WEEK #30 July 26th, 2021

Dear Customers,

In the “Paul Costa” calendar, not to be confused with the Gregorian calendar used by the rest of the world, summer is 2/3’rds over at the end of July.  As a school-aged kid living each summer day as if it were my last, August meant “the end is near!”  August also meant those dreaded words, “back-to-school” shopping at Carnahan’s on North Union Street in Olean.  Few things are more annoying to a young man than trying on pants in a dressing room, then parading out from behind the curtain for your mother and some stranger who works on commission!

August, however, does contain some absolutely enjoyable things to offset the trauma of clothes shopping.  The McKean County Fair is one of them.  The 115th edition of the fair resumes after a very uncommon hiatus last summer – along with just about everything else.  Fair dates are mid-August from the 15th through the 21st.  Blackberries come ripe this month and cobblers and pies will soon be appearing on supper tables around the area.

When I was in 1st grade, during the last week of August, our class walked up the hill behind the old high-school on King Street and located several Monarch caterpillars feeding on milkweed.  Transferring these amazing little creatures into gallon jars, they became classmates for several days until they spun a chrysalis and emerged as beautiful orange and black Monarch Butterflies.  Many times since, Heather & I have hunted for caterpillars to entertain our own children and grandchildren with this natural and entertaining miracle.

More and more things will be changing here at Costa’s Supermarket in the upcoming days and weeks as well.  It’s still too up in the air to provide all the details but there will soon be some new services available for our customers and improvements will continue to be made in our perishable departments (deli, meat, bakery, dairy, frozen, etc).  In adherence with the old adage, “lead, follow, or get out of the way” we’re trying to keep up to date and modern in providing a shopping experience that our customers will appreciate.  I’d like to be able to provide you with more information, but if I learned one thing during the past year, its that plans don’t always happen when we expect them to, so rather than jump the gun, I’ll try to remain patient spilling the beans.

In the meantime, continue to check our Facebook page for updates and Spot Buy sales which come about after the ad has already gone to print.  It allows us to reach out with the constraints of a printing deadline!