The staff of The Lake Orion Review has changed with the departure of editor Elaine Stieb. Staff writer Lisa Valentine will now be the paper’s new editor.
The Review recently welcomed Colin Baumgartner as the paper’s new staff writer.
Baumgartner, originally from Ferndale, lives in Pleasant Ridge and will be covering township stories, features and sports.
He attended Kalamazoo College, where he majored in journalism and was the editor-in-chief of the college newspaper.
‘I went to a college where I could play a big role in the paper,? Baumgartner said. ‘That was the bright spot for me, while I was in school.?
Before attending Kalamazoo College, Baumgartner wasn’t sure he would be pursuing journalism as a career.
While a student at Ferndale High School, he was a copy editor for the school newspaper.
‘You can learn about a lot of people and places (as a journalist), and that’s pretty cool,? said Baumgartner.
‘There aren’t many jobs like that…where you can come in and do something different every day,? he said.
Baumgartner enjoys the work of sportswriters like Rick Reilly from Sports Illustrated.
‘I played golf in college,? he said. ‘I’m a big sports fan.?
Baumgartner was also a double major in music at Kalamazoo College, and he specializes in playing rag time piano.
As Baumgartner has been getting to know the Lake Orion area, he looks forward to covering a growing community.
‘There’s a lot going on,? he said. ?(The township board) is making big decisions for the future of the area, and it’s neat to be around while they’re doing that.?
Valentine joined The Review in 1999 as a staff writer and sports editor, after graduating from Oakland University with a degree in journalism.
Prior to coming to Lake Orion, she was a writer for Oakland’s college newspaper, The Oakland Post, and interned at the Dearborn Press and Guide.
A former Oxford resident, Valentine has lived in Lake Orion for the past three years, and is looking forward to the challenge of editing the paper.
‘I’d like to put my own mark on it,? said Valentine. ‘We’ll be trying some different writing styles, and I hope people continue to look forward to reading us every week.?
Originally from Morenci, Michigan, located near Adrian, Valentine now considers Lake Orion her ‘adopted? hometown.
‘I love it here,? she said. ‘I’m met a lot of great people, and I’ve really enjoyed telling their stories.?
Feel free to contact Valentine with your suggestions and story ideas. The phone number is 248-693-8331.The e-mail address is:
lakeorionreview@sbcglobal.net