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Webster community mailbag

18 Sep

The Webster Community Chest is selling Kittelberger Flower Cards, but you have to get on this SOON, because they’re available only through Sept. 27.

Each card gets you 12 Months of Flowers ($180 value; $15 monthly value) for only $50. They make great gifts, or grab one for yourself so you’re sure to have fresh flowers on your table all through the coming winter.  

You can also purchase a flower card and donate it to the Community Chest, and they will brighten the lives of 12 families through this coming year, by gifting them with a bouquet of flowers.

Please contact Tracy at webcommchest@gmail.com or 585-671-2060 to order your card(s) and discuss payment options.

This fundraiser will support WCC’s Women’s Empowerment Programs.

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The United Church of Christ, 570 Klem Rd., is hosting a special performance titled “They Live On…in Word and Song to Support Mental Health,” on Sunday, Sept. 21 at 2 p.m. The community program will support those in various stages of caregiving and loss.

“They Live On…in Word and Song” features excerpts from Patricia Nugent’s memoir — They Live On: Saying Goodbye to Mom and Dad –paired with nine original songs by singer/songwriter Michael Jerling.

Tickets are $20, a donation to the church’s mission of supporting mental health awareness and education. Click here to get yours. For more information, email office@uccwebster.org.

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Webster Central School District families are invited to join a virtual event to learn more about “Distraction-Free Learning” on Tuesday, September 23, from 6 to 7 p.m. Dr. Robert Chalwell, assistant superintendent for student and community engagement, will lead the event. Dr. Chalwell will provide a brief presentation on the New York State law, Webster CSD policy, and the district’s ongoing implementation process. There will be Q&A, as well as a chance to hear perspectives from students, teachers, and families. The district will also provide resources for parents and guardians, and raise awareness about other hot-button topics.

The meeting will be held on Zoom. You can access it here.

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The Webster Lions Club will be hosting their chicken and ribs BBQ on Thursday, Sept. 25 from 3 to 6 p.m. (or until sold out) at Webster Fireman’s Field.

Cost is $20 per person (cash or check) and dinners (prepared by Bad to the Bone in Williamson) include a quarter chicken, pit-smoked ribs, mac salad, BBQ beans and corn bread. Dinners are drive-thru and pick-up.

All proceeds will support Webster Lions Club charities and to help those in need in the community.

The Lions Club’s mission statement is to improve the quality of life for visually and hearing-impaired individuals and those with diabetes. The Club also partners with Camp Smile, located in Webster, a summer day camp for children who are visually or hearing-impaired. To learn more, click here  or call 585-234-5480.

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The Country Gardeners of Webster will be holding a “Frightful and Delightful” Halloween-themed flower show on Saturday, Oct. 4 from 1 to 5 p.m. at the Webster Presbyterian Church, 550 Webster Rd.

Explore floral designs, artistic crafts, an array of horticultural specimens and other surprises. Get ready to decorate your home for the Halloween season! Admission is free and there’s plenty of parking.

Take a peek at the stars on Saturday night, Oct. 4 when the Webster Public Library hosts a Star Party from 6 to 9 p.m. Jim Porter, retired Chief Systems Engineer at NASA, will be on hand to discuss, “What can you see in the night sky?” See robots demonstrated by the McQuaid IgKnighters Robotics Team, play large versions of your favorite games outside with your family or friends, and make a space-themed craft. There’ll be donuts, pizza, hot/cold cider and hot cocoa (available for purchase). You can also enter a raffle for a chance to win a prize, and each attendee will get a free raffle ticket.

A telescope and binoculars will be available for use, or bring your own (that’s recommended).

This is an outdoor event held in the parking lot, and registration is required. The Webster Public Library is located at 980 Ridge Rd.

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The Webster Public Library and Color Webster Green will present an informative presentation all about plastics on Oct. 6 from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.

