To my loyal readers, Happy Thanksgiving. I am so very thankful for all of you. I hope you are spending this day with friends and family.
New indoor dog park will serve dogs AND their humans
22 Nov
Today I’d like to offer a sneak peak at a brand new business opening soon which will be of particular interest to dogs and the humans they love.
It’s called Woofs Canine Club and Indoor Dog Park, located at 187 West Main St. (at the corner of Barrett Dr.), in the former World Gym.
If you’re not familiar with the concept of an indoor dog park, you’re not alone. There aren’t many of them out there, even here in Rochester, where an indoor park makes a lot of sense. And this one is even different from the ones that ARE out there. Owner Christine Gigante has taken the idea of an outdoor dog park and, she says, “put a spin on it.”
What she means by that is that while Woofs will have the amenities you’ve seen at your average outdoor dog runs, like separate areas for large and small dogs, and lots of agility equipment on artificial turf, Christine will also be focusing on the human component of every dog/owner relationship.
Christine wants to make sure that dog owners get as much out of their visits as their dogs do. She recognizes that getting together with other dog owners has a huge social benefit, so she’s carving out areas for a cafe, pool table and a dart board so people can relax and have conversations while their dogs are getting some exercise. There will even be a small gym area so owners can get a workout while their dogs are getting a workout. (Both the cafe and gym will be separated from the run area by low walls so owners can watch their dogs play.) She’s even thinking about occasionally bringing in food trucks to help build the community.
“If I build it for the dogs, I automatically build it best for the humans,” Christine said. “It’s about getting quality time in your life back.”
Downstairs, a smaller room is being turned into a kind of private “V.I.P.” (very important pup) dog park which can be reserved for dogs with special needs. Next to that is space for a groomer and a photographer.
There’s still plenty of work to be done, but Christine is hoping to open in early December. Admission is membership-based, with day passes and packages available. Click here for more details, and I’ll let you know when Woofs is officially open!
A now a second, somewhat related part to this story:
A little while ago, Christine Gigante entered a contest called “Fab Over 40.”
The contest, sponsored in part by NewBeauty magazine, has invited women to submit their photos and stories for a chance to win $40,000, a two-page spread in the magazine, and a spa vacation.
Anyone can vote for their chosen contestant, and the really cool thing is that the contest also benefits the National Breast Cancer Foundation. While you do have the option to vote once a day without making a donation, if you DO choose to make a donation, your contestant will receive one vote for every dollar you donate.
So if you donate $10 to the Breast Cancer Coalition, your contestant will get 10 votes.
Christine has made it all the way through to the semi-finals, and has asked me to pass along the news. If you’d like to add your votes — and donations — to the cause, you can click here to see Christine’s page. (She would use her winnings to help build the new dog park.) Voting started this week and will run through Dec. 1 at 7 p.m.
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(posted 11/22/2022)
Sharing the mission of mobility: Bella’s Bumbas went to preschool
21 Nov
George Metelenis, Rebecca and Marty
I haven’t blogged recently about my friends at Bella’s Bumbas, but rest assured, these fine folks are still doing great things for our community, and in our community.
Bella’s Bumbas is run by Webster residents Marty Parzynski and Rebecca Orr, dedicated to building miniature wheelchairs for children with a wide variety of mobility issues. In the five years since Marty built the first Bella’s Bumba for their niece Bella, they’ve shipped 2,600 chairs to children in 64 countries, often adapting the chairs for each child’s individual needs, and charging the parents only for shipping.
Recently, Marty and Rebecca brought several of their chairs, and their message, to the 3 and 4-year old preschoolers at Webster Christian Reformed Church. The visit had two goals: the first was to introduce the idea to these young children that there are a lot of kids out there who can’t get around as easily as they can.
“Some children can’t use their legs,” Rebecca explained to them, “so they have to have wheels.”
The chairs, she told the preschoolers, allow these children with special needs to still have fun, play with their siblings and friends, go to the spray park, roll around the playground and even along an ocean beach. The Bella’s Bumbas give them the mobility they had never before experienced.
