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Webster community mailbag

16 May

Got a lot of sensitive documents that need shredding?

The Village of Webster is hosting a free shredding event on Saturday May 18 from 9 a.m. to noon in the parking lot behind Village Hall and the Webster Fire Department.

This is a drive-through event; volunteers will be on hand to unload your car. Paper only will be accepted, and staples DO NOT need to be removed. Paper needs to be placed in cardboard boxes or paper bags (not plastic). Limit is five boxes per vehicle.

This notice from the Webster Central School District:

The Webster CSD Annual Budget Vote and Board of Education election takes place Tuesday, May 21 from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. in the Webster Schroeder High School gym, 875 Ridge Road.

Webster CSD’s Business Department web page contains information on the proposed 2024-25 budget and the two candidates running for the two board of education seats up for election.

Good food is on tap at Heritage Square Museum on Friday May 31 when the museum hosts a chicken barbecue, from 4 p.m. until they’re sold out.

On Sunday June 2, the museum will be hosting an ice cream social. I don’t know many details about this, but I DO know that there will be live music between 2 and 4 p.m. featuring oldies and pop favorites from Cheap Datez.

Never heard of this wonderful living history museum just minutes from our village? Click here to read the blog I wrote about it.

June is shaping up to be a busy month at the Webster Arboretum, 1700 Schlegel Rd.

Learn the ins and outs of composting at one of two workshops, on Wednesday June 5 from 10 to 11 a.m. or Tuesday June 25 from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Each workshop will provide instruction on how to be successful with home composting, including what can be composted, container types and troubleshooting. Once your scraps have been composted, you’ll receive ideas on how to best use this valuable resource. Plenty of time will be allotted for questions.

The presenter is Barbara Cummings from the Wayne County Master Gardener Program, an expert on the topic. Both presentations will take place at the Curry Building located in The Webster Arboretum at 1700 Schlegel Road. No registration or fee is required.  Come early because “a rind is a terrible thing to waste.”    

On Sunday June 9 at 6:30 p.m., join Arboretum board member George Riehle when he gives a tour and program about peonies, the “queen of flowers.”

George’s presentation will discuss the care and cultivation of peonies and tree peonies. Learn how to grow and care for this elegant flower to ensure beautiful blooms year after year. This is a talk and walk, and will be held rain or shine. Go to the Webster Arboretum website to register.

The Music at the Arb series continues this summer when Jazz Generation performs at the Arboretum gazebo on Thursday June 20 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.

Jazz Generation is Eli Behlok and Jim Allchin, an acoustic duo featuring the warm sounds of nylon string guitars. Eli and Jim create a welcoming ambiance with a unique mix of world jazz music, including popular American jazz standards, melodic Brazilian bossa novas, fiery Spanish guitars, bluesy French gypsy jazz and some surprising originals.  

Because the performance is outdoors in the gazebo, it is weather-dependent. Snacks are available for purchase, but you can bring your own, and remember your chairs, blankets and beverages. There’s no cost for admission, and all are invited.

Finally, this nice story about how our local Girl Scouts came through AGAIN to support our deployed service members.

For those of us who ordered Girl Scout cookies this year, we stopped thinking about them when they FINALLY arrived on our doorstep. But the 13 third graders from Brownie Troop 60344 (based at Klem North) were just getting started.

All through April, whenever they set up shop at Walmart or Lowe’s, the young ladies would not just sell cookies to all of us who didn’t get enough thin mints. They also took orders for cookies to be included in care packages being put together by the Blue Star Mothers for our locally deployed troops, which will be mailed out in June. Service members love Girl Scout cookies, as you can imagine. And even after they’ve been bounced around the world, and even if they arrive in crumbs, they’re still treasured.

The troop has done this for several years, collecting donations for the care packages. But this year they went over and above, getting 263 boxes donated!

So thank you to the Brownies, and to all of the community members who stopped by the troop’s cookie tables this season and dropped some extra cash.  

