Bits...Bites...Barbeque!

One of the things people often ask is how do we get everything over here to be able to live on the Island. Well, the ferry is key. However, much of it comes in our car/truck, on the ferry...like these sunflowers.

A very wise woman once told me that the car wasn't really full unless some thing was sitting in the passenger's lap next to the driver. These flowers were.
Lew thought I was going to plant the seeds...maybe I will...sunflowers just fit this time of year. Another good thing that came by ferry this past weekend was barbeque. That is, 28 teams who created competition-level barbeque. They came from all over the Midwest.The Second Annual Death's Door BBQ was great ... the people were wonderful, the weather cooperated and the food I sampled - pork - delicious! Friday started out quietly with the competent "pit crew" setting up. The competing teams were welcomed with an Island Style fish boil produced by Kenny Koyen.This weekend is turning into a happening time on the Island!Amazing to watch the empty space around the Airport mushroom into a (not so little) village in just a few hours.It takes time to get these rigs up and running. Soon things started smoking. This Kansas City Barbeque Society sanctioned event utilized 35+ trained and certified judges (plus table captains). A blind judging process is used so there is no favoritism. Turn-in times are strictly monitored and if one time is missed, the team is out of the competition...teams must submit in all four categories - Chicken, Pork, Ribs, and Brisket - to be in the running. Dessert was an added - albeit optional - category this year. Grand Champion? The Barbeque Superstore (Sorry, could not find a photo so if someone has one of BBQ Superstore, please send it along.) The Reserve Champion: Chef's Gone Grillin'. The winner takes home a cash prize and the chance to compete at the American Royal, an invitational competition in Kansas City, KSChair Lisa Gibson, wishes to send her heartfelt thanks to everyone who worked so hard to make these days go so smoothly. Presented by the Washington Island Chamber of Commerce and the Washington Island Ferry Line, this event would not be possible without the aid/help of many.The sponsors...there is a $20,000 budget and the sponsors are a big part of being able to produce the Barbeque...along with all of you who bought raffle tickets. Special thanks to the Town Crew and the Washington Island Electric Coop Crew! This event is staffed totally by volunteers and it certainly showcases how well Islanders step up to make a big event like this such a success!Profits? All profits go to the Washington Island Food Pantry.So, the ferry brings over the goods which lets us live here...our vehicles help with this process. Many interesting "rigs" were on board last week as well. Lots of travelers came too. Estimates as high as 4,500 attended DDBBQ, an increase from last year...good times!

Take Note:

Tuesday -

Fritz Damler & Tom Noonan - TPAC on the Green - 5:00pm

Friday -

Matthew Burress & Friends - Closing Show for the 41st season - Red Barn - 7:30pm

Saturday -

Rummage Sale - Fundraiser for the 7th/8th Grade Washington DC trip - Community Center - 9 to 1 - call Sue Cornell to donate items (2507) or drop off in CC entryway Wednesday to Friday

Other Sales? Possibly...Probably...Do check the Bulletin Board at Mann's Store!

Fish Boil - American Legion Hall - Main Road - 4:30 - 7pm (I think!)

Tuesday, 9/3 -

School starts on the Island!

Have a great week!

Three Things

An update, an announcement, and a great Labor Day tradition!

BBQ - A Great Event!
The First Annual Death's Door BBQ was great ... the people were wonderful (25 teams!), the weather cooperated and the food I sampled - brisket and pork - delicious! Lots of activity here on the Island at a time that is often a very quiet weekend. Amazing to watch the empty space around the Airport mushroom into a little community in just a few hours. Congratulations and a Big Thanks go to the BBQ Committee and the Washington Island Chamber of Commerce for all their hard work!!! Let's hope the results will allow a Second Annual BBQ. (It doesn't have to be an annual event but it sure would be nice to see the Island host another event like this in the future.)

In other news,

               Friday August 24th:  Draft Compehensive Conservation Plan Released 

                                  Photo by Ginni Glass

The photo above is of the former Life Saving/Coast Guard Station on Plum Island and that Island (as well as Pilot Island) is included in the draft Comprehensive Conservation Plan. While I am still scrambling with the tech side of this blog, I believe this Link to Plan will get interested persons to the CCP itself.

From the News Release - The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service released for public review and comment a draft Comprehensive Conservation Plan (CCP) for islands in the Great Lakes that are managed as part of the National Wildlife Refuge System. This announcement covers two island refuges in Lake Michigan that are managed by the staff at Horicon National Wildlife Refuge (NWR). The island refuges are Gravel Island and Green Bay NWRs. The Refuges consist of 5 islands in Lake Michigan off the tip of the Door County Peninsula (Gravel, Hog, Pilot, Plum and Spider Islands).

The draft CCP sets wildlife, habitat, and public use priorities and guides management decisions on these Refuges for the next 15 years. All aspects of the island Refuges are addressed by the CCP, including important fish and wildlife habitats, public use, and current management activities.

An open house event will be held on Monday, September 10, 2012 from 5-8 p.m at the Washington Island Community Center Rutledge Room, 910 Main Road. Washington Island, WI. Interested citizens may stop by any time during the open house, and stay as long as they wish, to speak with refuge staff or submit comments. Comment forms will be made available so that written comments can be submitted in person or mailed in later.

Comments are due by September 23, 2012 and can be mailed to U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Division of Conservation Planning, 5600 American Blvd. West, Suite 990, Bloomington, MN 55437-1458; or e-mailed to: r3planning@fws.gov (please put Great Lakes Islands CCP Comment in the subject line). Paper copies and/or compact disks are available in limited supply by making a request through the website or calling (612) 713-5477.

For more information on the Midwest Region of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service visit http://midwest.fws.gov. Connect with our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/usfwmidwest 

Labor Day Weekend is Fast Approaching ...

That means: Friday, August 31st - Eric Lewis & Friends  -  Return to the Red Barn - 

 

Show starts at 7:30 pm!

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It's hard to see Labor Day come and yet in some ways, it's a good thing too. I do look forward to the cooler, crisp times of Autumn. Weather continues to be warm here and there are still flowers in bloom - just different ones!

Have a good week!