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Library to host College and Transition Fair

21 Jul

The Webster Public Library is introducing a brand new event this summer, especially designed for people with developmental disabilities. It’s called the College and Transition Fair, and its goal is to support individuals with disabilities who will no longer get support from the school system for their services; to answer the vexing question, “What do you do when the bus stops coming?”

Among the more than two dozen organizations which will be represented are colleges that have programs for people with disabilities; those offering workforce development options; a few organizations looking for volunteers; some housing, dayhabs and support options, and more.

This will be a smaller event than the Diverse Abilities Resource Fair held in April, but is still a much-needed resource for those planning for the future.

The College & Transition Fair for People with Developmental Disabilities will be held on Saturday, Aug. 8 from 10 a.m. to noon inside the Webster Public Library, 980 Ridge Rd. (at the back of Webster Plaza). There’s no cost and you don’t have to register, but if you would like a reminder, click here to sign up.

If you’d like a reminder, click here to register for the College & Transition Fair.(opens in new tab)

Here are the organizations who will be there (the ones I knew about at press time, anyway):

Colleges

  • AutismUp
  • CP Rochester
  • InclusiveU
  • LifePrep@Naz
  • MCC Experience
  • NYS Office for People with Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD)
  • Roberts Wesleyan University – ARCH Program
  • Roberts Wesleyan University – BELL Program
  • SUNY Brockport

Workforce Development

  • ACCES-VR
  • Center for Disability Rights and Regional Center for Independent Living
  • RochesterWorks
  • RochesterWorks, DreamLink of Monroe County

Volunteer Opportunities

  • Eastern Service Workers Association (ESWA)
  • Lollypop Farm, The Humane Society of Greater Rochester

Housing, Dayhabs and Support

  • The Arc of Monroe
  • Heritage Christian Services
  • PPL Public Partnerships, LLC
  • Starbridge

Other

  • Best Buddies
  • Blue Heron Collective
  • The Community Place of Greater Rochester
  • Person Centered Services
  • Prime Care Coordination
  • STEPS2 Education Classes
  • Urban League of Rochester / Empowering People’s Independence

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(posted 7/21/2026)

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).

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Webster Public Library is delivering the joy of reading to Webster’s seniors

11 Jul
(L-R) Sarah Hodges and Jenny Paxson at Maplewood Nursing Home
Books/items in BookBox for Seniors collection

A new program offered by the Webster Public Library (WPL) is helping to bring the joy of reading to our town’s older residents.

It’s called BookBox for Seniors, an initiative the WPL introduced last year to deliver library services to senior living communities, whose residents often find it difficult or impossible to travel to the library proper.

It’s basically a mobile library dedicated to serving our community’s senior citizens. The idea is simple: once a month, WPL staff members stuff a few suitcases with several dozen books, drive on over to the senior community, spread them all out on tables in a common room, and let residents choose the ones they’d like to check out. Large-print books comprise most of the selection, but a smattering of coffee-table books and books about local history are mixed in as well.

The BookBox for Seniors program grew from the kernel of an idea proposed almost 10 years ago at a library staff meeting. But it was when Outreach Coordinator Jason Poole attended a conference in 2024 that the idea really took wing. He saw a presentation there by another librarian who described a similar program using discarded large-print books. He immediately recognized this as a way for the WPL to expand its services to Webster’s seniors.

But first, he needed to test the waters to see if such a program would float. Jason reached out to Maggie McNamara, Director of Resident Programming at Castle Pointe at Baywinde Senior Living Community, to see if she’d work with the library to run a four-month trial program. If it didn’t get a lot of traction, they could think about making some changes or maybe try a different location.

To their delight, the initial trial, which ran from January through April 2025, was incredibly well received at Baywinde. They even started to see some regulars coming back every month. Following that successful spring run, Julia Cougle, the library’s Communications and Outreach Library Assistant, took over the program, and last September extended its reach to Maplewood Nursing Home in the Village of Webster.

For each visit, library staffers bring three suitcases packed with as many as 40 books, plus a CD player and a selection of books on CD. Everything is spread out on one or two long tables, sorted by genre to help make the display less overwhelming. Residents can check out as many materials as they like (the librarians use those classic due-date cards) and keep them until the following month. They can even borrow a reading stand to help manage heavier books. Each visit lasts about 45 minutes.

Julia Cougle at Sage Harbor at Baywinde.
(L-R) Mary Ann Kwiatkowski and Julia Cougle at Sage Harbor at Baywinde.

The BookBox program is clearly a win-win for everyone involved — the library, the residents and the senior center directors.

