Combine baseball, Miracle Field, and first responders, and whaddya get? An incredibly fun and inspirational day for the whole family.
I’m talking, of course, about the third annual Heroes Helping Heroes Day at Challenger Miracle Field. This coming Saturday July 22, local first responders will spend the day at Miracle Field, playing with and against some of our amazing Challenger athletes. In addition to the entertaining baseball games, and the chance to meet some local first responders and get a close-up look at some of their equipment, there’ll be food, carnival games, a dunk tank, obstacle course and lots more.
The event is scheduled from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the field, 1000 Ridge Rd., Webster.
The day will start with a tribute to local heroes, followed by baseball games. The family-friendly games and activities will be available throughout, and during and between games, first responders will be interacting with our athletes and visitors. Almost 150 participants are expected for this year’s event.
About Challenger Miracle Field of Greater Rochester
Challenger Miracle Field of Greater Rochester 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.
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The Webster Business Improvement District (BID) has a few great events on the schedule this weekend, and has just announced the exciting return in September of the Bed Race!
First up is the next Friday Night Concert at the gazebo on North Ave. This week’s concert features Tom Keefer and Celtic Cross, a Celtic rock band playing music from Ireland and Scotland. Celtic Cross is a regular visitor to Barry’s Old School Irish, so you may have seen them there and already know that they pack a lot of energy.
Next Friday, the Friday night concert will feature the Beatles tribute band 8 Days a Week. Visit the Webster BID website for additional dates.
This Saturday night July 22, mark your calendar for the BID’s first Family Games Night. In the past, these very popular family fun nights took place on Main Street, but this one has moved to Gazebo Park, where the Friday night concerts happen.
There will be plenty for both kids and adults to enjoy, including Zumba for the kids (and adults), some fun activities from Roc Dance, sidewalk chalk, giant Jenga, giant Connect Four, Cornhole and more.
It all happens Saturday from 4 to 7 p.m. at Gazebo Park.
AND THIS JUST IN!
Details have just been announced for the Bed Race, which is returning to East Main Street on Sept. 16. Here’s the announcement from the BID website:
The Bed Race is back!! Grab 4 friends or family members as runners and one “sleeper”(5 people total) and construct a bed to race an obstacle course on East Main St in the Village of Webster. Hosted by the Business Improvement District along with Webster Rotary, Webster Lions Club and Webster Kiwanis, this event is to help raise money for the Webster Community Chest. Merchants on Main St will also be celebrating with a Sidewalk Sale on the day of the event. The Junior event is for ages 14-19 years and will be run separately from the senior event.
I’ll post more details soon, but in the meantime, visit the BID website for rules and registration information.
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First, this from Webster NY Hope. Director Margery Morgan wrote,
We are seeing more Webster households in need of assistance with food and hygiene items. Therefore, we are having a food and garage sale donation drive-up on Saturday, July 22 from 10 to noon. Hope volunteers will be collecting items behind Holy Trinity Church, 1460 Ridge Road, near the Knights of Columbus building. We suggest entering from Phillips Road and drop off for garage sale and food donations will be on your right. You don’t even need to leave your car. Tax receipts are available on request.
The garage sale will be held Wednesday through Saturday, Sept. 13 to 16.
Later that day, Hope will be holding a fundraiser from 4 to 8 p.m. at the Panera restaurant in Towne Center Plaza. Just mention Webster Hope as you order and Hope will receive a donation to help low-income Webster residents.
Webster Hope has also just announced the date of its back-to-school night, when low-income families can come for new school supplies. It will be held on Tuesday Aug. 29 from 6 to 8 p.m.
Webster, NY Hope is located at 1450 Ridge Rd. in Webster. If you didn’t see the blog I posted earlier this week about the Hope Garden in front of Simply Crepes, check it out here.
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Webster Community Chest (WCC), another one of our great community agencies, sent me a couple of news items.
