I don’t usually post two blogs in the same day, but I found out some exciting news yesterday.
I happened upon the Uncle Buck’s food truck serving up dinners at the Joe Obbie Farmers’ Market at Charles Sexton Park, where Geoff and Carrie Buckert told me that they’re finally ready to open the doors of their new scratch kitchen to the public.
Well, kind of.
They’re starting out slow, for now opening just one day a week, for their Fish Fry Fridays(and more)! Every Friday (starting this week, July 21), you can get a battered or broiled fish fry, their famous boardwalk fries (or baked potato) and coleslaw for $17. Or if fish isn’t your thing, there will be several other items on the menu each week. Check out this week’s menu below.
The fish fries will be served from 4:30 to 8:30, and I have a feeling they’re going to be very popular, so you might want to call ahead.
Uncle Buck’s is located at 9 South Ave., in the former Carl’s Pizza Kitchen location. For more information, check out their website or Facebook page.
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The Webster Business Improvement District (BID) has a few great events on the schedule this weekend, and has just announced the exciting return in September of the Bed Race!
First up is the next Friday Night Concert at the gazebo on North Ave. This week’s concert features Tom Keefer and Celtic Cross, a Celtic rock band playing music from Ireland and Scotland. Celtic Cross is a regular visitor to Barry’s Old School Irish, so you may have seen them there and already know that they pack a lot of energy.
Next Friday, the Friday night concert will feature the Beatles tribute band 8 Days a Week. Visit the Webster BID website for additional dates.
This Saturday night July 22, mark your calendar for the BID’s first Family Games Night. In the past, these very popular family fun nights took place on Main Street, but this one has moved to Gazebo Park, where the Friday night concerts happen.
There will be plenty for both kids and adults to enjoy, including Zumba for the kids (and adults), some fun activities from Roc Dance, sidewalk chalk, giant Jenga, giant Connect Four, Cornhole and more.
It all happens Saturday from 4 to 7 p.m. at Gazebo Park.
AND THIS JUST IN!
Details have just been announced for the Bed Race, which is returning to East Main Street on Sept. 16. Here’s the announcement from the BID website:
The Bed Race is back!! Grab 4 friends or family members as runners and one “sleeper”(5 people total) and construct a bed to race an obstacle course on East Main St in the Village of Webster. Hosted by the Business Improvement District along with Webster Rotary, Webster Lions Club and Webster Kiwanis, this event is to help raise money for the Webster Community Chest. Merchants on Main St will also be celebrating with a Sidewalk Sale on the day of the event. The Junior event is for ages 14-19 years and will be run separately from the senior event.
I’ll post more details soon, but in the meantime, visit the BID website for rules and registration information.
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Despite a heavy downpour earlier in the day and some rather threatening clouds in the west around parade time, the weather was pretty spectacular for this year’s Firemen’s Parade Thursday night. Thousands of people lined Main Street to watch the annual spectacle.
The parade, which lasted about 75 minutes, was heavy on fire trucks and emergency vehicles, much to the delight of the children in the audience. Several local businesses and community agencies also took part, throwing candy by the handful along the way — much to the delight of the children in the audience.
As usual, I took a few photos. Click here for a full gallery.
The Village of Webster is charming pretty much all year, but it’s particularly beautiful during the summer months.
This time of year the flower beds are in full bloom, the big planters lining the streets have grown tall, and the hanging baskets on the light poles are overflowing with color. The Village Hall gardens are looking spectacular, as are the flowering shrubs and gardens down at the little pocket park at North Ave. and Rt. 104, welcoming visitors to the village.
Maintaining all of these plantings takes a lot of time and effort. On my morning walks I often see the watering guy puttering around town in his golf cart, diligently poking a watering wand up into each and every planter and hanging basket.
So thank you, Village employees for keeping our little corner of the world so beautiful. Your efforts are appreciated.
I heard some news the other day about one of our village’s newest businesses, Revelle’s Home Decor, and it’s kind of a good news/bad news situation.
The GOOD news is that business is good for Revelle’s. The BAD news is that means they’ve already outgrown their new place on East Main Street.
