Plum Loco Animal Farm is preparing to celebrate its 20th anniversary season this year, marking two decades as a family-friendly destination in Door County.

The farm, located in West Jacksonport, first opened in 2006 and has since welcomed both local residents and visitors each season. Co-owner and proprietor Linda Steiner said the milestone reflects years of community support.

“We’ve been incredibly fortunate to be part of the Door County community for the past 20 years,” Steiner said. “Seeing families return year after year, and now bringing their own children, has been one of the most rewarding parts of what we do.”

To mark the anniversary, the farm plans to introduce several special features and events throughout the summer season. On the 20th of June, July and August, the business will donate 20% of its ticket sales to Feed and Clothe My People of Door County, a local nonprofit organization.

Additional updates for the 2026 season include new attractions within the farm’s play village, along with a season-long scavenger hunt and prizes for visitors.

The farm is scheduled to reopen for the season May 23, weather permitting. Hours and additional information are available on the farm’s website.

The month of May is a special month for many reasons. For nature, it is a time of rebirth and growth in what has been dead and dormant over the past wintry months.

For us, it is a time of renewed energy as the air warms and the trees, flowers and grass all begin to bloom around us. The month of May becomes the reward for all that we have endured over the past six months. Although we may begrudge our winters, we must always remind ourselves that without them, we would lack the appreciation for what we are experiencing now. In the end, you can’t fully appreciate glory and beauty without having endured pain and struggle.

Coincidentally, May is also designated as Mental Health Awareness Month, which is fitting, as the strains of inconsistent weather patterns, along with the remnants of the winter blues, can have a negative impact on just about anyone’s mental state.

This leads me to my topic today, which is a philosophy I have been drawn to for the better part of my adult life without even knowing it. The philosophy is Stoicism and the strength that can be drawn by implementing its theories. Stoicism is an ancient philosophy that focuses on cardinal virtues as a way to overcome negative and even damaging emotions. One of the teachings of Stoicism is that the suffering we endure is not necessarily due to the event that caused the suffering, but rather to our judgments and reactions to it. We can observe two different people enduring similar suffering, in which one succumbs to it and the other thrives in it. The event is the same, but the mindset is quite different.

Another of the Stoic teachings is how we approach our suffering. Stoicism teaches that our struggles make us stronger, so long as our focus remains on what lies within our control. So much of our pain and struggles today are due to our focus, and even, in some cases, fixation on the things in our community, state, country and world that we have zero control over. Our energies and efforts would be better spent refocusing our attention on those things and people that we can influence in a positive way, rather than attempting to control.

An aspect of Stoicism that I see play out every day here in our community is the connection between Stoic duties and virtue. The Stoic believes that it is their duty to make the world a better place through the sharing of their gifts and talents for the common good. We can find examples of this when a business uses its resources to support a fundraiser for a family going through a medical struggle, or when sponsorships are provided for area youth athletic teams. Something as fun-filled as Hooray for Hollywood takes on a Stoic aspect as it takes the proceeds of its event and, in turn, supports area organizations that make our community a better place to live.

As parents, we have an opportunity to give our children an example of Stoicism in our lives by modeling a life of virtue. We can arm them with the mindset to counter the toxic and negative environments they will no doubt be subjected to at some points in their lives by incorporating Stoicism as a skill set that they can apply both inwardly and outwardly.

In all circumstances, choose calm over chaos, joy over anxiety and peace over rage. Choose those paths not because they are easy, but because they are hard. There are many things that stand in the way of a life of virtue. Those impediments should be looked upon as a gift. When you face a struggle, find that quiet inner strength. As Marcus Aurelius stated, “Impediment to action advances action. What stands in the way becomes the way.”

Door County residents have a new tool to help navigate local transportation options, as community partners roll out a resource aimed at improving access to essential services and supporting healthy aging.

Do Good Door County, in collaboration with the Aging Coalition, introduced a transportation guide that allows residents to compare services available throughout the county. The guide highlights options for getting to medical appointments, grocery stores, workplaces and social activities, all key components of maintaining independence and overall well-being.

The resource was developed with contributions from Door County Public Health, Door County Connect and Door-Tran.

“Shauna Blackledge from Public Health created an incredible resource guide,” said Nikki Voight, executive director of Door-Tran. “The QR code goes right to the resource page, which is a quick and easy way to find out about Door-Tran, local transportation services, and how to get from here to there.”

Voight says the guide is designed to be shared widely, helping residents and their families better understand transportation choices across the peninsula.

The guide's release also comes ahead of a community fundraiser Saturday from 6 to 10 p.m. The event is being held at the Door County GALA in Sturgeon Bay, bringing residents together for an evening of entertainment in support of local services.

Voight is also encouraging attendees to use local transportation resources to travel safely.

For more information, please visit the Door-Tran, Do Good Door County or the Aging Coalition websites.

Community members and race fans alike are invited to gather Saturday, May 2, for a Kentucky Derby-themed benefit at Fernwood Gardens in Jacksonport to support Lucia Ramirez as she undergoes treatment for leukemia.

