Archive | March, 2013

The Wiz visited the elementary schools this week!

12 Mar

The cast members who performed: Top row (L-R) Andrea Saitta, Bree Bullock, Kylie Dennison, Zoe Waltman, Sam Cino (Scarecrow), Carson Klasner (Dorothy), Alex King (Tin Man), Alec Nevin (Lion), Luciarose Barone, Sarah Krolik, Nicole Meredith. Bottom row: Gabby Jerzak, Mia Klasner, Kay Edwards, Diana Lohrman, Niccole Pucci, and Selene Klasner.

Students and staff members from three Webster elementary schools got a sneak peek at Webster Thomas High School’s upcoming production of The Wiz! earlier this week.

Seventeen cast members from the production made the rounds on Monday and Tuesday to Dewitt Road, Klem North and Klem South elementary schools to perform several numbers from their spring musical The Wiz, which takes to the Webster Thomas stage Thursday March 21 through Saturday March 23.

At each stop, the entire student body came out to watch as the cast members performed six musical numbers, including the scene when Dorothy meets Scarecrow, Tin Man and Lion. They were also introduced to some brand new characters: the Yellow Brick Road Dancers and Crow Dancers.

I didn’t get to attend the performance, but it was artfully captured in photos by Klem North parent Jen Swab-DeGrace, who kindly sent me the photos below for my blog.  I just love the expressions on the kids’ faces in the first one; they’re obviously enjoying the performance very much.

The whole family is going to enjoy this show (clearly, the kids already do). Even adults familiar with The Wizard of Oz movie will find  this production delightfully different.  It’s a funky musical adaptation, set to the beat of ’70s rock and Motown melodies. It’s one of Broadway’s most popular musicals and inspired a hit Hollywood movie in 1978 starring Michael Jackson and Diana Ross.

The show runs Thursday March 21 and Friday March 22 at 7:30 pm, and Saturday March 23 at 2 and 7:30 pm. Tickets are $10 and are available at Hegedorn’s Courtesy Desk, 964 Ridge Road, Webster, online at www.websterthomasplayers.com and through the Webster Thomas Players’ ticket line at 585-234-8248.

 

School Board petitions now available

8 Mar

Three school board positions will be decided in May when voters head to the polls for the annual Webster Central School District Budget Vote.

The terms of board members Laura Harder, Tom Nespeca and Lisa Smith will end this year. Anyone interested in running for one of these three seats can pick up a nominating packet at the district clerk’s office, 119 South Avenue, from 8 am to 4 pm weekdays. Petitions must be returned by Monday April 22.

Questions about candidacy or eligibility can be referred to Webster School District attorney Eric Wilson at (315) 437-7600, or Cindy Cushman at (585) 216-0001 during regular business hours.

If you’re interested in finding out more about serving on the school board, you can also attend the School Board Candidate Seminar on March 23 from 8-11 am at the Airport Holiday Inn. Registration fee is $10. Call the Monroe County School Boards Association at (5985) 328-1972 to register.

 

Can you sum up your life in six words?

6 Mar

Here’s a fun little exercise from the Webster Public Library. They’re hosting a six-word memoir contest for kids in grades 6-12.  You’ll want to visit the library’s Teen Lounge bulletin board for an entry form, then let your creativity flow.

For inspiration, you can check out some examples at http://www.sixwordmemoirs.com. Entries will be judged by library staff and will be selected the week of April 8 to win a gift certificate to Barnes and Noble.

The Facebook posting where I saw this noted that adults aren’t eligible to enter, but encouraged them to comment on the posting with a memoir of their own.

I decided to play along.  Here are a few I came up with for me:

Chiefs fan. Married Cheektowagan. Bills fan.

Parented three kids forever. Empty nesting!

Life’s an adventure; riding the wave.

How about you? Get creative and leave a comment with your own six-word memoir.

 

Was Mary Todd Lincoln insane?

5 Mar

A fascinating program scheduled for this weekend in Webster will explore the question of whether Mary Todd Lincoln was deranged — or just depressed.

Photo of Mary Todd Lincoln by Matthew Brady from Wikimedia Commons.

Apparently it is common knowledge that the wife of Abraham Lincoln was considered a “lunatic,” to use the accepted term of the day.  But there are some who believe that Mary Todd Lincoln was suffering not from lunacy, but from depression.

