Columns Saugatuck/Douglas Commercial Record

Blue Star

By Scott SullivanEditorEmotional IntelligenceEmpathy can be bad for you, say experts. Whoever they are. Tuning into and sharing other people’s emotions from their perspective can bring us together in a healing process, says Robin Stern, associate director of the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence.But this seemingly-positive emotion can have a downside, says Stern, if someone Read More…

News Saugatuck/Douglas Commercial Record

CVB pitches firepits for downtowns

By Scott SullivanEditorHow cool — or more fittingly, how hot — would it be for shoppers and others to warm up to a firepits in downtown Saugatuck and Douglas during colder months?Saugatuck Douglas Area Convention & Visitors Bureau executive director Lisa Mize presented the bureau’s concept for the Mize (no relation) Rose Garden at Monday’s Read More…

News Saugatuck/Douglas Commercial Record

Saugatuck voters return incumbents

By Scott SullivanEditorSaugatuck voters returned all three incumbents in a five-way race Tuesday, Nov. 4, to three available two-year seats on the city council.Current mayor Holly Anderson and councilman Joe Clark topped all comers with 240 votes each. Fellow incumbent Russ Gardner will also be back after tallying 235 votes.Falling shy were challengers John Mayer Read More…

Allegan County News & Union Enterprise News

Residents reminded about winter parking rules

By Jason WesseldykSports Editor With the calendar having turned from October to November, the City of Plainwell issued a reminder to its residents regarding the ordinance regulating overnight parking.Per the ordinance, parking a motor vehicle or trailer overnight, within the right-of-way of any public street in the City of Plainwell, is prohibited between the hours Read More…

Allegan County News & Union Enterprise Sports

Plainwell swim & dive finishes second at league finals

By Jason WesseldykSports Editor BATTLE CREEK—Host Harper Creek ran away—or, more accurately, swam away—with the SCC title on Saturday, Nov. 8, racking up 527 points.But the three local girls swim & dive teams—Plainwell, Otsego and Allegan—had plenty to celebrate as well.The Trojans finished runner-up with 318 points, edging out Sturgis by seven points and Marshall Read More…

Allegan County News & Union Enterprise Columns Courier-Leader, Paw Paw Flashes, & South Haven Beacon Saugatuck/Douglas Commercial Record

Life as Performance Art

For someone who is not a certified member of the Handyman’s Union and a complete all-thumbs fiasco in most do-it-yourself projects, I find myself having to make a stop at a hardware store a couple times a week. Especially in autumn.I suddenly discover my string trimmer is running low on string and snow shovel cracked Read More…

Allegan County News & Union Enterprise News

City Council re-elects Perrigo as mayor, schedules open houses

By Gari Voss The Allegan City Council reelected Traci Perrigo as Mayor and Peter Hanse as Mayor Pro Tem then handled some previous business. Police Chief Jay Gibson reviewed statistics for 2025 and updated the council on several situations that the officers handled extremely professionally and with positive outcomes. Items to watch for will be Read More…