First, the WCC will be the beneficiary of the next United Church of Christ Caring Concert, scheduled for Wednesday, July 19, from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at the church, 570 Klem Rd. This week’s concert features Ruby Shooz, playing music from the ’50s and ’60s and some newer classics. The concert is free, but free-will donations will be accepted to benefit the Webster Community Chest.
The concert will also feature a special guest appearance by Dorothy and Toto, and you can have your picture taken with them. For more information about the WCC, check out this fun video, featuring Dorothy herself.
Their food tent opens at 6 p.m., but you’re welcome to bring your own picnic dinner. Their menu includes hot dogs (red and white), sausages, burgers and cheeseburgers, and a specialty hot sandwich; soft drinks and water, popcorn, ice cream, and chips. Bring your own lawn chair and set up on the front lawn. In case of rain, the concert will be held in the sanctuary.
The Webster Community Chest has also expanded their Meal Center.
WCC President Michael Grenier wrote,
We are very pleased with how well this program has been received by our clients. It began a year ago when we started placing bags with complete meals into the five “Little Pantries” scattered around Webster. When offered a small space at the Outreach Center of the United Methodist Church of Webster last summer, we moved to a scheduled end-of-month meals distribution just as Food Stamps run out for those most in need. These are bags containing three ready-to-prepare meals and recipes for food insecure families. Each bag is for a family of three to four persons with larger families getting two bags or even three.
We began this at the end of August, expanding the program every month. Families come to the Meal Center to pick up their meals and if they cannot, we deliver. Between this and providing meal bags for the five “Little Pantries” around town since Spring, the Chest provided 772 meal kits to needy families in 2022— well over 3,000 meals in total.
We have distributed end-of-month meals this year to 50-60 families each month, with already over 3,000 meals handed out or delivered this year.
Last week, we have moved to a larger facility provided by the Immanuel Lutheran Church at 131 West Main Street, where we will continue to meet the needs of Webster’s most impoverished families. Because our administration is entirely volunteer, almost all of our funds go directly into meeting the needs of local residents.
Click here to learn more about the Webster Community Chest.
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The first one I want to highlight is the annual Summer Splash family fun event taking place this coming Saturday July 22 at the First Responders Spray Park, just west of the Rec Center on Chiyoda Drive.
From 3 to 5 p.m., families are invited to the park to see Rich the Magic Man with his bubble foam machine, enjoy free Snowie Ice courtesy Gleason Orthodontics, and of course lots of splashy fun at the town’s best spray park.
There’s no cost, and registration is not required.
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Next, make sure to mark your calendars for this summer’s Music in the Park series, sponsored by the Rec Center at the Kent Park gazebo.
The next concert is on Wednesday July 26, featuring Doctor’s Orders, an acoustic folk and pop duo playing a variety of songs from the Beatles to John Prine, and pretty much everything in between.
The concert will be held Wednesday July 26 from 6 to 8 p.m. at Kent Park on Schlegel Rd. It’s free and open to the public. Bring a chair or a blanket, fill a cooler with dinner and drinks, and enjoy a pleasant evening of music.
Coming up on August 16, the concert will feature Sarah De Valliere and Levi Gangi. Read more about them in the poster above.
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And it’s not too early to pencil this next event into your calendar.
The Rec Center’s third annual Mud Run has been scheduled for Saturday Sept. 23.
The Mud Run is a a non-competitive, untimed, 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 organizers promise that there’ll be swag, fun and food. I can personally attest that it is tons of fun, and I hope to make it again this year.
Clickhere for more information and to register. 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.
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The most recent Webster Recreation Center 55+ newsletter is packed with great programs for those of us trying to keep our bodies and minds active in these later years. Some of the ones that really caught my eye were:
a cookout at the Arboretum
the upcoming Tuesday Talks
a free estate planning workshop
There’s too much information to repost here, so for more details about all of their great programs this month, click here.
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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.
