By the powers vested in me... by the state of New York, the Erie County Charter, the Polish American Dairy Council and the Almighty, do hearby pardon and free the butter lamb from its traditional Easter duties on tables throughout Erie County for the dura

Erie County, N.Y., Executive Mark Poloncarz, "pardoning" a butter lamb last week from doing duty as a spread at Easter dinner (much the way U.S. presidents pardon turkeys at Thanksgiving). Butter sculptures in the shape of lambs are a traditional part of Easter meals among Buffalo's large Polish-American population.