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Peter Kaulback remembered, 50 years after his death

3 Jun

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If you were driving along Ridge Road last Thursday evening around 6:00, you might have noticed a number of Patriot Guard riders leading a small convoy of cars to Webster Rural Cemetery.

The occasion was a remembrance ceremony in honor of former Village of Webster resident Peter Jon Kaulback.

Kaulback, a lance corporal in the Marines, was killed in Vietnam on May 31, 1968, and is buried at Webster Rural.

Peter lived on Fuller Ave. in the village, a short walk to the Spry building, which at that time was the town’s high school. He graduated there in 1962, a year before the Webster Thomas building was finished. 

To honor Kaulback’s memory on the 50th anniversary of his death, several friends and local officials gathered at Spry and processed to Webster Rural Cemetery, led by the Patriot Guard riders.

Quartermaster Sean Miller represented the Webster VFW, and Councilman Barry Deane was there for the Town of Webster. In his remarks, Dean remembered that he and Kaulback had gone deer hunting the day before he left for Vietnam. 

A member of Buglers Across America played a beautiful rendition of Taps, which made the ceremony even more meaningful.

There’s currently a display at the Webster Public Library in honor of Peter Kaulback with lots more information, including a copy of the letter he sent to his girlfriend after learning he was going to Vietnam. The display also features information about Don Holleder, another of the five young Webster men who died in Vietnam.

Thank you to Jim Lanson for coordinating the simple, yet beautiful ceremony.

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WFD hosts blood drive

30 May

CaptureYour next opportunity to be a blood donor is later this week, when our Webster Volunteer Fire Department hosts a donation drive this Thursday from 1 to 7 p.m. at the Community Meeting Room, 35 South Avenue.

The drive is being co-hosted by the North East Joint Fire District and is coordinated by Webster volunteer firefighter Jacky Ingrassio. She’s encouraging a friendly competition between Webster Fire Department and West Webster Fire Department to see which can donate the most units.

But of course they’re also hoping that all eligible donors in our community will come out and “answer the call,” and give blood in honor of our everyday heroes.

This drive is especially important as the Red Cross is experiencing an urgent need for blood, a situation which will only get worse as the summer progresses.

Zoom in on the poster to see how you can make an appointment, but of course walk-ins are always welcome.

Can’t make Thursday’s drive? Stay tuned for news about next week’s bi-annual Webster Community Blood Drive. (That’s the one with the raffles.) The big white signs should be going up this weekend.

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Webster community mailbag

29 May

mailbagGot a few unusual events for your reading pleasure today.

Rochester radio legend Jack Palvino and media scholar Tom Proietti will discuss the history of radio in Rochester in the “Rochester Radio Roadshow” on Thursday, May 31, from 2 to 3 p.m. at St. Ann’s Community at Cherry Ridge in Webster.

The “Roadshow” takes the form of a lively conversation between Jack and Tom on Rochester’s radio broadcasting history. It will also focus on Jack’s esteemed career in local radio including stations WBBF and WVOR and his role in shaping the media landscape in Rochester.

Jack Palvino is a legendary broadcaster known as both a beloved on-air personality and a successful station executive and owner. Tom Proietti is the Resident Scholar in Media at St. John Fisher College and Professor Emeritus of Communication at MCC. A commentator on media issues for WXXI, he is well known for his expertise and insights on mass media, broadcasting, and popular culture.

The event is FREE and open to the public. Reservations are requested. Call (585) 697-6701. For more information, check out the Facebook event here.

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The entire community is invited to Challenger Miracle Field’s Opening Celebration on Sunday June 3 from 1 to 4 p.m.

If you haven’t seen this field yet, you really have to make the time to do so. This brand new facility was specifically designed for individuals with physical and or cognitive challenges and fully wheelchair accessible. The idea was to give people with developmental, physical or intellectual disabilities a barrier-free, safe, accessible place to experience the health benefits and joy of play through baseball, other team sports, and adaptive recreational equipment.

This weekend’s celebration is even more special as it marks the first full year the field will be in play (so to speak).

Opening Day festivities will include lots of stuff for kids, including a glitter tattoo artist, face painter, balloon animal artist,  an appearance by Spikes (the Rochester Red Wings mascot), a bounce house, carnival games, a dunk tank, popcorn machine, sno cone machine, cotton candy, vendors, refreshments and a raffle.

And don’t worry about the sun; there’s going to be a huge tent with plenty of tables and seating.

