Archive | Local businesses RSS feed for this section

Webster Rotary invites community members to “Gear Up!”

9 May

rotaryYou’ll read more about this event in my Our Towns East Extra column this Thursday, but I think it’s such a great idea, I wanted to highlight it here in my blog as well.

The Webster Rotary has created a brand new community bike-riding fundraiser in honor of the Rotary Foundation’s 100th year.

The event, called “Gear Up!” is a long-distance community bike ride hosted in conjunction with the Town of Webster, the Webster Chamber of Commerce, and the Friends of Webster Trails. It’s scheduled for this Saturday May 13.

Three different courses have been mapped out. Individual participants can ride 26.5 or 53-mile road routes which take riders as far east as Pultneyville and south to Walworth.

A much shorter, 5-mile long trail ride is designed for families, guiding younger riders and their parents along Webster’s Bird Sanctuary, Chiyoda and Hojack trails. Registration fees are $26.50 for the longer rides, and $45 for the shorter ride, regardless of number of family members participating.

The unusual registration cost and ride distances are based on the fact that the Rotary Foundation began a century ago with a single donation of $26.50.

In addition to this being a nice family event, organizers hope that the longer distances will attract riders who are training for the 100-mile long Ride for Missing Children on May 19 or the Tour de Cure on June 10.

All of the proceeds raised in the Gear Up! ride will benefit the Rotary Foundation and its six areas of focus: clean water, literacy, maternal health, peace and conflict resolution, disease prevention and economic development. This year the Rotary is also focusing on raising money for End Polio Now, an initiative spearheaded by Bill and Melinda Gates.

The Gear Up! benefit bike ride this Saturday May 13 will begin at 8 am at the Webster Parks and Recreation Center, 1350 Chiyoda Drive. For more information and to register online, click here. Last-minute registrations will also be accepted at the Rec Center the morning of the ride.

* * *

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

You can also get email notifications every time I post a new blog by using the “Follow Me” link on the right side of this page.

Tags: , , , ,

Friday Webster Mailbag

4 May

mailbag

The Penfield Village Nursery School will be sponsoring a golf tournament on Friday June 2 to help celebrate the school’s 50th anniversary.

The tournament, held at Shadow Lake Country Club in Penfield, costs $100 per player, which includes 18 holes, a golf cart, and goodie bag, raffles and lunch.

Registration begins at 11:30 a.m. and play begins at noon.

Interested players, sponsors or businesses interested in donating prizes should contact Kacey Kiley at kldunbar@yahoo.com.  Organizers ask that completed registration forms and payment be submitted by May 15.

The Penfield Village Nursery School and Kindergarten is located at 1862 Penfield Road. Read more about the school in a blog I wrote about them last fall.

* * *

The Webster Arboretum Plant Sale will return on Saturday May 13, from 8:30 a.m. to noon at the Arboretum, 1700 Shlegel Road.

Visitors will find plants of all varieties offered for sale by the Arboretum, local commercial growers and local clubs. The Country Gardeners of Webster Garden Club members have chosen selected plants from their own gardens. What this means is that all of the plants for sale will definitely grow in Webster with some sun, water and your tender loving care.

Celebrate the much-anticipated arrival of spring by stopping by the Webster Arboretum on he 13th and get some new plants for your garden (and maybe a Mother’s Day gift). Admission is free and the event happens rain or shine.

* * *

And the accolades for our Webster music teachers just keep on coming.

The College Board has appointed Webster Central School District’s Laura D’Angelo to its Advanced Placement (AP) Music Theory Development Committee.

D’Angelo has been teaching music for 23 years, 20 in Webster Central School District where she presently teaches Music Theory I and AP Music Theory at both high schools. Laura currently serves The College Board by grading AP Music Theory exams. She also has been a speaker at the AP National Conference, as well as at the reading sessions for AP Music Theory.

“We have one of, if not the, biggest high school music theory programs in the nation. When I go to Cincinnati to grade exams (for the AP board), Webster is very well known for our program. I am extremely fortunate to be in a district that supports this program,” D’Angelo said.

D’Angelo’s three-year appointment to the AP Music Theory Development Committee will begin in July.

* * *

In other school news, remember that the Board of Education and budget vote is scheduled for Tuesday May 16th, from 6 am to 9 pm at Webster Schroeder High School, 875 Ridge Road.

You get find out more about the proposed budget by clicking here, and you can meet the Board of Education candidates Wednesday May 10 at 7 pm in the Spry Middle School auditorium. Four candidates are running for three positions this year. They are: Andy LaManna, Mike Suffoletto, Bill Kent and Jan Strege.

