Farewell and huzzah!

Douglas Dutchers Vintage Base Ball Club Captain Matt “Moon Shot” Gritter, right, presents Dave “Dominie” VanDerWiele with a plaque of appreciation for his work with the club on Saturday, July 28, at Beery Field in Douglas. VanDerWiele is leaving his post as pastor at Saugatuck Christian Reformed Church for a new position in Indiana. In the background is Saugatuck City Councilman Henry VanSingel.

State Rep. Bob Genetski, R-Saugatuck, presents a proclamation.

The Douglas Dutchers Vintage Base Ball Club said farewell to one of its longtime players and supporters on Saturday, July 28., at Beery Field in Douglas.

Dave “Dominie” VanDerWiele was given a loud huzzah! and a plaque of appreciation for his work with the club. VanDerWiele is leaving his post as pastor at Saugatuck Christian Reformed Church for a new position in Indiana. Saturday was his last game.

State Rep. Bob Genetski, R-Saugatuck, also presented the team with a state proclamation for its 10 years of playing 1860s-style base ball.

The team plays at home at 2 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 4, against the South Haven Bark Peelers. All games are free.

Dave “Dominie” VanDerWiele plays the National Anthem on his trumpet at the opening of the Douglas Dutchers Vintage Base Ball Club game against the House of David Echoes Base Ball Club on Saturday, July 28, at Beery Field in Douglas

'Our Sinatra' at 10 years old is still a classic

Tony DeSare, Laurie Wells and Adam James perform in "Our Sinatra." Photo contributed

Ten years ago, Tony DeSare, Adam James and Laurie Wells took the stage in the first production of the new Mason Street Warehouse. The show was “Our Sinatra,” and the dressing rooms, well, “I remember by the smell,” DeSare joked Thursday night to the pre-opening night crowd.

A lot has changed.

The trailers used for costume changes are gone. Mason Street Warehouse has merged with the Saugatuck Center for the Arts. The facility has matured into the premier lakeshore arts venue and the three performers have returned with a new take on the Old Blue Eyes favorite.

The powerful singing and piano performance brought a cascade of applause and the crowd to its feet for a stellar show that will make you laugh, smile and sing along even if you’re not fan of Frank Sinatra.

The show runs at the arts center, 400 Culver St., through Aug. 12. It opens to the public tonight.

Tickets are available at (269) 857-2399 or sc4a.org.

“It’s not the same show that is was 10 years ago,” said Kurt Stamm, SCA artistic director and founder of Mason Street Warehouse. Five new songs have been added while some have been removed.

This show ran in New York for four years, spawned three national tours and has played in more than 30 regional markets. Stamm has directed them all.

“It’s a show that means a lot to me,” he said.

That nurturing and care show on the Saugatuck stage.

The performance — about 2 hours with an intermission — is not a biography, though the cast peppers facts and anecdotes about Sinatra throughout the show. It’s a celebration of some of the greatest American music ever written and performed.

Wells has a powerful voice that surrounds the theater and a presence in 1940s and 1950s gowns that brightens the simple stage. She stars in the Broadway hit “Mamma Mia!”

James blows away the crowd with “Ol’ Man River,” a song Sinatra performed in the 1946 film “Till the Clouds Roll By.” You just have to hear it to believe it! He has a CD out and was chosen by Tina Sinatra to portray her father in “Sinatra Remembered.”

DeSare is a master of the piano that bursts out in “The Birth of the Blues.”  He performed at Carnegie Hall with the New York Pops and opens for comedian Don Rickles.

The show moves quickly and doesn’t get wrapped up in the controversial aspects of Sinatra’s life — the performers do make a few jokes about his mob reputation and even laugh at his daughter’s “These Boots Are Made for Walkin’” 1966 hit. The “Mother of Medleys” is a great broadbrush rush through Sinatra’s catalog.

Of course, no show is complete without a confetti-dropping version of “New York, New York.”

Many people don’t even realize they know songs made famous by Sinatra, such as “I’ve Got You Under My Skin”  or “Something Stupid.”

