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Bygone Blog: Let the litter games begin!

21 Mar

You probably didn’t notice it, but spring officially arrived on Friday morning, in all its cold, cloudy and rainy glory. The occasion made me think of a spring day 13 years ago when we were still living off of Hatch Rd. in North Penfield. Jack and I would take a walk every day around our neighborhood, and every spring would be dismayed at the number of advertising flyers that were littering the ground.

I actually wrote two blogs about that. The first was in 2012, and this follow-up a year later.

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Let the Litter Games Begin!

(Originally posted March 31, 2013)

Around this time last year I posted a blog about G&G Sealcoating and its marketing literature. Specifically, it was about how their marketing literature was strewn all over our neighborhood. In one two-day period last April, my husband Jack and I picked up almost 30 of the flyers along our regular two-mile walking route through the neighborhood. They had fluttered out of the newspaper boxes where they had been carelessly stuffed, extracted by the strong spring winds.

Since then, I’ve always considered this particular company to be King of the Litterers. I thought their neighborhood trashing record would stand forever.

But on Friday, it was in real danger.

On Friday afternoon, Jack and I were on that very same two-mile walk when we noticed a glossy white flyer at the side of the road. We thought at first our seal-coating friends had gotten an early start on their littering in defense of their title. But we were surprised to see it was an entirely new contender in the litter derby — a lawn care company. A little farther down the road we found a second. Then a third. We began to think that maybe, just maybe, this company was going to mount a serious challenge for the title.

All of a sudden we became much more vigilant as we walked, carefully inspecting lawns and bushes. At one point we split up along two conjoined side streets to cover more ground. Sure enough, by the time we met back up at the far end, we had both collected a handful of glossy white flyers. But we also had collected a handful of glossy green flyers.

Yes, ANOTHER lawn care company had joined the contest. Game on.

Things got serious. We started keeping score. White Lawn Care Company (WLCC) had the early lead by virtue of all the flyers from the early part of the walk. But Green Lawn Care Company (GLCC) quickly made up the deficit. Before long the score was neck-and-neck. There were several lead changes. By the time we got home we’d lost count, and we were honestly excited to see if WLCC had been able to pull it out in the end.

But it wasn’t to be. The final tally was 18 WLCC flyers, 19 GLCC flyers.

So our heartiest congratulations to Green Lawn Care Company. Their total was far short of Driveway Seal-Coating Company’s record-setting 30 flyers, but they CAN claim the title of “Most Prolific Neighborhood Litterer of the Spring” so far. Enjoy that winning feeling, GLCC, for it will be fleeting. Driveway Seal-Coating Company — King of the Litterers — should be rejoining the game in a week or two. 

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Fortunately, I haven’t seen this issue cropping up in the village, but I wonder if it’s still happening in my old neighborhood?

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(posted 3/21/2026)

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A St. Patrick’s Day legend

15 Mar

So how are you planning to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day this year? Gonna try to squeeze into a pub? Go to a house party? Or maybe just hang out at home and sip a Guinness?

The decision is an easy one for us. My family’s had a standing invitation every year to the St. Patrick’s Day party hosted by our friends the Hollerans. Mary and Jim have been hosting this shindig for more than 30 years. Every year the mix of party-goers changes a bit, as new friends and neighbors are met, old friends move out of town, toddlers grow into adulthood, and new babies are born. But through it all, we can count on one thing: the story of the birth of my third child will be told, and it will have become more outlandish.

The real story goes like this:

On March 17, 1994, I was nine months pregnant and expecting my third child on March 30. As was our custom, my two children (then ages 7 and 4) and I were at the Hollerans’ St. Patrick’s Day party. My husband Jack worked nights at the time and hadn’t arrived yet.

I’d been very careful throughout my pregnancy not to consume any alcohol, but thought it would be safe to have just one beer that evening, which I did. I drove myself and the kids home relatively early.

Somewhat later that evening I started feeling rather “weird,” so I called Jack (who by this time had gotten to the party) and warned him not to be too late. Sure enough, later that night I went into labor and my youngest daughter Erin was born the next morning.

