One of the most colorful signs of summer in Webster is the return of the Joe Obbie Farmers’ Market to Webster Towne Center Plaza on Holt Rd. (in front of Old Navy).
The market opened for the season on Saturday, June 13, and will be set up every Saturday at the plaza from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. through October, rain or shine. The very popular Evening in the Park Market will also return to Charles Sexton Park (formerly known as North Ponds) from 5 to 8 p.m. on Wednesday evenings beginning next week, July 15. These events also have live music and food trucks, so remember to pack your folding chairs!
But today, I want to address a question I’ve had for a long time: Who WAS Joe Obbie and why is the market named after him? The answer was not hard to find; his son Mark has provided the background on the market’s website page. You can check that out for yourself, but I’m pleased to reprint that piece here:
The market began in 1983 when our father, Joe Obbie, saw a couple selling crafts outside his favorite Webster diner. He asked if he could join them to sell produce from his farm. By agreeing to let our father set up shop, they were doing more than just inviting in one farmer. They were tapping into a network of local farmers since our father was a lifelong resident of the town — and a master at social networking, motivated by a passion to preserve Webster’s farming heritage.
Joe started recruiting other farmers he knew, and the market was born. It moved to the other end of the same parking lot, where it remained for several years. Once it outgrew its corner of that village parking lot, it moved to another. Eventually, that proved too limiting as well. The expanded market finally found its current home, which had unlimited space for the many farmers and craftspeople who wanted to participate, and importantly, for their customers.
Webster had more than doubled in size during Joe’s adulthood since the 1950s, with housing and commercial developments crowding out farms and vacant land. Joe grew up on a small farm where his father, Charlie, grew potatoes and celery that he sold at the Rochester Public Market. Joe eventually became his father’s business partner, until their small farm proved inadequate to support Joe’s growing family and he went to work at the town’s biggest employer at the time, Xerox. In his later years, Charlie started a popular farm stand in front of his house to sell all kinds of vegetables. After he died in 1980, Joe, who lived next door and who had planted acres of grapes, apples, and garlic to serve as his retirement “hobby,” started his own farm stand.
Because there were fewer and fewer working farms in the town, Joe believed it was essential to give the many new residents of the town a way to connect with Webster’s farming heritage. Now, the farmers market gave him a way to spread that message to the entire community, and not just to the people who drove by his farm. He and our mother, Pat, worked tirelessly to recruit vendors and manage and promote the market for more than 20 years. When they were accompanied in their booth by one of us, by their growing brood of grandchildren, or by our younger adopted and foster siblings (Joe and Pat were longtime foster parents and ended up with a household of six or seven kids at any given time).
Just weeks after Joe died of cancer in 2005, our family gathered at the market to celebrate the unveiling of its new name: Webster’s Joe Obbie Farmers’ Market. There could be no more meaningful tribute to his life’s mission than to see that others, aided for many years by Pat, would carry on his work to sustain and improve the market. We are so grateful to the people who have carried that torch since 2005 and work so diligently to make the market a success.
In October 2023, Pat baked her last grape pies and cookies for the vendor booth she ran in the years since her husband’s death. Though she has now “retired” from the market, at age 86, we hope to talk her into coming to the 2024 market (and beyond) to greet customers and tell the story of how this market grew from one farmer to many.
Mark Obbie
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(posted 7/9/2026)
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Congratulations to four Webster Girl Scouts for earning recognition as Gold Award Girl Scouts.
At a ceremony held on Saturday, May 30, Amelia Thompson, Addison Terrana, Karolynn Shaw and Ava Hartfield all received their Gold Awards. The award recognizes Girl Scouts for their years of dedication to Scouting, and their outstanding accomplishments and service to the Webster community.
Here’s more information about these incredible young ladies and their projects:
Ava Hatfield
Ava’s Gold Award Project was called Trailside Comfort: Benches and Table for Everyone. She partnered with the Friends of Webster Trails to enhance the State Rd. Nature Preserve. The project assessed the need for accessible rest areas to improve the visitor experience along the trails. She and her team of volunteers installed two benches and a table at separate locations, sites which were selected to improve accessibility and use, and they made additional improvements to create welcoming spaces for bikers and families.