Revelle’s Home Decor only opened two months ago at 5 East Main, right next to the (also brand new) M.O. Pasta. I stopped in there several times and always had a wonderful chat with owner Peggy Revelle, who clearly was looking forward to becoming an integral part of the local business scene and participating in Village events.
So the loss of Revelle’s is really a loss for the village. But, as I said, this is good news for the family-owned business. Clearly, business has been so good that they’ve already realized they need more space for all the things they want to do, including featuring more new furniture and local crafters and vendors. Peggy also said their paint parties have really taken off, and they need a lot more space for them.
Revelle’s has already found a new space in Ontario at 1864 Rt. 104 East, less than a mile east of Ontario Center Rd.
In anticipation of the move, Revelle’s Home Decor’s Webster Village store is now closed. But in just a few weeks — sometime in August — you can visit their much bigger shop in Ontario, just 10 minutes down Rt. 104.
In the meantime, another business is already planning to move into the empty Revelle’s space, so stay tuned for news about that.
The Village of Webster summer season officially kicks off this Friday July 7 with the first in the Friday Night Gazebo Concert series, featuring the Red Hot and Blue Band.
RHB plays Americana, Roots, and Blues Rock music that will get you dancing and bring back a lot of great memories.
The concerts begin at 7 p.m. at the gazebo on North Ave. and admission is free. Bring the whole family, some folding chairs and a blanket, and a cooler if you’d like, then enjoy some beautiful music.
Here’s a quick look at what else is being planned in the village this summer. For more information about all of these events and more, visit websterbid.com.
We are seeing more Webster households in need of assistance with food and hygiene items. Therefore, we are having a food and garage sale donation drive-up on Saturday, July 22 from 10-noon.
Hope volunteers will be collecting items behind Holy Trinity Church, 1460 Ridge Road, near the Knights of Columbus building. Tax receipts available on request. We suggest entering from Phillips Road, and drop-off for garage sale and food donations will be on your right. You don’t even need to leave your car.
Garage sale is scheduled for Sept. 13 to 16. More to come about that.
That same evening, Saturday July 22, Hope is holding a fundraiser at the Panera restaurant in Towne Center Plaza, from 4 to 8 p.m. Just mention Webster Hope as you order and Hope will receive a donation to help low-income Webster residents.
Covid couldn’t deter the Class of ’71
Thanks to the pandemic, the RL Thomas Class of ’71 had to postpone their 50th reunion. But undeterred, they they decided to throw themselves a 70th birthday party instead.
The event was held on Saturday June 24 at Schutt’s Apple Mill, and featured food trucks, two alumni bands, a cornhole tournament, foosball tables, horseshoes, hay rides, and a memorabilia table. More than 160 folks attended, and for six hours played games and did a lot of talking and reminiscing.
Thanks to Dave Eckler for the report and photos!
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.
These concerts benefit local nonprofit organizations. The first one, scheduled for Wednesday July 12, will feature Allegro, and proceeds will benefit the Webster Hope Food Pantry. (See the flier below for the whole schedule.)
There’s no admission, but each week the church collects a free-will offering benefiting that week’s chosen non-profit organization.
The concerts all begin at 6:30 p.m., and food concessions begin at 6. The concerts are held on the United Church of Christ front lawn, at 570 Klem Rd. (In case of rain it’s moved indoors.)
For more information about the concerts, click here.
More concerts, more concerts, more concerts
The Summer Concert Series at Cherry Ridge is in full swing. The next concert is scheduled for Tuesday July 11, from 6:30 to 8 p.m., featuring Eight Days a Week. The concerts are held outside, and the grounds open up at 5 p.m. with food available for purchase. So bring your lawn chair and enjoy some beautiful music.
On August 8, the GateSwingers Big Band will perform, also beginning at 6:30 p.m.
When the orange water barrels, rolls of snow fencing and trash bins start showing up at Firemen’s Field, you know it’s almost time for the carnival.
Without a doubt, the highlights of the Webster summer event schedule are the Firemen’s Carnival and parade. This year’s carnival is scheduled for Wednesday July 12 through Saturday July 15, with the parade on Thursday night.
