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Young dancers spread kindness, share joy with local elders

16 Feb

Here’s a nice little story about how the students at Dancing With Denise share happiness and kindness with the older generation.

Studio owner Denise Baller calls it the “Yaya Project,” named in honor of her mother Tina, who passed away in 2019. The studio recently celebrated its 40th anniversary, and from the very beginning, “Miss Tina” — whom Denise’s kids affectionately called “Yaya” — was a friendly, smiling face greeting everyone who entered the waiting room.

After Tina passed away, Denise wanted to come up with some way to continue spreading the happiness and kindness that her mother would share every day. The Yaya Project was born.

Every year (sometimes around Valentine’s Day, sometimes at Christmas), Dancing With Denise students each donate $5 to “adopt” a Gramma or Grampa. Denise takes all the donations and purchases small gifts, like fluffy socks, candy, stuffed animals and note pads. The students then make up small gift bags, which they deliver to residents of local nursing homes, assisted living facilities and memory care homes.

Denise makes weekly visits to elder care facilities, and this year on Valentine’s Day was able to deliver 40 gift bags to the residents. Some years she’s been able to deliver as many as 100.

Denise believes her Yaya Project is a great way to teach children the importance of being kind.

It’s a kind gesture to teach the kids that it doesn’t cost a lot of money to make someone smile! My mom loved “volunteering” as she would say, making everyone happy by her presence at the front desk! So in keeping her memory alive, every week I travel to various homes where elders live and share my love of music and dance with them, making them smile! A little love goes a long way!

The Yaya Project is a great example of how Denise takes her lessons well beyond the studio. By fostering community connections, she teaches her students that dance is not just a skill, but a powerful vehicle for spreading joy and making our world a better place.

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(posted 2/16/2026)

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

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St. Pat’s Parade Committee recognizes Bella’s Bumbas

13 Feb

It’s always neat to see who the Rochester St. Patrick’s Day Parade Committee chooses every year as their annual honorees — like the Grand Marshal, Honorary Marshal, Citizen of the Year and the like. But this year, the announcement was especially exciting, because one of this year’s honorees is Webster’s very own Bella’s Bumbas.

At the annual kickoff event, held Sunday Feb. 1 at the Hilton Garden Inn, the committee announced that Bella’s Bumbas has been chosen as this year’s Official Charitable Organization. Anyone who’s read my blog for even a short time should already be familiar with this awesome grassroots, all-volunteer organization. Run by Webster residents Marty Parzynski and Rebecca Orr, it’s dedicated to building miniature wheelchairs for children with a wide variety of mobility issues, charging the families only for shipping.

In her announcement, Parade Committee Director Kate McBride introduced the organization by saying,

Since its founding, Bella’s Bumbas has grown from a small community effort into a global mission, having provided over 3,500 chairs to children in 70 different countries. Each chair represents a story of hope, inclusion, and possibility. Families who once felt isolated, now watch their children roll beside their peers, discovering new levels of confidence and independence. This incredible journey has been made possible entirely through volunteer dedication, community support, and the belief that no child should be left without mobility, simply because of financial or geographic barriers.

In this year’s parade, Bella’s Bumbas will showcase these little chairs and the joy they bring not only to the children who receive them, but also to the volunteers and donors who make each one possible.

As the Charitable Organization honoree, Bella’s Bumbas will get prime placement near the very beginning of the parade line-up. They’ve already started planning a pretty spectacular float, which will feature several Bumba chairs and “bumbaleers” riding them, hay bales, gold frills and lots of lights. Adult volunteer walkers and some young “test riders” will be rolling beside the float to hand out information and goodies to the crowd. It may very well be the first float in the parade, so it will be difficult to miss!

This is an incredibly well-deserved honor for Bella’s Bumbas, whose life-changing work for children worldwide often flies under the radar. While we in Webster have long been proud to call them our own, it’s wonderful to see them get the recognition they deserve, giving the rest of the Rochester area a chance to discover this incredible organization.

Congratulations, Marty and Rebecca, on this amazing honor.

