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Webster community mailbag

19 Nov

Let’s start today’s mailbag with this quick note about something happening REALLY SOON that will interest those who want to get some Christmas shopping done.

Maplewood Nursing Home will be hosting their annual Holiday Bazaar this Thursday and Friday Nov. 20 and 21.

It will feature nine vendors offering one-of-a-kind items including home goods, crafts, jewelry, knitwear, wind chimes, and much more. Plus there will be a bake sale, two raffles and an ornament donation tree. All proceeds will benefit Lap Robes for Veterans, a charity near and dear to The Maplewood; the organization donates homemade lap robes to all military veterans at the facility.

Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days. The Maplewood is located at 100 Daniel Drive in the Village of Webster. There’s plenty of free parking. This is a community event and all are welcome.

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The Women’s Club of Webster has announced details for their 31st annual Holiday Cookie Sale, 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.

AND while we’re talking about the Women’s Club, you’ll want to make plans now to attend the club’s December meeting, scheduled for Thursday, Dec. 18 at the Penfield Country Club.

Santa will be the special guest at the luncheon, so this is your chance to ask him all those questions you’ve ever wondered about, like what his favorite cookies are and who pulls his beard the most. Mrs. Claus will also be with him.

The meeting will be held at the Penfield Country Club, 1784 Jackson Rd. It begins with social time at 11:30 a.m., followed by the meeting at noon and lunch at 12:30. Cost is $25 and includes lunch, either Chicken French, a Reuben or Italian Melt sandwich. All lunches also come with fresh fruit and beverages. Send your check made out to WCW with your lunch choice by Dec. 11 to Carolyn Rittenhouse, 405 County Line Rd, Ontario, NY 14519. If you think your check might be late, call Carolyn at 585-265-1303 to hold your place.

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From the Webster CSD:

Families with children residing in their household who are ages birth to 5 years old are asked to help Webster CSD forecast enrollment by completing the brief Young Children Census.

You can complete the survey online at the Webster CSD website or here on an online form. It will only take a few minutes. Deadline is January 6.

This census is a young family’s first connection with the district and helps the school district keep in touch with the family as their child approaches school age. When families share their email address with Webster CSD through the census, it enables the district to notify those families when their children are eligible for prekindergarten and kindergarten registration.

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Webster Comfort Care Home’s 2025 Holiday Raffle is now open, your chance to win some fabulous prizes. (Details about what they are can be found on the WCCH website.) Tickets are one for $25, three for $60 and six for $100 (that’s a bargain!). You can click here to purchase them online. The raffle will be live through Thursday Dec. 18, when the winners will be chosen. 

Not only is this a great opportunity to win a pretty awesome Christmas gift for yourself or a loved one, but you can feel good that you’ve supported a really awesome organization at the same time.

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Here’s another reminder that Country Gardeners of Webster will hold their annual Garden Club Holiday Sale on Saturday December 6 from 9 a.m. to noon at the Webster Recreation Center, 1350 Chiyoda Drive. This huge sale features fresh wreaths, arrangements, poinsettias, centerpieces and gifts that are created by hand by the club members. This is always a very popular event, so you want to get there early. Admission is 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 11/19/2025)

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Win great prizes, support Webster Comfort Care

16 Nov

The Webster Comfort Care Home has just announced details about its 2025 Holiday Raffle, which begins Nov. 18, and it looks pretty spectacular.

Here’s everything you need to know about what you can win:

FIRST PRIZE:

Treat yourself (and that special someone) to the ultimate night out! This basket includes:

  • Three (3) mini bottles of wine
  • $25 gift card for drinks at The Filling Station
  • $100 gift card for dinner at jojo Bistro & Wine Bar
  • $25 gift card for dessert at Dairy Queen
  • Keep the holiday magic going with four (4) passes to the Sweet Creations Gingerbread Exhibit at the George Eastman House — a must-see seasonal favorite!

This basket has everything you need for a night filled with fun, flavor, and festive cheer!

SECOND PRIZE:

Bring on the holly-jolly vibes and make your home merry and bright with this tree-themed basket holiday basket! Everything included celebrates the beauty of the season’s favorite evergreen. 

