Tag Archives: Local business

WHEN honored as Webster Chamber Business of the Month

5 Oct

Being as involved in the Webster community as I am, I’m a member of several community groups. Perhaps the one I’m most proud of is my affiliation with WHEN, the Webster Health and Education Network.

WHEN is a coalition of community leaders and residents working to empower Webster kids to grow up strong and substance-free. Founded in 1995 by Janine Sanger, who leads the organization to this day, WHEN has always been driven by a singular purpose: to advocate for and promote healthy, substance-free behaviors and lifestyles among our friends and neighbors.

The coalition is driven by more than 60 volunteer members representing various sectors of the Webster community, including business owners, faith-based organizations, youth, civic/volunteer groups, media, law enforcement, health care providers, substance use prevention professionals, and more. Their mission: to delay, decrease, and prevent substance use among our youth, because research tells us that the longer young individuals wait to use drugs and alcohol, the less likely they are to become addicted later in life.

It’s an ongoing battle, illustrated recently as the Webster Village Board considers repealing the opt-out law allowing for a cannabis retail shop within the village limits. (One is being proposed for the old Taylor Rental storefront on North Ave.) WHEN is circulating a petition about the matter, and several members have appeared at Village meetings to speak against the repeal.

WHEN’s service to our community was recognized at the most recent Webster Chamber of Commerce meeting as the October Business of the Month. It is a well-deserved honor, recognizing the amazing work this organization does.

New members are always welcome to join. To read more about WHEN and its programs, check out the October newsletter here. and the Facebook page here.

P.S. Signatures are still being collected on the petition against repealing the village’s opt-out law. Click here to voice your opinion.

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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 10/5/2023)

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Webster community mailbag

29 Sep

Let’s get right to it …..

Oklahoma!, presented by the Webster Theatre Guild, takes the stage this weekend.

Shows are scheduled for

  • Friday Sept. 29, 7:30 p.m.
  • Saturday Sept. 30, 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.
  • Friday Oct. 6, 7:30 p.m.
  • Saturday Oct. 7, 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.

All shows will be held at Webster Thomas High School, 800 Five Mile Line Rd. Tickets are $20, plus $2 transaction fee if ordered online), and are reserve seating. Tickets will also be available at the door. Click here for tickets.

Next, this very special event from Webster Comfort Care Home.

Community members are cordially invited to Their Light Shines, a Celebration of Remembrance on Tuesday evening Oct. 3, where you can light a luminaria in honor or memory of your loved one(s).

Luminarias can be purchased for $10 each and will benefit the Webster Comfort Care Home in its mission to provide no-cost, compassionate care to the terminally ill and their families.

The Celebration of Remembrance will be held at the Comfort Care Home, 700 Holt Rd., from 6 to 8 p.m. on Tuesday Oct. 3. Rain date will be Oct. 5.

Our very own Webster Marching Band will host their 37th annual Autumn Fanfare field show and competition on Saturday October 7 at Webster Schroeder High School, 875 Ridge Rd.

Autumn Fanfare is always a spectacular evening of storytelling through music, marching, and even a little bit of acting. There are always huge set pieces involved to move the music-story forward. This is an awesome opportunity to see what our hometown marching bad has been up to, and be impressed by the incredible amount of hard work these kids put in every year to create a show that will blow you away.

Gates open at 5 p.m. and the show starts at 6 p.m. Tickets are $10, available at Herman’s Farm Market (741 Five Mile Line Rd.) and the Webster Recreation Center (1350 Chiyoda Dr.). They can also be purchased for $12 at the gate.

More to come about this.

Don’t forget about the Capital Improvement Project vote on Wednesday, Oct. 11

The Webster Central School District has proposed an $85 million capital improvement project that will impact all 11 schools with zero tax impact for district residents. The project will include renovations and improvements to all of the schools. The project will be voted on by the Webster CSD community on Wednesday, October 11, 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. at Webster Schroeder High School’s gym, 875 Ridge Road.

To learn more about the project and the improvements to each school, click here. You can also sign up to receive periodic communications from the district regarding the project. For details, please visit the capital improvement project news story at www.websterschools.org.