Maggie McNamara wrote,

It has been wonderful working with Jason and the Webster Library team to launch the Senior BookBox program at our independent and assisted living neighborhoods. This partnership brings the joy and convenience of an in-house library directly to our residents, making it easy for them to browse and check out books without leaving the community. The library team thoughtfully selects novels they believe our residents will enjoy, including a variety of large print options. This program helps residents continue their love of reading with independence while enjoying the comfort and convenience of home!

The BookBox for Seniors program is not the WPL’s first seniors outreach effort. Mary Ann Kwaitkowski has been holding a book discussion group with senior residents at St. Ann’s Cherry Ridge for more than 15 years. She brings books from the library and meets with members to discuss them, and regularly draws as many as 20 participants.

Both programs are helping spread the joy of reading to a population that is too often overlooked. Through BookBox and years of dedicated outreach, the Webster Public Library is proving that you’re never too old for a good story, and you’re never too far for a special delivery.

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(posted 7/11/2026)

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).

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Webster community mailbag

6 Jul

This is a very library-heavy mailbag, mostly because there’s SO MUCH going on at the Webster Public Library (WPL).

But first, this from St. Martin Lutheran Church:

St. Martin Lutheran Church will host their next Pulled Pork Drive-Thru on Saturday July 18 from 4 p.m. until they run out. Dinners include pulled pork sandwich, salt potatoes, coleslaw and cookie for just $15 (cash or check only). 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.

A Sweet Sunset Social

The Town of Webster is hosting an evening gathering at Sandbar Park on Friday, July 17, beginning at 7 p.m.

They’re calling it “A Sweet Sunset Social,” and it will feature live music from Chelsey Barry and Mark Cellura, dirty sodas, and popcorn, all of which you can enjoy while watching the beautiful waterfront sunset.

This event is free and open to the public. No registration is required.

Now, from the Webster Public Library (WPL)

  • This month’s community exchange is jewelry — bring your unused pieces and swap them out for new.
  • And while you’re there, drop off some non-perishable goods at the WPL Free Food Pantry, this month’s featured Donation Station.
  • Dino-tech Labs Escape Room: This challenging escape-room adventure will be run on two Saturdays, July 25 and Aug. 15, in 30-minute sessions from 10:15 a.m. to 4 p.m. Participants are placed in DinoTech Labsm where a traitor has sabotaged the equipment. You have 30 minutes to decipher the clues left behind by the saboteur and save the park and all its inhabitants (human and dinosaur) from complete destruction. The activity is recommended for ages 8 and up. Every team must have at least one person aged 16 or older, and teams can include from 2 to 6 people. Registration is required. Click here to register  for July 25, and here for Aug. 15.
  • Learn about dinosaurs and birds in this program presented by paleontologist Dan Krisher. It’s Tuesday, July 14 from 1 to 2 p.m. and is recommended for ages 8+. Click here to register.
  • HLAA Hearing Presentation and Test, Wednesday, July 29 from 2 to 3 p.m. Come learn about hearing assistive equipment, new over-the-counter hearing aids, and the library’s hearing loop from the Rochester Chapter of the Hearing Loss Association of America (HLAA). Free hearing tests will also be available. Registration is required.  If you need any reasonable accommodations, please contact Jenny Paxson at jennifer.paxson@libraryweb.org or call 585-872-7075 x6144 at least 7 business days before the event.
  • The Make it Monday crafts for teens and tweens are America’s 250th Birthday-themed. It’s Monday, July 13 from 6 to 7 p.m. Grades 4-12 and adults are welcome, but registration is required.
  • How about a Jurassic-themed summer camp? The 3-week Jurassic Camp takes place on Wednesdays July 8, 15 and 22 from 2 to 3:30 each day, and each week campers will make a different dinosaur craft. Individual registrations are required for each session. Click here to register for July 8, click here for July 15 and click here for July 22.
  • Or a Dino Camp for grades 2-5? It runs for three weeks, July 14, 21 and 28, and each week there’ll be a different dinosaur craft. Click here for more information and to register for the first week.
  • Get the family together and try some Mezosoic Family Trivia on Thursday, July 30 from 11 to 11:45 a.m. It’s a morning of snacks, and trivia based on the age of dinosaurs! Click here to register.

Friends Vintage and Collectible Book Sale

The next Friends of the Webster Public Library Vintage and Collectible Book Sale has been scheduled for Saturday, July 18 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the community room.

There will be 14 tables with about 250 books, grouped into the following table themes: business, England, juvenile fiction, older fiction, Rochester and Upstate NY, music, George Washington and John F. Kennedy, science fiction, war, American history, science and math schoolbooks and textbooks. Plus, two tables of miscellaneous books. 

