Saugatuck/Douglas Commercial Record

Blue Star

Blue Star

Editorial StaffDec 11, 20244 min read

By Scott SullivanEditorOutside the BoxYou don’t see orgone accumulators a lot these days. I blame science. They were all the rage in the 1950s when every luminary from William S. Burroughs to Orson Bean sat in coffin-shaped boxes designed to…

Raising canes

Raising canes

Editorial StaffDec 11, 20241 min read

Saugatuck’s annual Whootville Christmas Parade Saturday brought sunshine plus Peppermint Stick Brigadiers downtown to spray silly string at their rival men’s “Precision” Snow Shovel Drill Team. More marchers, mirth and merriment filled holiday streets as well. (Photos by Scott Sullivan)

Obituary: Joan (Jody) Huene Simonds

Obituary: Joan (Jody) Huene Simonds

Editorial StaffDec 11, 20244 min read

Joan (Jody) Huene Simonds, a beloved wife, mother, grandmother, and friend, passed away on November 30, 2024, at the age of 96. Joan was born in Chicago on July 14, 1928, to Dorothy and Nevin Huene. Her life was one…

Life as Performance Art

Life as Performance Art

Editorial StaffDec 11, 20244 min read

Lately, we have seen the phrase Deus vult — Latin for “God wills it” — in the news.It first used by Pope Urban II in 1095, when he launched the first Crusade. He wanted to convince kings and sub-jects to…

Mike’s Musings: Penny should have not been brought to trial

Mike’s Musings: Penny should have not been brought to trial

Editorial StaffDec 11, 20243 min read

A 26-year-old former marine has had his life turned upside down after trying to subdue a stranger on a subway in New York City. Daniel Penny jumped in to stop the stranger who was threatening to kill other passengers. For…

Douglas eyes new police station, city hall | OKs $3.23M renovation bond

Douglas eyes new police station, city hall | OKs $3.23M renovation bond

Editorial StaffDec 5, 20242 min read

BY SCOTT SULLIVAN EDITOR Douglas City Council Monday finalized issuing $3.23 million in capital improvement bonds to renovate 415 Wiley Road into a new city hall, police station and more. The city Aug. 1 last year bought the 18,000-square foot…

Blue Star

Blue Star

Editorial StaffDec 4, 20244 min read

By Scott SullivanEditorFlorida ManThe onset of winter brings to mind Florida man, inspired by sunshine, moonshine and other substances to achieve feats such as: Down by Law Mi Casa es Su Casa All in the Family Creature Features Only the…

Holiday fun abounds this week

Holiday fun abounds this week

Editorial StaffDec 4, 20243 min read

By Scott Sullivan Editor Saugatuck’s annual Christmas Parade through downtown this Saturday will kick off a slew of holiday festivities. Saturday, Dec. 7 • Parade participants should line up near the corner of Mason and Griffith streets starting at 11…

Marineau named to Saugatuck P.C.

Marineau named to Saugatuck P.C.

Editorial StaffDec 4, 20243 min read

By Scott Sullivan Editor New Saugatuck city planning commissioner Auston Marineau has a vision of what tomorrow can be, The 2010 Saugatuck High School graduate, 32 now, “came home” last year with combat experience, a law degree as of June…

Guardrail spares driver icy plunge

Guardrail spares driver icy plunge

Editorial StaffDec 4, 20242 min read

By Scott Sullivan Editor This semi that jackknifed on the northbound I-196 Kalamazoo River bridge saw the guardrail do its job on Black Friday, Nov. 29, sparing its driver from an icy plunge. Saugatuck Township Fire District Deputy Chief Chris…

Douglas sells site deemed surplus for $225K

Editorial StaffDec 4, 20242 min read

By Scott Sullivan Editor Douglas City Council took a step towards paying back its new $3.23-million bond (see related story elsewhere) to convert 415 Wiley Road into a new city hall/police station by accepting a $225,000 bid to sell 9.59…

