You made it happen

Thanksgiving thoughts about the December print issue

by Melanie Jongsma, Managing Editor

LANSING, Ill. (November 25, 2020) – You are the reason The Lansing Journal will be in print next month. You are the heroes of the December print issue’s story. Thank you.

This spring I wasn’t sure The Lansing Journal would ever be in print again. COVID-19 had impacted our business model, and we spent the spring and summer trying to figure out new ways of serving our community.

But you kept asking for a print edition. Even though you understood the economic reasons we had to put a pause on printing, you let us know you missed it.

So we started thinking about how to make it happen.

Advertisers made it happen

In October I emailed local businesses, schools, churches, and organizations to find out who might be interested in advertising. The response was immediate and encouraging. We kept our advertising rates the same, even though we expanded circulation to include every home in Lansing. We know that times are still hard for many of our local businesses, and this was a way we could help them.

In fact, as coronavirus cases began to surge again, and Illinois began announcing new mitigations, some of our advertisers had to change their advertising plans. Sometimes it was a financial decision, and sometimes it was simply an inability to know what to advertise, as planned events were cancelled and even hours of operation became hard to predict. But they let us know as soon as possible, and this allowed us to make adjustments. We are grateful for our family of local advertisers.

Readers made it happen

We let readers know about the upcoming print plans, and many of you responded with financial support. Those dollars help cover the reporting and writing that fill the pages of this newspaper—in print and online. Having a base of invested readers means we can continue to function even when advertising revenue shrinks. We are grateful for our community of supporting readers.

Industry professionals made it happen

COVID closed Park Press, our previous printer, and the new printer we were planning to use also went out of business. But the team at Blue Island Newspaper Printing was able to take us on as a client, and we met with them last week. After discussing, printer specs, PDF settings, and holiday timelines, we are increasingly confident that the December print issue of The Lansing Journal will look good. We are also working with Chicagoland Circulation Services to make sure the paper will arrive on your porch next week. We are grateful for new relationships with printing and delivery professionals who can help us.

Thank you, advertisers

Over 20 businesses, churches, and community organizations made a commitment to supporting the December print issue with their advertising dollars. And most of them submitted payment weeks in advance! We are asking our readers to notice those print ads and patronize these organizations, particularly during uncertain times:

1. Apple Dentistry
2. Buttermilk Pancake House
3. Fine Tune Auto
4. First United Methodist Church
5. HVAC Masters
6. Lansing Christian School
7. Lansing Cleaners
8. Legion Riders
9. Mancino’s
10. Maureen Grady-Perovich
11. Ooowee Chicken & Ribs
12. Schultz Insurance
13. South Holland Master Chorale
14. South Suburban Heating and Air Conditioning
15. Thornton Township
16. Thrivent
17. Unlimited Service Auto
18. Village of Lansing
19. Village Voice Party
20. Waters Edge
21. We Are Lansing
22. Window & Door Superstore

Thank you, readers

The Lansing Journal receives financial support from dozens of people who appreciate having a newspaper that is focused specifically on our community. Many are monthly supporters, while others give occasional gifts on their own schedule. And some gave money this month specifically to help cover the extra costs of a print issue. Thank you, readers. The list below comprises people who gave in November:

1. Lindsey and Saad Abbasy
2. Karen Adams
3. Jane and Joe Addison
4. Anonymous Friend
5. Anonymous Friends
6. Jennifer Avenatti
7. Lorraine Banasiak
8. Judith Beezhold
9. Barry Bergstrom
10. Wes and Joy Blocker
11. Dan and Kristy Bootsma
12. Susan Bovino
13. John Bush
14. Maryann Centracchio
15. Laurel Clausing
16. Greg and Jane Compeau
17. Marlene Cook
18. Diane Costello
19. Denise Cox
20. Kerry Czarobski
21. Lauragene Davia
22. Christopher Deckinga
23. Debbie DeNardo
24. Sandy DeVries
25. Phyllis Drewno
26. Barb Dust
27. Rich Dust
28. Roseann Dykstra
29. Frank Fetters
30. Friends of The Lansing Journal
31. Jim and Judy Friesema
32. Tina Funchion
33. Sharon Giles
34. Jacob Gourley
35. Tony and Maureen Grady-Perovich
36. Patty Grigutis
37. Lawrence Grzywinski
38. Joyce Haak
39. Marina Hallberg
40. Ted Hnatusko
41. Marjorie Holme
42. Mark Hornung
43. Jim Janssen
44. Melanie Jongsma
45. Jean Klacik
46. Judith Koch
47. Pat Kremer
48. Cynthia Krusza
49. Sue Lagestee
50. Pamela Lancy
51. Barb and Clem Lessner
52. Jim and Suzanne Long
53. Luci Lugowski
54. Kathy Maanum
55. Roberto Mendoza
56. Christine Merchat
57. Chuck Murach
58. Nauta Enterprises
59. Marilou Ooms
60. Donald Palka
61. Mary Beth Palka
62. Thomas Panichi
63. Robert Parrent
64. Moira Peterson
65. Richard Podgorski
66. Rosemarie Polgar
67. Jennifer Polley
68. Jay and Chris Popp
69. Joanne Pritchard
70. Jean Qualls
71. Penelope Rellis
72. Jane Roseen
73. Jennifer Saia
74. Carol Schaap
75. Rich and Jan Schaeffer
76. Peter Schurman
77. Dave Schurman
78. Irene Sepiol
79. Slaughter & Associates
80. Michelle Smith
81. Tom and Terri Stallinga
82. Kelsee Stallinga
83. Tara Stewart
84. Carol Taylor
85. Linda Todd
86. Virginia and John Ulaszek
87. Leo Valencia
88. Sandy Vree
89. Phyllis Warsen
90. Waters Edge Aquascaping
91. Paul West
92. Robert Wood
93. Patricia Yos
94. Chris Zdanowski

You made it happen

Even in a year like 2020, there is much to be grateful for. This Thanksgiving, during this crazy year, and leading up to this December print issue, I want to personally, publicly thank you, all of you.

You made it happen.

Thank you.