Got any shoes you don’t need?

26 Sep

As a runner, I’m finding that I go through running sneakers pretty quickly. To some extent (like many of you, probably), when I get a new pair, all my other ones drop one rung down the usefulness ladder, relegated to walking sneakers, then schlep-around-the-house sneakers, then gardening sneakers. But when my used sneaker collection starts number four or five pairs, that system falls apart.

So right now I have a growing pile of worn out sneakers in the corner of my closet. But they won’t be there for much longer, because at the last Webster Chamber of Commerce breakfast meeting, I met Ruby Black.

In her day job, Penfield resident Ruby Black works full time as the Director of Community and Employee Engagement at Volvo Cars Rochester. But it’s her part-time job working with Designer Shoe Warehouse and its partner organization, Souls4Souls, which reflects her real passion.

Soles4Souls is a Tennessee-based nonprofit which turns unwanted shoes and clothing into opportunities for people in need. They have four key initiatives:

  • 4Relief, providing footwear and clothing to people in crisis situations, 
  • 4Opportunity, helping entrepreneurs in developing countries create sustainable businesses through shoe sales, 
  • 4EveryKid, delivering new shoes to children experiencing homelessness, and
  • 4ThePlanet, keeping shoes and clothing out of landfills to benefit both people and the environment.

Ruby has focused her efforts on collecting and distributing footwear to those in need, spending much of her free time gathering, sorting, and bagging shoes. She’s been collecting shoes for five years now, through donation boxes placed in businesses throughout the city. Last year, her efforts hit a huge milestone of 10,000 pairs, and this year she fully expects to reach 11,000.

Here in Webster, Ruby’s donation boxes are located at

  • LA Fitness, 929 Holt Rd.
  • Garber Chevy , 740 Ridge Rd.
  • Burn Boot Camp, 1847 Empire Blvd.
  • LaLa of Webster, 38 E. Main St.

(I recently learned that Friday Brighton Hair Design Tat 80 East Main St. in the village is also collecting shoes, but I don’t know if it’s for the same program.)

So next time you’re ready to ditch that old pair of shoes, drop it by one of these locations instead. Soles4Souls will take shoes of any style, size or condition. New and gently used shoes are especially helpful for the 4Opportunity program.

Other ways you can help is to host a shoe collection box at your workplace or special event, help spread the word about Soles4Souls and its mission, and participate in Ruby’s annual fundraising run, where every $20 raised provides a new pair of sneakers to children experiencing homelessness in the U.S. (The run is held every May, but you can also send monetary donations through that link.)

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(posted 9/26/2025)

Village of Webster awarded Preserve NY Grant

25 Sep

The Village of Webster was recently named one of 31 recipients of a Preserve New York Grant.

Awarded annually since 1993, Preserve New York Grants provide funds to municipalities and nonprofit organizations that need technical, professional assistance to guide a variety of preservation projects. According to the Preservation League website, the grants “support important arts and cultural initiatives, as well as economic development related to our state’s arts and cultural heritage.”

The Village of Webster received $14,320, which will be used to fund a Cultural Resources Survey.

The press release from the Village explains that,

A cultural resources survey is an inventory of historically and/or architecturally significant buildings, sites, structures, and landscapes in a community. The results of a survey can serve as an excellent tool for local planning efforts, heritage tourism, economic development, and to help inform the Village of Webster Historic Preservation Commission of historically significant resources within the Village. The results of the survey will also help determine whether there is a National Register eligible historic district(s) or individual properties within the village. The Landmark Society of Western New York will serve as consultants to complete the survey.

Josh Durso, member of the Village of Webster’s Historic Preservation Commission, said,

“This grant gives the Village of Webster an important opportunity to document and preserve our history. It will not only help us share our community’s story but also guide future planning and development.”

As a huge fan of learning more about our village’s history and doing all we can to preserve and appreciate it, I congratulate the Village of Webster for going after and securing this grant.

