Webster Thomas grad is making the world a better place — one hammock at a time

24 Jul

I went to a hammock party the other day.

Never heard of a hammock party? Don’t worry. I hadn’t either, and when I received the invitation I had no idea what to expect. Was it going to be like a Tupperware party? Would there be a bunch of middle-aged ladies sitting around in hammocks, sipping wine and discussing the relative tensile strength of hemp versus kite string?

Fortunately, it was nothing like that. Instead, when I arrived at the party house and walked around to the back yard, I was struck by an amazing sight: Dozens of intricate, hand-woven hammocks hanging all around the yard, bursting with colors as though a rainbow had exploded and doused the entire scene in crimson, blue, green and yellow.

The party’s host was Colin Johnson, a 2011 graduate of Webster Thomas High School who now attends the University of Dayton, majoring in entrepreneurship. Colin is a man with some big ideas who wants to make the world a better place.  And he plans to do it with hammocks.

The party was a grand kick-off event for Colin’s new business, Hammocks That Help. The idea grew from his two-fold desire to start his own business, while at the same time giving back to people in need.

Colin spent much of his first year at school figuring out exactly how to accomplish both those goals.  He really wanted to delve into some kind of service project, but finding the right one proved difficult.  Finally, after months of research, hundreds of emails, and a trip to Latin America, he landed on the perfect solution. It was an idea, he said, that would have a “larger and longer impact, would benefit a local Nicaraguan business, and give me the entrepreneurial experience I was looking for.”

That idea was Hammocks That Help.

The hammocks themselves come from a very talented craftsman in Masaya, Nicaragua, whom Colin met with personally to arrange the deal. Colin plans to import 100 hammocks at a time for resale here in the States. And this is where the “giving back” part comes into play (and it’s really cool).

Through his research, Colin learned that Nicaragua is the second-poorest country in the Western Hemisphere after Haiti, and the lack of safe housing there is a huge problem.  He witnessed the deplorable living conditions himself during his travels through the country last spring. “Pretty much their houses are four posts, with plastic wrap wound around them,” he said, “and their roofs are anything they could get their hands on.”

Felix, Margarita and their daughter Seylin will benefit from the first house built with funds from Hammocks That Help.

So Colin has partnered with a non-profit organization called the 4 Walls Project, which is dedicated to helping change the lives of families in the rural town of El Sauce, Nicaragua, by building homes. The group has already constructed 14 or 15 simple homes, but their funding has run dry. Colin has pledged to get that funding stream going again by donating half of his proceeds from the hammock sales.

For every 100 hammocks sold, one complete new home will be built. The first one will be for a young couple, Felix and Margarita, and their one-year old daughter Seyling.  So when you buy one of those first 100 hammocks, it’s like you’re making a little investment in that family’s future.  That’s pretty sweet.

The hammocks come in medium, large and family sizes, and start at $70. Find out more at hammocksthathelp.com, and if you’re interested in purchasing one, you can email Colin at csjohnson5@yahoo.com.

Entrepreneur Colin Johnson relaxing in one of his hammocks.

A look inside of Felix and Margarita’s current home.

 

Each new hammock owner gets a unique laminated card explaining which tells the “Hammocks That Help” story.

Young camper weaves his way to fundraising success at Bay View

22 Jul

The remains of the climbing wall the day after it was destroyed by vandals.

Here’s a nice little story that I ran across recently at the Bay View Family YMCA.  It’s about Joe Gerard, a young camper who has almost single-handedly raised more than $1,000 for Bay View’s climbing wall replacement fund.

A little background first.  In the early morning hours of June 24, the day before summer camp was to begin, vandals burned down Bay View’s popular 40-foot tall climbing wall. It was a very sad day for the Y, and especially for all the kids who climbed that wall every day at camp.

Insurance will not completely cover the cost of replacing the wall and its high-tech hydraulic auto-belay system, so several fund-raising efforts are in the works. Most of them are being coordinated by Bay View itself.  But 12-year old Joe Gerard decided that wasn’t enough. He wanted to do something, too.