Ava is a junior at Webster Schroeder High School, and is a member of Troop 60415.
Karolynn Shaw
Kari’s Music Revamp project addressed the financial barriers preventing low-income students in Rochester city schools from fully participating in music education. Many students lack proper instrument cases and essential supplies, making it impossible to practice outside of school. Kari worked with a Rochester City School band director to collect donations from families, friends and community members to provide students with sturdy instrument cases, reeds, cleaning kits, and other necessary supplies. She also created and provided materials for a year’s worth of bulletin board ideas, musician compliment cards and a website.
Kari is a senior at Webster Thomas High School, and a member of Troop 63113. She was also the recipient of the GSWNY Education Scholarship and the Ralph and Mary McLean Wilson Scholarship.
Addison Terrana
Addison’s Keeping Your Dog Safe in All Weather project partnered with local veterinary offices, animal rescues and Scout leaders to promote safe outdoor recreation with pets. The project addressed gaps in accessible information on pet safety and its connection to mental wellness. She created a comprehensive website and brochure called “Badge in a Box,” and developed a virtual option for Brownie troops. She also created materials designed to support families in safely engaging with pets outdoors.
Addison is a senior at Webster Schroeder, and a member of Troop 63113. She was also the recipient of the GSWNY Education Scholarship. Click here to see the website she created: Keeping Your Dog Safe in All Weather
Amelia Thompson
Amelia worked with Challenger Miracle Field’s Track and Field Program to create an inclusive track and field experience for athletes with disabilities. The project addressed the lack of accessible track and field opportunities in the community. Amelia coordinated volunteers, organized and ran two events, held at Webster Thomas High School last year, which included sprinting, relays, shot put, and long jump competitions.
Amelia is a junior at Webster Thomas High School, and a member of Troop 60617.
Earning a Girl Scout Gold Award is a distinguished accomplishment. The award ceremony program explained it best:
Gold Award Girl Scouts are change-makers. They have changed the world, changed their lives, and earned the most prestigious award in Girl Scouting. To earn the Gold Award, a Girl Scout identifies an issue in their community, drafts a plan to address a route cause, and leads a team of volunteers to implement it. When the project is complete, the Gold Award Girl Scout and their team have made a sustainable impact on the world that continues to last beyond their involvement.
It’s a huge accomplishment that also impacts the Gold Award Girl Scout as a person. How they see the world — and how the world sees them — is forever changed, It’s also a credential that will be with them for the rest of their life; having a Girl Scout Gold Award on a high school transcript or resume can make a Girl Scout stand out when it comes to college admissions, scholarship applications, internships, and job interviews.
Only 6% of all Girl Scouts earn a Gold Award. This year, Girl Scouts of Webster NY had 41 Gold Award Scouts, four of which were Webster students.
Congratulations to Ava, Karolynn, Addison and Amelia. You make Webster proud!
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(posted 6/6/2026)
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You might remember a few weeks ago I wrote about an ambitious Bronze Award project that three young Webster Girl Scouts were working on.
Junior Scouts Julia Meyers, Lily Pettit and Penny Patterson from Troop 60344, all fifth graders from Klem North Elementary School, were collecting games, puzzles, children’s books, colored pencils, crayons, markers and craft kits for children in need. The donations would then be sorted, organized and donated to Family Promise, a Rochester-based organization which assists families at risk of homelessness.
To promote the month-long project, the young ladies posted announcements online, designed flyers to hang around town, and arranged for the Webster School District to send a notice home to all of the district’s families. Finally, they secured several local agencies to serve as host sites for collection boxes. Once everything was in place, they could only wait, hoping people would notice, and their efforts would result in at least a few donations.
The Webster community did more than notice; they responded with overwhelming generosity.
