Archive | October, 2018

Bygone Blog — A silly song for autumn

30 Oct

11122011 leavesThis is the seventh in my series of Bygone Blogs, in which I am re-posting some of my favorite blogs from the last eight years. This one was originally published on November 2, 2011.

Carol of the Leaves

(sung to the tune of “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year.”)
(Really. It’s much more fun if you sing along with it.)

It’s the most back-breaking time of the year,
When winter is calling,
the leaves are a’falling
And bagging-the-leaves time is here,
11122011leafIt’s the most back-breaking time of the year.

Yes, the most colorful season is here.
From the leaves on the trees
To the frustrated screams
That fall on your ears,
Yes, the most colorful season is here.

I think shoveling is better
Though snow’s cold and wetter,
I just push it and that’s not so bad.
Then the plows come on by
And they sweep it aside.
And I don’t have to stuff it in bags.

It’s the most back-breaking time of the year.
Some day thanks to our pleas,
Penfield WILL pick up leaves.
They’ll finally get it in gear.
It’s the most back-breaking time,
Yes, the most back-breaking time,
It’s the most back-breaking time of the year.

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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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Great indoor fun at the library

30 Oct

November is going to be a great month to visit the Webster Public Library.

For starters, the Webster Art Club’s Fall Show is set up all month (Nov. 3-30), so you can stop in anytime during the library’s open hours to see some gorgeous fine art. Things will be set up by Saturday afternoon November 3 at 2:30 p.m.

Wegmans will be on hand next Tuesday November 6 from 3 to 7 p.m. for a flu shot clinic. All right — this is not necessarily fun, but it’s really important to get a shot every year to protect you from — or lessen the severity of — the many strains of the flu that are bopping around this winter. No registration is needed, but remember to bring your insurance card.

And check out these delicious programs the library is cooking up for later in November:

unnamedSushi 101: An instructional program on how to make this tasty Japanese treat. All of the materials will be provided to make a vegetarian California roll, plus a set of wooden chopsticks and a bamboo rolling mat to take home.

Friday, November 23, 2 to 4 p.m., for adults and teens grades 6 and up. Registration is required. Cost is $2 per person, and please bring cash the day of the program.

Holiday Cookie Decorating Class: Students will learn a variety of cookie decorating techniques and use a variety of holiday designs and colors. Friday November 23, 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., for all ages. (children under the age of 12 must be accompanied by an adult.) Registration is required, and please also check out the class supply list.

Gingerbread Cookie Decorating: Teens and tweens are invited to the Teen Lounge after school on Tuesday November 27 from 3:30 to 5 p.m. for videos, board games, craft supplies, activities, homework help and snacks. Registration is not required.

Build Your Own Gingerbread House –– Bring the whole family to make a gingerbread house together! Supplies will be provided.

Families must register prior to the program in person at the library. Cost is $3 per family. Register one person per family, but bring as many as you want.

Class times are Saturday, November 24, 10:30 a.m. to noon; Monday, November 26, 6:30 to 8 p.m.; or Tuesday, November 25 from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m.

Registration opens Monday, November 5th.

Visit the Webster Public Library website to register for these programs (except for the gingerbread house making; do that in person). If you have any questions about any of these programs, call the library at 585-872-7075.

The library is located at 980 Ridge Road, at the back of the plaza.

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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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Webster community mailbag

29 Oct

So Halloween is not yet in the books, but let’s start looking forward to November and the REAL holiday season.

Let the craft shows begin

The first craft show I’ve heard about this shopping season is schedule for this Saturday November 3 at Schlegel Elementary School, 1548 Schlegel Road, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

This annual event features more than 60 vendors, sweet treats, raffles, concessions and lots more. There is, of course, no admission, and there’s plenty of parking.

Barry’s celebrates another anniversary

It’s a big weekend at Barry’s Old School Irish, as Danny and Jessica celebrate the little Irish pub’s 7th anniversary.

