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Webster community mailbag

26 Mar

I anticipate writing longer blogs about a few of these events in the coming weeks, but in the meantime, here’s a tease so you can get them on your calendars.

One of our town’s most creative and fun FREE family events — the Great Rochester Peep Show — returns Saturday and Sunday April 2 and 3 to the Webster Recreation Center on Chiyoda Drive (off of Phillips).

This fun, completely free, family-friendly event features at least four entire rooms filled with incredibly creative sculptures, dioramas, and various other works of art, all created with marshmallow Peeps candies. In addition to the displays, several entertainers and community groups will be performing.

Hours are 10 to 5 p.m. on Saturday, 10 to 4 on Sunday.

Community Arts Day returns the following weekend after a two-year COVID-induced hiatus.

This year’s event will take place on Saturday, April 9 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Webster Schroeder High School, 875 Ridge Rd. This very family-friendly festival showcases Webster CSD students’ creative talents and involves the entire community in a day to celebrate the arts.

Dozens of activities are planned throughout the day, including art displays, carnival games, sweet treats sale, plant sale, crafts, community group exhibits and more. Musical groups and demonstrators (dancers, gymnastics, etc.) perform free all day, and you can even grab lunch and snacks.

This is one of my favorite events of the whole year.

Webster’s next American Red Cross blood drive is coming up in just a few weeks. Here are the details:

Tuesday April 5, St. Martin’s Lutheran Church (813 Bay Rd.), 1 to 6 p.m. (Click here to make an appointment)
Wednesday April 6, American Legion (8181 Ridge Rd.), noon to 5 p.m. (Click here for an appointment)

Anyone who donates at one of these drives will receive an exclusive Red Cross t-shirt, while supplies last.

The need right now is critical, so please consider donating!

The Webster Public Library, is hosting a meet-and-greet with new library director Adam Traub on Wednesday April 27 from 3 to 5 p.m. Snacks will be served!

And since we’re talking about the library, next time you’re there, make sure to check out the Webster Museum’s current display. It features square-dancing fashions provided by the Copy Cats Western Square Dance Club, currently celebrating their 50th anniversary. The group was started by Xerox employees.

At the museum itself, at 18 Lapham Park in the village, a new exhibit looks at women’s nineteenth century garments, occupations, voting and working rights efforts, and the story of the “Great Women’s Uprising” of 1910. 

The museum is open 2:30 to 4:30 pm on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.

This is exciting news.

The Webster Business Improvement District (BID) is sponsoring a FREE Easter Egg Hunt on Saturday April 16 at the Webster Firemen’s Field on West Main St.

Our local merchants will be providing the eggs, filled with prizes and surprises. Children will be divided into three different age groupings for the hunt, and there will be an extra prize basket for the child in each group who finds the golden egg.

The hunt will begin at 10 a.m. More details to come!

This great event is just the first in a long line of special events the Webster BID is working on for this spring and summer, which include a Beer Walk, Bourbon Bash, Family Games Nights, the Trick or Treat Trail, Jazz Fest, Wine Walks and more. Watch for more details about these in an upcoming blog.

The Webster Quilt Guild has an upcoming show.

“Envision the Possibilities” will showcase approximately 250 quilts, plus special displays of quilts created for Breast Cancer Coalition, Quilts of Valor, Bivona Child Advocacy Center, Asbury Storehouse, and Meals on Wheels. Other activities include vendors, boutique table, and book and pattern sale.  The guild will also be collecting non-perishable food items in support of the Webster Backpack Food program. 

The show will be held April 23 and 24 at Holy Trinity Church, 146 Ridge Road. Tickets will be $5, available at the door.

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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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Fall in Love With Webster was a big success

23 Mar

On Tuesday morning, I attended the monthly meeting of the Webster Business Improvement District (BID). My primary reason for attending these meetings is to keep on top of all of the great events the BID hosts every spring and summer, so I can let you all know about them with plenty of advance notice.

The meeting did not disappoint. I left with a whole list of events — old and new — which are on the calendar for this year. I’ll tell you all about them in a future blog. Today, I’d like to focus on an event that has already happened.

I’m talking about Fall in Love With Webster, the month-long community celebration held in February in which residents and visitors enjoyed daily discounts and special events at dozens of our local small businesses. Even if you didn’t take advantage of any of those, if you were in the village anytime during the month, you probably noticed the heart-emblazoned flags on the lightposts, the trivia questions posted in the merchant windows, the banner at the cobblestone gazebo on North Ave., and special heart-themed decorations all over the village.

Fall in Love With Webster was an incredibly successful event, due in large part to the efforts of Lisa Schlonski, owner of Lala Gift Shop on Main Street, and her able assistant Jody Laurer. Lisa and Jody spent countless hours helping organize events, managing the Fall in Love With Webster Facebook Page, and hosting some memorable events of their own. (Remember Betty White Night?)

