Starting Thursday, May 1st at 7am, Memorial Drive between S. 9th Avenue and S. 15th Avenue in Sturgeon Bay will be closed. It will be open to local traffic only for the beginning of Mill and Pave construction. The road will remain closed until it is paved, weather and contractor scheduling permitting. Planning for paving is set for sometime in June.

Additionally, S. 15th Avenue between Utah Street and Memorial Drive will also be closed but open for local traffic only. A new sidewalk will be installed on the west side of S. 15th Avenue. This closure will tentatively remain in effect until May 21, 2025 when the sidewalk work is completed.

The City of Sturgeon Bay is asking drivers to avoid this area but says that if travel is necessary, to use caution to allow the work to be completed as safely as possible. 

Door County also announced a road construction project that will begin on Thursday. CTH I will be closed from N Country View Road to CTH T from May 1st through May 8th to allow crews to replace a culvert. Motorists will be able to follow a detour that will use N Country View Road, W Town Line Road and CTH T.

Summer is just around the corner and the Door County YMCA has fantastic day camp options for kids! Camp at the Park will take place at Otumba Park in Sturgeon Bay and Trekkers Camp will be hosted at the Kane Center in Fish Creek. YMCA Youth and Sports Executive Paul Briney says both camps will offer attendees the opportunity to build friendships, learn through play, and to enjoy the outdoors.

“You get breakfast, you get lunch, you get some time playing with friends, organized activities, kickball,” said Paul Briney, “then once a week we take a walking field trip to a local business that’s close to downtown.”

The camps are geared towards ages 7 to 12 and will run Monday through Thursday. Three different sessions are available. Non-YMCA members are welcome to enroll in the camp options, but those with a YMCA membership do receive a discounted rate. 

“For three weeks of care we feel that its an affordable rate and a good bargain for families who are looking to get their kids started, maybe not in a full day camp, but kind of just entering that summer camp style,” said Briney, “hope to see you guys over at the Y!”

Families are encouraged to check out the YMCA camp offerings and other fun programs for summer. You can also listen to the full Y Wednesday interview with Paul Briney here.

If you’re passing through Egg Harbor next week, you will have to adjust your daily commute and travels. DeGroot Inc. will be updating sanitary sewer lines on Horseshoe Bay Road (CTH G) for the Village of Egg Harbor. The planned work zone is between E. Shore Drive and Green Bay Lane.

This section of road will be closed to thru traffic starting on Monday, May 5th from 7:00am to 5:30pm. It will continue through the week until Friday, May 9th for lateral installations. The area will open nightly for single lane traffic controlled by lights.

The Trump Administration is reportedly planning to eliminate the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline’s specialized LGBTQ+ services following a leaked budget draft that nixed funds set aside for that sector. The hotline has allowed users to seek help through calls, texts, or chats and since September 2022, more than 1.2 million people have been routed to the LGBTQ+ services. Despite the uncertainty surrounding the hotline's future, local organizations like PFLAG, which stands for Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays, are advocating for those needing help in Door County.

PFLAG President Beth Mitchell says the news of the potential withdrawal of support for LGBTQ+ services via the national hotline is deeply concerning.

“My initial reaction is that it’s definitely troubling,” Mitchell said, “it’s attacking the most vulnerable at a time they are most vulnerable.” 

In 2020, President Donald Trump signed the bipartisan National Suicide Hotline Designation Act which appointed 988 as the universal number to connect people to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. By removing the option for specialized support for those in the LGBTQ+ community, Mitchell believes they are taking away a trusted and valuable system, especially for youth. Statistically, LGBTQ+ youth is four times more likely to attempt suicide, which is one of the leading causes of death amongst individuals ages 10 to 24-years-old. 

“I think it also undercuts the expansion of the 988 initiative itself,” said Mitchell, “removing these services is just reinforcing the stigma of LGBTQ+ individuals.” 

Locally, there are options available for immediate help including the Door County Crisis/Suicide Intervention line. Calls to this hotline are answered by Brown County Human Services which is partnered with Door County. The hotline is available 24/7 and is equipped to handle any crisis, including those needing LGBTQ+ support. The hotline can be reached at (920) 746-2588.

While they are not formatted for emergency response, PFLAG is always willing to listen, too. They host monthly meetings via Zoom where anyone can join in for a safe and judgement-free way to connect. Those interested in attending can find more information in their newsletter on their website. 

“We’re about education, advocacy, and support,” said Mitchell.

At PFLAG, Mitchell says they additionally provide beneficial literature for individuals and further recommends the Trans Lifeline and the Trevor Project to bridge the gap of the 988 hotline. Regardless, their goal is to let those seeking help here know that they are valued. 

“Even though it can be very overwhelming right now to be LGBTQ+ there are people here in the community that care about them and want to support them,” says Mitchell, “you know, we’re in a community altogether, it’s not just LGBTQ+ people, there’s all sorts of people in this community looking out for each other and then that’s how we succeed, we help people.” 

Changes to the funding for LGBTQ+ services will be reflected in the next Federal budget cycle which is scheduled to begin on October 1st.

Third Avenue PlayWorks launches its 25th anniversary season tonight with Three Viewings, a darkly funny and emotionally rich trio of monologues by award-winning playwright Jeffrey Hatcher. Directed by Jacob Janssen, the production runs April 30th through May 18th at the TAP theater in downtown Sturgeon Bay.

The play unfolds in the quiet stillness of a Midwestern funeral parlor — a setting that belies the humor, heartbreak, and unexpected twists to come. With a blend of biting wit and genuine poignancy, the play examines how people cling — sometimes desperately — to memory, love, money, and meaning.

Audiences can experience the performance Wednesday through Saturday evenings at 7:30 p.m., with Sunday matinees at 2:00 p.m. and a special Friday matinee on May 9th at 2:00 p.m. The season kicks off with a Pay-What-You-Will preview tonight, followed by a final preview on May 1st and Opening Night on Friday, May 2nd.
 
The cast includes Ryan Schabach as Emil, a reserved undertaker whose obsession quietly consumes him; Emma Rosenthal as Mac, an elegant con artist with a penchant for risk; and Karen Moeller as Virginia, a recently widowed woman forced to confront the reality behind her husband’s legacy. These richly compelling characters peel back the layers of grief and humor in three distinct but thematically connected stories.
 
Each monologue unearths a hidden world of longing, deception, and resilience — illuminating the complicated ways people confront not just death, but the unfinished business of life.

Director Jacob Janssen taps into the play’s delicate interplay between loss and laughter.
 
"Three Viewings is a funny and thrilling play, with exciting performances from some of Door County's favorite artists," Janssen says. 

As Third Avenue PlayWorks celebrates 25 years of storytelling in Door County, Three Viewings promises a bold and thought-provoking start to a landmark season.
 
Tickets and more information are available at thirdavenueplayworks.org.

Photo Credit: Larry Mohr

Volunteers from the American Red Cross will be canvassing neighborhoods throughout Door County to talk about the importance of having working smoke alarms during their Sound the Alarm Home Safety Campaign. The program offers free smoke alarms to homeowners as well as guidance on creating a Family Disaster Plan. 

According to Jen Warren, the Regional Communications Director for the American Red Cross of Wisconsin, home fires claim seven lives every day in the United States. With the particularly dry seasons that Door County experiences, the risk of fires spreading and being more difficult to contain are higher. Having a working smoke alarm to allow individuals to be alerted of fire danger is crucial.

“The reason that we do this is that the Red Cross responds to a disaster every eight minutes and the majority of those are home fires,” said Warren.

With the Sound the Alarm Home Safety Campaign, the Red Cross installs free smoke alarms in homes, checks existing smoke alarm batteries, and educates people about home fire safety and preparedness. 

“At no cost to homeowners, we will demonstrate some simple changes you can make in your home that will help protect your family against fire,” said Warren.

Warren says one of the biggest concerns surrounding smoke detectors is that they often go unchecked after installation which can render them ineffective at detecting fires. 

“People that have smoke alarms just install the alarm and then think that’s it,” she said, “they have to remember to check their batteries.” 

Making sure your smoke detector is working, in good condition, and has new batteries is imperative and only takes a few moments. Unfortunately, not all fires are preventable, but having an effective alarm system is the key for an individual or their family to get out of the home safely in the event of a fire. 

“Most people don’t understand, you know, that they really only have just a few minutes to get out if they have a fire, two minutes actually, to escape a home fire,” said Warren, “fire is the nation’s most frequent disaster and a smoke alarm cuts the risk of death in half.”

Homeowners can schedule a free home visit with the Red Cross. During home visits, Red Cross-trained volunteers and/or licensed/insured professionals will share valuable emergency preparedness information, demonstrate and install a smoke alarm and help guide home occupants on developing a Family Disaster Plan. A printable worksheet to plan and practice home fire drills can also be found on the American Red Cross website. 

“The Red Cross installs these smoke alarms for free so if you don’t have a smoke detector, there’s no reason not to call us and have one installed,” said Warren, “it could save your life.”

To schedule a free home visit online click here, or call (888) 376-4056 to set up an appointment to have smoke alarms checked or installed.

If you are driving through Sturgeon Bay Wednesday evening, don’t be surprised if you have to wait for a federal landmark to sail by. Crews of the S.S. Badger Lake Michigan Carferry are preparing the vessel for its 12-hour journey from Ludington, Michigan to Sturgeon Bay for a propeller shaft bearing repair in dry dock at Fincantieri Bay Shipbuilding. High winds kept the 410-foot car ferry from departing Ludington on Tuesday.

When the repairs were announced in March, Sara Spore, General Manager of Lake Michigan Carferry, said, “It is the priority of Lake Michigan Carferry and our parent company, Interlake Maritime Services, to keep the Badger in its best working condition. Having these repairs done now will reduce interruptions to our summer sailing season.” While the delay will push the S.S. Badger’s return to May 11th, the Lake Michigan Carferry believes it will still be ready to go ahead of the start of its sailing season on May 16th.

The S.S. Badger was last in Sturgeon Bay in 2022 after spending a portion of the winter receiving repairs, upgrades, and a new paint job. 

Grab your tackle box and get ready to head out to Sawyer Park for the 2025 Sturgeon Bay Bass Tournament! A practice day will be held on Wednesday, April 30th and the tournament will take place on Thursday and Friday. Spectators can watch the action unfold in the pavilion where the bass being caught will be featured live on the big screens.

Tournament Director Gary Nault says the addition of a practice day is brand new this year and that it will even come with opportunities to hook prizes. The winner of the largest catch on practice day will receive $300, and second and third place will snag gift certificates from Howie’s Tackle. 

“This is something new that we have not done before,” said Nault, “you can actually practice in this tournament and if you catch one of the three biggest fish, there’s a nice chunk of cash just for doing that.”

On the water for the tournament days, teams will check in for inspection beginning at 5:30am and lines will go in and scales will open at 8am. The tournament will conclude and scales will close at 4pm. The tournament will conclude on Friday with an awards ceremony. 

Throughout the tournament, there will be silent auctions in the pavilion and the Pioneer Fire Company will be cooking up their specialty steak sandwiches, brats, and burgers, plus serving Budweiser products. 

Alongside the excitement to see who catches the biggest bass, Nault says he is most thrilled about the Weigh on the Water format for this outing. 

“We have a Weigh on the Water tournament, we don’t bring fish back, they get released, and we’re extremely proud of that,” said Nault.

The practice allows for obtaining an accurate measurement of the catch and minimizes potential stress or injury to the fish. Nault said staff will be on hand to help fishermen with the format and emphasized that fish are out of the water for less than a minute during weighing. 

“We’re one of the small tournaments in the country that are using that format which is something we’re more excited about,” he said. 

Thanks to the generosity of local sponsors, an additional $10,000 has also been added to this year’s prize money and Nault says kids have a chance to win with the Youth Bonus as well. The Youth Bonus will be given out to the top 3 finishing Youth/Adult teams. 

The newest Door County Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) members have four legs, a tail, and are now ready to serve your community. Shyla and Hannah were officially certified as search dogs this month after finishing their training in Indiana about two weeks ago. The two dogs and their handlers have spent several hours of hard work and training to become certified and are now ready to serve the CERT on search and rescue missions. Gibraltar Fire Chief Andy Bertges hopes the dogs never get used, but he is glad to have the pair ready just in case.

Bob Simandl has played an essential role in helping prepare the CERT's canine unit, using his years of experience to help guide Bertges through the process. Much like the humans on the CERT, the dogs also volunteer. The dogs train five to ten days a month, drilling different scenarios to help build proficiency in certain search and rescue techniques. He believes they are building something special.

CERT volunteers assist law enforcement and emergency personnel when more hands are needed to help during disasters and other large-scale incidents. You can contact Bertges or Door County Emergency Management Director Jeb Saelens to serve the CERT.

Take a step back into time with a visit to the Door County Granary which will celebrate its opening day for the season on May 14th. Built in 1901, the Granary is one of two remaining wooden port grain elevators on the Great Lakes, making it one of Door County’s historic marvels.

Hosted by the Sturgeon Bay Historical Society, the public is invited to visit the Granary between 10am-7pm for a locally immersive experience. Guests will tour the building’s newly rehabilitated and repurposed ground floor located at 72 E. Locust Court in Sturgeon Bay on the city’s West Waterfront and enjoy signature Granary cookies. 

“The Sturgeon Bay Historical Society looks forward to sharing the Door County Granary with our community,” said the society’s Executive Director, Nicole Matson, “we have worked tirelessly to give this living museum new life by rehabilitating and repurposing an agricultural treasure that was influential to Door County’s economy at the turn-of-the-20th century and helped transform Sturgeon Bay into a year-round community.”

Matson said there were originally four granaries that existed on Sturgeon Bay’s working waterfront. They were used by local farm families to help process and sell their harvests and the massive grain bins that once stored Door County peas, wheat, and corn still exist today.

“The Teweles and Brandeis Grain Elevator is the last one that remains in Sturgeon Bay to honor that prolific agricultural industry,” said Matson. 

During their visit, guests can get an up close look at the 124-year-old structure, its original columns, intact gain chutes and parts of the grain elevator belt and bucket system. The Granary, which was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2017, also features interpretive labels for visitors that shares information about the building itself and the Teweles and Brandeis families. 

“The Door County Granary’s presence on the West Waterfront tells a story that weaves together outlying farms, Great Lakes shipping, the Ahnapee and Western Railway, and the shipping canal,” said Matson, “there’s a history of the project that celebrates historic preservation and perseverance." 

Docent-led and self-guided tours will be available throughout the day and attendees will get to explore the living museum free of charge. The Granary will remain open for the season Wednesday-Sunday until October.

Photo Credit: Sturgeon Bay Historical Society

As severe weather enters the upper Midwest, you could see rain, lightning, hail, and damaging winds from your window tonight (Monday). The National Weather Service is warning you that multiple thunderstorms are expected to hit the area throughout the day and into the early morning. However, more severe weather stays mainly west and north of the Fox Valley. Tornadoes, damaging winds, and large hail could be the storm's by-products.

Door and Kewaunee counties currently sit in the enhanced risk category for severe weather, which was higher than it was initially at 6 p.m. Sunday. Door County Emergency Management and Kewaunee County Emergency Management recommend signing up for their respective Smart911 alerts, having your outdoor objects picked up, and making sure you and your family know where to go in the case of severe weather.

The National Weather Service reminds residents to prevent property damage by trimming loose branches and parking away from trees if possible. Last month, many Door County residents lost power for days due to downed trees on power lines.

You can find up-to-date weather forecasts by clicking this link.

Mark your calendars for July 20-26 for the 2025 Door County Plein Air Festival hosted by the Peninsula School of Art. The festival, which is celebrating its 19th year, will welcome 37 nationally renowned artists from around the Midwest and beyond, as well as many notable Wisconsin names. Onlookers will watch as paintings come to life with each brush stroke during live painting sessions stationed at various spots around the peninsula. 

“Plein Air is the act of painting outdoors and it has been a long tradition in Door County,” said Lindsay Draz, the Director of External Affairs for the Peninsula School of Art in Fish Creek.

This engaging event serves as a fundraiser for the school and each year a committee selects between 32 and 37 fine painters to participate. Alongside Door County resident Marc Anderson who owns M. Anderson Gallery in Sturgeon Bay, artists will come in from California, Texas, Maine and several other states.

“We have artists and attendees that come from all over the country that have an opportunity to celebrate and enjoy our beautiful landscape in Door County through art,” said Draz, “it’s a unique experience.”

Painting locations will be set up from Sturgeon Bay all the way up to Ellison Bay, so no matter where you are in the county, you will be able to find an artist painting. Geared for all ages, Draz says patrons will have plenty of options when it comes to taking in all the creativity. 

“They can listen to lectures by artists, art collectors and judges, and watch fast paint competitions,” said Draz.

There is also a special opportunity for children to channel their inner artist during the quick paint in Fish Creek on Saturday, July 26th. 

“You can stop by the art school and pick up a grab-and-go art kit for kids to paint along as part of that quick paint,” said Draz, “there’s lots of opportunities for both free and ticketed events the entire week of the festival.” 

Attendees can purchase a Palette Pass, which is an exclusive ticket for VIP and behind the scenes access. The pass will also give them the first opportunity to buy the paintings crafted during the festival during the Collector’s Preview event. An Open Door Reception will also be held with all the remaining works available plus online sales will be available through August 10th. 

