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Webster community mailbag

12 Oct

Some weeks I barely have enough ideas to fill three or four days of blogs. This is not one of those weeks.

Some days I only have a handful of items for one of my mailbags. This is not one of those days.

So in the interest of making today’s mailbag easier to compile for me, and easier to read for you (without a whole lot of extraneous information), How about this … I’ll bullet-point everything, and if you need any additional information about any one of them, click through the handy link in each listing.

We’ll start with stuff happening in October:

  • If you’re a guy who likes to sing, consider stopping by Guest Night at the Chorus of the Genesee on Tuesday, Oct. 14 at 7 p.m. at the Harmony House, 58 East Main St. in the Village of Webster. Join the guys to sing ‘a cappella’ music — you don’t need to read music! If you can sing a tune, they’ll show you the rest. No need to register, just walk on in the Main St. entrance. If you’re early, someone will meet you at the door. If you get there on-time/late, follow the signs upstairs to the rehearsal room. There’s singing until 9 p.m., then refreshments and socializing. If you have any questions, call 585.259.3590, or email RochesterCOG@gmail.com. If you can’t make it Tuesday night, feel free to show up any Tuesday night at 7 p.m. (but there’s no promise of refreshments!)
  • Did you know? October 15 is National White Cane Safety Day. The observance celebrates the achievements of people who are blind or visually impaired and recognizes the important symbol and tool of independence, the white cane. As the story goes, in 1930, George Bonham watched a man who was blind attempting to cross a street. The man’s cane was black, and motorists couldn’t see it, so Bonham proposed painting the cane white with a red stripe to make it more noticeable. But was he the first to think of this? Ed Wilkonski, from the Visionaries Low Vision Support Group in Webster, sent me the whole story. If you’re interested, click here.
  • Webster Health and Education Network will host a DEA National Drug Take Back event on Saturday, Oct. 18 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Webster Town Court, 1002 Ridge Rd. This will be a drive-through event so you don’t even have to get out of your car. Registration is not required, but if you register you’ll get a reminder via email about the event. You can register and get more details here.
  • St. Martin Lutheran Church will host their next Pulled Pork Drive-Thru on Saturday Oct. 18 from 4:30 p.m. until they run out. Dinners include pulled pork, salt potatoes, roll, cole slaw and cookie for just $15. Pull into the parking lot, place your order using exact payment, and the dinner will be delivered to you as you drive up in your car. Proceeds will support the church’s annual Christmas Stocking Project. St. Martin Lutheran Church is located at 813 Bay Rd.
  • Frank and Greg Palma’s Antiques and Collectibles Roadshow returns to the Webster Museum on Sunday, Oct. 19 at 2 p.m. If you’re curious about the value or origin of a favorite piece, the Palma brothers will share their expertise and insight into the history and value of your items. Free refreshments provided. The museum is located at 18 Lapham Park in the Village of Webster.

The October community exchange table will have spooky stuff — bring your old and unused spooky stuff and swap it for different spooky stuff.

The Friends of the Public Library’s Fall Book Sale takes place Oct. 22 to 25. The first day of the sale — Wednesday — is members only, and the public can shop Thursday through Friday. Hardcover books will be $1 each and paperbacks are only 50 cents each. Visit the Friends of Webster Library web page for hours and more information.

On Saturday Oct. 18, celebrate Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights. Come see amazing dancers, listen to fabulous singers and musicians, sample delicious food, and enjoy celebrating with the community. The event will be held from 1 to 4 p.m. and registration is required. All ages are welcome.

Teens and tweens in grades 4 to 12 are invited to a night of spooky fun on Wednesday, Oct. 29 from 6 to 7:30 p.m., with activities, treats and more. Costumes are encouraged! Registration is required.

This year’s Library Trick-or-Treat event will be held Friday, Oct. 17 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. There’ll be a trick-or-treat trail set up through the entire library, with a spooky maze at the end. Come any time, and costumes are encouraged. All ages are welcome and no registration is required.