Nearly all books offered are in good or better condition, many with their original dust jackets in a protective plastic cover. Some are first editions or early printings. Some appear to be signed by their authors, although the signatures have not been authenticated. Most books being offered were published in the 20th century with a smattering of titles evident from both the mid- to late 19th century and the early 21st century.

Most books have been priced under $20 with many of these in the $8 to $15 range but some are priced $20 or higher, especially those from the Easton Press which are prized by collectors. All prices are fixed so there will be no negotiating. Prices have been selected for profitable resale so book dealers and eBay sellers should especially see what is available. If you collect books, you may find your next treasure here.

BY THE WAY, beginning the day of the Vintage Book Sale on July 18 and through Aug. 1, the Friends will be selling Kittelberger Bouquet Cards. The cards are $50.00 each, and are good for one beautiful Kittelberger bouquet every month for a year. They make a wonderful gift for birthdays, anniversaries, or just for you.

Still more from the library: The Webster Public Library is introducing a brand new event this summer, especially designed for people with developmental disabilities. It’s called the College and Transition Fair, and its goal is to support individuals with disabilities who will no longer get support from the school system for their services. More than two dozen colleges and organizations have already signed up.

The College & Transition Fair for People with Developmental Disabilities will be held on Saturday, Aug. 8 from 10 a.m. to noon inside the Webster Public Library. More to come about that, but in the meantime, mark your calendars.

Webster Hope could use your donations

The annual Webster Hope Back-to-School event, to supply new school supplies to Webster students, will take place at from 6 to 8 p.m. on Tuesday Aug. 18. The event relies on community donations to stock the back-to-school shop at Hope. New school supplies can be dropped off at Webster Public Library, 980 Ridge Road, or at Hope during any open hours. Webster Hope is located at 1450 Ridge Rd.

You can see a whole list of requested donations in the July newsletter. (While you’re there, make sure to sign up to get this great newsletter in your mailbox quarterly.)

Raise the Stakes to benefit WCCH

Here’s another reminder about the Webster Comfort Care Home’s 5th Annual Raise the Stakes Casino Night, scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 12 from 6 to 10 p.m. at the Webster Golf Club, 440 Salt Rd.

This is an exciting evening of gaming, prizes and fun while supporting a great cause. Webster Town Supervisor Alex Scialdone will emcee the evening, which will have casino-style gaming tables, a silent auction, raffles, cash bar featuring a signature cocktail and mocktail, appetizers, hors d’oeuvres, light bites, and desserts. Plus, everybody gets $500 in complimentary chips included with admission (additional chips available for purchase).

Tickets are $75 per person, and they’re available now. There are also plenty of sponsorship opportunities ranging from ads in the program for $25 to a Blackjack Table Sponsorship for $2,500. Click here to purchase tickets, ads and sponsorship opportunities.

And now for something completely different

Here’s a quick tease about some of the blogs I’m hard at work on this month:

  • Big things are happening at M.O. Pasta in the Village of Webster. Mike celebrated his third anniversary in April and has some exciting plans for his little shop.
  • Do you like to run? Maybe not as much as these ladies. My running buddy Karen and her friend are just about three miles and one bunch of streets away from completing their goal to run every street in Webster. More to come on how long THAT took them.
  • The library has a great program to connect our senior population with library services. They call it their BookBox for Seniors, where they travel to elder care facilities and bring a selection of books for the residents there to check out.
  • The library is also updating their sensory space. Didn’t know they had a dedicated sensory space? They do, and soon it will be better than ever.
  • Ever wonder who the Joe Obbie Farmer’s Market is named after? Who was Joe Obbie? That blog coming up soon as well.
  • If you’re a fan of the Arboretum, you’ll want to read more about the Arboretum’s Poetry Trail in a few weeks.
  • It was sad to see Mabel Jane’s Vintage Shop on North Ave. move out a while ago, but encouraging to see that the storefront at 10 North Ave. will soon have a new, art-focused proprietor.

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(posted 7/6/2026)

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).

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Cross-district collaboration sparks young artists and authors

11 Jun

A unique exhibit on display now at the Webster Public Library showcases the artistic and writing talents of 71 of our Webster CSD elementary school students.

The project is called “Spark, Jr.: Art From Writing, Writing From Art,” and it’s a creative blend of imagination and words, where paintings inspired stories, and stories inspired art.

Four classes across the district participated: Jamie Palmer’s preschoolers at Schroeder High School; Leslie Ambler’s first graders at Klem North Elementary; and from Schlegel Elementary, Kathleen Hall’s second graders and Becky Margiotta’s third graders.

