The end of an era.

22 Aug

The way it was.

It was a sad day along Empire Blvd. today. The Lipinski sign, which has stood tall and proud at the corner of Terrel Drive for more years than I can remember, finally came down.

It was more than four years ago that the corner hardware store closed its doors and the property’s new owners completely gutted the old building, turning it into the gingerbread-house-like strip plaza that it is now.  Several new tenants have moved in over the years (and one came and left), but through it all the sign has stood tall, almost in defiance of the redevelopment.

I had heard from a friend that this day would soon be coming, but secretly I hoped it never would. I always enjoyed seeing the Lipinski Bros. sign every time I passed by. To me it was a sign of simpler times, of family-owned businesses where the owners knew your name and greeted you personally every time you walked in.

So I guess this is a final good-bye to Lipinski Bros., our old friends. We will miss you.

The scene today at what I will forever and always refer to as “Lipinski’s Corner.”

This was a sad sight.

Webster Thomas grad helped land rover on Mars

20 Aug

Eric Blood (courtesy CMU website)

If you’ve been following the recent news about the rover that NASA just landed on Mars, you’ll probably be interested to know that a Webster Thomas grad had a hand in its success.

Eric Blood graduated from Webster Thomas in 2006, and went on to earn a masters degree in engineering from Carnegie Mellon University in 2010. Following graduation he got a job at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California, where he was assigned to work with the Mars rover team.

As part of the rover’s engineering operations team, Blood oversees the vehicle’s thermal, power, avionics, data management and telecom systems. His position means that he was one of the very first scientists to get a look at the images the rover sent back from the surface of Mars.

That’s more than cool.

Once again Webster students are making their town proud.  Read more about Eric and his work on the Carnegie Mellon University website. And watch for a personal interview in this month’s Webster Schools newsletter, which should be hitting mailboxes within the next few weeks.

Scenes around town

17 Aug

OK, I’m a bit ashamed to admit it, but I was planning to post this blog more than a week ago before I left on vacation. But I was sitting on it while I awaited more information. Then when it finally arrived I totally wrote a whole new blog with it and forgot about this one.

I just came across it again. So consider this a bonus blog.

* * *

The following photo and caption were submitted by my friend Kelly Mutschler, who’s a little proud of what her daughter Maggie and her volleyball teammates are doing for the community.

Members of the Webster Schroeder Volleyball team spent time a few weeks ago volunteering with the American Cancer Society. The girls assembled kits for the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk, which will  be distributed to the attendees of the kickoff breakfasts in Rochester and Waterloo this month.  Jessica Shatzel, a fundraising coach for this event, said,

It was my pleasure to work with the Webster Schroeder Girls Volleyball team who came to volunteer at the American Cancer Society’s Lakes Office in Rochester. The girls were here from 9 am until 1 pm and in that short time were able to assemble about 800 team leader kits for our upcoming Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Kickoff Breakfast. This was no small task as folders needed to be stuffed, tee shirts folded and ribbons tied, but they kept a positive and hardworking attitude throughout, an excellent representation of both the school and the athletic department. I am so grateful for all of their help! Without volunteers like these girls, events like this would not be possible.

Front row: Ciara Lutz, Cailyn Hart, Deanna Callerame and Jane Vanvessem. Back row: Cassie Campbell, Maggie Mutschler and Courtney Miller.

These are the same ladies who are holding the mattress fundraiser tomorrow which I mentioned in my Thursday blog.  Click here for more information and for a $50 coupon.

This next photo is one I snapped a few weeks ago at Barry’s Old School Irish, where I was was having a gabfest with my friend and colleague Carol Klem. While our meeting was going on, at the next table over, several of the ladies from the Webster Museum’s Historic properties Committee were also meeting.  They were starting to plan out which local homes would be recognized this year for their historic significance.

Webster owes this committee a debt of gratitude for regularly reminding us that our town has a very rich and exciting history.

And speaking of Barry’s Old School Irish, the little pub/bakery on Webster’s Four Corners will host a second Fiddle Workshop tomorrow from 3-4 pm.

