Candlelight vigil brought together the family that is Webster

30 Dec

Click any photo to see a gallery with many more.

I have never loved Webster more than I did last night.

Despite near-blizzard conditions, an estimated 300 people gathered inside and outside Barry’s Old School Irish last night for a candlelight vigil to honor the firefighters who died and were injured in the terrible events of Christmas Eve.  Danny and Jessica Barry weren’t even planning to open their doors until 6:30, but when people started showing up before 6:00, there was no way they were going to make them stand out in the cold. By 6:30 there were so many people packed into the little pub that new arrivals were invited to go to the Garage Sale Store next door to stay warm. In the meantime, a small army of helpers prepared luminaries for the patio tables, and assembled wind-proof candles to hand out  to vigil participants.

The mood was somber, but the conversations were comforting as friends met up with friends and strangers jumped in to help with final preparations.  It was like…we were there for each other as much as we were there for the firefighters.

The vigil itself was wonderful. Judge Michael Barry and his son (and Barry’s Old School Irish owner) Danny Barry had some very beautiful comments. And when Fr. Bob Werth read the Firefighter’s Prayer, its final sentence pretty much brought everyone to tears :

And if according to your will
I have to lose my life
Please bless with your protecting hand
my children and my wife.

But it was when the whole crowd sang “Amazing Grace,” led by Sarah King, that I pretty much lost it.

Last night was an moving testament to the incredible community that is Webster.  We are nothing less than a big extended family, and when one — or more — of those family members needs our help, we’re there in a heartbeat. I think my new friend Dave Gambino put it best. As he sat at Barry’s pub table last night, helping with candle preparation, he said, “We have an excellent community.”

Yup. That pretty much sums it up.

And, by the way, that generous Webster spirit did not end with the vigil. People hung around for many hours afterwards in Barry’s enjoying the companionship, live music, and free Wren Day snacks. And by the end of the evening, they had stuffed the tip jars placed throughout the pub with more than $500, to be donated to the West Webster Fire Department.

Even if you were not able to join us in person last night, if you have any connection with Webster, I am certain you were with us in spirit.   For that matter, it has become very clear that people all over the country — and the world — are thinking of us this week.

Click here to see a Facebook gallery of photos from the event. (And please email me your photos to add to my gallery.) You can also find coverage of the vigil on all the local news stations and newspapers.  Probably the best TV coverage is on Channel 10.  But you can also check these sites:

Channel 13

Channel 8

And a link to the article in the D&C

Good things DO happen

30 Dec

Today’s blog, which I’ve had in the works for several days now, takes on special significance given the tragic events of yesterday morning in Webster. It’s a reminder that good things really do happen in this world, and good people still inhabit it.

For starters, I want to bring you back to a blog I wrote earlier about how the Sandy Hook, Connecticut PTA has requested that people make snowflakes to decorate the school the students will be returning to after Christmas break.  Several days ago I posted a photo of the letter the PTA wrote requesting the snowflakes.

The response to that photo was overwhelming.  To date, that photo has been shared 145 times, which is very cool. But even cooler than that was hearing about some actual snowflake-making efforts.

Jen Sander, who works with 10- and 11-year-olds at Mary Cariola Children’s Center in Rochester, sent some photos of the snowflakes her kids made.

Some of the snowflakes made by the children at Mary Cariola Children’s Center.

I also heard from my daughter Sara, who teaches second graders at Buffalo Public School #76, Herman Badillo Bilingual Academy. Her kids knew about what had happened, so Sara explained to them that the snowflakes would be used to decorate the new school the kids would go to so it wouldn’t be scary.  The kids really got into the project, and didn’t want to stop. “It’s probably a big school so we need to make more,” they told her.

Students at the Herman Badillo Bilingual Academy in Buffalo show off their snowflakes.

Next, remember last week, after the horrible events in Newtown, CT, when Ann Curry proposed that everyone do a random act of kindness in memory of everyone who lost their lives?  I actually learned about the challenge from my friend Jane Laskey, who noted in her email that “I know two people that had their coffee paid for, someone who received flowers on their car while in Wegmans’ parking lot, my kids are making more and more Christmas goodies and plan to hand them out, and a meal paid for.”

I encouraged others to let me know if they had received or gave a random act. I heard back from a few people. My friend Lyndsay Maier wrote,

I heard this morning from a co-worker that she went to Dunkin’ Donuts drive thru this morning and the person before her in line paid for her order… Apparently one person about 15 cars before started this chain reaction and they had about 20 cars that kept on the chain… Every car paying for the person after them… the people at Dunkin’ were impressed that it kept on for so long.

Others told me that they regularly try to do random acts, and encourage their children to do so as well. Kurt Johnson has even set up a Facebook page on which he encourages people to report their random acts of kindness. You can see it here.

