Creating the idea in your mind is one thing, but seeing hundreds of people experience it for the first time this week is an entirely different moment for Luba Libations owners Nic and Christiana Trapani. The couple hosted a soft launch at Door County Candle Company in Carlsville on Memorial Day before the official launch party at One Barrel Brewing Company in Egg Harbor on Saturday. The idea came to Christiana after she wanted to unwind after work with a fun drink, but she wanted something healthy and did not have alcohol. At Nic’s encouragement, the couple began experimenting with different flavors until they came up with something they wanted to share with others. They landed on four varieties: Cranberry Cosmo, Lime Margarita, Grapefruit Paloma, and a Moscow Mule that gives the nod to Ukraine’s capital city of Kyiv instead of Russia. After months of waiting, the Trapanis are thrilled with the final product and the support it is receiving.

The Trapanis are planning tastings throughout the state to generate additional interest in the product lines. They say several local businesses have already reached out to carry Luba Libations, well before they enjoyed their first sips.

Cancer survivors and individuals currently undergoing treatment can attest to the value and importance of having a strong support team. DoorCANcer, Inc., a non-profit based in Sturgeon Bay, is on a mission to act as a pillar by providing resources and encouragement. 

“DoorCANcer provides non-medical financial assistance to Door County residents in active cancer treatment regardless of age or income level,” said DoorCANcer board member, Kristen Jeanquart, “we try to lighten the load while individuals are going through cancer treatments.”

Founded in 1997, the organization is volunteer-run and assists patients by helping to cover utility bills, transportation costs for attending appointments, and more. It also embraces a true sense of neighborliness, encircling the value of a united community during a time of need.

“DoorCANcer does a great job of connecting community members, including individuals in active cancer treatment, and rallies behind them with those monthly assistance payments,” stated Jeanquart, “all of the money raised stays local for Door County residents, so no matter whether you're giving, or receiving, or helping, it supports the community together.”

On June 7th, in honor of Cancer Survivor Month, DoorCANcer will host its first-ever Annual Fun Run & Walk at the Sevastopol Town Park at 9a.m. Post-run fun and food will follow until 11:30a.m. Proceeds will directly support Door County cancer patients.

“It's a great chance for the community to come together in person and recognize cancer survivors,” Jeanquart added, “it's going to be a really moving, powerful event.”

The registration fee is $40 and children under age 6 are free. To register, click here.

Nearly 100 students in 8th and 9th grade gathered in the auditorium at TJ Walker Middle School in Sturgeon Bay on Friday, May 30th for a special presentation. They were joined by 86-year-old Holocaust survivor Ida Paluch Kersz who told her story of growing up during the invasion of Poland. Her recollection, filled with sorrow and perseverance, left students with an unforgettable lesson in both history and courage.

Kersz, who was born in Sosnowiec, Poland in 1939, spoke with students about struggles in her early life. She had experienced living in an over-crowded ghetto with her family, the sudden death of her mother, and having to hide and live in constant fear of the Gestapo, a secret group of German police under Nazi rule. 

“We had to cover the windows with blankets so the police couldn’t see where to throw the bombs and on the streets there were places where the Gestapos were standing on the street corners and for no reason, they would grab people and take them to a working camp,” said Kersz, “so we were always scared and walking on the street was not safe.”

Students listened intently, many wiping away tears, as Kersz discussed a luxury that they tend to take for granted: shoes and warm clothes. She also spoke of food scarcity and hunger since food from local Polish farms was used to feed the German soldiers and detailed having to forage for scraps and potato peels for sustenance. 

“When there were holes in my shoes in the middle of winter, my mother would stuff them with paper, that’s how bad it was that we didn’t have proper clothes,” Kersz added.

After being orphaned, Kersz shared that she was smuggled through a barbed wire fence by a Christian man. The man’s selfless act saved Ida’s life, but also meant she could no longer see her other family. Later, it took a by-chance article and photograph found by a friend for her to find out that her twin brother, Adam, survived a concentration camp. Adam and Ida were happily reunited after 52 years apart.

James Downey, a parent of an 8th grade student, was able to facilitate having Kersz come in to speak through his connection with the Spungen Foundation, which is devoted to Holocaust education and refugees. He felt bringing awareness to students about history, world events, and refugee stories was crucial. 

“Those sort of things are still happening today and we have refugees in our community from Ukraine, Syria, we have some from Ethiopia," said Downey, “it’s important for them to see these stories be told so we can try to not repeat them.”

Despite her life being filled with great difficulty, Kersz hopes that by speaking out and sharing her story, students learn to be kind to one another and to fight hate. She currently volunteers at the Holocaust Museum & Education Center in Skokie, IL to continue to spread that message. 

This week’s article is focused on the need for vehicles and bicycles to share the road. Over the past few weeks, I have received numerous concerns from avid bicyclists who are reluctant to travel on the roads due to safety concerns and motorists who feel that bikes pose a risk.

We are very fortunate to live in a community of such natural beauty. People from near and far spend countless hours pedaling miles either as individuals or as part of groups, raising money for charities. Some of these rides take place on the many miles of the Ahnapee Trail, while others share the road with those traveling in motor vehicles. Even for those riding on the trail, there are numerous points where the trails must cross or merge with public roadways, and because of this, some very basic and important safety tips apply to both scenarios.

Visibility is a major safety consideration when on a bicycle due to the decreased size of the bicyclist’s profile, both when being passed and met by a motor vehicle. Efforts to bring attention to the rider and the bike are always a good practice. Either light colored clothing or reflective materials will help in being identified by a driver at a much greater distance, thus giving the driver of a vehicle much more time to navigate safely around the bike and its driver.

This brings us to the following safety tip: Navigating around a bike traveling on a roadway. My most frequent complaint from bicyclists is that vehicles do not provide a safe distance when passing. If you, as a vehicle driver, cannot provide a safe distance between your car and the bike when you are passing, it is best to follow until the opportunity is there to pass them as you would a slow-moving vehicle. Just as a motorcycle has the right to its traffic lane, so does the bicyclist. Many think that if more than one bicycle travels, they must be in a single-file line. This is not the case. Just as two motorcycles may travel side by side within their traffic lane, the same goes for bicycles. Please treat them as you would any other slow-moving motor vehicle.

Now, to the bicyclist, please operate your bike with the traffic, not against it. Sometimes people get confused, as the common practice for walking is to go against the traffic. Also, those street signs are meant for you as well. Just today I was driving down the street and a bike failed to stop at a stop sign missing me by inches. Fortunately, I was in my Sheriff’s truck and took the opportunity to educate the young lad. Another good tip is to use the traditional arm signals. I know we were all taught them as kids, and yes, they are still relevant when operating a bicycle. These signals are your way of communicating with the vehicles you share the road with.

As we finally have some decent weather, we can get out and bike in, let’s not forget to do it safely. If you would rather drive a vehicle to enjoy the scenery, please don’t forget about the rest of us on bikes. Stay Safe!

Step back into time with a stroll through Heritage Village to get a glimpse of what life was like in Door County during the 19th and early 20th centuries. The village, owned by the Door County Historical Society, will host its Opening Day Celebration on Saturday, May 31st from 10a.m. to 3p.m. 

“The Opening Day Celebration is the first day that Heritage Village is open for the season and we invite people to come in and explore the 9 different buildings on property,” said Door County Historical Society Executive Director Amy Frank, “it’s an opportunity to really just show what the Heritage Village is all about.”

During the free event, visitors can watch live blacksmith demonstrations, tour the Madden Tool Museum, browse the new Vintage & Makers Market, plus participate in historic games and hands-on activities. They will also get to see period-authentic artifacts as they browse the village’s preserved buildings such as The Greene Store, filled with traditional trinkets found in an old-time general store, as well as the Vignes Schoolhouse, built in the 1890s. 

“It’s important that we share this with people so that they kind of understand how Door County came to be what it is, understand where it came from and some of the hardships that people endured to make Door County what it is today and kind of connect today with the past while also looking forward to the future as well,” added Frank.

There is no charge for admission. For more information on the buildings found at the village, pick up a free guide booklet at the entrance or click here.

You won’t see him on the stage at Northern Sky Theater this summer, but the organization’s co-founder Doc Heide hopes you will hear him in your headphones real soon. Earlier this year, Heide announced his plans for a new album, his first in nearly 20 years. Heide says writing and performing in some of your favorite Northern Sky Theater shows kept him too busy to get into the studio to record songs that he has been working on in his free time. The album, tentatively titled Birthplace of the Thunder, will be a throwback to his first album, which he collaborated on with his Northern Sky co-founder, the late Fred Alley. Heide is excited to share his new work with listeners after working with several names familiar to Northern Sky Theater fans.

While writing and playing music have not changed much, recording and financing a new album have. Following in the footsteps of artists like Katie Dahl, Heide is crowdsourcing the album through Kickstarter. Heide says he appreciates the project's support, reaching 87 percent funded since the campaign was launched.

You have until June 10th to make the project a reality by contributing at this link. Heide adds that if he receives more than the goal of $20,500, he will use the additional songs. “I'm not getting any salary or compensation for this project, Heide said. “Everything we raise is going to pay studio costs, guest artists, etc.”  

You can read a children’s book while exploring Kewaunee’s Bruemmer Park after the Kewaunee County Promotions and Recreation Department unveiled the newest selection on Wednesday. The department invited area schools and families to the special unveiling of  “A Firefly Tale,” a book by local author Janet Tlachac-Toonen. The displays were donated three years ago by the Door County Board of Realtors and Kewaunee County Promotions and Recreation Director Dave Myers says they have been a welcome addition to the park.

Myers believes the storybook trail has helped bring more families to Bruemmer Park, which is also home to a playground, an animal statue garden, biking and hiking trails, and the county zoo.

Picture from Visit Kewaunee County

Before you reach for cucumbers to pack your lunch, be sure to check the packaging first. JFE Franchising, Inc. has recalled veggie trays, salads, and produce bowls containing fresh-cut cucumbers due to a risk of Salmonella. 

According to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), affected products, marketed with a Snowfruit or Snowfox label, are grown by Bedner Growers, Inc. and distributed by Fresh Start Produce Sales, Inc. The recall also includes sushi products made with the cucumbers, though the impacted lots are made daily and have a one-day shelf life, illness may still be possible. 

The affected batches are sold at multiple stores across the country, including at Roundy’s chains for both Pick N’ Save and Metro Markets in Wisconsin.

Impacted Roundy’s Products:

• Signature Vegetable Bowl - 28 oz. (#639123600172)
• Chef Salad - 16 oz. (#639123600295)
• Cobb Style Salad - 15 oz. (#639123600318)
• Garden Salad - 16 oz. (#639123600547)
• Greek Salad - 16 oz. (#639123600523)

Those who have purchased the cucumber products should not consume them as Salmonella has the ability to cause fever, nausea, vomiting, and abdominal discomfort. Currently, while there have been no incidents reported in Wisconsin yet, twenty-six cases of illness and nine hospitalizations have been reported in conjunction with the recall. Consumers should either discard the product or return them to the place of purchase for a refund. 

The FDA’s investigation is still ongoing and the full list of impacted products can be found here.

You can blame Canadian wildfires for potentially forcing you indoors until early Saturday morning. The National Weather Service issued an air quality advisory for Wisconsin on Friday that will last until 6 a.m. Saturday morning. According to the agency, air quality will gradually degrade from the north to the south as a cold front pushes wildfire smoke across the state. The state’s western counties could see the warning extended through Saturday. The air quality index (AQI) is expected to be unhealthy for sensitive groups (orange level), but potentially get elevated to an unhealthy AQI (red level). Shauna Blackledge from the Door County Public Health advises older people and those with certain health conditions to take extra precautions on such days.

According to the BBC, approximately 17,000 residents in Manitoba are under evacuation orders due to the wildfires, causing the air quality alert throughout the upper Midwest.  More than 80 fires are deemed out of control in Manitoba, forcing residents in nearby Saskatchewan to evacuate. Door County has seen air quality advisories occur due to wildfires in Canada each of the last two years.

The tension between nearby residents and new waterfront property owner Matt Sagorac of Sagorac Enterprises of Fish Creek continues to build. Sagorac addressed the dispute about the property he purchased at the former Alpine Resort during the Egg Harbor Plan Commission meeting on May 27th. The meeting was scheduled to review the preliminary plat for Sagorac Estates, which included a plan to subdivide two lots. While there’s no current plan resolution, indignation continues.

Marguerite Roza, a resident of Egg Harbor, spoke during the open session at the meeting and addressed her concerns regarding the Alpine property, calling the project ‘a Battle for the Soul of Egg Harbor.’ She recapped the historic meaning behind the resort saying buildings were being erased and replaced with private estates, jeopardizing the integrity of the historical value following the land sale.

“In January, the waterfront portion sold again in an off-market transaction, the seller kept the golf property and a wealthy buyer purchased the waterfront. Both see big profit in carving up the acreage and selling off parcels for private residences,” Roza said, “proposed plans treat the land as a golden goose.”

Roza argued that when a preservation group inquired about purchasing the waterfront parcel, the current owner, Matt Sagorac, requested $20M; a number double of what he paid for the land in January. 

A second resident who attended the meeting to speak could not due to being emotional about the project. Instead, Sagorac was quick to take the mic to defend his project. 

“I’m trying to open restaurants and create things for the village and I’m here doing this which I shouldn’t have to be,” said owner Matt Sagorac, “you’re not losing anything.”

Sagorac argued that the golf course and the cottages are all being repurposed and that he feels the continual delays are a costly, futile effort. Stances clashed during the meeting as he explained he spent $7M of his own money on the property and that he should have the right to do what he wants with it and that the building structure itself wasn’t salvageable.

“You don’t even realize that the buildings have been deemed unsafe by both the Fire Department and a structural engineer,” he said, “I didn’t create this problem once again, but of course, the fingers always pointed at the new guy, right? And it just isn’t right, it isn’t right at all, and I just love it when people think they’re losing what they think is theirs.”

Sagorac contended he proposed a price to a different buyer and that he gave them 30 days to consider, and they didn’t make a deal. 

“When I bought it, I took it, I wish it had been a public transition. No one has the money to pass $7,000,000 here; I spent the $7,000,000, it’s my money,” Sagorac stated, “don’t tell me how I can do it any differently, I wish I would have never done it.” 

Photo Credit: The Alpine Resort

If you are not one who likes saying goodbye, being a high school principal at this time of year may not be for you. The area’s eight school districts started their goodbyes to their seniors last week when Luxemburg-Casco hosted its commencement exercises. By Friday, Southern Door, Algoma, and Kewaunee will have joined them, and Sturgeon Bay (May 31st), Gibraltar (June 1st), Washington Island (June 6th), and Sevastopol (June 8th) are just days away from their own graduation ceremonies. 

Luxemburg-Casco Principal Tyson Tlachac wrapped up his first year as principal at his alma mater, marveling at how students can do so much with the opportunities given to them, such as earning college credits and participating in the youth apprenticeship (YA) program. “It’s unbelievable how many opportunities there are for students to be set up for success after they leave here,” he said. "Students are proud of their college credits during high school. Beyond their tuition savings, it allows them to find out what they like and don’t like. YA, which a large number of our students participate in, adds to that.” 

Sturgeon Bay High School Principal Keith Nerby is celebrating his fourth year on the job with the students who started as freshmen when he took on the role. He pointed out some parallels he shares with this year’s graduating class that grew up in the building alongside him.

Nerby will have plenty of opportunities to say his goodbyes before the week is out. In addition to their class celebration on Thursday, Sturgeon Bay is keeping with its pandemic-born tradition of a boat parade on the bay to honor its seniors following the commencement ceremony.

Despite calling and texting services being recently restored, many Cellcom customers are still left frustrated regarding the reliability of emergency calling capabilities and the uncertainty behind their looming cellular bill. While Cellcom works to stabilize their systems following their cyber incident, more on the aftermath is now coming to light.

While Cellcom has been keeping customers informed on the progress of restoration and recovery on their website, and many customers have reached out to their support chat, Door County Daily News dug a little deeper to provide a clearer picture for those who utilize the service.

Door County Daily News reached out to Kimberly Sawyer, the Senior Manager of External Relations at Nsight, the parent company to Cellcom, and she released the following statement regarding the availability of emergency calling:

“911 access remains a top priority. During any carrier outage, federal protocols ensure emergency calls are rerouted to other carrier networks. Sometimes the call connection can take a moment, and success depends on the performance of the other networks. We’ve followed all protocols, and our systems remain in compliance. 911 calls have been and continue to be available to make on our devices.” 

It is possible that issues arose with emergency calling due to the rerouting of the calls to other networks, though the official cause of the problem has never been formally provided by the carrier. In addition to concerns surrounding emergency calling, customers have been left in the dark about their bill.

According to a statement provided to Door County Daily News by Kimberly Sawyer, customers will still need to wait to address their billing concerns.

“We know this has been a tough experience and we’re actively working on how we’ll make this right and we’ll share more details later this week. This will include information about an adjustment that will be reflected on a future bill.”

When asked if customers will receive a credit on their bill only for the period of service disruption or have their monthly bill waived completely due to the inconvenience behind the length of the outage, Sawyer declined to comment citing that billing adjustments are being finalized and that they will be addressed later this week. 

A shipwreck near Baileys Harbor is going by a different name after the Wisconsin Historical Society discovered a mistake in its identification over 20 years ago. The organization announced on Thursday that the Joseph Cochrane shipwreck was placed on the State Register of Historic Places after being placed initially on the National Register of Historic Places in 2003 under Christina Nilsson. According to the Wisconsin Historical Society, additional information gathered from resources unavailable at the time showed that the schooner was misidentified at its original nomination. The real Joseph Cochrane was launched in 1856 to transport bulk cargo and general merchandise until it sank in October 1870. The ship became grounded on a reef near the harbor, and after three days of trying to save the vessel, the crew abandoned it in early November 1870. As for the real Christina Nilsson shipwreck, don’t worry. The Wisconsin Historical Society says that the shipwreck has been identified nearby. 

Picture courtesy of the Wisconsin Historical Society

The New season is here, NEW Radio's Bryan Mazur and Alexa Soto from Destination Sturgeon Bay discuss the 2025 Farmers Market season, including what you can expect during the first few markets, who is returning, what it takes to organize the market every week and how you can stay up to date with the Farmers Market Facebook page. They also give you a sneak peek into who the guests will be this year on Faces of the Farmers Market.

A new podcast will drop every other Tuesday on the Door County Daily News Faces of the Farmers Market podcast feed and on the Door County Daily News YouTube channel. 

Thousands of spectators lined the terminals at Appleton International Airport on May 27th to welcome home 91 veterans and their travel companions from the 2025 Old Glory Honor Flight. Crowds cheered and shook the hands of the many women and men who fought for our freedoms and while there was not a dry eye in sight, it was a remarkable way to honor the veterans.

Old Glory Honor Flight Executive Director Diane MacDonald said this year marked the 16th anniversary of the flight and that by the end of fall, it will mark taking over 7,000 veterans who live in Northeast Wisconsin to Washington DC. Attendees of the flight got to see memorials, pay their respects to fallen comrades and make new friends along the way.

“The Honor Flight is an extremely meaningful way for our community to say “thank you” for their service and sacrifice,” said MacDonald, “yesterday, we honored veterans from World War I, Korean, and Vietnam wars as well as those who served prior to May 1975; we want to thank all those who made it possible to give our veterans a day they will never forget.”

As the crowds patiently waited with patriotic signs and flags for the veteran’s plane to land, they enjoyed live music by SwingTime Big Band and connected with other Honor Flight families. Shortly after 11p.m. the celebration parade began as veterans began to proceed through the terminal, greeted with open arms and expressions of gratitude from hundreds of people.

Down the pathway soon came one of Door County’s very own; Wallace “Bill” Becker, a Navy veteran who served on board the USS Richard B. Anderson. Becker visited numerous ports during his service including Hawaii, Japan, China, the Philippines and Taiwan and called the trip an unforgettable experience.

“It was a wonderful day from start to finish,” Becker said, “the FDR monument was quite eye opening and to see the changing of the guards at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier was especially meaningful.”

Becker’s homecoming was met with an extra special surprise; in addition to other family waiting for him in the terminal, his son flew home to Wisconsin from the U.S. Virgin Islands to greet his father as he landed. The trip also served as a proud reminder for Becker on what it means to him to be a veteran. 

“I always wanted to serve my country,” Becker added, “I wanted to make sure that our next generations down the line have the same opportunities that I’ve had because of the men and women fighting in the wars and preserving our peace and all of our freedoms.” 

Door County Habitat for Humanity Executive Director Lori Allen warned the crowd ahead of her groundbreaking day speech on Wednesday that she might get a little emotional.

 

 

 

 

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About a year ago, the organization, faced with a shortage of funds following emergency repairs to its ReStore and a lack of a partner family, opted not to build in 2024. Instead, the organization focused its efforts on community repair projects and assisting the Door County Housing Partnership with their build in Sister Bay. Allen was proud to have the community's support through its hiatus and excited to get back to work on home #50.

Bridget and Dean Ferron, Door County Habitat for Humanity's 50th partner family, are patiently awaiting their new home. They had two of their young daughters in tow for the festivities, which included a prayer from Door County Habitat for Humanity Treasurer Michelle Sternard and comments from Habitat for Humanity Wisconsin CEO Peter Lewandowski. Bridget was moved by the more than two dozen community members who attended the ceremony, adding that she is looking forward to making memories with their family's home from start to finish.

You can lend a hand to ensure the success of Door County Habitat for Humanity's 50th home build by volunteering to help build the home or by providing the volunteers with snacks and meals. Door County Habitat for Humanity hopes to complete the home this fall. 

Door County is known for its breathtaking shorelines, and thanks to a generous donation received by the town of Nasewaupee, Haines Park Beach will soon undergo much-needed updates to remain a part of that vision. But first, it needs to be cleaned up and volunteers are being asked to help re-beautify the park on June 10th and 11th.

Located on the west side of the Sturgeon Bay shipping canal, the quaint 150-yard beach features a stretch of soft sand, picnic amenities, and is an ideal spot for an afternoon of swimming and sunbathing. Recently, however, debris and trees have fallen which make accessibility difficult, but a group of residents, who call themselves Haines Beach & Friends, are on a mission to clean up the beach. 

“When we found out that they were receiving funds for the beach, we were kind of just discussing at one of the monthly town meetings about how much debris there is and what a mess the beach was currently at,” said member Cianna Gabriela Rael, “there are so many trees that have fallen back in there that we’ve got dumpsters that are being delivered to clear as much out as possible.”

For Rael, the inspiration behind cleaning up the park is not just about the environment, but it also revolves around pending updates to park amenities that will allow everyone to enjoy the beach. The funding will cover installation of a Mobi-mat which will accommodate strollers and wheelchairs and new picnic tables will also be added to the park.

“It really is for the community so families and friends can all go to the beach and enjoy themselves and have full access to the beach where currently, you can’t,” added Rael. 

Volunteers who are willing to help with trash pickup, clearing debris, and resetting the fencing, should also bring shovels or rakes on Tuesday, June 10th, and Wednesday, June 11th. Cleanup will take place between 9a.m. and 3p.m. and individuals who are over 18+ who can bring a chainsaw to cut up tree debris is also appreciated. Minors may attend when accompanied by a parent or guardian and students from Southern Door High School can receive volunteer credit for graduation by helping.

As warmer summer temperatures arrive and individuals spend more time outside, they may soon have to ask themselves, ‘is that a snake or a stick?’ While there are no venomous species in our direct area, it is important to know what to do - and what not to - when it comes to snakes.

“Keep an eye open for snakes,” advises Josh Martinez, the District Ecologist for the DNR in Northeast Wisconsin, “just keep your distance, no need to go and approach them and pick them up, and they’ll leave you alone.”

Martinez is a snake expert in this portion of the state and says species, like Gartersnakes, Fox Snakes, and Brownsnake, found in Door County are harmless. Being cold blooded, snakes can be found stretching out in the sun on bluff bedrock or moving through the tall grasses around the peninsula. 

In Wisconsin, it is often a myth that a snake will lash out at an individual walking by them, but if provoked, like any animal, they will bite. If a snake bite does occur, wash and clean the wound properly to prevent bacterial infections and consult a physician if the bite develops any signs of infection.

“If you are bitten by a snake, which is going to be a result of you trying to capture a snake or picking up a snake, they’ll bite you in self-defence,” added Martinez.

According to Martinez, snake bites in this part of Wisconsin are uncommon but that beyond the stigma surrounding snakes, having them around is beneficial to the ecosystem.

“The diversity of different snakes in Door County and the abundance also helps give us a good indicator that we have a high productivity system that’s still in very good balance,” he said, “as a result, you know, you see snakes on the landscape that’s telling you that we do have a good, healthy system that we're living in up here.”

Memberships can be acquired by signing up on the YMCA’s website or by stopping in to the welcome desk at either branch. Financial assistance is also available for qualifying families and individuals through their Membership for All program.

“The YMCA welcomes all who want to participate and believes that no one should be denied access to the Y based on their ability to pay,” said Holly Butenhoff, the Branch Executive Director at the Northern Door YMCA in Fish Creek.

Assistance is provided on an individual basis, and to apply, applicants can complete their application found on the Y website and bring the necessary documentation into their preferred branch. 

Alongside joining, the YMCA offers a variety of programming including classes, lessons, and specialty events, which are accessible to members at a discounted rate.

“At the Door County Y, we offer tons of classes, we offer summer camps for kids, all those you get at a special membership rate if you're a Y member,” added Butenhoff, “That doesn't mean you can't do classes if you're not a member, we do have a community rate and you can still come in and join the fun.”