The 2026 Tops St. Patrick’s Day Parade is scheduled for Saturday, March 14, beginning at 12:30 p.m. at East Ave. and Alexander St. Make sure to watch for the Bella’s Bumbas float at the beginning of the parade and cheer loud for our Webster neighbors!

On a related note

This year’s Honorary Marshal is Dave North, a well-known musician who’s played in and around Webster and Rochester for decades. He was (and is) a regular performer at the former Barry’s Old School Irish in the Village of Webster and the new Barry’s Pub in Fairport. I’m pleased to consider Dave a good friend and congratulate him on his honor!

Dave, by the way, has his own connection to Bella’s Bumbas. Last year on one of his trips to London, he brought a Bumba chair along with him to deliver to a child there.

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(posted 2/13/2026)

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

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New book offers support and comfort after pregnancy loss

5 Feb

When words are hard to find after pregnancy loss, a new book by a local author is offering comfort, connection and hope.

The H.U.G. Book, written by former clinical social worker Sarah-Elizabeth Pilato, was launched just a few weeks ago, but is already resonating with readers across the country. Grounded in Pilato’s professional background and personal experience, the book brings together the voices of almost 30 women — and several men — from the US and Canada who have experienced miscarriage and pregnancy loss, delivering a simple yet powerful message: no one should have to walk through grief alone. It also includes short quotes and comfort words from parents, and a resource list for additional support.

On her website, Pilato explains that the book is “woven together from the real, raw and comforting stories of women who have experienced miscarriage and pregnancy loss.”

She continues,

The idea for H.U.G. didn’t begin in a brainstorm or a journal. It began in a doctor’s office—barely an hour after I was told that my baby no longer had a heartbeat. I remember the doctor’s words: “Unfortunately, miscarriage is very common. We don’t hear about it very often because women seem not to talk about it.” That sentence landed like a stone. And something inside me whispered, Then I will.

Three hours later, I was home, standing in my kitchen, making a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, and the writing began. Grief doesn’t always arrive in big moments. Sometimes it shows up in the ordinary. In the quiet. In the ache of what should have been. H.U.G. is my response to that ache. A book for the woman who doesn’t know what to say. A book that sits beside her when her spark feels gone. A book that says, You are not alone.

What makes The H.U.G. Book especially impactful is that it’s being distributed completely free of charge nationwide to hospitals, clinics, mental health facilities, and other settings where women may be experiencing pregnancy loss. While the book is available for purchase as a gift, its primary purpose is to be placed directly into a woman’s hands in the very moment she is experiencing loss — when she really needs a comforting hug from a friend who can truly say “I understand,” and “me, too.”

Since its launch, requests for copies have come in from professionals across the country. Locally, books are already available at the RGH Perinatal Unit, Unity Perinatal Unit, Urgent Care Now in Webster, and soon to the Unity labor and delivery unit. Individuals experiencing miscarriage and pregnancy loss are also requesting copies for themselves and their loved ones.

This kind of impact has only been possible because of incredible community support. The H.U.G. Book remains 100% community funded, which allows every copy to be placed directly into the hands of women experiencing loss at no cost to them. Anyone who wishes to help sustain this mission can “donate a HUG” — sponsor books that will be distributed to hospitals, clinics, and families nationwide. Donations and book requests can be made at www.faithsparks.com/hug.

About the author

Sarah‑Elizabeth Pilato is the founder of Faith Sparks and a professional encourager with over 20 years of experience supporting women through grief, transition, and healing. She lives in Webster, where she continues to build comfort‑centered resources for women and families.

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(posted 2/5/2026)

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“Munchie” could use our help

25 Jan

It’s been a really tough six months for Luis “Munchie” Carrasquillo.

Back in July, Luis took a leap of faith and opened up his Roc City Empanadas restaurant on South Ave. in the Village of Webster, an expansion of his very popular food truck business. At first he found it a bit challenging to balance the busy food truck with a new restaurant, and the hours he was open seemed very sporadic. Then, in early September, the restaurant went totally dark, and people started to question whether Luis was really committed to the village.

The reason for that, we came to learn, was a distressing one.

