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Mother’s Day, brought to you by the Village of Webster

2 May

Looking for a great way to celebrate your mother this Mother’s Day? The Village of Webster’s got you covered. From memorable gifts to delicious desserts to live music and dinner out, the options are … well, not endless, but plentiful.

If you’re looking for a unique gift, start at Lala of Webster. Lala is an adorable gift shop at 38 East Main Street, whose shelves are full of great ideas for Mom, from fashion to jewelry, personal care items to home decor, “I-love-my-pet” stuff, “I love-my-wine” stuff, and so much more. What I especially like about Lala’s is that the prices are reasonable. It would be a great place to bring your kids shopping if they want to get something extra special for Mom.

Jojo Wine & Bistro is right next door to Lala’s on East Main, a great place to take Mom to lunch or dinner. They have live music on Thursday nights, too, in case you want to celebrate Mother’s Day early.

And Jojo is just one of the great restaurants in the village that would make for a memorable Mother’s Day dinner. They include:

If you’re looking for something a bit more casual, there are even more options. Check out my Village Directory for more ideas.

If you’re planning a Mother’s Day brunch, make sure to get your breads and sweet treats from the Village Bakery & Cafe (44 E. Main St.), Sweet Square Bakery (3 W. Main St.), or the brand new Sweet Shenanigans bakery (15 E. Main St.). And never forget The Goodie Shop (83 North Ave.) for hand-made candies, cookies and Mike’s famous three-layer ice cream cakes.

I’m sure I’m forgetting something, so let me know if I need to add to these lists. There are just so many great village businesses it’s hard to highlight them all.

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(posted 5/2/2026)

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

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Reconnecting with Play-a-Latte play café

30 Apr

One of the things I like best about attending the Webster Chamber of Commerce’s monthly Breakfast Buffet meeting is that I get to reconnect and check in with dozens of Webster-area business owners whom I have gotten to know through my blog.

At the April meeting, held last Friday April 24 at the Webster Golf Club, I had the pleasure to sit next Richelle Acker, co-owner of Play-a-Latte play café, located in the Towne Center Plaza on Ridge Rd. (Target plaza). Richelle and her sister Kristi Phillips opened the adorable little play space last September, and of course I wrote a blog about it. But I haven’t been back even once since then, to chat and see how things are going.

Apparently, I’ve missed out on a lot. Judging from what Richelle was telling me about the programs they’ve created and community connections they’re making with neighboring businesses, she and Kristi seem to have really settled into their business and found their groove.

If you’ve never been to Play-a-Latte yet, you really ought to pop in just to see what it’s all about. The bright, kid-friendly space features custom-built playhouses (retail and service shops), surrounding a “central park”-type area with picnic tables and ice cream cart, all encouraging imaginative play. There’s also a fenced-off area for very young children, a party room, and a separate sensory room: a quieter, calmer space with muted lighting, fidget toys and sensory tiles and boards. Plus, there’s plenty of comfortable seating for parents and grandparents, and a nice variety of refreshment options for both adults and children.

It’s basically a great place for parents to unwind with a beverage while their children are exploring, pretending, learning and making new friends.

And that’s just a start. Richelle and Kristi are always coming up with fun and creative new programs for young children and their caregivers. For example, in May there’s:

  • Love 2 Learn Sensory Class, Monday May 4 from 8 to 9:30 a.m. Forty minutes of structured sensory activities, music and take-home craft followed by playtime. 
  • Live Puppet Show, Saturday May 16 from 12:30 to 2 p.m. A fun and educational live puppet show for ages three and up. Featuring the “Move & Groove” show by Grace & Grins Puppets, which includes music and dancing. Ticket also includes playtime after the show. Adults are free.

Click here to find out more and purchase tickets for any of these events. Play-a-Latte play café is located on the west side of Towne Center Plaza on Ridge Rd. (next to Cold Stone).

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(posted 4/30/2026)

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

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Welch’s Greenhouses: Still growing after 45 years

29 Apr

Now that the weather is finally becoming more spring-like, we’re all beginning to think about planting some flowers and vegetables. When you’re trying to decide where to find a nice selection, remember that Welch’s Greenhouses, on Webster Rd. just south of the village, has got you covered — and has for decades.