It’s called Plastics & Health: What You Need To Know. Almost every bit of plastic breaks down into “microplastics.” Documentaries such as Plastic People show how these microscopic particles drift in the air, float in all bodies of water, mix into our soil, and end up in our bodies.

Jane van Dis, MD, FACOG, Assistant Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Rochester will present on the prevalence of plastics and the effects that plastics and the chemicals inside them have on our health. This talk will address key scientific findings and offer insight into ways to protect ourselves and our loved ones. A Q&A session will follow Jane’s presentation. This event is organized by Color Webster Green.

The program will be held Monday Oct. 6, 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. in the Webster Public Library’s Community Room. There’s no charge, but please register here so the library knows how many people to expect.

The Webster Arboretum will present their next educational program, all about Bonsai, on Tuesday, Oct. 7 from 7 to 8 p.m.

The program will be presented by award-winning bonsai artist Mark Arpag, who will speak on the art of growing, developing and refining bonsai. Mark has won national awards for his Eastern White Cedar, Balsam Fir and Larch and has a passion for native bonsai and stones. He’s especially interested in shohin bonsai and bonsai display. He has a large and fine quality collection of shohin bonsai as well as larger size trees.

The Arboretum expects a sell-out crowd for this presentation. It’s free to attend, but you need to register. Click here to do so.

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The Friends of the Webster Public Library’s Book Sale will be held Wednesday, Oct. 22 through Saturday, Oct. 25. The first day of the sale — Oct. 22 from 4 to 7 p.m. — is exclusively for Friends members. Membership can be purchased at websterlibrary.org or at the door.  

All are welcome to attend the book sale on Oct. 23 from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Hardcover books will be $1 each and paperbacks are only 50 cents each. Oct. 24 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Oct. 25 from 10 a.m. to noon are Bring-Your-Own-Bag Sale days, when you can fill your bag with books for only $5. All are welcome to attend the BYOB Sale days.

Proceeds from the sale support the library. I’ll post another reminder about this in a few weeks.

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The Women’s Club of Webster has announced plans for their next luncheon, scheduled for Thursday, Oct. 16 at Proietti’s Restaurant, 980 Ridge Rd., Webster.

October’s speaker will be Ron Kampff, Vice Chair of Challenger Miracle Field of Greater Rochester. Located in Webster, Miracle Field provides people with developmental, physical or intellectual disabilities a barrier-free, safe, accessible place to experience the health benefits and joy of play through baseball, other team sports, and adaptive recreational equipment.

The event begins at 11:15 a.m. with social time, followed by lunch at noon and Mr. Kampff’s presentation. Attendees will enjoy a variety of Proietti’s popular pizzas, salad, cannoli and camaraderie.

Cost of the luncheon is $19. Send your check, made out to the Women’s Club of Webster, by Oct. 9 to Carolyn Rittenhouse, 405 County Line Road, Ontario, NY 14519. If you think your check will be late, phone Carolyn at 585-265-1303.You do not have to be a member of the Women’s Club to attend, but new members are always welcome!

Here’s a great opportunity to actually chat with some Women’s Club members:

The American Red Cross is sponsoring a blood drive from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 3 at the Webster Public Library, 980 Ridge Rd., and the Women’s Club of Webster will be providing the snacks.  

Blood donors will be warmly greeted at the cantina by members of the Women’s Club, and enjoy supremely scrumptious homemade cookies with their juice.

The whole process takes only about an hour. Appointments are not required. Donors should feel free to just drop in. For more information about the blood drive, please contact Katie Houtat 585-353-9964.

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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 9/18/2025)

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September History Bit: Spry turns 100

16 Sep

This month’s History Bit is perfectly timed for the start of the school year, highlighting the century-long educational legacy of the building now home to Spry Middle School.

The Spry Middle School building, located in the Village of Webster at the corner of South Ave. and Sanford St., turns 100 years old this week. It was built in 1925 to serve not as a middle school as it is now, but as the town’s high school, replacing the Webster Union Free School located just across the street. The new Webster High School welcomed its first students on September 17 of that year. 