On September 3, Luis was involved in a frightening accident. He was on the shoulder of Five Mile Line Rd., helping a friend secure a fence to her trailer, when another driver struck him. The impact sent him flying ten feet. He suffered a compound fracture to his leg and was losing blood rapidly. A veteran who happened on the scene applied a tourniquet, most definitely saving his life. (Click here to read the blog I wrote back then with the whole story.)

Luis spent weeks in the hospital, undergoing multiple surgeries, skin grafts, and intense recovery procedures. He’s still facing a long road to healing — physically, emotionally, and financially. Because of his injuries, he hasn’t been able to work, and Munchies Rock City Empanadas is struggling to stay afloat. His friends and family members have been doing their best to try to keep the doors open, but the bills are piling up, rent and equipment costs continue, and the future of his restaurant hangs in the balance.

For over 20 years, Luis Carrasquillo has been a pillar in our community, serving delicious food with love, donating meals to local events, and showing up whenever someone needs a helping hand. He’s never asked for anything in return because that’s just who he is. But now he’s asking for our help.

Luis’ family members have set up a GoFundMe campaign to raise money to help cover Luis’ medical and household expenses and ongoing rehabilitation, and to help keep his restaurant running until he can get back on his feet.

If you can spare even a little something, Luis would be eternally grateful, and you’d be helping someone who’s given so much to our Webster community. Click here to make your donation.

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(posted 1/25/2026)

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

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Looking back at the year in blogs

30 Dec

As I like to do at the end of every year, a few days ago I took a stroll back through all of the blogs I wrote in 2025. It’s always a fun exercise, as I review all of the events, business openings and closings, people and places that I found to share with you all. They reflect the extraordinary diversity of people, places and events we have here in Webster, and how close-knit this town is.

In the last 12 months, counting today, I posted 334 blogs. That works out to about 28 blogs every month. And thanks to the wonders of the Internet, I managed to keep up that pace even though I was in Prague for six weeks. It’s also interesting (at least to me) to note that the blogs were viewed more than 238,000 times. Fourteen of the top twenty blogs were about new businesses, the most popular one being an update on The Coach renovations — which was my best-read blog of the year.

As in previous years, my photo galleries following events like the Trick or Treat Trail and Fireman’s Parade were also big draws, and my History Bits — highlighting local history — are also still very popular.

If you’ve got a few minutes and would find it interesting, I’ve pulled out my favorite blogs from each month. My posts have run the gamut from special events to special people, new businesses to new trails. But you’ll notice that many of my favorite blogs are the ones where I share personal stories and everyday moments, the kinds of things that may not seem very exciting, but are what make our lives interesting and meaningful.

If something really strikes your fancy and you want to read any of them again, click through the hyperlink.


My two favorite blogs in January were about local history: the Irondequoit Bay Bridge and the first of my six-stop History Bit Webster Museum tour. The bridge blog was a follow-up on two blogs I’d posted the previous March when the Bay Bridge celebrated a birthday. Like those, this one about how the bridge had won an award also garnered several “likes.”

In February I caught up with a village neighbor of mine who will often hitch up her dogs to a dogsled and run them through village neighborhoods. This was a good example of a great community story which I was alerted to by one of my readers. Usually the best blog ideas come from my readers.

Jack’s Happy Hour celebrated its five-year anniversary in March. I first wrote about this nightly gathering of Brooksboro Dr. neighbors in 2022, when they were celebrating the occasion of having come together for a beverage every night for 1000 days straight. Last March they marked five straight years of gatherings. Every. Single. Night. For five years.That was definitely worth a blog.

In April, I posted what would become one of my most popular History Bits, about Willow Point Park. So many people fondly remember the old amusement park and shared a lot of memories. That month I also highlighted Webster Schroeder graduate Adam Marino, who was playing Frankie Valli in OFC Creations’ production of Jersey Boys.

My two favorite blogs in May were both personal reflections. I wrote about my recent trip to Prague, and how I successfully completed my first (and only) half marathon upon my return. Both were extremely memorable experiences. One of them I would like to do again. I’ll leave it to you to guess which one.

