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Blue Star Mothers hosting annual Military Baby Shower

3 Mar

Calling all local military families!

The Blue Star Mothers NY8 Chapter of Rochester are making plans for this year’s Military Baby Shower, and they’re looking for more families to shower with gifts.

The event, scheduled for Sunday April 30 at the Cottreall-Warner American Legion Post on Ridge Rd., will shower up to 20 babies with “Baby Baskets of Loving Care,” each filled with gifts for moms and their babies including baby clothing, handmade outfits, homemade blankets, sweaters, booties and hats, diapers, wipes, baby supplies, toys, and more. Last year, each family also received a Diaper Genie and bouncy seat.

Active duty, veterans and military spouses of active duty and veterans who are expecting or have children up to 6 months old are welcome to register for and attend the shower.

The Mothers have been pulling together donations for many months, but they’d love to get a lot more. If you’d like to help out, you can donate to their baby gift registry through this Amazon.com link.

Blue Star Mothers president Amy VanDerwerken said, “We love how the local community comes together to support this event. They allow us to provide diapers, clothes, wipes, bibs, blankets, bottles, toys, books, etc.” Last year, besides the many individuals who donated from the Amazon Baby Shower list, they also received donations from almost a dozen local business and community organizations.

This year Rosy Glow Maternity, is joining that list. The Webster-based business offers an experience that focuses on the mother by providing maternity and nursing wardrobe with beautiful preloved items.

Blue Star Mothers are mothers, stepmothers, grandmothers, foster mothers and female legal guardians who have children serving in the military, guard or reserves, or children who are veterans. The Baby Shower for Military is one of the group’s most important service projects. Each year BSM NY8 honors up to 20 local military families, and for some of these expectant mothers, it may be the only baby shower they get, since they’re usually stationed far away from their close relatives.

“We hope to continue growing and working with the community to be able to support our local military families,” VanDerwerken said. “We could not do this military baby shower event without that support.” 

The Military Baby Shower will be hosted by the Cottreall-Warner American Legion Post on Sunday April 30 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. To register to attend, or for more information, contact one of the Baby Shower Committee Co-chairs, Amy VanDerwerken and Jill Harris, at 1VP.NY8@BlueStarMothers.US.

A look at last year’s Military Baby Shower

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

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(posted 3/3/2023)

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Spry Drama Club presents Footloose!

22 Feb

The talented performers of the Spry Drama Club will be putting on their dancing shoes in a few weeks when they present Footloose: Youth Edition in three shows, Friday and Saturday March 10 and 11.

Footloose! celebrates the exhilaration of youth, the wisdom of listening to one another, and the power of forgiveness. The youth edition is a one-hour show especially designed for young performers.

You undoubtedly remember the 1984 Oscar-nominated movie musical starring Kevin Bacon. The story follows a city teenager who moves to a small town where rock music and dancing have been banned.  The new kid and his rebellious spirit shake up the town as he tries to bring music back into their drab lives … and win the girl at the same time.

And I’m sure you remember the music. (I’ll bet the title song is dancing around in your brain right now.)  The production will revisit many of the songs in the Tony-nominated top-40 score, plus some new songs developed specifically for the stage musical.

Spry Drama Club brings this feel-good musical to the Spry Middle School stage on Friday, March 10 at 7 p.m. and Saturday, March 11 at 2 and 7 p.m. Reserve tickets are $8 each and will go on sale Monday, February 27. Purchase them online here.

Spry Middle School is located at 119 South Ave., in the Village of Webster.

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

(posted 2/22/2023)

Webster community mailbag

15 Feb

I’ve heard about a couple of R.L. Thomas High School reunions coming up I want to start off with. Well, one’s a reunion, and the other is kind of a … birthday party.

The R.L. Thomas Class of ’71 will be holding a 70th Birthday Bash on Saturday June 24 at Schutt’s Apple Mill from 5 to 7 p.m. Thanks to COVID, the class was unable to hold its 50th reunion, so they’ve decided to celebrate their 70 birthdays together instead.

