WCSD invites kindergartners to Strive for Five

27 Jul

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August — and the start of the new school year — are just around the corner, so it’s time to start thinking about buying supplies and getting up early again (for some of us, REALLY early).

For our youngest students, getting on a big school bus on that first day of school can be a little bit scary. A great program called Strive for Five for School Bus Safety helps allay some of those fears.

The program, now it is 13th year, is designed for 2019/20 incoming kindergarteners. It provides children the chance to travel a short distance on a school bus with their parent(s) and to learn important safety procedures for riding the school bus.

The program will start at Willink Middle School, where the bus will pick up participants and bring them to (and from) the transportation department. The buses leave Willink at 6:00 p.m. and returns about an hour later.

While at the transportation department, students will rotate through five stations teaching them the following safety elements:

  • Loading and unloading the bus
  • Proper crossing procedures
  • Danger zones surrounding the bus
  • Appropriate behavior on the bus
  • Emergency equipment/evacuation

Incoming kindergartners and their parents (no additional children, please) should attend as follows, if at all possible. IF you can’t make your assigned evening, you can come on another, but they district really likes to spread everyone out as much as possible.

August 5 – Plank South
August 6 – Dewitt Road and State Road
August 7 – Klem North and Plank North
August 8 – Klem South and Schlegel Road

Private and parochial schools can attend any one of the four dates.

For more information on the program, please contact the transportation department at 265-3840.

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The garlic is BACK!

24 Jul

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Garlic lovers, rejoice! The Webster Garlic Festival is returning this year, and it’s going to be bigger and better than ever.

For starters, its increased awesomeness has led to a name change. It’s now the Rochester Garlic Festival. It’s scheduled for Saturday and Sunday Sept. 14 and 15, and will still be held at the Webster Rec Center on Chiyoda Drive.

Details are still being finalized, but organizers expect about 100 vendors, including garlic growers, specialty food vendors, arts and craft vendors, and community organizations. There will be four food trucks, and live music both days including the Zac Brown Tribute Band, the Walter Chatman Experience, State Line and The Breakfast Club.

Two Wegmans chefs will present demonstrations, there’ll be a beer tent, a kids’ play area complete with bounce house.

See? I told you it was bigger and better.

Admission to the festival is $5 per day, with children 12 and under free. Admission includes free parking, shuttle transportation, live music, cooking demonstrations and access to arts vendors and a kids’ play area.

All proceeds will benefit Challenger Miracle Field of Greater Rochester. The field itself is up and running — and being used regularly — so now the focus is on building a barrier-free playground, an inclusive playground for kids with and without disabilities around Rochester. 

Click here to learn more about Miracle Field, and click here for more details about the Garlic Festival.

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Waterfront Art Fest returns this weekend

22 Jul

waterfront art festival

Hot on the heels of the very successful Webster Jazz Fest comes the town’s next artistic festival, the Waterfront Art Festival.  It’s returning to North Ponds Park this weekend, July 27 and 28.

This popular festival features artists from all over Monroe County, who line North Ponds’ scenic and shaded walkways, displaying an incredible variety of hand-made craft items in all price ranges.

What’s really nice about this particular festival is that all of the artisans’ work is juried beforehand, which is why it is all so different and so high-quality. Plus there are food trucks, live entertainment, demonstrations and a wine, beer and cider-tasting tent. There’s plenty of free parking right on the grounds, and an expanded handicapped parking area.

The festival runs from 10 am to 5 pm Saturday and Sunday at North Ponds Park, off of Rt. 104 between Rt. 250 and Holt Road (take the Rt. 250 exit off Rt. 104).  If you’re coming from the west side, give yourself a little extra time to weave through the annoying 104 East detour down 590 south and back.

Admission is $3, no charge for kids 12 and under. For more information, click here for the Waterfront Art Festival website.

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Photos from the 2019 Jazz Fest

21 Jul

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The village was looking beautiful last night, strung with twinkly lights from one side of West Main St. to the other. It was steamy and humid, but that didn’t keep thousands from coming downtown to enjoy some sweet, cool jazz.

I didn’t get photos of all the action, but you can click here to see a small gallery of the crowds and a few of the bands.

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It was a steamy Christmas in July

20 Jul

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I cannot remember a hotter Christmas in July party at the Joe Obbie Farmer’s Market.  Regardless, when I stopped by for a short time this afternoon, I found lots of shoppers, lots of food, craft and product booths, and of course, Santa.

I always have to pay my respects to Santa at this annual event. He’s always there, dressed in his summer Santa best, welcoming children who are more than happy to get their Christmas wishes in before the rush.

Several Town of Webster officials were there as well, doing a meet-and-greet. Supervisor Nesbitt confirmed that he heard a LOT of comments about the current 104/590 construction/detour mess.

