June 2nd, 2025

Greetings folks,

    It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of my father-in-law, Henry Schnepf. He was a "man’s man"… hard-working, and liked to do man’s work (BUT he taught it all to his only daughter, Julie….even giving her an axe for Christmas one year!). He chopped down trees, heated with wood, ate big steaks, drank spirits and ground stumps. Even though he was an engineer by trade and education, he left that cushy office job at age 50 to take up the occupation of stump grinder. It was more suitable to his personality. He liked the outdoors, and he could never stand being cooped up in an office. And so it was that when I met the love of my life 40 years ago…I came to know and respect her dad, the stump grinder. He and his wife Barbara worked together, along with owning and managing a small campground in Branchport, NY on Keuka Lake. They were married for 69 years and were leaders of a large, loving and diverse clan. He was the son of German immigrants, and he never forgot where he came from, nor his principles upon which he based his life. He cared for nature, he cared for small animals and he cared most of all for his family. I will miss him, especially sitting out on the porch in the early evening, having a nice cold bourbon Manhattan…so I raise a glass to the man, who, at 90 years old was worried about his credit score and two days before his passing asked his dear daughter, Julie, to bring home a large container of mixed nuts and a six pack of Yuengling beer! Oh Henry….I will miss you….

    On Friday, my daughter Kara, and I traveled down to the Washington DC area in order to attend a concert at the Wolftrap Performing Arts Center on Saturday night. A few months ago she had told me that she had a dream that she and I had gone to a Paul Simon concert. I told her that was very nice, but then she told me that when she woke up, she bought tickets. So there you have it… an early Father’s Day for me and to be together with my firstborn for an entire weekend, was just an unbelievably great experience.   

With peace,   

John Bernunzio 

Love for family was a primary motivating factor in the life of Henry Schnepf…..that would kept him going these 90 years

concert collage…. Marlboro lights in the last picture just in case anyone’s wondering… just a trip down memory lane ha ha

No sooner had I returned from the trip to Virginia, that I attended this great birthday party in the little town of Dresden on Seneca Lake. It was for a third and ninth birthday for these great sisters. Their mom made all the food and now I’ve gotta get back to the gym!

Don’t forget this Saturday coming up we have an outstanding event. We have a room for a few more people so call or email the store to be put on the list. I will be serving pastries from Leo’s bakery.