sales managers Jess Farley, Steve Grutzmacher, Megan Schneider
videographer/photographer Rachel Lukas
courier The Paper Boy, LLC
distribution experts Jeff Andersen, Chris Eckland, Todd Jahnke, David Nielsen, Gavin Jahnke, Guy Fortin, office manager Ben Pothast
inside sales/assistant office manager Kait Shanks
chief technology officer Nate Bell
contributors Sally Collins, Door County Community Foundation, Tom Groenfeldt, Myles Mellor, Midwest Independent Booksellers Association, Kevin Naze, Mike Orlock.
Three candidates are vying for two seats up for re-election on the Southern Door county School District Board: adam Schopf, Seth Wilson and incumbent Janel Veeser.
Janel Veeser (incumbent), 43, lives in the Town of Union and works as a higher education teacher at Northeast Wisconsin Technical College. She has a Master’s Degree in Management & Organizational Behavior from Silver Lake College. She is married to Justin and has two, high-school aged children. She volunteers for a variety of school and community extracurricular events. First elected in 2021, she is running for her second, three-year term on the board.
Why are you running? I’ll admit – I really contemplated whether to run again. Southern Door has faced many challenges over the last three years, and the board has shouldered a lot of negativity. It would be easier to walk away, but I have been truly vested as a board member. I feel an obligation to continue the work on the board to bring the district to a better place.
What specific skills do you bring to the board? Positivity! I am positive that we are a strong district with great things happening. I am also very aware of current district issues, which awareness is needed to move forward. I have been active in professional board development including board governance, continuous improvement, student mental health, school law and school finance. I have built a network of professionals and board members within the state. I am an experienced educator.
Residents were never informed about the reasons for the district parting ways with the former superintendent. In addition, the district made construction-project cuts that came as a surprise to some voters who supported the $14.9-million school facility improvement referendum of 2022. What do you think the board and district should do to improve transparency and communication? The board has had to make some tough and unpopular decisions regarding budget and personnel. As a board, we need to implement listening sessions to provide an opportunity for stakeholders to offer feedback in a respective manner. As a district, we need to revive our district newsletter to provide regular updates.
Adam Schopf, 41, lives in the Town of Gardner and works in production planning and procurement at Therma-Tron-X in Sturgeon Bay. He’s a high-school graduate, and has done short-course programs at both Northeast Wisconsin Technical College and the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He is married to Dana and has three school-aged children. He is a retired firefighter and Emergency Medical Responder. He volunteers whenever possible at his kids’ athletic events, practice, or games – or wherever there is a need. This is his first time running for a public office.
Why are you running? I am a Door County native with kids ranging from four to 10 years old who attend Southern Door. The community needs a voice on the board. There needs to be more transparency with people to ensure that the concerns of residents, parents and teachers are heard and that they have a voice in educational and administrative decisions.
What specific skills do you bring to the board? I am a good listener and willing to be a voice for the community, teachers and students. I am a proven problem-solver and have honed my skills personally and professionally. A board member must listen to people’s needs, inventory its resources, and develop a plan to achieve the best possible solution to the opportunity at hand.
Residents were never informed about the reasons for the district parting ways with the former superintendent. In addition, the district made construction-project cuts that came as a surprise to some voters who supported the $14.9-million school facility improvement referendum of 2022. What do you think the board and district should do to improve transparency and communication? There needs to be clarity given to what the school board is doing when making decisions with a big impact. I believe in open communication and ensuring that what is communicated is implemented. It is evident that approach has not been followed in both matters mentioned. Also, we must help educate people on what decisions are made and why. Whenever future referendums are needed, the community must clearly understand the use of taxpayer funds.
Seth Wilson, 46, lives in the Town of Nasewaupee and works in sales. He has a B.S. in Technology Education and an M.E. in Education. He is married to Julie and has two children who attend Southern Door County Schools. This is his first run for public office. Why are you running? I believe every decision made by the board and administration needs to be made with our students’ education as the priority. What we witnessed with the last capital referendum encouraged me to get involved. I am in the race because our school – the school
my children attend – needs honest money management. We need to spend wisely to give our kids the best shot at success. We need to work together to keep our school strong. What specific skills do you bring to the board? I bring a unique aspect to the board with a teaching background in technical education. My blend of teaching and commitment to thoughtful decision-making positions me to make a positive impact on our schools and community. This community remains committed to supporting the school, but it’s crucial to ensure accountability in spending. As a board member, I aim to dig deeper into financial decisions to align spending with the community’s trust in education quality.
Residents were never informed about the reasons for the district parting ways with the former superintendent. In addition, the district made construction project cuts that came as a surprise to some voters who supported the $14.9 million school facility improvement referendum of 2022. What do you think the board and district should do to improve transparency and communication? The board and district must be transparent about the last referendum, explaining decision-making and project funding. Taxpayers deserve clarity on choices affecting education and safety. Some project cuts impacted students and funds should prioritize existing building and technology upgrades. With my background, I bring the ability to ask crucial questions, improve the approval process, and enhance communication with the community. As a parent of Southern Door students, I take this role seriously.
STURGEON BAY SCHOOL DISTRICT
Five candidates are vying for four seats on the Sturgeon Bay School District Board – challengers Jeffrey matson and cathy meyer, and incumbents angela Kruse, Wayne Spritka and Damion howard.
Angela Kruse (incumbent), 53, lives in the City of Sturgeon Bay and works as a sales associate at O’Meara’s Irish House in Fish Creek. She has a B.S. in Radio-TV-Film from the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh. She is married to Jon and has three children: one in college, one in high school and one in middle school. She volunteers at St. John Bosco school. Elected in 2021, she is running for her second, three-year term on the school board. Why are you running? I am running to continue working towards our goals of literacy growth, community engagement and fiscal responsibility.
What specific skills do you bring to the board? I am a keen listener and work in a respectful, productive manner.
What do you see as priorities in terms of district facilities and student and staffing needs at this time? The priorities I see in the district are to hire and retain the faculty and staff committed to challenging our students while fostering a spirit of community-mindedness. Cultivating and sustaining a top education team is key to attaining that objective.
Wayne J. Spritka (incumbent), 51, lives in the City of Sturgeon Bay and works as the Director of Door County Facilities and Parks, and also as a farmer. He has an A.S. in Administration/ Management. He is married to Naomi and they have four children – three in college, one at home. He is an AMVETS Lifetime member and volunteers on the Coast Guard City Sturgeon Bay Steering Committee and for the Door County Triathlon, the Sturgeon Bay Soccer Club and the YMCA Facilities Committee. He was appointed to his current seat on the school board due to a board member vacancy. This is his first time running for public office.
Why are you running? My key decision to run is that of continued public service to the community. Having had three children graduate from our great school and a fourth in high school, I felt a need to serve on the board for other families. What specific skills do you bring to the board? I served our country [in the U.S. Coast Guard], and subsequently our community in many roles for the last 34 years. That experience on national, regional and local commissions and boards has taught me many things. Patience in governing, listening to and understanding the perspective of others, and decision-making in the best interest of the greater good of everyone served. What do you see as priorities in terms of district facilities and student and staffing needs at this time?
Four key elements include: the continued strengthening of our curriculum in our Math, Science and Reading programs; financial stability that assists with recruitment and retention of our professional teaching staff; identifying and supporting vulnerable children and families in and out of the classroom; and smart facility development that supports the community arts and athletic programing.
DOOR COUNTY MUNICIPALITIES
Those municipalities that publish their public notices with us are indicated below with “PN.”
COUNTY OF DOOR, POP. 30,066- PN co.door.wi.gov
920.746.2200
County Board meets 4th Tuesday of month
Cty Clerk: Jill Lau
jlau@co.door.wi.us
TOWN OF BAILEYS HARBOR, POP. 1,223 - PN admin@baileysharbor.gov
Clerk/Treasurer: Amy M. Flok office@townofsevastopolwi.gov
VILLAGE OF SISTER BAY, POP. 1,148 - PN sisterbaywi.gov 920.854.4118
Village board meets 3rd Tuesday of month
Clerk: Heidi Teich info@sisterbaywi.gov
CITY OF STURGEON BAY, POP. 9,646 - PN sturgeonbaywi.org 920.746.2900
Common Council meets 1st & 3rd Tuesday of month
Clerk: Stephanie Reinhardt info@sturgeonbaywi.org
TOWN OF STURGEON BAY, POP. 821 - PN townofsturgeonbay-wi.gov
920-743-3908
Town board meets 2nd Monday of month
Clerk: Nancy Anschutz
clerk@townofsturgeonbay-wi.gov
TOWN OF UNION, POP. 1,005 - PN https://townofuniondoorwi.gov/ 920.493.9559
Town board meets 2nd
As the demographics of our school are becoming more diverse, the needs of our students are evolving as well. As a school board member, I hope to bring representation to the table for our district’s families. My hope is to bridge the gap between these families and our school board.
What specific skills do you bring to the board? First and foremost, I bring life experience to our board. I have a unique perspective within our district. When I graduated from Sturgeon Bay High School in 1996, I was one of very few students of color attending our school. As I have now raised a family in Sturgeon Bay, and worked for various non profits in the area, I see the challenges many of our students face and the barriers they must overcome.
What do you see as the priorities in terms of district facilities and student and staffing needs at this time? Most importantly, we need to retain our good teachers.
The board needs to invest in our teachers and their futures with our district. As far as facilities, there are many opportunities in our district for updates. But, our music and arts departments are thriving right now. In order to attract students and families to our district, we need to put our support behind a renovation of our school’s aging auditorium.
Jeffrey Matson, 37, lives in the City of Sturgeon Bay and works as the Senior Business Development Engineer for Fincantieri Marine Group. He has a B.S. in Engineering from the University of Michigan, and an MBA from the Milwaukee School of Engineering. He is married to Nicole and they have two school-aged children. He has volunteered for youth soccer and basketball and with the Peninsula Pacers during their Pond Hockey Tournament. He was also part of the Board of Directors for a startup non-profit that aimed to improve childcare in Door County.
Professionally, he’s been involved with various community outreach events for Fincantieri, including the Rotary Club and Boys and Girls Club. He also currently serves as the Communications Chair for the Great Lakes section of SNAME, a professional society. This is his first time running for public office.
Why are you running? I am running because I want to help Sturgeon Bay Schools to continue to improve and keep producing well-rounded and educated citizens. My wife and I have kids that are in elementary and middle school and will be directly impacted by decisions made by this board. I want to ensure that all students get the best outcome possible from the school district.
What specific skills do you bring to the board? I believe that my nine years calling Sturgeon Bay home will help to offer a unique perspective, which is essential for an effective school board. Being a parent will ensure we always do what is best for the students. My background in engineering has developed my analytical skills and collaborative approach; my MBA has prepared me for the multiple functions a school board is responsible for. At work, I have honed my continuous improvement skills.
What do you see as priorities in terms of district facilities and student and staffing needs at this time? I believe that we need to continue to recover from the last few years. We need to make sure all of our students are on track to meet expectations and that teachers have the necessary resources. We need to attract and retain the best educators. The schools in our district need to be places where students feel – and are – safe and included. For students to thrive we need to ensure their basic needs are satisfied.
Cathy Meyer, 48, lives in the city of Sturgeon Bay and works as a realtor for ERA Starr Realty and as a recruiter for Door County Medical Center (DCMC). She has a B.S. in Business Management and an Associates Degree in Accounting, both from Rasmussen University. She has three sons and volunteers for their team sports and on various school committees and community fundraisers. She also does, or has, volunteered for the DCMC Mission & Value Team (2022-current); the DCMC Skilled Nursing Facility; the Sturgeon Bay Booster Club (2018-2022); and St. John Bosco School Board (2014-2018).
This is her first time running for public office.
Why are you running? I am running for Sturgeon Bay School Board to support our school, community, families, and children in our community.
What specific skills do you bring to the board? I am a well-educated individual who loves our community and believes in our school district. I want to assist in the growth and support of the Sturgeon Bay School District. I have experience serving on school boards in the past.
What do you see as priorities in terms of district facilities and student and staffing needs at this time? I feel the priorities include, but are not limited to, community engagement; maintenance capital; transparency; education on several levels in and out of the classroom; continued variety of classes; and programs for all student ages.
Ridges Uses Mandatory Cutting to Boost Research
by CRAIG STERRETT craig@ppulse.com
A crew’s careful tree-cutting operation near the historic Baileys Harbor Range Lights served two restorative purposes, leaders at The Ridges Sanctuary said.
During a narrow window of cold temperatures and snow cover this winter, workers cut and removed trees and brush without harming the fragile habitat. The work was necessary to widen a tree-free corridor to the 50-foot width required by the 1937 deed when the United States Lighthouse Service transferred the Range Light property to Door County. The U.S. Coast guard mandates the maintenance of the corridor.
“We needed to do it,” Tony Kiszonas, Ridges Director of Research, said of the Upper and Lower Range Lights. “They are active aids to navigation.”
The Ridges staff, including Land Manager Sam Hoffman, will take advantage of the removal of shade-producing trees and brush to collect data on how the plants respond to having more light on habitat including sandy ridges and intermittent wetlands.
The staff did a plant inventory and collected baseline data on how plants thrived or struggled with less sunlight last year. Kiszonas said he has a document with about 150 types of plants, and they will pay particular attention to the response by the sunlight-loving, federally endangered dwarf lake iris.
“Everything we’ve been able to find on dwarf lake iris is that it needs sunlight in order to produce flowers,” Kiszonas said. “There might be a point where too much is not good either.”
In addition to monitoring conditions and growth in the corridor, they will plant some dwarf lake iris on a test plot on disturbed land just north of the visitor center.
“We’re not trying to create habitat as much as finding the appropriate natural habitats,” Kiszonas said, whether that’s for dwarf lake iris or common milkweed.
“Dwarf lake iris is relatively common on the Door peninsula,” said Hoffman. “However, its habitat has been greatly reduced by a number of environmental threats. By protecting its rare habitat, our hope is to increase the population of this endangered species and maximize genetic diversity over time.”
Hoffman said The Ridges hasn’t traditionally introduced plants or moved them around.
“We’ve had a hands-off, preserve-and-protect approach to land conservation, where we’d acquire high-quality habitats to incorporate into our existing State Natural Area,” Hoffman said. “However, we’re seeing a little bit of a paradigm shift in conservation theory to take advantage of restoration opportunities as we, in a sense, run out of these really highquality, intact natural areas.”
Kiszonas and Hoffman said KCG Lawn Care of Sturgeon Bay did the timber and brush removal, creating wood chips for trails without disturbing either the fragile habitat, or the potential breeding habitat for the federally endangered Hine’s emerald dragonfly.
“We hired them specifically because they wouldn’t be coming in with large machinery,” Hoffman said.
The contractors worked weekends to complete the work before bats – such as the recently-listed northern long-eared bat – came out of hibernation to use trees as roosts.
A U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Coastal Program grant made the project possible. Through outreach and informational signage, this project will also educate the public about ongoing research and management of the dwarf lake iris.
The work in progress, which began in late January. ED mILLEr
Looking south toward the Lower Range Light before and after the tree and brush removal. ED mILLEr
by PENINSULA PULSE STAFF
$3.9 MILLION FOR COMMUNICATIONS UPGRADE
County of Door – Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wisconsin)
announced this week that the county of Door would receive $3.9 million for the upgrade of its public safety radio system that assures all peninsula residents and visitors can contact emergency personnel when they need them.
The county is in the beginning stages of a full-system upgrade to its communication infrastructure that consists of 12 towers (four county-owned and eight co-located). The new upgrade will add eight towers (two colocations and six new builds) to get appropriate coverage percentages per municipality, according to a Feb. 7 memo from ashley DeGrave, Door county technology services project manager. The project will be broken into three phases: land acquisition/ site testing; civil/shelter/site work and tower construction; and Fcc licensing acquisition and tower/ radio equipment purchasing and implementation.
The total project cost for all three phases is estimated at $25,609,680.08. The county’s last full-system update was in 2013.
“Wisconsinites deserve to be safe in their communities, and I am proud to have secured nearly $4 million to help Door county update its public safety radio system – making it easier for public safety leaders to communicate, respond to emergencies, and protect our neighbors,” Baldwin said in a statement.
In total, Baldwin secured $211 million for projects in Wisconsin in the bipartisan Fiscal Year 2024 government funding package, seven of those, including Door county’s, in Northeast Wisconsin.
POSSIBLE WAYS TO RECOUP COSTS FOR ICE RESCUES
County of Door – It came up during the county of Door’s Judiciary and Public Safety committee meeting this week that maybe some of the anglers requiring ice rescues – or the tour guides and captains putting those anglers on precarious ice conditions – shouldn’t be getting off free of charge.
The idea was floated by District 14 county Board Supervisor hugh Zettel, who represents parts of the towns of Sturgeon Bay and Sevastopol. he suggested maybe looking at recouping some of the costs of those rescue operations with fees attached to an ordinance. currently, no one is charged.
“It’s become an increasing concern of constituents,” Zettel said – and also a pretty common occurrence over a Door county
winter to have multiple ice rescues. The most recent couple happened simultaneously on Feb. 24, with anglers adrift in the waters off the towns of Gardner and Nasewaupee. The committee’s discussion turned to holding licensed entities accountable, such as guide services, which require a license from the Department of Natural resources, and captains, who need a license from the U.S. coast Guard. Door county Sheriff’s Office chief Deputy/Undersheriff Pat mccarty said they need to balance recovery of rescue costs without preventing someone from calling 911 in the case of an emergency because they don’t want to have to pay the fee. he also said he met with rep. Joel Kitchens (r-Sturgeon Bay), who’s casting about for a legislative solution.
The committee left it with county administrator Ken Pabich saying they would take a look at surrounding counties to learn if any of those had ice rescue ordinances and would report back to the committee.
ICE-FISHING
TRAFFIC RAISES
CONCERN AT POINT BEACH
Egg Harbor – With much of the ice unsafe on Green Bay this winter, some fishing guides and anglers seeking thicker ice parked along narrow roads near the small access points in the Point Beach neighborhood. In response to concerns about traffic and lines of trucks and trailers along roadways, the village is
considering a combination kayakand-ice fishing launch near the village beach, said megan Sawyer, Egg harbor Village administrator. The village harbor committee also will discuss ice access near the marina. With parking lot repairs and breakwall repairs needed in the vicinity of the new lift station building south of the Egg harbor village beach, Sawyer and Death’s Door marine owner mike Kahr are looking into permits for shoreline rock removal, beach extension and breakwall improvement. They also will seek permission for that small launch site, Sawyer said.
VILLAGE SEEKING ARTISTS
Sister Bay – The Village of Sister Bay wants to honor those who donate money to local parks, enabling the purchase of benches, trees, playground equipment and other amenities, by erecting some kind of recognition feature – a donor wall or plaque or other artistic feature that honors those who have helped improve local parks. The village’s Parks, Property & Streets committee is appealing to artists for those ideas, and the village will offer $500 to the artist who presents the winning design. The deadline to submit a design is June 1.
Interested artists should contact Julie Schmelzer, village administrator, at julie.schmelzer@ sisterbaywi.gov. anyone interested in donating to a Sister Bay park can contact heidi Teich, village clerk, at heidi.teich@ sisterbaywi.gov.
Hwy 42 Construction Timeline Outlined
by CRAIG STERRETT
The crowd was smaller and quieter for the informational, preconstruction meeting on the downtown “core” part of the project than the one that preceded the first phase of Egg Harbor’s upgrades along state Highway 42.
With fewer than 30 people in the audience at the Kress Pavilion, Village Administrator Megan Sawyer introduced the utility contractors and general contractor and encouraged business owners to contact her or the contractors as concerns arise. She provides weekly updates at villageofeggharbor.org/hwy42
Downtown Core In attendance at the March 7 meeting were contractors for Wisconsin Public Service and Steve Navarre, Project Manager for Vinton Construction, which won the $3.99 million contract for sidewalk-widening and replacement, addition of on-street parking, storm-sewer repairs, streetlight replacement, installation of tree wells and grates and removal and replacement of curb and gutter.
Navarre said the Egg Harbor project resembles one he oversaw for Vinton in Fish Creek four years ago – from juggling schedules with utility contractors to replacing or removing retaining walls.
Navarre said his crews will start with storm-sewer installation between Hwy. 42 and Church Street and then start from the north with sidewalk-removal, curb-and-gutter replacement and some storm-sewer connections and repairs.
They will work along one side of the highway at a time, thereby keeping half the sidewalks open and parking on one side of the street accessible. Navarre said when possible, he plans to get two crews working to expedite progress.
Sawyer said that WisDOT plans to arrive in the village to start its repaving and improvements on Hwy. 42 by Memorial Day. She said there’s a possibility that the core project will be completed – other than landscaping, tree-planting and some finishing touches – by June 28. An Oct. 21 restart date is on the schedule in case that’s needed.
Hwy. 42 will be closed and detoured to thru-traffic during the highway repaving operations.
Some brief utility outages will be necessary at specific downtown locations. Managers from M.J. Electric said they are more than two weeks ahead of schedule in burying utilities. They said they will give business owners and residents advance notice before two- to three-hour outages at specific locations when they switch from overhead utilities to buried utilities.
Engineering consultant Mike Simon said contractors will make arrangements to allow deliveries to businesses. He said if a business has two driveways, contractors will work on one of those at a time. If a business has just one driveway, they’ll work on half of the entrance at a time. Residents in the construction zone will have a parking spot available while their driveway entrances are rebuilt and curing for about seven days, he said. The Wisconsin Department of Transportation was scheduled to hold a meeting about the project at 1:30 pm Tuesday, March 19 at the Sevastopol Town Office along Highway 57 in Institute. Full details appear at tinyurl. com/m86u9hhm
Community Investment Fund Receives Innovation Award
Destination Door County’s Community Investment Fund was honored with an Innovation Award at the Wisconsin Governor’s Conference on Tourism, March 12, held in Lake Geneva.
The Innovation Award is presented to a business or community that has demonstrated outstanding initiative through the implementation of new strategies that positively impact their organization and destination.
Destination Door County’s (DDC) initiative utilizes room tax dollars generated by overnight visitors to Door County to fund projects aimed at enhancing the quality of life for residents and workers, while simultaneously enriching the visitor experience.
“Our groundbreaking Community Investment Fund embodies our commitment to enhancing both resident livelihoods and visitor experiences, said Julie Gilbert, DDC CEO & president. “This accolade reflects the dedication and creativity of our team and our ongoing efforts to enhance the visitor experience while supporting the local community.”
Eligible Community Investment Fund applicants include Door Countybased 501(c)(3) public charities, 501(c) (6) organizations, and local units of government. Since its launch in 2023, the Community Investment Fund has granted $1,204,952 toward 24 different projects across the peninsula.
Seasonal, Island Coast Guard Station Not Opening Due to Personnel Shortage
More reliance upon volunteer USCG Auxiliary
by DEBRA FITZGERALD debra.fitz@ppulse.com
The U.S. Coast Guard will not open its seasonal Washington Island Station this year due to a shortage of personnel that’s hit the entire military branch.
Petty Officer First Class Taylor Barnes, who is going through his third winter at the Sturgeon Bay U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) station, said they’ve shed one-third of their Sturgeon Bay crew, dropping from 36 to 24 members.
“It’s happening everywhere,” Barnes said. “Cutters are getting laid up [boats of 65 feet or larger], smaller ones are getting put on blocks.”
The USCG typically employs more than 55,000 nationally, but is nearly 10% short of that, according to an October 2023 release about adjusted USCG operations plans for 2024. Not enough people are enlisting, with not enough bodies to fill positions. It’s the largest workforce shortage in the Coast Guard’s 233-year-history, one that’s significantly impacting daily operations, according to correspondence from U.S. Rep. Mike Gallagher’s office.
“The Coast Guard cannot maintain the same level of operations with our current shortfall – we cannot do the same with less,” wrote Admiral Linda Fagan, USCG Commandant, and USCG Master Chief Petty Officer, Heath Jones, on the USCG’s official website.
