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Notes form the Town

1 Apr

There’s all sorts of interesting notices coming from the Town Hall folks these days, and I would be remiss not to pass them along.

The first announcement is one that Webster gardeners anxiously await every spring: the leaf mulch pile has arrived!

It’s back at its usual location behind Webster Town Hall, and the 100% pure leaf mulch is free to Webster residents (no contractors or landscapers please). And no machinery or other equipment is allowed to load the mulch, so grab your shovels and your kids and get on down there while the supply lasts. Which is usually not very long.

Webster Has the Yellow Dot Program

Haven’t ever heard of the “Yellow Dot” program? Neither had I until about a month ago when Supervisor Nesbitt wrote about it in his weekly column. It seemed really interesting, so I tucked the information away…until now.

The program is sponsored by the New York State’s Sheriff’s Association, and it helps emergency responders provide prompt care in the event of a car accident.

The idea is to place a Yellow Dot on the rear driver’s side window, alerting emergency responders to look in the glove compartment, where you’ve placed important medical information. The Yellow Dot can also be used to alert those who respond to emergencies in your home. Simply place the decal on or beside your front door, and place a completed information card in the freezer part of your refrigerator.

If you’re interested in participating in the Yellow Dot program, stop by the Webster Town Hall at 1000 Ridge Road for more information.

Household Hazardous Waste Collection

The Monroe County Department of Environmental Services (DES) and the Town of Webster, Town of Penfield and the Village of Webster have joined forces to hold an appointment-only Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) collection on Saturday, April 20.  This collection will take place at the Webster Highway Garage, 1005 Picture Parkway from 7:45 am to noon.

To ensure safety and reduce waiting times, appointments are required at all HHW collections.  Appointments for this HHW collection will be accepted until April 19. To schedule an appointment, Webster residents should call 872-1443, Penfield residents can call 340-8710 (Monday thru Thursday, 7 am–4:30 pm), or go online to http://www.monroecounty.gov/hhw to schedule your appointment.

Oh, and by the way, in case we forgot to mention it, APPOINTMENTS ARE REQUIRED!

This Household Hazardous Waste collection is open to all Monroe County residents.

Pharmaceutical Collection

The Sewer Department will be having a Pharmaceutical Collection on Saturday, April 27 from 10 am to 2 pm at 226 Phillips Road. They will only accept unused, unwanted, or expired medication.  No mercury or hazardous material will be accepted.

I did this last year, just drove up and dropped off a bag filled with medications we no longer needed. It was quick and easy and painless, and I would recommend it to everyone. Please don’t flush old meds down the toilet. And don’t use them if they’re expired, and especially don’t if they were prescribed for someone else. That’s just dangerous.

For more information call 265-0505.

 

Mini mailbag

25 Mar

Before this pre-holiday week overtakes us completely, I wanted to make note of a few notices that have come through my email box.

The first is from the folks at the Town of Webster, who’d like everyone to know that Town Hall will be closed this Friday March 29 in observance of Good Friday. They’ll reopen Monday April 1st (April Fool’s Day — no comments, please) at 8:30 am for regular business.

On Saturday March 30, the community is invited to attend an Easter Bunny Pancake Breakfast at the Webster Columbus Center, 70 Barrett Drive.  The event is being held as a fund-raiser to help Katy Corpus earn her trip as a Student Ambassador with People to People this summer.

In addition to breakfast, the event will feature

  • An Easter egg hunt for children 12 and younger (for children who attend the breakfast only)
  • An adapted egg hunt for children with special needs
  • Pictures with the Easter Bunny
  • Face painting
  • A raffle for an Easter basket filled with goodies

The breakfast will run from 8:30 – 11 am. Pre-sale tickets are $8 for adults and $5 for children, and are available at Computer Works Pro (1991 Empire Blvd., Webster) or online at www.kcorpus.com/katy. Tickets will also be available at the door for $10/$7.

Vegan and gluten-free options will also be available.

 

 

Thursday Webster Mailbag

20 Mar

It’s a sure sign of spring: special events are beginning to pop up all over the place.

For starters, Webster Thomas High School’s Production of The Wiz eases onto the stage for four shows beginning this evening at 7:30 pm.  The Wiz is a hip, 1975 adaptation of L. Frank Baum’s classic book The Wonderful Wizard of Oz and the even more famous movie.

Yesterday several of the cast members treated Thomas staff and students to a teaser, featuring some of the songs from the show. So I can tell you that this is going to be a very entertaining, high-energy production. Anyone who lived through the ‘70s will enjoy the cultural references to that … far out … era. The kids will enjoy the vibrant costumes and upbeat melodies.  It’s about as different from the Wizard of Oz as it can be, while still sticking to the famous storyline. The Cowardly Lion, for example, looks and acts a lot like Elvis.

