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Saturday was “Christmas in July” at the farm market, complete with a visit from Santa

27 Jul

So it was, like, 80 degrees outside on Saturday, and people were out in their tank tops and shorts. Still, it looked like Christmas at Webster’s Joe Obbie Farmers Market, held every Saturday at Webster Towne Center Plaza.

It was the market’s annual Christmas in July celebration. As usual, in addition to the market’s normal assortment of fresh fruits and vegetables, flowers, cheeses, baked goods and more, Santa was there in his big chair to welcome children, offering them the chance to get their gift requests in early. Much to their delight, he arrived promptly at 10 a.m. by fire truck, complete with lights and sirens.

Santa gave every child who visited with him some Christmas candy and a bottle of soapy bubble mix. The children had a choice of either orange, red, blue or green bubble bottles, which, Santa said, was a rather difficult choice for many of the small children. “The bubbly stuff was definitely a big hit with the children,” he wrote. “Lots of children, lots of bubbles floating around the market, lots of fun for all.” And of course there were lots of pictures with the children and their families.

Most of the booths and tents had been decorated with a Christmas in July theme, and some musicians played Christmas tunes. Santa even had a few minutes to spend with all of the market vendors, including Michelle at “The Cookie Cutters” booth, who needed a selfie.

“Those jumbo muffins looked sooooo good, but Santa needs to watch his waste line,” he reported. He left for the North Pole “with a sleigh full of fresh veggies, and a bottle of real maple syrup, for his pancakes on those chilly mornings at the North Pole.”

“The market was well attended by Christmas-spirited shoppers,” Santa added. “I didn’t spot any Grinches. It was a fun day.”

The Joe Obbie Farmers’ Market is located at Webster Towne Center Plaza on Holt Rd. (in front of Old Navy). It’s open every Saturday through October from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., rain or shine.

And don’t forget that the very popular Evening in the Park Market has returned to Charles Sexton Park (formerly known as North Ponds). Every Wednesday evening, the market will be set up at the park from 5 to 8 p.m. In addition to the vendors, these events will also have live music and food trucks, so remember to pack your folding chairs!

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(posted 7/27/2026)

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

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Marching Band Food Truck Rodeo celebrates 10 years

24 Jul

For ten years now, music, crafts and good food have come together at the annual Webster Marching Band Food Truck Rodeo. This year’s event. scheduled for Thursday Aug. 20, promises more of the same.

In addition to the huge lineup of food trucks, this popular community event will feature artisan and craft vendors, a kids’ play area, free face painting, and a performance by the Kidets Jr. Marching Band. But most exciting, the marching band will be debuting their 2026 show, so you can get a first look at what this award-winning group has up its sleeve for this year’s competition season.

Confirmed food trucks so far include Macarollin’, Rob’s Kabobs, Eat Greek, and Bruster’s, with more to come.

Organizers are looking for artisans, crafters and other vendors who’d like to sign up to be a part of the rodeo. To apply, click here. Deadline is July 31.

Admission to the annual food truck rodeo is free, but your attendance will keep these vendors and food trucks coming back every year, which greatly benefits the Webster Marching Band.

The 10th annual Marching Band Food Truck Rodeo will be held Thursday Aug. 20 from 5 to 8 p.m. at Webster Schroeder High School, 875 Ridge Rd.

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(posted 7/24/2026)

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).

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Library to host College and Transition Fair

21 Jul

The Webster Public Library is introducing a brand new event this summer, especially designed for people with developmental disabilities. It’s called the College and Transition Fair, and its goal is to support individuals with disabilities who will no longer get support from the school system for their services; to answer the vexing question, “What do you do when the bus stops coming?”

Among the more than two dozen organizations which will be represented are colleges that have programs for people with disabilities; those offering workforce development options; a few organizations looking for volunteers; some housing, dayhabs and support options, and more.

This will be a smaller event than the Diverse Abilities Resource Fair held in April, but is still a much-needed resource for those planning for the future.