You all know how close to my heart I hold Danny and Jessica Barry and their pub. And clearly they feel the same about the people they have met in Webster. This from the Facebook event notice:

This Pub is special for so many reasons. A dream of ours to open after honeymooning in Ireland, which became a reality at 20 and 24 years old. We’ve brought three crazy kiddos into this world since the year we opened Barry’s- our kids quickly gained MANY aunts and uncles from our pub community. We are so thankful to all those who call Barry’s home and are blessed to have made so many wonderful friends that have become Family to us. We’ve shared a lot of lasting memories together in these 7 years, let’s make a few more on November 3rd during our Anniversary Party!

You can check the Facebook event for details, but briefly, the celebration runs from 7:30 to 11 p.m. this Saturday November 3; Dave North will provide live entertainment; there’s an official whiskey toast, Guinness giveaways, an appearance by Jack the Bagpiper, and more.

Barry’s Old School Irish is located at 2 West Main Street, at the Village of Webster’s four corners.

Hot cocoa is back

Next Saturday, November 10, the Friends of Webster Trails will host their annual Hot Cocoa Hike at Four Mile Creek, rescheduled from a few days ago when it was stinky rainy and cold.

Arrive anytime between 7 and 8 p.m. and hike your way to some free hot chocolate. This popular event is NOT guided, but it is easy to do and fun for all ages. You’ll find your way by following a lighted path, starting at the parking lot. The exact route will be selected that week based on trail conditions and marked that evening for you to follow. It may be up to a mile in length (one way).

The hot chocolate will be free, hopefully the moon will be out, and there will be a lot of new friends to meet.

Pre-registration is requested. For more information and to sign up, click here. You can also find information under the events section of the Friends of Webster Trails website.

Four Mile Creek is located at the corner of Phillips and Lake roads, and there’s plenty of parking.

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Also on November 10, the Village of Webster’s second annual Bourbon Bash returns to the Harmony House from 6 to 9 p.m.

Bourbon fans can sample several craft and commercially-produced bourbons, plus fine foods from local restaurants. Participants can also enter a raffle for $15 to win a bottle of Pappy Van Winkle!

Tickets are $25 and can be purchased here. Proceeds will benefit Webster Local Charities. (Remember to bring your ID.)

The Harmony House is located at 58 East Main Street in Webster.

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Does your organization have any special holiday events coming up? Make sure to tell me about them so I can publicize them in my blog. Email me at missyblog@gmail.com.

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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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Photos from a cold, wet Trick or Treat Trail

27 Oct

 

tot trail 2

So the weather turned out to be exactly as awful as was forecast during Webster’s annual Halloween in the Village celebration on Saturday. It was cold. It was windy. It was raining pretty much the entire time, sometimes pretty hard.

So turnout for the Trick or Treat Trail wasn’t anywhere near what it was last year when we enjoyed 60-plus degree temperatures. But hundreds did brave the elements, popping in and out of about 50 village businesses for treats, and visiting the fire house and Webster Museum for special events. And kudos for all those business owners who also braved the rain and cold, setting up tents, or just sitting in the vestibules outside their shops.

tot trail 1Of course I took lots of photos. Since turnout was a little lower, chances are goo I got one of you and your family. Click here to see the entire gallery.

And thank you Webster BID, for another great event. Next year, let’s hope for snow. It might actually be less miserable.

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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.

Updates on Trick or Treat Trail, Hot Cocoa Hike

26 Oct

blue-hot-chocolate-cup-mdSo it looks like Mother Nature is brewing up some wet weather for Saturday. Hopefully it will hold off enough so that families can enjoy the Village of Webster’s Trick or Treat Trail.

The forecast has, however, caused the Friends of Webster Trails to reschedule the Hot Cocoa Hike, originally planned for Saturday night.

FWT President Shari Gnolek explained in the email I got this morning:

The weather forecast showed up to 3/4 of an inch of rain, 15 – 20mph winds, and a high of 42 degrees. Even if you were somehow excited about hiking in those conditions, the mud created by all of the hikers would generate a lot of damage to the trails after an already rainy fall season.

