Welcome to Door County's quick and happy read. In addition to this week's front page articles found below, we invite you to enjoy over 600 stories from all past issues of the magazine, contained in our archives. Use the search fields below to find what you're interested in.
Selling bookmarks to raise money to buy soup for Feed My People.
What
do you get when you put together three young local girls with a heart for serving
others and a food pantry that needs help? You get a great idea for helping Door
County residents remember the SOUP in Super Bowl and the importance of helping
others! Grace Hubbard, Sabrina Rittle and Rooke Knapton, from Hope United
Church of Christ’s Middle Grade Sunday School class have been working hard for
a month to pull off their SOUPer Bowl of Caring Project that will culminate on
Sunday, February 26.
Ross
Dippel has been named by the Door Shakespeare Board of Directors as
Interim Artistic Director. Mr. Dippel brings with him many years of
classical theatre experience as an actor, director, educator, producer,
and professional fight choreographer. He holds a Bachelor of Science
Degree in Theatre Arts from the University of Wisconsin LaCrosse, and a
Master of Fine Arts in Classical Theatre from the prestigious
Shakespeare Theatre Company’s Academy of Classical Acting at George
Washington University in Washington, D.C. Professional memberships
include Actor’s Equity Association and The Society of American Fight
Directors.
Sister Bay's first
settlers were Scandinavians who immigrated to the area in 1757. It
became an incorporated village in April of 1912. The village was named
after the Sister Islands which lie at the entrance to the harbor.
Ironically, 1912 was a tragic year for
the little village. There was a drought which caused crop failures and a
hail storm in which fowl from the Koessl farm totally disappeared. In
addition, grasshoppers came and destroyed everything in sight before
leaving, and the fire of 1912 destroyed six downtown buildings - four
stores, a large hotel, and a home. The buildings (which were where
Husby's and the Sister Bay Bowl are today) and the general store (which
housed the post office) were burned to the ground.
When
it comes to finding a fun and supportive place for impromptu
performances of the latest song, poem, or comedy sketch you've either
just written or had laying in a drawer for thirty years, all roads lead
to Sturgeon Bay. And we're not talking just locals. WRiTERS' NiGHT at
the Holiday Music Motel in downtown Sturgeon Bay is an open mic
opportunity for songwriters, poets, playwrights, storytellers, authors,
comedians, and
so forth. Visitors from all over the country and even the world have
stopped in to participate or just hang out.
The
gathering happens almost every Thursday evening of the year from 7:00 -
9:00 pm in the cozy lobby of this musician-owned lodging establishment,
a charming retro motel reminiscent of the 1950s; in fact, it was a
landmark place to stay in the area back in that day, and has been
totally restored to that look and feel as a friendly "Mom & Pop"
type place.
This Week's Lead Story Door County 2011 Year in Review - Dec 21, 2011 - 9:00:00 AM As
the year draws to a close and this magazine celebrates its first
anniversary of publication, we thought it fitting to recap the year by
revisiting our top lead stories. We've selected one article from each
month of 2011. By doing so, you'll discover a cross-section of Door
County life ... all aspects of it! To read the complete article, click
on the title. Enjoy!
With
little hoopla but with a handful of enthusiastic fans, Steely became a
working vehicular and pedestrian bridge again for the first time in many many long months. Christie Weber, of
the local advocacy group Citizens for our Bridge, moved the first
"Bridge Out" barricade aside as a city plow and salt truck cleared light
snow from the anxiously awaiting structure. "This just shows what great
things can happen when a community works together", said Christy, known
as Sturgeon Bay's "Bridge Lady".
The Eagle Bluff Room at Door County Lighthouse Inn.
Quiet.
That's what you'll find here on the Door Peninsula during the winter
months ... the "off-season". Unlike the busy summer and fall months, you
won't find crowds or waiting lines at the eateries. In fact, after the
sun sets, you will probably notice that the sidewalks are rolled up and vehicles disappear from village streets and even highways. It's charming.
