From the Editors: Oct. 10, 2018

Readers beware … you're in for a scare. Shipwrecks. Cemeteries. Midterm elections. As we delve headfirst into spooky season, the subjects at hand (or claw, or tentacle — we don't discriminate) range from unsettling to downright horrifying. The deeper we dig, the darker it becomes — the murky depths of Lake Erie, scattered with the skeletons of the hundreds of ships it has claimed (in Matt Swanseger's cover feature); the forgotten burial sites strewn throughout our city before the Erie Cemetery gave the deceased the sanctity of repose they deserve (as detailed by Jonathan Burdick); disturbing allegations leveled against those appointed to positions of power, people that we should be able to trust. After so much harrowing news, do we have enough oil left in our lanterns to descend to the center of the catacombs, to clear the cobwebs away from the telltale heart of truth?

In reexamining the places we've been and things we've gone through as a country, as a city, and as individuals, no one could be blamed for a sense of skittishness setting in. What is the next step? Is it structurally sound? Is there a next step? According to columnist Liz Allen, it helps to know the layout, even if it is fraught with perils. By reading up on the trials and tribulations that have befallen the intrepid adventurers of our democracy's past, we can more confidently plot a course forward. Of course, whether you're tomb-raiding, spelunking, or attempting to foment political change, it's also imperative to use the buddy system. Contributing editor Jim Wertz writes of the importance of banding together across demographics and electing leadership representing everyone's best interests.

If thinking about the state of the union and/or world makes your blood curdle, perhaps a few pleasant (or pleasantly unpleasant) distractions may suit you. Nick Warren and Hannah McDonald give you a rundown of autumn's best diversions, split between the seasonally charming to the seasonally chilling. Don't be afraid to let loose (but do have some reverence for decorum and the rights of others).