Archive | July, 2012

Fate of new Webster fire station lies in voters’ hands

17 Jul

The North East Joint Fire District would like to build a brand new North Station on Phillips Road, but they can’t do it without voters’ permission.

The new station would be built at 566 Phillips Road (near Schlegel Road), a location which was purchased and cleared several years ago with the ultimate plan to use it for a new station.  The 12,600 square-foot facility would serve as a joint fire/EMS facility for the north end of the district. It would cost $5.4 million.

And that’s where the voters come in.

The district wants the Webster community to fund $4.9 million of that cost, bonded over the next 30 years. On Tuesday July 24 they’ll put that bond resolution up to a vote, and if it’s passed, hope to begin construction on the new station next summer and complete it in 6-8 months.

A public information session was held on June 14 which detailed the entire planning and design process the district has gone through to get to this point. If you weren’t at that meeting, you can see a comprehensive 35-minute narrated slide show recapping the meeting by clicking here.

One of the main questions, of course, is how much such a $4.9 million, 30-year bond would add to our taxes.  Here’s the slide that details that (click on it for a closer look):

If you’d still like more information after you watch the slide show, plan to attend the Fire Commissioners meeting on Wednesday, July 18 at 7:30 p.m. at 35 South Avenue and ask your questions there.

The bond vote will be held on Tuesday July 24 from 3-9 pm at the Webster Presbyterian Church, 550 Webster Road (Rt. 250).  All registered voters in the Northeast Joint Fire District are eligible to vote.  The district is roughly the area bordered by Hard Rd./Whiting Rd./Shoecraft to the west, Atlantic Avenue to the south and County Line Road on the east.  Click here to see a pdf of the district.

This is an important vote. There’s lots of our money involved, after all. So please get informed by watching the video or attending tomorrow’s meeting, and then get out and vote.

 

Webster folks are everywhere — even in the 19th century

15 Jul

My husband and I spent an enjoyable day yesterday at Genesee Country Museum in Mumford. I hadn’t been there in years, and this being the weekend of the annual Civil War battle reenactment (and the fact my son would be participating as one of the townspeople) it sounded like a good time for a return visit.

While I was there I thought it would be fun to see how many Webster/Penfield folks I could find participating as reenactors. Perhaps you know some of these people:

Tim Ricotta, right, played with the Union’s fife-and-drum corps.

Susan Berardi was portraying the character of Caroline Sawyer, her great-great-great grandmother. At other events, she plays a Union spy.

Lisa Sansone was one of the dress makers. Here she holds her 3-month old daughter Rebecca.

Karen Nitschke (far right) chats on the porch of the Livingston-Backus House with Mary Barber, Renate Tindall and Larry Ferner.

My son Sean with his friends Sarah King and Chris Chamberlain.

It was a very educational and entertaining day all around, and the weather — although very warm — was fine. Actually, the only sour point of the entire day was when we had to dodge the firefighters standing in the middle of Route 38 in Mumford. They were holding one of those fund drives where you’re supposed to drop money in the boot as you drive by. They actually had put up signs that read “Boot fundraiser toll.”

Now I’m all for firefighters trying to raise money, but I’ve always hated this approach. It’s invasive and dangerous, and these guys even went so far as to call it a “toll.” And wasn’t peddling like this was outlawed in Monroe County several years ago?



Photos from the Firemen’s Parade

13 Jul

Not much to say about yesterday’s Fireman’s Parade. As always it was a great event, and the Webster community came out in force. One report I heard was that chairs were being set up along Main Street even before 7 am.  One of the marchers told me the crowds were bigger than she had ever seen before, 4 and 5 deep all along the route.

I took tons of photos, of course (actually, only about 200) and have posted a few of my favorites here. The rest can be seen by clicking here or on one of the photos.  I didn’t get a photo of everything in the parade (there were SO many fire trucks!) but I did try to capture the highlights. And you’ll notice that small children are some of my favorite subjects.

The Fireman’s Carnival continues tonight and tomorrow, culminating with fireworks at midnight. Click here  for details.

 

It’s a girl!

13 Jul

I am tickled pink to announce to the greater Webster community that there’s — finally — a new baby Barry!

