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Webster Thomas art students collaborate with local photographers for month-long exhibition

28 Apr

The greater Rochester community is invited to view the results of a unique collaborative effort between some very talented Webster Thomas High School art students and two local photographers, Quajay Donnell and Richard Colón.

The project began when Webster Thomas art teacher Todd Stahl assigned his Studio in Art students — mostly freshmen — a project based on photographs taken around Rochester by Donnell and Colón. The students carefully cropped their selected images to compose their pieces and then transformed the photographs into striking paintings. The resulting works of art are extraordinary, capturing a wealth of personality and intricate detail.

When Donnell and Colón visited the classroom and saw the impressive works in progress, they were so moved by the students’ talents that they pitched an exciting idea: hosting a professional gallery show to display the students’ work at a gallery they curate.

The resulting exhibition is called Their Eyes, Our Hands, and will be on display for the entire month of May at Behind the Glass Gallery in downtown Rochester.

Their Eyes, Our Hands will feature the paintings of the 20 students, proudly displayed alongside prints of the original reference photographs taken by Donnell and Colón. This unique layout will allow attendees to see the direct inspiration behind each student’s creative interpretation of Rochester’s sights. Student artists include Zoe Abiade, Hana Arap, Lina Barco-Dimaggio, Emma Conley, Noah Drojak, Sophia Eren, Gracie Frank, Mia Imperato, Molly Lowenguth, Penny Ricci, Amina Robinson, Karleigh Sackett, Jaylee Santana, Lucas Scerra, Allie Spitzer, Vivian Stoch, Leah Stronach, Adam Supinski, Andrew Torres, and Lianna Williams.

The Their Eyes, Our Hands art exhibition will kick off with an opening reception on Friday May 1 from 6 to 8 p.m. The event will take place at the Behind The Glass gallery, located on the second floor of Farmhouse Table at 90 South Clinton Avenue, Rochester. For those unable to attend the opening reception, the display will remain up and open to the public throughout the entire month of May during normal business hours: Monday and Tuesday, 7 a.m. to 2 p.m., Wednesday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

(The art on the poster was created by Grace Frank)

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(posted 4/28/2026)

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Thank you, Webster, from the Women’s Club

28 Apr

The Women’s Club of Webster held its annual Spring Fashion Show and Luncheon on Saturday April 25, and thanks to incredible support from the Webster community, it was a huge success.

The show, held at the Penfield Country Club, featured fashions by Chicos of Pittsford. More than 120 women attended. Many of them were Women’s Club members, but most of them were not, and had come with friends to enjoy the fashions, food and camaraderie. 

The event’s success can be attributed to the many individuals who worked so hard to organize it, and almost three dozen local business owners who donated door prizes or basket raffle items. 

Specifically, the Women’s Club would like to thank 

  • the volunteers who designed and printed the programs, came early to set up, sell tickets, take pictures and do whatever else needed to be done; 
  • the members who collected donations from vendors;
  • everyone who donated the beautiful raffle baskets and prizes (we had 68 of them) and door prizes;
  • Chico’s of Pittsford for the gorgeous fashions, and all of the club members who acted as models;
  • the Penfield Country Club for hosting; 
  • our sponsors – Franco Investment Group of RBC, MGM Associates and Susan Woodward.

The annual Fashion Show is one of three big fundraisers hosted by the Women’s Club, which also include the Card Party in November and Christmas Cookie Sale in December. 

Here are some more photos:

  • Welcoming smiles
  • More than 120 women attended
  • Margie DiPaolo from Chicos introduces model Carole Barnabas
  • Model Rochelle Moyer twirling for the audience
  • The amazing Penfield Country Club team
  • Raffle tickets, anyone?
  • More baskets!

The Women’s Club of Webster is a lively group of women of all ages and from many different backgrounds, all dedicated to supporting cultural and educational causes through volunteering. The club hosts luncheon meetings every month except July and August. For more information on joining, please call Carolyn Rittenhouse at (585) 265-1303.

