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Webster community mailbag

5 Apr

A couple of events from my friends at the Webster Chamber of Commerce today.

The first is the announcement about their next Eat, Drink & Connect event. These networking events are hosted monthly by Chamber members are great opportunities to develop current business connections and start new ones. They’re also a chance for Chamber visitors to socialize with Webster Chamber members and find out more about the organization.

The April event will be hosted by Metro Mattress at 975 Ridge Road in Webster, on Wednesday April 8 from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Members and professionals interested in doing business in Webster, and are prospective Chamber members, are invited to attend these events. Bring a door prize to increase your business’ visibility and maybe you’ll even win something! There’s no fee to attend. but registration is required.

The Webster Chamber of Commerce also hosts a Monthly Meeting with a breakfast buffet for Chamber members, guests, and visitors who are interested in investigating Chamber membership. April’s meeting (complete with a hot breakfast buffet) will be held on Friday, April 24 from 7 to 8:30 a.m. at the Webster Golf Club, 440 Salt Rd. The Monthly Meetings are opportunities to network, meet new contacts, develop current business relationships, learn, and earn visibility for your business or organization. Every attendee also participates in pass-the-mic. This is the largest monthly Chamber networking event within the Greater Rochester area, with 80-100 attendees. Bring a door prize for increased visibility and your business card, to take your chances on winning a door prize! Online reservations are required by Thursday, April 23 at noon.  

Arboretum presents program on lawn care

Carl Schimenti, the Urban Environmental Specialist for the Cornell Turfgrass Team, will visit the Webster Arboretum on Tuesday, April 14 at 7 p.m. to present a program on Lawn Care and Management. Learn lawn care basics such as grass type, water needs and weed control with pre- and post-emergents, fertilizing do’s and don’ts and mowing tips. Please register at thewebsterarboretum.org.  This presentation will take place at The Webster Arboretum 1700 Schlegel Rd in Webster.

Musical BINGO!

The Webster Recreation Center invites community members who are 55+ to a fun and exciting “Singo Bingo” game on Friday April 17, beginning at 5:30 p.m.

The game is a musical twist on the classic game of bingo. Sing along to your favorite tunes while matching song samples to titles on your Bingo card. Fantastic prizes await. Cost is $3 per participant and registration is required. Visit the Rec Center’s registration page and search for activity #141086.

The Webster Recreation Center is located at 1350 Chiyoda Dr.

Also at the Rec Center

Here’s a look at this month’s Talks on Tuesday series:

  • Tuesday April 14: Golf Injury Prevention
    • Physical therapist Stephen Spencer will discuss golf-specific injuries and share effective strategies for prevention. Register for Activity #146940-O
  • Tuesday April 21: Turning 65 and Medicare Options
    • Jon Jordan from my Diligent Advisors will take you through the various Medicare options from the key
      components A, B, C, & D to coverage choices and the enrollment process.
  • Tuesday April 28: Gardening Pain Free
    • Gardening is great for the body and mind—but bending, kneeling, and lifting can strain the back, knees, and shoulders. This talk teaches simple body-mechanic tips, gentle warm-ups, and easy positioning strategies to help seniors garden more comfortably, avoid injury, and enjoy the season with less pain and more confidence. Register for Activity #146940-Q

Talks on Tuesday programs are designed for community members aged 55+, and are held from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. The programs are free but registration is required.

Harmony in the House returns

Plans are being made and songs are being rehearsed for Harmony in the House 2026, the annual joint concert of The Chorus of the Genesee and Rochester Rhapsody. This year’s musical extravaganza will be held Saturday, May 30 at Our Lady of Mercy High School.

More details to come about that, but there are a couple of ways you can help right now:

  1. Buy an advertisement in the Show Program. Over 600 audience members and performers from Webster/Greater Rochester will see your ad. You’ll be mentioned on our social media sites as well. Prices range from $15 to $250 and the program will be printed in full color. Place your ad HERE or send an email to RochesterCOG@gmail.com if you have questions. Deadline for ad submissions is April 14.
  2. Buy tickets for the show. You can get them here.
  3. Make a direct donation to the Harmony House Renovation Project (your donation is tax-deductable)

Questions? email RochesterCOG@gmail.com

WCCH Mother’s Day Raffle (you’re her favorite, right?)

Here’s news about a great Mother’s Day raffle to benefit the Webster Comfort Care Home (WCCH).

