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Boy, am I glad THAT’s over!

8 Apr

Finally, the much-ballyhooed total solar eclipse has come and gone, and while there was maaaaaybe some increased traffic in our area, we all pretty much survived no worse for wear.

I don’t know about you, but I’m sure glad it’s over.

I mean, for the last few days I couldn’t turn on the radio or TV news without hearing the announcer giving dire warnings about not using proper sunglasses, or dire warnings about the near-apocalyptic traffic problems we could expect. You couldn’t even avoid it when you were traveling 104 or the Thruway, where every half mile there was another flashing sign warning of “severe” traffic delays.

Fortunately, those severe traffic delays didn’t seem to materialize (at least not around here), leaving us with just one main thing to gripe about: the weather.

It certainly could have been sunnier, and granted, it would have been nice to actually have to use those funny sunglasses to see the partial eclipse. It would have been cool to see the crescent-shaped shadows and the sun’s corona. Having said that, it WAS pretty neat to watch the light noticeably fade, and to experience the darkness in the middle of the day. People around us actually cheered when the totality passed, thankful for the show.

I enjoyed the spectacle with old and new friends at a home off of Schlegel Rd. One of the more interesting things we experienced was a raucous flock of seagulls which flew over the neighborhood during the pitch darkness, raising an unbelievably huge ruckus which probably reflected their total confusion.

The whole day brought me back to 1969 (I believe), when I was living in Owego, when my mother (who worked at the small-town newspaper) handed us some photo negatives so we could view that year’s partial solar eclipse. In the photo below are my brother Chris (left), my sister Mindy (right) and me in the middle, outside the newspaper office.

Actually, I DO have one more thing to gripe about:

Back before Christmas I thought I was smart to purchase my solar eclipse glasses before they became unavailable. Who knew that in the weeks before The Event you’d be able to pick up a free pair in pretty much every business you entered?

Ah well, the next time a total solar eclipse tracks over Webster, I’ll know better.

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Important note: Thanks to everyone who has informed me about the places where you can recycle your glasses. Stay tuned tomorrow for information about how.

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

You can also get email notifications every time I post a new blog by using the “Subscribe” link on the right side of this page (or all the way at the bottom of the page if you’re on your phone).

(posted 4/8/2024)

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Santa keeps his word

27 Mar

When children visit with Santa in the weeks before Christmas to deliver their wish lists, they always have a lot of questions. How many elves are at the North Pole? What are the names of your reindeer? What kind of cookies do you like? But one question that Santa doesn’t get very often: will you come to my birthday party?

That’s the question 4-year old Claire Thornquist posed to at least one of the Santas she visited last December. And Santa said that he would try.

Fast forward three months, and little Claire was helping plan her 5th birthday party, to be held at Northern Hemisphere Gymnastics on Barrett Rd. When it was time to put the invitation list together, it naturally included lots of school and neighborhood friends. But it was missing one special person.

“We didn’t know she was going to remember and hold us to that,” Claire’s mother Jennifer said. “But when it was time to do the list for her party, she said, ‘You’re forgetting about Santa. He said he was coming.’ So I really had to make it happen.”

Jennifer’s first thought was that since Santa has a lot going on off-season, they might not be able to find one who had time for them. Tracking down that one Santa who had said yes would not be easy. Then a friend put her in touch with Webster’s very own Santa Jim, known very well in the village for his appearances at the Village Hall and in the Parade of Lights during Winter Wonderland.

“He was more than gracious and actually said that he could squeeze us into his schedule,” Jennifer said, “so I wasn’t going to get worried until it was time to get worried.”

But even though this particular Santa was not the one to hear Claire’s original request, he would not disappoint her. Because Santa always keeps his word.

Santa presents Claire with the first gift of Christmas
Claire and her mom Jennifer with Santa

So on Saturday, March 23, Santa took a break from working with his elves at the North Pole to make a cameo appearance at Claire’s birthday party. Jennifer was a bit concerned that some of the kids would be confused or even scared to see Santa off-season. But she needn’t have been worried. When they saw Santa come down the hall, every single one of the party guests forgot about the birthday cake in front of them and swarmed around the jolly old elf.

And of course, Claire’s face lit up with the biggest smile as she ran to give Santa a huge hug.

Santa’s visit was short, only about 15 minutes, but it was enough time for him to give Claire a very memorable gift — a large silver bell, the first gift of Christmas — and to give every child some individual attention. It was an unforgettable birthday indeed, thanks to a Santa who strives to make every child feel special.

