What’s going on with Door County Weather, and how could we prepare as a community, is the topic being considered at the next Climate Change Coalition conversation, scheduled for Thursday, November 12 at 7-8:30pm, at the Kress Pavilion in Egg Harbor.

UW–Madison Senior Scientist and State Climatologist Steve Vavrus will host the free to attend conversation and help attendees dig into how Door County’s weather is changing, what’s coming next, and what could be done about it.

Presented in partnership with Crossroads at Big Creek, Door County Environmental Council, The Ridges Sanctuary, and Door County Land Trust.

If you’re a Fair fan, dates for the 2027 Door County Fair were confirmed at the Door County Board of Supervisors budget hearing Tuesday morning, along with plans to bring in a band or musical group from the national stage level.

The Door County Fair Board (DCFB) reported significant increases in entries and attendance at the 2026 fair, and acknowledged the support of the County Board. Entries totaled 5,752, coming from 744 exhibitors, an increase of 588 entries and 220 exhibitors from 2025. Fair Board President Thad Ash thanked the County supervisors, County Parks, Highway Department and Emergency Services for their support.

DCFB members recommended a pay increase for Fair Board officers, from $2,500 to $3,000 per board member, a total impact to the Fair’s budget of $6,000. Ash said that pay amount has been in place for 25 years 

Talking about planning for the 2027 Fair, Ash said the August 11-15, 2027 dates for the fair means the popular Boogie and the Yo-Yos won’t be playing, and the DCFB budgeted some additional funds toward bringing in a national level act, to be announced at a future date. While popular bands are a draw, what keeps people coming is the low entry fees and pricing, said Ash.

Attendance tracking has been aided with online payment methods implemented by the DCFB three years ago. This past year Fair staff used the Square application, which Ash said was the easiest and smoothest to use all around. Fair attendees remain 80 percent locals and 20 percent visitors, based on conversations fair staff and volunteers have with attendees.

Some fair-goers have mourned the loss of the fair buttons, Ash said, but not enough to bring back the expense.

Luxemburg-Casco School District Superintendent Jo-Ellen Fairbanks and Sturgeon Bay School District Superintendent Dan Tjernagel will stay patient when it comes to the state’s school funding formula. 

Both districts saw voters approve their respective referendum questions Tuesday, with Luxemburg-Casco passing its referendum 2,172-1,958, while Sturgeon Bay voters approved theirs by a 2,487-1,871 margin.

School funding was a major topic for area Democrats on the campaign trail, with candidates calling for an overhaul of the current system. Some also campaigned to reverse former Gov. Scott Walker's Act 10, which curtailed collective bargaining rights for public employees but also reduced costs for local governments, including school districts.

Fairbanks is appreciative of the support the district’s residents give its schools, whether it is at the ballot box, in the stands, or out in the community. She hopes the new Legislature takes a closer look at the school funding formula rather than simply throwing money at the problem.

Tjernagel is thankful for the community's support, regardless of how residents voted on the referendum. He says the area’s superintendents are taking a wait-and-see approach to the Legislature’s approach to school funding. Until then, he knows the work is not done when it comes to being responsible stewards of taxpayer dollars and finding ways to save money wherever possible.

Seventy-nine school districts had referendum questions on last Tuesday's ballot, with 45 approved to provide $1.3 billion in funding. Southern Door, Gillett and Oconto were among the school districts that saw their referendum questions fail.

For nearly a decade, the Starr family in Sturgeon Bay has kept a seat saved for you on Christmas Eve. For the ninth time, Kyle and Carrie Starr are inviting the community to the Knights of Columbus Hall off State Highway 42/57 in Sturgeon Bay for a free Christmas Eve meal.

What began with a mission trip Kyle went on years ago has turned into a tradition, with hundreds of meals served every year. Carrie says the event continues to grow, which is why the invitation to the community is going out more than a month earlier than usual. Starr says the phone calls and text messages are constant leading up to the event, serving as a reminder that we are all called to serve in one way or another.

The traditional Christmas Eve lunch will be offered as a sit-down meal or drive-thru takeout Dec. 24 from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Starr says that if you are more focused on Thanksgiving than Christmas Eve, don't worry. An RSVP for in-person dining is appreciated but not necessary, while special deliveries can be requested until 8 a.m. on Dec. 23.

This past Saturday, I, along with more than 1,000 others, participated in the 14th annual HOOAH Ruck March on the Fox River Trail to recognize and support efforts surrounding Veteran Suicide.

This was my 10th time participating in this event, and every year it brings with it an opportunity for reflection, intention, and pride. It is a time of reflection on the lives of so many men and women who, after serving their country, lost their personal battle with depression and isolation, which too often is a residual effect of that service. It is a time of intention. That we shift our focus to the internal struggle that our Veteran population continues to battle, and the weight that they carry. That we advocate for the resources that are necessary, and create a supportive community to overcome the stigma that too often is attached to mental health struggles. And it is a time of pride, as we come together to celebrate and support those who have and continue to dedicate their lives to our great country through military service.

I should back up a bit for those who may not understand the significance of a “Ruck March”. Why not just call it a walk, or a hike? In the military, we do not just walk; we march. There are times when we march in formation as part of a ceremony or drill, and there are times that we march as a coordinated tactical movement. In any of these examples, they are a movement of purpose. In the tactical marches, we conduct these movements with the gear needed to sustain us for the immediate future, until additional resources are able to be provided. The distance of these movements will vary depending on mission. We carry everything from our clothing, food, water, ammo, and weapons, with the primary means being that of our military backpack, fondly known as our “Ruck”, the weight of which is also dictated by mission and duration of that mission. 

So, what is the significance of this annual event, and conducting it as a Ruck March? It is about shared suffering and showing our willingness to carry the weight, much like those who are struggling to carry the mental weight of painful memories and unresolved trauma. 

It is also about camaraderie, in that the experiences we share are universal and span the generations of service to our nation. This includes not just those who served, but just as importantly, the families of those who serve, as their lives have also been impacted.  

Each year the distance of the March is determined by the number of veterans that we lose to suicide every day throughout our nation. This year that number was 17.6, and thus we marched that same number in miles, with the goal that one day we will not have to march even one mile. 

Although this was not an easy journey, it is always worth the pain, for as the old saying goes: “Pain is not an excuse to quit; it is an indication that what you are doing counts.”

For more information on this event, or the organization, visit: www.hooahwi.org

The parade "so nice you get to see it twice" will once again carry extra meaning this year as the Jacksonport Thanksgiving Parade and Benefit raises funds for the family of retired Baileys Harbor Fire Chief Brian Zak. Earlier this year, Zak stepped away from the department he led for 15 years as he battles a rare and rapidly progressing neurological disease. Zak has been in and out of hospitals across the Midwest in recent months for testing and other procedures. For 30 years, the Jacksonport Thanksgiving Parade and Benefit has helped families like the Zaks, something co-founder Jeri Taylor remains proud of after all these years.

Taylor encourages people to be part of the parade by lining up in the town hall parking lot at 9:30 a.m. before the parade makes its short trip up and down State Highway 57 beginning at 10:30 a.m.

Operation Not Alone founder Susan Fochs did not have to look far for inspiration when her organization recently sent out approximately 500 care packages ahead of Veterans Day this week.

Fochs founded Operation Not Alone more than a decade ago in honor of her father, who is a veteran of the Marine Corps with a service-connected disability. That inspiration led to a calling to support veterans and active-duty military members through its veteran cheer package, active-duty care package, and veteran visit programs. Fochs and Operation Not Alone took it a step further when they developed the Operation Not Alone Girl Scout Patch Program to foster an appreciation for military service among the next generation. With the Marine Corps' birthday on Nov. 10 and Veterans Day on Nov. 11, Fochs is proud to help brighten the days of people like her father who dedicated their lives to serving their country.

You can find more information about Operation Not Alone by clicking this link. 

This Veterans Day, schools in Algoma, Gibraltar, and Washington Island will hold ceremonies to honor those who have served our country.

Rachel and Collin Mirkes welcomed baby Jackson on November 5, 2026, at Door County Medical Center in Sturgeon Bay. 

Congratulations to the couple on their new baby boy!

As the gales of November blow around the Door peninsula, the Door County Parks Department will begin seasonal removal of boat launch docks. By removing the temporary docks each fall, the lifespan of the equipment is extended. 

The work is completed by County Parks Department employees, said Marc Moore, County Parks Manager, who use heavy equipment owned by the county to complete the dock removal and secure equipment for next season.

In consideration of people who like to fish fall, spring, and hard water seasons, the County will leave a dock in at George K. Pinney, Robert M. Carmody, and Chaudoir’s Dock through mid- to late-December, weather permitting.

Forestville, Sugar Creek, Murphy Park, and Lily Bay dock removal is subcontracted from the County to Pier and Waterfront Solutions in Sturgeon Bay. The removal schedule is listed below.

Dredging and maintenance work at Chaudoir’s Dock has been completed, and is now deep enough to allow entry for commercial vessels like fishing tugs. Moore said bedrock did prevent the project from hitting full depth requirement in some areas, but the project met with County Parks’ expectations. 

The project, which began the second week of July and was completed the first week of September, included dredging of the harbor and harbor entrance, and resurfacing of the parking lot. Chaudoir's Dock gives boaters access to the bay of Green Bay for fishing and other water recreation activities via a 100-foot-long dock, three boat launches and an emergency refuge harbor. The park includes five acres of partially wooded land with 625 feet of shoreline and a picnic area.

The removal schedule is as follows: 

Week of November 16: 

Frank E. Murphy Park Boat Launch
Lily Bay Boat Launch
Forestville Dam Boat Launch and Fishing Pier 

Weather permitting, beginning the week of November 16, to be completed by November 25:

George K. Pinney (Stone Quarry) Boat Launch
Robert M. Carmody (Little Sturgeon Bay) Boat Launch
Chaudoir’s Dock Boat Launch 

Door County Economic Development Corp. Executive Director Michelle Lawrie wants the update to its housing study to be more than just data points, which is where you come in. The DCEDC is asking community members to sign up for engagement sessions in December, where they can share their perspectives on how housing has changed since the organization’s last housing study in 2019. Lawrie is interested in learning how the community thinks the county has fared over the past seven years, following an analysis that estimated the housing shortage cost the county approximately $25 million and prevented local employers from attracting qualified candidates to fill key positions.

