September Lake Erie Lifestyle 2016

LAKE

ERIE

Lifestyle SEPTEMBER 2016

Gorgeous Gardens FLOWERS BLOOM IN SAND

PLUS: Renovated ranches 100 years of Playhouse memories

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Contents

Home & Garden

SEPTEMBER ’16

22 Home & Garden 27 BEAUTIFUL BONSAI It's not as difficult as you think.

Clever craft breweries on the rise.

Couple converts 1950s ranch to modern home.

10 THINGS TO DO Visit a ribfest in Pittsburgh, a wing festival in Buffalo and an apple festival near Cleveland, and learn all about medicinal herbs in Erie.

55 ON SCENE We caught up with you at Discover Presque Isle and National Night Out.

Bon Appétit 34 BUFFALO BREWS

Renovated ranch

In every issue

30 FINDING THE FIRST HOME First-time homeowner shares what he learned in home purchase.

VOLUME 9 ISSUE 11

LAKE

ERIE

Lifestyle

SEPTEM BER. 2016

On the cover 12 BEACHY LANDSCAPE

Arts & Entertainment 40 PLAYHOUSE BACKSTAGE Erie Playhouse actors celebrate 100 years.

us Gorgeou Gardens ND LOOM IN SA FLOWERS B

PLUS:

s Renovated ranche use memories 100 years of Playho

48 CHALK IT UP TO FUN Chalk artists shares art on the road.

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Homeowners Sidney and Karen Lipman found ways to add plenty of flowers and greenery to their beachfront landscape. COVER PHOTO BY ANDY COLWELL/ERIE TIMES-NEWS

SEPTEMBER 2016 // LAKE ERIE LIFESTYLE |5

From the editor

September 2016

LAKE

Updating homes fun for all I’ve updated two homes over many decades, and a lot of it was fun. In my old house, I removed decades of wallpaper and pretty much renovated every room in that house more than once. After Kim and I got married, we bought a much newer house that needed to be refreshed but not remodeled. Over the years, we have redecorated every room, and the most recent accomplishment was the kitchen. It has new granite counters and a new sink to go with the new appliances we bought a few years ago. It looks brand new, and picking out the granite was an adventure. There will be a story in the future. It’s also been fun to watch our kids buy homes and look at houses. If you are thinking of remodeling, building or buying, this issue of Lake Erie LifeStyle has plenty of ideas and stories about folks who have done some great remodeling. If you want to share a remodeling idea with us, send me an email. We are always looking for ideas to share.

Pam Parker, editor pam.parker@timesnews.com

ERIE

Lifestyle

NICHE PUBLICATIONS EDITOR Brenda Martin brenda.martin@timesnews.com

EDITOR Pam Parker pam.parker@timesnews.com

CONTRIBUTING DESIGNER/WEB DESIGN Magazine design by Emily Marcom, Karlee Proctor, Keith Saunders and Michelle Wallenberg Web design by Ben Smith, Dave Super and Paul Szymczuk

PHOTOGRAPHERS Andy Colwell, Jack Hanrahan

ADVERTISING Lynn Dietz, multi-media sales supervisor lynn.dietz@timesnews.com 814-870-1664

CONTACT US 205 W. 12th St., Erie, PA 16534 www.lakeerielifestyle.com All content, including the design, art, photos and editorial content Š2016, Erie Times-News. No portion of this magazine may be copied or reprinted without the express written permission of the publisher.

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SEPTEMBER 2016 // LAKE ERIE LIFESTYLE |7

Contributors

September 2016

“Where we love is home — home that our feet may leave, but not our hearts.”

— Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr.

KAREN BEARDSLEY interviews Erie Playhouse folks who share a look back at 100 years of Erie Playhouse history. Beardsley is the media relations manager at UPMC. page 40

PAM PARKER shares stories about homeowners who have renovated their homes. Parker is the editor of Lake Erie LifeStyle, Her Times and House to Home at the Erie Times-News. pages 22, 30

HILARY DANINHIRSCH tells readers about great events in Pittsburgh. She writes for national lifestyle and trade magazines on a multitude of topics.

She lives in Pittsburgh with her husband and daughters. page 10

SUE SCHOLZ tells us about homeowners of a beach house who have managed to create a lush landscape. Scholz also shares some interesting details about bonsai. She is a master gardener and writes a weekly column on gardening for the Erie Times-News every Saturday in House to Home. pages 12, 27

STEVE ORBANEK visits Buffalo, where plenty of craft breweries are opening and expanding.

Orbanek is the marketing communication specialist at Penn State Behrend. page 34

BRIAN R. SHERIDAN interviews award-winning chalk artist Jeremy Hewitt. Sheridan is an associate professor at Mercyhurst University. page 48

er:

ctob O n i g n i m Co

Celebrate healthy living Learn more about how to stay healthy in the Sept. 25 issue of Lake Erie LifeStyle, which will be in your home-delivered Erie Times-News.

Subscribe now by calling 870-1600 or email circulation@timesnews.com.

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SEPTEMBER 2016 // LAKE ERIE LIFESTYLE |9

Calendar

4

2 1

Points

3

4

1. Erie

2. Cleveland

Learn all about medicinal plants when herbalist Leslie Alexander shares knowledge of herbs, teas and tinctures at the Tom Ridge Environmental Center. On Sept. 17, from 10 a.m. to noon, Alexander will discuss an introduction to medicinal herbs during a free lecture. From 12:30 to 2 p.m. you can join in a workshop on teas and decoctions, and make a custom tea blend.

The event costs $25 per person, and preregistration is required.

Call 814-833-6050 for payment and registration. From 3 to 5 p.m., another workshop focuses on making herbal tinctures. It costs $25 per person, and preregistration is required. Call 814833-6050 for payment and registration. For more information, call TREC Garden Coordinator Jen Salem at 814-835-3056.

For more than 40 years, the Johnny Appleseed Festival has taken place at Maple Farms. The 2016 festival is scheduled Sept. 17 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sept. 18 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., in Brunswick, Ohio, with crafts, food, demonstrations, apple pressers and more. Enjoy hay rides and a Pumpkin Village. Admission prices vary from $3 to $12. For information call 330-225-5577 or visit www.johnnyappleseedfest.com/festival.

3. Buffalo

4. Pittsburgh

The National Buffalo Wing Festival takes place Sept. 3-4 at the Coca-Cola Field, 275 Washington St. The festival boasts that "wing lovers flock to Buffalo" for one of the city’s signature dishes at a festival that started in 2002. The event includes more than 100 flavors of wings available for sale, along with competitive eating contests, an inaugural Chicken Wing 5K and the Buffalo Ninja Warrior Challenge, both on Saturday. The entry fee is $5 per day for adults, and children 8 and younger are free. To buy food you must purchase food tickets for $1 each. Beer, soda and bottled water are available for purchase with cash only. For more information, call 716-846-2000, or visit the website at http://buffalowing.com.

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Labor Day weekend is the unofficial end of summer, and what better place to spend that weekend than devouring the best ribs around? Pittsburgh’s annual Miller Lite Kickoff and Rib Festival will take place at Heinz Field Sept. 1-5. A variety of rib vendors will be on hand to please any palate. And kids will enjoy the rides and games, and their parents will enjoy seeing Steelers memorabilia on display, including Super Bowl trophies and more.

Though there is a fee for food and certain activities, there is no charge for admission, which includes free concerts. Perhaps the best part about wandering around Heinz Field is the possibility of running into a Pittsburgh Steelers player.

