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Webster Community Mailbag

7 Jan

It’s a fairly short mailbag today; the new year is ramping up slowly, apparently.

GO BILLS!

The Buffalo Bills are in the playoffs, which means it’s time to celebrate at the Webster Recreation Center’s Buffalo Bills Hype Party!

This second-annual family-friendly event returns to the Rec Center on Friday, January 9 from 6 to 8 p.m. Admission is free with a donation to Webster Hope (see below for a list of desired items).

There is SO MUCH fun planned, including:

  • souvenir laminated photo trading cards for all attendees from WeTheHobby
  • Music and trivia from Jeremy Andrzejewski (Mr. Brightside, anyone?)
  • Food (tailgate style, of course)
  • Vendors
  • Buffalo-themed lawn games
  • a Bracelet-making station
  • Temporary tattoos
  • Buffalo Bills stickers

and so much more.

Everything happens from 6 to 8 p.m. this Friday night at the Webster Recreation Center, 1350 Chiyoda Dr., off of Phillips.

Meet the new supervisor

Head back to the Rec Center on Saturday, Jan. 10 from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. to meet and chat with Alex Scialdone, the Town of Webster’s new supervisor. He’ll be holding his “community office hours,” so bring your questions and concerns, or just pop in to congratulate Alex on his win.

Library program features famous female cyclist

Cyclists and history lovers alike will be very interested in this special program coming up at the Webster Public Library on Thursday Jan. 15 from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.

It’s a presentation by local bike enthusiast Karen Lankeshofer about Elsa von Blumen, a famous Rochestarian and female bicyclist in the 1880s.

Von Blumen was a Rochesterian who, in the 1880s, raced high-wheeled bikes against horses, skaters, male cyclists, and eventually a growing number of women cyclists. Her first professional bike race was against a horse in Rochester’s Driving Park. From Rochester, she went on to race throughout the entire Eastern United States for a decade. Succeeding at the male-dominated sport at the time, von Blumen helped pave the way for other women to find the courage to break social taboos.

There’s no cost for the presentation but registration is required.

Connect and network with the Webster Chamber of Commerce

The Webster Chamber of Commerce has three events coming up, great opportunities for local business owners to connect with others and help bring exposure to their businesses.

  • The first is a New Year Open House on Friday Jan. 9. This will be a breakfast buffet, beginning at 7:30 a.m. at the Chamber office, 1110 Crosspointe Lane, Suite C. This is a great opportunity for Chamber members, guests and visitors who are interested in investigating Chamber membership. Bring a door prizes for visibility and your business card so you can take your chance on one of the amazing door prizes! Registration is required.
  • The next is the Chamber’s monthly “Connect at Noon” networking event, this month scheduled for Wednesday Jan. 14 from noon to 1:30 p.m. at the Webster Public Library, 980 Ridge Rd. These events are hosted by different Chamber members to acquaint others with the member’s place of business. Members and those investigating membership are welcome to attend. There’s no fee but registration is required.
  • Finally, the Webster Chamber’s regular Monthly Meeting (featuring a hot breakfast buffet) will be held Friday Jan. 30 from 7 to 8:30 a.m. at the Webster Golf Club, 440 Salt Rd. Members, guests and visitors interested in pursuing Chamber membership are welcome to attend. These meetings are a chance to network, meet new contacts, develop current business relationships, learn, and earn visibility for your business or organization. Bring a door prize and your business card for your chance at winning. Reservations are required by Wednesday, Jan. 28.

Reminder about the Souper Bowl

A quick reminder about the Webster Comfort Care Home’s “Souper Bowl,” going on through Feb. 2. For just $15, you can order a quart of delicious soup, prepared by one of 11 different local restaurants and shops. (Check the website for choices.)

For another $5, you can even add four dinner rolls from Proietti’s to your order. And for just $5 more, you can add two oatmeal raisin or chocolate chip cookies. So basically, you can get an entire delicious meal for just $25, while supporting the Comfort Care Home at the same time. PLUS, order five or more quarts and you’ll be entered to win a one-hour massage at Wellness 360.