The USCG’s adjusted operational plan is to close the small Green Bay station and not open the seasonal Washington Island station, Barnes said, servicing the expansive area out of Sturgeon Bay – “one of the largest areas of any Coast Guard Station,” encompassing all of Green Bay, the shores of eastern Door County to Western Lake Michigan, and the waters north to Michigan’s Garden Peninsula.
Response times from Sturgeon Bay to the upper reaches of that territory will take an hour and forty-five
minutes – “if we’re really booking it,” Barnes said –versus 45 minutes from the Washington Island station.
That’s cause for concern for Hans Lux, Washington Town Board chair. USCG personnel provide search and rescue assistance, law enforcement, ice rescue operations and protection of infrastructure critical to the maritime environment of the United States. Lux wants to know what local emergency responders can expect with the island station closed.
“What responsibilities are they looking for us to take over,” Lux said. “None of that has been laid out as to their expectations of what the locals will now cover for them, and how that will affect my town budget. I need to know those things in order to properly plan.”
Lux has sent a notification email to all Door County municipal leaders and has secured a meeting with the USCG for April 4 on the island to talk about repercussions and expectations.
Auxiliary and Good Samaritan Assistance
Out of the Sturgeon Bay station between Oct. 1, 2022 and Sept. 30, 2023 –the USCG calendar year – Barnes said the USCG conducted 56 search and rescue operations in Door County waters, including nine ice rescues between Dec. 20, 2022 and April 2, 2023.
Barnes said the primary reason they launch is for vessels that get disabled or adrift .
“The engine died, or they ran out of gas,” he said. They also boarded 381 boats during that time to check safety compliance – life jackets, fire extinguishers and DUI checks.
Doing the same with less may mean heavier reliance on the Good Samaritan Law, Barnes said, which
empowers any boater to assist with a rescue while the USCG is in transit.
“We put out a broadcast, channel 16,” for example, Barnes said, “‘Vessel at Sherwood Lighthouse taking water, four people on board, any vessels assist in the area.’”
There’s also the Coast Guard Auxiliary – uniformed members who volunteer their time to support the USCG operations, promote and improve recreational boating safety, and provide trained crews and facilities to enhance safety and security.
“The auxiliary is a force when it comes to boater safety and if they are under orders, they can also operate in search and rescue,” Barnes said.
Nationally, there are 26,000 auxiliary members. In the Green Bay flotilla, there are some 88 auxiliarists, all reporting to Division Commander Kevin Osgood.
“We do the work to cut down on the number of emergency responses that the active Coast Guard has to go on,” said Osgood, who spends his days as the Executive Director of the Door County Maritime Museum.
There are eight members of the auxiliary in Door County, one of those is Jeff Feuerstein. He said performing voluntary vessel safety checks and providing boating safety classes and education is gratifying volunteer work.
“I’m finding a dozen people a year that didn’t have the functional safety equipment they need,” he said.
Even before the USCG shortage, the need for auxiliary members has always been greater in Door County given its 300 miles of coastline and 4,000-plus boat slips. Osgood said they’d like to have more than eight members on the peninsula.
“There is so much boating here in Door County, so many boaters, many of them new,” Osgood said. Becoming a volunteer means passing a background check by the Department of Homeland Security.
“If you pass that, you’re pretty much in,” Osgood said. To learn more about becoming an auxiliary volunteer, contact Osgood at osgoodkevin@yahoo.com.
Three Municipalities Bring Broadband Dollars Home
by DEBRA FITZGERALD debra.fitz@ppulse.com
Three Door County municipalities partnered with AT&T have earned broadband grants to help defray taxpayer costs for bringing Fiber to the Premises (FTTP) for all addresses within their borders.
The towns of Egg Harbor, Sevastopol and Sturgeon Bay all received a grant from the Wisconsin Capital Projects Fund, which funded 30 projects across Wisconsin, totaling some $40 million.
•The Town of Egg Harbor with AT&T received $960,000 to bring Fiber to the Premises (FTTP) for 1,573 residential and 204 business locations. The match for the project is $7,637,196.
•The Town of Sevastopol with AT&T received $816,693 to bring FTTP for 1,749 residential and 159 business locations. The match for the project is $6,607,787.
•The Town of Sturgeon Bay with AT&T received $552,299 to bring FTTP for 609 residential and 67 business locations. The match for the project is $4,468,601.
The dollars are expected to lighten the taxpayer lift to bring broadband to all addresses within the three municipalities.
“It will reduce the tax levy impact to fund the town’s portion of the project cost based on initial estimates,” said Dan Woelfel, Sevastopol Town Board chair.
Steven Schopf, chair of the Egg Harbor Town Board, said the grant will shorten the term on the town’s loan payment by several years.
“I am very excited with this project,” he said. “We just had a kickoff meeting with AT&T and everything is looking good. I can’t thank our broadband task force and AT&T enough for putting this project together and applying for this grant for us.”
There were 124 applications for the money and 11 of those came from Door County – the highest number in any county in the state, said Jessica Hatch, Door County Broadband coordinator.
“When you look at the list of matching funds and awards, you can see that the awarded projects were providing 50% or more in matching funds for the overall project,” Hatch said.
WISER survey results – Wisconsin Internet SelfReport, an internet survey and speed test that’s used to advise Wisconsin’s broadband planning –and the Finley Engineering Study conducted in 2021 that assessed broadband infrastructure in Door County helped prove poor broadband performance, Woelfel said, a necessary condition for grant success.
“The objective evidence was hard to refute, especially since the Finley Study results were consistent with WISER,” Woelfel said. “The PSC also acknowledged the broad community support provided in support of the application, and we’re very thankful for the support the town received during the application process.”
David Wood, chair of the Town of Sturgeon Bay’s Broadband Committee, said Hatch and District 14 County Board Supervisor Hugh Zettel, who chairs the Door County Broadband Committee, were instrumental in helping their applications score highly enough for a grant.
“The Town of Sturgeon Bay broadband expansion project would not have been possible without Jessica’s guidance and being able to build on the experiences of the towns of Jacksonport, Sevastopol, Egg Harbor, and other municipalities across the county,” Wood said.
The Wisconsin legislature did not fund grants for broadband capital projects in the 2023-25 budget due to the federal BEAD (broadband equity, access and deployment) money that was allocated for Wisconsin ($1,055,823,573.51). The grant dollars distributed came from the Capital Projects Fund Award from the U.S. Dept. of Treasury that was administered at the discretion of Gov. Tony Evers.
Those dollars were the last opportunity for public grant funding until BEAD money is released.
“We will see BEAD funding auctions sometime this summer is my best guess,” Hatch said.
))perspectives
EDITOR’S NOTE
Last Call for Political Letters (Again)
Plus: Sunshine is a good thing
by DEBRA FITZGERALD debra.fitz@ppulse.com
As a person who deals with upwards of 20,000 words each week, I can tell you that people make mistakes. They mishear, misread, misremember, miswrite. Showing me a link or screenshot from a reputable source also reaffirms for you what you think you know. It’s good for both of us.
If this headline looks familiar, it’s because I used it in last week’s paper to give fair warning that the last political letters we will publish pertaining to the April 2 election will appear in our March 22 issue. The deadline for those letters is Monday, March 18, at noon.
We refrain from publishing letters the week prior to an election because if we allowed a letter that carried misinformation about a candidate, there would be zero time for us to make it up to that candidate. If we leave ourselves a week, it’s a safety net.
Those of you who write letters know I do my best to prevent the distribution of misinformation by requiring sources I can see that verify any facts, numbers, quotes or attributions a letter writer may use – anything, in other words, that isn’t strictly opinion. Thankfully, only a few of you grow upset or offended by this requirement, thinking I’m questioning your honesty, integrity or intelligence. That’s not the case.
letters to the editor
Reetz Has What it Takes to Make Excellent Judge
I have watched Jennifer Moeller in the courtroom and find her approach to justice and the law to be very black and white. The reason we elect people to the bench is because humans possess compassion and can see shades of gray. We need Brett Reetz on the bench. His experience, common sense and compassion will make him an excellent judge. Elect Brett!
Peter Evers Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin
Give Vogel Chance to Complete Broadband Effort
Jeanne Vogel is running for re-election as a Supervisor for the Town of Sevastopol. I recommend you vote for her. She cares about her community. She does her homework. She has ably initiated the effort to bring highquality, high-speed, affordable internet services to all the citizens and businesses in the Town of Sevastopol. Re-electing Jeanne will allow her to help complete this effort on your behalf.
David Studebaker
Retired Chair, Technology Committee, Town of Liberty Grove Liberty Grove, Wisconsin
The Fix
Remove money and religion from politics. End gerrymandering. Enact term limits. Get rid of the electoral college. This is how we fix it. One person, one vote.
Kevin P. Lind Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin
Not the Republican Party
You Knew and Loved
Northeast Wisconsin’s economy is predominantly based in three areas: agriculture, tourism, and construction – and none of these sectors can survive without immigrant labor.
A recent social media post bemoaned someone’s successful career as a fruit picker, until immigrants moved in. It’s a sentiment most of us here from Cherryland can identify with. All the way back to its heyday, it was immigrant labor who got those cherries to market.
Today we can replace fruit pickers with “farm worker,” “roofer,” “hotel housekeeper” – you get the point – our economy in northeast Wisconsin requires immigrant labor. Statistics show that more than 70 percent of farm workers are immigrants and a good percentage of those are undocumented.
It’s immigrant labor who now gets that milk to market. Yet immigrants continue to be unfairly vilified by Republican politicians, even though our local economy would grind to a halt without them!
Recently, congressional Democrats presented a set of solutions for immigration reform. They even had some thoughtful Republicans on board! However, MAGA Republicans blocked this bipartisan bill. Why? Who
Also, we’re heading into Sunshine Week this week (March 10-16), a nonpartisan collaboration among groups in the journalism, civic, education, government and private sectors that shines a light on the importance of public records and open government and access to public information.
You may think that open meetings and public records are not denied you here in Door County, and certainly we don’t have to make many Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests from here. But I’d also say there are a lot of closed meetings at our local municipalities. Some use them infrequently with easily understood reasons. Others use them too much or are unclear about their reasons or have all their conversation pertaining to a particular topic locked within the confines of that closed session. They may vote by the book – that has to be done in open session – but that’s it. The municipalities that overuse closed sessions may not be violating the letter of the law, but certainly they are
benefited from that? Could it be that a solution would take that “issue” off the table for upcoming MAGA campaigns?
The chair of the Republican Party in Oconto County said in a memo to GOP county chairs in the 8th Congressional District that represents Door and Kewaunee counties that “our communities here in Wisconsin are suffering because of the flood of illegals …” Excuse me? Our rural counties with huge ag and tourism industries, are being kept afloat by immigrants! It’s also disgusting how the MAGA-led Republican party refers to human beings while flaunting their supposed Christian values!
There is no denying it: today’s Republican Party is not the party we grew up with. If you have voted for Republican candidates in the past, it’s time to send a message that it’s not acceptable for our elected officials to purposely sow chaos, ignore human decency, forget our values of truth, respect and fairness. In 2024 vote for Democrats!
Find is a continuous process of public awareness activities, screening and evaluation designed to locate, identify, and refer all children ages 3-21 who are in need of an Early Intervention Program (Part C) or Early Childhood Special Education (Part B) services as outlined by the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).
For more information, contact Pupil Services Director Melissa Marggraf at (920) 743-6282 Ext. 1111 or contact Sue Anschutz Ext. 1132 to schedule a screening appointment.
Jodi Parins Algoma, Wisconsin
FASTEST GROWING
920.431.3685 msternard@nicoletbank.com
920.617.5309
Eric DeJardine VP-Commercial Banking 920.617.5309 edejardine@nicoletbank.com
3 notice for three (3) weeks in a row prior to the date of the hearing in the Peninsula Pulse, a newspaper published
in Door County, State of Wisconsin. Run: March 1, 8, 15, 2024 WNAXLP NOTICE TO CREDITORS
STATE OF WISCONSIN, CIRCUIT COURT, DOOR COUNTY IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF Winifred J. Recupero Notice to Creditors (Informal Administration) Case No. 24-PR-17 PLEASE TAKE NOTICE:
1. An application for informal administration was filed.
2. The decedent, with date of birth October 22, 1932 and date of death February 12, 2024 was domiciled in Door County, State of Wisconsin , with a mailing address of 1241 N 18th Avenue, Sturgeon Bay, WI 54235.
3. All interested persons waived notice.
4. The deadline for filing a claim against the decedent’s estate is May 28, 2024.
5. A claim may be filed at the Door County Justice Center, Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin, Room C258. BY THE COURT: /s/ Jennifer A. Moeller Probate Registrar 02/28/24
Attorney Amy M. Sullivan 454 Kentucky Street / P.O. Box 89 Sturgeon Bay, WI 54235 920-743-6505 Bar Number 1082283 Run: Mar 8, 15, 22, 2024 WNAXLP
CITY OF STURGEON BAY ORDINANCES
ORDINANCE NO. 1441-0324 THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF STURGEON BAY, WISCONSIN DO ORDAIN AS FOLLOWS: SECTION 1: Section 9.05(3) (a)(1) of the Municipal Code of the City of Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin is hereby amended to read as follows: Tourist rooming house licenses issued by the City of Sturgeon Bay expire on June 30, except
that a tourist rooming house license initially issued during the period April 1 through June 30, shall expire on June 30 of the following year.
SECTION 2: The ordinance shall take effect on the day after its publication.
Approved: Mayor David Ward
Attest: Stephanie Reinhardt, City Clerk
Date of 1st Reading: 02/20/24
Date of 2nd Reading: 03/05/24
Publication:03/15/24
Effective Date: 03/16/24
WNAXLP
MUNICIPALITIES
PUBLIC HEARING NOTICES SISTER BAY
PLAN COMMISSION PUBLIC
HEARING NOTICE NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Sister Bay Plan Commission will hold a Public Hearing on Tuesday, March 26, 2024, at 5:30 PM, or shortly thereafter, at the Fire Station at 2258 Mill Rd., Sister Bay, for the purpose of considering annexing land to the Village of Sister Bay and assigning an interim zoning classification; adopting a Floodplain Zoning Ordinance; and reviewing a Conditional Use Permit Application for a one unit mobile foodvendor court.
ANNEXATION: Consider annexing the following described land into the Village of Sister Bay and assign a temporary zoning classification of Institutional (I-1): All of the Northwest Quarter of the Northwest Quarter (NW 1/4 of the NW 1/4) of Section Nine (9), Township Thirty-one (31) North, Range Twentyeight (28) East, in the Town of Liberty Grove, Door County, Wisconsin. The subject tract contains 40 acres.
FLOODPLAIN ZONING
ORDINANCE: Create Chapter 65 of the Municipal Code, ‘Floodplain Zoning Ordinance’. Such ordinance sets standards for development in flood hazard areas, as identified on maps approved by the DNR. The maps are
incorporated into the code and are based on the flood hazard analysis prepared for FEMA’s Flood Insurance Study. The full text of the proposed ordinance is available online at www.sisterbaywi.gov (click on Agendas, March 26, 2024) or available at the Village Administration Office.
CONDITIONAL USE
PERMIT: Consider an application submitted by Sarah White to establish a one-unit mobile food vendor court at her existing business, Peach Barn Farmhouse & Brewery, 2450 S. Bay Shore Drive, Sister Bay, in a General Business (B-1) zoning district. The purpose of the public hearing is to obtain comments and input from the public on the above matters. A map of the proposed annexation, proposed annexation ordinance, floodplain zoning ordinance, and conditional use permit application, and list of whom this notice was sent, is available for inspection at the Sister Bay Administration Office, located at 2383 Maple Drive, and may be viewed weekdays between 8 AM to 4 PM. Interested parties are encouraged to provide testimony either in writing or in person at the hearing. All correspondence must be received by March 21, 2024, before 1 PM. Anonymous correspondence will not be accepted. Letters can be mailed or delivered to Village Administration Office, 2383 Maple Dr., PO Box 769, Sister Bay, WI 54234 or emailed to janalsuppanz@sisterbaywi. gov. Letters will be available for public inspection during normal business hours, until the close of business the day of the hearing and will be entered into the record; a summary of letters received will be presented at the hearing, but individual letters may not be read aloud. To participate virtually, follow the link in the meeting agenda, available online at www. sisterbaywi.gov. By order of the Plan Commission of the Village of Sister Bay Julie Schmelzer, Village Administrator WNAXLP
SCHOOL DISTRICTS
AGENDAS
SOUTHERN DOOR
SOUTHERN DOOR COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT
Regular School Board Meeting MONDAY, MARCH 18, 2024 HS Library – 6:30 pm AGENDA
• Call to order.
• Roll Call-Verification of
Quorum
• Finding that the meeting was properly called, convened, proper notice given §19.84(2)
•Pledge of Allegiance & Board Commitment.
• Recognition of public (Limit 5 minutes/person; 20 minutes/ topic).
• General Construction and Greenhouse Project Update
• Student Representatives’ Reports
• Superintendent’s Report
• Administrators’ Reports
- Act 20 Update
- Mid-Year AGR Report
- Copier Lease Update
• Consent Agenda:
I. Past Minutes - February 19, 2024 Regular Meeting.
II. Expenditures/Revenues & Current Bills Payable - Check Register.
III.Donations.
IV. Board Policy Updates - Vol. 32.2 - 1st Reading.
V. Start College Now and Early College Credit Applications for Fall, 2024.
• Individually Considered Resolutions from the Consent Agenda.
II. Review of Possible Teacher Contract Non-Renewal and Layoffs.
III. Discussion and Feedback of Personnel Matters Related to Survey and Listening Sessions. Return to Open Session. The Board may take any necessary action on items that were discussed in Closed Session, as appropriate. •Adjourn. WNAXLP
STURGEON BAY
THE SCHOOL DISTRICT OF STURGEON BAY
Board of Education Meeting Wednesday, March 20, 2024
6:30 P.M. An informal reception for employees with 25 years of service, retirees, and family members is planned for the SBHS library prior to the actual Board of Education meeting.
All district staff and the public are welcome.
As noted in Board Policy 0166 - Agenda, each agenda shall contain the following statement: “This meeting is a meeting of the Board of Education in public for the purpose of conducting the School District’s business and is not to be considered a public community meeting. There is a time for public comment during the meeting as indicated in the agenda.”
MISCELLANEOUS
Door County Kraut Co. Indoor BHCA Farm/Artisan Markets Mar.9, and Apr 13, in the BH Town Hall Auditorium. Call Ann for orders between markets and split seasoned firewood. 920.839.2288
HYLINE ORCHARD FARM MARKET
2 miles north of Egg Harbor on Hwy 42. (920.868.3067)
OPEN YEAR ROUND 9am to 5pm. HOMEMADE CHERRY & APPLE PRODUCTS FROM OUR ORCHARDS. Cherries galore. NEW freeze dried cherries, our own sparkling cider & juice, Cherry & many more. Locally grown state certified beef, ground, steaks & roast. Also our cherry and apple pies baked
or ready to bake. A variety of cheese, cheese spreads and cheese curds. Door County beer and wines. Natural homemade soaps. Door County Watch Us Grow liquid fertilizer. Honey crisp dried apples, large variety of fruit pie fillings including Cherry & Honey Crisp apple. Jams, Jellies, Pies, Salsa, BBQ Sauce, (Cherries: frozen, canned and dried), Cherry Cider, Honey Crisp Blend
VEGGIES AND SIDES
by Myles Mellor
ACROSS 1. QBs’ goals 4. Credit card interest rate, abbr. 7. Costar of Daffy, Bugs, and Elmer 11. Beijing belief 17.
Orgs.
be painted
Mex. neighbor
Birthplace of pizza
Nation’s economic stat, abbr. 38. Sleeveless jacket 40. Copies 43. Two bags of groceries, say 47. Large northern deer 48. Grin modifier 49. One who doesn’t partake, e.g.
51. World finance org.
54. Charged particle
55. Vegetable dish
62. Capitol V.I.P., abbr.
63. “Untrue!”
64. Produce for show 66. Briefcase 71. Tolkien creature
72. Type of coefficient
74. Kettledrums
76. A fiddler and a pianist
79. According to .....
80. Healthier version of mac and cheese
86. State of S.W. India
88. U.S. Army medal
89. Diagnostic tool
114. Cautiously 115. Carrot’s paler cousin 120. Healthy side dish
122. A flask for carrying water
123. Belgian 20th century painter, Margritte
124. Cartoon collectible
125. Israel’s Golda
126. Tree, for example
127. Roger of “Nicholas Nickleby”
128. __ Lime Pie
129. Common evidence used in tracking a killer
DOWN
1. Bone
2. Negligible amounts
3. “Land ___!” 4. Some slitherers
5. Nanki-___ of The Mikado
6. University mil. group
7. Gradually diminish
8. Wearing
Bar snack
Twisty curve
Seriously
Stein contents
Dedicated lines
Flippant
Song of joy
Slip
Surprised interjection
Prefix meaning “together”
In such a way as
Hwy.
Earthling
Bond opponent
Pearl Mosque locale
Butler or Favre
Corp. leadership
Green Acres setting
Shorthand pro
Comparably fresh
Apple’s operating system
90. Loosen 94. Buck’s mate 97. More dependable
98. Calfskin to write on
99. Yard sale tag
100. Certain colonist
101. Made a little bark
103. Former Fords
106. Pathogen
111. Kitchen meas.
112. Physically weak
Take action against 16. Mountains, abbr. 18. Ukraine documentary maker, Penn
Sean Connery is one
Old German currency
Rob’s Custom Interior/ Exterior Painting 25 years experience. Spring
I am looking for a 1+1 house or room in Sister Bay, Ephraim, Fish Creek or Baileys Harbor. One adult. Contact 920.473.1729
HELP WANTED
Look for additional Help Wanted display advertisements within this section.
CHILD CARE
business for 26 years elsewhere. Full service include mulching, mowing, trimming, flower installs, tree trimming, fertilization, snow removal, bed cleanups, etc. Call Dan at 314.378.1173. Xclusive Landscaping Capture all this season has to offer! Clean ups – pavers –mulch – design – maintenance – repairs. Solutions for all your outdoor ideas! 920.366.8710
MISCELLANEOUS
Need a piece of jewelry fixed? I can restring, fix a clasp or broken parts, etc. so you can wear it again! Call Pam at Earth Art Studio in Sister Bay at the Country Walk Shops: 920.854.1912 or stop by Thurs to Sat 11am – 2pm
HANDYMAN Available for small and notso-small projects. Licensed, insured, experienced. Photos and references on request. Call or text Tom at 920.743.9727
BONI PEREZ HANDYMAN, LLC Home improvement, flooring, tile & grout, drywall, painting, plumbing, electrical and much more! TEXT OR CALL 920.473.0372 or 920.264.3122
Mike’s
NDCC – Seasonal Day Camp Northern Door Children’s Center is hiring seasonal (summer only or summer/fall) staff to join our early childhood and school age summer day camp teams. Must be a lover of children and fun. Lots of time spent outdoors engaged in activities with children, ages infant through 11 years. Must be dependable, flexible and willing to take on team responsibilities. Programs begin June 3 rd , but preference will be given to candidates that can begin in May for program preparation. Monday thru Friday, 40 hours per week. Must be 17 years or older. Seasonal position wage is $17.00/hr. Must commit to 40 hours per week for the season. SEASONAL BONUS!!! Sign on for regular four day (10 hrs. per day) work week position and earn bonus money in addition to your regular wages. Bonus is paid at completion of season. $500 (June 3 – August 16). Additional $250 (August 17- August 30). For quick consideration text to 920.421.5009 or email teachdoorcounty@gmail.com to receive application and set up a time to chat. Join our seasonal team now! Questions? Contact Cindy or Sue at 920.854.4244 HEALTH CARE RESPITE CAREGIVERS NEEDED Looking for Respite Caregivers to provide compassionate and personalized care to our disabled 21 y.o. son in our home. Would Assist our son with activities of daily living; such as bathing, dressing, grooming, toileting and eating. Would administer medications and food via g-tube. Would assist with mobility and transfers, including heavy lifting when necessary. Would ensure his safety & well-being at all times. Would respect & uphold the rights of our son promoting his dignity & independence. Most importantly provide emotional support & companionship to our son. Must be non-smoker; non-vapor user. Previous experience in caregiving or a related field preferred but not necessary. If interested please call for more information. Call Mary at 920.746.0538
Dental HygienistSigning Bonus
Are you a licensed Dental Hygienist passionate about oral health? We are looking for you! Dentistry by Design in Sister Bay is seeking a skilled Dental Hygienist to provide top-notch care to our patients. Competitive pay, benefits, great work environment and a generous sign-on bonus. Email: cora@ doorcountydentistry.com.
