It’s getting cold out, but the holiday season in Webster is heating up, with a cool NEW event and some great improvements on an old favorite.
For starters, the village’s brand new “Hops and Stops” beer tasting event invites participants to not only enjoy some great craft brews, while also visiting many of our small businesses for some early Christmas shopping.
Hops and Stops will be Saturday Nov. 27 (not coincidentally Small Business Saturday). Glass pickup is at Finns Automotive, 44 East Main St, beginning at 2:45 p.m. Cost is $20 (tickets here). Please bring proper ID and you can’t pick up anyone else’s glass since they’ll also need to show an ID.
The beer walk itself runs from 3 to 6 p.m. There will be craft beer at some stops and food at others. These businesses will be participating:
Bernardi & Co. CPA
Webster Interiors
Woodland Silkscreen and Embroidery
OHHH, LORDEE! Everything Sauce
Village Vape or Smoke
The Modified Collective
Carl’s Pizza Kitchen
Crafty Christy’s Boutique
Dunkin’ Donuts
The Coach
BC’s Chicken Coop
The Cobblestone on Main
Barry’s Old School Irish
Lattimore Physical Therapy
Filling Station Pub & Grill
Kudos to the Webster BID for coming up with this great idea to get people out and shopping on Small Business Saturday!
Click here for more information and to get tickets.
White Christmas is Back!
Last year’s “reverse” Holiday Parade of Lights was fun, but I think everyone is excited to know that the REAL Parade of Lights will be returning the evening of Saturday Dec. 4. The parade is the highlight of a whole afternoon of holiday entertainment and activities planned during the Village of Webster’s White Christmas celebration.
This year’s event will feature something really fun: the gazebo in Veterans Park will be transformed into the North Pole for the day, complete with twinkling lights, elves, candy canes and much more. Santa will be there to greet the kids from 3 to 5 p.m. Kids can bring their letters and give them right to Santa or deposit them in his North Pole mailbox.
The Parade of Lights will begin at 6:30 p.m., winding its way from Phillips Rd. west down Main Street.
All of your White Christmas favorites will also be back this year, including carriage rides, hot cocoa, cookie decorating, storytime with Jason Poole from the Webster Public Library, caroling, and much more, including a “Toy Land,” for which everyone is encouraged to bring a new, unwrapped toy to donate.
Put this one on your calendar, folks. (Maybe we’ll actually get some snow this year.)
Now, I’m no stranger to working out. I walk, run, do a little weightlifting, a little yoga. But Pilates? Had no clue what it was. So when I sat down for a chat the other day with Erin Ferrante, owner of the new To the Core Pilates studio, I thought I should let her know that right off the bat.
To her credit, she didn’t laugh, or even giggle. On the contrary, she assured me that’s not unusual; a lot of people around here don’t know much about Pilates.
I came to realize that that example of non-judgmental acceptance pretty much sums up Erin’s approach to her new business and the people who walk through her door: everyone is welcome, no matter what shape you’re in or where you are in your fitness goals.
Even if you know nothing about Pilates.
To the Core Pilates opened on Oct. 4 in Towne Center plaza (Target plaza) next door to Visionworks. It’s a dream come true for owner Erin Ferrante, who first fell in love with Pilates when she was living in Aspen, Colorado several years ago. When she came back home to Wayne County, she brought that passion for Pilates with her, along with a dream of opening her own studio. She even had her eye on a plaza she knew very well from her Wayne County youth.
She remembers, “I said, ‘Mom I just want to move home and open a Pilates studio in Webster Plaza. A couple years later, here I am.”
She started small, first offering classes in an under-used building at Thornbee Farm in Walworth, owned by her aunt and uncle. The venture was extremely successful. She soon realized she needed more room, and was ready to take the next step. She found an 1800-sq. foot studio space in Towne Center, and started introducing what she calls a “very west coast fitness regimen” to the greater Webster community.
“There’s not really Pilates around here,” she explained.
A lot of people don’t know what it is. I’ve found that’s been one of the biggest things. People know how to lift weights around here or do burn boot camp. Pilates is a type of exercise where we focus on slow, controlled toning exercise. We do things that are high intensity but it’s a very low-impact workout.
So basically, Pilates stresses low-impact flexibility, muscular strength, and endurance. Which is pretty much why everyone can do it, regardless of fitness level.
I’m trying to help people understand that they don’t have to jump around to get a good workout. … The high impact stuff is not good for your joints and muscles. … The awesome thing about Pilates is we use very low weights, very high reps. I want to teach people that good exercise, maybe three days a week, clean eating and a little bit of walking is going to get them to the goals they’re looking for.
