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The
Door County Maritime Museum has yet to match the success it enjoyed
with the “Pirates!” exhibit in 2007 when it smashed all attendance
records at the Sturgeon Bay museum. Now exhibit curator Jon Paul Van
Harpen is back and so are the pirates to provide an exhibit that the
museum promises is better than its predecessor.
“Pirates – Ship to Shore” opens to the public on Saturday, May 19, at the Sturgeon Bay museum
At the big green barn south of Dunn Road in rural Sturgeon
Bay, the lawn ornaments are mind-boggling. It’s the home of Team Leadership
Center, Inc. (TLC) and Door County’s Adventure Center, a magnet for families
who seek an active bonding experience and a professional beacon to companies
worldwide who want the best teambuilding experience.
When
James Valcq and I assumed our roles as the new directors of Third
Avenue Playhouse on October 1 of last year, we felt like two of the
luckiest guys on Earth. We were asked to move to a place we love in
order to do a job we love, leading TAP into the future. It is an
exciting opportunity, but TAP is not without its challenges.
The economy has not been kind to the arts anymore than it has been to any other business or family trying to make ends meet.
We all know what missionaries do,
and most of us have seen Mission
Impossible. But right here in Door County, there’s a different kind of
mission. Well, well, well.Yes, it’s a
mission to wellness. Carrying the message is Luke Staudenmaier, a 40-something,
upbeat and peppy Doctor of Chiropractic, who, for the last two decades, has
practiced in Sturgeon Bay to provide better health and a better way of life for
everyone.
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.
James Valcq, Robert Boles, Ryan Patrick Shaw, and Steve Kinnamon installing seating in the new Studio Theater at the TAP.
What’s
new and exciting in Sturgeon Bay? What’s new and exciting for the arts
in Door County for this coming summer and fall season? Lots, but here’s
one project that’s bound to help entrench Sturgeon Bay and the Peninsula
as a haven for the performing arts. A theater within a theater. It’s
called the Studio Theater and it will feature four plays this season,
produced by the Stage Door Theater Co.
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.
Front Row: Mayor Thad Birmingham, Judy Juadis, President, Altrusa of Door County. Back Row: Club members Robyn Anderson, Patti Ligman, Cindy Koutnik, Anita Karwowski, Geri Szuberla, Nancy Schroeder, Jackie Morrison, Nancy Baux.
Sturgeon
Bay’s Mayor Thad Birmingham proclaimed April 11th Altrusa
International Inc. of Door County Awareness Day at the City Council meeting on
Tuesday, April 3rd.
Altrusa
of Door County is one of many clubs internationally that celebrated April 11th
by making their community more aware of their involvement.
Mezzo
soprano Cynthia Stiehl will present a benefit concert for the Door
County Maritime Museum as part of the Third Avenue Playhouse’s Tuesdays
at TAP Series on April 24 beginning at 7:30 p.m. at the downtown
Sturgeon Bay theater. The
concert is titled “I Get a Kick Out of Cole,” a tribute by Stiehl to
the famous American composer Cole Porter. It’s a program Stiehl
initially produced for a concert she gave at the Birch Creek Music
Performance Center along with pianist Judith Jackson, who will again
accompany Stiehl for the TAP performance.
Charlie Cheney of Fremont, Michigan feels right at home in
Door County. He came into the local music scene in June, 2006 at the
Steel Bridge Songfest. He wrote and performed a song about Palmer
Johnson’s, just down the street from the Holiday Music Motel.
Speaking of PJ’s, Charlie remarked “This Sturgeon Bay company is the
true representation of what manufacturing we have left in the United
States.” At that time, boat building at the firm was at a standstill,
and this workingman’s song hits a chord with the locals as he sings of a
“hole in the road” and a “hole in my heart”. At this writing, the
company’s fortunes have improved and some boats are now under
construction.
Kory Murphy at the Holiday Music Motel in Sturgeon Bay.
