Have coffee with the (incumbent) village candidates on Saturday

21 Feb

Incumbent candidates Dave Kildal, Christine Reynolds and Peter Elder

Here’s another great opportunity to become an informed voter for this spring’s village election season.

The incumbent village board candidates will host a coffee-with-the-candidates event this Saturday morning, February 23, at 9:30 at Barry’s Old School Irish Pub & Bakery, 2 West Main Street in the village.  Mayor Peter Elder, Trustee Christine Reynolds and Trustee Dave Kildal will all be there, buying coffee, and visiting with and answering questions from any village residents who’d like to come by.

It’s a busy Saturday morning for our village politicians, and for anyone who’d really like to find out more about the issues and candidates.  Simply get up early enough to have breakfast with the Open Party candidates at the Atlantic Restaurant at 9 am, then drive into the village for coffee with the incumbents.

The village election will take place on Tuesday, March 19.

Second Time Around is going out of business

21 Feb

Owner Pat Moss helps a customer at Second Time Around

I’ve been wanting to stop by Second Time Around consignment shop for a long time now; people have told me great things about it. When I finally got around to doing so, though, it was almost too late.

Next Thursday, February 28, Second Time Around will close its doors for good.  The little consignment shop has been an institution in Webster for 32 years, nestled in that little row of rear-facing shops on West Main across from the gazebo. Joan and Pat Moss have owned it for the last ten years. Lately, though, other life responsibilities have begun to take precedence, and they’ve decided to move on.

So through next Thursday, everything in the shop is 50% off, which means that the already rock-bottom prices are even rock-bottom…er.  What you’ll find there is a very eclectic collection of mostly clothes, but also books,  fashion accessories, jewelry, home decor items, shoes and boots, and more.  You’re pretty much guaranteed to find something you need.

Being such an integral part of the Webster community all these years has been “wonderful,” Pat told me. “We’ve had a tremendous amount of good customers and an even greater amount of good consigners. They’ve been very supportive.”

Second Time Around consignment shop is located at 5 West Main Street (in the rear). Call (585) 872-5810 for store hours.

 

Meet the Open Party candidates

19 Feb

This spring’s village election season is shaping up to be a bit more interesting than most. Mayor Peter Elder and Village Trustees Christine Reynolds and Dave Kildal are facing a challenge from three village residents.

John Cahill, running for mayor, and Darrell Byerts and Gerard Ippolito, Jr., who are running for village trustees, have formed a brand new, independent party which they call the Open Party.  With the slogan “Fresh Water, Fresh Ideas, Fresh Start,” the party’s stated objectives are to bring softer water to village residents by switching to the Monroe County Water Authority, and to bring more transparency to village government.

Village residents are invited to meet the candidates at a breakfast this Saturday February 23 at 9 am at the Atlantic Restaurant, 888 Ridge Road.  The $8 breakfast cost includes meal, beverage, tax and tip.  Several breakfast options will be offered.

RSVP by Thursday, February 21.  Call Nancy Theis at (585) 265-0449.

 

Time to get a scone and restock my story ideas

18 Feb

Anyone who thinks I know a lot about the village and town of Webster has not met Carol Klem. Carol writes the “Village Focus” column for the village website, which you may have also seen when it’s cross-posted in the Webster Herald.   She is the eyes and ears of Webster, much more than I will ever be. To steal an oft-used phrase, Carol has forgotten more information about the people and places of Webster than I will ever know.

I was reminded of that when I read her most recent column on the website, in which she included a very nice review of the new Prime restaurant on East Main Street.  Not only did she write a terrific article, but she did a heck of a lot better job with it than I ever would.  So good that any blog I would write would be redundant (so click here to read all about the Prime and its new owner).

The reason I happened by Carol’s column was that I’m planning to meet her this morning for scones and coffee at Barry’s Old School Irish. I’m trying to make this a monthly event partly because we have so much fun together. Nothing like sitting two crazy-lady local journalists across the table from one another. We hardly take a breath for the stories we tell, and laugh so hard my side hurts.

But I have another, more selfish reason for meeting:  To restock my story ideas.

Guaranteed when I walk out of Barry’s this morning, my reporter’s pad will be overflowing with news of the town and its businesses and people just begging to be blogged about.  Basically, Carol knows so many things about what’s happening in this town, she can’t write about them all, so she tosses some my way.  I buy her scones. It’s a win-win.

