Archive | Town events RSS feed for this section

Webster Mailbag (weekend edition!)

18 Jan

Before I get to some news about upcoming events, here are a few other notes of interest:

Earlier this week I posted a blog announcing that the defunct Mobil gas station at the corner of Five Mile Line and Ridge has a new owner. An Express Mart is scheduled to move in, with construction possibly beginning as early as this spring.

I found out yesterday from Supervisor Nesbitt that the coffee shop it will include will be a Tim Horton’s.  I’m gonna like having one of those on the way to school.

* * *

Good news for book lovers: as of the first of the year, the Webster Public Library has resumed Sunday hours from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. This service was terminated a year ago because funding was tight and cuts were needed to continue overall operations of the library. The Library Board of Trustees was able to find the needed revenue to reopen on Sundays from personnel changes that have taken place at the library in the past year.

Let’s keep this going — the library’s Spring Book Sale takes place in May, which is one of their best fund-raisers.  Keep an eye out for more details about that. In the meantime, drop your used books off during regular library hours (which include Sunday again!)

* * *

The new outdoor ice skating rink is up and running again at the Webster Recreation Center on Chiyoda Drive (off of Phillips). There’s no charge to use this facility, and it’s lit into the evening hours. Thanks to this winter’s capricious weather, you’ll want to call ahead to make sure the ice is frozen (585-872-2911). But wouldn’t this be a great family activity when the kids are off of school on Monday?

* * *

Plans are in motion for the 2013 Schlegel Road Elementary School Artisan Craft Fair, scheduled for Saturday March 2 from 10 am to 4 pm.  Organizers are looking for artisans interested in having a table at the fair.  Email Nicole Noon at NNoon@Nothnagle.com. For more information, check the event’s Facebook page by clicking here.

* * *

Our friends at Immanuel Evangelical Lutheran Church invite everyone to their annual Eastman Rochester Organ Initiative (EROI) recital on Friday, January 25 at 7 pm.  The EROI strives to share great organ music with the greater Rochester area. One way it does this is by having organists from the Eastman School of Music give community recitals at local churches. Free will donations will go towards the student travel fund for the organ students at Eastman.

The Immanuel Evangelical Lutheran Church is located at 131 West Main Street in the village of Webster, at the corner of Daniel Drive. Parking is available behind the church accessed from Daniel Drive. More information at www.immanuelwebster.org or through the church office at 585-872-5180.

* * *

A big raffle to benefit the West Webster Fire Department will be held on Tuesday January 29 at Applebee’s, 1955 Empire Blvd. The event will take place from 5-7:30 pm, and feature dozens of items donated by local artists and business owners.  Tickets are $5 each and can be purchased at any firehouse in Webster and at the Webster Police Department, 1000 Ridge Road. All proceeds will go to the families of the shooting victims.

* * *

Hallie Barrett as Sebastian, rehearses “Kiss the Girl” with cast from Disney’s Little Mermaid, Jr

Webster’s Willink Middle School is hard at work putting the final touches on their spring musical, Disney’s Little Mermaid Jr.

The energetic and enthusiastic cast of 113 sixth, seventh, and eighth grade students have been diligently running their lines and practicing their dances since October.  Madison Fulton will play Ariel and Max Bucci will bring Prince Eric to life. Additional cast members include Kelly Barry as Ursula, Haley Barrett as Sebastian, Bridget Lasky as Flounder, Noah Swain as King Triton and Sarah Crumley as Scuttle.

Everyone already has seen the movie and loves the music, so you know that this will be a wonderful production for the whole family.

Disney’s Little Mermaid Jr. will be performed on the Willink Middle School stage, 900 Publishers Parkway, Webster on Friday, February 1 at 7:30PM and Saturday, February 2 at 1PM and 7:30PM.  Tickets are $9.00 adult; $6.00 students and seniors and are available at the door.