And if you’re feeling guilty about consuming so many ribs, you can take part in the annual Steelers 5K Run and Walk on Labor Day morning, a fundraiser hosted by select Steelers. A Youth Training Camp on Monday will also keep future football stars. For more information, call 412-697-7181 or visit http://heinzfieldribfest.com. To register for the 5K, visit www.steelers. com/schedule-and-events/gatorade-steelers-5k.

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Home & Garden

Sandy shores Having a house on the beach is one thing.

Growing gardens around it was quite another.

Learning to work with sandy soil was a challenge, but the result is sheer beauty.

By Sue Scholz

W

hen Dr. Sidney and Karen Lipman moved into their new beach house on Beach Haven Lane on Presque Isle in 1991, they didn’t understand the landscaping challenges they would face.

“When we moved in it was just a house surrounded by sand. The winds came from the west and the south, and so did the sand,” said Sidney Lipman. “Every day, we had to shovel the sand off our patio and away from the door.

Because of the space between our house and the house next door, it caused a vortex, a crosswind. Sand constantly blew into our yard.

“When we came each May to open up the house, we needed a backhoe to get all the sand off the patio,” he said. “We decided to put in a snow fence on the south side of the house and in front of the house, near the water, to stop the winds and the sand. The snow fence did the trick.”

Gardens surround the beachfront home of Karen and Sidney Lipman on Beach Haven Lane.

ANDY COLWELL/ERIE TIMES-NEWS

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Home & Garden

ONLINE EXTRAS: See more photos of the Lipman home on Lake Erie. GoErie.com/photos

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Home & Garden

But the snow fence created sand mounds, and the Lipmans planted American beach grass in the two mounds near the water nine years ago. They used small plugs and planted them one foot apart. Once a year, they mowed it down. The long sand mound on the south side took on a life of its own. The small pile grew to five feet in height. “We kept planting grasses because when they get covered by sand, they shoot out more roots to gain a better hold,” he said.

His wife, Karen Lipman, a Carrie T. Watson Garden Club member, was looking forward to creating gardens around the beach house. “As the side yard mound grew, we started planting other things besides the grasses. I love monarch butterflies. I raise them in cages, so I planted common and swamp milkweed for them, and they have grown very well.

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: In addition to greenery on sand dunes, flowers grow on a rear deck of Karen and Sidney Lipman’s Beach Haven Lane home. ANDY COLWELL/ERIE TIMES-NEWS | Garden details are pictured at the beachfront home. ANDY COLWELL/ERIE TIMES-NEW | Hydrangeas, ferns and grasses grow well in the shady north side garden. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO/SUE SCHOLZ

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Home & Garden I love that the milkweed pops up everywhere. I’m trying two dwarf butterfly bushes this year for the butterflies. I hope they make it,” Karen Lipman said.

The Lipmans didn’t add any topsoil to any of the garden areas. All the plants grow in sand with only a little of the soil that came with them in the pots. “These plants have to be really tough to grow only in sand, with the constant winds and the heat of the sand,” she said. “Everything is trial and error. I have test gardens. If something does well, I get more, like the hostas. Many plants have died. They can’t live on the beach.”

An advantage of sand gardening, she said, is that nothing is invasive because of the sand. Rio Grande portulacas thrive with bold colors and other sedums and grasses do well including zebra grass, Northern sea oats, Karl Foerster grass and Elijah Blue grass.

The long, south mound garden extends from the back of the house past the front patio. A model lighthouse sits at the edge of the garden. There are two waterfalls and many perennials such as Autumn Joy sedum, geraniums, hostas and a small Japanese maple. A seating area rounds out the garden.

The gardens are a challenge, the couple says, but they find some surprising successes. “I didn’t think the roses would make it but the Knockout ones did. They are thriving,” Karen Lipman said.

The couple enjoys seeing the wildlife on the beach.

“There is so much wildlife here. All the butterflies and birds. We had four robins nest in our trees this year. We have a resident toad or two. The birds love to bathe and drink in the waterfalls,” she said.

TOP: Rio Grande portulacas thrive in the hot sand at the Lipman beach house.

CONTRIBUTED PHOTO/SUE SCHOLZ | MIDDLE: Lights glow inside a patch of beach grass. ANDY COLWELL/ERIE TIMES-NEW | BOTTOM: The beachfront home is surrounded by gardens and a view of Lake Erie. ANDY COLWELL/ERIE TIMES-NEWS

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Home & Garden

The north side garden is narrow and has a small bridge, more grasses, bayberry shrubs, mugo pines and hydrangeas. In the garden bed next to the driveway, Karen Lipman created a fairy garden for her grandchildren: 5-year-old triplet granddaughters and an18-month-old grandson. Little fairy homes, fairies and gnomes nestle among the perennials, shrubs and houseplants. “It’s a fun garden for the grandkids. They can move everything around and I use plastic fairies so they can’t break.”

To maintain the natural beach look, the Lipmans use nontraditional mulches. “My mulches are

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sand, rocks, pine needles and worm grass, which is a short sedum.” Karen Lipman said. “We do have to water and fertilize a lot. There aren’t many nutrients in sand. We use Miracle Gro for the perennials and granular fertilizer for the shrubs.”

The Lipmans are very happy with their beach house and gardens. They enjoy entertaining there with their friends and family. “We love it here. We stay here from May until October. It’s so beautiful here in the fall. I love it more and more every year. The garden is so alive being by the water. It’s a very dynamic garden.” LEL

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Home & Garden

Renovated

ranch

A Fairview couple has made renovating their 1950s ranch into a decade-long project Story and photos by Pam Parker

W

hen you see Kim and Krista Jeffreys’ brick home from the road in Lake Shore, it’s hard to believe it’s a 1950s ranch because it looks so modern.

“The exterior was green when we first bought it in 2005,” Kim Jeffreys said of the home at 1325 Spring Lake Drive. His wife agreed it was not a pretty site, but a splash of neutral slate color completely updated the exterior along with some landscaping. The Jeffreys say they make steady progress every year.

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Home & Garden

ABOVE: This 1950s ranch includes open space and walls of windows.

LEFT: This brick home was green when Kim and Krista Jeffreys bought it in 2005. It has been painted and landscaped since then.

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Home & Garden

“We’ve done a little at a time,” said Kim Jeffreys, a retired construction manager at Weber, Murphy Fox. During a tour, the couple pointed out that all the windows and doors had to be replaced in the early years because the home includes dozens of full-length windows and doors that bring in the view of the private hedged yard.

A sunroom on the south corner of the house includes a built-in gas grill complete with a fan and hood, and it gets used all year. The Jeffreys joked that it made them buy the house. “We can cook out here in the winter,” he said.

Beautiful baths Unique items abound and blend old and new, including the bathrooms. The half bath off the main hallway includes marble tile walls, oversized porcelain tile walls and flooring. “The marble was here, so we worked with it,” Kim Jeffreys said. Using shades of gray to match the marble worked in tile, and a glass vessel sink gave the room some pizazz.

Down the hall, the main full bath was a large room with no windows, and it had no access to an outside wall to access natural light. Krista Jeffreys, who works in the business office at St. George School, suggested a skylight or transom, but her husband planned a narrow clerestory window that captured natural light shining through windows in the master bath, located on the other side of the main bath’s interior wall. Her husband also personalized the window with a design that had been on their wedding invitation.

The bathtub includes multiple shower heads and a clear, vertical half wall that keeps the shower/ tub open. The master bath is similarly designed, but instead of a tub, it includes a shower.

What’s next?

Marble walls were already part of the design in the bath, and the homeowners redesigned the space to work with the marble.

