“I wish there was a way people could send each other money over the Internet,” he said. “Right from one bank account to the other.”

As a matter of fact, there are many ways to send money over the Internet, but they require signing up for an account, like PayPal, or paying a fee, like Popmoney.

Part of the reason Richard still receives checks is because the family sending them — like his octogenarian grandmother — don’t have a PayPal account and won’t be getting one.

But everyone has a Gmail account, right? Well, maybe not Grandma, but everyone else?

Google is now allowing Gmail account holders to send and receive money for free via Google Wallet. The receiver doesn’t even need to be a Gmail user. You just attach the money on your email just like a document or photo. There’s also a Google Wallet app for Android.

I use Popmoney to pay back my loans each month. And I pay $1 per transaction.

I’ve used PayPal to buy things online, before I had a credit card.

But imagine how much easier it would have been in college to get money from my parent’s (who both possess a Gmail account) online. No more schlepping to the bank to cash a check. No more getting emails from Dad reminding me to cash it because he wants to balance his checkbook.

And physical bank branches are closing.

Hancock Bank/Whitney Bank closing up to 45 branches

Is electronic banking killing the bank branch? PNC pares branches citing customers’ online trends

Susquehanna Bank closing 3 branches in Lancaster

My own bank, Citizens, has closed two branches in York County since I moved here two years ago. Unfortunately for me, they were the most convenient for me.

But when I think about it, how often do I need a bank branch?

1) When I need to cash a check
2) When I need cash

My pay checks are directly deposited. I pay my credit card online. I pay my loans online. I pay all my bills online.

The way that people use money are changing, so it makes sense that the way banks handle money also are changing.

I welcome this change.

Maybe next year, Richard will just get a birthday email from Grandma saying “Happy Birthday. Your gift is in your checking account.”

Some of my friends have asked the question: “So what?”

New Wolfgang Naturals products via wolfgangcandy.com

The two new treats will be Wolfgang Naturals and Farmer’s Fair.

To launch the Farmer’s Fair line, Lebanon Levi will be on hand at the Wolfgang Candy Booth.

Naturals:The Naturals line is made from imported Belgian chocolate and will come in three flavors: dark chocolate with cacao nibs, dark chocolate with caramel and sea salt and milk chocolate with peanut butter.

The Naturals line will be free of artificial flavors, colors and preservatives, emulsifiers, high fructose corn syrup and alkalized cocoa.

While alkalized cocoa powder is more palatable to some, it is lower in the health-promoting flavanol antioxidants than untreated cocoa. According to a study presented in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry in 2008, the processing that alkalized cocoa powder undergoes substantially reduces the amount of beneficial substances it contains.

Farmer’s Fair: The Farmer’s Fair line is produced by replicating the Pennsylvania Dutch-style small batch, handcrafted techniques.

Farmer’s Fair products will include milk and dark chocolate pretzels, milk chocolate animal crackers and milk chocolate mini graham crackers and will be packaged in reusable bags.

The latest York County housing stats

On Friday, I was looking over the most current York County housing stats and noticed a comment offered by Paula Musselman, vice president of the Realtors Association of York & Adams Counties.

“Of course every seller wishes that the home sale prices of six years ago still existed today, but the current market is clearly different,” she said. “If a property is realistically priced, it will sell.”

I get what Musselman is saying about housing prices. If you paid $250,000 for a house in 2007, that property might now be worth $200,000. Of course, location factors a lot into an asking price.

If you were selling your house, would the asking price be based on what you paid or what the current market can bear?

More on local real estate

Your for-sale home have a criminal history? Doesn’t need to be divulged
Here’s one way to save on property taxes

I love chips.

Fact: After I wrote my story about the newly named Utz Arena, I waddled down to the grocery store to purchase questionable carryout sushi and a bag of No Salt Added Bar-B-Q goodness.

I was tempted by the unsalted pretzels. Utz makes more than just chips, dontcha know?

Call me an easy target for product placement.

I usually buy Utz, but I’m also an equal opportunity consumer of hydrogenated fats and simple carbs.

I’ll eat anything, unless it involves those “Chicken and Waffles” chips that Lay’s unveiled for its flavor contest.

I’d sooner dine on my own toenails.

I’m also cheap.

I buy generic a lot, which - as we all know – can sometimes be the real thing in disguise.

(Note: Actually uttering the word “generic” around a food industry person will earn you a slap in the face. It’s called “private label.”)

The chip debate is as old as Utz itself. The company was founded in 1921.

On Tuesday, the company’s newest community partnership got people talking.

Not about sponsorships or the York Fair, either.

No. People chose to debate something much more epic than that.

The real question became “Utz vs. Martin’s?”

Someone even brought up Charles Chips, which I’ve honestly never even heard of.

So, in the spirit of competition, I ask:

What’s your favorite chip?

If you haven’t yet stocked up on wines for the summer, now is the time.

The York County Convention and Tourism Bureau will be celebrating the 30th annual National Tourism Week beginning today. The week will end on May 11 with the first-ever Wine Tourism Day.