The Y also offers a Summer Foods Program for children under age 18. There is no sign up and it invites them to come enjoy a free, nutritious lunch. There are 12 offering sites this year in multiple areas including Algoma, Sturgeon Bay, and Northern Door. A full list of locations and pickup times can be viewed here.

Listen to the full Y Wednesday interview with Holly Butenhoff by clicking here. 

Did you hear that? After several weeks of service interruption following a cyber incident, Cellcom has confirmed via their website that their services for calling and text messaging are now both functioning. Both inbound and outbound calls have also been fixed following their restoration efforts.

Cellcom stated that while they are seeing strong improvements with the service returning following the outage, there may be some “intermittent issues” that may still occur as the systems work to stabilize.

Customers experiencing issues going forward are asked to first reboot their cellular device. If problems still persist, reach out to the Cellcom support team by calling 800-236-0055 or on their website to access their agent chat. Consumers can also stop into their local Cellcom branch location for additional assistance. 

You could have caught your first glimpse of cruise ship season in Algoma this weekend. Monday marked the first day a Viking cruise ship docked outside the Algoma Marina, the first of six such experiences this summer. The Viking Octantis and the Viking Polaris will take turns stopping in Algoma as part of the ships’ Great Lakes journey between Duluth and Toronto. This marks the third summer the Viking cruise ships have brought passengers ashore to Algoma before allowing them to explore the city or take excursions to Door County and Green Bay. Algoma Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Bradley Kautenberg hopes the city continues to offer great hospitality to its guests, even for just a few hours.

Viking cruise ships will also dock in Algoma on June 8th and 22nd, July 5th, and August 3rd and 16th. Krautenberg added that Viking looks to double the amount stops in Algoma next year. In past years, other cruise ships from different companies also dropped their anchor in Algoma. However, Krautenberg was unsure if other operators outside of Viking were stopping by this summer.

Dust off that broken laptop or get out your favorite but ripped sweater, fellow members of the community can help fix them at the new Repair Cafe coming to Sturgeon Bay. Along with providing an opportunity for free repair, participants will be able to gain new skills, build lasting friendships, and socialize.

Much like a traditional cafe that has a full menu of different goods - a Repair Cafe has a similar concept. It will be held once a month and volunteers with a variety of different skills will be on-site to help those needing repairs for their items for things like instruments, small appliances, clothing, shoes, garden tools, and more. While the idea behind the cafe originated in the Netherlands and has been popping up around the country for decades, this is the first one to be officially offered in Door County.

“It is so inspiring to be a part of a Repair Cafe because you see what it's about, it’s not just about taking your thing to get it fixed, drop it off and go, it’s about participating in the experience and it’s really fun because you’re collaborating with other volunteers to fix your broken but beloved item,” said Janelle Peotter, who is helping to coordinate the cafe. 

This offering is an excellent way for those in the community to share heritage skills that younger generations may not have a background in like sewing, leatherwork, or welding. It also encourages the younger generations to share their familiar skills like technology, with older individuals in the area, too. 

“It’s very much community-building because you know how it is these days, a lot of times you hardly know your neighbor, you wave hi, but then to learn, oh wow, you know how to do XYZ, that’s really cool, I never knew you knew how to do that,” added Peotter, “people also like having their stuff fixed and keeping stuff out of the landfill.” 

The first Repair Cafe will launch this summer and is currently being planned. Those interested in volunteering can attend the Organization Meeting on Saturday, May 31st at 10a.m. at Hope United Church of Christ at 141 South 12th Avenue in Sturgeon Bay. 

During your Memorial Day weekend travels in Door County, you may have encountered the lights of a police car, fire truck, or ambulance.

According to the Door County Dispatch Center report, emergency personnel responded to approximately 400 calls from 8 a.m. on Friday until 8 a.m. on Tuesday. The call volume peaked on Friday, when dispatchers took 126 calls, most of which were traffic stops.

One of the calls taken over the weekend occurred Monday at about 8:15 a.m. when a 72-year-old man drove into a bathroom building at Potawatomi State Park. According to the accident report, the man was pulling into the parking lot when he accidentally hit the gas instead of the brake before the accident occurred. His passenger, a 74-year-old Fall River woman, had taken off her seat belt when the accident occurred, hitting her head on the car’s windshield. She was taken to an area hospital to be treated for her injury.

The Southern Door Fire Department responded to the blaze at about 12:30 a.m. on County Highway J, where they found the camper fully engulfed. The department’s 14 firefighters helped extinguish the fire in about an hour with about 3,000 gallons of water. Southern Door Fire Chief Rich Olson said mutual aid was canceled once they knew they had enough resources, though the Brussels-Union-Gardner Fire Department did assist in setting up a fill site. While it likely did not impact the outcome for the camper, Olson expressed frustration with emergency calls not going through to the Door County Sheriff’s Department Dispatch Center via a Cellcom phone. He added he needed to try several things to contact firefighters and mutual aid.

Nobody was hurt in the fire, and because of the damage, the cause of the fire cannot be determined.

Over 200 patrons gathered at the Sturgeon Bay Fire Department on Monday, May 26th for a special ceremony of remembrance. The crowd was filled with veterans, families, and young children, who all came together to honor the fallen for Memorial Day. 

“This Memorial Day observance is one of the most important annual events in our city,” said Mayor David Ward, “we as a city come together to recognize the sacrifices of the many generations to preserve us as a free nation.”

The Peninsula Symphonic Band played a variety of patriotic music as guests arrived. At 10a.m., the service began with a warm welcome by Door County Veterans Service Officer, Beth Van Oss, and The Star Spangled Banner, followed by a revenant moment of silence. 

Chaplain Bill Karas with the Marine Corps League Detachment 1130 spoke about the importance of reflection and gratitude and said:

“This Memorial Day is a special time to pause, reflect, and honor the men and women who gave their lives to our country. For our churches and faith-based communities, it offers a meaningful opportunity to come together in prayer lifting up the fallen, comforting the grieving, and seeking peace to our nation; and know Lord, we give thanks for the American way of life that we enjoy today. Let us not forget that the rights and privileges we enjoy have blood on them and that every good gift was bought and paid for in human sacrifice.”

A bell then tolled for each fallen veteran from Door County as their name was called. Upon calling the final name, there was a traditional rifle salute and sounding of the taps. 

Kittens, goats, and calves will bring their barnyard to the Algoma Public Library lawn on Thursday, June 12th. The library will be hosting an Animal Meet & Greet for visitors to learn more about farm animals, about showing them, and to pet them during the multi-sensory experience. 

The event will run 10a.m. until noon and members of the Kewaunee County 4-H will be on-site showing off their prized animals and baby calves will be brought in from Ebert Farms. 

“I feel like it's a great opportunity for any age to interact with these animals and especially see our community youth participate in a great program such as 4H,” said Adult Services Librarian Katie Haasch.

The event will allow visitors to get up close and personal to touch the animals and to ask their handlers questions. It is a great opportunity for all ages, especially those who were raised in the city and have never interacted with farm animals up close before.

“We're really excited to see

kids interact with animals that maybe they they don't typically see outside a book or an educational show on TV,” she said.

The staff at the library planned the event as a way to build strong community partnerships that encourage lifelong learning.

“The kids that come, might even get interested in the 4-H or they might be interested in having their first dog or having a cat,” added Haasch, “it’s awesome because it teaches them responsibility.”

Door County’s largest farmers market cannot wait to welcome you to the streets of Sturgeon Bay beginning this weekend. Dozens of vendors covering everything from fresh produce and specialty foods to art and clothing will line 3^rd Avenue for portions of six months. Destination Sturgeon Bay’s Cameryn Ehlers-Kwaterski and Alexa Soto say they have seen a lot of growth in the market since it moved from a city parking lot to a major street, from the number of vendors and shoppers to the amount of enthusiasm people show in attending every week. While there are no major changes to this year’s market, the duo say they always look for ways to enhance the experience.

The Sturgeon Bay Farmers Market runs on Saturdays from 8 a.m. to noon until October 11^th. You will be able to learn about some of the vendors that set up shop for the morning by listening to the Faces of the Farmers Market podcast, which will also begin its third season this week. 

You can learn why you may see farmers planting crops into other crops this year in the name of conservation. For the last several years, members of Peninsula Pride Farms have "planted green" in hopes of preventing soil erosion in their fields. 

“Planting green” is when operators seed cover crops between rows of other growing plants. For example, some farmers plant a mixture of radish, clover, ryegrass, and sunflowers between corn rows. While much of it could be harvested for different purposes, much of the cover crops planted stay in the field to help build organic matter and hold the soil in place. Devin Schmidt from S&S Jerseyland Dairy says it has been beneficial for their fields as they try to stretch the dollars they use to fertilize their crops.

You can see how S&S Jerseyland Dairy in Sturgeon Bay uses the strategy when they host the upcoming Peninsula Pride Farms Conservation Conversation on May 27th at 6 p.m. You can find more details about the event below.

Following two recent upgrades, the Shiloh Road Bark Park is ready to welcome pups and their owners to enjoy time outside this summer. The park, which is known for its notable hills perfect for a game of fetch, now features spigots for water access and new lighting to improve safety.

District 4 Alderman J. Spencer Gustafson says the community asked and the city answered after the requests for the additions were suggested at a Park and Recreation meeting last fall.

“It was a lot of work by a lot of the park goers and a lot of the volunteers of the park kind of banding together and sharing their wishes to the city,” said Gustafson, “the Park and Rec committee kind of took it to heart and had Municipal Services work on a plan to get water and lighting out there.”

The much-needed improvements were made possible since the Public Safety Training Facility used by the Fire Department is located next door which made running water lines easier. In addition to water access to hydrate furry visitors, lighting will extend the hours the park can be used.

Though the park is maintained by Municipal Services, Gustafson appreciates the many volunteers that dedicate their time to caring for the park as well. 

“That park has a wonderful group of volunteers,” he added, “a lot of the greenery and other things over there are well-kept by the volunteers so it’s kind of got its own community over there.”

The upgrades join the lineup of the park’s existing outdoor amenities which include two separate fenced areas with a connecting gate, benches, and plenty of space to run and play. 

While farmers market season is gearing up, recipients of the Women Infants and Children Program (WIC) as well as seniors, will have to wait to receive benefits to use on fresh fruits and vegetables due to federal funding delays. While the program will begin later than usual this year, there are still ways for families and individuals to have access to fresh produce.

Door County WIC Director and Nutritionist Teresa Mertens, RD, CD, CLS, suggests being resourceful with produce purchases. This includes utilizing programs like FoodShare and current WIC benefits to purchase healthy food options at the store. Consumers can also choose ‘multi-use’ vegetables such as lettuce or carrots, which can be utilized for multiple meals. 

“Buying fruits and vegetables in season will also help families stay within budget,” said Mertens.

While Mertens says the Door County WIC office does not have answers for WIC members about the delay at this time, these tips can help maintain access to produce ahead of summer.

In Wisconsin, the Farmers Market Nutrition Program (FMNP) is designed to connect those who receive WIC benefits, or qualifying seniors, with area farmers. Recipients receive a special voucher-style check they can use at participating markets. Currently, around 1,000 farmers are part of the program and many residents in Door County rely on the program to supplement their meals.

A spokesperson from the Wisconsin Department of Health Services, who oversees communications about the WIC program in the state, issued the following statement to Door County Daily News:

“Reduced federal funding is the reason behind the delay. The start of the program will be pushed back a month, to July 1st at the earliest. It could be delayed further. Senior checks are also impacted, with a decrease from five $9 checks ($45 total) in 2024 to five $5 checks ($25 total) for 2025. The program is fully federally funded, and we issue 100% of the food dollars we receive. As soon as we have additional information, we will share it with our vendors and participants.”

Those enrolled in either program should watch for updates by email or text message regarding the continuance of the Farmers Market Nutrition Program. 

Bryan Mazur- President/Owner: This weekend all across our peninsula communities will gather in remembrance, and tributes will echo as we to honor our fallen military heroes on Memorial Day. In addition to remembering the fallen, Memorial Day also serves as a moment to salute those currently serving in the military who continue to uphold the nation's values at home and abroad.

Though Memorial Day is often celebrated with barbecues, family gatherings, and is considered the unofficial start of summer, for many, it remains deeply personal and a reminder of loved ones lost and a tribute to the unwavering bravery that defines the U.S. Armed Forces. As taps played is softly at memorials across our counties our deep and abiding gratitude is sent to all those who have served, are currently serving or have given the ultimate sacrifice for our country.

This Memorial Day, our staff from NEW Radio wants to salute its heroes — past, present, and always remembered. Just like my grandfathers, Frank Mazur, John Przybysz, Clyde Carlson, Ed Schneider and my father-in-Law, Walter Suter who all served in WWII.

Tim Kowols (News Director): Working in this position for nearly a decade, I've been blessed to have met and talked to several veterans who were born here, raised here, and returned here after serving our country. Some told me stories of triumphant returns and other tales of hiding in the shadows, not wanting to draw attention to their service. It reminds me a lot of the four men I call my four grandpas: the two I was born with and the two I married into. Gilbert Kowols was a communications officer in the
United States Army. Merle Helming was a pilot in the United States Air Force. David Petersen was a submariner with the U.S. Navy. Richard Buntman was a mechanic in the U.S. Marine Corps.

All four I know loved serving their country, but in my Grandpa Gil and Merle's case, I sadly learned more after they were gone than when they were alive. Grandpa Gilbert carried his love for communications well into retirement, lighting up the ham radio world as W9BUB and W9SRO until his passing. Grandpa Merle never talked much about his service, but we later learned his critical role in a mission over Japan
that led to the end of World War II. Grandpa David went to basic training at the Great Lakes Naval Station, which was not too far from where I grew up and later got to explore as a Fort 2 Base Race participant. Grandpa Richard had great stories of his time fixing equipment in the military and he took those skills to Honda for many years. I was lucky to learn even that much from them because many people my age were not as lucky. Many grandfathers and fathers who went off to war and never got a chance to come home and share those memories with their sons and daughters and their future grandchildren. That is part of the reason why I appreciate the conversations I do get to have with our area veterans, because of the wealth of knowledge they have, and the stories they share are ones I wish I got to hear more of when my grandfathers were still alive.

Jennifer Much (News Reporter):

Growing up, I was fortunate to be raised knowing the importance, value, and incredible role veterans have in our lives. That appreciation runs even deeper now that I am raising my own two children to share that mindset. My eight-year-old daughter is already endearingly compassionate towards those in the service, which I admire, and one day, she came home from school and asked, “why do we only celebrate veterans on Veterans Day?” That was an entirely hearty, thought-provoking question coming from a second grader. It led us on a wonderful journey to making over 200 homemade cards for veterans. While seemingly a small impact, I believe life has a ripple effect. Now, as Memorial Day approaches, it comes in as a secondary wave of opportunity to honor and appreciate all of our veterans, especially those who have sacrificed their lives to serve our country. I will be forever grateful that our freedoms have been safeguarded because of their commitment and promise and will continue to remember that as my family helps to place flags on veterans graves this year.

I am also very proud to have veterans in my own family. Though I never had the opportunity to meet him, my grandpa James Kelly was an A2C in the United States Air Force and served in Korea, plus many great-uncles were on the front lines in Vietnam. On my husband’s side, the military link is much stronger. My father-in-law, Richard Much, was stationed in Germany with the army during Vietnam, and his father, Nyle Much, served in the navy during World War II on board the LST-950 in the Asiatic-Pacific theater during the occupation of Okinawa Gunto. While everyone has their own unique, riveting stories, my favorite has always been hearing my husband’s grandma, Betty, talk about when she met her husband, Dr. Phil Houk, while they both served in the Armed Forces hospital during World War II. As a witty West Virginian woman, their “meet cute” was always at the forefront of humorous, but cherished, family stories.

Collectively, I am fascinated with old photographs, Muster rolls, and endless historical inquiries, and always find myself wanting to learn more about a veteran's story; but perhaps that is the inquisitive nature of a journalist. While many individuals may no longer be with us, the beautiful thing is that stories live forever and with that, a person is never forgotten. I am so honored to connect with veterans every day to some capacity, whether they are stopping by the radio station for an interview, or are standing next to me in the checkout line at the store. Everytime I see a Garrison cap, military uniform, or classicly embroidered veteran's hat, I make it a point to thank that individual for their service. Even more, Memorial Day for me is a subtle reminder to be extra thankful; not only for my friends who are currently enlisted or for those in my family that have served, but also for the millions of veterans around the country that I have never met.

Shelly Lau (Customer Delivery Specialist/On Air U-102.1): What Memorial Day Means to Me: Learning, Listening, and Saying Thank You While We Still Can. Memorial Day in Door County is often seen as the unofficial kick-off to summer… long weekends, barbeques, boating, parades and family. And while there’s nothing wrong with gathering and enjoying time with loved ones, the true spirit of this day runs deeper than flag-themed decorations, burgers, hot dogs and beer. For me, Memorial Day is a call to remember not only those who gave their lives in service to our Country, but also to appreciate those who still walk among us. It’s a reminder that we shouldn’t wait until someone is gone to try to learn who they were.

Recently, I spoke with family and friends who served. Some were drafted and had no choice, some enlisted to carry on a family legacy, some saw it as a career, and others enlisted after 9-11. Their stories were as unique as they were powerful, and every single one made me realize how much we still must learn, and how important it is to listen now, not later. One Vietnam veteran told me bluntly, “I didn’t volunteer, I was drafted.” But after a pause, he added, “Looking back, I’m glad I went. But coming home…that was hard. People threw rocks at us, and some of the things they said about us….” His voice no longer carries bitterness, just truth. He simply wants to be heard. Another shared that military service was a family tradition. “My father served. My grandfather too. I wanted to carry that forward.” He was quick to point out that many civilians think service members spend their time training to fight. “We’re actually in classes, studying, learning. It’s not just about combat; it’s about building a foundation.” A different veteran told me he joined the military because, in his words, “I wasn’t college material. But I figured I could build a life from it.” And he did. While he didn’t make the military his career, the job he has today was made possible by the discipline, training, and opportunities the military gave him. Every one of the veterans, regardless of age, shared a deep appreciation for the care and services they now receive through the VA. But one conversation struck a more sobering chord. “None of us know what’s going to happen when we wake up,” he said. “But in the military, there’s a much higher chance you won’t come home at the end of the day.”

The truth is why Memorial Day matters. Not just as a way to remember the fallen, but as a moment to honor the living. To ask questions. To thank them. To learn from them, while we still can. Too often, we eulogize people after they’re gone, scrambling to remember what they meant to us. What if we told them now? What if we asked our grandparents about their service, our neighbors about their deployments, or our uncles and aunts about their time in uniform, while they’re still here to answer. This holiday, I encourage you to do just that. Don’t let your appreciation wait until it’s too late. Ask, listen, learn. Say thank you. And not just to those in uniform, but to everyone you care about. Because none of us are promised tomorrow.

From all of us here at NEW Radio, we wish you and your family a safe Memorial Day weekend and extend a very special thank you to all of our veterans.

You can continue to help honor the fallen and remember their sacrifice throughout Door County on Monday.

The firing squad from the George W. Goetz Post 372 visited two dozen cemeteries on Sunday, beginning at 7:20 a.m. at the Forestville Town (Maplewood) Cemetery before concluding at lunchtime at Old Catholic Cemetery.

On Monday, Sturgeon Bay and Sister Bay will each hold their own ceremonies commemorating Memorial Day. In Sturgeon Bay, the remembrance begins at 8 a.m. with brief ceremonies at 8:30 a.m., St. Joseph’s Cemetery at 9 a.m., and Sturgeon Bay Health Services at 9:30 a.m. before a larger event takes place at 10 a.m. inside the Sturgeon Bay Fire Department. The Peninsula Symphonic Band will perform as a part of the ceremony.

In Sister Bay, the Billy Weiss Post 527 will host its Memorial Day Ceremony at Little Sister Cemetery beginning at 10 a.m. Among the highlights are a performance by the Gibraltar Band, a speech by State Senator André Jacque, and a rendition of God Bless America by Regina McIntosh. In the event of rain, the ceremony will be moved inside First Baptist Church in Sister Bay. 

In these final days of May and in light of the related awareness for mental health, I want to share a powerful component of sustaining a positive perspective and sound mental health: volunteering.

Although the value of volunteering to those who benefit from it is well understood and encouraged throughout the year, the value of volunteering to the individual on the giving end is not as well known. So many throughout our small community volunteer in various ways, and this has been the common fabric to our culture and amazing quality of life.

We need not look any further than our local volunteer services, such as Fire and EMS, or our numerous non-profit organizations spread throughout the county, as an example of the level of dedication and selfless sacrifice of time to see the impact of such generosity. Even though these all take significant time and effort to be part of, those involved never seem to tire or wane from their cause. There is an old saying, “If you want to find someone to get something done, find a busy person.” The act of giving can actually have an addictive component, as those who engage in it know the intrinsic benefits they are receiving through their acts of giving.

Believe it or not, they have finally put some science behind this reality. There is a hormone in our brain known as the “Happy Chemical.” Its formal name is serotonin, and it is increased when a person is engaged in volunteering or other activities directed at the well-being of others. This hormonal response results in a feeling of calm and satisfaction, reducing anxiety and depression.

Another factor in the healthy impacts of volunteerism is the sense of connection. Connection brings about a greater sense of purpose, and with that increased sense of purpose comes an improvement in our individual mental and emotional balance that can aid in healing past traumas and cultivate better stress management. (Who doesn’t need that?)

Volunteerism has also been shown to decrease one's risk for heart disease. Such activity increases the levels of “Good” HDL cholesterol, lowers blood pressure, and decreases blood glucose levels. This all means a decreased risk of having a stroke or heart attack. Win-win!

The unfortunate reality is that we are seeing a decrease in volunteerism throughout our society, which no doubt has a direct correlation to what we are seeing in a decrease in our society’s general state of mental and social well-being. Organizations throughout our country are struggling to recruit new members as those who have served our communities for many years are completing their time in service.

Volunteerism has been at the very core of our nation’s existence, and it will need to resurgence if we hope to sustain our communities into the future. So, if you want to improve your overall state of well-being, volunteer to serve on your local Fire or EMS department. Find a local organization that gives back to the community and get involved. You won’t regret it!

This week at Crossroads, we wrap up the final school field trips of the academic year. But learning doesn’t stop then. Our Events Calendar is full of opportunities including wildflower walks, an evening bat hike, and the first of three bird surveys.

Bird surveys? What’s that all about?

No, we’re not distributing  tiny questionnaires to chickadees or going around with clipboards, asking warblers how they feel about habitat restoration. Instead, we are conducting what scientists call a bio inventory—a systematic survey of the species living in a specific area. And this month’s efforts are a bit different from what we were doing earlier this spring.

Last month, we were focused on documenting migratory birds—counting the species and individuals stopping over in our preserves on their journey north.

This month, we’re shifting our attention to the birds and bats that are here to stay, at least for the summer. These species breed locally.  All wildlife needs access to food and safe spaces to raise their young. Some species are generalists and can thrive in a variety of environments, but others have very specific habitat needs. Specialized creatures rely on native plants and very particular conditions—and when those conditions disappear, these species can vanish locally as well.

We are very fond of birds and bats [who isn’t?], but our interest in them goes beyond affection—they’re excellent indicators of ecosystem health because can fly. If an area doesn't meet their needs, they can fly elsewhere.

Another advantage? Birds are (generally) colorful, active during the day, and relatively easy to identify. And thanks to technology, we can also recognize them by sound. Apps like Merlin help birders match calls and songs to species using sonograms—visual representations of sound that show pitch, duration, and volume. Similar software exists for bats and frogs, enabling  us to listen in on the biodiversity of an area even after dark.

In Wisconsin, all of our native bats eat insects. Birds, on the other hand, have a wide range of dietary and nesting preferences. Some require dense shrub layers, others open fields, still others mature forest canopy. And here is  the exciting part: if we restore a habitat effectively—bringing back the native plants and structure that these species need—they’ll return. The appearance of certain “indicator species” is a strong sign that restoration is working.

That’s why we’re conducting bird and bat inventories at both the Ida Bay Preserve and our Big Creek Preserve. At Ida Bay, we collected a baseline last year and this year we are measuring the impact of our four year restoration project. Over time, we’ll be able to track changes and measure the impact of our restoration work. At Big Creek, where habitat improvement efforts have been underway for several years, we are beginning to evaluate how our ecosystems are changing.

But, we’re realistic. We don’t expect instant results. Trees take time to grow, wildflowers need time to establish and spread, and climate variability poses new challenges. But with careful observation and ongoing data collection, we can build more resilient, biodiverse landscapes—not just at Crossroads,  but by serving as  a model for land managers and property owners throughout the region.

So whether you’re a nature enthusiast, a student, or a budding citizen scientist, we invite you to join our hikes and surveys this week. It will be more  than just a fun day outdoors—it’s your chance to be part of the science shaping a sustainable future.

Thursday, May 29

3:00 Wildflower Hike at the Ida Bay Preserve

This naturalist-led hike will feature spring ephemerals on the Zenith Street end of the Ida Bay Preserve.Registration not required. Free and open to the public. Meet at the parking lot at 1195 Canal Road, Sturgeon Bay.

Monday, June 2

1:30 Current Ecological Events  

Join our Current (Ecological)Events group, in which we deep dive into current articles for lively discussions,  deepening our understanding of the natural world! This month, we will review journal articles about ecological restoration. Participants can pick up article packets at the front desk of the Learning Center at the front desk, but this is not required. Drop-ins are welcome.  Meet at the Collins Learning Center, Crossroads, 2041 Michigan, Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin.

