Archive | March, 2022

Barry’s Irish trad sessions highlighted in City Newspaper article

4 Mar

The weekly Saturday afternoon Irish traditional music sessions at Barry’s Old School Irish were featured front and center this week in an article published in City Newspaper.

For the article — which almost certainly was timed for the newspaper’s March issue because of St. Patrick’s Day — author Daniel Kushner visited at least two of the three Irish sessions which take place weekly in the Rochester area, at Johnny’s Irish Pub, the Chatlotte Tavern and Barry’s Old School Irish.

Kushner did a great job capturing the history, tradition and culture surrounding these traditional music sessions. But he didn’t stop there; Kushner also dug even deeper into Irish trad culture and history by interviewing Ted McGraw, one of the original members of the Rochester branch of the Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann Irish musicians’ association, and long-time host of the Irish Party House radio program.

The Saturday sessions at Barry’s happen every week from 2 to 5 p.m. If you’ve been in the pub during those hours, you’ve probably seen the musicians huddled in a circle over by the bakery case. If you’ve ever wanted to learn more about who they are and why they’re there, click here to check out the article.

Since we’re talking about Barry’s Old School Irish, I want to let you know that our favorite Irish pub is gearing up for St. Patrick’s Day in a big way. I mean, special events have already begun.

Barry’s is welcoming St. Patrick’s Day festivities back after a COVID-induced hiatus by peppering the next few weeks liberally with music, whiskey tastings, dancers, a personalized Guinness pint night, green-themed trivia and a whole day filled with events on Parade Day (March 12), culminating of course on St. Patrick’s Day itself, when the pub opens at 8 a.m. with Irish coffees and breakfast.

There’s too much going on to put it all here. You can visit Barry’s Old School Irish’s Facebook page for more details about all of these.

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

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

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Community Arts Day is back!

3 Mar
Decorative art.

As sure as sighting a robin is a sign of spring, I know that April is just around the corner when I start getting emails about Community Arts Day. And this year, that news is more exciting than ever, as it will be the first in-person Community Arts Day in three years. Because, well, you know…..

This year’s event will take place on Saturday, April 9 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Webster Schroeder High School, 875 Ridge Rd. This very family-friendly festival showcases Webster CSD students’ creative talents and involves the entire community in a day to celebrate the arts. It was created as a collaborative effort to raise money to encourage and enhance fine arts programs throughout the district.

Dozens of activities are planned throughout the day, including art displays, carnival games, sweet treats sale, plant sale, crafts, community group exhibits and more. Musical groups and demonstrators (karate, gymnastics, etc.) perform free all day, and you can even grab lunch and snacks. PLUS, this year there’s going to be an opportunity for ALL students to exhibit art at Community Arts Day (stay tuned for details about that).

Volunteers are always welcome and very much needed. Each of the 11 schools in the district contributes volunteers to the CAD committee to run the events, make baked goods, and make the day a great event for the entire community. Organizers are also looking for sponsors, and there are plenty of opportunities for exhibitors, performers and vendors.

To find out more about all of these opportunities, click here.  You can also follow the Community Arts Day Facebook page to keep up on the latest.  

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

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A visit with Esther Dunn

2 Mar

March, as you may know, is Women’s History Month. The Webster Museum recently sent out a notice marking the occasion, featuring one of the most influential women in Webster’s history, Esther Dunn.

Esther Dunn was a lifelong Webster resident and long-time Webster teacher. But she is most well known for the book she published in 1971, Webster …Through the Years. For many of us who are interested in Webster’s history and who like to write about it, the book has become a valuable reference.

So I read with great interest the email I got from the museum, which highlighted Esther’s life and accomplishments. It read,

It’s easy for the Webster Museum to find Webster women to celebrate during Women’s History Month. It’s harder to choose just one to feature. So, while raising a glass of Webster cider to all the women of Webster who served this community in the past and those who serve today, we present our 2022 Women’s History Month honoree. 

Esther Ann Dunn was born in Webster June 23, 1901 to a family of readers and writers and Lake Road apple-growers. She lived here until her death in October 1983, leaving Webster only to attend Geneseo Normal School for teacher training, to visit friends and family who lived away and to travel to Europe and Canada. 

Esther attended Webster schools fall through spring; childhood summers were spent helping her family pick apples. After training, she taught in Webster schools for over 35 years. She participated in activities at Holy Trinity Church, the Webster Women’s Republican Club and the Grange, where she served as librarian. Esther was a founding member of the Webster Historical Society as well as a member of the 1976 committee that organized the Webster Museum. She served as Webster Historian for 12 years and as trustee of the library, using her calm but powerful “teacher voice” to oppose the move of the Webster Library to the Town Hall. She was inducted into the Webster Women’s Hall of Fame in 1978, and that same year, Webster declared September 10 “Esther Dunn Day.”  

Due to the research talents of Eileen Brookins and the rich historical resources in historian Lynn Barton’s office, a more complete list of Esther Dunn’s contributions to the Webster community is taking shape. It will eventually find its way as a biography in the museum’s research site, currently being relocated to www.webstermuseum.org.

Esther’s obituary in the Webster Herald noted that she showed “the character, stamina and dedication of the people who made this a place ‘where life is worth living.’” Webster is lucky to have so many women and men of her caliber to have done so. 

You can learn more about the notable citizens of Webster at the Webster Museum, 18 Lapham Park in the village. The museum is open Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays from 2:00-4:30 pm. 

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

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