Lake Erie Lifestyle January 2021 by ErieTimesNews

CONTENTS

JANUARY 2021 VOL. 14 ISSUE 2

BON APPETIT

CHEESECAKE TO LOVE Raspberry filling can fix broken cheesecakes, hearts on Valentine's Day

CHOCOLATE BREWS Enjoy some well-crafted chocolate beers in the Erie region this winter

IMPROVING EATING HABITS End of bad food romance looking good for healthy relationship

FAMILY

KID-FRIENDLY FUN ACTIVITIES The Erie area has many fun winter activities to enjoy amid COVID-19

BUSINESS & COMMERCE

HOBBIES

HEALTHIER GOURMET CAKES

CHESS POPULARITY BOOM

Nature inspires creation at pop-up bakery Flower Kitchen

Erie players optimistic “Queen's Gambit” will encourage more women to play

YOUR HEALTH

IN EVERY ISSUE

BEST FRIENDS TO THE RESCUE During a time of hardships, dogs and cats have provided love, comfort for Erie families

2 | LAKE ERIE LIFESTYLE

WHERE ARE THEY NOW? More records could be in the future for McDowell runner

CONTRIBUTORS Heather Cass tells readers about the increase in pet adoptions that has a lot to do with folks being lonely during COVID-19. Cass is the publications manager at Penn State Behrend and owner of three rescue pets — two cats and the best dog on earth. page 14

JANUARY 2021

EDITOR Matt Martin mmartin@timesnews.com

Jennie Geisler gives us a good dose of comfort food that warms the heart and tummy for winter She has prepared recipes that appear in the Erie Times-News for more than 17 years. page 4

Halle K. Sullivan introduces us to the owners of Flower Kitchen, a new pop-up bakery that creates delicious, nutritious baked goods that look great, too. She is the grant writer and grants and project manager for WQLN Public Media. page 6

DESIGNER Mary Ann Lawrence Gannett Design Center

PAGE EDITING Shannon Coleman Gannett Design Center

PHOTOGRAPHERS Jack Hanrahan, Christopher Millette, Greg Wohlford

ADVERTISING Joanne Conrad-Turner, advertising director jconradturner@localiq.com

All content, including the design, art, photos and editorial content ©2021, Erie Times-News. No portion of this magazine may be copied or reprinted without the express written permission of the publisher.

ON THE COVER A golden retriever mother and puppy are shown sitting on a lawn. Erie shelters and rescue organizations have seen an increase in pet adoptions during the pandemic.

Marissa Orbanek finds a local twist on chess clubs that have increased in membership and interest since the premiere of "The Queen's Gambit" on Netflix. Orbanek has been writing for Lake Erie LifeStyle for 13 years and is now a freelance writer living in Philadelphia with her family. page 24 Steve Orbanek sweetens the beer trail this month with chocolate beers he has discovered in the Lake Erie area and beyond. Orbanek is the associate director of communications at Fox School of Business at Temple University. page 10

Pam Parker takes a look back at the subject of a past Lake Erie LifeStyle magazine article. She is the past editor of Lake Erie LifeStyle. page 32

Sarah Grabski digs up ideas for how children (and grown-up kids) can spend a socially-distanced winter. She is the director of communications and administrative services for General McLane School District. page 20 John Chacona tells readers about ending his bad relationship with food and provides survival strategies when going through a six-week elimination diet that forbids gluten, sugar, dairy, alcohol and caffeine, among others. page 28

GETTY IMAGES

JANUARY 2021 | 3

BON APPÉTIT

Raspberry ﬁ lling ﬁ xes broken cheesecake, heart Jennie Geisler Erie Times-News USA TODAY NETWORK

So you don't have a valentine, you say? Wait just a minute. What if I said you can easily replace all that sweet lusciousness — to say nothing of racking up a moraleboosting achievement — by making your own cheesecake at home? And if it cracks, who the heck cares? Just top the thing with half a can of raspberry pie filling and take a picture and post that puppy on every social media site you want and all the "lucky" ones with their significant others who are Netflix and chillin' can be jealous. I mean, you have an entire cheesecake to yourself. They have to compromise on the dinner, the movie, the location, act excited about a stuffed animal, everything.

Raspberry-Topped Cheesecake

GREG WOHLFORD/ ERIE TIMES-NEWS

• 2 teaspoons lemon juice • 16 ounces sour cream

Serves 12

• 1 16-ounce can pie filling

For the crust:

Heat oven to 325 F.

• 18 whole graham crackers or 10 ounces vanilla wafers

In the bowl of a food processor, combine graham crackers or vanilla wafers, brown sugar, salt and cinnamon and process into fine crumbs. Transfer the crumbs to a medium bowl and add melted butter. Mix well until no dry spots remain.

• 1⁄ 4 cup light brown sugar • 1⁄ 2 teaspoon kosher salt • 1⁄ 2 teaspoon ground cinnamon (optional) • 3⁄ 4 cup unsalted butter, melted For the filling: • 11⁄ 2 pounds cream cheese • 1 1/3 cups sugar • 5 large eggs • 1⁄ 4 cup flour • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract

4 | LAKE ERIE LIFESTYLE

Press crust evenly into the bottom and at least 11⁄ 2 inches up the sides of a 9-inch springform pan. Use the bottom of a measuring cup to make sure the bottom is as even as possible. Bake on the middle rack until crust is set and just starting to brown around the edges, 20 to 25 minutes. Remove pan from the oven and

set aside while you prepare the filling. All filling ingredients should be at room temperature. Start by beating the cream cheese until light and fluffy. Keep the mixer on a low setting throughout the beating and mixing process. Add the sugar a little at a time and continue beating until creamy. Add one egg at a time and beat after each egg. When eggs have been mixed into the cream cheese add flour, vanilla and lemon juice, mix well. Add the sour cream last and beat well. Pour cream cheese mixture into the spring pan.