  • First prize ($500+ value) is the ultimate self-care bundle includes WOW hair products, a gift certificate to Evie Boutique, a beautiful candle, and more in a Thirty-One Catch All Bin to help one lucky winner relax, refresh, and feel pampered!
  • Second prize ($125 value) includes a big bottle of Prosecco, two insulated wine glasses, wine charms, sassy sticky notes, and a soft, cozy afghan, everything you need to unwind in style.
  • Third prize ($50 value) is a sweet little treat! It includes a candle, dream pillow, sassy sticky notes, and $20 in gift cards to Lala of Webster for a little extra something special.

Tickets are $25 each, 3 for $60 or 6 for $100, and are available at the WCCH website. Drawing will be held on May 3 at 10 a.m. Click here to get your tickets.

Good books, cheap

The Friends of WPL’s Spring Book Sale takes place Wednesday, April 22 through Saturday April 25.

The first day of the sale, April 22 from 4 to 7 p.m., is exclusively for Friends members. Membership can be purchased at websterlibrary.org or at the door.

All are welcome to attend the Book Sale on Thursday, April 23 from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Hardcover books will be $1 each and paperbacks are only 50 cents each. Thursday, April 24 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Friday, April 25 from 10 a.m. to noon are Bring-Your-Own-Bag Sale days, when you can fill your bag with books for only $5.

And don’t forget about this library event…

The Webster Public Library’s annual Diverse Abilities Resource Fair has been scheduled for Saturday, April 18 from 10 a.m. to noon.

If you’re looking for resources for your loved one with a disability, this is a great opportunity to meet and chat with representatives from several Rochester-area organizations which offer all sorts of programs and support. All ages are welcome. Registration is not required but recommended if you would like a reminder. To register, call 585-872-7075 or visit websterlibrary.org.

Got expired drugs?

Webster Health and Education Network, together with the Town of Webster and the Webster Police Department will host a DEA National Drug Take Back event on Saturday, April 25 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Webster Town Court, 1002 Ridge Rd. (behind Town Hall; look for the blue roof). Clear out your medicine cabinet to help to keep Webster safe. This will be a drive-through event so you don’t even have to get out of your car! 

This is your chance to safely dispose of unused, expired or unwanted medications. Registration is not required, but if you register you’ll get a reminder via email about the event. You can register and get more details here.

The Webster Health & Education Network (WHEN) is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization serving Webster families for 30 years. Research shows that the longer a young person waits before trying drugs or alcohol, the less likely they are to become addicted later in life. WHEN works to delay, decrease, and prevent substance use by underage youth. 

It’s chicken barbecue time again!

St. Martin Lutheran Church will hold its Spring Drive-Thru Chicken BBQ on Saturday, May 2 at the church, 813 Bay Road, Webster. The event begins at 4:30 p.m. and will continue until all dinners are sold out.

Dinners will include a half chicken, salt potatoes, coleslaw, roll, butter and cookie, and will cost $15.

The event will be drive-through only and there will be no advance sales; first-come, first-served. Cars should enter the parking lot, follow the signs, and purchase dinners using exact payment of either cash or check. Cars will then pick up boxed dinners.

Proceeds from the BBQ will support both St. Martin’s Little Free Pantry and Christmas Stocking Project, which reaches more than 500 local youth in Monroe and Wayne counties.

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(posted 4/5/2026)

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).

News(letter) from the Town of Webster

5 Apr

I got my most recent Town of Webster newsletter emailed to me the other day, and in case you don’t yet get this in your email box, I wanted to pass along a few of the more interesting notices that it included.

The first is about a new “News and Information Survey” the Town has created to gauge how people are choosing to receive their news about Town political and social events — like email, local news (like the Herald), Facebook, maybe blogs…? The goal is to improve accessibility to important Town information.

The survey is only ten questions long and will take about five to ten minutes. It will be open through Monday, April 20. Click here to take the survey.

Community Office Hours

Supervisor Scialdone is continuing to host regular Community Office Hours, and now he’s invited Deputy Supervisor Hunter and Councilwoman Wright to do a few of them, too. These are your opportunities to let your Town representatives know what’s important to you.

