsin's agricultural industry is a major economic driver for the state, providing 435,700 jobs and generating $104.8 billion annually to the statewide economy.  Once the leaves begin to turn, the agricultural tourism industry adds millions of dollars for the state by offering visitors outdoor, family-friendly, and experiential farm-based entertainment such as farm-to-table events, corn mazes, pumpkin patches, harvest festivals, farm stays, and more.
 

 

 

 

 

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The 2024 Wisconsin Science Festival, which celebrates Agriculture, continues this week at Crossroads. Even our Family Trails & Treats Event on Friday evening will feature a Wisconsin agricultural product—pumpkins!

At one of last week's SciFest events, families learned about pumpkins before they carved them into Jack-o-lanterns. Those carved pumpkins and luminaries will light a trail through the Big Creek Preserve. Costumes are encouraged as families to take the trail (a third of a mile) and visit stations at which costumed volunteers will hand out treats. This event is free and open to the public. No reservations are required.

I used to be a middle school science teacher, and I dreaded the Simple Machines unit. I couldn't get excited about "devices  used to modify motion and the magnitude of a force to perform work."  Yawn!

That all changed when I started visiting the Madden Tool Museum. Their hand tools are simple machines, but they are incredibly innovative and surprisingly effective. It is great fun to have the opportunity to see these tools used and, better yet, to actually attempt to use antique agricultural implements. 

So, as an event of the Wisconsin Science Festival, the Crossroads Saturday Science will move across the trail to the Tool Museum where interpreters will demonstrate and allow kids and learners of all ages to learn the value of simple machines.

Several years ago, Frank Kutka presented a Library-sponsored presentation at Crossroads, and we have been trying to schedule his return ever since. When the agriculture theme was selected for this year's SciFest, Wild Ones-Door Peninsula offered to sponsor the lecture "Menominee Agricultural History" on Tuesday, October 22, at 6:30.  

Our speakers will explain how Menominee agriculture has been rediscovered in our region's forests through the observations of forester and knowledge keeper Jeff Grignon (Paemapameh) and years of effort by the Menominee Historic Preservation Department. 

Then, they will explore what archeologists, anthropologists, and agronomists have to tell us about this vital part of the Menominee economy over the centuries. Our speakers will be Jacob Grignon (Cultural Resource Protection Officer, Menominee Historic Preservation) and Frank Kutka (Sustainable Agriculture Faculty, College of Menominee Nation)

Celebrate Agriculture this week as we wrap up another exciting Science Fest Celebration. 

Friday,  October 18  

6:00 pm - 7:30 pm Trails & Treats

Kick-off for "Hallow-days" and trick-or-treat on our luminary and jack-o-lantern-lit trails. Costumes encouraged! Thanks to the generosity of our donors and volunteers, the event is open to the public and free. Meet at the Collins Learning Center, 2041 Michigan, Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin.

Saturday, October 19 

2:00 pm  Science Saturdays – Simple Machines and Agriculture at the Madden Tool Museum

This weekly program, geared for elementary students, will feature pioneer hand tools and simple machines that are incredibly innovative and surprisingly effective. It is great fun to have the opportunity to see these tools used and better, to actually try to use antique agricultural implements. So, as an event of the Wisconsin Science Festival, the Crossroads Saturday Science will move across the trail to the Tool Museum, where interpreters will demonstrate and give kids and learners of all ages to try their hands at hand tools. Free and open to the public. Meet at the Tool Museum, just across the trail from the Collins Learning Center, Crossroads, 2041 Michigan, Sturgeon Bay.

Monday, October 21 

1:30 pm Wild Ones Webinar: “The Bombus Among Us – Bumble Bee Basics”

In this pre-recorded Wild Ones Seminar featuring Heather Holm, you will learn that “Bumble bees (Bombus) are by far our most charismatic and recognizable native bees. In order to help our bumble bees thrive, we must understand their life cycle and nutritional needs. ” The seminar is free and open to the public. Meet at the Collins Learning Center, Crossroads, 2041 Michigan Sturgeon Bay. It is part of the Wisconsin Science Festival.

Tuesday, October 22, 

6:30 Wild Ones Lecture: Menominee Agricultural History

We will learn how Menominee agriculture has been rediscovered in our region's forests through the observations of forester and knowledge keeper Jeff Grignon (Paemapameh) and through years of effort by the Menominee Historic Preservation Department. Then, we will explore what archeologists, anthropologists, and agronomists have to tell us about this important part of the Menominee economy over the centuries. Speakers: Jacob Grignon (Cultural Resource Protection Officer, Menominee Historic Preservation) and Frank Kutka (Sustainable Agriculture Faculty, College of Menominee Nation). They are open to the public. Sponsored by Wild Ones-Door Peninsula, Meet at the Collins Learning Center Crossroads, 2041 Michigan, Sturgeon Bay. Part of the Wisconsin Science Festival.

The Door County Broadband Office, the Door County Economic Development Corporation, and New North Inc. are doing their part to ensure you can have reliable internet in your community. The agencies are collaborating on a regional broadband summit on October 24th to showcase what has been accomplished and what is still to come. Many Door County municipalities, like Washington Island and the towns of Sturgeon Bay, Baileys Harbor, Egg Harbor, and Sevastopol, have already connected with internet service providers to start laying out the groundwork to get the residents the service they need to live and work in the area. The summit comes at a good time for internet service providers to state their case as to why broadband is an important investment. Door County Broadband Coordinator Jessica Hatch says contractors are preparing to make their bids for the next round of Broadband, Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) grants, which go a long way to helping municipalities afford the infrastructure needed to connect communities.

The event will feature panels highlighting the impact reliable internet has on secondary residents and innovations that have had a positive impact on education, healthcare, agriculture, and manufacturing. The summit will run from 8:30 to 2:30 p.m. on October 24th at Stone Harbor Resort in Sturgeon Bay. Registration now is open and runs through October 21.