If you’re not a Sinatra fan, don’t worry. If all you know about the American icon is the Phil Hartman skits from “Saturday Night Live” or the “Family Guy” takeoffs with Frank Sinatra Jr., that’s OK.

DeSare, James and Wells are fantastic performers who take the show from a simple tribute collection of songs to a unique showcase of their talents that are an honor to Sinatra.

Short and sweet: Saugatuck has new meeting record

Saugatuck City Hall.

The baton was passed. A new champion crowned. In short, it was time for a change.

Saugatuck’s King of the Short Meeting — a.k.a. Councilman Barry Johnson — graciously and quickly stepped aside for the new Queen of Conciseness Mayor Jane Verplank after a 16-minute meeting on Monday.

While mayor, Johnson jokingly boasted that he held the record for modern meeting brevity at about 20 minutes.

The good-natured competition did not detract from the issues at Monday’s meeting. The council paid the bills, approved the minutes, heard from Allegan County Commissioner Terry Burns, was updated on planning commission activities and work on a “McMansion” ordinance and discussed the financing of sewer and water improvements with the Kalamazoo Lake Sewer and Water Authority.

Johnson even tried tongue-in-cheek to extend the meeting by asking Verplank to read verbatim the minutes of tree board.

“Could we go through them line by line?” he asked with a smile.

She did not, but reminded people to water their trees, especially those in the city rights-of-way, due to the continuing drought conditions. Some trees might not weather the lack of rain and could be expensive to remove and replace.

There was another light-hearted first for the council as well on Monday: City Manager Kirk Harrier, known for his trademark dark suit, dark tie and white shirt ensemble, attended the meeting without the dark suit coat. His sleeves were even rolled up, a nod to the 90-degree heat outside and the frugal use of air conditioning in city hall.

The famously casual council members — many who wear flip flops, shorts and T-shirts to meetings — couldn’t help but acknowledge the unusual event, though, when Harrier suggested he go downstairs to get his coat, the council let his casual attire slide for the evening.

Music at the Fennville Farmers Market

Seth Bernard, May Erlewine and Mike Shimmin perform Friday night, July 20, at the Fennville Farmers Market.

Seth Bernard and May Erlewine, along with percussionist Mike Shimmin, performed Friday night, July 20, at the Fennville Farmers Market at the corner of Main Street and Maple Street. The market is 3-8 p.m. Fridays and features fruits, vegetables, arts and crafts.

Here are a few more pictures:

A couple holds hands during a song by Seth Bernard and May Erlewine, along with percussionist Mike Shimmin, at the Fennville Farmers Market on Friday, July 20.

Seth Bernard, May Erlewine and Mike Shimmin perform Friday night, July 20, at the Fennville Farmers Market.

The crowd gathers at the Fennville Farmers Market on Friday, July 20, to hear Seth Bernard, May Erlewine and Mike Shimmin perform.

May Erlewine sings to the crowd at the Fennville Farmers Market on Friday, July 20.

Dawn Soltysiak of Khnemu Studio on Fernwood Farm shares pottery techniques with Gracie Ramos, 8, at the Fennville Farmers Market on Friday, July 20. The market is 3-8 p.m. Fridays and features fruits, vegetables, arts and crafts.

Douglas City Hall mystery solved: It's poplar

Some of the mysteries surrounding Douglas City Hall have been solved by the contractor who’s been repainting the 137-year-old building. The overall question of how to renovate the building at 86 W. Center St. is still up in the air.

First major discovery: The wood on the outside of the building is poplar. This type of wood absorbs less water and can be harder to paint, Ryan Kilpatrick, community/economic development director, told the Douglas City Council on Monday.

The rotted boards are being replaced with cedar. Other parts of the siding are already cedar, Kilpatrick said.

Second big find: There is insulation in the walls. It’s cellulose. Where boards are being replaced, dry insulation is being installed.

The current work on the building should be good for five years, Kilpatrick said.