Veterinary Assistant Door County Veterinary Hospital is looking for a thorough, hard working, Self motivated team player with excellent communication
skills to join our team of pet care professionals. Candidates need to be organized, detail oriented, able to multi-task, and lift 50#. Willingness to learn and help in various tasks is a must. 920.743.7777 doorcountyveterinaryhospital@ yahoo.com
HOTEL/LODGING
Housekeepers say YES to the mess! Love that feeling of satisfaction before guests arrive? The house is spotless, everything is in order. We do too! Come join our cleaning team at the Cedar Court Inn. Must be reliable & detail oriented. Will train. Highly competitive pay. Season end bonus. Part time hours. Great for those who work PM shifts.920.421.3363
Front Desk – BHYC
We are now accepting applications for the Front Desk. Full-time or part-time hours, flexible scheduling, and competitive pay based on experience. Generous seasonal and referral bonuses for qualified candidates. We’re looking for friendly, dependable people who’d like to help us make great memories for our guests. Experience preferred but not necessary. If you have a great attitude we can train you. 920.839.2336
Front Desk: Year-Round
The Homestead Suites in Fish Creek is looking for the right candidate to complement our Front Desk Staff. Predominantly night and weekend shifts with day shifts as available. We offer a premium wage and benefits. Email resume to kevin@ homesteadsuites.com or send to: Homestead Suites PO Box 730 Fish Creek WI 54212
Egg Harbor Lodge Are you looking for great wages, a flexible work around schedule, and a fun staff? The Egg Harbor Lodge in Egg Harbor is looking for season housekeepers, 3-5 hours/day. If interested, please contact Mark at 920.493.1187 or 920.868.3115. Email: theview@ eggharborlodge.com
LANDSCAPING/ MAINTENANCE
Furniture Delivery/ Warehouse Receiving Door County Interiors is hiring full & part time furniture delivery/ warehouse receiving team members! We’re seeking reliable individuals with a strong work ethic to assist with furniture deliveries & daily warehouse operations. Responsibilities include loading/unloading furniture, delivering items to customers’ homes, & receiving shipments. Ideal candidates should have excellent customer service skills, attention to detail, and the ability to lift heavy objects. No weekends required! Call 920-868-9008 or email lisa@doorcountyinteriors.com to schedule an interview.
Lawn and Landscape Specialist Seeking motivated individual individual to join our team. Main duties include operating zero turn mowers, string trimmers and leaf blowers. Occasional opportunity to do miscellaneous
landscaping tasks. 40hrs/wk with occasional opportunity for OT. Starting wage $15 – $25/ hr based on experience. Come lay some stripes and make
Door County a beautiful place.
Contact Trevor 920.495.6713
Outdoor Maintenance
Team Member
Appel Outdoor Maintenance in Sister Bay is looking for members to join our team in multiple capacities. Full Time with year round opportunities. Tasks include lawn care, landscaping, general property maintenance. Experience is appreciated but will train the right person. Starting wage $18/ hour, pay based on abilities. Call for more info 920.421.2477
OFFICE
Office Assistant Office Assistant needed at Sturgeon Bay Business located in town. Word, Excel, Good Phone Skills, Data Entry. 12-25 hours per week depending on skill level. Pay based on skill level. Email resume to timpanogos33@yahoo.com
Receptionist/Assistant
Door County Veterinary Hospital is looking for a thorough, hard working, Self motivated team player with excellent communication skills to join our team of pet care professionals. Candidates need to be organized, detail oriented, able to multi-task. Willingness to learn and help in various tasks is a must. 920.743.7777
doorcountyveterinaryhospital@ yahoo.com
PROFESSIONAL
Bookkeeper Bookkeeper needed in Sturgeon Bay. Part Time needed or could be Full Time if willing to take on other organizational tasks. May be able to partly work from home. Attention to detail and proficiency with QuickBooks, Excel, Keyboarding Skills, Email and Phone Communication. Position pays well for excellent skills. Email resume to timpanogos33@yahoo.com
RESTAURANT
Now Hiring Team Members
If you have a passion for great food, exceptional service, and a love for Tequila; we have the perfect position waiting for you at Solago Restaurant and Tequila Bar! Solago is looking for part time and full time positions right now and for Summer of 2024. We are hiring cooks, prep cooks, dishwashers, servers, bartenders, bussers, hosts, and managers. As a part of our team you’ll have the opportunity to showcase your culinary skills, provide exceptional service, and work alongside our talented and supportive team members. Benefits of joining our team: competitive wages, flexible scheduling, opportunities for advancement, a supportive and inclusive work environment, employee discounts on delicious meals. Apply on our website in bottom right corner under “employment.” Give us a call at 920.268.4483 or stop in and grab an application! Alexander’s Hiring for a year round line cook. Benefits available and meals provided. Stop in and ask for Bruce Alexander, or email him your resume bubbadc01@gmail.com
Full Time Year Round Position Blue Horse Cafe in Fish Creek is hiring full and part time Cashier/ baristas right now for year round employment. Have fun and make
Shopping Center is Hiring
Nelson’s is so much more
Housekeepers, Full & Part-Time
Wages $20.00 - $25.00/ hour based on experience. *Cottage Cleaners also needed for our Jacksonport location
Call or Email Buffy at Ephraim Shores Resort 920.854.2371 or buffy.ephraimshores@yahoo.com
really good money in a positive work environment! Willing to train of course. Stop by, fill out an application, and ask for Carina Servers Needed Desperately Seeking Servers!
Wave Pointe Marina & Resort is in need of servers for our restaurant Gilmo’s. Full time or part time. We are located on Little Sturgeon Bay in Southern Door County. 3600 County Road CC. Please call 920.824.5440 or stop in. You can also email paula@wavepointe. com. No experience necessary
Osteria Tre Tassi
Osteria Tre Tassi, Door County’s newest farm-to-table Italian restaurant, is hiring. We are seeking passionate and motivated individuals in full-time and part-time positions. We are hiring: servers, bartenders, bussers, hosts, cooks, dishwashers, and kitchen staff. Competitive hourly wage
plus benefits. Please apply in person at 11976 Mink River Rd in Ellison Bay or inquire at operations@tretassi.com.
The Clearing – Kitchen Staff
The Clearing, in Ellison Bay, has fulltime and parttime positions open on its kitchen staff. The season begins in late April and runs through October. Excellent pay and wonderful work environment. For more information, contact Mike Schneider at 920.854.4088 or mike@theclearing.org
RETAIL
Hide Side Stores –Sales Associates Sales Associate positions available at both Hide Side stores in Fish Creek. FT & PT positions with flexible hours. No nights. Competitive wages. To contact Hide Side Corner Store, email christineashley915@ yahoo.com or call 920.559.1123. For the Hide Side Boutique,
email hidesidemike@aol.com or
Accounting & Operations Manager
The Peninsula Music Festival, now in our 72nd year, is Door County’s only professional orchestra. We are looking for an Accounting/ Operations Manager. This is a multi-faceted role, responsible for managing the day-to-day operations including running the box office, bookkeeping, and administration. Reporting to the Executive Director, duties include but are not limited to:
Operating the Box Office. Working with our Theater Manager application to generate reports, selling tickets to performances and managing the box office on 12 performance days per year.
Perform day-to-day bookkeeping functions such as bank deposits, accounts payable processing and payroll setup and review.
Overseeing the office budget including managing expenses, preparing reports, and making recommendations for budget changes.
Providing administrative support to management such as preparing reports, managing calendars, and coordinating meetings.
Handling customer service such as answering phones, responding to emails, resolving customer issues, and interacting with customers who come into the office.
www.theclearing.org
Maintaining the office environment including ordering supplies, and making sure the office is well-organized and clean. Errands such as banking, going to the post office and picking up/ dropping off information to our accounting firm partner. Other duties as assigned by Executive Director. Be part of a team that includes world-class musicians, an internationally recognized Conductor, and wonderful patrons who love classical music.
The City of Sturgeon Bay is seeking a Full Time Municipal Services employee. Primary responsibilities will include driving a tandem axle truck with front and wing plow, operate heavy and light equipment, operate front end loader, conduct street repairs, paint, maintain equipment and buildings, landscape, and assist with pouring concrete. Applicants must be familiar with proper use of chain saws, hand tools, overhead crane, welding machine, two-way radios and must be able to perform preventative maintenance on equipment. Job may require long hours sitting in a truck or long hours on your feet and routine lifting over 40 lbs. Must possess a valid Wisconsin CDL. Starting wage of $26.94/hr, with progressive wage increases and top wage of $31.66 after 18 months, along with full bene ts. Send application form (required and available at City Hall or www.sturgeonbaywi.org) to: City Clerk/Human Resources Director, Attn: Municipal Services Position, 421 Michigan Street, Sturgeon Bay, WI 54235 or sreinhardt@sturgeonbaywi.org by April 12, 2024.
HELP WANTED: CARPENTERS
Great Northern Construction is looking to add to our team of professionals. Work on high-end residential new builds, additions, and remodels.
For questions or to set up an interview, please contact Mike at 920-854-4088 or mike@theclearing.org.
well-fed and happy.
Great pay, Great benefits: Paid health insurance with flexible spending plan, paid holidays and vacation, 7% company made 401K contribution, and more. Call us today to schedule an interview: 920-868-3611 www.greatnortherndoorcounty.com
WE ARE HIRING! Front Desk
Do you Love Door County and Love Talking About Door County? Would you like to work in a
Occupational
Radiology
Physical
The Village of Sister Bay is seeking qualified candidates for the following positions:
The Village of Sister Bay is seeking qualified candidates for the following positions:
Zoning & Code Compliance Officer
Bay is seeking qualified candidates for the following positions:
Zoning & Code Compliance Officer
Compliance Officer
$25 per hour plus benefits
$25 per hour plus benefits
$25 per hour plus benefits
The Zoning & Code Compliance Officer is a full-time position. This person will perform skilled, technical work to interpret and ensure compliance with the zoning code and other municipal codes or ordinances, such as Zoning, Property Maintenance, Parking, and Nuisances, among others. Duties include conducting visual inspections of properties, coordinating investigations and inspections, and providing support to Village staff related to planning and zoning. This role includes inputting data, documenting communications, researching laws, and other skills on a computer, tablet, and smartphone as well as the ability to write letters and citations.
The Zoning & Code Compliance Officer is a full-time position. This person will perform skilled, technical work to interpret and ensure compliance with the zoning code and other municipal codes or ordinances, such as Zoning, Property Maintenance, Parking, and Nuisances, among others. Duties include conducting visual inspections of properties, coordinating investigations and inspections, and providing support to Village staff related to planning and zoning. This role includes inputting data, documenting communications, researching laws, and other skills on a computer, tablet, and smartphone as well as the ability to write letters and citations.
Officer is a full-time position. This person will perform interpret and ensure compliance with the zoning code and ordinances, such as Zoning, Property Maintenance, Parking, others. Duties include conducting visual inspections of investigations and inspections, and providing support to planning and zoning. This role includes inputting data, researching laws, and other skills on a computer, as the ability to write letters and citations.
Education such as a Bachelor of Science degree in Political Science, Planning, Public Administration, Geography, or Sociology is preferred or equivalent work experience.
Education such as a Bachelor of Science degree in Political Science, Planning, Public Administration, Geography, or Sociology is preferred or equivalent work experience. Three years of direct employment experience in the public sector is preferred. This person must have a valid driver’s license and a willingness to use their own transportation to perform their duties within the Village.
Three years of direct employment experience in the public sector is preferred. This person must have a valid driver’s license and a willingness to use their own transportation to perform their duties within the Village.
Bus Driver
$22 per hour
Bus Driver $22 per hour
This is a part-time, seasonal position. This person is responsible for driving, general operation, and routine maintenance of the Village bus. The work schedule involves evening or night hours, weekends, and some holiday hours.
This is a part-time, seasonal position. This person is responsible for driving, general operation, and routine maintenance of the Village bus. The work schedule involves evening or night hours, weekends, and some holiday hours.
of Science degree in Political Science, Planning, Public Sociology is preferred or equivalent work experience. employment experience in the public sector is preferred. This driver’s license and a willingness to use their own duties within the Village.
Applicants must be at least 18 years of age, hold a valid Wisconsin driver’s license, maintain a clean driving record, and have a high school diploma or equivalent
Applicants must be at least 18 years of age, hold a valid Wisconsin driver’s license, maintain a clean driving record, and have a high school diploma or equivalent
Marina Maintenance Technician
$20-24 per hour
Marina Maintenance Technician $20-24 per hour
This is a part-time, seasonal position. This person is responsible for general maintenance and maintenance projects at the Sister Bay Marina. The work schedule may involve evenings, weekends, and some holiday hours. Marina maintenance includes basic carpentry, painting, plumbing repair, and electrical repairs or troubleshooting.
This is a part-time, seasonal position. This person is responsible for general maintenance and maintenance projects at the Sister Bay Marina. The work schedule may involve evenings, weekends, and some holiday hours. Marina maintenance includes basic carpentry, painting, plumbing repair, and electrical repairs or troubleshooting.
$22 per hour
position. This person is responsible for driving, general maintenance of the Village bus. The work schedule involves weekends, and some holiday hours.
Applicants must have a high school diploma or equivalent and be at least 18 years of age. Employee should be experienced in carpentry and basic maintenance.
Applicants must have a high school diploma or equivalent and be at least 18 years of age. Employee should be experienced in carpentry and basic maintenance.
Full job requirements and job descriptions may be obtained online at www.sisterbaywi.gov
Full job requirements and job descriptions may be obtained online at www.sisterbaywi.gov
years of age, hold a valid Wisconsin driver’s license, and have a high school diploma or equivalent
Technician $20-24 per hour position. This person is responsible for general projects at the Sister Bay Marina. The work schedule weekends, and some holiday hours. Marina maintenance painting, plumbing repair, and electrical repairs or trouble-
Full job requirements and job descriptions may be obtained online at www.sisterbaywi.gov
Applications will be accepted until March 31, 2024 or until the positions are filled Applications may be obtained at the Village Administration Office, 2383 Maple Drive, Sister Bay, WI 54234 or online at www.sisterbaywi.gov Applications can be submitted to tasha.rass@sisterbaywi.gov Please call (920) 854-4118 with questions.
Applications will be accepted until March 31, 2024, or until the positions are filled Applications may be obtained at the Village Administration Office, 2383 Maple Drive, Sister Bay, WI 54234 or online at www.sisterbaywi.gov Applications can be submitted to tasha.rass@sisterbaywi.gov Please call (920) 854-4118 with questions.
Applications will be accepted until March 31, 2024, or until the positions are filled. Applications may be obtained at the Village Administration Office, 2383 Maple Drive, Sister Bay, WI 54234 or online at www.sisterbaywi.gov. Applications can be submitted to tasha.rass@sisterbaywi.gov. Please call (920) 854-4118 with questions.
Sister Bay is an equal opportunity employer and provider
Sister Bay is an equal opportunity employer and provider
The Village of Sister Bay is seeking qualified candidates for the following positions:
Stella Maris Catholic parish, located in beautiful Northern Door County, is seeking a full-time faithfilled Business Administrator to oversee its business operations. Serving as a pivotal member of our sixsite parish, including Washington Island, the Business Administrator will contribute to the vibrancy, activity, and financial stability of Stella Maris Stella Maris offers a competitive wage and benefits package, along with a supportive work environment.
If you are interested in this opportunity, please submit your cover letter, resume and professional references to Deacon Tony Abts, busmgrsmdc@gmail.com. Application will be accepted until March 23rd, 2024.
Scan here for the full job posting!
are awesome, equipment is modern, and did we mention you spend your days outside?!
depending on shows in production) and serves at set mealtimes from a newly updated air-conditioned kitchen. Company members range from college interns to seasoned professionals (actors, directors, designers, administrative) who are inclusive, appreciative, and supportive, thus creating an ideal backdrop to a cook’s best efforts. The right candidate will be able to work unsupervised and have good organizational skills, as well as be ServeSafe certified, have some professional cooking experience, and a positive, inclusive demeanor. The position includes seasonal housing, competitive weekly salary, and the opportunity to be part of a treasured institution. 40 hrs./ week on average. $23 - $25/hour. Meals included. Fun environment, creative opportunities abound.
or
for more information
Now hiring Rural Carrier Associates (RCA) in Door County Starting at $20.38/hr with benefits
In this role you deliver and collect packages along routes in rural areas during weekdays, weekends and holidays. You also provide a variety of services to customers along your assigned route. You may be required to use a personal vehicle if a postal vehicle is not provided. As an RCA you may be eligible to receive health benefits and promotion to a career opportunity. This position is ideal for candidates that enjoy staying active and working independently outdoors with occasional customer service interactions.
Please Call 920-868-3051 for details and questions on how to apply
COMMUNITY
Education / Sports / Life Notes
PACKERLAND CONFERENCE
Strivers page 3
(From left) Door County YMCA Strivers Xcel Silver 12-and-older gymnasts Keira Clark, Lauren Gaida and Evelynn Kelsey. Submitted.
Drew Daoust Repeats as Player of the Year
by KEVIN BONESKE kevin@ppulse.com
Southern Door junior point guard Drew Daoust
has been named the Packerland Conference’s Player of the Year in boys basketball for the second season in a row.
Daoust, who holds Door County’s career scoring mark with 2,225 points, tallied 885 points this season to lead the league- and regional-champion Eagles, who went 16-0 in conference play and 22-5 overall.
He was one of four unanimous selections to the all-conference rst team along with Kewaunee senior Thomas Stangel, Oconto junior Carter Koch and Algoma sophomore Parker Lischka.
Gibraltar’s top scorer from this season, senior Braden Sitte, also was named to the rst team.
The three Door County players named to the AllPackerland second team include Southern Door senior center Matthew Malvitz and Sturgeon Bay’s top-two scorers, senior Calvin Richard and junior Jackson Starr.
The Eagles had two juniors receive honorable mention, forward Tyler Neinas and guard Caden Pierre.
Sturgeon Bay senior Garrett Ulberg and Sevastopol senior Frankie de Young also received honorable mention.
Southern Door junior guard Drew Daoust (1) became the county’s all-time scoring leader and the first to surpass 2,000 career points in 2023-24, making
for Player of
Two Pioneer Girls Hoopsters on First Team In girls basketball, Packerland co-champion Sevastopol had two juniors who were the team’s toptwo scorers make the All-Conference rst team, Naomi Rikkola and Kayla Ranly.
BOYS BASKETBALL
Eagles Fall to Freedom in Sectional Semifinals
by KEVIN BONESKE kevin@ppulse.com
The season came to an end March 7 for Southern Door’s boys basketball team.
The No. 2-seeded Eagles lost in the WIAA Division 3 sectional semi nals to topseeded Freedom, 80-50, in a game played at Green Bay Preble High School.
The Irish, who led 44-23 at hal ime, dominated the game early on with outside shooting, recording 11 of their 16 three-point baskets in the rst 18 minutes. Southern Door made only four threes for the entire game.
Gibraltar Broadening Construction Scope
by CRAIG STERRETT craig@ppulse.com
Interest income on the $29.8 million building referendum approved a year ago by Gibraltar school district voters has been so good that the school board has expanded the scope of the project.
During the annual meeting in fall 2023, Gibraltar schools superintendent Brett Stousland noted that some additional repairs and improvements could be added to the project due to interest collected while awaiting the start of construction this spring and summer.
The district conservatively identi ed an additional $2.6-$2.8 million in interest income, and on Feb. 26, the board voted to use $400,000 to pay down principal. Meanwhile, CG Schmidt and design partner Plunkett Raysich Architects (PRA) will increase the electrical service size to allow for future expansion at the elementary school and high school; demolish and reconstruct elementary school bathrooms; and revamp failing sanitary systems, CG Schmidt project manager Tim Bickert said. Bickert said the voter-approved $29.8 million will allow for $32.4 million in improvements.
Packerland Conference continued on page 3 Gibraltar Construction
The Eagles were led by Drew Daoust with 20 points, followed by Matthew Malvitz with 12 points.
Drew Kortz led three Freedom players in double gures with a game-high 21 points, which included ve threes. Matthew Eberhardt added 18 points, while Donovan Davis scored 17 more.
Southern Door, which had won 17 games in a row going into the sectional semi nals, nished the season 22-5 overall.
Eagles head coach Josh VandenBush said he’s proud of how the team performed all season long, having also gone 16-0 in the Packerland Conference to win the league title for the second year in a row.
“It is extremely di cult to go undefeated in conference play, but our kids stepped up to the plate, put in the work, and did something that is extremely rare,” he said. “To go along with that, winning a regional championship and getting to play in a sectional game was a goal of ours from the rst day of practice.”
Southern Door will graduate two starters, Malvitz at center and Will Jandrin at forward. The team’s top scorer, Daoust, will return for his nal season next year a er having already compiled 2,225 career points, the current Door County scoring record. The Eagles’ point guard needs fewer points in 2024-25 than what he nished with this season (885) to reach 3,000.
“I hope the boys were able to enjoy the moment, because a regional championship does not come around every year,” VandenBush said. “Overall, I am grateful for my team, the season, and the deep playo run we were able to make.”
Southern Door’s Drew Daoust (1) puts up a shot during the March 7 WIAA Division 3 sectional semifinal against Freedom. KEVIN NAZE
Architect Paige Steed conducted a drive-through video within Gibraltar school drawings on March 11. CRAIG STERRETT
education NOTES
SOUTHERN DOOR ANNOUNCES VALEDICTORIAN, SALUTATORIAN
Thomas Jackson, son of Mary and Christopher Jackson, and James Zittlow, son of Mike and Sue Zittlow, are the valedictorian and salutatorian respectively of the Southern Door County School District Class of 2024.
Upon graduation, Jackson will attend the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, New York. Zittlow is undecided on his choice of university, but plans to pursue a degree in computer science and mathematics.
Throughout high school, Thomas took rigorous classes and earned a 4.0 GPA. Zittlow achieved High Honor Roll status each semester and has also distinguished himself as an AP Scholar and recipient of the Congressional Award.
Thomas attained the rank of Eagle Scout, attended Badger Boys State, taught Sunday school at his church, and currently serves as the Wisconsin Youth in Government Senate President. He earned varsity letters in football, wrestling, cross country, and track, served as class president, and participated in the National Honor Society, Forensics and the math team.
Zittlow has been involved in activities including math team, basketball, golf, National Honor Society, Student Athlete Scholars, National Society of High School Scholars, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Boy Scouts, Badger Boys State, Wisconsin Leadership Seminar, and volunteering with the Brussels Lions Club. His achievements include 1st Team All-State for Math Team, attaining the rank of Eagle Scout, and being recognized as a National Merit Scholar Finalist.
Gibraltar
Construction continued from page 1
Added to the project are a remodeled courtyard next to a new science classroom, and enlarged multipurpose spaces designed to alleviate scheduling hurdles and overcrowding. New plans also extend locker and changing room spaces, and re-envision bus and parent drop-o points to support student safety and tra c ow. Bickert said CG Schmidt is seeking local subcontractors and materials, such as stone for the front of the addition.
Zittlow is engaged in the IT Youth Apprenticeship program and will have completed over 50 college credits by the end of his senior year.
STUDENTS STILL CAN ENTER CIVICS GAMES
The deadline to register for the Wisconsin Newspaper Foundation’s Wisconsin Civics Games has been extended until March 18.
