It’s not as if we haven’t given the world our fair share.
Were it not for Erie County the NFL would never have had talents as wide ranging as Fred Bilitnikoff to Bob Sanders.
Music would have had to make do without the likes of Train, or at least lead singer
Pat Monihan.
Speaking of trains, how many goods would never have made it from Point A to Point B were it not for GE trains made in Erie County?
How many love lives were confirmed or shattered in letters written on high quality Hammermill paper?
The helicopter crew who made it in and out of a hot zone unscathed and unnoticed could probably thank the vibration suppression system for rotors developed at Lord Corporation.
We gave the state its first high school dual basketball/football champions.
We gave the nation its first Director of Homeland Security.
And what of actress Sharon Stone? (Okay, that’s Saegertown but she went to school for a few weeks in Edinboro).
In fact, were it not for us, the world would not even be able to Tae Bo.
What’s next, a cure for cancer?
What if?
Fairview inventor John Kanzius’ theory that radio waves can heat and kill human cancer cells without damaging neighboring tissue may prove to be the greatest gift this area has ever given the world.
Using tiny gold nano particles to identify cancerous cells, the procedure is non-invasive, has widespread applications, and is generating more buzz in the research world than an emerging process should.
Just a few months ago researchers were able to use the process to kill cancer cells in plastic dishes.
But the learning curve is so steep that an aggressive human tumor grown in a lab animal has already been destroyed.
Erie leaders are so encouraged that they are teaming up in an attempt to raise three million dollars locally that would be used to cut the time needed to start human trials.
A symposium is scheduled for April 28th at Mercyhurst College where Kanzius will be joined by lead researcher Dr. Steven Curley. Tickets are 10 dollars and the money will be donated to the fund.
If you go, you may leave wondering what the lasting legacy of our area might be.
You might walk out asking yourself, “What if?”
HEY! We can’t invent a comments section that works. If you have an idea or theory, write to me at scott.bremner@wsee.tv. Write “Comments” in the subject line so I won’t miss it, and I’ll be patently pleased to post your thoughts after mine.