I received a couple of emails in the last few weeks with good news about two recent fundraising events.
The first was from Kevin Finn, who every year organizes the Beer Walk for the Village of Webster. This year’s walk was held on Saturday Oct. 19, and Kevin reports that the weather was perfect.
The event completely sold out its 200 available tickets. Participants strolled through the village, stopping at six businesses:
The Coach Sports Bar (where walkers picked up their wrist bands and glasses)
Jojo Bistro and Wine Bar
Finn’s Automotive (where Mayer’s Cider Mill sampled their hard ciders)
Roc Style Chicken and Burger
BC’s Chicken Coop
Lattimore Physical Therapy, where Rising Storm offered their locally-brewed beer
The event raised $3,300 for future Webster Business Improvement District events. A portion was also donated to the Harmony House to help fund their renovations.
The next day, I got this great news from the Webster Public Library’s annual Fall Book Sale, held Oct. 16 through 19: just through sales of $1 hardcover books and 50 cent paperbacks (plus $5 bags at the bag sale), the event managed to raise more than $6,000. The Kittelberger flower cards which were also being offered for sale were also a big hit; 200 of them were sold.
On a side note, I’ve also been told that a very good friend of the library — whom I only know as “Ted” — took it upon himself after the sale to rearrange the book sale area. He managed to more than double the available shelf space for both books and digital materials.
So next time you’re at the library, check out the newly organized space, which is just to the left as you come in the front door. Remember, even though the big Fall Book Sale is over, the book sale area is open all the time, and the prices are great.
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Lots of great events happening in November, so grab your calendar, because you’re gonna want to make some notes.
The next Family Scavenger Hunt is scheduled for this Saturday Nov. 2 from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Whiting Rd. Nature Preserve.
Participants will explore the park on a well-marked trail, completing a fun scavenger hunt along the way. Three different skill levels will be available for kids aged 2 to 12, so children of all ages can participate. Everyone who completes the hike can choose an autumn-themed prize.
Cost is $5 per child, and please preregister at the Webster Recreation Center website (look for program 301205-A). You can pay when you get to the hike. Sign in anytime between 10:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. The hunt will take place rain or shine, so dress for the weather.
A large variety of one-of-a-kind arts and crafts, lovingly made by local crafters, will be for sale at the Webster Arts and Crafts Sale on Saturday, Nov. 2 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., at the Webster Recreation Center, 1350 Chiyoda Dr.
Everything for sale is designed and handmade by the roughly 30 talented artisans who are taking part in the event, which this year will be held in the recreation center’s gym. There’s always something unique and special to find at the sale for people of all ages. Parking and entry are free.
The sale is a fundraiser for WSPS, the Webster Association of Senior Program Supporters, a non-profit organization made up of 65 drivers who volunteer their time to get Webster seniors and the disabled to their appointments, including the doctor, dentist, hair stylist and the bank. By sponsoring events like the Webster Arts and Crafts Sale, WSPS is able to provide the low-cost rides and fund its dispatchers and office expenses. WSPS is a lifeline for many people who no longer drive and would not be able to afford other forms of transportation.
Walk/Bike Webster event scheduled
If you’re a fan of getting around Webster on two feet or two wheels, or are interested in helping brainstorm ideas to improve walking and biking opportunities in Webster, then this next event is for you.
On Monday Nov. 4, from 6 to 7:45 p.m. there will be a Walk and Bike Webster event held in the Community Room at the Webster Public Library.
The purpose of the event is to start a conversation about getting around town without a car. The hope is to gather like-minded folks who want to work together to advocate for better walking, biking, and/or bus riding conditions within Webster.
The meeting will begin with a quick meet and greet at 6 p.m., followed by the film “Why We Bike,” created by Reconnect Rochester. Webster Town Council member Ginny Nguyen and Matthew Isles from Walk/Bike Irondequoit will then lead a panel discussion. Nguyen will talk about how the Town of Webster is promoting safe walking and biking, and Isles will talk about what Walk/Bike Irondequoit is doing.
There will also be a survey available for attendees to fill out, relaying their concerns to town officials. If you can’t make the meeting but would like to take the survey, click here.
As usual, the Webster Public Library has a whole schedule of entertaining activities coming up next month, designed for the whole family.
I pulled out this first one for special attention because it sounds very interesting. It’s called “Rethinking Thanksgiving — A Native American Perspective on an American Holiday.”
The library writes,
this lively, content-based presentation will give an overview of the history of this very misunderstood holiday. Participants will learn accurate and culturally appropriate information about the English settlers at Plymouth and the Wampanoag, the Native people who inhabited that area. We will discuss the actual events of 1621 in Plymouth, the relationship between the English settlers and the Wampanoag, and how this story became the holiday we know today. Participants will learn how Native People, particularly the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois), view the concept of “Thanksgiving.”
