Archive | December, 2025

Performance Hobbies named Webster Chamber Business of the Month

5 Dec

Congratulations to Performance Hobbies, honored as the December Business of the Month by the Webster Chamber of Commerce.

Performance Hobbies has been part of the fabric of Webster for more than four decades. It dates back to 1982 when it began as TMC R/C Cars on Gravel Rd. From the very beginning it was a family-owned passion project built on enthusiasm for radio-controlled cars and the joy of hands-on hobbies. As the business grew, it moved into the Village of Webster in 1984 and then to its current home at 15 West Main St. in 1991. For 43 years, the shop has been a destination for hobbyists of all ages.

Owner Tom McCoy will tell you that the best part of his job is simple: he gets to go to work and play with toys every day. The store offers everything from R/C cars and planes to models, drones, collectibles and more. They jokingly call themselves the only “adult toy store” ion the Village of Webster — a phrase that tends to raise eyebrows until customers see the kinds of “toys” they actually sell. It’s a fun little misunderstanding that has become part of the shop’s personality and charm.

Beyond the walls of the store, Performance Hobbies has been a steady supporter of the Webster community. They participate in all Village of Webster events, support air shows and race tracks and work closely with the Boy Scouts and several local church groups. Their willingness to show up, give back, and be part of what makes Webster special has never wavered.

With four employees, decades of experience, and a genuine love for what they do, Performance Hobbies continues to be a place where creativity, fun and community meet.

The Webster Chamber of Commerce Events and Honors Committee presents a Business of the Month award to one of their member businesses at each of their monthly breakfast meetings. It’s one way the Chamber helps keep their member businesses and organizations visible throughout the Webster community.

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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 12/5/2025)

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Remember when Santa and his elf came to shop in the village?

4 Dec

I was thinking the other day about how I love to patronize small businesses when I do my Christmas shopping, and the Town and Village of Webster offer many options to do that.

Sadly, I missed the opportunity to highlight Small Business Saturday this year, which happened on Nov. 29, the Saturday after Thanksgiving. So instead, I thought I’d revisit a special event that happened LAST year on Small Business Saturday, when Santa and one of his elves visited the village to do some shopping.

For a few hours that morning and afternoon, the jolly pair strolled through the village, popping in and out of several businesses and handing out treats to the children. It was so much fun to see the children’s eyes light up when they saw Santa, and the smiles he brought to everyone’s faces.

My husband caught some of the action on video, which he cobbled together into this short piece:

I also took a lot of photos that day, which you can see in this gallery. (P.S. the elf is my daughter Erin.)

Don’t forget to shop local this Christmas and especially support our small business owners.

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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 12/4/2025)

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Playing Catch for Life: How 366 days of catch built community and connection

3 Dec

In March 2023, David Tinnes set a challenge for himself: to play catch with someone — friend, neighbor, family member or stranger — every day for 30 straight days. In the ensuing months, that challenge stretched to 100 days, then 300, and eventually, 366 days. More than one full year playing a simple game of catch with someone, every day.

It was an inspirational journey filled with amazing personal stories, human connections and teachable moments. And now, Dave has turned the story of that journey into a book, called Playing Catch for Life.

I first met Dave in late March of that year, only three weeks or so into his challenge. I can’t remember how I first heard about the story, but it intrigued me, and I decided there was no better way to find out more about it then to meet with Dave in person and have a game of catch.

We met at the library on a cold, windy day, and before heading outside, where we tossed the ball back and forth for about 15 minutes, I got the full story of how and why Dave embarked on his 30-day catch journey. (You can read the whole story here.)

In short, Dave was inspired by the story of Ethan Bryan, who had completed his own 365-day catch challenge. He wasn’t initially planning to do the same; it just turned out that way. Over the following year, he played more than 500 games of catch with more than 320 different people, managing to connect on a personal level with pretty much every one of them. It was a life-changing experience, which, he said, “taught and continues to teach me a lot, not only about myself, but about life.”

He wrote,

People want to connect and share their stories. Stories matter in life; good stories are interesting to others and connect us to one another.

Through my experiences I encountered authenticity through intentionality. When I committed to connect with others and really LISTEN to them, there were no distractions of screens obscuring our faces, or our compassions. There was sincere, open communication and connection. Playing catch with others was an invitation to be vulnerable and accept others for who they are, on any given day. I experienced good, bad, hard, easy, ugly and beautiful. I learned to honor and appreciate on a deeper level.

I found a better version of myself as I reflected on the conversations I was a part of. I considered things I hadn’t really paused to care about before. I became enlightened. I also shared light with people. I hugged and received hugs. I cried and sat with those that cried. We laughed together. We loved together. We embraced all of life together, in those sacred moments. I traveled to other cities, states and countries. I went to places within myself that I didn’t know existed. I found humanity, raw, real, open and accepting.

