Contents: February 17, 2016 From the Editors The local voice for news, arts, and culture. Just a Thought 4 From automation to the arts, Editors-in-Chief: Brian Graham & Adam Welsh Smart innovation makes thoughtful use there’s a lot to be optimistic about Managing Editor: of what we already have. Katie Chriest in Erie today. Contributing Editors: Ben Speggen t’s increasingly challenging to feel like an original Jim Wertz Erie At Large 7 in this hyper-shared, info-ready world. Used to be, Contributors: Fishing for free riders: unions after Fried- if you had a great business idea, you’d ask around Lisa Austin, Civitas I Mary Birdsong richs. town to see if anyone else had thought of it yet. You Rick Filippi might even check the yellow pages. If nothing came Gregory Greenleaf-Knepp James R. LeCorchick up? Great! You’d found your niche. John Lindvay Disunified Erie Reveals Deeper Today’s searchable world makes originality a lot Brianna Lyle Community Problems 8 harder to come by. Now, if you have a great business Dan Schank William G. Sesler The divisive conversation continues. idea, you might plug it into an Internet search and be Tommy Shannon immediately overwhelmed and deflated by the sheer Ryan Smith Ti Summer volume of like-minders who already thought of the Matt Swanseger News of the Weird 11 same damned thing. Sara Toth Bryan Toy From snow removal to art, getting away Of course, that very online culture has also carved Nick Warren with the bare minimum. out countless new niches, and opened up lines of Senator Sean Wiley communication, mentorship, and commerce between Cover Design: Nick Warren folks with similar ideas all over the world. Photographers: In fact, that’s what several of the companies fea- The State of Erie Industry, 2016 14 Ryan Smith tured by Ryan Smith in this Industry, Innovation, and Brad Triana Modest gains and growing pains. Entrepreneurship issue – our second – are banking on. Publisher’s Assistant Emily Hanisek Meanwhile, nominations are now open for our 40 Intern Under 40 Class of 2016. If you know someone under 40 Angie Jeffery Success After 40 Under 40 17 striving to make this community stand out in mean- With nominations now open for the 2016 ingful ways, nominate her or him via the link on our 1001 State St. Suite 901 Erie, Pa., 16501 class, these three alumni continue to be website. [email protected] great examples of local leadership. In this issue, Brianna Lyle checks in with three 40 Under 40 Alums to see how their businesses have The Erie Reader is the only local voice evolved since joining these honorable ranks. Their for news, arts, and culture, and is Erie’s A Spotlight on Local Companies 20 only independent, alternative newspaper. commitment to goals and vision, generosity of spir- Founded in 2010, the Reader has quickly These are just a handful of the innovative it, and honest self-awareness are inspiring to behold, become the region’s award-winning source for arts coverage, a strong cultural local companies that help to shape the and suggest a bright collective future for the Erie area. compass, and a dynamic resource for news Erie area’s commercial/industrial land- Beyond that, even in the wake of local job news at and opinion, welcoming perspectives scape. the end of 2015, Jim Wertz examines reasons to be op- from all viewpoints. With a dedication to long-form journalism and a commitment timistic about the state of industry in Erie, reminding to provoking thoughtful discussion, the us of the need for diversity moving forward. Reader tells the stories of the people Considering the City 24 and places making and shaping Erie, Speaking of diversity, Lisa Austin of Civitas high- while highlighting the events and Arts & Culture Economy lights the measurably valuable role of the arts and issues influencing life in northwestern Pennsylvania. The Erie Reader is published arts organizations in the positive economic develop- every other week and distributed at ment of a city, noting that arts-related events foster over 250 high foot-traffic locations in Spotlight on Erie 26 the sort of social interaction and complex communi- Pennsylvania from North East to Girard to Edinboro. In addition to appearing in Here we are now. Entertain us. cation central to a city’s vitality. print, Erie Reader adds new content daily To that end, as usual, we spend plenty of space spot- at ErieReader.com as well social media sites. All rights reserved. All content © lighting those contributing generously to our arts Flagship Multimedia, Inc, 1001 State St., A Review of Fluidity of Gender: Sculpture life right now, including an art exhibit at Allegheny