The month of October has been designated as National Pedestrian Safety Month. What better time to discuss some basic safety tips along with some of the great resources we have right here in Northeast Wisconsin? The first rule of safety for those walking is situational awareness. Whether you are walking on a sidewalk, roadside or trail system, be mindful of your surroundings. I am not a big fan of headphones being worn while on walks, runs or even riding bikes, as it creates what is known as a “Micro-environment.” This is to say that you have closed yourself off from what is going on around you and limiting yourself from one of your greatest physical senses, which is your hearing. The ability to hear vehicles approaching while adjacent to a roadway is critical in awareness. The ability to hear the footsteps of others as they approach you on a trail is just as important. Aside from the obvious health benefits of exercising outdoors, enjoying the sights, smells, and sounds is just as valuable.

The next key safety component is being seen. While I cannot make any guarantees that each and every motor vehicle driver is attentive at any given time, I can assure you that any and all attention you draw to yourself as a pedestrian will increase your awareness and thus improve your chances. As it pertains to walking attire, the brighter, the better. I have even seen the use of blinking lights on vests to improve visibility. In fact, as we draw near to the various hunting seasons, Blaze Orange may be a great choice of colors for you to consider. If you are walking adjacent to a road or have the need to cross any roads, take extra caution. If you are about to cross, even in a marked crosswalk, make sure that any vehicles in close proximity see you and are going to yield. Don’t assume anything.

While for many, the only option for getting out and walking is along roadsides, we are very fortunate to have the Ahnappee trail system right here in our backyard. This trail system provides a truly scenic and peaceful option for what we call the “Silent Sports”. This trail has starting points at numerous sites throughout our county, with each section of the trail having its own unique characteristics and surroundings. Portions of the Ahnapee Trail are also designated as sections of the Ice Age Trail, which runs throughout our state and draws a large number of enthusiasts from around the country. The City of Algoma was recently designated as an Ice Age Trail Community.

In an age where our society struggles with sedimentary lifestyles and the resulting health implications, the need to get out and walk, run, bike, or hike could not be more vital to our quality of life. Having a trail that is free from motorized vehicles is truly a local treasure that can and should be appreciated. As we continue into the beautiful fall season, this treasure and the tranquility it provides should be at the top of our bucket list of activities.

Regardless of your pedestrian journey, always keep safety as a priority!

After hurricanes ripped through the south in recent weeks, there are ways you can help people and even pets impacted by the events.

According to NBC News, at least 223 people have died, and hundreds more are unaccounted for in the aftermath of last month's Hurricane Helene. Hurricane Milton claimed 16 lives and has left 2.5 million people in Florida without power while dumping over a foot of rain in some parts of the state.

Closer to home, organizations are doing what they can to support the recovery efforts. The Community Blood Center is asking people to donate blood to help curtail its shortage before the hurricanes even make landfall.

The Wisconsin Humane Society and other agencies welcomed more than 130 dogs from South Carolina earlier this month as shelters in that state anticipated an influx of displaced pets due to the hurricanes. Even if you cannot welcome them into your home, Tanya Ditzman from the Wisconsin Humane Society says there are ways you can still help.

Churches, schools, and other non-profit organizations have also organized community donation efforts to bring critical supplies to the hurricane-ravaged areas, especially in places left isolated by the storm. In a joint effort announced on Friday, Southern Door and Sturgeon Bay High Schools are collaborating to raise funds for hurricane relief. Centered around athletic contests between the schools, the initiative will kick off with tonight's football game at Memorial Field in Sturgeon Bay. It will continue through the volleyball game at Southern Door High School on Tuesday, October 15. All ticket sale proceeds at these two events will be going directly to support those affected by recent hurricanes 

You can learn more about how far the community has come in addressing child care in Door County and where it still needs to go during a special event on October 29th. The United Way is hosting the Door County Child Care Summit at the Door County Gala in Sturgeon Bay and will feature national, state, and local speakers discussing the importance of the industry. Author Elliot Haspel, Wisconsin Early Childhood Association Executive Director Ruth Schmidt, and business leaders from across the state will be among the speakers at the event. Child Care Community Coordinator Molly Gary says showcasing the importance of childcare as it relates to early childhood development and economic growth is the key point they want to drive home during the summit.

The Door County Child Care Summit runs from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., and it is free to attend. However, registration is required.

The Griffon String Quartet will provide you with the sounds of the Halloween season this weekend when the ensemble takes its turn performing in the Midsummer's Music Autumn Series. Violinists Roy Meyer and Alex Norris, violist Oryann Tsaig, and cellist Jesse Nummelin will perform Haydn and Ginastera's Haunted Ride on October 12th at St. Luke's Episcopal Church in Sister Bay on October 13th at 3 p.m. at Muse in Sturgeon Bay. Executive Director Allyson Fleck says they are great pieces to see the quartet to perform in as the quartet's season begins to hit its stride.

Saturday's performance at Muse is the quartet's first at the venue, and Meyer says he is looking forward to spending more time at the Sturgeon Bay Arts Center.

You do not have to be scared if you miss the Halloween-inspired performances by the Griffon String Quartet this weekend. The ensemble will also perform at the Sturgeon Bay Library as a part of Destination Sturgeon Bay's Thrills and Chills event on October 26th.

UPDATE 8:43 a.m.: According to the media report from the Door County Sheriff's Department, the accident at the ferry dock has been listed as a "fatal accident." We will have more on this as soon as it becomes available. 

UPDATE:

ORIGINAL STORY

There is still no official word from a Thursday evening incident involving a vehicle driving off the ferry dock in Northport. According to the Door County Scanner 2.0 Facebook page, emergency personnel from across the county began arriving at the dock before 7:30 p.m. to reports of a vehicle that had driven into the water. In addition to seven of the county’s fire departments, the U.S. Coast Guard and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources also got involved in the rescue and recovery efforts. As of 7 a.m., there have been no further updates on whether the person who drove the car into the water was rescued. We will update this story as soon as information is available.

You can celebrate Halloween early while supporting  Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library book program for children five and under.  The 16th annual Halloween Walk in Algoma is planned for Saturday, October 26th, at the Algoma High School.  Preschool teachers and event organizers Rachael Vandermause and Kayden Shaw have created the event to provide a safe and fun opportunity for children of all ages to meet their favorite TV and movie characters and visit a haunted house if they’d like.  The walk starts in the highway school cafeteria and goes through the hallways with games and activities in the gymnasium.  

