Archive | August, 2018

An update on CrossFit Webster

31 Aug

CFWThe news of the imminent closing of CrossFit Webster (CFW) on Ridge Road took a lot of people very, very hard.

Although many people consider CrossFit a fad — or worse yet, dangerous and unhealthy — I have seen the fitness regimen improve lives, both physically and emotionally.  The friendships that are made while sweating through high-intensity workouts can become as strong as the muscles the workouts are building. More specifically, I have seen CFW help people through some tough personal challenges, and helped others gain incredible self-confidence.

So naturally when people started hearing about how CFW was closing, there was much teeth-gnashing and inaccurate news passing back and forth. I finally got the down-low from current CFA owner Laura Rice who kindly sent me a long email detailing the reasons she and her husband Jeff had to close CFW, AND how it will be reopening in a new space just down the road.

She wrote,

It had been our plan for a long time now to find a new location for CrossFit Webster once our current lease ended. For the last five years, we have been running two gyms (the other being Flower City CrossFit) and have come to realize that trying to keep up with the needs of two businesses and two communities was taking too much of a toll on us. With that in mind, we had agreed to sell CrossFit Webster to two of our trainers who had approached us about it. We were anticipating transferring the gym to them shortly after we moved to a new location.

Around six months ago we found a great new spot for the gym and began the process of getting a new lease created and working on the plan for the transition to the new owners. At the last minute, the deal to sell the gym fell through and we were left with having to make the very difficult decision to close the gym at the end of September.

Almost immediately we were approached by one of our longtime members, Rob Coffey (a CF-L1 certified trainer), who asked us about the space we were looking at. We confirmed that it was still available and told him that if he was interested in starting a gym there, we would happily endorse his efforts and would transfer the CrossFit Webster affiliate name to him.

Last weekend, Rob signed the lease for the new space and will be, as Laura said, “carrying the CrossFit Webster banner forward into its next chapter.” Laura and her husband Jeff will now be able to focus exclusively on their other location, Flower City CrossFit in Winton Place.

Word is, the new CrossFit Webster will be located just west of Lowe’s Theater on Ridge Road.

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Village traffic advisory in effect Friday

30 Aug

first responders 5KVillage of Webster residents are advised that the running of the First Responders 5K on Friday night Aug. 31 beginning at 6:30 p.m., will affect many streets. The race will be run along Sanford street and through several streets east of South Ave., requiring traffic along many of them to be delayed for a short time.

Here are the details, provided by Yellowjacket Racing:

While some streets will be closed during certain timeframes, local residential traffic will be delayed but accommodated. The Webster Police and Fire Departments will be working diligently to assist with traffic.

The following roads will be affected from 6:30-7:30PM:

• Sanford St, South Ave, Fuller Ave, Dunning Ave, Meadow Dr, Southwick Dr, Hawley Dr, Hefner Dr, Judson St, Harmon St, Curtice Park.

• Route 250 between State Road and Main Street will be closed for a short timeframe and then restricted for approximately one hour.

Here’s a look at the race map:

run route

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Schroeder teacher organizing team for Wilmot Warrior Walk

30 Aug

warrior walk

When it comes to fighting cancer, Kelly Cameron is one of those people who not only faces it head-on, but does so with a “bring it on, cancer, ’cause you’re goin’ down” attitude.

Kelly Cameron is an English teacher at Webster Schroeder High School, and I had the pleasure to work with her for many years at Webster Thomas. Kelly’s a recent breast cancer survivor; so recent that she still has one last surgery scheduled for December, which should (hopefully) take care of it for good.

So basically, Kelly Cameron has kicked cancer’s butt, so now she’s leading the way to help others do the same.

Next weekend, on Saturday Sept. 9, the University of Rochester’s Wilmot Cancer Institute will host its sixth annual Wilmot Warrior Walk — a 5K, 10K and one-mile walk — at Highland Park Bowl, to raise money for cancer research. Kelly is putting together a team of Webster CSD faculty, staff and friends to participate in that event.

But she’s doing so with a specific purpose in mind: to honor two colleagues and friends who passed from cancer.

