The New York State Athletic Administrators Association (NYSAAA) has named Shawn Strege the Chapter 5 Athletic Administrator of the Year.
A 25-year veteran of Webster CSD, Strege is the director of health, physical education and athletics for the Webster Schroeder High School Warriors, a role he’s held since July 2018. Prior to then, he served as an assistant principal and a physical education teacher, all at Schroeder.
NYSAAA’s Chapter 5 Athletic Administrator of the Year award is presented annually to an individual who has demonstrated evidence of devotion and idealism to athletics through NYSAAA.
“Your peers have recognized your hard work, dedication, and professionalism in the promotion of athletics in a positive manner,” Chapter 5 Chair Brian Donohue wrote in a November 19 letter announcing the honor.
Webster Schroeder High School Principal Paul Benz agreed. “Each year Shawn finds ways to make our athletic programs better for our athletes, coaches, supervisors, and spectators. He spreads the good about high school athletics, as is evident with his leadership work with our team captains and schools across the county,” he said. “The Schroeder brand shines because of his creativity and commitment to our student-athletes. We are fortunate to have him as our AD.”
Strege will receive the award at the Chapter 5 annual Dennis E. Fries Awards banquet to be held in June at the Genesee River Restaurant. He will also be recognized at the Roy O’Neill Awards dinner at the NYSAAA Conference in March.
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Life is an new learning adventure every day, as long as you get out there and give life a chance to teach.
I was reminded of that earlier last week when I joined a group of bikers for a 15-mile ride through West Webster. The ride was led by Dave Malecki, a member of the Huggers Ski Club and the Rochester Bicycling Club.
We began at Sandbar Park on Lake Rd., headed west to the outlet bridge, then back down Lake to Vosburg Rd. and into the heart of West Webster. Dave led us through some stunningly beautiful neighborhoods, most of which were new to me, like Inspiration Point, which I’d never seen before. Along the way we happened across a few things that really piqued my interest, like the “Off the Cuff Snack Shack” on Adams Rd., stocked with low-cost homemade treats if anyone needed something on the fly.
We also rode by one of the signs from the old James W. Carnevale Bike Route, a 14.5-mile route through Webster established in 1968. It was renamed in 1977 in honor of James Carnevale’s service as Recreation Commissioner. There are still a few signs in place marking the trail, but they’re in pretty bad shape. (You can read more about that here.)
It was a very enjoyable, pretty easy ride with some good people. Dave leads a similar route, for the Huggers, every Tuesday afternoon at 1 p.m. Riders of all abilities are welcome to join the group. And if you can’t make that one, there are plenty of other options; the Rochester Bicycling Club alone publishes a list every year of almost 80 different rides all over the city, with lengths ranging from 9 to 22 miles. Best way to stay in touch with them all is to join meetup.com/RBC-NY.
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One of my favorite 5K races of the year returns to Village of Webster streets next Friday night, and I will definitely be there, as I have for the past several years.
It’s the First Responders 5K, and I especially like this event for a few reasons. First, it’s in the Village of Webster, so I don’t have to travel very far to participate. For that matter, since it begins at the south end of Fireman’s Field, I can walk to the start line from my house. PLUS the course runs right by my house. And a lot of my friends run this race with me, which always makes it more fun.
I also like supporting 5K events that raise money for good causes. The First Responders 5K benefits the First Responders Special Treatment Agency (FRST Agency), which is dedicated to helping first responders and their families deal with mental trauma.
The race is scheduled for Friday Aug. 30 at 6:30 p.m. It will BEGIN AND END at the south side of Fireman’s Field on Sanford St., and take racers through east-side village neighborhoods. Cost is $43, or $19 for active first responders (advance registration required). Each racer will also receive a t-shirt, and food and drink after the race.
My family will once again be setting up our “refreshment” stop on Fuller Ave., with water — and beer — so watch for our signs!
To register for the race, and for more information including a course map, click here . They’re also looking for volunteers, which is an easy gig and nets you a t-shirt, too. You can also find out more about that opportunity on the website.
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Today I’d like to introduce you all to the Webster BlueFins competitive swim team. I’ve been considering a blog about the BlueFins for a long time; perhaps seeing all the swimming events in the recent Olympics finally motivated me to do that. But having one of the coaches hand me a brochure at the Webster Fireman’s Parade and saying “You should do a blog about us!” also helped.
So, with brochure in hand, I started doing my research and checked out the BlueFins website and Facebook page. Those sites will tell you pretty much everything you’d want to know about the club, like when and where they practice, the age groups, cost of registration and the like. That’s all well and good, but to really get a sense of what this club is all about, you have to go to one of their practices.