You can check out all the details about what will be happening — and when — at the NEJFD website and Carnival Facebook page but here are some of the highlights:
Wednesday July 12:
Craft Beer Night in the Beer Tent
Thursday July 13:
Firemen’s Parade begins at 6:30 p.m.
North Forty plays in the Beer Tent
Friday July 14:
Zac Brown Tribute Band plays in the Beer Tent
Saturday July 15:
Kiddie Parade at noon, beginning at Spry Middle School
Rich the Magic Man entertains at the fairgrounds
Free kids’ bike and grill raffle
Knight Patrol playing in the Beer Tent
Fireworks at midnight
And of course, games, rides and food every night. Admission is free, and to save money on rides, you can buy advance sale tickets through the Carnival Facebook page. You’ll also want to follow that page for more details and regular updates.
Summer is officially upon us, and Webster has teed up a whole schedule of live music, festivals and special events.
But first, this important community event: The Webster Health Education Network (WHEN) is sponsoring a drug take-back event on Saturday June 24 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Webster Wastewater Treatment Facility , 226 Phillips Rd. This is your chance to safely dispose of unused, expired or unwanted medications. Only pills will be accepted; please no liquids or sharps.
And since we’re talking about doing good things for our community, here’s Webster HOPE’s Home’s June Wish List:
canned pineapple
canned beets
dish soap
laundry detergent
cooking oil
ketchup, mayonnaise
shampoos and conditioner
diapers (size 4 and 5)
Webster HOPE is located at 1450 Ridge Rd., and open Monday from 5 to 7 p.m., Tuesday from 10 a.m. to noon, Wednesday from 3 to 5 p.m. and Thursday from 5 to 7 p.m.
Schutt’s Apple Mill‘s Summer Celebration returns on Saturday July 1 from 5 to 8 p.m.
This is a great family-friendly event complete with a food truck, ice cream, a bounce house, magic show, animals, face painting, wagon rides and lots more.
There’s a charge for some of the activities, but there’s lots of free stuff for everyone.
Schutt’s is located at 1063 Plank Rd.
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The Summer Concert Series at Cherry Ridge is in full swing. The next concert is scheduled for Tuesday July 11, from 6:30 to 8 p.m., featuring Eight Days a Week. The concerts are held outside, and the grounds open up at 5 p.m. with food available for purchase. So bring your lawn chair and enjoy some beautiful music.
On August 8, the GateSwingers Big Band will perform, also beginning at 6:30 p.m.
The Friday Night Gazebo Concert series in the Village of Webster is coming together. Here’s the schedule:
July 7: The Red Hot and Blue Band
July 21: Celtic Cross
July 28: Eight Days a Week
The concerts run from 7 to 9 p.m. in Veterans Memorial Park on North Ave. in the village, and are free. Bring a lawn chair and blanket and a cooler if you’d like! Information about more concerts as they’re added can be found at websterbid.com
These concerts benefit local nonprofit organizations through free-will donations. The first one will feature Allegro, and proceeds will benefit the Webster Hope Food Pantry. The rest of the summer features:
July 19: Ruby Shooz
July 26: Prime Time Brass
Aug. 2: Dady and Ryan
Aug. 9: 8 Days a Week
There’s no admission charge, but each week the church collects a free-will offering benefiting that week’s chosen non-profit organization.
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On July 22, mark your calendars for the Summer Splash Family Event from 3 to 5 p.m. at First Responders Splash Park, on Chiyoda Drive next door to the Rec Center. If you’ve never been to this spray park before, you owe your children a chance to check it out because it’s good for hours of water fun. The event will include a bubble foam machine and Rich the Magic Man, plus FREE Snowie Ice sponsored by Gleason Orthodontics.
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The 50th annual Waterfront Art Festival returns on Saturday and Sunday July 29 and 30 at Charles E. Sexton Park (formerly North Ponds). It’s open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, and features quality fine art and crafts stretching all along the park’s beautiful, shaded pathways.
There’s live music, food vendors, free alcohol tastings, dozens of local artisans and plenty of free parking. Admission is only $5, with children 12 and under free.
Looking ahead to August, mark your calendars for the Webster Jazz Fest, scheduled for Friday and Saturday August 18 and 19. More information to come about that, but you can check out details in the meantime as they’re posted at websterbid.com.