Outside Algoma High School, Thomas the Train will offer rides this year, with glitter tattoos provided for the kids.  All attendees are encouraged to dress up in costume and meet characters like Barbie and Elsa in her new castle.  The Halloween Walk will be from 9 a.m. until noon. On Saturday, October 26th,  Admission is $6 for children and $3 for adults. 

Wisconsin's Coast Guard City is now home to the manufacturer with the contract for the largest mobile boat hoist ever acquired by the U.S. federal agency.

The U.S. Coast Guard and Sturgeon Bay-based Marine Travelift announced a $5.2 million deal earlier this week to construct a 620-ton mobile boat hoist. The Coast Guard will use the equipment to help maintain its fleet of vessels. "Marine Travelift is honored to be selected for this critical task to support the men and women of the U.S. Coast Guard," Erich Pfeifer, Marine Travelift's president and CEO, said in a news release. "They deserve the best U.S.-built equipment to help accomplish their life-saving missions." U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin took time out from her campaign against Republican Eric Hovde to celebrate the contract, adding that it showcases the importance of keeping manufacturing not just in America but in Wisconsin.

The contract is expected to support 50 to 60 jobs at Marine Travelift.

 

 

 

 

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If you carry larger bills in your wallet or purse, the Door County Sheriff’s Department wants you to double-check to ensure they are real. The department received reports of motion picture prop currency being used in the currency. Even though it says the bills are not legal tender and are for motion pictures, they could still be passed off as real money. The Door County Sheriff’s Department is using this incident as an opportunity to be extra cautious when handling cash and to look for signs of counterfeit bills, such as abnormal textures, off-center images, or missing security features like watermarks or color-shifting ink. If you have received counterfeit money, the department advises you to not to use it and to report it. According to the United States Department of Treasury, an estimated $70 million in counterfeit bills are in circulation.

Photo courtesy of Door County Sheriff's Department

Cold is cold, and new terminology from the National Weather Service will make that easier for you to understand.

The National Weather Service is eliminating the old warning system that used wind chill as the deciding factor to adopt a more simplified approach to preparing people for cold weather. Meteorologist Mike Karow from Weatherology says the terms cold weather advisory, extreme cold watch, and extreme cold warning should make it easier to let everybody know when they will have to bundle up this winter.

While the terminology is in place, how much it will be used this winter is anyone's guess. Wisconsin is coming off its warmest winter on record, but the Farmer's Almanac is predicting the season's coldest outbreak of frigid Arctic air to take place during the last week of January and the beginning of February.

You will have to find alternate plans for camping if you planned on staying at Rock Island State Park during its final week of the season. On Tuesday, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources announced it was shutting down the island's campground for the season effective immediately due to a growing mice problem. Thanks to the snakes that inhabit the island and the usual cold winters, mice have never been a problem, according to Park Superintendent Eric Hyde and campers who have long set up their campsite on Rock Island. Hyde says that campers were beginning to share their displeasure with the influx of mice over the last four to six weeks until it reached its breaking point this weekend. He adds that the mild winters allowed the mice population to outpace the hunger of its predators on the island.

The DNR is investigating ways to start controlling the mouse population now so they do not invade their buildings when winter hits and so they can provide quality camping experiences for their visitors next year. Rock Island State Park will remain open to day trippers until Monday, when the Karfi Ferry wraps up its service for 2024.

Two of the busiest stretches this fall are expected on area roads and in Egg Harbor and Sister Bay over the next two weekends, with fall festivals concluding in the area and peak colors approaching.   The Village of Egg Harbor hosts its annual Pumpkin Patch this weekend with pumpkin and scarecrow displays, kids activities, carnival rides, and live music beginning at 9 am on Saturday and Sunday at 10:00 am.

With the expected high traffic and limited parking in Egg Harbor, you may want to carpool or take advantage of two remote parking shuttles offered by the Village of Egg Harbor.  They are located near Frank Murphy County Park and the Seaquist processing plant.  The schedule of events for Pumpkin Patch is listed below.

Saturday, October 12

9am-3pm
Book Sale  |  Kress Pavilion

10am-2pm
Modern Day Drifters  |  Live Music  |  Harbor View Park

10am-4pm
Carnival Rides  |  Egg Harbor Marina 

10am-4pm
Kids Activities/Facepainting/Lawn Games  |  Kress Pavilion Lawn

10am-3:30pm
50/50 Raffle
Raffle supporting the EHBA  |  Harbor View Park
Chance to win three large raffle buckets containing Egg Harbor gift cards and products | Items must be picked up by 4pm

10am-5pm
Arts & Crafts Vendors  |  Nicolet Bank

10am-5:30pm
Food and Beverage Tents  |  Harbor View Park

10am-5:30pm
Pumpkin Patch Apparel Sales  |  Harbor View Park

12pm-3pm
Children’s Magician  | Kress Pavilion Lawn

2pm-5:30pm
Glas Hamr  |  Live Music  |  Harbor View Park

Sunday, October 13

10am-1pm
Three Springs  |  Live Music  |  Harbor View Park

10am-4pm
Carnival Rides  |  Egg Harbor Marina

10am-4:30pm
Food and Beverage Tents  |  Harbor View Park

10am-4:30pm
Pumpkin Patch Apparel Sales  |  Harbor View Park

10am-4pm
Arts & Crafts Vendors  |  Nicolet Bank

11am-2pm
Kids Activities/Facepainting  |  Kress Pavilion Lawn

1:30pm-4:30pm
Big Mouth & The Power Tool Horns |  Live Music  |  Harbor View Park

** Schedule subject to change. 

Taking precautions around your house is crucial to preventing a fire tragedy at home. This week is National Fire Prevention Week, and Sturgeon Bay Fire Chief Kalin Montevideo says general fire safety includes ensuring all smoke and carbon monoxide detectors work correctly in your home. Families should also devise an escape plan for a fire and have a pre-determined place to meet outside. Montevideo says the kitchen area is the most common area where fires begin.

Montevideo recommends placing smoke and carbon monoxide detectors on each level of your home and replacing all old batteries in all devices to ensure they function correctly. Tuesday this week marked the 153rd anniversary of the Great Fire of 1871, which killed over 1,200 people in Northeastern Wisconsin. You can find more tips on home fire safety by clicking this link.  

