It’s
“Door County Reads” time again, thanks to support from the Door County
Library Foundation, the Friends of Door County Libraries, library staff
members, volunteers from community organizations and businesses! Start
the year by reading the book that hundreds of others in Door County will
be reading.
Beginning January 2, at your local Door County
Library, pick up a free copy of “The Beekeeper’s Apprentice” by Laurie
R. King as long as supplies last. Extra copies of the book will be
available for check-out through the library catalog at InfoSoup.org.
Reading, writing and arithmetic, according to an old song, were taught to the tune of a hickory stick.
Well, we’ve come a long way from the one-room schoolhouse where there
were no electives and the basics were revered. But among the three,
reading is generally more loved than writing or math.
Here in Door County, home each year to Door County Reads, a multi-town
project where people agree to read the same book in the midst of winter,
yes, here there is a kind of reading maven.
Door
County residents who hesitate to travel about the county during nasty
weather will appreciate the option of a low cost, shared ride option
offered by Door 2 Door Rides.
In the past, Door County had been
faced with the challenge of a lack of affordable, accessible public
transportation for its residents and visitors. A true year-round public
transportation system had simply not been available – especially if the
rider required transportation in a wheelchair.
For its
Fall 2012 Book & Author program, the Friends of Door County
Libraries will host Bryan Gruley, award-winning author of the Starvation
Lake mystery series.
Gruley will talk about his writing and
sign copies of his books at two events: 7:00 pm on Friday, October 26 at
the Miller Art Museum, 107 S. 4th Avenue in Sturgeon Bay, and at 10:00
am on Saturday, October 27 at the Sister Bay Liberty Grove Fire Station,
2258 Mill Road, Sister Bay.
Check it out and come on up to Door County this winter!
While
fall colors have yet to peak and snow is still likely a few months away,
Door County’s new 2012-13 Official Winter Guide has just arrived.
Designed
as a supplement to the Door County Visitor Bureau’s (DCVB) Official
Visitor Guide, the latest edition of the winter guide provides visitors
with winter activity ideas, maps, winter hours for area businesses,
events and more for the period of November through April.
A-Door-Able Mailbox Raffle will benefit United Way.
Coldwell
Banker The Real Estate Group of Door County and the TREG Foundation are
once again focusing their efforts on the United Way of Door County via
the second annual A-Door-Able Mailbox Raffle. This fundraising effort
was the dream of local Realtor Barbara Bentley in 2011.
Bentley’s hard
work and energy combined last year to allow the agents and brokers of
The Real Estate Group in Door County to sell raffle tickets for some
very unusual and beautiful mailboxes created and donated by local Door
County artists … the perfect gift for someone purchasing a new home on
the Door Peninsula.
Two things kept our
family from going up to Door County the summer of 1944, as was our
tradition. Grandpa and Grandma Miller couldn’t go to their farm anymore
because of his massive stroke; and Daddy couldn’t afford to use up his
precious gas rationing stamps for the 150 mile trip from Milwaukee.
However, to my delight, he arranged for me and my friend, Jean, both
tenth graders, to spend a week with some neighboring farmers, the Albert
Fischers. Not only would we get to enjoy the beautiful "Air Conditioned
Peninsula" but would also get to pick cherries.
With eager anticipation we boarded the train for Sturgeon Bay. Sitting
on our suitcases in the aisle of the crowded train we observed the
soldiers home on leave and vacationers also on their way to Door County.
None looked as excited as we felt. We were off on an adventure and
hoped to earn some easy money while we were at it.
We
hope you’ve enjoyed your stay with us in Door County. Whether you’ve
been here all summer, or have just come up for the day, we truly value
your presence. Those of us who live here have a deep love for this
place, so it’s only natural that we want to share it with you.
I’m
going to make an unusual request of you. If you treasure your time in
Door County, ponder a bit about how that affection might be transformed
into action.
Jenn accepts a donation towards the cost of her fantastic voyage.
Some of
the descriptive words that people use when talking about Jenn Gibbons
are “leader”, “strong”, and “role model”. She is all of these things and
so much more. At twenty-seven years old, she is doing something that
most people would not have the courage to do in their lifetime. It all
started nine years ago when she said, “yes,” to the girl who asked her
to join the college rowing team at Michigan State University. Little did
she know she had just made a decision that would change her life and
the lives around her for years to come.
The
attraction of Wisconsin State Parks as family-friendly, affordable, and
fun places to visit for a day, a weekend, a week or longer continues to
grow with advanced camping reservations up 9.3 percent over the same
period in 2011.
