Bras for Cause in pictures

The second annual Bras for Cause auction on Saturday night at Saugatuck Brewing Company raised $3,000 to help fight cancer.

Here are some of the photos you won't see on The Sentinel website (www.hollandsentinel.com) or in print. It's OK — the photos are pretty tame.

New view in Saugatuck

Wicks Park in Saugatuck on Tuesday morning.

Downtown Saugatuck has a new view quickly taking shape.

City workers recently removed a berm and ring of large hedges on the Water Street side of Wicks Park. That meant an end to a small set of concrete steps and a look that’s been around for more than 30 years.

“It really opens up the park,” said City Manager Kirk Harrier at Monday’s city council meeting. “We’ve actually heard a lot of comments.”

Wicks Park under construction on Tuesday morning.

When the berm was constructed, the goal was to give people an elevated view of the gazebo and Kalamazoo River, Harrier said. The bushes grew and overtook the hill. People watching concerts in the gazebo were pushed to the side.

With the new work, though, people will be able to spread around the gazebo, Harrier said.

On Monday, the city OK’d the summer concert series Music in the Park, which starts June 20 and runs on Wednesdays at 7 p.m. through the season. The music is sponsored by the Saugatuck Douglas Area Business Association.

Acts are:

• June 20: The Niche (classic Top 40)
• June 27: Steam Powered Bluegrass (bluegrass)
• July 4: Don Middlebrook & Living Soul (trop rock)
• July 11: Brenda Loomis Band (new country)
• July 18: Zion Lion (reggae)
• July 25: Bryan Michael Fischer Band (rock, blues, rhythm and blues)
• Aug. 1: Creolization (zydeco, Cajun)
• Aug. 8: Java Jive (swing)
• Aug. 22: Funktion (funk and soul)
• Aug. 29: The Seacruisers (circle of tribute)

DuneCross pictures and links

Here are some links for more information on the first DuneCross event at Shore Acres Park in Laketown Township on Saturday, April 14. Some pictures that didn't make the cut for The Sentinel are below:

Links

http://www.dunecross.com

http://www.hollandsentinel.com/photo/x1157752038/Up-stairs-down-trails-Bike-race-at-Shore-Acres-Park

http://www.hollandsentinel.com/videos/x1157752082/Bike-race-Stairs?page=0

http://www.hollandsentinel.com/videos/x876169144/Bike-Race-Trails?page=0

http://www.hollandsentinel.com/videos/x876169153/Bike-Race-Crash?page=0

Pictures

Signs on the way to thank donors for land acquisition

A sign listing the major donors to the Saugatuck Harbor Natural Area north of Oval Beach is expected to be in place at the edge of the property by this summer.

By the time the tourists hit the sands at Oval Beach, two new signs will be pointing them to the 173-acres and reminding them who helped fund the purchase of the land.

April Scholtz of the Land Conservancy of West Michigan asked the Saugatuck City Council April 5 to consider where to place two signs listing donors to the purchase of the Saugatuck Harbor Natural Area. Environmental groups and donors purchased the land north of Oval Beach from Aubrey McClendon on Dec. 22, 2009 for $19 million. The property was held by the conservancy until it was paid off last year and ownership transferred to the city.

One sign could be placed by the concession stand. The plaque will list the 600 donors who gave at least $25 to the project. The other side could direct visitors north to the natural area.

The larger sign will be placed at the north end of the beach parking lot at the entrance to the duneland. It will list the major donors — people and foundations who gave millions of dollars, Scholtz said.

The council will decided on the locations at a future meeting.

The signs will have to be dug out of the sand each spring, council members said.

Payment for that work and other expenses will come from the interest on a $450,000 endowment that will be transferred to the city, Scholtz said.

Both signs should be ready for the June 10 dedication event at the natural area.

The dune ecosystem includes 3,650 feet of Lake Michigan shoreline, populations of at least six rare plant and animal species, open dunes, wetlands, natural jack pine forest, hardwood-pine dune forest, marsh, 4,452 feet on an oxbow lake and 1,650 feet of Kalamazoo River shoreline.

Peeling paint a problem for Douglas

Paint is peeling off the walls outside of Douglas City Hall.

Douglas Councilwoman Lisa Greenwood had some frank words about the outside appearance of city hall.

“It looks like shit,” she told the other council members Monday.

Paint is peeling off the wood outside the 137-year-old building known as Dutcher Lodge at 86 W. Center St. Douglas purchased the building for $60,000 in 1990 and it was condemned six months later. Renovations began in 2001 and government services moved into the building in 2002.

“It just really looks crummy,” said Councilwoman Martha Hoexter about the paint. “If we have to bite the bullet and sell our souls, we have to do something.”

The eternal essence of man might not be the price, but the council will have to make some tough decisions about funding and different buildings in the city.

The roof of the police station is leaking and City Manager Bill LeFevere is waiting on bids to repair it. The city has budgeted $10,000 for that fix, said Treasurer Robert Drexler.

After the police station is handled, LeFevere will have recommendations for city hall — probably repainting the two worst sides of the building.

Known as Dutcher Lodge, the city hall was built in 1875 for $1,400 by area Masons and named after Thomas B. Dutcher the first worshipful master. It was enlarged in 1902. The village council used the building for meetings and village elections and celebrated its centennial in it in 1966. It also housed the first fire department.

For many years the Masons charged the village 50 cents per night plus firewood to use the building.

Dutcher Lodge was named a Michigan Historical site in 1995.

Another side of Douglas City Hall.

Douglas welcomes Slovakian leaders

Douglas Mayor Jim Wiley presents a proclamation Monday night to Peter and Marcela Dobes at Douglas City Hall. At far left is Councilwoman Diane Bailey, who met the couple in 2000.

When Rick Bailey was assistant city manager in Bloomington, Ill., he and his wife Diane visited Rajecke Teplice in Slovakia in 2000. Now, 12 years later, the mayor of the Slovakian town and his wife visited Douglas where Diane Bailey is a councilwoman.

Douglas Mayor Jim Wiley honored Peter and Marcela Dobes at Monday’s night’s council meeting for their work in their country.

Marcela Dobes has established a center for helping abused and battered women and children.