Bygone Blog: Let the litter games begin!

21 Mar

You probably didn’t notice it, but spring officially arrived on Friday morning, in all its cold, cloudy and rainy glory. The occasion made me think of a spring day 13 years ago when we were still living off of Hatch Rd. in North Penfield. Jack and I would take a walk every day around our neighborhood, and every spring would be dismayed at the number of advertising flyers that were littering the ground.

I actually wrote two blogs about that. The first was in 2012, and this follow-up a year later.

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Let the Litter Games Begin!

(Originally posted March 31, 2013)

Around this time last year I posted a blog about G&G Sealcoating and its marketing literature. Specifically, it was about how their marketing literature was strewn all over our neighborhood. In one two-day period last April, my husband Jack and I picked up almost 30 of the flyers along our regular two-mile walking route through the neighborhood. They had fluttered out of the newspaper boxes where they had been carelessly stuffed, extracted by the strong spring winds.

Since then, I’ve always considered this particular company to be King of the Litterers. I thought their neighborhood trashing record would stand forever.

But on Friday, it was in real danger.

On Friday afternoon, Jack and I were on that very same two-mile walk when we noticed a glossy white flyer at the side of the road. We thought at first our seal-coating friends had gotten an early start on their littering in defense of their title. But we were surprised to see it was an entirely new contender in the litter derby — a lawn care company. A little farther down the road we found a second. Then a third. We began to think that maybe, just maybe, this company was going to mount a serious challenge for the title.

All of a sudden we became much more vigilant as we walked, carefully inspecting lawns and bushes. At one point we split up along two conjoined side streets to cover more ground. Sure enough, by the time we met back up at the far end, we had both collected a handful of glossy white flyers. But we also had collected a handful of glossy green flyers.

Yes, ANOTHER lawn care company had joined the contest. Game on.

Things got serious. We started keeping score. White Lawn Care Company (WLCC) had the early lead by virtue of all the flyers from the early part of the walk. But Green Lawn Care Company (GLCC) quickly made up the deficit. Before long the score was neck-and-neck. There were several lead changes. By the time we got home we’d lost count, and we were honestly excited to see if WLCC had been able to pull it out in the end.

But it wasn’t to be. The final tally was 18 WLCC flyers, 19 GLCC flyers.

So our heartiest congratulations to Green Lawn Care Company. Their total was far short of Driveway Seal-Coating Company’s record-setting 30 flyers, but they CAN claim the title of “Most Prolific Neighborhood Litterer of the Spring” so far. Enjoy that winning feeling, GLCC, for it will be fleeting. Driveway Seal-Coating Company — King of the Litterers — should be rejoining the game in a week or two. 

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Fortunately, I haven’t seen this issue cropping up in the village, but I wonder if it’s still happening in my old neighborhood?

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(posted 3/21/2026)

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March History Bit: Webster’s fire departments

20 Mar

Our West Webster and Webster Volunteer fire departments are both marking notable anniversaries this year. 

The West Webster Fire Department (WWFD) is turning 100 years old in 2026, and the Webster Volunteer Fire Department (WVFD) 120 years old. While the departments now share a century of tradition, each evolved from modest roots into the highly-respected, dedicated community organizations they are today.

West Webster Fire Department

A local tragedy served as the catalyst for the formation of the West Webster Fire Department.

In the early 1900s, bucket brigades were the primary fire suppression system in West Webster. Buckets were hung on the rail at Goetzman’s store (on the southeast corner of Gravel and Ridge) in the event of a fire in the area.  

On January 15, 1925, tragedy struck in the 590 block of Ridge Rd., not far from where the current WWFD station is today. At the time, the closest fire department was in the Village of Webster, who arrived 10 minutes after the call went out. They immediately called for backup from Point Pleasant and Sea Breeze. But despite their best efforts, two buildings, a garage, five apartments and several cars were lost. 

After the fire, a community group called the “Social 20” took on the task of increasing fire protection in West Webster. On May 3, 1926, the West Webster Firemen’s Association held their first meeting. They began with only $75 to the organization’s name, but by the end of the month had raised enough to purchase a Federal truck chassis for $1,000. They built their first truck using parts from a decommissioned Rochester Fire Department chemical hose cart.