Holiday fun abounds this week

Editorial StaffDec 4, 20243 min read

By Scott SullivanEditorSaugatuck’s annual Christmas Parade through downtown this Saturday will kick off a slew of holiday festivities. Saturday, Dec. 7 And On …

Life as Performance Art

Life as Performance Art

Editorial StaffDec 4, 20245 min read

 When it started getting cold this year and snow was in the air, someone spotted me walking and wanted to know why my coat was unbuttoned. “Don’t you know it’s cold?” she asked. If I don’t happen to have on my…

Mike’s Musings: Words to live by

Mike’s Musings: Words to live by

Editorial StaffDec 4, 20243 min read

I found this post on Facebook. I unfortunately don’t know who the author is, but I haven’t read anything lately, that expresses best, how to live our life. Follow these basic tenets and you will be a great person. Personally,…

Saugatuck girls basketball eyes league, district titles

Editorial StaffNov 27, 20242 min read

By Jason WesseldykSports EditorNew season, same expectations for the Saugatuck girls basketball team.“As we do every year, we fully expect to compete for conference and district championships,” Saugatuck coach Kevin Tringali said. “We earned both the past two seasons, and…

Obituary: Carol Ann Brown

Obituary: Carol Ann Brown

Editorial StaffNov 27, 20243 min read

Carol Ann Brown, a cherished wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, and friend, passed away peacefully on November 3, 2024, at her home in Fennville, Michigan, surrounded by the love of her family. Born on June 30, 1945, in Toronto, Ontario,…

Saugatuck’s ‘A Christmas Carol’ unites with charity group to help community

Editorial StaffNov 27, 20244 min read

From the first “Bah! Humbug!” to the last “God Bless Us, Every One!” the 38th annual production of Saugatuck’s “A Christmas Carol” starting Dec. 13 will be linked as closely as it ever has been to the true meaning of…

Library partners with bookstore to share the joy of reading

Editorial StaffNov 27, 20242 min read

The Saugatuck-Douglas District Library is thrilled to announce the return of its annual holiday book drive. Community members are invited to share the joy of reading by purchasing a book to be added to the Library’s shelves.The Library has offered…

Saugatuck Township receives $140k for safe streets and roads

Editorial StaffNov 27, 20242 min read

Grant will allow the township to develop comprehensive safety action planSaugatuck Township has been awarded a $140,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) program. This grant will enable the township to develop…

Life as Performance Art

Life as Performance Art

Editorial StaffNov 27, 20246 min read

    There is nothing new about the retail sector’s Black Friday except that it seems to start earlier this year.  The name comes from the hope that customers will do sufficient holiday shopping that they will convert eleven months or…

PUBLIC NOTICE
2026 ALLEGAN COUNTY PROPOSED FINAL BUDGET

The Board of Commissioners of the County of Allegan will hold a budget hearing on Thursday, October 9, 2025, for all interested citizens to comment and discuss the proposed budget.

The hearing will take place at 7:00 PM in the Board Room, County Services Building, 3283–122nd Avenue, Allegan, Michigan, to discuss the proposed budget. The property tax millage rate proposed to be levied to support the proposed budget will be a subject of this hearing. The public may also participate in the meeting/public hearing by calling 1-929-205-6099, Meeting ID: 891 6032 7098, and Meeting Password 471420. For other options connecting to the meeting, please visit the meeting calendar website at www.allegancounty.org or contact the County Administrator’s Office.

The proposed budget may be examined online at www.allegancounty.org under News Media Room or on weekdays at the Office of the Allegan County Administrator (address below), between 8:00 AM and 5:00 PM. All interested citizens will have the opportunity to give written and/or oral comments.

County will provide necessary reasonable auxiliary aids and services to individuals with disabilities at the public hearing upon one (1) week notice. Individuals requiring auxiliary aids or services should contact the following in writing or by telephone:

Robert J. Sarro,
County Administrator,
3283 – 122nd Avenue,
Allegan, Michigan, 49010
269-673-0239