Wreaths Across America Day, on Saturday, Dec. 19, will be here before we know it.
If you’re a regular reader of my blog, you know all about this very meaningful event. Wreaths Across America is a nonprofit organization which began 30 years ago, its mission to place a wreath on the grave of every veteran in the country. Millions of wreaths are placed every year at more than four thousand cemeteries across the U.S. and abroad.
Webster has participated in Wreaths Across America since 2022, and the effort has grown into a remarkable community tradition. Each year, hundreds of community members, first responders, veterans and active service members gather to honor veterans by placing wreaths at graves across four Webster-area cemeteries. That extraordinary community support has placed Webster among the top 2% of participating communities nationwide.
But the number of wreaths to be placed every year continues to grow, as more of our local veterans pass away. This year, organizers hope to sponsor and place 2,500 wreaths on Wreaths Across America Day, in Webster Union, Webster Rural, Union Hill and Holy Trinity cemeteries. Right now, though, they’re way short of that goal.
That’s where we all come in.
Community members and local businesses are once again being asked to come together to sponsor the wreaths needed to honor those 2,500 veterans, to make sure they are never forgotten. This is an especially good opportunity for anyone who has a family member buried in one of the four cemeteries. You can personally a sponsor a wreath for him or her and place it on the grave yourself. If you’d like to do that, email WebsterWreaths@icloud.com with the name of your loved one and your sponsored wreaths will be set aside for you.
Click here to sponsor a wreath. They only cost $17 each, and $5 of your donation goes back to the Gold Star Mothers, who support Gold Star families and veterans in need in our community.
Your participation, whether through sponsoring a veteran wreath or volunteering at the wreath-laying ceremony, is a valuable contribution to remembering and celebrating the lives of our heroes. It’s a personal gift of gratitude for someone who served this country so that we can be free.
They must never be forgotten.
More details to come about Wreaths Across America Day on Saturday, Dec. 19.
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The Webster Theatre Guild (WTG), our town’s very own community theater group, turns an incredible 90 years old this year, and is celebrating the occasion by bringing a high-energy comedy to the stage which will fill the theater with a soulful sound (and lots of laughs).
This coming Friday, Oct. 9, the Theatre Guild will raise the curtain on Sister Act: A Divine Musical Comedy, presented in six performances through Oct. 17.
The show is based on the 1992 movie (starring Whoopie Goldberg) and hit Broadway musical, with music by Alan Menken and lyrics by Glenn Slater. The story follows Deloris, a nightclub singer who witnesses a crime and is placed in protective custody in a convent. She ends up teaching the convent’s initially struggling choir, and, in the process, changes the lives of the nuns and herself.
Sister Act hits the stage with the force of a disco ball struck by divine inspiration. Deloris, a bold and big-hearted nightclub singer, lands in a convent for her own protection and winds up transforming a tuneless choir into a soulful powerhouse. Her energy shakes the dust off every pew as she teaches the nuns to sing with joy, courage, and a little sparkling attitude.
Sister Act is being directed by J. Simmons, who’s marking a bit of history with the Guild himself. Simmons’ connection to theater began early. Even at 4 years old, he was working professionally in commercials and in regional theaters. But the spark which really shaped his ultimate career path was when, at the age of 12, he was cast in the Webster Theatre Guild’s production of Annie. What started as a childhood introduction to the stage quickly became a lasting passion.
Today, Simmons is a highly respected director, actor, fight choreographer and private acting coach. He works regularly with Blackfriars Theater and Geva Theater, serves as drama instructor for the Rochester Broadway Theater League, and is a theatrical consultant and mentor for the University of Rochester International Theatre Program. But, even with all those impressive credits to his name, the Webster Theatre Guild holds a special place in his heart.
He especially likes being involved in the Guild’s milestone years (apparently). In 2011, he directed the Guild’s 75th anniversary show, Urinetown, then continued to direct every year through the Guild’s 80th anniversary production, The Music Man.
And now he’s back.
“I thought it was apropos to come back for the 90th, having done the 75th and 80th,” he said. “I wanted to give back the love that I feel for this community and group of actors.”
