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Sample new shops, win prizes in new city-wide shopping tour

27 Sep

This looks like a fun event, and just in time for the start of the holiday shopping season (well, at least for me).

It’s a Rochester-wide, nine-day shopping tour called “Shop-Tober-Fest.” I call it a tour because the event will take you around the city, sampling lots of cute shops which have lots of unique gift ideas for your favorite people.

The event doesn’t even start for another week, but already 20 local businesses, artisans and entrepreneurs are signed up. In town, that includes Farm House Fabulous (in Ontario, and the host of this new event); Lala of Webster; curated by JUSTINteriors; Kittelberger Florist & Gifts; and SoJo Boutique. Other participating shops are in Fairport, Pittsford, Brighton, Victor and downtown.

Here’s how Shop-Tober-Fest works

Buy a $5 ticket for Shop-Tober-Fest via Eventbrite and visit as many of the participating shops as you like between October 7 and 15. Your ticket will give you access to the map of the shops along with a raffle ticket for each one (sent via email after registration). Every store will be raffling off a prize of a $100 value or more and you’re eligible to win them all! But you can only enter each shop’s raffle by visiting the store in-person.

This is a great opportunity to show your love for small businesses and uncover some one-of-a-kind gifts, charming home decor items, delectable treats and more.

Best of all, proceeds will benefit the Wilmot Cancer Center.

So click here to register. Your map will be emailed to you so you’re ready to hit the shopping trail on Oct. 7!

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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 9/27/2023)

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What’s coming up in the village this fall

25 Sep

Well, unfortunately the Bed Races didn’t happen as planned — hopefully they’ll be back in the spring — but our Webster Business Improvement District (BID) folks are undeterred, and are still planning plenty of fun family events in the next few months.

The next big event is the brand new Health and Wellness Fair, scheduled for Saturday Oct. 21 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Village Hall. Details are still coming together for that but there are already 25 vendors signed up. More information to come about this soon.

The village’s annual Trick or Treat Trail returns on Saturday Oct. 28, beginning at 11:30 a.m. The costume contest will also begin at 11:30, so you can stop by there first then head right outside to begin your trick or treating. I’ll be posting an entire blog about this as well soon.

The Bourbon Bash is back, on Saturday Nov. 4 from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Harmony House. At this event you can sample bourbons and whiskey from local and national distilleries, complemented by food samples from local restaurants.Tickets should be on sale before the end of the month, and this always sells out, so visit the Webster BID website regularly to stay on top of that.

the Village of Webster’s Winter Wonderland celebration will be back on December 2, complete with the Parade of Lights, and the BID is also still hoping to get a Beer Walk on the schedule before the weather gets too cold.

Lots of more information to come about all these events, but you can be one of the first in the know by visiting the Webster BID website regularly and signing up for the BID newsletter.

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(posted 9/25/2023)

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Sloppy fun ahead

20 Sep

The Rec Center’s third annual Mud Run has been scheduled for Saturday Sept. 23.

The Mud Run is a a non-competitive, untimed, adaptive one-mile run/walk along the Recreation Center’s obstacle course/fitness trail which loops around the back of the facility. Some of the run will be through water and mud, and there will be some challenging obstacles. What’s really neat about it is that kids and their adults can do it together. It’s only $5 per person, and the event includes some pretty cool swag, and lots of food.

This is a mega-fun event that the whole family will enjoy together. I mean, what kid doesn’t enjoy getting super muddy, and especially love seeing their mom and dad get muddy with them? I had so much fun last year that I went through the course TWICE.

Visit the Webster Recreation Center website and search for program #301201. You can sign up for any 15-minute wave between 10 a.m. and noon. The Webster Recreation Center is located at 1350 Chiyoda Drive, off of Phillips Rd.

Thank you to all of this year’s sponsors, and especially to Gleason Orthodontics, which has long been a very generous sponsor of community events.

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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 9/19/2023)

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Webster Theatre Guild presents Oklahoma!

16 Sep

After not staging a musical last fall due to scheduling issues, the Webster Theatre Guild is back, and will be presenting Oklahoma!, Rodgers and Hammerstein’s classic musical, in six performances at the end of September and beginning of October.

Oklahoma! is the first musical written by the prolific duo. Set in rural Oklahoma, the musical tells the story of a farm girl and her courtship by two rival suitors, a cocky cowboy and an obsessed farmhand. It’s filled with catchy tunes, high-stepping dance, laughs and a breezy story.