The building’s design was distinctive, shaped like the letter “W”. Despite recent additions and renovations, you can still get a sense of its original shape if you stretch your imagination.

In 1962, R.L. Thomas High School was constructed to serve the town’s growing population, and Webster High School was converted into Webster Junior High. It held that designation until 2001, when the building was renamed Spry Middle School in honor of former superintendent Edward W. Spry.

The Spry building is the oldest building within the Webster Central School District still in use for educational purposes. It continues to adapt to the town’s growing population and student needs, most recently in 2019 with the construction of a new “cafetorium,” a combined cafeteria and performing arts center, designed to provide a modern space to replace the nearly century-old auditorium.  

If you’d like to find out more about the Town of Webster’s educational history, it’s on full display at the Webster Museum, from its recreated 1900s-era one-room schoolhouse, to its extensive collection of old high school yearbooks. Right now the museum has a “Webster Winners” display of banners, trophies, photographs, letter sweaters and more, recalling our school’s many athletic achievements.   

The Webster Museum is located at 18 Lapham Park in the Village of Webster, and is open every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday from 2 to 4:30 p.m. There is no admission charge. (Photo above courtesy Webster Town Historian Lynn Barton.)

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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 9/16/2025)

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Schroeder students roll out kindness with shopping cart parade

25 Aug

Here’s an inspiring story from Webster Schroeder High School about a clever charitable event which brought the school community together to benefit local food cupboards.

It was called a “shopping cart parade,” and even though it happened last March, I thought that since the new school year is rapidly approaching, it would be timely reminder of the great things our students are doing for the Webster community.

As part of the Schroeder’s “One Warrior Week,” members of the school’s National Honor Society wanted to come up with some kind of donation event. But just putting collection boxes all around the school, or even something like making a canned food pyramid didn’t make the cut. They wanted to do something different, to really get their fellow students excited and involved.

What they came up with was a decorated shopping cart parade.

The first step was to secure 20 shopping carts, and Wegmans was more than happy to help. Then they spread the word through social media and encouraged the school’s clubs and athletic teams to decorate the carts as creatively as they could. The results were whimsical, original, artistic, and definitely fun.

Then, of course, they were all paraded down the hall to the cheers of their fellow students, who stepped up to the challenge and filled them with donations for Webster NY Hope and the Warrior Care Cupboard.

WROC Channel 8 posted a story about the event (the photos here are from that video). Click here or on any of the photos to see it.

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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 8/25/2025)

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RL Thomas Class of ’65 reunion honors classmate’s legacy

12 Aug

Last Friday evening, 82 graduates from the Webster Thomas High School Class of 1965 gathered at the White House in Webster Park for their 60th reunion. As with most reunions, there was plenty of food, along with photo boards, yearbooks, and newspaper clippings spread across several tables. Inside and out, old friends and new mingled in small groups, drinks in hand, reconnecting, reminiscing, and laughing over shared memories.

But this year’s celebration was more than just a stroll down memory lane. The Class of 1965 decided to turn their 60th reunion into a celebration with a purpose.

Instead of charging admission, organizers chose to honor the legacy and passion of their late classmate, Bill O’Rourke, Jr. In place of a ticket fee, members of the Class of ’65 were invited to contribute to the O’Rourke Scholarship Fund.

Bill’s classmates responded enthusiastically, raising an amazing $6,500 to the fund, proving that even after six decades, their school spirit is stronger than ever.

Reunion organizer Bob (“BG”) Guerra observed that the amount surpassed what they would have raised through normal ticket sales. “What happens is, people just feel like my money’s not going to somebody to pay Proietti’s,” he said.

As he presented the check to Bill’s first wife Dottie, Bob noted that, “What we’re going to donate tonight will allow them to fund that program for the next six years without any additional donations. The money is going to make sure kids continue to get educated.”

“We’re making a difference in some kids’ lives.”