Kelly explained her goal in a district-wide email:

Statistically speaking, every single one of us will be touched by cancer at some point in our lives. Most likely, we will experience it many times even if we aren’t personally diagnosed as well. Many in my life have fought cancer, myself included. Some have concluded that fight. With the blessings of their families, I created a team for the Wilmot Warrior Walk to honor two of our own teachers: Christine Bohannon and Chris Barnes. We lost Christine in June of 2017 and then Chris almost three weeks ago. The team and its total earnings for Wilmot are done in their honor. Your individual walk or donation can honor anyone.

Christine Bohannon was a teacher at Webster Thomas High School and passed away from B-cell Lymphoma. Chris Barnes taught at Willink Middle School and coached the Webster Thomas High School varsity girls lacrosse team. He passed away on Aug. 8 from colorectal cancer.

Kelly continued with a list of some very good reasons everyone should consider joining the team:

  • You want to honor Christine and/or Chris.
  • You want to honor a loved one who is fighting cancer.
  • You want to honor a loved one who is no longer here to continue his/her battle with cancer.
  • You are living with cancer or are a cancer survivor.
  • You are just an awesome human being who wants to support a great cause!

And she added, “if you’re unable to walk, all of the above reasons are why you should donate :)”

The one-mile walk is at Highland Park Bowl starting on Robinson Drive.  The walk is followed by finisher’s medals, an awards ceremony, and a celebration.  There will be food trucks, activities for the kids, and survivorship/wellness tent activities.  Registration is $35 per person. Participants can register online through Friday, Sept. 8 or the day of the event. To register, click here. You can also read more about the event here.

Kelly added that if you’d like to walk in support of a particular person in your life, you can wear a shirt or ribbon indicating the type of cancer that individual fought or is fighting. A list of those colors, and information about how you can help can be found here at the Bohannon/Barnes Legacy Team Link .

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Village gets charged up

29 Aug

charge 1

The Village of Webster has just taken a very big eco-friendly step.

Just this week, the village installed a new EV charging station for electric cars, located in the village parking lot behind Village Hall and the fire station. It will fully charge a car in about six hours (faster than home charging) and it has two ports, so that two cars can use it at the same time. It works with an app called EVConnect, which drivers download on their phones.

Village Mayor Darrell Byerts said that installation of the charging station is part of a charge 2broader plan to make the village a “greener” community, and perhaps nab a New York State grant.

“This brings the Village a step closer to being a Clean Energy Community and eligible for a $5000 grant,” Byerts wrote in an email.

“I have been in favor and an advocate of a charging station in the Village since seeing one at the Port of Rochester and a public parking lot in Venice, Florida,” Byerts added. “We join a growing number of local communities that are providing service for the new electric vehicles.  In fact, we are investigating and considering the future purchase of electric vehicles for Village use.”

“It is exciting to be able to now service vehicles in the heart of the downtown business area.”

Final details are still being worked out, including hours of operation, how long cars can stay connected, and whether there’s a charge to use it (no pun intended). These details will be discussed at the upcoming Village Board workshop on Tuesday Sept. 4 and regular Village Board meeting on Thursday Sept. 13. So if you’d like to weigh in on any of those topics, you should try to attend one of those meetings.

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More Webster business news

28 Aug

pickled

I had an opportunity to sit down recently with Marissa Birke, owner of the new Pickled Paintbrush studio which will be opening in September at 36 East Main Street.

The Pickled Paintbrush will be kind of a do-it-yourself art studio designed mostly for children. Classes will focus on “process artwork,” Marissa said, allowing children to explore unconventional materials, get messy, and have a lot of fun.

The studio is still in the middle of renovations, but when Marissa finally gets it up and running, it’s going to be a tremendous addition to East Main Street.

More to come on The Pickled Paintbrush soon.

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And there’s good news from CrossFit Webster!

I haven’t gotten official word from the owners yet but it looks like CFW is not on its last legs yet. While its current location will be closing, it will be reopening in a new location on Empire Blvd. near Loew’s theater and the bowling alley.

At least that’s what I’ve heard so far, but I hope to get confirmation soon.

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Webster community mailbag

27 Aug

nick KIt has come to my attention in the last few days that in my blogs about all the 5Ks coming to our little town of Webster, I have neglected to mention one.

It’s the Nick K 5K, which is celebrating its fifth anniversary this year.  It takes place on Saturday September 1 beginning at 8 a.m. at Webster Parks and Recreation, 1350 Chiyoda Drive.