The competition, which aims to promote civics education and encourage Wisconsin high school students to develop an interest in public service, will host regional competitions virtually on April 11-12. The top-performing teams will advance to the state finals May 10 at the Wisconsin State Capitol. Members of the state championship-winning team will receive $2,000 scholarships to Wisconsin colleges or universities.
Once teams have identified their participants, they can sign up to participate online at tinyurl.com/4y6utw4z. Following registration, participating teams will receive “The Framework of Your Wisconsin Government” textbook and access to several online resources to help them prepare for competition.
OPEN DOOR PRIDE
SCHOLARSHIP AVAILABLE
Open Door Pride will award a $500 IDEA (Inclusivity, Diversity, Equality and Accessibility) scholarship to a graduating Door County senior who demonstrates a passion for inclusivity, diversity, increasing sensitivity, and building community. Applications are due by April 30. Requirements and guidelines are available at doorcountyscholarships.org Open Door Pride’s mission is to a rm diversity in Door County through inclusion for all.
GIBRALTAR ADDS NAMES TO HONOR ROLL
Gibraltar Area School this week provided some additional names that were not provided for the high school honor roll published last week. They include: Highest Honor Roll – Ombeline Finck. High Honor Roll – Delaney Fitzgerald, Charlotte Grasse. Honor Roll – Christopher Orsted, Seth Parker.
With just two spectators in the audience and a few watching remotely on March 11, Paige Steed from PRA led a live “drive-through video,” steering her way through drawings for the exterior and interior of the new school. Her live video-game-style demonstration showed the gymnasium, front commons, interior classroom additions, centralized o ces and other locations scheduled for construction in 2025, as well the two-story rear classroom addition, and interior kitchen, team-room and boiler-room spaces scheduled for construction this summer.
• Team / high series: Rouer’s Grand Slam 1,572
• High game: Sara Mueller 249, Missy Mueller 210, Megan Pavlik 204
• High series: Sara Mueller 626, Megan Pavlik 558, Barb Pavlik 553
Radical Majors League
March 5, 2024
Apple Valley Classic League March 4, 2024
• Team / high game: Sawyer Harbor Pub & Grill 641 • Team / high series: Scared Splitless 1,812
• Team / high game/series: Kring Automotive 1,143/3,287
• Women / high game: Natasha LeMieux 254, Caitlyn Krishka 191
• Men / high game: Scott Voeks 279, Jeremy DuBois 274, Karsten Board
268
• Men / high series: Scott Voeks 757, Aaron Shepit 696, Paul Burlo 685
Sister Bay Tavern League March 7, 2024
• Team / high game/series: Husby’s 799/2,251
• Men / high game: Brett Anschutz
258, Bubba Laughlin 240, Ken Church
224
• Women / high game: Michelle Pfannenstiel 216, Alisa Rupp 214, Michelle Hartel 188
• Women / high series: Alisa Rupp 622, Michelle Pfannenstiel 558, Penny Kramer 523
• Men / high game: TJ Lautenbach 268, Jared Meyer 248, Bob Kramer 246
• Men / high series: TJ Lautenbach 697, Bob Kramer 641, Derek Kramer 637
Women’s Masters League
March 4, 2024
• Team / high game: Kring Automotive 541
• Women / high series: Natasha LeMieux 636, Caitlyn Krishka 505
• Men / high game: Cody Suess 300, Je Sperber 269, Joe Baudhuin 268
• Men / high series: Je Sperber 816, Cody Suess 771, Joe Baudhuin 728
Columbia 300 Washout League
March 6, 2023
• Team / high game: Chuck’s Pub and Grub 1,185
• Team / high series: Innovative LED Solutions 3,314
• Women / high game: Natasha LeMieux 198, Kathy Franke 190, Rebecca Hankins 187
• Men / high series: Brett Anschutz 675, Ken Church 659, Jason Daubner 573
Friday Mixed League Feb. 23, 2023
• Team / high game/series: Pin Ticklers 853/2,477
• Women / high game: Penny Kramer 212, Vale Bley 211, Jody Wheat 208
• Women / high series: Penny Kramer 578, Jody Wheat 569, Caitlyn Krishka 536
• Women / high series: Kathy Franke 560, Natasha LeMieux 529, Rebecca Hankins 520
• Men / high game: Bob Kramer 290, Scott LaLuzerne 267, Matt Heldmann 244 • Men / high series: Bob Kramer 760, Scott LaLuzerne 726, Travis DeGrave 656
Thomas Jackson. Submitted.
James Zittlow. Submitted.
Strivers Sweep Podium, Set Sights on State Title
Xcel Silver gymnasts grabbed gold in the team competition with a score of 114.5. The Strivers won gold in the all-around competition in the 9-and-under, 10-11, and 12-and-over age categories.
In the 12-and-over age group, the Strivers swept the top-three places in the all-around. Lauren Gaida won gold, scoring 38.35 out of a possible 40 points. Keira Clark earned silver with a 37.7, while Evelynn Kelsey took bronze with a 37.6. Gaida also won in the vault, beam and bars and placed second in the oor exercise. Clark nished rst on the oor, second on the beam and fourth on the
bars. Kelsey earned silver on vault and bronze on beam and bars. Greta Virgin placed third on vault, fourth on beam and h on oor. Destiney Romero nished fourth on vault. In the 9-and-under category, Ellie Kelsey grabbed gold in the all-around, oor and bars, and also placed fourth on the beam. In the 10-11 age group, Sawyer Soukup won gold in the all-around, beam and vault. She also placed fourth on the oor and h on the bars. Brinley Newton placed rst on bars, second on the oor, third in the all-around and fourth on vault. Delaney Allen placed fourth on bars.
Estelle Duerst led the Level 7 team to a silver team trophy. She won the all-around with a 36.7 and balance beam with a 9.45. Duerst also took bronze on vault and fourth on bars. Amira Anschutz won bars, earned silver on vault, bronze in the allaround and nished fourth on oor. Portia
Hah earned silver on bars and bronze in the all-around and oor.
Shaylyn Asher competed in the Platinum division with high-school girls aged 16-17. She earned gold on bars scoring 9.0, silver in the all-around with a 34.7, and silver on the oor with a 9.35.
The Strivers will head to the State Tournament in Fond du Lac on March 16-17. Their Xcel Silver team is currently undefeated. The girls will defend their 2022-23 state title, with the goal to return from Fond du Lac as back-to-back state champions.
(From left) Door County YMCA Strivers Xcel Silver 12-and-older gymnasts Keira Clark, Lauren Gaida and Evelynn Kelsey stand on the podium after earning the top three places in the all-around competition during the Fire and Ice Invitational held the first weekend in March at the Kettle Moraine YMCA in West Bend. Submitted.
continued from page 1
Packerland Conference
Rikkola this season scored 465 points to reach 1,104 for her career, 219 away from the school record of 1992 graduate Michelle Bushman.
Southern Door’s leading scorer, senior Payton Gilbertson, was also named to the rst team.
Gibraltar’s two top scorers, juniors Andie Schar and Mikala Gorham, and Sturgeon Bay’s top scorer, junior Dasha Yeltysheva, all made the All-Conference second team.
Two seniors who started for the Pioneers this season, Libby Ash and Katie Spude, and Eagles senior Bella Price received honorable mention.
The Packerland’s girls basketball Player of the Year from conference co-champion Kewaunee is sophomore Jade Kroll.
life NOTES
As a free public service to our readers, the Peninsula Pulse presents Life Notes, devoted to the notable milestones in life, from birth to significant birthdays to engagements, weddings and obituaries. The deadline for submissions is noon on Friday. Send submissions to lifenotes@ppulse.com. The Pulse reserves the right to edit submissions to conform to space. Call 920.839.2121 for details. Birth notices are from Door County Medical Center in Sturgeon Bay unless otherwise noted.
DEATHS
See full obituary. Roger Charles Bahlert
March 9, 1935 - March 4, 2024
Michael Morley May 7, 1947 - March 2, 2024
OBITUARIES
Kevin Paul Gerke
Feb. 2, 1961 - Feb. 27, 2024
Kevin Paul Gerke, 63, of Sturgeon Bay, died on Tuesday, Feb. 27, 2024. He was born on Feb. 2, 1961, in Green Bay, to Andrew and Leila (Johnson) Gerke. He was raised in De Pere, attended East De Pere High School, and graduated with the class of 1979. He continued his education at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay. Kevin owned and operated Kevin’s Door Landscaping since 2017. Additionally, he owned Pitch It Productions. He wrote movie and tv scripts, both concepts and shorts. Kevin found living in Door County to be a great place to write and enjoy nature and beaches. He was an avid jet skier, had a love for dogs, sports and being an entrepreneur. No services at Kevin’s request. Expressions of sympathy, memories, and photos of Kevin may be shared with his family through his tribute page at huehnsfuneralhome.com.
Bruce R. Tebon
Sept. 4, 1946 - Feb. 19, 2024 Bruce Ruben Tebon, 77, of Sturgeon Bay,, died on Feb. 19, 2024, in Phoenix, Arizona. Bruce was born on Sept. 4, 1946, in Escanaba. After spending his early years in the UP, the family moved to Sturgeon Bay. He graduated from Sturgeon Bay High School in 1966 and was drafted into the US Army where he defended his country for two years with honor and pride. Bruce dedicated 20 years to Peterson Builders prior to moving into insurance sales. A service to celebrate Bruce’s life will be held at 10 am on March 15, 2024, at Forbes Funeral Home, 319 W. Spruce St, Sturgeon Bay. Visitation was from 4 to 7 pm on Thursday at the funeral home and from 9 am until the time of services at the funeral home on Friday. Burial with military honors will be held at St. Francis Xavier Cemetery in Brussels after the service on Friday.
Tiani LeMieux Named Wrestler of the Year
Sturgeon Bay/Sevastopol sophomore Tiani LeMieux, who nished second this season at 138 pounds among girls wrestlers at the WIAA state individual tournament, has been named the Packerland Wrestler of the Year.
LeMieux, who quali ed for state for the second year in a row and received all-conference honors at 150 pounds, nished the season 36-6 overall.
The All-Packerland wrestling team also includes three boys from Southern Door – Ethan Alexander (126), Mason Motquin (132) and Spencer Slezewski (138) – and two boys from Sturgeon Bay/Sevastopol – Spencer Madsen (144) and Zak Wrobel (190).
by
is
Naomi
Jade Kroll
during the Dec. 21 girls basketball game at Sevastopol. Rikkola and Kroll were both named to the All-Packerland Conference first team, with Kroll also selected the league’s Player of the Year. KEVIN BONESKE FILE
Michael Morley, age 76, of Sheboygan, passed away on Saturday, March 2, 2024. Mike was born May 7, 1947 in Park Rapids, Minnesota to the late Robert and Ruth (Monson) Morley. He graduated from Lyman High School, Lyman, Nebraska, in 1965, where he was a multi-sport athlete lettering in football, basketball, and track. He continued his athletic career in college playing basketball and earning degrees from Humboldt State University and Florida Atlantic University. Mike proudly served his country in the U.S. Navy during the Vietnam War.
In 1976, Mike married Laura Jean Dulberg in Boca Raton, Florida. After marrying Barbara Kay Iltis in 1982, he had two children. The family lived in Sturgeon Bay, Portland, Texas, and Green Bay. His entire career was spent as an engineer in the naval shipbuilding industry for the federal government before retiring in 2011. Mike had a wide variety of interests and was especially knowledgeable of many things mechanically related and enjoyed US history. In his free time Mike enjoyed playing golf, camping, and traveling - especially to visit family. In 2023 he was even able to travel to Alaska, finally completing his goal of visiting all 50 states.
Survivors include his son Christopher Morley of Sheboygan, daughter Kayla (Jim) Clinton and their daughter Lucy of Sheboygan Falls, brother Bruce (Laurie Albright) Morley of Boulder, Colorado, and sister Christine (Mike) Newlon of Lincoln, Nebraska. Mike is further survived by nieces and nephews.
A memorial service will be held at a later date. Contributions in memory of Mike can be made to the American Diabetes Association.
March 9, 1935 - March 4, 2024
Roger Charles Bahlert, 88, of the Town of Sevastopol, was called Home to be with the Lord, Monday night, March 4, 2024 at Sturgeon Bay Health Services.
He was born March 9, 1935 in the Town of Liberty Grove, the son of Raymond Edmund Bahlert and Lucy Mary (Hoffner) Bahlert. Roger grew up attending St. Mary’s of the Lake Catholic Church in Baileys Harbor and Liberty Grade School. He graduated from Gibraltar High School with the class of 1953.
Roger enlisted to serve his country with the United States Army, entering into active service on June 20, 1957. He completed artillery school and was stationed at Fort Polk in Louisiana. Roger was honorably discharged from the Army on June 19, 1959 with the rank of Specialist (SP4) and earned the designation of Sharpshooter (Rifle M-1 .30 Cal). He remained on Reserve status with the Army until June 19, 1963.
Roger married Jean Jeanette Becker on January 20, 1962 at St. Mary’s of the Lake Catholic Church in Baileys Harbor. They resided together in the Town of Sevastopol. Roger was an auto mechanic service parts manager. He was initially employed with Ballo Motors in Sturgeon Bay, Kestner Ford, Dick Bosman Ford, and then Bill Boettcher Automotive (Chevrolet) until his retirement. He and Jean were blessed with over 57 years of marriage. Jean died Nov. 19, 2019.
Roger was a member of Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Institute. He liked spending time tending to his vegetable garden at home. Working with cars throughout his life, Roger had a passion for old cars. Mercury and Ford were his favorite models.
Roger will be missed by his daughter, Lisa (fiancé, Pete Peot) Englebert of Sturgeon Bay; sister, Terri (Rod) Wagner of Egg Harbor; best friend, Jim McKuen; other relatives; and friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents; wife; sisterin-law, Susan (Wayne) Jarman; and other relatives.
A Mass of Christian Burial was prayed at 11 am on Tuesday, March 12, 2024 at Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Institute with Fr. Matthew Rappl as celebrant. Military honors by the United States Army and V.F.W. Post #3088 followed at the church. Roger was laid to rest in Little Sister Cemetery in the Town of Liberty Grove, beside his wife, Jean.
Visitation for family and friends was held from 4 pm until 7 pm on Monday, March 11, 2024 at Huehns Funeral Home in Sturgeon Bay with a parish wake service prayed at 7 pm Visitation continued at the church on Tuesday from 9:30 am until 10:40 am.
“Our family would like to express our heartfelt thanks to the staffs of Sturgeon Bay Health Services and Unity Hospice for the wonderful and compassionate care you gave.”
Expressions of sympathy, memories, and photos of Roger may be shared with his family through his tribute page at huehnsfuneralhome.com.
ROGER CHARLES BAHLERT
MICHAEL MORLEY
May 7, 1947 - March 2, 2024
Sturgeon Bay/Sevastopol’s Tiani LeMieux has been named the Packerland Conference Wrestler of the Year. Submitted.
Sevastopol’s
Rikkola (right)
guarded
Kewaunee’s
(34)
This St. Patrick’s-Day Weekend
Sturgeon Bay (and the rest of the county) has looked a bit gray lately, but come March 16, it’ll look a whole lot greener. That’s thanks to a full day of festivities that will spill over and carry on into the actual St. Patrick’s Day (March 17).
The annual parade through downtown Sturge will start at 11 am at Sawyer Park via Oak Street. From there, it’ll travel down Madison Avenue, cross the Michigan Street bridge, proceed down Third Avenue and finish at Jefferson Street. Third Avenue PlayWorks will get in on the fun with its last indoor winter market of the season, 10 am – 2 pm at
Sipping On Whiskey Ditch
by SAM WATSON sam@ppulse.com
Ever heard of a whiskey ditch? According to musician Simon Hedeen, the term comes from Montana. There, early pioneers made rye whiskey, which they would serve up with a scoop of slushy snow from the nearest ditch.
This mixture was the drink of choice of one of Hedeen’s friends – aptly nicknamed “Montana” – and later, the namesake of Hedeen’s band. Whiskey Ditch picked its moniker under pressure from an entertainment magazine that needed a way to refer to them. It was a decision the group didn’t take too seriously.
239 N. 3rd Ave. There, guests can browse art, goodies, knit clothing and more by local and visiting vendors.
Before and aft er the parade, Kitty O’Reilly’s Irish Pub will host its annual St. Patrick’s celebration. In addition to providing live music throughout the weekend, the pub will dish up Irish breakfasts 8-11 am on both Saturday and Sunday, and festive favorites like corned beef and cabbage, fish and chips, green beer and Irish stew, 11 am – 10 pm on Saturday, and 11 am – 9 pm on Sunday. On both days, the first 25 guests will win a free t-shirt. You don’t need the luck of the Irish figure out what’s all going on for St. Paddy’s weekend; we have that info here. All addresses listed are in Sturgeon Bay.
Paint the Town Green continued on page 2
“We thought, ‘No way is this band going to last,’” Hedeen said with a laugh. But last they did. Since forming in 2010, Whiskey Ditch (in varying iterations) has been playing danceable rock covers from Johnny Cash to Blink-182, mostly in the vicinity of its Green Bay home-base. The current rendition of the band features Bill Bilsky on drums, Todd Nault on lead guitar, Hedeen on rhythm guitar, Greg Muller on keyboard and Ryan Manthei on bass; the latter three members also provide vocals.
Judging by the band’s sound, you wouldn’t be able to tell its original members began playing music later in life (by musician standards – they were all in their late 20s or early 30s when they learned their first few songs together.)
Sipping on Whiskey Ditch continued on page 2
The St. Patrick’s Day parade in Sturgeon Bay. rachEL LUKaS FILE
The crowd at Kitty O’Reilly’s Irish Pub celebrates in style. rachEL LUKaS FILE
(From left) Ryan Manthei and Simon Hedeen. rachEL LUKaS FILE
))entertainment
Paint the Town Green
continued from page 1
MARCH 16
St. Patrick’s Day Parade
11 am Downtown Sturgeon Bay
Festive floats will travel from Sawyer Park to Jefferson Street.
Kitty O’Reilly’s St. Patrick’s Celebration, Day One
Throughout the day; breakfast starts at 8 am
Kitty O’Reilly’s Irish Pub, 59 E. Oak
St.
Bagpipe tunes at 12 pm will be followed by alternating high-energy performances by The Paul Hanna Band and Whiskey Ditch (who you can “meet” in this week’s music section.)
The two bands will take turns rocking out 1-7 pm.
Green Glass-Blowing
12-2 pm
Popelka Trenchard Glass, 64 S. 2nd Ave.
Gallerist Jeremy Popelka will blow various shades of green glass to make a leprechaun’s hat, a shamrock and more.
Go Green at Crossroads
2 pm Crossroads at Big Creek, 2041 Michigan St.
The focus of this week’s Science Saturday, an educational program designed for grades 3 and up, will be the color green.
Leprechaun-Painting Workshop 2-5 pm
ARTicipation Studio and Gallery, 10 East Oak St.
Gallerist Claudia Scimeca will lead participants in painting a sassy leprechaun. Materials and beverages are included in the $55 class fee.
St. Paddy’s Party Throughout the day Stone Harbor Resort, 107 N. 1st Ave.
At 12 pm, country-rock unit John Welch Band will take the stage. They’ll be followed by an acoustic set by alternative rockers Elliott Waits for No One at 6:30 pm.
MARCH 17
Kitty O’Reilly’s St. Patrick’s Celebration, Day Two Throughout the day; breakfast starts at 8 am
Kitty O’Reilly’s Irish Pub, 59 E. Oak St.
DJ Dan will play a set with an Irish twist, 12-3 pm. Giveaways will be awarded throughout the day.
Sipping on Whiskey Ditch
continued from page 1
Hedeen, for one, taught himself guitar because he could see himself doing so in retirement, and thought he might as well get a head start.
“Why do I need to wait another 30-plus years to pick up a guitar when I can try right now?” Hedeen recalled thinking. “I might be halfway decent at it by the time I get to retirement.”
Another factor behind his decision was a Door County band, Mullet Hunters. Seeing how much fun the band had during shows – and becoming friends with the members over the years – propelled Hedeen towards performing.
A St. Paddy’s Set
Whiskey Ditch will rock alongside The Paul Hanna Band during the annual St. Patrick’s Day celebration at Kitty O’Reilly’s Irish Pub on March 16.
This double-feature show, which Whiskey Ditch started playing around 2015, has become a St. Paddy’s tradition at Kitty’s. The crowd has gotten bigger and bigger every year since Whiskey Ditch started playing Kitty’s St. Patrick’s celebrations, Hedeen said. This year, the bands will play in a tent on the side of the building
to give themselves and the audience more breathing room than they had at previous shows.
During the extended performance, two bands take turns onstage, transitioning between their sets seamlessly, Hedeen said. At the end of every hour-long set, Whiskey Ditch will start its last song, and when it’s about halfway through, the other band will join them and start playing along. Then Whiskey Ditch leaves the stage and the other band finishes the song they started. Aft er an hour, the cycle repeats.
“As an audience, you get to see one band for an hour, then another band on the same stage for an hour,” Hedeen said. “It keeps it fresh [with] different approaches to songs.”
This unique setup benefits the bands too. It helps them fill a six-hour performance window, which would be exhaustingly long for just one band, and retain their
audiences, who tend to leave venues when bands are on break.
Band members just have to make sure they don’t party too hard between sets, Hedeen said. But, it being a St. Paddy’s celebration in northern Wisconsin, the audience tends to drink enough green beer and Guinness to go around; Hedeen joked that they can track the progressively festive mood from the stage.
St. Paddy’s concerts at Kitty’s end with a bang, Hedeen said. To wrap up the evening, the two bands pick two or three songs to play together on one very full stage.
“It’s probably not as perfect as one band playing, but the bands love it and the audiences love it,” Hedeen said.
A bagpiper will kick off the music at Kitty’s on March 16, 12 pm. Then Whiskey Ditch and The Paul Hanna Band will share the stage 1-7 pm. Kitty’s is located at 59 E. Oak St. in Sturgeon Bay.
from Destination Sturgeon Bay’s website.
D’Fusion. from the band’s Facebook page.
Eric Hagen. from the artist’s Facebook page.
Ben Larsen. rachEL LUKaS FILE
Greg Muller. rachEL LUKaS FILE
Our Irish Heritage
Five things you might not know about Irish contributions to Door County
by CRAIG STERRETT craig@ppulse.com
Door County may be better-known for Scandinavian or Belgian heritage, but it has even slightly more cause to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day than the country at large –10% of the Door County population identify with Irish heritage, compared with 9.5% across the U.S., according to the 2020 U.S. Census data.
While some 19th century immigrants arrived in groups to establish colonies, the Irish escaping English oppression, poverty and potato-crop failures oft en came as single families, individuals or brothers and cousins, according to Farewell to the Homeland: Immigration to Northeast Wisconsin.
That history noted that the Irish were greeted by discrimination and moved on from eastern states such as New Hampshire, which required them to swear an oath against the Pope and banned them from owning land until 1856.
But, did you know?
Washington Island had an Irish settlement. The 1860 U.S. Census identified more than 40 Irish-born men residing on Washington Island, which, according to town archivist Steve Reiss, had a population of 650 at the time.
A majority were ages 25-45 and lived in cabins in “The Irish Village” near the deep-water dock along the west edge of Washington Harbor and north of Schoolhouse Beach, Reiss said.
“That harbor was the only one where sailing ships could come in,” Reiss said. “The main livelihood of everybody up here at that time was fishing.”
The island population dropped by more than 50% near the end of the Civil War, as men went to war and life on the island became even tougher, he said.
Baileys Harbor Bene ted from an Irishman’s Generosity
In the mid-19th century, many of Baileys Harbor’s Irish families resided near Kangaroo Lake and the McArdle families had farmland near there.
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The fifth of eight siblings, Michael McArdle attended the teachers college at Jacksonport, taught school, studied law, published five arithmetic books, landed a government position during the development of the Panama Canal and became president of the parent company of Sunbeam Corp., according to the historical society.
He put Baileys Harbor residents to work during the Great Depression building Maxwelton Braes lodge and golf course. His generosity also enabled the construction of the St. Mary of the Lake Catholic Church, McArdle Cancer Research Laboratory at Madison and Baileys Harbor Town Hall and McArdle Library.
