Archive | December, 2025

Looking back at the year in blogs

30 Dec

As I like to do at the end of every year, a few days ago I took a stroll back through all of the blogs I wrote in 2025. It’s always a fun exercise, as I review all of the events, business openings and closings, people and places that I found to share with you all. They reflect the extraordinary diversity of people, places and events we have here in Webster, and how close-knit this town is.

In the last 12 months, counting today, I posted 334 blogs. That works out to about 28 blogs every month. And thanks to the wonders of the Internet, I managed to keep up that pace even though I was in Prague for six weeks. It’s also interesting (at least to me) to note that the blogs were viewed more than 238,000 times. Fourteen of the top twenty blogs were about new businesses, the most popular one being an update on The Coach renovations — which was my best-read blog of the year.

As in previous years, my photo galleries following events like the Trick or Treat Trail and Fireman’s Parade were also big draws, and my History Bits — highlighting local history — are also still very popular.

If you’ve got a few minutes and would find it interesting, I’ve pulled out my favorite blogs from each month. My posts have run the gamut from special events to special people, new businesses to new trails. But you’ll notice that many of my favorite blogs are the ones where I share personal stories and everyday moments, the kinds of things that may not seem very exciting, but are what make our lives interesting and meaningful.

If something really strikes your fancy and you want to read any of them again, click through the hyperlink.

My two favorite blogs in January were about local history: the Irondequoit Bay Bridge and the first of my six-stop History Bit Webster Museum tour. The bridge blog was a follow-up on two blogs I’d posted the previous March when the Bay Bridge celebrated a birthday. Like those, this one about how the bridge had won an award also garnered several “likes.”

In February I caught up with a village neighbor of mine who will often hitch up her dogs to a dogsled and run them through village neighborhoods. This was a good example of a great community story which I was alerted to by one of my readers. Usually the best blog ideas come from my readers.

Jack’s Happy Hour celebrated its five-year anniversary in March. I first wrote about this nightly gathering of Brooksboro Dr. neighbors in 2022, when they were celebrating the occasion of having come together for a beverage every night for 1000 days straight. Last March they marked five straight years of gatherings. Every. Single. Night. For five years.That was definitely worth a blog.

In April, I posted what would become one of my most popular History Bits, about Willow Point Park. So many people fondly remember the old amusement park and shared a lot of memories. That month I also highlighted Webster Schroeder graduate Adam Marino, who was playing Frankie Valli in OFC Creations’ production of Jersey Boys.

My two favorite blogs in May were both personal reflections. I wrote about my recent trip to Prague, and how I successfully completed my first (and only) half marathon upon my return. Both were extremely memorable experiences. One of them I would like to do again. I’ll leave it to you to guess which one.

In June, my favorite blog was probably the shortest, when School Resource Officer David Herrle joined me in a dramatic reading of Mo Willems’ We Are in a Book, starring Elephant and Piggie. I was substituting at State Rd. Elementary when he happened to pop into the library and I corralled him. I love showing that police officers are fun-loving people, too.

I highlighted the WEBSTER bushes in July, the ones that welcome visitors to town on Rt. 104. They have some interesting history. I also enjoyed highlighting an unusual benefit to living in the Village of Webster when I wrote about how the Webster Marching Band practices at Spry Middle School during the summer and provides my own personal band concert.

In August, I followed up another blog idea submitted by a reader when I attended a Front Porch Pickin’ social event on Millcreek Run. I wrote a History Bit about the Forest Lawn Train accident, and shared some thoughts about some trail riding my husband and I did in Penn Yan and Waterloo, where we saw some beautiful scenery and explored some Civil War history.

I was honored to be invited to Jack’s Happy Hour again in September when the Brooksboro gang celebrated their 2,000-night anniversary. (They SAID it would be their last time, but I don’t think it was….) The whimsical Holt Rd. skeletons were back in action for Halloween, and I had to share this year’s cleverness with everyone. Also in September, I introduced everyone to young Pierson Farina and his “Returns for a Reason” initiative in which he collects returnables and donated the funds to local nonprofits.

