Knucklehead celebrates 5 years

11 Dec

Knucklehead 5 year

Wow.

It’s hard to imagine that Knucklehead Craft Brewing has been around for five years already. But that is indeed the case, and it’s cause for a huge celebration.

Knucklehead Craft Brewing, 426 Ridge Rd. in West Webster (at the corner of Bay), will celebrate its fifth anniversary on Saturday, Dec. 14 from 1 to 10 p.m.

The details are still coming together, but so far, this is what’s planned (according to Knucklehead’s Facebook page event):

*  One of our most decadent beers will make its annual return to join the party, a Russian Imperial Stout, as well as a couple other special offerings (including a keg of the Barrel Aged Belgian Quad we did with K2 Brothers Brewing).

* Live music will be performed by Katy Wright (2-4) from 2 to 4 p.m., followed up by Marty Roberts and Donny C. beginning at 6 p.m.

Pop by the Facebook page regularly to stay on top of updates.

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A fun night at St. Martin

10 Dec

Better late than never, I’d like to post some photos I took at last Friday night’s Evening With Santa at St. Martin Lutheran Church on Bay Rd.

I was fortunate to get there in time to see Santa arrive by fire truck and almost get swarmed by children as he made his way into the church. (The “elf” who rode with him and was handing out candy canes made me laugh when she got off the truck and told her friend, “That was SO MUCH FUN!”)

Santa then spent the next few hours visiting with children in the church community room. And when they weren’t in line for Santa, children (and parents) could grab some pizza, make Christmas cookies, make crafts and play some games.

I even stood in line and got a chance to visit with Santa as well, something I don’t often get to do since I usually am on the other side of the camera lens.

Everything was free to anyone in the community who showed up, but people were asked to bring a donation to the church’s Little Free Pantry. So it was all great fun for a great cause.

There are a few photos here, but please click on over to my small gallery to see some others from this annual event.

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Photos from White Christmas

8 Dec

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Perhaps it was because it wasn’t raining, or windy, or bitterly cold, but it seemed like last night’s White Christmas in the Village festival was the best attended in recent memory.

At least the parade was. Early on, when activities like the book shop mini-concert and story-time started and the festival wagon started making its rounds, the crowds were a little thin.

But as night fell, families started streaming into town in anticipation of the main event, the Electric Parade.

Kudos to Robyn Whittaker and the Webster BID for pulling together another nice event. I especially liked the brand new idea of the gingerbread house-making contest for the businesses and I look forward to this being expanded next year.

It’s unfortunate that more people don’t realize that this celebration is not JUST the parade. More people should make White Christmas in the Village an entire afternoon and evening event. Come into the village early when you can actually GET a parking space somewhere, do some shopping, visit the museum, have some dinner, and actually  take part in all of the great family activities.

As usual, I took a ton of photos. Together with a bunch that I received from a few other people, here’s a gallery of more than 150 photos from last night’s activities and the parade. (If you have any additional photos that you would like to share, like of your kids, please email them to me — address below — and I’ll add them to the gallery!)

And by the way, just because White Christmas is over does NOT mean that our village businesses are closed for the holidays. Make sure to come into town and check out all of the gorgeous decorations, and stop by the museum to vote for your favorite Christmas tree!

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email me at missyblog@gmail.com. “Like” this blog on Facebook and follow me on Twitter and Instagram

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White Christmas in the Village details — redux

6 Dec

OK folks, I recently heard some exciting news about Saturday evening’s Electric Parade during the village’s White Christmas in the Village festival.

It’s going to be the biggest ever.

I’m told that there will be no fewer than 30 firefighter and emergency units participating, from as many as ten different agencies from near and far. And every single one of these units will be covered in twinkly Christmas lights.

Basically it’s going to be a sight to behold.

The parade will cap an entire afternoon of family-friendly activities beginning at 3 p.m. It’s one of my favorite village events of the entire year and a don’t-miss festival for the whole family. If you do come to the parade, however, make sure to wear something warm and bring mug of hot chocolate or coffee to help, because it’s a long parade. (There won’t be any fireworks after the parade this year, though.)

And don’t worry about getting a seat; there will be plenty of viewing spots.

Here again are the details:

3 to 5:45 p.m. — Horse-drawn wagon rides through the village
3 to 6 p.m. — Bounce House on Main Street
3:30 to 5:45 p.m. — Santa Claus at the Village Hall
4 p.m. — Storytelling at Yesterday’s Muse Book Store
4 p.m. — Cookie decorating at Rubino’s
5 p.m. — Church of the Good Shepherd Chime Bell Choir on Main Street

And don’t forget to stop by the Webster Museum that afternoon as well to check out — and vote for — some beautiful miniature Christmas trees.

