Archive | June, 2018

Village looks to upgrade two of its parks

30 Jun

If you’re a fan of our village parks, here’s something that might interest you:  Our village administrators are looking to make improvements to two of them, Schantz Park on State Rd. and Veterans Memorial Park (Gazebo Park) on North Ave.

A lot of changes are being proposed, all of which can be seen in the photos I’ve included above. You can also click here to see a detailed .pdf document:  2018.06.26 DRAFT Webster Parks Public Meeting. But here are some of the highlights:

Improvements to Schantz Park would focus mostly on the southeast portion of the park, adjacent to State Road. The tennis courts, which are infrequently used and are in very poor repair, would be removed entirely. Replacing them would be a much larger parking lot, a pavilion and a natural play area. All would presumably make the park more comfortable and welcoming for families and fans who come to watch ball games played there.

Plans for Veterans Memorial Park are much more extensive.

The biggest change would be the addition of a sidewalk encircling the entire grassy area of the park, expanding into a larger paved area directly in front of the gazebo. The idea here is to encourage better circulation and additional seating area, with the added benefit of providing easier access for those with disabilities.

The veteran’s memorial itself and its gardens would be moved from the southeast corner of the park to the northeast. And fear not, the park will still have a clock, although chances are very good it’s going to be replaced with something as handsome, but a lot less troublesome.

Sculptures, additional plantings, a rain garden, and a decorative gateway will make things look pretty.

While plans have been sketched out for both parks, right now the village is only planning to try for a state grant to work on Veterans Park, and focus on Schantz Park some time in the future.

The proposed upgrades come from recommendations provided by a six-member advisory committee comprised of village and local business representatives. Matt Chatfield, Executive Director of the Webster Economic Development Alliance, explained that the public meeting was the next step in the “quick concept phase” of the proposal.

“The grant application is just the first of many steps in this process,” he said. “If the Village is awarded funding, there will be several additional public involvement opportunities prior to any final design and construction.”

Of course this is going to be a long process (anything involving government administration usually is). The grant application isn’t due until the end of July, and we won’t know until December if we’ve been awarded any funds. If so, then there’s an entire year-long park design process. Construction wouldn’t even begin until late 2020.

No other information/comment gathering sessions are planned at this point. However, if you’d like to share your opinions about the planned improvements, you can fill out this form here. (It only asks your thoughts about Veterans Memorial Park because it’s the only one on the table for now.)

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Webster mini mailbag

26 Jun

Just two quick events I want to highlight today which came across my email box recently.

art-festThe first is the third annual Webster Waterfront Art Festival, which will return to North Ponds Park on July 28 and 29.

The event features artists from all over Monroe County, food trucks, entertainment, a wine tasting booth and more.

I’ve enjoyed walking the paths these last two years, checking out the artisans, listening to music, and actually picking up a few Christmas presents along the way. It was a great day when Webster landed this event, and it has been an outstanding addition to the town’s summer events calendar. Don’t miss it if at all possible.

I’ll be posting more details in my blog in the weeks ahead, but in the meantime, you can check out the website here.

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CaptureSummer is also reunion time, and just yesterday I was informed that plans for the R.L. Thomas Class of 1978 40th reunion are under way.

You can check out the flyer to the left for the details, but here they are anyway:

  • Date: Saturday September 8
  • Time: 4 p.m.
  • Location: Ukranian Cultural Center, Jackson Road, Penfield
  • Includes: Buffet dinner, cash bar, laughs, fun times, embarrassing memories and photos.
  • Cost $28 per person.

Registration deadline is August 31. You can download the form and mail it in, but if you do that and it’s hard to read…. well, we Webster kids are smart; I’m sure you’ll figure out another way to register.

Keep up on all the latest details at the RL Thomas Class of 1978 Facebook page and make sure to spread the word!

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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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Community meetings scheduled this week

24 Jun

 

welcome to webster

So I came across some information mostly by chance about a few community meetings coming up that I think everyone should know about.

The first is the Town of Webster Community Meet & Greet, Monday June 25 from 7 to 8 p.m. in the community room at the Webster Public Library.