Souper Bowl 2026 is pre-order–only, from Dec. 29 through Feb. 2. Orders must be received by Feb. 2 at 9 a.m. and can be picked up on Saturday, February 7, from 10 a.m. to noon at Webster Presbyterian Church, 550 Webster Rd. Click here for more information and to order.

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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 1/7/2026)

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Cheers to a creative new year from the Village Quilt Shoppe

4 Jan

I got an email from the Village Quilt Shoppe recently, which was just packed full of news about what this little shop accomplished in 2025, and a sneak peek at things to come.

But what really caught my attention was the news about how successful their One Common Thread initiative was in 2025.

One Common Thread’s mission is to empower women in Central America — specifically Honduras — by giving them the opportunity to work and earn an income. The income allows the women to provide essentials such as food, diapers, formula, stoves, beds, tin roofs, cement floors, tuition for their children’s education, and much more. (My blog here tells you more about the organization.)

In their email, Village Quilt Shoppe owners Monique Liberti and Vanetta Parshall reported they were able to send 20 boxes — each holding three or four sewing kits — along with dozens of spools of thread and needles to women in Honduras.

They added,

Our charity work will continue in 2026, and if you’re free on the 3rd Tuesday of the month, we would love your help assembling kits. Whether you can stay all day or just for an hour or two, many hands truly do make light work.

Looking ahead to 2026, Vanetta and Monique have plans for several clubs, lots of exciting classes, “Sewcial” days, retreats and new fabric coming in every month. Basically, the shop is kind of like a quilter’s playground. Click here to see their full calendar. Or better yet, stop by the shop and check it out for yourself.

The Village Quilt Shoppe is located at 23 East Main St. in the Village of Webster, at the corner of Lapham Park. (They’re closed for the holidays until Jan. 6.)

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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 1/4/2026)

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Looking back at the year in blogs

30 Dec

As I like to do at the end of every year, a few days ago I took a stroll back through all of the blogs I wrote in 2025. It’s always a fun exercise, as I review all of the events, business openings and closings, people and places that I found to share with you all. They reflect the extraordinary diversity of people, places and events we have here in Webster, and how close-knit this town is.

In the last 12 months, counting today, I posted 334 blogs. That works out to about 28 blogs every month. And thanks to the wonders of the Internet, I managed to keep up that pace even though I was in Prague for six weeks. It’s also interesting (at least to me) to note that the blogs were viewed more than 238,000 times. Fourteen of the top twenty blogs were about new businesses, the most popular one being an update on The Coach renovations — which was my best-read blog of the year.

As in previous years, my photo galleries following events like the Trick or Treat Trail and Fireman’s Parade were also big draws, and my History Bits — highlighting local history — are also still very popular.

If you’ve got a few minutes and would find it interesting, I’ve pulled out my favorite blogs from each month. My posts have run the gamut from special events to special people, new businesses to new trails. But you’ll notice that many of my favorite blogs are the ones where I share personal stories and everyday moments, the kinds of things that may not seem very exciting, but are what make our lives interesting and meaningful.

If something really strikes your fancy and you want to read any of them again, click through the hyperlink.

My two favorite blogs in January were about local history: the Irondequoit Bay Bridge and the first of my six-stop History Bit Webster Museum tour. The bridge blog was a follow-up on two blogs I’d posted the previous March when the Bay Bridge celebrated a birthday. Like those, this one about how the bridge had won an award also garnered several “likes.”

In February I caught up with a village neighbor of mine who will often hitch up her dogs to a dogsled and run them through village neighborhoods. This was a good example of a great community story which I was alerted to by one of my readers. Usually the best blog ideas come from my readers.

Jack’s Happy Hour celebrated its five-year anniversary in March. I first wrote about this nightly gathering of Brooksboro Dr. neighbors in 2022, when they were celebrating the occasion of having come together for a beverage every night for 1000 days straight. Last March they marked five straight years of gatherings. Every. Single. Night. For five years.That was definitely worth a blog.

