I’ve been frequenting the Webster Recreation Center of late for regular workouts, and when I was leaving last night, I noticed a few skaters on the rink honing their hockey skills. And that, of course, means …
The Webster Rec Center’s ice rink is open!
Thanks to our recent bout of frigid weather, the rink — located in front of the Webster Recreation Center at 1350 Chiyoda Drive, just north of the village — is looking good. The rink is a nice size, 52 ft. by 104 ft., offering plenty of room for skaters of all abilities. Plus, it’s totally FREE for anyone to use. You don’t even have to be a member of the Rec Center. There’s even a warming shed where you can sit to put on your skates. You’ll want to bring your own skates, though, because rentals are not available. And if I recall correctly from driving by last night, there’s at least one light near the shed so you can skate after dark.
The Rec Center even has a hotline so you can check before you go to see if the rink is open: 585-872-7103 (option 3). Make sure to do that, because it’s hard to tell when our capricious winter weather will turn the ice surface to mush.
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That was one of many remarkable statistics I learned at the recent Friends of Webster Trails annual meeting.
According to a trail counter, over a period of just ONE WEEK last summer, 900 people visited Gosnell Big Woods to hike the trails there. That’s a pretty amazing statistic, especially compared to the number of people who have actually become members of the Friends.
That was another statistic which always surprises me. The Friends currently have 245 members, a number which delighted the board members because it finally broke the 200 mark this year. But I think it’s disappointing, given how many people use the trails regularly.
Among those members, only a small proportion do all of the “heavy lifting” to create new trails and keep the current ones hike-able. And they do TONS of work every season, providing their own tools to do so. This year, for example, the Friends volunteers:
created a new trail and rerouted an old one at Four Mile Creek
supervised the building of a new boardwalk at Four Mile Creek
held numerous special events including the Hot Cocoa and Trees Along the Trail hikes
planted more than 250 trees and shrubs in five parks as part of the ReTree Project (330 hours of work)
Opened the new Michael A. Johnson Trail and expanded the new State Rd. Nature Preserve trails
Started planning the also new Herman Rd. Forever Wild Forest trails
And there’s always work going on behind the scenes like updating maps, working with the Town to install parking lots, working with Eagle Scouts to build boardwalks, benches and kiosks, and so much more. Given the huge number of people who use the trails, it’s no wonder these volunteers are constantly working to keep them maintained.
The Friends have some funds saved up, and Town helped a little bit for the first time this year, but a good chunk of their funding comes from the individual and family memberships. So …
I don’t want to be obnoxious, but c’mon folks! If you use and enjoy these trails, please show the selfless Friends of Webster Trails volunteers some love this holiday season and join. Then every time you’re out on a hike, enjoying our town’s natural beauty, you can proudly say, “I helped make this so.”
Family memberships are only $15 per year, and an individual membership is only $10 … for the whole year! You can click here to join online or click here to print off the form to send by mail. It makes a great gift idea for the hard-to-buy-for nature lover in your family., by the way.
The annual meeting was held at the Hickory Bark Trail near the Webster Public Library
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Just a quick shout-out today to the 20 volunteers who helped the Friends of Webster Trails plant nearly 100 baby trees from from the ReTree nursery on the most recent workday, Oct. 21.
It was the Friends’ second annual fall planting event, which this year saw trees planted at Whiting Road Nature Preserve and Gosnell Big Woods.
The Friends’ Webster ReTree Project was begun in 2022 to address the loss of forests to insects and disease, by raising and planting a variety of native trees. The project has two objectives:
to improve the ecological resiliency of forested habitat within the Webster Open Space area, and
to increase public knowledge of the threats to local forest ecology and ways we can collectively mitigate these risks
Thank you again, volunteers, for all your hard work.
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The weather’s looking pretty OK for the next Family Scavenger Hunt, scheduled for Saturday Nov. 4 from 10 a.m. to noon at the Webster Recreation Center, 1350 Chiyoda Drive.
Participants will explore the one-mile long Chiyoda Trail behind the Rec Center, looking for scavenger hunt clues. Regular scavenger hunt hikers will be delighted with the new twist introduced with this hike. (All I’m going to say is I hope you like jigsaw puzzles!)