Bill, Jr., with wholehearted support from the Webster Central School District (WCSD), established the O’Rourke Scholarship Fund after his father, Bill O’Rourke, Sr., passed in 2006. Its original objective was to present a monetary award to a senior male varsity player each year, chosen by the athletic secretary and basketball coach; someone who reflected O’Rourke’s own passion for academic excellence and sportsmanship.

Bill, Jr. passed away in 2020, but the memorial fund remains strong. With support from the O’Rourke family, the scholarship’s criteria and amount have grown. It now awards $1,000 to a senior boy and a senior girl varsity basketball player every year.

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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 8/12/2025)

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Webster community mailbag

7 Aug

Today’s mailbag is stuffed with reminders about many events I’ve already mentioned in the blog, but which might have slipped under your radar the first time.

This first one is coming up this Saturday Aug. 9, a “Hike Through History” at Webster Union Cemetery. This is a self-guided tour in which participants can step back in time and “meet” the some of our town’s earliest settlers. Historical re-enactors will be sprinkled throughout the cemetery to tell their stories from Webster’s earliest days. 

Hike Through History will be held from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the cemetery, 345 Webster Rd. (corner of Rt 250 and Woodhull Road). Requested donation for the experience is $10, and all proceeds will be used to help repair the headstones of our earliest settlers. Read more about the event in this blog.

Take a test drive, win cool stuff

Also this Saturday, Aug. 9, West Herr Ford at 810 Ridge Rd. (corner of Five Mile Line) is hosting a Test Drive Fundraising Event from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., to benefit the Webster Community Chest.

For every person who registers and takes a quick test drive, West Herr will donate $40 to Webster Community Chest. If 50 people sign up and drive, that means a cool $2,000 for one of Webster’s coolest agencies. Every person who test drives will get a raffle ticket for a chance to win Buffalo Bills merchandise and other prizes. Plus, lunch (or coffee and donuts) will be provided.

No appointment is necessary. Just walk in, and choose from a whole line-up of cars and trucks (or they’ll bring out something else off the lot if you want). Just hop in, take a short drive, return and hop out. No hard sales, no obligation. Takes about 15 minutes.

Marching Band Food Truck Rodeo

The Webster Marching Band Boosters will host their 9th Annual Food Truck Rodeo on Thursday, Aug. 14 from 5 to 8 p.m. at the Fireman’s Field on Sanford St.

Participating trucks include Bruster’s, Eat Greek, Macarollin, Mr. Squeeze, Rob’s Kabobs, Roc City Sammich and Tuscan Wood Fired Pizza. The event will also feature artisan vendors, a kids’ play place, face painting, plus a 50/50 and vendor raffles. Guests will also get a preview of this year’s Webster Marching Band show, “In Times Of” at 6 and 7 p.m.

Strike up the band

Our very own Webster Village Band will perform their final concert of the summer on Thursday Aug. 28 at the Harmony Park band shell on Phillips Rd. Titled “The Band Concert,” the selections will be traditional band standards, plus music from Billy Joel and Jim Brickman.

The concert begins at 7 p.m. and are free and open to the public. Bring a blanket, lawn chairs and a cooler, and stretch out on the spacious lawn area in front of the band shell.

Donate school supplies

Webster NY Hope is collecting NEW supplies from now through Aug. 19 to stuff in backpacks for children in our community who are in need. You can see the entire wish list on the Webster NY Hope Facebook page.

Supplies can be dropped off at the Webster Public Library, or at Webster Hope during the agency’s open hours, Monday-Thursday 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Friday and Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Music at the Arb

This summer’s final Music at the Arb concert at the Webster Arboretum is scheduled for Thursday Aug. 14, featuring the String Brothers from 6:30 to 8 p.m. These concerts are held at the gazebo, and are free and open to the public. No registration is necessary. The Arboretum is located at 1700 Schlegel Rd.

More from the Arboretum

The Webster Arboretum will present their next educational program, all about Dahlias, on Tuesday Sept. 9 from 7 to 8 p.m.

