Webster Presbyterian Mission Team helps our Southern Tier neighbors

22 Apr

This super-friendly looking group just returned from a service trip helping rebuild homes in the Southern Tier.

This is a nice story from the folks at the Webster Presbyterian Church, who recently returned from an Adult Mission Team Trip in the Southern Tier.

Sixteen church members participated in the week-long service trip, in which they helped three homeowners in the Endicott-Binghamton area make repairs to their homes, which were badly damaged in the awful flooding that took place there in September 2011.

Mission Committee member Laureen Anthony-Palmer reported that the group worked on drywall and did some painting for a house in Vestal, did “lots of painting” and hung a door on a house in Owego, and installed vinyl siding on a home in Barton. “All three homeowners were extremely grateful for our help and were very helpful to us the entire week,” Laureen added.

This is the second time a service group from the Webster Presbyterian Church has traveled to the Binghamton area. Last October a team spent a week rehabilitating two homes in Johnson City.  One of the homeowners was an 86-year old widow named Betty, who had spent the previous year living upstairs in three bedrooms and a bathroom.

Laureen was pleased to report that this month’s Mission Team members went back to visit Betty to see how things were going.  “It was not only great to visit with her again,” Laureen wrote, “but also to see that the renovations on her home are now almost complete and she is once again able to live on both floors of her home.”

The Webster Presbyterian Adult Mission Team’s visit was hosted by the First Presbyterian Church in Endicott, who reported that the work down there is far from done.  As of last fall, there were still about 1000 in the greater Binghamton area in need of repair, and they expected to be sponsoring work teams for at least the next two years.

I particularly love this story because I feel a very personal connection with it.  Owego is my hometown, and I was heartbroken when I saw the devastation caused by the floods.  On a recent visit I was glad to see that the beautiful little town has rebounded well, in part thanks to the efforts of fine folks like these.

So may I add my personal thank you for your kindness and generosity of time and talent.

 

New website is designed to bring Webster together

21 Apr

Webster resident Joe Harmon wants to bring our town closer together, and he wants to do it through a website.

It’s called We Are Webster, a virtual community — Joe calls it a “town square” —  where Webster residents can gather to find information about local news, organizations and upcoming events.

The main portion of the page is devoted to a news feed which Joe keeps updated with local and national news. In the sidebars, visitors will find the @We_are_Webster Twitter feed, a blog, an events calendar, links to community organizations, and more.

But Joe hopes the website will become much more than just another calendar of events page. He wants We Are Webster to become a resource for residents to engage with one another and the community, a gathering place for people to share ideas and information, organize support for causes, and become part of a social network devoted to helping one another.

He’s seen this happen before, in the days and weeks immediately following the tragic events of Christmas Eve. He wrote,

As the community was trying to come to grips with the horrific events, a Facebook page was created almost immediately to help provide community members with critical information and a digital memorial for the fallen heroes. As the Webster community began to grieve, they also came together to provide, food, shelter, monetary donations and many other acts of kindness. The idea of “pay-it-forward” was being felt not only in our small town but across the region and even across the country. A “virtual” community space led to so much good being done for the families of the heroes as well as fellow firefighters and first responders.

Then he took those thoughts and went a step further, asking himself,

Why does it take a tragic event to bring a community together? Shouldn’t we all be doing more in our own community? How do we find this information? Where can I go online to find opportunities to help my community?

So Joe put his significant web-design skills to work and came up with We Are Webster, which he hopes will become that community resource. He continued,

If the events of Christmas Eve taught us anything, it was that Webster volunteers and residents are always willing and able to help each other in good times and in tragedy. We should never be afraid to offer assistance to our neighbors or come together to improve our community. As the old saying goes – we are all in this together!

“We Are Webster” is not just a phrase, it’s a way of life. There is a reason why our town motto is “Where Life is Worth Living.” And together, we will continue to build a stronger community!

Click here to go to the We Are Webster website, join that community, and help make Webster stronger.  You can also check out their Facebook page by clicking here.

 

Mystery checkerboards

21 Apr

Have any of these turned up in your corner of Webster?

In two places along Hatch Road, someone has pasted checkerboard posters on utility boxes. There’s no identifying marks or political statement of any kind, just the posters.

