Archive | April, 2023

Host families needed for teen-age diplomats

20 Apr

The 2022/2023 school year is still far from over, but at least one organization is already looking forward to September.

The Association for Teen-age Diplomats (ATAD) is looking for Webster families to host high school-aged exchange students for the next school year. Now is the time to sign up, because students need plenty of time to get their visas.

ATAD was created after World War II by a group of Kodak employees. They wanted to come up with some way to foster world peace and thought that if the world’s young people got to know each other, there would be less war. They started bringing exchange students to Rochester in the 1950s.

Most years, ATAD will host five to ten students hailing from France, Italy, Germany, Russia, Peru, Poland, Spain and Turkey. Six are expected this year, four from Spain and two others from Italy. You can click here to see mini bios for all the students.

Becoming a host family is easy, and really requires very little more than providing room, board and love. The visiting student doesn’t even need a private bedroom or any spending money.

You can find answers to many questions on the ATAD website, but here’s some helpful info:

  • students bring their own spending money and have their own insurance
  • families generally include the visiting student on family trips, and the students sometimes have their own money to pay for it
  • ATAD hosts a few social gatherings during the school year so host families can meet other families
  • each student has a program chair assigned to manage any problems — large or small — which come up. The ATAD volunteer network is ready to step in and help with any issues that arise.
  • host families do not have to have any other children
  • all visiting students know English well
  • families are not provided a stipend for hosting a student
  • students do not pay room and board

For more information, visit the ATAD website or email Suzanne Isgrigg, Vice President for Host Families, at froggymom@aol.com.

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

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(posted 4/20/2023)

Finger Lakes Tour de Cure will return to Webster on June 10

19 Apr

The 2023 Tour de Cure: Finger Lakes, the American Diabetes Association’s (ADA) premier cycling event, is returning to Webster on June 10.

This huge event draws cyclists from all over the area, riding courses ranging from 12 to 100 miles, which begin and end at one of the Xerox parking lots off of Chiyoda Drive (across from the Rec Center). It’s the ADA’s largest fundraising event of the year,

And you want to talk about a party atmosphere? The day of the ride, that lot is filled with tents and music and fire trucks and food trucks, thousands of bikes and people. Webster can be very proud to be hosting this, one of the biggest Tours in the whole country. And it’s extremely well organized.

Thanks in large part to the event’s signature sponsor, West Herr, Tour Day will feature two live bands, food trucks and a kids’ zone. So basically this is a fantastic event for the whole family.

The COVID pandemic punched a big hole in participation, but Rochester riders are coming back in force. Last year 800 adults and children participated, raising more than $600,000 to help end diabetes. Organizers are expecting about the same in 2023, welcoming riders from Syracuse and Buffalo as well as Rochester.

But they need our help. Organizers are looking for cyclists to participate. Routes are available for all ages and abilities. You can find out more and sign up here. Many volunteers are also needed to help the event run smoothly. Click here for more information about that.

For at least a couple of years, Rochester’s Tour de Cure was the biggest Tour in the country. Unfortunately, that distinction was recently taken from us by Napa Valley, but if we all pull together this year, we’ll get to #1 again.

Here’s a little more information about the diabetes epidemic:

More than 37 million Americans have diagnosed diabetes, including more than 1.7 million in NYS alone. An additional 456,000 people in New York have diabetes but don’t know it. More than 5 million people in New York who have prediabetes, with blood glucose levels higher than normal but not yet high enough to be diagnosed as diabetes.

People with diabetes have medical expenses approximately 2.3 times higher than those who do not have diabetes. Total direct medical expenses for diagnosed diabetes in New York were estimated at $15.1 billion in 2017, with an additional $6.1 billion spent on indirect costs from lost productivity due to diabetes.

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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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(posted 4/19/2023)

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Two family-friendly events this Saturday

18 Apr

The Webster Health & Education Network (WHEN) is sponsoring two events this Saturday April 22 which both benefit family health.

The first is the Spring Drug Take-Back Day, your opportunity to safely dispose of your unused medications.

Wegmans is hosting the drug take-back event from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at their 900 Holt Road location, as well as many of their other stores. This event gives community members the opportunity to remove potentially dangerous expired, unused, and unwanted prescription drugs from their homes. The service is free and anonymous. Only pills and patches will be accepted – no liquids, needles, or sharps.

