Heidi Houck (center) is arm-and-arm with Janie (left) and Mary Welliver as they look forward to a bright future for Welliver’s Smorgasbord.

Tony Bucher Plans Aggressive
Marketing for Welliver’s Growth

By Mary Anne Butters, Story and Photo
    Just a few weeks ago, the owners of Welliver’s Smorgasbord said it would take "intervention from an angel" for the 62-year-old Hagerstown landmark to stay open past June.
    Little did Mary and Janie Welliver know their angel was – literally – just across the street.
    Tony Bucher, owner of Across the Street Antique Mall, and nephew of the mall’s manager, Heidi Houck, stepped up immediately after he learned of the restaurant’s announced closing.
   "I never in a million years planned to get into the restaurant business," said the 35-year-old successful Indianapolis businessman. "But, the Welliver brand is so powerful. So, when the opportunity came up, I became excited to get involved."
   He expects the purchase to be finalized within the next week or two, but he’s already investing in improvements. "The first thing I did right off the bat was to buy a new $40,000 air conditioning system," he said Friday.
   "But I want to make one thing clear: The restaurant has been and will continue to be a tribute to Mary and Janie and the entire Welliver family," he said, underscoring the importance of family members continuing to be involved in the business.
   "Most of the changes will be from a marketing standpoint, building on the brand," he explained. He has already negotiated the purchase of large billboards on I-70, with the goal of capturing significantly more traffic for both the town and his significant investment. He also plans to expand the hours of operation, but those details are not finalized.
   "In today’s economy, people are re-examining their lives and I think there’s going to be a rebirth of certain small towns. Hagerstown is a great town and I’m proud to be part of it."
   The new owner has been dining at Welliver’s for 15 years, even before he married Sally Schroeder, whose mother Kathi Blackburn Schroeder, is Heidi Houck’s sister. The Blackburn sisters grew up just north of Exit 137 and attended Lincoln High School. The extended family also includes the Reece sisters, who built new homes on the site of the old Hagerstown Elementary School.
    Tony and Sally met while both were students at Heritage Christian School in Indianapolis. Tony graduated from Purdue University, majoring in business with a finance minor.
    During frequent visits to Sally’s grandmother, Rosemary Blackburn, the family nearly always came to Welliver’s for dinner. Sally is a professional singer who formerly performed with James Taylor.
   "I wouldn’t dream of changing the menu. Heidi will be my operations manager because she has a strong retail background, but my plan is to keep the current team intact," says the loyal customer.
    The new owner believes there are growth opportunities in the catering business, especially Dayton and Indianapolis. He also will aggressively market the Welliver cookbook that promotes both the restaurant and the town. For more of the above story, please subscribe!

Reid Ride Across Wayne Will Provide Shoes for Needy Area Kids, Ends in Dublin

   Reid Ride Across Wayne is an annual family focused bicycle ride planned with a dual purpose: to promote community wellness and to support children’s fitness activities. Funds generated by the event will be used to support Reid Hospital & Health Care Services "Shoes For Kids," a program that provides athletic shoes to community children who could otherwise not afford them. It is estimated that over 500 pairs of shoes will be given this year!
    Make it YOUR Ride! While the complete route spans 24 miles across Wayne County, riders are encouraged to customize their own experience by completing 6, 12, 18 or all 24 miles of the ride. Upon completion of your ride – whatever the distance- please join us for a post-ride celebration at the finish line! Refreshments… goody bags… prizes… massages… photo opportunities and a mini-wellness fair will be held at the Dublin Park on U.S. 40.
    Things to know: RRAW is open to riders 12 and older. Riders under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult rider. You are responsible for arranging your own transport-ation to and from the ride start/finish. RRAW will be held rain or shine. No refunds. See registration form for complete information.
    Please register by 07/17/09.Major Sponsors include: Stride Rite, Kesslers Team Sports, MetLife, Reid Orthopedics, Oxford Financial, Kicks 96, RMD Patti Insurance, Hall Render and Health Care Professionals Federal Credit Union for secure on-line registration or to make an on-line donation: www.reidride.com

IU East to Offer Yellow Ribbon Award for Military Veterans

   Indiana University East will offer the Veterans Adminis-tration’s Yellow Ribbon Program this fall to Post- 9/11 veterans. Fall 2009 is the first semester the new Post-9/11 GI Bill goes into effect. IU East will provide up to 10 qualifying students a direct grant up to $1,500 per academic year under the program and the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs will match the amount.
    Dennis Hicks, IU East registrar, was appointed by Indiana University President Michael McRobbie to serve on a university-wide Veterans Services Coordinating Comm-ittee. Hicks said it was an honor to provide military veterans with the resources necessary to obtain a baccalaureate or graduate degree.
   "IU East has supported several military veterans in the past with financial assistance in the form of scholarships and state or federal aid," Hicks said. "We are indebted to the service these men and women have provided to us and so in return, we will provide our assistance to them to complete their goals for higher education."
   Indiana University and all of its regional campuses are offering the Yellow Ribbon program to assist military veterans in covering the costs of an in-state undergraduate education and also offers additional support for military veterans enrolled in graduate programs or from outside the state. To receive the award, students must be in good academic standing and remain continuously enrolled unless called for military duty. Students can be enrolled full- or part-time and receive funding. Awards are made on a first-come basis. Applica-tions are requested by July 15, but will be accepted until all awards have been made.
    For additional information about the Post-9/11 GI Bill and the Yellow Ribbon Program, please visit the GI Bill Web site at www.gibill.va.gov.