Archive | November, 2021

A photographic tour through Barry’s Old School Irish history

5 Nov

Barry’s Old School Irish is celebrating its 10th anniversary Saturday night.

There’s not much more I can say about this little Irish pub which I have not said before. How Barry’s has changed the face of Webster. How Barry’s has positively affected so many lives. How Danny and Jessica have become like family.

Several weeks ago I took my most recent stab at putting my feelings into words when I posted this preview of Saturday’s festivities. I have struggled since to come up a different way to note this remarkable occasion.

What I came up with is this photo retrospective from the last ten years. They begin with a shot of the unsightly bulding before Danny and Jessica purchased it, when the plumbing shop was still in business. There are photos from every anniversary (except #9, which didn’t really happen during the pandemic) and several special events, and concludes with the beautiful pub we have come to know and love.

  • Remember the old plumbing shop?
  • This was after the plumbing shop owner died and it was being prepared for a new owner,
  • The day before Barry’s officially opened. Look at the blank walls.
  • Look how young these kids were
  • Grand opening ribbon cutting
  • Grand opening
  • Maley’s surprise baby shower
  • Pre-Maley
  • Great Guinness Toast 2012
  • Great Guinness Toast 2012
  • An early traditional session, featuring local Irish music royalty Marty O’Keefe and Ted McGraw
  • First anniversary
  • First anniversary
  • Candlelight vigil for West Webster. 12/27/2012
  • 12/27/2012
  • 12/27/2012
  • Oops. This is a duplicate
  • Dan and Jess with Ted McGraw and Marty O’Keefe, 2012
  • Barry’s Crossing playing for the Great Guinness Toast 2012
  • 2nd anniversary
  • 2nd anniversary
  • 2nd anniversary
  • Guinness Toast 2013
  • Guinness Toast 2013
  • 3rd anniversary
  • 3rd anniversary
  • 3rd anniversary
  • New Year’s Eve 2013
  • New Year’s Eve 2013
  • 4th anniversary
  • 4th anniversary
  • 4th anniversary
  • 5th anniversary
  • 5th anniversary
  • 5th anniversary
  • 6th anniversary
  • 6th anniversary
  • 6th anniversary
  • 6th anniversary
  • 7th anniversary
  • 7th anniversary
  • 7th anniversary
  • 8th anniversary
  • New pews!!!
  • Barry’s today.
  • Compared to 2011

Here are some thoughts from Danny and Jess, taken from the Facebook event page.

Jessica and I are excited to celebrate the 10 Year Anniversary of Barry’s Old School Irish with everyone!

This little Irish 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 3 crazy kiddos into this world since the year we opened Barry’s- our kids have quickly gained MANY aunts and uncles from our 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 10 years, now let’s make a few more on November 6th during our Anniversary Party!

Here are some details, but you can find more information on the event page:

• 7 to 10 p.m.: live Irish Music by Sean & Sarah of Barry’s Crossing! They were our first ever musicians to play at the pub, and for a long time were the “house band.” They haven’t played together in a long time, and are reuniting for this performance.
• Irish Whiskey reps. in with samples & give-aways
• Irish Dancers in to perform
• Give-aways from Guinness, Proper 12, Magners, and more
• Bagpiper making an appearance

Barry’s Old School Irish is located at 2 West Main St., in the Village of Webster.

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Do you know anyone in these photos?

4 Nov

* * * UPDATE! The Go Pro owner has been found and plans are in the works to get the camera returned. Stay tuned for an update on how this story unfolded. * * *

I got a very interesting email from a reader a few days ago, someone who clearly knows how much I like a mystery.

The email read,

While walking along the shore at Webster Park early this  morning, I found a nice, little Go Pro camera.

These things ain’t cheap.

It is a model HERO9 Black, with an orange ‘floaty’ case, and some other interesting and unique characteristics. I opened it and found the serial number, then contacted GoPro. So far, no one has contacted GoPro to report this camera missing. They have the s/n on file, and should the owner report it missing, they will contact the finder, and owner and camera will be reunited.

The camera has been in the water for a while, but the manufacturer has a generous replacement policy.  I wonder if a local reader lost this ‘in the drink’ some time ago. Or, perhaps it fell off of their boat or personal water craft during a warm summer’s day.