Suite 901, Erie, Pa, 16501. No part of this by Linda Stein 37 publication may be reproduced without College and a review of The Miserable Mrs. Head at permission. The opinions of our columnists Drafting a superhero “born” during World PACA, where members of the Northwestern Pennsyl- and contributors are their own and do vania Artists Association are currently exhibiting in not always reflect that of the editorial War II to her cause, a New York artist ex- board or organization. Direct inquiries to plores male/female roles and expectations. PACA’s gallery, leading up to a fundraising auction on 814.314.9364 or [email protected]. March 12. It’s a lot to take in. And we wouldn’t have it any other Delightfully Thoughtful, ‘The Miserable way. Mrs. Head’ Shines at PACA 38 You could look at Erie as a town lacking some of the Playwright Richard Boler debuts a new trappings of our larger, trendier cohorts. We certainly one-act comedy in Erie. aren’t flooded with the elements of gentrification. Or, you could see our town as one where you can tru- ly make a singular impact; where you can contribute Geeked Out 40 quickly, directly, and in your own way. Clearly, that’s Amazon introduces their free-to-use en- what many of the folks we feature have chosen to do. gine called Lumberyard. And we’re all the better for it. February 17, 2016 ErieReader.com | Erie Reader | 3 NEWS & OPINION Just a Thought Smart innovation makes thoughtful use of what we already have. his non-cane hand, then makes his way to the trash- can for disposal. Though I admire the man’s use of waiting, I’d probably dismiss this un- remarkable event if we weren’t in the midst of planning this issue of the Reader. Instead, I think Erie's Only Hot about the simple use of his cane – something already ROBERT COUSE-BAKER ROBERT made, that he already Power Yoga Studio owned – in an innovative By: Katie Chriest way. No new infrastruc- ture or resources required. t’s late afternoon at the bus stop After boarding the bus, I spend the YOUR FIRST CLASS IS downtown. The slanty, diffuse win- 20-minute ride home thinking about Iter light isn’t warming the air, but how much we’ve invented that simply glows across the faces of passersby. isn’t necessary. A quick Google search February surrounds us in tolerable would probably reveal a pile of cane- cold. Coats are open at the collar. Cig- like litter grabbers that could make this arettes and phones are held between job easier and more efficient. bare fingers. And those of us waiting But they’d likely be made by compa- for the bus shuffle around, in and out nies who employ third world workers of the shelter, gazing eastward. A man, 60 or so, ambles up. He relies Discounts for Students, Seniors & Veterans heavily on his cane, and stops a few We humans are smart. We can FREE solve our perceived problems yards short of the shelter. His arrival is slow but in plenty of time. I think of my in breathtakingly ingenious tendency to rush through life: a habitu- ways. But just because we al pattern I revert to even when there’s can invent and manufacture no hurry. I don’t envy his impediment new stuff, it doesn’t mean we but admire his air of calm surrender. I always should. may be misreading serenity on his face, but we learn from others what we need Located in the Colony Plaza to in any moment, and his countenance in exploitative conditions. And of non- whispers, slow down. renewable plastics destined to add to 2560 West 8th Street, Erie PA 16505 The dance of waiting plays out among the already horrendous quagmire in the bus riders. We hurry tensely to the our landfills and oceans. And cheaply 814-520-6998 www.yogaerie.com stop. Then our shoulders drop once – in the spirit of planned obsolescence we’ve made it. Then stillness settles that builds breakdown (and thus, an- as the pieces of our rushing selves fall other purchase) into the construction All Natural Holistic Pet Foods together. Then impatient shuffling en- of nearly everything. sues, either on foot or through smart- We humans are smart. We can solve FOR CATS AND DOGS phone feeds. our perceived problems in breathtak- Even Unhurried Man starts to mean- ingly ingenious ways. But just because der a bit. An empty snack size potato we can invent and manufacture new - USDA inspected Nickel - No by-products chip bag tornado-ing on the concrete stuff, it doesn’t mean we always should. Plate catches his eye. It swirls under the In our modern state of earthly affairs, - Human grade protein Mills bench, trapped where most of us can’t the wisest inventions will be repur- - No artificial ingredients reach it (not that anyone’s tried).