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The financial difficulties that the current pandemic is creating for our small businesses have hit close to home again. Yesterday, Dave Nicchitta and Mike Palmer officially announced that their East Main Street Jujitsu studio, Strike Back Martial Arts, will be closing.

In an email they sent to parents and students, they wrote,

Due to the financial issues associated with our closing during the current Coronavirus pandemic and an uncertain future (reopening date, another Covid spike in the fall) we are faced with this decision.

To say “thank you” is an understatement. For the past 7 years you have given us the privilege of working with you and your kids. We tried to create a family environment and make everyone feel like they were more to us than just customers who paid the invoices. We laughed, we cried and shared many accomplishments- all of which we will forever hold close to our hearts and in our memories. You stayed with us through our growing pains.

The closing of Strike Back is especially sad for me. For the last five years I’ve had the privilege of working with Dave, Mike and Pam Wright as a volunteer in the dojo’s Jujitsu Buddies classes for children with autism. I have come to consider them — and the rest of the Strike Back crew — family, and I will miss seeing them every week.

But more than that, Strike Back offered something unique in our area: Jujitsu programs for children and young adults with autism and Down syndrome.  Every week I witnessed first-hand what these classes did for these children.  I saw anxieties melt away and self-confidence bloom. I saw unbridled delight on the face of a child who accomplished a skill for the first time. I saw children start to believe in themselves and learn that if they just try, they will succeed.

With the loss of Strike Back, we’ve lost an important advocate for these children. My hope (however unrealistic it may be) is that this only a temporary setback, and when the world turns right side up again, I’ll get to see some of these kids again.

In this pre-Covid photo, (L-R) Dave Nicchitta, Pam Wright, Mike Palmer and I pose with some very proud Jujitsu Buddies students who are holding their participation certificates.

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Just two days ago I posted a blog about a fund-raiser being held this evening for Josh Honebrink, a young man fighting a battle against cancer.

I’m sorry to report that Josh passed away yesterday morning.

Naturally, Josh’s family is going through an extremely difficult, emotional time right now, and having to deal with monumental medical and funeral bills should be the last thing on their minds. So tonight’s fund-raiser, a series of professional wiffle ball games, is perhaps more important than ever, and will go on as planned.

Here are the details again:

The event will take place at 824 Houston Rd. (off of Gravel Rd.) from 5:30 to 9 p.m. Supporters can help out in two ways: First, come to watch the games. Entrance fee is $5, and masks will be required.

Second, you can become a home run sponsor by pledging money for each home run the players hit through all 8 games. Sponsor levels are:

Platinum sponsor: $35/home run
Gold sponsor: $10/home run
Silver sponsor: $5/home run
Bronze sponsor: $1/home run

You’ll also be able to take chances on some beautiful raffle basks, and purchase Team Josh wristbands.

If you can’t make the game but would still like to help out, donations are being collected through the Webster Major League Wiffle Venmo page. You can also email Hectorvargas824@yahoo.com.

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email me  at missyblog@gmail.com. “Like” this blog on Facebook and follow me on Twitter. 

You can also get email notifications every time I post a new blog by using the “Follow Me” link on the right side of this page.

If you’ve been in the village anytime recently, you’ve probably noticed that new sidewalks are being installed along the north side of East Main Street. It looks like (judging from the little “don’t dig here” flags all the way down Main Street) that the new walks are being replaced from Jojo’s Bistro all the way east to Phillips Rd.

They’re making great progress, so the main part of the job should be done in just a few more days. It’s going to be messy for a short time, but in the end this is going to be a great improvement for the village.

My personal thank you to Superintendent of Public Works Jake Swingly and his staff for replacing the bike rack in front of Barry’s Pub/The Garage Sale Store that was knocked over several months ago (probably by a delivery truck). Cyclists are beginning to hit the streets for the summer, and as our local restaurants and pubs start to open up again, the bike rack should get some use. Let’s hope it survives a bit longer this time.

Speaking of sidewalks, I saw this recently on Supervisor Tom Flaherty’s column (which you can find on the Town of Webster website). I heard talk many moons ago about sidewalks being installed west of the village, and had wondered what the status was.

This column from June 24, which I re-post in its entirety, explains.

