Front Lines

Three Musketeers Join Forces To Re-Open Essex Eatery

Three friends pooled their resources late last year to buy Wood Craft Pizza & Bar (established November 2017) — 47 Talbot Street Northin downtown Essex — where they have quickly established a local following. Kyle Ringler, who managed Bubi’s Awesome Eats in Windsor for 22 years; Tara Davidson, who has previous experience in the hospitality industry as well as being a dental hygienist, and Adam Baker, Owner of a pest control company, took over the restaurant at the end of October 2019.

Since then, they’ve added a fresh coat of paint, tweaked the menu, added live entertainment, increased the variety of beverage offerings on their taps and doubled the number of employees.

All three say that owning their own bar and restaurant plus becoming their own boss, rather than working for someone else, has long been a dream.

“For me, it was time to put my money where my mouth is,” says Ringler, laughing. “I’ve run someone else’s place for years and now I can help run this one and we can make changes wherever and whenever they are needed.”

Baker is the common denominator who helped bring them together.

“I’ve been friends with Tara’s husband since I was eight years old and Bubi’s was one of my business clients, which was where I met Kyle,” he explains. “When we heard this place was for sale, we decided it was the perfect fit for that we wanted to do.”

With seven children between them, balancing home and work life can be a challenge, but with Ringler handling the day-to-day operations and both Davidson and Baker working part-time, the trio of entrepreneurs believe they can make it work. Davidson handles the bar’s social media presence and books the weekly entertainment.

“We’re trying to support local businesses as much as we can with our beer selection and, once summer arrives, we’ll be featuring as much local produce as we possibly can,” says Davidson.

And even though it offers late-night hours

Is Art Your Life? Then Read This!

The Windsor Endowment for the Arts (WEA) and the City of Windsor are working together once again to present community arts awards and grants in 2020.

“Since its launch in 2010, the WEA Awards and Grants program has honoured and funded creative projects from a diverse range of homegrown talent from Windsor Essex,” says WEA President Stephanie Barnhard. “We are proud to be able to continue the program into this new decade and beyond.”

WEA will distribute 11 cash grants and present four honorary awards supporting arts and culture in Windsor Essex.

The WEA Award Nominations and Grant Applications are as follows. TheArt Leadership Awardsare presented to individuals and organizations that have enriched our community through significant and innovative contributions.

Emerging Artist Grants valued at $3,000 support professional advancement.

Arts Infrastructure Grants valued at $3,000 encourage the development of local art.

The Elizabeth Havelock Grantvalued at $2,000 is for a mid-career artist. The Morris and Beverly Baker Foundation Youth Grant valued at $2,000 is presented to a high school student seeking post secondary education in the arts. The Eric Jackman Youth Grant, valued at $1,000, provides funding and related work experience to a third or fourth-year high school student who wishes to pursue a career in the arts.

An online application/nomination platform can be found on: WEA-Arts.com (be sure to read the eligibility criteria and the list of documents required). The Windsor Mayor’s Arts Awards celebrate the individuals and organizations that develop and promote the “Soul of our City” by recognizing those who support locally developed arts — providing exciting, surprising and meaningful opportunities to strengthen our creative community.

Nominees for the Windsor Mayor’s Arts Awards may be self-nominated or nominated by a peer. All details, including the downloadable application, are available at: CityWindsor.ca. Hard copy applications/ submissions are required.

“Art changes lives,” says Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens. “I am pleased to partner with WEA once again to present the Mayor’s Arts Awards alongside the WEAs. These programs provide an opportunity to Co-owners Kyle Ringler, left, Tara Davidson and Adam Baker are behind the bar at Wood Craft Pizza & Bar, a restaurant they purchased at the end of October 2019. It re-opened in mid-November 2019 following some minor renovations and features live music on weekends. Photo by Dave Hall.

and entertainment, all three owners want their restaurant to be a family place where people feel comfortable bringing their children for a meal

The menu features salads, prime rib poutine, wings, nachos, perch tacos, stuffed wontons and — as mentioned in the business name — an eclectic variety of wood-fired pizzas.

The draft taps include 10 craft beers, three ciders, as well as Old Vienna, which Baker jokingly refers to as “Essex champagne.”

To view a complete menu and the hours of operation refer to: WoodCraftPizza.ca.

support, encourage and recognize our local artists by showing how much we appreciate, value, respect, and need them to help our community continue to thrive.”

Mayor Dilkens will present three awards of merit in 2020 as noted below. Mayor’s Arts Award“Artist” is presented to an individual artist engaged in a broad spectrum of activities having to do with creating, practicing or demonstrating art. (Art is broadly conceived to include all genres within the following disciplines: performance, visual, literary, media/new media, and design).