Throughout Dave’s journey, the plan to eventually write a book about the experience was always in the back of his mind. In early November, that dream became a reality with the publication of Playing Catch for Life. The 480-page paperback revisits the stories he heard and the connections he forged, ultimately showing how a simple game of catch can help us grow as human beings, strengthen our sense of community, become better listeners, and truly live every moment of our lives.

It’s available for purchase on Amazon.com for $20.

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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 12/3/2025)

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Details about this year’s Winter Wonderland

2 Dec

Get ready for the Village of Webster to sparkle with holiday spirit when the annual holiday fun festival, Winter Wonderland, returns to Main Street, Veterans Memorial Park and Village Hall this coming weekend, on Saturday Dec. 6.

All of your family favorites will be back for the afternoon and evening, including choir performances, horse-drawn carriage rides, carolers, cookie decorating, live music, choir performances, storytime, games, face painting, a dance party, and a visit with Santa, culminating with the always spectacular Parade of Lights down Main Street.

This year for the first time, the Webster BID — who organizes the festivities — is also introducing a Community Donation Marketplace, set up in Veterans Park on North Ave. Community members are encouraged to bring donations for Webster Hope and Toys for Tots, which will be accepted all afternoon. Accepted items include:

  • Non-perishable food items
  • Personal care poroducts
  • Hats, gloves, scarves, and mittens
  • Unwrapped toys
  • Household items (blankets, pillows, sheets)

Reliant Federal Credit Union and Oaks Brands will also be at the marketplace.

Down at the Harmony House, 58 East Main St., the Chorus of the Genesee will be hosting a Craft Fair from 2 to 8 p.m. In addition to the wide variety of crafters, there’ll be live music, refreshments and a cash bar.

And while you’re in town for the festivities, make sure to walk up the short block to the Webster Museum (18 Lapham Park), which will be open from 2 to 7 p.m. with live music and your chance to vote for your favorite decorated mini Christmas tree as part of the museum’s Festival of Trees. Kittelberger Flower Cards will be on sale, and the very popular Museum raffle will also be back this year, so bring a little cash, put a chance in for some great prizes and support the museum!

Plus, of course, Santa and Mrs. Claus will be greeting children at the Village Hall Community Meeting Room from 3 to 5 p.m., when they have to leave and get ready to ride in the parade.

Everything wraps up with the spectacular Parade of Lights which will begin at 6:30 p.m. at Kircher Park and travel west down Main Street to Fireman’s Field. It’s always amazing to see all of the fire trucks, bands, community group floats — everyone and everything — parade by, covered in twinkling Christmas lights.

I’ll be walking around with my camera, so if you see me, smile nice!

Here’s a link to my gallery from last year’s Winter Wonderland and Parade of Lights.

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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 12/2/2025)

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Thank you, Webster, from the WCC and Webster Hope

1 Dec

The Webster Community Chest (WCC) and Webster Hope joined forces this Thanksgiving to support families who are struggling more than ever to keep food on the table. Their combined efforts brought food and other household items to our neighbors who needed it most.

But these agencies could not do what they do without strong support from the Webster community. Recently they sent out a public thank you, which I am pleased to reprint here.

Thank you for your support of our recent Thanksgiving Grocery Bag distribution event. This event served 227 families and families received everything they need for a full Thanksgiving dinner in addition to baking items, cleaning products and other extra items. We filled 500 bags (because everything didn’t fit in just one bag)! We also gave out 51 turkeys to larger families thanks to a grant from West Herr Cares.

These large collaborative events cannot happen without the support of the community. We would like to thank Wegmans for their large grant to support this event as well as a gift card so we could purchase the reusable Wegmans shopping bags for all families, West Herr Ford of Webster for supplying butter to all of our families (West Herr Butter is Better), Kuk Sool Won of Ontario for collecting cleaning products, Gathering Place Webster for collecting gravy, A Foley of the NYS Police Academy for collecting food and cleaning items, Thomas High School for dedicating two days of their Spirit Week to collecting for our Thanksgiving event, Village at Unity for collecting a truckload of cookie mix packets, Immanuel Lutheran Church for collecting enough macaroni and cheese to double up in every bag, McAlpin Industries for providing much of the coffee and DiPaolo Bakery for giving us a discount on freshly baked delicious dinner rolls with free delivery and including three trays of delicious treats for our hard-working volunteers.

Also a huge thank you to our individual donors who donated grocery items and/or made a cash donation to support the purchase of grocery items for this event.

The Holiday Meal Collaboration was a response to the increase of food insecurity in our community. Our collaboration has now held six events and we have given out food and other needed items to almost 900 families! Our plan is to have three events per year: Easter/Spring, Summer and Thanksgiving. Webster is truly a community that comes together in times of need and what a better reason to come together than to feed our neighbors.

Thank you for being a part of the solution and thank you for your support of our collaborative efforts.

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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 12/1/2025)

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