As you can see from the photos, someone has tried their darndest to rip them off, with little success. They’re stuck on there good.

Has anyone seen them elsewhere? Does anyone have a clue to what they mean or who the artist is? Maybe it’s that skeleton-artist guy who was decorating the Phillips Road overpass, deciding to branch out a bit.

 

email me at missyblog@gmail.com

 

Can you help with cleanup at Case Park?

19 Apr

Milton R. Case Park is overdue for a facelift, and Ian Fike is on the job.

If you’ve never heard of Milton R. Case Park, don’t feel too bad. It’s been in such a sad state for so long that it doesn’t get much use, or attention. Plus, its main entrance on South Avenue is tucked between two houses and it doubles as a driveway, so it’s easy to miss when you’re zooming by on 250.

But it’s a great little park once you get to know it. It boasts 14 acres of woods and several nature trails. And it’s right in the village, so it’s really easy to get to. It’s just a little … shabby.

Ian Fike, a Life Scout from Troop 163 (St. Rita Church) wants to do something about that. For his Eagle Scout project, he decided to tackle the challenge of improving Case Park.

His plans include repairing the trails, installing new trail head signs, and removing debris and trash. One of the things I like best are his plans to improve the trail and trail head access from Spry Middle School. Perhaps that will encourage more exploration by the students and staff there.

It’s going to be a big job, and he can’t do it alone. So Ian has sent out a request for help from the community. He’s looking for donations of materials he’ll need for the project, and volunteers for his work crew on Saturday April 27.

Here are some details:

Ian Fike’s Case Park Eagle Scout Project
Work Day: Saturday April 27, 9 am to 2 pm
click here to sign up to work or donate materials:
http://www.wejoinin.com/sheets/skvft

Check out the photos below of some of the jobs Ian wants to accomplish:

 

The park definitely needs new signs.

All this debris needs to be cleared.

Here’s where Ian wants to create a better path from Spry to Case Park

One of the low areas that needs to be filled.

 

Thursday Webster mailbag

18 Apr

The Webster Thomas Odyssey of the Mind Team poses with principal Glenn Widor.

Get a great dinner Friday night and benefit a good cause.

A Webster Thomas High School Odyssey of the Mind team won the state championship in their problem and division, “It’s How You Look at It”, and will advance to the World Finals to be held May 22-23 in Lansing, Michigan.

To defray the cost of getting to Michigan, team members Brystol Cook, Sarah Kennedy, Abby Wezelis, Andrea Saitta, Rachel Crumley, Allesandra Suchodolski, and Lizzie Hart are hosting a series of fundraisers, so come grab a bite to eat and support the team.

The first is a chicken barbecue on Friday April 19 beginning at 4 pm.  The barbecue is provided by Tastebuds Catering, and will take place at Webster Thomas High School, 800 Five Mile Line Road. The release I received said that pre-orders would be taken until two days before the event. That was yesterday. If you’re still interested, you can email thomasOOTM19@ gmail.com or ThomasOOTM26@ gmail.com to see if they’re sold out yet. Cost is $10 for a marinated half-chicken, mac salad, coleslaw, bread and butter.

If it’s too late to sign up for this weekend, they’re having another one next Friday April 26. You can definitely get in on that one.

Community Arts Day is back

One of my favorite events of the school year takes place this weekend, when Community Arts Day returns to Webster Schroeder High School this Saturday April 20 from 10-4.

This is great family-friendly event which celebrates the many artistic and musically talented students in our schools. Samples of artwork from every school in the district will be on display, and entertainment by dance troupes, martial arts schools, music groups and more are scheduled throughout the day. The entire first floor of the school is packed with performers, artwork, and community displays. There’s a children’s area with crafts, baked goods and refreshments, and the YMCA Carnival set up in the gymnasium with games, prizes, a bouncy house and inflatable obstacle course.

I tell you folks, this is a great inexpensive way to entertain the kids all day.

Admission to Community Arts Day is free. Proceeds from food, craft, and carnival booth sales will benefit cultural arts programs within the Webster Central School District.  For more information, visit the Community Arts Day website. You can also click here   to see the full performance schedule.