Merry Christmas, my friends. Hug the ones who are close to you.

The reasons we love our Webster home – read all about them in this poem

30 Dec

If you have lived in the village of Webster for any length of time, you probably have heard about — or even met — Carol Klem. Chances are very good you have read one of her Village Focus columns, which are published on the Village of Webster website, and in the the Webster Herald.

Apparently, around this time of year, it has become a tradition for her to write an epic poem about the people and businesses in the village. I came across this year’s poem when I was reading the Webster Herald last week, and was duly impressed, and told her so in an email. When she wrote back, she lamented that since she writes for the Village, she couldn’t really include anything about the greater Town of Webster.

So I thought I could give it a try and fill in some of the blanks.   I suggest you read Carol’s column first, then see what I came up with:

AN ODE TO WEBSTER TOWN

Last night I tossed and turned in bed,
no visions of sugarplums in MY head.
Carol’s poem I’d just read.
(She does one every year.)

It really was a work of art,
which came directly from the heart,
‘bout the people and places that are a part
of this village we hold so dear.

A role model, Carol is to me.
The Webster village crier is she.
Just like her I want to be
when I grow up (if I do).

But this time she has gone too far.
She has really raised the bar
by adding to her repertoire
an epic poem so sweet and true.

But I will do my very best.
I’ll put my ‘puter to the test,
and till it’s done I will not rest
We’ll see how far it goes.

But unlike Carol, I must say
there absolutely is NO way,
I canNOT, to my great dismay,
name everyone I knows.

Carol has, luckily,
covered the village quite thoroughly.
So the only thing that’s left for me
is to “report” on the rest of the town.

Webster Village, we love you, true,
but there’s much more to our town than you.
There are businesses, people, festivals, too.
The best community, hands down.

Like all our parks (you know the ones),
for picnics, games and playground fun.
There’s even one where kids can run
beneath a spraying whale.

There’s Webster Park to barbecue,
Finn, Ridge and Kent and Empire, too.
There’s Sandbar with its sunset views,
and North Ponds with its biking trail.

The town’s natural beauty does not end there.
There are hiking trails just everywhere.
The Friends keep them in good repair
so we can all enjoy them.

Like Vosburg, Whiting, Gosnell, Finn.
Midnight, Ungar, and Arboretum,
Hojack (where the trains have been),
and Four Mile Creek (the new one).

Even driving can be fun
(If 104 is ever done),
but stay off Ridge Road, everyone
at lunch and dinner time.

Our schools do make us very proud.
By the marching band are people wowed.
School concerts always draw a crowd,
and the musicals are prime.

An open house the Town does host,
a summer party with fireworks,
the Fiesta at St. Rita’s Church,
and Community Arts Day.

At the Aquatic Center you can take a swim.
With ice skates at the arena you’ll skim,
and at the library a good book begin,
while the kids enjoy a puppet play.

You can take a class at the Rec,
buy fruit at Obbie’s Farm Market,
see a movie (like 3-D Shrek!),
then go next door to knock some pins.

Want to get something good to eat?
Webster’s offerings can’t be beat.
Like Bill Gray’s, Hedge’s, Charlie’s, T’s,
then an Abbott’s ice cream for some grins.

And at the head of this great town,
Supervisor Nesbitt can be found,
And the talented staff he keeps around
To keep things running well.

They keep our streets clear when it snows,
their free mulch helps our flowers grow.
They keep sewers clear and police our roads.
(Yes, and tax us for it all…)

Now, I’ve only just begun to list
the great things in Webster that exist.
Many people and places I have missed
in this overly long poem.

But I think that I have proved my case
that Webster is a special place.
I’m glad it’s become MY home base.
(Or, as I call it, “home”).

Merry Christmas from Webster Thomas High School

22 Dec

The approach of the holiday season (and a week off!) is a giddy time at every school, but Webster Thomas always seems to find unusually entertaining ways to celebrate.

All day yesterday, carolers and musicians brought Christmas cheer to Webster Thomas students and staff. The day started with a performance by the Brass Choir, led by Paul Van Horn. During the day, Thomas Bertrand’s chemistry students strolled into classrooms, singing Chemistry Carols, and the Select Choir, led by Brenda Nitsch, performed carols in the front hall as students were leaving for the day.

I didn’t get film from the Brass Choir performance, but below are a few photos our principal, Glenn Widor, snapped.  After that is a YouTube video featuring the Select Choir, followed by two versions of “Deck the Lab With Rubber Tubing.”  Enjoy.

Paul Van Horn directed the Brass Choir

 

Click on the photo to see a video of the Select Choir and the Chemistry Carolers.