The kind reader attached these photos from the camera, and said that the last photos were taken July 6, 2021.

Do you recognize anyone? Let’s see if we can find this Go Pro’s home!

  • DCIM\100GOPRO\GOPR0105.JPG
  • DCIM\100GOPRO\GOPR0146.JPG
  • DCIM\100GOPRO\GOPR0103.JPG

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email me  at missyblog@gmail.com. “Like” this blog on Facebook and follow me on Twitter.

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.

Webster community mailbag

3 Nov

I’m going to start today with a few notes from the Webster Recreation Center, which has two fun events coming up this weekend.

The first is Friday Nov. 5, when Webster Parks and Recreation celebrates its 10th anniversary on Chiyoda Drive. The Rec Center officially opened on Oct. 1, 2011 in a newly renovated building which was formerly the Xerox Recreation Center. Its previous home was the much smaller Ridgecrest facility on Ebner Drive.

It was a great move for the Rec Center and for the Town, as the new facility offered a LOT more space indoors and outdoors for programs and community events. In the years since the move, the Town of Webster has taken full advantage of the property, adding an ice rink, the First Responders Playground and great community events like the Mud Run and recent Pumpkins on Parade. And, of course, a huge variety of fitness classes inside the facility.

The entire community is invited to a grand, all-day birthday party on Friday to help celebrate. And I mean ALL DAY, like from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. There are free fitness classes, a dance party, carnival games, a community group fair, bounce house, and much more. Click here to see the whole schedule.

The Webster Recreation Center is located at 1350 Chiyoda Dr., off of Phillips Rd.

It’s not part of the anniversary celebration, but the Rec Center is also hosting a family scavenger hunt on Saturday Nov. 6 at Four Mile Creek Preserve, at the corner of Phillips Rd. and Lake Rd.

Sign in between 10:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m., and then look for clues around the park. Each participant will receive a scavenger hunt answer key, which can be turned in at the end for a fun prize.

Three skills levels will be offered for children ages 2 to 12. Cost is $5 per child; please register ahead of time by clicking here (look for program #301205) and you can pay at the event. All proceeds will benefit the Friends of Webster Trails to support the maintenance and improvement of our awesome Webster trail system.

Get your museum trees soon!

The Webster Museum has started taking reservations from individuals and organizations who want to decorate one of their miniature Christmas trees for this year’s Festival of Trees, and word is the trees are going fast.

If you’re interested in participating, don’t delay in making your reservation. Call Kathy at (585) 313-3709 and leave a message with your name and phone number. Calls will be returned in the order they are received.

Please be prepared to supply the following information when you get a call back:

  • caller’s name, email and phone
  • decorator’s name, email and phone
  • any special requests (like location or lighting)

In the meantime, stop by and see the museum’s new exhibit honoring our veterans, and some of poetry written in war time. The museum is located at 18 Lapham Park in the Village of Webster, and is open from 2 to 4:30 p.m. on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.

Hot Cocoa Hike

The Friends of Webster Trails will host their annual Hot Cocoa Hike this Saturday Nov. 6, beginning at 7 p.m.

This year’s hike will take place at Whiting Rd. Nature Preserve, located on Whiting Rd. north of Shoemaker. Arrive anytime bewteen 7 and 8 p.m. and hike your way to some free hot chocolate. This is not a guided event, but the whole path is lighted and will be easy to follow.

Click here to get more details and to register. There’s no charge but the Friends would like to know how many people to expect.

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And while we’re talking about the Friends, I’d like to extend a personal thank you to those blog readers who recently joined the Friends of Webster Trails as new members. (You know who you are.)

As a frequent trail user myself, I’m a huge fan of what this all-volunteer organization does to maintain and build new trails in Webster. As such, I frequently write about them in my blog.

Apparently, after my most recent Friends of Webster Trails blog, in which I once again encouraged everyone to become members, several of my wonderful readers actually did so. Last week I got an email from Denise Bilsback, the Friends’ membership chair, who told me that they had an uptick of new members in October, and nine of them cited my blog as one of their reasons.

So thank you for helping me know that my blog is making a difference. But even more than that, thank you for supporting the Friends of Webster Trails.

