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Webster Hope named Webster Chamber Business of the Month

22 Sep

Congratulations to Webster NY Hope, honored as the September Business of the Month by the Webster Chamber of Commerce.

Located at 1450 Ridge Rd., Webster Hope was founded by Holy Trinity Church as an outreach ministry in 1999 as Hope Ministry to provide an organized and more comprehensive way of helping people in need by providing food and clothing. They operated under the umbrella of Holy Trinity until 2022, when they formed their own 501c3 and updated their name to Webster Hope.

The agency’s mission continues to be to serve the needs of residents in the 14580 zip code. Their volunteers embrace the spirit of compassion as they provide food, clothing, and household goods to those in need. Financial assistance is also available, with the emphasis on preventing homelessness.

Webster Hope doesn’t just hand out food and clothing. They meet with people individually on each visit. These conversations allow them to develop relationships with the people they serve. As a direct result of these conversations, the agency has added household items collections, Back to School nights for school supplies, and other services. Director Margery Morgan says the best part of being at Hope is the atmosphere of hospitality and getting to know their neighbors.

Webster Hope has one paid employee and more than 100 volunteers, active with Scouts, sports teams, schools, churches, and other Webster charities. They’re also always happy to send a speaker to participate in community events.

The Webster Chamber of Commerce hosts a monthly breakfast for Chamber members, guests, and visitors who are interested in investigating Chamber membership. The September breakfast will be held on Friday Aug. 26 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.

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 9/22/2025)

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Play-a-Latte is officially open

13 Sep

Play-a-Latte, Webster’s new play café, officially opened to the community with a ribbon-cutting ceremony held Friday morning.

The new play café — located in Towne Center Plaza (Target Plaza) — offers families a bright, kid-friendly space where children can dive into imaginative play, and a coffeehouse vibe, where parents can sip, chat, unwind and catch up with friends while their kids explore.

The last time I was in the café, well before it was open, it was pretty much still an empty storefront. Co-founders (and sisters) Richelle Acker and Kristi Phillips tried to help me picture their vision of the final layout once they got everything set up, but until I walked in Friday morning, I still had little idea of how it would look.

In a word, it’s adorable.

Eight different custom-built playhouses (retail and service shops) line the walls, 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.

James loved the trucks
Cayden (2) and Nora (6) serving up ice cream

The word is spreading quickly about Play-a-Latte. Shortly after the ribbon-cutting ceremony, the café was buzzing with small children, who were offering haircuts at Richelle’s Hair Salon, scooping ice cream, parking cars at Chase’s Garage, and serving up treats at Kristi’s Cafe.

Mary Mungovan-Moss knew it would probably be busy, so she got to the café early with her 18-month old son James. She’d only found out about it a few days ago, and it didn’t take her long to check it out.

“We were super excited,” she said. “We were hoping for something like this in Webster so that we can take him somewhere to play while his sister’s at school, and be able to play with kids that are not just his sister.”

The 90-minute time slot she’d registered for was “the perfect time for this age,” she added. “Play with everything, get tired and go.”

Play-a-Latte located at the southwest corner of Towne Center Plaza (Target Plaza), 1028 Ridge Rd., next to Cold Stone. It’s open Monday through Thursday 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., Friday 8 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., and Saturday 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Birthday party reservations are available after hours every day. Registrations are strongly recommended, because it’s gonna get busy and you don’t want to be turned away. Click here to make yours.

Find out more on their website here, Facebook page here and Instagram (playalatte_playcafe).

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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 9/13/2025)

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Knights of Columbus launch 2025 Coats for Kids campaign

11 Sep

Summer’s not quite over, and we don’t REALLY want to think about the cold winter ahead yet, but it’ll be here before we know it. And right now is definitely the time to start thinking about helping the families — and especially the children — who can’t afford enough warm clothes. The Webster Knights of Columbus Trinity Council #4618 is already doing that, as they gear up for their 14th annual “Coats for Kids” fund raiser.

The annual drive runs through September, October and the first week of November. Over the past 13 years, through Coats for Kids, the Webster KofC has raised enough money to purchase and distribute more than 4,100 NEW winter coats to children in Monroe and Wayne counties, distributed through more than 25 charitable organizations, schools and churches throughout Webster and Greater Rochester. PLUS, in the last two years they’ve also handed out 288 pairs of sneakers.

Those incredible numbers have been made possible by generous donations from individuals, businesses and community organizations. This year, once again, they’re hoping the greater Webster community will step up and help them spread their reach even further.

