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Webster community mailbag

8 Oct

Time to pile up those leaves

The Webster Highway Department will begin their annual fall leaf collection in mid-October, depending on how many leaves have fallen and the weather. Crews will begin working in Zone 1 to Zone 5, and then back to Zone 1. (Click here to see the zone map.) Highway crews make several passes throughout the season.

Announcements will be made ahead of the final pass. After the final pass, any leaves will need to be taken care of by residents through their refuse collection company or another means. The best way to stay updated on the leaf collection season is to sign up for notifications from the Highway Dept. Use this link to do that.

Pumpkins on Parade is back

One of the best events of the autumn season, Pumpkins on Parade, returns to the Webster Recreation Center on Saturday, Oct. 26 from 7 to 8:30 p.m.

I’ll be writing up a more detailed blog about this soon, but for those of you who have never experienced it, basically, that evening the Chiyoda Trail — which stretches for a mile around and behind the Rec Center — will be lined with brightly glowing jack-o’-lanterns. Visitors can walk along the trail and enjoy all the creativity and spookiness. Then afterwards, there’s free cider and donuts, and lots of family activities. It’s definitely one of my favorite events of the year.

The Webster Recreation Center is located at 1350 Chiyoda Drive. (By the way, they’re always looking for jack-o’-lanterns donations because they need a LOT of them. So get your carving knives out and get ready to get creative.)

What’s happening at the library?

Here’s your monthly run-down of all (OK, most) of the great events happening at the Webster Public Library. For more information about any and all of these, visit the library’s webpage or Facebook page.

  • Celebrate Diwali, Wed. Oct. 23, 7 to 8 p.m. :An evening of family fun celebrating the Hindu festival of Diwali, or festival of lights. Enjoy a casual reception with Indian food and music, and learn about the Diwali festival. Registration is requested.
  • Library Trick-or-Treat, Friday Oct. 25 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Bring the whole family and trick-or-treat through the entire library with a spooky maze at the end. No registration is necessary.
  • Bilingual Storytime, Saturday Oct. 12 from 11 a.m. to noon. Join special guest Ms. Mariposa for a reading of Sebi and the Land of Cha-Cha-Cha. All ages are welcome and no registration is required.
  • T(w)een Halloween Night, Wednesday Oct. 30, 6 to 7:30 p.m. A night of spooky fun, with activities, treats and more. Costumes are encouraged. For teens grades 4-12. Registration is required.
  • Rochester Theater Organ Society, Thursday Oct. 10, 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. The RTOS presents “Rochester’s Best-Kept Secret: Unveiling the Mighty Wurlitzer!” Registration is required.
  • Diamond Magnet Art for teens and tweens, Saturday Nov. 9, 1 to 2 p.m. Come make fun diamond art magnets in the teen room. All supplies will be provided. For grades 4 to 12. Registration is requested.
  • This month’s Donation Station is for Keeping Our Promise, a resettlement program for Afghan, Iraqi and Kurdish interpreters and support personnel. See the flyer below for their needs.
  • This month’s community exchange is SPOOKY STUFF. New or gently used costumes, Halloween/fall decor, etc. Drop off your unused stuff and find something new to you!

Women’s Club of Webster hosts Card/Game Party “Fun-Raiser”

The Women’s Club of Webster’s 2024 Card/Game Party will be held on Tuesday, Nov. 5 from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at Glendoveers, 2328 Old Browncroft Rd. Participants can join new friends and old to play cards — or any game — and enjoy danish, coffee and a delicious buffet lunch.

The event will feature door prizes raffle baskets, 50/25/25 raffles , and much more, so bring plenty of extra cash, because all proceeds benefit local charities and s cholarships. Bring your favorite card game, dominoes, Euchre, Scrabble or any other fun game you prefer. It’s a great way to meet people! (And don’t forget to vote before or after the games!)

Donation is $40, and reservations are required by Wednesday, October 30. Sorry, no walk-ins.

