Webster community mailbag

10 Oct

Gigi’s Fundraiser a Success

The recent Gigi’s spaghetti dinner fundraiser sponsored by the Webster/Fairport Elks Lodge on Sept. 29 was a great success.

The Lodge raised about $700 for Gigi’s Playhouse, a learning center for students with Down Syndrome.

Members of the lodge were assisted by students and their families, who served dinner, waited on tables and helped clean up. A special thanks to Bob Avalon who has a passion for Gigi’s and arranged this fundraiser

Here are a few photos from the evening:

.Webster Fall Fest

The Town of Webster and Webster Parks and Recreation will kick off fall with the annual Webster Fall Festival, on Saturday October 13 from noon to 4 p.m. at Gosnell Big Woods, 680 Vosburg Road.

This is an awesome family-friendly event with donuts, cider, wagon rides, children’s crafts and games, pony rides, food trucks and live entertainment. Admission is free and there’s plenty of parking.

All proceeds from the event will benefit Challenger Miracle Field of Greater Rochester.

UCC Oktoberfest

Don’t forget about the Oktoberfest at the United Church of Christ on Klem Road, also Saturday October 13, from 6 to 9 p.m.

Tickets are $5.00 per person, and German specialties like Schnitzel, Sauerkraut, Potato Salad, Bratwurst, and desserts like Apple Strudel and Black Forest Cake will be available for purchase. For tickets, call the church office at 585-671-3757.

How About a Song? 

Join Webster’s very own Rochester Rhapsody women’s chorus on Monday October 15 for their Fall in Love with A Cappella Concert.

Rochester Rhapsody, the Rochester chapter of Harmony, Incorporated, is an international organization of female a cappella singers specializing in the barbershop harmony style.

The chorus will be joined by the group’s chorus quartets and guest singers. It will be held Monday October 15 at 7:30 p.m. at the Harmony House, 58 East Main Street in the Village of Webster. Doors will open at 7 p.m. and a freewill donation would be appreciated. Refreshments will immediately follow the concert.

rhapsody

For more information about the concert and the chorus itself, click here, or email info@rochesterrhapsody.com or call 585-865-2731.

Pancakes For a Cause

The First Baptist Church of Penfield will hold their next Flapjack Community Breakfast on Saturday October 20 from 8 to 10 a.m.

Guests will enjoy pancakes, pure maple syrup, scrambled eggs, sausage, and more for just $5.00 per person. All are welcome, and the venue is handicapped accessible.

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month, so all of this month’s proceeds will go directly to benefit Resolve of Greater Rochester, a group dedicated to intervening and preventing domestic and sexual violence against women.

The First Baptist Church of Penfield is located at 1862 Penfield Rd. For more information, call 585-586-2876.

* * *

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.

Autumn Fanfare: a show like no other

8 Oct

IMG_9545Since I began this blog about ten years ago, I’ve written countless times about the Webster Marching Band. I’ve met and worked with several different band directors over the years. I traded emails with the band booster leadership team. I’m friends with people whose kids are — and were — in the band. So I thought I had a pretty good idea of the talent and commitment is takes to be a part of this prestigious group.

But then I attended my very first Autumn Fanfare and I realized that I was sorely mistaken.

It’s really rather embarrassing for me to admit that the 2018 Autumn Fanfare was the first I had ever attended. But whatever the reasons for that, I finally did make it over to Webster Schroeder stadium last Saturday night for the 33rd annual Autumn Fanfare Field Show and Competition. And I was blown away.

Until that night, most of the times I had see our Pride of Webster Marching Band was when they were, well, marching down the middle of Main Street in a parade, or standing in neat rows at Webster Rural Cemetery for the Memorial Day ceremonies. I had never actually seen them doing their thing on the football field.

It is an impressive sight. Almost 70 smartly-dressed kids moving in sync like a well-drilled Army unit, at the same time PLAYING AN INSTRUMENT. People who pride themselves on being able to walk and chew gum at the same time have got nothing on these kids.

And at Saturday night’s event, we got to enjoy the artistry of six other marching bands as well, from Leroy, Hilton, Orchard Park, Medina, East Irondequoit and Victor,  who together provided 90 minutes of music, pageantry and spectacle.

As I watched and snapped about a thousand photos, these are some of the thoughts I came away with:

* These bands don’t just get out there, walk around and play music. The shows are full musical productions, complete with elaborate set pieces (check out Stonehenge in one of my photos) and detailed story lines (one school even had several performers act out part of the story). The music is rich, and usually presented in a series of movements, guiding spectators through the story’s intricacies.