Secondly, Rebecca and Marty hope their message of inclusion will filter down into the preschoolers’ homes, and encourage conversations with their adults.
Rebecca explained,
“One of the biggest ‘hopes’ most special needs parents have for their children is inclusion, for their child to be included in normal child’s play. Most children shy away from a child in a wheelchair or with leg braces. If families teach their children when they’re young about children like our ‘Bumbaleers’ who have different needs, and understand even at a young age how these children aren’t much different and just want to play, it would be a better world for all children.
Rebecca and Marty reinforced their message by letting the children try out the mini Bella’s Bumba wheelchairs for themselves. Not surprisingly, they very quickly got the hang of rolling themselves all around the room, using just their arms to push their wheels. They even saw how “kicking” a ball by nudging it with the wheelchair allowed them to play with their friends.
Bella’s Bumbas, which celebrated its fifth anniversary in March, is an all-volunteer organization, relying on a small but dedicated group to build the chairs and fulfill several other roles like picking up donated bubble wrap from drop boxes around town. They offer four different wheelchair designs, adapted to children’s particular needs. They’ve even developed a pull-behind cart for those children who need to carry an oxygen tank or other appliance with them at all times.
The organization is always looking for donations of bubble wrap and boxes, and of course they greatly appreciate monetary donations. For more information and to find out more about you can help, visit the Bella’s Bumbas website.
Check out these photos of the kids trying out the Bella’s Bumbas and playing ball together. They very quickly learned how easy it is to turn the chair, roll forward and backward, kick a ball back and forth, or pick it up and throw it to their friends. Even without using their legs, they could play just like any other kid.
And that’s what it’s all about.
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(posted 11/21/2022)
Local Nurse Corps veteran recognized
20 Nov
In this month of November, when we make a point to recognize and thank our nation’s veterans, here’s a nice story about one of Webster’s own.
On Friday Nov. 11, Town of Webster Deputy Supervisor Patti Cataldi and Cherie Wood, from the Daughters of the American Revolution, Canandaigua Chapter, attended the Veteran’s Day ceremony held at the Maplewood nursing home. They made the trip especially to present a Certificate of Appreciation to Maplewood resident Marie Gyles.
Marie had been invited to a Thank You Celebration held on July 30 at Webster Union Ceremony to recognize first responders, veterans and the military. But due to COVID restrictions, she was unable to attend. So Cataldi and Wood brought the certificate to her.
Marie Gyles was a member of the U.S. Cadet Nurse Corps during World War II. In her remarks at the presentation, Cataldi explained,
The U.S. Cadet Nurse Corps was the nation’s first integrated uniformed U.S. service corps. It fulfilled an urgent need for nurses during World War II. During that time many nurses were called to military service to care for soldiers overseas, creating vacancies of approximately 17,000 nursing positions in civilian hospitals in the United States. Many hospitals were on the verge of collapse. In 1943 President Franklin Roosevelt signed the Nurse Training Act to provide accelerated nursing training. The federal government covered the cost of tuition, room and board, a monthly stipend and the Cadet Corps uniforms. By 1945, Cadet Nurses were providing 80% of the nursing care in the hospitals in the United States. The Corps celebrated the 75th Anniversary of their creation in 2018.
Marie began her training and was admitted to the United States Cadet Nurse Corps in August 1944 at just 18 years old. She began working as a registered nurse at a tuberculosis hospital in Auburn. She later worked in maternity and pediatric care at Wilson Hospital, where she had trained for the Cadet Corps.
Cataldi also pointed out that the U.S. Cadet Nurse Corps remains the only uniformed corps members not to be recognized as veterans. An amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act is pending approval, so hopefully that will soon change.
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(posted 11/20/2022)
My first Nutcracker will not be my last
20 Nov
I know that many will find this hard to believe, but in all my 60-plus years, I had never seen a complete version of the Nutcracker ballet. That changed a few nights ago when my friend Denise Baller of Dancing With Denise hooked me up with some excellent tickets to Friday night’s production of Nutcracker! Magical Christmas Ballet at the Auditorium Theater, so I could sit right in the middle of the auditorium to experience this magical performance for the first time.