  • Festive tree-shaped serving dish
  • Tree-shaped décor
  • Cocktail and dessert napkins
  • Kitchen towels
  • Tree-print soup mug with matching sandwich cutter
  • Chicken noodle soup mix
  • BLT dip & cheeseball mix
  • Ghirardelli peppermint hot cocoa mixes
  • Winter pine scented candle
  • Frasier fir hanging sachet
  • Festive ornaments

The raffle will be live from Tuesday Nov. 18 through Thursday Dec. 18, when the winners will be chosen. Tickets are one for $25, three for $60 and six for $100 (that’s a bargain!). You can click here to purchase them online.

Not only is this a great opportunity to win a pretty awesome Christmas gift for yourself or a loved one, but you can feel good that you’ve supported a really awesome organization at the same time.

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. It’s an amazing agency that does great things for families experiencing the some of the most difficult times of their lives.

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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 11/16/2025)

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Webster Hope launches new newsletter and updated website

15 Nov

One of Webster’s finest community organizations has just gotten better.

Webster NY Hope, the nonprofit agency that supplies food, clothing, household goods and financial assistance to those in need, has recently launched a new newsletter and upgraded its website to keep the community better informed about its work.

The newsletter, Spreading Hope, will be published quarterly, in January, April, July and October. The inaugural issue, which came out last month, included news about Hope’s annual garage sale, back-to-school supply effort and a preview of its annual Christmas adopt-a-family project. Future editions will continue to highlight ongoing programs, special events and other news about how Webster Hope is fulfilling its mission to support families in need.

Each newsletter will be four pages long and published online, although hard copies will be available at the Webster Hope office, 1450 Ridge Rd.

Webster Hope’s website has also recently been redesigned to make it more user-friendly and accessible. The updated look features a new color scheme and reorganized page structure with several links on the homepage that provide details about Hope’s activities.

The front page, which will be updated regularly, highlights current activities and initiatives. Other pages outline ongoing events (with lots of photos), volunteer opportunities, food and clothing donation needs, special projects and the annual garage sale, Webster Hope’s biggest event of the year.

There’s even a page where you can download a copy of the new Spreading Hope newsletter, and sign up to get it delivered to your email every quarter.

So check out Webster Hope’s new website and sign up for the newsletter to stay in touch with everything this incredible organization is doing in — and for — our community.

Webster Hope is located at 1450 Ridge Rd., next to Holy Trinity Church.

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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 11/15/2025)

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More happenings this week and weekend

11 Nov

This is kind of a catch-up blog today with a few events that are coming up fast (or happening right now) which I neglected to mention in my recent mailbag.

The first is a happy occasion for Lala of Webster at 38 East Main St. in the Village of Webster. This adorable gift shop is celebrating its 7th anniversary this week, and owner Lisa Schlonski has an extra special deal cooked up for the occasion.

All this week (through Saturday) she’s giving away a FREE piece of Katie Loxton bling (worth $22 or more) when you spend at least $25. Also, when you make a purchase this week you’ll be entered to win one of several surprise giveaway bags.

So pop in this week, start your Christmas shopping, get some bling for yourself, and wish Lisa congratulations on her anniversary. In today’s business climate, seven years is commendable.

In honor of Veterans Day this week, this Saturday Nov. 15, the Webster Museum will present a talk by Tom Pellett, focused on the Civil War, called “Honoring Veterans.”

As you know, the War between the States, which began in 1863, could have separated the North and South. President Abraham Lincoln had a different idea and in his famous two-minute-long Gettysburg Address, which he presented at the dedication of the National Cemetery at Gettysburg, he shared those thoughts.

Tom has extensive knowledge about Webster veterans who fought in the Civil War. He’ll tell stories about some of those veterans, who went off to fight for the ideal that all men are created equal.

The presentation will take place at the Webster Museum, 18 Lapham Park in the Village of Webster, on Saturday, Nov. 15 beginning at 2 p.m. Refreshments will be served and the museum is handicap-accessible. For more information, visit the museum’s website at webstermuseum.org.

There’s no cost and registration is not necessary.

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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 11/11/2025)

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Julianna Salon named Chamber Business of the Month

10 Nov

Congratulations to Julianna Salon, honored as the November Business of the Month by the Webster Chamber of Commerce.