“The Door County Plein Air Festival is a really great way to honor the arts and the beautiful landscape in Door County,” said Draz, “I’m also looking forward to bringing our community together to celebrate the arts and to raise awareness of the Peninsula School of Art.”

For the full schedule of events, painting locations, or list of this year’s artists, visit www.peninsulaschoolofart.org/doorcountypleinair.

Photo Credit: Peninsula School of Art

Expect to see plenty of construction cones on State Highway 57 over the next several months, whether you are north or south of the Bayview Bridge.

Be prepared to change your commute on State Highway 57 if you plan on making your way through Jacksonport beginning next month. On Friday, the Wisconsin Department of Transportation announced that it was resuming the bridge work projects it began last fall, starting on May 5th at Logan Creek. The work will replace the existing culvert pipes with a new at-grade slab span bridge. The work is similar to what was done in the Town of Sevastopol last fall when box culverts were replaced at Lily Bay Creek and Geisel Creek, hampering traffic from September until November. Motorists cannot cross the waterway while crews are working on the structure. The detour will allow motorists to follow County T and County V to avoid the closure on STH 57, though local, business, and emergency access will be maintained throughout construction. The project is expected to last until July. After Labor Day, crews will focus on Hibbard Creek, which is also due for a new at-grade slab span. That project will require motorists to follow County V, County A, and County E during construction, which will last until November.

These projects are not the only ones occurring on State Highway 57 this year. Beginning on Monday, crews will begin outfitting the highway’s intersections with County H, and Stone Road will be fitted with Reduced Conflict U-Turns (RCUTs) to replace minor road cross movements. Changes at the highway’s intersection with Cloverleaf Road will be more dramatic with right-in, right-out, and left-in movements. STH 57 in this area will remain open the entire project duration, though you can expect to see lane closures and flagging operations as a part of keeping crews safe.

For HELP of Door County, Inc., advocacy has always been at the forefront of their mission to provide programs and services throughout Door County for victims of domestic abuse. This month, the organization introduced a confidential, advocate-led support group for women survivors of domestic violence, which will provide an additional opportunity for support.

“Facilitated by our trained advocates, the group offers a safe, confidential space where survivors can connect, share their experiences, and support one another through healing,” said Moriah Benzow, the Executive Director for HELP of Door County, Inc.

Through the generosity of the community all victim’s services offered at the center are free of charge and individuals do not have to be a current or former client of HELP to attend the group. 

“Our goal is for the group to become a consistent, trusted resource, a safe haven where survivors feel heard, supported, and encouraged,” said Benzow, “we want it to be a place where healing begins and connections are made.” 

Benzow hopes the group will also help reduce the isolation that survivors often experience.

“Domestic violence can carry deep feelings of shame and fear, and many survivors suffer in silence,” she said, “by creating a space for open, non-judgemental conversation and peer connection, we hope to build a strong support network that encourages healing and empowerment.” 

The group will meet biweekly on Wednesdays and those interested in attending will need to call the HELP office to receive additional meeting details.

“Because safety and confidentiality are our top priorities, we don’t publicly share the exact time or location,” said Benzow, “the group is a powerful way to remind survivors they are not alone.” 

HELP of Door County, Inc. works closely with individuals to help improve their well-being and advocates for dignity within their families and intimate relationships. While the center does not offer direct counseling, it provides valuable support through listening and by connecting victims with other beneficial resources. 

“If you’re currently in, or have been in, a domestic violence situation, you are welcome here,” said Benzow, “everyone deserves a place to heal.” 

To learn more about services offered at HELP of Door County, Inc., call (920) 743-8785 or visit www.helpofdoorcounty.org.

Now is the perfect time to start planning those summer gardens and the Door County Seed Library invites everyone to stop in to check out their new stock! The Seed Library is a volunteer-run seed and garden education program that offers the community free open-pollinated vegetable, flower, herb, and native seeds. Adding new beautiful blooms or produce varieties to your garden is now as simple as a visit to the library.

With a goal to encourage others to establish a garden and to bring them together to share seeds, the Seed Library was started by Door County Master Gardener Volunteer, Penne Wilson. Wilson, alongside many volunteers, remains dedicated to keeping the seed drawers freshly stocked. Recently, they received a $2,000 grant to purchase seeds in addition to a large donation of assorted packets to add to the collection. 

“Monday we got a huge donation from the seed company and those were brought over here and I sorted those out in the cabinet,” said Laura Kayacan, the Adult Services Librarian at the Door County Library in Sturgeon Bay, “we’ve got thousands of seeds.”

The cabinet contains an impressive assortment of seeds ranging from carrots, melons, tomatoes, peppers, herbs, and different types of flowers, but Kayacan said it also features a rather special offering.

“My favorite’s the Ken Paschke beans because they’ve been grown here in Door County for so many years and now they’re considered official Door County adaptable beans,” said Kayacan, “I love growing them and they grow very easily.”  

Ken Paschke, a Door County Farmer, has been growing the beans for the last 60 years and created the new variety that thrives in the area’s unique soil conditions. 

“We hope to get them picked up soon because the weather’s changing and it’s going to be nice out and people should be thinking about planting vegetables and flowers and having a healthy lifestyle here in Door County,” said Kayacan.

There is no cost for selecting seeds at the library and it works just like checking out books - but instead, it’s with seeds. Simply sign up for a free library membership, browse the seed collection and then bring some home to plant. The packets are all conveniently labeled and are well-organized. There’s also multiple locations for the Seed Library and in addition to Sturgeon Bay, other participating libraries include Baileys Harbor, Forestville, Egg Harbor, and Sister Bay/Liberty Grove.

“It’s amazing how many people come in and look at this,” said Kayacan.

The seed inventories vary throughout the growing season but its availability also stems from generous donations. Those interested in contributing to the Seed Library can bring in clean seeds in a labeled, well-sealed envelope and drop them off with the Seed Donation form available at participating branches.

For more information or to get involved with the initiative, visit www.doorcountyseedlibrary.org. 

The formation of the Great Lakes is the result of numerous geological events, the most recent of which involved massive Ice Age glaciers. Many people assume that when the last glacial ice melted—roughly 10,000 to 12,000 years ago—the modern landscapes of Lake Michigan, the Niagara Escarpment, and the Door Peninsula were revealed. In reality, the retreat of the glaciers triggered a complex series of changes. Post-glacial lakes formed and disappeared over thousands of years, gradually shaping the landforms we see today.

At our Ida Bay Preserve, visitors can observe evidence of four distinct post-glacial lakes. Until about 3,000 years ago—give or take a few centuries—much of what is now Crossroads at Big Creek lay beneath water. We speculate that the land at our Cove Estuary Preserve has likely been above water for less than 2,000 years.

Our  geological history connects directly to many of the activities we will offer this week. Whether you're joining the Four Bridges Hike, taking part in an Environmental Exploration program, attending a Current (Environmental) Events discussion, or simply observing migrating birds, the legacy of glaciers continues to inform our understanding of the natural world. Even decisions about which native trees to plant as a part of our restoration efforts are influenced by this ancient glacial past.

At a recent Science Saturday program, a young participant asked, “What would Door County be like if there had never been glaciers?”. While geology always involves a degree of speculation, we can glimpse an answer by looking to southwestern Wisconsin—a region known as the Driftless Area.

In the preface to her book Shelter and Storm: A Home in the Driftless, Tamara Dean describes this glacially untouched land:

“A few miles west of Madison begins a landscape like no other on the planet. The Driftless Area is so improbable that from the earliest surveys in the 1800s and as late as the 1980s, some geologists refused to accept its existence. How could all of North America’s glaciers—probably dozens—have bypassed this 8,500-square-mile tract that was neither higher in elevation nor more porous than surrounding areas? Scientists puzzled over the clues for more than 150 years.

“Their conclusion points to a series of extraordinary coincidences. The ice sheets encountered warmer temperatures and melted before reaching the region, or they lost momentum or found easier paths….. During the Wisconsin Glaciation (which lasted from roughly 60,000 to 10,000 years ago), some glacial lobes followed the basin now occupied by Lake Michigan. Encountering less resistance moving southward, they didn’t spread very far west. Other lobes followed the deep trough of what is now Lake Superior, which prevented them from gaining the momentum to move further south.

“An absence of drift—glacial deposits like pebbles and silt—gave the region its name. Evading the glaciers also preserved its remarkable natural beauty.”

We are pleased to host Tamara Dean at Crossroads at 7:00 on Thursday, May 8, for an Author Talk and Book Signing. Her newly released book invites readers to reflect on how we care for the land, our responsibilities to one another, and how we thrive together in uncertain times. Following the presentation, copies will be available for purchase from Novel Bay Booksellers.

Like the Driftless Area, the Door Peninsula boasts remarkable geological features, and spring is a perfect time to explore them. We look forward to welcoming you to our preserves this spring as we continue to explore, learn, connect with, and restore the land shaped by glaciers, time, and community.

Saturday, May 3                                                                                                                       
2:00 pm Science Saturday: Four Bridges Expedition
This family-friendly hike explores four bridges and areas of the preserve that were once submerged under post-glacial lakes. It is designed for students, but curious learners of all ages are welcome. Meet at the Collins Learning Center, Crossroads at Big Creek, 2041 Michigan Street, Sturgeon Bay.

Monday, May 5                                                                                                                                               

1:30 pm Current (Ecological) Events Group

At the final session this spring, participants will read and discuss articles related to biodiversity, geology, and climate change. You can pick up free copies of the articles at the Collins Learning Center, but you need not read them to attend, nor are you required to read them before the discussion. Meet at the Collins Learning Center, Crossroads,  2041 Michigan Street, Sturgeon Bay.

Tuesday, May 6

 3:30 pm Environmental Exploration: Macroinvertebrates
This after-school program introduces elementary students (and learners of all ages) to the fascinating world of pond-dwelling macroinvertebrates. Meet at the Collins Learning Center, Crossroads, 2041 Michigan, Sturgeon Bay

Wednesday, May 7

1:30 pm Wandering Wednesday
Join a free, naturalist-led walk through the Crossroads Big Creek Preserve. The pace is easy and welcoming to all. Meet at the Collins Learning Center, Crossroads, 2041 Michigan Street, Sturgeon Bay.

Thursday, May 8

 7:00 pm Author Talk and Book Signing with Tamara Dean
Join us for a presentation by the author of Shelter and Storm, a Home in the Driftless, an inspiring book of essays describing how we care for the land, our responsibilities to one another, and how we thrive together in uncertain times. Copies will be available for purchase from Novel Bay Booksellers after the program. Meet at the Collins Learning Center, 2041 Michigan, Street Sturgeon Bay.

Respect for the American Flag is fundamental to National Pride and Patriotism. Understanding the Do’s and Don’ts is critical when displaying the American Flag. The way we handle the American flag shows our respect for the country it represents and the Patriots who served or died protecting it. Service men and women are allowed to have the American Flag draped over their coffin as a sign of respect and honor. That flag is then folded and given to a family member, thanking them for their loved one’s service and sacrifice.

For those who don’t know, the 13 alternating stripes represent the 13 original colonies, and the 50 white stars represent the 50 states in the union. Red symbolizes hardness, valor, and courage, while white represents purity and innocence. Blue signifies vigilance, perseverance, and Justice.

The U.S. flag should be flown above all others and can be displayed every day from sunrise to sunset. If properly illuminated, the flag can remain displayed overnight. Although there are many rules on how to raise and lower the flag, some of the major ones are: 1. Never let the flag touch the ground, 2. Never fly the flag upside down, 3. Do not fasten or tie in the back. Always allow it to flow freely. The flag can he flown at half-staff on special holidays (ie, Memorial Day) or by order of the President and Governor.

A flag should not be tossed away as trash when it becomes unserviceable. The flag should be lowered and properly folded. It can then be turned into any local American Legion, VFW, or County Veteran Service Office. A proper ceremony is conducted to honor and dignify worn or tattered American flags, which local Veteran Service Organizations conduct.

Your child can help fill some of the few open spots available during Birch Creek Music Performance Center’s academy sessions this summer. Students from across the Midwest come to Egg Harbor every summer for the immersive music experience, beginning many days with rehearsals and private lessons before performing in front of packed houses at night. While some instrument groups fill up almost immediately, others, like oboe, clarinet, and bassoon, are still in need of players to fill the ensemble. Birch Creek Music Performance Center Executive Director Emeritus Mona Christensen believes part of the problem still dates back to the pandemic, where restrictions caused some kids to start late, if at all. Christensen says others do not think they are good enough to audition or cannot afford to attend. In her eyes, that is not the case.

Christensen adds that many potential students will participate in next weekend’s state solo and ensemble contest hosted at UW-Green Bay. She encourages kids to send in their application and audition materials right away to ensure they will have a spot when the percussion session begins on June 19th, the symphony session on July 3rd, and the big band jazz session on July 16th. You can listen to our full interview with Christensen online using this link.

No matter the side of the aisle you stand on, you can bet on United States Senator Ron Johnson drawing a crowd when he visits Door County next weekend. The Oshkosh Republican will be the keynote speaker at the Republican Party of Door County’s annual Lincoln Dinner on May 4th in Sturgeon Bay. His visit comes as Americans keep their eyes on the stock markets as the threat of additional tariffs looms and the Trump Administration looks for action on a peace deal between Ukraine and Russia. With additional questions being raised about potential cuts to Social Security and Medicare, Door County Republican Party Chairperson Stephanie Soucek believes it will be beneficial for conservatives to hear directly from Johnson.

You can contact the Republican Party of Door County for information on attending the event. Indivisible Door County and the Democratic Party of Door County plan to protest ahead of the event as a follow-up to their Easter weekend demonstration.

Picture from Republican Party of Door County

As Green Bay begins to host over 250,000 visitors for the 2025 NFL Draft from April 24-26, attendees are urged to remain diligent about their personal safety. With the large influx of people arriving from around the country, the risk of human trafficking rises, making it crucial for both residents and visitors to recognize the warning signs of danger.

Awaken, a Green Bay-based 501(c)(3) organization, recently received a $20,000 grant from Brown County to aid their efforts of combating the potential increase in human trafficking during the draft. Green Bay Awaken Center Program Director Becky Wright said the organization has already put the funding to good use and that their key focus has been on prevention.

“We have done a variety of different canvassing events, local presentations, and other awareness activities throughout our community,” said Wright. 

Funding has gone towards advocacy materials, including posters and mirror clings, which have been placed in public spaces.

“The mirror clings have the Be Safe number on there and those have been put in different places so that people, when they are alone in a private area like a bathroom, can make that phone call and get help,” she said. 

When it comes to safety at big events in Wisconsin, Wright says there is often a misconception that instances like human trafficking don’t happen here, but that’s not the case.

“Anytime there are large groups coming into a location, crime increases and trafficking is part of crime,” said Wright, “a lot of times people would like to think that trafficking only happens in big cities or in major metropolitan areas or they think it happens overseas but really, the women we’ve worked with are from Brown County or different parts of Wisconsin.”

When attending events like the draft that draws in large crowds, Wright says there are signs to look out for when it comes to human trafficking.

Signs to Watch For:

• An individual controlling or withholding another person’s money or identification 

• Unusual or domineering behavior or avoiding eye contact

• Wearing clothing that is unseasonal to the area

• Displaying large amounts of cash or valuables  

If you believe someone has been trafficked, Wright says the best option is to discreetly contact the Green Bay Police Department or Brown County Sheriff's office to make a report.

“Do not go up to people directly and approach the situation,” warns Wright.

Instead, be sure to observe identifying marks that could be shared with law enforcement, including what the victim and potential perpetrator looked like, license plate information, and location.

“It is not safe to follow them or put yourself at risk because sometimes we may think we’re stepping in to help but we’ve seen situations where they can harm the person being victimized,” said Wright, “reporting is the best thing you can do.” 

It is also important to know how to keep yourself safe. Wright says always being aware of your surroundings and avoiding situations that can put you at risk is critical. Establishing healthy boundaries and traveling with a friend, partner or group is also important.

Being informed can help you and your loved ones stay safe while enjoying the excitement at the draft or any large event. 

“We’re grateful that Brown County has supported us to be able to do this during the draft,” said Wright, “this is not just a community issue but an Awaken issue and we want to be able to work together in order to prevent and bring awareness to this issue.” 

With hundreds of thousands of visitors expected to attend the upcoming Draft in Green Bay, it is possible that those attending the event and spending time in the surrounding areas will be targeted by identity thieves hoping to steal private information. Any travel, but especially travel to popular locations and events, can increase the risk of identity theft. Consumers should be aware of how identity theft occurs, and how to reduce their risks, in preparation for the weekend.

Before and during the Draft, scammers will likely use many methods to convince consumers to give up personal information. Surveys, prize giveaways, and online quizzes not affiliated with official Draft events can be tempting. However, if they require participants to provide private data, even as simple as their name, birth date, or contact information, consumers should remember they have no control over what happens to that data after it is submitted. Many of these innocent-seeming collection methods are actually run by individuals and groups for the sole purpose of selling the personal information.