 

Benefit pasta dinner kicks off busy month

18 Feb

It’s fortunate that many of us have this week off to rest up, because this Saturday kicks five straight weeks packed with special events (and I haven’t even started to look at April yet).

Today, though, I’d like to highlight one in particular.  It’s a Spaghetti Dinner Fundraiser hosted by Katy Corpus of Webster, to support her upcoming trip as a People to People Ambassador to France, Italy and Greece in July.

People to People was founded by President Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1956 with the goal of educating youth to interact with people from other nations respectfully through full cultural immersion.  The students travel without their parents, which allows them to take charge of their own learning and education while overseas.

Katy explained in an email what the trip is all about and why she decided to take on this challenge:

Ever since I was little, I’ve wanted to travel the world. I’ve always believed that there is more to see, more to learn, more to discover in the world than what is just in your surroundings. I also believe that in order for one to be knowledgeable enough to help change the world, one must first see it. This trip will help me start my journey of seeing the world.

I will be going to France, Italy, and Greece (not necessarily in that order) for 19 days in July 2013. I will be learning about intercultural relations, cultural history, leadership skills while seeing the sights and cultures of European countries. I will also take part in a home stay, where I stay with a host family for a few days to truly learn about culture by actually living it.

Here are the details:

Spaghetti Dinner Fundraiser
Saturday 23, 4–7 pm
Webster Thomas High School, 800 Five Mile Line Rd, Webster
Cost: $9.00 for adults, $6.00 for children or seniors
Desserts will be available for purchase.

The dinner will feature vegan and  gluten-free options, and diners can eat in or take out. There’ll be entertainment, silent auction and raffles, and vendors.  Call Ken at 585-347-4950 for more information.

Tickets can be  purchased at Computer Works Pro, 1991 Empire  Blvd.,  Webster; Barry’s Old School Irish Pub, 2 West Main St., Webster; or click here to order online.

I’ve only known the Corpus family for the last few years — I first met them when I did a blog about the new Computer Works Pro business which Ken owns (it’s in the gingerbread plaza at the corner of Empire Blvd. and Terrel Drive).  I can assure you this is a great Webster family and a very worthy cause.  I’ll be there early.

* * *

Now, here’s a preview of the exciting things coming up in the next installments of What to Do in Webster?

* Webster Thomas High School presents Footloose, Feb. 28, March 1 and Marh 2 at 7:30, and Sunday March 3 at 2:00. Tickets are on sale now at Wegmans and will be sold at the door.

* The annual Spry vs. Willink Benefit Basketball Game is Friday, March 1 at Schroeder High School. Proceeds will benefit the West Webster Fire Department, and he firefighters and families of those impacted by the Christmas Eve tragedy.

* Also on Friday March 1 is a Neighbors Helping Neighbors Benefit Pasta Dinner sponsored by the Forest Lawn community residents which will also benefit the Lake Road families. Tickets will be $10 for adults and $5 for children.

* Spry Middle School will present Alice in Wonderland in three shown on March 15 and 16. General admission tickets will be $6 and can be purchased at the door.

* Webster Schroeder High School presents The Wiz on March 21 and 22 at 7:30, and March 23 at 2:00 and 7:30.  Tickets are $10 each,and can be purchased at Hegedorns on online at the Webster Thomas Players website.

* The second annual Schlegel Road Beautification Fair will be held on Saturday March 23 from 10-4.  They’re still looking for vendors and raffle prize donations. Check the event’s Facebook page for more information.

More details will be forthcoming about all of these events … and even a few others in March I didn’t get to yet.

 

 

 

 

What are you doing for February break?

15 Feb

When you work at a school, on the last day before an extended vacation it’s pretty much guaranteed that someone will ask you at least once, “So, are you doing anything over break?”  I actually got it twice yesterday.  And twice, I gave my standard answer: “I’m sleeping in.”

The response was calculated at least in part for comedic effect, but there’s also a lot of truth behind it.  One of the things I look forward to most when a February break or spring break rolls around is the luxury of turning off the alarm and sleeping as late as I want.  Sure, I take advantage of the week off to schedule appointments and meetings, but I make sure they’re late enough in the day so as not to disturb my sleeping in.