“I want people to feel like this is really a welcoming community when they come in the door,” she added. “No matter what their fitness level is, we can help them.”
It’s an approach that’s already winning a lot of fans, like Maria Derks. Packing up from an intense Barefoot Boot Camp class, she agreed with Erin, calling the atmosphere at To the Core Pilates as “very intimate. (Erin) makes me feel special,” she said. “She wants to make us all feel welcome.”
To the Core Pilates is located at 1028 Ridge Rd. (Towne Center plaza), next door to Visionworks in the plaza’s northwest corner. Classes offered include Pilates, core, yoga and high-intensity Barefoot Boot Camp. Plus, this coming Wednesday Nov. 17, Erin will also be hosting a special Nourish: Body & Mind nutrition workshop led by Erica of Revive Your Tribe, designed especially for women.
It was pretty busy Saturday night at Barry’s Old School Irish in the Village of Webster. But that was to be expected, as the little Irish pub was celebrating its 10th annivesary.
Hundreds of well-wishers streamed in and out throughout the evening, coming for the friendly atmosphere, great live music, good food and perfectly poured pints. Friends met up with friends, and strangers became new friends. And all evening, people were sharing their favorite Barry’s memories, from the time the horse came in the pub to when there was a fireplace in the corner — next to a couch.
Here’s a slideshow of photos from that evening (in no particular order).
OK, how stinkin’ cute is this? Listening to Russ Conlon’s ballad.
“Can I have your attention for the toast?”
Bagpipers are a Barry’s party tradition
Guinness was there offering free pints with your choice of photo on top.
Sean and Sarah of Barry’s Crossing reunited for the occasion to provide live music.
Later in the evening, Russ Conlon treated Danny and Jess to a sweet and beautifully performed ballad.
Someone shot off a confetti cannon.
The annual “looking to the future” photo
The confetti cannon fortunately missed MOST of the pints on the bar
Sarah Mossey of Barry’s Crossing
Sean Rosenberry of Barry’s Crossing
The whole gang
Raising a toast to Barry’s Old School Irish
Barry’s Runners came out in force to celebrate at their favorite running spot. (Please join us some Tuesday night.)
Santa Claus made a very special pre-holiday visit to town Saturday, bringing his North Pole workshop skills to the Bella’s Bumbas workshop in Webster. But rather than working on toys, he tried his hand at cobbling together his very own Bumba chair.
Ably assisted by elves Teagan Orr, Kenzie Fedele and Bella Shorr herself — whose story launched Bella’s Bumbas — Santa learned how to build a chair from the wheels up.
Bella’s Bumbas is run by Webster residents Marty Parzynski and Rebecca Orr, dedicated to building miniature wheelchairs for children with a wide variety of mobility issues. In the four years since Marty built the first Bumba for their niece Bella, they’ve shipped close to 2000 chairs to children in more than 50 countries, often adapting the chairs for each child’s individual needs, and charging the parents only for shipping.
Marty and Rebecca arranged for the special visit from Santa, originally inviting six of their “Bumbaleers” to attend. At the last minute, several of them couldn’t make it, but Kenzie and Bella’s delight alone at seeing the jolly old elf was enough to fill the room. They got their own elf hats, and were treated to a reading of the Christmas classic The Night Before Christmas, courtesy Santa himself.
The special Santa-built chair — which was signed by everyone that day — will soon be packed up and sent to a very lucky little boy named Tate in Connecticut.
Here are some more photos from that special afternoon when Bella’s Bumbas’ workshop became Santa’s workshop.
Kenzie Fedele, Teagan Orr and Bella Shorr are all ears as Santa reads The Night Before Christmas.
Santa’s elf Teagan Orr shows Santa how to install a wheel
Bella keeps an eye on how things are progressing in the workshop
Santa, Teagan Orr, Marty Parzynski and Kenzie Fedele
Santa signs the finished chair
This specially signed chair will be sent to a lttle boy in CT named Tate
Santa presents his three elves with gifts after the chair is done.
This special chair, resting under the big check Bella’s Bumbas received in September, is destined for Josue in Mexico.
Marty Parzynski chats with Santa about Josue’s specially designed chair
Bella’s Bumbas, by the way, relies entirely on donations to do their amazing work.
They recently received a huge one from a combined team of construction workers who are building the new Amazon warehouse in Gates.
When Rebecca and Marty were invited to stop by the work site on Friday Sept. 24, they had no idea why. When they got there, they were directed to a huge parking lot where row after row of tables were set up. Before long, they found themselves front-and-center in a short ceremony in which they were presented a huge check for $13,600.