* * *

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

You can also get email notifications every time I post a new blog by using the “Follow Me” link on the right side of this page.

Tags: , , , , , ,

Knucklehead Craft Brewing needs your votes

3 May

knucklehead-logo

The Knuckleheads at our favorite local craft brewery need your help.

Len and George at Knucklehead Craft Brewing are in the running to be named New York State’s Best Craft Brewery, and it’s up to us to start showing the love. To do that, all you have to do is go online and vote.

Simply visit https://taste.ny.gov/vote to cast your vote. The website asks for your email address each time, so it might only take one vote per email. But if you have two email addresses (or four, like I do), you can vote from every one of them. The top five finalists are invited to the final challenge to be the best.

Voting runs through May 12, so click on that link right now and cast your vote. And also please share this notice to let as many people know as possible.

* * *

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

You can also get email notifications every time I post a new blog by using the “Follow Me” link on the right side of this page.

 

Tags: , ,

Webster Community Chest needs help finding new space

2 May

community chest

The Webster Community Chest (WCC) is currently reevaluating the location where it provides services for the Webster community, and the organization needs your help.

The WCC is actively looking for a new location from which they can continue to provide assistance to individuals and families in our community. That especially means the food cupboard. The new space will house non-perishables most of the time, and fresh donations on distribution days.

Their ideal location would be in Webster (of course), on the smaller side (maximum 2000 square feet) and available for minimal rent. The WCC budget is limited and they’re hoping the vast majority of their donations could continue to go directly to neighbors in need and not to rent. (So donated/shared space would be IDEAL!)

If you know of a landlord or business who might be interested in sharing their space — or if YOU own a business which could help out — please contact Community Chest board member Andy LaManna at alamanna18@gmail.com.

* * *

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

You can also get email notifications every time I post a new blog by using the “Follow Me” link on the right side of this page.

Tags: ,

SEPTA Bowling fundraiser a success

27 Apr

(all photos courtesy Hayes Photography, lindahayesphotography.com)

Webster’s 6th annual SEPTA (Special Education Parent/Teacher Association) scholarship fundraiser, held on Sunday April 9 at AMF Empire Lanes, was a terrific success. Despite being a beautiful, warm spring day, 100 bowlers spent the day indoors instead of teeing off on the golf course or grilling outside.

The event was coordinated by Thomas special education teacher Dina Malboeuf, who provided this follow-up report.

In addition to the bowlers and business sponsors, special education staff members from both Webster Thomas and Schroeder High Schools participated by volunteering at the registration and raffle tables, bringing in teams of their own, and gathering spectacular prizes for the raffles.

The afternoon was filled with fun, creativity (some teams dressed up in costumes), team spirit (teams consisted of families, friends, and/or colleagues from various departments), food, awards, and overall unique talent demonstrated on the lanes! It was so nice to see community members and district staff come together to support a great cause: raising scholarship money for students who participate in the special education program in Webster.

The event was a great success, raising more than $4,000. Malbeouf would like to send out a special thank you to the following people:

Candy Harris, Linda Hayes (for her terrific photography), Joan Bardanis, Diane Cannarozzo, Tracy Small, Kyle Suffoletto/Rivalry on the Ridge, Ginny Perry-Pschierer, Todd Pschierer, Kevin Eichorn, Denise Warren, Mel Drury, Dan Marcello, Shelly Cahoon, Colleen Armstrong, Marjorie Marble, Mike Gustin, and Alec Wahl.

Event organizers are currently reviewing scholarship applicants from both high schools, and are already looking forward to making next year’s fundraiser tournament even more fun and more successful.

* * *

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

You can also get email notifications every time I post a new blog by using the “Follow Me” link on the right side of this page.

Tags: , , , ,

Webster Mailbag

14 Apr

mailbagI’ve packed a lot into today’s mailbag, partly because when I was at Community Arts Day I picked up special-event informational flyers from several  of the community agencies there. So let’s start with a listing of some of those events, then go on to mulch and drugs.

A Village Idiots Bash Fundraiser will be hosted on Sunday April 23 from 1 to 4 p.m. at The Coach Sports Bar, 19 West Main Street in Webster. Local band Mesh will provide the entertainment to help the Village Idiots raise money to fight cancer. Admission is $5, which includes pizza, raffles, 50/50s and fun with friends new and old.

The Webster Museum and Historical Society will host a special program at the museum on Saturday April 29 beginning at 2 pm. Learn about an actual archaeological dig near Bay Road which has uncovered some Native American artifacts. The museum is located at 18 Lapham Park in the village. For more information, here’s their website.