The program will be held on Wednesday, Nov. 6 from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. in the library’s Community Room. Registration is required. Click here to do so.
Here’s a quick look at some of the other programs coming up this month. For more information, check out the event section of the Webster Public Library website.
The Friends of the Webster Public Library’s annual hat sale is going on now. Adult hats start at $8, children’s hats at $4.
A Vintage Book Sale will be held on Saturday, Nov. 16 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Prices start at $8.
This month’s community collections are cookbooks and recipes, and the Keeping our Promise donation station.
For adults:
Bluegrass music presented by Group Therapy, Tuesday Nov. 19 from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Registration is required.
For the family:
Family Fun Night: STEAM, building creative structures. Monday Nov. 25, 6 to 7 p.m. No registration required.
Drop-In Board Game & Puzzle Day, Tuesday Nov. 26, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. No registration required.
The November luncheon meeting of the Women’s Club of Webster will be held on Thursday, Nov. 21 at the Penfield Country Club, 1784 Jackson Rd. This month’s speaker will be Evan Schutt from Schutt’s Apple Mill and Country Store.
Schutt’s has been a part of the local community since it first opened its doors in 1918 by Paul “Great Grandpa” Schutt. For more than 100 years, each generation has loved bringing us its delicious apples, sweet cider, and fried cakes. Evan will talk about his history of farming, tradition, family, and the mill.
The luncheon begins with a social mix-and-mingle at 11:15 a.m., brief meeting at 12:00 noon and lunch at 12:30 p.m. followed by Evan’s presentation. Cost for the luncheon is $22, with a choice of turkey melt, corned beef Reuben or apple salad. All choices include fresh fruit.
Send a check made out to WCW by November 14 to Carolyn Rittenhouse, 405 County Line Road, Ontario, NY 14519. Late registrations cannot be accepted this month. If you have questions or you think your check will be late, phone Carolyn at 585-265-1303.
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Last Sunday, our very own Webster Marching Band blew away the competition at this year’s state championships, held at the Dome in Syracuse, earning the title of New York State Champion in the Large School 2 (LS2) class. And they did it in impressive fashion, smashing a 20-year old scoring record.
The band competed in the LS2 class against eight other schools from all over the state. At the end of the day, only 8.6 points separated the nine schools. But Webster stood alone at the top, with 92.1 points, almost two full points ahead of second-place Kingston. It was the highest score recorded in the last 20 years for LS2.
This year’s show, with music written by David Hamilton, is called “Death of Star.” Band parent Michelle Lowe described it for me:
It takes you on a captivating journey through a star’s life cycle, from its brilliant beginnings to its transformation into a black hole. The show opens with vibrant music and colors, representing a massive star in its prime, radiating energy and life. As the star expands into a red giant, its fiery red and orange glow creates a stunning view that dominates the night sky.
As time passes, the star’s core becomes unstable, reflecting its exhaustion as it depletes fuel. Our ballad in the second movement represents the outer layers drifting away into space due to powerful winds and planetary nebulae. Eventually the star’s core collapses, resulting in a supernova explosion that marks the end of its life.
The final movement is chaotic and intense, depicting the star’s explosive end and subsequent collapse into a black hole. The music shifts to a darker tone as the core crumbles and condenses, creating an event from which nothing can escape. The field transforms into a swirling vortex, echoing the fiery chaos of our star’s ultimate sacrifice and transformation into a black hole.
Wow. Just wow. I wish I had seen it. No wonder the judges were impressed.
This is the band’s third state title, also winning in 1989 and 2021. In 2021, with a score of 90.8, their show “Unbroken” also beat out eight other schools, and marked the first time they achieved more than 90 points. This year’s score was even higher.
The Webster Marching Band is made up of 72 student musicians and performers drawn from all four Webster secondary schools: Spry Middle School, Willink Middle School, Webster Schroeder High School and Webster Thomas High School. Each band season begins with extensive training in the spring, followed by parade season, summer show season, fall competition season, band camps, weekly rehearsals and an eight-week competitive season. It’s a grueling schedule, and it’s great to see that all the hard work these musicians put in this year was so richly rewarded.
The band was welcomed home Sunday evening by cheering crowds and a fire department escort.
Congratulations to the all of the Webster Marching Band musicians and performers. Your hard work payed off big time. You truly do make Webster proud.
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If you happened to be in the Village of Webster during Saturday’s Trick or Treat Trail, then perhaps you were one of the lucky ones to get a not-so-sneak-peek at the new Mary Wee Pub opening at 2 West Main in the old Barry’s Old School Irish space.
