webster on the web

This last year has been awful. There’s no two ways about it. Covid-19 has brought sickness, death, separation and financial ruin to millions.

Our world has been put through the wringer. But while it’s really hard to see past all the terrible things that have happened and are still happening, if you look closely enough, it’s possible to see some positives that have come out of this experience.

I was chatting about this the other day with the nurse at school. In a normal year, children would often come to her office complaining of stomach bugs or with random (non-Covid) fevers. But thanks to the fact that everyone is wearing masks, she’s seeing those routine viruses a whole lot less. Kids are just not getting sick as much.

And that goes for us adults, too. I’ve usually contracted two or three colds by this point in the school year, but I haven’t gotten sick once. It’s not unusual for a stomach bug to run through the family as well, but not this year. Masks have reduced transmission, and since I’m not seeing family members as much, so they can’t infect me.

I realized there must be other ways in which our lives have changed for the better as a result of Covid. Here’s what I came up with, and maybe you can add some more:

• Zoom. Like most people, I was totally unfamiliar with this program until the pandemic. But it quickly became an outstanding tool to stay connected with friends (like my regular Friday night virtual euchre game), family (playing Jackbox with family from as far away as Texas), and old school buddies (my husband’s old college friends’ happy hours). Over Christmas I also connected via Zoom with family members I hadn’t seen in years. None of this would have happened if we didn’t have a virtual way to gather.

• Homeless animals are much happier. Many animal shelters were cleaned out by families who wanted to adopt a pet during shutdown.

• We’ve rediscovered the outdoors. Shutdown meant that we had to find other ways to entertain ourselves aside from going bowling or to the movies or pubs. So we started walking and hiking and riding our bikes.

• We’ve reconnected with our neighbors. Now everyone says hi when they pass by on their after-dinner walks. This was especially true in the early months of the pandemic. Everyone was just overjoyed to see other faces, even if you did have to move out into the street to pass by.

• We’ve rediscovered hobbies. I have been reading more books and doing more jigsaw puzzles.

• I learned the word “smize.” It means a playful expression with your eyes, or smiling with your eyes. We all do it, but now we’ve learned to recognize it, and know what to call it.

• Pollution is down a lot. I read that the canals in Venice are clear, the reduction of pollution in China has saved thousands of lives, carbon monoxide emissions are down significantly, and the air is so clear near the Himalayas that the mountains are visible for the first time in decades.

• We’ve developed a newfound respect for our essential workers, something which has been sorely lacking.

But I think the best thing that has happened in this last year is that we’ve all increased our generosity and connection to community. We’re supporting local businesses and restaurants. We’re donating to food cupboards and reaching out to community members who are struggling financially. We’re dropping off care packages, offering to shop for our older neighbors, checking on the health and welfare of family members. We’re looking after one another.

Basically, we’ve rediscovered our sense of community. When this pandemic finally leaves us all for good, let’s hope that sense of community does not. We must never forget this time when we really needed one another.

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email me  at missyblog@gmail.com. “Like” this blog on Facebook and follow me on Twitter.

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We kind of lucked out the first few months of winter, but we all knew it was only a matter of time before we got any measureable snow. Now that we do, we might as well take advantage of it. Here’s a good place to start:

The Webster Parks and Recreation Department will host a Family Winter Fun Day on Saturday Feb. 20, from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Rec Center, 1350 Chiyoda Drive.

All sorts of family-friendly fun-in-the-snow events are planned, including

• ice skating at the rec’s outdoor rink (bring your own skates)
• an outdoor ice fishing game,
• a polar bear station where kids can learn about polar bears, make a craft and read a polar bear book
• hiking along the paved Chiyoda Trail (bring a flashlight or headlamp)
• cross country skiing with the Rochester Cross Country Ski Foundation

If you don’t particularly like the cold, you can warm yourself by some fire pits, enjoy free hot chocolate and popcorn, or head inside to the gym to try out the Gaga Pit.

More details will be coming soon, especially about the cross country skiing. You can check them out on the Webster Recreation Center webpage or their Facebook page.