This is also a great chance to visit some of our village’s newest businesses, including Chandelier’s Boutique, LaLa, The North Bee, the Pickled Paintbrush, and The Village Quilt Shop. (I hope I’m not forgetting anyone, and I hope they’re all open for browsing!) Many of the business owners will be participating in a gingerbread house contest, so make sure to stop by and vote for your favorite!

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(Click here to see a gallery of photos from last year’s White Christmas celebration.)

By the way, don’t forget to start out that morning with a hot breakfast, served up by the Chorus of the Genesee.

The Chorus will be hosting their fourth annual Breakfast with Santa, from 9:30 to 11 a.m. at the Harmony House, 58 East Main Street in Webster.

Breakfast will be cooked and served, music will be provided by the Chorus of the Genesee, and of course, Santa will be there! Tickets are just $5 each, with a maximum of $20 per family (including two adults). Pictures with Santa will be available.

For more information or to make reservations, call (585) 734-1328.

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email me at missyblog@gmail.com. “Like” this blog on Facebook and follow me on Twitter and Instagram

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Webster boy helps other children with birthday toy drive

6 Dec

skylar

Here’s a very nice story for your Friday morning.

Skylar Jones, a first grader at Plank North Elementary School, was recently featured on 13 WHAM News for doing a wonderfully kind thing.

When he was still only 5 years old, Skylar was visiting a sick family member in the hospital, and started to wonder about how children there got toys. He learned about Gary the Happy Pirate’s annual toy collection effort, and decided that when his birthday rolled around, he wanted to donate all of the toys he received to Gary, and ultimately to the kids in the hospital.

Click here to meet Skylar and see the story that ran on Channel 13.

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email me at missyblog@gmail.com. “Like” this blog on Facebook and follow me on Twitter and Instagram

You can also get email notifications every time I post a new blog by using the “Follow Me” link on the right side of this page.

Garden Club Holiday Sale returns this weekend

4 Dec

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The Country Gardeners of Webster, Klemwood Garden Club and the Webster Arboretum will hold their annual Garden Club Holiday Sale on Saturday December 7 from 9 am to noon at the Webster Recreation Center, 1350 Chiyoda Drive.

This huge sale features fresh wreaths, arrangements, poinsettias, centerpieces and gifts that are created by hand by the club members for this sale. This is always a very popular event, so you want to get there early.

The sale is the Country Gardeners’ annual fundraiser, so think about decorating your own home, and purchasing gifts for family, friends and holiday hostesses.

Admission is free.

Check out the photos here for a sampling of some of the beautiful arrangements and wreaths that will be available!

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email me at missyblog@gmail.com. “Like” this blog on Facebook and follow me on Twitter and Instagram

You can also get email notifications every time I post a new blog by using the “Follow Me” link on the right side of this page.

Santa is coming to St. Martin’s

3 Dec
Santa mailbox

In this photo from the St. Martin party a few years ago, a little girl delivers her letter to Santa before visiting with him. 

I mentioned yesterday that Santa is coming to town this weekend to visit with children during the village’s White Christmas celebration. If you can’t fit that into your schedule, or your kinds want to get their Christmas requests in early, here’s another chance:

This Friday night Dec. 6, Santa will be at St. Martin Lutheran Church on Bay Rd. for the church’s annual holiday party.

He’ll be arriving by fire truck at around 6 p.m., then spend the next few hours visiting with children in the church’s community hall. Free photos will be taken, but feel free to bring your own camera.

AFter your kids visit with the jolly ol’ elf, make sure to hang around a bit for cookie decorating, games, crafts, and the opportunity to make a reverse Advent calendar (I do this every year). Free pizza and beverages will also be provided for all.

This is a community-wide celebration! Everyone is invited. Admission is free but please bring a canned good for the Little Free Pantry at the church, which provides food 24/7 for our neighbors in need.

St. Martin Lutheran Church is located at 813 Bay Rd.

St. Martin Santa

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White Christmas in the Village details

2 Dec

santa

OK folks, now that Thanksgiving is in the rear-view mirror, it’s time to get down to some real holiday celebrating. And it starts this weekend with the Village of Webster’s White Christmas.

This annual festival, which takes place this year on Saturday Dec. 7, features horse-drawn wagon rides, a bounce house, cookie decorating, storytelling, carolers, Santa (of course), and the always very popular Electric Parade.

Everything begins at 3 p.m. with activities for adults and children throughout the village. The official schedule looks like this:

3 to 5:45 p.m. — Horse-drawn wagon rides through the village
3 to 6 p.m. — Bounce House on Main Street
3:30 to 5:45 p.m. — Santa Claus at the Village Hall
4 p.m. — Storytelling at Yesterday’s Muse Book Store
4 p.m. — Cookie decorating at Rubino’s
5 p.m. — Church of the Good Shepherd Chime Bell Choir on Main Street

And don’t forget to stop by the Webster Museum that afternoon as well to check out — and vote for — some beautiful miniature Christmas trees.