Everything happens at Challenger Miracle Field, in Ridge Park, behind Town Hall on Ridge Road, rain or shine.

Click here to find out more about this great organization.

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Puppies and yoga. This appears to be a new thing, so it’s natural that Webster’s newest fitness studio will be trying it out.

ROC & Soul Fitness will be offering a Puppy Yoga class on Sunday, June 10 at 1 p.m. and 2 p.m.  Adorable puppies will roam throughout the room as you practice an all level Vinyasa Flow class. Participants can hold and pet the puppies as they practice yoga. Many of the puppies will be available for purchase and are looking to go to a good home.

This from the press release I received:

We all know that yoga is good for the mind, body, and soul. Puppies & Yoga has added health benefits. Pet therapy combined with yoga can provide physical and mental benefits. It is widely known that positive interactions with gentle, friendly pets can lower blood pressure, release endorphins for an overall calming effect, lift spirts and lesson depression, decrease anxiety, reduce loneliness, and much more. Man’s best friend not only makes this class a delight, but can leave behind some positive health effects.

To reserve a spot in class, you can purchase a pass on the ROC & Soul Fitness website or on the MindBody APP for $18 to non-members and $9 to members.

ROC & Soul Fitness is located at 43 East Main Street, one of the new businesses which is helping to revitalize the village of Webster.  They offer barre, yoga, fusion classes, and more.

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This looks like fun.

On Wednesday June 13, three local craft breweries — WhichCraft Brews, Knucklehead Craft Brewing, and K2 Bros. Brewing — will come together to host a “Webfield Beer Crawl.”

A limo bus shuttle service will be provided from 5 to 1 p.m. on a 15-min loop between all three locations. Each brewery will be producing a special release one-off double dry hopped beer in a style of their choosing for the event.

Each brewery will have a passport package available for sale BEFORE the event. It costs $15 and gets you a commemorative pint glass with all three breweries printed on the glass as well as a free pour of the special release DDH beer from each location!

If you’re driving, parking is encouraged at Baytowne Plaza.

Check out the breweries’ websites for more information.

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Webster’s baseball history celebrated at the Webster Museum

13 May

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It’s no secret that Webster is a huge sports town. In 1985, the town was even named “Number 1 Sportstown in New York” by Sports Illustrated. What is less well known is how long ago our love for sports — and especially baseball — began.

Back in the late 1800s, adults and teenagers were playing on village ball fields and at Nine Mile Point; with hard rubber balls fast-pitched underhand; one bat for the entire team; often wearing coats and ties, and with no protective equipment.

It’s a rich baseball history, on display this month at the Webster Museum, and celebrated during a special event on Saturday May 19, called “140 Years of Webster Baseball.”

The special event is being spearheaded by Tom Pellett, president of the Webster Museum and Historical Society.  It’s been a year in the making, prompted by a comment made last May by Don Kuhn, a former Webster High School baseball player.

He recalled that back when he was playing in the early 1950s, the Webster High team went undefeated three years in a row — 1950, ’51 and ’52. The team came up with a trophy to recognize that accomplishment, which was then presented to the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown. So the town could have its own keepsake, a local service organization (Pellett thinks it was the Rotary) then created a plaque, which included a photo of the trophy, the letter from Cooperstown, and the names of all the players.

No one was exactly sure where that plaque had made it to, but Pellett started poking around the museum’s attic, and found it rather quickly. Shortly thereafter, Historian Lynn Barton unearthed two boxes with a treasure trove of local baseball history. Pellett started going through it all and the exhibit began to take shape.

The newly rediscovered plaque is the centerpiece of the museum’s new baseball exhibit, which also includes photos of all three undefeated teams and several other local teams, and old time uniforms and equipment. But what I found the most interesting were some of the personal stories.

One of those, dated 1878,  is considered to perhaps be the first recorded memory from a local ball game.

That story (which is part of the exhibit) tells about an adult baseball team in Ontario who had challenged the Webster team.  The Ontario team was a little bit miffed when they discovered their opponents were just teenagers. The Ontario coach approached the Webster coach and asked, “Is that all you got, these kids? He was told, ‘Well, trot your team out, we’ll see how they do.'”

At the end of the sixth inning, the score was 40-6 in favor of Webster. The Ontario team walked off the field and forfeited the game.

Obviously, players from that era are no longer around. But everyone who has played Webster baseball has a story, and Pellett hopes that baseball players and fans of all ages will attend the special event on the 19th.

