http://www.doorcountytoday.com/index.php/tools/blocks/page_list/rss?bID=1327&cID=1&arHandle=right two News Releases from Door County businesses and organizations! http://www.doorcountytoday.com/news/news-releases/dcal-gallery-celebrates-new-season-w-wine-and-cheese-reception-a/ FISH CREEK, WI (May 24, 2013) – The Door County Art League (DCAL) Gallery is celebrating the start of a new season with a wine and cheese reception on Saturday, May 25, at the Top of the Hill Shops, Hwy. 42, Fish Creek, 3 to 5 p.m. The public is invited; admission is free. According to Gale Ritchey, director of the DCAL Gallery, “This year we will be displaying hundreds of original watercolor, acrylic, oil, pastel and textile paintings and art prints, photography, jewelry and more. Also each week we will spotlight the artwork of different artists of the week.” The Co-op DCAL Gallery features the work of 24 Door County Art League member artists including: Beverly Hart Branson, Rick Brawner, Mitch Heinrichs, Susan Hoffmann, Polly Joubert, Barbara Kenyon, Maren Larsen, Suzanne Leberman, Dorothy McDowell, Gretchen Misselt, Denny Moutray, Sherry Mutchler, Marcia Nickols, Penny Pfister, Kimberly Rosploch, Bonnie Sandstrom, Dianne Saron, Karen Shanahan, Madonna Siles, Betty Kay Story, Barbara Timmerman, Elizabeth Van De Ven, Keith Wickert. The gallery is open every day except Wednesday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. (3 p.m. on Sundays). The gallery is located in the rear courtyard of the Top of the Hill Shops. The Door County Art League is a not-for-profit organization. Membership is open to all artists and anybody who wishes to support the visual arts in Door County. More information is available about the gallery, upcoming exhibits and DCAL’s monthly meetings at www.doorcountyartleague.org... Fri, 24 May 2013 17:15:00 EDT http://www.doorcountytoday.com/news/news-releases/sbsf-announces-new-friends-of-the-festival-community-initiative-/ STURGEON BAY, WI (May 17, 2013) – Steel Bridge Songfest is excited to announce a brand new “Friends of the Festival” initiative in 2013 that will serve to strengthen the local Sturgeon Bay /Door County communities through encouraging Steel Bridge Songfest attendees to patronize local businesses, help raise the profile of Steel Bridge Songfest, and provide valuable incentives to the volunteers and musicians who donate their time and talents make the festival happen. Steel Bridge Songfest is soliciting support from Door County businesses. In becoming an official “Friend of the Festival”, local businesses will agree to offer a promotional discount of their choice to all Steel Bridge Songfest pass holders, as well as a more significant discount (or potentially free) offer to Steel Bridge Songfest volunteers and musicians during the weekend of the festival, June 13-16, 2013. For example, a coffee shop could offer a discount on all food and beverages and a free coffee or greater discount to volunteers and musicians (it will be up to each establishment to determine the discounts and volunteer incentives they are willing to offer). Offering discounts to Steel Bridge attendees and volunteers will help drive traffic to local vendors and introduce visitors to the unique businesses that form the heart and soul of our community. How it Works As a “Friend of the Festival” Steel Bridge Songfest will provide participating businesses with an attractive sign to visibly display in their storefront windows, which will serve as a beacon to Steel Bridge Songfest patrons to visit the establishment to discover the discount being offered. Steel Bridge Songfest will also list participating businesses on the website (www.steelbridgesongfest.org) and in the new mobile app that is being launched. A healthy community is a strong community. Steel Bridge Songfest is looking forward to uniting with local businesses on this new “Friend of the Festival” campaign to help promote our unique community to Steel Bridge Songfest audiences and help raise awareness of the festival.... Fri, 17 May 2013 12:01:00 EDT http://www.doorcountytoday.com/news/news-releases/jacksonport-prepares-for-41st-annual-maifest/ JACKSONPORT, WI (May 15, 2013) – A weekend of fun and excitement is on tap in Jacksonport over Memorial Day weekend as the community prepares for the 41st annual Maifest celebration, scheduled for Saturday May 25 and Sunday May 26, 2013. Since 1973, the community has hosted Door County’s unofficial summer kick off festival along the lakeshore at Lakeside Park, located at the intersection of County V and Highway 57. New this year, helicopter rides will offer visitors exhilarating aerial views of Jacksonport and the Lake Michigan coastline. The rides will take off and land at the lot on highway 57 across from Bley’s Grocery, one block north of Lakeside Park. Other event highlights will include the grand parade at 10:30 AM on Saturday, a juried arts and crafts fair beginning at 9 AM both days, live music in the performance tent both days, the Maifest 10K and 2 mile fun run at 9 AM on Sunday and the