Webster High School Class of ’87 will hold 30th reunion

1 Jul

unnamedPlans are coming together for the Webster High School Class of 1987’s 30th reunion, scheduled for the weekend of August 5 and 6.

This event is unlike pretty much every other reunion I’ve heard of (and even my own reunions) in that in addition to partying with former classmates, organizers are also encouraging former teachers to attend the event.

Here are the details:

  • Saturday, August 5 at 6:30 PM
  • RIT Inn and Conference Centre.
  • Price: $60.00 per person, includes buffet dinner, DJ and photographer.

The following day, everyone is invited on a tour of the RL Thomas building beginning at 11 a.m. If you haven’t been in there recently, you’re going to be amazed at the changes (I’ve worked there for most of the last 16 years). After the tour, there’ll be a picnic at Webster Park (please bring a dish to pass).

As an interesting side note, I first heard about the reunion from Mark Kopf, who is currently living and working in Nelson, New Zealand. It was actually Mark’s idea to invite teachers to the festivities. He’s been working with reunion organizer Laura Fisher-Hepburn and former teacher Pat Moriarty to try get the word out to former faculty members. (Mr. Moriarty, you might remember, was a science teacher at Spry before joining the staff at Thomas High.)

They could use some help. Start spreading the word on Facebook, especially if you are still in contact with students or teachers from back then. If you’re not already a member, you should also join the class Facebook page for more information and updates.

Then dig out those yearbooks, kids!

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The Knuckleheads are kickin’ it again

30 Jun

knucklehead-logoKnucklehead Craft Brewing in West Webster is re-introducing a seasonal favorite

The Kick-It seasonal imperial IPA will be released on July 5. It gets its name from the fact that Knucklehead owners Len Dummer and George Cline will be donating proceeds from its launch to help fight cancer.

Len and George describe the brew:

We used Chinook, Columbus, and Cascade hops during the boil and dry-hopped it
with Willamette to finish at 94 IBUs. The sweet malt body is complemented by a mild hop bitterness (8.5% ABV).

The Knuckleheads first introduced their Kick It IPA back in 2015, with its proceeds benefiting the American Cancer Society. This time around, they’ll be donating $1 from each beer sold to the Breast Cancer Coalition of Rochester.

Back then, Len explained their reasoning:

Both of our families have been touched by cancer as well as many, many of our customers and close friends’ families. This is simply our way of saying ‘thank you’ to our supporters and it gives them a chance to enjoy a pint while knowing their money will go to a wonderful cause.

They ended up raising $5300 for the American Cancer Society. Let’s see if we can do even better this time.

 

Knucklehead Craft Brewing is located at 426 Ridge Road in West Webster. Check out their Facebook page and website for more information.

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It’s been a while, Mr. Lush

28 Jun

And….. he’s back!

Mr Lush.jpg

I’m talking about whoever it is that likes to toss empty liquor bottles on the grassy shoulder along Hatch Road near my neighborhood.

I first wrote about the guy I call the Hatch Road Lush ( I assume it’s a guy) back in 2011 when I first noticed the bottles. Back then the litter of choice was Black Velvet. What started out early in the spring as just a few quickly grew to more than 20 over several weeks.

 

Of course, I wrote a few blogs about what I was noticing. I speculated back then that someone was ditching the bottles as they drove by late at night, but it could also be that someone liked to take late-night walks and someone’s wife didn’t know that he was drinking.

Then all of a sudden the bottles not only miraculously disappeared, but they never returned again. Could have been a coincidence, but I like to think that Mr. Lush’s spouse read my blog and put two and two together.

Back in the summer of 2013, the bottles returned. But this time they weren’t Black Velvet. Our drinking and tossing friend has apparently switched to the less expensive (but still imported) Canadian Leaf whiskey.

Fast forward another four years and it appears that Mr. Lush has returned, and this year his booze of choice is vodka.

At least he’s not getting stuck in a rut.

