The greater Rochester community is invited to view the results of a unique collaborative effort between some very talented Webster Thomas High School art students and two local photographers, Quajay Donnell and Richard Colón.
The project began when Webster Thomas art teacher Todd Stahl assigned his Studio in Art students — mostly freshmen — a project based on photographs taken around Rochester by Donnell and Colón. The students carefully cropped their selected images to compose their pieces and then transformed the photographs into striking paintings. The resulting works of art are extraordinary, capturing a wealth of personality and intricate detail.
When Donnell and Colón visited the classroom and saw the impressive works in progress, they were so moved by the students’ talents that they pitched an exciting idea: hosting a professional gallery show to display the students’ work at a gallery they curate.
The resulting exhibition is called Their Eyes, Our Hands, and will be on display for the entire month of May at Behind the Glass Gallery in downtown Rochester.
Their Eyes, Our Hands will feature the paintings of the 20 students, proudly displayed alongside prints of the original reference photographs taken by Donnell and Colón. This unique layout will allow attendees to see the direct inspiration behind each student’s creative interpretation of Rochester’s sights. Student artists include Zoe Abiade, Hana Arap, Lina Barco-Dimaggio, Emma Conley, Noah Drojak, Sophia Eren, Gracie Frank, Mia Imperato, Molly Lowenguth, Penny Ricci, Amina Robinson, Karleigh Sackett, Jaylee Santana, Lucas Scerra, Allie Spitzer, Vivian Stoch, Leah Stronach, Adam Supinski, Andrew Torres, and Lianna Williams.
The Their Eyes, Our Hands art exhibition will kick off with an opening reception on Friday May 1 from 6 to 8 p.m. The event will take place at the Behind The Glass gallery, located on the second floor of Farmhouse Table at 90 South Clinton Avenue, Rochester. For those unable to attend the opening reception, the display will remain up and open to the public throughout the entire month of May during normal business hours: Monday and Tuesday, 7 a.m. to 2 p.m., Wednesday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
(The art on the poster was created by Grace Frank)
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(posted 4/28/2026)
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Schroeder Theater Company will bring S.E. Hinton’s classic 1967 novel The Outsiders to the stage for four shows next Thursday through Saturday, April 23 to 25.
Not familiar with The Outsiders? Here’s a synopsis:
Whether it’s Tulsa, Oklahoma in the 1960s or Webster, NY in 2026, there have always been “outsiders” — outcasts, underdogs, and those who are simply misunderstood. The story follows Ponyboy Curtis (Evan Burdick) and the rest of his Greaser gang (Rowan Murphy, Brody Walrath, Brock Brinkman and Lukas Vega) as they try to survive the hardships of growing up, all while attempting to de-escalate rising tensions with their affluent rival gang, “The Socs.” It’s a poignant coming-of-age tale which tackles violence, heartbreak, and tragedy head-on.
Show times are Thursday through Saturday, April 23 to 25 at 7 p.m. each night, plus a 2 p.m. matinee on Saturday. All shows will be held at Webster Schroeder High School, 875 Ridge Rd. Tickets are $10 and seating is general admission. Tickets can be purchased online or at the door, but note that all at-the-door ticket sales are cash only.
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The talented Schroeder Theater cast will also be presenting a special performance of The Outsiders just for our Webster senior citizens on Wednesday, April 29.
The event will begin at 9:15 a.m. at Schroeder High School with light refreshments and an opportunity check out some of the artwork recently on display at Community Arts Day, created by students from prekindergarten through twelfth grade. Following the morning reception, attendees will head into the auditorium for the two-hour performance beginning at 10 a.m.
Advance registration is required. Attendees must register online here. The performance is free but a $5 donation is suggested and can be paid upon arrival to help support the production costs of the show.
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(posted 4/17/2026)
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Generations of laughter echoed through Woodside Nursery School on Saturday afternoon as the Klem Road landmark celebrated 70 years of early childhood education. From toddlers to grandparents, dozens of former students, family members and friends gathered for a nostalgic afternoon of cotton candy, balloon art, and a photo retrospective spanning seven decades of school history.
Woodside Nursery School, located on Klem Rd., was founded in 1956 as a non-profit, non-sectarian, co-operative nursery school. Its nature as a “co-operative” school distinguishes it from traditional childcare centers, as the school is owned and administered by the parents as a non-profit organization. They work together to hire trained teachers and a program coordinator, while the parents themselves participate as teacher assistants.
