WCSD to offer preK open houses

30 Jan

The Webster Central School District (WCSD) will be hosting a district-wide open house on Tuesday, Feb. 11 for parents looking to enroll their young children in the district’s pre-kindergarten program in September.
 
Webster CSD PreK is a New York State-funded program specifically designed for 4 year-olds not eligible for kindergarten. Each year the school district invites families of eligible children who reside in the district to apply. The district offers full-day (five hours) and half-day (2.5 hours) options. The open house offers families living within the school district an opportunity to see some of the sites and learn more about the program before registering for the lottery. The visit is intended to answer questions and help families rank their choices prior to the registration window of February 14 to March 14.

The open house will be held on Tuesday, Feb. 11 from 5:45 to 7:15 p.m. at seven of the district’s 14 pre-K locations:

* Webster Schroeder High School, 875 Ridge Road, Webster (enter door 4)
* Webster Thomas High School, 800 Five Mile Line, Webster (enter in the back)
* Bay View YMCA, 1209 Bay Road, Webster
* Busy Blossoms, 60 Barrett Drive, Webster
* Expressive Beginnings, 12 May Street, Webster
* Kids First, 1676 Empire Blvd., Webster
* LP at STARS Preschool, 1456 Ridge Road, Webster
 
Webster’s play-based learning program focuses on communication, vocabulary development, and problem-solving. Time is dedicated to gross motor and sensory development, art and music exploration, and consistent literacy and math experiences. Plus, there’s weekly speech language pathologist support in each classroom.
 
Families who are unable to attend the open house and would like to learn more about the Webster CSD PreK program are encouraged to visit the WCSD website at or call (585) 216-0122.

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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 1/22/2025)

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A sneak peek at Willink’s production of Annie Jr.

29 Jan

I had the pleasure Monday night of getting a preview of Willink Middle School’s upcoming spring musical, Annie Jr., which takes the stage this coming weekend, Jan. 31 and Feb. 1.

You all know this classic musical. Set in Depression-era New York City, it tells the story of a spunky orphan who dreams of finding her real parents, who years earlier had abandoned her on the doorstep of an orphanage run by the cruel Miss Hannigan. With her infectious optimism and unwavering determination, Annie navigates the challenges of life and ultimately finds a loving home with the wealthy businessman, Oliver Warbucks.

It’s a charming story, and I dare say the cast members of the Willink Drama Club have captured that charm perfectly.

As I sat watching the dress rehearsal, I couldn’t help but think that I would be seeing many of these young people on the Webster Thomas stage — and even a Broadway stage — some day. Still just in middle school (some as young as 6th grade) these young actors presented impressive acting and singing skills. It was obvious how hard they’d all worked to bring this production to the stage and how much fun they were having. It’s especially enjoyable to see the entire cast of almost 100 students take over the cafetorium floor and aisles, filling the entire room — top to bottom and side to side — with song and dance.

The staging is simple, but effectively draws the audience into every scene. It’s easy to become so engaged, for example, that you feel like you’re just another of those orphan girls, waiting for Miss Hannigan to storm in and start barking orders. And just TRY to keep from singing along to “It’s the Hard Knock Life,” or “Tomorrow.”

Annie Jr. is a delightful, feel-good production filled with young talent that will knock your socks off. Staged by an energetic cast and crew of more than 100 sixth, seventh and eighth graders, it’s a story of optimism, hope, friendship and adventure that’s perfect for the whole family.

Show times are Friday Jan. 31 at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday Feb. 1 at 1 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. at Willink Middle School, 900 Publishers Parkway. Tickets are $10 for adults, $6 for students and seniors. Children 2 and under are free. Click here to order them online.

Here are some more photos from the orphanage:

  • Mark Garbach and Harper Johnson
  • Kayla Vanderlinden and Poppy Short
  • Kayla Vanderlinden and Ella Boneberg

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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 1/29/2025)

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Annie, Jr. tickets are on sale!

27 Jan

For those of you looking forward to grabbing some advance sale tickets for  Willink Drama Club‘s upcoming production of Annie, Jr., I’m pleased to tell you that they’re now on sale!