No appointment is necessary. Look for a drop-off location in the parking lot. Registration is not required, but it will allow WHEN to email you a reminder in advance of the event. Click here to register.

I label this as a family-friendly event because of frightening statistics like these from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration:

  • nearly one in four teens reports taking a prescription drug not prescribed to them by a doctor at least once in their lives
  • almost half of teens say it is easy to gety prescription drugs from a parent’s medicine cabinet
  • teens are abusing everything from pain medications to stimulants, sedatives and tranquilizers

We need to do what we can to keep dangerous medications out of our children’s hands.

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On a lighter note …

Also on Saturday April 22, join your kids and friends for a fun and healthy Family Scavenger Hunt.

This easy hike/scavenger hunt will take place at Liberty Lodge/Finn Park on Maple Drive from 10 a.m. to noon. Different hunts will be available for three three skill levels, ages 2 through 12. The event will take place rain or shine, so dress for the weather, and make sure to wear boots if it’s been wet. It would also be helpful if you could bring your own clipboard and pencil.

The Family Scavenger Hunt costs $5, and registrations are being taken through the Webster Recreation Center. PLEASE register ahead of time so we know how many kids to expect. Payment can be made when you arrive at the park. Click here to register.

Proceeds will benefit the Friends of Webster Trails.

The Webster Health and Education Network was established in 1995 and is a recognized leader in the advocacy and promotion of healthy, substance-free behaviors and lifestyles in the Webster community. WHEN has always worked closely with the Webster Central School District, town, and community resources to support drug education and awareness initiatives. 

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

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.

(posted 4/18/2023)

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Community block party will celebrate three new businesses

17 Apr

Three new (and new-ish) businesses of Webster’s North 43: The Shops on Main Street are hosting a first-ever “North 43 Block Party” and ribbon-cutting on Thursday April 20 beginning at 5:00 p.m.

M/Body, Lumos Sauna and curated. are next-door neighbors in North 43’s lower level, 44 East Main, adjacent to the Village Bakery. Lumos is brand new to the development, M/Body opened last November, and curated. will celebrate its first anniversary in June.  

The event will begin with a ribbon-cutting and remarks from business owners and local officials. The party proper will begin around 5:30 with the Classic Taps Mobile Bar, a Pub 235 food truck, a DJ, live music, food tastings, plenty of activities for kids and families, face painting and giveaways. All of the North 43 businesses will also offer special shopping hours and activities throughout the evening.

The block party will also be joined by North 43’s other businesses, the Village Bakery, jojo Bistro and Wine Bar, Lala of Webster, R Salon and Spa, and Roc Dance.

The event is free and open to the public. 

Here’s a little more information about each of the new businesses:

  • M/Body is an inclusive and energized fitness studio that unites wellness seekers, builds  spirit and helps achieve goals by offering the best and diverse fitness classes including  cycle, barre, boxing, yoga, Pilates, HIIT, strength training as well as personal training  and health coaching. Click here to read the blog I posted about M/Body.
  • Lumos is a family-owned and operated infrared sauna studio founded in 2019 by Rachel Bantelman-Evans with the support of her husband Jordan Evans. Lumos features full-spectrum infrared saunas with both chromotherapy and dedicated red light  therapy throughout its six locations across Central and Western New York.  
  • curated. is a home specialty store, where owner Justin Brown believes that home decor should seamlessly combine vintage with new; that wares should be stylish but always functional; and that design can be sophisticated without sacrificing comfort. The shop’s unique collection includes decor pieces, furniture, kitchen and dining wares, lighting, pillows, artwork and gifts. Click here for the blog I wrote.

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

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(posted 4/17/2023)

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Another successful Community Arts Day in the books

15 Apr

The gorgeous spring weather Saturday didn’t keep many hundreds of adults and children from checking out this year’s Community Arts Day, held at Webster Schroeder High School.

The annual showcase of our students’ artistic talents filled the Schroeder hallways, chorus room and auditorium with cultural arts, fine art displays and musical entertainment. Each one of Webster’s elementary and secondary schools, including St. Rita, was represented by displays of artwork of all kinds from collages to sculptures, jewelry work to pen-and-ink drawings. The variety was remarkable and the talent on display downright amazing.