June 2 @ 8:30 pm - 9:30 pm

Nighttime Bat Hike

Grab your headlamps and join us on a night hike as we look and listen for local bats. Free and open to the public. Register at https://crossroadsatbigcreek.org/events-calendar. Meet at Ida Bay Preserve, 1195 Canal Road, Sturgeon Bay.

Tuesday, June 3

3:30 Environmental Explorations-Life in Big Creek

During this after-school program, kids and their adult companions will capture and study the aquatic creatures living in Big Creek Preserve. Geared for elementary students but learners of all ages are welcome. Meet at the Collins Learning Center, Crossroads, 2041 Michigan, Sturgeon Bay

Wednesday, June 4

 5:15 am - 7:00 am Bird Survey at Ida Bay

This is a part of the Crossroads bio inventory efforts to document bird species at our Ida Bay Preserve as part of our restoration efforts. For more information and to register, visit https://crossroadsatbigcreek.org/event/bird-survey-ida-bay/

1:30 Wandering Wednesday

Join a naturalist-led hike to visit restoration sites in the Big Creek Preserve.  Easy walking. About an hour. Meet at the Collins Learning Center, Crossroads, 2041 Michigan, Sturgeon Bay.

Thousands made their way to the Destination Sturgeon Bay Fine Art Fair at Martin Park, marking the start of the season for Sturgeon Bay and the entire Peninsula. From glasswork and wood carving to local pottery and local photography, all were on display, and the crowds gathered well before the scheduled start time. The Fine Art Fair runs both Saturday and Sunday of Memorial Day weekend.

Next Saturday, the Downtown Sturgeon Bay Farmers Market will make its 2025 debut only one block away. 

In early May, attendees gathered at Crossroads at Big Creek to listen to motivational speaker Percy Brown Jr. who discussed screen time awareness and the mental health impacts of excessive use. After the event, many parents inquired about ways to keep their children active and off of technology, and the United Way recognizes these goals and has several fantastic recommendations to keep children engaged.

“When parents say they want to get their kids off screens, it’s definitely a challenge,” said Stephanie Short, the Community Impact Coordinator for the United Way of Door County, “we have a saying of more green time, less screen time.”

Short says there are many exciting ways to encourage children to turn off the tablets and to divert their interest into something else fun, educational, and entertaining - and she has some ideas for you!

Get Out & Attend Community Events

Getting out within the community is beneficial for the whole family and not only is it enjoyable, but it inspires socialization and bonding. 

Short also suggests visiting the local library and snuggling up with a good book or borrowing a game. Most libraries in Door County also have a free story time which can stir up a child’s imagination. The library is also an advocate for screen-free time and they offer free rentable passes to places in the community like Door County Maritime Museum and Wisconsin State Parks. 

Explore, Enjoy & Embrace Nature

Families in Door County are surrounded by the beauty of the peninsula which includes endless spots to enjoy nature. Whether you visit the beach to play in the sand, go on a hike, or take a day trip as a family, there is so much to see and do.

“We do have 15 Land Trust Trails which are excellent,” added Short, “four of them are even on Washington Island, which families and kids can explore at their own pace.”

Alongside activities that lead you on an adventure, Short also recommends gardening. Getting children interested in planting can encourage a positive relationship with nature throughout their lives and of course, growing their own fruits and vegetables is a great skill to acquire. The United Way of Door County strives to instill this passion and this year they will be distributing 120 Garden Kits to eligible families across their programs that contain soil, gardening tools and supplies, and a collection of seeds to grow their garden. The Door County Library also has a free seed library where families can pick their own flowers and produce to start their own garden. 

When it comes to limiting screen time, Short's biggest message is for adults to set a good example for their children and to stay committed to lessening screen time.

“Being intentional when you’re doing these types of activities is to, you know, really point out or try to make these literally screen-free,” Short advises, “it can be hard, but even putting away screens for a little bit - every bit counts.”

It’s Memorial Day Weekend, the kick-off to summer.  I’m looking forward to another season of doing kayak and kayak fishing reports for Door County Daily News.  I want to start by reminding all of you kayakers that even though the air temps can be in the 70’s and 80’s, the water temps on Green Bay and Lake Michigan are still cold, so, be sure to always wear your Personal Flotation Device (PFD) when kayaking, and, if out alone, let someone know where you are and when you plan to be back.  Again, this season, I’ll talk about great places to launch your kayak, different types of fishing kayaks, paddles, chasing those big Door County smallmouth bass, kayak fishing gear, and more. 

Spring is a good time for you, kayak anglers, to get out and chase smallmouth bass. To help protect our fishery, I strongly suggest you practice catch, photograph, and release. Also, with the spawn happening, it is extremely important not to disturb those male smallies on a nest guarding their brood. This, too, will protect and enhance our fishery for future years. 

The Door County smallmouth bass fishery is still good but has had challenges over the past decade, which is why the Wisconsin DNR added a question to the Conservation Congress Spring Meeting’s questionnaire to make all of Door County catch and release for smallmouth bass until July 1.  The measure received almost 70% yes votes and will advance!

I know many who read my articles know the waters of Door County well and know where to launch, but some of you are new to this. At Canoecopia last year, I gave a talk titled Kayaking & Kayak Fishing Door County, Wisconsin. I covered some kayak fishing, but the talk mostly focused on all the places to kayak, and, importantly, all the launches up and down the peninsula on both Green Bay and Lake Michigan.  If you would like the PDF of my talk, email me at kayakfishingwisconsin@gmail.com, and I’d be happy to email it to you.

Here's to a fun and safe 2025 kayak season in Door County!

As summer comes in like a band of percussion, Birch Creek Music Performance Center is busy planning their summer concert series. Volunteers recently helped with landscaping preparations ahead of their granary opening and everyone is looking forward to welcoming visitors in to hear the newest sounds of the season.

“We did a lot of work in the gardens and just beautifying the campus making it ready for our students to arrive in just three weeks,” said new Executive Director, Jenna Ferdon, “a big part of the days were also opening up our granary and getting it all prepped; we have a wonderful gift shop and concession in there where proceeds directly benefit reducing the costs of coming to camp for our students.”

Both Ferdon and Mona Christiansen, the Executive Director Emeritus, are looking forward to opening night on June 19th, which will include a packed barn filled with excited music lovers and generous donors.

“It’s going to be fantastic,” promises Christiansen, “Dan Moore will kick it off with his faculty and our students and it’s pop, it’s contemporary, people are dancing, standing up and moving around, you know, it’s rock ‘n roll; it’s all kinds of different rhythms and music genres so it’s a fan favorite.” . 

A special Alumni Night will also be held on June 20th and will welcome back past students of the music school who now have their own successful music careers. 

“They’re coming back as a Birch Creek success story and will be performing on stage,” added Christiansen.

Birch Creek will also host Steel Pan Day on June 27th, featuring renowned guest artist Victor Provost as well as the Birch Creek Symphonic 4th on July 4th. The holiday event includes free pie and ice cream before the concert and boasts a variety of music, including old favorites and new delights, and a lot of fun. It will also hold a special meaning for those at Birch Creek.

“We are inviting our guest conductor, Brian Groner, who is a longtime associate of Birch Creek,” said Ferdon, “he was the conductor there when I was a student so he is helping us celebrate."

For a full list of upcoming events or to purchase tickets, visit Birch Creek’s website. To listen to the full interview with Jenna Ferdon and Mona Christiansen, click here.

Photo Credit: Birch Creek Music Performance Center

Helping a local organization get the message out about suicide prevention could be as simple as buying a brat next week. Prevent Suicide Door County (PSDC) is hosting a brat fry on Thursday, May 29th at Marchant’s Meats in Sturgeon Bay, and the proceeds will support the organization’s mission of suicide awareness and prevention.

“Our goal is to break the stigma, to get the word out there, if we don’t talk about it, it still becomes a hidden thing in our county,” said PSDC secretary and member April Grosbeier, “we really need to talk about it because it’s here, it’s not going away, it’s not getting better.”

Grosbeier feels that there are many circumstances in our world today that are influences behind suicide rates continuing to increase. While it’s a topic that has also hit home for her, she hopes to help share that resources are available and that community support is just as valuable.

The pop-up fundraiser will begin at 11a.m. and run until 1p.m. Cheesecurd Brats, made with pork and Cheddar cheese curds, and regular brats, will be cooked up on-site. Funds raised from the brat fry will help fund training for the organization’s volunteers who give educational presentations. It will also assist in funding educational materials, literature, and their annual mailing. 

“Right now, we’re using part of the money to really push and advertise our Survivors of Suicide group that meets once a month at Jak's Place the first Monday of the month,” she said.

In addition to the brat fry, Prevent Suicide Door County is gearing up to host their main annual fundraiser, The Bridge Walk. The walk will take place on Sunday, September 7th, starting at 2 p.m. at the Sawyer Pavillion in Sturgeon Bay. For more information on Prevent Suicide Door County, visit their Facebook page by clicking here.

The Door County Festival of Nature will give attendees the opportunity to savor the Door Peninsula’s natural beauty over Memorial Day weekend. The festival, hosted by The Ridges Sanctuary, invites guests to partake in a series of exciting activities inspired by the outdoors. This year's theme, Ground Perspectives, runs through May 25th. 

“We work with some of our amazing community partners to provide field trip experiences throughout Door County and people can sign up to go do things outside like hiking, kayaking, art-based field trips, identification-based field trips; there’s kind of something for everyone,” said The Ridge’s Program Director Anna Foster.

With Door County's beautiful 300 miles of Lake Michigan shoreline and over 30,000 acres of protected land and wetlands, the festival has activities and trips for those of all ages to enjoy. Family-friendly programs are available as well as trips for those who are over 21.

“We want people to get outside and to learn about the places in which they live and walk away excited to protect and interact with those spaces more,” added Foster, “the festival really promotes that kind of experience just by simply celebrating the natural beauty of the land around us and getting outside and learning new things with new people.”

The event will also feature a dinner and presentations by keynote speakers Rachel Davis and Andrew Hipp on Friday, May 23rd at About Thyme Farm in Baileys Harbor. The reception begins at 4:30 p.m. with a family-style dinner at 5 p.m. Tickets are $40 per person and those interested should call (920) 839-2802 for reservations. 

For more information and for tickets for the various field trips, visit the 2025 Door County Festival of Nature website.

The Brussels Lions Club is on a mission to help stop hunger in the Southern Door community. On Thursday night, members came together to pack grocery bags with a variety of foods for their Fill the Float Fundraiser, which runs through 2 p.m. on Saturday.

“The Lion’s Club is here to serve,” said Lions Club Member Jared Spude, “Our saying is where there is a need, there is a Lion and this is definitely a need in the Southern Door County area.”

Customers can purchase a bag of pre-packed food for $15 at the check-out at Marchant’s Foods in Brussels. Donations will help support local food pantries, including Saint Mary’s Parish Pantry in Maplewood and the food pantry located in the Saint Francis Church in Brussels. The local Boy Scout Troop will also be on-site helping and will carry the purchased bags out to the float.

“This is definitely a need; pantries are used year-round by many, many families so we’re really excited about a food drive that’s going to stock their shelves,” added Spude. “Our float will be parked outside and our hope is that by the end of the day, that thing is overflowing with bags of food.”

For more information about The Brussels Lions Club, visit their website here or follow Brussels Wisconsin Lions Club on Facebook.
 

Photo credit: Brussels Wisconsin Lions Club

For Moriah and Lauren Brey, timing was key in their quest to connect you to their farm through their beef products. Like many dairy farms, Brey Cycle Farm began crossbreeding its Holstein dairy cows with Angus beef cows as a way not just to generate additional revenue from their century-plus-old dairy operation, but also to connect the dots for consumers wanting to learn more about where their food came from. After shipping their milk to Agropur for years, the farm started Brey Family Beef in early 2020. Shortly after opening their shed and filling it with freezers full of beef, COVID-19 caused people’s shopping habits to change. Instead of walking around a grocery store, customers contacted the Breys to purchase the meat directly. Moriah says it was an excellent opportunity to give people a comfortable shopping experience while educating them.

 

 

 

 

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Thanks to their husbands Tony and Jacob’s involvement with Peninsula Pride Farms, Brey Cycle Farm has been a staple for tour groups wanting to learn about the operation’s conservation strategies and how they can raise over 1,000 cows sustainably. Lauren says having the product available allows the tour groups to continue their experience at home.

 

 

 

 

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Brey Cycle Farm is a part of this weekend’s Festival of Nature, organized by The Ridges Sanctuary. You can learn more about Brey Family Beef by clicking on this link. and watching the video below. This is part of the Featured Farmer Series, brought to you by the Door County Farm Bureau.

Picture courtesy of Brey Family Beef

Dozens of volunteers from the community, including children as young as three-years-old, gathered at Bayside Cemetery in Sturgeon Bay on Thursday, May 22nd to help place flags to honor veterans ahead of Memorial Day.

Volunteers were given a clipboard with names to mark off as they walked through sections of the cemetery to place a flag on each veteran’s grave. Each headstone, many of which noted the individual’s service, was a significant reminder of their dedication and sacrifice. 

Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post 3088 Quartermaster Bill Graf said a total of 1,700 flags were placed in multiple cemeteries throughout the county and estimates there were 50-75 volunteers this year. 

“It was a wonderful turn out and I think the volunteers that showed up makes the job a lot easier,” said Graf, “I just couldn’t believe it, it does my heart good to see people willing to get involved in the recognition of veterans.”

Flags are placed each year and there is still an opportunity to help. Graf is looking for volunteers to help remove the flags after the holiday, too.

“If you want to help take the flags off, we’ll be doing that on Wednesday, weather permitting,” he said, “it’s much easier taking the flags off than putting them in because you don’t have to worry about names or numbers.”

Volunteers can meet at 9 a.m. on Wednesday, May 28th at the Bayside Cemetery Chapel to begin collecting the flags. 

If there is a positive takeaway from Cellcom’s week-plus-long outage, local governments are better prepared if a similar event occurs in the future. Cellcom CEO Brighid Riordan confirmed earlier this week that a cyber-attack was why thousands of customers lost their voice and text services on May 14th.

Restoration efforts have been slow, though Riordan said the efforts should be completed this weekend. While some customers missed doctors' appointments and job interviews, local governments struggled to conduct their day-to-day business. Kewaunee County Sheriff Matt Joski says their county departments focused on emergency calls before troubleshooting other phone lines and modes of communication.

Joski says the critical lesson to learn is to have redundancies in place because, as technology advances, it is a question of "when" rather than "if " the next cyber attack occurs.

Cellcom is conducting a full investigation into how the issue occurred and the cyber attack's impact. Since the cyber attack impacted a different network than where the company stores sensitive information, Cellcom does not believe personal data like addresses and financial details were accessed. 

After seeing the most traffic it has seen in 20 years, Austin Straubel Airport in Green Bay hopes to see you flying through soon. Airport Director Marty Piette says the Wednesday before and the Sunday after the NFL Draft were in the top five of all-time traffic days at Austin Straubel since 2000. It is part of why traffic at the Green Bay airport is up 5 percent year-over-year in 2025, with the NFL Draft boosting a strong spring break crowd. Piette says that with the summer travel season on the horizon, he is only seeing air traffic going up in the future.

If you are looking at getting away this summer, Piette advises you to jump on those flights sooner rather than later. Flights to southern destinations like Florida are among their most popular flights being booked right now. Austin Straubel Airport is also looking ahead to the fall as it looks for additional flights to Green Bay to correspond with Packers home games.

Last weekend’s village-wide rummage sales was just the start of a busy summer of activity for the Luxemburg Chamber of Commerce. The organization is tasked with organizing several events throughout the year, but hitting a fever pitch the first week in June when it hosts its golf outing supporting the Violence Intervention Project (June 2nd), its first Music in the Park concert (June 5th), and its Dairy Days Dash 5K (June 7th) all within days of each other. Luxemburg Chamber of Commerce Secretary Alex Stodola says the area’s businesses do a great job of supporting the community year-round, but it shines the brightest during the summer months. While the events bring a great deal of traffic to the village’s downtown businesses, they also shine a spotlight on the businesses you may not otherwise interact with daily.

The Luxemburg Chamber of Commerce also helps organize the Kewaunee County Fair Parade and Santa’s visit to the village in the winter. You can click this link to learn more about the upcoming events in Luxemburg.

Two popular children's products, a vegetable puree and snap hair clips, have been recalled after they were found to contain elevated levels of lead. Consumers are advised to check to see if they have any of the impacted batches.

Good & Gather, a brand produced by Target, has recalled 25,600 units of their Good & Gather Baby Pea, Zucchini, Kale & Thyme Vegetable Purees for elevated levels of lead. This product was available locally in Door County.

Impacted batches include:

• LOT #4167 (best by date of 12/7/2025)
• LOT #4169 (best by date of 12/9/2025)
   

A spokesperson for Target issued the following statement to Door County Daily News:

“At Target, we’re committed to providing safe, high-quality products for our guests. We require our suppliers to comply with all applicable food safety standards and federal, state, and local regulations. This recall involved a limited amount of product, which we took immediate action to remove from our shelves.” 

While the purees are no longer in store circulation, consumers are advised to check their cabinets at home and products they may receive from other sources. Consumers who have an impacted batch can call Target Guest Relations at 1-800-440-068- or visit their local Target store for a full refund. 

In addition to the purees, Dlesot Snap Hair Clips have also been recalled with over 3,800 units impacted. The painted hair clips pose a lead poisoning hazard to children as its levels exceed the federal lead paint ban. If ingested, children could experience adverse health issues.

Impacted products include:

• Batch X00RCTBRH
• Sold in multipack of 120
• Made in China

While the clips were sold on Amazon, they may also be found in small boutiques. Consumers with impacted batches should immediately discard the clips. Amazon is contacting consumers who purchased the clips directly. 

You can visit essential parts of Door County’s maritime history as part of your Memorial Day weekend activities. This weekend marks the first of four opportunities for you to check out the peninsula’s beacons as a part of the Door County Maritime Museum’s Door Peninsula Lighthouse Passport Days. The museum coordinated with tour operators to explore the county’s lighthouses by land, air, and water. In some cases, like the Sherwood Point, Chambers Island, and Plum Island lighthouses, this is one of the few opportunities available to see them up close. Door County Maritime Museum Deputy Director Sam Perlman says Lighthouse Passport Days is just another great way to learn about the area's connection to maritime lore.

Proceeds from tour ticket sales benefit the Door County Maritime Museum. Click on this link for tour information and ticketing. If you cannot attend this weekend, Lighthouse Passport Days will also occur on June 6th and 7th, August 7th, and October 3rd and 4th. Lighthouse Passport Day activities also extend to the Kewaunee Pierhead Lighthouse and the Grassy Island Range Lights in Green Bay. 

If you plan on traveling this holiday weekend, the gas pump has great news. According to GasBuddy, Memorial Day weekend gas prices are trending to be the second lowest since 2003 at $3.08 per gallon when adjusted for inflation. Gas prices were below $2 a gallon in 2020, when many states were under stay-at-home orders or similar travel restrictions.

That could inspire some travelers to put on some extra miles this weekend for Memorial Day, which is traditionally one of the busiest travel weekends of the summer. AAA predicts 39.4 million Americans will drive at least 50 miles throughout the holiday weekend, many of whom will head to Door County to celebrate Memorial Day. Door County Sheriff’s Department Chief Deputy Kyle Veeser asks motorists to keep their eyes on the road and limit distractions due to the expected increased traffic.

Veeser asks motorists also to consider the road construction in southern Door County and the Jacksonport area. GasBuddy is not just predicting a busy Memorial Day weekend in terms of summer travel. According to their survey, approximately 70 percent of Americans plan on taking a road trip this summer to take advantage of the low gas prices while being strategic with their dollars spent.

Recent road construction in Sturgeon Bay has inspired staff at the Door County Historical Museum & Archives to push to quickly save a piece of history straight from the sidewalk. A concrete slab, poured in the early 1900s, rests on 5th and Delaware and bears the road's original names - the museum is hoping to preserve it before it’s too late.

Now retired, Ginny Haen, the former Museum Curator, says the sidewalk stone is an important part of local history and that many are a glimpse back into time for the corner blocks.

“That’s the old street names, which don’t exist anymore,” said Haen, “in 1943 they changed all that and changed all the street names.”

Sturgeon Bay once had wooden sidewalks before they were modernized. In some instances, local business people also marked their business location or home with their own names in the concrete. Around town, the Chandler name can be seen on the sidewalk on the side of 551 Louisiana street, marking the former home of Dr. A.H. Chandler, a dentist who practiced in Sturgeon Bay in the late 1800s. 

Museum & Archives Manager, Joe Taylor, says the first step for this project is preserving the slab and that he is appreciative that the City has graciously agreed to help. 

“The idea here is just let’s save it,” said Taylor, “we’re just going to keep our eyes out for a place that it could be seen and we can continue to tell the story of the old road names.”

Contractors will be coming in to continue road work in the area and will attempt to lift the 1,200-pound marvel. It will then be transported to storage and the County will take possession of it at an undecided date.

“History is all around us here in Door County and it’s a wonderful place to live,” Taylor added, “that’s part of our job here at the museum; to really inform people that these things exist and what their story is.”

An impressive display is available at the museum which highlights vintage sidewalk stones and their unique histories. Visitors can also take walking tour to see more original stones that exist in the sidewalks. Pick up a printed map from the museum or view the tour, complete with maps and audio descriptions, digitally by clicking here. 

Photo Credit: Door County Historical Museum & Archives

Take a step back into time with the Ephraim Historical Foundation as their sites open for the season. In addition to educational exhibitions and displays, visitors can hop on board an open-air tram to discover Ephraim’s rich history and experience its boundless charm.

“Ephraim is a unique village with a unique history and we’re dedicated to making that history and the things we preserve accessible to the public,” said Ephraim Historical Foundation Executive Director Cody Schreck.

Visitors can explore multiple historical foundation buildings free of charge, including the Anderson Barn Museum, which features annual exhibits focused on schooling and education. Across the street, they will also find the Anderson Warehouse, an iconic treasure in Door County, which served as a former general store from 1858.

In the store, patrons can purchase old-fashioned candies and sweets and see vintage artifacts, including a special item Schreck calls a hidden gem. Nestled in the corner is a wheel from the Eagle Harbor shipwreck, which sank in the early 1900s; it was pulled from the harbor in the 1950s.

“The store itself just engages all the senses and the moment you step into the store, you can smell how historic it is with wood from the 1800s,” he said.

Those with limited mobility or who want to relax while they explore can take a guided tour by tram. The History Tram Tours are $15 per person and can accommodate up to five riders. Tours for Ephraim Historical Foundation members are free. Over the course of an hour and a half, sightseers will get to stop at several stops like the Iverson House, Goodleston Cabin, and Pioneer Schoolhouse, which are only open for the tours.

“They are all incredible historic buildings” added Schreck.

For more information on the History Tram Tours or Ephraim Historical Foundation sites, visit www.ephraim.org.

Photo Credit: Ephraim Historical Foundation

Athletes looking to evolve their skills for agility, speed, strength, endurance, and mental focus can sign up for the Peak Performance Clinic offered by the YMCA. The six-week long program will be held at the Sturgeon Bay Program Center and begins on June 16th. 

Two separate clinics are being offered for two grade groups; Peak Junior is geared for athletes in grades 3-6 and Peak will welcome those in grades 7-12. Competitive Swimming Director and National Champion Coach Mike McHugh says these structured clinics help to prepare athletes by building the necessary foundation for them to succeed, regardless of what sport they play.

“This is a performance based clinic, one of the few in the country,” said McHugh, “so what we have done is taken the pro level tests and the collegiate level tests and scaled them down.”

Participants will be utilizing over $11,000 of elite agility performance equipment and test through 20 different performance tests, including the Illinois Speed Test, the Arrowhead Test, NFL Test, as well as the Vertical Leap Test, which McHugh says is done exactly like the pros.

The Peak Performance Clinic is designed to help strengthen core development and includes body weight training, acceleration and deceleration training, and leadership development; all components that have helped the Door County YMCA swim team see success, too.

“We recently finished our Championship season, we had 52 kids swim at the State Championship meet and we had multiple State Champions,” McHugh added, “what a great finish for the large portion of our team, it’s amazing every year.”

Swim training is also coming up on June 16th for both members and those involved with the swim team. The day involves participating in Peak and then hitting the pool for additional training, which will take place alongside an exciting new addition. Thanks to generous community sponsors, the YMCA has recently upgraded their scoreboard to a 9’x15’ state-of-the-art LED TV model. 

Registration for the clinics is $145 per session for YMCA members, and for non-members in the community, the fee is $210. There is a 60-athlete maximum for the clinic; those interested should sign up soon to secure their place. Stop by the welcome desk to register, or click here.

Listen to the full interview on the Y Wednesday podcast with Mike McHugh by clicking here.

Photo Credit: Amy Gamble, Door County YMCA 

After a week-long outage to its cellular and texting services and vague updates about the problem, Cellcom has finally revealed that a cyber incident was behind the outage. While they did not directly disclose how their network was infiltrated, they say customers will still have to wait for full-service restoration. 

CEO Brighid Riordan addressed customers directly in a video posted on YouTube and said Cellcom had protocols in place to address the cyber incident and that it will still take the rest of the week to restore its services for consumers. The plan involved notifying Wisconsin authorities, the FBI, and enlisting the help of industry-leading cybersecurity experts. 

Riordan added that the part of the network targeted by the attack is separate from customer information and that there is no current evidence that personal or financial information was affected.

