DREW BROWN america’s tastiest driveTM Bu alo’s corner taverns have been perfecting the chicken wing since it was invented at the legendary Anchor Bar in 1964. Secret recipes, historic charm and Bu alo-style hospitality make the new BUFFALO WING TRAIL an experience to be savored. Come to Buffalo this summer to taste the delicious dozen. The wet naps are on us. buffalowingtrail.com @buffalowingtrail #WingBUF #NeverRanch © NYSDED DREW BROWN CONTENTS From the Editors The only local voice for news, arts, and culture. Roaring, Rewriting, and Editors-in-Chief: May 22, 2019 Brian Graham & Adam Welsh Roving for Restaurants Managing Editor: Breathing Difficulties – 5 Nick Warren inter is over. Just like Game of Thrones, all things must Copy Editor: The need for better air quality monitors in Matt Swanseger the wake of Erie Coke’s ongoing violations Wcome to an end. As many of us know very Contributing Editors: well, however, not everything goes quite the way we Ben Speggen Missing the mark – 7 want it to. Prior to the show’s series finale, over one Jim Wertz million fans signed an online petition on Change.org, Contributors: Why the EDDC’s game plan for North Park asking for showrunners David Benioff and D.B. Weiss Mary Birdsong Row needs adjustment to remake the entire last season. It’s a new level of Charles Brown community involvement in the face of what they feel Jonathan Burdick Katie Chriest Pithole City – 11 to be poor decisions. Back in the north(west) of Penn- Symoné Crockett sylvania, there’s an oddly similar feeling happening. Miriam Lamey Things are being rewritten all the time. One such america’s Tommy Link america’s thing is Roar on the Shore. Recently, the motorcycle Aaron Mook Kalli Oberlander festival announced plans to relocate from Downtown Dan Schank Erie to the Lake Erie Speedway in North East. As re- Tommy Shannon ported by the Erie Times-News, after last year’s festi- tastiest Melissa Sullivan Shimek tastiest val ended up costing the City of Erie almost $139,000, TM Ryan Smith Jen Sorenson Erie Mayor Joe Schember chose to have around half Rebecca Styn of that paid for by the event, forgoing a 2018 payment Cara Suppa for $69,304 due this year. A disagreement about that drive Forest Taylor drive bill led to the choice to relocate. Schember told Erie Bryan Toy News Now that he was “sorry to lose them from Erie, Cover Design: but “happy that they found a good location,” speak- Nick Warren Bu alo’s corner taverns have ing about the Speedway location. Photographer: been perfecting the chicken Jessica Hunter To some, this was mourned, to others, it was cele- brated. If you’re wondering where we stand, here’s wing since it was invented at 1001 State St. Suite 1315 a little backstory on some of the Erie Reader’s com- the legendary Anchor Bar in Erie, Pa., 16501 mentary on this event: In 2015, Jim Wertz wrote that [email protected] “Roar on the Shore feels more like the flu. It comes 1964. Secret recipes, historic on fast and you’re grateful when it’s gone.” In a 2014 charm and Bu alo-style The Erie Reader is published edition of our very own From the Editors column, we every other week and CONTRIBUTED PHOTO wrote: “A better dialogue between those running the distributed at over 350 high hospitality make the new event and the small businesses in our area needs to foot-traffic locations in BUFFALO WING TRAIL Pennsylvania from North The oil region boomtown that burst with be had so that we’re not having the same conversa- tions come July 2015.” an experience to be savored. East to Girard to Edinboro. In addition to appearing in print, personality A better dialogue is one thing that Liz Allen sug- Come to Buffalo Erie Reader adds new content gests that the Erie Downtown Development Corpo- daily at ErieReader.com as Transgender Health Care – 12 this summer to taste ration have as well. As Allen writes: “Instead of gar- well as social media sites. All Understanding and overcoming issues nering positive PR, the EDDC has had to play defense the delicious dozen. rights reserved. All content © to explain why it was evicting three restaurants, all Flagship Multimedia, Inc, 1001 facing patients and providers started by immigrants, and why it intends to demol- The wet naps are on us. State St., Suite 1315, Erie, Pa, ish two historic structures.” 