The Rec Center’s ice rink is open!

18 Jan

I’ve been frequenting the Webster Recreation Center of late for regular workouts, and when I was leaving last night, I noticed a few skaters on the rink honing their hockey skills. And that, of course, means …

The Webster Rec Center’s ice rink is open!

Thanks to our recent bout of frigid weather, the rink — located in front of the Webster Recreation Center at 1350 Chiyoda Drive, just north of the village — is looking good. The rink is a nice size, 52 ft. by 104 ft., offering plenty of room for skaters of all abilities. Plus, it’s totally FREE for anyone to use. You don’t even have to be a member of the Rec Center. There’s even a warming shed where you can sit to put on your skates. You’ll want to bring your own skates, though, because rentals are not available. And if I recall correctly from driving by last night, there’s at least one light near the shed so you can skate after dark.

The Rec Center even has a hotline so you can check before you go to see if the rink is open: 585-872-7103 (option 3). Make sure to do that, because it’s hard to tell when our capricious winter weather will turn the ice surface to mush.

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(posted 1/18/2024)

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Polished Pup joins Webster’s grooming scene

17 Jan

There’s a new dog groomer in the Village of Webster, ready to help even the dirtiest of dogs become fresh, clean, and polished.

It’s called the Polished Pup, located at 181 North Ave., next door to Salvatore’s Pizzeria. It’s owned and operated by Mackenzie Kinley who, you could say, started her business at a rapid clip.

At just 19 years old, Mackenzie’s route to becoming a small business owner was a rather circuitous one, quickly turning from a traditional college career to entrepreneurship. Shortly after graduating from Webster Thomas High School in the spring of 2022, Mackenzie went south to Coastal Carolina University to study either marine biology or forensic psychology. Quickly realizing that neither was right for her, she withdrew after just a month.

She was pretty sure back then, however, that what she really wanted to do was work with dogs. “I always loved them and grew up with them,” she said. “I knew this was a passion of mine.” Becoming a veterinarian didn’t appeal to her (“I couldn’t handle seeing them pass away and in pain”). Instead, grooming felt like a perfect fit. She started saving for her own apartment, studio and equipment, signed up for grooming school and officially opened the Polished Pup last August.

Even though she’s only been in business for about five months, Mackenzie’s already developed a steady clientele. She attributes her early success to the personal attention she gives to every one of her canine clients.

“It’s a basic thing,” she said, “but I really do care about them. … I only do two dogs a day and I go at their own pace. I tell my clients two hours baseline instead of one, to really make (the dog) feel comfortable.” Mackenzie added that she uses all natural products — shampoos, conditioners, sprays and treats — “to keep them healthy and happy.”

“I really hope that once a dog starts coming here, they never leave, they never have to go anywhere else.”

The best way to get in touch with Mackenzie and the Polished Pup is to text her at (585) 645-9200. For more information and to see lots of cute puppy photos, check out her Facebook page and website and her Instagram feed at @polished_pup.

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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 1/17/2024)

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Mark your calendars for the WCSD spring musicals

15 Jan

If you love live theater, then you’ll be excited to know that all four of our secondary schools are preparing right now to stage plays this spring. Here are the details:

The fun begins on February 2 and 3 when the Willink Drama Club presents Disney/Pixar’s Finding Nemo, Jr. This is a 60-minute musical adaptation of the beloved 2003 Pixar movie, featuring lots of new music and all the characters you’ve come to love, including Nemo and his father Marlin, Dory, Crush the laid-back sea turtle, and the Tank Gang.

Show times are Friday Feb. 2 at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday Feb. 3 at 1 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. at Willink Middle School, 900 Publishers Parkway. Stay tuned for ticket information.

The following week, Feb. 8 through 10, Webster Schroeder High School, 875 Ridge Rd., will bring one of my favorite movies to the stage, Catch Me if You Can. The musical drama follows the true story of con artist Frank Abagnale, and the plot largely follows the 2002 film of the same name.

It should be very interesting to see how this translates to a stage play. But I know for certain that Schroeder will do a great job with it. More to come about show times and tickets, on the website and Facebook page.

Spry Drama Club will present Nickelodeon’s The SpongeBob Musical Youth Edition on March 8 and 9 at Spry Middle School, 119 South Ave.

In this one-hour adaptation of the hit Broadway musical, the citizens of Bikini Bottom discover that a volcano will soon erupt and destroy their humble home. SpongeBob and his friends must come together to save the fate of their undersea world. 