Julianna Salon, located at 980 Ridge Rd. in Webster, is a full-service hair and beauty salon dedicated to providing an inclusive, friendly, and relaxing environment. It specializes in professional hair services which include cutting, coloring, blonding and highlighting, complemented by natural gel nail services and spa treatments.

Maria Criscitello and Julianna Tallo started the family-owned Julianna Salon in 2014 in Rochester’s South Wedge neighborhood. The salon quickly became known for its welcoming atmosphere and dedication to exceptional service. Over the years, their passion for family and community has fueled their growth into a multi-location salon, serving clients in both Webster and Rochester.

Julianna Salon participates in local community events and collaborations, including pop-up events with local vendors, donation drives and fundraisers. At the end of last year, they hosted a Daddy-Daughter Hair Workshop, teaching fathers how to style their daughters’ hair and creating special bonding moments. The proceeds from this event were donated to Empowering People’s Independence (EPI).  

The salon also organizes seasonal food drives, donates canned goods to local food pantries, and hosts annual gift and food fundraisers. They coordinate with BOCES in both Ontario and Monroe counties to offer free internships for students seeking industry shadows, and their team hosts no-cost educational events in their training facility.

The Webster Chamber of Commerce hosts a monthly breakfast for Chamber members, guests, and visitors who are interested in investigating Chamber membership. The December breakfast will be held on Friday Nov. 21 beginning at 7 a.m. at the Webster Golf Club, 440 Salt Rd. The monthly breakfasts are opportunities to network, meet new contacts, develop current business relationships, learn, and earn visibility for your business or organization. This is the largest monthly Chamber networking event in the Greater Rochester area, with 70-90 attendees. Bring a door prize for visibility and your business card, to take your chances on winning a prize, too.

This month, Breakfast Before Business attendees are also being asked to bring winter hats, gloves, scarves and socks to be donated to Webster Hope.

Visitors and members are welcome. Please register here.

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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 11/10/2025)

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Two ways you can help families in need right now

7 Nov

Our neighbors in Webster are currently facing significant hardship due to the delay in SNAP benefits caused by the ongoing government shutdown. This is a critical time when many families who rely on this aid are struggling to meet their basic needs.

Several days ago, I posted a blog detailing various locations across Webster and Rochester where families can access immediate food, clothing, and financial support. If you know anyone in need, please direct them to that resource immediately.

In addition to sharing those links, here are a few direct, actionable ways for individuals and families to help provide direct assistance to those who are most vulnerable right now.

Webster Hope and Webster Community Chest are partnering to distribute all the fixings for Thanksgiving dinner. Months ago when they started planning the effort, they expected only about 175 families to sign up. As of today, there are 275 families requesting meals.

The Webster Community Chest is taking the point in collecting most of the food, and you can find out what they need here on the WCC website (scroll to the bottom of the page for the list). Webster Hope, however, is collecting ground coffee, and they’re in desperate need and are asking for donations from the community.

Any coffee dropped of at Webster Hope (1450 Ridge Rd.) through Nov. 17 will be used for the Thanksgiving distribution. It can be dropped off during Hope’s regular open hours:

  • Monday 5 to 7 p.m.
  • Tuesday 10 a.m. to noon
  • Wednesday 3 to 5 p.m.
  • Thursday 5 to 7 p.m.

Webster Hope also accepts donations of food and hygiene items and gently used clothing for their regular weekly distributions. The organization regular updates their critical needs on their website. Here’s the October/November list:

  • Coffee and tea
  • Crackers
  • Tuna, albacore preferred
  • Canned chicken
  • Macaroni and cheese, boxed
  • Pasta, all types except spaghetti
  • Canned beets, pineapple
  • Applesauce
  • Oatmeal, instant or regular type

Toiletries

  • Shampoo and conditioner
  • Deodorant
  • Dish soap and hand soap
  • Toothpaste
  • Baby wipes *HIGH NEED*

This reference here also lists ongoing needs. Items can be dropped off at Webster Hope, 1450 Rdge Rd. (east of Phillips) anytime during their normal open hours.

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I was reminded today of a few more ways you can directly help those in need in our community: food pantries.

Anyone at any time can donate food to the residents of the 500-unit Phillips Village community off Phillips Road. Any shelf-stable food is welcome. The Phillips Village pantry is located outside the office, accessible from the office parking lot at 100 Krieger Road between Ridge and State Roads. 

