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Webster community mailbag

14 Oct

Some news from the Webster Public Library to start out this week’s mailbag.

The Artist’s Wall display this month highlights the Greater Rochester Peep Show, an annual fund-raising event which benefits the Webster Community Chest and other participating charities.

The event features hundreds of whimsical and creative works of art made almost entirely of Peeps marshmallow candies. Next time you’re at the library, stop by the wall to read more about the event and see photos of some of the entries from previous years.

Two very interesting programs are coming up just for adults:

On Tuesday Oct. 19, Webster resident Rosemarie Cook-Manley will present a travelogue from her recent trip to Yosemite, Kings Canyon and Sequoia national parks. The program will run from 2 to 3 p.m. Click here to register.

Then on Wednesday Oct. 20 from 3 to 4 p.m., Webster Museum president Tom Pellett will present a program on Civil War Veterans of the Five Webster Cemeteries. Click here to register for that one. Space is limited.

Other events coming up this month at the library:

  • Monday Oct. 18: Make it Monday, from 6 to 7 p.m., a craft night for adults and kids grades 4 and up. This month’s craft is a DIY Sharpie mug.
  • Tuesday Oct. 26: Spooky Storytime from 10 to 10:30 a.m. Feel free to wear your Halloween costume.
  • Friday Oct. 29: After-hours Halloween Party for grades 4 to 12, from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Features snacks, crafts, games, a costume contest and more.
  • Sunday Oct, 31: Library Trick-or Treat Night, for the whole family. Slots are available between 11 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. to trick-or-treat through the library.

For more information about all the programs and to register, visit the “Library Events” tab at the library website. The Webster Public Library is located at 980 Ridge Rd., at the back side of the plaza.

One last reminder about this Saturday’s Webster Village Family Games Night/Beer Garden.

This time the evening will have an Oktoberfest theme, featuring The Krazy Firemen Oktoberfest band. The event begins at 5 p.m. on West Main, with the live music all evening, street games, a dance party with Dancing With Denise, crafts, food and games, and more. It should be a great night to get together with family and friends. There’ll be something for everyone.

St. Martin Lutheran Church on Bay Rd. will host a pulled pork drive-through BBQ on Saturday Oct. 23, from 4:30 until they sell out.

The take-out dinner includes pulled pork, roll, salt potatoes, cole slaw and cookie for just $10. Proceeds will support the church’s annual Christmas Stocking Project reaching over 500 children and teens in Monroe and Wayne counties.

Pull into the parking lot, place your order using exact payment, and the dinner will be delivered to you as you drive up in your car.

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

Here’s a fun note that came from the schools.

Last Friday, Webster Thomas High School Assistant Principal Jeremy McBride and students Jacob Loveland and Jacob Bieg went “Bald for Bucks.” The trio had their heads shaved tor raise money to fight cancer.

Each of the newly bald men has had at least one person they care about affected by cancer, so they decided to raise funds in the fight to eradicate the disease. The donations they collected will be donated to 13thirty Cancer of Rochester and Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center.

Here’s a sneak peek at at few things I’m working on (stay tuned!):

  • Yoga at the greehouse
  • Pumpkins on the path
  • A very Irish anniversary
  • Ghouls in the streets
  • Leaves at the curbs

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

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Webster community mailbag

6 Oct

The Village of Webster is hosting its third Family Game Night/Beer Garden on Saturday Oct. 16, and this one will be extra fun — it’s going to be an Oktoberfest, complete with a top-notch Oktoberfest band, the Krazy Firemen.

Activities start at 5 p.m. with lots of street games, food and drink. Dancing with Denise will be on hand to get the whole family up and dancing, there’ll be crafts for the kids and lots more. The Krazy Firemen will provide live music from 5 to 8 p.m.

This is a great chance to gather with friends and neighbors in a family atmosphere with something for all ages.

The Friends of the Public Library’s Fall Book Sale is returning next week.

This is one of the library’s biggest book sales, held over three days, Oct. 14 through 16. Not only will there be TONS of books to choose from, the Friends will have two special raffles to celebrate the return of this bigger book sale: one for a gorgeous handmade quilt and another for a pink Apple Watch SE. Tickets will be $5.

Click on the flyer for details about hours and specials.

Shoppers are asked to follow CDC guidelines while at the library sale, including masks and social distancing.

You definitely want to get your flu shot during these Covid times, and here’s an easy way to do it.

The Webster Public Library is hosting a flu shot clinic on Thursday Oct. 19 from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the library, 980 Ridge Rd. All vaccinations will be administered by a registered nurse, and no appointment is necessary.