Each new coat costs $25 and each new pair of sneakers $21. If you can help by making a donation, please make a check payable to Knights of Columbus #4618 and send it to:

“Coats for Kids”
c/o J. Stewart Coon, Chairman
230 Champion Ave.
Webster, New York 14580-3464

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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 9/11/2025)

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Good news from the Arboretum and the Hojack

10 Sep

I got some email updates recently about two beloved Webster attractions that are back in action after undergoing some much-needed repairs.

First, the newly reconstructed Robert and Carroll Manning Bridge at the Webster Arboretum was officially welcomed back Wednesday with a ribbon-cutting ceremony.

It took several months to complete the work, and strong support from the Webster community helped make it happen. Back in July the Arboretum set up a GoFundMe page to help raise the estimated $12,000 needed to reconstruct it. That effort collected more than $6,000 alone, and the donations are still coming in. The folks at the Arboretum are incredibly grateful for that support.

Wendy Mendola from the Arboretum wrote,

Constructed in 2017, the Carol Manning bridge has become an essential part of the community landscape. In addition to its aesthetic value, the bridge holds significant symbolic importance to the arboretum, having been funded by community contributions and named to honor two long-term benefactors. For the volunteers who maintain the arboretum, the bridge is regarded as a key emblem of Webster, extending beyond its function as a physical structure.

The bridge holds considerable importance for both the Webster Arboretum and the surrounding community, serving as a notable location for photographs during weddings and other events. It is possible that images of the bridge are displayed in homes throughout the area.

Several local dignitaries attended Wednesday’s ceremony, including Arboretum Board president Carole Huther, Webster Chamber of Commerce President Barry Howard, Webster Town Board Deputy Supervisor Patty Cataldi and New York State Senator Samra Brouk.

I also got notice from the Friends of Webster Trails that the work they’ve been doing on the Hojack Trail is finally done.

The Friends wrote,

Temporary orange barriers at road crossings are in place, and the trail is open to walkers, runners, hikers, and bikers. The new surface is suitable for strollers and wheelchairs, as well. As always, no motorized vehicles. Up next, FWT will be adding more benches and new signage, access gates, and plantings, with that work to be completed over the next several months.

Friends of Webster Trails couldn’t have done this project without the grant from the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Trails Maintenance Funds and matching funds from a generous anonymous community member.

Click here to read more about the grant and the enhancements.

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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 9/10/2025)

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Webster community mailbag

9 Sep

We’re going to start today’s mailbag with a look at what’s happening at the Webster Public Library this month.

  • Some beautiful music is in store on Friday, Sept. 12 when the Gold & Ivory Flute Duet performs from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. They play flute and piano music in styles ranging from the classical era to American pop. Registration is required.
  • This month’s community collection is picture frames. If you’ve got some you really don’t want, and could use a few others, bring them by the library and swap them out.
  • September’s Donation Station is accepting diapers to be donated to Webster NY Hope.
  • Family Fun Night on Monday, Sept. 29 from 6 to 7 p.m. will celebrate the start of Star Wars Reads Month in October with Star Wars-themed crafts and activities. All ages are welcome and no registration is required.
  • Tuesday, Sept. 16 from 10 to 11:30 a.m. will be a Play-Doh Play Morning. It’s National Play-Doh Day, so stop by for a morning of creativity and fun. All ages are welcome and no registration is required.
  • This month’s Drop-in Crafts will be autumn-themed. Stop in Saturday, Sept. 20 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. to make something fun. All ages are welcome and no registration is required.
  • Children in grades 4 to 12 and adults are invited to Make it Monday on Sept. 15 from 6 to 7 p.m. This month the craft night features Perler Bead Bookmarks. Registration is required.
  • The next meeting of the Teen Library Club is Wednesday, Sept. 24 from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Teens in grades 6 to 12 who like books, games, crafts, sharing your ideas, taking surveys and hanging out with your friends are encouraged to join. Click here to register.

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The Village of Webster’s annual September 11th Memorial Ceremony will be held Thursday Sept. 11 beginning at 6 p.m. at Veteran’s Memorial Park, 28 North Ave. This is always a very nice ceremony, and will feature patriotic music by the Webster Village Band.

On Saturday Sept. 13 the Village of Webster will host a Health and Wellness Fair from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Lattimore Physical Therapy, 70 Barrett Drive.

