SATURDAY, MARCH 23 (11:00 AM - 1:00 PM) at the Wind Point Lighthouse
The Wind Point Community Club in conjunction with STROLL Wind Point magazine invite all neighbors for a new spring celebration and tradition.
This is a FREE event for all Village residents.
The day will commence with an egg hunt on a special-marked area of the Lighthouse park grounds at 11:00 am. Bring your Easter basket!
We will also have activities inside the Lighthouse including:
· Egg Coloring / Decorating
· Coloring / Games
· Balloon Animals
· Snacks / Chips / Cookies / Hot Dogs
We might also have an appearance from a special spring guest!
In order for us to prepare for needed supplies and food, please RSVP
We are Hoppin’ Down the Bunny Trail in 2024!
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Don’t forget to license your dog!
A late fee of $10 is assessed for any applications that are received after April 1.
A dog license application, along with the license fee and copy of rabies certificate, should be submitted for each dog by mail, drop-box, or in-person at the Village Office.
Licenses cannot be processed without a non-expired rabies certificate containing the manufacturer, serial number, and expiration date of the vaccination. If applying by mail or in the drop-box, please include a self-addressed stamped envelope for the tag and receipt to be returned to you. If you do not include a self-addressed stamped envelope, your license will be kept at the Village Office to be picked up.
If you recently adopted a dog, or plan to soon, please keep in mind dog owners need to obtain a license within 30 days of ownership.
Thank you for your cooperation with the annual dog license program!
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Meet Your Wind Point Police Officers -
Officer Sherrick and Officer Pie
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Officer David Sherrick, left, and Officer Tom Pie have both been working for the Wind Point Police Department for a combined total of 15 years. Both officers enjoy their time providing service in our community to our residents and plan to continue their service for many years to come.
On his off days, Officer Sherrick likes to BBQ and spend time with his wife and three children. His hobbies include fish keeping, gardening, and spending time outdoors as much as possible.
Officer Pie’s hobbies include teaching his daughter to be her best at club volleyball and taking trips all over the country for her competitions, fishing, hunting, and supporting the San Francisco 49ers.
Thank you, Officer Sherrick and Officer Pie!
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2024 Lighthouse Tour Dates |
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Lighthouse Keepers Many Ann and Joe Huser are preparing for another season of tours at the Wind Point Lighthouse! There will be a total of five regular tour dates on the first Sunday of each month. Lighthouse Open Tower Climb dates for 2024 will be June 2, July 7, August 4, September 1, and October 6.
Reservations for public tour times can be made online at windpointlighthouse.org (click on “Book a Tour” or “Visit Us”). Tours for private groups are also available by making arrangements with the lighthouse keepers - more information about private group tours is available at http://windpointlighthouse.org/visit-us/
Call for Volunteers!
If you are interested in getting involved at the lighthouse as a volunteer, please contact Mary Ann and Joseph. Extra help is needed to coordinate tours – if going up the tower isn’t your thing, we also have a need for people at the ground level to greet and register guests. Light lunch and refreshments are provided on tour dates. Contact Mary Ann at 262-639-3777 or lhkeeper@windpoint.org
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Just as March winds give way to April showers, the warm weather of Spring means we will soon see a bumper crop of “direct sellers” in Wind Point.
A direct seller is a person or persons who goes door-to-door to sell products or services to homeowners, or to solicit a charitable donation.
In the Village of Wind Point, anyone who wishes to be a direct seller must first undergo a criminal background check and obtain a permit from the Village Administrator or the Police Chief. This is true for every individual seller; it’s not enough for a company to have a “blanket” permit for all its employees. Church evangelists and political candidates/activists do not need permits.
Once the seller has been granted a permit, he/she must always carry it with them while selling in the Village. Moreover, a homeowner has the right to see the permit, and the seller must present the permit for inspection upon request.
Direct selling is permitted in the Village from 9:00 am to 30 minutes past sunset, Monday through Saturday. No direct selling is allowed on Sundays or legal holidays.
Direct selling is prohibited at any residence that displays a sign stating, “no peddlers”, “no solicitors”, or similar language. Even if no such sign is displayed, if the owner or occupant of the home asks or directs the seller to leave the property, the seller must do so at once.
If you or anyone in your household feels unsafe or threatened by a direct seller, do not engage with the seller. Simply close and lock your door and dial 911 immediately.
If a seller comes to your home who:
· Is not wearing a name tag,
· Fails to identify himself or the company he represents,
· Refuses or is unable to present a valid Village of Wind Point direct seller’s permit,
· Refuses to clearly state what he is selling, as well as the price,
· Is rude, belligerent, overly-pushy, or disrespectful of you or your property,
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- Then close and lock your door, write down any details about the interaction, including a description of the seller and his vehicle, and dial the Wind Point Police Department’s non-emergency number (262.639.3022) or the Racine County Sheriff's Office non-emergency number (262.886.2300).
