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.
One of the most colorful signs of summer in Webster is the return of the Joe Obbie Farmers’ Market to Webster Towne Center Plaza on Holt Rd.
The market opened for the season on Saturday June 10, and will be set up every Saturday at the plaza from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. through October, rain or shine.
If you’ve never been to this market you should start making it a regular Saturday morning stop. Varying with the season, you’ll find baked goods, pies, meats, poultry, goat cheese and goat cheese products, flavored nuts, herbs, spice blends, honey, maple syrup, cider, soap and body care products, plants and cut flowers, jewelry, crafts and of course a wide variety of fruits and vegetables.
The very popular Evening in the Park Market will also return in July to Charles Sexton Park (formerly known as North Ponds) on Wednesday evenings.
Starting July 19, the market will be set up at the park from 4 to 8 p.m. every Wednesday through August 30. These events will also have food trucks and live entertainment, in addition to the vendors, so remember to pack your quad chairs!
Our friends at Wellness 360 have scheduled two free special events in June of interest to caregivers, and especially those who love someone suffering from Alzheimer’s disease.
The first is a Caring for Caregivers event on June 21, which Wellness 360 hosts quarterly at the Webster Recreation Center. It’s open to local caregivers, and basically offers a night of respite and relaxation:
Enjoy a night of laughter, new friendships, and respite care. We have a group of caregivers that are uplifting and supportive. If you are not a caregiver but have a spouse with a progressive diagnosis, this is the place for you. Our Caring for Caregivers events are held quarterly; we invite Caregivers with a loved one with any progressive diagnosis to join us for an evening of appreciation. Bring your quarters for a night of Left, Right, and Center. Not sure how to play? No worries, it’s easy to learn. Our caregivers bring finger food to pass and a drink of your choice to share (wine/beer is allowed!). This event is not a support group but a safe place to laugh and enjoy two hours of time alone.
Caregivers are even invited to bring their loved ones along for supervised fun from the staff and volunteers at Wellness 360. They’ll be escorted to a different room in the building where they’ll meet new friends and enjoy pizza, dessert and water, a pool table, ping pong, TV, and comfortable seating. There is a small cost of $10 if you choose to bring your loved ones.
The Caring for Caregivers event will be held at the Webster Recreation Center, 1350 Chiyoda Drive (off of Phillips) on Wednesday June 21 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Caregivers do not have to register, but if you’re bringing a loved one, please click here to register them.
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The next is a Ride to Remember event on Friday June 24, also at the Recreation Center.
The event raises money and awareness for the Alzheimer’s Association. Alzheimer’s disease is the sixth-leading cause of death in the United States. More than 6 million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s, and over 11 million are acting as their caregivers.
This year, the ride honors Robert Cunningham. Robert served his whole career in the City of Rochester Police Department, and on a more personal note, was the father of Kelli Beebe, Wellness 360’s front desk manager. Ride in the memory of Robert, of your loved one, or to just spread awareness of the Alzheimer’s diagnosis.
There are three easy ways to get involved:
Join one of three 45-minute spin classes held at the Webster Rec Center. Donations to Alzheimer’s Association are accepted at the door. Seating is limited; registration is required. Three different classes will be offered for different skill levels. Click here for class descriptions and to register.
If you can’t attend a ride in person, you can sign up for a team, ride when and where you want and donate as you wish. Click here to sign up.
I’m kicking off today’s mailbag with this follow-up from the Webster Central School District about the Northeast Monroe County Special Olympics Track & Field Day, which Webster Schroeder High School hosted on May 23.
Athletes from Webster Schroeder, Webster Thomas, East Irondequoit, West Irondequoit, Penfield, Creekside, Mary Cariola, and Greece schools participated in this year’s event. They competed in track, field, and adaptive events including dashes, relays and distance runs, softball throw, long jump, shot put, 25m manual wheelchair, 25m electric wheelchair, and wheelchair softball throw.
Additional special events were offered for younger athletes to introduce them to sports movements and skills, including activities like an obstacle course, parachute games and target practice.
Special Olympics NY programs are designed to offer age-appropriate experiences to younger athletes that will prepare them for authentic Special Olympics competition.
