Dear Customers, The McKean County Fair comes to town this week for its 117th visit.  I’ve been alive for way more than half of those, but the fair still holds a special amount of magic for me.  I’ll admit that my interest has centered on different aspects over these many years. As a boy, I…

Dear Customers, In a couple more weeks, I’ll be turning 69 years old.  While that’s not an accomplishment I can take any credit for, it seems to be a big deal to those who think I retired several years ago!  I’m just a little flabbergasted when a friend or acquaintance I haven’t seen in a…

Dear Customers, As summer vacation begins its third and final month, I’m struck by just how quickly the first two have sped by.  In my mind it seems like it was just the first of July and now the entire month is gone!  Don’t misunderstand me, I’ve loved the warm weather, the sunshine, and yes,…

Dear Customers, To my way of thinking there are a couple of foods that make the summer, well, Summer!  The first one is fresh strawberries, locally grown and still smelling of the fields they grew in.  Sadly, the company that used to provide us with home-grown strawberries closed when their owner passed away!  And since…

Dear Customers, Back in the early 60’s I had quite a comic book collection as did many boys my age.  I say “had” because my mother pitched them all into the dumpster one fine spring day in an effort to rid my room of “useless clutter”.   One of my favorite places to procure comic books,…

Dear Customers, When I was diagnosed with Type II diabetes more than 25 years ago, I found the news extremely depressing, and I figured that life as I knew it was over.  I wasn’t used to having to read the labels on every can or package I ate – and the realization that there was…

Dear Customers, Last week marked the half-way point of 2023.  Today, we start the second six months with quite possibly the biggest summer holiday of the year.  While Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter may be a bigger deal, the 4th of July occurs when schools are closed, and people are traveling.  Whether it be a week-long…

Dear Customers, I’ve written before about the inefficiencies of the Gregorian calendar and how the federal government sometimes “rearranges” it to create “3-Day Federal holidays”.  This year presents a problem in that the Fourth of July will fall on a Tuesday next week.  So, the question arises, this year. . . do most Americans get…

Dear Customers, Oops, I did it again!  No, I’m not referring to the pop hit by Britney Spears, I’m referencing my apparent inability to use a calendar. This past Sunday was Father’s Day and I completely missed it.  That’s inexcusable, particularly since I’ve been one myself for 48 years! When I first started writing “Dear…

Dear Customers, My favorite month of the year is already going to be half over this week!  If only there were a way to slow it down.  I propose that January, February and March each get cut down to two weeks each and that the leftover six weeks get tacked onto June! Cooking outdoors is…