Washington Island Observer

Washington Island Observer Locally-owned newspaper committed to providing local news, community information, and advertising.

Washington Island is a year-round island community located approximately five miles off the northeast tip of the Door Peninsula in Door County, Wisconsin. It has its own town government and supports its own school district. The island, which can be reached by boat and by air, has a landmass of approximately 35 square miles and a year-round population of slightly more than 700.

“Children should be seen & not heard” is definitely NOT a rule we abide by on the Island—they should be neither. JUST KI...
09/01/2025

“Children should be seen & not heard” is definitely NOT a rule we abide by on the Island—they should be neither. JUST KIDDING! 😂

See them, hear them, give them gifts—we hear they take cash, check or Venmo. 😉

The Washington Island Music Festival's Music Camp culminated on August 13th with the Concert for Children of all Ages.

Here the campers are performing the song Blowin' in the Wind by Stephanie Leavell.

To subscribe to our paper & read the full article & other exciting Island content, go to washingtonislandobserver.com. 🤗

Photo by Betsy Wallman

NPR’s recent “Locals enjoy the last days of baseball season in Door County, WI” segment has us feeling all kinds of prid...
08/30/2025

NPR’s recent “Locals enjoy the last days of baseball season in Door County, WI” segment has us feeling all kinds of pride in our county & the individuals who step up to bat for us, literally. ⚾️ ❤️

To hear more about our amazing county’s long-held affinity for baseball & for a chance to revisit the Islanders’ glorious win over Sister Bay, you can visit the following:

https://www.npr.org/2025/08/24/nx-s1-5502747/locals-enjoy-the-last-days-of-baseball-season-in-door-county-wisconsin

Photo Credit: Jim Rose

Planned during the pandemic & inspired by modular designs, some people call it the “Stilt house,” and others call it the...
08/30/2025

Planned during the pandemic & inspired by modular designs, some people call it the “Stilt house,” and others call it the “High Water House,” and its owners, Tom and Krista Gardiner, prefer the latter. 🏠

Built on metal stilts, the house was designed in Minneapolis & constructed in Farmington, MN, before it was brought by ferry to the Island.

As you may guess, building & transporting such an unusual home to the Island definitely had its difficulties. To read the whole story & it’s happy ending online, & to sign up for our paper to hear more great stories, you can go to washingtonislandobserver.com. 😊

Photography lovers & lovers of Jackson Harbor—this one’s for you! 📸😀A new exhibit, Agnes and Arbutus at Jackson Harbor, ...
08/25/2025

Photography lovers & lovers of Jackson Harbor—this one’s for you! 📸😀

A new exhibit, Agnes and Arbutus at Jackson Harbor, featuring two past Island photographers, is now on display at Jackson Harbor Maritime Museum & the Archives Outdoor Display Kiosk.

This year's display features photographs of Arbutus Greenfeldt, & the second part, coming in 2026 will focus on those of Agnes Lindal Oshkosh.

Both of these Washington Island women had a close connection with our beloved Jackson Harbor, & captured it not only in memory but in nostalgia-inducing photographs.

To learn more about these two fantastic photographers & the legacy they left behind, as well as more about the exhibit, you can subscribe to our paper at washingtonislandobserver.com.

Remember that AWESOME baseball game we told you about two posts ago? Well here’s an ACTUAL photo of the Islanders post-v...
08/21/2025

Remember that AWESOME baseball game we told you about two posts ago? Well here’s an ACTUAL photo of the Islanders post-victory! 🍻

The team celebrated Island-style 🍺🤪 after their upset of Sister Bay here on Washington Island on Sunday, August 10th. Their win over Sister Bay kept them in the hunt for a playoff spot.

To hear more about this exciting game (& this exciting 2025 team), you can subscribe to our paper at washingtonislandobserver.com!

The first ever Observer poetry contest, in association with the Door County Land Trust and the Art & Nature Center, brou...
08/19/2025

The first ever Observer poetry contest, in association with the Door County Land Trust and the Art & Nature Center, brought out the talented poets in so many of you! ✍️🥲

On August 1st, the winners were announced at a gathering at the Art & Nature Center.
Among adult entrants, Jim Sorensen’s “The Swallow” took the top honors, and we thought we would share it here. 😊

The Swallow
By Jim Sorensen

The peal of the Eagle signals the
End of another day
My wish for the Eagle?
Save the swallow
Feast on carrion and
Fish and scurvy gulls
and cormorants
But please, please
Mighty Eagle
Save the swallow
While you set your
sights on larger fare
The humble swallow
dives for gullet full
Helpings of tiny midges,
Dock side pests
Mayflies, lakeflies,
Call them what you will
To the swallow, they’re
called brunch
Swooping, diving, rarely alighting
Even for a moment
The swallow feasts,
So please great eagle
Hear my appeal
And spare the humble swallow

For more amazing & inspirational content like this, go to washingtonislandobserver.com and subscribe to our paper.