Any of you who have had the pleasure of seeing Nutcracker know that I don’t use the word “magical” lightly. From the bright Christmas-Eve-celebration colors, costumes and staging in the first act, to the sparkling wintry scenes in Act II, I sat enraptured through the whole show.
The dancing was magnificent, of course, presented by an international cast at the top of their game. But the stars of the show? That would be the 40 local children who played the parts of mice, party kids, snowflakes and several other characters. Those little dancers included 35 Dancing With Denise students, including two with special needs.
I had to feel a little sorry for the professional dancers when the kids were performing. I’m sure I wasn’t the only one, for example, paying more attention to the little rats scurrying around the stage than the pitched battle taking place between the Rat King and the Nutcracker.
Adding to my wonderful experience, Denise was kind enough to take me to the backstage dressing rooms, where she introduced me to her young cast. I took some great photos of the kids, which you can see below.
It’s safe to say I’m already looking forward to attending this glorious production again next year.
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(posted 11/20/2022)
Mrs. Claus has reached her goal!
19 Nov
Thanks in part to the generosity of my wonderful readers, Florence “Mrs. Claus” Kinney has reached her incredible goal of collecting and donating 100,000 Christmas gifts for children.
If you don’t know her story, here it is in a nutshell:
Florence Kinney is the driving force behind a grassroots ministry which she calls “Santa’s Workshop,” dedicated to bringing presents to children who might not get many gifts, or anything, for Christmas. It began in 2003, with the purchase of just two toy trucks for two brothers who would be spending Christmas in the hospital. In the 33 years since, it has grown to the point where Santa’s Workshop has delivered more than 97,500 gifts. This year she was hoping to put that number over 100,000. (Click here to read more about the Florience and how she got started.)
On my my recent visit a few days ago, Florence told me that a donation she’d received on Tuesday night had put her over her goal, just in time for her volunteer “elves” to swoop in and start packing the toys and clothing items for delivery to agencies all over the Rochester area.
I cannot thank you all enough for helping Florence fulfill what she considers her divine mission. Several of my readers went out and bought brand new toys, socks and winter wear. Others donated new toys and books they had around the house (some which were dropped on my porch anonymously), and more than a few actually sat down and knitted or crocheted dozens of pairs of mittens, hats and scarves.
The Webster Central School District also helped out. When Superintendent Brian Neenan heard that Florence and her elves were going to be short on boxes for their deliveries, he was happy to let me bring her dozens of boxes that were being emptied at the Schlegel Elementary School library.
Here are some more photos of some of Florence’s elves:
“Santa’s Workshop” officially ramped up operations on Monday, when Florence’s elves gathered to start the packing and delivering. When I stopped by to check out the operation, Florence reiterated how grateful she is for all of your help. She considers it a miracle.
As for me, this experience has confirmed my sincere belief that there are a lot of good people out there, and when someone is in need, those good people come out of the woodwork. From the bottom of my heart, thank you for helping make Florence’s dream a reality.
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(posted 11/19/2022)
Mama Lor’s now open on Lake Road
18 Nov
One of Webster’s best-loved restaurants has just gotten better. The very popular Mama Lor’s Cafe has opened a second location.
On October 1, Mama Lor’s officially opened at 1319 Lake Rd., in what used to be Doc’s Beer Hall, and before that, the Lake Road Country Store. Just ten minutes away from the original location at 1891 Ridge Rd., owners Mike Pompa, Lori Rosenzweig and Jonathan Oliva have created yet another comfortable, family-friendly restaurant that’s already becoming an integral part of the Lake Rd. community.
The new Mama Lor’s Cafe is a tad smaller than the original location, but that’s hard to tell when you walk through the front door. Unlike Ridge Road, which is divided into three distinct areas, the new restaurant’s dining room has an open floor plan, comfortably seating 80 customers. Another 40 can be accommodated on the big front patio.
