Expression Editors Affirm Mission, Urge Community Expression

by Jane Stahl

It's our anniversary! Two years ago today, The Boyertown Area Expression published its first article as an introduction to the community. Today, the following "article" was created from a "B Inspired" podcast episode I recorded with Lesley well over a year later. Today, we're growing our readership; still having a good time sharing information about local people, events, and opportunities; and are gratified that our readers tell us they enjoy our efforts.  We continue to encourage our readers to become one of our guest writers or contributors in some form. And, we, of course, welcome any business owners to consider advertising with us. Monthly fees are beyond modest!  For now, although the piece is a bit dated, enjoy this "visit" with Lesley! 

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As co-editor of The Boyertown Area Expression, in an impromptu effort during one of our “executive sessions”—a.k.a. a “gab” session over lunch—I tapped “record” on my phone initiating an episode with editor-in-chief Lesley Misko for my “B Inspired” podcast. She’d been shyly, slyly avoiding being a subject, but we had a good time exploring the mission and intent of our project as co-editors, affirming the mission and intent of our project, thanking our contributors, and encouraging more expression from the community.

Editor Lesley Misko had a clear mission in establishing the fledgling news site The Boyertown Area Expression in August 2022. “There are two reasons that I felt an opportunity and a responsibility to take up this cause,” she explains. “First, I missed the coverage provided by our local newspapers the Boyertown Times and the Pottstown Mercury. Sadly, those publications have become shells of themselves in recent years as newspaper journalism declines.

“Second, I felt the divisiveness in our country could somehow be addressed by an effort to unite people locally—sharing stories of all the good people doing good things in our community and of the many graduates of our school district who are doing amazing things around the world. And so, when I came across a workable platform, I saw a chance to do something to address the dearth of attention to local news.

“There was one thing missing, though,” she continues: “someone who knew the area intimately and was connected with others within the community. Former teaching colleague Jane Stahl came to mind. And while I didn’t know how she would react--I knew she was busy working other projects and wasn’t sure how this effort would fit in with what she was doing--I took the chance and reached out to her about joining me in the project.”

Jane: The rest of the story, of course, is clear. I was delighted to recognize Lesley’s desire to utilize her writing and editing gifts and to imagine the benefit that she could offer the area. I saw an opportunity to assist a friend and former colleague in making a positive difference in the community, and I naively figured that since I was already doing my own form of reporting, adding this effort would not add significantly to my “work load.” LOL.

As many know, Lesley has been involved in journalism throughout her life as editor of Boyertown High School’s award-winning Cub newspaper and a contributor to assorted newspapers and media outlets since retiring from her 35-year career teaching language arts.

Lesley adds, “Jane and I worked together at the high school for many years in a more formal way, but this project has given us a chance to work together more as friends and to learn about one another. It's been fun. A friend of mine asked me recently if Jane and I talked on the phone every day, and I had to tell her that we did—once a day, at least, in addition to text messages and e-mails.” 

She reports that feedback from the community has been positive. “How could anybody object to what we’re doing,” Lesley wonders. “And while we know we can’t please everybody all the time, if they do object, they’re not telling us.”

Stories about Boyertown’s graduates are popular with The Expression’s readers along with articles about people in the community doing interesting things. “Our readers enjoy the personal experiences that our writers share with us. And, in fact, it’s those personal stories that we are eager to inspire folks to share with us," Lesley notes.

“We were contemplating earlier about why more folks may not be sending us their stories. We keep inviting people to share with us. Most recently we’ve asked for cookie recipes and photos accompanied by a few sentences about their favorite Christmas ornament or decoration. These stories offer warm memories about families, friends, places. They bring people together. While we received a nice handful--mostly from those we expressly invited, we weren’t overwhelmed with responses from the community in general.

“Jane thought perhaps that people may be intimidated sending their writing to two former English teachers. But I’d like folks to know that we’re not scary; we don’t obsess about commas and things. We just want to know more about them because that’s what makes a strong community. We’re community-building.

“The title of our effort says it all: it’s about ‘expression,’ she insists. “We want the community to express itself.”

The Expression is grateful for the writers who have been contributing. Readers enjoy former student Mike Strzelecki’s personal stories, his Bird of the Month articles, his interviews with former teachers Joe McGlinchey and his friend Brian Kuszyk, for example. Mike’s article when we explored the best pizza around town was popular prompting memories of events, people and places that existed when he lived in the area that perhaps have vanished over the years. 

Craig Bennett, former Boyertown teacher, submits essays about all sorts of topics and gives ideas for other ventures. A podcast titled Both Sides Now that I co-host with another former student Ross (Yergz) Yerger tackles a variety of themes.

Phil Repko, Lesley’s former student and colleague, contributes poetry and articles. Lesley always hopes and presses Phil for more of his work.

Former student and Lesley’s Cub editor Rowan Carter and former colleagues Donna Jorgensen and Bob Wood are valued contributors as is local writer and teacher Sandra Williams.

Submissions by Amy Muzopappa, Luann Zambanini, Doc Tribbett, Mark Malizzi, and Donnie Ellixson, for example, help to showcase wonderful people, events, opportunities, businesses, and nonprofit organizations in our area.

Lesley adds, “And I think of Boyertown graduate Beth Glick--a wonderfully reinforcing, lovely, delightful, folksy person--very creative. We are grateful for the photos she contributes to Expression along with the hot dogs and sauerkraut she serves at Glicks’ annual poinsettia show—sauerkraut created by cabbages that the Glicks grow.

“And, of course, we love the food articles and recipes from Francine Black. We’d love to hear from folks who have been inspired by her articles and have made some of the recipes she’s shared in her articles.”

“We take pride in our former students whom we feature. The article about Laura Frecon—costume designer for Hollywood—comes to mind. But there are so many former students and colleagues who have done amazing things--good people, doing good things—that we enjoy highlighting."  

A native of New York City, Lesley relishes living in the Boyertown area; drives in the countryside are a treat for her. She misses her former home in Bally where she and her late husband Bob gardened and enjoyed rural life.

The Boyertown area is a very special kind of place, and it is the intent of The Expression to share good things about the people, events, and opportunities in the community and encourage even more participation from the community.

In the coming year The Expression will give voice to writers and members of the community in response to Studio B Art Gallery’s project titled “I AM: Proud to Be.” A grant from Berks County Community Foundation will support assorted activities featuring members of the community and will be showcased in articles in The Expression.

And, as always, we invite members in the community to share their responses—poetry, prose, and art or perhaps a journal entry or letter to a friend. What are YOU proud of? Who makes us proud? In the community? In your family? Back in the day—a historic moment? Or an event from today—personal or public?

Jane: “We need to spread the spirit, attributes, and examples that William Faulkner lists in his Nobel Pride acceptance speech: ‘courage and honor and hope and pride and compassion and pity and sacrifice.’ These are, as Faulkner insists, “the props, the pillars to help [mankind] endure and prevail.”

And readers can look forward to learning more about Lesley and her new companion Leo, an all-grey kitten with golden eyes, whose playfulness and attention-getting mischief entertain her daily. Throwing his fabric toys in his water dish and then, now drenched, carting them around leaving puddles or dragging his beds around the house to explore new places to sleep give Lesley pause and motivation to find someone who speaks his language in order to understand his charming behaviors. Stay tuned! 

The conversation with Lesley from which this "article" was created can be found on the "B Inspired" podcast, available on your favorite podcast platform.

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