Annie Jr. tells the tale of a spunky orphan named Annie (Kayla Vanderlinden) who dreams of finding her real parents. Annie is determined to find the parents who abandoned her years ago on the doorstep of an orphanage run by the cruel Miss Hannigan (Poppy Short). With her infectious optimism and unwavering determination, Annie navigates the challenges of life in a Depression-era orphanage and ultimately finds a loving home with the wealthy businessman, Oliver Warbucks (Mark Garbach), his personal secretary, Grace Farrell (Harper Johnson), and a lovable mutt named Sandy.

It’s a heartwarming story of optimism, hope, friendship and adventure that’s perfect for the whole family. It features a large, energetic cast and crew of more than 100 sixth, seventh and eighth graders, who’ve been working hard for months to bring the production to the Willink stage.

Show times are Friday Jan. 31 at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday Feb. 1 at 1 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. at Willink Middle School, 900 Publishers Parkway. Tickets are $10 for adults, $6 for students and seniors. Children 2 and under are free. Click here to order them online.

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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 1/27/2025)

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Bygone blog — A short story about the Hatch Rd. lush

26 Jan

This is the latest in my on-again, off-again series of Bygone Blogs, in which I’m re-posting some of my favorite blogs from the last 17 years.

I’ve been doing more running these days, as I train for my first-ever half marathon in May. A few days ago I saw something that reminded me of this blog, from August 28, 2010. At the time I wrote it, I was living in North Penfield, and my regular running route would take me along Hatch Rd.

Our Hatch Rd. lush is back

A little more than two years ago, as I ran through my North Penfield neighborhoods, I noticed several discarded Black Velvet bottles along Hatch Rd. It appeared that someone was regularly throwing their empty bottles onto the grassy shoulder as they walked (or drove) along Hatch. It started out as just a few of them, but over several weeks the number grew to more than 20.

I mentioned this curiosity a few times in my blog.  A short time later the bottles not only miraculously disappeared, but they never returned again. Could have been a coincidence, but I like to think some disgruntled spouse read my blog and put two and two together.

Well, the bottles have returned. But this time they’re not Black Velvet. Our drinking and tossing friend has apparently switched to the less expensive (but still imported) Canadian Leaf whiskey.  I saw two of them yesterday along that very same Black Velvet stretch. It will be interesting to see if they multiply.

Or maybe that disgruntled spouse is still reading my blog.

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That, by the way, was not my last encounter with the Hatch Rd. Lush. Four years later, I noticed a new, and growing, collection of empty bottles along that Hatch Rd. sidewalk. By now, however, his booze of choice had turned to vodka (as you can see in the photo above).

At least he wasn’t getting stuck in a rut.

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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 1/26/2025)

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WVFD receives pet rescue kits

24 Jan

Thanks to a generous donation from the Fetch Foundation, our Webster Volunteer Fire Department (WVFD) is now better prepared to save pets’ lives — as well as human lives — during an emergency.

Earlier this week, the WVFD received four FIDO Bags, courtesy the Fetch Foundation, an Arizona-based non-profit dedicated to supporting our nation’s pets. Each bag includes an oxygen mask, leashes, leather gloves, a pillowcase (for cats), a water dish, assorted other items to treat pets with minor injuries, and a training DVD.

In cases of fire or automobile accidents, fire fighters already have special tools to administer medical attention to the humans involved. But now they also have the means to save the lives of family pets who are also impacted by the emergency.

Sarah Mossey, WVFD’s EMS Coordinator, facilitated the donation after she saw a social media post by another department about the bags. She considers them a valuable addition to the department’s life-saving tool kit.

“Within the past year Webster has had more than one fire where pets were involved,” Mossey said. “These bags and the training that we will do on them will help us to be better prepared to help all residents (including the furry ones) when they are having one of their worst days.”

There are enough FIDO Bags to place one on each of the department’s engines, which are typically the first units to arrive at a structure fire or traffic accident. They’ll provide firefighters with the ability to administer medical attention to a family pet at the point of rescue.