By the way, the same evening when we took the photo of the donated cookies, the Brownies were holding their regular meeting, where they worked with Mary Ann O’Mara to make 45 greeting cards for the troops, which will also be included in the care packages.

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

You can also get email notifications every time I post a new blog by using the “Subscribe” link on the right side of this page (or all the way at the bottom of the page if you’re on your phone).

(posted 5/16/2024)

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May History Bit: the Harmony House

15 May

May is National Historic Preservation Month, so it’s only fitting that for this month’s History Bit, we take a closer look at one of the Village of Webster’s most historic and stately buildings: the Harmony House at 58 East Main St., which celebrates its 125th birthday this year.  

The Harmony House earned its musical nickname from its best-known tenants, the Chorus of the Genesee. However, the building is officially known as the Webster Grange Hall, and was built in 1899 as a meeting place for Webster Grange #436. The lot was purchased for $450, chosen for its location near the heart of the business district, where it had direct access to the railroad via Kircher Park. 

The Webster Grange was one of the largest and most important local organizations in the history of the town and village of Webster. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, when Webster was primarily an agricultural community, the Grange served an important role in bringing farm families together for education, entertainment, and social gatherings. It was said to have been the largest Grange in the country; by 1930 the organization had 1,046 members (out of a town population of 4,778) and was said to have been the largest local Grange in the world. 

In addition to the regular Grange meetings, the Hall was rented out for a wide variety of community events through the years including dances, movie nights, minstrel shows, festivals and a flea market. In June 1952, the Church of the Good Shepherd also started holding services there.

The Chorus of the Genesee entered the picture in March 1974 when the Rochester Chapter of the Society for the Preservation and Encouragement of Barber Shop Quartet Singing in America purchased the building for $45,000. The Chorus has continued to call the Grange – Harmony House – home for the last 50 years. The building also still functions as headquarters for the Webster Grange. 

The Grange Hall’s design and layout remain virtually unchanged in the last 125 years, and it’s recently been placed on the State and National Registers of Historic Places. But it is definitely showing its age, and funds are being raised right now to begin much-needed renovations. 

You can help by attending the annual Harmony in the House joint performance by the Chorus of the Genesee and Rochester Rhapsody, Saturday May 18 at 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. For more information, visit the Harmony House on Facebook or call 585-259-3094.

Discover more fascinating bits of local history at the Webster Museum, 18 Lapham Park in the Village of Webster. It’s open Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays from 2 to 4:30 p.m. Visit the website at webstermuseum.org.    

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

You can also get email notifications every time I post a new blog by using the “Subscribe” link on the right side of this page (or all the way at the bottom of the page if you’re on your phone).

(posted 5/15/2024)

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Harmony in the House returns next weekend

10 May

Two of Rochester’s premier a cappella choruses (which both hail from little ol’ Webster) — the Chorus of the Genesee and Rochester Rhapsody — will join forces (and voices) on Saturday May 18 for “Harmony in the House,” a musical treat featuring both choruses and seven different a cappella ensembles. The choruses will perform two 90-minute shows, singing together and separately, and quartets from both groups will fill your heart with a variety of musical favorites.

In addition to the beautiful music, there’ll be door prizes, raffles, a bar, snacks, and plenty of free parking.

It’s a harmony-filled musical treat which all happens at the beautiful, historic Harmony House, 58 East Main St. in the Village of Webster, home to the Chorus of the Genesee for 50 years. Shows will be held at 2 p.m. and 5 p.m., and tickets are just $20. Click here for tickets, and feel free to add an extra donation (please and thank you) to benefit the Harmony House Renovation Project.

Find out more on the Facebook event page here.

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

You can also get email notifications every time I post a new blog by using the “Subscribe” link on the right side of this page (or all the way at the bottom of the page if you’re on your phone).

(posted 5/10/2024)

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Grand opening this Friday will celebrate new village hair salon

18 Apr

The community is invited this Friday evening to welcome the village’s newest salon, Shear Inspiration, to 33 North Ave.