Donations immediately started pouring in, filling the collection bins many times over. Wish lists they’d posted on Amazon for bags, games, activity books, puzzles, crafts, crayons and markers were promptly filled. Several people emailed directly, asking how they could help. Neighbors dropped items off at the house, school friends handed over even more. By the end of April, the young Scouts had collected an estimated 1,500 or more items (actually, they kind of lost count). About a week later, they trucked them all over to the Gathering Place Rochester, where 30 or so family members, neighbors and friends helped them pack 151 “kid kits” for children in need.
Julia, Lily and Penny are thrilled with their project’s success, and know that it wouldn’t have been possible without the incredible support of the Webster community. And for that support, they want to send out a HUGE thank you.
“We never thought that it would go as well as it did,” Lily said, to which Penny added, “I didn’t think we were going to have that much stuff. At the most we thought we’d have 500 items.”
“We really appreciate everyone who donated, filled the Amazon list, and came to the Gathering Place event,” Julia said. Not to mention the businesses that provided space for the donation bins, and the Gathering Place for hosting the sorting and organizing session. It was truly a community effort, driven in large part by countless anonymous donors.
“That’s why we’re doing this community thank you, so we can thank them all.”
Here’s a great video from the Gathering Place event which shows the amazing number of donations received (thank you Emily P. for the video!):
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(posted 5/14/2026)
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Thank you to the volunteers from Color Webster Green (CWG) who have been spending some of their free time recently cleaning up our town.
Last Tuesday evening, four dedicated volunteers pulled on their heavy gloves, grabbed some garbage bags and scoured the eastbound Bay Rd. 104 off-ramp for trash. They called the effort “Walking With a Purpose.” Becky Collins, one of the event’s organizers, wrote, “We picked up so much trash we could barely haul it back to our cars! Lots of people honked their horns and waved or shouted out thanks for cleaning up.”
Some of the trash found at the “Pick up the Parks” event
Last Saturday April 18, Color Webster Green also participated in the annual “Pick up the Parks” event organized annually by Monroe County. For three hours that morning at Webster Park, a dozen CWG volunteers (including four children) collected a total of six huge bags full of trash, including a broken chair, a 1970-era jump rope, acrylic nails, broken pieces of a plastic sled, many broken pieces of glass bottles, beer cans, single-use heating pads, doggy bags, and several pieces of fireworks containers.
Color Webster Green is planning to meet every month — probably on Tuesday evenings — to pick up trash. If you’d like to join them, you can get updates on the schedule at the CWG website and Facebook page.
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(posted 4/25/2026)
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Today I bring you a heartwarming story of kindness, respect and reconciliation.
The story was told to me by Webster resident Kathy Hertzel, whose father Bill served in the Pacific Theater in WWII. In November 1944, after fighting on the island of Leyte in the Philippines, he removed a silk battle flag from the body of a fallen Japanese soldier. Such battlefield souvenirs were common among Allied servicemen.
The red disk in the center of the large flag, symbolizing the Rising Sun, was surrounded by names and symbols written in Japanese kanji. They included the soldier’s name – Matsujiro Yonaiyama – and well-wishes from family members and friends. A bullet hole and blood were also still visible. Bill realized the profound personal significance of what he had found, so he folded the flag carefully and tucked it inside a leather pouch to keep it safe during the long trip home after the war.
Bill stored the pouch in his dresser, bringing it out only occasionally to show visitors. Kathy remembers how carefully her father took care of it, making sure she knew it was a precious artifact that should be respected. As a young girl, she was fascinated by the flag, slowly yellowing with age, and often wondered about the young man who wore the flag so bravely as he fought in the war.
For years, the flag remained mostly forgotten, until 1978, when Bill showed it to a Japanese colleague. She was able to translate some of the writing, including the soldier’s name. That discovery gave the flag a human identity.
Bill died later that year, so he was never able to continue his search. But in 1995, on the 50th anniversary of the end of the war in the Pacific, his daughter Kathy took up the cause.
Her first efforts – writing to the Japanese consulate in New York City and the U.S. Ambassador to Japan – fell on deaf ears. Several years later, a friend suggested she contact a colleague of hers in California whose roommate was Japanese. That attempt was much more successful.