You can receive important resources and screenings to help improve your health at the Door County YMCA's Community Healthy Living Fair being held in Sturgeon Bay later this month.  Healthy Living Coordinator Sarah Gavin says the Door County Medical Center sponsors the event, which features over 35 vendors offering various health screenings, including a new A1C blood test for diagnosing type one and type two diabetes.

Gavin adds that the Community Healthy Living Fair is free and open to all ages, with DCMC providing free rides through the Door County Transportation Department.  The fair will be from 8:30 a.m. until noon on Tuesday, October 22 at the Door County YMCA Sturgeon Bay Program Center.   

You can step back into the music that dates back nearly a century while helping to make a renovation project possible at Sturgeon Bay High School. The Swingin’ Door Big Band will perform a concert at the Robert H. Nickel Auditorium this Thursday at 7:00 p.m. The Nickel Auditorium is located at Sturgeon Bay High School and is currently raising funds for a major renovation of the facility.

“The Swingin’ Door is Door County’s local jazz band and includes 25 local musicians, including Company B, an Andrews Sisters-style female trio. Songs performed will include charts by Duke Ellington, Glenn Miller, and Benny Goodman from the big band era.

Company B, a female vocal trio, will cover several Andrews Sisters’ songs, including “Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy” and “Don’t Sit Under the Apple Tree.”

Company B members Mary Hall, Kristin Malnory, and Jamie Palmer will perform a solo, and trumpeter Mark Fischer will do a rendition of Frank Sinatra's “You Make Me Feel So Young.”

The Swingin’ Door Big Band is a Glenn Miller-style jazz orchestra that seeks to recreate the sound of the 1930s and 1940s that helped Americans survive WW II.

Thursday's performance is $10 per person, which will directly benefit the project to renovate the auditorium, which is named for long-time school principal and arts supporter Robert H. Nickel.

Depending on how the vote goes and the financial numbers play out, November 5th could be one of the final times you will see a Washington Island School District operational referendum on the ballot for many years to come.

The district is asking voters to approve a $995,000 recurring referendum to allow them to exceed the revenue limit to meet the school's certain facility, equipment, and programming needs. This differs from past non-recurring referendum questions the district has posed to its voters 17 times since 2000. This will be a recurring referendum, meaning that it will not have renewed by voters every time there is a budget shortfall for operational purposes. The district has to go to referendums continuously because of its small district size of just over 60 students. Because the island generates so much in property taxes, the state contributes very little funding of its own. Superintendent of Business Services Sue Cornell says that it is important that voters know that their numbers will fluctuate from year to year and that they will only spend what they have to so they can retain staff, co-curricular activities, and programming.

Washington Island School District is planning an informational session on October 23rd from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. In November, 22 recurring referendum questions will be on the ballot. Eleven of the 22 recurring referendum questions on the ballot were successful in April.

The scent of a Door County Candle Beachside candle in your home offers the aroma of hope for communities impacted by the latest round of hurricanes. According to NBC News, at least 223 people have died, and hundreds more are unaccounted for in the aftermath of last month's Hurricane Helene. Many residents are still without power, if not completely isolated, because of the storm's destruction. By the time they catch their breath, Hurricane Milton is expected to make its entrance into the region in the hours and days ahead. Last week, Door County Candle relaunched its Beachside candle to raise funds for hurricane relief, raising more than $4,000. Owner Christiana Trapani is thrilled that her candles continue to create change in times of need.

This is the second time the Beachside candle has been launched for hurricane relief efforts. Last year, approximately $14,000 was raised to support victims of Hurricane Ian. Trapani, her husband Nic, and their employees have been putting in extra time to make sure they can keep up with the demand for the candles. The candles for hurricane relief are a precursor to what is to come for the business when they launch scents for the Make-A-Wish Foundation and Feeding America.

You can still be a part of the United Way of Door County's march toward its annual campaign goal of $1 million, even if you are light on cash right now. The organization is about a third of the way towards its goal, which is faster than last year despite the higher dollar amount. Executive Director Amy Kohnle hopes the momentum continues to build through its January 7th deadline because the $1 million goal also represents the current need in the community. She also understands that because of external forces, money for families that want to contribute may be tighter than it usually is for them. Kohnle says pledging now allows both the organization and the donor to plan for the future.

The United Way of Door County is planning several events through the end of the year to help them reach their $1 million goal, including having celebrity cheese mongers at Wisconsin Cheese Masters south of Egg Harbor the next two Saturdays.

You may have to find an alternative route on your commute through Sturgeon Bay starting next week.

The Wisconsin Department of Transportation announced that the Michigan Street Bridge will be closed Monday through Thursday from 7 a.m. until 4 p.m. for the last three weeks of this month (October 14-17, October 21-24, and October 28-31.

The closures are due to crews installing fiber wrap on the bridge counterweights. The DOT says the planned maintenance will create a safer passageway for motorists across the bay of Sturgeon Bay by wrapping around the bridge counterweight to prevent debris from possibly coming loose and falling onto the bridge roadway.

The bridge will be left in the up position for most of the work allowing for marine traffic to pass through.

Drivers in Sturgeon Bay will be able to cross the channel on the Maple-to-Oregon Street Bridge and the Bay View Bridge while the work on the Michigan Street Bridge is being completed.

The time is now to start planning your financial future and how supporting your favorite causes plays into the equation. According to a study from Fidelity Charitable, 78 percent of pre-retirees and retirees aged 50 to 80 prioritize charitable giving, whether it is with their checkbook or with their time. On the volunteer front, more than 71 percent of pre-retirees and 55 percent of retirees have volunteered with an organization within the last 12 months to stay active and connected in their communities. Investment News reports that four million Baby Boomers are expected to retire in 2024, with millions more expected to hit retirement in the coming years. Door County Community Foundation President and CEO Bret Bicoy says the oncoming retirement boom makes the next few years very important for area non-profits.

Bicoy advises people to meet with their financial advisor or estate planner to see how they can best address their personal needs and the causes they support in the community. 

You will likely not be able to get a burn permit in the foreseeable future as dry weather persists across Door County. According to the U.S. Drought Monitor, most of Door County and the northeastern corner of Kewaunee County are in severe drought. Southwest Door County, northeast Brown County, and most of Kewaunee County are not much better as they sit at a moderate drought. The National Weather Service says two to three inches of rain has fallen over the last two months, far below the average precipitation. That has led to Ephraim, Egg Harbor, Brussels-Union-Gardner, Nasewaupee, Southern Door, and Baileys Harbor all issuing burn bans since last Thursday. The burn bans do not include small campfires and cooking fires. Thanks to a La Nina weather pattern, meteorologist Mike Karow does not expect those burn bans to be lifted anytime soon.

