by Barbara Van Reed

WEBSTER – Ed Kinsley has successfully made Webster a destination for family entertainment with the newly renovated Mohegan Bowl and All Star Pub. "We can see where people are coming from when they search for directions, and they are coming from towns all around, many from Worcester."

"The place desperately needed a facelift," said Ed. He basically gutted the old Mohegan Bowladrome and Lic’s Restaurant on Thompson Road, and a million dollars later, literally, has transformed it into a spectacular family entertainment center.

Even the Crayola colors paint scheme, inside and out, gives the place a fun, upbeat appearance.

Sales to raise funds to help humanitarian causes locally and internationally.

WEBSTER, Massachusetts (Dec. 10, 2012) — The Rotary Club of Webster-Dudley has teamed up with fellow Rotarian/inspirational contemporary realist oil painter, Renee Dumont, to raise funds to help humanitarian causes locally and internationally.  Beginning with this holiday season, the first in an historical series of postcards created from gorgeous oil paintings expressing  the appreciation of the Native American heritage here on Webster Lake are being sold. 100% of the postcard sales will be donated by the artist.

DUDLEY – It's a good time of year to start up a health-oriented business as at the beginning of every new year, thoughts turn to getting in better physical shape. Regina Doucimo, a certified nutritionist, can help you do just that.

She started her business, Natural Wholebody Nutrition, in October, and is gearing up for a busy 2013. Her program emphasizes the nutritional aspects of a healthy lifestyle. “You can work out as much as you want,” she says, “but what you eat is just as important in implementing lasting change that will improve energy, balance, and health.”

An ISSA Certified Nutritionist and Ace Certified Lifestyle and Weight Management Coach, Regina works with individuals, families, or groups, orienting and customizing the program to specific needs, both in content and location.

WEBSTER – It’s been a long time since there was a boxing club in Webster, but the combination of pro boxing referee John “Zab” Zablocki and Powerhouse Gym owner Scott Holland are making it happen.

The pair of locals hope to have the doors of their new boxing gym, which will include a boxing ring, heavy bags, speed bags, and sparring gear, open by February 1 at the Powerhouse Gym in Webster.

Zablocki, who grew up in Webster and graduated from Shepherd Hill in 1978, and Holland, who also grew up in Webster and graduated from Bartlett in 1992, have been talking and planning this endeavor for some time.

This is the second in a series of articles about local businesses, researched and written by Bartlett High School journalism students.

by John A. Plewa and Lauren M. Hughes

Twenty-seven years ago, the idea of trying something new entered the minds of the newly married couple and soon to be business owners, Kevin and Joanna Chester. For some time, they had always wanted a business of their own, and they chose the town of Webster for the start of their business, the Gift Gallery, which is located at 505 South Main Street. 

At the start of their business, the Chester family lived in the upstairs apartment portion of the building, with the store on the ground level. The store is family owned and operated by Kevin and Joanna Chester, along with the assistance of Joanna’s brother, John Scianna, who has been the manager there for 23 years and is always ready to assist customers.  Joanna Chester originally worked in retail stores; however she went to school to become an elementary teacher. Her husband, Kevin Chester, graduated from Bentley University in Waltham, Massachusetts, and after graduation, worked in marketing.

By Nancie Zecco

Need gift ideas? Here are some that are made in the USA--for which you  can shop nearby.

Deb Horan, of Booklovers' Gourmet at 55 East Main Street in Webster, has a selection which she's described below, including websites for more information. Happy Shopping!

    Fir Needle Soy Candles, Body Scrubs & Lotions & Soaps by Bedrock Tree Farm located in Wakefield, RI.

    Real fir needles and essential oils infuse these products with the scent of the season. Varieties come in natural and green. www.bedrocktreefarm.com

    ---

    Bread Warmers & Trivets by Seneca Ceramics located in Phelps, NY.

    Made of hand crafted porcelain, these round or square ceramics would make a great hostess gift or you may want to try one yourself. Simply heat the bread warmer in the oven or microwave and place in a basket wrapped in a towel with the bread. The trivets can be used to keep foods hot or cold. Designs include celtic knots & Irish blessings along with tea and coffee themes. http://giftware.senecaceramics.com/

    Hand Crafted Soaps by Ipswich Bay Soap Company located in Ipswich, MA

    Heavenly scents include lavendar, oatmeal, milk and honey, bay rum, fresh aloe, lemon verbena, pineapple coconut, sandalwood & many more. Custom labels come with town or store name at no extra charge and a variety of designs are available, including holiday images. (Website is currently under construction for updates.)

    Fresh Fudge & Amish Products by Arndt's Fudgery located in Newton, IL.