The festivities will begin at 4 p.m. and will include a cornhole tournament, door prizes, a 50/50 raffle, hay rides and more. Dinner will be provided by Wraps on Wheels. There’ll be a cash bar with beer and wine, and live entertainment. Admission is free.

Organizers are asking for everyone to register by May 15, by emailing RLThomas1971@gmail.com.

The R.L. Thomas Class of 1973 will be holding their 50th reunion on the weekend of September 15 to 17. There will be a dinner on Friday and a casual picnic on Saturday. I don’t have a lot of information about this one, so to find out more, ask to join the “RLT73WebsterNY” private Facebook group or email RLT73reunion@gmail.com.

The Webster Public Library is hosting a Cat Food Drive to benefit Habitat for Cats. Any donations of dry food, canned food, litter and cat treats would be greatly appreciated. Donations can be dropped off during the library’s regular open hours. You’ll see the drop-off area across from the circulation desk.

The Webster Public Library is located at 980 Ridge Rd., at the back of Webster Plaza.

Here’s another reminder about the free Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper, hosted by St. Martin Lutheran Church on Tuesday Feb. 21 from 5 to 7 p.m.

The dinner is being served to thank the community for supporting the church’s missions throughout the year. The menu will include sausage and applesauce, unlimited pancakes and syrup. Beads will be handed out, and you can even make your own masks. You’re invited to come dressed in Mardi Gras style, too.  

This is an event for the whole family, and while the dinner is free to all, a free-will offering to support the church’s Little Free Pantry can be made, or bring boxed and canned goods.  

St. Martin Lutheran Church is located at 813 Bay Rd.

Got hazardous waste? The Town of Webster will be holding a Household Hazardous Waste recycling event on Saturday Sept. 16 from 7:45 a.m. to noon at the Webster Highway Garage, 1005 Picture Parkway.

Items that can be accepted are listed on the poster below. The event is open to Webster and Penfield residents, and appointments are required. Sign up online now to guarantee your spot.

Finally, the Webster Comfort Care Home has published their most recent wish list, which you can also see below. This amazing organization relies entirely on donations to keep the home running, so let’s help them out!

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

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(posted 2/15/2023)

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Register now to display at Community Arts Day 2023

14 Feb

A few days ago when I was taking my morning walk, I couldn’t help but think that this unusually mild February weather we’re having this week feels a lot like April. So it’s fitting that on that same day I received my first email of the year from the Community Arts Day organizers.

I’m sure you already know about this great family event which takes place every April. It’s basically a show-off day for our district’s schools, showcasing the musical and artistic talents of our Webster School District K-12 students. It was created as a collaborative effort to raise money to encourage and enhance fine arts programs throughout the district. 

In addition to the art displays, it’s also a great opportunity for community groups to set up tables and spread the word about their organizations. That is what the email was all about. It read,

We invite you to join us for the Annual 2023 Community Arts Day sponsored by the Webster Central PTSA, Saturday, April 15, at Webster Schroeder High School, 875 Ridge Road, Webster. …Community groups that wish to exhibit are required to pay a participation fee of $30, which is payable at the time of registration. …Community groups/vendors can sell their goods with advanced approval from the Community Arts Day planning committee. A $55 vendor selling fee applies, which is payable at time of registration.

Clilck here to register. The deadline to register is April 1, with a $5 late fee applied after that date (if the registration is even accepted). All registrations and payments must be received by April 7 at 5 p.m.

It sounds like the committee has some exciting plans this year, including having Garth Fagan Dance as a headliner. Stay tuned for more information about Community Arts Day 2023. You can also follow the CAD website here or Facebook page here.

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

(posted 2/14/2023)

Third graders meet the Webster Public Library

13 Jan

In a program that brings the Webster community and the Webster Public Library (WPL) together, our school district’s third graders are getting a jump-start on their love for reading by getting a close-up look at the library and all the services it offers.

