WEEK #29 JULY 20th, 2026 Dear Customers, If you stop to think about it, we are never deprived of fresh fruits and vegetables, even out here in rural Pennsylvania.  Our ancestors relied on drying, canning and “root cellars” to ensure that they had produce – and of course gardens from mid to late summer onward.…

Dear Customers,             If you’d ever told me that personal phones would be carried by virtually everyone from children to the elderly, I never would have believed it.  I’m as guilty as anyone, constantly reaching into my pocket to check; the weather, sports scores, the latest news or just to idle away a few minutes…

Dear Customers,              By the first week of July, summer has taken on bit of sameness.  The thrill of vacation from school has waned a bit and you might even hear the occasional, “there’s nothing to do!” from your kids.  Families that didn’t rush off on vacation as soon as June arrived are getting around…

Dear Customers,              “Déjà vu”, loosely translated from the French means “already seen”.  It’s described as “a fleeting sensation of having already lived an identical situation at some point in the past”!  We’ve all felt it at some point but Yogi Berra, the hall of fame Yankees catcher described it thusly; “it’s like déjà vu…

Dear Customers,                The first birthday that I remember very well I had just turned 10 and we were on a rare family vacation.  In fact, it was probably more memorable because of the change in venue, more so than the fact that I was a year older.  Birthdays take on a special significance when…

Dear Customers,               Since retiring from teaching four years ago, my wife Heather, in an effort to keep busy, has been working part time here at the supermarket.  She handles the sale tag batches and the temporary price reduction batches as well as the floral department.  On rare occasions, she runs the cash register when…

Dear Customers,              Sunday of this week, June 14th, is Flag Day!  It’s a day celebrated to commemorate the adoption of the flag of the United States on June 14, 1777.  As early as 1885 observances of our national symbol were begun.  But it wasn’t until 1916 that President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed June 14TH as…

Dear Customers,              Everyone knows our calendar is broken up into 12 distinctive months thanks to Pope Gregory XIII who in 1582 set out to fix the deficiencies of the Julian calendar. Some of those months I absolutely love – some I’d rather do without but one is my absolute favorite!  I’m speaking of the…

Dear Customers,                 Way back when I was a student at Smethport Area Jr.-Sr. High School, commencement was a solemn event.  Fifty some years ago, while many students opted to continue their education in college, just as many – if not more – opted for the trades or a full-time job.             That’s why so…

Dear Customers,                The maple leaves are back!  After departing amidst gale-force winds back last fall, my absolute favorite sign of spring makes its return after six long months!  The varied shades of green adorning our forests make for one of the most beautiful and restful visions of this time of year.             And soon,…