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

You can also get email notifications every time I post a new blog by using the “Subscribe” link on the right side of this page (or all the way at the bottom of the page if you’re on your phone).

(posted 3/27/2024)

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Neighborhood tradition that began during COVID is still going strong

24 Mar

Those of us fortunate enough to live in Webster know the feeling of community we get from being part of a small town. We wave at our neighbors as we take our walks, hang over the back fence to talk about the news of the day, maybe even organize a block party. But the residents of one Webster neighborhood have taken the idea of neighborliness to a much greater level, with a nightly — and very long-running — happy hour.

The tradition began in March 2020, just as the pandemic was shutting the world down. We were all resigning ourselves to putting our lives, and relationships with our our friends and family members, on hold for the foreseeable future.

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

That was the evening of March 22, 2020, and the beginning of a nightly tradition in one north Webster neighborhood that has continued every day since.

They call it the neighborhood “Yack with Jack Happy Hour.” Sometimes only two neighbors show up, especially if the weather is iffy. Other evenings it might be as many as 10 or 12. But the nightly streak has been unbroken now for four straight years, and on Sunday afternoon, almost two dozen adults and children gathered at the end of Jack Turan’s driveway to celebrate.

Pizzas on the grill by Jack Turan

Everyone brought a snack to share (there was an abundance of sweets) and someone popped a bottle of champagne for a toast. But that was pretty much all of the officially planned activities for the evening; the rest of the time was spent just like every other night, chatting and laughing with friends and neighbors.

Even after four years, and even though COVID is becoming just a bad memory, there’s absolutely no plans to call an end to the happy hours.

“It will go as long as people want it to go,” Jack said. “There’s times when we say, how long should this go on? Then we look at each other and say, why would we want to end this? … It would be tough if all of a sudden we said, this is our last night.” 

And even after four years, “We still find fun things to talk about,” added Sue Coulon. “I have not been out a night when I haven’t chuckled and laughed.”

Wouldn’t it be great if all had neighbors that would do that for us every night of our lives? 

Jack raises a toast
Duck races — a new tradition? Stay tuned

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

You can also get email notifications every time I post a new blog by using the “Subscribe” link on the right side of this page (or all the way at the bottom of the page if you’re on your phone).

(posted 3/24/2024)

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Memories of chalking and rainbows

15 Mar

Four years ago this week, the world as we knew it shut down.

It was this week — specifically March 13, 2020 — that a national emergency was declared due to the rapidly spreading COVID pandemic. Schools started closing. Businesses closed. Community events were cancelled, one after another. For months, we were forced back into our homes, physically and emotionally distanced from the people and places that make our lives whole. It was a dark time.

But it was also a time when some of the best things about our Webster community shined brightly.

I was thinking about that as I was taking my morning walk a few days ago, remembering how, during shutdown, it would be common to see inspirational chalk drawings on the sidewalks and driveways. Chalk messages and artwork could be found all around town, little messages of encouragement popping up everywhere, an acknowledgement that we were all in this together. It was a great way for kids to stay busy when they couldn’t attend school, and a great way to help spread positivity during those dark days.

Rainbows started popping up as well, and not only on sidewalks. You’d see them hanging in front windows and on front doors. It was fun to watch for them and each one I discovered lifted my spirits just a little bit.

It was a time when we reconnected with our neighbors. Everyone said hi to each other when you went out for a walk and passed on the street. We were all overjoyed to see other faces, even if you did have to move out into the street to pass by.

We supported local businesses and restaurants, buying gift cards and ordering take-out to help our small business owners weather the pandemic. We dropped off care packages to neighbors in need, checking in on older neighbors and family members. We really started to look after one another.

So, something positive actually did come out of shutdown: we rediscovered our sense of community. And while the memory of those terrible days is fading into history — those days when we really needed to rely on one another — I hope that at least a little of that sense of community still remains.

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

You can also get email notifications every time I post a new blog by using the “Subscribe” link on the right side of this page (or all the way at the bottom of the page if you’re on your phone).

(posted 3/15/2024)

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A heartfelt thank you from the “Truck Parade” birthday girl!

3 Feb

Today I’m pleased to bring you one more blog about the truck parade held a week ago in honor of 88-year old Ruth Childs.

The parade was inspired by a single Facebook post, in which Ruth’s daughter Bonnie asked if anyone knew who drives the “long white truck with a lot of lights” that goes past Ruth’s apartment window every evening. She was hoping the driver could flash their lights and beep their horn on Friday night, Ruth’s birthday.

You can read the whole story here about how the resulting truck parade turned out, but simply said, it was an incredible outpouring of Webster community love that brought Ruth to tears. It came to her as a complete surprise, and she wanted to make sure to express her thanks.