The program will be presented by Patty Pirz, a local expert on the subject. Discover the culture, type, variety and care of the beloved dahlia. Learn how to grow and nurture these plants to their best advantage. It will be held in the Curry Building at the Arboretum, and is free and open to the public, but registration is requested.

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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 8/7/2025)

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My own personal band concert

31 Jul

Every summer, music seems to be everywhere in the Village of Webster — at the gazebo, at Harmony Park, in the pubs and on the street. This summer, though, it’s appeared in an unexpected place: the grassy lawn outside Spry Middle School.

For the last few weeks, sections of our very own Webster Marching Band have been rehearsing outside of Spry Middle School. Perhaps temperatures inside the building are worse than outside, or maybe it’s their “band camp,” so setting up outdoors just seems appropriate. But whatever the reason, I and my neighbors have been enjoying beautiful music, sometimes for hours on end.

For a long time it was only the drummers rehearsing in the parking lot and adjacent to the southeast corner of the school. Many of them show up early for their session and just start noodling around while they wait for everyone else to arrive. (I’ve never known a musician who can stand by an instrument without playing it. Musicians just gotta make music. At all times.) When everyone is assembled and the rehearsal begins in earnest, it’s like listening to a coordinated drum line, telling a story through rhythm, tempo and thunderous drumbeats.

But more recently, the brass section has also set up their music stands, rehearsing closer to the school’s front door, basically at the end of my street. When their trumpets are combined with sousaphones and mellophones, the strong, clear notes can be heard two blocks away, resonating throughout the neighborhood. The power of their music, the beauty of their harmonies, just blow me away. (Which is not surprising given that the band took first place in last year’s state championships.)

Unfortunately, we’re not being serenaded with entire compositions, but are only getting snippets. It seems like every day the focus is on a different, perhaps particularly difficult movement, so we’re only hearing bits and pieces of a much larger work. I suspect that much of what I’m hearing are parts of this year’s competition program, “In Times Of.” I look forward to attending the 2025 Autumn Fanfare field band competition on Saturday Oct. 4 to see and hear the whole show.

But even before that, there actually IS a way to get a preview of the program, when the Webster Marching Band offers two sneak-peek performances of In Times Of at their 9th Annual Food Truck Rodeo on Thursday, Aug. 14 from 5 to 8 p.m. at the Fireman’s Field on Sanford St. The event will feature great food (participating trucks include Bruster’s, Eat Greek, Macarollin, Mr. Squeeze, Rob’s Kabobs, Roc City Sammich and Tuscan Wood Fired Pizza), vendors, a kids’ play place, face painting, raffles…and some great music. The mini-shows will take place at 6 and 7 p.m.

So thank you for the free concerts, Webster Marching Band, and I can’t wait to see the whole show!

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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 7/31/2025)

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Webster community mailbag

27 Jul

Lots of new and different stuff in today’s mailbag, plus a few reminders at the end of some musical events.

Your opinions are important

The Town of Webster is still looking for more community input as they plan to update the town’s Comprehensive Plan. The plan guides zoning, the actions of the Planning Board, informs what greenspace protections are implemented at a town level and what code changes the Town Board can implement to protect greenspace within developments…or not.

A successful Comprehensive Plan requires substantial public input and community engagement, and so far, not a whole lot of people have clicked through to the survey to voice their opinions. There’s still time to do so; the survey deadline has been extended through July 30. If you tried to take it before and found it a bit intimidating, try this much faster and easier three-question alternative. The Town will accept responses from both surveys.

If you’d like to learn more about the Comprehensive Plan and why it’s important, the Webster Open Space Committee will be holding an information session on Monday Aug. 4 at 6 p.m. at the Webster Public Library.

Euchre at the library

The Webster Public Library is starting up a Euchre Club, which will meet every Wednesday at 5:30 p.m., beginning on Aug. 6. Experienced and brand new euchre players are welcome; if you don’t know how to play, show up at 5:15 for a quick review of the rules. Light refreshments will be provided, and you can also bring your own snacks.

