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Have you seen them? Chalk drawings are showing up all over the place, a welcome distraction from the daily stresses that we’re all experiencing. I especially love the inspirational ones sent to me by Jen DiMarzio, who wrote,

“We joined our neighbors on Hightower Way in chalking our drive to lift the spirits on everyone walking, jogging, scooting, and stroller-ing around the block.”

I saw these drawings in my own village neighborhood, on Dunning Ave.

I’m also seeing more and more rainbows every day. Here are a few from my neighborhood:

And this one is cute — a portrait of Rebecca Orr and her coffee drawn by her granddaughter Arya.

Please keep sending me photos of your kids’ artwork!

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

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.

Vanetta and Monique at The Village Quilt Shoppe are sending out daily updates for seamstresses (and seam…sters?)  interested in making masks for medical personnel. Today’s update will cheer anyone who wants to help but doesn’t want to (or can’t) leave the house to get materials or deliver masks.

The shop now  has a person who will pick and deliver masks and materials for anyone who needs that service. Just email them with your name, address — and number of kits you would like if that’s what you need — and the volunteer will drop things off or pick things up from your front porch, or anywhere else you specify.

The email is villagequiltshoppe@gmail.com.

They also remind us that “the kits from the RGH nurses need to come back to the store. WE do have other kits you can have to send to other locations if you prefer.”

They also received this letter from RGH which tells about other ways you can help:

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We are grateful for the many offers of help. As you can imagine, it means the world to our health care teams to know that they have the support of our entire community. 

Here’s how you can help: 

Donate to our COVID-19 Support Fund – one of the best and quickest ways that you can help right now is to give to RRH COVID-19 Support Fund. This virus is difficult to predict, so donations will be used to meet our most pressing needs. 

Restaurant gift cards are a great idea – our hospital leadership teams can easily order meals before and after long shifts for our front line care providers to take home. 

If you are interested in donating food to RRH to support our clinical teams, please email Julie.hamil@rochesterregional.org. Please be aware we are unable to accept homemade food items. Food must be prepared in a commercial grade kitchen and packaged in individual servings 

Send encouraging messages to our patients – we suggest using social media. You can post videos and photos with #RRHspreadjoy, and we’ll share them with people who could use a smile. Or, if you’d prefer, send your messages to rrhfoundation@rochesterregional.org. 

As always, we appreciate messages of support for our health care teams. You can email messages to rrhfoundation@rochesterregional.org or post them on Rochester Regional’s social media channels. 

Donate face masks and other medical supplies. We are accepting masks that meet FDA/CDC guidelines as well as sewn masks. We aren’t particular about the color or pattern for sewn masks – we just appreciate your generosity. Additionally, we are accepting other medical supplies, like latex-free gloves and face shields. 

Donation drop off locations: Starting Friday, March 27th you’ll be able to drop off masks, gift cards and other supplies at three locations. Supplies will be distributed across Rochester Regional as needed to support our patients and care teams: 

RRH Administrative Offices Riedman Campus – North Entrance 100 Kings Highway South, Rochester Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 10am -2pm 

Newark Wayne Community Hospital Receiving Dock – North Side Entrance 1200 Driving Park Avenue, Newark Monday through Friday from 9am-2pm 

United Memorial Medical Center Jerome Center Loading Dock (off Wiard Street) 16 Bank Street, Batavia Monday through Friday from 10am-2pm 

Remember, you’re already helping our health care teams by staying home and by washing your hands frequently. Thank you for caring enough about your friends and neighbors to support their good health, and thank you for believing in us. You are now part of our team and together we can overcome this challenge.

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

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 so far who has sent me photos of the beautiful chalk drawings that are appearing around our neighborhoods. I am happy to share those emails with you now!

First, here’s Anna E. outside her north Penfield home, where she made this incredible creation on her driveway last Thursday night. “Before the rain washed it away,” her mom said.

Scott on Crest View Drive sent this picture of a 540-space hopscotch game, made by the kids in the neighborhood, which stretched the length of the whole street.

Little Michael chose to make his drawings on the deck, away from the street. Practicing proper social distancing!

This series of photos was sent to me by Jennifer Ashton, from a Facebook post by TeeJay Dill. Jennifer wrote,

“Not a kid, but a local artist and small business owner (she started and owns both White Tiger tattoo shops) trying to brighten up her neighborhood! TeeJay Dill is a gift to the Rochester community.”

TeeJay herself accompanied her Facebook post with,

“Froze myself trying to do this but felt like the neighborhood could use a little cheer. Supposed to rain (snow?) tomorrow so I will make a new one after this one washes away.”

