From the Editors: July 4, 2018

Nick Warren

An placard outside the Gypsy Jewelry Box tells a brief history of Federal Hill

What do a tattoo parlor, daycare center, barber shop, vintage clothing boutique, oddities and antiques depot, herbalist, ice cream shop, barbecue restaurant, and hippie gift shop have in common? Ponder that for a moment. Certainly you could run through the list and find connections — for instance, barbecue and ice cream are items you might ingest; vintage clothing and antiques are items you might collect; and haircuts, childcare, and body art are services you might pay for. But the overarching theme is they are all different, yet they coexist.

Unique, eclectic, and maybe sometimes even a little weird (see Black Eagle Goods: where else do you see preserved frogs and pay phones in the same retail space?) — these businesses comprise the neighborhood known as Independence Hill, where all are free to do as they will. Nick Warren and Matt Swanseger spoke to some of the village elders as well as some newcomers in composing the content of this issue, as we pay homage to one of the bedrock ideals this country was founded on — the liberty to create one's own destiny as epitomized by small business and entrepreneurship.

As we celebrate Independence Day, we recognize the sanctity of individuality, but also realize our fates are bound together as a community. What's in store for the 814, as we've so lovingly come to term the Erie area (see Jonathan Burdick's wonderful retrospective on how the area code system was instituted, just in time for Erie Reader Volume 8, No. 14)? In the short term, a whole heck of a lot, as represented by our robust Spotlight on Erie and Calendar sections. This is truly a land of opportunity, with the freedom to choose from a plethora of events on any given day of the week. But as we savor our summer fun, let us not lose sight of the future. Are we a city, state, nation, and world we're proud to associate with as individuals?

At times it seems we're stuck playing a game Whose World Is It Anyway?, when in truth it should belong to all of us. Indeed, it can seem as if the rules are made up and our points don't matter.  When it comes to freedom, we're not always the best improvisers (unlike the exceptional Colin Mochrie, whom we interview in this issue). But we can start by being good neighbors, whether that's between W. 26th and 24th streets on Peach or wherever you may make your home. Let's begin with being our best selves, and in turn becoming our best community.