* * *

The 3rd Annual Snowmobile Rides for Kids With Special Needs will take place on Saturday February 2 from 1-4 pm, at the Webster Recreation Center on Chiyoda Drive.

This special winter event is open to children with special needs and their families. Kids under18 will get the opportunity to be a passenger on a snowmobile and enjoy the thrill of a ride around the Webster Recreation Center winter wonderland. Bring along your ice skates and sleds and make it a day! Hot cocoa and snacks will be available.

The event will take place if there is at least 8 inches of snow. (Last year there was none.)  You can check the Webster Recreation Center website for updates.

The reasons we love our Webster home – read all about them in this poem

30 Dec

If you have lived in the village of Webster for any length of time, you probably have heard about — or even met — Carol Klem. Chances are very good you have read one of her Village Focus columns, which are published on the Village of Webster website, and in the the Webster Herald.

Apparently, around this time of year, it has become a tradition for her to write an epic poem about the people and businesses in the village. I came across this year’s poem when I was reading the Webster Herald last week, and was duly impressed, and told her so in an email. When she wrote back, she lamented that since she writes for the Village, she couldn’t really include anything about the greater Town of Webster.

So I thought I could give it a try and fill in some of the blanks.   I suggest you read Carol’s column first, then see what I came up with:

AN ODE TO WEBSTER TOWN

Last night I tossed and turned in bed,
no visions of sugarplums in MY head.
Carol’s poem I’d just read.
(She does one every year.)

It really was a work of art,
which came directly from the heart,
‘bout the people and places that are a part
of this village we hold so dear.

A role model, Carol is to me.
The Webster village crier is she.
Just like her I want to be
when I grow up (if I do).

But this time she has gone too far.
She has really raised the bar
by adding to her repertoire
an epic poem so sweet and true.

But I will do my very best.
I’ll put my ‘puter to the test,
and till it’s done I will not rest
We’ll see how far it goes.

But unlike Carol, I must say
there absolutely is NO way,
I canNOT, to my great dismay,
name everyone I knows.

Carol has, luckily,
covered the village quite thoroughly.
So the only thing that’s left for me
is to “report” on the rest of the town.

Webster Village, we love you, true,
but there’s much more to our town than you.
There are businesses, people, festivals, too.
The best community, hands down.

Like all our parks (you know the ones),
for picnics, games and playground fun.
There’s even one where kids can run
beneath a spraying whale.

There’s Webster Park to barbecue,
Finn, Ridge and Kent and Empire, too.
There’s Sandbar with its sunset views,
and North Ponds with its biking trail.

The town’s natural beauty does not end there.
There are hiking trails just everywhere.
The Friends keep them in good repair
so we can all enjoy them.

Like Vosburg, Whiting, Gosnell, Finn.
Midnight, Ungar, and Arboretum,
Hojack (where the trains have been),
and Four Mile Creek (the new one).

Even driving can be fun
(If 104 is ever done),
but stay off Ridge Road, everyone
at lunch and dinner time.

Our schools do make us very proud.
By the marching band are people wowed.
School concerts always draw a crowd,
and the musicals are prime.

An open house the Town does host,
a summer party with fireworks,
the Fiesta at St. Rita’s Church,
and Community Arts Day.

At the Aquatic Center you can take a swim.
With ice skates at the arena you’ll skim,
and at the library a good book begin,
while the kids enjoy a puppet play.

You can take a class at the Rec,
buy fruit at Obbie’s Farm Market,
see a movie (like 3-D Shrek!),
then go next door to knock some pins.

Want to get something good to eat?
Webster’s offerings can’t be beat.
Like Bill Gray’s, Hedge’s, Charlie’s, T’s,
then an Abbott’s ice cream for some grins.

And at the head of this great town,
Supervisor Nesbitt can be found,
And the talented staff he keeps around
To keep things running well.