Websites and apps often solicit personal information, and request device access and permissions that many consumers do not question. Bad actors may also create websites and apps with misleading names or branding to imply they are affiliated with the 2025 Draft. Consumers should always refer to official event sources and retailers when registering or making purchases related to the Draft.

When traveling to and from the Draft, the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) recommends that consumers make purchases with a credit card because they offer built-in protections against fraud, allow the user to dispute fraudulent charges, and can be quickly cancelled if lost or compromised.

DATCP also encourages card users to be vigilant, as the data on a card can be stolen in several ways. Aside from physical theft, scammers can place ‘card skimmer’ devices on a legitimate business payment processor device without the knowledge of the business. These devices record card data while it is being used to make a purchase. Card skimmers have been found on ATMs, gas station card readers, and even retail business checkouts. Often, a small camera or fake keypad is installed to record the card’s PIN.

To protect against card skimmers, consumers should perform a brief inspection of the card reader device before they use their card. Beware if the card reader is misaligned or sticking out at a strange angle, the keypad feels flimsy or appears to be separating from the device, or if physically wiggling the card reader dislodges a card skimmer device or component. Devices sometimes called card “shimmers” function similarly but capture data from tap-to-pay transactions. Suspected card skimmers and shimmers should be reported to the business.

Many providers now build safety measures into their cards to prevent this form of theft. Consumers concerned about the vulnerabilities of an older credit card may consider requesting a new card from their provider with newer data security protections before traveling.

Beep, beep, get ready for an adventure - the Door County Spring Jeep Run will take place on Saturday, May 10th in Sturgeon Bay! The event will include an interactive day of exploring and visiting various businesses in Door County as part of the Poker run. Proceeds will benefit STRIDE, a mental health partner program of the United Way of Door County that helps students to focus on strength, independence, and empowerment. 

The event will begin with a light breakfast at Kitty O’Reilly’s at 9AM, registration opens at 10AM and includes a short driver meeting at 11AM. A representative from STRIDE is also expected to speak. Participants will have until 6PM to build their Poker hand at stops that include AC Tap, Lake Fire Winery, Mink River Basin, and The Hitching Post.

John Jorns, a Commercial Lender for the Bank of Luxemburg in Door County and the volunteer coordinator for the event, says the run is an engaging way to get involved in the community. Last year, the event had close to 50 participants which has already been surpassed with registrations for next month.

“It’s fun to show off Door County, and how you can see people from different areas whether they’re locals or you know, tourists coming in, they all have something in common and I see some really good relationships start,” said Jorns.

Jorns was inspired to introduce the event after getting involved with the Door County Jeep Jam in Egg Harbor and had approached Amy Kohnle, Executive Director for United Way of Door County, with his idea.

“As a Jeep owner, I just realized what I would really like to do with it and figured how can we help a cause?” said Jorns, “my idea was to tour Door County and help the establishments in the off season and raise money.”

With the run, participants will receive a different Poker card at each stop for a total of five cards. They will also have the opportunity to purchase a sixth card and the best hand will win. Best of all, Jorns says no prior gaming experience is necessary to join in on the fun.

“It’s low stress and you don’t need to know how to play Poker to do it, there’s no card talent involved,” he said.

Each hosting stop will also have fundraisers going to raise additional funds as well as gift baskets to raffle. The final stop, The Thirsty Cow Taphouse, will have live music and the final hand where the lucky winner will receive a $500 cash prize, sponsored by the Bank of Luxemburg. 

“I think this is going to be a real good run,” said Jorns, “you don’t have to have a Jeep to attend this, but I can tell you, when you’re done, you may want one.”

Tickets are $50 per person, per Poker hand. To register, visit www.unitedwaydc.com or call (920) 746-9645. 

The City of Sturgeon Bay received a Bravo Zulu on Thursday as it was redesignated as Coast Guard City. Since 2014, Sturgeon Bay has distinguished itself as a U.S. Coast Guard City, celebrating its long-standing relationship with the military branch. For over 140 years, Coast Guard members and their families have been able to call the city home. Officials from the City of Sturgeon Bay, U.S. Coast Guard, and Door County Maritime Museum presided over the dual ceremony. The museum also cut the ribbon on its new Coast Guard exhibit, Sentinels of the Door. Door County Maritime Museum Executive Director Kevin Osgood says the redesignation shows how critical the city and the branch are to each other.

There are 34 U.S. Coast Guard cities across the United States, including Sturgeon Bay, the only one in Wisconsin.

You could have seen the Kewaunee band and choir take the same stage that country legends have played for nearly a century. Last week, the groups played in front of the Grand Ole Opry as a part of its Music City Performance Program to give students the experience of playing ahead of the longest-running live radio show. For forty minutes, the Kewaunee band and choir warmed up the crowd walking into the venue before Opry members Vince Gill, John Pardi, Gary Mule Deer, and John Conlee. Band member Henry Annen says it is an experience he will not soon forget.

The Kewaunee Band also visited other sites around Tennessee during the trip, including Smoky Mountain National Park, Vanderbilt University, and RCA Studios. 

After visitors arrive in Green Bay, they will navigate through town in buses, shuttles, rideshares, or their own vehicles. With a variety of options available, scammers may use this as an opportunity to sell fake transit tickets, reservations, and passes. To avoid scams, visitors should know where to go for information related to parking and transportation services. By visiting GreenBay.com/Draft25 or downloading the NFL OnePass app, users will find the latest updates and details such as:

Green Bay Metro will operate a free bus route from Downtown Green Bay to the Draft event grounds.

The Brown County Tavern League will provide free shuttles from participating bars, restaurants, and other member establishments directly to visitors’ rented lodging.

There will be dedicated pick-up and drop-off locations for rideshare services like Uber, Lyft, and others.

Traditional taxi services will also be available during the 2025 Draft.

Most attendees are expected to drive to Green Bay for the 2025 Draft, and these drivers are vulnerable to additional scams. Many consumers are familiar with automated parking meters. Some take coins or credit cards, but others require the user to pay online. These meters will often have a nearby pay station or display a QR code to make the payment process as smooth as possible. While QR codes are useful tools that can be scanned with smartphones and other devices to quickly open apps and website links, they are also vulnerable to tampering.

The problem: Scammers can place fraudulent QR code stickers, sometimes over valid QR codes, to mislead consumers. The scammer’s QR code opens what appears to be a normal payment portal, but if a consumer uses it, they will send their money and payment information to a scammer while their vehicle remains illegally parked.

The solution: Consumers using a QR code should examine it closely to check for possible tampering. After scanning, they should double check the web address and whether the payment portal matches the parking company’s branding.

However, much of the available parking during the Draft will belong to private Green Bay residents who rent out space in front of their homes or businesses for visitors’ vehicles.

The problem: Scammers may solicit and accept consumers’ money for parking spots they do not have a right to sell. To make their scheme more believable, scammers may dress as parking attendants and provide fake receipts after the consumer’s payment is processed.

The solution: Consumers should research parking areas in advance and have several options in mind, including backups if their top choices are unavailable. If possible, they should pay with a credit card to take advantage of built-in fraud protections but have cash available if needed. Refer to GreenBay.com/Draft25 or the NFL OnePass app to review parking options.

And it doesn’t stop there. Consumers may encounter a scam even after parking legally in a legitimate spot, potentially days, weeks or even months after the Draft.

The problem: Scammers use fake parking tickets to trick consumers into handing over their money. These tickets may be left on a vehicle with instructions to pay, or texted/emailed to a consumer later. Paying a fake ticket will cost a consumer money and expose their personal information, creating a risk of identity theft.

The solution: Never open links or make payments in response to unsolicited messages. If a consumer believes a charge may be real, they should contact the local law enforcement agency directly using non-emergency contact information that can be independently verified – not with details provided in the unsolicited message.

A recent variation of this scam threatened Wisconsin consumers with unpaid tolls instead of parking tickets. While Wisconsin does not have any toll roads, neighboring states do. If consumers believe an unpaid toll message may be real, they should visit the tolling agency’s official website to learn more.

Learn more about parking, bus, shuttle, and rideshare services for the 2025 Draft in Green Bay at GreenBay.com/Draft25 or by downloading the NFL OnePass app.

Inclement weather was not enough to deter people from visiting Door County Medical Center on Wednesday afternoon, as it recognized Donate Life Month. The annual ceremony was moved inside to the Door County Medical Center lobby due to the rain. Members of organ and tissue donation organizations, Versiti and Lions Eye Clinic of Wisconsin, substituted in for the flag pole to wave the Donate Life flag while dozens commemorated the day with a one-minute and three-second moment of silence to remember the 103,000 Americans currently waiting for a life-saving transplant.

Speaking at the event were Don and Polly Helm, whose daughter Ellie passed away more than seven years ago in an ATV accident, but lives on in others because of her decision as a 16-year-old to become an organ donor. The Helms say Ellie was excited to become an organ donor, despite not knowing if they would ever have to worry about the decision. Knowing the lives Ellie has been able to impact as an organ donor, the Helms continue to be proud of their daughter.

Wednesday's flag-raising was part of other Pause to Give Life events throughout the state, which promoted the mission of organ, tissue, and eye donation and honored donors and their families.

Whether you are visiting Fish Creek this weekend or Sturgeon Bay next weekend, the Door County YMCA is preparing to welcome your family for its annual Healthy Kids Day events. Taking place on April 26th at the Jackie and Steve Kane Center and May 3rd at the Sturgeon Bay Program Center from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., Healthy Kids Day will feature activities throughout the facilities that will allow families to have fun together while learning important skills like sun safety and water safety. Door County YMCA Member Experience Director Josh Lardinois says that just like the robin is the first sign of spring, Healthy Kids Day has a similar impact on summer.

Speaking of summer, Lardinois says now is also the time for families to take a look at their schedule and see how summer camps may fit in their plans. You can listen to the entire Y Wednesday interview with Josh Lardinois by clicking this link.

Earth Day this year held a very special meaning for Bob and Barb MacDonald who manage Bayside Tavern in Fish Creek. Alongside celebrating the environment, they pledged to plant 50 trees in honor of their upcoming 50th anniversary to continue supporting nature’s beauty and sustainability in Door County. 

On April 22nd, patrons were invited out to Bayside Tavern for lunch, where they were gifted a complimentary tree during the tavern’s micro-event. Partnered with the Climate Change Coalition of Door County, a total of 150 trees were available to the community, including established two-year-old Balsam Firs and three to four different varieties of Spruce. 

The inspiration for the event stemmed from the MacDonalds’ desire to give back to the community that they grew to love over the last several decades. The family had many memories together in Door County, which continued when MacDonald’s parents purchased the business. The tavern, which originally started as an 1870’s schoolhouse, was quickly turned into the iconic eatery on Main street that it is today.

“We’ve done a lot to the business over the years without changing its’ heart and soul,” said Bayside Tavern General Manager Bob MacDonald, “my whole family loves historical preservation and that’s what gave us the idea to plant the 50 trees but we wanted to make them available to the community to plant, too.”

Over the years, Bob and his wife, Barb, have both managed the business with a goal to serve its customers with unwavering hospitality. While time has brought along physical upgrades to the building itself and included three generations of family working there, its roots have remained grounded in tradition, which Bob says started with his parents and really embraces the true essence of Fish Creek.

“Community means togetherness, it means relationships - people helping one another and family,” he said, “I think it also means ‘Fish Creek’ and I just love being here.”

While Bayside Tavern’s anniversary is formally on August 16th, Bob said the tree giveaway was an early start to celebrations. The anniversary milestone had MacDonald recalling how much joy Bayside customers have brought his family, specifically his mother, Elaine, 91, over the years.

“There hasn’t been a day that she doesn’t say how much she loves living in Fish Creek and she often talks about the days of boating, spending time with friends, and all the employees that she treated like family throughout the years,” he said, “to me that means something, too, it’s very personable and that’s a rare thing.”

Whether it’s serving guests a bowl of his dad’s world-famous chili or seeing others come together to create new memories for the first time, Bob hopes to continue to extend his appreciation for his customers.

“We want to give back to the community that has given us so much and to hold onto some of the charm that Door County is known for,” he said.

The pledged trees will be planted on the property at Bayside Tavern and in other areas in Fish Creek.

Photo credit: Bayside Tavern

The Wisconsin Department of Transportation reminds you that State Highway 57 is not the only place you will find work crews next week. After inspecting the Bayview Bridge last week, inspectors will be back in town to look at the Maple/Oregon Bridge on April 29th before moving to the Michigan Street Bridge on April 30th and May 1st. The bridges will be fully closed all three days between 7 a.m. and 4 p.m. to allow the inspections to occur.  Marine traffic will be allowed under all three bridges during the inspections. DOT Bureau of Structures Lift Bridge Program Manager Jim McDowell says drones will assist in some of their inspection work of the Maple/Oregon Street Bridge, while the Michigan Street Bridge will get a little extra TLC when crews are in town.

While you can’t use the bridge for motorist or pedestrian use during the inspections, they will be open for marine traffic all three days.

With the majority of football fans driving from within a 100-mile radius for this week's NFL Draft, make sure you drive with a smile as you approach the Titletown campus. The final phase of road closures around Lambeau Field is expected to take place at around noon on Wednesday, impacting traffic on Oneida Street, Armed Forces Drive, Lombardi Avenue, Ridge Road, Holmgren Way, Mike McCarthy Way, Brett Favre Pass, and Tony Canadeo Run. Parking is available from area businesses and homeowners, with some prices being more than $100. For those not wanting to deal with the hassle of driving near the stadium, the Green Bay Metro public transportation is running a free shuttle through the downtown area that will drop off fans near the campus every 15 minutes.

Road message signs have been set up for those driving from Door and Kewaunee counties since Monday, advising truck traffic to go to the Ashland exit, with delays likely starting to build in the late afternoon ahead of the draft selections.

Destination Door County has other resources available for people staying in Door County and looking for transportation options, and for those in Green Bay trying to find something to do outside of the draft's hours.  

Anne Otter from the Lions Eye Clinic of Wisconsin would be the first to tell you that parts of her are older than she is, thanks to an organ and tissue donor. More than 30 years ago, Otter was told that without a corneal transplant in both of her eyes, she would be blind. Thanks to a 54-year-old man and a 63-year-old woman, she can now tell her story to others across the state, including those at Door County Medical Center. Otter hopes her path inspires others to converse with families about their wishes to donate life through organ and tissue donation.

On Wednesday, Door County Medical Center (DCMC) will join with dozens of Wisconsin hospitals, businesses, and community organizations across the state by hosting its annual Pause to Give Life event—a statewide Donate Life Flag-raising ceremony and moment of silence that promotes not only the mission of organ, tissue and eye donation, but also honors donors and their families. As a part of their event, Door County Medical Center will have the Donate Life Flag raised by Don and Polly Helm, parents of organ donor Ellie Helm, at 1:08 p.m. in honor of the eight lives one donor can save. The moment of silence will last one minute and three seconds in honor of the more than 103,000 patients currently waiting for a life-saving transplant in the U.S.  You can hear our full interview here. 

For the first time since 2017, you can get a bird’s eye view of Potawatomi State Park. The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources opened the historic tower this week after a spring storm blocked the main road leading to the tower.

That was nothing compared to the three years of waiting since Governor Tony Evers and then-DNR Secretary Preston Cole announced the tower would be saved. Controversy set in when more expensive options to salvage the tower were introduced that would have added an ADA-accessible ramp similar to what was built for Peninsula State Park’s Eagle Tower. The state finally settled on repairing the structure and putting some space aside for a scenic outlook for those who want to gaze upon the state park, but cannot climb the tower. 

Dave Allen has already enjoyed the view from the top of the observation tower a few times since he learned that the tower had been reopened. He says the view proves that some things are just worth fighting for in the end.

The DNR is doing minor clean-up work around the tower ahead of the upcoming season. The tower was initially closed in 2017 because of significant wood decay and unsafe conditions. Built in 1931, the tower was placed on the State Register of Historic Places in 2019 and on the National Register of Historic Places in 2020.  

The next time you visit Wisconsin’s Coast Guard City, you will have the opportunity to learn about the military branch’s history and its connection to Door County. The Door County Maritime Museum is putting the final touches on its new Sentinels of the Door exhibit, exploring the history of the U.S. Lifesaving Service, the Lighthouse Service, and the Steamboat Inspection Service before they merged with the U.S. Coast Guard. The history includes the state’s oldest lighthouse on Rock Island and its first lifesaving outpost in Baileys Harbor. With Sturgeon Bay serving as a Coast Guard City since 2014, Door County Maritime Museum Deputy Director Sam Perlman says the new exhibit will celebrate Door County’s three local Coast Guard units that have preceded them.

The exhibit, along with tours of the Tug John Purves in Sturgeon Bay and the Cana Island Lighthouse near Baileys Harbor, will open on May 1st. The Door County Maritime Museum will host a dual celebration on Thursday, April 24th at 11 a.m. in honor of the new exhibit and its five-year re-designation as an official US Coast Guard City.

