Contact your LECOM Health provider’s office if you have any questions about our telemedicine services or if you need assistance scheduling a visit.

It’s like a house call LECOM Health now offers telemedicine visits

Patients no longer have to schedule an in-person visit with a physician to receive treatment. A telemedicine appointment is just like a regular health care visit where you can discuss symptoms, medical issues and more with your doctor in real time. Patients living in rural areas with limited access to healthcare can utilize these services for easier access to medical care. All of our of provider offices are still open to take your phone calls and to schedule visits.

Many experts, one focus: your health CONTENTS From the Editors The only local voice for news, arts, and culture. MAY 20, 2020 On hard copies and Editors-in-Chief softening hard landings Brian Graham & Adam Welsh Erie at Large: John Prine Died Alone – 4 t was on Sept. 8, 1974 that daredevil Evel Knievel at- Managing Editor Nick Warren The sad truths hidden in COVID-19 hospital tempted his infamous Snake River Canyon Jump, an absolutely absurd leap across a mile-wide chasm on Copy Editor rooms and the rhetorical push-and-pull beyond I Matt Swanseger a rocket-powered motorcycle that would have ended in Contributing Editors Leading Through the Times of COVID-19 – 6 tragedy, if not for the serendipitous early deployment of Ben Speggen A conversation with Erie County Executive Kathy the stuntman’s escape chute. Jim Wertz In other words, he got lucky. Not all death-defying Contributors Dahlkemper feats ultimately succeed in defying death — “Mad” Mike Liz Allen From Erie to Selma in 1965 – 8 Hughes, Guinness World Record holder for longest jump Mary Birdsong in a stretch limousine (103 feet), perished in California Charles Brown Hammermill Paper’s new plant drawn up amidst this past winter when the landing parachute on his rock- Jonathan Burdick et detached too early. Although tightrope walker extraor- Katie Chriest the historic Civil Rights marches Symoné Crockett dinaire Nik Wallenda was successfully able to cross Ni- Chloe Forbes Laughlin Seeks Senatorial Second Act – 12 agara Falls in 2012 (and Nicaragua’s Masaya Volcano this Tommy Link March), his great-grandfather Karl tumbled to his doom Hannah McDonald Big issues remain, incumbent hopes to do the same Aaron Mook when a wind gust knocked him off balance during a 1978 Dan Schank How One Former New Yorker Returned to Erie to highwire walk between two hotel towers in San Juan, Tommy Shannon Puerto Rico. In 1974, Frenchman Philippe Petit could be Melissa Sullivan Shimek Write – 13 seen as a man on wire 110 stories above New York City, Ryan Smith on a rope strung between the freshly constructed World Jen Sorenson Local native and former Creative Director of Rebecca Styn TED advises on how to get those creative juices Trade Towers. Similar stunts, vastly different results. Cara Suppa Now, in May 2020, the entire world finds itself sus- Forest Taylor flowing pended in mid-air, calculating a perilous landing. Despite Bryan Toy A Summertime Festival Drought – 15 what the conspiracy theorists would have you believe, Photographer the COVID-19 global pandemic is no publicity stunt. Jessica Hunter As large group events are pushed aside this Nonetheless, it’s sent us hurtling up a curve of disturb- Interns ing numbers, involuntarily, into a terrifying unknown. Contact your LECOM Health Madeline Bruce summer, fans and organizers alike are left Hannah Wyman questioning Where do we come down, and when? How much of our- provider’s office if you Cover Design selves will remain intact, and how long it will it take to Nick Warren Bars and Restaurants Find Uncertainty On Tap – 17 mend the bumps, breaks, and bruises? have any questions about Our economies, our livelihoods, our psyches are not our telemedicine services 1001 State St. Suite 1315 Amidst fluid COVID-19 regulations, local likely to stick this landing — it’s going to hurt. We’ve al- Erie, Pa., 16501 establishments face mounting difficulties and ready seen the fractures and divides. If we are to survive or if you need assistance [email protected] slashed profits at all, however, community will need to be our parachute, with well-intended, well-researched, and well-executed scheduling a visit. The Erie Reader is published every other week and distributed at over Internet Trolls – 18 measures taken by our leadership to ensure it has what 350 high foot-traffic locations in it needs to function properly. Electing any government Pennsylvania from North East to What will the pandemic do to the future of movie official is a bit of a trust fall — electing one in 2020 even Girard to Edinboro. In addition to theaters? more so. In this issue, we interview a candidate who appearing in print, Erie Reader adds new content daily at ErieReader. hopes to catch your vote in November in incumbent com as well as social media sites. Five Albums To Listen to in Quarantine – 20 State Senator Dan Laughlin, and one that is helping All rights reserved. All content Our top picks amongst recent records you may brace us for change already in County Executive Kathy © Flagship Multimedia, Inc, 1001 Dahlkemper. State St., Suite 1315, Erie, Pa, have missed 16501. No part of this publication By the way, we can’t begin to express how happy we are may be reproduced without Television Reviews – 23 to reprise the prepositional phrase “in the issue.” After It’s like a house call permission. The opinions of our a run of 240 print editions released weekly or bi-weekly columnists and contributors are Two adult cartoons and two Thomas Middleditch over a span of nine years, the Erie Reader was forced to LECOM Health now offers telemedicine visits their own and do not always reflect that of the editorial board or projects and one that is both temporarily suspend print operations with the gover- organization. Direct sales inquiries to nor’s lockdown order in March. Like most businesses in 814.314.9364. For editorial inquiries, Cartoons – 25 our city and across the nation, we’ve been forced to im- Patients no longer have to schedule an in-person visit with a physician to receive treatment. A telemedicine email [email protected]. Yellow phases, longwinded recipes, and a post- provise and adapt to survive, most notably leveraging appointment is just like a regular health care visit where you can discuss symptoms, medical issues and more with and vastly expanding our online platform to line our- post office America your doctor in real time. Patients living in rural areas with limited access to healthcare can utilize these services for selves up for a cleaner landing (check in at eriereader.com Music Reviews – 26 daily, and sign up for the new weekly email newsletter). easier access to medical care. Admittedly it’s a little strange to exist as the local voice Cuts from King Krule, Drake, Human Animal, and for news, arts, and culture without the wonderful events Perfume Genius to physically observe the arts and culture in action. But All of our of provider offices are still open to take your phone calls and to schedule visits. the people behind everything that makes this city what Crossword Puzzle – 27 it is are still here, still doing things worth spotlighting and celebrating. And as long as that’s the case, the Erie This week’s latest stumper from David Levinson Reader will continue to put itself behind them — you — Wilk our community. Many experts, one focus: your health May 20, 2020 ErieReader.com | Erie Reader | 3 NEWS & VIEWS Erie at Large: John Prine Died Alone The sad truths hidden in COVID-19 hospital rooms and the rhetorical push-and-pull beyond

Country folk singer-songwriter John Prine, known for his witty and honest lyricism, had recently received a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award before passing away on April 7 in Nashville, Tenn. as a result of COVID-19.

the doors of a hospital for treatment, they enter alone. Families are turned away at the door, asked to wait at home until further notice can be giv- en regarding the fate of their loved one. The intensive care unit becomes a solitary confinement where the only interaction is between the patient and those trying to help. If the patient survives, as many have, the path to full recovery can be long. NPR reported the story of David Wil- liams, a Marine veteran, who spent eight days on a ventilator. In recovery, he’s experiencing something called post-intensive-care-unit syndrome, which results from the muscle loss and brain damage caused by the in- vasive treatments required for some COVID-19 patients. When Williams woke from his medically induced coma, necessary to give the ventilator control of his lungs, he couldn’t move his arms or legs, and he had trouble forming complete sentences. WFUV PUBLIC RADIO/FLICKR “It takes me awhile to think about the words I need to say,” Williams told By: Jim Wertz signed to leave us only thinking of ones. Akinyemi asked a husband if his NPR. the dead. Once the ill enter those wife had a favorite song. She did, the Weeks later, he remained on oxygen ohn Prine died alone. halls, their only interactions are with husband replied. “Blue Bayou,” which and used a walker to help regain full Unlike many others who battled the ones who Fred Rogers referred to she sang while she did laundry and mobility. And Williams was one of the JCOVID-19, the celebrated country as “the helpers” — the doctors, nurs- fixed her hair. Akinyemi returned to lucky ones. He survived. folk artist had his wife by his side, for es, and medical staff who put in long the woman’s room, where she had been As of May 17, more than 90,000 Amer- a time, because she was also hospital- shifts wearing layered synthetic suits placed on a ventilator, played the song icans have died from COVID-19. That’s ized with the virus. She improved and with filtering masks, faceguards, and on his iPhone, which he kept stored in nearly a third of all COVID-related was sent home. He was placed on a anything that might protect them a plastic sandwich bag to keep it from deaths worldwide and three times ventilator and never recovered. while they help the helpless. being exposed to the virus, and sang to more deaths than the United Kingdom, Prine’s story seemed to be a common Today, at the Cleveland Clinic, nurses her, later reading her a favorite Bible Italy, and France — the hardest-hit refrain in the American song earlier write messages to, and goals for, pa- verse. countries behind the U.S., according this year as we watched New York City tients on the windows of their rooms Goodwill comes in small, but pro- to Johns Hopkins University, which is come to a standstill, as the death toll so that the patients understand what found, acts. tracking the virus through its Corona- rose by nearly a thousand per day at is happening around them. Stories You’ve seen the pictures of their virus Resource Center. the peak of the now infamous COVID from across the country abound of bruised faces, their battered spirits, New York State has experienced the curve. simple gestures like sitting bedside for and their heroic resolve to see the most deaths, attributing nearly 28,000 Images of active duty military and a few minutes to hold someone’s hand hardest hit regions of the country to COVID-19 since March. National Guardsmen transferring or calling a patient’s loved one on a through to the other side of this global Nearly all of those hospitalized with the dead from hospitals to makeshift personal cell phone when the patient pandemic. As it is for those who must COVID-19 suffer from a chronic health morgues in refrigerated trailers lining is too weak to do it for themselves. overcome COVID-19, we have yet to issue, such as hypertension, diabetes, the once-bustling streets of Gotham, Daniel Akinyemi, an ICU nurse in know the long-term effect of this ex- heart disease, or obesity. According to a and finally to the mass-grave buri- Montclair, N.J., told The New York perience on this population of medical study of New York hospitals published als on Hart Island, leaves an indelible Times about one of the hundreds professionals. Some simply surrender. in April by the American Medical As- mark of this moment on history. of calls that have come from people When someone inflicted with sociation, 94 percent of those hospital- Unfortunately, that mark is not re- checking on the status of their loved COVID-19 walks or is ushered through ized had some underlying health con-

4 | Erie Reader | ErieReader.com May 20, 2020 NEWS & VIEWS dition and nearly 90 percent of those their effectiveness. And because he hospitalized had at least two preexist- leads, the federal response to COVID-19 ing conditions. is a hopeless farce. But because the mass casualties have Our faith and our fortunes lay only been largely confined to major metro- in the hands of governors and legis- politan areas, the effects of this virus lators, who are now besieged by the feel distant to many people. It’s — ap- same conservative activists who clam- parently — too easy to dismiss the or for states’ rights and local control suffering associated with contracting when federalism provides a shelter for COVID-19 and the reality that is the racism and subjugation. experience of those who enter a hos- If science and reason are to be set pital with few prospects of leaving aside because such facts contradict the healthy. cowardice cries of the misinformed, For them, the truth is dire. They die then, as Shakespeare reminded us, our alone. fault is in ourselves. It’s a cruel and fundamental reality Yet there is time to correct our of COVID-19 that gets buried amidst course, and to act on behalf of the the anti-fact protests calling for a re- many in spite of a few. turn to comfortable pre-pandemic As we approach November, we have poverty and the political clown car an opportunity to restore order to

