Library hosts book reading for local author’s first novel PAGE 11
Your LOCAL Media since 1918! Volume 105 Issue 38
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Wednesday, May 24, 2023 s
Local resident builds business around breakfast
Sandi Vanstraaten sits in her Hava Java food truck near the Lindbrook fill station May 18. JANA SEMENIUK PHOTO
Jana Semeniuk Staff Reporter
When Beaver County resident Sandi Vanstraaten accompanied her husband to get water from the Lindbrook fill station in 2021, she had no idea that making a simple observation would change her life. “It was our third water run on a Sunday morning,” said Vanstraaten. “I said ‘wouldn’t it be nice if you could grab a coffee?’” Vanstraaten, who was unemployed from her cook job due to the pandemic, decided to put her entrepreneurial spirit to work and created Hava Java – a coffee and muffin food
truck parked most mornings near the Lindbrook fill station. Vanstraaten said she specifically looked for a food truck with an oven so she could freshly bake cinnamon buns and muffins for her customers. In addition to take-away breakfast items, Vanstraaten said she also does catering out of her truck. “I can do a full roast beef dinner for 30 out of here,” she said. Although Vanstraaten is usually located near the Lindbrook fill station, she said she can go anywhere and has had requests to come to people’s garage sales. “I'm not going to be the kind of truck that can feed 300 people. I'm
more of a social venue. I have people sit here on tables and chairs and have a coffee. I want to be more of a community truck,” she said. “I did a garage sale from a man that's moving out of the community and he asked me to come sit there and sure enough it was one of my busiest days ever.” Vanstraaten also doesn’t let her leftovers go to waste. “I'd like to support the community in any of my leftovers. So anytime I have leftovers, I try and give it to a senior home or a needy family,” she said. Vanstraaten said this is her second year in business and she starts her
year in April running through until the weather turns cool in the late fall. “This year I'm hoping to go right on through October,” she said. “As long as I can park and don't get stuck.” On the menu, Vanstraaten said she carries certain items every day and likes to throw in surprises occasionally. “I always have cookies (and) fritters of some sort. Usually Apple puffed wheat squares, muffins, cinnamon buns, and apple turnovers. Always, every day,” she said. “Sometimes I'll throw in different varieties of things. (And) I'm hoping to add a breakfast sandwich.”
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