Right off the bat today, I’d like to give a huge shout-out to my new friend and great photographer, Dianna McIntyre.
I met Dianna by chance on Thursday night before the Fireman’s Parade. They were with the Miracle Field contingent, and I’d paused to grab a few pictures of the group’s parade preparations. We bonded over our fancy cameras, and on a whim, I asked if they’d be interested in taking some photos for me at Saturday’s Kiddie Parade, since I couldn’t be there. Dianna enthusiastically agreed, and you see the results today.
I think the firefighters hit on a winning formula for this year’s Kiddie Parade. Due to concerns for the kids’ safety (I’m sure), last year they had the parade totally within the confines of the carnival grounds … which really wasn’t great. The paraders basically just circled the grounds two or three times.
Saturday, though, the line-up was back at Spry Middle School and the parade marched down Sanford St. to the carnival field and then around the grounds. That route allowed options for community members who wanted to watch.
There seems to be some problem with my previous blog link taking you to more photos on Facebook, so if you’d like to see more, please go directly to my Facebook page. And if you’d like to see a lot more of Dianna’s work, check out their Instagram page at photographybyjax_97.
Here are a few bonus photos Dianna took at the fireworks Saturday night:
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That was the overwhelming impression I got from Thursday night’s Fireman’s Parade. In most respects, the parade was pretty much like all the others in previous years (although we had better weather than some years), but last night, there seemed to be even more firetrucks and emergency vehicles than ever, all blowing whooping their sirens. I had to look up several of the towns they came from to see where exactly they were, and still couldn’t figure out them all (Cheswold? Isn’t that in Delaware?)
As I said, the almost two-hour long parade was pretty typical as our Fireman’s Parades go, with representation from a lot of community agencies and local businesses along with the first responders. But I did see a few things I haven’t seen before.
Like how Wilbert’s prepared for the onslaught of kids with empty candy bags by filling not one but TWO wheelbarrows with suckers. I was able to get a picture for the first time EVER of the Shriners” mini-cars in their pre-parade repose before being driven around in frantic circles. And when was the last time you saw one of those little cars break down during the parade? Pulling its rip-cord repeatedly didn’t work, and it ultimately had to be towed back to the parade start.
And did you see that Kittelberger float with all the fresh flowers? What an amazing job they did, reminiscent of floats in the Rose Parade.
My friend Dave Bay from the Chorus of the Genesee — a first-time Fireman’s Parade viewer — had a few other interesting insights. He noticed, for example that the “OCD boys from Webster Northeast” had sorted their vehicles in number order; that the Penfield and Fairport fire departments have their own bands; and that vintage white fire truck looked like it had just come off the showroom floor, despite being perhaps 80 years old.
As always, as I ran (sometimes literally) up and down Main Street snapping photos, I saw a lot of friends and acquaintances and reconnected with a lot of the local business owners I’ve come to know. That’s one of my favorite things about this parade; it brings out the whole community so that for one evening, we are all one neighborhood.
I also met Dianna, a very nice young lady who was walking with the Miracle Field contingent, who has kindly agreed to take pictures for me at Saturday’s Kiddie Parade, since I won’t be able to be there. So watch for that blog!
There were a couple of big gaps in between some of the marching groups, but in general the parade seemed to come off without a hitch. So well done, firefighters, and thank you for another great spectacle. See you again next year.
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As you all probably know, I get most of the fodder for my mailbag and calendar items from various newsletters and emails I get from agencies around town. And I DO know that many of you rely on my blog to find out what’s happening in town.
BUT I don’t hear about everything (I was whining about that a few days ago, I think), and even if I do, sometimes the information doesn’t make it into my blog in a timely manner. So I recommend that if you want to get event news straight from the source, you should also sign up for things like the Town of Webster newsletter, the Webster Public Library newsletter and the Webster Recreation Center newsletter, all of which will be emailed to your inbox every month.
And just last week, I was thrilled to see a new source of information added to that feed: the very excellent Village of Webster newsletter.