We will do our best to post the names of individuals and the vendors they represent who have been issued a Peddler's Permit on the Village's Facebook page.
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The Village Board of Trustees met for a regular meeting on February 8, 2024. The following actions took place at the meeting:
- Nancy Wuenne reviewed the Village's insurance policies with the Board
- Approved a Street Route Use Permit Application for Lighthouse Run
The next regular meeting is scheduled for Thursday, March 14 at 6:00 p.m. at the Village Hall (lighthouse).
The Plan Commission met February 21, 2024, to review the Zoning Ordinances updates. The Village contracted with Jeffrey Sanders of Community Planning and Consulting to bring our Zoning Ordinances up to date and into compliance with state and federal laws. The Plan Commission will meet again on March 21, 2024 to discuss the ordinances before meeting with Mr. Sanders again and making any changes.
No action has been taken on any ordinance updates/changes.
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Wind Point Community Club Seeks Members |
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The Wind Point Community Club was an integral part of Wind Point for many years and sponsored many community events. Ever since the pandemic it has been restricted in its ability to support community events due to lack of volunteers.
We are looking for help from other community-minded Wind Point residents to assist with organizing and working well-loved community events, such as the Holiday Party and Wreath Lighting, the Wind Point Community Picnic and the Dolly Buggy Parade, in addition to adding some other fun family events.
Participating in the Wind Point Community Club and the events it puts on is a wonderful way to meet your neighbors and serve our wonderful community!
We will be having a Wind Point Community Club Open House on Wednesday March 13, 2024, from 6:00 – 8:00 pm at the Wind Point Lighthouse (Village Hall). Please stop by and learn about the wonderful things that the Wind Point Community Club has done in the past and would like to do in the future! Wine and appetizers will be served. All are welcome.
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Spring Election - Tuesday, April 2 |
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VOTING BY ABSENTEE BALLOT IN PERSON BEGINS TUESDAY, MARCH 19 THROUGH FRIDAY, MARCH 29.
FOR EARLY IN PERSON VOTING, Tuesday, March 19 through Friday, March 29, come to the Administrative Office (215 E. 4 Mile Rd.) between 8:00 am and 4:30 pm, M-F. On March 28, the office will be open until 5:00 pm, to allow the request of an absentee ballot in person. Remember to bring a photo ID.
FOR VOTING ABSENTEE BY MAIL, DEADLINE FOR MAKING AN APPLICATION TO RECEIVE AN ABSENTEE BALLOT BY MAIL IS FRIDAY, MARCH 29 BY 5:00 PM.
FOR OTHER ABSENTEE VOTING:
- For those who have already applied, absentee ballots will be mailed out by Tuesday, March 12.
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You can apply for an absentee ballot at the Village Office or online at MyVoteWi.gov
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The deadline to request an absentee ballot is 5:00 PM, Thursday, March 30, but it is recommended that you request one as soon as possible so that it will be received by the Village office in time for delivery to the polls on Election Day, April 2.
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An absentee ballot can be mailed or brought by the voter to the Village office during office hours, 8:00 am – 4:30 pm, M-F.
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REMINDER: The drop box by the Village Green tennis courts can no longer be used to turn in ballots.
ON APRIL 2, ELECTION DAY:
Polls will be open from 7:00 am until 8:00 pm at the Village Municipal Garage, at the back of the Village Green park just off 4 Mile Road.
Above all else, just remember to vote. For questions, contact the Village office at 262-639-3524, info@windpoint.org or stop by in person.
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Pickleball and Tennis Court Online Reservations Coming Soon
When the Wind Point Tennis and Pickleball courts open this spring, you will be able to reserve your court time and pay online with our new online scheduling system. The system will be linked on the Village website and is easy to use. More information to come.
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Although it may be cold and snowy outside, winter is actually the best time of year to prune your deciduous plants. Wait for a relatively mild, sunny day, get out your pruners, and take a critical look at your trees and shrubs.
Want to learn more? Garden staff members teach pruning techniques at the Garden throughout the year.
According to the supervisor of plant health care at the Chicago Botanic Garden, 90 percent of deciduous pruning can be done in the winter. "As soon as trees and shrubs go into dormancy, pruning can begin," he said. "And you can prune up to the time when buds begin to plump up." From mid-November to mid-March, you can shape and thin your deciduous plants in preparation for the spring season ahead. Evergreens, in most situations, should be pruned in the growing season since they never become fully dormant and may suffer tip burn if pruned in the winter.