Jessica and Danny Barry, owners of Barry’s Old School Irish, are proud new parents.  Maley Barry was born by C-section at 7:48 pm Thursday night, weighing a healthy 8 lbs. 1 oz and measuring 20.25 inches.

And despite the excitement reflected in the headline of this blog, we’ve known for a while that the baby was going to be a girl. Actually, we’ve even known the baby’s name for months. It was just a matter of WHEN we were going to get to meet her.  Maley was officially due on Monday, July 2. But apparently she wasn’t quite ready to show her face on that particular day.  A week later she was still being stubborn. Finally, ten days after her official due date, Jessica’s doctor decided to induce labor. Nineteen hours later,  after some rather, well, forcible convincing, Maley was born.

And the happy news arrived none too soon. Since Danny and Jessica arrived in town, they have developed a very large, very loving group of friends — more like an extended family — who have been anxiously awaiting Maley’s arrival. Facebook messages and regular text messages from Maura at the pub kept everyone up to date on Jessica’s progress over the last few days.  We all feel like we’ve gained a new family member.

Congratulations to Danny and Jessica. We cannot wait to meet little Maley.

A famous local fiddler, cool science and a kiddie parade

11 Jul

Several little tidbits of information I want to toss out today, before I get to photos of last night’s kiddie parade. A few of these have been hanging around my email box for weeks, just waiting for me to get around and blog about them.  But this first nugget came to my attention just yesterday afternoon, and will interest anyone following the career of one of Webster’s finest musical talents, Kate Lee.

Kate is a 2010 graduate from Webster Schroeder High School, and an incredible fiddle player who has already been making a name for herself in Nashville, where she attends Belmont University.  Last November, for example, she was one of several back-up musicians for Rascal Flatts on the Country Music Awards television program.

Yesterday she announced something even more exciting. On July 24 she’ll be playing violin for the Heart & Soul Concert behind Rod Stewart and Stevie Nicks in Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena. Wow.

Keep an eye on this young lady, folks, ’cause she’s going places.  Actually, you can see her for free at the Little Theater the day after the Heart & Soul Concert, playing a free concert from 7:30-9:30 pm.  Check out her website here.

* * *

This Friday, CDS Monarch’s Wolf Life Transitions Center on Hard Road will host a Luau Dance from 6:30-8:30 pm.  As always, there will be refreshments and music from DJ Delight. Cost is $5 per person for community members. RSVP to Summer at 347-1661 or Summer.Vanscott@cdsmonarch.org.

* * *

Cherry Ridge is hosting a concert series this summer, called Under the Stars. Gateswingers Big Band will perform on Tuesday, July 24, and Gentlemen of Song will perform on Thursday, August 16. The concerts are held on the Cherry Ridge Lawn from from 6:30 – 8 pm and there’s no charge. Refreshments will be served and attendees are encouraged to bring their own lawn chairs. In case of inclement weather, concerts will be moved inside.

Cherry Ridge is located in Webster, across from Webster Schroeder High School.

* * *

Remember that great idea you had at the beginning of the summer? “Hey, let’s NOT sign the kids up for camp this year, so we can spend more quality time with them!”

So now you’re wondering what the heck you were thinking, and you’re all stressed because this late in the game all the summer camps are full. Don’t sweat. Here’s a super option:

It’s called “Cool Summer of Science with Mr. Noon,” a series of week-long summer science classes (for 4-6 year olds and 7-9 year olds) taught by Williamson High School science teacher Brendan Noon. The classes feature age-appropriate hand-on activities that are not only fun but help develop the skills kids will need to meet the next generation of National Science Standards. (So they’ll be learning while they’re having fun, but don’t tell them.)

Upcoming classes include weather and the interaction between organisms and their environment.  You can click here for more details, but I’ll tell you right now the kids will be making clouds, playing in a pond and collecting slimy things.  Sounds like fun to me.

Classes cost $25/day and are held from 9 – 10:30 am Monday-Friday, at 153 Salt Road in Webster. For more information log onto the Science With Mr. Noon Facebook page or email Mr. Noon at Brendan.Noon@yahoo.com.

