Crossroads at Big CreekWelcoming learners of all ages to experiences in Science, History and the Environment

Crossroads at Big Creek

is a preserve for

experiential

lifelong learning

focused on

science, history, and

the environment.

Board of Directors

Bobby Deggendorf

George Evenson

Fran Everson

Robert Gray, Secretary

Greg Meissner

Richard Hauser, Treasurer

Gretchen Schmelzer

Tom Voegele

Dick Weidman, President

Dean Volenberg, Vice President

Dwight Zeller

StaffCoggin HeeringaDirector, Naturalist

James MakiBuilding and Grounds

2041 Michigan St.Sturgeon Bay, WI 54235

920-746-5895www.CrossroadsAtBigCreek.org

Crossroads at Big Creek, Inc. - Scientific, Historical & Environmental Learning Preserve Vol. 10 Issue 1 - Spring 2012

Message from the President

As we live out our lives inour immediate surroundings,we all have the opportunity to contribute a portion of our time and resources to enhance the lives of people inour own community. Whetherit is helping people getthrough difficult and tryingtimes, contributing to worthwhile efforts of other caring people or providinglife-long learning experiences for young and old alike, we all have the oppor-tunity to make a difference in the lives of people that we come to call friends. Of all the friends that have participated in and contributed to Crossroads,

John Collins knew how to make a difference in the lives of people that called him their friend. Contributing his time and resources to make projectshappen and always maintaining a positive attitude will be the characteristicsfor which John will always be remembered. As we search for a memorial torecognize John’s accomplishments, we need only to look within ourselves tocontinue in that same dedication to make a difference.This year, we lost two other friends who made an enormous difference at

Crossroads. Marian Hislop and Elizabeth Guenzel were best known in DoorCounty for their support of the fine arts, but both of these generous womenwere quietly and generously helping Crossroads for the past decade.Spring is always a high energy season where we get to release and

channel some of our stored-up reserves on projects around home and in ourcommunity. At Crossroads, we are now harnessing more of the energy thatwe receive from that fiery ball in the sky we call the Sun. Our MaintenanceBuilding is progressing as evidenced by the concrete slab just east of the Johnand Helen Collins Learning Center, and our Council Ring Outdoor Classroom will also come to life soon with initial excavation and layout work.As always there will be programs to attend and many volunteer opportunitiesfor everyone this spring at Crossroads. Step outside, take a deep breath and commit a few hours of your day to

make a difference.Dick Weidman,

President of Crossroads Board of Directors

Make a Difference

Helen & John Collins at a history event

Science and the Environment

light to reach our Earth. In contrast, it will take 8minutes and 20 seconds for photons of light totravel from the Sun to the solar panels currentlypowering Crossroads.

This was a true community project with all material and labor being donated by local resi-dents, companies and organizations. Learners of all ages visit The Astronomy Campus at Crossroadsto learn about the wonders of our universe. Howappropriate then, that daytime programs will bepowered not with fossil fuels, but rather by theclean, renewable energy of our nearest star.

On Earth Day, some people pick up litter or maybe, plant a tree. We at Crossroadsadded our second solar collector. DuringEarth Week, Lake Michigan Wind and Sun,Ltd. combined forces with the students fromthe NWTC Solar Technology program andSturgeon Bay Utilities to install a 21 foot diametercollector between the Leif Everson Observatoryand Stonecipher Astronomy Center.

This newest member of the Solar FlairTM

family was designed by John Hippensteel with the Crossroads Astronomy Campus in mind. Theartistic installation is modeled after the PinwheelGalaxy, otherwise known to astronomers as M101.The Pinwheel Galaxy is a spiral galaxy, essentiallythe same shape we believe our own Milky WayGalaxy to be.

Last September, the Pinwheel Galaxy was in the news when one of its stars went supernova. Actually, this star self-destructed some 21 millionyears ago, but it took all of that time for its bright

Collecting Energyfrom Outer Space

Installing the 21 foot solar collector.

For years, the Door Peninsula Astronomical Society (DPAS) dreamed of creating an analemmaticsundial (a sundial on which a human casts theshadow.) Several months ago a member of the Leadership Door County Class of 2012 called Crossroads. They were looking for a project, something that would have lasting benefits for thecommunity. And by the way, several of them wereartists! It seemed a perfect match for the sundialproject...a match made in heaven (or at least space.)

The Leadership Door County class and DPAS

members will take the design by Jim DuFrane, with mathematical assistance from Ray Stonecipher, to create a beautiful 249-square-footconcrete, aluminum and glass installation. Bothgroups are grateful to the Raibrook Foundation forhelp with this project.