They keep our streets clear when it snows,
their free mulch helps our flowers grow.
They keep sewers clear and police our roads.
(Yes, and tax us for it all…)

Now, I’ve only just begun to list
the great things in Webster that exist.
Many people and places I have missed
in this overly long poem.

But I think that I have proved my case
that Webster is a special place.
I’m glad it’s become MY home base.
(Or, as I call it, “home”).

Santa at the Plaza

10 Dec

Santa was in town on Saturday, over at Towne Center Plaza. Apparently he made a visit to the Joe Obbie’s Farm Market, which I thought had folded its tents for the season. I wasn’t there, but my friend Any Weetman happened to be there with her daughters, and filed this report:

During the week I noted a small sign that said Santa would be in the gazebo at the Holt Rd Plaza on Saturday 11-3pm.  We needed to do some shopping on Saturday and figured we’d try to check it out.  As we pulled into the plaza, we noticed another sign about a farmer’s market and then saw tents set up near the gazebo.  As we neared JoAnne’s, our first stop, a horse drawn carriage passed us by with happy passengers waving and Santa himself!  It was a great start to our shopping trip.

Because Santa was not at his gazebo post at the moment, we shopped first.  When we came back to the parking lot, Santa was back near the gazebo.  We walked over and were greeted by lovely people offering us free cider and cookies and encouraged us to take a ride on the horse drawn carriage, also free.  Of course we saw Santa too.  We walked over to the gazebo with him and he sat upon his special chair.  My girls were not too sure about being close to Santa, but we had a nice chat and got a picture of him.

Finally, we walked over to the carriage and had a lovely ride around part of the plaza.  It was lovely to have a break from the shopping frenzy and enjoy time with my girls.

What a fun event that was, and such a nice surprise for anyone who needed to give their kids a break from shopping. Thanks again, Amy, for your fine reporting!

Amy Weetman with her daughters Kessa (2), and Sydney (8).

Tuesday Webster Mailbag

15 Oct

There are so many things happening in the next week or two, I’m afraid they’re going to start falling through the cracks. So here’s an unusually early mailbag.

The Webster Town Board will hold a public hearing on the 2013 budget this Thursday night October 18.  Residents are encouraged to attend to ask questions about the budget, published in its entirety last week in the Webster Herald.  There will be time to comment on any line item and department. The meeting begins at 7:30 pm at the Webster Town Hall, 1000 Ridge Road.

* * *

Check out Operation BLUE this Saturday October 20, a full day of events sponsored by the Webster Marching Band at Webster Schroeder High School.  Operation BLUE 2012 is an open house and clinic held in the stadium from 2-4 pm. This clinic is free of charge and is offered to any Webster School District student in grades 4-12 interested in color guard, dance, percussion, woodwinds or brass. Interested musicians should bring their own instruments. A parent information session will also be held.

That evening is the band’s annual Autumn Fanfare, a field band competition featuring eight bands from across New York State. The event starts at 6 pm and tickets are available at the door for $6. Students participating in events earlier in the day will receive one free ticket.

* * *

Webster’s second Cash Mob also takes place Saturday, from 1-3 pm. This month’s target is the Art Stop, 10 North Avenue, just steps from the village’s four corners.  Stop by, drop a few bucks, and help give a small business an economic jolt.  Cash mobbers will meet afterwards at Barry’s Old School Irish for a pint and a scone.

* * *

Weather permitting, the Webster Highway Department will begin its autumn leaf collection on Monday October 22. Trucks will pass through town every week through Monday November 26, when they make one final west-side-to-east-side sweep. If you have any specific questions, contact the Highway Department at 872-1443, Monday through Friday between 7 am and 3:30 pm.

* * *

The Music at Immanuel Concert Series will feature Warner Iverson performing on Baroque Guitar on Friday October 26, beginning at 7 pm.

Warner Iversen is a multi-instrumentalist currently pursuing a doctoral degree with a double major in classical guitar and early music from the Eastman School of Music. Mr. Iversen has performed as a guest artist at the Juilliard School of Music, NYC and at DePauw University, Greencastle, Indiana. He recently made his debut as a musical director in a production of John Blow’s Venus and Adonis.