In October I featured Judah Sealy — who doesn’t live in Webster but plays every year at the Webster Jazz Festival — who landed the role of Clarence Clemons in the new Bruce Springsteen movie. I also wrote another more personal piece about my running buddies and two races we did together that month.

In November, I caught up with Fritz Sierk, owner of The Coach, for an update on his repairs and renovations. It proved to be my best-read blog of the year. I also gave everyone a behind-the-scenes look at one of my favorite local organizations, the Friends of Webster Trails, when I tagged along to watch the installation of a trail counter. And I visited those crazy Holt Rd. skeletons again, who for the holiday season had been transformed into the Rockettes.

Finally, in December I posted my annual gallery of photos from the Village of Webster’s Winter Wonderland and Parade of Lights festivities. People love these galleries and it makes me feel good that I’m able to share events like this with people who can’t attend, especially those who now live out of state. And just a few weeks ago I wrote what might be my favorite blog of the entire year, about when a representative from Toter/Wastequip came to town and presented Pierson Farina with his very own “Returns For a Reason” toter, making his biggest Christmas wish come true.

Whew. If you’re still with me, thank you for reading this far. I hope you found it interesting to revisit some of this year’s blogs. And remember that if you ever think of something or see something that might make for an interesting blog, PLEASE drop me an email. As I said, the best blog ideas come from my readers.

Thanks again for reading, and all of your likes, comments and messages. Please have a safe and happy new year.

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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 12/30/2025)

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Discover winter hiking in Webster

29 Dec

It seems to me that this winter has already been a whole lot snowier, a lot earlier, than the last few years. Which means it’s the perfect time to get out and do some hiking on our Webster trails, ’cause as pretty as they are in the spring and fall, they’re exceptionally beautiful in the snow.

The Friends of Webster Trails has some great thoughts about doing just that. For starters, they’ve introduced their first-ever First Day Hike at 10 a.m. on Thursday, Jan. 1 at Whiting Rd. Nature Preserve (403 Whiting Rd.). The family-friendly guided hike will be about an hour over easy or moderate terrain. Dress in layers and have traction devices for your feet if necessary. Well-behaved, leashed dogs are welcome.  

Please register online for this event so they have an idea of how many to expect.  

The Friends’ “Loop of the Month” for January is the Hojack Trail. For winter hiking, a flat trail is a good choice, and the newly refinished Hojack Trail is an excellent option. You can create a walk of up to five miles by including the Michael A. Johnson Trail and the John Ungar Trail. And remember—if you get tired, you can always turn around when you reach your limit.

For you really dedicated hikers, how about signing up for the WNY Winter Hiking Challenge? This year’s challenge runs through March 20 and features 32 trails. Hikers need to earn 50 points to receive a cool finisher patch, a sticker and bragging rights. Many of the featured trails are in the Rochester area, and Four Mile Creek Preserve in Webster is among them. Click here to check out their website and register.

If you’re doing a lot of hiking this winter, consider picking up a Wegmans Passport to start logging your hikes and discovering new places to hike. Passports are available at Webster Wegmans stores and through Webster Parks and Recreation. Or you can download one here.

And, the Friends remind us, don’t forget to bundle up! Winter hiking can be more challenging, so a little extra preparation goes a long way. Be sure you’re familiar with the trail, check the forecast before heading out, and allow extra time, as hikes often take longer than they do in warmer weather. Dress in layers and wear sturdy footwear with good traction.

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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 12/29/2025)

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Upcoming fundraisers to benefit Webster Comfort Care Home

28 Dec

Today I’d like to highlight the Webster Comfort Care Home (WCCH) and a few fundraisers this great agency will be holding over the next several weeks.

The first is something I mentioned a few days ago in my mailbag, the very popular “12 Months of Flowers” promotion, held in conjunction with Kittelberger Florist. Buy a card for just $50, and present it every month at Kittelberger, 263 North Ave. to receive one fresh bouquet every month.

It’s a great way to treat yourself or a friend, and all proceeds will benefit the Comfort Care Home.

