IS TODAY THE DAY YOU IGNITE YOUR FUTURE? If you have the spark, we have the programs to guide you toward a rewarding career. FORTIS offers programs in the following areas: Nursing • Medical/Dental • Business Criminal Justice • Skilled Trades CALL 1.855.445.3276 TEXT “IGNITE” TO 367847 FORTIS.EDU IGNITE YOUR FUTURE FORTIS INSTITUTE 5757 WEST 26TH STREET, ERIE, PA 16506 Financial Aid Available for those who qualify. Career Placement Assistance for All Graduates. For consumer information, visit Fortis.edu. GENERIC_Erie_10.5x12.25.indd 1 7/7/17 11:20 AM CONTENTS: From the Editors The only local voice for news, arts, and culture. Painting a Path Editors-in-Chief: April 11, 2018 Brian Graham & Adam Welsh eligions abound, and with them visions Managing Editor: A Sit-Down With Schember – 5 of the afterlife. The debate about exact- Nick Warren Rly what happens after death has raged Copy Editor: Recapping the new mayor’s first 100 days throughout the entire sliver of eternity that Matt Swanseger humankind has existed. Regardless of creed Contributing Editors: Ben Speggen Three Dems Debate for Erie’s New or denomination, however, many thinkers Jim Wertz over that span have viewed art as the passage IS TODAY Contributors: Congressional District – 9 to immortality. By creating some snapshot Maitham Basha-Agha of the human condition or the soul at a par- Mary Birdsong The Jefferson Educational Society will host Charles Brown Reiger, Multari, and DiNicola ticular moment in time, one can preserve his Jonathan Burdick or her memory long after the body is extin- Tracy Geibel Lisa Gensheimer The Human Experience – 10 guished. Angie Jeffery If art truly is the distillation of life, then Miriam Lamey Tommy Link Why local history matters what better time to celebrate it then spring? THE DAY Aaron Mook Since its inception in 1923, the annual “Exhi- Dan Schank bition of the Artists of Erie,” now known as Tommy Shannon A Howl of An Undertaking – 12 Ryan Smith SeaWolves season preparations a pack effort the “Spring Show,” has blossomed into a cher- Jen Sorenson ished rite of the season. The 95th iteration Ti Sumner YOU IGNITE Cara Suppa of the Spring Show opens April 21st. Juror Bryan Toy A Momentous Milestone For a Local Art Wendy Maruyama takes our Mary Birdsong Cover Design Treasure – 16 through the selection process, and the ex- Nick Warren treme difficulty she had whittling down 643 Photographers: Erie Art Museum’s Spring Show celebrates Maitham Basha-Agha submissions to the 102 that will be on display YOUR FUTURE? Ryan Smith regional talent at the Erie Art Museum through July 1. The Publisher’s Assistant: show is a testament to the supreme talent Emily Hanisek Spotlight on Erie – 20 Intern: present both in the city and its surrounding Roman Sabella Waste time with a masterpiece, don't waste time areas and the will to be a part of something larger. If you have the spark, we have the programs to 1001 State St. Suite 1315 with a masterpiece Of course, artistic talent is by no means the Erie, Pa., 16501 guide you toward a rewarding career. [email protected] only inroad to participating in a grander de- An Accordion of Comedy: sign. A lasting legacy can be left by positively The Erie Reader is the local voice for news, A Brian Regan Q & A – 32 impacting future generations today. This can FORTIS offers programs in the following areas: arts, and culture, and is Erie’s only inde- happen in our homes, through community pendent, alternative newspaper. Founded Checking in with the venerable stand-up about outreach, and in our schools. Outside formal in 2010, the Reader has quickly become the craft of comedy Nursing • Medical/Dental • Business the region’s award-winning source for arts classrooms, we can learn about our pasts coverage, a strong cultural compass, and through local historical societies, helping to a dynamic resource for news and opinion. With a dedication to long-form journalism Movie Reviews – 33 enrich our sense of place and our stake in Criminal Justice • Skilled Trades and a commitment to provoking thoughtful what’s to come. Jonathan Burdick explains discussion, the Reader tells the stories of A Quiet Place and Ready Player One the people and places making and shaping how to get involved. Erie, while highlighting the events and is- No less essential in history’s trajectory are sues influencing life in northwestern Penn- Music Reviews – 34 sylvania. The Erie Reader is published every local governments and their accountability to other week and distributed at over 250 high The Republic of Wolves, Unknown Mortal their citizens. City of Erie Mayor Joe Schem- foot-traffic locations in Pennsylvania from