For reservations, send a check made payable to “WCW” and mail to Diane Miller, 428 Seneca Park Ave., Rochester, NY 14617.  Please include your name, phone number, email address and, if playing with friends, include their names.  For information, phone Diane at 585-230-6042.

Walk and Bike Webster event

If you’re a fan of getting around Webster on two feet or two wheels, or are interested in helping brainstorm ideas to improve walking and biking opportunities in Webster, then this meeting is for you.

On Monday Nov. 4, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. (time yet to be confirmed) there will be a Walk and Bike Webster event held in the Community Room at the Webster Public Library.

Right now the plan is to have Jesse Peers from Reconnect Webster show a short film, followed by a panel discussion including Webster Town Council member Ginny Nguyen and Matthew Isles of Walk/Bike Irondequoit. Nguyen will talk about how the Town of Webster is promoting safe walking and biking, and Isles will talk about what Walk/Bike Irondequoit is doing.

Free dinner for veterans

Veterans and active duty service personnel and their families are invited to Spry Middle School for a free dinner in their honor.

On Thursday, November 7 from 4 to 6:30 p.m., students will be serving up a pasta dinner in the Spry Middle School cafetorium, 119 South Avenue. Veterans and activity duty service personnel and their families living within the Webster Central School District boundaries are invited to enjoy a spaghetti dinner complete with salad, bread, and dessert. Take out is available as well. Either way, reservations are required by calling (585) 216-0093.

Crafters needed

This notice from Webster NY Hope:

Attention Webster crocheters! Webster Hope is in need of crafters to make dishcloths for their holiday collaborative program.

Their plan is to give away dish soap and a handmade reuseable dishcloth to each family along with holiday food. This project works best with cotton yarn as acrylic doesn’t absorb well. They’re trying to save on paper towels and give a handmade gift made with love.

Their goal is 150 cloths by mid-November. That sounds very do-able, knowing our Webster community.

Dishcloths can be dropped off at Webster Library or during Webster Hope open hours.

Check the image below for some helpful hints:

Webster Chamber offers health insurance enrollment assistance

Finally, this important notice from the Webster Chamber of Commerce:

Health insurance enrollment periods are starting in October and November, and the Webster Chamber of Commerce is available to help all New Yorkers with the process. 

The Medicare Insurance annual enrollment period is Oct. 15 to Dec. 7, and the Individual & NYS Marketplace Insurance period is Nov. 16 to Dec. 15. Plans change annually and your needs change annually, so it’s important to take a close look at your coverage every year. In particular, for 2025 there are significant changes in Medicare Advantage, including the discontinuance of plans. It’s important to take action before the December 7 deadline or you may lose Medicare Advantage Plan benefits. The Chamber can help. 

The Webster Chamber’s health insurance enrollment service has been a no-fee service since 1938, offering the choice of a virtual or an in-office appointment. Due to the many insurance changes for 2025, requests for appointments will increase, so call soon to reserve your time:  585-265-3851. Before your appointment, visit here to prepare.

Health insurance selection and enrollment is very detailed and complicated. See an enrollment service to assist you in this process. And pay attention to the deadlines noted above to avoid penalties.

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

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

(posted 10/8/2024)

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Get out, get hiking, win prizes

25 Sep

The Webster Recreation Center has come up with YET ANOTHER fun challenge to keep us healthy, and this one has the added benefit of spotlighting our town’s beautiful trail system.

They’re calling it their Two-Week Trail Challenge, and it’s based on the brand new Hit the Trail Passport, recently updated in conjunction with the Friends of Webster Trails.

This newly updated passport is a whopping 40 pages long, and includes 32 trails and trail spurs in all, spanning Webster from west to east, measuring more than 36 miles of incredible natural beauty. Each page features a different trail, detailing its individual spurs, their length, difficulty and approximate hiking time.