“I did not know what my daughter had done,” Ruth said. “She just told me there was going to be a surprise. I had no idea until we had to get outside and start waving.”

I just wanted to thank all of the people that were involved, who came to wish somebody happy birthday that they didn’t even know. I thank them for giving up their evening, because once you work all day, especially on Friday, you just want to go home and do your own thing. I thought it was just wonderful and I was overwhelmed.

It was the best birthday ever.

Her daughter Bonnie was also extremely grateful for the outpouring of support, writing,

The effort put forth to make a complete stranger so happy was beyond heartwarming. When they sang Happy Birthday I don’t think there was a dry eye. I think it was a morale booster for the entire community!

Just reading the Facebook comments is evidence that we are all looking for the good that exists in the world and Webster has proven to be a shining star. I challenge you to find any post with more than 200 comments and  ZERO negative remarks. That’s when you know something special is happening! 

We live in an amazing community.

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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 2/3/2024)

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Truck parade offered some heartwarming surprises

28 Jan

It was a cold, spitty evening, but the much-anticipated tow truck parade held Friday night went off (you could say) without a hitch.

The parade was held in honor of 88-year old Ruth Childs, who had come to enjoy seeing the same truck pass by her Holt Rd. apartment window around the same time every evening. She described it as a “long white truck with a lot of lights.” Her daughter Bonnie Smorol shared Ruth’s story on Facebook, asking if anyone knew who the truck driver was, so perhaps on her birthday Friday night, he (or she) could flash their lights and beep the horn. (Read the whole story on the blog I wrote.)

Of course, the Webster community being what it is, that simple request turned into a full-blown truck parade as one company after another offered to help celebrate Ruth’s birthday in a big way.

By last week, at least seven companies from all around Rochester had joined the call. Last Friday night at 6:30 p.m., they met on the south end of the Wegmans parking lot, and by the time they’d all arrived, almost two dozen tow trucks, flatbed trailers, utility vehicles, pickup trucks and even a few SUVs, were lined up and ready to roll, led by two Webster police cars and trailed by a WVFD firetruck.

I’m not sure about everyone else, but I thought the trucks were simply going to drive by Ruth’s Legends at North Ponds apartment along Holt Rd., much like the “long white truck” does every evening. But the truckers had other ideas.

Ruth — who was wearing a birthday tiara and grasping a beautiful bouquet of flowers — knew something was going to happen, but didn’t know what. She was waiting outside the Legends lobby, looking adorable with a birthday tiara and a bouquet of flowers, accompanied by her daughter Bonnie, several other family members, friends and Legends residents.

After pausing at the Legends driveway to make sure everyone was assembled, one by one, each truck pulled right into the circle driveway in front of the apartment complex. Then every driver climbed down from their trucks, gathered around Ruth and sang Happy Birthday.

It was a touching moment that brought Ruth to tears. She shook hands with several of the drivers, one even offering to take her for a tow truck ride some day. Unfortunately, the “long white truck” driver is still a mystery, but I think everyone else made up for it. It was an amazing outpouring of community support, and a great example of how people can make a difference when they work together. It made me proud to say I live in Webster.

I’ve posted a few photos and the video here, but you can see a larger collection in this gallery. A huge thank you to Jet Thomas for sending me some of his photos and video. Channel 10 was there as well, and posted this really nice story. I especially like hearing the reaction from the studio crew in the background when it ran.

Thank you to the truck companies and drivers who made this happen, to Rachael Davey from Ricci and Sons Towing for pulling it all together.

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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 1/28/2024)

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Where can I volunteer in Webster?

3 Jan

Thank you to everyone who responded so enthusiastically to my recent Facebook post about my plans to research and blog about volunteer opportunities in Webster. I got several suggestions (most of which were already on my list), and a few ideas about some great organizations to blog about in the future.

But I was especially pleased by the large number of people who said they were looking forward to seeing the list. I’ve always known that Webster is a giving community, but the response to that one post has been heartwarming.

I give 100% credit for this idea to Tom Traub, who himself volunteers for the Friends of Webster Trails and other initiatives. In his email, he wrote,

The strength of a community is not only what  businesses we see, but all of the volunteering going on behind the scenes that is mostly invisible except for a few really involved … the pay will be terrible, but the benefits will be priceless to those who find their passion or niche.

I couldn’t agree more.