Three different skill levels will be offered for kids aged 2 to 12, so children of all ages can participate. Everyone who completes the hike can choose an apple or mini pumpkin as a prize.
Cost is $5 per child, and please preregisterat the Recreation website (look for program 301205-A). You can pay when you get to the hike. Sign in anytime between 10 a.m. and noon. The hunt will take place rain or shine, so dress for the weather.
And if you REALLY like hiking, here’s something you might want to try.
That same evening, Saturday Nov. 4, the Friends of Webster Trails’ annual Hot Cocoa Hike will be held at Gosnell Big Woods Preserve (674 Vosburg Rd.).
The hike is approximately 1.3 miles long (start to finish) and will include a stop for socialization and hot cocoa. The trail starts at the parking lot and will be marked by lights along the way. This is not a guided event. You are responsible finding your way to the hot cocoa and back by following the marked path.
Participants are asked to leave the parking lot between 7 and 8 p.m., to arrive at the hot cocoa stop by 8:30 p.m. Please leave your dog at home; you can bring them back to enjoy the trail another time. Please bring a flashlight and your own travel mug. This is a carry-in carry out event.
There’s no cost, but please register here so the Friends know how many people to expect.
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I’m going to head-up today’s mailbag with a few events which I haven’t mentioned in any recent posting, including this brand new one I only just learned about this week.
Webster Schroeder High School’s National Honor Society will be hosting a Trunk or Treat at the school on Sunday Oct. 29, from 5 to 7 p.m. The NHS kids promise candy, popcorn, cotton candy and creative costumes. They’ll also be accepting donations for the Pirate Toy Fund, so if you can help, bring a new, unwrapped toy to the event.
Webster Schroeder High School is located at 875 Ridge Rd. The Trunk or Treat will be held in the GOAL parking lot, which is on your right as you approach the Schroeder main entrance from Ridge.
Veterans and active-duty service personnel are invited to a free Veterans Day spaghetti dinner in appreciation for their service.
The dinner will take place Thursday, Nov. 9 from 4 to 6:30 p.m. at Spry Middle School, 119 South Avenue. Reservations are required, so attendees are asked to call the school at (585) 216-0093 to reserve seats. If you’d rather pick up a meal and not eat at the school, you can also call to reserve a takeout order.
The dinner includes spaghetti, salad, bread, and dessert. Attendees and pickup orders are asked to enter the school’s back parking lot off of Rt. 250, behind the cafetorium.
The next meeting of The Visionaries will be held on Wednesday Nov. 1 at 10:30 a.m. at the Webster Recreation Center, 1350 Chiyoda Dr.
The Visionaries is a support group for community members who struggle with vision issues — macular degeneration, glaucoma, dry eye, or others. Members share their interests and opportunities with others, encouraging those with visual impairment to get the most out of their lives.
The Visionaries began in 2000, and at one time boasted as many as 80 members. In addition to regular monthly meetings, the group has taken outings to attractions like the Memorial Art Gallery, Geva Theatre, and Pike Stained Glass Studio. For their December 6 meeting, the group will return to the Memorial Art Gallery and in January will meet at the Webster Public Library.
There’s no need to register for any meeting, just come by and join in. For more information on The Visionaries, contact Ed Wilkonski at (585) 265-4167 or email wingstwofly@rochester.rr.com.
The library will be closed on Friday Nov. 10 for staff training, and will close at 5 p.m. on Wednesday Nov. 22 for the Thanksgiving holiday.
The Caps for Sale fundraiser is coming up Thursday Nov. 2 from 5 to 7 p.m. and Saturday, Nov. 4 from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Hats will be $10 for children’s sizes and $15 for adult sizes and all proceeds benefit the Webster Public Library programs.
Also on Saturday Nov. 11, the library will hold their annual Vintage and Collectible Book Sale from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Book prices will start at $8 and prices are firm.
November 22 marks the 60th anniversary of the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. On Wednesday Nov. 15, MCC history professor Mark Sample tells the story of that tragic day and discuss some of the conspiracy theories. The hour-long program begins at 6:30 p.m. Registration is required.
The next Webster Business Spotlight program will focus on Schutt’s Apple Mill, on Thursday Nov. 9 from 1 to 2 p.m. Please register here.