The College & Transition Fair for People with Developmental Disabilities will be held on Saturday, Aug. 8 from 10 a.m. to noon inside the Webster Public Library, 980 Ridge Rd. (at the back of Webster Plaza). There’s no cost and you don’t have to register, but if you would like a reminder, click here to sign up.

If you’d like a reminder, click here to register for the College & Transition Fair.(opens in new tab)

Here are the organizations who will be there (the ones I knew about at press time, anyway):

Colleges

  • AutismUp
  • CP Rochester
  • InclusiveU
  • LifePrep@Naz
  • MCC Experience
  • NYS Office for People with Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD)
  • Roberts Wesleyan University – ARCH Program
  • Roberts Wesleyan University – BELL Program
  • SUNY Brockport

Workforce Development

  • ACCES-VR
  • Center for Disability Rights and Regional Center for Independent Living
  • RochesterWorks
  • RochesterWorks, DreamLink of Monroe County

Volunteer Opportunities

  • Eastern Service Workers Association (ESWA)
  • Lollypop Farm, The Humane Society of Greater Rochester

Housing, Dayhabs and Support

  • The Arc of Monroe
  • Heritage Christian Services
  • PPL Public Partnerships, LLC
  • Starbridge

Other

  • Best Buddies
  • Blue Heron Collective
  • The Community Place of Greater Rochester
  • Person Centered Services
  • Prime Care Coordination
  • STEPS2 Education Classes
  • Urban League of Rochester / Empowering People’s Independence

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(posted 7/21/2026)

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

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Our village is hoppin’ with live music

15 Jul

One of the best things I love about living in the Village of Webster is all of the opportunities to see live music, especially during the summer months.

Last Friday, the Village’s weekly Friday Night Concerts in the Park series began, which will continue through the end of August. (Click here for details.) But those weekly concerts are just the tip of the iceberg.

For starters, Annette’s Restaurant at 27 West Main St., has live jazz pretty much twice a week. JoJo Bistro at 42 East Main St. has a performer every Thursday night. And Pub 235 at 235 North Ave. ALSO has live music every Thursday night. Every one of these opportunities is a great excuse to have a date night, enjoy some music and get a nice dinner.

Visit the Webster BID website regularly to get updates on who’s playing where and when.

And stay tuned for more information about the biggest music event of the entire summer, the Webster Jazz Festival, celebrating its 20th year in 2026. It’s taking place Friday and Saturday Aug. 14 and 15, with the ever-popular Jazz in the Pubs on Friday night and Jazz in the Street on Saturday.

When all the details are hammered out, you can click here to see who’s playing. But in the meantime, mark your calendars.

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(posted 7/15/2026)

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

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Webster Kidets are marching again

12 Jul

The Webster Central School District has found a great way to introduce young musicians to the joys of being in a marching band: the Webster Kidets.

The Webster Kidets Marching Band is designed for students in fourth through sixth grades. It was created back in 2013, and I had the pleasure of watching their very first performance at the Webster Fireman’s Carnival Kiddie Parade that year. Back then the group included about 20 fifth and sixth-grade musicians and four color guard members, all of whom had been practicing for a few months under the tutelage of Webster Marching Band Director Brian Wilt.

But that was a long time ago, and when I saw them pop up again at the recent America’s 250th Birthday Celebration at the Webster Arboretum, I knew immediately I had to post an update. So a few days ago I sat down with Aimee Sevor, the Kidets’ assistant director, to see how the group has grown since then. I was surprised to hear that when I was at the Arboretum, I had, once again, seen the Kidets’ very first performance. Their first performance in the last six years, anyway.

Following their 2013 appearance in the Kiddie Parade, the Kidets continued to perform annually until 2019. And then COVID hit, which, as we know, put a huge damper on a lot of things. Following the pandemic, the band wasn’t resurrected. The idea was mothballed until this year, when Sevor was determined to bring it back. She mentioned the idea to her WCSD colleague Diana Mee, who agreed to help. As the music teacher at Klem South and North elementary schools, Mee was able to do most of the recruiting.

The main goal of the Webster Kidets is to be a kind of feeder system to the much larger, state-champion Webster Marching Band.