Naturally, a connection was immediately made between the one beer I had and the fact I went into labor almost two weeks early. That was the simple seed from which the legend has grown.

Every year the story gets a bit more … entertaining. These days when the story is told, there’s no telling what new facts we might discover. In previous years, for example, we’ve learned that Jack ignored my phone call and refused to go home. And that Mary, the party’s hostess, was the one to say the fateful words, “Oh, one beer won’t make a difference” and now regrets it.

Depending on who’s telling the story, I enjoyed 30 jello shots … or downed two pitchers of margaritas … or did a keg stand with the pope. Kinda wondering where the story will take us this year.

I hope your St. Patrick’s Day evening is not quite so exciting.

***

Here’s a fun memory I came across recently, taken at Lynn Pilaroscia’s annual “Stand Around and Play Some Tunes,” which used to be held at the White House in Webster Park every June. Erin was just over two years old here and was clearly already in training. I guess when your birth is famously credited to a single St. Paddy’s Day beer, mastering the keg pump isn’t just a hobby — it’s a birthright.

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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)

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My driveway is messy again!

5 Mar

For me, the surest sign of spring is when my driveway is once again full of artistic chalk drawings.

Well, “artistic” might be a bit of a stretch. After all, we are talking about “art” created by preschoolers, who — whenever the weather allows — come by my house and enjoy the simple pleasure of scribbling with chalk. Everywhere.

Every day, just before lunch, my friend Laura rolls by with some little friends, for whom she provides daycare. Some days there may be only four of them, other days more like six or eight. At least two, often three or four, are tucked into a stroller, while the rest toddle alongside. My house is a regular stop on their daily walks, and the kids have come to expect a box of chalk waiting for them when they arrive.

But this winter has been long and snowy and cold, and the messy sidewalks not fit for strollers. I hadn’t seen the daycare caravan for what seemed like forever. But then, on Wednesday, when it was sunny and the temperature hit 50 degrees, I got a text: “We’re heading out for a walk. Will you be home?”

I assured Laura that I would, made a cup of coffee and sat out on my porch to watch for them. Sure enough, about twenty minutes later, I saw the advance guard running down the sidewalk towards my house as furiously as their little legs could take them. My knees enjoyed several hugs.

You see the result of their visit. It’s all rather Neo-Expressionistic, but if you look closely, you’ll see moons and flowers and rainbows and some kind of bird. I think.

Next week’s weather is supposed to be spring-like, so I look forward to getting more knee-hugs and my driveway being messed up several more times in the coming days. It just makes my heart happy.

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(posted 3/4/2026)

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Looking for more veterans’ stories from Webster — and some help

26 Feb

Several weeks ago I posted a blog about the 2026 theme for Wreaths Across America, scheduled for Saturday Dec. 19: “Remember Me: Stories From the Home Front.” The idea is to ensure that the individual names, families, and sacrifices of our veterans are not just recognized collectively at the Wreaths Across America ceremony, but also remembered personally.

To support this effort, local Wreaths Across America Coordinator Cherie Wood would like to share your veterans’ stories. She wants to hear from anyone who has a tie to Webster — either the veteran or the person submitting the story — about your service or the service of a veteran family member or friend. The stories don’t have to be about local soldiers, or someone who died in battle. They can be from recent conflicts or from long ago.

In that original blog, I started the ball rolling with a story about my paternal grandfather, Orville William Best, from Kansas City, Missouri, who fought in WWI. Just eight days before the end of the fighting in Europe, he was injured in a mustard gas attack by the Germans, and suffered a machine gun wound to the stomach.

Recently, local Wreaths coordinator received another story, from Kathy Hertzel.

Kathy wrote,

My father was William (Bill) Hertzel who served in the Pacific Theater during WW II. He and my mother were married on November 21, 1941, 17 days before the attack on Pearl Harbor. He subsequently was drafted and left in March 1942. He was 27 years old and would be gone until December 1945.