Welch’s owners, Bill and Laura Vendel, are celebrating a pretty big anniversary in 2026: 45 years of offering high quality plants and garden supplies to the greater Webster community.

The garden shop’s history actually goes back to 1959, when it first opened as a specialized nursery, growing tomato plants for local farmers to supply area canning factories. When those factories closed, the greenhouses transitioned into the retail garden center we know today, offering flowers and vegetable plants for home gardeners.

Bill and Laura Vendel purchased Welch’s in 1981, and since then have continued to expand its footprint and selection of home gardening plants and supplies. They’ve added two greenhouses and much more retail space inside — about 20,000 sq. feet, by Bill’s estimate, packed to the gills with vegetable plants, flowers and hanging baskets; plus bulk topsoil, gravel, mulch, grass seed, sand, and more. Just about anything a home gardener might need.

Bill and Laura have carved out their own niche in Webster’s crowded garden center scene, where their small, family-run business puts personalized service first.

“We try to make sure people feel comfortable,” Laura said, “and I treat everybody like they’re my friend…. People come back because they get that feeling. They see a familiar face and they get to say hello. When you go places, I don’t think you get to do that very often.”

Bill and Laura also take special pride in being a starting point — a first job — for local youth. Many former employees now stop by with their own children, completing a circle of community support. As Bill puts it, “We’re proud of the fact that we’ve been able to give back,” reflecting on the generations they’ve served.

Welch’s Greenhouses is located at 1271 Webster-Fairport Rd. (Rt. 250), less than a mile south of the village. Stop by, grab some spring flowers, and congratulate Bill and Laura on their anniversary.

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(posted 4/29/2026)

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

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A quick update on The Coach

23 Apr

If you’ve passed through the Village of Webster recently, you’ve likely noticed that renovations to the The Coach Sports Bar are still a work in progress. Both the inside and outside have a ways to go before the taps start flowing again at the popular local hangout.

It’s been more than a year since the devastating St. Patrick’s Day, 2025 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. Owner Fritz Sierk was originally hoping that he’d be able to reopen in time for the Super Bowl last February (which he fully expected the Bills to be playing in). Clearly, that date came and went as unexpected delays and construction hurdles kept pushing the reopening date down the road.

But things are finally nearing completion and Fritz says he hopes to open in a “couple of weeks.” And when he finally does, the wait will most definitely have been worth it.

Some of the highlights of the new space include a larger, more comfortable bar space with better lighting; a large overhang on the back deck to accommodate smokers, replacing the old “smoking hut” which had to be removed to enlarge the bathrooms; a small, fenced-in patio at the east end of the building, providing additional seating; a 140-inch LED wall replacing the four huge TVs on the west wall of the seating area; and there are two new “garage-door windows,” very much like the one at the Mary Wee Pub across the street.

But Fritz is especially proud of those new bathrooms. They’re much larger and completely updated, and feature individual rooms with doors, rather than stalls.

Fritz is really looking forward to showing off the “new” Coach to the community.

“I’m excited to finally open,” Fritz said. “It’s been long enough. The place is just amazing. It’s certainly not the old Coach but I think it’s got enough personality to be good. I like the openness, the ‘Mary Wee’ windows, the soffit around the bar … and the bathrooms are incredible.”

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

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(posted 4/23/2026)

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

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Webster community mailbag

19 Apr

A few new offerings in today’s mailbag, and some reminders.

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.

Upcoming Chamber events

The Webster Chamber of Commerce‘s next monthly meeting — complete with a breakfast buffet — is Friday, April 24 at the Webster Golf Club, 440 Salt Rd., beginning at 7 a.m. The event is for members, guests and visitors who are interested in investigating a Chamber membership.

The meetings are opportunities to network, meet new contacts, develop current business relationships, learn, and earn visibility for your business or organization. It’s the largest monthly Chamber networking event within the Greater Rochester area, with 80-100 attendees. Bring a door prize for increased visibility and your business card, to take your chances on winning a door prize! Online reservations are required by Thursday, April 23 at noon.  

