THE PICTURE TAKER

ERIK WEBER, 29 Owner West Chester Views, Photographer If Erik Weber’s Instagram account, @westchesterviews, looks like a love letter to the borough, it’s because that’s kind of what it is. Erik fell in love with the town and has now made a career of showing off West Chester through his street photography. Featuring the doorways, brick sidewalks, storefronts, flora and fauna and, of course, its many dogs, his account looks like a one-man promotional tour of the borough. Originally from Berks County, Weber has only been living in West Chester since 2017 and started his Instagram page in July of that year. As of this writing, the account has more than 20,000 followers. The love story began, as it often does, through friends. After college in 2012, where Erik obtained a degree in Business Marketing, some of his friends moved to West Chester, and Erik visited them frequently. He loved it enough to move here, even though it entailed an hour commute to work each day to the job he’d held for six years as an inside sales rep, sales trainer and coach at Penske Truck Leasing. Call it a long-distance romance.

notch musical acts to local West Chester venues, as well as to p ​ arks and attractions across the world, including Holland America Line, Hersheypark, and Carnival Cruise Line.

His goal through his photography is to share the beauty of West Chester with as many people as possible in the hope that it will inspire more people to visit the borough and spend more time here. He also strives to create a sense of community, reposting other people’s WC photos on his account. Because what good is love if you don’t share it? Erik has expanded into selling his photos as both prints and merchandise, including puzzles, coffee mugs, and phone cases. Not bad for a guy with no background or formal training in photography, and Erik feels grateful that he came to realize he has an eye for it.

The Harrisburg-Hershey native first landed in the Borough in 1999 to study music at West Chester University. He went on to tour nationally and internationally, performing and producing shows at up to 20 theme parks and cruise lines all over the world, before returning to West Chester as his home base.

THE MUSIC MAN

MICHAEL WINDISH, 38 CEO, Windish Music & Productions

He said he’d sat on the idea for the page for a while, and then realized that since he’s out walking his dog Miley around town every day, he might as well take that first photo.

As the theater saying goes: ​the show must go on! For Michael Windish, the CEO of Windish Music & Productions, the show certainly does go on, both here at home in West Chester and in many venues located beyond the borders of Chester County.

All good journeys, after all, begin with the first step.

As a music and entertainment producer, Windish brings world-class, top-

Today, his business provides live shows and production services including casting, directing and teaching performers, as well as writing original music and show material, and bringing headlining acts to the public. Michael’s shows at Uptown! include a monthly dueling piano show and multiple touring acts, including The Glenn Miller Orchestra and the Celtic Tenors from Ireland. Ever the troubadour, Windish spends his days traveling to major music cities for work, but makes sure to bring back what he’s learned to West Chester.

JULY 2019 THEWCPRESS.COM

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