Not that we would be going anywhere this week anyway.  My husband the St. John Fisher prof doesn’t get his spring break for two more weeks.  And we really couldn’t swing the cost of a cruise right now, either.  More power to everyone else who’s heading to some beach, though. I understand that for some people, “getting away from it all” means taking a big plane or boat and — literally — getting far away.

Not me.  Just not being at work for a week is far enough away for me.  I don’t have to follow a schedule of any kind, I can stay in my pajamas until after lunch, eat junk food in front of the TV, crank my favorite tunes, work out when I feel like it and be a lazy bum when I don’t, write, read, sing, play, party…and then do it all again the next day.

Granted, my laissez-faire approach to February break wouldn’t fly if I still had kids home during the day.  Small children tend to have a complete disregard for the word “vacation” and persist with annoying habits like getting up early and asking for things like attention and breakfast.

I understand your pain. Been there, done that.  And I really understand your need to “get away from it all” by taking said young children to far away lands where costumed characters dwell.

Have fun. I’ll be thinking of you while I sit in front of Ellen in my robe and fuzzy slippers, eating bon-bons.

 

Fantastic(ks)!

13 Feb

Webster’s own Working Class Theatre Company (WCTC) will be holding auditions for its upcoming summer 2013 production of The Fantasticks, to be performed July 31-August 4 at the gazebo in Veterans Memorial Park on North Avenue in Webster.

The Fantasticks is an American theater classic. Originally performed off-Broadway in 1960, the production ran a total of 42 years and 17,162 performances, making it the world’s longest-running musical.  As described on the WCTC website,

When two teens from opposing families get swept up in all the romantic notions of love and adventure, a merry cast of roving bandits sets out to teach them and the audience that there is more to love than just flowers and pretty metaphors!  Performed on a minimalist but charming set, using a variety of performing styles (including clowning, circus arts, mime, and acrobatics) and filled with catchy, memorable songs that have become American standards (“Try To Remember” and “Soon It’s Gonna Rain” among them), The Fantasticks is a fun-filled, entertaining, and magical evening of theater for the whole family. 

Actors are needed for the roles of El Gallo, the narrator; Matt, the boy in love; Luisa, the girl in love; Hucklebee and Bellamy, the fathers; Henry and Mortimer, the old actors/clowns; and the mute.  Auditions will be held Sunday March 24 and Monday March 25. For details on what to prepare for the auditions, and to make an appointment, visit the Working Class Theatre Company website at workingclasstheatre.net.

This will be the WCTC’s first musical, and their third production at the gazebo.  Not only are these performances very well done and very entertaining, they are presented absolutely free.  We are incredibly fortunate that the Working Class Theatre Company calls Webster its home.

 

“Open Party” candidates will challenge village incumbents

12 Feb

It looks like next month’s Webster Village elections are going to be competitive after all.

With the slogan “Fresh Water, Fresh Ideas, Fresh Start,” candidates John Cahill, Darrell Byerts and Gerard Ippolito Jr. announced on Monday that they are running in the March 19 Webster Village election on the independent “Open Party” line.  Cahill will be challenging incumbent Mayor Peter Elder, and Byerts and Ippolito will try to unseat Village Trustees Christine Reynolds and Dave Kildal.

Cahill

The candidates are making no secret that one of their primary motivations for running is to address the long-simmering village water issue. “We can’t count the many positive responses we’ve received regarding our pledge to bring soft water to the village,” said Cahill. But the larger issue, he added, is “restoring openness and transparency to village government.”

And so it begins.

Byerts

John Cahill, the candidate for mayor, lives at 220 Judson St. with his wife Christine and three children. He has been a village resident for nearly three years and for 16 years has owned Technoserv Property Management. He graduated from RIT with a degree in Manufacturing Engineering and earned an Associate Degree at Alfred Tech in Mechanical Design and Drafting. He is a member of the Webster Bible Church.

Darrell Byerts, who is running for trustee, is familiar to Webster swimming enthusiasts. He was a swim coach in the Webster schools from 1973 to 2009 and is a member of the Section V Swimming and Diving Hall of Fame Committee. He is a retired Webster high school science teacher and has lived in the village for 35 years. He resides at 36 Elm St. with his wife Anne and three children.

