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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.
In light of some of the comments we’ve seen and
heard concerning the design of the proposed Maritime Observation Tower,
I thought it might be beneficial to offer some additional background
information. First and foremost, the Maritime Museum desires the design
to be both striking and blend architecturally with the maritime
appearance of the existing building. The design is intended to remind
the visitor/viewer of several historic tower structures prevalent on the
Great Lakes and important to the maritime heritage and history of the
area. It will incorporate architectural elements found in maritime
signal towers, lighthouses, and the watch towers integral to the
life-saving stations that dotted the shoreline.
Vessel bound for Bay Ship coming in to Sturgeon Bay on January 31. Photo courtesy Brian Forest.
The
Door County Maritime Museum’s Speaker Series continues on Thursday,
Feb. 2, with a topic that is always of interest to Door County residents
and particularly those in the Sturgeon Bay area. Gene
Caldwell, Vice President and General Manager of Bay Shipbuilding Co.,
will present a program on current activities at the Sturgeon Bay
shipyard beginning at 7 p.m. at the Sturgeon Bay museum.
Discover the fun of winter at Lautenbach's Orchard Country Winery & Market on Saturday, February 4th from 10 am - 5pm.
The
winery and market’s 7th Annual Winter Wine and Cherry Fest will include
wine and product tasting featuring the popular tart Montmorency cherry
in celebration of National Cherry Month; plus an assortment of food and
bakery items to purchase.
The
popular winter festival highlights the annual Cherry Pit Spit
Competition. The contest begins at 1:30 pm, is open to all ages, and
awards prizes to the winner in each category.
Vintage Postcard, Sturgeon Bay Lifesaving Station.
Crews
on the Great Lakes stations consisted of a keeper and eight surfmen.
The surfmen were ranked based on their experience and ability, with the
number one surfman being the most senior; he filled in for the keeper
when he was away from the station. These positions also indicated where
they sat in the boat as it went out to rescue and which side of the
beach apparatus they stood (odd on the left, even on the right).
The station ran in an organized and efficient manner, with frequent
visits from USLSS inspectors to assure perfection. One of the keeper’s
responsibilities was training the crew.
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.
Third
Avenue Playhouse is launching a new series called Tuesdays at TAP.
Every Tuesday there will be a concert at TAP to benefit a local
nonprofit. This series starts on February 14th and the featured
nonprofit is United Way of Door County.
The concert starts at 7:30 pm. The artist is Hans Christian. Hans
Christian’s unmistakable cello playing moves the listener with a
haunting beauty, and his use of various ethnic string instruments
expresses a universal musical language that transcends boundaries,
cultures, and generations. This concert is a kick-off toappearances around the world.
On
Saturday, February 11, at 7 p.m., six Door County teens will compete
for the title of 2012 Door County Idol. This highly anticipated annual
event serves as both a vibrant community gathering and as a celebration
of Door County’s abundant homegrown talent.
From dozens of auditioning students, Door County Idol screeners have
chosen six finalists for this year’s competition.
Downtown Sturgeon Bay is the place to be on Friday evenings.
First Friday in Sturgeon Bay is off to a great start! More than 20 businesses
participated in the inaugural event on January 6th. The next event is
scheduled for Friday, February 3rd and will highlight the Wellness
Center of Door County.
Local
businesses will have expanded hours with some of them open until
8:00pm. Refreshments at many of the participating businesses and live
entertainment will help make the evening festive. And while you are out
and about, don’t forget to enjoy the fare of our wonderful downtown
restaurants.
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.
Peninsula
Players will present a reading of Rebecca Gilman’s stage adaptation of
Carson McCullers’ “The Heart is a Lonely Hunter” Monday, January 30 at
Björklunden at 7 p.m. Produced in coordination with Door County Reads
and its exploration of the novel, the reading will feature Players
actors Lili-Anne Brown, Anya Kopischke, Osiris Khepera and Alan
Kopischke, as well as local actors Mark Moede, Hervy Hodges, Chad
Luberger, David Maier, Amy Ensign and Brandon Bogenschütz. Signing
actor Robert Schlieffer will portray the pivotal role of the mute John
Singer. Players Artistic Director Greg Vinkler and Players Development
Director Alan Kopischke are directing the reading.
