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.

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.

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lifemagazine

Volume 3 Issue 4 | July 2022

Ron Baumgartner

PUBLISHER

rbaumgartner@the-papers.com Sue Rawlinson-Pais

EXECUTIVE EDITOR

sue@lakelifemagazine.com Deb Patterson

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

dpatterson@the-papers.com Steve Meadows

DIRECTOR OF MARKETING

smeadows@the-papers.com

SALES EXECUTIVES

Susan.Stump@lakelifemagazine.com Carl.Lauster@lakelifemagazine.com Karen.Johnson@lakelifemagazine.com Rebecca.Boone@lakelifemagazine.com Melinda.Musselman@lakelifemagazine.com Lynn.Blanchard@lakelifemagazine.com Cathy.Wilson@lakelifemagazine.com Annette Weaver

BUSINESS MANAGER

aweaver@the-papers.com Jerry Long

DIRECTOR OF CIRCULATION

jlong @the-papers.com Maymie Ankrom

GRAPHIC DESIGNER

Shelly Davis WEBMASTER

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS:

Ray Balogh, Mary Jane Bogle, Lauren Caggiano, Shelley Galbreath, John C. Gill, Haiden Hibbert, Mary Hursh, Jason Kissel, Beth Morris, Mike Petrucelli, Courtney Rawlinson, Pam Schumm, Loren Shaum, Christy Smith, Leslie Worthy

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS:

Mike Deak, Sue Pais, Arielle Royer Photography, Loren Shaum, Christy Smith

With a snap, crackle, and pop here comes the month of July.

There’s so much fun in the small print, and sometimes it’s where the juiciest, most important pops of info quietly lurk.

Shyyeah, right! Our masthead readership of five know this small print is anything but quiet. So, let’s light the proverbial sparklers and start some sparks a’twirling!

Oh, July, we have waited a whole year for your arrival. Yes, we welcome this month of summer with open arms, hearts full of appreciation for this great country, an appetite for barbecue gatherings, and we welcome the hottest temps and brightest sunshine. Yes, like Martha and the Vandellas, we’re all about the Heat Wave.

LAKElife is already producing our fourth magazine of the year. Time flies when we’re focused on lake fun. We love what we do, and we’re eager for a fabulous month ahead of appreciation and celebration with our favorite lake loving friends. That’s you (well, and all the rest who breezed right past the masthead!).

In July let’s celebrate family. Let’s show respectful appreciation for this land of the U.S.A. Let’s fly our flags, don the red, white + blue, and be present as much as possible. Feel the boom of the fireworks. Hear the rumble of boat engines. Notice the breeze, and inhale the scents of barbecue. And of course taste that refreshing drink with the tropical umbrella.

Make some lemonade, marinate your chicken, and slice some watermelon—and leave the seedless watermelons for someone less rugged than you, my fellow lake lovers. We’ll buy those seedy watermelons, and we’ll like it. ‘Cause watermelon seeds mean summer, golly dagnabbitty.

Speaking of watermelon seeds, we have recommenced competitions showcasing athleticism of Ron and, me (hi, I’m Sue). We took a break last month, we’re revived and again ready to rumble. This month? It’s a Clint-Eastwood-worthy watermelon seed spitting contest. It might be messy, but it’ll sure be fun. Free napkins and shoe shines available for attendees.

But seed spittin’ really isn’t what we’re all about. Allow me to introduce to you this region’s true publisher extraordinaire, our leader, the man behind the scenes, and the king of seed spitting (not in the publishing house, mind you): Ron. It’s thanks to his publishing prowess that LAKElife Magazine is published for you. Yes, by The Papers Inc.—the same publishing house that’s been serving communities for more than 80 years, located at 206 S. Main Street, Milford, Indiana, 46542. All jokes aside (for just one line of text), Ron’s our leader, we respect him, we appreciate him, and he never once said with a squint, ‘Go ahead. Make my day.’ Thank goodness.

Our office hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except for summertime Fridays when I blow off early after the work day. Then I’m obeying my dobie owner, throwing a red frisbee to appease her bossy demands. Life exists for frisbee. Its only focus is frisbee. All energies are frisbee. And I must throw quickly lest her 90-pound mass of German muscle will freaky-fast smash me into the neighbor’s yard. I hope they’re having a cookout.

Here’s the only required paragraph: ‘It shall be known that all rights whatsoever are reserved and nothing may be reproduced without the written consent of the publisher, who also assumes no responsibility as a result of any information or items advertised herein.’ And, those interested in contacting us may do so by calling 574.658.4111 or toll-free at 1.800.733.4111.

Check.

ADVERTISING INFORMATION

At this point if you’re not advertising with us, I must eat watermelon freaky-fast, aim the seeds near your shoes and ask, “*pfft* why *pfft* not?” To learn how to advertise in the fastest growing, most fun + madefor-you magazine, please contact Steve Meadows, director of marketing, at 574.658.4111 or toll-free at 1.800.733.4111. Or, email him at smeadows@thepapers.com. I promise he won’t spit watermelon seeds at you. He’s nice.

EDITORIAL CONTRIBUTIONS

Editorial suggestions and letters to the editor (that’s me) are eagerly welcomed! Please contact me at sue@ lakelifemagazine.com.

LAKElife Magazine contracts with freelance writers, photographers, and artists. If you’re interested in joining our creative-fest, just reach out. In fact, when in doubt about anything regarding this family-fun-lakepublication, I’m yo’ happy, helpful, watermelon seed spittin’ gurl.

Therein concludes our fourth 2022 super-secret, -but-not-really-informative masthead. Enjoy this July issue—and Happy Birthday to this great nation. And yes, may God bless the U.S.A.

A sincere thanks to all our amazing friends for

P.O. Box 188; 206 South Main St. Milford, IN 46542 800.733.4111/Fax 800.886.3796 www.lakelifemagazine.com