Thanks to some very dedicated Girl Scouts, our deployed service members will be getting a little happiness from home this holiday season.
A few weeks ago, nine Girl Scouts from Webster Troop #60344 and their two leaders met at the Webster Presbyterian Church on Webster Rd. to make greeting cards for the troops. They worked for more than an hour and ended up making 35 individualized cards, which will now be sent to soldiers serving overseas.
The card-making activity was facilitated by Mary Ann O’Mara, who was more than happy to provide most of the supplies. This is the fourth time the young ladies have worked with Mary Ann to make cards, and everyone always has a fun time. PLUS, before they even headed to the church to make the cards, the Scouts had already spent an hour and a half at the Gathering Place Webster, where they were running kids’ games during the organization’s Spooky Shenanigans event. PLUS, while they were making the cards, the girls were also discussing what other community service projects they wanted to work on next.
Told you they were dedicated.
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When last we heard from young Pierson Farina — Webster Village resident and world-changer — he was presenting a $100 donation to the Webster Volunteer Fire Department (WVFD). Pierson had raised the money through his “Returns for a Reason” fundraising initiative, in which he is collecting and redeeming returnable bottles and cans to benefit local agencies.
His plan is to make a donation every time he collects $100. He began the project earlier this summer, and it only took him three months to raise his first $100. He chose the WVFD by random as the first beneficiary. In just one more month, thanks to great support from the Webster community, Pierson raised $200 more, donating the funds to Lollypop Farm and Honor Flight Rochester.
Now Pierson is well on his way to raising another $100 for his fourth cause: Spry Middle School, where he attends school. The principal there, Dr. Chris Callahan, has agreed to allow Pierson to put a can in the cafeteria to collect the students’ returnables. Apparently Spry is in need of a bike rack since so many kids ride their bikes to school, and Pierson wants to help raise money for that.
If you’d like to help Pierson continue his charitable efforts, stash your returnables in your car, and the next time you’re in the village, drive down Dunning Ave. and look for the bin with the Returns for a Reason flyer attached to the front!
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Based at the Webster Recreation Center, WSPS is a group of volunteers who, for 15 years now, have provided transportation for retirees and disabled residents who live within the Webster School District. They help residents get to and from medical and dental appointments, and provide rides to pharmacies, banks, barbers, hairdressers, tax preparation services, and the Webster Public Library. The organization currently has 65 volunteer drivers, five dispatchers and 12 board members.
WSPS is one of those volunteer organizations here in Webster that don’t get a whole lot of press or attention, but are making a huge difference in our community. Last year, WSPS volunteers drove over 49,000 miles, volunteered over 3500 hours and provided over 3800 rides. The rides are an affordable alternative to more expensive ride options, and allow many seniors the ability to live independently. The drivers are a meaningful part of the lives of its many riders who rely on them to get them to their appointments.
Almost 70 drives, dispatchers, board members and special guests attended the buffet luncheon, catered by Proietti’s, with a celebratory cake donated by BJ’s. Every driver received a gift bag stuffed with gift certificates and won a raffle prize, all donated by generous local business owners.
65 drivers might seem like a lot, but with the number of seniors and disabled folks in the Webster School District increasing, they’re always in need of more volunteers. For more information on how you can join the team, call 585-216-7829 or visit the group’s website. Monetary contributions are also more than welcome, and go to support the WSPS operating budget.
Here are a few more photos from the afternoon, courtesy Dave Norton:
Here’s an easy and fun way to help!
WSPS is hosting an indoor craft sale on Saturday Nov. 1 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Webster Recreation Center, 1350 Chiyoda Dr. They’re expecting more than 40 vendors, so make sure to add this one to your holiday shopping calendar.
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Eagle Scout candidate Michael Gallina, from Webster Boy Scout Troop 262, has teamed up with the Blue Star Mothers of Rochester (BSM) to help our deployed service members get a taste of home.
Michael is holding a donation drive to collect items for the BSM’s next care package shipment, scheduled in November. The fliers below have a complete list of the items the Blue Star Mothers are looking for, and where your donations can be dropped off. Everything needs to be collected by November 1 to have enough time to pack the care packages and send them off.
Michael, a senior at McQuaid Jesuit High School, told me that he chose this project because it reminded him of when he was younger and participated in the annual Scouting for Food drive.
He wrote,
As young Scouts, we would collect donated items and as older Scouts, we would prepare the items to be taken to local food pantries. We did this in order to help our unknown neighbors. As I myself get older, I have friends who are considering joining the military and I think about supporting them if they’re far from home. This project gives me the opportunity support an organization that brings a bit of home to those who are far away.