While campaigning in 2019, I heard several people say they wish we had more sidewalks in Webster. Some even said that the Town government was against installing sidewalks in Webster. One of my favorite lines is “don’t let the facts get in the way of a good story”. When I entered office in January 2020, I got first-hand knowledge that the facts on how the Town government was approaching sidewalks did not match the story. I immediately became aware of a 3+ year effort that the Town Board had been involved in to have sidewalks installed on Ridge Road, in the 1.5 miles between Five Mile Line Road and Rachel Drive in the Village. The “effort” was one of my first educations as Town Supervisor as to the process it takes to have sidewalks put in.

I am pleased to announce that the Town Board’s efforts on this project long before I became Supervisor, and several other key Town of Webster personnel has finally culminated. In the next several months you will start to see the construction of these sidewalks. So why did it take 3+ years? If the Town Board wanted sidewalks on Ridge Road, couldn’t they just wave their magic wand and make it happen? Well, unfortunately I am learning we don’t have a magic wand as a Town Board, but man that would be cool if we did! Life would be a lot easier. What I found out was that the cost and the land use were the two stumbling blocks that made the process take over three years.

On the cost side, the $2 million+ project will be 75% – 80% funded by State and Federal grants. That grant process is long and arduous. Had the Town Board opted three years ago to bypass that grant application process, the sidewalks would be in by now. However, Webster taxpayers would have footed the whole $2 million bill instead of the $400 – 500,000 it will now cost. On the land use side, these sidewalks over a 1.5-mile swath will cross over lands owned by the Town, State, County, and private owners. Unfortunately, we could not just say “hey, we’re putting in sidewalks so we’re going to go through your land to do it and there is nothing you can do about it”. The time and cost to obtain the rights to put those sidewalks on that land, was combined with a legal process of easements and rights-of-way, and I’ll spare you all the boring details. Trust me, it is no easy task.

So have some patience the next few months as you traverse Ridge Road between Five Mile Line and Rachel Drive. Installation of the sidewalks may cause some traffic issues. Can’t make an omelet without breaking a few eggs. But oh, will that omelet be nice once it is done! I for one look forward to being able to walk from Wegmans on Holt Road down Ridge Rd. to Town Hall on Hard Rd., and all the way to Five Mile Line Road on these new sidewalks. I am thankful for the efforts of previous Town Supervisor Ron Nesbitt and the Town Board members for “staying the course” on what was a difficult and challenging process the past three years. They brought $2+ million dollars of quality of life improvements to Webster and did so with the citizens paying for a fraction of the cost through their town taxes.

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email me  at missyblog@gmail.com. “Like” this blog on Facebook and follow me on Twitter. 

You can also get email notifications every time I post a new blog by using the “Follow Me” link on the right side of this page.

An evening of wiffle ball will benefit Josh Honebrink, one of our Webster neighbors, in his fight against cancer.

Team Josh is joining the Webster Major League Wiffle sports team for an 8-game wiffle ball fundraiser this Friday evening.

The event will take place at 824 Houston Rd. (off of Gravel Rd.) from 5:30 to 9 p.m. Supporters can help out in two ways: First, come to watch the games. Entrance fee is $5, and masks will be required.

Second, you can become a home run sponsor by pledging money for each home run the players hit through all 8 games. Sponsor levels are:

Platinum sponsor: $35/home run
Gold sponsor: $10/home run
Silver sponsor: $5/home run
Bronze sponsor: $1/home run

You’ll also be able to take chances on some beautiful raffle basks, and purchase Team Josh wristbands.

Here’s some background information from Josh’s family about the challenges he’s facing:

Josh Honebrink is a 17-year old boy who is battling a grade 4 brain tumor in the pons of his brain stem. The tumor has left him without the ability to walk, talk, eat,

Josh in a photo from the WMLW website

drink or swallow. The tumor is the most aggressive brain tumor one can have and unfortunately there is no cure. There are only treatments to prolong your life.

Joshsua still amazes us every day with his incredible strength to keep fighting. If you now Joshua, that is him to a T! Never giving up no matter what obstacles may come his way! We are truly blessed to have Joshua be a part of our lives!