Looking ahead to November

  • The Women’s Club of Webster‘s annual Card Party is Tuesday Nov. 4 from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.at Glendoveers, 2328 Old Browncroft Rd. Play cards or a game of your choice. Participants will enjoy Danish and coffee in the morning, and a buffet lunch. Door prizes, raffles, 50/25/25 drawings and more. Donation is $45 and reservations are required by Tuesday, October 28. Click here for more information.
  • Spry Middle School students and staff will host their annual free spaghetti dinner for Webster veterans, active duty service members and their families on Thursday, Nov. 6 from 4 to 6:30 p.m. It will be served in Spry Middle School’s cafetorium, 119 South Avenue, and feature a complimentary meal of spaghetti, salad, bread, and dessert. Reservations are requested. Call Spry Middle School at (585) 216-0093. Click here for more information.
  • The Webster Arboretum will present a program called Bird Seed Ornaments: A Family Affair on Saturday, Nov. 8 at 9:30 a.m. at the Webster Recreation Center, 135 Chiyoda Dr. Bring the family and join the members of the Arboretum to learn how to make “bird cookies,” the perfect little snack for the birds in your yard. They’re easy to make and fun to watch the birds enjoying them. Visit the Webster Arboretum website for more information.

Whew.

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

You can also get email notifications every time I post a new blog by using the “Subscribe” link on the right side of this page (or all the way at the bottom of the page if you’re on your phone).

(posted 10/12/2025)

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Here’s a great chance to check out Scouting

9 Oct

If you’ve ever thought about getting your son or daughter involved in Scouting, but didn’t know much about the organization, what you have to do to get started, or who to contact, then this event coming up next week is for you.

It’s a Scouting America Open House, scheduled for Saturday Oct. 18 from noon to 5 p.m. at the Webster Presbyterian Church, 550 Webster Rd. (Rt. 250).

Families with boys and girls from kindergarten through age 20 are invited to stop by and check out all the different Scouting options in Webster. Four troops will be represented:

  • Family Pack 262 for boys and girls in grades K-5
  • Troop 262 for boys ages 11-17
  • Troop 425 for girls ages 11-17
  • Paddle Crew 462 (canoeing kayaking and paddle boarding) for boys and girls age 14-20

Participants can try out a variety of typical Scouting activities like bottle rockets, a rope bridge, pinewood derby, first-aid, archery and much more.

Free pizza will be provided by Caraglio’s Pizza, and there’ll be some free raffles. No registration is necessary — just stop by!

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

You can also get email notifications every time I post a new blog by using the “Subscribe” link on the right side of this page (or all the way at the bottom of the page if you’re on your phone).

(posted 10/9/2025)

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Webster Theatre Guild presents “Shrek the Musical” this weekend

8 Oct

There’s good news — and better news — about the Webster Theatre Guild’s production of Shrek the Musical this weekend and next: first, there are still some tickets available, which I found surprising because this is the kind of show, featuring top-tier talent, which will likely sell out.

Next, if you’re an educator or a student, you can get discounted tickets to the matinees on Saturday Oct. 11 and Saturday Oct. 18.

Webster has come to expect amazing productions from the Webster Theatre Guild, and Shrek will be no different. The cast includes 59 incredibly talented dancers and actors, ages 10 through 70+, drawn from respected theater groups from all over the city, including GEVA, Blackfriars Theater, Pittsford Musicals, School of the Arts and our very own Webster high schools.

photos by Samper Images

Directed by Bill Ambler, supported by choreographer Shari Bischoping and orchestra leader Laura Mueller, Shrek the Musical will be presented in six shows, all taking place at Bishop Kearney High School, 125 Kings Hwy South, Rochester:

  • Friday, Oct. 10 at 7 p.m.
  • Saturday, Oct. 11 at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m.
  • Friday, Oct. 17 at 7 p.m.
  • Saturday, Oct. 18 at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m.
    (ASL Interpretation TBD)

Tickets are $20 (plus a handling fee). Educators and students will get a $5 discount for matinee tickets. Click here to get yours now. For the matinee discount, go to the ticket site, put the matinee tickets in your shopping cart and apply the discount code SWAMP5. You can also purchase discount tickets at the door with your educator or student ID.

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

You can also get email notifications every time I post a new blog by using the “Subscribe” link on the right side of this page (or all the way at the bottom of the page if you’re on your phone).

(posted 10/8/2025)

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Sign up now for the Webster Museum’s annual Festival of Trees

7 Oct

Yes, it’s only October, but the Webster Museum is already thinking ahead to the holidays, and their annual Festival of Trees.

This year’s Tree Festival will begin on Saturday, Dec. 6, which is (not coincidentally) the same day as the Village of Webster’s Winter Wonderland holiday event. Starting that day and through the end of the year, museum visitors can vote for their favorite decorated mini-Christmas tree among 15 to 20 beautiful and creative entries. (Online voting will also be offered.)

But before that can happen, individuals, families and organizations need to step up and do some decorating! Two $25 prizes will be awarded for the trees getting the most votes.

Spots are filling up quickly, but there’s still time to get involved. If you’re interested in decorating a tree, call Gwen Hoffman at (585) 738-6221.