Turns out, the construction team had been collecting donations and holding raffles for several weeks to raise money for Bella’s Bumbas. The tables were set up for a thank-you BBQ luncheon for everyone who donated. It was just the beginning of a continuing stream of donations from the team which eventually added up to $15,000.
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Rebecca explained,
Bella’s Bumbas, Ltd. was given an AMAZING donation from a combined group of construction workers building the new Amazon warehouse in Gates, a total of $15,000. Project ROC1 Team did raffles, a BBQ, and donations to bless Bella’s Bumbas. From that we have received several “residual” donations, thanks to S.M.A.R.T. local Union 46 and all their support. S.M.A.R.T. local Union 46, not only helps make parts for our little chairs, they also share our “mission of mobility.” That same morning (which coincidentally was also the third anniversary of our moving into our current shop location) we also received an amazing $3000 from Webster Presbyterian Church.
The donations Bella’s Bumbas received from the Project ROC1 Team and in the following days allowed them to ship about 55 Bumbas around the world, absolutely free, including to the Upstate Golisano’s Children’s Hospital in Syracuse, the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Haiti, Honduras, Canada, Belize, Turkey and Guatemala.
“Today we are truly THANKING God first and all our amazing supporters over the last four years,” Rebecca wrote.
We have been blessed beyond our wildest dreams. It has been a rewarding, blessed, chaotic, hectic, and WONDERFUL 4 years (and many more to come). We have received the most precious donations from $5 to $10 monthly thru auto payments, to $15,000 from fundraisers groups have done for us. From organizations locally to individuals we have never met.
Donations are not the only way Bella’s Bumbas operates. Our amazing volunteers, some local, some as far away as other countries, each doing their own special part of our “Mission of Mobility.” We are often baffled as to how to truly express our thanks and gratitude to so many people for the almost 2000 “bumbaleers” (named by an amazing grandmother, Ann Reid ) in now 53 countries.
We know each one of our very special bumbaleers has touched so many lives with their smiles,and laughs, and true little miracles.
“Bella’s Bumbas ‘Mission of Mobility’ all started for one little girl, our Bella, born with Spina Bifida, and is now also a BLESSED network of families encouraged and uplifted by each other,” Rebecca concluded. “Thank you seems so small compared to what Bella’s Bumbas has become with so many blessings.”
“THANK YOU from all of us here at Bella’s Bumbas and our little bumbaleers.”
Check out these photos and video of some of those happy little bumbaleers:
Barry’s Old School Irish is celebrating its 10th anniversary Saturday night.
There’s not much more I can say about this little Irish pub which I have not said before. How Barry’s has changed the face of Webster. How Barry’s has positively affected so many lives. How Danny and Jessica have become like family.
Several weeks ago I took my most recent stab at putting my feelings into words when I posted this preview of Saturday’s festivities. I have struggled since to come up a different way to note this remarkable occasion.
What I came up with is this photo retrospective from the last ten years. They begin with a shot of the unsightly bulding before Danny and Jessica purchased it, when the plumbing shop was still in business. There are photos from every anniversary (except #9, which didn’t really happen during the pandemic) and several special events, and concludes with the beautiful pub we have come to know and love.
Remember the old plumbing shop?
This was after the plumbing shop owner died and it was being prepared for a new owner,
The day before Barry’s officially opened. Look at the blank walls.
Look how young these kids were
Grand opening ribbon cutting
Grand opening
Maley’s surprise baby shower
Pre-Maley
Great Guinness Toast 2012
Great Guinness Toast 2012
An early traditional session, featuring local Irish music royalty Marty O’Keefe and Ted McGraw
First anniversary
First anniversary
Candlelight vigil for West Webster. 12/27/2012
12/27/2012
12/27/2012
Oops. This is a duplicate
Dan and Jess with Ted McGraw and Marty O’Keefe, 2012
Barry’s Crossing playing for the Great Guinness Toast 2012
2nd anniversary
2nd anniversary
2nd anniversary
Guinness Toast 2013
Guinness Toast 2013
3rd anniversary
3rd anniversary
3rd anniversary
New Year’s Eve 2013
New Year’s Eve 2013
4th anniversary
4th anniversary
4th anniversary
5th anniversary
5th anniversary
5th anniversary
6th anniversary
6th anniversary
6th anniversary
6th anniversary
7th anniversary
7th anniversary
7th anniversary
8th anniversary
New pews!!!
Barry’s today.
Compared to 2011
Here are some thoughts from Danny and Jess, taken from the Facebook event page.