The council hired Vander Meulen Builders of Holland to scrape and replace the damaged boards and paint the exterior for $33,000.

Paint is peeling off the wood outside the building known as Dutcher Lodge. 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.

Council members know the quick work this summer won’t solve the problems with the building, but hope a new coat of paint will hide the problems long enough to get the building properly repaired in three to five years.

Deadline near for consolidation comments

State Boundary Commission Chairman Dennis Schornack, center, listens to testimony at the commission’s public hearing Wednesday, June 20, at Saugatuck High School. At right is Kevin O’Brien of the Office of Land Survey and Remonumentation.

Time is running out for people who want to comment on the proposed consolidation of Saugatuck and Douglas cities with Saugatuck Township.

A public hearing attended by about 200 people was June 20, but written comments are due by 5 p.m. Friday, July 20.

All correspondence must be identified by Docket #11-C-1.

Comments submitted by mail must be received or postmarked no later than July 20. Address letters to Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs, State Boundary Commission, P.O. Box 30254, Lansing MI 48909

Comments sent by facsimile or email must be received no later than 5 p.m., July 20.

Send faxes to (517) 241-6301.

Send emails to obrienk@michigan.gov.

Here’s what the State Boundary Commission is considering:

Population; population density; land area and land uses; assessed valuation; topography, natural boundaries and drainage basins; the past and probable future urban growth, including population increase and business, commercial and industrial development in the area, need for organized community services; the present cost and adequacy of governmental services; the probable future needs for services; the practicability of supplying such services; the probable effect of alternative courses of action on the cost and adequacy of services, the probable increase in taxes in relation to the benefits expected to accrue; and the financial ability of the municipality to maintain urban type services.

The original petition submitted to the state in November by the Consolidated Government Committee asked to merge the two cities and the township. In April, the consolidation group decided to shrink the proposed consolidation area to the two cities only.

The boundary commission will hold an adjudicative hearing and make its recommendations to the director of the state Licensing and Regulatory Affairs office. The director then makes a decision on whether to unite all three, unite parts of the three areas or deny the entire consolidation.

If the director approves any form of consolidation, residents in the affected area have 45 days to gather signatures to hold a referendum on the ruling. Residents could accept it or reject it.

Information Pro Consolidation

• Consolidated Government Committee:  we-are-better-together.com

Information Anti Consolidation

• Citizens for Independent and Cooperative Communities:  cicc2012.com

New paint on Douglas City Hall

Work is beginning on Douglas City Hall. This photo was taken Monday.

Work is under way on the exterior of Douglas City Hall.

The scraping, wood replacement and painting is expected to last through July, said Ryan Kilpatrick, community/economic development director.

The council recently hired Vander Meulen Builders of Holland to scrape and replace the damaged boards and paint the exterior for $33,000.

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.

City Manager Bill LeFevere got bids for work on the exterior. Contractors went through the two-story building and assessed what needed to be done.

One firm listed the need to replace the windows, which are leaking, at $224,000. The siding needs to be replaced as well.

Council members know the quick work this summer won’t solve the problems with the building, but hope a new coat of paint will hide the problems long enough to get the building properly repaired in three to five years.

The city cannot afford the full fix now, LeFevere said, but can at least make the building look presentable while finding out what’s causing the paint to peel and wood to rot.

Here's the story from June: http://www.hollandsentinel.com/news/x426170621/Douglas-OKs-quick-cover-up-to-hide-peeling-paint

Miniature circus model brings big smiles

Young and old were fascinated by the working circus model on display in Douglas.

You could see the amazement on the faces of the children as they walked into the room.

You could also see the amazement on the faces of the adults who stood over the 10-by-20-foot model of the Al G. Barnes Circus at Old School House History Center, 130 Center St., Douglas, on Wednesday night. Many pulled out their cell phones to video and photograph the details and color of the wagons, animals and acrobats.

The working model — a parade of hand-carved horses and detailed wagons circles the tents and sideshows — was restored by John Sapita of Pennsylvania. His son, Bob, who lives in Douglas, has been caring for it and assembled it at the history center for the community to enjoy. It’s on display through July 22.