The West Webster Fire Department will hold their annual Fire Prevention Open House on Sunday Oct. 15, from 1 to 4 p.m. at the fire station on Gravel Rd.

The afternoon will include firehouse tours, fire safety displays, equipment displays, live demos, refreshments and more.

There’s no charge, and the entire Webster community is invited. For more information, visit the WWFD Facebook page here.

While we’re on that subject, remember that the Webster Volunteer Fire Department always holds its open house during the village’s Trick of Treat Trail, this year scheduled for Saturday Oct. 28. Stay tuned for more information about that.

The next Friends of the Webster Public Library Book Sale is just around the corner, Oct. 18 through 21.

This is always a great opportunity to stock your home library. Hardcover books are just $1, and paperback books just 50 cents.

Members of the Friends of the Webster Public Library can visit Wednesday, Oct. 18 from 4 to 7 p.m. for a first look. Membership in the Friends of the Webster Public Library is required and can be purchased at the door.

The general public sale will be Thursday, Oct. 19 from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Friday Oct. 20 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Saturday Oct. 21 from 10 a.m. to noon. Friday and Saturday are BYOB Sale Days; bring your own bag, and fill it for just $5.

The sale will be held at the library, 980 Ridge Rd. Proceeds from the fall book sale directly benefit library programs, book collections and other special projects.

Our Penfield friends, Schutt’s Apple Mill on Plank Rd., have a couple of fun events planned for this fall.

On Tuesday Oct. 24 (one week before Halloween), Schutt’s will host their Trick-or-Treat at the Farm event from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. It’s a family-friendly night where you can walk through the orchard on a Trick-or-Treat Trail to find some fanciful jack-o-lanterns and sweet treats. Costumes and flashlights are encouraged.

This is a free event and no registration is required.

On Saturday Nov. 4, Schutt’s will host a Holiday Farm Market from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. from 9 a.m. This is a great opportunity to support 35 local businesses while shopping for personal and gift items.

For more information about both of these events and others, click here. Schutt’s Apple Mill is located at 1063 Plank Rd.

Pumpkins on Parade at the Webster Recreation Center is back, Saturday Oct. 28 from 7 to 8:30 p.m.

This is a one-mile long trail lined with creatively and whimsically-carved jack-o-lanterns. Every year the Rec Center puts this on (this is the fourth annual), it’s been bigger and better, packed with post-trail treats, photo opportunities and more

I’ll be providing more details about this, but for now, start planning your pumpkin carving, because the Rec Center is going to need a LOT of jack-o-lanterns.

Finally, check the flyers below for details about lots of great upcoming programs at the Webster Public Library, including:

  • the Readers, Writers and Connections program for budding writers
  • Teen Library Club
  • National Hair Day storytime
  • Family Night
  • a movie matinee
  • a Halloween craft
  • line dancing for kids
  • a clay class for children and parents

The Webster Library is located at 980 Ridge Rd.

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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 9/29/2023)

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Sample new shops, win prizes in new city-wide shopping tour

27 Sep

This looks like a fun event, and just in time for the start of the holiday shopping season (well, at least for me).

It’s a Rochester-wide, nine-day shopping tour called “Shop-Tober-Fest.” I call it a tour because the event will take you around the city, sampling lots of cute shops which have lots of unique gift ideas for your favorite people.

The event doesn’t even start for another week, but already 20 local businesses, artisans and entrepreneurs are signed up. In town, that includes Farm House Fabulous (in Ontario, and the host of this new event); Lala of Webster; curated by JUSTINteriors; Kittelberger Florist & Gifts; and SoJo Boutique. Other participating shops are in Fairport, Pittsford, Brighton, Victor and downtown.

Here’s how Shop-Tober-Fest works

Buy a $5 ticket for Shop-Tober-Fest via Eventbrite and visit as many of the participating shops as you like between October 7 and 15. Your ticket will give you access to the map of the shops along with a raffle ticket for each one (sent via email after registration). Every store will be raffling off a prize of a $100 value or more and you’re eligible to win them all! But you can only enter each shop’s raffle by visiting the store in-person.

