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Village hosts holiday scavenger hunt

17 Dec

Here’s another great reason to head into the Village of Webster this last week before Christmas — aside from all of the terrific finds for your last-minute gift needs:

* * * The 2021 Village Holiday Scavenger Hunt * * *

Great prizes from Kittelberger Florist and other village merchants await several lucky winners of this fun and easy scavenger hunt. All you have to do is visit each of the merchants on the list below, and write down the word printed on the Happy Snowman located at each business. Using the words, complete the holiday phrase below, and email your answer to info@websterbid.com.

Entries are due by Wednesday Dec. 22.

Here’s the list of businesses:

  • Beyond Cuts
  • Village Hall
  • Finn’s Automotive
  • Golden Boys Restaurant
  • Jeff’s Computer Service
  • Lattimore Physical Therapy
  • Martino’s Pizzeria
  • Manes Beauty Lounge
  • Nest Things
  • Rubino’s
  • The Savage Chef
  • The North Bee
  • Webster Interiors
  • Webster Museum
  • Yesterday’s Muse
  • The Village Quilt Shoppe
  • Lala of Webster
  • Professional Nutrition at Holistic Health Center

And here’s the mystery phrase:

_ _ _ _ _ _ _    _ _ _ _ _    _ _ _ _    _ _ _    _ _ _ _ _ _    _ _    _ _ _    _ _ _ _  …
_ _ _ _ _    _ _ _    _    _ _ _    _ _    _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _    _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _    _ _ _ _ _ _ .
_ _ _ _ _    _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _!

Good luck!

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Webster Public Library’s mitten tree — and other library news

11 Dec

Count on the Webster Public Library to really get revved up for the holidays. Everytime I go to their Facebook page I see they’ve added something new and fun.

Let’s start with the “mitten tree.” It’s in the main lobby, awaiting donations of mittens and other cold-weather gear to donate to Hope House.

Donations will be accepted through Jan. 13, and everything will remain in our community, shared with Webster residents.

The Friends of the Library have also set up their holiday book sale, and when I saw it, I was floored by the selection and how downrigth PRETTY the display is.

Hardcover books cover a variety of topics including art, history, travel, cooking, sports, science, performing arts and more, and are just $2 to 4.

Now, let’s talk MUSIC. Two great family-pleasing, live musical performances are on tap. The first features the Roc City Ringers, performing today, Saturday Dec. 11 from 2 to 3 p.m. Then, the following Thursday Dec. 16, the Webster Thomas Select Choir takes to the risers for a beautiful vocal concert from 2:30 to 3:15 p.m.

Neither of these events requires pre-registration, but please remember to mask up!

Finally, when you’re at the library for the book sale, concerts, or to drop off your donations to the mitten tree, maake sure to stop by the Artist’s Wall, where this month’s installation features the Arbor Creek Photo Group.

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email me  at missyblog@gmail.com. “Like” this blog on Facebook and follow me on Twitter and Instagram (@missyblog)

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Photos from White Christmas

5 Dec

Yesterday the Village of Webster hosted a White Christmas celebration like never before.

Faced with the multiple COVID-related challenges that caused last year’s White Christmas in the Village to be canceled entirely, this year the Business Improvement District partnered with the PTSA to bring the entire celebration outdoors to Gazebo Park.

Over several hours Saturday morning, a few dozen busy elves from the Webster BID, Webster PTSA and Webster Village transformed the park into an incredibly beautiful Santa’s Wonderland, which was great during the day but even more spectacular after sunset. When visitors arrived, they could enter through a light tunnel, walk down Candy Cane Lane to see Santa, then along Peppermint Lane to decorate a Christmas cookie, make a craft at the Toy Shop, and warm up with some hot cocoa. Even more volunteers arrived as the festivities began, assuring that everything ran very smoothly. I saw a lot of high school kids in Santa hats and elf hats — thanks to them for all their help.

The event officially began at 3 p.m., and it wasn’t long before the line to see Santa stretched all the way from the gazebo to the back of the park. The jolly old elf was definitely the biggest draw of the afternoon, but there was plenty more to do and see. Aside from the cookie, craft and hot chocolate tables, BID chairperson Elena Bernardi had lined up a whole afternoon of entertainment, including carolers in the park and on Main Street, and storytime with Jason Poole from the Webster Public Library.