The concert is free and open to the public, and a reception will follow. A free will offering to benefit the Music at Immanuel Concert Series will be received.  Immanuel Evangelical Lutheran Church is located at 131 West Main Street, Webster, at the corner of Daniel Drive. Parking is available behind the church. For more information, go to http://www.immanuelwebster.org.

* * *

Make sure to make time a Saturday, October 27 to celebrate Halloween in the Village and Trick or Treat Trail.  You can click here for details, but briefly, you can look forward to donuts & cider, the annual costume contest, the scarecrow contest, a pet costume contest and parade, pumpkin painting, and of course trick-or treating all through the village.

The Webster Museum will also have some special events that day, from 11:30 am -4 pm. You can solve some mysteries and get some candy.  So make sure you stop by — 18 Lapham Park. More information at http://www.webstermuseum.org.

If you’re planning to make a scarecrow for the contest, time is running out. Check out the details here and get working!

* * *

That evening, Webster’s favorite little Irish Pub, Barry’s Old School Irish, will celebrate its one-year anniversary.  Everybody who’s anybody in the village will be there.  Actually, I think they’re planning special events all week to celebrate, but make sure you’re there on Saturday night to celebrate with an entire village.

Explore Webster, win prizes!

24 Sep

I love a good challenge. So when I heard about this upcoming event sponsored by the Webster Health and Education Network, I immediately jumped on board.

It’s called the  All-Around Webster Scavenger Hunt. As the name implies, the hunt will guide participants to locations all around our fair town, where they collect clues, and possibly win prizes.  The idea is to give people a fresh look at the many parks and recreational sites in our community, and in some cases, help them discover places they’d never been to before.  And if you have a good time with your family while you’re doing it, all the better.

Clues will be found at the following locations:

* Bay View Family YMCA
* Abraham Lincoln Park
* The Big Woods
* Veterans Park, Webster
* Webster Skate Park
* Bird Sanctuary
* North Ponds Park
* The Webster Arboretum
* Kent Park
* Webster Parks and Recreation Center

This three-day event kicks off on October 6 and will run through October 8.  The cost is $5 for each team (up to 6 people on a team, including at least one adult). You can register and pick up your Scavenger Map at the Bay View Family YMCA on Saturday October 6 from 7 am to 7 pm, Sunday from 9 am to 9 pm, or Monday from 5:30 am to 10 pm.  Return you completed registration form to the Y, the Webster Parks and Rec Center, or the health office at any of the school buildings.  Correctly completed forms will be entered into a prize drawing.

Click here for  more information.

 

 


 

Food Truck Rodeo will help Bay View Family YMCA rebuild the climbing tower

8 Sep

Have you heard yet about the Trucks for the Tower Food Truck Rodeo planned for this coming Friday evening? If not, you haven’t been reading my blog lately.  This is an event that is near and dear to my heart, and I’m on the committee that’s pulling it together. So basically, today’s blog is an ad for the rodeo. You can stop reading here and check out all the cute photos of kittens on Facebook, or read on and find out more about this great family event that benefits a great cause — rebuilding the Bay View YMCA climbing wall.

Here’s the background:

On June 24, the day before summer camp began, the 45-foot climbing tower at the Bay View Family YMCA was set on fire by arsonists. The entire tower was destroyed, including much of the climbing equipment and zip line. It was a devastating blow to the YMCA community. (If you’d like more information, check out my previous blog here.)

The YMCA has pledged to replace the tower before summer camp begins next year, which is pretty exciting. But even more exciting is that the new “climbing complex” will include two zip lines (so a parent and child could zip at the same time, for example), a bouldering wall, and I think they mentioned a high-ropes component as well. And even MORE exciting? Everything will be handicap-accessible.