The project unfolded in two creative waves. First, students in the four classrooms each created an original work of art and a piece of writing. These were then shuffled and passed along to other classrooms, where students used them as a springboard, creating new art sparked by the other student’s written words, and new writing sparked by another student’s artwork.

The idea for the “Spark, Jr.” project has been percolating in Jamie Palmer’s head for about 15 years, ever since she was a fifth grade teacher at Klem South Elementary, and through her years as the librarian at Schlegel Rd. Now, as a preschool teacher at Schroeder High School, she was finally able to make it happen.

“I was working with (author) Amy Ludwig VanDerwater in my fifth grade classroom,” Palmer said. “She shared that she was taking part in this experience. I thought it was a really cool idea and wanted to see what would happen if we tried it out with students in multiple grade levels, and possibly across our district. This was finally the year to try it out with three amazing teachers.”

The students and their families were invited to an artists’ reception (complete with refreshments) at the library on Wednesday evening to see their own work on display and how other students had been sparked by their artwork and writing. It was delightful to see how proud the young authors and artists were to show off their work, and how excited they were to see the results. But it was especially touching when actual connections were made between writers and artists from different classrooms.

The project sparked the teachers as much as the students. Kathleen Hall perhaps said it best when she told Palmer, “This is literally the best thing I’ve ever done as a teacher.”

More than 280 individual pieces of art and writing were created, and they’re all on display at the Webster Public Library through June 19. You’ll find them spread between two locations: under the huge feathers in the main lobby, and in (and on) the display case near the information desk. The library is located at 980 Ridge Rd., at the back of Webster Plaza.

Meet some of the artists/authors:

  • PreK student Mila Levy reading everyone’s written pieces
  • Emerson Cocquyt, 2nd grade
  • 2nd grader Benjamin Popielarz with Leslie Ambler
  • PreK student Peyton Mahns with her bubble gum portrait
  • Writer/artist connection: Emma Fischer (2nd grade) and Jaxson Williams (preK)

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(posted 6/11/2026)

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).

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What’s happening at the library?

30 May

As often happens, when I get the monthly newsletter from the Webster Public Library, I find that there’s just SO MUCH going on that I want to highlight that I can’t put it all into my mailbag. This month’s newsletter was particular is problematic, because in June the library is kicking off their annual summer reading program, which not only involves a community party, but has a lot of other fun, themed programs for children and adults. So I’ve split it all out into a separate blog.

The library will be introducing their summer reading program with a party on Friday, June 19 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Ridge Park, 1000 Ridge Rd. (behind Town Hall). This is always a great event with crafts, games, storytime, treats and more. The Friends of the Webster Public Library will be onsite selling individually wrapped snacks for $1 a piece (cash only please). There’s no admission to the party, and all are welcome.

This summer’s program, which runs from June 19 through Aug. 15, is called “Unearth a Story,” and it will focus on dinosaurs, geology, and other prehistoric topics. All ages can participate, and any type of reading counts – you can listen to audiobooks, have someone else read a book to you, read on your own, or anything else in between. There are prizes to be won based on how much you read.

You can find out more at the kick-off party, but if you can’t make that, you can pick up a summer reading bookmark at the library. You can also participate virtually; just download the Readsquared app or go to websterpubliclibraryny12.readsquared.com.

Here are some fun summer-reading themed activities this month:

  • For kids and families: Dino-tech labs escape room

This challenging escape-room adventure will be run on three Saturdays, June 27, July 25 and Aug. 15, in 30-minute sessions from 10:15 a.m. to 4 p.m. Participants are placed in DinoTech Labsm where a traitor has sabotaged the equipment. You have 30 minutes to decipher the clues left behind by the saboteur and save the park and all its inhabitants (human and dinosaur) from complete destruction.

This activity is recommended for ages 8 and up. Every team must have at least one person aged 16 or older, and teams can include from 2 to 6 people. Registration is required, but doesn’t open until June 1. Click here to register for June 27, here for July 25, and here for Aug. 15.

  • Dinosaur Drop-in Crafts

On Friday June 26 and Saturday June 27, stop by the storytime room anytime from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. for dinosaur-themed crafts and coloring. All ages are welcome.

  • For adults: A Tale of Lost Sites

On Tuesday June 23, archaeologist Justin Tubiolo will discuss the loss of historical structures around Monroe County. The ongoing disappearance of nineteenth-century structures deprives future generations from viewing former environments and understanding their town’s history. Tubiolo will discuss a few examples of lost sites around Monroe County, where he started background studies for anticipated fieldwork, but was later denied access as structures were demolished, the land graded and developed.