There are important reasons to prune at this time. It is much easier to prune a plant without its leaves since you can easily see its branching structure. Also, in winter there is less chance of transmitting diseases from one plant to another or attracting insects to fresh pruning wounds. And, since most gardening chores in the Midwest get compressed into the short, intense growing season, it is useful to relegate some of them to winter.
The Plant Health Care department spends the winter months pruning at the Chicago Botanic Garden, and offers homeowners the following advice:
Have a clear purpose in mind when you prune a plant. Think about what you want to do to the tree or shrub you're pruning. Most deciduous pruning should promote a natural style, which means that low-branching trees are not limbed up, tall shrubs are not sheared or topped to make them shorter, and the natural outline of a plant is maintained. The goal is to highlight the plant's natural features, and, ironically, if you do it well, it looks like you didn't do anything at all.
Remove undesirable branches. First, remove all dead or diseased wood, regardless of where it is on the plant. Next, remove all suckers and water sprouts. Suckers are straight, unbranched stems that sprout from the base of a tree. Water sprouts are similar stems but grow at right angles to the branches. Neither suckers nor water sprouts will develop into natural-looking, well-branched limbs.
Next, remove crossing or rubbing branches. Start with the largest branches and move progressively to the smallest. There may be cases when you break this rule; for example, leave a large crossing limb that would disfigure the tree if removed. If trees were properly pruned when they were young, you would never have to face this type of situation.
Thin the canopy. Starting at the center and moving to the exterior, thin the branches that make up the dense mass of a tree or shrub. Your purpose is to increase air circulation through the branches and to accentuate the structure of the plant. Never remove more than one-quarter of a plant in a season since that will encourage sucker growth. Thinning is especially important for trees such as crabapples and hawthorns, which are susceptible to fungal diseases.
Work slowly, taking plenty of breaks to step back and look. Is the tree balanced? Does it look symmetrical? Know when to stop; you don't want to hollow out the center. You can always go back and take more off, but you can't put it back on.
Always prune back to a bud or a branch. Never leave a stub or the kind of open ends that result from shearing off the top of a plant. Open ends can create dense horizontal sucker-type growth that ruins the natural branching habit, or they can cause dieback and disease. Cut an undesirable branch just above a bud, keeping in mind that a new branch will grow from that bud. Ideally, the bud should face outward, so the branch will grow toward the exterior of the plant.
When removing a limb from a trunk or other large branch, never cut flush to the trunk. The natural collar should be left on the trunk so the wood can heal properly.
Look for insect problems. Egg masses of tent caterpillars, moths are often visible on tree branches in winter. Remove them by hand or prune out to control insect damage in the spring.
Look for signs of disease. While closely inspecting branches, take the opportunity to check for unusual swellings, open lesions, or darkened areas that could be symptoms of canker and disease.
Disinfect your tools. Although not as critically important as during the growing season, cleaning tools with a 10 percent solution of rubbing alcohol and water (approximately 2 tablespoons of alcohol to 1 cup of water) helps prevent the spread of disease from cut to cut as you prune.
Remember safety. Wear some kind of eye protection when you prune; it is easy to get poked in the eye. And know your limits. Tree work can be dangerous. If you need to prune large trees or use a chainsaw, you may wish to seek professional help from a certified arborist.
Once you have pruned your trees, Wind Point Public Works collects branches from residents for disposal on the second Tuesday of each month, from April to November. For more information on branch pickup please see the Village website. https://windpoint.org/branch-collection/
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Wind Point Residents Eligible for Discounted Rentals at the Lighthouse
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Planning a special event in the coming year? The Wind Point Lighthouse offers a beautiful setting for private events, from intimate gatherings in the hall to larger groups on the south lawn. You could even plan a private tour of the tower while you are at it!
Wind Point residents can take advantage of rental discounts of $100.00 off for hall reservations and up to $200.00 (based on group size) off for large group rentals on the south lawn.
For more information visit the lighthouse rentals webpage or contact the lighthouse keepers, Mary Ann and Joseph Huser at 262-639-3777 or lhkeeper@windpoint.org. Income from rentals helps support the maintenance of the lighthouse!
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Birthdays & Anniversaries |
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Happy March Work Anniversary to Police Officer Nicole Fries - 2 years
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Village Administrator/Clerk-Treasurer
Position Posted
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The Village Administrator/Clerk/Treasurer position has been posted and resumes are being accepted. The position will close on March 18, 2024. If you know someone who would be a great fit encourage them to apply. You can view the posting here
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The Personnel, Finance, and Insurance Committee along with representatives from Village administration, DPW, and the WP Police Department have been interviewing candidates for Village Police Chief. We anticipate having the Police Chief position filled by the end of March. |
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It’s coming up on that time of year and we would like to remind you of a few turkey facts to help reduce turkey/human conflicts.