My father was a sergeant in the Army’s 77th Infantry Division, 305th Battalion and fought on various islands including Leyte and was a part of Operation Iceberg which was the invasion of Okinawa. He did not say much to me about his wartime experiences but would tell me how he used flame throwers into the caves and how horrible that was.

My father was awarded the Bronze Star for the battle of Okinawa. Like other soldiers he brought several souvenirs home, taken from fallen Japanese soldiers. One was a Japanese flag which was worn around a soldier’s waist, on which was the soldier’s name and well wishes. I was able to return the flag to that soldier’s family in 2002 with the help of a colleague in locating the family.

As well as my father’s service, his father fought in the Spanish American War and his grandfather in the Civil War including at Appomattox.

Now it’s your turn. This year, let’s do more than just remember the battles that were fought. Let’s really try to remember the individual soldiers who sacrificed so many things when they were fighting for our country. If you’d like to submit a story for this inspirinng Webster project, email your story to WebsterWreaths@icloud.com, including where the veteran served, when, and include a photo or video if possible.

Now here’s another way you can help:

Cherie is looking for people in the Webster community who would like to help collect these stories. Someone who would enjoy interviewing veterans, their spouses and families — basically, chat with people who don’t have access to computers, but would like to share their stories. Think about, perhaps, residents at senior care facilities who would have trouble typing up their story and wouldn’t have a clue how to upload a photo.

If we’re going to do a good job of capturing our veterans’ stories, we’re going to need some help. If you’re interested, email Cherie Wood at WebsterWreaths@icloud.com.

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(posted 2/26/2026)

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

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My return to martial arts has taken an unexpected twist

25 Feb

Sometimes my blogs take on a life of their own. I start out with a solid plan of what I want to write about, how to structure it and how to do the research. But then something happens that messes that plan up completely. Today’s story is a one of those.

For several days now I’ve been planning to write about my recent return to martial arts. I studied Shotokan karate for twenty years, but after a decade away from the dojo, I recently felt a sudden urge to dive back in. Fortunately, I quickly found a new karate family that made the decision to start again an easy one.

That school — that family — is Golden Eagle Martial Arts, located at the Webster Recreation Center. Its style is American Freestyle Karate. Based primarily on Kyokushin techniques, it offers a little bit of everything: fundamentals, self-defense, kata (forms), sparring, weapons and breaking. When I went to watch a class, I was pleasantly surprised to see that most of its basic techniques and katas were closely aligned with my Shotokan training.

In addition to the “my-getting-back-into-karate” angle, a second hook for the blog was going to be the fact that the dojo recently marked its 30th anniversary. The school opened in 1996 when the Webster Recreation Center was still located in the old Ridgecrest School on Ebner Dr. After a temporary move to Klem North during the renovation of the Xerox facility on Chiyoda Dr., the program found its permanent home there.

Aside from its close alignment with my former style, there was a lot to love about this school. I saw kids and adults training side by side, guided by the strong leadership of Shihan Matt, Sensei Mike and Sensei Mary Lou, whose teaching styles expertly balanced discipline with a sense of fun. It’s family focused; on the day I was there, a mom, dad and their three kids were training together. And it’s very affordable, especially when compared to a lot of other martial arts schools in the area.

I was hooked. I would definitely be signing up for the next session, and I started to compose my blog and congratulate the school on its 30th anniversary.

But that’s when the story took an abrupt turn.

Earlier this week, at the beginning of class, Shihan Matt sat all the students down and announced that, thanks to some annoying health issues, he has to close the school. It was clearly a very difficult announcement for him to make, and certainly a decision that he did not make lightly. Before him sat adults and youths who had studied at the school for years, children who were just beginning their martial arts journeys, and one older adult who was looking forward to getting back into the dojo after a long hiatus. We all sat in stunned silence.

Matt announced that the dojo’s last day will be Monday, June 15. However, he did offer a glimmer of hope, mentioning that there are preliminary talks about potentially keeping the school going — which might mean a different location or different instructors — if things can be worked out.