Despite a heavy downpour earlier in the day and some rather threatening clouds in the west around parade time, the weather was pretty spectacular for this year’s Firemen’s Parade Thursday night. Thousands of people lined Main Street to watch the annual spectacle.
The parade, which lasted about 75 minutes, was heavy on fire trucks and emergency vehicles, much to the delight of the children in the audience. Several local businesses and community agencies also took part, throwing candy by the handful along the way — much to the delight of the children in the audience.
As usual, I took a few photos. Click here for a full gallery.
The fine folks at the Webster Museum have begun planning in earnest for their annual Barn Sale, scheduled for September 14 through 16.
This is probably the museum’s biggest fundraiser every year, and its success relies on community support. That opportunity begins next week, when the barn doors will be open and accepting donations.
Here’s more detail, in the words of Webster Museum Board Member Jan Naujokas:
The barn doors are open for donations beginning July 9 at 394 Phillips Road. Come down the driveway to the barns. Donations can be left inside the large barn. Donation receipts are on the table. Although you can donate any day, museum volunteers are on site Monday mornings if you would like assistance unloading your donations.
We love your antiques, collections and collectibles, kitchen and household items, décor, small appliances, toys, tools, and small furniture.
We can no longer accept books or magazines (visit the Webster library to donate these items). We cannot accept computers, clothing, linens, baby cribs or car seats, large furniture, snow skis or water skis, large exercise equipment, audio or video tapes (VHS tapes, music cassettes, etc), or entertainment electronics, (TVs, stereos, DVD players, etc).
Your donations last year helped support tours for children from our local elementary schools, and programs and exhibits for the community. Thank you! Please think of us again this year if you have gently used items to donate.
The Webster Museum, at 18 Lapham Park in the Village Webster, is open on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays from 2 to 4:30 p.m. To learn more, visit their website and “like” them on Facebook.
The Village of Webster summer season officially kicks off this Friday July 7 with the first in the Friday Night Gazebo Concert series, featuring the Red Hot and Blue Band.
RHB plays Americana, Roots, and Blues Rock music that will get you dancing and bring back a lot of great memories.
The concerts begin at 7 p.m. at the gazebo on North Ave. and admission is free. Bring the whole family, some folding chairs and a blanket, and a cooler if you’d like, then enjoy some beautiful music.
Here’s a quick look at what else is being planned in the village this summer. For more information about all of these events and more, visit websterbid.com.
We are seeing more Webster households in need of assistance with food and hygiene items. Therefore, we are having a food and garage sale donation drive-up on Saturday, July 22 from 10-noon.
Hope volunteers will be collecting items behind Holy Trinity Church, 1460 Ridge Road, near the Knights of Columbus building. Tax receipts available on request. We suggest entering from Phillips Road, and drop-off for garage sale and food donations will be on your right. You don’t even need to leave your car.
Garage sale is scheduled for Sept. 13 to 16. More to come about that.
That same evening, Saturday July 22, Hope is holding a fundraiser at the Panera restaurant in Towne Center Plaza, from 4 to 8 p.m. Just mention Webster Hope as you order and Hope will receive a donation to help low-income Webster residents.
Covid couldn’t deter the Class of ’71
Thanks to the pandemic, the RL Thomas Class of ’71 had to postpone their 50th reunion. But undeterred, they they decided to throw themselves a 70th birthday party instead.
The event was held on Saturday June 24 at Schutt’s Apple Mill, and featured food trucks, two alumni bands, a cornhole tournament, foosball tables, horseshoes, hay rides, and a memorabilia table. More than 160 folks attended, and for six hours played games and did a lot of talking and reminiscing.
Thanks to Dave Eckler for the report and photos!
The R.L. Thomas Class of ’71 will be holding a 70th Birthday Bash on Saturday June 24 at Schutt’s Apple Mill from 5 to 7 p.m. Thanks to COVID, the class was unable to hold its 50th reunion, so they’ve decided to celebrate their 70 birthdays together instead.