In addition to the extenuating volume of customer service requests via the Cellcom chat, many customers have lodged formal complaints with the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade, and Consumer Protection (DATCP). In the meantime, customers are still being advised to use platforms such as WhatsApp, iMessage, and Facebook Messenger for communication while service is restored. 

You could have seen royalty among the blossoms on Monday as the National Cherry Queen greeted Door County cherry growers during her media tour through Wisconsin and Minnesota.

 

 

 

 

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Tessa Nico holds the title and wears the crown for the National Cherry Festival, which takes place annually in Traverse City, Michigan. After traveling across Lake Michigan on the SS Badger, Nico and her traveling party headed to Door County to see where 95 percent of all tart cherries grown in Wisconsin are produced. They were greeted by Miss Door County Faith Blackley, State Senator André Jacque, and representatives from Soren’s Valhalla Orchard, Seaquist Orchards, Lautenbach’s Orchard Country, Country Ovens, and Schartner’s Farm Market, who compared notes on the early part of the season. 

 

 

 

 

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Seaquist told the crowd that it seems like things have rebounded from an awkward time last season, where a wet spring was followed by a bone-dry summer, which causes stress on the trees.

Nico said the biggest thing she learned during her brief trip to Door County was how different the operations run, right down to the soil where the cherry trees are planted.

As part of the appearance, the two groups shared the fruits of the growers’ labor: cherry juice, wine, pies, and other baked goods and snacks.

This week, Door County Courts have ruled that eighteen-year-old Aidan Rice of Sister Bay, was not mentally competent to stand trial. Rice was charged as an adult for possessing a firearm on school grounds, a Class I felony, following an incident on March 15, 2024 at Gibraltar High School. 

According to the criminal complaint, a school resource officer was notified by a teacher that Rice had a weapon, which he initially denied. After a brief search, a loaded .38 Ruger LCR revolver was located as well as six additional bullets. Rice stated he was fearful of a former student and that the firearm was for his protection. The former student had not been at Gibraltar since late 2023.

A competency evaluation was completed and a ruling was filed Monday by Judge Weber that states “the defendant is presently not competent to proceed in this case and he/she is not likely to become competent within the statutory commitment period.” 

Following the ruling, Rice will be released from custody with stipulations. The order advises that he will be required to appear in court every six months to redetermine competency and is barred from possessing or using firearms. Court records show the next scheduled status conference is set for November 10th. 

Rep. Joel Kitchens wants to hear your thoughts on the upcoming state budget and other issues in the district when he hosts four listening sessions on May 30th. The four sessions will occur throughout the district, beginning at 10 a.m. in Egg Harbor. They will take place every other hour after that in Sturgeon Bay (noon), Algoma (2 p.m.), and New Franken (4 p.m.). "Every budget cycle, I try to hear from constituents about the issues that concern them. My goal is to hear from as many people as possible about how we can improve upon the governor's budget recommendations and continue to prioritize what's important to Wisconsin residents," said Kitchens in his release. Earlier this month, Kitchens told the Door County Daily News some of the issues he heard from constituents as his colleagues around the state, including State Senator André Jacque, hosted their listening sessions.

You can find the full schedule of Kitchens’ listening sessions below. On May 8th, the Joint Finance Committee voted 10-3 to remove more than 600 items from the previous version presented by Governor Tony Evers earlier this year. The 21-page list included renewed bids to expand Medicaid, legalize marijuana, introduce paid family leave, and increase child care subsidies. When it occurred, Kitchens pointed out that they always strip non-budgetary measures out of the budget and that increasing the overall spending and the state workforce were non-starters. He also reminded voters that just because items were taken out does not mean that it cannot be reworked and put back in.

You are not the only frustrated person unable to use their phone as Cellcom outages continue into a sixth day.

The telecommunications company notified its customers at about 11 p.m. last Wednesday that an outage was affecting their voice network, eventually spreading to its SMS text message service.

Over the weekend, Cellcom announced that a portion of its voice services had returned but gave no timetable for a full restoration.

Since data services are not impacted, it is recommended that you use a stock application like iMessage, FaceTime, or video calling, enable Rich Communication Services texting, or rely on a third-party application like WhatsApp or the Facebook application. Instructions on how to download and allow these apps are included on Cellcom’s service update blog, which was launched over the weekend.

Some Cellcom users have discovered that toggling its phone's airplane mode feature or restarting it will allow it to call other Cellcom users. 

Meanwhile, government offices in Door and Kewaunee counties are trying to find ways to connect residents with their services. Door County Emergency Management posted last week that while county government phone lines are down, 911 still works in cases of emergency.

In Kewaunee County, they are recommending using alternate numbers until some of their phone lines return to full service:
-Emergency Mental Health Number: 920-436-888
-Transportation Program Number: 920-388-7030, select option 7

On Tuesday, May 20th, a Concealed Carry Class will be hosted at Village Hall in Sister Bay to educate participants about Wisconsin firearm laws and safety protocols. The class, which aligns with Wisconsin Department of Justice standards, is a stepping stone for those looking to apply for a permit. 

“We cover everything from what to do while you’re traveling, how to interact with a police officer if you’re carrying, who can and can’t get permits, and where you can and can’t carry,” said lead instructor Alysha Manning of Midwest Carry Safe, “we do also cover self-defence law as well.”

The class aims to enhance public knowledge and safety surrounding responsible firearm ownership and attendees will leave class with the instructor’s contact information to reach out with any future questions. While Wisconsin is an open carry state and permits are valid for five years, Manning says continual education is an important tool for firearm owners to holster.
 

“It just gives everybody a really good idea of the laws surrounding carrying, transporting, and possessing firearms,” she added.

The 2.5 hour class begins at 6 p.m. and the cost for admission is $80. No pre-registration is necessary. To apply for permit, applicants must be 21+ or older, be a Wisconsin resident, have completed firearm training, and meet other necessary criteria before receiving a Concealed Weapons License (CWL). 

In honor of Memorial Day on May 26th, the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post 3088 in Sturgeon Bay is asking for help in placing flags on veteran’s graves at Bayside and St. Joseph cemeteries. Flags will be placed on Thursday morning, May 23rd.

“There’s approximately 1,400 flags that we put out for Memorial Day,” said Post Quartermaster Bill Graf, “so it takes a couple extra people to do it.”

Anyone can come to help, including families. Those interested in volunteering should meet at Bayside Cemetery Chapel at 3890 Bay Shore Drive in Sturgeon Bay at 9 a.m. The post will also be placing flags at St. Peter & Paul Cemetery and Schumacher Cemetery, in addition to a few other smaller cemeteries. A pizza lunch will be served at noon at the VFW Clubhouse at 744 Delaware Street after placing flags. There’s no need to sign up, and in the event of rain, flags will be placed on Friday, May 24th instead. 
 

“It's an impressive project as such and we look forward to it,” said Graf.

Alongside placing flags, Graf said if anyone needs to have a flag retired, there is a drop-off box on the porch of the clubhouse. The post works with the Door County Farm for Vets to ensure flags are properly retired. The next retirement day will be held on Flag Day on June 14th.

More Memorial Activities for Door County

To honor veterans that have passed away, the George W. Goetz American Legion Post #372 in Forestville will also be conducting Memorial Day activities at 23 cemeteries in the Southern Door area on Sunday, May 25th. 

The Rifle Squad will be leaving the Forestville Town Hall at 7 a.m. for a special observance at the town hall for members who have passed away within the last 10 years. It is scheduled to conclude around 12:15 p.m. 

Service Schedule:

Forestville Town (Maplewood): 7:20 a.m. (split squad)

Namur (Pit Road): 7:30 a.m. (split squad)

Brockhausen: 7:40 a.m. (split squad)

Miesere: 7:50 a.m. (split squad)

Brown: 7:55 a.m. (split squad)

Kolberg: 8:05 a.m.

Brussels: 8:20 a.m.

White Star: 8:30 a.m.

Precious Blood: 8:40 a.m.

St. Joe (Fox): 8:50 a.m.

Stevenson: 9:00 a.m.

Geises: 9:10 a.m.

Break: 9:20 a.m. - 9:45 a.m.

Maplewood: 9:55 a.m.

Carnot: 10:10 a.m.

Clay Banks (Town): 10:25 a.m.

Vignes: 10:35 a.m.

Mount Olive: 10:45 a.m.

Shiloh: 10:55 a.m.

Schumacher: 11:05 a.m.

Hainesville: 11:15 a.m.

Salem-Schulties: 11:35 a.m.

Forestville: 11:50 a.m.

Old Catholic Between Maplewood & Forestville: 12:10 p.m.

Forestville Town Hall: 12:30 p.m. 

Much like how you baby-proofed your home for your young children, the focus now could be on doing something similar as you grow older. A University of Michigan poll reports that 88 percent of its respondents, 50 to 80 years old, said it was somewhat or very important to them to stay in their homes as long as possible. Age-proofing your home involves modifications and improvements to make it safer and more accessible. Projects like constructing ramps and covered entryways, adding handrails and grab bars, and installing slip-resistant surfaces and brighter lighting are ways to make your home safer as you age. Age proofing your home could be expensive, ranging from a few hundred dollars to several thousand dollars, depending on the breadth of your projects. Cynthia Germain from Do Good Door County says its upcoming sessions with the AARP-Wisconsin and Options for Independent Living will help give residents free, expert-led discussions about how to make their home fit their lifestyle.

The presentations will be given by the AARP’s Darrin Wasniewski, who will walk through the AARP Home Fit Guide, and Options for Independent Living’s Calvin Richtig, who will demonstrate some of the adaptive equipment available on the marketplace. You can find the full schedule of presentations, which includes next Wednesday at the Kress Pavilion in Egg Harbor at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., below.

Session Schedule:
Wednesday, May 21 – Kress Pavilion, Egg Harbor – 10 AM & 2 PM
Friday, June 27 – Sister Bay Liberty Grove Fire Station – 10 AM & 2 PM
Tuesday, September 16 – Forestville Town Hall (10 AM) & Brussels Community Center (2 PM)
Thursday, October 23 – Aging & Disability Resource Center, Sturgeon Bay – 10 AM & 2 PM

The Luxemburg-Casco High School Class of 2025, comprised of 152 students, will receive its diplomas on May 21 at 6:30 p.m. during a commencement ceremony held in the main high school gymnasium.

Gavin Knudson, son of April Smith and Matthew Knudson of Luxemburg, is the valedictorian of the Class of 2025. Katherine Ledvina, daughter of Jessica and Joshua Ledvina of Luxemburg, is the salutatorian.

“Congratulations to the Luxemburg-Casco Class of 2025,” says Principal Tyson Tlachac. “We believe this year’s graduates will go on to achieve many things in their lives, along with impacting their communities. As I know myself, you are always welcome to come home and you will be Spartans forever no matter where you are!”

Based on the 146 students who reported their post-graduate plans, there are three primary pathways: 48 percent (70 students) of this year’s graduating class will be furthering their education at a four-year, post-secondary institution; 30 percent (44 students) will be continuing their studies at a technical college or trade school; and 22 percent (32 students) of the class will be directly entering the workforce.

Of the 70 students electing a four-year college, the majority (57) will be continuing their education at a University of Wisconsin System institution; the top choices are UW-Green Bay (14 students), UW-La Crosse (11), UW-Platteville (6), UW-Eau Claire (5) and UW Oshkosh (5). Seven graduating students will be attending a private college, and six graduates have chosen an out-of-state university.

Nearly all of the 40 students going on to a technical school – 38 – will be attending Northeast Wisconsin Technical College. Three of the four students selecting a vocational school will be studying cosmetology, while the fourth is attending an aviation school.

More than half of the 110 graduates going onto a two- or four-year college – 61 – will be undertaking their studies within Northeast Wisconsin.

With Luxemburg-Casco High School having the highest Youth Apprenticeship participation rate in Wisconsin, it is no surprise that more than one in five Class of 2025 members are directly entering the workforce (32 graduates), many with their YA employer, including three as apprentices in plumbing.

At the graduation ceremony, 16 Honor Students will be recognized for representing the Top 10 percent of their graduating class. They are:

Gavin Knudson

Katherine Ledvina

Caleb Radart

Hudson Thiry

Reagan Doell

Erin Cherovsky

Madison Deprey

Isabella Marchi

Lauren Lindsley

Payton DeGrand

Rachel Grimm

Andrew Klass

Emma Schaufnagel

Violet Kipp

Elaina Holschuh

Cadence Bevins

Another honor to be bestowed at this year’s graduation is the Distinguished Alumni Award, given to John Shefchik, a 1962 graduate of Luxemburg High School.

Following presentation of the Class of 2025 by L-C Superintendent Jo-Ellen Fairbanks, Ph.D., the district’s Board of Education will award diplomas to this year’s graduates.

Three graduating seniors will speak at the commencement ceremony. It will open with a welcome message from Salutatorian Katherine Ledvina, while Class President Marissa Annoye will deliver a class review. The farewell message will be given by Valedictorian Gavin Knudson.

The graduation ceremony also will feature music performed by the Luxemburg-Casco Concert Band, along with the Luxemburg-Casco Chamber and Women’s Choirs.

More than 250 student scholarships will be announced the morning of May 21 at the Senior Awards Ceremony, including 36 university-bestowed scholarships.

A total of 88 L-C graduating seniors – representing 58 percent of the class – will receive recognition from the Northeast Wisconsin Youth Apprenticeship program.

Accolades also will be given to student participants in specific academic programs: Rising Phoenix program (13 students), Bellin College Healthcare Academy (12), Ahnapee Automotive Maintenance Technician program (3), Ahnapee Diesel Maintenance Technician program (5) and Kewaunee County Junior Firefighter Program (4).

You will be able to find one of the first signs of summer at Martin Park Memorial Day weekend when Destination Sturgeon Bay hosts its Sturgeon Bay Fine Art Fair. The event will feature over 80 artists across different media, from photography and paintings to sculptures and woodwork. While the emphasis is on the art, Destination Sturgeon Bay’s Alexa Soto and Cameryn Ehlers-Kwaterski say they have put a lot of effort into making it an event for the entire family.

The Sturgeon Bay Fine Art Fair runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday. On Saturday afternoon, Destination Sturgeon Bay will present awards to select artists for their two-dimensional and three-dimensional work.

Picture by Rachel Lukas

Join in on the fun and Jacksonport tradition for Maifest on Saturday, May 24th and Sunday, May 25th. Attendees can enjoy food, music, art exhibits, fireworks, a parade and more - plus there’s some great new additions this year to look forward to!

New this year, there will be multiple local food trucks serving up delicious eats including tangy BBQ sandwiches and fresh tacos. A third band has also been added to the music lineup, giving attendees an extra opportunity to dance.

“It’s a lot of fun and is a great way to be outside, have good food, listen to music, meet people, and shop,” said Jacksonport Area Business Association Community Coordinator, Annie Geitner, “there’s so much to do and see that really you kind of have to go both days if you want to see everything.”

The event begins bright and early on Saturday with the Art Fair, featuring work of over 50+ artists. The parade will travel down highway 57 through town at 10:30 a.m. and at noon, a Memorial Day presentation of the flag by V.F.W. Post 3088 will take place followed by the Maypole Dance. The Maifest Family Midway and live music at Lakeside Park will follow. 

On Sunday, the 41st annual Maifest 10K Run & 2 Mile Fun Run/Walk will start at 9 am, followed by an exciting performance by the Door County 4-H Horse and Pony Drill Team and Trick Roping Exhibition by Jesus Jauregui at noon. Next up will be the Frontier Farmers Horse Pull, a crowd favorite. The pull features draft horses for both lightweight and heavyweight competitions. As a courtesy to the teams, spectators are asked to remain silent during the pulls.

For the full schedule of events, music lineup and artist information, click here.

Photo credit: Jacksonport Area Business Association 

Don’t scoop that ice cream just yet! The maker of popular ice cream brands Halo Top, Blue Bunny, and Blue Ribbon Classics has voluntarily recalled over 17,000 tubs of ice cream due to possible presence of plastic. 

According to the recall, plastic foreign material may be present in the batches and the affected products were manufactured by parent company Wells Enterprises, which is based in Le Mars, Iowa. Products were distributed to 103 facilities in the U.S. and are varying flavors of ice cream, but the largest affected batch includes 5,280 tubs of Vanilla Frozen Yogurt. In total, 22 different ice cream brands’ three-gallon tubs are involved in the recall. 

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has classified the recall as a Class II, meaning that exposure to the product may cause temporary and reversible adverse health effects.Consumers are advised to discard any affected ice cream products.

 A full list of products, including their batch numbers and expiration dates, can be found here.

There’s been a lot of activity at Crossroads at Big Creek’s Ida Bay Preserve—and we’ll admit, it’s not pretty. As part of a multi-year ecological restoration project, we’ve burned meadows, cut down trees, and created massive brush piles. To some, it may not look like the beloved landscapes they have hiked for years,  but restoration is environmental stewardship in action.

“Restoration” has many interpretations. One of the most insightful comes from renowned entomologist and ecologist Dr. Douglas Tallamy: “Restoration isn’t about bringing back what was, but about creating what can be—a landscape that sustains life.”

Since the founding of Crossroads, and following the acquisition of the Ida Bay Preserve, restoration has been central to our mission. We’ve long understood that invasive species are harmful and that native plants are beneficial. But the deeper “why” behind this didn’t truly resonate with me until I heard Dr. Tallamy speak and read his work.

We all know that energy on Earth comes from the Sun, and through the miraculous process of photosynthesis, plants convert solar energy into food. But as Tallamy explains, “Most  animals can't access this energy directly from plants. That's where insects come in. Insects, especially herbivorous ones like caterpillars, consume plant matter and become nutrient-rich food for birds, reptiles, and mammals. This makes insects the key intermediaries, moving the sun’s energy up the food web.”

Native plants are vital to this process because they co-evolved with local insect species, enabling insects to effectively digest and metabolize them. In contrast, non-native plants often support far fewer insects and disrupt the flow of energy through the ecosystem.

Some invasive plants arrived accidentally, but many were introduced by people with good intentions. For example, during the Logging Era, nearly 90% of Wisconsin’s native forests were cleared. In response, government foresters during the Great Depression planted non-native trees such as Scotch pine, Austrian pine, and Norway spruce, reasoning that these European species would resist native pests. Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) workers established vast plantations of these trees, which indeed flourished. 

Those foresters meant well. But like many of us, they didn’t recognize the essential role of insects in sustaining biodiversity—or the profound importance of a resilient, diverse ecosystem, especially in an era of rapid climate change. They couldn’t have predicted the devastation caused by Dutch elm disease, beech bark disease, or the emerald ash borer....and whatever will come next.

So when Crossroads removes non-native trees like Scotch pine and Norway spruce and replaces them with a diversity of native plants, we are literally feeding baby birds their avian parents, and countless other species—mammals, reptiles, and even fish.

Across our preserves, we tailor restoration to the specific needs of each site. In areas where native trees and spring ephemerals still thrive, our goal is to suppress invasive shrubs like honeysuckle and buckthorn to preserve what remains.

When I was in school, we were taught that if land was left alone, it would naturally recover. That’s only partially true. As Tallamy notes, “It used to be that when you left a field alone, it would eventually become forest again. Today, because of the invasive plant problem, many fields become degraded thickets of non-native species that support very little life.”

That’s why we burn. That's why we remove trees.  That’s why we use herbicides when necessary. It’s all part of creating healthy, biodiverse habitats that can endure and flourish.

And we want to showcase what we’re doing. We hope others will be inspired to become better stewards of their own landscapes.

One inspiring example: members of the Wild Ones–Door Peninsula  have “adopted” two Sturgeon Bay city parks—Woodside Wildflower Preserve and Franke Park—where native plants still dominate. Volunteers will work to protect these green spaces from invasive species.

To explain these efforts, Jason Miller from the Door County Invasive Species Team  will be at Crossroads to  present a program on Tuesday, May 27, at 6:30 PM, detailing how to protect and manage these parks—and offering guidance for anyone engaged in land stewardship.  This week, Crossroads nature hikes also will feature restoration this week.

Restoration is central to the mission of Crossroads at Big Creek—and we hope it becomes part of your mission too.

Tuesday, May 27
3:30 PM – Bird Listening
Learn to identify birds by sound in this interactive program geared toward elementary students—though all ages are welcome.   Free and open t the public. Meet at the Learning Center, Crossroads, 2041 Michigan Street, Sturgeon Bay.

6:30 PM – Wild Ones Lecture: Restoration in “Our” Parks
Jason Miller of the Door County Invasive Species Team will discuss restoration options for two forested city parks and provide best practices for volunteers and landowners. Sponsored by Wild Ones–Door Peninsula, the Door County Master Gardeners Association, and Crossroads. Free and open the public. Meet at the Collins Learning Center. Crossroads

Wednesday, May 28
1:30 PM – Wandering Wednesday Hike
A naturalist-led hike through Big Creek Preserve will explore restoration sites and discuss ongoing efforts. Easy, one-hour hike. Meet at the Collins Learning Center, Crossroads, 2041 Michigan

Thursday, May 29
9:00 PM – Wildflower Hike at Ida Bay Preserve
Search for spring ephemerals on a naturalist-led hike at the Zenith Street end of  the Ida Bay Preserve. Free and open to the public.  Meet at the parking lot at 1195 Canal Road, Sturgeon Bay.

Birch Creek Music Performance Center Executive Director Jenna Ferdon cannot wait to see you at a performance this summer, though there is a good chance it will not be the first time you have seen her. Ferdon was named Mona Christensen’s successor last December after the long-time executive director announced her retirement late last year. Christensen has stayed on board to help with the transition to an emeritus status and to help guide Ferdon through the process of her first season as an administrator. However, this is not her first summer at Birch Creek, coming to the campus as a student before joining the staff a few years later. Ferdon has been busy transitioning into the new role, but she thoroughly enjoys it.

The first students of the 2025 academy season will begin arriving around this time next month, and the first concert of the Percussion, Steel Pan, and World Music session is scheduled for June 19th.

As a fourth-generation dairy farmer, Holly LaPlant wanted to find another way to connect you to the food you eat. That journey officially began in 2021 when LaPlant started Next Door Beef in Sturgeon Bay, selling cuts of meat on the other side of a door it shares with the farm’s milk house. Like other dairy farms, LaPlant Farms crossbreeds some of its Holstein/Jersey mix cows with Angus cows to diversify the agricultural commodities it brings to market. The venture also inspired LaPlant to start her herd of Hereford cows, another common beef breed. LaPlant says she enjoys talking to customers about the animals they raise to harvest and the misconceptions that often come with it.

According to the American Farm Bureau, approximately 72 percent of dairy farms are now incorporating beef genetics into their herds to offset lower revenues during reduced milk prices. You can learn more about Next Door Beef by visiting their Facebook page and by watching the Ask the Farmer video below, sponsored by the Door County Farm Bureau.

I pulled this article from my archives, and felt it had great relevance as we continue in this month of May, and its recognition of Mental Health Awareness. This is one of the more complex tenants of Wellness as it is not as tangible or defined as many of the others. To some, Spiritual Wellness is directly tied to their faith, while to others they may assign it to an activity or place that brings them peace and tranquility. While we may each assign our own individual example of Spiritual Wellness, I would advocate that it starts with this; An awareness of something greater than myself. With this in mind, we can then start to consider those places or activities that do in fact bring us to place where we can truly appreciate our own fragile existence, and even more importantly help us to understand our “Why”.

This simple three letter word has some amazing power in sustaining our own personal wellness, as well as helping others to do the same. As Leaders we must know our “Why” and then be able to effectively communicate that “Why” to those in our organization. This is many times the difference between a positive work environment and a toxic dysfunctional workplace. The same holds true in our personal lives, as those who understand their “Why” tend to live a life of happiness, contentment and inner peace.

This “Why” can not be derived from neither monetary gain nor elevated position title, it must be derived from deep within our own being, and the personal character strengths, values and morals that make us who we are.

I have been asked so many times over the past 30 plus years, why I chose the field of Law Enforcement. It’s obviously not placed me in the Forbes Fortune 500, nor has it afforded me a lavish lifestyle, but it has allowed me to fulfill a basic intrinsic personal necessity; The Need to be Needed”. I thrive on human interaction and the ability to help others. It is as much a part of my physical being as breathing. This is my “Why”, and it has been with me long before I became Sheriff, and will be with me long after I am done being Sheriff. My current role is just a means by which I can live out my “Why”.

Although there have been many times where this need has interfered with my family life, and invaded my personal boundaries, it is still the driving force behind my ability to persevere during times of struggle or challenge. It is truly what charges my battery.

So why does “Why” matter? It matters because in each and every one of our lives, we will be faced with pain, struggle, and setbacks. If we assign our “Why” to the superficial, we will come up empty in those times when we must dig deep to find the courage and reason not to give up. Our “Why” must supersede hobbies, possessions, or social events, as all of these are in fact fleeting. Instead, we must look deep inside ourselves for what truly matters to us, and where we find both inner peace, as well as external strength.

So, the next time you are around a campfire, or visiting with friends, instead of a conversation rooted in meaningless talk of politics, sports or gossip, share with each other your own stories of “Why”. For those raising children, helping them understand the value of Spiritual Wellness, is one of the greatest gifts we can give them. We need to model our “Why” for them to emulate. We do this by sharing stories of challenge, struggle, failure and perseverance, and by living the example of a balanced life with a firm foundation in Spiritual Wellness.     

The Door County Highway Department has announced an additional closure for CTY G and Horseshoe Bay Road from E. Shore Drive to Green Bay Road for next week.

