Archive | April, 2018

Webster Library to host unique photography exhibit

30 Apr

Everybody has a story. That’s the intriguing premise behind a brand new photography exhibit opening Tuesday at the Webster Public Library.

Created by Linda Dow Hayes of Hayes Photography, the exhibit features portraits and personal narratives of 25 Webster Central School District faculty and staff members

Hayes, who works as a teaching assistant at Webster Thomas High School, has always been interested in creating insightful portraits. The project grew from remarks made by Webster CSD superintendent Carm Gumina on the opening day of school last year, when he talked about the fact that all faculty and staff members have stories to tell.

Hayes took that thought and ran with it, creating her very personal and meaningful “We All Have a Story” exhibit, where she takes a closer look at the lives and stories of more than two dozen staff members.

“The idea of connecting with interested faculty and staff members by taking their portraits was something that I felt might work to help me grow as an artist and connect with the community-at-large,” Hayes said.

The exhibit, which runs the entire month of May, 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, and Saturday from 10 to 5.

The public is invited to an opening reception on Wednesday May 2 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. The Webster Public Library is located at 980 Ridge Road.

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Deb Carpenter recognized for service

26 Apr

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Congratulations to Deb Carpenter for recently marking almost 30 years of service to Webster Parks and Recreation!

The occasion was marked on Tuesday with a surprise party at the Rec, scheduled right after the Froggy Fitness class which she helps out with. She was presented with a plaque while surrounded by many of those students. Deb also runs the Rec’s Soccer Squirts and Preschool Track and Field programs throughout the year for 3 to 5-year olds.

Deb originally started with the Parks and Recreation Department in 1984. She worked at North Ponds Park and summer camps every summer when she was home from college, then in 1998 she started helping with youth programs again and just never stopped.

According to Recreation Supervisor Julie Schillaci, Deb is “full of energy and the kids just love coming to her classes!”

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Webster’s volunteer fire departments need you

25 Apr
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A controlled burn on Ridge Road last November provided a valuable training opportunity.

Have you ever toyed with the idea of becoming a firefighter? (Since you were a kid, I mean.) Just because you’re all grown up with a family and working full time doesn’t mean you can’t still fulfill that dream.

Becoming a volunteer firefighter really isn’t as difficult or dangerous as you might think, and if you’ve ever considered it even for a moment, you owe it to yourself to drop by the fire house in the village of Webster (35 South Ave.) or in West Webster (1051 Gravel Road) this weekend for the annual RecruitNY event.

For four hours this Saturday April 28, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Webster and West Webster firefighters will be opening their fire houses for tours and to answer any questions you might have about joining their ranks. In the case of West Webster, it will also be a great chance to check out their brand new facility.

For more information, check out the WVFD Facebook page or the WWFD Facebook page.

Also, if you haven;t had a chance to read the column published last weekend about RecruitNY and our own WVFD, click here. It might answer some questions.

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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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YOU need to come to the Willink play

25 Apr
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Mayli Nitsch, Olivia Freida and Alex Ramirez work on a scene during rehearsal. (Provided)

Paradise Junction is just about the most perfect small town in the world.

It’s a place where everybody gets along, the sun is always shining, and the tomatoes grow as big as beach balls. So when a TV network offers to film a reality show there, the townsfolk jump at the chance. After all, the town will receive five million dollars, while the publicity promises to turn the residents into TV stars.

But host Wink Smiley has his own agenda. Secrets are revealed, old feuds are rekindled, and the town’s annual pie-baking contest is turned into a massive food fight. Now it’s up to Joe Goode, owner of the Rise ’n’ Shine Diner, to save the town.

Find out for yourself if he’s successful when the students of Willink Middle School present the student-run play Paradise Junction on Friday May 4 at 7 p.m. and Saturday May 5 at 1 p.m.

The heartwarming comedy is inspired by the films of Frank Capra such as It’s a Wonderful Life and Mr. Smith Goes to Washington. Tickets are just $5 and will be available at the door.

Willink Middle School is located at 900 Publisher’s Parkway, Webster. For more information, visit willinkstudentrunplay.club.

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Julia Maciag, Jakob Rothfuss (Technical Director) and Colby Armstrong (Performing Director) work on set pieces for Paradise Junction. (Provided) 

Thank you to Jakob Rothfuss for providing all this information and the photos!

