The Village Focus

Webster Herald

Wednesday September 8, 2010

by Carol Klem

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Ukie Deli Opens for Business

 

It’s somewhat hidden, back from the sidewalk at Carriage House Commons. I’m afraid it goes unnoticed sometimes and hope that we can change that.  This tiny strip plaza has about four shops on street level and a few in the rear. It is across the street from Martino’s Pizza - kiddy-corner from McDonald’s.  If I hadn’t pulled in the parking area to turn around I may have missed this new specialty shop, named Ukie Deli.

 “What is this?” I asked myself. So I made a mental note to find out.

 

Neat, bright, new – the new store owner appeared mature and ambitious for his years.  Yaroslav Kurtyak-, 29, named his store for his homeland, the Ukraine. He came to this country ten years ago and has worked hard doing all kinds of work. Now he has fulfilled his dream of owning a business.

 

He did a lot of construction turning this former office space into a retail establishment. “I did it all,” he said adding “with help from my family.”

 

 Do not be misled …this is not your ordinary sub shop, although he advertises in big letters on the window, Subs, $5 with free potato chips.  There are subs, yes! But his line of products will take you back to your old neighborhood-type store if you or your parents/grandparents lived in the heart of the city where Ukrainians, Polish, Lithuanians, German or Europeans gathered. Moskowska, Krakowska, Estonska sausages/ meats- the finest Harvati, homemade dill pickles from New York City are some of his specialties.

Wonderful candies, cookies, Amish yogurt, whipped butter, specialty teas, and to my surprise, special oatmeal and sugar from Europe that I am looking forward to trying.  “It is different than American,” he said and he’s right. I cannot pronounce some of the finer foods on his shelves and had no idea what they were.

 

“I can tell you how to prepare anything I sell.” he said.  Kilka, (a kind of canned fish) and sardines, marinated mushrooms – “fresh, fresh, everything is fresh,” he said. ‘It is quality…it is like Wegman’s…quality”.

 

Yaroslav started cooking at the age of ten or eleven and loves food, he says.  

His products are not found in the average or even the finest supermarkets; he said especially the desserts that will be coming soon.

 

He is awaiting a shipment of pastries and sweets from New York City – “they are really good,” he said.  They are hard to make, he explained and obviously no one wants to make the effort. I expect it will take little effort to eat them.

 

 

Book Store stays and thrives  

 

Each time I leave our little bookstore in the village, Yesterday’s Muse, I am reminded of the movie “You’ve Got Mail.”  In the movie starring Tom Hanks (Joe Fox) and   Meg Ryan (Kathleen Kelly), Kathleen owns and loves her small, cozy, neighborhood book store which greatly resembles our hometown book shop.

 

However in Webster, Meg Ryan is replaced by the good-looking Jonathon Smalter, 28, – who could be a movie star but prefers the life of a bookstore owner. And in real life – in our cozy little shop live two cats, India and Ophelia. India took a liking to me – although I can’t imagine why, lying on my notebook, playing with the cord of my camera …probably saying…”remember me when you are writing your story. She is a people person cat, for sure.

 

There were no cats in the movie- only Joe Fox’s dog. (I’ve seen this wonderful romance many times…can recite it….yeah, weird) Let’s get back on track…

 

Recently and repeatedly Jonathon has been asked if he is going out of business. WHY? Probably because the building is for sale and the sign outside can be misleading.

The answer is a definite NO! No! No!

 

 “This does not mean my store is for sale,” he said. “In fact business is great.” The store stays even though the building is sold. The Clearance sign on the window has also made some people think that this is his way of starting the process of closing up shop.

His talented employee, James Cooke said that they are just getting rid of overstock so there is no reason to worry.

 

The clearance sale is amazing – lots and lots of great books, classics, mysteries, history, romance, children’s – everything imaginable is on tables selling for $1 a piece or $5 a bag. “We have more at the warehouse,” Jonathon said.

 

 

Sept. 11 at Webster Village

 

Although no one will ever forget the terrorist attack on the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center, I am told that few villages, towns, even cities continue to ceremoniously remember and commemorate the Sept. 11, 2001 attack.  Webster does observe this day and the attack on innocent victims in New York and Pennsylvania and we remember the unselfishness and compassion with which the rescuers tried to save them.

 

At 11 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 11 you are invited to the Veterans Memorial Park in Webster Village ( North Avenue or Route 250)  for the annual  program to honor the truly indomitable spirit of America that we observed on 911 – to remember the victims and their families.

 

Participating in the event will be the Northeast Joint Fire Department, the West Webster Fire Department, Union Hill Fire Department, Webster Police Department and many public officials including Assemblyman David Koon and Senator Michael Nozzolio who will present a new 911 flag.

 

Once again music will be provided by The Chorus of the Genesee.

 

Taps will be played by Michael Walker and Lydia Champagne. (click for more details)

 

 

Sept. 11- American Legion Day Parade

 

The American Legion Monroe County Committee, the Cottreall Warner American Legion Post 942, the Cottreall Warner American Legion Unit 942, and the Cottreall Warner Sons of the American Legion Squadron 942 will salute veterans by holding a parade starting at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 11.  The parade route begins at Ridge and Phillips Road heads down Ridge Road to Main Street in the village of Webster, turning at Daniel Drive and concluding at the Veterans Memorial Park where the 911 ceremony takes place at 11 a.m. 

 

68th Reunion for Class of 1942

 

August seemed to be the month for reunions.

Many alumnae of Webster Schools were in town to enjoy getting together with classmates of old…or old classmates, if you prefer.

 

Have wondered…When does “old” begin?  Maybe when you give in...or give up, but for sure members of the class of 1942 were, and are, young at heart with memories unlike those that most of us share.

 

 Village resident Thelma VanderMallie clued us in on the details of their 68th reunion from the old High School on South Avenue. The class boasted 108 members – the first class to pass the 100 mark. Sadly she said that about 80 of her classmates have died, so considering that – having a dozen at their reunion is pretty amazing. “Some brought along their husbands or wives,” she said, making about 16 sitting down to a wonderful dinner at Hedges. Thelma related her memory of graduation…It was 1942 – and the US was heavily engaged in World War II.   Patriotism abounded and the high school administrators decided that “we would sing The Star Spangled Banner instead of our Alma Mater,” she said. The graduates were highly disappointed because this was the last time they would be together and it was the custom that they would and should sing their song, she added.  “But luckily the high school band was on our side,” (and obviously the director,) because, first they played the Star Spangled Banner – then without missing a beat they swung into the Alma Mater.

 

There wasn’t a dry eye that night, she said.  It was indeed a different day, a different time in history.

 

 

New Exhibit – Webster On The Move

 

If you have a couple of hours on a Tuesday, Thursday or Saturday from 2:00 – 4:30 p.m. stop by the Webster Museum for their new exhibit – and be surprised.  The exhibit will show the history of transportation throughout Webster’s history from the horse up to the present time. Hope to have more information about this in next week’s Herald.  In the meantime drop in at the museum and enjoy!