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(posted 9/14/2025)

Holt Rd. skeletons welcome the Halloween season

24 Sep

When the skeletons show up on Holt Rd., you know it’s almost Halloween.

Anyone who regularly travels down Holt Rd. is almost certainly familiar with the imaginative skeleton display erected every year at the corner of Holt and Klem roads. They’re the work of George Baker and his family, and for the last three years they’ve been bringing smiles to the faces of children and adults alike.

George started erecting monstrous skeletons in his front yard two years ago. At first, it was just one really big one, the big daddy of them all, standing a full 12 feet tall. That humongous skeleton alone, with its glowing eyes, drew a lot of comments and happy honking from the drivers passing by.

So of course, he couldn’t stop there.

Last year, George gave the big daddy a slightly smaller (10-foot tall) companion. And since that wasn’t nearly enough, he and his family also created a playground scene to accompany them, with a half dozen smaller skeletons swinging on swings, hanging upside down on a bar, and testing the waters in a kiddie pool (that skeleton had to have a mask and snorkel, just in case).

That was pretty cool, but this year, I dare say, they’ve gone one better.

This season, the silly skeletons (and there are at least three more of them) appear to be competing in a bike race. But they’re not taking the race very seriously; one is perched upside down on his handlebars, one is standing on the handlebars, two are riding piggyback, another has chosen to compete on a unicycle, and yet another on a scooter (he appears to be winning the race).

Plus, off to the left side of the scene, two other skeletons apparently had a bike accident. One is flying through the air after being catapulted over his handlebars. And if you think this is all spooky and bizarre during the day, you got to see it at night.

The annual skeleton spectacle is truly a family effort. George credits his wife Melissa for coming up with the creative ideas, his grandson Ryan is a master at manipulating the arms of the monster skeletons, and grandson Brendan came up with the idea to have the bike accident.

It took about five hours (and countless zip ties), and a team of five (including Rich Moorman and Chad Baker) to create this year’s display. It was hard work, but all of the smiles and comments the finished tableau elicits make it all worth it.

“I love it,” George said. “The whole time we’re doing it, someone is driving by, honking their horn…. People holler ‘Keep doing it for the kids!'”

“I do it simply to get smiles,” he said. “It’s as simple as that.”

The spooky bike race will be entertaining the neighbors and passersby through Halloween, but come November, it will be replaced by a Christmas-themed scene. Melissa already has an idea for that, but isn’t letting on what that might be. Last year the holiday scene featured Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus (wearing a tree skirt).

By the way, anyone who’d like to is welcome to stop by to take photos of the skeletons, or photos WITH them!

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(posted 9/24/2025)

Can you help? The Senior Singers need a new director

23 Sep

I’ve written several times about the Senior Singers, an enthusiastic group of older adults who meet once a week at the Webster Recreation Center to sing, socialize and perform community concerts.

For the past many years, this fabulous vocal group has been led by Sylvia Vezzana, who’s recently decided to retire from that volunteer position due to family responsibilities. So the Recreation Center is hoping there’s someone out there who’d be interested in taking over.

The commitment is not huge. Right now the group meets every Tuesday at 11 a.m. Once or twice a year they’ll have a community performance/sing-along. There are currently about 20 to 25 members in the group, and they’re supported by a wonderful accompanist.

The Rec Center would like to find someone as soon as possible to fill the (volunteer) role, and they’ll be happy to work with the new director if the current time and day are a challenge. So if you have any experience leading a chorus, or know someone who’d like more information about this rewarding volunteer opportunity, please email Daphne Geoca, the Recreation Center’s 55+ Coordinator, at dgeoca@ci.webster.ny.us.

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(posted 9/23/2025)

Webster Hope named Webster Chamber Business of the Month

22 Sep

Congratulations to Webster NY Hope, honored as the September Business of the Month by the Webster Chamber of Commerce.

Located at 1450 Ridge Rd., Webster Hope was founded by Holy Trinity Church as an outreach ministry in 1999 as Hope Ministry to provide an organized and more comprehensive way of helping people in need by providing food and clothing. They operated under the umbrella of Holy Trinity until 2022, when they formed their own 501c3 and updated their name to Webster Hope.