The next office hours and who will be there are:

  • Supervisor Scialdone: Wednesday, April 8, 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. at the Curry Building at Webster Arboretum (1700 Schlegel Road)
  • Deputy Supervisor Hunter: Wednesday, April 15, 5 to 6 p.m. at the Webster Recreation Center (1350 Chiyoda Drive)
  • Councilwoman Wright: Tuesday, April 21, 6 to 7 p.m. at the Webster Recreation Center (1350 Chiyoda Drive)
  • Supervisor Scialdone: Tuesday, April 28, 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. at Liberty Lodge at Finn Park (850 Maple Drive)

Note that there is no formal presentation at these events. It’s just your chance to hang out with our local Town representatives, ask your questions and present your concerns. You don’t have to register; just show up.

* * *

This most recent newsletter also includes news about some upcoming events, including:

  • Singo BINGO at the Webster Recreation Center on April 17 for the 55+ crowd;
  • the Diverse Abilities Resource Fair at the Webster Public Library on April 18; and
  • the Friends of the Webster Public Library Spring Book Sale from April 22 to 25

So check out the newsletter for yourself to learn more about these, and click here if you’d like to sign up to get the newsletter emailed to you so you can stay in the know.

* * *

(posted 3/5/2026)

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).

Community encouraged to join April’s “Mail Call Challenge”

4 Apr

So I’ve already posted a few times about this year’s Mail Call: Letters From Home challenge, which is returning this year. In earlier blogs I asked for donations of blank cards, and invited community members to start writing out notes in anticipation of the mailboxes being placed throughout Webster.

Well, “Mail Call” 2026 has officially begun, and this year’s Mail Call Challenge has become a real challenge in a couple of ways.

For those of you who aren’t familiar with this amazing project, here’s some quick background:

Mail Call: Letters from Home is an initiative from Wreaths Across America Webster. First introduced last April, it was designed to bring some joy to our local service members stationed abroad. Community members were encouraged to write out cards, letters and notes for the troops, which would then be shipped overseas in care packages prepared by the Blue Star Mothers of Rochester. Mailboxes were set up in a dozen Town and Village of Webster businesses to collect the messages. Organizer Cherie Wood was hoping to get 1,000 cards. The community came through big time, ultimately filling out an amazing 1,558 cards and letters. It was an amazing outpouring of love from our Webster community, and Cherie was blown away by the response.

So of course she wants to do even better this year, and would love to see even more cards and letters filled out for the troops. Plus, the local businesses which are hosting the mailboxes have thrown down the gauntlet to see which business can collect the most cards. Perhaps you can help your favorite business come out on top by dropping your cards off at their mailbox. At the end of the month, the winning business will get a handsome certificate, major bragging rights, and will be highlighted in my blog.

Here are where the boxes are located this year:

  • American Legion Cottreall-Warner Post 942: 818 Ridge Rd (back entrance).
  • Jersey Mike’s Subs: 975 Ridge Rd.
  • Key Bank: 1848 Empire Blvd.
  • Key Bank: 980 Ridge Rd.
  • Lowes Home Improvement: 900 Five Mile Line Rd.
  • M.O. Pasta: 5 E. Main St.
  • Lala of Webster: 38 E. Main St.
  • Village Quilt Shoppe: 21 E. Main St.
  • Webster Recreation Center: 1350 Chiyoda Dr.
  • Webster Town Hall: 1000 Ridge Rd.
  • Kittelberger Florist: 263 North Ave.
  • The North Bee: 27 North Ave.

All of the cards and letters collected during this special month-long event will be placed in care packages sent out in June by the Blue Star Mothers.

So get your family, groups and neighbors together and start writing some thank you messages! Or when you see one of those mailboxes while you’re shopping, pause for a minute to fill out a card.

And by the way, Cherie says she’s “frightfully low” on blank cards, so if you have any you can spare, please drop them off in the basket next to one of the mailboxes.

*****

Here are some tips when you’re writing your messages:

  • The messages can be from adults and kids.
  • Cards and letters should be addressed: Dear Service Member.
  • Include words of encouragement, and how much you appreciate their service.
  • Include your first name and your town. The service members like to know where the cards come from.
  • Spread the word to the groups in your life: Scouts, businesses, schools, social groups, sports teams, churches, etc. This challenge will take all of us.

* * *

(posted 4/4/2026)

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).

Easter fun at the museum

1 Apr

Elementary school-aged children are invited to get into the Easter spirit at the Webster Museum on Saturday, April 4. Mrs. Nesbitt, a retired Webster elementary school teacher, will lead a craft and a discussion about basket history, followed by a look at the Webster Museum’s Webster Basket Factory display. The activity will culminate with an Easter Egg hunt through the museum.

