Archive | May, 2024

Dark Arts Muay Thai & Jiu Jitsu is area’s newest martial arts school

30 May

As a martial artist myself, I am well versed in the many benefits the martial arts offer for adults, and especially children: self-confidence, flexibility, coordination, aerobic workout and self-defense skills to name a few. Which is why I’m always happy to let people know when a new dojo moves into town.

One of the most recent additions to the Webster/Penfield martial arts scene is Dark Arts Muay Thai & Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, which officially opened on April 1 in Bay Centre Plaza, 1217 Bay Rd. (next door to Bert’s Bikes). I stopped in a few weeks ago to meet co-owner Juan Hernandez, check out the new space, find out what kinds of classes are offered, and — most importantly — find out what the heck “Muay Thai” is.

The space is beautiful, and much improved over its formal iteration as the Goodwill redemption center. “This was a skeleton” when they signed the lease, Juan said. “We built everything from scratch.” And by everything, he means plumbing, lighting, building a new wall, adding huge ceiling fans, painting everything, and adding new bathrooms and showers to accommodate students who need early-morning classes.

The heavily-matted training area takes up most of the 1800+ square-foot studio, leaving plenty of room for equipment storage, cubbies for students’ needs, and an area for spectators. Classes are offered every day but Sunday, sometimes beginning as early as 6 a.m. They run the gamut from kids’ jiu jitsu and Muay Thai (beginning at 4 years old) to classes for adults and a weapons class.

Plus, Juan said, “We’re big into empowering women,” so Dark Arts also offers a ladies-only jiu jitsu class, and a monthly self-defense class.

And while Dark Arts is new to the area’s martial arts community, Juan Hernandez is not new to martial arts or to teaching. He was only three and a half years old when he started training, and of course he continues to do so today, almost 40 years later. He’s been teaching for 22 years, at various dojos around the Rochester area. His reputation has preceded him, both as a teacher and proprietor of a safe, respectful and friendly environment.

And what exactly is Muay Thai? I’m told it’s a Thailand-based martial art also known as the “art of eight limbs” because practitioners use fists, elbows, knees and shins. I’m not at all familiar with it, or Brazilian jiu-jitsu, but I really liked what I saw when I popped in to watch the end of a class. The people are friendly, the teaching staff very supportive and positive, and the workout challenging.

Anyone who’d like to check out the facility and try a class for themselves is welcome to stop by any Saturday morning at 10 a.m. for open mat time; there’s no drop-in fee and you don’t need a GI.

Visit the Dark Arts website or Facebook page to see the whole schedule, and find out more about our area’s newest martial arts dojo.

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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 “Subscribe” link on the right side of this page (or all the way at the bottom of the page if you’re on your phone).

(posted 5/29/2024)

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Deborah MacKay School of Dance celebrates 40 years

29 May

It’s been 40 years since Debbie Tiffany opened Deborah MacKay School of Dance, tucked into a one-room dance studio in Baytowne Plaza. She, and her school, have come a long way since.

Anyone who knows even a little about Debbie’s early years isn’t the least bit surprised that she became a successful dance teacher. She started dancing herself when she was just 5 years old, under the tutelage of Donna Throumoulos. She went on to get professional training in Toronto, New York City and Miami under mentors Judy Bassing and Brian and Faye Foley. It was then that she realized her passion was not just performance.

“One day in a dance class I was so intrigued with the choreography that I realized I wanted to teach and pass on my knowledge more than perform it,” she wrote. “That decided my future of opening my own school.”

When she opened that small studio in 1984, she had only 54 students and a limited number of classes in ballet, tap and jazz. It didn’t take long, however, before she outgrew that space, and Deborah MacKay Dance moved to the Village of Webster, where it would remain for 26 years. As more classes were added and more students signed up, it became clear that more parking and classrooms were desperately needed. So in 2015 Debbie purchased the old Webster Inn building at 1695 Ridge Rd. (just east of Salt), where the studio now boasts three classrooms and lots more private parking. The classes, too, have expanded, and now include pointe, contemporary, theater, hip hop, conditioning, and kindergarten development.

