Archive | July, 2023

A fun (and educational) family hike from the Friends of Webster Trails

31 Jul

The Friends of Webster Trails have come up with a fun new theme for their regular family hikes.

It’s called the “Trees Along the Trail Challenge,” being held at Four Mile Creek Preserve from 10 a.m. to noon on Saturday August 5.

Participants will pick up a clue packet at the sign-in table, and the challenge is to explore the trails and find the trees indicated in the clues. When you’re done, return the answer sheet and check your score. The first 50 families to complete the challenge will receive a free tree.

The self-guided hike will take place rain or shine, so mane sure you dress for the weather. There’s no charge, but registration is requested. Visit the Friends of Webster Trails website to register.

Four Mile Creek Preserve is located on Phillips Rd. at the corner of Lake Rd. It’s probably my favorite natural area in Webster, so if you haven’t been there yet, I highly recommend it.

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

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(posted 7/31/2023)

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Jazz Festival details: who’s playing and when

30 Jul

Get ready to dance in the streets in a few weeks, when the Webster Jazz Festival returns.

The event will stretch over two days Friday and Saturday Aug. 18 and 19, kicking off with “Jazz in the Pubs” Friday evening beginning at 6:30 p.m. Six different bands are scheduled to perform at six different village pubs and restaurants, with staggered start times, so you can visit visit several (or all) of the venues for a drink and a bite to eat, and enjoy as many bands as you like. The musicians represent some of the best from the Rochester music scene, including some returning favorites and some new faces.

The music continues Saturday night when jazz takes to the street.

Beginning at 4 p.m., an outstanding lineup of musical entertainment will perform from the big West Main Street stage, featuring musicians from around Rochester and Upstate. There will be some tables and chairs set up, but they go pretty fast, so plan to bring your own, set them up in the middle of the street and enjoy music all evening long.

This year’s Webster Jazz Festival brings back some familiar faces and some new ones. Nicholas Brust, a Webster Schroeder HS grad, returns to his hometown for his first appearance at the festival. Deepak Thettu, another Schroeder grad, will play both Friday and Saturday evenings. Paradigm Shift and Marco Amadio return and newcomers Sarah DeValliere and Tyler Scott Owens will knock your socks off. Simple Pleasures with Grammy-nominated Jimmie Highsmith, Jr. and vocalist Julie Delario keep the party going on Saturday night.

Here’s the schedule (click on the name to get more information about each band):

Friday Aug. 18:

  • 6:30 p.m.: Jazz Generation at JoJo’s Wine Bar, 42 E. Main St. An instrumental acoustic guitar duo presenting a mix of popular world jazz music.
  • 6:30 p.m. Joe Chiappone and Vince Ercolamento at Barry’s Old School Irish, 2 West Main St., jazz guitar and saxophone.
  • 6:45 p.m.: Sarah De Vallière at Cobblestone on Main, 109 W. Main St. An award-winning composer, classically-trained pianist and outstanding singer-songwriter, performing “cinematic folk rock with nuances of jazz and pop.”
  • 7:00 p.m.: Marco Amadio on the piano at Brimont Bistro, 24 W. Main St.
  • 7:15 p.m.: Paradigm Shift at Ploty’s Hometown Tavern, 27 W. Main St., performing “organic, funky grooves with street-level ambiance.”
  • 8:00 p.m.: Guitarist Deepak Thettu and Friends at The Coach Sports Bar, 17 W. Main St. Another graduate of Webster Schroeder High School.

Saturday Aug. 19:

  • 4:00 p.m.: Nicholas Brust, bandleader, composer, a premier saxophonist of his generation, and graduate of Webster Schroeder High School
  • 5:45 p.m.: Tyler Scott Owens, Rochester-based vocalist and songwriter
  • 7:00 p.m.: Smooth jazz sounds from Judah Sealy, a graduate of School of the Arts and Roberts Wesleyan College
  • 9:00 p.m.: Simple Pleasures, a high-energy group led by Grammy-nominated saxophonist Jimmie Highsmith, Jr.

This is always a huge event, so you’ll really want to be a part of it.

To find out more about the 2023 Webster Jazz Festival, visit the Webster BID website.