The event takes place this Saturday April 4 from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. at the museum, 18 Lapham Park. Parents must remain in the museum during the activities. Please, please, please register here, and do so soon, because there’s only room for 20 children, so you’ll want to ensure your kids have a spot.

The medical time-traveler’s guide to Webster

On Saturday, April 19 at 2 p.m., the Webster Museum will present a fascinating talk about the history of medicine in Webster.

Webster Museum volunteer and local historian Dr. Colin Scott will talk about historic medical devices and the lives of Webster practitioners in the 19th century.

Step into a 19th-century time machine and rediscover a forgotten global empire. Witness the raw evolution of Webster from untamed woodlands to an international agricultural Mecca, told through the gripping lives and changing medicine of three legendary local physicians. Join us to uncover how the fame of Webster fueled the world and paved the way for the suburb we call home today.

No registration is necessary. Refreshments will be served.

Look for the Museum!

Make sure to stop by the Webster Museum’s table at this year’s Community Arts Day. coming up on Saturday, April 11 (look for more details about this event in a few days). They’ve always got a fun table filled with old-tyme games and historical oddities (like a dial telephone). It’s a delight for the children and entertaining to watch them try to figure out how to work the telephone.

Community Arts Day will run from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Webster Schroeder High School.

* * *

(posted 4/1/2026)

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).

Celebrate our nation’s birthday at the Arboretum

31 Mar

The USA is celebrating a BIG birthday this year — 250 years — and for sure there are going to be a lot of special events planned to commemorate the occasion. But this one at the Webster Arboretum recently crossed my email box, and it looks such such a don’t-miss event that I needed to let you know about it wayyyyy ahead of time so you can get it on your calendars.

The Arboretum is planning a huge Anniversary in the Gardens event for Wednesday, June 24, beginning at 3 p.m. and stretching into the evening. There’s going to be lots of patriotic music, story times, historical talks, a dance party, ice cream, even ducks. So basically, something for everyone of all ages.

I’ll be writing more about this as the event nears, but here’s the run-down so far:

  • 3:00: VFW Patriot Guard
  • 3:30: Father Night Out Band
    • 3:30: Story time with Ganondagan
    • 3:30: Striking Strings dulcimer group
    • 3:30: Uncle Bucks Food Truck (until 6:30 p.m.)
  • ​4:00: Life of the Senecas with Ganondagan
  • 4:30: Dance Party with Dancing with Denise
    • 4:30: Story time with The Webster Museum
    • 4:30: Guided Poetry Trail and Arboretum tours (through 6:30 p.m.)
  • 5:30: Story time with the Webster Public Library
    • 5:30: Webster Village Band
    • 5:30: Scoops Ice Cream Truck (through 7 p.m.)
  • 6:00: Duck Derby- purchase a duck and race them in the pond
    • 6:00: Chorus of the Genesee

Looks like a ton of fun, right? I’ll be revisiting this later with more details, but get it on your calendars now. The Webster Arboretum is located at 1700 Schlegel Rd.

* * *

And while we’re talking about the Arboretum, they sent me this piece of news the other day:

The Webster Arboretum is proud to announce that they have been granted National Accreditation through ArbNet, the world’s only international accreditation program specific to arboreta. Accreditation is based on an arboretum’s self-assessment and documentation of its level of achievement of specific standards. The standards address planning, governance, the number of different taxa (species, subspecies, cultivars, varieties, etc.) of trees and woody plants in the collection, staff or volunteer support, education and public programming, and, for some levels, tree science and conservation efforts.

We are proud of this accomplishment and will continue to improve our collections, our standard and our commitment to  upholding professional standards.

In case you needed any more proof that the Webster Arboretum is an outstanding resource and a real Webster treasure.

* * *

(posted 3/31/2026)

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).

“Mail Call” is back and needs your blank cards

27 Mar

Chances are good you’ll remember the first-ever Mail Call: Letters from Home initiative last April, designed to bring some joy to our local service members stationed abroad. Community members were encouraged to write out cards, letters and notes for the troops, which would then be shipped overseas in care packages prepared by the Blue Star Mothers of Rochester. Mailboxes were set up in a dozen Town and Village of Webster businesses to collect the messages.

