Contributors Jason Kissel
When it comes to an outdoorsy fella’, look no farther than the executive director (for 15+ years) of ACRES Land Trust. He lives in nature (his home is actually within a forest preserve), has studied nature (a bachelor’s in Forestry from Purdue University), and plays within nature. In fact, if you see a long-legged, happy guy (he’s 6’6”) paddling about on a cool morning—or the same guy puttering around in a canoe powered by a vintage 4-hp Johnson on hot afternoons, it’s likely Jason. An avid cyclist, he rode his bicycle from California to Florida in 2011, then from Mexico to Canada a decade later, in 2021. When not playing outdoors, or immersed within his duties at ACRES, he’s spelunking through caves, making a bomb crème brulee, or he’s serving in his role as an ordained pastor. He's a busy husband, dad to a son at Ball State and daughter in high school, and an all-around great guy. We couldn’t be happier to celebrate him, and share his knowledge of the lake areas we all love. Welcome to our pages, Jason. It’s an honor.
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Mary Hursh
She’s about as immersed in lake life as the Lightnings and E-Scows she and her husband raced within lake waters. This writer, educated at Indiana University with a major in English and minor in journalism, spent 38 years teaching journalism and advising on high school yearbooks and newspapers. After her retirement, she become a guest writer for The Mail-Journal doing feature interviews with lake area residents. In addition, she writes articles for the Syracuse-Wawasee Historical Museum newsletter and helps the director create displays showcasing historical figures and places around the lake. And now, she’s dedicating time and efforts to us at LAKElife Magazine. Mary and her husband, Bud, live on Syracuse Lake, and are frequently part of the Sunday rumbles of the Thunder Run in their 1960 Century Coronado or 1941 Chris-Craft Deluxe named “Restless.” And the racing of earlier days? She and Bud are still long-time members of the Wawasee Yacht Club. So it’s fitting she authored the story in this very issue that shares celebration of this very club. Welcome aboard with us, Mary.
LAKElife Magazine July 2022
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