A Coronavirus update from local agencies and businesses

13 Mar

As the very real concerns about the spread of the Coronavirus continue to grow, I have been getting daily emails from organizations around town who want to reassure their clients that they’re taking it seriously, or who have announced cancellations.

Below are direct quotes from emails I have received so far, and I will continue to update this blog as I receive them. If your organization has information you would like me to share, please email me at missyblog@gmail.com.

Balance Webster 

As the coronavirus COVID-19 dominates the news and is affecting more and more people and communities, we thought it was appropriate to share our thoughts with you.

We’re staying up with keeping a clean studio like mad yogis! We’re regularly cleaning blocks, eye bags, blankets, and door knobs and have cleaners, soaps and sanitizers readily available for you. If you have your own props, we certainly encourage you to bring them.

If it makes more sense for you to practice from home look for some live streaming from Erica, perhaps very soon!

With love,

The Balance staff 💛

Webster Public Library 

Due to updated recommendations from the New York Commissioner of Health, we have decided to suspend all of our upcoming programs and events for the time being. This includes all daytime, evening, and weekend programs, but does not include individual bookings of our study rooms and Community Room. The reasoning behind this is that we would like to do our part in limiting the spread of the virus via large gatherings of people, a recent precaution by the New York Commissioner of Health.

If you are currently registered for one of the upcoming programs we have cancelled, we will be in touch with you in the coming weeks once we decide if and when we can reschedule. Once programs resume as normal, we will let everyone know immediately—stay tuned! We’ll be back!

The library will remain open its regular hours at this time, continuing our increased cleaning schedule. Don’t forget to utilize our Drive-Up, Pick-Up service—if there’s an item you want, let us know in advance and then call us when you’re here. You pull up out front and we’ll bring your items out to your car.

As always, if you have questions or concerns for us, please don’t hesitate to give us a call at (585) 872-7075, or email webster.reference@libraryweb.org.

Webster Central PTSA

In accordance with guidance from Monroe County Department of Health, effective IMMEDIATELY, all PTSA events and meetings will be suspended until Sunday, April 12. We will continue to evaluate and update regarding the developing situation. Thank you for your patience.

(Missy’s note: so far that does NOT include Community Arts Day, which is scheduled for April 18. But stay tuned for any updates about that.)

Heritage Christian Stables

We have entered the third week of our Winter Classic Session of lessons. Registration for Spring Session has begun. If you have a rider who would like to be in the session, please contact us. The volunteer session for Spring will be on When to Help soon.

We have been assessing the COVID-19 situation, and taking measures to keep volunteers, riders and staff safe. As of now, with our small class sizes, lessons are proceeding as scheduled. If the decision is made to cancel, we will let everyone know as needed. PLEASE stay home if you are feeling unwell, and wash your hands before coming to the stable. We have hand sanitizer in the barn and the observation area as well.

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Strike up the bands!

11 Mar
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Members of last year’s Willink Student-Parent Band warm up before a rehearsal.

Whether you like to play — or just listen to — great band music, here are two events you’ll want to know about.

The Willink Student-Parent Band will hold its annual spring concert this coming Saturday, March 14 in the Willink Middle School cafetorium, 900 Publishers Parkway.

The band is celebrating its 26th year in 2020, continuing a tradition which began in 1994, bringing students, family and community together to create music and have fun.

The concert begins at 7 p.m. Tickets are $2 and can be purchased either from band members or at the door.

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Our very own Webster Village Band is kicking off its season, having just released its 2020 rehearsal schedule.

Rehearsals take place on Thursday evenings from 7 to 9 pm, usually in the Willink Middle School band room. They’ll begin this Thursday March 12 and run through June 4, with a concerts scheduled pre-season concerts scheduled for April 23 at Calkins Rd. Middle School in Pittsford and May 7 at Cherry Ridge Senior Center.