More than 30 cast members, plus another dozen on the production crew, have been working since early August to put the show together. There have been some challenges; August rehearsals meant working around summer vacations, the Fringe Festival is presenting some conflicts, and a recent rehearsal had to move from Thomas High School to Willink to accommodate an open house.

But we’re talking about the Webster Theatre Guild, truly a community theater company, where everyone comes together to make things happen.

The composition of the cast itself is a great illustration of how much this organization reflects the Webster community. Among the company are Webster teachers, an attorney, a nurse, and a Wegmans employee. There are high school students and retirees. Mother and daughter Andrea and Anika Peterson are on stage together, as are three members of the Holcomb family.

For a few of the actors, this is their very first show, or the first time on stage in 20 years. Like Al Killenbeck, who after starring in Oklahoma! several decades ago with the Webster Theatre Guild, has returned as a member of the ensemble.

The Webster Central School District has been especially supportive this year, finding the time between school productions and extracurricular activities for the WTG to stage their musical. The district even got audition information out to students before the end of last school year. Thanks to that push, five Webster Schroeder and Thomas students are part of the production, four of them under the age of 18.

Oklahoma! will be presented in six performances:

  • Friday Sept. 29, 7:30 p.m.
  • Saturday Sept. 30, 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.
  • Friday Oct. 6, 7:30 p.m.
  • Saturday Oct. 7, 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.

All shows will be held at Webster Thomas High School, 800 Five Mile Line Rd. Tickets are $20, plus $2 transaction fee if ordered online), and are reserve seating. Tickets will also be available at the door. Click here for tickets.

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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 9/16/2023)

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Webster community mailbag

13 Sep

There are several great events coming up this weekend which I wanted to remind you about, plus a look ahead at a few others.

But first, this breaking news:

Due to the lack of registrations, the Webster Community Bed Race has been postponed. Organizers hope to reschedule the race for sometime next spring. (This was a real bummer because this would have been fun.)

WCCH hosts guest bartender

Here’s a fun way to support the Webster Comfort Care Home (WCCH). Thursday night from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., WCCH will hold a guest bartending evening at Capone’s Bar and Italian Eatery, 1517 Empire Blvd. Mark Shuttleworth, PM drive host and program director at Legends 102.7, will be one of the guest bartenders!

It’ll be a fun night of cocktails and raffles, and an early bird chance to buy tickets to WCCH’s upcoming Casino Night on Nov. 3. For more information, click here.

A reminder that the 4th annual Barry’s Irish Festival takes place this Saturday Sept. 16 at the Barry Patch Farm in Hilton. This is always an excellent day filled with all things Irish: music, food, dancers, and of course Guinness. This is also a great chance to say one last thank-you to Danny and Jess for blessing our village with the original Barry’s Old School Irish for so long.

The festival runs from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m, and tickets are $20 at the door (kids under 16 are free). For a lot more details, check out this blog.

Get rid of those paint cans

Also on Saturday Sept. 16, a hazardous waste recycling event will be held at the Webster Highway Garage, 1005 Picture Parkway.

This event is by appointment only. To schedule your appointment and see a whole list of what can be accepted, click here.

Willkommen!

Webster’s annual Oktoberfest is returning to Webster Fireman’s Field on Friday and Saturday Sept. 15 and 16.

Opening at noon Friday Sept. 15, with events through Saturday evening Sept. 16, this year’s festival will feature authentic German cuisine from Swan’s Market, beer and wine by Cobblestone on Main, Nancy’s Fried Dough and Helmut’s Strudel of WNY, all set to authentic local and regional German bands and musicians. 

The Oktoberfest will be open both days from noon to 10:30 p.m. Tickets will be sold at the door for $5 from noon to 3 p.m. on Friday only, and $10 all other times. Children under 12 are free when accompanied by an adult. 

The Oktoberfest is the kick-off event for Challenger Week, which features several special events to benefit Challenger Miracle Field of Greater Rochester. Check out this blog for more details about the Oktoberfest and Challenger Week.

Garage sales!!!!

Both the Webster Museum and Webster NY Hope are holding huge garage sales Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Click here for details about both sales.

Van driver needed

The Webster Recreation Center’s Senior Center is still looking for a part-time van driver to help seniors get to and from the Rec Center on Tuesdays and Thursdays. For more information, click the image.