Place on the top rack in the middle of preheated oven for one hour. When time is up, turn oven off, prop open oven door and leave in oven for one hour. Remove from oven. Let cool to room temperature before refrigerating up to 24 hours before serving. To serve, release springform ring and spread raspberry pie filling across the top of cheesecake. Crust recipe adapted from https://cooking.nytimes.com; filling adapted from www.geniuskitchen.com. Nutrition information per serving: 599 calories; 35 g fat (19 g saturated); 171 mg cholesterol; 437 mg sodium; 67 g carbohydrate; 2.5 g fiber; 47 g sugar; 8.9 g protein. ♦

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Nature inspires creations at Erie pop-up bakery Halle K. Sullivan Special to Erie Times-News USA TODAY NETWORK

MARY ANN LAWRENCE/USA TODAY NETWORK AND HALLE K. SULLIVAN PHOTO

6 | LAKE ERIE LIFESTYLE

lower power makes fanciful ﬂ avors at Erie’s only pop-up bakery. h Chet Hasabnis and Amy Dalessandro, co-founders of Flower Kitch-

en, infuse their evolving menu of gourmet cakes with ingredients inspired by nature, shunning many of the over-processed, reﬁ ned ingredients that give sweets a sour reputation. h

“There are so many great alter-

natives to (refi ned) sugar,” Hasabnis said, “like concentrated fruit extracts ... monk fruit sweetener ... honey and maple syrup, for example,” which have nutritional benefi ts in addition to satisfying a sweet tooth. h Hasabnis and Dalessandro’s pop-up bakery model maximizes effi ciency and minimizes waste. Cake orders are due by Friday afternoons. Only then does the couple, who are

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dating, shop for ingredients, preparing all the cakes for pickup on a single day (typically Sunday), within a few hours’ window, at their popup location (currently Stanganelli’s Italian Foods, 602 E. 25th St.).

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JANUARY 2021 | 7

Flower Kitchen helps its customers sneak in some healthy foods as well as reconnect with nature through fruit, fl ower and herb-based confections. Among the bestsellers are a triple-berry lemon-curd rosemary cake and a grape pistachio cake. The fi g lavender blueberry cake’s soft, springtime fl avors are as luxurious as an aromatherapy bath. Almost all of the cakes are available in vegan or keto-friendly versions, too. Ketofriendly options might favor ingredients like almond fl our and chia seeds in place of wheat and eggs. “For the vegan cakes, I experimented with so many options,” Hasabnis said. “Apple sauce, banana as a binding agent and stabilizing agent. I was initially skeptical with replacing eggs, and then it turned out, when I looked into it, there really are good alternatives.” One of their fi rst creations was a cake with edible rose petals, which reminded Hasabnis of a rose petal jam popular in India, his country of origin. Rose is recommended for its cooling, calming eff ect on the body and mind, although it may indeed help heat things up for Valentine’s Day. Some of the Flower Kitchen’s cakes are fi lled with homemade tea jam; others incorporate turmeric, a known anti-infl ammatory, and other healing herbs. They don’t seem to cause that icky sugar buzz — and crash — that comes from “ordinary” sweets. “For half my life, in the back of my head, I knew I should eat healthier,” Dalessandro said, echoing a self-evaluation shared by many. She gets inspired every time she sees someone making the eff ort to improve their health. Inspiration seems equally matched with intuition for Flower Kitchen’s other chef. Hasabnis recalled meeting Flower Kitchen’s third co-founder, James Rosenbalm, who isn’t currently actively involved with the business. “It was just fate. And then he was the one who passed on his knowledge ... knowledge in general, and how to appreciate food, and especially tea,” Hasabnis said. The two conversed over tea, and Hasabnis was impressed with Rosenbalm’s stories of his farmstead childhood and his keen knowledge of gardening. Rosenbalm taught Hasabnis to bake bread. The fi rst batch was a success, and Hasabnis carried home the second of two loaves they had baked. Late that night, he awoke, dogged by the feeling of having to do something with that extra loaf of bread. “Around four or fi ve a.m.,” he said, “I got

8 | LAKE ERIE LIFESTYLE

a dream that I have to give the bread to someone.” So Hasabnis wandered the streets of Erie in the deep of night, loaf in hand, his conviction fl agging as the minutes — then hours — passed. He eventually came upon two men scavenging in a dumpster and offered them the bread, which they eagerly accepted. Inspiration for the business continues to come in part from a desire to give back to the community. Flower Kitchen sources as many ingredients as possible from local suppliers. “We actually made a cake of 100% local ingredients,” Dalessandro said of their holy basil lemon ginger blueberry cake. “We feel that is something unique that we can off er.” Inspiration also comes from Hasabnis’ and Dalessandro’s desire to care deeply and holistically for themselves, while also living more sustainably. “During COVID, we were able to take a step back,” Dalessandro said. “We were off work a few days, back in March when no one knew what was going on, and we had more time to refl ect on everything.”

Taste It Learn more: www.flowerkitchen.org www.facebook.com/ FlowerKitchenErie www.instagram.com/ flowerkitchenerie/?hl=en Contact: info.flowerkitchen@ gmail.com, 201-932-6233

ABOVE: Chet Hasabnis and Amy Dalessandro operate Flower Kitchen, a pop-up bakery in Erie. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

Like much of the world, throughout 2020 the couple were looking for experiences that were soothing and nurturing in the midst of challenging times. As the coronavirus pandemic progressed, business ground to a halt for Hasabnis’ other enterprise, the tech fi rm N-GEMS. Around the same time, a close friend’s mother died after battling cancer, prompting Hasabnis to begin researching alternative medicines. Add to that, as Hasabnis puts it, “Amy has her heart and soul in doing things for the community, as a social worker, and it just clicked.” So the couple began growing their own herbs and experimenting with diff erent aromas and fl avors, while reaching out to the business community to connect with local growers, producers, cafes and more. Flower Kitchen is not just upping the ante for healthy sweets; they take great care in beautifully styling their creations, too, with garnishes made of edible fl owers, fruit or herbs, in picture-perfect patterns. For many years, Dalessandro had prepared fanciful treats including hand dipped chocolate-covered cookies and pretzels in beautiful packaging for friends’ baby showers, wedding showers and more, for the pure joy of it. “Amy and I, we both love giving presents,” Hasabnis said. “And when we make cakes, it feels like a present. Most people order for their birthdays, or get-togethers, or to cheer up their dear one. And just knowing that our cakes are being used for something good, it makes you feel good.” Outside the kitchen, Dalessandro is a creative powerhouse. As a self-published novelist and chairwoman of the Stardust Ballroom Dance Club, her creative drive touches all aspects of her life and the business.

