About Allegan County, MI

Al-Van Humane Society set up at Coldwell Banker Woodland Schmidt last Saturday with puppies, dogs and kittys to take applications for adoption. We are hoping to make this an annual event.

It was organized by Mike Bojko and Edie Spencer of our office and well attended by about twenty five visitors, one of whom signed up to adopt one of the puppies and one of whom dropped off a cat that he was unable to take with him when as he was moving.

This is a great event for recognition in the area for the office. Here is a photo the Humane Society people in green and the realtors in whatever.

Realtors include (standing from the left) Dee Dee Hanson, Mike Bojko, JJeff Wilcox, Tammy Watson-Small and Edie Spencer I am holding my little mascot Papillion, Ilsa. She was not a rescue dog. You can see a larger photo of her at my website www.mysaugatuck.com.

During the event, Tammy Watson-Small had to rescue a bird which had fallen out of the nest over our entry way. This seems to be the season for rescuing birds!

The phone number for the Al-Van Humane Society is 269-637-5062.

This event generates free publicity from the media and is a great community service. It really requires very little effort on our part - only a tent for the animals to sit under. The Humane Society does all the work. You might want to consider such an event in your location.

Here is the photo of Tammy with the bird in her hands.

The Waterfront Film Festival will be returning to Saugatuck on June 12th through the 15th. This is a lot of fun with about four different venues going all day long. You can order your tickets right on line and they are very inexpensive. You can sign up at www.waterfrontfilm.org and they will send you a list of the films as soon as they are ready. Make your reservations and come on over! If you missed Cannes, you don't want to miss this too. See you there. Dee Dee Hanson, Associate Broker, CB Woodland Schmidt, www.mysaugatuck.com

Here is the link to the Today Show from earlier this week. Barbara Corcoran's new book, "Nextville" was reviewed. Barbara was picking the new, hip places to retire and, guess what, Saugatuck was first. Here is the link so you can see it for yourselves http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/24366939#24366939 Come on over. The water is fine!

Check out my blogs and all homes on mysaugatuck.com.

Spring is here! Or at least it feels like it. The snow has all melted and the birds are back. This is a beautiful time of year to be alive and in Saugatuck!

The willows are greening up and the ice on Lake Michigan has disappeared! Today it was even warm enough to be out with only a light jacket. The cars with the Illinois plates are all over town. That is a sure sign of Spring.

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Come on over for the spring flowers.

The photo on the left is of my great grandfather's apple tree - one of the few that have survived from his orchard. It looks like a Monet when it starts to bloom. The one direcly above is my aunt's barn with the lilacs in bloom.

May will bring not only the lilacs and the apple blossoms but also the tulips. Holland - twenty minutes north of Saugatuck will again be able to judge the exact time the tulips will bloom and has scheduled Tulip Time for an entire week with gorgeous tulips and entertainment including the parade in the wooden shoes!

June brings the Saugatuck Film Festival which is wonderful. Lots of venues and more movies than you can possibly see. It is hard to pick out which ones to leave unseen. Check them out at waterfrontfilmfestival.com. Reserve your bed and breakfast or motel early. This is a very popular event.

Saugatuck has it all - five beaches on Lake Michigan, Crane's orchard, Fenn Valley Winery, art galleries galore, and live theater both at Saugatuck Center for the Arts and Red Barn.

There are great buys available in real estate so you can have your own piece of Saugatuck -condos on the river for under $300,000 including a deep water dock; property right on Butler Street - at the quiet end - for $369,000; and, believe it or not, a foreclosure in Douglas for $155,000 or a home with a view of Hutchins Lake and deeded water access with a dock for your boat for $165,000.

See these on my website - mysaugatuck.com. Read my other blogs by clicking on the bubble labeled Dee Dee's Blogs next to my little dog,Ilsa, to learn about the area and the real estate market. Or better yet, let me know when you are coming and you can view all the properties available on the big screen in my office. For an appointment or any additional information call me at 616-836-8535.

Saugatuck is waiting. Red rover, red rover, why don't you come on over! You can climb the stairs to Mt. Baldhead and run down the other side to Oval Beach - the most beautiful beach on Lake Michigan. Take time to smell the flowers and breath!

Located in Shelbyville, MI (Allegan County) and centrally located to Grand Rapids and Kalamazoo. Shelbyville is a quaint, small town with a small town feel so you'll be living in the beautiful country, but on a road that's easily accessible to US131. Being that I'm a golf fanatic, you're two minutes away from Hidden Valley Golf Course which is a personal favorite of mine. You've also got Gun Lake for camping and recreation nearby as well as other lakes and golf courses. Michigan has many, many lakes, small and large for fishing to fun!

How about the home itself? It's a custom built 3 bedroom/2 full bath with oak trim and hardwood oak floors, spacious master bedroom suite with a big walk-in closet and a very roomy bathroom with ceramic tile. The home features cathedral ceilings and an open kitchen (with more beautiful cabinetry and all appliances remaining), large dining area with sliders to an even larger deck. Imagine those special family dinners or the big bbq's you can host. Or maybe you just want to relax on the deck and take in the beauty of the sunset over the pond and the wildlife and sounds of nature. Whatever you prefer, there's several options available for you. 1700 sq. ft. with additional room in the lower walk-out level (rec area) that could easily be turned into a 4th bedroom or office and is also rough plumbed for 3rd bathroom and giving you an additional 1000 sq. ft. of living space. Main floor laundry room with washer/dryer, central air, large 2 stall attached garage w/ hot and cold water and much more.The wonderful land that comes with this home has a ravine, woods and a maintained driving area to view your property...take long walks, ride an ATV or Snowmobile or possibly even horses. Or just enjoy the scenery and the serenity of the countryside. This is the first time this home is offered with the entire 19 acres - so don't miss out on this great opportunity! 2744 10th St., Shelbyville, MI is offered at $349,000. Call now for your personal showing. Ed Vogt - Audu Real Estate. 616-791-0511 or 616-304-0549.