News from the Webster Chamber of Commerce

9 Mar

A couple of events from my friends at the Webster Chamber of Commerce today.

The first is the announcement about their next Eat, Drink & Connect event. These networking events are great opportunities to develop current business connections and start new ones. They’re also a chance for Chamber visitors to socialize with Webster Chamber members and find out more about the organization.

Normally, these occasions are hosted by one Webster Chamber member, but this month the Chamber is adding a twist and making it a co-chamber event.

On March 13 from 5:30 to 7 p.m., the Webster and Brighton Chambers of Commerce will be hosting a joint event at the Preservation Beer Company in Fairport. The featured speakers will be from LifeWave. LifeWave Directors Kendall Welden and Sarah Robinson will present information about their wearable patches for health and wellness. 

There’s no fee for Chamber members to attend; the guest and visitor fee is $10. All attendees must pre-register: 

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This second note is from Webster Chamber member Embrace Your Sisters, a Canandaigua-based organization dedicated to providing emergency financial support for people with breast cancer. The organization covers 13 counties, and more than $600,000 has been distributed to date.

In the past, Webster residents have supported — and received financial support from — Embrace Your Sisters, so I’d like to share this information about one of their upcoming events, the 18th annual Tea at Two Fashion Show on May 4.

Here’s the press release I received:

Public Preparation for 18th Annual Embrace Your Sisters Tea At Two Fashion Show Fundraiser

Save-the-date for the 18th annual Embrace Your Sisters (EYS) Fashion Show Fundraiser on May 4, 2025, at 2 p.m. (doors open at 12:30 p.m.). Once again, the show will be held at Casa Larga Vineyards & Winery in Fairport. 

The Fashion Show is one of two annual events which are coordinated by the volunteer EYS Board members to raise money in support of breast cancer patients, with short-term emergency funding, across Monroe County and the neighboring 12 counties. Over the past 19 years of EYS, they have distributed over $600,000! Embrace Your Sisters is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, EIN: 80-0277604.

Currently, the public is being offered the opportunity to join in on the community support and earn visibility. Sponsorships, Program Ads, and donated products and services for the Silent Auction are all ways to participate. The deadline to participate in any of these ways is March 21.

Plus, your attendance at the 2025 Embrace Your Sisters Tea At Two Fashion Show Fundraiser will be very appreciated. A critical mass of attendees makes the silent auction, liquor and wine pull in handcrafted bags, jewelry, music, appetizers, desserts, beverages, speakers, and of course, the runway fashions, even more enjoyable! Click here to buy your ticket or a table of 10.

If your loved one, friend, or colleague has been challenged with a breast cancer diagnosis, please tell them about Embrace Your Sisters. To read more about the Tea At Two Fashion Show and express your interest, click here.

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email me  at missyblog@gmail.com. “Like” this blog on Facebook and follow me on Instagram and Threads (@missyblog)

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(posted 3/9/2025)

Track and field open house welcomes children and adults with disabilities

7 Mar

Here’s a quick announcement about a great new event taking place TODAY, Saturday, from 6:15 to 8:15 p.m. at the Webster Thomas High School Field House. It’s the inaugural Challenger Miracle Field Track and Field Open House for Rochester area children and adults with disabilities.

Designed for regional athletes ages 8 and older with developmental, physical, or intellectual disabilities, the two-hour open house will allow participants to try out four modified events: 4×100 relay, 55-meter dash, shot put and long jump.

The event is being organized by Amelia Thompson, a sophomore and Webster Thomas track & field thrower. Amelia is leading the initiative as part of her Girl Scout Gold Award project, driven by her passion for making track and field accessible to athletes of all abilities. She believes in the sport’s power to bring people together and has recruited a team of Webster Thomas students to volunteer and support the participants. 

The Challenger Track and Field Open House will be held Saturday March 8 from 6:15 to 8:15 p.m. at the Webster Thomas High School Field House, 800 Five Mile Line Rd. Participation is free but registration is requested.  