“This is such an important step when you think about what kids have access to today, sports-wise,” Sevor said. “In seventh grade, they usually have their sport chosen, and they don’t have time for marching band. So our thought process is if we get to them younger, we can kind of set the hook. Let them try (marching band). See if they like it.”

“But the other part of it, too, is the educational aspect of it,” she added. “The marching arts are so underrepresented (in middle and high school). Maybe we’ll capture some of them, but also, it’s really important that they are learning to play their instrument in different ways.”

“We’re a sport of the arts.”

The Kidets color guard is also a great opportunity for students who don’t play an instrument but would like to participate in a marching band. “If you love acting, performing, dancing, it incorporates all of that,” Sevor said.

PLUS, the Kidets is a great teaching experience for the 18 student volunteers assisting Aimee and Diana, all Webster Marching Band members themselves. “It’s very cool to allow them the opportunity to practice their leading skills,” Sevor said. “It’s less pressure to lead a group of fifth graders than it is your peers.”

Thirty-five fourth and fifth-grade students comprise the resurrected Kidets marching band, including 24 wind instrument players, nine drummers and two color guard members. The directors only started working with this year’s band on June 6, and only had four rehearsals before their Arboretum appearance. But in that short time they learned how to play a brand new tune (“Let’s Go Band” by Albert Ahronheim and Joseph Carl) and how to march and play music at the same time — not an easy feat.

The Webster Kidets Marching Band at the Arboretum

The Kidets opened the festival that day at the Arboretum, and unfortunately there weren’t a whole lot of people in attendance yet (and many of them were parents). But there is one other opportunity to see these musicians in action: the Webster Marching Band Food Truck Rodeo on Thursday, Aug. 20 at 5 p.m. at Webster Schroeder High school.

The Webster Kidets Marching Band is a win/win/win for everyone involved, including the lucky community members who get to see them perform. Try to make one of their upcoming gigs; these young people have worked really hard to put on a good show and you won’t be disappointed.

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(posted 7/12/2026)

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

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Fireman’s Carnival and parade will be here soon

10 Jul

The activity over at Fireman’s Field is beginning to heat up in anticipation of the 2026 Fireman’s Carnival, scheduled for Wednesday July 15 through Saturday July 18.

Without a doubt, the Fireman’s Carnival and parade are among the most anticipated events of the Webster summer season. Now 89 years old, the carnival has been making memories every year for several generations of kids and adults.

This year’s carnival will be no different, with the return of the always popular beer tent, game booths, rides and live entertainment, great food, raffles and much more. There is a new bag policy, however. Only approved bags will be allowed through the gates (for details, see the flyer below).

The Carnival Facebook page will be updated regularly with event information, but here are some of the highlights:

Wednesday July 15:

Thursday July 16:

  • Firemen’s Parade begins at 6:30 p.m. (you don’t want to miss this)
  • Good Time Charlie plays in the Beer Tent

Friday July 17:

  • Carnival is open 6 p.m. to midnight, ZBTB plays in the Beer Tent

Saturday July 18:

  • The Kiddie Parade begins at noon on South Ave. Registration begins at 11 a.m. on Fireman’s Field in the headquarters building.
  • Free raffles for kids and adults
  • Knight Patrol plays in the Beer Tent
  • Fireworks at midnight

And of course, games, rides and food every night. Advance sale tickets for the carnival rides are on sale now for $25, and the voucher is available for any one day of the carnival. They’re available at

  • Mama Lor’s Cafe (Ridge Rd. location)
  • Lala of Webster
  • Schutt’s Apple Mill
  • Webster Parks and Recreation
  • Kittelberger Florist
  • Flaherty’s Three Flags Inn (Bay Rd. location)

Hours are Wednesday and Thursday 6 to 11 p.m., Friday 6 to midnight, and Saturday noon to midnight at Fireman’s Field, on Ridge Rd. just west of the village.

You’ll also want to follow the Carnival Facebook page. for more details and regular updates.

(P.S. I won’t be here this year for the parade; if anyone wants to shoot me some photos, I’ll put them in the blog!)