Participants will get a chance to meet their state, county and town elected officials, along with first responders and leaders of several community organizations, including the Webster Special Police, who will be recruiting new officers during the event.  It’s a good chance to learn about upcoming projects and ask questions. Bring the kids, too, because there’s going to be some crafts set up for them.

Then on Tuesday June 26, the Village of Webster will host an Open House Meeting at the Community Meeting Room, 28 W. Main Street, to discuss updates to some of the local parks, and other plans for the village.

The meeting is scheduled from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.

I’m planning to be at both meetings, so I hope to see you there!

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There’s a new chicken in town

23 Jun

IMG_8693So have you seen the handsome new rooster that’s standing outside BC’s Chicken Coop on West Main Street?

At six feet tall, and made of metal, he’s really colorful, and his name is Tucker.

The story about how Tucker came to grace the Coop’s front sidewalk is a delightful one. My daughter Erin, who writes the Village Beat column for the Webster Herald, dug up the details, and wrote:

Tucker is named for Brian Tucker, a good friend and customer of the Coop who had recently reached out to Brandie and Chris with an offer to help. While they appreciated it, they hadn’t any need for his services. Still, Brian wanted to help somehow, and recently there had been a post on the restaurant’s Facebook page referencing a rather large metal rooster.

Now, Chris and Brandie had been eyeing the bird, but unfortunately couldn’t bring themselves to go and buy it from Tractor Supply. Then they got a call from Brian.

Wanting to help somehow, Brian bought the rooster himself from Tractor Supply, much to the surprise of those at the Coop who had been busy working at the time. They had no idea what was happening until they simply got the call from Brian telling them to make their way out to Tractor Supply and pick up their newly-acquired rooster.

Tucker is just the latest addition to what has become THE place to go in the village of Webster for great fried chicken and ribs (and lots more, like their cornbread, which is my favorite).

Owners Christina Wasson and Brandie Rauber moved to their current location at 159 West Main Street last July after spending six and a half years at a much smaller location on South Avenue. They — and their business — have weathered a lot while building their business, and through it all have become strong supporters of our Webster community.

It’s great to see them getting back some of that love in return.

Stop by BC’s Chicken Coop sometime and say hi to Tucker. Then stop in and get some awesome fried chicken.

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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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Will Ridge Road get a Country Max?

20 Jun

Representatives from Country Max, a Rochester-based garden supply and pet supply store, were on hand at the Webster Planning Board meeting Tuesday night to present their plans to build a store on the southwest corner of Ridge and Hatch roads.

The proposal includes constructing a 26,000-foot building with outdoor nursery, bag yard and parking lot on a 6.72-acre parcel (which is actually comprised of two lots, at 1165 Hatch and 711 Ridge). Two entrances will be included, one off of Ridge and the other off of Hatch.

The plan is already getting a lot of attention. About a dozen town residents attended the meeting to hear the proposal. Several of them were residents of the cul-de-sac on Bishops Lane; the large store will be built pretty much in their back yards.

After an engineer representing Country Max presented the plans, many of those in attendance approached the podium to ask questions and express their concerns. Among them were:

  • noise levels from equipment and trucks
  • buffer space between the houses and the store
  • increase in traffic on Ridge and Hatch roads
  • intrusive lighting
  • maintenance of the buffer zone (which will include a mowed area and retention ponds)
  • possible unsightliness from discarded pallets and heavy equipment behind the store

There was a lot of discussion especially about the amount of buffer space between the Bishops Lane homes and the store, and what Country Max was planning to do to maintain some of the wild area in the buffer zone and conceal the back of the store from the nearby homes.

One woman simply asked “Why?” Why does Country Max need to build a brand new store in Webster less than a mile from Thomas Landscaping, less than three miles from Lowe’s, and when there are already Country Max stores in Fairport and Ontario.

“What’s wrong with some green grass on Ridge Road instead of just commercial here and commercial there?” she asked. “The Town of Webster is becoming the Mall of Webster.”

Another resident added to that thought by wondering why they were constructing a new building rather than moving into the empty Kmart or Grossman’s.

The Country Max representatives did their best to answer the residents’ concerns.