The Webster Art Club Fall Show is going on right now at the library, through the end of November. This group meets for Open Art every Wednesday from 10 a.m. to noon at the Webster Recreation Center and has meetings with guest artists and demos on the second Wednesday of each month. New members are always welcome. For more information click here.
The next benefit spaghetti dinner at the Masonic Lodge is Friday Nov. 3 from 5 to 7 p.m. at the lodge, 30 Orchard Street.
This month’s dinner will benefit the Webster Thomas Titans Cheerleaders organization. Tickets are $12 for adults and $6 for children. You can eat in or take it to go. Call (585) 872-3500 with questions.
The Webster Association of Senior Program Supporters will host an Indoor Arts/Crafts Sale at the Webster Recreation Center, Saturday Nov. 11 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. More than 30 vendors will be there. Proceeds will benefit WSPS, a non-profit organization which provides Webster seniors with rides to their medical-related appointments.
The West Webster Fire Department invites community members to help clean up the Lake Rd. memorial honoring fallen WWFD firefighters Lt. Mike Chiapperino and Tomasz Kaczowka, on Saturday Nov. 18 at 9 a.m.
Please bring gloves, weed trimmers, takes and trash bags. The memorial is located on Lake Rd. just past Sandbar Park.
I won’t go into much detail about any of these following events since I’ve written about them before, so if you want to find out more about any of them, check out the flyers below or just search for it on the blog.
DEA Drug take-back Saturday Oct. 28, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Webster Justice Court, 1002 Ridge Rd.
Family Scavenger Hunt, Saturday Nov. 4 from 10 a.m. to noon at the Webster Recreation Center
Santa’s Garage Sale at St. Martin Lutheran Church, 813 Bay Rd., from Nov. 2 to 4.
A Concert Apparel and Coat event, Sat. Oct. 28 from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Webster Recreation Center, 1350 Chiyoda Dr.
Friends of Webster Trails’ annual Hot Cocoa Hike, Saturday Nov. 4 at 7 p.m. at Gosnell Big Woods Preserve.
Pumpkins on Parade, Saturday Oct, 28 from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at the Webster Recreation Center, 1350 Chiyoda Dr.
The Village of Webster’s Trick-or-Treat Trail, Saturday Oct. 28 from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
The All in For Comfort Care Casino Night, Friday Nov 3 from 6 to 9:30 p.m. at The Lodge at Shadow Hill in Ontario.
The Webster BID’s annual Bourbon Bash, Saturday Nov. 4 from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Harmony House.
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I got my Friends of Webster Trails (FWT) newsletter delivered into my email box a few days ago, and finally got around to opening it today.
This most recent edition, marking the last quarter of the year, is kind a summary of everything the Friends accomplished in the last five months or so. It runs no less than seven pages, which tells you that A LOT got done. Even though I know the FWT volunteers work amazingly hard and to amazing things, but even I was impressed.
Allow me to share some of those accomplishments with you.
Seven successful workdays were held over the summer. These are held on the third Saturday of each month during the warmer months, each one focusing on a different trail to complete tasks like picking up garbage, clearing brush and removing invasive species.
The Friends hosted five family-fun trail activities, including the most recent Trees Along the Trail Challenge at Four Mile Creek in August, where hikers were encouraged to identify ten different trees along a 2.5-mile trail.
“Rebooted” the Wegmans Passport to Family Wellness trail booklet which will be reintroduced next spring
Opened the new Michael A. Johnson Trail in June, located about halfway between VanAlstyne Rd. and Drumm Rd. on the Hojack Trail. I explored this one myself; you can read about my experience here.
Made great progress on the new State Rd. Nature Preserve trails, including clearing a one-mile loop trail. This new system is located located on the north side of State Rd. between Salt and Harris, just east of the Arbor Creek Townhomes. You can read more about that trail here.
Started to plan out the brand new Herman Rd. Forever Wild Forest, located at 760 Herman Rd. This 28-acre parcel was recently purchased by the Town and its trail system will eventually connect up with Whiting Rd. Nature Preserve.