In April, I posted what would become one of my most popular History Bits, about Willow Point Park. So many people fondly remember the old amusement park and shared a lot of memories. That month I also highlighted Webster Schroeder graduate Adam Marino, who was playing Frankie Valli in OFC Creations’ production of Jersey Boys.

My two favorite blogs in May were both personal reflections. I wrote about my recent trip to Prague, and how I successfully completed my first (and only) half marathon upon my return. Both were extremely memorable experiences. One of them I would like to do again. I’ll leave it to you to guess which one.

In June, my favorite blog was probably the shortest, when School Resource Officer David Herrle joined me in a dramatic reading of Mo Willems’ We Are in a Book, starring Elephant and Piggie. I was substituting at State Rd. Elementary when he happened to pop into the library and I corralled him. I love showing that police officers are fun-loving people, too.

I highlighted the WEBSTER bushes in July, the ones that welcome visitors to town on Rt. 104. They have some interesting history. I also enjoyed highlighting an unusual benefit to living in the Village of Webster when I wrote about how the Webster Marching Band practices at Spry Middle School during the summer and provides my own personal band concert.

In August, I followed up another blog idea submitted by a reader when I attended a Front Porch Pickin’ social event on Millcreek Run. I wrote a History Bit about the Forest Lawn Train accident, and shared some thoughts about some trail riding my husband and I did in Penn Yan and Waterloo, where we saw some beautiful scenery and explored some Civil War history.

I was honored to be invited to Jack’s Happy Hour again in September when the Brooksboro gang celebrated their 2,000-night anniversary. (They SAID it would be their last time, but I don’t think it was….) The whimsical Holt Rd. skeletons were back in action for Halloween, and I had to share this year’s cleverness with everyone. Also in September, I introduced everyone to young Pierson Farina and his “Returns for a Reason” initiative in which he collects returnables and donated the funds to local nonprofits.

In October I featured Judah Sealy — who doesn’t live in Webster but plays every year at the Webster Jazz Festival — who landed the role of Clarence Clemons in the new Bruce Springsteen movie. I also wrote another more personal piece about my running buddies and two races we did together that month.

In November, I caught up with Fritz Sierk, owner of The Coach, for an update on his repairs and renovations. It proved to be my best-read blog of the year. I also gave everyone a behind-the-scenes look at one of my favorite local organizations, the Friends of Webster Trails, when I tagged along to watch the installation of a trail counter. And I visited those crazy Holt Rd. skeletons again, who for the holiday season had been transformed into the Rockettes.

Finally, in December I posted my annual gallery of photos from the Village of Webster’s Winter Wonderland and Parade of Lights festivities. People love these galleries and it makes me feel good that I’m able to share events like this with people who can’t attend, especially those who now live out of state. And just a few weeks ago I wrote what might be my favorite blog of the entire year, about when a representative from Toter/Wastequip came to town and presented Pierson Farina with his very own “Returns For a Reason” toter, making his biggest Christmas wish come true.

Whew. If you’re still with me, thank you for reading this far. I hope you found it interesting to revisit some of this year’s blogs. And remember that if you ever think of something or see something that might make for an interesting blog, PLEASE drop me an email. As I said, the best blog ideas come from my readers.

Thanks again for reading, and all of your likes, comments and messages. Please have a safe and happy new year.

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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 12/30/2025)

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Upcoming fundraisers to benefit Webster Comfort Care Home

28 Dec

Today I’d like to highlight the Webster Comfort Care Home (WCCH) and a few fundraisers this great agency will be holding over the next several weeks.

The first is something I mentioned a few days ago in my mailbag, the very popular “12 Months of Flowers” promotion, held in conjunction with Kittelberger Florist. Buy a card for just $50, and present it every month at Kittelberger, 263 North Ave. to receive one fresh bouquet every month.