The roommate, Tishi Washizu, agreed to help. He carried photos of the flag back to Tokyo, where the national newspaper Asahi Shimbun picked up the story. On January 28, 2000, Shigejiro Yonaiyama saw the article, recognized his brother’s name and contacted the local newspaper bureau; they, in turn, relayed the message to Kathy.
Kathy knew it was imperative that the flag be returned to the family, so she quickly arranged for its journey home. After carefully packing the heirloom, she sent it back to where it had started more than 55 years before. In an accompanying letter, she wrote, “It is with much joy that I send this flag on its final voyage.”
On March 19, 2000, the flag was placed in the hands of Matsujiro’s brother and nephew, and that same day it was presented at Matsujiro’s empty grave.
Here’s an especially touching twist to this story: the family never knew what had happened to Matsujiro. They’d been told that he’d died when the ship carrying him from Manchuria to Leyte sank, and never even knew the time or place of his death. All they had received to remember him by was an empty box with his name on it. Now, thanks to the efforts of Kathy Hertzel and many others, the memory of Matsujiro Yonaiyama lives on, in a battle flag which hangs proudly on a shrine in his brother’s home.
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(posted 4/6/2026)
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At least three times now, I’ve written about the fun-loving, close-knit Brooksboro Drive neighbors. Beginning March 22, 2020 (at the height of COVID), they began meeting at the end of Jack Turan’s driveway for a kind of “happy hour,” sharing a beverage, conversation and a few laughs.
They were dubbed “Yak With Jack” happy hours, and the last time Ifeatured them in the blog was last September, when the neighbors marked their 2,000th straight happy hour. That’s more than five years when at least two neighbors (and usually more), grabbed a beverage and met at Jack’s house, every night, regardless of the weather.
If you read that blog, you’ll see that the plan was to finally call an end to the happy hours. But we all know how difficult it is to bring something with that much momentum to a hard stop. So of course, despite Jack’s best intentions, the happy hours continued.
So now here’s the fun part of this story. Last Sunday, March 22, the happy hours reached their six-year milestone. And this time they didn’t just have a party; the accomplishment was officially recognized by Webster Town Supervisor Alex Scialdone — a regular happy hour participant — who presented Jack Turan and the assembled neighbors with an official proclamation.
The text of the proclamation read:
Proclamation in Recognition of Yakville
WHEREAS, the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic caused schools to close, businesses to shutter, and social establishments to lock their doors. It was a time of isolation for millions of Americans who might otherwise seek camaraderie and their or beverage of choice at a local establishment; and
WHEREAS, during a period of intense social seclusion and inspired by the approach of some towns in Italy to maintain some semblance of community, “Yakville” was born. The end of a driveway became the daily designated gathering spot for a community that missed its “village”; and
WHEREAS, 2026 marks six years since Jack Turan established the inaugural Happy Hour in the Brooksboro community. The practice continues as long as at least two people gather together for at least fifteen minutes. Upwards of eight families now participate with the desire to socialize with neighbors and friends who have become family over these many years; and
WHEREAS, while the end of this tradition has been teased, it continues today. It has survived inclement weather, mourned the loss of family and friends, and celebrated countless special occasions; and
WHEREAS, the community and relationships built through this daily gathering will endure long after the final happy hour draws to a close; and
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, on this 22nd day of March in the year 2026, on behalf of the Webster Town Supervisor’s office and the Webster community, we recognize an incredible group that came together during one of the most challenging times in our history and has sustained an inspirational sense of community through the years.
Congratulations, “Yakville” and long may you gather.
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(posted 3/30/2026)
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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.
One of the lucky recipients of the students’ kindness
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)
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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 ownBella’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’sOfficialCharitable 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)
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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 fromprofessionals 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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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)
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I feature the people and places and events that make Webster the wonderful community it is — and throw in some totally-not-Webster-related personal ramblings every once in a while as well.
I love it when readers send me news about the great things happening in their schools or the community, so please email me anytime at missyblog@gmail.com
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