Cards can be purchased from Jan. 5 to 26, with cash, check or credit card and can be picked up at the Webster Comfort Care Home, 700 Holt Rd. For more information, click here.

The next event is what the WCCH calls their “Souper Bowl.” For just $15, you can order a quart of delicious soup, prepared by one of 11 different local restaurants and shops. Your choices are:

  • Jambalaya, provided by the Filling Station
  • Seafood Bisque, provided by Pub 235
  • Roasted Red Pepper and Tomato Bisque, provided by Pub 235
  • Chicken and Rice with Spinach (GF), provided by BC’s Chicken Coop
  • White Chicken Chili, provided by Flaherty’s Three Flags Inn
  • Creamy Mushroom Truffle, provided by Brimont Bistro
  • French Onion (Vegan), provided by Spirit and Abundance
  • San Marzano Tomato Basil with Sourdough Croutons, provided by Dough Boyz ROC
  • Broccoli Cheddar, provided by Annette’s Restaurant
  • Italian Wedding Soup, provided by Mama Lor’s
  • Buffalo Chicken, provided by the Main Dive
  • Chicken Quesadilla, provided by The Nutcracker

For another $5, you can even add four dinner rolls from Proietti’s to your order. And for just $5 more, you can add two oatmeal raisin or chocolate chip cookies. So basically, you can get an entire delicious meal for just $25, while supporting the Comfort Care Home at the same time.

PLUS, order five or more quarts and you’ll be entered to win a one-hour massage at Wellness 360.

Souper Bowl 2026 is pre-order–only, from Dec. 29 through Feb. 2. Orders must be received by Feb. 2 at 9 a.m. and can be picked up on Saturday, February 7, from 10 a.m. to noon at Webster Presbyterian Church, 550 Webster Rd. Click here for more information and to order.

Quantities are limited on many varieties, so be sure to order early!

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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 12/28/2025)

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Webster community mailbag

26 Dec

Webster Museum’s Festival of Trees

There’s still time to vote for your favorite mini-Christmas Tree at the Webster Museum’s Festival of Trees.

Nineteen beautifully decorated trees have been set up around the museum, decorated by local non-profit agencies. Community members are invited to examine them all and vote for their favorite one. Votes will be accepted through the end of December. You can stop by the museum on Tuesday, Thursday or Saturday from 2 to 4:30 to see them in person, or vote for your favorite online at the museum’s website.

Also, beginning Jan. 13, the museum will introduce their 2026 Quilt Exhibit, called “Stitched Stories: A Celebration of Vintage Quilts.” It will be on display in both the museum AND the Webster Public Library.

Start off the new year with a hike!

For the first time ever, Friends of Webster Trails will be hosting a free, guided First Day Hike at 10 a.m. on Thursday, Jan. 1 at Whiting Rd. Nature Preserve.

This family-friendly hike will be about an hour over easy or moderate terrain. Dress in layers and have traction devices for your feet if necessary. Well-behaved, leashed dogs are welcome. 

Please register online for this event so they have an idea of how many to expect.  

Friends of Webster Trails is a volunteer organization dedicated to maintaining the public trails throughout Webster, including the Hojack Trail which runs through the village.

Village of Webster Christmas Tree Recycling

Curbside collection of Christmas trees will take place during the Village’s monthly brush pick up, the week of Jan. 5. Remember:

  • Live trees only, no artificial trees
  • Remove ornaments and lights
  • Do NOT put tree in a bag or cover with plastic
  • Place tree at curb by Sunday, January 4

News from Webster Comfort Care

Webster Comfort Care Home will be selling Kittelberger 12 Months of Flowers Cards from Jan. 5 through Jan. 26.

Cost is $50 and entitles the bearer to one fresh new bouquet of flowers every month for 12 months. For more information, click here. Payment accepted by cash, check or credit card. Cards can be picked up at Webster Comfort Care Home, 700 Holt Rd., from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Women’s Club announces January meeting

The Women’s Club of Webster will host their monthly general meeting and luncheon on Thursday, Jan. 22, at Nucci’s Restaurant, 807 Ridge Rd., Webster. The gathering begins with social time at 11:15, a business meeting at noon and lunch at 12:30, followed by a speaker. This month, the Women’s Club welcomes Margery Morgan from Webster Hope, a nonprofit organization which helps Webster residents in need of assistance by providing food, clothing and emergency financial support.

