Pride Week lights up spectrum
By Scott SullivanEditorDouglas Poet Laureate Jack Ridl looked through chain links at Pride Week festivities — crowds, rainbows, music — like an outcast from life’s feast.John Porzondek, the Saugatuck guy who with-his partner-turned their home’s city-banned awning into a butterfly…
Scrambled
You would almost think it was summer with so much ado — not only Community Pride festivities but the National Trails Day Trail Scramble at eight local sites, including Peterson Preserve (right) here.
Life as Performance Art
James Barrie, best remembered as the author of Peter Pan, also wrote a short play he called, “The Old Woman Shows Her Medals.” It is a sad tale of an elderly widow who would periodically go to the local train station,…
Bring back Civics classes, initiate term limits
I fear for our democracy. My fear is rooted in the fact that most citizens don’t really care about what is happening at their federal, state and local governments. Only fifty percent of us bother to vote, and once the…
Armstrong new Ox-Bow development head
Former Columbus (Ohio) Area Arts Council executive director Kathryn Armstrong has been named new development director at Saugatuck’s Ox-Bow School of Art & Artists’ Residency. She will oversee fundraising and manage patron, sponsor and foundation relationships for the 111-year-old School…
Does LHD plan single out owners’ land?
BY SCOTT SULLIVAN EDITOR The Saugatuck Township Planning Commission, wary of history repeating, May 23 declined activists’ urging to establish a Local Historic District at and around the Kalamazoo River mouth by a 2-2 vote. Saugatuck Dunes Coastal Alliance members…
Blue Star
By Scott SullivanEditorIn AirI knew when I saw kids plant a redwood at River Bluff Park in just centuries salamanders would skydive from it. How? From a story in The Smithsonian.Like flying squirrels, Aneides vagrans or wandering salamanders stretch their…
Community Pride Week in full gear
Memorial Day looking north from Saugatuck’s Oval Beach. (Photo by Scott Sullivan) By Scott SullivanEditorCommunity Pride Week is underway celebrating not just the local LGBTQ population but all people with educational and fun gatherings.Community Pride Committee-sponsored events Thursday June 2,…
Would LHD single out owner’s land?
By Scott SullivanEditorThe Saugatuck Township Planning Commission, wary of history repeating, May 23 declined activists’ urging to establish a Local Historic District at and around the Kalamazoo River mouth by a 2-2 vote.Saugatuck Dunes Coastal Alliance members and other neighbors…
Stop talking and provide meaningful action to curb school violence
Here’s a sobering statistic. There have been 2032 school shootings in the U.S. since 1970 and the number of shootings is increasing in frequency. Yet very little is being done to help our vulnerable school children.We can talk. We can…
Saugatuck boys secure eighth consecutive SAC title
Max Sharnas (left) and Charlie Stormer were part of Saugatuck’s winning 4×800 relay team at the SAC Championship Meet. (Photo by Jason Wesseldyk) By Jason WesseldykSports Editor CONSTANTINE—Three days after winning a Division 3 regional championship, the Saugatuck boys track…
Life as Performance Art
We know the well-established choreography after every mass shooting: Politicians, police officers, and other head to the microphone and trot out the well-known, safe and approved line, “Our thoughts and prayers go out to the families of the victims….” Immediately afterwards…
1,300+ new trees grow in Park
Saugatuck-Douglas Rotary Club, Saugatuck High School Interact Club and Saugatuck Township Parks and Recreation Committee volunteers joined Allegan County Conservation District forester Ben Savoie (pictured left of just behind this young tree) planting 1,350 Rotary- bought bare-root saplings plus more…
Summer chamber concerts return to mainstage
The Chamber Music Festival of Saugatuck will return for its 35th season to its post-Covid normal exceptional presenting six paired Thursday/Friday in-person evening concerts in the Saugatuck Woman’s Club at the corner of Butler and Hoffman streets. It will also…
Wicks owner appeals city seat limit
BY SCOTT SULLIVAN EDITOR The owner of a downtown restaurant/bar unhappy with Saugatuck Planning Commission-imposed seating limits on her proposed back addition is seeking court redress for it — and then some. Wicks Park Bar & Grill owner Christine Murphy…
Armed Forces Day Lunch breaks records
The 10th annual Saugatuck-Douglas Community Armed Forces Day Luncheon Saturday at Community Church of Douglas broke fundraising and attendance records. Keynote speaker Jim “Doc” McCloughan moved many to tears recounting his Vietnam War experience. Raised in rural Bangor, McCloughlin and…
Obituary-Russell Bulin, 77
Russell Albert Bulin, aged 77, passed away at Spectrum Health Meijer Heart Center on Tuesday, May 10, 2022 from complications of a bleeding aortic abdominal aneurysm. Russ was born in Chicago and was raised in Chicago suburbs where he graduated from…
Life as Performance Art
By G.C. StoppelThis Memorial Day I will wear a small Sons of the American Revolution medal on my lapel.Unlike many who will attend this Monday’s local commemorations, I didn’t earn it the hard way. That was done by my seventh-generation…
Suspend gas tax for price relief
By Mike WilcoxPublisherThe price for a gallon of gasoline has gotten out of hand. In the last two weeks it has risen by more than $1 for both gasoline and propane. Economists and others in the know claim the increases…
Plainwell Farmers’ Market opens for new season
By Jason WesseldykSports Editor The 2022 season is officially underway for the Plainwell Farmers’ Market.Located at the Sweetwater’s Donut Mill parking lot at 554 W. Allegan Street, the market held its opening day from 3 to 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, May…
