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.

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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.

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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. 

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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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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.

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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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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.

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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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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. 

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Bella’s Bumbas gets a boost

24 Sep

IMG_9381

I am tickled pink to tell you all about the latest good news from Webster’s very own Bella’s Bumbas, one of the most caring organizations I have ever known, run by two of the most caring individuals I have ever met.

I won’t go into much background into this great organization. You can read more about it in this blog I wrote back in 2017, and this follow-up blog earlier this year. But briefly, Bella’s Bumbas is a non-profit organization run by Webster residents Marty Parzynski and Rebecca Orr, dedicated to building miniature wheelchairs for children with a wide variety of mobility issues. In just their first year of operation, they shipped more than 300 “Bella’s Bumbas” around the world, often adapting the chairs for each child’s individual needs, and charging the families only for shipping.

Since starting Bellas Bumbas in 2017, the couple had been working out of their small Webster home. Rebecca handled the administrative chores on a laptop at their kitchen table, and Marty assembled the chairs in a cold, cramped workshop behind the garage, which doubled as storage for all the Bumba seats, wheels, platforms and hardware.

But thanks to the kindness of a friend, those days are finally behind them.

IMG_9386Last Saturday afternoon, at a ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by Bella, her family and  several volunteers, Marty and Rebecca celebrated the official opening of their brand new workshop. The new space is actually a house belonging to a longtime friend and Bella’s Bumbas volunteer.

“Miss Lee,” as Rebecca and Marty call her, is a 97-year old woman who has been helping the couple out since they began, folding brochures and informational materials which were sent out with each chair. Recently, she had to move from her home into assisted living. When she did, she offered the use of her house to Rebecca and Marty to use as Bella’s Bumbas’ center of operations, asking only a little bit of rent in return.

It took a couple of weeks to move all of the building equipment, supplies and inventory to the new workshop, but by last week everything had been schlepped, sorted and set up. The house’s kitchen is now a workshop, the dining room is inventory storage, and the living room is the shipping center.

It’s really a dream come true for Marty and Rebecca.

“We have room to function now,” Marty said. “When we built (the wheelchairs) before we had no place to put them but on the floor. Picture 15 Bumbas on the floor. You had to move everything to get to them. It was getting to be more and more effort. It’s still a huge effort, but it’s a little more effortless because we have the space.”

Production barely slowed down during the move. These days they’re shipping out 15 to 20 chairs every week, all over the world. This week they’re shipping ones to Malaysia and Indonesia.

The chairs have come a long way since the first Bella’s Bumba. The seats are much more supportive, the wheels bigger, and very often they’re adapted specifically for a child’s special needs. A recent model, for example, was for a child with no legs and only one arm with which to drive it. Another was for a child whose legs are frozen in a frog-like position and can’t fit in a regular seat. 

“So far every challenge we’ve been given, we’ve met,” Marty said. 

When Miss Lee offered them use of her house, Rebecca said “I was surprised but not surprised.” Apparently, only a month after they had created Bella’s Bumbas, Miss Lee told her about a dream she had had.

“She told me, I had a dream,” Rebecca said. “You guys would have a building, and someday I hope it’s my home.” 

At the ribbon-cutting ceremony, Miss Lee had another surprise for them. “I had another dream,” she said. “You’ll have a big building that will take care of everything —  workshops, all the things we need. Room to box it up.”

Let’s hope she’s right.

Here’s a short slideshow of photos from Bella’s Bumbas new space:

Bella’s Bumbas could really use your help to continue their good work.

Since the organization officially began in early 2017, Marty and Rebecca have shipped almost 600 of the custom-made mini wheelchairs all around the world. Since they charge families only for shipping, they rely on donations of building and shipping supplies, and cash to purchase hardware. Now, even though the rent on their new workshop is reasonable, it means additional overhead.

There are several ways you can help.

  • Make a direct donation through the GoFundMe page;
  • If you do a lot of shopping on Amazon, you can select Bella’s Bumbas to receive a percentage of your purchase price through the AmazonSmile program.
  • Donate through PayPal
  • Donate shipping supplies
  • Send a check directly to Bella’s Bumbas, 1170 Ridge Road, #208, Webster, NY 14580
  • You can even buy some of the chairs for them. There are three different places you can get them: 1) This design from Kmart, 2) this other design from Kmart, and 3) this one at Amazon.com.

You can connect with Marty and Rebecca through the Bella’s Bumbas Facebook page if you’re not sure how to help or have any questions, or email bellasbumbas@gmail.com.

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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.

 

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Images from the Living History Tour

22 Sep

IMG_9395

I had a chance Saturday afternoon to pop by Webster Union Cemetery and catch the final half hour of the Living History Tour sponsored by the cemetery and the Webster Museum.

