Acknowledged by peers and press alike as one of the premier political satirists in the country, Will Durst has patched together a comedy quilt of a career, weaving together columns, books, radio and television commentaries, acting, voice overs and most especially, stand up comedy, into a hilarious patchwork of outraged and outrageous common sense.

The New York Times calls him “possibly the best political comic in the country.” Fox News agrees, “he’s a great political satirist,” while The Oregonian hails him as a hilarious stand-up journalist. He is a 5-time Emmy nominee; has been fired by PBS three times; told jokes in 14 countries; racked up 7 nominations for Stand- Up of the Year; and his 800+ television appearances include Letterman, HBO, Showtime, CNN, ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox News, the BBC and many more.

Tickets are $15 general admission, $10 students, on sale at the theater box office, 230 N. Third Avenue, Sturgeon Bay, 920.743.1760, from 10 am – 3 pm, Monday – Friday and for one hour prior to performances. Tickets are also available at Dancing Bear, 13 N. Third Avenue, Java on Jefferson at the corner of Fifth & Jefferson and on-line at www.ThirdAvenuePlayhouse.com.

“Enter Will Durst who just happens to be this country’s best political satirist. A dapper chap with just the right sense of whimsy, Durst is an equal opportunity slayer of bloated political dragons, making him a solid choice for folks who enjoy witty and thought-provoking comedy. Simply in a league of his own.” – Las Vegas Review-Journal

The public shared ride taxi service is affordable and wheelchair accessible and will now accommodate a larger Sturgeon Bay service area, as well as select portions of northern Door County.

The expanded south service area will include Towns of Nasewaupee, Sturgeon Bay and Sevastopol and the entire City of Sturgeon Bay. The south service will continue to operate 7 days per week with additional taxis available during all scheduled hours.

The new north service area will provide localized public transit (shared ride taxi) in the Villages of Ephraim and Sister Bay, the Town of Gibraltar, and the southern portion of the Town of Liberty Grove. The Northern Door service area will initially operate Monday through Friday only.

Roger Tepe, director of the Door County Department of Social Services is excited about the expansion. “This is a community effort that will have beneficial side effects for individuals, families, seniors, and persons with disabilities to take fuller advantage of all the opportunities in Door County, whether for work, recreation, education or any other purpose they can think of.”

Door 2 Door Rides is a collaboration between the County of Door and the local non-profit transportation organization Door-Tran. The vans are all wheelchair accessible; and drivers have experience and training to assist passengers with special needs – whether they use a wheelchair, have mobility limitations, or are students needing a ride home from basketball practice.

“All of the drivers have received Passenger Sensitivity Assistance Training through a certified program. This program coupled with our internal program teaches drivers to treat passengers with dignity and respect,” says Mark Jones, owner of the taxi provider, Abby Vans, Inc..

For additional information on the Door 2 Door Rides program or other Door-Tran initiatives, visit www.door-tran.com or contact Pam Busch directly at 920.743.9999 or 877.330.6333.

Door 2 Door Rides is a shared ride taxi service offering public transportation in the Sturgeon Bay and select Northern Door areas. Their mission is to offer safe, clean and wheelchair-accessible transportation at an affordable price to persons of all ages.

Early last spring, The Holiday Music Motel was thrilled to welcome famed rock-centric Sigmund Snopek III to perform in their on-site concert hall and recording studio. The audience delighted in his uncanny ability to combine virtuosic musicianship and humor into a performance of his original compositions that were ranging from serious art pieces to zany polkas about sausages and baseball. His refreshing spontaneity had the crowd uproariously in laughter as he floated between keyboards, a variety of flutes, a vintage harmonium and a 12-foot Alpine horn that echoed throughout the city. That’s right. Alpine horn in downtown Sturgeon Bay.

What’s next? Welcome a man obsessed by the Christmas holiday – his entire Milwaukee apartment enshrines a metropolis of miniature villages complete with working trains, skating rinks and spinning trees.

