Douglas hires Tien as Treasurer
BY SCOTT SULLIVAN EDITOR Douglas has hired former Allegan County elections coordinator and Plainwell city payroll administrator Jennifer Tien new city treasurer for $74,000 a year plus benefits. City council approved the move at its Monday meeting. Tien will start…
Brandess marks 30 years Saturday
Artist James Brandess will celebrate 30 years in his James Brandess Studios & Gallery, 238 Butler St., downtown Saugatuck, this Saturday, June 22, from noon until 5 p.m. On view in his shop — a historic, tin-ceilinged former post office…
Rock named Saugatuck varsity boys basketball coach
By Jason WesseldykSports EditorDuring his tenure as head coach of the Fennville varsity boys basketball team, Ty Rock had a front-row seat for the rivalry between the Blackhawks and Saugatuck.Now, he’ll experience that rivalry from the other side.Rock is the…
Blue Star
By Scott SullivanEditorKrokodil RockI remember when rock was young. Me and Susie had no clue a Krokodil rock would find us.“Krokodil” I learned too late, is street name for Desomorphine, a synthetic opioid said to turn skin green and scaly…
Space for ‘stuff’ squeezes campground plan
By Scott SullivanEditorCalifornia-based Autocamp has scaled back plans from 112 total to 76 phase-one campsites on 29.24 acres 34.61 Blue Star Hwy. because “stuff” happens — specifically, need to dispose of sewage.The Saugatuck Township Board June 12 weighed a proposed…
SHS shooter makes swift study
Saugatuck High School junior Leilani Schoonmaker’s journey through a lens crescendoed — so far — with a National Scholastic Art Awards Gold Medal.Her black-and-white photo of the 2023 Portage Cross Country Invitational start (below) made Schoonmaker SHS art teacher Daniel…
Life as Performance Art
“Maybe it’s in the closet,” Molly would say. “I’ll check.”We all knew what was coming: Fibber would shout to her, “Don’t touch that closet!” too late, and the sound effects man would pour his props into a metal container, much to the…
Mike’s Musings: Make peace with Russia, align against China
Don’t condemn me before I lay out my logic. Don’t call me a Putin lover or a Russian agent, I’m neither, but do have an opinion that differs from many in power these days.I’m not concerned with Russia. I don’t…
Saugatuck golfers place 10th in state
By Jason WesseldykSports EditorThroughout the regular season, the Saugatuck boys golf team was ranked in the top 10 in Division 4. At the State Finals Friday and Saturday, June 7-8, the Trailblazers showed themselves worthy of that status.Saugatuck shot a…
Blue Star
By Scott SullivanEditorIncomingWith the longest, hottest summer ever on hand, you don’t need a weatherman to tell which way the Saugatuck City Council race is going.Three declared challengers for four open two-year seats in November cut loose on incumbents at…
Obituary: Charles Gilman
Charles Gilman, 78, of Easton, Pa. passed away May 14, 2024.After graduating from Saugatuck High School, Chuck proudly served in the United States Navy, where he developed his expertise in computer programming and formed lifelong friendships.These connections led him to…
Stanislawski switches Saugatucks
By Scott SullivanEditorPeter Stanislawski will exit Saugatuck City Hall June 21 and step into Saugatuck Township Hall 10 days later.After 17 years as city treasurer, Stanislawki has resigned to become township finance coordinator. He will continue his separate role as…
Mike’s Musings: My Father, MY Hero
(I wrote this a year ago but wanted share it again. Heck I might share this column over and over for years to come. The man meant so much to me) This week I give pause to reflect on my…
Life as performance Art
About a week ago, on a hot and humid afternoon, I was doing some work on the lawn and gardens. I was close to the sidewalk when a couple of visitors to town paused and commented on the amount of…
Of Community Pride & a cardboard reign
BY SCOTT SULLIVAN EDITOR Community Pride goeth —or wenteth — before a rainfall Saturday. The sun shone on earlier events — drag bowling Thursday, speaker sessions at the Kirby Hotel and Saugatuck-Douglas District Library and Friday’s Jazz for Justice concert…
City has less parking for safety’s sake
BY SCOTT SULLIVAN EDITOR In a city where parking is an issue, Saugatuck now has less. Council May 29 voted 5-2 to ban parking on one side of eight narrow stretches of street and both sides of Pleasant Street. The…
Life ambulance now provider here
BY SCOTT SULLIVAN EDITOR’’’ Life EMS has replaced AMR as main ambulance provider for northern Saugatuck Township plus Saugatuck and Douglas cities. The Grand Rapids-based firm, owned and founded by Meijer Inc. heir Mark Meijer, provides first-response EMT services from…
Saugatuck girls place third at Division 4 State Finals
By Jason WesseldykSports EditorHUDSONVILLE—Five members of the Saugatuck girls track team earned All-State recognition in a total of seven events at the Division 4 State Finals on Saturday, June 4.Those strong performances helped the Trailblazers finish third in the team…
Blue Star
By Scott SullivanEditorWaxedEmancipation by manipulation? Lincoln was accused of it. In America we depend on our independence, which can serve and boomerang.Witness Waxology, a new shop that fills a double suite in a strip mall next to Fruition, where I…
Spat’s away, kids will play
Houston, Saugatuck had a procedural problem expanding its new playground to incorporate unforeseen ADA add-ons. Tree City trees were felled unannounced to some Village Square Park neighbors, prompting a court-decreed stop-work order that required the city to square matters with…