Picture courtesy of Door County Maritime Museum

Click here for a preview of the exhibit

After over three decades of service to the Northern Door community, you are being asked to help support the family of Sister Bay/Liberty Grove Fire Chief Chris Hecht. The department shared the news of Hecht’s health challenges on Sunday, sharing a link to a GoFundMe page to support the Hecht family’s unexpected health and travel expenses. According to the GoFundMe page, Hecht was in Indianapolis for the Fire Department Instructor’s Conference when he suffered a ruptured brain aneurysm. In the days since, Hecht has had two more surgeries to improve blood flow to the brain and remains heavily sedated and on a ventilator in critical condition. Since the GoFundMe was launched, more than $54,000 has been raised. Public service has been a hallmark of Hecht’s since he began serving the Northern Door community as an EMT in the late 1980s. Soon after, he joined the Sister Bay/Liberty Grove Fire Department and became its Chief in 2001. He has also served his country in recent years as a Fire Apparatus Subject Matter Expert for the U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps. During the pandemic, Hecht helped create the Door County Fire Chiefs Association, assisting residents with everyday tasks before switching to fire safety and health education efforts. After winning the Sister Bay Volunteers of the Year award along with wife, he was quick to point out that he never did it alone when it came to supporting the community he loves.

Fire departments across the county expressed their support to Hecht and his family, citing his commitment to the community. You can donate to the cause by clicking on this link or visiting your Nicolet National Bank branch.

Two weeks after cities across the country held protests against the actions of the Trump administration and Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency, Democrats in Door and Kewaunee counties took to the streets to voice their own displeasure. The protests were part of a more extensive network of 800 protests nationwide, reprising events held on April 6th when more than 1,400 demonstrations took place. The grassroots group known as 50501 (50 protests. 50 states. 1 movement) is spearheading the effort, telling National Public Radio that it is in response to the "anti-democratic and illegal actions of the Trump administration."  In Algoma, dozens took to American Legion Park along the lakeshore, adorned with signs protesting tariffs and potential cuts to Medicaid and social security, while calling for an end to fascism. 

In Sturgeon Bay, an estimated 450 people marched across the bridges and demonstrated near the Maple/Oregon Bridge, holding signs championing DEI and affordable healthcare while echoing the familiar "Hands Off" refrain that has been a part of protests this month. 

The group 50501 is already planning a May Day of Action with events already being planned for Manitowoc, LaCrosse, Madison, and Saint Croix Falls.

After nearly two years of planning, you will finally see the eyes of the football world focused on Green Bay and northeast Wisconsin for the NFL Draft. Road closures around the draft’s footprint in Green Bay and Ashwaubenon have been in place for a few weeks as crews construct a large theater and other amenities for the nearly 250,000 people expected to attend over the long weekend. Austin Straubel Airport in Green Bay is embracing its role as the welcome center for thousands of out-of-state fans, many visiting the area for the first time. Airport Director Marty Piette says flight traffic will be twice as busy as usual, exceeding usual traffic for a Packers game day. With the help of more than 100 volunteers, Piette says they want to leave a good impression on their visitors as the first and last thing they see of Green Bay during their trip.

Closer to home, area tourism leaders are leaning into the attendees looking to extend their Midwestern vacation or escape the activity surrounding Lambeau Field and the Titletown District. Similar to when they welcome cruise ships during the summer, the Algoma Chamber of Commerce plans on handing out more than 100 welcome bags for people either staying or visiting the city during the draft. Destination Door County launched its Draft Pass this week, inviting locals and visitors alike to get a taste of the county through the end of April. Destination Door County’s Jen Rogers says excitement is building for the weekend.

New buildings may be rising, but they will help you enter the past as work continues at Eagle Bluff Lighthouse, located inside Peninsula State Park. The foundation for the site’s reconstructed barn and summer kitchen is poured in anticipation that the buildings will be up and enclosed ahead of the lighthouse’s opening Memorial Day weekend. It is a part of a $2 million restoration project helping return Eagle Bluff Lighthouse to what it was like when it was operational between 1868 and 1926. Door County Historical Society Executive Director Amy Frank says that by reconstructing the barn and the summer kitchen, visitors will better understand what life was like as a lighthouse keeper, giving the organization more space for its operations.

Frank hopes the summer kitchen and barn will be open and in use in August. In the interim, you will be able to tour the lighthouse and see up close how the restoration process is progressing when it opens for the season May 23rd. The Door County Historical Society has raised over $3.2 million to reimagine the historic site.

In Wisconsin, Arbor Day is officially observed on the last Friday of April. However, it doesn’t have to be. The Arbor Day Foundation explains that the best day to celebrate Arbor Day is when conditions are ideal for planting trees. At Crossroads at Big Creek, we will plant trees on Saturday, April 26, and continue planting whenever conditions are appropriate for years to come.

According to the Arbor Day Foundation, “As pioneers began moving into the Nebraska Territory, the lack of trees was deeply felt. Not only did the new residents miss the trees they had left behind, they also needed trees as windbreaks to prevent soil erosion, fuel and building materials, and shade from the hot sun.”

 J. Sterling Morton, a newspaper editor, became a passionate advocate for trees. In 1872, he proposed a tree-planting holiday called “Arbor Day.”

Wisconsin isn’t Nebraska, but following the Lumber Era, it was nearly as devoid of trees. Between the mid-1800s and early 1900s, 90% of Wisconsin’s original forests were clear-cut.

In her book Natural Connections 2, Emily Stone wrote, “The ‘cutover’ period, when most of our original forests were logged to build our rapidly growing country, left our land denuded. Hopeful immigrants tried to homestead the land and soon found that the soils were better suited for trees than crops.”

Stone also explained that during the 1930s, the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) planted trees to stabilize the damaged soil of abandoned farms. “Foresters experimented with having the CCC boys plant nonnative species in hopes that they wouldn’t be susceptible to insect and disease problems that slow growth in native species.”   

Norway Spruce, Scots Pine, and Colorado Blue Spruce did grow, but they failed to support the wildlife. 

We now understand that native trees provide the right kinds of food, like nuts, fruits, and leaves, and habitat for native birds and wildlife. They are also adapted to our local climate, soils, and seasonal rhythms, which helps them control erosion, filter water, and support the essential fungi and microorganisms in the soil, while sequestering carbon.

We are increasingly aware of the benefits of biodiversity. In the early years of Arbor Day, the goal was to plant as many trees as possible. Today, one of the  guiding principles is “Right Trees, Right Places, Right Reasons.”

On Saturday, April 26, community members of all ages are invited to join our aptly named volunteer group—the Habitat Healers—to plant trees in the right places at Crossroads. Our Saturday Science program that day will focus on trees as wildlife habitats.

Then on Monday at 1:30 p.m., we’ll screen the pre-recorded webinar Nature’s Best Hope, featuring native plant advocate Dr. Douglas Tallamy. This inspiring, illustrated lecture explores how homeowners can create conservation corridors and wildlife habitats in their own yards.

Our after-school program this week will be “Bird Listening,” which will also explore the relationship between birds and native trees.

Tree planting won’t be limited to this week. This spring, we’ll plant bare-root trees on the Big Creek Preserve and continue our multi-year restoration project at the Ida Bay Preserve.

At Crossroads, we are committed to planting native species, carefully selected to be appropriate for their habitats and beneficial to wildlife and the broader ecosystem. For us, Arbor Day is more than an annual holiday. J. Sterling Morton once said, “Arbor Day is unlike other holidays. Each of those reposes on the past, while Arbor Day proposes for the future.”

Saturday, April 26

9:00 a.m. – Habitat Healers: Tree Planting
Volunteers of all ages and abilities are invited to help plant bare-root trees. Bring a water bottle and work gloves. Planting equipment will be provided. Afterward, enjoy lemonade, cookies, and good company. Sign up on the Crossroads website—preregistration is encouraged but not required. Meet at the shop at Crossroads at Big Creek, 2041 Michigan Street, Sturgeon Bay.

10:00 a.m. – Saturday Science: Trees as Wildlife Habitat

Learn about the habitat needs of Door County’s wildlife. Weather permitting, the program will include an outdoor component. While geared toward elementary students, learners of all ages are welcome. It is free and open to the public. Meet at the Collins Learning Center, Crossroads, 2041 Michigan, Sturgeon Bay.

Monday, April 28

1:30 p.m. – Wild Ones Webinar: Nature’s Best Hope

.This pre-recorded webinar features Dr. Douglas Tallamy, who shows how homeowners can transform their yards into conservation corridors. Sponsored by Wild Ones – Door Peninsula Free and open to the public. Meet at the Collins Learning Center, Crossroads at Big Creek, 2041 Michigan Street, Sturgeon Bay.

Tuesday, April 29

3:30 Environmental Exploration; Bird Listening

Birding is often called “bird watching,” but listening is a better way to find and identify birds. Geared for elementary students, learners of all ages are welcome to attend. Free and open to the public. Meet in the lab at the Collins Learning Center, Crossroads, 2041 Michigan, Sturgeon Bay

You will soon be able to play a role in honoring the achievements of past athletes at Sturgeon Bay High School. Athletic Director Jon Dupuis announced on Wednesday the district's plans to restart the school’s athletic hall of fame beginning next school year.

The search is on for six members to make up the selection committee, with school board members, administrators, booster club members, alumni, and others asked to serve. Dupuis says they want to have the committee formed by the end of April or early May. 

The district will share nomination forms and criteria in May and hopes to receive nominations throughout the summer. A ceremony recognizing the 2025 Sturgeon Bay Athletic Hall of Fame inductees is scheduled for this Fall.

In Door County, Sevastopol and Southern Door each hold athletic hall of fame inductions. 

There were plenty of smiles and hardware to go around for the two Door County Special Olympics teams during last week’s state basketball championships on the campus of UW-Oshkosh.

The Door County Tigers won their first state championship in Division 12, winning their games 24-15 against the PWHO Dragons, 32-30 against the Shooting Stars, and 28-16 against Tosa Heat.

The Door County Clippers made it two state titles in a row in Division 4, winning their games 36-24, 37-22 against the Screamin’ Eagles, and 34-26 over the Swishers.

Despite playing on different teams, Clippers players Alec and Parker and Tigers players Tiffany, Trevor, and Mia said they cheered on each other’s success during the tournament. Tiffany added that they are not just teammates, but they are family.

The team basketball tournament was just part of the larger Special Olympics Wisconsin Spring Games event in Oshkosh, which hosted more than 800 athletes over the weekend. Alec, Parker, Tiffany, Trevor, and Mia are not slowing down either. Mia is participating in the production of Pippin next weekend in Sturgeon Bay, while several of them are getting ready for the upcoming track season.

Listen to our full interview with the champs here

You may soon be able to go back to work in a public sector job, even if you are receiving annuity payments from the Wisconsin Retirement System. Introduced by State Rep. Joel Kitchens and others in the Wisconsin Assembly and Senate, AB 196 looks to allow former public sector employees receiving retirement or disability annuity payments from the Wisconsin Retirement System to be allowed to return to work in other WRS-covered positions. The bill does not require the rehired retirees to contribute to WRS, but it needs full employer contributions to preserve the state’s payroll base. It also maintains the requirement for a break in service so individuals looking to return to work comply with retirement standards. Kitchens says this has been a concern with area school districts for a long time when filling substitute teacher roles. When school districts need a long-term substitute, former teachers qualified to fill the role are not allowed due to state law. If the bill passes, Kitchens hopes this will help fill a need with several area school districts.

The current law dates back over a decade, when the Wisconsin Legislature tried to root out municipal employees who tried to cheat the system by collecting a pension and earning a full-time salary at the same time. The bill was read for the first time on Wednesday and has been referred to the Committee on Local Government for further review.

Your commute on State Highway 57 in southern Door County will have plenty of orange construction cones dotting it when work begins on April 28th. On Thursday, the Wisconsin Department of Transportation announced the $3.88 million contract to help make three intersections along the highway safer. The highway’s intersections with County H and Stone Road will be fitted with Reduced Conflict U-Turns (RCUTs) to replace minor road cross movements. Changes at the highway’s intersection with Cloverleaf Road will be more dramatic with right-in, right-out, and left-in movements. The work will include curb and gutter, median islands, culvert and storm sewer modifications, lighting, and pavement markings. WisDOT spokesperson Mark Kantola says this project is an example of why it is important to make your concerns heard if you believe an area is dangerous for motorists.

STH 57 will remain open the entire project duration, though you can expect to see lane closures and flagging operations as a part of keeping crews safe. The project is expected to finish by August 29, 2025 You can stay up-to-date with the project by checking out this link.

You will not be alone if you plan to attend religious services this weekend as a part of your Easter celebrations. According to Lifeway Research, 90 percent of pastors identify Easter as their highest-attended worship service of the year, with Christmas (81 percent) and Mother’s Day (59 percent) rounding out the top three. Area Christians celebrate Jesus’ death on Good Friday and resurrection three days later on Easter Sunday. Five years ago, churches were forced to celebrate Easter in front of empty sanctuaries as Governor Tony Evers’ Stay-at-Home Order kept people out of houses of worship and in front of their radios, televisions, and computer screens. Father Dan Schuster of Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Casco and St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Luxemburg is happy that those days are gone and his parishioners have returned.

As churchgoers listen to their homilies and sermons this Easter weekend, Pastor Joel McKenney of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Algoma, Pastor Matthew Sprunger of Immanuel Lutheran Church in Kewaunee, and Deacon Mark Bortle of St. Peter and Paul’s Catholic Church in Institute remember the reason why Jesus died on the cross.

Pastor Joel McKenney

Pastor Matthew Sprunger

Deacon Mark Bortle

Holy Week began last Sunday with Palm Sunday and continued this week with Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Easter Vigil, and Easter Sunday services. You can go online to find you preferred church's schedule of services. 

Before the gates open for the Kewaunee County Fair in July and the Door County Fair in August, you must log on to ensure your project’s spot inside the Luxemburg and Sturgeon Bay exposition halls. The registration window for Door County Fair exhibitors opened on April 15th, while Kewaunee County Fair exhibitors can start entering their details on May 1st. Both counties use online registration for exhibitors, though there will be some opportunities for people to receive in-person assistance if needed. It is an exciting time for Door County 4-H Educator Candis Dart and Kewaunee County 4-H Educator Erin Dahle, who get see the sparks for many junior fair projects begin at area club meetings. Whether you’re in 4-H or not, Dart says exhibiting at the fair teaches you a lot about your project and yourself while opening doors along the way.

For additional registration information, you can visit the websites for the Kewaunee County Fair and the Door County Fair. The Kewaunee County Fair is July 10th-13th, and the Door County Fair is August 13th-17th.

Ahead of their June 8th graduation ceremony, Sevastopol High School principal Troy Schaefer announced this week that Eve Andreae is the Class of 2025 valedictorian and Naomi Rikkola is the salutatorian.

Both girls excelled inside and outside the classroom during their four years at Sevastopol. Andreae made her mark as a team captain on the soccer team, a volleyball letter winner, and a member of the school’s student council and National Honor Society. Andreae credits her parents, Chad and Christine, for their support, thanking them for “always being there to help me whenever I have questions and being great examples of the rewards that can come with hard work and challenging myself.”

Alongside Andreae in the student council and National Honor Society was Rikkola, a four-sport high school letter winner in cross country, volleyball, softball, and basketball. Rikkola thanked her parents and older sister Bailey for being a positive influence and Sevastopol sports for giving her the “stamina, perseverance, and the ability to work under pressure, which are skills that will allow me to succeed in healthcare.”

Schaefer praised the girls for showcasing the true meaning of perseverance, service, and leadership. “They are both outstanding role models for their classmates and will undoubtedly leave a lasting impact on the world,” said Schaefer.

Andreae will attend Wheaton College in Illinois to study Sociology and Christian Formation and Ministry. Rikkola will not just play basketball at Ripon College, but she will also major in biomedical sciences to become a pediatric nurse practitioner.

The Nest at Downtown Cary Park in Cary, N.C., and Chapman Foundations Adventure Playground at Gathering Place in Tulsa, Okla., beat out Kendall Weisgerber Memorial Playground for the top two spots.

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Farmers in Door and Kewaunee counties are getting closer to spending long days in their fields again as the weather outlook improves. According to the United States Department of Agriculture’s latest Crop Progress and Condition Report, the days suitable for fieldwork nearly doubled from 1.7 the week before to 3.3 last week. While some fields around the state were either too wet or still had frost in the ground, others were good enough to allow for spring tillage, manure and fertilizer application, and even some planting. Field activities like oat planting (two days behind last year, three days behind average) and spring tillage (three days behind last year, two days behind the average) are just a few days behind the pace. Kewaunee County farmer Kevin Swagel is happy to see his cover crops grow after the slow start. Farming a few hundred acres and supporting over 50 head of beef cattle, Swagel says he has been planting cover crops like winter wheat for nearly two decades. With some costs like fuel and fertilizer going up, Swagel is happy with the benefits cover crops provide to his operation.

The winter wheat condition took a small step backward over the past week, with 92 percent of the crop rated as fair to excellent, compared to 93 the week before. Swagel will be the host farm for next Tuesday’s Peninsula Pride Farms Conservation Conversation. You can find more details about the event here.

You have just a few more months to make a big impact for the Door County YMCA. The organization is about $50,000 away from reaching its annual campaign goal, with the funds going to support its programming and initiatives throughout the year. To support those efforts, Executive Director Tonya Felhofer says every dollar counts to help create a movement in the community. 

