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 700 stories from all past issues of the magazine, contained in our archives. Use the search fields below to find what you're interested in.
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.
Open auditions for Door County youths ages 15-19 will take place the week of November 14 at Door County high schools.
Gibraltar HS - Monday, November 14 from 4:00 p.m.-5:15 p.m. Sevastopol HS - Tuesday, November 15 from 4:00 p.m.-5:15 p.m. Sturgeon Bay HS - Wednesday, November 16 from 4:00 p.m.-5:15 p.m. Southern Door HS - Thursday, November 17 from 4:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m.
There are many treatments to help children who are easily distracted.
Almost
all children have times when their attention or behavior veers out of
control. From rambunctious play to being distracted during homework
time, parents often have to find creative solutions to keep their
children on task.
However, for some children, hyperactivity and inattentiveness are more than an occasional problem.
“Children
with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD, have behavior
problems that are so frequent and severe they interfere with their
ability to function adequately on a daily basis,” says Mark Wolraich,
MD, FAAP, of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP).
Monthly
Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits for
more than 60 million Americans will increase 3.6 percent in 2012, the
Social Security Administration announced on October 19.
The 3.6 percent cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) will begin with
benefits that nearly 55 million Social Security beneficiaries receive in
January 2012. Increased payments to more than 8 million SSI
beneficiaries will begin on December 30, 2011.
After sitting two hours in 25 degrees during the 2009 youth deer hunt, everything aligned.
My younger daughter, Olivia, then 8 years old, informed us she saw a
deer headed our direction. Olivia quickly and quietly swapped places in
our ground blind so her older sister, Sophie, could be in the right
position. Then 10, Sophie was new to carrying a gun during the hunting
season thanks to the new mentored hunting law.
One
of the most frequent questions asked at the Open House and Taste of
Garden Door functions in The Garden Door, a display garden located at
the Peninsula Research Station in Sturgeon Bay, is how could I become a
Master Gardener Volunteer. In our area the answer is that you:
1) Take the
Training Class that the Door County Master Gardener Association (DCMGA)
offers in the winter. You’ll need 36 hours of education.
To avoid digital eye strain, limit screen time and follow the 20-20-20 rule.
A
world full of personal computers, hand-held video games, smartphones
and e-readers is increasing the risk of eye-related problems in many
Americans.
This isn’t
surprising, as children and teenagers are now spending 7.5 hours a day
consuming electronic media, according to a study by the Kaiser Family
Foundation.
If
you have Medicare or are turning 65 soon and will be enrolling in it,
you need to be aware of new and proposed changes that could impact your
life.
For starters, the enrollment period is earlier this year for choosing or changing your coverage and your prescription plan.
More
importantly, unless Congress acts quickly, Medicare payments to doctors
will be cut by nearly 30 percent January 1. This could threaten your
access to physician care, as many doctors say they will be forced to
stop accepting new Medicare patients.
Do you want your kids to be sensible about money, but aren’t sure where to begin? You’re not alone.
Most
teens --55 percent according to a new study from Capital One Financial
Corporation-- say they would like to learn more about money management
skills. However, half (51 percent) of them report that their parents
discuss money and banking concepts with them once a month or less.
Technology can now help you track your money on the go.
Hate tracking your finances? You're not alone.
Only
40 percent of Americans use monthly budgets and less than half have
ever ordered a copy of their credit report, according to a study by
Princeton Survey Research Associates International.
"Turning
a blind eye when it comes to your finances is not only costly, but
dangerous," says Aaron Patzer, vice president and general manager of
Intuit Personal Finance Group. "Luckily, there are easy tools and
techniques that can help you track your money."
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.
There's
nothing worse than being in a drafty house during the cooler months of
the year. In addition to the continuous discomfort, drafts can lead to
unnecessarily high heating bills.
"American
homeowners know that as the weather gets cooler, it's time to prepare
their homes for the season," says Robert Dischner, marketing director at
Lennox Hearth Products.
Current events abroad and at home impact the price of gas.
All
politics are local. Or so the saying goes. But is it really true? Do
events halfway across the world affect your family, health and money?
These days, the answer seems to be a resounding yes.
"All
too often, the interests of a few dictate world affairs and people's
daily lives," says Gordon Zuckerman, a former businessman and Harvard
Business School graduate who now writes historical thrillers based on
his knowledge of global current events.
Peninsular Agricultural Research Station site near Sturgeon Bay.
One of the consequences of the massive cuts to the University of
Wisconsin funding in the recent state budget is that the Peninsular
Agricultural Research Station (PARS) faces up to $125,000 in cuts to its
$260,000 budget. Closure is also a distinct possibility. Closure or
even massive cutting back of programming would be a huge loss to the
community and the state.
UW-Madison Marching Band to perform at Carlsville Day.
Nestled along Highway 42, halfway between Sturgeon Bay and
Egg Harbor, the little Door County community of Carlsville may be small
in size, but big in spirit! DISCOVER CARLSVILLE DAY, held on the last
Saturday in July, is their annual festival featuring tours of an
award-winning winery and operating dairy farm, as well as food, live
music, games for kids, a parade, a doggie contest, arts and crafts and a
Wild West Reenactment.
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.