    Arndt's Fudgery is a family owned business established in 1913 and is now in it's third generation. Featuring homemade, creamy fudge in 75 decadent flavors including Chocolate Cheesecake, Peanut Butter & Marshmallow, Turtle, Maple and Penucchi. Other candies such as nut brittles and Amish made products like jams, preserves & pickles are also distributed by the company. http://fudgery.com/

    Boxed Notecards and Laminated Folding Guides by Stephen Lewers & Associates located in Wilton, NH

    For the nature lover these cards and folding guides are a great gift. Beautifully drawn images of nature and wildlife include trees, birds, turtles, butterflies, wildflowers, owls, dragonflies and more. Boxed notecards come in assorted sets of 8 and include envelopes. Folding guides are laminated and easy to carry around in a pocket without getting torn or dirty. http://www.foldingguides.com/

BUSINESSES IN THE NEWS

by Patriot Staff

Gordon and Lori Curtis bought Webster Wine & Liquors in August and in the months since then, they’ve been very busy learning everything there is to know about managing the store and selecting wines, beers, and liquors.  “I now know the difference between whiskey and bourbon,” quips Lori.

The Curtises took over the business when the previous owners, George and Helen Baldowski, retired after running the store for 23 years.

James Weagle offers free removal of old and outdated equipment

BUSINESSES IN THE NEWS

By Patriot Staff   

Oxford resident James W. Weagle started a new business two months ago, one that can only be described as a terrific new service for local businesses, municipalities, and residents alike.  

MvP Electronic Recycling, located in the Stevens Linens building on Schofield Avenue in Dudley, is a full service electronics waste recycling company.

As every business and organization knows, disposing of end-of-life electronics can be a difficult and costly problem. “They need to get rid of the old equipment, but are often charged for it by companies that are making money off it,” said Jim.

He explained that of 50 to 70 million tons of e-waste produced worldwide every year, only a quarter is recycled, the rest ends up in landfills. The components and metals in computers can easily be reused or  recycled, and he's on a mission to manage that for customers in Massachusetts.

Asked how he came to start the new business, he said his existing company, MvP Technology in Webster, which provides laptop and desktop sales and services, often faced the same issue: what to do with old or dead electronic parts. And so the idea to address that problem morphed into a new venture.

MvP  Electronic Recycling will accept at no charge any electronics item that plugs into the wall or uses a battery. Jim said they will pick up the items or they can be dropped off at the Schofield Ave. location.

There they break everything down to its component parts: the boards, plastic, metal, power supply, drives. Massachusetts law  protects private data by requiring discs to be shredded or DOD-wiped, so that data is un-retrievable. MvP will supply a “certificate of destruction” for schools and other organizations. The company is HIPAA and CIPA compliant.

The parts are then recycled or sent to refiners, which further reduce the components to their elements. MvP only does business with R2 certified facilities, and nothing is shipped overseas.

In some cases, old equipment can be reworked and used by another organization or group. MvP also provides asset management services and promises to get companies “top dollar” for their used equipment.  

Jim explained that the only exception to the free removal policy are CRT monitors, for which there is a $15 charge.

MvP will work with schools, churches, and non-profits that want to collect electronics for fundraisers. They will take the e-waste and equally share the profits.

Jim said he has already done some work with St. Joseph's School and is calling on others.

The electronics recycling service can benefit banks, municipalities, schools, institutions, and the private sector alike, said Jim. 

Computers, cell phones, DVD players, VCRs, game boxes, CDs -  anything electronic can be recycled. Bring the items to MvP at 137 Schofield Ave. in Dudley or call the office at 508-499-6493.   

From chicken farm to haven for horses

By Jamie Bowlin 

Whip-O-Will Stables is a thriving equestrian facility nestled on 200 acres in beautiful West Dudley, MA. The stables are dedicated to the well-being of horses and other animals, and offer feed and a clean stall to many less fortunate and rescued horses. Whip-O-Will Stables has a reputation of caring for otherwise “unwanted” critters of all sizes. In addition to 16 horses, the stables house a variety of other animals, including rabbits, goats and ducks.

The facility has not always been a stable. “Whip-O-Will Farms” began in 1955, when Kenneth Chickering Sr. and his son Kenneth Chickering Jr. purchased a run- down dairy farm. The dilapidated 250-year-old farm house was uninhabitable at the time and required major renovations in order for the family to live there.

Whip-O-Will farms was converted into a commercial egg production facility, and in 1966 the Chickering family built the first commercial chicken coop, which housed 17,000 hens. Between 1966 and 1974 there were a total of four chicken coops or “cage houses” that were each able to house 17,000 chickens. In the 1980s, when the cage houses became automated, each cage house was able to keep 40,000 chickens. As a result, Whip-O-Will Farm was named the second largest egg producing farm in the state of Massachusetts.

The farm saw many generations of the Chickering family come and go with varying degrees of involvement. During its peak production, Kenneth Chickering  Jr.’s  two sons, Charles and Russell, and his daughter,  Rondy (now Rondy Langlois), were involved  in the egg production from raising chicks that would replace laying hens, to washing and packaging eggs in the processing plant, to distributing eggs to supermarkets all  over Worcester County. In 1997 egg prices began to fall and the farm began to shut down its commercial egg production.