The purpose of the event was two-fold: to highlight all of the great businesses in Webster, and bring people into the village to enjoy everything we have to offer — basically, helping people fall in love with Webster.

By all accounts, both goals were achieved big time. Here are some of the highlights from the month-long event:

  • More than 30 businesses participated
  • More than 50 calendar events were organized and publicized
  • The Webster Volunteer Fire Department Boot Drive donated much-appreciated funds to Webster Comfort Care
  • 33 merchants took part in Random Acts of Kindness Day, including Kittelberger Florist, which donated more than 300 bouquets for merchants to hand out
  • Valentine’s-themed crafts created by the residents of The Maplewood were sold at Lala and the proceeds used to purchase more craft project materials for the residents
  • Spectrum News took notice and broadcast a story
  • Businesses collaborated on events, like “Betty White Night” when Lala offered snacks and discounts, Jojo Bistro created Betty White-inspired cocktails, and Webster Hots created two meal combos
  • Several merchants noted increased sales and foot traffic during the month

Grown from a simple idea that Jody’s daughter brought home from a small town in Connecticut, Fall in Love With Webster was an amazing success. Thank you to all of the community members who participated, and especially all of the businesses who so enthusiastically joined the effort. I hope this first big collaborative event will be followed by many more.

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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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Something is coming to eat the world WHOLE

22 Mar

The Webster Thomas Players’ spring musical, Little Shop of Horrors, takes to the stage in just a few weeks, Thursday, Friday and Saturday April 7, 8 and 9.

I’m sure you’ve heard of this classic show. Little Shop of Horrors is a sci-fi horror musical with a 1960s pop/rock score by Alan Menken and Howard Ashman. It tells the story of meek floral assistant Seymour Krelborn, who stumbles across a new breed of plant he names “Audrey II.” The egotistical, sweet talking R&B-singing carnivore promises unending fame and fortune to the down-and-out Krelborn as long as he keeps feeding it, blood. Over time, though, Seymour discovers Audrey II’s out-of-this-world origins and intent towards global domination.

Then the fun really begins.

Shows will be held Thursday, Friday and Saturday April 7, 8 and 9 at 7:30 p.m., and Saturday at 2 p.m. Tickets are on sale now for $12, or $10 for groups of ten or more. Click here to get yours.

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

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There’s still time to find those Clovers and Clues!

9 Mar

If you and your kids haven’t had a chance to complete the Clovers and Clues Scavenger Hunt yet, there’s still plenty of time to win a great prize!

This family-friendly scavenger hunt is sponsored by Webster Parks and Recreation and the Webster Health and Education Network (WHEN). Through Thursday March 17, participants hunt for clues placed in 13 locations all around the Town of Webster. Each clue consists of different letters, and when all the letters are collected, you’ll use them to decode a final message prompting healthy choices.

Completed answers can be submitted to Webster Parks and Recreation for the chance to win a beautiful gift basket.

Visit the WHEN website to get your first clue. Collecting letters will take about an hour or two, can be done anytime and is a great activity for all ages. A smart phone is encouraged to help find clue locations and to scan QR codes.

This is a fun family adventure, a great way to get a little exercise and learn about healthy choices all at the same time. (And keep your eyes peeled for leprechauns; who knows where they might be hiding at this time of year!)

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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 stands with Ukraine

7 Mar

This week’s Webster This Week newsletter led with news of a heartwarming event that happened on Sunday at Town Hall.

Members of Webster’s Ukranian community gathered with many other community members to present the Town with a Ukranian flag to be flown at Town Hall. I wasn’t there myself (I didn’t know about the event in advance) but the photos in the newsletter captured what was obviously a very well-attended and solemn event. I found the one photo of the crowd waving more than a dozen Ukranian flags quite moving. Click here to go directly to the newsletter and see more photos.

You’ll also see an announcement about how you can help the people of Ukraine. A Ukraine relief effort is underway, collecting clothing, personal hygiene supplies, infant supplies and sleeping bags which will be shipped directly to the people of Ukraine. Items are being collected through March 10 at several locations all around Rochester. Click through to the newsletter for more details.

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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

5 Mar

This is a rather botanical-themed mailbag today, featuring sunflowers, trees and a carnivorous plant that wants to take over the world.

First, something bright and happy. The North Bee wants to flood the community with sunflowers, or sunyashniki, the national flower of Ukraine.

Amy Stringer from The North Bee writes,

For the month of March, 100% of proceeds from the sale of a Beeswax Sunflower Ornament will be donated to ROC Maidan so they can get the funds appropriated to where they are needed to help refugees and soldiers, offer humanitarian aid and help rebuild and recover from this devastation unfolding before our eyes (in Ukraine).