16501. No part of this publication Keep on Truckin’ – 14 may be reproduced without As we can see, these conversations were repeated. permission. The opinions of our An update on Erie’s food truck scene And repeated. In 2016, the Gears and Grub Festival columnists and contributors started, as a local response to Roar on the Shore and are their own and do not always Spotlight on Erie – 19 their much-maligned lack of true local involvement. reflect that of the editorial The event took off, and crowds flocked to the West board or organization. Direct Wonder if he’ll ever know he’s in the best Erie Plaza to visit local food trucks and hear local sales inquiries to 814.314.9364. selling show bands. While increasing renovations and new, thriv- For editorial inquiries, email ing brick-and-mortar businesses began to account [email protected]. Movie Reviews – 29 for the festival’s lot space, they’ve managed to get permits in order to move the festival to Downtown This (silver) lake is (burning) on fire Erie while Roar is going on elsewhere. These food trucks are the focus of Nick Warren’s up- Music Reviews – 30 buffalowingtrail.com date about the state of Erie’s mobile vendors. While UFOs, Cowboys, problems, and brides last year saw a visible swell in both support and the sheer number of vendors, challenges still remain, as @buffalowingtrail Crossword Puzzle - 31 the Erie Food Truck Alliance thrives, and the Erie #WingBUF #NeverRanch Food Truck Festival in Lawrence Park kicks off a This week’s latest stumper from David string of events not just catered by these eateries, but Levinson Wilk in celebration of them. © NYSDED May 22, 2019 ErieReader.com | Erie Reader | 3 Get a new lease on renters FRED’S insurance. FURNITURE Did you know your landlord’s 15 QUEEN SETS insurance only covers the building? I’m here to help protect your stuff. $599 LET’S TALK TODAY. OR LESS Pillow Top, Extra Firm, Plush Pocket Coil, Memory Foam Large selection most sets in stock Cam El-Farouki, Agent Express Delivery 3319 W 26th Street Erie, PA 16506 Large selection of living room sets, Bus: 814-833-6663 mattress sets, bedroom sets, occasional www.teamerie.com tables and more! Save on brands like Vaughan Bassett, Serta Upholstery, Simmons Upholstery, Catnapper, Jackson and other leading brands. Check out our new Liberty Plaza location State Farm Fire and Casualty Company, State Farm General Insurance Company, Bloomington, IL 3524 Liberty St, Erie, PA 16508 State Farm Florida Insurance Company, Winter Haven, FL 1708133 State Farm Lloyds, Richardson, TX (814) 455-0220 • fredsfurnitureco.com 4 | Erie Reader | ErieReader.com May 22, 2019 NEWS & VIEWS Breathing Difficulties The need for better air quality monitors in the wake of Erie Coke’s ongoing violations So far in 2019, the Pennsylvania Department sensitive targets of hydrogen sulfide of Environmental Protection has recorded 17 violations for the Erie Coke plant at 925 E. toxicity.” Bay Drive. Two years ago, Erie Coke was the ATSDR adds that “Exposure to low county’s top emitter of ammonia, benzene, concentrations of hydrogen sulfide nitrogen oxides, PM2.5 (particulate matter) may cause irritation to the eyes, nose, and sulfur oxides. or throat,” plus “difficulty in breathing for some asthmatics,” as well as “head- tal Protection (DEP) noted in a letter to aches, poor memory, tiredness, and bal- Erie Coke on May 9. DEP stated that ance problems.” it has “identified unresolved existing And there are no hydrogen sulfide or continuous violations of the Penn- monitors in the Erie area. sylvania Air Pollution Control Act,” In other words, we have no definite adding that “No operating permit or way of measuring the exposure of our plan approval can be issued, reissued people to this irritant. And while hy- NICK WARREN or modified to either Erie Coke Corpo- drogen sulfide causes a pronounced By: Katie Chriest highly skilled, quality-focused employ- ration or any related party until these rotten egg smell detectable at low lev- ees.” They conclude, “Recent evidence violations and your lack of intention or els, “At high concentrations, a person rom pop songs to t-shirts to coffee points to the effect that air pollution ability to comply are resolved.” DEP is might lose their ability to smell it,” mugs, it seems like everywhere may have on how well people do their currently reviewing Erie Coke’s appli- explains ATSDR. “This is important be- Fwe look in our stressed-out soci- work. If detrimental impacts are sig- cation for renewal of its Title V operat- cause a person might falsely think that ety, we’re encouraged to just breathe. nificant in size and sufficiently wide- ing permit. hydrogen sulfide is no longer present; Though it can feel frivolous to focus spread, then the economic burden as- DEP’s letter includes a list of unre- this may increase their exposure risk on an involuntary process, something sociated with such effects could rival solved violations between June 3, 2017 to air levels that may cause serious happens when we breathe with more the direct health effects.” and April 16, 2019.