All of Webster’s third grade students will be taking field trips to the Webster Public Library (WPL) this school year as part of a get-to-know-the-library program that will run through June. The idea came from discussions WPL Outreach Coordinator Jason Poole and Schlegel Elementary School librarian Jamie Palmer were having last year about school visits. At the time, due to the pandemic, schools were not allowing visitors, but students could go on field trips. Classes were already visiting the downtown library; giving them the chance to see their local library as well seemed like a natural next step.

Earlier this year, Schlegel Rd. Elementary students were the first to make the trip, in a trial run of the new program. It “went pretty well but was a little chaotic,” Poole said. He added,

After discussion with the youth department, we changed our approach to the current system, adapting and combining elements of existing in-house programming (staff area tours, storytimes, crafts, etc.) to create four stations that offer students a little taste of all WPL has to offer them. A charcuterie board of library experiences, if you will.

It’s one of the few programs that touches all areas of the library.

In December, Plank North Elementary third graders visited and experienced the newly-tweaked program. During their tour, the students made a craft in the teen area, explored the Children’s Room, and sat for storytime. They even got a close-up, behind-the-scenes look at places usually hidden from the public, including the back offices and the receiving end of the outdoor book drop.

But teaching students how to use the library really wouldn’t mean much if they couldn’t actually check out books. So, working closely with the library’s circulation department, Palmer and Poole came up with an ambitious plan to also make sure every one of the visiting third graders could sign up for a library card, if they didn’t have one already. Allowing them to do so without a parent or guardian present meant adjusting the library’s standard policy, but it was definitely well worth the effort, Poole said. Using their brand new library cards, each student could actually check out a book before they left the library. For a child who’s never been able to do that before, it’s a pretty exciting experience.

“Third graders are pretty much at the perfect developmental stage to really begin to appreciate the value of having their own library card,” Poole said.  

As an added bonus, each student also received a coupon, redeemable on their next library visit for a goodie bag with lots of little gifts including a card holder, an activity booklet, a WPL pin, and several other fun items.

So far, Schlegel and Plank North are the only two schools to have made the WPL trip, but the rest of the schools will be visiting in the next several months. Still, the Webster Public Library has already touched the lives of 146 students. In the process, 90 new library cards were issued, 26 cards were replaced, and four account problems were resolved. A whopping 80% of these third graders did not have access to the library before the trip, and now they do.

It’s a proud feeling to be trusted with the responsibility of having a library card, and a thrill to be able to walk into the library and leave with your favorite book.

What an awesome way to reinforce the joy of reading, and start these young people on their journey to lifelong learning.

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

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(posted 1/13/2023)

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Webster is getting a dog park

6 Jan

As you can see from the headline, our canine friends are finally going to have an outdoor dog park of their own.

A few weeks ago, Monroe County Executive Adam Bello announced that the county will be constructing a new dog park in Webster Park, which should be completed before the end of the summer.

The 1.5-acre park will be located in the large grassy area just south of Lake Rd., at the corner of Park Rd., which leads into the campground. It will include separate areas for large and smaller dogs, agility equipment and drinking stations.

According to the county’s press release, the project is being funded by a $250,000 grant secured by Assemblymember Jennifer Lunsford, part of the Go Outside Monroe Initiative, dedicated to modernizing the county’s parks system. The funds will also be used to repair and replace existing equipment on the nearby playground.

Chris Bilow, Commissioner of Webster Parks and Recreation, already knows that the park will be popular with town residents. He wrote,

I am excited that the county is making this possible for the Webster community. The request for dog park space is something we hear from residents quite regularly. As we worked with county staff on a potential location and operation it became clear that partnering with the county on the project and having the county operate their current system for dog parks made all sorts of sense.

Thank you to all of the people and agencies who are making this project a reality. It’s something we’ve needed here in Webster for a long time.