Because of its parent-run structure, families are deeply involved in the classroom on a rotating basis, which fosters a kind of “second home” atmosphere for students. The core philosophy is focused on “learning by doing,” utilizing activities like “magic gardening” and process-oriented art to build confidence and curiosity.
Since its founding, Woodside has operated out of the United Church of Christ at 570 Klem Rd. The school serves children ages 2 to 10, offering a wide variety of age-appropriate programs encompassing child-led projects; music and movement; dramatic play; sensory exploration; language, literacy and math skills, and much more.
To find out more about Woodside Nursery School and how you and your child can become part of the family, visit their website or Facebook page.
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(posted 4/13/2026)
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The WCSD’s annual Community Arts Day, which took place Saturday at Webster Schroeder High School, is one of those events where I have to spend at least the first half hour just wandering around, figuring out the lay of the land. That’s because there’s so much going on, often at the same time. While dance groups frolic across the main stage, the talent show might be happening in the cafeteria. While SparX is demonstrating one of their robots in the gymnasium, small ensembles might be performing in the recital room. The organizers did their best to try to keep the conflicts to a minimum, but with so many talented groups wanting to strut their stuff in front of the Webster community, that was not always possible.
But, as you can see from all of the photos I took, I did the best I could to catch as many performances as possible, and lots of smiling faces at the information tables set up by dozens of community groups and businesses.
The organizers changed things up quite a bit this year. The first thing I noticed was that the usual table locations for all of the community groups had been moved around, which I realized when I stumbled upon the Webster Museum display pretty much right inside the front door. There were several places where kids could make crafts, including the new (to me), dedicated “kid’s zone” in the small auxiliary gymnasium. And there were some other new elements, like the “Spoken Word Poetry” opportunity where budding poets could share their work on stage.
But the main difference I saw was the explosion of crafters. One full half of the gymnasium was filled with craft vendors, and others lined nearby hallways. That took me a little by surprise, since to me it represented a shift in focus away from our students’ art and dance and musical accomplishments. But clearly the organizers knew what they were doing, because the halls were packed with people this year — and they probably raised a lot of money from all those craft vendors.
As always, though, our students’ artistic achievements were the real stars of the show. From the simple elementary school watercolors to the Schroeder and Thomas high school AP students’ pencil drawings, the talent flowed from the displays placed in the cafeteria, the hallways and the library. Some of them were so extraordinary, they stopped me in my tracks. And it was fun to see the pride and delight on the younger kids’ faces when they saw their own artwork on display.
If you weren’t able to make it out there this year, check out my Facebook photo gallery (and if you don’t have Facebook you can see the gallery here). The photos do a pretty good job capturing the Community Arts Day magic.
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(posted 4/12/2026)
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One of my favorite community events of the entire Webster year is returns this weekend.
Of course, it’s Community Arts Day (CAD), scheduled for Saturday April 11 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Webster Schroeder High School. CAD is the Webster Central PTSA’s annual celebration of the arts, a showcase of the musical and artistic talents of our K-12 students. It’s basically a great big show-off day, a family-friendly festival with displays of art, musical performances, dance, a talent show, demonstrations and more. PLUS there are carnival games, community group exhibits, a bake sale, craft booths and lots of food. Plus, the admission is FREE.
I was checking the CAD Facebook Page for the latest news, and saw that a lot of our favorite CAD features will be returning. (Well, at least a lot of MY favorites.) For example, I love watching our Webster SparX Robotics team demonstrate their robots. They’ll be back in the gymnasium from 10 to 11 a.m. The Webster’s Got Talent talent show is scheduled from 2 to 4 p.m. in the cafeteria, when very brave young entertainers get up in front of the audience to strut their vocal or dancing or musical stuff. And of course, thousands of clay sculptures and paintings, drawings and wire art, baskets and floral art will be on display in panels stretching all through the Webster Schroeder hallways.
And I especially like stopping by all of the information booths set up by community business, organizations and agencies. It’s my annual check-in with my buddies at the Friends of Webster Trails, Webster Library and Webster Museum, among many others. (And if you have never seen a child trying to figure out how to use a rotary phone, you really should stop by the museum table.)
Here are a few other notes of interest you’ll find at this year’s Community Arts Day:
There are three collection tables this year:
Soles4Souls, a Tennessee-based nonprofit which turns unwanted shoes and clothing into opportunities for people in need.
Project Prom, which provides gently-used formal attire to middle and high school students who might not be able to afford nice clothes for their prom, ball or other school dance.
Band/Orchestra Instrument Donation, where community members are encouraged to donate your gently-used band or orchestra instruments for students in need who can’t afford to buy their own.