By the way, the museum is also looking for a few additional music groups willing to share their talents during the Winter Wonderland festivities at the museum. So call Gwen if you’re interested in doing that as well.

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

You can also get email notifications every time I post a new blog by using the “Subscribe” link on the right side of this page (or all the way at the bottom of the page if you’re on your phone).

(posted 10/7/2025)

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Join me for BINGO and help benefit a great organization

4 Oct

“B-14!”
“N-32!”
“G-60!”

You’ll have to excuse me. I’m practicing my bingo-calling skills, because they’re somewhat lacking.

OK, to be totally honest, they’re entirely lacking, because I’ve never before been a bingo caller. So I have to practice up, because just a short while ago, my friend Jamie Buss asked me to be one of two guest bingo callers at a brand-new bingo fundraising event a few weeks from now to benefit Making Spirits Bright.

Jamie Buss and Tracy Nappi are the driving force behind Making Spirits Bright, a nonprofit organization established in 2014 with one simple mission: to provide smiles for families in need during the holiday season. Over the last 11 years, Making Spirits Bright has helped nearly 600 families, mostly through generous donations from community members, who sign up to fill families’ wish lists.

But sometimes some of those wish lists go unfilled, and many include big-ticket items. That’s where this family-friendly afternoon of BINGO will come into play (pun intended).

The fun happens on Sunday, Oct. 19 from 1 to 4 p.m., at the Webster Recreation Center, 1350 Chiyoda Dr. (Don’t worry, it’s a bye week for the Bills.) Participants will each get 10 games with three boards each game, a BINGO dabber, light refreshments and drinks. Winners will receive gift cards and gift baskets donated by local businesses and Making Spirits Bright supporters. You can buy tickets for some fabulous raffle prizes, and if you bring a new toiletry item, unopened cleaning supply, or gift-wrapping item (wrapping paper, ribbon, etc.) you’ll get a free raffle ticket.

Admission is $15 for kids and $25 for adults, capped at $75 per family. For more information and to purchase tickets, click here.

And business owners, Making Spirits Bright is still looking for event sponsors. For as little as $100 you can get some great visibility for your business, a ticket to the event, have a lot of fun and feel good about supporting a terrific organization. Click here for more details.

By the way, my bingo-calling partner in this fun adventure will be Mike Petzing. You know him as the owner of Shamrock Jack’s Irish Pub where he showcases his BINGO-calling prowess once a month.

(Great … so HE has experience. I’d better get back to practicing.)

“O-63! N-35! I-30! BINGO!” (Wait. I’m not supposed to be yelling that …..)

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

You can also get email notifications every time I post a new blog by using the “Subscribe” link on the right side of this page (or all the way at the bottom of the page if you’re on your phone).

(posted 10/4/2025)

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Webster community mailbag

3 Oct

Town leaf collection schedule announced

The Town of Webster has announced that leaf collection will begin in mid-to-late October, following the conclusion of paving and drainage projects, and depending on how many leaves have fallen and weather. Crews will begin working in Zone 1 to Zone 5, and then back to Zone 1. Highway crews make several passes throughout the season.

Make sure to place leaves at the edge of your lawn (NOT in the roadway, gutters, or drainage ditches), do not bag them, an Don;t place brush, rocks, wood, plastic, or other foreign material with your leaves

Announcements will be made ahead of the final pass. After the final pass, any leaves will need to be taken care of by residents through their refuse collection company or another means.

The Village of Webster hasn’t announced any specifics for their leaf collection efforts yet, but you can check the Village website for updates.

Webster Chamber hosts networking event

Webster Chamber of Commerce members host monthly after-hours networking events to earn visibility for their business/organization. Members and those investigating Chamber membership are welcome to attend. 

The next After Hours event will be held on Wednesday, Oct. 15 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Marina Auto Group, 943 Ridge Road. This event is also being hosted by Marina family member Rose Gabriele Angell of RE/Max Plus. There’s no fee to attend, but registration is required.

WHEN will host fall Drug Take-Back event

Webster Health and Education Network, together with the Town of Webster and the Webster Police Department will host a DEA National Drug Take Back event on Saturday, Oct. 18 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Webster Town Court, 1002 Ridge Rd. (behind Town Hall; look for the blue roof). Clear out your medicine cabinet to help to keep Webster safe. This will be a drive-through event so you don’t even have to get out of your car! 

This is your chance to safely dispose of unused, expired or unwanted medications. Registration is not required, but if you register you’ll get a reminder via email about the event. You can register and get more details here.