Please remember to bring your insurance card!

The biannual Webster community blood drive returns next week.

The two-day drive will be held Wednesday Oct. 13 and Thursday Oct. 14, from noon to 7 p.m., both days at the Firemen’s Exempt Building, 172 Sanford St.

Appointments for this drive usually fill up pretty quickly, in large part because this is the Bruster’s drive; every presenting donor will get a coupon for a free ice cream cone at Bruster’s. Every donor will also get a $5 Amazon e-gift card.

Appointments are required to assure social distancing, so Click here to set one up, or call 1-800-REDCROSS (1-800-733-2767).

You’ll also want to mark your calendars for Oct. 16, when Webster’s very own Rochester Challenger Miracle Field will be featured in a half-hour program on Channel 8 at 7:30 p.m.

The special, which will feature highlights of Miracle Field, their programs, and many of the players and families, will double as a fundraiser. Stay tuned for more information about this exciting event.  

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

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Village HandWorks is weaving its way into Village life

29 Sep

Have you had a chance to stop by the village’s newest shop yet? Village HandWorks has been open for a few weeks now at 19 E. Main St., and owner Jenn Ratcliffe has really hit the ground running.

She’s got her first two classes on the schedule already (click here to visit her website) and they look like great fun. I mean, there are TEDDY BEARS involved!!!!

The first, this Saturday Oct. 2, is a “top-down” sweater class, taught by Leslie Bronson, a regionally known knitting instructor from Georgia. For $35, participants will get a pattern and class notes, as well as a brand new teddy bear, monkey, koala or sloth from the Bearington Collection, a $30 value in itself.

Participants will first knit a sweater for the chosen creature to understand the pattern, and then cast on and start knitting a sweater for a real human creature. The class will start at 9:30 and end about 4 p.m.

Some of the available critters are on display in the shop’s front window, and there are others inside. You can also see the critters on the Village HandWorks website under the “events” tab. To register, call or email the shop, or even better, stop in. You can pick up a pamphlet about the class while you’re there, with more information about Leslie Bronson. And if you REALLY like knitting for teddy bears, pop into Nest Things just down the street at 11 E. Main, where there are several other beautiful bears awaiting adoption. (Is it too early to start thinking Christmas presents?)

Jenn promises that even knitters with just a little experience knitting can make this sweater.

Leslie Bronson will also be on hand to teach a Spinning Cotton class on October 3. Details about both classes are on the website.

While Jenn’s managing the business, she’s also keeping up on her own skills. She reports that a few weeks ago she attended some classes at the John C. Campbell Folk School in Appalachian Mountains of North Carolina to “hone her marbling skills.” (See the example at the left.) She hopes to teach a class on that in October or November.

Jenn is also planning to keep the shop open late on Saturday Oct. 9, the village’s third Family Game Night/Oktoberfest. She’ll host a “Spin-In” for anyone who wants to try the art of spinning. (We’re talking fiber spinning, not “exercise-on-a-bike” spinning, so it will be a lot easier.) She’ll demonstrate how the wool that’s grown in our area, state and region is tranformed from from fleece to yarn. Plus, there will be a display of finished goods for people to see and feel the kind of soft items that can be produced from wool, wool blends and other fibers.

So much going on at Village HandWorks! Next time you’re in the village, stop on by and say hi. She’s at 19 E. Main, right next to The Village Quilt Shoppe. Here are some images from inside the shop:

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

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The Trick-or-Treat Trail is back!

28 Sep

I heard some great news yesterday: this year’s Village of Webster Trick-or-Treat Trail will return this year, on Saturday, Oct. 30. Since last year’s event had to be cancelled, and things are not COMPLETELY back to normal this year, I know people have been wondering.

I probably don’t have to tell you parents what this is all about, but for those of you new to the village…. Basically, for several hours on what is usually a beautiful autumn Saturday afternoon, children and their adults can wander the village, popping in and out of businesses, trick-or-treating. Full constumes are expected of course, and not just for the children! It’s always fun to see entire families dressed up, often as a common theme. (Click here for a photo gallery from 2019.)

Final details haven’t been announced yet, but usually the day starts with a costume contest at Village Hall, followed by two or three hours of trick-or-treating. The Webster Volunteer Fire Department and the Webster Museum both plan some special activities, and it’s a great chance to check out some of our newest village businesses.

As details are announced, you’ll find them on the BID website. But for now, start planning those costumes!