At Four Mile Creek Preserve, the red trail near the Salt Creek overlook was rerouted, and now offers a nice view of the valley below and the creek itself.
The benches on the John Unger Nature Trail have been revitalized.
Received some much-appreciated assistance from community volunteers at Four Mile Creek, including the Webster Thomas Cross Country team, who spread gravel, and Brody Hoffman from Troop 113, who installed several sections of boardwalk on the new orange trail.
If you’ve read this far and find yourself thinking, “Hmmm, I didn’t know there were so many trails in Webster,” what are you waiting for? Visit the Friends of Webster Trails website, download a trail map and get hiking. Now’s a beautiful time of year to explore.
Need some encouragement? Two hiking events coming up on Saturday Nov. 4 are great opportunities to explore and maybe make some new friends.
The first is especially for kids and their adults, a Family Scavenger Hunt along the Chiyoda Trail at the Webster Recreation Center. Participants will find clues scattered along the trail, and put answers on the sheet provided. Return your answers for a fun prize.
Families can sign in anytime between 10 a.m. and noon. Cost is $5 per child, and preregistration is requested (you can pay when you get there).
That evening, the annual Hot Cocoa Hike will take place at Gosnell Big Woods. This will begin at 7 p.m. and is usually a one to two-mile trek through the woods, ending with a steaming cup of hot cocoa. More information to come about that.
And finally, the PSA:
I’ve said it before, but it bears repeating: we have an amazing trail system in our town, and the Friends of the Webster Trails are the folks to thank for that. If you’re a regular user of any of Webster’s trails, please consider showing them some love by becoming a member of the Friends. It doesn’t cost much (really, just $10 or $15 — check it out here) and the funds they raise go directly to making our trail system better for everyone to enjoy.
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On Thursday morning, all of our district’s fourth graders, from every one of our seven elementary schools, gathered at Charles Sexton (North Ponds) Park for the annual Cross-Country One-Mile Fun Run and Walk. This run has been held for more than 50 years, a fun way to encourage our young people to stay active and maintain a healthy lifestyle.
I love this event for so many reasons. It doesn’t just teach our kids that exercise can be fun. It also gives them a chance to see old friends, meet new friends, do something together with all of their fourth grade classmates, and really feel part of a community.
I didn’t have the chance to stop by, so I was delighted to see the following post on Facebook from Jennifer Ward. She was there to proudly cheer on her two sons, Mason and Jax Calkins, who stuck together through the whole run to complete it together, despite its challenging distance. I thought it was a great representation of what this day means for a lot of our young people.
Jennifer wrote,
In the face of adversity, these two stand tall, their bond unbreakable and their unity unwavering. No matter how challenging the circumstances, they remain steadfastly united, drawing strength from their unbreakable connection. Through thick and thin, they navigate life’s trials together, providing unwavering support and encouragement to one another and throughout all of the chaos and emotional madness each day brings, I celebrate them.
I’m certain their experience is just one of many other equally inspiring stories … how that mile was a child’s first-ever; how they achieved something they never really thought they could; that amazing feeling of accomplishment and self-worth you get when you cross the finish line. (Not to mention how proud it makes parents.)
What a great day for all involved. Thank you to our WCSD phys. ed teachers for pulling this together every year, to the transportation department for providing buses, to Fleet Feet for providing the race bibs and fancy finish line which made it all official, and to all the parents who came out to cheer. The big smiles from the kids make it all worth it.
Thank you to Jennifer Ward for the photos.
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I got a behind-the-scenes look at the everything that goes into creating a new hiking trail the other day when I stopped by one of the Friends of Webster Trails’ Saturday workdays. These are held regularly during the summer and fall, a chance for volunteers to work on clearing trails, removing invasive species, and planting new trees.
This particular workday was being held at the relatively new State Rd. Preserve, located on the north side of State Rd. between Salt and Harris, just east of the Arbor Creek Townhomes. I got there rather late in the morning, after most of the volunteers had left, but was able to catch up with Ron Happ and Paul Della Pietra, who were still out on the trail. As we walked through the woods, around a large meadow and past a tranquil pond, they noted how many of the trails needed to be widened, others created, and at least one new bridge built.