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(posted 7/10/2026)

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

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Who was Joe Obbie?

9 Jul

One of the most colorful signs of summer in Webster is the return of the Joe Obbie Farmers’ Market to Webster Towne Center Plaza on Holt Rd. (in front of Old Navy).

The market opened for the season on Saturday, June 13, and will be set up every Saturday at the plaza from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. through October, rain or shine. The very popular Evening in the Park Market will also return to Charles Sexton Park (formerly known as North Ponds) from 5 to 8 p.m. on Wednesday evenings beginning next week, July 15. These events also have live music and food trucks, so remember to pack your folding chairs!

You can find out all you need to know about the market at the Joe Obbie Farmer’s Market website and Facebook page.

But today, I want to address a question I’ve had for a long time: Who WAS Joe Obbie and why is the market named after him? The answer was not hard to find; his son Mark has provided the background on the market’s website page. You can check that out for yourself, but I’m pleased to reprint that piece here:

The market began in 1983 when our father, Joe Obbie, saw a couple selling crafts outside his favorite Webster diner. He asked if he could join them to sell produce from his farm. By agreeing to let our father set up shop, they were doing more than just inviting in one farmer. They were tapping into a network of local farmers since our father was a lifelong resident of the town — and a master at social networking, motivated by a passion to preserve Webster’s farming heritage.

Joe started recruiting other farmers he knew, and the market was born. It moved to the other end of the same parking lot, where it remained for several years. Once it outgrew its corner of that village parking lot, it moved to another. Eventually, that proved too limiting as well. The expanded market finally found its current home, which had unlimited space for the many farmers and craftspeople who wanted to participate, and importantly, for their customers.

Webster had more than doubled in size during Joe’s adulthood since the 1950s, with housing and commercial developments crowding out farms and vacant land. Joe grew up on a small farm where his father, Charlie, grew potatoes and celery that he sold at the Rochester Public Market. Joe eventually became his father’s business partner, until their small farm proved inadequate to support Joe’s growing family and he went to work at the town’s biggest employer at the time, Xerox. In his later years, Charlie started a popular farm stand in front of his house to sell all kinds of vegetables. After he died in 1980, Joe, who lived next door and who had planted acres of grapes, apples, and garlic to serve as his retirement “hobby,” started his own farm stand.

Because there were fewer and fewer working farms in the town, Joe believed it was essential to give the many new residents of the town a way to connect with Webster’s farming heritage. Now, the farmers market gave him a way to spread that message to the entire community, and not just to the people who drove by his farm. He and our mother, Pat, worked tirelessly to recruit vendors and manage and promote the market for more than 20 years. When they were accompanied in their booth by one of us, by their growing brood of grandchildren, or by our younger adopted and foster siblings (Joe and Pat were longtime foster parents and ended up with a household of six or seven kids at any given time).

Just weeks after Joe died of cancer in 2005, our family gathered at the market to celebrate the unveiling of its new name: Webster’s Joe Obbie Farmers’ Market. There could be no more meaningful tribute to his life’s mission than to see that others, aided for many years by Pat, would carry on his work to sustain and improve the market. We are so grateful to the people who have carried that torch since 2005 and work so diligently to make the market a success.

In October 2023, Pat baked her last grape pies and cookies for the vendor booth she ran in the years since her husband’s death. Though she has now “retired” from the market, at age 86, we hope to talk her into coming to the 2024 market (and beyond) to greet customers and tell the story of how this market grew from one farmer to many.

Mark Obbie

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(posted 7/9/2026)

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

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Webster community mailbag

6 Jul

This is a very library-heavy mailbag, mostly because there’s SO MUCH going on at the Webster Public Library (WPL).

But first, this from St. Martin Lutheran Church:

St. Martin Lutheran Church will host their next Pulled Pork Drive-Thru on Saturday July 18 from 4 p.m. until they run out. Dinners include pulled pork sandwich, salt potatoes, coleslaw and cookie for just $15 (cash or check only). Pull into the parking lot, place your order using exact payment, and the dinner will be delivered to you as you drive up in your car. Proceeds will support the church’s annual Christmas Stocking Project. St. Martin Lutheran Church is located at 813 Bay Rd.