The program will be held on Tuesday June 23 from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Click here to register.

  • For Tweens and Teens:

This month’s Make it Monday craft on Monday, June 8 from 6 to 7 p.m. are Giant Pool Noodle Beaded Lizards. (Yep, they’re as cool as they sound.) Grades 4 through 12 and adults are welcome.

How about a Jurassic-themed summer camp? The 3-week Jurassic Camp takes place on Wednesdays July 8, 15 and 22 from 2 to 3:30 each day, and each week campers will make a different dinosaur craft.

Individual registrations are required for each session. Click here to register for July 8, click here for July 15 and click here for July 22.

  • Also happening in June at the library:

For adults: a performance by the Top Brass Musical Duo on Monday June 29 from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. The duo is Pete Madsen on trumpet and Jeff Greene on trombone; both are retired Monroe County music teachers and performers. They will perform a variety of music – big band, swing, traditional jazz, and the Great American songbook. Registration is required.

June’s Donation Station is period supplies, and Community Exchange is craft supplies.

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(posted 5/30/2026)

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).

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Two upcoming Webster fairs highlight Greater Rochester senior services

20 May

Webster seniors looking to connect with local services will soon have two fantastic opportunities right in their backyard. The Webster Recreation Center and Webster Public Library will each host an upcoming Senior Resource Fair tailored specifically for community members ages 55 and older. The events will bring together dozens of organizations from across the Greater Rochester area, offering information on everything from senior living and recreation to meal programs, legal services, and more.

The first of the two events is scheduled at the Webster Recreation Center on Wednesday, May 27 — National Senior Fitness and Health Day — from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. It will feature health and information vendors, a free yogurt bar, free health assessments, mini fitness demonstrations, cornhole and tours of the Rec Center. Plus there’ll be some raffle prizes.

The event is open to the 55+ community. You do not have to be a member of the Rec Center and no registration is necessary. Just pop in when you can! The Rec Center is located at 1350 Chiyoda Dr., just off of Phillips.

This is the Rec Center’s second annual Senior Fitness Day, and I was able to check it out last year. It was a lot of fun and the yogurt bar was a real treat. (And by the way, my husband Jack will be there promoting his Aging…better blog.)

* * *

A little more than a week later, on Thursday June 4, the Webster Public Library will host their very first Senior Resource Fair from 3 to 5 p.m.

Almost 50 organizations have signed up to be at this fair:

  • 101 Mobility of Rochester
  • AARP Smart Driver Program
  • Aging…better (newsletter)
  • Caring Transitions
  • Catholic Charities Family & Community Services
  • Center for Disability Rights
  • Churches Offering Meals for Everyone
  • ConnectCare MD
  • Coordinated Care Services 
  • Cornell Cooperative Extension of Monroe County
  • Corretore McLaughlin, Attorneys at Law
  • Eastman-Rochester New Horizons Program
  • ElderONE
  • Elevate Dance Center
  • Episcopal Senior Life Communities
  • Excellus Medicare Advisor
  • Finger Lakes Mobile RNs
  • Happier at Home
  • Heathwood Assisted Living and Memory Care
  • Jewish Home – Lilac Grove Community
  • Kindsoul
  • LawNY
  • Legacy at Clover Blossom
  • Lifespan
  • M&T Bank in Webster
  • Monroe County Office for the Aging
  • New York Life financial professional
  • Oasis Rochester
  • PPL First
  • Rainbow Seniors ROC
  • Senior Helpers in Rochester
  • Senior Medical Care – Dr. Luis Postigo
  • Senior’s Choice Care Management
  • Seniors Helping Seniors
  • SMT Mobile Notary
  • Social Security Services
  • St. Ann’s Community
  • Surrogate Son
  • Sweet Home Photography
  • TekHub
  • Veterans Affairs – Rochester Vet Center
  • WASPS (Webster Senior Transportation)
  • Webster Comfort Care
  • Webster Community Chest
  • Webster Recreation Center 55+ Activities & Services
  • WellFitRoc
  • Willard H. Scott Funeral Home
  • Your Best Move

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(posted 5/18/2026)

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).

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What do you love about the Webster library?

12 May

Are you one of those people who head to the Webster Public Library once or (several) times a week to borrow oodles of books? Do you go to the informative talks and travelogues? Are you and your kids regular attendees at family events and story hours? And if so, do you have any suggestions as to how the library folks can make these services even better?

The library would like to know your thoughts. Through August 1, they’re asking library patrons to fill out a quick survey about library spaces and services. Your answers will help them figure out which spaces and services people are really happy with right now, and which ones might need improvement. Basically, you’re going to help them decide how best to spend their limited funds.