The Fetch Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to serving community members and their household pets. Their vision is to place at least one FIDO Bag in every station in the nation. Click here to read more about their mission.

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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 1/24/2025)

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The Village would like your opinion about our parks

22 Jan

Are you a regular visitor to our Village of Webster parks? An occasional visitor? Do you like taking your kids to the playgrounds or your dog to run around? Do you enjoy the Friday night concerts at the gazebo every summer?

These are some of the questions that the Village of Webster Parks Committee would like to ask you, to get a better handle on who uses our parks, how they’re used, and how they might be improved.

The Village of Webster maintains six parks within the village boundaries, covering more than 22 acres:

  • Milton R. Case Memorial Park, 14 acres of woodland with nature trails with entrances off of South Ave. to the east and Wood St. on the west;
  • Wilmorite Recreation Area on Iroquois St., which features playground equipment and a baseball field;
  • Schantz Park on State Rd., with an entrance off of Hawley Dr., with a basketball court, tennis courts, baseball fields and playground equipment;
  • Veterans Memorial Park on North Ave., which has the gazebo and veterans monument;
  • Harmony Park off of Phillips Rd., which features the Village Band Shell and a big lawn; and
  • North Ave. Pocket Park, which is that little green space with the gazebo at the corner of North Ave. and Rt. 104.

The Parks Committee has launched a community-wide survey to gather feedback about how residents engage with these spaces and identify needs and opportunities for improvements. Village and non-village residents are being encouraged to fill out the survey (it takes 5 to 10 minutes) to help guide future park planning. Later this spring, the committee hopes to hold a series of neighborhood listening sessions to give residents even more chances to express their opinions about our village parks.

For additional information or to share more feedback, visit the Village of Webster Parks Committee website or email VWPRC1905@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 1/22/2025)

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Webster community mailbag

19 Jan

Let’s start today’s mailbag with this delicious note from the Webster Association of Senior Program Supporters (WASP):

WASP will be hosting a Spaghetti Dinner on Friday, Feb. 7 from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Webster Masonic Temple, 30 Orchard St.

The dinner will include spaghetti with meatballs, salad, bread, a drink and dessert. (Meatless and garlic sauce options will also be available.)

Cost is $12 for adults and $6 for children 12 and under. For takeout, call (585) 872-3500. A chairlift is available for anyone who needs it.

Tickets available soon for Hadestown and Annie

Our high school and middle school musical season begins in just a few short weeks.

First up is the classic hit Annie, Jr., presented by the Willink Drama Club on January 31 and Feb. 1.

Based on the popular Tony-winning musical about a spunky little red-headed orphan, the youth edition is a perfectly-sized adaptation for the entire family.

Show times are Friday Jan. 31 at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday Feb. 1 at 1 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. at Willink Middle School, 900 Publishers Parkway. Tickets will be on sale beginning Monday, Jan 27.

The following week, Feb. 6 to 8, Webster Schroeder High School, 875 Ridge Rd., will present the hit Broadway musical, Hadestown. The “teen edition” of the movie is still a full-length production — a haunting, jazzy folk opera which follows Orpheus’ mythical quest to overcome Hades and regain the favor of his one true love, Eurydice. Hadestown has only very recently been released, and Webster Schroeder is the first in our area to get it.

Tickets go on sale January 23 at 9 a.m. and when they’re available, they can be purchased online here.

Women’s Club Feb. luncheon to feature Never Say Never Stables

Janice Camilleri from Never Say Never Stables in Webster will be the guest speaker at the next Women’s Club of Webster luncheon, Thursday Feb. 20 at Nucci’s Italian Seafood & Steak House, 807 Ridge Rd., Webster.

Never Say Never Stables, the “small stables with a big heart,” specializes in teaching “horsemanship from the heart” to all children. Janice will talk about her unique programming connecting special-needs children with horses and small farm animals.

The event begins at 11:15 a.m. with social time, followed by lunch at noon and Janice’s presentation. The buffet luncheon will consist of chicken marsala, mixed vegetables, oven-roasted potatoes, penne with sauce, salad and a cannoli for dessert. Friendship and camaraderie are included at no charge. New members are more than welcome.

