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Articles by Dan Schank
Pain, Panic, and Progress
When assessing the addiction and overdose crisis in our community, it's tough not to begin with alarming statistics. A recent report from our mayor's office and the Erie Police Department indicates that, in 2022, there were 286 opioid overdoses in our city. These led to 54 deaths, which was 19 more than the previous year. And that number might have been higher had our police not administered 226 doses of naloxone, better known by the brand name Narcan, to people in overdose situations.
'Moving the Needle:' Funding and Equity in the Erie School District
For parents (like me) with children in our city's school district, good news arrived in mid-July. Basic education funding in the state budget was increased by $525 million, with an additional $100 million allotted for special education. In the Erie School District, that meant an increase of $15.8 million, up 17.9 percent from last year. Time to celebrate, right? Not entirely.
Fixing the Bayfront Parkway
The Erie-Western Pennsylvania Port Authority posted warning signs along the west bluff overlooking Erie's bayfront after local performance artists Jesse and Ricardo cleaned up a set of old brick steps. More than a year ago, during public comments at an Erie-Western Pennsylvania Port Authority meeting, I threw out my suggestion to fix the Bayfront Parkway: Rebrand it.
Beer Bellies, Kitties, and Valentines
Thursday, Apr. 18 By: Dan Schank For the past decade, artist Ed Luce's comic series Wuvable Oaf has explored San Francisco's art scene — and the heavy-set, hirsute gay men that populate it — with great affection. Though he may resemble a bouncer at a dive bar, the giant, goateed "Oaf" at the center of the story is a sweetie at heart.
Hiding in Plain Sight
Growing up in the 1980s, I thought I had a clear idea of what a child sexual predator looked like. Middle-aged, disheveled, maybe balding or mustachioed. Spending his days on the periphery of a playground beside a suspiciously dark, unmarked van. If he offered me candy and I refused, I was presumably safe from harm. I was warned about this kind of predator during the height of the "stranger danger" panic, when concerned parents like mine were doing their best with the information they had.
Thollem's "Technicolor Grey Zone" Stresses Innovation and Collaboration at the Art Museum
Thollem McDonas has an impressive — and eccentric — resume. Working primarily as a pianist, he's collaborated with an impressive list of noteworthy people. If you like experimental rock, he's collaborated with members of Wilco, the Minutemen, Deerhoof, Can, and the Yeah Yeah Yeahs. Like jazz? He's worked with William Parker, Rob Mazurek, and Suzie Ibarra. If you're a cinephile, he has collaborated with experimental filmmakers Michael Snow and Matthew Barney.
Homegrown Horror
Scary movies are shedding their schlocky reputation these days. Last year, director Jordan Peele found himself on the receiving end of near-universal acclaim (and an Academy Award) for Get Out, which offered a resonant indictment of white liberal racism through the lens of an old Twilight Zone episode. Two years prior, Robert Eggers' The Witch combined pseudo-satanic thrills with a unique glimpse of New England in the 1600s.
Disability and Distress in the Trump Era
Last June, as the GOP unveiled one of its doomed attempts to repeal the Affordable Care Act, 43 protesters were arrested outside the office of Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell. The staged “die-in” was a response to the Trump administration’s call for steep cuts to Medicaid, a government program that allows many people with disabilities to live independently.
TK Blues Opens Up Shop
Whether he’s playing rock, blues, or something in between, stalwart Erie artist Tony Kellogg is known and appreciated for having a skillful sense of musicianship – and for weaving heavy-with-heart tales of life and love (found, lost, and found again) into song. Kellogg’s played before – and very well – with other well-known Erie area artists like his wife, vocalist Amanda Kellogg, bassist Larry Barr (Echo), and drummer Jon Teater (Sonny’s Fugitives).
The Future of Farming in the City
It was just over a year ago when I first approached the Erie Redevelopment Authority about the possibility of buying some vacant lots in the city for the purpose of urban farming. I stayed up late the night before, drafting a long list of things I hoped would persuade Scott Henry (the ERA’s then-executive director) to let me farm in the city. The list looked something like this: Increasing access to fresh food in the city will help to eliminate our food deserts.
