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Articles by Ed Bernik
A Bumper Crop of Gardeners
Carrie Sachse of French Street Farms scatters seeds of victory in Erie, PA. By Katie Chriest / Photography By Ed Bernik | September 21, 2020 In the early days of the pandemic, when those of us who’d reluctantly gone to the grocery store were met with empty shelves, Carrie Sachse had an idea. Sachse owns French Street Farms, the pioneering commercial urban farm at the corner of East 22nd and French streets in Erie, PA.
Kinzua Bridge named ‘best’ by national tourism magazine
The Kinzua Bridge State Park was named “Best in Culture” by the American Bus Association, and more than 150,000 visitors in the first seven months of the year show that the public agrees. Linda Devlin, executive director of the Allegheny National Forest Visitors Bureau, expressed her excitement at the designation on Thursday.
Erie Extreme - Erie Reader
The shortest distance between two points is a straight line — but when that line is attached to a reel, the experience is often anything but straightforward. Reality is apt to take the jig and jerk that straight line in any direction. Few people are more aware of this truth than Erie native Dave Lefebre, a veteran pro angler who currently tours with both the Major League Fishing and BassMaster Elite Series. Weather changes. Conditions change.
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.
The Cooking School
Have you ever wanted to learn to cook, but didn’t know where to start? Or maybe you just want to invite a few friends over for an amazing dinner, but the cupboards are bare, and so is your confidence in the kitchen. If so, then Meghan Mehler can whip up just the recipe for a successful meal for you. Mehler is the owner of The Cooking School, a culinary education that comes to your kitchen. Or, if you just want to watch live “Food Network” in your home, she can do that, too.
Erie Faces Erie: March 1, 2017
“I’ve gone back to old ways for my own satisfaction, a revival of craftsmanship that has pretty much been lost.” Ed Bernik: When did you start collecting type? Michael Vickey: I bought my first press when I was 13 and started my business full time when I was 19. I started collecting type when I was in 10th or 11th grade, right about the time photo-typesetting was coming in and the printers were getting rid of metal and wood type. I collected as much as I could.
Erie Faces Erie: February 15, 2017
“We want to create a world of happier, healthier, well-rested people.” Ed Bernik: Your website is so fun, and not what I was expecting for a tech company. Tell me about your corporate philosophy. Jason Wolfe: We are the softer side of tech, is how I look at it. Wei-Shin Lai: Even though we are in the consumer electronics audio sector, our emphasis is just helping people sleep better.
Erie Faces Erie: February 1, 2017
“French Creek is incredibly unique – unlike any other waterway in the state of Pennsylvania, and much of the United States.” Ed Bernik: You’re a geologist by profession. What insights do you bring to the FCVC director position as opposed to a PR or marketing person, who would typically head an organization like this? Brenda Costa: My undergraduate degree is in geology, and I worked in geologic consulting for 20 years.
A Very Erie Valentine’s
You’ve done flowers. You’ve bought chocolates. You’ve searched for the right kind of card (not sappy, definitely interesting, your exact sentiments). You’ve tried candlelit dinners (yawn). And Valentine’s Day is here again. Now what? Well, take it from this Erie newbie that the best way to date or celebrate in this town is to get creative.
Erie Faces Erie: January 18, 2017
“I always remind people the prerequisite for enlightenment is not flexibility. It’s understanding your mind.” Ed Bernik: What catalyzed your journey into yoga? Michael Plasha: The initial catalyst was being raised in a chaotic, tense household in Cincinnati. I began to look for ways to experience something other than distress. That took me outside into nature. Around 1970, I was interested in meditation, didn’t quite know how to do it, and I went down to the public library.
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.
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: December 21, 2016
It’s the holidays. These weeks find us up on the housetop, down the chimney, and back again. One minute you’re scrambling to find last-minute gifts, and the next thing you know you’re relaxing for a few days in a row, amidst opened presents and underactive houseguests. Soon, you’re donning your best party attire and counting down until midnight, only to sleep the next day away, cursing the fact that you have to go back to work. It’s a different time for everyone, of course.
Erie Faces Erie: December 7, 1016
“I find it humbling that people would come to me and trust me, no matter what their reason is for the piercing.” Ed Bernik: In our culture, piercing may still be foreign to many people. There are a lot of reasons to have a piercing – religious, spiritual, medical, or for self-expression. What is your belief system or mindset behind piercing?