It’s a great way to treat yourself or a friend, and all proceeds will benefit the Comfort Care Home.

Cards can be purchased from Jan. 5 to 26, with cash, check or credit card and can be picked up at the Webster Comfort Care Home, 700 Holt Rd. For more information, click here.

The next event is what the WCCH calls their “Souper Bowl.” For just $15, you can order a quart of delicious soup, prepared by one of 11 different local restaurants and shops. Your choices are:

  • Jambalaya, provided by the Filling Station
  • Seafood Bisque, provided by Pub 235
  • Roasted Red Pepper and Tomato Bisque, provided by Pub 235
  • Chicken and Rice with Spinach (GF), provided by BC’s Chicken Coop
  • White Chicken Chili, provided by Flaherty’s Three Flags Inn
  • Creamy Mushroom Truffle, provided by Brimont Bistro
  • French Onion (Vegan), provided by Spirit and Abundance
  • San Marzano Tomato Basil with Sourdough Croutons, provided by Dough Boyz ROC
  • Broccoli Cheddar, provided by Annette’s Restaurant
  • Italian Wedding Soup, provided by Mama Lor’s
  • Buffalo Chicken, provided by the Main Dive
  • Chicken Quesadilla, provided by The Nutcracker

For another $5, you can even add four dinner rolls from Proietti’s to your order. And for just $5 more, you can add two oatmeal raisin or chocolate chip cookies. So basically, you can get an entire delicious meal for just $25, while supporting the Comfort Care Home at the same time.

PLUS, order five or more quarts and you’ll be entered to win a one-hour massage at Wellness 360.

Souper Bowl 2026 is pre-order–only, from Dec. 29 through Feb. 2. Orders must be received by Feb. 2 at 9 a.m. and can be picked up on Saturday, February 7, from 10 a.m. to noon at Webster Presbyterian Church, 550 Webster Rd. Click here for more information and to order.

Quantities are limited on many varieties, so be sure to order early!

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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 12/28/2025)

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Webster community mailbag

26 Dec

Webster Museum’s Festival of Trees

There’s still time to vote for your favorite mini-Christmas Tree at the Webster Museum’s Festival of Trees.

Nineteen beautifully decorated trees have been set up around the museum, decorated by local non-profit agencies. Community members are invited to examine them all and vote for their favorite one. Votes will be accepted through the end of December. You can stop by the museum on Tuesday, Thursday or Saturday from 2 to 4:30 to see them in person, or vote for your favorite online at the museum’s website.

Also, beginning Jan. 13, the museum will introduce their 2026 Quilt Exhibit, called “Stitched Stories: A Celebration of Vintage Quilts.” It will be on display in both the museum AND the Webster Public Library.

Start off the new year with a hike!

For the first time ever, Friends of Webster Trails will be hosting a free, guided First Day Hike at 10 a.m. on Thursday, Jan. 1 at Whiting Rd. Nature Preserve.

This family-friendly hike will be about an hour over easy or moderate terrain. Dress in layers and have traction devices for your feet if necessary. Well-behaved, leashed dogs are welcome. 

Please register online for this event so they have an idea of how many to expect.  

Friends of Webster Trails is a volunteer organization dedicated to maintaining the public trails throughout Webster, including the Hojack Trail which runs through the village.

Village of Webster Christmas Tree Recycling

Curbside collection of Christmas trees will take place during the Village’s monthly brush pick up, the week of Jan. 5. Remember:

  • Live trees only, no artificial trees
  • Remove ornaments and lights
  • Do NOT put tree in a bag or cover with plastic
  • Place tree at curb by Sunday, January 4

News from Webster Comfort Care

Webster Comfort Care Home will be selling Kittelberger 12 Months of Flowers Cards from Jan. 5 through Jan. 26.