Blunt Terms - Erie Reader
With nicknames ranging from “the Devil’s lettuce” to “God’s gift,” cannabis is without question a polarizing plant. It has been glorified and damned, shunned and embraced, characterized as both “scourge” and “miracle.” Over the past two decades, public opinion has gradually shifted from outright condemnation to growing curiosity and optimism.
Five Damn Fine Films from David Lynch
Before you watch The Art Life at the Erie Art Museum, here are five of David Lynch’s films that I highly recommend. What started out as a pilot for a cancelled television series eventually became (according to the BBC) the best film of the 21st century so far. This story about the dark side of Hollywood contains some of the strangest and most haunting imagery ever committed to film as well as a heartbreaking performance from Naomi Watts.
Life Doesn’t Make Sense
Cinema doesn’t get much weirder than the works of David Lynch. For 40 years, he has helped push surrealism into the mainstream with his films combining dreamlike imagery, bizarre, otherworldly performances, and an overall atmosphere of ominous dread. Now a new documentary, David Lynch: The Art Life, is coming to the Erie Art Museum.
This Earth Day, Celebrate Our Planet Like It’s The Only One We Have
2017 may well go down as the year of the march. We have marched on Washington, in our hometowns, and on each other’s Main Streets. We have protested, raised awareness, and rallied. Each of these actions has shown why we love this country and want to keep it great.
We Need Penn State Behrend’s Annual Gender Conference More than Ever
Princess culture. Eco-feminism. Reproductive rights in Ireland. Cyber-culture in China. Gender biases in STEM fields. Human trafficking. Transgender children. The 2016 election. These are a few of the topics you can expect from the 2017 Penn State Behrend Gender Conference, a multifaceted collaboration between faculty, students, and national scholars dedicated to generating awareness about issues of agency, identity, and sexuality.
Tiger Maple String Band is spending St. Patrick's at Sprague's
It's always a fine time to catch the old-timey, string-driven goodness of Tiger Maple String Band. But St. Patrick's Day -- that's today -- is one of your luckiest chances all year to get down to their straight-from-the-heart-of-Appalachia stylings. And Sprague Farm & Brew Works ... well, it's a pretty damn prime location for such an occasion, both aesthetically and, uh, refreshmentally (just make sure you have a designated driver on tap for the trip back home, or wherever you're headed next).
Erie Faces Erie: March 15, 2017
“To me, the goal of art isn’t to make a ton of money. It’s to touch people here in the heart.” Ed Bernik: I’m going to start with the big question. Why do you make films? Tom Weber: Why does any artist make art? My friend David Greenberger says, “You’re making something that nobody asks you to make.” I make films because it involves writing and sound and images and a lot of different sensory input – and is a really great way of telling a story.
From the Editors: March 15, 2017
It’s getting colder and harsher out there. Winter breezes burn our faces well into the month of March, while memories of another abnormally warm winter linger. Lake Erie spends more and more time unfrozen and the once ubiquitous snow mounds melt away in a few days. But of course, this kind of climate change in a few short years is nothing we need to worry about, is it? Changes can come in increments large and small.
Time Served - Erie Reader
I’m about to throw a lot of statistics at you, so let’s begin with an important one. About 90 percent of the people currently serving time in a Pennsylvania state correctional institution will eventually be released. That number comes from a detailed 2013 report on recidivism from the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections. “Recidivism” is the term used to address a criminal’s likelihood to re-offend.
Erie Playhouse’s First Shows Back for One Night
On Jan. 18, 1916, the Erie Playhouse held its first performance. Exactly 101 years later, the Playhouse, in collaboration with other local theaters, will perform the same three one-act plays - not at the Playhouse’s 10th Street location, but at the Erie Art Museum. These timeless tales, Galatea of the Toy Shop, I’m Going, and Sunset, were performed by the Playhouse at Erie’s Reed Hotel on North Park Row and French Street. The hotel, which no longer exists, welcomed a crowd of 99 people.
