On turning 50

By Ellen Schowalter

In June of this year the Glebe Report will celebrate its 50th birthday. Born on Penny Sanger’s kitchen table in 1973, it has printed over 550 issues. Much has changed in the Glebe since I served as editor of the Glebe Report in 1986-87, and during the 20 years that I served in different capacities such as ad manager, art director, layout designer, volunteer carrier and board chair. Production technology has changed tremendously from cut and paste layout, with text produced on an IBM Selectric typewriter as big as a small Terrier, and colour a rare treat compared to the GR’s present elegant format, both in print and online.

I was very fortunate to work with a wonderful group of people. Trust, cooperation and support for each other were huge job benefits. Long days and sometimes nights and holidays were fuelled by cups of tea, and a supply of red licorice along with muffins from The Pantry. If child-care arrangements fell through, staff would bring their children in to be settled at a desk with paper and drawing materials to provide illustrations for “Kidspace.” There were several honorary canine staff members as well.

The how has changed but not the why, nor the important and very successful role that the Glebe Report plays. The Glebe Report is a free monthly notfor-profit community newspaper that receives no government funding nor direct subsidies and is funded by its advertisers.