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.
Door
Community Auditorium’s popular winter event series is well underway and
will continue this weekend with an intimate fireside concert on
Saturday evening by popular local singer-songwriter Seth Raddatz, as
well as a free movie showing on Friday night and a lecture about the
U.S. educational system on Saturday morning.
Seth Raddatz will
play in the DCA fireside lobby at 7 p.m. on Saturday, January 28. Door
County audiences may recognize Seth Raddatz as the son of veteran local
folksinger Mark Raddatz, but after writing and performing in Door County
for several years, Seth has developed his own reputation and following
on the peninsula.
The
Peninsula Music Festival will present its annual chamber music series,
February Fest, on Saturday, February 11 and Friday, February 17. The
chamber music series was started to feature PMF orchestra musicians
during the off season to highlight the depth of the talent in the
Festival Orchestra as well as make concerts available to the local
community during a quieter time on the Peninsula. The February Fest is
made possible thanks to sponsorships from Doug Peterson and Joan E.
Mills, Gen Follingstad, and the Peninsula Music Festival Sustaining
Committee.
Peninsula State Park has gone to the birds. The park teamed up with the Village of
Ephraim to earn Bird City recognition. It’s the first time a Wisconsin
state park has done so.
The Bird City status recognizes the importance of Peninsula and
Ephraim as a migration corridor, as Wisconsin Great Birding Trail
destinations, and as places attractive to eco-tourists.
"The people who fought to establish Peninsula knew it was an
irreplaceable landscape," said Peninsula Naturalist Kathleen Harris, who
worked on the Bird City application with the Ephraim Business Council's
Tourism Administrator Rachel Willems and Ephraim Trustee Steve Sauter.
"Some of those people were Ephraim residents and along the way they set
aside wonderful gems in their own village."
Jewelry
and home décor are distinctive ways to show off your personality and
appreciate different cultures. The Santa Fe Shop in Fish Creek, Wis.
offers a wide variety of items from around the world. The shop features
several spectacular artists, but carries the largest selection of Sergio
Bustamante jewelry in the United States and Canada.
Internationally
recognized in the world of creative arts and crafts, Bustamante is
especially known for his gold and silver jewelry, as well as his
sculptures. His work encompasses a variety of art forms, including
resin, ceramics and bronze.
Jed, a redtick coonhound who went to his forever home in 2011.
The
2011 numbers are in for the Door County Humane Society, and they are
down. Most businesses would not find that a reason for celebration, but
DCHS Executive Director Carrie Counihan is delighted. “We experienced a
10% drop in the number of animals that came into our shelter. From a
record high in 2010 of 735 cats and dogs, we dropped to 664 animals last
year. Spay & neuter efforts and education on keeping pets safe may
be having the desired effect.”
On
January 20 and 21, Door Community Auditorium will provide the second
installment of its 2012 lecture, concert, and movie screening series.
After a Friday evening showing of the hit film Super 8, DCA will present
a Saturday morning lecture about academic biblical interpretation and a
Saturday evening concert by well-known local folksinger Katie Dahl.
Katie Dahl will play
as part of DCA’s Coffehouse Concert series at 7 p.m. on Saturday,
January 21, having played to a sellout crowd at the DCA in 2010. Known
for the easy humor of her live performances, the depth and power of her
alto voice, and the poignant candor of her original music, Dahl has
gained a strong reputation in Door County from her solo shows as well as
her work with American Folklore Theatre and Door Shakespeare. She tours nationally on a regular basis and has shared the stage with such respected songwriters as Julie Gold and Dar Williams.
Peninsula
School of Art, 3900 County Road F, Fish Creek, invites the public to
the take part in the festive culmination of its three-month SOUP!