Ippolito

Gerard Ippolito Jr. lives at 47 Baker St. with his wife Lisa and two children and has lived in the village for 13 years. He is an R.L.Thomas graduate and was on the varsity volleyball team. Currently he is Director of Environmental Services, Grounds, and Properties for Hillside Shared Services. He is active in volunteering and has participated in Hillside Special Santas and a recent WWFD fund raiser.

More local people helping others

12 Feb

I received some photos yesterday from a couple of other fundraisers last weekend which involved local people and local places.

Flaherty’s Three Flags Inn on Bay Road held an all-day fundraiser on Sunday, in which they donated a portion of everyone’s check to the West Webster Fire Department. Judging by the number of people who packed the place all afternoon and evening, they raised a ton of money. Organizers also had a 50-50 raffle going, there were dozens of raffle prizes, and entertainment by local musicians (who played for free). I had very nice late lunch with a dozen of my closest friends. It was just a terrific event all around.

Thanks to my friend Kristen North for these two photos, including the panoramic one of the bar, above.

Music by “My Dingo” inspired at least a few of the patrons to take to the dance floor.

You might also have heard about the 13th annual Polar Plunge on Sunday, when crazy people (many in costume) took a swim in frigid Lake Ontario to benefit the New York Special Olympics.  Among the brave souls to take the plunge were Webster Schroeder 11th grader Phillip LiPari, Spry Middle School seventh grader Sadie LiPari, and Klem Road South Elementary School teachers Doreen LiPari and Jennifer Forsey, all pictured below.  Between the four of them they raised more than $500 for the cause.

 

Schroeder vs. Thomas benefit game a success in many ways

11 Feb

Saturday night’s benefit basketball game which featured Webster Schroeder against Webster Thomas staff members, was a huge success. The stands were packed, the mood was electric, the game was competitive … well, at least for one team… and everyone had a good time. More to the point, the game raised tons of money for the West Webster Fire Department, through ticket sales, t-shirt sales and bracelet sales.

Some of the fans took the game VERY seriously.

More than $9,000 of that money raised came directly from the efforts of three very brave Webster educators, who had pledged to get their heads shaved at halftime if they were able to raise at least $5,000 before the game. They reached — and surpassed — that goal almost a week ahead of time, and so the assembled crowd was able to watch as Webster Thomas Assistant Principal Sue Clark, Librarian Trish Warren, and Webster Schroeder Assistant Principal Jeremy McBride went under the razor at half court between periods.The money they raised will be going directly to the families of Mike Chiapperini and Tomasz Kaczowka.

Each of the three spoke before the shearing about their motivations for going through with this selfless act. They were all very moving, but I particularly liked one of the things that Warren said, and I (pretend) to quote directly:

People keep telling me that I’m really brave for what I’m doing today. But I’m not the brave one. The brave ones are the firefighters and first responders who put their lives on the line every day, who leave their homes, not knowing if they’re going to return at the end of the day.

Ain’t that the truth.

The stands were packed.

Here are a few photos from the event, but I invite you to click here to see a gallery of about 170 (of the 300 or more I took that night).

There’s one photo I took which I will not post, but I thought really summed up what this game was all about. One of the Webster Thomas players was having some difficulty in the first half and required EMT assistance. Naturally, when the announcer asked

for an EMT to come down, about a dozen first responders in attendance immediately stood up. The one who ultimately took the lead to care for the player was Nick Chiapperini, Mike Chiapperini’s son.

When I pointed this out to Thomas AP Sue Clark, she said matter-of-factly, “That’s who he is. That’s why I’m shaving my head.”

 

A sample of the craziness that ensued.

The newly-shorn pose with their talented hairdressers. (L-R) Thomas teacher Ida Marra, Trish Warren, Jeremy McBride, Thomas parent Nikki Ditch, Sue Clark, and Kiara Sens Giaconia (Thomas ’09)

IN-SCHOOL UPDATE!!

A few more photos for your viewing pleasure, which I was able to take this morning after I got to work at Thomas. The first is a shot from our Morning Show studios where Sue Clark and Trish Warren went on the air to thank the student body for their support.  The second is of Warren sporting the winning hat from her “Choose-Which-Hat-I’m-Going-to-Wear-on-Monday” contest.  It was a close contest between this one and the dreadlocks. I think she’s very glad this one won.

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