The Village has been publishing this newsletter now for almost a year. It’s called The View From Main Street and it’s always been available online, but I keep forgetting to go to the Village website to check it out. So I was very happy to see that it will come to ME every week.
And this newsletter is very excellent, as I said. It’s always packed with information about events and new businesses. This week, for example, there are features about the Fireman’s Carnival; three new businesses which have opened or will open soon; a nice piece about Village Trustee Jude Lancy, who will soon be moving out of town to explore new adventures (and play with her grandkids); another nice piece about former Webster Village Band Director Tom Indiano, who passed away in June; plus news from the Webster Museum and about the Jazz Fest coming up in August.
Check it out for yourself. Here’s the link to the newsletter, and this link will take you to past editions. If you’d like to sign up to get the newsletter in your email box monthly, click 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).
Even in the six days since my first blog about this week’s Fireman’s Carnival, there’ve been some exciting updates.
For starters, I recently heard that the Celtic rock band 1916 will be performing on Thursday night in the beer tent, right after the parade. These guys are top-notch performers and will get the crowd rocking to really kick off the carnival.
As for the parade, there’ve been some last-minute additions to the line-up, so it promises to be one of the biggest and best ones yet. We’re talking more than 100 units, including 27 first responder agencies, including fire departments from all over the Rochester area. Look also for marchers and floats from dozens of community agencies, local businesses, local government representatives and so much more.
And of course there will be much tossing of candy, sometimes at great velocity.
The parade will line up east of town at Phillips Rd., and will kick off at 6:30 p.m., traveling down Main Street to Fireman’s Field at the west edge of the village.
You can visit the Carnival Facebook page for the latest updates as they happen, but here are the highlights:
Wednesday July 9:
Unfortunately, there will NOT be a craft beer night this year. But Schutt’s Apple Mill will be there with their hard cider. The carnival will be open 6 to 11 p.m.
Thursday July 10:
Carnival is open 6 to 11 p.m., and the parade begins at 6:30 p.m. (you do NOT want to miss the parade)
Aside from the chance for a few pop-up thunderstorms, the weather looks spectacular, so come on down and make some memories.
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email me at missyblog@gmail.com. “Like” this blog on Facebook and follow me on Instagram and Threads (@missyblog)
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It used to be a fried chicken place. Then a pizza joint. Then a scratch kitchen. Now, the little restaurant at 9 South Ave. in the Village of Webster is serving up something completely different: empanadas — with all the fixin’s.
It’s called Munchie’s Roc City Empanadas, and even though the restaurant is less than a week old, owner Luis “Munchie” Carrasquillo is already seeing a steady stream of customers, even in this oppressive heat, when just stepping outside feels like a chore. Fans of the Munchie’s food trucks, familiar from local festivals, markets and street corners, are tracking him down at his new location, and plenty of new customers are discovering empanadas for the very first time. And from what I’ve seen, the prevailing — very enthusiastic — opinion seems to be that this is the kind of restaurant the Webster area has needed for a long time.
When Luis officially opened late last week, he was working with a limited food truck menu: six kinds of empanadas and eight sides, including traditional favorites like Spanish rice, maduros, bacalaitos and tostones, along with staples like French fries and mac and cheese. But this week, he’s rolling out an expanded menu, and also launching Taco Tuesdays and Fish Fry Fridays. (And keep reading to find out about his Fireman’s Parade Day specials.)
Munchie’s Roc City Empanadas may have just opened its first brick-and-mortar location, but the brand has a long history rooted in resilience and creativity.
Luis first tried to open a restaurant in the early 1990s, setting up shop on Clinton Avenue in downtown Rochester. Unfortunately, sales were slow, and he quickly found himself in financial trouble, just days away from shutting down.
Then came the phone call that changed everything.
A worker from a nearby construction crew ordered a meal for delivery. As soon as he started eating, his coworkers took notice, and they all placed their own orders. On the way back to prepare the food, Luis had a game-changing realization: if customers wouldn’t come to him, he’d bring the food to them.
