Life is new emergency transport here
By Scott SullivanEditorLife 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 regional bases covering…
Life as Performance Art
Five, ten, or more centuries ago, the whole purpose of etiquette was to demonstrate partiality, respect, and submission to one’s “betters.” That is something of an offensive way of saying being respectful to someone simply because he or she was of…
Mike’s Musings: No fun being trapped in an elevator
Have you ever been trapped in an elevator?Until last week, I could unequivocally say “no.” Now having been around for a while, I have ridden up and down on my share of elevators and never gave it a second thought…
Forward, march!
Memorial Day Monday brought fittingly somber weather to honor lost soldiers in Douglas (above) and Saugatuck. Observances capped an otherwise-sunny summer opening week to the two towns’ tourist season and commencement rites Thursday for Saugatuck High School Class of 2024…
Saugatuck girls win SAC track title
By Jason WesseldykSports EditorGOBLES—We Are the Champions.Saugatuck girls track coach Angelina Bauer just might want to consider making that the theme song for her team.Four days after claiming a Division 4 regional championship, the Trailblazers added a SAC title to…
Obituary: Judith Mabel Jensen (neé Weinberg)
Judith Mabel Jensen (neé Weinberg) of Glenn, passed away peacefully on May 20, 2024.She was born in Chicago on Dec. 14, 1938 to Marie Weinberg (née Petersen) and Henry Weinberg. She was united in marriage to the love of her life,…
Blue Star
By Scott SullivanEditorRisk ReductionI haven’t written this story yet but may soon. It’s about the Saugatuck Township gun range.The gun range is in the township, not owned by it. But it may need one in self-defense. With prime land —…
Mike’s Musings: Ukraine-Russia war must be stopped
Here I go again. One of my favorite rants is “Why do we send so much money and weapons to Ukraine to further a war they will never win?As a country we are nearly $34 trillion in debt and have…
Saugatuck soccer wins two games
By Jason WesseldykSports EditorSCHOOLCRAFT—If you mention the name Cecelia Atkins to players and coaches from the Schoolcraft girls soccer team, there’s a good chance they might break into a cold sweat.And for good reason.Atkins, a Saugatuck sophomore, scored a career-best…
Blue Star
By Scott SullivanEditorFish StoryA leading suspect has emerged in the case of the spinning smalltooth sawfish: algae.For months ichthyologists have puzzled over what’s ailing and killing dozens of fish species off the Florida Keys. In what NBC News calls “a…
Faces of Armed Forces Day
Preceding Memorial Day each year is the Saugatuck-Douglas Armed Forces Day Luncheon, held Saturday at the Community Church of Douglas, recognizing U.S. veterans and their families. These are eyes, one comes away thinking, that have seen everything. Memorial Day observances…
Life as Performance Art
When I was growing up, some of The Olds still called it Decoration Day. They were participating in a tradition that dated back to the 1860s, just after the Civil War. Late each May they went to the local cemetery to clean…
Mike’s Musings: The school end is here, thoughts for our graduates
Our newspapers, for the most part, are filled with photos of high school graduates and some college graduates. It is indeed a milestone to graduate, and it will be a feat you, your parents and grandparents will remember for years…
Hospital debus new site here
Local family physician and resident Jason Myers handled ribbon-cutting duties during the May 13 opening of Holland Hospital’s new 16,940-square-foot medical center at 6490 Blue Star Hwy., Saugatuck Township. The facility expands access to primary care, lab, radiology, physical therapy…
New Mt. Baldhead restrooms, deck plans set
By Scott Sullivan Editor Saugatuck City Council took steps towards big-ticket Mt. Baldhead Park improvements Monday, hiring Fleis & Vandenbrink engineers for $26,800 towards building new restrooms at the foot of the dune and $24,600 towards replacing the deck on…
Saugatuck track teams take first at Gobles Invite
By Jason WesseldykSports EditorGOBLES—The Saugatuck quartet of Novella DeGraaf, Brook Simpson, Mazie Robison and Vivian Vallarsa is fast.How fast, you ask?Well, their time of 50.99 in the 4×100 relay at the Gobles Little Guys Invitational on Friday, May 10, not…
Obituary: Jane Feldott
Jane Feldott, 101 Jane K Feldott (née’ Keith), 101, widow of Joseph R. Feldott, passed away following a brief illness on May 5, 2024 in Douglas. She was born to Gilbert and Madeleine Keith on Nov. 17, 1922 in Hinsdale,…
Obituary: Estelle Friedl
Estelle Friedl, 94 Estelle Friedl (Estela Alicia López Barajas) of Saugatuck, age 94, passed away surrounded by love on May 7, 2024. She was born on Sept. 1, 1929 in San Francisco del Rincon, Guanajuato, Mexico to Felipe López Mireles…
Blue Star
By Scott SullivanEditorWorld Donkey DayJust when I needed a shot of self-esteem came World Donkey Day. Desert animal scientist Ark Raziq founded it to recognize how asses enhance human lives.“Without donkeys’ help,” says Raziq, “it is hard to imagine the…
Volunteers work so kids can play
A planned community playground build, delayed three weeks by legal skirmishes, finally took place May 6-8 with enthused volunteers such as these installing new children’s gear at Village Square Park in downtown Saugatuck. The $336,000 equipment replaces old apparatus, deemed…
