SPRING RITE: One of the acute disadvantages of being a “former”
resident of McKean and nearby counties is a craving for wild leeks
that crops up about this time of year.

From a distance, it’s pretty difficult to satisfy this desire –
particularly if you’re relying on the U.S. Postal Service. (They do
not appreciate odoriferous packages, we’re told.)

Nonetheless, we pass along this suggestion from a reader who
wants to be anonymous: “It’s getting to be ‘leek’ time soon. I
remember last year there was a great discussion from those of us
who have left the area but still relish the smell and flavor of
wild leeks.”

“A number of RTS readers evenðoffered to send leeks to others
who miss them. Maybe you could do a rerun of people who are out
there and would like to help out again this year by supplying names
and/or email addresses or contacts.

“While I have my own leek supplier forðthis year,ðwe areðlooking
for tips on how they can be mailed or for any good recipes where
leeks will not spoil in transit.ðIf any readers have any ideas or
experiences, I hope they can send them along toðThe Eraðso others
can enjoy these delicacies.”

We can offer one suggestion we stumbled on just this past few
months. There are now those handy-dandy machines that vacuum seal
food for placement in the freezer for a lengthy period of time.

They not only preserve the food intact but, of most importance
in this case, eliminate all odor. No doubt, your mailman or UPS
delivery person will thank you.

’42 FLOOD: Jerry Kleisath writes, “The ’42 flood was the one
that took out the pavilion at Galco park. Also the water in East
Smethport was up to the East Side Garage and Petruzzi’s Tavern.

“I was standing on the bridge over Potato Creek when a barn
floated down and hit the bridge. I ran to the other side to see the
chickens and other animals floating out of it.

“There was, as I recall, a lot of damage in Ridgway and
Johnsonburg, too. In Eldred, the water was in the bank and my aunt
worked there and brought a lot of the money home to clean it. In
those days, everyone was trusted and also nowadays the government
wouldn’t let you touch any flood materials because of germs and
poison.”