Sundial in theStarGarden

Ray Stonecipher

Wetland Club $250-499AnonymousAnimal Clinic of Sturgeon BayAnonymous Lee and Susan Basten Joe and Lori Cedzo Robert and Nancy Davis Door County Environmental Council Grape and Grain Bill and Jo Guenzel Richard and Carrie Hauser Tom and Jill Herlache HATCO CORP Karl and Lucy Klug Randy and Mary Kenny AnonymousLeroy and Marilyn LiebeMaster Gardeners Pinkert Law FirmBela and Ruth SandorKurt and Tara Stuber Norm and Mabel Watkins Whitetails Unlimited Zion United Methodist Church

Forest Club $100-249Roger and Sandy Anderson Sara Anschutz Associated Bank Edson and Loretta Allen John and Carol Bartoszek Bay Pharmacy Robert and Jeanne Barnard Pat Blizel Randy Bumgardner James and Barbara Bunning David and LaVonne Callsen Anastasia Chilar George and Margaret Collier John J. DeutschDoor County Dental Care Door Landscape and Nursey, Inc. Door Property Owners Philip Dorchester Julie Doucette Joan A. Draeb Charles and Joanne Dull Mike and Sue EilasonDel Herrbold Insurance Fran and Carol Felhofer Forbes Funeral Home William and Cleida Galligan John GlessnerRobert and Irene Gray Katherine GreenJohn and Christine Guenther Richard and Sharon Haines John and Nell Herlache Nicole Herbst

DeAnne Hoffmann Huehns Funeral Home, Inc. Hope Fellowship Robert and Rebecca Hoover J.I.T. Corporation Jeanquart Associates Eldor and Delores Kaiser Deborah and John Kiedrowski Tom and Lucy Kile Arlene Lenius Norb and Pat Lenius Robert and Jillane Leonard Marcus LumayeKatie Malvetz Gretchen MonteeGoing Garbage Jane Gutherie Carol Hobson Paul and Kanani King Christina Koehn Nan and Jerry Krause Robert and Jillane Leonard Shaun and Susan Melarvie Tom and Claire Minahan Evelyn and Curt Mingle Camilla Nielsen Jan Olson Madelyn Ostrand Todd and Shelley Parrish Bill and Barb Perloff Harry and Judy Porter Matt Propsom Leona Rylander Rob and Katherine RockRoss Wealth Management William and Karen Roberts Gordon and Diane SaronStanley Russell Anonymous William and Mary Jo SchaarsGretchen and Steve SchmelzerScott Steebs Gertrude Stillman Starbrothers, ERA Starr Kurt and Tara Stuber James and Tina Stawicki Deb and Dan SwansonTom and Barbara Tierney Daniel and Heidi Tomaszewski David and Jacquelyn UdellRob and Cathy Vuksanovic James and Donna Urban Deb Whitelaw Gorski Randy WatermolenSteve and Joan Wilkie Shirley and Halliman WinboroughCarmen Youra

$50 - 99Tom and Sue Alt Eileen Andera Heidi Bader

Bonnie BalchBank Mutual Baudhuin Inc.Louis Behrens Meghan Blum W. Gerald and Jane Berg Gerald and Denice Bernstein Bonita and Daniel Balch Scott and Lynn Brunswick Warren and Nancy BurlendGeorge and Margaret Collier John and Katherine Campbell Ralph and Maetta ChaseSam and Betty Castagna Pete and Carol Clikeman Christine Comeford Mitchel and Sandra Custer Mary Derse Joan Draeb Jim and Karen Ebbeson Catherine EckersJames and Barbara Erlenborn Gary and Barb Henkelmann Robert and Arlene Evenson Marianne Ewig Laure Feider The Feldman Family James and Iris Friedlieb Rosemary Frischmidt Edith Fulkerson AnonymousAnonymousTravis GrootersG.L. and Susan Hegenbarth Earl and Ruth Hellman Mel and Ruth Hendricks Ann HarrisonLeland and Karen Johnson Delane Jome David and Sarah Koelling Thomas and Darlene Kolp Tammy KrollChris and Connie Larsen Roy and Charlotte Lukes Edward and Ellen Looker James and Susan McAninch Melvin and Margaret Madel Jim and Valerie Maki Patricia Malkemus

Preservation Club($5,000 and above)John and Helen Collins Don and Coggin Heeringa Marian Hislop AnonymousAnonymousPeter B. Horton Charitable Remainder Trust William Wood Skinner Foundation

Hillcrest Club $1,000 to 4,999Baylake Bank Father Anthony Birdsall Ivan Bissen Door County Community Foundation Fred J. Peterson Foundation The Robert Hansen Family Foundation Anonymous AnonymousTom and Peggy Hauser AnonymousPat and Dick Machas Meissner Family FoundationMinistry Door CountyMMG Foundation United Way of Door County Endowment Fund The Wake Family Foundation Wisconsin Space Grant Consortium