This is also a great chance to visit some of our village’s newest businesses, including Chandelier’s Boutique, LaLa, The North Bee, the Pickled Paintbrush, and The Village Quilt Shop. (I hope I’m not forgetting anyone, and I hope they’re all open for browsing!) Many of the business owners will be participating in a gingerbread house contest, so make sure to stop by and vote for your favorite!

christmas trees

The Electric Parade will begin at 6:30 p.m. at Phillips Road and head west down Main Street. This spectacular parade features fire engines, floats and marching bands, all draped in thousands of twinkling Christmas lights. You’ll definitely want to bring the kids, but dress warm, and pack a thermos of hot chocolate, because this is a pretty long parade. There are no fireworks this year 😦

(Click here to see a gallery of photos from last year’s White Christmas celebration.)

By the way, don’t forget to start out that morning with a hot breakfast, served up by the Chorus of the Genesee.

The Chorus will be hosting their fourth annual Breakfast with Santa, from 9:30 to 11 a.m. at the Harmony House, 58 East Main Street in Webster.

Breakfast will be cooked and served, music will be provided by the Chorus of the Genesee, and of course, Santa will be there! Tickets are just $5 each, with a maximum of $20 per family (including two adults). Pictures with Santa will be available.

For more information or to make reservations, call (585) 734-1328.

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Festival of Trees returns to the museum

1 Dec

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas at the Webster Museum.

I mean, they don’t just have one or two Christmas trees set up, they have 15 them, four-IMG_9914foot tall artificial trees placed on the counters, in the classroom, and tucked among the exhibits all through the museum.

The trees are part of the museum’s annual Festival of Trees Christmas tree decorating contest, where individuals, families and organizations are invited to adopt a tree and decorate it however they like, then put it out there for community members to vote on for a chance to win a $25 prize.

Some of the competitors have already begun decorating, but several others have yet to finish. But they’ll all be done by this coming Saturday Dec. 7, when voting will begin during the Village of Webster’s White Christmas celebration (more details about this fun event will be in tomorrow’s blog).

christmas treeI’m told that one organization in particular, which has been participating for several years, usually wins this contest. I’m not going to say who that is for fear of influencing the vote, so you’re just going to have to stop by the museum and see all of the creations for yourself.

While you’re there, be sure to drop $5 and put some chances in to this museum’s annual raffle. There are always some amazing prizes up for grabs with this raffle, so  make sure to stop by during White Christmas and check them out — AND vote for a tree while you’re there. The raffle continues until Dec. 14 but votes for the trees will be accepted through Dec. 31.

The Webster Museum is located at 18 Lapham Park in the Village of Webster. They’re open Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday from 2 to 4:30 p.m. Call 585-265-3308 for more information.

The photos on this page are of some of last year’s entries.

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We all have a story — even your kids’ teachers

30 Nov

You know how sometimes children are surprised to learn that their teachers don’t live at school, don’t spend all their after-school hours in the classroom, and don’t ever have to go shopping at Wegmans?

Adults, of course, are more enlightened, but it’s still easy to assume that during the school year, teachers are almost entirely focused on their jobs and they otherwise lead rather humdrum, uninteresting lives.

WAHAS_11x17_PosterPhotographer Linda Hayes of Hayes Photography hopes to change that perception with her current exhibition, We All Have a Story: The Stories Continue. 

The exhibit, which will be on display at the Webster Public Library all next month, is a follow-up to Hayes’ first We All Have a Story exhibit in spring of 2018.

Hayes is a portrait photographer and Webster School District (WCSD) teaching assistant who has created images of 21 of her WCSD colleagues. Each staff member also submitted a narrative of his or her life story to share next to their photos.

The exhibit takes a closer look at the lives and stories of these WCSD staff members to help illuminate the people inside the classrooms and offices who work with our children every day. The stories are thought provoking, happy and sad. But more than anything else, they will probably make you think, “Wow, I never realized that.”

The exhibit, which runs the entire month of December, will be open to the public during the library’s normal business hours, Monday through Thursday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., Friday from 10 to 6, Saturday from 10 to 5 and Sunday from 1 to 4. (The library will be closed for the holidays on December 24, 25, and 31.)

The public is invited to an opening reception on Tuesday Dec. 3 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.  Both the exhibit and reception are open to the public. The Webster Public Library is located at 980 Ridge Road.

I’ll be at the reception; I’m pleased and honored to say that I’ve been included in this project. If you come to see the exhibit, you’ll read how three simple — but powerful — words changed my life, helped me realize my passion and convinced me to become a writer.

I hope to see you there!

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