Cost of the luncheon is $23, and will feature a buffet with chicken parmigiana, pork loin, greens and beans, oven-roasted potatoes, penne with sauce, and salad. Cost is $23. Please send your check made out to the Women’s Club of Webster by Jan. 15 to Carolyn Rittenhouse, 405 County Line Road, Ontario, 14519. If you think your check might be late, please call Carolyn at 585-265-1303.

At the library …

Here’s a sneak peek at some of the Webster Public Library‘s January programs:

For adults:

  • Elsa von Blumen: Famous Rochestarian and Female Bicyclist — Thursday, Jan. 15, 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Learn about Elsa, a famous Rochestarian in the 1800s. Registration is required.
  • Salaff String Quartet Concert — Thursday, Jan. 22, 4 to 5 p.m. Enjoy a variety of music from classic to folk, performed on string instruments. Registration is required.

For Teens and Tweens:

  • Make it Monday: Snowy Pine Cone Trees — Monday, Jan. 12, 6 to 7 p.m. Teens (grades 4 and up) and adults are welcome to attend this monthly craft night. All supplies will be provided. Registration is required.
  • T(w)een Library Club — Wednesday, Jan. 28, 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. For grades 4 and up. Do you like books, games, crafts, sharing your ideas, or just hanging out with your friends? This group is for you. Registration is required.

For the little ones:

  • Rubber Ducky Storytime — Tuesday Jan. 13, 10 to 10:30 a.m. Celebrate National Rubber Ducky Day with stories, songs and rhymes about ducks, plus an activity and simple craft. All ages are welcome.
  • Preschool Puzzle Morning –Tuesday, Jan. 27, 10 a.m. to noon. Stop by the storytime room to try an assortment of toddler-friendly puzzles.

And this stuff:

  • The Webster Library’s annual Webster-Area Preschool Fair will be held on Saturday, Jan. 10 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Meet representatives from many area preschools to learn about their programs, More to come about this.
  • Zaurac’s Space Music Show — Saturday, Jan. 17 from 1 to 3 p.m. Zaurac (also known as Steve Fentress), will perform a live celestial-themed keyboard concert complete with cosmic-themed songs and imagery. For all ages. Registration is required.
  • The January Community Exchange is cookbooks. Bring in some you don’t use anymore, and pick up some new-to-you ones.

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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 12/26/2025)

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Merry Christmas (1840s style)

24 Dec

For this Christmas Day 2025, I offer a reminder of what Christmas was like — or rather, NOT like — in the 1840s, courtesy of the Webster Museum. I pulled this piece directly from the Museum’s most recent Penny Farthing newsletter, just one of many fascinating historical nuggets included in this month’s edition. (More info at the end of the blog about how you can sign up for this informative publication.)

The article made a very interesting comparison between what the Christmas season was like back in the mild-19th century and what it’s like now. Specifically, here’s a list of things that are completely normal today, but would have been utterly impossible, unimaginable, or simply didn’t exist in an 1840s Christmas:

Decorations and the tree itself

  • Electric Christmas lights / fairy lights (first strung in 1882, not common in homes until 1900s–1920s)
  • Artificial Christmas trees (widespread only after 1930s plastic, 1960s aluminum, 1990s+ PVC)
  • Tinsel (invented 1870s in Germany, not common until 20th century)
  • Tree ornaments made of blown glass (mass-produced only from 1860s–1870s onward)
  • LED projector lights, inflatable lawn Santas, laser light shows
  • Putting up outdoor Christmas lights in November and leaving them until February