The event was an opportunity for local history buffs to “meet” and chat with several of Webster’s citizens from olden times, portrayed by museum volunteers. They included John Fielding Whiting, Charles and Sabrina Wright, Helen Tompkins, Mark Curtice, Mae Strowger Wright, Jennie Strowger Woodhull, and Abram and Patience Woodhull Foster.

The event’s organizers were positively giddy about how successful the day was. They estimated about 100 people — adults and children — visited the tour’s half dozen or so stops, taking photos and videos, and listening intently to the actors.

The gorgeous first-day-of-autumn weather might have had something to do with the large turnout, but I like to think there are simply a lot of people here in town who care about our local history. I’m sorry that I wasn’t able to attend the entire tour, but am hoping that the Webster Museum will consider doing another one of these next year.

By then, the volunteers’ voices will have rebounded, after their non-stop afternoon of talking.

Here’s a short slide show of some of those volunteers.

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Run, walk or roll with me next weekend

21 Sep

run walk

OK, my friends, here’s something to get you up and moving Sunday morning Sept. 30. It’s great exercise with a lot of new friends, doesn’t cost too much AND will benefit a great cause.

It the 4th annual Run, Walk & Roll 5K and 1 mile stroll to benefit Challenger Miracle Field. I’ve run this race every year since it began, and so I can attest to how fun it is. And I’ll be there again this Sunday.

Great progress has already been made on Challenger Miracle Field, which is located behind Town Hall on Ridge Road. Games are already being played there, and work is being completed on the restrooms and concession building. The inclusive field and accompanying Play With Possibilities playground will provide people with developmental, physical, or intellectual disabilities a barrier-free, safe, accessible place to experience the health benefits and joy of play through baseball, other team sports, and adaptive recreational equipment.

Run, Walk and Roll is an all-inclusive family-friendly event which invites participants to run or walk, push a wheelchair, push themselves in a wheelchair, or participate with other assistive devices including adaptive bicycles and tricycles.

The courses start and end at Webster Thomas High School, 800 Five Mile Line Road. Registration is open at 8 a.m. The 5K, including wheelchair athletes, will kick off at 9:30. The 1-mile stroll will begin at 9:35. Packet pick-up and in-person registration will take place that morning. Prizes will be awarded, and the first 200 registrants get a free t-shirt, which you can wear proudly to show what a good person you are.

Cost is $20 for the 5K and $17 for the one-mile stroll, if you register online by Friday night. After that, in-person registration at the race will cost $30/$22.

The 4th Annual Run, Walk & Roll tales place Sunday Sept. 30 at Webster Thomas High School. Click here to register, and I’ll see you there!

run walk and roll

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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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Town info at your fingertips

20 Sep

IMG_20180917_184850397 (1)Last week, if you’re a Webster resident (or at least live within the 14580 zip code like me), you received the Town Times in the mail. I hope you didn’t just chuck it into the recycling bin, because there’s all sorts of interesting and useful information in there.

The newsletter, which is published three times a year, has regular columns from Supervisor Nesbitt, the police department, the highway department and the like. I kind of skim those. But several of the articles this time around made me pause and think, “Hmmm, I wonder if people know that.”

Here are a few of them:

  •  The Kent Park playground had a new safety surface installed this year. It’s comprised of three cushy layers so kids will fairly bounce off it if they fall. It’s also rated for walkers and wheelchairs. Didn’t know that Kent Park has a playground? This is a good reason to check it out, ’cause it’s a beauty.
  • Some of the older spray animals at the Ridgecrest Spray Park were removed earlier this year and replaced with ground-level water spray features. This great little park is on Ebner Drive, very near the village.
  • Construction of Miracle Field and its amenities is humming along. So far $2.1 million has been raised for the project, and the restroom and  concession pavilion is almost complete. If you haven’t seen this gorgeous accessible playing field yet, stop by; it’s right behind Town Hall in Ridge Park.
  • Did you know that you can receive regular emailed notifications and/or text alerts from the Town about important news items? To sign up, visit the Town of Webster website to register your email and/or phone. You can even choose which departments you’d like to get notifications from.
  • If you don’t like standing in line to pay your taxes, you should check out the new safe drop box located in the front vestibule of Town Hall. You can drop off your form and payment (checks only) in the box, and if it’s received before 4:30 p.m. it will be marked received on that day.
  • Finally — and this is cool — you can borrow an Empire Pass, and several museum passes, from the library! Basically, you check them out just like books, and you can use them at museums and parks for special admission prices.

Make sure to take a closer look at your Town Times for more details about all of these, and more information about a lot of town happenings.

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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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