You can support the Door County YMCA in a few different ways in the coming weeks. All donations to the Door County YMCA’s Annual Campaign for the rest of this month will be matched by another donor up to $25,000. The organization is also preparing for its Dining by the Bay Event on May 8th at the Sturgeon Bay Yacht Club. Proceeds from ticket sales to the supper club-themed meal will support the Door County YMCA’s Membership for All program. You can listen to our full interview with Felhofer by clicking this link.

If you stop by the Door County Historical Museum during the three days, you may even run into a Golden Girl yourself.  A special reception will occur on April 24th from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. More than 250,000 people are expected to come to the area for the NFL Draft. Destination Door County has been connecting football-hungry fans and those who could use a breather from the festivities with other activities in the area over the last several months.

Picture courtesy of Door County

Looking at your investments and bills in recent days could be just as painful as getting a tooth pulled or scraping your knee, but there are ways you can calm your nerves about it. The stock markets have begun to rebound since President Donald Trump decided to roll back many of his tariffs last week after the stock markets lost trillions of dollars in value. Growing inflation and a recession remain a concern for many Americans. While several factors affecting the economy are outside of your control, Leslie Boden from Money Management Counselors in Sturgeon Bay says you can do plenty of things right now to ensure you and your family can pay your bills and not be as stressed financially.

Understanding your debt, building your emergency fund, and reviewing your spending patterns are other ways to plan during uncertain financial times. According to a Bank of America survey conducted last November, nearly 30 percent of Americans say they live paycheck to paycheck, with households spending at least 90 percent of their income on necessities.

Door County families can look forward to a fun-filled Easter weekend with egg hunts planned in several towns. Along with the traditional egg searches, many of the events will feature crafts, games, and surprises to delight children of all ages.

Friday, April 18

Algoma: The Algoma Public Library will kick off the weekend’s activities with an indoor egg hunt on Friday. Kids can also enjoy Easter-themed crafts and games—perfect for a cozy celebration regardless of the weather.

Saturday, April 19

Festivities continue throughout the county on Saturday.

 
Baileys Harbor: Egg hunts at the Baileys Harbor Town Hall begin at 9:00 a.m. and are divided by age: 9:00 a.m. – Ages 0–3, 9:10 a.m. – Ages 4–7, 9:20 a.m. – Ages 8–10. After the hunt, families can gather inside the town hall for refreshments, games, and a chance to meet the Easter Bunny.

Brussels: The Door County 4H Club is hosting the hunt at Brussels Town Park starting at 9:00 a.m. Kids will search in groups by age: 0–2, 3–4, 5–7, and 8–10.

 
Ellison Bay: The egg hunt at Fitzgerald Park begins at 11:00 a.m. Children under 6 will have their own area to search. Keep your eyes peeled—one golden egg will be hidden, and the finder will receive an Easter basket!

 
Jacksonport: Lakeside Park will host an egg hunt for children ages 2–10. Registration begins at 11:15 a.m., with the hunt starting at 11:30. Kids can enjoy free face painting and visit with the Easter Bunny, Miss Door County, and Miss Door County Teen.

 
Sister Bay: The Sister Bay Sports Complex hunt begins at 10:30 a.m. Families can take photos with the Easter Bunny, and one golden egg will be tucked away for a participant to discover and win a prize-filled basket.

With so many egg hunts taking place across Door County, families have plenty of chances to join in the fun. Whether you're looking for games, crafts, photo ops, or just a good old-fashioned egg hunt,  each event offers its own unique mix of activities to enjoy. Be sure to bring a basket, dress for the weather, and arrive on time—those eggs won’t stay hidden for long!

More than 75 million people volunteer annually in the United States. But one volunteer within the Luxemburg-Casco School District is making a significant impact on its students through his singular efforts.

Meet Lane Trimberger, a district parent on long-term disability for the past seven years with back and neck injuries incurred from overuse during a 21-year career building fire trucks for Pierce Manufacturing in Appleton. The repetitive nature of his work during workdays of 12-16 hours at Pierce took a physical toll.

Not wanting to sit around the house, he began helping with the Luxemburg-Casco football team during its 2023 season, when the Spartans advanced to the state title game and other volunteer activities within the high school.

Starting last fall, Trimberger began volunteering 3-4 days weekly at L-C Intermediate School. His activities range from helping in classrooms and the lunchroom to filling in as a crossing guard to mentoring students, particularly those who might be experiencing a hard day. He often serves as a liaison between teachers and students.

Trimberger finds great fulfillment in his volunteer work, saying, “I wanted to find something that I could do physically. The district is helping me because I need to be mobile, especially in the winter. They were willing to help me, and I was willing to help them.”

An increasingly significant aspect of his volunteer activities is spending time with individual students, especially those who are struggling. His success with those students has caught the attention of Intermediate School Principal Heather Mleziva.

“What really stands out is how much Lane supports the students who need it the most,” says Mleziva. “He has become the go-to person for several students who need a little extra encouragement, someone to help them stay on track, or just someone to listen and help figure out solutions to their problems. Lane checks in regularly with four or five students and spends quality time with them. It’s clear that he has a profound impact on each of them.

“One student in particular has developed a strong bond with Lane, and he plays a crucial role in helping this student stay on task. The relationship they’ve built is so strong that the student now eagerly looks forward to seeing Lane and often asks if he will be at school that day. This bond highlights the real difference Lane is making in the lives of the students he works with.”

Trimberger explains that he grew up “on a very different path,” without a person he could relate to or talk to. He finds tremendous satisfaction in serving in this role for many L-C students.

“I had to redefine myself after I hurt my back,” he says. “My greatest reward is to just sit with a kid and help them out.”

While it may be rewarding for him to help students, Mleziva sees a bigger impact on many Intermediate School students.

“Lane serves as a positive role model for our students, especially those who struggle emotionally. He provides them with the encouragement and support they need. He’s always ready with a pep talk, motivating them to stay focused and do their best work. His willingness to go the extra mile and make a real difference in students' lives is something truly special.”

As a district parent, Trimberger is familiar with the district's four schools. Originally from Sheboygan, he and his wife, Trina, an L-C graduate, moved to the district in 2013. Their two daughters, Cassidy and Cadence, graduated from Luxemburg-Casco High School in 2020 and 2022, respectively, and their son, Mason, is currently a junior.

Mleziva appreciates everything Trimberger does – from handling everyday tasks to his overtly positive attitude that rubs off on others to his large-scale impact on students.

“Lane is an amazing person,” she says. “I’ve honestly never met anyone as positive and inspiring as him. He cares so much about the students in the intermediate school and throughout the district, and we’re lucky that he’s willing to volunteer with us. In just a few months, he’s already greatly impacted so many students.

“He also is the definition of a team player. He’s always ready to help out with whatever is needed and consistently looks for more ways to pitch in – whether it’s tasks like printing, cutting, organizing, or filing, he takes care of it all without hesitation.”

Trimberger admits that at the end of many school days, it is hard for him to walk and that he needs to go home and rest his back, but his reward is the feeling that he accomplished something that day.

“My volunteer work is such a great bridge for me,” he says. “I don’t have to do a lot physically – I just have to be there for a kid.”

It’s safe to say that Trimberger’s presence is much more impactful than “just being there.” How does one person make a difference? That's how we turn the negative situation of disability into a positive impact on Luxemburg-Casco students.

The circumstances will not be as dire in Door County as others might face in the state, but the end of the Wisconsin Department of Children and Families Child Care Counts Program could still impact your child’s early childhood center. Last week, Governor Tony Evers announced that survey results showed that nearly a quarter of providers across the state are somewhat, very, or highly likely to close their doors if funding for the program is not extended past its June expiration. The survey also shows that of the 78 percent of providers who reported they will raise tuition for infant care, 21 percent expect to raise weekly rates by at least $25, and 17 percent expect rates to rise by at least $50. United Way of Door County Child Care Community Coordinator Molly Gary says the area is in the latter part of that equation, with childcare families expecting to see their costs rise by up to $2,600 in some cases. Gary says discontinuing the program is not just a concern for childcare providers but for employers, too.

While Democrats and Republicans agree that addressing child care is essential, the two sides disagree on how. Republicans have called on tax incentives for employers providing childcare and changing regulations to allow higher classroom capacities and more teachers to enter the industry. Evers and Democrats support the continuing funding of the program through the budget. 

You will see some changes coming to Newport State Park near Ellison Bay in the near future after the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources approved a variance to its master plan on Tuesday.

The variance allows the park to add a new 100-seat amphitheater, a storage shed, a low wall to prevent light pollution from the parking lot, an observation deck, electricity to power the site, and a network of walking paths to connect the pieces. The improvements will be incorporated in the day-use area near Parking Lot 3 on the east side of Newport State Park.

According to the DNR, more than 150 comments were received, many of which supported the variance, emphasizing how the improvements would positively impact staff, volunteers, and parkgoers. Other commenters expressed concern about the new development's consequences on plants and wildlife and its popularity as a dark sky park, which are all aspects the DNR stated they would address as they build it out. 

The changes will fund the Newport Wilderness Society, the Friends group of Newport State Park.

You can read the full variance from the DNR here.

Picture courtesy of the WIsconsin DNR

If your kids want to go to see the new Minecraft movie, you are going to have to reserve 100 minutes of your time and buy a ticket yourself. The Sturgeon Bay Cinema 6 is among the many movie theaters worldwide instituting new restrictions because of a viral trend where the screenings get trashed during specific scenes in the film. As a result of this trend, Sturgeon Bay Cinema 6 is not allowing anyone under the age of 18 to enter the screenings without an adult, and popcorn and other concessions are not being sold to minors. Moviegoers who try to bring the trend to Sturgeon Bay will be kicked out, per a social media post from last week.

The movie’s director, Jared Hess, has not been sympathetic to the movie theaters’ reaction to the scene, including the police being called and one patron at a Utah theater unveiling a live chicken during the film’s “chicken jockey” scene. While he said that those attending should “be mindful of the enjoyment of other cinema-goers,” he also told Entertainment Weekly, "It’s weird when you’re having too much fun, and the cops get called.”  "A Minecraft Movie" made more than $550 million globally at the box office over its opening weekend.

The recent weather may make it feel like spring to you, but it could be potentially dangerous for local fire departments in Door and Kewaunee counties. Currently, only seven northern Wisconsin are at moderate to low fire danger. The rest of the state is split evenly between high and very high fire danger levels, with Door County rated as high and Kewaunee County rated as very high.

Door County fire departments responded to three fires this weekend, two related to brush or grass fires. On Saturday, Nasewaupee Fire and Rescue responded to a small grass fire near Malvitz Road after an ember from a yard waste fire set less than an acre of nearby grass on fire. Kyle Sheehy says it is a good reminder that you have to be careful burning right now.

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources also reminds you that burn restrictions and fire conditions can change daily. The agency also says you should follow the rules on your burn permit, never leave a fire unattended, and call 911 immediately if it escapes beyond your control. 

If you were to add up the total acreage protected by Door County’s five State Parks, it still would not match the amount under the guidance of the Door County Land Trust. The conservation-minded organization is nearing 10,000 acres protected after the Door County Land Trust recently closed on approximately 40 acres near its Three Springs Nature Preserve. DCLT Executive Director Emily Wood says they continue working with other landowners on possible purchases and conservation easements. She adds that it would not be possible without people buying into their vision for environmental protection across the county.

Wood says it is a real joy whenever they can protect a new tract of land as it makes nature accessible for all to enjoy. Having that ability to preserve open spaces is something Wood believes people look for when they visit Door County.

After a series of projects were announced on Friday, you will have to pay extra attention to where you are driving next week in the City of Sturgeon Bay. On Monday, Tacoma Beach Rd will be closed so crews can repair a sanitary sewer lateral at 638 Tacoma Beach Rd.  The roadway will open to local traffic only beginning at 7 a.m. There will be access from the east from Clay Banks Rd (CTH U), and access from the west from Shiloh Road, Oxford Ave and S Ridgeway Dr. The project should be in time for the evening commute. On Tuesday, N 3rd Ave, at its intersection with Delaware Street, will be closed for a utility replacement project. Traffic on N 3rd Ave will be detoured to N 4th Ave by using Georgia Street from the south and Alabama Street from the north. Senior Engineering Technician Brian Spetz expects the detour to be in place until August. Delaware Street from the east side of the intersection with N 3rd Ave to N 6th Ave will be open to local traffic only. Spetz encourages you to avoid the area if possible to keep road crews safe.

The 35th season of Midsummer’s Music begins June 12th at the Kress Pavilion in Egg Harbor, with the ensemble highlighting the works of Clara and Robert Schumann. The organization will celebrate the milestone with its Big Top Door County event on July 16th at the Berkenfeld Estate in Baileys Harbor before concluding it Labor Day at Bjorklunden. Before then, the Griffon String Quartet will host three performances this month and next month, including April 17th for a noon performance at First Presbyterian Church in Green Bay, followed by another at Country View Farm in Baileys Harbor on April 24th at 1 p.m. 

Full Interview can be heard here

It promises to be an EGGciting weekend at Crossroads at Big Creek! With the annual Sucker Run underway, the final Fish Tales lecture, our traditional EGGstravaganza event, and a full lineup of Earth Day programs, we’ve hatched a series of engaging activities for learners of all ages. Each event is connected to eggs in some way and supports our mission to inspire environmental stewardship.

On Thursday, April 17, we will host the final presentation in our 2025 Fish Tales Lecture Series. Dr. Matthew Kornis, a fisheries biologist with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, will present “Secrets of Lake Michigan Salmon and Trout: Survival, Movement, and Reproduction Revealed Through Mass Marking.”

Dr. Kornis will explain the mass marking process of studying salmon and trout in the Great Lakes. Millions of young fish—hatched from eggs and reared in hatcheries—are marked and released. Through fin clipping and the use of coded wire tags, scientists track their survival, growth, and migration. 

Coded-wire-tags,  magnetic stainless steel wires, thinner than a human hair and only a few millimeters long, are implanted into the cartilage of a fish’s snout. This high-tech system provides vital data that supports conservation and resource management across the region.

The lecture, sponsored by Healthy Water Door County, begins at 7:00 PM and is free and open to the public. It will be held in person at Crossroads, with an online viewing option available via the Door County Library Events calendar. 

On Saturday, April 19, at 2:00 PM, our annual  EGGstravaganza! will take place.  This event is  NOT an egg hunt—no chocolate bunnies or jelly beans. Instead, it is a fun, interactive, educational experience for families and curious learners of all ages. We will  begin with two short films documenting the development of a chicken embryo from day one to hatching. 

Afterward, participants can participate in lab demonstrations and our ever-popular egg strength challenge—squeezing, dropping, and tossing raw eggs, even from the upper level of the Collins Learning Center.  Participants should dress for the weather, as parts of the program will take place outdoors. 

On Monday, April 21, at 1:30 PM, we’ll commemorate Earth Day by screening Ridges and Swales, Part 2: The Flourish, a visually stunning documentary by Peninsula Filmworks. The film explores the story of environmental preservation on the Door Peninsula through compelling imagery and interviews. 

On Tuesday, April 22, Earth Day programming continues with a special career opportunity program during our afterschool program, Environmental Exploration, at 3:30 PM. This session will focus on how young people can become environmental stewards. This program is geared toward elementary-aged and older students. Meet in the lab at the Collins Learning Center.

Join us at 6:30 PM that evening for “Door County Environmental Mentors,” a presentation by naturalist, educator, and writer Charlotte Lukes. Charlotte will highlight people who have shaped conservation and environmental education on the peninsula. 

A mentor in her own right, she spent decades promoting stewardship alongside her late husband, Roy Lukes. The event is free and open to the public and co-sponsored by the Door County Master Gardeners and Wild Ones—Door Peninsula. 

Attendees at all of our Earth Day weekend activities will receive a conifer tree,  offered free of charge, as part of the Climate Change Coalition's Door County BIG PLANT.

Meanwhile, at Big Creek, the annual Sucker Run will be in full swing (we hope). Native white and longnose suckers will be migrating upstream to spawn, releasing and fertilizing millions of tiny eggs. Crossroads staff and visiting researchers will be on site to explain this vital Great Lakes phenomenon and answer visitors' questions.

We invite the community for our egg-themed celebration of science, nature, and environmental stewardship at Crossroads at Big Creek.

Thursday, April 17 – 7:00 PM
Fish Tales Lecture: 

"Secrets of Lake Michigan Salmon and Trout: Survival, Movement, and Reproduction Revealed Through Mass Marking" 

Dr. Matthew Kornis, Fisheries Biologist with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will offer an  in-depth look at the latest findings from the Great Lakes Mass Marking Project, including insights into steelhead trout in Lake Michigan. Free and open to the public. In person at Crossroads 2041 Michigan, Sturgeon Bay,  or online via the Door County Library Events calendar. Sponsored by Healthy Water Door County.

Saturday, April 19 – 2:00 PM
Saturday Science: EGGstravaganza
This is not an Easter Egg Hunt. Instead, learners of all ages will view short films, dissect eggs in the lab and and join hands-on demonstrations—like the popular egg toss! Dress for the weather; portions of the program will be outdoors. Free conifer trees available to participants as part of the BIG PLANT initiative. Free and open to the public. Meet at the Collins Learning Center, 2041 Michigan Street, Sturgeon Bay.