The closure is scheduled to begin on Monday, May 19th and go through Wednesday, May 21st for asphalt paving. This closure will allow the road to be paved for the end of the day Wednesday. For Memorial Day weekend, barricades will be pulled to the side and the stop and go lights will be set to flash yellow. Two lanes of traffic will be open.

Drivers are encouraged to proceed in these areas with caution, especially during times of heavy congestion.

Complete with beautiful bursts of color, the Sevastopol National Honor Society is hosting their second annual Color Run at the Sevastopol Athletic Complex on Saturday, May 17th, and it’s all for a good cause. Proceeds from the dash will not only benefit Sevastopol's DI teams, but it will also help a very special member of the Sevastopol community.

“The Color Run is a fun run so it isn’t timed and there aren’t awards or anything like that, but it is a lot of fun,” said National Honor Society advisor Mindy Vanderhoof.

There will be a one-mile and a 5K course and six color stations throughout the 5K where colored powders are thrown into the air by volunteers and towards runners which will creatively decorate their white shirts.

All the proceeds from this year’s event will support Sevastopol’s Destination Imagination Team. A portion will also be graciously donated to the Ramirez family for their second grade daughter, Lucia, who is battling Leukemia. 

Following the run, there will also be a soup and chili cookoff where attendees can vote for their favorite by donating towards their selection, plus a bake sale filled with delicious baked goods.

“We would love to have as many participants as possible,” said Vanderhoof, “every dollar that we bring in, we’re able to give directly to these causes.”

During last year’s run, Vanderhoof said the Sevastopol National Honor Society raised $4,000 and they are hoping to surpass that this year and that they hope to get 200 registrations. Current registrations are at 110. 

Those who wish to participate are in luck; there is still time to sign up! Registration is $30 and runners can register online or in person up until 9:45a.m. tomorrow. 

Photo credit: Sevastopol High School 

To support Door County’s natural beauty and rich biodiversity, the Door County Land Trust is hosting a Native Plant Giveaway on Saturday, May 17th where they will be giving away 1,000 trees and pollinator-friendly perennial plants. 

Sponsored in partnership with Climate Change Coalition of Door County and the Big Plant, the community is invited to stop by to pick up plants at the Epicenter Building at 217 N. 4th Avenue in Sturgeon Bay starting at 10a.m. 

Door County Land Trust Charitable Giving Director, Cinnamon Rossman, says the event allows everybody to participate in creating a better habitat for wildlife. The giveaway will include tree varieties including Balsam Fir, White Pine, and White Spruce. There will also be a generous selection of perennials including New England Aster, Marsh Blazing Star, Golden Alexander, and Common Ironweed.

“We have something called Common Ironweed which is an absolutely stunning plant that grows probably 5 or 6 feet tall in the sun,” said Rossman, “it has beautiful purple flowers that just attract a ton of bumblebees in the fall.”

The Door County Land Trust is focusing on native plants, which Rossman says is important when it comes to supporting the native wildlife in Door County.

“One of the things that we know from research is that birds and bees and insects get a lot more nourishment out of native plants than they do from hybrid plants or non-native plants,” she said.

There will be an initial 5 plant per person limit and the event will run until all the plants are gone. 

You might not recognize it if you have not been to the Northern Door Children’s Center recently. The early childhood center in Sister Bay is wrapping up its capital projects, paid for by its $3.6 million Essential Campaign that transformed the space. Most of the transformation occurred during its second phase, which saw it reconfigure and expand its infant and toddler classrooms, create a flexible indoor and outdoor classroom, and shift its kitchen, library, and administrative offices into larger spaces. The improvements will allow Northern Door Children’s Center to take in approximately 40 more students and prepare for next fall when it offers full-day 4K along with Gibraltar Area Schools. Karen Corekin-DeLaMer from the Northern Door’s Children’s Center says she still revels in the building’s transformation and thanks the donors for helping it happen.

Substance abuse is an epidemic that can impact communities of any size, making awareness an important tool. On Saturday, May 17th, the Door County Alcohol and Other Drug Coalition is partnering with Door County Department of Health & Human Services and United Way of Door County to host a film and discussion panel at Crossroads at Big Creek in Sturgeon Bay.

The free community awareness event invites adults for a screening of Addict’s Wake, a story of recovery, relapse, and redemption. High school students may attend if accompanied by a parent or guardian due to some graphic scenes. The film takes place in a small county in Indiana, which is comparable in size to Door County and outlines the opiate epidemic in a community who believes these issues don’t exist in their area. 

Scott Dadam, a Behavioral Health Case Manager for Door County Human Services, spearheaded presenting the film locally and says it is an eye opening resource for everyone whether they know someone in active addiction or battle with it themselves. 

“We have a number of people who struggle with this in our community and sometimes they’re not even noticed because they tend to function on a regular daily basis,” said Dadam, “they can make it to work and they can do what they need to do, but they’re still struggling with addiction.” 

Following the film, complimentary sandwiches, chips, and cookies will be provided to attendees during the panel discussion. The panel will consist of therapists, a community member who is in recovery, as well as Dadam and key people in the community who offer services to help those facing addictions. 

“There is hope for those who are struggling with substance abuse and there is hope for those who are alongside those people,” said Dadam, “together, we can make an impact that will change our community.”

Doors will open at 4:30pm and the film will begin at 5pm. Those interested in attending are encouraged to pre-register here, or by calling United Way at (920) 421-2166.

UPDATE (9:30 P.M. 5/17): We have compiled the latest updates from Cellcom as they continue to work on the full restoration of voice and text services.

Cellcom is still working on restoring its voice and SMS text services to its customers as its outage reaches its second full day.

The telecommunications company first notified its customers at about 11 p.m. Wednesday that they were dealing with an outage affecting their voice network. However, data and text services were still working at that time. After 6 a.m. on Thursday, the outages spread to its SMS messaging service.

In its latest update, a spokesperson assured customers that they had teams working through the night to resolve the issue, though they still do not have a clear timeline to share as to when they can expect service to continue. “We’re tracking real technical momentum and will keep you informed as we lock in restoration milestones,” a company statement read. The company also assures its customers that there is no indication that customer data has been compromised and will continue monitoring that aspect. Data, iMessage, RCS, and internet services are all working. However, number porting is still impacted. In the meantime, Cellcom recommends applications like iMessaging, RCS messaging, or third-party applications like WhatsApp or Facebook Messenger to contact people. The Door County Sheriff’s Department and the Kewaunee County Sheriff’s Department also remind you that 911 is still operational in cases of emergency. You can read the complete statement below.

A resurfacing project began on May 12th on CTH I will continue from STH 42 to the CTH T. The Door County Highway Department said they will be sawing asphalt and concrete driveways, placing two lifts of asphalt, shouldering, and completing centerline markings. These updates will be completed in phases over the course of several weeks.

Road pulverizing and driveway removal will begin the week of May 19th and road preparation, grading and compaction will take place the week of May 26th. Paving of asphalt will begin the week of June 1st. Drivers are asked to follow proper signage and avoid driving on the oiled surface; there will be an adhesive applied between the two lifts. Paving will take approximately two weeks before being shouldered and centerline striped. The expected completion date prior to striping will be June 30th. 

Please note the road will be closed during working hours from 6am-4pm. The Door County Highway Department says they will make every effort to keep access open to local traffic throughout the construction process and that the road will be open nightly. Drivers are advised to use caution when driving through construction areas for the safety of themselves and crew. 

The local detour route will be Townline Road from STH 42 to CTH T. 

A Tornado Watch has been issued for Northeast Wisconsin, including Door and Kewaunee Counties. The watch will remain in effect until 10 p.m. 

Northeast Wisconsin is under the enhanced risk category, a level 3 of 5. We could see damaging winds, large hail, flash flooding, and possibly tornadoes, within this round of storms. Severe storms are forecasted to begin around 5:00 p.m. Power outages are possible.

The National Weather Service advises individuals to stay informed about current weather conditions and to seek shelter in the lowest level of your home in the event of severe weather. Check back for updates.

Wisconsin consumers who purchase over-the-counter eye drops to treat dry and itchy eyes should double check their medicine cabinets. Over 75,000 units of Ophthalmic solutions have been voluntarily recalled nationwide due to manufacturing violations, uncertain sterility, and potential risk of contamination.

The recall includes eye lubricants manufactured by BRS Analytical Services that are distributed by AvKARE, a supplier of infection control products and pharmaceuticals. The issue was originally discovered during a FDA audit at BRS Analytical Services and the Enforcement Report indicates deviation of Current Good Manufacturing Practice (cGMP). 

Recalled products include:

• Artificial Tears Ophthalmic Solution (Dextran 70.01%, Glycerin 0.2%, Hypromellose 0.3%)
• Carboxymethylcellulose Sodium Ophthalmic Gel 1%
• Carboxymethylcellulose Sodium Ophthalmic Solution 0.5%
• Lubricant Eye Drops Solution (Polyethylene Glycol 400 0.4%, Propylene Glycol 0.3%)
• Polyvinyl Alcohol Ophthalmic Solution 1.4%

For a full list of products, including expiration dates and lot numbers, click here. 

In a statement issued by AvKARE, they stated the deviations may lead to quality concerns and that it is not possible to rule out patient risk at this time. AvKARE is urging consumers to stop using these products immediately.

Those with recalled products can complete the recall form and email it to AvKARE who will then provide a Return Authorization (RA) form. If returning the product by mail, consumers should label the return "Ophthalmic Recall.” AvKARE will provide a full credit and shipping costs for any returned eye drop products.

Returns can be sent to:

R&S Northeast LLC
8407 Austin Tracy Road
Fountain Run, KY 42133

There is an exciting schedule of entertainment planned at Martin Park in Sturgeon Bay this summer! From family-friendly movies under the stars to live music concerts that will get you tapping to the beat, residents and visitors can enjoy the offerings starting on June 6th.

“It is a good sense of community and enjoying the outdoors and getting out in the park a little bit,” said Municipal Services Administrative Assistant Colleen DeGrave, who helps plan the events, “this is just a good way to get people out and active in the summertime by doing something enjoyable such as watching a movie and listening to concerts.”

Hosted by the City of Sturgeon Bay Parks and Recreation Department, attendees can bring a chair or blanket for Movies at Martin Park on Fridays. Movies will begin at dusk. Snacks are allowed to be carried in, but as a reminder, no glass containers are permitted. In the event of unforeseen weather, the movie scheduled for the evening will be cancelled. There will be no showing for July 4th. 

2025 Martin Park Movie Schedule

• June 6: Encanto
• June 20: Moana 2
• June 27: The Garfield Movie
• July 11: Wicked
• July 25: Paddington in Peru
• August 8: Mufasa: The Lion King

The Harmony by the Bay Concert Series will also take place on Wednesdays from June 11th through September 3rd. The series features a variety of music genres from country to rock that will take the stage for live performances. Concerts begin at 7pm and two extra offerings have been added to the lineup for this year. An assortment of beverages plus delicious concessions from Papa B’s Food Truck will be available for purchase during the concerts. 

In the event of unforeseen weather, shows will take place as scheduled but at an alternative location. Details will be announced on the City of Sturgeon Bay's Facebook page here. No show is scheduled on August 13th. 

2025 Harmony by the Bay Concert Series

• June 11: Bad Mother Truckers
• June 18: Stephen Cooper and Nobody Famous
• June 25: Modern Day Drifters
• July 2: Annex
• July 9: The Influencer
• July 16: Conscious Pilot 
• July 23: Jay Edward Band
• July 30: Dave Steffen Band
• August 6: Todd Carey Band
• August 20: Brass Differential
• August 27: The Droors
• September 3: The Pocket Kings 

“When the weather is nice, that really draws people out and again, it’s nice to see people in the parks and enjoying the outdoors,” said DeGrave, “it should be another good season.”

Your drive through Door County is becoming a little more beautiful every day as fruit orchard trees are beginning to blossom. Depending on where you are in the county, cherry trees are beginning to show their beautiful flowers to those who drive or walk past. The process started weeks ago when green round buds began to form before the first signs of petals emerged. Blossoms give orchard owners like Toni Sorenson not just smiles from the flowers’ beauty, but also a sign of what to expect for the season. Sorenson says getting up close to the trees helps gauge the tree's health, how it handled the winter, and the frost damage that could have come with it.

Sorenson says that you have plenty of time if you are planning a trip to Door County to check out the cherry blossoms for yourself. Sweet cherry blossoms tend to appear first, followed closely by tart cherries. The warmer temperatures and the peninsula’s position along the lake and bay also mean trees in southern Door County will bloom before those growing in northern Door County. Peak bloom usually lasts about 10 days, allowing visitors and residents to enjoy the cherry blossoms through Memorial Day weekend. Once the petals drop, Sorenson predicts that you can pick your cherries in the fields 60 days later.

UPDATE:

As of 2:40 p.m., Cellcom has issued a statement saying they are still unsure when service will be restored but that data services, iMessage and RCS messaging remains available for most users. Emergency calls to 911 are still available. Customers may contact Cellcom through their customer service chat here.

Cellcom advises using other apps on your phone to connect with friends and family, as they still deal with an outage impacting their text and voice services. The cellphone company notified its customers at around 11 p.m. Wednesday that they were experiencing an outage affecting their voice network, but that data and text services were still working.

After 6 a.m., the outages spread to its SMS messaging service.

As of 10:45 a.m., Cellcom is still working on the issue with no timeline for getting everything back online. Since data services are not affected, Cellcom is advising its customers to use applications like iMessaging, RCS messaging, or third-party applications like WhatsApp or Facebook Messenger to contact people.

Over 250 students from schools around the peninsula converged on the Door County Fairgrounds on Wednesday to learn skills to help keep them safe and your minds at ease. As a part of the second annual Rural Safety Day sponsored by the Door County Farm Bureau, the students, made up of third and fourth graders, learned about topics around concerns that could occur on the water, in the home, or around the farm. Door County Medical Center Registered Nurse Niki Peterson helped organize the event based on her own experiences on a dairy farm and in the trauma center at the hospital. She says it is an essential day for the kids to learn this type of information ahead of the summer, when they may find themselves home alone.

According to the Centers for Disease Control, approximately 12,000 children and young adults die from unintentional injuries each year, such as fire and burns, suffocation, drowning, firearms, choking, and poisoning. 

Believe it or not: the last time you saw Alice in Dairyland Halei Heinzel in Door County, it was the first time she put on the tiara inside the Stone Harbor Resort ballroom in Sturgeon Bay over a year ago. In between that night and this weekend’s finals, Heinzel traveled more than 50,000 miles between Crawford County, where this weekend’s finals will take place, and the Asian Pacific, where she joined state leaders in search of more trade opportunities for Wisconsin. Heinzel vividly remembers her Door County experience as she went around the state with her fellow candidates. Despite the connection, Heinzel could only get as close as Kewaunee County during her tour around the state promoting agriculture in elementary school classrooms and special events. She says the last 12 months have been ones she will remember for the rest of her life, and cannot wait to finish her reign where it started.

Her biggest tip for this year’s candidates, Allison Foster, Michelle Stangler, Mikayla Flyte, Natalie Roe, Olivia Lulich, Sarah Hagenow, and anyone running for a similar role, is to be yourself.

This marks the second year a reigning Alice in Dairyland will officially end her term at the Sevastopol FFA Dairy Breakfast. Ashley Hagenow attended the annual event to cap her time as the 76th Alice in Dairyland.

The Door County Emergency Management Department wants to ensure you are signed up for alerts from Door County Ready before storms expected to hit the area Thursday afternoon. According to the National Weather Service, Kewaunee County and most of Door County have an enhanced risk for severe weather thanks to one or two broken lines of strong to severe thunderstorms expected to move across the region. The northern tip of Door County and Washington Island are listed in the slight risk category. The greatest risk for severe storms is expected between 4 p.m. and 9 p.m. Damaging winds, tornadoes, and large hail are all possible as part of the weather system, which is expected to be out of the region by midnight. 

Things are always changing when it comes to the internet and social media, but that’s not always a good thing. Recently, a dangerous new trend amongst students called “Chromebook Challenge,” has gone viral on the video-sharing app, TikTok. Along with possible injury, students could face legal ramifications of attempting the challenge. 

The challenge prompts students to intentionally try to set their computer on fire by inserting foreign objects like paper clips or pencils into the USB port. The Chromebooks, which have lithium-ion batteries, can reach up to 900 degrees fahrenheit when damaged which may result in burns, and can cause a serious fire hazard that produces a toxic smoke.

Dozens of videos have surfaced online on TikTok surrounding the challenge, including one video which has already amassed over 2.6 million views. The video shows a laptop sparking and short-circuiting and then eventually a clip of the computer with a large burn hole.

School districts across the country are encouraging parents to talk with their children about the trend and the serious legal consequences surrounding it. NBC reported a multitude of incidents with the trend have already been investigated in several states, including Wisconsin, and in Elyria, Ohio, a 15-year-old was arrested and is facing felony charges for vandalism and arson for participating in the Chromebook Challenge.

In light of the challenge, a Spokesperson for TikTok told Door County Daily News that the company will be removing content that violates their Dangerous Activities and Challenges policy. They also said app users’ ability to perform searches for the content and related hashtags will be redirected to the Community Guidelines page instead. TikTok’s spokesperson also stated that their communications team is working closely with the National PTA to award over $300,000 in funding to 100 local and regional PTSAs at high school campuses across America to help implement the Create with Kindness program, which aims to inform teens about online safety and creating positive digital boundaries. 
 

The Door County Granary celebrated opening day on May 14th with a ribbon cutting. The Sturgeon Bay Historical Society was joined by Mayor David Ward and members of the community to mark the occasion for the historic marvel. The Teweles and Brandeis Granary, built in 1901, is one of the last wooden port grain elevators on the Great Lakes.

“It is an exciting day, we get to finally welcome the public in, as well as tourists for the season, and let them see all the hard work that is being done,” said Door County Granary Manager Kelly Catarozoli.

The Granary takes visitors back in time while walking through its 124-year-old structure to see original columns, intact grain chutes, and the grain elevator belt and bucket system. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2017, the site also features interpretive labels that showcases the building history as well as information about the Teweles and Brandeis families. 

“Saving the granary is huge, so here we are making it purposeful and providing the community with this vibrant space,” said Project Manager Nicole Matson, “we’re excited to share with the community, this history and that we’re able to rehabilitate the granary and use this as a civic space.”

Following the ribbon cutting, attendees were treated to refreshments and docent-led tours. The Granary will remain open for the season Wednesday-Sunday until October.

Seniors aged 62 and beyond will soon have an opportunity to socialize and to focus on their personal fitness journey and health. The Talon Community Fitness Center, located within the Southern Door School District, will be offering free memberships starting on July 1st. 

Southern Door County School District Superintendent Dr. Kevin Krutzik said the idea to offer the memberships was discussed and agreed upon by the school board in March and that the goal not only surrounds staying healthy and active, but hones in on providing a welcoming, community-focused environment for all. 

“All of our citizens and our school community contribute to our school district,” said Krutzik, “this was something that our school board, with the support of the entire school community,” felt strongly about for a way to kind of give back.” 

Seniors will have access to modern fitness resources and top-tier amenities including a full weight room with strength and cardio equipment, indoor turf facility, and the Eagle gym. Gym hours for summer are still being decided and will be made available to the public soon, however, the areas are accessible for members during the school year on weekdays before school (4am-7am) and after (5pm-10pm) as well on weekends from 5am-10pm. Staffed weight room hours will vary. 

To sign up for a membership, those interested should contact the office at Southern Door High School at (920) 825-7333. 

Photo credit: Southern Door High School/The Talon Community Fitness Center

May is Water Safety Month and the Door County YMCA is sharing some tips to help keep families safe while making a splash this summer. As the YMCA launches their Phones Down, Eyes Up campaign, Door County YMCA Aquatic Director Heidi Honold says individuals can become a Water Watcher to ensure attentive supervision around the pool. 

“Children ages one to four-years-old die from drowning more than any other cause of death and drowning is the second cause of unintentional injury and death for children ages 5 to 14,” said Honold, “water safety is very important especially when we live around so much water.”

As part of their safety initiative, Honold advises against using water toys to protect weak swimmers. Instead, Coast Guard approved life jackets or Puddle Jumpers can be used while in the water. She says children should also ask permission from an adult before going in or near the water, and when they are swimming, they should avoid playing near pool drains which can trap them under water. While splashing around, pool games can be fun, but Honold says certain ones should be avoided.

“Don’t let kids play breath holding games,” she said, “it may be fun, but it can be really dangerous and easily lead to Hypoxic Blackout, which means sudden loss of consciousness and can lead to fatal drowning.” 

Swimmers should also refrain from wearing street clothes while in the pool or lake because it can weigh them down, but instead, should consider brightly colored swimsuits that increase their visibility in water. 

For more information on the Phones Down, Eyes Up campaign, visit www.phonesdowneyesup.org. You can listen to the full Y Wednesday interview with Heidi here.

Despite wage growth outpacing inflation over the last two years, millions of American families struggle to make ends meet each month. United for ALICE reports that in 2023, 55 million families could not afford the basics, including 38 million considered asset-limited, income-constrained, and employed (ALICE). Part of the issue is that 11 of the 20 most common jobs in the country pay less than $20 an hour. Dr. Stephanie Hoopes from United for ALICE says Wisconsin is in better shape than other states in the country, but that could change. According to the Wisconsin Department of Health Services, the state’s population aged 60 and over represented 25 percent of the total population in 20202, compared to 19 percent in 2019. According to Hoopes, that age group is joining the ALICE population quickly.

United Way of Brown County President and CEO Robyn Davis says non-profit organizations like hers, the United Way of Door County, and others are working hard to address the ALICE population in their communities as they weather federal funding cuts.

In March, the United Way of Door County introduced its “Thriving in Door County” program, a new long-term initiative, to help you or individuals you know find lasting financial and personal stability.  The program’s coordinator for the United Way, Karrie Anthony, said the process will be a three-year commitment with a limited number of ALICE households selected for the pilot program.  She adds that the participants will be able to choose their areas of need for strengthening to meet specific financial goals set by them and their coach during monthly meetings. The program hopes to be implemented this fall.

After a small brush fire in the village on Tuesday, Ephraim Fire Chief Justin MacDonald says not to burn anything outdoors if you do not have to. Fire departments from Ephraim and Sister Bay/Liberty Grove responded to the intersection of Orchard Road and State Highway 42 to the report of a large brush fire approximately 10 feet from the home. The fire was not as big as reported and was quickly put out. MacDonald believes the fire started from a nearby campfire that was not entirely out and adds that it shows how dry it is across the state.

According to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Door County is one of 21 counties in Wisconsin in the high fire danger category. All but 12 counties are at a high fire danger level or above, including four at the extreme level.

Whether it’s a unique tune, a piece of artwork, or a slice of cheesecake, several staff members at Door County Medical Center want you to see their talents outside of the hospital walls. Sara Lautenbach and Lucy Stary are both nurses and musicians, but they also see firsthand the wonderful work DCMC’s Ministry Fund has to offer. Formed to honor former DCMC Social Worker Katie Graf, the Ministry Fund provides additional funding for patients who lack the financial means to pay for shelter, clothing, and transportation following medical treatment. Last year, the Ministry Fund granted close to $42,000 to people who fit the criteria. In recent years, the need has been more than what the Ministry Fund could handle. Stary says it is heartbreaking to see people get turned away when they need the most support.

Seeing this need, Lautenbach and Stary joined forces to create DCMC’s Got Talent, a showcase of the diverse talent walking the halls of the hospital and its other facilities. While some needed some convincing, Lautenbach says the support for the inaugural event has been heartwarming.

DCMC’s Got Talent takes place this Saturday at MUSE Sturgeon Bay beginning at 4:30 p.m. The admission is free, but a donation is suggested, with all proceeds going to benefit the DCMC Ministry Fund. You can listen to our full interview here.

Student loan guarantor Ascendium recently awarded 801 Wisconsin construction and industrial trade apprentices a total of $1.6M in awards through their Tools of the Trade Scholarship. Northeast Wisconsin Technical College (NWTC) received the most awards this year with the scholarship being extended to 127 qualified schools in trade programs. 

NWTC Apprenticeship Manager Christina Jungwirth said the scholarship impacts so many apprentices in our area and that the opportunity could encourage others to take interest in trade careers knowing that scholarships like these exist.

“I think it will help them see that it can be much more financially manageable,” said Jungwirth, “when someone becomes an apprentice, they have built-in wage increases as they progress through the apprenticeship as part of their apprenticeship contract that they have with their employer or the state, so this scholarship helps supplement their income so it makes a difference.”

The Tools of the Trade Scholarship is designed to assist apprentices with more than just tuition and books. The $2,000 award provides essential financial support to help apprentices alleviate the burden of other costs that they may have during their apprenticeships such as the need for new work clothing or maintenance for their vehicle so they can get to work and school. 

Apprentices are eligible to apply for the Tools of the Trade Scholarship if they are enrolled at a WTCS college, are receiving credit for both fall and spring semesters, and are enrolled in an eligible industrial trade or construction program, and demonstrate financial need. 

Photo credit: Northeast Wisconsin Technical College (NWTC)

More than a decade after Dominion Energy closed it down, you may see new life at the Kewaunee Power Station. EnergySolutions announced on Tuesday that it will begin the initial planning and scoping activities to support the pursuit of an Early Site Permit from the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission and will start to work with WEC Energy Group to explore new nuclear power generation in the state. The company purchased the site in May 2022 with plans to accelerate and complete the shuttered plant’s decommissioning. EnergySolutions President and CEO Ken Robuck said that with rising energy demands from data centers, intelligence, and industrial growth, the “need for reliable, carbon-free power has never been greater.” State Senator Andre Jacque says officials have long been asking for a return to nuclear power generation at the Kewaunee Power Station. He attended a meeting last week of concerned citizens asking why people were asking them to sell their land without knowing what was happening just a few miles away. Jacque hopes this brings more clarity to the situation, bringing more than a shuttered power plant back to life.