Every year in June and November, the Blue Star Mothers send care packages to our local service members who are deployed overseas. Something simple as a pack of cards or some socks lets them know that their service is appreciated and we haven’t forgotten about them.
So please check out the lists and drop off some donations. You’ll be helping our service members AND Michael.
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When the skeletons show up on Holt Rd., you know it’s almost Halloween.
Anyone who regularly travels down Holt Rd. is almost certainly familiar with the imaginative skeleton display erected every year at the corner of Holt and Klem roads. They’re the work of George Baker and his family, and for the last three years they’ve been bringing smiles to the faces of children and adults alike.
George started erecting monstrous skeletons in his front yard two years ago. At first, it was just one really big one, the big daddy of them all, standing a full 12 feet tall. That humongous skeleton alone, with its glowing eyes, drew a lot of comments and happy honking from the drivers passing by.
So of course, he couldn’t stop there.
Last year, George gave the big daddy a slightly smaller (10-foot tall) companion. And since that wasn’t nearly enough, he and his family also created a playground scene to accompany them, with a half dozen smaller skeletons swinging on swings, hanging upside down on a bar, and testing the waters in a kiddie pool (that skeleton had to have a mask and snorkel, just in case).
That was pretty cool, but this year, I dare say, they’ve gone one better.
This season, the silly skeletons (and there are at least three more of them) appear to be competing in a bike race. But they’re not taking the race very seriously; one is perched upside down on his handlebars, one is standing on the handlebars, two are riding piggyback, another has chosen to compete on a unicycle, and yet another on a scooter (he appears to be winning the race).
Plus, off to the left side of the scene, two other skeletons apparently had a bike accident. One is flying through the air after being catapulted over his handlebars. And if you think this is all spooky and bizarre during the day, you got to see it at night.
The annual skeleton spectacle is truly a family effort. George credits his wife Melissa for coming up with the creative ideas, his grandson Ryan is a master at manipulating the arms of the monster skeletons, and grandson Brendan came up with the idea to have the bike accident.
It took about five hours (and countless zip ties), and a team of five (including Rich Moorman and Chad Baker) to create this year’s display. It was hard work, but all of the smiles and comments the finished tableau elicits make it all worth it.
“I love it,” George said. “The whole time we’re doing it, someone is driving by, honking their horn…. People holler ‘Keep doing it for the kids!'”
“I do it simply to get smiles,” he said. “It’s as simple as that.”
The spooky bike race will be entertaining the neighbors and passersby through Halloween, but come November, it will be replaced by a Christmas-themed scene. Melissa already has an idea for that, but isn’t letting on what that might be. Last year the holiday scene featured Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus (wearing a tree skirt).
By the way, anyone who’d like to is welcome to stop by to take photos of the skeletons, or photos WITH them!
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An every-evening tradition that has brought an entire neighborhood together for 2,000 nights straight is finally coming to an end.
Every evening since March 22, 2020 (and I mean EVERY evening), the residents of the Brooksboro neighborhood on Webster’s north side have been gathering at the end of Jack Turan’s driveway for a kind of happy hour, sharing a beverage, conversation and a few laughs. The tradition began just as the pandemic was shutting the world down and distancing us from our friends and family members.
The idea of being socially isolated from his neighbors did not sit well with Jack, so he did something about it. He grabbed a beverage, stood out at the end of his driveway and invited his neighbors to join him for some socially-distanced conversation.
That was more than five years ago, and every night since then, at least two people have participated in the nightly “Yak With Jack Happy Hour,” regardless of the weather or temperature. Usually it’s more like four or six. Every time they hit a major milestone — one year, 1,000 days, five years — they’d celebrate with a larger gathering, and someone would invariably wonder out loud when it would finally end. But it never did. Until last Friday night.
It was ultimately Jack’s idea to call it a wrap after 2,000 nights, and he’s feeling pretty good about his decision. It was difficult, sometimes, to make sure there were two people to make it officially count, so after a while it started to seem more like a duty than an opportunity.
When I asked him how it felt to be hosting his last happy hour, he said,
“I feel good. I feel like my daughter’s been living with me all through college, all through grad school, finally she says she’s getting married and going to move an hour away. I go ‘Sweetheart, I’ll see you, maybe once a month.’
But he has no regrets.