For questions, please contact Linda Burke at lindab@rochestermiraclefield.org or Amelia Thompson  ameliajethompson09@gmail.com.

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email me  at missyblog@gmail.com. “Like” this blog on Facebook and follow me on Instagram and Threads (@missyblog)

You can also get email notifications every time I post a new blog by using the “Subscribe” link on the right side of this page (or all the way at the bottom of the page if you’re on your phone).

(posted 3/7/2025)

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St. Patrick’s Day returns to the village’s four corners

7 Mar

I don’t know about you, but one of the things I really miss about Barry’s Old School Irish is how the little pub would celebrate St. Patrick’s Day. The festivities lasted for days.

I’m happy to report, however, that St. Patrick’s Day has returned to 2 West Main St., at the new Mary Wee Pub.

The festivities start on Monday March 8, when the pub adds corned beef and cabbage to the menu all week long. It joins an already tasty Irish menu which includes cottage pie, Guinness beef stew, and Reubens. Nice thing about its being on the menu all week is that you don’t have to wait for St. Patrick’s Day and all the crowds to get your corned beef fix.

On Parade Day (Saturday March 15) AND St. Patrick’s Day, the pub will be open at 8 a.m for breakfast. Chef Kurt will be cooking up his own specialties, including a frittata skillet (scrambled eggs, home fries, Swiss cheese and corned beef), and a sandwich version on rye bread which will offer the option of corned beef or ham, along with the eggs, home fries and cheese.

He’s also considering putting together what he calls a “Dublin omelet” with sausage, peppers, onions, Swiss cheese served with toast.

On Sunday, the Mary Wee will open at 10 a.m., with live music from the Genny Tall Boys from 4 to 7 p.m. On Parade Day and St. Patrick’s Day proper, keep an eye out for some Irish dancers and bagpipers who’ll be stopping by.

On top of the great food and entertainment, owner Mark Petzing says to “expect perfectly poured pints, great drinks, Wee swag, traditional Irish dancing, bagpipes and shenanigans.”

Sounds like the St. Patrick’s Day that we’ve come to know and love from 2 West Main.

Stay tuned to the Mary Wee Facebook page for updates, and if you’d like to call ahead to put in an order for breakfast, lunch or dinner to take away, call 585-236-1258. (By the way, if you’re like me and not a big fan of corned beef, a chicken sandwich and a burger will also be on the menu.)

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email me  at missyblog@gmail.com. “Like” this blog on Facebook and follow me on Instagram and Threads (@missyblog)

You can also get email notifications every time I post a new blog by using the “Subscribe” link on the right side of this page (or all the way at the bottom of the page if you’re on your phone).

(posted 3/7/2025)

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Buy Girl Scout cookies, support our deployed troops

6 Mar

If you’re a big fan of Girl Scout cookies like I am, you know that it’s COOKIE SEASON, and the cookies should be arriving at your house very soon. But if you missed out on ordering this year, or you REALLY need more Thin Mints to toss in the freezer, have no fear. I know two troops which will be selling them at local businesses in the coming weeks.

But even better than just being able to get some for yourself, you’ll also be able to buy a box or two (or more) to send to our deployed troops.

Here are the details:

Webster Girl Scout Troop 60568 will be setting up in these locations beginning this weekend:

  • Saturday March 8, Lowe’s, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
  • Saturday March 15, Mama Lor’s (Lake Rd.), 9 a.m. to noon
  • Sunday March 23, CountryMax, 1 to 4 p.m.
  • Friday March 28, Walmart, 4:30 to 7:30 p.m.

PLUS, Webster Girl Scout Troop 60344 will have a table set up in these locations on these dates:

  • Saturday March 22, Pittsford Plaza, 1:30 to 4:30 p.m.
  • Saturday March 29, Walmart, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
  • Sunday March 30, CountryMax, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

At all of these remote sales locations, the girls will be taking orders for cookies to be included in care packages being put together by the Blue Star Mothers for our local troops who are deployed overseas. The packages will be mailed out in June.