So, what follows is what I’ve pulled together so far about the many ways you and your family can volunteer in Webster. I’ve chosen at this point NOT to include service organizations like the Kiwanis or American Legion which do great things for the community, but generally require membership. Plus, while all of these organizations will gladly accept monetary donations to support their causes, I’ve tried to focus on hand-on volunteering opportunities. Click through to the website/Facebook hyperlink to find out more.

This is NOT an exhaustive list. If you see that I’ve missed something, please let me know.

Bellas Bumbas
1170 Ridge Rd. #208

Bella’s Bumbas, run by Webster residents Marty Parzynski and Rebecca Orr, is dedicated to building miniature wheelchairs for children with a wide variety of mobility issues. To date, they’ve shipped 2,650 chairs to children in 66 countries, often adapting the chairs for each child’s individual needs, and charging the parents only for shipping.

How you can help: Volunteers help pack chairs; write “kids cards” (every child gets a handwritten card); help clean, vacuum, and dust the workshop once a week; transport chairs within the U.S. and internationally and stateside; and other tasks.

FoodWEBster

The goals of FoodWEBster are to promote food security, minimize food waste, support small scale food production, increase self-reliance, and help protect the local environment by nourishing a healthy ecosystem.

How you can help: share educational resources, facilitate peer-to-peer food gifting and mutual aid, and promoting and organizing pro-environmental conversations and events.

Friends of Webster Trails (FWT)
1350 Chiyoda Dr.

FWT focuses on building and maintaining recreational trails and protecting the natural character of the Town’s open-space lands through sensible management, education, and low-impact access. Assists in planning, maintaining, and promoting recreational trails in the Town of Webster.

How you can help: FWT is always looking for trail workers, especially for their monthly trail clearing and building work parties. New board members are also welcome.

Gathering Place Webster

Offers a wide range of community programs with “that serve the community with “a unique twist.” It exists in part to serve as an on-ramp to volunteering for those who aren’t sure where to start.

How you can help: Some recent Gathering Place Webster projects have included a pet food pantry, outdoor pantries, community garden outreach programs, filling grocery bags, packing Easter baskets, stuffing back to school backpacks, bag lunch outreach for the chronically homeless, free community Sunday suppers and sorting toy donations. Check the website for more.

Heritage Christian Stables
1103 Salt Rd.

Offers equine-assisted horseback riding and non-riding horsemanship lessons, inclusive to people of all abilities, designed to enrich a person’s physical, emotional, spiritual, and mental well-being, while also building confidence and self-esteem.

How you can help: The continued success of the therapeutic horsemanship program relies heavily on volunteers, which help to run lessons year-round. Riders may require as many as three people to assist them – one “side walker” on each side of the horse and one “horse leader” responsible for guiding the equine. Experience is not required. All necessary training is provided.

Home Start Hope

Home Start Hope provides brand new, essential household items to women and their children transitioning to independent living from emergency shelters in Rochester, NY.

How you can help: Stock their shelves by shopping their Target registry or by donating gift cards; get involved as a volunteer or board member; organize a donation drive; attend, sponsor or donate items for their fundraisers.

Lap Robes for Veterans

Cut and sew lap robes, which are then distributed at Honor Flights, area hospice homes, hospitals, and veterans outreach centers as a small gesture of warmth and comfort for the men and women who have served our country. Coordinated by two Webster women, the group meets once a week in Irondequoit to cut fabric and sew it around the edges. Then a “thank you for your service” label is hand-sewn in the corner.

How you can help: Anyone who loves to sew is invited to join the group. Click the link above to contact the organizers for more information.

Lasagna Love
https://lasagnalove.org/

Neighbors helping neighbors by preparing and delivering home-cooked lasagnas for families who are struggling due to lost income, lost childcare or other life difficulties. There’s no cost to the families.

How you can help: Join the cooking team and make some lasagna!

Making Spirits Bright

A referral-based adopt-a-family organization providing gifts every holiday season for families in need. The organization works with area school counselors and social workers to identify families that need assistance, get wish lists from each of the family members and begin collecting items.

How you can help: “Adopt” an individual, or adopt a whole family, and fill a wish list. Volunteer wrappers are also needed once all of the gifts are collected. Bookmark the website and stay tuned to my blog next Christmas season for your next opportunities.

Maplewood Nursing Home
100 Daniel Dr.

Long-term care nursing facility in the Village of Webster.

How you can help: Volunteers are needed to transport residents to meals and activities, spend time visiting, assist with games and events, help on outings, bring in fun crafts, run our book club, offer cooking demonstrations (with tastings, of course), share their musical talents and more!

Meals on Wheels
2180 Empire Blvd.

Meal delivery service to support our senior neighbors to extend their independence and health.