Lighting up the holidays — and the night sky

20 Dec

Well, we’re finally supposed to get some measurable snow this weekend, so I thought today might be a good day to post my Exceptional Christmas Lights blog.

I did, indeed, go out several days ago in search of awesome outdoor light displays — particularly in search of a few especially nice displays that my readers suggested.  Well, to be more specific, the TWO displays that my readers suggested. (That’s not counting the one my friend Edna in Fairport wants me to go see out there.  “YOU HAVE TO GO TO BEAUMONT!” she wrote. Even wrote it on my Christmas card.) No, the two local displays that readers wrote to me about were on Klem Road just east of Route 250, and on Yorktown Drive just off of Plank Road.

This house is just east of Rt. 250 on Klem Road. I love the frog.

Now, the one on Klem is nice. But nothing can compare to the display that lights up the sky — literally — on Yorktown every year.  I chatted briefly to the homeowner when I was there, who told me that every year he tries to add a new element. This year it was the 6-foot-tall dancing, singing, motion-activated Santa at the end of the driveway. He also installed reflectors on the neighboring lawns to reduce damage from the constant traffic. The display is so well known that it has become a regular stop on senior citizen bus tours;  the owner told me that ten vans came through the night before.

Here are a few photos of individual portions of the display.  But the photos don’t really do it justice, so I also took video. CLICK HERE to see the video.   His back yard is almost as impressive, but I didn’t get any photos of that. If you want to see this one for yourself, Yorktown runs between Plank Road and Creek Street, but the house is closer to the Plank Road end. Just look for the glow.

Click on either of the photos to get a closer look, or click on the link above to see a video.

And I just had to include these photos from our own little village. The lights aren’t nearly as impressive, but I love the snowflakes and the twinkly lights in the trees, and the garland of lights wrapped around the gazebo. Simple and classic, and pure Webster.

D&C contributors gather for some holiday cheer

20 Dec

A few days ago I had the pleasure of attending a social gathering hosted by the Democrat and Chronicle for their bloggers and contributors.   D&C editors held the party as a thank you to the 100 or so community members who write blogs, articles, columns, editorial pieces, and more for their website and print editions.

I dragged my husband downtown with me, partly because he is my journalistic inspiration, but mostly because he himself worked at the D&C  for 16 years, and I knew he’d enjoy seeing some old friends.  That was indeed the case, and while he chatted with his former D&C colleagues, I chatted with my community blogger colleagues including Gary Gocek (Fairport), Donna DePalma (Pittsford), Lou Singer (Penfield), Terryn Maybeck (Victor), Ruth Thaler-Carter (Brighton) and fellow Webster blogger Rod Spratling. I also reacquainted with an old friend, Terry Schumacher, whom I haven’t seen since our kids were toddlers, and we were in the Fairport Moms Club together 20 years ago.

Plus, I met lots of new people and had lots of pleasant conversations, something that’s very easy to do when you’re with a bunch of writers. (If you’ve never noticed before, people who like to write also like to talk.)  So the evening flew by, and before we knew it, it was time for a group photo, one last cup of punch and a friendly wave goodbye.

Thank you to the D&C editors for hosting the event. But mostly, thank you to all my readers who keep coming back every day to see what I have to say…even though it’s not always very interesting. It’s your support that keeps me going, and lets me be a part of this great bunch of crazy writers.

 

D&C writers, bloggers and editors gathered for a group photo before the party broke up.

 

Send a snowflake to Newtown

20 Dec

I received this email this morning from a teacher at Willink Middle School. I think it is such a wonderful idea, and I know that so many in our community would want to participate, so I wanted to pass it along to everyone immediately.

Hello everyone:

I learned of something simple anyone can do for the grieving community we all have on our minds.

The state PTA, teachers, parents and local folks are collecting snowflakes to decorate the new school for the Newtown staff and children. They can be any color and made of anything you want. I think the idea started as paper cut outs like we all made when we were little. The school they will inhabit is bare and someone thought it might be a nice showing snowflakes from all over the country, world, as a show of support….

The snowflakes can be mailed to the address below. The community plans to decorate over the break, so be sure to send them soon.

Connecticut PTSA
60 Connolly Parkway
Building 12, Suite 103
Hamden, CT 06514

It just gives me chills to think of that school covered head to toe with snowflakes from around the country, and around the world. Please pass the word and lets get everyone we know involved in this effort. It’s such a simple way to show our support.

 

 

Wednesday mailbag

18 Dec

I received a few press releases within the last week from and about some local businesses and the good things they’re doing for our community. I am please to pass them along:

Webster Chamber Presents Fundraising Check to Comfort Care Home

The Webster Chamber of Commerce recently held an online auction enhanced with a live auction at its 80th Gala Celebration to raise funds for the Webster Comfort Care Home. The Chamber raised nearly $5,000 to be used by the Comfort Care Home to continue their commitment to providing comprehensive and compassionate care to the terminally ill and their families, in a home-like atmosphere.