Joe Gerard (black shirt) with his mom and dad Wendi and Mike, and brothers Daniel (blue shirt) and David. Daniel’s wearing an assortment of bracelets.

It began one day several weeks ago when Joe wore a bracelet to camp.  He had woven from a kit his mother bought him for Christmas. His fellow campers loved it, and they all wanted one. Turns out they wanted one so badly they were willing to pay Joe to weave one for them.

One turned into many, and many turned into hundreds.

In just a little more than two weeks, Joe has sold more than 200 hand-woven bracelets at $5 each, already raising more $1,000 for the climbing wall fund.

Close-up of one of the bracelets.

Joe’s brothers David and Daniel have helped some with the weaving, and his parents Wendi and Mike have bank-rolled the cost of supplies, so it’s kind of a family effort. But Joe’s really the mastermind behind it all. And even though he’s reached his original goal of $1,000, the demand is there to keep going and keep selling. (More importantly, Mom is telling him he should.)

If you’re interested in purchasing a bracelet  for $5 to benefit the Bay View YMCA Climbing Wall Replacement Fund, stop by the Camp Bay View office any weekday (behind the branch next to the Aquatic Center).  Or call the office at 341-4001.  They’re high-quality, colorful bracelets, cobra-stitched with para-cord, with durable plastic clip closures.

To make a direct donation to Bay View to help replace the climbing wall, click here for information.

* * *

While we’re on the topic of Bay View, I was there yesterday to watch a very neat event, a cardboard regatta. Participants were challenged to build a boat completely out of cardboard which could successfully navigate a 300-yard route into Irondequoit Bay, around a buoy, and back to the dock.

Fourteen “boats” of varying buoyancy were launched, holding anywhere from one to three sailors each.  Several of them actually survived the voyage. Many others sank immediately or shortly after heading out into the bay, leaving their crewmen no option but to physically drag the ailing vessel out to the buoy and back.

Fortunately, points were handed out for creativity and spirit in addition to seaworthiness.

It was a fun event and a great way to spend a Saturday afternoon, sitting on the bay with a nice breeze, watching the birds fly and the boats sink.  It didn’t seem to matter how well their boat sailed or how wet they got, everyone seemed to be having a great time. Plus it raised money for three great organizations: the Hillside family of agencies, Rochester General Health System and the YMCA.

I’ve posted a few photos here, and a few more in a gallery. Click either of the photos to go there.

Empire Grill: A small place with a big feel

22 Jul

 

It took me a while, but I finally stopped by to check out the new Empire Bar & Grill which opened about a month ago on Empire Blvd.  I’d driven by it many times, and every time I saw that the parking lot was packed.  I wondered how such a small place could fit so many people. Any why was it always so busy?

So last week I stopped in to find out what was so great about the place. That’s when I discovered that “small place” really wasn’t so small inside.

The Empire Bar & Grill — just like its name implies — is really two establishments. On the left side of the building is a very well-stocked bar, which seems to stretch almost the length of the building. It features two dart boards and 12 large-screen TVs, each tuned into a different sports channel, talk show or newscast.

On the right side is the grill (i.e., restaurant), separated enough from the bar that you won’t feel like you’re in a pub when you’re dining. It holds a lot more people than you’d think when you’re looking from outside. There are a dozen or more small tables and a booth along one long wall, allowing for seating of about 40 people. Plus there’s a nice stamped-concrete outdoor patio which can accommodate another 30 or so.  The restaurant side also has four more large-screen TVs in case you tend to get bored while you’re eating.

I chatted for a few minutes with Kelly Fiorini, the day manager, to find out what’s so special about the place that makes it so popular, only a few weeks after opening.  At first she mentioned their wings, but they’re particularly proud of their meatballs and sauces, which are all homemade. And their seafood bisque, she says, is “phenomenal,” with big chunks of seafood including whole steamed clams.

Before I left, I asked her point blank why the parking lot is always so crowded. She looked at me matter-of-factly and said, “Our food is really good.”

So check it out for yourself. It’s a nice little neighborhood bar and grill where both families and the late-night drinking crowd would feel comfortable.