How you can help: Become a driver! Your visits provide more then just meals; they provide socialization and safety checks. Become a regular delivery person, adopt a route with your club or business, or become a seasonal sub. Kitchen help is also needed.

Never Say Never Stables
906 Maple Dr.

The Never Say Never Foundation is a not-for-profit equine-assisted program that provides life-enriching, horse related experiences to children and teens living with long term illness, special needs and/or other serious life challenges.

How you can help: Volunteers are trained to act as support staff, helping children be safe in and around the barn and animal enclosures. Volunteers monitor activity and offer encouragement to the participants. They may care for the horses and animals and take on many chores around the barn.

Rochester Challenger Miracle Field
Ridge Park, 1000 Ridge Rd. (P.O. Box 826)

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.

How you can help:

Volunteer positions are available for all of Miracle Field’s sport leagues for anyone who can commit to coming every week as coaches, or even on a fill-in basis. No experience is necessary in any sport, just the desire to help players take turns and have fun.

Miracle Field also hosts special events for the special needs community such as a Halloween Party, Holiday Kickball with Santa, and a Valentine’s Dance. Volunteers for those events can help with planning, decorating, and generally facilitating the event for players and families. Volunteers with experience in fundraising, grant writing, creating programming, managing social media, and other areas are also needed.

Webster Health Education Network (WHEN)
119 South Ave.

WHEN Works with the Webster School District, Town of Webster and community resources to promote healthy, substance-free behaviors and lifestyles in the Webster community by supporting drug education and awareness initiatives.

How you can help: WHEN could use some project-specific volunteers to help Webster kids grow up strong and substance free. You don’t have to be a member to lend a hand; help design a youth coalition, join the information table team, or join the welcome wagon. Community members are always encouraged to join the coalition. Meetings are held monthly.

Webster Arboretum
1700 Schlegel Rd.

The goal of the Webster Arboretum Association, Inc. is to create and maintain a park-like setting dedicated to quiet reflection and passive recreation through the beauty found within the sights, smells and sounds of nature through educational, conservational and recreational opportunities for all ages.

How you can help: Weeding, mulching, landscaping, general maintenance and park improvement projects.

Webster Assoc. of Senior Program Services (WSPS)
1350 Chiyoda Dr.

A group of volunteers who provide transportation for retirees and disabled residents who live within the Webster School District.

How you can help: Drive residents to and from medical and dental appointments, other health-related trips such as pharmacies, as well as banks, barbers, hairdressers and tax preparation services.

Webster Business Improvement District (BID)

Organization of mostly Village of Webster businesses responsible for creating a vibrant, clean and safe business district. Its mission is to “help create a positive and welcoming business atmosphere within our community to enhance the community’s overall perception of the Village and to help foster economic stability and growth.”

How you can help: Community members are welcome at the monthly meetings. Express your opinions, ideas for future events, put in your two cents about how things are being run. You can also sign up to help out with community events like Family Games Night, Trick or Treat Trail, and the Webster Jazz Fest.

Webster Comfort Care Home
700 Holt Rd.

Provides end-of-life comfort care, symptom control and pain management for residents while being a source of respite care for the families.

How you can help: Opportunities include resident care volunteer, house cleaner (2 times a month), social media liaison, maintenance person, party planner (especially if you love fundraising), newsletter designer (Canava expert). Hands-on training is provided for all volunteers.

Webster Community Chest
1000 Ridge Rd.

Provides information and referrals, emergency financial assistance, food assistance, summer camp scholarships, high school senior awards for community service, and financial aid to organizations whose programs benefit Webster residents.

How you can help: Lots of ways! Coordinate a food collection, help stuff envelopes for the annual campaign, join a committee (like marketing/PR or fundraising), help with meal center distribution, become a board member, help plan the next Greater Rochester Marshmallow Peep Show in March, and more.

Need more ideas? Visit the Community Chest’s Volunteer Appreciation night on Tuesday Jan. 23 from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at the Webster Public Library.

Webster Food Pantries

Webster has four free food pantries, located at Immanuel Lutheran Church (West Main), St. Martin Lutheran Church (Bay Rd.), Webster Baptist Church (South Ave.) and the United Church of Christ (Klem Rd.). The concept is to take what you need, leave what you can.

How you can help: You can drop off non-perishable food items any time at any of the pantries. Look for them in the church parking lots.

Webster Girl Scouts

Girl Scouting aims to empower girls through the development of five essential skills: goal setting, money management, people skills, decision making, and business ethics.

