Two of Rochester’s premier a cappella choruses (which both hail from little ol’ Webster) — the Chorus of the Genesee and Rochester Rhapsody — will join forces (and voices) on Saturday May 18 for “Harmony in the House,” a musical treat featuring both choruses and seven different a cappella ensembles. The choruses will perform two 90-minute shows, singing together and separately, and quartets from both groups will fill your heart with a variety of musical favorites.
In addition to the beautiful music, there’ll be door prizes, raffles, a bar, snacks, and plenty of free parking.
It’s a harmony-filled musical treat which all happens at the beautiful, historic Harmony House, 58 East Main St. in the Village of Webster, home to the Chorus of the Genesee for 50 years. Shows will be held at 2 p.m. and 5 p.m., and tickets are just $20. Click here for tickets, and feel free to add an extra donation (please and thank you) to benefit the Harmony House Renovation Project.
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There’s nothing quite like community theater. It’s usually an intimate experience, the actors sometimes just several feet away from you, weaving their story for your enjoyment. It’s even better when the acting is REALLY good and — especially — when the tickets are free.
It’s for all of those reasons that I’ve been attending Off-Monroe Players (OMP) productions for several years now. This little theater group, which calls the Downtown United Presbyterian Church home, has been around for more than 40 years, and has made a name for itself by producing Gilbert and Sullivan shows exclusively.
They stage three or four shows a year, each one humorous and family-friendly, as Gilbert and Sullivan always is, with great acting and fun costumes. They never charge for tickets, but audience members are welcome to drop a donation in the basket at the ticket table.
The Off-Monroe Players’ spring production, The Grand Duke, opens this weekend, and I encourage everyone in Webster to go see it, because you might just recognize someone you know.
My friend and neighbor Karen Seidel is a regular OMP cast member, and often one of the leads. In The Grand Duke, she plays the part of Julia Jellicoe, an English actress. She’s excellent in any role she portrays, and has a beautiful voice that fills the auditorium.
The show opens this Friday night May 10 at 7:30 p.m., with five additional shows over this weekend and next (click here to see show times). And while I said they don’t charge for tickets, it is important to reserve your seats in case they sell out (and keep reading for a special announcement about the opening night show). Parking is right across the street and also free.
Special Donuts with the Duke on opening night
So, if great theater at a great price sounds good to you, may I also suggest you attend opening night.
Every person who makes a reservation to join for opening night will receive a FREE donut at intermission. So you won’t have to ‘Duke it out’ to enjoy your treat, the Players are requiring reservations for this special event so they can place an accurate donut order.
Click here to read more about the Off-Monroe Players, and click here to reserve your seats.
All shows are presented at the Downtown United Presbyterian Church, 121 N. Fitzhugh St. in Rochester.
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Judging by how well my local history blogs are received, and the traffic I get to my Webster History Bits link, a LOT of you out there like to learn about Webster history. To you, I say, put this month’s History and a Cup get-together at the Webster Museum on your calendar.
The focus of this year’s History and a Cup series is the Webster Village neighborhood formerly known as “Indian Village” due to its street names: Pontiac, Seneca, Mohawk and Iroquois.
Located on the south side of the village, the neighborhood was developed by Wilmorite in the early 1950s, the first settlement in the village helped by The GI Bill after WWII to build homes that were affordable for the many veterans coming home from the war. The small, pre-fab homes were built by National Homes in Indiana.
On Wednesday, May 15 from noon to 1 p.m., Gary and Marlene Lazzaro, who grew up in Webster, will share stories of their life and their business, Kitchen and Bath Expressions. Coffee, tea and cookies will be served, you are welcome to bring a bag lunch with you if you would like. There’s no charge and registration is not necessary.
On Sunday, May 19, the museum is planning to host a larger program about Indian Village, from 2 to 3 p.m., also no charge.
While you’re at the museum, make sure to check out the current exhibit: yardsticks.