You're up for a getaway, with no kids or mother-in-laws. It's just you
and quite possibly your significant other. Where to stay? Where to eat?
What to do that is fun and might result in a special purchase by which
to remember the time you had here? Let's get started.
Children's Store at Bertschinger Center, Egg Harbor.
Each
year numerous businesses and individuals from Door County generously
donate items so that over 350 youngsters can visit the Children's
Christmas Stores held at 4 locations in November and December. The
stores are hosted by the Family Centers of Door County with the help of
over 40 volunteers.
With the assistance of Santa's Elves, children age 4 - 12 are allowed
to shop and wrap gifts for family members while mom & dad wait
outside. These items are new inventory priced 50¢ to no more than $15
and are valued at far more than the asking price.
Door
County enters its quiet period by November, but that means there's some
very happy and satisfying times just waiting for you during your
upcoming get-a-way weekend on the Peninsula. Just think, no traffic, no
waiting anywhere, relaxed local folks to chat with, and most of all,
quiet and relaxing ambiance.
But you need to make a plan so that you don't waste your valuable time
driving to places that are already closed for the winter.
Bo and visiting buds play video games in the hospital.
Hi
everyone, Skipper here. The guys here at the magazine finally let me
get some extra computer time so I could write this story. It was kind of
my own idea, because when I ventured up to Sister Bay to sneak a peek
at the big Fall Fest that the humans do every year, I saw scads of the
humans wearing orange thingys on their heads and on their wrists and
stuff. They all read "Go Bo!"
So I asked my own self, what in the heck is this "Go Bo" craze all
about? Orange, orange, orange, everywhere. Humans large and small were
dancing around (see the vid below by Chris Miller), shouting happy
slogans loudly, and generally having a great time. I also spotted humans
putting money into hats and buckets ... very cool, but why?
A
program entitled “Life at Haiti’s Largest Orphanage” will be presented
on Saturday, October 29 from 3:30 - 4:45 pm in Jameson Hall, adjoining
Holy Nativity Church on County V in Jacksonport. The talk, which will
include a multimedia presentation, is part of the Fall Program Series
sponsored by Christ the King/Holy Nativity Episcopal Church of Sturgeon
Bay and Jacksonport.
Cynthia
A. DeSoi, MD will take you behind the scenes at Hope Village, an
amazing place where hope reigns supreme for some of Haiti’s children and
young adults. The orphanage was started with just a few street kids in
1998 by Fr. Marc Boisvert, who has directed the facility ever since.
Eagle Scout Christopher Sullivan-Robinson with Troop 1021 leaders.
The
Sunshine House is an organization dedicated to serving citizens of
Wisconsin with special needs. Over the past forty years, the Sunshine
House has expanded its services, and now provides special needs and
disabled citizens with personal care, transportation, work services,
supported employment and activities. The Sunshine House serves
sixty-five members of the Door County community.
The kids learn how to make apple juice with volunteer John Kierstyn.
Remember
our story last spring about the third graders who planted their gardens
as a class project? The kids are now fourth graders. Read the previous story here.
Sturgeon Bay,
Wisconsin's 4th grade classes from all of that city's schools returned to the
Peninsular Agricultural Research Station on October 4th to harvest the
crops they planted last spring. This field trip project for the kids is
sponsored each year by Door County Master Gardeners, a volunteer
organization of folks who know a lot about plants!
Phil Faustini with a Whitefish Bay Road customer's hostas.
It
took many years of experimenting with plants and fertilizer ingredients
on a quiet farm near the Village of Egg Harbor before Stephen Follett
smiled at his green and abundant garden and whispered, "I've got it".
This was well before 1952, when he finally began production and local
sales of his new formula, Watch Us Grow®, as much a secret as the famed
Coca-Cola recipe.