“The house that he and Grandpa lived in is where the cart garage for Maxwelton Braes is,” said Mike Rakowiecki, grandson of Michael’s brother, James McArdle, a longtime farmer.
Yes, O’Meara’s Irish House is Irish
When Megan O’Meara founded her business near Gibraltar Area School in 1999, it had operated since 1973 as Murray’s Irish House. She vacationed here for years with family and jumped at the chance to buy the store when she discovered it was for sale.
Her dad, retired McHenry, Illinois police chief Tom O’Meara, helps at the store. He grew up in the no-longer-Irish, west-Chicago Austin neighborhood, the son of policeman Martin O’Meara.
A photo in the shop of Martin in uniform serves as a conversation starter. Police officers and firefighters from throughout the Midwest have given Tom uniform
patches, which he displays on beams throughout the store.
Megan said Irish girls who’ve worked for her in summers have said Door County reminds them of Ireland, due to small shops and stone fences around fields.
The Carmody Family’s Impact Countywide Egg Harbor researcher Giz Herbst said the Carmody family had a major presence not only south of Sturgeon Bay near present-day Robert M. Carmody County Park but also in Egg Harbor Township.
Land near Sunny Point Road was at one time called Carmody Prairie. William and Margaret Carmody donated land in 1876 for St. John of the Desert Catholic Church at the present-day St. John the Baptist Cemetery. In 1888, a slightly larger church went up just to the north in the location where the Sawyer family erected the Landmark sign along state Highway 42 in the 1980s.
Early Leader Landed at Forestville by Accident James Keogh, formerly of Dublin, with his wife and children and three Irish men from the Perry family, disembarked, went for a stroll, missed their boat and got recruited by a talkative War of 1812 veteran, Maj. James McCormick, to work and settle in Forestville, according to Hjalmar Holand’s Door County history stories. Keogh became a banker, mayor of Sturgeon Bay, president of a land company and W.O. Brown Manufacturing, officer of the Sturgeon Bay Dock Co. and Ahnapee and Western Railroad, and a one-term member of the Wisconsin General Assembly (1891-93).
TALKING UP THE TATAKI
Tickets Available for Women’s Fund Story Slam
The Women’s Fund of Door County will present its 11th annual Tales of Our Lives Story Slam on April 20. The event will be held at Northern Sky’s Gould Theater for the first time this year.
“I’ve been attending the event annually and was a ‘slammer’ for the first Tales of Our Lives,” Northern Sky Theater managing director Holly Feldman said. “Our mutual commitment to storytelling is a perfect match for Northern Sky Theater, and we can’t wait to witness these beautiful stories in our Gould Theater.”
As in previous years, five storytellers will take the stage to share their stories. Accompanied by the music of local blues artist Cathy Grier, each tale will revolve around a
cheese over a tzatziki base, finished with diced cucumbers. Big Brothers Big Sisters of Door county is the beneficiary of this month’s Donation creation. Wild Tomato is located at 4023 State hwy 42 in Fish creek and 10677 N. Bay Shore Dr. in Sister Bay.
MARTINI TIME IN CARLSVILLE
Door county Distillery has a new martini menu at their tasting bar. martini options include the Door county Sidecar, handlebar martini, cherry Lemon Drop, chocolate covered cherry, Ward 8 and the rudolphtini. Door county Distillery is located at 5806 State hwy 42 in carlsville.
unique experience, relationship or life lesson that left a profound mark on the speaker.
This year’s storytellers include:
•Katie Dahl, who will reflect on her adolescence and the grief she holds onto aft er learning to accept her feelings;
•Allison Haus, who will discuss how the course of her life changed while she was working on her postdoctorate in France;
•Mel Ripp, who will take to the stage for the third time to share a journal excerpt from when she was in graduate school at 22 years old;
•Georgina Saunderson Hatch, whose story begins with her childhood in Jamaica and continues to her presentday experiences as a mother of two children with special needs; •And Jewel Peterson Ouradnik, who will talk about growing up on her family’s resort in Rowley’s Bay, which she and her husband owned until the devastating 2023 fire. The 7 pm story slam will be followed by a reception. Tickets cost $30 and can be purchased from Northern Sky Theater’s box office starting March 15.
grandfather, Martin, in her Irish-goods store in Fish Creek.
reader’s Theatre will present its second show, a one-night-only performance of Arsenic and Old Lace on march 15, 7 pm.
The seven-member troupe consists of mark moede, Bruce Newbern, Vance Toivonen, christopher Powless, richard carlson, Donna Johnson and founder cherryl Fonfara, who came together to do readings from stage, movie and radio plays. combined, the actors have over 100 years of theater experience. Tickets to Arsenic and Old Lace cost $15. The play will be performed at arTicipation Studio and Gallery, 10 E. Oak St. in Sturgeon Bay.
LIVE COMEDY AT DOOR COUNTY GALA
a trio of comedians – mike Stricker, abe auer and Vanessa Tortolano – will take the stage at Door county Gala on march 23.
WASHINGTON ISLAND SCANDINAVIAN DANCERS TO VISIT NORWAY
The Washington Island Scandinavian Fest Dancers have received a $30,000 grant from the american-Scandinavian Foundation (aSF) to help fund their 75th anniversary trip to Valdres, Norway. It was one of nine non-profit organizations to receive aSF’s public program grant this year. aSF began its Scandinavian Folk arts and cultural Traditions program in 2017 to nurture Scandinavian folk-art traditions in the upper midwest. Since 1949, Washington Island Scandinavian Fest Dancers have given community members from preschoolers to elders an opportunity to celebrate Scandinavian heritage via dance. Thirty adult and teen dancers from the organization will visit Norway June 21-28 to experience the cultural context of folk dancing. Upon their return, they will perform at the island’s Trueblood Performing arts center.
GRIFFON
STRING QUARTET AWARDED GREEN BAY GRANT
midsummer’s music’s resident ensemble, the Griffon String Quartet, received a grant for its work with older adults from the Tom and Jan Krautkramer Family Fund of the Greater Green Bay community Foundation.
The quartet offers B Double Sharp performances for patients with alzheimer’s or dementia as well as their caregivers. The events are intended to create a welcoming atmosphere in which people can share their feelings about memory loss and connect with others who are facing the same concerns.
“many times, a caregiver will tell us following a program that their loved one had a great day thanks to our music performance and interaction,” midsummer’s music Executive Director allyson Fleck said. “This grant will help sustain and expand our important work with older adults in Green Bay.”
))outdoor
March 15 thru April 19
TO ISLAND TO MAINLAND
8:00 am 1:00
by SAM WATSON sam@ppulse.com
IThe Basics of Bird Identification
shape and size – can help greatly while trying to identify it.
may be 23, but you wouldn’t be able to tell based on my hobbies. I love crocheting, baking and the occasional crossword puzzle – and I’m starting to think birdwatching is the next step in my journey to become the youngest old person ever.
I’m no bird buff as it stands, but I’m in the perfect place to become one. Door County is full of resources to help its visitors and residents become more knowledgeable about the natural world that surrounds us on the peninsula.
I discussed one such resource in an article last week: a recent Door County Land Trust webinar, led by the organization’s community conservation coordinator, Paige Witek, about bird identification. Last week, we discussed the gear Witek recommended, including binoculars, field guides and birding apps; this week, I’ll review what bird-watchers consider when trying to identify a bird.
The Birds of Wisconsin Wisconsin is home to around 340 species of birds. Of those birds, about 50 are residents, staying in the state year-round; about 120 come in the summer to breed; about 20 come for winter; about 65 are migrants, only seen in spring and fall; and about 85 are considered rare.
Around 100 more bird species are considered “incidental” or “accidental,” appearing in the state very rarely, like the roseate spoonbill that was seen in Green Bay last summer.
With around 340 species of birds to differentiate between in Wisconsin, identification can be tricky. Becoming familiar with bird taxonomy, or the way birds are grouped together into “families,” can help narrow down your options.
Thinking taxonomically may sound intimidating, but even non-birders can do so automatically to an extent, Witek said. For instance, many people can easily tell that a bird is a woodpecker based on its shape and the way it sits, even if they don’t know what kind of woodpecker it is. Noticing a bird’s silhouette – its
What to Look For
Another way to narrow down a list of possible species is to check their range maps in a field guide or birding app. These maps show the species’ range in each season, illustrating where the bird can be seen throughout the year. Checking on what habitat the species lives in can also help rule out possibilites.
When trying to identify a bird, it can be helpful to take note of its beak shape. One of the most common beak types Wisconsin birders can expect to see is coneshaped, according to Witek. Seed-eating birds like sparrows, cardinals, buntings and finches sport this distinctive, triangular-shaped beak.
Birds in the blackbird family, like orioles, meadow larks and grackles have long, pointy beaks. The pointed end is for pecking up insects, while the strong base at the bottom is for crunching seeds.
Warblers nab insects through tree bark with slim pointed beaks. Vireos have similarly-shaped beaks, but theirs are hooked. Wren beaks look similar to warbler beaks too, but wrens are usually brown, while warblers tend to have yellow or olive coloration somewhere on their bodies, Witek said.
Noting a bird’s field marks, or distinctive markings, can aid in identification too. Here are some common ones you might find in the field as well as your field guide.
Stripes and streaks are similar but distinct markings. If someone were to draw a striped bird, they would make intentional marks; if they were to draw a streaked bird, they would make small dashes.
Capped refers to when the top of a bird’s head is a specific color, like a black-capped chickadee.
A superciliary stripe is a line above the bird’s eye.
An eye line is a line that goes “through” the bird’s eye. Eye rings are full or partial rings around the bird’s eyes.
Spectacles are rarely-seen markings that stretch from the beak to around the eye, like glasses.
Stash marks are mustache-like marks commonly seen on flickers. Mallard marks or mallard stripes are marks that run from the corner of a bird’s beak down to their chin or neck.
Ear patches are marks over a bird’s ear openings on the sides of the head.
Masks are markings that go over a bird’s face; the cardinal, for example, wears a black mask.
Male American Robin. rOY LUKES
LEN VILLaNO FILE
open at 7 pm and the show starts at 8 pm. Tickets cost $10 at the door.
county Gala is located inside Door county Boardwalk, 1023 Egg harbor road in Sturgeon Bay.
Photo from Washington Island Scandinavian Fest Dancers’ Facebook page.
Male Indigo Bunting. FILE
Male Red winged blackbird. rOY LUKES FILE
Yellow Bellied sapsucker. rOY LUKES FILE
Spring Hearings Back to In-Person
Gather April 8 to select county’s natural resources reps
The left overs are available at 10 am each day, beginning with Zone 1 on Monday. To save time, it’s a good idea to purchase your license and stamp privilege before getting in line — in-person or on an online queue — on the day permits go on sale for the zone you want.
Cost for bonus tags is $10 for residents and $15 for nonresidents, with a limit of one per hunter per day. Any left overs that aren’t sold the first five days go on sale next Saturday, March 23.
For the first time in five years, citizens can gather at the county level to vote for representation on the Wisconsin Conservation Congress (WCC). The Department of Natural Resources (DNR) fish and wildlife hearings and WCC county meetings will be held April 8 in all counties, with an option to provide input on a variety of natural resources issues online between noon April 10 and noon April 13.
Locally, hearings will be held at Sturgeon Bay High School (Alumni Hall), Kewaunee High School (Theater) and Northeast Wisconsin Technical College in Green Bay (Room SC130).
The annual gatherings were victims of COVID-19 restrictions in 2020, and DNR-mandated protocol in 2021. But aft er hearing from many citizens opposed to online-only voting, the agency has agreed to add the inperson opportunity.
DNR staff presentations will begin at 6:30 pm, followed by Conservation Congress delegate and alternate elections. Aft er that, DNR spring hearing questions, WCC questions and any citizen resolutions will be discussed and voted on. Results are advisory only, but sometimes lead to rule changes. Learn more at dnr.wisconsin.gov/about/wcc/springhearing.
Fishing Update Anglers were taking advantage of unseasonably warm weather earlier this week to try their luck for yellow perch, northern pike, walleyes and whitefish on Green Bay; brown and lake trout along the Lake Michigan shoreline; and rainbow trout, pike and a few holdover fall-spawning browns still swimming in the Ahnapee River.
The yellow perch season on Green Bay and tributaries closes at the end of the day Friday, March 15, and remains closed until the third week of May.
Very little snow this winter has tributaries and wetlands quite dry. It’ll take more than light rain and snow flurries to improve conditions for fish, frogs and waterfowl.
Fire danger was extremely high at midweek. Check out the latest fire conditions across the state at apps. dnr.wi.gov/wisburn/#/. For updates on current drought conditions, see dnr.wisconsin.gov/topic/WaterUse/ DroughtStatus.html.
Wild Turkey Le overs Hunters quick on the trigger will have a shot at picking up a bonus spring turkey tag next week.
ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY PREPS FOR ECLIPSE EVENT
Door Peninsula astronomical Society (DPaS) members have been getting questions about whether they will have a viewing event for the april 8 solar eclipse.
“We’ll have our solar scopes set up for safe viewing of the sun,” the DPaS posted on Facebook. “Sturgeon Bay will see about 86% of the sun covered. Nothing compared with being in a total eclipse, but still pretty cool.”
The group will announce more in the future about the eclipse that will start just before 1 pm, peak just after 2 pm and end after 3 pm.
The DPaS website is doorastronomy.org and the ray and ruthie Stoneciper astronomy center is located at 2200 Utah St., Sturgeon Bay.
STARGAZING MADE EASIER THROUGH WEBSITES
Don’t want to miss what’s happening in the night skies?
Keep track of what NaSa’s James Webb Space Telescope is capturing at tinyurl.com/3zxmf9ts. reliable resources for backyard viewing opportunities include doorastronomy.
Hunters and anglers can purchase licenses and bonus tags via the state’s Go Wild site (https://gowild.wi.gov/) or in-person at any businesses that sell licenses.
Wolves Kill Five Dogs
Wolves have killed at least five dogs and wounded two others in three northern and central Wisconsin counties since early February, including pets in Ashland and Bayfield counties and hunting dogs in Clark County. One of the pets was a yellow lab; the other was a mixed breed. The hunting hounds were three walkers and a plott.
There were also verified wolf harassment or threats to 230 beef cattle in separate incidents in January in Douglas County, and to two pet dogs in early February in Vilas County.
Unconfirmed depredation or complaints include captive deer in Douglas County and livestock in St. Croix and Waupaca counties.
MFL Enrollments
Nearly one-third of the more than 1,400 enrollments made this year in the Managed Forest Law (MFL) property tax incentive program are new to the program.
A total of 107,304 acres were added to MFL this year, with 1,411 individual landowners and 24 large parcels of at least 1,000 acres. The average size of the new enrollments is 64 acres for individual landowners and 719 acres for large ownerships.
A total of 22,281 acres are open to the public for hunting, fishing, hiking, sight-seeing and cross-country skiing, with more than 15,000 of that part of large ownership parcels.
State of TNC in WI
The Nature Conservancy’s Wisconsin State Director, Elizabeth Koehler, recently took a look back at some local wins for nature and people achieved last year. You can watch the recorded presentation, “The State of the Nature Conservancy in Wisconsin 2023,” at youtube. com/watch?v=XBLx-ax-rJU.
Weekly Water Levels
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers estimates that Lake Michigan water levels are about 2 inches lower than at this time last year. Levels have dropped about 33 inches since the record-March-high set in 2020, but are still about 31 inches above the all-time monthly low, set in 1964.
org and the Door Peninsula astronomical Society Facebook page, as well as space.com/stargazing and in-the-sky. org/. Upcoming happenings include Saturn lining up just below Venus on the predawn horizon on march 21, a partial lunar eclipse around 2 am march 21, and the Lyrid meteor shower on april 22-23.
DNR PRESENTS STATEWIDE BOB ROSS-THEMED RUN
The Wisconsin Department of Natural resources (DNr) will organize a virtual event inspired by artist Bob ross, titled run for the Trees: happy Little 5K.
Between Earth Day on april 22 and arbor Day on april 26, participants can walk, run, skate, scooter, cycle or use a mobility device anywhere to complete the 3.1-mile race. a portion of the $36 registration fee will go toward tree planting and efforts to combat threats from invasive species at DNr sites. a portion also goes to a happy Little T-shirt, a bib number and sticker, a finisher’s medal and shipping fees. For guaranteed delivery before the race dates, register by april 1. registration is open until april 15. Suggested routes can be found at OutWiGo webpage.
Pedestrian/Bike Trail Would Include Boardwalk Under Bridge
by KEVIN BONESKE
kevin@ppulse.com
Aproposed trail would allow pedestrians and bicyclists in the City of Sturgeon Bay to access the Ahnapee State Trail near the Bayview Bridge without having to cross the path of motor vehicles on state Highway 42/57.
Routed under the bridge, the proposed trail is intended to provide a safe route between the Ahnapee State Trail and the area on the city’s west side north of the highway. The new trail would connect with Circle Ridge Road on the north side of Hwy, 42/57, where a 12-foot-wide trail would be constructed to run parallel to the highway corridor toward the Bayview Bridge. That trail segment would connect with an 8-foot-wide boardwalk, which would be built to go under the bridge and over wetland areas. It would join another 12-foot-wide trail segment that would be constructed, making a new connection to the existing Bayview Bridge Trail that has access to the Ahnapee State Trail.
Based on estimates for the project Cedar Corporation put together for the city, using crushed limestone for the trail segments on both sides of the highway that would connect to a 365-footlong elevated boardwalk would cost $441,875. An alternative to using crushed limestone would be to add 2.5 inches of asphalt pavement on top of the trail segments for an estimated total cost of $552,755. The boardwalk accounts for $200,750 in those cost estimates. Community development director Marty Olejniczak said the project is expensive, but would be good for the city, which needs to come up with more money to proceed. Olejniczak said the city currently has $325,000 available to build the trail, with $125,000 allocated in the city
Airborne Art
Rebecca Carlton’s ceramic-bird sculptures represent the world’s languages by TOM
GROENFELDT
In a bare-bones industrial space inside the Door County Economic Development Corporation (DCEDC,) artist Rebecca Carlton is assembling three suspended sculptures that represent the world’s languages.
About 7,000 languages are spoken around the world, according to the Linguistic Society of America. Carlton wanted to represent all of them with porcelain homing pigeons, but decided that making 7,000 birds was too big of an undertaking. So she scaled back to 700, with each pigeon standing in for 10 languages.
“I selected the homing pigeon for a number of reasons,” Carlton wrote in a description of her exhibit. “More than 3,000 years ago, our first long-distance communications were made by written messages sent via the extraordinary homing pigeon. I use this white bird as a metaphor of surrender and an ultimate symbol for peace.”
Each bird’s belly features a country name, the language of that country, the number of people who speak that language and a colored dot representing its region or continent.
While one pigeon in the exhibit may represent a language with five million speakers, another bird may represent one with 150 million, Carlton said. A large map that goes along with the exhibit shows the distribution of the languages throughout the world.
Carlton’s birds are suspended in three designs: a spiral, a V formation and a circle. The spiral represents a tornado, a moving force of nature.
“To me, it’s like the energy of human beings,” Carlton said. “Each one of us has to have an ego to survive, but if that ego is not put in check or used for good, it’s chaos.”
This installation was too tall for the Peninsula School of Art studio Carlton worked out of last year, so the artist gravitated towards DCEDC’s industrial space in Sturgeon Bay, where the
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ceiling is 19 feet high. She also rented a hydraulic lift with an electric motor and a safety belt to hang her work.
In the V formation sculpture, every bird is both a leader and a follower, just as humans are throughout their lives, Carlton said.
“After the bird leads, it goes to the back and it drifts,” Carlton said. “The rest of the community supports [it,] rebuilding that energy level so then it can move to be the leader again. That’s cooperation and survival.”
In the third piece, porcelain birds hang in a circle close to the ground. Designed for viewers to lie on their backs and look up through it, the sculpture is reminiscent of an ancient form of connection, when communities would gather to talk around a fire.
“They could be mad, angry and volatile, but they knew for survival, they had to figure it out,” Carlton said.
The artist has been working on her self-funded piece for seven years, viewing it as a catalyst for community conversation. As such, she’s working with several organizations within the community to host programs related to her work.
In addition to holding an opening reception sometime this spring, Carlton has scheduled visits for local schoolchildren, including a class of fourth-graders from Gibraltar and their art teacher.
From May through fall, some of her work will be on display at the Link Gallery of Children’s Art at the Door Community Auditorium in Fish Creek, and local high schoolers will be invited to create work about listening.
“We, as a community, don’t hear teenagers’ voices, and there are not a lot of opportunities for them to speak up,” Carlton said.
Another opportunity for high schoolers will be a persuasiveessay, Are We Listening workshop, co-led by Carlton and Peninsula Pulse editor Debra Fitzgerald, during which students will practice listening and write about their need to be heard.
Carlton is expanding the reach of her project with Open Door Pride to create programming about equity and inclusion, and Crossroads at Big Creek to create an event that questions if Door County is listening to the land and another program with Write On Door.
“The intention of the sculpture[s] is to be inclusive of all, to recognize the significance of every language community and to acknowledge that every voice counts equally,” Carlton said.
Earth
Lynn’s Pottery 12030 Garrett Bay Road (920) 421-4384
Northern Arts Collective 12044 Hwy 42 northernartscollective.com
Rob Williams Studio/Gallery 753 Isle View Rd (920) 854-9823
Turtle Ridge Gallery 11736 Mink River Road (920) 854-4839
EPhraIm Anderson House Workbench
3065 Anderson Lane (920) 854-4142
Blue Dolphin House and BDH Studio 10320 N. Water St. (920) 854-4413
Door County ARTWORKS by Karen Elwing Shorewood Village Shops, 9922 Water St. (Hwy 42), Unit #4 (262) 993-8484
Fine Line Designs Gallery and Sculpture Garden 10376 Hwy 42 (920) 854-4343 Open by Appt. George Burr Gallery 10325 Hwy 42 (920) 854-7877 Sea Glass Boutique & Gallery 10438 N Water St. seaglassdoorcounty.com
UU Gallery 10341 Water St. (920) 854-7559
FISh crEEK
2forU Design & Gallery 4140 Bluff Lane (920) 854-7770 Open by Appt.
Brian Pier Gallery & Studio
9341 Spring Road Suite B16 (920) 868-5238 Edgewood Orchard Galleries 4140 Peninsula Players Road (920) 868-3579 Open by Appt. Emmett Johns Gallery 9100 Hwy 42 (920) 868-3880 Gallery of Gold 4091 Main St. (920) 868-9020 Open by Appt. Interfibers Studio Gallery 9204 Silk Road (920) 868-3580 Link Gallery 3942 Hwy 42 (920) 868-2728 Peninsula School of Art and Guenzel Gallery 3906 Cty F (920) 868-3455 Plum Bottom (Fish Creek) 4175 Main St. (920) 393-7885 White Rose Healing Arts Studio 9281 Maple Grove Road (920) 421-2344
JacKSONPOrT Idea Gallery 6551 Cty T (West Jacksonport) (920) 655-1340 Open by Appt. Jacksonport Cottage Gallery & Gifts 6275 Hwy 57 (920) 823-2288
SISTEr BaY Blue Heron Glass Etching 10578 Country Walk Dr. (970) 319-0918
Work by Rebecca Carlton. Submitted.
Viewers lie on their backs to look up at a circle of porcelain birds. Submitted.
Still True by Maggie Ginsberg
Recommended BY SALLY COLLINS Peninsula Pulse contributor
Set in the fictional town of Anthem, Wisconsin, Maggie Ginsberg’s award-winning debut novel, Still True, peers into the complicated private lives of three individuals.
Those individuals are Claire Taylor, an unemployed newspaper reporter who was recently relocated to the small town with her husband and 10-year-old son, and Lib and Jack Hanson, a married couple of three decades who live in separate houses.