Empire Bar & Grill is located at 2014 Empire Blvd. at the corner of Seabury Blvd. (the former Phuket Thai Cuisine location). They’re open from 11 am to 2 am Monday through Saturday, noon to 2 on Sunday. They serve lunch and dinner, from a surprisingly diverse menu including appetizers, soups, salads, sandwiches, quesadillas, burgers, pasta and a huge fish fry. Click here to see their menu.

Holt Road construction news

18 Jul

I’ve had a couple of people ask me recently if I knew anything about the huge construction project in progress on Holt Road just north of 104.  After a little bit of digging through Planning Board minutes (thank you Dave) I found out what it’s all about.

What’s going on there is a project called North Ponds Village. According to the Planning Board minutes, it’s a senior housing complex that will include one 66-unit, three-story building and two 24-unit, three-story buildings. Plus offices in a smaller building at the front of the property.

No word on a completion date.

And since we’re on the subject of Holt Road, a few of my readers also mentioned the construction going on right now at the Holt Road Wegmans store.  I popped inside yesterday to get the skinny. The lady at the service desk told me they were simply enclosing the vestibule,  but couldn’t provide any more details.  Sounds like when they’re done they’ll have an entrance-way resembling the one at the Eastway Wegmans. I hope they relocate the bottle return out there when they’re done.

 

Fate of new Webster fire station lies in voters’ hands

17 Jul

The North East Joint Fire District would like to build a brand new North Station on Phillips Road, but they can’t do it without voters’ permission.

The new station would be built at 566 Phillips Road (near Schlegel Road), a location which was purchased and cleared several years ago with the ultimate plan to use it for a new station.  The 12,600 square-foot facility would serve as a joint fire/EMS facility for the north end of the district. It would cost $5.4 million.

And that’s where the voters come in.

The district wants the Webster community to fund $4.9 million of that cost, bonded over the next 30 years. On Tuesday July 24 they’ll put that bond resolution up to a vote, and if it’s passed, hope to begin construction on the new station next summer and complete it in 6-8 months.

A public information session was held on June 14 which detailed the entire planning and design process the district has gone through to get to this point. If you weren’t at that meeting, you can see a comprehensive 35-minute narrated slide show recapping the meeting by clicking here.

One of the main questions, of course, is how much such a $4.9 million, 30-year bond would add to our taxes.  Here’s the slide that details that (click on it for a closer look):

If you’d still like more information after you watch the slide show, plan to attend the Fire Commissioners meeting on Wednesday, July 18 at 7:30 p.m. at 35 South Avenue and ask your questions there.

The bond vote will be held on Tuesday July 24 from 3-9 pm at the Webster Presbyterian Church, 550 Webster Road (Rt. 250).  All registered voters in the Northeast Joint Fire District are eligible to vote.  The district is roughly the area bordered by Hard Rd./Whiting Rd./Shoecraft to the west, Atlantic Avenue to the south and County Line Road on the east.  Click here to see a pdf of the district.

This is an important vote. There’s lots of our money involved, after all. So please get informed by watching the video or attending tomorrow’s meeting, and then get out and vote.

 

Webster folks are everywhere — even in the 19th century

15 Jul

My husband and I spent an enjoyable day yesterday at Genesee Country Museum in Mumford. I hadn’t been there in years, and this being the weekend of the annual Civil War battle reenactment (and the fact my son would be participating as one of the townspeople) it sounded like a good time for a return visit.

While I was there I thought it would be fun to see how many Webster/Penfield folks I could find participating as reenactors. Perhaps you know some of these people:

Tim Ricotta, right, played with the Union’s fife-and-drum corps.

Susan Berardi was portraying the character of Caroline Sawyer, her great-great-great grandmother. At other events, she plays a Union spy.

Lisa Sansone was one of the dress makers. Here she holds her 3-month old daughter Rebecca.

Karen Nitschke (far right) chats on the porch of the Livingston-Backus House with Mary Barber, Renate Tindall and Larry Ferner.

My son Sean with his friends Sarah King and Chris Chamberlain.

