Archive | Uncategorized RSS feed for this section

A blogger’s look back at 2019

1 Jan

wordle

Come the end of a new year and the beginning of a brand spanking new one, it’s easy to become nostalgic in so many ways. For me, last night, that nostalgia manifested itself in a trip back through all the blogs I wrote in 2019.

I was surprised to see that in 2019 I posted 186 individual blogs. That works out to an average of one every two days, which kind of surprised me, since it didn’t seem that  many to me. So I felt pretty good about that.

I thought it might be fun to come up with a top-10 list of my favorite blogs of the year, a la David Letterman. (Remember his lists?)  But then, as I scrolled through them one by one, I realized that was an unreasonable goal. While some of the stories touched me more than others, I enjoyed writing every single one.

What struck me more than anything else was the wide variety of topics I touched on — so many great people, businesses, events, organizations, and causes that make Webster great. So instead of that list, I thought I would summarize, as briefly as possible, my 2019 Webster on the Web.

I probably blogged about our town and village’s special events more than anything else. I usually previewed, then posted follow-up photos of, more than a dozen events including the Memorial Day parade and festivities, the Firemen’s Parade and Kiddie Parade, White Christmas in the Village, Halloween Trick or Treat Trail, the wine walks, the Greater Rochester Peep Show, the Garlic Fest, Waterfront Arts Fest and the Webster Fall Festival.

A close second in blog topics was news and reviews of our local businesses. 2019 saw a continued resurgence of East Main Street. We got a few more new businesses — Chandeliers Boutique and The Village Quilt Shoppe in particular, and several other Webster businesses celebrated anniversaries: LaLa of Webster celebrated its first birthday, Knucklehead Craft Brewing turned 5, and Barry’s Old School Irish turned 7. Strike Back Martial Arts won an award and Good Smoke BBQ officially became Roc Style Chicken and Burger.

I wrote a lot about our schools and great things that are happening there, including the musicals, marching band, and SparX robotics team. I wrote about some of our great schoolkids as well, like the preschoolers who held a food drive, a young Webster boy who gave his birthday toys away to hospitalized children (and who got his story on TV), Eagle Scouts, the champion 12U baseball team and more.

I highlighted local organizations that help make up the fabric of our community, including the Chorus of the Genesee, the Webster Volunteer Fire Dept., Webster Museum, the Joe Obbie Farmer’s Market, Bella’s Bumbas, and the American Legion.

Finally, I used my blog to share some of my personal thoughts, especially about the passing of Joe Dady, and my recent move to the village. I helped promote causes close to my heart, encouraging everyone to join me in the Miracle Field 5K, the First Responders 5K , and the Polar Plunge and to donate blood.

Whew.

I know a lot of you are still reading this blog, two whole page scrolls down from where it began. I know that because you are the folks who have been with me all year.

You are the reason I write this blog. Because even though I enjoy dong this, it would get pretty old if I thought my words weren’t making a difference.

So thank you all for being faithful readers. I wish you all a very happy, healthy and successful 2020, and I look forward to continuing to spread good news from our hometown.

* * *

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.

 

To you and yours…

25 Dec

4212

To all of my friends and readers on this very special day, Merry Christmas! My wish is that you are spending it surrounded by family and are fully able to relax and soak in the magic of the day.

Thank you for being part of my life; I feel blessed to be able to write this blog and know that so many people out there are touched by my words.

Your blogger friend, Missy Rosenberry

 

The kids are getting out of school early tomorrow

19 Dec

Parents, please remember that the Webster Central School District will be conducting its annual Emergency Preparedness Early Release Drill tomorrow, Dec. 20.

Early Release Drill artStudents at every one of our Webster schools will be dismissed a little early and arrive home by bus a little early.

Tomorrow (Dec. 20) only, buses will leave the schools ate these times:

  • DeWitt Elementary School, 2:10 p.m.
  • Klem North Elementary School, 2:00 p.m.
  • Klem South Elementary School, 2:10 p.m.
  • Plank North Elementary School, 2:00 p.m.
  • Plank South Elementary School, 2:10 p.m.
  • Schlegel Elementary School, 2:10 p.m.
  • State Elementary School, 2:10 p.m.
  • Spry Middle School, 3:05 p.m.
  • Willink Middle School, 3:05 p.m.
  • Webster Schroeder High School, 3:05 p.m.
  • Webster Thomas High School, 3:05 p.m.