Monday, April 21 – 1:30 PM
Documentary Screening: Ridges and Swales, Part 2 – The Flourish

Celebrate Earth Day weekend with a breathtaking film about Door County’s conservation history. Free conifer trees available through the BIG PLANT. Meet at the Collins Learning Center, Crossroads, 2041 Michigan, Sturgeon Bay

Tuesday, April 22 – 3:30 PM
Environmental Exploration – Earth Day Special

An afterschool session focusing on how young people can protect the planet. Designed for elementary students and middle school aged students. Free conifer trees available through the BIG PLANT. Meet in the lab at the Collins Learning Center, Crossroads, 2041 Michigan, Sturgeon Bay.

Tuesday, April 22 – 6:30 PM

Master Gardener Lecture: Door County Environmental Mentors 

Meet  at the Collins Learning Center, Crossroad, 2041 Michigan, Sturgeon Bay,

A familiar Sister Bay coffee shop has a fresh new look and a fresh new name. Skip Stone Coffee, a beloved local spot, is now officially happy coffee. As you step inside, you’ll be greeted by cheerful yellow walls, fun décor, and many smiles. The rebranding is more than just a fresh coat of paint—it's a celebration of community, happy vibes, and exceptional coffee.

 
Co-owners Lilly Orozco and Juan Ornelas purchased Skipstone Coffee Roasters in May 2024, and they’ve been eager to make it their own. Their vision for the shop? A brand that exudes simplicity, happiness, and a welcoming vibe for all who walk through the door. Happy coffee was born from that vision, and as of May 20th, it’s officially coming to life.

“We love coffee and want to spread that love to our customers. As soon as people walk in our door, we want them to feel happy and leave happier than they came,” says Orozco.  

Although the name has changed, happy coffee’s menu will still feature many of Skip Stone’s classic favorites. The café’s signature coffee blend remains the same—locally roasted in nearby Ellison Bay in collaboration with Kick Ash Coffee. Additionally, all syrups are freshly made in-house by Orozco, adding a personal touch to every coffee creation.

 
There will be some fresh additions, too, including rotating craft specials, some of which will feature the family’s Mexican heritage. Culture and family play a central role at happy coffee. Orozco and Ornelas’s daughter, Mila, has been actively involved in the business from day one, working alongside her parents and helping spread the joy.  

The happiness won’t stop here. Orozco and Ornelas are actively looking to expand to a second location. While the exact spot has yet to be determined, the future looks bright for happy coffee.

 

Photo credit for the last two photos goes to xoMe studios 

You won’t even confuse Door County for Los Angeles, but actors, producers, and directors are certainly making their case to make it like Tinseltown. On Friday, crews wrapped up shooting A Cherry Pie Christmas in Sturgeon Bay. Starring Katie Leclerc and Ryan Carnes, A Cherry Pie Christmas tells the story of an ambitious pastry chef who returns to her small-town roots in Door County, and, over the holidays, needs to decide between her career dreams and her family’s struggling orchard business. Director John Stimpson is used to shooting holiday movies in picturesque tourist settings such as Vermont and Cape Cod. When it came to filming in the Cape Cod of the Midwest, Stimpson did his homework before picking out locations.

With Top Chef: Wisconsin, Green and Gold, Feed the Fish, and The Emissary among its credits, Door County could see itself in more movies and television shows in the future. Destination Door County’s Jon Jarosh says much like its lodging partners, they try to be good hosts when Hollywood comes calling. He also said it is good business for the county with hundreds of thousands of dollars being spent in Door County during a slower time of the year.

Last month, Governor Tony Evers called for a 25 percent film production tax credit and a 25 percent film investment credit to producers who want to film in the state beginning as a part of the 2025-2027 budget. As for A Cherry Pie Christmas, no release date has been set.

With all that is going on around us and the attention being given to so many of those who serve our communities, it is fitting that this past week is set aside for us to recognize Public Safety Telecommunicators.       

We seem to always focus on those resources that respond to the scene with the lights and sirens, but we often forget about the Dispatchers who are the first ones to get the call and often try to make sense out of frantic voices on the other end of the line. Without the skills of the Public Safety Telecommunicator, none of the subsequent efforts would be possible.

Each year, the second week of April is designated Public Safety Telecommunications Recognition Week. While this role in public safety is not as recognized or publicized as a Law Enforcement Officer, firefighter, or Rescue Personnel, it is undoubtedly as important as those other professions. The Public Safety Telecommunicator is the first contact in most critical events. Whether it is a motor vehicle accident, a fire, a crime, or even someone locking their keys in their car, the first voice they will hear that will ultimately get them the services they need will be the voice of a Public Safety Telecommunicator.

Most people refer to them as Dispatchers, and while this is one of the key roles they perform, there is much more to this position. Here in Kewaunee County, we are one of the last agencies with a “Dual role” in our staff. The official title for this Kewaunee County Sheriff’s Department position is Jailer/ Dispatcher. This means that our Dispatchers also serve as our Jailers and our Jailers as our dispatchers. This allows us to meet the state requirement always to have two jailers on shift. While there is no requirement to have two dispatchers on at all times, having the flexibility to have a second dispatcher when those critical calls come in is an advantage.

Most of us have heard of “Multi-Tasking,” but I don’t think you can truly appreciate that phrase until you see what the typical day is like in the life of one of these staff members. Even the most minor calls will require them to take the initial call, communicate that call to the proper response unit, and simultaneously document that call with absolute accuracy. When you take this to the level of a multi-agency response to a major event such as a structure fire, their skills are truly tested. It is fitting that we take some time to appreciate those who truly are on the front lines of keeping our communities safe.

I want to personally thank all of the men and women who hold these law enforcement positions and reiterate that they do, in fact, “Serve and Protect with Pride and Integrity” the citizens of Kewaunee County just as any other member of our Law Enforcement family.

You will notice that Birch Creek Music Performance Center will be spruced up for its 50th season this year, thanks to a new partnership with the Door County Master Gardeners. The organization will assist Birch Creek with its flower beds and other horticultural beacons throughout the property for the upcoming year. The volunteers will do most of the work before the start of the academy season in June and minor maintenance of their colorful work during the rest of the summer. Executive Director Emeritus Mona Christensen says it is a great partnership they have formed, and she is excited to see the blooms as the seasons turn.

Christensen is also excited for work to begin on its Pathway to 50 project to begin in May. Funded by a grant through Destination Door County’s Community Investment Fund and a private donor, the project will provide a cement walkway from the property’s parking lot to Birch Creek’s gazebo and barn. Christensen says that replacing the pea gravel path should make the whole area more accessible. You can listen to our full interview here.

Even after elections earlier this month landed their preferred candidates in office, area Democrats do not want to stop the conversation with you there. Earlier this month, Democratic-supported candidates Susan Crawford and Dr. Jill Underly won their election bids against their Republican-supported rivals. National media saw it as an early referendum against President Donald Trump and Elon Musk. Kewaunee County Democratic Party Chairperson Stan Johnson focused more on the quality of their candidates within the state rather than what was happening more than 600 miles away. That does not mean Johnson and his fellow Democrats have stopped talking to residents about what they want to see from their elected officials and how they can move forward together.

We spoke to Stephanie Soucek from the Republican Party of Door County earlier this week about the direction her party is taking post-election. On Thursday, the Republican-led House of Representatives passed a budget bill by a two-vote margin that would cut taxes by trillions of dollars while cutting spending in other government areas. Stock markets have been riding the wave of tariffs this week, including China’s retaliation on Friday that will raise tariffs on U.S. goods to 125 percent. Trump raised tariffs on Chinese goods to 125 percent to 145 percent earlier in the week.

As students arrive for the school day in Mackenzie Straub’s third-grade classroom in Fish Creek, Wisconsin, they check in on a large, interactive screen that includes a photo of their teacher and another notable: Bucky Badger.

It’s a nod to Straub’s fond feelings toward her alma mater, the University of Wisconsin–Madison.

Straub earned a bachelor’s degree in early childhood education from the UW–Madison School of Education in 2021. She now teaches in the same school district — and in the same school building — where she once attended third grade.

It’s a full-circle moment for Straub, one of many for the second-generation Door County resident. Her daily life abounds with the kinds of deep connections forged in small towns across the state.

Community members swooped in to support Straub when, at age 13, she lost her father, Gary, the owner of a local clothing store. His death, from esophageal cancer, upended the family’s financial situation. Affording college became questionable for Straub, but as she approached the end of her senior year of high school, UW–Madison unveiled an initiative intended to help students just like her.

When announced in 2018, Bucky’s Tuition Promise pledged to cover four years of tuition and segregated fees for any incoming freshman from Wisconsin whose family’s annual household adjusted gross income was $56,000 or less. The figure has since been raised to $65,000 — roughly the state’s median family income, meaning half of all Wisconsin families qualify.

Transfer students who are Wisconsin residents and who meet the same income criteria receive two years of free tuition and segregated fees.

“When my husband died, our future changed dramatically,” says Carol Straub, Mackenzie’s mother, adding that they had to close the family business when he became too ill to work. “We no longer had his income. Bucky’s Tuition Promise was a huge stress relief. We’ll forever be grateful for it.”

A head start on life

Mackenzie Straub is a graduate of the first cohort of students to receive Bucky’s Tuition Promise. Hundreds of recipients have now earned degrees from UW–Madison and are starting their careers.

“It alleviated so many financial burdens,” Straub says. “I still worked during the summers, but the idea of being able to focus solely on school during the academic year was huge.”

The benefits of Bucky’s Tuition Promise continue to reverberate in Straub’s life. She was able to graduate with no student debt — now the case for 66.3% of all UW–Madison undergraduates. That gave Straub a head start on many more of life’s milestones. She was able to quickly pursue an online master’s degree from Concordia University, thereby boosting her teacher’s salary. And recently, she and her husband, Andrew, who works at a nearby cherry orchard, built a house kitty-corner from her mom’s residence. For Straub, this will always be home.

Bringing success back to communities

UW–Madison now has three major financial aid initiatives that benefit Wisconsin residents. Bucky’s Pell Pathway, added in 2023, is an even more robust complement to Bucky’s Tuition Promise. Designed to assist Badgers from low-income Wisconsin households who qualify for Federal Pell Grants, it pledges to meet the full financial need without loans for incoming first-year students for four consecutive years and for transfer students for two consecutive years. In most cases, it covers tuition and fees, housing expenses, food, required course material, travel and other miscellaneous costs.

The Wisconsin Tribal Educational Promise Program, announced?by Chancellor Jennifer L. Mnookin?in 2023, offers financial support to cover the full cost of pursuing an undergraduate degree for state residents who are enrolled members of federally-recognized Wisconsin Indian tribes.

Together, these three initiatives have benefitted more than 8,000 students from Wisconsin over the past seven years.

“All of these financial aid initiatives embody the Wisconsin Idea,” says Derek Kindle, UW–Madison’s vice provost for enrollment management. “They show that when our talented Wisconsin students get the chance to succeed at UW–Madison, they do. And after graduation, many of them bring that success back to their communities.”

The programs are supported by private donations and other institutional resources, not taxpayer funds.

The cycle of opportunity

“Don’t forget to turn in your homework,” Straub tells her 10 students as they arrive on a recent February morning. (Two are out sick — it’s the cold and flu season.)

Unprompted, third-grader Luca Torcivia tells a classroom visitor that Straub is the best teacher ever. “She’s super nice. At the start of the year, she gave us candy.”

Straub says it was always her goal to return to her hometown.

“I love this place so much,” she says. “It’s great to be able to run into my students when I’m out in the community — at the grocery store or at sports events. When you live in a community like this, you just know everybody.”

Straub’s first-grade teacher, Jodi Hoyerman, still teaches in the district — her classroom is just across from Straub’s. Principal Lauren Ward, who will start a PhD program at UW–Madison this fall, taught high school English to Straub. Straub’s mother, a substitute teacher in the district, often works near her daughter.

Straub and her husband are expecting their first child in April. A future Badger? Possibly, Straub says. Bucky’s Tuition Promise already has given her unborn daughter a gift, she says.

Photo by Jeff Miller

Washington Island residents are being asked to back the town’s effort to purchase a dock in Detroit Harbor. The half-acre waterfront parcel along Lobdell Point Road includes more than 340 feet of sheet-piled dock space, a 1,500-square-foot building, parking, and a driveway. It is also located just north of the town’s current boat launch. In its social media post, the town argues that purchasing the property would increase the availability and accessibility to a public boat launch and limit potentially dangerous maneuvers when the area gets backed up during high ferry traffic. The town is looking at various ways to help pay the $400,000 price for the property, including a possible grant through the Destination Door County Community Investment Fund. The site could also generate revenue through dock and launch fees and building rentals. The town also envisions adding more dock space and a fish-cleaning station to the property and making it the docking site for its rescue boat. Island residents can vote on the purchase this Tuesday at the community center at 6 p.m.

Many of the volunteers who serve in your community were celebrated Wednesday night as the United Way of Door County held its annual Golden Heart Awards at Stone Harbor Resort in Sturgeon Bay. Volunteers across seven categories were honored with awards from a select few. The award winners were Patricia O’Rourke (Adult Volunteer of the Year), Mark Nelson (Karl May Lifetime of Service Award), Joe Alexander and Kevin Moore (Cultural), Doug and Barbara Henderson (Environmental Stewardship), Door County Habitat for Humanity building volunteers (Group), Lola DeVillers (Performing Arts), Eve Andreae (Youth Scholarship) and Ophelia Linnan (Youth Scholarship). More than 40 individuals and groups were celebrated during the event. 

The Village of Egg Harbor Board of Trustees will take more time to decide on a plan to turn a portion of the Alpine Resort into a housing development. Village officials have listened to a proposal from developer and property owner Randy Abrahams to create the Fairwood at the Alpine. This housing development would feature 50 single-family homes on the historic bayfront property. It was narrowly approved by the village’s Plan Commission this month 3-2 to advance to Wednesday’s board meeting. The majority of residents who spoke both in person and virtually voiced their opposition to the project. Egg Harbor Historical Society President Myles Dannhausen echoed many of the sentiments heard during the open comment period as he detailed the village's historical connection with the property.

One resident, Scott Rasmussen, called himself a contrarian during the open comment period, saying that Abrahams deserves an opportunity to build on his legacy after investing so much into the property already.

Part of Abrahams’ proposal includes a land donation for a multi-modal trail and millions of dollars of investment into Alpine’s golf course. Another group, Preserve Alpine, wants to purchase a portion of the Alpine property to create a historic preservation corridor. The group is led by Horseshoe Bay Farm’s Lori Nicolas and retired Wisconsin State Senator Rob Cowles. The board decided that more time was needed to review the proposals and make a more informed decision. The project will be discussed again at the board’s upcoming meeting in May.

Patchwork roofs, rotted windows, missing ventilation systems, and outdated equipment were among the many reasons why Kewaunee County Highway Commissioner Marty Treml believes improvements are needed for its facilities. Treml spoke to the Kewaunee County Board during its scheduled meeting on Tuesday. His presentation took board members on a virtual tour of the county’s facilities, highlighting what has gone wrong as routine maintenance was ignored for years. While facility replacement was an option, Treml explained to the board that if they act now, catching up with the deferred maintenance is all they should have to do.

Treml blamed the lack of funding and misplacement of priorities as to why the buildings were allowed to go into disrepair. He added that he has identified other improvement plans for future budgets. He believes that if they keep up with the maintenance, the county can extend the life of the buildings for decades to come. The Kewaunee County Board also heard from Scott Feldt of Bug Tussel and approved resolutions surrounding the county’s library service plan, the acceptance of a homeland security grant, the purchase of a wheel loader, and the approval of a fund transfer.

While no severe weather is in the forecast today (Thursday, 4/10), do not be shocked if you hear phone alerts or tornado sirens go off.  Two statewide tornado drills are planned, one at 1:45 p.m. and the other at 6:45 p.m. You will notice social media posts and other alerts from Door County Emergency Management and Kewaunee County Emergency Management, ReadyWisconsin, National Weather Service, and local broadcast outlets encouraging residents to exercise their tornado plans. Some communities, like Kewaunee County, are opting to not use their outdoor sirens as a part of the test today.

If severe weather does develop, the drill will be pushed off to Friday.

You can find severe weather emergency tips from the Kewaunee County Emergency Management Department below.

Sturgeon Bay second-grader Katelyn Much collected over 200 books this month to stock The Door County Bookmobile. Much celebrated her 8th birthday on March 29th by hosting a Harry Potter-themed birthday party at Crossroads for Big Creek, where around 30 attendees gifted books for the cause in lieu of birthday presents, at Much's request. Local bookstore owners David and Margaret Magle also donated books to the effort.

 
Today, the books officially hit the shelves of the Door County Bookmobile at the Kress Pavilion Egg Harbor Library. Door County Bookmobile Vice President Carey Bertschinger graciously accepted the donation.

 
The Door County Bookmobile provides free books to children in kindergarten through 8th grade to promote literacy in local youth. The Bookmobile is dedicated to preserving Door County history, ensuring every child can have a book in their hands.

This year's book drive is not the first time Much has given back to the Door County community.

 
"Every year on my birthday, instead of asking for gifts for myself, I ask for gifts for others," Much says.