The all-volunteer Webster Village Band is comprised of more than 50 members,  under the direction of Tom Indiano and Associate Director Sue Siegmund. They’re always looking for more musicians to join the group. Additional information is available from Harvey Cohen, at hcohen@rochester.rr.com. Plus, you can see more rehearsal information on their website here.

village band

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Hot chocolate in the morning, courtesy Webster Schroeder PTSA

7 Mar

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So how great would it be for someone to welcome you to work in the morning with a cup of hot chocolate?

That’s exactly what happened Thursday morning at Webster Schroeder High School when the school’s PTSA surprised students by offering them hot cocoa as they entered the building.

Schroeder PTSA Chair Stacie Peters explained in an email that the event was meant to be a kind of “pick-me-up” during what can be a dreary time of year for students.

“This time of year we are dealing with cold weather and very little sunshine,” Stacie wrote. “We thought this timing would be good for the students because it’s in between the Winter and Spring break.”

Stacie continued in her email,

There is nothing that says love like the inviting, comforting scent of hot cocoa with marshmallows on a cold winter morning! We had music playing and as soon as kids started coming in they were greeted with smiles and a cup of hot cocoa! They all loved it and with the music and fun vibe it was just a feel-good start of the day for all the students, many staff came to have a cup as well.

Schroeder PTSA wants to let our students/staff know we care about them and we are so happy to do these little pick me ups throughout the year. We feel if the students are happy, teachers are happy and that can be a ripple effect as their day goes on spreading happiness. Events like this make it possible for secondary parents to still feel a part of their child’s school, that connection is invaluable.

While sponsored by the PTSA, the event had wonderful support from Webster Schroeder principal Paul Benz and a dedicated team of parent volunteers.

Webster Thomas High School PTSA held a similar event for Thomas students in February, and word it it was a tremendous success. Photos from that below:

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Plank Rd. schools’ staff members will play basketball for charity

5 Mar

Plank Rd. North and Plank. Rd. South elementary schools have been neighbors and close friends pretty much forever. But they have never played together.

That will change later this month when the schools host the first annual Battle of the Planks Staff Charity Basketball Game on Saturday March 28, when faculty and staff members from both schools hit the Webster Schroeder High School court for a friendly game of hoops to benefit Golisano Children’s Hospital.

The idea for the game came from a conversation a few weeks ago between Plank North principal Craig Bodensteiner and physical education teacher Kevin Sayers as they monitored the bus loop.

“I’d always wanted to do something like this,” Bodensteiner said, and this spring, between the two school breaks, seemed the right time to do it.

“We’re in the middle of March Madness, so everyone is thinking about basketball. And the month of March kind of drags, so we thought this would be a good way to spice things up.” The next step was running the idea by Plank South principal Jennifer Sullivan.

“She’s a former basketball player,” Bodensteiner said, “so she’s very excited.”

We’re talking real basketball here, folks, complete with a referee, announcers, and concessions. About the only thing that might be missing in spots is actual athletic ability. But, Bodensteiner makes sure to stress, skill is not required; what is required is the desire to have fun.

“It’s a great way to bring everyone together,” he said. “Staff members at both schools will enjoy getting together in a non-work environment, and students will love the opportunity to come out to cheer on their favorite teachers, and show some school pride.”

Alumni are also being invited, adding more volume to each school’s cheering section.

It’s going to be a lot of fun and a lot of friendly competition,” Bodensteiner said. But, he added,”If Plank North can get the win, that’s a cherry on the top.”

The First Annual Battle of the Planks Staff Charity Basketball Game is scheduled for Saturday March 28 at 5:30 p.m. at Webster Schroeder High School, 875 Ridge Rd. There is no admission, but donations are encouraged, and all proceeds will benefit Golisano Children’s Hospital, a cause suggested by Plank North assistant principal Heather Balsamo.

(Big thanks to Kevin Sayers and Shawn Strege, Webster’s Director of Physical Education and Athletics, for so efficiently pulling together the details and arranging for the venue.)

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Barry’s Old School Irish gearing up for St. Patrick’s Day

4 Mar

barry's old school

Now that it’s finally March and Valentine’s Day is in the rear-view mirror, planning for St. Patrick’s Day here at our little corner Irish pub is in high gear. And of course, when Danny and Jessica Barry do the planning, the St. Patrick’s Day celebrating can no way be contained to just one day.