From the Editors: January 18, 2017
Something’s been going around lately. More and more, we’ve been hearing a similar admission from people: “I just can’t read the news anymore.” We’ll admit it. When it comes to national news, things have been difficult to swallow. At every turn, choices are made that are harder and harder to agree with. Inauguration Day falls two days after this issue hits the newsstands. We wish we could tell you that everything is going to get better, but it might not.
Winter Soundscaping with the Erie Philharmonic
It’s never too early to start landscaping – at least if the late composers Bed?ich Smetana, Béla Bartók, and Jean Sibelius had anything to say about it. However, unless you are possessed of a sizable chunk of European landmass and several geological epochs, it would be impractical to replicate landscape of their scale in your own backyard.
Raw Emotion Takes Center Stage on Opening Night
There’s nothing quite like the films of John Cassavetes. They’re unabashedly emotional, but never sentimental. Artistically challenging, but rarely pretentious. Harsh, but also humane. Unlike most of the great American directors of the sixties and seventies, Cassavetes didn’t leave a long list of wannabes in his wake. There are a million Goodfellas rip-offs, and plenty of second-rate takes on Apocalypse Now.
The Prescient Kingdom of Charles III
England’s royal family has been an ever-present source of fascination in the U.S. cultural landscape. Despite the fact that most Americans can name several key members of the House of Windsor, the title King Charles III might take a minute to sink in. Mike Bartlett’s play, which debuted overseas in 2014, envisions an alternate timeline for British monarchy. The story follows Charles, Prince of Wales, who at 68 is the longest-serving heir apparent in the entire history of the British Empire.
Experience Erie’s Music Community
Erie has a sturdy local music scene. It’s clear that artists from different bands support one another and have formed quite the warm, creative society. To delve into this sonically dynamic collective – or at least dip a toe in the pool of sound – head to the Kings Rook Club to see performances by Gem City Revival, Zack Orr, and The Honest Mistakes on Jan. 20.
Erie Faces Erie: December 21, 2016
“We just happen to be in a spot – and I’m not making it up – that’s as good as it gets for fishing.” Ed Bernik: What do you feel America’s fascination with fishing is? Dave Lefebre: I think it’s just clean fun. I don’t know the statistics, but it’s probably the number one pastime. It blows everything else out of the water. Worldwide, it’s extremely popular, not just in our country. The cool thing about this region is that we have a lot of different species that are top-of-the-line game fish.
Almost ’17 - Erie Reader
With 2017 on the horizon, many will contend 2016 has already (conclusively) dropped the ball. But in the event you’re not convinced, you can await visual confirmation at a myriad of local venues. NYE with Tropidelic at the Kings Rook Club Nip the negative vibes in the bud with Ohio’s Tropidelic. Along with special guest Of Good Nature, this Kent-based collective is sure to light the joint up with their funky, reggae-infused jams.
Five Festive Kids’ Activities for Winter Break
Visions of sugarplums and a week off from school are certainly dancing through many children’s heads by now. However, when the presents are unwrapped, some parents still have to work, and others don’t celebrate the holidays, so what’s a young’un to do during the week leading up to New Year’s Day? Fortunately, there’s plenty happening, and we’ve rounded up five fantastically festive ideas for Erie area kids.
The Top Five Movies of 2016
I’ve always been fascinated by films that explore the jungle, while simultaneously delving into the depths of madness and humans’ dark, primal natures. Ciro Guerra’s masterful Embrace of the Serpent can be ranked with Apocalypse Now and Aguirre: The Wrath of God as among the best in that sub-genre. The film follows 40 years in the life of an Amazonian shaman, who may be the last of his people, as he leads two expeditions to retrieve a sacred plant.
The Bane of Toyland
Santa Claus is, as ever, coming to town. But for many years, it was as if he never left. From 1933-1975, the Erie factories of Louis Marx & Company pumped out millions of toys on Santa’s behalf. It was a long and fruitful partnership, but perhaps one that could not be allowed to last – not after Marx’s coronation as the “Toy King” in a 1955 issue of Time magazine, a clear affront to Mr. Kringle’s authority.