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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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Trick-or-Treat Trail Costume Contest winners announced

2 Nov

Congratulations to the following winners of this year’s Trick-or-Treat Trail Costume Contest!

0 to 5 years old

1st place: “Doctor & Patient” – Benjamin & Groot Bradford


Tied for 2nd: “Bar Maid” (Dixie Doud) and “Construction Worker” (Liam Murphy)
Tied for 3rd: “Elsa” (Sophia White) and “Paw Patrol Marshall” (Austin Hoffman)

6-12 years old

1st place: “Zombie Princess” (Teagan Hoffman)

Tied for 2nd: “Lumberjack/Scarecrow” (Michael Bovenzi) and “Witch” (Malaya Quinn)
Tied for 3rd: “Marie-White Cat” (Molly Koenig) and “Skeleton” (Elliana Palmer)

Families

1st place: “Fruit Salad” (Malarkey Family)

Tied for 2nd: “Nightmare Before Christmas” (Gallagher Family) and “Addams Family” (Spampinato Family)
Tied for 3rd: “Super Heroes” (King Family) and “Thomas the Train, Conductor & Gates” (Cline Family)

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email me  at missyblog@gmail.com. “Like” this blog on Facebook and follow me on Twitter.

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Webster Marching Band is #1 in the state!

2 Nov

This is why they’re called “The Pride of Webster.”

On Saturday, our very own Webster Marching Band blew away the competition at this year’s state championships, held at the Carrier Dome, earning the title of State Champion of the Large School 2 Division. It’s the first time the band has held the title in more than 30 years.

The band competed against eight other schools in their LS2 division, who attended from all over the state. At the end of the day, only 11 points separated the nine schools. But Webster stood alone at the top, with 90.8 points, a full 1.7 points ahead of second-place West Seneca. 

It was a very satisfying end to a VERY long day for the band members and their parent helpers.  

“Championship day is a FULL day,” wrote Band Director Jerbrel Owens. “We start early in the morning with a hearty breakfast and we then take the long drive to Syracuse. We are on a tight schedule so the students need to move quickly, warm-up, and move again until it’s our time to enter the Carrier Dome.” 

Bowens, himself a Webster grad and former Marching Band member, wrote the winning program, called “Unbroken.” 

Writing it was very fun, but most importantly it was written specifically for our students, which makes them successful as well as challenges them a bit. I believe that this is where the success began. We also work closely with a drill writer who wrote the drill just for our students which made it even more successful. We as staff gave them a “vehicle” and the students drove away with it and won!

I am honored to have written this show for them. 

Bowens’ long history with the band made it easier for him to create the perfect program for this year’s musicians and performers.

I marched in this program from 2009 to 2011, and I came back in 2016 to teach the drumline. This year was different. The same kids that were 6th graders when I came back were the student leaders this year, who I believe led their sections to success. All of the students understood the goal, agreed on that goal and achieved that goal.

This is all on the students. When the time starts at each show, it isn’t the staff anymore, it’s all on the kids. They deserve all of the applause for their actions as a TEAM. 

The Webster Marching Band, now in its 36th season, is made up of 66 student musicians and performers drawn from all four Webster secondary schools: Spry Middle School, Willink Middle School, Webster Schroeder High School, and Webster Thomas High School. Each band season begins with extensive training in the spring, followed by the summer parade season, and finally an eight-week competitive season. The band participated in six competitions this year, and not only did the Pride of Webster win every single one of them (also an historical achievement), they improved their score every week. Breaking the 90 barrier was a fitting end to an outstanding season.

After the performance, the band’s seniors and drum major assembled on the field with the other bands to hear the scores and receive their award. They were welcomed home on Halloween evening with a Webster police and fire department escort to celebrate their championship.

Congratulations to the all of the Webster Marching Band musicians and performers. Your hard work payed off big time. You truly do make Webster proud.

For more coverage of this great accomplishment, check out this video from Channel 8 WROC-TV.

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email me  at missyblog@gmail.com. “Like” this blog on Facebook and follow me on Twitter.

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I finally got a village Halloween

1 Nov

My husband and I moved into the village the summer of 2019, so this is our third Halloween here. We were told by our neighbors to expect hundreds of kids, many of them arriving in minivans (imported from other neighborhoods where the trick-or-treating is not as plentiful, I suspect). And, they added, people will sit outside in their driveways aside their fire pits to welcome the kids.

