Contents: From the Editors The local voice for news, We must cultivate our garden. arts, and culture. December 9, 2015 Editors-in-Chief: oltaire’s Candide is the story of a naive traveler Brian Graham & Adam Welsh Just a Thought 4 trying to reconcile his tutor’s philosophy that this Managing Editor: Katie Chriest Orwell was right. War is peace. And Vis “the best of all possible worlds” with the litany Contributing Editors: vice versa. of horrifying events and desperate characters he encoun- Ben Speggen ters during a long, outrageous journey. Thousands perish Jim Wertz in the Lisbon earthquake. Women are raped and owned. Contributors: Growing Erie by Feeding Erie 5 Priests get away with decidedly non-Christian behavior. Lisa Austin, Civitas Mary Birdsong It’s time to embrace, celebrate, and Soldiers are punished for inadequate barbarism. Wealthy Rick Filippi champion the culinary arts of Erie. countries plunder and enslave those less “developed.” Frank Garland Though Candide was first published in 1759, its satirical Gregory Greenleaf-Knepp James R. LeCorchick take on current events is painfully contemporary, given John Lindvay News of the Weird 6 the onslaught of horrifying headlines we’re bombarded Brianna Lyle Bob Protzman Now DJs can spin records of the spin with daily. Thus, Candide’s sense of overwhelming help- Dan Schank cycle. lessness and exhaustion feels utterly familiar. William G. Sesler Tommy Shannon His tutor attempts to justify even the worst of society’s Ryan Smith ills with “everything happens for a reason”-style dismiss- Matt Swanseger al. But Candide loses faith in this intellectualizing and Sara Toth Erie at Large 9 Bryan Toy Next Generation 911 explaining, which distance him from his own human em- Nick Warren pathy. Senator Sean Wiley Cover Design: Toward the end of the story, he meets a contented Turk Mark Kosobucki Why Congress Must Support the who doesn’t overly concern himself with the trials of Photographers: Iran Nuclear Deal 9 nearby Constantinople. “I presume in general that they Ryan Smith Brad Triana Introducing an online series of six who meddle with the administration of public affairs die Publisher’s Assistant articles exploring the JCPOA. sometimes miserably, and that they deserve it,” he tells Emily Hanisek Candide. The Turk, instead, has turned his attention to 1001 State St. Suite 901 his family’s ability to grow sustaining food on their little Erie, Pa., 16501 Flash Trumps Substance at GOP plot of land. [email protected] Commonwealth Club Luncheon 10 “Our labour preserves us from three great evils — wea- Pennsylvania Republicans unleash a riness, vice, and want,” the Turk explains. The Erie Reader is the local voice for bull in a china shop. Martin, Candide’s most Taoist traveling companion, news, arts, and culture, and is Erie’s only independent, alternative newspaper. agrees. “Let us work,” [says] Martin, “without disputing; it Founded in 2010, the Reader has quick- is the only way to render life tolerable.” ly become the region’s award-winning Kraus Department Store 13 Though ignoring the world at large would be wholly source for arts coverage, a strong cul- tural compass, and a dynamic resource If they don’t have it, you don’t need it irresponsible, Candide is a great reminder that choosing for news and opinion. With a dedication ... but Erie needs them. action gains us power over paralysis. And this issue once to long-form journalism and a commit- again features several examples of those spearheading ment to provoking thoughtful discus- sion, the Reader tells the stories of the right action locally. people and places making and shaping Spotlight on Erie 18 In arguing that “Erie desperately needs a win, having Erie, while highlighting the events and Here we are now. Entertain us. long ago reached a point where financial woes became issues influencing life in northwestern Pennsylvania. The Erie Reader is pub- excuses for doing nothing,” sociologist Josh Morgan lished every other week and distributed states that “The McBride Viaduct is a platform for inno- at over 250 high foot-traffic locations in Made Here, Paid Here 23 vation waiting to be utilized.” A group of local leaders Pennsylvania from North East to Girard to Edinboro. In addition to appearing in Great gifts made in Erie invites supporters to convene at City Hall on Dec. 16, to print, Erie Reader adds new content dai- convert advocacy into action. ly at ErieReader.com as well social media In recommending a few great options for locally-pro- sites. All rights reserved. All content © Flagship Multimedia, Inc, 1001 State St., Overlooking the East Side 29 duced gift ideas, Jim Wertz says that “The holidays give Suite 901, Erie, Pa, 16501. No part of this Viaduct SOS: Stop city hall’s biggest us an opportunity to support some pretty great local em- publication may be reproduced without mistake since the downtown