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D&C reporter Gary Craig introduces new book

22 May

History and mystery buffs will be interested in a book-signing event scheduled for Barnes & Noble this Saturday May 27.

My Democrat and Chronicle colleague Gary Craig has just published a new book, titled Seven Million: A Cop, a Priest, a Soldier for the IRA, and the Still-Unsolved Rochester Brink’s Heist.

Gary has spent several years researching and writing the book, and the result is a fascinating, in-depth exploration of one of the twentieth century’s most notorious unsolved crimes.

Here’s some more information about Seven Million, from Amazon.com:

On a freezing night in January 1993, masked gunmen walked through the laughably lax security at the Rochester Brink’s depot, tied up the guards, and unhurriedly made off with $7.4 million in one of the FBI’s top-five armored car heists in history.

Suspicion quickly fell on a retired Rochester cop working security for Brink’s at the time—as well it might. Officer Tom O’Connor had been previously suspected of everything from robbery to murder to complicity with the IRA. One ex-IRA soldier in particular was indebted to O’Connor for smuggling him and his girlfriend into the United States, and when he was caught in New York City with $2 million in cash from the Brink’s heist, prosecutors were certain they finally had enough to nail O’Connor. But they were wrong.

In Seven Million, reporter Gary Craig meticulously unwinds the long skein of leads, half-truths, false starts, and dead ends, taking us from the grim solitary pens of Northern Ireland’s Long Kesh prison to the illegal poker rooms of Manhattan to the cold lakeshore on the Canadian border where the body parts began washing up.

Seven Million is a fascinating real-life tale of cops and FBI agents, prison snitches, the IRA, and the unfortunate fate of one Ronnie Gibbons, a down-and-out boxer who was in on the early planning of the heist, only to disappear after he came to Rochester to demand his cut.

You can learn more about the case, and meet Gary Craig in person this Saturday when he holds a book-signing from 2 to 3 pm at the Webster Barnes & Noble, Towne Center Plaza. Read more about the event on the Barnes & Noble website and event Facebook page.

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

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It must be summer, because….

17 May

fiesta

… I just received a press release about the St. Rita Fiesta!

This little festival is one of my favorite ones of the entire year, and not just because it’s close to home. There is always so much to do for the whole family, and organizers seem to keep adding new things every year.

This year — the fiesta’s 63rd — there will be a zip line and bounce houses for the kids, and live music by The Breakfast Club and Ruby Shooz. There’ll be an expanded list of food trucks, as well as the fiesta’s traditional pancake breakfast, fish fry dinner, and chicken barbecue. And of course the plant sale and book sale will be back again.

This year’s big raffle prize is $10,000 cash or $15,000 towards a lease from Vision Automotive.

The Fiesta also features  5k and 10k races on Saturday, June 3. I’ve run this race, and it’s a nice flat course which is perfect for strollers and new runners as well as seasoned competitors. The race is followed by a pancake breakfast.

Families can order wristbands early, which gets kids all-access passes to the bounce houses, zip lines, and bungee trampoline at a discounted price. Discount wristbands can be purchased through the Fiesta website or at the St. Rita’s Parish Office.

Admission to the Fiesta is free. For more information, visit the St. Rita Fiesta website. St. Rita Church is located at 1008 Maple Drive in West Webster.

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Mini Webster mailbag

16 May

Just a few interesting notes this morning.

For starters, Webster Schroeder and Webster Thomas high schools will both have new assistant principals next year.

Karen Murray has accepted the position as assistant principal (alpha M-R) for Webster Thomas High School’s Gold House, effective July 1. Murray is replacing current interim assistant principal Jeremy Slack.

New APs for web

Karen Murray and Dan Sepka

Murray, a Webster resident and graduate, previously served as a middle school ELA teacher and literacy specialist at both Spry and Willink middle schools. She also was a high school literacy specialist at Webster Thomas HS.

 

Dan Sepka will be the new assistant principal (alpha A-E) for Webster Schroeder High School, also effective July 1, replacing current interim assistant principal Jim Vitale.