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

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(posted 7/30/2023)

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More thoughts about Barry’s Old School Irish

29 Jul

The word “close” is not in our vocabulary.

That was perhaps the most important, and most encouraging, part of the message Danny and Jessica Barry posted to Facebook and Instagram Wednesday morning as the news began to sink in that Barry’s Old School Irish in the Village of Webster will be closing in September. And it was a comforting statement, to say the least.

The message was clear: Yes, Barry’s is closing, but only temporarily. Plans are in the works to bring it back even bigger and better than before.

If you’re not on Facebook or Instagram, and didn’t see the recent article in the Democrat and Chronicle, here’s the gist:

Opening and running a very successful Irish pub was their original dream. Having done that (in spades), now they want to focus full-time on the next stage of their dream, producing and packaging their very own Barry’s Irish Cream Liqueur. To do that, they need a bigger space where they can house both their production facility and the pub.

In their Facebook message, they wrote,

We’re blessed to have this opportunity to launch Barry’s Irish Cream, which is literally the bottling of all the love and warmth this Barry’s Irish Pub Family has created together. … We can’t wait for the day to bring these two dreams under one roof, that is going to be one heck of a story and one heck of a party. Barry’s will be built for the long haul! read the entire message on their Facebook page.)

The Barrys really want to keep their new operation in Webster, which is great news for our town and all of us who have come to consider Danny and Jess extended family. And until they open again, they’re making plans for several events throughout the year to “keep our pub family/community together, to keep the hugs and handshakes flowing.”

The first will be the 4th annual Barry’s Irish Festival on September 16. Tickets for that will available soon online and at the pub, and I’ll be posting more details in a future blog.

We’re all saddened to the core that Danny and Jessica’s friendly pub will no longer be anchoring our village’s four corners. But we’re gladdened to know that we have not seen the last of them, and I think speak for us all when I say we’re excited for them as they embark on this new adventure.

Danny and Jessica concluded their message on Wednesday with this:

Cheers to our Pub Family, and let’s rock this thing!

Rest assured, my friends, we — your pub family — are ready, willing and excited to take this ride with you.

Danny and Jessica have set a closing date for Saturday Sept. 9. Stay tuned for details about special events leading up to that final day, and the big celebration that will inevitably happen that day.

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

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(posted 7/29/2023)

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The Visionaries low-vision support group to meet at library

28 Jul

Community members who struggle with vision issues — macular degeneration, glaucoma, dry eye, or others — are invited to attend the August meeting of The Visionaries, being hosted next month at the Webster Public Library.

The Visionaries is a support group for adults with low-to-no vision. Members of this support group share their interests and opportunities with others, encouraging those with visual impairment to get the most out of their lives.

The group will meet on Wednesday, August 2 from 10:30 a.m. to noon in the Webster Public Library Community Room, 980 Ridge Road. Senior Services Librarian Jennifer Lenio will give a presentation on the services available at the library and through the library system, and local author Jane Hopkins will also give a short talk about her recent book, Cemetery Reflections, and how she continues to photograph despite having macular degeneration.    

There’s no need to register, just come by to join the meeting!. For more information on The Visionaries, contact Ed Wilkonski at (585) 265-4167 or email wingstwofly@rochester.rr.com

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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 7/27/2023)

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Webster community mailbag

27 Jul

There’s more music in the village this week, when 8 Days a Week returns to Gazebo Park this Friday July 28 for the next Friday night concert.

8 Days a Week is Upstate New York’s premier Beatles tribute band, and guaranteed they’ll have everyone dancing and along to songs we all know so well.

The concert begins at 7 p.m. at Gazebo Park on North Ave. Bring your chairs and blankets, and a cooler if you’d like with food and beverages. It’s all free and family-friendly.

Speaking of music, a few more opportunities to enjoy some live music are coming up in the next few weeks.

This coming Wednesday Aug. 2, John Dady and John Ryan will be performing at the United Church of Christ for their weekly Caring Community Concert series.

These concerts benefit local nonprofit organizations. There’s no admission, but each week the church collects a free-will offering benefiting that week’s chosen non-profit organization. The Dady and Ryan concert will benefit Webster Comfort Care Home.  