Webster Theater Guild Proudly Presents…

After a fun day at Community Arts Day, consider  taking in a family-friendly evening of music, dance and drama presented by the Webster Theatre Guild.

Community groups scheduled to perform include the Neighborhood Acting Company, the Bowties, Rochester Gay Men’s Chorus, Greater Rochester Repertory Companies, The Women of Note, St. Paul’s Church Choir, JCC Center Stage, the Webster Thomas/Schroeder Show Choir, and of course the Webster Theatre Guild.

The event will take place in the cafetorium of Willink Middle School, 900 Publisher’s Parkway, beginning at 8 pm. There’s no charge, but donations will be accepted, all benefiting the West Webster Fire Department and the Webster Community Chest.

Dig into Your History

The Webster Museum will host a genealogy talk on Sunday April 21, called “Searching For Your Family History.”

Gabriel Pellegrino, a long-time Webster resident and director of music at Holy Spirit Church,  will present a talk on how to use the public library, the Internet, church records and newspapers to find your family history. Bring your questions and he may be able to point you in the right direction.

While you’re there, be sure to check out the museum’s new exhibits on “Life in the 1920s and 1930s.”  You won’t believe how different — and colorful — the kitchens were back then.

The talk will run from 2-4 pm. The Webster Museum is located at 18 Lapham Park in the village. Check their website for more information.

Local Cub Scouts caring for the environment

14 Apr

Earth Day is still a week away, but Webster Cub Scout Pack 108 got a head start yesterday, when they cleaned up Veterans Memorial Park in the Village of Webster.

Cubmaster Amy Schell wrote that this is the third year the Pack 108 cleaned the park. “We had nine Cubs, first graders through fourth graders from State Road School help,” she said. “Also helping were two siblings and nine parents. This is one of our favorite service projects. We collected 10 bags of garbage, had fun and got some fresh air.”

The effort was sponsored by Delta Laboratories and Friendly’s restaurant.

Amy also snapped the photos you see here.

Super job, kids!  You’re a great example of why Webster is such a wonderful place to live.

 

A new era in village politics begins

14 Apr

The newly constituted Village Board: (l-r) Trustees Al Balcaen and Jerry Ippolito Jr.; Mayor John Cahill; Trustees Darrell Byerts and Jude Lancy

I was in the audience with more than 30 others on Thursday night for the first Village Board meeting presided over by newly elected mayor John Cahill.  I think I was not the only one who wanted to see how well things — and the new board members — settled in after a rather acrimonious campaign and election.

And I’m pleased to say they seem to be settling in rather well.

Mayor Cahill opened the meeting with a very nice thank you to village staff members who have make the transition a smooth one, and to the village residents who put him in office.  He also reassured those residents that the new board would immediately address the water issue. “It is a pledge I will work to make a reality,” he said, with the warning that it would be “major, long-term effort.”

This first meeting of the village political calendar is always the annual operational meeting, filled with a litany of procedural housekeeping items necessary to keep the village running. But a few small, yet very important, issues kept the meeting hopping.

The first was the resolution authorizing the mayor and a village trustee to begin negotiations with Monroe County Water Authority. Mayor Cahill asked for a “rising” vote rather than the standard voice vote, and to their credit, every single board member stood to indicate their “yes” vote for the resolution.   No matter what personal position each board member has on this issue, it’s clear what village residents want, and voting to work with the MCWA was the right thing to do.

The second was a resolution to reinstate the Village Board salaries to their previous level. This was necessitated by a vote taken by the previous Village Board at their last meeting of the year to reduce the salaries of the mayor and village trustees. Their rationale was that since 25% of the board members’ salaries is for their service as commissioners of the village water department, and since the current board has pledged to eliminate the water department, that portion of the salary should also be eliminated.

Former mayor Peter Elder was in the audience and took to the podium to defend the board’s decision, to no avail. Current Board members quickly approved the resolution, reversing what most consider a petty move.

Personally, I was pleased to hear in Mayor Cahill’s opening remarks that his administration would not be focused exclusively on the water issue, that he recognizes the importance of maintaining a strong village in ALL its aspects. In particular, that includes improving cooperation with the town, renewed attention to code enforcement and expanding special events.