For the Two-Week Trail Challenge, hikers are encouraged to walk all the trails in the passport between Oct. 5 and Oct. 20. The challenge doesn’t include Webster Park or Bike Trail, but it’s an added bonus if you do them too.  Hikers will record their progress on an online form (emailed to all registrants) and will receive a completion certificate and a keepsake pin as well as social media and website recognition.

Please register for program #301204-A either online or by calling 585-872-7103, option 0. You can pick up one of the new Hit the Trail Passports at Webster Parks and Recreation on Chiyoda Dr., or at Wegmans (Holt Rd. or Eastway) You can also see the passport and download it here.

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

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

(posted 9/25/2024)

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Get ready to get muddy

16 Sep

It’s back: the muddiest, sloppiest, slippery-est, most fun way EVER to spend a Saturday morning.

It’s the Webster Recreation Center’s fourth annual Mud Run, scheduled for Saturday Sept. 21 from 10 a.m. to noon.

The Mud Run is a a non-competitive, un-timed, one-mile run/walk along the Recreation Center’s obstacle course/fitness trail which loops around the back of the facility. Some of the run will be through water and mud, and there will be some challenging obstacles. (There are ways to get around the mud and obstacles, but what fun is there in THAT?)

What’s really neat about this event is that kids and their adults can do it together. As you can imagine, the kids just love to see their parents (and grandparents, come on!) get down and muddy. It’s only $5 per person, and the organizers promise that there’ll be swag, fun and food. I can personally attest that it is tons of fun, and I hope to make it again this year. (That’s me in the photo, taken by my friend Patty.)

Click here for more details and registration information. You can sign up for any 15-minute wave between 10 a.m. and noon. You can also register when you get there.

The Webster Recreation Center is located at 1350 Chiyoda Drive, off of Phillips Rd.

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

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

(posted 9/16/2024)

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Help young people discover the joy of writing

13 Sep

 I just signed up, again, for a fun program offered through the Webster Recreation Center. Unlike most of the programs you’ll find there, it doesn’t involve a whole lot of (well any) physical exertion, but does help some very special young people exercise their minds.

It’s a Pen-Pal Program sponsored by Webster Parks and Recreation for people 55+. You can read about it it the flyer, but this is what it says:

Remember the old days when you used to write letters? Join the Webster 55+ folks and the Autumn Lane (Greece Elementary School) second graders as we become pen-pals.

Sign up and you will be assigned a second-grade student to write a letter to each month. Then in May, we will take a trip to Autumn Lane to meet your pen-pal in person!

You must be committed to this program for an entire year.

The Rec Center has been doing this program for a while, but I only joined it for the first time last year, and it was a LOT of fun. Just about once a month I got a letter from my pen pal Nataleigh, and we wrote back and forth telling about our pets and how I liked reading (and she doesn’t), and shared our love of rainbows (click here to read about the day I got to meet Nataleigh in person).

So when I heard about this year’s program, I immediately signed up and can’t wait to get my first letter.

A sampling of the letters and artwork I got from Nataleigh
Nataleigh and me

The program will run from October 2024 through May 2025. To register, visit the Webster Parks and Recreation website and search for activity #346905-A. Or call the Rec Center at (585) 872-7103 (which is a lot easier than navigating their website). There’s no cost, just your commitment to help some students fall in love with writing.

So please consider joining; you won’t regret it.

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

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

(posted 9/13/2024)

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It’s festival weekend in Webster

4 Sep

There are THREE festivals coming up this weekend in Webster, and you won’t want to miss any of them.

The Webster Garlic Fest will be back at the Webster Recreation Center this Saturday and Sunday Sept. 7 and 8.

This is a great family festival. This year it will feature 140 vendors including crafters, food vendors, distilleries, wineries, food trucks, and of course lots and lots of garlic growers. They’ll fill the gymnasium and spill out onto the Rec Center grounds. Many of them provide tastings and samples. (Click here for a complete list of vendors.)