The liquid plant food is made completely from naturally-occurring
compounds, trace elements, and organic and inorganic materials. But it's
still a trade secret as to the exact recipe for this amazing stuff,
which stays in solution indefinitely and is known for its dramatic
difference in producing big and healthy vegetation.
Egg Harbor's Annual Pumpkin Patch Festival is
one of the best events in Door County for kids. It's held in early October in downtown Egg Harbor. Going strong now for
about two decades, Pumpkin Patch seems to have become synonymous with
colorful fall fun on the Peninsula. People come from all over the
Midwest and beyond, year after year, to soak in the feeling this busy
event imbues. They eat, play, relax, and depart with cheer. Children are
major participants in this festival.
Kids truly
love Pumpkin Patch Festival, plain and simple. Why? Perhaps for them
it's sort of a two-day mini version of Disney World or Great America.
There is no Mickey Mouse or Hurricane Harbor Water Park to be found, but
kids will have plenty to keep them enthused all weekend long. It's
about lots of cool things going on, lots of delicious food, lots of
sights to see, lots of rides, and lots of just plain fun to be had!
As
a youngster, Madonna Siles always wondered who lived in the cave at
Cave Point, near Whitefish Dunes State Park. She and her family were
tourists here for many years, and little Madonna took more than a
passing interest in the opportunities to enjoy nature at its finest.
That's what Door County is about, isn't it?
Siles' family
lived in the Naperville area and fell in love with the natural beauty
of the area. By the age of ten, Madonna was pretty sure there was
someone living in the huge cave that is the venue's centerpiece and
makes Cave Point such a wonderful destination all year round.
The latest Habitat home under construction in Sturgeon Bay.
Door
County is fortunate to have an army of volunteers that make things
happen for myriad non-profit organizations in the area. But there's just
one where scads of volunteers invest about 3,000 collective hours of
their own time into the construction of a home for a family that might
otherwise never own one.
At a recent meeting of the Rotary Club of Door County North, which meets
every Wednesday for breakfast at the Cornerstone Pub in Baileys Harbor,
Door Habitat's Executive Director Rick Nelson told the wonderful story.
The
Door County Humane Society's Annual Bark in the Park 2011 will leave
lasting memories in the minds of its many participants, which included
about 100 humans, 60 dogs, 3 cats, and 1 camel. How does a cat participate in the promenade around the park? You'll have to check out the video
later in this article to find out!
Sunset Park in Sturgeon Bay was a great place to be on Saturday,
August 27. The weather was perfect, with temperatures in the high 70's,
partly sunny skies, and a light breeze.
Jeremy & Jenni Evensen with some "raw materials" used to produce art work & jewelry.
Do
you have any old silverware from Grandma's place that sparkled in
yesteryear but sits idle and tarnished in a fancy case or a cardboard
box? So do Jenni and Jeremy Evensen of Sturgeon Bay. But these young
folks are artists, and they are going to use these worn and tired vintage objects to
produce wonderful pieces of jewelry and art - and you're probably not.
In
fact, JJ Evensen Art, (the JJ of course stands for Jeremy and Jenni)
seeks out just about as much silverware of all ages, qualities, shapes,
condition, and size as they can.
Northport Pier Visitor Center. Photo by Richard Purinton.
A
Visitor Center has opened within the terminal building at Northport, a
space that had operated the previous 25 years as Northport Pier
Restaurant.
The dining room
tables and chairs have been replaced with display kiosks for
photographs, information and literature related to Washington and Rock
Islands and the islands of Death's Door. This shift in direction may
surprise some visitors, especially those who recall memorable meals
served at the Northport Pier Restaurant over that time period, but
according to Hoyt Purinton, Ferry Line President, the new direction in
the face of ever-declining restaurant activity is meant to support
island tourism as a whole.
A happy customer purchases some treasures: an old postcard and two antique cigar boxes!