Sepka is currently an integrated co-teacher at Spry Middle School and prior to that, worked for 10 years at State Road Elementary School as a consultant teacher.
He has spent his entire teaching career in Webster CSD as a co-teacher in all subject areas, and has been a Warrior varsity assistant coach since 2005.  He is also a graduate of Webster Schroeder HS and a Webster resident.

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The Webster Parks and Recreation Department has asked me to remind everyone about their great summer camp programs.

Right now is the time to sign up for programs to keep your kids active and entertained this summer. The Rec offers both full-day camps for children ages kindergarten through 5th grade, and fun camps for teenagers.

In full-day camp, kids are grouped by grade and rotate through a variety of indoor and outdoor activities. Campers will also enjoy several field trips to miniature golf, Seabreeze, bowling, movies ad more.

The Fun Camps will take teenagers to a new exciting destination every dayfrom ice skating to RocVenture, a baseball game to paintball.

The Rec also offers a preschool camp for children ages 3 to 5, and half-day fun camp for kids in kindergarten through 3rd grade.

For more details about all the options, click here.

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opioidThe Monroe County Legislature and the school district are teaming up for a very important presentation on May 31 to raise awareness about the rising threat of opioid abuse in our community.

The presentation will be held Wednesday May 31 at 7 pm at the Webster Community Center, 1350 Chiyoda Drive. Click on the poster for more information.

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Still talkin’ about parks

11 May

park collageA couple of months ago I had the pleasure of speaking to the Adirondack Mountain Club about my 2016 Tour de Parks. The adventure took me to more than 100 parks all over the east side of Rochester.

I had so much fun doing that talk (and I put so much time and effort into preparing it) that I decided to take it on the road.

So if you didn’t catch it in March and would still like to hear about my adventures, there are three more chances to do so in the coming weeks.

This coming Wednesday May 17, I’ll be at the Webster Public Library, 980 Ridge Road, at 7 pm.

Then on Thursday June 1, I’ll be at the Brighton Memorial Library, 2300 Elmwood Ave, at 6:30 pm.

Finally, on Monday June 26 I’ll end my tour (at least for now) at the Pittsford Community Library, 24 State Street, beginning at 7 pm.

Since I’m only doing these talks for fun, the only compensation I asked for was cookies. So no guarantees, but if you’re able to make one of the talks, you might be able to enjoy some oatmeal scotchies. (Actually that makes it worth seeing several times.)

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Webster Rotary invites community members to “Gear Up!”

9 May

rotaryYou’ll read more about this event in my Our Towns East Extra column this Thursday, but I think it’s such a great idea, I wanted to highlight it here in my blog as well.

The Webster Rotary has created a brand new community bike-riding fundraiser in honor of the Rotary Foundation’s 100th year.

The event, called “Gear Up!” is a long-distance community bike ride hosted in conjunction with the Town of Webster, the Webster Chamber of Commerce, and the Friends of Webster Trails. It’s scheduled for this Saturday May 13.

Three different courses have been mapped out. Individual participants can ride 26.5 or 53-mile road routes which take riders as far east as Pultneyville and south to Walworth.

A much shorter, 5-mile long trail ride is designed for families, guiding younger riders and their parents along Webster’s Bird Sanctuary, Chiyoda and Hojack trails. Registration fees are $26.50 for the longer rides, and $45 for the shorter ride, regardless of number of family members participating.

The unusual registration cost and ride distances are based on the fact that the Rotary Foundation began a century ago with a single donation of $26.50.

In addition to this being a nice family event, organizers hope that the longer distances will attract riders who are training for the 100-mile long Ride for Missing Children on May 19 or the Tour de Cure on June 10.

All of the proceeds raised in the Gear Up! ride will benefit the Rotary Foundation and its six areas of focus: clean water, literacy, maternal health, peace and conflict resolution, disease prevention and economic development. This year the Rotary is also focusing on raising money for End Polio Now, an initiative spearheaded by Bill and Melinda Gates.