“Our faith and our fortunes lay only in the hands of governors and legislators, who are now besieged by the same conservative activists who clamor for states’ rights and local control when federalism provides a shelter for racism and subjugation.” that is the White House press room. an orderless and chaotic moment in A dysfunctional minority has aban- American history. The unscrupulous doned empathy in favor of self-inter- and inadequate leadership of a presi- est. dent who speaks and acts from a place The misguided conservative freedom of little knowledge, and the congress- corps’ crusade to re-open the Ameri- men who blindly support him in favor Wow, can economy despite the consequenc- of power over people, can be recalled es continues to come up short. As far with the power of your vote. as scientists can tell, the virus most It will take a leader who understands damns those who are already vulner- consequences and who respects that that was easy! able and discriminates most against they are making decisions on behalf of those who already suffer. honest Americans to lead us toward a But those who care only for a cheese- better tomorrow and a stronger Amer- burger or an hour at the salon, scream- ica. ing about their superficial so-called Yes, businesses are closed, some tem- PERSONAL FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT TOOL freedoms, will be the itinerant carriers porarily, others forever. Yes, people are for the next wave of this unforgiving without work, some for now, others The power you need to balance your spending threat. While they themselves may not for longer. Yes, it will take time to re- habits, track your savings, meet your retirement succumb to the virus’ symptoms, they build economically, just as it will take may still transfer the virus to others, time to pursue a cure and treatment goals and manage every penny is at your some of whom may suffer from some- driven by the scientific method. fingertips. It’s intuitive, automatic and provided thing that makes them more suscepti- But one cannot have a healthy econ- at no cost to Marquette customers. It’s the ble to virus’ wrath. Do their freedoms omy without a healthy population to come at the expense of others? Does run it and consume from it. ultimate budgeting tool. it give them the right to unwittingly We can’t sacrifice public health at ™ serve as the vehicle through which the the altar of the Almighty Dollar. Oth- Wouldn’t you rather be Mpowered ? virus may ride up the crest of a second erwise, John Prine had it right when wave? he sang, “Jesus Christ died for nothin’, They are led by a president who mea- I suppose.” sures his success by the ratings of his daily press conference rather than in Jim Wertz is a contributing editor lives saved. He refuses to wear a mask and chairman of the Erie County (even when touring a mask-producing Democratic Party. He can be reached facility) because it would undermine at [email protected] and you his unfounded arguments against can follow him on Twitter @jim_wertz.

May 20, 2020 ErieReader.com | Erie Reader | 5 NEWS & VIEWS Leading Through the Times of COVID-19 A conversation with Erie County Executive Kathy Dahlkemper

Erie County Executive Kathy Dahlkemper’s to find that not every county in the daily press briefings from WQLN Public commonwealth has a health depart- Studio have become a familiar sight to many during the COVID-19 pandemic, with ment and that Erie is one of 10 out of updates on the latest numbers, guidance, 67 counties or municipalities that have and advice. a health department. Are you seeing enough resources allocated to local health department, her routine press health departments, like ours, to work briefings, her role in the proverbial air on something like this? What might we traffic control tower, what she most learn from COVID-19 moving forward fears as we march towards summer, of the role of health departments in lo- and what she’s most optimistic about. cal communities like ours? Ben Speggen: Early on, you began KD: What we knew even prior to hosting a daily press briefing. Why COVID-19 was that the state of Penn- was it important to make that a part of sylvania had not invested in public what I presume is already a jam-packed health the way that it should have. day for you? And I think what we’ve learned also is Kathy Dahlkemper: For me, it was im- our federal government, and even our portant to reach out to the citizens of local government, has not invested in this community and give them the best public health the way it should have in information that I have at the moment order to really be able to react quickly I have it. It also is a chance for me to be to something of this nature. able to connect with our media in a safe My leader of the health department, way. A huge thank you to WQLN Public Melissa Lyon, has been saying for a Media for setting up the studio in such while, something is going to happen, a way that any media that wants to join and we are not ready. And that some- can get a live feed, can ask questions di- thing was COVID-19. rectly to me, and get those answers. It’s Contact tracers — the people who are been a win for the media who wants ac- actually talking to those who are posi- cess, and it’s been a win for the citizens tive with COVID-19, getting them isolat- who want the information. ed, giving them the instructions they BS: This is presumably the most need, and then finding out who their people have seen local government in close contacts were, and then getting action on a regular basis. How do you those people to quarantine — those think the crisis has affected the public’s people were already on the job because LARRY WHEATON LARRY perception of local government? they do that kind of work every day KD: It’s been a huge positive — that around things such as tuberculosis or people see where their county dollars sexually transmitted diseases and HIV. By: Ben Speggen ting very sick. And that’s huge. And so have gone, where they are going, and They know what they’re doing, they’re t the end of a recent phone I am just grateful that I am in the posi- why it’s so needed, that we have this very skilled at it, and they could easily interview, Erie County Exec- tion I’m in right now. And I am grateful part of our government structure. I’m jump from that work to working pret- Autive Kathy Dahlkemper says to all the people who are really taking getting a lot of very positive notes. Peo- ty much solely on COVID-19. And the she wants to thank the people of Erie this seriously and helping us because ple are just saying they are so glad that same on our environmental side. County. it is a community effort. I can’t do this they have a local figure who’s out there As the governor shut down our busi- “I just want to say that to people: alone; my team can’t do this alone.” speaking every day. nesses, they went into more of an en- Thank you very much for caring about The this is a public health and eco- They can watch the national [cover- forcement mode. And we were right on your fellow citizens, thank you for car- nomic crisis. Either alone would be a age] and they can watch the state, but top of that, with monitoring the busi- ing about a community. And we will get critical challenge for any leader, but they want to know what’s going on in nesses that were open to make sure through this together.” COVID-19 has brought about both glob- their own community. Having me out they were following guidelines and the She also says she is grateful. ally, including at the doorstep of Erie there speaking to it gives them some businesses that needed to be closed. “I will tell you, Ben, I am just really County. sense of reassurance that somebody is From the beginning we said, “We’re grateful that I’m in the position I’m in Its toll for some has been the loss of watching over this, working, doing the not the hammer; we’re actually the right now because I don’t know that jobs. For others, lives. job that needs to be done. hand out.” So we were trying to reach I’ve ever in my life felt that I have made From the pandemic’s dawn to its dark- And, of course, it’s not just me; it’s the our hand out to businesses and say, more of a difference in terms of my er hours, Dahlkemper has been at the whole team of people that I’m out there “How can we help you? This is what community and the welfare of the peo- forefront of the local response, one representing when I am speaking. And you need to do. We want to be your ple here than I am right now,” she says. that has seen far fewer positive cas- I’ve tried to make sure I highlight just partner in this.” And that has been very “I know that collectively, we have saved es and deaths than other counties in the amount of work happening from successful. lives. And our community, collectively, Pennsylvania. In her own words, she this whole team. BS: Could you go to the bookshelf and we have kept a lot of people from get- discusses the response of the county’s BS: Some might have been surprised pull out a plan and say, “Here’s how to

6 | Erie Reader | ErieReader.com May 20, 2020 NEWS & VIEWS deal with a pandemic,” or is this a re- to be transitioned to Yellow from Red. that also would go out if there was al-time response to pivot these people Where do you assign credit when it an issue with one of our isolation or quickly? comes to the public health response to quarantine individuals. As you know, KD: It was both. We had a pandemic the crisis if you really had to point to we had one person who unfortunately plan that was actually being reworked three key things that we did right from spent a night in jail. But it’s a serious as all of this sort of came about, and the get-go to get us to where we are to- thing when you’re under isolation and both the Department of Health and day? quarantine; it’s what’s going to help Office of Public Safety have emergency KD: We started contact tracing on the make our community safe. management pieces, and they had been first positive, and we have not stopped. We’ve had well over 500 people under collectively working on redoing our Our epidemiologist, he actually said in quarantine, over this time, and I want pandemic plan. They were waiting on the beginning, “I don’t think we can con- to thank every one of those people who the state, because the state was doing tinue to do this, and I’m not sure if all spent 14 days sitting in their home, of- their pandemic plan. We hadn’t final- this is going to make a difference.” And ten never getting any symptoms. But ized ours, because we didn’t want to he became a believer. He said, “What we there are some who did get symptom- have anything that would conflict with are doing is right.” And we have to find atic and they helped to truly stop the the state plan. a way to continue to do this because spread of COVID-19 in our community. Those first couple weeks were ex- this is what’s making the difference. So BS: What would you say is the one tremely hectic, and we often said “We’re that’s the first thing. thing that you are most optimistic building this plane as we fly it,” figuring I think the second thing was our early about as we head into summer, and out first our Incident Command Sys- stay-at-home order. I was watching the conversely, what would you say is your tem, which is agile. You can move fast rest of the state, and the governor put biggest fear as we head into summer? when you need to, and the structure a stay-at-home order on Montgomery KD: Oh, gosh, my biggest fear is that can build out and can contract in as County and in those counties around people will get careless about the needed in the pandemic. the Philadelphia area, and then I saw guidelines — about the social distanc- It took us a bit to get there, because some other numbers starting to pop up, ing, the physical distancing — that they this is something none of us have ever and I actually said, “I’m going to put a need to practice; about wearing a mask experienced before. The last time this stay-at-home order in place.” when they’re out around other people happened was over 100 years ago in our Because we have a Home Rule Char- that they don’t live with; about wash- country. You can practice all you want ter here, I was able to do that; I didn’t ing their hands frequently and using on these things, but, you know, you have to wait for the state, but I did call their sanitizer. Because those are the learn a lot in the moment when no one’s down to the governor. We talked about only tools we have right now. We really ever experienced it before. this with his staff, and I said, “I would are dependent upon the people of Erie BS: I like your phrasing of “building love to have the governor’s support on County to do those things and to do the plane as we fly it,” and I can’t help this,” because we had four cases at the them well. but see your role as potentially the pi- time and all those other counties had What I am optimistic about is that we SERVICE TECHNICIAN lot — or, maybe in the air traffic control 40 or more. The governor agreed, and know when you’re outside, the spread towers? How is this crisis redefining he backed me up on it. I remember lis- of COVID-19 is less likely than when Waldrich Coburg NA, Inc. in Erie, the role of county executive for you? tening to one of his press conferences you’re inside of a building. There are PA seeks Service Technician. KD: It’s important to let you all know when the press asked him, “Why did just not as many surfaces for it to get Duties: Managing the installa- tion and commissioning of our you put Erie County under stay-at- on, the breeze kind of blows the virus, that the Incident Commander for this specialized and complex large- whole thing is Melissa Lyon. She is home order when they have so few cas- you know, maybe away from you. And size machinery. After start-up of someone who has expertise. So she, I es?” He said because they had conver- so hopefully we can all be outside more, machining system, supervision guess, would be the pilot. And I prob- sations with leadership there, and we enjoying our beautiful county. And ob- of the complex system and offer ably would be the person in air traffic agreed that it was the right thing to do. viously getting some better mental atti- training to the machine opera- tors and maintenance person- control, and I’m overseeing the whole That was huge for our areas to put that tudes because the weather’s better. And nel. Requires: Completion of a incident command with her leading it. in place so early. we all seem to have a better state of 42 month Technical/Vocational I also have to think about all of the And then third, I’m gonna go back mental health when the weather’s bet- Program or Apprenticeship in other pieces out there, so I have to have to this enforcement piece. Our educa- ter. But I do feel that the summer could Mechanical engineering and six that 360 view of everything else going tion-enforcement team would go out see a lower transmission of the virus months of experience in mechan- on in the community as a whole so that to these businesses, and if they weren’t if everyone follows the guidelines, and ical assembly of machine tools. Must have: knowledge of Waldrich I can bring things into the discussions allowed to be open, they would say you we spend more time outside with our Coburg OEM machinery, mechan- we’re having from the outside that need need to close. friends and family than we do inside. ical background with machine to be brought in — issues that might be They had just maybe one or two busi- alignment, hydraulics, precision happening on the outside the that com- nesses that were difficult to deal with, Follow Dahlkemper’s live streams at assembly, ability to operate mand structure needs to know about. I but they finally came around. And now, WQLN’s Facebook page, facebook. tool room equipment, strong understanding of Machine Tool as we are opening back up in the Yel- com/WQLNPublicMedia. The like your analogy, but I think that’s re- diagnostics, & experience rebuild- ally what it was. She’s the pilot, flying low Phase, this is the team that went interview has been edited and ing and maintaining mechanical the plane; I’m out there with a big view out the other day up to the Millcreek condensed for clarity, find the longer components. Must be proficient up in the tower talking to her and the Mall area and spoke to the businesses transcript, go to ErieReader.com with mechanical, hydraulic, and whole team, keeping that bigger view and helped them figure out what they pneumatic systems. Requires travel to customer sites to trouble- of what’s going on on the outside. needed to do. They’ve been educating, Ben Speggen can be contacted shoot large OEM machinery. BS: Erie County hasn’t been immune educating, educating throughout this. at Bspeggen@ErieReader. Salary $72,800/year. CVs to to the economic impact of COVID-19. Let me say also on that enforce- com, and you can follow him [email protected]. Yet it was one of the first 24 counties ment-education team, that’s the team on Twitter @BenSpeggen.