Perhaps it was because most everything was concentrated in one place, but it seemed to me that there was a lot more participation in White Christmas this year than in years past. I think the BID definitely hit on a winning strategy this year, and I hope that at least some of its elements return every year — like Santa at the gazebo. That worked exceptionally well.

The only drawback I found to having everything in Gazebo Park was that many of our small businesses on Main Street didn’t benefit from the crowds of people walking past their doors. At one point in the evening, Rochester Rhapsody was caroling on Main Street, but it would be nice to see more activities up there next year to draw shoppers up to the four corners.

And then of course, there was the parade. As usual, it was a crowd-pleaser, and the reasonable temperatures helped make it a comfortable experience.

Thank you to everyone who made White Christmas and the Light Parade possible. It’s definitely my favorite day of the Village year.

Click here to see my usual gallery of photos, which begin with set-up in the morning. I’ve added some taken by my daughter, who was running around with me last night as my helper elf.

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email me  at missyblog@gmail.com. “Like” this blog on Facebook and follow me on Twitter and Instagram (@missyblog)

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White Christmas details — an update

2 Dec

So I’ve written about this Saturday’s White Christmas in the Village celebration a few times now, but I finally have some updated information to pass your way, courtesy the Webster BID, who’s sponsoring the event.

Here’s the current schedule:

  • Santa and Mrs. Claus will be at the gazebo from 3 to 5 p.m.
  • 3 p.m.: caroling by Rochester Rhapsody
  • 3:30 p.m.: caroling by Dancing With Denise
  • 4 p.m.: caroling by the Chorus of the Genesee
  • 4:30 p.m.: Sing-along with Jerry Christopher
  • 5 p.m.: DK Dance
  • 5:30 – 6:15 p.m.: Storytime with Jason Poole from the Webster Public Library at the gazebo
  • The parade begins at 6:30 p.m. at Kircher Park and travels west down Main Street

Plus:

  • Toy Land and craft toy making (bring a new unwrapped toy to donate)
  • cookie decorating
  • horse-drawn carriage rides
  • hot cocoa, and much more

This is a don’t-miss event, folks, and it looks like the weather will not be brutally cold. See you in the village.

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email me  at missyblog@gmail.com. “Like” this blog on Facebook and follow me on Twitter and Instagram (@missyblog)

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Check out Santa’s new home at White Christmas

1 Dec

I do hope Santa will be packing some longjohns when he visits Webster this Saturday afternoon for White Christmas, because it will definitely be cold — although not as snowy as he’s used to at the North Pole.

He’s going to need those thermal undergarments when he settles into his Santa chair, which for the first time will be set up in the gazebo at Veterans Memorial Park. The park will be transformed into Santa’s beloved North Pole, complete with twinkly lights, lots of holiday decorations and plenty of elves.

Mrs. Claus will be there, too, as Santa welcomes good little boys and girls to visit him from 3 to 5 p.m. Saturday. Make sure they bring their wish lists, which can be handed right to Santa or deposited in his personal mailbox.

Following your visit with Santa, there’ll be plenty to do, beginning right at 3 p.m., including:

  • caroling
  • Toy Land, where visitors are encouraged to donate new, unwrapped toys
  • storytime with Jason Poole from the Webster Public Library at Yesterday’s Muse 5 p.m.
  • cookie decorating
  • carriage rides through the village
  • hot cocoa
  • a candy cane scavenger hunt
  • Festival of Trees voting at the Webster Museum
  • live music at the Webster Museum from 3 to 4:30
  • special events and treats at the Harmony House
  • free 20-minute infrared sauna sessions at ROC &Soul Fitness from 3 to 6 p.m. (Click here to register)
  • great shopping at our small businesses
  • the Parade of Lights begins at 6:30 p.m. and travels west from Kircher Park down Main Street to Pierce St.

There’s more stuff, too, but basically it’s going to be a really fun time for the whole family. And I’ll be out there taking my hundreds of photos, as always.

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email me  at missyblog@gmail.com. “Like” this blog on Facebook and follow me on Twitter and Instagram (@missyblog)

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Webster community mailbag

30 Nov

I’ll lead today’s mailbag with a tease of this weekend’s White Christmas in the Village celebration, which takes place this Saturday Dec. 4.