Even if you’re not a big fan of garlic, there’s still plenty to see and do. Like, you can cozy up to some baby goats and alpacas, and even a huge 70-year old tortoise. There are demos, Mr. Wally the Balloon Man will be on site, a comedian and entertainers.

The Webster Garlic Fest will be held Saturday Sept. 7 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday Sept. 8 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Webster Recreation Center, 1350 Chiyoda Dr. There’s plenty of parking in the Recreation Center lot, and even more across the street in the former Xerox parking lot, where a free shuttle will transport you back and forth.

Admission is only $5, and children under 12 are free. Click here to buy your tickets, or you can get them at the door.

The annual Barry’s Irish Festival will be coming to Webster for the first time this on Saturday Sept. 7 from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. at Webster Fireman’s Field.

This is a must-see festival for anyone who loves Irish food, drink and culture. It will feature live Irish music, Irish beer, dancers, bagpipers, and Celtic crafts. There’s plenty of non-Irish stuff too, including food trucks, kids’ crafts and games, raffles, lots of vendors, lawn games and more. It’s also going to be a great opportunity to reconnect with the Barry’s Old School Irish community, many of whom we haven’t seen in a year. Basically, it’s a great family event, hosted by a great family.

Bands will include the Connemara Social Club, Rusty Kettle, Lucky Enough, Everheart, Gavin Barry’s Rebel Banjo Circus, The Irish Lassies, Celtic Cross and 1916.  

Food trucks will include Netsins, Sammies n’ Sweets, The Melt Truck, Schutt’s, Rustic Taco and Webster Hots.

Admission is $19.98 ($17 plus $2.98 Eventbrite fee). Click here to get tickets (but I imagine they’ll also be available at the gate.)

Click here to visit the Facebook event page for more details and a discount code for tickets.

ALSO on Saturday, Sept. 7, the Red, Hot and Blue Band, led by our very own Village of Webster neighbor Doug Pucci, will headline the 3rd annual St. Jude Benefit Concert at Gazebo Park on North Ave., from noon to 6 p.m.

In addition to Red, Hot and Blue, Shades of Grey and local favorite Sarah De Vallière will perform. Food will be available from Pub 235 and Guida’s Pizza. There’s no charge, but donations will be accepted to benefit St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. So bring your lawn chairs, coolers and blankets and enjoy a full afternoon of tunes for a good cause.

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

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

(posted 9/4/2024)

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Webster community mailbag

3 Sep

Lots of notices came across my email in the few weeks I was out of town, so I’ll do my best to catch up.

Concert to benefit St. Jude

This coming Saturday Sept. 7, the 3rd annual St. Jude Benefit Concert will take place at Gazebo Park on North Ave., from noon to 6 p.m.

Three bands will take the stage, including Red, Hot and Blue; Shades of Grey; and local favorite Sarah De Vallière. Food will be available from Pub 235 and Guida’s Pizza. There’s no charge, but donations will be accepted to benefit St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. So bring your lawn chairs, coolers and blankets and enjoy a full afternoon of tunes for a good cause.

NY Hope Garage Sale

NY Hope’s huge annual garage sale returns next week, with three days of bargains.

You probably all know about this incredible event from years past, so let’s get right to this year’s details:

Here are the details:

  • Sale begins Wednesday, Sept. 11, 6 to 8 PM; Preview Night, Murphy Hall at Holy Trinity Church, 1460 Ridge Road. For a small admission fee, be among the first to shop.
  • Thursday, Sept. 12 and Friday, Sept. 13, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
  • Saturday, Sept. 14, 10 a.m. to noon only, everything is half-price!

All proceeds go to Webster NY Hope, which serves the needs of residents in the 14580 zip code, providing food, clothing, household goods and furniture to those in need.

It’s chicken barbecue time again!

St. Martin Lutheran Church will hold its Fall Drive-Thru Chicken BBQ on Saturday, Sept. 21 at the church, 813 Bay Road, Webster. The event begins at 4:30 p.m. and will continue until all dinners are sold out.