"This
place is amazing! I wish we had a place like this back home!" was a
recent comment by a shopper, overhead by the smiling proprietor of
Sturgeon Bay's new used and rare bookstore. Only open a few months now, "Untitled" Used & Rare Books, Maps and Ephemera is in the heart of
downtown Sturgeon Bay at 30 N. 3rd Avenue. Don't look for a sign, just
look for an old-time phone booth in the window loaded with books of all
colors, sizes, and shapes.
It's
easy to get to the newly-chartered Cowboy Church of Northern Door. Find
Uncle Tom's and drive north on Timberline Road to 12376 Timberline Road,
where you will see a sign welcoming all to the non-denominational, 'No
Barrier' Cowboy Church.
The
Cowboy Church of America has a rich tradition of meeting the spiritual
needs of cowboys and rodeo riders and people traveling who can't always
find their church.
I
was driving through Sister Bay with the top down trying to beat the
heat with my three sons last weekend when I spotted Santa and Mrs.
Claus. These were not the run of the mill, fake Santa and Mrs. Claus
that you find around every corner at the malls in December. This was
Santa with the most beautiful, and genuine, silver beard and mustache.
Mrs. Claus looked timeless with her warm smile and classic cherry
jewelry made by Pipka. They were standing in the shade of the trees
among a bounty of bulbous hydrangea blossoms and bursting lilies in the
gardens that surround Pipka's shop. The scene looked so inviting that I
had to stop.
Current site of Newport House was Ellison Bay Post Office years ago.
North
of Sister Bay you will find a vibrant and thriving artist community in
Ellison Bay. Pottery, Asian art, leather, fabric, folk art, along with a
used book store, a general store, restaurants and a coffee shop with
local artist's work on the walls and two schools and soon the Ellison
Bay cider House are all housed in historic structures. Taking pre-loved
buildings and repurposing them seems to be a natural extension of the
creative mind and you will find that in abundance in Ellison Bay.
Steel
Bridge Songfest in Sturgeon Bay brings together musicians of all ages,
and one of the coolest aspects of the week-long experience is the
opportunity for mentoring the new faces on the music scene. Thus was the
case during the 2011 event, where the three youngest participants, two
guys and a gal, spent a lot of time with their older musical peers and
had a blast learning, playing music, and just plain having fun.
Artist
Tim Kornowski of Sturgeon Bay got an early start with his craft. He
began at age 5 or 6 with crayons and pencil. By age 7, he was a
producing painter. A Green Bay native, Kornowski wasted no time in
jump-starting his art career. During his pre-teen years he charged other
kids $2.50 to do a pencil drawing of a sports figure based on a trading
card. Business was brisk.
Installation of officers for the newly formed Rotary Club of Door County North.
Door County's third Rotary
Club was officially chartered on June 16, and the inauguration and installation
of officers took place at an elegant dinner party at the Alpine Resort in Egg
Harbor on June 27. The Rotary Club of Door County North celebrated its
establishment by 26 charter members, who meet weekly at the Cornerstone Pub in
downtown Baileys Harbor.The new club was sponsored
by the Sturgeon Bay Rotary Club, which took a leadership role in getting the
Baileys Harbor club organized. Paul Kok, President of the Sturgeon Bay club and
Roger Utnehmer, Rotary District 6220 Assistant Governor, were instrumental in
putting together this group of mostly northern Door folks who will be committed
to Rotary's ideals and core values, which emphasize "service above self".
Songwriters Johnny Lowebow, Brandon Cipher-th, and Miss Meaghan Owens collaborate on their new song "Silver Buckle".
During the second
week of June, Sturgeon Bay may well have been the top place on the
planet for the creation of new songs that will likely find their way into
the archives of myriad genres of music. After all, where else in the
world would hundreds of songwriting musicians have come together as an
extended family to collaborate on what they do best? Whether it's rock,
blues, folk, hip-hop, country, southern, punk, pop or hybrids of these
styles, the week-long musician-residents of the city that our beloved
Steel Bridge calls home love their work.
Master Gardener Vicki Durst explains how Native Americans raised crops in ridged fields in Door County.