Project on Saturday, February 4, from 11am-3pm. During the event,
handcrafted ceramic bowls are for sale and those who make a purchase can
partake in a complementary, bountiful hot soup-and-bread buffet. As in
past years, community-created bowls are $15 each, with "premium" bowl
designs crated by area professional potters priced at $40. In
its sixth year, SOUP! is a community-wide effort, with over 450 school
children and about 100 adults creating and decorating ceramic bowls.
Area restaurants and individuals donate soup, bread and desserts for the
buffet, with other volunteers staffing the soup line, dining room and
the School's classrooms where bowls are sold.
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.
Sturgeon Bay High School Student Council raises money for United Way
of Door County
On Thursday, December 22, the students at
Sturgeon Bay High School participated in a Talent Show.Prior to having the Talent Show the
Student Council was required to raise money to support local charities.This year one of the charities that the
Student Council choice to support is United Way of Door County.Pictured are David Tauber, Jr. and
Rebecca Fredrickson with a check for $600 for United Way.David and Rebecca are students at
Sturgeon Bay High School and members of the United Way of Door County Board of
Directors.
The
Door County Maritime Museum’s Speaker Series resumes after the holidays
with a program literally and figuratively geared towards the big ships
that ply the Great Lakes and what makes them go.
Ken
Westcar will recount the repowering of the 1,000-ft. self-unloader Paul
R. Tregurtha at Bay Shipbuilding on Thursday, Jan. 5, at 7 p.m. at the
Sturgeon Bay museum.
“The
program will discuss how local expertise and an unwavering commitment
to quality provided the vessel owners with a renewed asset that left the
Sturgeon Bay yard on-time and on-budget and has since completed two
full operating seasons with zero downtime while setting a precedent for
future ship repowers in Sturgeon Bay,” explained Westcar.
What
better way to begin a new year than with a cat companion? To encourage
an adoption decision, the Door County Humane Society is dropping the
cat adoption fee to an historic low of $20.12 for the month of January
2012. Carrie Counihan explained, “We’ve resolved to find homes for a
significant number of the 110 cats at the shelter. Sometimes an extra
little incentive is all that’s needed for a family to make the adoption
decision. We’re trying something new by cutting the cat adoption cost
by more than 75%.”
At
the final concert of the Peninsula Music Festival’s August 2011 season,
Music Director and Conductor Victor Yampolsky announced the new
concertmaster of the Festival Orchestra. Igor Yuzefovich will take over
the duties effective with the 60th Anniversary Season in August of 2012.
The Festival held auditions for the chair over a two-year period of
time seeing five different candidates. Each violinist led the orchestra
for one week of the August season and was also a featured soloist.
Many
business owners strive to find dedicated employees, especially in areas
like Door County where seasonality can be a struggle at times. This past
Thursday, Joe Smith, General Manager for Door County's Only
Microbrewery in Egg Harbor, received a phone call while away from the
pub.
Unlike other calls
from the restaurant that might inquire about where-to-find-this and
how-to-treat-that, this call was quite unique. It was Amanda Stout,
Assistant Manager and expectant mother, calling from work, simply
letting him know that "it was time" and that he should plan to come in.
As Smith recalls, the time of the call on his cell phone was 8:39 p.m.
On
January 13 and 14, Door Community Auditorium will begin the new year
with a bang, by kicking off its 2012 lecture, concert, and movie
screening series. After a Friday evening showing of Brad Pitt’s hit
movie Moneyball, DCA will present a Saturday morning lecture about the
Supreme Court and a Saturday evening concert by popular local bluegrass
band Highland Road.
Highland Road will kick off DCA’s Coffeehouse Concert series at 7 p.m.
on Saturday, January 14. Highland Road are familiar favorites in the DCA
Coffeehouse series, having played to sold-out houses in both 2009 and
2010.
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.
The Door Kewaunee Business & Education Partnership (DKBEP) is holding its 2nd annual fundraising event to support youth programs
for the 2012 year. A local spin on a popular reality game show,
Minute-To-Win-It is coming to Kewaunee! The event will be held on
Friday, January 27th at 7:30 p.m. at CJ's Banquet Hall in Kewaunee.