The event will run from 3 to 7 p.m. and will feature Derby-inspired activities, food and beverages, raffle buckets and a silent auction, all aimed at raising funds for Ramirez and her family during her cancer battle.

Admission is $20 at the door, with children 12 and under admitted free. Organizers said admission includes complimentary food and non-alcoholic beverages for attendees.

The benefit is being held to help offset medical costs and related expenses as Ramirez continues chemotherapy treatment. Community members say the event is also intended to show support and solidarity for the family during a difficult time.

For those unable to attend, donations can still be made to the Lucia Ramirez Benefit Fund at local Nicolet Bank branches or through Ramirez’s GoFundMe page.

Hours after state Sen. Andre Jacque announced he would not seek reelection to represent Wisconsin’s 1st Senate District, a new candidate is stepping forward.

Outagamie County Veterans Service Officer and small-business owner Kell Bales entered the race Thursday afternoon, announcing his candidacy for the seat being vacated by Jacque.

In his initial announcement, Bales praised Jacque for his 15 years of service in Madison, specifically citing his work on veterans issues. Bales also previously served on the Kimberly School District Board and the Board of Control for CESA (Cooperative Educational Service Agency).

Bales said he had been considering a run for state office for some time, but phone calls from Jacque and others inspired him to enter the race. He says his campaign will be rooted in faith and will be built on family to strengthen the community.

Bales will run as a Republican, setting up a potential primary with DC Farm for Vets founder Jacob VandenPlas, barring additional candidates entering the race. Former Brown County Republican Party Chair Mark Becker is running as an independent.

Picture courtesy of Kell Bales

A new program focused on strengthening mental and emotional well-being is coming to northern Door County this spring, offering residents additional tools to manage stress and build resilience.

WeCOPE, short for “Connecting with Our Positive Emotions,” will be held at the NWTC Learning and Innovation Center in Sister Bay as a seven week course designed to support adults in navigating life’s challenges using research-based strategies.

“The WeCOPE program is a great opportunity to provide mental health options in northern Door County,” said Paul Salm, Human Development & Relationships Door County, University of Wisconsin–Madison Division of Extension.

The program aims to address issues commonly faced in rural communities, including social isolation and limited access to mental health resources. Salm says those challenges can contribute to increased stress, anxiety and other concerns.

Classes will take place Mondays at 1 p.m. from May 4 through June 15, with sessions also recorded for those unable to attend in person.

According to Salm, the course offers a wide range of practical tools. “The curriculum has 11 different coping mechanisms involved to maintain a positive emotional affect in your life,” he said.

Each session will focus on developing skills such as emotional awareness, mindfulness, gratitude, self-compassion and identifying personal strengths and goals. The program also emphasizes connection as a key component of well-being.

“WeCOPE focuses on understanding our emotions and creating a social connection that helps us get through trying times,” Salm said.

Research behind the program shows participants often experience reduced stress and depression while reporting improved overall health habits and increased positive emotions.

The program is open to the public. Those interested in participating can register by contacting Holly Herzog with UW-Madison Extension in Door County at 920-746-2260 or by email at holly.herzog@wisc.edu

For more information about WeCope, please visit the University of Wisconsin-Madison Extension Health and Well Being Institute website.

Years after introducing its water bottle filling station initiative aimed at diverting thousands of pounds of plastic from area landfills, Destination Door County is targeting another popular drink for its next sustainability pilot program.

The tourism organization showcased its regenerative coffee cup campaign at last week’s Every Day Is Earth Day event in Egg Harbor. The NoTree paper cups can handle hot beverages but are made from bamboo paper and lined with a corn-based product that makes the cups 100% compostable.

Destination Door County Director of Community Partnerships Sue Schwartz says the success of the water bottle filling station initiative inspired the organization to take its sustainability efforts to the next level and bring them to partners in the community.

Schwartz says the pilot program will begin at Kick Ash Coffee in Ellison Bay before being evaluated for future expansion. Destination Door County launched its sustainability efforts in 2019 with a partnership with the Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics and expanded them through its Community Investment Fund and other initiatives.

While you may be dreaming of summer,  area’s orchard owners are focused on what spring could mean for their trees.

Much of northeast Wisconsin was under a frost advisory Friday morning and will be under a freeze warning Saturday morning. Temperatures below 30 degrees are expected in some parts of the area.

For gardeners, this means covering some plants that are already in the ground and moving others inside if they are still in pots. While that is feasible for people with small gardens, it is not easy to do the same for the area’s fruit trees, which will be blossoming in the coming weeks.

Soren’s Valhalla Orchards owner Terry Sorenson has been watching the temperatures for the past three weeks, ever since the buds on his cherry trees started to swell. If weather conditions do not cooperate, Sorenson believes his crop of tart cherries could be limited, as others could be, because of the tough winter.

The forecast is a little brighter for apple growers, which usually see blossoms shortly after cherry trees show their color. Hillside Apples owner Bill Roethle says while his apple trees are starting to show some of fall’s promise, the cool start to spring has helped keep their blossoms under wraps for now.

Warmer temperatures in the coming days should allow orchard owners and gardeners alike to breathe a sigh of relief, though temperatures could return to the 30s late next week.