These concerts benefit local nonprofit organizations. The first one, scheduled for Wednesday July 12, will feature Allegro, and proceeds will benefit the Webster Hope Food Pantry. (See the flier below for the whole schedule.)
There’s no admission, but each week the church collects a free-will offering benefiting that week’s chosen non-profit organization.
The concerts all begin at 6:30 p.m., and food concessions begin at 6. The concerts are held on the United Church of Christ front lawn, at 570 Klem Rd. (In case of rain it’s moved indoors.)
For more information about the concerts, click here.
More concerts, more concerts, more concerts
The Summer Concert Series at Cherry Ridge is in full swing. The next concert is scheduled for Tuesday July 11, from 6:30 to 8 p.m., featuring Eight Days a Week. The concerts are held outside, and the grounds open up at 5 p.m. with food available for purchase. So bring your lawn chair and enjoy some beautiful music.
On August 8, the GateSwingers Big Band will perform, also beginning at 6:30 p.m.
When the orange water barrels, rolls of snow fencing and trash bins start showing up at Firemen’s Field, you know it’s almost time for the carnival.
Without a doubt, the highlights of the Webster summer event schedule are the Firemen’s Carnival and parade. This year’s carnival is scheduled for Wednesday July 12 through Saturday July 15, with the parade on Thursday night.
You can check out all the details about what will be happening — and when — at the NEJFD website and Carnival Facebook page but here are some of the highlights:
Wednesday July 12:
Craft Beer Night in the Beer Tent
Thursday July 13:
Firemen’s Parade begins at 6:30 p.m.
North Forty plays in the Beer Tent
Friday July 14:
Zac Brown Tribute Band plays in the Beer Tent
Saturday July 15:
Kiddie Parade at noon, beginning at Spry Middle School
Rich the Magic Man entertains at the fairgrounds
Free kids’ bike and grill raffle
Knight Patrol playing in the Beer Tent
Fireworks at midnight
And of course, games, rides and food every night. Admission is free, and to save money on rides, you can buy advance sale tickets through the Carnival Facebook page. You’ll also want to follow that page for more details and regular updates.
A new adult program recently introduced at the Webster Public Library is giving local small business owners a chance to shine.
It’s called the Business Spotlight Series, and it’s being coordinated by Adult Programming Librarian Sue DelPozzo as a way to support our small businesses. She wrote,
Having so many businesses close in Webster recently, I felt it was part of my mission to support the existing, and especially new, businesses so that they can succeed. Everyone feels so sad when businesses close, but I don’t think people give enough thought to WHY they close. I am hoping in a small way that perhaps having this series, we are helping to raise awareness that we need to shop and support local.
Participating business owners can decide what they want to include in their presentation, with the stipulation that they need to represent their mission and educate in some way. As such, DelPozzo is only choosing businesses that have an educational component. They can bring samples and business cards to represent their business, but will not be allowed to sell their products.
The first program in the series, held Monday June 12, featured Amy Stringer, owner of The North Bee, on North Ave. in the Village of Webster. It was a fascinating look at the hard-working insects and how they can benefit us in so many ways.
I learned that bees are the only insect that gives us food; that there are all kinds of honey, including avocado honey, sour wood honey and wild sage honey; that eating raw honey can improve overall wellness; why some honeys are darker than others; that the queen will lay 1500 to 2000 eggs per day; that worker bee jobs change as they grow older; and that honey never goes bad (they pulled honey from ancient tombs and it’s still good).
Basically, I came away with a much greater respect for bees.
DelPozzo hopes to schedule one program a month through next June, and perhaps extend the series even longer if it’s successful and enough businesses are interested in participating. The upcoming schedule for the rest of this year includes:
July 27, 6:30 p.m.: Curated. by JUSTINTERIORS
August 10, 10:30 a.m.: Never Say Never Stables
September (date TBA): M/Body
October (date TBA): Green Tea Esthetics
November (date TBA): Schutt’s Apple Mill
Registration is requested so they know about how many chairs to set up. You can register at the Webster Public Library website; just go to the Events tab to find the program. Registration is open now for the first two programs and will open later this summer and fall for the remainder.