This is a great opportunity to show your love for small businesses and uncover some one-of-a-kind gifts, charming home decor items, delectable treats and more.

Best of all, proceeds will benefit the Wilmot Cancer Center.

So click here to register. Your map will be emailed to you so you’re ready to hit the shopping trail on Oct. 7!

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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 9/27/2023)

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Webster community mailbag

22 Sep

Our first notice today comes from the Webster CSD.

If you have any questions or concerns about the upcoming Building our Future Capital Project vote, the district is holding a community forum thcis week. According to the district, “the $85 million project focuses on providing a safe educational environment for all students with zero tax impact for district residents.”  

Community members are invited to a forum this Thursday, September 28, from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. in the Webster Thomas High School library, 800 Five Mile Line Road.

Attendees will have the opportunity to learn more – and ask questions – about Building Our Future, including planned upgrades at all 11 schools. The Building Our Future capital project vote will take place Wednesday, Oct. 11 from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. at Webster Schroeder High School.

This very special event from Webster Comfort Care Home.

Community members are cordially invited to a Celebration of Remembrance on Tuesday evening Oct. 3, where you can light a luminaria in honor or memory of your loved one(s).

Luminarias can be purchased for $10 each and will benefit the Webster Comfort Care Home in its mission to provide no-cost, compassionate care to the terminally ill and their families.

The Celebration of Remembrance will be held at the Comfort Care Home, 700 Holt Rd., from 6 to 8 p.m. on Tuesday Oct. 3. Rain date will be Oct. 5.

I attended a recent Women’s Club of Webster luncheon recently (you’ll be reading more about them and the great things they do later), and came away with news of two upcoming events.

Their annual Card/Game Party “Fun-Raiser” has been scheduled for Tuesday Nov. 7 at Glendoveers on Old Browncroft Rd.

This always fun social event begins at 10 a.m. with coffee and danish, followed bya buffet luncheon at 12:30 p.m. The games themselves will be played from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The day includes 50/50 drawings and lots of beautiful basket raffles. A cash bar will also be available.

Tickets cost $40. Checks should be made out to the Women’s Club of Webster and mailed to Diane Miller, 428 Seneca Park Ave., Rochester, 14617. Deadline to order tickets is Nov. 1.

And… if you’re a regular blood donor, you’ll be glad to hear that the Women’s Club of Webster will be providing the canteen cookies at the blood drive scheduled for Wednesday Oct. 11 from noon to 7 p.m. at the Webster Firemen’s Building, 172 Sanford Street.

Appointments are not required. Donors should feel free to just drop in. For more information or to schedule an appointment, call 1-800-RED-CROS (1-800-733-2767).

The next Friends of the Webster Public Library Book Sale is just around the corner, Oct. 18 through 21. Here’s the announcement:

Find plenty of treasures for your mind at astoundingly low prices during the Webster Public Library Fall Book Sale. Gently used hardcover books will be available for $1, paperback books for $.50!

Members of the Friends of the Webster Public Library can visit Wednesday, Oct. 18 from 4 to 7 p.m. for a first look. Membership in the Friends of the Webster Public Library is required and can be purchased at the door.

The general public sale will be Thursday, Oct. 19 from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Friday Oct. 20 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Saturday Oct. 21 from 10 a.m. to noon. Friday and Saturday are BYOB Sale Days — bring your own bag, fill it with gently used books for only $5!

The sale will be held at the library, 980 Ridge Rd. Proceeds from the fall book sale directly benefit library programs, book collections and other special projects.

Also, remember that the very clever “Caps for Sale” fundraiser is coming up in November, and donations are hand-made caps are being accepted now.

The fundraiser is based on the popular children’s book of the same name, in which Bartholomew Cubbins had 500 hats. Right now, the library is collecting yarn for crafty people to turn into hats, and asking crafty people to make hats for the sale. Any size (infant to adult), any style, any technique (knit, crochet, felt, woven, felt, sewn), with any fiber (machine washable is appreciated, please include care information) will be accepted. If you can donate yarn or hats, you can drop them off at the library service desk during September and October.