Once
again this spring the Door County Master Gardeners organization hosted
area third graders at the Peninsular Agricultural Research Station north
of Sturgeon Bay for a fun-filled morning of learning and planting. The weather was
gorgeous as 103 kids from St. John Bosco, Saints Peter and Paul, and
Sunrise Schools became knowledgeable producers-to-be of potatoes,
carrots, marigolds, and other plants and vegetables. Teachers and
volunteers assisted the young farmers as they got to work with much
enthusiasm. The students will return in the fall as fourth graders to
reap the fruits of their efforts.
The
main thing that I love about travel is the opportunity to experience
things that I can't find at home. Viva La Cottage is one of those
unique experiences in Sister Bay. Viva La Cottage is a boutique of
vintage and vintage-inspired original creations. I would argue that
Viva is not just a boutique; it's an experience. Each item is a treat,
each display a dish, and each display leads you to the whole effect,
which is a feast for the senses.
Coffee shop owners, cousins Sarah and Katie Janquart
All coffee shops have a personality, and GT Coffee's personality is evident before you even walk in the door. There is art on the porch and walls; and in addition to a sign announcing 'GT Coffee' there is a big sign that says 'ART'. It's easy to spot this place, since there is a large flag flying on the west side of Hwy. 42 with the word 'ART' on it. The gray and white building makes it the perfect display for the interesting and visually arresting outside art available in the gallery.
For over twenty years I have been a tourist to Door County. This June my family and I will become permanent year around residents in Sister Bay. Currently, I consider myself a resident/tourist. I hope that my knowledge as a resident, paired with my vacationer's appreciation and perspective, will give readers a real feel for local events and places, as well as practical information to make their experience in Door County the best it can be. This is the first in a series of articles that I plan to submit for travelers to Sister Bay, or those who would like to visit vicariously.
Someplace You Have to Experience in Sister Bay: or, Where Your Treasure is, There Your Heart Will Be Also ...
Spending the summer in Door County is often a dream for non-locals who fall in love with this beautiful area. And if you're a teacher, it's a great place to recharge and refresh over the summer break. But in order to make this pipe dream a reality, finding a way to support yourself and your family becomes the larger issue. Nick Dokolas of Bakersfield, California found the solution about eight years ago and has been enjoying the outdoors almost every summer day while paying his way by having fun. With his wife's strong ties to the Sister Bay area, the couple was on the lookout for a suitable business that would allow them to be here.
Dokolas, a public school teacher, started Segway the Door Tours after reading an article in the AAA magazine on the Segway Personal Transporter (PT). Nick started as a dealer for Segway and sold a few units to individuals, but he quickly determined that operating a tour business based on the machine was the right ticket for a successful Door County venture.
The members of the
Door County Rotary Interact Club have big goals this spring.In hopes to raise enough money to fund
their own well in Africa, the club is planning and preparing for a "Mr. Door
County Pageant" and raffle that they will be hosting in May.
All of the money
raised at the pageant and raffle will go straight to the charitable
organization “A Drop in the Bucket” that builds wells and water systems in very
needy countries.Water is an
essential part of our lives here in the United States and is something that
everyone utilizes and most people take for granted.The members of the club want to do their part in helping
everyone to have clean, healthy, accessible water to drink and use all over the
world.
This is the third pageant that the club has
planned and hosted over the past several years, each one to benefit a different
organization, and they have all been successful.
Rotary Group Study Exchange delegation from Japan.
The recent tragedies in
Japan did not stop a group of five young Japanese professionals from
coming to Northeast Wisconsin this month for three weeks of on-location
study and vocational visits, including venues in Door County. Enjoy this
video of a recent presentation made by these fine folks at the Rotary
District 6220 Conference at Stone Harbor Resort in Sturgeon Bay. Here
they share a taste of the culture and life of their homeland.