Dinners will include a half chicken, salt potatoes, coleslaw, roll, butter and cookie, and will cost $15.

The event will be drive-through only and there will be no advance sales; first-come, first-served. Cars should enter the parking lot, follow the signs, and purchase dinners using exact payment of either cash or
check. Cars will then pick up boxed dinners.

Proceeds from the BBQ will support both St. Martin’s Little Free Pantry and Christmas Stocking Project, which reaches more than 500 local youth in Monroe and Wayne counties.

For our 55+ friends

I got the latest edition of the Webster Recreation Center 55+ newsletter recently. It’s always packed with tons of information, but I pulled out these tidbits in particular:

This month’s Talks on Tuesday schedule features a new informative presentation each month. They run from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m., there’s no charge and all community members are invited (not just Rec members). Registration is requested. This month’s programs include:

Sept. 10: SOCIAL SECURITY 101. Troy Gribnau from Edward Jones will answer your questions about Social Security, including how it fits into your retirement plan, when you should start taking benefits, how to the taxes work, and more. Registration is requested. Search for activity# 346940-C.

Sept. 17: ASTRONOMY FOR SENIORS. NASA Ambassador Jim Porter will help you discover the rich hobby of astronomy, with just a small pair of binoculars. Activity# 346940-D.

Sept. 24: MEDICARE. Sara Mason from Mason Wealth Management will host a workshop to help you understand what all the pieces of Medicare mean — parts A, B, C, D and Medicare Supplemental Insurance. Learn when you can make changes and why you should review your plan annually. Activity# 346940-E

And this last program I pulled out because it’s becoming more and more important these days to be able to spot AI-generated fake news:

Tuesday Sept. 10, FAKE NEWS & HOW TO SPOT IT TECH WORKSHOP, 9 to 10:30 a.m.

Join technology instructor Daniel Jones to learn how to spot what’s real, what’s true, and what’s not. Learn about:

  • disinformation: How it spreads and how to recognize it
  • personal responsibility
  • the rise of deepfakes
  • fact-checking resources
  • terms you should know

Please register for activity #346014-A.

Oh, one more thing from the Rec Center.

If you’ve got game, you might be interested to know that the Rec Center has groups that play Canasta, Rummikub, competitive Scrabble, Mahjong, Bridge and Bingo every week. Check the newsletter for details about these and lots other 55+ programs.

Want to read more about Webster’s history?

The Webster Museum is developing an outreach newsletter for friends, members and supporters with more general information about the museum and local history. If you’re interested in being added to the distribution list, send your email address to WebsterMuseum@gmail.com.

ALSO, the museum folks have a mystery that they need help solving. Does anyone know how or why the penny-farthing (the high-wheel bicycle) came to be the museum’s logo? They’ve done some digging through their archives but haven’t been able to come up with anything. Let them know if you have any clues!

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

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

(posted 9/3/2024)

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The 2024 Webster Garlic Fest is just weeks away

24 Aug

The Webster Garlic Fest is returning to the Webster Recreation Center on Saturday and Sunday Sept. 7 to 8!

This is a great family festival for anyone who loves all things garlic, and it keeps getting bigger and better every year. Somehow, organizers have managed to squeeze 140 vendors into this year’s festival, including crafters, food vendors, distilleries, wineries, food trucks and of course lots and lots of garlic growers. There are so many vendors that they’ll fill the gymnasium and spill out onto the Rec Center grounds. Many of them provide tastings and samples. (Click here for a complete list of vendors.)

But even if you’re not a big fan of garlic, there’s still plenty to see and do. Like, you can cozy up to some baby goats and alpacas, and even a huge 70-year old tortoise — and they all love to take selfies. There will be demos, Mr. Wally the Balloon Man will be on site, plus a comedian and entertainers.