In June, my favorite blog was probably the shortest, when School Resource Officer David Herrle joined me in a dramatic reading of Mo Willems’ We Are in a Book, starring Elephant and Piggie. I was substituting at State Rd. Elementary when he happened to pop into the library and I corralled him. I love showing that police officers are fun-loving people, too.

I highlighted the WEBSTER bushes in July, the ones that welcome visitors to town on Rt. 104. They have some interesting history. I also enjoyed highlighting an unusual benefit to living in the Village of Webster when I wrote about how the Webster Marching Band practices at Spry Middle School during the summer and provides my own personal band concert.

In August, I followed up another blog idea submitted by a reader when I attended a Front Porch Pickin’ social event on Millcreek Run. I wrote a History Bit about the Forest Lawn Train accident, and shared some thoughts about some trail riding my husband and I did in Penn Yan and Waterloo, where we saw some beautiful scenery and explored some Civil War history.

I was honored to be invited to Jack’s Happy Hour again in September when the Brooksboro gang celebrated their 2,000-night anniversary. (They SAID it would be their last time, but I don’t think it was….) The whimsical Holt Rd. skeletons were back in action for Halloween, and I had to share this year’s cleverness with everyone. Also in September, I introduced everyone to young Pierson Farina and his “Returns for a Reason” initiative in which he collects returnables and donated the funds to local nonprofits.

In October I featured Judah Sealy — who doesn’t live in Webster but plays every year at the Webster Jazz Festival — who landed the role of Clarence Clemons in the new Bruce Springsteen movie. I also wrote another more personal piece about my running buddies and two races we did together that month.

In November, I caught up with Fritz Sierk, owner of The Coach, for an update on his repairs and renovations. It proved to be my best-read blog of the year. I also gave everyone a behind-the-scenes look at one of my favorite local organizations, the Friends of Webster Trails, when I tagged along to watch the installation of a trail counter. And I visited those crazy Holt Rd. skeletons again, who for the holiday season had been transformed into the Rockettes.

Finally, in December I posted my annual gallery of photos from the Village of Webster’s Winter Wonderland and Parade of Lights festivities. People love these galleries and it makes me feel good that I’m able to share events like this with people who can’t attend, especially those who now live out of state. And just a few weeks ago I wrote what might be my favorite blog of the entire year, about when a representative from Toter/Wastequip came to town and presented Pierson Farina with his very own “Returns For a Reason” toter, making his biggest Christmas wish come true.


Whew. If you’re still with me, thank you for reading this far. I hope you found it interesting to revisit some of this year’s blogs. And remember that if you ever think of something or see something that might make for an interesting blog, PLEASE drop me an email. As I said, the best blog ideas come from my readers.

Thanks again for reading, and all of your likes, comments and messages. Please have a safe and happy new year.

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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 12/30/2025)

A heartwarming surprise for Pierson, CCO (Chief Collections Officer) of “Returns for a Reason”

18 Dec

You remember Pierson Farina. He’s the Spry Middle School 6th grader who established his own fund-raising operation earlier this year which he calls “Returns for a Reason.” His goal is to collect returnables from family members, neighbors, schoolmates, strangers — anyone and everyone — and every time he raises $100, he donates it to some worthy organization.

I first wrote about Pierson in September when he donated his first $100 check to the Webster Volunteer Fire Department, and then again in October to report that he’d already raised and donated $200 more, to Lollypop Farm and Honor Flight Rochester.

But that’s only a small part of the Pierson Farina story, and not what today’s blog is about.

You see, Pierson loves all things about garbage and recycling. Or, more specifically (as he says on his “96 Gallons of Fun!” YouTube channel), he loves “garbage trucks, garbage cans, recycle bins, composting, you name it!” He owns at least two model garbage trucks, runs his own small business cleaning garbage cans for his neighbors, and the trash and recycling truck drivers who service his street have gotten to know him very well.

Pierson loves garbage trucks and garbage cans so much that back in October he wrote a letter to Toter, Inc., a waste container manufacturer based in Statesville, NC, asking for his “dream Christmas present,” an official Toter wheeled cart — specifically, a green one with an orange lid.