Amy is offering three different designs, the Full Sunflower, Monet Sunflowers, or the Dinner Plate Sunflower. “Whichever you choose,” she added, “I cannot wait to see them displayed everywhere! Come on friends, I’m ready to pour sunflowers all day!”

Click here for more information about this special event and ROC Maidan. The North Bee is located at 27 North Ave. in the Village of Webster.

Here’s a quick look at some of the fun the Webster Public Library has in store this month:

  • Bad Art Night, Friday March 25 from 6 to 7 p.m., for tweens and teens grades 4-12. The library will provide the supplies, you bring the creativity to make some crazy art. Click here to register.
  • Space, eclipses and all things in the sky, Tuesday March 29, 7 to 8 p.m. for all ages. Local space enthusiast Gaylon Arnold will talk about upcoming eclipses that will be viewable in our area, and other space events that might interest you during 2022 and beyond. Click here to register.
  • Family Friday Movie Night, April 1 at 6 p.m. Enjoy some snacks and get comfortable at the library while watching the movie Encanto! Bring pillows and blankets from home so you can get cozy to watch on our big projector screen. Click here to register.

This month’s make-and-take crafts are a leprechaun trap for the wee ones, origami star garland for teens and a decorated plant stake for adults. All crafts are available on a first-come-first-served basis while supplies last.

The Webster Public Library is located at 980 Ridge Rd., at the back of Webster Plaza.

Your next two Webster-based opportunities to donate blood and help save lives happen in just a few weeks.

There are all sorts of incentives this month to get you to make a donation.

Donate at any blood drive in Webster this March for a chance to win a $50 Wegmans gift card. PLUS, give blood or platelets in March and get a $10 e-gift card from Fanatics! PLUS, get a chance to score a trip to the 2022 MLB All-Star Game in Los Angeles.

This notice from the folks at the Friends of Webster Trails, who have embarked on a program to save the trees of Webster.

The forests of Webster are under attack. Insects and disease are going after the ash, hemlock, oak, and beech. As they die, they will be replaced by invasive and most times non-native trees unless we do something.  

The Friends of Webster Trails has established a group to come up a plan and set it in motion.  ReTree – Replanting Our Native Forest aims to do just that. Tree surveys have been completed of many of our trail areas telling us what trees are present and their number.  You may have already noticed efforts to clear invasive plants along the Blue Trail in the Whiting Road Nature Preserve. In fall, potted trees of appropriate species will be purchased and planted in this area.  In spring, we will be building a tree nursery to grow native trees from seeds for future planting.  

Stay tuned for more information about this initiative.

Tickets are on sale now for Webster Thomas High School’s spring musical, Little Shop of Horrors.

Little Shop of Horrors is a sci-fi horror musical with a 1960s pop/rock score by Alan Menken and Howard Ashman. It tells the story of meek floral assistant Seymour Krelborn, who stumbles across a new breed of plant he names “Audrey II.” The egotistical, sweet talking R&B-singing carnivore promises unending fame and fortune to the down-and-out Krelborn as long as he keeps feeding it, BLOOD. Over time, though, Seymour discovers Audrey II’s out of this world origins and intent towards global domination.

Shows will be held Thursday, Friday and Saturday April 7, 8 and 9 at 7:30 p.m., and Saturday at 2 p.m. Reserve tickets are $12, or $10 for groups of ten or more. Click here to get yours.

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

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Barry’s Irish trad sessions highlighted in City Newspaper article

4 Mar

The weekly Saturday afternoon Irish traditional music sessions at Barry’s Old School Irish were featured front and center this week in an article published in City Newspaper.

For the article — which almost certainly was timed for the newspaper’s March issue because of St. Patrick’s Day — author Daniel Kushner visited at least two of the three Irish sessions which take place weekly in the Rochester area, at Johnny’s Irish Pub, the Chatlotte Tavern and Barry’s Old School Irish.

Kushner did a great job capturing the history, tradition and culture surrounding these traditional music sessions. But he didn’t stop there; Kushner also dug even deeper into Irish trad culture and history by interviewing Ted McGraw, one of the original members of the Rochester branch of the Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann Irish musicians’ association, and long-time host of the Irish Party House radio program.

The Saturday sessions at Barry’s happen every week from 2 to 5 p.m. If you’ve been in the pub during those hours, you’ve probably seen the musicians huddled in a circle over by the bakery case. If you’ve ever wanted to learn more about who they are and why they’re there, click here to check out the article.

Since we’re talking about Barry’s Old School Irish, I want to let you know that our favorite Irish pub is gearing up for St. Patrick’s Day in a big way. I mean, special events have already begun.

Barry’s is welcoming St. Patrick’s Day festivities back after a COVID-induced hiatus by peppering the next few weeks liberally with music, whiskey tastings, dancers, a personalized Guinness pint night, green-themed trivia and a whole day filled with events on Parade Day (March 12), culminating of course on St. Patrick’s Day itself, when the pub opens at 8 a.m. with Irish coffees and breakfast.