The agency’s mission continues to be to serve the needs of residents in the 14580 zip code. Their volunteers embrace the spirit of compassion as they provide food, clothing, and household goods to those in need. Financial assistance is also available, with the emphasis on preventing homelessness.

Webster Hope doesn’t just hand out food and clothing. They meet with people individually on each visit. These conversations allow them to develop relationships with the people they serve. As a direct result of these conversations, the agency has added household items collections, Back to School nights for school supplies, and other services. Director Margery Morgan says the best part of being at Hope is the atmosphere of hospitality and getting to know their neighbors.

Webster Hope has one paid employee and more than 100 volunteers, active with Scouts, sports teams, schools, churches, and other Webster charities. They’re also always happy to send a speaker to participate in community events.

The Webster Chamber of Commerce hosts a monthly breakfast for Chamber members, guests, and visitors who are interested in investigating Chamber membership. The September breakfast will be held on Friday Aug. 26 beginning at 7 a.m. at the Webster Golf Club, 440 Salt Rd. The monthly breakfasts are opportunities to network, meet new contacts, develop current business relationships, learn, and earn visibility for your business or organization. This is the largest monthly Chamber networking event in the Greater Rochester area, with 70-90 attendees. Bring a door prize for visibility and your business card, to take your chances on winning a prize, too.

Visitors and members are welcome. Please register here.

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(posted 9/22/2025)

“Aging … better” is a new online resource for active older adults

21 Sep

I am no longer the only blogger in the family.

My husband Jack has recently launched an online publication which should be of interest to all of us who are getting older, and especially anyone who wants to make sure they’re doing all they can to stay healthy and make the best of our senior years.

It’s called Aging … better, a blog and newsletter created on Substack. The site has news and information about topics such as nutrition and exercise that support active older living. But it also will include coverage of the important topic of caregiving for older adults. 

Those topics may at first glance seem contradictory, but really aren’t. People naturally want to remain as vital as they can as long as possible, but the connection between aging and caregiving is almost inevitable. Government statistics show that anyone 65 or older has a 70 percent chance of needing some kind of assistive care before the end of their lives.

In fact, even as many adults strive to be vital and active in their 50s and 60s, they find themselves as caregivers for parents in their 80s or 90s. So Aging … better’s subject matter is complementary even as it addresses two very different aspects of older life. 

Examples of recent posts include how resistance training can prevent muscle loss, how self-care is important for caregivers, eating tips for better health, and a collection of online links for organizations that support caregivers.

Jack’s interest in creating this new resource was sparked by several things. His interest in elder issues in large part came from a two-year stint with the New York & Michigan Solutions Journalism Collaborative, a nonprofit news organization which focused its coverage on caregiving for older adults. His own experiences helping care for his aging parents provided a personal perspective on caregiving issues.

Plus, as a long-time journalist (including 18 years at the D&C) and journalism professor, Jack likes to write (like me) and share his knowledge with the greater community.

All information published on Aging … better is freely available, without advertising or paid subscription. The site can be found at agingbetter.substack.com. Site visitors may register to receive email updates of the latest reports, but it’s not required.

Check it out and see what you think!  

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(posted 9/21/2025)

Library’s Community Building Circle connects people and ideas

20 Sep

The Town of Webster is already a pretty strong community, but a new(ish) program at the Webster Public Library is helping to make it even stronger.

It’s called the Community Building Circle, a safe gathering space where participants can talk and share their opinions on a topic chosen by the facilitator. Everyone has a chance to speak — and listen — and are encouraged to be open and genuine with each other. All are welcome and all voices are heard. It’s a great way to meet and connect with new people.

Here’s the description provided by the library:

Please join us for a monthly Community Building Circle!  We are social beings that not only need connection — we thrive and are more resilient when community bonds are nurtured and strengthened.  The circle structure, where each person has an opportunity to speak, in turn, without interruption, creates a safe space to make connections, build relationships and be heard. Each circle focuses on a meaningful topic that is chosen by trained facilitators. There’s never any pressure to speak, or to return, but our hope is that after experiencing a community building circle and the relationships that develop there, you’ll join us again as we build community together.