Church BBQ

St. Martin Lutheran Church will hold a Drive Thru Chicken BBQ on Saturday, Sept. 23 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.

Caps for Sale fundraiser needs you

The very clever and very popular “Caps for Sale” fundraiser returns to the Webster Public Library in November, to benefit the Friends of the Library.

The fundraiser is based on the popular children’s book of the same name, in which Bartholomew Cubbins had 500 hats. There won’t be quite that many at this sale, but guaranteed you’ll find a beautiful selection of hand-crafted hats.

Right now, the library is collecting yarn for crafty people to turn into hats, and asking crafty people to make hats for the sale. Any size (infant to adult), any style, any technique (knit, crochet, felt, woven, felt, sewn), with any fiber (machine washable is appreciated, please include care information) will be ac cepted. If you can donate yarn or hats, you can drop them off at the library service desk during September and October.

The actual Caps for Sale fundraiser event will be November 2 from 5 to 7 pm and Saturday Nov 4 from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the library. Adult hats will be $15 and children’s hats will be $10. Any unsold hats will be donated to Webster NY Hope and other charities.

Finally, these two notices from the school district:

Webster CSD Hosts Capital Project Community Forums 

Webster CSD residents are invited to attend TWO community forums which will highlight the proposed Building Our Future capital improvement project. The $85 million project focuses on providing a safe educational environment for all students with zero tax impact for district residents. Forums will be held on:

  • Thursday, September 21, Webster Schroeder High School library, 6:30-7:30 p.m., 875 Ridge Road, (this forum will also be live streamed)
  • Thursday, September 28, 6:30-7:30 p.m., Webster Thomas High School library, 800 Five Mile Line Road

Community members will have the opportunity to learn more – and ask questions – about Building Our Future, including planned upgrades at all 11 schools. As a reminder, Webster CSD’s Building Our Future capital project vote will take place Wednesday, October 11, 6 a.m. – 9 p.m. in the Webster Schroeder High School gym, 875 Ridge Road, Webster. 

… and, if you want to vote on the project but will be out of town ..

Absentee ballot applications are now available for Webster CSD’s proposed Building Our Future capital improvement project.

Qualified voters of the district who will be unable to attend the polls on the day of the vote, for reasons outlined on the absentee ballot application, may wish to use an absentee ballot. Voters must apply for the ballot in advance. Absentee ballot applications are available from District Clerk Heather Murphy, 119 South Avenue, Webster, or under Links on the bottom of the Proposed Capital Project web page at websterschools.org/capitalproject.

All absentee ballot applications must be received by the district clerk at least seven business days prior to the vote if the ballot is to be mailed to the voter, or the day before the vote if the ballot is to be picked up personally by or for the voter.

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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 “Follow Me” link on the right side of this page.

(posted 9/13/2023)

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Webster remembers 9/11

13 Sep

The Village of Webster held its annual September 11th Memorial Ceremony at Veteran’s Memorial Park Monday evening.

The ceremony was a very nice affair once again. It lasted a little less than 45 minutes, and was well represented by first responders and local and regional politicians. The Webster Village Band and the Chorus of the Genesee both performed, enhancing the event with some beautiful patriotic music selections.

Perhaps 50 community members attended the ceremony. Most were older, but I was heartened to see a handful of children in the audience. Kudos to the parents for bringing the kids and helping them appreciate the gravity of that day, a day which changed their world in ways they don’t even realize.

Several officials spoke, including Village of Webster Mayor Darrell Byerts, who opened and closed the proceedings. But I was especially touched by some of the things that Monroe County Legislator George Hebert said, including, “On that terrible day, our nation became a neighborhood.” So true.

Thank you, Village of Webster, for continuing this tradition and reminding us all of the sacrifices made that day.

Here are a few more photos from the evening:

The West Webster Fire Department created their 9/11 Memorial Flag Garden once again this year, filling the grassy area in front of Station No. 1 on Gravel Rd. with 413 miniature flags, memorializing the first responders who lost their lives that awful day.

Attached to each flag was a card with the name and photograph of a firefighter, police officer or EMT who died. Individually, the flags were enough to bring you to tears as you considered the bravery and sacrifice exhibited by each one. Together, they were a simple, yet stark reminder of the great number of lives lost that day.