EnergySolutions will now take a multi-year, multi-phase approach to determining whether reopening the Kewaunee Power Station is viable. This approach includes planning and scoping activities, conducting comprehensive studies, and securing permits from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

The Belgian Heritage Center will be hosting the kickoff for Door County History Days on Monday, June 16th from 9a.m. until noon. The event starts an exciting week of activities that will be happening throughout the county where over 20+ nonprofit and historical organizations will offer special programs surrounding this year’s theme of preservation. 

Belgian Heritage Center board member Ann Jinkins says the kickoff is an exciting way to peek into the past but also to highlight the exciting ways these many organizations are preserving and inspiring growth in Door County.

“It’s kind of exciting to let people know what’s going on throughout the county because Door County has a really rich history,” said Jinkins. 

The free event, sponsored by the Heritage Alliance of Door County, will include stories, displays, and presentations from the various organizations from June 16th until the 22nd.

During the kickoff, ten representatives will speak and showcase what preservation work is being done at their own sites. Visitors can also tour the Belgian Heritage Center campus to see the restored 1900’s-era St. Mary of the Snows church, school and convent, as well as the St. Roch Votive Chapel and historic parish cemetery. There are also educational exhibits and interactive galleries that highlight Belgian history and influence around the peninsula.

Destination Door County’s CEO Julie Gilbert will also be unveiling the new Heritage Trail Pass - a free app that allows users to identify historical sites throughout the county.

This June, art enthusiasts are invited to immerse themselves into creative and diverse works at the first Door County Contemporary Art Fair in Fish Creek. The three-day program, hosted at the Peninsula School of Art, will feature 20 galleries from around the Midwest, guest speakers, and Wisconsin-centric food and drinks on June 5th-8th. 

Artist and fair co-director, Shane McAdams, said the inspiration to launch the event came from his own love of visiting Door County with his family and his desire to bring edgier conceptual and contemporary art to the peninsula. 

“I’m always trying to open up a new potential way of making life meaningful and that’s what fine art does,” said McAdams, “it can be contentious, it can be confusing, it can be surprising, but it provides a great platform.” 

Attendees will get to browse work from a multitude of artists within galleries from areas such as Chicago, Milwaukee, Madison, and Minneapolis. The James May Gallery will also be featuring work by Door County resident Adam Fulweiler, director of the Hardy Gallery. McAdams says the event will be more than an art fair, but that it will be a collaborative celebration of art and ideas.

“While you’re engaging in amazing conversation about these strange objects, you can have a drink; it creates this envelope of experience that is completely new,” he said. 

General one-day admission tickets for the event are $25. For more information, visit www.doorcountycontemporary.com. 

Helping you explore more of what you love is the goal of the latest grant recipients of the Destination Door County Community Investment Fund program. The organization released the latest projects to receive funding from the two-year-old fund that takes room tax dollars and invests them back into the community. After electors approved its purchase last month, the Town of Washington received a $100,000 grant to acquire waterfront property to increase the availability and accessibility of public docking and water access. The Friends of Whitefish Dunes State Park also received $100,000 to repair and improve the stairway and observation platform for Old Baldy, the state’s tallest sand dune. The Friends of Peninsula State Park received a $50,000 grant to assist in the creation of 11.3 more miles of mountain bike trails, and 7.5 miles have been completed. Destination Door County CEO Julie Gilbert says these three projects show a balanced approach to ensuring that they benefit residents and visitors alike.

In the two years since Destination Door County created the Community Investment Fund with assistance from the Door County Community Foundation, the program has supported 44 projects with $2.4 million in funding.

The passengers in two vehicles escaped significant injuries Friday night after a head-on collision in the Town of Baileys Harbor.

The two cars were driving opposite directions on County Highway EE near Peil Creek when the accident occurred at about 9:20 p.m.. According to the accident report, a 45-year-old Fish Creek man was driving west on the CTH EE when he encountered another vehicle driven by a Baileys Harbor woman. The man thought he was far enough over to allow two cars to pass, admitting that it was hard to tell because the roadway was no longer at the centerline. He also told the responding deputy that it was hard to tell where he was on the road due to the bright headlights of the other oncoming vehicle. The woman said that as he approached, he laid on the horn when she noticed that the man was coming right up to her. The two cars’ driver sides were lined up when they struck each other, with the man’s vehicle spilling back into the westbound lane and the woman’s vehicle sliding further to the right of the eastbound lane.

While the man and his passenger, a 43-year-old Fish Creek man, were unharmed, the Baileys Harbor woman suffered a possible injury that did not require hospitalization. The man received a citation for operating his vehicle to the left of the center line. The accident closed the highway until approximately 11:30 p.m. to allow the two cars to be towed and for additional clean-up.  

The Algoma Community Band is hosting ‘A Night at the Movies,’ a free public concert on Wednesday, May 21st. Attendees will be treated to an evening of live music inspired by films starting at 7p.m. 

The event will take place at the Algoma Performing Arts Center at 514 Fremont Street where the band, directed by Jennifer Massey and David Kopetsky, will play songs from popular titles such as Chicago, Polar Express, The Music Man, The Incredibles and more. 

The entire band has been hard at work preparing for the spring concert and Hepp is confident that each song will be just as riveting as the next.
 

Algoma Community Band President Sue Hepp adds that the band, which was formed in 1978, consists of 40 talented musicians that range in age from high school students up to 85 years. 
 

Performing their music has brought the band all over the world. They have traveled to places as far as Alaska and the Czech Republic and to celebrate their 50th anniversary in 2028, the band will travel across the globe to Europe.

Photo credit: Algoma Community Band

Do not be surprised if you see farmers trying to play catch-up this week with one of the best stretches of weather it has had all spring. Last week’s USDA Crop Progress and Condition Report showed farmers in northeast Wisconsin sitting at zero percent of their corn, four percent of their soybeans planted, and spring tillage at eight percent. Statewide, farmers are anywhere from two to nine days behind last year’s planting pace. You can blame recent rains for that, as there were only 1.6 days suitable for field work for farmers. With a dry streak last until potentially Thursday, Rio Creek Feed Mill agronomist Adam Barta says farmers are seeing that window wide open and will try to do everything they can before it shuts.

Starting on Monday, May 12th, there will be a planned closure for Erie Street and N 7th Ave in Sturgeon Bay. 

Erie Street from N 6th Place to N 8th Avenue, N 7th Avenue (Erie to Delaware) and N 7th Place (Erie to Delaware) will be closed and open to local traffic only.

These areas have been undergoing concrete work following the replacement of gas lines. Further milling and paving will still take place and the city is asking drivers to avoid this area, or if travel is necessary, to do so with caution. 

Our community is full of amazing moms! Let's be honest, moms are articulate schedule jugglers, the fixer of all chaos, a continual giver, and of course, the grand master of wisdom and love. As we celebrate Mother’s Day, take a moment to thank all the mom figures in your life - whether that is your wife, girlfriend, sister, daughter, friend, colleague, neighbor, or your own mom; they all truly are our everything!

For me, being a mom has meant so many things; but most of all, it has meant that I am fortunate that I get to shape my two amazing little beings and prepare them for the big world ahead of them. From their first steps to seeing every accomplishment unfold; every day is an adventure! Watching my daughter, Katelyn, and son, Lucas, grow makes me exceptionally thankful for my own mom, too. I am so grateful my children will get to soak up every ounce of her humor and wit and between us both, know daily just how much they are loved.

Wishing every mother out there, in every capacity, a very Happy Mother’s Day! 

Community Mom Spotlight: For Moms and From Moms

“Being a mom means living at the heart of a whirlwind—Zahra’s baby giggles, Sven’s boundless curiosity, and Zetta’s wit and imagination fill our days with energy and wonder. Motherhood stretches me in every direction, but it also grounds me in what matters most: love, presence, and the little everyday moments that build a childhood. My three kids teach me more than I ever imagined—about resilience, joy, and how to keep showing up. We carry my own mom with us in spirit; though she’s no longer here, her memory inspires the kind of mother I strive to be.”

- Sarah Bergwin, NEW Radio staff 

“What does being a mom mean? It means you’re always in mom mode! You never stop being a mom no matter how old your kids are or where they live. There are always times that you wish you could be with them but you can’t be and as a mom that breaks your heart, but you’re still with them in spirit.”

- Shelly Lau, NEW Radio staff

“Motherhood is truly a remarkable gift and a privilege that I hold very close to my heart. It means nurturing, guiding, instilling values and loving with unwavering support, while also learning and growing alongside my girls. It's a journey of endless learning, communication, compassion, and sacrifice, where every moment, big and small, holds profound meaning and importance throughout our journey. As a mom it’s my responsibility to empower my girls with self confidence and to teach them the tools and skill sets necessary to be independent women who will live happy, successful and meaningful lives.”

- Alycia Schultz, Sturgeon Bay

“Being a mom makes me think of my own mother—how selfless and caring she always was. I find myself repeating the same little acts of love she did for me and my sister, now doing them for my own kids. Motherhood is by far the hardest, yet most rewarding job I’ve ever had. It’s not just a part of my life—it is my whole life. Some days, I just wish I could slow time down and hold on to every moment a little longer.”

- Stormy Gale, Egg Harbor

“Being a mom means knowing that my boys will always come home. That they’ll say ‘I love you’ every time they leave. That they’ll always remember my birthday—not because they have to, but because they want to.”

- Amanda Capps, Sturgeon Bay 

“Being a mom means I was fortunate enough to create another life… and with that seeing what spectacular things this person will do and become.”
 

- Ashley Duva, Sturgeon Bay

“When my daughter was born, I immediately understood that my heart now beats outside my body. Love, as I had never known before, overflowed inside me, and vulnerability came along for the ride. And with vulnerability, fear. Motherhood is a constant work of balance. When you become a Mother, you give birth to your heart. Your heart, so beautiful and vulnerable, is now out of your control. Your heart, so full of love and potential. Your heart, so brave and scared, all at the same time. And you have to let it. It takes courage. It takes strength. It takes a Mother. Happy Mother's Day to all of us, brave, allowing women!”

- Maria Jacobs, Fish Creek

“My mom does everything she can to support me, uplift me and encourage me to always follow my dreams.”

- Christiana Trapani, Carlsville

“My mom is an amazing woman; she's taught me so many things and has shaped me into the woman I am today. She has sacrificed many opportunities so that she could be with us. I am forever grateful for all that she does and will continue to do. She puts everyone above herself and never complains, she has made all of my dreams come true over the years even when they might be impossible. You are my hero and my biggest role model, I love you to the moon and back, mom!”

- Molly Jefferson, Sturgeon Bay

This week at Crossroads, we expect many visitors will be drawn to our riparian wetlands. Young explorers will be delighted to discover tadpoles and tiny frogs, while hikers of all ages will enjoy the stunning display of marsh marigolds blooming along the lower stretches of Big Creek.

Marsh marigolds—also known as cowslips—belong to the buttercup family, which includes roughly 275 species. Early botanists, possibly Carl Linnaeus himself, assigned the genus name Ranunculus, Latin for “little frog.” The name reflects the plants’ shared preference with amphibians for moist, marshy environments.

At Crossroads, marsh marigolds and several other buttercup species bloom along the floodplains and wet margins of Big Creek, as well as in seeps and tributaries.  These wetlands are often ephemeral—seasonal pools that exist only briefly each year and may dry out completely by midsummer. But for developing frogs, that's ideal.

Because these temporary wetlands typically do not support fish, tadpoles face fewer predators. Additionally, the shallow water warms quickly in spring, accelerating tadpole growth and metamorphosis. These habitats also tend to host fewer long-term aquatic competitors, providing young amphibians with more resources. The primary challenge is timing—tadpoles must complete their development before the wetlands dry up.

Marsh marigolds and their buttercup relatives feature glossy yellow petals that look like they’ve been shellacked—an appearance that makes them especially attractive to pollinators. Their vibrant color comes from pigments, but the high-gloss shine is due to microscopic layers of air beneath the petal surface that reflect sunlight like tiny mirrors.

As Paul Simons observed in The Guardian, “Buttercup flowers also track the sun. On cold days, the petals form a cup shape like a satellite dish, collecting solar energy from the sunshine and warming up the flowers, which makes them even more inviting to insects.”

Whether it's the gleam of golden petals or the charm of tiny frogs, we hope something inspires you to visit Crossroads this spring—perhaps for a hike or to participate in one of our educational programs.

Featured Events – Saturday, May 17

9:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Door Peninsula Mushroom Club Day
Celebrate fungi with a day of mushroom-themed activities and vendors! Whether you're a seasoned mycophile or just curious about the magical world of mushrooms, this event offers something for everyone. For more information, visit the Door County Mushroom Club on Facebook.

2:00 Saturday Science: Herps in the Swale

Explore the retention pond and north swale for tadpoles, frogs, and other life. Nets and boots will be provided. Wear clothes that can get wet.  Geared for elementary students, but learners of all ages are welcome. Indoor activities will be offered if the weather is inclement. Meet at the Collins Learning Center, Crossroads at Big Creek. 2041 Michigan, Sturgeon Bay.

Monday, May 19

1:30 PM – Documentary Screening: Wisconsin Water from the Air
Enjoy a Wisconsin Public Television documentary that takes viewers on an aerial and ground-level journey along the state’s waterways, showcasing our rivers and lakes' beauty and ecological importance. Meet in the Collins Learning Center, Crossroads, 2041 Michigan Sturgeon Bay lecture hall.

3:00 PM – Wildflower Hike
Take a naturalist-led hike along Big Creek to view marsh marigolds and other spring ephemerals and learn how spring wildflowers attract their pollinators. The hike is free and open to the public; no registration is required. Meet at the Collins Learning Center.

Tuesday, May 20

3:30 PM – Environmental Exploration: Pollen Probe
In this after-school activity, students will discover how spring wildflowers attract the insects (and birds) that pollinate them. Dress for outdoor exploration. In the event of inclement weather, the program will move indoors. Geared for elementary students, but open to all. Meet at the Collins Learning Center.

6:30 PM – Door County Beekeepers: Hive Inspections
Join the Door County Beekeepers Club for a session on inspecting beehives. This program is free and open to the public. Meet in the lecture hall of the Collins Learning Center, Crossroads, 2041 Michigan Sturgeon Bay.

Wednesday, May 21

1:30 Wandering Wednesday

This naturalist-led hike will follow the trails beside Big Creek in search of spring wildflowers. It will take about an hour and is easy hiking. It is free and open to the public. Meet at the Collins Learning Center, Crossroads, 2041 Michigan Street, Sturgeon Bay. 

A survey from the Division of Public health in conjunction with other partner agencies will be rolling out on June 1st. The Community Health Assessment Survey (CHA) comes as part of a five-year requirement to assess resident health and environment that will help set priorities for the 2026-2030 Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP). 

This spring, Public Health rebranded their CHIP and CHA work under one umbrella called Healthy Door County. The change was initiated to reflect the diverse representation of multi-sector community leaders who are collaboratively working together in the community. 

“The survey will try to pinpoint how we can collectively improve the health of the residents,” said Shauna Blackledge, a Public Health Strategist for the Door County Department of Health & Human Services, “it’s more than just access to medical care, but it’s your environment and healthy living as a whole.

The 5-10 minute survey will be available online and in paper format and gather information that will assist to prioritize future support opportunities. The current goals of the Health Improvement Plan focuses on many facets, including supporting the workforce, re-establishing housing efforts, supporting those in recovery, in addition to several mental health initiatives. 

“This is like a qualitative piece for us to capture community voice,” said Blackledge.

In addition to the community-wide survey, several organizations are helping to host Door county Community Conversation events. These events are held invite-only by organizations partnered with Public Health and work to identify and address health issues, needs and priorities targeted sectors including rural population, young adults, young families, and hispanics.

“The Community Conversations are just one piece of the assessment process,” said Blackledge.

Blackledge said eight sessions in total were planned for a period of six months and will further gather necessary data that is examined as part of the health plan. Additional data will also come in from partner agency surveys.

“We want to really broadcast out far and wide to the whole community to participate,” she said, “this is your opportunity to be heard.”

While participation in the survey itself is anonymous, to incentivize survey participation, there will be a drawing for a winner of a $25 Destination Door County gift certificate each week June-August. Respondents will be prompted to a new page separate from the survey to provide their contact information to enter the drawing.

Here come the Scotties! Visitors and residents alike can celebrate Baileys Harbor’s small-town charm and exciting maritime heritage with the Blessing of the Fleet and Baileys BIG weekend which runs May 16th through the 18th. Attendees can shop, dine, and take in all the excitement while honoring what makes Baileys Harbor so exceptional. 

Hosted by the Baileys Harbor Community Association, the multi-day event is packed with activities for all ages and will kick off on Friday at Sway Brewing + Blending where patrons can meet the stars of the Scottie Rally. The event continues Saturday morning bright and early with a Blessing of the Fleet. 

“Blessing of the Fleet in itself is really a centuries-old tradition that kind of originated predominantly in Catholic fishing communities,” said Baileys Harbor Community Association consultant and member Kelsey Fox, “it’s a nod to the maritime history in the Baileys Harbor community.”

Attendees can head down to the marina on Saturday morning starting at 9 a.m. where a local priest or pastor will offer a prayer of safety for all the fisherman for a bountiful catch and safe season. Spectators can watch from the shore or from the water by boat. 

“You can look forward to a weekend full of fun,” promises Fox. 

Saturday festivities throughout the day include a vendor fair at Baileys Town Hall which will feature over 20 vendors, a Fire Department Open House with brats, burgers, and a Jeep show, and the 25th Annual Scottie Rally Parade. The parade will showcase spirited Madison Pipes & Drums along highway 57 and Park Road. Then on Sunday, the first Farmer’s Market of the season will take place on the town hall lawn.

“There’s all kinds of fun for people to come out and support the community,” said Fox, “it unites everybody; the community members, residents and visitors for everyone to experience Baileys Harbor.” 

For a full list of events visit www.baileysharbor.com/blessing-of-the-fleet-baileys-big-weekend. 

Photo Credit: Baileys Harbor Community Association

In all of the years I have done a May article related to Mental Health Awareness, I don’t think there has been a year where this information is more relevant than now. For those who have never faced adversity, this past year has hopefully presented us with challenges and given us the strength to face those challenges. While most of the attention has been focused on our nation’s physical well-being, the issue of our mental well-being has taken a back seat, so it is appropriate that we focus on it in this upcoming month.

One of the reasons why it is so vital to focus on Mental Health Awareness is that, as a culture, there still remains a great deal of hesitation in discussing not only the subject but, to a greater extent, our own personal state of mental health. We think nothing of calling a medical physician when we have a physical ailment, or sharing with friends and family if we have a recent medical emergency or procedure. This is not the case when it comes to our mental health. We tend to hide the circumstances or symptoms, hoping no one will ever detect or know what we are going through. We isolate ourselves when dealing with a mental health struggle, and even more tragically, we tend to withdraw from those around us who are showing symptoms of their struggle.

As in anything we attempt to confront and conquer, we must first identify it and call it for what it is. The Webster Dictionary defines mental health as: a person’s condition of their psychological and emotional well-being. Wikipedia also expands it and states that, from the perspectives of positive psychology, mental health may include an individual's ability to enjoy life and to create a balance between life activities and efforts to achieve psychological resilience. This last word, “Resilience,” is vital as this is our ability to live not in the absence of trauma or struggle, but to use those experiences as a source of strength and endurance. The ability to control our mental health rather than to be controlled by it is a skill that requires deliberate effort each and every day.

I think it is important to state right from the beginning that we are all broken in one way or another. We have all faced trauma or struggles in our lives, which we carry with us every day. It is very easy to compare scars, but it is more essential that we share what we are going through or have gone through to empower those around us and provide an environment that encourages the ability to share their struggles. Through sharing, we can be a resource for each other, especially in a society with a very limited number of professional mental health practitioners. We are each the first line of defense in any mental health crisis, and without knowing it, each one of us could be the difference between another person’s reasons to live versus giving up hope.

We should all challenge ourselves to rise above simple conversations of sports, politics, or local gossip, to conversations that deeply impact our lives or those of our family and friends. We should not be afraid to stop and take the time to hear the answer when we say “How are you doing today?” for more information on mental health and what we can all do to support a healthy mental health, go to: www.nami.org

Locally, we also have some great work being done on the subject of mental health awareness, including many trained in the suicide prevention protocol of QPR (Question, Persuade, Refer). This is a program focused not on the tragedy of suicide, but rather on the hope that each of us can share to aid another during their time of despair. If any group, organization, or business would be interested in a QPR presentation, please contact me at (920)255-1100. I have provided suicide prevention presentations to groups as large as four hundred and as small as five. Remember, it’s all about cultivating and sustaining Hope!

Making your kids with special needs have the resources they need from a young age to a working adult is the goal when it comes to the recently announced merger of Sunshine Resources of Door County and P.A.T.H. of Door County. The two organizations made the announcement earlier this week, combining their resources to create a unified entity to serve Door County’s special needs community. P.A.T.H. of Door County’s Deb Doyle says they have been stretched thin in recent years as the needs in the community grew, but their volunteers’ passion drove them to keep their services going. When she began talking to Sunshine Resources CEO Barry Metzentine, she saw a real opportunity to eliminate an existing service gap between youth and adults and provide a more seamless and stress-free transition for their families.

Metzentine says he is looking forward to being able to expand some of their programming because of the merger, which includes introducing kids to vocational training sooner than they otherwise would have and offering additional respite care services.

Doyle and Metzentine emphasized that the merger does not mean anything is disappearing, including the P.A.T.H. name itself. The two sides are committed to offering the same high standards of care and support while collaborating on new programs in the future. More news is on the horizon for Sunshine Resources and P.A.T.H., with a public announcement and ribbon cutting taking place on June 4th at P.A.T.H.’s facility in Sturgeon Bay.

Click here for our full interview

Calling all moms and those with sweet tooths! On Sunday, May 11th, Bayview Lutheran Church in Sturgeon Bay will be hosting a spring bake sale. There will be a variety of sweet treats available to purchase and all proceeds will help to support a great cause.

The bake sale will start at 10:15a.m. and baked goods will be available through 11:30a.m. The confections will be sold as individual or full-size servings and depending on the item, single serving sizes will be under $4 and whole-sized options will be around $10.

“I don’t think that anybody is going to find a better price in town for a Mother’s Day dessert,” said Fellowship board member Kim Schauske, who is helping to organize the bake sale.
 

There will be quite the selection to choose from including homemade Cherry Pies, Boston Cream Pies, Lemon Lush Cake, Rhubarb Cake, several varieties of Cheesecakes, Chocolate Chip Cookie Sandwiches and more. 

“Stop on by and look at what we have and pick up some nice items for mom that she might enjoy,” said Schauske. 

Schauske said funds raised during the bake sale will help support the church’s general fund and for repairs and a portion will also go toward its capital campaign. 

“Our church is a very giving church,” she said, “we do a lot for the community and when we have extra things, we’re able to pass it along to the community members.” 

Schauske said a lot of planning went into the bake sale and that members are busy whipping up items to stock the tables. A baker herself, Schauske added that she is most looking forward to both the treats and the community connection.

“We always enjoy people coming into the church, some socialization there, some fellowship,” she said, “I know people will find some great items for Mother’s Day, too, and that these moms will really appreciate these baked goods.” 

The Wisconsin Legislature will now begin crafting its version of the state budget after the Joint Finance Committee voted 10-3 to remove more than 600 items from the previous version presented by Governor Tony Evers earlier this year. The 21-page list included renewed bids to expand Medicaid, legalize marijuana, introduce paid family leave, and increase child care subsidies.

The Democratic governor was quick to rip the Republican-held Legislature for gutting what he called the most pro-kid budget in the state’s history. “After today, Republican lawmakers will be on-record voting against efforts to help keep our kids and families safe, ensure Wisconsinites have access to clean and safe drinking water, prevent property tax increases, invest in mental health services for veterans, support to help farmers navigate reckless tariffs and trade wars, and so much more,” Evers said.

Likening the situation to Charlie Brown kicking the football off Lucy’s hold, State Rep. Joel Kitchens says no one should be shocked that the Legislature went in this direction. He points out that they always strip non-budgetary measures out of the budget and that increasing the overall spending and state workforce were non-starters. He also reminds voters that just because it is taken out does not mean that it cannot be reworked and put back in.

He hopes for a compromise on many of the budget's sticky points, noting that Republican leaders and the Governor are negotiating on some of the finer details such as the tax cuts. Kitchens’ wish list for the budget includes increased funding for special education reimbursement and child-care tax credits, tax cuts, and his tax-free retirement plan. Kitchens says he is still planning to have listening sessions soon.  

Kratcha also reminds residents and visitors not to go near fawns if they discover them. Their mothers will likely come back to care for them, and touching them or going near them could cause them to be orphaned. If a fawn is on your property and goes days without leaving, Kratcha says you should call the DNR.

Picture courtesy of Pixabay and MOHANN

Do not be shocked if you see fire danger levels increase over the next week in Door and Kewaunee counties, as of Friday morning. Over 30 counties, including Door and Kewaunee, are in moderate danger for fire after rainstorms last week greened things up. Six counties in west central Wisconsin have a high fire danger level, with the remainder at a very high fire danger level. According to the National Weather Service, daytime highs will be in the 60s, and the chance of precipitation does not get higher than 20 percent over the next week. No burn bans exist, but the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources 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. 

