I first heard of Paul Koval years ago from a graduate of the Cabinet and Furniture program at North Bennett Street School.  I was complaining about the paucity of really good cherry lumber at the big wholesale yards where we usually buy our hardwoods.  I think it was Sam Chase who said to me, “Well, there’s this guy, and he’s out in the middle of nowhere, but he has some amazing stuff — wide cherry and air-dried walnut, really gorgeous.”  I called the number on the little slip of paper that Sam gave me, and crossed my fingers.  Wood guys can be a grouchy bunch, wary of greenhorns wasting their time, and I was newly enough in business to still feel like an impostor.  …