“A Measure of Webster Businesses” takes a look back at historic Webster businesses through those ubiquitous promotional yardsticks that graced nearly every Webster household. Along with the kinetic yardstick display, other memorabilia from local businesses, old and new photos, and brief biographies round out this latest retrospective look at Webster’s history.
This fascinating exhibit grew from the discovery of a box of yardsticks collected from Webster businesses. Inspired by the yardsticks, the museum volunteers started to assemble other promotional items from these same businesses. The search turned up a variety of pieces from small items such as calendars and thermometers to a chair and card table with the names of Webster businesses across the top.
To put all of these companies in a historical perspective, a timeline of each of the “yardstick” businesses has been researched and is on display. The final piece of this exhibit is a slide show of receipts and newspaper ads from Webster businesses.
What a neat way to look at Webster history. If you’re a longtime resident, many of the business names will sound familiar, and if you are new to the area, it’s an opportunity to see the businesses that had an impact on our community.
By the way, If you were fascinated with the Quirky Camera exhibit when it was at the Webster Public Library, you’ll be even more amazed at the expanded Quirky Camera exhibit now on display at the Webster Museum. It’s well worth a visit to see many unusual and previously working cameras that undoubtedly sparked creative flare for photography in previous generations.
The Webster Museum, located at 18 Lapham Park, is open Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday afternoons from 2:00 to 4:30 p.m.
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St. Martin Lutheran Church will hold a Drive Thru Chicken BBQ on Saturday, May 4 at the church, 813 Bay Road, Webster. The event begins at 4:30 p.m. and will continue until all dinners are sold out.
Dinners will include a half chicken, salt potatoes, coleslaw, roll, butter and cookie, and will cost $15.
The event will be drive-through only and there will be no advance sales; first-come, first-served. Cars should enter the parking lot, follow the signs, and purchase dinners using exact payment of either cash or check. Cars will then pick up boxed dinners.
Proceeds from the BBQ will support both St. Martin’s Little Free Pantry and Christmas Stocking Project, which reaches more than 500 local youth in Monroe and Wayne counties.
What the heck is a hellebore?
The Webster Arboretum will host a presentation on May 9 titled Lenten Rose and Christmas Rose are Hellebores.
Learn about the care and culture of these amazing plants. Donna Shayder, Master Gardener of Monroe County, will discuss the growing conditions, types, management and appropriate care of the hellebore. She’ll also conduct a tour of the hellebore plantings at the Arboretum and answer all your questions.
No registration or fee is required. The program will begin at 6:30 p.m. Meet at the Curry Building at the Webster Arboretum, 1700 Schlegel Road.
Get your Mother’s Day plants here
The Webster Arboretum Association, together with local growers and local garden clubs, will host the 2024 Webster Arboretum Plant Sale on Saturday May 11 from 8 a.m. to noon.
A tremendous variety of beautiful, healthy plants from standard to uncommon will be available including annuals, dwarf conifers, geraniums, dahlias, tomatoes, trees, shrubs and more. It’s a great way to celebrate spring and get some live plants perfectly suited for your garden. And don’t forget Mother’s Day!
The sale will be held at the Webster Arboretum, 1700 Schlegel Rd. Webster.
Barn Sale at Heritage Square
Heritage Square Museum, at 7147 Ontario Center Rd. in Ontario, is holding a huge Barn Sale from Thursday May 9 through Saturday May 11. Hours are:
Thursday, May 9 from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Friday, May 10 from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Saturday, May 11 from 9 a.m. to noon ($5 bag sale, bring your own bags)
And looking ahead, the museum will be hosting a chicken BBQ on Friday May 13 from 4 p.m. ’till gone.
Get rid of those ugly mugs
I’ll be highlighting a few more Webster Public Library events in a future blog, but this one especially caught my eye today.
Apparently the library has a “community exchange table,” which I don’t think I realized. And this month, community members can exchange MUGS there.