Jessica Warren, who has worked for Robyn Whittaker at Beyond Cuts Salon for five years, will be introducing her new salon to the community at her grand opening celebration, Friday April 19 from 5 to 8 p.m.

The event will have food, drinks, a photo booth, door prize raffles, giant Jenga, giant connect four, tabletop cornhole, goodie bags (first-come, first-served) and more. If the weather’s nice, look for some of the games outside. There will also be some ASL interpreters from RIT there to bridge the communication gap for deaf visitors if needed. The door will be open, so stop in anytime between 5 and 8 p.m., and stay as long as you want.

Don’t fear!!! This does not mean that Robyn is leaving the business. This is more of an administrative move. Even though the Beyond Cuts name is no longer over the door, rest assured that Robyn will still be there to serve her own faithful clients under the Shear Inspiration roof. So stop by and say hi to both Jessica and Robyn Friday night.

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

You can also get email notifications every time I post a new blog by using the “Subscribe” link on the right side of this page (or all the way at the bottom of the page if you’re on your phone).

(posted 4/18/2024)

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Webster community mailbag

17 Mar

Couple of events coming up at the Webster Arboretum on Schlegel Rd. in the coming weeks. The first is a special event for Eclipse Day, April 8.

Beginning at 11 a.m., the Arboretum is planning a day-long event when the Curry building will be open with complimentary hot and cold beverages. There’ll be a poetry reading at noon, featuring Jennifer Maloney and Jonathan Everitt, who will share some of their original works. Afterwards, community members will be invited to present some of their own poetry. (In the case of inclement weather, the readings will be moved to the Curry building.)

The eclipse itself will begin at about 2:07 p.m., and community members are encouraged to bring their lawn chairs, blankets and solar eclipse glasses to relax and enjoy the event surrounded by the beautifully landscaped park, away from noise and light pollution.

Also at the Webster Arboretum, on Tuesday April 23 at 7 p.m., longtime Webster beekeeper Mike Kopeki will answer the question, “The Queen Must Die and Drones Too …WHY? ”  

Mike will be joined by Kevin Gorman, who raises queen honeybees, and Amy Stringer, beekeeper and owner of the North Bee honey shop in the Village of Webster. The three presenters will discuss a variety of topics all about bees and beekeeping.  

No registration or fee is required.  Meet at the Curry Building in the Webster Arboretum, 1700 Schlegel Road.

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The spring musical season concludes this coming weekend when Webster Thomas Theater presents Shrek the Musical in four performances, Thursday March 21 through Saturday March 23.

The cast is led by Marcello Serventi as Shrek, Alyssa Walsh as Fiona, Matteo Serventi as Donkey, and Jamie McCarthy as Farquaad, joined by a cast, crew and pit orchestra totaling 55 Titans.

The award-winning Broadway musical — based on the wildly popular DreamWorks film — is perfect for the entire family. It will take the Webster Thomas stage on Thursday, Friday and Saturday March 21-23 at 7 p.m., and a matinee performance on Saturday at 1 p.m. Reserve-seat tickets are $14 and can be purchased here (search for “Webster Thomas Theater”).

Webster Thomas High School is located at 800 Five Mile Line Rd.

I’ll be posting much more about this show in the next few days, so stay tuned.

***

Attention all Swifties!

LaLa of Webster is planning a Taylor Swift event with music, merchandise, crafts and raffles on Saturday April 13, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. It’s a great way to get ready for Taylor’s new album, The Tortured Poets Department on April 19. Participants are asked to bring a can of cat food to donate to a local cat shelter/rescue.

Details are still coming together, but you can stay on top of the latest by visiting the Facebook event page here.

Here’s something I’m working on for a longer blog, but you’ll want to know about now to mark your calendars.

Ruff Day Pet Resort has settled into their brand new digs on Gravel Rd. and will be celebrating with a Grand Reopening “Spring Fling” Party and fundraiser for homeless pets.