He has done chemo and radiation. We have started him on a new drug called Avastin. We want him to have this other drug…an inhibitor to help stop tumor growth. However that drug is not FDA approved and insurance will not cover it. It will cost us $20,000 every time we need to buy it. This fundraiser is to help us raise money to help get that drug for Josh but also to help with all of the financial burdens we have endured such as the 5-week hospital stay, chemo, radiation treatments, Avantin treatments, MRI scans, etc.

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email me  at missyblog@gmail.com. “Like” this blog on Facebook and follow me on Twitter. 

You can also get email notifications every time I post a new blog by using the “Follow Me” link on the right side of this page.

These last few months have been difficult for everyone. The coronavirus has created an unending variety of challenges. It’s hard to see anything positive in what we’ve been dealing with.

But perhaps it’s just a matter of looking for it.

Case in point: there are a lot of really beautiful, interesting and whimsical things all around us, and it’s really fun to notice them. During the last week or two, as I’ve been out on my walks or bike rides, I’ve taken photos of some of these.

My husband and I came across this bench and tree, for example, along the canal path in Pittsford. Someone has been spending their down time crocheting, and using their creations to brighten up the path for riders and walkers who come by.

Closer to my home, this poor Rudolph, Santa and his sleigh made me laugh. Their next stop is the dump but I’m sure then enjoyed many happy holidays in front yard of this Penfield home.

I always appreciate it when homeowners take the time to do something extra special with their little front-yard gardens. Here, a mermaid patiently awaits the mailman every day.

Not far from the mermaid, this whimsical fairy garden just invites people to stop for a moment to say hi to the little people. It’s hard to appreciate the complexity of this presentation in this far-away photo. Try clicking on the photo for a closer look.

This was a spectacular stand of daisies in front of a North Penfield home.

These were  both taken in the village. On the left is a cute bird house recently attached to a tree on Main Street. On the right is something I’ve never seen before, a lawn Roomba (I actually looked it up — it’s called an “auto mower.”) It attacked us as we were riding along Pierce St. (Meaning it came right up to the street shoulder as I was riding by.) Scared me to bits. But it just patiently turned around and started heading the other way while I stopped to catch my breath, and this photo.

Finally, these two photos from my bike rides in and near North Ponds.

The first is a baby raccoon. A week ago I saw three of these babies on the Bird Sanctuary Trail. They’re about the size of a large kitten. This little one was wandering along Orchard St. all by himself (herself?). When I approached he slid into the grass and tried to hide. I’m just hoping that he didn’t wander out into the street again and get hit.

And finally, one happy family:

Next time you’re out and about, make sure to stop and smell the roses. Or at least notice them, and all the other beautiful and unusual things that make our neighborhoods great.

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email me  at missyblog@gmail.com. “Like” this blog on Facebook and follow me on Twitter. 

You can also get email notifications every time I post a new blog by using the “Follow Me” link on the right side of this page.

If you’re like a lot of us, you’ve been out walking or biking a lot more these last few months. If some of those treks have been along any of our beautiful Webster trails, this blog is directed to you.

Have you ever thought about why our trails are so plentiful and beautiful? We can thank the all-volunteer Friends of Webster Trails for that. These volunteers put in thousands of hours every summer planning, creating and maintaining these trails. It’s really a thankless job, since only a small percentage of the people who use our trails actually sign up as members of the Friends. (It really doesn’t cost much. Check out the membership page here.)

I was thinking about them as I was biking a few days ago along the Bird Sanctuary Trail, which runs northeast from Orchard Street to Rt. 250 and connects up with the Chiyoda Trail by the Rec Center. This is a beautiful, peaceful, well-maintained trail and an excellent example of the great work the Friends do. It reminded me of why I’m a dues-paying member of the organization and will be for as long as I live in this town.

Along the Bird Sanctuary Trail

Along the Bird Sanctuary Trail

If you’re not familiar with all of the terrific trails we have here in Webster, check out the Friends of Webster Trails website, then get out there and start exploring. If you ARE already a fan of our trails, please consider dropping $10 for a single membership or $15 for a family. Your donation will go a long way to helping these fine folks help US enjoy our town’s natural beauty for years to come.

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email me  at missyblog@gmail.com. “Like” this blog on Facebook and follow me on Twitter.