A handful of Mason-Dixon Wine Trail partners will be participating. The day, organized nationally, is open to wineries, hotels, restaurants and other wine tourism business across North America, according to a news release.

Locally, nine wineries will be offering special discounts and activities. They include: Allegro Winery, Basignani Winery, Boordy Vineyards, Dejon Vineyards, Fiore Winery, Harford Vineyard and Winery, Reid’s Orchard and Winery, Royal Rabbit Vineyards and the Vineyards at Hershey.

For a full list of deals, go to masondixonwinetrail.com.

According to a 2011 report by the Pennsylvania Tourism Office and the U.S. Travel Association, travel supports 7,165 jobs in York County. Tourism is Pennsylvania’s second-largest industry behind agriculture. York County ranked 10th in Pennsylvania for tourism revenue with more than $850 million generated annually.

During National Tourism Week, the YCCVB will be hosting a Member Familiarization Tour on Friday. This event allows front line and new staff to see all that is available in York County, so they can make educated activity suggestions to visiting guests. Participants will be visiting Steam Into History, Detour Winery, downtown Hanover, Utz Quality Foods and the Eastern Museum of Motor Racing.

Do you have any plans for National Tourism Week in York County?

The Mayor of Spring Grove has suggested that the vacant stone house become a visitors center. Alycia Reiten of Historic York floated the idea that Rutter’s could move its convenience store to the property. The gas pumps would be nearby.

During a recent brainstorming session, Annalisa Gojmerac of Thomasville asked if the Hoke House was haunted.

The question elicited a chorus of laughter and groans.

“Maybe, we can get a ghost to move in,” said Willa Lefever of Sonnewald Natural Food.

Now, I’m not sure why Gojmerac asked her question. I didn’t have a chance to ask before she left the meeting.

I think her question may have been rooted in the belief that haunted houses are often popular tourist attractions and such a branding could benefit the Hoke House.

Annalisa, if you’re reading this, please call me and let me know. My number is 717-771-2047.

Which local landmarks do residents think are haunted? Let me know.

But the reality is I leave them in the house or they’re in the other car. If I forget the bags and I’m just dropping by for a few items, I will find an awkward way to wrap my arms around a bag of flour, bottle of shampoo and block of cheese rather than take home another plastic bag.

I walk out of the store followed by confused looks from people who think I’m either shoplifting or silly to eschew modern conveniences.

But yesterday I remembered the bags at Giant Food Stores on Carlisle in West Manchester Township. And I’m really glad I did.

Right now, Giant is actively entering customers in its Earth Day Free Groceries Sweepstakes.

From now until June 1, if you bring reusable bags to Giant, or mail in an entry, you will be entered to win one of two grand prizes: $7,800 in Giant gift cards.

Individuals or households can enter once a day, according to the official rules.

Other prizes include 10 $500 gift cards.

Christine wasn’t interested in Italian food. Paul wanted to find a place with a short wait.

I was sitting in the backseat with my 11-month-old daughter, trying to keep her asleep.

“Where do you want to go?,” my wife shot back at me from the driver’s seat.

I offered my opinion and went back to watching my daughter.

“Wait,” Paul said.”Didn’t that place fail it’s health inspection recently.”

That’s a question I often get from family, friends and others in the community.

Health inspections have been part of my beat since I started at that YDR in 2000.

Most of the time, I know the answer and can even rattle off a few specific violations for places that didn’t fare well on their last review.

However, I’m not a health inspector. I’ve tagged along a few times and watched how an inspection unfolds, but I don’t work for the state.

Does the outcome of a health inspection influence your choice of restaurant?

The Turnpike Commission announced Tuesday that it expects to open electric vehicle charging stations at four of its service plazas this summer.

The charging stations will be available at these locations:
–Oakmont plaza in Allegheny County
–New Stanton plaza in Westmoreland County
–Bowmansville plaza in Lancaster County
–King of Prussia plaza in Montgomery County

The charging stations will be at the rear of the parking lots. Customers will pay at the charging station with a credit card.

Eventually, the Turnpike Commission plans to offer electric-vehicle charging at all 17 plazas along the Turnpike, according to a news release.

The charging stations are made possible through a partnership between the Turnpike and the Department of Environmental Protection. In December 2011, the DEP awarded a $1 million Alternate Fuel Investment Grant to Car Charging Group, a Miami, Florida-based company that will be providing the charging equipment and services. The company matched the $1 million grant, the news release stated.

The Turnpike Commission is supplying $500,000 for the cost of transformers, electric lines and meters.

A cost to the consumer is yet to be announced, but is expected before the stations open this summer.

Jack Christenson, the Turnpike Commission’s facilities director, said the initiative is a component of an ongoing program to reduce the Turnpike’s carbon footprint.

The electric vehicle charging stations follow the implementation of E85 pumps, recycling containers, high-efficiency hand dryers, eco-friendly cleaning supplies and using recycled material-made napkins and paper towels.

As states move forward with green initiative like this, are you ready to trade in your gas-powered car for an electric or hybrid? Or should the state be looking at other fuel alternatives?