One of those people is Patricia Nugent, an East Irondequoit native who has written about the subject in the online edition of Ms. Magazine. In her article, she writes,

Many of us know that the former First Lady was convicted of lunacy, instigated by her eldest son, Robert Todd Lincoln. She spent almost four months in an insane asylum until she was able to enlist support for a retrial, at which she was declared sane once more.

What we don’t know much about is what led to the behavior that was considered lunacy in the court of public opinion and a court of law…my assessment is that Mary Todd Lincoln suffered innumerable losses in her life and had few socially acceptable means of expressing her sorrow. Such bottled-up sadness resulted in acting out behavior that was interpreted as insanity.

Those losses included the death of her mother when she was just six years old, rejection by her stepmother, the loss of three of her four sons, and, of course, the assassination of her beloved husband. Her eldest (and only surviving) son, was no support at all.  He was “cold, judgmental and unaffectionate,” Nugent wrote.

I’d say that’s an understatement. For crying out loud, he had his mother convicted of lunacy.

Nugent will discuss her article at a presentation from 2-4 pm this Sunday March 10, at the Harmony House, 58 East Main Street, Webster. The public is invited to join the discussion and learn more about this tragic woman whom Abraham Lincoln loved so dearly, but whom historians call “one of the most detested women in American history.”

The event is being sponsored by Yesterday’s Muse Books, and there is no charge. Refreshments will be provided by Webster Gourmet.  For more information, call (585) 265-9295.

Brimont moves up to Main Street

3 Mar

Webster has a new restaurant.

It’s Brimont Bistro, at 24 West Main Street, where Shema Sushi used to be.  You might recognize the name, since the new place is a more spacious incarnation of the former Brimont Deli, which was located for seven years in the row of rear-facing shops near the gazebo on North Avenue.  Calling it a “new” restaurant, therefore, is not entirely accurate.  Owner Greg Cody has simply transplanted his incredible culinary talents, customer service and sense of class to a more visible Main Street location.

It’s pretty obvious that he’s also brought along a very loyal customer base. Word is, the line stretched out the door during lunch hour on the Wednesday after they opened.  Obviously, this was someplace I had to check out for myself.

So my friend Carol Klem and I stopped by for lunch a little while ago to see Cody’s new digs.  Whenever I enter a new place for the first time, I try to sum up my first impression in one word.  But that wasn’t going to cut it with Brimont. The best I could come up with was “bright,” “pleasant” and “comfortable.”

We had the choice of sitting at one of the small tables, or along the long, wooden bar. We decided on the bar, where we could chat with bartender Clay Wheaton and watch the world go by outside the big picture window.  Clay was very patient, since for the longest time Carol and I were chatting with each other so much that we almost forgot to order.

A look inside the Brimont Bistro

Eventually, Carol decided on the Greek Salad and I got the Santa Fe Wrap.  The service was quick, the presentation was very nice, and the food was delicious.  And just as importantly, the portion size was perfect and the price was just right for a nice lunch.

A little later during our visit, I got a chance to meet and talk with owner Greg Cody.  It only took about 39 and a half seconds to realize that this guy REALLY knows what he’s doing.  I’m talking “Chef” with a capital C.

Cody brings to Webster a wealth of experience gained from working in some of the finest restaurants in the nation, including  the Tribeca Grill, River Cafe and Montrachet in New York City. That experience shows not only in the expertly prepared food, but in everything you’ll see at Brimont. The staff members are dressed to the nines in black pants and starched white shirts.  The dinner tables are draped with white linen tablecloths and the napkins are fanned.  According to staff member Dierdre Hickey, the wait staff were given five training sessions before opening, covering skills including how to put plates on the table, presentation of wine and proper pouring of champagne.

The waitresses have also been told to be efficient, but not to rush things. Cody “expects every diner to be here for an hour and a half,” Hickey said.  “He wants them to savor the meal” and really enjoy the dining experience.  It’s attention to those kind of details which lends a touch of class to even a casual lunch.

My Santa Fe Wrap. The coleslaw was awesome.

The lunch menu offers a selection of sandwiches, burgers, wraps and salads for prices ranging from $7.50 to $9.75. The sandwiches and wraps come with one side of coleslaw, potato salad or macaroni salad.  Add a soft drink or a glass of wine, and lunch will run you about $10 to $15.