The concerts all begin at 6:30 p.m., and food concessions begin at 6. The concerts are held on the United Church of Christ front lawn, at 570 Klem Rd. (In case of rain it’s moved indoors.) On Wednesday August 9, 8 Days a Week will take the stage. (So if you liked them at the gazebo, check them out here!)

The Summer Concert Series at Cherry Ridge is in full swing. The next concert is scheduled for Tuesday August 8 from 6:30 to 8 p.m., featuring the Gateswingers Big Band. The concerts are held outside, and the grounds open up at 5 p.m. with food available for purchase. So bring your lawn chair and enjoy some beautiful music.

Cherry Ridge is located at 900 Cherry Ridge Blvd., across from Webster Schroeder High School. Registration is requested. Click here to do so.

Good food is in store at St. Martin Lutheran Church when they host their next Pulled Pork Drive-Thru beginning at 4:30 p.m. on Saturday Aug. 5.

The take-out dinner includes pulled pork sandwich, salt potatoes, cole slaw and cookie for just $12. Proceeds will support the church’s annual Christmas Stocking Project reaching over 500 children and teens in Monroe and Wayne counties.

Pull into the parking lot, place your order using exact payment, and the dinner will be delivered to you as you drive up in your car.

St. Martin Lutheran Church is located at 813 Bay Rd.

There’s always TONS of fun stuff happening at the Webster Public Library, too much for me to tell you about them all here. But I do want to shine a spotlight on a few of them.

The first is the return of the very popular life-sized Candyland game.

This year’s game is “lighter” than the one they’ve had in the past, but no less fun. Bring your family and friends and become part of the game we’ve all enjoyed playing for decades. Check out the flyer for times.

And here’s a chance to check out one of our most natural areas, the Webster Arboretum.

On Tuesday Aug. 8 at 6 p.m., the library will host a guided tour through the Arboretum, especially highlighting some of the new plantings there. The tour will take about 90 minutes and will require a lot of walking, much of it off the pathways, so wear some comfortable shoes.

Registration is required for this event. Click here to sign up.

Finally, here’s a reminder that the Webster Museum is now accepting donations for their annual Barn Sale, scheduled for Sept. 14 to 16.

Donations are being collected at the barn located at 394 Phillips Rd. You can drive right down the driveway to the barn and put your donations inside (donation receipts are on the table). Although you can donate any day, museum volunteers are on site Monday mornings if you would like assistance unloading your donations.

Items they’d love to see are antiques, collections and collectibles, kitchen and household items, décor, small appliances, toys, tools, and small furniture. They cannot accept books or magazines, computers, clothing, linens, baby cribs or car seats, large furniture, snow skis or water skis, large exercise equipment, audio or video tapes (VHS tapes, music cassettes, etc), or entertainment electronics, (TVs, stereos, DVD players, etc).  

That’s about enough for today. August and September are shaping up to be very busy months, so stay tuned for more news about

  • the Webster Jazz Fest
  • the Barry’s Irish Festival
  • a blood drive at Spry Middle School sponsored by The Steam Police
  • a new family hike at Four Mile Creek from the Friends of Webster Trails
  • an electronics recycling event
  • a hazardous waste recycling event
  • the return of the Webster Garlic Fest
  • the 2023 Mud Run
  • the Oktoberfest

and more.

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email me  at missyblog@gmail.com. “Like” this blog on Facebook and follow me on Instagram and Threads (@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 7/27/2023)

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Waterfront Art Festival returns this weekend

26 Jul

The annual Waterfront Art Festival returns to Charles Sexton Park (formerly North Ponds) this weekend, and this year is more special than most, as the festival celebrates 50 years of great art and entertainment.

You may not be familiar with the history of this great festival. It feels like it’s a been regular Webster summer event for like, forever. But actually, Webster’s only hosted the Waterfront Art Festival since 2015, when organizers had a falling out with their original hosts at the Canandaigua City Pier. When they chose to move it to North Ponds Park in Webster, our community warmly welcomed the event, and it quickly became a summer favorite.

This coming weekend, Saturday and Sunday July 29 and 30, the Waterfront Art Festival returns for its 50th year, to the newly named Charles Sexton Memorial Park. The festival is a must-see for those who appreciate fine art and quality crafts.

