Visitors Chow Down On Local Cuisine During Taste Of Maumee
BY KRISTEN SCHWEITZER — MIRROR REPORTER
Burritos or barbecue ribs? Tropical smoothie or chocolate cookie dough ice cream?
Trying to decide what to eat at the Maumee Summer Fair was even more difficult than trying to figure out what game to play next.
At the Taste of Maumee, part of the Maumee Summer Fair last weekend, 18 local restaurants featured some of their most mouthwatering selections for people to enjoy while listening to music, playing games and mingling with friends.
The Taste of Maumee gives residents the chance to try new foods or old favorites. Each restaurant chose menu items to feature in smaller, cheaper portions, giving customers the chance to sample a variety of food from one or multiple vendors.
Of the vendors was Maumee Red Wells Roast Beef, serving helpings of roast beef and hash.
“It’s what we’re famous for,” said Chelsea Clocksin, who helped run the booth for the 90-year-old business. Red Wells’ new Maumee location opened last month.
Buffalo Wild Wings was serving wings, of course, with some of its more popular sauces along with mini corndogs for kids, according to employee Tim Ford.
“We’re featuring our more popular flavors, but have all of them available if someone has another favorite,” he said.
Mexican cuisine was also aplenty, with Abuelo’s, Salsarita’s and El Salto providing chips and salsa, tacos, rice, beans and burritos.
Abuelo’s prepared its stuffed chicken medallions, “a popular lunch item,” according to its booth staff.
Those looking for some German food visited the Brandy’s Diner booth for brats and kraut.
Pat Polca and Barbara Dennis were among the Brandy’s Diner customers.
“We don’t go (to the diner) as much as we should. They just happened to have what we wanted tonight and no long line,” Polca said.
Austin Dupont and his friend Nick Russell said they came to the fair for a good time and good food.
“We’re not sure where we’re going to eat yet, but we’re thinking barbecue,” Dupont said.
Chet and Amy Clocksin, who eat at El Salto every Friday, tried Salsarita’s at the fair for “something different.” The Clocksins also tried Red Wells, Donatos, Smokey Bones and Cold Stone Creamery.
Chet Clocksin said his favorite was Red Wells, but admitted his daughter works there.
“It is good though. I was impressed,” he said.
Emad Abdelghani, owner of Tarboosh, the former Fetoosh on Conant Street in Maumee, said along with the new name is a new style for his restaurant.
“Fresher food and more spices,” are part of the new style Abdelghani demonstrated to customers at the fair.
Abdelghani said his uncle originally came up with the Fetoosh name, and the name change was part of the style upgrade and a way to give the name back to his uncle.
Tropical Smoothie Café sold several sandwiches from its menu in addition to smoothies. Free smoothie samples were also available throughout the evening.
For Nick and Linda Augustyniak, who come to the summer fair every year, P.F. Chang’s, Smokey Bones, El Salto, Salsarita’s and PizzAroma were the vendors of choice.
El Salto and P.F. Chang’s were the Augustyniaks’ favorites, they said.
“We were disappointed Mezzmerize didn’t show up, though,” Nick Augustyniak said.
Joe and Suellen Molloy spent their dollars at P.F. Chang’s.
“It’s a great place to eat. We’ve been there several times since it opened,” Joe Molloy said.
Competing for the pizza lovers’ choice were Papa Murphy’s Pizza, Original Gino’s, PizzAroma and Donatos.
Other Taste of Maumee restaurants were Fricker’s, Jacky’s Depot, Ground Round and Panera Bread.
Taste of Maumee restaurants also competed for the best decorated booth. Tropical Smoothie Café, with its grass skirt trim and floral and fruit décor, won first place. Abuelo’s was named runner-up.
This year was the ninth year for the Taste of Maumee.
Former Police Chief Robert Bunce Laid To Rest
BY NANCY GAGNET — MIRROR REPORTER
The city of Maumee paid its final respects Tuesday morning to former Maumee Police Chief Robert Bunce, who died last Wednesday at age 67 after a battle with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.
Bunce joined the Maumee Police Division on November 1, 1964. After promotions to sergeant and lieutenant, he was named chief of police on November 9, 1987 – a position he held for 14 years until his retirement in March 2001.
“He was a good guy and a good servant to the city,” said Chief Robert Zink, who replaced Bunce when he retired.
“Most of the time he was a no-nonsense, straightforward chief, but he knew when to have a sense of humor too,” Zink said.
As both men rose through the ranks, Zink came to admire the man who was his lieutenant when he joined the department some 30 years ago.
“He championed moving the law profession forward,” Zink said. “He was also a big supporter for having a department that had the best training and equipment. He wanted us to stay current and even cutting edge.”
Maumee Mayor Tim Wagener said Bunce ran a tight ship but showed compassion for others, especially those in uniform.
“He was a great guy. He was stern and disciplined, but he was also very empathetic with the police officers,” he said.
Zink said shortly after becoming chief, he turned to his former boss for advice on a situation he faced within the department.
“He told me not to jump to conclusions,” Zink said, referring to it as “Police Work 101.”
“I’ve recalled that advice unfortunately many times as internal situations have come up,” Zink said.
Wagener was appreciative of the service and enthusiasm Bunce showed toward community programs, including D.A.R.E. and Safety City.
“He had a great sense of humor and he loved the kids. He also had an excellent rapport with the public,” Wagener said. “He let people see that a police officer was more than someone to be scared of – someone who could be a friend and mentor.”
Bunce was an active member of the Ohio Association of Chiefs of Police, eventually serving as president of the association.
He was also a member of the Fraternal Order of Police and Resurrection Lutheran Church.
In 2003, he served five months as interim chief police administrator in Carroll Township in Ottawa County.
He returned to work in 2005 as a court bailiff for the city of Maumee.
He and his wife of 37 years, Shelley, raised two children, Robert Jr. and Wendy, in their Maumee home.
His son Rob said Bunce enjoyed camping in Cold-water, Mich., where he fished on the inland lakes.
He also said his father loved to tell jokes and tease people.
“If you didn’t know that he was the chief, you probably wouldn’t know it from being around him – there was never any air of superiority. He was just a regular guy wanting to have fun,” Rob said. “He was a great father and I was proud to be around him.”
In addition to his wife and children, his daughter-in-law Jill Bunce and son-in-law Steven Babione also survive him.
His grandchildren include Stephanie (Matthew) Heine-mann, Kimberly Bunce, Tyler (Brittni) Bunce, Chelsea Babione, Eleni Babione and Steven Babione Jr. His great grandchildren are Chloe Bunce, Aaliyah Claybourne and Makayla Heinemann.
He is also survived by his sisters, Mary Lou Collins, Rita Klar, Fran Weis, Pat Weis, Mary Worchuck, Judy Williams and Theresa Bab-cock.
In addition to his parents, Bunce was preceded in death by his first wife, Diane; brothers, Charles and Aloysius Magrum; and sister, Susan Magrum.
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