St. Martin Food Pantry — 813 Bay Rd., Webster. Self-serve, accessible outside 24/7. Call 585-671-1899, or email stmartinwebster@gmail.com.

Webster Baptist Church Food Pantry — 59 South Ave., Webster. Self-serve, accessible outside 24/7. Call 585-265-9480 or email office@wcbus.org.

Webster Public Library Food Pantry — 980 Ridge Rd., Webster. Self-serve, inside library entryway. (Includes hygiene items.)

Webster United Church of Christ Food Pantry — 570 Klem Rd., Webster Self-serve, accessible outside 24/7. Call 585-671-3757.

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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 11/7/2025)

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Grab a sub for dinner, support Wreaths Across America

4 Nov

For the fourth year in a row, our Webster Jersey Mike’s Subs shop on Ridge Rd. will be hosting a fundraiser to support Wreaths Across America-Webster and its mission to place a wreath on the grave of every veteran in our town.

During the fundraiser, scheduled for Nov. 10 to 12, community members can get a free regular Jersey Mike’s sub in return for a $3 donation to Wreaths Across America. But you have to have a coupon to participate; you can get yours right now at one of these village businesses:

Over the last three years, the campaign has raised more than $1800 for Wreaths Across America. That kind of community support is crucial again this year, as organizers hope to place 2,100 wreaths across three Webster cemeteries on this year’s Wreath Across America Day, Saturday, Dec. 13.

Wreaths Across America Day is an initiative to honor and remember fallen veterans, a day when volunteers place wreaths on the graves of almost three million veterans at cemeteries across the country and across the world. Webster has participated in this solemn occasion every year since 2022, when volunteers placed about 650 wreaths at Webster Union Cemetery. In 2023, Webster Rural and Union Hill joined the effort, and last year, Holy Trinity Cemetery also participated for the first time.

In addition to nabbing one of those coupons and heading to Jersey Mike’s, here are a few other ways you can help:

  • Sponsor a wreath. Each sponsorship costs $17, and $5 from each will be donated to local Gold Star Families, who have lost an immediate family member in active duty. Click here to go to Webster’s Wreaths Across America page and sign up.
  • Help out on Dec. 13. Local organizers still need volunteers to distribute the wreaths after the ceremony. Email websterwreaths@icloud.com for more information.

Our Webster Jersey Mike’s is located at 975 Ridge Rd., in the small plaza across from the former Hegedorn’s.

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 11/4/2025)

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An update on The Coach

2 Nov

I’ve been getting questions about The Coach lately; people are wondering if I’ve heard anything about how repairs are progressing and when it might reopen. Last week I finally had a chance to stop down there and chat with owner Fritz Sierk, who filled me in on how things are going.

It’s been almost eight months since the devastating St. Patrick’s Day fire that tore through The Coach. It started behind the bar, and while the building remained structurally sound, the heat, smoke and water damage meant that the whole place had to be gutted. It’s been a long process cleaning it out, removing the destroyed equipment and furnishings, and drawing up the new plans, and there were several hurdles along the way, but construction finally began in earnest about three weeks ago.

The interior of the bar is still pretty much stripped down to the beams and studs, which was kind of sad to see. And you can still see a lot of fire damage (including charred beams from the last time it burned, in 1969). But Fritz’s vision of what “The Coach 2.0” (as he called it) will be like brought it back to life for me.

For starters, the bar area will be two feet bigger to accommodate larger sinks. The bathrooms “are going to be huge,” Fritz said, expanding into the former “smoking hut” space. A new overhang on the back deck will accommodate smokers, keeping them mostly out of the weather. A second, smaller, fenced-in patio will be added on the east end of the building. And perhaps most exciting of all, Fritz will be installing two garage-door windows overlooking the patios — similar to the big window at the Mary Wee Pub across the street. The pool table and darts will be back, and all of the TVs, including the four big ones on the west wall which can be used individually or stitched together as a huge screen.

In the end it’s still going to be the same, familiar Coach that we all know and love. Just a little bit better.

Architectural renderings of what the “new” Coach will look like

“I still want The Coach to be The Coach,” Fritz said. “Even though it’s new, we tried to make it comfortable, we tried to make it not too fancy. There are plenty of fancy places around.”

“You know. It’s the Coach.”