Also on this date, activity period at the elementary schools will run and will end 10 minutes early.

* * *

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.

 

Plank North food collection prompted by …reading!

17 Dec

IMG_20191122_140502893

Early last month, Plank Rd. North Elementary School, along with many other schools in the district, participated in a worldwide initiative called Read for the Record Day. The hope every year is to set a new world record of children and adults all reading the same book on the same day.

This year everyone read Thank You, Omu! by Oge Mora, which tells the story of a generous elderly woman who makes a fantastic pot of thick red stew.

To help reinforce the book’s themes of generosity and community, Plank North librarian Gretchen Pulver organized a food drive for Hope Ministry, especially encouraging families to donate hearty soups and stews to connect with the book the students had just read.

The drive was an incredible success, as evidenced by the photo, showing the library’s fifth grade helpers with the collection.

The final tally for the day was more than 2 million readers!

* * *

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.

Knucklehead celebrates 5 years

11 Dec

Knucklehead 5 year

Wow.

It’s hard to imagine that Knucklehead Craft Brewing has been around for five years already. But that is indeed the case, and it’s cause for a huge celebration.

Knucklehead Craft Brewing, 426 Ridge Rd. in West Webster (at the corner of Bay), will celebrate its fifth anniversary on Saturday, Dec. 14 from 1 to 10 p.m.

The details are still coming together, but so far, this is what’s planned (according to Knucklehead’s Facebook page event):

*  One of our most decadent beers will make its annual return to join the party, a Russian Imperial Stout, as well as a couple other special offerings (including a keg of the Barrel Aged Belgian Quad we did with K2 Brothers Brewing).

* Live music will be performed by Katy Wright (2-4) from 2 to 4 p.m., followed up by Marty Roberts and Donny C. beginning at 6 p.m.

Pop by the Facebook page regularly to stay on top of updates.

* * *

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.

White Christmas in the Village details — redux

6 Dec

OK folks, I recently heard some exciting news about Saturday evening’s Electric Parade during the village’s White Christmas in the Village festival.

It’s going to be the biggest ever.

I’m told that there will be no fewer than 30 firefighter and emergency units participating, from as many as ten different agencies from near and far. And every single one of these units will be covered in twinkly Christmas lights.

Basically it’s going to be a sight to behold.

The parade will cap an entire afternoon of family-friendly activities beginning at 3 p.m. It’s one of my favorite village events of the entire year and a don’t-miss festival for the whole family. If you do come to the parade, however, make sure to wear something warm and bring mug of hot chocolate or coffee to help, because it’s a long parade. (There won’t be any fireworks after the parade this year, though.)

And don’t worry about getting a seat; there will be plenty of viewing spots.

Here again are the details:

3 to 5:45 p.m. — Horse-drawn wagon rides through the village
3 to 6 p.m. — Bounce House on Main Street
3:30 to 5:45 p.m. — Santa Claus at the Village Hall
4 p.m. — Storytelling at Yesterday’s Muse Book Store
4 p.m. — Cookie decorating at Rubino’s
5 p.m. — Church of the Good Shepherd Chime Bell Choir on Main Street

And don’t forget to stop by the Webster Museum that afternoon as well to check out — and vote for — some beautiful miniature Christmas trees.

This is also a great chance to visit some of our village’s newest businesses, including Chandelier’s Boutique, LaLa, The North Bee, the Pickled Paintbrush, and The Village Quilt Shop. (I hope I’m not forgetting anyone, and I hope they’re all open for browsing!) Many of the business owners will be participating in a gingerbread house contest, so make sure to stop by and vote for your favorite!

christmas trees

(Click here to see a gallery of photos from last year’s White Christmas celebration.)

By the way, don’t forget to start out that morning with a hot breakfast, served up by the Chorus of the Genesee.

The Chorus will be hosting their fourth annual Breakfast with Santa, from 9:30 to 11 a.m. at the Harmony House, 58 East Main Street in Webster.

Breakfast will be cooked and served, music will be provided by the Chorus of the Genesee, and of course, Santa will be there! Tickets are just $5 each, with a maximum of $20 per family (including two adults). Pictures with Santa will be available.