Business owners interested in joining the series and presenting a talk at the library should email Sue DelPozzo at Susan.DelPozzo@libraryweb.org
Summer is officially upon us, and Webster has teed up a whole schedule of live music, festivals and special events.
But first, this important community event: The Webster Health Education Network (WHEN) is sponsoring a drug take-back event on Saturday June 24 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Webster Wastewater Treatment Facility , 226 Phillips Rd. This is your chance to safely dispose of unused, expired or unwanted medications. Only pills will be accepted; please no liquids or sharps.
And since we’re talking about doing good things for our community, here’s Webster HOPE’s Home’s June Wish List:
canned pineapple
canned beets
dish soap
laundry detergent
cooking oil
ketchup, mayonnaise
shampoos and conditioner
diapers (size 4 and 5)
Webster HOPE is located at 1450 Ridge Rd., and open Monday from 5 to 7 p.m., Tuesday from 10 a.m. to noon, Wednesday from 3 to 5 p.m. and Thursday from 5 to 7 p.m.
Schutt’s Apple Mill‘s Summer Celebration returns on Saturday July 1 from 5 to 8 p.m.
This is a great family-friendly event complete with a food truck, ice cream, a bounce house, magic show, animals, face painting, wagon rides and lots more.
There’s a charge for some of the activities, but there’s lots of free stuff for everyone.
Schutt’s is located at 1063 Plank Rd.
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The Summer Concert Series at Cherry Ridge is in full swing. The next concert is scheduled for Tuesday July 11, from 6:30 to 8 p.m., featuring Eight Days a Week. The concerts are held outside, and the grounds open up at 5 p.m. with food available for purchase. So bring your lawn chair and enjoy some beautiful music.
On August 8, the GateSwingers Big Band will perform, also beginning at 6:30 p.m.
The Friday Night Gazebo Concert series in the Village of Webster is coming together. Here’s the schedule:
July 7: The Red Hot and Blue Band
July 21: Celtic Cross
July 28: Eight Days a Week
The concerts run from 7 to 9 p.m. in Veterans Memorial Park on North Ave. in the village, and are free. Bring a lawn chair and blanket and a cooler if you’d like! Information about more concerts as they’re added can be found at websterbid.com
These concerts benefit local nonprofit organizations through free-will donations. The first one will feature Allegro, and proceeds will benefit the Webster Hope Food Pantry. The rest of the summer features:
July 19: Ruby Shooz
July 26: Prime Time Brass
Aug. 2: Dady and Ryan
Aug. 9: 8 Days a Week
There’s no admission charge, but each week the church collects a free-will offering benefiting that week’s chosen non-profit organization.
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On July 22, mark your calendars for the Summer Splash Family Event from 3 to 5 p.m. at First Responders Splash Park, on Chiyoda Drive next door to the Rec Center. If you’ve never been to this spray park before, you owe your children a chance to check it out because it’s good for hours of water fun. The event will include a bubble foam machine and Rich the Magic Man, plus FREE Snowie Ice sponsored by Gleason Orthodontics.
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The 50th annual Waterfront Art Festival returns on Saturday and Sunday July 29 and 30 at Charles E. Sexton Park (formerly North Ponds). It’s open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, and features quality fine art and crafts stretching all along the park’s beautiful, shaded pathways.
There’s live music, food vendors, free alcohol tastings, dozens of local artisans and plenty of free parking. Admission is only $5, with children 12 and under free.
Looking ahead to August, mark your calendars for the Webster Jazz Fest, scheduled for Friday and Saturday August 18 and 19. More information to come about that, but you can check out details in the meantime as they’re posted at websterbid.com.
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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