The flag garden is gone now. It was planted last Friday and removed on Tuesday. Here are some photos if you didn’t get to see it:

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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 9/12/2023)

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Oktoberfest kicks off Challenger Week

9 Sep

Webster’s annual Oktoberfest is returning to Webster Fireman’s Field next Friday and Saturday Sept. 15 and 16. Anyone who’s ever attended this event already knows it’s a great time, but this year it marks just the beginning of a week of activities to benefit Challenger Miracle Field of Greater Rochester.

Opening at noon Friday Sept. 15, with events through Saturday evening Sept. 16, this year’s festival will feature authentic German cuisine from Swan’s Market, beer and wine by Cobblestone on Main, Nancy’s Fried Dough and Helmut’s Strudel of WNY, all set to authentic local and regional German bands and musicians. 

The Oktoberfest will be open both days from noon to 10:30 p.m. Tickets will be sold at the door for $5 from noon to 3 p.m. on Friday only, and $10 all other times. Children under 12 are free when accompanied by an adult. 

Later in the week, Miracle Field will be hosting the Zac Brown Tribute Band (Thursday Sept. 21 at  8 p.m.) and then the Rochester Regional Cornhole Tournament (all day Sunday Sept. 24). Both events will also be held at Webster Fireman’s Field.  

Sponsorship opportunities are available. If you’re interested, email oktoberfest@rochestermiraclefield.org. For more information about the Oktoberfest, click here.

Challenger Miracle Field of Greater Rochester, located at Ridge Park, 1008 Ridge Rd., provides people with developmental, physical or intellectual disabilities a barrier-free, safe, accessible place to experience the health benefits and joy of play through baseball, other team sports, and adaptive recreational equipment.

Here’s a really good example of how Miracle Field serves our special needs community.

Next time you visit the fully-accessible Karpus Family Playground at the field, you’ll notice an new a. addition, a picture board which visitors can use to enhance communication. Here’s some more information about it:

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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 9/9/2023)

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Photos from the Garlic Festival

9 Sep

I stopped by the Webster Garlic Festival this morning for a few hours and wanted to share some photos with you in a bonus blog today.

This is a terrific event (and I say “is” because it continues tomorrow). There are SO MANY garlic and craft vendors, a good number of food trucks and food vendors, even some things for the kids to do. There are also some great opportunities to support our troops by creating a personal message to be included in a care package, and sponsoring a wreath for Wreaths Across America.

You can pet an alpaca, have an ice cream cone, start your Christmas shopping, check out some demonstrations (like garlic-twisting), and learn more about some Webster community organizations. All for just $5 per person (12 and under free).

All proceeds from the Garlic Festival benefit Wreaths Across America Webster, dedicated to placing a wreath on the grave sites all 3,000 veterans in our seven Webster cemeteries. Proceeds also support local military families through Blue Star Mothers Rochester NY8.

This Webster Garlic Festival continues tomorrow, Sunday Sept. 10, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Webster Recreation Center, 1350 Chiyoda Dr.

Click here to see lots more photos from today.

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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 9/9/2023)

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Webster Museum, Webster HOPE host garage sales next week

8 Sep

OK, I know. I’ve already blogged about these two HUGE garage sales a few times, but they’re supporting two great organizations, and I mean … they’re really BIG!

The first is the Webster NY HOPE sale, which runs from Wednesday Sept. 13 through Saturday Sept. 16 at Holy Trinity Church on Ridge Rd.

The garage sale is Webster HOPE’s largest fundraiser, the culmination of a year’s worth of volunteer effort collecting, sorting and pricing items. Items are clean and organized, and include household items, crafts, tools, sporting goods, electronics, holiday, books, games, puzzles, toys, décor, floral, baby, pets, lamps, jewelry, collectibles, small furniture, office and more.

A look at some of the thousands of items ready for the sale

Webster HOPE Director Margery Morgan wrote,

It is more than a sale to us as it allows us to be together as a community. We have a lot of fun and I think that is reflected in the hospitality and laughter-filled sale days with the public.

I was never much of a garage sale person prior to our sale. But now I always check out other sales to “borrow” their sale display ideas. When you see our jewelry and picture displays you will see how volunteers take these ideas and create product displays. We have a lot of $1-2 items, a price even the dollar store can’t match anymore.

