
9 minute read
Partners ‘n Pals

>> We want to hear from YOU!
We love your letters—simply email comments to sue@lakelifemagazine.com.
>> THANK YOU for a great season with LAKElife
Magazine. We’ll see you again in April for more fun + celebration of the
LAKElife we all love!
Best pals we were. My partner in crime. My protector. My favorite cuddle-bug. And the best kitchen comrade for sneaking cookies late at night.

Where I went, he went. And at bedtime, he slept beneath my bed to ensure I was safe ‘n sound.
This best pal had four legs, answered to the name of Misty, and was a gorgeous German shepherd.
I trained him (with Mom’s roast beef…sshhh). I played with him. We hung out. And we made serious dents to the fam’ cookie jar at midnight.
Memories with Misty were formed yearround, but summertime moments were extra special. So many outdoor adventures. Multiple homemade obstacle courses. And he’d even let me dress him like a girl now and then. We disagreed when he’d chase the squirrels I fed, but other than that? We were
a perfect duo.
So when August blazes its brilliance into our lives each year, it’s fun to reminisce. To appreciate today, but also remember hot summer days of yesteryear. Of Dad’s thick green lawn. Of running barefoot. Of watching the stars from the long, white pier. Of devouring cold lemonade and frozen cherry Fla-Vor-Ice® pops. August lightning bugs illuminated warm summer nights, and I’d compete with my brother to catch the most in a mason jar (he won every time). It was a season for running with reckless abandon outdoors just because I could—with Misty darting back and forth chasing me (and my squirrels).
And while the ‘real’ meaning of ‘dog days of summer’ is tied to Greek and Roman astrology, a positive twist on the sentiment has lived on. Today we focus on the beauty of the hot, sultry season. Of lazy days on a raft. Of the sun’s brilliance and how it reflects on the water—and how the picture-perfect view changes, moment to moment, from sunrise to sunset.
We enjoy the ‘dog days’ play-on-words to incorporate our four-legged pals—and celebrate the heartwarming simplicities of which they remind us. Dogs are ideal examples of selfless, undeniable, unconditional love and loyalty. No matter what. And what a powerful gift and joy.
So yes, you’ll see a pooch theme in this issue, in addition to focusing on healthy living, cherishing the lakes, fun summer drink recipes, water-toy fun, fishing, and we’ll celebrate some faces you’ll likely recognize. And so much more.
Please keep sending me your comments, lake + family photos, as well as your nominations for our chef and bartender features. We have gained a tremendously fun momentum together… and hearing from readers each day (yes, it’s daily now!) is the greatest joy to this dog-loving-cookie-thievin’-editor-gal.
Thank you for being with us. This magazine is for you—and for Fido, too.
Executive Editor-whose-best-friendchased-squirrels-while-wearing-a-dress sue@lakelifemagazine.com
Mike Petrucelli
A native New Englander, Mike Petrucelli has developed a temperament more suited to the Midwest, having lived in Indiana longer than anywhere else. That said, however, he can sound-off regional accents on a whim, on and off like a faucet. After growing up in Connecticut and Vermont, and spending two years in Boston as a college student, Mike graduated from Purdue University, from which he holds bachelor and master degrees, and began his journalism career at a small daily paper in Indiana, covering crime, courts, and sports. He finished that career at the South Bend Tribune, where he was an editor focusing on food, religion, home, and family news. In that time, he rode in the Weinermobile and ate a sandwich made from The World’s Largest Meatball, among other notable achievements. Now, Mike works in communication for an independent school— and freelances for yours truly. Mike has been married to his wife, Amanda, for more than 20 years. They have two children in college, Calvin and Madeline, and parent two rescue border collies, Watson and Freyja. We’re so happy to have Mike’s words, experience and wit within our pages.

