Pizzeria, tavern owners dismayed by gripes

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The owners said some neighbors told them they enjoyed the music.

By MARY GRZEBIENIAK

VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT

NEW MIDDLETOWN — The owners of a local pizza shop and tavern expressed disappointment Tuesday that some neighbors went to village council complaining about a band that played Sunday on their property.

They said the outdoor afternoon event was a one-time fundraiser for the family of a motorcyclist who was killed last year. It was the first time they have had an outdoor band in their eight years in business on Sycamore Drive here.

The event generated almost $4,000 and was a pleasant family affair with no rowdiness, said Tom and Kim White, owners of Pizza Joe's and Stephanie's Lounge, which adjoin each other.

Kim White said the fundraiser was a benefit for the three children of Tim Henneman, who was killed in an accident last year. While the event was originally planned for inside, Tom White said he decided to move it outside because the weather was so nice.

The event included a disc jockey from 1:30 to 3 p.m. and a band, which played from 3 to 7 p.m. with a 45-minute break. In addition, Kim White said there was a buffet dinner, raffles, and free popcorn for children. Admission was $10, and the event was heavily advertised, she said.

"I didn't think the volume was too loud," she said. "I'm very sorry I offended anybody. I didn't mean to," she said, adding she wished the neighbors had complained to her and her husband instead of going to council Monday night.

Surprised

The Whites expressed surprise the band performance disturbed some neighbors. Kim White added that other neighbors told her Monday that they had enjoyed listening to the music from their homes.

Kim White said an on-duty New Middletown police officer even walked through the event during the afternoon and did not indicate there were any problems.

Tom White addressed the complaints made to council about other indoor band concerts, stating that he only infrequently has indoor bands and will not have one now for another three weeks.

He said he has tried to stop noise from traveling outside by closing windows and pulling drapes over them. He said he will consider additional ways to block the noise. He added he tries to run a family-friendly establishment, and said there have been only two fights at the business in nine years.

The Whites, who have three children, said they have tried to be an asset to the community. Kim White said they have "changed the atmosphere" from the business that formerly occupied the plaza. She said they feed the high school football team several times per year.

She and her husband employ 23 full- and part-time employees, many of them teenagers, and they also give a group of mentally handicapped local students work experience once a month.

Wednesday, September 13, 2006