A Sweet Sunset Social

The Town of Webster is hosting an evening gathering at Sandbar Park on Friday, July 17, beginning at 7 p.m.

They’re calling it “A Sweet Sunset Social,” and it will feature live music from Chelsey Barry and Mark Cellura, dirty sodas, and popcorn, all of which you can enjoy while watching the beautiful waterfront sunset.

This event is free and open to the public. No registration is required.

Now, from the Webster Public Library (WPL)

  • This month’s community exchange is jewelry — bring your unused pieces and swap them out for new.
  • And while you’re there, drop off some non-perishable goods at the WPL Free Food Pantry, this month’s featured Donation Station.
  • Dino-tech Labs Escape Room: This challenging escape-room adventure will be run on two Saturdays, July 25 and Aug. 15, in 30-minute sessions from 10:15 a.m. to 4 p.m. Participants are placed in DinoTech Labsm where a traitor has sabotaged the equipment. You have 30 minutes to decipher the clues left behind by the saboteur and save the park and all its inhabitants (human and dinosaur) from complete destruction. The activity is recommended for ages 8 and up. Every team must have at least one person aged 16 or older, and teams can include from 2 to 6 people. Registration is required. Click here to register  for July 25, and here for Aug. 15.
  • Learn about dinosaurs and birds in this program presented by paleontologist Dan Krisher. It’s Tuesday, July 14 from 1 to 2 p.m. and is recommended for ages 8+. Click here to register.
  • HLAA Hearing Presentation and Test, Wednesday, July 29 from 2 to 3 p.m. Come learn about hearing assistive equipment, new over-the-counter hearing aids, and the library’s hearing loop from the Rochester Chapter of the Hearing Loss Association of America (HLAA). Free hearing tests will also be available. Registration is required.  If you need any reasonable accommodations, please contact Jenny Paxson at jennifer.paxson@libraryweb.org or call 585-872-7075 x6144 at least 7 business days before the event.
  • The Make it Monday crafts for teens and tweens are America’s 250th Birthday-themed. It’s Monday, July 13 from 6 to 7 p.m. Grades 4-12 and adults are welcome, but registration is required.
  • How about a Jurassic-themed summer camp? The 3-week Jurassic Camp takes place on Wednesdays July 8, 15 and 22 from 2 to 3:30 each day, and each week campers will make a different dinosaur craft. Individual registrations are required for each session. Click here to register for July 8, click here for July 15 and click here for July 22.
  • Or a Dino Camp for grades 2-5? It runs for three weeks, July 14, 21 and 28, and each week there’ll be a different dinosaur craft. Click here for more information and to register for the first week.
  • Get the family together and try some Mezosoic Family Trivia on Thursday, July 30 from 11 to 11:45 a.m. It’s a morning of snacks, and trivia based on the age of dinosaurs! Click here to register.

Friends Vintage and Collectible Book Sale

The next Friends of the Webster Public Library Vintage and Collectible Book Sale has been scheduled for Saturday, July 18 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the community room.

There will be 14 tables with about 250 books, grouped into the following table themes: business, England, juvenile fiction, older fiction, Rochester and Upstate NY, music, George Washington and John F. Kennedy, science fiction, war, American history, science and math schoolbooks and textbooks. Plus, two tables of miscellaneous books. 

Nearly all books offered are in good or better condition, many with their original dust jackets in a protective plastic cover. Some are first editions or early printings. Some appear to be signed by their authors, although the signatures have not been authenticated. Most books being offered were published in the 20th century with a smattering of titles evident from both the mid- to late 19th century and the early 21st century.

Most books have been priced under $20 with many of these in the $8 to $15 range but some are priced $20 or higher, especially those from the Easton Press which are prized by collectors. All prices are fixed so there will be no negotiating. Prices have been selected for profitable resale so book dealers and eBay sellers should especially see what is available. If you collect books, you may find your next treasure here.