The story begins when Lib’s troubled 40-year-old son shows up on her porch, seeking an explanation for his mother’s decision to abandon him as an infant. Lib is forced to confront a traumatic past she has long hidden – and is still trying to hide – from Jack. Meanwhile, Claire attempts to escape her unhappy marriage and
*bookmarks
NEW OPEN MIC FOR PROSE WRITERS
Write On, Door county will begin a monthly open-mic storytelling series for writers of fiction, essays, memoir, and other forms of prose, with an inaugural session on march 24, 2-4 pm.
The series will continue on the fourth Sunday of each month, hosted by Tony Smith and rosemary Steubi. Light refreshments will be served and a 10-minute time limit for each reader will be enforced. Sessions take place at Write On, 4210 Juddville road in Juddville.
BARGAINS FOR BOOKWORMS
The Friends of Door county Libraries will host a book sale on march 16, 9:30 am – 12 pm.
What started as a single July book sale has expanded to a year-round event, with volunteers processing some 2,000 donations a month. all book sale proceeds support the Friends, funding programs and activities at all eight Door county libraries. check the Door county Library’s website (doorcountylibrary. org/event) for future sales.
The book sale will be held at the Sturgeon Bay Library, 107 S. 4th ave.
LOCAL AUTHOR PUBLISHES BOOK OF SHORT PLAYS
Local author Phyllis Zatlin’s new book of plays, All That’s Golden Doesn’t Glitter, illustrates that old age isn’t for the faint of heart.
Published in cooperation with the Door county Playwrights’ collective (DcPc), the collection of four short comedies includes “her Favorite Grandson,” “Where’s There’s a Way There’s a Will,” “Old Letter Writers Never Die” and “From Da to DD?” The first three plays run about 10 minutes, while the fourth runs about 20 minutes. Each is introduced with an illustration by Faith V. Whitlock.
In fall 2022, DcPc published a drama anthology with ESTrENO Studies, which distributed the book on both sides of the atlantic. Edited by Zatlin, the book titled Microtheatre: A Door County Debut of Short Plays from Wisconsin and Spain is a collection of plays by six Wisconsin authors as well as translations of plays originally written in Spanish.
Zatlin anticipates that DcPc will continue a series to feature plays by individual authors from Northeastern Wisconsin, starting with All That’s Golden.
feelings of inadequacy with alcohol and flirtatious encounters with Lib’s son. A quietly observant yet engrossing work of fiction, written in deft , gorgeous prose, Still True features multiple points of view that examine themes of grief, addiction, loneliness and trauma. The nuanced characters are sympathetic and relatable as they go from trying to appear ordinary and carefree to making desperate, self-sabotaging and sometimes dangerous decisions.
Throughout, readers will wonder: “When does a secret become a lie?”
The book will especially appeal to Door County’s visitors and residents, not only for the memories Jack and Lib made on the peninsula and regularly recall, but also for the spot-on depiction of life in rural Wisconsin.
For example: “[…] their homeland was gorgeous, remarkable, and more or less taken for granted by the humans that lived here now, who were as used to postcard vistas as they were to finding world-class cheese at the gas station.”
Submitted.
BESTSELLERS
HARDCOVER FICTION
1. The Women, by Kristin Hannah
2. Wandering Stars, by Tommy Orange
3. The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store, by James McBride
4. Three-Inch Teeth, by C.J. Box
5. Martyr!, by Kaveh Akbar
HARDCOVER NONFICTION
1. Mostly What God Does: Refl ections on Seeking and Finding His Love Everywhere, by Savannah Guthrie
2. The Wager: A Tale of Shipwreck, Mutiny and Murder, by David Grann
3. The Creative Act: A Way of Being, by Rick Rubin
4. Supercommunicators: How to Unlock the Secret Language of Connection, by Charles Duhigg
5. Attack from Within: How Disinformation Is Sabotaging America, by Barbara McQuade
CHILDREN’S INTEREST
1. Heroes: A Novel of Pearl Harbor, by Alan Gratz
2. The Eyes and the Impossible, by Dave Eggers, Shawn Harris (Illus.)
3. Squished: A Graphic Novel, by Megan Wagner Lloyd, Michelle Mee Nutter (Illus.)
4. Mexikid, by Pedro Mart’n
5. The Puppets of Spelhorst (The Norendy Tales), by Kate DiCamillo, Julie Morstad (Illus.)
The Midwest Independent Booksellers Association (MIBA) Bestseller List Midwest (Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wisconsin, and Michigan’s Upper Peninsula), for the week ended March 3. To find an independent bookstore near you, visit IndieBound.org
rOSaNN hOLLINGEr
Happenings submissions are due by noon on Friday the week prior. Send them to pr@ppulse.com.
FRI
3/15
LIVE MUSIC RUSS REISER von Stiehl Winery, 115 Navarino St, Algoma. 920.487.5208. 4-7pm. Guitarist from Vic Ferrari. Folk & classic rock from the ’60s & ’70s. WHAT FOUR Drömhus Door County, 611 Je erson St., Sturgeon Bay. 608.333.4553. 6-8pm. Jazz Band. STANDING OVATION Stone Harbor Resort, 107 N 1st St, Sturgeon Bay. 920.746.0700. 6:30-10pm. Acoustic duo playing a wide variety of genres. VCR Waterfront Mary’s Bar & Grill, 3662 N Duluth Ave, Sturgeon Bay. 920.743.3191. 9pm. Three piece rock band.
PERFORMANCE
LIVE RADIO THEATER ARTicipation Studio & Gallery, 10 E. Oak St., Sturgeon Bay. 920.857.8544. Doors open at 6pm. Show starts at 7pm. “Arsenic and Old Lace”. Bayside Reader’s Theater presents their 3rd performance. $15/person.
INDOOR
QUARTERLY PARTNERSHIP
MEETING
Door County Community Foundation, 222 N. 3rd Ave., Sturgeon Bay. 920.746.1786. 8:15-9:30am. “Celebrating success and re-energizing for the future”. More Information at doorcountyparents.com
LITTLE LAMBS BIBLE STORY
Shepherd of the Bay Lutheran Church, 11836 Hwy 42, Ellison Bay. 920.854.2988.
9-10:15am. For children ages PreK and under, and their parents, or care providers. Enjoy Bible story, music, games, play time, and art to take home! Contact Lynda at sotb.lynda@ gmail.com to register. Free. OPEN CRAFT TABLE Forestville Library, 123 Hwy 42, Forestville. 920.743.6578.
DVD FITNESS
9:30-10:30am. Make seasonal crafts. Refreshments provided.
Aging & Disability Resource Center of Door County, 916 N. 14th Ave., Sturgeon Bay. 920.746.2372. 10am. Get the day started with some chair exercises.
FRIDAY MAGIC
COMMANDER NIGHT
The Gnoshery, 23 N. 3rd Ave., Sturgeon Bay. 920.818.0727. 4-9pm. Play Magic The Gathering in Commander format.
OPEN MIC Door County Brewing Co. and Music Hall, 8099 Hwy 57, Baileys Harbor. 920.839.1515. 6pm. Perform music, stand up and poetry.
OUTDOOR
WINTER HIKE
Ridges Sanctuary, Cook-Albert Fuller Center 8166 Hwy 57, Baileys Harbor. 920.839.2802. 1:30pm. Registration required. $7/members, $10/ public, free/16 & younger. Snowshoes used if conditions allow ($5/rental pair.)
LITERATURE ART/SPEAKS
Write On, Door County, 4210 Juddville Rd, Juddville. 920.868.1457. 11am-12pm. Creative lab to encourage writing in response to visual art let by local poets Carrie and Peter Sherrill. Free.
SAT 3/16
LIVE MUSIC BAG-PIPER Kitty O’Reilly’s Irish Pub, 59 E Oak St, Sturgeon Bay. 920.743.7441. 12pm. Traditional Irish Music JOHN WELCH BAND Stone Harbor Resort, 107 N 1st St, Sturgeon Bay. 920.746.0700. 12pm. Country rock. D’FUSION von Stiehl Winery, 115 Navarino St, Algoma. 920.487.5208. 1-4pm. Pop & contemporary jazz.
DIANNA JONES Door 44 Winery, 5464 County Hwy P, Sevastopol. 1-4pm. Star quality and great to see live performing original songs
RESALE SHOP
GALLERIES
GLASS BLOWING
DEMONSTRATIONS
Popelka Trenchard Art Gallery, 64 S 2nd Ave, Sturgeon Bay. 920.743.7287. 12pm. Free demonstrations.
GLASSBLOWING DEMO
Burnt Blu Stone & Glass, 8819 Hwy 42, Fish Creek. 920.395.5191.
1:30-2:30pm. See how glass art is created.
LEPRECHAUN MAGIC PAINTING
ARTicipation Studio & Gallery, 10 E. Oak St., Sturgeon Bay. 920.857.8544. 2-5pm. Painting with Claudia. $55/person.
INDOOR
INDOOR SIDEWALK SALE
Park Place Mall, 41 N 3rd Ave, Sturgeon Bay. 920.421.3667. Sales through out the mall.
FAMILY ART DAY
Peninsula School of Art, 3900
Cty F, Fish Creek. 920.868.3455.
9am-12pm. We provide the art materials and the inspiration, so you can share the fun and accomplishment of creating fine art projects together. For families with children ages 3- to 17-years-old.
POKEMON CLUB
The Gnoshery, 23 N. 3rd Ave., Sturgeon Bay. 920.818.0727. 9am-11pm. Play Pokemon with others.
WINTER MARKET
Third Avenue PlayWorks, 239 N 3rd Ave, Sturgeon Bay. 920.743.1760. 10am-2pm. Vendors, crafts, refreshments and ticket ra es.
OPEN QUILTING LAB Algoma Public Library, 406 Fremont St, Algoma. 920.487.2295. 10am-2pm. Bring your current project, machine and supplies to sew with friends.
10am-12pm. Help Eastern Bluebird populations by learning what they need to survive and create a a nest box to take home. Space is limited. Pre-registration required.
SCIENCE SATURDAY Crossroads at Big Creek, 2041 Michigan St, Sturgeon Bay. 920.746.5895. 2pm. The Color Green. Weekly science project. Grades 3 and up. Free.
DUNGEONS & DRAGON NIGHT FOR KIDS
The Gnoshery, 23 N. 3rd Ave., Sturgeon Bay. 920.818.0727. 3pm. Reservation only. $15 entry. Ages 8-16
LITERATURE
BOOK SALE
Sturgeon Bay Library, 107 S 4th Ave, Sturgeon Bay. 920.743.6578. 9:30am-12pm. Shop the shelves and browse the overflow rooms. Thousands of
books, audiobooks and movie titles to be sold benefiting Door County Libraries.
OUTDOOR
ST. PATRICK’S DAY PARADE Downtown Sturgeon Bay. 920.743.6246. 11am. Watch festive floats. NIGHT SKY VIEWING Crossroads at Big Creek –Astronomy Campus, 2200 Utah Street, Sturgeon Bay. 7pm. Free. If weather is poor, meet in the planetarium for electronic tours. WINTER HIKE Ridges Sanctuary, Cook-Albert Fuller Center 8166 Hwy 57, Baileys Harbor. 920.839.2802. 10:30am & 1:30pm. Registration required. $7/members, $10/ public, free/16 & younger.
1-3pm. Jennifer Moeller, Door County Circuit Court Judge Candidate, will be available for conversation.
Bay. 920.743.6578. 10am-4pm. Records will be available for play. Patrons are encouraged to play vinyl for the collection or bring in records of their own.
DVD FITNESS
Aging & Disability Resource Center of Door County, 916 N. 14th Ave., Sturgeon Bay. 920.746.2372. 10am. Get the day started with some chair exercises.
CLASSIC FILM SCREENING Sturgeon Bay Cinema 6, 1820 Alabama St, Sturgeon Bay. 920.495.0661. 2pm. Fundraiser for Do Good Door County. Timeless classics in the Cinema. “North by Northwest” staring Cary Grant. $10/person.
LITERATURE
MEMOIR MONDAY Write On, Door County, 4210 Juddville Rd, Juddville. 920.868.1457. 10-11am. Creative lab for seniors to encourage them to write their life stories.
QUIET NIGHTS BOOK CLUB
Baileys Harbor Library, 2392 Cty Rd F, Baileys Harbor. 920.743.6578. 4-5pm. Join a cozy reading environment and silently read with drinks and snacks.
Harbor. 920.743.6578.
12:30-2:30pm. Bring your own lunch and play games.
ROLE PLAYING GAME
Sturgeon Bay Library, 107 S 4th Ave, Sturgeon Bay. 920.743.6578.
3:30-5pm. “Magical Kitties Save the Day” Grades 3-6. Call Miss Beth at 920.746.7119 to reserve your space.
SIP & STITCH The Gnoshery, 23 N. 3rd Ave., Sturgeon Bay. 920.818.0727.
4-7pm. Bring your favorite craft supplies, enjoy friendly conversation and a warm co ee!
TUESDAY MOVIE IN THE GREAT HALL Egg Harbor Library, 7845 Church St, Egg Harbor. 920.743.6578.
4pm. Watch a film about Carol Danvers who gets her powers entangled with those of Kamala Khan and Monica Rambeau, forcing them to work together to save the universe. (PG-13) Free popcorn. Bring your own non-alcoholic refreshment.
LITERATURE
STORYTIME & CRAFT
WED
3/20
INDOOR
ACTIVITIES AT THE ADRC
Aging & Disability Resource Center of Door County, 916 N. 14th Ave., Sturgeon Bay. 920.746.2372. 10am. DVD Fitness. Get the day started with some chair exercises.
AARP Tax-Aide. By appointment only. Call 920.746.2403.
ROTARY CLUB OF DOOR COUNTY NORTH
Immanuel Lutheran Church, 7973 Hwy 57, Baileys Harbor. 920.839.2224. 8am. Cynthia Germain will be presenting about Do Good Door County. Call or text
309.824.7342 for reservations.
PUZZLE CLUB
The Gnoshery, 23 N. 3rd Ave., Sturgeon Bay. 920.818.0727. 12-3pm. Puzzle together.
MUSIC JAM Egg Harbor Library, 7845 Church St, Egg Harbor. 920.743.6578.
2pm. Colin Welford and special guest flutist Janice Macdonald. Free fun!
INDOOR
KNITTING, CROCHETING, AND NEEDLEWORK CLUB Sturgeon Bay Library, 107 S 4th Ave, Sturgeon Bay. 920.743.6578. 10am-12pm. Work on projects together in the library.
WOOLY STITCHES
CRAFTERS GROUP Sister Bay/Liberty Grove Library, 2323 Mill Rd, Sister Bay. 920.743.6578. 10am-12pm. Bring your current hand stitching project & meet other crafters.
MUSIC MONDAYS Sturgeon Bay Library, 107 S 4th Ave, Sturgeon
TUE
3/19
LIVE MUSIC
OPEN MIC NIGHT Waterfront Mary’s Bar & Grill, 3662 N Duluth Ave, Sturgeon Bay. 920.743.3191. 9pm. 9pm-1am. Hosted by Adam Haste.
INDOOR
ACTIVITIES AT THE ADRC
Aging & Disability Resource Center of Door County, 916 N. 14th Ave., Sturgeon Bay. 920.746.2372. 10am. Chess. Play chess with friends. 11am. Blood Pressure Clinic. Get your blood pressure taken. AARP Tax-Aide. By appointment only. Call 920.746.2403.
Washington Island Library, 910 Main Rd, Washington Island. 920.743.6578. 10am. Listen to stories and enjoy a fun activity.
STORYTIME WITH MS. BETH Sturgeon Bay Library, 107 S 4th Ave, Sturgeon Bay. 920.743.6578. 10:30am. For babies through preschoolers. Theme is Tropical Tales.
BOOKWORMS BOOK CLUB Algoma Public Library, 406 Fremont St, Algoma. 920.487.2295. 1pm. Meet to discuss “Book Lovers” by Emily Henry.
OUTDOOR
HONORING THE SPRING EQUINOX
Door County Henna Shop, 9341 Spring Road Unit A5, Fish Creek. 6:30pm. Celebrate the time of rebirth and renewal. Awaken your inner light with guided meditation and drumming. Bring a journal, drum or rattle. $10/person.
1-3pm. Open to all instruments and skill levels. Listeners welcome.
FIREHOUSE KNITTERS
Sister Bay/Liberty Grove Fire Station, 2258 Mill Rd, Sister Bay. 920.600.5086. 1-4pm. Knitters, crocheters & needleworkers work on their current projects together. Held in the conference room.
5:30-7:30pm. Learn the basics of watercolor and color mixing. $48/person. Register at woodwalkgallery.com.
INDOOR
ACTIVITIES AT THE ADRC
Aging & Disability Resource Center of Door County, 916 N. 14th Ave., Sturgeon Bay. 920.746.2372.
8:30am. New to Medicare. Learn about Medicare. 1pm. Woodcarving. Carve with friends.
AARP Tax-Aide. By appointment only. Call 920.746.2403.
OPEN ARTIST STUDIO
Miller Art Museum, 107 S 4th Ave, Sturgeon Bay. 920.746.0707.
9:30am-4pm. A place for artists to come to create and find community. $10/visit or $30/
month. More information at www.millerartmuseum.com.
PREPARE FOR THE SOLAR ECLIPSE! Egg Harbor Library, 7845 Church St, Egg Harbor. 920.743.6578. 12-1pm. Join Coggin Heeringa from Crossroads at Big Creek to talk about the solar eclipse happening on April 8th. Includes bagels. LIFE, DEATH AND THE AFTERLIFE Aging & Disability Resource Center of Door County, 916 N. 14th Ave., Sturgeon Bay. 920.746.2372. 1-2:30pm. Discuss death and the afterlife. All ages. Limited space, call to register. 920.746.2372. VINTAGE MUSIC AND VINYL RECORDS Sturgeon Bay Library, 107 S 4th Ave, Sturgeon Bay. 920.743.6578. 2pm. David Watkins speaks about the history of vinyl records, specifically 78 rpm records. HANDS ON TECH Algoma Public Library, 406 Fremont St, Algoma. 920.487.2295.
3-4pm. Creative and hands on fun in using technology. Ages 9 & up.
MINIATURE PAINT NIGHT
The Gnoshery, 23 N. 3rd Ave., Sturgeon Bay. 920.818.0727. 4-7pm. Paint di erent miniatures. Free miniatures while supplies last. TRIVIA Door County Brewing Co. and Music Hall, 8099 Hwy 57, Baileys Harbor. 920.839.1515. 6pm. Trivia hosted in the taproom.
FRI
3/22
LIVE MUSIC WOMEN OF NOTE Donald and Carol Kress Pavilion, 7845 Church St., Egg Harbor. 920.868.3334. 7pm. “Art of Music” Winter Concert Series. Dorothy Scott, Katie Dahl, Cathy Grier, Ruby James and Jeanne Kuhns perform. $15/person.
INDOOR
LITTLE LAMBS BIBLE STORY Shepherd of the Bay Lutheran Church, 11836 Hwy 42, Ellison Bay. 920.854.2988. 9-10:15am. For children ages PreK and under, and their parents, or care providers.
Enjoy Bible story, music, games, play time, and art to take home! Contact Lynda at sotb.lynda@ gmail.com to register. Free. OPEN CRAFT TABLE Forestville Library, 123 Hwy 42, Forestville. 920.743.6578. 9:30-10:30am. Make seasonal crafts. Refreshments provided. DVD FITNESS
Aging & Disability Resource Center of Door County, 916 N. 14th Ave., Sturgeon Bay. 920.746.2372. 10am. Get the day started with some chair exercises.
AFTER SCHOOL MOVIE Algoma Public Library, 406 Fremont St, Algoma. 920.487.2295. 3pm. Watch “Dreamin’ Wild” (PG). Bring your own snacks. FRIDAY MAGIC
COMMANDER NIGHT
The Gnoshery, 23 N. 3rd Ave., Sturgeon Bay. 920.818.0727. 4-9pm. Play Magic The Gathering in Commander format.
OPEN MIC Door County Brewing Co. and Music Hall, 8099 Hwy 57, Baileys Harbor. 920.839.1515. 6pm. Perform music, stand up and poetry.
Candidates for: Door County Board of Supervisors, Door County Circuit Court Branch 1, Sturgeon Bay Common Council, Baileys Harbor Town Board, Gardner Town Board, Sevastopol Town Board, Sister Bay Village Board and Washington Town Board
DOOR COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
The seat that represents District 19, which spans four, northern Door municipalities, will go to a write-in candidate.
All 21 seats are up for re-election on the Door County Board of Supervisors. Three incumbents aren’t running – Dan Austad, Alexis Heim Peter and David Lienau. Two have filed for Austad’s District 9 seat and one for Heim Peter’s District 10 seat. However, no one filed for Lienau’s District 19 seat that represents parts of Baileys Harbor, Liberty Grove, Ephraim and Sister Bay, which means a write-in candidate could take that seat. All the rest of the incumbents are running, and only two of those have been challenged. Below you’ll find those contested races, along with the two candidates running for Austad’s seat.
COUNTY BOARD DISTRICT 3
Jacob VandenPlas is challenging incumbent Roy Englebert for this seat that represents Ward 2 in the Town of Forestville; Ward 2 in the Town of Nasewaupee; and all of the Town of Clay Banks. Note that the incumbent and new candidate were each asked a different set of questions.
Roy H. Englebert (incumbent, age not disclosed) is retired. He has two B.S. degrees (agricultural education and chemistry education), resides in the Town of Forestville, is married to Joyce and has two adult children. He served as the chair of the Forestville Town Board for nine years, and as a supervisor on that board for four years. His volunteer activities include the Forestville-Maplewood Lions Club, church choir and fundraising events.
How many terms have you served on the county board and why do you want to continue to serve? I have served six [two-year] terms as a supervisor. Being part of serving to develop the present and
future of our community is important to me. Please describe your leadership style and how that style has effectively served your constituents. Listening to the needs and wants of our county citizens, and then establishing the policies and budgets that eventually reflect their desires, as well as ensuring our county continues to be a desirable place to live.
What are the most important things you’ve accomplished while in office?
I have served on most committees, and helped implement improvements to our county’s services. The Community Center (ADRC) now offers many services to our citizens. Emergency Medical Services has built three new garages. More ambulances and EMT/paramedics have been added to meet growth. The Door County Highway Department has maintained the high quality of county roads by resurfacing 16-17 miles of roads each year. Continued investments are being made to the county park system.
What does the County of Door need to change, fix, solve or make better? We need to continue strengthening our ability to sustain our parks and continue to improve our recreation as well as our emergency services. High-speed internet for all citizens is a top priority!
Jacob VandenPlas, 40, is a farmer, educator and truck driver who lives in the Town of Forestville. He was educated in the United States Army, is married to Emily and has two teenage boys. He is President of Door County Farm for Vets and the entirety of his property outside the family’s home is volunteered to the organization. He’s a member of the American Legion, VFW, AM Vets and volunteers for veterans’ final salutes (funeral details). He is also a member of the Door County Farm Bureau Board and volunteers for the Farm Bureau Federation Legislative and Volunteers for Agriculture Political Action Committee.
In 2022, he made an unsuccessful bid for the 8th Congressional District seat (currently held by Mike Gallagher) as a Libertarian candidate.
Why are you running? I want to make a positive difference in our community. My political beliefs have always been local. We build a stronger America by building up our localities and making sure all those within it are supported.
Please describe your leadership style. My leadership style I learned from my time in the army. I will lead by example and actively work to build our community not just as a member of the county board, but at home as well.
What experience do you have that would make you good in an elected office in general, and for the county board specifically? I excel at bringing people together to solve problems due to my years in the military, my outreach to veterans, and involvement with multiple boards. With my outreach I can provide our community with better problemsolving skills while bringing us closer together. I know how to lift the voices of others and encourage more participation from community members.
What would be changed, fixed, solved, or made better if you were elected to the board? How would your new presence make a meaningful difference? My biggest goal and what I would like to solve or make better is community involvement. As the potential voice of District 3, I’d like to encourage and ensure all within our community
participate in county government to make our home a better place for everyone. What is something that few people know about you (and now more will)? I have eight spoiled cats!!