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(posted 4/28/2026)

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

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This year’s volunteer fair at the library has a special surprise for the kids

27 Apr

The Webster Public Library will host their annual Volunteer Fair this Saturday, May 2 from 10 a.m. to noon, and you’ll want to bring the kids, because the West Fire Department will be there with one of their trucks.

The visit by the fire truck is just the latest addition to an already great event, a chance for community members to check out volunteer opportunities at more than two dozen local agencies — all in one place and at one time — and meet with the directors of these agencies one-on-one to ask all your questions.

I’ve seen first-hand what a giving community Webster is, filled with individuals and families who take great pleasure in helping others. That’s why an event like this is so beneficial, and why the library keeps bringing it back every year.

Here are the organizations that have signed up to be there so far:

  • Baywinde Senior Living Community
  • Best Buddies
  • Challenger Miracle Field of Greater Rochester
  • Color Webster Green
  • CP Rochester
  • Eastern Service Workers Association
  • Friends of the Webster Public Library
  • Friends of the Webster Trails
  • Greater Rochester Habitat for Humanity
  • Heritage Christian Stables
  • Lap Robes for Veteran
  • Lifespan
  • Literacy Rochester
  • Maplewood Nursing Home
  • Never Say Never Foundation
  • North East Joint Fire District – Webster Fire Department 
  • One Soldier at a Time
  • St. Ann’s Community
  • Trillium Health
  • URMC/Meals on Wheels
  • VFW Webster Post 943 & American Legion Webster Post 942
  • Webster Arboretum Association
  • Webster Comfort Care Home
  • Webster Community Chest
  • Webster Hope
  • Webster Museum

(And of course the fire truck will be there!)

Registration is recommended if you would like to be reminded about the fair but not required. Attendees can come any time during the fair, which runs from 10 a.m. to noon, to ask questions and get information. If you’re unable to attend, information about the attending organizations will be available at request. 

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

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(posted 4/27/2026)

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

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Webster’s a bit cleaner thanks to Color Webster Green

25 Apr

Thank you to the volunteers from Color Webster Green (CWG) who have been spending some of their free time recently cleaning up our town.

Last Tuesday evening, four dedicated volunteers pulled on their heavy gloves, grabbed some garbage bags and scoured the eastbound Bay Rd. 104 off-ramp for trash. They called the effort “Walking With a Purpose.” Becky Collins, one of the event’s organizers, wrote, “We picked up so much trash we could barely haul it back to our cars! Lots of people honked their horns and waved or shouted out thanks for cleaning up.”

Some of the trash found at the “Pick up the Parks” event

Last Saturday April 18, Color Webster Green also participated in the annual “Pick up the Parks” event organized annually by Monroe County. For three hours that morning at Webster Park, a dozen CWG volunteers (including four children) collected a total of six huge bags full of trash, including a broken chair, a 1970-era jump rope, acrylic nails, broken pieces of a plastic sled, many broken pieces of glass bottles, beer cans, single-use heating pads, doggy bags, and several pieces of fireworks containers. 

Color Webster Green is planning to meet every month — probably on Tuesday evenings — to pick up trash. If you’d like to join them, you can get updates on the schedule at the CWG website and Facebook page.

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(posted 4/25/2026)

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

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2026 Helping Heroes Clean-up Day scheduled

22 Apr

The second annual Helping Heroes Clean-up Day has been scheduled for Saturday, May 9, beginning at 8:30 a.m.

The community-wide clean-up event is organized by the Webster Recreation Center in honor of a beloved long-time staff member, Tom Smock, who passed away in 2023. He worked at the Recreation Center as a part-time custodian for eight years. But more than that, he interacted daily with the 55+ folks, fitness members, and all the young people who came through the building. Recreation Supervisor Julie Schillaci remembers him as “a generous and humble guy. He would always lend a hand with whatever was needed at the Recreation Center and he is sorely missed around here.”