Ruff Day offers standard and luxury lodging options for pups to spend a weekend or a day to play. They offer training, boarding, daycare and spa services. 

On Saturday April 13 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., visitors can meet the staff, take a tour of the new facility, enjoy refreshments, meet adoptable puppies from local rescues, and more.

Ruff Day is located at 1085 Gravel Rd., Webster. More to come about this great event.

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

You can also get email notifications every time I post a new blog by using the “Subscribe” link on the right side of this page (or all the way at the bottom of the page if you’re on your phone).

(posted 3/17/2024)

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It’s official: another Irish pub is moving into 2 West Main

8 Mar

Perfectly timed for the St. Patrick’s Day season, here’s some great news about 2 West Main St. in Webster Village, the former Barry’s Old School Irish:

Another great Irish pub is moving in.

Before the end of this year, Mark and Kelly Petzing, members of the Shamrock Jack’s family, will be opening a wee Irish pub of their own.

I spoke to Mark recently, who sounded very excited to be fulfilling what he said has been a longtime dream. Having worked in the restaurant business since he was 10 years old, he said that having “a tiny pub of my own” is something he’s always wanted to do.

He’s well acquainted with that corner, too. Webster residents themselves, he and Kelly often visited Barry’s, and Mark even bartended at Burke’s many years ago.

“Danny and Jess Barry did a great job,” he said. “I don’t want to compete with that,” adding that his pub will look different, however. The design will feature a lot of brickwork, there’ll be a longer bar, and the bathrooms will be moved a bit. They’ll be taking out the gardens to expand seating on the patio, and Mark’s even considering putting in some garage doors which can be opened in the summer.

They haven’t decided on a name yet, but some of the ideas reflect that it will have a “wee bit of everything” — a little music, a small menu, several Irish beers and local brews, and whiskeys and bourbons.

The remodeling process has only just begun. The place has been gutted to the studs and tape on the floor indicates where the new bar will be located. How long all of the renovations will take is still a question, but Mark estimates perhaps four to six months.

So there won’t be dancers and bagpipers and Irish fiddlers at the village’s four corners for this year’s St. Patrick’s Day celebrations. But rest assured, next year the Guinness will be flowing at our new Irish pub.

“We’re very excited to be in the village,” Mark said. “We can’t wait to be part of the neighborhood.”  

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

You can also get email notifications every time I post a new blog by using the “Subscribe” link on the right side of this page (or all the way at the bottom of the page if you’re on your phone).

(posted 3/8/2024)

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Woodland Silkscreen just got an upgrade

6 Mar

Have you stopped into Woodland Silkscreen & Embroidery in the Village of Webster recently? If you haven’t, you’ll want to check it out, because owner Laurie Read has been making some changes, and the place is looking really great.

Laurie moved into the former tattoo shop at 5 West Main (lower level) about three years ago, relocating from her longtime location on Rt. 104 in Ontario. (Click here to read the blog I wrote after she settled in.) It’s taken a while, but she’s FINALLY gotten rid of all of the tattoo-themed decorations on the walls and behind the counter. She’s replaced and re-positioned the worn-out counter, repainted everywhere and is repairing the ceiling.

Basically, Laurie said, she’d tried to “class it up a little.” The result is a much more professional, much more inviting shop where patrons are greeted by tasteful decorations, stunning artwork and a BIG fish tank with some BIG fish (who WILL stare back at you when you stare at them).

And while screen printing is still the biggest part of her business, Laurie is also introducing a nice selection of retail items, including a variety of t-shirts (long and short-sleeved), sweatshirts and other clothing items, embroidered with all sorts of fanciful designs, or pre-printed. She’s already got lots of St. Patrick’s Day and Buffalo Bills items on a rack in the lobby, but she’ll be happy to make one up to your order.

There’s also a small table with hand creams, and — soon — small teddy bears with Webster Thomas and Schroeder t-shirts.