mall. ployers as well as a host of independently employed local permission. The opinions of our colum- nists and contributors are their own and people, many of whom give back to the region in ways do not always reflect that of the editorial both seen and unseen, celebrated and unmentioned.” board or organization. Direct inquiries to K2 Madness 31 And in explaining how Kraus Department Store has 814.314.9364 or [email protected]. Synthetic cannabinoid abuse spikes maintained a symbiotic relationship with its surround- in Erie. ing community for over 125 years, general manager Rory Nowosielski tells Matt Swanseger, “I care about Erie.” The last line in Voltaire’s masterpiece is spoken by Can- Geeked Out 34 dide, himself. Reflecting on all that he has witnessed, he It’s about damn time! determines the ideal way to make sense of the world: “Let us cultivate our garden.” Likewise, the best shot we have at bettering our com- ER Sports 38 munity comes from our ability to remain locally active A tribute to Dan Brabender despite intensely distressing news. And as always, we need look no further than our fellow Erieites for inspi- ration. December 9, 2015 ErieReader.com | Erie Reader | 3 NEWS & OPINION Just a Thought Orwell was right. War is peace. And vice versa. JASON ILAGAN JASON By: Katie Chriest CNN.com referenced a passage from Ridge’s book: “I consider the n Marshall Drive, along the episode to be not only a dramatic THE ART fence enclosing Erie Interna- moment in Washington’s recent his- Otional Airport, a sign reads, tory, but another illustration of the “Caution: Low Flying Aircraft.” intersection of politics, fear, credi- OF GIVING I’ve driven, biked, and walked that bility, and security ... After that epi- road, but I’ve never figured out what sode, I knew I had to follow through that sign is trying to tell me. Is it with my plans to leave the federal suggesting, in the event an aircraft government.” flies a little too low, that I duck? Ridge resigned, and the color-cod- Color-coded Homeland Security ed threat system was retired in 2011. ratings at airports after the Sept. 11 But the political practice of fear- attacks were similarly baffling.- In mongering keeps getting promoted. termittently, a recorded loudspeaker Our bodies react to fear via our voice would, with just enough cau- sympathetic nervous system, creat- tionary authority (what were those ing a “fight or flight” response that auditions like?), announce that an ramps up adrenaline and puts us in “orange alert,” for instance, had been a reactionary, anxious state. issued. Color charts explained just Conversely, our parasympathet- how terrified we should be. ic nervous system – halted during But the most these warnings could times of panic – is responsible for ever do was worry us. Generate fear. the “rest and digest” response. It Breed suspicion. Plant the seed of lets us integrate sensory input with wariness that grew into defensive- earned wisdom. Take a breath. Gain ness against our fellow humans. perspective. Then calmly determine If there was an orange alert, how to rationally respond. weren’t we more likely to look du- After President Bush’s post-9/11 biously at other passengers who fit statement that America was in a the racial profile of the accused du state of war (despite life as usual for jour? most of us), Slavoj Žižek wrote that Isn’t this exactly where we are we entered “a time in which a state right now? of peace itself can at the same time Even Erie’s own Tom Ridge, for- be a state of emergency.” mer Homeland Security Secretary, History tells us that peace will not questioned the ratings’ viability. As be created by leaders who use fear CNN.com reported, “in 2009, Ridge to manipulate power. We owe it to wrote in a tell-all book that some- ourselves to take a deep breath and times officials such as Ashcroft and create our own. Our freedom de- Rumsfeld pressured the depart- pends on it. ment to change the level, describing a 2004 event in which his arguments Katie Chriest can be contacted against raising the alert worked.” at [email protected]. 4 | Erie Reader | ErieReader.com December 9, 2015 NEWS & OPINION Growing Erie by Feeding Erie It’s time to embrace, celebrate, and champion the culinary arts of Erie. With creative food options blossoming, including the emergence of food trucks like The Que Abides, imagine a restaurant week in Erie where the downtown comes alive to celebrate culinary innovation. urbanists frequently look with envy to the foodies for their huge cultural accomplishment.” They have spurred new American creations, Solomon ar- gues, and they’ve affected the places around them, like grocery stores and BRAD TRIANA supermarkets, by encouraging a shift from the propensity to stock pre-pack- By: Ben Speggen The Trail is a no-brainer to market to aged, processed products to offering Erieites and out-of-towners alike.