Nicholas Kapusniak was killed on March 1, 2014 when a drive-by shooter fired into a group of college students in St. Louis, Missouri. Nick is a former resident of Webster and was attending school at the St. Louis College of Pharmacy.

The Nick K 5K hopes to draw attention to the violence that is becoming commonplace in our schools and cities. Part of the proceeds will go to local Crime Stoppers in Rochester and St. Louis, with the rest being put towards scholarships in his name at his high school in Waukesha, Wisconsin and the St. Louis College of Pharmacy.

Runners and walkers can register by clicking here. Cost is $25, and includes a t-shirt and other giveaways. Walk-up registrations will be accepted the morning of the race beginning at 7:15AM.

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Put this one on your calendar now so you can get there before they sell out:

The Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd, 1130 Webster Road (at the corner of State Road) is holding a drive-thru takeout chicken dinner sale on Thursday September 6 from 4 to 7 p.m. It’s a fund-raiser for its Outreach Committee, which supports local charities in the greater Rochester areas. Each meal (from Heintzelman’s BBQ Pit of Ontario) is $12, includes a half-side of chicken, salt potatoes, cole slaw and cornbread.

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When I was out and about today, I decided to drive by a few of our elementary schools to check out the new playgrounds. They’re all finished, just in time for the start of school, and are already being used.

I got photos of the new equipment at Plank North and South, Klem North and South, and Schlegel Road. Check them out below.

Klem North

Klem North

Klen south

Klem South

plank north

Plank North

plank south

Plank South

schlegel

Schlegel Road

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History comes alive with cemetery tour

25 Aug

museum tour

Here’s a heads-up about a very interesting and educational event being held by the Webster Museum in a few weeks.

It’s a living history tour at Webster Union Cemetery (Rt. 250 at Woodhull Rd.) on Saturday September 22. From 1 to 4 p.m., you can tour the cemetery and get a chance to meet with many of Webster’s citizens from the past, played by museum volunteers.

The above photo is one example of the fascinating costumed interpreters you will meet. Minerva Strowger, granddaughter of Abram Foster, was one of Webster’s earliest settlers. Minerva (AKA Gwen Hoffman, Webster Museum volunteer) lived in Webster from 1830-1904. She was married to Charles Strowger and had two children, Johnny who died at age 14 and May. Minerva and her daughter May ran a boarding house on Lake Road, but May was most notable for establishing the hotel and restaurant that would become Hedges Nine Mile Point on the land she inherited from her mother.

Other personalities you can chat with include John Fielding Whiting, Charles and Sabrina Wright, Helen Tompkins, Mark Curtice, Mae Strowger Wright, Jennie Strowger Woodhull, and Abram and Patience Woodhull Foster.

What a neat way to learn about Webster’s history — I’m thinking the kids would even get something out of this presentation.

The tour, once again, will take place Saturday September 22, from 1 to 4 p.m. at Webster Union Cemetery, 345 Webster Road (Rt. 250 at Woodhull). A $5 donation would be appreciated.

And remember that history is front and center all the time at the Webster Museum, 18 Lapham Park in the village. The Museum is open on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays from 2 to 4:30 p.m.

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Time to get your PTSA on

24 Aug

front-and-back-of-card

I get emails from our schools’ PTSAs pretty much all summer. But this time of year, in the short weeks before the school year starts, they start coming in fast and furious.

And with good reason. School PTSAs could really use the support of every single family, but typically fall short of getting that.

Long gone are the days when I was a child, when the only things parents (mostly stay-at-home moms) were asked to do was bring in cupcakes for parties and cut out stars for bulletin boards. As classroom needs and teacher responsibilities have expanded, so has the need for an active and engaged parent/teacher organization.

Present-day PTSAs try to support classroom teachers and administrators in their jobs as much as possible, while also providing enrichment opportunities for students and their families. They’ll run after-school clubs and school-wide activities like festivals and dances; they help within-school events, help coordinate class pictures, create the school yearbook and purchase school supplies, and a hundred other support activities.

This all takes people and money. Most PTSAs rely on a core group of parents who do the bulk of the work. They’d love to have more join the effort, even giving an hour or two (or even a half hour) every once in a while for a special event.