Jessica and I are excited to celebrate the 10 Year Anniversary of Barry’s Old School Irish with everyone!
This little Irish Pub is special for so many reasons. A dream of ours to open after honeymooning in Ireland, which became a reality at 20 and 24 years old. We’ve brought 3 crazy kiddos into this world since the year we opened Barry’s- our kids have quickly gained MANY aunts and uncles from our community. We are so thankful to all those who call Barry’s home and are blessed to have made so many wonderful friends that have become family to us. We’ve shared a lot of lasting memories together in these 10 years, now let’s make a few more on November 6th during our Anniversary Party!
Here are some details, but you can find more information on the event page:
• 7 to 10 p.m.: live Irish Music by Sean & Sarah of Barry’s Crossing! They were our first ever musicians to play at the pub, and for a long time were the “house band.” They haven’t played together in a long time, and are reuniting for this performance. • Irish Whiskey reps. in with samples & give-aways • Irish Dancers in to perform • Give-aways from Guinness, Proper 12, Magners, and more • Bagpiper making an appearance
Barry’s Old School Irish is located at 2 West Main St., in the Village of Webster.
Well, it wasn’t as warm or sunny as we’ve experienced some years, and not as dry as most. But the few showers that we had yesterday afternoon didn’t deter hundreds of kids and their adults from strolling the Village of Webster’s streets during this year’s Trick-or-Treat Trail.
More than two dozen businesses participated this year, as well as the Webster Museum and Webster Volunteer Fire Department, which always uses the day to host its annual open house. The costume contest, modified this year to become a Covid-friendly walk-through event, ran so smoothly that I dare say it might become the norm for future years.
It’s always great to see how much fun the kids have, and how proud they are of their costumes. But I especially like seeing how many adults dress up as well, often as part of a family theme. It’s one of my favorite days of the year.
Many thanks to all the parents who let me stop them in their tracks so I could take photos. There’s more than 150 in my Facebook gallery, so there’s a good chance you’ll see yourself and your kids, or at least someone you know.
I’ve posted a few photos here, but click hereto see the gallery.
Looks like the weather’s going to be a little bit iffy on Saturday, but nothing is going to stop this year’s Webster Village Trick-or-Treat Trail. ‘Cause we need this to help life return to normal.
As always, the day will begin with a costume contest, but this year it will look a little different. Instead of everyone crowding into the Village Meeting Room for photos and judging, participants are being asked to do a meeting room walk-through. Here’s what I mean:
From 11 a.m. to noon, contestants will enter the meeting room via the parking lot side of the building (behind the fire house), fill out an entry form, be given an entry number, have their photo taken, and exit through the South Ave. side of the building. After all the photos have been reviewed, winners will be notified on Monday Nov. 1. (And I’ll post the winners here as well.)
The Trick-or-Treat Trail proper begins at noon and goes until 2:30 p.m. Grab your kids, get everyone into costumes (including you, too, Mom and Dad), then stroll through the village, visiting friendly merchants who will be handing out candy. This is a great chance to check out some of the newer businesses in town, or even some older businesses you’ve never been in before.
And make sure you stop by the Webster Volunteer Fire Dept., because they’ll be holding their annual open house, complete with demonstrations, free fire hats, and candy of course. And turn the corner on Lapham Park to take the short walk to the Webster Museum. The volunteers there always have something special planned.
Keep an eye out for me and my camera; I’ll be wandering the streets, too, taking photos of as many kids and families in costume as I can. Then I’ll post a really big photo gallery on Monday.
A cute, spunky little boutique moved into the Village of Webster recently, quietly setting up shop off the lower parking lot at 7 West Main St.
Crafty Christy’s Boutique opened several weeks ago, next door to the rear entrance of the Village Smoke Shop, just across from the gazebo. Stocked with vintage clothing, handmade and vintage jewelry and artfully decorated items, owner Christina Barnum describes her shop as “a boutique for the flower child at heart.”
“This is a very unique boutique,” she said.”My theory is recycle, reuse, recreate. So at least 50% of what is in here is upcycled, which I made from something else. It’s what I do best. I have a knack for finding things, putting things together…. (with my) little bohemian flair.”
I call Crafty Christy’s Boutique “spunky” because it exists only because of Christina’s conviction and downright determination.
This is actually the fourth time she’s tried to make a go of it. After operating a home-grown boutique from her Penfield home for a while, in 2015 she opened up her first shop behind the old Toy-Go-Round in Webster. Then called the Little House Boutique, a car accident put an end to that dream pretty quickly. Her next two tries in Palmyra and Ontario didn’t make enough money to survive.
