Mike’s Musings: Health costs soar, some hospitals benefit
I just read a report from the Michigan Health Purchasers Coalition (MIHPC) that essentially concluded that larger hospitals have had profits increased dramatically.Now we all know, if we have spent any time in a hospital, we are charged exorbitant amounts…
July 4 fun is on its way
The Fourth of July is coming and the Saugatuck-Douglas Area Convention & Visitors Bureau is ready to make a two-day weekend splash. Fun will start Friday, July 4, at 11 a.m. with the community’s annual Independence Day Parade. Participants will…
Blue Star
By Scott SullivanEditorHeartWho knew Ypsilanti was the cultural heart of Michigan? Me thanks to Mondly, a language learning program which surveyed 3,012 respondents nationwide asking, “Which town in your state best represents your cultural identity?”Divided by 50, that means 60.24…
Friends since grade school, 86, reconvene
By Scott SullivanEditorThe Douglas Divas since 1953 reconvened in the lakeshore for the summer solstice 72 years later — and what memories they had.Classmates since Our Lady of Lourdes grade school, then Villa Duchesne all-girl Catholic High School in St.…
Life as Performance Art
The most popular male vocal duet in 1930s England was Flanagan and Allen. Their songs were light, filled with a bit of syncopation, close harmony and left audiences smiling with a renewed sense of hope.Among their big hits was “Underneath…
Mike’s Musings: Okay with bunker busters if they don’t lead us to war
Dropping bunker buster bombs in Iran last week will go down in history as one of the best military operations ever. Our planes went to and left undetected after dropping the world’s biggest bombs in an effort to destroy Iran’s…
MHSAA officials registration underway for ‘25-26
The Michigan High School Athletic Association is accepting registrations online or by mail for game officials for the 2025-26 school year.The MHSAA registered 8,891 officials for the 2024-25 school year, another of a recent series of increases as registrations continue…
Blue Star
By Scott SullivanEditorAge of AnxietyMy wife’s pit bull wears three collars. “WTF?” I asked her.“You bought him the pink one with cartoon bones on it,” she said. “The black is a thunder collar to calm him down during storms. The…
Court sides with city on floating homes dispute
By Scott SullivanEditorThe Michigan Court of Appeals June 12 upheld the City of Saugatuck’s right to regulate — and possibly remove — four floating homes placed three years ago next to the west Chain Ferry landing.In an 18-page opinion issued…
Life as Performance Art
Earlier this month a longtime friend sent me one of his favorite quotes from Ecclesiastes: “Whoever increases knowledge increases sorrow.” He added a modern refrain: “And spikes our anxiety.” I thought about it the next morning when I went…
Mike’s Musings: Moving woes, why do I keep doing it?
For some reason I feel the need to move from one house to another, or one office to another, every few years. This time my fiancé and I, decided to move from our condo to a house on an acre…
Saugatuck golf places 8th at state
By Jason WesseldykSports EditorBIG RAPIDS—It was another top-10 finish for the Saugatuck boys golf team at the Division 4 State Finals Friday and Saturday, June 6 and 7.Competing at Katke Golf Course on the campus of Ferris State University, the…
Blue Star
By Scott SullivanEditorWe’re No. 119Great news! The latest clickbait poll — this by Careerminds — ranks Saugatuck No. 119 among U.S. spots to micro-retire, i.e. take timeout before you burnout.Tell the boss to shove it, grab your foam rubber fingers…
Pride reigns
Days of the Rainbow lit up the lakeshore June 1-7 as Community Pride MI rang in Pride Month celebrating theLGBTQ+ community with activities and events including:• A Tea Dance at the Dunes Resort in Douglas, Sunday, June 1;• A Rainbow…
Life as Performance Art
Over the past three decades and a sprinkling of years I have been fortunate to know a now-retired professor of mathematics at a small university here in Michigan. Someone once said, “Math is just numbers,” but the subject is…
Mike’s Musings: My Father My Hero
(I wrote this a few years 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…
Saugatuck golf claims first regional championship since 2006
By Jason WesseldykSports EditorAfter finishing second at regionals each of the past two years, members of the Saugatuck boys golf team set a goal of winning a regional championship this year.Mission accomplished.Competing on their home turf at Clearbrook Golf Course,…
Blue Star
By Scott SullivanEditorSplashFlorida man Timothy Schulz kicked off Memorial Day taking a dip in a lake full of alligators, got bit, emerged bleeding, grabbed garden shears, tried breaking into a car with a brick, failed, ran at police with the…
Lundvig named new Saugatuck principal
By Scott SullivanEditorThe Saugatuck Public Schools Board of Education has named Brad Lundvick (shown at left) new principal of Saugatuck-Middle/High School.Lundvick, most recently principal of CA Frost Environmental Science Middle High School and Zoo School in Grand Rapids, will start…
Saugatuck Wilds Nature Preserve opens
The 170-acre Saugatuck Wilds Nature Preserve, formerly known as the old airport property, opened to the public Thursday, May 29, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony.Thanks to $160,000 donation from the children and grandchildren of Saugatuck resident George Supp, the following were…