No one, not even his mother, Catherine, expected a response. So she was just as surprised as anyone when a Toter representative reached out about a month later to arrange a surprise special delivery and make Pierson’s Christmas wish come true.

That heartwarming event unfolded Wednesday afternoon when Toter Regional Sales Manager Jamie Butler pulled up in front of Pierson’s house and unloaded the Toter cart. Moments later, a Casella Waste Systems side-loader garbage truck rumbled up behind her and started blasting its horn.

At first, Pierson had no idea why a garbage truck was idling outside his house. But when he stepped and spotted the Toter — a green one with an orange lid — topped with a giant green bow and personalized with his name and “Returns for a Reason,” he was speechless.

After Pierson had a chance to thoroughly inspect his shiny new recycling cart, Casella truck driver Anthony McQueen invited him to sit in the truck and operate the side-loader, grabbing and “emptying” the can into the truck’s bay. Then Pierson placed his first full bag of returnables into the can — the first of many to come, for sure.

It was a day that he will not soon forget.

Channel 13 was there as well, and filmed the whole event for their Wednesday night “Bright Spot” segment, which you can see here. (He was also the featured Bright Spot when he presented his check to the WVFD.)

Kudos to Wastequip/Toter and Casella Waste Systems for pulling this surprise together and making Pierson’s Christmas wish come true.

Here’s a bunch more photos:


More about Toter, from their corporate office:

Toter has been a leader in waste and recycling solutions for more than 50 years, providing durable, innovative containers that help keep neighborhoods clean and sustainable. As a national company, we proudly serve haulers, cities, and towns across the country (in Webster they work with Casella Waste Systems) including communities like Webster—with products designed to make waste collection easier, safer, and more efficient. Our commitment to quality and sustainability continues to set the standard in the industry, and we’re excited to share stories that inspire creativity and community pride.

Marty Bryant, Toter CEO, wrote, “Pierson’s enthusiasm for our products is a great reminder of how creativity starts young. We’re proud to bring his vision to life and hope this Toter container inspires even more content on his (YouTube) channel.” 

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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 12/18/2025)

Playing Catch for Life: How 366 days of catch built community and connection

3 Dec

In March 2023, David Tinnes set a challenge for himself: to play catch with someone — friend, neighbor, family member or stranger — every day for 30 straight days. In the ensuing months, that challenge stretched to 100 days, then 300, and eventually, 366 days. More than one full year playing a simple game of catch with someone, every day.

It was an inspirational journey filled with amazing personal stories, human connections and teachable moments. And now, Dave has turned the story of that journey into a book, called Playing Catch for Life.

I first met Dave in late March of that year, only three weeks or so into his challenge. I can’t remember how I first heard about the story, but it intrigued me, and I decided there was no better way to find out more about it then to meet with Dave in person and have a game of catch.

We met at the library on a cold, windy day, and before heading outside, where we tossed the ball back and forth for about 15 minutes, I got the full story of how and why Dave embarked on his 30-day catch journey. (You can read the whole story here.)

In short, Dave was inspired by the story of Ethan Bryan, who had completed his own 365-day catch challenge. He wasn’t initially planning to do the same; it just turned out that way. Over the following year, he played more than 500 games of catch with more than 320 different people, managing to connect on a personal level with pretty much every one of them. It was a life-changing experience, which, he said, “taught and continues to teach me a lot, not only about myself, but about life.”

He wrote,

People want to connect and share their stories. Stories matter in life; good stories are interesting to others and connect us to one another.

Through my experiences I encountered authenticity through intentionality. When I committed to connect with others and really LISTEN to them, there were no distractions of screens obscuring our faces, or our compassions. There was sincere, open communication and connection. Playing catch with others was an invitation to be vulnerable and accept others for who they are, on any given day. I experienced good, bad, hard, easy, ugly and beautiful. I learned to honor and appreciate on a deeper level.

I found a better version of myself as I reflected on the conversations I was a part of. I considered things I hadn’t really paused to care about before. I became enlightened. I also shared light with people. I hugged and received hugs. I cried and sat with those that cried. We laughed together. We loved together. We embraced all of life together, in those sacred moments. I traveled to other cities, states and countries. I went to places within myself that I didn’t know existed. I found humanity, raw, real, open and accepting.

