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Holt Rd. skeletons welcome the Halloween season

24 Sep

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

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(posted 9/24/2025)

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2,000 nights and it’s a wrap!

15 Sep

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

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(posted 9/15/2025)

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Returns for a Reason makes every bottle and can count

12 Sep

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

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(posted 9/10/2025)

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Front Porch Pickin’ brings Webster neighbors together through music

23 Aug
Abe Watson and Todd Baitsholts

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

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(posted 8/20/2025)

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Happy 100th Birthday to Ross Willink!

1 Aug

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

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(posted 8/1/2025)

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A peaceful new addition to Webster Union Cemetery, thanks to local Eagle Scout

30 Jul

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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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 7/30/2025)

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Jude Lancy is off to new adventures

18 Jul

I said goodbye to a good friend the other day, when I visited with former Webster Village Trustee Jude Lancy, who was just two days away from a move to Oregon to be closer to her grandchildren.

So our visit was not so much a “goodbye” as it was a “so long,” and I do indeed hope to visit her in her new home when my husband and I take a trip to the Pacific Northwest some day soon. But I believe I speak for the entire Village when I say we will miss her dynamic spirit.

Jude was honored with a proclamation at the June 26 Village Board meeting, which summed up many of her achievements as a lifelong Webster resident and long-time Village Trustee. The most recent View From Main Street Village newsletter had an article which reiterated many of them:

Village Trustee Jude Lancy has faithfully served the Village of Webster for more than two decades, beginning with her appointment to the Historic Preservation Commission and continuing through her tenure as a valued member of the Village Board of Trustees from 2010 to present.

Jude has been a dedicated member and advocate of the Historic Preservation Commission, serving as the Village Board Liaison, helping to ensure the Village remains the special and beloved place it is today. She championed preserving the charm and character of the community for generations to come, while also embracing thoughtful progress and community-centered improvements that keep the hometown feeling we all know and love.

Jude’s lifelong connection to Webster — having been born on Baker Street, growing up in West Webster, and graduating from Webster High School in 1959 — reflects the deep roots and enduring love she holds for this special community.

Jude has always gone above and beyond to bring vibrancy to the life of the Village—volunteering for numerous community organizations including the Boy Scouts, the PTSA and neighborhood associations, and lending a hand at Village events.

Her vibrant presence, warm heart, and ever-ready smile have made her a beloved fixture in the Village of Webster—whether she’s leading with purpose or simply enjoying the company of neighbors in one of the many local businesses she frequents.

Hope to see you soon, Jude!

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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 7/18/2025)

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Honoring Old Glory: local Scout builds flag retirement box to serve the community

14 Jun

Not far from the Ridge Rd. entrance to West Webster Cemetery, a powerful gesture of patriotism and respect has taken root, thanks to the dedication of a local Scout.

As part of his Eagle Scout project, Ben Madison, a member of Webster Scouting America Troop 262, has constructed a custom-built flag recycling box where community members can respectfully retire their worn or damaged American flags.

Ben was inspired to take on the project when he saw an online post about how many Americans own U.S. flags. “It made me think about how many were probably just getting thrown out,” he said. That one post sparked the idea to build a flag retirement box. He reached out to West Webster Cemetery to see if this would be a project they’d be interested in, and the response was overwhelmingly positive.

After acquiring all of the necessary tools and supplies, it took Ben and his team of Scout volunteers — from his troop and others — only two days to build and install the box. The spot where it’s located isn’t very visible from the road, but look for it down the hill on the right once you enter the cemetery.

Members of Troop 262 will be keeping an eye on the bin, and plan to empty it at least quarterly, or more often as necessary. The flags will be retired either by the troop at a ceremony or handed over to the American Legion for proper disposal.

Ben is just finishing up his senior year at Webster Schroeder, and plans to attend St. Bonaventure University to study Sports Management.

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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 6/11/2025)

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Webster’s a lot cleaner today thanks to these Scouts

8 Jun
Adam Pruyne, Aiden Pruyne, Asher Crittenden, Will Cerveney, Jacob Bowen. (In back: Tracy Cerveny and Dave Crittenden)
Mike Seeley, Bill Ernst, Maria Gallina

I love it when a great community story just falls into my lap.

On Saturday morning I was running down Holt Rd. and had just turned onto the bike path when I came upon a small gaggle of teens and adults in bright construction vests, picking up trash. Of course I had to stop and find out who they were and what their story was.

Turns out these community-minded folks were from Webster Scouting America Troop 262 (from the Webster Presbyterian Church), and picking up trash along the bike path is a service project they complete two times a year.

Troop 262 Committee Chairman Adam Pruyne wrote,

Each year we spend a few hours walking the bike path along Rte 104 from Bay Road to Phillips patrolling for trash. We are registered with the DOT and they provide the vests, hard hats, garbage bags and trash bag pick-up and we provide the effort. In general, this is likely the largest organized community service project our troop performs and we’ve done it so many times, it is part of our yearly routine.

The troop also invites Cub Scout Pack 262, Troop 425, and Troop 163 to join them for clean-up day.

“Troop 163 always covers from Bay Road to Five Mile Line for us,” Adam wrote. “Troop 425 (all-girl troop) and Pack 262 weren’t with us today as they were on their own adventures but typically they join us. We had 30 attendees today and have had as much as 75 if the timing is right for everyone.” 

Mike Gallina
Brandon Seeley, Callan Ernst

The Scouts and their adults managed to fill somewhere between 10 and 15 big orange garbage bags (which Adam considered a “light garbage day”). When the Cub Scouts attend, they’ve been known to collect as many as ten more bags from within Charles Sexton Park alone.

And they have a lot of fun doing it. “We sometimes have an informal competition on who got the weirdest find of the day,” Adam wrote. “Today, one of the boys found a realistic looking $1,000,000 bill!”

Saturday’s service project is a very good example of how Scouting is much more than just tying knots.

This is an excellent opportunity for the scouts, both boys and girls, to understand what selflessness and sacrifice is as they give back to the community, even though some are too young to fully appreciate that they are doing those things. This is one of the better aspects of scouting that I feel is lost on the general public. The scouts learn so much about life in these few hours they spend doing this cleanup. They learn about other people, they learn manners as we attempt to let others have the right of way on the path and they learn about environmental conservation and why it is important to “leave no trace” as we conduct our tasks.

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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 6/8/2025)

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DeWitt Rd. community comes together to support one of their own

19 May

I was alerted to this terrific story by a good friend of mine, and it just touched my heart.

It’s about 6-year old Briella, a kindergartner at DeWitt Rd. Elementary School. One terrible day in March, Briella broke her leg, and in the emergency room, her family was shocked to learn that she likely had osteosarcoma bone cancer. Since then, Briella has undergone multiple rounds of chemotherapy, facing each one with incredible bravery and strength.

Now comes the heartwarming part of this story.

Briella’s resilience has inspired the entire DeWitt Rd. Elementary School community, especially her kindergarten classmates. In a show of love and support, the class is organizing a lemonade stand fundraiser on June 1 to benefit their friend and her family.

“This is about coming together for a little girl who’s going through so much,” said one of the parents organizing the event. “We want Briella and her family to feel the strength and support of the whole community.”

So as to not get overwhelmed, the lemonade stand’s host has asked that the location not be publicly announced, but hopes that people will find out by word-of-mouth. However, there are two other ways you can donate:

  • use the QR code below to send a direct donation via Venmo to Briella’s family (@Critt5833)
  • make out a check to Kelly or Chris Rittenhouse, and mail to Tacianna Indovina at 1900 Empire Blvd., #154, Webster, NY 14580

Thank you, 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 5/19/2025)

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