The Snopek Christmas Concert will highlight works from his 2002 release, “Christmas,” where serious renditions of holiday classics like “Little Drummer Boy” and “Coventry Carol” stand juxtaposed to Siggy’s delightful musical lunacy prominent in songs such as “Pumpkin Pie Polka,” “Turk The Turkey” and “Christmas Cookies” which features an uptempo catalog of everyone’s favorite holiday sweet treats.

This show will start earlier than usual, at 6 pm with an opening reception at 5:30 in the lobby, where concert goers can mingle prior to show-time. Beer and malt-beverages will be available for purchase at the show. Tickets are a mere $10 each and can be reserved through the Website: HolidayMusicMotel.com or by calling the motel direct at 920.743.5571.

Reynolds House Bed and Breakfast

Come and visit Sturgeon Bay’s Historic Inns and Bed & Breakfasts at this magical time of year. Enjoy the scent of fresh cedar and pine and the sight of sparkling lights as six Sturgeon Bay Inns and Bed & Breakfasts open their doors. Enjoy a warm welcome with creative decorations of the season and holiday music. Door County artists and fine craftsmen will be displaying handmade works of art in each inn offering the perfect opportunity for finding unique holiday gifts.

Chanticleer Guest House, Colonial Gardens B&B, Inn at Cedar Crossing, Reynolds House, Sawyer House B&B and White Lace Inn are participating this year.

All proceeds from ticket sales directly benefit United Way of Door County, a largely volunteer organization, to achieve the mission of a stronger and healthier community. United Way of Door County impacts thousands of people in our community each year, empowering people to live better lives. Tickets are $7.50 and can be purchased at any participating inn the day of the Christmas Walk. Additional information or advance purchase of tickets is available at Inn at Cedar Crossing or by calling 920.743.4200.

Rick Nelson, Habitat for Humanity, in the 2010 Dunk Tank

The Inn at Cedar Crossing and Younkers are continuing their support by sponsoring the activity, underscoring the popularity of what has become an annual event. The tank will be located on Louisiana Avenue, off of 3^rd Avenue, between the two sponsoring businesses to give everyone the opportunity to dunk local celebrities from around Door County.

The broad spectrum of targets to dunk makes for lots of good-natured fun to benefit a great cause. Inspiring participants to join in the fun will be famous faces such as Sturgeon Bay’s Mayor, Thad Birmingham, Miss Door County Emily Larsen, and Bob Desh from the Door County Maritime Museum.

The complete schedule for the day is as follows:

For only $1, “dunkers” will have 3 chances to dunk their favorite community celebrity. Funds raised will benefit United Way of Door County and will stay in Door County, working toward empowering people to build better lives. For more information, contact the United Way office at 920.746.9645.

Michigan Street's Historic Steel Bridge

Citizens for Our Bridge, a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting and preserving the historical significance of Sturgeon Bay’s Michigan Street Bridge, hosts the annual Steel Bridge Songfest, a volunteer event. Central to the festivities is the “Construction Zone,” a week-long, collaborative, songwriting marathon that infuses the festival with a slew of new songs each year. The new creations are performed on stage and recorded on site, then made available for sale at local businesses and through the Steel Bridge Website.

The festival also  features free evening concerts on Thursday, June 9 and Friday, June 10 from 6 – 9 pm in the Martin Park Bandshell, as well as performances by individual artists and bands at 12 different venues across Sturgeon Bay’s historic downtown from Thursday – Saturday. There will be afternoon events on Sunday, June 12, including a group jam from 2 – 5 pm in the Holiday Music Hotel parking lot (weather permitting).

A few of the confirmed acts this year include Grammy nominee pat mAcdonald with Purgatory Hill; P-Funk All-Stars Eric McFadden and Kim Manning; American-classic Freedy Johnston; indie sensations Geri X, Delaney Davidson and Miles Nielsen (son of Cheap Trick’s legendary guitarist Rick Nielsen); one-man sensation Noah Engh “The Kid Fantastic” and more than 150 other bands and solo artists from across the U.S. and as far away as Italy, England and New Zealand.

For a detailed schedule, complete listing of performers or ticket information, visit www.steelbridgesongfest.org. Tickets can be purchased through Ticket Star by visiting TicketStarOnline or by calling 800.895.0071.