Classes are offered for children as young as 3 years old, and most students continue to train at the school through their high school graduation. Many have been awarded college scholarships for dance, and several have turned professional, dancing for companies including the Carolina Ballet Theater, Paul Taylor II and the Rochester City Ballet.

A few photos from a recent rehearsal

Deborah MacKay School of Dance’s continued success can be attributed in large part to Debbie’s philosophy.

“Every student counts, whether they dance one day a week or five,” she wrote. What we do at the studio goes far beyond dance education and technique; we strive to inspire students to be successful and the best people they can be. Teamwork, dedication and perseverance are qualities we hope to pass on as students graduate from our school.

And while there’s been a lot of dancing and a lot of performances in the last 40 years, for Debbie, the best part about teaching dance is — and always has been — the people.

The relationships you develop over the years are the backbone of the business. My teachers are all alumni and we have many second-generation students. Parents of graduated students still help out in the office, making props, or volunteering at our yearly show. Several of our alumni are still friends to this day, and I hope most people hold onto good memories of their time at the school.

A good example of how committed Debbie is to sharing her passion for dance came from Michelle Gibbs, a parent whose two daughters, Maren and Hollis, have been dancing for seven years. Her son Parker, however, “can’t dance, just like me,” she laughed. “My son has never taken a dance class,” she said, “but he fell in love with theater in school. I asked Debbie if there was a class he could take.”

So Debbie created a brand new theater dance class for Parker and a bunch of other kids who don’t want, or need, the traditional dance class experience.

Community members are invited to help celebrate the Deborah MacKay Dance School’s 40th anniversary by attending this weekend’s show, Encore ’24! It will feature some of the school’s favorite performances, more than 30 different dances representing the entire gamut of styles. It will be held Saturday June 1 at 6:30 p.m. and Sunday June 2 at 3 p.m., at Webster Schroeder High School, 875 Ridge Rd. Tickets are $16 if purchased before Saturday, when the process goes up to $18. Click here to reserve your seats.

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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 “Subscribe” link on the right side of this page (or all the way at the bottom of the page if you’re on your phone).

(posted 5/29/2024)

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Photos from the Memorial Day Parade

27 May

The sun did not shine brightly this year, as it usually does, on the Village of Webster’s annual Memorial Day Parade. For that matter, this was the first year in recent memory that the weather has been anything other than hot, with clear blue skies.

Perhaps due to the threat of rain, this year’s crowds along South Ave. and Main St. seemed rather light, and the parade itself even shorter than before (and it seems that ever since COVID, the parade has been attracting fewer marchers). But that was probably a good thing, given the weather; the last of the marchers had just reached Webster Rural Cemetery as it started to sprinkle, so everyone had a chance to pull out their rain gear and umbrellas before it got too heavy.

The post-parade memorial ceremony was held as scheduled, albeit a bit dampened by the rain. All of the honored veterans and dignitaries huddled under one pop-up canopy, or by the side of the building to stay dry. The marching band members and Scouts weathered the storm, but in smaller numbers. And none of the Scouts chose to place flowers at the base of the crosses when given the opportunity, which is always one of my favorite parts of the ceremony.

It was a very nice ceremony as usual. It’s always the same every year, but the solemn prayers and speeches always manage to remind the assembled crowd what this day is really all about — not barbecues and family gatherings and a three-day weekend, but to honor those who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our country.

Thank you to all who organized and participated in today’s events.

Click here to see pictures from the parade and memorial ceremony.

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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 “Subscribe” link on the right side of this page (or all the way at the bottom of the page if you’re on your phone).

(posted 5/27/2024)

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Heritage Square Museum opens next weekend

26 May

Have you discovered Heritage Square Museum yet?