Flower Kitchen co-founders Chet Hasabnis and Amy Dalessandro source as many ingredients as possible from local suppliers. Shown is their triple-berry tiramisu cake. HALLE K. SULLIVAN/CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

“I just get inspired,” Dalessandro, 35, said. “I’ve been writing since I was 5 years old. I feel like I have so much I need to give — like I have to do something for somebody. I just have to give.” Hasabnis, 29, and Dalessandro teamed up with St. John’s Lutheran Church in Erie, where Stardust had held regular dances before the pandemic. The church’s commercial kitchen and location were ideal for the new startup, but because of COVID-19 health and safety guidelines, Flower Kitchen has relocated, at least temporari-

NEVER Miss What Matters!

ly, to the kitchen of Stanganelli’s Italian Foods. “Someday we envision having a storefront that allows us to interact closely with our customers,” Hasabnis said. “Every customer that we speak with, they have something to share. And we love to see their reactions.” Meanwhile, ﬁ nd their cake pops at Pressed Books & Coﬀ ee, 1535 W. Eighth St., and their cakes on the menu at Room 33 Speakeasy, 1033 State St. Hasabnis cites Room 33’s cocktail savvy with inspiring Flower Kitchen concoctions like the cherry pineapple chocolate mousse cake infused with French vodka, Godiva chocolate liqueur and RumChata. “We love for people to suggest recipe or ingredient combinations,” Dalessandro said. One of her coworkers dreamed up a tasty white-chocolate raspberry pineapple cake. Hasabnis’ coworkers must be the wilder (or weirder) bunch: They came up with zucchini, pineapple and chocolate, a surprise hit. “Flower Kitchen is like a journey,” Hasabnis said. “It’s like a way of life. We’re discovering, every day, people who are having a creative outlet ... and all these small businesses can learn from each other, support each other and they have something unique.” So what’s next for this creative duo? When health and safety guidelines allow, they hope to have tasting sessions to share their own creations alongside products from the many local businesses who supply the bakery. And whether or not the rose petal cake makes a return, the couple promise something truly loveable on the valentine menu. Beyond that, Mother Nature’s bounty is the limit. ♦

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JANUARY 2021 | 9

Enjoy well-crafted decadent drafts this winter By Steve Orbanek Special to Erie Times-News USA TODAY NETWORK

For craft beer drinkers, winter has another name. It’s aff ectionately called stout season, which pays homage to the rich, malty style of dark beer that is so great for the colder months. There’s nothing better to warm you up than a rich, thick stout or a roasted, malty porter. And while the style is enjoyed year-round, there is no doubt that it’s at its most popular during this time of the year. Some of the most fl avorful stouts give off notes of coff ee or chocolate, but that does not necessarily mean those ingredients are used as part of the brewing process. The right blend of dark, roasted barley can bring about a signifi cant chocolate taste and aroma in the fi nal beer. It’s similar to how diff erent hop varieties are used to inject juicy and fruity fl avors in popular hazy IPAs. Nonetheless, more and more, dark styles of beer are utilizing chocolate directly in the brewing process. In particular, when the adjunct is added directly during the fermentation process, the chocolate fl avor is even more pronounced in the fi nal beer product. Locally, there are a number of great chocolate beers available, both from Lake Erie Ale Trail breweries as well as breweries that distribute to this region. This includes a number of beers that have just been introduced over the past few months. Here are some favorite chocolate-fl avored beers that we suggest you enjoy to help you combat the frigid temperatures along Lake Erie.

MARY ANN LAWRENCE/ USA TODAY NETWORK; AND GETTY IMAGES

10 | LAKE ERIE LIFESTYLE

Cowbell Voodoo Brewery, Erie, 8.5 alcohol by volume Cowbell has been among Voodoo’s more popular off erings for several years. Brewed with Hershey’s chocolate, this double chocolate oatmeal imperial milk stout is rich and smooth. It goes down incredibly easy for a beer over 8%. My only complaint in the past was that it was not available as much as I (and the collective craft beer community) would have liked, but that looks to be changing. According to Matteo Rachocki, CEO of Voodoo Brewery, more Cowbell is on the way. “We’ll be putting it into 12ounce cans for our retail pubs and distribution for the fi rst time now that we have a fl ash pasteurizer,” Rachocki says. The beer should be available in cans around the end of January.

Silk Bomb

VOODOO BREWERY/CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

The Brewerie at Union Station, Erie, 5.8 ABV To anyone who will listen, I have consistently said that Silk Bomb is the most underrated beer that is brewed in Erie. I’m not alone, either, as Brewerie owner Chris Sirianni says it’s his favorite beer that the brewery/restaurant serves yearround. Brewed with chocolate malts, the beer is full of ﬂ avors of chocolate, caramel and coffee. What makes it even better is that it’s a relatively low-ABV beer, but it has all the ﬂ avor of a beer that would traditionally have a higher ABV. It’s available on draft and in crowler or growler at the brewery.

GETTY IMAGES

JASON LAVERY/CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

Grandpa Romolo’s Famous Sponge Candy Stout Lavery Brewing Co., Erie, 7.7 ABV Resurgence Brewing Co. in Buﬀ alo had brewed a sponge candy stout for a number of years, but the style just made its Erie debut this past fall when Lavery collaborated with Romolo Chocolates to create this beer. The term “hype beer” gets thrown around when describing a popular beer that sells out quickly. The term is certainly applicable here. Upon its release in November, the beer sold out within just a few hours at Lavery and, since then, another batch was brewed, which was released in late December. The beer is a logical ﬁ t for Erie, as it combines two great local businesses and uses the Erie staple, sponge candy, in a creative way. Provided it’s not sold out, it’s available in 12-ounce cans at Lavery as well as some stores, like Wegmans, in the Erie area.