The first horse was purchased in 1995. “Nana’s Mr. Herby” was a retired sulky race horse. A “sulky” is a two-wheeled cart, somewhat like a chariot, that was pulled behind a horse during a race. “Nana’s Mr. Herby” was not a big winner on the race track, but was a great success in helping Whip-O-Will Farms transition from egg production to horse stables.

The building of stables on the property began in 1998. The family hoped that by building stables, they could maintain the land as a working farm so that income would be generated for remaining family members. Since 1998, Whip-O-Will Stables has returned to being a central part of Dudley’s landscape. The stables offer services from boarding horses, to riding lessons, after-school programs, summer camps and pony parties. Many of the horses at the Stables have found a second lease on life. Some of the horses have been rescued from abusive or neglectful situations, or were surrendered by owners who could no longer care for them. Twelve of the sixteen horses housed at the stables are owned by the Chickering family.

Today, Whip-o-Will Stables offers a wide variety of equine services and continues to be a ‘safe house’ for distressed animals.

For information on services, visit the Whip-o-Will web site at www.whipowillstables.weebly.com or call Amanda Chickering at 774-452-5062.

Nancy's Family Hair Care

Janet Stoica
Patriot Correspondent

After 50 years of  being in business, Nancy French, owner of Nancy’s Family Hair Care in Webster still loves hair styling and all the flair, camaraderie, and joy that goes along with a great sense of perfecting her client’s locks, curls, and wispy “do’s.”

I first came to know Nancy when I drove my Aunt Marie Nawrocki to her weekly hair appointment at Nancy’s salon. Nancy is a very passionate personality who developed that sense of gutsiness and pride within her at the very young age of 16 due to family circumstances. Sometimes, our backgrounds bring out a formidable drive in us and Nancy definitely found that drive and kept it going as she rapidly climbed the ladder of success.

In 1962, she knew she wanted to become a hair artist. She aspired to have the freedom to invent, develop, and deliver the best and most cutting-edge hair styles one could imagine. Nancy opted to attend Elizabeth Ollis Beauty Academy and after the customary year of schooling at the Worcester-based school, met and began working for Mrs. Stella Tetreault here in Webster. After a year with Stella, an illness forced the lady to leave her occupation and she gifted Nancy with her business.

Nancy knew little of running a business but relied heavily on her husband, Bob French, who was her best friend, strongest supporter, and devoted believer in her quest for success. She added two stylists to her new business but she soon outgrew that salon. Shortly thereafter her present location at 3 Lake Street, Webster, would be realized. The building was, at that time, most likely on a short list to be bulldozed into oblivion. Stepping in to revitalize the property was Nancy’s father, Joseph Katrenak, and her husband, Bob.

The two men rebuilt the property from the ground up making it one of the nicer properties on Lake Street and a fitting across-the-street neighbor to the Corbin Library. Business increased and by 1975, Nancy eventually had 12 additional stylist/employees. Adding herself into the number, 13 did become her real Lucky Number, and business boomed. Many of the ladies in town made it their weekly stop on Fridays & Saturdays for their standing appointments. Nancy loved to experiment with new styles, colors, and products, once even pinking out her sister Sally’s hair when she was younger. She must’ve been onto something as the younger adults of today seem to enjoy pink, blue, lavender, yellow, and green in their hairstyles. Nancy is also proud to point out that one of her original customers, Doris Mrazik, still visits her for a styling (and her design is quite attractive).

Nancy states that “Happiness is coming to work, seeing people, transforming them, and making them feel great. It really makes me feel good to see them leave here happy. My shop will, hopefully, be here for a long time to come as many people know us, some are new to us, but all are welcome.”

Nancy’s family has also been a part of the hair styling business with a sister, Sally, running her own shop as Sally’s Hair Express in Dudley; a sister, Shirley, who has retired; Nancy’s daughter, Kim; and her granddaughter, Ashley, who is the first lady barber in the family. Nancy also has a son, Rob, who is a shoe fashion buyer. Additionally, Nancy  and husband Bob recently celebrated their 50^th wedding anniversary.  Combining her 50 years in business with her 50 years of marriage, and her 50^th class reunion, “it’s 50 three times over” says Nancy.

New products? No problem, as Nancy became involved with every aspect of a full-service salon: facials, pedicures, manicures, wigs, colors, waxing, and perming. Men are often customers too. She gave many new graduates their start in the area as well. They then went on to open their own salons. Currently, she runs her business with one additional stylist, Nanette Tetreault, who has been at Family Hair Care since 2005. Nanette is the former owner of Ciao Bella Beauty Salon. Clientele includes all ages, male & female, and new customers (including walk-ins) are always welcome. Nancy’s Family Hair Care, 3 Lake Street, Webster; Salon hours are Tuesday-Friday, 10am-6pm and Saturday 9am-3pm. Phone: (508) 943-3331 or 943-9110.