Service members love receiving Girl Scout cookies, as you can imagine. The soldiers say they love everything in the care packages (toiletries, treats, socks, etc), but their favorite by far are the Girl Scout cookies. They’re basically a small taste of home, and even after they’ve been bounced around the world — even if they arrive in crumbs — they’re still treasured.

So plan to stop by one of these tables this month, pick up some extra cookies for yourself, and help spread smiles around the world. This year’s goal is 350 boxes!

Questions? Contact Cherie Wood at  WebsterWreaths@icloud.com.

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email me  at missyblog@gmail.com. “Like” this blog on Facebook and follow me on Instagram and Threads (@missyblog)

You can also get email notifications every time I post a new blog by using the “Subscribe” link on the right side of this page (or all the way at the bottom of the page if you’re on your phone).

(posted 3/6/2025)

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Spry Middle School presents “Once Upon a Mattress”

5 Mar

A beloved fairy tale comes to life when Spry Middle School presents the delightful story Once Upon a Mattress Youth Edition in three shows this weekend.

The one-hour musical comedy is a lighthearted retelling of the fairy tale The Princess and the Pea. But it offers some twists you might not expect.

The story unfolds with Queen Aggravain (Julia Alvaro) forbidding all marriages until her son, Prince Dauntless (Nolan Holland), finds a suitable bride. Despite numerous princesses vying for his hand, none can overcome the queen’s impossible tests. The arrival of Winnifred the Woebegone (Emily Barry), a “shy” swamp princess, shakes things up. Will she pass the queen’s “sensitivity test,” win the prince’s heart, and pave the way for Lady Larken (Emily Alvaro) and Sir Harry (Max Hoose/Hiro Tsuji) to wed? It’s a very funny take on the classic fairy tale.

The production is filled with lots of song and dance, and the Spry drama students — as always — do a tremendous job with their acting, singing and dancing. It’s a show the whole family will enjoy, and at just an hour, is perfect for even young children.

Here are some photos from the show:

Performances are scheduled for Friday, March 7 at 7 p.m. and Saturday, March 8 at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Tickets are $9 each and are available online here.

On a side note, I’ve discovered an added benefit of attending these Spry shows. As I watched Webster Schroeder High School’s recent production of Hadestown, I was delighted to see, in lead roles, a few faces that I recognized from last year’s Spry production of SpongeBob: the Musical. We get to be on the ground floor as these young actors are just beginning their theatrical careers, and watch their development as their acting skills grow.

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email me  at missyblog@gmail.com. “Like” this blog on Facebook and follow me on Instagram and Threads (@missyblog)

You can also get email notifications every time I post a new blog by using the “Subscribe” link on the right side of this page (or all the way at the bottom of the page if you’re on your phone).

(posted 3/5/2025)

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Webster community mailbag

4 Mar

I’ll begin today’s mailbag with a few new tidbits, then add some reminders about events I’ve mentioned earlier.

Library to host Special Needs Parent Resource Fair

The Webster Public Library will host its annual Special Needs Parent Resource Fair on Saturday April 19 from 10 a.m. to noon. This event is especially for parents and caregivers who are looking for community resources to support their loved ones who have special needs.

In previous years, almost 60 organizations from all over the Rochester area have participated, and most will likely be returning this year. Click here to see last year’s participant list.

Autism Up will be set up in the Community Room with a sensory space, in case you need a breather and want to learn more about what they have to offer.

Registration is recommended if you’d like a reminder. Caregivers can come any time during the fair, and if you’re unable to attend, information about the attending organizations will be available by request.

The Webster Public Library is located at 980 Ridge Rd. at the rear of Webster Plaza.

