Kathy Navis tells viewers she has seen more people looking for eggs produced in Northeast Wisconsin, especially in Door County where chicken farmers have hundreds of chickens, instead of hundreds of thousands. She says, “we’ve seen about a 25 to 50 percent increase in egg sales.”

The Organic Consumers Association provides the following things we can to do to get moving in the right direction:

1. Congress should exempt small-scale, direct-to-consumer, local, pasture-based, and organic farmers and food processors from inappropriate food safety regulations. Support Tester-Hagan amendments to Senate Bill 510.

Take Action

2. Consumers should swear off factory-farmed animal products and eat vegetarian when pasture-raised organic isn’t available. We also need to press the USDA to require pasture for organic chickens, as it has for cows.

Take Action

3. Regulators should phase-out the worst factory farming practices. To address salmonella, we can start by banning battery cages. The USDA organic standards ban battery cages. Michigan and California are the first states to pass phase-out laws. Banning battery cages can cut the risk of salmonella contamination in half.

Learn More

4. Localities should lift restrictions on residents raising chickens in their backyards.

CNN Video

Miss Meaghan Owens

Her lyrics are sweet and switchblade sharp. Miss Meaghan Owens writes songs that are small fictions of the Americana sound-scape. Her sound is Indie, it’s Country, it’s Folky, it’s filled with traces of Jazz and the Blues. Amidst this era of popped-out American Idolatry, Miss Meaghan seeks out the songs that live way down in our true dreams and despairs, filled with real glamour and grit. Miss Meaghan is a Midwestern girl who’s rambled all over the place. She has toured extensively in the U. S. from smoky Austin, Texas honky-tonks, to Milwaukee punk rock clubs, to California folk gatherings alike.

Saturday, August 21, 5 – 9 pm
Meaghan saturates the deep woods of Idlewild performing on the outdoor stage of The Fishing Hole. Both solo, and in collaboration with Ryan Thompson. Ryan will close out the night with a solo set of his own. The Fishing Hole will feature BBQ Ribs fresh off the outdoor grill, along with Coleslaw, and Potato Salad.

Saturday, August 28, 4 – 9 pm
In true restaurant style, The Fishing Hole serves up Ryan Thompson on the outdoor stage in another flavor. Ryan will perform with his new classic country band “Twang It Up“. The Fishing Hole will feature a corn roast, to begin at 4 pm with Twang It Up performing from 5 – 9pm.

LINKS:
http://www.MissMeaghanOwens.com/
http://www.myspace.com/ryanthompsonanddeepfriedgrass

Work, work, work! It’s time for the Wild West side of Sturgeon Bay to have a little fun this Saturday, August 21 with the  annual West Fest.

Sturgeon Bay business owners and residents alike, getting ready for West Fest with the annual Street Scrub

The street festival gets underway at 9 am with an all-day celebration that includes a craft show, a cowboy costume contest, the gold rush giveaway and some great entertainment by:

• the Fairland Bluegrass Band,
• the Bittorf Brothers and
• the John Welch Band

And, there’s still time to enter your best chili in the Chili Cook–Off! But, advance registration is necessary! So, please call the Sturgeon Bay Visitor Center at 920.743.6246 for all the details – and throw your hat in the ring!.

As part of West Fest, children will enjoy special activities at the Tug Fest held at the Maritime Museum including a bounce house, tug boat tours and pony rides! It’s going to be a root’n, toot’n good time for young and old alike at Sturgeon Bay’s West Fest, this Saturday from 9 am to 4 pm, all along Madison Avenue on Sturgeon Bay’s west side!

This event is sponsored by the Sturgeon Bay Visitor Center and West Side Businesses.

Lace Lawn Dress

The historic White Gull Inn will be the setting for an elegant afternoon of fashion, featuring historic foundation garments and dresses from Gibraltar’s past served up with tea, delectable finger sandwiches and delicious desserts.

Kärin Kopischke, who recently created the historic renderings for the innovative “Garments of Our Foundation” exhibit as part of Heritage Days, will present a program of young women modeling antique corsets, chemises, pettipants and petticoats from 1860 – 1910.  The models will then wear antique dresses over those foundation garments.

Highlights of the show will include an 1860s calico Pioneer Dress, several 1900s cotton and lace Lawn Dresses and a 1910 original Worth Gown worn by Gibraltar High School student Nora Harris.  All the fashion is authentic to the period and from the Gibraltar area.

The high tea will be Wednesday, August 11 from 3 – 5 pm and will include tea, coffee and lemonade, with feature finger sandwiches, various desserts and Sweetie Pies tea tarts.  A limited number of tickets are available for $20 at the Noble House 12 – 4:30 pm Tuesday through Sunday or by calling the GHA President at 920.868.3373.