Lawrie adds that while the data being collected is valuable, hearing about residents’ experiences with housing is even more important.

You can click this link to complete a short survey and be assigned a location for an upcoming engagement session. Employers will have their own input session this week. Lawrie hopes the complete findings from the housing study will be released by the end of February.

Drivers traveling through downtown Sturgeon Bay on Tuesday, November 10, are advised that the Maple/Oregon Bridge will be closed to all vehicle and marine traffic from 8 a.m.-3 p.m. 

Maintenance work being done includes installing the new center lock actuator. A center lock actuator, also called a span lock actuator or lock bar operator, is the powered drive mechanism that extends and retracts a lock bar(s) to secure the movable lift span when it is fully lowered and closed.

The Kewaunee County Board of Supervisors has two major items on its agenda when it meets Tuesday at the Kewaunee County Administration Building in Kewaunee. The board is set to approve the 2027 budget, which includes an 8-cent drop in the county property tax rate from $4.28 to $4.20 per $1,000 of equalized property value. Since the introduction of the 2024 county budget, the county's tax rate has dropped 85 cents per $1,000 of equalized value. The Kewaunee County Board will also consider an offer from the Algoma Hunting and Fishing Club to donate 1 acre of land that would be added to the county's Bruemmerville Park. Board Chairperson Dan Olson says the opportunity came up because the club is folding.

The property, which sits adjacent to county-owned land, includes a building previously used as meeting space and a single-stall garage. The Kewaunee County Board meeting will begin at 6 p.m. Tuesday in the council chambers.  

The Door County Maritime Museum will turn into a Christmas wonderland later this week as it prepares to open the Merry-Time Festival of Trees on Saturday in Sturgeon Bay. The holiday tradition invites businesses and local organizations to decorate trees, wreaths, and other holiday displays for the museum’s galleries.

The beginning of the Merry-Time Festival of Trees is marked by a visit from Santa, who makes his way to the museum aboard a U.S. Coast Guard boat if weather permits. That same day, the museum’s neighboring vessel, the Utopia, aims to recreate a tradition more than a century old by bringing Christmas trees from Upper Michigan to sell as a fundraiser supporting veterans programs. Patriot Racing Project Executive Director Jack Gage and Door County Maritime Museum Education Programs Coordinator Andrea Stromeyer hope it is the start of a new holiday tradition.

The Merry-Time Festival of Trees also features its Jingle Mixer on Dec. 10, when the decorated trees will be raffled off alongside other entertainment. The Merry-Time Festival of Trees runs through Dec. 30 at the Door County Maritime Museum.

November has a reputation in the Great Lakes region. It's the month of blustery winds, dramatic waves, and the legendary "Gales of November." While many people associate these storms with famous shipwrecks and maritime history, they are also a fascinating reminder of the natural forces that shape life along our shores

As autumn gives way to winter, shorter days and cooler temperatures bring changing weather patterns across North America. Cold Arctic air begins moving south while pockets of warmer air can still travel north. When these very different air masses meet, they can create powerful storm systems that bring strong winds and rapidly changing conditions.

The Great Lakes play an important role as well. Even as the air cools, the lakes retain warmth absorbed during the summer months. When cold air moves across the relatively warm waters of Lake Michigan and Green Bay, heat and moisture rise into the atmosphere, helping fuel storms and creating the conditions that make November weather so memorable.

Here in the Door Peninsula, we have a front-row seat to this seasonal spectacle. Wind-swept shorelines, rolling waves, and ever-changing skies offer a chance to witness the power and beauty of the Great Lakes in a new way.

"November is a wonderful time to observe how weather, water, and the landscape all interact," said Jess Poppie, Interpretive Naturalist at Crossroads at Big Creek. "Whether you're watching waves along the shore or listening to the wind through the trees, there are signs of these seasonal changes all around us."

While seasonal weather has always shaped life along the Great Lakes, scientists are also helping us better understand how long-term climate trends may influence the region in the future.

Community members are invited to explore this topic at Door County's Changing Weather on Thursday, November 12, at 7 p.m. at the Kress Pavilion in Egg Harbor. Hosted by the Climate Change Coalition in partnership with The Ridges Sanctuary, Door County Land Trust, and Crossroads at Big Creek, the program will feature Steve Vavrus, Senior Scientist and Wisconsin State Climatologist at UW-Madison, presenting Envisioning a Climate-Resilient Future. This free public program will examine how a changing climate is affecting our region and highlight opportunities to build resilient communities and ecosystems. No registration is required.

November's storms have become part of Great Lakes folklore, from the Great Storm of 1913 to the loss of the Edmund Fitzgerald in 1975. These stories remind us of the respect these inland seas command, while also highlighting the unique natural history of our region.

The season also offers plenty of opportunities to get outside and explore. Join us for Wandering Wednesday on November 11 at 1:30 p.m. for an easy naturalist-led hike. We'll explore seasonal changes, observe signs of wildlife, and discover what makes this time of year so special.

For a different outdoor experience, join us for our Luminary Lit Hike on Friday, November 13, from 5-6:30 p.m. Enjoy a peaceful walk along trails illuminated by the warm glow of luminaries before gathering around a campfire with a cup of hot chocolate. It's a wonderful way to experience Crossroads after dark and celebrate the beauty of the season.

The next time you hear the wind blowing, take a moment to appreciate the remarkable forces at work on the Great Lakes and the beauty they create. Whether you're watching waves crash along the shoreline, exploring a local trail, or learning about Door County's changing weather, November offers countless opportunities to deepen your understanding of the dynamic natural processes that shape our region.

Missy LeBelle, long time manager of the High Point Inn in Ephraim, was recognized for her tourism-supporting work as the 2026 annual Innkeeper of the Year Award.

The Innkeeper of the Year Award is a tradition of the Wisconsin Hotel and Lodging  Association (WHLA) that recognizes an outstanding individual who exemplifies the hospitality industry in our state. LeBelle was presented with the award at the 2026 Wisconsin Lodging Conference on November 2 in Wisconsin Dells.

Serving for 17 years as General Manager of High Point Inn, Missy’s steady leadership has helped maintain a standout property with consistent guest-focused excellence.

Not only is the High Point Inn reknowned for its positive reputation and repeat visitors under Labelle's leadership, she's been involved with the Ephraim Business Council and Ephraim Historical Foundation; a commissioner on the Door County Tourism Zone Commission; collaborator on community projects, such as hosting the cast and crew of a Christmas movie filmed in Door County; and as dedicated support for local first responders as a member of the Door County Incident Support Team.

She serves as a WHLA Lodging Director, an active member on the WWIL Steering Committee, and serves on the WHLA Conference Committee.

Last weekend, I had the opportunity to participate in cleaning up our family’s Adopt a Highway section on STH 42 between Kewaunee and Algoma. It is always interesting to see what kinds of items one gets to pick up each year. One thing I did notice was the number of animal carcasses along the roads and down in the ditches. This, of course, gave me the inspiration for this week’s article.

As it relates to car-deer accidents, we have seen increases, with varying degrees of highs and lows, over the years.

Our current records management system dates back to 2000. In that year, we documented 268 car-deer accidents. In 2020, we had a total of 367, and these are just the accidents that were reported to us. Many times, for various reasons, deer are struck by motor vehicles, but the drivers decide not to report these accidents. We become aware of some of these incidents because of the deer carcasses that remain at the scene. Those accidents are not counted in this data.

Last year’s total number of car-deer accidents was 352, with 272 recorded at this time of year. So far this year, we are at 283. Let’s all try to keep this year’s total lower than last year’s. We can do this in many ways.

First, let me say that I don’t speculate about deer populations or trends. That is information that the DNR keeps track of, and while it may have some bearing on our growing number of car-deer accidents, I also believe we have developed some bad habits over the past 17 years that have contributed to the increase.

The biggest contributor I see is inattentive driving. Although inattentive driving has been around since the dawn of the automobile, the presence of electronic devices is something new, and with it has emerged a new method of communication: texting. We have all heard of, or may even have witnessed, the dangers that texting while driving poses on our roadways. I have no doubt that more than a few car-deer accidents could have been avoided had the drivers been paying closer attention to the road.

Distracted driving is a danger throughout the year, but if there were ever a time to put your phones away, it would be during these next few weeks and months. As a driver, your focus needs to be on your primary mission, and that is driving. Many accidents could be avoided by increased vigilance along road edges and ditch lines. Most of the ditches along town, county and state highways have been cleared for this very reason, providing drivers with an additional field of vision to help prevent such tragedies.

As I stated earlier, we are trending higher for accidents this year, which coincides with the historical increase in car-deer accidents during this time of year. Please take your time and be watchful, especially during the evening and morning hours. This includes allowing additional space between your vehicle and the vehicle traveling in front of you. Following too closely is always unsafe, but even more so at this time of year when the vehicle in front of you may have to react suddenly. Due to your close proximity, you may not have enough time to react safely.

Speaking of evasive maneuvers, it is always recommended that you not swerve to miss a deer in the roadway, as the potential for damage to your vehicle and injury to yourself is greatly increased. Although it may seem counterintuitive, it is best to apply your brakes but remain in your lane of travel. It is best to slow down and enjoy the beauty of autumn that surrounds us.

Experience the traditions of Christmases gone by as the Door County Historical Society hosts its fourth annual Glimpse of Christmas Past, at Heritage Village in Sturgeon Bay. This festive holiday event is scheduled for every Friday and Saturday in December (excluding December 25), from 3:00-6:00 p.m.

During A Glimpse of Christmas Past, the historic buildings of Heritage Village will be decorated for the holidays by local nonprofit organizations, each bringing its own creativity and interpretation of the Christmas season. Visitors wander through the Village, admiring the festive displays, and experiencing the charm of an old-fashioned Christmas surrounded by Door County's history.

The event is also a celebration of the nonprofit organizations that make Door County such a special place to live. While admission to Heritage Village is free, visitors are encouraged to vote for their favorite decorated building with a donation. Every donation is a vote of appreciation for the creativity and hard work that goes into making the Village festive for the season.

Heritage Village's entrance is at 2041 Michigan Street, Sturgeon Bay. For more information, visit www.doorcountyhistoricalsociety.org or call (920) 421-2332.