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Home & Garden

ABOVE: The sunroom in the foreground is one of the Jeffreys’ favorite rooms through the seasons. Inside it includes a grill and fireplace. BELOW: Kim and Krista Jeffreys updated the interior and exterior of their Lake Shore home with new doors and windows.

The Jeffreys have a large family and love to entertain outside and in the living room/dining room, but the galley kitchen, updated in the 1970s by former homeowners, doesn’t offer a lot of room for traffic. It has three doorways that branch into the living room hallway, family room and dining room. “It seems like the house of doors because there are 27 doors in this house, but we plan to close one off to the living room,” Krista Jeffrey said.

The couple had plenty of time to toss around ideas for the kitchen. A first thought was to open an interior wall in the kitchen to the L-shaped living room, but they would have lost a first-floor laundry, hidden in a kitchen closet against the living room wall. They also would have lost a fireplace in the living room.

Instead of removing that wall, the couple devised a plan to remove overhead cabinetry on a long wall against the adjacent family room. They plan to include a counter height area for food preparation and serving. A new configuration of cabinetry and an island installation will maintain the same footprint, but it will improve the traffic flow and increase counter space.

Redesigning a 1950s ranch revealed some unexpected opportunities that this

couple hasn’t embraced ... yet. When they first moved in, they planned to recarpet the entire house, but after they pulled up old carpet, they discovered cork floors in the living room. “I wish we would’ve kept those,” Kim Jeffreys said.

The Jeffreys have enjoyed renovating, and now redecorating is currently underway in the living room, where large windows look out on the front yard and golf course across the street.

Outside, the front patio will also get a makeover. Brick planters will be restructured, and a brick wall and seating area that includes a built-in fire pit are part of the plan. “We do a little at a time, so it never gets overwhelming,” Kim Jeffreys said.

ONLINE EXTRA: See a gallery of photos of the renovated home. GoErie.com/photos

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Home & Garden

BONSAI GARDENS

for the rest of us Story by and photos by Sue Scholz

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Home & Garden

B

onsai trees, those miniature trees growing in small pots, are very beautiful, but may seem too daunting. “Not true,” says Trenton Lutes, of Westfield, New York.

Lutes is a bonsai teacher, and his students are amazed that they can create a bonsai.

Lutes, who is also an artist, photographer, painter, and gardener, taught himself the art of bonsai by reading books and watching YouTube videos.

“I’ve always had plants in my home and bonsai seemed to be art and plants merged together,” he said. “My wife and I saw bonsai at the Buffalo Botanical Garden and we really liked how they looked. I didn’t want to buy one. I wanted to make one myself.

I started trying lots of different plants to make into bonsai — it was awesome. I began to donate some for charity fundraisers.”

He starting teaching bonsai at Sensory Winery and Gallery, 10593 W. Main St., Ripley, New York. His wife, Fergie, is the manager. “It was a two-hour class. The ladies learned bonsai while drinking wine and having fun. They all did a great job considering it was their first time,” said Lutes.

“Bonsai is pronounced bone-sigh,” said Lutes. Bonsai has been around since the year 600. It started in China and spread to Japan.

Bonsai is Japanese for “planting on a low pot.”

Lutes puts an updated spin on this ancient art form. “I use the suckers from my dad’s 40-year-old ficus tree that’s 7 feet tall,” Lutes said. “Ficus can readily root from the suckers. You just stick the sucker in water and it’ll root. Let it dry for a few hours, as the sap is sticky, and then put it in water.”

“After it has rooted well, transplant in cactus potting soil. Cactus soil has more air pockets. Spread out the roots and cut the roots to fit the pot and plant in a bonsai pot. Use wire to shape the trunk and branches, but do not leave the wire on too long, as it may cut and grow into the bark,” Lutes said.

Lutes uses a variety of plants for bonsai.

“Jade plants are good bonsai starter plants.

Take off the bottom leaves to look like a tree trunk. Pinch off the tops of the branches to let them get bushy,” he said. “Small leaf rhododendron ‘Purple Gem’ is a good choice if you’d like a flowering bonsai. Chinese elm and Buddist pine are good, too.”

“During my class we used different kinds of junipers. Juniperus procumbens ‘Nana’ is a good starter bonsai tree,” said

Many bonsai spend the summer on Trenton and Fergie Lutes’ porch.

Three jade plants planted in one pot looks like a mini forest.

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Home & Garden Lutes. “Junipers like to grow horizontally.

You can also train it to cascade down.”

“You take the shrub out of the pot and using a fork or chopstick, comb the soil out from the roots and untangle the roots. Root pruning is all about balance. Whatever you take from the top, you take from the bottom,” Lutes explained. “After you rake the roots, you spread them out, cut them and wire the roots in the pot to hold in place. As the trees are heavier than the roots, wiring is necessary to keep the tree secure in the pot.”

“I make my own bonsai soil mix, which is 70 percent small rocks and 30 percent peat moss. You have to fertilize like crazy on a regular basis. Use a 5-10-5 organic fertilizer for shrubs and trees,” Lutes said. “You want the root system to grow and split to get the fine roots. Having the rocks make those fine roots. You need good drainage.

It must never sit in water. It does dry out quickly so you have to water daily. Water till the water comes out the drainage holes.

“I’ve made many mistakes, so don’t get upset or discouraged if the tree dies — it is a learning experience,” Lutes said.

“Just try it. It’s addicting. I got the love of plants from my dad. We grew up with lots of plants in the house. My dad is a plant fanatic; he has a 45-year-old ficus that he started from seed, named Figgy.”

Lutes leaves all his bonsai outside on his front porch all summer, and brings them in for the winter. “Bonsai made with regular trees and shrubs could be left out all year if mulched or left in the garage or shed,” said Lutes. “Water sparingly in winter.

They don’t need sunlight in winter.”

Lutes recommends two books for budding bonsai students: “Bonsai, 101 Essential Tips,”

by Harry Tomlinson, and “The Complete Practical Encyclopedia of Bonsai,” by Ken Norman.

His next bonsai class is September 25 from 2 to 4 p.m. at the Jamestown Audubon Society at the Audubon Nature Center, 1600 Riverside Road, Jamestown, New York. Call to register, 716-569-2345. Visit www.ny.audubon.org/jamestown.

“Making a bonsai is very peaceful, very relaxing,” Lutes said. “It gives you a focus. The shape is pleasing and very therapeutic.” LEL

Trenton Lutes shows an upright juniper bonsai, similar to those his students create.

ONLINE EXTRAS: See a photo gallery. GoErie.com/photos

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Home & Garden

First-time buyer

shares experience Story By Pam Parker Photos by Matt Kleck

Q. Did lot size have anything to do with your choice?

U

The lot is 1.3 acres and was a huge selling point. I was looking for a little space and didn’t want be right on top of my neighbors.

To the west I have a neighbor with a little patch of woods separating our properties. To the north and east I’m surrounded by 80 to 100 acres of undeveloped woods. I’ve seen many deer walk out of those woods. One in particular walked through the backyard, up the side yard, through the front yard, and crossed the street over to my neighbors and came within feet of their front porch.

pdates. It’s what everyone does when they buy a house and turn it into their own personal home. Matt Kleck, professional photographer in Erie, bought his first house in Harborcreek in May and converted it into a home with a basement office and studio. Lake Erie LifeStyle asked the 32-year-old about the experience.

Q. How many houses did you go through before you chose your current home?

I ended up looking at five or six homes before finding this one, everything from a $50,000 home on a nice piece of property that needed quite a bit of work, to some that were move-in ready that only needed some paint and a personal touch. Some had noticeable odors, and one needed gutted.