Throughout Dave’s journey, the plan to eventually write a book about the experience was always in the back of his mind. In early November, that dream became a reality with the publication of Playing Catch for Life. The 480-page paperback revisits the stories he heard and the connections he forged, ultimately showing how a simple game of catch can help us grow as human beings, strengthen our sense of community, become better listeners, and truly live every moment of our lives.

It’s available for purchase on Amazon.com for $20.

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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 12/3/2025)

Thank you, Webster, from the WCC and Webster Hope

1 Dec

The Webster Community Chest (WCC) and Webster Hope joined forces this Thanksgiving to support families who are struggling more than ever to keep food on the table. Their combined efforts brought food and other household items to our neighbors who needed it most.

But these agencies could not do what they do without strong support from the Webster community. Recently they sent out a public thank you, which I am pleased to reprint here.

Thank you for your support of our recent Thanksgiving Grocery Bag distribution event. This event served 227 families and families received everything they need for a full Thanksgiving dinner in addition to baking items, cleaning products and other extra items. We filled 500 bags (because everything didn’t fit in just one bag)! We also gave out 51 turkeys to larger families thanks to a grant from West Herr Cares.

These large collaborative events cannot happen without the support of the community. We would like to thank Wegmans for their large grant to support this event as well as a gift card so we could purchase the reusable Wegmans shopping bags for all families, West Herr Ford of Webster for supplying butter to all of our families (West Herr Butter is Better), Kuk Sool Won of Ontario for collecting cleaning products, Gathering Place Webster for collecting gravy, A Foley of the NYS Police Academy for collecting food and cleaning items, Thomas High School for dedicating two days of their Spirit Week to collecting for our Thanksgiving event, Village at Unity for collecting a truckload of cookie mix packets, Immanuel Lutheran Church for collecting enough macaroni and cheese to double up in every bag, McAlpin Industries for providing much of the coffee and DiPaolo Bakery for giving us a discount on freshly baked delicious dinner rolls with free delivery and including three trays of delicious treats for our hard-working volunteers.

Also a huge thank you to our individual donors who donated grocery items and/or made a cash donation to support the purchase of grocery items for this event.

The Holiday Meal Collaboration was a response to the increase of food insecurity in our community. Our collaboration has now held six events and we have given out food and other needed items to almost 900 families! Our plan is to have three events per year: Easter/Spring, Summer and Thanksgiving. Webster is truly a community that comes together in times of need and what a better reason to come together than to feed our neighbors.

Thank you for being a part of the solution and thank you for your support of our collaborative efforts.

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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 12/1/2025)

Two ways you can help families in need right now

7 Nov

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Toiletries

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

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

***

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

You can also get email notifications every time I post a new blog by using the “Subscribe” link on the right side of this page (or all the way at the bottom of the page if you’re on your phone).

(posted 11/7/2025)

They’re at it again

5 Nov

The whimsical skeletons perched at the corner of Holt and Klem roads are delighting passersby once again with their new Christmas-themed display.

You might remember how in the weeks before Halloween, George Baker and his family created a silly skeletons display depicting a bike race. But the skeletons weren’t taking the race very seriously; one was perched upside down on his handlebars, one was standing on the handlebars, two were riding piggyback, another had chosen to compete on a unicycle, and yet another on a scooter. To the side, two other skeletons appeared to have had a bike accident. (Click here to read the blog I wrote about that display.)

Even when I spoke with him in late September, George hinted they’d already come up with an idea for a Christmas display. On Sunday, just two days after Halloween, it was revealed.

This time, the eight smaller skeletons are posing as Rockettes, lined up in a kick line with their right legs raised in perfect, shoulder-high unison. And of course the two ever-present 12-foot and 10-foot tall skeletons which stand in the front of the yard are dressed in their holiday Santa and Mrs. Claus suits, which are a bit snug on their monstrous frames.

Check out the display for yourself. It’s at the corner of Holt and Klem (you can’t miss it) and you’re more than welcome to stop and take a selfie!

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(posted 11/5/2025)