The free workshop will be led by Barry’s Crossing fiddle-meister Sean Rosenberry. It’s designed for advanced beginners and intermediate players, but fiddlers of all ages and skill levels are welcome, and participants are invited to bring other traditional Irish instruments as well.  Spectators are encouraged. Following the workshop, Sarah and Sean of Barry’s Crossing will perform a short fiddle set.

While family and friends watch, young fiddlers perform the tune they just learned at the first Fiddle Workshop in June.

For more information about the workshop, visit the Barry’s Crossing website and choose the “Shows” tab.

Barry’s Old School Irish is located at 2 West Main Street, smack dab in the middle of the Village of Webster. There is no charge for the workshop.

 

The Maplewood? Where’s THAT?

16 Aug

One of the Village of Webster’s most established businesses is having a coming-out party.

The Maplewood Nursing and Rehabilitation home on Daniel Drive is close to completing a year-long construction project which will ultimately create a new Main Street entrance for the facility.

You’ll notice I didn’t call The Maplewood one of the Webster’s most “well-known” businesses. Despite having settled on Daniel Drive in 1976, because it’s tucked back off of Main Street, a lot of people don’t even know it’s there. And that’s the problem.  Administrator Greg Chambery explained,

For some businesses, being tucked away on a little side street is an advantage but for The Maplewood it’s been a hardship and a challenge. Time and again we miss being able to help people because they don’t know about us.

Click on the image to get a closer look at the planned driveway.

So more than a year ago, plans were put in motion to create a brand new Main Street entrance. You’ve no doubt seen the construction equipment parked up there on West Main. Look just beyond it and down the hill, and you’ll also notice something you haven’t been able to easily see from that vantage point before: The Maplewood.

The new driveway will be located between 93 West Main (The Dean House) and 109 West Main (Webster Automotive). The reconfigured entrance will also provide additional parking for residents, families and visitors, which will greatly reduce the crowding which often occurs in the existing lots.

But the part of the plan I particularly like is the new wheelchair ramp which will lead directly from the facility up to Main Street. Its switchback design and handicapped-accessible grade will allow residents and their families to easily navigate the rather steep hill between The Maplewood and Main Street, rather than having to travel all the way around Daniel Drive.  This feature alone will do wonders to help residents attend village events and really become a part of the local community. Or, as Chambery put it, it will “pull the nursing home into the village and village to the nursing home”

Construction should be completed by early October.

Odds ‘n’ ends

16 Aug

I’m not going to call this my mailbag this week, because a few of these items I did not hear about in my mail.

First, one event this weekend to let you know about:

The Webster Warriors volleyball team is hosting a mattress fundraiser on Saturday August 18. (Yes, you heard right.)  Basically, a mattress store will be set up in the Schroeder gymnasium from 1-7 pm.  They’re brand-name mattresses in all sizes and price ranges, complete with factory warranty. The organization will also deliver your purchase and and pick up the old set.

I’m told that the salespeople do not work on commission, and because there’s no overhead, prices are 30-65% below retail. All forms of payment are accepted and layaway is available.

The event will benefit the Warrior Girls Volleyball program, helping defray costs for gear, training, and team events from
modified to varsity level. Click here for more information and a $50 coupon.

* * *

Now, a nice little story that I heard about through the grapevine.

For the last three years, Webster residents Dave and Cathy Smith have hosted a S’more Fest for friends and family. This year’s, though, was a very special one, because it coincided with a very happy occasion. Their youngest son Matt (a Thomas High School graduate) had recently returned home from the Navy after four years of service.

Matt was based in Guam, but as an anti-terrorist specialist, he was sent on many missions.  Since he had not seen a Webster summer in four years, he had also not been to any of the previous S’more Fests. So his very proud parents made sure this one was extra-memorable, with a pig roast catered by Pringle Barbecue and Catering, and fireworks to cap off the evening.  The Smiths hosted about 55 people at the party.

Now that Matt’s home for good, he volunteers for the Legal Services Project of Monroe County and will graduate with his bachelors degree in accounting in December, after which he plans to attend law school.