Q. How did you choose the area your wanted?

Being born and raised in Harborcreek, I was leaning heavily on finding a home in this area. I love it out here.

Q: How did you know this was the house for you?

The first thing I liked about it was when pulling up to it was the property. It was the perfect size lot that was big enough for me, but not too big to keep up. The second thing was the house is an 1,150-square-foot brick ranch with two bedrooms. It’s perfect for a single guy. Third, I saw the 12-by-26-foot, enclosed and insulated sunroom and thought, ‘Oh man, this room is fantastic.’ On nice days that aren’t too hot, I open all the screened windows and edit my work on my MacBook Pro out there. When it’s too hot, I’ll move down into the basement studio where it

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stays a constant 65-70 degrees. Fourth, it has a very nice attached, insulated garage.

It’s big enough for two cars, lawn equipment, a woodpile, shelving, a small work bench and plenty of room to move around.

Fifth, the basement was the entire length of the house, very dry and in great condition. As soon as I saw it, I knew I would at least build an office, possibly a studio as well. Sixth, the house itself was in great shape. The kitchen was recently updated a bit and the half bath was added, I believe within the last five to seven years. All I needed to do was take down some wallpaper, paint, update the fans and add recessed can lights in the living room and kitchen.

Q. How did you choose what to renovate and decorate?

How did you choose which rooms to do first, and why?

All the rooms except the bathrooms got painted. I did earthy tones with bluish gray in the bedrooms, green in the hallway and family room, and a yellowish orange in the kitchen. I’ve always liked that color pallette, and they all flow very well together. Being my first home, I had no furniture, and the only thing left was the kitchen table that now found it’s way out into the sunroom. I bought

Home & Garden

Before

After TOP: The living room before photo reveals a spacious room with great potential.

BELOW: The living room makeover included new colors and ceiling lighting.

a bedroom set, living room set and kitchen table set. Once that came and I positioned everything, I got a coffee table set with end tables and a sofa table that complemented the living room furniture very nicely. As far as decorating goes, my walls are still fairly bare. I have printed some of my own work in large prints or canvases and hung them. It’s kind of neat to get compliments on them, especially before I tell people I took them.

On the first floor, I removed wallpaper in the kitchen and painted all the rooms. I added can lighting to the living room. The kitchen was partially renovated four to six years ago, and the previous owner added a half bath.

Q. What unique things did you do in the lower level?

I had my builder install an exterior window in the west facing interior wall of my studio. He was confused on why, then I explained. There’s about 10 to 15 foot of space on the unfinished side of the basement before you get to the concrete block wall. That allows me to set up a studio light to mimic window light. Eventually I will hang sheer curtains and frame the window with darker floor-length curtains to accentuate the size of the window. I also had the walls plastered with a skip-trowel finish for a nice

textured neutral background. I didn’t want my camera flashes picking up color tones from the wall so I went with a neutral gray that was actually named “neutral gray.”

The paint I used down there was the Behr Marquee line. It was seriously the best paint I’ve ever used with single coat coverage, no streaking and just went on beautifully.

Now the floor is what people first notice.

It looks like a gunmetal and titanium colored bowling ball. It is a multi-stage epoxy. First the floor was ground down with a diamond pad to substrate. Then two coats of a black sealer, then the metallic gunmetal and titanium color layer, which ended up bubbling

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Home & Garden

due to the porousness of the concrete, or so I was told. The floor was then sanded to knock the lips left behind by the bubbles, filled the bubble marks, and a second coat of the metallic was put down. Finally a clear sealer that enhances the colors and ... protects it.

Q. What’s next?

Next on the list I will be putting up a new ceiling in the garage and adding a small fire pit in the backyard.

Q. What are five things you would recommend to others who are looking at houses and thinking about doing the same thing?

1. Find someone you trust to look at the homes with you. One of my best friends is a contractor, and I thought I’d have a pretty good idea on what to look for, but he pointed out quite a few structural items and other little things that would add up quickly. Of all the houses I looked at, I only looked at one without him, because I had a feeling it wasn’t good, and I didn’t want to waste his time.

2. Find a good Realtor. Leslie Jaglowski from Howard Hanna was my Realtor and came highly recommended by quite a few people. She was great to work with, and picked up on what I was looking for in a home very quickly. She made submitting my offer and all the closing processes a breeze.

3. When tackling projects ... research tutorials, videos and DIY sites. YouTube is so much more than cats. I was surprised to realize what I was capable of doing on my own before handing the reigns over to the professionals. Don’t bite off more than you can chew, or that can end up becoming a very expensive mess.

4. Have fun with it. When I got the keys to the house, it was a blank slate looking to be personalized to my liking making it “my home.”

5. Ask questions. Since this was my first time buying a house ... I picked the brains of all my friends and family who have recently gone through the same home-buying experiences. LEL

TOP: The sunroom became living space after Matt Kleck bought his home.

BELOW: Homeowner Matt Kleck removed wallpaper in his kitchen and freshened up the space with new paint.

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Home & Garden

Before

After TOP: The before photo of the kitchen had wallpaper on all the wall.

BELOW: Contemporary paint colors to a kitchen that had been wallpapered.

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Bon AppĂŠtit

42 North Brewing Company is one of the newest Buffalo area breweries that opened in 2015.

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Bon AppĂŠtit

Buffalo Brewing Head north to experience a growing craft beer niche

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Bon Appétit Story & Photos by Steve Orbanek Contributing writer

T

im Herzog isn’t afraid to tell it like it is. “We’re old,” the owner of Flying Bison Brewing Company in Buffalo says with both a smile and a sigh.

Herzog’s sigh is indicative of all the work that has gone into founding and managing Flying Bison Brewing Company, which opened in 2000 as Buffalo’s first stand-alone brewery since the 1970s. The smile, however, indicates that all the hard work is paying off.

When Flying Bison Brewing Company opened, craft beer was not even in its infancy in Buffalo. In fact, it didn’t exist there at all. Today, Flying Bison Brewing, which moved to its new location at 840 Seneca St. in 2014, is producing more than 8,000 barrels per year, and it’s no longer the only game in town.

Over the last five years, more than a dozen craft breweries have opened in Buffalo, and even more are on the way. Herzog might have been the “early adopter,” but he’s watched as the city has embraced a beer renaissance.

“When you’re the first to do something, there’s always a lot more work, and there was, but that’s OK,” Herzog says. “We all support one another.”

Given its rich history, Flying Bison Brewery is a must visit for any beer connoisseur looking to head east for a visit to Buffalo. Here are a number of other can’t-miss spots:

42 North Brewing Company 25 Pine Street East Aurora, New York 14052 The rise of craft beer in Western New York is showing no signs of slowing down. The newest kid on the block is 42 North Brewing Company.

Located in East Aurora, 42 North Brewing Company opened in October 2015 and has quickly become a community hotspot.

The 2,500-square-foot patio and the warm, pleasant wooden exterior make for an inviting atmosphere for visitors. It’s also dog-friendly, which is perfect for folks who prefer to travel with their pooches.

Typically, breweries encourage guests to request a tour of their brewing facilities separately, but 42 North opts for a different approach. To access the brewery’s restrooms, visitors must walk right through the brew room, where they’ll see brewers hard at work. They’re encouraged to take a closer look at the brewing

TOP: Hydraulic Hearth includes an outdoor sitting area in Buffalo.

BELOW: 42 North Brewing Company includes indoor and outdoor spaces for enjoying craft beers.

process and even strike up a conversation.

