Dear Customers, A little over a month ago, back on the evening of March 6th and into the morning of the 7th, a heavy, wet snow fell across much of our area.  At approximately 9:30pm, Monday night, our power flickered and then went out!  While that’s a regular occurrence during the course of most years,…

Dear Customers, As a young boy and even into the early stages of adulthood, if pressed I would readily admit that my favorite holiday of the year was Christmas – followed at some distance by Thanksgiving!  Most kids would probably respond the same way.  After all there are decorations, toothsome delicacies, festive songs and most…

Dear Customers, March has a little less than a week left and while you’re probably not “actively” thinking about the upcoming Easter holiday, it may be on your radar or in the back of your mind.  While it might happen, I’ve never heard of any family, at least around here, offering a vegetarian alternative to…

Dear Customers, I’m sure at some time in your life, you’ve purchased something that didn’t quite live up to expectations.  There are multiple degrees of this – from mildly annoyed or disappointed to downright livid!  Without going into specifics and mentioning a specific company, suffice it to say that it’s happened to me before and…

Dear Customers, Friday of this week we celebrate St. Patrick’s Day!  One of the most popular meals we, as Americans enjoy on that day is corned beef (and cabbage if you so desire).  At least in the United States, corned beef is made from the brisket of the cow though other cuts are sometimes used…

Dear Customers, I started working as a box-boy about this time of the year in the spring of 1970.  I had just finished basketball season as a sophomore and had exhausted my list of excuses why I couldn’t begin work!  My older brother was my “supervisor” and he delighted in bedeviling me with the worst…

Dear Customers, As the second truly bad month of winter comes to an end, we find ourselves uncharacteristically optimistic! The daylight hours are obviously more plentiful at the end of February than they were at its beginning. A couple of days of unseasonably warm weather has long dormant flower bulbs poking their tentative heads up…

Dear Customers, As we near the 2/3’rds milestone of Winter, the landscape becomes even bleaker.  And I’m not just speaking of the gray skies and dirty snow, but the entertainment landscape as well.   This time of year, I find myself reduced to thumbing through the stack of seed and seedling catalogs that daily end up…

Dear Customers, Tomorrow is Valentine’s Day!!!  February 14th is a day when men all over the world suddenly realize they’ve forgotten something important and scramble madly spending enough money to sufficiently illustrate their love.  Do Not Despair!  We’ll have bouquets of roses and assorted flowers that should get you off the hook for another year.…

Dear Customers, In August of 1966 I started the 7th grade at Smethport Area Jr. Sr. High School.  Being the lowest of the low, seventh graders kept to themselves and tried to remain invisible.  Especially when it was time for lunch.  As the bell rang, there was a literal stampede to get near the front…