Stay tuned for more information.

Finally, Webster Thomas High School caps off the season with their production of DreamWorks’ Shrek the Musical from March 21 to 23 at the school, 800 Five Mile Line Rd.

You know the story; it’s pretty much the greatest fairy tale ever known, with all your favorite characters and songs. I don’t know the show times or ticket information about this one, either, so check back here or the district website for times and ticket information as performance dates near.

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(posted 1/15/2024)

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WCSD staff to play the Harlem Wizards

12 Jan

Just a quick notice today about a community event coming up this Sunday Jan. 14 at Webster Schroeder High School. It’s a basketball game — of sorts — between our One Webster School District staff vs. the Harlem Wizards.

I say “of sorts,” because a competition with the Wizards is as much a performance as an actual basketball game. But don’t get me wrong; the Wizards are without a doubt extremely skilled athletes. Matter of fact, over the years, more than 25 ex-NBA players have been on the roster. So those who know and appreciate basketball will be treated to slick dribbling, impressive teamwork, alley-oops and crazy slams. Non-hoop fans will enjoy the rest of the show, which, according to the Wizards website, is “funny, theatrical, exciting and spectacular,” causing the gym to “reverberate with ooh and aahs, laughter and enthusiasm.”

The game will be played on Sunday Jan. at Webster Schroeder High School, 875 Ridge Rd. It begins at 1 p.m. with doors opening at noon. Advance-sale tickets are $12 for students and $15 for general admission. At the door they’ll be $15/$18. (Children 3 and under are free.)

Reserved seating tickets are also available for $22, “courtside plus” seats for $40 and “courtside player” seats — which include a jersey and opportunity play in halftime games) are $115.

Click here to buy advance sale tickets.

This event is brought to you by the Webster Central PTSA, which collaborates with district administrators to bring fun, educational and enriching programs, events, and assemblies to Webster students, faculty, parents, and community members throughout the school year.

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(posted 1/12/2024)

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An update from 2 West Main

10 Jan

If you haven’t been through the Village of Webster’s four-corners recently, you may not have seen all the changes happening at 2 West Main St., the former Barry’s Irish Pub.

It’s been cleared out and opened up so much that Barry’s regulars might not even recognize it. The bar is gone and the wall between the bar and the old bakery area has been removed. The sliding door separating the kitchen from the dining area and all of the kitchen equipment are also history. The whole space looks twice the size of the old Barry’s.

The building’s owner, Greg Chambery (who also owns Maplewood Nursing Home) reports he’s had a lot of interest in the corner, but there’s nothing signed yet. Rest assured, though, he loves this village as much as we all do, and knows full well that everyone is anxiously awaiting to hear good news about what will follow in Barry’s footsteps. “I’ve got a heart for the village,” he said, “and want to make that corner something that people are proud of.”

As for Danny and Jessica Barry and their plans for opening a new pub? I haven’t heard anything about that yet, either. For now, they’ve been having great success marketing their Barry’s Irish Cream, but may very well be working in the background on securing a new pub location.

When I hear anything, I’ll let you know.

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(posted 1/10/2024)

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January History Bit: Webster carriage blocks

9 Jan

If you’ve ever walked or driven down Corning Park in the Village of Webster, you’ve passed by a little piece of history which you might not have noticed. It’s a carriage block, and it sits in front of the home at 34 Corning Park.

In the time when horses and buggies were the main forms of transportation, anyone other than very athletic riders and passengers faced some difficulty dismounting horses, stagecoaches or buggies, which rode several feet off the ground. The solution: a carriage block, also known as a horse block. Basically, they were step stools, bridging the large gap between ground and vehicles, making mounting and dismounting much easier.  

These helpful steps were commonly found in front of homes, churches, train depots and businesses. They were made from a variety of materials, including cast iron, wood, even marble. Many, however, like the one on Corning Park, were fashioned from simple concrete.

You won’t see many of these around town – in fact, there are only three that we know of – because once they became obsolete, most of these vestiges of 19th century history were removed. The two others that have survived the passage of time are in front of 394 Phillips Rd. and the Holt Homestead at 757 Holt Rd.

Discover more fascinating bits of local history at the Webster Museum, 18 Lapham Park in the Village of Webster. It’s open Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays from 2 to 4:30 p.m. Visit the website at webstermuseum.org.