Remembering Imam Hussein
Recently, more than 300 Shia-Muslims of Erie turned out to march in remembrance of the Prophet Mohammed’s grandson, Imam Hussein, also known as Arbaeen. This is an annual pilgrimage undertaken by all Shia-Muslims around the world. The Shia-Muslims believe Imam Hussein travelled from Saudi Arabia to Najaf, Iraq, where he was murdered attempting to save the Shia sector of Islam.
Why I Traveled to Standing Rock
When I first heard about construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline, it was mostly through friends sharing articles and livestream videos on Facebook. I remember seeing a picture of protestors confronted by an array of armored tanks and riot police, and a picture of a Native American man who had been shot in the face and was bleeding profusely from a rubber bullet.
Erie Faces Erie: November 23, 2016
“The important message is to not be afraid to take the leap. We just did it, both feet.” Ed Bernik: Why would somebody want to start a clothing line in Erie? RJ Messenger: When we started, it was a fun hobby to keep us busy on the side. We both worked full-time jobs, just got married, bought a house – and it was one of those things: What do we do now to occupy our free time? So when we started the clothing line it wasn’t to be our own bosses or become entrepreneurs.
Erie Faces Erie: November 9, 2016
“Music has always been a big part of my life. But so has art. So when all this came about and I thought of this idea, it just went together.” Ed Bernik: Give me a little background on StringsforaCURE. Elisa Guida: Well, the first time I was diagnosed with breast cancer, I was 40 years old. I had just gotten married, was hoping to start a family, and that was just not in the cards. Fast forward 10 years, and I was diagnosed a second time. I did not have a lump either time.
Lake Erie Ale Trail Leads to Presque Isle Downs & Casino
Craft beer enthusiasts will have a chance to keep it local this season. Eleven breweries from the area are joining forces, raising their collective glasses during Erie Craft Beer Week. Together, they’ve formed an organization known as the Lake Erie Ale Trail.
Celebrate Life and Love with a Reggae Dance Party
Spiritual Rez, a reggae band that promises to “shake a stage like a psychedelic dance earthquake,” will perform in Erie for a CD release party at the Kings Rook Club on Saturday, Nov. 19.
Whiskey Daredevils Kick-start New Music Venue
Anyone familiar with the Whiskey Daredevils knows what’s in store: loud, raucous fun with plenty of luscious guitar licks. The Cleveland quartet is ready to bring their unique brand of country, rockabilly, and punk rock back to town. Their appearance here heralds the release of their latest full length, The Good Fight. The band is made up of singer Greg Miller and drummer Leo P.
OVO Brings Spring to a Chilly Erie November
Seasons march forth in a progression of life, death, and rebirth. As the year wanes, many look inward, pondering changes, becoming a little older. This fall, such sentiments are encapsulated in the cornucopia of color and imagination called OVO by Cirque du Soleil, which comes to the Erie Insurance Arena Nov. 17 through 20 for six performances only. OVO means “egg” in Portuguese – the universal symbol of new life.
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.
Erie Faces Erie: October 12, 2016
“Just remember that you don’t have to be like all of the other artists. Do your own thing from deep in the heart.” Ed Bernik: So you’re now 12 years old. When did you first feel passionate about drawing? Drew Farrell: I always loved to draw. I used to draw in preschool; my teacher had a hard time getting me to concentrate on my schoolwork. EB: Do you still have some of your early work? DF: I do. It’s in a box above my closet.
Unboxing Erie’s Ballot
The ballot. It’s all anyone can talk about. This election has cast an omnipresent, ever-looming fog over our country for more than a year. At this point, you’ve no doubt made up your mind one way or the other concerning your vote for president. Undecided voters are an increasingly rare group. For president, that is. But large swaths of the electorate arrive at the polls with little knowledge of state and local contests.
Erie Faces Erie: September 28, 1016
“The playing, the music, and the emotion and feeling I want to create and make people feel is the passion. That’s the pursuit.” Ed: When did you first feel musical? Eric: I had a weird introduction to music. As a kid, I was sensitive to loud noises. When my parents would play music, I’d want them to turn it down. Then, in fifth or sixth grade, a friend of mine showed me how to play a few things on the piano.
Erie Faces Erie: April 31, 1016
“I get to do what I love: to fly around the country and shoot photographs of things.” Ed Bernik: I am so excited for you and for your career to flourish again. How did your recent move to Florida affect your photography? Art Becker: It opened up an entirely new world to me and allowed me to unleash all my creativity. It allowed me to be exactly who I am as a photographer. EB: In your Facebook posts, I’ve noticed this new intensity in your work.