The first firehouse was in a garage on Ridge Road. Later, it moved to the southeast corner of Gravel and Ridge roads before finally settling in its current location on Gravel Rd., south of Ridge. The WWFD also operates from Station 2 on Backus Rd. and Station 3 on Plank Rd. 

Webster Volunteer Fire Department

The Webster Volunteer Fire Department kind of started out with an ice cream stand. 

In 1905, the WVFD as we know it today was just beginning to take shape, largely as a direct result of the Village of Webster’s incorporation that same year. That July, the Village Board passed an ordinance allowing the Webster Fire Association to maintain stands in celebration of the Fourth of July. Located at the southwest corner of South Ave. and Main St., the stands served soft drinks, sandwiches and ice cream. 

The following year, on March 23, 1906, a group of village men met to discuss the idea of forming a fire department. The Village Board approved the idea, and the WVFD was officially established, charged with the protection and preservation of property within the corporate limits of the Village of Webster.

Before 1905, as in West Webster, “bucket brigades” were the primary method of fighting fires. Residents would keep leather buckets in their homes or businesses, and when a fire broke out, would form a human chain from the nearest well to the blaze.

The original fire hall in 1907 was a building on South Avenue in the former Jayne and Mason Bank building. In 1908, the first firefighting apparatus was purchased from the town of Williamson. It was a hand-drawn, squirrel-tail pumper, which took 16 to 20 men to operate. That original pumper is now on display in front of the fire station on South Ave.  

A rather ingenious fire alarm system to announce fires was installed in front of the fire hall. It consisted of a steel tire from a locomotive suspended on a cross arm between two telephone poles with a spring mounted hammer and rope attached for ringing. The harsh sound could be heard over long distances and brought firefighters running from all directions. 

The Webster Volunteer Fire Department has served our community from its main station at 25 South Ave. since 1969. Additional stations are located on Salt Rd. and Phillips Rd. 

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(posted 3/20/2026)

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Webster’s SparX robotics team has strong showing at Finger Lakes Regional

19 Mar

About a week ago, I posted a blog about our One Webster SparX 1126 robotics team, which was preparing to take part in the Finger Lakes Regional First Robotics Competition at RIT. The event was held last weekend, and I recently received a follow-up from the school district about their strong performance.

It was a big, very competitive field. Despite the “Finger Lakes” name, the regional event drew an international crowd, including 56 teams from as far away as Ohio, Canada, Hawaii, and even Chinese Taipei.

SparX finished the weekend ranked 14th out of 56 teams, boasting a 7-3-0 record. Over the course of 10 matches, the team achieved a respectable high score of 358 points.

“It was a great competition, great learning!” said head coach David Schenk. “Our intake and shooter systems performed flawlessly. We helped our alliance win in semi-finals Match 9, and we competed against some of the best teams in the area.”

This year’s action-packed FIRST game, titled Rebuilt, features an archaeological and restoration theme. Teams are challenged to build industrial-sized robots that can recover “artifacts” (represented by yellow, 6-inch foam balls) and power up their alliance’s central scoring structure, the “hub,” by placing or throwing the artifacts inside. The field is also littered with obstacles, requiring robots to navigate over bumps or drive under a trench if their design is short enough.

Students answering judges’ questions
Making some adjustments to the robot between matches

Team 1126 is already preparing for their next challenge. They’ll travel to Albany on April 16-17 to compete in the Tech Valley Regional, where they hope to further improve their ranking. Fans and supporters are encouraged to follow the team on Instagram for live updates during the event.

“We’re already planning improvements and can’t wait to compete again!” Schenk added.

About SparX Team 1126

Team 1126 SparX is comprised of high school students from Webster Schroeder and Webster Thomas high schools. The team has been a dedicated participant in FIRST® for 24 seasons, dating back to 2003, and has won 30 awards throughout its history.

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(posted 3/19/2026)

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Webster Museum talk presents a journey through the history of quilting

18 Mar

The Webster Museum cordially invites everyone to a presentation by local quilt historian Beth Davis on Sunday, March 22 at 2 p.m.