The Village of Webster will welcome another new business in July, when Uncle Buck’s Catering Companyopens at 9 South Ave., in the former Carl’s Pizza Kitchen location.
The new restaurant, which owners Geoff and Carrie Buckert call their “scratch kitchen,” is the culmination of a whirlwind year for the young couple.
A little more than a year ago, on Mother’s Day 2022, the Buckerts bought a food truck. They already had a well-established and very successful catering operation, and a food truck seemed like a natural next step. Their thinking was that they’d run the truck part-time, and do a little catering on the side.
But life had other plans.
They quickly realized how fast their businesses were growing and how much more they wanted to do. In a blink of an eye, the catering and food truck business became Geoff’s full-time job, and Carrie found a job as a school nurse so she could have summers off.
Then Geoff heard that the Carl’s Pizza Kitchen location on South Ave. would soon be available. Business was booming, so opening their own scratch kitchen, kind of a nerve center for the operation, just seemed like a natural next step.
Which is how, just about a month ago — again on Mother’s Day — they signed the lease for their first scratch kitchen.
There’s still a lot of painting and cleaning to do, but Geoff and Carrie are trying to have their restaurant open by the middle of July, hopefully in time for the Firemen’s Carnival and parade. When they do, customers will find the food truck menu they’ve come to know and love, featuring specialty sandwiches and all the sides (and their famous Boardwalk Fries). But now with a brick-and-mortar kitchen, the menu can expand to include things like fish fries and soups, all made from scratch, fresh to-order, with their own homemade stocks and sauces.
The kitchen will be open for take-out and limited inside and outside dining. In the meantime, the food truck and catering company will continue full-speed ahead.
Geoff and Carrie, both Webster Thomas grads and current Webster residents, are thrilled to be setting up their scratch kitchen in the village.
“The biggest thing,” Geoff said, “is being where we grew up and where we have our family. That’s why we like it so much about being here. And it’s ours. It’s not anyone else’s.”
When they open in July, let’s be sure to stop in and let them know we’re happy they’re here, too. Stay tuned for more information about their opening date, but in the meantime you can visit their Facebook page or website to stay up to date.
The Village of Webster’s business scene just keeps getting better, with the opening of another new shop on East Main St.
Oh Bella Co, located at 24 East Main, is a charming shop featuring clothing items and accessories especially for young women, but really perfect for most any age.
Owner Isabella Proietti is excited to bring her store to the village, after operating an online shop for five years.
“I’ve always wanted to open a retail shop,” she said. “I like the personal connections you can make. Online for clothing is a little hard because no one can feel the material and try it on. … Although I’ve done well online, I think it would be awesome to have a space, have people come in, talk to them,” she added.
A lifelong Webster resident, Isabella is especially excited to have found what she calls “the perfect space” right on Main Street.
Isabella describes her offerings as
kind of based on my style. I love traveling. I’ve been to different boutiques in Boston and Florida. So it’s a weird mix of beach vibe with a city Boston-girl vibe. I have both of those styles so I’m going to mix them. Cute and comfortable, based on what I look for when I go to the store, with lots of different options, for all ages.
Even though the storefront has been vacant for several years, she and her very helpful family members didn’t have to do too much to fix it up. Just some painting, updating the restroom and installing the changing areas. This week she’s been working hard to get all of the clothing racks set up and her merchandise tagged and ready to go.
That will officially happen this Saturday morning June 3 when Oh Bella has its grand opening celebration — complete with ribbon cutting ceremony — beginning at 10 a.m. The rest of the day, shoppers can browse Oh Bella’s charming selection of clothing and accessories, and grab some delicious desserts and treats made by @OliviaBrynCakes while you shop. Madison Sophia Jewelry will also be on hand with a selection of her beautiful jewelry items.
Take a moment to stop in on Saturday to welcome Oh Bella to the village!
I feature the people and places and events that make Webster the wonderful community it is — and throw in some totally-not-Webster-related personal ramblings every once in a while as well.
I love it when readers send me news about the great things happening in their schools or the community, so please email me anytime at missyblog@gmail.com
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