Tickets are $10 and are still available for all shows, but it might be too late to get them at Hegedorn’s, so pick them up when you get to the show.

The Wiz will be presented tonight, Friday and Saturday at 7:30, and Saturday at 2 pm, at Webster Thomas High School, 800 Five Mile Line Road, Webster.

THROUGH THE STUDENT LENS RECEPTION

Friday night, you’re invited to attend a reception for a multi-school photography show called Through the Student Lens 2013,at the Image City Photo Gallery.  This annual event showcases stunning photography by high school students from all around the county. The idea is to give students a chance to display their photographs professionally, in a gallery setting. This year’s collection includes 170 images by students from 17 area high schools, including Thomas and Schroeder.

Through the Student Lens opened on Wednesday and runs through April 14.  You can meet the artists at a reception Friday night March 22 from 5-8:30 pm.  The Image City Photo Gallery is located at 722 University Avenue, in Rochester.

25TH ANNUAL SCOUTING FOR FOOD

Believe or not, this weekend marks the 25th anniversary of Scouting for Food. I know this because I got one of those hangy-tag things on my doorknob earlier this week. If you did, too, and immediately tossed it into the recycle bin, go fish it out, because this is a very worthwhile effort.

Here’s the way it works: On Saturday morning, gather up some non-perishable foods, put them in a bag, and then plop the bag outside your front door by 9 am. That’s all there is to it.  The Scouts will be around to pick it up, sort it and deliver all the donations to local food pantries.

AND, these days Scouting for Food also includes a clothing drive. So get another bag, fill it with gently used clothes and shoes in it (no household items, please), and plop the bag outside your front door right next to the food bag. These items will be donated to Goodwill.

If the Scouts don’t make it by your house to pick up the donations, you can drop them off yourself at any Wendy’s Restaurant or any Goodwill store between March 23 and March 30.

SCHLEGEL ROAD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL BEAUTIFICATION FAIR

Schlegel Road’s Second Annual Beautification Fair is Saturday, March 23.  All sorts of crafters will be on hand to display a tremendous variety of gift items. Funds raised through the craft sale and raffles will go towards beautifying the school’s cafeteria. The second phase of the project began earlier this month, when Schlegel art teacher Colleen Palmer and all of her students started painting murals during their art classes. You’ll can check out their work this weekend while you’re at the fair.

The show takes place from 10 am to 4 pm at the school, 1548 Schlegel Road in Webster.

BLOOD DRIVE AT THE AQUATIC CENTER

Your next local opportunity to donate blood is Tuesday March 26 at the Webster Schroeder High school Aquatics Center, 875 Ridge Road. Donations will be taken from 8:30 am to 1:30 pm. It might be best to make an appointment for this one, since a lot of Schroeder students will probably be participating as well. Call 1-800-RED-CROSS.

WEBSTER CHRISTIAN SCIENCE AND HEALTH FAIR

Did you know that dogs’ nose prints are as unique as human fingerprints? That there’s such a thing as glow-in-the-dark soda? And what the heck is “morphing matter”?  Find out more about all of these questions and more at Webster Christian School’s Science and Health Fair, Tuesday evening, from 7-8:30 pm.

I went to this event last year and was amazed at some of the projects these young people were able to pull off. I may have to go again this year just to see what “dry ice bombs” are.

Webster Christian School is located at 675 Holt Road.

RENEW WEBSTER

A free Renew Webster Home Energy “Lunch and Learn” Workshop is scheduled Wednesday, March 27, 11:30 AM to 1:00 PM at the Webster Recreation Center to help residents learn about and understand programs available to help them reduce energy use and annual energy costs by an average of $700.

At the meeting, homeowners will be able to sign up for their free or reduced-cost energy assessment, as well as learn about other energy efficiency program opportunities available from Rochester Gas & Electric (RG&E).

The Town of Webster will provide each family (up to 100) with a 10-pack of compact fluorescent light bulbs, which can save $84 per year or more by replacing incandescent light bulbs.

The lunch and program are free of charge, but space is limited. Pre-registration is encouraged to reserve your light bulbs and lunch at http://www.RenewWebster.org or toll free at 1-866-495-2959.

The Wiz visited the elementary schools this week!