Demonstrations and performances were held throughout the day, including a very well-attended performance by this year’s extra-special guest, the Garth Fagan Dance School.

I was only able to spend about 90 minutes wandering the halls this year, so I missed a lot of the dancers and musicians. But I still managed to take almost a hundred photos of the artwork, kids’ activities, a few performances, and many of the community group displays. I’ve posted a sampling here, but click here to see a much larger gallery.

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

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(posted 4/15/2023)

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Secondary students got a dose of Locker Love Wednesday

13 Apr

Our Webster secondary students got a dose of positivity Wednesday morning, when they arrived at school to discover sticky notes attached to their lockers. Each of the multi-colored notes carried a self-affirming message encouraging individuality, internal strength, perseverance, resilience and more.

It was all part of the “Locker Love” program, a Webster Central PTSA secondary engagement event, in partnership with the Webster Health and Education Network (WHEN).

Thanks to the efforts of dozens of volunteers who fanned out to each of the secondary buildings on Tuesday night, almost 7,000 inspirational notes were posted, one on every single locker at Schroeder High School (including GOAL), Thomas High School (and OWL), Willink Middle School (and OWL), and Spry Middle School. The volunteers also hung a number of motivational signs throughout the buildings.

The whole idea behind the project, said WHEN chairman Janine Sanger, was to inject a little positivity into the students’ lives, and “to remind kids that they’re the good in the world.”

Webster Schroeder Building Chair Stacie Peters noted that programs like these are a great way for students and their families to realize that PTSA is still relevant in the secondary buildings, even without the birthday parties and book fairs common at the elementary level.

“The secondary chairs love doing these special events for the students to make them feel special,” Stacie said. “(They) all love partnering together because what PTSA is in the middle and high schools is so different from elementary.”

Stacie and the other secondary PTSA chairs — Kim Kozlowski (Thomas/OWL), Kara Quigley and Amanda Clayton (Spry) amd Erin DeSarra and Allison Schoeffler (Willink/OWL) — organize several creative events like this every year, which are always enthusiastically supported by the secondary school administrators.

“We need to support students no matter how old they are,” Stacie said.

This is the third time the secondary school PTSAs have spread Locker Love. The first program was run in 2019, then again in 2020 before the pandemic hit.

At Willink Middle School
Inspirational posters were also hung at each school
At Spry Middle School
Kerry Lang, Elementary Special Ed. TOSA,
and PSTA Chair Stacie Peters in the GOAL hallway at Schroeder
Dustin Baily and his son Brian helping out
at Schroeder
More hard-working Schroeder volunteers

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

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.

(posted 4/13/2023)

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Community Arts Day is this weekend!

10 Apr

It’s as sure a sign of spring as the first robin: The Webster Central School District’s — and the entire Webster community’s — grand show-off day, Community Arts Day returns to Webster Schroeder High School this Saturday, April 15 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

This very family-friendly festival, which is marking its 46th year, showcases the musical and artistic talents of Webster School District K-12 students, 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. (Below are a few examples of the artwork from previous years. Click here for a full gallery from last year.)

Dozens of activities are planned throughout the day, including art displays, carnival games, crafts, community group exhibits and more. Webster student groups will present musical performances throughout the day, and the Webster’s Got Talent talent show will feature aspiring student singers, musicians, and dancers from 12 to 1 pm. Community performing groups will fill out the schedule of events, and all the performances are free.

Admission to Community Arts Day is free. Proceeds from concessions, craft, and carnival booth sales will benefit cultural arts programs within the Webster Central School District.  

For a complete schedule of events and map of exhibitors, follow the Community Arts Day Facebook page, where updates will be posted regularly.

And by the way, the Webster Marching Band will be right next door in the Aquatic Center parking lot from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., so make sure to put that bag of empties in your car before you head out to the event!

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

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.

(posted 4/10/2023)

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Heart to Heart Bride has settled into its new location

9 Apr

As most anyone who drives or walks through the Village of Webster has noticed, Heart to Heart Bride has moved. The beautiful bridal shop with the gorgeous front-window dress displays anchored the northwest corner of the village’s four corners for 13 years, until just a few weeks ago.

But no worries. It hasn’t gone far.

