Christmas is in the air at the Webster Museum

10 Nov

It’s going to look a lot like Christmas very soon at the Webster Museum.

christmas treeThe museum’s 2018 Christmas Tree Contest is gearing up. This is a chance for local businesses, community agencies and organizations to get creative and decorate a 4-foot tall Christmas tree in any theme they see fit.

In previous years there have been as many as 20 or more little trees sprinkled throughout the museum, gaily festooned with such a variety of materials that I can’t even begin to summarize them. They make the museum beautiful and a delight to walk through. But the best part is, the public is encouraged to vote for their favorite. The winning organization(s) get $25 prizes.

But for now, the museum needs people who want to do the decorating.  Scouts, families, clubs, groups, or individuals can register to decorate a tree. The trees can be decorated using a room theme from the museum exhibits or any other ideas. Prizes will be awarded in both adult and youth categories.

The trees must be decorated before Friday November 30 and voting begins the evening of Dec 1 as part of the Village of Webster’s White Christmas celebration. Voting continues until the end of December during regular museum hours.

Decorating times are Saturday Nov 24 from 2 to 4:30 p.m., Tuesday Nov. 27 from 2 to 4:30 p.m., Wednesday Nov. 28 from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m., and Thursday Nov. 29 from 2 to 4:30 p.m. Please call 347-4202 to register a tree, and if you’d like to schedule a different time.

The Webster Museum is located at 18 Lapham Park in the Village of Webster.

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Sing in the holidays with Rochester Rhapsody

9 Nov

rhapsody

Make this holiday season a musical one!

Rochester Rhapsody, Webster’s very own all-women a cappella singers, invites women of all ages to to join them for open rehearsals on three days later this month.

It’s called Rochester Rhapsody’s Sing In The Holidays, taking place at the Harmony House, 53 E. Main St. in the Webster Village on November 12, 19, and 27.

The chorus puts a contemporary spin on classic carols, and the songs blend traditional holiday tunes with an entertaining mix of new holiday carols when they perform in the local community in December. Women of all ages are invited to attend the rehearsals at Harmony House, so bring your mother, sister or a friend with you. It’s free for everyone, it’s a great chance to check out this outstanding local group, and held them share the gift of music with Webster and the greater Rochester community.

The Rochester Rhapsody chorus is an award-winning chapter of Harmony, Inc. that performs under the direction of Sue Melvin, an accomplished performer and clinician. Says Melvin, “Members don’t need to have a lot of musical experience or formal training. As long as she loves to sing, we have the tools to help her find success in becoming the best performer she can be. Ordinary women coming together to make extraordinary music.”

For more information about Rochester Rhapsody, visit their website here, email info@rochesterrhapsody.com or call 585-865-2731.

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Webster pulls together to make a child happy

8 Nov

If you’re on social media at all, you’ve probably seen the recent coverage of how the Webster community is pulling together to make a child’s dreams come true.

The child is Owen Knight, a sophomore at Webster Thomas High School, and his story begins when his loving aunt Amy posted this on Facebook:

facebook post

Since that post, Owen has been inundated with cards, but that was just the beginning. Channel 13 news picked up on the story and ran a piece on it a few days ago. THEN the Webster Police Department got wind of the story and decided to help Owen live out another one of his dreams, to be in a parade.

They called all their first-responder friends and even got a dump truck, and paraded Owen down Publisher’s Parkway, ending at Webster Thomas High, where he was greeted by his classmates and the marching band.

Click here to see Channel 13 coverage about that incredible event. And if you’d like to see a video of the entire parade, Webster Thomas staff member Linda Dow Hayes made a great video. I posted it on my Webster on the Web Facebook page.

What an amazing community we have here in Webster.

You can still send Owen a birthday card if you’d like. His address is Owen Knight, 1615 Ridge Road, Webster, NY 14580.

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Pickled Paintbrush set to open

8 Nov

 

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At long last, Webster’s newest art-themed shop, the Pickled Paintbrush, is ready to be introduced to the community.

The Pickled Paintbrush, located at 36 East Main Street, will offer art classes, workshops and special events for children and adults. But the studio’s focus will be mostly on children. The primary goal is to have fun, doing unusual projects with unconventional materials.

It’s taken a lot longer than expected for owner Marissa Burke to complete all the renovations (as these things often do), but the results were well worth the wait. The beautiful, completely renovated 2,200-foot studio has two levels. Downstairs is the reception area — which will double as a drop-in, small project area — a smaller studio and a bathroom. Upstairs is a much larger, expansive studio space where Birke plans to larger events and workshops, birthday parties and adult events like date nights.  There’s also a second bathroom, a separate children’s playroom and a kitchenette.