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Webster Tuesday mailbag

27 Jun

mailbagHere are a few community notes of interest.

Webster Brownie Troop Makes Blankets for Children in Need

Webster Girl Scout Brownie troop 60392 recently made knotted fleece blankets to donate to Project Linus, which then distributes them to children who are critically ill, have been traumatized, or are experiencing another form of need.

The 11 third-graders from Plank South Elementary made this a featured part of a sleepover event. They then donated them to Project Linus through Cafe Sewciety Quilts on Empire Blvd.

Troop 60392 Blankets

Pictured in the photo (from bottom left clockwise) are Megan Kelly, Ella Ellsworth, Kate Sayers, Becca, Dolan, Gianna DeMarco, Sophia Hachee, Olivia Salafia, Ashley Huss, and Avarie Chalachan. Not pictured: Mackenzie Mihalitsas and McKenna Simmons.

Webster Marching Band Boosters Host Food Truck Rodeo

The Webster Marching Band Boosters have announced their second annual Food Truck Rodeo, scheduled for Friday July 21 from 5 to 9 pm in Webster Schroeder High School’s front parking lot.

The Marching Band Boosters sponsor various fundraising events throughout the year to help pay for the Webster Marching Band’s equipment, show productions, and competition-related trip expenses.

Eleven food trucks have already signed on for the event, including Macarollin, Tuscan Wood Fired Pizza, Rob’s Kabobs, The Meatball Truck Co., Midnight Smokin’ BBQ, Meat the Press, Le Petit Poutine, WingNutz, Abbott’s Frozen Custard, Kona Ice, and Smoothies Plus.

There will also be face painting for the kids, a visit by a West Webster Fire Department truck, and live music provided by the Aaron Rizzo Trio. Admittance to the rodeo is FREE, and all proceeds from the food trucks will benefit the Marching Band Boosters and Webster Marching Band members.

Webster Schroeder High School is located at 875 Ridge Road.

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Webster Village Band is back in action

26 Jun

village band

The Webster Village Band concert season has officially begun!

Inclement weather held off last Thursday night, allowing the Webster Village Band to perform their first concert of the season at the band shell on Phillips Road.

I’m told that attendance at the concert was quite good, which makes my heart smile. Perhaps Webster village and town residents are finally hearing about this wonderful musical group and realizing what a treasure we have in our community.

 

The band performs most Thursday nights throughout the summer. Upcoming dates are July 6 and 20, and August 3, 10, 24 and 31. Concerts begin at 7 pm and audience members are encouraged to bring a blanket, lawn chairs and a cooler, and stretch out on the spacious lawn area in front of the band shell.  The concerts are free and open to the public.

If it rains, the concerts are moved to the Cherry Ridge Senior Center, 900 Cherry Ridge Blvd. (across from Webster Schroeder High School).  For the latest weather updates, check the group’s Facebook page.

image3

Santa conducts the Webster Village Band at last year’s Christmas in July concert

The band also has a few special performance dates coming up. They’ll be at the United Church of Christ on Klem Road in Webster on Wednesday, July 5 from 6:30-8:00 pm, and will return for their annual Christmas in July concert at the Farmer’s Market (Kohl’s/Target Plaza) on Saturday July 22 at 10 am.

 

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Tour de Parks tour coming to an end…

25 Jun

hugger

If you haven’t had a chance yet to catch my 2016 Tour de Parks presentation yet and still want to, your last opportunity will very likely be coming up Monday night.

I’ll be bringing my talk to the Pittsford Community Library, 24 State Street, Monday June 26 beginning at 7 pm.

Still haven’t heard about it? Well, basically, last year I challenged myself to visit every one of Rochester’s east-side parks. I tried to hike a bit in every park that had trails, I took a lot of photos, and recorded my adventures in a blog.

It was a long year, but I accomplished my goal. Mostly.

You can hear all about it at Monday night’s presentation. Chances are you’ll see a park or two that you recognize, and perhaps learn something about parks you never knew existed.