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And, it’s time to avoid Ridge again

24 Apr

So, the corner of Five Mile Line and Ridge Road is a mess. I mean a REAL mess in all four directions. Like at most times of the day it’s best to find a completely other way around rather than drive through it.

I know that this is just a temporary situation and eventually the aggravation will be worth it. After all, we’ve been whining about Ridge Road improvements for a long time.

But frankly, I have some nagging doubts that all the work will alleviate the traffic problems. That’s mostly because when they upgraded the traffic lights at that intersection last year, they managed to make things worse by eliminating at least one of the right turn arrows that facilitated turns from Five Mile Line.

And the DOT in their infinite wisdom STILL doesn’t realize that pretty much every light on Ridge Road between the village and Hatch Road can afford to be on blinker after midnight. I can’t believe I’m the only one who’s been stuck waiting for all the traffic to come out of the Kmart plaza and CVS at 2 a.m.

I can’t wait until the construction moves to Hatch Road, which will really flummox my drive to work.

Enjoy spring and construction season, everyone! (Just stay off of Ridge.)

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Beyond Cuts holds grand opening

22 Apr

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The sun was shining brightly (finally) and the temperatures were reasonable (finally) on Saturday, making it a perfect day for a celebration.

The occasion was the grand opening for Beyond Cuts Salon at 33 North Ave. The salon itself is well known in town — it’s been owned and operated in the village by Robyn Whittaker for ages. But after 15 years at a small location on West Main Street, Robyn finally was able to move up and out in January to her beautiful new location, directly across North Ave. from Gazebo Park and the Waffle Factory.

Dozens of well-wishers were on hand to take part in the official ribbon cutting, and afterwards enjoyed all sorts of snacks and beverages. Robin also had baskets of giveaways for both children and adults, and a raffle.

I had never been in the salon until Saturday, and I have to say it is a thing of beauty, and very sunny. It’s basically huge — at 1500 square feet, it’s five times bigger than the space she had before. All that extra space has allowed Robyn to add lots of services and amenities, including:

  • a style station where people can try out curling irons and blow dryers while they wait
  • a children’s play area
  • a private body waxing room
  • an expanded manicure area, and more
  • and a huge bathroom (“the last one we had was about as large as this sink,” Robyn laughed.)

Even with all these new services and amenities, Robyn finds something else entirely most exciting: her on-site laundry room. “For 17 years I dragged the towels back and forth to  my house.” she said. “Now I can do them in the back room which is super exciting.”

Robyn also likes the history of the building, which used to be the old Webster Cleaners. .

“People come in here and say, ‘I used to bring my dry cleaning here.’ It’s kind of cool being in a building that people actually came to all the time.”

Check out the new Beyond Cuts Salon for yourself. You’ll find them online here and on Facebook here.

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Q&A about being a volunteer firefighter

22 Apr

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My Our Towns East Extra column today highlights our very own Webster Volunteer Fire Department. I am proud to know many of these men and women, and pleased to be able to help them in their cause to recruit new members.

So if you’ve ever thought about it — even a bit — and ever had questions like “Do I have to get up every night in the middle of the night to run into a burning building?” you shsould read this column.

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Thoughts from the trail

21 Apr

In honor of Earth Day, I decided to bring several Wegmans bags with me today on my regular Barry’s Runner’s Saturday fun run/walk, and pick up trash as I ran.

I don’t run the bike path much anymore since I’m afraid of turning an ankle, but I do enjoy running along the Hojack Trail and through North Ponds Park. I’m sorry to say I was able to fill five bags with trash along that almost 3-mile route. (And I had run out of bags before I made it back to North Ave. in the village, or I could have filled three more.)

Here are a few thoughts from my trashy run:

  • There was less trash along the Hojack than I expected, which either means 1) someone had already been by there and picked up a lot or 2) people who hike the Hojack are generally nature lovers who choose not to trash it. (I hope it is the latter.)
  • I didn’t find any cigarette butts, which was a real surprise. Usually when I do these trash collections, I find them all over the place.
  • I did, however, find enough returnables to buy a six pack of my own.
  • Thank you to the three dog owners who were kind enough to clean up after your dogs. Maybe next time DON’T throw the bag into the woods.

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Webster community mailbag

20 Apr

Let’s start today’s mailbag with a unique event being hosted next Wednesday April 25 by St. Ann’s Community on Ridge Road, which will be of special interest to anyone with a loved one who is dealing with memory impairment.