As for all those Webster High School players from the undefeated teams? They’re all in their 80s now. Many have moved away, others have passed away. But several are still in town, and Pellett hopes that some of them will be able to attend, so they can visit the plaque and share some of their memories.

“140 Years of Webster Baseball” will be held on Saturday May 19, from 2-4 p.m. at the Webster Museum, 18 Lapham Park in the village of Webster.  Admission is $5, which will include the very interesting historical presentation, a hot dog, peanuts and a lemonade or water. For more information, visit the Webster Museum website or call 585-265-3308.

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The commemortaive plaque is the centerpiece of the exhibit

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A close-up of the names of the players on the undefeated teams

 

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Deb Carpenter recognized for service

26 Apr

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Congratulations to Deb Carpenter for recently marking almost 30 years of service to Webster Parks and Recreation!

The occasion was marked on Tuesday with a surprise party at the Rec, scheduled right after the Froggy Fitness class which she helps out with. She was presented with a plaque while surrounded by many of those students. Deb also runs the Rec’s Soccer Squirts and Preschool Track and Field programs throughout the year for 3 to 5-year olds.

Deb originally started with the Parks and Recreation Department in 1984. She worked at North Ponds Park and summer camps every summer when she was home from college, then in 1998 she started helping with youth programs again and just never stopped.

According to Recreation Supervisor Julie Schillaci, Deb is “full of energy and the kids just love coming to her classes!”

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Webster’s volunteer fire departments need you

25 Apr
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A controlled burn on Ridge Road last November provided a valuable training opportunity.

Have you ever toyed with the idea of becoming a firefighter? (Since you were a kid, I mean.) Just because you’re all grown up with a family and working full time doesn’t mean you can’t still fulfill that dream.

Becoming a volunteer firefighter really isn’t as difficult or dangerous as you might think, and if you’ve ever considered it even for a moment, you owe it to yourself to drop by the fire house in the village of Webster (35 South Ave.) or in West Webster (1051 Gravel Road) this weekend for the annual RecruitNY event.

For four hours this Saturday April 28, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Webster and West Webster firefighters will be opening their fire houses for tours and to answer any questions you might have about joining their ranks. In the case of West Webster, it will also be a great chance to check out their brand new facility.

For more information, check out the WVFD Facebook page or the WWFD Facebook page.

Also, if you haven;t had a chance to read the column published last weekend about RecruitNY and our own WVFD, click here. It might answer some questions.

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Q&A about being a volunteer firefighter

22 Apr

swingly

My Our Towns East Extra column today highlights our very own Webster Volunteer Fire Department. I am proud to know many of these men and women, and pleased to be able to help them in their cause to recruit new members.

So if you’ve ever thought about it — even a bit — and ever had questions like “Do I have to get up every night in the middle of the night to run into a burning building?” you shsould read this column.

wvfd

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Webster mailbag

11 Apr

Got a handful of events to tell you about today.

First, St. Martin Lutheran Church, 813 Bay Road, is sponsoring its second Community Conversations on Thursday, April 12 from 6:30-8:30 in the church Fellowship Hall.

The topic is Suicide Prevention and Mental Health, and the program will include a panel of survivors and professionals in the field. Following the presentations, there will be a question and answer time.

Light refreshments will be served. Everyone is welcome to attend this important session.

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2018_WQG_Raffle_QuiltThe Webster Quilt Guild is having a show on April 21 and 22 at Holy Trinity Church, 1450 Ridge Road in Webster. Organizers promise a “sea of quilts” on display, along with special displays, and lots of vendors.

Visitors will also be invited to take a chance on the 2018 raffle quilt, a beautiful 93″ x 93″ piece called “Wild Ocean Rose,” which has an appraised value of $3700.

For more information about the show, visit www.websterquiltguild.com, and to purchase tickets, email quiltshow@websterquiltguild.com

Hours are April 21 from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and April 22 from noon to 4 p.m. Admission is $5.

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The Woman’s Club of Rochester is hosting its annual Fashion Show/Luncheon fundraiser on Tuesday, April 24.

The event will be held at Midvale Country Club 2387 Baird Road in Penfield beginning at 11:30 a.m. Lunch will be served at noon, including haddock French, chicken Madeira or vegetable quiche, with baked potato, steamed asparagus, salad and dessert.

The fashion show begins at 1 p.m., featuring J. Jill from Eastview Mall, purveyor of unique and fashionable women’s apparel, accessories, and footwear.

Tickets are $25, and reservations are required by April 18. Send your check payable to Woman’s Club of Rochester to Elsie Costa, 441 Cascade Drive, Penfield, NY 14526.

