Archive | April, 2017

A quick shout out to the Troopers

12 Apr

MindyJust a quick note this morning to say congratulations and thank you to the New York State Police, who celebrate their 100th birthday this year.

My little sister Mindy served with the Troopers for 22 years, and I am so proud of her. I remember when we were living in Waterloo and she came home from the academy every weekend, filled with stories about the challenges they put the recruits through. I remember driving into Norwich, NY to check out the little town which would be her first posting. I remember surprising her at the Oakdale Mall, where she was working at a recruiting table.

And I have bragged about her more times than I can count. I cannot even imagine how difficult that job must have been.

So if you see a Trooper pass by this week, give him/her a hearty thank-you wave. As for me, I’m lucky,  because I can give my Trooper a hug when I see her.

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Town Hall operations moving for 6 months

11 Apr

town hall

Big things are happening at Town Hall, and if you ever have reason to go there, you’ll want to keep reading.

Town Hall will soon be undergoing some major renovations, including upgrading the police department facilities, building department and assessment areas; enlarging the restrooms and adding a lunchroom for employees; upgrading the building interior; enhancing security; and asbestos abatement.

Renovations will begin later this month, and the building will be closed for six months while they’re being completed.

That means that beginning Friday April 21, the Webster Town Hall building at 1000 Ridge Road will be closed for six months.

While the Town Hall building is closed, all town business will be conducted at 1002 Ridge Road, the Van Ingen Court Building behind Town Hall next to Ridge Park. Long-time residents will remember the building as the old library. You’ll be able to pay your taxes there, get a dog license, apply for a building permit, get assessing papers, and any other business you currently do at Town Hall.

The Webster Police Department, however, will remain open at Town Hall. Of course, if you need emergency assistance, call 9-1-1.

All renovations are expected to be completed by November 1.

For questions, call (585) 872-7068 or email supervisor@ci.webster.ny.us

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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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Photos from Community Arts Day 2017

9 Apr

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What can I say about Community Arts Day that I haven’t already said?

It was another successful event put on by a wonderful group of volunteers who worked hard all day to welcome people with a smile, serve them great food, and basically provide a whole day of great family fun.

I tried to get a lot of photos, of course. But I’m sure I missed a lot, because so much was happening every minute of the day. And there was SO MUCH artwork to see!

Still, click here to see my gallery.

And thank you again, CAD volunteers, for another terrific event.

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Greater Rochester Peep Show a sweet success

8 Apr

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Just a quick blog to tell everyone to tell everyone about my trip to the Greater Rochester Peep Show on Saturday afternoon.

What fun it was. More than 80 “paintings” and dioramas featuring marshmallow Peeps were spread among two rooms at the Webster Recreation Center, depicting everything from a library to a construction site to a baseball field. The creativity was amazing, and several of them made me laugh out loud.

The Peep Show runs through Sunday, from noon to 4 pm. There’s no admission charge, but you can purchase concessions and voting tokens to vote for your favorite entry. Kind of the “Peeple’s Choice” winner.

The kids will enjoy peeking out of the 8-foot long fairy castle and shooting peeps with a slingshot on the Peeps target range.

You don’t want to miss it. Noon to 4 Sunday, Webster Recreation Center, 1350 Chiyoda Drive.

You can see a lot more photos in my Webster on the Web Facebook gallery.

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New Webster-based fitness program designed for children with Down syndrome

7 Apr

strike-fit logo

For about two years now, I’ve had the pleasure to work with the terrific folks at Strike Back Martial Arts in the village of Webster, where I help out most weekends with their Jujitsu Buddies classes. Strike Back owners Dave Nicchitta and Mike Palmer created the program three years ago specifically for children on the autism spectrum.

I’ve seen first-hand how these young people can benefit from a structured self-defense program which focuses on improving muscle tone, coordination, self-control and self-confidence, taught in an environment of unconditional support and positive social interaction.

Thanks to the success they’ve seen with Jujitsu Buddies, Dave and Mike have introduced a new program, called Strike-Fit, designed for young children with Down syndrome.

“We have seen the success that kids in our Buddies classes can achieve,” Nicchitta said. “It’s truly amazing to see how far the students have come from when we first met them. These triumphs, however small or big, are one of the reasons why we started this program in the first place and what keeps us going and pushing these kids to do more.”

Strike-Fit is a low-impact fitness program structured and tailored to the needs of young children and teens with Down syndrome. Activities will provide structured exercise while helping improve muscle tone and coordination, all in a safe and accepting environment. Students will be able to socialize with peers and form relationships in a safe and accepting environment, improving their confidence and self-esteem as they try something new.

“After doing our investigation into the programs and resources available to Down syndrome kids and teens, it became apparent that there aren’t many opportunities that exist outside of the ones offered in schools (OT / PT). We hope to change that with our Strike-Fit program.”

 

 

Strike-Fit is designed for teens and children ages 5 to 11. Classes will be held once a week for 45 minutes, and each session runs nine weeks. Cost is $200.

Children and their parents are invited to meet the instructors and find out more about the Strike-Fit at an open house on Saturday April 22, beginning at 11 a.m. at Strike Back Martial Arts.

Strike Back Martial Arts is located at 55 East Main Street, Webster. Call (585) 236-1083 or visit strikebackmartialarts.com.

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Busy weekend ahead

5 Apr

I’ll be bopping around Webster all day Saturday, camera in hand, taking photos of two

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Student artwork from all of Webster’s schools will be on display at Community Arts Day. 

great community events you and the family will not want to  miss.

 

For starters, the Webster Central School District’s annual celebration of our students’ artistic talents, Community Arts Day, returns this Saturday from 10 am to 4 pm at Webster Schroeder High School, 875 Ridge Road.