He began packaging $5 and $10 meals and drove around his neighborhood, selling them out of the trunk of his car to patrons and employees at local businesses. He developed a loyal following, with customers looking forward to his regular visits. The demand grew so strong that he eventually stopped selling from the front of the restaurant entirely; his mobile method was more profitable and far more successful.
Then COVID hit. His usual stops closed their doors or no longer allowed outside vendors. So Luis pivoted once again, investing in a food truck. It needed a lot of work, but before long, Munchie’s Roc City Empanadas was officially on the road, and business has been rolling ever since.
Luis is a Village of Webster resident, so when it came time to take the next step and open his first Munchie’s Roc City Empanadas restaurant, the village was a natural choice.
“We’re home,” he said. “Webster is my place.”
He’s excited to share his passion for empanadas with the community, so keep an eye out for him at local festivals and special events. He’s already cooking up a special for this Thursday, Fireman’s Parade Day: his empanada-and-side combo, normally $15, will be just $10 that day. Individual sides will go for $5. And don’t forget to grab some fried dough while you’re at it. After all, it is carnival time.
Now that he’s in Webster, though, don’t expect Luis to sit still for long. He said,
This branding, this logo will go everywhere. By the time it’s over with, Penfield, Fairport, Irondequoit, Greece, Pittsford, all the surrounding suburbs will have a Roc City Empanada restaurant. That’s our goal in the next couple years. … We want everybody to have this experience.
We started in the city, in the middle of everything. Now we want to go out in the circle and have everybody experience what it is to eat a Roc City Empanada.
Webster is fortunate that Luis Carrasquillo has chosen our village to be the launchpad for his future success, serving as ground zero as Roc City Empanadas heats up the Rochester food scene.
Munchie’s Roc City Empanadas is located at 9 South Ave. in the Village of Webster. For now, the restaurant is open every day, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., until Luis can gauge the flow of the neighborhood and see what hours best suit his customers. Keep tabs on his Facebook page and website for details about the hours, when and if they change. You can also call (585) 435-6848.
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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).
We’re starting to see the signs popping up all over town advertising the 2025 Fireman’s Carnival, taking place this year from Wednesday July 9 through Saturday July 12.
This is an exciting time of year in the Village of Webster, because without a doubt, the Fireman’s Carnival and parade are among the most anticipated events of the Webster summer season. Now 88 years old, the Carnival has been making memories every year for several generations of kids and adults.
This year’s carnival will be no different, with the return of the always-popular beer tent, game booths, rides and live entertainment, great food, raffles and much more. You can check out all the details about what will be happening — and when — at the Carnival Facebook page but here are some of the highlights:
Wednesday July 9:
Unfortunately, because the organizers are having trouble finding enough breweries to participate, there will NOT be a craft beer night this year. But Schutt’s Apple Mill will be there with their hard cider. The carnival will be open 6 to 11 p.m.
Thursday July 10:
Carnival is open 6 to 11 p.m., and the parade begins at 6:30 p.m. (you do NOT want to miss the parade)
Friday July 11:
Carnival is open 6 p.m. to midnight, with live music by ZBTB.
Saturday July 12:
the Kiddie Parade returns to Spry Middle School. (Last year they tried it on the carnival grounds. It did not go well.) The parade begins at noon with registration just beforehand.
You’ll also want to follow the Carnival Facebook page. for more details and regular updates.
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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).
Summer is beginning to heat up, so there should be a LOT of fun and educational activities coming down the pike, but I don’t think I’m hearing about a lot of them. I don’t have the time to go out and solicit calendar items, so I rely on you all to send notices to me. If they come through my email box, they will almost certainly make it into the blog.
For today, I have reminders about three recurring events that I’ve written about before, a teaser about village events planned for the summer, and something from the Friends of the Webster Public Library (they always keep me busy).
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The next informational program hosted by the Webster Arboretum is called “Honoring Life — One Frog at a Time,” scheduled for Saturday July 19 from 10 to 11 a.m.