JANUARY 2021 | 11

Skipper’s Stout Erie Brewing Co., Erie County, 7.2 ABV Since its introduction as one of Erie Brewing’s regular seasonal off erings, Skipper’s Stout has quickly emerged as one of my go-to stouts to enjoy during the winter months. It’s brewed with both chocolate malts and creme brulee, which help give it such a sweet and smooth fl avor. Also, for just being over 7%, it’s not a thin beer by any means, which makes it even more enjoyable. One of the other benefi ts is that it’s widely available in the region. Essentially, if a place sells beer locally, there’s almost always a good chance that the Skipper will be available in 12-ounce bottles during the appropriate season. ♦ Yuengling Hershey's Chocolate Porter is now available in bottles. YEUNGLING/CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

Hershey’s Chocolate Porter Yuengling Brewery, Pottsville, 4.7 ABV When it was announced that Yuengling would release this beer in 12-ounce bottles this past fall, the collective internet beer community proceeded to lose its mind. Introduced on draft in fall 2019, Hershey’s Chocolate Porter is one of Yuengling’s ﬁ rst forays into

12 | LAKE ERIE LIFESTYLE

the world of adjunct-based craft beers. While it’s a bit thin when compared to the other beers on this list, that’s also to be somewhat expected given that its ABV is under 5%. The beer is still deﬁ nitely worth seeking out, especially when you consider it’s a relatively inexpensive price: a 12-pack costs around $18 or so. Plus, it’s also a true porter, which is one of the styles that Yuengling does best.

PHOTO COURTESY OF WWW.ERIEBREWINGCO.COM

WHERE ARE THEY NOW

Speeding toward records Since we last wrote about McDowell’s Mattern, he has been racking up medals Pam Parker Erie Times-News USA TODAY NETWORK

In our March 2019 issue, Heather Cass wrote about Christian Mattern, who then was a 15-year-old student at Westlake Middle School. The cross country runner had an undefeated season in 20182019 and went on to have similar successes at McDowell High School, where he is now a sophomore. Mattern has set a string of records, but his story isn’t just one of a successful young runner. He battled attention defi cit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and oppositional defi ance disorder (ODD) throughout elementary school. After he joined the seventh grade cross country team at Westlake Middle School, things turned around for him and his family. “When I’m running, my mind is clear, “ Mattern said in the article. “I’m not focusing on fi ve things and my brain just

feels sort of empty. I’m only thinking about the race.” Since that time, he has been racking up records and collecting medals. In March, the Mattern family was packed and ready to leave for indoor nationals, but COVID-19 force that trip to be canceled. He had qualiﬁ ed to run in the mile as a freshman. This past year, he won the District 10 cross country meet at Titusville’s Ed Myer Recreation Complex in 16 minutes, 17 seconds and moved on to the PIAA meet at Hershey’s Parkview Cross Country Course, where he placed 44th with a time of 17:22. Mattern was also named McDowell runner of the year as a second-year varsity runner. He broke the Frontier Park course record and is now the second-fastest McDowell male runner recorded on the Brown’s Farm timesheet. While the season is over, more records could be in the future. ♦

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McDowell High School’s Colton Martin, left, ﬁ nishes fourth and teammate Christian Mattern ﬁ nishes third in the District 10-8 Class 3A subregional meet in 2019 at Buhl Park in Hermitage. JACK HANRAHAN/ERIE TIMES-NEWS

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Heather Cass Special to Erie Times-News USA TODAY NETWORK MARY ANN LAWRENCE/USA TODAY NETWORK; AND GETTY IMAGES

14 | LAKE ERIE LIFESTYLE

n a deeply divided country, there’s one thing most of us can all agree on: 2020 was among the worst years ever. But there’s one group of

“family member” for which 2020 was one of the greatest years of their lives — pets. h

“The animals are thriving in 2020,”

said Kimberly Morrow of Erie, who adopted Kylo from Because You Care in May. h

Morrow, who has a senior in

high school, a junior in college and student in graduate school, was close to an empty nest when the whole ﬂ ock came back home to roost in March. h “When the governor gave the stay-at-home orders, we had a conversation around the dinner table about how we were all going to be together for the foreseeable future, and that we’d have to make the best of it,” Morrow said. h

Knowing her kids had

always wanted a dog and that all of them would have plenty of time at home to care for one, she suggested they temporarily foster a dog. The next day, they started the process of becoming a foster home with Because You Care, a local pet rescue organization. h

When they were ap-

proved, they learned there were no dogs available. You read that right: The shelter had no adoptable dogs in need of a home. That is how wonderful 2020 has been for animals.

Erie’s Ryan Morrow holds Kylo, the family dog adopted from Because You Care in May. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

Kylo

The Morrow family did eventually get a pup – Kylo, a medium-size, mixed-breed dog, estimated to be less than 2 years old. Kylo was rescued by Because You Care from a shelter in Kentucky where overﬂ ow pets are euthanized if they are not adopted. What began as a foster pet soon became a permanent family member. “He’s the best dog,” Morrow said. “He doesn’t bark, beg or jump. It’s like he said ‘Thank you for saving me, I promise to always be good.’ ” Kylo isn’t the only dog that found its forever home thanks to the pandemic. Because You Care’s dog care manager, Cheryl Sealy, said the organization had seen a 40%

increase in dog adoptions and a 20% increase in cat adoptions since March. “People told us that it was a good time to adopt because they were working at home and have more time to train the dog,” Sealy said. “We also gained a lot of new foster homes, which was so helpful this year when we couldn’t have our adoption center open.” Sealy said some see fostering as a good way to “test out” a dog until they ﬁ nd the right one to adopt. “Many, like the Morrows, adopt their ﬁ rst foster pet,” Sealy said. “I’m still looking for dogs for people who have had applications in since March. It’s a great problem to have.”

JANUARY 2021 | 15

100 more homes The Reinsel family (from top left), Kerry, Lydia, Valerie and Molly, take their dog Willow for a car ride. CONTRIBUTED PHOTOS

Willow The Reinsels, a Summit Township family of four, including daughters, Lydia, 14, and Valerie, 12, had talked about adopting a dog for more than a year. Valerie had even undergone years of allergy shots to reduce her reaction to dog dander in preparation for a future fourfooted family member. The pandemic provided all the incentive they needed to ﬁ nally welcome a dog into their home. Because You Care introduced the Reinsels to Willow, a 1-year-old border collie and Aus-

tralian Shepard mix. “It was love at ﬁ rst sight” mother Molly Reinsel said. “She was the perfect blend of sweet, cuddly pup with an energetic spirit and a true heart of gold.” Willow made herself right at home, bringing joy in a stressful year. “She was Heaven sent,” Molly Reinsel said. “Adopting Willow has brightened our world, especially in the middle of this pandemic where everything has seemed so bleak. She adopted us as much as we adopted her.”

