AW Graduate Opens General’s Ice Cream in Whitehouse
BY KAREN BERGER — MIRROR REPORTER
Whether customers arrive by bike, wagon, Rollerblades, in cleats or minivans, the ice cream shop at the corner of the Wabash-Cannonball South Fork Trail and Providence Street has long been a welcome sight.
On April 1, Brian Carroll unveiled the newest incarnation of a Whitehouse landmark, which the 2006 Anthony Wayne High School graduate aptly named General’s Ice Cream.
Inside, the little shop has changed, with a fresh paint job, new countertop and user-friendly menu board.
New menu items include three sundaes with layers of cheesecake and ice cream: the Strawberry Salute, the Caramel Cannon and the Chocolate Coconut Sundae. Of course the Turtle Sundae remains a favorite. The ice cream is from Independent Dairy of Monroe, Mich.
General’s Ice Cream will also add sandwiches, hot dogs and chili dogs to the usual lineup of slushies, toppings, flurries, shakes, malts, cappucinos, floats and lemon ice.
Each month General’s Ice Cream will have a special. For April, it’s a Maumee River Mud Pie – an ice cream sandwich with hot fudge, oreos, soft serve ice cream and chocolate cone dip, for $2.50.
The 20-year-old Carroll, a full-time business education student at Bowling Green State University, worked at the former Jacky’s Depot for five years, mostly behind the scenes taking care of the machines. When he learned that owners Marty and Lisa Pauken would be selling the business, he decided it was a good investment. While he purchased the equipment, he leases the building from the village of Whitehouse.
He’s spent the past few months refurbishing the building.
“My focus is to be one of the cleanest stores and to have the best customer service. I’ve got great employees. Without them this would be impossible,” Carroll said of the eight to 10 part-timers.
Because most employees are high school students, the shop’s hours are 4:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. on weekdays and 11:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays until school is out. Summer hours will expand to 11:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. daily.
For more information, call (419) 877-0031. General’s Ice Cream is located at 6751 Providence St.
Whitehouse Lowers Some Fees During Schedule Review
BY KAREN BERGER — MIRROR REPORTER
While an altered fee schedule failed as an emergency ordinance, it did pass in the first of three readings during the April 1 Whitehouse Village Council meeting.
Based on a recommendation by the citizens tax and revenue enhancement committee, Whitehouse Village Council began an annual review of fee schedules.
The new fees include $35.00 for a fence permit; reducing the fee from $40.00 to $20.00 for temporary signs; reducing sign fees for nonprofit organizations; increasing the parkland dedication fee from $600 to $800; and lowering the zoning permit for sheds, accessory buildings, pools and decks from $50.00 to $25.00.
Council members Meridee Curry and Frank Billings voted no. Curry said she voted against the measure because she thought more fees could have been reduced.
After much discussion, the issue was brought to the table again and passed, 4-to-2, in the first of three readings. In order to pass as an emergency (three readings in one night), five council members would have had to vote yes.
In other business at the meeting, council members:
• Heard that the tree commission will remove all ash trees rather than using a long-term, more costly treatment approach to deal with emerald ash borer infestation.
• Learned that an Owens Community College student will conduct a tree inventory in the park, borrowing a GPS unit.
• Learned of an Arbor Day celebration event on Friday, April 25. A tree will be planted in memory of former tree commission member Harry Behrendt.
• Approved administrator Dennis Recker to begin discussions with Waterville Township about mutual economic development interests such as the SR 64 corridor.
• Passed an ordinance permitting the village to establish control measures governing placement, spacing, sizing, foundation requirements and other controls for new utility and transmission equipment in the village right of way. A $100 right-of-way control fee was passed.
• Authorized $13,950 to purchase a John Deere tractor.
• Heard that Recker is interviewing to fill two part-time administrative positions due to a resignation and a position change.
• Approved the downtown revitalization plan in order to file the final funding proposal for a grant.
• Agreed to place e-mail links for village council and the mayor on the village’s new Web site at www.whitehouse.oh.gov.
• Learned that residents who do not wish to receive the Toledo Free Press, a free newspaper that is delivered to homes weekly, should contact Mr. Campos at (419) 241-1700, ext. 227.
• Agreed to pass legislation to bill homeowners for clearing sidewalks not cleared of snow within 24 hours. The village already has in place a law allowing workers to mow unkempt lawns and bill the homeowner.
The next regular Whitehouse Village Council meeting will be on Tuesday, April 15 at 7:00 p.m. at 6925 Providence St. in Whitehouse.