Haiden Hibbert
This newlywed beauty and mama to bernedoodle Rigby, is what we call an up-andcoming-voice in the writing world. After earning her degree in journalism with a minor in creative writing from Indiana University-Bloomington (go Hoosiers!), Haiden Hibbert is already taking the freelance world by storm (albeit a gentle, steady, peaceful storm that steadfastly abides by deadlines, thank you). Now a full-time freelance blogger on topics as various as beauty, education, pet care, technology, small business—and yes, lake living (woohoo!), we see her writing future as all shiny and bright like the August sunshine over the lake. A dedicated Young Life leader, Haiden loves to spend time with family and learn about nutrition—but of course, her greatest passion—aside from hubby Zach, pup Rigby, and church—involves tapping fingertips to a keyboard. We’re thrilled to welcome Haiden to the pages of LAKElife… we’re so proud to have her aboard.
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lifemagazine
Volume 1 Issue 4 | August 2020
Ron Baumgartner
PUBLISHER
rbaumgartner@the-papers.com
Sue Rawlinson-Pais
EXECUTIVE EDITOR
sue@lakelifemagazine.com
Deb Patterson
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
dpatterson@the-papers.com
Kip Schumm
DIRECTOR OF MARKETING
kschumm@the-papers.com
SALES EXECUTIVES
Susan.Stump@lakelifemagazine.com Carl.Lauster@lakelifemagazine.com Mark.Collins@lakelifemagazine.com Pati.Waters@lakelifemagazine.com Rebecca.Boone@lakelifemagazine.com Lynn.Blanchard@lakelifemagazine.com Carrie Goralczyk
BUSINESS MANAGER
cgoralczyk@the-papers.com
Jerry Long
DIRECTOR OF CIRCULATION
jlong @the-papers.com
Trystan Nisley
GRAPHIC DESIGNER
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS:
Ray Balogh, Dr. Nate Bosch, Lauren Caggiano, Adrienne Funderburg, Deborah C. Gerbers, John C. Gill, Haiden Hibbert, Beth Morris, Mike Petrucelli, Shannon Rooney, Loren Shaum, Leslie Worthy
CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS:
Jessica Barger, Mike Deak, Deborah C. Gerbers, Janeen Malfait, Sue Pais, Deb Patterson, Courtney Rawlinson, Loren Shaum, Susan Stump, Damon Woodard, Emily Worrell
P.O. Box 188; 206 South Main St. Milford, IN 46542 800.733.4111/Fax 800.886.3796 www.lakelifemagazine.com
Well, fancy meeting you here.
Yes, we meet again in this hidden gem of a masthead that no one reads. It’s like a super-secret club! Except anyone can read and partake, but most don’t. But YOU do. Why? Because you’re super inquisitivey.
Yep, by now you know, just four issues in, that this super-secret masthead is super fun. No boring masthead for us!
And no, inquisitivey is not really a word. But it should be, if you ask me. Which you didn’t ask, but there it is anyways. Bonus.
Okay, superstars, welcome to the fourth issue of LAKElife Magazine. By now we’ve found our lake-legs and steadied our stance, and we’re moving forward full-steam ahead. Oh, the lake references abound. Yes, lake life is, yet again, flourishing. Businesses are busy, our publisher is publishing, and lakers are laking quite well. (Agh! Laking isn’t a real word. But, of course, it should be.)
We’re proud of all the new partners who’ve joined our journey and we look forward to whatever the future may hold. Thanks for believing in us. Let’s celebrate progress. Let’s continue to support one another with patience, kindness, and grace. And for those keeping track, Ron and Sue (isn’t it weird how I speak of myself in third-person?) are weary of their strenuous arm wrestling competitions, so they’ve transitioned to dance-offs. Clear. The. Floor. Travolta.
LAKElife Magazine is published by your area publishing icon—yes, the one founded by the Baumgartner family, and the same one that has stood the test of time (more than 80 years!). Yep, we’re talking about The Papers Incorporated at 206 S. Main Street, Milford, Indiana, 46542, with Ron Baumgartner, sleeves rolled up, phone at the hip in a holster, and dance shoes at-theready. He’s at the reins. And he reigns, too, for the record. See what we did there? Of course you did because you read the fine print.
Our office hours are still most definitely 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except for the second Thursday of every week, when we knock off early to throw back a few. And, mark your calendars because dance-offs are held the third Tuesday of each week.
As we are veterans to this publishing hoedown, we know it’s important to share this message: ‘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.’ So, there’s that. And to get consent from Ron, you’ll have’ta dance-off doing the dougie on the third Tuesday of next week.
Those interested in contacting us may do so by calling 574.658.4111 or toll-free at 1.800.733.4111.
ADVERTISING INFORMATION
If you wish to advertise, we can be super-cool besties. We appreciate every single advertiser who joins our journey. Without you, there is no us. So, THANK YOU. And for those who wish to join the rest of us cool cats, we would be happy to put your advertising message directly into the hands of fellow Kosciusko County lake lovin’ residents. To learn how we can put the power of print to work for you, please contact Kip Schumm, director of marketing, at 574.658.4111 or toll-free at 1.800.733.4111. Or, email him at kschumm@the-papers.com.
EDITORIAL CONTRIBUTIONS
Editorial suggestions are eagerly welcomed! Please contact Sue at any time (she loves to hear from you!) at sue@lakelifemagazine.com, or send her a text at 260.450.7736. She’ll get back with you after her dance lessons.
Letters to the editor may be emailed, and must include your name. Sue LOVES to hear from you! In her best (it’s bad) Doc Holliday impression she says, ‘I’m your huckleberry.’ Move. Over. Val. Kilmer. Again, contact her at sue@lakelifemagazine.com.
LAKELife Magazine does, indeed, contract with freelance writers, photographers and artists to create much of its content. If you’re interested in joining the journey, reach out to Sue and she’ll be in touch. Again, her email is Sue@lakelifemagazine.com. In fact, when in doubt about anything regarding this America-and-dog loving publication, reach out to Sue. She’s your general go-to walkin’ about in these here parts. No spurs, though. Just flip-flops. Spurs are just SO. YESTERDAY, Doc.
As our first year of printing this seasonal gem now comes to a close, we thank you for the many letters, pics, comments, nominations, and secret masthead club readers. You’re da’ best! We’ll be back in April with dancing shoes all shiny, sunscreen at-the-ready, and with big fun ahead.
Therein concludes our fourth, super informative masthead… enjoy this August issue. And genuine thanks for reading. Yes, even the small print.