Rain is expected this weekend, but Karow says the precipitation will likely not be much more than a few tenths of an inch. The National Weather Service is predicting temperatures to be above average and the rainfall to be below normal over the next eight to 14 days.

A rite of passage for area salmon will now fill freezers at area food pantries in your community. The Door County Food Pantry Coalition, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, and Baileys Harbor Fish Company are working together to send close to 11,000 pounds of harvested salmon to the coalition's food pantry members. Philanthropic Services Officer Adam Peronto says the fish processing facilities in Sturgeon Bay and Kewaunee harvest between 40,000 to 50,000 pounds of salmon yearly when the fish spawns, and their eggs are collected. Still, very little of it goes back to the community in an impactful way.

Peronto credits one of its donors with the idea and, thanks to that, he feels they will be able to stock all nine Door County Food Pantry Coalition locations with salmon for a year. The coalition's big harvest day is October 10th at the Strawberry Creek Chinook Facility.

Birch Creek Music Performance Center Executive Director Mona Christensen is excited about the decrescendo of her music career, but she hopes to see you at a show before her time reaches its coda at the end of next year. The organization and Christensen announced her retirement last month as they began their search for her replacement immediately. Christensen is proud of what she has accomplished during her decade on the job, including the expansion of its programs, the modernization of its facilities, and the growth of its endowment. Christensen knows that whoever gets the job will "land in a pot of jam," which is part of why she is staying aboard until September 1^st, 2025, to help him or her get acclimated to the job during Birch Creek's 50^th season.

Birch Creek is accepting applications for the role through October 18th, with an expected hiring date of March 1st. 2024 could end with three sold-out performances to close out the Fall Concert Series, which includes Saturday's fundraiser featuring The Road Scholars and its Christmas shows on December 7^th.  

Click here for our full interview

You can find your next career or employee at the upcoming Door County Job Fair in Sturgeon Bay. We are Hope in Sturgeon Bay is planning the event at the Cherry Point Mall to connect businesses with potential workers. We Are Hope Executive Director Kim Carly says the job fair is a great way for people to explore the employment opportunities that exist in the area this time of year. She notes that the fall job fair is a perfect setting for employers who are hiring to fill positions quickly for a variety of openings.

Carly adds that businesses can still participate in the job fair by calling We Are Hope and reserving space for a booth.  The 2024 Door County Job Fair will be from 2:00 p.m. until 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, October 15 inside the Cherry Point Mall and the We Are Hope offices.  

The Wisconsin Science Festival begins this week, and as is our custom, Crossroads at Big Creek, joins the Door County Library to assemble speakers and events for this two-week celebration on the Door Peninsula. This year, the ScienceFest theme is "Agriculture" and many of the programs will be held at Crossroads at Big Creek.

There is a song in the musical Oklahoma called "The Farmer and the Cowman Should Be Friends." We believe that the Farmer and the Environmentalist should be friends, too. We share a love for and concern about water, soil, plants, and animals, and we also believe that science should guide our decisions.

Our science-based agriculture-themed activities begin with our Family Pumpkin Carving at 4:00, Friday, October 11.  Pumpkins are, after all, an important agricultural product. Two billion pumpkins are grown each year in the United States. In Wisconsin, more than 2000 acres are planted in pumpkins each year.  So, we will start the program with a short science video called "Dissecting a Pumpkin.” Pumpkins and carving tools will be provided so each family can dissect and carve a Jack-o-lantern to light the trail during our "Trails and Treats" event later in the month. Following that pre-Halloween event, families can take their pumpkins home.  

From the fruit called pumpkins (yes, they are fruits), we turn to apples when the Science Festival program "Climate Impact to Apple Flavor,"  The speaker, Peninsular Agriculture Research Station Superintendent Becky Wiepz, will discuss how climate conditions impact apple flavor This program is geared to adults, but learners of all ages are welcome to attend this program on Monday, October 14 at 5:30 PM

The Door County Beekeepers have created a special event for the Wisconsin Science Festival they call Hive Chemistry 101. European honeybees pollinate $15 billion worth of agricultural crops, but the federal government also classifies them as livestock/food-producing animals.

The beekeepers will offer exhibits and demonstrations featuring products made of honey and beeswax, including mead (wine made with honey), household products such as furniture polish, wood conditioner, food wraps, candles, and personal care products such as lip balm, lotion bars, hand salve, and soap. This event promises to be an exciting look into the agricultural products of our favorite domestic insects.

Our Wandering Wednesday at 1:30 on October 16,  the weekly naturalist-led hike will be "When Crossroads Was a Farm". It is a tribute to the work of Crossroads donors, staff, and hundreds of volunteers that Crossroads seems like a wild place. But the land was a farm and an orchard during the last century. Learn about our agronomic roots. (In case of rain, a PowerPoint presentation will be offered.) 

Our kids program that day will feature bumblebees--the native insects which are so beneficial to agriculture. The program "Bumbles and Crops" is geared for kids but learners of all ages are welcome. 

Then, on Wednesday at 5:30 pm, we welcome one of our favorite presenters, USDA Soil Scientist Jaimie Patton. She will offer a program called the Soil-Veggie Connection. Explaining how soils influence the growth, taste, and nutrition of veggies and fruits.

The Wisconsin Science Festival will continue next week, so check the Crossroads or the official Wisconsin Science Festival websites to learn about future programs.

Meanwhile, several comets are near Earth, so this week, our Science Saturday program will be "Comet Chef"--one of our most popular programs. Geared for kids, we encourage learners of all ages to attend this program and our other kids' programming.

Friday, October 11

2:00 pm  School’s Out Excursion!

When some districts have a vacation day, we offer the chance for kids to venture into the preserve for a "nature-based" adventure. Indoor activities will be offered if the weather is uncooperative. Registration is not required. Geared for kids, but learners of all ages are welcome. Reservations are not required. Meet at the Collins Learning Center, Crossroads at Big Creek, 2041 Michigan, Sturgeon Bay.