A
fairly new face on the Door County music scene is that of the very
talented Kory Murphy. You may have seen and heard him play at the
Holiday Music Motel or at "Untitled" Used & Rare Books, Maps and
Ephemera. Rolling into town last fall, Kory, companion Brittany, and the
music-lovin' cat Skyy, stayed the winter, and Kory hosted WRiTERS'
NiGHT.
The
Door County Maritime Museum and the Family Centers of Door County will
again jointly host a Family Day celebration on Sunday, April 15, from
1-5 p.m. at the Museum in Sturgeon Bay. The
two organizations launched the event three years ago and it’s proved to
be a tremendous success. Again this year, families are invited to tour
the Museum free of charge and participate in a variety of events. The
event is designed to foster family fun and interaction for community
members. Numerous
children’s activities are planned for a variety of ages. Tickets are
free and must be reserved in advance. They will provide admission to the
Maritime Museum as well as tours of the Tug John Purves. Other
activities include a scavenger hunt throughout the museum and an
assortment of craft projects. Refreshments will be provided.
The
Rotary Club of Sturgeon Bay will hold its biennial International
Recognition Dinner at the Sturgeon Bay Yacht Club on Saturday, April
21st. Ed Douglass, a former Peace Corps Volunteer and long time
supporter of the International Dinner, describes the tie between the
local event and Rotary International’s intention to promote peace
through international goodwill and understanding.
“Rotary International encourages and supports direct, personal contacts
across cultural and political boundaries in a variety of ways. It does
so out of its belief and experience that people-to-people involvement is
an effective way to generate cross-cultural understanding and,
ultimately, a better chance for world peace.”
Model of RMS Titanic build by Jerry Guenther, Hartland, Wisconsin.
Even
100 years after the tragic events of April 14, 1912, the sinking of the
RMS Titanic remains one of the most significant historical events of
the 20th Century. What took place on the North Atlantic that cold spring
night has continued to fascinate succeeding generations. The Door County Maritime Museum in Sturgeon Bay is observing the centennial of the sinking with the exhibit “Titanic’s Wake.”
Caleb Navarro emerges on the Door County music scene.
When Caleb Navarro picked up his
sister’s guitar in eighth grade, he surely did not know where it would take
him. Now a sophomore at Sturgeon Bay High School, Navarro is writing his own
music, posting videos of original music and cover songs on his own YouTube
channel, and performing at talent shows and open microphones around the county.
Babette
has returned and apologizes for her absence. Though her travels have
kept her at a distance, she is most pleased to be back on solid Door
County soil. As she regroups and gathers her thoughts and words of her
travels, adventures and mishaps, some will surely be shared with the
readers. Until then she is happy to be home, safe and sound and on an
adventure to find establishments, sample their fares and share her
thoughts.
The lunch bunch
gathered for its first outing this year at Mel's Place in Sturgeon Bay.
Mel's Place (2011) is at an established restaurant location ... 308
South 3rd Ave ... previously the location of the Bluefront and Launch
Cafes. Mel's serves breakfast and lunch and is open seven days a week
from 5 am - 2 pm.
The
19th annual Door County Lighthouse Festival returns to the second
weekend in June and again Museum members are getting a jump on the
general public when it comes to purchasing tickets. This year’s event is
Friday-Sunday, June 8-10, with a weekend filled with special land-based
tours and boat excursions. Members may begin ordering tickets Monday,
March 19, with the general public sale starting Monday, April 2. There are four
land-based tours, three making stops at the five mainland accessible
lights. Most fun of all may be the Friday and Saturday evening
Ghost/Mystery tours leaving from the Maritime Museum in Sturgeon Bay
which will offer a unique opportunity at Sherwood Point Lighthouse.
Today, she’s an acclaimed, as well
as an ever-developing, artist, but when Bethany Kirwen was in fourth grade, she
and her younger sister Debby rolled out their little red wagon, filled it with
smooth black pebbles that they had painted (think turtles), and began an
entrepreneurial journey that has continued to this day.