Gifts and wrapping

  • Wrapping paper with Santa/print designs (mass-produced only from ~1910s)
  • Stick-on gift tags, Scotch tape (1930), gift bags
  • Any toy with batteries, screens, or plastic, or electronics
  • LEGO, Barbie, video games, drones, smartphones, AirPods, etc.
  • Gift cards, Amazon vouchers

Santa Claus as we know him

  • Red suit with white fur trim (solidified by Coca-Cola ads 1931; before that he wore green, brown, blue, or bishop’s robes)
  • “Santa lives at the North Pole” (only fixed in the 1860s–1880s)
  • Flying reindeer named Dasher, Dancer, Prancer… (named in 1823 poem, but not universal until much later)
  • Leaving cookies and milk for Santa (an American 1930s tradition)

Food and drink

  • Candy canes (peppermint striped hook shape only from ~1880s–1900s)
  • Chocolate in Christmas stockings (milk chocolate bars only after 1875)
  • Cranberry sauce in a can with ridges
  • “Advent calendar” with chocolate (invented 1958)

Cards and greetings

  • Commercial Christmas cards (first one printed 1843 in London, By 1849 still a novelty.)
  • “Merry Christmas” was only just starting to replace “Happy Christmas” in the 1840s.

Media, music and entertainment

  • Jingle Bells (1857)
  • Silent Night in English (widespread only after 1860s)
  • White Christmas, All I Want for Christmas is You, Last Christmas, etc.
  • Any Christmas song played on radio, Spotify, or shop speakers 24/7
  • Watching It’s a Wonderful Life, Elf, Home Alone, Die Hard, or The Grinch on TV
  • Hallmark Christmas movies

A typical Christmas Day in the 1840s consisted of:

  • Church in the morning
  • A slightly-better-than-usual dinner (goose or beef instead of salt pork, maybe a small plum pudding if you could afford suet and raisins)
  • Parlor games, a new pair of socks or a handkerchief as the big present
  • Perhaps a single candle in the window

If you’d like to read more interesting historical tidbits like this, sign up to get the Penny Farthing delivered to your mailbox every few months. Each issue is packed with historical photos and stories, event notices, and information about the museum. If you’d like to be added to the distribution list, email WebsterMuseum@gmail.com.

Happy Christmas everyone. I hope you’re surrounded by friends and loved ones this holiday season and enjoy your own old-fashioned or newfangled traditions.

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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 12/24/2025)

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New Webster Public Library decorations celebrate winter

23 Dec

A few days ago I wrote about some pretty terrific outdoor holiday decorations you can check out this season, but today I want to highlight an indoor display which you don’t want to miss. It’s at the Webster Public Library, and while this display doesn’t feature any Christmas lights, it’s delightful and beautiful in so many other ways.

For the next several weeks, library patrons will be immersed in a winter wonderland as they attend programs and browse the bookshelves. Fanciful winter-themed decorations are sprinkled throughout the space, including huge cups of hot cocoa brimming with marshmallows and whipped cream, a forest of snow-covered pine trees, monstrous paper snowballs threatening to drop on you from the ceiling typewriters with earmuffs (these made me LOL) paper chains, stars, snowflakes and more. But the star of the show has to be the whimsical gondola lift which stretches from a sparkling mountain range on the far wall across the circulation desk area, its cars transporting a variety of stuffed animals which peek from their windows.

The imaginative pieces were created by Linda Liddle, Circulation & Technical Services Supervisor, and Library Clerk Katrina Viza. They started planning their display back in October and worked bit by bit in the ensuing weeks to craft the different elements, trying to incorporate recycled materials as often as possible. Some of the hot chocolate cups, for example, are made from big flower pots found a long the side of the road. The cup handles are fashioned from pool noodles, and the typewriter ear muffs are made from dusters.

The artists chose a wintry landscape rather than a holiday theme, allowing everyone to enjoy the work while harmonizing with the coming Winter Olympics.

The library is closed on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day but will be open again at 10 a.m. this Friday, and the display will be up through the Olympics. So there’s still plenty of time to check it out.

And don’t forget …

…When you head to the library, bring some new or hand-made winter items — gloves, hats or scarves — to put under the library’s Mitten Tree. All donations will be delivered to Webster Hope at the end of the year to share with our Webster neighbors in need.