The program is held the second Friday of the month from 2 to 3:30 p.m. in the Large Study Room. There’s no cost, but registration is required. Click here to register for the October 9th session.

The Community Building Circle is sponsored by PiRI (Partners in Restorative Relationships).

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(posted 9/20/2025)

A preview of tomorrow’s Mud Run

19 Sep

I was at the Webster Recreation Center this morning for a workout, and since I’m not going to be able to participate in their annual Mud Run (which happens tomorrow, Saturday Sept. 20), I thought I’d check out the course just for fun. Plus, I wanted to see what kind of progress the guys were making in preparing for the muddy mess. I saw that all of the obstacles are in place — things just have to be muddied up with a LOT of water.

As I jogged along, my mind provided this running commentary:

Oh, yeah, it starts here in the middle of the field at a big starter’s gate. And then …. yep, the obstacle course. I remember that. First, slog through the mud … the first chance to get really muddy. Separates the serious mudders from the wanna-be-mudders. Not very muddy yet, though. Go over this hurdle (mmmph!), think I’ll duck under the next one. Whew. Now through the tires….

Right, the muddy tunnels. Crawl through the tunnel. A little tough on the knees, but worth it. Also not muddy yet.

Oh, boy, on my belly, under the canopy, crawl through the mud. No way to stay clean with this one. (‘Course I could have gone around… but what’s the fun in THAT?) Not muddy yet.

Run down the path. Pretty trail. Nice bridge.

Hey, this is new. It’s kind of like a string and bungee-cord maze. Gotta … step over … aargh … crawl over this one … got it. Nope. It caught me. Step over it, then under …. did it.

Oh my gosh, ANOTHER one? Ahhh, I’ll just go around this one.

Whoa, another new thing. Wonder what they call this? The “Noodle Noggin’ Knocker”? That looks like fun. And check out the mud on this one. Yeah, THIS is more like it. There’s so much sticky mud here you’ll want to make sure your sneakers are tied on tight.

That’s pretty much how my inner monologue went. It gives you a pretty good idea of what you’ll find tomorrow at the Mud Run, and you can get a sense of how much fun it will be. The whole course is less than a mile and you can get as muddy or not muddy as you like (and you can walk it if you want). And rest assured, by tomorrow morning, all of the muddy obstacles will be VERY muddy.

And don’t worry about how messy you get; at the end of the course the Webster fire departments will be there to spray you down if you want. (I recommend it for the sake of your car seats. Just bring a few towels.) Plus, remember there’ll be fried cakes and apples at the end of the run, and lots of vendor and informational tables for you to check out.

It’s a good idea to register in advance (it’s only $5 per person) and you can show up any time between 10 and 11:30. I recommend you give yourselves time to go through twice. It’s that much fun.

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

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(posted 9/19/2025)

Webster community mailbag

18 Sep

The Webster Community Chest is selling Kittelberger Flower Cards, but you have to get on this SOON, because they’re available only through Sept. 27.

Each card gets you 12 Months of Flowers ($180 value; $15 monthly value) for only $50. They make great gifts, or grab one for yourself so you’re sure to have fresh flowers on your table all through the coming winter.  

You can also purchase a flower card and donate it to the Community Chest, and they will brighten the lives of 12 families through this coming year, by gifting them with a bouquet of flowers.

Please contact Tracy at webcommchest@gmail.com or 585-671-2060 to order your card(s) and discuss payment options.

This fundraiser will support WCC’s Women’s Empowerment Programs.

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The United Church of Christ, 570 Klem Rd., is hosting a special performance titled “They Live On…in Word and Song to Support Mental Health,” on Sunday, Sept. 21 at 2 p.m. The community program will support those in various stages of caregiving and loss.