The restaurant still offers many of its most popular breakfast, lunch and dinner menu items and specials, including the extremely popular fish fry. But, in a nod to its closer-lo-lake-Ontario location, some new seafood options have also been added. A full bar stretches along one wall, featuring a wide selection of liquors, and regional canned, bottled and draft beers.
One main thing that hasn’t changed with the new Mama Lor’s is the business’ commitment to community. It’s a commitment that goes back to when — and why — Lori opened the original Mama Lor’s in 2012, replacing the old Union Hill Country Grill.
Mike Pompa said that Lori used to work at the Country Grill and saw how much it drew the community together. “While it was vacant, it was always on (Lori’s) mind to resurrect that area, to bring it back to what it was,” he said. “She knew the community was huge over there. She loved the community, she loved seeing people.” Converting the old store into a restaurant seemed like a great way to create that community again.
The community responded in kind, both in good times and (especially) bad. During COVID, for example, Mike said that cars would be backed up in the parking lot waiting for the waitresses to deliver to-go orders.
That community focus was a big reason Mike, Lori and John decided to expand the business to Lake Road, just six miles from the Ridge Road location.
Historically, the Country Store and Doc’s Beer Hall “had a huge following,” Mike said. “Everyone we talk to says ‘I used to come here.’ When they closed down, we had the opportunity to do the same thing in this area,” to rebuild that sense of community.
Now that the business is up and running smoothly, the partners are looking at continued improvements over the next several weeks and next year. They include covering the patio, adding a heated front-door walkway, and creating an “express room” with a separate entrance for take-out orders, grab-and-go sandwiches, and maybe even beer and ice cream.
The new Mama Lor’s has already been warmly welcomed by many Ridge Road regulars. Now Mike hopes that Websterites on the north and west sides of town — who may not be familiar with the original restaurant — will now also get to know and love Mama Lor’s.
After all, the more the merrier for a business which strives to be a welcoming gathering place for the entire Webster community.
The new Mama Lor’s Cafe is located at 1319 Lake Rd., Webster. They’re open Monday 7 a.m. to 2 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday 7 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Sunday 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Click here to visit their webpage and here to see them on Facebook.
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(posted 11/18/2022)
Cobblestone presents check to Miracle Field
17 Nov
Dan and Sarah Bresnahan, co-owners of Webster’s Cobblestone on Main restaurant, presented a very large check (both in size and amount) to Challenger Miracle Field on Wednesday morning.
The check represented part of the proceeds from the first-ever Webster Oktoberfest, held Sept. 16 and 17 at Webster Fireman’s Field. Cobblestone on Main provided the beer, wine and soft drinks for the festival. The check for $8,000, presented to Miracle Field co-founder Ron Kampff, represented the proceeds from those sales. Several staff members, and even some regular patrons who had volunteered for the two-day event, were also on hand at the presentation.
Dan Bresnahan said the partnership with Miracle Field is exactly the kind of community collaboration they’ve been looking for.
“We are really excited to have been a part of the first Webster Oktoberfest,” he said. “Our goal was to find a local organization to partner with so we could give back to the community. Challenger Miracle Field is a fabulous organization, with great leadership, and one we feel aligns with our mission and values.”
He added, “There are so many great organizations, but these guys are amazing for what they’ve done for individuals with disabilities and inclusivity.”
There’s no shortage of projects at Miracle Field which can benefit from the donation. “We’re always making improvements,” Ron Kampff said. Right now, for example, plans are in motion to install stadium lights so athletes can hold night games. The cash might also help fund the many special events and sporting programs the organization runs all year long.
Kampff said he was especially grateful to Oktoberfest organizer Mike Spang for the opportunity to get the community involved and help bring attention to Miracle Field and its mission.
The Webster Oktoberfest benefited our community in so many ways. Not only did it bring another great festival to the Webster summer calendar (which I hope will become an annual event), it supported an incredibly worthy organization. It raised thousands of dollars for Miracle Field, but more importantly, people walked away from that festival knowing more about the life-changing opportunities the organization provides for children and adults with disabilities. Many thanks to Mike Spang, long-time organizer of the Irondequoit Oktoberfest, for bringing his experience and skills to Webster.