From the Wisconsin DNR:
Turkeys
Reintroduction efforts for Eastern Wild Turkey began in the 1970s and have resulted in thriving turkey populations in Wisconsin. However, the success of these efforts has led to an increase in human-turkey conflicts. Backyards and parks provide excellent habitat for turkeys and urban areas have fewer natural predators than rural areas. Turkeys forage in gardens, roost in trees and on homes, cause vehicle accidents and even act aggressively toward humans and pets during the spring mating season.
NUISANCE MANAGEMENT TECHNIQUES:
· Do not feed turkeys. This can result in aggressive birds and poses human health and safety risks.
· Remove birdseed from the ground, thus eliminating an easy food source that draws turkeys to your yard.
· Erect fences around your garden to help keep turkeys out. Turkeys can fly, but prefer to stay on the ground whenever possible.
· Scare tactics such as predator decoys, sticks and fences decorated with mylar flagging and noise machines make turkeys uncomfortable and encourage them to locate new, friendlier habitat. Move objects frequently to keep birds on edge.
· Nontoxic, biodegradable repellents such as Methyl anthranilate can be sprayed on crops, gardens and lawns to keep turkeys from using the area. This repellent has a bad taste that will deter turkeys while not harming them in any way.
· Collect fruit or nuts that fall from trees and dispose of the them offsite.
· Turkey trapping is a useful removal measure, with the correct permits.
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Mean Girls: High School Version PG-13
Upper School Musical
MARCH 14 – 16 at 6:30 pm and MARCH 16 at 2:00 pm
Cady Heron may have grown up on an African savanna, but nothing prepared her for the wild and vicious ways of her strange new home: suburban Illinois. How will this naïve newbie rise to the top of the popularity pecking order? By taking on The Plastics, a trio of lionized frenemies led by the charming but ruthless Regina George. But when Cady and her friends devise a “Revenge Party” to end Regina’s reign, she learns the hard way that you can’t cross a Queen Bee without getting stung.
NOW AND THEN
When Jamie and Abby swap stories with a stranger at the bar, the unbelievable truth he shares unfolds into a heartfelt romantic comedy.
FEB 23 - MAR 10 at 7:30 pm
JAMES AND THE GIANT PEACH
James finds himself on an expedition in the center of a gigantic peach – among human-sized insects with equally oversized personalities.
MAR 15 at 6:00 pm and MAR 16 at 12:00, 2:00, and 4:00 pm
Celebrate the beginning of spring with Sugarin’ Off at River Bend Nature Center!
River Bend Nature Center will once again host the springtime tradition of Sugarin’ Off pancake breakfasts to celebrate the maple sugar harvest. Breakfasts are scheduled for SUNDAYS MARCH 3rd, 10th, 17th and 24th from 8am to 12pm.
March 16 @ 12:00 pm - 2:00 pm
St. Patrick's Day Parade! 🍀 Mark your calendars for Saturday, March 16th at noon because the Downtown Racine St. Patrick's Day Parade is back, bigger, and greener than ever!
Gather up the kids and their Easter baskets and head over to the Wind Point Lighthouse for a morning of egg decorating, crafts and games, light refreshments, an egg hunt, and a special visit from the Easter Bunny! Open to all Wind Point residents. Free. Please RSVP by March 20 to check1@wi.rr.com and gary@strollwindpointmagazine.com
SATURDAY, MARCH 23 11:00 – 1:00 pm
RACINE ZOO
Gather the little ones and enjoy an Easter-themed day to put a little "spring" in your step! Be sure to bring your own basket for our candy hunt! INCLUDED with Zoo admission and FREE for Zoo members!
SATURDAY, MARCH 30 10AM – 4PM
Keep up with local events by visiting https://www.visitracinecounty.com/events/local/
WIND POINT COMMUNITY CLUB
We will have an Open House on Wednesday March 13, 2024, from 6:00 – 8:00 pm at the Wind Point Lighthouse (Village Hall). Please stop by and learn about the wonderful things that the Wind Point Community Club has done in the past and learn about things planned for the future! Wine and appetizers will be served. All are welcome.
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E - Waste Collection
Mark your calendars now for the Village's E-Waste Recycling Collection Event happening on Saturday, August 10, 2024.
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Village of Wind Point, Wisconsin
215 E. Four Mile Rd.
Racine, WI 53402
262.639.3524
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