The Kewaunee County Sheriff’s Department has identified the victims of a Thursday afternoon crash that killed one person and injured another.

According to the department’s news release, 55-year-old Julie Bertrand was driving eastbound on State Highway 54 near Walhain Road in the Town of Luxemburg shortly before 12:50 p.m. when she crossed the centerline into the westbound lane and struck a cargo van driven by 28-year-old Tanner Brunner of Green Bay.

Bertrand died at the scene. Brunner was taken to the hospital by Luxemburg Rescue with non-life-threatening injuries. No other injuries were reported.

The Luxemburg Police Department, Wisconsin State Patrol, Luxemburg Fire and Rescue, and Luxemburg-Casco First Responders also assisted the Kewaunee County Sheriff’s Department.

The crash remains under investigation by the Kewaunee County Sheriff’s Department and the Wisconsin State Patrol Accident Reconstruction Team.

Domestic violence organizations like HELP of Door County and the Violence Intervention Project in Algoma want survivors to know that assistance is available.

According to End Domestic Abuse Wisconsin, there were 101 domestic and family violence-related fatalities in 2025, a slight decrease from the record high of 110 in 2024.

HELP of Door County Executive Director Moriah Benzow hopes the organization's free services, including crisis intervention, support groups, safe houses and transitional living programs, can help address domestic violence before it reaches that point. She stresses the importance of recognizing the problem and seeking help before the situation escalates.

Both HELP of Door County and the Violence Intervention Project in Algoma offer resources for those experiencing domestic abuse, along with opportunities for community members to get involved. HELP of Door County will benefit from the Chili Cook-Off for a Cause on Saturday at Dromhus, beginning at 12:30 p.m. The Violence Intervention Project will host its mystery dinner benefit Nov. 14 at Northbrook Golf and Grill. Additional information about both events is available through the provided links.

Stargazing in Sturgeon Bay is spectacular, especially on clear nights, and is made even better with the help of the telescope at the Ray and Ruthie Stonecipher Astronomy Center. Make a note for Star Date November 7, 2026, beginning at 7PM, for the first Star Party night of the ‘winter’ stargazing season, and you might be part of some of the ongoing exploration work undertaken by the Door Peninsula Astronomical Society (DPAS).

If you haven’t been to one of DPAS’ star parties in Sturgeon Bay, make plans to teleport (or drive) yourself there this winter, to experience the updates and offerings of this 28 year old astronomy campus. 

Dave Lenius, DPAS board president since 2020 and member of 14 years, explained the technological upgrades DPAS has made in recent months.

The astrotechnology DPAS uses, allows DPAS members, and visiting scientists to see deeper into space. This deep space viewing, combined with Sturgeon Bay’s dark(ish) skies, have helped DPAS astronomers identify and register with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) 35 exoplanets.

The altruistic Stoneciphers left much of their wealth to DPAS and the observatory, with the caveats that there were two funds set up: one for technology upgrades at the Astronomy center, the other for scholarships for Door County students wanting to pursue degrees focusing on math and science. Currently, Lenius said, DPAS is sponsoring 16 students at various universities.

DPAS also has a mobile planetarium they travel with and make presentations to school groups of all ages. Lenius said their presentation is changeable for different age groups. DPAS has even been invited to the regional Destination Imagination challenge weekends.

By attending a DPAS event like the Star Party tomorrow night and making a donation, you can become a member and support astronomy opportunities, and receive information about the Door Peninsula Astronomy Society and their activities. 

The Stonecipher astronomy center will be open for visitors on Saturday, with the telescope if skies are clear, in addition to some private telescopes set up on different objects for people to view. The Leonid meteor shower is happening, with a peak mid-November. Skywatchers could see 10 to 15 meteors per hour. The astronomy center is located at 2200 Utah Street, Sturgeon Bay, with the entrance off of Cove Road (turn left through the gate onto the dirt road).  For more info about DPAS events, visit DoorAstronomy.org, or find them on Facebook under DoorAstronomy.

With just two concerts remaining on its 2026 calendar, Birch Creek Music Performance Center is already preparing for 2027 programs and performances. Registration for the 2027 Summer Academy opens December 1, with the percussion session kicking things off June 13, followed by symphony on June 27 and big band jazz sessions on July 11 and July 25. The Summer Academy welcomes students from across the country to Egg Harbor to learn from professional musicians and perform for audiences. Executive Director Jenna Ferdon says students and concertgoers alike talk each year about how special and impactful the summer experience at Birch Creek is.

Scholarships are available for interested students, especially those attending schools in Door County. Birch Creek Music Performance Center will wrap up its 2026 season next month with a pair of sold-out Christmas concerts. Ferdon encourages those interested in attending to contact the box office to be added to the waiting list.

If you purchased fuel from Thomas Kaczmarek, Jean Kaczmarek or Justin Kaczmarek over the last decade, the Door County Sheriff’s Department would like to hear from you.

The trio appeared in Door County Circuit Court on Friday in connection with an alleged large-scale theft and money laundering operation involving 14 victims and an estimated $1.8 million in losses.

According to the Door County Sheriff’s Department, investigators obtained four search warrants and three seizure warrants, which were executed Thursday in Nasewaupee and Pembine, one day after the Kaczmareks were arrested.

All three remain in the Door County Jail. Thomas is being held on a $25,000 cash bond, Justin on a $10,000 cash bond and Jean on a $5,000 cash bond.

The investigation remains ongoing, with the department asking potential victims who paid the Kaczmareks directly by cash or check for fuel deliveries to contact Investigator Jon Gilson at 920-746-2555.

Residents and voters in the Village of Ephraim will see some changes to their administration building this next year, as the office undergoes an internal remodel of the offices and meeting space.

The plan would reconfigure the internal use of space of the building at the top of the hill at 10005 N. Norway Street. Village administrator Brent Bristol told the Village trustees on Friday morning that staff worked out three options with chosen project management and construction firm Keller.

“We wanted that project to be something that was effective, that would serve the village for a long time, but also was affordable, was the most cost-effective option,” Bristol said.

Trustees discussed two options, with estimated construction costs of either $1.575 million for Option 1, or $1.8 million for Option 2, both with $100,000 contingencies. The remodel space includes 2,622 square feet of existing space, and adding either 450 sqft of new space in Option 1, or 818 sqft of new space in Option 2. Construction timeline would be about 6 months, for either option, and would begin in February, based on Keller’s proposed timeline.  

According to information in the Village Board meeting packet, this remodel would be a comprehensive renovation of the existing 2,172 square foot facility to improve code compliance, and overall building performance. (Option 2) includes an internal ramp (rather than an external), and additional work space in an 818 sqft addition. Work would involve reconfiguration of interior spaces, upgrades to mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems, and improvements to the building envelope as needed. 

Keller Constriction Manager Devin Flanigan explained the inclusion of a contingency amount, especially when remodeling a decades-old building.

“Why a $100,000 contingency? With a remodel, with the age of the building, with a lot of uncertainty, I felt it was best to make sure that we can include some unknowns,” said Flanigan. “Like everyone knows, when you take on a project of a remodel, there's going to be some level of things that we run into.” 

The trustees voted unanimously to approve Option 2, and they await the final details of the proposal and timeline from Keller.

After sitting vacant for several years, a property in Sturgeon Bay could become more attractive to potential buyers following a proposed zoning change. During Tuesday’s meeting, the Sturgeon Bay Common Council unanimously supported changing the zoning for 616 and 628 S. Neenah Ave. from Office/Business Park (C-4) to Mixed Commercial-Residential (C-5). The parcel is on the northeast corner of the intersection to Sturgeon Bay's industrial park. The property’s owner, Marie Viglas, has attempted to sell the approximately 2.5-acre property in recent years but has been unsuccessful because of a separate parcel that prevents direct access to the highway. Sturgeon Bay Mayor David Ward says the hope is that the zoning change will make the property more marketable for its owner while addressing a need in the community.

The zoning ordinance change received its first reading at Tuesday’s meeting and will receive its second reading at the Sturgeon Bay Common Council’s next meeting Nov. 17. The council also approved the 2027 budget and the removal of three parking spaces near the intersection of Fifth Avenue and Jefferson Street to address safety concerns for motorists and pedestrians.

Breaking news…

Just after noon today deputies from the Kewaunee County Sheriff’s Department responded to a two-vehicle crash at the intersection of State Highway 54 and Walhain Road in the town of Luxemburg.

During the initial investigation, officers determined that a mini van traveling eastbound on Highway 54 went into the westbound lane and collided with a cargo truck that was traveling westbound on Highway 54.

The driver of the minivan was pronounced dead at the scene.The driver of the cargo truck was transported with non-life-threatening injuries. There were no passengers in either vehicle. Kewaunee County was assisted by the Luxemburg Police Department, Wisconsin State Patrol, Luxemburg Fire and Rescue, and Luxemburg-Casco First Responders.

The names of those involved are not being released at this time to allow for family notifications, and possible further investigation.

Door County Habitat for Humanity Executive Director Lori Allen is hopeful its newest partner family will be home before Christmas as volunteers put the final touches on Home No. 51. The home is the newest addition to the Sister Bay neighborhood on Ava Hope Trail, where previous collaborations between Door County Habitat for Humanity and the Door County Housing Partnership have been built. Volunteers recently installed new siding and prepared the interior for painting. Allen says the home is just the latest in the organization's efforts to develop affordable housing opportunities in Door County.

While Home No. 51 is nearing completion, Allen says the organization is actively looking for land in the Sturgeon Bay and Southern Door areas for Home No. 52 and beyond. In addition to its home repair projects, Door County Habitat for Humanity is also preparing for its Christmas benefit concert Dec. 3 featuring STEEM. You can find more details about the show here.

The Wisconsin State Capitol will have a different feel for state Rep. Joel Kitchens and state Sen.-elect Nic Cravillion when they begin their new terms next year. Tuesday’s election not only kept Wisconsin’s constitutional offices under Democratic control but also saw the Assembly and Senate change hands. It marks the first time Democrats have held a political “trifecta” since Gov. Jim Doyle was in office in 2010.

Kitchens says he has worked well with his Democratic colleagues since he was first elected to the 1st Assembly District seat, even serving alongside Gov.-elect David Crowley for two terms beginning in 2016. He considers Crowley a friend from that time but also knows that party politics can take over, making it difficult to find willing partners for bipartisan legislation.