The actual Caps for Sale fundraiser event will be November 2 from 5 to 7 pm and Saturday Nov 4 from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the library. Adult hats will be $15 and children’s hats will be $10. Any unsold hats will be donated to Webster NY Hope and other charities.

Finally (at the risk of making this a very library-centric mailbag), click the flyer to see what kind of fun stuff they have coming up in the next few weeks.

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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 9/22/2023)

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Webster Museum, Webster HOPE host garage sales next week

8 Sep

OK, I know. I’ve already blogged about these two HUGE garage sales a few times, but they’re supporting two great organizations, and I mean … they’re really BIG!

The first is the Webster NY HOPE sale, which runs from Wednesday Sept. 13 through Saturday Sept. 16 at Holy Trinity Church on Ridge Rd.

The garage sale is Webster HOPE’s largest fundraiser, the culmination of a year’s worth of volunteer effort collecting, sorting and pricing items. Items are clean and organized, and include household items, crafts, tools, sporting goods, electronics, holiday, books, games, puzzles, toys, décor, floral, baby, pets, lamps, jewelry, collectibles, small furniture, office and more.

A look at some of the thousands of items ready for the sale

Webster HOPE Director Margery Morgan wrote,

It is more than a sale to us as it allows us to be together as a community. We have a lot of fun and I think that is reflected in the hospitality and laughter-filled sale days with the public.

I was never much of a garage sale person prior to our sale. But now I always check out other sales to “borrow” their sale display ideas. When you see our jewelry and picture displays you will see how volunteers take these ideas and create product displays. We have a lot of $1-2 items, a price even the dollar store can’t match anymore.

Here are the details:

  • Sale begins Wednesday, September 13, 6-8 PM, Preview Night, Murphy Hall at Holy Trinity Church, 1460 Ridge Road. Admission is $10 for this special preview.
  • Thursday, September 14 & Friday, September 15, 10- a.m. to 4 p.m.
  • Saturday, September 16, 10 a.m. to noon only, everything is half-price!
  • Credit cards will be accepted for purchases over $50
  • All proceeds go to Webster Hope.

Donations are still being accepted through Sunday Sept. 10.

Webster HOPE serves the needs of residents in the 14580 zip code, providing food, clothing, household goods and furniture to those in need. Just before school started, HOPE held a school-supply giveaway, and in one week set up more than 50 families with brand new school supplies, including backpacks, so the kids are ready for the new school year.

Here are a few photos of some of the items handed out:

Webster Museum Barn Sale

The annual Webster Museum Barn Sale takes place Thursday Sept. 14 through Saturday Dec. 16, at 394 Phillips Rd.

This year, one barn is overflowing with antique and vintage items and lots of stuff for the home. Some of this year’s fantastic finds include furniture, glassware, household items, toys, tools, sporting goods, craft items, holiday décor, picture frames, collectibles, framed art, and much more.

There are so many items, they fill the big barn, AND the carriage house and two adjacent barns, and even spill out onto the lawns.

The sale will run Thursday and Friday Sept. 14 and 15 and Saturday Sept. 16 at 394 Phillips Rd. Doors open at 9 a.m.  Please bring your own shopping bags and small bills!!!! 

This is the Webster Museum’s biggest fundraiser of the year, so come ready to shop!

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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 9/8/2023)

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Congratulations to the Village Quilt Shoppe

7 Sep

A super special shout-out today to the Village Quilt Shoppe, which is celebrating its fourth anniversary this week.

This is an accomplishment that most certainly deserves celebrating, because it hasn’t always been smooth sailing for owners Vanetta Parshall and Monique Liberti since they opened their shop.

Just three months after they opened their doors in August 2019, and just days before the Village of Webster’s White Christmas celebration, disaster struck when a water leak from the apartment above the shop came through the floor and destroyed much of their merchandise. They had to close for almost a month to regroup and restock. But, determined not to lose their dream shop, they persevered and survived that early setback.