More details to come about this annual event, but suffice it to say, everyone is looking forward to the caroling and cookies, storytelling, visit with Santa (this year he’s in the gazebo), and of course, the parade. The festivities begin at 3 p.m., which means there’ll be plenty of time to do some shopping and sample all of the day’s special events before the parade kicks off at 6:30.

The annual Garden Club Holiday Sale is also returning this year after a one-year COVID-induced hiatus.

This very popular fundraiser, sponsored by the Country Gardeners of Webster and the Webster Arboretun Association, features fresh wreaths, centerpieces, gifts, arrangements and live plants. This is another great opportunity to pick up some unique and much appreciated Christmas gifts.

The sale will be held Saturday, Dec. 4 (same day as White Christmas) from 9 a.m. to noon at Webster Parks and Recreation, 1350 Chiyoda Drive (just off of Phillips Rd.). Admission is free. Get there early, because this event always sells out.

The Festival of Trees is up and running at the Webster Museum!

Before you head down to Main Street for White Christmas in the Village this Saturday, pop by the Webster Museum, 18 Lapham Park, to check out all of this year’s Festival of Trees competitors.

Twelve community-decorated trees have been placed throughout the museum, and await your vote for the best one. The winner will win $25, so your vote is very important!

Voting will take place this Saturday Dec. 4 from 2 to 4:30 p.m. If you happen to be there between 3 and 4:30, you’ll also be treated to some live music.

Voting continues at the museum every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday 2 to 4:30 p.m., except for December 25.

You’ll have a chance to visit with Santa at White Christmas, but if you can’t make it there (or your kids were SO BAD that they need two shots at Santa this year), the Webster Recreation Center will welcome the jolly old elf on Saturday evening Dec. 11 from 6 to 8 p.m.

The event is open to all ages, is absolutely free, and desserts and hot chocolate will be served! Keep up to date on the details and the evening’s schedule at the Webster Recreation Center webite.

Webster’s next two blood donation opportunities are coming up in just a few weeks.

On Tuesday Dec. 14, St. Martin’s Lutheran Church will sponsor a drive at the church, 813 Bay Rd., from 1 to 6 p.m.

Then the next day, Wednesday Dec. 15, a drive will be held at the Webster Firemen’s Building, 172 Sanford St. (at the south end of Firemen’s Field) from 1 to 7 p.m.

The Red Cross has a great promotion going on right now, too. Donate at either one of these drives and get a $10 Amazon gift card emailed to you. Click here to make an appointment.

The need right now is urgent. I just got this message from the Red Cross:

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is expecting a severe flu season this year, and that could have a negative impact on the nation’s already-struggling blood supply. The American Red Cross continues to address an emergency blood and platelet shortage, and donors of all blood types – especially type O – are needed to make an appointment now to help ensure it doesn’t get worse as we move into winter.

The need for blood is constant and only volunteer donors can fulfill that need for patients in our community. Nationwide, someone needs a unit of blood every 2 to 3 seconds and most of us will need blood in our lifetime.

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email me  at missyblog@gmail.com. “Like” this blog on Facebook and follow me on Twitter.

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Friends and fun at village beer walk

29 Nov

Hey, Webster BID: Great job on the “Hops and Stops” Beer Walk Saturday!

Fifteen businesses signed up as stops for Saturday afternoon’s walk, which guided almost two hundred beer lovers from one end of the village to the other. My husband, several of my closest friends and I were among them, traveling as a pack and popping into one shop after the other for a beer tasting and/or snacks provided by the business owners.

We picked up our sampling glasses at Finn’s Automotive shortly after the event began at 3 p.m., and I really didn’t expect we’d need the entire three hours to complete the tour. But I also didn’t expect the generous beer “samples” offered at most of the stops (the Filling Station poured pretty much an entire pint) or the frequent opportunities we took to socialize with each other and friends we met along the way. We landed at our last stop, Barry’s Old School Irish, just before 6 p.m. It turned out to be the perfect amount of time to enjoy all the afternoon had to offer: friends, beer and food. We simply had a blast.

Of course, one of the best parts of the cleverly named “Hops and Stops” was that it highlighted so many of the Village of Webster’s small businesses. It was scheduled, not coincidentally, for Small Business Saturday, and for many of the participants, it served as an introduction to many businesses which they’d never before been in, or even knew about.

