There’s so much to love about Webster: our thriving businesses, excellent schools, a charming village center, and a calendar full of music and special events. It’s a lively, bustling place. But what I love most is how, even with all that activity, Webster still manages to hold on to its community-focused, small-town charm.
That spirit was on full display last Wednesday night, when Todd and Kristen Baitsholts opened their spacious front porch for three hours of music and neighborly fun. They called it Front Porch Pickin’, an open invitation for anyone to stop by, play a tune, or simply enjoy meeting new people.
Todd and Kristen’s house sits on a sweeping corner in the Millcreek Run neighborhood just off of Rt. 250. Its location near the entrance to their neighborhood means that people frequently pass by, driving, biking or walking. Very often, they’ll stop to chat, so they’ve gotten to know some of their neighbors.
But “some” is just not good enough for Todd.
Todd “loves community,” Kristen said. “He thrives on it. He loves meeting people, talking to people. He even bought a container of dog bones so he can give one to everyone who walks by with a dog, so he can meet more people.” Hosting a music night seemed the perfect way to accomplish that.
“I like to sit around and play guitar with other people,” Todd said. “It’s a big neighborhood. There’s gotta be people in the neighborhood who like to play guitar, who wanna get together. … Good or bad, young or old, come down with a guitar.” So he made a sign board, set it up in the front yard and hoped his neighbors would come.
The cool, almost-raining weather threatened to turn the first Front Porch Pickin’ into a washout. By the end of the evening, however, a handful of friends and neighbors perched on stools with their guitars, or just stood by enjoying the music, taking advantage of Todd and Kristen’s hospitality to strum a bit, share some beverages and make new friends.
But even though the gathering itself was small, its spirit was big; exactly the kind of front-porch hospitality that gives Webster its small-town feel.
Todd said that once they get up and running, he’d like to host his Porch Pickin’ get-togethers once a month.
“I figure if we get a few regular people we’ll put out a set list of what we want to play and people can practice and come along and get better,” he said. “This is just the beginning.”
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(posted 8/20/2025)
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