Beth has worked at The Genesee Country Village Museum and until recently was an American Quilter Society Certified Appraiser of Quilted Textiles. She is retired from both, preferring now to focus on her love of quilt making. She excels at both documenting oral history (having contributed to Quilters Save Our Stories, the largest oral history collection about quilt makers in the world) and documenting in written form (having written the GCVM catalog on their quilt collection). Beth is also the author of A Stitch in Time: Quilts From Genesee Country Village and Museum.

Beth will talk about the history of quilting and its many variations and applications. Time will be provided after the presentation to view the quilts displayed in exhibit areas throughout the museum.

The presentation is scheduled for Sunday, March 22 at 2 p.m. at the museum, 18 Lapham Park in the Village of Webster. There’s no cost to attend this program, but registration is required, and the seats are filling up quickly. Visit webstermuseum.org, and you’ll be directed to where you can sign up. Limit two people per registration.

Here’s a bit more about the museum’s current exhibit of quilts, which they call “Stitched Stories: a Celebration of Vintage Quilts”:

At the heart of the new exhibit are more than 20 handcrafted quilts. Visitors are invited to step back in time and explore the beauty, skill, and storytelling woven into quilts from the 19th and early 20th centuries, which showcase a wide variety of designs and techniques, each a reflection of the maker’s artistry and resourcefulness.

Far more than practical bedcovers, these quilts served as visual diaries of family life and community connections. Patterns such as “Courthouse Steps,” “Crazy Quilt,” and “Redwork” reveal regional traditions and changing fashions in both fabrics and colors. Some pieces were stitched from scraps of worn clothing, while others feature intricate embroidery or appliqué work that turned everyday materials into works of art.

“Stitched Stories” runs until June, inviting guests to experience how creativity and community have long been interlaced through needle and thread.

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(posted 3/18/2026)

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Spry Middle School seizes the day with “Newsies Jr.”

17 Mar

Stop the presses! The talented students of Spry Middle School are taking to the streets, and the stage, for their upcoming production of the hit musical Disney Newsies JR. 

Inspired by the newsies’ strike of 1899, Disney Newsies JR. is a 60-minute adaptation of the 2012 Broadway favorite, based on the 1992 Newsies film. The musical follows a ragtag group of New York City newboys who rally to fight the price hikes of paper moguls William Randolph Hearst and Joseph Pulitzer. Led by the determined Jack Kelly, and championed by the pen of budding newspaper reporter Katherine Plumber, the newsies unite across the city to stand their ground.

Spry’s production boasts a 50-member cast and 30+ member stage crew. Mentored by artistic director Bill Ambler, vocal/music director Stephen Costanza, and choreographer Jackie Collins, the local newsies have been “carrying the banner” through rehearsals, perfecting their two-steps and their Brooklyn accents.

Producer Tricia Mungo says, “Students really connect to the Newsies storyline because it speaks to the fact that you can make a difference and have an impact on your community no matter how young you are. This is so empowering.”

“Everyone loves a story that allows the underdog to come out on top,” she added.

Mungo said that Newsies’ music and high energy dancing has allowed the cast to have a great time, and they look forward to the audience having a great time as well!

Newsies will be presented at Spry Middle School, 119 South Ave. on Friday, March 20 at 7 p.m., and Saturday March 21 at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Tickets are $9 each and are available online here. They’ll also be available at the door. All tickets are reserve seating.

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(posted 3/17/2026)

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Show off your LEGO building skills at the Rec Center

16 Mar

There’s still time to sign up for a great family-fun event taking place this Friday, where you and your kids can show off your LEGO building skills and maybe win some cool prizes.

It’s called the LEGO Family Show Down, a friendly competition where family teams will race against one another and against the clock. Each family will have a maximum of two hours to free-build anything they want. There are no restrictions or themes and each family’s creation will be a reflection of their own imagination and skills.

Each creation will be on display for a week at the Webster Recreation Center for the community to vote on a winner. Once the voting is over, you’re welcome to pick up your family’s masterpiece. Which you can then place on your mantle and show off at home.

I’ll be taking photos of the creations for my blog as well, so I hope to see yours!