And he knows how important it is for this group of actors to have community theater in their lives. After all, it was this relatively modest production company which sparked his own career.
He said,
If you look around Rochester, there are so many people who are on Broadway and doing different things that have ties to community theater. This is where they got their chance to connect with what they thought was important and now they’ve made a whole career out of it. We have to have this outlet for the community, for people to come, share stories. The theater is one of the best classrooms.
So let’s get out and support these actors who’ve been working so hard to bring live theater to our back doors.
Sister Act: A Divine Musical Comedy will take the stage on
Friday Oct. 9 at 7 p.m.
Saturday Oct. 10 at 2 and 7 p.m.
Friday Oct. 16 at 7 p.m.
Saturday Oct. 17 at 2 p.m. (ASL interpretation at this performance) and 7 p.m.
Shows will be held at Bishop Kearney High School, 125 Kings Hwy S.
Tickets are $25, and can be purchased online here. They’ll also be available at the door unless they sell out.
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A brief history
The Webster Theatre Guild dates back to 1936, and ever since its inception, it’s been more than just a theater group; it’s been a vital part of our community, not only providing aspiring actors an outlet to pursue their passion for performing, but also supporting the Webster community by providing annual scholarships to graduating high-school seniors.
While the Guild has been operating continuously for about 90 years (that’s more than 153 productions), its character has changed substantially over that time.
It was founded in 1936 by Erva Wright Smith and the Rev. John Schott, then pastor of Webster Presbyterian Church. In its earliest days, it was known for producing one-act plays, performed at various locations around the village, and the productions sometimes were staged to benefit community groups like the Webster Public Library and Sons of the American Legion. So even back then, the Guild was dedicated to serving the community.
The Guild remained active through World War II, and one-act plays were still part of the Guild’s main identity. That changed in 1954 when the Guild produced its first musical, Speak of the Devil. It was in 1958 when the guild started its now-familiar tradition of annual musicals.
If you’d like to see a whole slew more historical photos, click here.
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I picked up a bit of rather exciting news from the Village of Webster’s Sept. 8 newsletter, which reported that plans are in motion to bring some much needed improvements to Schantz Park.
Schantz Park is nestled between State Rd. and Hawley Dr. on the south side of the Village of Webster. It’s a multi-use recreational space which features a baseball diamond, basketball court, a few picnic tables and grills, and a playground. There are also some old tennis courts which haven’t been usable for years and are rather an embarrassment.
The whole park has needed some attention for quite a while, and work has begun on a whole list of improvements. According to the newsletter, at their August 27 meeting, the Village Board voted to accept a bid from Kircher Construction for work for stage one of the project, work on the basketball court’s concrete pad and installation of a toddler basketball court.
The existing basketball court will be removed and a new 30 x 60 concrete pad will be installed in the same area. The toddler basketball court will feature two partial half courts, with a high-performance, waterproof VersaCore surface and shorter hoops.
The basketball courts are just the start of many improvements planned for the park. They include:
a proposed walking trail around the perimeter of the park
new playground equipment and new safety surface
pickleball courts where the tennis courts are now
expanded parking area
replacing the baseball field with soccer goals and obstacle course equipment
The map below shows these and other proposed improvements. Residents can continue to offer their comments or questions about the project using this online comment form.
The toddler basketball court is part of the Little Legends project, in partnership with the Rochester-based Knox & Nash Foundation, a non-profit organization that supports families navigating pregnancy, NICU, and infant loss. It was established by Codi and Andrew Mrozek in memory of their twin boys, Knox and Nash, who passed last January due to Twin to Twin Transfusion Syndrome. Codi is coach of the Webster Schroeder girls basketball team, and also a teacher in the district.
Codi and Andrew’s mission is to improve bereavement care for families experiencing pregnancy and infant loss, a loss in the NICU, and the loss of one or all twins or multiples. They plan to honor their sons with the new Little Legends playground and toddler basketball court at Schantz Park.