The Chamber’s next Connect @ Noon networking event will be held on Tuesday, May 5 at the Webster Chamber of Commerce office at 1110 Crosspointe Lane. It will be hosted by Rich Marlin from Edward Jones and Kara Galante from The Steam Police. Members and professionals interested in doing business in Webster and are prospective Chamber members are invited to attend this event. Bring your business card and a door prize for even more visibility. 

There’s no fee to attend the Connect @ Noon events, but registration is required.

And now, some reminders …

The Webster Comfort Care Home‘s Mother’s Day Raffle is still going on.

  • First prize ($500+ value) is a self-care bundle including WOW hair products, a gift certificate to Evie Boutique, a candle, and more in a Thirty-One Catch-All Bin.
  • Second prize ($125 value) includes a big bottle of Prosecco, two insulated wine glasses, wine charms, sassy sticky notes, and a soft, cozy afghan.
  • Third prize ($50 value) is a candle, dream pillow, sassy sticky notes, and $20 in gift cards to Lala of Webster.

Tickets are $25 each, 3 for $60 or 6 for $100, and are available at the WCCH website. Drawing will be held on May 3 at 10 a.m. Click here to get your tickets.

Good books, cheap

The Friends of WPL’s Spring Book Sale takes place Wednesday, April 22 through Saturday April 25.

The first day of the sale, April 22 from 4 to 7 p.m., is exclusively for Friends members. Membership can be purchased at websterlibrary.org or at the door.

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

Got expired drugs?

Webster Health and Education Network, together with the Town of Webster and the Webster Police Department will host a DEA National Drug Take Back event on Saturday, April 25 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Webster Town Court, 1002 Ridge Rd. (behind Town Hall; look for the blue roof). Clear out your medicine cabinet to help to keep Webster safe. This will be a drive-through event so you don’t even have to get out of your car! 

It’s chicken barbecue time again!

St. Martin Lutheran Church will hold its Spring Drive-Thru Chicken BBQ on Saturday, May 2 at the church, 813 Bay Road, Webster. The event begins at 4:30 p.m. and will continue until all dinners are sold out. Dinners will include a half chicken, salt potatoes, coleslaw, roll, butter and cookie, and will cost $15.

The event will be drive-through only and there will be no advance sales; first-come, first-served. Cars should enter the parking lot, follow the signs, and purchase dinners using exact payment of either cash or check. Cars will then pick up boxed dinners.

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(posted 4/19/2026)

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

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Ryndock Realty named Webster Chamber Business of the Month

18 Apr

Congratulations to Ryndock Realty, honored as the April Business of the Month by the Webster Chamber of Commerce.

Ryndock Realty, located at 1250 State Rt. 104 in Ontario, is owned by Sylvia Ryndock, who received the award in honor of her commitment to her business and her community, and her service with the Webster Chamber of Commerce.

It was a deeply personal turning point in her life which inspired Sylvia to start her business. In 2013, after being diagnosed with cancer, Sylvia was inspired to pursue a long-considered goal of obtaining her real estate broker’s license. Following an arduous 16-month battle, she emerged with a renewed perspective: “You never know how long you have on this earth.” This realization motivated her to fully commit to building a business grounded in personal service, education and purpose.

The Chamber values community service, and Sylvia lives a life of contribution to others. She serves as Director on the Webster Chamber Board and is a member of the Marketing & Communications Committee. She volunteers with the Wayne County Business Council and Genesee Valley Aglow International, and she and her husband Mark lead New Breed Fellowship. Sylvia also volunteers to prepare taxes for seniors, leads a jail ministry, supports women through her own Begin Again program, and hosts the Mobile Mammography Center at her office.

Through her breast cancer and personal loss experiences, Sylvia communicates a depth of compassion, resilience, and understanding through her Realtor and community service work. These experiences translate into personal and professional support of her clients and community.

Congratulations to Ryndock Realty for being chosen for this well-deserved honor.

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. Less than 3% of the members are chosen annually.

ABOUT THE WEBSTER CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

The Webster Chamber of Commerce is a membership driven organization that provides support, networking opportunities and education to its members. They foster collaboration among business, community and government to promote Webster’s economic vitality and quality of life. The Webster Chamber is the voice and catalyst of business. Working together, the Chamber delivers a strong community of choice. rocENROLL HEALTH is owned and operated by the Chamber, offering health insurance enrollment throughout your lifetime. This service began in 1938.