Big Creek Club $500-999Altrusa Club of Door County Sue Austad William and Yvonne Boettcher C & S Manufacturing Leland and Inge Bacon Janet and David Daniel Dorene Dempster and Mark Herrell Fran and Arliss Everson David and Ann Harsh John and Laurel Hauser Diane Jome John and Karen Kierstyn Ed and Cindy Koutnik Master Gardeners of Door CountyRobert and Carol Moellenberdt John and Nancy Munch Ken and Ivy Nelson David and Lori NicholasEric and Dee PaulsenRod and Marian SchliseJohn and Jane Stevenson

Crossroads Donors 2011

2012 Donations& Memorials will

be listed in our Summernewsletter

David and Anne Miller Joyce MillerEunice McCormick Chris and Connie Larsen Ronald and Judy Lokken Doug and Pam McGee John and Barb Nordstrom June Peterson Kenneth and Sharon L Poniewz Anne and William Porter Joyce Propsom Anna QualeNancy RafelBelinda RichardJoyce Risser John RosenthalMagan and Kevin Rottinghaus Katie SchnorrCarl and Ruth ScholzReta SchmidtJeanne SchopfEd Schriner-SchmittKay StackPete and Carol Schuster George SergeantBreent Sieling and Megan Schliesman Geri and Wayne Szeberla Paul TreadeauKarry and Kathie Vavra Raymond and Lee Vlaming Mary WankeEugene and Wilma Waterstreet Elizabeth and James Williamson Clifford WindNelson and Christine Whyatt

$1 - 49Jim, Linda, and Jessie Adams Helen Anschutz Thad and Cathy Ash Autumn Barlament Sr. Ruth Baudhuin Nancy Olson Blum

Cheryl ChoronozeRose CoismanEileen Cregan Steve and Tami Delarwelle James and Barbara Erlenborn Mytle Felhofer Gerald and Mary Lou Guth Shan Bryon-Hanson Margo IrelandDeb JeanquartMark and Tina Jennerjohn Ann JerdeJoan A. KolpCathy Laba Margi Larsen John and Elise Lindgren Jim Nelson Clare (Katie) MalvetzMarion Mailand Northern Cloverleaf 4-H Club Joy PetersonBetty OstrandRoger and Sara Pinkert Bill and Sonja Polster Margery and Roland OlanderBob Ryan George and Kristi Roenning Amy Schomer Marguerite and Dennis SkahenAnne Rowe SpandlerDustin Stephany Amy and Brian Stephens James TellstromGerry Thornton Biz and Sharon Virlee Tom and Barbara Voegle Jon and Cynthia WargoWeber Auto Repair Tami Wilde Jerome and Pamela WierzbaTroy and Connie ZakAnne Ziegelbauer

Donors to the Council Ring/Outdoor Classroom Project

AnonymousLee and Susan BastenFather Anthony BirdsallJames and Barbara BunningEileen CreganDoor County Community FoundationSusan GilsonBob and Irene GrayDon and Coggin HeeringaHerb H. Kohl Charities, Inc.Carol HobsonDiane JomeTom and Lucy KileCamilla NielsenRaibrook FoundationGeraldine ThorntonJoan and Steve Wilkie

Donors to the Maintenance Building

Jane and Gerald BergFather Anthony BirdsallJames CampbellJohn and Helen CollinsAnonymousJane GutherieDon and Coggin HeeringaCarol HobsonEllen LookerEd and Cindy KoutnikBarb and Mike MaddenJohn and Nancy MunchMaddie OstrandFred J. Peterson FoundationPete and Carol SchusterDeb and Dan SwansonRaibrook FoundationWake Family FoundationLinda WalczakDick Weidman

Special Thanks

Friends of CrossroadsDoug Andrews and Gerry Banks Door County AdvocateDoor County Community FoundationDoor County Daily News.comDoor County Environmental CouncilDoor County Historical SocietyDoor Property OwnersHerlache Small EnginesLake Michigan Wind & Sun Ltd.Learning in RetirementLittle HoppersMastercare Carpet CleaningMaster Gardeners of Door CountyMeissner LandscapingMinistry Door CountyRaibrook FoundationSturgeon Bay UtilitiesThe ClearingWDORWild Ones of Door County

Green Recreation

History

Running Green for Crossroads, an earth-friendly event, is scheduled for June 23. It features a 2k, 5k, and 10k Run/Walk andpromotes a silent sport with a minimalfootprint. The proceeds will help supportCrossroads.

For more details or to register, visitwww.CrossroadsRun.com or drop by the Collins Learning Center to pick up anapplication.

We are especially grateful to MinistryDoor County, our major sponsor. In additionto helping with our run, Ministry has underwritten trail maintenance for the pastseven years.