The Erie Humane Society also had a banner year. “By December of 2020, we had about 100 more adoptions than we did the year before,” said Nicole Leone, executive director of the Erie Humane Society. “That’s not just dogs, but a combination of dogs and cats and even a few bunnies, guinea pigs and mice, too.” Leone attributes the increase to the pandemic. “Many adopters have said they have additional time or the capability to work at home to help settle a new companion and get to know them,” she said. “In addition, they felt that adopting a pet would help deter stress and bring some joy into their home. Several people have told us that the pandemic has manifested anxiety in themselves or their children.” Animals are a well-researched and proven antidote to stress and can help minimize dark feelings. “I think not only are adults unnerved with all of the uncertainty we’ve been living with, but children as well, with virtual school and the constant changing of routines,” Leone said. “Pets provide stability and unconditional love.”

GETTY IMAGES

16 | LAKE ERIE LIFESTYLE

Matthew 11:28-30

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will refresh your life.

Take my yoke upon you and let me teach you, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will ﬁnd rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.

· God of Hope · Peace in the midst of Life’s Storms · GOD CARES FOR YOU!

Frontier Lumber celebrating 75 years – Thank you Erie

Katie Vickery relaxes with the family dog, Loki, who was adopted at 12 weeks old from the Erie Humane Society. Vickery said because the family has spent more time at home during the pandemic they “were able to give him more attention with his training and he was the perfect excuse to take snuggle breaks.” CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

Loki

Graham and Katie Vickery, of Millcreek Township, are parents of Ava, 13, and Ellie, 10. They adopted their new pet just before the pandemic conspired to keep all at home and helped their pooch, Loki, live his best life, reveling in the attention of the family for months on end. The Vickerys adopted Loki, a pit bull/husky mix, from the Erie Humane Society as a puppy. “He was just 12 weeks old when got him,” Katie Vickery said. “We had been working with Nicole Leone to ﬁ nd the right dog. She suggested a pup-

18 | LAKE ERIE LIFESTYLE

Sisters Ellie, 10, left, and Ava, 13, Vickery cuddle on a couch with their dog, Loki. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

py as our daughters could help raise it and learn about the responsibilities of pet ownership. Loki was the last in a litter that was in a foster home.” It took just one look for the Vickerys to decide he was the

dog for them. “When that chubby boy trotted into the room, we were sold,” she said. “He was outgoing and playful and not at all shy. I knew he would ﬁ t in perfectly with our outgoing fam-

ily.” Little did the Vickerys know that soon they’d have more time than they ever expected to pour into Loki’s training. “When COVID-19 hit, we had to adjust to working and going to school at home,” she said. “I can honestly say that having Loki there at home with us was great. We were able to give him more attention with his training and he was the perfect excuse to take snuggle breaks.” Loki also encouraged more outdoor time for the family. “We learned quickly that he loves to be outside,” she said. “So, we started taking him to experience the beach, parks and even outdoor dining. He loves people and other dogs, so we take him everywhere now.”

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The cure for what ails you While the pets covered in this article are all dogs, Erie shelters and rescue organizations say they have seen an increase in pet adoptions overall, including cats and small animals. It’s no surprise in a stressful, tumultuous time when many humans need all the things pets silently encourage – exercise, optimism, fresh air, joy and a

commitment to living in the moment. “Pets are a great comfort when we are stressed, lonely or sad,” Sealy said. “They bring us great happiness and teach us valuable lessons about life and what’s really important. Mine make me laugh a lot, too, and we all know that laughter is truly the best medicine for whatever ails us.” ♦

JANUARY 2021 | 19

MARY ANN LAWRENCE/USA TODAY NETWORK; AND GETTY IMAGES

20 | LAKE ERIE LIFESTYLE

Fun winter activities for Erie families to enjoy Sarah Grabski

Special to Erie Times-News USA TODAY NETWORK

Got cabin fever? No problem. Familyfriendly activities are abundant during the winter months in Erie, even with COVID-19 restrictions. Here's a list of kid-friendly activities to do in the Erie area that your whole family will enjoy. Learn to love the snow, try a new activity or take a new adventure (all information accurate as of Jan. 8; COVID-19 mitigation guidance could change).

Colleen Stumpf of Millcreek Township and her daughter Hanna snowshoe the trails at the Andrew J. Conner Nature Center at Asbury Woods in Millcreek Township in January 2019. JACK HANRAHAN

TRY SNOWSHOEING If you have your own snowshoes, head out to Presque Isle State Park or any other local park or open public space when the snow starts to fall. If you need to rent snowshoes, Wilderness Lodge, 13488 Weeks Valley Road in Wattsburg, offers snowshoe rentals and family-friendly trails. Before visiting, call 814-739-2946 to check the availability and snow conditions. Mount Pleasant of Edinboro, 14510 Mt. Pleasant Road in Cambridge Springs, also offers snowshoeing trails. Before visiting, call 814-734-1641 to check on snow and trail conditions. COVID-19 safety plans are in place at each site.

JANUARY 2021 | 21

VISIT THE ERIE COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY

The Erie County Public Library has curbside pickup at some locations that make picking out books online fun. The library is also offering a variety of virtual programs for all ages, some of which include toddler classes that families may make curbside appointments for to pick up boxes of materials before completing the virtual class. To be sure of what the library is offering, see www.erielibrary.org or call 814-451-6936.

GREG WOHLFORD

TAKE A SKIING LESSON The Erie region is lucky to have a few ski resorts within driving distance that offer lessons. Peek’n Peak Resort, 1405 Olde Road, Clymer, New York, offers a variety of lessons from beginner to expert levels. Mount Pleasant of Edinboro also offers a Snokids, Snoparents and After School lessons that cater to all age groups and skill levels. Wilderness Lodge also offers lessons for crosscountry skiing and techniques that accompany that style. The Peak and Mount Pleasant each cater to snowboarders and tubers as well.