But as a PTSA member, you don’t even have to commit ANY time if you don’t want to. Simply showing your support by purchasing a PTSA membership is plenty helpful.  You can even sign up online. And in addition to helping your school, you’ll get a membership card with discounts printed on the back (like 10% off at local businesses, a free Blizzard at DQ, 50% off at Color Me Mine), and will be entered into three prize drawings:

  • Oct. 1 – Four tickets to Webster Theatre Guild’s October production of South Pacific and a $200 gift card to Hedges
  • Nov. 1 – A one-year family membership to the Webster Aquatic Center
  • Dec. 1 – A one-year family membership to the Bay View Family YMCA (includes access to area YMCA facilities!)

So next time you get one of those emails, don’t trash it. Consider joining your school’s PTSA. You’ll be doing a lot to support your kids, their teachers and administrators this school year.

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Hazardous waste collection scheduled

22 Aug

Here’s a quick note from the Town of Webster, just in time for that end-of-summer garage clean-out project:

The 2018 Household Hazardous Waste Collection has been scheduled for Saturday September 15. This event is held in partnership with the Penfield Department of Public Works and will be held at their facility, 1607 Jackson Road.

Most household hazardous wastes like paint, flammables and other chemicals, are safe when used and stored properly, but should also be disposed of properly when they’re no longer needed.

The collection will take place from 7:45 a.m. to 1 p.m. To make sure no one has to wait in line too long, appointments are required for this event, and will be accepted through September 14. Webster residents should call 585-872-1443 (Monday through Thursday 7 am. to 3 p.m.) and Penfield residents call 585-340-8710. You can also go online here to schedule your appointment.

Waste collection is open to all Monroe County residents, but waste from businesses will not be accepted.

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Three local businesses closing

21 Aug

sweet wood

In all the excitement about the Village Bakery opening recently, it was easy to miss the sad news about a few other Webster businesses who are closing (or have closed) their doors.

I found out through an article in the D&C that — after two years in business — Sweet Wood Barbecue on Main Street in the Village of Webster would be closing.  Its last day was Saturday.

You can click on the article above to read a little more about owner Eugene Giordano and his feelings about having to close his business. But what that article doesn’t really address in what a loss this is for the village.

The Village of Webster has several eating establishments, but in my opinion there aren’t a whole lot of low-cost, kid-friendly alternatives for families (aside from fast food). Sweet Wood was one of them. Great food, comfortable surroundings, reasonable price.

On top of that, the village is losing a staunch supporter. An active member of the village’s Business Improvement District, you could count on Giordano and Sweet Wood to play a part in pretty much every village event, like the Jazz Fest, Wine Walks, and the Trick or Treat Trail.

Losing Sweet Wood is a loss for just West Main Street, but the whole village itself.

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Did you hear that Rite Aid on Ridge Road is closing?

Ever since Walgreen’s purchased the store, it was probably just a matter of time. It was unlikely Walgreen’s would keep two stores open within a mile of each other. But I was frankly surprised about how long it took to lower the hammer.

I first heard the news from my daughter, who works there as a shift supervisor. (You’ll know her as the one with the funky hair, permanent smile, bouncy personality and mile-a-minute chatter.)  To their credit, Walgreen’s management appears to be trying to find new positions for as many of the displaced employees as possible. My daughter, for example, will be working at a Walgreen’s in Fairport.

The official closing date is still several weeks away (the pharmacy will be closing before the rest of the store). In the meantime, stop in regularly, because already lots of things are clearance priced, and those discounts will become greater as the date nears.

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CFWFinally, I just learned today that CrossFit Webster (CFW), on near Bay and Empire, is also closing.

If you’re not into CrossFit, you probably don’t care about this news. But it affects a lot of people close to me, and many others for whom CFW has become what my friend Peter called “a place that has been a bedrock of support, refuge, and solace for many.”

I was even a member for a while. I was there when they opened in 2013 to try out their free welcome-to-CrossFit bootcamp class, and I briefly fell in love with the regimen’s focus on short, intense workouts.

I didn’t stick with it for long, but I know others who did, and CFW has changed their bodies — and their lives — for the better. It has built much more than strong muscle; the “box” (as these gyms are affectionately) has also built friendships and self-confidence.

I don’t know the story behind CFW’s closing. But I hope that for the benefit of all those who have become CFW family, the box will soon find a new home, and in the meantime, everyone can find another CrossFit box where they can continue their workouts and their friendships.

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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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