Heritage Square Museum is a 19th-century living history museum, located just 12 minutes east of the Village of Webster on Ontario Center Rd. It features ten individual buildings spread across 13 beautiful acres, which illuminate what life was like for many of the Town of Ontario’s earliest settlers.

I only really discovered the museum myself last September when I accepted an invitation to stop by during one of their community open house days and see what it was all about.

It’s a pretty cool place, offering a very educational and entertaining experience for the entire family. (Here’s the blog I wrote about my visit.) It’s really a hidden gem, which is why I’m happy to pass along news of some of their upcoming events.

The museum is opening for the season next weekend, with guided tours on Saturday June 1 from 1:30 to 4 p.m., and an ice cream social on Sunday June 2, also from 1:30 to 4 p.m., featuring live oldies music by Patrick Runne and Cheap Datez.

Opening weekend is a great chance to check out the museum, maybe absorb some history, and sit outside eating an ice cream while enjoying good music.

Can’t make it on opening weekend? The museum is open every weekend through Sept. 29, offering guided tours from 1:30 to 4 p.m. for a small fee. (Last tour starts at 3 p.m.)

If you like what you see, consider signing the kids up for one of Heritage Square Museum’s Stepping Back in Time children’s programs:

  • Thursday June 27, 10 to 11:30 a.m.: Games and Toys of the 1860s (register by June 13)
  • Thursday July 25, 10 to 11:30 a.m.: School Fun in the 1860s (register by July 11)
  • Thursday August 22, 10 to 11 a.m.: Daily Life in the 1860s (register by Aug. 8)

The programs are designed for children ages 5-10, and all three programs are free, but registration is required by calling Judy at 585-271-4925.

Each child may be registered for one or more programs, and each child must be accompanied by an adult. Children are encouraged (but not required) to dress like a child of the 1860s.

Heritage Square Museum is located at 7147 Ontario Center Rd., Ontario.

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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 “Subscribe” link on the right side of this page (or all the way at the bottom of the page if you’re on your phone).

(posted 5/25/2024)

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Webster community mailbag

25 May

The Chorus of the Genesee invites YOU

Are you a guy who loves to sing, or do you know a guy who loves to sing? Webster’s very own Chorus of the Genesee is hosting a Guest Night on Tuesday, June 4 at 7 p.m. at the Harmony House, 58 E. Main St. in the Village of Webster.

Learn more about the Chorus, who they are and what they do. There’ll be singing, snacking and socializing. Click here to find out more.

Yoga at the Gazebo

Molly Flaherty, owner of M/Body Webster, is hosting FREE outdoor community yoga classes in Veterans Memorial Park on North Ave. every Sunday morning from 10 to 11 a.m. through Sept. 8.

While there’s no charge, registration is required. Click here to register. This event is being held in conjunction with the Webster BID and Webster Chamber of Commerce.

Day of Caring at The Webster Arboretum

Thursday May 23 was the annual Day of Caring, and the Webster Arboretum sent along this report on what their volunteers got accomplished:

“The Day of Caring, sponsored by United Way, is the community’s single largest volunteer effort, helping local nonprofits with projects, or ‘needs’, that they may not otherwise have resources for. We would like to thank Carestream Health, TRSS, Rockwell Automation, Hillside Children Center, Excellus, Paychex and Bond, Schoennay & King for supporting the Webster Arboretum. (Thursday) these groups came out in force to weed, mulch and beautify the Webster Arboretum. Thanks to their hard work we look better than ever. Stop by and enjoy the benefits of their labor.”

And don’t forget about these upcoming June Events at the Arboretum:

  • Composting workshops, Wednesday June 5 from 10 to 11 a.m. or Tuesday June 25 from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. The presenter will be Barbara Cummings from the Wayne County Master Gardener Program. No registration is required.
  • Program about peonies, the “queen of flowers,” Sunday June 9 at 6:30 p.m. Arboretum board member George Riehle will give a tour and present the program, focusing on the care and cultivation of peonies and tree peonies. Please register at the Webster Arboretum website. 
  • The Music at the Arb series continues this summer when Jazz Generation performs at the Arboretum gazebo on Thursday June 20 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. The performance is weather-dependent. Bring your chairs, blankets, snacks and beverages. There’s no cost and registration is not necessary.