The Gear Up! benefit bike ride this Saturday May 13 will begin at 8 am at the Webster Parks and Recreation Center, 1350 Chiyoda Drive. For more information and to register online, click here. Last-minute registrations will also be accepted at the Rec Center the morning of the ride.

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Friday Webster Mailbag

4 May

mailbag

The Penfield Village Nursery School will be sponsoring a golf tournament on Friday June 2 to help celebrate the school’s 50th anniversary.

The tournament, held at Shadow Lake Country Club in Penfield, costs $100 per player, which includes 18 holes, a golf cart, and goodie bag, raffles and lunch.

Registration begins at 11:30 a.m. and play begins at noon.

Interested players, sponsors or businesses interested in donating prizes should contact Kacey Kiley at kldunbar@yahoo.com.  Organizers ask that completed registration forms and payment be submitted by May 15.

The Penfield Village Nursery School and Kindergarten is located at 1862 Penfield Road. Read more about the school in a blog I wrote about them last fall.

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The Webster Arboretum Plant Sale will return on Saturday May 13, from 8:30 a.m. to noon at the Arboretum, 1700 Shlegel Road.

Visitors will find plants of all varieties offered for sale by the Arboretum, local commercial growers and local clubs. The Country Gardeners of Webster Garden Club members have chosen selected plants from their own gardens. What this means is that all of the plants for sale will definitely grow in Webster with some sun, water and your tender loving care.

Celebrate the much-anticipated arrival of spring by stopping by the Webster Arboretum on he 13th and get some new plants for your garden (and maybe a Mother’s Day gift). Admission is free and the event happens rain or shine.

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And the accolades for our Webster music teachers just keep on coming.

The College Board has appointed Webster Central School District’s Laura D’Angelo to its Advanced Placement (AP) Music Theory Development Committee.

D’Angelo has been teaching music for 23 years, 20 in Webster Central School District where she presently teaches Music Theory I and AP Music Theory at both high schools. Laura currently serves The College Board by grading AP Music Theory exams. She also has been a speaker at the AP National Conference, as well as at the reading sessions for AP Music Theory.

“We have one of, if not the, biggest high school music theory programs in the nation. When I go to Cincinnati to grade exams (for the AP board), Webster is very well known for our program. I am extremely fortunate to be in a district that supports this program,” D’Angelo said.

D’Angelo’s three-year appointment to the AP Music Theory Development Committee will begin in July.

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In other school news, remember that the Board of Education and budget vote is scheduled for Tuesday May 16th, from 6 am to 9 pm at Webster Schroeder High School, 875 Ridge Road.

You get find out more about the proposed budget by clicking here, and you can meet the Board of Education candidates Wednesday May 10 at 7 pm in the Spry Middle School auditorium. Four candidates are running for three positions this year. They are: Andy LaManna, Mike Suffoletto, Bill Kent and Jan Strege.

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Webster Community Chest needs help finding new space

2 May

community chest

The Webster Community Chest (WCC) is currently reevaluating the location where it provides services for the Webster community, and the organization needs your help.

The WCC is actively looking for a new location from which they can continue to provide assistance to individuals and families in our community. That especially means the food cupboard. The new space will house non-perishables most of the time, and fresh donations on distribution days.

Their ideal location would be in Webster (of course), on the smaller side (maximum 2000 square feet) and available for minimal rent. The WCC budget is limited and they’re hoping the vast majority of their donations could continue to go directly to neighbors in need and not to rent. (So donated/shared space would be IDEAL!)

If you know of a landlord or business who might be interested in sharing their space — or if YOU own a business which could help out — please contact Community Chest board member Andy LaManna at alamanna18@gmail.com.

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Webster Village Band: 50 years and still going strong

30 Apr
2016 Christmas concert

The Webster Village Band at their 2016 Webster Schroeder Christmas Concert

Fifty years ago this summer, Webster Village Council member Gerry Barrett proposed that the village create a band that would provide free summer concerts to village residents. The Village Board agreed, and asked Stan Maruszak to lead the new musical group.