When the girls came home with $27
after a particularly lucrative afternoon (especially since the stones were
priced from a nickel to a quarter), an artist was born. Of course the $27
included a few tips.
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.
The
annual Career Day for Door & Kewaunee County 8th grade students
will be held on Tuesday, March 13th, 9am to 2:30pm at NWTC-Sturgeon Bay,
sponsored by the Door Kewaunee Business & Education Partnership
(DKBEP), Northeast Wisconsin Technical College (NWTC) and the Sturgeon
Bay Noon Rotary Club.
The Career Day program provides area students an understanding of
local career clusters and the variety of occupational opportunities
available; information about the skills that employers are looking for;
and recommendations about what courses and extracurricular activities
they might participate in during their high school years to prepare them
to enter the local workforce.
The Door County Maritime Museum has seats available for its Road Trip to the EAA Aviation Museum in Oshkosh. The
excursion is scheduled for Friday, March 23 at a cost of $39 per Museum
members and $44 for guests. The cost includes roundtrip transportation;
museum admission, video and guided tour; and a sandwich lunch.
Reservations are limited to the first 54 people.
Participants
will board the motor coach beginning at 7:45 a.m. at the Maritime
Museum in Sturgeon Bay for an 8 a.m. departure. Upon arrival at the
Aviation Museum, the tour begins with a brief overview video and
proceeds on an hour-long guided tour.
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.
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.
Local actors study scripts for upcoming dinner theater gig.
A group of local actors from across the peninsula is in
rehearsal for a new style dinner-theater show in time for St. Patrick’s Day.
“All Over But the Shooting” is a fun, campy play in true
dinner theatre, “whodunit” fashion.The audience is invited to participate and help solve the mystery, as
cast members mingle.The audience
members who correctly guess “whodunit” will be entered in a drawing for a gift
certificate prize at each performance.
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.
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.
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.
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.”
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%.”
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.
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.
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.
Santa at the wheel of the museum tugboat John Purves.
Santa
Claus will be making his annual visit to the Door County Maritime
Museum in Sturgeon Bay to gather gift requests from area children. He
will welcome children aboard the Tug John Purves, the Museum’s
92-year-old in-water exhibit, from 10 a.m.-1p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 10. The event offers a
double treat for the children since it not only presents an opportunity
to see Santa, but to also step aboard a historic seagoing tug boat.
Class
registration is now open to the public for the Door County Maritime
Museum’s popular boat building class. The 2012 class will build the
Abenaki, a two-person cedar strip canoe, beginning in mid-January at the
Maritime Museum in Sturgeon Bay. Volunteer
instructors David Morgan & Bob Schottmuller selected the Abenaki
because of its size and design. While its construction is
straightforward, the Abenaki can still handle a week’s worth of gear for
the ultimate paddling adventure.
Sturgeon
Bay's Historic Inns and Bed & Breakfasts will be hosting the 28th
Annual Christmas Walk on Sunday, December 4th from 1:30pm to 5:00pm,
with all proceeds benefiting United Way of Door County.
Come
and visit Sturgeon Bay's Historic Inns and Bed & Breakfasts at this
magical time of year. Enjoy the scent of fresh cedar and pine and the
sight of sparkling lights as six Sturgeon Bay Inns and Bed &
Breakfasts open their doors. Enjoy a warm welcome with creative
decorations of the season and holiday music. Door County artists and
fine crafts persons will be displaying handmade works of art in each inn
offering the perfect opportunity for finding unique holiday gifts.
Bidding
in conjunction with the Door County Maritime Museum’s Holiday Ornament
Showcase begins Saturday, Nov. 19. The popular holiday fundraising event
features one-of-a-kind works of art certain to brighten homes for the
holiday season. Of course, you have to be one of those fortunate enough
to win one or more of the pieces that are part of the silent auction.
Bidding will continue through Dec. 13.
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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