Dear Customers,             Spring in Northwestern Pennsylvania is a gift from God!  Every year it reminds us that we’ve survived another Winter and Summer is mere weeks away.  Sure, we can still get nasty weather even late in April, as we have the past couple of years, but we can also have balmy, sunshiny days…

Dear Customers, April is arguably the most unpredictable month.  I have actually gone skiing in April when a chance storm dumped over a foot of wet snow overnight.  (kinda like the one on St. Patrick’s Day this year!)  And then again, I’ve mowed my lawn in April every year in recent memory with the afternoon…

Dear Customers,              Way back in the second week of March, our wholesaler held their bi-annual food show extravaganza.  Since our wholesaler services stores all over New England, New York and Pennsylvania, the event is not held in Olean . . . or even DuBois!  Instead, it’s held at the Mohegan Sun Casino in Connecticut! …

Dear Customers,              As I’ve mentioned before in this column, Easter can grace our calendar anytime between the dates of March 21st and April 21st!  Simply explained, Easter falls on the first Sunday – after the first full moon, occurring after the Vernal (Spring) equinox.   (The actual date of the equinox varies between March 19th…

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…