The Friends of Webster Trails blazed the first trail through State Rd. Preserve about three years ago, shortly after the Town of Webster purchased the approximately 80-acre parcel from the Arbor Creek developer. Since then, the Friends have slowly been blazing and grooming new trails so they now measure more than a mile, taking hikers through peaceful woods and among abundant wildflowers.
The work party that Saturday had accomplished a lot, widening many of the paths, dragging a huge pile of trash to the roadside, and removing many of the stumps that threatened to trip up hikers. There’s still a lot to be done, though; Ron and Paul discussed adding even more trails to the system, where the bridge would be placed over the creek, and installing a bench near the pond. Eventually the preserve’s trails will be blazed and mapped.
There’s not much parking at the preserve yet. There’s talk of putting in a small gravel lot to accommodate a few cars, but right now, hikers can pull off onto the wide State Rd. shoulder. There’s not any signage yet, either. But don’t let either of those facts deter you. Just look for an opening in the woods on the north side of the road, and start exploring.
And if you like what you see, give thanks the Friends of Webster Trails, who have been working hard to bring this new trail system to Webster.
The Friends of Webster Trails (FWT) is a non-profit organization enthusiastically serving as the volunteer arm of the Webster Parks and Recreation Department. Since it was established in 1997, the Friends have built and currently maintain more than 20 miles of trails for hiking, cycling, running, cross-country skiing and snowshoeing.
The organization is completely volunteer driven and relies on donations and memberships to fulfill their mission of preserving the natural character of Webster’s open spaces. If you’re enjoying our tremendous trails, please think about joining the Friends. It’s just $10 for a single membership or $15 for a family. Check out the Friends of Webster Trails website, for more information.
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Construction has begun on the new dog park planned in Webster Park.
In a recent press release, Monroe County Executive Adam Bello announced that ground has been broken for the dog park, which will be located in the large grassy area at the corner of Lake Rd., and Park Rd., which leads into the campground.
The 1.5-acre dog park will include separate areas for large and smaller dogs, agility equipment and drinking stations. Construction is expected to be complete by the end of October. The project is being funded by a $250,000 grant secured by Assemblymember Jennifer Lunsford, part of the Go Outside Monroe Initiative, dedicated to modernizing the county’s parks system. The funds will also be used to repair and replace existing equipment on the nearby playground.
When completed, the new Webster facility will be the third dog park within the Monroe County Parks system, joining active locations at both Ellison Park and Greece Canal Park. Dog park users must be registered. For more information on how to do that, click here.
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In this month’s History Bit, we shine a spotlight on the Webster Arboretum, and a beautiful little tree with the peevish name, the crabapple.
Most people probably don’t realize that the flowering crabapple is the Town of Webster’s official tree. According to the Webster Arboretum website, that designation can be traced back to Elizabeth Sykes, a member of the Webster Country Gardeners Garden Club. Back around 1970, she urged the Town to adopt the tree as the Town Tree. (No one seems to know why she chose the crabapple).
Sykes then asked Jean Thompson and Carole Huther to approach the Town about establishing a crabapple arboretum. The perfect location seemed to be a parcel of land the Town had purchased several years earlier, two family farms on Schlegel Rd. owned by Herman Rieflin and Walter Wright. On June 21, 1971 the Town accepted the proposal and set aside 20 of the 80 acres for the arboretum.
Of course the first plantings were crabapple trees.
In the years since it was established, the Webster Arboretum – officially known as the Webster Sesquicentennial Arboretum at Irving Kent Park, and now about 40 acres – has seen many improvements and expansions, especially in anticipation of the Town’s sesquicentennial celebration in 1990. The beautiful results of those efforts and continuing support from the Town of Webster, Webster community members and a dedicated team of volunteers can be seen today in its bountiful gardens and along its flower-filled paths.
The Webster Arboretum is located at 1700 Schlegel Rd. To read more about this beautiful park, visit the Arboretum website.
Discover more interesting bits of local history at the Webster Museum, 18 Lapham Park in the Village of Webster. It’s open Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays from 2 to 4:30 p.m. Visit the website to learn more.
P.S. If you’re enjoying these History Bit features and would like to read more of them, check out the link on the right of the blog home page, where I’ve posted all of the History Bits since September 2022.
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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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