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email me  at missyblog@gmail.com. “Like” this blog on Facebook and follow me on Twitter.

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.

Thank you to everyone who’s already sent along some additions for my Webster Bucket List.

I wrote about my list last week (you can see that blog here). It’s a comprehensive list, but so old it’s out of date. For example, a few of the places on it don’t exist anymore, and a few of the events no longer happen.

So I’m looking for additions. Once I have a final, updated list, I’ll re-post the entire thing so that everyone can print it off and see how many places or events you’ve already checked off, or would like to.

So check out the list, then let me know what I need to add! Email me or send me a message via Facebook.

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email me  at missyblog@gmail.com. “Like” this blog on Facebook and follow me on Twitter.

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.

A few weeks ago I wrote about how our area is being visited by a few flocks of Pine Grosbeaks, who have come unusually far south from their breeding grounds in Canada. It’s such a rare occasion that birdwatchers from as far as Pennsylvania were heading to Webster Park and Mendon Ponds Park to catch a glimpse of the beautiful bird.

Little did anyone realize that some people only have to look out their back window to get a look at the plump, colorful finch.

Since that blog posted, I’ve heard from three people who have seen a Pine Grosbeak in their neighborhoods. The first was Denise Bonney, a Plank North Elementary School colleague, who said she didn’t realize right away what she was seeing, then remembered my blog and recognized it. Then I got an email from Karen Terp who said she and her husband had seen one while they were taking a walk.

And a few weeks ago I got another email, this one from Ruth Caves, who lives in West Webster. She not only saw one at her feeder but was able to get a photo, which you can see above.

Keep those sightings coming!

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email me  at missyblog@gmail.com. “Like” this blog on Facebook and follow me on Twitter.

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.

I was going through some very old blogs a few days ago and stumbled across one about my Webster Bucket List.

The bucket list was something I first came up with more than 10 years ago. It was shortly after I started writing this blog, a time when I was becoming more invested in the community. The list back then included more than 80 items from Webster and near-Webster (Penfield). A lot of them I was able to come up with on my own, but since I was just getting to know Webster, I had also solicited reader suggestions for must-see Webster places or must-do Webster activities that I wasn’t yet familiar with.

Even after all this time, I still haven’t checked everything off that list. Given that, I thought it was time to revisit my Webster Bucket List, update it, and get cracking at it again.

Over the last ten years, a lot has changed in the life of our village and town, so the list needs a LOT of updating, and I’ll once again need some help with that. But let’s look first at the items I was able to complete:

• visit the Webster Museum
• stop by the village offices and say hi to the ladies at the desk
• see a Village Band concert at Harmony Park
• see a Friday night concert at the gazebo
• grab a peach cobbler from the Order of the Eastern Star during Village Days
• hike the Hojack Trail from end to end (I did this one in pieces)
• buy some fresh vegetables at Joe Obbie’s Farmers Market
• smell some flowers at the Webster Arboretum
• get a snack from one of the sample ladies (or men) at Wegmans
• go to the Firemen’s Carnival
• walk all the way out to the Webster Park pier
• watch the sunset from the Irondequoit Bay outlet
• wave an American flag at the Memorial Day Parade
• donate blood at the Community Blood Drive
• catch a performance by the Chorus of the Genesee
• take a swim at the Webster Aquatic Center
• check a book out of the Webster Public Library
• take a stroll through the Webster Rural Cemetery and Webster Union Cemetery
• hike the trails behind the Bay View YMCA
• go bowling at Empire Lanes
• see a movie at Loews
• watch the Firemen’s Parade
• see the live aninals in Wilbert’s nativity scene
• shop at Hegedorn’s
• check out the student artwork at Community Arts Day
• grab a cup of coffee at Joe Bean (moved)
• start the day with breakfast at T’s Family Restaurant
• attend a Schroeder vs. Thomas athletic event
• spend a summer evening listening to music at the Bay Side Pub
• visit all the village parks: Milton Case, Wilmorite Recreation Area, Schantz Park, Harmony Park, Veteran’s Memorial Park
• wave at Santa during the Holiday Parade of Lights
• take a bike ride around North Ponds Park
• dance in the street at the Jazz Festival
• donate to Hope House to support our neighbors in need
• see a concert at the Harmony House
• donate to the Webster Food Cupboard (closed)
• attend the annual Fourth of July celebration
• hike all the town’s trails (Whiting Rd., Vosburg Hollow, Gosnell Big Woods, Finn Park, Midnight Trail, Webster Arboretum, Webster Park, Chiyoda Trail, John Ungar Nature Trail, Four Mile Creek, and the bike path
• relax on a bench at Veteran’s Memorial Park and admire the flowers
• buy something from a village business
• grab an ice cream cone at Hank’s
• see a middle school or high school music concert
• hike down to Irondequoit Bay at Abe Lincoln Park
• participate in the village’s Trick or Treat Trail
• drive down Lake Rd. from 250 to Bay Rd.
• attend Village Days (doesn’t happen anymore)