* Every performance by every school is completely different. One school hid behind their set pieces at the beginning of the show, so it looked like no one was on the field. Another put down their instruments a few times for some coordinated dance moves. There was a huge moon, geometric shapes, and yes, even Stonehenge.

* The shows are changed every year, which means a new story, new music, new set pieces, new choreography, and often new costumes and flags for the color guard.

* Think marching bands are all trumpets and drums? Webster’s 2018 production, “Heart Strings: Tugged and Torn” features violins, a stand-up electric bass and two flute soloists.

* Band parents are as invested in these competitions as much as — or even more than — any sports parent. They are cheerleaders, critics, coaches, and analysts. They are the roadies, helping set up the complicated sets and running out on the field after the final note to break everything down and move it out as quickly as possible. And if you’re school is hosting an event like this, if you’re not a roadie you’re still working hard selling tickets, running the raffle, manning food booths, or selling merchandise.

* And oh, by the way, while you’re competing, not only do you have to remember all your music, where to walk without running into anyone, and how to toss that heavy flag without dropping it, you have to do all of that while a judge is walking through the ranks, sometimes just feet away from you, watching you, JUDGING you, and communicating his observations with the head judge at the sideline. Talk about pressure.

There were winners and losers that night (it was a competition after all). But since pretty much everybody was in a different division — and Webster was just performing for exhibition — the only real competition was in the Small School 1 division between Medina and East Irondequoit, which Medina won.

But for everyone in the stands, the entire evening was a winner. And I will definitely be back again next year.

Click here to see a whole gallery of photos from the 2018 Autumn Fanfare Field Show and Competition.

 

* * *

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.

 

Tags: , , , ,

Webster businesses show amazing support for Community Blood Drive

6 Oct

blood drive prizes

Our Webster small business people continue to amaze me.

Allow me to explain. For probably six or seven years now, I’ve been helping organize and publicize the bi-annual Webster Community Blood Drives which happen here in town every April and October. In part, I’ve been in charge of contacting local businesses for support. In previous years, that support meant offering some sort of coupon, which were all combined in a booklet handed out to each donor.

More recently, we decided to replace the coupon booklet with a raffle. So now when I go into these businesses it’s a bigger ask: can we have a gift certificate, or a product which we can raffle off?

And this, finally, is where the amazing part comes in. Without fail, when I contact a business, the answer is always yes. The only hesitation — if there is any — is when they ask, “how much do you want me to make it out for?”

That’s why my spare bedroom is piled high right now with raffle prizes. I recently posted on my Facebook page a photo of the incredible Kobalt tool set that the Garage Sale Store donated. But that’s just the beginning. Here’s an almost complete list of the prizes so far:

Gift certificates from:

  • Barry’s Old School Irish
  • Ploty’s Hometown Tavern
  • Webster Hots
  • The Filling Station
  • ROC & Soul Fitness
  • The Chicken Coop
  • Eastway Liquor
  • Rubino’s
  • Natural Alternatives
  • The Goodie Shoppe
  • Flaherty’s

Plus, these prizes:

  • Gift basket from Schutt’s
  • Beauty products from Beyond Cuts Salon
  • Growler gift pack from Knuckleheads
  • Gift basket from Hegedorn’s
  • That Kobalt tool set from the Garage Sale Store

And there’s more! Each donor will receive a free rose from Kittleberger Florist, a free pint of ice cream from Bruster’s, chance for a cool $100 from Gerard P. Smith Insurance, a $5 coupon from Superior Solutions … and I don’t think we have all the prizes in yet.

See? Amazing, right?

Please join us at the blood drive next week, Wednesday October 10 at St. Paul’s Church on Hard Road, and Thursday October 11 at the Webster Recreation Center, 1350 Chiyoda Drive, from noon to 7 pm each day. You can make an appointment by calling 1-800-REDCROSS (1-800-733-2767) or by logging onto http://www.redcrossblood.org. Walk-ins are also welcome.

* * *

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.

 

Tags: , , ,

Town leaf pick-up begins later this month

5 Oct

oak leafIt’s  sure sign of fall when the Town of Webster announces the start of its annual leaf pick-up runs.

Weather permitting, the weekly runs will begin on Monday, October 22 and go through Monday, November 26 when they will make one final pass throughout the town, starting from the west side to the east side. After that final run, leaves collected by residents will have to be bagged and left for your trash collector.