Giving back to the community with a clean-up day is a fitting way to honor Tom’s commitment to Webster.

The whole idea of Helping Heroes Clean-up Day is for households, especially the elderly, who need some extra help cleaning up yard debris, to sign up for assistance, AND – to honor Tom’s giving spirit — for community members to sign up to help. Volunteers are needed to assist with light spring cleanup (raking, weeding, spreading mulch, etc.) in yards around the area, as well as those who need assistance at their homes.

If you’d like to have some helpers come to your house to do some yard work, you can sign up here. If you’d like to volunteer to help out, click here or call the Webster Recreation Center at (585) 872-7103. You’ll be provided with more details as the event gets closer.

This is a great opportunity for the whole family, and a great way to show your kids how helping others is fun and makes you feel great.

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(posted 4/22/2026)

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

19 Apr

A few new offerings in today’s mailbag, and some reminders.

The Webster Arboretum Association’s Spring Plant Sale is back, scheduled for Saturday, May 9 from 8 a.m. to noon.

This sale is just blooming with beautiful, healthy live plants which are grown by local garden clubs and local commercial growers in local soil, so they’re going to grow in your garden, too. Garden Club members will also share their favorite plants from their own gardens.

This is the perfect opportunity to grab a Mother’s Day gift. The Webster Arboretum is located at 1700 Schlegel Rd.

Upcoming Chamber events

The Webster Chamber of Commerce‘s next monthly meeting — complete with a breakfast buffet — is Friday, April 24 at the Webster Golf Club, 440 Salt Rd., beginning at 7 a.m. The event is for members, guests and visitors who are interested in investigating a Chamber membership.

The meetings are opportunities to network, meet new contacts, develop current business relationships, learn, and earn visibility for your business or organization. It’s 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.  

The Chamber’s next Connect @ Noon networking event will be held on Tuesday, May 5 at the Webster Chamber of Commerce office at 1110 Crosspointe Lane. It will be hosted by Rich Marlin from Edward Jones and Kara Galante from The Steam Police. Members and professionals interested in doing business in Webster and are prospective Chamber members are invited to attend this event. Bring your business card and a door prize for even more visibility. 

There’s no fee to attend the Connect @ Noon events, but registration is required.

And now, some reminders …

The Webster Comfort Care Home‘s Mother’s Day Raffle is still going on.

  • First prize ($500+ value) is a self-care bundle including WOW hair products, a gift certificate to Evie Boutique, a candle, and more in a Thirty-One Catch-All Bin.
  • Second prize ($125 value) includes a big bottle of Prosecco, two insulated wine glasses, wine charms, sassy sticky notes, and a soft, cozy afghan.
  • Third prize ($50 value) is a candle, dream pillow, sassy sticky notes, and $20 in gift cards to Lala of Webster.

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.

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! 

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.

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(posted 4/19/2026)

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Schroeder Theater Company brings The Outsiders to the stage, with a special performance for seniors

17 Apr

Schroeder Theater Company will bring S.E. Hinton’s classic 1967 novel The Outsiders to the stage for four shows next Thursday through Saturday, April 23 to 25.

Not familiar with The Outsiders? Here’s a synopsis:

Whether it’s Tulsa, Oklahoma in the 1960s or Webster, NY in 2026, there have always been “outsiders” — outcasts, underdogs, and those who are simply misunderstood. The story follows Ponyboy Curtis (Evan Burdick) and the rest of his Greaser gang (Rowan Murphy, Brody Walrath, Brock Brinkman and Lukas Vega) as they try to survive the hardships of growing up, all while attempting to de-escalate rising tensions with their affluent rival gang, “The Socs.” It’s a poignant coming-of-age tale which tackles violence, heartbreak, and tragedy head-on.

