Dear Customers,           The thing about legends is that they’re usually at least a little bit based in fact, though often embellished to make them more interesting.  In grade school, we listened to the Legend of Johnny Appleseed who traveled throughout the Midwest, particularly Pennsylvania & Ohio and is attributed with planting numerous apple orchards.…

Dear Customers,            Everybody has joined the movement to get all the sponsorship money they can possibly squeeze out of advertisers.  There is a new collective bargaining agreement that allows MLB teams to wear a patch on their uniforms, identifying them with an advertiser.  The Pirates wear a Sheetz patch, the San Diego Padres have…

  Dear Customers,             Some 60 years ago, a cartoon appeared on the NBC lineup on Saturday mornings which featured the vocal talents of comedian, Wally Cox.  It only ran for about 2½ years ending in March of 1967, and continued in syndication until 1973, but it was part of my Saturday morning ritual.  The…

Dear Customers,            Ahhhh, the ubiquitous Apple!  Mentioned down through history from the Garden of Eden to the present.  Apples originated in Central Asia, traveling from there to Eurasia and finally making their debut in North America thanks to European colonists. At last count, there are over 7,500 varieties of apples in the world and…

Dear Customers,             “Eating healthy is always in season!”  Or so says the headline on our corporate magazine, “In Season”.  This absolutely FREE publication is available at the end of our checkout counter in magazine form or digitally on Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest.  Or you can click on the “Eat Right for Life” link on…

Dear Customers,            Last Thursday night, September 5th, the 2024-25 NFL season began and will continue unabated until Super Bowl LIX (59) in New Orleans on February 9th. That’s nearly 22½ weeks of professional football including play-offs!  College football began two weeks ago on August 24th in Dublin, Ireland and continues until January 20th when…

Dear Customers,           The color of the apples on the trees in my back yard indicates that it won’t be long before it’s time to harvest them.  That is if there are any left!  Heather routinely walks by that tree whenever she walks the dogs on a potty-run around the house – (translated: several times…

Dear Customers,           Two things of note are happening this week!  On Thursday, the 22nd students of the Smethport Area School District report back for the start of the 2024-25 school year.  If you happen to be between the ages of 5 and 18, your stomach is probably cramping up a bit right now, either…

Dear Customers,           In this, the 33rd week of 2024, we welcome the 118th edition of the McKean County Fair to town.  Those 118 years aren’t a consecutive string, however.  The 1916 fair was cancelled due to a state quarantine and beginning in 1942 with the onset of World War II, there was a period…

Dear Customers, There are many ways to cook home-grown sweet corn.  I was reading an article the other day that said, two of the largest corn growers agreed on the best way.  To find any expert who agrees with another expert is a rarity.  However, both of these old-time farmers maintained that the best way…