Saugatuck/Douglas Commercial Record

Disinformation board needs to be scrapped

Disinformation board needs to be scrapped

Editorial StaffMay 11, 20223 min read

Say what?I was aghast when I heard President Biden had created the “Disinformation Government Board” in an effort to combat what he and his minions think is “disinformation.”Like most Americans, I believe free speech is a God-given right protected by…

Enlightening stones

Enlightening stones

Editorial StaffMay 11, 20221 min read

Stones immaculate were the quarry for Will Rodriguez of Grand Rapids and other seeks Saturday on the Pier Cove Park beach. “This,” he held up one, “is a lightning stone.” “Why is it called that?” we asked, noting apparent veins…

Trails: call of wild takes foot foot

Trails: call of wild takes foot foot

Editorial StaffMay 11, 20223 min read

By Scott SullivanEditorThe RiverWood Council, new name for the Tri-Community Trail Master Plan Committee, announced more updates in its just-released spring newsletter.Among them is keep working with Saugatuck Township to increase access and improve amenities at the township’s Tails ‘n’…

Mike’s Musings: Why can’t I hear the Maxwell testimony?

Mike’s Musings: Why can’t I hear the Maxwell testimony?

Editorial StaffMay 6, 20223 min read

As I watch the lowlights of the Johnny Depp vs Amber Heard lawsuits, I can’t help but wonder what happened with the Ghislaine Maxwell trial. I hope we haven’t forgotten, already, but just a reminder, Maxwell was found guilty a…

Alexa Urquhart, 73

Alexa Urquhart, 73

Editorial StaffApr 27, 20221 min read

It is with deep regret that Alexa Urquhart transitioned on Good Friday from cancer.She was and is loved by her husband, Dan Urquhart, son, Dan Hager, sister Rita Flattley and David Davenport, brother David and JoAnne Flattley, niece Christy Valenzuela,…

Blue Star

Blue Star

Editorial StaffApr 27, 20224 min read

By Scott SullivanEditorSporting NewsThere are geeks who bite heads off live chickens and ones who fix your computer, then tell you next time simply upload the ethernet SSD Bluetooth to the URL GUI until you glaze over and want to…

Mike’s Musings: Our tax dollars fund useless projects

Mike’s Musings: Our tax dollars fund useless projects

Editorial StaffApr 27, 20223 min read

Why is it that our federal government feels it can spend our tax dollars on projects that make little sense? Is it because there is no accountability? Or is it because out bureaucracy needs to spend the dollars allocated to…

Life as Performance Art

Life as Performance Art

Editorial StaffApr 27, 20227 min read

     If you have ever gone to a big potluck dinner or noshed your way through an all-you-can-eat buffet, you know the drill.  Spread out before you at serving stations or trestle tables is a vast array of food. With a plate…

Roll out the barrel

Roll out the barrel

Editorial StaffApr 27, 20221 min read

You know it’s a summerlike spring day in downtown Saugatuck when Frank Banko of Ada returns with his accordion to entertain polka-loving college couple Joe Figurski and Helen Hoffman. Bring your dancing shoes; the season’s just starting. (Photo by Scott…

Full Venetian Fest to return this year

Full Venetian Fest to return this year

Editorial StaffApr 27, 20222 min read

Venetian Fest’s Dinghy Poker Run, slated Saturday, July 30, always makes a splash. (Photo by Scott Sullivan) By Scott SullivanEditorLook for Saugatuck’s biggest summer party, Cow Yacht Club’s Venetian Festival, to return full force July 29-31.Saugatuck City Council Monday approved…

DeFranco named fulltime township manager

DeFranco named fulltime township manager

Editorial StaffApr 20, 20223 min read

BY SCOTT SULLIVAN EDITOR The Saugatuck Township Board, looking for both competence and consistency, hired Daniel DeFranco April 13 as full-time manager for a 3-year contract paying $75,000 per annum. DeFranco, a township resident whose résumé includes a Ph.D. in…

Douglas Blue Star rebuild to begin

Editorial StaffApr 20, 20222 min read

BY SCOTT SULLIVAN EDITOR Screw trees budding, flowers blooming and warmth stealing over the land. In spring what road workers’ fancy turns to is asphalt plans reopening. To that end, Douglas plans to button up its $573,378.25 streets renovation project…

Waste collection day to return May 24

Editorial StaffApr 20, 20223 min read

BY SCOTT SULLIVAN EDITOR The Tri-Community Recycling Committee will present its second annual Household Hazardous Waste Day collection Tuesday, May 24, at the Saugatuck Department of Public Works building, 3338 Blue Star Hwy., from 3 to 7 p.m. Saugatuck Township…

Mike’s Musings: Flying and masks- time to move on

Mike’s Musings: Flying and masks- time to move on

Editorial StaffApr 20, 20223 min read

As a frequent flyer the last two years have been trying with the mask mandate put in place by our federal government. Flying this past Sunday only exacerbated the situation.Flying out of Orlando is always a challenge but Sunday “takes…

Blue Star

Blue Star

Editorial StaffApr 20, 20224 min read

By Scott SullivanEditorHeir Conditioning“If you went on sabbatical, my wife asked me, “where?”“Phuket.”“What?”“Phuket, Thailand,” I said. “It’s one of Travel + Leisure’s 50 Best Places to Travel in 2022.”“Why heed that tripe?” she asked.“Tripe? It’s gospel,” I said. “I learned…

Life as Performance Art

Life as Performance Art

Editorial StaffApr 20, 20225 min read

By G.C. StoppelSince I started writing murder mysteries, I have developed a new appreciation for flower and vegetable gardening.There are so many wonderful and deadly chemicals on the garage shelf or garden shed — herbicides, insecticides, cleaning products and more.…

Saugatuck boys take first at invite

Saugatuck boys take first at invite

Editorial StaffApr 20, 20223 min read

Saugatuck seniors Tristan Ashley (left) and Adam Martinson compete in the 1,600-meter run. (Photo by Scott Sullivan) By Jason WesseldykSports Editor KELLOGGSVILLE—The Saugatuck boys track team won four events in the White Division of the Kelloggsville Rocket Invitational on Friday,…

Developer can remove sand, not expand lake

Developer can remove sand, not expand lake

Editorial StaffApr 20, 20223 min read

By Scott SullivanEditorA Saugatuck Township developer cited last spring for over-digging a ski lake will be allowed to remove the resulting sand piles from his 47-acre site northwest of Blue Star Highway.But Chad VanHorn, per the Michigan Environment, Great Lakes…

Easter fun returns

Easter fun returns

Editorial StaffApr 20, 20221 min read

Traditional Easter festivities — bonnet contest, parade and kids’ egg/candy hunt — returned to Douglas Sunday courtesy Ruoff Mortgates. For more pictures, see inside. (Phtoo by Scott Sullivan)

Saugatuck expands Social District year-round

Saugatuck expands Social District year-round

Editorial StaffApr 13, 20223 min read

BY SCOTT SULLIVAN EDITOR Remember Saugatuck’s off-season Social District, launched two years ago to help licensed downtown alcohol-selling businesses to deal with indoor Covid-19 social distancing strictures? Now, as in neighbor Douglas, it will extend year-round. City council Monday agreed…