The Webster Arboretum is located at 1700 Schlegel Rd.

Miracle Field announces inaugural golf tournament

This is exciting news from our friends at Challenger Miracle Field. They’ve just announced they’ll be hosting their first-ever golf tournament on Monday Sept. 9 at Irondequoit Country Club.

The Early Bird Golf Package will go for $1,000 a team if purchased before June 30, when the price will go up to $1,100. Packages include a round of golf for four people, golf carts, lunch and dinner.

Sponsorships are available for individuals and businesses beginning at $200.

Click here to register for the tournament and click here for more information about sponsorships.

Special Olympics Returns to Schroeder Campus

This notice from the Webster CSD:

Webster Central School District will once again host the Northeast Monroe County Special Olympics Track and Field Day.

Student athletes from nine area schools will compete throughout the day on Wednesday, May 29 at the Webster Schroeder High School track. Opening ceremonies will begin at 9:45 a.m. with the New York State Police Torch Relay slated to arrive around 10:15 a.m. Competitions will begin immediately following. Webster Schroeder, Webster Thomas, East Irondequoit, West Irondequoit, Penfield, Creekside, Mary Cariola, Greece Athena, and Fairport high schools will all be represented, competing in a variety of track, field, and adaptive events.

New this year will be several unified events. Unified Sports joins people with and without intellectual disabilities on the same team. It was inspired by a simple principle: training together and playing together is a quick path to friendship and understanding. In Unified Sports, teams are made up of people of similar age and ability.

Additionally, Special Olympics NY will again offer more opportunity for age-appropriate sport activities for younger children. Their Young Athletes program, for ages 2-7, offers a variety of motor learning stations that introduces athletes to play and develops skills that lead to sport-specific movements and activities. Developmental Sports, for ages 8-11, is a step up from Young Athletes and focuses on skill development in sport activities. Both of these Special Olympics programs are designed to prepare younger athletes for authentic Special Olympics competition.

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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 “Subscribe” link on the right side of this page (or all the way at the bottom of the page if you’re on your phone).

(posted 5/25/2024)

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Village’s Edna Struck Park is rededicated

24 May

After more than three years of TLC, including planting new grass, trees and flowers, and installing a new stone and memorial plaque, Edna Struck Memorial Park is looking beautiful again. On Thursday May 9, a dozen local officials gathered to officially rededicate the 130-year old park in honor of the village’s “neighborhood gardener.”

Edna Struck Park is the little grassy median on the east side of the village where Lapham Park makes a slight jog at the corner of Elm St. Those of us who live in the village and walk those streets have come to take the pleasant little green space for granted. But not everyone knows the park’s rather interesting history, or that at one point many years ago, it was almost eliminated altogether.

Back in the 1890s, where the park now stands was actually part of a baseball field. Russell Lapham owned the property, which he rented to local businessmen for a baseball diamond, complete with a grandstand and ticket office. Home plate was located about where Edna Struck Park is now, and the pitcher’s mound was in the front yard of the home at the southeast corner of Lapham Park and Elm.

The Town of Webster team used the village field for four years, hosting teams from all around the county, until the Lapham family decided to convert the tract into building lots.

As the neighborhood grew, so did the little traffic island park. Early photos show a peaceful green space shaded by stately elms, with a sign warning drivers to “go to the right.”

Even with that warning in place, the island has been known to befuddle drivers. In the late 1960s, Curt Gerling, then editor of the Webster Herald, wrote an article suggesting the island be removed after he had trouble negotiating the curves one night. Concerned about the article, several neighbors came together and decided the best way to save the park was to make it more attractive, planting crabapple trees and petunias.

