It’s almost time to place the veterans’ wreaths

23 Nov

We’re only three weeks away from Wreaths Across America Day on Saturday Dec. 14, when the Webster community will come together to place wreaths on 2,100 veterans’ graves.

Wreaths Across America is a nonprofit organization which began 30 years ago, its mission to place a wreath on the grave of every veteran in the country. Last December, more than two million volunteers placed more than three million wreaths at 4200 cemeteries across the U.S. and abroad.

Webster was a big part of that effort. Last December, an estimated 1,000 adults and children, including first responders, veterans and active service members, gathered at Webster Union Cemetery to lay 1,350 wreaths.

It was an impressive turnout which put Webster on the Wreaths Across America map. Out of 235 participating towns in New York State, our little town ranked 9th for the number of veterans honored that day. And out of 6,706 locations nationwide, we ranked 248th. That’s in the top 4% in the country. What’s particularly noteworthy is that we achieved these rankings with only three participating cemeteries.

Local organizers hope the community will show that commitment again next month as Webster joins Wreaths Across America for the third straight year. This year, even more support is needed, because Webster’s Wreaths Across America effort will be expanding to FOUR cemeteries.

On Saturday Dec. 14, volunteers will be placing about 2,100 veteran wreaths — 1,000 at Webster Union, 55 at Union Hill, 736 at Webster Rural and 309 at Holy Trinity cemeteries.

The plan is to meet at noon at Webster Union Cemetery (corner of Rt. 250 and Woodhull) for a military Wreath Day ceremony at noon, after which volunteers will fan out to the other cemeteries and within Webster Union to place the wreaths.

Adults and children of all ages are encouraged to take part in this very moving event. It could be a new holiday tradition for your family and a great way to teach your children about how important it is to remember and recognize our nation’s veterans.

This would be an especially meaningful day if one of your family members is a veteran resting at one of the ceremonies. You can personally a sponsor a wreath for him or her and place it on the grave yourself. If you’d like to do that, email WebsterWreaths@icloud.com with the name of your loved one and your sponsored wreaths will be set aside for you.

Right now, you can help by sponsoring a wreath (or several). Click here to do so. Individual wreath sponsorships are just $17, and $5 from each will go to one of three charities of your choice: the Blue Star Mothers, who will use the funds to prepare and ship care packages to deployed servicemen and women; Gold Star Mothers Rochester who provide meals and support for veterans in need; and the Coats for Kids program sponsored by the Knights of Columbus.

So mark your calendar now for National Wreaths Across America Day, Saturday Dec. 14, and stay tuned for more details. You can also follow the Wreaths Across America Facebook page to keep up on all the latest news.  

And check out this great feature which ran recently on Channel 8, featuring Webster’s local Wreaths Across America coordinator Cherie Wood.

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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 11/23/2024)

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Another great Village newsletter!

21 Nov

The Village of Webster posted their latest bi-weekly newsletter on Monday, and once again it’s packed with great features about local businesses and upcoming events.

In this week’s View From Main Street newsletter, you’ll see:

  • photos from the Village’s Veteran’s Day ceremony
  • a business spotlight featuring Performance Hobbies
  • a look at the Village’s newest restaurant, Annette’s
  • info about this year’s Festival of Trees at the Webster Museum
  • a preview of the Winter Wonderland holiday festival
  • a list of upcoming Village meetings

And that’s just THIS week!

Since the newsletter was introduced in August, View From Main Street has become a valuable source of local news and information, and seems to continue getting better each time. So make sure to check it out.

Click here to see the newsletter, then check the Village of Webster website every few weeks to see the latest edition. Just click on the “news” link and it will bring you there.

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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 11/21/2024)

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The Macy’s parade came early to Webster Montessori

20 Nov

The holiday season got an early start last Friday morning at Webster Montessori School (WSM), when the school hosted its first-ever Mini Macy’s Parade.

The parade featured more than 50 very creative hand-crafted miniature floats, so many that it took almost 45 minutes for them all to snake through the school’s gymnasium through a parade route lined with streamers.

Very much like the actual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, it was a festive affair. Students from all of the school’s classrooms gathered in bunches to enjoy the spectacle, while parents and grandparents sat along the walls. One after another, the mini floats rolled by, pulled by 5th and 6th grade float handlers selected from the school’s Upper Elementary classrooms, each one as delightful as the one before.