“We couldn’t have gotten to know our neighbors better than we have. We’ve lived here for 50 years, and all we really did (before) was wave at our neighbors. We really didn’t get to know them. This forced us to get to know each other. We’ve gone from being neighbors to being friends to being family.”
The every-evening-happy-hour tradition might be ending, but the close friendships it forged most definitely will not. Even last Friday night, there was already talk about how to keep the party going, even if it’s just a once-a-week gathering. One neighbor suggested everyone should “driveway hop.” Or maybe — just maybe — they’ll miss it so much that it will never end.
Whatever they decide, you can bet that night 2,000 will not be the last.
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A young Village of Webster boy is making the world a better place, one returnable at a time.
Pierson Farina — not quite 11 years old — has been collecting returnable bottles and cans for a long time, often snagging them out of his neighbors’ recycle bins. At first it was just a way to get a little spending cash and maybe build up his savings. But about three months ago, he decided to double down on his efforts and start putting those nickels to better use.
He established Returns for a Reason, which he describes as “a weekly returnable drop-off and pick-up.” He first decided what organizations he wanted to support: St. Rita School, Spry Middle School, G.R.A.S.P. Animal Rescue, Lollypop Farm, Webster NY Hope and the Webster Volunteer Fire Department (WVFD). Then he made up some flyers and started distributing them to all of his neighbors.
His plan is to make a donation every time he collects $100. In the first three months since he began Returns for a Reason, he’d already reached his first $100 goal. He chose the WVFD by random as the first beneficiary; “I put my finger on (the list) and it landed on the fire department,” he said.
Pierson with Chief Smith and President Ientilucci
Last Monday, Pierson was invited to the fire station, where he was greeted by Chief Brian Smith, who accepted the donation check. He told Pierson, “That is awesome. That work is truly inspiring. You share the same commitment for the community that the fellow firefighters do, so we definitely appreciate it.”
Justin Ientilucci, president of the Firemen’s Association, was also on hand. As a thank-you, Ientilucci presented Pierson with some “swag” — t-shirts and a cap — telling him, “The world should be filled with a lot more people like you, because a lot of people wouldn’t do things like this, especially at 11 years old.”
Pierson was also rewarded with a front-row seat on a fire truck for a ride through the village. (You might have heard him sounding the horn.)
Returns for a Reason is just the most recent example of Pierson’s entrepreneurial spirit. He was only 6 or 7 years old when he started a garbage can toting and cleaning service for his neighbors, a business he’s still running.
“We’ve had discussions about money,” his mother Cathy said. “How it’s good to make money, good to save money and good to help others, too. I think he’s kind of got that mindset that people need help.”
Pierson is well on his way to raising his second $100, which he’s planning to donate to Lollypop Farm. “I’m pretty sure I’m halfway there,” he said. If you want to help out, stash your returnables in your car, and the next time you’re in the village, drive down Dunning Ave. and look for the bin with the Returnables for a Reason flyer attached to the front!
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There’s so much to love about Webster: our thriving businesses, excellent schools, a charming village center, and a calendar full of music and special events. It’s a lively, bustling place. But what I love most is how, even with all that activity, Webster still manages to hold on to its community-focused, small-town charm.
That spirit was on full display last Wednesday night, when Todd and Kristen Baitsholts opened their spacious front porch for three hours of music and neighborly fun. They called it Front Porch Pickin’, an open invitation for anyone to stop by, play a tune, or simply enjoy meeting new people.
Todd and Kristen’s house sits on a sweeping corner in the Millcreek Run neighborhood just off of Rt. 250. Its location near the entrance to their neighborhood means that people frequently pass by, driving, biking or walking. Very often, they’ll stop to chat, so they’ve gotten to know some of their neighbors.
But “some” is just not good enough for Todd.
Todd “loves community,” Kristen said. “He thrives on it. He loves meeting people, talking to people. He even bought a container of dog bones so he can give one to everyone who walks by with a dog, so he can meet more people.” Hosting a music night seemed the perfect way to accomplish that.
“I like to sit around and play guitar with other people,” Todd said. “It’s a big neighborhood. There’s gotta be people in the neighborhood who like to play guitar, who wanna get together. … Good or bad, young or old, come down with a guitar.” So he made a sign board, set it up in the front yard and hoped his neighbors would come.
The cool, almost-raining weather threatened to turn the first Front Porch Pickin’ into a washout. By the end of the evening, however, a handful of friends and neighbors perched on stools with their guitars, or just stood by enjoying the music, taking advantage of Todd and Kristen’s hospitality to strum a bit, share some beverages and make new friends.