Please register for each session you’d like to attend. Interest is expected to be high, so if you find that a session is full, place your name on the wait list, and as soon as four people are on the list, the library will open up another table. If you’ve registered and find you cannot attend, please cancel your registration.

Each session will be held from 5:30 to 7:30, and there’s no charge. For more information and to register, click here.

Take a test drive, win Buffalo Bills swag

West Herr Ford at 810 Ridge Rd. (corner of Five Mile Line) is hosting a Test Drive Fundraising Event on Saturday Aug. 9 from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., to benefit the Webster Community Chest.

For every person who registers and takes a quick test drive, West Herr will donate $40 to Webster Community Chest. If 50 people sign up and drive, that means a cool $2,000 for one of Webster’s coolest agencies.

BUT NOT ONLY THAT! Every person who test drives will get a raffle ticket for a chance to win Buffalo Bills merchandise and other prizes, including a life-sized Josh Allen stand out and an autographed football.

BUT THERE’S MORE! West Herr will also have free DiBella’s subs and soft drinks, so you can grab lunch while you’re there. If you come in the morning, you’ll enjoy coffee and donuts.

No appointment is necessary. Just walk in, and choose from a whole line-up of cars and trucks (or they’ll bring out something else off the lot if you want). Just hop in, take a short drive, return and hop out. No hard sales, no obligation. Takes about 15 minutes.

Good food to support great music

The Webster Marching Band Boosters will host their 9th Annual Food Truck Rodeo on Thursday, Aug. 14 from 5 to 8 p.m. at the Fireman’s Field on Sanford St.

Participating trucks include Bruster’s, Eat Greek, Macarollin, Mr. Squeeze, Rob’s Kabobs, Roc City Sammich and Tuscan Wood Fired Pizza. The event will also feature artisan vendors, a kids’ play place, face painting, plus a 50/50 and vendor raffles.

Guests will also get a preview of this year’s Webster Marching Band show, “In Times Of” at 6 and 7 p.m.

The boosters are still looking for more artisans, crafters, and restaurants to showcase and sell their products during the event. If you’re interested in becoming a vendor, click here for the application.

Help Webster Hope help our neighbors go back to school

One good thing about school supplies hitting the store shelves already is that you can get some really good deals. While you’re out there stocking up on supplies for your kids, please pick up a few extra items for the annual Webster NY Hope community collection.

Webster Hope is collecting NEW supplies from now through Aug. 19 to stuff in backpacks for children in our community who are in need. The entire wish list is on the flyer here, but you can also see the list on the Webster NY Hope Facebook page.

Supplies can be dropped off at the Webster Public Library, or at Webster Hope during the agency’s open hours, Monday-Thursday 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Friday and Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The new backpacks filled with brand new school supplies will be handed out to pre-registered families in about a month. I’ve been at one of these distribution events, and the excitement I have seen in these kids’ eyes is heartwarming.

Music, music and more music

Now here come some musical reminders:

  • The next free Music at the Arb concert at the Webster Arboretum is scheduled for Thursday Aug. 14, featuring the String Brothers from 6:30 to 8 p.m. These concerts are held at the gazebo, and are free and open to the public. No registration is necessary. The Arboretum is located at 1700 Schlegel Rd.
  • The Village of Webster’s Friday Night Concert series returns Aug. 1 with a performance by It’s My Party. Concerts are held at the Village’s Gazebo Park, located at 28 North Avenue. All concerts start at 7 p.m. They’re free and no registration is needed.
  • The United Church of Christ‘s next outdoor Caring Community Concert is scheduled for Wednesday July 30, featuring Ruby Shooz. It will benefit the Webster Community Chest. The concert begins at 6:30 p.m., and food concessions begin at 6. Bring lawn chairs or blankets and a picnic if you’d like. United Church of Christ is located at 570 Klem Rd. (In case of rain it’s moved indoors.)
  • The Webster Village Band‘s next community concert is scheduled for Thursday, Aug. 7 beginning at 7 p.m. at the Village Band Shell at Harmony Park on Phillips Rd. The theme is “At The Movies,” highlighting movie soundtracks from many well-known composers. These conc erts are also free and open to the public.