The Webster Public Library is located at 980 Ridge Rd. at the rear of Webster Plaza.

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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 12/23/2025)

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Webelos Scouts visit Bella’s Bumbas to learn about disabilities

22 Dec

Two young Webelos Scouts recently got some first-hand experience understanding children with disabilities when they visited the Bella’s Bumbas workshop to see the organization’s operation.

Bella’s Bumbas is a non-profit grassroots organization run by Webster residents Marty Parzynski and Rebecca Orr, dedicated to building miniature wheelchairs for children with a wide variety of mobility issues.

John Wood and Declan Walluk, both fourth graders from Pack 250 in Penfield, began their visit by chatting with 5-year old Lyla Deane, who has spina bifida. Lyla, a kindergartner at East Palmyra Christian School, is in a more normal-sized wheelchair now but got her first of two Bella’s Bumba wheelchairs when she was just 18 months old.

With help from Den Leader Sarah Walluk, who prompted the Scouts and asked several of her own questions, the boys learned why Lyla is in a wheelchair and what spina bifida is (“when you have stuff pop out of your body,” Lyla explained, “and you have to get an x-ray and you have to get a shot and you have to get a wheelchair”). They learned how she wheels herself around and about the accommodations she gets at school, like using an elevator and having physical therapy sessions.

But they also learned that, just like other kids, Lyla takes a bus to school, enjoys music class, likes to play outside and climb on the “spidey-thing” (which, she assured us, does NOT attract spiders), and her favorite part of school is recess. And when Sarah asked Lyla if there’s anything she thinks is really hard to do because she has spina bifida and has to be in a wheelchair, her answer was immediate: “No.”

After their conversation, the boys worked with Marty to build a Bumba wheelchair.

Marty Parzynski shows Declan Walluk how to build a Bumba
Lyla with Declan and the Bella’s Bumba Declan built.

The visit was part of the Scouts’ effort to earn their Aware and Care Scouting Adventure badge, which has four requirements:

  • Do an activity that shows the challenges of a being visually impaired.
  • Do an activity that shows the challenges of being hearing impaired.
  • Explore barriers to access.
  • Meet someone who has a disability or someone who works with people with disabilities about what obstacles they must overcome and how they do it.

Den Leader Walluk said that, in addition to fulfilling one of the badge’s requirements, she hoped the visit would “inspire them to see how one person can start small and make a big difference.”

But perhaps the most important lesson learned was this: even though a kid might have a disability, kids are still kids. They like to play and sing and have friends — and recess is their favorite part of school.

An update on the new Bella’s Bumbas garage

Last spring, Marty and Rebecca realized they needed to do SOMETHING. They were rapidly running out of storage and workshop space. So they held a fundraising effort to raise money to replace their small and dilapidated garage with a 22′ by 30′ garage, complete with a concrete floor, shelving, and lots of room to expand. Their goal was to raise $60,000.

By the end of August, they’d met and exceeded that goal, raising $63,000. Construction began almost immediately, and the beautiful new garage is now standing. Rebecca and Marty would like to thank:

  • the anonymous Bella’s Bumba supporter who donated and installed a larger overhead door
  • Wm. B. Morse Lumber
  • Catalino Gutter Systems
  • the amazing team of volunteers who did all of the inside finishing work including il=insulation, heating, electrical, lighting and shelving
  • the amazing community members from Webster and beyond who supported the project with their donations from day 1

The overall project was headed up by volunteer Tom Dobbins with the shelving design by Joe Callan.

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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 12/21/2025)

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Check out these amazing Christmas light displays

21 Dec

A couple of weeks ago I wrote a blog about how much I enjoy driving around this time of year and seeing all of the Christmas lights. I invited readers to tell me if they knew of any particularly spectacular displays so I could share them with you. I received several emails and texts in response, and a few days ago I tracked down several of the recommendations I received.