Details ARE almost finalized for the village’s third Family Fun and Games Night on Saturday Oct. 16 from 5 to 9 p.m. This time around, the BID has cooked up an Oktoberfest theme, complete with a German band. So put this one on your calendar too.

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

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The Music Store is closing, but music is not leaving the village

19 Sep

When The Music Store in the Village of Webster closes later this week, it doesn’t mean that music services will be leaving town … at least not for very long.  

John Bucci, owner of The Music Store, will be closing his doors for the last time this Thursday, Sept. 23. After 32 years running his East Main Street shop, working 10-hour days, six days a week, John has decided to move on to other challenges. (Click here to read more about John and his decision to close the shop.) 

But have no fear, music lovers, village music services will not be leaving entirely.  

Bob Storey, The Music Store’s longtime master repair technician, will be moving into the location, expanding from his 400-square-foot “office” in the building’s basement into the 3,000 square-foot storefront. Given all that extra space, he’s thinking about expanding his repair services beyond stringed instruments, and offer limited retail, including repair parts and accessories.

And even more exciting, very tentative plans are in the works to perhaps turn the front of the storefront into a coffee shop!

When Bob learned about John’s plans to close his business, it didn’t take him long to realize what he had to do.

“When John told us he was closing the store, it was a complete surprise,” he remembered. “But my brain went into overdrive. What are we going to do? Where are we going to get strings, where are we going to get picks? Where we gonna get straps?”

Then, he thought, “Wait a minute. Step up to the plate. Make it happen.” 

Like the hundreds of musicians young and old who have patronized The Music Store for decades, Bob knew how important it is to have a music store presence in the village. He knew that losing The Music Store would create a huge hole in the village music scene.

He said,

This town needs music. John can’t do it. He’s getting to a point where he’s got too much else in his life and it’s taking too much out of him…. So the cage door just opens up and he walks right out. I told him I want him to be able to pull the plug on the way out and I’ll plug it right back in after you leave. 

I want to keep music in this town. It’s too important. With all the weirdness and crap that goes on in our everyday lives, music is the one beautiful thing. We don’t even realize how important it is. It’s ubiquitous but we take it for granted. I want that to stay here.  

Bob hopes to have his new repair shop up and running by Oct. 1. If plans for the coffee shop can be worked out, he’d like to get that operating by the end of October.  

This is exciting news for the Village of Webster, but it’s still sad to see The Music Store closing. Long-time patrons are still having trouble coming to grips with the news. But I think we’re all happy to see that John is leaving on his own terms, not driven out by slow sales or the pandemic, and we wish him the best in his new endeavors.

I’m not a musician myself, so I’ve never done a whole lot of shopping there (except for gifts for my musician son). But I will especially miss seeing the beautiful decorations John put in his front window every Christmas: the shiny instruments and the model train chugging around the tracks, which reminded me of my childhood and certainly made many a memory for today’s children.

There’s still some time to catch some really good deals this week. Check out The Music Store Facebook page for details on the latest specials. And make sure to stop in this week to shake John’s hand and thank him for years of great service, great products, friendly atmosphere and support of all the musicians in our community.

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

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Webster Museum excitement, and other mailbag news

17 Sep

The Village of Webster’s latest turn on the local television news stations leads today’s mailbag.

Spectrum News recently got wind that the Webster Museum has just reopened, and reporter Wendy Mills visited several days ago to find out more. She met with Museum president Tom Pellett, from whom she got a thorough tour of the facility and a great interview.

The piece aired earlier this week on Spectrum, but has also been posted to the website, You can click here to see it.

And since we’re talking about the Webster Museum, now’s a great time to remind everyone that the museum’s annual Barn Sale is taking place this weekend, Friday and Saturday Sept. 17 and 18, at 394 Phillips Rd.

This really cool sale features vintage farm goods and furniture, toys, books, holiday goods, household goods, jewelry, glassware and more. You’re sure to find something to love.

The sale will run from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. both days, and everything is half price on Saturday — or you can fill a bag for $5. This is the museum’s biggest operating expense fundraiser, so stop on by, find a treasure, and help them out.

A few notes from the Town of Webster:

  • The Town’s spray parks are now closed for the season. We can hope that summer is not quite over yet, but even if it hits 90 again, the kids can’t cool off at the spray parks until next year.
  • If you’re tired of putting up with abandoned homes in your area, the Town of Webster has given you some recourse to get them taken care of. If you suspect a home in your neighborhood has been abandoned, you can report it to the Town using a link found at this website. The site will also give you more information on what actually contitutes an abandoned home.
  • The section of Lake Rd. between Shipbuilder’s Creek and Stoney Creek Run is now open again after completion of a three-month construction project. You can check the status of upcoming construction projects and road closures on the Town of Webster website.

