Spotlight on Erie – 19 Flagship Multimedia, Inc, 1001 State St., Julian Is Referring to Voodoo Able, with Window Air Condition- Suite 901, Erie, Pa, 16501
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CONTENTS: From the Editors The only local voice for Gainfully employing Erie’s strengths news, arts, and culture. September 28, 2016 Editors-in-Chief: live on the lower west This circumstance, as we all Brian Graham & Adam Welsh side of Erie, and I like my know, has a paralyzing ripple Managing Editor: Just a Thought – 4 Katie Chriest “I neighborhood a lot.” effect. Assignment Editor: Taking a cue from autumn That’s how Dan Schank be- “When the health of our Nick Warren gins his feature on concentrated schools relies on the value of Contributing Editors: poverty in this issue. Schank’s our properties, we incentivize Ben Speggen opening immediately under- flight and punish those who Jim Wertz A Day in the Life of an Erie City mines the generalization that stay put,” Schank writes. “When Contributors: Lisa Austin, Civitas Firefighter – 7 young professionals don’t want trust breaks down between our Ed Bernik to live here. The reality, as usu- police and our most vulnerable Mary Birdsong Running into a blazing building al, is far more nuanced than the neighborhoods, crime flourish- Tracy Geibel Lisa Gensheimer can be ‘terrifying,’ but some supposition. es and abuses occur. When fear Gregory Greenleaf-Knepp As Schank explains, “the prob- of that crime escalates, foot traf- Dan Schank choose to do it, anyway. Tommy Shannon lem isn’t that I wouldn’t be fic disappears, businesses fail, Ryan Smith happy in Frontier or Fairview. and basic needs can’t be met.” Ti Sumner Matt Swanseger The problem is that I’m already Schank’s approach is multifac- Bryan Toy happy where I am. But my local eted, and explores how issues Cover Design: property options make little fis- like education, income inequal- Nick Warren Photographers: cal sense. And if I had children, ity, food insecurity, and social Ryan Smith I would be facing a genuinely justice interrelate. Brad Triana moral dilemma rather than an Publisher’s Assistant: Emily Hanisek annoying economic obstacle.” What a time this could It’s difficult to imagine how Intern: be for Erie real estate. Angie Jeffery many Erie families currently Unfortunately, many face this “moral dilemma.” Our of those who might be city is full of potentially gor- 1001 State St. Suite 901 thrilled to get their hands Erie, Pa., 16501 geous, architecturally interest- [email protected] ing, well-built homes with abun- on one of Erie’s incredibly dant character and expansive affordable fixer-uppers TI SUMNER The Erie Reader is the local voice for possibilities. And today, more are instead inclined to news, arts, and culture, and is Erie’s and more young people are em- purchase homes elsewhere. only independent, alternative newspa- per. Founded in 2010, the Reader has bracing a DIY attitude. quickly become the region’s award-win- News of the Weird – 11 Meanwhile, as Ella Julian Encouragingly, however, he ning source for arts coverage, a strong writes in her feature about the also highlights the ways numer- cultural compass, and a dynamic re- Some ‘multigrain’ bread has a little source for news and opinion. With a more protein than you’d like. new Voodoo Brewery location ous community members and dedication to long-form journalism and in Erie’s historic Boston Store organizations have stepped in a commitment to provoking thought- building, “Critics of the region to ameliorate those issues. ful discussion, the Reader tells the sto- ries of the people and places making lament the brain drain effect – This same generosity is ac- and shaping Erie, while highlighting when 18- to 25-year-olds leave knowledged by Ti Sumner, in the events and issues influencing life Concentrated Poverty in Erie – 15 their hometowns after high her piece about the Erie fire- in northwestern Pennsylvania. The Erie Reader is published every other Fighting for change in our most school or college. However, in fighters of Engine 8, with whom week and distributed at over 250 high vulnerable communities many regions, 30- to 49-year- she spent an August day and foot-traffic locations in Pennsylvania olds and their young children night. from North East to Girard to Edin- boro. In addition to appearing in print, are moving back, contributing “The crew sleeps in one large Erie Reader adds new content daily at to a phenomenon known as room on the second floor,” ErieReader.com as well social media brain gain.” Sumner writes. “It’s comfort- sites. All rights reserved. All content © Spotlight on Erie – 19 Flagship Multimedia, Inc, 1001 State St., Julian is referring to Voodoo able, with window air condition- Suite 901, Erie, Pa, 16501. No part of this Here we are now. Entertain us. CEO