We and our firepit and several bags of candy were prepared for our Halloween in the new house. But it rained hard that evening, which kept a lot of trick-or-treaters at home and the firepit covered.

Last year, of course, was COVID. ‘Nuff said.

So yesterday, when the weather was expected to be dry and comfortable, we were ready again. And we were not disappiointed. The trick-or-treaters started arriving at 5:30 and we didn’t pack up until 8. Granted, our little corner of Fuller Ave. doesn’t attract nearly as many kids as the Dunning Ave./Park Ave. neighborhoods, so we overbought candy. But I dressed in a scary costume, and we sat by our fire pit with some adult beverages, finally enjoying a REAL Webster Village Halloween. (We even had a cooler full of “adult trick-or-treats” which turned out to be very popular.)

I did take a quick walk down to Dunning, since I was told the homeowners there go all out on Halloween with their decorations. I’ve posted some photos here. A lot of those houses were really neat.

But what I especially loved seeing was how everyone was greeting the kids OUTSIDE, on their porches or in their driveways. It’s so much different from the North Penfield neighborhood we came from. So … village-y.

I’m already looking forward to next year. And I think I’m going to like having all that leftover candy, so I might overbuy again.

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email me  at missyblog@gmail.com. “Like” this blog on Facebook and follow me on Twitter.

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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New smoothie & juice bar opens in Wegmans Plaza

1 Nov

Sometimes I happen upon blog ideas quite accidentally. That was the case when I was taking a walk the other day to Wegmans, and passed by a brand new business, Nourished, which recently opened next door to Hobby Lobby.    

Nourished is a smoothie and juice bar with a full menu of teas, shakes and coffees that are actually healthy. 

That was actually the first question I asked owner Stacy Sinclaire when we sat down to chat not long ago. I’d seen a photo on Nourished’s Facebook page of a young girl drinking a peanut butter brownie shake, and I just had to ask, “How can something like that be good for you?” 

“Our shakes use plant-based protein,” she said, “and we blend with water and ice.” So basically, they top out at 250 calories and pack in 24 to 28 grams of protein. 

They even have protein coffees. “Where else can you go to get protein in your coffee?” Stacy quipped.

Stacy and her young family moved here to Webster from Greece a little more than a year ago. As an elementary school reading teacher in the Churchville-Chili school district for 17 years, becoming a small business owner was something she never really considered. That is, until the day she happened to drive by Unleashed Nutrition in Fairport. 

“It was a long time coming, wanting to do something else,” she said. “I just saw this business in Fairport and thought it was the neatest thing. I’m a big health-nut, I work out every day, I like to eat healthy, so this just screamed my name.”  

So she stopped in, met the owners, and asked what she needed to do to open her own place. By last February, she and her husband Peter took the plunge. The owners at Unleashed Nutrition helped them set up the distributorship and mentored them. Then, over the summer, Stacy decided to devote herself full-time to her new business, and resigned from her teaching position. 

She hasn’t regretted the decision for a moment. 

“I was ready for a new adventure,” she said. “They say how most people wake up and go to work and it’s just a job. I wake up now and I’m happy to come to work. … I walk in here and it’s something that you’re proud of because it’s mine.” 

“We absolutely love what we do.” 

In the few short weeks Nourished has been open, it’s already developed a steady clientele. That’s a testament to the menu as well as Stacy’s community-focused approach to business. She’s already been offering specials and fundraisers for local youth groups and sports teams. But it’s even more personal than that.

“I want this to be a place where (customers) know they’re going to be greeted and welcomed,” she said. “Customer service has always been huge to me. I want to create a positive environment.”

In the interest of being thorough with my blog research, by the way, I did try one of those peanut butter brownie shakes (you’re welcome). I can report it was delicious. Pretty sure I’ll be back for one of their apple crisp shakes before they’re gone….

Nourished is located at 900 Holt Rd. (Wegmans Plaza), next door to Hobby Lobby. They’re open weekdays (except Wednesday) 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., and weekends 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Follow them on Facebook and Instagram (@nourishedwebster).

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email me  at missyblog@gmail.com. “Like” this blog on Facebook and follow me on Twitter.

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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