The variety of float designs was impressive and very entertaining. There were a lot of nods to actual Macy’s parade floats and balloons, like Dino the Dinosaur, Mickey Mouse, the Peanuts gang and several turkeys. But plenty of others broke the mold entirely, like a school bus (with pictures of actual WSM students in the windows), the “used car sale lot,” and “Old McDonald’s Farm,” and others highlighting local businesses including Kodak, Knucklehead Brewery and Wild Wings. And of course, pop culture was well represented with floats depicting Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour, Bluey, and the movies Coco and Frozen.

Appropriately, the final float carried Santa Claus, who then surprised the assembled students and adults with an in-person appearance, accompanied by Mrs. Claus.

Jennifer Thornquest, WSM’s Director of Advancement and Community Engagement, pulled together most of the parade details and acted as announcer. She organized the parade line-up by theme, and as she introduced each float, described for the audience the float’s builder, topic and pertinent details, much like in the actual Macy’s parade. AND she matched each float with an appropriate theme song (for example, the fire truck float was accompanied by Johnny Cash’s “Ring of Fire”). It all made for a very Macy’s-parade-like experience.

The event was truly a school-wide endeavor. Thornquest wrote,

All families of our Webster Montessori community were encouraged to submit a float of any theme, size, and style. The hope was to encourage families to craft together, brainstorm ideas and promote creativity. Most of our floats were completed by the adults AND children in their households, making each float unique and a beautiful collection of joint collaborations. 

Families had about a month to work on their creations. Staff members assisted with some of the in-classroom submissions, including what Thornquest called the school’s “marquis/signature float” which they plan to use every year: a hand-knit rendition of the school’s mascot, a great-horned owl, created by staff member Sarah Reynolds. For its first parade this year, the owl was perched atop a custom basket that mirrors the design of the school’s main lobby.

Three floats were chosen as top prize winners. “The Adorable UFO” by Maren K. and family came in first place; “Mermaid World” by Vivienne and Hailey F. and family took second; and there was a tie for third place between “Nemo and Friends” by Porter and Maverick T. and family, and “Cocomelon and WMS Friends School Bus Float” by Chloe M. and family. Each winner received a $30 Wegmans gift card and all four will be featured on illuminated dollies at the Webster Village Parade of Lights during Winter Wonderland on Dec. 7.

Because it’s what I do, I took a photo of almost all of the floats, which I’ve included in this Facebook gallery. You can also click here to see the story that WROC-TV broadcast about the event, and click here for WHEC-TV’s story.

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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 11/20/2024)

Willink Student-Parent Band will perform Nov. 23

19 Nov

The Willink Student-Parent Band will be presenting their fall concert this Saturday.

This is a very talented local music group whose musicians range from middle schoolers to grandparents, doing what they love to do — play music — all together in one place.

The band, now in its 31st season, is comprised of Webster School District students, parents, grandparents and community members. It’s led by conductors Tiffany DiPiazza and Matt Osika, who promise a musical lineup with pieces from Jurassic Park, the Muppets, disco tunes and more. Plus, in celebration of the band’s 30th anniversary last year, there will also be a special world premiere of “Dramatic Fanfare” written for the band by former Willink music teacher, composer, and Student-Parent Band founder Larry Neeck.

The Willink Middle School Student-Parent Band will perform Saturday, Nov. 23 at 2 p.m. in the Willink Cafetorium, 900 Publishers Parkway. A $4 donation is suggested for admission. Tickets can be purchased from band members or at the door.

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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 10/31/2024)

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Webster community mailbag

17 Nov

Celebrate the holidays with a good book

The Friends of the Webster Public Library will be hosting their Holiday Book Sale from Nov. 27 through Dec. 23 during normal library hours. A nice selection of gently-used books with winter themes will be available at great prices.

And don’t forget about the The Friends of the Webster Public Library’s annual hat sale is going on now through Saturday Nov. 23. Adult hats start at $8, children’s hats at $4. Buy one for yourself, buy some for gifts and support the library!

Cookies cookies, cookies!