RENT A THEATER AT TINSELTOWN Tinseltown, 1910 Rotunda Drive, Erie, is offering private watch parties for anyone who wants to rent out a movie theater for up to 20 guests. The cost to rent may vary depending on date and time, and the viewer can choose the movie of his or her choosing. To see available times or to book, visit http://bit.ly/3ouaNm8 or call 814-866-3390.

DECLUTTER There are numerous drop-off events that allow for convenience and safety. Erie County Recycling Center, 1624 Filmore Ave., operates on Tuesday and appointments are necessary. Best Buy still accepts some small electronic items, though all Pennsylvania Best Buy stores no longer accept computer monitors and televisions. More on electronics recycling is available at http://bit.ly/3nxrBaN.

The an indoor inflatable facility at 2626 W. 12th St. offers a private bounce for $10 per child for one hour in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. It’s a private bounce time slot for groups to enjoy the entire facility to themselves. The facility includes numerous inflatables and bounce obstacle courses for kids of all ages. TAKE THE KIDS TO THE EXPERIENCE CHILDREN’S MUSEUM

The museum, 420 French St., Erie, offers reservations on Saturdays and Sundays for families to join in specific sessions to allow for disinfecting between sessions in response to COVID-19. Check the museum’s Facebook page and website, www.eriechildrens museum.org/ for updates.

SKATE AWAY JACK HANRAHAN/ERIE TIMES-NEWS

The Flo Fabrizio Ice Center, 527 W. 38th St., Erie, is offering public skate sessions. Pricing for public skate is $6 for nonmembers and $5 for members, with skate rentals costing extra. Doors open 30 minutes prior to the sessions. Check eriezoo.org/ice-center for more information. The center also offers learn-to-skate lessons on Saturday mornings from 10 a.m. to noon, a class for anyone ages 3 and up. Check www.eriezoo.org/ice-center for more information on those, too.

CHRISTOPHER MILLETTE/ERIE TIMES-NEWS

LEARN ABOUT NATURE

JACK HANRAHAN

22 | LAKE ERIE LIFESTYLE

BOUNCE AROUND AT JUMPIN’ JUNGLE

Asbury Woods, 4105 Asbury Road in Erie, has wonderful groomed trails and a boardwalk that make for safe winter outdoor walks and hikes. Asbury Woods also offers snowshoe clinics and other adult-, child- and COVIDfriendly outdoor activities. Check the status of their programming and trails of maps at www.asburywoods.org/.

The Candle Box, 2564 W. Eighth St., offers small candle making classes. Due to COVID restrictions, they ask for groups of four or less for these classes, which last around 1 hour. Cost is $35 and includes your take-home 13-ounce candle. Candlemakers can also bring their beverage of choice to the class. Go to candleboxcompany.com to register.

MAKE A SPLASH AT SPLASH LAGOON

The Splash Lagoon waterpark, 8901 Peach St., has a specific action plan for COVID-19. The indoor water park offers a variety of slides and attractions, including its newest indoor surf machine. Check www.splashlagoon.com for information and to purchase tickets.

TAKE A HIKE Tired of being stuck inside? Erie and Crawford counties have an abundance of state parks and wooded areas that offer trails perfect for winter hikes. A few to choose from: Presque Isle State Park; Asbury Woods Nature Center; Pymatuning State Park; Woodcock Creek Nature Center; Ernst Trail; Spartansburg Trail, and Oil Creek State Park, among many others.

16 Getty Images GETTY IMAGES

There are many locations throughout the Erie area that offer indoor golf if you’re missing the links while the snow flies. ErieBank Sports Park, 8159 Oliver Road, offers indoor lessons and more in its golf dome. Visit www.eriebanksports park.org/ for information. Beechwood Golf Club, 6401 Gorski Road, also offers two indoor simulators. See beechwoodgolfclub.com/ for more.

VISIT A PLAYGROUND

GREG WOHLFORD

SPEND AN AFTERNOON SLEDDING There are plenty of hills in the Erie region that make for nice mornings and afternoons sledding, and no matter your age, you’re never too old to take a 30-second thrill ride. Frontier Park never gets old.

Escape Game Erie, 4838 W. Ridge Road, is offering appointment-only private bookings for experiences that include interactive problem-solving and team building. Each game is themed and the difficulty varies. Check www.escape roomerie.com for information. GOLF INDOORS

GO ICE FISHING Once ice forms to a safe depth, a mini-community of anglers forms on Presque Isle Bay, Sugar Lake and other area waters. If you’re a newbie, do some research on gear and be sure to always check ice conditions before hitting the ice.

TRY ESCAPE GAME ERIE

MAKE YOUR OWN CANDLES

14 JACK HANRAHAN/ERIE TIMES-NEWS

Most of Erie’s playgrounds remain open during the winter months. Dress the kids in warm gear and take a towel to wipe down swings and slides and you’re all set. There are tons of playgrounds in the city and in Erie County, but some popular ones include Frontier Park, Greene Township, Shades Beach, Bayview Park and Lake Erie Community Park. Most also offer walking trails, but be cautious because some municipalities do not groom them during winter months. ♦

JANUARY 2021 | 23

HOBBIES

Christine Mitchell of Harborcreek Township contemplates her next move. JACK HANRAHAN/ERIE TIMES-NEWS

24 | LAKE ERIE LIFESTYLE

Queen’s move Netﬂ ix show encourages enthusiasm for chess

By Marissa Orbanek

Erie Times-News | USA TODAY NETWORK

Christine Mitchell of Harborcreek Township is the only woman involved in the Erie Chess Club. But thanks to the Netﬂ ix hit “The Queen’s Gambit,” she’s optimistic that will change. h “The Queen’s Gambit” debuted in October as a seven-episode series and is one of the most popular new originals of 2020. Set in the Cold War era, it tells the story of ﬁ ctional character Beth Harmon, a talented female chess player. h

Although women have

been competing with men in chess since the late 1980s, there has been both a performance and gender gap. The World Chess Federation lists 1,643 male grandmasters compared with only 37 females. However, the New York Times reported that Chess.com has added more than 2.35 million players since late October, with registrations of female players up 15%. JANUARY 2021 | 25