This free event will showcase many health-related businesses and professionals in our area. Learn more about all aspects of health and wellness, including physical, mental, environmental, social and financial health.

Also on Saturday Sept. 13, the Village will host a free shredding event from 11 a.m. in the Lattimore Physical Therapy parking lot.

This is a drive-through event, accepting paper only (staples do not need to be removed). Paper must be placed in cardboard boxes or paper bags, with a limit of five boxes per vehicle.

Click here for more information about the health fair and shredding event.

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Also on Saturday, Sept. 13, there’s a pharmaceutical collection event from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Eastway Wegmans, 1955 Empire Blvd.

Accepted Items include:

  • pills and liquid medications
  • prescription medications
  • over-the-counter medications
  • empty medicine bottles
  • ointments and creams
  • sprays and inhalers
  • EpiPens, sharps and syringes

Syringes/sharps must be in approved sharps containers or sturdy alternatives (two liter plastic bottles, rugged laundry soap bottles, etc.). All containers should be capped and labeled “SHARPS”.

Appointments are not required for this drive-up pharmaceutical event.

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There’s also a Household Hazardous Waste Drop-off on Wednesday, Sept. 20 from 7:45 to 11:45 a.m. at the Webster Highway Dept., 1005 Picture Parkway.

Residents may properly dispose of up to thirty (30) gallons of chemicals, such as paint, automotive fluids, fertilizers, household cleaners, and pool chemicals at no charge.

Registration is REQUIRED. Click here to learn more and schedule an appointment.

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The United Church of Christ on Klem Rd. is hosting a special performance titled “They Live On…in Word and Song to Support Mental Health,” on Sunday, Sept. 21 at 2 p.m. The community program will support those in various stages of caregiving and loss.

“They Live On…in Word and Song” features excerpts from Patricia Nugent’s memoir — They Live On: Saying Goodbye to Mom and Dad –paired with nine original songs by singer/songwriter Michael Jerling.

The performance will be held at the United Church of Christ, 570 Klem Rd. on Sunday, Sept. 21 at 2 p.m. Light refreshments will be served immediately after the performance. A CD of the readings and music will also be made available at the event. Tickets are $20, a donation to the church’s mission of supporting mental health awareness and education. Click here to get yours. For more information, email office@uccwebster.org.

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St. Martin Lutheran Church will hold its Fall Drive-Thru Chicken BBQ on Saturday, Sept. 20 at the church, 813 Bay Road, Webster. The event begins at 4:00 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.

Proceeds from the BBQ will support both St. Martin’s Little Free Pantry and Christmas Stocking Project, which reaches more than 500 local youth in Monroe and Wayne counties.

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Looking ahead to October, the Country Gardeners of Webster will be holding a “Frightful and Delightful” Halloween-themed flower show on Saturday, Oct. 4 from 1 to 5 p.m. at the Webster Presbyterian Church, 550 Webster Rd.

Explore floral designs, artistic crafts, an array of horticultural specimens and other surprises. Get ready to decorate your home for the Halloween season! Admission is free and there’s plenty of parking.

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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 9/9/2025)

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We’re just days away from the Webster Garlic Fest

2 Sep

When we last visited the Webster Garlic Fest, I told you about all the great reasons to go to this year’s annual “stinkin’ good time.” Just today, as I strolled through the festival’s website and Facebook page, I found out about some fun NEW things happening this year that’s going to make it even better.

First, a reminder of the details:

The Webster Garlic Fest will return to the Webster Recreation Center on Saturday and Sunday Sept. 6 and 7.

This is a family-oriented festival for anyone who loves all things garlic. More than 170 vendors will be there this year, including crafters, food vendors, distilleries, wineries, food trucks, home goods merchants, and of course lots and lots of garlic growers. There are so many vendors that they’ll fill the gymnasium and spill out onto the Rec Center grounds. Many of them provide tastings, samples and demonstrations. (Click here for a complete list of vendors.)

But even if you’re not a big fan of garlic, there are a lot of non-garlic vendors, and plenty else to see and do. Like, you can cozy up to some alpacas and baby goats (who like to wear pajamas), and even a huge 70-year old tortoise. There’ll be demos, and Mr. Wally the Balloon Man will be there.

So here’s a new thing this year which is going to be kind of fun:

The Webster Garlic Fest Garlic Guys will be hiding in the booths. If you find one, you’ll be entered to win an Amazon gift card. The photo below shows what they look like, and if you really think they’re kind of cute, you can purchase one of your own at the One Nurses Menagerie’s booth. (Hint: If you go to the Webster Garlic Fest Facebook page, you might even be able to find out exactly what booths they’re hiding in!)