This weekend when you see a letter carrier, they may be carrying an extra special package. On Saturday, May 10th both city and rural mail carriers at the Sturgeon Bay and Fish Creek post offices will be teaming up with the National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) to collect non-perishable food donations to help stock several local pantries in hopes to stamp out hunger in Door County.

The Letter Carriers Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive will collect and distribute donations to Feed My People and Lakeshore Cap in Sturgeon Bay, Holy Name of Mary in Maplewood Church, as well as the Stella Maris 24/7 pantry in Fish Creek. The drive is sponsored by the National Association of Letter Carriers in conjunction with the United States Postal Service, National Rural Letter Carriers Association, and the United Way.

Darrel Lecloux, the National Association of Letter Carriers local food drive coordinator, says this effort is important in supporting those in need and helping to fight hunger in the local community. He said each year he has enjoyed seeing the number of donations increase.

“This is the 30th year that mail carriers are participating,” said Lecloux, “the community gets more involved and donates more and the total goes up almost every year.”

Residents may have received a promotional bag in the mail already, but if not, they can still contribute by placing bags of non-perishable food items out next to their mailbox in a paper or plastic bag. Lecloux said donations should be placed out before 9 a.m. on Saturday. Alternatively, donations can be dropped off in the lobbies of post offices throughout Door County up until May 10th. 

Lecloux said he is working hard to make this drive a success and that he is thankful to the community for their continued support.

“I just want to send out a huge thank you,” he said, “over the past 30 years everybody has responded remarkably.”

In addition to the drive collections, Lecloux encourages those in the community to make monetary donations to help to further support area food pantries. Donations can be made directly to the food pantry.

On Thursday, May 8th, second grade students at St. John Bosco Catholic School in Sturgeon Bay got the opportunity to learn about the legal system by touring the Door County Justice Center. During their tour, led by the Clerk of Circuit Court, Connie DeFere, the students got a first-hand look at the courtroom and other areas of the center.

Second Grade teacher Michelle Fernandez said the tour comes as part of their class social studies unit. The unit focuses on the importance of having laws and order within society and how they help to keep everyone, including children, safe. 

“We talk about how if we didn’t have rules that we would have chaos or things would not run as smoothly as they do with them,” said Fernandez.

During the tour, the students got to explore the courtroom and hands immediately popped up with pressing questions. DeFere talked with students about court reporters and their need for fast typing skills as well as the process that occurs during a court hearing. Students picked up on key terms including juries as well as the gallery, which is the area where public spectators sit during court. 

Second grader Liam Rankin said his visit to the center was different than he expected and that it was interesting to see inside the center.

“I saw the courtroom and a lot of chairs,” he Rankin, “I also got to learn where the jury goes and where the lawyers sit.”

Fellow classmate Sophia Schaden said she was surprised to learn that evidence is sent to the court from different places but that her favorite part of the field trip was seeing the dispatch area. 

“We saw the place where people answer your 911 calls,” Schaden said, “it was really fun.”

Door County Clerk of Circuit Courts Connie DeFere says the tours are valuable to students and that they are often surprised by what they learn.

“We go into the courtrooms and they get to see all of the important facets of court, where the judge is, what the court reporter does, what the deputy clerk does,” DeFere said, “I feel like at this age, students are just most surprised about what happens in this building and in courtrooms.” 

Following their visit to the Justice Center, the second graders ate lunch before heading over to Nicolet Bank to learn about banking. They also got to play a Bingo game to find different things around the bank. Both field trips together provided an excellent opportunity for students to learn about two important business entities in their community. 

History was made in Vatican City on Thursday as the Catholic Church elected its leader. White smoke billowed over the Sistine Chapel before the announcement that Cardinal Robert Prevost is the new pope. Born in Chicago, Prevost is the first American-born Cardinal and the first from the Augustinian order to be elected to the role, a process that began earlier in the week. According to the Vatican News, he served as the bishop of Chiclayo before being named the Prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops under Pope Francis.

Father Dan Schuster of St. Mary's Catholic Church in Luxemburg and Holy Trinity Catholic Parish says the election of an American pope is both exciting and shocking, but believes his background will help him serve God and the church well in the new role.

In a previous interview, Prevost called himself a missionary, saying, "my vocation, like that of every Christian, is to be a missionary, to proclaim the Gospel wherever one is.” Now known as Pope Leo XIV, he took to the balcony in St. Peter’s Square to say, “peace be with you all” in his first public comments.  

Picture courtesy of Pixabay

The first signs of summer in Sturgeon Bay are pulling into their respective ports across the city this month. To celebrate this summer’s arrival of the Tall Ships and 25 years of public art in the city, Destination Sturgeon Bay is collaborating with artists for “Set Sail in Sturgeon Bay.” Similar to its bass and sturgeon installations in the past, “Set Sail in Sturgeon Bay” will feature six-foot-tall sailboats with artists using them as their canvas. Destination Sturgeon Bay’s Cameryn Ehlers-Kwaterski and Alexa Soto say they have new favorites popping up every day as they are installed.

The over two dozen ships will be up until the Sturgeon Bay Harvest Festival, where they will be auctioned off on September 20th. Soon, a Set Sail Walking Map will be available online and at the Destination Sturgeon Bay Welcome Center. The installation of the pieces across the city also serves as a prelude to the Sturgeon Bay Fine Art Fair, which will take place Memorial Day weekend at Martin Park. You can hear our whole interview with Destination Sturgeon Bay’s Cameryn Ehlers-Kwaterski and Alexa Soto.

Even as Halei Heinzel turns over her crown as Alice in Dairyland next week in Crawford County, you will still find people proud that her reign began in Door County. Last year, the Oconomowoc native secured her title as the 77th Alice in Dairyland after touring Door County as a finalist for nearly a week ahead of the Saturday finale. As the finals host in 2024, Door County received an up-close view of its agricultural roots as the 76th Alice in Dairyland, Ashley Hagenow, made monthly visits to the peninsula during her reign. Chairing the efforts to bring the Alice in Dairyland Finals to Door County was Door County Farm Bureau Board Member Denise Plassmeyer, who says the area became stronger and more connected agriculturally because of the experience of hosting Hagenow and crowning Heinzel.

Plassmeyer adds that she has been like a proud mom watching Heinzel and the other candidates accomplish so much post-Alice in Dairyland Finals.

Heinzel's last official event as Alice in Dairyland will be right where it started when she attends the Sevastopol FFA Dairy Breakfast in July. Allison Foster, Michelle Stangler, Mikayla Flyte, Natalie Roe, Olivia Lulich, and Sarah Hagenow are all vying for the 78th Alice in Dairyland role. The 78th Alice in Dairyland selection will be announced at a public event on May 17th at the Performing Arts Center in Prairie du Chien. Alice in Dairyland is a one-year, full-time communications professional for the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade, and Consumer Protection. Several partner organizations support the Alice in Dairyland program.

When it comes to helping someone you know about their mental health and possible thoughts about suicide, sometimes getting started is the hardest part.  Kewaunee County Sheriff Matt Joski travels around the state offering training in resiliency and Question, Persuade, and Refer (QPR), which is used for suicide prevention. According to the Centers for Disease Control, 49,000 Americans died by suicide in 2023, which is a fraction of the 1.5 million who attempted it and the 12.8 million who seriously thought about it. Joski admits that for many, it is a conversation that many try to avoid if they identify a friend, a family member, or themselves in need. He believes that, in that moment, we should become vulnerable and ask those tough questions in hopes that persuading and referring them to get additional help will lead to a happier outcome.

Joski says organizations and businesses can reach out to him to host resiliency and QPR training, adding that he believes it is part of his job to get the information out for people to learn. The Kewaunee County Sheriff’s Department Suicide Prevention Outreach program is this year’s beneficiary of this year’s Dairy Days Dash 5K in Luxemburg on June 7th.

Be prepared to see plenty of construction in the near future at some of your favorite state parks in Door County.

The State Building Commission, which includes District 1 State Senator André Jacque, approved over $7.7 million in funding on Wednesday, aiming for infrastructure projects at Whitefish Dunes State Park, Potawatomi State Park, Peninsula State Park, and Rowley’s Bay Boat Landing.

At Potawatomi State Park, the focus will be on repairing some of its asphalt roadways and adding bike and pedestrian lanes along South Shoreline Road and South Norway Road. Water supply lines within the Daisy Field Campgrounds will also be replaced after being used for 65 to 75 years.

At Whitefish Dunes State Park, improvements will be made to the Black Trail and the Black Shortcut Trail, while the Rowleys Bay Boat Landing will see the reconstruction of its existing boat launch and adjacent parking area.

Visitors to Peninsula State Park will also see plenty of improvements as another portion of Shore Road will be resurfaced in addition to upgrades for its parking lots near the golf course, driving range, Eagle Terrace, Eagle Panorama, and the White Cedar Nature Center. Park Superintendent Eric Hyde says a lot of time has been spent making sure the projects are done correctly and sustainably.

The improvements at Peninsula State Park also include installing a new solar panel at Eagle Terrace, a new access and ticketing area at Eagle Terrace, and enhancements to the existing White Cedar Trail.

“Park roads have deteriorated to a point where they simply can’t be maintained,” Sen. Jacque said as a part of his announcement of the $7.7 million in funding for improvements in Door County.  “We need to repair these hazards so they do not risk the safety of motor vehicles, bicycles, and pedestrians."

After these projects, Hyde says the focus will turn to the park’s campground roads, some of which had only minor improvements in the last 60 years. 

Cheers to 30 years! Money Management Counselors will commemorate its anniversary by hosting their 13th annual Wine & Beer Trolley Gala on May 14th. Participants can expect a night of fun, food, and fundraising while catching a ride aboard the iconic Door Country Trolley.

Money Management Counselors Director Leslie Boden said big events like this help to raise up to 30% of the funding needed each year for the important community programming. Funds also assist by covering fees for clients that cannot afford money management services.

“These fundraisers allow us the ability to waive those fees and allows us the funding to bring the programs to the community,” said Boden.

Through her financial services, Boden offers one-on-one counseling with clients for a multitude of different scenarios including those who are considering bankruptcy, recovering from divorce, those juggling credit card debt or student loans as well as individuals who are looking to nail down a solid budget.

“We work with a lot of people with life transitions,” she said, “I meet with clients where they’re at so whatever issues are with their finances, I will sit down and work with them.”

Boden said talking about money can often be a taboo topic, but says it shouldn’t be. Through her services to the community she hopes to share that people are not alone when it comes to their finances.

“We all have something that we have to address or deal with when it comes to finances, especially today,” she said, “we’re here to help you make a path through and make sure you are always being proactive versus having to always be reactive.”

In addition to working closely with clients, Boden says she is also looking forward to connecting with the community at the upcoming gala.
 

“Seeing everybody, it’s always kind of like somewhat of a reunion,” she said, “it’s an opportunity for everybody to kind of get together, regroup, get a chance to say hi, and celebrate the season.”This year, the trolley will be picking up guests for visits to The Sandbox, Lake Fire Winery, and the Thirsty Cow Taphouse. Each venue will offer delicious drinks, hors d’oeuvres, and music. The night will wrap up back at The Sandbox for a celebratory toast, sweet treat, axe throwing, and a 50/50 raffle. 

“It’s always been a great turn out for those who sign up,” said Boden, “so if somebody wants to join us, their support goes a long way in helping us be able to help people in our community.”

Photo credit: Money Management Counselors

On Tuesday, May 6th concerned residents patiently waited for a decision by the Sturgeon Bay Common Council regarding the rezoning of 27 acres on the city’s northeast side. The area includes R1, single-family residential, and R2, higher-density housing. The council discussed the possible implications of the new housing development and while many members were in immediate agreement, some residents were not so optimistic.
 

“Let me be clear: we are not opposed to growth or development,” said resident Tom Benzshawel, “but we believe growth must be balanced, responsible, and transparent.”
 

Benzshawel, who lives on North 11th Place, has been a Sturgeon Bay resident since 1982. He previously served on the City Council himself for several years and was the chair of several committees including the original Waterfront Redevelopment Committee. He said he was addressing the council for not only himself, but also on behalf of dozens of neighbors who have signed petitions, attended meetings, and voiced strong concerns about the change.
 

Despite resident concerns, several members of the Sturgeon Bay Common Council said they supported the project but that they were recommending it to go back to the planning committee. They closed by voting to move forward with the proposal. 

The proposed plan would permit up to 93 new housing units which would include duplexes and compact-lot single-family homes in a well-established neighborhood that is known for having spacious lots and a quiet, single-family charm. In addition to the loss of neighborhood character, Benzshawel highlighted potential issues with stormwater drainage, increased traffic, and infrastructure strain.

“Our neighborhood is pretty unique in Sturgeon Bay,” said Benzshawel, “there isn’t many like this and if we do develop this into R2, there isn’t a whole lot of area that we’ll be able to continue with our own type of developments with green space and spacious yards.”

Alongside Benzshawel, local resident Ronald Krause argues that when he purchased his land, there was an existing agreement that each home would be at least 15,000 square feet and said new developments would make a negative impact. 

“This property was sold, it was never listed and some people in the subdivision split the lots between 8th Avenue and North 11th place so the city couldn’t get those properties,” said Krause, “I’m against it, but if they want to develop it, develop it but keep it R1.” 

Other residents like Martin Kelsey said development would cause immense traffic congestion and that he hopes to keep the spacious yard integrity surrounding his 100-year-old home that his family has lived in for nearly 40 years.

“I grew up in that house and I can tell you that I enjoyed my childhood being able to ride my bike to a friend’s house and being able to do it safely,” said Martin, “it’s going to be really tough to be able to enjoy some of that country space with the city benefits in that area and if we lose that, we’re not going to get it back and we don’t want to see that happen.”

Before spring comes to a close, little artists and their loved ones can participate in one final Family Art Day of the season at the Peninsula School of Art in Fish Creek. The program, which is offered free to families, invites guests to explore the beautiful and colorful world of textiles with their hands-on Fantastical Fiber project.

“Family art days are really wonderful,” said the Peninsula School of Art Director of External Affairs Lindsay Draz, “I think it's really inspirational though families and it's a really great way for them to bond and come together to make something unique that they can take home with them.”

Families can drop in anytime between 9 a.m. and noon on Saturday, May 17th to unleash their creativity. Attendees will create custom stamps to decorate fabric and learn more about creating art with the fabric pieces. The project, which was inspired by Artist-in-Residence Lauren Krukowski, will be led by Katherine Baeten. An archive of past projects with downloadable instructions can also be found on the school’s website.
 

“We provide the art materials and inspiration and then the family brings the fun and creativity,” said Draz.
 

Family Art Days runs September through May at the Peninsula School of Art, which will celebrate its 60th anniversary this year. To honor the milestone, the school will host a special art gala on August 28th and will introduce The Searching Eye Exhibition which will be open to the public.
 

The Peninsula School of Art was founded in 1965 by Chicago-area filmmaker and artist Madeline Tourtelot. Works by Tourtelot such as paintings, photography, art films, ceramics, sculptures and jewelry are still on display and celebrate her passion for the art. 
 

The gala event is separate from the public exhibition and more information on both events can be found at www.peninsulaschoolofart.org.

Photo credit: Peninsula School of Art

May is all about health, fun, and wellness for everyone at the Y! Participants of all ages can get outside to take part in the annual Blossom Run in Egg Harbor and seniors are invited to focus on their well-being with engaging exercise classes, health screenings, and a nutritious lunch.
 

The Blossom Run will take place at Dock Park in Egg Harbor on Saturday, May 10th. The race starts at 8:30am for the two and five mile runs and the Youth Fun Run, which is one mile, will begin at 9:30am. 
 

“I’m looking forward to the good weather, connecting with members and non-members, and just having a really great morning all together,” said Door County YMCA Healthy Living Director Sarah Gavin, “it's one of my favorite days of the year.”

In addition to the excitement of the race, there will also be opportunities to win prizes during the event.

“This year we have over 21 door prizes, including two different two night stays from different local hotels which is really exciting,” said Gavin.
 

Those who are pre-registered can pick up their packets at the Sturgeon Bay Center from 4:30pm to 6:30pm on Thursday night. Runners can also get their packet and shirt on Saturday morning between 7am and 8am.
 

Later in the month, seniors are welcomed out to Senior Health & Wellness Day. The event will be held on Wednesday, May 28th at the Sturgeon Bay center and on Thursday, May 29th at the Kane Center in Fish Creek.
 

“Coming up at the end of May, we have our Senior Health and Wellness Day, which is also sponsored by the hospital,” said Door County YMCA Specialty Wellness Director Abby Tesch, “we’re thankful for them and it’s just a day about promoting wellness for our seniors.”
 

Tesch says the event will feature guest speakers from the hospital who will discuss a variety of topics including memory, probiotic foods, joint health and more. Attendees will also be offered free hearing, skin cancer, and memory screenings, participate in an exercise class and eat lunch.

Space is limited, so to sign up, stop in or call the Sturgeon Bay center at (920) 743-4949 or the Kane Center at (920) 868-3660. Listen to the full interview with Sarah Gavin and Abby Tesch here.

Doorway to Learning in Sturgeon Bay will be launching its Social Emotional Intelligence (SEI) programming on June 9th. The program will initially serve ages 2 through 4 and help children to build self-regulation skills, overcome challenging behaviors, and to understand sensory overload. This addition helps to bridge the center’s hope of bringing awareness to children’s mental health in Door County.

“I think we’re taking a bigger step in advocating for their mental health and ultimately becoming a part of helping children to navigate mental health issues,” said Kayla Lehman, the business administrator for Doorway to Learning.

Doorway to Learning will offer these valuable support services and specialized social-emotional guidance to enrolled children on-site. Dana Stephenson, who is the current lead Head Start Teacher at Doorway to Learning, will merge into her new role as the center’s Youth Support Specialist and lead the SEI program. 

“The primary goal is to help kids that have big emotions and challenging behaviors and help them to understand some of the things they are feeling and to find solutions that can happen in classrooms to help them overcome those big feelings,” said Lehman. 

The program was awarded funding by the Mental Health Support Fund through the Door County Community Foundation and additional assistance has been provided by the Community Investment Grant from the United Way of Door County. 

“We’re really excited about this program,” said Lehman, “we think our Social Emotional Intelligence program is going to benefit, not just the children while they are enrolled at Doorway to Learning, it’s going to benefit them for their entire life.”

The program takes on an individualized approach and is tailored to each child and Lehman said it will further inspire communication between families and ultimately provide the necessary tools for a child to have a healthy support system and strong mental health.

For more information in the program, visit the Doorway to Learning Facebook page or call (920) 818-0877. 

Photo credit: Doorway to Learning

Image: (Left to right) Amanda Brooker, Philanthropic Services Officer at Door County Community Foundation, presents a check to Dana Stephenson, the new Family and Youth Support Specialist at Doorway to Learning.

As the world’s population of seniors grows around you, so will the number of people living with a mental disorder. According to the World Health Organization, one in six people will be 60 years or older by 2030. Due to loneliness, social isolation, and other factors that come with aging, approximately 14 percent of these adults live with a mental disorder. Senior Life Solutions Program Manager Jennalee Lundquist says things like retirement, moving, deaths of loved ones, physical limitations, and the loss of independence are all factors that could lead to seniors developing mental health issues. Mental Health America says that 60 percent of older adults 65 and older believe that depression is just part of getting older, but she says it does not have to be that way if you are willing to talk about it.

Lundquist adds that spending time outside, taking pictures of loved ones around the house, and journaling are great ways to improve mental health. Senior Life Solutions offers individual, group, and family therapy for older adults who need a little extra help addressing their mental health struggles. You can learn more about Senior Life Solutions and the mental health concerns of older adults by clicking on this link to listen to our full interview with Lundquist.

Your calendar is not lying: Door County’s tourism season is right around the corner.

To celebrate the annual rite of spring and National Travel and Tourism Week, Destination Door County hosted dozens from the area’s tourism-related businesses and organizations for its annual breakfast. During the breakfast, Destination Door County President and CEO Julie Gilbert shared survey results from 400 qualified respondents from Green Bay, Milwaukee, Wausau, Chicago, and the Twin Cities about what makes the area such an attractive destination for so many. Respondents to the poll called Door County “a great place for outdoor recreation” and “a relaxing vacation destination.” The county was also celebrated for welcoming visitors of all backgrounds and ages. Gilbert says she is happy that visitors are feeling the positive vibes they have been trying to give through their “Feelings” campaign and that area businesses and organizations are showcasing it with every interaction.

The 2024 numbers are still weeks away, but in 2023, all 72 Wisconsin counties saw economic impact growth as the state’s tourism industry saw a $25 billion jump over 2022. As a part of his budget, Governor Tony Evers expressed hope to funnel more money to support the state’s tourism industry, including $34 million for promotional purposes, $5.9 million to invest in the Wisconsin Arts Board, and $10 million in incentives for film and television producers.

You will be able to bid on two pieces of property seized by the Door County District Attorney’s Office as a result of a fraud case decided earlier this year.

On Monday, the Door County Sheriff’s  Department announced that property owned by Dale Forrest Pautsch would be auctioned off through Massart Auctioneers. Pautsch’s seized property includes a business in the town of Gardner, a house, and rental properties in Nasewaupee, two vehicles, a UTV, jewelry, and approximately $160,000. The land parcels will be auctioned starting May 13th, while the other property will be auctioned off beginning June 12th. The proceeds from the liquidation will cover restitution for the victims. In February, Pautsch was found guilty on 15 felony counts, including Theft from a Business Setting and Money Laundering. The decision came after a ten-month investigation by the Door County Sheriff’s Office and the Sturgeon Bay Police Department. The agencies uncovered a large-scale theft and money laundering operation impacting twenty-three victims with a combined loss of $1,138,000. Pautsch is being held in the Door County Jail and awaits a sentencing hearing on May 29th.  

There are hundreds of nonprofits in Door County which make groups like 100+ Women Who Care Door County (100+WWC) even more valuable. During their recent April Giving Circle, they amassed $32,000 that has gone on to help three area organizations. The group, which was formed in 2018, routinely engages in the practice of democratized philanthropy to support giving back.

“We give back to the community and it's a great organization to multiply our impact,” said WWC board member Paula Latta, “we want to find ways to be impactful and this is a compressed, efficient way to do that and to also meet other like-minded members of our communities.” 

In April, the Door County Fire Chiefs Association was awarded $16,000 and also was given the opportunity to apply for a $5,000 matching grant from the Richard M. Schulze Family Foundation. The Door County Land Trust and Miller Art Museum also received secondary awards of $8,000 each. 

“For many nonprofits in Door County, many are very small and so $8,000, which two nonprofits went away with in April, is a significant part of their budget,” said Latta.

The group, which now has 400 members, meets four times a year in January, April, July and October. Members each contribute $100 for the meetings and then nominate nonprofits that they are passionate about. The process then involves vetting and if approved, the nonprofits are entered into a pool and three are randomly drawn. The nominating member and a representative from the nonprofit then have a few moments to speak before the final vote. The primary award winner receives 50% of the money from the quarter followed by two additional nonprofits who split the remaining funds at 25% each. 

“The impact of each member is multiplied by all the other members,” said Latta, “it’s a very structured process and everybody gets one vote.”

Latta said being a member of the group has made her feel that she is making a difference and that she has essentially seen her $100 turn into a much larger donation by uniting with the other members. In total, 100+ Women Who Care Door County has distributed more than $710,000 in support since its inception. 

“We’ve had 74 awards going to 68 different local nonprofits, which you know, it's just a huge impact and something I'm really proud of,” said Latta.

The next scheduled 100+WWC Giving event will be held on July 28, 2025 at the Donald and Carol Kress Pavilion in Egg Harbor. The next three selected nonprofits, which include Door County Historical Society, Peninsula Music Festival, and Door County Knock Publishing Company, will answer questions prior to the member vote.

For more information, visit www.100wwcdoorcounty.org.

Photo credit: 100+ Women Who Care Door County

Your child interested in docking with scouting can head to the Sturgeon Bay waterfront this weekend. Sea Scouts Ship 1261 welcomes new members as it enters its third year as a unit. Two years ago, the Door County Maritime Museum and Bay-Lakes Council collaborated to bring the first Sea Scouts Ship to the area in decades, giving an option to youth who don’t want to drive to Sheboygan or Wausau to participate in the organization. A segment of Scouting America, youth ages 14-20 can learn leadership, seamanship, and STEM skills while working on Ship 1261's 23-foot Pearson Commander boat. Skipper Kay Dragan says adding the ship last year has added an extra dose of enthusiasm to the unit as they take ownership of the vessel.

You can learn more about Sea Scouts Ship 1261 this Saturday from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the Door County Maritime Museum.

Picture courtesy of the Door County Maritime Museum

For those struggling to connect to the internet when visiting, living, or working in Egg Harbor, the village gave you good news last week. The Village of Egg Harbor and AT&T Fiber agreed to a deal that will bring fiber internet access to all 618 homes and businesses within the village limits by April 2027. Joining the Towns of Sevastopol, Egg Harbor, and Sturgeon Bay, the Village of Egg Harbor is investing $2.16 million of the $3.7 million cost of the project, with AT&T and a grant covering the remainder.   In a news release, Egg Harbor Village President John Heller said that the agreement is bigger than an investment in connectivity. “Investing in fiber networks for our community isn’t just about connectivity – it’s an investment in education, healthcare, and economic development,” Heller said. Over the past two years, AT&T has committed to approximately $11.7 million in fiber-powered internet projects, partnering with local municipalities and grant providers to help make them a reality. Door County officials estimate it will cost more than $140 million to bring similar services to every address in the area. They hope to obtain as much federal and state funding as possible to offset the costs. The towns of Washington and Baileys Harbor are undergoing similar projects, albeit with different providers.