In addition to a 50-foot town-owned strip of green space on the north side of the cul-de-sac, the store will have a 100-foot buffer, they said. The store is only open during the daytime hours (no later than 8 p.m.) and there won’t be any after-hours loading. Lighting will not be intrusive, they assured the residents; even the after-hour security lighting will be pointing down, and the parking lot lighting will be pointing mostly to the north.

As for concealing the store from the residents’ back yards, Country Max is already planning a stand of evergreens along some of the back lot line. Several people asked that those trees be extended along the entire lot line, a proposal which the Planning Board members seemed to think was reasonable.

With regards to traffic, Country Max will be working with both the State of New York (which is responsible for Ridge Road) and the Town of Webster (responsible for Hatch Road). They don’t expect the increase in traffic to be significant enough to warrant a traffic study.

Planning Board Chairman Anthony Casciani even said that during busy hours, the existing traffic light at Hatch Road, and the ability to exit onto Hatch Road would both help.

The representatives also address the “Why?” question.

“We’re actually returning to Webster,” he said.  “We’re happy to be back, part of the Webster community. We’ll try to be as likable as we can, promise not to close other businesses down, (to be a) friendly competitor. It’s a great community to be involved in.”

The planning board meeting marks just the beginning of what will probably be a pretty long process. According to the engineer, if and when Country Max receives approval, construction won’t begin until at least the fall.

The discussion will continue at another public hearing scheduled for Tuesday night Aug. 7, at 7 p.m. at the Town Board Room in the VanIngen Court Building, 1002 Ridge Road (that’s the one in back that used to be the library).

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Update on the bike racks

15 Jun

As promised, I did attend the Webster Village Board meeting last night and said my piece about the need for more bike racks in the village. I am pleased to report that the idea was well received. Actually, it appears that Jake Swingly, Superintendent of Public Works, has already done some legwork on the idea.

In the discussion that followed my presentation, Swingly said that after the idea was first proposed a month or two ago, he had done some investigating to see what kinds of bike racks were available for purchase and what they cost.

What he found out is 1) they cost “a lot to really a lot” and 2) they can be as simple as just a hitching post design to pretty much any shape you might want from an animal to a martini glass.

Swingly also thought that installing bike racks might present a marketing opportunity. He suggested working with the BID to have the village logo or other message laser-cut into them.

There was also discussion about where the racks might be installed — down by Veteran’s Park and in front of Smith Insurance at four corners were mentioned — and how they would have to be removable since winter salt application would destroy them.

Nothing much was decided last night. But I was encouraged that Swingly has already looked into the issue, and that the board members seemed to think it was a good idea. I’m hoping that there’s now some momentum, and perhaps later this summer we village cyclists will have someplace — or several places — to park our bikes when we go into town for a pizza or a pint or a concert.

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Village bicyclists, unite!

14 Jun
bikes

Dunkin’ Donuts on North Ave. could use its own bike rack, evidenced last June when my husband and I went for coffee one Sunday morning.

At a recent gathering of our Barry’s (Pub) Runners club, a running buddy and I were discussing how the Village of Webster could really use some bike racks.

The only one we have in town right now (and you probably don’t even know it’s there) is a small one on Lapham Park at the corner of East Main, outside where Mac 5 Bikes used to be. Not big enough for more than one — maybe two — bikes, and not very convenient.

I’d love to see a bike rack installed at the gazebo park, one outside Barry’s or Smith Insurance across the street, maybe even one in front of Village Hall.

I’m going to propose just that tonight (Thursday) at the Village Board meeting, and I invite any and all other village biking fans to join me in support. The meeting begins at 7 p.m. at the Village Meeting Hall, 29 South Ave. You can enter off of South, or behind the building off of the parking lot.

And yes, I’ll be riding my bike there.

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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 Community Mailbag

12 Jun

wine glassSummer’s beginning to heat up in the village of Webster, marked by the first Wine Walk of the season, this Saturday June 16.