If construction stays on schedule, Fritz hopes to be open by late January. If not then, then definitely by the first weekend of February — in time to watch the Bills in the Super Bowl.

And all that work you’re seeing being done to the sidewalk in the front of the building? Don’t worry, most of it was planned, in part due to the new patio and garage-door windows. So even though it kind of looks like a mini disaster, rest assured it’s all part of the big plan and we’ll have our beloved Coach back before you know it.

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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 11/2/2025)

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Yet another way Lollypop Farm is watching out for our beloved pets

1 Nov
Janie Veldhuizen from Penfield checks in her “puppy” Gretel
An emergency response team member receives Gretel …
… then leads her to the decontamination area

In my retirement years, I find myself doing more and more volunteer work for organizations that are important to me. One of those is Lollypop Farm. I’ve been fostering cats and kittens for almost two years now, and more recently have been helping out with the shelter’s free vaccination events held downtown.

But a few weeks ago, I participated in a very interesting and very useful emergency drill held at the Monroe County Fleet Garage on Paul Rd., in conjunction with the Monroe County Office of Emergency Management, the Ginna Radiological Team, Webster Animal Control and Seneca Park Zoo. It was Lollypop’s first-ever Animal Emergency Response Team drill. We don’t often think about it, but if there’s ever an emergency which requires evacuation, family pets will also be affected, and plans have to be made to accommodate their needs as well.

The scenario was an emergency evacuation due to an accident at Ginna Nuclear Power Plant, which would definitely affect us here in Webster. If that were to happen, residents and animals would have to report to different shelters for decontamination.

About a dozen community volunteers (including me) participated in the effort, bringing our own live pets (including a guinea pig) or stuffed animals. Our first stop was to drop them off at the decontamination area, where we were photographed (to make sure we were reunited with the right animals) and received registration paperwork. It was really interesting watching the staff members manage a lot of little details you wouldn’t think about — even to the point of how to handle the paperwork without becoming contaminated. After a short while, we received a call telling us to drive around to another area and pick up our pets.

According to Barbara Hollands, supervisor for the Webster Police Department’s Animal Control Unit, “The purpose of the drill is to see where we need to improve, modify, or streamline a process. Once we analyze this drill, we will then start to bring in the other entities within the county that will need to be added, such as the DEC, veterinarians, Verona Street, etc.”

She added,

All aspects of decontamination are drilled. There are specific protocols that are and need to be followed, much like the beginning of COVID. Basically, you do not want to spread anything. It is all about containment and cleaning, with proper disposal of the contaminated materials.

And above all, “Keep your hands away from your face!”

Lollypop Farm is the only shelter which has come this far in creating response teams, so they’re leading the way. We here in Rochester are extremely fortunate to have such an amazing organization watching out for our four-legged family members.

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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 10/28/2025)

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Now open: two village businesses to help you look and feel better

30 Oct

Lovely You Aesthetics and Root Rituals Head Spa held their ribbon cutting ceremonies recently, officially joining the Village of Webster business scene.

Located at 82 North Ave., Lovely You Aesthetics offers a wide variety of services including bio repeels, chemical peels, micro needling, Botox, fillers, personal skin care evaluations, weight management and more. The location is a beautiful old two-story house built in 1914 which still holds much of its original charm including leaded glass, stained glass windows, and coffered ceilings. There are two treatment rooms downstairs, four treatment rooms upstairs, and two bathrooms.

photos credit Chrisom B Photography

Owner Carla Ann Scheiber held her grand opening and ribbon-cutting on Friday, Oct. 17, complete with a “happy-hour-style” open house with signature cocktails, finger foods, vendors, raffles and giveaways.

Root Rituals Head Spa’s ribbon-cutting ceremony took place on Saturday, Oct. 18. The spa is located at 28 East Main St., in the former R Salon storefront, and will specialize in scalp treatments and scalp care — a “head spa” in the Japanese tradition. Clients familiar with R Salon will find that Melissa has added some nice personal touches, including a small boutique area, an espresso machine, and a display of her own products — scalp oil, scalp scrub and scalp tonic.

About two dozen friends and family members attended the ceremony to support owner Melissa Diodato Linder as she officially opened her new business, and there was plenty of food and drink for everyone to enjoy.

Welcome to Webster, Carla and Melissa!

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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 10/30/2025)

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