And this, too, is new this year: M.O. PASTA and Bruster’s Real Ice Cream have joined forces to create a “sweet garlic-y treat” which they’ll be unveiling at the Garlic Fest. So make sure to stop by their booths to find out more.

The Webster Garlic Fest will be held Saturday Sept. 6 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday Sept. 7 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Webster Recreation Center, 1350 Chiyoda Dr. There’s plenty of parking in the Recreation Center lot, and even more across the street in the former Xerox parking lot, where free shuttles will be transporting guests back and forth.

Single-day tickets are only $5, and children Under 12 are free. Click here to buy your tickets, or you can get them at the door. Proceeds from the Webster Garlic Fest will benefit

  • Wreaths Across America: Honoring and remembering veterans resting in local cemeteries on National Wreaths Across America Day, December 13, 2025.
  • Blue Star Mothers ROC NY8 (military families): Building Care Packages for locally deployed service members and helping military families in our area.
  • Gold Star Mothers Rochester (mothers who have lost a child, spouse, sibling, or parent in active duty): Helping community veterans-in-need with meals, resources, and year-round support.

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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 9/2/2025)

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The Village Quilt Shoppe is celebrating a birthday

1 Sep

A bit of happy news came across my email the other day: Vanetta Parshall and Monique Liberti, owners of the Village Quilt Shoppe, are about to celebrate their cute little shop’s sixth anniversary. With all the business comings and goings of late, and all the empty storefronts, I’m happy to see a village business thriving.

That’s especially the case here, because Vanetta and Monique had a very rocky start. It’s a story I’ve told before, but it’s worth repeating to illustrate these ladies’ resilience.

Just three months after they opened their doors in August 2019, and just days before the Village of Webster’s White Christmas celebration, disaster struck when a water leak from the apartment above the shop came through the floor and destroyed much of their merchandise. They had to close for almost a month to regroup and restock. But, determined not to lose their dream shop, they persevered and survived that early setback.

Then COVID struck, and they had to close again for three more months. But thanks to a solid core of loyal customers, the little business navigated a global pandemic and came back stronger than ever.

To celebrate their anniversary, Vanetta and Monique are hosting a special celebration on Saturday Sept. 6. They’re calling it a Bingo Birthday Bash, and it will feature several games of Bingo, birthday cupcakes, lots of specials and a Whims Trunk Show. There will be two sessions, at 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Registration is required and space is limited, so click here to sign up soon.

The Village Quilt Shoppe is located at 21 E. Main St. in the Village of Webster.

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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 9/1/2025)

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Webster community mailbag

29 Aug

Just a few events in today’s mailbag … We’ll lead with this item I just received today from the United Church of Christ on Klem Rd.

They’re hosting a special performance titled “They Live On…in Word and Song to Support Mental Health,” on Sunday, Sept. 21 at 2 p.m. The community program will support those in various stages of caregiving and loss.

“They Live On…in Word and Song” features excerpts from Patricia Nugent’s memoir — They Live On: Saying Goodbye to Mom and Dad –paired with nine original songs by singer/songwriter Michael Jerling.

Nugent has presented widely on the topics of caregiving and loss. A native of Irondequoit, her mother Amelia Nugent was active in local politics and real estate, and her father Nicholas Nugent was Athletic Director at the Rochester School for the Deaf. Michael Jerling of Saratoga Springs, N.Y. has been described as a “songwriter’s songwriter…an artist who performs his songs with an uncommon ability to deliver them with power and grace.”

This collaboration between two artists employing two different forms of creative expression gives voice to the universal human experience of letting go. The performance initially debuted at Caffe Lena in Saratoga Springs to a sold-out room. This is their first performance in the Rochester area.

The performance will be held at the United Church of Christ, 570 Klem Rd. on Sunday, Sept. 21 at 2 p.m. Light refreshments will be served immediately after the performance. A CD of the readings and music will also be made available at the event. Tickets are $20, a donation to the church’s mission of supporting mental health awareness and education. Click here to get yours. For more information, email office@uccwebster.org.

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The Women’s Club of Webster is ramping up their 2025/26 season with the announcement that their first luncheon will be held on Thursday Sept. 18 at the Ontario Country Club, 2101 Country Club Lane.