“State parks and
trails have always offered a great experience at a great value, and we
welcome the surge in visitors,” said Kimberly Currie, of the Wisconsin
State Parks program.
This
summer, millions of kids will experience the dreaded “summer slide,”
described as the educational ground lost when young minds sit idle over
summer.
“Many teachers spend
the first four to six weeks at the start of each school year
re-teaching material students have forgotten over summer,” says Ron
Fairchild, executive director of the Center for Summer Learning at The
Johns Hopkins University.
For Gibraltar High School, the school year is rapidly coming
to an end. With graduation just around the corner, the senior class is
preparing to head off in their own directions, leaving the all too comfortable
Door County. Most students at Gibraltar have been with these classmates since
kindergarten, moving through the grade levels with the majority of the class
list unwavering.
The Senior Class of 2012’s valedictorian, Peter Burress, and
salutatorian, Ashley Zahn, are two very representative Door County seniors.
Eagle Bluff Lighthouse from the air. Dick Felzer photo.
In
1868, the Eagle Bluff Lighthouse cast its beam over the Green Bay for the first
time. Guiding vessels through the
waters’ treacherous shoals, the lighthouse and its keeper provided safe passage
for the next 57 years. Today,
Eagle Bluff Lighthouse opens its door to visitors from around the world.
“It has
been a very busy winter,” said Patti Podgers, curator/manager. “We have been in
contact with two of the second keeper’s great-granddaughters, and they have
been generous in sharing information about their ancestor William Duclon.
As
the start of the 2012 summer tourism gets set to begin, one popular
Midwestern destination is trying a bit different approach to attract
visitors this year. With
300 miles of shoreline, Door County, a bucolic peninsula located in
northeastern Wisconsin, has long been known as a popular place to go
kayaking and spend some time on the water. To help promote the
destination’s water recreation possibilities the Door County Visitor
Bureau (DCVB) has enlisted an unlikely group to help spread the word –
taxi cab drivers in Minnesota.
This
magazine is happy to announce the launch of a Self-Service Display
Advertising module as its primary platform for the placement of local
business advertising on the pages of the online publication, published
bi-weekly.
After
a year of testing and research, as well as a pilot program with a few
selected advertisers, the small staff at the Sturgeon Bay-based
DoorCountyTravelersJournal.com introduces what might be a first for the
publishing media community in the county.
The
Door County Humane Society has revamped its Humane Heroes program, the
primary means of its day-to-day and month-to-month operational support.
The shelter is very dependent upon community financing in order to
fulfill its mission, and the Humane Hero initiative offers a convenient
way to participate in the organization’s success. Numerous commitment
levels are available to individuals or businesses with a variety of
recognition awards. Monies are collected monthly via automatic credit
card transaction. A Humane Hero makes an annual commitment to the cause.
Spring
has sprung early, and many of Wisconsin’s volunteer Adopt-a-Highway
(AAH) crews are springing into action, picking up a winter’s worth of
unsightly trash along state highways. Along with helping keep our
roadsides clean and green, Wisconsin’s dedicated AAH workers make the
state an even more attractive destination for travelers while saving
taxpayer dollars. Last year, Wisconsin AAH groups picked up over 156
tons of trash that was then disposed of by county highway crews.
Norma
Saldivar may be a new director for both Door Shakespeare and the
county, but she brings with her a long, impressive list of credits from a
successful directorial career.
Saldivar, head of
the graduate directing program at the University of Wisconsin-Madison,
has signed on to direct Door Shakespeare’s 2012 production of “As You
Like It.”
“We are so honored
to have this respected Wisconsin theater artist make her Door County
directorial debut this summer with our company,” said Terese Boeck, Door
Shakespeare business manager.
Junior and his Uncle Chuck Lakefield enjoy a special moment together.
Door County
certainly offers many interesting sights to see - but perhaps one of the most
unique is our very own, local resident camel named Harley Jr. Junior, named
after his, now famous, departed namesake Harley Sr., is a beloved family member
to Lisa Jeansonne.
Locals and visitors to Door County may have had
the pleasure of spotting Harley Sr. at many locations and events throughout the
county between 2006 and 2010. Be it 4th of July or Thanksgiving Day parades,
Maifest celebrations, school plays, or Living Nativity scenes and a variety of
fairs and events - Harley Sr. left a meaningful impact on the lives that he
touched before passing on in 2010.
The
American Folklore Theatre can now add "Award Winning" to their long
list of accolades. American Folklore Theatre was awarded the inaugural
Wisconsin Department of Tourism Award for Arts, Culture and Heritage at
this week's Wisconsin Governor's Conference on Tourism (WIGCOT) in Green
Bay, WI. This award is presented to a business or destination that
showcases the arts, culture, or heritage for the enhancement and
economic wellbeing of a community. Sponsored
by the Governor's Council on Tourism, the Governor's Awards acknowledge
leadership, commitment, and innovation among the people and
organizations that propel the tourism industry forward.
