From the Editors: Seasons of Love

Chutima Chaochaiya

How do you measure a year? 525,600 minutes? In daylights, in sunsets, in midnights, in cups of coffee? In the 365 (ish) days since the publication of our 10th annual 40 Under 40 issue, we find ourselves asking: how would we measure such a year?

Last July's issue, of course, featured 40 of the best and brightest young minds in Erie at the time, but it was also the issue in which the now prominent "A Congressman and a State Senator Walk Into a Bar" op-ed was published, and for which the author (Jim Wertz) and the Erie Reader were sued by State Senator Dan Laughlin for defamation.

So, how would Jim measure this year? In weird press conferences, in depositions, in discovery, in previously confidential emails? With this month's Erie At Large, our contributing editor takes a look back at some of the decisions made that led up to this point and how we are holding up against the costly court proceedings and all the time and effort it takes to make those sway in our favor (and we'd be remiss if we didn't mention that you can help defend our inalienable First Amendment rights and keep our doors open by contributing to our Defend the Press GoFundMe to help offset this year's measure of legal fees).

How do we, the writers and editors at the Erie Reader, measure a year? In issues, in meetings, in pictures, in moments of inspiration? We often find ourselves measuring a year as the time it takes to cycle through to the same issue once again. And here we find ourselves a year later with a brand new class of 40 Under 40 honorees. The 40 we've selected might measure their years in acts of service, in grants written, in elections, in published words. In performances, in kitchens, in bookstores, in classrooms.

It just so happens that in this issue we've covered the upcoming production of Rent happening at the Academy Theatre in Meadville this month, which is what obviously inspired this month's edition of From the Editors. While the cast of that original musical found a place in many an elder millennial's heart, almost everyone can recognize one of the most iconic songs from the score: "Seasons of Love" in which they famously measure a year in minutes, in inches, in miles, in laughter, in strife. How do you measure a year in the life? How about love?

This year and in all the years to come, we'll be here (despite the best efforts of some) doing what we love: giving you stories of local successes (often in groups of 40) and stumbles (and telling the truth while doing so) all through the papers that we use to measure our years.