Thanks to the amazing Webster community, it was an extremely successful effort. Children and adults alike embraced the challenge from day one, and by the end of the month, an amazing 1,558 cards and letters had been written.

Well, Mail Call is back again this year, and the mail boxes will all be installed very soon. But first off, Cherie needs to start collecting blank cards — a LOT of blank cards — so that we can make this year’s Mail Call effort even more successful than last year.

So check around your house, in the attic, in your storage chests, for any blank cards you might have lying around. They don’t even need to have envelopes — the messages will be shipped without envelopes so save on weight and room in the packages. You can drop them off in the mailboxes you’ll find at Town Hall (1000 Ridge Rd.) or the Webster Recreation Center (1350 Chiyoda Dr.).

Then stay tuned for more details about this year’s Mail Call: Letters From Home initiative!

* * *

(posted 3/27/2026)

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).

Webster community mailbag

26 Mar

Know your numbers!

This Saturday, March 28 from 9 a.m. to noon, Lovely You Aesthetics on North Ave. is hosting a “Know Your Numbers Day” as part of the salon’s Go Red Lovely campaign. It’s an opportunity to get your blood pressure checked for free, and get a few gifts as a reward: a Go Red Lovely T-shirt and a $25 Lovely You gift card to use at a future date.

There will also be a CPR instructor on site giving hands-on demonstrations, PLUS if you make a donation to the American Heart Association, you’ll be entered to win a $500 gift card.

This is a walk-in event with no appointment needed. So stop in anytime between 9 a.m. and noon, do something good for yourself and help out the American Heart Association.

Lovely You Aesthetics is located at 82 North Ave. in the Village of Webster.

Speaking of knowing your numbers …

The Webster Recreation Center invites community members who are 55+ to a fun and exciting “Singo Bingo” game on Friday April 17, beginning at 5:30 p.m.

The game is a musical twist on the classic game of bingo. Sing along to your favorite tunes while matching song samples to titles on your Bingo card. Fantastic prizes await. Cost is $3 per participant and registration is required. Visit the Rec Center’s registration page and search for activity #141086.

The Webster Recreation Center is located at 1350 Chiyoda Dr.

Women’s Club April meeting … and cookies!

Adam Traub, Director of the Webster Public Library, will speak at the Women’s Club of Webster’s April luncheon meeting, scheduled for Thursday April 16. Mr. Traub will highlight the many programs and materials the library offers for seniors.  

April’s luncheon will be hosted by Proietti’s Restaurant, 980 Ridge Rd., Webster. Social time begins at 11:15 a.m., followed by a business meeting at noon, lunch at 12:30 p.m. and Mr. Donovan’s presentation at 1 p.m. 

Enjoy a buffet featuring a variety of pizzas, salad and a cannoli. Cost is $19. New members are always welcome, and warm camaraderie is included at no charge. Send check made out to WCW by March 12 to Carolyn Rittenhouse, 405 County Line Road, Ontario, 14519. If you think your check might be late, or if you have any questions, call Carolyn at  585-265-1303.

This also from the Women’s Club:

Give blood, enjoy homemade cookies. The Women’s Club of Webster will be assisting once again this year at the American Red Cross Blood Drive scheduled for Thursday, April 9 from 1 to 6 p.m. at the Webster Firemen’s Exempt Building, 172 Sanford St. Women’s Club members will staff the canteen, offering donors homemade cookies, congenial conversation and a friendly word of thanks for giving the gift of life. Walk-ins are welcome, but it’s always best to make an appointment. Log onto redcrossblood.org/give, or call 1-800-REDCROSS (1-800-733-2767). If you have any questions, call Katie Hout at 585-353-9964.

Arboretum presents program on lawn care

Carl Schimenti, the Urban Environmental Specialist for the Cornell Turfgrass Team, will visit the Webster Arboretum on Tuesday, April 14 at 7 p.m. to present a program on Lawn Care and Management. Learn lawn care basics such as grass type, water needs and weed control with pre- and post-emergents, fertilizing do’s and don’ts and mowing tips. Please register at thewebsterarboretum.org.  This presentation will take place at The Webster Arboretum 1700 Schlegel Rd in Webster.

Got expired drugs?

Webster Health and Education Network, together with the Town of Webster and the Webster Police Department will host a DEA National Drug Take Back event on Saturday, April 25 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Webster Town Court, 1002 Ridge Rd. (behind Town Hall; look for the blue roof). Clear out your medicine cabinet to help to keep Webster safe. This will be a drive-through event so you don’t even have to get out of your car! 

