We deliver so much more than you’re expecting. At UPMC Magee-Womens Hospital, we deliver so much for parents and their babies. By creating a personalized journey for every expectant mom, we help women with uncomplicated pregnancies as well as those who need more complex care. From genetic testing to our internationally recognized expertise in comprehensive maternal-fetal medicine for high-risk pregnancies, Magee delivers so much more than you’re expecting. To learn more, visit UPMC.com/MageeWeDeliver. 8983_upmc_magee_wd_general_er_10.5x12.25_a.indd 1 10/5/18 3:59 PM CONTENTS: From the Editors The only local voice for How the holidays never fail to stir up news, arts, and culture. December 5, 2018 We deliver Editors-in-Chief: “the warm embrace of kith and kin” Brian Graham & Adam Welsh hristmas is right around the corner, and that’s no Managing Editor: Where Were You in 1968? – 5 Nick Warren news. As soon as Halloween closed its coffin, you could hear it being punctuated by sleigh bells (sor- so much more Copy Editor: What Erie can learn by looking back 50 years C Matt Swanseger ry, Thanksgiving!). It was easy to deny for a bit, but then Contributing Editors: Harnessing the Charitable Spirit – 9 pretty soon we had the first big snowfall so early in -No than you’re expecting. Ben Speggen vember. At that point, it was at the very least on our mind. Jim Wertz How the holidays are important for Erie The Christmas creep came early, as it continues to do inch Contributors: by inch every year. December, however, is when you’re al- At UPMC Magee-Womens Hospital, we deliver so much for parents and their babies. organizations both new and old Maitham Basha-Agha most legally required to get into the holiday spirit. Mary Birdsong By creating a personalized journey for every expectant mom, we help women Pretty much the entire month of December has been Charles Brown Simply Planning A Wonderful with uncomplicated pregnancies as well as those who need more complex care. Jonathan Burdick systematically engineered to make you happy. Pavlovian From genetic testing to our internationally recognized expertise in comprehensive Tracy Geibel Christmastime – 12 memory triggers can be found for all the senses. Red and Lisa Gensheimer green everywhere in sight, the smell of pine needles, the maternal-fetal medicine for high-risk pregnancies, Magee delivers so much more Miriam Lamey taste of candy canes, the feel of warm mittens, and that than you’re expecting. To learn more, visit UPMC.com/MageeWeDeliver. Tommy Link Aaron Mook inescapable music. Dan Schank We recently took a poll and asked some of our readers Tommy Shannon to name their favorite holiday tunes, and we were met Ryan Smith with unmitigatedly happy responses. Memories and reac- Jen Sorenson Cara Suppa tions to these kind of things are overwhelmingly positive. Forest Taylor Much like music, the thoughts of some movies give us Bryan Toy that welcomed comforting feeling every time. Cover Design: “General opinion’s starting to make out that we live in Nick Warren a world of hatred and greed, but I don’t see that. It seems Photographers: to me that love is everywhere,” explained a fake prime Maitham Basha-Agha minister as he talked about the arrival gate at London’s Jessica Hunter Heathrow Airport. Intern: “This is Christmas, the season of perpetual hope!” shout- Hannah McDonald CHICCODODI FC ed an exasperated mother, desperate to see her son, this 1001 State St. Suite 1315 time at a closer airport, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Interna- Erie, Pa., 16501 tional. [email protected] A guide to Erie’s holiday happenings “It’s the time of miracles. So be of good cheer,” reasoned a mysterious German to his associate Theo. This time in a The Erie Reader is published tall building in Los Angeles. every other week and distributed Spotlight on Erie – 16 “Lovely, glorious, beautiful Christmas, upon which at over 350 high foot-traffic the entire kid year revolved,” an unseen man explained, locations in Pennsylvania from That’s where you wanna go, to get away from looking back on his life as a child growing up in Hohman, North East to Girard to Edinboro. it all In addition to appearing in print, Ind. (though his house was actually located in Cleveland, Erie Reader adds new content Ohio). daily at ErieReader.com as well Fuhrman’s Goes Beyond the Fall – 27 “The most enduring traditions of the season are best as social media sites. All rights The Cider Mill-Bakery-General Store is a treat enjoyed in the warm embrace of kith and kin,” opined a reserved. All content © Flagship happy father embracing his family, about to take home a Multimedia, Inc, 1001 State St., year round