May 20, 2020 ErieReader.com | Erie Reader | 7 FEATURE From Erie to Selma in 1965 Hammermill Paper’s new plant drawn up amidst the historic Civil Rights marches

Dr. Reverend Cordy Tindell “C.T.” Vivian of the Southern Christian Leadership ma Times-Journal, over 1,600 total ac- Conference stands before Selma, Ala. tivists had been arrested by that point Sheriff Jim Clark after a protest march as demonstrations continued. Adjacent in 1965. Clark and Alabama State Police to this article on the very same page of were condemned for their “Gestapo-like” approach to suppressing the activists. the same issue, the newspaper report- ed on another happening that same day in Alabama. 23-year-old chairman John Lewis, they “[Hammermill Paper Company] an- began their campaign with sit-ins. nounced today its plans to start imme- They were immediately met with vio- diate construction on a $25-$30 million lence and arrests. On Oct. 7, 1963, they pulp mill in Dallas County which will organized “Freedom Day” in the city. employ more than 250 persons,” the Hundreds of black activists, including article read. The plant, planned just writer James Baldwin and well-known outside of Selma, would have a daily comedian Dick Gregory (whose wife output of 400 tons of bleach kraft pulp had been previously arrested in Selma) used in Hammermill’s papermaking participated. plants. Gregory, in a fiery yet still darkly com- Hammermill President John H. De- ical speech two days earlier, told his Vitt, Vice President M.E. Graham, audience that southern whites had no and CEO Donald Leslie Sr. were all in identity except for their segregated toi- Montgomery for the press conference. AP PHOTO lets and their ability to use the n-word. Alongside them was Gov. George Wal- He joked that he wished all black peo- lace. By: Jonathan Burdick tive promises of tax exemptions and ple would disappear overnight, as then “We are looking forward to more ex- subsidies. white people would realize how much pansion in this fine community. We ap- n 2015, U.S. Representative John “Hammermill, a company with a top the southern economy relied on their preciate the great job you are doing for Lewis spoke to the graduating class reputation in every phase of the paper labor. your state,” Leslie complimented Wal- Iof Lawrence University. industry, was just the type of industry “They would go crazy looking for us,” lace, also noting the “character of the “You have a moral obligation, a mis- Selma needs and wants,” the paper re- Gregory quipped to roaring laughs and community and its people.” sion and a mandate, to speak up, speak ported two days later. applause. He then continued serious- Wallace had been elected governor out, and get in good trouble,” Lewis told Selma hadn’t yet received much na- ly: “But it looks like we got to do it the as a steadfast segregationist, famously them. tional attention on the emerging civil hard way and stay down here and edu- declaring, “I say segregation now, segre- Good trouble. Necessary trouble. rights activism there, but the city was cate them.” gation tomorrow, segregation forever.” Lewis, of course, knew a thing or two increasingly attracting nonviolent civil The nearly 300 demonstrators who That June, he’d stood in front of doors about that. As chairman of the Student disobedience by activists. A year earlier showed up that day were met by Sher- at the University of Alabama to prevent Nonviolent Coordinating Commit- in 1963, SNCC field staff had arrived to iff Jim Clark and his posse. Clark’s men two black teenagers from entering, re- tee (known as SNCC and pronounced help the Dallas County Voters League harassed and arrested many of them. sulting in President John F. Kennedy’s “snick”) during the Civil Rights Move- (DCVL) and Selma’s NAACP organize federal intervention. King referred to ment, he helped organize the Freedom direct action in protest of discrimina- The News Adjacent to History Wallace as the “most dangerous racist Summer in Mississippi, participated in tory practices in voter registration. Even after the passage of the Civil in America today.” sit-ins at segregated lunch counters, Selma was the seat of Dallas County. Rights Act that following July, little By early 1965, the Selma campaign planned countless boycotts, and spoke Despite a population that was 57 per- changed in Selma. That same week, was accelerating quickly. On Feb. 18, at the 1963 March on Washington. cent black, less than one percent of John Lewis marched dozens of black a night march was led by prominent Lewis, like many civil rights activists, black citizens were registered to vote residents to the courthouse to register. SCLC leader and close friend of King’s: believed that sometimes good trouble compared to nearly 70 percent of the Once again, they were met by Sheriff Dr. Reverend Cordy Tindell “C.T.” Vivi- was necessary in order to enact change. white population. Clark. He arrested them all. A judge an. Police attacked the marchers and On Sept. 15, 1963, Ku Klux Klan ter- issued an injunction to stop their gath- murdered 26-year-old activist Jimmie Pulp Nonfiction rorists planted dynamite at the 16th erings. Lee Jackson. In May of 1964, an unlikely city found Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, By early-1965, Martin Luther King, Jr. On March 7, the first of the Selma to itself in the middle of a Civil Rights killing four young black girls. On the and his Southern Christian Leadership Montgomery marches, later remem- Movement struggle: Erie, Pennsylva- day of the funeral, hundreds of Klans- Conference (SCLC) were involved. On bered as Bloody Sunday, took place. nia. On May 8, The Selma Times-Jour- men and other racists gathered near- Feb. 1, 1965, only a month after accept- Nearly 600 marchers were stopped and nal first reported that Hammermill by. A preacher who spoke at the rally ing his Nobel Peace Prize award, King then brutally attacked by state troop- Paper Company, headquartered in Erie, said that the girls were “old enough to was arrested for the first time in Selma ers along with Sheriff Clark and his was interested in constructing a pulp have venereal diseases” and “were no after leading hundreds to the court- police force. mill outside of Selma, Alabama. They more human or innocent than rattle- house. The following day, the NAACP re- had commissioned a feasibility study snakes.” This was what activists were As King sat in his jail cell the follow- leased a statement referring to the with the assistance of Alabama Gover- up against. ing day, hundreds more were arrested. state police as “Gestapo-like.” They con- nor George Wallace, who offered lucra- When SNCC arrived in Selma, led by According to the Feb. 3 issue of The Sel- demned Gov. Wallace and his “storm

8 | Erie Reader | ErieReader.com May 20, 2020 FEATURE These archival photos from the Selma Times-Journal show Hammermill President John DeVitt and other corporate executives of the Erie-based paper company at a social get-together after agreeing to construct a $30 million pulp mill outside of Selma, Ala. — a move met with resistance due to Alabama Governor George Wallace’s openly racist policies.

As for Wallace, he watched the two Selma marches unfold from Montgom- ery and continued to refuse protection. Finally, President Lyndon B. Johnson intervened and the third march, which followed a 54-mile stretch of high- way between Selma and Montgomery, JOURNAL – took place between March 21 through March 25.

SELMA TIMES SELMA TIMES Lewis Calls for Boycott One day later, John Lewis called for a troopers” as well as the federal govern- and making it impossible to ignore in Hammermill executives and was clear- national boycott of Hammermill prod- ment for inaction. northern cities. In Erie, hundreds of ly using them to gear-up for a presi- ucts. He declared that Hammermill’s The second attempted march took citizens marched downtown in solidar- dential campaign. Pearson ripped into decision to open a plant in Selma was place two days later. That evening, ity with the Selma campaign. them for staging the February “celebra- “a direct support to the racist policies James Reeb, a white minister and ac- Hammermill remained silent. In a tion” with Wallace. of the state and its peoples.” tivist from Boston, was badly beaten, scathing March 17 editorial, national- “If they are trying to bankrupt us, Some Hammermill clients applied resulting in his death. ly-syndicated columnist Drew Pearson they’re doing a damn good job,” Sher- pressure. Jet Magazine reported that These two violent events were inter- wrote that the fast-talking, back-slap- iff Clark told reporters about the noise many black-owned businesses were national news, escalating the situation ping Wallace had charmed the foolish surrounding Hammermill. cutting ties.

May 20, 2020 ErieReader.com | Erie Reader | 9 FEATURE Alabama state troopers move to stop one of ing to let them sit there until they get several civil rights marches from Selma to Montgomery in the mid-1960s. discouraged,” one Erie officer told the press. demonstration led by student Curry Media reports estimated that there First. At Oberlin, Gross and Von Korff were as many as 200 demonstrators, in- pulled together two busloads of stu- cluding Dr. C.T. Vivian. dents to bring to Erie. Vivian, who King called “the greatest preacher who ever lived,” had first ar- Erie’s Own Marches rived in Selma in December 1964. He On May 11, 1965, the first day of these was the representative who first in- demonstrations (described in media re- formed the DCVL and SNCC that King ports as a “siege”) began. It commenced would bring the SCLC if they want- with local activist Reverend Jesse Mac- ed him. After they joined, Vivian had

GPA PHOTO ARCHIVE/FLICKR PHOTO GPA Farland leading multiple groups of marched with 70 black citizens to regis- 25 in a march from Downtown Erie to ter, resulting in a heated confrontation the Hammermill headquarters on the with Sheriff Clark that ended with Viv- shores of Lake Erie. Not coincidentally, ian being punched in the face. this was during Hammermill’s annual Despite the public pressure and Dr. “This is a mammoth organization ment, were planning a demonstration meeting of stockholders and directors. Vivian’s presence, Hammermill execu- which student civil rights workers and at Hammermill’s headquarters. “One group blocked the main gate tives defended the company. Yet, very Dr. Martin Luther King are taking on,” “We got in touch with SCLC,” Von where employees entered,” explains aware of the escalating situation, they Pearson warned. Korff, now an attorney in Minnesota, Von Korff. “We passed out literature ex- agreed to meet with a committee of ac- “Hammermill is now deeply involved remembers of the Hammermill demon- plaining that Hammermill was moving tivists from each organization. in the civil rights controversy, wheth- strations today. “We arranged to rent to the labor unfriendly south in order The next day, Gross and Van Korff er it likes it or not,” another columnist some buses and we posted the project to pay lower wages and exploit their joined Dr. Vivian and others at Ham- wrote. “Hammermill is a marked firm.” around campus.” black workers. I took a group of stu- mermill’s headquarters. They met with A short drive away from Erie at Ohio’s SNCC, SCLC, and the NAACP all be- dents and staged a sit-in on the railroad DeVitt and other executives, who were Oberlin College, Oberlin Action for Civ- gan recruiting students. The Penn State tracks to prevent trains from supplying adamant that it was impossible for il Rights members Joe Gross and Jerry chapter of the Student Union for Racial or leaving the plant.” Hammermill to pull out of Selma at Von Korff, already active in the move- Equality (SURE) planned to join the The police stood by idly. “We are go- that point. A compromise was needed.