It’s a really quick survey, and it asks questions like, “Rank the spaces you use most often” (such as community room, computer area, teen lounge), and “Rank the services you use most often” (such as borrowing books, using Libby, events for teens). It takes about five minutes, and aside from asking your gender and age for statistical purposes, you can fill it out anonymously.

BUT if you would like a chance to win a library swag bag, make sure to include your email address at the end.

There are a few ways you can access the form. First, try this Microsoft form. But if that doesn’t work on your browser, click through to the library webpage here, where you’ll find a link which should work. The survey will be available through August 1.

* * *

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 5/12/2026)

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Webster community mailbag

3 May

There’s so much mailbag stuff coming through my email these days, I really should consider doing these more often …

Our first mailbag nugget this week is an interesting look at Webster history, sponsored by the Webster Museum this Wednesday, May 6. It’s the first in their three-part History and a Cup series, taking place all this month as part of National Historical Preservation Month.

  • On Wednesday from noon to 1 p.m., Webster native (and former Village Mayor) Jake Swingly will talk about growing up in the village. He’ll also very likely tell you more about his beautiful home on East Main St., where his family has lived for three generations and which will be honored later this month with a historic plaque. (You can read more about that in tomorrow’s blog.)
  • On Tuesday, May 12, also at noon, Webster attorney Dave Corretore and his mother, Carolyn Corretore (retired Lucas Pharmacy pharmacist), will speak.
  • The final installment of the History and a Cup series will be Wednesday, May 20, and the speaker then is a surprise.

During these history chats, museum volunteers set up small tables, each with a plate of cookies, water and coffee. Attendees are welcome to bring a sandwich and eat lunch during the talks. The museum is located at 18 Lapham Park in the Village of Webster.

Craft Sale!

Our Village of Webster Fire Department will be holding a Craft and Vendor Sale this Saturday, May 9 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Webster Fireman’s Building on Sanford St., across from the south side of Fireman’s Field. All proceeds will benefit the WVFD.

From the library

Here are a few events especially for seniors at the Webster Public Library:

  • A Matter of Balance workshop series begins on Tuesday, May 5. The seven-part series is a combination of group discussion and movement designed to help older adults reduce their fear of falling, increase confidence levels and increase physical activity. Classes will be held May 5, 19 and 26, and June 2, 9, 16 and 23. Please register here for each class you plan to attend.
  • Rochester Oratorio Society’s Harlem Renaissance Revisited, Saturday, May 9 from 1 to 3 p.m. The Resonanz Ensemble of the Rochester Oratorio Society looks back a century and more to the Rochester region’s Golden Era, the 1920s and 30s, through a narrative program of solo vocal and choral music. Registration is required.
  • Lifespan’s “Together Today” Memory Cafe will be at the library on Wednesday, May 27 from noon to 2 p.m. Caregivers and their partners living with dementia are invited to attend for lunch, socializing and entertainment from local musician Chip Milligan. This is a FREE event is but registration is required.

Find out more about these events and other events and resources for seniors by subscribing to the library’s new Senior Newsletter. You’ll find the sign-up link here.

Here’s a quick look at what else is going on at the Webster Public Library this month:

  • This month’s community exchange is mugs! Check those cabinets for ones you never use and swap them for something new to you.
  • The community Donation Station in May will be collecting new toothbrushes and toothpaste. The Webster Food Insecurity Coalition will distribute donations to Webster families in need.
  • The Friends of the Public Library have scheduled a Vintage Book Sale for Saturday, May 30 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. It will feature more than 200 fiction and non-fiction books, published between the 19th century and the early 21st century. Some titles include first editions, early printings, and books that appear to have been signed by the author. Many include dust jackets and nearly all books are in good or better condition. Prices start at $8 and prices are firm. All proceeds will benefit the Webster Public Library.
  • Saturday May 9 is Love Your Library Day. Celebrate your love for the WPL with crafts, a scavenger hunt, temporary tattoos, face painting, snacks, and a storytime at 10:30 a.m., featuring some special Webster High School guests.
  • Mike O’Brian, the “Getaway Guy,” will present a talk on Spring and Summer Getaways on Monday, May 18 from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Registration is required.
  • This month’s Make it Monday for teens and tweens is Glass Magnet Buggles, on Monday May 11 from 6 to 7 p.m. Grades 4 through 12 and adults are welcome. Register here.
  • Outdoor storytimes have ramped up for the summer! They take place at Ridge Park, 1000 Ridge Rd., every Wednesday from May 20 through Sept. 9, from 9:30 to 10 a.m. All ages are welcome.