One of those neighbors was Edna Struck, who lived on Park Ave. and became known as the “First Lady of Lapham Park.” For years, Edna carefully tended to the trees and flowers. She also took care of many gardens on Park Ave. and Lapham Park and the flowers at the United Methodist Church. After she passed in 1991, her neighbors erected a marker in her honor, identifying Edna as the “Neighborhood Gardener.”

The unpretentious little green space quietly beautified the Lapham Park neighborhood for more than 25 years, and in 2005 was designated an official local landmark. Then, in 2019, it once again befuddled a driver.

In February of that year, someone was driving down Lapham Park much too fast and, instead of navigating the jog in the road, plowed right through the park, mowing down the trees and plants, and inflicting significant other damage.

Once everything got cleaned up, efforts began to bring the island back to its original beauty, led by the village’s Historic Preservation Committee. It was slow going, but eventually a new design was drawn up, trees and shrubs were planted, and the stone and memorial plaques replaced.

And on May 9, Edna Struck Memorial Park was officially rededicated in honor of “our neighborhood gardener.” So next time you stroll by, pause a moment to appreciate this little park’s long history, and remember Edna.

Assembled local officials at the dedication

Many thanks to Karen Buck and Webster Town Historian Lynn Barton for the photos and background information for this blog.

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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 “Subscribe” link on the right side of this page (or all the way at the bottom of the page if you’re on your phone).

(posted 5/24/2024)

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Memorial Day Parade details

23 May

Webster’s Memorial Day Parade, kind of the unofficial kick-off to the summer season, takes place on Memorial Day, Monday May 27.

Here are the details:

  • 9:00 a.m.:  All groups participating in the parade will assemble at Spry Middle School on Sanford Street. All active duty and ex-service men and women are invited to take part in the parade. Any veterans who would like to ride in the bed of an Army truck are asked to be at Spry by 9 a.m.
  • 9:50 a.m. (approx.): Parade arrives at Webster Rural Cemetery.
  • The Remembrance Ceremony will begin at approximately 10 a.m., or whenever everyone arrives and gets settled.
  • 9:30 a.m.:  Parade moves out from Spry, down South Avenue, turning west on Main Street and proceeding to Webster Rural Cemetery.

In addition to honored active military members, auxiliary members and veterans, also expected to march in this year’s parade are the Webster High School Marching Band, Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts, firefighters and more. Click here to see a gallery of photos from last year.

This is always a very nice parade, and the ceremony that follows it at Webster Rural Cemetery is always moving. I highly recommend bringing your children to see both the parade and the ceremony, so they might begin to understand the huge debt we owe our servicemen and women.

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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 “Subscribe” link on the right side of this page (or all the way at the bottom of the page if you’re on your phone).

(posted 5/23/2024)

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St. Rita Fiesta returns with some new attractions

22 May

I’ve always loved a good home-town festival. That’s why I love the annual St. Rita Fiesta; even more than the Firemen’s Carnival, it brings me right back to the days of the fair I looked forward to every summer when I was growing up in small-town Owego.

And when I heard that this year’s festivities were going to be even bigger and better than ever, I immediately put it on my calendar.

The 69th annual St. Rita Fiesta will take place on Friday May 31 and Saturday June 1 at St. Rita Church, 1008 Maple Drive in West Webster.

Everyone’s favorite features will be back this year, including the famous Fiesta Food Tent with the also famous fish fry (Friday only) and Chicken BBQ (Saturday only), the Sweets Booth, carnival games with prizes, inflatables for the kids, the money wheel and pull tabs, a plant sale, book sale, and lawn games.

PLUS Irish dancers, karate and Robotics team demos, a talent show, an inflatable archery game, art station, the “Dunk the Deacon,” and live music from Roll the Dice, All In Brass Band and Count On It All Joy.

PLUS PLUS this year, the Fiesta is introducing pony rides for the kids, and is bringing back line dancing. Newer attractions will also include a mini golf course, giant spin art, a corn hole tournament and free bingo. And don’t forget to take a chance (or several) on the raffle baskets and $5,000 Spectacular Raffle Drawing.