The Show Down takes place on Friday March 20 beginning at 6:30 p.m. Cost is $20 per family and registration is required (you only have to register the adult). You can register online here or even easier yet, call the Rec Center at (585) 872-7103. But do it soon because the slots are filling up.

Light snacks and refreshments will be provided.

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(posted 3/16/2026)

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A St. Patrick’s Day legend

15 Mar

So how are you planning to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day this year? Gonna try to squeeze into a pub? Go to a house party? Or maybe just hang out at home and sip a Guinness?

The decision is an easy one for us. My family’s had a standing invitation every year to the St. Patrick’s Day party hosted by our friends the Hollerans. Mary and Jim have been hosting this shindig for more than 30 years. Every year the mix of party-goers changes a bit, as new friends and neighbors are met, old friends move out of town, toddlers grow into adulthood, and new babies are born. But through it all, we can count on one thing: the story of the birth of my third child will be told, and it will have become more outlandish.

The real story goes like this:

On March 17, 1994, I was nine months pregnant and expecting my third child on March 30. As was our custom, my two children (then ages 7 and 4) and I were at the Hollerans’ St. Patrick’s Day party. My husband Jack worked nights at the time and hadn’t arrived yet.

I’d been very careful throughout my pregnancy not to consume any alcohol, but thought it would be safe to have just one beer that evening, which I did. I drove myself and the kids home relatively early.

Somewhat later that evening I started feeling rather “weird,” so I called Jack (who by this time had gotten to the party) and warned him not to be too late. Sure enough, later that night I went into labor and my youngest daughter Erin was born the next morning.

Naturally, a connection was immediately made between the one beer I had and the fact I went into labor almost two weeks early. That was the simple seed from which the legend has grown.

Every year the story gets a bit more … entertaining. These days when the story is told, there’s no telling what new facts we might discover. In previous years, for example, we’ve learned that Jack ignored my phone call and refused to go home. And that Mary, the party’s hostess, was the one to say the fateful words, “Oh, one beer won’t make a difference” and now regrets it.

Depending on who’s telling the story, I enjoyed 30 jello shots … or downed two pitchers of margaritas … or did a keg stand with the pope. Kinda wondering where the story will take us this year.

I hope your St. Patrick’s Day evening is not quite so exciting.

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Here’s a fun memory I came across recently, taken at Lynn Pilaroscia’s annual “Stand Around and Play Some Tunes,” which used to be held at the White House in Webster Park every June. Erin was just over two years old here and was clearly already in training. I guess when your birth is famously credited to a single St. Paddy’s Day beer, mastering the keg pump isn’t just a hobby — it’s a birthright.

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(posted 3/8/2026)

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A great day for the Irish — and Bella’s Bumbas

14 Mar

What fun today was.

I was honored to help represent Bella’s Bumbas at the Rochester St. Patrick’s Day Parade Saturday afternoon. I was one of more than twenty friends, family members and volunteers who braved the cold temperatures and strong winds to help Marty Parzynski and Rebecca Orr celebrate Bella’s Bumbas’ selection as this year’s Charitable Organization of the Year.

This incredible all-volunteer organization, which calls Webster home, was recognized for their work building pint-sized wheelchairs for children with a variety of disabilities, only charging the parents for shipping (and sometimes not even that). In the last nine years they’ve made about 3,800 chairs and shipped them to 70 countries.

And yes, it definitely was cold. But the worst of the winds had died down a bit, the sun was trying to peek through the clouds, and as long as you kept moving (and had thought to wear three or four layers), it was comfortable enough. Thousands lined the parade route despite the cold, most everyone wearing some sort of Irish-themed hat or t-shirt, shamrock-shaped glasses or green tights … or all at the same time. There were LOTS of kids, lots of flag waving, and everyone was smiling.

I loved the Bumba chairs on top of the wagon
My friend Laura took this one. I had four layers on top and two pairs of tights.

The Bella’s Bumbas float was pretty great. It was covered in bunting and flags and streamers. Several children sat inside the wagon on hay bales, and others rode Bumba wheelchairs as they were pushed down the street by helpful adults. Six more Bumba chairs were strapped to the top, illustrating the great variety of designs which Marty and Rebecca individualize for the children they serve.