We all have them, a collection of coffee mugs that we’ve gathered through the years but we never use, so they’re tucked back in the back of the cabinet. Dig them out and take them to the library to exchange them for some mugs you might actually use. And who knows, someone may really want that bright pink mug with the bikini-clad flamingo that you just HAD to get on your last vacation.
Also coming up this month at the library
* Author Day on Saturday May 4, when the library welcomes three local published authors, who will talk about the paths they took from the beginning writer to nationally-known authors. Karen Miller will speak from 10 to 11 a.m.; Charles Benoit will speak from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., and Ruth Rosenberg Naparstek will speak from 1 to 2 p.m.
Registration for each speaker is requested. Click the name to go to the registration page for each.
* On Thursday May 9, the Webster Library, in conjunction with Webster Comfort Care Home will present “Tending to Life — Comparative Religions: Funeral Customs and Rituals.” Area faith leaders will talk about death in relation to their religion’s customs.
It’s still several months away, but plans are already gearing up for the huge annual NY HOPE garage sale, scheduled for this September.
If you have items you’d like to donate, drop off dates are Wednesdays, May 8, 22 & 29 from 3 to 5 p.m. at the Knights of Columbus, 1460 Ridge Road (located behind Holy Trinity), Webster.
Before you drop off your donations, check out the DonationGuide, because items that cannot be used, including furniture or large items (at this time) will be refused. We may refuse items if we cannot use them.
Mark your calendars now for the sale, Wednesday, Sept. 11 through Saturday Sept. 13.
Concert to benefit the Harmony House
Music will fill the air on Saturday May 18 when the Chorus of the Genesee and Rochester Rhapsody join forces to present Harmony in the House, a fund-raiser concert to benefit the Harmony House Renovation Project.
Shows will be at 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. at the Harmony House, 58 East Main St. in the Village of Webster. Tickets are $20 and must be purchased in advance. There will be no sales at the door. Click here to get yours, or call 585-259-3094.
Garlic Fest vendor applications now being accepted
Last but not least today, if you’re a craft or food vendor and would like to get into this year’s Webster Garlic Fest, the call for vendor applications has just gone out.
This year’s festival will run from September 7-8 at the Webster Recreation Center, 1350 Chiyoda Dr. A 10′ x 10′ booth will run you $150, and early set-up will be available both days.
This has become one of Webster’s best-attended events. Last year there were more than 100 vendors and 3,000 attendees. So get your application in before the spaces sell out. Click here to apply.
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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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A few days ago I posted a blog about how Webster Comfort Care Home (WCCH) is hosting their 4th annual Duck Derby on Saturday May 18. What I didn’t do is mention the other great events this outstanding agency has going on.
For starters, right now through May 9, they’re holding a Mother’s Day Louis Vuitton Purse Raffle fundraiser. Tickets are one for $25, three for $60 and 5 for $100. The second place prize is a beautiful hand-made afghan.
The drawing will be held live on Facebook on May 9 at 4 p.m. You can purchase your tickets online here or pick them up at the Webster Comfort Care Home, 700 Holt Rd. (corner of Klem).
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Next, on Friday May 3 from 5 to 7 p.m., the Webster Masonic Lodge will host a spaghetti dinner to benefit WCCH. Tickets are $12.00 for adults and $6.00 for child’s portion. Stay and eat in or take it to go. To go orders can be placed at the cashiers table. Call (585) 872-3500 for any questions. A chairlift is available if steps are an issue.
The lodge is located at 30 Orchard St.
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The Webster Public Library will partner with WCCH on Thursday May 9 for a fascinating program titled Tending to Life – Comparative Religions: Funeral Customs and Rituals.
In this informative program, you’ll hear from area faith leaders as they talk about death in relation to funeral customs and rituals. Featured speakers include: Rabbi (Dr.) Shalom Schlagman, both a rabbi and palliative care medical doctor; Abu Saeed Islam from the Muslim community and the Rev. Ken Williams representing the Christian community.
The program will be held at the Webster Public Library, 980 Ridge Rd., on Thursday, May 9, form 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. There is no cost, but registration is required.
