From the Editors: April 11, 2018

Religions abound, and with them visions of the afterlife. The debate about exactly what happens after death has raged throughout the entire sliver of eternity that humankind has existed. Regardless of creed or denomination, however, many thinkers over that span have viewed art as the passage to immortality. By creating some snapshot of the human condition or the soul at a particular moment in time, one can preserve his or her memory long after the body is extinguished.

If art truly is the distillation of life, then what better time to celebrate it then spring? Since its inception in 1923, the annual "Exhibition of the Artists of Erie," now known as the "Spring Show," has blossomed into a cherished rite of the season. The 95th iteration of the Spring Show opens April 21st. Juror Wendy Maruyama takes our Mary Birdsong through the selection process, and the extreme difficulty she had whittling down 643 submissions to the 102 that will be on display at the Erie Art Museum through July 1. The show is a testament to the supreme talent present both in the city and its surrounding areas and the will to be a part of something larger.

Of course, artistic talent is by no means the only inroad to participating in a grander design. A lasting legacy can be left by positively impacting future generations today. This can happen in our homes, through community outreach, and in our schools. Outside formal classrooms, we can learn about our pasts through local historical societies, helping to enrich our sense of place and our stake in what's to come. Jonathan Burdick explains how to get involved.

No less essential in history's trajectory are local governments and their accountability to their citizens. City of Erie Mayor Joe Schember hopes to guide our town toward a more prosperous tomorrow, by listening to the concerns of the people on the streets and trusting the expertise of his surrounding staff. Contributing editor Ben Speggen sat down with the mayor to recap his first 100 days in office and discuss how we might best control our destiny. On the state level, the primaries are fast approaching. On April 26, three candidates will argue why they are best qualified to lead Pennsylvania's 16th Congressional District at the Jefferson Educational Society.

But let us not forget about enjoying the present. The Erie SeaWolves have been laboring hard all offseason to create moments to remember them by, both in the stands and on the field. Though we may have plans for immortality, there's nothing wrong with putting them on hold for a Smith's hot dog and an ice cold beer. Lack of artistic dedication? Perhaps, but we won't tell.