Get some flowers for Mom!

The Webster Arboretum Association’s Spring Plant Sale is back, scheduled for Saturday, May 9 from 8 a.m. to noon.

This sale is just blooming with beautiful, healthy live plants which are grown by local garden clubs and local commercial growers in local soil, so they’re going to grow in your garden, too. Garden Club members will also share their favorite plants from their own gardens. This is the perfect opportunity to grab a Mother’s Day gift. The Webster Arboretum is located at 1700 Schlegel Rd.

Also, next week, on Tuesday May 12, the Arboretum will present a program on Companion Planting, from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Companion planting is a gardening practice where plants are grown together for mutual benefit, such as deterring pests, attracting beneficial insects, improving soil health, and maximizing space. There’s no charge, but please click here to register for this event.

The Webster Arboretum is located at 1700 Schlegel Rd.

Meet the Supervisor

Supervisor Scialdone is continuing to host regular Community Office Hours, opportunities to let your Town representatives know what’s important to you.

The next office hours are:

  • Monday, May 11, 5:30 to 6:30 p.m., Webster Town Board Room (1002 Ridge Road)
  • Tuesday, May 26, 5:30 to 6:30 p.m., Webster Public Library (980 Ridge Road)

Note that there is no formal presentation at these events. It’s just your chance to hang out with the Supervisor, ask your questions and present your concerns. You don’t have to register; just show up.

Get your tickets now for the Wine Walk

The next Village of Webster Wine Walk is scheduled for Saturday, May 16 from 4 to 7 p.m. I will very likely be writing up another blog about this fun event in the next several days, but in the meantime, if you’d like more details, click here. If you already know that you definitely want to attend get your tickets soon because the Wine Walks always sell out.

Dinner and a vote

If you’re planning to come out to Webster Schroeder on Tuesday, May 19 for the WCSD budget vote (and you definitely should), don’t worry about grabbing dinner, because the Webster Marching Band has got you covered.

The band will be hosting their annual BBQ dinner fundraiser on Tuesday, May 19 at Webster Schroeder High School, where the vote will be taking place. Dinners will include chicken, coleslaw, potato salad, a roll and water, and will be provided by Chiavetta’s.

Tickets are $15, and you’ll want to order your ahead to guarantee your meal, since only a limited number will be available on a first-come, first-served basis for anyone who did not reserve ahead of time. Click here to get your tickets.

More good food for a great cause

The Webster Comfort Care Home will be the beneficiary of the Webster Masonic Temple’s monthly spaghetti dinner fundraiser on Friday, June 5 from 5 to 7 p.m.

Enjoy a full meal including: salad, bread, spaghetti with your choice of sauce, meatballs, ice cream, a cookie, and a drink (bottled water, tea, and coffee). Cost is $12 for adults and $6 for children and can be purchased in advance (click here) or at the door. While you’re there, check out the bake sale and raffles, all to benefit the Comfort Care Home.

The Webster Masons hold a spaghetti dinner on the first Friday of every month from October through June and each benefits a Webster charity or not-for-profit organization.

ALSO from the Webster Comfort Care Home, the community is invited to their new “Yoga in the Yard” classes, which will be held on Sundays June 7, July 12 and August 16 from 9 to 10 a.m. Registration is not necessary, and there’s no charge for these sessions, but donations would be gratefully accepted.

The Webster Comfort Care Home is located at 700 Holt Rd.

Happy news from the Chamber

Finally, this bit of happy news from the Webster Chamber of Commerce:

At the Webster Chamber of Commerce’s April Monthly Meeting, Community Bank, N.A. generously donated $3,500 to help fund the Webster Community Chest’s Meal Center. The Meal Center provides recipe-based meals to our neighbors suffering from food insecurity. This is much needed as demand has increased to more than two times the 2025 levels. Pictured (L-R) are Michael Grenier, Ginny Nguyen, Bob Fenton and Ryan Johnson.

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(posted 5/3/2026)

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

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This year’s volunteer fair at the library has a special surprise for the kids

27 Apr

The Webster Public Library will host their annual Volunteer Fair this Saturday, May 2 from 10 a.m. to noon, and you’ll want to bring the kids, because the West Fire Department will be there with one of their trucks.

The visit by the fire truck is just the latest addition to an already great event, a chance for community members to check out volunteer opportunities at more than two dozen local agencies — all in one place and at one time — and meet with the directors of these agencies one-on-one to ask all your questions.

I’ve seen first-hand what a giving community Webster is, filled with individuals and families who take great pleasure in helping others. That’s why an event like this is so beneficial, and why the library keeps bringing it back every year.

