Saugatuck/Douglas Commercial Record

Roy Davis: Homeless in Saugatuck

Editorial Staff Oct 22, 2025 3 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 Staff Oct 22, 2025 1 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 Staff Oct 22, 2025 4 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 Staff Oct 22, 2025 4 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 Staff Oct 22, 2025 7 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 Staff Oct 22, 2025 5 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 Staff Oct 15, 2025 2 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 Staff Oct 15, 2025 1 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 Staff Oct 15, 2025 4 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 Staff Oct 15, 2025 2 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…

Oval Beach revenues rose this year

Editorial Staff Oct 15, 2025 2 min read

By Scott Sullivan Editor Saugatuck’s Lake Michigan Oval Beach Park brought in $874,114 in motor vehicle parking fees during the just-completed summer season, more than enough to offset the $800,908 spent to maintain it and all other city parks. City…

Saugatuck volleyball beats visiting Parchment

Editorial Staff Oct 15, 2025 1 min read

By Jason WesseldykSports EditorThe Saugatuck volleyball team hosted SAC rival Parchment on Thursday, Oct. 9, and the match went down to the wire.After the teams split the first two sets—Saugatuck took sets two (25-20) and three (25-19), while Parchment won…

Blue Star

Blue Star

Editorial Staff Oct 15, 2025 4 min read

By Scott SullivanEditorOctopus EthicsPETA is on a roll. People for Ethical Treatment of Animals, having taken credit for closing the Ringling Brothers-Barnum & Bailey Circus, now wants Detroit Red Wings fans to stop throwing dead octopi onto the hockey arena…

The heat was on

The heat was on

Editorial Staff Oct 15, 2025 2 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 in…

Easy come, easy go for city gateway sign

Easy come, easy go for city gateway sign

Editorial Staff Oct 15, 2025 1 min read

By Scott SullivanEditorSo much for the latest “Saugatuck” sign at the corner of Holland Street and Blue Star Highway.The wood-frame marker, moved in August from Mt. Baldhead Park to replace a past sign damaged by cars, was itself mowed down…

Life as Performance Art

Life as Performance Art

Editorial Staff Oct 15, 2025 5 min read

I put on a DVD of George Clooney’s film “Good Night and Good Luck” the other evening. Although 20 years old, it is just as relevant, if not more so, today.It’’s the story of U.S. news reporter (radio, journalism and television), Edward…

Mike’s Musings: A time to celebrate, hostages have been released

Mike’s Musings: A time to celebrate, hostages have been released

Editorial Staff Oct 15, 2025 4 min read

I don’t care how bad your Trump Derangement Syndrome might be, you have to give the man credit for orchestrating a deal that released the 20 living Israeli hostages from the grips of Hamas on Monday.On Monday, the world witnessed…

SPS funders raise $160+ K … and fun

Editorial Staff Oct 8, 2025 2 min read

By Scott Sullivan Editor Saugatuck Public Schools-sponsored fall Walk-a-thon and Serve-a-thon fall fundraisers last week raised a combined $160,605. The Friends of Saugatuck Middle & High School-organized Serve-a-Thon Sept. 18 involved middle school students, with support from parent and business…

Douglas OKs sign at ex-golf cluhouse

Editorial Staff Oct 8, 2025 2 min read

By Scott Sullivan Editor Douglas City Council Monday granted Vincent Beckman IV a 6-month sign ordinance exemption for a marker erected at his home at 14 and 16 Ferry St., the former West Shore Golf Course clubhouse. City planning and…

History Center cites Ashley, Thau

History Center cites Ashley, Thau

Editorial Staff Oct 8, 2025 2 min read

The Saugatuck-Douglas History Center presented Arthur Ashley the Charles J. Lorenz Award of Achievement, its top honor, and cited Christopher Thau as Volunteer of the Year at its annual membership meeting Oct. 2. Ashley, a US Army veteran, musician and…

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.