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A Restless Resolution Sophomore Nancy Avery criticized “They served us sandwiches and we SURE, writing that Hammermill was negotiated, C.T. taking the lead,” Van known for equal opportunity poli- Korff recalls. cies. “SURE would do well to study the Outside, a second day of demonstra- ‘Hammermill image’ in the world mar- tions resumed with over 250 activists. ket and in particular, in the Erie area. Meanwhile, Hammermill’s attorneys Does SURE realize that the Behrend were in court petitioning Erie County Campus … is one result of this interest Judge Samuel Rossiter. He granted an in non-industrial endeavors? … Or that injunction against the protesters. Fif- the Behrends’ son willingly destroyed ty police officers arrived and 65 were his own life by driving his car off the booked for obstruction of an officer. highway to avoid hitting a school bus On May 12, the New York Times re- full of children?” ported that negotiations had lasted Curry First shot back. He didn’t dis- four hours and the activists had with- pute President DeVitt’s commitment drawn some demands. On May 13, they to equal rights. He also didn’t want or reported that Hammermill signed a expect Hammermill to relocate. It was negotiated agreement, publicly com- about Hammermill’s corporate morali- mitting Hammermill to hiring black ty and using their economic leverage to workers and advocating for their vot- enact change. ing rights. “The action was justified on the be- “The agreement required Hammer- lief that business has an important mill to support school integration and responsibility to society, to the commu- to provide equal compensation to their nity it serves and supports … and from black and white workers,” Van Korff which it derives financial gain,” First adds. explained. DeVitt announced he was already For civil rights activists, the Selma planning to hire a black student from campaign was a success. The Voting Gannon College, a senior and standout Rights Act of 1965 was signed into law basketball player originally from Sel- on Aug. 6, 1965, banning the use of lit- ma, for employment at their new plant. eracy tests and other tactics meant to DeVitt also stated that building the disenfranchise. mill in Selma “does not in any way in- Construction began on the Selma dicate support for or approval of those plant that year — and while the Erie who are opposed to civil rights or plant shut down in 2002, the Selma who accept the brutality and violence plant is still in operation. which has permeated the area.” He still Were the demonstrations in Erie a defended their decision though, not- success or a failure then? As Curry ing that “refusal to locate near Selma First said, Hammermill executives wouldn’t remove civil rights problems hadn’t made any commitment before there or advance civil liberties.” He their demonstrations. The executives would personally speak with Sheriff had initially “shown a lack of regard Jim Clark and Selma’s mayor, he said. for human suffering” and their “initial Activists wanted more assurance. inaction was a choice,” which could DeVitt was clearly frustrated. Rich- only be interpreted as “support for the ard Phalon reported in The New York Wallace storm-trooper kind of govern- Times how when one visitor on a tour ment.” of the Hammermill plant mentioned In that regard, Hammermill was Selma, DeVitt told him “to drop a quar- subject to public scrutiny and, as a ter in the ‘swear box.’” result, public accountability. In other One senior at Penn State, an Erie na- words, during those two days during tive, defended Hammermill in Penn the spring of 1965, they had been up to State’s The Daily Collegian. good trouble in Erie, Pennsylvania. “Hammermill’s integrity cannot be And as John Lewis says, good trouble questioned,” he wrote. “I have discussed is necessary trouble. Hammermill with many Erieites over the past few months and all speak fa- This article has been edited for vorably of the company. Hammermill length; to read the full-length should not be picketed.” article, visit eriereader.com Curry First, a senior and leader of SURE who had been arrested during Jonathan Burdick runs the the Erie demonstrations, spoke on historical blog Rust & Dirt. Follow campus, clarifying that the demonstra- them on Twitter @RustDirt, and tions were about solidarity with King. on Instagram @Rustanddirt.

May 20, 2020 ErieReader.com | Erie Reader | 11 NEWS & VIEWS Laughlin Seeks Senatorial Second Act Big issues remain, incumbent hopes to do the same

Pennsylvania State Senator Dan Laughlin into focus just how badly it’s needed. weighs in at a recent budget hearing in And it’s going to be extremely difficult Harrisburg. He will seek his second term representing Pa.’s 46th senatorial district to provide a fair standard of education (which includes the majority of Erie County) for all the public school kids across the as the lone Republican on the ballot, state when there is such a disparity in competing against the winner of next both funding and Internet access. I’m month’s Democratic primary, Julie Slomski or Andre Horton. extremely hopeful that we’ll have re- turned to class in the fall, but if not, we at least have some number of months of the initiatives to fund startups, stim- here to try and prepare. ulate growth in our job market, and MS: Environmentally. Erie has some keep young people here? Do you think major concerns right now in terms of Erie will be able to pick up where it left the high water levels and erosion. And off in terms of the progress it’d been as we know that has huge implications making? on recreation, tourism and overall econ- DL: First off, our entire economy has omy. Has there been any motion on mit-

CONTRIBUTED PHOTO been greatly disrupted by this pan- igating these issues? demic. And I think I think that our DL: I’m actually glad you brought that workforce will have probably changed up. As some of your readers will prob- By: Matt Swanseger Having said that, I do have some dis- forever. As we emerge from this, I think ably remember, I’ve been working on ducation, employment, environ- agreements with the governor as far as there’s gonna be a lot of folks that real- trying to do something with the break- ment, healthcare, economy, infra- some of the things that he shut down. ize that they can safely and efficiently waters at Presque Isle. I find them to be Estructure, crime, social equality And one of the areas where I did dis- work from home and maybe won’t ever basically eyesores and I don’t believe — at any level of government, these is- agree with the governor initially was return to a more traditional workplace that they’re working very efficiently … sues ensure that lawmakers will always the shutdown of all construction in setting. On some level, I think our grow- My office is currently researching the have their hands full. For Pennsylva- Pennsylvania. We were the only state to ing tech industry has probably fared a famous Plan 2014, part of the Great nia’s state senators, the past four years do that. And that added almost a third little bit better than some of the more Lakes Compact. And I believe that actu- have been challenging; the next four, on of our unemployment numbers. And I traditional types of employment be- ally has a little bit more to do with the the other side of a global pandemic, will say that was probably my single biggest cause with a lot of tech jobs, you can high water levels in Lake Erie right now be trying. Senator Dan Laughlin, repre- disagreement with the governor as far work from home. than anything else. We’re trying to get senting the state’s 49th Senatorial Dis- as the shutdown orders. So I think that’s a really good thing to the bottom of that because we can’t trict (which includes a sizable majority MS: You’re philosophically opposed to have — more of a diverse workforce just let Presque Isle get destroyed. It’s a of Erie County), has been in the mix in to big government spending. But there in Erie then perhaps we had years ago vital part of our economy and a natural Harrisburg since 2016 and seeks to con- are a lot of folks out there who are ei- with the reliance on heavy manufactur- treasure. tinue his work there through 2024. The ther financially struggling right now, or ing. But as we come out of this, I think MS: Absolutely. What other alterna- incumbent will run on the Republican will be soon. Is there any alternative to a lot of people —myself included — and tives to breakwaters have you explored ticket unopposed this November, facing major government intervention in situ- other government officials will have to to limit the erosion? off against the winner of next month’s ations such as this? adapt and adjust to see where the need DL: I’m glad you brought that up as Democratic primary, either Andre Hor- DL: We do know that the government is greatest and apply whatever stimulus well. There is an alternate method of ton or Julie Slomski. plays a role in a crisis like this. I think tools we have to try and bring indus- doing breakwaters known as an artifi- Big issues don’t have easy solutions, the stimulus checks approach was ap- tries back and help businesses survive. cial reef. I discussed it with the Army but Sen. Laughlin was able to touch on propriate. And I think it will help our MS: I want to touch on education next. Corps of Engineers a couple of years some of the immediate tasks at hand economy in many ways. Now, the one Public schools are bracing for some ago. I’m trying to get the state and/or during a recent phone interview. thing that I will also clarify is that tough times ahead, in addition to the federal government to pay for a fresh Matt Swanseger: I first want to dis- when the initial CARES (Coronavirus adversity they’ve faced for quite some study that would study that type of a cuss whether you agree or disagree Aid, Relief, and Economic Security) Act time now. Erie School District Superin- breakwater system. The beauty of that with the governor’s approach for re- was being discussed, I wrote a letter to tendent Brian Polito recently froze his from what I understand is that will pro- opening the economy. And if not, do you Senator Toomey and Senator Casey in- own pay in anticipation of more budget vide a more natural looking shoreline think there’s a better way to go about it, dicating that I felt that our unemploy- shortfalls. What is being done at the rather than that scallop that we have wherein we can balance public health ment should have been capped at 90 state level to preserve public education now. and safety with the need to get things percent of full pay, because that would and if in-person classes are not permit- MS: Are there any other proposals or back up and running? have been virtually the same as true ted to resume in August or September, bills in consideration right now that Dan Laughlin: I’ll try and be as brief take-home pay. And I think that was how can we support distance learning you’re really passionate about, that as possible. I was very supportive of the an appropriate amount. The $600 extra without sacrificing quality? you’re really pushing for and putting governor’s initial shutdown order for is starting to become a problem where DL: I would say that the lack of broad- your weight behind? Explain why they flattening the curve. And I think it was employees are making more money. band Internet to vast areas of Pennsyl- mean so much for you and how they fairly successful actually — the fact They don’t want to return to work. vania is something that the legislature could mean a lot to your constituency. that we have fairly low numbers in Erie MS: Once this blows over, how much had been working on already before the DL: I think one of the most impact- County is indicative of that. will the pandemic have disrupted some pandemic, but I think it really brought ful bills that I’m working on right now

12 | Erie Reader | ErieReader.com May 20, 2020 NEWS & VIEWS hasn’t gotten that much press yet. It’s a lot of items and we are working on a other message you’d like to leave our friendly source of energy that we have. bipartisan bill that (Philadelphia Demo- pharmaceutical transparency bill that readers with before I let you go? And I think that we should be putting crat) Sen. Sharif Street and I have been would lower prescription drug costs for DL: I think there’s one thing that a a lot more effort towards that. And I collaborating on. He came on in 2016 most Pennsylvanians that are strug- lot of your readers might be surprised introduced a bill concerning that a few when I did, and even though he’s vice gling with the cost of pharmacy. It’s to find out that I’m a huge fan of solar weeks ago. chair of the Democratic Party, if I’m gonna take a lot of work to try and get energy. I think that solar is probably MS: Excellent. Thank you Senator for not mistaken, and it’s kind of his job to it passed, but I feel confident that be- going to be what replaces our fossil fuel your time. get rid of me, we’ve become pretty good tween Sen. Street and I, we can get the energy industry. I mean, we have a ways friends. traction that we need. to go. But I see it as the cleanest, most Matt Swanseger can be reached at We work together pretty well on a MS: Sounds good to me. Is there any environmentally and economically [email protected]