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Finally, on Wednesday June 5, Comedy @ the Carlson will host a “Fun Night Out” to benefit Webster Comfort Care Home.
The laughs will be supplied by comedians Todd Youngman and Liz Reeves.
Todd Youngman is based in New York and has performed in clubs and theaters all over the country, but calls Comedy @ the Carlson his home. He has opened for comedians such as Kevin Meaney, Joe Dombrowski, Fortune Feimster, Kevin Pollak, Gary Gulman and Pat McGann.
Liz Reaves hails from Buffalo, and can often be found doing her stand-up routine at comedy clubs, coffee shops and her classroom. She likes to tell jokes about her dysfunctional family and oddball encounters with her students.
Tickets are $25 (plus a convenience fee) and are on sale now. Click here to reserve yours and to find out more about the show.
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The 2023 Wreaths Across America statistics are in, and we have a lot of be proud of here in Webster.
Out of 235 participating towns in New York State, our little town of Webster ranked 9th for the number of veterans honored on National Wreaths Across America Day on Dec. 17. And out of 6,706 locations nationwide, we ranked 248th. That’s in the top 4%in the country. What’s particularly impressive is that we achieved these rankings with only three participating cemeteries.
These numbers can be attributed to the incredible support from Webster community members, business owners and service agencies. About 1,000 volunteers, including countless veterans, active military and first responders, came out on Wreaths Across America Day on Dec. 16 to place an amazing 1,350 wreaths on veteran graves at Webster Union, Webster Rural and Union Hill cemeteries. (Click here to read the blog I wrote about that day.) Businesses from all over the city have also supported the Wreaths Across America effort all year long — too many to mention here (and I wouldn’t want to leave anyone out).
So this is all great news, but no way is Wreaths Across America Local Coordinator Cherie Wood sitting on her laurels. She’s recruited yet another Webster cemetery to join the effort in 2024 — at Holy Trinity Church — where about 280 veterans are resting. So this year’s wreath sponsorship goal has also been raised to 2,200.
So it’s time for our amazing community to step up again. That’s a lot of wreaths, but if past experience is any indication, Webster will come through again with flying colors.
Individual wreath sponsorships are just $17, and $5 from each will go directly to the Blue Star Mothers, who will use the funds to prepare and ship care packages to deployed servicemen and women (every dollar you donate stays in Webster).
Click here to sponsor a wreath, and thank you, Webster, for your support! And stay tuned as plans for Wreaths Across America Day 2024 on Saturday, Dec. 14 start to come together.
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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).
You’re gonna want to get your ducks in a row for this fun family event coming up in just a few weeks, to benefit Webster Comfort Care Home.
Webster Comfort Care Home’s fourth annual Duck Derby will take place Saturday May 18 at the Webster Park Beeches Pavilion.
The idea is simple: participants purchase rubber duckies for $10 each, and each has a number on it. At the appointed time, the ducks are dumped into Mill Creek, where they leisurely float down towards the lake. The “owners” of the first three ducks to cross the finish line win cash prizes.
Since the ducks like to take their time, there’ll be games, prizes, snacks and storytime at 10:15 to entertain while you wait. And you don’t have to be present to win.
The race will begin at the Webster Park Beeches Pavilion at 10 a.m. on Saturday May 18 and there’s plenty of parking. Cost for a single duck is $10, a “quack pack” of 6 ducks is $50 and a flock of 12 ducks is $100. Proceeds from the event directly benefit Webster Comfort Care to support their mission to provide end-of-life care to residents of Webster and the surrounding communities.
For more information or to purchase ducks, visit webstercomfortcare.org or call 585-872-5290. Payment is accepted by cash, check or credit card, and PayPal online. Tickets are available now.
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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).
Holy cow, does Webster Schroeder High School have some amazingly talented actors.
I’ve long known that was the case, and have remarked on that before here in my blog. But Wednesday evening I was reminded of that again when I was invited to sit in on the final dress rehearsal for Schroeder Drama Club’s presentation of Little Women, which will take the stage this weekend, April 24 to 27.