There may be old things at Door County Historical Society’sHistorical Village, but in summer, it’s never the same old thing.Each Sunday, between 1:30 and 3:30, DCHS stages a specialevent…free and open to the public and fun for the whole family.The Historical Village is open daily 1:30 - 3:30 during the sum-mer and free family programs are offered Monday - Thursday.

Running Greenfor CrossroadsJUNE 23, 2012

Summer at

Running Green for runners of all ages and abilities

June 17: Community Band Concert

June 24: “The History of Agriculture in Door County” featuring George Evenson; Blacksmith Demonstrations

July 1: “The Civil War”featuring Joe Knaapen

July 8: “The Vikings and Their Westward Wanderings”featuring Paul Burton

July 15: “Herbs in Wisconsin”featuring Jane Cole

July 22: “A Gardener’s Walk Through the Villagefeaturing Lee Sommerville; Blacksmith Demonstrations

July 29: “Belgian Agriculture in Door County”featuring Bill Laatsch

August 5: “The History of Railroads in Door County”featuring Paul Spanbauer

August 12: “Meet the Warrens”featuring Gerald and Nan Krause

August 19: “The History of the Washington Island Ferry”featuring Dick Purinton

August 26: “Historic Women’s Fashions”featuring Ruth Scholz; Blacksmith Demonstrations

Yes! I (we) want to be a part of Crossroads at Big Creek.

❏ $250 Wetland Club❏ $500 Big Creek Club

❏ $1,000 Hillcrest Club❏ $5,000 Preservation Club

❏ $50 Prairie Club❏ $100 Forest Club

Name __________________________________________________________________________________ ____

Address ____________________________________________________________________________________

Phone _________________________________ E-mail ______________________________________________

❏ Yes, you may list my name for donor recognition❏ Please do not list my name❏ Please do not send fund-raising materials in the future.

(if you would like to receive notes on upcoming events)

Enclosed is a check to help meet the program and operations expenses at Crossroads.

Please make checks payable to:Crossroads at Big Creek, Inc. PO Box 608, Sturgeon Bay, WI 54235

Crossroads at Big Creek is a private 501(c)(3) organization.

❏ I would also like to donate $ ___________ to: ❏ Maintenance Building Fund ❏ Council Ring Fund ❏ Education & Events Fund

Crossroads at Big Creek is a preserve for experiential lifelong learning focused onscience, history, and the environment.

2012 gift to Crossroads and then, if able, to makean extra gift for the Council Ring. The Cub Scoutsand all other youth groups in Door County wouldlove to sit in a circle…a completed circle… arounda campfire this fall.

Fundraising progress on the Maintenance Building has goneremarkably well, enabling us to pour the foundation in March.In reality, we have enough money to put up a standard no-frillsbuilding right now. But we are Crossroads, and because we ad-vocate sustainability, we are determined to incorporate energyefficient features into this project. In the long term, this ap-proach is the most economical.

In the coming month, we will be sending RFPs (requests forproposals) to area contractors in hopes of starting constructionthis calendar year. And we will continue to raise money to beable to make the building as “green” as possible.

On December 5 we announced the Council Ring/Outdoor Classroom project, and thanks to grants from the Raibrook Foundation and Door County CommunityFoundation combined with an amazing outpouring fromthe community, we are more than half way to our goal.

Hearing this good news, and eager to use the CouncilRing right away, a pack of Cub Scouts suggested that wemake a semi-circle instead of a full ring. Alas, an instal-lation of this scope must be done in a certain sequencewith each phase completed before the next is started.

But we could achieve our goal by fall because a localcouple has offered to match donations up to $5000.They have already made good on half of their pledge, so we are hoping to raise at least $2500 more from individual donors to realize the remainder of their gift.

This spring we invite our supporters to make their

Closing the Ring

Maintenance Building Underway

Site of Council Ring

Box 608, 2041 Michigan StreetSturgeon Bay, WI 54235

Crossroads - Spring 2012; Volume 10, Issue 1

Crossroads at Big Creek, Inc. does not discriminate in any programs oractivities on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, or marital or family status

Crossroads at Big Creek will not apply fertilizers or pesticides to lawn areas and gathering areas whichinclude the Amphitheatre, Council Ring, Rock Garden, and StarGarden as identified in the Master Plan.Pesticides are defined as materials used to control pests, including weeds, insects, and disease. The lawnand gathering areas may be maintained using organic practices and only products approved by the Organic Materials Review Institute (OMRI) will be used if needed. If human health threats encroach intolawn or gathering areas, for example poison ivy or wild parsnip, upon approval from the Board of Directors, non OMRI pesticides may be used temporarily and the site of application must be posted. Any areas beyond those specified above will be posted if treated with non OMRI approved pesticides or fertilizers.

Passed unanimously by the Crossroads Board of DirectorsApril 24, 2012

Chemical and Fertilizer Restrictions to Lawn and Gathering Areas