Please DO NOT place leaves in the road or in the gutter. Placing the leaves in the road and gutters is illegal and creates an unsafe condition for drivers as well as pedestrians. It also increases wear and tear on our leaf machines as the leaves cannot dry out after a rain event and slows down the leaf pick up operation. Placing the leaves in the gutters also clogs the catch basins and can result in flooding during a rain event.

If you have any questions regarding the Leaf Pick-up, please contact the Highway Department at (585) 872-1443, Monday through Friday between the hours of 7 a.m. and 3:30 p.m.

* * *

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.

Webster community mailbag

4 Oct

mailbag iconSome important local business news leads today’s mailbag.

Another business lost

I learned just a few days ago that Metro Sports Brokers in the Village of Webster is closing.

I don’t know much more about the story, as I haven’t had a chance to talk with owner Tom Spoonhower yet, but on the shop’s Facebook page, he’s using the term “retirement/closing sale” for the deals you can get in the store this week.

I’m sorry to see another long-time business leaving the village, but I wish Tom the best in everything.

News from the Knuckleheads

knucklehead-logoOn a happier note, changes are in the wind for one of my favorite brew stops, Knucklehead Craft Brewing.

Owner Len Dummer sent out a message a little while ago that co-owner George Cline and his family have decided to leave the business.

Len wrote,

We have decided to go in different directions. The Dummer family will be continuing on with Knuckleheads … We thank the Cline family for all of their hard work and dedication to Knucklehead and we wish them the best in their future endeavors.

These last 3 1/2 years have been fun and a learning experience for all of us. We never expected to meet and create such wonderful friendships with our customers.  It is tough for us to look at you as customers…..we see you as friends and fans of Knucklehead!

As Knucklehead approaches its fourth anniversary, the brewery is making plans to be even bigger and better. The Town Zoning Board recently approved their plans for an expansion to the current space. More to come about that.

You can read more about both these announcements in this article posted yesterday in the D&C.

Webster Fall Fest

The Town of Webster and Webster Parks and Recreation will kick off fall with the annual Webster Fall Festival, on Saturday October 13 from noon to 4 p.m. at Gosnell Big Woods, 680 Vosburg Road.

This is an awesome family-friendly event with donuts, cider, wagon rides, children’s crafts and games, pony rides, food trucks and live entertainment. Admission is free and there’s plenty of parking.

All proceeds from the event will benefit Challenger Miracle Field of Greater Rochester.

UCC Oktoberfest

After enjoying the Webster Fall Fest, head on over to the United Church of Christ on  Klem Road for their annual Oktoberfest, from 6 to 9 p.m.

This festival is as much history as celebration for the folks at UCC. They said in their press release,

Oktoberfest is a German celebration that takes place when the late summer/early fall crops are harvested, it is also a time to tap barrels of wine and brew that had been sealed the year before. Communities gather to give thanks for blessings received. There is music for singing and dancing, tables are laden with food and drink – and a feeling of “gemutlichkeit” rules the day!

The forbear denominations that merged to create the United Church of Christ were from the German Evangelical and German Reformed traditions. The Oktoberfest will honor those traditions with live music, singing and dancing, and a performance by members of the Rochester Schwaben Verein, a German dance club!

Tickets are $5.00 per person, and German specialties like Schnitzel, Sauerkraut, Potato Salad, Bratwurst, and desserts like Apple Strudel and Black Forest Cake will be available for purchase. Tickets are available at the church between services, or you can call the church office at 585-671-3757.

The Oktoberfest is Saturday October 13 from 6 to 9 p.m. at the United Church of Christ, 570 Klem Road, Webster.

Library book sale — and important news

Let’s start with the important news part.

Next Monday October 8, the Webster Public Library will be CLOSED for staff training. Plus, they’ll be closing early on Halloween, October 31, so make sure you stop in for all your spooky needs before 5 p.m. that day!

Now on to the more fun stuff: The Webster Library Fall Book Sale, sponsored by the Friends of the Webster Public Library, Thursday Oct. 11 through Sat. Oct. 13.

This is a great time to stock your library. Hardcover books are only $1 each, and paperbacks only 50 cents. Credit cards are accepted.

All the books are new to the sale, so don’t think you’ve seen it all before. There will also be DVD’s, Blue Ray, music CD’s and LPs — definitely something for adults, teens and children. including cooking, gardening, hobbies, biographies, religion, history, sports, travel, foreign language, performing arts, humor and more. There will even be a chance to win a book gift basket raffle.