12 Mar

The cast members who performed: Top row (L-R) Andrea Saitta, Bree Bullock, Kylie Dennison, Zoe Waltman, Sam Cino (Scarecrow), Carson Klasner (Dorothy), Alex King (Tin Man), Alec Nevin (Lion), Luciarose Barone, Sarah Krolik, Nicole Meredith. Bottom row: Gabby Jerzak, Mia Klasner, Kay Edwards, Diana Lohrman, Niccole Pucci, and Selene Klasner.

Students and staff members from three Webster elementary schools got a sneak peek at Webster Thomas High School’s upcoming production of The Wiz! earlier this week.

Seventeen cast members from the production made the rounds on Monday and Tuesday to Dewitt Road, Klem North and Klem South elementary schools to perform several numbers from their spring musical The Wiz, which takes to the Webster Thomas stage Thursday March 21 through Saturday March 23.

At each stop, the entire student body came out to watch as the cast members performed six musical numbers, including the scene when Dorothy meets Scarecrow, Tin Man and Lion. They were also introduced to some brand new characters: the Yellow Brick Road Dancers and Crow Dancers.

I didn’t get to attend the performance, but it was artfully captured in photos by Klem North parent Jen Swab-DeGrace, who kindly sent me the photos below for my blog.  I just love the expressions on the kids’ faces in the first one; they’re obviously enjoying the performance very much.

The whole family is going to enjoy this show (clearly, the kids already do). Even adults familiar with The Wizard of Oz movie will find  this production delightfully different.  It’s a funky musical adaptation, set to the beat of ’70s rock and Motown melodies. It’s one of Broadway’s most popular musicals and inspired a hit Hollywood movie in 1978 starring Michael Jackson and Diana Ross.

The show runs Thursday March 21 and Friday March 22 at 7:30 pm, and Saturday March 23 at 2 and 7:30 pm. Tickets are $10 and are available at Hegedorn’s Courtesy Desk, 964 Ridge Road, Webster, online at www.websterthomasplayers.com and through the Webster Thomas Players’ ticket line at 585-234-8248.

 

Was Mary Todd Lincoln insane?

5 Mar

A fascinating program scheduled for this weekend in Webster will explore the question of whether Mary Todd Lincoln was deranged — or just depressed.

Photo of Mary Todd Lincoln by Matthew Brady from Wikimedia Commons.

Apparently it is common knowledge that the wife of Abraham Lincoln was considered a “lunatic,” to use the accepted term of the day.  But there are some who believe that Mary Todd Lincoln was suffering not from lunacy, but from depression.

One of those people is Patricia Nugent, an East Irondequoit native who has written about the subject in the online edition of Ms. Magazine. In her article, she writes,

Many of us know that the former First Lady was convicted of lunacy, instigated by her eldest son, Robert Todd Lincoln. She spent almost four months in an insane asylum until she was able to enlist support for a retrial, at which she was declared sane once more.

What we don’t know much about is what led to the behavior that was considered lunacy in the court of public opinion and a court of law…my assessment is that Mary Todd Lincoln suffered innumerable losses in her life and had few socially acceptable means of expressing her sorrow. Such bottled-up sadness resulted in acting out behavior that was interpreted as insanity.

Those losses included the death of her mother when she was just six years old, rejection by her stepmother, the loss of three of her four sons, and, of course, the assassination of her beloved husband. Her eldest (and only surviving) son, was no support at all.  He was “cold, judgmental and unaffectionate,” Nugent wrote.

I’d say that’s an understatement. For crying out loud, he had his mother convicted of lunacy.

Nugent will discuss her article at a presentation from 2-4 pm this Sunday March 10, at the Harmony House, 58 East Main Street, Webster. The public is invited to join the discussion and learn more about this tragic woman whom Abraham Lincoln loved so dearly, but whom historians call “one of the most detested women in American history.”

The event is being sponsored by Yesterday’s Muse Books, and there is no charge. Refreshments will be provided by Webster Gourmet.  For more information, call (585) 265-9295.

The Webster Public library needs your input

23 Feb

Our Webster Public Library is really neat. The staff there is always finding ways to keep things fresh. Every time I stop in there’s something new going on.

Friday, for example, I was heading toward the back of the library for a meeting with Library Director Terri Bennett and stopped up short at their awesome Hometown Heroes display, honoring firefighters, army and police personnel. It’s a very nice tribute, but the best thing about it?  Kids are invited to try on all the equipment (adults too, of course, if they feel so inclined.)

 

Terri told me it’s been quite popular with the young ones. Not so much with one young man, though, who had this conversation with this Dad (and I quote very loosely):

Son: “I want to be a fireman when I grow up.”
Dad: “Well c’mon then, son, try on the helmet.”
Son: “No, Dad, I’m not a fireman TODAY.”