It was a very educational and entertaining day all around, and the weather — although very warm — was fine. Actually, the only sour point of the entire day was when we had to dodge the firefighters standing in the middle of Route 38 in Mumford. They were holding one of those fund drives where you’re supposed to drop money in the boot as you drive by. They actually had put up signs that read “Boot fundraiser toll.”

Now I’m all for firefighters trying to raise money, but I’ve always hated this approach. It’s invasive and dangerous, and these guys even went so far as to call it a “toll.” And wasn’t peddling like this was outlawed in Monroe County several years ago?



Photos from the Firemen’s Parade

13 Jul

Not much to say about yesterday’s Fireman’s Parade. As always it was a great event, and the Webster community came out in force. One report I heard was that chairs were being set up along Main Street even before 7 am.  One of the marchers told me the crowds were bigger than she had ever seen before, 4 and 5 deep all along the route.

I took tons of photos, of course (actually, only about 200) and have posted a few of my favorites here. The rest can be seen by clicking here or on one of the photos.  I didn’t get a photo of everything in the parade (there were SO many fire trucks!) but I did try to capture the highlights. And you’ll notice that small children are some of my favorite subjects.

The Fireman’s Carnival continues tonight and tomorrow, culminating with fireworks at midnight. Click here  for details.

 

It’s a girl!

13 Jul

I am tickled pink to announce to the greater Webster community that there’s — finally — a new baby Barry!

Jessica and Danny Barry, owners of Barry’s Old School Irish, are proud new parents.  Maley Barry was born by C-section at 7:48 pm Thursday night, weighing a healthy 8 lbs. 1 oz and measuring 20.25 inches.

And despite the excitement reflected in the headline of this blog, we’ve known for a while that the baby was going to be a girl. Actually, we’ve even known the baby’s name for months. It was just a matter of WHEN we were going to get to meet her.  Maley was officially due on Monday, July 2. But apparently she wasn’t quite ready to show her face on that particular day.  A week later she was still being stubborn. Finally, ten days after her official due date, Jessica’s doctor decided to induce labor. Nineteen hours later,  after some rather, well, forcible convincing, Maley was born.

And the happy news arrived none too soon. Since Danny and Jessica arrived in town, they have developed a very large, very loving group of friends — more like an extended family — who have been anxiously awaiting Maley’s arrival. Facebook messages and regular text messages from Maura at the pub kept everyone up to date on Jessica’s progress over the last few days.  We all feel like we’ve gained a new family member.

Congratulations to Danny and Jessica. We cannot wait to meet little Maley.

A famous local fiddler, cool science and a kiddie parade

11 Jul

Several little tidbits of information I want to toss out today, before I get to photos of last night’s kiddie parade. A few of these have been hanging around my email box for weeks, just waiting for me to get around and blog about them.  But this first nugget came to my attention just yesterday afternoon, and will interest anyone following the career of one of Webster’s finest musical talents, Kate Lee.

Kate is a 2010 graduate from Webster Schroeder High School, and an incredible fiddle player who has already been making a name for herself in Nashville, where she attends Belmont University.  Last November, for example, she was one of several back-up musicians for Rascal Flatts on the Country Music Awards television program.

Yesterday she announced something even more exciting. On July 24 she’ll be playing violin for the Heart & Soul Concert behind Rod Stewart and Stevie Nicks in Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena. Wow.

Keep an eye on this young lady, folks, ’cause she’s going places.  Actually, you can see her for free at the Little Theater the day after the Heart & Soul Concert, playing a free concert from 7:30-9:30 pm.  Check out her website here.

* * *

This Friday, CDS Monarch’s Wolf Life Transitions Center on Hard Road will host a Luau Dance from 6:30-8:30 pm.  As always, there will be refreshments and music from DJ Delight. Cost is $5 per person for community members. RSVP to Summer at 347-1661 or Summer.Vanscott@cdsmonarch.org.

* * *

Cherry Ridge is hosting a concert series this summer, called Under the Stars. Gateswingers Big Band will perform on Tuesday, July 24, and Gentlemen of Song will perform on Thursday, August 16. The concerts are held on the Cherry Ridge Lawn from from 6:30 – 8 pm and there’s no charge. Refreshments will be served and attendees are encouraged to bring their own lawn chairs. In case of inclement weather, concerts will be moved inside.

