Dear Customers,              When I was in the sixth grade at Smethport Elementary, in the spring of 1966, I was picked to sing in County Choir which was held at Port Allegany that year.  Being that the venue was so close, we didn’t stay overnight, but we were each given a host family where we…

Dear Customers,              When immigrants began coming to this country in droves during the 19th and 20th centuries, it was for many reasons.  Some to escape religious persecution, others to avoid famine or poverty, and still others, just to improve their lot in life.  It makes perfect sense then that they would congregate together in…

Dear Customers,              When you think of Italian cooking perhaps pasta is the first thing that comes to mind.  Irish cooking is noted for (at least in this country) corned beef and cabbage or pretty much anything potato based!  I was watching some show on (I think Netflix) last week and they were enjoying a…

WEEK #9 MARCH  2nd, 2026 Dear Customers,             At the last census, McKean County reported almost 95% of our population as Caucasian.  Is it any wonder then that we don’t have a lot of patience for those two troublemakers, El Niño and El Niña?   At first glance, they seem harmless.  After all, their names mean…

Dear Customers,              As we enter into this, the last week of February, I am heartened by the fact that two-thirds of our worst weather months are already in the books.  Sure, sure, Winter began on December 21st and continues until March 21st – give or take a day or so here or there.  But…

Dear Customers,              Whoever invented soup deserves a place in the annals of history.  What a comforting, delicious invention, particularly when the wind whistles and the temperatures plummet.             For years I’ve used a program called Master Cook to save and store my family recipes or any that I’ve been given – or just decided…

Dear Customers,              Saturday of this week is the one-day holiday reserved for lovers!  Then maybe if not serious enough to be lovers, perhaps close friends, “more” than acquaintances, or hopefully, soon-to-be sweeties!  The origin of Valentine’s Day is in some conflict.  One legend has it that Valentine was a priest who secretly married couples…

Dear Customers,              Woodchucks and possums and critters “Oh My!”  Let’s be honest with each other.  There’s so little going on at this time of the year that we have to feign interest in what a groundhog thinks of all things!  And not just any groundhog, a tame groundhog, living in a heated burrow with…

Dear Customers,             At one time there were several florists in and around Smethport and the neighboring towns.  But, as was too often the case, many businesses were unable to withstand the ravages of Covid19 and the resultant pandemic.  One need only look around at the number of restaurants in the area (and the country)…

Dear Customers,             This past month our warehouse that had provided us with the lion’s share of our grocery, dairy, frozen, produce, meat, deli and bakery items was closed!  It was an executive solution to a long-standing problem.  Located in Dubois, it wasn’t as large as some of the other warehouses associated with the company…