Set in the years following the Civil War, Little Women is Louisa May Alcott’s American classic, a story about family and love, success and heartache which draws heavily from Alcott’s actual life story. It opened on Broadway in 2005 as a musical and ran for 137 performances before heading out on a national tour.
The 22-student cast, led by Veronica Sanberg as Jo, does an exceptional job telling the story of the Marches, a not-too-poor-but-definitely-not-wealthy family, how they find joy in simply being together, and how they appreciate the things they have rather than long for the things they can’t afford. Our hearts are lifted when the sisters get married, and are saddened when a life is taken. (I’m not sniffling, you are.) There was even a point in the dialogue where I LOL’d. And this is a drama.
The performance was captivating, and I can say that because I was … well … captivated throughout the entire production. This coming from someone who has never read Little Women, and had no idea what it was about. I was a little afraid that, as a period piece, it might be kind of dull. But when intermission rolled around, I found myself hoping against hope it wasn’t the end of the show so I could find out what happened to these young women.
I was especially impressed by the four sisters — portrayed by Veronica Sanberg, Emily Schiffhauer, Kathryn Sullo and JimmaLy Ortega — who did an exceptional job instilling each character with an individual personality. And it’s always a joy to see Schroeder’s other amazing lead and supporting actors return to the stage. (How do they have the time to participate in back-to-back productions?) And they’re all supported by seven equally talented tech crew members, who did a great job making the dress rehearsal go seamlessly.
The set design is charming, the costumes beautiful. Schroeder’s Little Women is a must-see event.
Check out these photos (including the slideshow above) then check out one of the performances for yourself. Little Women will take the stage Thursday, Friday and Saturday April 24 to 27 at 7 p.m., with a 2 p.m. matinee on Saturday April 27. Tickets are $10 each and can be purchased in advance here.
Webster Schroeder High School is located at 875 Ridge RD.
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Now here’s a great way to beautify your property and help the environment at the same time, and it won’t cost you a thing.
On Saturday April 27, members and volunteers for the local chapter of the Sierra Club will be stationed at Webster Park to hand out free trees to the public.
Planting instructions will be included. All trees are bare-root, so please bring a bag or container of water to keep the roots wet until the tree can be planted.
The event will be held rain or shine on Saturday April 27 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Webster Park (corner of Lake and Holt roads).
Sierra Club members will also be at Seneca Park, Northampton Park and Genesee Valley Park on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. if you find yourself closer to one of those parks that day.
This is the fourth year that the Sierra Club has held this event. The trees are free, but members will also be grateful for any small donations. This beautiful poster, by the way, was created by local artist and Sierra Club Executive Committee member John Kastner.
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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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The community is invited this Friday evening to welcome the village’s newest salon, Shear Inspiration, to 33 North Ave.
Jessica Warren, who has worked for Robyn Whittaker at Beyond Cuts Salon for five years, will be introducing her new salon to the community at her grand opening celebration, Friday April 19 from 5 to 8 p.m.
The event will have food, drinks, a photo booth, door prize raffles, giant Jenga, giant connect four, tabletop cornhole, goodie bags (first-come, first-served) and more. If the weather’s nice, look for some of the games outside. There will also be some ASL interpreters from RIT there to bridge the communication gap for deaf visitors if needed. The door will be open, so stop in anytime between 5 and 8 p.m., and stay as long as you want.
Don’t fear!!! This does not mean that Robyn is leaving the business. This is more of an administrative move. Even though the Beyond Cuts name is no longer over the door, rest assured that Robyn will still be there to serve her own faithful clients under the Shear Inspiration roof. So stop by and say hi to both Jessica and Robyn Friday night.
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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).
I feature the people and places and events that make Webster the wonderful community it is — and throw in some totally-not-Webster-related personal ramblings every once in a while as well.
I love it when readers send me news about the great things happening in their schools or the community, so please email me anytime at missyblog@gmail.com
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