The YMCA has taken a two-pronged approach to raising the $100,000 necessary to fund this ambitious plan. The first is to solicit larger businesses for corporate donations. This has been pretty successful so far; a recent email from Bay View YMCA Executive Director Mike Stevens announced that those efforts have already raised almost $25,000.

But there are a lot of Bay View YMCA friends out there who would like to help out on a smaller scale.  That’s where the Trucks for the Tower Food Truck Rodeo comes in. If you’ve never heard about these things (I hadn’t), a Food Truck Rodeo is when a whole bunch of food trucks descend on one place at one time. It’s kind of like a mini State Fair, with all kinds of great dinner and dessert items at your fingertips.

But we’ll also have live music, kids’ activities (like a bounce house, gaga court, dunk tank and face painting), and lots of raffle prizes (scroll down for photos of a few of them).

These are the trucks who have confirmed their participation so far (more to come):

The Dough Boys * Tuscan Pizza * Frozen Delights * Marty’s Meat * Chowder UP Seafood * Wraps on Wheels * Caspers Street Dogs * Cheesed & Confused * Fett Svin BBQ * Snow Daze

Plus, we’ve got more than 50 raffle prizes donated from about 30 Webster and Greater Rochester merchants, including wine, two Kodak pocket video cameras, a Sabres jersey, a Thirty-one tote bag, and lots and lots of restaurant and retail store gift certificates. (We’re still collecting raffle prizes if your business would like to donate. Email me!)

Here are the details:

Trucks for the Tower Food Truck Rodeo and Family Festival

Friday, September 14, 5-9 pm
Damascus Shrine Center, 979 Bay Road, Webster, NY
Lots of food, desserts and beverages; live music by Webster-based Irish duo Barry’s Crossing; kids’ activities; raffles

Check out the event’s Facebook page for more details and updates as the event approaches.

Bay Bridge is closed — and other news of note

7 Sep

For the third time this summer, half of the Bay Bridge will be closed to traffic this weekend.

Beginning tonight (Friday) at 8 pm, all EASTBOUND lanes over the bridge will be closed, and will not reopen until Sunday around noon.

Detour signs will be posted, directing eastbound traffic south on 590, onto Empire Blvd. to Bay, then north on Bay Rd. back to Rt.104 east.  It will probably be a really good idea to avoid Empire Blvd. entirely this weekend and try to get around via Browncroft/Atlantic  or Blossom Road. Even these routes will probably be busy, so plan ahead.

Going westbound over the bridge won’t be much easier; that will also be reduced to two lanes during the same period.

* * *

As I was driving through the village recently, I noticed with some sadness that Barker’s Dozen Gourmet Dog Treats has closed up its North Avenue shop. The little bakery only opened up a year ago April.  I always thought it was a clever idea and knew a lot of people who were big fans (including 499 of them who “like” the Facebook page).  But perhaps store owner Gabriella Martinez … ummm … bit off more than she could chew when she tried to move her home-based business to a storefront.

On her Facebook page, Gabriella does explain to her fans that, “We are just switching it back to an online storefront so I can focus more of my time on Pup Culture.”  This, apparently, is a digital magazine about dogs, “focused on furthering our human-dog relationship.”  Check out the Pup Culture website here.

* * *

You may have seen a mention in my blog a little while ago that a local “cash mob” was in the works. In a cash mob, a large group of people gather at a local business at a specified time and spend money — generally around $10-$20 —  giving that business an economic jolt. What a great way to support small businesses.

Well, the details have been finalized. The very first Webster cash mob will take this coming Tuesday September 11, from 5-7 pm at Yesterday’s Muse Books on Main Street in the village.  To participate, just show up and buy some books! Afterwards, the mob will be meeting across the street at Hatter’s Pub (another local business worth supporting) for a post-mob celebration.

The Webster Cash Mob folks plan to pick a new local business each month to mob. So this is just the beginning. You can follow the group’s Facebook page to stay updated.