Here are the details:

  • Sale begins Wednesday, September 13, 6-8 PM, Preview Night, Murphy Hall at Holy Trinity Church, 1460 Ridge Road. Admission is $10 for this special preview.
  • Thursday, September 14 & Friday, September 15, 10- a.m. to 4 p.m.
  • Saturday, September 16, 10 a.m. to noon only, everything is half-price!
  • Credit cards will be accepted for purchases over $50
  • All proceeds go to Webster Hope.

Donations are still being accepted through Sunday Sept. 10.

Webster HOPE serves the needs of residents in the 14580 zip code, providing food, clothing, household goods and furniture to those in need. Just before school started, HOPE held a school-supply giveaway, and in one week set up more than 50 families with brand new school supplies, including backpacks, so the kids are ready for the new school year.

Here are a few photos of some of the items handed out:

Webster Museum Barn Sale

The annual Webster Museum Barn Sale takes place Thursday Sept. 14 through Saturday Dec. 16, at 394 Phillips Rd.

This year, one barn is overflowing with antique and vintage items and lots of stuff for the home. Some of this year’s fantastic finds include furniture, glassware, household items, toys, tools, sporting goods, craft items, holiday décor, picture frames, collectibles, framed art, and much more.

There are so many items, they fill the big barn, AND the carriage house and two adjacent barns, and even spill out onto the lawns.

The sale will run Thursday and Friday Sept. 14 and 15 and Saturday Sept. 16 at 394 Phillips Rd. Doors open at 9 a.m.  Please bring your own shopping bags and small bills!!!! 

This is the Webster Museum’s biggest fundraiser of the year, so come ready to shop!

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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 9/8/2023)

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Where are you going, Barry’s Runners?

6 Sep

The (hopefully temporary) loss of Barry’s Old School Irish at the Village of Webster’s four corners means something different to each one of us.

For me, it means that I won’t have one of my favorite watering holes walking-distance away, close enough to head down on a whim. It means the loss of Saturday traditional Irish music sessions and Irish entertainers every Friday night. It means I won’t be able to fist-bump my good friend Danny Barry again for quite a while.

But probably more than anything these days, the loss of Barry’s means that my weekly running group, Barry’s Runners, will have no place to call home, at least for a while.

Barry’s Runners is a social running group that has met every week (yes, even through the winter) at Barry’s for more than seven years. In the beginning we met on Tuesday evenings until the Barrys decided to close that day, so for the last year it’s been Wednesdays. We gather at the pub at 6 p.m., and take the requisite before-run group photo before breaking into small groups to head out on our chosen routes. Some will run just a few miles, others as many as four, along village streets, the bike path, and nearby trails.

But now the pub is going away, at least for a while. But Barry’s Runners is not abandoning Barry’s.

At a strategy meeting held after a recent run (around my fire pit with plenty of beers in hand), the assembled runners agreed on a few things. The easiest decision was probably that we would continue to be known as “Barry’s Runners.” Figuring out where we’d begin our weekly runs and where we’d land afterwards was more difficult.

My friend Meredith had given the question much thought and came up with an elegant solution. Beginning next week, Barry’s Runners will meet every week at the gazebo at Veterans’ Memorial Park on North Ave. By popular demand, the runs will be moving back to Tuesday evenings, but still begin at 6 p.m. After the run, everyone as a group will decide where to head for refreshment, perhaps sampling a different Webster bar or restaurant every week.

On Tuesday we held our last Barry’s run from the pub, in honor of where we began. To express our club’s commitment to Barry’s Old School Irish and to thank Danny and Jess for their support over the years, we presented them with a wooden plaque after the run, which we hope they’ll consider hanging in their new location, whenever and wherever that may be.

I think I speak for all of Barry’s Runners when I say we hope that will be soon. Running from the gazebo in the middle of winter is not something I’m looking forward to.

We invite everyone to join us any week you feel like meeting some new friends and getting a little exercise. We have a wide range of ability levels; some people run faster and farther, others (like me) less so. And we always have walkers. More often than not a few of the runners even bring their kids and/or dogs in strollers.

So, beginning next Tuesday Sept. 12 at 6 p.m., meet us at the gazebo on North Ave. You’ll be welcomed with open arms and big smiles. You can follow some of our adventures on the Barry’s Runners Facebook page, so check that out, ask to join the page, then come and be a Barry’s Runner!

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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 “Follow Me” link on the right side of this page.

(posted 9/6/2023)

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