Cravillion is new to the role but not new to Madison after years of serving under outgoing state Sen. Andre Jacque. He says he will not shy away from finding common ground with those across the aisle, but he also will not forget about the people who put him in office.

Kitchens, Cravillion, and the other winners of Tuesday’s state legislative elections will be sworn into office Jan. 4, 2027.

A refrigerator out in the open in Sturgeon Bay is providing hope for community members who go to bed without enough food. Door County Mutual Aid recently plugged in the Full Hearts Fridge in front of The Pearl of Door County on Third Avenue in Sturgeon Bay. The blue outpost offers standard nonperishable items, while the refrigerator is stocked with other food, including surplus food from area restaurants.

Door County Mutual Aid's Ryan Shaw says the area's food pantries do amazing work, but they aren't always accessible to community members who cannot stop by during regular hours. He hopes the Full Hearts Fridge serves as more than a place where people can grab necessities they do not have or cannot afford.

Shaw adds that a group of volunteers will help keep the Full Hearts Fridge stocked and clean. Community members are welcome to donate items directly to the fridge, though donations of raw meat, eggs, medication and alcohol are discouraged.

A variety of events to honor American military veterans will take place next week, with ceremonies, tributes, music and shared meals. Veterans Day is officially observed on Wednesday, November 11, 2026. The ADRC in Sturgeon Bay will begin celebrations for veterans, three events are scheduled for Wednesday, and Sevastopol will finish with jazz. 

The following are the events and basic information for each. Please note some events require a reservation by the end of this week; contact those event organizers for details.

• Monday, November 9: Veterans Ceremony at ADRC of Door County. Ceremony starts at 11:30 and luncheon is to follow. If veterans are interested in attending they should call the ADRC at (920)746-2372 to reserve a spot for the noon meal.

• Wednesday, Nov. 11: Algoma School District annual Veterans Day program held at Algoma Middle/High School. 9:00 AM: Veterans Breakfast - Veterans call to RSVP by Nov 6. (920) 487-2001, ext. 2302. 10:00 AM: Veterans Day Program -Public is invited to attend a tribute featuring students, district staff and community members.

• Wednesday, Nov. 11: Veterans Day Ceremony at Gibraltar High School in Fish Creek, with American Legion Post 527, starting at 10am with a luncheon to follow for veterans and a guest.
• Wednesday, Nov. 11: Veterans Day Ceremony and Program on Washington Island at the Trueblood Performing Art Center. Four veterans discuss prominent islanders who served during the past century. Directed by the American Legion.

• Thursday, Nov. 12: Peninsula Symphonic Band Veterans Day Concert at Prince of Peace Church in Sturgeon Bay, starting at 7pm. The Swingin' Door Big Band will also take the stage, and Company B, an Andrews Sisters-inspired vocal trio, will join the Swingin' Door Big Band.

• Saturday, Nov. 14: Salute to Veterans event at Sevastopol Town Hall hosted by the Sevastopol Historical Society starting at 12:30pm. Music by the Sevastopol Jazz Band.

More than 500 playwrights submitted theatrical works to Third Avenue PlayWorks (TAP) inaugural WinterWorks New Play Festival.

In July, TAP put out the call for submissions. After receiving over 500 submissions from writers in 37 states, and countless reading hours by staff and more than 50 volunteers, 10 finalists have been selected for possible inclusion in the festival. The finalists in alphabetical order are:

• 'Dividing the Loot' by Dan Aibel

• 'There’s Still Snow on Silver Star' by David Bareford

• 'Canopy' by Jennifer Blackmer

• 'A Clean Heart' by Jason Grote

• 'Macbeth, Macbeth, Macbeth' by Helen Murray

• 'Twin Falls' by Karissa Murrel Myers

• 'Hamlet’s' by Nick Narcisi

• 'Untitled Karate Play' by Miles Orduna

• 'The Tenure Itch' by Ken Urban

• 'By Day/By Night' by Mallory Jane Weiss

The goal of this WinterWorks New Play Festival for TAP is to cultivate and champion the future of contemporary American theater. This festival will offer three selected playwrights a vital, week-long in-person workshop residency to experiment, interrogate, and elevate their scripts in Sturgeon Bay. 

“We’ve made a commitment to making new things here and it can really raise the profile of our organization, our region, and the artists who work in it,” says Jacob Janssen, Jackie & Steve Kane Artistic Director.

The festival will span the entire month of February 2027, and feature free public workshop readings on Saturdays of three new plays, as well as two other readings of new and contemporary plays. 

For more information about the 2027 WinterWorks New Play Festival, visit https://thirdavenueplayworks.org/winterworks-new-play-festival.

Marking the latest legislative runaround against gubernatorial veto power — quite literally — Wisconsin voters adopted two of three Republican-authored constitutional amendments in Tuesday’s election.

The amendments that passed ban government and public educational institutions from discriminating against or expressing preferential treatment for people based on race, ethnicity, nationality or sex — a measure expected to end diversity, equity and inclusion programs — and limit the governor’s use of the partial veto to raise taxes. A third amendment that would have prevented public officials from banning gatherings in places of worship during emergencies failed.

To amend the Wisconsin constitution, lawmakers must pass resolutions during two consecutive two-year legislative sessions before putting the questions to voters. GOP legislators have employed the strategy in recent years with measurable success. 

Even within a divided government split along party lines, voters nonetheless approved Republican-authored proposals that Democratic Gov. Tony Evers presumably would have vetoed or, in the case of religious gatherings, did veto.

Including Tuesday’s referendums, voters have now approved nine of 12 constitutional amendments during Evers’ eight years in office.

Conservative backers say the latest amendments “hold government accountable” while opponents say the amendments restrict efforts to improve conditions for underserved communities and limit the executive branch’s check on legislative power.

Prohibiting race- or sex-based discrimination

Chloe Braverman, a University of Wisconsin-Madison junior, expressed frustration with the amendment questions on the ballot, particularly one that bans preferential treatment in public education and in government hiring and contracting based upon race, sex, color, ethnicity or national origin.

Braverman said the authors framed the question “weirdly” and suggested Republicans worded it to persuade voters to greenlight the change. The amendment passed with 56.4% voting in favor and 43.6% against.

The measure targets initiatives aimed at increasing diversity and assisting marginalized groups, which the amendment’s authors have said obstruct values like fairness, equality and merit. Using categories like race and sex as a basis for righting historical wrongs, they say, is actually an attempt to rectify “past discrimination” with “more discrimination.”

“Old wounds cannot be healed by inflicting new ones,” said Sen. Steve Nass, R-Whitewater, one of the referendum’s architects.

The U.S. Supreme Court’s 2023 ruling in Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard, which deemed unconstitutional the use of race in college admissions, helped motivate the Wisconsin amendment’s authors. 

After the proposed ballot measure passed along party lines earlier this year, interest groups sought voter support.

The Wisconsin Institute for Law & Liberty launched a six-figure campaign to encourage voters to back the amendments. 

Opponents like the League of Women Voters of Wisconsin said they did the best they could with limited resources to explain the measures’ ramifications. League Executive Director Debra Cronmiller said the amendment could undo 60 years of civil rights progress for women and minorities.

“On its surface, it looks good,” Cronmiller said. “It’s trying to create equality, which means giving everybody the same thing. But in the United States, where we have had systemic discrimination since our inception, we need equity so we can provide people the resources that they need to have an equal opportunity for success.”

She likened the difference between equality and equity to giving all people a set of shoes. Giving everyone the same pair simply wouldn’t work. To fit all needs, people require different sizes.

“If the first time you’re reading the question is today, when you get to your polling place, you will be misled by the question,” Cronmiller said. “You will likely vote yes.”

Voters in at least six other states — Arizona, California, Michigan, Nebraska, Oklahoma and Washington — enacted similar bans between 1996 and 2012. 

Wisconsin’s is essentially a “carbon copy” of the others, noted Sterling Knoche, an attorney with the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s State Democracy Research Initiative.

The U.S. Supreme Court determined Michigan’s amendment was constitutional after it was challenged. That reinforces the sense that Wisconsin’s prohibition would likewise withstand judicial scrutiny.

The scope of the change depends on how lawmakers and courts interpret the words “preferential treatment” and “discrimination,” said Emily Lau, also an attorney with the State Democracy Research Initiative. For instance, groups might be treated differently in a way that isn’t preferential or discriminatory, or if there is a justifiable government interest in doing so.

The playing field to resolve these issues will likely be the courtroom.

Even before voters approved Tuesday’s amendment, WILL began suing higher education institutions in Wisconsin over the existence of diversity scholarships and programs that serve underrepresented students.

“All laws must be colorblind to ensure the American Dream for all individuals; otherwise, America will devolve into a racialized society with some racial groups punishing others based on perceived historical grievances,” Dan Lennington, WILL’s vice president and deputy attorney, testified at a public hearing in support of the new amendment in 2025.

This year, WILL scored a victory before the Wisconsin Supreme Court, which found an undergraduate financial aid program for minority students was unconstitutional. 

More recently, its attorneys filed a suit against the Wisconsin Higher Educational Aids Board in hopes of striking down a Wisconsin law that requires the Medical College of Wisconsin to “make every effort to ensure” minority students comprise at least 5% of the institution’s total enrollment to qualify for state funding. WILL claims this is a race-based admissions quota.

Beyond race- or sex-based hiring, promotion or admission preferences, the amendment could have a chilling effect on other forms of targeted outreach to underserved communities in ways not yet anticipated. 

But WILL has already highlighted other “racially discriminatory” programs that it believes the amendment would prohibit, including Wisconsin Department of Health Services grants to improve health outcomes among non-whites and non-Asians, equity training programs for teachers supervised by the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction and the city of Milwaukee’s Office of African American Affairs.

Wisconsin voters may come to find the bill’s intended outcomes fail to emerge.

Like Wisconsin voters, Californians amended their constitution in 1996 to prohibit “discrimination or preferential treatment by the state and other public entities.” 

But years of research following the change indicated that disparities in hiring, contracting and college admissions persisted, and even increased, especially among Latino Americans and women. Now the state is making its fifth legislative attempt to reduce the scope of the amendment in light of lingering educational achievement gaps. 