A donation drive at Savers, 980 Ridge Road in Webster, on May 6 will benefit the Friends of the Webster Library. From 9 am to noon, you can drop off clothes, bags, towels, bedding, hats, curtains and other soft goods, small appliances, tools, toys, kitchen items and games.

The Webster Baptist Church has announced that the next Crop Hunger Walk will take place on Sunday May 7 at the church, 59 South Ave., beginning at 1:30. For more information call Dough Klick at (585) 671-0485.

Mulch is Available at Town Hall

The mulch is back.

Every spring the Webster Highway Department delivers tons of mulch to the parking lot at Town Hall that Webster residents can retrieve for free for home use. This mulch has been composted by the Highway Department for the last year by the Highway employees from leaves picked up from resident’s yards.

They will continue to replenish the pile each day until the tons of mulch are depleted in the upcoming weeks.

Pharmaceutical Waste Pickup is April 29

There will be a pharmaceutical waste pickup at the Wastewater Treatment Plant, 226 Phillips Road, on Saturday, April 29 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Any unused, unwanted or expired medication is taken for disposal. No appointment is necessary.

If you don’t feel comfortable with your personal information on the bottles, you can remove the pills and put them in a plastic bag disposal.

The Town Hall also has a CVS Drug Collection unit at the Webster Town Hall. This permanent pharmaceutical waste drop box can be found inside the Webster Town Hall, located at the Police Department entrance, 1000 Ridge Road, during regular business hours of Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Like with the pharmaceutical waste pickup, items accepted at the drop box include any unused, unwanted or expired medication such as prescriptions, prescription patches, prescription medication, prescription ointments, over-the-counter medications, vitamins, samples and medications for pets.

Items that are NOT accepted include hydrogen peroxide, inhalers, aerosol cans, ointments, lotions, or liquids, thermometers, needles (sharps) and medication from businesses or clinics.

* * *

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

You can also get email notifications every time I post a new blog by using the “Follow Me” link on the right side of this page.

 

Tags: , , , ,

Greater Rochester Peep Show a sweet success

8 Apr

IMG_4613

Just a quick blog to tell everyone to tell everyone about my trip to the Greater Rochester Peep Show on Saturday afternoon.

What fun it was. More than 80 “paintings” and dioramas featuring marshmallow Peeps were spread among two rooms at the Webster Recreation Center, depicting everything from a library to a construction site to a baseball field. The creativity was amazing, and several of them made me laugh out loud.

The Peep Show runs through Sunday, from noon to 4 pm. There’s no admission charge, but you can purchase concessions and voting tokens to vote for your favorite entry. Kind of the “Peeple’s Choice” winner.

The kids will enjoy peeking out of the 8-foot long fairy castle and shooting peeps with a slingshot on the Peeps target range.

You don’t want to miss it. Noon to 4 Sunday, Webster Recreation Center, 1350 Chiyoda Drive.

You can see a lot more photos in my Webster on the Web Facebook gallery.

IMG_4593

* * *

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

You can also get email notifications every time I post a new blog by using the “Follow Me” link on the right side of this page.

Tags: , , ,

New Webster-based fitness program designed for children with Down syndrome

7 Apr

strike-fit logo

For about two years now, I’ve had the pleasure to work with the terrific folks at Strike Back Martial Arts in the village of Webster, where I help out most weekends with their Jujitsu Buddies classes. Strike Back owners Dave Nicchitta and Mike Palmer created the program three years ago specifically for children on the autism spectrum.

I’ve seen first-hand how these young people can benefit from a structured self-defense program which focuses on improving muscle tone, coordination, self-control and self-confidence, taught in an environment of unconditional support and positive social interaction.

Thanks to the success they’ve seen with Jujitsu Buddies, Dave and Mike have introduced a new program, called Strike-Fit, designed for young children with Down syndrome.

“We have seen the success that kids in our Buddies classes can achieve,” Nicchitta said. “It’s truly amazing to see how far the students have come from when we first met them. These triumphs, however small or big, are one of the reasons why we started this program in the first place and what keeps us going and pushing these kids to do more.”

Strike-Fit is a low-impact fitness program structured and tailored to the needs of young children and teens with Down syndrome. Activities will provide structured exercise while helping improve muscle tone and coordination, all in a safe and accepting environment. Students will be able to socialize with peers and form relationships in a safe and accepting environment, improving their confidence and self-esteem as they try something new.

“After doing our investigation into the programs and resources available to Down syndrome kids and teens, it became apparent that there aren’t many opportunities that exist outside of the ones offered in schools (OT / PT). We hope to change that with our Strike-Fit program.”