Looking ahead to October, Rochester Challenger Miracle Field will host an Art Exhibit on Oct. 1 from 5 to 7:30 p.m. and Oct. 2 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., at CDS Life Transitions, 860 Hard Rd. in Webster. This will be a silent auction featuring artwork created by local artists with physical and developmental challenges.

The Pride of Webster, Webster Marching Band will hold its 35th annual Autumn Fanfare on Saturday Oct. 9 from 5 to 9 p.m. This is always a spectacular display of talent from several schools in the Greater Rochester area, and if you haven’t seen one of these shows before, you should attend this year. The theme is “Unbroken,” which should conjure up all sorts of special props and effects. More info to come as the date gets closer.

Also that same evening, the Village of Webster will host its third Family Game Night and Beer Garden on West Main St. More to come about this as well, but if you can’t make it to the Autumn Fanfare, put this on your calendars.

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

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Get down and muddy at the Rec Center!

16 Sep

I wasn’t planning to post a blog today, but when I was out on my bike ride this morning, I came across something fun.

My ride took me on the Chiyoda Trail which wraps around the back of the Webster Recreation Center. I saw that preparations were being made for this Saturday’s first-ever Mud Run. This is going to be a non-competitive, untimed, half-mile slog through water and mud, with some challenging obstacles. What’s really neat about it is that kids and their adults can do it together. It’s only $5 per person, and there’ll be giveaways and snacks afterwards.

The Rec has long had an obstyacle/fitness course in their back yard, but this morning I saw that they were making it even more challenging. There were hay bales set up (for clambering over I suspect), some rope contraption I don’t remember seeing before, and two big mud pits.

As I came around the trail bend heading back towards the Rec Center, I saw the master architects behind it all: Jeff Janto and Josh Barnard, two Rec Center staff members who were dropping even more hay bales and wetting down the expansive field, trying to make even more mud and wetness before Saturday.

It was neat to see the preparations, but it saddened me a little; I’m not going to be in town, so I can’t crawl through the mud myself. It looks like SO MUCH FUN, and a great family opportunity to get down and dirty together. (Unfortunately, it looks like the weather will be nice. Can you IMAGINE how much MORE fun it would be in the rain?)

The Mud Run will be held this Saturday Sept. 18 from 10 a.m. to noon at the Webster Recreation Center, 1350 Chiyoda Dr. Registrations are still being taken. Sign up on the Parks and Rec website (program #301202).

Click here to see a little teaser video giving you an idea of what the Rec has planned, and check out the photos I took this morning:

  • I don’t know what this rope thing is, but it looks intriguing.
  • Jeff and Josh are the master architects behind the course layout.
  • These bales will be moved into the trail on Saturday, making more obstacles.
  • The mud in the biggest pit is already looking sloppy, but will be even more so by Saturday. Have fun! Get dirty!

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

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Webster Jazz Festival returns this weekend

14 Sep

Get ready to dance in the streets this weekend, when the Webster Jazz Festival returns after a one-year break thanks to Covid.

The event will stretch over two days this Friday and Saturday, kicking off with “Jazz in the Pubs” Friday evening beginning at 6:30 p.m. Five different bands are scheduled to perform at five different village pubs and restaurants, with staggered start times, so you can visit visit several (or all) of the venues for a drink and a bite to eat, and enjoy as many bands as you like.

Here’s the schedule (click on the name to get more information about each band):

West Main Street will also be hopping that evening with the second Family Game Night and Beer Garden.

The first Family Games Night on July 30 was very well received, so this second one will feature all the same fun. From 6 to 9 p.m., West Main will be closed and filled with with activities including Dancing with Denise for the kids, sidewalk chalk, Giant Jenga, Giant Connect Four, Corn Hole, cookie decorating, food and drinks. So basically, you can pop into the pubs for some music, then out onto the street for some games. It should be a great evening for the whole family.

The music continues Saturday night when jazz takes to the street.

Beginning at 4 p.m., an outstanding lineup of musical entertainment will perform from the big West Main Street stage, featuring musicians from around Rochester and Upstate. There will be some tables and chairs set up, but they go pretty fast, so plan to bring your own, set them up in the middle of the street and enjoy music all evening long.

The schedule looks like this:

This is always a huge event, so you’ll really want to be a part of it.

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

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Webster Village 9/11 Memorial details

9 Sep

The Village of Webster’s 9/11 remembrance ceremony is going to look a little different this year.