“They Live On…in Word and Song” features excerpts from Patricia Nugent’s memoir — They Live On: Saying Goodbye to Mom and Dad –paired with nine original songs by singer/songwriter Michael Jerling.

Tickets are $20, a donation to the church’s mission of supporting mental health awareness and education. Click here to get yours. For more information, email office@uccwebster.org.

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Webster Central School District families are invited to join a virtual event to learn more about “Distraction-Free Learning” on Tuesday, September 23, from 6 to 7 p.m. Dr. Robert Chalwell, assistant superintendent for student and community engagement, will lead the event. Dr. Chalwell will provide a brief presentation on the New York State law, Webster CSD policy, and the district’s ongoing implementation process. There will be Q&A, as well as a chance to hear perspectives from students, teachers, and families. The district will also provide resources for parents and guardians, and raise awareness about other hot-button topics.

The meeting will be held on Zoom. You can access it here.

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The Webster Lions Club will be hosting their chicken and ribs BBQ on Thursday, Sept. 25 from 3 to 6 p.m. (or until sold out) at Webster Fireman’s Field.

Cost is $20 per person (cash or check) and dinners (prepared by Bad to the Bone in Williamson) include a quarter chicken, pit-smoked ribs, mac salad, BBQ beans and corn bread. Dinners are drive-thru and pick-up.

All proceeds will support Webster Lions Club charities and to help those in need in the community.

The Lions Club’s mission statement is to improve the quality of life for visually and hearing-impaired individuals and those with diabetes. The Club also partners with Camp Smile, located in Webster, a summer day camp for children who are visually or hearing-impaired. To learn more, click here  or call 585-234-5480.

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The Country Gardeners of Webster will be holding a “Frightful and Delightful” Halloween-themed flower show on Saturday, Oct. 4 from 1 to 5 p.m. at the Webster Presbyterian Church, 550 Webster Rd.

Explore floral designs, artistic crafts, an array of horticultural specimens and other surprises. Get ready to decorate your home for the Halloween season! Admission is free and there’s plenty of parking.

Take a peek at the stars on Saturday night, Oct. 4 when the Webster Public Library hosts a Star Party from 6 to 9 p.m. Jim Porter, retired Chief Systems Engineer at NASA, will be on hand to discuss, “What can you see in the night sky?” See robots demonstrated by the McQuaid IgKnighters Robotics Team, play large versions of your favorite games outside with your family or friends, and make a space-themed craft. There’ll be donuts, pizza, hot/cold cider and hot cocoa (available for purchase). You can also enter a raffle for a chance to win a prize, and each attendee will get a free raffle ticket.

A telescope and binoculars will be available for use, or bring your own (that’s recommended).

This is an outdoor event held in the parking lot, and registration is required. The Webster Public Library is located at 980 Ridge Rd.

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The Webster Public Library and Color Webster Green will present an informative presentation all about plastics on Oct. 6 from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.

It’s called Plastics & Health: What You Need To Know. Almost every bit of plastic breaks down into “microplastics.” Documentaries such as Plastic People show how these microscopic particles drift in the air, float in all bodies of water, mix into our soil, and end up in our bodies.

Jane van Dis, MD, FACOG, Assistant Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Rochester will present on the prevalence of plastics and the effects that plastics and the chemicals inside them have on our health. This talk will address key scientific findings and offer insight into ways to protect ourselves and our loved ones. A Q&A session will follow Jane’s presentation. This event is organized by Color Webster Green.

The program will be held Monday Oct. 6, 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. in the Webster Public Library’s Community Room. There’s no charge, but please register here so the library knows how many people to expect.

The Webster Arboretum will present their next educational program, all about Bonsai, on Tuesday, Oct. 7 from 7 to 8 p.m.

The program will be presented by award-winning bonsai artist Mark Arpag, who will speak on the art of growing, developing and refining bonsai. Mark has won national awards for his Eastern White Cedar, Balsam Fir and Larch and has a passion for native bonsai and stones. He’s especially interested in shohin bonsai and bonsai display. He has a large and fine quality collection of shohin bonsai as well as larger size trees.