So there is hope that Golden Eagle Martial Arts will be able to continue its long tradition of providing affordable family fun, and continue to provide children and adults with the lifelong benefits of martial arts. In the meantime, I have almost four full months of quality karate training ahead of me, and I’m going to take advantage of every minute.

And by the way, congratulations on 30 years, Golden Eagle Martial Arts!

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(posted 2/25/2026)

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

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A bit of whimsy at Five Mile Line

21 Feb

I’ve often said that my favorite blog ideas come from my readers. Today’s tidbit is a really good example of that.

It comes from my Webster Rec workout buddy Beth, who told me the other day about an unusual little Christmas tree that someone has erected along the eastbound Five Mile Line exit ramp off Rt. 104. It’s on the north side of the ramp, just before you get to the light at Five Mile Line.

I had a chance to drive by it this morning and snap a photo (fortunately there was no one behind me). It’s a scraggly little thing (think Charlie Brown), adorned with some blue garland and a few ornaments. Beth tells me it’s been there for a while and the decorations keep being updated. I think she also said there were lights on it, but I was wondering how that could be. But then I looked more closely at the photo I took and saw some wires which seemed to lead to a miniature solar panel attached to the railing. Someone has really put some effort into this.

Thank you to the playful soul who came up with this little bit of whimsy. If it makes even one person smile when they’re having a tough day, it’s well worth it.

Thanks for the idea, Beth.

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(posted 2/21/2026)

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

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Young dancers spread kindness, share joy with local elders

16 Feb

Here’s a nice little story about how the students at Dancing With Denise share happiness and kindness with the older generation.

Studio owner Denise Baller calls it the “Yaya Project,” named in honor of her mother Tina, who passed away in 2019. The studio recently celebrated its 40th anniversary, and from the very beginning, “Miss Tina” — whom Denise’s kids affectionately called “Yaya” — was a friendly, smiling face greeting everyone who entered the waiting room.

After Tina passed away, Denise wanted to come up with some way to continue spreading the happiness and kindness that her mother would share every day. The Yaya Project was born.

Every year (sometimes around Valentine’s Day, sometimes at Christmas), Dancing With Denise students each donate $5 to “adopt” a Gramma or Grampa. Denise takes all the donations and purchases small gifts, like fluffy socks, candy, stuffed animals and note pads. The students then make up small gift bags, which they deliver to residents of local nursing homes, assisted living facilities and memory care homes.

Denise makes weekly visits to elder care facilities, and this year on Valentine’s Day was able to deliver 40 gift bags to the residents. Some years she’s been able to deliver as many as 100.

One of the lucky recipients of the students’ kindness

Denise believes her Yaya Project is a great way to teach children the importance of being kind.

It’s a kind gesture to teach the kids that it doesn’t cost a lot of money to make someone smile! My mom loved “volunteering” as she would say, making everyone happy by her presence at the front desk! So in keeping her memory alive, every week I travel to various homes where elders live and share my love of music and dance with them, making them smile! A little love goes a long way!

The Yaya Project is a great example of how Denise takes her lessons well beyond the studio. By fostering community connections, she teaches her students that dance is not just a skill, but a powerful vehicle for spreading joy and making our world a better place.

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(posted 2/16/2026)

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

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A shout out and thank you to my exercise buddies

9 Feb

Many of you know that I am not the only blogger in my family. Last September, my husband Jack launched a Substack blog called Aging … better. True to its name, it focuses on topics such as nutrition and exercise that support active older living, and also often looks at caregiving for older adults. 

Recent posts, for example, have included the cognitive benefits of healthy sleep habits, whether fasting leads to better health and faster weight loss, and what kinds of exercises have the most benefits. I’ve learned a lot from his research already, but I found his most recent post especially interesting.