This huge sale will run from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday and Friday June 8 and 9, and 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday June 10. Along with what you might consider “regular” garage sale items, there will be lots of picture frames, furniture, household goods, sporting goods and toys.
Proceeds from the sale benefit the church’s outreach projects, including their Little Free Pantry which stands at the edge of their parking lot.
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Great food is in store on Saturday June 17 when the Rochester Academy of Irish Dance Parents Association host a Chicken BBQ drive-through fundraiser. They’ll be set up at 780 Ridge Rd. in Webster (between Five Mile Line and Hatch roads).
Dinners will be served beginning at 4 p.m., until they’re sold out. They cost $15, which includes a half chicken, potatoes, cole slaw, rolls and butter.
This is a great family event featuring food trucks, music, a KidZone, raffles, and lots of vendors and community agency displays.
The Penfield Recreation Center is located at 1985 Baird Rd.
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There’s always lots of great stuff happening at the Webster Recreation Center, but here are a few highlights:
The always entertaining Senior Singers will present a free performance on Tuesday June 6 at 11 a.m. in the lunch room. No registration is required and everyone is welcome.
Need a ride to the Rec Center? Good news! Anyone 55 or older can request a ride from your door to the Rec Center and back home again any Tuesday or Thursday. On Thursday, the ride home also includes a stop at the grocery store.
To schedule your ride, call the Rec Center at 585-872-7103 ext. 7385 no later than 8 a.m. the day of the ride. You’ll be asked to provide your name, address, phone number and requested date(s). Pickup will be between 9 and 10 a.m., and will return after Lunch Club 60, between 12:30 and 1 p.m. Rides cost $4 round trip per person/per day, payable at the front office upon arrival.
The Webster Recreation Center is located at 1350 Chiyoda Dr.
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There’s always great stuff happening at the Webster Public Library also, but here are a few highlights:
Outdoor story times have returned to Harmony Park. Every Wednesday June through August, beginning at 9:30 a.m., bring the kids and a blanket and enjoy story time at the band shell. All ages are welcome and no registration is required. The park is located on Phillips Rd. south of Ridge.
June 12 is this month’s Make-it-Monday craft night. From 6 to 7 p.m. participants can make rainbow cloud hangings. Registration is required. Click here to register.
Kindness rocks! Stop by the library on Saturday June 24 from 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and decorate a rock or two with words or images of kindness. Then you can take your rocks and hide them around Webster.
The 2023 summer reading theme is “All Together Now,” so the library is celebrating friendship and kindness with a three-week Friendship Camp. It begins Wednesday June 28 from 2 to 3:30 p.m. with Friendship Bracelets and Button Making. Grades 4-12 are welcome. Registration is required.
Time is fast approaching for the second in my very informative and (I hope) slightly interesting presentations all about me and Webster on the Web.
I’ll be heading to the Webster Public Library on Thursday night June 8 at 6:30 p.m. to blather on for about 45 minutes about things like my background, how I got started writing, how the blog came about, and more.
So if you’ve ever wondered about those things, please attend the presentation, and bring any questions and blog ideas you might have. There’s no charge, but it would be helpful if you could register so we kind of know how many people to expect. It’s easy to sign up. You can click here to do that. The library is located at 980 Ridge Rd., at the back of Webster Plaza.
I look forward to meeting more of my readers and hearing firsthand what you think about the blog. Hope to see you there!
The Village of Webster’s business scene just keeps getting better, with the opening of another new shop on East Main St.
Oh Bella Co, located at 24 East Main, is a charming shop featuring clothing items and accessories especially for young women, but really perfect for most any age.
Owner Isabella Proietti is excited to bring her store to the village, after operating an online shop for five years.
“I’ve always wanted to open a retail shop,” she said. “I like the personal connections you can make. Online for clothing is a little hard because no one can feel the material and try it on. … Although I’ve done well online, I think it would be awesome to have a space, have people come in, talk to them,” she added.
A lifelong Webster resident, Isabella is especially excited to have found what she calls “the perfect space” right on Main Street.
Isabella describes her offerings as
kind of based on my style. I love traveling. I’ve been to different boutiques in Boston and Florida. So it’s a weird mix of beach vibe with a city Boston-girl vibe. I have both of those styles so I’m going to mix them. Cute and comfortable, based on what I look for when I go to the store, with lots of different options, for all ages.