  • If you ARE signed up and CAN make it on November 10th – There is NOTHING you need to do.
  • If you ARE signed up and CAN’T make this new date – Please follow the link and CHANGE your RSVP to ‘No’.
  • If you AREN’T signed up, but you want to come on the new date – Please use the link to RSVP.

Click here to sign up.

It’s the first time in eight years that the Friends have had to reschedule the hike.

pumpkin border

The Trick or Treat Trail, on the other hand, is still happening!  And I have some more details about that.

Since I first blogged about this year’s event, I’ve found out there’s going to be a pet parade and costume contest in addition to the kids’ costume contest. You can click on the poster below to see the details, but here they are anyway:

2018_Special_Flier

The kids’ costume contest begins at 11 a.m. at the Community Meeting Room, 29 South Ave. To participate, remember to arrive between 11 and 11:30. Prizes will be awarded at 11:30.

The Trick-or-Treat Trail runs from noon to 3 p.m. Look for the pumpkins in the windows of the participating businesses.

The Howl-o-ween Pet Costume Contest and Parade is at 12:30 p.m. Participants should gather near Village Hall on West Main, and everyone will parade to the gazebo at Veterans Memorial Park for judging.

And this news also recently in: My daughter Erin — who writes the bi-weekly Village Beat column for the Webster Herald — and I will be among the judges this year for the pet costume contest! So come on out and meet us!

The BID Festival Wagon will be giving free wagon rides through the village, and make sure to stop by the fire department (on South Ave.) and the museum (on Lapham Park) for their open house activities.

The latest weather report doesn’t look promising — so bring an umbrella and let’s have some fun anyway!

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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.

The Garlic Festival is coming back!

24 Oct

garlic

I am excited to share some very happy news with you today: The very popular Webster Garlic Festival will be returning in 2019.

Just three years old when the Garlic Fest took a hiatus in 2018, the young festival had quickly become a draw for anyone who loved all things garlic. The event featured garlic vendors and cooking demonstrations, and lots of other community agencies and general vendors selling everything from cheese, honey and jams to hand-made jewelry and greeting cards. Plus, there was live entertainment and food trucks.

In its three years, the event raised $43,500, and a good chunk of those proceeds benefited Challenger Miracle Field.

It was a very big event, which naturally takes a lot of people to pull together. A small but very dedicated core group of volunteers was able to pull it off for the first three years, but decided to take a break for 2018.

Next year, though, the festival will return, and the folks at Miracle Field themselves will be leading the way. The dates are set — September 14 and 15, 2019 — at the Webster Recreation Center.

So mark your calendars now, the the Webster Garlic Festival is BACK!

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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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Two things to do with the family this Saturday

23 Oct

Two fun events happening this Saturday October 27. You already know about the Trick-or-Treat Trail in the Village, of Webster. Let’s hope for reasonable weather for this amazing family-friendly event.

You can read details about that event in  my previous blog here.

That evening, help the kids walk off some of those extra calories at the annual Friends of Webster Trails Hot Cocoa Hike at Four Mile Creek Preserve, at the corner of Phillips and Lake roads.

blue-hot-chocolate-cup-mdArrive anytime between 7 and 8 p.m. and hike your way to some free hot chocolate. This popular event is NOT guided, but it is easy to do and fun for all ages. You’ll find your way by following a lighted path, starting at the parking lot. The exact route will be selected that week based on trail conditions and marked that evening for you to follow. It may be up to a mile in length (one way).

The hot chocolate will be free, hopefully the moon will be out, and there will be a lot of new friends to meet.

friends

Pre-registration is requested. For more information and to sign up, click here. You can also find information under the events section of the Friends of Webster Trails website.

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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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WVFD hosts blood drive

22 Oct

WVFD blood driveCouldn’t make it to the big Webster Community Blood Drive a few weeks ago? No worries. Your next local opportunity to donate — and save lives — is later this week.