How you can help: Become a troop leader/chaperone, cookie volunteer, service unit volunteer, camp/seasonal volunteer or more.

Webster Public Library
980 Ridge Rd.

Enhances our community’s intellectual and creative pursuits by providing expertise and an eclectic collection of books, periodicals, digital media, and so. much. more.

How you can help: The Friends of the Public Library offers many volunteer opportunities for adults. The all-volunteer organization promotes and supports library, services, facilities and needs through community events, programs, the lobby bookstore and a semi-annual book sale. Additional opportunities for teens include assisting with children’s/teen Programs, dressing as a character for a children’s program, dusting and cleaning tables, cleaning books, clerical support (cutting scrap paper, sharpening pencils etc.), folding brochures, and more.

Webster Museum and Historical Society
18 Lapham Park

Dedicated to educating and introducing Webster’s heritage to our community through research, collection preservation, educational programs and exhibits.

How you can help: Volunteers are needed in many areas, including as greeters and docents, helping with publicity and other writing tasks, setting up exhibits, managing computer files, and others.

Webster NY Hope
1450 Ridge Rd.

Serves the needs of residents in the 14580 zip code, helping to provide food, clothing, household goods, furniture and financial assistance to those in need.

How you can help: Volunteers help restock the food pantry, sort clothes, and meet with clients.

Webster Volunteer Fire Dept./Northeast Joint Fire District
35 South Ave.

Provides fire, rescue and EMS services to the Village of Webster, East Webster and Northeast Penfield.

How you can help: The invitation to become a member and join the volunteer firefighting team is always open. Other opportunities are also available; send along a Facebook message or find an application on the website for more information.

West Webster Fire Department
1051 Gravel Road

Provides fire, rescue and EMS services to the residents of West Webster and northwest Penfield.

How you can help: From Cpt. Tom Woodward: We are always looking to add people who are passionate about serving their community. Send us a message on Facebook or find an application on our website to find more information.

Wreaths Across America

The mission of Wreaths Across America is to place a wreath on the grave of every veteran in the country. The simple act of placing a wreath helps assure that these veterans are never forgotten.

How you can help: The next wreaths Across America Day is Dec. 14, 2024. Community members are encouraged to attend the ceremony that day at Webster Union Cemetery and help lay wreaths in one of three (or more) Webster cemeteries. In the meantime, wreath sponsors are needed to make sure we have enough wreaths for every veteran in those ceremonies. Click on the link to find out how you can sponsor a wreath.

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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 “Follow Me” link on the right side of this page.

(posted 1/3/2024)

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Looking back at the year in blogs

31 Dec

As I like to do at the end of the year, a few days ago I took a stroll back through all of the blogs I wrote in 2023. It’s always a fun exercise, as I’m reminded of all of the events, business openings and closings, people and places that I found to share with you all. It’s a nice reminder of the rich and close-knit community we have here in Webster.

In the last 12 months, counting today, I posted a whopping 313 blogs. Some months I posted one every day, and in September I posted 32 times. Those numbers reflect how much is going on in our little town, and all of the great stories to be discovered about the great people who live here. Even still, sometimes I feel like a lot of really interesting stories and events are slipping under my radar.

As I reviewed all those posts, I realized there’s no way I can summarize them all. So instead, I’ve identified a few favorites from each month, which more often than not feature stories of kindness shared. Hopefully you’ll remember them as fondly as I do. (Click through any of the hyperlinks to see the original blogs.)

In January, my blogs touched on the schools, some new businesses and some upcoming events. But my favorite is actually the first one I posted that month, which recalled The Case of the Mystery Ornament, a feel-good story about a lost-then-found handmade Christmas tree ornament that my husband and I found at Helmer Nature Center. A few days later that month I dipped into some Webster history — a favorite topic of mine — to report on the History of the Webster Public Library.

In February I wrote A Heartwarming Story of Kindness, about a young Girl Scout who lost some money in a windstorm, and the neighbor who plucked most of it out of the trees in her backyard and returned it.

In March, I wrote about David Tinnes and his quest to play catch for 30 straight days, as a way to connect with people. Titled How a Simple Game of Catch Can Bring People Together, it was the first of several blogs I would write about David and his 30-day catch journey, which as of this writing is still going on, more than 300 days straight.

Barry’s Old School Irish has long been one of my favorite places and favorite blog topics for a lot of reasons, one of them being that it was the home for my weekly running club. In April, Barry’s Runners celebrated seven years, giving me the opportunity to reflect on the club’s history and recruit some new members. Also in April, M.O. Pasta opened on Main Street, and it was my pleasure to let everyone know about that. I frequently report on new businesses coming to town, but this was one of my favorites to write about, because Mike is such a great guy.

