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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)

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(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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Marty Parzynski, of Bella’s Bumbas, honored with Heart of Service Award

9 May

Anyone who has been reading my blog for a while knows all about Bella’s Bumbas. You’ve read how Marty Parzynski and Rebecca Orr, the driving force behind this Webster-based grass-roots organization, have dedicated their lives to providing the gift of mobility to children all over the world who have disabilities, by building miniature wheelchairs.

For years now, Marty and Rebecca have operated mostly under the radar. But recently, Marty got some very well deserved recognition when it was announced that he was one of the five recipients of the 2025 ESL Heart of Service Award.

The annual award is sponsored by the ESL Federal Credit Union and News 10 NBC, its purpose to “seek out and recognize outstanding volunteers in our community … Men, women, and children who give their time and efforts to help make our community better.”

The award’s website gives a short explanation of why Marty was recognized, saying,

When Martin’s great niece was born with spina bifida, he and his wife, Rebecca were inspired to find a way to help her become more independently mobile and set out to design a wheelchair just her size. From there, Martin began designing additional designs for wheelchairs that help children with over 70 mobility challenging disabilities and enlisting a team of volunteers to construct them, sending them to kids across the globe, free of charge (recipients only pay for shipping).

Today, there are over 3000 Bella’s Bumbas helping to provide mobility for children in over 68 countries.

Congratulations to Marty for this well deserved recognition!

Thank you, also, by the way to everyone who attended the spaghetti dinner fundraiser held last Friday at the Webster Masonic Lodge. Rebecca reports that through donations, raffles and food sales, Bella’s Bumbas was able to raise more than $3,800 to help with construction costs for the new barn they’re building for much-needed space. The amount raised broke the record for Masonic Lodge spaghetti dinners.

Stay tuned for announcements of future fundraisers, and how you can help Marty and Rebecca and Bella’s Bumbas continue their amazing work.

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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 5/9/2025)

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Beverly Voos wins Retiree of the Year Award

6 May

Congratulations to retired Spry Middle School teacher Beverly Voos for receiving the Retiree of the Year award at the New York State United Teachers (NYSUT) annual statewide Representative Assembly in Rochester last weekend.

Bev was recognized in large part because she is active in various capacities with NYSUT. Closer to home, is also president of the Webster Retired Educators Association.

Here’s a little bit about Bev from the NYSUT Awards booklet:

After a more than 20-year career working in computer science, Beverly Voos decided to begin a second career as a teacher. She earned her master’s degree in Math, Science and Technology, and started teaching middle school students in the Webster Central School District.

The Webster TA member retired in 2013 and got to work advocating with NYSUT’s daytime army in Retiree Council 6. Voos because co-chair of NYSUT’s Retiree Advisory Committee where she fights not only for issues that are important to retirees, but also to in-service educators, including NYSUT’s campaign to fix Tier 6.

Voos also spends her retirement servicing as an instructor for NYSUT’s Education & Learning Trust, a role in which she provides professional learning opportunities to other educators. Voos has served on a variety of NYSUT committees, has participated in NYSUT’s annual Committee of 100 lobby day in Albany, and is also a social justice instructor. When she’s not doing the work of the union, Voos enjoys spending time with family, especially her grandchildren, and traveling.

Below, Bev is pictured with the NYSUT officers after receiving the award,captured from the Jumbotron by Jeanne Coonan.

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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 5/6/2025)

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Blue Star Mothers honored military families with baby shower

5 May

For a few hours on Sunday April 27, 15 military families (including a set of twins) were showered with gifts, sweet treats, fruit, chips and sandwiches when the Blue Star Mothers Rochester Chapter NY8 (BSM NY8) held their Baby Shower for Military.

The annual event, held at the Cottreal-Warner American Legion Post, is designed to recognize and provide for young mothers and expectant mothers in local military families. The event was open to active duty, veterans and military spouses of active duty service members, who were expecting or have children up to six months old. For many of these mothers, this may be the only baby shower they get, since they’re usually stationed far away from their close relatives. And since they relocate frequently, they may not have all of the baby supplies and equipment they collected for their older children.

