Jacky’s Depot To Stay On Track With New Ownership
BY NANCY GAGNET — MIRROR REPORTER
After 22 years of serving up delicious ice cream, Marty and Jacky Pauken of Jacky’s Depot are handing over the keys to new owners Jason and Aimee Mendelsohn.
“It’s been a lot of fun,” Marty said.
Jacky agreed.
“I love it,” she said. “I’m always eager to open and eager to close.”
The couple opened the seasonal business in April 1986, in a small corner of the building they own on West Dudley Street in downtown Maumee.
Since then, throngs of locals have staked it as a friendly little place for a special warm weather treat.
“We’ve been a bribe for everything – getting A’s on report cards, learning to go potty and lots of parties,” Jacky said.
Living above the ice cream shop, they often worked seven days a week during the first several years.
“At night we’d go upstairs and laugh about the funny things that happened that day. That’s what we’re going to miss,” Marty said.
The Paukens and the Mendelsohns have become good friends through the years and the retiring couple believe they’ve found the right buyer.
“If we had to hand pick a couple with the work ethic, previous knowledge and honesty, it would be them,” Jacky said.
The Mendelsohns plan to continue the tradition of selling homemade hand-dipped ice cream as well as soft serve.
With over 50 hand-dipped flavors perfected – 13 are offered on any given day – the Paukens say that butter pecan, cookies and cream, and mint chocolate chip continue to be best sellers, but they’ve always been willing to experiment with new flavors.
“The flavor ideas come from our customers,” Jacky said.
According to Jason, that tradition will continue.
“We’re not going to mess with success,” he said. “It’s an honor to own this business, which is a cornerstone of Maumee.”
Aimee, who spent many years working behind the counter at Jacky’s as an employee in high school and college, is happy to own the business that she’s become so comfortable with.
“I’m excited,” she said. “Jacky’s Depot has been a huge part of my life. My sisters worked here and many of my good friends.”
Aimee is a teacher at Summit Academy for Alternative Learners and Jason works at The Mirror.
They plan to keep Jacky’s Depot open from March through October.
The Paukens will help the new owners with the business through the busy Fourth of July holiday weekend.
After that, they’ll divide their retirement days between sunny South Padre Island, Texas, and Maumee.
In addition to Jacky’s Depot, two other businesses are also housed in the West Dudley Street building.
The Paukens’ four children – Marty, Tony, Andy and Jenny – also live in Maumee.
As far as plans for retirement – “We have none,” they both laughed.
“Hopefully we’ll be bored,” Marty added.
Jacky’s Depot is located at 130 W. Dudley St. Business hours are daily from noon until 10:00 p.m. with the exception of July 3, when the store remains open until the last customer is served during the Maumee/Perrysburg fireworks.
Area Police Officers Carry Torch To Raise Funds for Special Olympics
BY KAREN BERGER — MIRROR REPORTER
Alex Schroeder looked warily at the flame as Maumee Police Chief Robert Zink handed him the torch as they paused in front of the Maumee police station.
“It was heavy,” the 10-year-old said later, after finishing a run around the corner to stop at Georgette’s Grounds and Gifts on Conant Street.
Alex and 10-year-old Schyler Young were running alongside several Maumee and Lucas County officials as part of the Ohio Law Enforcement Torch Run, which raises funds and awareness for Special Olympics Ohio.
The Northwest Ohio leg began on June 22 in Put-in-Bay and will wrap up in Columbus on June 27, in time for opening ceremonies for the Special Olympics.
Wednesday’s run began at Toledo’s Walbridge Park and was scheduled to wrap up in Findlay.
The Ohio torch run involves 1,500 law enforcement personnel. On Wednesday, several Maumee police joined Chief Zink as he ran from the Maumee city limits down River Road, down Dudley Street then on to Georgette’s – a new stop this year.
Georgette’s staff members, including Florinda Juarez and Rodger Blaylock, were on hand to offer fruit, muffins, bottled water and fresh roasted coffee to the several police officers, parents and supporters.
Juarez and Blaylock also handed Dan Van Vorhis, leader for the run’s Northwest Ohio leg, a check for $20.00.
The donation came from the Georgette’s tip jar, said vocational services manager Diane Westhoven.
The torch run is the largest fund-raising event for Special Olympics, which take place June 27-29 in Columbus.
Special Olympics is a community-based athletic program that allows people with mental retardation, cognitive delays or related disorders to compete in 18 sports, including aquatics, track and field, gymnastics, power lifting, softball and volleyball.
Both Alex and Schyler will participate at the state level for the first time this year. Alex, who has Asperger’s disorder, will compete in the 100-meter dash. Schyler will compete in the 50-meter dash and softball throw.
Because she has a rare condition called partial trisomy 22, Schyler is blind, is hearing impaired and has some developmental delays. However, that doesn’t stop her from participating in cheerleading and baseball, her mother Stacey said.
“We keep her involved in anything she can do,” Stacey said. “Socialization is the most important thing with our kids. She’s loved by all.”
While Schyler and Alex didn’t run the entire way – they got a lift with Alex’s mother Stephanie – they did manage to run portions. Participants in the torch run may bike or run, but most officers chose to run with a motorcycle escort.
Georgette’s Grounds And Gifts Serves As Torch Run Pit Stop
BY KAREN BERGER — MIRROR REPORTER
Washing dishes, roasting coffee and delivering sandwiches are all in a day’s work for the 10 employees with developmental disabilities at Georgette’s. On June 25, their job description included: shake mayor’s hand and pose for photos.
This is the first time that Georgette’s, a supported employment site operated by Sunshine, Inc., of Northwest Ohio, was a refreshment stop for runners and bikers on the Law Enforcement Torch Run.
Since opening in October 2005, the shop, located at 311 Conant St., has provided job opportunities and income for people with disabilities, as well as farmers and artisans around the world. The cofffee shop serves fair trade coffees, teas, espresso drinks, smoothies, baked goods and light lunches, while the gift shop sells fair trade handicrafts from artisans around the world.
“We have a lot of regulars who come here just because they like what we do. But when we opened we didn’t want to focus on being an employment site for people with disabilities. We offer a quality product that’s as good as Starbucks,” said Diane Westhoven, vocational services manager for both Georgette’s and www.georgettes.com.
The shop is named after Georgette Engler, who with her husband Roy raised five children with disabilities. She founded Sunshine Children’s Home to help other families care for their children with disabilities. Sunshine is now the largest provider of residential and related services to people with disabilities and their families in Northwest Ohio.
At Georgette’s, each employee works five hours a day, which can be exhausting for those with physical disabilities, Westhoven said.
County funding for job coaching was cut in half as of January 1, Westhoven said, so Sunshine is actively seeking more volunteers. Fortunately, business has been expanding.
Georgette’s plans to expand its coffee business by offering roasted coffee in local stores such as Sautter’s and Claudia’s. While catering needs to be scaled back, Georgette’s still delivers large boxed lunch orders to area businesses and is working to bring more lunch groups to the shop.
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