Basically, there’s a TON of stuff going on both days for children and adults. Admission is free, and there’s plenty of free on-site parking, with handicap spaces available. A portion of the proceeds will benefit Meals on Wheels.

Here are the details:

69th annual St. Rita Fiesta, Friday May 31 from 5 to 9 p.m. and Saturday June 1 from 2 to 9 p.m. Check the flyer below for details on when your favorite activities are happening. You can also visit the Fiesta Facebook page or website for regular updates

St. Rita Church is located at 1008 Maple Dr. in West Webster.

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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 “Subscribe” link on the right side of this page (or all the way at the bottom of the page if you’re on your phone).

(posted 5/22/2024)

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Color Webster Green hosts free composting workshop

21 May

Everyone can compost, even kids!

That’s the message the great local group Color Webster Green wants to share with you at a free composting workshop being held at the Webster Recreation Center from 10 to 11 a.m. on Saturday June 1.

Color Webster Green is a group of Webster residents committed to helping our community be more green, improve energy efficiency and use environmentally-friendly practices. They invite everyone in the community — adults, kids, whole families — to join that effort and learn about composting at the hour-long workshop.

Doug Carney from Impact Earth will make a presentation all about composting, including the benefits, dos and dont’s, and how to get started. It will take place in room 303 at the Webster Recreation Center, 1350 Chiyoda Dr., and light snacks will be provided. Registration is NOT necessary.

Please bring the kids. It’s good for them to learn at an early age how important it its to care for our environment. And they can even plant a seed in compost to take home.

To find out more about Color Webster Green, check out their website here. If you have any questions, email colorwebstergreen@gmail.com.

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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 “Subscribe” link on the right side of this page (or all the way at the bottom of the page if you’re on your phone).

(posted 5/21/2024)

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Historic Forest Lawn neighborhood recognized

20 May

Every May, to recognize National Historic Preservation Month, the Webster Museum honors a historic property with a handsome plaque. This year, that honoree was not an individual property, but an entire neighborhood.

At the Webster Town Board meeting on Thursday May 17, Sharon Pratt from the museum’s Historic Properties Committee presented a plaque to the Forest Lawn neighborhood, represented by current Forest Lawn resident Mark Gunther.

Forest Lawn is a lakeside community neighborhood with its own mayor and a long history. Samuel Pierce, an early settler, bought and farmed 73 acres along the lake beginning in 1850. His son Horace and an attorney friend, George D. Forsyth, saw potential commercial opportunities in developing the land due to its proximity to the lake and proposed a railway line. In 1888, the Forest Lawn community began with the construction of a hotel. Shortly after, the land was divided into lots which were sold for summer cottages. In the years since, the cottages were all replaced with permanent homes. It is that date — 1888 — which is inscribed on the plaque.

The plaque program grew out of a survey of historic properties which a small group of museum volunteers tackled about more than 20 years ago. They especially were looking for homes that were built before 1902 which had enough of their historical integrity that their original owners would still recognize them.

The list they came up with was a long one. There were so many properties that it took a few years to compile their information, going to each house in turn, filling out a form and taking photos. In 2007 they decided to take all that information and propose a commemorative plaque program to the town. It would be a great way to recognize the town’s visual history, they argued, and a way for the town to say thank you to the homeowners who are putting in the time and effort to maintain the homes so they retain their original charm.

The town agreed. In 2008 the Historic Properties Committee presented its first 10 plaques, and have continued the program with the Town’s blessing every year since, handing out several plaques every May to commemorate Historic Preservation Month.

Most of the plaques that have been presented have gone to homes and business properties, but the committee has recently decided to start recognizing entire neighborhoods as well. Forest Lawn is the first historic neighborhood to receive that recognition.

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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 “Subscribe” link on the right side of this page (or all the way at the bottom of the page if you’re on your phone).

(posted 5/20/2024)

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