Owner Mark Petzing was there with some family and friends handing out candy and giving tours of the almost completed pub. I’ve posted a few blogs in the last few months chronicling Mark’s progress, but I haven’t been in there in more than three weeks, so I made sure to stop in and see where things stand.
I was blown away by how much has been accomplished in those last three weeks.
Granted, the floor still needs to be finished and the kitchen is still in disarray. But the indoor bar is looking beautiful, the spacious indoor/outdoor bar is ready for pints, the jukebox has been installed, and there are a few special touches that people are really going to love, like how the restroom door looks like an Irish telephone booth and the ceiling is emblazoned with the symbols from Ireland’s four provinces.
Best of all, Mark says all the final touches should be completed within a few weeks. So watch for news of a grand opening, hopefully sometime before the end of November.
Here are a few more photos:
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Kudos to the Webster Recreation Center for pulling off yet another successful Pumpkins on Parade festival, held Saturday night.
I’ve been attending this event every year since it began in 2020, and it gets better every year. I called it a “festival” above on purpose, because that’s really what it feels like when you emerge from the pumpkin path into the Rec Center’s big sports fields and see thousands of people playing games, enjoying the free snacks, and taking family photos.
What makes this event especially entertaining is how the Rec Center keeps changing it up, adding new elements every year. This year they got particularly creative. Ghostly displays were set up in several areas along the path. A real live witch, complete with a bubbling cauldron, swept back and forth through her witchy lair, cackling and berating anyone who dared to walk by (which was everyone). And the guys from the Parks Dept. came up with a really fun idea: they enclosed the pavilion at First Responders Park and turned it into a not-so-scary haunted house.
After leaving there, paraders followed the pumpkin path into the great fields, where even more fun awaited. There was a hay bale maze for the kids, a bonfire, pumpkin tic-tac-toe, a roller slide for the kids, bowling, family photo areas, and of course free cider, apples and donuts.
Recreation Director Katie Kovar estimated that between the path and displays, there were almost 800 jack-o’-lanterns this year, so thank you to everyone who carved one or more (and to the Rec Center staff members who carved hundreds of their own). The weather was perfect, bringing out thousands of adults and kids to enjoy this family event.
I’m already looking forward to next year to see what the Rec Center will cook up.
email me at missyblog@gmail.com. “Like” this blog on Facebook and follow me on Instagram and Threads (@missyblog)
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What a spectacular autumn day we had Saturday for the Village of Webster’s annual Trick or Treat Trail. The gorgeous sunshine and not-too-hot, not-too-cold temperatures brought thousands of adults and children to the streets of the village. I think our small business owners enjoyed the day as much as the kids, although some of the first-time participants were a bit unprepared for the number of trick or treaters that would come by.
email me at missyblog@gmail.com. “Like” this blog on Facebook and follow me on Instagram and Threads (@missyblog)
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If you love live theater, then you’ll be excited to know that all four of our secondary schools are preparing right now to stage plays this spring. Here are the details:
The fun begins on January 31 and Feb. 1 when the Willink Drama Club presents the classic hit Annie, Jr.
Based on the popular Tony-winning musical, the youth edition is a perfectly-sized adaptation for adults and kids of all ages. The spunky little orphan will warm the hearts of your entire family.
Show times are Friday Jan. 31 at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday Feb. 1 at 1 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. at Willink Middle School, 900 Publishers Parkway. Stay tuned for ticket information.
The following week, Feb. 6 to 8, Webster Schroeder High School, 875 Ridge Rd., will present the hit Broadway musical, Hadestown. The “teen edition” of the movie is still a full-length production — a haunting, jazzy folk opera which follows Orpheus’ mythical quest to overcome Hades and regain the favor of his one true love, Eurydice. Hadestown has only very recently been released, and Webster Schroeder is the first in our area to get it.
Spry Drama Club will present the musical comedy Once Upon a Mattress Youth Edition. on March 7 and 8 at Spry Middle School, 119 South Ave.
This one-hour adaptation of the beloved musical tells the fairy-tale story of Prince Dauntless’ quest to find a bride. None so far had been able to pass the queen’s impossible tests, especially the Sensibility Test.
Stay tuned for more information about this lighthearted, funny and heartwarming performance.
Finally, Webster Thomas High School caps off the season with their production of Legally Blonde the Musical from March 27 to 29 at the school, 800 Five Mile Line Rd. I don’t know the show times or ticket information about this one, either, so check back here or the district website for times and ticket information as performance dates near.
Also coming to the stage in later this year and in 2025:
The Diary of Anne Frank, Nov, 21-23, Webster Thomas High School
Willink student-run play, April 4-5 (title not yet announced)
Webster Schroeder Drama production, May 1-3 (not yet announced)
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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).
