Go to Wegman’s, Tops Friendly Markets, or Hannaford’s and grab some peaches.  Get the ones with the pits in them.  Make certain they aren’t too soft, and you can peel them with a sharp potato peeler.  While you are there, grab yourself a Cadbury with Almonds – no – make it two.  And, if you can find it – get a Les Lunes Linda Vista Chardonnay.  If you have a fireplace, toss in some seasoned logs – the ones that crack and pop – and light them up.  As the fire settles in, peel your peaches, break apart the Cadbury, and pour a glass.  Turn the lights off, and what you have now is all five senses perfectly tended to.  Take little bites and little sips, and smell the wine, chocolate, peaches, and fire.  Watch and listen to the fire, and of course…feel its warmth. 

When I lived in Niagara Falls, I had a neighbor – Angelo Ruggirello (1912 – 2002). To me, his backyard was something of a secret garden.  There was a grapevine with red grapes.  The skins were so thick that we didn’t eat the whole grape.  Rather, we’d squeeze them until the middle popped out – eat that part – and toss the skins.  He had sunflowers, tomatoes, and all of the other Italian staples.  And peach trees.  A downtown Niagara Falls lot that, as a child, I was pretty much forbidden to enter.  So, when he and Lilian would back out of their garage and pull down the street – that is when I’d make my move.  I also cut through his yard because it shortened some trips – and in those instances, I’d just run fast enough that Lilian couldn’t do anything about it.  I’d be long gone before she even got the window opened. 

Lilian passed and I grew up.  Then the fella next door became my friend.  I took care of some things for him, and he’d quid pro quo me with fruit, veggies, and an occasional grappa on the porch or in his kitchen after I did the snow.  One spring day, he gifted me a peach tree of my own that he planted in my backyard.  He picked the spot where it’d get the most sun, and periodically he’d explain the nuances of peach tree growth and management.  So, as you can imagine, there is a reason that the crisp peaches with the pits are the centerpiece of this story.  Not the wine.  Not the fire.  Not the chocolate.  Although they are nice.

Some things I remember so vividly are his pulling off the leaves at the bottom of the newbie tree and explaining that those leaves took energy away from the important ones.  And later, he cut off limbs that weren’t making peaches.  All of the plant’s energy needed to go into the peaches.  Eventually, some of the branches were so peach-laden that I’d have to pull some off in fear of the branches breaking.  I think about that guy and those peaches all the time – and even more during budget season.  There is a correlation between the development of a peach tree and the development of a school district budget….according to me.

Much like the nurturing of a peach tree, requires a careful balance of resources and priorities. Just as Angelo meticulously pruned the unnecessary leaves and branches to ensure the tree's energy was focused on fruit-bearing limbs, a school district must evaluate every aspect of its budget to optimize the allocation of funds. This means identifying and eliminating non-essential expenditures that do not directly contribute to the core mission of education. In a sense, the budget pruning process is about redirecting resources from less critical areas to those that will yield the most significant educational, safety, and engagement outcomes, much like ensuring the peach tree's growth is concentrated on producing the sweetest and juiciest peaches.

Another parallel can be drawn in the way a peach tree is nurtured over time. Angelo didn't just plant the tree and hope for the best; he invested time and effort into its care, understanding that consistent and thoughtful attention was key to its success. Similarly, developing a school district's budget is not a one-time event but a continuous process that requires regular review and adjustment. It's about anticipating future needs, adapting to changing circumstances, and making informed decisions that support long-term goals. This approach ensures that the district is not only addressing immediate requirements but also laying a strong foundation for future generations of students.

And…the most striking similarity lies in the end goal: the peaches to eat with my chocolate and Chardonnay. For Angelo, the reward was a bountiful crop of peaches; for the school district, it's well-educated, well-rounded students prepared to succeed in the world. Each decision made during the budgeting process, from staffing to program funding, is ultimately aimed at enriching the educational experience. It's about creating an environment where students can thrive, much like the carefully tended peach tree in my neighbor and friend’s garden.

The winter always reminds me of when I’d walk out to the driveway in between our houses, “HEY ANG!”  Because I needed him to open his garage so I could get his Toro snowblower.  Thought about him on Tuesday while blowing my snow. 

Thanks again Ang.