Whew. That seems like a lot of things. But I accomplished most of them through simple day-to-day enjoyment of all that our town and village have to offer. I could have checked off even more, but in my original list I had the nerve to set some rather specific requirements for many of the places I was to visit, like:

• sample a cinnamon sugar fried cake at Bauman’s Farm Market
• buy some cider and apples at Schutt’s
• stop by Flaherty’s on St. Patrick’s Day
• enjoy a soft-serve sundae at Abbott’s
• eat a Gloria Special at Maria’s Mexican Restaurant
• play a carnival game at the St. Rita’s Fiesta
• enjoy a cup of coffee on the beach by the White House at Webster Park
• view the frozen waves on the beach at Webster Park
• take a class at the Webster Recreation Center
• participate in an open skate at the Webster Ice Arena
• have a picnic in North Ponds Park
• go sledding in Webster Park
• swing on a swing in Webster Park
• climb to the top of the playground equipment at Ridge Park
• have dinner at Hedge’s

If I can count that I’ve actually BEEN to all of those places, then I could check them all off, too. But these last few? Well, I just haven’t done them at all:

• wander through the West Webster Cemetery
• order a garbage plate at Empire Hots (no thank you)
• grab a fettuccine alfredo at Streppa’s Bistro (can’t do that now, it’s closed)
• attend a Schroeder Warriors football game
• attend a Thomas Titans football game
• enjoy a Tuesday night movie in the park

So I guess in retrospect, I think I’ve done a pretty good job sampling many of the places and events that make Webster a great place to live and work. As you can see, however, the list is outdated. I’m hoping you all can help me with that.

What is this list missing? Are there any special events I am forgetting about, or special places that everyone should visit at least once? Email me your suggestions, or leave a comment here on the blog. Once we get a complete list, I’ll format it so that it’s easy to print, and perhaps you, too, can work your way through my Webster Bucket List (once life gets back to normal again, of course).

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email me  at missyblog@gmail.com. “Like” this blog on Facebook and follow me on Twitter.

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.

Fifty years ago today, R.L. Thomas High School graduate David Semmler died in Vietnam at the age of 23.

I’m reminded of this anniversary by Jim Lanson, who wrote,

I believe David was a 1966 R.L. Thomas graduate. I also believe the Thomas building opened in 1962 which would have been his freshman year. David was one of three R.L. Thomas graduates who sacrificed their lives in Vietnam. Leonard Coles and Rex Daniels were the two others. Peter Kaulback, who was a 1962 Webster High graduate, the last year the high school was at the Spry building, was also killed in action.

David rests at White Haven Cemetery.

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email me  at missyblog@gmail.com. “Like” this blog on Facebook and follow me on Twitter.

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.

I love hearing from my readers, especially ones who have just discovered the blog. That was the case with Sheryl Galinski, who emailed me yesterday morning regarding the recent blog I wrote about the rare local sightings of the Pine Grosbeak.

Sheryl, who describes herself as an amateur artist and naturalist, wrote that she found my blog last week when she was searching for birding spots in Monroe County. She was particularly impressed by the beautiful photographs of the colorful finch taken by Suzie Webster. They inspired her to create some art of her own.