The California Legislature recently authorized a ballot proposition to be presented to Californians in 2028 that would exclude public education from the prohibition, with the sole exception of college admissions.

Narrowing the partial veto 

This isn’t the first time voters have chipped away at the Wisconsin governor’s partial veto, which affords the executive some of the most expansive powers to alter budgetary line items of any of the 44 states that allow the practice.

Wisconsin’s constitution enables the governor to approve a budget bill “in whole or in part,” and governors of both political parties have used it to great effect.

Following particularly contentious partial vetoes by Republican Tommy Thompson and Democrat Jim Doyle, the electorate twice amended the Wisconsin constitution to prevent similar actions. Governors can no longer create new words by striking individual letters or create a new sentence using two or more sentences.

More recently, former Republican Gov. Scott Walker used his partial veto in 2017 to bar school districts from raising taxes for energy efficiency projects from one year to 1,001 years.

Evers uncapped his partial veto pen in the 2023-25 budget to raise school revenue limits from a span of two years to 402 years. The veto authorized school districts to raise taxes, but didn’t directly do so. School boards get to decide whether to use their new authority. 

In response, Republicans advanced the question as a constitutional amendment, and voters narrowly approved it 50.7% to 49.3%. It doesn’t retroactively apply to Evers’ veto, but would prevent a similar veto from occurring again.

What distinguished Tuesday’s ballot referendum from the prior two concerning partial vetoes was not setting limits on the technical format a partial veto can take, Knoche said, but rather its underlying purpose — in this case anything that raises taxes or fees.

“This is another chapter in a long book on the governors creatively and expansively using their powers,” he said. Then their power gets “incrementally constrained by the Legislature that’s not happy with the increase.”

Democratic lawmakers who opposed the amendment observed that maintaining the governor’s authority to increase funding by partial veto enables the executive branch to intercede when the Legislature insufficiently invests in state priorities.

Banning bans on religious gatherings

On Election Day, Hannah Warren, a 36-year-old lifelong Kenoshan and school counselor, was most determined to weigh in on a constitutional amendment barring the government from banning religious gatherings or closing places of worship during states of emergency.

When the COVID-19 pandemic hit Wisconsin, the Evers administration’s “Safer at Home” order limited what businesses and activities could remain open in an effort to curb the spread of the virus. The order limited religious gatherings to fewer than 10 people.

Warren’s church in Bristol followed public health officials’ directives to temporarily halt in-person services. She is “a stickler for following the rules” and respected her pastor’s decision, but she watched friends drift away to other congregations “who weren’t following the government’s advice to a T.”

The Wisconsin Supreme Court later struck down the restrictions, while legislators also passed a bill that would have prevented public health agencies from preventing religious gatherings to control COVID-19. Evers vetoed the measure.

In retrospect, Warren believes the lockdown hurt her congregation. 

“I think it would be nice for the government not to have their hands in the innards of everyone’s day-to-day,” she said.

The majority of voters on Tuesday disagreed. It failed with 52% of voters opposed to 48% in favor.

The constitutional amendment would have expanded the restrictions on government authority even more than the original bill did by broadening it to cover any type of emergency.

At least 20 states have passed similar legislation, either protecting religious gatherings or places of worship during states of emergency, often defining religious services as an “essential service.”  

But State Democracy Research Initiative attorneys note that the proposed amendment didn’t include definitions for key terms like “places of worship” or what it means to “forbid gatherings” or “order the closure of.” That generates ambiguities, which set Wisconsin’s proposal apart from most other state reforms.

Tyler Hake, 29, came to the McFarland Municipal Center Tuesday evening to cast a ballot in favor of the amendment.

Hake declined to identify his partisan affiliation, but expressed concern over widespread political polarization in an era where a shared agreement over facts and truth feels elusive.

“It’s important that everyone has their opinions and is able to practice those things freely” without “forcing things upon other people,” he said. “As the country moves forward, it’d be nice if people were more on the same page.”

This article first appeared on Wisconsin Watch and is republished here under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License. 

 Voters in the Southern Door County School District declined the proposed Operational Referendum during the gubernatorial election November 3, 2026. School board members and staff asked voters to exceed the state-set revenue limit by $2,055,000 for the next three years. 

Some of the No votes - 2,424 - may have been in reaction to the 2025 property tax increase some southern Door municipalities saw after reassessment (Town of Brussels being one). The Yes votes - 2,324 - were 100 shy of granting the District additional revenue.

The district’s website says the referendum would have supported: increases in teacher and staff compensation; maintenance of school facilities; and restoration of select teaching positions.

In a statement released to the media Wednesday, Southern Door School Superintendent Dr. Kevin Krutzik wrote: "While we are disappointed in the outcome of the November 3 referendum, we respect the decision of our community members. Our commitment to our students remains our top priority, and we will now work closely with the Board of Education to determine the next steps for our District. We remain dedicated to the goal of educational excellence and will continue to seek ways to provide a high-quality environment for our staff and students despite these financial challenges."

Wisconsin statues limit school districts to two referendums in any calendar year (excepting natural diasters). Which means SDSD could ask voters for an operational override in April 2027.

Grey and windy autumn skies didn't deter the usual number of voters from the polls in Door County on Tuesday. 

Accounting for the small voting population increase in Door County, voter turn out has stayed consistent the last three gubernatorial elections, with 17,767 votes cast November 3, 2026. In 2022, 17,441 votes, 2018 saw 17,136 votes, and 2014 was low with 15,243 votes.

Comparatively, during the last three presidential elections, voters totaled 21,050 in 2024; 20,208 in 2020; 17,776 in 2016.

Pollworkers said they had seen passionate, and engaged voter turnout at the end of voting time Tuesday evening.

The new voting location for District 6 and 7 at the ADRC of Door County in Sturgeon Bay, was a logistical improvement, said Dawn Kuelz, chief poll inspector for that polling place. Formerly at PATH of Door County on Jaycee Court, the ADRC provided easy parking and accessible facilities starting with the November 2026 election. 

With rain in the forecast for much of this week, area farmers are happy to be ahead of schedule. According to the USDA Crop Progress and Condition Report, Wisconsin farmers had 5.9 days suitable for fieldwork last week, a drop of almost a day statewide. Northeast Wisconsin played a major role in keeping the average up, with 6.5 days suitable for fieldwork, tying southwest Wisconsin for the most favorable working conditions last week.

The corn-for-grain harvest moved ahead of the five-year average at 61% complete, while the soybean harvest is 10 percentage points ahead of the five-year average at 94% complete. Winter wheat planting is 95% complete, with 74% of the crop emerging. That is 5 percentage points behind the five-year average, but farmers could see that gap close quickly with rain possible through Thursday.

You will have plenty of opportunities to satisfy your appetite for food and thirst for fitness over the next several weeks at the Door County YMCA.

During this week’s Y-Wednesday podcast, Communications and Outreach Executive Amy Gamble highlighted several upcoming activities, many of which involve food.

On Nov. 4 and Dec. 9, the Sturgeon Bay Program Center will give community members an opportunity to participate in the Lasagna Love program by helping prepare meals for families in need.

On Nov. 19, the Jackie and Steve Program Center in Fish Creek will host a Thanksgiving feast, providing the turkey while attendees bring side dishes and desserts to share.

The upcoming holidays also mean adjusted hours at both program centers, although 24/7 access will remain available.

Looking ahead to December, the Door County YMCA will host its annual Ugly Sweater 5K Fun Run and Walk at 10 a.m. Dec. 5 in Fish Creek. Both program centers will also host their annual soup day Dec. 7. Both events raise money for the Door County YMCA.

You can learn more about these activities by listening to this week’s Y-Wednesday podcast at the link.

While the elections for state offices grabbed many of the headlines, there was plenty on the ballot for voters to have their say closer to home.

In addition to Curt Vandertie's win in the Door County sheriff's race, Shannon Lauder defeated Becky Rericha 9,653-7,767 to win the race for Door County clerk of circuit court.

In Kewaunee County, Eric Zellner was officially elected sheriff after winning the Republican primary in August. He received 8,390 votes, while his primary opponent, Scott Szydel, received 259 votes as a registered write-in candidate. Rory A. Groessl (coroner) and Jennie Ledvina (clerk of circuit court) won their uncontested races.

Familiar faces will occupy the 1st District seats in the state Assembly and Senate after Rep. Joel Kitchens and Nic Cravillion posted wins Tuesday night.

Kitchens, a Sturgeon Bay Republican, defeated Kewaunee Democrat Renee Paplham, winning Door County 9,027-8,480 and Kewaunee County 6,149-3,486. While he senses a changing tide in Madison, Kitchens says he appreciates the support he continues to receive in the 1st District.

Newly elected state Sen. Nic Cravillion is no stranger to election night victories after working for retiring state Sen. Andre Jacque. However, this was the first time his name appeared on the ballot. Although he lost Door County to independent candidate Mark Becker 8,925-8,097, the rest of the district followed Kewaunee County's lead, where Cravillion won 6,410-3,090. 

While the 1st District went red, much of the state went blue, with Democrats David Crowley (governor), Josh Kaul (attorney general), Jocasta Zamarripa (secretary of state) and Yee Leng Xiong (treasurer) heading toward victories shortly before 10 p.m.

In the U.S. House, Rep. Tony Wied captured a second term, with The Associated Press calling the race in his favor shortly before 10 p.m. in his contest against Democratic challenger Rick Crosson.

Voters in three area school districts resulted in a split decision Tuesday, with Sturgon Bay and Luxemburg-Casco voters agreeing to allow their district to exceed state-imposed revenue limits to help fund school operations. 

Southern Door district voters did not give approval for operational referendums.

The Luxemburg-Casco School District asked voters to approve $1.8 million annually for three years, replacing an existing three-year referendum approved in 2024 that provides the same amount of funding each year.

Results:

Yes: 1,929

No: 1,830

The Sturgeon Bay School District sought approval to exceed its revenue limit by $3.75 million annually for five years to support district operations, including more competitive teacher compensation. 

Results:

Yes: 2,487

No: 1,871

The Southern Door School District sought approval to exceed its revenue limit by $2.055 million annually for three years, after a larger operational referendum failed in April.

Results:

Yes: 2,324

No: 2,424

Voter were also faced with three proposed amendments to the Wisconsin Constitution addressing the closure of places of worship during emergencies, the governor's partial veto powers and affirmative action policies. Those results will be reported Wednesday.