 
Giving back to the community has become a family tradition for Much. Each year, she chooses a local charity to support. Her other charitable projects include donating stuffed animals to Children's Hospital of Wisconsin-Fox Valley; pet supplies for Pawfee Shop Cat Cafe and the Neenah Animal Shelter; and Birthday Cake Kits, which were distributed to low-income families in Door County in collaboration with the help of Door County, Inc. and St. Vincent de Paul.

"I want everyone to be happy in the world, so I thought of charity, and that's how I did it. Because if everybody's happy, I'm happy," Much says.

 
At only 8  years old, Katelyn Much is making a meaningful impact on the local community, one birthday at a time. 

It is not the most exciting news to share, but Sturgeon Bay Mayor David Ward says recent approvals for a stormwater runoff management planning grant and special assessments for sanitary sewer and water extension on W. Oak Street are important the city’s future. Both measures were approved during last week’s Sturgeon Bay Common Council meeting. In both cases, Ward says being in a place where you can pass these types of resolutions means the city is in a position to grow in the future. It is something they have placed a heavy focus on over the past several years and an area of pride for Ward.

The City of Sturgeon Bay recently discussed a new development that would bring 75 units of residential housing, mostly single family and duplexes, to the area. 

Sturgeon Bay School District Superintendent Dan Tjernagel believes his district and many others around the state have nothing to worry about regarding the threat of federal funding being pulled. The Associated Press reported last week that the Trump Administration is requiring K-12 schools to follow federal civil rights laws, and they are ending all discriminatory, equity, and inclusion practices. School districts have 10 days to sign and return the certification or risk its federal funding. “Federal financial assistance is a privilege, not a right,” Craig Trainor, acting assistant secretary for civil rights, said in a statement that many schools have ignored this and use “DEI programs to discriminate against one group of Americans to favor another,” Tjernagel says while some school districts around the country may have instituted some DEI-related language into their policies, most school districts in northeast Wisconsin have nothing of the sorts in their policies. He believes the local schools want to do what is best for all of its students and faculty members to succeed.

Green Bay Area School District removed DEI language from several job descriptions at the end of February to comply with federal rules and potentially protect $40 million in funding. According to Wisconsin Public Radio, school board members pointed to the district’s diversity as a reason to keep the DEI language in their policies. Sixty-three percent of the Green Bay Area School District population are minorities, compared to 10-30 percent at schools in Door and Kewaunee counties. 

With warmer weather on the horizon, youth and adults alike in Door County are throwing on their swimsuits in hopes of spending plenty of time in the water. May is water safety month, and organizations like the Door County YMCA want to ensure that you have the skills to stay safe. Door County YMCA Aquatics Director Heidi Honold says supervising your kids and enrolling them are just two ways to help ensure your kids can enjoy swimming and stay safe.

According to HealthyKids.org, water survival skills training and swim lessons can help reduce drowning risk for children ages 1-4. You can learn more about swim lessons and how you can help as an instructor or a lifeguard by listening to this week's Y Wednesday feature.   

From car seat installations and supplemental nutrition program implementation to vaccine distribution and home visits, public health departments nationwide, including Door County, work to ensure your well-being is as strong as possible. The Door County Public Health Department celebrated the 30th National Public Health Week as they highlighted their efforts to provide prevention, protection, and promotion of diseases, ailments, and other concerns that arise in the community. The department introduced its staff while highlighting the work that they do daily. Public Health Strategist Shauna Blackledge says the general public may not be aware of all the aspects that fall under their guidance.

Tuesday’s open house also included a walk on Sturgeon Bay’s two downtown bridges. As a part of their duties, Door County Public Health:

Performed 2,746 vision and 2,002 hearing screenings

Gave 1,241 vaccines

Installed 18 car seats

Served 471 individuals through the Women, Infant, and Children (WIC program)

Dispersed 318 doses of Narcan and 1,099 fentanyl strips

Followed up on 20 cases of elevated lead levels, including six home visits to children.

Door County Republican Party Chairperson Stephanie Soucek hopes smoother waters are ahead for Wisconsinites and Americans after a significant period of change. Soucek believes last week’s election of Wisconsin State Supreme Court Justice Susan Crawford over Republican-endorsed Brad Schimel was the culmination of the growing displeasure with the threats of tariffs and the Elon Musk-led effort to trim government programs and staff through his Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). Stock markets worldwide tumbled after President Donald Trump announced wide-ranging tariffs last week, causing U.S. stock indices to lose about $5 trillion. The S&P 500, Dow Jones Industrial Average, and Nasdaq Composite gave investors brighter news to start the day with a three percent jump before 9 a.m., and Trump Administration officials announced that several countries have asked to negotiate due to the proposed tariffs. Soucek understands that the tariffs and DOGE cuts will bring on some initial pain. She trusts the process and hopes the struggles turn into triumphs down the road.

Democrats took to the streets to express their displeasure with the Trump administration's current direction, with “Hands Off” protests occurring across the country. We will try to feature a local chairperson of the Democratic Party later in the week. 

You can thank Mother Nature for a slower start for Wisconsin farmers this year than last year. The United States Department of Agriculture released its first crop progress and condition report of 2025, showing the impact of recent rain and snow and the winter’s cooler temperatures. Farmers across the state had 1.6 days suitable for fieldwork last week, compared to less than a day at the same point last year. Much of the work was spent indoors preparing their equipment for the upcoming planting season, though manure haulers could get to fields in some parts of the state. According to the USDA, oat planting is one percent complete, and spring tillage is two percent, which is a couple of percentage points below last year’s pace. The condition of the pasture/range (67 percent fair to excellent in 2025 vs. 70 percent in 2024) and winter wheat (93 percent fair to excellent in 2025 compared to 96 percent in 2024) are similar to year over year. However, the unseasonably warm temperatures gave the fields a head start they did not receive this year.

Recently, Nick Guilette of Ebert Enterprises in Algoma said farmers were scouting their fields to search for areas of winter kill to their crops, estimating that planting will not occur for many farmers until mid-to-late April barring any significant shifts in the weather. He did open the possibility of an earlier planting date depending on your fields’ elevation and location in relation to Lake Michigan.The seven day forecast is giving farmers something to cheer about with just limited chances of precipitation and warming temperatures over the next seven days.

Door and Kewaunee counties are currently not among the sheriff’s departments formally signed on to assist U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement with certain actions performed by the agency. Approximately a dozen departments in Wisconsin, including Brown County, are among the more than 400 law enforcement agencies in 38 states participating in 287 (g) programs. The programs allow ICE to partner with state and local law enforcement agencies, enabling them to enforce federal immigration laws within their jurisdictions, focusing on identifying and processing individuals in custody for other reasons. Though not explicitly listed by ICE, Kewaunee County Sheriff Matt Joski says they have been participating in the jail enforcement model for decades, cooperating with agents when they arrest someone of a crime. ICE’s Warrant Service Officer program authorizes sheriff’s deputies to serve immigration warrants against undocumented immigrants in the county jail. Joski says he needs to do more research on the program before formally signing on to participate.

Joski says he always cooperates with ICE when appropriate but does not want his on-duty deputies to act as a local resource for the agency. Last month, the Wisconsin Assembly passed a bill requiring sheriff's departments to cooperate with ICE if they arrest someone on a felony or risk some of the funding they receive from the state. Governor Tony Evers said he would veto the bill if it got to his desk. 

Note: The previous version accidentally omitted a portion of the Assembly-backed bill that would require sheriff's departments to cooperate with ICE if they arrest someone on felony charges. The story above now reflects that change.

A small brush fire in the Town of Gibraltar on Saturday reminded you of the changing conditions in Door County. The Gibraltar Fire Department responded to the small grass fire near Triangle Road just before 10:40 a.m. The homeowner was burning some brush when loose embers got away from the pile, setting some nearby grass on fire. They contacted the fire department when the blaze got bigger than they could handle. Gibraltar Fire Chief Andy Bertges says that quick realization made a potentially long call into about seven minutes.

Bertges advises residents to monitor weather conditions and the DNR's Fire Danger map. Door, Kewaunee, and Manitowoc counties, along with eight others in north central Wisconsin, are at a moderate risk for forest fires. Nearly a dozen are at a low fire risk, while the rest of the state is at a high risk. With warmer temperatures and windy conditions on tap for the rest of the week, Bertges would not be surprised if the level was raised in the coming days.

You can find severe weather tips from the National Weather Service below. 

On April 10th, two statewide tornado drills are planned, one at 1:45 p.m. and the other at 6:45 p.m. You will notice social media posts from Door County Emergency Management, ReadyWisconsin, National Weather Service, and local broadcast outlets encouraging residents to exercise their tornado plans. In the event of an elevated severe weather risk anywhere in the state on April 10, the drill would be postponed until April 11th. You can also find up-to-date weather updates and radar at DoorCountyDailyNews.com.

Before you head onto the water in your boat, canoe, or kayak, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources wants you to take some extra caution ahead of time. High winds, fluctuating temperatures, and cold water are some issues you can encounter. Even though air temperatures could be as warm as 50 degrees this weekend, water temperatures are 10 to 15 degrees cooler. According to DNR boating law administrator Lt. Darren Kuhn, an accidental fall into the water could be dangerous. “Cold water immersion can lead to hypothermia more quickly than during the traditional summer boating season,” Kuhn said. Spring run-off and melting ice and snow could also increase water levels, possibly causing boaters to encounter dangerous currents and unseen debris. Kuhn added that the first item in the boat should be a life jacket for everyone. “Wearing a life jacket will increase your chances of survival should you fall overboard into the cold and often fast spring waters.” He also recommends that boaters slow down, check the weather ahead of time, dress in layers, and let someone know where you are going. According to Wisconsin Watch, there are about 100 boating accidents each year.

After last weekend's ice storms delayed its start, you will officially have road construction to worry about starting on Monday. Wisconsin Department of Transportation crews will begin a resurfacing project for State Highway 57, stretching 1.5 miles from Summit Road to County Q. In addition to making the ride a little smooth through town, it will replace some sections of curbs and gutters, upgrade curb ramps to ADA standards, and replace four culverts. It is a 55-day working day contract with crews pausing in July and August due to peak summer traffic. DOT spokesperson Mark Kantola says that will extend the project’s conclusion to mid-to-late October, but the pause is done with the community’s interest and its workers’ safety in mind.

The project was originally supposed to start on March 31st, only to scrap those plans due to the forecasted weather. It is the first of four projects coming to Door County, including reconfiguring three STH 57 intersections that will begin in mid-to-late April.

A week away from the Crane Symposium at The Ridges Sanctuary in Baileys Harbor, Midwest Crane County Door County Coordinator Tony Kiszonas is unsure if hunting the bird is a good idea. Last month, twin bills in the Wisconsin Legislature proposed opening a sandhill crane hunting season. After being nearly eliminated from the state, sandhill cranes are being blamed for approximately $1.9 million in crop damage annually, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel found a low number of Wisconsinites are in favor of instituting a hunt. Kiszonas acknowledges that sandhill cranes have turned their population into a great conservation success story, with more than a million birds living in North America. He fears the hunting season for the sandhill crane, and the prevalence of the bird flu may accidentally wipe out the whooping crane population, which has not rebounded as well from its near extinction.

You can learn more about the birds when The Ridges Sanctuary hosts its annual Crane Symposium on April 12th and 13th. The weekend starts early Saturday morning with the Midwest Crane Count organized by the International Crane Foundation in Baraboo, followed by breakfast inside the Cook-Albert Fuller Center. Photographer Len Villano will cap off the day with a keynote presentation. Sunday is kids-focused, with a story hour and birding hike among its activities. Click on this link to learn more about the free Crane Symposium and its crane nest site hikes.

As businesses in Door and Kewaunee counties start looking to fill positions for the summer months, your chances of getting that coveted job begin before you even say a word. There are over 450 jobs posted online at JobsInDoorCounty.com, and hundreds more are linked to local businesses on other job boards. The Door County Economic Development Corporation, We Are Hope, Inc., and Kewaunee High School have recently hosted job fairs to link many of these businesses to prospective employees. We Are Hope, Inc. Executive Director Kim Carley says a good first impression can go a long way to securing an interview and ensuring it starts correctly.

Carley says being confident during the interview process can also send a positive message to prospective employers, regardless of your previous experience.

Data from the human resources recruiting platform flair.hr confirms the importance of good first impressions. Approximately one-third of interviewers decide about a candidate in the first 90 seconds, and 71 percent of recruiters say an applicant is out of the running if they don’t dress professionally.

April showers (and snows) bring May flowers, but at Crossroads at Big Creek, they also enable the return of spawning fish, breeding frogs, and migrating birds, and the trees break dormancy.  As importantly, these spring rains replenish groundwater, supporting the local ecosystem.

This week’s Saturday Science family program will focus on "April Showers." While designed for elementary-aged children, learners of all ages are welcome. The program includes engaging presentations and hands-on activities exploring the causes and impact of spring rains.

We will post on Facebook and our website when frogs begin their evening choruses in the swales and ponds near the Collins Learning Center. Birders already have begun reporting the arrival of early migrants, signaling the shift in seasons.

The highly anticipated Sucker Run is difficult to schedule in advance, as its timing depends on natural conditions. However, when the migration peaks, we will post updates on the Crossroads website and Facebook page. Crossroads staff and volunteers will often be present at the Creek, along with Dr. Karen Murchie from Chicago’s Shedd Aquarium, during this annual breeding migration. Dr. Murchie will be stationed at Big Creek for several days, sharing insights from her long-term, multi-state community science project on sucker migration.

Other fish are also moving in our region.  On Thursday, April 17, at 7:00 PM, the final Fish Tale Lecture will feature Matthew Kornis, a fisheries biologist with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. His talk "Secrets of Lake Michigan Salmon and Trout: Survival, Movement, and Reproduction Revealed Through Mass Marking" will present the latest findings from the Great Lakes Mass Marking project, with a special focus on steelhead trout in Lake Michigan. This lecture is free and open to the public, sponsored by Healthy Water Door County. Attendees can join in person at Crossroads or participate virtually via Zoom or Facebook Live. Visit https://doorcountylibrary.org/event on the date of the talk to access the link.

Some effects of April showers on trees are easy to observe. This time of year, trees rapidly absorb water to support bud break, leaf expansion, flowering, and early-season growth. As leaves begin photosynthesis, trees lose significant amounts of water through transpiration—water evaporation from leaf surfaces. To compensate, they continuously draw in water through their roots.

Many people don’t realize that trees, especially hardwoods like maples and oaks, absorb far more water than they immediately need. They store this excess water in their trunks, branches, and roots, creating a reserve for dry periods such as last summer when rainfall was scarce.

On a recent nature hike, a participant remarked, "Oh, like a camel!" While trees lack a hump, the comparison isn't far off. Camels store water in their fat, while trees store it within their tissues, allowing them to endure drought conditions.

Spring has arrived (for good, we hope)  at Crossroads—join us to experience the season’s wonders!

Wednesday, April 9

1:30 PM – Wandering Wednesday
Join a naturalist-led hike to observe signs of spring. The walk is easy but may involve soggy trails, so dress accordingly. No registration is required. Free and open to the public. Meet at the Collins Learning Center, Crossroads, 2041 Michigan, Sturgeon Bay

3:00 PM – Junior Nature Club
This free class connects preschool-aged children (ages three and up) and their families to nature through storytelling, activities, and outdoor play. The club meets rain or shine, so dress for the weather. If conditions are too harsh, indoor nature activities will be provided. Meet at the Collins Learning Center, 2041 Michigan St., Sturgeon Bay.

Saturday, April 12

2:00 PM – Saturday Science: April Showers

This engaging program will explore the water cycle and the unpredictable weather of April. While geared toward elementary students, all are welcome. No registration is required. Free and open to the public. Meet at the Collins Learning Center, 2041 Michigan St., Sturgeon Bay.

Wednesday, April 16

1:30 PM – Wandering Wednesday
Join a naturalist-led spring hike. Dress for the weather and wet trails. No registration is required. Free and open to the public. Meet at the Collins Learning Center. 2041 Michigan Sturgeon Bay

3:00 PM – Junior Nature Club

This free class connects preschool-aged children (ages three and up) and their families to nature through storytelling, activities, and outdoor play. The club meets rain or shine, so dress for the weather. If conditions are too harsh, indoor nature activities will be provided. Meet at the Collins Learning Center, 2041 Michigan St., Sturgeon Bay.

Thursday, April 17

7:00 PM – Fish Tale Lecture: "Secrets of Lake Michigan Salmon and Trout"
Join Matthew Kornis, a fisheries biologist with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, as he shares recent findings from the Mass Marking project, focusing on steelhead trout in Lake Michigan. This event is free and open to the public. Attend in person at Crossroads at Big Creek or online via Zoom or Facebook Live. Visit https://doorcountylibrary.org/event on the date of the talk for the link.

The month of April is designated in the State of Wisconsin as Sexual Assault Awareness Month. For those who have been impacted by the brutality of these senseless acts the pain and suffering never truly vanishes. Historically, the victimization of these crimes did not end with the act itself but, unfortunately, was further perpetrated by a culture of secrecy and transferred blame on the part of those who were attacked rather than the attacker. For many years, these crimes were minimized or even justified based on the condition of the victim or even, in some cases, the very clothing that they were wearing at the time of the attack.