From the Editors: November 23, 2016
The holiday season is officially upon us. Ruled by the massive sprawl of Christmas, the season is bookended by two days that offer a time of reflection. New Year’s Eve and Thanksgiving both let us look back on the year’s events. And my, oh my, what a year it’s been! For some, it might seem naive to list what we’re thankful for this year. To certain people, 2016 has been quite the thankless year.
Hey Girl, Nice Shot: Christine Tells Chilling True Story
If you are not familiar with the very real story of Christine Chubbuck, you’re not alone. In today’s world, Chubbuck’s story would be plastered all over the internet: “TV Star Shoots Herself on Live Television,” or “You’ll Never Guess what This News Reporter Did on Air.” But in 1974, it eventually became yesterday’s news and the story faded out of the spotlight.
Community Schools
This fall Erie’s Public Schools rolled out its pilot of the community schools strategy. More than $1.5 million in seed funding was provided through the collaborative efforts of the Erie Community Foundation, the Erie County Gaming Revenue Authority, the Susan Hirt Hagen Fund for Transformational Philanthropy, and the United Way, with additional funds coming from the district and its corporate partners.
Justin Moyar // Reconnect
Erie’s own Justin Moyar offers up 10 toe-tapping tracks for his debut album, Reconnect. Live, Moyar often performs his songs with a loop pedal, adding in percussion parts, along with his own backup vocals. Not unlike these performances, the opening track builds gradually, swinging a steady groove that lures the listener in. It’s three minutes into the eight-minute “Parachute” before Moyar sings a word, but by that time, you’re already paying attention.
Lady Gaga // Joanne
Lady Gaga has been been diversifying her portfolio for the past few years. Between two astoundingly credible performances at the 2015 Oscars and the 2016 Super Bowl, she started acting in American Horror Story. Now the iconic singer is reaching out for an ever-so-slight country flavor. Following the success of 2011’s “You and I,” Gaga tinges her dance pop with a touch of southern affectation.
Two Years and 6,000 Tons of Steel in the Making
“We made this from scratch, from the first plate of steel on the tables, to this,” says Milton Lauscher III, assembly foreman for Donjon Shipbuilding and Repair, gesturing towards the impressive four-story vessel looming over us. We are standing near the gate separating Erie Bay from the east graving dry dock where the massive tank barge, Sea-Chem 1, is now floating, nearly completed.
What Can We Learn From History About the 2016 Election?
Winston Churchill had extremely bizarre sleeping habits. And he used to drive Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt crazy on account of them. During WWII, the British Prime Minister made long visits to the White House, where he was often known to drink brandy until 3 a.m. and to disappear for an afternoon nap without telling anyone. FDR found it tough to keep up with him, and his staff often struggled to respond to his erratic schedule.
From the Editors: November 9, 2016
Here we are, finally. We can all breathe a sigh of relief now that campaign season is over. Inhale all the dust of partisan rhetoric and insidious name-calling. Fill your lungs with the dirt-digging, the mudslinging, and the empty promises. Let it all out. Exhale. Now, do it again. The war isn’t over. Past all the victorious gloating and defeated lamentations, this cycle never ends. Sure, it turns and vanishes, but before you know it, the rotation comes back around to repeat itself.
Looking for a scary good time?
As parents of a pre-teen who's into pretty spooky stuff, we usually try to keep the scares at around a 5 on a 1-to-10 scale: Not so terrifying the boy's gonna be mind-mangled or traumatized or anything, but, yunno, at least creepy enough to lose some sleep to.
Erie Faces Erie: October 26, 2016
“I’m the lens through which people see.” EB: As I came up the elevator to the 11th floor of the Renaissance Building, I noticed your door said “Higherglyphics Visual Public Relations.” Tell me a little bit about what that means. TS: Visual Public Relations are community-based art projects. They combine manufacturing, project management, and installation.
For Women Only Comes to the Bayfront Convention Center
Dubbed “an expo for today’s woman,” For Women Only combines copious vendors, activities, and health information under the Bayfront Convention Center roof. Part girl’s day/night out and part informational and promotional event, For Women Only features many widely-appealing elements.