Cost is $50 and entitles the bearer to one fresh new bouquet of flowers every month for 12 months. For more information, click here. Payment accepted by cash, check or credit card. Cards can be picked up at Webster Comfort Care Home, 700 Holt Rd., from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Women’s Club announces January meeting

The Women’s Club of Webster will host their monthly general meeting and luncheon on Thursday, Jan. 22, at Nucci’s Restaurant, 807 Ridge Rd., Webster. The gathering begins with social time at 11:15, a business meeting at noon and lunch at 12:30, followed by a speaker. This month, the Women’s Club welcomes Margery Morgan from Webster Hope, a nonprofit organization which helps Webster residents in need of assistance by providing food, clothing and emergency financial support.

Cost of the luncheon is $23, and will feature a buffet with chicken parmigiana, pork loin, greens and beans, oven-roasted potatoes, penne with sauce, and salad. Cost is $23. Please send your check made out to the Women’s Club of Webster by Jan. 15 to Carolyn Rittenhouse, 405 County Line Road, Ontario, 14519. If you think your check might be late, please call Carolyn at 585-265-1303.

At the library …

Here’s a sneak peek at some of the Webster Public Library‘s January programs:

For adults:

  • Elsa von Blumen: Famous Rochestarian and Female Bicyclist — Thursday, Jan. 15, 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Learn about Elsa, a famous Rochestarian in the 1800s. Registration is required.
  • Salaff String Quartet Concert — Thursday, Jan. 22, 4 to 5 p.m. Enjoy a variety of music from classic to folk, performed on string instruments. Registration is required.

For Teens and Tweens:

  • Make it Monday: Snowy Pine Cone Trees — Monday, Jan. 12, 6 to 7 p.m. Teens (grades 4 and up) and adults are welcome to attend this monthly craft night. All supplies will be provided. Registration is required.
  • T(w)een Library Club — Wednesday, Jan. 28, 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. For grades 4 and up. Do you like books, games, crafts, sharing your ideas, or just hanging out with your friends? This group is for you. Registration is required.

For the little ones:

  • Rubber Ducky Storytime — Tuesday Jan. 13, 10 to 10:30 a.m. Celebrate National Rubber Ducky Day with stories, songs and rhymes about ducks, plus an activity and simple craft. All ages are welcome.
  • Preschool Puzzle Morning –Tuesday, Jan. 27, 10 a.m. to noon. Stop by the storytime room to try an assortment of toddler-friendly puzzles.

And this stuff:

  • The Webster Library’s annual Webster-Area Preschool Fair will be held on Saturday, Jan. 10 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Meet representatives from many area preschools to learn about their programs, More to come about this.
  • Zaurac’s Space Music Show — Saturday, Jan. 17 from 1 to 3 p.m. Zaurac (also known as Steve Fentress), will perform a live celestial-themed keyboard concert complete with cosmic-themed songs and imagery. For all ages. Registration is required.
  • The January Community Exchange is cookbooks. Bring in some you don’t use anymore, and pick up some new-to-you ones.

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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 12/26/2025)

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Webelos Scouts visit Bella’s Bumbas to learn about disabilities

22 Dec

Two young Webelos Scouts recently got some first-hand experience understanding children with disabilities when they visited the Bella’s Bumbas workshop to see the organization’s operation.

Bella’s Bumbas is a non-profit grassroots organization run by Webster residents Marty Parzynski and Rebecca Orr, dedicated to building miniature wheelchairs for children with a wide variety of mobility issues.

John Wood and Declan Walluk, both fourth graders from Pack 250 in Penfield, began their visit by chatting with 5-year old Lyla Deane, who has spina bifida. Lyla, a kindergartner at East Palmyra Christian School, is in a more normal-sized wheelchair now but got her first of two Bella’s Bumba wheelchairs when she was just 18 months old.

With help from Den Leader Sarah Walluk, who prompted the Scouts and asked several of her own questions, the boys learned why Lyla is in a wheelchair and what spina bifida is (“when you have stuff pop out of your body,” Lyla explained, “and you have to get an x-ray and you have to get a shot and you have to get a wheelchair”). They learned how she wheels herself around and about the accommodations she gets at school, like using an elevator and having physical therapy sessions.