4:00 pm Pumpkin Carving- a ScienceFest Event

Following a short video called "Dissecting a Pumpkin”, families can dissect (carve) their own creation. Pumpkins and carving tools provided. Open to the public and free thanks to the generosity of donors like you. Meet at the Collins Learning Center, Crossroads, 2041 Michigan, Sturgeon Bay. 

Saturday, October 12

2:00 Saturday Science: Comet Chef

In partnership with the Door Peninsula Astronomical Society...and because on this day, a comet will fly near [in space terms] the Earth this weekend.  Dry ice and fun! This is one of our most popular kids’ but learners of all ages are welcome. Free and open to the public. Meet at the Collins Learning Center, Crossroads, 2041 Michigan, Sturgeon Bay.

Monday, October 14

3:30 Environmental Exploration: Mushroom Prints

Join the naturalist to collect mushrooms (if we get some rain) and use them to make and take "prints." This program is geared for kids but is free of charge and open to all ages. Meet at the Collins Learning Center, Crossroads, 2041 Michigan St, Sturgeon Bay. 

5:30 pm Program – Climate Impacts to Apple Flavor- A ScienceFest Event

Learn how climate conditions impact apple flavor with Peninsular Agricultural Research Station Superintendent Becky Wiepz. This adult program is free, thanks to the generosity of our donors. Meet at the Collins Learning Center, Crossroads, 2041 Michigan Street, Sturgeon Bay

 Tuesday, October 15

6:30 pm  Door County Beekeeper Club:  Hive Chemistry 101 Creating Bee Products- A ScienceFest Event

The Door County Beekeepers Club will offer exhibits and demonstrations featuring products made of honey and beeswax, including mead (wine made with honey), household products such as furniture polish, wood conditioner, food wraps, candles, and personal care products such as lip balm, lotion bars, hand salve, and soap. The event is free and open to the public. Meet at the Collins Learning Center, Crossroads, 2041 Michigan St, Sturgeon Bay.

Wednesday, October 16

1:30 pm Wandering Wednesday – When Crossroads was a Farm- A ScienceFest Event

On this naturalist-led hike, enjoy Crossroads campus and learn about its agronomic roots. Registration is not required. The trail will be easy; however, please dress for the weather. Open to the public and free thanks to the generosity of our donors. Meet at the Collins Learning Center, Crossroads, 2041 Michigan St., Sturgeon Bay.

3:30 pm Environmental Exploration – Bumbles & Crops- A Science Fest Event

This program is intended for elementary school students but is open to all ages. Join this indoor/outdoor program to learn how bumble bees use buzz pollination for crops. It is free and open to the public. Meet in the Collins Learning Center, Crossroads 2041 Michigan, Sturgeon Bay.

5:30 pm  Program – Soil-Veggie Connection-A Science Fest Event

Join Jamie Patton, USDA Soil Scientist, to learn how soils influence the growth, taste, and nutrition of veggies and fruits. This adult program is free to learners of all ages, thanks to our donors' generosity. Meet at the Collin Learning Center, Crossroads, 2041 Michigan, Sturgeon Bay.

Even after eighty-one chemotherapy treatments, you will still see Ashley Pace of Green Bay smiling. Pace and her family was this year's Lennox Feel the Program, an event that Ultimate Air in Luxemburg has participated in for nearly a decade. Pace was nominated by her mother Paula Shefchik, who used to read through Feel the Love applications herself when she worked at Ultimate Air. Pace was diagnosed with Cholangiocarcinoma (bile duct cancer) over a year ago, making frequent trips to the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota as a part of her treatment. Pace cites prayer, family support, and the community's generosity for helping keep a smile on her face during her bile duct cancer diagnosis. For Ultimate Air owner Jeff Blemke, the Feel the Love Day has become his favorite day of the year as his business has the opportunity to give back to the community. Lennox donates the equipment and its dealers donate their time to install it. Ultimate Air has installed units at homes in Brown, Kewaunee, and Manitowoc counties for families in need through the program.

Parkinson's disease may have received extra attention last week during a Capitol Hill hearing last week, but you have been able to find resources on how to cope with the ailment locally for over 20 years. During his testimony regarding Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) fraud, former Green Bay Packers quarterback Brett Favre revealed that he had been recently diagnosed with Parkinson's disease, joining Muhammad Ali, Michael J. Fox, and George H.W. Bush as some of the more notable names to have suffered from the disorder. Parkinson's disease is a chronic brain disorder that causes movement problems, mental health issues, and other health concerns. Age, family, environmental exposure, and head trauma are some of the most common risk factors of the disease. Locally, Carol Moellenberndt has conducted the Parkinson's Disease Support Group out of the Sturgeon Bay United Methodist Church for two decades. She has found it rewarding to work with individuals and families affected by Parkinson's disease to let them know that they are not alone.

The Parkinson's Disease Support Group meets on the second Wednesday of every month at 1 p.m. at the Sturgeon Bay United Methodist Church. Retired Nurse Practitioner Dacy Reimer will give a special presentation during the meeting this Wednesday.

National media members are wondering the same thing you are: how will Door County vote for President of the United States this November?

The county has one of the most unique streaks in the nation, picking the U.S. Presidential choice correctly since 2000. That covers six elections, four presidents, and two political parties. The county has also bounced between parties for other offices over the years, such as Wisconsin Governor and U.S. Senator. CNN, NBC, and the Washington Post have all visited the county to learn why Door County is one of nine counties in the country with such a streak of voting for the eventual Presidential winner.

The premise is not a complete shock to former Rep. Reid Ribble, the Sherwood, Wis. Republican who represented Door County and the Eighth Congressional District from 2010 to 2016. He believes Door County is a perfect melting pot of reliable red rural voters that encompass much of the district, along with a mixture of blue voters from city centers like Chicago, Milwaukee, and Minneapolis who move to the area for retirement to make the area a perfect shade of purple.

Ribble says it is surprising that the county has swung with the Presidential pendulum for all of these years, especially after electing George W. Bush and Barack Obama for two terms. The only thing that could be more rare? One voter that has ridden the pendulum along with the county, though Ribble believes it could be possible.