* * *

Finally, a quick note about the Kiddie Parade which took place last night in the South Avenue/Spry Middle School neighborhood. This annual warm-up for the Fireman’s Parade (which happens tonight in the village) is always an adorable affair.  I love the idea of this parade, because it gives kids of all ages a chance to get dressed up in costumes, march in a real parade (albeit a very short one) and throw candy at high velocity at the people lining the parade route.

(And I had forgotten about the candy at high velocity part. Popping in and out of the parade taking pictures, I felt at times like I was in a war zone dodging bullets. A strawberry Dum-Dum actually hit me so hard in the shoulder it made a mark.)

It’s also fun to see how much the kids’ parents enjoy the parade. Many of them dress up in themed costumes, and it’s obvious how much thought and effort work goes into many of the “floats.”  I’ll bet some families start working on them months in advance.

One child who was watching the parade walk by described it this way: “It’s like Halloween, only earlier.”  I’m not sure whether he was referring to the costumes or the abundance of candy.

As usual, I took lots of photos. Click here or on the photo above to see the gallery.

email me at missyblog@gmail.com

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Willink creates awesome video to welcome new students

10 Jul

Here’s something that will almost certainly make you smile.  The students and staff at Willink Middle School have created a “Welcome to Willink” video that is just delightful.

The video begins with students stepping off a school bus in front of the school, where staff members jump out of the bushes holding signs to welcome them.  As the students enter the school, WEB ambassadors (Where Everyone Belongs) lead the camera through the hallways, lip dubbing to the song Unwritten by Natasha Bedingfield.  As the camera winds through the school, we pass by hundreds of students lining the hallways, cheering and waving signs, many wearing uniforms or holding props representing school clubs and sports teams.

And the end of the video, the camera peers out a second-floor window onto the school grounds where the assembled student body erupts into cheers.

Every student got into the action, and there are cameos from Superintendent Adele Bovard and Principal Brian Neenan. My favorite part was probably the Willink chorus, but when the artwork walked off the wall — well, that was pretty cool, too.

The project took a year of planning, during which time the students met with advisers to coordinate props and costumes to represent every class, club and sport at Willink. Filming took place last spring, with the final product posted a few weeks ago.  Kudos to Thomas students (now Thomas grads) Rebecca Farsace and Katie Epner for a great job with the filming (done in one seamless shot) and editing.

And a hearty thumbs-up to the staff and students of Willink Middle School for doing such a fine job with this project.  What an incredible testament to that school’s spirit. If this video doesn’t make a new student feel welcome and excited to attend Willink, I don’t know what would. It’s just pure fun.

Until the end of this month, you can see the video by visiting the Webster School District’s webpage, where it is the spotlight story.  After that (or right now, if you want) you can go directly to the YouTube link. Or click on the photo above.

 

More music, more music, more music!

9 Jul

A crowd enjoys one of last summer’s concerts.

I write with some regularity about all the music options we have here in Webster during the summer months, in particular the village band performances on Thursdays and Gazebo concerts on Fridays.  But so far I have been totally ignoring another fine concert series which conveniently gives us somewhere to park our quad chairs on Wednesday.

The Main Street East band got the kids into the act.

That would be the Community Concert Series at the United Church of Christ on Klem Road. The concerts themselves take place on the front porch of the church, and seating is on the lawn — or indoors if it rains. And what’s really neat about these concerts is that proceeds from each concert benefit a different Webster non-profit organization.  There’s no charge, but a free will offering is accepted and concessions are sold, including soda, hot dogs, hamburgers, pulled pork and a weekly “special.” Last year the church raised $5400 from the concerts in free will offerings.

The concerts start up tomorrow, Wednesday July 11 and continue every Wednesday through the middle of August.  Here’s the schedule: (Click here  for more information about the bands.)

The Dady Brothers will return on August 8.

July 11: Gateswingers Big Band to to benefit Webster Comfort Care Home
July 18: Main Street East to benefit Webster Health & Education Network
July 25: Half Ton Horns to benefit Webster Friends of Trails
August 1: Ruby Shooz to benefit Webster Community Chest Food Cupboard
August 8: The Dady Brothers to benefit Heritage Christian Home Jennifer Lane
August 15: Nik Lite to benefit Webster Fire Department Ladies Auxiliary

Concessions open at 6 pm and the concerts begin at 6:30. The United Church of Christ is located at 570 Klem Road.

