Washington Island Observer

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Islanders’ season ends with loss to Baileys Harbor

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On Sunday, Aug. 17, our Islanders traveled to Baileys Harbor to take on the A’s. It was a must win game to get into the playoffs. Besides winning we also needed either West Jacksonport or Maplewood to lose to get in. And as it would turn out, both did lose that day, but we still needed a win to advance.

Our Islanders went scoreless in the top of the first inning, and the A’s scored one in the bottom, so we had a 1-0 deficit after one. But in the very next inning we were able to make up for that. Ray McDonald got on base on an error, Matt Petersilka walked, and Alex Johnson got a base hit to load the
bases. Then top of the order, Caleb Cornell walked, sending Ray on a lei-
surely stroll home, to score. But then we flew out, leaving the bases loaded.

The A’s were able to score one run in the fifth and one in the sixth innings, to take a 3-1 lead. We also left the bases loaded in the third, and men on base as far as second in the fourth, fifth, and sixth innings. So we had our chances, but were unable to score, and we ended up with a season ending 3-1 loss.

Caleb, Matt Foss, and Alex had hits for our Islanders, but we would need more than three. The A’s only had four hits, including one from Jaxin Lindgren, from the Island, but who decided to play for the A’s in order to get more playing time. It was pretty much a pitchers’ dual, plural, since we used three, and they used two. One highlight was the seventh inning, when our young reliever Bennett Isaacson-Krueger struck out their side in three straight, providing hope for the future.

Kolberg, Sister Bay, West Jacksonport, and Maplewood advanced to the playoffs.

By Jim Rose

Feast at the 2025 Scandinavian Smorgasbord!

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The Scandinavian Muses are waking the Viking spirits on Washington Island! Soon the pots and bowls will be filled with Island cooks’ favorite
salads, Swedish meatballs, smoked salmon, fruit soup, Lefse, Christmas
breads, cold cuts and an assortment of amazing homemade desserts!

Enjoy demonstrations by costumed youth making Lefse and Krumkake, a skilled Rosemaling painter and a Scandinavian needle crafter.

Join us at Bethel Church Friday, August 1st, 11:30-1:30 for the Scandinavian Smorgasbord as the Scandinavian Fest weekend begins.

You will leave with a full and happy Viking stomach and heart!

Submitted by Leila Nehlsen

Annual (?) Spring Storm Slams The Island Again

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By Steve Kretzmann

Soooo…last year the storm was on April 2, exactly on election day. That storm dumped about 8 inches of wet, heavy snow that broke trees, downed power lines, and canceled school for three days.

This year the storm hit the Island a few days before election day, beginning on Saturday, March 29, and again broke trees, downed power lines, and canceled school–but this time, because the storm started on a weekend, students only missed two days of school on Monday and Tuesday. And this storm was a bit different. No big snowfall–maybe an inch or three, but lots of freezing precipitation that built up on everything–especially tree branches and power lines. And constant strong winds and howling gusts. Power outages rolled across the Island, coming to our house on Deer Lane Road at 5:25 p.m. Saturday afternoon, and encompassing almost the entire Island by Saturday evening.

In what is becoming an increasingly familiar routine, the Community Center gym, powered by generator, was opened as a warming space and source of food and water. The Red Cross arrived from off Island with cots and supplies. Unlike last year, a few people did spend the night in the gym, though most found ways to stay warm or at least tolerate the chill at home.

During the daytime hours on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday, however, the Community Center saw over a thousand visitors warming up, partaking of amazing volunteer-made meals, and chatting with friends, neighbors, and Islanders they hadn’t met before. The community spirit was everywhere.

The power on Deer Lane Road was restored at about 5:00 p.m. Tuesday, but some Islanders  remained without power until Thursday. Because of the continuing high winds, which brought down more weakened branches, many houses lost power more than once.

The Washington Island Electric Coop worked miracles, as usual. They did receive help from off-Island companies, but the crews worked every night till the wee hours to restore the system. See the thank-you letter from the Town Board for a longer list of all the people who stepped up for this amazing community.

Fincantieri Bay Shipbuilding to build new ferry for Washington Island fleet

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Fincantieri Bay Shipbuilding and Washington Island Ferry Line have signed an agreement to construct a new, year-round passenger/vehicle ferry for service across Wisconsin’s Death’s Door Passage.

The new ferry will be named Madonna, measuring 124-ft. length, 40-ft. beam and 10-ft. 8 in. draft. It will have capacity for as many as 28 vehicles and 150 passengers. The new ferry will be the largest in the Ferry Line fleet to-date. It is scheduled for delivery in late May 2020.

“We are pleased to build what is our third ferry for Washington Island,” says Fincantieri Bay Shipbuilding’s Vice President and General Manager Todd Thayse. “All current ferry vessels were built in Sturgeon Bay – two by Peterson Builders and this will be our third here at Fincantieri Bay Shipbuilding. Our past work is indicative of the quality and attention to detail the Ferry Line and all of our customers have come to expect from our seasoned workforce. This contract will add to the steady work relied upon by the hundreds of women and men we employ from across the region.”

“This opportunity to build yet another ferry vessel in a Door County shipyard is something we’re extremely proud of,” says Washington Island Ferry Line President Hoyt Purinton. “Built locally, this ferry – like our other vessels – will operate exclusively in Door County waters between Washington Island and the tip of the Door Peninsula.”

(See full story in May 23 issue)

Get ready for the 2019 birding festival

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By Chari Rutledge

All eyes will be on the skies during the 2019 Washington Islands Birding Festival. Mark your calendars for May 16-19.
PHOTO SUBMITTED

Plans are underway for the 2019 Washington Islands Birding Festival to be held May 16-19. The festival is under the auspices of the Washington Island Art and Nature Center, and is also sponsored by the Washington Island Ferry Line and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The festival features guided small group birding on Washington, Plum and Rock Islands. Our Islands are located on the Great Lakes flyway. Data collected on the Island shows that this weekend, in particular, usually promises the largest amount of bird activity. The 2018 festival bore that out with 139 species recorded by the 60 birders attending. The birders also enjoyed dinners and programs that gave them a chance to meet and get to know one another.

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