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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 7/27/2025)

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New kindergartners invited to Strive for Five

15 Jul

The 2024/25 school year is barely over, but the Webster Central School District is already thinking about next year, and how to make the first days of school a little less scary for our youngest students.

Getting on a big school bus on that first day can be especially intimidating. The district’s annual Strive for Five for School Bus Safety program hopes to make that experience easier.

This year’s program will be held from Aug. 4 to 7 at Willink Middle School. Now in its 18th year, it’s designed for 2025/26 incoming kindergartners giving our youngest One Webster students a chance to become familiar with school buses and learn important safety procedures.

New kindergartners (no additional children please) and their parents/guardians will board buses at Willink (900 Publisher’s Parkway) at 5:50 p.m. Buses will depart promptly at 6 p.m. and children and their parents will be transported to the bus garage at 1000 Document Drive for a fun and informative safety program, then ride the buses again back to Willink.

While at the bus garage, students will rotate through stations teaching them important safety elements, including:

  • Loading and unloading the bus
  • Proper crossing procedures
  • Danger zones surrounding the bus
  • Appropriate behavior on the bus
  • Emergency equipment/evacuation

Families are asked to attend the evening assigned to their particular school as indicated below, if at all possible. If you can’t make your assigned evening, you can come on another, but the district really likes to spread everyone out as much as possible.

August 4 – Plank South
August 5 – Klem South and Schlegel Rd.
August 6 – Klem North and Plank North
August 7 – Dewitt Rd. and State Rd.

Private and parochial students residing in the Webster Central School District can attend any one of the four dates. Families will receive a letter detailing the Strive for Five program prior to the event.

The program will be held outside and will take place rain or shine.

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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 7/15/2025)

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Thank you, educators, from the Mary Wee!

24 Jun

It’s been a long school year, and these last few days, with the extreme heat, have been especially difficult. As we celebrate this last week of school, our district administrators, teachers and support staff deserve a huge round of applause, and our heartfelt thanks.

But the folks at the Mary Wee Pub, 2 West Main St. in the Village of Webster, believe they all deserve even more than that. That’s why, through this Friday June 26, if you’re a staff member at any school in any district, show your ID at the Mary Wee and your first drink is on them — and we’re talking beer, wine or well drink.

And “staff member,” by the way, includes everyone: teachers, teaching assistants, aides, bus drivers, PTs, OTs, food service, speech therapists, social workers, secretaries, psychologists, security, counselors, coaches, librarians, custodians, nurses, and administrators.

So enjoy a drink to celebrate the last days of school, with thanks from the Mary Wee Pub for a fantastic school year.

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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 6/24/2025)

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Elephant and Piggie in “We Are in a Book!” starring …

21 Jun

Here’s a quick little story that’s just too cute not to share.

On Friday I was substituting in the library at State Rd. Elementary School. As part of the day’s lessons, the library teaching assistant and I were acting out We Are in a Book!, one of a series of beloved children’s books by Mo Willems, starring Elephant and Piggie.

As we prepared to do so for one class, Officer David Herrle, Webster’s School Resource Officer, popped his head into the library to say hi. I immediately had an idea, and asked him if he had ten minutes to spare. To his credit, without knowing what I had in mind, he said yes. I quickly finished my lesson, then sprung my idea on him:

HE would play the part of Piggie.

With book in one hand and a stuffed Piggie in the other, Officer Herrle presented a polished cold-read performance of We Are in a Book! to the delight of the second graders who sat before us. It was a great way to show these kids that police officers are pretty cool, fun-loving people, too.

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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 6/21/2025)

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