But they also learned that, just like other kids, Lyla takes a bus to school, enjoys music class, likes to play outside and climb on the “spidey-thing” (which, she assured us, does NOT attract spiders), and her favorite part of school is recess. And when Sarah asked Lyla if there’s anything she thinks is really hard to do because she has spina bifida and has to be in a wheelchair, her answer was immediate: “No.”

After their conversation, the boys worked with Marty to build a Bumba wheelchair.

Marty Parzynski shows Declan Walluk how to build a Bumba
Lyla with Declan and the Bella’s Bumba Declan built.

The visit was part of the Scouts’ effort to earn their Aware and Care Scouting Adventure badge, which has four requirements:

  • Do an activity that shows the challenges of a being visually impaired.
  • Do an activity that shows the challenges of being hearing impaired.
  • Explore barriers to access.
  • Meet someone who has a disability or someone who works with people with disabilities about what obstacles they must overcome and how they do it.

Den Leader Walluk said that, in addition to fulfilling one of the badge’s requirements, she hoped the visit would “inspire them to see how one person can start small and make a big difference.”

But perhaps the most important lesson learned was this: even though a kid might have a disability, kids are still kids. They like to play and sing and have friends — and recess is their favorite part of school.

An update on the new Bella’s Bumbas garage

Last spring, Marty and Rebecca realized they needed to do SOMETHING. They were rapidly running out of storage and workshop space. So they held a fundraising effort to raise money to replace their small and dilapidated garage with a 22′ by 30′ garage, complete with a concrete floor, shelving, and lots of room to expand. Their goal was to raise $60,000.

By the end of August, they’d met and exceeded that goal, raising $63,000. Construction began almost immediately, and the beautiful new garage is now standing. Rebecca and Marty would like to thank:

  • the anonymous Bella’s Bumba supporter who donated and installed a larger overhead door
  • Wm. B. Morse Lumber
  • Catalino Gutter Systems
  • the amazing team of volunteers who did all of the inside finishing work including il=insulation, heating, electrical, lighting and shelving
  • the amazing community members from Webster and beyond who supported the project with their donations from day 1

The overall project was headed up by volunteer Tom Dobbins with the shelving design by Joe Callan.

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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 12/21/2025)

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A new swing spot opens in Webster

10 Dec

I am NOT a golfer. But I know enough of them to know that golfers are a passionate breed; most of them would choose to be out on the links every day if it weren’t for annoyances like full-time jobs, caring for a home, or, like, six inches of snow. So the fact that a brand new indoor golf simulator is opening up just west of the village is happy news for Webster golfers, especially at this time of year.

The new Eagle’s Nest Golf Lounge, owned and operated by Kurt Johnson, is located in the Jackson Square plaza at 1170 Ridge Rd. (next door to Heart to Heart Bride). It provides immersive, state-of-the-art sports and gaming simulators for enthusiasts, families, friends, office mates and clients. It features high-end Trackman simulators which use advanced radar and camera technology to present a surprisingly realistic golfing experience. In addition to ball trajectory and distance, it measures club and ball speed, launch angle, smash factor, spin rate, attack angle, club path and more, and offers players more than 500 different courses from all around the world.

Eagle’s Nest has two separate 15 x 20-foot bays, and a lounge area where you can relax while you wait for your tee time or chat with your friends during an office gathering or football watch party. Its two private, sectioned-off bays make the facility stand out from some other golf simulators in the area. Once you close the door, the space is yours. You have a quiet, more personal area for your foursome — or you and your instructor — without distractions from other players next to you or in the hallway.

Kurt is well known in and around Webster, in large part through his lawn and garden business and extended stint as a bartender at Flaherty’s on Bay Rd. He’s also a long-time Webster resident, so establishing his new business somewhere in Webster was a priority for him. The former Rochester Speech and Hearing location turned out to be perfect. It took a lot of work to transform the office and clinical space into a state-of-the-art golf simulator, but it’s just about ready, and Kurt hopes to open within the next several days.