Ultimately, we will learn if the streak continues when voters head to the polls on November 5th. If you or someone you know in Door County has voted for the presidential winner of every election since 2000, please reach out to us at 920-746-9758 or news@doorcountydailynews.com.

Door County Candle's Ukraine candle will not be one of the eight products moving onto the next round of the Coolest Things Made in Wisconsin contest orchestrated by the Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce. The top vote-getter in the initial field of 16 Wisconsin-made products, the popular candle that caught the eye of the entire nation in the wake of Russia's invasion of Ukraine was ousted by Green Bay-based Medalcraft Mint's military medals and insignias. If they had won, the Ukraine candle would have gone up against Iron Ridge-based PS Seasoning's The Works Burger Blend seasoning. Despite the loss, the candle's impact continues to be felt as it has raised over $1 million for Razom for Ukraine. Door County Candle owner Christiana Trapani said on the Faces of the Farmers podcast last month that it has had an enormous impact overseas and right here at home.

Door County Candle joined Marine Travelift in Sturgeon Bay, SAS Forks in Luxemburg, and the Washington Island Ferry, among other local businesses featured in the Coolest Thing Made in Wisconsin contest. The other products featured in the final eight include soda, custom-built metal benches, maple syrup evaporators, wireless hunting and fishing sensors, lawn tractors, and popcorn.

A 59-year-old Casco man was arrested on Wednesday for drunk driving, making it his fourth operating a motor vehicle under the influence (OWI) violation. According to a release, the Wisconsin State Patrol arrested Paul Edward Rowell shortly after he had been involved in a crash on County Highway K near Briar Patch Lane. The state trooper observed signs of impairment before Rowell was arrested and transported to a Green Bay hospital for blood testing. According to Wisconsin Circuit Court Records, he is also charged with failure to keep the vehicle under control, operating left of center, hit and run of property adjacent to the highway, and failing to notify police of an accident in addition to his fourth OWI violation. 

As more people become connected to the internet, the Door County Broadband Office, United Way of Door County, the University of Wisconsin-Madison Extension, and more than a half dozen other partners want to make sure you have the skills to stay safe while browsing. The free classes are a part of Digital Inclusion Week, which runs October 7th through 11th. According to BroadbandNow, just over 67 percent of Door County residents have access to internet speeds of over 25 Mbps. Those numbers are expected to improve in the coming year as municipalities continue to ink deals with internet service providers to bring broadband to their communities. That includes the Town of Sturgeon Bay, which recently announced its partnership with AT&T. Broadband Coordinator Jessica Hatch says they are great resources being offered as the internet becomes more complex for all users, especially older adults.

The Brussels-Union-Gardner Fire Department- South Station will host sessions on "Netiquette" and Internet Safety, Ethics, and Identifying Credible Sources on October 8th.  Northeast Wisconsin Technical College's Sister Bay campus will host sessions on "Netiquette" and Internet Safety for Kids on October 9th. You can click this link to register for the digital skills classes. 

You can learn about one of the worst natural disasters in United States history this Saturday in Namur. The "Great Fire of 1871," known locally as the Peshtigo Fire, will be revisited on its 153rd anniversary. Barb (Englebert) Chisholm, a fifth-generation American of Belgian descent with ancestors who survived the devastating fire, will speak during the Remembrance of the Great Fire at the Belgian Heritage Center. Dressed in character as her great-great-grandmother, Chisholm shares the story of the Englebert family's survival.

Chisholm will re-enact her program on Saturday, October 5, after Retired Green Bay Metro Fire Chief David Siegel speaks at 10 a.m. about the unique aspects of the Great Fire and why it was so deadly for many. The blaze swept through Northeastern Wisconsin on October 8, 1871, and claimed over 1,200 lives while devastating a large part of the Belgian settlement. 

With every passing year, you are seeing more kids finding their future, not just in manufacturing but also in Door County. Northeast Wisconsin Youth Apprenticeship Program Door County School-Based Coach Lauren Baumann estimates that approximately 30 students in its program are heading towards manufacturing careers, representing about a third of the total students involved with apprenticeships. It is a step in the right direction for American manufacturers that continue to look for people to come aboard. According to the National Association of Manufacturers, over 505,000 vacancies on factory floors nationwide exist. By 2024, an estimated 3.8 million manufacturing jobs will likely be needed to keep up with demand. Baumann says its youth apprenticeship program and manufacturing tours have helped students find great-paying careers in their backyard.

Baumann says she will start having conversations with students in January about possible apprenticeship opportunities in the area for the 2025-2026 school year. 

Door County's leaves may be at 20 percent fall colors, but the area's lighthouses and attractions are at their peak this weekend for the Door County Maritime Museum's Fall Lighthouse Festival.  More than a dozen tours are already sold out, according to DoorCountyTickets.com, with limited space available in more than two dozen others. The series of excursions allows you to explore Door County's lighthouses by air, by water, and by land, including sites not usually open for the public to see. Speaking ahead of the festival's spring event, Door County Maritime Museum Deputy Director Sam Perlman said they worked hard to make the area's maritime history available and accessible.

In addition to sites around Door County, the Kewaunee Pierhead Lighthouse and the Grassy Island Range Lights in Green Bay are also available for tours this weekend as a part of the Door County Maritime Museum's Fall Lighthouse Festival. Wayne Dunbar says the Grassy Island Range Lights have 150 years of history behind it, even though they have only been in their current location since 2019.

If you are interested to see what tours are still available, you can click this link.

Sergeant Johnson from the Door County Sheriff’s Department might be calling you, but there is one problem: this one does not exist. The department alerted residents about the latest scam to hit the area on Wednesday after it received multiple reports about the scam taking place. According to residents, a “Sergeant Johnson” has been calling people asking for monetary donations. The department used the series of incidents as a reminder to residents that the Door County Sheriff’s Department will never solicit monetary donations over the phone and if you do receive a call to not provide any personal information or make a donation. You are a victim of the scam, you are encouraged to call the sheriff’s department at 920-746-2400.

Your chance to become the next Miss Door County, Miss Door County Teen, or Miss Cherryland has arrived. 