Steel Bridge Artists as of May 15, 2011
(in alphabetical order by first name)

Abnormal Cattle (Sister Bay, WI)
Adam Mackintosh (Portland, OR
Adrienne Hatkin (Portland, OR)
Alan Tobin of LOWmountain (West Cork, Ireland)
Al Coppa` (Gello, Itlay)
Alex White (Madison, WI)
Andrea Wittgens (Seattle, WA)
Andy Lubahn (Oshkosh, WI)
Anjl Rodee (Milwaukee, WI)
Anna Sacks (Santa Barbara, CA)
Anya Kopischke (Door County, WI)
Austin Raddatz (Sturgeon Bay, WI)
Batto` (Macerata, Itlay)
Ben Larsen (Sturgeon Bay, WI)
Ben There Dan That (Sturgeon Bay, WI)
Black Market Parts (Chicago, IL)
Boheme ’66 (Madison, WI)
Bruce Lee Rose (Neenah, WI)
Bruce Reaves (South Bend, IN)
Cadillac Church (Tupulo, IN)
Caleb Navarro (Sturgeon Bay, WI)
Carley Baer (Portland, OR)
Carlo Angeletti (Macerata, Italy)
Charles Boheme (Madison, WI)
Charlie Cheney (Fremont, MI)
Charlie Faye (Austin, TX)
Chris Aaron (Denver, CO)
Chris Aaron Band (Denver, CO)
Chrissy Dzioba (Milwaukee, WI)
Chump Service (Sturgeon Bay, WI)
Corinna Rae (Green Bay, WI)
Corinne Lee (Atlanta, GA)
Craig Greenberg (New York, NY)
Dale Anderson and the Delta Jets (Green Bay, WI)
Dan Mayhew (Sturgeon Bay, WI)
Darcade (Sturgeon Bay, WI)
David Cox (Columbus, WI)
David Woods (Sturgeon Bay, WI)
Dead Horse (Sturgeon Bay, WI)
The Dearest (Hollywood, CA)
Delaney Davidson (New Zealand)
The Delta Routine (Milwaukee, WI)
Dirty Deuce (Austin, TX)
Don Kahles (Sturgeon Bay, WI)
Dorothy Scott (Sturgeon Bay, WI)
Early Thomas (Door County, WI)
Early Thomas and the Tyranny of Evil Men (Door County, WI)
Ellie Maybe (Chicago, IL)
Elliot Goettelman (Sturgeon Bay, WI)
Eric Hagen (Sturgeon Bay, WI)
Erich Herbst (Sturgeon Bay, WI)
Eric McFadden (San Francisco, CA)
Favorite Shape Triangle (Milwaukee, WI)
Filter Free Radio (Milwaukee, WI)
Francisco de la Isla (Spain)
Freedy Johnston (Kinsley, KS)
Freddie Lee Band (Milwaukee, WI)
Geri X (Atlanta, GA)
Greg Roteik (Atlanta, GA)
GrooveSession (Ontario, CA)
Helly and the Dazers (UK)
James Hall (Atlanta, GA)
Jamey Clark (Sturgeon Bay, WI)
Jam Factory (Los Angeles, CA)
Jay Davidson (Bailey’s Harbor, WI)
Jeff Miller (Fish Creek, WI)
Jenna Rae (Sturgeon Bay, WI)
Jeanne Kuhns (Sturgeon Bay, WI)
Jeremiah Nelson (Madison, WI)
Jess Holland (Sister Bay, WI)
Jim Schwall (Madison, WI)