So I went down to the Webster Aquatic Center last week to meet head coach Donna Johnson (“Coach DJ”) and check things out for myself. Before heading into the pool, we sat outside for a bit, and Coach gave me some background about the club. But she also gave me a sense of the quality of the young people who swim with the BlueFins. She kept using words like “really great people” and “remarkable individuals” who have fun together and support one other.
When I finally went inside, I saw what she meant.
The pool was alive with activity, 18 lanes filled with swimmers of all ages, repeatedly propelling themselves from one side to the other and back again. I saw smiles … LOTS of smiles. I saw kids laughing and chatting with their friends as they did their warm-up laps. One group of young swimmers was having a blast playing water polo.
Those are the kinds of things you don’t see online or in a brochure; the joy of not just being part of a team, but being part of a community.
Young Pups and Sharks play water polo
Swimmers from the Performance and Seniors groups
Coach Emily Nicastro with Rashmit Saini and Ella Khan
Charlotte Smith
Coach Emily Nicastro with Emjay Mykins
The Webster BlueFins is a competitive swim team for children and young adults from age 7 to college age. Right now there are 209 members, split into six different age groups. Most are from Webster, but the team also draws swimmers from as far away as Honeoye Falls and Mexico (east of Oswego). Practice is held four to six days a week, depending on the age of the child. Swimmers are encouraged to participate in local, regional and national-level meets, which average about two per month during the 11-month season.
Established more than 50 years ago, the team has always focused as much on the swimmers’ character as on the swimmers’ training. It’s driven by a mission to “inspire and motivate our swimmers to become champions in and out of the water,” focusing on core values of inclusion, accountability, leadership, teamwork and perseverance. And you realize they’re sincere in those goals when you see that nowhere on the website or in the brochure is the emphasis placed on competition and winning. Instead, this is what you’ll read:
Our aim is to provide a competitive environment in which children experience the joy of self-improvement, physical conditioning, discipline, and being part of a team. Particularly with the younger age groups, the emphasis is not on winning, but rather on self-improvement.
Coach DJ is also committed to taking that focus on personal growth even further, encouraging her team members to go out into the Webster community and give back by working with charitable organizations. She’s even found a way to help build leadership skills.
She said,
I put it in the hands of a couple of the older kids this year to see what we could do to give back to the community. The kids are really into it. Maybe I’m biased, but swimmers in general are really great people. We’re dealing with 209 remarkable individuals. There’s not a day that I don’t look forward to coming here because of who these kids are. … So I’m 100% confident that once we unleash that, it’s going to take off.
Interested in checking out the team for yourself? Registration is now open for a FREE two-week trial program, running Sept. 16 to 26. The tryout is open to swimmers of all levels who want to experience competitive swimming. For more information, visit the BlueFins website.
By the way, I have to share this photo, which I took at the 2010 Fireman’s Parade. I didn’t even know what I had gotten until I was looking at the photos later. It kind of sums up everything I said about how this is a fun-loving group of kids and coaches.
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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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If you haven’t gotten your fill of Rochester Red Wings games this season, here’s a good opportunity to do so, at a great price.
On Friday Aug. 16, the Webster Recreation Center will be partnering with the Red Wings to host a Webster Community Night. The focus will be on our community that evening; Supervisor Tim Flaherty will be throwing out the first pitch, and Webster-based musician Sarah De Vallière is singing the national anthem.
The game starts at 6:45 p.m. Tickets are only $10; you can use the QR code on the flyer, or click here.
The Wings will be in the middle of a home stand with their cross-state rivals, the Syracuse Mets, and they’re doing really well this year, so this should be an exciting game to watch. And what a great way to spend an evening with the family.
Speaking of Sarah De Vallière, this very popular local musician will be performing a free concert at the Webster Arboretum on Thursday Aug. 22 as part of the Webster Recreation Center’s Music at the Arb series.
These concerts are held from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Arboretum’s gazebo, with plenty of room for music lovers to relax in chairs or on blankets, with a cooler at their side filled with drinks and snacks. There’s no charge, and there’s plenty of parking.
BUT BEFORE THAT, the next Music at the Arb concert is scheduled for Thursday July 18, featuring Doctor’s Orders, an acoustic folk and pop duo playing a variety of songs from the Beatles to John Prine, and pretty much everything in between.
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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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Are you a guy who loves to sing, or do you know a guy who loves to sing? Webster’s very own Chorus of the Genesee is hosting a Guest Night on Tuesday, June 4 at 7 p.m. at the Harmony House, 58 E. Main St. in the Village of Webster.
Learn more about the Chorus, who they are and what they do. There’ll be singing, snacking and socializing. Click here to find out more.
Yoga at the Gazebo
Molly Flaherty, owner of M/Body Webster, is hosting FREE outdoor community yoga classes in Veterans Memorial Park on North Ave. every Sunday morning from 10 to 11 a.m. through Sept. 8.