Here are a few photos from the party:

(L-R) Matt Smith, his dad Dave, caterers Jeremy and Jessie Pringle

Matt’s big brother Brad, Jessica Griffith and Steve Hondorf

Family and friends

Now I’m going to take a page from the D&C and tell you about a few stories I’m working on (my theory is that now that you know about them, I might be motivated to actually write them):

The school year is fast approaching, and some big changes are afoot. There are new start times — which are significantly earlier for some schools — and some redistricting (which the district likes to call “rebalancing”).

The Working Class Theatre Company is going to be back in Webster this fall with a production at the Harmony House. You may even see them here more often in the future, if things work out.

A local organization wants to teach Webster to sing.  Interested?

Big news from the Webster Herald about a big move they’ll be making.

More to come on all these stories, so stay tuned.

Happy trails news

15 Aug

The hiker in me is very pleased to pass along some good news about our local trails.

For starters, the Hojack Trail Extension is now open, christened with an official ribbon-cutting ceremony a few weeks ago, attended by all sorts of high mucky-mucks.

The Hojack Trail ribbon-cutting attracted a crowd of local officials, including Assemblyman Mark Johns and County Executive Maggie Brooks.

The new section of trail, extending east from Holt Road through the village, is now eminently walkable thanks to the removal of the Hojack Line railroad tracks which once ran along the stretch.  Removing the tracks was accomplished through some admirable collaboration between town and village officials.

I was not able to attend the ribbon cutting, but I did hear about one part of the event which I thought was kind of neat.  As part of the ceremony, Webster’s Superintendent of Public Works Jake Swingly handed a gold spike to each person instrumental in seeing the project to completion. They were actual spikes pulled from the tracks, and even though they were only spray-painted gold, I thought that was a classy move.

Looking west from North Ave. down the new Hojak Trail extension.

I also checked in recently with Friends of Webster Trails trail boss Jeff Darling about the status of the Four Mile Creek Preserve trail system, at the corner of Phillips and Lake roads, which the Friends have been working on diligently for more than a year.  I am particularly interested in this trail since I joined the Friends last summer on one of their Saturday workdays when they were just beginning to clear the land.

Turns out, they’ve accomplished an awful lot in the last year. Not only have they already opened up a significant length of trail, they’re hoping to add at least another mile before the end of the year.  Jeff added in his email,

This is a particularly interesting area because of both Salt Creek and Four Mile Creek intersecting in the preserve.  In addition, the town is planning to use millings from the Rt. 104 repaving project to help develop a parking area off of Phillips Road.  We expect this to take place later this summer.

Thanks to the confluence of the two creeks, there are a number of tributaries, and resulting valleys, that require bridges. The Friends have had some help in this area; three Scouts recently dedicated their Eagle Scout projects to working on the trails and building a bridge, bench and table.

Many thanks to these Scouts for their hard work:

  • Matt Miller (Troop 108): built a bridge and created approach trails
  • Graham Price (Troop 262) : built a bridge and helped out with trail work
  • David Brunette (Troop 163): On July 30, David and 34 volunteers completed 161 hours of project work. They created a new bench and table at Four Mile Creek Preserve, and also worked at the Gosnell Big Woods Preserve, where they weed-whacked along 900 feet of fence along Vosburg Road.

The Friends hope to hold a grand opening for the new Four Mile Creek trail in late October.  I look forward to providing more details about that.

Graham Smith poses at the bridge he built at the Four Mile Creek Preserve

David Brunette with a few of his loyal volunteers

Schlegel Road Elementary reaches out to new families

13 Aug

I just found out about a neat project happening at Schlegel Road Elementary.

The school is expecting a lot of new families moving over from State Road and Klem South this year. A transition like that is always a bit difficult, so the Schlegel Road community has come up with a way to soften the blow. They call it their Adopt-a-Family Program. Basically, current Schlegel Road families are asked to “adopt” a family and make it a point to befriend them and accompany them to upcoming school events. It’s a very simple idea, but one that should go a long way to smooth the transition from old school to new. I love it, and I think every elementary school should do it.

If you’d like to find out more about this program, email lorisozio@ gmail.com by Monday August 27.