“Sure, it can be a little distracting at times, but really, that’s what it’s all about,” says Clay Keel, chief brewing officer at 42 North. 42 North has already gained a strong reputation amongs craft beer enthusiasts. One of the brewery’s staples is its Borderland IPA, which boasts a score of 3.851 on the Untappd Drink Socially App. That’s a high score for any beer, but especially for an American-style IPA.

Hamburg Brewing Company 6553 Boston State Road Hamburg, New York 14075 As you make your way into Buffalo for a craft beer tour, be sure to make a short

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detour to Hamburg Brewing Company.

Beer is often at its best when it’s enjoyed in a great atmosphere, and Hamburg Brewing Company offers just that. The back patio is attached to a beautiful pond, making it the perfect place to enjoy a beer on a nice summer day. Additionally, each patio table comes with a fire pit, so the outside seating can be enjoyed during any season.

Beyond its beauty, Hamburg Brewing Company also has found a unique niche: its model train room, which includes the second-largest model train set on the East Coast. It’s a mustsee during a Hamburg Brewing Company tour, and it’s helped the brewery distinguish itself.

“It’s nice because it helps us be family friendly,” says Emily Saramak, public

Bon AppĂŠtit relations manager for the brewing company. “Kids just love our train room tours.â€? Â

Old First Ward Brewing Company 73 Hamburg Street Buffalo, New York 14204 You can visit breweries all over the country, but chances are you’ve never seen one quite like Old First Ward Brewing Company. The brewery sits inside Gene McCarthy’s Irish Pub, an iconic Buffalo neighborhood pub located in the city’s blue-collar Irish neighborhood. It’s the stereotypical hometown bar with one major catch.

You won’t find any Bud on tap.

No Miller. No Coors either.

Instead, the bar decided to start its own craft brewery in 2014. In many ways, Gene McCarthy’s brewery represents the best of both worlds. Its atmosphere is reflective of a time when bars were an integral fabric of their communities. Its high-quality beer helps ensure that it continues to fulfill that role in Buffalo.

A wide variety of samples are available at Flying Bison Brew.

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Bon Appétit

Flying Bison Brewing Company opened in 2000 and moved into a larger facility in 2014. It produces more than 8,000 barrels per year.

Taps stand out in the elegant setting at Hamburg Brewing.

Resurgence Brewery is home to the Sponge Candy Stout.

42 North Brewing Company is one of the newest Buffalo area breweries that opened in 2015.

Resurgence Brewing Company

pit, corn hole and many picnic tables. It’s about as welcoming an environment that you’ll find for an evening drinking spot.

Resurgence’s beer is also top-notch. In particular, you’ll want to try the Sponge Candy Stout, which is literally brewed with sponge candy, a favorite delicacy shared by Erie and Buffalo residents alike.

Hydraulic Hearth 716 Swan Street Buffalo, New York 14210 Hydraulic Hearth brews the majority of the beers produced by Buffalo’s Community Beer Works. Its outdoor space is simply incredible, and the beer ain’t too bad either. Hopheads will love That IPA, a lighter IPA that boasts a score of 3.874 on the Untappd Drink Socially App.

Three other Buffalo breweries to check out:

Big Ditch Brewing Company 55 East Huron Street Buffalo, New York 14203 Brian Hayden, communications manager for Visit Buffalo Niagara, describes Big Ditch Brewing as “Buffalo’s latest toy.” It’s easy to see why. With two floors, lounge games and an impressively-large tap room, it’s the ideal place for an evening filled with fun. LEL

1250 Niagara Street Buffalo, New York 14213 What’s in a name? For Resurgence Brewing, a lot.

There’s no question that Buffalo has seen its up and downs throughout the years, but anyone who spends a day there will realize that a sea change is underway. One reason for that has been the growth of the craft beer industry in the area, and perhaps no local brewery personifies that more than Resurgence.

The brewery is located in the heart of one of Buffalo’s older industrial areas, and it’s clear that it was built in that spot for a reason.

Resurgence Brewery’s beer garden is also a tremendous space, modeled after a German biergarten and including a fire

Pearl Street Grill & Brewery 76 Pearl Street Buffalo, New York 14202 It’s been a staple of Buffalo for nearly 20 years, and its incredible display of pink-flowered hanging baskets alone makes it worth the trip.

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Bon AppĂŠtit A sampling of the brews at 42 North Brewing Company features some clever names.

REGIONAL L BEER AND WINE EVENTS FOR SEPTEMBER SEP Erie Ale Works Second Anniversary Party September 8, 9, 10, Erie Ale Works Erie Ale Works will celebrate its second anniversary during the second weekend in September. The brewery will have food trucks and also debut some new beers.

More details to come at http://eriealeworks.com.

33rd Annual Septemberfest September 10 and 11, Merritt Winery Enjoy the beginning of the harvest season with two days of wine, beer, food and fun at Merritt Winery in Forestville, New York. There will be live music, a classic car show and craft vendors as well. Admission is free.

35th Annual Wine Country Harvest Festival September 23, 24, 25, Gibson Park and Gravel Pit Park, North East North East’s annual Wine Festival celebrates its 35th anniversary this fall. Attendees will have the opportunity to sample more than 100 different wines, enjoy live music, try some grape stomping and visit exhibitor tents. Tickets, which cost $25 for the day or $50 for the weekend, can be purchased at www.nechamber.org/ pages/tickets.

Pumking Fest September 24, Southern Tier Brewing Company From 12 to 6 p.m., come celebrate the start of the autumn season by enjoying live music while drinking Pumking, Southern Tier Brewing Company’s fall staple. Admission is free, and beer and food will be available on site. For more information, visit www. stbcbeer.com.

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Arts & Entertainment

Jack Mannion, 17, at top, and Cara Niebling, 17, both of Millcreek Township, pose in costumes from “James and the Giant Peach� at the Erie Playhouse costume shop.

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Arts & Entertainment

BEHIND the curtain

In various venues and with generations of performers, the Erie Playhouse has shared its story with Erie theatergoers for 100 years Story By Karen Beardsley Photos By Andy Colwell

T

hey say there’s no business like show business and no people like show people. That seems to be true for the cast of staff and volunteers at the Erie Playhouse, which celebrates its 100th season this year.

This community asset is affectionately referred to as “the Playhouse” by locals, and even its 100th anniversary logo reads by the same name. The Playhouse holds 100 years of treasured stories within its walls and generous volunteers who have made this commemorative season possible.

Doris Becker, 91, has been volunteering for 81 years. Becker, who first took the stage when she was 10 years old, has performed in more than 75 shows. One of about 1,000 volunteers (including the performers, who give their time and talent to the community and are not paid), she’s proud of the longevity of the Playhouse.

“It’s always a struggle for the arts,” she says. “It’s amazing we’ve thrived and survived and become one of the busiest community theaters in Pennsylvania.” Not only has Becker performed on stage, she has been a member of the board of directors since 1985, is currently chair of its finance committee, and regularly fills in at the box office.

Six of the full-time staff members at the Playhouse have a combined 232 years either working or volunteering there. It’s one continuous encore for theater enthusiasts who commit to this Erie gem, the 12th oldest community theater in the nation and the third oldest in the state.

“It isn’t often you get paid for doing what

you love the most — your favorite hobby — theater,” says Marketing and Special Events Director Sue Lechner, a 50-plus-year veteran who plans to retire next year. “The people and the ‘family’ connections you create and carry with you for a lifetime have kept me here.”

Lechner’s daughter, Kate Neubert-Lechner, is the Youtheatre/education director, a position that became full-time at the Playhouse in 1992. Neubert-Lechner, who has been volunteering for more than 30 years, has been directing the youth program, targeted at 5- to 18-year-olds, for the past two years.