 

 

Strike-Fit is designed for teens and children ages 5 to 11. Classes will be held once a week for 45 minutes, and each session runs nine weeks. Cost is $200.

Children and their parents are invited to meet the instructors and find out more about the Strike-Fit at an open house on Saturday April 22, beginning at 11 a.m. at Strike Back Martial Arts.

Strike Back Martial Arts is located at 55 East Main Street, Webster. Call (585) 236-1083 or visit strikebackmartialarts.com.

* * *

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

You can also get email notifications every time I post a new blog by using the “Follow Me” link on the right side of this page.

Tags: , , , ,

Forget the snow. Village announces spring and summer events

15 Mar

Capture

Despite what we might see piled high in our yards right now, spring is really right around the corner, which means that summer is not far behind.

That was confirmed for me a few days ago when I got my first event round-up email from Robyn Whittaker of the Webster BID, that local business organization that sponsors all of our favorite village events.

Here’s a quick look at what they have planned:

  • Saturday March 11: Village Idiots Relay for Life Team Pasta Dinner at the Fireman’s Exempt building from 4 to 7 p.m.
  • Saturday May 13: Gear Up!, a bicycle event supporting Rotary International and sponsored by Webster Rotary, Webster Chamber of Commerce, Webster Town and Friends of Webster Trails kicks off Mother’s Day weekend. Choose a 53 mile, 26.5 mile or the family-friendly 5-mile ride.
  • July 21 and 22: Webster Jazz Festival in the pubs and on Main Street.
  • June 30: Friday Night Concerts begin in the gazebo.
  • July 13: Movie nights in the park begin, this year once again featuring the Saturday Classic Movie Night.
  • September 9-10: The Garlic Festival returns to the Webster Parks and Recreation Department

Also watch for details about a Wine Walk, a wine and food pairing event a craft beer festival, a “bourbon blitz,” and of course the Trick or Treat Trail and White Christmas in the Village.

Put everything on your calendar, and see you there!

* * *

email me  at missyblog@gmail.com

“Like” this blog on Facebook and follow me on Twitter and Instagram

Tags: , , , , , ,

Barry’s Old School Irish one of best places in U.S. to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day. Yelp says so.

9 Mar
Rory and Maley

Rory and Maley Barry are all ready to go for this coming week’s St. Patrick’s Week festivities at their mommy and daddy’s pub.

All of us here in Webster already know that Barry’s Old School Irish is one of the best Irish pubs in the country. And now the whole country knows, too.

According to a new survey just released by Yelp.com, Barry’s Old School Irish is one of the top 50 pubs in the United States for celebrating St. Patrick’s Day, coming in at #45.

Granted, the “survey” was conducted by just ranking the rating and number of reviews each pub received. Still, the fact that SO MANY people have ranked Barry’s favorably is a pretty good indication of the quality of our little pub, our very own, authentic little corner of the ol’ sod. (Click here to see the whole list, which was re-posted on travelandleisure.com.)

And if you’ve seen the lineup of activities Barry’s has planned for what we Irish (and Irish-at-heart) call the “high holy week,” you’ll understand why the pub is so popular. Basically, at Barry’s St. Patrick’s Day becomes St. Patrick’s WEEK.

It starts this Saturday morning, the city’s Parade Day. The pub will be open for a pre-parade breakfast and Irish coffee at 8 a.m. The Foxhunters will be back — as they are every Parade Day — with live Irish music from 2:30 to 7 p.m. Irish Dancers from the Jameson Irish Dance School will pop in at 5 p.m., Everheart takes the stage (actually a corner at Barry’s) to play from 7 to 11 p.m., our favorite Webster bagpiper will stroll through at 9 p.m., and at 9:30 p.m. there’s a Tullamore Irish Whiskey toast on the house.

Plus, there will be Guinness give-aways all day

And that’s just SATURDAY. Click here to see the full lineup of events for the whole week, including a whiskey tasting on Sunday, the weekly Barry’s Run/Walk on Tuesday (when we’ll paint the town green), an extra-special trivia night (of course) on Wednesday, a food and beer pairing on Thursday, and then… well, Friday needs no introduction. But one of the most exciting things about Friday is that there will be a heated tent on the patio. (Which means that’s going to be one of those 70-degree days, no doubt.)

If you haven’t yet been back to the pub since Danny and Jess completed their renovations, this would be a good time to check it out. There’s actually more room now, so there’s less chance you’ll have to go outside to walk around to the bathroom.

* * *

email me  at missyblog@gmail.com

“Like” this blog on Facebook and follow me on Twitter and Instagram

Tags: , , , , ,

← Older Entries
Newer Entries →