An anniversary thank-you

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The Lansing Journal's first print issue was published September 13, 2017. That has become the date we think of as our birth date. (Photo: Melanie Jongsma)

Five and forward — because of you

by Melanie Jongsma, Publisher

LANSING, Ill. (September 1, 2022) – A business anniversary can be difficult to measure because there are so many steps involved in becoming a business. For example, The Lansing Journal’s partnership agreement with The Shopper Group is dated August 21, 2017. Our first online article (about Troost Coffee and Tea) is dated July 1, 2017. Our Lansing business license is dated July 22, 2020. Our LLC is dated July 17, 2020. All of these are significant steps in the journey of becoming what we are.

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The Lansing Journal’s first print issue was published September 13, 2017. That has become the date we think of as our anniversary date. (Photo: Melanie Jongsma)

But the date I most often think of as our anniversary is September 13, 2017. That’s the date we published the first print edition (PDF) of The Lansing Journal.

It was 24 pages of ink and paper that told the stories of ALDI remodeling their Lansing location, a Hollywood crew filming a movie at Lan-Oak Lanes, the Human Relations Commission being finalized, diversity at Classy Cuts Beauty Salon, the first performance of México en el Corazón in Lansing, the August 21 eclipse, pickle ball at Lions Park, coupons for Bohemian Joe’s Restaurant, and more. It’s fascinating to see what has changed and what has stayed the same in just five years.

From the very beginning

That first print issue also included our first request for help from our readers: “Want to support this kind of local coverage? Become a patron of The Lansing Journal! Your gift helps cover the expenses that make good reporting possible.”

People responded, from the very beginning. Community support kept this newspaper going.

Our list of names has gradually grown over the years, mainly because people love having a community newspaper. It’s always been an important source of information, and it’s become an important part of our community identity.

Because of you, not only are we celebrating a five-year anniversary, we’re also looking forward to whatever the future brings.

Thank you for sharing the journey with us.

Thank you, Facebook friends

On August 13 we launched a special “Five and Forward” fundraiser on Facebook. We are trying to raise $5,000 by September 13, in recognition of five years of service, and in anticipation of moving forward. These friends were among the first to respond:

  • Andrea Arthur
  • Nancy Vroom Bales
  • Yvette Johnson Bickcom
  • Wynne Cook
  • Denise Cox
  • Eric Crump
  • Geary Depue
  • Barbara Tereba Dust
  • Sue Henning Ekkebus
  • Jennifer Fischer
  • Pat Frederickson
  • Michael Gaffney
  • Miguel Gutierrez
  • Eric Himmel
  • Helen Hnatusko
  • Jim Janssen
  • KB Jongsma
  • Melanie Jongsma
  • Leann Lange
  • Jean A McCall
  • Ken Newberry
  • Hilda Onate
  • Ellen Osterman
  • Julie Peddy
  • Donna Pyritz
  • Carol Meyer Schaap
  • Sandra Schultz
  • Beverly Schweitzer
  • Carolyn Scofield
  • Raymond Sutorius
  • Jim Sweeney
  • Venkat Tipirneni
  • Linda Eckstein Todd
  • Virginia Ulaszek
  • Karen Vrdolyak
  • Tiffany Roberts Wells
  • Christine Widstrand
  • Ron Wolford
  • Korey Ziemkowski

The Five and Forward fundraiser runs through September 13 — we’d love to add your name to next month’s list of friends!

Thank you, August sustainers

These special people are more than just donors. They are sustainers. They have made a commitment to invest in this community newspaper with faithful monthly gifts, and we are grateful. Thank you to each person listed below whose financial support arrived again during August:

  • Anonymous Givers
  • Anonymous Friend
  • Anonymous Readers
  • Lindsey and Saad Abbasy
  • Karen Adams
  • Anthony Arnold
  • Donna Marshall Attinello
  • Jennifer Avenatti
  • Dave Badali
  • Patrick Baker
  • Adam Barker
  • Jeanne Benson
  • Dan Bergan
  • Marlene Biesboer
  • Wes and Joy Blocker
  • Bob Boer
  • Dan and Kristy Bootsma
  • Debbie Boroviak
  • Susan and Daniel Bovino
  • Theresa Bresnahan
  • Joseph Bugajski
  • Marsha Bultema
  • Maryann Centracchio
  • Christy Cheek
  • Laurel Clausing
  • Kathleen and William Clausing
  • Greg and Jane Compeau
  • Marlene Cook
  • Ruth Cook
  • Diane Costello
  • Denise Cox
  • Kerry Czarobski
  • Tricia DeBlock
  • Patricia Deckinga
  • Owen Deckinga
  • Antoinette DeLaurentis
  • Debra DeNardo
  • Rob and Sandy DeVries
  • Stefanie DeYoung
  • LouAnn Dommer
  • Lisa Doorn
  • Fran Duffy
  • Barb Dust
  • Richard Dust
  • Don Dykstra
  • Roseann Dykstra
  • Pamela Edrington
  • Alexa Edwards
  • Edwin H. Lugowski, Jr., AIA, Architect
  • Master El
  • Martina Eldsmoe
  • Margaret Evans
  • Frank Fetters
  • Fine Tune Auto
  • Bob Forner
  • Jim and Judy Friesema
  • Tina Funchion
  • Geraldine Giglio
  • Edward Gonzalez
  • Jacob Gourley
  • Patty Grigutis
  • Dr. and Mrs. Jasper Gulotta
  • Jerry and Judi Haan
  • Carey Halsey
  • Jan Hansen
  • Brian and Kathy Hardy
  • Cam and Megan Harvey
  • Agatha Hason
  • Julie Hiskes
  • Ted and Helen Hnatusko
  • Marjorie Holme
  • Mark Hornung
  • Donna Huizenga
  • Smilja Ivancevic
  • Stephanie Jansma
  • Vinell Jones
  • Melanie Jongsma
  • Connie Jordan
  • Arlo and Brenda Kallemeyn
  • Jean Klacik
  • Nicole Kleidon
  • Frank Knittle
  • Judy and Karl Koch
  • Anita and John Kowalisyn
  • Pat Kremer
  • Cynthia Krusza
  • Mark and Missy Krygsheld
  • Jill Laboy
  • Cheryl LaMar
  • Pamela Lancy
  • Bruce Langman
  • David Larsen
  • Morris Lewis
  • Judy Lohr-Safcik
  • John Long
  • Jim and Suzanne Long
  • Luci Lugowski
  • Rich and Diane Lund
  • Caleb Lyzenga
  • Kathleen Maanum
  • Nick Maloni
  • Chanta Manson
  • Carol McFarland
  • Barbara McKinney
  • Lynda Mendoza
  • Roberto Mendoza
  • Dehlia Mendoza
  • Christine Merchat
  • Martha Montiel
  • Chuck Murach
  • Hollis Napoli
  • Marilou Ooms
  • Grant Oppenhuis
  • Gregory Ott
  • Don and Mary Beth Palka
  • Thomas Panichi
  • Robert Parrent
  • Moira Peterson
  • Gabriel Pierce
  • Susan Planer
  • Rosemarie Polgar
  • Jay and Chris Popp
  • Joanne Pritchard
  • Jean Qualls
  • Penelope Rellis
  • Carla Rispens
  • Rose Rivas
  • Jane Roseen
  • Shirley Rucker
  • Kristin Russell
  • Jennifer Saia
  • Carol Schaap
  • Ann Schenkel
  • Roberta Schopp-Coe
  • Sandy Schultz
  • Dave and Janice Schurman
  • Pete and Shirley Schurman
  • Irene Sepiol
  • Freddie Simmons
  • Todd Simon
  • Connie Simon
  • Mike and Denise Skrbina
  • Slaughter & Associates
  • Michelle Smith
  • Richard Smits
  • Frieda Smits
  • Reba Spilis
  • Kelsee Stallinga
  • Dan Stamper
  • Anne Marie Stole
  • John Stole
  • Jim Sweeney
  • Debbie Terpstra
  • Linda Todd
  • Karen and Gammon Trimuel
  • Virginia and John Ulaszek
  • Lionel Valencia
  • Wendy Van Der Aa
  • Jill Van Kuiken
  • James Van Milligen
  • Arlyn VanEk
  • Ken Varnes
  • Gerrit Veenstra
  • Irma Vela
  • Tim Vermeer
  • Sandy Vree
  • Scott Wagner
  • Sandra Wagner
  • Phyllis Warsen
  • Waters Edge Aquascaping
  • Beverly Wilhelm
  • Adrienne Winchester
  • Nancy and Bob Wojcik
  • Michael and Dana Wood
  • Bob and Jean Wood
  • Jennifer Yos
  • Patricia Yos
  • Chris Zdanowski
  • Char Zralka
  • Noel Zupancic

Thank you, August supporters

Not everyone can give on a regular schedule, and some people prefer to respond to specific requests for help. This month, we received special support from these friends, and we are grateful for their investment too:

  • James and Kathleen Adduci
  • John Bush
  • Jerome Ellis
  • Tony and Maureen Grady-Perovich
  • Pamela Jansma
  • Clem and Barb Lessner
  • Thomas Molnar
  • Gloria and Robert Sharer
  • Sandy Smithgall Skaggs
  • Carol Taylor
  • Rita VanDrunen

As we look back at five years of community news, we are grateful for the community of sustainers and supporters who made it possible. Thank you for celebrating this milestone anniversary with us.
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P.S. Our next phase of growth will require new ways of thinking. We’d love to have more of our community join us as we journey forward. Will you click the button and help us get there?

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