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(posted 1/9/2024)

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Thank you from the Man in the Yellow Truck

7 Jan

You may have missed it in the most recent Webster Today town publication — which arrived in the mail this week — but tucked towards the back was a thank-you letter from The Man in the Yellow Truck.

You may recall I posted a blog about this incredible community helper who can be seen regularly picking up garbage along the Rt. 104 on- and off-ramps. In that blog (which was originally an article written by Katie Kovar at the Webster Rec Center), there was a plea for donations of garbage bags. The community responded enthusiastically, which led in part to the letter. In case you missed it, it reads:

During the height of COVID, I was diagnosed with diabetes. I had very little knowledge of the disease, but was eager to learn and feel better. My doctor was very clear: I had to change my eating habits and I had to stay active.

On a beautiful afternoon, while running errands, the litter along the Webster expressway was a concern. So I took it upon myself to start cleaning. First, I needed bags. It didn’t take long to realize that I needed a LOT of bags. The Town of Webster was very cooperative, but they can only spare so much. I complained to anyone that would listen that I needed more garbage bags. My step-daughter, Tiffany, wanted to help, so she expressed my need on the Webster Village Facebook page.

I was then approached by Katie Kovar, Recreation Director from Webster Parks and Recreation. She asked if she could write an article about the work I was doing along the expressway. Honestly, I was a bit puzzled but also grateful. Since the article I have received thousands of garbage bags of all shapes and sizes. My diabetes is under control and the Webster roads are much cleaner.

Thank you to my step-daughter, Tiffany Diamond, for putting my need request on Facebook. Thank you to Katie Kovar for your beautiful and inspiring article. Thank you to EVERYONE who generously donated SO many garbage bags.

Lastly, please continue beeping your horn! It does not startle me, I hear it and it makes me feel appreciated.

It took a village.

Stephen Anderson, the Man in the Yellow Truck with the American flag

Thanks to the generosity of the Webster community, Steve has plenty of garbage bags for now, but stay tuned, because if the call goes out for more donations, I’ll let you know!

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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 1/6/2024)

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Fun stuff at the library

6 Jan

I give up.

There are so many neat things happening at the Webster Public Library ALL THE TIME that I’ve decided it’s too difficult staying on top of all of them. The best way to do that, if you’d really like to stay informed, is to frequent the Webster Public Library website, and “like” their Facebook page. They post on both regularly.

However, having said that, a few things in their emails always strike me as particularly interesting.

  • Topping off the list, the library has gone FINE FREE. The library’s Board of Trustees voted to eliminate daily late fines on all materials effective January 1, 2024. (They’ll still bill for the cost of lost and/or damaged items.) Additionally, there will no longer be a .50 cent charge for placing items on hold. If you still have unused WPL Hold Punch Cards, please speak to a staff member at the Check Out Desk to learn about our hold card redemption plan.
  • On January 11 beginning at 6:30 p.m., the next installment of “Tending to Life”, a series co-sponsored by the Webster Public Library and the Webster Comfort Care Home, will take place. Information on the Comfort Care house and what it provides for patients and families will be provided. All are welcome. Registration is requested.
  • The community table this month will have a Calendar Swap. Have a surplus of supplies and looking to share? Drop off your gently used, unwanted items or pick up something new.
  • Looking for more information about area preschools? On Monday, Jan. 8 from 6:30 to 7:45 p.m., the library will host a Webster Area Preschools Open House. Representatives from preschools and nursery schools in the Webster area will be available to chat with parents and provide information about their programs. So far, the participants include Little Learners, Rochester Christian School, Webster Central Schools pre-K, Woodside Nursery School, Positive Preschool, St. Rita’s and St. Joseph’s. Registration is not required.
  • The next Webster Business Spotlight shines on Chef Mike, the Pastaio of M.O. Pasta, as he demonstrates techniques and skills on how to make fresh pasta. Learn all about Chef Mike’s culinary journey and pro tips on how to make the best pasta at home! It takes place Monday Jan. 29 from 1 to 2 p.m. and registration is requested. Mike, by the way, is one of my favorite people. Here’s the blog I wrote when he opened up his East Main St. shop last April.
  • You like jigsaw puzzles? Need some new ones? Check out the National Puzzle Day Jigsaw Exchange, all day Monday Jan. 29. Bring your gently used puzzles to exchange for something new to you. Bring in as many as you want There are no guarantees that all the pieces are there, so swap at your own risk.
  • The Monday afternoon Sit & Stitch program is celebrating its 20th anniversary. Twenty years of fellowship, sharing and teaching folks to knit, crochet and do other fiber arts. Join them for refreshments and reminiscing, on Monday Jan. 29 at 3 p.m. No registration is necessary, and you can even bring your needles and yarn and stay a while.