Congratulations to all of the entrants & winners! Never stop writing. ❤️

No doubt motivated by Hervy Hodges’ awe-inspiring, game-opening rendition of our National Anthem 🇺🇸🥲, on Sunday, August ...
08/12/2025

No doubt motivated by Hervy Hodges’ awe-inspiring, game-opening rendition of our National Anthem 🇺🇸🥲, on Sunday, August 10th, our Islanders defeated the Sister Bay Bays 2-1!

Due greatly in part to notable performances by Ryan Jorgenson, Ben Johnson, Luke Geiger, Ben Geiger, & Ray McDonald, our Islanders held their 2-1 lead from the third inning for the rest of the game! 💪

It’s also notable that our level-headed but passionate manager, Joe Cornell, got ejected, which means you know it was an exciting game. 😏

Our Islanders are now in fourth place, but since Maplewood & West Jacksonport are tied for third, they are not currently in the top four that make it to the playoffs. If they win next week, however, and either Maplewood or West Jacksonport loses, our Islanders would be tied for fourth & would play a game that, if won, would send them to the playoffs. (You got all that?)

To hear all of the details of this thrilling game, (& to see actual photos from the game 😂 ), you can subscribe to our paper at washingtonislandobserver.com.

It’s not too late—you can still enter our 2025 Photo Contest! 📸 This contest was created to recognize the talented photo...
08/08/2025

It’s not too late—you can still enter our 2025 Photo Contest! 📸

This contest was created to recognize the talented photographers who capture the beautiful landscapes, abundant wildlife, & extraordinary people of Washington Island. 🥰

There are three categories for this contest: Landscape, Wildlife & People. Photographs must be taken on Washington, Plum, Detroit, or Rock Island, or on Lake Michigan near these islands between August 1st, 2024, and September 1st, 2025. 🗓️

You can enter up to three photographs in each category. All entries must be received by midnight September 1st, 2025. ⏰

For more information, go to https://washingtonislandobserver.com/category/photo-contests/.

Good luck—we can’t wait to see some AMAZING photographs! 😍

For some inspiration, enjoy this photo by Michael Anderson from our 2020 contest!

To no one’s surprise, Donna Russell & her Dudes blew away audience members last Wednesday, July 30th with a spectacular ...
08/04/2025

To no one’s surprise, Donna Russell & her Dudes blew away audience members last Wednesday, July 30th with a spectacular show! 🤩

This follow-up performance to her 2024 production, “Donna’s Divas,” was the perfect
feather added to Donna’s director’s cap.

If you have the delight of knowing Donna Russell personally, you would know that she has quite the talent for bringing out the best in the people around her, and these wonderful shows are testament to that.

To read the full article or to subscribe to our paper, go to washingtonislandobserver.com! 🤗

The 32nd annual Rec Run fundraiser for the Mosling Recreation Center was not DAMPENED by the rain! Get it? DAMPENED?? 😂 ...
07/30/2025

The 32nd annual Rec Run fundraiser for the Mosling Recreation Center was not DAMPENED by the rain! Get it? DAMPENED?? 😂

“Well then why do they look wet?” Okay, they may have been PHYSICALLY dampened, but their SPIRITS weren’t dampened! Don’t worry, you’ll get used to our humor eventually. 😉

“But why do they look blurry?” Uhhh…because they’re running so fast! 🤯

Anyway…this past July 19th, a total of 135 people showed up to run for a good cause & to have a good time! (Yes, running can be fun!) 😀

Rain or shine, we can always count on our Islanders & lovers of the Island to show up & make us proud. 🥲

To read the full article or to subscribe to our paper, go to washingtonislandobserver.com.

Photo Credit*: Steve Waldron *for which he did not submit to us blurry…he actually knows what he’s doing 😬😆

It was pretty gloomy on the Island Saturday morning, July 12th, but the rain evaporated & the sun even came out for the ...
07/24/2025

It was pretty gloomy on the Island Saturday morning, July 12th, but the rain evaporated & the sun even came out for the Art in the Park festival at the Art & Nature Center! 🤗

Projects, fun & food again marked the annual celebration of nature, art, & summer! 🌳🎨☀️

To read the full article or to subscribe to our paper, please visit washingtonislandobserver.com! 😊

Photo Credit: Steve Waldron

The Scandinavian Muses are waking the Viking spirits on Washington Island! Soon the pots & bowls will be filled with Isl...
07/20/2025

The Scandinavian Muses are waking the Viking spirits on Washington Island!

Soon the pots & bowls will be filled with Island cooks’ favorite salads, Swedish meatballs, smoked salmon, fruit soup, Lefse, Christmas breads, cold cuts & an assortment of amazing homemade desserts! 😋

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

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

To read the full article or to subscribe to our paper, visit washingtonislandobserver.com. 😊

Address

1253 Main Road
Washington Island, WI
54246

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Tuesday 9am - 12pm
Wednesday 9am - 12pm
Thursday 9am - 12pm

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