The first few days, Kurt will probably be personally welcoming patrons, but once the lounge is up and running, it will become a completely automated, self-service facility. Golfers can book tee times from 5 a.m. through midnight every day and pay for them through the Eagle’s Nest website or the Trackman Golf app. Then you’ll get an email and text with a code for the front door and a second one to get into the computers. When your allotted time is about to expire, a warning will pop up on the screen.

I’m guessing the Eagle’s Nest Sports Lounge is going to be a hot spot for golfers this winter, especially with the cold and snow already settling in. And if you’re not a golfer yourself but have one on your gift list, Kurt’s got you covered with gift certificates.

Fore more information, visit the Eagle’s Nest website or Facebook page, email Kurt at info@eaglesnestgolflounge.com or call 585-481-7741.

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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 12/10/2025)

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Holiday celebrations in Webster continue

8 Dec

I hope you were able to attend the Village of Webster’s Winter Wonderland celebration and Parade of Lights on Saturday. It was grey, but not TOO cold, and the village was beautiful. It was a great kick-off to a holiday season in Webster that’s packed with lots more special events.

Here’s a quick look at what’s in store for these last few weeks before Christmas. (And by the way, there are only the ones I know about. If you have anything else you’d like me to put in my blog, let me know.)

The Women’s Club of Webster‘s very popular annual Holiday Cookie Sale is scheduled this year for Saturday, Dec. 13 from 10 to 11:30 a.m. at the Webster Public Library, 980 Ridge Rd. Cost for cookies is $10 per pound (cash only!). They usually sell out very quickly, so get there early. Proceeds from the sale, which is eagerly awaited by area cookie lovers, will benefit the club’s scholarship funds as well as many other programs in the Webster community.

Help the Webster Arboretum decorate their Christmas tree on Tuesday, Dec. 9, from 6:30 to 10:30 p.m.

The tree has been installed in the large gazebo behind the Curry building. Now the community is being asked to gather and decorate it! Work with your family to create ornaments, then stop by and place them on the tree. (Please no food or seed decorations.) The Arboretum is located at 1700 Schlegel Rd.

And remember to get your copy of the Arboretum’s 2026 calendar, which they’re introducing for the first time this year. It features stunning photos of the Arboretum throughout the seasons. All proceeds will go directly to maintain the Webster Arboretum. They’re available for $24, and can be purchased online on the Arboretum’s website and at Lala of Webster in the village.

The Webster Village Band, directed by Andy Kittelson, will be performing their annual Holiday Concert on Saturday, Dec. 13 at 2 p.m. at Webster Schroeder High School, 875 Ridge Rd. This year’s program includes favorites such as “Mary, Did You Know,” “The Polar Express,” and “The Eighth Candle.” Per tradition, the band will also perform “‘Twas the Night Before Christmas,” narrated by Barbara Midura. 

The concert is free and no reservations are needed. Refreshments will be served after the concert.

The Webster Recreation Center will host their annual Afternoon with Santa on Saturday, Dec. 13 from 1 to 3 p.m. It features pictures with Santa, music, dancing and cookies. The event is free, everyone is welcome and no registration is required.

And don’t forget that the kids can drop off their letters to Santa at the Rec Center between Dec. 10 and Dec. 19. Santa will personally answer each one, and the kids can pick up their responses between Dec. 22 and 24.

The Webster Recreation Center is located at 1350 Chiyoda Drive, just off of Phillips Rd.

The Chorus of the Genesee will hold this year’s Soup and Caroling Night on Tuesday Dec. 23, beginning at 7 p.m. Carolers will start at the Harmony House and walk through the village, stopping to sing at several homes and businesses, then return to the Harmony House for a delicious variety of soups. The bar will be open (cash only, please) for those who want something a little stronger.

No registration is necessary. Just show up and bring your singing voice. Santa hats and sleigh bells are encouraged.