This is your chance to safely dispose of unused, expired or unwanted medications. Registration is not required, but if you register you’ll get a reminder via email about the event. You can register and get more details here.

The Webster Health & Education Network (WHEN) is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization serving Webster families for 30 years. Research shows that the longer a young person waits before trying drugs or alcohol, the less likely they are to become addicted later in life. WHEN works to delay, decrease, and prevent substance use by underage youth. 

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(posted 3/26/2026)

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).

What’s happening at the library?

24 Mar

I’ll be posting one of my mailbags in another day or two, but there’s so much cool stuff happening at the Webster Public Library in April and May that I wanted to break out those events for special attention.

Diverse Abilities Fair

The annual Diverse Abilities Resource Fair (formerly known as Special Needs Parent Resource Fair) is scheduled for Saturday, April 18 from 10 a.m. to noon. More than 70 Rochester-area agencies will be represented. Parents and caregivers are invited to stop in anytime during the fair, chat with the representatives and grab some information. All ages are welcome and if you or your loved one needs a break, Autism Up will have a sensory room set up in the Community Room.

Registration is not required, but is recommended, especially if you want an email reminder. Call 585-872-7075 or click here to register. More details to come about this as the event gets closer.

Good books, cheap

The Friends of WPL’s Spring Book Sale takes place Wednesday, April 22 through Saturday April 25.

The first day of the sale, April 22 from 4 to 7 p.m., is exclusively for Friends members. Membership can be purchased at websterlibrary.org or at the door.

All are welcome to attend the Book Sale on Thursday, April 23 from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Hardcover books will be $1 each and paperbacks are only 50 cents each. Thursday, April 24 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Friday, April 25 from 10 a.m. to noon are Bring-Your-Own-Bag Sale days, when you can fill your bag with books for only $5.

Want to do some volunteering?

The very popular Volunteer Fair returns on Saturday, May 2 from 10 a.m. to noon.

This is a great opportunity to chat with representatives from agencies all around Rochester who are looking for teen and adults volunteers. Registration is not required but recommended if you’d like a reminder. To register, call 585-872-7075 or visit websterlibrary.org. If you’d like to participate in the fair as an organization, please contact Jenny Paxson at 585-872-7075 ext 6144 or email at jennifer.paxson@libraryweb.org

And all this other stuff!

Here’s a brief look other upcoming programs:

  • April’s Community Exchange is party supplies. Drop it off your gently used party supplies at the library, ’cause someone will be able to use them! Then pick up something YOU need for your next party.
  • April’s Donation Station will support local Girl Scout Troop 60344, who are collecting items to make “kid kits.” They’re looking for games, puzzles, children’s books, coloring/activity books, colored pencils, crayons and markers.
  • Project Prom is returning to the library! Project Prom is a program that libraries, schools, and other community organizations run to provide formal attire to middle and high school students who might not be able to afford nice, fancy clothes for their prom, ball or other school dance. Through April 4, you can drop off your gently used formal wear — dress wear, shoes and accessories — at the library, and at Community Arts Day, library staff members will set up shop and give it all away to students in need.

For adults

  • American Roots & Blues Concert with Gordon Munding, Thursday April 16 from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Gordon Munding sings and plays authentic Americana roots & blues music featuring slide guitar, fancy fingerpicking, and timeless tunes. Registration is required.
  • Heated Rivalry Night, Monday April 20, 6 to 7:30 p.m. Calling all loons! Join your fellow fans at the cottage for an evening of all things Heated Rivalry. There will be some Heated Rivalry-inspired crafts, trivia, snacks, a chance to discuss the show and books, and more. Come dressed in your best HR swag and make some new friends. Registration is required.
  • Wicked Movie Marathon & Party, Tuesday April 28. Movie showings begin at 9:30 a.m. with Wicked, followed by Wicked: For Good at 1 p.m. From noon to 1 p.m., enjoy a party with a light lunch, beverages, and sweet treats, and Wicked trivia. Registration is not needed for the movies, but is required to attend the party. Click here.

For Tweens and Teens

  • Maker Crafternoon, Tuesday March 31 from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. This week’s craft will be buttons, perler beads creations, and beaded bracelets. Grades 4 through 12 welcome. Registration is required.
  • Make It Monday, April 13 from 6 to 7 p.m. This month you’ll be making popsicle stick mushroom houses. For grades 4 through 12 and adults. Registration is required.