It’s titled “Want to keep moving? Keep up those social ties,” and it talks about how social engagement can encourage older people to keep exercising more consistently. He looks at some studies which conclude that

…factors such as expansive social networks, supportive family environments, social support, neighborhood communities regarding physical activity, and favorable social interactions were positively associated with physical activity among older adults. The converse also was true, they found: lack of social support, loneliness and isolation all were associated with lower levels of activity.

In other words, the social aspect of group exercise encourages more regular activity than the relatively isolated nature of individualized workouts.

Boy, can I attest to that. Every single Tuesday night this winter you’ll find me jogging along with my Webster Village Runners club, putting in somewhere between two and three miles regardless of the dark, below-zero wind chills, heavy snow or ice in the roads. If I didn’t know for a fact that there would be a dozen other crazoids like myself braving the same elements, I would almost certainly opt out more often than not. (I actually don’t like running that much.)

But I DO know that my friends will be there. We’ll chat and laugh and endure the weather together, then reconvene at Ploty’s for more laughs and stories … and beer. The close friendships I’ve forged in the group almost make the running part fun.

And then there’s the Webster Recreation Center. Jack and I joined the Rec more than a year ago, and I almost immediately fell into a routine of attending circuit workout classes three times a week. While the class roster shifts from month to month, a core group has been there since day one. I’ve come to know them, expect them, and count on seeing them each time I walk in. It’s become a kind of workout family, and I genuinely look forward to seeing them every morning.

Jack began his blog by noting, “Some people are exercise ‘loners’ while others are exercise ‘joiners.’ For example, some like to run, walk or bike by themselves, while others join walking groups or bicycling clubs.” Well, clearly I am a joiner, and I owe a debt of thanks to all of the friends and workout buddies I’ve made who are helping encourage me to keep active, engaged … and healthy.

If you’d like to check out Jack’s blog, Aging … better for yourself, click here. (You don’t have to subscribe.) And if you’d like to join us Webster Village Runners some Tuesday evening to run or walk, you’d be very welcome. We meet at 6 p.m., and it’s totally OK if you want to wait until it gets warmer out.

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(posted 2/8/2026)

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

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New book offers support and comfort after pregnancy loss

5 Feb

When words are hard to find after pregnancy loss, a new book by a local author is offering comfort, connection and hope.

The H.U.G. Book, written by former clinical social worker Sarah-Elizabeth Pilato, was launched just a few weeks ago, but is already resonating with readers across the country. Grounded in Pilato’s professional background and personal experience, the book brings together the voices of almost 30 women — and several men — from the US and Canada who have experienced miscarriage and pregnancy loss, delivering a simple yet powerful message: no one should have to walk through grief alone. It also includes short quotes and comfort words from parents, and a resource list for additional support.

On her website, Pilato explains that the book is “woven together from the real, raw and comforting stories of women who have experienced miscarriage and pregnancy loss.”

She continues,

The idea for H.U.G. didn’t begin in a brainstorm or a journal. It began in a doctor’s office—barely an hour after I was told that my baby no longer had a heartbeat. I remember the doctor’s words: “Unfortunately, miscarriage is very common. We don’t hear about it very often because women seem not to talk about it.” That sentence landed like a stone. And something inside me whispered, Then I will.

Three hours later, I was home, standing in my kitchen, making a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, and the writing began. Grief doesn’t always arrive in big moments. Sometimes it shows up in the ordinary. In the quiet. In the ache of what should have been. H.U.G. is my response to that ache. A book for the woman who doesn’t know what to say. A book that sits beside her when her spark feels gone. A book that says, You are not alone.

What makes The H.U.G. Book especially impactful is that it’s being distributed completely free of charge nationwide to hospitals, clinics, mental health facilities, and other settings where women may be experiencing pregnancy loss. While the book is available for purchase as a gift, its primary purpose is to be placed directly into a woman’s hands in the very moment she is experiencing loss — when she really needs a comforting hug from a friend who can truly say “I understand,” and “me, too.”