BY THE WAY, beginning the day of the Vintage Book Sale on July 18 and through Aug. 1, the Friends will be selling Kittelberger Bouquet Cards. The cards are $50.00 each, and are good for one beautiful Kittelberger bouquet every month for a year. They make a wonderful gift for birthdays, anniversaries, or just for you.

Still more from the library: The Webster Public Library is introducing a brand new event this summer, especially designed for people with developmental disabilities. It’s called the College and Transition Fair, and its goal is to support individuals with disabilities who will no longer get support from the school system for their services. More than two dozen colleges and organizations have already signed up.

The College & Transition Fair for People with Developmental Disabilities will be held on Saturday, Aug. 8 from 10 a.m. to noon inside the Webster Public Library. More to come about that, but in the meantime, mark your calendars.

Webster Hope could use your donations

The annual Webster Hope Back-to-School event, to supply new school supplies to Webster students, will take place at from 6 to 8 p.m. on Tuesday Aug. 18. The event relies on community donations to stock the back-to-school shop at Hope. New school supplies can be dropped off at Webster Public Library, 980 Ridge Road, or at Hope during any open hours. Webster Hope is located at 1450 Ridge Rd.

You can see a whole list of requested donations in the July newsletter. (While you’re there, make sure to sign up to get this great newsletter in your mailbox quarterly.)

Raise the Stakes to benefit WCCH

Here’s another reminder about the Webster Comfort Care Home’s 5th Annual Raise the Stakes Casino Night, scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 12 from 6 to 10 p.m. at the Webster Golf Club, 440 Salt Rd.

This is an exciting evening of gaming, prizes and fun while supporting a great cause. Webster Town Supervisor Alex Scialdone will emcee the evening, which will have casino-style gaming tables, a silent auction, raffles, cash bar featuring a signature cocktail and mocktail, appetizers, hors d’oeuvres, light bites, and desserts. Plus, everybody gets $500 in complimentary chips included with admission (additional chips available for purchase).

Tickets are $75 per person, and they’re available now. There are also plenty of sponsorship opportunities ranging from ads in the program for $25 to a Blackjack Table Sponsorship for $2,500. Click here to purchase tickets, ads and sponsorship opportunities.

And now for something completely different

Here’s a quick tease about some of the blogs I’m hard at work on this month:

  • Big things are happening at M.O. Pasta in the Village of Webster. Mike celebrated his third anniversary in April and has some exciting plans for his little shop.
  • Do you like to run? Maybe not as much as these ladies. My running buddy Karen and her friend are just about three miles and one bunch of streets away from completing their goal to run every street in Webster. More to come on how long THAT took them.
  • The library has a great program to connect our senior population with library services. They call it their BookBox for Seniors, where they travel to elder care facilities and bring a selection of books for the residents there to check out.
  • The library is also updating their sensory space. Didn’t know they had a dedicated sensory space? They do, and soon it will be better than ever.
  • Ever wonder who the Joe Obbie Farmer’s Market is named after? Who was Joe Obbie? That blog coming up soon as well.
  • If you’re a fan of the Arboretum, you’ll want to read more about the Arboretum’s Poetry Trail in a few weeks.
  • It was sad to see Mabel Jane’s Vintage Shop on North Ave. move out a while ago, but encouraging to see that the storefront at 10 North Ave. will soon have a new, art-focused proprietor.

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(posted 7/6/2026)

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).

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Friday night concerts return to the gazebo

4 Jul

The Village of Webster summer music season officially kicks off this Friday July 10 with the first in the Friday Night Concerts in the Park series, featuring the Red Hot and Blue Band.

RHB plays Americana, Roots, and Blues Rock music that will get you dancing and bring back a lot of great memories.  

Coming up later in the summer at the gazebo:

The concerts begin at 7 p.m. at the gazebo on North Ave. and admission is free. Bring the whole family, some folding chairs and a blanket, and a cooler if you’d like, then enjoy some beautiful music.

The concerts are brought to you by our Village of Webster business association.