While we have come a long way in the compassion, respect, and empathy that is provided to the victims in such cases, we can and should strive to do better in our awareness and support of those impacted by sexual assault.

We are very fortunate to have an amazing organization right here in Kewaunee County, whose mission and purpose is to advocate for the victims of not just sexual assaults but any violent crime to give a voice and strength to those impacted. Although we recognize and bring awareness to these issues in April, The Violence Intervention Project of Kewaunee County works tirelessly daily to respond and support the victims through their services. In 2024, they assisted 22 women, two men, and 11 children through their darkest moments as they struggled with fear, shame, or mere lack of support.

To raise awareness this year, educational displays will be at the Kewaunee and Algoma Libraries, as well as at the front entrance of the Courthouse. These displays will provide information on the services available and ways that we, as a community, can get involved.

They will also partner with area businesses to “Paint the Town Teal” to bring attention to this month’s awareness campaign. Teal ribbons will be painted on the front windows as a promise that survivors are seen, heard, and never alone.

The Violence Intervention Project will also visit our area schools, providing prevention-focused presentations and resources.

If you wish to know more about this amazing organization and the critical work they do in victim advocacy, you can reach out to them at (920)487-2111 and ask for Kelly.

On behalf of the Violence Intervention Project:

“Together, let’s stand up for those who have been silenced. Let’s speak out for those still finding their voice. Because together, we have the power to build a community where violence has no place.”

County Clerks Jill Lau and Jamie Annoye are happy you are voting, but they are also concerned about the demands being placed on their network of municipal clerks. According to CNN, more than 2.3 million people voted in Tuesday’s election as voters went to polls to choose a new state supreme court justice, state superintendents, and leaders at the municipal level. More than 50 percent of eligible voters participated in Kewaunee County, even causing the Village of Luxemburg to run out of ballots. Kewaunee County Clerk Jamie Annoye says voter interest in the election and the popularity of absentee voting is causing an increase in its turnout.

In Door County, more than 70 percent of registered voters participated in Tuesday's election, a record turnout for the peninsula for a spring election. County Clerk Jill Lau pointed to the partisan interest in non-partisan as another significant driver to the increased turnout. Increased turnout means increased stress on the counties’ municipal clerks, many of whom perform the role as part-time jobs. Lau believes municipalities may have to make some changes if election turnout grows.

Clerks and poll workers will get a breather this fall, but do not expect spring elections to lose steam soon. This year began a six-year run of Wisconsin State Supreme Court elections, with Justice Rebecca Bradley likely on the ballot next spring.

The Door County Economic Development Corporation celebrated what makes the area special and unique during its 35th Annual Investor Luncheon and Awards Event on Wednesday in Sturgeon Bay. The organization honored four businesses and one youth apprentice as a part of the event, marking their contributions to the county. 

DCEDC Executive Director Michelle Lawrie highlighted the importance of collaboration in helping the local economy thrive. “Economic development is not just about numbers and projects—it’s about people, partnerships, and the shared vision we have for the future of Door County,” Lawrie said.

The 2025 Award winners included Lexis Krause of Door County Medical Center (Door County Youth Apprentice Award), Dawn Fischer of Wilkins and Olander (Lightkeeper Award for Women, Minority, or Veteran Owned Business), Parvinder and Renuka Jandu of Jandu Petroleum (Range Lights Award for Emerging Business), Carin and Todd Stuth of Baileys Harbor Fish Company and Hickey Brothers Research (Lighthouse Award for Established Business), and Al and Ingert Johnson of Al Johnson’s Swedish Restaurant (Lifetime Achievement Award). 

An essential resource for those struggling with mental health disappears on Saturday, but the United Way of Door County and the Door County Public Health Department are ensuring you have the help you need to get by. Mental Health America of Wisconsin announced earlier this week that it was shutting down its statewide Uplift Wisconsin Warmline on April 5th due to recent federal budget cuts from the U.S. Human Services Department. The peer-run mental health line supported more than 24,000 people suffering from emotional distress in 2024 by linking callers with Certified Peer Specialists who could share their experiences. MHA Wisconsin credited the Uplift Wisconsin Warmline with providing services to marginalized communities who often face barriers to getting the care they need.

The United Way of Door County offers mental health resources through its STRIDE Creative page, which provides programming for kids and adults like Mighty Teens and The Mindfulness Experiment. United Way of Door County Executive Director Amy Kohnle says it is essential for organizations like theirs to be nimble when resources like Uplift Wisconsin disappear.

The Door County Public Health Department recently celebrated the one-year anniversary of its CredibleMind platform, which is a free service that aggregates videos, podcasts, apps, online programs, books, articles, and local resources to give people a better understanding of their mental health in one place. One in five people in the United States suffers from some mental health illness, but the ratio of people who can assist is daunting. The state is ranked 34th in the nation when it comes to the ratio of residents to mental health professionals (420:1). It is even worse in Door County, where there is one mental health professional for every 740 residents.

A lot has changed in the dairy industry in the last 20 years, but members of the El-Na Farms family cannot wait to show you this Father’s Day.

The Fenendael family was introduced as this year’s Kewaunee County Breakfast on the Farm hosts at the Celebrate Dairy Event hosted by the Kewaunee County Dairy Promotion in Luxemburg Thursday night. El-Na Farms last hosted the annual event in 2008, well before they added Kewaunee County’s first rotary parlor and most of its 2,500 cows and 7,500 acres. The farm has suffered its fair share of losses, including a part of its original barn and half of its namesake, Nancy, who passed away in 2022. Owner Lonnie Fenendael says he is thrilled to showcase what they have done to keep the farm running for six generations, with hopefully many more on the horizon.

The Celebrate Dairy event serves as a thank you to the farmers, sponsors, and volunteers of its marquee event, which will take place on June 15th. Eli and Nancy Fenendael were recognized with a lifetime of service award during this year's event. The Kewaunee County Dairy Promotion is now looking for volunteers to help serve the approximately 5,000-6,000 guests it receives annually.

The weekend’s ice storms are to blame for a pair of Door County parks closing until further notice. 

The Door County Facilities and Parks Department announced the temporary closure of Ellison Bluff County Park and Bluff Headlands Park near Gills Rock so crews can finish their clean-up efforts. Downed trees and branches have fallen on park roads, making it difficult to travel through the parks. Door County Parks Manager Tim Kazmierczak says the department appreciates its park visitors and eagerly anticipates their return to enjoy park activities once conditions allow. The parks’ entrances are marked by closed signs, which will be removed once the clean-up work is completed. 

While the full schedule has not been released yet, there are some dates you can mark down if you want to catch Theucks and Rass perform. The Southern Door Community Auditorium will host Kids from Wisconsin on July 18th at 7 p.m. as part of its summer tour, which includes a residency at the Wisconsin State Fair from July 31st to August 10th.

Picture courtesy of Kids from Wisconsin

Farmers and other agriculture professionals traded poor weather, discouraging news for sausages, and positive conversation in Rio Creek on Wednesday. Rio Creek Feed Mill hosted the agriculture community for a celebratory lunch that serves as an unofficial launch of the planting season, with customers picking up their orders while catching up with their friends about the winter. They received an extra dose of winter on Wednesday with snow, ice, and freezing rain making another appearance, potentially pushing off fieldwork further into the future. It was also before President Donald Trump announced that new tariffs would be implemented worldwide. However, United States Department of Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins told the Des Moines Register that funds are being lined up to provide farmers with financial assistance if other countries issue retaliatory tariffs that impact their bottom line. Rio Creek Feed Mill agronomist Adam Barta says weather and tariffs are certainly on everyone’s minds, but he would never bet against the resilience of farmers.

Barta adds that agronomists work with farmers on multiple plans just in case the weather, the markets, or other factors throw them curve balls during the year. The USDA will issue its first Crop Progress and Condition Report for the state on Monday.

If you live in northern Door County, you can blame a tree for potentially causing you to be late to work or, at the very least, fix your clocks this morning. Over 4,100 Wisconsin Public Service customers found themselves without power late Wednesday night after high winds entered the area, with more than 2,000 located in Sister Bay and Liberty Grove. The Washington Island Electric Cooperative posted just before 10 p.m. that even their customer would be without power because of a fallen tree on a transmission line from the American Transmission Line. That forced crews to shut down the Sister Bay and Egg Harbor substations, which help power the island. 

After shutting off the power in the early morning hours, WPS spokesperson Brendan Conway says the power was back for most residents by 2 a.m. to allow ATC to clean up and get everything up and running. A second outage impacted 27 WPS customers in Gardner, which was remedied after 5 a.m. on Thursday. WPS is still responding to outages across the state after the weekend storms. Conway says their lineworkers are dealing with some tough conditions due to the heavy ice buildup. 

After restoring power to more than 180,000 customers, WPS is still trying to get the lights on for approximately 2,400 customers in northern Wisconsin due to more than 1,600 reports of significant damage, including snapped utility poles and damaged electrical equipment.

There may only be a handful of stop lights in Door County, but think about the last time you were stopped at a red light. Of all the drivers stopped at the light, how many were using their cell phones?

Even though texting while driving is outlawed in Wisconsin, phones still pose a significant distraction behind the wheel.

In 2022, over 3,300 people lost their lives due to distracted driving, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). In Wisconsin alone, the Department of Transportation reports that over 9,000 crashes were caused by distracted drivers in 2023. These crashes resulted in 3,586 injuries and 23 deaths.

Distracted driving goes beyond the cell phone. Anything that takes your vision off the road, your hands off the wheel, or your mind off the task of safe driving is a distraction. Eating, changing music, and using GPS devices are all common causes. Yet, texting and cell phone use remain the most common culprits.

Teens and young adults are the group most affected by the dangers of texting and driving. Not only are young drivers more likely to be active on their cell phones, but they are also less experienced behind the wheel, creating a potentially deadly combination. With many schools celebrating Prom in the coming weeks, the roadways will be filled with teen drivers.

To combat the temptation to text and drive, April is National Distracted Driving Awareness Month. The NHTSA recommends leaving your phone out of reach while you drive, such as in the glovebox or the backseat. Other preventative measures against distracted driving include putting your phone on “Do Not Disturb” mode, asking a passenger to read and respond to texts for you, and pulling over if you need to perform a task, like adjusting the GPS. Keep yourself and other drivers safe. Keep your hands on the wheel this April and beyond.

Picture courtesy of Pixabay and ClickerHappy

Plans to overhaul parts of Kewaunee School District's facilities will progress after Tuesday's slim passage of its $24.5 million referendum. Residents voted 1478-1461 to approve the capital referendum to repair aging infrastructure, enhance educational spaces, and maximize existing space in the district. Superintendent Scott Fritz says he appreciates the support residents gave the referendum and understands the concerns that others may still have. A change in its transportation situation moving forward changed the district's original plans, with Fritz adding that they made some tough decisions to cut some aspects out and still lower the impact on its taxpayers.

The Kewaunee School District was not the only narrow margin seen on Kewaunee County ballots on Tuesday. Dawn Kidd bested Jake Maring by 10 votes to become the District 4 Alderperson in Algoma. You can find the full election results for Kewaunee County here.

Familiar faces will continue to lead key roles around Door County after Tuesday's election, including Sturgeon Bay Mayor David Ward. Challenged by a write-in campaign by Andrea Frank, Ward comfortably won his third term to rejoin Dan WIlliams, Gary Nault, and Helen Bacon on the board, in addition to welcoming Nicole Matson. Ward says they have made a lot of progress on addressing the roads and housing in the city since he first joined the council as an alderperson before becoming mayor. He appreciates the opportunity to carry on with that work.

While Ward and Sister Bay Village President Nate Bell are among those keeping their titles, some new faces will head up municipalities in other parts of Door County after Tuesday's election. Peter Sownie defeated Gordon R. Berggren to replace Hans Lux as the Washington Island Chairperson. At the same time, Ken Nelson and Nancy Barnowsky Goss ran opposed to capture the top spot in Ephraim and Liberty Grove, respectively. You can click this link to see the Door County election results. 

You may see classrooms switching around inside Gibraltar Area Schools facilities sooner than expected. Construction crews took advantage of last week's spring break to do some of the more significant items on their punch list, such as installing the building's new HVAC system and moving security systems and fire panels in anticipation of this summer's demolition work. Gibraltar Superintendent Brett Stousland says it is exciting to see everything come together. 

The work being done is part of a $29.8 million referendum approved by voters in 2023. Demolition work this summer will include the old gym, which is now used for the elementary school. The district is hosting a Last Dance event on May 17th to commemorate the end of an era and showcase the work that has been done up to this point. You can find more details about the event here.

While you may already be thinking about your kids' summer camp plans, you can do plenty of things with them now at the Door County YMCA's Sturgeon Bay and Fish Creek locations. The organization is welcoming kids and their families back from spring break with its annual Father/Daughter Ball on April 5th and its 3-on-3 basketball tournament the following weekend on April 12th. Northern Door YMCA Branch Executive Director Holly Butenhoff says having activities that unite the community and families is essential.

Registration is still open for both the Spring Fling Father/Daughter Ball and the 3-on-3 Basketball Tournament at the Door County YMCA website. Both events serve as a prelude to the Door County YMCA's Healthy Kids Day, which will take place on April 26th at the Jackie and Steve Kane Center in Fish Creek and May 3rd at the Sturgeon Bay Program Center.

If you are looking forward to throwing your first cast of the season to hook that trophy fish, the wait is over.

Starting April 1, everyone over 16 years old needs a new 2025-2026 license to fish in the state's inland waters. Residents can get their annual license for $20, or couples can snag a spousal license and fish together for $31. You can buy your new license online through Go Wild, at DNR Service Centers, or at a registered sales location. Depending on what you want to reel in, you still have time before the season officially begins.

Wisconsin’s 2025-2026 general inland fishing season doesn’t open until May 3rd. However, early inland trout (catch and release) season runs now through May 2nd for designated early-season trout streams. You can find the specific species season dates below:

• General Inland Trout (Keep): May 3rd (5 a.m.) to October 15th.
• Largemouth Bass Northern Zone Harvest: May 3rd to March 1st, 2026.
• Smallmouth Bass Northern Zone Harvest: June 21st to March 1st, 2026.
• Large and Smallmouth Bass Southern Zone Harvest: May 3rd to March 1st, 2026.
• Musky Northern Zone Harvest: May 24th to December 31st.
• Musky Southern Zone Harvest: May 3rd to December 31st.
• Northern Pike: May 3rd to March 1st, 2026.
• Walleye: May 3rd to March 1st, 2026.
• Lake Sturgeon: February 8th to February 23rd (Winnebago System spearing), and September 6th to September 30th (hook-and-line).
• Free Fishing Weekends (No License Required): June 7-8, 2025, and January 17-18, 20

Thousands of voters went to the polls in Door and Kewaunee counties to decide three key state issues and several municipal races on Tuesday.

Bearing the weight of national attention and millions of dollars, Democratic-backed candidates earned big wins in non-partisan races with Judge Susan Crawford besting Judge Brad Schimel for Wisconsin Supreme Court while State Superintendent Jill Underly was granted another term in office over her challenger Brittany Kinser. Door County voted in favor of Underly and Crawford by more than 1,000 votes each while Kewaunee County swung in favor of Schimel and Kinser by wide margins. Both counties overwhelmingly approved a referendum codifying the state's voter identification law into the constitution. 

In addition to elections deciding the fate of city councils, town boards, village boards, and school boards, Kewaunee School District voters narrowly approved a referendum that will pump more than $24 million in improvements into its facilities.

You can find the full results here with more in-depth stories to be posted in the coming days.

Diligent carbon monoxide testing may have saved the lives of an Ellison Bay couple after running their generator Sunday night. The Sister Bay/Liberty Grove Fire Department responded to the carbon monoxide scare on Garrett Bluff Court in Ellison Bay just after 8:30 p.m. on Sunday. The couple had been running its generator after their home lost power. The exhaust from the generator began entering the house when the wind changed directions, blowing it toward the intake pipe for the furnace. Sister Bay/Liberty Grove Fire Chief Chris Hecht says their carbon monoxide detector alerted them to the situation.

The couple spent the night in the hotel to ensure all of the carbon monoxide was gone after firefighters helped vent the home upon their arrival. Hecht says it was a good lesson to ensure the generator is as far away from the house as possible to prevent a similar incident. According to the Centers for Disease Control, more than 400 Americans die from unintentional CO poisoning every year, with another 14,000 hospitalized due to overexposure.

As the area continues cleaning up from last weekend’s storms, Door County will have to brace for impact again. The National Weather Service issued a winter weather advisory for much of northern Wisconsin, including Door County, to run from 10 p.m. Tuesday until 10 a.m. Wednesday. With the mixed precipitation falling, the area could receive between one to three inches of snow and ice accumulations amounting to a light glaze. Motorists could wake up to slippery road conditions for their Wednesday morning commute.

The winter weather advisory comes as Washington Island Electric Cooperative crews work hard around the clock to restore power to the entire town. Last night, the Cooperative detailed the progress that has been made since storms hit the island on Friday night. Crews and volunteers have been scouring the island for broken wires, fallen trees, and debris that could hinder their ability to get everyone back up.

Due to storm clean-up efforts, Washington Island School District has been closed for the last two days. To stay current on any cancellations or postponements related to the storm, visit our cancellations page.