From 4:30 to 6:30 p.m., people are encouraged to visit The Lifestyle of Rainier Grove, the memory care neighborhood at Cherry Ridge. Staff members will be on hand to demonstrate how they use sensory stimulation to bring enjoyment to residents and increase their social interaction.

Cocktails and hors d’oeuvres will be available. Please RSVP by calling (585) 697-6701

Rainier Grove at St. Ann’s is located at 900 Cherry Ridge Blvd. (across from Webster Schroeder High School). The event is open to the public. For more information, click here to see the Facebook event posting.

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29595506_1997052513657004_6508532490232657654_nThe Webster Central PTSA will present a wellness night on Monday April 30 from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at the Willink Middle School cafetorium, 900 Publisher’s Parkway.

The event, called Coping with Stress and Anxiety in Family Life, is in response to PTSA survey results. It will explore stress and anxiety in our daily lives, provide tips on how to identify it and tools to cope with it.

Facilitators will include Erica Ebert, WCSD instructional specialist and mindfulness coach; and Keith Greer, WCSD social worker, progressive recovery coach, speaker, trainer, and advocate at Recovery Coach University.

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St. Martin Lutheran Church will host its bi-annual Spring Chicken BBQ and FunFest on Saturday, May 5 from 4:30-6:30 p.m.

Dinners will include a half chicken, salt potatoes, cole slaw, roll, butter and beverage, for $10. Pie slices and other desserts will also be available for purchase.  A hot dog dinner for kids is just $2.

Dinners are eat-in or take-out. Tickets can be reserved by calling the church office at 671-1899, or purchased at the event while supplies last.  Proceeds support the church’s Christmas Stocking Project, which reaches more than 500 local youth in Monroe and Wayne counties.

St. Martin Lutheran Church is located at 813 Bay Road, Webster.

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The Webster Arboretum Association’s spring plant sale is back, scheduled for May 12 from 8 a.m. to noon.

This sale is just blooming with beautiful, healthy live plants which are grown by local garden clubs and local commercial growers in local soil, so they’re going to grow in your garden, too. Garden Club members will also share their favorite plants from their own gardens.

Check it out at the Webster Arboretum, 1700 Schlegel Rd., Webster. It’s a perfect opportunity to grab a Mother’s Day gift.

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News from the schools

18 Apr

My email box has been overflowing of late with good news from our Webster schools. Allow me to regurgitate some press releases for you.

There’s a new AP in town

Callahan cropped (1)Congratulations to Chris Callahan, who was named the new assistant principal at Webster Schroeder High School.

Chris is a Webster graduate who began his teaching career at Webster Thomas in 2010. At the same time he began his career, he was commuting to Canisius College to complete his Masters of Science degree in Special Education. He took a brief leave from his teaching assistant position to complete his student teaching assignments at Schroeder.

I had the pleasure of working with Chris for several years at Thomas, and can attest to his enthusiasm and dedication to students.

Chris is replacing current assistant principal Shawn Strege, who was recently named director of physical education and athletics for Webster Schroeder High School and Spry Middle School.

Webster’s music program is tops — AGAIN 

NAMMF_18_BCMEThe Webster Central School District music program has once again been honored as a Best Community for Music Education from The NAMM Foundation, for its outstanding commitment to music education.

The Best Communities for Music Education designation is awarded to districts that demonstrate outstanding achievement in efforts to provide music access and education to all students. This is the 13th time Webster CSD has achieved this honor. To qualify for the Best Communities designation, the district answered detailed questions about funding, graduation requirements, music class participation, instruction time, facilities, support for the music program, and community music-making programs. Responses were verified with school officials and reviewed by The Music Research Institute at the University of Kansas.

Give us your drugs

 

 

The Webster Health and Education Network: Drug Free Community Coalition (WHEN: DFCC) is partnering with the Webster Central School District, Town of Webster, and Webster Police Department to hold Prescription Drug Take Back Day on Saturday, April 28.

From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. that day, the public is invited to bring unused/expired over-the-counter and prescription medications to the Webster Wastewater Treatment Plant, 267 Phillips Road to be disposed of in a safe manner. Sharps/needles will NOT be accepted.

Domino’s Pizza will be sponsoring the local event, and each person dropping off medications will receive a coupon for a Domino’s item.

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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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