Since its launch, requests for copies have come in from professionals across the country. Locally, books are already available at the RGH Perinatal Unit, Unity Perinatal Unit, Urgent Care Now in Webster, and soon to the Unity labor and delivery unit. Individuals experiencing miscarriage and pregnancy loss are also requesting copies for themselves and their loved ones.

This kind of impact has only been possible because of incredible community support. The H.U.G. Book remains 100% community funded, which allows every copy to be placed directly into the hands of women experiencing loss at no cost to them. Anyone who wishes to help sustain this mission can “donate a HUG” — sponsor books that will be distributed to hospitals, clinics, and families nationwide. Donations and book requests can be made at www.faithsparks.com/hug.

About the author

Sarah‑Elizabeth Pilato is the founder of Faith Sparks and a professional encourager with over 20 years of experience supporting women through grief, transition, and healing. She lives in Webster, where she continues to build comfort‑centered resources for women and families.

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(posted 2/5/2026)

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

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Webster Schroeder grad recognized for music education excellence

30 Jan

I’ve sung the praises of the Webster Central School District’s music program countless times. And for good reason. For example, the district has been named a “Best Community for Music Education” for 20 years. The marching band has won three New York State titles. In 2024, Webster Schroeder string teacher Kim Derse received the RPO Outstanding Music Educator Award.

But I don’t often get to highlight a more personal and proud connection to this incredible music program.

Yamaha Music officially announced today their 2026 “40 Under 40” honorees, their annual list of outstanding music educators under 40 who exhibit action, courage, creativity, and a commitment to growth while exceeding expectations in their music programs.

You might recognize a name on this year’s list: my son, Sean Rosenberry, Webster Schroeder ’08.

Yamaha launched the “40 Under 40” program in 2021 to celebrate music education excellence. According to the Yamaha website, the program is designed to “recognize outstanding young music educators who are “making a difference by growing and strengthening their music programs…. remarkable educators whose classrooms are safe spaces where musicality, creativity and innovation thrive.”  

Sean is the Lower School General Music Teacher and Director of Bands at the Horace Mann School, an independent day school in the Bronx. He was selected from hundreds of nominations submitted to Yamaha for this year’s program, received from students, parents, teachers, administrators and local instrument dealers.

Timothy Ho, Horace Mann School’s Music Coordinator, nominated Sean for the recognition, highlighting his innovative teaching methods and ability to adapt to his students’ needs.

He wrote,

Sean is a true force of nature in the music classroom, and through his work at Horace Mann School’s Lower Division he has brought immense creativity, stability, and a palpable sense of joy to his students and to the music program as a whole. Thoughtfully integrating his deep understanding of Orff Schulwerk (among other music education methodologies) with his passion for traditional Irish music and dance, Sean’s teaching is extremely rich in musical content while always appearing effortless and playful. 

His years of teaching both in the Bronx and in Western New York have not only given Sean the wisdom to know how to create engaging classroom environments, but they have also given him the skills to roll with any problems that may arise.

In one such instance, Sean was beginning a combined performance with five kindergarten classes in front of hundreds of parents in the school’s large theater, when the power suddenly shut off, the emergency lights came on, and a loud incessant alarm sounded from backstage. Without missing a beat, Sean unplugged his guitar from the amp and proceeded with the performance as if there was nothing wrong. In the end, the performance was stellar.

Sean graduated from Schroeder in 2008, then earned his bachelor’s (2012) and master’s (2020) degrees in music education from Nazareth College. While living in Webster, Sean became well known in Rochester’s Irish music scene, regularly playing at restaurants, pubs, special events, and traditional Irish sessions throughout the city. He studied classical violin in high school and college but has since become proficient in a dozen more instruments, including guitar, banjo, mandolin and bodhrán, a traditional Irish frame drum.

In 2023 he was also selected to participate in the competitive Music Under New York program as one of just 350 musicians who perform in New York City’s subway stations. Now living in the Bronx, he continues to perform Irish music at pubs and local traditional Irish sessions.

You can read more about Sean and the other “40 Under 40” honorees at the Yamaha website.

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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 1/30/2026)

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