There's a new Sheriff in town for the County of Door, after Republican Curt Vandertie took the lead in Tuesday's election, winning with 6,566 votes, over 5,322 votes for Democratic and incumbent candidate Tammy Sternard, and 1,108 votes for Independent candidate Randy Wagner.

Curt Vandertie will move from deputy sheriff to sheriff, after overcoming questions about his disciplinary history, suspension and accusations of creating a hostile work environment. 

He said upon learning the election results from DoorCountyDailyNews that he's grateful to his supporters and looks forward to working with the community.

The Sheriff will formerly take office in January 2027, with a swearing in ceremony by Door County Circuit Court Judge.

Following an investigation involving the online exploitation of a minor, the Door County Sheriff department arrested Jason E. Villa, Tuesday.

A nationwide arrest warrant for Villa, 26, was authorized by Door County Judge Jennifer Moeller on October 28. On November 3, Special Agents from the Department of Homeland Security, with assistance from local  law enforcement agencies in Orange County, California, took Villa into custody. Villa is noted as being from Buena Park, CA.

According to a media release by the Sheriff department at 3:30pm Tuesday, the investigation was initiated after information was received regarding suspected inappropriate online  communications and sexually exploitative conduct involving a juvenile from Door County. Through  investigative efforts, investigators identified a suspect and developed probable cause to support the arrest.

The suspect has been charged with the following offenses: 

• Nine felony counts of Child Sexual Exploitation;

• Nine felony counts of Exposing a Child to Harmful Descriptions; 

• Nine felony counts of Exposing Genitals, Pubic Area, or Intimate Parts.

This investigation remains ongoing. Additional details are being withheld to protect the identity and privacy of  the juvenile victim(s) and to preserve the integrity of the investigation. The suspect is being held at the Orange County Jail in California while awaiting extradition to Door County, Wisconsin, for criminal proceedings. 

A furry best friend could still be waiting for you at the Wisconsin Humane Society as the country observes Animal Shelter Appreciation Week.

Earlier this summer, Wisconsin Humane Society (WHS) locations across the state, including its Sturgeon Bay campus, were caring for more than 1,000 cats, including 300 available for adoption. Those numbers have declined slightly in recent months, but shelters like WHS continue to struggle with limited space, with approximately 500 animals currently available for adoption.

WHS Media Specialist Corey Viars says every little bit of support helps because as space becomes limited, so do the funds available to care for the animals.

WHS also launched its Hope's Lights campaign this week, allowing donors to pay tribute to their companion animals by making a donation to the organization. You can read more about the campaign here.

If forecasts from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and UW-Madison hold true, your skis, sleds, and tubes may not get much use this winter.

Both are predicting that a strong El Niño pattern will keep temperatures in Wisconsin warmer than average and bring below-average snowfall. While the milder weather could help keep home heating bills down, it could hurt businesses and attractions that rely on winter weather to cover their expenses.

Kewaunee County Promotions and Recreation Director Dave Myers says they have had to rely on its snowmaking equipment a lot in recent years with much of the snowfall not arriving until later in the season. While the money made at Winter Park stays at Winter Park, he hopes Mother Nature plays nice this year.

MYERS1

Another potential impact of a milder winter may not be felt until spring and summer. Without extremely cold temperatures, more insects, including ticks, wasps and mosquitoes, could survive the winter, potentially leading to larger populations next year.

An 83-year-old Liberty Grove man is scheduled to return to court Dec. 17 following a hearing last week regarding his competency to stand trial.

Richard C. Engberg was ordered to undergo a competency evaluation in September following his arrest in connection with the death of a 79-year-old woman under his care. According to WLUK-TV, the woman was found lying on the ground near the front porch of a residence with open sores on her body after Engberg allegedly left her outside for more than a week. She was taken to a hospital, where she later died.

During last week's hearing, Engberg's defense attorney, Shannon Viel, challenged the findings of the competency report. With no objection from the state, the defense was given 45 days to find its own examiner ahead of a status conference in December.

Engberg has been held in the Door County Jail since Sept. 10, shortly after the woman was found.

The Door County Highway Department is reminding motorists that the Bayview Bridge (Highway 42/57) will be closed from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, November 2–4, 2026, to allow contractors to complete time-sensitive maintenance work.

The closure on Tuesday coincides with Election Day, and the DCHD is encouraging motorists to follow posted detour signs, allow a little extra time for travel, and use caution near the construction area.

The maintenance work is necessary to address critical infrastructure needs and must be completed within the scheduled timeframe. A posted detour will direct motorists around the bridge closure. 

Updates regarding the closure and detour, including a map of the detour route, are available on the Wisconsin Department of Transportation's Traveler Information System at 511wi.gov.

Political campaigns across Wisconsin come to a close Tuesday as thousands of voters head to their polling places for Election Day.

More than 450,000 Wisconsinites have already cast their ballots, including more than 4,200 in Door County and more than 1,300 in Kewaunee County.

Races on the ballot include U.S. House, governor, lieutenant governor, state Assembly, state Senate, attorney general, state treasurer, secretary of state, Door County sheriff, Door County clerk of circuit court, Kewaunee County sheriff, Kewaunee County coroner, and Kewaunee County Circuit Court.

Voters will also decide on three statewide referendum questions, along with operational referendums for the Sturgeon Bay, Southern Door and Luxemburg-Casco school districts.

Voters must bring an acceptable form of photo identification, such as a Wisconsin driver's license, state-issued ID card, U.S. passport, qualifying tribal ID, military or Veterans Affairs ID, or certificate of naturalization.

Eligible residents can also register to vote at their polling places on Election Day by providing proof of residence. A valid photo ID is required to receive a ballot.

Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Tuesday.

If you're not ready to leave fall (and Halloween) behind just yet, read on for some spooky stories, the winners of this year's 'Tales at the Museum'.

The Door County Museum and Archives challenged community writers to create an original short story, poem, even a song that was inspired by a real historical artifact from the museum’s collection housed in Sturgeon Bay. Writers were encouraged to give a ‘spooky or mysterious’ theme to their piece. All entries had to be original, unpublished fiction, with a maximum of 750 words. 

Here's the list of top 3 finishers in each of the 3 categories, Adult (19+), Teen (11-18), Youth (10 years and younger). The full transcripts of the First Place stories follow...BEWARE!

Winners of the 2026 'Tales at the Museum' story contest:

Youth (10 years old and younger)

First Place: Just Keep On Walking, by Skye Christensen

Second: The HORRIFING Black Death, by Thomas Gregory

Third: The Gown, by Genevieve Fuller

Teen (11-18 years old)

First Place: Below the Floorboards, by Maria Tonner

Second: The Seer Stone, by Violet Jackson

Third: Scary Stories for Green Stories, by Riley

Adult (18 and above)

First Place: It’s Smart to be Thrifty, by Luke Linna

Second: The Thirteenth Link, by Zachary Boyea

Third: The Lovely Aunt Grace, by Lori Linna

Read on, and beware...

FIRST PLACE - ADULT (19+):

It’s Smart to be Thrifty By Luke Linna (Adult category) 

Inspired by ITEM #: 2017.2.4 - Coin Bank 

“You’d better be smart.” 

The clerk bagged the rectangular coin bank alongside my groceries. I stood there catching up to what she said. 

“Excuse me?” 

She took the bank back out and showed the back of it to me, tapping it where the words 'It’s smart to be thrifty' was embossed. 

“Every quarter past four will count against your soul, you know. That’s a dollar per day, do you understand?” 

“N-no, not really..” 

She flashed an uncanny grin and bagged the bank again. 

“Well, eventually you will. Have a wonderful day, and thank you for shopping at Olliver’s!” 

I sat in my car, turning the empty bank over in my hands. I didn’t even remember picking it from a shelf to buy it.. I must have hit the perfect angle, because a quarter popped out of the hole in the bottom. I held it upside down and shook it - no jingle. I tipped it and a second quarter fell out. I thought I understood from that point onwards - one simple purchase per day, little things like candy, knicknacks, et cetera. A sensible effort of frugality kept me at bay. Time went on and I eventually entirely forgot about the little coin bank, living only on my own money.

But time is deceiving. A job, a house, a wife, a family, all of it arrives in the blink of an eye. Surprise expenses came and went, and more often than I’d like to admit, I stared at the safe where I kept my supernatural secret, wishing I could live on magic alone. But I never took more than four quarters a day. 

Misfortunes mounted. The company I worked for made some unwise investments and my pay was cut. As I sat in the dining room dejected, I smelled smoke; the alarm went off. Something I left plugged in in the garage set fire, and I quickly pulled my family out of the burning wreckage of our home. As we tearfully pored over the remains I saw something: the safe, forebodingly spotless amidst the ruins of everything I tried to protect. 

Yet I still had my family, and I would do anything for them. My stomach twisted into a knot as I felt that it was time. I knelt, entered the code for the safe, opened its door, pulled out the bank, and with trepidation shook out the first of thousands of quarters. My family stared in shock as the coins piled up, and I could only utter the words “Help me” in response to their wide-eyed looks of concern. So they did the best they could, and started to gather the coins. 

Hours later, we arrived at the bank with several dozen bags of quarters. As I approached the counter, the teller’s bored face took on a look of shock that I was used to seeing, and then...he grinned. I watched him straighten up and face me as I approached, and something about his grin was painfully familiar. It was like he was being forced to smile. 

“Someone’s being thrifty! What’s all this, then?” he said, with feigned surprise.

I ignored what he said and blurted out, “I’d like to deposit.. all of this.”

My wife, son and daughter were weighed down with coin bags behind me, looking equally drained. His grin slowly faded and he seemed to look at us properly for the first time. 

“I - I see. Sorry about that, let’s get started.” 

He asked us a couple questions during the process, and one caught me off-guard. 

“And where do you work, sir?” 

“Olliver’s.” 

I said it without thinking, as though I had always been working there. And it was true, wasn’t it? I’ve been working there twenty years. I wasn’t sure why I was so against this irrevocable, undeniable truth. I worked at Olliver’s. There wasn’t another company I was working for. I didn’t understand the look my wife gave me when I said this to the teller, and the look she continues to give me when I tell her I’m off to work. 