The sale hours are Thursday, October 11 from 10 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.; Friday, October 12 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. On Friday and Saturday you can fill a bag for just $4.

The Webster Public Library is located at 980 Ridge Road, at the back of the plaza.

* * *

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.

Tags: , , , , , , , ,

BE uninTIMidated presents check to Wilmot

3 Oct

Tim

Here’s some good news from a great local organization which has turned tragedy into kindness.

Tim Wesley, a Penfield resident, was diagnosed with appendix cancer in April 2012. Rather than withdrawing from life, he made a brave and compassionate decision to “give good.” After going through a 12-hour surgery, fighting through nearly 25 rounds of chemotherapy, running his business and raising two teenage girls with his wife, he decided to start a not-for-profit organization to help save the lives of others.

BE uninTIMidated was formed in October of 2012 and has raised over $100,000 to support cancer research and to pay for travel expenses for those seeking treatment for rare forms of cancer. Just this past January, the BE uninTIMidated Board of Directors voted to amend their mission statement to include Wilmot Cancer Center as a beneficiary of donations. and just this last week, presented them a $25,000 check.

WCI Donation

Unfortunately, Tim Wesley passed away from this terrible disease in February of this year. His legacy, passion and love for others carries on through his family and this organization. They are just as determined now, if not even more, to continue to raise awareness about this disease and help save the lives of others.

To learn more about this disease and this organization, please visit their website here.  You can also help support the efforts of this great cause by attending their 6th Annual Casino Night Event on January 26th at Kodak Park. More information to come about that.

* * *

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.

Webster Hots thanks teachers

2 Oct

webster hots front

Bill and Kelly Mutschler, owners of Webster Hots in the village, want to say “thank you” to our Webster schools’ teachers and staff members. So they’re offering a 10% discount across the board to all of them.

The Mutschlers are long-time Webster residents themselves, so they’re quite familiar with our schools.

“While we appreciate business of employees at all local businesses, we have a special place in our hearts for the WCSD staff,” Kelly said. “We spent a lot of time volunteering in the schools, watching our kids and their friends participate in sports, concerts, plays. We’ve trusted teachers, administrators and staff with our kids on day field trips and class trips out of the state. We’ve worked along side some wonderful people.”

When they opened Webster Hots last year, the Mutschlers showed their kinship with the schools right away, by establishing “Titan Tuesday” and “Warrior Wednesday” student discounts. Their son Aidan spent a lot of time at Webster Hots “several owners ago,” Kelly added, “and we liked the idea of being a place where kids could hang out.”

It’s also not the first time they’ve reached out to the district’s students. Cast members of the Webster Schroeder musicals, for example, have held some cast parties at Webster Hots, and once again this year will be using the restaurant’s front porch for a hot chocolate fundraiser during White Christmas in the Village in December.

This summer they extended that commitment to the schools further, with the staff members’ discount. The idea came to them after a chance meeting.

“We ran into a teacher at one of the wine walks who said she didn’t realize Webster Hots was there. We thought, ‘these are the people we should be giving a break to.'”

“It has been a long-standing tradition at Webster Hots to give the 10% off to all first responders,” she continued, “but we want to extend it to another really important type of first responder in Webster.”

So WCSD teachers, administrators, and support staff, show your badge at Webster Hots at any time and get 10% off your meal.

“We want to support the schools in any way we can,” Kelly said.

Webster Hots is located at 55 East Main Street in Webster.

webster hots mutschler

The Mutschler family — Kelly, Bill and their son Aidan. 

* * *

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.

Autumn Fanfare returns this weekend

1 Oct

autumn fanfare

Music will be in the air — and on the football field — this Saturday evening October 6, when the Webster Marching Band presents their 33rd annual Autumn Fanfare.

This terrific community event is a premier field show and competition, hosted by the The Pride of Webster marching band, but also featuring performances by six Greater Rochester (and Buffalo) area bands including LeRoy, Hilton, Orchard Park, Medina, East Irondequoit and Victor.

Webster’s show this year is called “Heart Strings — Tugged and Torn,” and rumor has it it will even include a string quartet.

Four food trucks will be there as well — Pontillo’s, the Original Recipe, Rob’s Kabobs, and Neno’s — so you don’t even worry about dinner.

It all happens Saturday night Oct. 6 at Webster Schroeder High School, 875 Ridge Road. Gates open at 5:30 p.m., and the competition starts at 6:30. Advanced sale tickets are available at Hegedorns Market and Wegmans for $7; they’ll be $9 at the gate.