While there’s no charge, registration is required. Click here to register. This event is being held in conjunction with the Webster BID and Webster Chamber of Commerce.
Day of Caring at The Webster Arboretum
Thursday May 23 was the annual Day of Caring, and the Webster Arboretum sent along this report on what their volunteers got accomplished:
“The Day of Caring, sponsored by United Way, is the community’s single largest volunteer effort, helping local nonprofits with projects, or ‘needs’, that they may not otherwise have resources for. We would like to thank Carestream Health, TRSS, Rockwell Automation, Hillside Children Center, Excellus, Paychex and Bond, Schoennay & King for supporting the Webster Arboretum. (Thursday) these groups came out in force to weed, mulch and beautify the Webster Arboretum. Thanks to their hard work we look better than ever. Stop by and enjoy the benefits of their labor.”
And don’t forget about these upcoming June Events at the Arboretum:
Composting workshops, Wednesday June 5 from 10 to 11 a.m. or Tuesday June 25 from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. The presenter will be Barbara Cummings from the Wayne County Master Gardener Program. No registration is required.
Program about peonies, the “queen of flowers,” Sunday June 9 at 6:30 p.m. Arboretum board member George Riehle will give a tour and present the program, focusing on the care and cultivation of peonies and tree peonies. Please register at theWebster Arboretum website.
The Music at the Arb series continues this summer when Jazz Generation performs at the Arboretum gazebo on Thursday June 20 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. The performance is weather-dependent. Bring your chairs, blankets, snacks and beverages. There’s no cost and registration is not necessary.
The Webster Arboretum is located at 1700 Schlegel Rd.
Miracle Field announces inaugural golf tournament
This is exciting news from our friends at Challenger Miracle Field. They’ve just announced they’ll be hosting their first-ever golf tournament on Monday Sept. 9 at Irondequoit Country Club.
The Early Bird Golf Package will go for $1,000 a team if purchased before June 30, when the price will go up to $1,100. Packages include a round of golf for four people, golf carts, lunch and dinner.
Sponsorships are available for individuals and businesses beginning at $200.
Click here to register for the tournament and click here for more information about sponsorships.
Special Olympics Returns to Schroeder Campus
This notice from the Webster CSD:
Webster Central School District will once again host the Northeast Monroe County Special Olympics Track and Field Day.
Student athletes from nine area schools will compete throughout the day on Wednesday, May 29 at the Webster Schroeder High School track. Opening ceremonies will begin at 9:45 a.m. with the New York State Police Torch Relay slated to arrive around 10:15 a.m. Competitions will begin immediately following. Webster Schroeder, Webster Thomas, East Irondequoit, West Irondequoit, Penfield, Creekside, Mary Cariola, Greece Athena, and Fairport high schools will all be represented, competing in a variety of track, field, and adaptive events.
New this year will be several unified events. Unified Sports joins people with and without intellectual disabilities on the same team. It was inspired by a simple principle: training together and playing together is a quick path to friendship and understanding. In Unified Sports, teams are made up of people of similar age and ability.
Additionally, Special Olympics NY will again offer more opportunity for age-appropriate sport activities for younger children. Their Young Athletes program, for ages 2-7, offers a variety of motor learning stations that introduces athletes to play and develops skills that lead to sport-specific movements and activities. Developmental Sports, for ages 8-11, is a step up from Young Athletes and focuses on skill development in sport activities. Both of these Special Olympics programs are designed to prepare younger athletes for authentic Special Olympics competition.
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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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The 2024 Girls on the Run season is coming to a close, and the organization is looking for a few volunteers to help out at their culminating event, a 5K race held at MCC in Brighton on June 1.
Girls on the Run is a physical activity-based, positive youth development program that uses fun running games and dynamic discussions to teach life skills to girls in 3rd to 8th grade. During the ten-week program, girls participate in lessons that foster confidence, build peer connections and encourage community service as they train for the end-of-season 5K.
I had the pleasure of attending one of these events a few years ago, and it’s a blast. Basically, it’s a huge party, attended by lots of teams and hundreds of girls coming together to celebrate their successes. The air’s filled with happiness, excitement, positivity and a real sense of pride in accomplishment.
As many as 100 volunteers are needed for the event to be successful. There are lots of ways you can help out:
Registration
Star Power Hour activity leaders
Medal station
Course marshals
Water station
Happy Hair stations
Running Buddy opportunities, where we invite family members and/or trusted friends to run alongside participants.
All proceeds from the event will benefit Girls on the Run of Greater Rochester. Last year’s 5K events brought together more than 2,000 participants including program participants, their family and friends and community members. For more information about the event, how to register and volunteer opportunities, visit www.gotrrochester.org/5K.
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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).