It was obvious that Mayor Cahill is still learning the ropes of his new office, but despite bungling a few Roberts Rules of Order, things appear to be off to a strong start.  So, as Mayor Cahill concluded in his opening statement, “Let’s roll our sleeves and get to work.”

 

AutismUp: New name, same commitment to caring

10 Apr

April is Autism Awareness Month.

Wait! Don’t stop reading there. Don’t be tempted to think, “That doesn’t affect me. On to the sports section!” Because chances are very good that autism DOES affect you.

Autism is the fastest-growing serious developmental disability in the U.S, affecting one in every 88 children. Think about that. That’s an amazingly high percentage. That means that in your daily life, you have most definitely come in contact with people affected by autism spectrum disorder (ASD), and probably even know some personally.

So this issue is not something our society can push under the rug, and the more people who understand that, the better.

So let me tell you about an incredible local organization dedicated to spreading the word, and about an event they’re holding later this month where you can help.

The organization is called AutismUp. You may already know it by its former name, UNYFEAT, which stood for Upstate New York Families for Effective Autism Treatment. The new name reflects the evolving and expanding role of the organization as the autism incidence rate continues to grow.

This local organization was founded in 2004 by a small group of parents of children with ASD, and has since grown to more than 1,000 members. Its mission is to support individuals with ASD and their families by expanding and enhancing opportunities to improve quality of life.

But to do that, they need funds. And here’s where you can help.

On Friday, April 26, AutismUp will host their seventh annual Seeds of Hope Growing and Giving Gala from 6:30 to 11 pm at the Memorial Art Gallery, 500 University  Avenue. They’re calling it the “gala at the gallery,” and it will feature, according to the press release,  “fabulous food from MAX Rochester, a variety of music and entertainment, a live and silent auction, and opportunities to learn more about AutismUp programs and services.”

Several Webster businesses are among those who have generously donated raffle prizes, including Prime Steakhouse, Hanks, Kid’s Hair Zone, Armstrong Adirondacks, Bella Vita, Flahertys, Bayview YMCA, Yolickity, Kittleberger, Hegedorns Bakery, Pontillos and Webster Interiors. Plus, Casciani Builders has donated a private helicopter experience for the live auction. Pretty cool.

Tickets are $100 in advance, or $125 at the door. Presale tickets can be ordered online by April 20 at www.AutismUp.org or by calling (585) 248-9011.

Can’t make the gala? Then show your support this Friday by wearing something blue. I know at least one school in the district is encouraging all their staff and students to wear blue, and I hope more get on board.

You can count me in. I’ve had the pleasure of working with some of these kids, and despite their communication and behavioral issues, they’ve all been cheerful and funny and pleasant. The way they take joy in life and take pride in new achievements just fills my heart with smiles.

This is definitely a cause you can believe in.

Village business news

9 Apr

I received the following photo from Mayor Cahill a few days ago, showing some work being done on a West Main Street building owned by Bob Lindsley, which houses Performance Hobbies and two other storefronts.

“We’re very excited to see the finished product,” Cahill said, and added, “Thanks to Bob.”

I also did some asking around the other day about what’s going to be going into the old Webster Gourmet storefront on the opposite side of West Main. They’ve been working hard on that place for a while now.  Word is that it’s gong to be an art gallery. Or a photo studio. Or something else. No one seemed to know for sure.

How ’bout it, folks…someone out there can fill us in. Who can tell us what’s going in there?

 

 

Outgoing village board members vote to cut salaries

9 Apr

There was a very interesting story in this morning’s Democrat and Chronicle about Village Board shenanigans.  Apparently, as one of their last orders of business, the outgoing Village Board members voted to reduce the salaries of the mayor and village trustees.  I had heard the rumor that such a thing had happened, but had never confirmed it, and hoped it was just a rumor. So it was with great interest that I read this morning’s article.

According to the article, the rationale for the vote was this: since 25% of the board members’ salaries is for their service as commissioners of the village water department, and the new board members have pledged to eliminate the village water department, so that part of the salary should also be eliminated.

Well, it didn’t last long. Five days later the newly constituted board board met for the first time and reinstated the salaries in the preliminary budget.

But you can read the whole story yourself here.

 

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