The Women’s Club of Webster’s super-popular Holiday Cookie Sale returns to the Webster Public Library on Saturday, Dec. 14, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. (or until sold out, which is pretty quickly).

Proceeds from the sale benefit the club’s scholarship funds and many other programs and not-for-profit organizations in the Webster community.

Country Gardeners‘ holiday sale coming soon

The Country Gardeners of Webster will hold their annual Garden Club Holiday Sale on Saturday December 7 from 9 a.m. to noon at the Webster Recreation Center, 1350 Chiyoda Drive.

This huge sale features fresh wreaths, arrangements, poinsettias, centerpieces and gifts that are created by hand by the club members. This is always a very popular event, so you want to get there early.

The Webster Arboretum will also be there with an information table, holiday plants and a holiday raffle.

The sale is the Country Gardeners’ annual fundraiser, so think about decorating your own home, and purchasing gifts for family, friends and holiday hostesses. Admission is free.

Will it actually snow this year?

I’ll be writing a more in-depth blog about this soon, but here’s your reminder that Webster’s Winter Wonderland returns to the streets of the Village of Webster on Saturday Dec. 7 from 3 to 6 p.m.

This very popular family-friendly event features carriage rides, crafts for the kids, cookie decorating, live music, story time, and a visit with Santa at the Village Hall. Then, at 6:30 p.m., make sure to get your spot for the Parade of Lights along Main Street.

Details are still being finalized, so watch for a more complete blog soon. Let’s hope we actually get some snow this year and it really LOOKS like winter.

Mark your calendar for Breakfast with Santa

The Webster Lions Club’s Annual Pancake Breakfast with Santa has been scheduled for Sunday Dec. 8 (note the new date; it’s been scheduled for the first Sunday in December for years).

It will be held at Webster Schroeder High School from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. Santa and his elf will be there for the children, as well as the Lion Club’s Lion. Plus, there’ll be lots of great raffle items and free vision screening for kids ages 6 months to 12 years. And of course, breakfast: pancakes, sausage, scrambled eggs, juice and coffee. Admission is free but donations will be gratefully accepted.

The Pancake Breakfast with Santa Fundraiser is one of the ways the Lion’s Club earns money to help those in need. This year, donations will be made to the Webster Community Chest, Webster Hope and other charities.

Looking ahead …

The Webster Quilt Guild would like me to tell everyone that they’ve scheduled their annual Quilt Show on April 12 and 13, 2025 at Holy Trinity Parish Hall, 1460 Ridge Rd.

This is a big year for the club; they’re celebrating 50 years of quilting together. Next year’s show will feature more than 200 quilts, both past winners, new quilts, and a display of our the quilts they made for the Breast Cancer Coalition and Asbury Storehouse will be available. Plus there will be some great raffles.

Admission is only $5 for adults, and under 12 are free.

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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 11/17/2024)

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Women’s Club Card/Game party a success

16 Nov

A big shout-out to the Women’s Club of Webster for hosting a very successful Card and Game Party.

The annual event was held Tuesday Nov. 5 at Glendoveers on Old Browncroft Blvd. Players were invited to come solo or with friends and bring any kind of game they wanted. More than 100 women attended and the games ranged from euchre to mahjong to dominoes and many more. In addition to the games, participants enjoyed coffee and danish in the morning, a luncheon, drawings and raffles for almost two dozen beautiful baskets filled with goodies.

The annual card party is one of the biggest fund-raising events of the year for the Women’s Club, and it did not disappoint this year. Between the event admission, beautiful gift basket raffles, drawings and outright donations, the event raised almost $3,000 for the Webster Comfort Care Home and several other charities.

It was a day filled with laughter, great food, great company and friendship to raise money for a good cause. Thank you to Glendoveers for hosting, to the Women’s Club volunteers who worked so hard to coordinate and run the event, and to the 23 local business sponsors who donated goods for the luncheon and baskets.

Click here to read more about the Women’s Club of Webster and see more photos from the party.

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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 11/16/2024)

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Webster Thomas High School presents The Diary of Anne Frank

15 Nov

Most of us are familiar with the story of Anne Frank. She was the Jewish girl who kept a diary while hiding from the Nazis in Amsterdam during World War II. Anne, her family, and four family friends hid in an 800-sq. ft. annex for more than two years, with help from employees and friends of Otto Frank, before the Nazis discovered them and sent them all to concentration camps. Her diary was turned into a book, Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl, which for many of us was required reading in high school.