How One Former New Yorker Returned to Erie to Write Local native and former creative director of TED advises on how to get those creative juices flowing

Author Doug Chilcott, former renaissance and the importance College provost. Kris Wheaton, associate creative services of inclusivity as an integral part a former intelligence studies director for The New Yorker and creative director of TED of the process, not something professor at Mercyhurst, is a Conferences, moved back home we slap on later,” she said. professor of strategic futures at to Lawrence Park in January 2019 Chilcott spoke at the Rotary the War College. to take a “self-funded creative about how the Technology, En- Chido considers Wheaton sabbatical.” Once limited to writing 2,000 words a week, he tertainment and Design (TED) as one of her most influential now produces the same output on Conferences grew into a glob- mentors, and his wife, Judy a daily basis, with two novels and al phenomenon, but I knew Wheaton, has become her dear several short stories in the works. I’d like the guy when I queued friend. When the Wheatons up in the local Sheraton buf- were preparing to downsize to short stories, based on his “radi- fet line. That’s where I met his move to Carlisle, they adver- cal change” of leaving New York mom, Rosemarie Chilcott. She tised their baby grand on Face-

CONTRIBUTED PHOTO City to move home, invest in a introduced herself by saying book. Chilcott bought the piano house, and buy his first car. that one of her daughter’s best for his new house in Lawrence By: Liz Allen Chilcott moved back to Law - friends is the sister of my friend, Park. pandemic, let alone write one, rence Park because he was Mary Solberg. It was such a de- Judy Wheaton was tickled omeone on Twitter chal- even though in early March I ready to take “a self-funded cre- lightfully Erie way of making that her family’s piano would be lenged his or her followers checked out a stack of enticing ative sabbatical.” He has worked connections. in good hands. “This guy is such Sto write the first sentence library books, including The Li- as vice president/associate pro- I’m also always interested in a treasure,” she said. “He values of “your great pandemic novel” brary Book, Susan Orlean’s non- ducer for Pop-Up Magazine, as meeting people who have boo- relationships, music, and art.” — the book you’ve finally got- fiction narrative about a fire creative director for TED Con- meranged back to Erie. Some, Wheaton knows what it’s like ten around to writing because that torched the Los Angeles ferences, and as associate cre- like Chilcott, bring their talents to relocate to a new place. A mil- you now have oodles of time on Public Library in 1986. ative services director for The and energy back temporarily. itary brat who married a man your hands. And instead of diving into New Yorker. Others, including Chido, make in the military, she’s moved 16 This was my tweet, for a book Summer of ’69, a guilty-pleasure I met Chilcott through Diane a longer-term commitment. She times in her life, she said. that would be more memoir beach read by Elin Hilderbrand, Chido, president of DC Analyt- has lived in Erie, her hometown, “She was so upset that she than fiction: “The twice-wid- I’ve frittered away time reliving ics. In January 2019, about the since 2003, but she uprooted had found such an interesting owed bride and the divorced the summer of ’68 by playing same time that Chilcott moved herself in 2015 to join the U.S. person just as she was leav- groom got married 37 years af- Hair, the “American tribal love- here, Chido asked me to par- Army War College in Carlisle, ing, so she handed him over to ter their first date.” rock musical,” on my retro turn- ticipate in her five-part lecture Pa., working at the Peacekeep- me,” said Chido. Wheaton had a Then I got stuck, so I asked my table. I want to psych myself up series at the Jefferson Educa- ing and Stability Operations wine-tasting party to introduce husband, the divorced groom for the day when we’ll all have tional Society. Her idea was to Institute. Chilcott to some Erie people, who married me, the widowed hair “shoulder length or longer.” encourage local leaders to ap- “I went to Carlisle on a one- including Chido, whom she de- bride, to pitch in. I’d write one I decided to unjam my brain ply lessons from international year contract, sold my house, scribes as a great writer with sentence, he’d write the next from reader’s block by catching peacekeeping and nation-build- took the leap, and stayed for deep community connections line, until we had completed our up with author Doug Chilcott, ing strategies to solve regional three years,” she said. In addi- in Erie. masterpiece. who moved away from Erie af- problems in Erie. tion to her consulting work, she Chido said it can be a chal- At least Eric, my husband, has ter college, enjoyed an amazing Months later, when I ran into is an adjunct teacher at Gannon lenge to relocate, “especially a couple of books under his belt, career in creative enterprises in- Chido at the grocery store, she University. in a place like Erie, which is so including Baseball Stats, writ- volving writing and marketing, spotted my TEDxErie T-shirt The Army War College has tribal.” ten for Scholastic and co-au- then returned to Lawrence Park and invited me to hear Chilcott several Erie connections. Jim I wrote a column long ago thored with Jeff Shermack. in January 2019 to work on two speak to the Rotary Club of Erie Breckenridge, former dean of about someone who was But who was I kidding? I novels. on Sept. 11. As the Rotary’s pro- Mercyhurst University’s Ridge charmed by Erie’s “Mayber- haven’t even been able to fin- Now 56, Chilcott has also been gram chair, Chido seeks out pro- College of Intelligence Studies ry RFD” values, and I once ish a single book during the inspired to write a collection of gramming that examines “Erie’s and Applied Sciences, is the War screened a job candidate for the

May 20, 2020 ErieReader.com | Erie Reader | 13 NEWS & VIEWS newspaper who said that Erie he suspected catered to prosti- over-observant” serve him well Park Township. Chilcott already has one book reminded him of Beverly, the tutes. His first novel is based on here as a writer. He recognizes His sister used a ruse to get to his name. “Alas. In the 1990s, Irish-Catholic neighborhood that experience. “In the book, that stories pop up everywhere. their mother to Chilcott’s new I ghostwrote a book for Kermit in Chicago immortalized by (the pub) actually is a brothel. One of my favorites about Chil- house, telling her that a friend the Frog, Kermit’s 501 Fun Facts the Rev. Andrew Greeley in his It connects all the characters in cott is the anecdote about how was thinking of buying it. Chil- for Kids,” he said. “I got to visit Blackie Ryan novels. I view Erie the pub … it’s a fun social romp he announced his homecoming cott greeted his family at the the Henson headquarters and as an amalgam of small-town about two American kids,” he to his mom. door. His mother was surprised see some of the Muppets in values and big-city culture. Chil- said. During the summer of 2018, he to see her son in town. Then as their natural habitat (which was cott is at home in both settings. Living in New York, Chilcott found a house near Elbow Park a recording of Chilcott playing a gorgeous townhouse off Park The youngest of six children, would set aside Fridays to write in Lawrence Park that interest- cello came from a little speaker Avenue!).” he grew up in Lake Cliff in Law- about 2,000 words for his nov- ed him. Later, he asked his sister, in the dining room, Chilcott an- Now I’m really envious. In rence Park. A voracious reader, els. Confident that he had some Karen Barringer, and his best nounced to his mom: “Welcome college, I liked to sing Kermit’s he was also immersed in the- “momentum” with both works, friend, David Anthony, to walk to my house,” he recalled. poignant and perceptive signa- ater, band, and music in high he decided to take advantage through the house with the “It’s a nice chapter of my life to ture number, “It’s Not Easy Be- school. His late father, Rich- of Erie’s lower cost of living to real estate agent. “I bought the be back here,” he said ing Green.” I had learned it by ard, was a “big storyteller” who move home and finish them. house without being inside of I asked Chilcott for advice for watching Sesame Street with also loved to change the rules Working three to four hours a it,” he said. aspiring authors. my four-year-old brother. I liked when they were playing cards day, he’s upped his output to Chilcott, an “urban planning “There are stories all over the music so much that my fu- or board games. “In many ways, 2,000 words a day, and now the junkie,” likes the fact that Law- the place, if you just look close ture third husband bought me that’s what creativity is. You are novels and his short stories are rence Park is a planned com- enough,” he said. When he ob- the first Sesame Street album constantly adding something,” about 75 percent complete. munity, designed by pioneering serves people, he also sees their as a Christmas present in 1970. I he said. But in writing or other Of course, he misses New urban planner John Nolen for story — or a potential story — pulled that out of the cupboard arts, you shouldn’t become so York. He visited there in mid- General Electric Co. workers. “As hanging over their heads, like a when I excavated Hair. obsessive with tweaking that it March, just as the full impact of a New Yorker, I needed to have thought bubble. cripples you, he said. COVID-19 was being unleashed. a little bit of urban density,” he Chilcott reassured me that Liz Allen and her husband, Following graduation from “New York is just the best city in said. He likes the fact that he it’s OK to think small and to be Eric Compton, have only Wooster College in Ohio, Chil- the world. To see it struggling is can walk to the Lawrence Park “really efficient” in your writing. written 280 words and eight cott spent that summer in Lon- challenging,” he said. Dinor, which is on the Nation- Tell a story in three paragraphs, paragraphs in their great don, bartending with his college Still, the skills he honed as al Register of Historic Places, he suggested. Or write your sto- pandemic novel. You can reach roommate at a seedy pub that a New Yorker in “being wildly along with most of Lawrence ry as a screenplay, in three parts. her at [email protected].

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14 | Erie Reader | ErieReader.com May 20, 2020 NEWS & VIEWS A Summertime Festival Drought As large group events are pushed aside this summer, fans and organizers alike are left questioning