The Kids Zone, where kids can make Earth Day cards, color some coloring pages, make some orgami, play with LEGOS and puzzles, and get a temporary tattoo.
Spoken Word Poetry, from 11 a.m. to noon. Bring your favorite poem (whether slam, dub, narrative, performance, beat, hip hop, rap or other) and share it with the CAD audience.
School musical performances: all four secondary schools and three elementary schools will perform a sample of the dramas and/or musicals they performed this year. So if you missed seeing On the Town at Webster Schroeder or Disney Descendants at Willink Middle School, or any of this year’s performances, catch a little bit of each at Community Arts Day.
Plus, there’s so much more going on all day. You can check out the entire schedule below, and all the latest news is posted on the CAD Facebook page.
Community Arts Day 2026 will be held at Webster Schroeder High School, 875 Ridge Rd. on Saturday April 11 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. There’s no charge for admission and there’s plenty of parking.
I was out of town last year for Community Arts Day, so I didn’t get to take any photos. But here’s a Facebook gallery from 2024. (And if you don’t have Facebook, you can access those photos here.)
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(posted 4/8/2026)
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Two of Webster’s own recently received some well-deserved recognition on our local TV stations.
Images courtesy Plank North Elementary
Last Wednesday, Plank Rd. North Elementary School teacher Peggy Garritano was surprised in her classroom by Katrina Irwin from WROC Channel 8, who presented the long-time kindergarten teacher with a Golden Apple Award.
Garritano’s teaching colleague Theresa Dupont and her son Tyler nominated her for the award to honor her 46 years of teaching. They thought it would be a fitting tribute as Garritano plans to retire at the end of this school year.
The Channel 8 Golden Apple Award is a WROC-TV program that recognizes outstanding teachers and administrators in the Rochester area. It honors educators who make a significant impact on their students, fostering positive learning environments and demonstrating dedication to their school communities.
Click here to see the piece that aired that evening on Channel 8.
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Webster Comfort Care Home Director Julianne Groff was honored a few weeks ago as the Channel 13 WHAM Bright Spot.
On Friday, Feb. 27, at the Webster Chamber of Commerce’s regular monthly breakfast meeting, Julianne was named the Chamber’s Business Person of the Year. It was that recognition which Channel 13 picked up on for their Bright Spot Segment, which aired on March 17.
Click here to see the whole segment, and click here if you’d like to see the blog I wrote about Julianne’s honor.
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(posted 3/29/2026)
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Stop the presses! The talented students of Spry Middle School are taking to the streets, and the stage, for their upcoming production of the hit musical DisneyNewsies JR.
Inspired by the newsies’ strike of 1899, DisneyNewsies JR. is a 60-minute adaptation of the 2012 Broadway favorite, based on the 1992 Newsies film. The musical follows a ragtag group of New York City newboys who rally to fight the price hikes of paper moguls William Randolph Hearst and Joseph Pulitzer. Led by the determined Jack Kelly, and championed by the pen of budding newspaper reporter Katherine Plumber, the newsies unite across the city to stand their ground.
Spry’s production boasts a 50-member cast and 30+ member stage crew. Mentored by artistic director Bill Ambler, vocal/music director Stephen Costanza, and choreographer Jackie Collins, the local newsies have been “carrying the banner” through rehearsals, perfecting their two-steps and their Brooklyn accents.
Producer Tricia Mungo says, “Students really connect to the Newsies storyline because it speaks to the fact that you can make a difference and have an impact on your community no matter how young you are. This is so empowering.”
“Everyone loves a story that allows the underdog to come out on top,” she added.
Mungo said that Newsies’ music and high energy dancing has allowed the cast to have a great time, and they look forward to the audience having a great time as well!
Newsies will be presented at Spry Middle School, 119 South Ave. on Friday, March 20 at 7 p.m., and Saturday March 21 at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Tickets are $9 each and are available online here. They’ll also be available at the door. All tickets are reserve seating.
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(posted 3/17/2026)
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An exciting competition is taking shape this weekend when our very own One Webster SparX 1126 robotics team takes part in the Finger LakesRegional First Robotics Competition at RIT‘s Gordon Field House, and everyone in the Webster community is invited to attend to cheer on our team.
This year’s game is called REBUILT, and it has an archaeological/restoration theme. The robots have to recover “artifacts” (represented by yellow 6-inch foam balls) and use them to power up their alliance’s HUB, the central scoring structure, by placing them or throwing them in. There are obstacles (of course), including a trench that robots can drive under if they’re short enough, and bumps they have to drive over.