This month’s speaker will be Dan Lyon, Fraud Prevention Manager at Lifespan, who will lead a musical game called “Name That Scam.”  Inspired by “Name That Tune,” it features music from the ’50s, ’60s and ’70s, cleverly linked to scams for an educational twist.

The event begins at 11:15 a.m. with social time, followed by lunch at noon and Mr. Lyon’s presentation. Menu choices for the luncheon include: Chef’s Dip (beef, onions, provolone, lettuce and tomato on French bread), Chicken Waldorf Sandwich (chicken salad, apples, candied walnuts,  grapes, melted Swiss cheese, lettuce and tomato on a croissant) or House Salad (greens, tomatoes, carrots, cucumber). All choices include hot and cold drinks and French fries. 

Cost of the luncheon is $27. Send your check, made out to the Women’s Club of Webster, by Sept. 11 to Carolyn Rittenhouse, 405 County Line Road, Ontario, NY 14519. Please make sure to indicate your menu choice. You do not have to be a member of the Women’s Club to attend, but new members are always welcome!

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Nan Kent, owner of Annette’s Restaurant, would like me to let you all know that she’s introducing a $15 lunch special starting in September.

The menu includes a selection of salads:

  • Annette’s Seasonal Salad Seasonal — fruit, arugula, tomatoes, red onion, blue cheese crumble and choice of homemade dressing
  • House Caesar — chopped romaine, shredded Parmesan, house-made croutons, Caesar dressing
  • Lunch Wedge — fresh bacon, tomatoes, blue cheese crumbles, blue cheese dressing, balsamic glaze

Some handhelds:

  • House Burger — lettuce, tomato, onion, cheddar
  • Black Bean Burger — arugula, tomato, red onion
  • Parmesan-crusted cod — cole slaw and one side
  • Caesar Wrap — chopped romaine, shredded Parmesan, house Caesar dressing

Other options will include a soup & salad, grilled chicken and wings & fries.

Specials will be available from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday. Annette’s is located at 27 West Main St. in the Village of Webster. For more information about the specials, including vegetarian options, stop by or call 585-645-6002.

These next events have appeared in previous mailbags, but I’m re-posting them as reminders:

Don’t forget about the Village of Webster’s Fall Kick-off on Saturday, Sept. 6. Three special events have been scheduled that afternoon and evening beginning at noon when the Red Hot and Blue Band hosts their annual St. Jude’s Benefit Concert. This year they’ll be joined by Sarah De Vallière and The Tug Hill Band.

At 4 p.m., the ever-popular Beer Walk returns to the village, where you can sample beer, cider and food from local businesses AND AT THE SAME TIME, there’ll be a car show on West Main, featuring a wide variety of cars from classic cars to hot rods.

This is all sponsored by Webster’s Business Improvement District. Click here to find out more details on their website.

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St. Martin Lutheran Church will hold its Fall Drive-Thru Chicken BBQ on Saturday, Sept. 20 at the church, 813 Bay Road, Webster. The event begins at 4:00 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.

Proceeds from the BBQ will support both St. Martin’s Little Free Pantry and Christmas Stocking Project, which reaches more than 500 local youth in Monroe and Wayne counties.

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The Webster Comfort Care Home’s annual Casino Night has been scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 20 from 6 to 10 p.m. at the Webster Golf Club, 440 Salt Rd.

“Mayor” Pete Kennedy will emcee this fun night, which will feature gaming tables, a silent auction, raffles, cash bar, appetizers, desserts and a soft pretzel station. Tickets are $75 per person and must be purchased by Sept. 12.

 Click here for tickets. All proceeds benefit the Webster Comfort Care Home.

Interested in helping out by becoming a sponsor? Click here for details: Casino Night Sponsorship Packages.

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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 8/29/2025)

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New Village salon will focus on scalp care

28 Aug

There’s a new salon in town, and your head is really going to like it. It’s called Root Rituals, and owner Melissa Diodato Linder admits it’s “a bit different.”

Root Rituals will be opening soon at 28 East Main St., in the former R Salon storefront. What will make it a bit different is that Melissa will be specializing in scalp treatments and scalp care; or in other words, it will be a “head spa” in the Japanese tradition.

Melissa wants to approach hair care and self-care as a holistic practice. So in addition to the scalp treatments, she hopes to educate her clients about “how to live a toxic-free life … using products that are healthy for you, paying attention to how you use them, what ingredients they’re made with.” She also recently became a certified trichologist, which allows her to properly diagnose scalp conditions and treat hair loss and restoration.