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(posted 10/3/2026)
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Today I want to re-introduce you to another one of my favorite runs, and I say that after having participated in it only once. It’s the Sunshine CampTrail Mix 5K and Beer Fest — a really long name for a really fun event — scheduled this year for Friday night, October 16. I posted a blog about this race last fall, about a week after I ran it, and if you read that blog you know why I like it so much.
For starters, the race benefits Rochester Rotary Sunshine Camp in Rush. The course meanders along wooded paths and walkways for three miles through and around this beautiful facility. And true to its name, after the race, runners are treated to a real festival, where perhaps a dozen Rochester-area breweries hand out generous samples of their beers. Plus there’s live music and dancing and prizes, old friends and new.
Sunshine Camp (if you don’t already know) is fully-accessible residential summer camp for children with physical challenges. I had never been there before, so I actually wondered if the property was big enough and wooded enough for a 5K trail run. I discovered that’s it’s plenty big, and the trails are just a small part of this incredible camp.
In a nutshell, Sunshine Camp is a 157-acre magical place where more than 2,500 children and young adults with special needs come every summer just to … well, be kids … without worrying about wheelchairs, medications, or being “different.” Along the trails I ran by a tree house, climbing wall, zip line, splash pad, playground, a lake, and an actual TRAIN! It’s like a child’s fantasy world, where the most fun things you can imagine are all in one place.
About 120 runners participated last year, ages 6 to 84, and the money raised through the entry fees went straight to support Sunshine Camp. The race itself was fun (albeit a bit hilly), and the post-race music and beer and snacks were excellent. I’m looking forward to running it again in a few weeks. (The photo is of our Village Runners team last year.)
Please consider joining me and my Webster Village Runner buddies. The race is Friday, Oct. 16, starting at 5 p.m. at the Rotary Sunshine Camp in Rush. You can register here, and remember you don’t have to run it. Come to walk it if you want. You can still enjoy the great music, good beer and friendly conversation afterwards. And, by the way, you can just sign up for the Beer Fest alone (for less money), so you can cheer your running friend on, then enjoy the after-party.
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(posted 10/2/2026)
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Get ready for a spectacular evening of sight and sound when our very own Webster Marching Band presents its 40th annualAutumn Fanfare field show and competition on Saturday October 17 from 6 to 10 p.m. at Webster Schroeder High School, 875 Ridge Rd.
Autumn Fanfare is always a spectacular evening of storytelling through music, marching, and even a little bit of acting. There are always huge set pieces involved to move the music-story forward. This is an awesome opportunity to see what our hometown marching band has been up to, and be impressed by the incredible amount of hard work these kids put in every year to create a show that will blow you away.
This year’s show is called Every Which Way, described as,
… a visual journey where direction becomes our playground. We begin Left and Right, exploring the horizontal plane as arrows point the way and performers shift, travel, and cross from side to side. Our second movement, Up and Down, turns our sense of direction on its head, as performers climb, descend, and slide their way through an ever-changing vertical landscape. Our final movement gets Twisted, when everything we’ve explored collides as twists, turns, and paths overlap in an energetic kaleidoscope of motion. Left becomes right, up becomes down and suddenly there’s no single direction to follow but Every Which Way!
Whoa.
Autumn Fanfare is a true spectacle, featuring 11 bands from across the region, who compete for top honors. In past shows, participating schools have included Corning, Greece, Horseheads, Jordan-Elbridge, Lancaster, LeRoy, Medina, Orchard Park, Rochester, Victor, Webster and West Seneca. Every one of their amazing performances will have you at the edge of your seat and on your feet. Plus, there are FOOD TRUCKS, so plan to get dinner there, too.
The show will take place on Saturday, October 17, from 6 to 10 p.m. at the Webster Schroeder Stadium, 875 Ridge Road. Gates open at 5 p.m. Tickets are $12 at the gate, or $10 in advance through this link: (kids 5 and under are free).
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Autumn has only just begun, and we don’t REALLY want to think about the cold winter ahead yet, but it’ll be here before we know it. And right now is definitely the time to start thinking about helping the families — and especially the children — who can’t afford enough warm clothes. The Webster Knights of Columbus Trinity Council #4618 is already doing that, as they gear up for their 15th annual “Coats for Kids” fund raiser.