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

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(posted 4/18/2026)

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Village of Webster’s newest bakery will open Friday

14 Apr

If you love baked goods, you’ll be very excited to learn that Sweet Shenanigans, the Village of Webster’s newest bakery, is set to open its doors this Friday April 17.

Sweet Shenanigans, located at 15 East Main St., is owned and operated by Brittany Butler and Kyle Babcock. They’re basically taking over the space recently vacated by the Kiss Me Cookie bake shop. There are still a few final touches to finish up, one last inspection to sign off on, and an outdoor sign to install. Plus, they have to do a LOT of baking, but they’re just about ready to go.

It helped that their new shop was pretty much a turn-key operation, given its recent history as Kiss Me Cookie. They had to make a few electrical adjustments, and get some more commercial equipment like coolers and freezers, and some more display cases. But in general, it did not take them much time to bring everything up to snuff.

Brittany and Kyle both have backgrounds in baking and food service. Brittany has been baking for 15 years, mostly out of the house, often distributing through local bakeries and restaurants. But, she said, “We kind of got to the point where we’re like, yeah, we should do this for ourselves. It’s fun!”

They started seriously thinking about making the leap about three years ago. But finding the right place proved to be a challenge.

“We looked all over the Finger Lakes” Kyle said. “We had a couple decent places lined up — one in Macedon and one in Geneva — and they just fell through. … (Then) this place opened up in Webster, and we jumped on it.”

“We kind of just fell into it,” Brittany added. “I just so happened to be looking at the right place at the right time on the right day on the internet.” So it was if fate led them to our little village, and they couldn’t be happier. The response from residents and neighboring businesses has been “great,” Brittany said. “Everyone is so lovely. Everyone’s been so welcoming, so supportive. It’s been fantastic.”

Brittany and Kyle have a clear vision for carving out their own niche among the village’s bakeries, starting with a signature line of artisanal breads.

For example, “We’re going to do salty bread,” Kyle said. “People look for that. A nice sturdy solid loaf topped with sea salt.” They’ll also be baking up a variety of pastries, like danishes, turnovers, cookies, cannolis, peanut butter bars, cinnamon rolls, their own version of Pop-Tarts, and other “fun stuff.”

My husband and I are particularly looking forward to sampling Sweet Shenanigans’ Czech kolaches, which we first discovered on our trip to Prague last year. Think sweet, brioche-like yeast dough filled with fruit, cheese or poppy seeds.

Sweet Shenanigans is located at 15 East Main Street, two doors down from the Village Quilt Shoppe. Their sign hasn’t been installed yet, but in the meantime, look for a shop full of sweet treats and smiling faces, and follow your nose to some delicious baked goods. Their regular hours will be  Tuesday through Saturday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. You can connect with them on Facebook, Instagram (@sweetshenanigansbakes) or TikTok. Call 585-478-3603 or email sweetshenanigansbakes@gmail.com.

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(posted 4/14/2026)

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

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Woodside celebrates 70 years of learning and caring

13 Apr

Generations of laughter echoed through Woodside Nursery School on Saturday afternoon as the Klem Road landmark celebrated 70 years of early childhood education. From toddlers to grandparents, dozens of former students, family members and friends gathered for a nostalgic afternoon of cotton candy, balloon art, and a photo retrospective spanning seven decades of school history.

Woodside Nursery School, located on Klem Rd., was founded in 1956 as a non-profit, non-sectarian, co-operative nursery school. Its nature as a “co-operative” school distinguishes it from traditional childcare centers, as the school is owned and administered by the parents as a non-profit organization. They work together to hire trained teachers and a program coordinator, while the parents themselves participate as teacher assistants.

Because of its parent-run structure, families are deeply involved in the classroom on a rotating basis, which fosters a kind of “second home” atmosphere for students. The core philosophy is focused on “learning by doing,” utilizing activities like “magic gardening” and process-oriented art to build confidence and curiosity.

Since its founding, Woodside has operated out of the United Church of Christ at 570 Klem Rd. The school serves children ages 2 to 10, offering a wide variety of age-appropriate programs encompassing child-led projects; music and movement; dramatic play; sensory exploration; language, literacy and math skills, and much more.