Dozens of artisan booths line the park’s scenic and shaded walkways, displaying an incredible variety of hand-made items in all price ranges. What’s really nice about this particular festival is that all of the artisans’ work is juried beforehand, which is why it’s all so different and high-quality. Plus there are food trucks, live music, demonstrations, a wine, beer and cider-tasting tent, several food and drink vendors, plenty of free parking right on the grounds, and a handicapped parking area. (Click here to see a gallery of photos from two years ago.)

The festival runs from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday at Charles Sexton Memorial Park, off of Rt. 104 between Rt. 250 and Holt Road (take the Rt. 250 exit off Rt. 104). 

Admission is $5, no charge for kids 12 and under. For more information, including a list of artisans and entertainers, click here for the Waterfront Art Festival website and here for their Facebook page.

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email me  at missyblog@gmail.com. “Like” this blog on Facebook and follow me on Instagram and Threads (@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 7/26/2023)

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Joe Obbie Farmers’ Market “Evening in the Park” a great addition to the regular Saturday market

25 Jul

Another Wednesday is upon us, which means it’s time to head out to Charles Sexton Park for the Joe Obbie Farmers’ Market, especially since the weather looks like it’s going to be picture-perfect.

The “Evening in the Park” market is a relatively new improvement to the long-established Joe Obbie Market, which has been setting up at Webster Towne Center every Saturday for years now. And it’s been a very popular addition.

On top of the wide variety of food and craft vendors you’ve come to know and love at the Saturday market, the Evening in the Park also has food trucks and live music. Basically, everything you need for a nice evening out with the family, including flowers, fresh produce, meats and sauces!

I stopped by the first market last week and took these photos. The band and a lot of the vendors were still setting up shop, so the photos really don’t capture the entire fun atmosphere of the evening. Make sure to check it out for yourself this Wednesday.

The Joe Obbie Farmers’ Market Evenings in the Park will run every Wednesday from 4 to 8 p.m. at Charles Sexton Park (formerly North Ponds). The poster below tells you what bands are playing each evening. Don’t forget your chairs!

Definitely don’t forget about the Saturday market, either.

You’ll find the Joe Obbie Farmers’ Market in Webster Towne Center Plaza (Target/Kohl’s plaza) every Saturday morning from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. The vendors offer baked goods, flowers, crafts, farm-raised meats and eggs, honey, jams, maple syrup and more.

Enter the plaza from Holt Rd. or Ridge Rd. and follow the signs. You’ll see the market set up in front of Old Navy.

Need more information? Check out the market’s Facebook page here.

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email me  at missyblog@gmail.com. “Like” this blog on Facebook and follow me on Instagram and Threads (@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 7/25/2023)

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July History Bit: The Village of Webster’s very own pioneer cemetery

24 Jul

The Town of Webster has several beautiful cemeteries, most very familiar to us. But the smallest of our town’s cemeteries is often forgotten, even though many of us pass by it almost every day.  

Robb Cemetery is an 8700-square foot parcel of land on East Main Street in the village of Webster, just west of Phillips Road. It is a true pioneer burial ground, with at least eight known burial sites dating back to 1823. 

The land was originally set aside from the farm of Andrew Robb as a family burial ground – the only one in Webster – but other friends and relatives were also buried there.  

For many years there was no indication the land held a cemetery – no signage, not even any gravestones. At one point, interestingly, one of the neighboring homeowners decided to just lay claim to it and paved it over for a parking lot.

In 2013, though, the Village of Webster officially took possession of the property, cleaned it up, and erected a handsome sign naming all of the pioneers known to have been buried there.  

A fascinating little piece of that cemetery’s history now resides at the Webster Museum. It’s the headstone for Nelly Wood, who died in 1838 at age 84. It was found many years ago in the basement of the house just west of the cemetery. No one really knows how long it was there, or Nelly’s connection with the Robb Family. But it is a nice reminder of the significance of Webster’s very own pioneer cemetery. 

Stop by the museum to see it for yourself any Tuesday, Thursday or Saturday from 2 to 4:30 p.m. The Webster Museum is located at 18 Lapham Park in the Village of Webster. 

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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 7/24/2023)

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Barry’s Old School Irish is closing

23 Jul

The Village of Webster’s very own Irish pub, Barry’s Old School Irish, is closing.