For children and families

  • Egg Hunt, Friday April 3 from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Bring the family to search for Easter eggs at the library after hours. Hunt anytime between 5:30 and 7 p.m. and enjoy a spring craft afterwards. No registration is required.
  • Pet Storytime and Drop-in Crafts, Saturday April 11. It’s National Pet Day! Storytime begins at 10:30 a.m., and pet-themed crafts will be available from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. All ages are welcome. No registration is required.

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(posted 3/24/2026)

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Webster Museum talk presents a journey through the history of quilting

18 Mar

The Webster Museum cordially invites everyone to a presentation by local quilt historian Beth Davis on Sunday, March 22 at 2 p.m.

Beth has worked at The Genesee Country Village Museum and until recently was an American Quilter Society Certified Appraiser of Quilted Textiles. She is retired from both, preferring now to focus on her love of quilt making. She excels at both documenting oral history (having contributed to Quilters Save Our Stories, the largest oral history collection about quilt makers in the world) and documenting in written form (having written the GCVM catalog on their quilt collection). Beth is also the author of A Stitch in Time: Quilts From Genesee Country Village and Museum.

Beth will talk about the history of quilting and its many variations and applications. Time will be provided after the presentation to view the quilts displayed in exhibit areas throughout the museum.

The presentation is scheduled for Sunday, March 22 at 2 p.m. at the museum, 18 Lapham Park in the Village of Webster. There’s no cost to attend this program, but registration is required, and the seats are filling up quickly. Visit webstermuseum.org, and you’ll be directed to where you can sign up. Limit two people per registration.

Here’s a bit more about the museum’s current exhibit of quilts, which they call “Stitched Stories: a Celebration of Vintage Quilts”:

At the heart of the new exhibit are more than 20 handcrafted quilts. Visitors are invited to step back in time and explore the beauty, skill, and storytelling woven into quilts from the 19th and early 20th centuries, which showcase a wide variety of designs and techniques, each a reflection of the maker’s artistry and resourcefulness.

Far more than practical bedcovers, these quilts served as visual diaries of family life and community connections. Patterns such as “Courthouse Steps,” “Crazy Quilt,” and “Redwork” reveal regional traditions and changing fashions in both fabrics and colors. Some pieces were stitched from scraps of worn clothing, while others feature intricate embroidery or appliqué work that turned everyday materials into works of art.

“Stitched Stories” runs until June, inviting guests to experience how creativity and community have long been interlaced through needle and thread.

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(posted 3/18/2026)

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Spry Middle School seizes the day with “Newsies Jr.”

17 Mar

Stop the presses! The talented students of Spry Middle School are taking to the streets, and the stage, for their upcoming production of the hit musical Disney Newsies JR. 

Inspired by the newsies’ strike of 1899, Disney Newsies JR. is a 60-minute adaptation of the 2012 Broadway favorite, based on the 1992 Newsies film. The musical follows a ragtag group of New York City newboys who rally to fight the price hikes of paper moguls William Randolph Hearst and Joseph Pulitzer. Led by the determined Jack Kelly, and championed by the pen of budding newspaper reporter Katherine Plumber, the newsies unite across the city to stand their ground.

Spry’s production boasts a 50-member cast and 30+ member stage crew. Mentored by artistic director Bill Ambler, vocal/music director Stephen Costanza, and choreographer Jackie Collins, the local newsies have been “carrying the banner” through rehearsals, perfecting their two-steps and their Brooklyn accents.

Producer Tricia Mungo says, “Students really connect to the Newsies storyline because it speaks to the fact that you can make a difference and have an impact on your community no matter how young you are. This is so empowering.”

“Everyone loves a story that allows the underdog to come out on top,” she added.

Mungo said that Newsies’ music and high energy dancing has allowed the cast to have a great time, and they look forward to the audience having a great time as well!

Newsies will be presented at Spry Middle School, 119 South Ave. on Friday, March 20 at 7 p.m., and Saturday March 21 at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Tickets are $9 each and are available online here. They’ll also be available at the door. All tickets are reserve seating.

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(posted 3/17/2026)

email me  at missyblog@gmail.com“Like” this blog on Facebook and follow me on Instagram and Threads (@missyblog)

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