With iconic summer festivals such as the Blues & Jazz Festival [left] and CelebrateErie and we think it’s going to be a really cool bottom] canceled due to the COVID-19- day for people to gather on their front induced moratorium on large gatherings, porch and listen to local Erie artists.” The 2020 promises to be much quieter than festival will also serve as a day to donate usual. Nonetheless, organizers continue to seek alternatives that would allow the to local food truck operators, as “small community to connect from individual business owners who own food trucks locations. are among some of the hardest hit in the pandemic and we are worried that many When their public announcement of them are at risk of having to park their came on Thursday, May 14, they also food trucks permanently.” included a tease of something small in Brenda Sandberg, executive director place of the sprawling festival called of the Erie Port Authority, explained 814 Day, occurring on Friday, Aug. 14 that “the county executive made an (08/14/2020). announcement [May 14] that they will Aaron Loncki, president of Celebrate not be issuing permits for large public Erie (and marketing strategist with Of- gathering events. So 8 Great Tuesdays NICK WARREN fice of the Mayor) explained that “With as we’ve known them and come to love Blues and Jazz Festival have made no the 814 Day concept, our goal is to ex- them over the past 20 years will not exist By: Symoné Crockett and Nick Warren formal announcement at this time, as plore some options that we can do ei- this year in the traditional sense.” ummer is a time when we all look they, like many others, are deciding what ther virtually, or get people out of their “We’re still working through a laundry Sforward to getting out of our houses to do next. house and do activities that wouldn’t list of ideas that we have on how we to enjoy the fresh air and hot sun. One From early on, some could see it com- congregate a group of people together, could potentially have a musical cele- of our favorite things to do, especially ing. “I sat down in February to look at but that people can do at their own lei- bration or celebrations on Tuesday eve- among Erieites, is to enjoy the plentiful what was going on and it’s been consis- sure.” Though the full details of the event nings throughout the summer,” Sand- events and festivals held near and far. tent,” Vanco noted, saying that the ex- are yet to be determined, he hinted that berg stated, hinting at a similar pivot on But due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this perts and the epidemiologists had gen- it may involve Erieites “exploring differ- a safer scale. “Even though it may not be has all changed, though event organiz- erally hit the mark regarding what was ent restaurants and making sure they in person, individuals can participate in ers have been eager to adapt. to come. And there’s nobody who has — can get takeout from different folks, and seeing their favorite bands — or whatev- For any avid festival-goer, there’s a list with any scientific approach — predict- having a contest there or a reinvented er it may turn out to be — that they aren’t you keep — either mentally or literally — ed that this is going to be over anytime ChalkWalk, in a way where it’s through- able to see whether it be at a venue, or a of the events you want to attend. As bars soon.” out town instead of all in one area.” bar or the Highmark Amphitheater or at and music venues shuttered their doors “There’s no question that we’re not go- It’s not just weekend-long celebra- Presque Isle.” in March, some people held out hope, ing to have this,” Vanco stated. “It’s go- tions affected, of course, as events like 8 Outside of Erie, The Great Blue Her- clinging to the prospect that they might ing to be an event-less summer in Erie in Great Tuesdays and the Erie Food Truck on Music Festival is a local festival that be able to get their fix in a few months. terms of people getting together in the Festival fall by the wayside as well. Kate takes place in Sherman, N.Y., consisting Locally, this would not prove to be the same place.” Philips, chairperson of the Erie Food of three nights and a multitude of bands case. As the stay-at-home order gave “What we are working towards is what Truck Festival (and co-owner of the Erie playing on three stages. In addition to way to Pennsylvania’s Yellow Phase of we do instead,” he said. This seemed to consulting firm Parker Philips) shared the Heron Green Growers farm, featur- reopening, social distancing practices be a common theme among event orga- that they would be adapting as well, ing organic chicken, grass-fed beef, and became the norm. Statewide regulations nizers. “What do we do now?” as the Front Porch Festival on June 6. a grove of shiitake mushrooms, the fes- calling for a six-foot distance between One announcement of a major post- “We’ve booked six bands,” Philips ex- tival has a built-in permanent infrastruc- people, combined with a 25-person limit ponement came from the City of Erie plained. “We’re going to be streaming live ture including stages, sculptures, and for gatherings, have essentially canceled itself. Celebrate Erie, a free multi-day the festival season for the summer of event that temporarily takes over down- 2020. town, will not be happening in 2020. One by one, those events became Mayor Joe Schember noted that “the checked off. Canceled. Postponed. Re- decision to postpone [Celebrate Erie] scheduled indefinitely. Though wordings comes after six weeks of careful re- changed from event to event, the mes- search and continued discussions with sage was similar: We can’t do it this year. the Erie County Department of Health, Though not everyone has made it of- city officials, and the Celebrate Erie plan- ficial yet, hopes look dim that there will ning team, and local event organizers. be literally any viable festival options, at We want to ensure the safety of attend- least not like the ones we were used to. ees, staff, and the community-at-large,” John Vanco, who for over 28 years has Schember explained. helped oversee Erie’s Blues and Jazz fes- “This was not an easy decision, but I tival remarked that “it’s no secret that believe it’s the right decision,” the mayor we live in the same world as everybody continued, echoing the statements that else. We’re not going to have thousands other festival followers have seen crop- of people in Frontier Park this year.” Erie’s ping up lately. NICK WARREN

May 20, 2020 ErieReader.com | Erie Reader | 15 NEWS & VIEWS water pumps. There’s a cafe for all es- hopes high, taking things one step at a cal personality of Erie County’s festivals, ing to do since I graduated high school, sential eats and drinks, and a lit-up night time and are excited to see what this “ expressed Philips. At an 8 Great Tues- and here I am, waiting again until I can walk that’s unforgettable for guests. Like quiet yet exciting summer will hold for day-style event where they just become start my life,” says Page. This time, too, innumerable others, this event has been the Heron. a permanent part of that scene to down- has taken a toll on her emotionally, af- postponed until July of next year due to Though fans and attendees are a town events or at local wineries, you’re fecting her mental health in more ways COVID-19. “What we do here has made huge and necessary part of any festival, seeing and getting to know these food than one. Like many, it has moved her such a difference to our community, and there’s a densely-linked web of techni- truck operators, as again, like a part of backward, having lessened hope for our fans, and our Heron family,” property cians, vendors, and volunteers that keep the personality of the event.” the future. But to counteract this, she co-owner Julie Rockcastle explained. every event running. Loncki noted that One of those personalities affected has been pushing online sales and mar- As she and fellow property owner Da- “in any event, you look at the items that by this is Kaitlyn Page, a local artist — keting (find her at kaitlynpage.storenvy. vid Tidquist deal with the emotional go into it and the average concert-goer and winner of 2019’s Best of Erie award com). After doing this, she noticed a loss of not being able to hold the festi- is going to see. ‘I showed up, I went to for Best Fine Artist. Page elaborated on dramatic increase in sales on her on- val after 28 consecutive years, they are a show, bought food, I had a good time how crushing it is for a vendor to miss line storefront as well as obtaining new “reinventing themselves,” she says. They with my friends, we got some beers, and out on being able to both sell her work followers through the use of Facebook have opened their grounds for camping, I went home.’ What we have to deal with as well as gain more attention and fans groups, including the pages of events where you can find booking information on the back end is: We need money from from it. Though a relative newcomer she was scheduled to sell at. She has on hipcamp.com as well as Airbnb. This the sponsors who can make the show to the festival circuit, last year she had also been slowly releasing new materi- will allow up to about 100 people to have happen. We need to make sure all the re- bookings at regular festival venues such al that she was going to sell at festivals, the opportunity to set up camp or rent sources and production are there, from as Dark Star Jubilee at Legend Valley in making it available for the general public. out a cabin within the cafe and enjoy the stage to the audio; we need to make Thornville, Ohio, Pyro Music and Arts Even through the bad times, she keeps light music, takeout burgers from Shiita- sure that there are enough porta-potties; Festival at Nelson Ledges Quarry Park in her chin high anticipating the return of ke Steve, and of course walk the beauti- we need to make sure that the utilities Garrettsville, Ohio, The Great Blue Her- local art shows, festivals, and waiting for fully lit-up trails. are hooked up; we have to make sure on, and Resonance Festival at Cooper’s the day we can “live life to the fullest with Rockcastle and Tidquist have also that everybody’s where they’re supposed Lake Event Venue and Campground in live music galore, days spent outdoors in been earning income from their farm to be,” he continued. Slippery Rock, Pa. beautiful places, and remaining active in store on-site that has recently sold out The Erie Food Truck Festival took one As of this writing, all of these 2020 the community growing my business.” of all meat in stock. With their creative of these parts, and made it the prima- events have been either canceled or Symoné Crockett can be reached at minds and the help of their friends, fam- ry focus of the event itself. “I think that postponed. [email protected]. Nick Warren can ily, and volunteers they are keeping their food trucks have become part of the lo- “Vending is something I’ve been look- be reached at [email protected]

CIVIC LEADERSHIP ACADEMY 2020 Leadership in a Time of Crisis - The Jefferson Educational Society, Erie’s think tank for community progress located at 3207 State St., has begun accepting applications for the 2020 Jefferson Civic Leadership Academy. The program prepares Erie professionals, ages 25 to 45, for meaningful, fulfilling, and impactful engagement in their community by providing a dynamic and unique environment. The Leadership Academy fosters teamwork, growth, and learning through a transformative experience for those seeking to be change- agents for their community.

Employers benefit by having employees enhance their leadership skills while developing their abilities to work in teams. In addition, employers gain access to a broad network of prominent contacts, as their employees participate in this collaborative experience. A total of 127 individuals have graduated from the Leadership Academy since 2015. In 2019 the Civic Leadership Academy Cohort Extended Application Deadline: June 15, 2020 in Harrisburg with Lt. Gov. John Fetterman. To apply visit JESErie.org or call 814.459.8000

16 | Erie Reader | ErieReader.com May 20, 2020 NEWS & VIEWS Bars and Restaurants Find Uncertainty On Tap Amidst fluid COVID-19 regulations, local establishments face mounting difficulties and slashed profits

The concourse at the Brewerie at Union Station — like many dining areas throughout Erie and across the country — sits empty. Restaurant owners will face a huge dilemma when they get the go-ahead to reopen for dine-in service — will they implement new measures to enforce social distancing, or wait until they can provide the experience their patrons are used to?

normality.” The community has also been extremely encouraging. “We have received support where we have never seen before. Most are rallying and sup- porting us and others they believe in.” CONTRIBUTED PHOTO Lewis still recognizes they are living in the unknown — but believes the be- By: Rebecca Styn owners are cautiously optimistic. ginning will bring a great response. “I Ten days after the onset of the pandem- Chris Sirianni, owner of The Brewerie think people are excited to come out to ic, three percent of restaurant operators of Union Station tells me, “It’s the people restaurants. And when we first open up, had already permanently closed their that drive us. Between getting our brew- I think we will be overwhelmed. But long- restaurants, 44 percent temporarily, and ery family back and our regular and new term — will people want curbside? It’s a 11 percent said they anticipated perma- patrons, we are looking forward to serv- different game now. We will still provide nent closure within the next 30 days, ing people within these walls the most.” the experience — but now with all the according to the National Restaurant Given health regulations, bars and regulations.” Association. Earlier this week on a call restaurants already follow a strict proto- Restaurants in other states [that have with the Pennsylvania Restaurant and col in sanitation efforts, but the concept been allowed to be open] have already Lodging Association, initial estimates of limiting capacity is alarming for many, begun to redefine their model. In some were reviewed that upwards of 30 per- as even at full capacity, these business- places regulations include: only small cent of restaurants would not survive. es are just paying the bills as restaurants gatherings allowed (10 or under), a min- Some speculated whether that number run on really tight margins. imum of six feet between groups, addi- would be on the low end. “Twenty-five percent capacity is pop- tional hand-washing methods, access Recently, the Bureau of Labor Statis- ping out to any restaurateur. It’s hard to to sanitizing products in high-contact tics (BLS) published data showing the run at 50 percent and be profitable. The areas; fewer things on the table such as job loss to the hospitality and leisure numbers really don’t add up,” explains condiments, table tents, etc., a six-foot industry as the hardest hit, losing more Sirianni. distance between bar stools, six feet than 47 percent of total positions na- In addition, most are looking at added between employees, facial coverings, tionwide. And in Pennsylvania (like many expenditures — whether it’s booth divid- daily temperature checks and additional other states), restaurants and bars are ers or disposable menus, or rising costs training. I can attest this all feels over- still not open for business. In addition in food due to shortages. whelming — especially knowing it’s all to the human toll, the economic effects “Our concerns are peoples’ willingness fluid. Plus, it makes planning for an un- of a crisis of this size can be catastroph- to go out and have a total dining expe- certain future challenging at best. ic. And certain industries like these will rience. And the ability to build trust in a Matt Orton, owner of McCoy’s Barrel- bear the brunt of the damage. relationship with the public and prove house & Grill, 1013 State St, has been Restaurants, bars, and entertainment that we are doing everything possible to closed since March 14 — and given the venues thrive upon the experience they make that experience safe and comfort- nature of his business, has not been create for others. Whether through food, able.” able to provide any takeout or delivery drink, music, dancing, or any given social Annē Lewis (pronounced Annie) is options. “I think our biggest challenge occasion from happy hours to weddings the Director of Marketing of Red Letter is going to be getting caught back up on — each of these are intended to be de- Hospitality, owner and operator of three bills once we are allowed to open. I’m finingly intimate. As a restaurant owner, local establishments — The Cork, Mol- looking forward to seeing people come I can personally attest to this. ly Brannigan’s, and The Skunk & Goat. out and enjoy themselves again without And as social distancing, masks, The group opted to close their doors to panic and fear. It will happen. I’m just not gloves, and other personal protective the public shortly before Governor Wolf sure when.” gear engulf the consumer landscape, mandated it. They are taking it day by At this point, none of us are. restaurants and bars still do not know day, but looking forward to reopening. Rebecca Styn is the proprietor of Room 33 what to make of this “new normal” — as “We are most excited to provide the Speakeasy. She is also VP of Ventures at Erie these types of upcoming regulations will experiences our guests want and have Innovation District and recently completed undoubtedly alter the patron’s experi- been wishing for. It just isn’t the same her Ph.D. in Leadership and Organizational ence. as Michael [one of their team] making Learning from Gannon University. Follow However, even with all of this uncer- a drink for our guests, seeing familiar Room 33 on Facebook @room33speakeasy, tainty, many local restaurant and bar faces, and getting back to a little bit of and follow Rebecca on Twitter at @rstyn.