You can check out the new Pickled Paintbrush for yourself on Saturday November 17, when Birke hosts an open house from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. It will feature give-aways, raffles, and of course some fun art projects for both kids and adults.

Click here to find out more details about that, and check out the current list of preschool classes (and a DATE NIGHT!). Registrations are now being accepted, in-store or by phone. For more information email thepickledpaintbrush@gmail.com or call (585) 704-8809.

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Adopt a family this holiday

7 Nov

hope ministry

HOPE Ministry in Webster, our town’s only food cupboard, is asking our very generous local community to help them out this holiday season by “adopting” a family.

HOPE Ministry provides Christmas every year for more than 100 families in Webster. Through their program, individuals, families, organizations and businesses can adopt a family by providing at least two gifts per child (you will get some suggestions provided by the families) and if possible, also provide food for a Christmas dinner and/or gift cards with which the family can purchase food. The family’s wish list will be sent to you along with other details.

Items are needed by Wednesday, December 12, so if you’re interested in helping out you should contact Hope Ministry ASAP so you have plenty of time to shop and gather the gifts.

For more information or to sign up, contact Chris at shrtstp701@aol.com or call HOPE Ministry at 265-6694.

HOPE Ministry is located at 1450 Ridge Road, Webster. Even if you can’t adopt a family, please consider donating toiletries, diapers in sizes 4-6, laundry and dish detergent, because those items are always needed.

Check out HOPE Ministry on Facebook here.

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Webster community mailbag

6 Nov

So many special events coming up in the next week, especially for veterans and their families.

Free dinner for veterans

Are you a veteran or active duty service member? Do you know one?

veterans dayAll veterans and active duty service members and their families are invited to a free dinner in honor of Veterans Day, on Thursday November 8 from 4 to 6:30 p.m. at Spry Middle School, 119 South Ave., Webster.

The event is sponsored by the Spry Middle School Student Council, Builders Club, and the Webster-Fairport B.P.O. Elks #2396.

Reservations are appreciated.  Please call Ms. Ritzmann at Spry Middle School at 216-0093.

How about breakfast, veterans? 

The Webster-Fairport Elks Lodge will host a free pancake breakfast for veterans and their families on Sunday Nov. 11 from 9:30 a.m. to noon. Veterans will eat for free, and donations are welcome.

Proceeds will benefit the Elks West District Vets Fund. The Webster-Fairport Elks Lodge is located at 1066 Jackson Road.

Learn more about D Day

Also in honor of Veterans Day, the Webster Museum will present a special program on Saturday Nov. 10 called “The Hidden Story of D Day.”

The program will be presented by Kodak retiree and history buff Jack Kowiak, whom some might remember from his presentation last year at the museum about the Doolittle Raid on Tokyo. This year Jack will present some interesting facts he’s uncovered about D Day, the largest amphibious invasion in history.

The program will begin at 2 p.m. and be about an hour long. Admission is free, the public is invited, and the museum ladies promise the “best cider and donuts in town.”

The Webster Museum is located at 18 Lapham Park. It’s open Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday from 2 to 4:30 p.m. For more information log onto the museum’s website or visit them on Facebook.

Join the Lions for a super steak dinner

The Webster Lions Club will host its Annual Steak Roast on Saturday Nov. 10 at the Columbus Center, 70 Barrett Drive.

The cash bar will open at 3 p.m., and dinner will be served from 4 to 7 p.m. Tickets are $20 ($10 for children 5-12) which includes a thick, juicy steak, potato, fresh garden salad, bread and your choice of soda.

Tickets will be available at the door, or in advance from Kitchen & Bath Expressions, 1175 Ridge Rd., Webster. For more information call (585) 234-5480, email websterlionsclub@gmail.com or log onto www.websterlions.com.

All proceeds to go directly to the Willow Domestic Violence Center and to support Webster other Lions Club charities.

Buy a turkey, give a turkey! 

The Penfield Ecumenical Food Shelf is looking for your help this year with collecting frozen turkeys for their annual Thanksgiving and Christmas dinner distributions.

Sizes can range from 8-12 or more pounds. They ask for everyone to deliver their Thanksgiving turkeys to the Dolomite Lodge parking lot (Veterans Memorial Park on Atlantic Ave.) on Sat. Nov. 17 between 7:30 and 8:30 a.m. For Christmas, they’ll collect the turkeys on Saturday, Dec. 22, from 7:30-8:30 a.m. in the same location.