Childless in Chicago

13 Aug

I love my kids. But I also love the fact they’re finally old enough to take care of themselves.

I’ve been in Chicago the last several days, doing the tourist thing while my husband attends a conference.  This was the first time I’d been back in the city since my family moved from the northern suburb of Lake Zurich almost 40 years ago.  So in reality this was the first time I have really SEEN the city.  And what I’ve seen I really like.

My two daughters, ages 25 and 18, tagged along with us, and we’ve done some stuff together, which has been a lot of fun. But it’s also been very nice for Jack and me to be able to head out on our own, leaving one or both of them in the hotel room, without worrying that they would kill each other within minutes.

Last night was one of those times.  After he got out of his conference yesterday, Jack and I met some friends (including an old Webster Thomas colleague) at the Billy Goat Tavern, which was just a  few blocks from our hotel. The subterranean diner/bar was made famous in John Belushi’s “Cheezeborger, Cheezeborger” sketch on Saturday Night Live. (They still say it that way when you order it. Strangely, though, they only serve Coke, not Pepsi.)  We had a few cheap beers and a very relaxing visit with our friends.  All the while not worrying about our daughters.

This second adulthood we’re discovering is kinda fun.

 

So where did Village Days go?

13 Aug

A young Village Days patron trying out the bounce house last year.

If you’ve been wondering lately why you haven’t seen any advertisements about Village Days yet this summer, there’s a good explanation for that.  It’s not happening this summer.

But wait!  Village Days WILL be happening this fall.  Specifically, Village Days has been moved from the middle of August, when the event has traditionally been held, to the first weekend of fall, September 21-22.

Organizers decided to move the festival this year to get away from what has traditionally been a VERY busy summer weekend for vendors.  Being up against five other festivals that weekend made attracting vendors to Webster a difficult proposition.

So the move promises to make Webster’s annual celebration of summer even bigger and better than ever before.  Organizers are not only expecting many more vendors to participate, but they’re combining the event with the regular Saturday morning Main Street Farmer’s Market, a sidewalk sale, and a Soap Box Derby.

More details will be forthcoming in the next few weeks, but here are some highlights:

  • Friday night September 21 will feature an Oktoberfest theme. The Krazy Firemen will perform in the gazebo, and food vendors will offer German specialties.
  • Vendors and community groups will be set up along both East and West Main Street all day Saturday
  • The Main Street Farmer’s Market vendors will be encouraged to stay set up all day
  • Local businesses will have a sidewalk sale
  • Open houses at the fire department and Webster museum (which will also have children’s games in the front yard)
  • Soap Box Derby Saturday and Sunday
  • Rock and roll music in the gazebo Saturday night
  • Lots of kids’ activities including a bounce house

Stay tuned for more details.

 

 

Sandbar Park: A corner of Webster I’d never seen

9 Aug

I checked off one more item from my Webster Bucket List recently. Despite having lived in Webster for almost 16 years, I had never — before this week — visited Sandbar Park up on the lake.

I had never actually heard about Sandbar Park until someone submitted it to my bucket list, and even then it’s taken me a year to actually go up and check it out. I was pleasantly surprised.

Sandbar Park (for the benefit of those of you who have also never been there) is a grassy, tree-lined strip of land on the north side of Lake Road, directly across from the Bay Side Pub. It’s a Town of Webster park, perhaps 250 yards long, and dotted with picnic tables and grills. The shoreline is very rocky, and there’s no swimming, but it’s pretty easy to climb down the large rocks to get closer to the lake.

This would be a very pleasant place for lunch. But I understand the park’s real draw is the vantage point it offers for some spectacular sunsets.  As one website described it,

The vantage point offered from this park, angled slightly toward the west, positions the setting sun further out over water compared to the lakeside parks west of here. Although Webster Beach Park, just down the road to the east, generally serves up better sunset viewing, Sandbar Park is special in that it is relatively unknown, offering a more intimate setting, and doesn’t have the foul odor the cove at Webster Beach seems to collect. (nyfalls.com)

I have a feeling this will not be the last time I spend some time at Sandbar Park.

There’s even history here!

 

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