The Webster Public Library’s Holiday Book Sale continues through Dec. 27, located in front of the lobby book store. It features an assortment of used books, videos, music CDs, audio books and jigsaw puzzles all with seasonal holiday themes, while supplies last.

Also at the library, enjoy a travelogue all about the Von Trapp Family Christmas on Tuesday, Dec. 16 from 6 to 7 p.m. Did you know that the real von Trapp family (immortalized in the movie The Sound of Music) moved from Austria to Vermont? George and Carol Vorhauer took a motor coach tour to the von Trapp Family Lodge & Resort and will share what they learned about the von Trapp family and their 2,600-acre property in Stowe, Vermont. Holiday refreshments will be served. 

There’s no cost, but registration is required.

The Webster Museum‘s Festival of Trees is still going on. Twenty miniature Christmas trees have been placed throughout the museum, which various Webster businesses and non-profit organizations have decorated. Community members are invited to stroll through the museum, examine all of the beautifully decorated trees, and vote for their favorite one.

The Festival of Trees runs through the end of the year, and is a highlight of the museum’s Christmas-time celebrations. The museum is also selling Kittelberger Flower Cards again this year, good for 12 months of flowers from Kittelberger Florist. They’ll be available through Dec. 12.

The museum is located at 18 Lapham Park in the village and is open every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday from 2 to 4:30 p.m.

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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 12/8/2025)

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Performance Hobbies named Webster Chamber Business of the Month

5 Dec

Congratulations to Performance Hobbies, honored as the December Business of the Month by the Webster Chamber of Commerce.

Performance Hobbies has been part of the fabric of Webster for more than four decades. It dates back to 1982 when it began as TMC R/C Cars on Gravel Rd. From the very beginning it was a family-owned passion project built on enthusiasm for radio-controlled cars and the joy of hands-on hobbies. As the business grew, it moved into the Village of Webster in 1984 and then to its current home at 15 West Main St. in 1991. For 43 years, the shop has been a destination for hobbyists of all ages.

Owner Tom McCoy will tell you that the best part of his job is simple: he gets to go to work and play with toys every day. The store offers everything from R/C cars and planes to models, drones, collectibles and more. They jokingly call themselves the only “adult toy store” ion the Village of Webster — a phrase that tends to raise eyebrows until customers see the kinds of “toys” they actually sell. It’s a fun little misunderstanding that has become part of the shop’s personality and charm.

Beyond the walls of the store, Performance Hobbies has been a steady supporter of the Webster community. They participate in all Village of Webster events, support air shows and race tracks and work closely with the Boy Scouts and several local church groups. Their willingness to show up, give back, and be part of what makes Webster special has never wavered.

With four employees, decades of experience, and a genuine love for what they do, Performance Hobbies continues to be a place where creativity, fun and community meet.

The Webster Chamber of Commerce Events and Honors Committee presents a Business of the Month award to one of their member businesses at each of their monthly breakfast meetings. It’s one way the Chamber helps keep their member businesses and organizations visible throughout the Webster community.

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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 12/5/2025)

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Remember when Santa and his elf came to shop in the village?

4 Dec

I was thinking the other day about how I love to patronize small businesses when I do my Christmas shopping, and the Town and Village of Webster offer many options to do that.

Sadly, I missed the opportunity to highlight Small Business Saturday this year, which happened on Nov. 29, the Saturday after Thanksgiving. So instead, I thought I’d revisit a special event that happened LAST year on Small Business Saturday, when Santa and one of his elves visited the village to do some shopping.

For a few hours that morning and afternoon, the jolly pair strolled through the village, popping in and out of several businesses and handing out treats to the children. It was so much fun to see the children’s eyes light up when they saw Santa, and the smiles he brought to everyone’s faces.

My husband caught some of the action on video, which he cobbled together into this short piece:

I also took a lot of photos that day, which you can see in this gallery. (P.S. the elf is my daughter Erin.)

Don’t forget to shop local this Christmas and especially support our small business owners.

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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 12/4/2025)

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