Great new programs for 55+ at the Webster Recreation Center

I got my most recent 55+ newsletter from the Webster Rec the other day. It’s always got lots of great programs, but I especially like the Talks on Tuesday topics. Here’s this month’s lineup:

  • March 11: Medicare, by Sara Mason from Mason Wealth Management
    All the different pieces of Medicare can be confusing. This workshop will give you an understanding of what each piece means, when you can make changes and why you should review your plan annually.
  • March 18: The Big Bang, by NASA Ambassador Jim Porter
    Join NASA Ambassador Jim Porter to discover the rich heritage of NASA cosmic exploration and where the latest missions will be taking us into the future.
  • March 25: Maintaining Cognitive Health by psychologist Dr. Arianna Slotnick
    An engaging workshop filled with practical and enjoyable strategies to boost cognitive function and maintain brain health throughout your lifespan. You’ll leave with tangible tips and techniques you can implement immediately.

The Talks on Tuesdays are held from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. The programs are free but registration is required.

And here’s a brand new program at the Rec Center, called TAP TIME, held Fridays from March 21 through April 25 from 11:45 to 12:30 p.m. Whether standing or seated, Tap Time is a safe, fun way to stay active while enjoying upbeat tunes from Broadway and more. We will provide the slip-on taps used for class that fit right over any flat-bottomed shoe to create instant tap shoes. Cost is $30.

To find out about lots more programs and to register for any of these, click here to see the whole 55+ March newsletter.

Petitions Available for BOE Candidates

The Webster CSD Budget Vote and Election of Candidates is Tuesday, May 20 at Webster Schroeder High School. Anyone wishing to run for the board of education (BOE) may pick up a nominating packet from the district clerk’s office, 119 South Avenue, any weekday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Petitions must be returned to the district clerk’s office no later than 5 p.m. on Monday, April 21.

Questions about candidacy or eligibility may be referred to District Clerk Heather Murphy at (585) 216-0001 or heather_murphy@webstercsd.org during the office hours noted above.

There’s still time to enter WHEN headphone giveaway

FRIDAY, March 14 is the last day to enter the Beats headphone giveaway being sponsored by the Webster Health and Education Network (WHEN).

It’s easy to enter; just visit @WHENdfcc on Instagram, and post a picture of you doing something happy and healthy, like going for a walk, playing a sport, etc. Comment and tag two friends, follow WHEN on Instagram and share the WHEN post to your story. See more about this great giveaway on Instagram or click here.

And don’t forget about the Thomas/Schroeder Charity Basketball Game on WEDNESDAY, March 12 at 6:30 p.m.  This is a super fun event pitting Webster Thomas and Schroeder staff members against each other in a basketball game which is more entertaining than skillful. Suggested donation of $5 at the door will benefit benefits WHEN.

Learn about insects at the Arboretum

You’ll want to check out this education program being hosted by the Webster Arboretum later this month.

Invasive Insects, Thursday March 20, 7 to 8 p.m.: Presented by Camille Caceci, the Invasive Species Project Coordinator with Finger Lakes PRISM. Invasive species are one of the biggest threats to our environment, and as scientific professionals, hobbyists, or passersby, we encounter them almost every day. But what makes a species invasive? How many are there? Learn more about them at this fascinating presentation.

WCCH Prom Party is April 5

The Webster Comfort Care Home is hosting an 80’s Prom and Dance Party on Saturday April 5 from 6 to 10 p.m. at Shadow Lake Golf Club, 1850 Five Mile Line Rd. Music will be provided by Hall Pass and DJ Lesh.

Tickets are $60 each or two for $100, and the first 20 guests get a VIP bag of goodies. There will also be a contest for King & Queen, Best Dressed, and Most Original.

Click here to purchase tickets.

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email me  at missyblog@gmail.com. “Like” this blog on Facebook and follow mse on Instagram and Threads (@missyblog)

You can also get email notifications every time I post a new blog by using the “Subscribe” link on the right side of this page (or all the way at the bottom of the page if you’re on your phone).

(posted 3/4/2025)

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March History Bit: Meet the Webster Museum (Part 2)

2 Mar

In Today’s History Bit, we take a closer look at another of the Webster Museum’s permanent exhibits, the Webster Candy Kitchen. 