The Miss Door County organization opened its application window this week as they prepare for the pageant on February 1st. In August, the organization announced that Miss Door County and Miss Door County Teen was expanding its reach to allow students from Algoma and Luxemburg-Casco. Those competing for the Miss Cherryland title can come from an even larger footprint, encompassing Kewaunee, Brown, Outagamie, Waupaca, Shawano, Menominee, Oconto, Marinette, Langlade, Forest, and Florence counties.

Miss Door County Kylee Duessler says that when she got involved with the program, she wanted to help it grow and believes its expansion will do just that.

Miss Door County Teen Emily Bley hopes the area's young women will be inspired to compete for more than $10,000 in scholarships.

The areas of competition include private interviews, artistic expression in talent, lifestyle and fitness in sportswear, on-stage interviews, and evening gowns. You can click this link to submit your application.

To be eligible to compete for the titles of Miss Door County / Teen a woman must:

• Must live, work, or go to school full-time in Door County, Algoma, or Luxemburg-Casco
• Miss contestants must be at least 18, but no older than 27, at the Miss Wisconsin competition in June 2025
• Teen contestants must be at least 14, but no older than 18, at the Miss Wisconsin competition in June 2025
• Note: 18-year-olds have the option to choose if they would like to be a Miss or a Teen contestant

To be eligible to compete for the title of Miss Cherryland a woman must:

• Must live, work, or go to school full-time in the following counties: Kewaunee, Brown, Outagamie, Waupaca, Shawano, Menominee, Oconto, Marinette, Langlade, Forest, and Florence
• Miss contestants must be at least 18, but no older than 27, at the Miss Wisconsin competition

You can better protect yourself from the seasonal flu and COVID-19 by getting your vaccines at the immunization clinics offered by Door County Public Health in October and November. The first clinic will be held on Washington Island on Thursday, with future clinics on the mainland starting next week. Public Health Strategist Shauna Blackledge says the updated vaccines are essential to help prevent illnesses that can become severe enough to cause hospitalization. 

Blackledge encourages you to check out the Door County Public Health website to see if you are part of the eligible population and meet the criteria to receive the vaccines free of charge. 

You can find the complete schedule of immunization clinics in Door County below, and appointments are required by calling 920-746-2234.

On Tuesday, another step toward the Miller Art Museum vacating a portion of the Door County Library’s Sturgeon Bay campus was made as the Sturgeon Bay Common Council approved an agreement between the Library Board and County Facilities Committee.    The Door County Board approved the deal last month and has the Miller Art Museum leaving the library within the next five years.  Mayor David Ward shares the history behind the two facilities and says the county and the city will each give the Miller Art Museum $500,000 to help relocate the Miller Art Museum.

In other business, the Sturgeon Bay Common Council held a public hearing to adopt a zoning code amendment related to animal services. Ward says no one testified at the hearing, and the Plan Commission recommendation to prohibit animal care in residential areas that include kennels and doggy daycare will have its first reading at the next common council meeting on October 15. 

Mayor Ward added that the Sturgeon Bay Common Council met on Monday to approve an amendment to TID #6 on Egg Harbor Road to include properties on North 14th Avenue for a future affordable housing project. He added that the new TID #11 on the southwest side of the city was also approved on Monday along the highway and Grant Avenue, where a Fleet Farm store is still planned for the next few years. 

You can learn lifesaving skills while obtaining your lifeguard certification from the Door County YMCA later this month.  Aquatics Director Heidi Honold says the four-day lifeguarding class provides cutting-edge CPR training and water rescue equipment from American Red Cross Lifeguard instructors at the poolside.  She shares how the class teaches about 26 rescues and first aid scenarios.

The Door County YMCA Lifeguard Certification Class will be held October 24-27 and requires attendance at all classes and passing a swim test. The class is from 4:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. on Thursday, October 24, and Friday, October 25, and from 7:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. on Saturday, October 26, and Sunday, October 27.  

A Lifeguard Recertification Class is scheduled for November 16 from 7:00 am. until 5 p.m.  You can schedule for either program by calling the Door County YMCA in Sturgeon Bay or Fish Creek. 

Village Administrator Julie Schmelzer knows a lot of work needs to be done before you can even think about moving to a new affordable home in Sister Bay. The Village of Sister Bay Housing Committee is asking residents for feedback on a Pathways to Removing Obstacles Housing Grant offered through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The proposed $4,869,000 grant would fund infrastructure improvements like sewer, water, and electrical for properties ripe for development, like the former Wiltse property, a 56-acre lot purchased by the village in 2021. Schmelzer says the village has put some money aside in their capital budget to address affordable housing, but it is not nearly enough to dent the community's needs.

According to Sister Bay's housing study completed earlier this year, the village needs approximately 200 ownership homes, 54 rental homes, and 80 apartments to address the projected housing needs in the area by 2043. You can provide your own comment on the grant application by clicking this link.

Farmers in Door and Kewaunee counties are taking advantage of the dry and above-normal temperatures to get some crops off the field and plant new ones in others. According to the United States Department of Agriculture's Crop Progress and Condition Report, Wisconsin farmers had nearly a whole week (6.2 days) suitable for fieldwork to cap off September. That has allowed the harvest of corn for silage to climb up to 67 percent complete statewide, two days ahead of last year and three days ahead of the five-year average. The corn for grain harvest is in its infancy at five percent complete. At 30 percent complete, the soybean harvest is going even better at ten days ahead of last year and nine days ahead of the average. It has been good news for Jeremy Heim, who not only has his Heim's Hillcrest Dairy to worry about, but also his clients through Heim Brothers Custom. He says the good weather has allowed them to be efficient with their operations as they go from field to field.

The faster harvest means some farmers are also in planting mode. Winter wheat planting is approximately 47 percent complete, equal to last year's pace and just ahead of the average. Heim encourages motorists and farmers to keep an eye on each other on the roads so everyone can return home safely as the harvest season progresses.

Door County Medical Center wants to put your mind at ease as you prepare to welcome a young child to the world. The hospital is showcasing its Women's and Children's Center during an open house on Wednesday. The offerings at the center go beyond the four birthing suites that are set up to allow you to go through labor, deliver your baby, and receive post-partum care in the same room. Melody Hargis and Ann Bretl from Door County Medical Center say their care for families begins well beyond and after they check in to give birth to their child.

Expecting families can tour the Women's and Children's Center and meet with staff members during the Wednesday open house, which will take place at Door County Medical Center from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.