Starting Sunday March 8, Barry’s will host a series of events, one almost every day, building up to a full schedule of events on Parade Day and St. Patrick’s Day itself.

You can check the Barry’s Old School Irish Facebook page for more details, and I’ll post more soon, but here are some highlights:

  • Sunday March 8: Whiskey tasting from 2 to 4 p.m.  Cost is $20 per person and registration is required.
  • Tuesday March 10: Our weekly Barry’s Run/Walk,  and free etched pint glasses on the house, courtesy Guinness. 6 to 8 p.m.
  • Wednesday March 11: Trivia Night, beginning at 7:15 p.m. Gotta register for this one, too, since table space is limited.
  • Thursday March 12: Open Mic Night at 7 p.m.
  • Friday March 13: Irish Music Sing Along with Kevin Reynolds
  • Saturday March 14 (Parade Day): Music, dance and food all day beginning at 8 a.m. including, for the first time in several years, a return engagement by Barry’s Crossing.
  • Tuesday March 17: More music, dancing, food, great drink, bagpiper, all day.

Check the Barry’s Old School Irish Facebook page for details.

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Spry Middle School to present Fiddler on the Roof this weekend

3 Mar

posterA theatrical classic will be presented this weekend by Spry Middle School when the drama club performs Fiddler on the Roof Jr. at Willink Middle School on Friday and Saturday.

You read that right. It’s this year’s Spry Middle School spring musical, but it’s being staged at Willink thanks to some rather intense renovations and construction going on right now at Spry. Among other things, the school’s cafetorium is being gutted and rebuilt, which means the musical was completely uprooted.

That by itself should be reason enough for people to want to come out and support these kids. For several months they’ve been trying to pull together the production while faced with some fairly significant hurdles. For a long time, for example, they didn’t even have a stage to rehearse on. Once the Willink stage opened up, they still had to share it with other groups, and had to be bused over there every day, a trip which took up valuable rehearsal time.

None of those difficulties will be evident,  however, when the curtain rises opening night. Audience members will just see an amazing performance presented by some amazing young actors and actresses.

Shows will take place at Willink Middle School, 900 Publisher’s Parkway, this Friday March 6 at 7:30 p.m., and Saturday March 7 at 2:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $7 available online at this link. There might be some available at the door, but Spry shows usually sell out, so you might not want to take that chance.

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We’d like your opinion about our village parks

1 Mar

Are you a regular visitor to our Village of Webster parks? Even an only occasional visitor? Do you like taking your kids to the playgrounds or your dog to run around? Do you enjoy the Friday night concerts at the gazebo every summer? Do you even know that the village has FIVE parks?

These are some of the questions that the Village of Webster Parks Committee would like to ask you, to get a better handle on who uses our parks, how they’re used, and how they might be improved.

So the committee is asking both village and non-village residents to fill out a short survey to help guide future park planning. The survey can be found by clicking here, and should only take a few minutes to complete.

The survey is the first of several initiatives the committee will be implementing in the coming months to bring more awareness to our village parks which will include a “discover your parks” scavenger hunt this spring.

The survey will be available for a while, but please consider taking a few minutes to fill it out right now. Just click here: Village of Webster Parks Survey.

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Webster Library to host Irish cultural event

25 Feb

Siamsa Logo March 2020

On March 6, for the 5th year in a row, the City of Rochester and County of Monroe will declare March Irish American Heritage Month, in recognition of all the contributions by Irish descendants in our community both past and present.

The declaration will be made at a joint press conference with the St. Patrick’s Day Parade committee at City Hall at 10 a.m. on the 6th, officially kicking off a month-long celebration of Irish culture which includes parade — of course — on Saturday March 14, and lots of Irish-themed events all over the county.

The Webster Public Library joins the celebration on Wed. March 11 when they host a Siamsa (pronounced “shEEm-suh”), an evening of Irish culture and entertainment from 7 to 8:30 p.m. The 90-minute program will include traditional music, dancing and historical stories, presented by five local Irish organizations.