The LEC and GNOSiS are in Halloween Spirits
Halloween is a unique time of the year when you don’t have to be yourself. You can go door-to-door stuffing your pillowcase with sweets for two hours. From haunted houses to house parties, this holiday allows pandemonium as we dress up as characters from pop culture and seize the night. On Oct. 29, the incomparable Kings Rook Club will contribute to the festivities as they throw their annual Halloween bash with the LEC and GNOSiS. There’s no way that this party will lag.
The Jefferson Educational Society’s Global Summit VIII
A lot has happened since last year’s Global Summit at the Jefferson Educational Society. Locally, an Innovation District is in the works for our downtown. Our public school system came to the brink of collapse. A comprehensive plan has been drafted to encourage regional prosperity. And a Brig Niagara-sized Rubber Duckie reached our shores for a few days at the end of the summer. Turn to the national stage and things get even weirder.
Dramashop Stages Tony-nominated Hand to God
Offering up a five-word essence for Dramashop’s latest production, director Zack Flock’s synopsis teasingly hints about the multi-layered, darkly comic production. Hand to God, a 2011 Broadway play, serves up secrets, repression, rage, and lust – all within the confines of a small Texas church and its new puppet ministry. “Dramashop aims to produce provocative contemporary theatre that isn’t being done in Erie, and Hand to God fits the bill,” says Flock.
From the Editors: October 26, 2016
At least two things will happen during the course of this issue: Halloween and the presidential election. One of those things is getting a lot more attention, and it’s not accompanied by trick or treaters. At long last, this tumultuous cacophony of Donald Trump versus Hillary Clinton is coming to a close. Trump’s chances have grown increasingly dim since our last issue.
Jamie Lidell // Building a Beginning
If the circle of life could be pressed to vinyl and spun on a record player, *Building a Beginning would be the result. Jamie Lidell’s seventh LP signals a renewal of purpose for the versatile English singer on three fronts: personal (recent fatherhood), professional (this is his first album on his own label after years with Warp Records), and musical. Stylistically, the album most resembles the throwback soul of his earliest efforts, but noticeably more focused.
The World is Ending! Head Into the Forest
Apocalyptic movies tend to be loud. Zombies. Vampires. Half-crazed survivalists. Marauding biker gangs. Not exactly introspective stuff. Patricia Rozema’s 2015 film Into the Forest seems to fit the mold at first. Two young women get stranded in a spooky-but-picturesque home in the Pacific Northwest during a worldwide power outage. Tensions escalate and danger mounts. But I wouldn’t expect this one to erupt into a Walking Dead-style bloodbath. Forest is as much a character study as a genre entry.
The Dillinger Escape Plan // Dissociation
The Dillinger Escape Plan have had a long and largely relevant lifespan in the world of modern metal. Coming in with their trademark dissonantv, buzzsaw guitar work, “Limerent Death” starts the album off strong. “Symptom of a Terminal Illness” delves into a more orchestral, chilling tone reminiscent of later Faith No More, a sound continued on tracks like “Manufacturing Discontent.” Sounds shimmer like broken glass, the tremulous shudder bursting in like beaten television static.
A Streetcar Named Desire
Unlike lead protagonist Blanche DuBois, Tennessee Williams’ 1947 play A Streetcar Named Desire has faded little with age. The original production was shown 855 times between its Broadway opening and its close in 1949, receiving the Pulitzer Prize for drama in 1948 and standing ovations of up to half an hour along the way. This story of shocking, staggering decline still holds high esteem with critics and audiences, who regard it as one of theater’s finest works of the 20th century.
Adam Ray at Jr’s Last Laugh
Most comedians frequent the universal-themes park for their material, but few were ever on a Universal Theme Parks payroll. Therein lies the difference for comedian Adam Ray. After graduating from USC, Ray spent six years at Universal Theme Parks Hollywood as a tour guide and Marvel Comics character, Wolverine. Those experiences afforded Ray a unique vantage point for surveying humankind, as well as ample opportunity to interact with crowds and improvise.
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