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News & Happenings in Sturgeon Bay

Keep informed and up to date with all of the critical happenings in and around Sturgeon Bay, Door County. From event updates to developments with our members, our news will help planning for any last minute details that may come up.

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Door County Maritime Museum Continues Winter Speaking Series

December 31, 2011

The Door County Maritime Museum’s Speaker Series resumes after the holidays with a program literally and figuratively geared towards the big ships that ply the Great Lakes and what makes them go.

Ken Westcar will recount the repowering of the 1,000-ft. self-unloader Paul R. Tregurtha at Bay Shipbuilding on Thursday, Jan. 5, at 7 p.m. at the Sturgeon Bay museum.

“The program will discuss how local expertise and an unwavering commitment to quality provided the vessel owners with a renewed asset that left the Sturgeon Bay yard on-time and on-budget and has since completed two full operating seasons with zero downtime while setting a precedent for future ship repowers in Sturgeon Bay,” explained Westcar. “There is also a short video showing how the new MaK engines can be equipped to run primarily on natural gas and therefore meet future exhaust emissions regulations without impairing ship efficiency and productivity.”

Westcar has been with the Caterpillar marine dealer organization for nearly 45 years with initial experience coming from the United Kingdom’s North Sea oil and gas exploration and production. Over ensuing years he has worked with a wide variety of maritime interests in assisting them in their fleet modernization efforts. A member of the Canadian Institute of Marine Engineering, the Ontario resident assumed responsibility for the sale and application of Caterpillar’s MaK medium-speed diesel engines for the entire Great Lakes in 2004 and he and his team have executed many repowers of U.S. and Canadian flagged vessels.

The Speaker Series will continue the first Thursday in February and March with programs relating on current and future work at Bay Shipbuilding followed by a presentation on the War of 1812 and its impact on the Great Lakes. The series concludes on Thursday, March 29, with a presentation on the Museum’s hugely popular boat building program.

All of the programs begin at 7 p.m. at the Sturgeon Bay museum. They are free of charge and open to the public with donations appreciated.

For more information contact the Museum at 920-743-5958 or visit www.dcmm.org.
 

Sturgeon Bay’s Ice Carving Winners Announced

February 19, 2012

It was a perfect day to meander the streets of Sturgeon Bay to watch the ice and snow carvers create their art for all of us to enjoy! Fifteen blocks of ice are now works of art thanks to the talented artists that participated in this year’s Fire and Ice event. A huge thank you to the Sturgeon Bay Street Department for actually finding enough snow to form nine snow blocks at Sawyer Park and two on Third Ave and Michigan that helped create the magic for this event.

The Sturgeon Bay Visitor Center is happy to announce the Fire & Ice slate of winners as follows:

In the Advanced Category, winners included:

1st place: Patrick Floyd and his carving of a steaming coffee cup on top of a K, at Kick Coffee.

2nd place: Dave Bartels’ carving of a Leprechaun at Kitty O’Reillys.

3rd place: Max Martin for his double sail boat in front of Small World Market.

In the Intermediate Category, winners included:

1st place: Dave Mailand’s carving of dolphin wearing a top hat in front of Brick Alley.

2nd place: Hans Martin & Annie Berberet’s carving of an alligator in front on Associated Bank on Third Ave.

3rd place: Tracy Robinson and Jennifer Polster’s carving of a horse’s head at Bridgeport.

In the Beginner Category, there was just one carver:

1st place: John & Allison Schoell’s carving of a whale’s tail in front of On Deck. 

The People's Choice Award went to Walt Ash for the carving of a dragon in front of the Artist Guild.

The Sturgeon Bay Visitor Center would like to thank all the ice carvers, snow sculptors, ice block sponsors… and all the spectators that enjoyed watching ice & snow turn into works of art. Special thanks to Jeff Olson for lending his talents in turning the snow carvings on Third and Michigan and at Sawyer Park into works of art that kicked off the fabulous family fun weekend! Information on upcoming 2012 events is available by calling the Sturgeon Bay Visitor Center (800) 301-6695 or (920) 743-6246.
 

Segway The Doors Tours

March 27, 2012

Explore the beautiful and historic Sturgeon Bay in a whole new way! For the second year in a row, Segway the Door Tours, Wisconsin’s longest running Segway Personal Transporter (PT) Tours, is coming to the Groovin’ Sisterhood Weekend!

On April 28, from 9-11 a.m., a small cone course will be offered and signups for tours, offered on the hour for the whole day, will be held. The lesson offers one-on-one training on the Segway PT. After you are trained, participants will be able to practice turns and learn to trust the Segway PT through the small cone course.

Each tour is set at capacity for up to eight people and lasts about 45 minutes for $45 per person. The tour includes a Segway PT, lesson, and a glide around historic Sturgeon Bay. Participants are welcome to bring their own helmets, otherwise one will be provided.

The tour will begin at the Stone Harbor Resort. Riders will be able to see an impressive steel bridge, huge boat yard, old Ahnapee & Western railroad station, and a historic neighborhood.

Owner Nick Dokolas said, “Riding a Segway PT is like being on your own magic carpet.” The Segway PTs are very intuitive. Lean forward, and the rider goes forward, lean backward, and the rider goes back. Trusting the Segway PT is the key to operating it correctly. As long as you can trust the Segway PT, you can ride the Segway PT.

Be sure to bring your camera! Participants must be at least 14-years-old of age or older. The Segway PT is only designed for one rider; so small children will not be able to glide along. Participants should be comfortable on their feet.

So, if you are looking to experience Sturgeon Bay for the first time, or wanting a new Sturgeon Bay experience, join in on the Groovin’ Sisterhood Weekend and take a glide!

Centennial Exhibit Reflects On The Effects Of Titanic’s Sinking

March 29, 2012

Even 100 years after the tragic events of April 14, 1912, the sinking of the RMS Titanic remains one of the most significant historical events of the 20th Century. What took place on the North Atlantic that cold spring night has continued to fascinate succeeding generations.

The Door County Maritime Museum in Sturgeon Bay is observing the centennial of the sinking with the exhibit “Titanic’s Wake.”

Photo Caption: Model of RMS Titanic build by Jerry Guenther, Hartland, Wisconsin.

“The loss of the great ship and the 1,514 souls who perished with her shocked the world,” said Maritime Museum Executive Director Bob Desh. “Titanic’s sinking would trigger official investigations on both sides of the Atlantic and forever change the way the world viewed maritime safety. In the United States House of Representatives eight hastily written bills were introduced on April 17 in response to the news of the sinking and Sen. William Alden Smith of Michigan presented a resolution before the United States Senate calling for a formal investigation.

“This intriguing new exhibit explores the facts and circumstances surrounding that awful night in April a century ago and the lasting impact that Titanic’s demise continues to have on the maritime world,” Desh added.

The highlight of the exhibit is an impressive 9-foot long model of this magnificent “unsinkable” luxury liner.

Opening March 25, the "Titanic's Wake" exhibit is scheduled to run through June 17.  The Museum continues to offer discounted admission while in the process of installing the “Pirates – Ship to Shore” exhibit which is slated to open May 19. The three remaining galleries are open and present the story of the area’s rich shipbuilding heritage, its lighthouses and a stunning view through it nuclear submarine periscope among other attractions.

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