The youngsters below had no such qualms:

Library fans Jack Fitzsimmons and Alyssa Doody

The display will be up through the end of the month, so bring the kids on by.

Now back to the real reason you clicked into the blog. Why does the library need your input? Simply because they’re going to have to make some big decisions in the coming years about their collection, their services, even how they use their space. But before they do all that, it would help to know what the community really wants.

Let’s face it: libraries are facing the two-fold challenge of adapting to rapidly changing times, and steadily decreasing funding. Our own Webster Public Library has formed a long-range planning committee charged with addressing those challenges.  They started by asking the community for feedback to guide their discussions. But so far they’ve had limited success.

You might remember, for example, a survey which was distributed several months ago asking for public input. But then again, you probably don’t remember it, because only 29 people responded.  I’m pretty sure more than 29 people in this town have opinions about our library.

So consider this a personal invitation. Webster Public Library Director Terri Bennett would love to hear from you.  What do you like about the library? What don’t you like? What would you like to see more of? What do you think of the children’s area…the teen area…the periodicals?  Do you like the cafe? Are there enough computers? Do you use the Quiet Room? (Did you know there was a Quiet Room?) Is the carpeting too dull? No opinion is too frivolous.

And just think about it. If you’re the only one who responds, and you ask for a water slide for the children’s room, who knows?

Email Terri Bennett at tbennett@libraryweb.org with your thoughts and suggestions.  Or call her at (585) 872-7075. Or just stop by to see her. She’s really nice.

 

More local people helping others

12 Feb

I received some photos yesterday from a couple of other fundraisers last weekend which involved local people and local places.

Flaherty’s Three Flags Inn on Bay Road held an all-day fundraiser on Sunday, in which they donated a portion of everyone’s check to the West Webster Fire Department. Judging by the number of people who packed the place all afternoon and evening, they raised a ton of money. Organizers also had a 50-50 raffle going, there were dozens of raffle prizes, and entertainment by local musicians (who played for free). I had very nice late lunch with a dozen of my closest friends. It was just a terrific event all around.

Thanks to my friend Kristen North for these two photos, including the panoramic one of the bar, above.

Music by “My Dingo” inspired at least a few of the patrons to take to the dance floor.

You might also have heard about the 13th annual Polar Plunge on Sunday, when crazy people (many in costume) took a swim in frigid Lake Ontario to benefit the New York Special Olympics.  Among the brave souls to take the plunge were Webster Schroeder 11th grader Phillip LiPari, Spry Middle School seventh grader Sadie LiPari, and Klem Road South Elementary School teachers Doreen LiPari and Jennifer Forsey, all pictured below.  Between the four of them they raised more than $500 for the cause.

 

Schroeder vs. Thomas benefit game a success in many ways

11 Feb

Saturday night’s benefit basketball game which featured Webster Schroeder against Webster Thomas staff members, was a huge success. The stands were packed, the mood was electric, the game was competitive … well, at least for one team… and everyone had a good time. More to the point, the game raised tons of money for the West Webster Fire Department, through ticket sales, t-shirt sales and bracelet sales.

Some of the fans took the game VERY seriously.

More than $9,000 of that money raised came directly from the efforts of three very brave Webster educators, who had pledged to get their heads shaved at halftime if they were able to raise at least $5,000 before the game. They reached — and surpassed — that goal almost a week ahead of time, and so the assembled crowd was able to watch as Webster Thomas Assistant Principal Sue Clark, Librarian Trish Warren, and Webster Schroeder Assistant Principal Jeremy McBride went under the razor at half court between periods.The money they raised will be going directly to the families of Mike Chiapperini and Tomasz Kaczowka.

Each of the three spoke before the shearing about their motivations for going through with this selfless act. They were all very moving, but I particularly liked one of the things that Warren said, and I (pretend) to quote directly:

People keep telling me that I’m really brave for what I’m doing today. But I’m not the brave one. The brave ones are the firefighters and first responders who put their lives on the line every day, who leave their homes, not knowing if they’re going to return at the end of the day.

Ain’t that the truth.

The stands were packed.

Here are a few photos from the event, but I invite you to click here to see a gallery of about 170 (of the 300 or more I took that night).

There’s one photo I took which I will not post, but I thought really summed up what this game was all about. One of the Webster Thomas players was having some difficulty in the first half and required EMT assistance. Naturally, when the announcer asked

for an EMT to come down, about a dozen first responders in attendance immediately stood up. The one who ultimately took the lead to care for the player was Nick Chiapperini, Mike Chiapperini’s son.