Save some lives — give blood

The American Red Cross has four blood drives in Webster these next several weeks:

  • Friday, Oct. 3, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Webster Public Library, 980 Ridge Rd.
  • Tuesday, Oct. 7, 1 to 6 p.m., Webster American Legion, 818 Ridge Rd.
  • Thursday Oct. 16, 1 to 6 p.m., Webster Firemen’s Building, 172 Sanford St.
  • Saturday, Oct. 25, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., St. Martin’s Lutheran Church, 813 Bay Rd.

You don’t need to have an appointment, but it will speed things up a bit. Click here to make yours.

St. Martin’s announces next BBQ event

Good food is in store at St. Martin Lutheran Church when they host their next Pulled Pork Drive-Thru on Saturday Oct. 18 from 4:30 p.m. until they run out.

The take-out dinner includes pulled pork, salt potatoes, roll, cole slaw and cookie for just $15. Pull into the parking lot, place your order using exact payment, and the dinner will be delivered to you as you drive up in your car.

Proceeds will support the church’s annual Christmas Stocking Project reaching over 500 children and teens in Monroe and Wayne counties. St. Martin Lutheran Church is located at 813 Bay Rd.

The Friends of the Webster Public Library’s Book Sale will be held Wednesday, Oct. 22 through Saturday, Oct. 25. The first day of the sale — Oct. 22 from 4 to 7 p.m. — is exclusively for Friends members. Membership can be purchased at websterlibrary.org or at the door.  

All are welcome to attend the book sale on Oct. 23 from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Hardcover books will be $1 each and paperbacks are only 50 cents each. Oct. 24 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Oct. 25 from 10 a.m. to noon are Bring-Your-Own-Bag Sale days, when you can fill your bag with books for only $5. All are welcome to attend the BYOB Sale days.

Proceeds from the sale support the library.

Fashions and fun

The Women’s Club of Rochester will host their annual Fashion Show/Luncheon on Saturday, Nov. 8 from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the Penfield Country Club.

In addition to some great fashions from J. Jill and a delicious luncheon, there’ll be an auction, 50/50 raffle, and a Lottery Board. Guests will arrive at 11 a.m., lunch is served at noon, and the fashion parade begins at 1 p.m. Menu options include apple crisp with salad and roll, a “mile-high” Reuben, or C=chicken French.

Tickets are $37 per person, and reservations must be made by October 23. Send your check, made out to the Women’s Club of Rochester, and meal selection to Margaret Zanghi , 2 Onyx Drive, Penfield, NY 14526.

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

You can also get email notifications every time I post a new blog by using the “Subscribe” link on the right side of this page (or all the way at the bottom of the page if you’re on your phone).

(posted 10/3/2025)

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SparX Robotics hosts community open house

1 Oct

The community is invited to an open house hosted by the One Webster SparX robotics team on Wednesday, Oct. 8 at 6 p.m. at Webster Thomas High School. This event is a great opportunity to see the incredible talent and innovation of the SparX team, which is made up of students from both Webster Thomas and Webster Schroeder high schools.

The team will be fresh off the Rah Cha Cha Ruckus competition held on September 28. This local event gives robotics teams a chance to use last year’s robots to practice their skills and get new members up to speed.

Images from a few of this year’s competitions

The SparX Open House will give students an opportunity to showcase their robotics projects and share their experiences in STEM education. This is also an opportunity for students to connect with community leaders and inspire the next generation of innovators. For anyone interested in serving as a mentor, this is a great opportunity to learn more about the program. (If you’re interested but can’t attend the open house, email team coach David Schenk at david_schenk@webstercsd.org.) 

The SparX team competes annually in the FIRST® robotics competition. The team will receive this season’s new challenge in January, where they will be tasked with building a robot to compete in a high-pressure, specialized game with other robots.

About FIRST® Robotics

The FIRST robotics competition is a global competition that combines the excitement of sports with the rigors of science and technology. It’s run by the nonprofit organization FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology), which was founded in 1989 by inventor Dean Kamen. Each year, teams of high school students, along with professional mentors, are given a new, action-packed game to play with their robots. They receive a standard “Kit of Parts” and have just six weeks to design, program, and build an industrial-sized robot to complete the game’s specific tasks.

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

You can also get email notifications every time I post a new blog by using the “Subscribe” link on the right side of this page (or all the way at the bottom of the page if you’re on your phone).

(posted 10/1/2025)

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Their light shines at Webster Comfort Care

29 Sep

Webster Comfort Care Home will be hosting a very special event on Oct. 7 which will give you and yours a chance to remember someone special who has passed away. It’s called “Their Light Shines,” a memorial luminaria gathering to honor and celebrate the lives of loved ones we carry in our hearts.

