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,…

Dear Customers,               A month or so ago during the week leading up to Easter, I wrote a column about the different types of hams and how to cook them.  Many of you were probably thinking, “I’ve been cooking Easter hams for decades, so I certainly don’t need his help!”              When I offer these…

Dear Customers,              MOTHER’S DAY!  The very words evoke memories, emotions and gratitude!  Yes, there is also Father’s Day next month in June, but it has never held the status or importance that Mother’s Day does.  Most people grow up loving and respecting their father, but few people hold him in as high a regard…

Dear Customers,              In a few short days, we will usher in the “merry, merry, month of May”!  May is the fifth month and its literally chock full of events from beginning to end.  Among these annual enjoyments are the prom, graduation, Mother’s Day, Memorial Day and the arrival of leaves on our maple and…

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…