So when Webster Thomas High School brings The Diary of Anne Frank to the stage next weekend, you know it’s going to be a very moving performance. The set pieces, simple and unadorned, reflect the gravity of the subject. There are a few lighthearted spots, but there are no high-stepping dances or sweeping show tunes, and it’s not a happy ending.

But if you should decide to attend one of Webster Thomas’ three performances, director Mark Stoetzel wants you to remember one thing: “This is not a story about death. It is a story about life.”

In the program’s director’s notes, Stoetzel writes,

The people Anne describes in her diary … were much like any of us. They had jobs, and friends, and favorite songs. They laughed – often at themselves … And they fell in love. But they were not saints. They made mistakes. They annoyed each other. They said things they wished they could have taken back. They complained (a lot). They were, in other words, a lot like us.

So rather than wallow in sorrow, The Diary of Anne Frank asks us to celebrate the safe and happy lives that were denied to the Frank and Van Daan families and have another piece of spice cake. Most of all, it reminds us to celebrate those around us – those we love as well as those we just can’t stand.

Webster Thomas Theater’s production of The Diary of Anne Frank will take the stage on Thursday, Friday and Saturday Nov. 21, 22 and 23, at 7 p.m. each night at the school, 800 Five Mile Line Rd. Reserved seats are $10 each and advance tickets can be purchased online here.

Evelyn Fellows plays Anne and Matteo Serventi is her loving father, Otto Frank. Dominick Mangano, Rylie Biroscak, Jeremiah Fischer, Ella Vernacotola, Brook Hoffer, Mia Fellows, Abigail McNett and Robert LoFaso co-star, supported by 17 other back-stage and crew members.

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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 11/15/2024)



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What in the world is a puncheon?

14 Nov

That was the only question I had to ask when I attended the Friends of Webster Trails‘ (FWT) annual meeting earlier this week. And that was because during the hour-long meeting, I heard that word perhaps a dozen times.

The annual meeting is an opportunity for FWT board members and community members to come together and hear this year’s updates on the Friends’ financial standing, membership numbers and ongoing projects. It was held at Liberty Lodge at Finn Park, and was attended by perhaps 30 board members and trail volunteers, and more than a few FWT members from the greater Webster community.

I was one of those community members. As a long-time supporter of the Friends, I know how much time and effort this all-volunteer organization spends maintaining and expanding our town’s incredible trail system. But I wanted to learn in more detail about what’s been accomplished this year.

Short answer? A LOT.

It was an annual meeting, so of course there were discussions about how much money is in the savings account, how many new members joined since last November, how many people use the trails, and how the Friends’ ReTree Initiative is progressing. But when the discussion turned to reports from the trail stewards, I really sat up and took notice.

Because there are so many trails, it took about a half hour for all the trail stewards to present their summaries, mostly because an awful lot has been accomplished this year.

For starters, two brand new trail systems were added this year — Herman Rd. Forever Wild Forest and State Rd. Nature Preserve. That means that 32 trails and trail spurs now crisscross our town, measuring almost 30 miles of natural beauty.

Throughout the trail system, benches were built or replaced; countless loads of gravel were spread over wet areas; downed trees were cleared; boardwalks were built, fixed and replaced; trail signs were fixed and new signs installed; and new trails were blazed. The Friends also hosted several special events for children and families, including the very popular Hot Cocoa and Cars Along the Creek hikes, a Summer Reading Kickoff Party, guided hikes at Four Mile Creek and Gosnell Big Woods Preserve, and ten community workdays.

Oh yeah, they also built or replaced many puncheons. I learned that the word has a couple of definitions, but when it comes to trail maintenance, a puncheon is a road or walkway built with split logs or timbers. As you can imagine, they’re a vital tool in the trail builder’s arsenal.

It was a busy year, but a typical one for the all-volunteer Friends of Webster Trails, who work tirelessly all year to maintain our trails and build new ones. And even now they’re looking forward to next year and all the ways they can keep improving the trails. Their goals range from adding and updating trail markers to building more benches, platforms, bridges and kiosks, to even creating a wheelchair-accessible trail. And of course they’re always watching for opportunities to add brand new trails.