May 20, 2020 ErieReader.com | Erie Reader | 17 MOVIES Internet Trolls: What Will the Pandemic do to the Future of Movie Theaters?

The unexpected success of Universal’s Trolls: World Tour via video-on-demand has the studio reevaluating its release model — and movie theater chains nervous or even indignant. Will the COVID-19 pandemic change the way we experience new releases for good?

have either had their theatrical release cut short (The Assistant), have been sent to VOD without notice (Never Rare- ly Sometimes Always), or have just van- ished entirely (First Cow). If theaters re- main shuttered for a significant amount of time, independent distributors like Neon, Bleecker Street, and A24 may sud- denly find themselves with a whole lot of films with nowhere to go. Meanwhile, as all the big films push back their release dates, Christopher

DREAMWORKS ANIMATION LLC ANIMATION DREAMWORKS Nolan stands alone. His new film Tenet is still set for release on July 17, assuming theaters are open. It’s a big risk but No- By: Forest Taylor theaters.” Of course, this could all get re- further and further back, the allure of lan, a passionate supporter of the the- n April 10, Universal released the solved in the end, but when the biggest distributing a film on a streaming plat- atrical experience, has the kind of clout animated sequel Trolls: World movie distributor in the world tells one form has never been more tempting. in the industry to take such a risk. If this OTour exclusively on Video On De- of the major studios (responsible for 20 The situation here isn’t entirely unprec- strategy is successful, he may prove that mand. Unexpectedly, it went on to make percent of films produced per year) that edented. In the 1930s and ‘40s, film stu- movie theaters still have a place in this over $100 million in a single weekend. As they will no longer be doing business, it dios were vertically integrated monop- brave new world. a result, NBC Universal Chairman Jeff sends a message. That message is that olies, owning both the studios and the Nobody knows for sure what the film Shell announced that his company will the way we watch films could be very dif- theaters that show their films. Now that world will look like when all this is over. keep VOD as a first-run option even af- ferent in the near future. studios like Universal and Disney own Whether theaters remain on top, VOD ter theaters reopen, stating that “we ex- For the moment, other studios are their own streaming sites, that same takes over, or it becomes some combi- pect to release movies on both formats.” standing behind theatrical releases, structure could threaten to overtake the nation of the two, one thing is certain: an Upon this news, CEO of AMC Theaters but as VOD becomes more profitable movie industry yet again. animated film about musical trolls may Adam Aron enacted a scorched-earth during this pandemic, that could change As usual, it’s the independent films that have changed the way we watch movies strategy on the studios, announcing “ef- very fast. As theaters remain closed and will suffer the most from this situation. forever. fective immediately, we will no longer big-budget franchises like James Bond As studios and theater chains debate Forest Taylor watches a lot of movies. He play any Universal movies in any of our and The Fast and the Furious get pushed where to go in the future, smaller films can be reached at [email protected]

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18 | Erie Reader | ErieReader.com May 20, 2020 To the memory of Ellen Mary (Welsh) Poulson

Ellen Mary was born November 28, 1960 and taken from us too soon on May 1, 2020. We miss her with broken hearts. Ellen was a light to all who knew her. She was a devoted mother and a loving sister and daughter. We loved her wonderfully engaging smile and wry sense of humor. Her sisters and brothers thank the dedicated staff of Twinbrook Nursing Home for the care they provided.

Ellen will forever be in our thoughts.

THE WELSH, BLAKE, HANNA, BEYER, AND KUEHNLING FAMILIES

May 20, 2020 ErieReader.com | Erie Reader | 19 ALBUM REVIEWS Five Albums To Listen to in Quarantine Our top picks amongst recent records you may have missed

Fiona Apple // Fetch the Bolt Cutters October 2020 rollout (basically Oscar ery and storytelling that recall Sun Kil season for albums), Apple helped to Moon’s Ghosts of the Great Highway. release it on April 17, when many Amer- — AM icans were psychologically struggling Porches // Ricky Music with stay-at-home orders. While the “new normal” hasn’t fully set in, of course, Apple’s use of non-traditional instrumentation and percussive found objects struck a chord more than any traditional studio album could. It was like we were making the album our- selves if we happened to be a musical genius. Apple spoke that lyrically, the album is “about breaking out of what- ever prison you’ve allowed yourself to seph D’Agostino, Empty Country takes his universally acclaimed album live in.” Fetch the Bolt Cutters is the the frontman’s distinct songwriting Tis the quintessential quarantined perfect spending of Apple’s creative and somehow manages to filter it listening experience. In (so far) what capital, a union of chamber pop and through fuzz and an Americana lens. will no doubt be dubbed 2020’s “album experimentation that so many people Bizarrely, D’Agostino’s old manager of the year,” Fetch the Bolt Cutters needed. — NW and booking agent dropped him after orches’ 2017 LP, The House, was all not only received a perfect 10.0 from hearing the project, and he was never about working through a depres- Empty Country // Empty Country P Pitchfork, but is the best-reviewed able to tour the album between the sive episode and staying indoors. Iron- album of all time on Metacritic. The he history behind Empty Country’s death of mentor David Berman and the ically, with a release date nearly coin- recording of Apple’s fifth studio al- Tself-titled debut is harrowing, but current public health crisis. But Empty ciding with lockdown protocols, Aaron bum began in 2015, and the release fortunately, it arrives with a somewhat Country remains an absolute pleasure Maine’s new album, Ricky Music, may of it could not have been more fit- happy ending. The first solo release to explore, blending D’Agostino’s fa- be his most ambitious and outwardly ting. Though originally slated for an from Cymbals Eat Guitars singer Jo- miliar songwriting with unique imag- expressionistic yet. Ricky Music is a bi-

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Monday, June 1 - Sunday, June 21 BarberInstitute.org/artshow You are needed now more than ever. You’re just one click away from the Jay & Mona Kang Art Show and Sale all virtual, all online, all day long. Check out more than 400 paintings, photographs, sculptures and other media from some of the area’s most celebrated artists, as well as pieces from new names you’re sure to love. A great way to support the work of local artists and the mission of the Barber National Institute that is now more vital than ever.

Galleries go live on Monday, June 1 at 6 a.m. at BarberInstitute.org/artshow 814-454-0843 | www.ErieCommunityFoundation.org

Get your sneak peek with the Phil & Chris English “Donor Debut” that begins May 29. Donate now at BarberInstitute.org/artshow or call 814-874-5640

May 20, 2020 ErieReader.com | Erie Reader | 20 ALBUM REVIEWS zarre listen, filled with ’80s synth-pop you’ll want to repeat again and again. hooks, slap bass, and disorienting key Songs like “Hell” and “Witches” stand changes in equal measure; it’s also as oxymoronically playful, filled with short, clocking in at just 27 minutes. swaying vocal hooks and bright back- But this diversity and runtime are the ups. Saint Cloud is a perfect synthesis album’s strongest assets. Even when of the alt-county Crutchfield has been Ricky Music fails, it does so in a way chasing and the punk and indie rock that is undeniably fascinating, lend- sensibilities that got her to this point. ing to the album’s strong replay value. — NW Stick around for song of the year con- Caroline Rose // Superstar tender “range rover,” the album’s lead single which was strangely relegated to a bonus track upon official release. — AM

Waxahatchee // Saint Cloud

ut simply, Superstar is a ne- Pon-soaked piece of escapism for the current climate. Caroline Rose’s sophomore LP takes the thing she does best -- hooks (showcased on atie Crutchfield’s fifth album un- 2017’s Loner) — and inflates them to Kder the moniker Waxahatchee stadium sizes on a concept album lives up to the quality of her amazing that follows Rose’s character on her discography. Since the days of P.S. El- journey to attempted stardom in L.A. iot, the band she co-fronted with her Rose has always been a unique sto- twin sister Allison (of Swearin’ and her ryteller, rooting her music in a quirky own eponymous solo efforts), Katie sense of humor and personal cathar- has established herself as one of this sis, and despite the new narrative generation’s preeminent indie voices. here, not much has actually changed Thankfully, this album makes you feel in terms of songwriting. This time good. Its light tones and trebly acous- around, Rose simply opts for syn- tic guitar licks pair beautifully with thesizers in place of her guitars and Crutchfield’s cooing melodies. It’s bal- brushes everything with an extra coat anced too, with plenty of emotional of glittery new-wave sheen. These are moments on display here, with stand- the kinds of songs we’re going to need out tracks like “Fire” paring those sen- to get through the indoor summer of timents with a heart-thumping chorus 2020. — AM

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May 20, 2020 ErieReader.com | Erie Reader | 21 TELEVISION

On the Spot and in the Spotlight with Middleditch & Schwartz Comedic duo’s improvisational genius on full display

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homas Middleditch and Ben Schwartz ly translated aside from a few televised Thave had many roles in both televi- specials of UCB’s long-running show AS- WE APPRECIATE YOUR sion and film, collaborating closely with SSSCAT. Part of what makes this format writers to bring viewers memorable char- work (and these specials oh so hilarious), CONTINUED SUPPORT acters like Jean-Ralphio in Parks and is Middleditch and Schwartz’ focus on Recreation and Richard Hendricks in Sili- different details in telling the story, mak- DURING THE PANDEMIC. con Valley. Part of what makes them both ing them a dynamite improv team. Mid- so talented is their gift for improvisation, dleditch is a chameleon who can create their ability to think on the spot and add a number of characters, each with their their own flair to the personalities they own voice, motivation, and mannerisms. play. This back-pocket skill is featured Schwartz is adept at setting a scene front and center in the duo’s new series down to the most minute details and of Netflix improv specials, Middleditch & moving the plot forward. This combined for more information visit Schwartz. In each of the three episodes, with their impeccable timing make for the men take a prompt from an audience a laugh riot in each scenario; a wedding lakeeriealetrail.com member about an event that they are ei- officiated by a ghost, a class of law stu- ther looking forward to or dreading. Once dents surrounded by secret doors, and a they get a few details about that individ- coming-of-age story about two wannabe ual’s situation, the result is hysterical comedic photographers. Middleditch & 45-minute one-act segments, complete Schwartz is a side-splitting piece of the- with defined characters and a developed atrical genius, and well worth several plot made up on the fly. watches. — Claudia Rose Long-form improv has been notorious- Currently streaming on Netflix // Created by ly difficult to film throughout its history, and starring: Thomas Middleditch and Ben from Del Close to the Upright Citizens Schwartz // Adult language // Three episodes Brigade (UCB) Theatres, and has rare- // middleditchandschwartz.com

22 | Erie Reader | ErieReader.com May 20, 2020 TELEVISION The Deep Challenging Psychedelia of The Midnight Gospel Duncan Trussell and Pendleton Ward team up for cathartic cosmos-tripping series

Family Hour podcast, the show features Clancy’s (that’s Trussel’s) conversations with a revolving and evolving cast of thinkers, writers, talkers, and doers: Dr. Drew Pinsky, for example, as a little president on drugs, writer Anne Lamott as a wisdom-rich deer- dog, guru Ram Dass as guru Ram Dass, Buddhist teacher/musician David Nichtern as God’s scientist, and — in a final episode that left both my wife and me in free-flowing tears — Trussell’s dying mom as Clan- cy’s dying mom. With its toes dipping (usually at the very same time) in both calm and cataclysm, The Midnight Gospel is deep and challenging and fantastic and fun, much like the psychedelic experience itself — and, we found, just what these precarious times call for.