If you would like to donate a frozen turkey, email penfieldfoodshelf@gmail.com to let them know.

Caps for Sale! 

Now here’s a clever little fundraiser, based on a popular children’s book, hosted by the Friends of the Webster Public Library.

IMG_E9392Bartholomew Cubbins had 500 hats, and the Friends will be selling more than 260 hand-crafted hats during their Caps for Sale event later this month.

Just in time for a long, cold winter, you’ll find caps, hats and head-warmers of all sorts, made from felt, crocheted, sewn, and woven, for infants through adults. Adult caps will cost $10, children’s for $5. Buy a hat for a gift, for yourself or to hang on the HOPE House’s mitten and hat tree in the lobby.

The sale is scheduled for Thursday November 15 from 5 to 8:30 p.m. and Saturday November 17 from noon to 4 p.m. The Webster Public Library is located at 980 Ridge Road, at the back of the plaza. Proceeds will benefit the Friends of the Webster Public Library and their programs.

Barre, barre and more barre

ROC & Soul Fitness gives new meaning to the phrase “Barre So Hard” as they gather barre and yoga instructors from other local studios for an epic Barre-A-Thon event on Saturday, November 17.

Barre fitness is a workout that combines the best elements of barre, yoga, Pilates, and functional weight training. Absolutely no choreography, tutus, or leotards can be found in barre class, because barre is NOT a dance class.

roc & soulOwner of ROC & Soul Fitness, Malena Guadagnino and the owner of M/Body, Molly Flaherty, teamed up to create an all morning Barre Class event. They’ve brought together some of the best yoga and barre instructors in the industry, including instructors from: Balance Yoga, Hikyoga, Compass Cycle Studio, M/Body, and ROC & Soul Fitness. Four barre classes will be offered on the hour beginning at 8 a.m. at ROC & Soul Fitness. Participants will have a chance to win prizes from a raffle.

Proceeds from the Barre-A-Thon will benefit GiGi’s Playhouse in Rochester, a learning center that empowers children and young adults with Down syndrome.

To find out more, visit the ROC & Soul Fitness website here or connect with them on Facebook.

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Local laxer Dick Baran inducted into Hall of Fame

5 Nov
dick baran

Dick Baran making his acceptance speech Friday night.

Dick Baran, Long-time Webster lacrosse player, coach and all-around cheerleader, was recognized for his dedication to the sport Friday night when he was inducted into the Greater Rochester Lacrosse Hall of Fame.

Known affectionately as the “Box-Father,” Baran is the prime designer and fund-raiser  of the “box” for small-sided lacrosse at Ridgecrest Park in Webster, and one of the leading promoters of the Webster Lacrosse Club.

The induction ceremony was hosted by the Rochester Chapter of US Lacrosse at the Burgundy Basin Inn. The 2018 class includes five individuals and two teams.

The Boys’ Lacrosse Section V website has this to say about Baran:

Dick Baran is a long-time lacrosse proponent, having served the Webster community for many years. In the 1990s he helped to secure funds for “after school at the box.” He organized trips to see college games at Syracuse University, where his charges would meet with Roy Simmons Jr. and tour the locker room facilities. More recently he has served a director of the Webster Micro-lacrosse program and in 2001 was named Citizen of the Year.

Baran is be the seventh Webster laxer to be honored by the local chapter. Also inducted on Friday night were Andrew Copelan, a stand-out Pittsford high school player and award-winning college coach; Terry Cotten, life-long Victor resident and three-sport athlete who continues to play in adult leagues; Canandaigua Academy head lacrosse coach Ed Mulheron; Brighton player, college coach and Team USA member Danielle Spencer; The 2009 Canandaigua Boys’ Varsity Team; and the 2004 Penn Yan Girls’ Varsity Team.

box father

Dick Baran (in the orange shorts) on the lacrosse field with some of his young players.

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A night for the books at Barry’s

4 Nov

IMG_20181103_221830707

Danny and Jessica Barry — and several hundred of their closest friends — gathered last night at Barry’s Old School Irish in the village to celebrate the little pub’s seventh anniversary.

Pints were raised, music was played, there was conversation, laughter, old friends reconnected, and new friends were made.

So basically, it was just like any other night at Barry’s.

I can say that with certainty, as I was one of the very lucky few who can say I knew the pub when it was a baby. I still remember the sunny day when I met Danny and Jess. It was Friday, Sept. 23, 2011, the day before they officially planned to open, when the village was hosting a sidewalk sale they called the “Gazost Festival.” (Any wonder why you haven’t seen it return?) Jess and Danny were both there, and Jess’s mom Debbie reminded me last night that she was there, too, scrubbing the floors.