And here’s something new this year:

You probably know by now that part of the proceeds from this festival benefit Wreaths Across America, which is dedicated to placing a wreath on the grave of every veteran in the country. If you stop by the Wreaths Across America booth and sponsor a wreath for $17, and you’ll get a free 12 oz. bag of fair trade, freshly roasted coffee from Costa Rica, courtesy Mission Coffee.

The festival will also benefit Blue Star Mothers ROC NY 8 and their efforts to support local military families and send care packages to locally deployed service members; and Gold Star Mothers Rochester, who support veterans in our community.

The Webster Garlic Fest will be held Saturday Sept. 7 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday Sept. 8 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Webster Recreation Center, 1350 Chiyoda Dr. There’s plenty of parking in the Recreation Center lot, and even more across the street in the former Xerox parking lot, where a free shuttle will transport you back and forth.

Admission is only $5, and children Under 12 are free. Click here to buy your tickets, or you can get them at the door.

Click here for a gallery of photos from last year’s festival.

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

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

(posted 8/24/2024)

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So much cool stuff happening at the Rec

5 Aug

O boy o boy o boy o boy o boy!

I just got my hands on the Webster Recreation Center’s fall program guide and was instantly reminded about all the neat stuff they schedule for late summer into the winter months.

I’m not just talking about all of the great recreation programs and fitness classes and stuff like that which we all (who are lucky enough to be members) already know about. It’s all the really fun and entertaining community-wide special events that I get excited about.

Like the annual Mud Run, which the program guide tells me is scheduled for Saturday Sept. 21 from 10 a.m. to noon. This is a really wet, really muddy, incredibly fun family obstacle course run which the Rec Center sets up along the Chiyoda Trail around the back of the building. It’s an easy 1/2-mile long trail, and the whole event is non-competitive and un-timed, so it’s perfect for kids even as young as 5.

Registration is only $5, and sign up is going on now. Register for program #301202 and choose a time slot between 10 a.m. and noon.

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Then there’s the Pumpkins on Parade, which is one of my favorite events of the entire year.

This is a super fun family event where participants stroll along the mile-long Chiyoda Trail, which is lined with hundreds of creatively carved, humorous, scary and downright weird jack-o-lanterns. At the end of the path, there’s free cider and donuts and a bonfire, a family photo area, and for the kids, a hay maze and roller slide. And it’s ALL FREE.

This year’s parade will be on Saturday Oct. 26 from 7 to 8:30 p.m. No registration is necessary for this, so just make sure to put it on your calendar now. Plus, start thinking about how you might want to design your own Jack-o-lanterns for the event, because the Rec Center always needs a LOT of pumpkins!

And here’s something else you want to get on your calendar now: Santa will be visiting the Rec Center on Saturday Dec. 14 from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m.

Kids can visit with Santa, have their photo taken with Santa, and enjoy cookies and story time. Kids can also bring their letters to Santa, drop them in his personal mailbox, and can pick up his response on Friday Dec. 20.

The Afternoon with Santa event is free and no registration is required.

Stay tuned for more details about each of these events as they draw nearer.

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

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

(posted 8/5/2024)

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WPL BookBox program expands to Country Manor

1 Aug

Every summer for the last 11 years, the Webster Public Library (WPL) has given young readers at Phillips Village the opportunity to check out library books, just steps from their front doors, without even having a library card.

Called the “BookBox” program, it’s kind of like a bookmobile, without the “mobile.” Every Thursday during the summer months, WPL staff members and volunteers stuff several milk crates with books for all ages, and take them on the road to children who might not otherwise have easy access to a library.

The Phillips Village BookBox program has been so successful that this summer the library has expanded it to a second location, Country Manor Apartments on Phillips Rd.

Webster Public Library Outreach Coordinator Jason Poole explains the reasoning behind the BookBoxes;

We started BookBox in 2014 when we discovered during a school visit that the children who lived in Phillips Village had limited access to the library’s resources because of the distance the apartment complex is from the library and the lack of safe options to get themselves there. Many do not speak English as a first language. Many come from families with two working parents who are not able to transport them. So instead of them coming to us, we decided to go to them.