Located adjacent to the Witmer’s Variety exhibit, the Candy Kitchen is the second stop for museum visitors as they stroll down the Village of Webster’s recreated Main Street. 

Founded in 1908 by Charles Papapanu, the Candy Kitchen was located at 14 East Main Street, and was a fixture in the village for 65 years. It was a popular teen hangout and beloved sweets shop, known for its dizzying selection of penny candies, including taffy, peanut brittle, nougats, ribbon candy, caramels and dozens more. It was especially known for its molded chocolate Easter bunnies, and every year the owners donated a huge chocolate rabbit for the annual Kiwanis Easter Egg hunt. 

In 1940 the owners added a classic soda fountain, further cementing the Candy Kitchen’s popularity among both young and old. 

(photos courtesy Webster Town Historian Lynn Barton)

Tragedy struck in September 1973 when a discarded cigarette sparked a fire which destroyed the Candy Kitchen. Not having enough insurance to cover the damage, the owners had to close the shop.  

But the beloved Webster Candy Kitchen lives on at the Webster Museum, where many of the salvaged items from the shop are on display. The recreated soda fountain, complete with soda and topping dispensers and ice cream dipping cabinet harken to a time when kids would gather after school. Candy molds, a taffy pulling hook and ribbon candy maker remind us of when just a few pennies would buy a bag filled with sweets, a treasure beyond compare for any child. You can see them all – and read about them all – at the Webster Museum. 

Stay tuned for our next stop along Main Street in the next few months, when we remember another beloved and long-standing village business. In the meantime, you can find out more about the Webster Museum on the website, webstermuseum.org. Or stop by for a personal tour. 

The Webster Museum is located at 18 Lapham Park in the village, and is open every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday from 2 to 4:30 p.m. There’s no admission charge.  

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email me  at missyblog@gmail.com. “Like” this blog on Facebook and follow me on Instagram and Threads (@missyblog)

You can also get email notifications every time I post a new blog by using the “Subscribe” link on the right side of this page (or all the way at the bottom of the page if you’re on your phone).

(posted 3/2/2025)

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Young Life team returns from El Salvador

28 Feb

A few weeks ago I posted a blog about a group of Rochester-area students and adults who traveled to El Salvador on a service trip for Young Life. Forty-one high school students and adults — from Young Life, Browncroft Community Church and Grace Road Church — participated in the nine-day trip, which took them to a rural part of the country called Baja Lempa in the village of Taura.

The group has returned safely, and I recently received a very nice email from Dustin Bailey, one of the organizers, reporting on what an incredible experience it was. Not only did the team accomplish an amazing number of building and painting projects, they grew much closer as a faith community.

And when I say an amazing number of projects, I mean AMAZING. Here are some highlights, pulled from Dustin’s email:

  • This week we got to see the completed house from last year that many students worked on and begin the work of building a house for another family to be completed this summer. We did a lot of digging and moving sand.
  • We spent a lot of time working on the greenhouse – inside and out! We came alongside the young people who work in the greenhouse to turn over the soil, replace irrigation, treat the soil, replace growing posts, clean the mesh walls, pick weeds, and prepare for the next planting later this month.
  • We also cut back a forest in order to prepare the outside of the greenhouse for the planting of papaya trees. This could be a huge benefit for the community as a papaya tree can produce up to 150 papaya per year and they can sell them for $1 – $1.50 each.
  • The mural on the wall by the playground was in need of updating. The students worked with the niños of the village to pick out their favorite characters to bring them joy as they play on the playground. Our team designed the mural and added much color to the playground area.
  • A special project we were able to help with was a fence project that Pastor Santos began years ago. Enclosing the church property and protecting it from dogs, chickens, cows and other animals has always been a dream of the community. A member of our team is a welder in Rochester and lent his skills to Santos’ son, Daniel, to help finish his father’s project.

But as important as all those projects were, Dustin stressed, were the connections they made with the people of Taura.