Remember, these are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to all of the great events and programs at your very own Webster Public Library. Remember, you can find out more at the Webster Public Library website, and Facebook page.

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

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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 “Follow Me” link on the right side of this page.

(posted 1/6/2024)

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Webster community mailbag

5 Jan

With the beginning of the new year, my email box is beginning to fill up again. Here’s the latest from my mailbag:

Woodside Nursery School will host a Prospective Family Open House on Thursday January 11 from 5 to 7 p.m. at the school, located at the back of the United Church of Christ, 570 Klem Rd. Meet the teachers, tour the classrooms and find out more.

Woodside will also be represented at the Webster Public Library’s Preschool Open House event on Jan. 8 from 6:30 to 7:45 p.m., in case you can’t make it to the school.

If you’re one of my many readers who were interested in finding out where to volunteer in Webster, here’s an event just for you.

The Webster Community Chest Volunteer Appreciation Event will take place on Tuesday Jan. 23 from 6 to 7:30 p.m. in the Webster Public Library community room, 980 Ridge Rd.

If you’ve volunteered at one of their events or for the Meal Center this year, or perhaps haven’t volunteered yet but have been wanting to start, this event is for you. Stop by, have some refreshments, meet the faces of the Webster Community Chest and learn more about your perfect volunteer opportunity with the organization. Please let them know you’ll be coming at webcommchest@gmail.com. (Or if you forget, just stop by anyway.)

The Women’s Club of Webster’s January meeting will be a pizza party at Proietti’s Restaurant, 980 Ridge Rd., on Thursday Jan. 18.

Festivities begin at 11:15 with a social mix-and-mingle, followed by a brief meeting at noon and lunch at 12:30 p.m. This month’s speaker will be First Vice-President Jean Loughridge, who will talk about the club and the charities it supports. Enjoy pizza, salad, a cannoli and camaraderie for $18. New members are always WELCOME!

Send your check made out to WCW by January 11 to Carolyn Rittenhouse, 405 County Line Road, Ontario, NY 14519. Questions? Phone Carolyn at 585-265-1303.

The Webster Chamber of Commerce has two events coming up this month, and business owners are all welcome, whether you’re a member of the Chamber or not.

On Thursday Jan. 11, the next Webster Chamber Eat Drink & Connect will be hosted by Chamber member Wireless Zone, 2157 Penfield Road (Wegmans Plaza).

Tour the new store, enjoy refreshments, Hear the story of more than doubling foot traffic and have fun working toward being a game winner. Chamber members and visitors are encouraged to attend. Please register here.

Then, coming up on Friday Jan. 26 is the next Monthly Breakfast Program meeting. Network with an many as 90 business and organizational leaders during the monthly Webster Chamber breakfasts. In addition to networking before and during the breakfast, an informative program is always planned, along with a time to “pass-the-mic” so everyone has an opportunity to be visible. Visitors and members are welcome.

These meetings are always held at 7 a.m. at the Webster Recreation Center. Please register here.

Also from the Chamber, news from the last breakfast meeting, when Marina Auto Group was recognized as Business of the Month.

Located on Ridge Road in Webster, Marina Auto Group president John B. Gabriele has led his business growth to become a significant employer in Webster, currently employing 85 people.  

Over the years, Gabriele has added to the auto industry manufacturers they represent: Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, Mitsubishi, and Ram. Early in his dealership career, he was located in West Irondequoit as Weller Motors. In May of 2001 the State acquired their property for the construction of the O’Rourke Bridge. At that point, Gabriele made the decision to locate his business to Webster. Twenty two years later, Marina Auto is fully entwined within our Webster community.

One member business is chosen every month to be honored as Business of the Month, chosen by a volunteer committee comprised of Chamber members. The award is presented at the monthly breakfast meeting.

Pictured above: (L-R) Marina Sales Manager Tony Gabriele, Jr., Webster Chamber President & CEO Barry Howard, Marina President John B. Gabriele, General Manager John Gabriele Jr., and Office Manager Vittorio Romantini.