Show times are Thursday through Saturday, April 23 to 25 at 7 p.m. each night, plus a 2 p.m. matinee on Saturday. All shows will be held at Webster Schroeder High School, 875 Ridge Rd. Tickets are $10 and seating is general admission. Tickets can be purchased online or at the door, but note that all at-the-door ticket sales are cash only.

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The talented Schroeder Theater cast will also be presenting a special performance of The Outsiders just for our Webster senior citizens on Wednesday, April 29.

The event will begin at 9:15 a.m. at Schroeder High School with light refreshments and an opportunity check out some of the artwork recently on display at Community Arts Day, created by students from prekindergarten through twelfth grade. Following the morning reception, attendees will head into the auditorium for the two-hour performance beginning at 10 a.m.

Advance registration is required. Attendees must register online here. The performance is free but a $5 donation is suggested and can be paid upon arrival to help support the production costs of the show.

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(posted 4/17/2026)

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

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The doctor will see you now — at the Webster Museum

16 Apr

If you’re interested in hearing more about the history of medicine in Webster, you’ll want to attend a fascinating talk this Sunday afternoon, April 19, at the Webster Museum.

The talk, which begins at 2 p.m., will be presented by Dr. Colin Scott, a retired medical practitioner and museum volunteer, who has been conducting extensive research into medical practices throughout history. On Sunday he’ll share some of that research, including stories of the lives of local doctors, nurses, and patients over the years, focusing especially on the 1800s.

Dr. Scott will begin his talk by tracing the development of North Penfield and Webster, using three Webster physicians as guides: Dr. Oliver Reynolds, Dr. John Dunning and Dr. Charles Reitz. You’ll hear about the Pultneyville skirmish and how Webster was on the front lines in the War of 1812; about the Reynolds’ Corner Building and its focus on patent medicine production and distribution; about Dr. Oliver Reynolds’ medical practice, and how he was removed by the Monroe County Medical Society because of his patent medicine business; about Dr. John Dunning and his drive to improve the educational facilities in Webster and surrounds; and how Dr. Reitz provided a kind of bridge between the 19th and 20th centuries.

Throughout this tale, Dr. Scott will trace the evolution of 19th-century medicine, illustrating the era’s pivotal shifts with a curated slideshow and an exhibit of authentic medical instruments.

The presentation will begin at 2 p.m. No registration is necessary. Refreshments will be served. The Webster Museum is located at 18 Lapham Park, in the Village of Webster.

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(posted 4/16/2026)

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Webster Library to host Diverse Abilities Resource Fair

15 Apr

If you’re looking for resources for your loved one with a disability, then the Diverse Abilities Resource Fair coming to the Webster Public Library on April 18 is for you.

This annual event (formerly called the Special Needs Parent Resource Fair) draws dozens of organizations from around Rochester, all of which offer programs and support for children and adults with disabilities. It continues to grow every year, and this year will welcome more than 70 agencies. (Scroll down to see a list of them all.)

On Saturday April 18, parents and caregivers are invited to stop by anytime between 10 a.m. and noon, chat with the organizations’ representatives and pick up some information. All ages are welcome, and if at any time you or your loved ones need a breather, Autism Up will be set up in the Community Room with a sensory space.

Registration is not required, but recommended if you’d like to get a emailed reminder. Call 585-872-7075 or click here to register. If you’re unable to attend, information about the attending organizations will be available upon request.