It’s not unusual for one of my blogs to draw a lot of comments, but one of the historical pieces I posted in May drew more attention than most. It was called What’s in a Name?, and it told the history behind many of the street names we’re all familiar with, like Five Mile Line and Plank roads. It was so popular that I actually wrote a follow-up, using some of the comments I got on the first one.

I also like to write about neat things that are happening in the schools, and in May I did that twice. One was about how the 12:1:4 functional life skills class at Willink Middle School pulled together a collection of lost and found items to donate to Webster NY Hope. The other was a look at a fairy trail set up in the State Rd. Elementary School library.

In June, one of the saddest things to hit Webster happened: Hegedorn’s closed. Fortunately, a piece of Hegedorn’s history was salvaged when the ceiling panels above the registers, hand-painted some 30 years earlier by Webster elementary school students, were saved from the dumpster. The story of how they were salvaged and returned to the original artists ran in early June, with a few follow-ups posted later in the month. They proved to be among my most popular blog posts ever.

Three of my blogs from July stick out as favorites. The first was Giving Thanks for Newfoundland Kindness, the story of how Bob Freese and Peg Schaefer were planning to travel to Newfoundland in August and hand out hundreds of candy bars to the residents there as a thank you for their kindness on 9/11. (You may remember that story was told in the hit Broadway musical Come From Away.) This was another blog which I followed up on at least twice.

Also in July, I brought you the story of how one family in the Finchingfield Lane neighborhood puts out hundreds of luminaria along their neighborhood streets for the Fourth of July. And I shared the very sad news that Barry’s Old School Irish was closing.

In August, I reconnected with “The Boys,” a bunch of guys I had met 15 years earlier when they would meet for coffee every morning at Hegedorn’s and I would have to drive my kids to school early. Over the years I had lost touch with them, but always fondly remembered our time together.

I had reposted one of my “bygone blogs” from those days, which attracted the attention of one of the original “boys,” who reached out and told me they were still meeting, at Burger King. I went out that morning to say hi, and told the tale in this blog.

One of my favorite blog topics is the Friends of Webster Trails. I write about them as often as possible because they do such great things for our town. So when I heard about the brand new State Rd. Preserve trail in September, I wanted to let everyone know about it.

I’m often surprised at how much a particular blog hits a chord with people. That was the case with another I wrote in September, titled SchROder or SchRAYder? How DO you pronounce that school’s name? It got tons of comments. Earlier that month, I posted a thank you to the Village of Webster community for all their support — and cowbell ringing — during the First Reponders 5K.

In October, I told everyone about how Schroeder grad Samantha Hake won an Emmy for her work on a National Geographic film. And I reposted an article written by the Webster Recreation Center about the Man in the Yellow Truck who picks up trash along Rt. 104. Apparently a lot of people wondered who he was, because it was very well read.

In November, I featured a family and their unusual tradition which I had originally written about when I was doing a column for the D&C. In Raking Leaves, Tossing Kids, Making Memories, I wrote about how, one day every autumn, the Baker family makes a huge pile of leaves, invites friends and family over for a party, and tosses every willing person — child or adult — into the pile.

You may have also noticed that once in a while, usually when I don’t have much to write about, I pull out a personal story. In November, it was about the kittens I had started fostering for Lollypop Farms. They were definitely distracting me from my regular blogging duties.

My blogging year has ended much as it began, with some news from the schools, interesting people, some bits of Webster history. But among them, my favorite December blogs include my report about Wreaths Across America Day; a super uplifting story about Webster resident Chris Costello, his wedding and his best man; and why the fact that 900 people hiked one Webster trail over a week last summer was significant.

Whew. If you’re still with me, thank you for reading this far. I hope you found it interesting to revisit some of this year’s blogs. And remember that if you ever think of something or see something that you think would make an interesting blog, PLEASE drop me an email. I rely on all of you to keep me busy.

Please have a safe and happy new 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 “Follow Me” link on the right side of this page.

(posted 12/30/2023)

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Letters to Santa: a look inside children’s hearts

23 Dec

I love writing this particular blog, which is why I do it every year.

I’m blessed to be good friends with Santa Jim, whom many of you might know from Webster’s Winter Wonderland celebration, where he greets children at Village Hall and rides in the parade with Mrs. Claus. As a professional Santa, Jim also works as one of the Santas at Eastview Mall, and every year hooks me up with some of the children’s letters he pulled from the mailbox there.