Then COVID struck, and they had to close again for three more months. But thanks to a very loyal customer base, the little shop on the corner of East Main and Lapham Park is going strong, and Vanetta and Monique continue to live their dream.

They’ve featuring lots of anniversary-celebration events this week and weekend, including

  • 25% off full price merchandise (some exclusions apply)
  • Free gifts (while supplies last)
  • A trunk show on Friday Sept. 8 featuring Charlie’s Daughter, Lydia Middaugh
  • A special wool class on Saturday, Sept 9
  • a raffle and other specials

For more information about any of these events, call the shop at (585) 626-6916. Or just stop in and say hi. They’d love to see you.

AND BY THE WAY … Vanetta and Moinque have compiled a cookbook. The email I got said,

Our first Village Quilt Shoppe Holiday Cookbook is ready for the printers. We are going to take pre-orders to ensure we order the right amount. The price of the cookbook will be $19.99 or three for $49.99. Please note all the proceeds will go to the Webster Food Cupboard. The more we sell, the more families will have a nice holiday dinner. If you are interested in purchasing one or more of our Holiday Cookbooks, please give us a call. They make great holiday gifts!

Pre-orders will be taken through Sept. 30.

The Village Quilt Shoppe is located at 21 East Main St. in the Village of Webster.

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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 9/7/2023)

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Where are you going, Barry’s Runners?

6 Sep

The (hopefully temporary) loss of Barry’s Old School Irish at the Village of Webster’s four corners means something different to each one of us.

For me, it means that I won’t have one of my favorite watering holes walking-distance away, close enough to head down on a whim. It means the loss of Saturday traditional Irish music sessions and Irish entertainers every Friday night. It means I won’t be able to fist-bump my good friend Danny Barry again for quite a while.

But probably more than anything these days, the loss of Barry’s means that my weekly running group, Barry’s Runners, will have no place to call home, at least for a while.

Barry’s Runners is a social running group that has met every week (yes, even through the winter) at Barry’s for more than seven years. In the beginning we met on Tuesday evenings until the Barrys decided to close that day, so for the last year it’s been Wednesdays. We gather at the pub at 6 p.m., and take the requisite before-run group photo before breaking into small groups to head out on our chosen routes. Some will run just a few miles, others as many as four, along village streets, the bike path, and nearby trails.

But now the pub is going away, at least for a while. But Barry’s Runners is not abandoning Barry’s.

At a strategy meeting held after a recent run (around my fire pit with plenty of beers in hand), the assembled runners agreed on a few things. The easiest decision was probably that we would continue to be known as “Barry’s Runners.” Figuring out where we’d begin our weekly runs and where we’d land afterwards was more difficult.

My friend Meredith had given the question much thought and came up with an elegant solution. Beginning next week, Barry’s Runners will meet every week at the gazebo at Veterans’ Memorial Park on North Ave. By popular demand, the runs will be moving back to Tuesday evenings, but still begin at 6 p.m. After the run, everyone as a group will decide where to head for refreshment, perhaps sampling a different Webster bar or restaurant every week.

On Tuesday we held our last Barry’s run from the pub, in honor of where we began. To express our club’s commitment to Barry’s Old School Irish and to thank Danny and Jess for their support over the years, we presented them with a wooden plaque after the run, which we hope they’ll consider hanging in their new location, whenever and wherever that may be.

I think I speak for all of Barry’s Runners when I say we hope that will be soon. Running from the gazebo in the middle of winter is not something I’m looking forward to.

We invite everyone to join us any week you feel like meeting some new friends and getting a little exercise. We have a wide range of ability levels; some people run faster and farther, others (like me) less so. And we always have walkers. More often than not a few of the runners even bring their kids and/or dogs in strollers.

So, beginning next Tuesday Sept. 12 at 6 p.m., meet us at the gazebo on North Ave. You’ll be welcomed with open arms and big smiles. You can follow some of our adventures on the Barry’s Runners Facebook page, so check that out, ask to join the page, then come and be a Barry’s Runner!

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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 9/6/2023)

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Some thoughts as Barry’s celebrates its last week

3 Sep

I have not been looking forward to this day.