For more information, check out the event’s Facebook page here.

* * *

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.

Webster community mailbag

27 Sep

A handful of quick notes in today’s mailbag.

The first is from our friends at ROC & Soul Fitness in the village.

stretch for a causeThis Saturday Sept. 29 they’re hosting a special Mommy/Daddy and Me yoga class to benefit a local Webster family. It’s called Stretch for a Cause, will be about 45 minutes long and will be for all levels of yoga. It’s especially designed for children ages 5-12, who will also be able to get some yoga warrior tribal face paint.

All proceeds from this special class will benefit Claudia Chateauneuf, a 7-year old Webster child who is battling PANDAS Syndrome, a pediatric autoimmune disorder. Donations will help defray the cost of Claudia’s upcoming treatment in New York City.

Hosting a Mommy/Daddy & Me (family) yoga class will allow Claudia and her friends to participate in class. It will begin at 1:30 p.m.. ROC & Soul Fitness is located at 43 East Main Street in Webster (next door to Village Bakery).

For more information, visit Claudia’s GoFundMe page with more information about her story.

Oak Tree Award

Here are a few items from the schools:

Nominations are now being accepted for the Oak Tree Award, recognizing exceptional teachers.

Co-sponsored by the WTA and Webster Central PTSA, the Oak Tree Award recognition program is an annual award that is designed to recognize teacher excellence in Webster CSD. Any Webster resident or district employee, current or former student, parent, teacher, or administrative colleague may nominate a teacher for the Elementary or Secondary Teacher of the Year Oak Tree Award.

Award nominees must meet the following criteria:
~ currently teaching in a full-time position in Webster Central Schools
~ have a minimum of five years teaching experience in WCSD
~ plan to continue to teach the next school year in, or retire from WCSD
~ be a member in both the Webster Central PTSA and the WTA

Teacher nominees who meet these criteria will receive an Oak Tree Award application and directions for completing the application process.

Nominations may be made via the Google form found here or on the WCSD website. You may also print the form and send it in print form or request an alternate format, if Google forms are not an option.

Veterans Dinner

Veterans and active duty service members and their families are cordially invited to a free dinner in their honor. on Thursday November 8.

Spry Middle School Student Council and Spry Builders Club, along with the Webster-Fairport B.P.O. Elks #2396 are sponsoring the meal as a way of showing their appreciation for our nation’s servicemen and women. The event will take place November 8 from 4 to 6:30 p.m. at Spry Middle School, 119 South Avenue, Webster.

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

* * *

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.

Tags: , , , ,

The best blood drive EVER is back

25 Sep

blood drive

Plans are coming together for October’s Webster Community Blood Drive.  

This is the one you all know for those big white signs that pop up all over town the weekend before the drive in front of several of the sponsoring businesses. This year’s drive will be Wednesday October 10 at St. Paul’s Church and Thursday October 11 at the Webster Recreation Center.

This is always one of the most popular and well-attended drives of the entire year, and stands out among all others because of the tremendous support it receives from Webster businesses.

Once again this October, every presenting donor will be handed ten raffle tickets, which can be used to take chances on more than two dozen prizes being donated by local businesses.

The complete list of prizes is still being finalized, but some of the sponsors already include:

  • Barry’s Old School Irish
  • Beyond Cuts Salon
  • The Chicken Coop
  • Gift cards from Eastway Liquor
  • Kittelberger Florist
  • Knucklehead Craft Brewing
  • Natural Alternatives
  • Rubino’s
  • Schutt’s Apple Mill
  • Strike Back Martial Arts
  • The Garage Sale Store
  • World Gym
  • La Bella Vita
  • Hegedorn’s

We’re pleased to welcome a brand new sponsor this fall as well, Flaherty’s Three Flags Inn.

One of the most popular coupons of all — from Bruster’s — will be returning. Every presenting donor will receive Bruster’s “Pint for a Pint” coupon, good for a free pint of ice cream or a free ice cream cone.

The Webster Community Blood Drive is scheduled for Wednesday October 10 at St. Paul’s Church, 783 Hard Road, and Thursday October 11 at the Webster Recreation Center, 1350 Chiyoda Drive, from noon to 7 pm each day.

Walk-ins will most certainly be welcome, but the best way to get in and out quickly for this über-popular drive is to make an appointment by calling 1-800-REDCROSS (1-800-733-2767) or by logging onto http://www.redcrossblood.org. 

* * *

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.

Tags: , , ,

← Older Entries
Newer Entries →