Their door was open, and I was excited to have a chance to finally meet the people who had refurbished the old living Plumber shop and cleaned up the unsightly corner. Mostly, thought, I needed to find out what the heck a “pub and bakery” was.

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We chatted for a while, and I took a photo of them holding the Barry’s sign. (I’m sure you’re familiar with it.) As I was visiting with them, I had no idea how much these kids would change our village for the better.

Not much of consequence has really changed since that day. There’s new furniture, a couch has come and gone, and the “fireplace” is a distant memory (remember that?). And those early Friday nights when only a half dozen people sat at the bar have become very crowded — as has pretty much every night — as more and more people discover what Webster has long known:

Barry’s Old School Irish is a treasure.

The fact that not much has changed since the pub’s opening day is a testament to Danny and Jessica. They had a vision to make their new place unlike any other. They saw how the pubs in Ireland are truly “public” houses, welcoming young and old, a place where the music never stops and new friendships are made every night. A pub where parents can feel comfortable bringing their children, and you don’t have to worry about leaving your purse hanging on a hook behind some stranger. Where you can come for coffee and a scone in the morning, and a quiet corner to work in the afternoon.

Even after seven years, that vision has not wavered, and that is why people keep discovering Barry’s Old School Irish.

So yes, the place is often shoulder-to-shoulder, especially on St. Patrick’s Day and for celebrations like this. I do miss those intimate Friday nights. But last night it was clear how happy Danny and Jess were, and how much fun they were having. And it just made me smile.

Click here to see some more photos from the evening.

The D&C has deleted the very first blog I wrote after meeting Danny and Jess, but here it is in text if you’re interested.

 

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Spaghetti dinner to benefit local child

2 Nov
Superman

Liam GogginsH

Here’s just a quick note about another community event coming up this Saturday which I just learned about.

The Goggins family of Ontario will host a spaghetti dinner on Saturday Nov. 3 at the Webster/Fairport Elks Lodge to help defray medical-related costs for their son Liam.

On July 28, 2018, Liam Goggins was celebrating his first birthday when he suddenly stopped breathing. His mother administered CPR, and he was transported to Strong Memorial Hospital, where he stopped breathing again.

Tests showed that Liam’s heart had not developed properly. He was diagnosed with narrowing of the heart’s mitral valve, which was blocking blood flow into the left ventricle. Just days later, he underwent open heart surgery to replace his mitral valve with a mechanical valve. That valve has to be replaced one or two more times as he grows.

This weekend’s spaghetti dinner will help Liam’s parents, Zach and Lindsay, offset the costs of existing and future medical bills. It’s being hosted by the Webster/ Fairport Elks Lodge, 1066 Jackson Road, Webster on Saturday November 3 from 4 to 8 p.m. The dinner will include pasta with sauce and meatballs, salad and bread. A cash bar will also be available.

Cost is $15 for adults, $5 for children under 12. For tickets contact Barb Tegas at btega06@gmail.com or Cindy Van Buren, mcvb03@gmail.com.

The Webster/Fairport Elks Lodge Elks Lodge #2396, located at 1066 Jackson Rd. in Webster, meets the 2nd and 4th Thursday of each month at 7:00 p.m. throughout the autumn and winter months. They also serve a fish fry dinner every Friday from 6 to 8:00 p.m. For more information call 585-872-1847 or email rmurphyl@rochester.rr.com.

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Bygone Blog — A silly song for autumn

30 Oct

11122011 leavesThis is the seventh in my series of Bygone Blogs, in which I am re-posting some of my favorite blogs from the last eight years. This one was originally published on November 2, 2011.

Carol of the Leaves

(sung to the tune of “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year.”)
(Really. It’s much more fun if you sing along with it.)

It’s the most back-breaking time of the year,
When winter is calling,
the leaves are a’falling
And bagging-the-leaves time is here,
11122011leafIt’s the most back-breaking time of the year.

Yes, the most colorful season is here.
From the leaves on the trees
To the frustrated screams
That fall on your ears,
Yes, the most colorful season is here.

I think shoveling is better
Though snow’s cold and wetter,
I just push it and that’s not so bad.
Then the plows come on by
And they sweep it aside.
And I don’t have to stuff it in bags.

It’s the most back-breaking time of the year.
Some day thanks to our pleas,
Penfield WILL pick up leaves.
They’ll finally get it in gear.
It’s the most back-breaking time,
Yes, the most back-breaking time,
It’s the most back-breaking time of the year.

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

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