National Wine Expert Mark Phillips is featured this year.  Phillips will share his knowledge of wine at the Sunday five-course wine dinner and on Monday at the Y’ining Women Wine Tasting. Mark’s humorous non-snobby approach has made him one of the nation’s most popular wine speakers.  He has many of his own products on the market, has had a show on PBS for the past five years and has appeared in national news stories as an expert resource numerous times.

On Sunday evening, July 25, a five-course dinner with wine pairings to compliment each course will take attendees around the world, featuring a different country during each course.  Phillips will present between courses and a silent and live art and wine auction will be taking place throughout the evening featuring some of Door County’s finest artisans and unique wine donated from local cellars and wine shops.  Attendees will also have a chance to bid on VIP packages for the PGA Championships at Whistling Straits. Charisma will be providing music for dancing following dinner.  Cocktails begin at 5 pm and dinner at 6 pm.

On Monday afternoon, July 26, a scramble format golf outing will be held on Horseshoe Bay’s championship course with lunch at NOON, a shotgun start at 1:00pm and a cocktail reception to follow golf.

Also on Monday afternoon, a “Y’ining Women” Wine Tasting and Presentation will be taking place in the clubhouse at Horseshoe Bay.  Mark Phillips will go into a more in-depth presentation at the tasting sharing his lively and fun approach to choosing the right wines for you, while discussing the local wines that will be sampled.  The tasting will take place at 3:00 and will be followed by raffles, cocktails and Heavy Hors d’ oeurvers in the Clubhouse with the golfers,

For more information on “THE Event” contact the Door County YMCA at 920.743.4949 in Sturgeon Bay or 920.868.3660 in Fish Creek.

LINKS:

National Wine Expert Mark Phillips Featured at “THE Event” to Benefit Door County YMCA, July 25-26

“With the folk love of such greats as Joni Mitchell and Aimee Mann – Galynne Goodwill stays true to form and shows that she can compete in the big leagues.” Wilson Pickin – Los Angeles, CA (iTunes Review)

“This lounge-rock duo plays some of the most listenable original tunes and carefully chosen cover songs around. Galynne’s soulful clear voice and the sparse instrumentals make a surprisingly filled out sound.” City Pages – Wausau, WI

“Some of the best a’Bravo memories are made when Galynne & MarkOnDrums play here.” Julie Brunette, a’Bravo – Green Bay, WI

“If you’ve not heard Galynne & MarkOnDrums, then you really owe it to yourself…” Alex Galt, Kavarna – Green Bay, WI

Green Drinks Wednesday, July 28 from 4:30 – 6 pm

Green Drinks, is a group event sponsored by Sustain Door and Glas Coffeehouse in Sturgeon Bay.  It is a monthly open social group that discusses sustainability-related issues and any topics raised during the meeting. It also coincides with the Glas happy hour where patrons can receive $2 lattes and cappuccinos.

Green Drinks Sturgeon Bay is part of an international network of local salons of its kind (see www.greendrinks.org).  Sustain Door, the local non-profit organization whose mission is to promote the social, economic, and environmental sustainability of Door County using The Natural Step framework and process, conducts the regular monthly gathering informally, without agenda. Green Drinks takes place during the Glas happy hour, at which time the establishment offers $2.00 lattes and cappuccinos.

Glas, the green coffeehouse, is a venture for Cellcom, a wireless company based in Green Bay. Glas and its building feature various green elements in effort to reduce stress on the environment. The coffeehouse provides quality coffee, loose-leaf tea, espresso drinks, food items, live music on select days and free Wi-Fi Internet service. To find more about events and specials, visit www.glascoffee.com.

For more information about Sustain Door and its activities visit www.sustaindoor.org.

The English Inn

The 2nd Annual All-in-one Vendor Event scheduled for Saturday, July 17 from 9 am – 2 pm will provide an unusual gathering of independent spirits with one common bond. All of the display vendors  are home-based businesses. Celebrate the 4th of July all over again by taking time to meet independent artisans and craftsmen ranging from cheescake makers to chainsaw carvers. Yes, they will demonstrate and provide samples including appetizers from the Inn for those who get there early and drink specials all day in the bar.

The English Inn is located at  State Hwy. 42 in Fish Creek.

Parker Drew as Mark Twain

Since his debut performance as Mark Twain 40 years ago in Green Bay, Parker Drew has toured and performed at more than 500 theaters in 30 states, winning acclaim from critics and audience members alike. This is a rare opportunity to experience the unique humor and timeless wisdom of America’s greatest author and lecturer, brought to life by veteran television, radio and theatrical performer Parker Drew.