“I’ve moved away and come back and can say that the Erie Playhouse is unparalleled to other nonprofessional community theaters in the state,” she says.

“The talent is astounding and, as for the kids, I feel blessed to work with them. The gifts they give us are immeasurable.”

The Youtheatre, which will celebrate its 25th season next year, is performing the “The Lion King Jr.” this 100th season. It’s the first time the musical has been released to community theaters. “Arthur’s Halloween” is also being performed for the first time. It was written by the Playhouse’s Business Manager Charlie Corritore and Erie playwright Michael Malthaner.

Corritore has been involved with the Playhouse for 42 years and says he has experienced firsthand the many incarnations the theater has gone through. “From being a brave little theater in Wesleyville, through the years of mounting our shows on various high school stages when we didn’t have a home, and finally becoming a strong, thriving arts organization with a high-profile presence in the downtown area,” he says. “It’ll be wonderful

TOP: Erie resident Doris Becker, 91, has performed in Erie Playhouse productions for more than 80 years, with many of her shows represented on the charm necklace worn here BELOW: Matt Huefner, 22, of Millcreek, poses in costume from “A Chorus Line” at the Erie Playhouse costume shop.

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Arts & Entertainment celebrating that history throughout the year.�

Corritore, who says he’s fortunate to be “in a position which feeds my heart, my soul and my brain,� is looking forward to the coming together of past and present Playhouse volunteers (actors, musicians, stage and lighting technicians, ushers and other staff members), many of whom have moved away but hopefully will be coming back to take part in the special events that are planned.

The festivities will kick off in September with A Salute to Broadway Composers, a 100th anniversary gala at the Bayfront Convention Center. They conclude next July with a Playhouse Family Reunion Weekend to include a street party and concert extravaganza. In between there are classic, beloved shows, including “Ragtime,� “A Chorus Line,� “Little Shop of Horrors� and “Oklahoma.� On Jan. 18,

This is a 1949 photograph of the Erie Playhouse’s performance of “The Taming of the Shrew.�

1952 photograph of the Erie Playhouse’s performance of “Green Grow the Lilacs.�

This is an 1958 photograph of the Erie Playhouse’s performance of “Desk Set.�

THE ERIE PLAYHOUSE TIMELINE Founded by Henry B. Vincent. Performances were staged in the old Chamber of Commerce rooms in the Reed Hotel on North Park Row. Opening night was January 18, 1916. A capacity crowd of 99 patrons sat on funeral chairs to watch three short plays: “I’m Going,� “Galatea of the Toy Shop� and “Sunset.� The Little Theatre, as it was called, operated successfully until May 1918, when World War I brought about the end of community theater after two seasons.

Nightly performances were held in the Columbia Theatre, on West Eighth Street, and then in a new theatre at 128 W. Seventh St. where full-length plays were presented.

1916

1927-1928 1919

1940

The Community Playhouse opened to the public on March 25.

Henry Vincent initiated the children’s theater, which offered apprenticeships to interested students, some of whom went on to the professional ranks.

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Arts & Entertainment the official 101st birthday, three one-act plays that were performed in 1916 will be presented. “We’re actually celebrating this milestone in a big way three times throughout the year at our gala, on New Year’s Eve and at the family reunion next summer,â€? Executive Director Almitra Clerkin says. “I hope everyone takes a moment to see our talent on stage and the high caliber of shows we produce and, most importantly, to celebrate with us.â€?  The 100th season will be Clerkin’s 11th year as executive director of the Erie Playhouse, which has an annual budget that is slightly more than $1 million. She’s been involved with the organization for 40 years. She, too, plans on retiring after the 2016-2017 season. “I did what I was supposed to do — leave it better than when I found it,â€? she says. “It’s time for a new generation to lead this Cast members of “Dreamgirls,â€? a 2011 spring production of the Erie Playhouse, played “Jimmyâ€? and “The Dreamette.â€? They are, from left, Damone Morris (James “Thunderâ€? Early), Sonia J. Rosales (EfďŹ e White), Denise Mosley (Deena Jones) and Rebecca Coleman (Lorrell Robinson).

Vincent died suddenly, and in 1942-1946, the Playhouse next suffered the effects of World War II and was dark.

Bill Cohen was the director and the Playhouse’s home was at the Penn Theatre in Wesleyville. David Matthews was hired as business manager and assumed leadership of the Playhouse in 1972, but ďŹ re regulations closed the Wesleyville site in 1975, and the Playhouse was without a home once again. Matthews and the actors, staff and volunteers traveled west to Fairview High School, east to Iroquois High School and back to McDowell Intermediate School for the ensuing years.

David Matthews retired after 34 years as managing director, and Almitra Clerkin took over the helm as executive director at the Erie Playhouse.

1941

1962-1972

2006

1946

1983

L. Newell Tarrant came to Erie and started a long and successful run as director until 1962.

On December 13, “Annie� opened the newest and current home of the Erie Playhouse at 13 W. 10th St.

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Arts & Entertainment

Rachel Freenock, 29, left, and Hayes Moses, 40, both of Millcreek Township, pose in costume from “Ragtime” at the Erie Playhouse costume shop.

wonderful organization into its next century.”

Clerkin has led this community theater through major renovations to the theater seating, interior, facade, sound, lights and lobby, the creation of Erie Arts & Culture, and a permanent stream of grant funding to help with annual operations.

Clerkin, who will receive a Gannon University Distinguished Alumni Award from the School of Engineering and Business in

the fall, is proud of the Playhouse’s recognition by the Pennsylvania Theatre Guide’s 2015 Readers’ Choice Award for the Best Community Theatre in Pennsylvania.

“It’s not easy to run a theater, but we’re fortunate to have 12 staff members who are very hardworking and talented and supported by so many volunteers,” Clerkin says.

“We all try to take care of our volunteers because we couldn’t do it without them.”

When she retires, she can’t wait to be one of those volunteers. “I would do whatever they ask me,” she says.

Everyone involved is enthusiastic about the 100th season. “I am excited about the shows we will be producing,” Scenic and Lighting Designer Christine Carmichael says. “Every one of them is a challenge in some way, or many ways, and it is absolutely thrilling to be working on them.”

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Erie resident Doris Becker, 91, has performed in Erie Playhouse productions for more than 80 years, with many of her shows represented on her charm necklace.

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S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 6 / / L A K E E R I E L I F E S T Y L E | 45

Arts & Entertainment “It has been so exciting to help create this fantastic celebration,� says Producing Director Richard Davis, who has directed and performed in productions for 37 years. “We talk about the Playhouse family, and it truly is a family. They’ve been there for me through good and bad times.�

Over the years, many theatrical luminaries and personalities have appeared on the Erie Playhouse stage: Ned Beatty, Anne B. Davis, Dom Deluise, Rocky Graziano, Walter

Jack Mannion, 17, left, and Cara Niebling, 17, both of Millcreek Township, pose in costumes from “James and the Giant Peach� at the Erie Playhouse costume shop.

Matt Huefner, 22, of Millcreek Township, poses in costume from “A Chorus Line� at the Erie Playhouse costume shop.

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Arts & Entertainment Mattheau, Rue McClanahan, Jerry Stiller, Anne Meara, Jessica Walter, Michael Patrick King and Nick Adams, among others.

Matt Sherr, another Playhouse alumnus, has been working in theater in New York City for more than 10 years as a company manager.