For this beautiful evening of remembrance, participants are invited to purchase a luminaria and personalize it in honor of a loved one. On the evening of Tuesday Oct. 7, they’ll all be placed around the Comfort Care Home’s parking lot, and at sunset, they’ll all be lit. It makes for a very powerful and moving scene.

After a brief welcome at 7 p.m., light refreshments will be served and music provided by the Threshold Singers.

Each luminaria costs $20. To purchase yours, log onto www.webstercomfortcare.org. Even if you can’t attend, consider purchasing luminaria to honor your loved ones. That way, their light will shine even if you can’t be there.

Webster Comfort Care Home (WCCH), located at the corner of Holt and Klem roads, provides free hospice care to the terminally ill of our Webster community. The dedicated staff members and volunteers there uphold the dignity and ease the suffering of its residents, while supporting their loved ones in a warm, home-like atmosphere.

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

You can also get email notifications every time I post a new blog by using the “Subscribe” link on the right side of this page (or all the way at the bottom of the page if you’re on your phone).

(posted 9/29/2025)

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Webster Marching Band presents Autumn Fanfare

28 Sep

Get ready for a spectacular evening of sight and sound when our very own Webster Marching Band presents its 39th annual Autumn Fanfare field show and competition on Saturday October 4 from 6 to 10 p.m. at Webster Schroeder High School, 875 Ridge Rd.

Autumn Fanfare is always a spectacular evening of storytelling through music, marching, and even a little bit of acting. There are always huge set pieces involved to move the music-story forward. This is an awesome opportunity to see what our hometown marching band has been up to, and be impressed by the incredible amount of hard work these kids put in every year to create a show that will blow you away.

This year’s show is called In Times Of…, described as,

a powerful exploration of the human experience and the emotional arc of a lifetime. Like pages in a book, each movement reveals a new chapter, from the innocence of youth to the struggles of adversity, from the heartbreak of loss to the power of reflection. This show explores the moments that define us and the resilience that carries us forward.

In Times Of … serves as a powerful reflection on how life shapes us from the inside out. This show reminds us that we are not defined by a single moment, but by the way we move through all of them.

Wow. I mean, just wow.

Autumn Fanfare is a true spectacle, featuring 12 bands from across the region, who compete for top honors. Participating schools include Corning, Greece, Horseheads, Jordan-Elbridge, Lancaster, LeRoy, Medina, Orchard Park, Rochester, Victor, Webster and West Seneca. Every one of their amazing performances will have you at the edge of your seat and on your feet.

The show will take place on Saturday, October 4, from 6 to 10 p.m. at the Webster Schroeder Stadium, 875 Ridge Road, Webster. Gates open at 5 p.m.

Tickets are $12 at the gate or $10 pre-sale (cash only) available at Costanza Sausage, Herman’s Farm Market, and Canandaigua National Bank’s Webster branches. You can also purchase pre-sale tickets online here (an additional fee applies). Ages 5 and under are free.

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

You can also get email notifications every time I post a new blog by using the “Subscribe” link on the right side of this page (or all the way at the bottom of the page if you’re on your phone).

(posted 9/28/2025)

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Library’s Community Building Circle connects people and ideas

20 Sep

The Town of Webster is already a pretty strong community, but a new(ish) program at the Webster Public Library is helping to make it even stronger.

It’s called the Community Building Circle, a safe gathering space where participants can talk and share their opinions on a topic chosen by the facilitator. Everyone has a chance to speak — and listen — and are encouraged to be open and genuine with each other. All are welcome and all voices are heard. It’s a great way to meet and connect with new people.

Here’s the description provided by the library:

Please join us for a monthly Community Building Circle!  We are social beings that not only need connection — we thrive and are more resilient when community bonds are nurtured and strengthened.  The circle structure, where each person has an opportunity to speak, in turn, without interruption, creates a safe space to make connections, build relationships and be heard. Each circle focuses on a meaningful topic that is chosen by trained facilitators. There’s never any pressure to speak, or to return, but our hope is that after experiencing a community building circle and the relationships that develop there, you’ll join us again as we build community together.

The program is held the second Friday of the month from 2 to 3:30 p.m. in the Large Study Room. There’s no cost, but registration is required. Click here to register for the October 9th session.

The Community Building Circle is sponsored by PiRI (Partners in Restorative Relationships).

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

You can also get email notifications every time I post a new blog by using the “Subscribe” link on the right side of this page (or all the way at the bottom of the page if you’re on your phone).

(posted 9/20/2025)

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