This is a super family-friendly event, which features artwork from students representing all of our Webster schools, elementary through high school. There are free music performances, dance, community displays, food and baked goods for sale, and plenty of things for kids to do. And just about everything is free of charge.

It’s a great entertaining, low-cost way for the family to spend a morning or afternoon. You can check out the whole schedule here.

And while you’re out and about…

The Greater Rochester Peep Show is also Saturday (and Sunday) at the Webster Recreation Center.

This fun fund-raiser sponsored by the Webster Community Chest invites community groups and agencies to create sculptures or dioramas completely out of — or utilizing — marshmallow Peeps candies. This is the second year the Community Chest has hosted the show, and they expect it be even bigger and more spectacular than the last.

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One of the fanciful creations from the first Greater Rochester Peep Show in 2015.

You can vote for you favorite Peeps creation with tokens which you can buy at show, or just wander around the display rooms and admire the artwork. In either case it should be lots of fun and I am looking forward to seeing this year’s displays. There’s also free face painting for the kids.

 

The show will run from from 11 am to 6 pm Saturday and noon to 4 pm Sunday. You can read more about it here.

The Webster Recreation Center is located at 1350 Chiyoda Drive, just north of the village of Webster.

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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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Tuesday Webster Mailbag

4 Apr

 

As is often the case, some news from the schools to lead off today’s mailbag.

Webster Thomas presents Aida

Don’t forget about next weekend’s production of Elton John and Tim Rice’s Aida, presented by the Webster Thomas Players.

Here’s the synopsis:

At the Nile’s edge, the enslaved Nubian princess, Aida becomes romantically entangled with shirt expandedthe Egyptian captain, Radames, who is betrothed to the Pharaoh’s daughter, Amneris. As their forbidden love grows deeper, Aida is forced to find balance between her heart’s yearning for Radames, and her responsibility to lead her people.

Based on the opera by Giuseppe Verdi, Elton John and Time Rice’s Aida is a timeless love story, featuring an award-winning pop/rock score from the seasoned pop duo who brought musical life to Disney’s The Lion King. Rousing rock numbers and heart-wrenching ballads bring the ill-fated lovers into a new era.

The show will be presented in four performances, at 7:30 p.m. April 6, 7 and 8, and a 2 p.m. matinee on April 8.

Tickets are $12, available at Hegedorn’s Market, 964 Ridge Road and online at websterthomasplayers.com.

Meet the Easter Bunny at the pool!

Here’s some great fun for the kids at the Aquatic Center as Easter approaches:

The Easter Bunny will be stopping by the Aquatic Center on Friday April 7 from 6 to 8 pm to visit during the center’s annual floating Easter egg hunt. Weighted and floating eggs will be scattered throughout the shallow end of the pool. Kids can swim, waddle or walk to gather eggs and then trade them for prizes.

Of course, children will also get a chance to visit with the Easter Bunny.

There’s no charge for WAC members. WCSD staff members pay $3 per child, and nonmembers pay $6 per child, with a family maximum of $12. Children must be accompanied by an adult, and can arrive anytime between 6 and 7 pm.

Register online at: webstercentral.revtrak.net, with the course #: SPE-A-WACK.EGG.1-W

The Webster Aquatic Center is located at 875 Ridge Road.

College Night returns April 26

Have a student headed off to college in a few years? You might want to check out this upcoming program.

Webster Thomas and Webster Schroeder high school counselors will host College Night for families of sophomores and juniors on Wednesday, April 26, from 6:30 to 9 p.m. in the Webster Schroeder Auditorium.

The speakers will be David Roberts, associate director of freshman admissions at Saint John Fisher College, and Angela Wesley, admissions adviser at State University of New York at Brockport. Both bring tremendous experience and insight into topics of concern as you navigate the college admissions process. Topics to be discussed include:

  • Getting in and staying in college: SUNY vs private colleges; letters of recommendation; the common application; essays, the new SAT and ACT, and other admissions criteria.
  • Essential skills needed for moving on after high school graduation: resilience, perseverance, collaboration, integrity, time-management, self-management, and communication.

There will be plenty of time for questions and answers throughout.

Students are welcome to attend with their parents. Webster Schroeder High School is located at 875 Ridge Road.

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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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Young musicians shine in music showcase

1 Apr
Cameron Stone Cassidy Shur

Cameron Stone and Cassidy Shur perform a duet on viola. 

(Note: see photos of all the performers on my Webster on the Web Facebook page.) 

There were a lot of smiles at Plank Road North Elementary School Friday night.

The occasion was the third annual Music Showcase, an opportunity for Plank North students from kindergarten through 5th grade who take music lessons to perform in front of families and friends in a recital format.

The showcase was originally designed to highlight piano students, who don’t often have an opportunity to show off their talents to the school community.

“Piano students never get a chance to play for the kids at school,” said Plank North music teacher Sarah Rosenberry.  “Instrumental students at least get the chance to play in the school’s band or orchestra,” she added.

Nathan Alvaro

Nathan Alvaro played Tarantella by Bastien.  

More recently, however, the event was also opened up to students who take lessons in any instrument. After all, Rosenberry said, playing in school ensembles still means the kids don’t get a chance to “do their own thing.”

 

It wasn’t a long recital. It only took 40 minutes for the 18 young musicians to perform. But no matter how long each student’s performance was — whether 30 seconds or three minutes — the applause from proud parents and grandparents, and the encouraging cheers from their fellow students, made the evening a shining moment for each and every child.

(Note: see photos of all the performers on my Webster on the Web Facebook page.) 

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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.

 

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