Join Margot Fass, M.D., the “Frog Lady,” and discover the life of our friend the frog. And before you come, check out Margot’s whimsical book, Froggy Family’s First Frolic. The presentation will be held outside on the far side of the pond at the Arboretum, 1700 Schlegel Rd. There’s no charge, but registration is requested.
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The next free Music at the Arb concert is scheduled for Thursday July 17, featuring the acoustic duo Chelsey Berry and Mark Cellura, from 6:30 to 8 p.m.
These concerts are held at the gazebo, and audience members are encouraged to spread out on blankets or in lawn chairs to enjoy some delightful music, surrounded by the beauty of the arboretum. The concerts are free and open to the public, and no registration is necessary.
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The United Church of Christ‘s next Caring Community Concert is scheduled for Wednesday July 9, featuring 8 Days a Week, performing songs by The Beatles. It will benefit the Webster Association of Senior Program Supporters.
These concerts benefit local nonprofit organizations through free-will donations. This month’s concert will benefit the Webster Public Library’s BookBox for Kids and Teens.
The UCC has been sponsoring these concerts for, like 20 years, and through free-will offerings have raised tons of money for local non-profit organizations. People are invited to bring lawn chairs or blankets and a picnic if they wish. There’s also a concession stand selling soda, hot dogs, hamburgers, pulled pork, and a weekly “special.”
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.) So put these concerts on your calendar now and plan to enjoy some great music for a good cause.
Here’s the rest of this summer’s schedule:
July 16: Uptown Groove, to benefit the Webster Public Library BookBox.
For more information about the concerts, click here.
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The Friends of the Webster Public Library will host a Vintage and Collectible Book Sale on Saturday July 26 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the library’s Community Room. Several tables will be set up, each with a different theme, including biographies, the U.S. Civil War, Erie Canal, birds and nature, and more. Most books are priced under $20.
All proceeds will benefit the Webster Public Library.
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Finally, here’s a quick peek at what’s happening in the village this summer and beyond:
The Friday Night Gazebo Concerts begin July 18 with a performance by the Earthtones featuring 70’s/80’s music including favorites from Fleetwood Mac, Billy Joel, Hall & Oates, ABBA and more. The rest of the summer schedule looks like this:
The Gazebo Concerts are held from 7 to 9 p.m. and are free.
The Webster Jazz Fest is scheduled for Aug. 15 and 16, with “Jazz in the Pubs” on Friday and “Jazz in the Street” on Saturday. PLUS, many local businesses are signing up to have tables along the sidewalks on Friday for a street fair of sorts. Should be a good time.
Saturday, Dec. 6: Winter Wonderland in the Village (details coming soon)
More information about all these events, when it becomes available, can be found at websterbid.com.
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email me at missyblog@gmail.com. “Like” this blog on Facebook and follow me on Instagram and Threads (@missyblog)
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You may remember last year when there was a lot of news about the $4.5 million NY Forwardgrant from New York State which the Village of Webster won for improvements to our downtown business district. The grant was secured in large part to the efforts of the Webster Economic Development Alliance (WEDA), headed by Matt Chatfield.
We received the huge grant a year ago February, and over the following months, WEDA collected proposals for projects all around our village from business owners and community members. Those proposals were whittled down to 21 projects, ranging from building a conservatory to improving Veterans Memorial Park to enhancing the Harmony House and more. Community members were given lots of opportunities to vote for their favorite projects.
I recently learned that the final winning proposals were announced about a month ago; 11 different projects which will improve local businesses, village green spaces and more.
Here’s the list:
Enhance Veterans Memorial Park for Events and Community Use ($1,100,000): Make improvements to Veterans Memorial Park that will optimize it for use as a performance venue and enhance ADA accessibility in the park.
Optimize Harmony House for Performances ($1,010,000): Update the historic Harmony House to enhance ADA accessibility and make it more conducive to performances and events, strengthening the presence of performing arts in downtown Webster.