Door
County Habitat for Humanity’s second “Global Village” work crew
recently returned from a week in Puerto Lempira, Honduras. Five
Wisconsinites helped in the construction of a concrete block home for
Maura Arevalo and her nine children.
Mike Madden, Carrie Link, Doreen Holt, Cindy LaRoque and Rick Nelson
worked with Maura and her children to haul cement blocks, strain sand,
mix mortar, haul and compact fill for the interior foundation and lay
block.
Did
you know that the average adult breathes about 20,000 times each day
and that both children and the elderly face a greater risk of being
affected by air pollution, as do people with heart, respiratory or other
ailments?
Our daily use of
electricity and fuel contributes to air pollution. That means the
choices we make every day can directly affect air quality and our
health.
Sturgeon Bay, Marinette and Oshkosh businesses and residents
were represented at the Strictly Sail Chicago Boat Show held on January
26-29. Of course, sailboats use wind power to cross great distances,
but now can use solar power to run electronics, and bottom paints that
don’t foul the water while repelling weeds. A few booths presented
unique ideas or used materials made in the USA.
You
may not realize it, but you can take steps to keep your brain fit and
flexible as you age. In fact, some experts now say that through proper
diet and routine mental health exercises, you even can delay the onset
of Alzheimer’s disease long enough to avoid experiencing the symptoms.
“The sooner you
start to protect your brain against Alzheimer’s, the sooner you will
notice improvement -- not only in recall and mental focus, but also in
energy level, mood, general health, and sense of well-being,” says Dr.
Gary Small, M.D., Professor at UCLA, and author of the new book “The
Alzheimer’s Prevention Program” (Workman Publishers).
The
snow is snowing, the wind is blowing, but three Door County women,
local business owners, have a prescription for curing the winter blues …
a special get-away weekend for women only. Art & Soul Weekend,
February 17 - 19, will feature fragrant treats, visual delights,
tantalizing edibles, and personal pampering.
Embracing
Door County’s quiet season with enthusiasm, Angie McMahon of Viva la
Cottage, The Spa at Sacred Grounds’ Diane Ludwigsen, and Pipka Ulviden
of Pipka’s of Door County, have planned a weekend that guarantees
memory-making moments. From a private champagne and appetizer welcome,
to a candlelight dinner, guests will savor the personal attention of the
peninsula’s best and brightest.
The
Door County Visitor Bureau (DCVB), the tourism marketing organization
for Door County, announced today that the 2012 Official Door County
Visitor Guide is now available. The popular free
travel guide for one of the Midwest’s premier travel destinations
features a wide variety of content about visiting Door County. A
primary emphasis on photography again highlights the scenic and
breathtaking beauty of the area throughout the 2012 guide.
Do you want to start the New Year with a renewed sense of optimism? Do optimistic people think or behave differently?
A new study recently uncovered the secrets of optimistic people who feel in control of their lives.
One key to achieving
optimism and lowering stress levels is to find ways to take greater
control over your life, say researchers.
Sixty-six percent of
Americans now say they feel in control of their lives, and their lives
are headed in the right direction, according to Lincoln Financial
Group’s “MOOD of America” study.
Celebrate
the start of the new year while contributing to a great cause! From
9:00 am until noon on New Year’s Day, the Door County Humane Society
is inviting area residents and visitors to kick off 2012 with a hearty
breakfast feast at Ellison Bay’s popular Mink River Basin.
The big screen TVs will be on so you won't miss the big game or
pre-game show as the Packers go after the Lions! Humane Society
merchandise will be available for purchase.
Door County Gift Certificates make a great Christmas present!
Looking
for a last minute stocking stuffer or holiday gift idea? Look no
further than Door County Gift Certificates as the perfect gift for
friends, family, colleagues, bosses or that special person you know that
just can’t get enough of Door County. Door
County Gift Certificates are available in denominations of $10, $25 and
$50 and are redeemable at most Door County businesses. They can be
purchased by cash, check or credit card in person at the Door County
Visitor Bureau Welcome Center (1015 Green Bay Road, Sturgeon Bay), by
phone at 800-527-3529 or online at DoorCounty.com.
Just because it isn’t summer doesn’t mean you should put away those sunglasses.