Pictured presenting the check from the Chamber are (l to r)  Barry Howard, Webster Chamber President; Ann Carmody, Webster Chamber Board Chair; Maisy Buckley, Comfort Care Volunteer Coordinator; Mary Barnhart, Primary Nurse; Laurie Klein, Chamber Gala Committee Chair and Alan Jones, Comfort Care Executive Director.

 Henderson Ford Fills Ford Escape with Hundreds of Toys

Back in November Henderson Ford challenged staff, customers, the community and neighboring businesses to help fill a 2013 Ford Escape with toys for the Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots program. The response was staggering and hundreds of toys were collected in an overflowing Ford Escape. Sgt. Scott Brock from the Marine Corps Reserve stopped by the dealership on December 13 to collect the toys.

“We are overwhelmed by the generosity of our customers, staff, business partners and the community,” said Randy Henderson President of Henderson Ford. “The Toys for Tots program does so much for local families and we hope these toys bring lots of smiles to children’s faces.”

The following local businesses also participated in Henderson Ford’s Fill a Ford Escape Toys for Tots campaign: A Different Point of View, Design Pool & Spa, Dixon Schwabl, Edge Advertising Group, JNCS and Omero’s Clothes.

 

Toys for Henderson Ford’s campaign for the Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots program were piled into a 2013 Ford Escape.

Henderson Ford’s Aki Henderson and Greg Wright pose for a picture with Sgt. Scott Brock from the Marine Corps Reserve. This is the third consecutive year that Henderson Ford has participated in the Toys for Tots program.

 

 

A rose is a rose…even in winter

16 Dec

OK, this unusually un-winter-like weather has officially begun to creep me out.

When I was at the Eastway Wegmans on Saturday, I saw rose bushes — in full bloom — growing next to the parking lot. Now, I am no gardener, so I know nothing about rose bushes. Perhaps there are a few varieties that thrive in the cold.

But it was just weird.

My first visit to The Goodie Shoppe

16 Dec

This is going to be hard to believe to all you Webster Village folks out there, but yesterday was the first time I stepped foot inside The Goodie Shoppe.

I know, I know. The Goodie Shoppe has been a village staple since 1975, when the confectionery business moved from the city to North Avenue, down by the tracks. And it’s been at its current location at 83 North Avenue for almost 34 years.  But I’ve known Goodie Shoppe owner Mike Broikou for a while now — and have had a taste of his signature ice cream cakes — and have been wanting to see this shop I’d been hearing so much about. So I stopped in yesterday and finally had a look for myself at what all the excitement was about.

The truffles come spiked or un-spiked. (Watch the kids.)

For those of you who have not yet had the pleasure to visit The Goodie Shoppe, let me set the scene for you.  It’s a small shop which you might not even notice as you speed by on your way to Route 104. But when you walk in the door, it’s like entering a candy wonderland.  You’re immediately assaulted with an incredible aroma of pure chocolate, and surrounded by more hand-made truffles, chocolate creams, chocolate -dipped pretzels, Santas-on-a-stick and chocolate candy canes than you’ve ever seen in one place before.

Remember that scene in Willy Wonka when all the kids walked onto the factory floor? It’s exactly like that. Except I can’t picture Mike in a purple topcoat.

But as wonderful as all these chocolate delights are, Mike’s specialty by far is his famous seven-layer ice cream cake, which the shop has been making the same way for 60 years.  It’s made with layers of vanilla, chocolate and strawberry ice cream, with a layer of strawberries and yet another layer that combines pineapple, peach and banana. Then it’s all topped with an ice cream frosting. Basically, it’s Heaven on a plate.

I met Mike’s ice cream cake before I even met Mike, when he brought one to Jessica Barry’s baby shower back in May.  And then he brought another huge one to baby Maley’s christening in November.  Because that’s just the kind of guy Mike is. I mean, this is a guy who, on a very busy night at Barry’s Pub, has been known to step behind the counter without being asked, and start washing dishes. Pretty much one of the nicest guys you’ll ever meet.

So if haven’t been to The Goodie Shoppe yet, make a plan to do so this week. It’s the perfect place to find a gift for that hard-to-shop-for person, and a pretty nice spot for stocking stuffers, too. And while you’re there, order one of those spectacular ice cream cakes (give him a few days to make it special for you, though). You’ll be the most adored person in your family for a long time if you present one of those for dessert after your holiday dinner.

The Goodie Shoppe is located at 83 North Main Street, across from Dunkin’ Donuts. Call Mike at (585) 872-6460.

 

Owner Mike Broikou with one of his famous ice cream cakes

 

 

 

 

 

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