Cost of the luncheon is $21. Send check made out to WCW by February 13 to Carolyn Rittenhouse, 405 County Line Road, Ontario, 14519. If you have any questions, or you think your check will be late, phone Carolyn at 585-265-1303.

Creativity and Imagination Collide at Camp Invention

Camp Invention, the Webster Central School District’s popular STEM- themed camp has been scheduled for July 21 to 25 at Spry Middle School.

Camp Invention provides an experience that builds confidence, creativity, and imagination. Campers team up with friends to explore open-ended, hands-on STEM challenges led by qualified educators.

Camp Director David Gorski and his team will guide campers as they build their own claw machines, team up for an eco-expedition as they investigate Antarctica with a robotic assistant and propel plush penguins across “snowy” landscapes, design a custom control panel and navigate their journey with help from GPS and AI tools, and uncover optical illusions as they explore the science behind special effects.

Cost is $300 per camper with sibling discounts of up to $40 off per child. Extended day hours also be available from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. for an additional $100 (select Extended Camp during checkout). Register here before March 20 to save $24 with code FUN25 at invent.org/camp. Payment plans are available here.

Join the Thought Exchange

This also from the school district:

The Webster CSD is continuing its planning for the 2025-26 district budget that will be up for a community-wide vote on Tuesday, May 20. The district welcomes feedback from all Webster CSD community members when planning a budget for a school district that serves 8,000 students and 1,600+ staff members. Knowing the feedback of its community will help the district develop a budget that reflects the community’s input for its students.

The district uses ThoughtExchange as one of its many communication tools. This collaborative, online platform is used to gain insights and feedback from the community as the district makes decisions that impact everyone, including a proposed budget for next school year. Participation is voluntary and while thoughts are shared, participant identities are kept confidential.


Webster CSD is asking the community to please consider participating in the ThoughtExchange by clicking here or going to the district website at websterschools.org, selecting the news story “Community Input Sought on District Budget”, and following the link from there. The survey will remain open until January 31.

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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 1/19/2025)

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“Letters From Home” initiative needs our help

18 Jan

There’s a great new initiative in the works to bring some joy to our local service members stationed abroad. It’s called “Mail Call — Letters From Home,” and its goal is ambitious: to collect 1,000 cards and letters from Webster community members to be sent to our local service members deployed overseas.

The program’s details are still being sketched out, but the general idea will involve placing “mail boxes” in businesses and agencies throughout the community, where people can deposit cards, letters and notes for the troops. Plans are to collect the letters in April, and then include them in care packages the Blue Star Mothers will be sending overseas in June.

But before all that can happen, the program’s organizers need our help. To make it easier for people to participate, organizers would like to place blank cards and note paper near the mail boxes at different locations throughout town. So, if you have a moment, check in your basement or attic or junk drawers to see if you have any cards or paper you could donate for the cause. Generic cards and note pads that are not too flowery, and don’t have specific messages like “happy birthday” would be best. And NO ENVELOPES ARE NEEDED. They just add bulk and weight to the care packages.

The care packages prepared by the Blue Star Mothers have all sorts of goodies in them, from candy and cookies to hot chocolate and socks. But more than anything else in those packages, the service members love the cards and letters. It’s a simple thing, but it goes a long way to assure these brave men and women that we are thinking about them.

More to come about this great project. But in the meantime, if you have any cards or blank note paper you can donate (remember, no envelopes), drop me an email at missyblog@gmail.com and we’ll make arrangements to pick them up.

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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 1/18/2025)

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Thank you (again), Jersey Mike’s!

16 Jan

Jersey Mike’s Subs continues to do great things for our community. Most recently, our Webster Jersey Mike’s shop presented a check to Wreaths Across America-Webster for $778, which represented the proceeds from a fundraiser held in December.

During the fundraiser, community members could pick up a coupon at one of four village businesses — M.O. Pasta, Lala of Webster , the Village Quilt Shoppe and the North Bee — which could then be redeemed at Jersey Mike’s for a free regular sub, in return for a $3 donation to Wreaths Across America.