These letters often make me laugh out loud, like the one a few years ago, obviously written by one of Santa’s parental co-conspirators, who wrote,

Dear Santa,

I have been pretty good for a two year old. Daddy says if I don’t start pooping in the potty he is going to disown me. I’m sure he’s kidding though … I think.

This year’s letter’s didn’t have anything quite as entertaining, but were in many other ways similar to the batches I’ve gotten in the past. Many came in painstakingly decorated envelopes, covered in stickers and marker drawings. The wish lists were written in pen, pencil, colored pencil and markers (and only one printed off the computer). They were scribbled on construction paper, sparkly craft paper, or just a page ripped from a note pad. A few just had pictures printed offline and pasted on the paper. Several children took advantage of fill-in-the-blank pre-printed Santa letters.

Most appear to have been written by the children themselves, so the “lists” varied from a one-year old’s scribbles to neatly printed and organized ones. These were occasionally highlighted and sometimes helpfully numbered (some in order of priority), even noting at which store Santa could get each gift (what happened to the North Pole?).

A few children asked for only one item, but many more were much longer, one stretching to 38 toys and games (hence the highlighting and numbering).

I saw a photo recently of Santa reading a child’s letter when he was visiting Webster Village Hall, his musings captioned as: “Electric scooter, iPhone, video games, PS5 etc… he’s only 7 years old.. what happened to trucks, cars, trains, airplanes, yellow Tonka dirt movers?” There were indeed several similar requests in these letters; Ipads, PS5, Oculus, Roblox. I suspect some of these children will be rather disappointed on Christmas morning, especially the one whose entire list consisted of a Play Station Portable, Apple Pencil, Saga Genesis, Sega CD, DS charger and Nintendo Switch.

But Santa will be glad to hear that trucks and cars were most definitely among the more frequently requested items. Legos were by far the most popular, but there were also a lot of requests for super heroes, bikes, board games, stuffies, dolls and clothes. Harry Potter items, Pokemon and Nerf guns also came up a lot, and I was pleased to see many kids ask for books.

Only one Bills fan and one Swiftie in the bunch, apparently.

A few other unique requests included a telescope, a hamster, donuts, a toy milk shake maker, exercise mat, rubber bands (!) and a Furby (they still make those?). One child only asked for a few dog bones for their puppy.

While I don’t think I LOLed at any of the letters, a few did make me smile:

Dear Santa. for my christmas list i want a PS5 and a drum set. i am six and can i have a tv in my room i want one

Dear Santa I want a toy elf that Look Like Mr. tinkle bottoms and I am nameing it Mr. tinkle bottoms the 2nd.

Dear Santa Claus, Thank you sooooooooooo much for the gifts last year I had a wonderful christmas and I hope you did to! … Thank you and even if I’m on your naughty list and you can’t make it happen I still love and appreciate you!

Dear Santa, I would like a car that I could ride on and it could move and can it please be pink and another choice is a really big 20 inch squishmallow named shena.

This one written by a parent, however, was probably my favorite (the kids’ names have been changed):

Dear Santa,

We are so excited for Christmas and for you to visit our house! We’ve been really good boys and we are working on keeping our hands to ourselves 🙂 Bobby would like lots of both big and small monster trucks. Jimmy would like 3 garbage trucks, a remote control monster truck, 2 front loaders, and 4 bulldozers.

Thank you for making toys for all the kids in the world. Merry Christmas! We will leave you milk and cookies at our house!

Here’s hoping you’re able to spend time with your loved ones this holiday season, because that is the best gift of all.

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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 “Follow Me” link on the right side of this page.

(posted 12/23/2023)

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Christmas on the Hojack

22 Dec

In these last few days before Christmas, the holiday spirit can be found pretty much everywhere. Even along the Hojack Trail.

Margaret Supinski was hiking on the Hojack last week between Van Alstyne Rd. and Vosburg Hollow, when she came across these gaily decorated pine trees along the trail. What a nice way to share the spirit of the season and brighten the day of everyone who walks by.

 As long as we’re talking unusual Christmas trees, I’d like to tack this small item here as well.

This is one of my favorite Christmas decorations in my neighborhood, a hand-made tree with a large bulb marking each day in December. As the days and weeks count down to Christmas Day, a new bulb is illuminated to mark the number of days left.

It’s set up in front of a house on Dunning Ave. I go by it every morning on my walk and just love watching the lights creep up to the top. I imagine a few children taking turns every morning, screwing in the next bulb as they excitedly count down the days until Christmas.

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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 “Follow Me” link on the right side of this page.

(posted 12/22/2023)

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