Local merchants participating this time around include Metro Sport Brokers, The Coach Sports Bar, Roc and Soul Fitness, Webster Hots, Sweetwood BBQ, Holistic Health Center, Furnari Jewelry, The Garage Sale Store, MJ Gabel Jewelers, Reggio’s Engraving and Artecho.

Glass pickup will begin at 3:30 p.m. at Kittelberger Florist, 263 North Ave., and ends at 5:30 p.m.. Please make sure to have your ID; each participant must pick up his or her own glass.

Tickets are $15 and can be purchased at the Webster BID website here. Organizers report there might be a glitch on the site indicating that the event is sold out, but that’s not the case. Just keep clicking through, because there are lots of tickets left.

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St. Martin Lutheran Church will host its annual HUGE Garage Sale Thursday through Saturday, June 14 to 16. Hours are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Thursday and Friday, 9 to 2 on Saturday.

St. Martin is located at 813 Bay Road, Webster

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Schichtel-Mark-webCongratulations to Mark Schichtel, the new principal at DeWitt Road Elementary School.

Schichtel is currently DeWitt’s assistant principal, and will officially begin his new position on July 1. He’ll be taking over for Debra Reed, who is retiring at the end of this school year after more than 23 years of outstanding service to WCSD.

Before coming to DeWitt Elementary, Schichtel served as WCSD’s director of science and technology from 2010-2013, was assistant principal at Williamson High School, and taught science in the East Irondequoit School District.

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The NEQ ALS, our local paramedic service, will host its first Food Truck Rodeo and Craft Fair of the season on Thursday June 21 from 5 to 8 p.m. at the Firemen’s Field on Main Street.

There aren’t a whole lot of details yet about what trucks of crafty people will be there, but in the past the trucks have included Netsins Ice Cream, Effortlessly Healthy, Macarollin and Heiztelmans. Some vendors who have shown up before include Young Living, LuLaRoe, Honey and Lace, Pampered Chef, Usborne Books, Tupperware, Perfectly Posh, Tastefully Simple, Lip Sense, XS Energy, and Park Lane Paparazzi.

Proceeds from the event will help the NEQ ALS build a new headquarters building.

Updates can be found on the NEQ ALS Facebook page here.

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Scouts help observe Flag Day

10 Jun

IMG_20180610_140153442

Here’s a quick note about a nice event:

The Webster Fairport Elks Lodge #2396 observed Flag Day on Sunday June 10. They invited area Scouts to help them present the many flags that have been used in our great country.

Pictured are Scouts from Pack 363, Pack 463, Troop 110 and Troop 163, and Timothy Hill, Exalted Ruler of the Webster-Fairport Elks.

Thank you to Troop 110 Assistant Scoutmaster Amy Kniffin for sending this along.

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Community Blood Drive will be back Thursday

6 Jun
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This year’s raffle prize bags fill a table, awaiting donor tickets. 

If you didn’t have a chance to get out this afternoon or evening for the Webster Community Blood Drive, please consider carving out an hour of your day tomorrow to do so.

The drive will return Thursday from noon to 7 p.m. at the Webster Recreation Center, 1350 Chiyoda Drive, and with it the chance to win one of more than 30 raffle prizes.

That’s what Webster does at this one-of-a-kind donation drive. Two dozen Penfield and Webster businesses have donated more than 30 raffle prizes to the cause. (Check my earlier blog for a list of all the prizes.)  Every presenting donor (which means if you show up and sign in) gets 10 raffle tickets to drop in a table filled with raffle prize bags. PLUS everyone gets a Red Cross t-shirt AND a coupon from Bruster’s for a pint of ice cream.

Like, absolutely free.

And of course, there’ll be homemade cookies and juice boxes to reward you after your donation.

Then of course of course, remember that your donation will help save up to three lives.

What’s not to love? Just drop in — there are plenty of walk-in slots available, so you’ll be in and out in about an hour.

The need, by the way, is pretty desperate right now, so please don’t put off your donation until the next drive. (‘Cause there won’t be raffles and free ice cream there, for starters.) I’m signed up for a 4:15 appointment, so maybe I’ll see you there?

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Congratulations to Brandi, the lucky donor who walked away with the drive’s first prize, a gift basket from Schutt’s. 

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