Finally, this series of photos was sent to me by … well, frankly, I can’t find the original email/message, so I don’t remember, nor do I know what street they’re from!! Please email me again to remind me what great children created this delightful garden!

Do you have some children’s artwork you’d like to share? Let’s keep the smiles going! Email me!

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

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 saw this happy sight as I was heading home from Wegmans this afternoon (which was not as bad as I thought!) My neighbor Cindy, chalking her sidewalk along South Ave. with her children Connor and Celia.

Is anyone else taking advantage of this very sunny but cool day to get out and making art? Did your kids make rainbows to hang in the windows?

Please email me your photos of how your family is trying to brighten everyone’s day and I’ll post them in my blog!

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

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.

Do you remember back to late 2012 and early 2013, when our community came together to support our West Webster firefighters — and all volunteer firefighters —  following the unspeakable tragedy of the Christmas Eve shooting?

We’re doing it again. The Coronavirus is turning us all into a global family, who must work together in a hundred different ways to weather the storm.

I’ve been hearing about many examples of this generosity in our local communities. This morning, for example, I read about a man who created a $150 tab at the Country Store for people to get food if they need it. Two people mentioned that DiVincenzo’s Bakery — which has a cash only policy — let two people walk out their doors with their orders when they only had a credit card, asking them just to return later to pay. Kristina, owner of the former Webster-based Mad Hatter Restaurant and Bakery, is making boxed meals for medical personnel. Local seamstresses are pooling their talents to make much-needed face masks for clinics and hospitals. People are bringing trash bags on their walks and helping clean up the environment.

And this is something I think we can all help with: I’ve seen a few references online about people sending letters to shut-ins at nursing homesget . I think this is a great idea. Nursing home residents often don’t even have the luxury of leaving their small rooms, especially if there’s an outbreak of illness in the facility. A personal letter is an easy way to help cheer them up and would really make their day.

I’m going to start doing this, but I would love to be able to direct my letters to specific people. Please email me if you would like your mother or father or grandmother or grandfather to receive a personal letter from me. (Make sure to check with the facility to see if they are accepting letters.) And if you would like, I can spread the word among my readers, so that our loved ones can get a LOT of letters.

If anyone is interested, I’ll start the ball rolling for my father-in-law:

Bruce Rosenberry
Elderwood Village at Williamsville
5271 Main Street
Williamsville, NY 14221

P.S., I heard from a few Nancy A. about another creative way people are getting together with friends, a virtual “happy hour,” which can be done on a phone or computer. One of my musician friends has also been trying to put together a virtual Irish music session. Doing that remotely, however, has encountered some challenges with regards to buffering and wifi.

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

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 loving all of the creative ideas to for socially-distant activities and entertainment that people are coming up with, to do with or without kids. If you’ve spent any time on Facebook recently, I’m sure you’ve seen some of them:

• put your Christmas lights back up. Then families can take car rides around town (or walks when the weather gets warmer) to see them
• Instead of Christmas lights, start your Easter decorating early and put up Easter eggs. Or decorate your mailboxes
• Chalk your walk — get some sidewalk chalk and craft an inspirational message on your walk or driveway. People are trying to get this going today and tomorrow, which may not work since it might rain. But we could do it anytime!
• How about an outdoor scavenger hunt? Google it and you’ll see lots of suggestions.
• An indoor scavenger hunt works, also.
• If you’re out and about taking a walk on the trails or on the street, consider taking along a trash bag, and help beautify the neighborhood. Remember the plastic gloves.

When the weather starts to warm up consistently, I’m thinking maybe we could organize a “socially distant afternoon tea,” maybe at Gazebo Park. We call a time, everyone brings a chair, and a cooler, and sets up at least 6 feet apart in the park. We could meet some new friends.

Got any other ideas? Anything really fun your family is doing? Email me!

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

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.

Cancellations, closings and public health information are still coming fast and furious as local businesses and community agencies try to get ahead of the COVID-19 curve.  Below are some of the latest announcements. If your organization has information you would like me to share, please email me at missyblog@gmail.com.

Thank you to Webster People, Places News and Events Facebook page for providing much of this information. That would be a great page to “like” to help you keep on top of things.

Wegmans

Effective immediately, all Wegmans locations will close overnight to allow the stores to be cleaned and items to restocked. All New York State stores (except Brooklyn) will be open from 6 a.m. to midnight. That includes our Webster branches.

(Read more from this story in this D&C article. )

Community Arts Day

Anyone with kids in our Webster schools has already heard that all PTSA-sponsored events have been cancelled through Spring Break. So far that does NOT include Community Arts Day, which is scheduled for April 18. The way things are going, there’s a real possibility that it, too, will be cancelled.