Matt Rachocki, who moved ers and cable TV. But these days, publication may be reproduced with- back from New York City to the city pays for few things. out permission. The opinions of our columnists and contributors are their raise his family and invest in the Every bed, TV, chair, and kitch- own and do not always reflect that of area. Surely, he’s not alone. en utensil is donated from the the editorial board or organization. What a time this could be for community or paid for out of Direct inquiries to 814.314.9364 or con- Voodoo Brewery – 31 [email protected]. Erie real estate. Trendsetting the station house fund, to which Now serving up good vibes on homebuyers celebrate all things each crew member contributes.” State Street vintage, antique, and original. The fact that our al- Character is commanding top ready-tapped community is dollar. being relied upon to support es- Unfortunately, many of those sential services is troubling. But who might be thrilled to get the fact that the community Erie / Faces / Erie – 34 their hands on one of Erie’s in- can be relied upon is promising. A look through photographer Ed credibly affordable fixer-uppers And the more we cultivate Erie’s Bernik’s lens are instead inclined to purchase magnanimity, the more people homes elsewhere. will want to live here. September 28, 2016 ErieReader.com | Erie Reader | 3 NEWS & VIEWS Just a Thought Taking a cue from autumn A sunflower, planted by up to once every four years is alarming the birds in the author’s enough. backyard, catches a September morning’s So many more of the decisions made light against a brilliant by state and local elected officials will blue sky. Subtlety is have direct, everyday effects on our not a sunflower’s forte. lives. The quality of our regional air, Thank goodness. water, schools, roads, economy – these are being determined each day by offi- just want a breather. cials elected by far too few of us who Then arrives shining bothered to get to the polls. September’s magical And the reality that countless Amer- skies. Even at high icans have so little time, since they’re noon on a perfectly working multiple low-wage jobs just clear day, autumn’s to get by, is even more disheartening. light is soft. Dawn and But inevitably, many Americans whose dusk are less edgy, lives are devoured by work will vote for too. They don’t have the national and local candidates per- summer’s urgency petuating the very conditions oppress- or propulsion of life ing them. forward. It’s a relief, Yet online, as accessible as the latest really. We don’t exactly live in a culture that val- We don’t exactly live in a ues softness, if you culture that values softness, hadn’t noticed. Or if you hadn’t noticed. slowness. Or careful, Or slowness. Or careful, methodical deliber- ation. Instead, we’re methodical deliberation. hyped up from all di- Instead, we’re hyped up rections. From enter- from all directions. From tainment to elections entertainment to elections KATIE CHRIEST KATIE (if there’s still a dis- (if there’s still a distinction), tinction), the message the message is that softness By: Katie Chriest is that softness equals weakness and slowness equals stupidity. equals weakness and he autumnal equinox arrived on About 10 years ago, I saw a TED talk slowness equals stupidity. Sept. 22: a day of balanced light by Carl Honoré, called “In Praise of Tand dark with endless meta- Slowness.” I used to show it to Gannon phorical potential. University students, already exhausted on Brangelina, are breakdowns regard- Autumn inspires emotional balance, by their resume-building, constant- ing how elected officials actually vote too. The giddy excitement of summer ly-connected schedules. Most of them on issues. PennEnvironment, for one, might now be tempered with melan- longed to live in a less-pressured world, just released an exhaustive document choly; but the change reminds us to but couldn’t imagine such a thing was regarding our Pennsylvania officials’ pay attention to the moments as they feasible. And many, at 19 or 20 years old, environmental priorities. pass. were already deeply nostalgic for sim- Also available are resources regarding What is this? A New Age greeting pler times. how “truthy” politicians’ statements card? Honoré explores how we got so are, at politifact.com – an invaluable But truly, it is so much easier to appre- rushed, arguing that “speed becomes a tool come debate season. ciate a shimmering afternoon, a warm way of walling ourselves off from the We are all products of a culture ad- breeze, and a blooming sunflower if bigger, deeper questions. We fill our dicted to busyness and compulsively you know your opportunities are wan- head with distraction, with busyness, filling every waking moment with dis- ing. so that we don’t have to ask, am I well? tractions.