If you’ve never been to one of these events, try to picture something between a high-stakes engineering lab and a high-energy rock concert. It’s loud, fast-paced, and despite its competitive nature, is quite the community event — for the audience members and competitors alike. The stands are filled with students in bright, themed costumes (including capes and tutus). There’s constant music and team chants, and an emcee offering play-by-play commentary.
Each match lasts 2 minutes and 30 seconds, during which time alliances are made, robots move alternately in a pre-programmed mode, then student-operated mode as they work towards completing their task, finally sprinting through last 30 seconds and a “climax” task. In the “pits,” students work feverishly to repair or upgrade their robots, and sometimes help other teams fix their broken robots as well; that kind of professionalism is a core FIRST philosophy, balancing competition with kindness.
A few images from a competition held last September
The excitement begins on Thursday (March 12) with practice from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The competition begins in earnest on Friday beginning with opening ceremonies at 8:30 a.m., then qualification matches from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. On Saturday, final qualification matches begin at 9 a.m., concluding with the playoffs at 1:30 p.m. and awards ceremony at 4:30 p.m.
Visitors are welcome — and encouraged — any day at any time, to watch the robots in action. (Admission is totally free.) If you’re able to attend, look for the large “1126” lights in the stands and join your Webster neighbors for a day you will not soon forget. If you’d like to see the action but can’t make it to RIT, you can see it streamed live on YouTube with these links:
Students learned about the competition game on January 10 and have been meeting every Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday (with the occasional Thursday) since then at their workshop at Webster Thomas High School. The team is made up of 15 students divided into sub-teams — electrical, software, mechanical, a drive team and a promotions team — all made up of 9th through 12th graders from both Schroeder and Thomas. The team’s 12 mentors have backgrounds in these areas, as well as marketing and web design and truly come alongside students to help them learn, rather than build for them.
So far the team has raised $18,000 to build their robot, which is about 110” diameter base, and stands almost 30” high. It has an extending hopper to hold up to 24 balls (fuel) which it can propel into the hopper on the game field.
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(posted 3/11/2026)
email me at missyblog@gmail.com. “Like” this blog on Facebook and follow me on Instagram and Threads (@missyblog)
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Color Webster Green is planning a special presentation on Monday March 16, an Introduction to Native Plant Gardening. Instructor Jill Carter from Color Penfield Green will teach how to start a native plant garden. Native plants provide habitat for pollinators, birds, and other wildlife. They’re also a beautiful addition to your home landscape. This class will give an introduction to native trees, shrubs and perennials and where to source them.
The class will take place at the Webster Public Library on Monday March 16 from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. The class is free but registration is required.
Rec Center stuff
Just a few notices from the Webster Recreation Center’s Senior Center, starting with some upcoming Talks on Tuesday:
Tuesday March 17: Meet Alex Scialdone, Webster’s new Town Supervisor. To register, look for activity# 146940-K
Tuesday March 24: Mary Coy, the Joyful Birder. Join Mary Coy as she shares her passion for birding. We are looking forward to her beautiful photos, great stories, and interesting bird facts. Register for activity #146940-L
Tuesday March 31: The Grandparent Connection. Rick Cognata invites grandparents into a warm, interactive conversation, like chatting over a cup of coffee, about the legacy they’re building with their grandchildren. Using four simple principles, the session encourages reflection, shared insights, and thoughtful dialogue around what grandchildren truly remember, the second-chance perspective that often comes with grandparenting, and how today’s changing parenting dynamics call for greater curiosity, respect, and boundary awareness. Register for activity# 146940-M.
Talks on Tuesday programs are designed for community members aged 55+, and are held from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. The programs are free but registration is required.
And did you hear? The Recreation Center has a new bus!
And this fun event happening at the Rec Center is for the whole family:
It’s called the LEGO Family Show Down, a friendly competition where family teams will race against one another and against the clock. Each family will have a maximum of two hours to free-build anything they want. There are no restrictions or themes and each family’s creation will be a reflection of their own imagination and skills. Each creation will be on display for a week at the Webster Recreation Center for the community to vote on a winner.
The Show Down takes place on Friday March 20 beginning at 6:30 p.m. Cost is $20 per family and registration is required. Look for program 101203-A.
By the way, these are just a few of the events I pulled off the Rec Center’s two great newsletters, “The Word,” and the “55+ Newsletter.” If you’d like one of these sent to your email box every month to keep up on the latest happenings at the Rec Center, find out more here.