The Old School House is open 11 a.m. to  4:30 p.m. weekdays, 11 a.m. to  2 p.m. Saturdays and noon to 3 p.m. Sundays.

Here are links to the recent photos and video:

Photos: http://www.hollandsentinel.com/photo/x236225756/Circus-comes-to-town-in-Douglas

Video: http://www.hollandsentinel.com/videos/x236225718/Circus-Model-on-Display?page=0

Past story

Bob Sapita spoke about the model and his father in a 2009 Sentinel interview. Here’s a link to the story with photos:

http://www.hollandsentinel.com/news/x135738034/Little-Big-Top-Douglas-man-and-father-created-one-quarter-inch-scale-model-of-circus

Here’s the story:


Little Big Top: Douglas man and father created one-quarter-inch scale model of circus
By JIM HAYDEN
The Holland Sentinel
Posted Jul 04, 2009 @ 10:00 PM

Douglas, MI — Outside the big top of the Al G. Barnes Circus, the band wagon, pulled by eight horses, slowly slides by.

Under the canvas, the Girl Scouts stare, transfixed by the lion walking the tightrope.

Trapeze artists swing to the top of the tent. There is no fear because the safety net is taut.

Bob Sapita knows — the Douglas man tied the tiny ropes himself. And his dad built the big top scene from the ground up.

Now hundreds of people will get to see the miniature circus world at the Circus Model Builders International convention in Peru, Ind., at the end of the month.

“This is American history,” said Kay Sapita, Bob’s wife. “This is recreated from pictures, photos, newspaper articles. It’s all based on fact.”

Bob had the one-quarter-inch scale model of a 1930s circus spread out on its 10-foot-by-20-foot platform in his garage last week, checking out a million details, from the chain driving the parade to the motors twirling the acrobats.

The miniature world started with that love of detail.

Bob’s father, John, began building model circus wagons in the 1940s. The elder Sapita, who retired from Bethlehem Steel in Pennsylvania as an engineer, was not a circus performer but grew up near circus grounds. He applied his eye for mechanical detail to building scale models of circus wagons. John was inducted into the Circus Model Builder’s Hall of Fame in recognition of his skill as a model builder.

“Dad was building with these kits, but the kits were just a little off scale,” Kay said about her father-in-law’s early hobby. So, he scrapped the kits and started building from scratch.

The to-scale red wagons in the display are alive with details such as metal racks on the side of the vehicle that held table tops and individually painted spokes in the wheels.

His favorite circus wagons came from the Barnes show.

“The Al G. Barnes were very rugged wagons. He liked that,” said Bob, a retired electrical engineer.

Before his death in 2002, John had built more than 500 wagons representing several circuses, carnivals and wild west shows.

John’s attention to accuracy permeates the large display. His son, a circus fan but, he laughs, not a fanatic, points to hidden craftsmanship with a flair of a P.T. Barnum.

“This is how the roustabouts lived in a flea-infested bed,” Bob said as he lifted the roof off a circus rail car.

He pointed to the miniature map on the rail car wall and the slot machine tucked away in a corner of the car.

Farther down, posters entice townies to visit the bearded lady and watch the sword swallower — and, yes, the sword moves.

“It takes a lot of time to set up,” Bob added.

The display is already back in storage for the trip to Indiana.

The Sapitas are hoping to display the circus locally in the future.

They have lived in Douglas for three years. Kay is a retired church organist/music director.

Photos

Here some pictures that didn't make The Sentinel website from Wednesday's event:

Bob Sapita talks to Saugatuck-Douglas Historical Society members.

Bob Sapita keeps the circus model in a trailer.

Note the warning: "I brake for elephants."

A logo on the side of the trailer.

Bob's wife, Kay, points to moving parts in the circus model.

The parade along the outside of the model moves.

The display takes up most of the Old School House meeting room.

Spectators made several trips around the model, seeing something different each time.