Admission for the event is $10 in advance or $15 at the door. Advanced
team registration is $120. Teams of 6 will be required to compete in 60 second challenges using everyday household items.
The
Jacksonport Polar Bear Club is preparing to take their annual plunge
into Lake Michigan for the 26th time at 12 Noon CST on Sunday January 1,
2012.
For
the past twenty-five years the Jacksonport Polar Bear Club has
celebrated the New Year by going for an icy dip into Lake Michigan at
Lakeside Park in Jacksonport along Door County Wisconsin’s eastern
coast. An estimated 600-800 swimmers are expected to take the plunge
during the group’s 26th annual event, which puts this polar bear swim
among the largest in the country.
This winter, the Door Community Auditorium presents a series of events
sure to stimulate the mind, the heart and the funny bone. Comprised of
coffeehouse concerts, free lectures, complimentary film screenings, and the
perennially popular Door County Idol, the Auditorium’s diverse winter lineup brings
a great depth of musical, intellectual, and cultural enrichment to Fish Creek
and Door County. On the Mainstage The winter season consists of three mainstage presentations.On December 30, Wagner-Guthrie
Entertainment presents crooner Steve March Tormé (son of the legendary Mel
Tormé).Steve March Tormé is known
for wowing audiences with his delivery of jazz standards, Broadway favorites,
and original songs. On February 4, DCA partners with Peninsula Players and Fish
Creek Winter Fest to present Baby Wants Candy, an entirely improvised and
hysterical 60-minute musical. And, on February 11, teens from across the Door Peninsula
compete for the title of 2012 Door County Idol.
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.
Suzanne Graff and Jerry Gomis have been the life blood of Door Shakespeare for 13 seasons. The
Board of Directors thanks Suzanne and Jerry for their years of
commitment in developing Door Shakespeare to one of the artistic gems in
Door County. With the departure
of Suzanne and Jerry, the Board is committed to continuing the quality
entertainment that our patrons have come to expect.
Ryan Schabach, an
actor and director for Door Shakespeare and other national theaters, has
agreed to assist the Board with its immediate need of interim artistic
leadership while we engage a search committee to fill these leadership
roles.
Egg Harbor Marina is Wisconsin’s newest Clean Marina
recognized by the Wisconsin Marina Association.
The newly renovated $6 million municipal harbor of refuge
was honored on December 6th for their commitment to protecting water
quality by adopting best management practices for their facility (BMPs). The
marina includes a state-of-the-art green infrastructure that manages stormwater
and an 800 ft. breakwater that offers scenic views of the lake.
“This award means the Egg Harbor Marina is using good
management practices, sustaining our livelihood, and preserving the waters for
future generations,” said Nicole Krauel, the village’s assistant harbor master.
In only 18 months, Wisconsin has recognized 17 other
marinas with the Clean Marina certification.
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.”
Habitat
for Humanity plans to ceremonially dedicate its 33rd home in Door
County with a celebration set for 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday, December 21st
at 229 East Leeward Street in Sturgeon Bay. The family, community
leaders, Habitat staff and volunteers will gather to commemorate the
completion of Door County Habitat for Humanity’s final house of the 2011
construction season. “We are thrilled that we could complete this
project in time for the family to celebrate Christmas in its new home”
said Rick Nelson, Executive Director of Habitat’s Door County
affiliate. The public is invited to attend the ceremony, speak with the
family and tour the home.
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.
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.
The
Rotary Interact Club in Sturgeon Bay is holding a spaghetti dinner
December 10 to support their global service project, MAP International.
This project will help send doctors, medicine, and supplies to third
world countries in an effort to promote health care.
The dinner
is December 10 at Bayview Lutheran Church, 340 West Maple St., in
Sturgeon Bay, and will have three different serving times - 6:15, 7:00,
and 7:15 p.m. It would help if those planning to attend made
reservations, but walk-ins are welcome.
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.
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