You can also get email notifications every time I post a new blog by using the “Follow Me” link on the right side of this page.

As summer kicks into gear, thanks to this stinkin’ virus, there’s not a lot happening in our town and village. But I have a few items to bring to your attention today.

First, a reminder about tomorrow’s “Summer Celebration, Re-Imagined” at the Webster Recreation Center. Naturally they can’t hold the usual celebration this year, so the folks at the Rec Center have come up with a fun alternative.

Here’s the information again:

2020 is the year of thinking differently – and town festivities are no exception. While we have made the tough call to cancel Summer Celebration this year, the Town of Webster Parks and Recreation Department is bringing our Webster community together that day…in a different way!

Introducing “Summer Celebration Re-Imagined”! On Saturday, June 20 from 12 p.m. to  – 2 p.mm come to the Rec Center, 1350 Chiyoda Drive, to pick up a FREE bag filled with surprise items to celebrate summer at home!

The bag distribution will be a drive-thru party in a parking lot! We can’t tell you everything we have in store for you… but we are encouraging you to pack up the family and come pick up a bag! (*Bonus points if your car is decorated in fun summer gear!*) So, even though we can’t be together this year, we can still celebrate!

**PLEASE NOTE** There is a limit to ONE (1) BAG PER CAR. Bags are available to the first 1000 cars from 12:00 pm – 2:00 pm or until supplies run out. Please wear a mask, remain in your car at ALL times and follow the traffic pattern.

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Here’s a great opportunity provided by WHEN, the Webster Health and Education Network and other local agencies.

It’s a virtual Narcan training. Participants will learn how to administer Naloxone in the case of a drug overdose, perhaps saving a life. Only 50 slots are available, and you can register online here. Check out the poster for more information.

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As you have probably heard by now, the Webster CSD 2020-2021 school budget was passed by an overwhelming margin.

As a teaching assistant in the district, may I add my personal thank you for supporting your teachers, staff members and students during this very difficult time. It’s going to be hard enough trying to figure out how to keep everyone safe this fall while still delivering the quality education that Webster has come to be known for. Having to do that while worrying about where funding will come from would make that even harder.

Here are the details:

Budget = APPROVED       YES = 6,197 (62%), NO = 3,808 (38%)

Proposition #1 for purchase of school buses = APPROVED     YES = 6,037 (60%), NO = 3,950 (40%)

Board of Education Election (THREE positions):

• • Janice Richardson = 4,430
  • Mike Alt (incumbent) = 4,304
  • Mike Suffoletto (incumbent) = 4,239
  • Jennifer Birdsong-Ng = 4,067
  • Shanna LaDelfa = 3,811
  • Maria Cortes = 3,706
  • John Hutchings = 1,727

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email me  at missyblog@gmail.com. “Like” this blog on Facebook and follow me on Twitter 

You can also get email notifications every time I post a new blog by using the “Follow Me” link on the right side of this page.

Saturday afternoon, hundreds of Webster residents came together at Veteran’s Memorial Park on North Ave. to show their support for the Black Lives Matter movement.

The peaceful gathering featured several speakers, and an 8 minute, 46 second period of silence to represent the length of time a police officer kneeled on the neck of George Floyd.  There were also petitions, and a huge poster for people to sign and pledge to be an anti-racist.

It was a very meaningful, moving and inspirational ceremony, and I’m proud to be a part of a community that supported it so strongly. Thank you also for the special police who helped manage the traffic to make sure all of the attendees were safe.

I apologize to my readers for not letting you know about this event in advance. I didn’t even have any idea it was happening until a friend mentioned it to me, and that was a full hour into the ceremony. Still, I was able to quickly head on down there (another benefit to living in the village) and snap some pictures.

Ironically, I found out about it just after I had returned from a similar event in the Village of Pittsford. There, the Rochester Anti-Racism Action Coalition had organized a march from the community center to the Port of Pittsford gazebo. That event also drew many hundreds of people, a testament to how serious people are about the Black Lives Matter movement. Hopefully, participation in these rallies will turn into commitment to help bring about real change this time.

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

You can also get email notifications every time I post a new blog by using the “Follow Me” link on the right side of this page.