Navigating AI Together
Parents are invited to an informative presentation all about artificial intelligence (AI) and how it’s impacting education.
Next Wednesday, Joe Montemaro, the Webster Central School District’s Director of Educational Technology and Information/Communications, will present “Navigating AI Together,” an informative evening dedicated to exploring and discussing the challenges of AI in education. Key topics will include: What is AI? Webster CSD’s AI Journey Resources for Families
The event will take place Wednesday, March 18 at 6:30 p.m. in the Webster Schroeder High School Auditorium, 875 Ridge Road, Webster. No registration is required.
Need to know more about your Medicare Advantage plan?
The deadline to change or update your Medicare Advantage plan is approaching quickly.
If you or someone in your household is in a Medicare Advantage plan, you have the opportunity to make a coverage change during the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period, which runs through March 31. The Webster Chamber of Commerce owns and operates rocENROLL HEALTH, which is serving our area in March by assisting Medicare Advantage Plan recipients with a plan change during the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment period.
There’s no need to take any action if you’re happy with the plan you’re in now. However, if you’re finding that your current plan isn’t meeting your needs, you have options, including switching to a different Medicare Advantage Plan. The Chamber can help you investigate a best-fit health insurance plan change with a virtual or in-office appointment by calling 585-265-3851.
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We’re halfway through March, so it’s time to tease some April events:
Donors visiting the American Red Cross Blood Drive on Thursday, April 9, at the Webster Volunteer Firemen’s Exempt Building are in for a special treat. The Women’s Club of Webster is proud to once again be assisting at the canteen, providing homemade cookies, congenial conversation and a friendly word of thanks to those giving the gift of life.
The blood drive will be held on Thursday April 9 from 1 to 6 p.m. at the Webster Firemen’s Exempt Building, 172 Sanford St. Walk-ins are welcome, but it’s always best to make an appointment. Log onto redcrossblood.org/give, or call 1-800-REDCROSS (1-800-733-2767). If you have any questions, call Katie Hout at 585-353-9964.
April special events at the library
The Webster Public Library’s annual Diverse Abilities Resource Fair has been scheduled for Saturday, April 18 from 10 a.m. to noon.
If you’re looking for resources for your loved one with a disability, this is a great opportunity to meet and chat with representatives from several Rochester-area organizations which offer all sorts of programs and support. All ages are welcome. Registration is not required but recommended if you would like a reminder. To register, please call 585-872-7075 or visit websterlibrary.org. If you would like to participate in the fair as an organization, please contact Jenny Paxson at 585-872-7075 ext 6144 or email at jennifer.paxson@libraryweb.org.
AND, the Friends of the Webster Public Library’s Spring Book Sale will be held Wednesday April 22 through Saturday April 25.
Specifically,
Friends Members Only Book Sale & Vintage Book Sale | Wednesday, April 22 | 4:00 – 7:00 pm
Book Sale | Thursday, April 23 | 9:00 am – 7:00 pm
Bag Sale | Friday, April 24 | 10:00 am – 4:00 pm
Bag Sale | Saturday, April 25 | 10:00 am – 12:00 pm
WHEN drug take-back
April 25 is National Drug Take Back Day, and WHEN (Webster Health and Education Network) will be collecting unused medications in front of the Webster Town Justice Building, 1002 Ridge Rd. This is a drive-through event, so all you’ll have to do is hand your bag out the window.
More details will come, but put this on your calendar now and start cleaning out your medicine cabinets.
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(posted 3/10/2026)
email me at missyblog@gmail.com. “Like” this blog on Facebook and follow me on Instagram and Threads (@missyblog)
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The Willink Student-Parent Band will be presenting their spring concert this coming Saturday, March 14.
This is a very talented local music group whose musicians range from middle schoolers to grandparents, doing what they love to do — play music — all together in one place.
The band, now in its 33rd season, is comprised of Webster School District students, alumni, parents, grandparents and community members. It’s led by conductors Tiffany DiPiazza and Matt Osika, and provides a multi-generational experience like no other.
The band will welcome a special guest to the concert stage this Saturday, the Perinton Concert Band. Directed by Mark Kellogg, the band is a group of local musicians that has grown into one of the most highly regarded community bands in the Northeastern United States.
The Willink Middle School Student-Parent Band will perform Saturday, March 14 at 7 p.m. in the Willink Cafetorium, 900 Publishers Parkway. A $2 donation is suggested for admission. Tickets can be purchased from band members or at the door.
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(posted 3/8/2026)
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).
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