NETFLIX Sitting in the dark of our living room late at night, with a scary and getting-scarier world just outside enre tags like “Adult Animation,” “Surreal Anima- Earthling-abroad “spacecaster” named Clancy (that’s our door, it was one binge-watch that really did serve Gtion,” and “Dark Comedy” don’t come close to Trussell) diving head-first into his not-always-trusty us as good medicine. nailing down what The Midnight Gospel — the beau- universe simulator and traversing beyond-trippy We humbly thank Ward, Trussell, and everyone else tiful, glorious mindf**k released on 4/20 by Netflix — worlds in which he and those he meets explore mat- involved for that — and we really hope there are more is all about. ters and manners of living, dying, and all the existen- adventures to come. — Ryan Smith Direct from the uber-expanded minds of Adventure tial rips and ripples in between. Currently streaming on Netflix // Created by: Duncan Time creator Pendleton Ward and comedian/pod- Set in Pendleton’s disturbing and beautiful psy- Trussell, Pendleton Ward // Starring: Phil Hendrie, Duncan caster/psychonaut-extraordinaire Duncan Trussell, chedelic dreamscapes and adapting conversations Trussell, Joey Diaz // Adult situations and themes // Eight the eight-episode series has its main character, an directly from Trussell’s deep-diving Duncan Trussell episodes

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May 20, 2020 ErieReader.com | Erie Reader | 23 TELEVISION Solar Opposites Moves From Portal Guns to Pupas Rick & Morty co-creator lands new animated series that finds a family of aliens earthbound y now, most everyone is at least loves the traditions of Earth and wears a Baware of the nihilistic animated sci-fi different nerdy t-shirt every episode. The series Rick & Morty, but not everyone is younger characters are troublemakers enamored with it. Perhaps it’s because Jesse and Yumyulack, who have shrunk of offhand references that lead fans to down so many people and put them on do crazy things like riot over discontin- display in their bedroom wall that it be- ued dipping sauces (specifically Mc- comes its own post-apocalyptic subplot. Donald’s Mulan Szechuan McNugget While the show shares some similari- sauce), or how a single episode alter- ties to Rick & Morty such as animation nates between bathroom humor and style, it can very much stand on its own, questions of existential dread. Rick & and should not be considered any sort Morty co-creator Justin Roiland’s new of follow-up, spin-off, or sequel. It takes Hulu series Solar Opposites, however, the mix of subtle and in-your-face adult might have a little something for every- humor that Rick & Morty fans like and one. puts it in the setting of a more tradition- Solar Opposites tells the story of a al American sitcom. Roiland took his quartet of aliens and their pupa (which version of a family unit like Full House, can either be a pet or an infant from stranded it in an unfamiliar place like the look of it) who have crash-landed Gilligan’s Island, and gave it the sci-fi on earth after their planet was hit by an silliness of Alf. — Claudia Rose asteroid. The leader is a genius curmud- Season One currently streaming on Hulu geon named Korvo (Roiland) who is ob- // Created by: Justin Roiland and Mike sessed with manuals and repairing their McMahan // Starring: Justin Roiland, spacecraft. He is often driven up the wall Thomas Middleditch, Sean Giambrone, and by his overly positive companion Terry Mary Mack // Adult situations and themes //

(Thomas Middleditch) who absolutely Eight episodes HULU

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24 | Erie Reader | ErieReader.com May 20, 2020 March 11, 2020 ErieReader.com | Erie Reader | 25 ALBUM REVIEWS

King Krule Drake Human Animal Perfume Genius Man Alive! Dark Lane Demo Tapes False Realities Set My Heart On Fire Immediately Matador Records OVO Records Surprise Attack Records Matador Records

espite largely t’s been a down- alse Realities hough Fiona Dbreezy begin- Iward spiral for Fculminates TApple’s latest nings on 2013’s 6 Toronto’s biggest the Erie band’s magnum opus Feet Beneath the pop star and rap- experience over will most likely be Moon, the young, per since 2016. their “first four number one on genre-bend- He’s still wildly winters” — not many year-end ing U.K. prodigy successful (de- to mention the lists, Perfume Ge- known as King Krule (or Archy Marshall) spite this mixtape ending a longtime decades of Erie hardcore history their nius’ Set My Heart On Fire Immediately has moved progressively further away number one streak), consistently riling up members have under their belts — with can — despite its lengthy title — and from anything resembling “easy listening,” legions of devoted fans, but somewhere the longer track listing allowing room should easily be mentioned in the same culminating in his expansive 2017 opus, between the cool disappointment of for experimentation. The opening song, breath. Fitting, as he’s a self-confessed The OOZ. Man Alive! is nowhere near as 2016’s Views and his loss to Pusha-T in one “Perfect Person,” cuts right to the chase, fan, with both artists sharing connections long as The OOZ, nor is it as inventive. But of the greatest modern rap beefs of all skipping a gratuitous mosh intro riff and with producer and musician Blake Mills. the album does have staying power. They time, Drake never seemed to recover. And getting straight to the meat of their me- My Heart, the 38-year-old Mike Hadreas’ say the songs you grow to like never stick while Dark Lane Demo Tapes continues tallic hardcore sound. A few tracks in, fifth studio release under the moniker at first, and when the album does finally a slight return to form that started with the band starts to show their more me- Perfume Genius, is a rapturous, emotion- click, it feels abundantly clear why they 2018’s Scorpion, it’s debatable whether it lodic tendencies on the tracks “Flowers ally captivating album from start to finish. call Marshall a king. Where The OOZ felt will be enough to draw back fans of clas- in the Graveyard” and “Hellfire,” with the Hadreas is able to channel everything dreamlike, Man Alive! sounds downright sics like Take Care and Nothing Was the latter showing some hard rock influence noble and listenable about modern indie nightmarish for most of its duration. Mar- Same. Much of Dark Lane Demo Tapes is with the ending guitar solo. From there pop and focus it with laser-precision. My shall traverses post-punk (opening track filled with above-average bars from a post- the songs pick up the pace again, full of Heart is possibly his best work to date, a “Cellular”), trip-hop (“Stoned Again”), and 2015 Drake. There are some easy stand- two-step mosh parts and singalongs, significant statement for all who remem- jazzy indie rock (“Alone, Omen 3”) all with- outs, such as the woozy, Playboi Carti-as- highlighted by the high-energy, Suicid- ber works like 2017’s No Shape and 2014’s in the span of 43 minutes. But something sisted “Pain 1993.” But it seems like for al Tendencies-esque single “The Pact”. Too Bright. From the upbeat synth grooves happened halfway through the recording every throwback beat or grin-inducing The penultimate song “Bastards of the of “On the Floor” to the almost minimalist process; Marshall’s partner, photogra- Drake-ism, there’s a track like “Toosie North” brings back some of the hard whispers of “Borrowed Light,” Hadreas is pher Charlotte Patmore, gave birth to the Slide,” a half-hearted piece of TikTok rock inspiration heard earlier in the al- able to sculpt a tonal feeling that would couple’s first child. And there is a distinct bait that finds the rapper comparing his bum, an ode by singer EMS to the early put Hans Zimmer to shame. Adapting his shift right around the halfway point of dance moves to Michael Jackson’s. Much days of playing shows between Erie and versatile baritone, he crafts sounds remi- the album where some optimism begins like Scorpion, Dark Lane Demo Tapes Cleveland, with a similar vibe to the hard- niscent of older artists like Nick Cave, Joy to seep through, seemingly pulling Mar- feels like a project destined to change core classic “Warriors” by Judge. Argu- Division, and The Jesus and Mary Chain, shall from whatever waters were over- nobody’s mind; Drake fans and casual lis- ably the heaviest song on the album is with moments that sound like Air, Radio- taking him for so long. Fortunately for teners will find plenty to enjoy here, but saved for last with the track “F.E.A.R.,” head, and Future Islands. It’s all Perfume us, this shift in perspective makes for an for detractors, it’s more material that fails and the band completes a new chapter Genius though, and My Heart will go on to incredibly personal and fascinating listen. to reach the rapper’s previous high marks. in a long history of Lake Effect hardcore. be one of best albums in recent memory. — Aaron Mook — Aaron Mook — Tommy Shannon — Nick Warren

TOMMY IN TOON — BY TOMMY LINK

26 | Erie Reader | ErieReader.com March 11, 2020 CROSSWORD

Thank you! #Erie Stronger Than Ever

CORRY ERIE HARBORCREEK 864 East Columbus Ave 701 Bayfront Parkway 4995 Station Road 8146630001 8144551010 8148999099 Across 54. Rapper Lil ____ X 11. Make light of 1. Most common U.S. 55. Julia Louis-Dreyfus HBO 12. Actor Mineo surname series 13. Monogram on L’Homme www.staycobblestone.com Toll free number 888.693.8262 6. “All the way with ____” 56. “Wheels” products (‘64 slogan) 57. Mrs. Krabappel of “The 18. Wear away 9. Cheeky Simpsons” 22. Hashtag next to a celeb’s 14. Words before may or 58. Nice thing after getting baby picture, perhaps might, in verse the cold shoulder? 24. Little giggle Answers to last puzzle 15. Yell with an accent 60. Work published by 25. Cavalry weapon 16. Skipjack and yellowfin 67-Across in 1852 26. Prefix meaning “within” 17. Word that describes 62. Well-hidden fellow of 27. KOA customer 67-Across children’s books 29. Plenty 19. Wide receiver ____ 63. Complex trap 33. Squabble Beckham Jr. 64. Fuming 34. Surface again, as a road 20. Muppets watchers 65. John who’s the subject 35. Marco Polo’s heading 21. Texter’s “Oh, and ...” of 2019’s “Rocketman” 36. Cheeky 22. Raced 66. Fuss 37. Robert of “The Sopranos” 23. Hit CBS series with 67. Man of many words? 38. Kvetch’s phrase multiple spinoffs 40. Alludes (to) 24. Word that describes Down 43. Reacted violently, in a 67-Across 1. On/Off ____ way 28. Chinese restaurant 2. Baseball All-Star Minnie 45. Baking soda amt. offering nicknamed “The Cuban 47. Wearing clothes fit for a 30. “Mangia!” Comet” queen? 31. Letter holder: Abbr. 3. “Don’t you agree?” 48. 7’7” center ____ Bol 32. “Fiddlesticks!” 4. Heyward, Stone or 49. How bedroom furniture 34. Novelist Charles with an Nelson, as each signed is often sold appropriate surname the Declaration of 51. Makeover result 36. Word that describes Independence 52. French actor Alain 67-Across 5. “____ changed my life, 53. Cardio program 39. Word that describes but it doesn’t keep me from popularized in the 1990s 67-Across living”: Magic Johnson 57. French bread? 41. “Family Ties” mom 6. Buncha 58. Where “crossword” is 42. Hugs and kisses, 7. More blustery “korsord”: Abbr. perhaps 8. “Seinfeld” nickname 59. Computer that said 44. Gas pump spec. 9. It can have three or four “Affirmative, Dave. I read 45. Election day: Abbr. legs you.” 46. Daughter of Muhammad 10. McDonald who is the 60. Carrier from 1930 to 50. Word that describes only person to win Tonys in 2001 67-Across all four acting categories 61. Bike tire filler

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