Create a Multipurpose Conservatory at Kittelberger Florist & Gifts ($546,000): Create a conservatory at Kittelberger Florist & Gifts that can be used for retail as well as workshops and educational programs to complement the existing business. Rooftop solar panels will also be installed to enhance the sustainability of the building.
Enhance the Visitor Experience through Wayfinding Signage ($381,000): Install wayfinding signage at key locations throughout the downtown core to provide directional and locational information to visitors and to strengthen downtown Webster’s sense of place.
Create a Gateway to the North End Business District ($310,000): Enhance the connection between Main Street and the North End Business district by incorporating artistic lighting under the Route 104 bridge to create a gateway feature.
Establish a Small Project Grant Fund ($289,000): Create a matching grant fund to support smaller-scale improvements and renovations to enhance properties and businesses in the NY Forward Area.
Create a Hojack Trail Gateway ($289,000): Create a gateway at the intersection of the Hojack Trail and North Avenue to highlight the trail connection, create a sense of place and enhance safety for those accessing the trail.
Renovate Community Spaces at Immanuel Lutheran Church ($255,000): Enhance the community spaces at Immanuel Lutheran Church by modernizing the spaces and enhancing comfort to increase utilization by the community.
Modernize Commercial Spaces at 39 West Main Street ($161,000): Modernize and reconfigure the commercial spaces at 39 West Main Street to optimize the layout, right-size the spaces for the market, and enhance accessibility to attract future tenants to the downtown core.
Transform 7 South Avenue for Retail Use ($89,000): Renovate the interior and exterior of 7 South Avenue to optimize for retail use, bringing a new business into a vacant space and adding vibrancy to the Main Street Business District.
Invest in Marketing for Downtown Webster ($70,000): Develop a platform for information on parking, events, and promotions, along with digital marketing content and print collateral to promote downtown Webster and enhance awareness of businesses.
All of these improvements should make our little village even more beautiful and welcoming in the years to come.
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email me at missyblog@gmail.com. “Like” this blog on Facebook and follow me on Instagram and Threads (@missyblog)
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The band’s first FREE concert is Thursday, July 3 beginning at 7 p.m. at the Village Band Shell at Harmony Park on Phillips Rd. It’s the first of three concerts this summer, the other two scheduled for Thursday Aug. 7 and Thursday Aug. 28.
Here’s what you can look forward to from this year’s performances:
July 3: “The Classics,” featuring music from The Music Man, Sinatra, the Carpenters, with a little big band and Gilbert and Sullivan to top it off.
Aug. 7: “At The Movies,”’ highlighting movie soundtracks from many well-known composers.
Aug. 28: “The Band Concert,” a concert of traditional band standards plus music from Billy Joel and Jim Brickman.
These concerts are always free and open to the public. They always begin at 7 p.m. and audience members are encouraged to bring a blanket, lawn chairs and a cooler, and stretch out on the spacious lawn area in front of the band shell to enjoy some beautiful music under the evening summer sky.
I’ve always thought of the Webster Village Band as a hidden gem in our community. These musicians have been performing and providing free concerts for our village for 58 years now. It’s exactly the kind of thing that makes small-town life so special.
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email me at missyblog@gmail.com. “Like” this blog on Facebook and follow me on Instagram and Threads (@missyblog)
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Webster’s very own Chorus of the Genesee invites you to sing some a cappella music with them this Tuesday evening during their Guest Night.
The event is scheduled for Tuesday June 17 from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Harmony House, 58 East Main St. in the Village of Webster.
You don’t even need to read music. If you can sing a tune, they’ll show you the rest.
Please RSVP here, or you can call (585) 259-3590 and they’ll save you a seat. If you won’t be sure whether you can make it until that evening, feel free to just walk in without RSVPing. Make sure to plan to stay for pizza afterwards, too.
The Chorus of the Genesee is a non-profit, educational organization devoted to preserving the original American art form of barbershop harmony. The Chorus rehearses every week at the Harmony House in Webster, but performs all over the greater Rochester area and participates in choral events all over the country. A portion of their proceeds support both local and national service projects.
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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).
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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