John Hadley (Norman, OK)
Johnny Lowebow (Memphis, TN)
Josh Gregory (Madison, WI)
Justin Bricco (Madison, WI)
Justin Chaudoir (Sturgeon Bay, WI)
Katie Dahl (Door County, WI)
Kim Manning (Los Angeles, CA)
Kurlo Angeletti (Macerata, Itlay)
Kurt Gunn (Green Bay, WI)
Landon Capelle (Appleton, WI)
Lantz Lazwell (Los Angeles, CA)
The Last Dancers (Venice, CA)
The Legendary Sons of Crack Daniels (Jameson, KY)
Leilani Frey (Chicago, IL)
Liam Hall (Atlanta, GA)
Lithic (Wauwatosa, WI)
Little Marsh Overflow (Madison, WI)
Liv Mueller (Milwaukee, WI)
Loren Wollerman (Madison, WI)
Lumberjack Cash (Chandler, AZ)
Malignance (Green Bay, WI)
Manny Sanchez (Ontario, CA)
Marybeth Mattson (Jacksonport, WI)
The Maybenauts (Chicago, IL)
Mike Bleck (Sturgeon Bay, WI)
Miss Meaghan Owens (Nashville, TN)
melaniejane (Sturgeon Bay, WI)
Miles Nielsen (Chicago, IL)
Mojo Perry (St. Paul, MN)
mo rose (Green Bay, WI)
Noah Engh (California)
Nolan Scott (Milwaukee, WI)
Offseason (Door County, WI)
Orpheus (DePere, WI)
Pat Bohan (Portland, OR)
pat mAcdonald (Sturgeon Bay, WI)
Pete Ress (Madison, WI)
Purgatory Hill (Heaven/Hell, WI)
The Ragadors (Milwaukee, WI)
Randy Bruce (Sturgeon Bay, WI)
Rick Wood (Door County, WI)
Robin Bienemann (Chicago, IL)
Ronnie Sanchez (Ontario, CA)
Ryan Moreno (Sturgeon Bay, WI)
Rene Pynaert (South Bend, IN)
Ruby James (Austin, TX)
Sara Moilanen (Milwaukee, WI)
Sarven Manguiat (Ontario, CA)
Scott E. Berendt (Milwaukee, WI)
Seth Raddatz (Bailey’s Harbor, WI)
Shamaniac Vacaltion (Milwaukee, WI)
Solo per Adulti (Firenze, Itlay)
Steve Smith (Chicago, IL)
Storitela (Washington D.C.)
Taki Allstars (Madison, WI)
Tarl Knight (Ashwaubenon, WI)
Thacia (Oshkosh, WI)
Tim Johnson (Lake Geneva, WI)
Timothy Severns (Torrey, UT)
Tiny Riots (Madison, WI)
TireLess Fred (Sturgeon Bay, WI)
TOIVO (Fish Creek WI)
Tony Menzer (Madison, WI)
Trance Halo (Milwaukee, WI)
Troy Therrien (Sturgeon Bay, WI)
Troy Heinz (Green Bay, WI)
Underground Day 1 (Pardeeville, WI)
Vee Sonnets (Chicago, IL)
Victoria Vox (Baltimore, MD))
Wahnder Lust (Los Angeles, CA)
Weapons of Mass DeFunktion (Madison, WI)
West Of East (Milwaukee, WI)
Whiskey Belles (Milwaukee, WI)
Whiskey of the Damned (Milwaukee, WI)
Will Sexton (Austin, TX)
Wisconsin Beef Commission (Milwaukee, WI)
Z-Man (Green Bay, WI)