COUNTY BOARD DISTRICT 7
Wayne Denil is challenging incumbent Claire Morkin for this seat that represents one of six City of Sturgeon Bay districts, this one on the west side, Wards 13, 14 and 15. Note that the incumbent and new candidate were each asked a different set of questions.
Wayne Denil, 73, lives in the City of Sturgeon Bay and is retired after 40 years as a critical care paramedic, and also as the former owner of Para Tran Ambulance. He has a B.S. in Elementary Education from the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh and paramedic/critical care paramedic certifications. He is the divorced father of three adult children, and one adopted 14-year-old. His volunteer activities include the Moravian Church and Brussels Lion’s Club.
Why are you running? I have chosen to run for Door County Board since I‘m a retired teacher, critical care paramedic and business owner. I have unrestricted time, energy, interest, knowledge and experience to serve the citizens of Door County.
Please describe your leadership style. I strive to be goal-oriented, ambitious, strong work ethic, energetic, creative and resourceful, acting as a servant leader for team members. I strive to be patient, determined, displaying humility, attentively listen, exerting influence rather than exerting control. I focus on influencing without personally controlling or micromanaging. I demand honesty, moral responsibility, adhering to policies, procedures, empowering trust to individuals making good decisions. What experience do you have that would make you good in an elected office in general, and for the county board specifically?
My leadership skill-building began as an elementary teacher and middle school coach, immediately after college. While teaching I obtained an education in EMS Prehospital Care, connected with Door County Ambulance in 1978. Upon completion of Wisconsin Paramedic licensure, I switched my career to a full-time paramedic with Door County Ambulance Service until 1988, when I retired and established Para Tran Ambulance, a private business service providing interfacility critical care ambulance transports for Door County Medical Center.
What would be changed, fixed, solved, or made better if you were elected to the board? How would your new presence make a meaningful difference?
If elected, I will ensure taxpayer supported public services, approved by previously elected board members, continue functioning within budget. All services are subject to changes, after a transparent review before the next budget year. I will bring a fresh approach to questions and concerns on issues confronting the board. What is something that few people know about you (and now more will)? When challenged with issues, problems and responsibilities, I focus on being proactive, conservative, encircled with common sense.
Claire Morkin (incumbent), 64, resides in the City of Sturgeon Bay and works in healthcare and as a semiretired singer and actress. She has a B.F.A. from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, with an A.S. in Healthcare from Northeast Wisconsin Technical College. She is single and has one adult daughter. She currently volunteers on the Local Arts
Board in Sturgeon Bay and serves on the board of Third Avenue PlayWorks. Previously, she volunteered at the ADRC and Door County Medical Center. She ran unopposed for her current seat in 2022. Previously, she served three consecutive terms as a Trustee ono the Village of Camp Douglas (Wisconsin) Board of Trustees.
How many terms have you served on the county board and why do you want to continue to serve? I have held office for one just one term and would very much like to continue. It is very important for me to be of service and to contribute to this wonderful community.
Please describe your leadership style and how that style has effectively served your constituents. I believe a good leader is also a good listener. If a constituent expresses a concern, I see that that concern is addressed and if I don’t have the answer, I get them connected with those who do. I find common ground and mutual respect with those I might not see eye-to-eye with. It’s not an “us vs. them” mentality, but rather all of us working as a team to move forward together.
What are the most important things you’ve accomplished while in office? In October of 2022, the board passed an ordinance to prohibit bullying and harassment. This will help an effort to adopt a more restorative justice approach, focusing on healing the victim and rehabilitating the perpetrator, rather than only punishment.
Also, the proposed expansion of the Door County Historical Museum is something we can look forward to. It will immerse people in Door County’s wonderful story and continue to build upon our rich history towards a vibrant future.
What does the County of Door need to change, fix, solve or make better? Door County is such a unique and beautiful place. We need to remain mindful of this and do everything we can to protect its environment with smart, sustainable growth. The challenge is finding a balance between development and preservation, and to use ordinances that are in place to help achieve this balance.
COUNTY BOARD DISTRICT 9
With incumbent Dan Austad not running for reelection, two candidates are vying for this seat that represents Wards 4, 5 and 6 within the City of Sturgeon Bay, an area on the east side bounded roughly by S. 18th Avenue, Michigan Street and Memorial Drive.
Jon Kruse, 54, lives in the City of Sturgeon Bay and works as Director of OEM/Project Sales for Torqeedo Electric Boat Propulsion. He studied Aviation Management for three years at Saint Cloud State University, is married to Angie, and has three children (one in college, one in high school, one in middle school). His volunteer activities include service on the St. John Bosco Board of Trustees (seven years) and the Sturgeon Bay Yacht Club and Sail Training Foundation as Treasurer (one year) and Commodore (two years). He’s a Cub Scout Den and Pack leader (two years) and an alternate since 2019 for the City of Sturgeon Bay Board of Review 2019. He ran and served on the Spooner (Wisconsin) City Council in 2004 and served for two years. Why are you running? As someone who has lived in Door County for the last 18 years, I have seen some major changes happen during that time. One thing that has to be changed is the ability to secure affordable housing. We currently have too many people commuting to Door County, including members of the Coast Guard who would love to live where they work. Door County can and will sustain itself with more housing options and solutions. Please describe your leadership style. Our government is of the people, by the people and for the people. I have always found myself to have three styles for different situations. Democratic (open-minded communication, collaboration, and transparency); charismatic (encourage a strong spirit of collaboration, and view mistakes as learning opportunities); and servant (empathy, awareness, conceptualization, foresight, stewardship, commitment to the growth of people, and community). What experience do you have that would make you good in an elected office in general, and for the county board specifically?
As Treasurer and Commodore Sturgeon Bay Yacht Club and Sail Training Foundation, with the help of the Board of Directors, I am very proud of the accomplishments that were made. We were able to strengthen and build up SBYC & STF through negotiating vendor contracts, hiring a complete
staff and restructuring the ownership and leases between the entities. At St. John Bosco, the Board was able to grow enrollment and fundraising to record numbers.
What would be changed, fixed, solved, or made better if you were elected to the board? How would your new presence make a meaningful difference? The Wisconsin Supreme Court ruled that the extension of the ‘Safer at Home’ order by Governor Evers’s Administration was in fact unlawful and unenforceable. In May of 2020, the Board of Supervisors at that time circumvented the Supreme Court’s Ruling by delegating their responsibility to the County Health Officer, through Ordinance Chapter 38, which is still in effect. This must be repealed, so the people and businesses can grow and prosper.
What is something that few people know about you (and now more will)? We moved to Door County for many reasons, but the small-town values, our love for the sense of community and the beauty of the landscape were key factors. I want to ensure that the smalltown values are carried on, that our locally owned businesses can thrive and prosper, and that our children and future generations want to call Door County their home.
Ryan Shaw, 34, is a resident of the City of Sturgeon Bay. He is a comprehensive community servicesskills worker, with B.A. in Theatre Arts from the University of Wisconsin-Parkside. He is married to Anne Herring and has one six-year-old son. His volunteer activities include JAK’s Place, where he also serves as a member of their advisory committee. He has served on the Board of Directors at the Legal Aid Society of Door County and for Third Avenue Playworks. This is his first time seeking a public office.
Why are you running? I am running for office to help my community be the strongest place possible. I have been aware of local politics in the past and decided to get involved to help the place that I love so much. I want to be a voice for the community. Many members of the community have expressed to me that they do not feel heard by their local elected officials and local government is a great place to restore trust in government.
Please describe your leadership style. I like to lead in two ways: by example and by working together. I never believed that I have all the answers and have always believed that we are better served working together. Working collaboratively hearkens back to my roots of working in theater. No one person is more important than the group and I try never to forget that.
What experience do you have that would make you good in an elected office in general, and for the county board specifically? I have had a great variety of work in my professional life. Working as a theater artist, I learned how to think creatively and that all problems have solutions. Working as a coffee shop manager, I learned how to hustle for your living. Working as a mental health professional, I have learned that it is OK to ask for help. These three professions represent a large cross-section of people I have worked to gain an understanding of this community.
What would be changed, fixed, solved, or made better if you were elected to the board? How would your new presence make a meaningful difference? The biggest thing I would bring to the board is being a person who wants to engage his constituents. I love speaking with members of this community. I understand that not everyone will agree with me, and I still want to hear from those individuals. I believe that folks coming together with a variety of thoughts and ideas is the best way to get meaningful results. What is something that few people know about you (and now more will)? I still love talking to people on the phone. I don’t know if this is as interesting to anyone else, but I think it is pretty unique for a man in his mid-30s. I feel you can give folks a unique kind of attention on the phone, and I love having the chance to engage people this way.
DOOR COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT, BRANCH ONE
Two candidates – Jennifer Moeller and Brett Reetz – each want the Door County Circuit Court seat currently held by Judge D. Todd Ehlers, who is retiring when his term ends July 31, 2024.
Jennifer Moeller, 55, lives in Sturgeon Bay and works as the Door County FamilyCourt Commissioner and Register in Probate. She has a B.A. in Political Science from Boston College and a Juris Doctorate Degree from Marquette University Law School. She is married to Mark and has volunteered for numerous not-for-profit organizations including Sunshine Resources, JAK’s Place, Legal Aid Society of Door County, Women’s Fund of Door County, Sturgeon Bay Mock Trial Team, Family Services, Destination Sturgeon Bay, HELP of Door County and United Way.
In 2000, she ran for and was elected to the City of Sturgeon Bay Common Council, serving for one, two year-term.
Why do you want to be a Circuit Court Judge? I have enjoyed 13 years serving as the Door County Family Court Commissioner and Register in Probate. I am well suited for the challenging work of the courts, including the responsibility of making decisions affecting people’s lives. I have the temperament and demeanor required to respectfully listen to everyone involved in a case, make thoughtful, wellinformed decisions, and communicate those decisions. My courtroom is a place of respect for the law and for the people. Are you affiliated with any political parties, boards or commissions that you would envision remaining involved with if elected to the bench? No.
Do you have any business activities that you would envision remaining involved with if elected to the bench? No.
How would your personal philosophy inform your decisions? My personal philosophy supports thoughtful decision making. Respect for people creates a positive court environment. Parties to a case want to be heard. They want the court to consider their evidence, testimony and arguments. If people do not believe they are heard or considered, the court may not have the best information for decision making. A lack of respect for parties endangers respect for the court and its decisions.
What is your philosophy on recusal? How would you react to having a former associate or client appear as a party to an action before you? The Wisconsin Supreme Court Rules include the Code of Judicial Conduct. The Code provides direction for many situations judges face. The goal is to maintain public trust and confidence in an independent, fair, and competent legal system. A judge must avoid impropriety and the appearance of impropriety. As a Court Commissioner, former associates and clients appeared before me and I handled those on a case-by-case basis with the Code and this philosophy.
If you disclosed something that had the appearance of bias, but you believed it would not actually prejudice your impartiality, what deference would you give a party that requested your recusal? Would you grant such a motion? The specific facts of a case are relevant to recusal as well as the granting of any motion. Other parties involved in the case may have an opinion on the motion and should be heard. The code of conduct and my philosophy on recusal have guided me in these situations in cases I have handled as a Circuit Court Commissioner.
What role should Circuit Court judges have in judicial activism, or in setting or promoting public policy, particularly in cases where public policy isn’t clear? Judicial activism is inappropriate for Circuit Court judges. We must interpret and apply the laws that govern us. We do not set public policy. Resources are available when the written law is unclear. Guidance may come from the Court of Appeals, State Supreme Court, and legislative history.
Brett Reetz, 62, lives in Baileys Harbor and works as a trial attorney. He has a B.S. in Economics and a Juris Doctorate Degree, both from DePaul University. He is married with three children. His volunteer activities include private pro-bono legal work, most often on behalf of single mothers with custody and abuse issues and people struggling with addiction. He has volunteered for his church, for his children’s sporting associations and while in law school, was a big brother with the Big Brother program in Chicago, Illinois.
This race is his second attempt to obtain an elected position, his first an unsuccessful run for the Gibraltar School District School Board.
Why do you want to be a Circuit Court Judge? It is time to give back. As a trial lawyer since 1992, I have extensive trial experience involving criminal law, divorce, custody, civil rights, personal injury, contracts, real estate and federal court. On the practical side, I worked construction during the day to pay for my college and law school at night. I have raised a family. My law and life experiences make me the most qualified candidate to serve the people of Door County.
Are you affiliated with any political parties, boards or commissions that you would envision remaining involved with if elected to the bench? I am not affiliated with any political parties, boards or commissions and have not been so for in-excess of 25 years. I am a fan of independent thinking rather than partydriven ideologies. I have nothing to resign from if I am elected.
Do you have any business activities that you would envision remaining involved with if elected to the bench? I am one of the founders of Talkdust, Inc., a content-driven social media company. The enterprise has no contact with any person in Door County other than myself and a local accountant. I will remain involved in an advisory capacity, which is not a change from my current status in that I am not a developer. My involvement with Talkdust, Inc. will not present a conflict in any respect.
How would your personal philosophy inform your decisions? I am an advocate of personal responsibility. I cherish honesty, faith, family, discipline, work ethic, perseverance and charity. With these principles, a person can overcome life’s challenges and hardships. As
a jurist, my fundamental belief in a person’s ability to overcome their darkest of times will provide a substantial foundation for my decisions, rulings and sentences that not only appropriately punish or impose consequences, but will also provide a pathway of rehabilitation, resolution and success.
What is your philosophy on recusal? How would you react to having a former associate or client appear as a party to an action before you? My philosophy is consistent with the Supreme Court Code of Judicial Conduct. Judges must avoid impropriety and appearances of impropriety. Social, family, political or other relationships should not influence judicial conduct or judgment and are a basis for recusal. Any financial interest of a judge in a matter requires recusal. As to former associates or clients, relationships should be fully disclosed and if recusal is requested but not necessarily required, the request will be honored. What role should Circuit Court judges have in judicial activism, or in setting or promoting public policy, particularly in cases where public policy isn’t clear? Judicial activism is not acceptable. Considering public policy is not judicial activism. “Public policy” contemplates principles and standards deemed fundamentally important and beneficial by society, not current trends or political movements. Judges may take into account public policy when interpreting laws, contracts, torts and family law. As examples, public policy precludes a judge from enforcing a contract to sell illegal drugs and requires a judge to consider the best interests of children in family matters.
STURGEON BAY COMMON COUNCIL DISTRICTS 2 AND 6
Three alderperson seats are up for re-election and there are races for two of those: Matthew Huston is challenging incumbent Dennis Statz for the District 2 seat, and Tom Benzshawel is running against incumbent Seth Wiederanders in District 6. District 4 incumbent Spencer Gustafson is running unchallenged for his seat.
CITY DISTRICT 2
Dennis Statz (incumbent), 70, is the self-employed owner of the White Lace Inn and the Dancing Bear, both Sturgeon Bay businesses. He is a Sauk-Prairie High School graduate and attended the University of Wisconsin-Madison for Industrial Engineering. He is married to Bonnie with two adult children. He helped start Third Avenue Playhouse [now Third Avenue Playworks] and was involved with it from 1999-2014. He served on the Governor’s Council on Tourism (1989-1994), on the City of Sturgeon Bay Historic Preservation Commission (1986-2008), on the Sturgeon Bay Plan Commission (2008-present), on the Destination Sturgeon Bay board several times, on the Destination Door County Board twice and is involved with the Sturgeon Bay Rotary Club. He was first elected as an alderman in the Fall of 2020 in a special election following the resignation of David Hayes. He was subsequently elected for a full, two-year term in April 2022.
Why are you running? Our citizens need to be represented at the local government level by people willing to listen to their concerns. I am a firm believer in open communications and that public servants have an obligation to learn all the facts, provide input and listen to feedback before voting. There are many issues that will affect our city and its future, depending on the course taken. I would sincerely appreciate your support in the April 2 election.
What is the city doing right? What needs to be improved? The city has done a commendable job in dealing with development issues in recent years. It is our intention to continue to encourage quality development in a planned, well-thought-out manner. Many opportunities remain for creative development and redevelopment within the city’s existing boundaries with little need for annexation of additional lands. This, in turn, will continue to improve the efficiency of the city’s existing services including utilities, streets, refuse collection and public safety.
Three new tax increment districts (TIDs) were approved last year in Sturgeon Bay; the city currently has nine TIDs total. Do you believe more TIDs should be created in the city to promote development? Why or why not? TID’s have been an effective tool in encouraging economic development in Sturgeon Bay. Most of our districts have worked out well, with one exception. It is likely that a couple of the new districts, in particular the farther West Side area, may expand somewhat in the next few years. I don’t think that we will see a dramatic increase in the quantity of TIDs as we have experienced in the last several years. Do you believe the city should more strictly regulate short-term-rental homes, such as limiting the number of days in a year the homes may be rented out, or not allowing more than one rental every seven days?
I have expressed concerns about short term rentals (STRs)
for at least 10 years – long before it became an issue in Sturgeon Bay and Door County. Eighty of the 125 STRs within Sturgeon Bay are single family dwellings, which exacerbates the local housing shortage and other issues associated with STRs in residential areas. State law does not allow much flexibility in regulating STRs but yes, I believe that we should require a minimum-night rental stay of six nights. The latest amendment to the development agreement the City of Sturgeon Bay has with the Sturgeon Bay Historical Society Foundation gives the SBHSF until the end of July to “substantially complete” the renovation of the Door County Granary. What should the city do if the project isn’t completed by the end of July? Funding was finalized in November; bids were sent out soon thereafter, and contracts signed in January. Construction of this phase started Feb. 5 and is scheduled to be completed early August. There are two other projects near the Granary and Door County Maritime Museum that have seen delays because of current economic conditions. I am optimistic and confident that the West Waterfront area will become a wonderful and vibrant community asset very soon.
Matthew Huston, 33, is the co-owner of Door County Dragonfly Bed & Breakfast, and also works as the Senior Digital Media Strategist at Amadeus Hospitality. He has a B.S. in Business Administration, with a double major in Marketing and International Business from the University of Wisconsin - Madison. He is married to Lauren, and volunteers for the Rotary Club, Third Avenue Playworks, the Epilepsy Foundation of Wisconsin, The Shore and Destination Sturgeon Bay. This is his first run for public office. Why are you running? With a longstanding tradition of service, my family has often found its calling in the military. As the first in my family to graduate from college, I didn’t pursue the military path, but my commitment to serving my community endures. Seeking office is my way of giving back to the community that has supported me, advocating for my neighbors, and ensuring their voices are heard in local governance. What is the city doing right? What needs to be improved? The city has taken great strides in making the downtown and waterfronts more pedestrian-friendly. However, there needs to be greater efforts in the wider city. Affordable housing is one of the city’s greatest needs, and more aggressive actions can be taken to make sure the needs of the community are being met, including changing the zoning ordinance, permit processes, development philosophy and management of shortterm rental properties.
Three new tax increment districts (TIDs) were approved last year in Sturgeon Bay; the city currently has nine TIDs total. Do you believe more TIDs should be created in the city to promote development? Why or why not? TIDs are a great mechanism to spur development and growth within the city. This development is important, however, if our pace is too quick, we risk creating an additional strain on already scarce resources like housing, childcare and workforce. I would be in favor of more TIDs if they added prosperity to the community, rather than bills. Do you believe the city should more strictly regulate short-term-rental homes, such as limiting the number of days in a year the homes may be rented out, or not allowing more than one rental every seven days? Absolutely; the situation has rapidly become indefensible. A city alder member aims to do what is best for the people who live in this community, but STRs are worsening Sturgeon Bay’s housing crisis, and will continue to deplete our residential neighborhoods of vitality. If elected, I will call for a referendum to require STRs to have a six-night minimum. As a bed-andbreakfast owner, I would recuse myself from any vote to avoid conflict of interest. The latest amendment to the development agreement the City of Sturgeon Bay has with the Sturgeon Bay Historical Society Foundation gives the SBHSF until the end of July to “substantially complete” the renovation of the Door County Granary. What should the city do if the project isn’t completed by the end of July? The most contentious topic in town! The Granary could have been handled better from the start, however, it is a valuable project and opportunity for the city. This structure represents Sturgeon Bay’s unique history and industry. Its preservation presents an opportunity for tourism and growth. Furthermore, with federal grants and no taxpayer dollars being used on the project, and given the realities of today’s supply chain and contractor workload, I see no issue in allowing more time for completion.
CITY DISTRICT 6
Tai Chi instructor since 2014, and has spent volunteer time over the years with the County of Door’s Support and Collaboration Committee, the League of Women Voters of Door County, and the Door County YMCA. He’s currently seeking his fourth, two-year term.
Why are you running? I have enjoyed serving on the Common Council for three terms. I appreciate the constant professionalism and skills of my fellow alder members and city staff and I feel like we’ve accomplished a lot. I like representing my District and would like the opportunity to continue to do so. I feel well suited for the position and really appreciate all the work that goes into making our little city a great place to live.
What is the city doing right? We’ve made a lot of progress on the housing shortage with multiple projects completed around the city. We’ve had no more legal trouble on the West Waterfront and we’ll fix three miles of city streets in 2024 as we continue to focus on infrastructure and transportation. We’ve made substantial improvements to Otumba Park through partnership and cooperation with Destination Sturgeon Bay and private donors. We’ve also added two Kwik Trips to the city.
What needs to be improved? We need real affordable housing with rent based on 30% of household income to house our workforce. We need a grocery store on the West Side. We need to continue to be creative when applying for state and federal grant money and invest more in local business. Our local law enforcement needs to have more tools to enforce speeding and distracted driving laws.
Three new tax increment districts (TIDs) were approved last year in Sturgeon Bay; the city currently has nine TIDs total. Do you believe more TIDs should be created in the city to promote development? Why or why not? TIDs have been a very effective tool to encourage development in Sturgeon Bay. TID 1 was very successful, becoming a “donor” to other TIDs before it was closed. We need to continue to use TIDs strategically and consider them carefully. I would be in favor of a new TID for real affordable housing (rent = 30% income). Four of the last five TIDs included housing, and the approaches to the Oregon Street Bridge were funded by TID 2. Do you believe the city should more strictly regulate short-term-rental homes, such as limiting the number of days in a year the homes may be rented out, or not allowing more than one rental every seven days? The city reviews STR policy annually. Some positives: STRs encourage the renovation of older buildings, increase tax revenue and are a “pathway to entrepreneurship.” We need to be careful though, as STRs are known to decrease availability of yearround housing. It’s important to consider the difficulty in enforcing STR ordinances and the city must comply with all state laws. These policy changes always go through the Community Protection and Services Committee, upon which I’ve served since 2018.
The latest amendment to the development agreement the City of Sturgeon Bay has with the Sturgeon Bay Historical Society Foundation gives the SBHSF until the end of July to “substantially complete” the renovation of the Door County Granary. What should the city do if the project isn’t completed by the end of July? This has been a long and complicated process and I don’t like how we got here. However, the project is adequately funded and will not ever be under city ownership, which was my main problem with the original agreement. I sincerely hope Phase 1 is completed on time. If the project takes longer than anticipated, it will return to the council to consider what has been accomplished. Lawsuits should be avoided.
Tom Benzshawel, 63, is an engineer with a B.S. in Electrical Engineering. He is married to Vickie with three adult children. He has volunteered with the Boy Scouts of America and St. Joseph Parish. He previously served for five years on the Common Council representing District 6. Why are you running? I am running for alderman because I have called this community home for the past 43 years. As a homeowner and parent myself, I am deeply invested in maintaining Sturgeon Bay as a wonderful place to live and raise a family. With my diversified background and dedication to community service, I possess the necessary experience to serve as an effective alderman. If elected, I will prioritize listening to your concerns and work to ensure that your voice is heard in city decisions.
What is the city doing right? Sturgeon Bay has excelled in promoting its natural beauty, engaging its community, preserving its heritage, supporting local businesses, investing in infrastructure and fostering growth.
What needs to be improved?
Addressing the need for affordable housing is crucial to ensure that all residents have access to safe and affordable homes.