Relive and celebrate the remarkable life of Mark Twain during the 100-year anniversary of his death. April 21, 2010 was the 100th anniversary of Twain’s death. To mark the occasion, Parker performed two sold-out performances of “Mark Twain Revisited” at the Weidner Center’s Fort Howard Hall on April 24. The shows received 4 out 4 stars from Warren Gerds ( a tough drama critic) in the Green Bay Press-Gazette.

Dinner Show tickets are available as follows:

$30 Gourmet Soup, Bread, Cheese and Fruit

$35 Hors d’oeuvres

$38 Prime Rib Sosaties

$45 Sea Food Platter

Tickets include dinner and show (dinner served from 5 – 7 pm) and can be purchased in advance by calling 920.818.0501. Show time is at 7:30 pm.

“Mark Twain Revisited” show tickets are available at $15.

Andre’s is evolving under new ownership. Tom and Sonia Hruska visited Door County and fell in love with this classic old Door County supper club on the West Side of Sturgeon Bay. Tom’s grandparents built the “Rendezvous” in Luxemburg and operated it for over 70 years. The Hruska’s boast an extensive background in international banquets and events. Their acquisition of the historic Andre’s restaurant was a natural and they combined their experience with that of Door County’s “Chef Extraordinaire,” Patrick O’Boyle.

Andre’s banquet facilities can seat up to 200 people. They can also host or cater anything from a private cocktail party to wedding reception or a business gathering. It is their goal to continue the Andre’s Supper Club tradition and revitalize the beautiful rear concert hall with the creation of The Bay View Opera House.

Andre’s is located at 23 East Oak Street in Sturgeon Bay.

Rolf E. Olson

In 1974, after traveling and living abroad for a year and a half, Rolf E. Olson graduated with a degree in philosophy from Colorado College. For the next 20 years he earned a living as a wooden boat builder and cabinetmaker. Olson also began writing poetry. Several years ago he published his poems in his first chapbook, “One Glass Eye.” In 2008, Olson was a featured poet in the inaugural year of the Dickinson Poetry Series.

Olson also began carrying a camera, stopping when he felt compelled to record images. This year, one his photographs, “Still Repeat” was accepted in the 48th Annual Juried Exhibition at the Hardy Gallery in Ephraim. Like publishing that first chap book, he will now exhibit a collection of his Door County imagery in a show he calls, “The Requisite Eye.”

Olson is also a proud father who can be found behind the wheel of a Sevastopol school bus during the school year. He also finds time to keep things running smoothly as resident manager of a prominent Egg Harbor hotel. You can meet him in person and may hear a few of his poems at an opening reception at Drink Coffee on Wednesday, June 30, from 5 – 7 pm.

Featured at THE Event this year will be National Wine Expert Mark Phillips.  Phillips will share his knowledge of wine at the Sunday Five-course wine Dinner and Monday Y’ining Women Wine Tasting.  Mark’s humorous non-snobby approach has made him one of the nation’s most popular wine speakers.  He has many of his own products on the market, has had a TV show on PBS for the past five years and has appeared in national news stories as an expert resource numerous times.

On Sunday evening, July 25, a five-course dinner with wine pairings to compliment each course will take attendees around the world, featuring a different country during each course. Phillips will present between courses and a silent and live art and wine auction will be taking place throughout the evening featuring some of Door County’s finest artisans and unique wine donated from local cellars and wine shops. Attendees will also have a chance to bid on VIP packages for the PGA Championships at Whistling Straits. Charisma will be providing music for dancing following dinner. Cocktails begin at 5 pm and dinner at 6 pm.

On Monday afternoon, July 26, a scramble format golf outing will be held on Horseshoe Bays championship course with lunch at NOON, a shotgun start at 1:00pm and a cocktail reception to follow golf.

Also on Monday afternoon, the “Y’ining Women” Wine Tasting and presentation will be taking place in the clubhouse at Horseshoe Bay. Mark Phillips will go into a more in-depth presentation at the tasting sharing his lively and fun approach to choosing the right wines for you, while discussing the local wines that will be sampled.  The tasting will take place at 3:00pm and will be followed by raffles, cocktails and Heavy Hors d’ oeurvers in the Clubhouse with the golfers,

THE Event is sponsored by Door County Memorial Hospital, DeLeers, BayCare, Horseshoe Bay Golf Club, RBC Wealth Management, Main Street Market, Sister Bay Trading Co., Door Peninsula Winery and Calastoga Cellars.

For more information on “THE Event” contact the Door County YMCA at 920.743.4949 in Sturgeon Bay or 920.868.3660 in Fish Creek. To find out more about Mark Phillips and watch clips of his PBS show visit http://www.winetasting.org/Bio.html.