The Webster community responded in a big way. Lala of Webster, for example, handed out almost 1,000 coupons, and the folks at Jersey Mike’s said that at one point the “line was out the door.” Thanks to that incredible response, the funds raised last month more than doubled what was collected in 2023.

This is the third year in a row that our local Jersey Mike’s has sponsored an annual fundraiser for Wreaths Across America, and they’re already planning another for December 2025. The money raised this year — combined with a recent two-for-one special promotion from Wreaths Across America — will go to sponsor 91 veteran wreaths for Wreaths Across America Day on Dec. 13, 2025.

Our Webster Jersey Mike’s is located at 975 Ridge Rd., in the small plaza across from the former Hegedorn’s. (Pictured above: Webster Union Cemetery president George Baker, Wreaths Across America local coordinator Cherie Wood, Jersey Mike’s Director of Marketing Brooklyn Duque and Assistant Manager Michael Handel.) 

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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 1/16/2025)

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WHEN hosts series to help parents navigate the tween years

14 Jan

No doubt about it, raising kids is hard. The tween years can be especially challenging, when school academics and social interactions become more stressful, kids face pressure to experiment with drugs and smoking, and family dynamics seem to change every day.

The Webster Health and Education Network (WHEN) recognizes these challenges and has come up with a series of programs to bring parents, caregivers and professionals together to discuss ways to deal with them. The interactive forums, hosted in partnership with the Webster Central School District, are called Navigating the Tween Years. They’re designed to help parents of tweens prepare their kids to thrive, even in a world where adolescent anxiety and mental health challenges are on the rise.

The series features three events:

  • From Worries to Wellness: Building resilience in a stressful world on Tuesday, Jan. 21, 6:30 to 8 p.m. at the Professional Development Center at Spry Middle School, 119 South Avenue, Webster;
  • Social Media & Your Kid: How tech is changing social development on Tuesday, Feb. 4, 6:30 to 8 p.m. at Klem Road South Elementary School, 1025 Klem Road, Webster; and
  • Empowering Your Family: Harness the power of protective factors on Wednesday, April 30, 6:30 to 8 p.m. at the Professional Development Center at Spry Middle School, 119 South Avenue, Webster.

The focus of these events is on the tween years, but all parents are welcome to bring their questions and experiences to share. The forums will use a World Cafe model, designed to engage participants in discussion, so bring an open heart and willingness to share, learn, and support other parents while growing your parent network.

The series kicked off in October with an evening of community coffee and conversation on the topic “Social Media and Your Kid.” Presenters included: Joe Montemaro, Webster CSD Director of Educational Technology and Information/Communications; Dana Buccieri, WHEN member and a retired Webster CSD school counselor; and Dustin Bailey, WHEN member, Webster CSD Unified bowling coach, and Young Life representative. Together, they led discussions on how technology has changed social development in tweens, and how parents can help their children develop the soft skills they may be missing. The event proved so valuable that this additional session has been scheduled.  

Parents do NOT need to have attended any prior sessions to attend one or all of the remaining sessions. 

This event is for adults only, children will not be permitted. There is no charge for attending, but please register in advance so they know how many are coming. For more details or to register, visit WHENdfcc.org/events. You can also email your questions to info@whendfcc.org.

About WHEN: 

WHEN (Webster Health and Education Network) is a network of Webster community members linked through awareness, education, and action. We assess community conditions and develop appropriate strategies to reduce early drug and alcohol exposure. Research suggests that the longer youth wait to use drugs and/or alcohol, the less likely it is that they will become addicted later in life. Therefore, WHEN’s goal as a community coalition is to collaborate with our partners to delay, decrease, and prevent substance use among youth. Together we can reduce high-risk behavior, increase protective factors, raise awareness, and strengthen community collaboration. All Webster residents, businesses, and organizations are encouraged to join us in this cause and can reach our Executive Director, Janine Sanger at: director@WHENdfcc.org.

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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 1/14/2025)

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