ber hopes to guide our town toward a more North East to Girard to Edinboro. In addi- Orchestra, Kraus, and Kacey Musgraves tion to appearing in print, Erie Reader adds prosperous tomorrow, by listening to the con- new content daily at ErieReader.com as well cerns of the people on the streets and trust- CALL 1.855.445.3276 social media sites. All rights reserved. All Crossword Puzzle – 35 content © Flagship Multimedia, Inc, 1001 ing the expertise of his surrounding staff. TEXT “IGNITE” TO 367847 State St., Suite 901, Erie, Pa, 16501. No part of The latest stumper from David Levinson Wilk Contributing editor Ben Speggen sat down this publication may be reproduced with- out permission. The opinions of our colum- with the mayor to recap his first 100 days in nists and contributors are their own and office and discuss how we might best control do not always reflect that of the editorial our destiny. On the state level, the primaries board or organization. Direct sales inquiries FORTIS.EDU IGNITE YOUR FUTURE to 814.314.9364. For editorial inquiries, email are fast approaching. On April 26, three can- [email protected]. didates will argue why they are best qualified to lead Pennsylvania’s 16th Congressional District at the Jefferson Educational Society. But let us not forget about enjoying the present. The Erie SeaWolves have been la- boring hard all offseason to create moments FORTIS INSTITUTE to remember them by, both in the stands and on the field. Though we may have plans for 5757 WEST 26TH STREET, ERIE, PA 16506 immortality, there’s nothing wrong with put- ting them on hold for a Smith’s hot dog and Financial Aid Available for those who qualify. Career Placement Assistance for All Graduates. an ice cold beer. Lack of artistic dedication? Perhaps, but we won’t tell. For consumer information, visit Fortis.edu. April 11, 2018 ErieReader.com | Erie Reader | 3 GENERIC_Erie_10.5x12.25.indd 1 7/7/17 11:20 AM FREE Buy one GET one Coffee Coffee 401 State St, Erie, PA 16507 / www.emberandforge.com Must present this coupon, expires April 25, 2018 Give the Gift that Inspires her Future Arts and cultural experiences prepare students for success in school, work and life. THE ARTS & CULTURE CAMPAIGN GIVE TODAY www.erieartsandculture.org Photo Credit: A local student tie-dyes at Erie Arts & Culture’s booth during JUMP! Back to School Expo 2016 • Criminal • DUI • Divorce • Custody • Personal Injury Kenneth A. Bickel, Esq. Bickel Law Office 557 West 8th Street Erie, PA 16502 • FREE CONSULTATIONS • 4 | Erie Reader | ErieReader.com April 11, 2018 NEWS & VIEWS A Sit-Down With Schember Recapping the new mayor’s first 100 days Erie Mayor Joe Schember has picked up JS: Community conversations are on an overall sense of positivity during very important. One of the things I’ve his first 100 days in office, but he knows been doing in the first three months it will mean nothing unless there are things to point to “in terms of making Erie of being in office is being in the com- recognizable and attractive, particularly munity a lot. I want people to view the downtown and the Bayfront.” me as open and accessible and trans- parent as well. I’m not trying to hide JS: The biggest thing was staffing. anything. My approach is that I want a good I’m a human being; I know I’m going person running each department, to make mistakes. And if I do make a and I don’t intend to stick my nose in mistake, I’m not going to try to cover there. it up and I’m going to say, ‘Hey, that I feel that that’s one of the blessings was wrong, we shouldn’t have done it that I’ve had: the team that’s formed that way; going forward, we’re going around me. I can’t say I’ve recruited to do it this way.’ That’s my approach them or tried to bring them in. It’s a to things. very diverse and very talented and very committed team that’s formed around me, and I’m really happy with “Community conversations that. are very important. One of BS: You made some significant hires the things I’ve been doing and changes at City Hall. in the first three months JS: Economic and Community De- velopment, my number-one goal is to of being in office is being bring more family-sustaining jobs to in the community a lot. I Erie. And it’s probably an oversimpli- want people to view me as fication, but I think that in a nutshell open and accessible and would solve all of our problems. More transparent as well. I’m not good family-sustaining jobs is a pri- mary function of the Economic and trying to hide anything.” Community Development depart- ment, and that’s why I was really hap- py to be able to put Chris Groner [as BS: As you’re having these Erie Re- Director] in that role.