The dinner experience, in contrast, is even more representative of a fine New York City restaurant. At night, all the tables in the restaurant’s formal dining area (upstairs) are draped with linen tablecloths and adorned with flickering candles. You’ll start with appetizers such as Duck Confit or Blackened Shrimp, which run about $10. Entrees begin at $17; Chicken French, Coq au vin and Seared Duck Breast are among the most popular. If you order an appetizer, salad, entree and drinks, dinner will run around $50 or more.

So the way I see it, Brimont is kind of like having two restaurants in one. For people who don’t want to spend a whole lot on dinner, you can get the same fine dining feel and incredible food at lunch.  If you want a real top-of-the-line evening meal and high-class dining experience right here in downtown Webster, stop in for some of the Brimont’s Seared Dry Sea Scallops.

Either way, Greg Cody is in the kitchen, so you can’t miss.

Brimont Bistro is located at 24 West Main Street, Webster. They’re open Monday-Saturday for lunch from10:30 -3. Dinner hours are Monday-Thursday 4:30-9:30, Friday and Saturday from 4:30-10.  Reservations are suggested.  Call (585) 872-3170.  Check out their webpage at www.brimontbistro.com.

Carol had the Greek Salad

Clay Wheaton behind the bar.

Chef Greg Cody with diners Joan and Rodd Riesenberger upstairs in the formal dining room.

High school art students among the best (again)

2 Mar

Have I ever mentioned how incredibly talented our high school students are? Only a few times?  Well, here they go again, winning even more awards.

More than 50 Webster students have received recognition as regional winners in the prestigious Scholastic Art Awards.  These students’ works are in the top 10% of all artworks that were submitted this year to the Northeast Region-at-large. All Gold Key winners will be adjudicated at the national level in the near future.

Webster Schroeder students who won at this level include:

Grace Annese, Silver Key, Ceramics and Glass, Story Box – Camping At Stonybrook
Rachel Barbato, Silver Key, Drawing, In The Studio
Taylor Beebe, Gold Key, Drawing, Predator
Ashlynn Blose Honorable Mention, Drawing, Heidi
Genevieve Caldwell, Honorable Mention, Mixed Media, Out In The Cold
Valerie Cardillo, Silver Key, Drawing, Maine 1937
Elissa D’Alessandro, Honorable Mention, Painting, Octopus Garden, Gold Key, Drawing, Eye of the Beholder, and Honorable Mention, Painting, After Work;
Keenan Denis, Silver Key, Drawing, The Con Man
Devon Forward, Honorable Mention, Drawing, Person Of Interest, and Honorable Mention, Drawing, Erin
Samantha Killian, Honorable Mention, Drawing, Warrior
Megan Kloosterman, Silver Key, Ceramics and Glass, The Robin Egg
Ciara Lutz, Gold Key, Drawing, Taylor; Renee Macdonald,Honorable Mention, Painting, Starting Bright and Early
Maggie Mutschler, Honorable Mention, Drawing, Munchie’s Mugs
Sarah Nicolay, Silver Key, Sculpture, Technicolor Giraffe
Lauren Park, Silver Key, Drawing, Grandma Why Are You Gone
Katrin Peterson, Honorable Mention, Drawing, The Great Escape
Corinne Playfair, Silver Key, Drawing, The Sands Of Time; and Honorable Mention, Portfolio
Andrew Wagenhals, Silver Key, Drawing, Physical Interlude
Jennifer Wehrle, Honorable Mention, Drawing, Ustrasana
Maria Posato, Honorable Mention, Drawing, Still Life

Webster Thomas students who won at this level include:

Laura Aguilera, Honorable Mention, Painting, Jasmine
Julia Bender, Gold Key, Drawing, Me 2
Allie Bernstein, Honorable Mention, Mixed Media, The Explosion
Daniel Brown, Honorable Mention, Sculpture, Against All Odds
Hannah Buckley, Honorable Mention, Painting, Fighter
Maya Colombo, Silver Key, Drawing, Materialism
Connor Czora, Silver Key, Drawing, Work In Progress
Ashley Epping, Honorable Mention, Drawing, Seashore On Seaside
Lauren Fordham, Silver Key, Drawing, Eye, Honorable Mention, Drawing, Change, and Gold Key, Portfolio
Jamie Guarrera, Honorable Mention, Drawing, dusty space
Kate Hall, Mention, Drawing, Moon
Elana Howe, Honorable Mention, Painting, Cupcakes
Kelly Hurlburt, Silver Key, Drawing, The Tsunami Dancer
Abbey Lee, Gold Key, Drawing, Pieces Of Me
Aubrey Maryniak, Honorable Mention, Drawing, Backwards Through Glass, and Honorable Mention, Drawing, Hanging Onto Adolescence
Dominic Montante, Silver Key, Drawing, Geriatrics
Marley Morrill, Honorable Mention, Sculpture, Armadillo
Cynthia Nguyen, Silver Key, Painting, Attack on the North
Kyle Roethlisberger, Honorable Mention, Drawing, Still Life
Trevor Smith, Gold Key, Drawing, Tattoo
Scott St. George, Honorable Mention, Mixed Media, Meditate, and Honorable Mention, Drawing, Wonder
Erin Tersegno, Honorable Mention, Drawing, Horizon
Adrianna Zaretsky, Silver Key, Drawing, Goop