No, I’m not talking about Barry’s Old School Irish’s last day, which is this coming Saturday. That’s going to be tough enough. But right now I’m talking about trying to figure out how to put into words everything that Barry’s Old School Irish has meant to me and my family.

When that unsightly corner was cleaned up 12 years ago, and we saw the first sign in the window announcing a new “pub and bakery,” no one really knew what to expect. No one had any idea how that little pub would change our village forever.

It’s not enough to say that Danny and Jessica Barry have become very good friends, and we have come to feel a part of not just the pub family, but the Barry family. There are so many memories, so many special days and evenings that have filled my family’s history at Barry’s, there’s no way I could list them all here.

But then I realized I’ve told some of those stories before in the various blogs I posted in advance of the pub’s anniversary parties. I tried — successfully, I think — to capture everything that Barry’s has meant to my family, and to the Webster community.

So, allow me to re-post snippets from some of those previous blogs. This first selection was from just before the pub’s first anniversary:

This evening, Barry’s Old School Irish Pub and Bakery on Webster’s 4-corners will celebrate its one-year anniversary. In anticipation of that happy event, I sat at my computer last night, poised to craft the perfect blog about what has become my very favorite Webster hangout.

Fingers at the ready, I started to think. What exactly IS it about Barry’s that makes the place so special? The beer? The to-die-for Guinness chocolate cake? The live music? There are just so many things about Barry’s that make it a pleasant place to be. But what is it that makes Barry’s unique?

It took me a little while, but finally it dawned on me. I realized why I go back there every Friday night. And some Saturdays and Wednesdays. And the occasional Sunday afternoon. It’s Mary Jane, Mike and Patrick. Tim, Jerry and Robyn. Debbie, Sarah, Chris and Julie. Kim, Mac and Maura, Brendan and Gordon. These are the people of Barry’s, and every single one of them has become part of my extended family.

Funny thing about these extended family members, though, is that I couldn’t tell your most of their last names. Plus, I didn’t know ANY of them a year ago. But thanks to Barry’s, I’m now closer to these people than to most of my “regular” extended family members.

You see, any Irish pub can serve a Guinness. Any restaurant/bakery can serve up great dinners and desserts. But there aren’t many places where you can walk in and immediately feel like family.

In 2015, just before the pub’s fourth anniversary, I recalled when I first met Danny and Jess:

I still clearly remember the first time I walked into Barry’s. Like most Webster residents, I’d been keeping a close eye on the building at the corner of Main and South Ave., pleased to see the old plumbing shop getting cleaned up, and wondering exactly what an “Irish pub and bakery” would look like.

Two days before Barry’s was to officially open, I stopped in to check out the new place, and met Danny and Jessica Barry for the first time. (This was also when I took the iconic photo of them holding the sign that would soon grace the outside of their pub.)

They struck me right away as very friendly, very enthusiastic and very young. They talked to me of their passion, how they wanted to model their new pub after the public houses (a.k.a. “pubs”) they had frequented in Ireland on their honeymoon just months before. The walls were bare, the taps hadn’t been installed yet, and they had little more than coffee to sell in the bakery. Yet they envisioned that their little corner pub would someday become a genuine community gathering place.

It didn’t take long for Danny and Jessica to realize that dream, and they continue to live it every day, by nurturing the kind of atmosphere that makes Barry’s unlike any other place in the world.

It’s a place where pretty much every patron is welcomed by name, with a smile and a wave; where the owners KNOW if it’s your first time, and make a point to introduce themselves; where young couples get engaged and older couples celebrate their anniversaries; where patrons will clear space at their table on busy nights and pull up an extra stool for a stranger, and new friends are made over pick-up games of euchre; where there’s an actual COUCH in the bar for people to curl up in with their pints, and on New Year’s Eve, the pub crowd cheers each time a new patron comes in; where the owner will order-in pizza at 1 am for the handful of remaining patrons, rather than kicking them out for the night; where celebrating Irish heritage through music, dance and literature is an opportunity, not a gimmick; where the entire pub will toast to birthdays, special events, happy occasions, sad occasions, or just because Notre Dame is winning.