Frontier Farmers horse pull begins at 1 PM on Sunday at the ballpark. Food and beverages will be available all weekend and inflatable activities with a variety of games will also be available both days in the Maifest Family Midway. The juried arts and crafts fair begins at 9 AM both Saturday and Sunday and will feature nearly 100 artists and craftspeople from aroud the Midwest. The popular Maifest parade begins its 41st running at 10:30 AM on Saturday and will run through Jacksonport along Hwy 57, from Cave Point Drive on the south end of town down past the Square Rigger Lodge on the north end of town. This year’s honorary parade marshals are longtime Maifest volunteers Dean and Cheryl Larson. Both have been involved for many years with working and helping to coordinate the Maifest brat stand operation. If you’ve eaten a brat or hot dog at Maifest, Dean or Cheryl likely had a hand in preparing or serving it. They are proud to be the third generation in Dean’s family to be parade marshals at Maifest. Dean’s parents, Pete & Marlene Larson, and his grandparents, Emanuel and Eleanor Miller, were also Maifest parade marshals. Be sure to wave and congratulate Dean and Cheryl as they lead the 41st annual Maifest Parade. Immediately following the parade, there will be a special Memorial Day weekend presentation of the flag by V.F.W. Post 3088 in Lakeside Park. A special Maypole dancing ceremony will take place at 12 noon in the park as well. The Maifest Family Midway in Lakeside Park will be open for fun starting at 11:30 AM on both Saturday and Sunday and will feature a variety of fun inflatable activities and a variety of games. On Saturday, the Maifest Family Midway will also feature pony rides by the 4-H Horse & Pony Project. Live entertainment will be available both days in the performance tent, located in Lakeside Park next to the concession stand, with a performance by longtime festival favorite Jerry Voelker & His Jolly Gents beginning at 12 noon on Saturday. On Sunday, the performance tent will showcase the music of the Modern Day Drifters from 11 to 3 PM. Plenty of great food and beverages will be available throughout the weekend. The concession stand in Lakeside Park will offer the famous homemade brats from Bley’s Grocery in Jacksonport along with hot dogs, a corn roast, snacks and cold drinks. The Jacksonport Women’s Club food stand, also in Lakeside Park, will offer kolaches, funnel cake, cookies, pie, ice cream, popcorn and beverages. The Maifest co-ed softball tournament will be held at the town ballpark on County V, a block west of Lakeside Park. Games will begin on Saturday morning and run until a champion is crowned. Food and refreshments will be available at the ballpark throughout the tournament. On Sunday morning it’s time to lace up your running shoes for the 30th annual Maifest 10K (6.2 miles) and 2 mile fun run/walk. The race gets started at 9 AM in Lakeside Park and takes runners and walkers through the woods and out to Clarks Lake and back on scenic Lakeshore Road and Cave Point Drive. Race registration can be done ahead of time by filling out a race entry form or by registering Sunday morning from 7-8:30 AM at the concession stand in Lakeside Park. The Frontier Farmers Horse Pull is an extremely popular activity at Maifest and will take place at the ballpark on County V, one block from Lakeside Park, on Sunday afternoon. The festivities begin at 12 noon with the singing of the national anthem, followed by a 4-H Horse and Pony Drill Team performance and a special trick roping exhibition by Chewy, a local Door County resident known for his amazing cowboy rope tricks. The main event, the Frontier Farmers Horse Pull, will begin at 1 PM. Horse teams from around the Midwest will compete to see which team of 2 draft horses can pull the heaviest load in this classic match-up of horse power (literally!) and team cooperation. The 41st annual Maifest celebration is shaping up to be another fun family event. Come enjoy all that Jacksonport has to offer along the lakeshore this Memorial Day weekend. Maifest is sponsored by the Jacksonport Advancement Corporation (JAC), a non-profit organization working for the betterment of the community. Proceeds from Maifest have provided funds over the years for improvements at Lakeside Park, the town ballpark and the Jacksonport town hall building. Equipment has been purchased for the Jacksonport Fire Department and the Jacksonport First Responders. Sevastopol School has received funds to support extra-curricular activities such as Destination Imagination, the Senior Graduation Party, the Reading is Fun Program and sports programs. The JAC has supported the youth of Jacksonport over the years through the 4-H program, the Horse and Pony Project, the Little League and scholarships for those students continuing their education after high school. JAC also sponsors the community Christmas party held in December each year. Additional information about Maifest can be found at http://www.jacksonport.org/maifest/. ... Wed, 15 May 2013 12:32:00 EDT