Anya Taylor-Joy stars as Beth Harmon in the Netflix series “The Queen's Gambit.” PHIL BRAY/NETFLIX

The Times also reported that the U.S. Chess Federation membership jumped in November for the ﬁ rst time since the pandemic hit, and there had been an increase in female enrollment for chess lessons. In Erie, Mitchell said she’s received more than a handful of new inquiries from women and men. Although there have been other female members throughout the years, Mitchell was the only woman involved at the end of 2020. “It never bothered me, but I work in computer science so I’m familiar with being a woman in a male-dominated environment. For a lot of people, it puts them oﬀ if they don’t see other women doing something,” said Mitchell, who serves on the Harbor Creek School Board. Mitchell has been playing since her husband, Rick Mitchell, introduced her to the game in the 1980s. “I’m not expert, I’m no prodigy,” she said. “But I have a lot of fun and really like it. It’s a really good mental activity. “I also have a love for education, so I love how chess ties into education.” The Erie Chess Club was founded in

26 | LAKE ERIE LIFESTYLE

“One Friday night was enough to get me hooked, and I’ve been playing online and in person ever since. The club is quite welcoming to beginners, and I’ve learned a lot from the other members.” Vaughn Wampole

Senior at Erie’s Northwest Pennsylvania Collegiate Academy

1904. When there aren’t restrictions due to a pandemic, the group of 25 members of all ages and abilities meets weekly and hosts two annual tournaments. Vaughn Wampole, a senior at Erie’s Northwest Pennsylvania Collegiate Academy, discovered the Erie Chess Club in 2017. Although the high school student had been playing the game with his father, Chris Wampole, for some time, Vaughn

Wampole said he didn’t become serious about it until he joined the club. “One Friday night was enough to get me hooked, and I’ve been playing online and in person ever since,” Vaughn Wampole said. “The club is quite welcoming to beginners, and I’ve learned a lot from the other members. I’m looking forward to being able to resume in-person play once the coronavirus subsides.” Vaughn Wampole said he recently was approached by several of his friends who wanted to learn the game. “Online chess has seen the perfect opportunity for growth during the pandemic and as a result of ‘The Queen’s Gambit,’ the likes of which have not been seen since the Bobby Fischer-era craze,” he said. “I’m looking forward to what this new growth means for the future of chess.” Luka Glinksy, an Erie native and an actor in New York City, has also heard from friends who want to learn the game. Glinsky became a chess teacher in order to earn additional income and pass on his love of the game. Although he has placed most of the teaching on hold to work on

Competitors use clocks to keep time of their moves during an Erie Chess Club tournament in 2017. The club had one female member as of the end of 2020. Members think “The Queen's Gambit” could inspire more women to play the game. JACK HANRAHAN/ERIE TIMES-NEWS

another project, he said he’s well aware of the recent uptick in requests for tutoring. Glisnky learned the game at age 7 after receiving a chess set for his birthday. A few years later, his interest spiked and he joined the Erie Chess Club. “My fi rst big-boy tournament was the Erie City Championship in 2002. I lost every single game — there were six rounds in tournament — but I was really hooked. It was so exciting to compete in a tournament and in that format,” he said. Glinsky said he kept returning and won his fi rst Erie City Championship just four years later. “It was thrilling at the time to throw my all into it and to play with adults and talk it out,” he said. “I was completely out of my depths in the fi rst and second tournament, but I continued to play and it was comforting to play the same players and discuss with them their tactics and strategy. It’s a whole diff erent ballgame when you get to talk out the game.” Glinsky has won 30 tournaments and played in more than 170. His advice to those interested in learning chess comes

from a proverb he learned with Go, an abstract strategy board game that originated in China. “Learn the rules, then go out and lose your ﬁ rst thousand games,” he said. “Everyone is once a beginner, losing is a fun part of the game. The more you lose, the more opportunities you have to learn. Just keeping playing is the best way to improve.” Another Erie Chess Club member is Brian Pitzer, of Edinboro, who joined in the 1980s. Although he said the pandemic had shut down the club’s in-person meetings, he’s excited that “The Queen’s Gambit” has generated a surge in interest not unlike what was seen when American Bobby Fischer was playing in the 1972 World Championship against Boris Spassky of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. “This is a great opportunity for the chess world to open up the game to a whole new audience — and not just women, but men and younger audiences as well,” said Pitzer, who serves as the executive director of All Aboard Erie. “This is exciting to see that young people are get-

ting excited in the game because that’s the future of chess.” Pitzer said the game was easy to grasp but a challenge to play, and that’s still the case. However, he enjoys playing because it stimulates logical thinking and uses spatial intelligence. “The Erie Chess Club is a great group of people, a very welcoming, friendly environment. We get fathers and sons playing, and occasionally fathers and daughters playing. This is a game that anyone can get involved with,” Pitzer said. “It’s a very even playing fi eld. There is no luck involved, and the youngest child can compete with the oldest grandmaster, if the child is gifted.” The Erie Chess Club communicates through its Facebook page, which is run by President Craig Schneider. Schneider moved to Arizona in August, though, so the group will be electing a new president. Schneider has been involved with the club for more than 20 years. “If you can play chess well, you can do a lot of things well,” said Schneider, who earned the title of senior master from the U.S. Chess Federation in 1992 and won his fi rst Chess Club Championship at age 17. “For me, my favorite part is the creativity aspect of it. You can create something close to perfection. I’m not a great player, but you have your moments where, similar to if you are writing, things work so well together and it creates a beauty.” In the spring, the Erie Chess Club has its own form of March Madness in a fi veweek tournament known as the Anton Linder Memorial City Championship. This tournament pairs its members against one another in an intense competition that normally takes place at Gannon University’s Palumbo Academic Center. This year, due to the pandemic, they were to move their tournament online starting Jan. 22. Christine Mitchell and Pitzer are optimistic about the opportunity to capture the increased interest caused by the streaming series. “I think there is an appeal there because the game of chess is now visible and being positively portrayed,” Christine Mitchell said, “I am hopeful that people see that and see the promise and possibilities in the activity.” Pitzer added, “Clearly, this is a phenomenon. Time will tell how it will all pan out, but it’s great for the game that people are discovering it. We could have a Bobby Fischer or Beth Harmon right here in Erie who has never even discovered the game.” ♦

JANUARY 2021 | 27

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28 | LAKE ERIE LIFESTYLE

End of

food romance

good for health John Chacona Special to Erie Times-News USA TODAY NETWORK

Breakups are never one hit me hard. I never signs were always there.

easy, but this latest saw it coming. h

The

Good times would be fol-

lowed by bad times, the most intense pleasure a sign of the inevitable pain to come. And in truth, the relationship had become abusive, though it was me that invited it, even willed it into being, sometimes several times a day. h

I simply couldn’t take it any-

more. I needed some me time. Despite being the source of some of the peak moments of my life, and after years of a romance that was as passionate and satisfying as any I have ever had, my foodie habit and I are through.