The annual drive runs through September, October and the first two weeks of November. Over the past 14 years, through Coats for Kids, the Webster KofC has raised enough money to purchase and distribute more than 4,650 NEW winter coats to children in Monroe and Wayne counties, distributed through more than 30 charitable organizations, schools and churches throughout Webster and Greater Rochester.
PLUS, in the last three years, they’ve also handed out 516 pairs of sneakers through their springtime “Sneakers for Children” program, to some of the same organizations and charities that receive coats.
Those incredible numbers have been made possible by generous donations from individuals, businesses and community organizations. This year, once again, they’re hoping the greater Webster community will step up and help them spread their reach even further.
Each new coat costs $25 and each new pair of sneakers $21. If you can help by making a donation, please make a check payable to Knights of Columbus #4618 and send it to:
“Coats for Kids” c/o J. Stewart Coon, Chairman 230 Champion Ave. Webster, New York 14580-3464
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Today, another reminder about a great family event being hosted by the Webster Museum this weekend, on Saturday, Oct. 3 from 1 to 4 p.m. It’s called the Celebrating America 250 Festival, an opportunity to honor our nation while exploring the rich history right here in our own backyard.
The festival will highlight Webster’s agricultural, business, educational and pioneer history, giving residents a chance to learn more about the people, places and stories that helped shape our town.
You’ll start your historical tour by picking up a bag of pennies at the museum entrance. Then stroll through the museum and parking lot (weather permitting) to experience almost two dozen displays and hands-on “old-timey” activities. Each one will cost one cent.
For example, you can:
taste some dried apples and vote for your favorite apple variety
learn to make a friendship quilt
practice your letters on a slate in the one-room schoolhouse (be the first to find the mouse in plain sight!)
peer through a stereoscope (which is kind of like a View-Master)
play with some vintage toys and try some pioneer games
learn to make butter in the kitchen
buy some penny candy at Witmer’s Variety Store
get an ice cream cone at the Candy Kitchen
There will also be several other special activities, including a performance by the Genesee Country Fiddlers, a Children’s Broomstick Drill led by Michael Grenier (at 1 p.m.), a student art display, a skit about “How Webster Became Webster,” and a cake-cutting by Town Supervisor Alex Scialdone (at 2 p.m.).
And as a special treat, the museum has created a new display for their 8,000-year old wooly mammoth molar, so you can check that out and read about where it was found in Webster.
The museum folk continue to add more exhibits and activities, so plan to arrive early, stay late, and celebrate our town’s — and our nation’s — rich history. It all happens this Saturday Oct. 4 from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Webster Museum, 18 Lapham Park in the Village of Webster. Admission to he event is free.
Basically, this is a great opportunity for the whole family to get better acquainted with the Webster Museum, while having a lot of fun learning about our town’s history.
(Militia photo credit: Joe Altieri)
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(posted 9/29/2026)
email me at missyblog@gmail.com. “Like” this blog on Facebook and follow me on Instagram and Threads (@missyblog)
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He’s the Spry Middle School 7th grader who established his own fund-raising operation a little over a year ago which he calls “Returns for a Reason.” His goal is to collect returnables from family members, neighbors, schoolmates, strangers — anyone and everyone — and every time he raises a good chunk of money, he donates it to some worthy organization.
Since Pierson started Returns for a Reason, he has raised $1,550, which he’s donated to several community agencies: The Webster Volunteer Fire Department, Lollypop Farm, Honor Flight Rochester, St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital and Tunnels to Towers. He also saw a need at his school, Spry Middle School, and donated $300.00 for them to purchase more bike racks for the many kids that ride their bikes to school.
Most recently, Pierson presented $250 cash to the Knights of Columbus for their “Coats for Kids” program, to help purchase winter coats for children in need.
If you’d like to help Pierson continue his charitable efforts, stash your returnables in your car, and the next time you’re in the village, drive down Dunning Ave. and look for the green Returns for a Reason bin on the front walk.