Congratulations to all these talented young students You make Webster proud.

Below are a few samples of these students’ work. Prepare to be amazed.

Taylor, by Ciara Lutz

Predator, by Taylor Beebe

Tattoo, by Trevor Smith

Fractured, by Abbey Lee

Eye, by Lauren Fordham

Art teacher’s new book fills a need

1 Mar

Next time you’re at Wegmans, make sure to pause a few extra moments near the book display and take a closer look. You might just see a name you recognize.

Plank Road North Elementary art teacher Natalie Palermo has published a new book, titled Rowan Discovers…The Elements of Art!!!  The 52-page, colorfully illustrated book looks at the seven basic elements of art from a child’s perspective – or, as Palermo explained it, “through the adventures of a young girl named Rowan.”

To say that the book was a labor of love is a bit of an understatement. Palermo has been working on it since 2005. It was then that she first noticed there was a need for such a resource. She wrote,

I saw the need for an elementary art education resource book for elementary art teachers and parents who homeschool their children in grades kindergarten through fifth grade.  When I would go to the larger book store chains…I would find books about artists, art history, “how to draw” types of books, but could not find a book solely dedicated to teaching the seven elements of art.

And so Rowan was born.

The book is designed for parents and teachers to use throughout a child’s elementary art education. Through easy-to-understand text and Palermo’s original artwork, each section introduces concepts in a way that can be easily adapted to individual grade levels. With the chapter that introduces the color wheel, for example, a first or second grade learner could learn about primary and secondary colors, while fourth or fifth graders could “graduate” to the intermediates. And thanks to that adaptability, Rowan Discovers…The Elements of Art! can be used as a supplement to classroom textbook, and also as an art education enrichment book for parents.

And of course, she uses it in her own classroom as well.

When I introduce my book to my students I tell them that they can achieve anything with hard work and persistence like I did with my book… my students enjoy seeing the illustrations and how the elements of art relate to the real world.

Rowan Discovers…The Elements of Art! is available right now at both Holt Road and Eastway Wegmans stores. Very soon you’ll also be able to find it at Hyatt’s All Things Creative (937 Jefferson Road, Henrietta)  and at the Memorial Art Gallery gift shop.

 

Palermo at the Temple of Apollo, Ortigia, Sicily

Meet Natalie Palermo

Palermo has taught art at the elementary and secondary levels for more than ten years. She received her Bachelor of Science in Communication from S.U.N.Y Fredonia and Master of Science in Art Education from Nazareth College. She has traveled extensively to explore art throughout the United States and Europe. She regularly uses her artwork to help others, raising money for local charities including the Breast Cancer Coalition of Rochester, Bethany House, the George Eastman House, the West Webster Fire Department, AIDS Rochester, and Hannah’s Hope School in Kenya. She currently teaches art at Plank Road North Elementary School in Webster.

A blog only a word nerd could love

1 Mar

Every once in a while, something comes across my Facebook page that tickles my funny bone so much that I need to share it with everyone. That’s especially true if that something has to do with my favorite pastime, writing.

More and more these days, Facebook, instant messaging and texting have replaced face-to-face — or even phone-to-phone —  conversations. As a result, people don’t have the benefit of facial and vocal expression to help convey nuances in meaning.  It’s difficult, for example, to express sarcasm with the written word.

Mike Trapp, at Collegehumor.com has come up with a very workable solution, which I think you will enjoy.  He has proposed the following series of new punctuation marks:

8 New Punctuation Marks We Desperately Need

 

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