And, by the way, Laurie is still your local connection for some of the finest “everything” sauces I’ve ever had. The “OHHH LORDEE” sauces range from sweet and tangy to blazing hot, and while you can still pick one up at the shop, it’s better to look for them at one of the 30 locations all around the area (including most Tops Friendly Markets).

Lots of great reasons to stop by Woodland. Not to mention, Laurie will always welcome you with a smile.

Woodland Silkscreen & Embroidery is located at 5 West Main St. (lower level across from the gazebo). The shop is open 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, other times by appointment. For more information, visit the website or Facebook page or call (585) 265-3060.

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

You can also get email notifications every time I post a new blog by using the “Subscribe” link on the right side of this page (or all the way at the bottom of the page if you’re on your phone).

(posted 3/6/2024)

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We won! Webster awarded $4.5 million grant

27 Feb

Have you heard the big news?

The ultimate goals are to create an active downtown, enhance accessibility and walk-ability for residents and visitors, provide flexible space for cultural events, provide amenities to enhance downtown living, and rejuvenate economic development along Main Street.

As a result of many, many months of hard work by the Webster Economic Development Alliance (WEDA) and lots of community input, the Village of Webster has been selected by Governor Kathy Hochul as one of just two Finger Lakes communities to receive a portion of the grants being awarded through the NY Forward community revitalization program. The Village of Webster and the Town of Macedon will each receive $4.5 million as this year’s Finger Lakes region NY Forward winners.

As part of the competition process, the Village worked with the Town of Webster, Webster Central School District and the Business Improvement District (BID) to submit an application outlining the village’s vision to improve the downtown business district. During the process, WEDA provided tons of opportunities for community input to gather resident opinions on what the grant money should be used for. If you attended one of these events, you may remember large maps with sticky notes you could place on the areas you thought should be improved.

Officially, the WEDA explains that “the Village of Webster’s downtown revitalization project seeks to create a thriving Main Street which seamlessly blends modern sustainability with the historic character of our community.” More specifically, a few of the projects under consideration are things like improving Veterans Park (including replacing the gazebo with a larger band shell), creating a flexible event space behind the firehouse, and various streetscape improvements in the center of the village.

The next steps will begin with the creation of a Local Planning Committee, consisting of municipal representatives, community leaders and other stakeholders, supported by a team of private sector experts and state planners. The committee will identify projects that most align with the community’s vision and are poised for implementation. There will be many opportunities for community input before the final projects are selected for funding, so stay tuned for those.

Upon accepting the award, WEDA Executive Director Matt Chatfield said,

The Village and the Webster Economic Development Alliance are prepared, energized, and steadfast in their desire to bolster growth and investment in our downtown business district. With the support of the NY Forward Program we are now ready to launch the next phase of our prosperous future, to be accomplished through coordination, partnership and dedication from the entire community – leadership, local business, and citizens. We are thankful for the generous support of Governor Hochul and the Finger Lakes Regional Economic Development Council, as we work together in the spirit of cooperation to make Webster a community of choice in Upstate New York.

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

You can also get email notifications every time I post a new blog by using the “Subscribe” link on the right side of this page (or all the way at the bottom of the page if you’re on your phone).

(posted 2/27/2024)

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An update from Danny and Jess Barry

9 Feb

It happens to me at least once a week these days. I’m chatting with someone, and they ask me something like, “So, what do you know about Barry’s? When is it going to open again?” And more often than not they’d pass along some theory or rumor which answered their own question.

A few days ago, I determined to track down the REAL answer by going straight to the source. I called Danny and Jess and asked them to clear up the issue once and for all. Have they made any decisions on where the new Barry’s Old School Irish will be, and when it might open?

Their answer? In a word, no.

They DID tell me they “have some feelers out,” and a “lot of people looking” for the new space. But basically, Danny and Jess are not much closer to finding their pub’s forever home than they were when they closed Barry’s Old School Irish five months ago.

They get the same question all the time, of course. But they also often have people tell them, in no uncertain terms, “I know where you’re going.”