Melissa brings 15 years experience to her shop. After getting a degree in business, she worked at a spa, a yoga studio, a chiropractic office and a wellness center, and most recently had her own salon at Sorella Salon Suites on Orchard St. But she always had an eye on opening her own business one day, and eventually it all came together.

It all started during COVID when she saw a video online that featured scalp treatments.

“It was a Japanese practice,” she said. “It looked really relaxing, and I’ve always been intrigued by hair care in general. I did some research … reached out to some brands, came up with my scalp treatment, rented at a salon, started talking to my clients about scalp care … (and) started doing the scalp treatments.”

When she tried to find a place locally to try it out for herself, she discovered there really wasn’t anything available closer than New York City. Realizing that this would be a nice service to the area finally convinced her to take the leap.

Fortunately, Melissa hasn’t had to do too much to the space to turn the former R Salon into Root Rituals. But she has added some nice touches to make it her own, like adding a fresh coat of paint and some nice decorations. She’ll have a small boutique area, and an espresso machine for her clients. She’ll also be featuring some of her own products — scalp oil, scalp scrub and scalp tonic.

In the future, she’s also considering inviting other service professionals to fill up some of the upstairs rooms, providing additional services that will support wellness inside and out.

Melissa hopes to open her shop by the first week in September. Root Rituals is located at 28 East Main St. in the Village of Webster. For more information, check out her website here and Facebook page 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 8/28/2025)

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DK Dance Studio wows NJ Nationals crowd with “Dueling for Love”

27 Aug

As much as you all might think that somehow I magically know about everything that is happening in Webster at all times, the truth of the matter is that rely heavily on my readers to tell me what’s going on and send me blog ideas.

Today’s post is a good example of that. A few weeks ago I received an email from Andy LaManna, a proud dance dad. He told me about a very special dance routine that his daughter’s dance school — DK Dance — performed at this year’s Nationals.

DK Dance Studio, owned and operated by Dena Kay Botticelli, opened in Webster in 2004, so they’re just about to enter their 22nd season. The school offers classes for babies through adults, in genres from tap to jazz, hip hop to contemporary, and currently has about 315 students.

Sixty of those dancers compete three or four times a year as part of the studio’s “Company.” They take more classes and train more intensively. This year’s competition season was especially successful. Thirty of the Company dancers opted to attend the NJ Nationals in July, where they met some pretty tough competition.

Dena described the experience:

Nationals was filled with a lot of dancing, some fun on the Jersey Shore and having fun! We had about 15 group dances in the Turn it Up National competition. When they compete, they are awarded their adjudication, and then their “overall placement.” We are so proud to have received many overall placements, which gave us eligibility for the final Dance Battle.

The dancers presented several routines, but one of them, “Dueling for Love,” was extra special, and is what prompted Andy to write. Set to Meatloaf’s “I’d Do Anything for Love,” the routine’s centerpieces were two pianos, which the dancers rolled around the stage, jumped on and danced on.

“The pianos themselves basically dance,” Dena said. “It was such a special piece for these dancers to perform, and an amazing thing for five of our recently graduated seniors to be a part of.”

The performance was choreographed by Bekka Bennett, who’d been waiting a long time to bring it to the stage. She wrote,

I’ve actually waited ten years to make this happen. This group of dancers was the reason I decided to take the leap. I’ve always loved this song and it’s been yelled on the top of my lungs in moments of joy and sadness. I knew these kids would translate this art with all the love and respect so it was time.

The dance is a reflection of the difference in the texture of the music while performing with the passion Meatloaf sings with. The dueling pianos were a nod to my love of playing with different layers of musicality and a way to show off the strength, athleticism and trust the dancers all have.

This was really a once-in-a-career piece and it was a joy to create. … It was truly a magical experience.

Bringing “Dueling for Love” to the stage was a joint effort.

We had to move to travel and move the pianos every time we went to competitions. Bless all the dance dads, my right hand man Adam and my partner who all helped make it happen. We actually got the pianos for free … gutted them, reinforced them and added casters so they could move. We also by happy accident made them look old when I when my mom and I were sanding the to paint them. Dena’s mom –our office manager — thought we were leaving them distressed. She was right, so we left them that way.

That weekend, the school won awards for Overall High Scoring Dance and the National Studio Artistry Award, among others.

You can click here or on the photo above to watch the whole dance routine for yourself.

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(posted 8/27/2025)

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