NFL star again gives to city parks
By Scott Sullivan Editor Saugatuck’s once-anonymous $100,000 Village Square Park donor is famous NFL quarterback Kirk Cousins. He and wife Julie, both Saugatuck residents, have given to the community before, helping build playgrounds in Douglas parks — now it’s Saugatuck’s…
Impressionists pour into Petter soon
By Scott Sullivan Editor J. Petter Galleries, 161 N. Blue Star Hwy., Douglas, will showcase the Art Coast of Michigan hosting the 10th annual American Impressionist Society Small Works Showcase throughout May starting early Wednesday, April 29, with a Paint…
SHS grad Holmes does D.C
By Scott Sullivan Editor Olivia “Liv” Holmes no longer lives in her Saugatuck home but in an apartment near Kalamazoo College where she is a junior — and double agent. Every so often she slips off to Washington D.C. to…
Spring: blooms and sewer flushings
Spring brings birds, bees, buds into blooms and, most important for Kalamazoo Lake Sewer & Water Authority (KLSWA) staff, sewer flushings. Starting Monday, April 20, look for reflective crews dislodging fine sediments and iron deposits from the mains. This essential…
Kuklafest celebrates pioneer puppeteer Tillstrom
Saugatuck — home of the late Burr Tillstrom, creator of the beloved television show “Kukla, Fran and Ollie” and one of Saugatuck’s most-cherished famous figures — will be celebrated during Kuklafest 2026 Saturday, April 25, in the Saugatuck Woman’s Club,…
Trailblazers tie
By Jason WesseldykSports EditorAfter a 2+-week hiatus, the Saugatuck girls soccer team returned from spring break to host Niles on Monday And while the game was stopped early due to lightning, Trailblazers coach Neal Phillips liked what he saw.The game…
Blue Star
By Scott SullivanEditorDr. OzThe son of Turkish immigrants, Mehmet Cengis oz (born June 11, 1960) was raised in Wilmington, Del., not far from where Joe Biden grew up 19 years earlier.His parents — father Mustafa, who graduated at the top…
Grant Collection adds another gem
By Scott SullivanEditorThe Grant Collection is on a buying spree. Owners Brian and Candice Grant, whose luxury event venues started with Holland’s Port 393 in 2020, saw opportunities near their own Saugatuck home and started stacking them up. Port 393The…
Mantels out after decade as deputy
By Scott SullivanEditorTen-year Saugatuck Township District Deputy Chief Chris Mantels (shown at left) is no longer on the job.Chief Greg Janik said personnel matters must by law be kept confidential, but added many of Mantels’ duties regarding commercial building applications…
Life as Performance Art
The recent decision by Allegan County Commissioners to change home delivered meal providers for The Olds caught my attention.My first thought came from a line from the film “The Godfather” when one of the mobsters ordered a hit on a…
Mike’s Musings: Here’s why a printed weekly newspaper is important
Robert Tomlinson, our news director in Three Rivers, gave a terrific speech to the local Rotary Club about the importance of your local newspaper. I thought I would share a portion with you.“With our twelve weekly newspapers the mission is…
Saugatuck golf team hopes to build on historic season
By Jason WesseldykSports EditorAfter a historic season a year ago, expectations remain high for the Saugatuck boys golf team.“Our goals this year look very similar to what they’ve been in years past,” coach Brian Ward said. “Our expectation for this…
Blue Star
By Scott SullivanEditorApril FoolsA white-haired, wild-eyed septuagenarian staggered up to the first Meijer clerk he saw and cried, “Need a belt.”“Don’t we all?” she said, slipping out a schnapps flask hidden in her waste pack. “You first.”“I mean the kind…
Rain drives Douglas Easter into school halls
By Scott SullivanEditorBummed? Beleaguered and now rained out? Roxanne Potter celebrated Easter with friends indoors instead.Easter Eve Saturday saw kids and families gather instead of a rain-logged Beery Field dryer Douglas Elementary halls.Pink, purple and pastel plastic eggs were scattered…
Will 40-home Enclave spur township growth?
By Scott SullivanEditorTangram Development Group LLC co-founder Johnny Walker wants to build an Enclave of 40 Scandinavian modern single-family homes and duplexes on 9.13 acres on the northeast corner of Blue Star Highway and Old Allegan Road in Saugatuck Township.The…
Mea culpa on Bagierek bag mistakes
By Scott SullivanEditorErrors in last week’s “Should city bag PC vice-chair” bear correcting in the same bottom of Page A1 space.First, and most embarrassing, the photo gleaned from a CJ Bagierek, Saugatuck page is not of CJ but Kevin King,…
Life as Performance Art
I spent most of last Thursday afternoon March 27 listening to the radio, taking in the opening day of the baseball season. The Chicago Cubs were playing the Washington Nationals, and if you can’t remember the score, “Wait ‘til next…
Mike’s Musings: Rescues are an Easter weekend miracle
There are moments when a nation is reminded, in the clearest possible terms, who it is and who it chooses to be. The rescue of two American airmen from enemy territory is one of those moments. Not just because it…
Saugatuck soccer splits games
The Saugatuck girls soccer team was in action on back-to-back days last week, hosted Covenant Christian on Friday, March 27, after welcoming Bloomingdale to town on Thursday, March 26.The result was a split decision, as the Trailblazers fell by a…
Blue Star
By Scott SullivanEditorCornhole KingIn a world where quadruple amputees can become pro cornhole players, wrestlers, marksmen and murderers, I agree with C.G. Stoppel: now we need a sing-along.Saturday’s latest No Kings rally, relegated late to sidewalks around Coghlin Park in…