Hey Webster baseball fans — did you know we have a terrific, NCAA-sanctioned and MLB-supported baseball team right here in town? They’re the Rochester Ridgemen, who play a very competitive, 36-game season through June and July at Basket Road Field.
The Ridgemen have been a part of the Webster sports scene since 2012. They compete in the New York Collegiate Baseball League, a summer wood bat league which began in 1978. The league gives college players who have not yet signed a professional contract the opportunity to develop their skills at a higher level of play, gain experience with wood bats, and be evaluated by scouts.
The Ridgemen enter the 2024 season as the NYCBL defending champions, winning the organization’s first-ever title in 2023. The 2024 campaign starts on June 7 with the team’s official home opener on June 10 at 6 p.m. This year they’ll play 15 home games at Basket Road Field, 18 road games, and three neutral site games.
But, before the season starts, they need our help.
Host families are needed to house the 25 visiting players and six team leadership staff members for the 8-week season. And it’s not even a huge commitment. The basics the team will need include:
breakfast and a sack lunch (following your normal family menu)
a bed (or cot or mattress on the floor) for each player
use of your laundry facilities (and the players will take care of their own laundry)
And that’s pretty much it. Players are assigned in pairs to an amazing host family.
Want to find out more? An informational meeting is planned for Sunday April 28 at 4 p.m. at Browncroft Community Church, 2350 Browncroft Rd. There will be a lot more information about hosting, plus updates on how things are coming together for the season. So bring your questions and bring your excitement about the 2024 Rochester Ridgemen season!
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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).
I was reading the most recent newsletter from Challenger Miracle Field the other day, when I came across a bit of news which made me stop in my tracks. It’s the kind of news that should be shouted from the rooftops, and I was surprised I hadn’t heard about it earlier.
At last month’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade, Miracle Field Vice Chair Ron Kampff was honored as Citizen of the Year.
If you’re at all familiar with Miracle Field, then you know about Ron Kampff and why this award was so well deserved. Ron is a Webster treasure; the heart and soul of Miracle Field, and the driving force behind the creation — and continuing success — of this incredible facility. He commitment to fostering inclusivity within our community is unparalleled.
Ron is most proud of being able to help both children and adults with disabilities in our community. During his 30 plus years of being a board member of the Webster Little League, he was able to start a challenger baseball program in 2001, which has grown from 32 participants to over 150! He has also been a member of the Kiwanis Club of Webster, where he has served as president. Continuing his mission to help others, Ron and a good friend started raising money in 2014 to build a facility designed for kids and adults with special needs. Hence, Challenger Miracle Field of Greater Rochester was born! They now operate year-round and offer a variety of sports and special events on and off the field. Ron was fortunate enough to also establish a Beep Baseball team for the blind and visually impaired. Taking it a step further he helped form Rochester Area Blind Athletes, Inc where he serves as Vice-President…and Ron says, “Miracles really do happen!”
Ron walked in the parade alongside his friend Billy, accepting congratulations all along the way. Today I add my congratulations, along with heartfelt thanks from the entire Webster 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).
After a four year hiatus, Webster’s special education scholarship bowling fundraiser is returning on April 28.
The SEPTA Bowling Scholarship Fundraiser is a fun — and occasionally competitive — tournament which has been a tradition in our district for a long time, until it was sideswiped by the pandemic. But this year it’s back, and promises to be better than ever.
The tournament is hosted by the Special Education PTA and special education staff members from Webster Thomas and Schroeder high schools, with the proceeds benefiting scholarships for Webster CSD graduating seniors with special needs.
Details are still coming together, but right now organizers are looking for teams to show off their hidden bowling talents. This is always a hugely fun event where teams are encouraged to dress up in theme costumes to win some awesome prizes for most original, creative and fun/goofy.
The tournament takes place Sunday, April 28 at Bowlero Lanes, 2400 Empire Boulevard, Webster. Check-in and lane assignments are 1 to 1:45 p.m. with tournament play taking place from 2 to 4 p.m. Donation to play in the tournament is $35 per person with checks made payable to SEPTA. Registration includes two hours of bowling, shoe and equipment rental, pizza, unlimited soft drinks, three raffle tickets toward prizes, a gratuity for the Bowlero staff and (of course) money toward the scholarships. Registration is in advance and can be done online at tinyurl.com/SEPTA24or by contacting Dina Malboeuf at dina_malboeuf@webstercsd.org. Indicate if your team needs bumpers or a ramp for wheelchair accessibility and if there is another team you would like to bowl with.
Deadline for registration is April 19.
Organizers are also looking for raffle prize donations. Please email Dina if your business is able to help out.
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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).
I feature the people and places and events that make Webster the wonderful community it is — and throw in some totally-not-Webster-related personal ramblings every once in a while as well.
I love it when readers send me news about the great things happening in their schools or the community, so please email me anytime at missyblog@gmail.com