For more information or to make reservations, call (585) 734-1328.

* * *

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.

Webster boy helps other children with birthday toy drive

6 Dec

skylar

Here’s a very nice story for your Friday morning.

Skylar Jones, a first grader at Plank North Elementary School, was recently featured on 13 WHAM News for doing a wonderfully kind thing.

When he was still only 5 years old, Skylar was visiting a sick family member in the hospital, and started to wonder about how children there got toys. He learned about Gary the Happy Pirate’s annual toy collection effort, and decided that when his birthday rolled around, he wanted to donate all of the toys he received to Gary, and ultimately to the kids in the hospital.

Click here to meet Skylar and see the story that ran on Channel 13.

* * *

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.

Garden Club Holiday Sale returns this weekend

4 Dec

garden 1

The Country Gardeners of Webster, Klemwood Garden Club and the Webster Arboretum will hold their annual Garden Club Holiday Sale on Saturday December 7 from 9 am to noon at the Webster Recreation Center, 1350 Chiyoda Drive.

This huge sale features fresh wreaths, arrangements, poinsettias, centerpieces and gifts that are created by hand by the club members for this sale. This is always a very popular event, so you want to get there early.

The sale is the Country Gardeners’ annual fundraiser, so think about decorating your own home, and purchasing gifts for family, friends and holiday hostesses.

Admission is free.

Check out the photos here for a sampling of some of the beautiful arrangements and wreaths that will be available!

* * *

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.

And another St. Martin Eagle Scout: Justin Karnisky

29 Nov

DSC_3354_Justinonplaygroundresize

Hot on the heels of my announcement earlier this week about Connor Smith, a new Eagle Scout from Troop 110 at St. Martin, comes this great news:

Justin Karnisky — also from Troop 110 at St. Martin’s Lutheran Church — has also recently earned his Eagle Scout rank.

Justin’s project consisted of designing and building a wooden dog agility playground for the rescue organization Pets Stop Here, in Spencerport. More than 30 volunteers helped with the project, including assembly and delivery to the organization. Justin also pulled together a supply drive of items needed by Pets Stop Here.

Now a junior at McQuaid Jesuit High School, Justin has been a Scout since the first grade. He is a math tutor as part of the peer tutoring program, participates in the MasterMinds club, and is a peer coach for Academic Challenge Bowl.

Justin is equally successful outside of school. He’s a Junior Black Belt in karate, plays the trombone with the Fairport Fire Department band, McQuaid symphonic band, McQuaid Jazz band, and the Eastman Summer Wind Ensemble. He’s also active in local community theater groups and is volunteers at FoodLink.

Justin plans to attend RIT and pursue a degree in chemistry or math.

Thank you to proud mama Karen for sending along this information and photo.

* * *

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.

 

Thankful for the little things

28 Nov

thankful wordle

Yesterday afternoon at about 1 p.m., if you happened by Schlegel Rd. Elementary School, you would have found me splayed out on my belly in the pre-school classroom, coloring a turkey. I was surrounded by a half dozen chattering, laughing and smiling 3 and 4-year olds who enjoyed nothing more in that moment of their lives than sharing their crayons with me.

Later on that day, as I thought about the blog I would post on Thanksgiving day, I reflected on those those five — maybe ten — minutes of my life. I realized that while I have a lot to be thankful for, it’s moments like those that always bubble to the top of the list.

Of course I’m still unbelievably thankful for my loving husband of 35 years, my children (especially including my new son-in law), our health, my new home, my job and having enough money to live comfortably.

But as I remark every year, it’s the little things that really make life worth living.

I won’t bore you again with the entire list of those little things which I created over the last three Thanksgiving blogs. But I do encourage everyone to take your thankfulness one step deeper this year. Don’t just stop at the big things, but pause a moment to really notice all of the tiny, mundane blessings that surround us.

It might be the smell of coffee in the morning, the way your kids run to hug you every time you come home from work, or your family’s pizza and popcorn night every Friday. Because even if life has thrown you some curves this year, there’s always something to be thankful for.

Have a wonderful holiday everyone, enjoy your family and thank you for being a part of my life.

* * *

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.