Danny laughed when he told me that, and said he responds, “OK, fill me in.”

Even though plans are still not set in stone, their hopes for the new pub haven’t changed much. They want a building they can own outright. They want it to be larger, yet still maintain the intimacy that Barry’s Old School Irish has become known for. And they definitely want to stay as close to 2 West Main St. as possible.

In the meantime, however, Danny and Jess continue to work hard promoting their new Barry’s Irish Cream Liqueur, traveling all over the state to hold tastings in liquor stores and pubs.

“We’re super thankful about how great the Irish Cream is going,” Danny said, attributing its success in large part to their loyal Barry’s Pub family, who have come out in droves to purchase it and ask for it to be stocked in their local stores. It’s folks like these, who remain loyal to the pub family, that continue to fill their hearts with gratitude every day.

“One of the things that’s been super nice is how we’ve been able to reflect on how amazing the last 12 years have been,” Danny said, “to go over the people and moments that have happened. … People built (the pub) with us. The least we can do is return the favor.”

“We’re excited for the future.”

Whether you’re a Barry’s regular or have only stopped in once or twice, you’ll like this next bit of news Danny and Jessica passed along: the 5th Annual Barry’s Irish Festival will (hopefully) be held at the Webster Firemen’s Field, just outside the Village of Webster. They’re still trying to figure out when exactly it will be, since several summer weekend dates are already unavailable, so stay tuned for more about that.

This is great news for all of the Webster locals who have come to love the festival — and Barry’s Old School Irish. It means that later this summer, we’ll be able to raise a pint with the Barrys again … albeit down the road a bit. In the meantime, Danny and Jess hope to hold some smaller events — kind of like mini-Barry’s family reunions — so that we can all get together again as we await for news on Barry’s Old School Irish 2.0.

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Also, HUGE congratulations to Danny and Jess Barry for being named this year’s Irish Business Leaders of the year by the Rochester St. Patrick’s Day Parade Committee. Watch for their whole family marching in the parade!

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

You can also get email notifications every time I post a new blog by using the “Subscribe” link on the right side of this page (or all the way at the bottom of the page if you’re on your phone).

(posted 2/10/2024)

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Finns Garage is under new ownership

24 Jan

These days, it can be hard to find a mechanic who’ll do a good job at a reasonable price and not try to up-sell you on every little thing.

We were fortunate to find one of those trustworthy mechanics when we moved to the Village of Webster four years ago: Finns Automotive at 45 East Main Street. So when I got the email from owner Kevin Finn that after 20 years in business he had sold the shop, I got a little panicky.

But then I walked down there, chatted with Kevin about his decision and met the new owner, James Robinson. When I left, I was feeling much better.

Kevin and his wife Susan have actually been thinking about selling the business for the last three years and have been actively looking for a new owner most of that time.

“I felt it was time,” Kevin said, “as long as I was healthy and we were able to financially do it. … We’re looking forward to some other endeavors. For me it includes spending time with the BID (Webster’s Business Improvement District) in addition to some other volunteer work.” He and Susan are also looking forward to having more time to visit with family and friends and doing some traveling.

The shop’s new owner, James Robinson, is actually a longtime Finns Automotive customer. He brings to the business a 24-year history of working with cars, beginning when he was just 14 years old, and he studied automotive mechanics at MCC. He plans to “keep (the shop) the same as it is,” especially looking forward to working with all of the customers who have come to trust Finns to take care of their vehicles.

And as a sign of that trust, he’ll be keeping the “Finns Automotive” name.

Kevin Finn has already received a lot of handshakes and pats on the back in support of his decision, and with thanks for being a valued part of the Village of Webster business community. He’s planning to be at the shop for several more weeks, so stop in to congratulate him and say hello to James.

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

You can also get email notifications every time I post a new blog by using the “Subscribe” link on the right side of this page (or all the way at the bottom of the page if you’re on your phone).

(posted 1/24/2024)

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