The relationship is always the project and our team was awesome meeting the people of Taura, playing with the niños, and serving the community. We even mourned together with the community as we watched a video put together by the family of Pastor Santos who passed away in July 2024. We were honored to be a part of the 16-year friendship between Young Life and the people of Taura.

Welcome back, team. Thank you for making this world a better place. (And thanks, Dustin, for the great report and photos!)

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email me  at missyblog@gmail.com. “Like” this blog on Facebook and follow me on Instagram and Threads (@missyblog)

You can also get email notifications every time I post a new blog by using the “Subscribe” link on the right side of this page (or all the way at the bottom of the page if you’re on your phone).

(posted 2/28/2025)

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New video series takes you inside the schools

26 Feb

Chances are, it’s been a long time since you’ve walked the halls of an elementary or secondary school. Unless you happen to have children or grandchildren who attend school here in Webster, you may be kind of out of touch with what the buildings look like and what goes on inside.

A new video series recently introduced by the Webster Central School District (WCSD) is hoping to change that. It’s called “A Day in the Life of …” and it’s designed to offer an inside look at what makes our Webster schools special.

The district launched the series a few weeks ago, and describes its first installment as “an all-access pass to Webster Thomas High School.” The almost 5-minute video features Thomas principal principal Glenn Widor, following him through his day as he welcomes students in the morning, checks in on classes and lunches, and interacts with staff and students. We learn a bit about the way he approaches his job as principal, and his thoughts about the preschool classes which are held in the high school building.

The new Day in the Life series is part of the school district’s ongoing One Webster Minute video series, which highlights special events and people in our Webster school community. Past One Webster Minute videos have included a look at the 2024 Spry Middle School Career Day, a guest artist who created a mural at Plank South Elementary, and an Unsung Heroes segment about our amazing bus drivers.

Click here to visit the WCSD YouTube page to see these and other videos, and stay tuned for more Day in the Life segments in the future featuring various roles in the district.

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email me  at missyblog@gmail.com. “Like” this blog on Facebook and follow me on Instagram and Threads (@missyblog)

You can also get email notifications every time I post a new blog by using the “Subscribe” link on the right side of this page (or all the way at the bottom of the page if you’re on your phone).

(posted 2/26/2025)

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Thomas vs. Schroeder charity basketball will benefit WHEN

24 Feb

A Thomas vs. Schroeder high school basketball game is always highly competitive and definitely worth watching. But the one happening on Wednesday March 12 should be … well, interesting, and dare I say, a little short on actual basketball talent.

It’s a Charity Basketball Game, scheduled for Wednesday night March 12 at Webster Thomas High School.

The family-friendly event will pit Thomas/OWL staff and faculty against Schroeder/GOAL staff and faculty in a friendly winner-take-all-bragging-rights game. Usually the game includes some super-fun halftime activities featuring competitions between Thomas/OWL students and Schroeder/GOAL students. Concessions will be available.

Suggestion donation for admission is just $5, and this year’s beneficiary is the Webster Health and Education Network (WHEN), a community coalition which promotes healthy, substance-free behaviors and lifestyles in our Webster schools and greater community. Additional donations would also be greatly appreciated.

The game begins at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, March 12 in the Webster Thomas High School gymnasium, 800 Five Mile Line Rd. Enter on the east side of the building, near the field house.

The schools’ PTSAs host this game every year. I haven’t been to one in a long time, but I do remember actually playing in one when I was working at Webster Thomas many years ago. What I remember most about it, actually (aside from how poorly I played) were the fun costumes and wigs that many of the teachers wore, and how much laughing there was. It was an enjoyable experience both on the court, and for everyone in the stands as well.

So make sure to mark your calendars for this fun night, and come out and support the Webster Health and Education Network in their effort to keep our kids safe and healthy.

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email me  at missyblog@gmail.com. “Like” this blog on Facebook and follow me on Instagram and Threads (@missyblog)

You can also get email notifications every time I post a new blog by using the “Subscribe” link on the right side of this page (or all the way at the bottom of the page if you’re on your phone).

(posted 2/24/2025)

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