Two of them in particular are blow-you-away amazing. Like, the kind of displays a city or town will set up in a park for people to drive through. These two are just that — set up along long driveways and expansive properties, hidden from the main roads, so you have to drive THROUGH them to experience their full glory. AND they’re so popular that the homeowners have turned them into fundraisers (keep reading to learn about that).

The first is located at 838 Shoemaker, created by the former owners of Hanks Ice Cream on North Ave. in the Village of Webster. Cindy Frank wrote about their display:

We use to do a light show at our house 20 years ago. And then when we owned Hanks, moved it up there for several years till we closed. All the decorations/lights & blow ups were in a trailer in the back. My husband wanted to recreate for our youngest grandchildren this year. He pulled out all the “Xmas stuff”; lots of damage from squirrels and mice but he’s been able to recreate a lot of it.

The Franks held an official lighting ceremony on the 13th (someone nearby even told me they heard fireworks), and will have the display lit from 5 to 9 p.m. every night through New Year’s. Look for the signs on the north side of Shoemaker Rd. and drive down Candy Cane Lane to see the spectacle.

The Franks’ display is also a fundraiser for Webster Comfort Care Home and 9 Mile Point Club, a local non-profit that supports needy families. Look for the collection mailbox along the driveway toward the end of the route.

There’s no way to adequately describe this display. Cindy sent a few photos which are below, but I also tried to capture most of it on video. It does a rather poor job of capturing the splendor, but you get the idea:

This next display is as spectacular as the Franks’ and is also a fundraiser.

You can see it at 1028 Bay Rd., down a (very bumpy) dirt driveway just north of the Bay Rd./Ridge Rd. intersection in West Webster. This stop was one of the last on my lights tour, so I didn’t have the energy to drive through it, but the traffic assistant (yes, it’s big enough for a traffic assistant) told me it stretched back for quite a distance. I did take a few photos:

This amazing display is a fundraiser for Camp Haccamo, a Rotary camp which serves children and adults with special needs.

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These two next Christmas light displays which readers shared with me are not as large-scale as those first two, but are spectacular in their own right:

1213 Severn Ridge

843 Independence Dr.

And on your travels, definitely make sure to head up to Lake Rd. This last display is courtesy Holly Anderson and her family, who have been doing this beautiful presentation for 30 years (video courtesy Holly):

These photos and videos don’t do justice to the incredible-ness of these displays, so make sure to head out in the next few days to see them for yourselves.

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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 12/21/2025)

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The Hojack elves are at it again

20 Dec

The snow is gone and temperatures aren’t TOO bad, so it’s a great time to take a walk along the Hojack Trail. And when you do, you might just come across a wee bit of holiday cheer.

An ambitious trail elf has once again added some cheerful decorations along the Hojack Trail between Drumm and Vosburg roads. Margaret Supinski was kind enough to snap a few photos and share them. This is at least the second year the decorations have appeared; around this time last year, Margaret sent along photos from the Hojack as well, which I posted in this blog.

Whoever’s responsible, thank you for spreading happiness and brightening our days!

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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 12/20/2025)

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No Facebook? No problem. Here’s another way to see my photos

19 Dec

I got an email recently from a reader, who asked an interesting question: Since he’s not on any social media platforms, is there any other way I could share my large photo galleries from special events other than posting them on Facebook?

It got me thinking that there are probably a lot of other people in the same boat. Even though I might take dozens of photos at certain events — like the recent Wreaths Across America Day and It’s a Wonderful Run 5K — I only put a few of them into the actual blog. It would be too cumbersome to post them all, so I dump them into a Facebook gallery. But not everyone can access Facebook, so they miss out on a lot.

So I pondered that problem a bit and came up with a solution: a shared Google file. Anybody who has the shared link can access it and see the photos.

So that’s what I’ve done, and I invite everyone to check out this link to make sure it works for you, especially if you’re not on Facebook. Right now it’s just one big file with sub-folders for individual events. But as I add more and more events, I’ll start offering links for just the sub-folders as well. And every time I put up a new gallery, I’ll include the link again.

Thanks for asking, Bruce!

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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 12/19/2025)

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