Cherry Ridge is located in Webster, across from Webster Schroeder High School.

* * *

Remember that great idea you had at the beginning of the summer? “Hey, let’s NOT sign the kids up for camp this year, so we can spend more quality time with them!”

So now you’re wondering what the heck you were thinking, and you’re all stressed because this late in the game all the summer camps are full. Don’t sweat. Here’s a super option:

It’s called “Cool Summer of Science with Mr. Noon,” a series of week-long summer science classes (for 4-6 year olds and 7-9 year olds) taught by Williamson High School science teacher Brendan Noon. The classes feature age-appropriate hand-on activities that are not only fun but help develop the skills kids will need to meet the next generation of National Science Standards. (So they’ll be learning while they’re having fun, but don’t tell them.)

Upcoming classes include weather and the interaction between organisms and their environment.  You can click here for more details, but I’ll tell you right now the kids will be making clouds, playing in a pond and collecting slimy things.  Sounds like fun to me.

Classes cost $25/day and are held from 9 – 10:30 am Monday-Friday, at 153 Salt Road in Webster. For more information log onto the Science With Mr. Noon Facebook page or email Mr. Noon at Brendan.Noon@yahoo.com.

* * *

Finally, a quick note about the Kiddie Parade which took place last night in the South Avenue/Spry Middle School neighborhood. This annual warm-up for the Fireman’s Parade (which happens tonight in the village) is always an adorable affair.  I love the idea of this parade, because it gives kids of all ages a chance to get dressed up in costumes, march in a real parade (albeit a very short one) and throw candy at high velocity at the people lining the parade route.

(And I had forgotten about the candy at high velocity part. Popping in and out of the parade taking pictures, I felt at times like I was in a war zone dodging bullets. A strawberry Dum-Dum actually hit me so hard in the shoulder it made a mark.)

It’s also fun to see how much the kids’ parents enjoy the parade. Many of them dress up in themed costumes, and it’s obvious how much thought and effort work goes into many of the “floats.”  I’ll bet some families start working on them months in advance.

One child who was watching the parade walk by described it this way: “It’s like Halloween, only earlier.”  I’m not sure whether he was referring to the costumes or the abundance of candy.

As usual, I took lots of photos. Click here or on the photo above to see the gallery.

email me at missyblog@gmail.com

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Willink creates awesome video to welcome new students

10 Jul

Here’s something that will almost certainly make you smile.  The students and staff at Willink Middle School have created a “Welcome to Willink” video that is just delightful.

The video begins with students stepping off a school bus in front of the school, where staff members jump out of the bushes holding signs to welcome them.  As the students enter the school, WEB ambassadors (Where Everyone Belongs) lead the camera through the hallways, lip dubbing to the song Unwritten by Natasha Bedingfield.  As the camera winds through the school, we pass by hundreds of students lining the hallways, cheering and waving signs, many wearing uniforms or holding props representing school clubs and sports teams.

And the end of the video, the camera peers out a second-floor window onto the school grounds where the assembled student body erupts into cheers.

Every student got into the action, and there are cameos from Superintendent Adele Bovard and Principal Brian Neenan. My favorite part was probably the Willink chorus, but when the artwork walked off the wall — well, that was pretty cool, too.

The project took a year of planning, during which time the students met with advisers to coordinate props and costumes to represent every class, club and sport at Willink. Filming took place last spring, with the final product posted a few weeks ago.  Kudos to Thomas students (now Thomas grads) Rebecca Farsace and Katie Epner for a great job with the filming (done in one seamless shot) and editing.

And a hearty thumbs-up to the staff and students of Willink Middle School for doing such a fine job with this project.  What an incredible testament to that school’s spirit. If this video doesn’t make a new student feel welcome and excited to attend Willink, I don’t know what would. It’s just pure fun.

Until the end of this month, you can see the video by visiting the Webster School District’s webpage, where it is the spotlight story.  After that (or right now, if you want) you can go directly to the YouTube link. Or click on the photo above.

 

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