The schedule looks like this:

  • 7 to to 7:15 p.m.: soda bread-making demonstration by the Ladies Ancient Order of Hibernians
  • 7:15 to 7:45 p.m.: traditional Irish music session by Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann
  • 7:45 to 8:15 historical presentation by the Irish American Cultural Institute president Michael McCarthy, featuring an overview of Col. Patrick O’Rorke’s life, death and legacy.
  • 8:15 to 8:30 p.m.: Irish step dance by Jamieson Irish Dance and Creative Arts
  • 8:30 p.m.: conclusion of the program and soda bread tasting 

Registration is not required, but seating is limited and when I went last year, it was pretty crowded, so get there early.

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Also coming up at the library, an Irish Genealogy workshop on Monday March 16, at 7 p.m.

Topics will include U.S.-research tips with emphasis on the immigrant ancestor and how to find their siblings and parents; a process to use the results of your research to mine Irish records, and an overview of all other Irish resources.

Registration is required. For more information and to register call the library at (585) 872-7075 and choose 3 for the Reference Desk.

The Webster Public Library is located at 980 Ridge Rd., at the back of Webster Plaza.

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P.S. If you can’t make it to the Siamsa presentation at the Webster Public Library, the same program will be hosted by the Penfield Public Library on Wednesday March 25 at 7 p.m. Registration for this program is required. Call the Penfield Public Library at (585) 340-8720 for more information.

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The Webster Community Ice Rink warming shed is officially open

23 Feb

 

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Last Saturday Feb. 15 was a sunny, yet very cold, 14 degree day in Webster. But the chill temperatures did not stop several hardy souls from officially dedicating the brand new warming hut at the Webster Community Ice Rink, located at the Webster Recreation Center.

The ribbon-cutting was conducted by Webster Town Supervisor Tom Flaherty, supported by members of the Webster Parks and Recreation staff and employees as well as several members of the Webster Rotary.

In October 2018 the Webster Rotary Club donated the funds for the Parks and Rec to purchase the liner and walls for the rink, and procured additional funding in 2019 to build the changing hut for the skaters. The new shelter measures 16 ft. by 10 ft., has two benches and thick rubber flooring to prevent damage to skates. It’s enclosed on three sides and open to the ice.

The shelter was designed by Rotarian Rich Comins and constructed by the Parks and Recreation employees.

The community ice rink is located in front of the Webster Recreation Center, 1350 Chiyoda Drive, off of Phillips Rd. just north of the village. It’s a nice size, 52 ft. by 104 ft., and is totally FREE for anyone to use. You don’t even have to be a member of the Rec Center. As far as I know, it’s the only outdoor public ice surface in town, and thanks to the new warming shed, it’s even better than ever.

For updated ice conditions, call 872-7103, option 3.

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What’s up with the old Webster Automotive?

22 Feb

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I’ve gotten a few questions over the last few weeks about what’s going on at the old Webster Automotive building, at 109 West Main. Renovations have been taking place inside and out and the rumors are flying about what might be going in there. The one I’ve heard most often is that it’s going to be a brewpub.

Several people approached me to see if I knew anything, and I had to admit that I did not. But I have ways of finding out. 

I started asking around, and a few people suggested I email Webster Building Inspector Will Barham. They assured me that, given his position in the village,  he would have all the answers.

He didn’t.

“I don’t know,” he wrote, when I asked what was going into the old automotive shop.

The owner, Greg Chambery (owner of The Maplewood on Daniel Drive), felt the building needed to be updated (new framing, making it accessible, insulation, HVAC, etc.) to make it marketable. So for now, he has a “general remodeling permit.”

So there’s our answer. Right now we don’t know what it’s going to be, and Chambery is being rather tight-lipped about his plans for it, if he has any. Maybe it will be a brewery after all, but maybe not. In any case, it will be a welcome and exciting addition to our village, to be sure.

Stay tuned!

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