Now that commitment, which began years ago, has been extended to the children of Country Manor.

Every Wednesday afternoon at Country Manor and Thursday afternoon at Phillips Village (in good weather), Jason and his helpers place signs throughout the apartment complexes, set up a tent and and a table, and spread the books out for ease of choice. Each book has a due-date card tucked inside for the child to sign. They can return the book the following week or hold it for longer; there’s no cost to the children, no due dates or overdue fees, and it’s all done without needing a library card.

Jason chooses most of the books — all age-appropriate and brand-new or almost brand-new — from community donations collected by the Friends of the Public Library, who also provide volunteers for the weekly programs.

The program’s not just about the books, though. It’s also a chance for kids to come outside, play with their friends and have a healthy snack, courtesy gift cards donated by Wegmans.

“We give out apples and juice boxes … and kids often stay and play kickball or Frisbee or jump rope or hula hoop,” Jason said. “We bring a bag full of balls and games … and for the last three years, Webster Parks and Recreation has sent someone to help out with that part of it.”

Thanks in part to bad weather, the Country Manor program has only been able to set up a few times this summer, so many families there have yet to discover it. But it’s an important community to connect with, since Country Manor has a significant Ukrainian refugee population.

“I think they’re interested,” Jason said, “but the language barrier presents a challenge. It’s too early to tell, really, but I think once they get used to us they will look forward to it.”

The BookBox program is truly a community effort. Webster community members donate books to the Friends, who then share them with Jason; the management at Phillips Village and Country Manor allow the library to set up shop; Wegmans donates gift cards; Webster Parks and Rec provides fitness instructors to play with kids; Webster Community Chest purchased the Phillips Village signs; and the United Church of Christ’s Caring Community Concerts series sponsors the Phillips Village BookBox.

And a huge thank you to the Webster Rotary Club for sponsoring the new Country Manor BookBox.

So even though the Webster Public Library created this amazing program, the entire Webster community is supporting it and helping it grow.

On behalf of the kids, thank you.

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

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

(posted 7/31/2024)

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Get your tickets now for Webster Community Night at the Red Wings

3 Jul

If you haven’t gotten your fill of Rochester Red Wings games this season, here’s a good opportunity to do so, at a great price.

On Friday Aug. 16, the Webster Recreation Center will be partnering with the Red Wings to host a Webster Community Night. The focus will be on our community that evening; Supervisor Tim Flaherty will be throwing out the first pitch, and Webster-based musician Sarah De Vallière is singing the national anthem.

The game starts at 6:45 p.m. Tickets are only $10; you can use the QR code on the flyer, or click here.

The Wings will be in the middle of a home stand with their cross-state rivals, the Syracuse Mets, and they’re doing really well this year, so this should be an exciting game to watch. And what a great way to spend an evening with the family.

Several businesses and community groups already have signed up as sponsors for the evening, and will have promotional tables set up with giveaways, including Webster Golf Club, Webster Public Library, Wellness 360 Physical Therapy, Kittelberger Florist & Gifts, Diamond Collision and fairlife. If your business is interested in joining them, email Gunnar Hausknecht at ghausknecht@redwingsbaseball.com or call (585) 454-1001 ext. 3024

Speaking of Sarah De Vallière, this very popular local musician will be performing a free concert at the Webster Arboretum on Thursday Aug. 22 as part of the Webster Recreation Center’s Music at the Arb series.

These concerts are held from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Arboretum’s gazebo, with plenty of room for music lovers to relax in chairs or on blankets, with a cooler at their side filled with drinks and snacks. There’s no charge, and there’s plenty of parking.

BUT BEFORE THAT, the next Music at the Arb concert is scheduled for Thursday July 18, featuring Doctor’s Orders, an acoustic folk and pop duo playing a variety of songs from the Beatles to John Prine, and pretty much everything in between.

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(posted 7/3/2024)

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