Most recently he worked on “Hamilton” and has also been involved with “Kinky Boots,” “Phantom of the Opera,” “A Chorus Line” and “The Lion King.” His relationship with the

Playhouse started when he was 11 years old, and he’s been in more than 50 productions.

“The volunteers at the Erie Playhouse give more selflessly than one could imagine,” Sherr says. “It takes an army of talent, all different kinds, to keep a community theater thriving for 100 years, and I think that it’s volunteers are the backbone. It’s an amazing milestone, and I congratulate the staff and the entire Erie Playhouse family. Here’s to 100 more.” LEL

Many of the current Playhouse staff members have directed, performed in and even written numerous shows. When asked to name their favorite shows, they all had a difficult time limiting their favorite shows to three.

ALMITRA CLERKIN: “My Fair Lady,” “Honk!,” “Les Miserables”

SUE LECHNER: “Grand Hotel,” “Wit,” “Master Class”

RICHARD DAVIS: “Jesus Christ Superstar,” “Beauty and the Beast,” “Children of Eden”

CHARLIE CORRITORE: “Ragtime,” “My Fair Lady,” “Jane Eyre”

KATE NEUBERT-LECHNER: “Mary Poppins,” “Chicago,” “My Way,” “Scoundrels” (the latter two both directed by her mom, Sue Lechner)

CHRISTINE CARMICHAEL: “Mary Poppins,” “Les Miserables,” “The Great Gatsby” Erie resident Doris Becker, 91, has performed in Erie Playhouse productions for more than 80 years, with many of her shows represented on the charm necklace shown here at the Playhouse costume shop.

Rachel Freenock, 29, left, and Hayes Moses, 40, both of Millcreek Township, pose in costume from “Ragtime” at the Erie Playhouse costume shop.

DORIS BECKER: “There is something about each show I love!”

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Arts & Entertainment

IT UP TO ARTISTRY Is it art if it fades away? Graphic designer Jeremy Hewitt takes chalk to asphalt every summer at CelebrateErie to show that, even while transient, his works are still beautiful.

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rawing with chalk is one of the oldest forms of art, dating back to the Stone Age. Renaissance artists like Da Vinci and Rembrandt enjoyed using it to create works of art. Certainly, millions of children have taken chalk to sidewalks to draw stick figures and colorful pictures of flowers. A piece of chalk can be used to create high art or fun art depending on who is using it.

Jeremy Hewitt, 33, graphic designer at

By Brian R. Sheridan Photos by Andy Colwell

Mercyhurst University, remembers scribbling on the ground with chalk as a child.

He still takes time each summer to capture the fun of childhood while creating chalk art pieces for CelebrateErie.

“It is enjoyable because I work on a computer all day,” Hewitt says, “so this gives me an opportunity to get my hands dirty, and there’s something I like about being on the ground and rubbing the chalk into the concrete. It is a different medium.”

RIGHT: Mercyhurst University graphic designer Jeremy Hewitt, 33, of Millcreek Township, designed this athletics history mural.

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Arts & Entertainment He says he got out of the habit of chalk drawing when he learned about computer technology, which led him into a career in graphic design. Hewitt says he found that he had gotten out of the habit of doing art with his hands.

The yearly CelebrateErie weekend offers him a “retreat from his computer� as he puts chalk to sidewalk. “It’s a way of also reverting to a child-like state when you are playing with chalk that’s very enjoyable and therapeutic,� he says.

After a few sidewalk drawings for the Summer Festival of the Arts, Hewitt’s first post-graduate job at St. Luke School as director of advancement and marketing in 2012 allowed him to draw for a client. He explains that when you buy a square on State Street, either you can provide an artist or CelebrateErie can supply one. He asked St. Luke administrators if he could be the artist for the St. Luke square, and they agreed. He drew a picture of Bishop Donald Trautman as a bobblehead wearing sunglasses because the Erie Catholic Diocese had been selling the Trautman bobblehead, without sunglasses, to thank him for 21 years of service.

In 2011, Hewitt drew a chalk portrait of Scooby Doo. “Everybody knows Scooby Doo, so everyone was talking, and everyone knows Bishop Trautman, so hopefully it’s the same sort of reaction where people are interested in it and want to know about it. It’s good to talk to the people and see what they have to say,’’ Hewitt told the Erie Times-News at the time.

The following year, his second piece for St. Luke School, “Calling All Minions,� based on the popular characters from the “Despicable Me� movies, beat 30 other entries to win first place. “The award is chosen by the votes from people who pass by. That was a big honor,� Hewitt says.

Since 2014, Hewitt has created CelebrateErie chalk art every year for local organizations, including UPMC Jeremy Hewitt with one of his chalk designs during Chalk Walk. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

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S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 6 / / L A K E E R I E L I F E S T Y L E | 51

Arts & Entertainment Hamot, the Erie County Gaming Revenue Authority and the Zukor Club.

Hewitt says the process of creating chalk artwork involves scaling the initial drawing to fit inside the assigned square that can be either 10 feet by 10 feet or 10 feet by 12 feet. “You also discuss with the client and sketch out what they want, and what you want to do, hopefully meeting in the middle. You submit that (drawing) to the city so they have an idea of what will go into your spot, give it a name, and start on the Thursday of CelebrateErie. You have to have it completed

by Saturday by 5 p.m.,� Hewitt says.

It takes the conviction of an artist to complete the chalk drawing in time, because the work isn’t child’s play. “As I go through the weekend, I get slower and slower because it gets hotter and hotter, harder on the knees and on the back.

I spend a good 10-15 working hours on average per square. Some people come and crank it out on Thursday and let people enjoy it the entire weekend. There are also people who work right

Mercyhurst University graphic designer Jeremy Hewitt, 33, of Millcreek Township, created this athletics history mural in Mercyhurst University’s Athletic Center.

up until Saturday afternoon,� Hewitt says.

This year, he drew a stylized cartoon version of Luke the Laker, Mercyhurst University’s new sports mascot, in a square purchased by the university. Hewitt says he enjoys the interaction with the people who stop by while he’s busy drawing during the weekend. Talking with festival

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A number of Mercyhurst University publications designed by university graphic designer Jeremy Hewitt are pictured at his Old Main desk.

Arts & Entertainment attendees may even alter his piece. “When you move back to talk to people, you see the drawing from a different angle because you aren’t on top of it. It helps to see it from someone else’s perspective and that may help change it,� he says. “They may not know they helped change it but I do take notice of what they see.�

As for the chalk he uses, Hewitt likes a mix of harder children’s sidewalk chalk and the softer chalk provided by CelebrateErie. The harder type is good for making straight lines. The softer matieral is easier for him to color larger areas of the road.

Like Buddhist sand mandalas, Hewitt’s chalk drawings are impermanent. He says he could, as some artists do, mix his chalk with floor wax and “paint� it onto the street. The artwork would last months instead of days, but he prefers the transient nature of the medium. If Hewitt makes a mistake, he can’t easily fix it. “I know my drawings are far from perfect, but I like the fact that once it’s there, it is there for the weekend or until it rains and it’s gone,� he says. “I don’t spray

it down. If I (draw) over it, it will just look muddy, so I like that temporary feeling.�

It may be gone from State Street, but for Hewitt, there are many sidewalks where he can create his art. On the concrete at this home, for instance, he enjoys using chalk with his 2-year-old nephew. Hewitt looks forward to someday introducing his own children to the fun of chalk art.

For the past two years, Hewitt’s wife Kristin has worked on a square near his own. Instead of seeing it as competition, he says it helps him focus more on his art since he can share the experience with her. “It makes the weekend more enjoyable because it means I’m not thinking about what’s going on at home or that I should be doing X, Y and Z. I know that a major part of my life is two squares down from me,� he says.