Christmas tree. Suite 1315, Erie, Pa, 16501. No part of this publication may be Book Review: The Escape Artist – 28 There are so many things to do around the holidays. reproduced without permission. This issue, Matt Swanseger tackles the Yuletide calendar, The opinions of our columnists This Brad Meltzer thriller a not-so-bold in search of the best seasonal reasons for getting out of and contributors are their the house. own and do not always reflect undertaking Perhaps you, like so many others every year, are moved that of the editorial board by the charitable spirit that wafts among these candled or organization. Direct sales Movie Reviews – 28 nights. Ben Speggen takes a look at a couple of places you inquiries to 814.314.9364. For editorial inquiries, email contact@ A boxing franchise scores a jab, and an LGBT might be inclined to help out at, and how that help affects ErieReader.com. their business throughout the year. drama fails to connect As 2018 comes to a close, Liz Allen looks back 50 years into Erie’s history, to reflect on how things have changed, Music Reviews – 30 and in some cases, stayed the same. The feeling of nostal- gia that we have during the holidays can be undeniable Comedy duos, grinches, Japanese metal, and sometimes. much-hyped indie pop It’s hard not to succumb to the good tidings. And aside from being contrarian, you’re probably better off not Crossword Puzzle – 31 fighting all of it. Happiness, at its element, ‘tis a good thing. That sounding joy brings people together. It en- This week’s latest stumper from David courages a giving spirit, and it just may make these cold Levinson Wilk days a little bit warmer. December 5, 2018 ErieReader.com | Erie Reader | 3 8983_upmc_magee_wd_general_er_10.5x12.25_a.indd 1 10/5/18 3:59 PM During this holiday season, we thank our donors and nonprofits who make Erie a better place. With your support, we are transforming our community. You can make a difference too. Contact us to learn more. Helping Today . Shaping Tomorrow 814-454-0843 | www.ErieCommunityFoundation.org Don’t Cry Ove Bad Printing, BETTER Visit U Fit! DOWNTOWN LIVING UNION SQUARE TOWNHOMES 1205 Peach Street, Erie, PA Poe • Invitation • Ticket Walk to shops, dining, Busine Card • And Much More! entertainment, parks, & more! Don’t Miss Out In the $200’s 814-833-9020 1600-2200 sq ft Presque Isle 4318 W. Ridge Road 2014 •2015 •2016 •2017 Erie, PA 16506 412.231.4444 Printing Services unionsquaretownhomes.com A Fourth River www.presqueisleprinting.com @GoAskAlice08 Development property 4 | Erie Reader | ErieReader.com December 5, 2018 NEWS & VIEWS Where Were You in 1968? What Erie can learn by looking back 50 years 1968 aerial photo (top) by Bus said, “Sisterhood is powerful,” it took to become a reporter, I Scott / 2017 photo by MenajErie without knowing that Sar- did a series of stories that sum- Studio shows a drastically changed Erie Bayfront. Comparisons like achild coined that phrase? mer about teenagers in Erie this are possible due to the work After Roth’s lecture at the JES, working on both presidential of the late Scott, whose work is another phrase from that era and congressional campaigns. archived by his son John, owner of popped into my head: “All poli- After Roth’s lecture, I decided to Scott Historical Photos: Erie from the Air and Land Since 1938. tics is personal.” This set me off try to find my old stories by go- on a quest to learn more about ing through the Morning News how the events of 1968 influ- microfilm in the Heritage Room enced my own interest in poli- at Blasco Library. To get an early taste of today’s tics and journalism. I started with the June 1968 nasty cable TV shows, Google In May 1968, at the end of edition of the Morning News, the exchange between Gore my junior year at Villa Maria but I quickly realized that my Vidal and William F. Buckley Academy, I wrote a letter to the project — to find my stories and Jr. at the 1968 Democratic Con- editor to complain about why to document what Erie was like vention in Chicago, he advises. the newspaper only report- in 1968 — would take months, “They just lacerated each oth- ed bad news about teenagers. not hours. Instead, I scrolled er.” Instead of printing my letter, through some headlines from To trace the timeline from bi- Larie Pintea, the editor of the January, June and December. partisan compromise to bitter Morning News in Erie, called to As the “reds” reportedly stall partisanship in Washington, invite me to “hang out” in the peace talks about Vietnam in study the outcomes of that newsroom that summer. “It’s Paris, the war is being felt close Dem convention, along with not gonna be glamorous, like to home.