Archive | October, 2019

Webster community mailbag

8 Oct

This is a busy week coming up in Webster.

klem northFor starters, I just got a notice this morning from the folks over at Klem North Elementary, asking me to post this notice about an upcoming PTSA meeting.

As you can see, the meeting is scheduled for this Thursday at 6:30 in the library.

Please consider getting involved in your school’s PTSA if you aren’t already. They do so much to support our students and staff members — and as I one of those teachers, I speak from experience. Even if you can give an hour occasionally for a special event, that would be great.

I’m always happy to publicize community events like this, so please remember me when you need help getting the word out. Email your notices to missyblog@gmail.com.

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This Thursday through Saturday (Oct. 10-12), the Friends of the Webster Library will host their fall used book sale at the library, 980 Ridge Rd., off Van Ingen Drive at the back of the plaza.

On Thursday from 10 a.m. to 8:30 p.m., all hardcover books are $1 and paperbacks are 50 cents. Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. AND Saturday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. are Bag Days; $4 fills an entire bag with books.

And get this! You can even use your credit card. So make your way to the sale and stock up on books for the long winter ahead.

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St. Rita School’s 35th annual Craft Sale returns this Saturday Oct. 12 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. It’s time to start thinking about Christmas shopping, and with 100 vendors signed up this year, it’s a perfect opportunity.

There’s plenty of free parking, and there’s no admission. St. Rita School is located at 1008 Maple Drive in W. Webster.

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October is domestic violence awareness month, so proceeds from this month’s Saturday Flapjack Community Breakfast at the First Baptist Church of Penfield will be donated to Resolve, an organization dedicated to intervening and preventing domestic and sexual violence against women.

The breakfast is scheduled for Saturday Oct. 19 from 8 to 10 a.m. at the church, at Penfield’s four corners. For $6 per person, enjoy pancakes, pure maple syrup, scrambled eggs, sausage, and beverages. The church is handicap accessible.

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nick KThe Nick K 5K will be running its 6th annual event this Saturday Oct. 12 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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email me  at missyblog@gmail.com. “Like” this blog on Facebook and follow me on Twitter and Instagram

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Almost 30 raffle prizes up for grabs at this week’s community blood drive

7 Oct
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Just a sampling of the prizes that await donors at this week’s Webster Community Blood Drive.

How badly do our Webster business owners want you to donate blood at this week’s Community Blood Drive? So much that they’ll give you PRIZES just for showing up.

Ok, you might consider that bribery, but they’re willing to help do what they can to encourage community members to attend this week’s two-day community blood drive on October 9 and 10, because the need is critical. Right now the Red Cross is operating on less than a 5-day supply of blood, which is kind of scary.

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One lucky donor will win these adjustable, swiveling bar stools from the Garage Sale Store, still in the box.

That’s why my spare bedroom is piled high right now with raffle prizes. You’ll see some of them in the photo above, including a very nice gift basket from The Best You Spa, which includes a bottle of wine and $40 gift certificate.

Every donor who walks through the door will be handed ten raffle tickets, which can be used to take chances on almost 30 raffle items donated by some very generous local businesses.  In addition to the Best You Spa basket, donors can also try their luck on these prizes:

Gift certificates from:

  • Barry’s Old School Irish
  • Ploty’s Hometown Tavern
  • Webster Hots
  • The Filling Station
  • ROC & Soul Fitness
  • The Chicken Coop
  • Eastway Liquor
  • Lala of Webster (and lots of tea-related gifts!)
  • Rubino’s
  • Natural Alternatives
  • The Goodie Shoppe
  • Carl’s Pizza
  • The Pickled Paintbrush (PLUS a cool kids’ craft)
  • The North Bee (PLUS gift bags)
  • Kittleberger Florist
  • Strike Back Martial Arts
  • The Village Quilt Shoppe

Plus, these prizes:

  • Two adjustable bar stools from The Garage Sale Store
  • Gift basket and gift certificate from The Best You Spa
  • Gift basket from Schutt’s
  • Beauty products from Beyond Cuts Salon
  • Growler gift pack from Knuckleheads
  • Gift basket from Hegedorn’s

And there’s more! Each donor will receive a free pint of ice cream from Bruster’s, a chance for a cool $100 from Gerard P. Smith Insurance, a $5 coupon from Superior Solutions … and there might be a few other things I’m forgetting.