While the art he creates washes away in the rain, Hewitt’s own love of chalk art doesn’t appear to be fading away as he says he is already looking forward to next year’s project. LEL

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FOOD SP ONSOR E D CONTE NT

7 things you need to know when buying quality meat

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hether it’s a company cookout, breakfast with the kids or a family and friends Labor Day barbecue, the quality of meat you use will go a long way toward determining the success of the meal. For more than a century, neighborhood delis have provided the highest quality, freshest meats around the country and here in Erie.

Tom Walsh, owner of Trawka’s Market on Erie’s east side for 31 years, offers his seven critical considerations when choosing meat for your meal.

1.

CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

wrap for two days,” says Walsh, who worked in pre-packaged meat preparation before purchasing Trawka’s.

Get to know your butcher personally, and don’t be afraid to ask questions. A great butcher can tailor your meat choices around your specific needs.

sure it’s adeptly cut.

4. Make Cuts of the same variety should

2.

be about the same size and thickness. Ragged edges and uneven sections are signs of poor butchering.

With beef and pork, make sure it’s USDA prime. That guarantees high-quality lean meat. Meats that are less than prime have less marbling and can be significantly older, tougher and less flavorful.

Lower quality designations allow for imperfections you probably wouldn’t want if you knew about them. your meats made fresh, 3. Get not pre-packaged and precut. Your local butcher or meat market selects choice cuts and then prepares them right on site.

High-quality meat is vibrant in color and uniform throughout.

“Skip the meat that’s been sitting in a Styrofoam package and plastic

5.

Look for meats smoked on site.

Meats smoked elsewhere, frozen and trucked to the store lack that authentic smoky flavor. “We only choose the best cuts and then prepare them right in our store,” says Walsh. “Smoking our kielbasa on site gives it that mild smoky garlic flavor that people tell us they love.”

a taste. The full, robust fla6. Take vors of the meat should burst in your mouth. That just isn’t possible if it’s been packaged in Indiana and shipped to Pennsylvania for sale 48 hours later. Walsh says once you’ve tasted really fresh meat, you’ll never go back to packaged cuts.

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7. Talk to people who know. Everyone knows a connoisseur of fine meats who only serves the best cuts, whether it’s for a party platter or the grill. They know who carries the highest quality, freshest meats and invariably they will send you to a neighborhood market.

For cold cuts: The cold cuts prepared in most neighborhood meat markets like Trawka’s Market are hand-blended based on homemade recipes. Located at 712 Payne Avenue in Erie, Trawka’s carries a full complement of meats, including smoked kielbasa, grill-ready ground beef, chicken and pork. They also offer catering and a wide selection of salads, soups, accompaniments and exotic meats like ox roast and kapusta (sweet & sour cabbage & bacon).

BROUGHT TO YOU BY NWPFC — Northwestern PA Food Council.

Trawka’s is a proud member of NWPFC.

On Scene

Erie residents celebrate National Night Out Photos by Jack Hanrahan

National Night Out came home to Erie on Aug. 1 when hundreds of residents attended block parties throughout the region. National Night Out celebrated its 33rd year. The event assists communities in connecting neighborhoods and fostering partnerships between law enforcement and community members. Â

TOP: Lynn Johnson, left, leads a drum circle and Quentin Baughier, 2, joins in at Baker Field in Erie. The drum circle was one of the activities happening during Erie’s annual National Night Out celebration.

LEFT: Erie Police patrolman Ira Bush hands a sticker to Lebron Sansom, 9, during Erie’s annual National Night Out celebration at Baker Field, in Erie.

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On Scene

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Discover Presque Isle

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Discover Presque Isle battled some stormy weather, but raindrops didn’t discourage visitors, who found plenty of events to their liking during the 25th anniversary of the event. Craft booths, pancake breakfasts and dozens of hands-on beach activities were part of the fun, along with the always popular bonfire. The event was established by the Presque Isle Partnership.

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Jessica Rohrdanz, left, an environmental education specialist with the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, gives Avery Tarabrella, 7, of Middletown, Ohio, the print of a perch Avery made during Discover Presque Isle. At right is Avery’s sister, Meadow Tarabrella, 9, and in the background are their brother, Sam Tarabrella, 6, and grandmother Kathie Whipple.

DANA MASSING/ERIE TIMES-NEWS

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Rob Holder, of Erie, competes in the sand sculpture competition July 30 at Beach 8, Presque Isle State Park near Erie, Pa. during Discover Presque Isle.

JACK HANRAHAN/ERIE TIMES-NEWS S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 6 / / L A K E E R I E L I F E S T Y L E | 57

VOTING SP ONSOR E D CONTE NT

Become a co-op voter

By Local & National Electric Cooperative Staff

When we go to the polls with the cooperative principle of “Concern for Community” in mind, we instantly improve our political system. It’s a system designed to produce a government “of the people, by the people and for the people.” People like you and me. When was the last time you voted?

As member-owned electric cooperatives, voting is already in our DNA. It's how we maintain an electric utility that is responsive to the consumers it serves.

But voting also plays a crucial part in our representative democracy. Federal, state and local elections offer an opportunity to exercise a civic responsibility — to select the best leaders for our communities.

Yet in places all over America, even those served by electric cooperatives, citizens aren't exercising that right.

In the 2012 national elections, voter turnout dropped overall, but the decline in rural counties was 18 percent — twice that of the nation as a whole.

And when voters miss the chance to vote, they also lose the opportunity to communicate their concern to our leaders about the issues that matter to us, where we work, live and raise families.

Reliable electricity, access to rural broadband and the quality of our health care system are just a few issues we all care about. Still, they only become priorities if enough people show elected officials that they are paying attention.

Registering to vote and voting are the most send this message. effective ways to se the polls with the cooperWhen we go to th "Concern for Community" ative principle of "C instantly improve our political in mind, we instant system. It's a system designed to produce the people, by the people a government "of th people." People like you and me. and for the people.

We’d like you to join us in a new initiaeligible person registive to get every el tered to vote — you, our family and friends — and take the pledge to become a co-op voter.

Northwestern REC in CamNorthwes Springs has joined America’s bridge Sprin cooperatives in launchelectric coop campaign to help get out the ing a campa insert issues important vote and ins into the public discusto co-ops in sion. Called “Co-ops Vote,” this effort will help boost voter turnout in areas served by cooperatives across the country to ensure that our voices are heard loud and clear every day,

58 | L A K E E R I E L I F E S T Y L E / / w w w . l a k e e r i e l i f e s t y l e . c o m

and especially on Election Day. Here’s what you can do to help. Visit the Co-ops Vote website, www.vote.coop, and take the pledge to become a co-op voter, to support your community and electric cooperative when casting your vote in 2016. The website will give you information on your elected officials and candidates, the voter registration process, election dates and locations, and background about eight key co-op issues we want our elected leaders to understand: rural broadband access, hiring and honoring veterans, low-income energy assistance, cybersecurity, water regulation, rural health care access, affordable and reliable energy, and renewable energy.

Co-ops Vote is a nonpartisan program developed by the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA), the national service organization that represents the nation’s more than 900 private, not-for-profit, consumerowned electric cooperatives. With 42 million members across the nation, electric co-ops are a powerful voice on national issues that have a local impact.

If you have any questions, please visit www.vote.coop, or contact us directly at Northwestern REC by calling 1-800-3520014. We hope to see you at the polls.

BROUGHT TO YOU BY Northwestern Rural Electric Cooperative, Assoc. Inc.