Three new tax increment districts (TIDs) were approved last year in Sturgeon Bay; the city currently has nine TIDs total. Do you believe more TIDs should be created in the city to promote development? Why or why not? Yes, I strongly advocate for the creation of more TIDs in our city to foster
development. TIDs stand out as the most potent tool available to Wisconsin cities in drawing residential, commercial and industrial growth. Developers perpetually seek out optimal value propositions for their projects. Neglecting to leverage TIDs could potentially lead us to forfeit projects to rival communities that actively offer such incentives.
Do you believe the city should more strictly regulate short-term-rental homes, such as limiting the number of days in a year the homes may be rented out, or not allowing more than one rental every seven days? I am not aware of problems with short-termrental homes, however the decision to change regulations should involve input from stakeholders, including residents, property owners and local businesses to find a balance that meets the needs of the community as a whole.
The latest amendment to the development agreement the City of Sturgeon Bay has with the Sturgeon Bay Historical Society Foundation gives the SBHSF until the end of July to “substantially complete” the renovation of the Door County Granary. What should the city do if the project isn’t completed by the end of July? I think the amendment aims to highlight that the granary issue is becoming increasingly significant for Sturgeon Bay residents who have been closely following the project. As time passes without visible progress, opposition among residents is growing. Initially, many were against the project, and now frustration is mounting as delays persist. It’s crucial to monitor the project’s progress closely and ensure it’s a regular council agenda item for updates and discussions regarding the city’s options.
BAILEYS HARBOR TOWN BOARD
Paul Kordon is challenging the incumbents, Terry McArdle and Sue Tishler, for one of the two seats that are up for reelection on the Baileys Harbor town board.
Terry McArdle (incumbent), 78, is a retired attorney who did his undergraduate work at the University of Wisconsin-Stout, and received his Juris Doctorate Degree from Seattle University School of Law in 1979. He was elected three years ago into his current seat on the town board to fill a vacant position. He also was elected to the Stoughton, Wisconsin school board, serving one three-year term before moving full time to Baileys Harbor. He is married to Ally and has two adult children and four grandchildren. He is an active member of the Stella Maris Parish in Northern Door County, and also the Knights of Columbus. In addition, he is a member of both the American Legion and the Veterans of Foreign Wars. He is running for his second, two-year term.
Why are you running? I have spent the majority of my adult life in public service, most of it in the military. Since high school, I have been of the opinion that all of us as citizens of the United States owe a duty back to the rest of our citizens to defend and stand up for the freedoms we all enjoy under our constitution. Thus, when Ally and I decided to retire here in Baileys Harbor I wanted to continue with public service.
What is your town doing right? I really appreciate the number of our town citizens who appear before the town board in support of those things they believe we need. One of those is a better broadband system. The town has now entered into a new contract to get that accomplished starting this fall and hopefully completing it in late 2025. I also appreciate that our town citizens care about the future of our town and actively support keeping our local economy strong.
What needs improvement? We have great parks and recreation facilities. However, some of them are showing their age and need an investment in new equipment, landscaping work, and such.
What are the town’s top priorities for the next five years? The primary one is to see to the completion of the new town-wide broadband system. My second priority would be to continue to cooperate with the Wisconsin Department of Transportation in the rebuilding of state Highway 57 through our vital and lively downtown. Rebuilding this highway will help maintain the flow of seasonal guests into Baileys Harbor and in turn help all the local businesses be more successful.
Susan Tishler (incumbent), 61, works as the business office assistant at Gibraltar Area Schools. She has a B.S. in Computer Science and Mathematics from Loyola University in Chicago. She is married to Timothy and has three adult children. She has been a volunteer for the Boy Scouts of America and for various committees at several school districts. She currently serves as a math tutor at Gibraltar Area Schools and is on the Baileys Harbor Nelson Property Ad Hoc Committee. She was elected to her current town board seat as an uncontested candidate in April 2022. Why are you running? I care about Baileys Harbor. My family has had a home in Baileys Harbor since 1940. I’ve been visiting Baileys Harbor my whole life and lived here full-time for 12 years. I have
served as an effective board member over the last two-and-a-half years. I hope to help guide the progress of the town while maintaining its character and beauty, and keeping Baileys Harbor a wonderful place to live, work and raise a family.
What is your town doing right? We are currently working on several projects that will improve the town for those who live, work and visit here. Those include development of the Nelson property, bringing broadband internet access to every residence, and improving our town marina. We have a dedicated and conscientious group of town employees. The board tries to make decisions that are fiscally responsible and represent the electors and the best interests of the town.
What needs improvement? I would like to see more public engagement. As an elected official, I represent the electors and the best interests of the town. With more public input, better decisions can be made. Baileys Harbor faces challenges that are common in our county. Increasing development and tourism pressures result in challenges including housing affordability, traffic congestion and labor and child-care insufficiencies. All municipalities must work together to make decisions with these common challenges in mind.
What are the town’s top priorities for the next five years? Always be an active listener to the needs of the electors and the best interests of the town, including residents, part-time residents, visitors and business owners. Complete former Nelson/Larsen property development. Bring broadband access availability to every household and business. Complete the town marina study and decide implementation strategy.
Paul Kordon, 56, is a plumbing contractor with a B.S. in Business Management and Economics from Bethel College. He has been a licensed Master Plumber with the state of Wisconsin since 2004. He is married to Juli Anderson-Kordon. He chairs the Baileys Harbor Wastewater Committee and is a volunteer for the Baileys Harbor Athletic Club and the Jacksonport Parade Committee. This is his first run for a public office.
Why are you running? I am running because I believe citizens need to be involved with their community, and this is the next step for me.
What is your town doing right? What needs improvement? The town has worked hard on maintaining its charm and connection with outdoor activities. However, our focus must turn toward maintaining and improving our infrastructure long-term. Successful town government places function and logic over emotion, identifying wants versus needs. What are the town’s top priorities for the next five years? Priorities are roads, marina, wastewater plant and sidewalks.
GARDNER TOWN BOARD
Two supervisor seats are up for reelection on the Gardner Town Board, but there’s only one race. Incumbent Glenn Dart is running unchallenged for his Supervisor 4 seat, but Ted Anderson has challenged incumbent Kevin Fleischman for the Supervisor 3 seat. Fleischman did not respond to our request for participation in the questionnaire, but below we introduce you to Anderson.
Ted Anderson, 70, is retired, and works parttime at Stevenson Pier Mini Mart. He is a high school graduate and is married to Sally with two adult children. He has regularly volunteered for golf outing benefits for DoorCan and is a gold donor on their wall. He now runs an annual fishing derby. This is their seventh year raising money for those with cancer who live within the town and have fallen on hardships. An eight-year cancer survivor himself, he also works with the Gardner Community Foundation. This is his first time running for a public office.
Why are you running? I’m running because I believe we need a change in Gardner, like following through on townpeoples’ complaints and getting back to them with timely resolutions.
What are the town’s top priorities over the next five years? I would really like to see a town park with a pavilion, dog-walking area and a gathering/ picnic area for our community. I would also like to empower the community members to participate more at the town board meetings. It is important that the community is involved in many issues brought to the board.
Do you support merging the town’s first responders with first responders from the towns of Brussels and Union? I’d like more information and transparency on the intentions and expected results of this merger to properly represent my community if elected.
Voters will be asked April 2 whether they favor borrowing up to $1,242,686 to fund broadband. Do you support this?
I would love to see better internet here, but I am hesitant to support it much if it is going to be too costly for the town and landowners’ expected contribution. I have already heard of many people moving on to other providers that are more affordable and reliable. If it is relayed at the informational meeting that it will be
cost-effective for the community, then I would support it.
The town board has been looking into implementing zoning. Do you support town zoning, and why or why not? If you do support it, should the town or county be the primary governmental entity responsible for overseeing it? I believe we do need some zoning in our town and that should be the responsibility of the town to oversee. In addition, we could use some town ordinances as a part of the five-year plan.
SEVASTOPOL TOWN BOARD
Four candidates are running for two supervisor seats that are up for re-election on the Sevastopol Town Board. Incumbents Derek Denil and Jeanne Vogel are both running, as are challengers Mark Haberli and Trent Olsen.
Derek Denil (incumbent), 34, works as an area operation manager for Precision Diagnostics. He graduated with the Sturgeon Bay High School class of 2008, and pursued an associates degree in Diesel Equipment Technology from Northeast Wisconsin Technical College. He is married to Stacie (Leist) with three children aged five and under. First elected to the board in 2020, he is seeking his third, two-year term in office. Why are you running? To provide a different perspective to town government as a local resident raising a family in Sevastopol. The town has one of the lowest tax rates in the county, which allowed my wife and I to become homeowners at the age of 22, in a neighborhood that we can afford. I intend to fight for the same right for others and keep the tax rate low. What is your town doing right? Many things in the town have improved in just the last four years. Sevastopol Emergency Medical Responders have increased their response rates by 20%. We have created an STR (short-term rental) ordinance so our neighborhoods maintain a safe and friendly atmosphere. New restrooms will soon be added to the park, where new pickleball/basketball courts were recently installed, and the town has partnered with AT&T to provide internet access to all.
What needs improvement? Our roads. The town has increased the road construction and repair budget over the past several years, but they are still deteriorating at a faster pace than we can afford to reconstruct.
What do you believe should be the top priorities for the town to address during the next five years? A top priority for the future is to continue to work with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and the county’s highway and parks departments on a feasible solution to repair or reconstruct Schauer Road to create easier, safer access to Cave Point for our visitors.
Jeanne Vogel (incumbent), 69, is a retired real estate agent. She is a Southern Door High School graduate who attended Northeast Wisconsin Technical College’s medical assistant program. She is married to Dale with two adult children. She is a Door County Master Gardener volunteer and is on the Steering Committee to establish the Aging in Place program under the guidance of Do Good Door County. First elected to the board in 2020, she is seeking her third, two-year term in office.
Why are you running? I am running because I want to continue to serve the Sevastopol community. As chair of the town’s Communications and Technology Committee, our focus for over two years has been to bring reliable high-speed internet service to the entire community. Sevastopol now has a publicprivate partnership in place with AT&T. Deployment will take approximately 24 months. I’m committed to seeing this project through to completion!
What is your town doing right? What needs improvement? Transparency and public engagement is critical in government. The town has established the Sevastopol YouTube channel. The public may tune in to town board meetings live, or watch a recorded version at their convenience. To be totally transparent, a public hearing is held to review the proposed budget. Residents may ask questions and make comments. Roads and fire protection consume a significant portion of the budget. The board has been prudent with spending.
What do you believe should be the priorities for the town in the next five years? We need to move forward deploying high-speed internet, closing the digital divide and enhancing the lives of residents and visitors. This will make Sevastopol attractive to small businesses, enable people to work from home and children to complete homework. The town should continue to make improvements to Sevastopol Town Park where residents can socialize and enjoy healthy activities. We also need to continue to maintain and improve the 86 miles of town roads.
Mark A. Haberli, 47, works as a Green For Life loader operator/swing driver. He has a high school diploma, is in a relationship with Tracie Massart, and has three children of his own and three of hers, four of those adults. This is his first time running for a seat on the Sevastopol Town Board, but he did make an unsuccessful run for the Jacksonport Town Board about 15 years ago.
Why are you running? I have decided to enter this election for supervisor because it has been a desire of mine to be a part of helping our community move forward. I have always enjoyed being a part of helping make decisions and solving problems. I feel that I can also be a strong voice for the residents of this community.
What is your town doing right? When I look around I see a great community to raise my children in. The neighbors throughout this town have good values. Sevastopol is also a safe community to live in. I believe this township has great potential to work with its citizens and remain an outstanding community.
What needs improvement? As a resident of this town, I can see some growing pains coming its way. We need to address them in the best way possible for the community. There are decisions to be made, some simple and some very complex, but they must be made for the best of the people. I understand that not all decisions made will please everyone, but we have to take all of the citizens’ concerns into account.
What do you believe should be the priorities for the town in the next five years? I believe that road improvement needs to be addressed, as so many of our roads are deteriorating – are there ways to fix more miles per year? Also, I believe the UTV/side by side concerns need to be revisited.
Trent Olsen, 44, works as the Director of Finance for Marine Travelift and ExacTech. He has a Masters degree in Professional Accounting from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. He is a single father of two teenage sons, both attending Sevastopol School District. This is his first time running for public office.
Why are you running? I have been interested in joining the town or county board for a while, and now that my family is older, I have more time to give. In recent years, it has become apparent some of the board has stopped listening to the people in the town. In public office, sometimes one needs to put the needs of the town ahead of one’s own interests.
What is your town doing right? The short-term rental ordinance was the right thing to do. Working in manufacturing, I have seen what short-term rentals can do to a housing market and available employee housing. I feel the town is better served with housing for residents, both working and retired. The town is also making great strides with expanding broadband access.
What needs improvement? Areas to improve would be the treatment and relationships with first responders. What do you believe should be the top priorities for the town to address during the next five years? Protecting public access to public beaches and other natural areas and supporting business expansion.
SISTER BAY VILLAGE BOARD
Four people are running for three trustee seats on the Sister Bay Village Board: Kurt Harff, Louise Howson, Eric Smith and incumbent Denise Bhirdo. Incumbents Don Cox and Sarah White are not running for re-election.
Denise L. Bhirdo (incumbent), 60, is a co-owner of Bhirdo’s Gas Station and Second Hand Sue’s. She is a highschool graduate, single and describes herself as committed to public service on behalf of the village. She has a long career on the Sister Bay Village Board: first elected as a trustee in 1994, she served for three years before being elected as Village President. She served as the board’s president for 14 years, and fulfilled the same role for two different presidents after they quit. She stepped down from the board in 2013, and after a three-year hiatus, ran for village trustee again, won, and has served ever since.
Why are you running? I want to continue to be a part of Sister Bay’s future. Having institutional knowledge of the past proves to be a great asset. What is the village doing right? What needs improvement? I will let our residents determine what we are doing right. As with anything, improvements can always be made. I believe our communication with our citizens could be better. We can’t make people show up at meetings, or zoom in, but I am hoping that with redesigning the village’s website we can take a step forward with having timely information all in one place and easily accessible. The village is currently at various stages of work on several large capital projects. Which projects should the village prioritize and why? 1) The Parks Maintenance building. We started planning for a new structure
about 15 years ago. Then the highway reconstruction began, and the village purchased downtown waterfront property, so the new building was put on hold. (2) The administration building. Staff has been working out of a building that does not meet our current needs. It is too small, inefficient and it has many HVAC issues, along with a leaky roof. (3) Workforce housing. It is a bit unfair to put this as my third priority. But there are so many issues that need to be worked out before we have a final plan. I feel the other two buildings will come to fruition before we develop the parcel adjacent to the sports complex.
The village board is responsible for setting a budget and tax levy. What do you know about municipal budgeting and what financial skills or knowledge would you bring to the table? I have been on the Finance Committee for many years, and was Chair up until this last year. I have a vast knowledge of accounting and budgeting. I opposed this year’s budget.
How many village board or committee meetings have you observed over the past year (either in person or virtually)? Could those meetings be run more efficiently and if so, in what way? I have attended approximately 60 meetings in the last year. It would be nice if some issues did not keep repeating on subsequent agendas, but without consensus on other committees, what else could be done? I am open to suggestions. One silver lining of the pandemic was Zoom. I like that our meetings can be attended in person or virtually, therefore expanding participation within our community.
Kurt A. Harff, 73, is a retired public school music teacher and college guitar instructor who has been a professional musician/guitarist/ vocalist for the past 60 years. He received his B.A. in Music from the University of Wisconsin-Parkside, and a music teacher certification from Carthage College. He is married to Laurel with one adult son. He volunteers time with the Stella Maris food pantry. This is his first time running for a public office.
Why are you running? I want to be a spokesperson for the year-round residents of Sister Bay.
What is the village doing right?
They’re developing a comprehensive plan for future growth of the village while trying to keep some of the history of the village intact. They’re also working hard to develop an area of affordable housing. What needs improvement? The village needs to provide balance and consideration between tourism and residents.
The village is currently at various stages of work on several large capital projects. Which projects should the village prioritize and why? Priority should be on building the new Parks Maintenance Facility and demolishing the present building. They also have to work out plans for affordable housing. The current building doesn’t meet the needs of Parks and Maintenance and we have a huge lack of affordable housing.
The village board is responsible for setting a budget and tax levy. What do you know about municipal budgeting and what financial skills or knowledge would you bring to the table? My background is a musician and educator, but I was involved in budgeting for the music curriculum for the school.
How many village board or committee meetings have you observed over the past year (either in person or virtually)? Could those meetings be run more efficiently and if so, in what way?
My wife and I have attended all of the Village Board meetings over the past year, as well as all of the Plan Commission meetings. Presently, with multiple projects to consider, meetings might be longer than expected, but it’s necessary.
Louise Howson, 72, is the Community Coordinator for the Sister Bay Advancement Association (SBAA), a position she will be leaving effective March 29. She has a B.A. in Psychology and a B.S. in Marketing, both from St. Louis University. She is married to Duke Douglas with two adult children. She is a member of the Door Tran Board of Directors, the Friends of the Sister Bay Ice Rink, the Door County Tourism Zone Board of Directors and the Peninsula Transit Coalition. This is her first time running for a public office. Why are you running? To help improve communication with our residents and make village processes more transparent. To be a part of planning the future for our village by listening to and considering the opinions of my constituents.
What is the village doing right? Sister Bay is a leader in building affordable housing, creating public green space and providing public transportation and ample parking for most of the year. Our Sports Complex is great, and could be better if the ice rink were usable in winter and converted into a splash pad in summer.
What needs improvement? We need more public restrooms, with some open year-round. We could do a better job of highlighting village history in the downtown area with creative signage.
The village is currently at various stages of work on several large capital projects. Which projects should the
village prioritize and why? We should prioritize getting the development of the 57 acres east of downtown right before any infrastructure is begun. This should include a sensible mix of affordable housing and green space, while leaving a portion for future needs. We need safe bike and pedestrian connections from uptown to downtown, including sidewalks on Country Walk Lane. We need to consider options for a Village bypass route to reduce congestion between Hwy. 57 and Scandia Road.
The village board is responsible for setting a budget and tax levy. What do you know about municipal budgeting and what financial skills, or knowledge would you bring to the table? Municipal budgets should be connected to the objectives contained in the comprehensive plan, and this plan should prioritize programs and services critical to the sensible growth of the municipality. The budgeting process must be transparent. Residents should be given the opportunity to learn about budget processes and give input before it is finalized. In my role with the SBAA and as a sales executive, I successfully built and managed annual budgets for over 40 years.
How many village board or committee meetings have you observed over the past year (either in person or virtually)? All 12 meetings of the Parks, Property and Streets Committee; 10 of 12 Village Board meetings; nine of 12 Plan Commission meetings; three Marina Fest Committee meetings; and one meeting each for Land Use Planning, Village Hall Planning, the Marina Committee and the Zoning Board of Appeals.
Could those meetings be run more efficiently and if so, in what way? Many of our meetings regularly run longer than three hours, with meeting packets over 200 pages long. This makes it harder for members to stay focused and make good decisions on important issues. This is also a deterrent to keeping our residents involved and discourages them from wanting to serve on our board or committees. I would advocate for setting time limits for meetings by prioritizing agenda items and giving each item a time limit.
Eric Smith, 62, is a landscape design manager for Peninsula Players Theatre in Fish Creek. He’s a graduate of Gibraltar High School and studied computer-aided drafting at Waukesha County Technical College in Pewaukee, Wisconsin. He is single with two adult children. Why are you running? To help to improve and balance the decisions made about the village.
What is the village doing right? What needs improvement? Village trustees are doing as best as they can under the circumstances that they deal with. Improvements are always a factor, and should be made with a common sense approach.
The village is currently at various stages of work on several large capital projects. Which projects should the village prioritize and why? Projects should be dealt with on what’s needed more than the other. Then you can balance the finances afterwards.
The village board is responsible for setting a budget and tax levy. What do you know about municipal budgeting and what financial skills, or knowledge would you bring to the table? Common knowledge equals common-sense decisions.
How many village board or committee meetings have you observed over the past year (either in person or virtually)? Could those meetings be run more efficiently and if so, in what way Several. As for efficiency, that would be the responsibility of the village president.
WASHINGTON TOWN BOARD
Three candidates are running for two supervisor seats on the island’s town board: incumbents Loren Roznai and Lawrence “Larry” Kahlscheuer, and challenger Peter Sownie.
Larry Kahlscheuer (incumbent), 74, is retired from law enforcement and a graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh. He is married to Diane and they have three grown children who they raised on the island. Over the years he’s been on a variety of town committees, including WICHP, Community Center Committee, Medical Committee, Zoning and Planning, early Economic Development Committee, Utility District Wastewater Committee and the Washington Island Music Festival. He is also a lay presider for Stella Maris Catholic Parish’s Washington Island site. He served on the Washington Island School Board for 15 years. First elected to the town board in 2022, he’s running for a second, two-year term. Why are you running? I love this community and have 24 years of history and year-round community involvement. I have no agenda other than the wellbeing of the residents. There are projects that have begun that I would like to see brought to completion, such as the decision on the airport, remodeling the community center, working on the results of the island survey and development of a master plan for the next 10 to 20 years.
What is your town doing right? The town works with the Public Works, Police and Fire departments to maintain their fine service to the community. The town is working to continue control over proper field spreading of septage in the areas designated for that use. The town works to control spending and listing priorities during the budget meetings. The town is striving to maintain the properties it owns such as the museums and park system that are here. What needs improvement? The town needs to budget for repairs and maintenance of roads, parks and buildings that need updating and in some cases, expansion. These improvements have been put off for too many years and each year the costs increase. Proper development of new properties purchased are also a part of the future planning. With the completion of a recent survey by the community there will hopefully be a clear direction for the future. What do you believe should be the top priorities for the town to address during the next five years? With the recent survey of the community, the list of priorities is being developed. Maintaining the natural features and open spaces is again high on the list. As with many communities in the Door, affordable housing is very important to bring and keep young families. Being able to support the flow of tourists that visit the island each year is always a concern. In an aging community, the needs of the elderly will require decisions.
Loren Roznai (incumbent), 40, is an innkeeper who is single. She won her seat as a write-in candidate in April 2022, and is now running for her second, two-year term in office. Why are you running? I love the island and want to see our community thrive while preserving the unique and amazing aspects that make us choose “Island Life.” It takes a lot of work to keep a town running and I want to do my part to help ensure our community can continue on for years to come. What is your town doing right? What needs improvement? Over the last two years our town board has worked continuously to incorporate future planning into our day-to-day work. I feel that this viewpoint of considering the future with today’s decisions is important to our community. However, we do need to work on improving community involvement in these tasks, by encouraging the public to get involved with our town advisory committees so that they can contribute towards solutions. What do you believe should be the top priorities for the town to address during the next five years? I believe the Town of Washington needs to work on future planning for infrastructure and support systems for our community and existing assets. There are several local treasures, assets, and facilities that as a town we need to be responsible stewards of and I would like to see plans in place for the continued care and preservation – and, when applicable, improvement –of the things that are important to our community.
Peter Sownie, 74, is a retired financial analyst with a Masters in Business Administration from San Francisco State University. He is married to Ardis Hanson with two children. He spends volunteer time attending town board and committee meetings; assisting Meals On Wheels deliveries; and reporting and writing reviews and essays for the Washington Island Observer Why are you running? I’ve been visiting the island for over 25 years, living here full-time for almost three years. I feel a deep connection to the island and its history, values and traditions, through my islander wife, Ardis, and her many friends and extended family. I want to help preserve those values and traditions by serving on the Washington Island Town Board.
What is your town doing right? What needs improvement? We live in a unique island community rich with beauty and tradition. We are faced with many challenges as our population grows and changes. We need to do a better job of listening to our community and working more effectively with our town committees to manage those challenges. What do you believe should be the top priorities for the town to address during the next five years? Managing growth and economic prosperity while maintaining the natural beauty and traditional values of our community.