There’s no admission, and you don’t have to bother registering. But the library folks did promise they’d make cookies (it was the only compensation I asked for). So please do come, because I’d much rather speak to a larger crowd than just a few people. I promise it will be interesting.

And cookies. Just sayin’.

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St. Rita Girl Scouts help fight cancer

24 Jun

CURE check A

St. Rita Girl Scouts went above and beyond this school year in raising money for the CURE Childhood Cancer Association.

Students are assigned to either the Blue or Gold Team when they start school. Then throughout the year they’re asked to bring in change to put in either the blue or gold jar. They brought in anywhere from a penny to $100. (P.S. Gold won.)

The fifth grade Girl Scouts raised more than $1700 for the organization.

A representative from CURE came to the school last week for the check presentation.

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Webster celebrates summer today

24 Jun

fireworks-mdIt’s officially summer, and the town will welcome the season today (Saturday) with a grand celebration.

The Town of Webster’s annual summer party will be held at the Webster Recreation Center, 1350 Chiyoda Drive, beginning at 4 p.m., and will feature food trucks, games, and inflatables for the kids.

The band Stateline kicks off the entertainment from 5:30 to 7:15 p.m, followed by Brass Taxi from 7:45 to 9:45 p.m. A huge fireworks display caps off the evening’s festivities at 10 p.m.

There’s plenty of free parking in the Rec Center lot or across Chiyoda Drive at Xerox, and a shuttle will be provided all night long.

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arts fest

An image from last year’s Waterfront Arts Festival

You’ll also want to mark your calendars right now for the third annual Waterfront Arts Festival, scheduled this year for July 29 and 30 at North Ponds Park.

The third annual Webster Waterfront Arts Festival will take place this year on Saturday, July 29th and Sunday, July 30th at North Ponds Park.

Artists from all over Monroe County will line North Ponds’ walkways, displaying an incredible variety of high quality craft items. There are food trucks, entertainment, a wine tasting booth and other exhibits.

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Welcome to a new journalistic colleague

23 Jun

lily brunnerI would like to send out a personal welcome to Lily Brunner, the new editor for the Webster Herald. 

Lily is taking over for Anna Hubbel, who will not be leaving the paper entirely, but will be scaling back her responsibilities.

According to Lily’s first-page article of introduction in this week’s edition, she’s a resident of Brighton and a brand spanking new graduate of Houghton College in Caneadea, NY (west of Hornell) where she earned a degree in communication. She originally wanted to become an elementary school teacher, she wrote, but halfway through her college career “started to discover my passion for working in media and communications.”

Lily is especially passionate about photography, so I think we’ll be seeing some pretty spectacular photos of local events in coming editions.

Welcome to Webster, Lily! I’m sure our paths will cross soon. I look forward to meeting you.

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St. Martin Lutheran Church announces new Eagle Scout

20 Jun

 

eagleBoy Scout Troop 110, sponsored by St. Martin Lutheran Church in Webster, has proudly announced that Caleb Stamler has earned the rank of Eagle Scout.

Caleb’s impressive Eagle Project involved building three trail-head kiosks for Abraham Lincoln Park on Empire Boulevard. Coordination with the county was imperative to logistically complete the project. With the help of many others, he brought two of the kiosks down on the trail, both along intersections of the yellow and white trails, and cemented them in. He also re-marked the main (white) trail.

Caleb devoted 216 hours to finish the project last October, with help from 19 adults and 17 youth.

Caleb will be a junior at Webster Schroeder High School this fall. Besides holding the Senior Patrol position at Troop 110, he has been actively involved with the West Webster Fire Department for over 10 years, the last two as an Explorer. Last year he was elected captain of the post. In August, 2016, he also joined Penfield Volunteer Emergency Ambulance as an Explorer. He had his Bar Mitzvah in the spring of 2014 and worked for almost a year learning to speak and read Hebrew.

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