A half century later, the Webster Village Band is still going strong, and still providing beautiful music every summer.

Several years after the band started, Sue Siegmund began assisting Stan as Associate Director and Marcia Naukum helped out with band administration. When Stan passed away in late 2004, a group of band members worked together to continue band operations, and establish a solid relationship with the Webster Village Board.

Since then, a music scholarship was created by Stan’s widow, Frances, who has since passed in 2010 at the age 83. This scholarship has been awarded annually to students in the Webster Central School District.

Currently, the Webster Village Band is under the direction of Tom Indiano, Musical Director, and Associate Director Sue Siegmund.

Indiano, now in his 13th year with the band, is a graduate of the Eastman School of Music and Nazareth College, with a concentration in saxophone. Sue Siegmund, a graduate of Fredonia majoring in the French horn, brings a variety of musical experiences to the band, having worked with the Webster musical co-op, Webster Central School District, and as organist for many years at Durand United Church of Christ.

Original members and long-time members with 40+ years with the band, who are still playing, include Mary Crockett, Skip Mayo, Marcia Naukam, Bobbi Przybylowicz, and Sue Siegmund.

The Webster Village Band plays a variety of musical genres, including marches, classical band selections, swing, show tunes and pops.

The band performs outdoors most Thursday evenings at 7 pm from mid June through August at the Harmony Station Band Shell, located off Phillips Road and Foster Drive, just south of Ridge Road. In case of inclement weather, the concerts are moved to Cherry Ridge at St. Ann’s Community, 900 Ridge Road, across from Webster Schroeder High School.

Concerts are always free and there’s plenty of lawn space. Bring a lawn chair or blanket, a picnic basket of munchies and relax and enjoy the music. The large lawn area is family friendly and perfect for youngsters who may find it difficult to sit still. Young audience members have been known to dance, run, play and even conduct the band on an occasion or two.

Other venues the band has played in years past include the Webster Arboretum and Genesee Country Museum.

The 50th anniversary season will kick off with a special event on Tuesday May 16 at 7:30 pm with, a “Side-by-Side” performance with students at Webster Schroeder High School, 875 Ridge Road.

The summer season begins on Thursday, June 15, with additional concerts scheduled every Thursday night through August 31, except for June 29, July 13 and August 17. Weather permitting, they’ll also play their annual Christmas in July concert at the Joe Obbie Farmer’s Market on Saturday July 22 at 10 am. Stay tuned for more information about that.

New members are always welcome. Until the performance season begins, rehearsals are held Thursday evenings from 7-9 pm at various Webster schools. New members are encouraged to dust off those instruments and join this vibrant ensemble.

For more information, check out the Webster Village Band website. You can also follow the band on Facebook. Pocket calendars of the upcoming season are available at the Village Hall at 28 West Main Street.

Here’s a slideshow highlighting the great people and directors of our Webster Village Band:

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SEPTA Bowling fundraiser a success

27 Apr

(all photos courtesy Hayes Photography, lindahayesphotography.com)

Webster’s 6th annual SEPTA (Special Education Parent/Teacher Association) scholarship fundraiser, held on Sunday April 9 at AMF Empire Lanes, was a terrific success. Despite being a beautiful, warm spring day, 100 bowlers spent the day indoors instead of teeing off on the golf course or grilling outside.

The event was coordinated by Thomas special education teacher Dina Malboeuf, who provided this follow-up report.

In addition to the bowlers and business sponsors, special education staff members from both Webster Thomas and Schroeder High Schools participated by volunteering at the registration and raffle tables, bringing in teams of their own, and gathering spectacular prizes for the raffles.

The afternoon was filled with fun, creativity (some teams dressed up in costumes), team spirit (teams consisted of families, friends, and/or colleagues from various departments), food, awards, and overall unique talent demonstrated on the lanes! It was so nice to see community members and district staff come together to support a great cause: raising scholarship money for students who participate in the special education program in Webster.