But even though the gathering itself was small, its spirit was big; exactly the kind of front-porch hospitality that gives Webster its small-town feel.
Todd said that once they get up and running, he’d like to host his Porch Pickin’ get-togethers once a month.
“I figure if we get a few regular people we’ll put out a set list of what we want to play and people can practice and come along and get better,” he said. “This is just the beginning.”
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Dr. Ross Willink turned 100 years old last week, and the community celebrated.
Many people recognize the name Willink not necessarily because of the man, but because of the school that bears his name, Willink Middle School on Publisher’s Parkway. Dr. Willink served as superintendent of the Webster School District from 1968 to 1981, and when the middle school was built in 2001, it was named in his honor to recognize his years of dedicated service.
But his service to the community, and to our country, has not been confined to his work with the schools. Willink is a WWII U.S. Navy veteran and started his post-war career as a teacher and administrator in Buffalo-area schools. He was superintendent of the East Irondequoit School District from 1964 to 1968 before becoming the Webster CSD Supervisor.
Dr. Willink joined the Webster Rotary Club in August 1975, was president of the club, and has received multiple Paul Harris Fellow awards, the highest, the most prestigious way the Rotary says “Thank you” for outstanding, exemplary achievement to the needs of the world.
Last Tuesday, July 22, Dr. Willink turned 100 years old, and in honor of the occasion, family and friends gathered on the 20th for a big celebration at Camp Eastman in Irondequoit. A second party was held the day after his birthday, when family, friends, and fellow Rotarians from the Webster Rotary Club hosted a party at the weekly Wellness on Wednesday (W.O.W.) meeting at Immanuel Lutheran Church in the Village of Webster.
I couldn’t attend either party, but former Webster Mayor Bll Ruoff, who was present at the W.O.W. celebration, was kind enough to send me a photo (above) and his thoughts.
The mood of the day was festive, uplifting, cheerful and very attentive, witnessed by the appearance of Don Alhart, long-time Rotarian from the Webster Rotary Club, well-known regional broadcaster for televisions Channel 13, who interviewed Mr. Willink. … Another official from the Rotary area (District 7120) was Jack Best, former District Governor and District Director who joined the assemblage to congratulate Dr. Willink; it was Jack Best who found out that Ross Willink is the only one from the thousands of Rotarians in District 7120 who is an active Rotary member at age 100.
Guests enjoyed lunch, topped off with a whipped cream-layered white chocolate cake decorated with various phases from Dr. Willink’s life story (prepared at Wegmans by a former Willink Middle School student), and an ice cream cake from the Goodie Shoppe in the Village of Webster.
The afternoon’s celebration was featured that evening on Channel 13’s “Bright Spot” segment. Click here to see that story.
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Visitors to Webster Union Cemetery on Webster Rd. will soon have a beautiful and tranquil new place to rest and reflect, thanks to the hard work of Eagle Scout candidate DaniLee Phillips from Scouts BSA Troop 425.
Over the past several weeks, Dani and a team of dedicated volunteers have been building a memorial garden tucked along the west side of the cemetery’s main building. Once completed, the space will feature a 12-by-12-foot patio shaded by a pergola and surrounded by flowers and shrubs. Benches and a fountain will help create a peaceful, reflective atmosphere.
The garden is both easy to find and thoughtfully set back to offer privacy. Dani worked closely with cemetery staff to choose the ideal location. “Here, it’s visible,” she explained, “but it’s hidden from Route 250, so that creates some privacy.”
The idea for the garden took root nearly a year ago, when Dani first proposed the project during the cemetery’s 200th anniversary celebration last August.
“It was a long process,” she said. “I had a lot of ideas, but I knew I wanted to do some kind of remembrance project. I chose this garden because I thought it would be a nice little touch.”
Construction began about three weeks ago. With help from family members, fellow Scouts and their parents, Dani led two major work parties that completed the patio and pergola. The final touches — planting the flowers and bushes and installing the fountain — are all that remain.
The project has also benefited from generous community support. Lowe’s in Webster offered a significant discount on the pergola materials, RT Masters donated all the pavers and deeply discounted bench delivery, and Thomas Landscaping is providing the flowers and shrubs at a steep discount.
Dani recently graduated from Webster Thomas High School and will soon head to Susquehanna University to study history. Scouts BSA Troop 425, based at Webster Presbyterian Church, is Webster’s first all-girls troop.
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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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