Mayor’s Arts Award “Arts Organization” is presented to an arts organization that demonstrates a clear commitment to creating, practicing and demonstrating art within the community. Mayor’s Arts Award “Volunteer” is presented to an individual who supports the arts by providing their own time and services without receiving payment for their work.

The deadline to submit is midnight on Tuesday, March 31, 2020 for all award nominations and grant applications.

The 2020 WEA awards and grants, along with the Windsor Mayor’s Arts Awards, will be presentedWednesday, May 13, 2020at the Capitol Theatre — in honour of the theatre’s 100th anniversary. Ticket information will be available in the coming months.

One of the most important and successful fundraisers for local healthcare services marks its 11th anniversary this year when Windsor Regional Hospital’s (WRH) “Hats On For Healthcare” event takes place on March 4, 2020. Businesses, organizations and individuals are urged to join in the excitement by encouraging employees, customers and supporters to wear creative headwear, make a $2 donation and take part in fun activities throughout the city. “It has become our signature event, largely because it’s something everyone can participate in,” explains Gisele Seguin, Director of Public Affairs and Communications at WRH. “It involves a great many people, each giving a little bit of money, and because the organizational costs are so low, virtually all of the money raised goes towards our campaign.”

The fundraiser supports healthcare services at WRH and includes barbecues, casual Fridays, bake sales, car washes and many other fundraising activities across the region.

David Lenz is coordinating the event and informs Biz X that on the same day he sent out “save-the-date” reminders for this year’s campaign, five teams signed up and they’ve been flowing in ever since.

“We had 178 teams a year ago and we could very well exceed that number this year,” adds Lenz, an Administrative Assistant in WRH’s Public Affairs, Communications and Philanthropy department. “It’s easy, fun and people look forward to it every year.”

Regular companies and organizations participating include: KPMG, the City of Windsor, John McGivney Children’s Centre, RBC and Shibley Righton LLP. This year’s campaign raises funds for ventilators and renal dialysis equipment, which are considered high-priority pieces of equipment in patient care.

Last year, the campaign raised $44,204.35 in donations during the one-day event.

Since its inception, funds raised by the initiative have supported diagnostic imaging equipment, neonatal intensive care unit, mental health, medical equipment for surgical and medical

“Hats On For Healthcare” Event Co-Chairs Elaine (left) and Harvey Snaden are shown with Barb Malmberg, Director of Events for the Windsor-Essex Regional Chamber of Commerce, during the 2019 Mardi Gras theme festivities. Photo courtesy of Windsor Regional Hospital.

programs, renal programs, trauma services, paediatric radiology suite, paediatric cancer programs and Western Campus Renovations, including the mental health facility as well as rehabilitation and complex continuing care facilities.

Seguin adds that the campaign also connects the community with the hospital’s fundraising efforts and opens lines of communication with people and organizations interested in participating in future campaigns.

For more information and to register, visit the website: HatsOnForHealthcare.com.

LOVE IS . . . A Heart Shaped Pizza From Antonino’s And Supporting Local Heart Care

Everyone knows that, “the way to the heart is through the stomach,” and what better way to express your love this Valentine’s Day, than with a Heart-Shaped Pizza from Antonino's Original Pizza. Once again this year, Antonino’s is offering small, medium and large HeartShaped Pizzas, Heart-Shaped Cinnamon Sticks, and Heart-Shaped Nutella Pizzas throughout the month of February.

The wildly popular Heart-Shaped NutellaRicotta Pizza, introduced two years ago, will also be available. “The Nutella-Ricotta is the ultimate way to say, ‘I love you!’ with food,” proclaims Antonino’s Original Pizza Inc. President, Joe Ciaravino. “It's like having your Nutella Pizza and eating a Sicilian Cannoli too!”

Asking for the Heart-Shaped Pizza from any of Antonino's three locations — South Windsor, Tecumseh, or LaSalle — also helps support local heart care.

As in previous years, Antonino’s will donate $1 from the sale of each heart-shaped menu item to Windsor Regional Hospital’s Cardiac Program. “Last February, through the sale of heart-shaped menu items and the generous donations of our customers that purchased paper hearts — our windows were plastered with them,” says Ciaravino, proudly, “We raised over $2,500 for the hospital!” This year, say, “I love you,” and support local heart care with a Heart-Shaped Pizza, a Heart-Shaped Nutella/Nutella-Ricotta Pizza, and Heart-Shaped Cinnamon Sticks from Antonino’s.

Find out more on this award winning pizzeria at: OriginalPizza.ca.