The Arboretum expects a sell-out crowd for this presentation. It’s free to attend, but you need to register. Click here to do so.

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The Friends of the Webster Public Library’s Book Sale will be held Wednesday, Oct. 22 through Saturday, Oct. 25. The first day of the sale — Oct. 22 from 4 to 7 p.m. — is exclusively for Friends members. Membership can be purchased at websterlibrary.org or at the door.  

All are welcome to attend the book sale on Oct. 23 from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Hardcover books will be $1 each and paperbacks are only 50 cents each. Oct. 24 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Oct. 25 from 10 a.m. to noon are Bring-Your-Own-Bag Sale days, when you can fill your bag with books for only $5. All are welcome to attend the BYOB Sale days.

Proceeds from the sale support the library. I’ll post another reminder about this in a few weeks.

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The Women’s Club of Webster has announced plans for their next luncheon, scheduled for Thursday, Oct. 16 at Proietti’s Restaurant, 980 Ridge Rd., Webster.

October’s speaker will be Ron Kampff, Vice Chair of Challenger Miracle Field of Greater Rochester. Located in Webster, Miracle Field provides 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.

The event begins at 11:15 a.m. with social time, followed by lunch at noon and Mr. Kampff’s presentation. Attendees will enjoy a variety of Proietti’s popular pizzas, salad, cannoli and camaraderie.

Cost of the luncheon is $19. Send your check, made out to the Women’s Club of Webster, by Oct. 9 to Carolyn Rittenhouse, 405 County Line Road, Ontario, NY 14519. If you think your check will be late, phone Carolyn at 585-265-1303.You do not have to be a member of the Women’s Club to attend, but new members are always welcome!

Here’s a great opportunity to actually chat with some Women’s Club members:

The American Red Cross is sponsoring a blood drive from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 3 at the Webster Public Library, 980 Ridge Rd., and the Women’s Club of Webster will be providing the snacks.  

Blood donors will be warmly greeted at the cantina by members of the Women’s Club, and enjoy supremely scrumptious homemade cookies with their juice.

The whole process takes only about an hour. Appointments are not required. Donors should feel free to just drop in. For more information about the blood drive, please contact Katie Houtat 585-353-9964.

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(posted 9/18/2025)

September History Bit: Spry turns 100

16 Sep

This month’s History Bit is perfectly timed for the start of the school year, highlighting the century-long educational legacy of the building now home to Spry Middle School.

The Spry Middle School building, located in the Village of Webster at the corner of South Ave. and Sanford St., turns 100 years old this week. It was built in 1925 to serve not as a middle school as it is now, but as the town’s high school, replacing the Webster Union Free School located just across the street. The new Webster High School welcomed its first students on September 17 of that year. 

The building’s design was distinctive, shaped like the letter “W”. Despite recent additions and renovations, you can still get a sense of its original shape if you stretch your imagination.

In 1962, R.L. Thomas High School was constructed to serve the town’s growing population, and Webster High School was converted into Webster Junior High. It held that designation until 2001, when the building was renamed Spry Middle School in honor of former superintendent Edward W. Spry.

The Spry building is the oldest building within the Webster Central School District still in use for educational purposes. It continues to adapt to the town’s growing population and student needs, most recently in 2019 with the construction of a new “cafetorium,” a combined cafeteria and performing arts center, designed to provide a modern space to replace the nearly century-old auditorium.  

If you’d like to find out more about the Town of Webster’s educational history, it’s on full display at the Webster Museum, from its recreated 1900s-era one-room schoolhouse, to its extensive collection of old high school yearbooks. Right now the museum has a “Webster Winners” display of banners, trophies, photographs, letter sweaters and more, recalling our school’s many athletic achievements.   

The Webster Museum is located at 18 Lapham Park in the Village of Webster, and is open every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday from 2 to 4:30 p.m. There is no admission charge. (Photo above courtesy Webster Town Historian Lynn Barton.)

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(posted 9/16/2025)