I got a new home, a new car, and a new lease on life after that. And every day I clock in at work at my favorite general goods store, where an old clerk with a very, very, very wide grin tells me I’m a smart, thrifty man.

FIRST PLACE - TEEN (11-18)
Below the Floorboards, by Maria Tonner (age 14)

Inspired by Artifact: Wicker Baby Carriage

I wake up to pounding. Thwack! It’s just the washing machine strange Uncle Ed won’t
move off the wall. His house is dusty, hot, and sour. Unfortunately, I’m stuck spending the summer on the farm with him. Mum and Dad say he needs the company after Aunt Jane died, and apparently, I am that company.
I check the red glow of the clock. 2:30 AM. My thoughts spiral in the silence of my
windowless room. Every room in the house is windowless…except the basement. Uncle Ed won't let me go down to explore it. What’s down there? Thwack! I decide to go down and investigate the basement.
I open my door quietly. The hallway is pitch black, the sour stench hitting me. I can’t see
anything, but I don’t dare turn on a light and wake Uncle Ed. Every floor board groans as I move across them. My breath catches as I pass by Uncle Ed’s room. His door is left ajar, which he never allows. I look inside, but nothing is visible.

The golden knob of the basement door is surrounded with a ring of light. I skulk towards it. It's cold and electric on my hand as I turn it. The knob squeaks as I slowly open the door. I leave the door open, and take the first step down.
I descend onto the concrete floor. It’s hotter down here. I gulp and feel along the wall for a light switch. Nothing. I stare straight ahead. There’s no other choice. I creep across the basement, ending in the center of it. There’s nothing down here. I can see the dimness of the upstairs. Suddenly, a shadow appears in the doorway. I hear the door close and lock. The figure is no longer visible. I hear footsteps slowly coming down the stairs. A raspy, demonic voice speaks.
“Follow her.”
Then, silence. It’s deafening. Through my labored breathing, I manage a “H-hello?” No
reply. All I hear is the shuffling of feet getting closer…I dash around the corner, then stop to hide and listen. It’s quiet…Wait. Squeak. Squeak. Squueeaakk. It sounds like- wheels.

Then suddenly, a red glow appears. I turn my head in horror to see a wicker baby carriage, slowly zig-zagging across the floor. It’s radiating the eerie red light, stopping in front of me.

A voice in my head tells me, Open it, Ava. My heart pounds. I lift the hood off the top of the carriage. A scream stops in my throat. It's a doll. Lying there, its head twisted backward. Only a few hairs cling to its scalp.
Then its head slowly turns toward me. I shriek. Blood is streaked on its face, the doll’s smile toothless. It rises up to a standing position. I back away and bolt.

I feel a door knob brush my hand. I turn around to see the carriage following me. I turn the knob and burst into the room, shutting and locking the door. There’s a dim light flickering and buzzing on the ceiling. I gasp. It illuminates coffins. Coffins everywhere. I inspect the stacks of them.

One stands apart, with a pink heart on its crooked lid. Again, a voice in my head calls to me. Open it. I hold my breath, and lift the lid. I scream. It can’t be. Aunt Jane. She’s laying there, pale, her eyes staring blankly ahead. I turn around and burst through the door, gasping. I come face to face with Uncle Ed. His black eyes stare straight into my soul.
“Ava," he says, sweetly.
I drop to my knees, and notice the baby carriage behind him. The doll is upright. I raise
my eyes to see Uncle Ed grab the doll and smash it over my head.

3 Years Later…
I woke up to pounding on the wall. Thwack! It was the washing machine. Strange Uncle
Ed won’t move it for anything. He lost my sister Ava, who he claimed died of a heart attack in the basement. I wouldn’t be here if Mum hadn’t insisted. Another bang from the washer sounds.
Time to go down to the basement and see what he’s hiding.
I’ve been down here a while. There’s nothing here. I left the door open, and I could see
upstairs. Suddenly, a shadow appears in the doorway. I hear the door close and lock. The figure is no longer visible. I hear footsteps slowly coming down the stairs. A raspy, demonic voice speaks.
“Follow her.”
Then, silence.

FIRST PLACE - YOUTH (10 years and younger)

Just Keep on Walking, by Skye Christensen (age 10) 

Inspired by Artifact: Dolls by Carol Gresko 

Oakley, 14, only child 

The Diary of Oakley, OCTOBER 31,1923 

Dear diary, 

It's me, Oakley again. I haven't really had anything happen much. Except it’s Halloween, which is my favorite holiday. It's a rainy day and mom and dad are at work so, might as well go on a walk. I will take me with you so I can “write down my thoughts about earth” like my teacher tells me when I'm bored about something. I'm on my way out the door right now. It's very stormy. Sometimes when it's stormy I like to go to the creek. I don't know why I like it. I think it's because I get to be away from the world and just watch how beautiful the world is. Anyways, I'm right by the creek now. As I was walking, I noticed there were three dolls in the creek. I decided to get them out of the water so now my hands are holding mucky dolls. They're kinda creepy actually. I noticed they were wearing old-timey clothes. It's giving me chills honestly. Something about this doesn't feel right, but I'm taking them home. 

I noticed this guy watching me. He was wearing this creepy clown suit smiling. The clown suit had yellow and a dirty red striped outfit. Clowns give me the hibbie-gibbies, so I just told myself “It's Halloween he's probably just trying on his outfit.” That made no sense to me but, it’s whatever makes me feel good. To distract me from whatever is happening right now, I'm thinking of where I should go trick or treating. You're probably wondering why I'm taking home these creepy abandoned dolls, diary. Well, I think it would be a good idea to add them to my decorations to scare off children. 

I just arrived home and I can't shake this feeling I’m being watched. I'm probably just over reacting. I feel uneasy…Did I just see...the clown outside my house?...SHUT UP OAKLEY… 

Diary, I'm thinking of going to the store to get my Halloween costume. Last year I dressed up as Ghost face from Scream. This year I'm thinking of going with my dog, Peanut, the weener dog. He could be the dog Chucky and I could be the normal Chucky. I love dressing up my dog. Peanut is my best friend. Speaking of Peanut, she keeps on barking at the dolls. It's weird, it's like she feels a presence or something. Just another “great” thing added to my day...

I took Peanut with me so he could tell me what he thinks. It's kind of empty honestly, like I swear it's only me, Peanut, and ONE cashier. Me and Peanut just found the CUTEST Halloween costume! Diary, I'm not joking when I say this Peanut is literally pouncing once we found this costume! It's a dog firefighter costume and the owner's costume is a fire! We bought it!

We're at the checkout and you know that clown I was talking about? He's right behind me in line. The worst part is, he doesn't even have anything to buy! Well except for this knife.. NOT ANY BETTER!!! I just grabbed the costume, Peanut, and darted off quickly. When we were running out of the store, the store's lights shut down out of the corner of my eye. Diary, I'm running right now.vA raindrop splashed on this page…it looks like...BLOOD...I can see the clown...diary I'm going to take a breather in my room I'll update you when it's time to trick or treat.

Diary, I'm back. It's time to trick or treat. Me and Peanut are in our costumes. You might be thinking, “why in the world are you going trick-or-treating after all that's happened???” 

Weeeelllll, 

1. NO WASTING MONEY!!! 

2. Me and Peanut look soooo cute! I CANNOT wait another year for that!!! 

3. It's my favorite holiday! I waited ALL year... 

Diary, we are on our way! Peanut looks adorable! Me and him are gonna go now, I'll keep you updated!

Diary, th- the dolls.. Are in the basket. I left them at home i-i swear...Diary, please help...Me and Peanut are the only ones here...Me and Peanut are running home...The clown is chasing us...

DIARY THE CLOWN - HE'S HERE HE'S INSIDE ME HOUSE...I'm hiding...Oh no... 

DIARY! 

SLASH 

Don't worry the dog made it...

THE END 

Diary I'm still out there...

– Oakley

Photo: Youth category winner Skye Christensen poses with her First Place award for her spooky story submitted for the 2026 Tales at the Museum for the Door County Museum and Archives. (Submitted)

While commemorations were held last month, the Belgian Heritage Center will take its remembrance of the Great Peshtigo Fire of 1871 one step further this weekend when it hosts “Beyond Survival: The True Cost of the Fires of 1871.” The fire burned for about a day but killed between 1,200 and 2,500 people and destroyed approximately 1.2 million acres, including swaths of land in Door and Kewaunee counties. Guests will learn more about those affected by the fire through biographical cards they will receive. Capt. David Siegel, author Susan D. Levitte and historian Barb Englebert Chisholm will also participate in a panel discussion sharing stories of the communities that had to rise from the ashes. Sandy Orsted of the Belgian Heritage Center says interest in the Great Peshtigo Fire never seems to fade.

The event will take place Nov. 7 from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Belgian Heritage Center in Brussels. Admission is free, but donations are welcome.

Winnie the Pooh and friends will receive a special package of more than 130 letters in the coming days, sent after a month-long celebration in Door County of Pooh's 100th anniversary.

Door County Library Director Dominic Frandrup talked about the various letter submissions, and how they came to land in the Winnie-Pooh-Looza mailboxes.

Colorfully decorated envelopes carry greetings to Pooh Corner in Hartfield, England

from children across Door County. Letters and drawings were collected during October in special boxes at libraries and Write On, Door County, with contributions from family letter-writing sessions, classroom assignments and a class at Northern Door Children’s Center. The letters were part of Winnie-Pooh-Looza, the monthlong celebration of the 100th anniversary of A.A. Milne’s Winnie-the-Pooh organized by the Friends of Door County Libraries.

Frandrup said Washington Islanders got very involved, going so far as to re-name the town for a day on October 14 to '100 Acre Wood' to celebrate the 100th anniversary of publication.

Photo: Door County Libraries Director Dominic Frandrup, left, and letter writer Theo Curtin prepare to send a special delivery to Pooh Corner in Hartfield, England, at the Sturgeon Bay Post Office. (Submitted)

More stops and new swag are part of the second edition of Door County’s newest holiday tradition: the Door County Christmas Movie Trail. Organized by Destination Door County, approximately 20 locations are included on this year’s trail, including places featured in the movie “A Cherry Pie Christmas” and others that were not featured but still played a role in its production.

Participants can check in at each location using their phones and earn prizes, including an ornament and a cheese grater, along the way. Those who shop and visit participating locations also have a chance to win Destination Door County gift certificates.