The
five Japanese visitors are Naoko Konemori, Kenichi Nakagaki, Ayumi
Yamaguchi, Naoaki Hanamoto, and Koji Takata. All are young business
professionals from the Hiroshima and Yamaguchi
areas.
The visit is a Group Study Exchange sponsored
by the Rotary Foundation and the Sturgeon Bay Rotary Club. An exchange
group of similar young professionals from our area will visit Japan in
October.
Stephen Kastner of DesignWise Studios speaks to the new Rotary group on Social Marketing
A new Rotary Club is in the process of being organized in Door
County. It will be called Northern Door Rotary Club and will draw its
membership primarily from individuals working or residing in
that area, although members can hail from anywhere, as long as they find
it convenient to attend meetings on a regular basis. The meeting place
is the Cornerstone Pub in Baileys Harbor, and the weekly breakfast
meeting takes place every Wednesday from 7:30 - 8:45 am. The agenda will
almost always include a breakfast buffet priced at $10, a short Rotary
business meeting, and a guest speaker. Speakers will include a variety
of people from various walks of life who will present a diversity of
topics.
A
little bit off the beaten path is one of Door County's parks called Olde
Stone Quarry County Park. It's located just south of Little Harbor on
Bay Shore Drive (County B) in the Town of Sevastopol. It's within ten
minutes of Sturgeon Bay. This little gem underwent a major renovation
back in 2005, and it became a first class boat landing with amenities
that make it a great place for a variety of seasonal activities.
The
name pretty much helps you find this Peninsula treasure. It's easy to
spot from the water or the air since it's right next to a rather
prominent vertical outcropping of dolomite bedrock, part of the large
Niagara Escarpment that is so prevalent in the area. Driving north or
south on County B, you really can't miss it.
Dennis
Hale, subject of the book "Sole Survivor" and author of the recently
released autobiography "Reflections of the Sole Survivor," will be the
featured speaker on Saturday, April 2, at 7 p.m. at Bay View Lutheran
Church in Sturgeon Bay. Brisk
ticket sales have prompted this change in location for the last
presentation in the Door County Maritime Museum's Winter Speakers
Series. Hale's
program was originally scheduled for the Museum location, but ticket
sales have already exceeded seating capacity, prompting the move to the
church which is located just down the street from the Museum at 340 W.
Maple Street. Hale's ordeal remains one of the most remarkable shipwreck survival stories on record.
Tickets
for the 18th Annual Door County Lighthouse Festival tours and cruises
go on sale Monday, April 4. But the sponsoring Door County Maritime
Museum will give its membership first crack at the tickets beginning
Monday, March 21. The festival returns to the second weekend in June
with activities planned from Friday-Sunday, June 10-12.
L to R top row: Jim Hogan, Dan Holdridge, Amelia Campbell, Sara Welch, Cambrie Davis, Katiee Glasheen;
L to R bottom row: Allie Rittle, Brenna Dubick, Sally Hippensteel, Zach Meredith, Christian Huehns, Erik Elliott
Our community needs people who actively care
about doing service.When young
community members get involved in service projects, they grow up into
responsible citizens who feel good about themselves and are productive and
pro-active members of our community. Door County has a teen-run service organization that helps local teens
to do service projects to help make this community -- and with some projects,
the world -- a better place.
The Rotary Interact Club of Door County was
started in 1999 by supervisor Ben Rikkola, the Youth & Family Development
Director at the YMCA. The club has
granted over 20,000 dollars to service projects, mission trips and other worthy
causes over the past 12 years.
Updated constantly ... What's going on in Door County
Welcome to DoorCountyTravelersJournal.com!
If you are looking for interesting places to visit and things to do, you're in the right place. This online magazine features articles that help you get the most out of your vacation in Wisconsin's magical Door Peninsula. Get useful visitor information and be sure to check out our Kids Edition to find places that children like to go. The opinions and recommendations herein are solely those of our contributing writers. Event information subject to change without notice.
We also publish articles of interest to local residents. Submissions and story ideas are welcome.