The organizers write,

If in the event that cancellation is imminent, the CAD planning team will do everything in its power to try and reschedule for a later date. … Please direct any questions to CAD@websterptsa.org.

No word yet on the Greater Rochester Peep Show, which is scheduled for March 28 and 29. Stay tuned.

DMV

This notice from the Department of Motor Vehicles:

The Monroe County Clerk’s Office will be temporarily suspending our Mobile DMV Units beginning on Friday, March 13 until April 1 (subject to review and extension). To help promote safe practices of social distancing, we encourage residents who may need to visit a DMV to take advantage of our online appointment system and avoid waiting in longer lines: https://monroedmv.setmore.com/.

Anyone needing DMV services will be able to access all four of our branch locations (Rochester, Henrietta, Greece and Irondequoit) during this time. We apologize for this inconvenience and thank you for your patience as we work to support the overall health of our customers and staff.

Our Webster DMV usually visits the Webster Public Library on Mondays.

Yesterday’s Muse Books

This from Jonathan Smalter at Yesterday’s Muse Books:

As the situation with COVID-19 develops, so has Yesterday’s Muse Books’ response in terms of preventative action. Our shop remains open, and precautions are being taken to sterilize high-traffic surfaces (door handles, phones, all bathroom surfaces, keyboards and other office equipment, etc.). We are fully stocked with hand soap and cleaning supplies, and we have hand sanitizer available for the use of patrons at checkout.

We do understand that some are changing their habits to limit the risk to themselves and their community, so we would like to remind all customers that our full stock of nearly 17,000 books is available to view and purchase online at www.yesterdaysmuse.com. If you are elderly, immunocompromised, believe you are a carrier of the virus, or simply prefer to behave with an abundance of caution, we encourage you to shop using your computer or wireless device. We are happy to ship your order, and our staff is still available to answer questions by phone or e-mail.

For the time being, the open hours during which we review your books for purchase or trade will remain the same, but if additional restrictions are put in place this may change, so please feel free to call to confirm, or to make an appointment if necessary.

We hope that we will continue to be your destination for good books!

Webster Public Library

In my last blog post, I relayed a notice from the Webster Public Library about their suspension of programming. In their latest email, they tell us about other measures they’re undertaking to keep their patrons safe — AND want to remind us all about their drive-up pick-up service.

Worried about COVID-19 (Coronavirus)?

At this time, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have stated that there is no reason to take any special precautions aside from ones you would regularly take to avoid the flu and colds. Cover your coughs and sneezes, wash your hands, and stay home if you are ill.

Here at the Webster Public Library, we are working on taking precautions to ensure the health and wellness of our community. We are cleaning and disinfecting high-traffic areas of our library multiple times a day, especially the public computers and the Children’s Room, including the toys with a sanitation cycle on our dishwasher. We are encouraging staff members to stay home if they are unwell. We will continue to monitor the situation and take additional precautions as they are recommended.

There is a low chance of the virus passing through physical library materials, but this is a perfect time to remind you of our online resources that you can use in the comfort of your own home! With your library card you can access our e-book, audiobook, magazine, and movie collection via the apps OverDrive or Libby, both available to download on smart phones and tablets.

And don’t forget about our new Drive-Up, Pick-Up service—if there’s an item you want, let us know in advance and then call us when you’re here. You pull up out front and we’ll bring your items out to your car.

If you have questions or concerns for us, please give us a call at (585) 872-7075, or email webster.reference@libraryweb.org.

The library folks also shared this really neat infographic with me (below), which I am pleased to pass along. It’s really a good illustration of how important this service is to our community. So let’s not let this virus scare us away! If we’re going to be spending more time at home, we’re going to need some good reads!

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

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.

Are you a regular visitor to our Village of Webster parks? Even an only occasional visitor? Do you like taking your kids to the playgrounds or your dog to run around? Do you enjoy the Friday night concerts at the gazebo every summer? Do you even know that the village has FIVE parks?

These are some of the questions that the Village of Webster Parks Committee would like to ask you, to get a better handle on who uses our parks, how they’re used, and how they might be improved.

So the committee is asking both village and non-village residents to fill out a short survey to help guide future park planning. The survey can be found by clicking here, and should only take a few minutes to complete.

The survey is the first of several initiatives the committee will be implementing in the coming months to bring more awareness to our village parks which will include a “discover your parks” scavenger hunt this spring.

The survey will be available for a while, but please consider taking a few minutes to fill it out right now. Just click here: Village of Webster Parks Survey.

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

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.