There’s too much going on to put it all here. You can visit Barry’s Old School Irish’s Facebook page for more details about all of these.

Barry’s Old School Irish is located at 2 West Main St., at the Village of Webster’s four corners.

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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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Community Arts Day is back!

3 Mar
Decorative art.

As sure as sighting a robin is a sign of spring, I know that April is just around the corner when I start getting emails about Community Arts Day. And this year, that news is more exciting than ever, as it will be the first in-person Community Arts Day in three years. Because, well, you know…..

This year’s event will take place on Saturday, April 9 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Webster Schroeder High School, 875 Ridge Rd. This very family-friendly festival showcases Webster CSD students’ creative talents and involves the entire community in a day to celebrate the arts. It was created as a collaborative effort to raise money to encourage and enhance fine arts programs throughout the district.

Dozens of activities are planned throughout the day, including art displays, carnival games, sweet treats sale, plant sale, crafts, community group exhibits and more. Musical groups and demonstrators (karate, gymnastics, etc.) perform free all day, and you can even grab lunch and snacks. PLUS, this year there’s going to be an opportunity for ALL students to exhibit art at Community Arts Day (stay tuned for details about that).

Volunteers are always welcome and very much needed. Each of the 11 schools in the district contributes volunteers to the CAD committee to run the events, make baked goods, and make the day a great event for the entire community. Organizers are also looking for sponsors, and there are plenty of opportunities for exhibitors, performers and vendors.

To find out more about all of these opportunities, click here.  You can also follow the Community Arts Day Facebook page to keep up on the latest.  

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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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Looking for leprechauns?

27 Feb

Get your leprechaun-hunting skills tuned up, because there are two great opportunities in March to go in search of these playful little sprites.

(OK, OK, neither of these events actually MENTIONS looking for leprechauns, but they ARE scavenger hunts, and since it’s St. Patrick’s Day season, I figure there’s a good chance some will turn up!)

What you WILL find with these two family-friendly scavenger hunts is some great exercise and good fun — and everyone might learn something new to boot.

The first is called the “Clovers and Clues” scavenger hunt, sponsored by Webster Parks and Recreation and the Webster Health and Education Network (WHEN). From March 1 through March 17, participants will hunt for clues placed in 13 locations all around the Town of Webster. Each clue consists of different letters, and when all the letters are collected, you’ll use them to decode a final message prompting healthy choices.

Completed answers can be submitted to Webster Parks and Recreation for the chance to win a prize.

Visit the WHEN website beginning March 1 to get your first clue. The hunt will run continuously through March 17. Collecting letters will take about an hour or two, can be done anytime and is a great activity for all ages. A smart phone is encouraged to help find clue locations and to scan QR codes.

This second Family Scavenger Hunt is also co-sponsored by the Webster Recreation Center in partnership with the Friends of Webster Trails.

This one-day event takes place on Sunday March 6 beginning at 10 a.m. at Gosnell Big Woods preserve on Vosburg Rd., rain or shine. Participants can sign in anytime between 10 and noon and receive an age-appropriate scavenger hunt answer key. Three skill levels will be provided for ages 2 to 12. Then just walk through the park gathering answers, submit your sheet when you’re done and get a prize.

Registration is $5 per person, and can be paid when you get there. All proceeds will benefit the Friends of Webster Trails and their efforts to maintain and improve our terrific trail system.

This is at least the third Family Scavenger Hunt the Friends have hosted, and they’ve all been very popular. These folks do a great job making sure that kids of all ages (and their adults) can participate and have fun.

So, you see, no mention of leprechauns. But if I were you, I’d keep my eye out for them anyway.

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

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Fun in the snow, courtesy the Webster Rec

23 Feb

When you can’t beat the winter, join it! That’s the philosophy behind the Webster Parks and Recreation’s latest fun-in-the-snow event, the Polar Fun Run, scheduled for this Saturday Feb. 26.

This is a one-mile, untimed walk (or run if you’d like) around North Ponds Park. Everyone will enjoy hot chocolate and assorted other goodies afterwards. This is a great opportunity especially for families to get out together for a little exercise.

There’s no charge, but registration is required (after all, they need to know how much hot chocoloate to bring). Click here to register.

Here’s a preview of a few other fun events taking place in March which the Rec Center is helping pull together … not one, but TWO scavenger hunts!

Clovers & Clues runs from March 1 to 17, and will take participants all over town, collecting clues to complete a secret phrase. The Family Scavenger Hunt is a one-day event where families can explore Gosnell Big Woods. This is the third event like this which the Friends of Webster Trails has sponsored, and they’ve been very popular.

I’ll revisit both of these events in a future blog, but you might want to put them on your calendar now.

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

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