The event was a great success, raising more than $4,000. Malbeouf would like to send out a special thank you to the following people:

Candy Harris, Linda Hayes (for her terrific photography), Joan Bardanis, Diane Cannarozzo, Tracy Small, Kyle Suffoletto/Rivalry on the Ridge, Ginny Perry-Pschierer, Todd Pschierer, Kevin Eichorn, Denise Warren, Mel Drury, Dan Marcello, Shelly Cahoon, Colleen Armstrong, Marjorie Marble, Mike Gustin, and Alec Wahl.

Event organizers are currently reviewing scholarship applicants from both high schools, and are already looking forward to making next year’s fundraiser tournament even more fun and more successful.

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Webster Mailbag

25 Apr

mailbagI tell ya. Go away on a cruise for a week, you think you’ve got everything tucked away for a while, and you come back to an overstuffed email box.

Let’s get started.

The Webster Public Library’s spring book sale, sponsored by the Friends of the Library, happens this week.  Tuesday night is the members-only preview night, from 5 to 8:30, when members of the Friends get first crack at the incredible selection of books for sale. Don’t worry if you’re not a member. Memberships will be available at the door, so walk right up and take advantage of this special opportunity.

The general sale begins Wednesday April 26 at 10 am and runs through 8:30 pm. Thursday April 27 is buy one get one free day, and Friday (10 am to 5 pm) and Saturday (10 am to 1 pm) are bag days, when you pay just $3 for a bag of books.

All monies raised go to support library programs.

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The Webster Museum will host Webster resident Ed Harding for a very interesting archaeology program on Saturday April 29 at 2 p.m.

Harding will share his story on how finding a projectile point while digging a fence post in his father’s back yard in 2012 has kept him digging and finding many more Native American artifacts. He learned that the first arrowhead was more than 3,000 years old.

If you’ve found any smooth rocks or interesting rocks you think might be important, feel free to bring them along to the presentation and have Ed take a look at them.

And while you’re at the museum, make sure to check out the collection of Native American artifacts, which are also located on a Webster map according to where they were discovered. If you haven’t seen the woolly mammoth molar yet, which was found on a farm on State Road, it’s pretty cool.

The Webster Museum is at 18 Lapham Park in the village. It’s open Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday from 2 to 4:30 p.m. Admission is free and it’s  handicap accessible.

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St. Martin Lutheran Church, at 813 Bay Road in Webster, will host its Spring Chicken BBQ and FunFest on Saturday April 29 from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m.

Half-chicken dinners including salt potatoes, cole slaw, roll, butter and beverage are available for $10.00. Pie slices and other desserts will also be available for purchase. A hot dog dinner for kids is $2.00.

Dinners are eat-in or take-out. Tickets can be reserved by calling the church office at 671-1899, or purchased at the event while supplies last. Proceeds support the church’s Christmas Stocking Project, which reaches more than 500 local youth in Monroe and Wayne counties.

The FunFest will feature the a bounce house, face painting and balloons.

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The First Baptist Church of Penfield, 1862 Penfield Road, has let me know about two events coming up in the next few weeks.

The Holy Yoga Spring Series, titled “Finding the Extraordinary in Our Ordinary Lives,” begins April 27 and runs every Thursday through May 25. The series is described: “Each week we will become a living prayer; praying together the prayer that Jesus gave us. Gentle, slow flow Holy Yoga will stretch us in heart, mind, body and soul.”

Classes begin at 6:30 p.m. and cost $10 each. All are welcome. Please bring your own mat.

On Saturday May 6, join the First Baptist Church of Penfield for Chicken Barbecue from 2 to 6 p.m., or until sold out. Chickens will be prepared on site by Gale-Wyn Catering. Dinners are $10.50 and include a half barbecued chicken, coleslaw or macaroni salad, salt potatoes, roll and butter, plus a dessert. Eat in or take out.

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

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