This is the 8th year the Blue Star Mothers have held this shower. They work hard all year long, shopping for new baby clothes, diapers, high chairs, Pack and Plays, toys, books and many other gifts. This event also gets huge support from the local businesses and community members, who donate gifts or money for gifts, hand-craft hats and booties, and provide pampering services during the shower. Each family left with their car filled to the brim with wonderful gifts.

Blue Star Mothers are mothers, stepmothers, grandmothers, foster mothers and female legal guardians who have children serving in the military, guard or reserves, or children who are veterans. The Baby Shower for Military is one of the most important service projects of the Blue Star Mothers Rochester Chapter. It’s just one small way to say thank you and give back to those who have served our country, and given so much to us.

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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 5/5/2025)

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New book, “Life Will Teach You,” is a grieving father’s letter to his daughters

5 Apr

In June 2017, Brian Bohannon’s life turned upside down. Over a period of just four days, his wife Christine passed away from cancer, leaving him to raise their then 4-year old and 7-year old daughters by himself. Christine was just 39 years old.

As he worked through his grief and started to build his new life, Brian was saddened by the fact that his wife would not be around to guide their daughters through the ups and downs of life, would not be there to answer their questions, or give them a shoulder to cry on. Determined not to lose whatever chance he had to do that for them, he wrote Life Will Teach You: Lessons for Teens and Their Parents on Life, Death, Health, Love, and Loss. 

“My initial goal,” Brian said, “was to pass this down to my daughters with everything their mother would have taught if she lived to tell them. I also wanted to give this to them before I die and lose the chance.” His original plan was for it to be a memoir and letter to his daughters. But as it developed, he realized it might be something that could benefit a lot of people.

Brian calls Life Will Teach You “a handbook for life. … There is a lot on grief and loss, life and death, but also lessons from my high school health class.”

In the Amazon.com listing he writes,     

This is a love story … a life or death story … a story of overcoming grief and loss, but ultimately, a be all you can be story. It’s a story for teens and their parents on how to pursue mental, physical, spiritual, and financial health. It is everything I think young people need to know about life, full of lessons from my 30 years of teaching high school health.

The book is a “Road Less Traveled” for teens, young adults, high school and college graduates, and their parents. Everything your parents should have taught you. Everything you didn’t have a chance to ask your parents. Everything you should have learned in school. Life, death, love, loss, health, and everything in between. My version of “everything, everywhere, all at once,” in one book.

He kinds of sums it in a second subtitle he’s attached to the book: “Confessions of a High School Health Teacher, Widower, and Girl Dad on Everything Young People Need to Know About Life.”

Life Will Teach You: Lessons for Teens and Their Parents on Life, Death, Health, Love, and Loss was published in November 2024, and is available on Amazon for Kindle, in paperback and hardcover, starting at $15.95.

Brian Bohannon grew up in Webster and graduated from Webster Thomas High School. He now lives in Williamson with his daughters.

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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 4/5/2025)

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Five years of neighborliness

27 Mar

An every-evening tradition that has brought an entire neighborhood together is still going strong — without a break — even after five years.

Every evening for the last five years (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 in March 2020, just as the pandemic was shutting the world down. You remember those awful days; we were resigning ourselves to putting our lives, and relationships with our friends and family members on hold for the foreseeable future.

That idea didn’t sit well with Jack Turan. He’d heard about how, in small towns all across Italy, residents were opening their shutters, sitting in their windows with their glasses of wine, and singing. The story gave him an idea: how about meeting up with his neighbors, outdoors, to enjoy a beverage and socially-distanced conversation?

That was the evening of March 22, 2020, and the beginning of a tradition that has continued ever since. Every night, Jack stands out at the end of his driveway with a beverage, welcoming anyone to stop by for a chat. And he does so regardless of the weather or the temperature. Remember those really cold days in January? Jack was out there. No way was he going to be the one to break the tradition.

