Fall 2017 Newsletter

Of Trees and ‘Water Tank Gazebos’…

By now, most of you are aware of the Jim Maki Arboretum and the trees and shrubs that have been planted there over the last two years. In the southern half of the Arboretum near the power line run, we have planted species of trees that you would typically find in a Northern Mesic or Sugar Maple Deciduous Forest. On the eastern and western edges we have pioneer species such as Paper Birch and Poplars and in the interior we have planted Basswood, Sugar Maple, Ironwood and Red Maple.

The northern half of the Arboretum consists of a broad expanse landscape planting similar to a Jens Jenson concept designed by Tom Luebker, Master Gardener, woody plant enthusiast and Crossroads volunteer. It features a long list of woody plants from Kentucky Coffee Tree to Winterberry Holly. As this planting grows and matures it will provide a great panoramic view from of all things a ‘Water Tank Gazebo.’

Guaranteed to be a one-of-a-kind gazebo, it was the result of many people working together to create a Crossroads original. It was designed by Bill Harder, local ‘Good Guy Engineer,’ It then progressed by the efforts of Jim Maki ‘Local Arm Twister Procurement Specialist’ and constructed by Brent Brilla, local ‘I Can Do This’ carpenter.

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Dick Weidman,
President, Board of Directors at Crossroads

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Educator Workshop on Teaching Climate Change

Saturday, October 7; 8:30 a.m. – 3:15 p.m. in the Collins Learning Center

This Climate Change Coalition of Door County workshop will introduce teachers and environmental educators to the basics of climate change and provide classroom ready materials and demonstrations usable both as lab experiments for students or outreach activities for the community.

The $15 registration fee includes lunch and materials. Contact info@crossroadsatbigcreek.org for registration materials.

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Archaeological Digs

“What a fabulous week! We have to keep this going!”

Overheard on the final afternoon of the 2016 Middle School Archaeological Dig as students reluctantly climbed on to their bus, their teachers and our professional archaeologists vowing that they would continue the program.

This October, we indeed will continue the Middle School Dig for the third year. Thanks to this project, which began as preliminary
archaeological surveys of the Big Creek Preserve prior to construction, we have now located and registered Native American sites
on all three of our properties. During the past four years, students from Sturgeon Bay and Sevastopol have excavated a previously unknown chapter of Door County history. Using professional archaeological excavation techniques and documentation, students have unearthed arrowheads, stone knives, scrapers, fire-cracked-rocks, pottery and copious amounts of animal bones and teeth.

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A Half Year of Generosity

$20,000 and up

Don and Coggin Heeringa
Anonymous

$10,000 – $19,999

Estate of Peg Foster

$5,000 – $9,999

Estate of Marilyn Cunningham

$2,500 – $4,999

Christine Gritzmacher & Tom Pollock
Door County Medical Center
MMG Foundation

$1,000 – $2,499

Anthony Birdsall fund of the Door County Community Foundation
Breakfast Rotary
Door County Historical Society
John and Karen Kierstyn
Marine Travelift
Sturgeon Bay Utilities

$500 – $999

Bayshore Property Owners
C & S Manufacturing
Fran and Arliss Evenson
Bruce and Grace Frudden
Rick and Nancy Jeanquart
Karl and Lucy Klug
Dave Lenius & Jacqueline Szczepanski – Lenius Financial Services
Marilyn Liebe
Joy Maccaux
Greg and Marsha Meissner
Robert and Carol Moellenberndt
Nicolet National Bank
Pinkert Law Firm
Ross Estate Planning
Sheila Turner
Norm and Mabel Watkins

$250 – $499

Animal Clinic of Sturgeon Bay
Mary Jane Combs
Carol DeVault State Farm Insurance
Door County Dental Care
Eagle Mechanical
Paul and Deb Whitelaw-Gorski
Herbert H. Kohl Charities
Tom and Jill Herlache
Hope Fellowship
Jilot Insurance
Nancy Mattke
Meissner Landscape
Noon Rotary of Sturgeon Bay
Nor Door Sports
Peninsula Vision Care, LLC
Staudenmeir Chiropractic
Wellness Center
John and Donna Thennel
Therma Tron-X
Trolley Tours of Door County
Daniel Tomaszewski
Whitetails Unlimited
Steve and Joan Wilkie

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2017 Business Members

Ask about this new giving opportunity

$500 Level

C & S Manufacturing
Lenius Financial Services – Dave Lenius & Jacqueline Szczepanski
Meissner Landscape Inc.
Ross Estate Planning
W E Builders
Wulf Brothers / HiTec Fabrications

$250 Level

Eagle Mechanical
Nicolet National Bank
Pinkert Law Firm LLP
Trolley Tours of Door County

$100 Level

Bayside Home Medical
LfpDesign! LLC
Synergy Heating and Cooling

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Crossroads Trail Run 2017

The sun broke through the clouds in time to witness 476 people participate in the 2017 Crossroads Trail Run, including its volunteers and supporters.

Eleven different states, 3 countries and 71 different cities were represented on our Crossroads Trails on June 25. Runners and walkers ranged in ages from four to 86 years old, all outdoors sharing together in healthy activity.

We raised $12,000 to benefit the Friends of Crossroads Ski-For-Free program and to support the Crossroads at Big Creek general fund. The trail run promoted cross-generational recreation and to increased awareness of ‘green’ living by featuring locally grown and created awards, refreshments and removable trail flags, as well as by leaving a minimal footprint.

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– Gretchen Schmelzer, co-chair

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Door County Sustainability Fair

Together we can make Door County a greener place!

Sept. 23, 2017 10 a.m.-4 p.m

Local Music
Local Food & Produce
Local Businesses
Fun Family Activities

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Download a pdf of our Fall 2017 newsletter