WARSAW — Local entrepreneur Dave Cesaretti is always quick to snap off a catchy one-liner, which makes him a great cab driver. However, his vision and snap focus of the big picture is the reason his local business, Fast Cabs, is one of the area’s most successful enterprises.
It’s that ability to see things from a bird’s eye view that fueled Cesaretti’s decision more than three decades ago to help dissuade the dangers of overindulgence during the holidays.
“I call it the save-a-life program and I’m sure we’ve saved a life of someone somewhere along the line,” said Cesaretti of his annual program that provides rides to party-goers from local watering holes to the safety of their home.
To make the program work, Fast Cabs partners with local establishments that serve alcohol. The rides will be available on Monday, Dec. 31, beginning at 6 p.m. to take patrons both to the establishments and home after the ball drops. The official end of the program is when each venue closes, which vary from establishment to establishment.
“I’ve got everybody on tonight,” Cesaretti said.
It’s not known whether Cesaretti will himself be driving party-goers, but those patrons would be in for an entertaining ride, given the owner’s propensity for cracking wise.
“Thirty-two years, baby,” he said of the program’s long history. “Other towns were doing it, so I figured I’d give it a try and it took off. Now, if I tried to stop, they’d hang me from the town circle. It’s going to be written on my epitaph.”
For New Year’s Eve partiers who want to book a ride to and from a participating venue, Cesaretti said they should call (574) 269-2222.
Participating venues include Warsaw’s American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars posts, 110 Craft Meatery, Rex’s Rendezvous, Warsaw Bowl, Time Out Inn, Handy Spot Liquor and Service Liquors.