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(posted 7/4/2026)

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

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The best Field Day ever

2 Jul

I had the great opportunity once again this year to attend the annual XRX Amateur Radio Club Field Day, held Saturday through Sunday, June 27 to 28. This is basically a ham radio marathon event, designed to replicate setting up communications in emergency conditions.

I took a lot of notes and many photos, but instead of trying to sum up the event from my less-than-knowledgeable perspective, I will once again this year share with you the follow-up report prepared by Field Day Chair Bob Karz:

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For amateur radio, the most important time of the year is the fourth full weekend in June. Over 30,000 of us across the US and Canada set up more than 1,000 temporary stations completely off the grid, typically in parks and other public spaces, making contact with each other as well as international stations. The event is called “Field Day,” and an important objective is to test our readiness to provide radio communication in the event of a natural disaster or other emergency.

Last weekend marked the sixth year that the Rochester Amateur Radio Association (RARA), Monroe County Amateur Radio Emergency Services (MCARES), and the XRX Radio Club have sponsored an amateur radio Field Day at the north end of Webster’s Kent Park. Thirty-nine local amateurs participated this year in perfect weather — not too hot, not too cold, and no rain.

The disastrous Venezuelan twin earthquakes just three days earlier remind us about why emergency communications are essential during a natural disaster. Venezuelan radio amateurs are continuing to work to deliver health and welfare messages throughout the earthquake area. To facilitate their work, certain radio frequencies were declared off limits for this year’s Field Day so Venezuelan communications could continue unimpeded. 

We began our Field Day set up on Friday morning stringing our wire antennas high in the trees. Rather than climbing them (difficult and dangerous), we use a homemade “air cannon” to launch a shuttle trailing fishing line into the canopy. The fishing line is replaced with string and then rope which supports our antennas.

We set up five separate stations Saturday morning. Three used voice, Morse code, or a computer mode called FT8. The fourth station used voice only, and was exclusively for beginners. A fifth station was for very high frequency (VHF) relatively short-range communications (about 50 miles). We also set up two generators and various solar cell arrays for power and a computer network to log our contacts.

We began operations promptly at 2:00 pm, and over the next 24 hours made contact with 1,065 stations (165 more than last year) in every state except Wyoming, Nevada, and Alaska, most Canadian provinces, and the countries of Lithuania, New Zealand, Spain, Italy, England, Russia, Germany, Finland, France, and Indonesia. All contacts were completely off the grid as if there were a real emergency. We estimate that we will finish in the top 10 to 15% of about 320 Field Day stations our category.

This year we welcomed visits by Webster Town Supervisor Alex Scialdone, Section Manager Scott Bauer (an officer in the Amateur Radio national organization), and Missy Rosenberry from Webster on the Web and her husband Jack. Field Day is always a good time to showcase our hobby, so we were pleased to welcome visitors from the nearby baseball tournament as well as others in the area who stop by. 

Field Day is more than radio contacts. It is also for showing off new equipment, like a measurement tool called a Vector Network Analyzer that tells how well our antennas are working, a small transceiver about the size of a paperback book with about the power of a nightlight that we used to make more than 30 contacts as far away as Missouri, and a keyer that generates Morse code without controls. Rather, you talk to it using (you guessed it) Morse code. We also heard a presentation about homemade “go boxes” with everything needed to get on the air (antenna, transceiver, computer, batteries, microphone, keyer, and all the connecting wiring) are together and ready to go for any emergency. Field Day is also food, lots of it, including a mobile kitchen to prepare real meals but also lots of snack food as well.

Field Day is just a sampling of what amateur radio is about. If you’d like to learn more visit arrl.org or rochesterham.org.

Here’s a whole slideshow of images from the day. Thank you to Bob for many of these:

  • The “go box” on display
  • Manning the “GOTA” station (“get on the air”) for newbies
  • Working the Morse code station
  • After just an hour, they’d contacted all these states
  • Bob Karz’s gold-plated keyer
  • Operating a station into the night
  • Joe Delorenzo shows Webster Town Supervisor Alex Scialdone the GOTA station
  • solar arrays
  • Peter Fournia using an air cannon
  • Sam Hartley demonstrates his Go Box

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(posted 7/2/2026)

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