webster on the web

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.

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.

You have to be nice to me today. It’s School-Related Professionals Recognition Day.

No, really.

This is a day officially designated to “recognize and honor the school support staff who help transport, educate, feed and tend our children and keep our schools clean, safe and offices running smoothly.” Gov. Spitzer signed it into law in 2007, to be celebrated annually on the third Tuesday of November. I even have a t-shirt and a sticker this year which I can display proudly in the halls.

I suspect this came about because some of us “SRPs” were a little miffed that secretaries get a recognition day (Administrative Professionals Day) and teachers get a whole week (not that they don’t REALLY deserve it), while we teaching assistants, bus drivers, school nurses, custodians, food service workers, and teacher aides got short shrift.

So, there you have it. School-Related Professionals Recognition Day.

Now don’t get me wrong, as an SRP (doesn’t that sound important?) I will definitely take advantage of the snacks that might show up in the faculty lounge today. And I really do appreciate the effort.

But I really don’t need a Hallmark holiday to know how much I mean to the students. That feeling is renewed this year in my job at the elementary level. When I see them smile and wave as they file past the library,  when they laugh as I read them a funny story, when a kindergartner opens her arms for a hug as I walk by in the hall … that all means so much more to me than snacks.

Don’t get me wrong, though. I’d love some snacks.

* * *

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.

Last month, in my East Extra column, I introduced many of you to the new Hickory Bark Trail, a 400-foot long stroll through a stand of woods located along Van Ingen Drive by the Webster Public Library.

The trail’s completion was thank in large part to the efforts of former Webster resident Ann Krieger, and her husband Harold, who championed the cause after Ann’s death in 2009. Its official introduction to the community happened at a grand opening ceremony on October 5.

I recently was copied in on an email Harold sent to Jason Poole (from the Webster Public Library) and Shari Gnolek (from the Friends of Webster Tails), expressing his gratitude to all of the organizations who helped complete the trail, and hinting at more exciting developments in the trail’s future.

I’d like to pass that email along, verbatim.

Looking back at the grand opening of the Hickory Bark Woods Trail, my son Hal and I were overwhelmed by the many volunteer groups and local organizations that were involved in its development and completion. Please thank them all for us (the Friends of Webster Trails, the Webster Library employees and volunteers, the Webster Boy Scouts, the Webster Town Board and Recreation Department, and the interested local residents); they should be very proud of what they accomplished. I won’t attempt to mention names for fear of leaving someone out. It’s such a wonderful feeling to witness your local community working together to create a real asset for Webster’s future.

Speaking of the future, I must confess that some of us (no names) have been thinking out loud about adding some side foot trails branching off from the platform on the Hickory Bark Woods Trail.

Heading east toward the athletic fields, there’s a nice creek and small pond and wildflowers along the way. Heading north, not too far from the platform, I recall a nice area of ferns. Then heading southwest near Hard Road, as I remember from many, many years ago, there were nice hickory bark trees, some beech trees, and wildflowers. There is however a poison ivy problem to contend with. Details, details…J

Oh yes, don’t forget…wildflower seedlings were planted along the trail in September and we’re hoping for good results this spring. My hope? That Hickory Bark Woods Trail becomes the Wildflower Trail of Webster. Go to the Webster Library and learn all about it.

Do not underestimate the commitment Harold Krieger has for this project, as he continues his wife’s efforts to preserve the land as an educational resource.

Stay tuned!

* * *

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.

You may remember a blog I wrote back in early August about our Webster Girls Softball WAA Xtreme Fastpitch Travel Team, and the very successful season they had just completed.

They ended the year with an overall record of 64-6-1 and captured their fifth championship. Earlier this month, the team’s outstanding achievements were honored by the Monroe County Legislature with a Certificate of Recognition, which noted the team members’ success on the field, in the classroom and in the community, and the outstanding sportsmanship and respect they showed all year to officials and opposing team members.

Congratulations, ladies!

* * *

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 proud to belong to the Webster community.

The support today for the biannual Webster Community Blood Drive at St. Paul Church was amazing. I overheard one of the volunteers say there were 77 appointments made today alone, and we still have one more day in the drive.

You can see a photo above of the prizes that are being offered to donors — everyone who shows up gets 10 raffle tickets for your choice of great prizes donated by local businesses. PLUS you get other prizes including a free pint of ice cream from Bruster’s. (EVERYONE gets that!)

But more to the point, donating blood actually helps save lives. That’s the real win/win for everyone who comes.

So if you didn’t have a chance to get there on Wednesday, please consider stopping by day two of the drive Thursday, from noon to 7 p.m. at the Webster Recreation Center, 1350 Chiyoda Dr. I highly recommend you make an appointment; this drive is very popular, and it will get you through more quickly.  You do that by calling 1-800-REDCROSS (1-800-733-2767) or by logging onto http://www.redcrossblood.org.

* * *

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.