Here are several shots from the day:

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Children learn about history by experiencing it first-hand

20 Jul

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I’ve always believed that the best way to learn to is get hip-deep, physically and intellectually, into a subject. A recent program hosted by the Webster Museum is an excellent example.

Earlier this week, several young history buffs got a chance to experience a day in the life of Webster colonial families as part of the museum’s “Morning at the Museum” program.

Participants rotated through several stations at the museum, giving them hands-on opportunities to make butter, dig for fossils, create ornaments, play with colonial toys, weave, write in diaries, stencil bags and learn about architecture. Museum volunteers hosted the day.

Here are some photos from what was an enjoyable day for both children and adults:

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New Chandeliers Boutique helps continue East Main’s renaissance

19 Jul

Webster’s East Main Street is coming back to life, and that’s great news for the village.

For too long, East Main, especially the north side, seemed to be struggling, pock-marked with empty storefronts. Aside from a restaurant or two and a few shops on the south side of the street, there really wasn’t much reason to be down there. A few art-themed shops tried to make a go of it, but didn’t last very long.

The only good thing about the situation was that it was really easy to find a parking spot.

But all that seems to be a thing of the past. Now under the ownership of Charlie Fitzsimmons, that once vacant stretch of East Main Street is seeing a renaissance. Several new businesses have moved in in the past year, including the Village Bakery, ROC & Soul Fitness, Suzanne Neace Photography, The Pickled Paintbrush, Lala of Webster and an expanded rSalon & Spa.

Most recently, another unique new shop has joined them, Chandeliers Boutique.

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Chandeliers opened its doors just a few weeks ago at 32 E. Main Street. I stopped in the other day, and was pleased to discover a large, spacious shop filled with dresses, tops, shoes, skirts, pants and jewelry. Staff member Karen McKissock came out to greet me personally, and we were soon joined by store manager Marlane McCue. Together, they tried to put the essence of the shop into words.

It’s “boutique shopping at affordable prices,” Marlane said, featuring “items you’re not

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Karen McKissock and Marlane McCue at Chandeliers.

going to find in the mall. You’re not going to see someone else walking around the street with it on.” 

Karen added that Chandeliers offers “a more personal shopping experience. There’s coffee, there’s help if you need it. If you try something on and you need advice, we’re here.”

The fashions, Karen said, are not really dressy, but rather “casual and comfortable.” Things that go from “business to casual easily,” Marlane added.

This is actually the third location for Chandeliers, which can also be found in Canandaigua and Pittsford. Marlane said that owner Darlyne Truax was looking at several possible spots in Webster but ultimately decided on 32 E. Main because she liked Fitzsimmons’ “goals” for the village.

“I think she really was very happy about … how ambitious he was about bringing people into the town. To make it a walking village.”

That dream is becoming a reality. Chandeliers, together with its neighbors The Pickled Paintbrush and Lala of Webster, combine to make a perfect trio of cute “let’s wander in here” shops, exactly the kind of stores we need here in Webster to bring people back into town.

If you’re headed into town for the Jazz Fest this Friday and Saturday, it’s a great chance to stop in and check them out. They’re right next door to each other on East Main Street.

Chandeliers is open seven days a week. If you’d like an especially personal shopping experience, ask them about their after-hours shopping get-togethers, when you can gather a bunch of friends for refreshments and a private shopping party.

Find out more about Chandeliers on their website, or call 585-622-1266.

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Big Webster weekend coming up

17 Jul

Summer events will heat up big time this weekend, and I’m not just talking about the weather.

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For starters, the Webster Jazz Fest returns for two nights, filling our pubs and streets with music.

It starts Friday night with Jazz in the Pubs. Basically, music begins at 6:30 p.m., with overlapping performances in six different pubs through 9 p.m. It all begins with a performance by Peter Chwazik and Shark Riot at Coach Sports Bar, while Mel Henderson and Gerry Youngman set up at 6:45 at Good Smoke BBQ. Music will continue through the night at Brimont Bistro, Barry’s Old School Irish, Ploty’s Hometown Tavern and Pub 235, concluding back at the Coach.

Jazz on the Street on Saturday will begin at 4 p.m. with performances by Jimmie Highsmith Jr., the Walter Chatman Joyful Music Experience, the Bill Tiberio Band and Prime Time Funk.

West Main Street will be closed by mid-morning to set up for this awesome afternoon and evening of music. Organizers will have several cafe tables available, on a first-come, first-served basis. Otherwise, bring your quad chairs and set up shop with your own food and snacks. Village restaurants will be serving food, with wait staff bringing it right to you, so don’t worry about going hungry.

The weather looks good (although hot) and the music will be awesome. It’s one of Webster’s best events, and the village will look spectacular.

For more details about the bands and when and where they’ll be playing, click here.