This year’s ceremony, marking the 20th anniversary of the terrible events of 9/11/2001, will be held at — and in conjunction with — the dedication of the new NEQALS base, located at 1030 Jackson Rd.

NEQALS president Ahmed Mustafa wrote on the Facebook event page,

The Northeast Quadrant Advanced Life Support Emergency Medical Services Base is 33 years in the making. Our first responders having been serving the community in borrowed and rented facilities and will now have a place to call our own.

The completion of the base coincides with the 20th anniversary of 9/11, a day that demanded service from all available to save life during an attack on American civilians. In collaboration with the Village of Webster NEQALS is hosting the 9/11 Memorial Ceremony along with our building dedication.

The ceremony, which is scheduled to begin at 5:30 p.m., will include presentations by the Webster Village Band, the Chorus of the Genesee and the Webster Police Honor Guard.

Parking for handicapped guests wll be available at the Ukranian Club, 1040 Jackson Rd., and other guests may park in the Elks lot at 1066 Jackson Rd.

The event is open to the public.

P.S. Please note that there will be no ceremony at Gazebo Park this year.

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

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Webster community mailbag

8 Sep

So I took a few days off from the blog, which means I have several items backed up in my mailbox I have to let you know about. Let’s get right to it.

Vanetta and Monique at the Village Quilt Shoppe will be celebrating their little shop’s second aniversary this weekend, Friday Sept. 10 and Saturday Sept. 11.

Activities include:

• A trunk show by Ruthann Stillwell showcasing her and Susan Rooney’s patterns
• a demo calss featuring a curved table runner with no bindings
• Lots of specials, a raffle and refreshments

Attendees are asked to reserve a spot so Vanetta and Monique know how many people to expect. Just call them at 585-626-6916 or email them. Or better yet, stop in to reserve your spot.

The Village Quilt Shoppe is located at 21 East Main St., at the corner of Lapham Park.

Kiddie Academy of Webster, a daycare facility on Phillips Rd., will host a free STEM Adventures event for families and children on Saturday Sept. 11 from 10:30 to 12:30 p.m. Participants will explore the world of science, technology, engineering and math through age-appropriate and fun activities.

Registration is requested. Click here to do so and to learn more.

Kiddke Academy of Webster is located at 369 Phillips Rd.

Friday and Saturday Sept. 17 and 18 are going to be big days in the village.

We already know that the Webster Jazz Fest will be returning those days, with music in the pubs Friday night and music in the street Saturday. But I also just learned that there will also be GAMES in the street on Friday night, as the village hosts is second Family Game Night and Beer Garden that evening.

The first Family Games Night on July 30 was very well received, so this second one will feature all the same fun. From 6 to 9 p.m., West Main will be closed and filled with with activities including Dancing with Denise for the kids, sidewalk chalk, Giant Jenga, Giant Connect Four, Corn Hole, cookie decorating, food and drinks. So basically, you can pop int the pubs for some music, then out onto the street for some games. It should be a great evening for the whole family.

Stay tuned for more information about a THIRD Family Game Night scheduled for October 16, which will also feature music by Rochester’s Premier Oktoberfest Band The Krazy Firemen, who’ll be performing all evening.

For more information about all these events and more, visit the Webster BID website.

St. Martin Lutheran Chuch, 813 Bay Rd., will hold their Fall Chicken BBQ on Saturday, Sept. 25 from 4:30 until they’re sold out. Dinners will cost $10 and include a half chicken, salt potatoes, coleslaw, roll, and butter.

The event this year will be drive-thru only, and there will be no advance sales. The event will be first come, first served. Cars will enter the parking lot, follow the signs, and purchase dinners, using exact payment only, please. Cars will then proceed to the front entrance to pick up the boxed dinners.

Dinners will be assembled according to CDC recommendations. Due to current health restrictions, pie slices and other desserts will not be available.

Proceeds will support St. Martin’s annual Christmas Stocking Project, which reaches more than 500 young people in Monroe and Wayne counties.

ROC & Soul Fitness will be hosting an open house on Saturday Oct. 9 from 9 a.m. to noon.

This is a great opportunity to check out the studio, meet the owners, see some classes in action or even take an introductoy class. Visitors can get a tour of the studio and spa area, and try a free Introduction Barre Class at 11 a.m.

You can also take a chance to win a 5-class Fitness Bundle and a 5-pack for ROC & Soul’s Melt Saunas.

ROC & Soul Fitness is located at 44 E. Main Street, in the lower level shops behind Jojo Bistro.

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

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