Given that our unit was near the front of the parade, I didn’t get to see much of it, and unfortunately, no one near us was blaring music loud enough for me to dance a whole lot, as I like to do. But all in all it was a great experience and I am so happy that I could join my friends on their big day.

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As a fun aside, this was not the first time I walked in the Rochester St. Patrick’s Day Parade. Back in 1995, my husband Jack and I were honored as the parade’s Business People of the Year, in recognition of our Irish Insider newsletter, which we began in 1992. Pictured here are Jack and me with our son Sean (then 5) and daughter Erin (not quite a year).

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(posted 3/14/2026)

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Don’t like the cold? Be thankful you don’t have to move the outhouse.

13 Mar

Tuesday evening, my Village Runners friends and I ran in shorts. Three days later, it’s snowing.

This (almost) spring’s topsy-turvy weather made me think of a very interesting article I read in the most recent Penny Farthing newsletter created by the volunteers at the Webster Museum. Titled “Plow, Plant, Harvest, and Hearth,” it took a closer look at what life was like in early Webster in each of the four seasons. I repost that article here for your enjoyment:

Plow, Plant, Harvest, and Hearth — Life in Early Webster Through the Four Seasons

Winter found older kids in school, people reading, making ice cream, maybe having a bath, eating the “put up” foods, and women and girls sewing, mending, knitting and quilting. Men and boys were busy repairing equipment and caring for the animals. Everyone was looking through the Sears Catalog and thinking about Christmas. Winter was a time of sickness and if a doctor was not available, the women knew what herbs to use.

Spring brought longer days, fresh greens, grass for the animals, maple syrup, sheep shearing, barn and house cleaning, and maybe move the outhouse if the pit was getting full. Crops were planted in freshly prepared fields and boys were out of school to work on the farm.

Summer brought soap making, laundry drying outside, smaller kids in school, swimming if a pond or creek was nearby, 4th of July celebrations, neighborhood gatherings and picnics. Much of the work was maintaining fields, gardens, and fruit trees. Also making butter and mending fences.

Fall found farm families butchering and preserving meat in salt or drying for winter. Wheat and oats were harvested for the animals or sold, and fruit and vegetables were picked and dried or “put up.” Pumpkins were preserved as they were high in Vitamin C. Barns were prepared and houses were cleaned and made ready for winter.

Some things haven’t changed. Winter is still a time of sickness, and I still like to hang my laundry outside and gather with neighbors and friends. But I am glad we no longer have to churn our own butter, thank you.

This article was just one of several very interesting historical tidbits in the spring edition of the Penny Farthing. They come out quarterly, and if you like learning about Webster’s fascinating history, you should subscribe. If you’d like to be added to the distribution list, email WebsterMuseum@gmail.com. If you’d like to see this month’s edition, click here, and to see past editions, click here.

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(posted 3/13/2026)

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Sip, savor & support cancer research at Lala’s

12 Mar

Lala of Webster is hosting a special event next Thursday to benefit the Wilmot Cancer Center.

It’s called Sip, Savor & Support, an evening of coming together as a community to have fun with friends, meet new people, and benefit a good cause at the same time.

From 5 to 7 p.m. on Thursday March 19, shoppers are asked visit Lala’s and purchase items worth $15 or more to be included in raffle baskets being prepared for the “Dinking for Wilmot Dollars” benefit pickleball tournament on April 4. As a thank you, shoppers can take advantage of a 20% discount off your entire Lala purchase that evening. Then, after you’re done shopping, head next door to Jojo Bistro & Wine Bar for live music and special appetizer and drink menus.

Lala of Webster is located at 38 East Main Street in the village.

The Sip, Savor & Support event and the pickleball tournament are both being held in honor of Marty Lembo, who passed away in 2018 after a courageous battle with colon cancer. His memory lives on through Team Marty, a group of friends and family members who continue to raise funds in his name to benefit the Wilmot Cancer Center. The “Dinking for Wilmot Dollars” pickleball tournament is one of their biggest events, scheduled this year for Saturday, April 4 at Dinkers Pickleball in Fairport.

Click on the flyer below for more details and to register.

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(posted 3/12/2026)

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