Here’s what she drew:

Since posting that blog, I’ve heard from two other people who, thanks to the blog, recognized the beautiful finch in their own yards. If you’ve seen them around and can snap a photo or two, please send them along to me! I’d love to post them for all to enjoy.

Click here to see the original blog.

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email me  at missyblog@gmail.com. “Like” this blog on Facebook and follow me on Twitter.

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.

Local and regional birders are all atwitter about a rare sighting in our area which has drawn birdwatchers to Webster from far and wide.

The cause of the excitement is a large, plump, colorful finch called the Pine Grosbeak. Typically found in much colder climates like Canada and Alaska, a couple dozen of them have migrated much farther south this winter, and have been spotted at Webster Park and Mendon Ponds Park.

Greg Lawrence, a research scientist from SUNY Brockport and a board member of the Rochester Birding Association, explained that the migration event is unusual because the Pine Grosbeak is an “irruptive” species. Basically, that’s a species that usually only migrates short distances, but will occcasionally move far south in large numbers. He theorizes that’s the case this year because the food supply is poor up in their Canadian breeding grounds.

He added that it’s been eight years since the Pine Grosbeaks last migrated this far south.

Birders have identified two groups of about a dozen birds each, most of them females and juveniles. Apparently, sightings of male Pine Grosbeaks are even more rare, but one has been spotted in Webster Park, an event which Lawrence called “unique.” It’s so unusual that birders have traveled from all over the state and even Pennsylvania in hopes of catching a gimpse of the beautiful finches.

The stunning images you see here are courtesy Suzie Webster, a local photographer and birder, who has especially enjoyed the hunt.

She wrote,

Some other photographers and I have had so much fun trying to track (the finches) down and get the timing right so they are in a place that they can be photographed to highlight their beauty. … They are a very challenging bird to photograph because they are frequently high up in tree tops and don’t always come down low enough to get a clear image.

Having the opportunity to photograph and view the rare and uncommon Pine Grosbeaks here in Webster and in Mendon has made winter nature photography much more exciting and colorful! Spring and summer were full of brilliantly colored birds to find and photograph such as the Warblers, but winter is a lot more challenging overall. I’m thankful that this year just happened to be an irruptive year for the Pine Grosbeaks and a few other winter species because it has made outings more exhilarating and fun!

According to Greg Lawrence, the Grosbeaks will probably hang around through March or April before heading back north, and perhaps even longer if they can find enough food. So there’s still plenty of time to get out on the trails and try to see one for yourself. A nice hike to appreciate these stunning Canadian visitors would be a welcome diversion from all the negative news which dominates our lives these days.

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email me  at missyblog@gmail.com. “Like” this blog on Facebook and follow me on Twitter.

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.

I’m very excited to announce today a new collaboration which will go a long way to keep Webster residents entertained and informed.

Beginning later today and every Monday, you’ll find a link to one of my blog posts on the (relatively) new website, Websteronlinenews.com.

Webster Online was established early last year by Anna Hubbel, whom you might know as the editor of the weekly Village of Webster newspaper, the Webster Herald. Designed as a totally independent enterprise from the Herald, the site’s original purpose was to keep the Webster community informed during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic.

More recently, Anna has been trying to broaden the site’s horizons, offering more community-oriented content including opinion pieces and features about cooking and books. And now, my Webster on the Web community blog.

While Anna will continue to focus on keeping her website updated with local news and information, my weekly “column” will provide a more personal look at the people and events here in our town and village. You won’t find links to ALL of my blogs there (I don’t want to lose you as a reader completely!) but once a week we’ll choose one blog to cross-post to the website. Today, for example, you’ll find a link on Webster Online to my recent blog about Dan Johannson, a 2013 Webster Thomas grad who’s making news in North Dakota.

I’m look forward to working with Anna on this new partnership, and offering the Webster community easy community access to a pair of accurate, informative and positive places to find news and features.

So log onto Webster Online and check it out for yourself. You’ll also find a link to the website on the right side of this page.

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email me  at missyblog@gmail.com. “Like” this blog on Facebook and follow me on Twitter.

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.