Cobblestone on Main is located at 109 West Main St. in the Village of Webster. Click here to visit their Facebook page.
Pictured above are (front row L-R) Evelyn Fonda, co-owner Sarah Bresnahan, Brenda Baleno, Ron Kampff, Mike Spang, Allie McLaurin; (back row) Tom Wright, Joe Baleno, Dan Bresnahan. Evelyn and Allie are Cobblestone employees. Brenda, Joe and Tom are regular customers who volunteered at the festival.
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(posted 11/17/2022)
Get your ugly on at this year’s Winter Wonderland
16 NovIn a blog I posted last week, I told you all about some of the changes in store for the festival formerly known as “White Christmas.”
In a nutshell, in addition to all of the features everyone has come to love about White Christmas — including Santa, carolers, the bell choir, the festival wagon and the Parade of Lights — the newly christened “Webster’s Winter Wonderland” on Saturday Dec. 3 has also taken on an around-the-world theme.
But here’s an extra special, really fun wrinkle in the festival that I didn’t mention before: the Ugly Sweater Spectacular! (I just made that name up, so don’t hold the village to it.)
Everyone who attends the Winter Wonderland activities, and especially the parade, is encouraged to wear an ugly sweater. Even if your group is marching in the parade, you can all wear ugly sweaters. You don’t even have to go out and buy one. (They’re often hard to find this time of year.) Just take an old sweater and hang stuff on it! There will be a photo booth set up on Main Street in front of Lala’s where you and your family members can get your photo taken with your creative attire.
Getting the whole village to dress up in ugly sweaters will be tons of fun, but there’s also an ulterior motive. The Webster Business Improvement District, who brings you this holiday celebration every year, is hoping that next year we can set a record for the largest gathering of ugly sweaters and launch our little village into the Guinness Book of World Records. The record right now is about 3,500. We can certainly beat that.
So start making those sweaters, and stay tuned for more details about Webster’s Winter Wonderland, scheduled for Sat. Dec. 3.
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(posted 11/16/2022)
Barry’s Old School Irish celebrates 11 years
15 Nov
Do you remember this corner?
If you lived in Webster, say, 12 or 13 years ago, you might remember this unusual garden, complete with a mini-waterfall. It stood at the the village’s four corners, welcoming visitors to our main business corridor. It adorned the storefront of the Living Plumber at 2 West Main St., and it stood for as long as I can remember.
That is, until the Living Plumber’s owner passed away, the village cleared it away, Danny and Jessica Barry moved in, and committed to turning that corner into something really special: a friendly little Irish pub.
For a long time now, it’s been clear to all of us that the Barrys have done that and so much more. With Barry’s Old School Irish, they’ve created a super-friendly, welcoming pub for the whole family. A place where you can set up your computer in the middle of the day to work while listening to musicians jamming in the corner. Where everyone who comes in is immediately considered part of the family.
Barry’s Old School Irish has not only changed that corner for the better, it has changed our village.
This weekend, on Saturday Nov. 19, Danny and Jessica Barry will celebrate their little pub’s 11th anniversary. The party begins at 7 p.m. with live music by Irish rocker Billy Herring, Jameson Irish Whiskey reps will be on hand all night with samples and giveaways, dancers from the Jamieson Irish Dance school will perform, some bagpipers will be stopping by, and the Official Toast (always an epic event) takes place at 9:30.
I’m pleased and proud to say I’ve been an extended member of the Barry’s Pub family since before they even opened, when I popped in to interview the new owners for this blog and took that iconic picture of them holding the sign that would soon adorn the outside of their pub. There were no pictures on the walls, no musicians in the corner, no cheeseburgers on the grill or soup in the pot. Just two young kids with a dream which they continue to expand upon every single day.
If you STILL haven’t stopped by this little Irish corner of the world, at 2 West Main Street right smack in the middle of the village, you’re missing something special.
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(posted 11/11/2022)
About this blog
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
The contents of this blog are presented under a Creative Commons Attribution-Non-Commercial license.
Read more above, in ABOUT THIS BLOG.
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