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As long as we’re talking about good food if you’d like to grab dinner before heading out to the pubs Friday night, make sure to stop by Webster Schroeder High School between 5 and 9 p.m. for a huge Food Truck Rodeo.

This year’s fourth annual rodeo will feature 13 trucks, including Macarollin’, Tuscan Wood Fired Pizza Catering, Craft Crepes, The Meatball Truck Co., Roc City Sammich,  Smoothies Plus Ice Cream, Sweet Sammie Jane’s Pastry Shop, Rob’s Kabobs, Al Dente, Abbott’s Frozen Custard, Kona Ice, Eat Greek and Bay Vista Taqueria.

There will also be firetrucks and face painting for the kids, live entertainment and a car show. Admission is free. Bring your chairs, blankets, and plenty of cash! A portion of the food sales benefits the Webster Marching Band.

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Joe obbie logoSo they say it might be one of the hottest days in Rochester history this Saturday. What a perfect day to have a Christmas in July party at the Joe Obbie Farmer’s Market!

Santa will be on hand to take some early Christmas gift requests from the kids, and the Webster Village Band will be playing holiday music.

If you’ve never been to this market, this is a great time to visit. You’ll find baked goods, pies, meats, poultry, goat cheese and goat cheese products, flavored nuts, herbs, spice blends, honey, maple syrup, cider, soap and body care products, plants and cut flowers, jewelry, crafts and of course a wide variety of fruits and vegetables.

The market runs from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. every Saturday through October 27, rain or shine. Check out the Joe Obbie Farmer’s Market website and Facebook page for details.

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Photos from the Kiddie Parade

13 Jul

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The fire trucks had their parade on Thursday, but on Saturday afternoon it was all about the kids.

The annual Firemen’s Carnival Kiddie Parade kicked off from Spry Middle School at noon on Saturday under very sunny, hot skies. At about 15 minutes long, it was a much, much shorter parade than its big brother Firemen’s Parade, but none the less entertaining.

It’s always fun to see the creative floats and costumes that many a mom and dad have come up with. But it’s also delightful to see the little ones being pulled in a wagon or pedaling along furiously wearing just a Halloween costume.

As exciting as it is for these kids to be in an actual parade, I think they especially (and maybe even mostly) liked throwing candy to the crowd.

I took a lot of photos, of course. Click here to see a whole gallery.

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Celebrating 50 years of parade watching

12 Jul
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An undated photo of 183 E. Main St. from the Webster Museum website

If you ask 100 long-time Webster residents about their memories of the Firemen’s Carnival, you’d get 100 different stories. People talk about spending hours at the carnival as a teenager, or being there as a young child, then returning years later with their own children.

I’ve heard a lot of stories this week. I’d like to pass along one of them today.

It’s about Jeannette Chambers, who currently lives with her daughter Paige at 183 East Main Street in the Village of Webster, at the corner of Curtis Park. You probably know the house; it’s one of the most stately and beautiful homes on East Main, and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places It was built in the mid-1900’s by William C. Jayne, a prominent banker at the time. Inside it features five bedrooms, a maid’s quarters, stained glass windows, a huge living room, sitting room, library, attic, and seven porches.  (Click here to read more about the home’s history on the Webster Museum website.)

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Jeannette Chambers (right) and her sister Joyce on the porch of their childhood home.

Jeannette has been living in the house since 1969, the year her parents Granville and Silvia Chambers purchased the property. Its location right on Main Street made it the perfect viewing spot for the annual Carnival parade.

 

Each year for the last 50 years, she and her siblings did just that. The house has a spacious porch, but that was too far away from the action — even though, Jeannette said, “every year my mom would have me sweep and mop the porch, but we always sat out there.”  They would perch in the grassy area in front of their childhood home, watching the fire trucks, Scout troops, clowns and wagons stream by.

Thursday was the last time she’ll be able to do that.

Jeannette has had to sell the grand old house, where she grew up and raised her children. But that didn’t stop her from having one more parade-side celebration on Thursday. She invited several friends to mark the 50th-and-last viewing year with snacks, drinks, fresh-grilled hamburgers and hot dogs, and socializing.

As an adult, Jeannette clearly loves the event as much as she did as a child.

“I love that the town still gets so excited about it,” she said. “They’re out there two days ahead putting out chairs.”

She also clearly enjoyed hosting friends old and new for her small party. It was not something she’d ever done before, but explained, “after 50 years of watching the parade we had to celebrate it differently.”

When the parade comes back to town next year, chances are — for the first time in 50 years — Jeannette Chambers won’t be watching it from the lawn of her stately old home. But keep an eye out for her, because she’ll definitely be sitting somewhere.

Old habits die hard.

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Jeannette and Joyce with friends and family who came to celebrate 50 years of parade-watching on Thursday night

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