Thank you to Susan Mitchell for letting me know about these concerts. They sound like a lot of fun, for a good cause.

 

In memory of a young life lost

9 Jul

Not much to say about this.  It’s a memorial that’s been created on Hatch Road around the corner from my house, in honor of Christopher Salva, a young man who lost his life in a motorcycle accident a little more than a week ago. He was only 18.

Every time I pass it I just want to go home and hug my kids.

Webster Jazz Fest hit a high note again this year

8 Jul

Thousands were already on hand when the festival began, and more kept arriving all evening.

If you didn’t make it into the village of Webster last night for the Jazz Festival, you missed a wonderful evening filled with great music, great food, good friends and incredibly good weather.

Mother Nature threatened all day to make the evening a wet one, but by the time the music really started to groove, the rain clouds had parted and blue skies prevailed.  It wasn’t even that hot or muggy.  By 5:30, when the Bill Tiberio Band hit the downbeat at the Four Corners stage, hundreds of people had already settled into their lawn chairs or on blankets, or had staked out the handful of cabaret-style tables in the middle of West Main.

As the weather continued to get even better, people kept arriving and the crowds kept getting bigger.  At around 7:00 everyone turned their quad chairs around to face the Corning Park stage, where jazz fest regulars Paradigm Shift performed a set.  Then at 8:30, pianist Lao Tizer wowed the crowd with his take on contemporary jazz. I even liked his stuff, and jazz normally bores me to tears.

The Bill Tiberio Band opened the show.

On a side note….

I spent most of the evening (when I wasn’t wandering around taking photos) at Barry’s Old School Irish, which has become a second home of sorts for my family.  I was reminded how last year when I was at the Jazz Festival I also spent most of my evening on that corner.  At that time, though, there was only a sign announcing that Barry’s would be “coming soon.”  In the blog I wrote a few days later, I remarked:

Barry’s calls itself an “old school Irish pub, cafe and bakery,” whatever that means. My husband is Irish and he’s never heard of such a thing.  And he went to an old school, complete with nuns wielding hand-smacking rulers.

When Barry’s finally did open up its doors, we sure didn’t get any ruler-smacking nuns. But we did get a bunch of new friends, which helped make this year’s Jazz Fest even better that last year’s.  And I didn’t think that was possible.

Jazz Festival headliner Lao Tizer (center) was a crowd favorite.

The waitresses who worked the crowd were an inspired idea. They brought tons of business to the village restaurants.

These t-shirts were another great addition this year. I’m sorry I forgot to purchase one before I left.

As the sun set the music got cooler…

… and the dancers came out.

Jazz Festival returns to Webster Village this weekend

5 Jul

I hope this recent string of good weather keeps up for a few more days, because the Jazz Fest rolls back into town this Saturday.

This year’s featured entertainers include The Bill Tiberio Band, Paradigm Shift and contemporary jazz keyboardist Lao Tizer. You can click here for more details about the evening’s events, but here are the basics:

Everything happens on West Main Street in the village, where the street will be cordoned off, two stages set up, and there’ll be plenty of room to set up chairs and blankets for the evening. You can start setting up at 4:15, and the music begins at 5:30. Admission is free.

Here’s the schedule:

  • 5:30 pm: The Bill Tiberio Band on the East Stage (near the four corners)
  • 6:50 pm: Paradigm Shift on the West Stage (near Corning Park)
  • 8:30 pm: Lao Tizer plays two sets on the East Stage

Bring your own picnic fixings and beverages or you can buy something from one of many food vendors set up along the street.

Aside from a possible thunderstorm, the weather looks like it might cooperate. But if not, the rain plan is for Bill Tiberio to play at The Coach Sports Bar (23 West Main St.), Paradigm Shift at Hatter’s Pub (5 West Main St.), and Lao Tizer at The Coach.

This is always a wonderful event, and the whole town seems to come out for it. It’s a great chance to meet up with family and friends on a beautiful summer evening.

 

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