The new Heart to Heart Bride shop is now open, just down the street, in the former Rochester Linoleum storefront at 1170 Ridge Rd. (at the corner of Rachel Dr.). The new space is five times larger than the village shop, with 13,000 feet of floor space. The extra space has not only given owner Sarah Ashworth a lot more room to stock and display her dresses and accessories, but has allowed her to greatly expand her inventory and offer several new amenities.

For starters, there’s a spacious and very comfortable private fitting suite, complete with a cushy couch and a personal fitting room, which can accommodate a bride and up to ten guests. For those with smaller entourages, there are eight semi-private fitting rooms, each with a full-length mirror and plenty of seating.

At the very back of the shop is the new mother-of-the bride and special occasion department, with eight additional private fitting rooms.

Probably the neatest addition, however, is the Celebration Lounge, a beautifully decorated area at the front of the shop where brides can relax with their friends and family members after their appointment to celebrate with a glass of champagne, snack on charcuterie, and snap some photos to commemorate the day she “said yes to the dress.”

One of the biggest things that hasn’t changed, however, is Heart to Heart’s focus on personal, individualized service. Sarah and her staff go to great lengths to connect with their clients well before they enter the store, communicating through email, Zoom, and phone calls to find out about the wedding and start getting an idea about what size, price point and design elements the bride is looking for. That way they’ll already have two or three suggestions awaiting the bride when she arrives for her fitting appointment.

Congratulations, Sarah, on your move. The Village of Webster will miss you and your beautiful show windows, which always brought a touch of glamor to our four corners. But your new place …? It’s just amazing.

Here are some photos so you can see for yourself:

  • These two racks are filled with just veils
  • The accessory shelf, complete with some sparkly sneakers
  • One of the semi-private fitting rooms
  • The mother-of-the-bride and special occasion department
  • Mother-of-the-bride department fitting rooms
  • Just some of the hundreds of dresses awaiting brides
  • The private fitting suite
  • The Celebration Lounge
  • Another look at the Celebration Lounge

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

(posted 4/9/2023)

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Many thanks for making this year’s Peep Show the most successful ever

8 Apr

If you attended the Greater Rochester Peep Show last weekend at the Webster Recreation Center, you not only enjoyed a tremendous display of whimsical and creative Peep sculptures, you also helped make the event the most successful ever.

“Head PEEP” Michael Grenier reports that more than 2500 people attended the Peep Show this year, coming from Webster, many surrounding towns and even as far as Buffalo. The show raised nearly $8,000 before expenses — a record amount. And that was despite the fact that the attendance, albeit strong, was still slightly less than pre-pandemic levels. That means that the people who attended didn’t just wander around and look at the displays; they bought a lot of voting tickets and snacks and entered the raffles, all raising big bucks to benefit the Webster Community Chest and 12 other charities. (Visit the Peep Show website for a whole list.)

Also helping make the show a success were the scores of volunteers who managed a thousand little details, and the more than two dozen businesses and agencies who sponsored tables and rooms and provided door prizes. (See the list here.)

The Village at Unity
Sgt. Peeper
March of the Peepguins

The stars of the show, of course, were the displays, and they were spectacular this year.

Entries were separated into two categories, youth and adult. Community members were invited to vote for their favorite displays to determine the “Peeples Choice Winners.” The top winners in the adult category were:

  • First place: “The Village at Unity,” created by Lindsay Lown
  • Second place: “The Nutcracker, Sgt. Peeper,” created by Dancing With Denise
  • Third Place: “March of the Peepguins,” created by Rita Menaldino

The top youth winners were:

  • First place: “Advice from the Coral Reef,” created by GS Troop 60617
  • Second place: “Hopping with the Peepos,” created by Lilly B and Grammy
  • Thurs place: “Red Wings Stadium,” created by Rylynn C
Advice From the Coral Reef
Hopping With the Peeps
Red Wings Stadium

Click here for a complete list of adults and youth winners.

This year, for the first time, the Grand Prize winner was a real surprise.

Michael wrote,

The Grand Prize winner has always been an adult. We separate our entries into two groups–one for adults (16 years of age or over) and one for children–since it would be unfair to have little kids compete with grown-ups.