Basically, you do NOT want to miss this blood drive. Here are the details:

The drive will be held on Wednesday October 9 at St. Paul’s Church on Hard Road, noon to 7 p.m. and Thursday October 10 at the Webster Recreation Center, 1350 Chiyoda Drive, from noon to 7 p.m. You can make an appointment by calling 1-800-REDCROSS (1-800-733-2767) or by logging onto http://www.redcrossblood.org. Walk-ins are also welcome.

A SPECIAL THANK YOU to our newest business sponsor this year, The Village Quilt Shoppe. Thank you SO MUCH for your generosity. 

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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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Webster Fall Fest a success

6 Oct

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The Town of Webster could not have asked for a more spectacular autumn day yesterday on which to celebrate the annual Fall Festival.

Bright blue, cloudless skies and seasonably cool temperatures encouraged hundreds of people of all ages to head out to Gosnell Big Woods to enjoy the festivities. It was the biggest crowd I’ve seen in the three year’s I’ve attended the event. There was a line at pretty much every activity, including pony rides, wagon rides, even the kids’ games. Everywhere you looked, kids were climbing hay bales, doing crafts, trying their hand at all sorts of games, or visiting with the West Webster firefighters.

If you didn’t have a chance to go, here’s a gallery of photos to give you a feel for the fun.

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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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Go on The Journey with the Webster Marching Band this Saturday

2 Oct

 

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Your Webster Marching Band will be taking everyone on a spectacular “Journey” this weekend when these amazing musicians and dancers present their annual Autumn Fanfare field show and competition on Saturday Oct. 5.

band 2Seven bands from around the Rochester area will compete, including our very own Pride of Webster. Each school prepares a different, elaborate show, complete with huge set pieces. Sometimes band members will even act out part of the story being told. Webster calls their show this year “The Journey.”

The Pride of Webster Marching Band has been hosting this show for 34 years. Last year was was the first time I ‘d actually attended. I was blown away. Allow me to quote some of my thoughts from that evening:

It is an impressive sight. Almost 70 smartly-dressed kids moving in sync like a well-drilled Army unit, at the same time PLAYING AN INSTRUMENT. People who pride themselves on being able to walk and chew gum at the same time have got nothing on these kids.

And at Saturday night’s event, we got to enjoy the artistry of six other marching bands as well, from Leroy, Hilton, Orchard Park, Medina, East Irondequoit and Victor,  who together provided 90 minutes of music, pageantry and spectacle.

As I watched and snapped about a thousand photos, these are some of the thoughts I came away with:

* These bands don’t just get out there, walk around and play music. The shows are full musical productions, complete with elaborate set pieces (check out Stonehenge in one of my photos) and detailed story lines (one school even had several performers act out part of the story). The music is rich, and usually presented in a series of movements, guiding spectators through the story’s intricacies.

* Every performance by every school is completely different. One school hid behind their set pieces at the beginning of the show, so it looked like no one was on the field. Another put down their instruments a few times for some coordinated dance moves. There was a huge moon, geometric shapes, and yes, even Stonehenge.

* The shows are changed every year, which means a new story, new music, new set pieces, new choreography, and often new costumes and flags for the color guard.

* Think marching bands are all trumpets and drums? Webster’s 2018 production, “Heart Strings: Tugged and Torn” features violins, a stand-up electric bass and two flute soloists.

* Band parents are as invested in these competitions as much as — or even more than — any sports parent. They are cheerleaders, critics, coaches, and analysts. They are the roadies, helping set up the complicated sets and running out on the field after the final note to break everything down and move it out as quickly as possible. And if you’re school is hosting an event like this, if you’re not a roadie you’re still working hard selling tickets, running the raffle, manning food booths, or selling merchandise.

* And oh, by the way, while you’re competing, not only do you have to remember all your music, where to walk without running into anyone, and how to toss that heavy flag without dropping it, you have to do all of that while a judge is walking through the ranks, sometimes just feet away from you, watching you, JUDGING you, and communicating his observations with the head judge at the sideline. Talk about pressure.

I’m looking forward to going on The Journey again this year with our marching band, and I encourage everyone else to do so as well.

The show begins at 5:30 p.m. Saturday night Oct. 5 at Webster Schroeder High School, 875 Ridge Rd. (Gates open at 4:30 p.m.) Tickets are $7 in advance at Hegedorn’s, $9 at the gate. For more information, visit www.webstermarchingband.org.

Click here to see a gallery of photos from last year’s show.

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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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