Our very own Webster Volunteer Fire Department will host a donation drive this coming Thursday October 25 from 1 to 7 p.m. at the Community Meeting Room, 35 South Avenue.

The drive is being co-hosted by the North East Joint Fire District and is coordinated by Webster volunteer firefighter Jacky Ingrassio. She’s encouraging a friendly competition between Webster Fire Department and West Webster Fire Department to see which can donate the most units.

But of course they’re also hoping that all eligible donors in our community will come out and “answer the call,” and give blood in honor of our everyday heroes.

This drive is especially important as the Red Cross is experiencing an urgent need for blood. To schedule an appointment, call 1-800-RED-CROSS, or log onto www.redcrossblood.org and search for the drive by using the sponsor keyword WebsterFireDepartment.

Walk-ins are also welcome.

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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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Senior runner tells his inspiring story

20 Oct

Here’s a nice story from a meeting of Mended Hearts of Greater Rochester held recently at the Knights of Columbus in Webster.

Gates heart patient and senior runner Bruce Rychwalski, 69, was guest speaker at the meeting last Monday night.

Rychwalski is a fitness advocate and member of the Greater Rochester Track Club who has participated in more than 300 5K races since 2011, when he experienced a life-threatening Ventricular Tachycardia. At that time he was also diagnosed with Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Cardiomyopathy, a genetic, heritable, progressive heart condition in which the muscle of the right ventricle is replaced by fat and fibrosis, which causes abnormal heart rhythms.

After telling his story, Rychwalski impressed upon members of his audience the importance of keeping active and continuing to exercise after a medical diagnosis or procedure. His motto, he said, is “If you rest, you rust.”

Mended Hearts is a national and community-based non-profit organization that offers the gift of hope to heart disease patients, their families and caregivers through a variety of programs. Their mission is dedicated to “Inspiring hope and improving the quality of life for heart patients and their families through ongoing peer-to-peer support.” The local community chapters help people understand that there can be a rich, rewarding life after heart disease diagnosis. Members listen, share their experiences and volunteer to talk to other heart patients about what they may face including lifestyle changes, depression, recovery, and treatment.

For more information about Mended Hearts go to www.mendedhearts.org.

Mended Hearts Photo #1

Bruce Rychwalski with Mended Hearts president Bernard Quinlan, VP Eugene Binder and program chair Marlene Adams

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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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Instilling a life-long love of sports

19 Oct

WBA

I love this photo. So many smiling — and silly — faces. They’re just a few of the kids who participate in the Webster Basketball Association (WBA) an instructional house league for boys and girls from first through ninth grades.

The folks who run the WBA have asked me to highlight the organization because time is running out to get your kids registered in this awesome program.

It begins on the morning of Sunday November 4 with an evaluation day to gauge skill levels. Kids will then be placed on a team and will work on drills for the first couple weeks. Game play will start in December and players will practice 30 minutes and play a game for 30 minutes. Players in first and second grades will be using lower rims.

Here’s more detail about the times and cost:

  • Sundays, November 4 – February 24 (no program on 11/25, 12/23, 12/30, 1/20 & 1/27)
  • 1st-2nd grade boys 1:30-2:30 p.m.
    1st-2nd grade girls 2:45-3:45 p.m.
    3rd-4th grade girls 2:45-3:45 p.m.
    3rd-4th grade boys 4-5 p.m.
    5th-8th grade girls 5-6 p.m.
    5th-6th grade boys 5-6 p.m.
    7th-9th grade boys 4-5 p.m.
  • Times are subject to change depending on how many children sign up for each age group and gym space availability. Exact times may not be determined until early November
  • Games and practices are held at the Field House at Webster Thomas High School, 800 Publishers Parkway
  • Fees:  1st through 4th grades: $90 for Webster $95 for non-residents; 5th through 9th grades: $105 for residents, $110 for non-residents.

For more information, email Julie Schillaci at jschillaci@ci.webster.ny.us. Then get your kids out on that court, where they can learn the sport of basketball and enjoy it for years to come.

WBA2

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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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