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

This year’s Diverse Abilities Fair participants

* ACCES-VR
* Al Sigl Community of Agencies
* Arc of Monroe
* ARCH Program at Roberts Wesleyan University
* Artists Unlimited
* Autism Up and Golisano Autism Center
* Bella’s Bumbas
* Best Buddies International
* Blue Heron Collective
* Cassano Studios
* Catholic Charities Family & Community Services
* CDS Monarch
* Challenger Miracle Field of Greater Rochester
* Cheer and Dance Athletics Rochester
* Child Advocacy Center of Greater Rochester
* Child Care Council
* Childhood Behavior Solutions
* CP Rochester
* CUNY School of Public Health
* David’s Refuge
* Dyslexia Allies of WNY/Student Success Project
* Empowering People’s Independence
* Equicenter
* Every Tree
* Flower City Down Syndrome Network
* Gigi’s Playhouse
* Gliding Stars of WNY
* Goodwill Vision Enterprises
* Heritage Christian Services
* Heritage Christian Stables
* The Hochstein School
* Lifetime Assistance
* Mental Health Association of Rochester
* Mid-West Family and Community Engagement Center
* MindFit Mental Health Counseling LLC
* Monroe County Board of Elections
* Monroe County Early Intervention
* National Federation of the Blind
* Never Say Never Foundation
* Next Day Access
* New York Life
* NYSARC Trust Services
* NYS Department of Civil Service
* NYS Justice Center for the Protection of People with Special Needs
* OPWDD: Front Door
* Olive Speech Therapy, PLLC
* Parents Helping Parents Coalition of Monroe County
* Parent to Parent NYS
* People Inc.
* Person Centered Services
* Prime Care Coordination
* Relatability, LLC
* RocDog Therapy and Community Working Dogs
* Rochester Accessible Adventures
* Rochester Hearing and Speech
* Rochester Works
* Senator Samra Brouk District Office
* Spectrum Creative Arts
* Sportsnet
* Spotted Rabbit Studio
* Step by Step & Sprout Therapy Management Group
* Starbridge
* Strike Back Martial Arts
* Syracuse University: InclusiveU
* Syracuse University: CDI
* TIES – Together Including Every Student
* Tim’s Trim Inc
* Tobii Dynavox
* Urban League of Rochester
* University of Rochester Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics
* Vision Financial Group
* WXXI

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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 4/15/2026)

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Another great Community Arts Day in the books

12 Apr

The WCSD’s annual Community Arts Day, which took place Saturday at Webster Schroeder High School, is one of those events where I have to spend at least the first half hour just wandering around, figuring out the lay of the land. That’s because there’s so much going on, often at the same time. While dance groups frolic across the main stage, the talent show might be happening in the cafeteria. While SparX is demonstrating one of their robots in the gymnasium, small ensembles might be performing in the recital room. The organizers did their best to try to keep the conflicts to a minimum, but with so many talented groups wanting to strut their stuff in front of the Webster community, that was not always possible.

But, as you can see from all of the photos I took, I did the best I could to catch as many performances as possible, and lots of smiling faces at the information tables set up by dozens of community groups and businesses.

The organizers changed things up quite a bit this year. The first thing I noticed was that the usual table locations for all of the community groups had been moved around, which I realized when I stumbled upon the Webster Museum display pretty much right inside the front door. There were several places where kids could make crafts, including the new (to me), dedicated “kid’s zone” in the small auxiliary gymnasium. And there were some other new elements, like the “Spoken Word Poetry” opportunity where budding poets could share their work on stage.

But the main difference I saw was the explosion of crafters. One full half of the gymnasium was filled with craft vendors, and others lined nearby hallways. That took me a little by surprise, since to me it represented a shift in focus away from our students’ art and dance and musical accomplishments. But clearly the organizers knew what they were doing, because the halls were packed with people this year — and they probably raised a lot of money from all those craft vendors.

As always, though, our students’ artistic achievements were the real stars of the show. From the simple elementary school watercolors to the Schroeder and Thomas high school AP students’ pencil drawings, the talent flowed from the displays placed in the cafeteria, the hallways and the library. Some of them were so extraordinary, they stopped me in my tracks. And it was fun to see the pride and delight on the younger kids’ faces when they saw their own artwork on display.

If you weren’t able to make it out there this year, check out my Facebook photo gallery (and if you don’t have Facebook you can see the gallery here). The photos do a pretty good job capturing the Community Arts Day magic.

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(posted 4/12/2026)

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

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