Photo credit: Pixabay

An 80-year-old Sturgeon Bay man was cited for inattentive driving on Thursday afternoon after his car rear-ended a truck in the Town of Sevastopol. The accident occurred just before 4:45 p.m. on State Highway 42 near County Highway P. The truck, driven by a 48-year-old Egg Harbor man, was stopped near CTH P waiting to turn when he looked in his rear-view mirror and noticed the car coming at him and not slowing down. The incident report said he braced for impact when the car struck his truck. The Sturgeon Bay man said he did not remember anything before the crash, but remembered the impact and the windshield breaking. He told the responding deputy that he did not have a medical emergency or lose consciousness. Two witnesses noted that the Sturgeon Bay man did not do any maneuvers to go around the truck or try to avoid the crash. Both men suffered suspected minor injuries, but only the one from Sturgeon Bay was transported to Door County Medical Center for additional treatment. The intersection was closed until about 5:15 p.m. to clean the scene and tow the two vehicles away.

On Sunday, May 4th, Wisconsin Senator Ron Johnson met with Republican supporters at the Lodge at Leathem Smith in Sturgeon Bay. He addressed several key issues but focused heavily on the budget and government spending issues.

"First of all, it's always enjoyable to come up and talk to Wisconsinites and folks up here in Door County, its a beautiful county," said Johnson, "but my primary focus is spending - the size of the federal government and how it's completely out of control in an unprecedented fashion and that has to be our focus."

Throughout the evening, he discussed the importance of going through each line of the budget to find where spending has been wasteful. 

Johnson said that in 2019 and part of the pandemic, the federal government spent $4.4 trillion, and this year, it is projected to spend more than $7 trillion. 

"That's a 60% increase as our population grows at less than 3%," he said. It's completely unprecedented, completely unjustified, and Elon Musk and his DOGE group are showing example after example of grotesque levels of waste, fraud, and abuse in the federal government."

Johnson also answered attendees' pressing questions and said that while President Donald Trump has been signaling he wants one big bill, he prefers a multi-step process that includes providing border and defense funding and eliminating an automatic tax increase for 2026.

"Then we can start to argue, debate, and discuss the one big beautiful bill which is going to be really complex with a lot of moving parts and have a lot of constituencies in that," he said, "it's going to be very difficult to achieve."

Republican Party of Door County chair Stephanie Soucek said having Johnson come and speak gave clear insight into what lies ahead. 

"It was great to have all the Republicans together to talk about the issues and challenges that we're facing and the ways we need to unite and fight for the things we believe in," she said, "we heard some hard truths, but these things are important to talk about, so it was great to have Senator Johnson there."

In addition to Senator Johnson, attendees also heard from Joel Kitchens, Brian Schimming, and André Jacque.

On Sunday afternoon, you may have seen hundreds of people lining Memorial Drive and Utah Street holding signs ahead of a Republican event in Sturgeon Bay.

This was an organized rally by the Democratic Party of Door County and Indivisible Door County ahead of the Republican Party of Door County's Lincoln Day Dinner that featured U.S. Senator Ron Johnson, Rep. Tony Wied, and other state and local leaders at the Lodge at Leathem Smith in Sturgeon Bay.

The group was made up of people with varying opinions, but the unifying message from most in attendance was that Johnson needs to “defend the constitution.”

The Democratic Party of Kewaunee County held a peaceful protest yesterday in downtown Kewaunee.  

For Destination Door County’s Julie Gilbert and Jon Jarosh, the impact of tourism extends far beyond the visitors strolling sidewalks, checking into hotels, and exploring local parks. According to Destination Door County, Door County’s visitor economy generates around $500 million in direct spending each year. The dollars spent in the area do more than support the 3,400 hospitality and tourism-related jobs in Door County—they also sustain thousands of small businesses. Thirty percent of the Door County room tax goes back to area municipalities, amounting to $3.6 million in 2024. A portion of the room tax has also gone to fund Destination Door County’s Community Investment Fund, which has supported 44 projects over the last two years for $2.2 million. Gilbert says it has been a crucial focus of Destination Door County to keep the area’s economic and environmental sustainability in mind while helping visitors make memories while they are here.

May 4th-10th is National Travel and Tourism Week, during which the industry celebrates its economic impact. According to the World Travel and Tourism Council, the U.S. tourism industry was worth $2.36 trillion in 2023, supporting more than 18 million jobs. Destination Door County will celebrate National Travel and Tourism Week with its annual breakfast on May 6th. You can listen to our full interview here.

Do not be surprised if you get stuck behind a home driving through Luxemburg next month. The former rectory of St. Mary’s Catholic Parish in Luxemburg will begin its journey to its new place in the community beginning next week. Pastor Dan Schuster says the move will happen in phases, starting with the home being lifted off of its foundation and inching its way toward Main Street. Built in 1907, Schuster is glad that the home is not disappearing, but rather just relocated. It also marks the beginning of a new era for the church and its school, which continues to grow. He believes the additional space at the school, a dedicated office space for the parish, and a smaller, more efficient home for priests will be welcomed.

With the new and updated spaces, Schuster hopes St. Mary’s Parish continues to be a spiritual hub for the community for years to come. If you still have plenty of time to plan your commute through Luxemburg if you are looking to avoid being stuck behind a moving house. Schuster says the former rectory will likely not hit the road until June.   

At Crossroads, we observe birds almost daily, but the first few weeks of spring migration are different, special, and important. Each spring, we watch migrating birds not only for the joy it brings but also to contribute to the growing scientific understanding of migration patterns, critical stopover habitats, and the effects of climate change.

It is well known that birds tend to avoid large bodies of water during migration. When fatigued or caught in storms, they require safe places to land; over open water, such places are absent. As a result, birds often follow shorelines. Shorelines aid orientation, and favorable wind patterns at the edge of the lake make flight more efficient.  Over land, thermal updrafts assist soaring birds in gaining altitude.

Shoreline habitats — including mudflats, wetlands, swamps, and marshes — offer vital food sources and provide safe resting areas. The Door Peninsula, its islands, and the Garden Peninsula form a natural funnel, guiding birds north beyond the Great Lakes.

Even more importantly, coastal wetlands and forests serve as essential stopover sites. While these areas may seem like resting spots, their real value lies in their rich food resources—clouds of flying insects, tiny aquatic plants and animals, and fish, which enable birds to “refuel” for the demanding journey to their breeding grounds.

Thanks to direct observation and technologies like radar and the MOTUS Wildlife Tracking System, many bird species pass through the Door Peninsula. For example, the MOTUS tower at Crossroads just last week detected a migrating Saw-whet Owl. However, a key question remains: do these birds pass over, or do they stop? 

At Crossroads, we are particularly interested  in whether The Cove Estuary functions as a high-quality stopover site. Researchers believe that most migrating birds hug the shoreline, but when they enter the Bay of Sturgeon Bay, do they make use of the Cove Estuary to rest and refuel?

Because the MOTUS tower detects only tagged birds, we rely on birders — citizen scientists — to help fill in the gaps. By submitting checklists to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology’s eBird platform, birdwatchers contribute to a real-time global database that tracks bird movements and provides valuable insights into changing habitat and climate patterns.

The biggest day of the year for eBird is the Global Big Day, which takes place this year on May 10. Crossroads is proud to participate. Last year, our volunteers were among the 58,000 citizen scientists worldwide who submitted bird observations on the same day.

This year, Crossroads at Big Creek will host a guided bird hike to kick off Global Big Day, from 6:30 to 9:30 AM at The Cove Estuary Preserve. We hope participants will submit their bird observations from The Cove and then continue exploring other places such as our  Big Creek and Ida Bay Preserves, as well as other favorite Door County birding sites. Loaner binoculars will be available. We encourage birders to download the eBird and Merlin apps to their smartphones beforehand. And to remember, observations made before and after Global Big Day are just as important and help enrich the data.

While we advance bird conservation science, we’ll also celebrate the growing season's return. The Door County Master Gardener Association will sponsor several programs to prepare gardens. Our first wildflower hike of the year will focus on Marsh Marigolds along Big Creek. And families are invited to join our after-school Environmental Exploration program, during which we’ll explore water currents with rubber duck races between our bridges.

Spring migration, ephemeral wildflowers, the ever-changing Big Creek — we invite you to experience the season with us at Crossroads.

Saturday, May 10
6:30 AM – Global Big Day Bird Hike

Be a part of this international bird census with a morning hike at the Cove Estuary Preserve to celebrate World Migratory Bird Day. Learn more at eBird.org.  No experience needed. Loaner binoculars are available. Open to all ages. No registration required. Free and open to the public. Meet at The Cove Estuary Preserve Parking Lot, 817 South 20th Place, Sturgeon Bay.

Monday, May 12
1:30 PM – DCMGA Growing Together Education Series: Soil Testing – When, Why & How
Get expert tips on soil testing before starting your garden or landscape design. Refreshments and time to socialize will follow this pre-recorded webinar. Presented by the Door County Master Gardeners Association. Free and open to the public. Meet at the Collins Learning Center, Crossroads, 2041 Michigan Street, Sturgeon Bay.

3:00 PM – Marsh Marigold Guided Hike
Join a naturalist to search for Marsh Marigolds and other spring ephemerals along Big Creek. Registration is not required. Free and open to the public. Meet at the Collins Learning Center.

Tuesday, May 13
3:30 PM – Environmental Exploration: Rubber Ducky Races
Learn about water currents through hands-on fun. Geared toward elementary students, but open to all ages. Meet at the  Collins Learning Center, Crossroads, 2041 Michigan Sturgeon Bay.

6:30 PM – Master Gardener  Lecture: Building Gardens, Not Collections
Nick Ternes, owner of Botanophilia LLC, will share design principles to help transform plant collections into cohesive gardens. Sponsored by the Door County Master Gardeners Association. Meet at the Collins Learning Center,  Crossroads, 2041 Michigan Street, Sturgeon Bay .

Wednesday, May 14
Wandering Wednesday – Naturalist-Led Hike
Enjoy an easy, hour-long hike led by a Crossroads naturalist. Free and open to the public. Meet at the Collins Learning Center. No registration required. Meet at the Collins Learning Center, Crossroads, 2041 Michigan Sturgeon Bay

Brussels-Union-Gardner Fire Chief Curt Vandertie says the simple decision to keep a door closed may have saved a detached garage from being destroyed Friday night.

Firefighters were called out to a home on N. Stevenson Pier Road just before 10 p.m. after the homeowners noticed that their garage was on fire when they saw a flickering light in one of the building's windows. The home When firefighters arrived, they noticed dark, black smoke billowing out of both ends of the building and some flames near the roofline. The homeowners opened the door to the garage and noticed that the garage was filled with smoke. They closed the door and tried controling the fire from the outside with their garden hose until firefighters. Vandertie says the decision made by the homeowners to close the door was the difference between losing the entire building and its contents to a fire and having the building and its items suffer smoke damage.

With the help of Southern Door Fire Department, Nasewaupee Fire Rescue, Sturgeon Bay Fire Department, Luxemburg Community Fire Department, and about 100 gallons of water, the fire was quickly put out and crews were able to clear the scene in about 90 minutes. Vandertie says nine units and 17 firefighters participated in the effort, which included using Carmody Park as a water supply. The cause of the fire is still unknown and remains under investigation.

Farmers in northeast Wisconsin are hoping Mother Nature can lend them a hand with getting their fields ready. Another rainy week hampered farmers trying to get into more of their fields. The most recent Wisconsin Crop Progress and Condition Report from the United States Department of Agriculture showed that farmers statewide only had 3.3 days suitable for fieldwork for the week ending on April 27th. That led to spring tillage falling five days behind last year’s pace at 26 percent complete and oat planting falling four days behind last year’s pace at 26 percent. Salentine Homestead Dairy owner Josh Salentine says the moisture is there, but a little heat would be nice.

Those percentages are being carried by the southern portion of the state, which has been drier and warmer than its northern neighbors. In northeast Wisconsin, only six percent of the oats are planted and four percent of fields have been tilled. 

May is Mental Health Awareness Month and The Boys and Girls Club of Door County is doing their part to advocate for kid’s personal wellness by offering a Self-Care Club. The club helps youth to learn healthy ways to cope with stress while exploring new hobbies along the way. 

The Boys and Girls Club Director of Clubhouse Operations Chelsea Adams says the program is an inviting opportunity for children to learn about stress, emotions, and to express themselves through creativity. 

“The club is really directed for youth to learn different coping mechanisms and to discover new tools and interests,” said Adams, “understanding that some of the things they love to do can be a great channel to destress can help manage some of those big emotions that kids are feeling every day.”
 

A variety of self-care offerings are available on Wednesdays and Adams says each is geared towards different age groups ranging from age 7 to high school. The current self-care group is geared towards kids in the 3rd through 5th grade level.
 

“At Club, we provide a lot of information and opportunities for kids to really focus on self-regulation and to also really think about how they’re taking care of themselves,” said Adams.
 

Kids can participate in yoga and meditation plus projects like crafts, painting, listening to different styles of music, journaling, and cooking activities.
 

“I came in and talked about, you know, even adults get stressed and one of the things that I do is bake so we did a no-bake energy ball recipe,” said Adams, “it's something that they can make right in their home with their families.”
 

Along with finding an outlet that they enjoy, there’s also trusted mentors available for kids to voice their worries to in a judgement-free environment.
 

“We have an on-site Mental Health Therapist and our Director of Emotional Wellness right here in our building and they often run a lot of programming that focus on youth mental health services,” said Adams, “there’s a lot of different kinds of avenues to really destress.” 

The Boys and Girls Club further approaches mental health through encouragement with community involvement, which includes the Chalk Walk program. Adams said the offering originated during the pandemic when families were experiencing isolation in their home and has carried over each year.
 

“This year is our fifth year running our Chalk Walk program which brings awareness to youth mental health throughout our community,” said Adams, “we invite the community to come out and share positive messages and draw positive and inspiring pictures.”
 

The program will run through next week and the Club will be out around 3pm and 4pm each day decorating the sidewalks between 3rd Avenue and Nebraska in Sturgeon Bay. The Self-Care Club is available to members of the Boys and Girls Club and anyone interested should visit www.bgcblr.org/door-county.

Photo credit: The Boys and Girls Club of Door County

If you are driving along the quiet side of Door County on Monday, make sure you plan for a detour. The first of two bridge closures this year along State Highway 57 begins Monday at Logan Creek. The existing culvert pipes at Logan Creek will be replaced with a new at-grade span bridge.  Similar work will be done at Hibbard Creek later this year. Paul Brauer from the Wisconsin Department of Transportation says replacing the culverts with the at-grade span bridges is not just for the motorist driving up top, but for the wildlife that may travel below it.

State Highway 57 will be closed at Logan Creek so the replacement can occur, though local, business, and emergency access during the construction will still be maintained. Motorists must rely on County T and County V as detour routes until the project ends in July. 

Your mental health is becoming a growing concern at the Door County Public Health Department.

According to the Centers for Disease Control, an estimated one-in-five Americans live with a mental health illness, with anxiety and depression the most common conditions they face. That includes one in seven American children with a diagnosed mental health condition.

According to the Door County Community Health Improvement Plan, mental health was the top concern among residents. Complicating the issue is insufficient resources to give people the health they need. There is one mental health provider for every 780 residents, far worse than the state and national average.

Door County Public Health’s Shauna Blackledge says they have been active, working with other organizations to do what they can to address mental health in the community. Hosting screenings of the Screenagers docuseries, empowering organizations like JAK’s Place and the United Way of Door County with its programming, and partnering with Door County Medical Center on the CredibleMind online platform are just some strategies the department has helped develop. Blackledge says the focus is on prevention as much as possible, as they try to improve the mental health landscape before a crisis arises.

The United Way of Door County and the area’s school districts are hosting motivational speaker Percy Brown, Jr., to discuss screen time awareness, an issue Blackledge always hears from parents. Brown will address how excessive screen time is a growing public health concern because of its adverse physical and mental health impacts. The presentation will occur from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at Crossroads at Big Creek in Sturgeon Bay. You can hear more about the presentation and other mental health initiatives by listening to our full interview with Blackledge at this link.

With millions of dollars up in the air, Door County officials are tracking what happens in Washington, D.C., and Madison to know what they can count on later this fall. The Door County Board convened earlier this week for a special meeting to discuss the 2026 budget, forming strategies about shared services, capital improvement projects, and more before entering into closed session to discuss its upcoming negotiations with the Door County Deputy Sheriff’s Association. Federal funding was being relied on for projects related to public safety and broadband internet. However, cuts in other areas in recent months have caused Door County Administrator Ken Pabich and others to wonder what is still on the horizon. Coupled with disagreements over the state budget between Governor Tony Evers and the Wisconsin Legislature, Pabich believes there is more uncertainty entering this year’s budget cycle since there is only so much they can do with tax levy limits.

Door County could get more clarity on its November budget passage in the coming weeks. According to The Hill, House Speaker Mike Johnson is working with leaders on a bill to fund portions of President Donald Trump’s agenda, which could include making his 2017 tax cuts permanent, boosting funding for immigration enforcement, and eliminating or reducing other government programs. State legislators recently wrapped up their budget hearings with plans to release their version of the budget in the coming weeks. 

The Southern Door High School Student Council is partnering with the American Red Cross to sponsor a blood drive on Wednesday, May 7th in the high school gym. Donors can stop by between 9am-2pm. The event, which is run each year, is held to bring awareness of the importance of blood donation.

“This is one of the many things that we do to bring attention to the ongoing need that there’s always a shortage on shelves of blood donation,” said Student Council Advisor Troy Pertzborn. 

According to the American Red Cross, who provides 40% of our nation’s blood component supply, someone in the United States needs blood every two seconds due to an accident, natural disaster, or requires a transfusion as a result of an illness.

“When unexpected events occur that’s who a lot of times this blood goes to,” said Pertzborn, “but really, it can be anybody in the community who needs it, whether it comes directly from this direct blood drive or not.” 

Members of the Student Council will be helping to run the drive throughout the day and encourage others in the community to stop in to support the cause. An ideal donor is someone who is in good health, weighs a minimum of 110 pounds, and is at least 17 years of age. Individuals who are 16 may also donate with a parent permission form, which is available on the Red Cross website. 

“Many of those who are not involved in the Student Council choose to donate and it just promotes a good cause and is making a sacrifice for that 45 minutes or so to help those in need,” said Pertzborn. 

The Student Council’s goal this year is to collect 42 pints of blood by each donor providing one. A donor can also opt to contribute two pints which is called a Power Red donation. 

“There’s a special machine for that and although they’re taking more blood out of the person, the machine also puts back in more fluids than it normally would,” said Pertzborn. 

In addition to supporting an important endeavor, Pertzborn says students volunteering with the Student Council have the opportunity to change their own futures through The Red Cross Leaders Save Lives Scholarship. The scholarship is primarily geared for high school seniors and is sent directly to the college they have chosen to attend. 

“The Red Cross does award a scholarship amount depending on how many pints that we donate,” said Pertzborn, “we can get up to 2,000 that will be donated to the Student Council that we then divvy up if there’s a certain amount of students that we know gave a lot of time and energy to the Student Council throughout the whole year.”

Prospective donors can sign up online at www.redcross.org to schedule an appointment to donate at the drive. Select the “Give Blood” tab and enter Brussels zip code (54204). Walk-ins are welcome as well and those interested in donating can stop by Southern Door High School located at 2073 County Road DK in Brussels and enter at door #11.

42 & CTY P are currently closed due to a two vehicle accident that happened around 4:45 PM. Drivers are advised to avoid the area. More details coming soon.

For junior Ben Martin and fifth-graders Easton Ruegger and Cora Kohls, they do not have to look far for motivation as the Sevastopol Destination Imagination teams prepare for their return to the Global Finals Tournament in Kansas City. 

Destination Imagination allows students to complete challenges based on STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics). The three teams that qualified for the Global Finals tournament have taken over classrooms at St. Peter and Paul Parish in Institute to work on their elaborate props and run through their presentations, which will eventually all be transported to Missouri for the competition. In the hallway outside the classroom doors is a banner recognizing the school’s past success at the competition, including a Global championship in 2023. Martin, Ruegger, and Kohls feel the pressure of extending the school’s DI dynasty, but it does not exceed the pleasure of working with their friends on their performances.

The DI Global Finals Tournament begins on May 23rd at 8 a.m. and concludes on May 25th at noon. A closing celebration at Kansas City’s Municipal Arena occurs at 4 p.m. on May 25th. There is much work to do before the three teams make the journey southwest, including fundraising for the trip. Sevastopol Destination Imagination will host a special showcase event on May 4th beginning at 11 a.m., featuring a pancake breakfast, a silent auction, raffles, and a bake sale before the kids perform at 1 p.m.

Over two days in Algoma, more than 900 students from five area school districts learned what you might already know: there are a lot of job opportunities in agriculture right in your backyard. The Kewaunee County Economic Development Corporation hosted its semi-annual Ag Career Days at Ebert Enterprises on Tuesday and Wednesday, giving middle school students from Algoma, Kewaunee, Luxemburg-Casco, Denmark, and Southern Door an opportunity to hear from more than 30 different agriculture-related businesses about what is possible with their future. Luxemburg-Casco Superintendent Jo-Ellen Fairbanks says the experience is valuable to students because it introduces them to other careers they may have never considered before and could turn into a youth apprenticeship.

Nick Guilette, Chris Granius, Max Allen, and Levi Zeitler represented the entire journey of farm to fork within the Ebert Enterprises family of businesses during their presentations, from the crops they plant, the cows they raise and harvest, to the meat and sausage they produce. They said events like Ag Career Days show that a career in agriculture comes in many forms.

According to UW Extension, Kewaunee County’s agriculture industry generates approximately $669 million in economic activity annually, about a third of which comes directly from its area dairy farms. Ag Careers Days is hosted by the KCEDC every other year, alternating with the county’s manufacturing industry. 

 

 

 

 

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Your chance to ride one of the four Tall Ships visiting Sturgeon Bay this summer has pulled into port. Destination Sturgeon Bay and the Door County Maritime Museum launched ticket sales to ride on the When and If, the Liberty Clipper, the Pride of Baltimore II, and the Utopia on Wednesday ahead of their July 31st arrival and their three-day residency on the waters of Sturgeon Bay in August. Interested riders can cruise one of the vessels as part of the Parade of the Sail or one of the nearly four dozen other sailing opportunities. Destination Sturgeon Bay’s Alexa Soto says people are excited for the Tall Ships' first trip to the city since 2019.

Tickets are limited, with Soto adding that some trips are already nearly sold out. If you do not want to experience the Tall Ships on the water, the Pride of Baltimore II and the Utopia host free deck tours on August 1st, 2nd, and 3rd from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. You can click on this link for more information and to buy tickets.

 The Yoga Womb received non-profit status in February 2025 and hopes to continue to empower the Door County Community through wellness. 

“We really want to be a safe place for people to explore transformation and growth,” said Yoga Womb’s Executive Director Brooke Ulrich, “we’ve got a lot of ways for people to kind of dip their toe, especially if they’ve never done yoga before.”

In addition to traditional yoga offerings at their studio, The Yoga Womb organizes a variety of free community yoga events and visits local schools for on-site youth classes. Recently, they also announced a complimentary four-week series of trauma-informed yoga classes for domestic violence survivors. 

“It is totally anonymous and people can come and take that class and really dive into those kinds of inner workings to do healing work,” said Ulrich, “there are some philosophies that say we store trauma in our bodies so yoga and meditation can be really powerful ways to advance your healing and transform your mental pathways.”

Ulrich said the profound changes that yoga can inspire is personal to each individual but that she hopes to see more people benefit from it. To do so, she plans to offer sliding scale classes to make it accessible for more people and an upcoming fundraiser will be at the forefront for helping to support that goal. 

On June 21st, The Yoga Womb will be hosting their first-ever fundraising event, the Sun Salutation Vibration Fundraiser, from 5am-7:30am at Sunset Park in Sturgeon Bay. The event will celebrate the Summer Solstice and International Yoga Day as it raises funds to support the studio’s programs and membership scholarships.

“The funds raised during the event will help our general operations as well as support some of the programs that we have in place already and are planning to put out there, including scholarships for memberships to the studio,” she said. 

The cost to attend the Sun Salutation Vibration Fundraiser is $54 but in lieu of the fee, attendees can obtain pledges for the number of sun salutations they play to do. A pledge form can be found on the studio website. During the event, participants will engage in a sequence of poses that focus on breath and meditation that honors the sun. A total of 108 salutations will be performed, with the number having a sacred meaning in many cultures. 

“The idea is that you kind of get into a meditation in motion and everybody is kind of breathing and moving at the same time,” said Ulrich, “it creates this energy in the whole group.”

Following the group session, a delicious breakfast cooked up by the Skandamania Food Truck will be available for purchase. 

“People’s muscles will be tired but their bellies will be full,” promises Ulrich.

Alongside the event itself, Ulrich is striving to encourage others to step outside of their comfort zone to try something new. She believes yoga can influence a change in the relationship one has with themself and that everyone, regardless of age, can benefit from taking a class. 

“Our community is our whole little world; people around us, we are healing together and growing together,” said Ulrich, “when we have a healthy community around us, when we’re connected, we live longer, healthier, more meaningful lives.”

To more information on classes or to register for the Sun Salutation Vibration Fundraiser, visit www.theyogawomb.com.

Photo Credit: The Yoga Womb