The Trail was relaunched Sunday following last year’s success, which attracted more than 3,000 participants from 35 states and generated more than $36,000 in trackable sales between Nov. 1 and Jan. 5. 

Destination Door County Director of Media Relations Jen Rogers is excited about the additional opportunities for visitors and residents to explore the peninsula while following in the footsteps of their favorite “A Cherry Pie Christmas” characters.

If you cannot get free tickets to Destination Door County’s screening of “A Cherry Pie Christmas,” the movie is available on YouTube, Tubi, and Roku, and will be available on Netflix beginning Nov. 19.

Cleaning out your home or business before winter? The County of Door wants to help you dispose of hazardous wastes, for free.

The county is holding two household hazardous waste collection events: Friday, Nov. 6 at the Sister Bay/Liberty Grove Fire Station, from 2:00-4:00pm; and Saturday, Nov. 7, at the Door County Highway Dept., from 9-11am.

Bring unwanted items such as old gasoline, oil mixtures, pesticides, cleaners, paint products and batteries. This is NOT an electronics recycling event.

Limited funding is available for this program, and the collection will be operated on a first come, first served basis. There is no cost to the agricultural business or homeowner as part of this program. Costs are funded by the County of Door and the State of Wisconsin. 

The County reminds you to stay in your vehicle and bring materials in a box or container. Before you go, check the county’s list to make sure your items are accepted.

As autumn leaves settle onto the forest floor and cooler temperatures arrive, mushrooms begin appearing throughout the woods. Their colors, shapes, and unexpected locations often spark curiosity, but mushrooms are much more than seasonal decorations. They are signs that an important process is taking place beneath our feet.

Fall is one of the best times to find mushrooms because many fungi produce their fruiting bodies when conditions are cool and moist. Recent rains and lower temperatures create ideal conditions for a wide variety of species to emerge.

When most people think of fungi, they picture mushrooms. However, a mushroom is only a small part of a much larger organism. Hidden underground or within decaying wood is a network of threadlike structures called mycelium. This unseen portion of the fungus is often busy long before a mushroom appears.

Fungi play a critical role in ecosystems as decomposers. They break down fallen leaves, dead trees, and other organic material that would otherwise accumulate on the landscape. Through this process, nutrients are released back into the soil, where they can be used by plants and other organisms.

The next time you notice a fallen log slowly returning to the earth, consider the hidden community of fungi helping make that transformation possible. Even when no mushrooms are visible, mycelium may be hard at work recycling nutrients and supporting the health of the forest.

This month, Crossroads invites visitors to discover the fascinating world of fungi through a variety of mushroom-themed experiences. Throughout November, guests can enjoy a self-guided storybook walk along Meadow Trail featuring Mushrooms Know: Wisdom from Our Friends the Fungi by Kallie George. Beginning at the west trailhead, the story unfolds along the trail, combining outdoor exploration with lessons from the fungal kingdom. Inside the Collins Learning Center, hands-on exploration stations will offer learners of all ages opportunities to investigate mushrooms and their role in nature.

For those who prefer to learn alongside a naturalist, join us Wednesday, Nov. 4, at 1:30 p.m. for Wandering Wednesday. This free guided hike explores seasonal changes in the preserve and often reveals fungi, wildlife and other signs of autumn along the trail.

Young nature enthusiasts can continue the exploration during Nature Club on Thursday, Nov. 5, at 1 p.m. Children ages 6-8 are invited to discover, investigate and learn about the outdoors through hands-on activities. Preschool-age children and their families can join Junior Nature Club on Friday, Nov. 6, at 10 a.m. for a morning of outdoor adventure and discovery.

The fungi theme continues Friday, Nov. 6, at 1:30 p.m. with Fantastic Fungi: Movers & Shapers of Forest Ecosystems. Glen Stanosz, a former professor of tree and forest health at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, will explore the important role fungi play in maintaining healthy forests and ecosystems. If you've ever wondered what mushrooms are doing beneath the surface, this program offers a chance to learn from an expert.

While fungi may be the focus this month, nature offers plenty of other surprises. On Monday, Nov. 9, at 3:15 p.m., children ages 6-12 can join Crossroads Critter Club: Let's Get Batty to learn about some of the forest's most fascinating flying mammals.

The combination of moisture, cooler temperatures, and abundant organic material makes autumn an especially rewarding season to explore fungi. As you walk the trails at Crossroads, take a closer look at fallen leaves, decaying logs, and tree stumps. You may discover mushrooms in surprising colors and forms or evidence of fungi quietly carrying out one of nature's most important jobs.

For those interested in mushroom hunting, remember that many edible species have poisonous look-alikes. Never eat a wild mushroom unless it has been positively identified by a qualified expert.

So, this month at Crossroads, take a hike, follow a story, attend a program and look a little closer. You may discover that some of the most important work in the forest is being done by organisms that are mostly hidden from view.

Upcoming programs

Throughout November

Enjoy a self-guided storybook walk along Meadow Trail, starting at the west trailhead. The featured story in November is Mushrooms Know: Wisdom from Our Friends the Fungi by Kallie George.

Trails are open to the public 24 hours a day, seven days a week, at no charge. The Collins Learning Center will feature a variety of hands-on exploration stations for all ages to discover more about mushrooms.

Wednesday, Nov. 4

1:30 p.m. | Wandering Wednesday

Join a naturalist-led hike through the preserve. Enjoy easy walking and seasonal discoveries during this approximately one-hour outing. Well-behaved dogs are welcome on leashes.

Registration is not required. This program is free and open to the public.

Location: Crossroads at Big Creek Collins Learning Center, 2041 Michigan St., Sturgeon Bay.

Thursday, Nov. 5

1 p.m. | Nature Club

A free program for children ages 6-8 who love to discover, investigate and learn about the outdoors. Space is limited, so registration is required.

Location: Crossroads at Big Creek Collins Learning Center, 2041 Michigan St., Sturgeon Bay.

Friday, Nov. 6

10 a.m. | Junior Nature Club

A free outdoor adventure designed for preschool-age children and their families to discover, investigate and learn about the outdoors. Space is limited, so registration is required.

Location: Crossroads at Big Creek Collins Learning Center, 2041 Michigan St., Sturgeon Bay.

1:30 p.m. | Fantastic Fungi: Movers & Shapers of Forest Ecosystems

Ever wonder about the role fungi play in our ecosystems? Find out from Glen Stanosz, a former professor of tree and forest health at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Location: Crossroads at Big Creek Collins Learning Center, 2041 Michigan St., Sturgeon Bay.

Monday, Nov. 9

3:15 p.m. | Crossroads Critter Club: Let's Get Batty

Swoop on over to Crossroads at Big Creek to learn all about bats and what makes them so fascinating! Children ages 6-12 are invited to join this interactive program about these remarkable flying mammals. Space is limited, so registration is required.

Location: Crossroads at Big Creek Collins Learning Center, 2041 Michigan St., Sturgeon Bay.

Explorations of place, identity and memory through water, are the focus of the November exhibition at The Miller Art Museum in Sturgeon Bay.

As part of its ongoing invitational 12x12 Project, the Miller announced Ciel Skål as the November featured artist. This series spotlights contemporary artists from Wisconsin and the greater Midwest.

Skål's works will be on view November 2-30; the public is invited to celebrate the exhibition with an Artist Talk and reception, featuring a conversation between Skål and Curator of Exhibitions and Collections Suzanne Rose on Saturday, November 7, at 4pm.

Born in the Pacific Northwest in 1994, Skål is now a Wisconsin-based multidisciplinary artist exploring identity, memory, grief, and the meaning of home. She earned bachelor’s degrees in Art History and Arts Management from the University of Wisconsin–Stevens Point, and began pursuing an MFA in Interdisciplinary Research at the University of Wisconsin–Madison in 2026, integrating studio practice with pigment research and water studies.

Late fall is the time to transition to quieter indoor activities, and the Algoma Public Library has options for all ages. Following are a few of the noteworthy events happening at the APL in November. 

• Paper quilling holiday cards with Katie, Thursday, November 6, 1 - 4pm. Roll, shape and glue narrow strips of paper into decorative 2D and 3D designs. For ages 18-plus.

• Toddler Time every Tuesday at 10:30am. Designed for children ages 1-3, this interactive story time will spark your child's love of books through engaging stories, lively songs and playful activities.

• Join the Library for a relaxed evening of Gratitude Journaling, Thursday, November 19, 5-6pm. Simple prompts will help you notice the good, big and small. Refreshments will be served, and you'll receive a free journal to decorate and take home so you can continue your gratitude practice long after the event. For ages 10–18.

• Quilting with Niki: Saturday, November 7 from 10 am-2pm. Quilting with Niki is back with a quick and easy Halloween table runner, with some easy applique to spice it up! Sign up is required due to limited seating, and available pre-cut kits. For ages 18-plus.

• Book Clubs, November 5, 12, and 17. Check library website for locations and club information.

Library CLOSED November 26-29, for a Thanksgiving break.

For details on these, and other Algoma Public Library events, visit the APL website.

Be aware and prepared - especially during your morning commute - for the scheduled Bayview Bridge (WI 42/57) closure on Monday, November 2 through Wednesday, November 4. The Bayview Bridge will be closed to vehicles and marine navigation from 7 a.m.-3 p.m. all three days.

Work being done includes replacement of the live load shoes. Live load shoes, also called live load bearings or reaction assemblies, support components on movable bridges that carry the weight of traffic (live loads) when the span is closed and seated.

The Southern Door High School Student Council and the American Red Cross are sponsoring a blood drive from 9 am to 2 pm on Monday, November 2 in the SDHS Gym, in Brussels. Enter at door #11.

Anyone who is at least 17 years of age, weighs at least 110 pounds, or is 16 with parent
permission, and is in good health, may donate blood. Under 18 will need to fill out the parent permission form on the Red Cross website.

To sign up to give blood you can either walk in, or sign up for a designated time at the High School, online at www.redcross.org. Search for your nearest blood drive using 54204. 

The American Red Cross reminds you that the need for blood is constant, and only volunteer donors can fulfill that need for patients in our community. Nationwide, someone needs a unit of blood every 2 to 3 seconds, and most of us will need blood in our lifetime.