But there is strength in numbers, apparently.  This year’s Grand Prize winner was (the entry) made by Girl Scout Troop 60617, which is made up of 11- to 13-year-old girls. Although they had advisement and assistance from adults, the girls made all of the components of this display themselves. Each chose a sea creature to make (or two or three) and they assembled the components to make up the coral reef. Transporting the enclosure and putting it all together on site was the biggest challenge. 

Troop leader Megan Thompson added, “We had such a fun time building this as a troop, creating the different sea creatures and then all of us working together to build the coral at the end of our meeting.” 

Girl Scout Cadette Troop 60617 includes eight girls, ages 11 to 13. Their winning entry, “Advice From the Coral Reef,” is now on tour with 12 other displays. Their first stop is the Maplewood nursing home, where the residents are going to have their own Peep Show and vote for their favorites. After that, the displays will continue their tour at the Kirkhaven Nursing Home.

Megan Thompson From left to right is my daughter Amelia, who helps out with our troop and helped out with this project but is part of another troop, my youngest daughter Clara (she created the octopus!), and me.

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

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(posted 4/8/2023)

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Free fitness expo designed for those with Parkinson’s

7 Apr

My father died seven years ago from Parkinson’s. So I know this frightening disease is in my family, and it might be something I’ll need to watch out for — and maybe even deal with — some day.

Given that history, I was very interested in a notice I received recently from the Webster Recreation Center about a special event being hosted there by Wellness 360 Physical Therapy and Massage.

Beth Parry, a co-owner of Wellness 360, has been working on various projects with the Rec Center for several years. She currently teaches several classes including a mindfulness class and a weekly chair yoga class that routinely attracts more than 40 participants. Beth also offers classes specifically designed for those with Parkinson’s, including Rock Steady Boxing and cycling, and special events including a monthly support group for Parkinson’s caregivers. 

In an email, Beth explained the importance of exercise for the management of Parkinson’s:

Studies show that exercise can manage the progression and control the symptoms of Parkinson’s Disease (PD). Wellness 360 has developed a comprehensive Parkinson’s Program for all levels of your disease progression. Our classes provide support through evidence-based exercise, stress management, and vocal interventions. Wellness 360 also supports our Caregivers through support groups and respite events. Our vision is to empower the community through full-circle wellness to manage and treat your disease diagnosis. 

On Wednesday April 12, Beth will lead a Parkinson’s Fitness Expo from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Webster Recreation Center. For those who have received a PD diagnosis, the event will offer the chance to sample five different classes:

  • Rock Steady Boxing:  Studies show boxing is a powerful exercise to manage your disease progression. This class uses evidence-based exercise with varying speeds, times, and resistance levels. Participants are encouraged to work at a pace that maximizes the effort and intensity of movement.  There are 2 levels to this class, adapted to each participant’s fitness level.
  • Parkinson’s Dance: Uses the power of music to help unlock stiff joints and muscles, improve your balance, and get those frozen feet moving. The class is open to all levels of fitness, and caregivers are welcome to participate.
  • Intentional Communication through the Arts:  Aims to improve speech clarity, volume, and expression through the integration of traditional speech therapy and performing arts basics. 
  • Cycle for Active Adults: Uses intervals with varying speeds, times, and resistance levels. Participants are encouraged to work at a pace that maximizes the effort and intensity of movement.
  • Yoga & Chair Yoga:  This class uses breathwork and traditional yoga postures to improve your range of motion, decrease your pain, and improve your balance. 

Each class will last for 20 minutes and will be scheduled such that every participant can try every class if they’d like.

Special activities will also be offered for caregivers, including hair massage, an introductory meet-and-greet for the caregiver support group, and yoga classes.

The Parkinson’s Fitness Expo is free of charge and no registration is required.

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

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About Wellness 360:

Wellness 360 Physical Therapy and Massage, developed two years ago by Beth Parry and Lindsay Perez, offers physical therapy, massage therapy, and group fitness classes for disease management. Their group fitness classes are designed and led by healthcare professionals using evidence-based exercises. Their mission is to support the whole person, including their caregiver, through respite care events and monthly support groups. They believe a patient shows improved healing when surrounded by positivity, family, and social support. Wellness 360 has offices in Rochester and Webster, and also offers home-based mobile physical therapy sessions.

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

(posted 4/7/2023)

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