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

(posted 1/6/2023)

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Webster’s windy Winter Wonderland in photos

4 Dec

Maybe — just maybe — one year soon, it will actually be snowing during the Village of Webster’s winter celebration.

Now, I’m not wishing for a blizzard, but a gentle flurry and a light dusting of snow on the sidewalks would certainly add to the festive holiday atmosphere that the Business Improvement District (BID) works so hard to present during this annual event. But no, this year we got high winds, strong enough to drive most of the planned activities indoors, and managed to cancel a few of them. (I guess we should be happy it wasn’t pouring rain.)

Still, this year the BID, partnering with the Webster Central PTSA, did their level best to create a fun and family-friendly holiday celebration, even introducing a new name — Webster’s Winter Wonderland — and ’round-the-world theme. There was great participation from village business owners, many of whom enthusiastically participated in creating front window displays or even setting up a table inside their shops to highlight different countries and their winter holidays.

I was like a kid myself, spinning a dreidel at one table, listening to a young lady play a Japanese koto and another man playing a djembe at the Kwanzaa display. I had a delicious slice of kielbasa at Brimont Bistro, and I learned some really neat stuff, like how in Japan, Santa delivers pizza. I was serenaded by the Chorus of the Genesee and Rochester Rhapsody. I also heard some beautiful live music at the Webster Museum and checked out all of the decorated mini-Christmas trees at their Festival of Trees.

I sense that a few things went wrong yesterday, mostly due to the weather, but it was a great first effort. I hope the BID keeps this theme for next year and even more businesses participate.

Maybe we’ll even get a little snow.

Click here to check out my gallery of photos from the day, including from the Parade of Lights. (Thanks to Facebook they’re not in perfect order, but enjoyable to look at anyway.)

One quick addition.

I’d like to share this email I got this morning from my friend Kathy Taddeo at the Webster Museum. It says a lot about the community here in the Village of Webster.

THE MUSEUM’S TERRIFIC NEIGHBORS

Many thanks to the Lapham residents and the Main Street retail and other business folks who generally park in the museum’s lot during the day. 

I had put out a sign asking that our lot be cleared from 1-5 on Saturday, and when I arrived shortly after 1, the lot was completely empty. Their kindness and courtesy allowed two shifts of volunteers and two groups of musicians to park in the lot.  The museum had a great turnout and that is at least partly due to the courtesy of our village neighbors.

Also, kudos to whoever decided to make this annual celebration a multicultural one, and to change the name of the event to Webster’s Winter Wonderland to reflect that change. 

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

(posted 12/4/2022)

Happy Thanksgiving!

24 Nov

To my loyal readers, Happy Thanksgiving. I am so very thankful for all of you. I hope you are spending this day with friends and family.

Bonus Halloween houses

1 Nov

I’m not normally in the habit of posting more than one blog a day, but I wanted to share with you two additional submissions I got recently for my “bootiful” Halloween houses series.

The first is from one of my faithfull-est readers, Linda. She passed by this fog-enshrouded graveyard on Buttermilk Circle this morning.

This next video is of a display created by a ham radio enthusiast. He writes, “Skelly is working the ‘DX’ beyond the grave.”

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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.

(posted 11/1/2022)

More “boo”tiful Halloween houses

28 Oct

Today I post the third and final installment of my Halloween Houses series. Enjoy these decorative bits and pieces from around the town!

I can’t remember where most of these photos came from, except for these first three, which Alicia S. sent to me. Her beautifully decorated home is at the corner of Wood Meadow and Deer Haven Drive. She wrote that her neighbors know it as the “Halloween House,” and every year they dress up, add fog and music, and try to debut new items every year.

They call their creation “Witches Hollow.”  

This one, the skeleton pole dancer, made me laugh.

These two are from the village:

Happy Halloween everyone. Let’s hope for good weather.

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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.

(posted 10/27/2022)

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