Danny and Jessica Barry announced the news this morning on their Facebook page, and it’s already spreading like wildfire. For those like me, who consider Danny and Jess extended family, the news came as a kick in the gut. Since Barry’s opened almost 12 years ago, the pub has become kind of like village’s living room, where families and friends came to gather for a pint, parties, live traditional Irish music … it’s been like a second home.

But while the news comes as a shock for us all, it’s an exciting development for the Barrys. It’s just the next big step in their journey which began with opening their pub and is now expanding with the production of their Barry’s Irish Cream.

The Barrys have been working on their Irish Cream brand for a good year now, and most of us know they’ve arranged to have it produced in Ireland. But they’ve been struggling with finding enough time and space to both run the pub and start marketing their Irish Cream full-time here in the states. The only way to do that is to expand.

So the good news is, Barry’s Old School Irish is not closing forever. It’s just going to be moving, to a bigger location where Danny and Jess can work together to continue to fulfill their original dream — running a traditional, family-oriented Irish pub — while also building their new dream of selling their original Irish cream. Even better news is they’re looking to find a place in Webster, and that is, Danny said, “100% guaranteed.”

The timeline for the move is still up in the air, but we do know that the last day for Barry’s Old School Irish as we now know it will be in September, so stay tuned for more about the big party planned that day. In the meantime, visit the Barry’s Old School Irish Facebook page, where Danny and Jess will tell you more about their exciting news.

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email me  at missyblog@gmail.com. “Like” this blog on Facebook and follow me on Instagram and Threads (@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 7/23/2023)

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Quilters come together to help others

21 Jul

Here’s another nice story about how a local business is doing great things to help the community — in this case the global community.

On the third Tuesday of every month, Vanetta Parshall and Monique Liberti, owners of the Village Quilt Shoppe, host a “charity day.” For four hours, a handful of crafters sit around the tables at the back of the shop, carefully cutting and sorting hundreds of small fabric squares. The squares are then assembled into individual quilting kits, which are packaged up and shipped to Honduras.

Their destination is an foundation called One Common Thread, whose mission is to help Honduran women make quilts, which they can then sell to support their families.

Monique explained that the lap-sized quilts are created by English Paper Piecing, a method especially designed for hand-sewing, a necessary requirement for Honduran women who often don’t have a sewing machine, let alone electricity. The Quilt Shoppe volunteers work from patterns specifying how many of each color piece are required for each quilt, cut them all, separate them by color, then sort them into individual quilt kits.

Depending on how many helpers show up, Monique said, she can assemble and ship as many as six kits every month.

Monique and Vanetta began holding their charity days about two and a half years ago, after one of their former employees brought One Common Thread to their attention. They’ve adapted their efforts along the way as they’ve learned the most efficient ways to help.

“At first we had people drop off fabric, and we would just send fabric,” Monique said. “But upon talking with them we found it was more beneficial to cut the fabric up. So then we would send them squares. Then we realized we could print the patterns out and make kits.”

She estimates that the first year they shipped more than 50 yards of fabric. Then, thousands of pre-cut squares the following year, and about 30 kits since then. And they’re not planning to slow down anytime soon.

“Being a small business owned by two women, we want to help other women have a better life,” Monique said. “We try to look for charities where we help women empower their lives.” 

Vanetta and Monique welcome anyone to stop in on Charity Tuesdays to help out. You don’t need any quilting or even crafting experience, since most of the work involves sorting squares into kits. The next one is on Aug. 15, beginning at 10:30. If you’d like to help out at home, you can pop in and pick up a bag of fabric, complete with instructions, to cut into squares.

They also take donations of thread and hand-sewing needles, and monetary donations to help with shipping. (No fabric donations, thanks — they have plenty of fabric!)

The Village Quilt Shoppe is located at 21 East Main St. in the Village of Webster. To learn more, check out their website here or call (585) 626-6916. And definitely log onto the One Common Thread website to see some of the beautiful finished quilts and the women who are benefiting from them. You’ll also read about other ways you can help this wonderful organization.

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email me  at missyblog@gmail.com. “Like” this blog on Facebook and follow me on Instagram and Threads (@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 7/21/2023)

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