Thank you to all the businesses which participated, and to the BID for another great event highlighting our beautiful village.

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The holidays in Webster Village: beer, shopping, Santa and a parade!

18 Nov

It’s getting cold out, but the holiday season in Webster is heating up, with a cool NEW event and some great improvements on an old favorite.

For starters, the village’s brand new “Hops and Stops” beer tasting event invites participants to not only enjoy some great craft brews, while also visiting many of our small businesses for some early Christmas shopping.

Hops and Stops will be Saturday Nov. 27 (not coincidentally Small Business Saturday). Glass pickup is at Finns Automotive, 44 East Main St, beginning at 2:45 p.m. Cost is $20 (tickets here). Please bring proper ID and you can’t pick up anyone else’s glass since they’ll also need to show an ID.

The beer walk itself runs from 3 to 6 p.m. There will be craft beer at some stops and food at others. These businesses will be participating:

  • Bernardi & Co. CPA
  • Webster Interiors
  • Woodland Silkscreen and Embroidery
  • OHHH, LORDEE! Everything Sauce
  • Village Vape or Smoke
  • The Modified Collective
  • Carl’s Pizza Kitchen
  • Crafty Christy’s Boutique
  • Dunkin’ Donuts
  • The Coach
  • BC’s Chicken Coop
  • The Cobblestone on Main
  • Barry’s Old School Irish
  • Lattimore Physical Therapy
  • Filling Station Pub & Grill

Kudos to the Webster BID for coming up with this great idea to get people out and shopping on Small Business Saturday!

Click here for more information and to get tickets.

White Christmas is Back!

Last year’s “reverse” Holiday Parade of Lights was fun, but I think everyone is excited to know that the REAL Parade of Lights will be returning the evening of Saturday Dec. 4. The parade is the highlight of a whole afternoon of holiday entertainment and activities planned during the Village of Webster’s White Christmas celebration.

This year’s event will feature something really fun: the gazebo in Veterans Park will be transformed into the North Pole for the day, complete with twinkling lights, elves, candy canes and much more. Santa will be there to greet the kids from 3 to 5 p.m. Kids can bring their letters and give them right to Santa or deposit them in his North Pole mailbox.

The Parade of Lights will begin at 6:30 p.m., winding its way from Phillips Rd. west down Main Street.

All of your White Christmas favorites will also be back this year, including carriage rides, hot cocoa, cookie decorating, storytime with Jason Poole from the Webster Public Library, caroling, and much more, including a “Toy Land,” for which everyone is encouraged to bring a new, unwrapped toy to donate.

Put this one on your calendar, folks. (Maybe we’ll actually get some snow this year.)

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Webster community mailbag

17 Nov

I’ve got an important update from the PTSA/One Webster team that’s working on a float for this year’s Holiday Parade of Lights.

They need lights for the float!

They’ve actually been getting a good response from people interested in helping create Santa’s Workshop and who want to help build the float (read more about those opportunities in this blog here) but they desperately need lights for the float. After all, it is the Holiday PARADE OF LIGHTS.

They’ve made it very easy to contribute to the effort. Click this link here to order the lights directly (there are several price options) or donate any amount.

Speaking of fun events, I’ve heard from the organizers of the annual Greater Rochester Peep Show.

This show, which usually takes over much of the Webster Recreation Center in early April, had to go virtual these last few years. Now that it looks like the 2022 Peep Show might be a little more normal, they’re already ramping up to make it the best ever.

They’e currently looking artists to create a poster (rules are posted on the Peep Show website) and prizes will be awareded: $100 for first place, $50 for second place. The deadline for submissions is Nov. 25. They’re also looking for sponsors, vendors, and community groups or entertainers who would like to present demos at the show. Come January, they’ll start asking for volunteers.

As for all you Peep Show display makers, get to the drawing board and start planning your incredible displays. April will be here before we know it!

For more information about the 2022 Greater Rochester Peep Show, click here.

Get your books here, folks!

Now here’s a great chance to pick up some perfect holiday gifts for the reader in your family, and not drop a lot of dough.

The Friends of the Webster Public Library will be holding their Winter Holiday Book Sale beginning Saturday Nov. 20.