Even though the storefront has been vacant for several years, she and her very helpful family members didn’t have to do too much to fix it up. Just some painting, updating the restroom and installing the changing areas. This week she’s been working hard to get all of the clothing racks set up and her merchandise tagged and ready to go.
That will officially happen this Saturday morning June 3 when Oh Bella has its grand opening celebration — complete with ribbon cutting ceremony — beginning at 10 a.m. The rest of the day, shoppers can browse Oh Bella’s charming selection of clothing and accessories, and grab some delicious desserts and treats made by @OliviaBrynCakes while you shop. Madison Sophia Jewelry will also be on hand with a selection of her beautiful jewelry items.
Take a moment to stop in on Saturday to welcome Oh Bella to the village!
The weather could not have been nicer for Monday morning’s Memorial Day Parade. As it does every year, it began at Spry Middle School and would its way west through the village, ending at Webster Rural Cemetery for a remembrance ceremony.
This is always a nice little parade. Befitting the solemn occasion that it celebrates, there are no business floats or politicians, no throwing of candy or dancing to hip hop music, and the fire engines don’t blast their horns nonstop. But because many of those things were missing, it WAS a little parade.
This year and last year it has actually been quite a bit smaller than in previous years, especially pre-pandemic. Very few Scout troops participated, for example. It was nice, however, to see a few Boy Scout troops, the always awesome Webster Marching Band, and representation from both Webster Volunteer and West Webster fire departments. Ross Willink acted as Grand Marshal this year, riding proudly in one of several fine-looking old cars and trucks.
And of course it’s always an honor to see the veterans who are able to walk or ride in the parade, receiving from the crowd the applause and heartfelt thanks they duly deserve.
The ceremony at Webster Rural was probably longer in duration than the parade itself, but nonetheless meaningful. I counted about 200 community members in attendance. I was encouraged to see there are still many families out there who appreciate the meaning of the day and take the time to attend this post-parade event.
Perhaps because there were so few Scouts in attendance, this year’s annual planting-of-the-flags-by-the-crosses did not take place. I was disappointed by that. Always makes for a nice photo.
Thank you to all the groups that participated in the parade and for all of the community members who lined the streets and came to the remembrance ceremony. It would be great to see even more Webster support for this important parade next year.
There’s a brand new trail in town, and judging from the reaction I got from the recent blog I wrote about it, people are pretty excited.
The Friends of Webster Trails have recently completed work on the new Michael A. Johnson Nature Preserve Trail, the entrance to which is about halfway between VanAlstyne Rd. and Drumm Rd. on the Hojack Trail. The Friends are planning to introduce the new trail to the community at a dedication ceremony and inaugural community hike on Saturday June 3 beginning at 9 a.m. (Participants are asked to park at Gosnell Big Woods and meet at the Hojack Trail entrance off of Drumm Rd.)
I’m not going to be able to attend that event, so on Sunday my husband and I rode our bikes over there to hike it and check it out for ourselves.
It’s really a beautiful little trail. And I say “little” because it’s actually much shorter than I thought it was, covering only .33 miles. It does connect to the John Ungar Nature Trail, which itself is .34 miles, so you can extend your hike by doing both trails at once.
As usual, the Friends have done a nice job blazing the trail, and have placed a few maps along the way to guide you. It’s an easy trail to hike; there are a few hills, but nothing too obnoxious, and I think kids could manage it quite easily. It’s far enough away from any major roads to be wonderfully peaceful, and very beautiful, filled with birdsong.
As an added bonus, hikers will get an up-close look at some of the wonderful work the Friends have been accomplishing with their ReTree Project. The trail passes about a dozen brand new trees planted recently to help keep our open space areas healthy.
I encourage everyone to check out this beautiful new trail, either at the June 3 community hike or some other time. Then consider showing how much you appreciate everything the Friends of Webster Trails volunteers do to create and maintain all of our beautiful trails, by becoming a member. It’s just $15 a year per family, $10 for an individual. Your support will go a long way to help this great group continue to do great things for Webster.
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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