To find out more about Woodside Nursery School and how you and your child can become part of the family, visit their website or Facebook page.

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(posted 4/13/2026)

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

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There’s lots going on at Annette’s

10 Apr

My husband is a huge fan of jazz, and apart from when the Webster Jazz Festival comes to the village every summer, opportunities to see jazz locally are few and far between.

So I was very excited to learn from a friend that Annette’s Restaurant on West Main St. in the Village of Webster hosts jazz bands twice a week. After she shared that news with me, it was only a few days later that we decided to head down there after dinner to check out the scene. We were not disappointed.

The band that Saturday evening was the Darryl Parker Quartet, who filled the cozy space for two hours with smooth jazz and blues favorites. We met up with some friends and thoroughly enjoyed the atmosphere — pints, appetizers and pleasant conversation. The ambiance at Annette’s is a perfect complement to jazz performance. It’s small and intimate, so it’s easy to hear the music. The audience members were clearly all there to hear the musicians, so it was like we all were sharing the musical experience.

Annette’s hosts live jazz bands every Tuesday and Saturday night. The Darryl Parker Quartet will be there pretty much every Saturday, and Tuesday’s bands will rotate among Indigo Breeze, Melvin Henderson & Paradigm Shift, the Stewie Evans Trio, and others. There’s no cover charge, but reservations are a good idea.

Daryl Parker Quartet
Indigo Breeze

BUT THERE’S MORE!

Annette’s also has brought regular live comedy to the village. The most recent show featured Dario Joseph, Cindy Arena and Kevin Markman. Information about upcoming shows can be found on Annette’s website or Facebook page.

PLUS, one Saturday afternoon each month, Grateful Line Danze Crew comes to Annette’s from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. for line dancing. They teach anyone who wants to learn, and the music is 80’s and 90’s (think Michael Jackson, Billy Joel, that kind of thing).

So check out Annette’s, at 27 West Main in the Village of Webster, ’cause there’s lots going on!

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(posted 4/10/2026)

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

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Raising the curtain for 90 years

7 Apr

Huge congratulations to the Webster Theatre Guild (WTG), which is celebrating its 90th anniversary this weekend.

This amazing community theater group has been entertaining audiences since 1936, with at least one production every year, and sometimes two or three. (There was that one glitch in 2020, but I think we can forgive the WTG for not staging a show that year.) Their repertoire has spanned timeless classics like The Music Man and The Sound of Music, plus lesser-known shows that never fail to surprise and delight. The organization also supports artistic endeavors and development through student scholarships and grants to the Webster PTSA and Webster Central School District.

The Guild’s mission is to provide area residents the opportunity to both attend and to participate in quality theatrical performances. Being an all-volunteer organization, they would not have been able to achieve this kind of longevity without community support. And they’re hoping that the greater Webster community will continue to show that support by attending a big anniversary party they’re throwing this weekend.

The event is a fundraising musical revue called “90 Years in 90 Minutes.” More than a dozen actors will perform seventeen musical numbers from shows the WTG has staged in recent memory, including Guys and Dolls, Once Upon a Mattress, The Sound of Music, The Music Man, Annie, The Wizard of Oz, Jekyll and Hyde, and Shrek. It will feature some of the most talented theater actors in our area. including many WTG veterans.

“90 Years in 90 Minutes” will take place this Saturday evening, April 11, at the Damascus Shrine Center, 979 Bay Rd. Doors open at 5:30 p.m., with a silent auction, wine pull and cash bar. A family-style pasta dinner will be served at 6:30 p.m., followed by the revue at 7 p.m. The evening will conclude with the announcement of the show the Guild has selected for their fall musical, which is scheduled for six performances this October at the Bishop Kearney Auditorium.

Tickets are $40 for the dinner and show, and can be purchased online here. The link will take you to a PayPal site, but even if you don’t have PayPal, you can use your credit or debit card. Please order soon so they know how many people to expect, and to make sure to reserve your seat, ’cause this one’s going to be popular!

Here are a few shots from previous productions:

Shrek, 2025 (Myers Creative Imaging)
Oklahoma, 2023 (Samper Images)
Addams Family, 2019
(Myers Creative Imaging)

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(posted 4/7/2026)

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

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