Crime and Punishment
Synchronicity, also known as “a meaningful coincidence,” brought a diverse mix of people to the Poplar Street home of Sue Moyer and Mark Alexa a few weeks ago, to hear Lisa Austin’s ideas for Erie’s future should she decide to run for mayor. While Austin greeted latecomers, we turned our conversation to at-risk youth, poverty, and the almost daily shootings on Erie’s streets.
Erie Faces Erie: August 17, 2016
“Children all over the world are the same emotionally; the only difference is their lifestyle and resources.” Ed Bernik: Why did you leave Bhutan and come to the U.S.? Gyan Ghising: The United Nations realizes that [the Nepalese Lhotshampa] are the victims of abuse from Bhutan. They kept coming to Nepal; there were 90,000. The UN had a refugee program, giving them shelter, clothing, and food. But that was not the final resolution for the situation.
Erie Faces Erie: August 3, 2016
“My obsession is that the best outcome for everyone is when you are free to choose; when government is limited, meaning, there’s more range for choosing.” Ed Bernik: You have spent at least 40 years of your career educating people about money. It’s an elusive concept that most people really don’t understand. What made you decide to take on that responsibility? Bob Chitester: Most people think of economics as about money, but I’ve had some success in persuading people otherwise.
Erie Faces Erie: July 6, 2016
“No matter how much I know, there’s so much more to know, to find, and to discover within that small circle.” Ed Bernik: You started life as a psychology major but then you made this leap of faith into full time dance instructor or rather hoop dance instructor. How did that happen? Jennifer Dennehy: I’ve been dancing since I was three years old and I’m a trained dancer. Dancing has been a part of my whole life. I took classes all the way through high school. We weren’t a wealthy family.
Erie Faces Erie: June 8, 1016
”We are outdoors dealing with whatever situation comes up.” Ed Bernik: When you were 18 years old, did you say to yourself, “I want to be a park Jill Flanagan: I always knew I wanted to be a police officer. However, I started out in the U.S. Air Force at age 18 as a medic. When I returned home from the military, I worked in the social services field at Erie Homes for Children and Adults. I also worked at Sarah A. Reed Children’s Center.
Erie Faces Erie: May 25, 1016
“There’s always been a bit of the arts that I am never going to let go of, even as I have gotten older.” Ed Bernik: Did you dance when you were a young girl? Mary Fabrizio McCarthy: Never! I always wanted to. I graduated from college thinking I would really like to dance, so I went to the Philadelphia Civic Ballet School. It was a private school and I took evening classes until I changed careers, moved back to Erie, and worked as a pharmacist at Herbie’s Drug Store.
Erie Faces Erie: July 20, 2016
“Right from the start I wanted to be a guy telling stories with a guitar.” Ed Bernik: On your website, I saw you were born in Texas, and immediately thought of troubadours like Townes Van Zandt. Did you always want to do your own music? Tyler Smilo: I must have listened to Dylan’s The Times They Are a-Changin’ a thousand times. I wanted to do what he was doing. I took the album to my guitar teacher and he said, “Why would you want to play that? He’s a crappy player!” So I quit guitar lessons.
Erie Faces Erie: May 11, 2016
“Even though this world can be disappointing and horrifying and bitter and ugly, I do believe that, ultimately, hope will triumph.” Ed Bernik: Did you go to school for art? G. Norman Lippert: I went to many schools for art [laughs]. But didn’t graduate from any of them. We artsy types are lucky to work in a field where your degree matters less then your portfolio. I got my first job while in college and figured, “Why am I still here?
Erie Faces Erie: April 27, 2016
“I believe in growing where you’re planted.” Amanda Karns: Frank came from Mexico, he was a street dog. There was a man in town who fostered small dogs. We went to look at another dog but Frank jumped up on my husband Shelby’s lap and that was the end of that. He chose us. He was locked up for two weeks and left to die before being fostered, so he has a hard time with confined spaces. He still thinks he’s a street dog. Twelve pounds of mean and nasty. EB: Tell me a bit about your background.
Erie Faces Erie: April 13, 2016
The reason I came back to North East and love that area is not because it’s thousands of acres of suburbs. It’s thousands of acres of beautiful vineyards, overlooking a really phenomenal landscape. And if you lose that, it doesn’t come back. Ed Bernik: Tell me a bit about your background. Mario Mazza: I grew up in North East, and attended Case Western in Cleveland for chemical engineering. The conversation came up when I was graduating from high school about coming back for the family business.
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