Undeterred, Christina is trying again, with the same do-or-die spirit that got her through a stint with the Marines.
“The only reason I made it through (the Marines),” she said, “was because someone told me I couldn’t, and I said ‘watch me.’ It’s the same thing with this.”
Of course Christina would love to see this most recent attempt be successful, but to her, it isn’t just about financial success.
“It’s not about the money,” she said. “This is a passion I have. The connections I’ve made through all the attempts have been amazing. I’ve met some great people. I’ve inspired some women along the way, I’ve met other businesswomen and we all encourage each other. It’s more about that than anything else.”
This time around, Christina has reimagined her shop, changing the name to reflect her new focus on crafts. She’ll be hosting craft classes at least twice a month, and every Thursday night will be hanging around the shop for anyone who wants to just stop in and make-and-take a craft. (Her next jewelry craft class, by the way, is this Thursday Oct. 28 at 6 p.m.)
She also wants to offer craft therapy for veterans.
“I’ve been in different kinds of therapy throughout the years….I know the need to just be with others who have experienced the same things that you have and feel comfortable about talking about it. We want to kind of keep it low-key, let’s just be comrades and have some fun.”
On top of all of that, Christina is raising money through her sales to benefit Blessed Hope Community Church, and (soon) Pets for Vets.
It sounds like Crafty Christy’s Boutique is going to be a valued member of our Webster Village community.
Crafty Christy’s Boutique, in the lower parking lot at 7 West Main St., is open Monday through Thursday 3:30 to 7:30, Friday 3 to 5, and Saturday 11 to 5. Christina is still getting her Facebook page and website up and running, but you can see a few things at craftychristysboutique.com. Christina will also be participating in this weekend’s Trick or Treat Trail, so that would be a great time to pop in and check out the place. Call (585) 236-1131 for more information to to register for a class.
I’m excited to tell everyone a little bit about two brand new Village shops, one which recently opened and one which will be having its grand opening very soon.
First, the one that’s not open — quite yet. It’s called Whimsies, which is going into the the former Chandeliers Boutique at 32 East Main St. It’s right next door to Lala of Webster, which is not coincidental, because Whimsies is going to sort of be an extension of Lala’s. Or as owner Lisa Schlonski describes it, a gift shop operating under the Lala umbrella.
There’s not much to tell you about the shop yet; the 2,700-foot space is still being renovated, as you might have noticed if you’ve driven down Main Street recently. But Lisa did tell me the shop will be stocked with many of the more whimsical and “snarky” items that you can find right now at Lala’s, but — and this is going to be awesome — there’s also going to be a wide selection of vintage and “penny” candy.
Lisa hopes to have the shop up and running before Thanksgiving. Stay tuned for more details about that.
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Next, here’s just a sneak peek at a new boutique which recently opened at 7 West Main in the village.
It’s called Crafty Christy’s Boutique. I’m going to be chatting with the owner later today to get more information, but for now, on her website she describes her little shop as,
a veteran-owned business that reached out for folks looking for a pleasant place to shop, create and make new friends. (A) boutique for the flower child at heart. Beautiful jewelry, artfully decorated items, craft therapy, guest artist, and more.
I’ll be posting a more complete blog soon, but in the meantime, you can check out her website here, or even stop by and say hi. You’ll find her off the lower parking lot behind the W. Main Street shops, near the gazebo. She’s open Monday-Thursdday 3:30 to 7:30, Friday 3 to 5 and Saturday 11 to 5.
Lala of Webster, that adorable gift shop and boutique at 38 E. Main St. in the village, has organized a fun family event for this Saturday afternoon, especially for sports fans.
It’s a Family Tailgate Party, from 1 to 4 p.m. in the parking lot behind Lala’s on East Main St. (the same parking lot where you’ll find the Village Bakery and Roc and Soul Fitness).
Plans for the afternoon include tailgate food, custom Bills products for sale, a live broadcast by Big Dog Radio, and lots of games for the kids. Football players from both Webster Thomas and Webster Schroeder will be there, and there’ll be a 50/50 raffle, with proceeds donated to the Webster Football Boosters.
The event is being held in conjunction with several other fine village businesses: Jojo’s Bistro, Polar Freeze, Roc Dance, Roc and Soul Fitness and the Village Bakery and Café.
Sounds like a blast. I’ll be there with my camera, so come on down!
I feature the people and places and events that make Webster the wonderful community it is — and throw in some totally-not-Webster-related personal ramblings every once in a while as well.
I love it when readers send me news about the great things happening in their schools or the community, so please email me anytime at missyblog@gmail.com