Finally, some notes from the Webster Central School District:

Willink Lego Robotics Team Wins Engineering Excellence Award

Congratulations to Willink Middle School’s Lego robotics team for taking first place for Engineering Excellence at the First Lego League qualifier at McQuaid Jesuit High School, held Dec. 16.

The Engineering Excellence Award celebrates a team with an efficiently designed robot, an innovative project solution that effectively addresses the season’s challenge, and CORE values evident in all they do. At the competition, Titans Traigh Schroeder, Sai Abhiram Pathaneni, Kyle Hughes, Artem Leskiv, and Andrii Kravtsiv presented an innovation project, explained their robot design, and ran the robot game three times.

This is the first time since 2019 that Willink Middle School has competed in the First Lego League qualifier. The Titans put in more than 35 hours after school to prepare for the event where they faced off against 16 teams from the Rochester area.

Community Input Sought on School District Budget

Webster CSD welcomes feedback from all district community members when planning a budget for a school district that serves 8,100 students and 1,600+ staff members. Knowing the feedback of the school district community will help the district develop a budget that reflects community input for its students. 

As some may remember, Webster CSD uses ThoughtExchange as one of its many communication tools. Thought Exchange is a collaborative, online discussion platform that is used to gain insights and feedback from the community to make decisions that impact everyone, including a proposed budget for next year. Participation is voluntary and thoughts are shared but identities are kept confidential. Participants may view and objectively rate others’ feedback. 

The community is asked to please consider participating in the district’s latest ThoughtExchange by going online to www.websterschools.org and clicking on the link for the news story “Community Input Sought on District Budget” to answer the question: What are the most important things to consider as we begin to plan for our upcoming budget? This ThoughtExchange closes on Wednesday, January 31, so please visit the website soon.

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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 “Follow Me” link on the right side of this page.

(posted 1/5/2024)

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Announcing the Festival of Trees winner, and more museum news

4 Jan

One of the best things about volunteering for the Webster Museum is the über-informative “News You Can Use” newsletter sent out each month to volunteers. It has so many neat little history tidbits gleaned from the recesses of the Webster Museum, some of which you’ll be seeing some day in my History Bits feature.

So I’ll save those for future use, but here are some other newsy items of interest:

  • The museum’s recent Kittelberger Florist fundraiser was reportedly a “huge success.” More than 180 tickets were sold, meaning $1800 was raised for the museum. Thank you to everyone who sold, and bought, the tickets. If you missed it, I have a feeling it’ll be back again next year, so watch for it.
  • Now on display in the museum’s exhibit space at the Webster Public Library, “Quirky Cameras,” featuring cameras that look like anything but a traditional camera. The collection is courtesy Frank Calandra.
  • A new exhibit on the Webster Grange is taking shape at the museum. Formerly known as the National Order of the Patrons of Husbandry, the Grange was a secret society founded in 1867 to protect and advance agricultural interests. In the early 1900s, the Webster Grange was the largest in the country. It brought Rural Free Delivery of mail to town, and was instrumental in establishing telephone service. The exhibit will be completed soon, so stop by the museum to check it out.

Finally, what you’ve all been waiting for: the results from the 2023 Festival of Trees.

This year’s contest included 15 beautifully decorated mini-trees, from these organizations:

  • Webster Firemen’s Ladies Auxiliary
  • Webster Citizens Action League
  • Webster Republican Committee
  • Jack’s Foundation
  • Lala of Webster
  • Webster American Legion Auxiliary
  • Well Field Preservation
  • Webster Arboretum
  • Webster Community Chest
  • Webster Quilt Guild
  • Webster Garlic Fest (Wreaths Across America)
  • Webster Comfort Care Home
  • Country Gardeners
  • Webster Grange
  • Museum Volunteers.

More than 300 museum visitors took the time to vote, and I can tell you from personal experience, it was a difficult choice.

Webster Comfort Care Home
Webster Quilt Guild

This year’s winners were Webster Comfort Care Home and the Webster Quilt Guild. Thank you to everyone who participated in any way to make this event a great success. And special thanks to The Saxophone Therapy Project and The Goodwin Family Performers who provided entertainment during the Webster’s Winter Wonderland festivities.

The Webster Museum is located at 18 Lapham Park in the Village of Webster. It’s open every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday 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 “Follow Me” link on the right side of this page.

(posted 1/4/2024)

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