Saugatuck/Douglas Commercial Record

Saugatuck man falls off houseboat, drowns

Editorial StaffOct 29, 20251 min read

By Scott Sullivan Editor A Saugatuck man drowned Oct. 20 after falling off the roof of his houseboat in Mecosta County. Joseph Petty, 81, was performing routine maintenance on the vessel docked at Newaygo Boat Club on the Muskegon River…

Brewery founders say ‘Cheers’ to 20 years

Editorial StaffOct 29, 20252 min read

By Scott Sullivan Editor It was 20 years ago this June when Barry and Kathy Johnson opened Saugatuck Brewing Co. in its current home at 2948 Blue Star Hwy., Douglas. “We’ve been married for 46 years,” said Barry last week…

Saugatuck volleyball team earns two victories

Editorial StaffOct 29, 20251 min read

By Jason WesseldykSports Editor PARCHMENT—Facing Coloma and Parchment on Tuesday, Oct. 21, the Saugatuck volleyball team came away with a pair of wins.The Trailblazers bested Coloma 17-25, 25-20, 25-20 and upended Parchment 25-19, 12-25, 26-24.Natalia Laskowski had a big night,…

Halloween fun

Halloween fun

Editorial StaffOct 29, 20251 min read

Bright day gave way to dark night for Saugatuck/Douglas Halloween festivities Saturday. A morning Family & Pets Parade through downtown Saugatuck (shown) was followed by thousands packing downtown Douglas for its annual Adult Parade. (See more photos inside.)

Blue Star

Blue Star

Editorial StaffOct 29, 20255 min read

By Scott SullivanEditorSmart to be DumbIn their new book “The Enigma of Reason,” cognitive scientists Dan Sperber and Hugo Mercier argue people’s capacity for reason might have more to do with winning arguments than thinking straight. Humans’ biggest advantage over…

5 seek 3 Saugatuck council seats Nov. 4

5 seek 3 Saugatuck council seats Nov. 4

Editorial StaffOct 29, 20253 min read

By Scott SullivanEditorSaugatuck again has a contested city council race, with five candidates seeking three available 2-year seats on Tuesday, Nov. 4. City voting this year will take place at the Saugatuck Woman’s Club, 303 Butler St., rather than city…

Life as Performance Art

Life as Performance Art

Editorial StaffOct 29, 20257 min read

I have a niche genre of movies that make me happy. The basic plot is the main character sees others around him or her living in the shadowlands, takes action, faces challenges and drama, then the magic happens.One of the…

Mike’s Musings: Lawmakers shouldn’t receive pay during shutdown

Mike’s Musings: Lawmakers shouldn’t receive pay during shutdown

Editorial StaffOct 29, 20254 min read

One of the consequences of a government shutdown should be that those legislators responsible for the shutdown should not receive their regular pay. In my mind they are just as much part of the government as the hundreds of thousand…

Do you need help? Write Us!

Do you need help? Write Us!

Editorial StaffOct 28, 20253 min read

By Mike WilcoxOwner/Publisher Every year, as the Christmas season draws near, I’m reminded just how generous our communities can be. For nearly two decades, Wilcox Newspapers has hosted what’s become one of my favorite traditions: our Annual Christmas Wish Program.…

Pier Cove Park ribbon-cutting Nov. 1

Pier Cove Park ribbon-cutting Nov. 1

Editorial StaffOct 22, 20252 min read

By Scott Sullivan Editor  Ganges Township will host a ribbon-cutting ceremony for its newly-enhanced Pier Cove Park Saturday, Nov. 1 at 1 p.m. All are welcome. The township — with help from a $266,000 Michigan Department of Natural Resources Trust…

Roy Davis: Homeless in Saugatuck

Editorial StaffOct 22, 20253 min read

By Scott Sullivan Editor Roy Davis, 59, has “come home” to Saugatuck with no home. He has lived in Wicks Park since July, making do with a sleeping bag, ice-fishing tent, propane heater and clothes on his back. We spoke…

Saugatuck volleyball suffers losses to Allegan, Galesburg-Augusta

Editorial StaffOct 22, 20251 min read

By Jason WesseldykSports EditorA standout performance from Camdyn Drozd helped carry the Allegan volleyball team to a 25-21, 25-11, 25-17 win over host Saugatuck on Thursday, Oct. 16.Drozd racked up 12 kills and 13 digs, both of which led Allegan.Emma…

‘Spooktacular’ Halloween on tap

‘Spooktacular’ Halloween on tap

Editorial StaffOct 22, 20254 min read

By Scott SullivanEditorIt’s time for the best spooky fun of the season as Saugatuck-Douglas celebrates Halloween early this this week.What better place to start than at Dykstra Funeral Home Thursday, Oct. 23 for “Evening at the Parlor” exploring the history…

Blue Star

Blue Star

Editorial StaffOct 22, 20254 min read

By Scott SullivanEditorOctopus UpdateLetter writer Barbara King rightly takes me to task for making light of Detroit Red Wings fans flinging dead octopi on the hockey rink ice to celebrate playoff wins.Last week’s column recounts how the tradition started in…

Life as Performance Art

Life as Performance Art

Editorial StaffOct 22, 20257 min read

By G.C. StoppelEighty years ago this month a new kitchen appliance revolutionized cooking thanks to a young engineer who had worked late into the night on projects for the military.Percy Spencer had dropped out of school when he was 12…

Mike’s Musings: Why Michigan Should Say “No” to Ranked-Choice Voting

Mike’s Musings: Why Michigan Should Say “No” to Ranked-Choice Voting

Editorial StaffOct 22, 20255 min read

As Michigan stands at a crossroad on whether to adopt Ranked-Choice Voting (RCV) statewide, voters and policymakers ought to pause and ask: what problem is RCV truly solving — and at what cost? The case against this change is stronger…

Chili Cook Off fun raises funds

Editorial StaffOct 15, 20252 min read

A perfect fall day brought more than 1,000 guests to enjoy the annual Cow Hill Yacht Club Chili Cook Off Sunday in Saugatuck’s Wicks Park. The Cook Off was a competition between 14 top area restaurants. They served chilis competing…

Douglas road to close

Editorial StaffOct 15, 20251 min read

Douglas has notified motorists that St. Peter’s Drive will close Tuesday, Oct. 14 and remain so for two to three weeks, dependent on weather, to allow infrastructure to be brought to the new Centre Street Collective. The 10+-acre development, to…

Saugatuck brushes off sidewalk chalk

Editorial StaffOct 15, 20254 min read

By Scott Sullivan Editor Saugatuck City Council decided at its Oct. 8 workshop to let well enough alone when it comes to chalk art on public sidewalks. The question of whether it constitutes free speech or violates a city ordinance…

‘Lights Out at Oval Beach’ set Oct. 21

Editorial StaffOct 15, 20252 min read

The community is invited to experience the beauty of the night sky at a free “Lights Out at Oval Beach” event Tuesday, Oct. 21 from 8 to 10 p.m. Sponsored by the Douglas United Church of Christ, the event aims…

By Mike Wilcox
Owner/Publisher

Every year, as the Christmas season draws near, I’m reminded just how generous our communities can be. For nearly two decades, Wilcox Newspapers has hosted what’s become one of my favorite traditions: our Annual Christmas Wish Program.

It started simply enough. We asked readers who were struggling to write in and tell us what would make their Christmas a little brighter. The idea was to connect local families in need with local people who wanted to help. Over the years, it’s grown into something truly special—and this year, we’re doing it again.