"Most
people think sunglasses are just for the bright summer sun, but
damaging ultraviolet (UV) rays are present year-round," says Dr. Jenna
Lewis, an optometrist with VSP Vision Care, the largest not-for-profit
vision benefits company in the United States. “In fact, the sun sits
lower in the sky during winter, providing more exposure.”
Wisconsin’s
“thumb” is lending a helping hand this winter by getting involved in
the Great Lakes Mitten Campaign. The Door County Visitor Bureau (DCVB)
would like to invite the public to donate new or gently used mittens now
through January 15th. Donated mittens may be dropped off at the Door
County Welcome Center, 1015 Green Bay Road (Hwy 42/57) in Sturgeon Bay.
The mittens will then be donated to local charities.
Losing
weight, quitting bad habits and getting out of debt are all great New
Year’s resolutions to make, but they are also all difficult to keep. A
study from Quirkology, a psychology research team, indicates that of
those who make New Year’s Resolutions, only 12 percent actually achieve
their goal.
So
if you want to feel a sense of accomplishment this year, why not
include at least one self-improvement initiative not rooted in
restriction. This year resolve to broaden your horizons and spend
quality time with your family by taking a vacation together.
Purchases from our new online store help the pets.
It's
great to shop locally and support our Door County businesses whenever we
can. We all love our Door County galleries, restaurants, and retail
outlets.
But sometimes many of us do shop online and make the choice to buy from a
non-local source that may or may not carry products from Door County.
And making purchases on the internet is certainly easier and safer than
it used to be. In addition, not everyone has the time or mobility to get
out and peruse the local offerings.
Edgewood
Orchard Galleries’ benefit cookbook, An Artist’s Food for the Soul,
just passed the $100,000 mark in money raised to benefit not-for profit
organizations working with children. The gallery recently announced a
$5,000 donation to United Way of Door County. “We know that many budgets
have been cut and there is great need for donations to carry out the
missions of vital social service organizations here. United Way agencies
serve one out of every three residents living in Door County, and we
wanted to make a contribution to help them reach their fundraising
goal,” said Anne Emerson, who created the cookbook with her daughter,
Nell Jarosh, and graphic designer Dan Cross of Idea Studios.
The
Singing Christmas Card Project – Various youth groups in Sturgeon Bay
are selling “Singing Christmas Cards” as a fundraiser to benefit United
Way of Door County. You can send a relative or friend a “Singing
Christmas Card” this year by making a $25 donation to United Way of Door
County.
For
$25 a youth group will go to someone’s home or place of employment,
sing them two Christmas Carols and present them with Christmas Card from
the donor.
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.
Ernest Beutel (right) congratulates his art mentor, Tom Seagard, the newest addition to the Door County Master Artist honor roll.
On
Saturday afternoon, Nov. 12, a crowd of artists and arts supporters
gathered at the Miller Art Museum in Sturgeon Bay for the annual Door
County County Art League exhibition and the reception honoring the new
Door County Master Artist. DCAL
president, Marcia Nickols, announced that Tom Seagard is the Door
County Master Artist for 2011. The award was presented to Tom by one of
his students, artist Ernest Beutel.
Small appetizers and desserts are great for party hosts and guests.
Looking
to make a big impression at your holiday party? Think small -- as in
small plates that allow you to showcase different colorful dishes and
cuisines.
With
small plates gaining popularity in wine bars and restaurants
nationwide, many people are tapping into this trend in home entertaining
by getting more creative with their holiday menus and decorations.
In short, small details and dishes can make a big impression.
People
don’t often think about how optimism impacts their lifestyle, career
and relationships. But a positive attitude can help you avoid stressful
situations, maintain better health, and may even allow you to heal more
quickly when you aren’t feeling well, according to some experts.
Mary Denis from the Door County Visitor Bureau (left), accepts the Wisconsin Tourism Trailblazer Award from awards ceremony host Kristen Shueing of Wisconsin Trails magazine (center) and Wisconsin Department of Tourism Secretary Stephanie Klett (right) on November 3, 2011. Photo credit: Door County Visitor Bureau.
The
Wisconsin Association of Convention and Visitors Bureaus (WACVB)
recently awarded a 2011 Wisconsin Tourism Trailblazer award to the Door
County Visitor Bureau (DCVB) for their outstanding “Your Stories. Our
Setting. Like Nowhere Else.” social media campaign.
Each
year WACVB gives out Wisconsin Tourism Trailblazer Awards to
destination marketing organizations like the DCVB for outstanding
marketing and partnership projects that help to advance Wisconsin’s
tourism industry. This year 10 organizations were nominated and awards
in 3 different categories were handed out, including the honor in the
marketing and communications budget over $50,000 category that the DCVB
was awarded.
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.