Here’s your last reminder about two fun events coming up this weekend and next in the Village of Webster.
This Saturday Oct. 26, the village’s ever-popular Trick-or-Treat Trail returns to downtown streets from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Basically, for three hours, kids (and parents) can wander the village and pop in and out of dozens of businesses, trick-or-treating. The costume contest this year will begin at the same time as the trail, right at 11 a.m., at Village Hall. It only takes a few minutes to file through the Community Meeting Room and have your photo taken for the judging. Then you can head out for trick-or-treating.
And don’t forget to stop by the Webster Volunteer Fire Dept., where they’ll be hosting their annual open house, complete with demonstrations, and then take the short walk to Lapham Park to visit Webster Museum. The volunteers there always have some sort of scavenger hunt planned.
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This year’s Bourbon Bash takes place next weekend, Saturday Nov. 2 from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Harmony House, 58 East Main St.
Local distilleries including Black Button and Smokin’ Tails, and distributors including Woodford Reserve, Buffalo Trace and others will be available for sampling. Several Village of Webster restaurants will provide food samples to complement the bourbons. The event will also feature raffles and bourbon products for sale.
Click here for tickets. They cost $33.85, which includes the Eventbrite fee.
ID is required at entry.
The Trick or Treat Trail and the Bourbon Bash are brought to you by the Webster Business Improvement District. Stay tuned for more information about the next big event, Winter Wonderland, scheduled for Saturday Dec. 7 beginning at 3 p.m.
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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).
Chances are you’ve seen the WSPS automobile driving around town. Based at the Webster Recreation Center, the Webster Association of Senior Program Supporters is a group of volunteers who provide transportation for retirees and disabled residents who live within the Webster School District. They help residents get to and from medical and dental appointments, and provide rides to pharmacies, banks, barbers, hairdressers and tax preparation services.
In the last year, the all-volunteer driving force completed 4,188 trips, measuring 51,850 miles, and expended 3,907 volunteer hours servicing more than 200 of our Webster neighbors.
The volunteer drivers are the backbone of the organization; without them the service would not exist. Webster is indebted to them for their community spirit and service. These selfless volunteers are always happy to help and assist the retirees and disabled folks living in the Webster School District.
Here are a few photos from the afternoon (thank you to Dave Norton for the photos):
The WSPS currently has 64 volunteer drivers, but with the number of seniors and disabled folks in the Webster School District increasing, they’re always in need of more volunteers. For more information on how you can join the team, call 585-216-7829 or visit the group’s website. Monetary contributions are also more than welcome, and go to support the WSPS operating budget.
Here’s an easy and fun way to help!
WSPS is hosting an indoor craft sale on Saturday Nov. 2 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Webster Recreation Center, 1350 Chiyoda Dr. They’re expecting more than 40 vendors, so make sure to add this one to your holiday shopping calendar.
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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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My regular blog readers already know how much I love the Friends of Webster Trails (FWT). These two special events they’re involved with in a few weeks are great examples why.
The first is a Family Scavenger Hunt on Saturday Nov. 2 from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Whiting Rd. Nature Preserve.
Participants will explore the park on a well-marked trail, completing a fun scavenger hunt along the way. Three different skill levels will be available for kids aged 2 to 12, so children of all ages can participate. Everyone who completes the hike can choose an autumn-themed prize.
Cost is $5 per child, and please preregister at the Recreation website (look for program 301205-A). You can pay when you get to the hike. Sign in anytime between 10:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. The hunt will take place rain or shine, so dress for the weather.
That evening, also Saturday Nov. 2, from 7 to 8:30 p.m., the Friends’ annual Hot Cocoa Hike will be held along the Chiyoda Trail behind the Webster Recreation Center.
The kids and adults alike are welcome to this family-friendly hike through the woods of the Chiyoda trail. The loop is an easy 1.3 miles long, and includes a stop for socialization and hot cocoa.
The trail will start at the west side of the Parks and Rec building and be marked by lights along the way. This is not a guided event. You are responsible for finding your way to the hot cocoa and back by following the marked path.
Participants are asked to leave the parking lot between 7 and 8 p.m., to arrive at the hot cocoa stop by 8:30 p.m. Please leave your dog at home; you can bring them back to enjoy the trail another time. Please bring a flashlight and your own travel mug. This is a carry-in carry out event.
There’s no cost, but please register here so the Friends know how many people to expect.
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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).
I feature the people and places and events that make Webster the wonderful community it is — and throw in some totally-not-Webster-related personal ramblings every once in a while as well.
I love it when readers send me news about the great things happening in their schools or the community, so please email me anytime at missyblog@gmail.com
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