* * *

You might also consider stopping by Veteran’s Park after the mob, where the Village will hold its annual 9/11 Memorial Service, beginning at 7 pm.  The gathering pays tribute to the thousands of fire fighters, policemen, EMT’s, and airline personnel, and private citizens who were killed in the line of duty on that awful day.

Last year’s ceremony was very moving and very meaningful. Definitely worth taking the time to attend.

 

 

Attention Bug owners!

31 Jul

This note will be of interest to anyone who owns one of those classic Volkswagen Beetles, or would just love to own one.

Bug Bust 22, sponsored by the Finger Lakes Region Volkswagen Club, will motor into town this Sunday August 5 from 8 am to 3 pm at Webster Schroeder High School, 875 Ridge Road.

It’s a car show and swap meet specifically featuring one of America’s favorite cars, the classic Volkswagen Beetle.  If you’d like to show your car and vie for some prizes, registration begins at 8 am, and the show itself begins at 9. Awards will be handed out at 2:45, including 1st, 2nd and 3rd places for custom-made cars, a longest distance traveled award and Best of Show. There will also be door prizes, raffles, games, food and refreshments.

Pre-registration is $5 per car, or $8 on the day of the show.  Free admission for spectators.

Click here for more information. But remember, if you’re traveling from the west side, don’t plan to take Rt. 104, because it will be closed to traffic from Friday night through Monday morning.

Holt Road construction news

18 Jul

I’ve had a couple of people ask me recently if I knew anything about the huge construction project in progress on Holt Road just north of 104.  After a little bit of digging through Planning Board minutes (thank you Dave) I found out what it’s all about.

What’s going on there is a project called North Ponds Village. According to the Planning Board minutes, it’s a senior housing complex that will include one 66-unit, three-story building and two 24-unit, three-story buildings. Plus offices in a smaller building at the front of the property.

No word on a completion date.

And since we’re on the subject of Holt Road, a few of my readers also mentioned the construction going on right now at the Holt Road Wegmans store.  I popped inside yesterday to get the skinny. The lady at the service desk told me they were simply enclosing the vestibule,  but couldn’t provide any more details.  Sounds like when they’re done they’ll have an entrance-way resembling the one at the Eastway Wegmans. I hope they relocate the bottle return out there when they’re done.

 

Stories in the Park to honor children’s librarian

30 Jun

I love my readers.

When I mentioned in my blog yesterday that I felt swamped by the grad party I’m having Sunday, I got two separate messages from people wanting to help out.  One was from Amy Weetman, a name you might recognize from a previous blog. Amy was kind enough to teach me how to hula hoop a few months ago.

Turns out that Amy is involved in a project which she’s trying to publicize. She sent me the following write-up, which I am pleased to repost here:

Jason Poole and Adrienne Furness

Stories in the Park, put on by the Webster Public Library, will begin again this summer on Tuesday, July 3 at 10:30 am.  It takes place at Ridge Park under the pavilion on every Tuesday of July, weather permitting. (Ridge Park is the one on Ridge Road behind the Town Hall.)

At the first Stories in the Park we will be celebrating our beloved Children’s Librarian, Miss Adrienne Furness’ last day in Webster.  She has accepted a new position as the Director of the Henrietta Public Library.  Jason and Miss A. have been together at the Webster Public Library for more than eight years and when they do a storytime together, something amazing happens.  We will all miss Miss Adrienne’s stories and finger plays, but are glad we got to have her for so long.

Jason Poole will continue along with a new Children’s Librarian.  Webster is very lucky to have such talented people in our midst entertaining our children and sharing a love of reading.

I am organizing snacks to follow the July 3 Stories in the Park.  Please contact me if you would like to contribute:  amyweetman@gmail.com  If you have any photographs of Story Times that you would like to share, I will be putting together a disc for Adrienne.  Thank you!

And thank you, Amy for being my guest blogger today!

 

← Older Entries
Newer Entries →