But they can’t do all these great things without community support, and there are several easy ways to do that. You can become a member for just $10 a year and get the monthly newsletter emailed to you, telling you about all the upcoming events. You can just go online to Webstertrails.org and make a direct donation. You can also make a donation in memory of a family member or friend.

If you love our trails and you love to hike, consider showing the Friends of Webster Trails how much you appreciate their efforts by becoming a member or making a donation.

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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 11/14/2024)

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Drury and DeWitte named Master Teachers

13 Nov
Melanie Drury
Peter DeWitte

Here’s a bit of nice news from the Webster Central School District.

Webster CSD teachers Melanie Drury and Peter DeWitte have been named New York State Master Teachers.

Drury and DeWitte are among 144 educators representing 83 school districts recently added to the statewide network. Drury has been teaching science for 12 years and is currently in her 10th year at Webster Thomas High School. DeWitte, a technology teacher at Webster Schroeder High School, has been teaching for 26 years, 24 of which have been in Webster. 

Master Teacher is a professional network of more than 1,700 public school teachers with a passion for inspiring the next generation of educational leaders. As Master Teachers, they will support students in grades K-12 in the areas of science, technology, computer science, robotics, coding, engineering, math and integrated STEM. They will also serve as mentors for students and early-career teachers. 

The Master Teacher Program is hosted at nine SUNY campuses to leverage the expertise of the University’s faculty and existing educator preparation programs, and SUNY counterparts collaborate regularly with local STEM career and industry experts. Drury and DeWitte attended SUNY Geneseo.

Throughout their four-year participation in the program, Drury and DeWitte will engage in peer mentoring and intensive content-oriented professional development opportunities throughout the academic year; work closely with pre-service and early career teachers to foster a supportive environment for the next generation of STEM teachers; and attend required regional meetings to participate in and lead professional development sessions each year.

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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 11/13/2024)

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November History Bit: What in the world is a penny-farthing?

11 Nov

In this month’s History Bit, we honor the big bicycle with the funny name: the penny-farthing. 

If you’ve ever visited the Webster Museum, chances are you’re already familiar with the penny-farthing. It’s that old-fashioned bicycle with the big front wheel and little back wheel that sits in a case just inside the museum’s front door.  

It’s such an iconic piece of Webster history that many years ago it was chosen as the logo for the Webster Museum, and more recently, as the name for the museum’s new members and friends newsletter. 

More about that later, but first, a little history.  

The penny-farthing, or high-wheel bicycle, was invented in 1871 by the British engineer James Starley. Its name comes from the large disparity in size between the front and rear wheels, which resembled the British penny and farthing coins. This was the first efficient bicycle, replacing the velocipede or “bone shaker,” a pedal-driven cycle with wooden or metal wheels that was uncomfortable due to the lack of shock absorption. What made the penny-farthing better was its large front wheel, which allowed for greater speed.

In 1976, the Neuert family donated a penny-farthing to the newly created Webster Through the Years Museum. It was built around 1877 and was purchased by Marion’s father-in-law, Jacob Neuert for $49.50 in the 1890s. Jacob passed the bicycle onto his son, Ray, who attempted to ride it in the Webster Centennial Parade in 1940. Unfortunately, a loose tire sent Ray “over the top,” resulting in several broken toes. More recently, the penny-farthing was ridden by descendants of the Neuert family in several Webster parades.

It’s been a long time since we’ve seen the penny-farthing ridden in one of our parades, but its memory is being honored again as the title of a brand new members and friends newsletter penned and designed by Webster Museum volunteers. 

The Penny-Farthing, introduced in October, is packed with historical photos and stories, event notices, and information about the museum. The next issue will be published this month, then every few months in the new year. If you’d like to be added to the distribution list, email WebsterMuseum@gmail.com. And if you’d like to see last month’s edition, click here.

Stop in and see the penny-farthing for yourself at the Webster Museum, 18 Lapham Park in the Village of Webster (and imagine trying to ride it!). The museum is open Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays from 2 to 4:30 p.m.

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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 11/11/2024)

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