Winter and end-of-the-year holiday season books (hardcover, fiction and nonfiction) will be featured at this sale, including music CDs, DVD movies and Blu-Rays for children and adults. And everything is priced between 50 cents and $2.

The sale will run for several weeks (or until the books run out) during regular holiday hours.

Purchases may be made at the circulation desk. All monies raised will go to support library programs and initiatives.

In this month’s History Bit from the Webster Museum, a message of thanks.

NYA-WEH is “thanks” in the Seneca language. If we struggle to find things to be thankful for this year, we would do well to consult the Thanksgiving address of any of our native people, the Haudenosaunee.

A thousand years old, the words are still spoken before and after ceremonial and governmental gatherings. The speakers’ language and words may vary, but the message is the same: we must name and thank everything in the natural world that sustains us.
The address includes the people, the earth, the waters, the plants, the animals, the sun, moon and stars and the creator they believe to be responsible for all these gifts.

Each gift is named and thanked and honored by the refrain “now our minds are one.“ Consensus on gratitude!

The Webster Museum’s permanent Seneca exhibit now includes objects identified in the Seneca language.

The museum is open for your enjoyment (and maybe some new vocabulary…) on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays from 2 to 4:30 p.m.. Nya-weh for visiting!

By the way, I did mention above that Webster’s White Christmas in the Village will be back this year, It returns Saturday Dec. 4, complete with the Parade of Lights in the evening.

A more complete blog will follow shortly!

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email me  at missyblog@gmail.com. “Like” this blog on Facebook and follow me on Twitter.

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Webster community mailbag

7 Nov

I have to ‘fess up right away that some of these items did not actually come through my mail. But they are some fun random events I wanted to share with you.

First, a photo of my friend Laureen Anthony-Palmer, from a party held Friday at the Webster Public Library in her honor. It was Laureen’s last day at the library; she and her husband will soon be moving down to Kentucky to be closer to their new granddaughter.

Laureen’s official title was Library Assistant, but that really doesn’t thoroughly reflect everything she did there. In her 18-year career with the library, Laureen managed the career collections, organized the collection drives for things like coats and Bella’s Bumbas materials, helped manage the library’s social media and sent regular PR emails to traditional media outlets.

That’s how I got to know Laureen. She regularly peppered my inbox with newsy bits from the library, and we worked as a team to help people learn more about the library and the greater Webster community.

I will miss seeing her smiling face (or at least her smiling eyes) when I wander over to the reference desk, but congratulate her for making the right decision. Family is paramount.

Godspeed, Laureen. It’s been great working with you.

It was a perfect fall day for a hike Saturday, and more than 100 people took advantage to participate in a family-friendly scavenger hunt at Four Mile Creek Preserve.

The event was co-hosted by the Friends of Webster Trails and the Webster Recreation Center. At the registration table, kids picked up one of three age-appropriate scavenger hunt sheets, then explored the preserve’s 3/4-mile long Blue Trail to locate and cross off as many of the items as possible. Everyone got a fun prize when they returned with their completed (or even partially completed) sheet.

This was a great event on so many levels. It gave families a fun way to help their kids exercise their bodies and minds in an outdoor activity. It introduced many people to a natural area they’d never been to before. And it was an opportunity to learn more about the great work the Friends of Webster Trails does.

An inspiring look at Miracle Field

If you didn’t get a chance a few weeks ago to catch the video created by Channel 8 WROC-TV about Rochester Challenger Miracle Field, I suggest you grab a cup of coffee, sit back and click on the link below.

The 30-minute long video, filmed in part at Miracle Field’s Heroes Helping Heroes event in July, is an excellent introduction to Miracle Field and the tremendous opportunities it provides to individuals with physical and/or cognitive challenges. It’s entertaining and inspiring, and will make your heart smile.

To find out more about Miracle Field and how you can help, visit their website.

Going, going, GONE!

Finally, here’s a great way to grab some early holiday gifts, and support a good cause at the same time.

Webster Comfort Care Home is hosting an online charity auction featuring jewelry, art, hockey games, restaurant gift cards, a two-night stay at an Upstate cabin, and more cool stuff.

Bidding is going on right now, through Nov. 13 at 8 p.m. For more information and to participate, click here.

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email me  at missyblog@gmail.com. “Like” this blog on Facebook and follow me on Twitter.

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.

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