Proceeds from this event will benefit Challenger Miracle Field and Meals on Wheels.

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The Harmony House on East Main Street in Webster will play host to an intriguing fundraiser on Saturday April 28, a Middle Eastern dance workshop and charity show to benefit G.R.A.S.P. (Greece Residents Assisting Stray Pets).

According to the G.R.A.S.P. Facebook page, the group

is committed to reducing the number of homeless pets in Greece, New York by decreasing dog and cat reproduction, promoting responsible pet ownership, and placing homeless dogs and cats into compatible, loving, permanent homes. When resources allow, we will try to help pets in need in the surrounding areas.

The all-day event will include bellydance workshops and demonstrations, two dance shows, a raffle, vendors and more. Click on the link below for complete details and ticket prices.

2018 Tails of Arabia Brochure

Find out more about G.R.A.S.P. by visiting their website here and Facebook page here.

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Mark your calendar for these town events

3 Apr

CaptureThis week’s column by Town of Webster Supervisor Ron Nesbitt is just packed with interesting news which I am pleased to pass on.

Road construction has begun at the corner of Phillips and Schlegel roads. This project will include widening the roadway, widening the shoulders, and completing water main and drainage work.  If the summer weather cooperates, everything should be completed by this fall.

The next Pharmaceutical Waste Pickup event has been scheduled for Saturday April 28 at the Wastewater Treatment Plant, 226 Phillips Road, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.  Any unused, unwanted or expired medication is taken for disposal. No appointment is necessary.  If you do not feel comfortable with your personal information on the bottles, you can remove the pills and put them in a plastic bag for disposal.

And remember also that there’s a CVS Drug Collection unit at the Webster Town Hall right inside the Police Department entrance.  It’s open during regular business hours, Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. As with the pharmaceutical waste pickup, items accepted at the drop box include any unused, unwanted or expired medication such as prescriptions, prescription patches, prescription medication, prescription ointments, over-the-counter medications, vitamins, samples and medications for pets.  Items that are NOT accepted include hydrogen peroxide, inhalers, aerosol cans, ointments, lotions, or liquids, thermometers, needles (sharps) and medication from businesses or clinics

Details are still being worked out, but the annual Town of Webster Open House has been scheduled for Saturday, May 12. Watch for more information soon.

The Town of Webster’s annual Summer Celebration is slated for Saturday June 23 from 4 p.m. to 9:45 p.m. at the Webster Recreation Building, 1350 Chiyoda Drive. It features food trucks, games, inflatables, live music, and fireworks. More information to come about this as well.

Finally, Webster’s newest festival, the Waterfront Arts Festival will take place this year on Saturday and Sunday July 28 and 29 at North Ponds Park. The annual event attracts fine artisans from all over Monroe County. You’ll also find food trucks, live entertainment, a wine tasting booth and other exhibits.

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Webster mini mailbag

22 Mar

Just a few quick events taking place this weekend I wanted to remind you about. The first is the Webster Thomas Players production of Pippin, which actually is about to raise its opening night curtain as I write this.

pippinThis is going to be an outstanding performance. If you have never seen our high school students take to the stage before, please make the time to do so, because you’ll be very impressed.

The remaining showtimes are Friday, March 23 at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday March 24 at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $12 and can be purchased at the door, beginning an hour before the show.

Webster Thomas High School is at 800 Five Mile Line Road in Webster.

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And may I suggest that if you go to Pippin on Saturday night, you begin the evening with an amazing Italian dinner.

spaghetti

Boy Scout Troop 262’s Famous Spaghetti Dinner will be served from 4 to 7 p.m. on Saturday, at the Webster Columbus Center, 70 Barrett Drive.

In addition to dinner, there’s a bake sale and a drawing for a TV. Cost is $9 per adult, $5 for children under 10.

I’m not exactly sure what makes this particular spaghetti dinner “famous,” but I suspect it’s pretty spectacular, and I’m curious enough to check it out for myself.

And I might win a TV.

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train showAnd don’t forget about the Model Train Show this weekend, sponsored by the Webster Association of Senior Program Supporters, a not-for-profit senior transportation group. It  takes place Saturday and Sunday March 24 and 25 at the Webster Recreation Center, 1350 Chiyoda Drive.

There will be lots of displays and lots of vendors offering trains and accessories. Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and noon to 4 p.m. on Sunday. Admission is $5 for adults, $3 for seniors and children, and free for kids under 12.

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