The sale of a set of China becomes a rabies shot for a homeless dog. The ten dollars paid for a collection of DVDs is transformed into a large bag of cat litter. The first-ever rummage sale to benefit the Door County Humane Society (DCHS) will help raise much-needed operational funds. The timing of the rummage sale is set to correspond with the beginning of the DCHS’s seasonal rise in the influx of lost, abandoned or surrendered animals at the shelter, located on Park Drive across from Cherryland Airport.

Carrie Counihan

“Last May, we took in 60 cats and the trend continues upward,” explains Executive Director Carrie Counihan. “A rummage sale helps the shelter, while giving community members a chance to donate gently used items to help a good cause.”

Counihan adds that the shelter also is taking this opportunity to clean up some unused items in their own garage, including pet carriers and unique artwork donated to the shelter.

“The Door County Humane Society shelter is open to the public five days a week,” Counihan concludes, “and we invite all Door County residents to see first-hand how the money raised from the rummage sale is used to care for cats and dogs from all over the peninsula.”

Donations to the DCHS rummage sale are sought with the exception of clothing, computers and appliances which will not be accepted. Clean, usable items may be dropped off on Friday, May 20 between 9 am and 6 pm at the JayCee building, located off 12^th Avenue. As a 501C3 non-profit organization, the DCHS can provide an IRS donation receipt to anyone who requests one. Volunteers to help with pre-sale preparation on Friday or for a 3-hour shift on Saturday are very welcome. Contact Sharon Peterson at 920.495.1562 or s.peters6@yahoo.com. For additional information about the Humane Society or the rummage sale, contact DCHS at 920.746.1111.

In addition to guiding visitors along the Schooner Coast, the passport offers a host of special discounts at cozy bed & breakfasts, waterfront hotels, interesting shops and small-town diners and restaurants up and down the coast.  It also contains a Family Treasure Hunt that is sure to challenge and please children of all ages. Visit the Schooner Coast Website www.SchoonerCoast.org for additional information.  The Passport is also available at the Door County Maritime Museum in Sturgeon Bay or the Wisconsin Maritime Museum in Manitowoc.

The Passport invites visitors to explore 60 miles of beautiful Lake Michigan shoreline. Along the way, they’ll discover maritime treasures, quaint harbor towns, natural water wonders and real Wisconsin gems like old-time supper clubs and small town main streets.

The tour of the coast follows scenic Hwy. 42 as it hugs Lake Michigan through Manitowoc, Two Rivers, Kewaunee and Algoma.  From Algoma, visitors take Hwy. S to Hwy. U to continue along the shoreline and into Sturgeon Bay.

The Schooner Coast includes:

• one WWII submarine,
• two hardworking tugboats,
• five rivers that offer opportunities for fishing, kayaking and canoeing,
• seven towering lighthouses,
• dozens of shipwreck tales,
• numerous parks and beaches and
• the state’s two largest maritime museums that anchor the south and north ends.

The Wisconsin Maritime Museum in Manitowoc shares stories of schooners, ship captains and the 28 subs built during WWII. The Door County Maritime Museum in Sturgeon Bay captures maritime life on the Door Peninsula, from the shipyards that produced yachts, lake freighters and Navy ships, to notable lighthouses and the restored John Purves tugboat.

There are more than 100 Threshold Choirs across the United States. Threshold Choirs began over ten years ago by Kate Munger in California with the purpose of bringing comfort and compassion to folks on the threshold of life, pain, and grief. There are several Threshold choirs in Wisconsin as well as in neighboring states. It is anticipated that singing groups from Minnesota, Iowa, Michigan, Indiana and Illinois, as well as Wisconsin will attend the Door County gathering.

Songs of Threshold Choirs have been written specifically for the range of women’s voices. Therefore, women are especially encouraged to participate. The workshop will introduce new singers to this ministry of comfort and love. It will also be a time of training and sharing for experienced threshold singers. Much time will be devoted to singing rounds and creating harmonies on Friday evening, June 24, and all day Saturday, June 25.

Of particular interest to church leaders is the special presentation focusing on “Ways for Church Staff and Threshold Choirs to Work Together in Their Communities,” on Friday afternoon, June 24 from 1:30 – 3 pm. Kate Munger and Lauren Carley will share ideas and experiences singing with the Circle Singers of Hope Church.

Click for more details and the complete list of activities including registration information.

They symbolically joined with other union members demonstrating on bridges across the Nation. Both the historic Steel Bridge and the newer Oak Street bridge in downtown Sturgeon Bay had sign-waving groups walking the spans and looking to their elected officials for reasonable solutions and negotiation.

The people carried handmade signs and came to make a public display of their disappointment in Gov. Scott Walker. The Door Dems were noticeably absent as was any Tea Party pro-Walker sentiment.

On Friday, Rep. Garey Bies also publicly announced his support for Walker’s plan. “I voted to support the Governor’s bill. The consequences of not doing so were too severe.”

LINKS:

Locked Into The Wrong Debate Pulse by Myles Dannhausen Jr.

Tomgram: Andy Kroll, The Spirit of Egypt in Madison

Scott Walker’s War: What began as a trumped-up crisis has caused a real one, as the governor pits Wisconsin residents against each other

Shock Doctrine, U.S.A.