JANUARY 2021 | 29

Like the end of many relationships, this one was a shock but no surprise. In a year when we all spent too much time in our homes, I spent too much of it in the smallest room of mine. So, when my doctor at the Cleveland Clinic’s Center for Functional Medicine recommended a six-week elimination diet — no gluten, sugar, dairy, nightshades (a death sentence for a guy with a vowel at the end of his name), alliums, peanuts, alcohol, chocolate or caﬀ eine — well, I had it coming. Even the banishment of items that I seldom or never ate — beef, pork and soy — felt like a loss. And the prospect of a future of endless rice cakes and kale kept me up at night. The severity of the restrictions was a shock. Given a vegetarian diet warped by too many carbohyrdates and too much sugar, the damage was clearly self-inﬂ icted and a long time coming. Still, this was an occasion for mourning. Cooking wasn’t just a hobby or a useful skill. It had become a part of my personality since the moment I recognized that a chef ’s apron could transform a shy and awkward guy into someone weirdly attractive to women.

Cooking wasn’t just a hobby or a useful skill. It had become a part of my personality since the moment I recognized that a chef’s apron could transform a shy and awkward guy into someone weirdly attractive to women.

30 | LAKE ERIE LIFESTYLE

Cooking can be a healthy hobby or a harmful one, depending on your relationship with food. MIKHAIL SPASKOV/GETTY IMAGES

The severity of a six-week elimination diet – no gluten, sugar, dairy, nightshades, alliums, peanuts, alcohol, chocolate or caffeine – was a shock but has been survivable. GETTY IMAGES

Clothes still make the man. Later on, as age and injury closed the book on my running career, I transferred my competitive instincts from the roads to the kitchen. Knife in hand, and inspired by the tunic-and-toque-clad warriors on “Iron Chef,” cooking, whether at home or during my short professional career, became my sport. So did eating. I noted the ever-increasing heat levels of the dishes I ordered at Like My Thai with the aﬀ ection and pride I once gave to ﬁ nishing times in 10-kilometer races. Those days probably aren’t coming back, so a certain amount of accommodation was in order. After an initial period of considerable self-pity and whining at the start, to my great surprise, I’m still alive. I’m twothirds of the way through the elimination phase of the diet and my weight has remained constant (this after losing 20 pounds between April and October). More importantly, despite the diet’s severe restrictions, compliance has been

surprisingly easy. Some useful survival strategies have helped. Doubling up on ginger makes a passable substitute for the snap and bite of fresh garlic. Infused oils can add fl avor to a bland diet, and though I hope to be able to return to vegetarianism once this is all over, four weeks of chicken and fi sh has done wonders for my dangerously low protein levels. Even the Dalai Lama, that avatar of compassion, eats meat on his doctor’s orders. If it’s good enough for him, it’s good enough for me. Am I looking forward to a rebound relationship? You bet I am, and I frequently daydream about the delicious choices that the diet’s reintroduction phase promises. What do I miss more, bread or cheese? Chiles or beer? Cue Peaches & Herb! And if it turns out that my long love affair with wheat or caff eine must come to an end, well, 2020 was not the year to mourn such petty losses. Life goes on. So does hunger and, right now, I’ve got a hot date with some luscious rice cakes. ♦

About elimination diets An elimination diet is a short-term diet that helps identify foods your body can’t tolerate well and removes them from your diet. Some foods eliminated are: Citrus fruits, nightshade vegetables, nuts and seeds, legumes, most dairy and gluten. It then reintroduces them individually to check for symptoms. A good elimination diet is very restricting, which helps you identify as many trigger foods as possible. Although elimination diets are restricting, there are still plenty of food options to make healthy and delicious meals. You can eat fruits, vegetables, meat and ﬁ sh, dairy substitutes, fats and some spices. There are many different types of elimination diets, including the lowFODMAPs diet, the few foods diet, the rare foods diet and fasting.

JANUARY 2021 | 31

Lake Erie Lifestyle Looking back at December

Holiday lights decorate the Rotary Pavilion and floating ﬁ shing dock at the East Basin Pond at Presque Isle State Park on Dec. 11 during the ﬁ rst Presque Isle Lights event. JACK HANRAHAN/ERIE TIMES-NEWS

32 | LAKE ERIE LIFESTYLE

Dawn Cromwell of Waterford Township and her granddaughters Rylinn Bradney, 5, left, and Charlee Bradney, 3, view the Winter Wonderland holiday light displays Dec. 4 at the Andrew J. Conner Nature Center at Asbury Woods in Millcreek Township. JACK HANRAHAN/ERIE TIMES-NEWS

Erie residents Joyce Czulewicz, left, and Tony Czulewicz walk their dog, Dusty, on East 10th Street on Dec. 26. Seventeen inches of snow were reported to have fallen in Erie over the Christmas holiday. GREG WOHLFORD/ERIE TIMES-NEWS

JANUARY 2021 | 33

A plow driver clears snow from the Lincoln Community Center Library parking lot in Fairview Township on Dec. 26. Most Erie County locations reported more than a foot of snow over the Christmas holiday with higher totals reported in traditional snowbelt areas. GREG WOHLFORD/ERIE TIMES-NEWS

Greg Fuller, 37, clears his driveway in Harborcreek Township with a 1949 John Deere model B tractor on Dec. 26. Fuller also helped nearby neighbors after the holiday snowstorm. GREG WOHLFORD/ERIE TIMES-NEWS

34 | LAKE ERIE LIFESTYLE

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