Thank you to J. Stewart Coon, Pierson’s very proud grandpa (who also happens to be the chairman of the Coats for Kids effort) for this update. And stay tuned for more information about Coats for Kids coming up very soon.
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The Village of Webster recently imported about a dozen goats to Milton Case Park to help control invasive vegetation. The park is located between South Ave. and Wood St., behind Spry Middle School.
The goats came from Kaizen Ridge Farm in Victor, and are tasked with eating their way through 11 acres of invasive vegetation clogging the park and its trails, including poison ivy, multiflora rose and Japanese knotweed. According to the Village of Webster’s September 8 newsletter, “goat landscaping” is an “eco-friendly solution … a natural way to manage land without chemicals, heavy machinery, or fuel.”
“Goats can also access hard-to-reach areas, ensuring a thorough and efficient clearing,” the newsletter added. “They graze on unwanted plants without the need for herbicides, leaving the land healthier and more sustainable.”
The goats arrived on the weekend of September 20, and are being contained inside an electric fence. They’re expected to remain on site for about two weeks. They’ve been a draw for local residents, who’ve been stopping by the enclosure to say hi. The Village reminds everyone however, not to try to pet the goats or tamper with the fence, and keep your dog on a leash while you’re in the park.
The Village introduced their new goatscapers at a “Meet the Goats” event on the 20th, where attendees could get up-close and personal with the four-legged lawn-mowing crew. Thanks to Mary White for these photos from that day:
The goats are just the first step in the underbrush clearing chore; the Village’s Department of Public Works is planning to hire new staff this fall to help clear remaining brush and poison ivy.
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There’s a lot of food insecurity in the Town of Webster.
That simple statement surprises many people, because Webster is not considered an impoverished town, by a long shot. But here are a few staggering statistics:
5 percent of Webster’s 45,000 residents lived below the poverty line at the time of the 2020 Census. That’s more than 2,200 people from about 1,000 households across the town.
4.4 percent of families in Webster Central School district with children ages 5-17 – more than 1,140 families – lived in poverty in the 2023-24 school year.
5 percent of households in the school district – 1,300 of them – were eligible for food stamps in the 2023-24 school year.
Fortunately, there are many agencies and volunteers in our area working hard to help our neighbors in need. One of those agencies is the Webster Community Chest which, in addition to hosting individual families and holding regular food giveaway events, has for the last two years adopted the Phillips Village Food Pantry.
The Community Chest volunteers behind that effort are looking for other caring neighbors to join their team. Here’s a message I received from Kathy Taddeo, one of those volunteers:
HELPING THE FOOD INSECURE IN WEBSTER
Have you been wondering how you might help the food insecurity issue in Webster? Maybe you’ve not much available time and need a flexible schedule but don’t know where to find a program that fits?
The 14 Phillips Village Pantry Volunteers are ready to welcome new members.
This congenial group began as a Webster Community Chest program in 2024 with four deliveries a month. Currently, the program delivers food to Phillips Village, Webster’s largest subsidized housing community three to four times a week, year-round.
Once a month, each volunteer purchases, donates and delivers food to the inside and/or outside pantries near the office of this lovely 500-unit neighborhood. The team meets once a year to reconnect with each other, review the past year and plan to grow and improve the next year’s program.
If this sounds like it might fit into your life, please contact the Webster Community Chest at 671-2060 or webcommchest@gmail.org. Please leave a message with your name and phone number or email and your interest in the Phillips Village Pantry. Kathy will get back to you with details and an opportunity to ask questions.
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email me at missyblog@gmail.com. “Like” this blog on Facebook and follow me on Instagram and Threads (@missyblog)
You can also get email notifications every time I post a new blog by using the “Subscribe” link on the right side of this page (or all the way at the bottom of the page if you’re on your phone).
I feature the people and places and events that make Webster the wonderful community it is — and throw in some totally-not-Webster-related personal ramblings every once in a while as well.
I love it when readers send me news about the great things happening in their schools or the community, so please email me anytime at missyblog@gmail.com