When I pointed this out to Thomas AP Sue Clark, she said matter-of-factly, “That’s who he is. That’s why I’m shaving my head.”

 

A sample of the craziness that ensued.

The newly-shorn pose with their talented hairdressers. (L-R) Thomas teacher Ida Marra, Trish Warren, Jeremy McBride, Thomas parent Nikki Ditch, Sue Clark, and Kiara Sens Giaconia (Thomas ’09)

IN-SCHOOL UPDATE!!

A few more photos for your viewing pleasure, which I was able to take this morning after I got to work at Thomas. The first is a shot from our Morning Show studios where Sue Clark and Trish Warren went on the air to thank the student body for their support.  The second is of Warren sporting the winning hat from her “Choose-Which-Hat-I’m-Going-to-Wear-on-Monday” contest.  It was a close contest between this one and the dreadlocks. I think she’s very glad this one won.

Thomas High newspaper honors fallen firefighters

9 Feb

by Stephanie Boris, Webster Thomas High School

If it seems like I write a lot about Webster Thomas High School…well, you’d be right.  But I do work there, and so many good things happen in that school that stories ideas just fall into my lap.  Plus, teenagers get so much bad press these days, I like to try to balance that out with news of the great things they can do, and are doing for their school and community.

Today’s blog is no different.  It’s about a bunch of Thomas kids who have gone above and beyond to create a lasting memorial to the fallen firefighters of the West Webster Fire Department. It’s something that I thought definitely had to be shared far beyond the high school’s walls.

The Webster Thomas High School newspaper is called The Courier, and lately it’s been published exclusively online by a small but very dedicated group of students advised by English teacher Mary Heveron-Smith. A week or so ago, though, the staff published a special eight-page print edition commemorating fallen firefighters — and Thomas High School family members — Mike Chiapperini and Tomasz Kaczowka.

I asked Heveron-Smith about the decision to publish this special edition in print instead of online. She explained,

It had to be print.  We’ve been working this year to develop our website, but we knew this had to be a printed issue of the newspaper.  There is something about print that still brings comfort. We wanted a publication that people could feel with their hands, could tuck away into a drawer and pull out again when they wanted to remember the amazing individuals whom we lost.

The resulting publication features submissions by current and former Thomas students and other community members. There’s a eulogy written as a Public Speaking assignment, a poem, and excerpts from the eulogy delivered at Mike Chiapperini’s funeral.  But the images are what really blew me away.  The photos and original artwork, many of which are printed in full color, almost brought me to tears. The one of Tomasz which illustrates the top of this blog was especially poignant.  Heveron-Smith wrote of this piece,

 …he is captured so perfectly — his eyes, his smile, his facial lines…If you knew Tomasz, you almost can’t help but smile in recognition when you see it.  The background is a blend of photos, headlines, and newspaper clippings — all seeming to remind us what happened that day, how many people were affected, how many stood out for their acts of heroism.

I’m going to stop blathering here, and just let you see the publication yourself.  Click here to download a .pdf  of the issue to read on your computer.

Click here to read Mary Heveron-Smith’s entire email, which explains in more detail how and why this issue came to be. (If you’re not on Facebook, you can click here for a .pdf version.)

You can pick up a paper copy of the special commemorative edition of The Courier at the Webster Public Library and at Hegedorn’s.

 

 

This is why you were saving those Beanie Babies

9 Feb

I got an email yesterday from a friend who’s working with a wonderful group of young ladies from the Browncroft Community Church, and asked that I pass along some information about their community service project.

This enterprising group of fourth graders has partnered with Dress a Girl, an international organization based on North Winton Road which provides dresses and small toys to girls living in extreme poverty all around the world.  They began the project by bringing in their own toys, and then asked friends and neighbors. Some of the girls have also talked with their principals and have organized collections in several Webster schools.  Now they’re reaching out to the greater community.

The girls are looking for Beanie Babies, small stuffed animals and fast food meal toys to donate to Dress a Girl.  I’ll bet everyone has at least a few of these hanging around the house; I know I have a boxful tucked away from when my kids were little.  So when you’re doing your spring cleaning in the next few weeks, throw some in a box, and drop them off at Browncroft Community Church’s ministry office, 2530 Browncroft Blvd., Penfield.

The girls’ goal is to collect 1,000 toys.  Let’s help them get there.

Dress a Girl is a part of Angels of Mercy, 692 N. Winton Road.  Click here for more information about this wonderful organization.

 

Browncroft Community Church’s “Pioneer Girls” are shown presenting their first collection of 110 toys to a local Dress a Girl representative.

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