The route I take from home to the bakery ends with coming down the hill on Oakland Street.  The other day out of nowhere as I came down the hill I was greeted by clusters of white blooms on the Cleveland Pear trees in front of the bakery.  Even though we have had a warm winter, spring has come bursting on the scene.  Besides the Cleveland Pears, the garden has the splashes of color that the daffodils, pansies, and hyacinths provide. 

            Spring is nature's rite of renewal.  Spring can represent that same renewal for all of us.  It is a renewal of our faith, a renewal of hope and a renewal of our sense of purpose.  I get a sense of this spirit in my conversations with some of you and it makes me excited to tackle the day.

            The other day I received the nicest compliment a shop owner can get.  This gentleman said to me, "You have the nicest, most friendly staff of any store I go into."  After saying thank you I said, "Seriously we hire 'friendly'; even at the expense of other talents.  We are a neighborhood business and I wouldn't want my neighbors treated any other way."  I've seen more articles in the newspapers on the re-emergence of many local main street businesses.  I see this trend to fit in well with our topic of renewal.  It is a renewal of a sense of community and values that make Huntington special.  All of you are a part of that and I would like to say thank you to all.  My family really appreciates what we have here.

            Sunday April 8th is the Easter Holiday.  The bakery will be open until 2pm so please plan ahead.

I am hoping that the weather is on the cooler side so our chocolate Easter bunnies don't run by themselves.  Our premium chocolate has a lower melting temperature than those mass produced boxed bunnies.  That is part of the reason it tastes so good.