Here are the organizations that have signed up to be there so far:

  • Baywinde Senior Living Community
  • Best Buddies
  • Challenger Miracle Field of Greater Rochester
  • Color Webster Green
  • CP Rochester
  • Eastern Service Workers Association
  • Friends of the Webster Public Library
  • Friends of the Webster Trails
  • Greater Rochester Habitat for Humanity
  • Heritage Christian Stables
  • Lap Robes for Veteran
  • Lifespan
  • Literacy Rochester
  • Maplewood Nursing Home
  • Never Say Never Foundation
  • North East Joint Fire District – Webster Fire Department 
  • One Soldier at a Time
  • St. Ann’s Community
  • Trillium Health
  • URMC/Meals on Wheels
  • VFW Webster Post 943 & American Legion Webster Post 942
  • Webster Arboretum Association
  • Webster Comfort Care Home
  • Webster Community Chest
  • Webster Hope
  • Webster Museum

(And of course the fire truck will be there!)

Registration is recommended if you would like to be reminded about the fair but not required. Attendees can come any time during the fair, which runs from 10 a.m. to noon, to ask questions and get information. If you’re unable to attend, information about the attending organizations will be available at request. 

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

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(posted 4/27/2026)

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).

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Webster Library to host Diverse Abilities Resource Fair

15 Apr

If you’re looking for resources for your loved one with a disability, then the Diverse Abilities Resource Fair coming to the Webster Public Library on April 18 is for you.

This annual event (formerly called the Special Needs Parent Resource Fair) draws dozens of organizations from around Rochester, all of which offer programs and support for children and adults with disabilities. It continues to grow every year, and this year will welcome more than 70 agencies. (Scroll down to see a list of them all.)

On Saturday April 18, parents and caregivers are invited to stop by anytime between 10 a.m. and noon, chat with the organizations’ representatives and pick up some information. All ages are welcome, and if at any time you or your loved ones need a breather, Autism Up will be set up in the Community Room with a sensory space.

Registration is not required, but recommended if you’d like to get a emailed reminder. Call 585-872-7075 or click here to register. If you’re unable to attend, information about the attending organizations will be available upon request.

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

This year’s Diverse Abilities Fair participants

* ACCES-VR
* Al Sigl Community of Agencies
* Arc of Monroe
* ARCH Program at Roberts Wesleyan University
* Artists Unlimited
* Autism Up and Golisano Autism Center
* Bella’s Bumbas
* Best Buddies International
* Blue Heron Collective
* Cassano Studios
* Catholic Charities Family & Community Services
* CDS Monarch
* Challenger Miracle Field of Greater Rochester
* Cheer and Dance Athletics Rochester
* Child Advocacy Center of Greater Rochester
* Child Care Council
* Childhood Behavior Solutions
* CP Rochester
* CUNY School of Public Health
* David’s Refuge
* Dyslexia Allies of WNY/Student Success Project
* Empowering People’s Independence
* Equicenter
* Every Tree
* Flower City Down Syndrome Network
* Gigi’s Playhouse
* Gliding Stars of WNY
* Goodwill Vision Enterprises
* Heritage Christian Services
* Heritage Christian Stables
* The Hochstein School
* Lifetime Assistance
* Mental Health Association of Rochester
* Mid-West Family and Community Engagement Center
* MindFit Mental Health Counseling LLC
* Monroe County Board of Elections
* Monroe County Early Intervention
* National Federation of the Blind
* Never Say Never Foundation
* Next Day Access
* New York Life
* NYSARC Trust Services
* NYS Department of Civil Service
* NYS Justice Center for the Protection of People with Special Needs
* OPWDD: Front Door
* Olive Speech Therapy, PLLC
* Parents Helping Parents Coalition of Monroe County
* Parent to Parent NYS
* People Inc.
* Person Centered Services
* Prime Care Coordination
* Relatability, LLC
* RocDog Therapy and Community Working Dogs
* Rochester Accessible Adventures
* Rochester Hearing and Speech
* Rochester Works
* Senator Samra Brouk District Office
* Spectrum Creative Arts
* Sportsnet
* Spotted Rabbit Studio
* Step by Step & Sprout Therapy Management Group
* Starbridge
* Strike Back Martial Arts
* Syracuse University: InclusiveU
* Syracuse University: CDI
* TIES – Together Including Every Student
* Tim’s Trim Inc
* Tobii Dynavox
* Urban League of Rochester
* University of Rochester Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics
* Vision Financial Group
* WXXI

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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 4/15/2026)

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