“There has to be at least two people” to make it official, Jack said. “That’s the rule.” The frigid temperatures did, however, prompt Jack to (at least temporarily) reduce the required time spent outside from 15 minutes to 10 minutes.

Last Saturday, five years to the day it all began, the weather cooperated. Skies were sunny, the temperatures were tolerable, and Jack had a lot of company at the end of his driveway. Almost two dozen neighbors, with their kids and dogs, gathered that evening to commemorate their long-running neighborhood tradition. There were beverages, of course, but also a nice selection of hors d’oeuvres and sweet treats, supplemented by ice cream from Bruster’s and mac & cheese from M.O. Pasta. Jack grilled hot dogs, and emcee Alex Scialdone played dance tunes.

The neighbors hold these anniversary gatherings every year, and even had one to mark the 1,000-day mark (I blogged about that event here). The celebrations are pretty much the same every year, just another opportunity to enjoy a nice evening outside with friends. The children get bigger and there’s usually a new dog or two. But there always seems to be a fun new twist every year.

This time, emcee Alex had upgraded the previous year’s paper plate awards to shiny statuettes, personalized for each attendee with whimsical award designations, like “Secretly a Fish,” “Best Drinking ‘Buddy’,” and “Harder to Track Down Than Someone in Witness Protection.” Also new this year was a “What the heck is this?” game. Neighbors were invited to bring an unusual item from home, and everyone tried to guess what each of the almost 20 items was. 

Each “regular” got a personalized statuette
Alex Scialdone with a statuette
This year’s brand new game

In the short time I spent there Saturday night, I heard some discussion about how much longer these daily gatherings should continue. I got the sense, though, that no one really wanted to think about that.

Even if it does eventually run its course, Jack Turan can rest easy knowing that his little social experiment accomplished exactly what it was designed to do: bring people together.

Garrett Wagner from Webster NOW was there making a video about the event. You can check that out here.

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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 3/27/2025)

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Monroe County to honor Jamieson Ritter

15 Mar

Of the many email lists I’ve signed up for to get blog ideas, the most persistent is the one from the office of Monroe County Executive Adam Bello. The great majority of the press releases they send out get directed immediately to my digital trash bin because they have nothing to do with Webster. But the one I got a few days ago piqued my interest and warmed my heart.

The release announced that Lakefront Lodge in Webster Park (that’s the beautiful new one just north of Holt Rd.) will be officially renamed to honor fallen police officer — and Webster native — Jamieson Ritter.

While serving as a police officer in Cleveland, Ritter was tragically killed on July 4, 2024 as officers attempted to serve a warrant. He was just 27 years old. His funeral was held several days later at Falvo Funeral Home in Penfield. The Webster community came out in force to honor him as his funeral procession wound its way through the village towards Falvo.

Ritter was a 2015 graduate of McQuaid Jesuit High School. He graduated from Syracuse University in 2019 and was commissioned as a second lieutenant. As a member of the Ohio Army National Guard, he deployed to Syria in 2022 and returned to continue his service as a police officer with the City of Cleveland. 

At the Monroe County Legislature meeting when the announcement was made earlier this month, Ritter’s family said,

It is a profound honor that Jamieson’s  ultimate sacrifice is being recognized and remembered by his hometown community. Jamieson was moving home to continue his service to the citizens of Monroe County and was excited to serve and protect the community he loved.

We are deeply moved by the  overwhelming support given to our family through this tragedy. Jamieson’s story is a testament to his  unwavering commitment to service and his deep love for his community. We hope his legacy will  inspire and encourage others to serve their community, as our family has done for generations  through military service, law enforcement, and community service. The community’s recognition  and remembrance of Jamieson’s sacrifice means the world to us and we are touched by the collective  support. 

The Monroe County Legislature will hold a ribbon cutting ceremony in May to officially rename the Lakefront Lodge to the “Jamieson Ritter Memorial Lodge.”

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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 3/15/2025)

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