For more than 40 years, Joie Jackson Wenner, office manager of the Parkland office for the eight weekly newspapers, has dedicated her working life to East Penn Publishing, now the Lehigh Valley Press.

Wenner, who will be retiring at the end of the month, “ ... will still be busy, but now I will be able to do errands, cut grass, go to the movies, etc., when I want to,” she emailed the editors in her retirement announcement.

Publisher Emeritus Fred Masenheimer provided the following memory of Joie’s service to the company.

“Joie has been with us since the Times News (our sister daily newspaper in Lehighton) ventured into the weekly newspaper business. She has been a valuable asset in helping Betsy (Masenheimer), Scott Masenheimer (publisher) and me learn the business, and a lot of her hard work was responsible for the success we have achieved going from one small weekly in Emmaus to the eight editions that make up the Lehigh Valley Press.”

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“Hard work” is indeed a good term to describe Joie’s loyalty to the company. She always has an ear to the ground for news we could use in the weekly papers. Before COVID-19, she would ask the editors in the office if they were aware of some story she had heard about.

“Asking” was Joie’s way of telling the editors they should investigate, then write the story or take photos for their papers.

Since we have been remote, telephone calls (for which she says I never answer the phone), voicemail and emails are now her way of telling the editors what needs to be done.

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East Penn Press and Salisbury Press Editor Debbie Galbraith more than accurately describes Joie’s active involvement with the weekly papers.

“When I was named editor of the East Penn Press and Salisbury Press in 2007, the publisher told me Joie would be a good resource for East Penn events and activities for the paper. He was right. Joie has her finger on the pulse of the community, still to this day, letting me know about activities and events in the areas we cover. I expect frequent telephone calls once she retires!

“Joie enjoyed watching my children grow and seeing the many activities they were involved in featured in the newspaper. She enjoyed typing the editors’ children’s names in the schools’ honor rolls.

“Joie also played an integral role in contributing to the 50th anniversary issue in April 2009 for the East Penn Press. She had an abundance of old photos and articles for us to share with our readers.

“I wish Joie a very happy retirement filled with good health, travel and time spent with family and friends.”

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Typing is indeed Joie’s forte.

Give her an article to type, and by the time you returned to your desk, the information would be typed — without a mistake.

Joie would always ask me how many mistakes she made in the honor rolls. It gave her great satisfaction to hear the hundreds of names she typed were sans errors.

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Whitehall-Coplay Press, Northampton Press and Catasauqua Press Editor Kelly Lutterschmidt discusses both Joie’s personal and professional involvement with the editors.

“My memories of Joie’s time here are countless, as I’m sure my fellow longtime editors would agree. On a personal level, she has watched our children grow up and, in some cases, move away. She has watched us become empty nesters and navigate life in a different manner.

“Professionally, Joie has always been our constant. Her dedication to the weekly newspapers is steadfast, and she has always seen their value in the community.

“Joie, my co-worker and friend, I wish you the very best in your retirement.

“Kelly (your favorite)”

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Yes, you read that last line correctly.

The fact that Kelly was Joie’s favorite editor was an inside joke among the editors. Kelly enjoyed favored status in Joie’s eyes, but we editors didn’t mind.

Joie always ordered my favorite pens and the specially sized paper pads I needed to take notes, even if I couldn’t convince her to turn up the air conditioning when it was sweltering in my office. As long as Kelly was comfortable in her office, the thermostat remained set where it was.

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Bethlehem Press Editor George Taylor reminisces about the early days with Joie.

“I first got involved with the weeklies and Joie when I first started at the Times News 35 years ago. Pencor had just purchased the East Penn Press and Joie and editor Julie Swan would come to the Lehighton office every week to proofread East Penn Press pages, which I helped paste up.

“You read that right — paste up. That was in the dark ages before we learned how to do pages on a computer.

“Joie was always a stickler for detail. I wish her well.”

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Whitehall-Coplay Press, Northampton Press and Catasauqua Press Editorial Assistant Stacey Koch also speaks of Joie’s dedication.

“Lehigh Valley Press is losing a longtime, dedicated employee. I appreciate all the work she has done since I started with the company almost 10 years ago.

“Joie, I will miss talking with you about how quickly Benjamin (Stacey’s young son) is growing, what activities he’s involved in and family vacations. Congratulations on a much-deserved retirement!”

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Whitehall-Coplay Press, Northampton Press and Catasauqua Press Editorial Assistant Samantha Anderson also recognizes the interest Joie took in our personal lives.

“I would always enjoy chatting with Joie about dance things and how challenging working in the service industry could be. I wish her nothing but the absolute best in the future.”

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Parkland Press and Northwestern Press Editorial Assistant Susan Bryant honors Joie’s personal connection to those working in the office.

“Joie, it has been a pleasure working with you over the years. You will be sorely missed. The office wouldn’t be where it is today without you and your management skills all these years.

“I hope you enjoy your retirement as much as I have enjoyed working with you over the years. Happy retirement — you have earned it.”

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I will let Focus section Editor Paul Willistein close out this opinion piece with his summation of Joie’s ability to keep the office and the employees steady and moving forward through the many times work at a newspaper office could go off-course.

“Joie Jackson Wenner has been the rock, the anchor and the go-to person for the Lehigh Valley Press Parkland office. She is an excellent manager who is efficient and detail oriented, always providing helpful information, guidance to staff and is public-service minded for Lehigh Valley Press readers.

“And, she did so and, does so, with a cheerful countenance and a great sense of humor for all. She will be greatly missed.”

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And, now, it is my turn.

Joie, I will miss your phone calls and you asking me why I am not at my desk to answer one of my five phones, which you call in sequence without leaving a message. Joie, you know, sometimes, I need to take a potty break.

I will miss you asking me for help with your computer, even if I am 20 miles away and trying to visualize what you see or don’t see on your computer that is causing you such consternation.

But most of all, Joie, I will miss just talking with you. We have had some interesting conversations over the 29 years I have worked with you.

Farewell and godspeed, Joie. I wish you all the best.

Deb Palmieri

editor

Parkland Press

Northwestern Press