Where everyone who walks through the door is instantly part of the family.

Those of you who know and love Barry’s as much as I do (and if you’ve read this far, that’s you), you recognize a lot of these memories. Sure, there have been many changes through the years. The couch and fake fireplace are gone, the furniture has been swapped out a few times, trivia night was added, and Barry’s Runners was established, just to name a few. Dear old friends have moved away or passed away, and so many new friends have discovered the pub that it’s hard to find a place to sit most nights.

But beneath all that, Barry’s Old School Irish hasn’t changed a bit. It’s remained the chosen spot for people who want to meet up with friends while listening to traditional music, host their celebrations, have a pint after work with colleagues or after dinner with family. Where everyone is welcome and everyone joins the pub family just by walking through the door.

Because through all these years, one great truth has remained constant. It’s all about the people.

I’ve taken hundreds of photos at Barry’s and the events held there over the years. Here’s a selection for your enjoyment:

Barry’s Old School Irish’s last week

Naturally, Danny and Jess have some big plans for the last week in their current location.

The week’s festivities begin on Tuesday Sept. 5, when they’ll open at 4 p.m. The pub hasn’t been open on Tuesdays for a year, so this will be a nice treat. Plus, Barry’s Runners will be having their final run from the pub that night, and everyone is welcome to join, even if you want to walk. Also, families especially are invited for one last night out with the kids, and Shirley Temples will be on the house for all the lads and lassies. The three young Barry’s kids will even be there to help out.

On Wednesday Sept. 6, the final Barry’s Trivia Night will take place beginning at 6:30 p.m. This week’s questions will run the gamut of all the favorite trivia nights over the years. The bonus questions will test your knowledge of Barry’s Pub history. You’ll want to call ahead to reserve a table for this one.

Thursday Sept. 7 is Guinness Toast Night, when everyone gets a pint on the house.

Friday Sept. 8, Kevin Reynolds will set up in the music corner beginning at 7 p.m. for one last evening of Friday night Irish tunes.

Saturday Sept. 9 is the Barry’s Forever Celebration. The doors will open at 9 a.m., there’ll be live music all day, bagpipers, dancers, and a special return performance by Barry’s Crossing, the duo who have the honor of being the first band ever to play at Barry’s (they even named their band after the pub at the crossroads of Webster) and will be the final duo to play at 2 West Main St.

Click the links for more information about all these events, and see you at Barry’s this week!

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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 9/3/2023)

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Webster community mailbag

31 Aug

I always thought that the height of summer marked Webster’s busiest months. But looking at my page-long list of events coming up in the next several weeks tells me I was way wrong.

Most of these I’ve touched on in earlier blogs, so I’ll just remind you of them and give you links to follow in case you need more information. But let me start off with some detail about a race taking place in the village this Friday night, the First Responders 5K.

The race is scheduled for Friday Sept. 1 at 6:30 p.m. It will BEGIN AND END at the south side of Fireman’s Field on Sanford St., and take racers through east-side village neighborhoods. You can see the exact route in the map below.

Several roads on the east side of the village will be affected, and Rt. 250 between State Rd. and Main St. will be closed for a short time after the race begins to allow the runners through.

I always run this race, so I look forward to seeing you on the course. Cow bells, shouts of encouragement and high-fives are always appreciated. You can register up till noon Friday. Click here for more information.

The next meeting of Webster’s Visionaries Low-Vision Support Group is Wednesday, Sept. 6, from 10:30 to noon at the Webster Recreation Center, 1350 Chiyoda Dr.

The Visionaries is a support group for adults with low-to-no vision. Members of this support group share their interests and opportunities with others, encouraging those with visual impairment to get the most out of their lives.

The meeting is presented this month by Goodwill Vision (formerly ABVI), which offers services for those with low and no vision. For more information, contact Ed Wilkonski at 585-265-4167, or email wingstwofly@rochester.rr.com.

The Village of Webster will hold its annual Sept. 11 Memorial ceremony on Monday Sept. 11, beginning at 6 p.m. at Veteran’s Memorial Park on North Ave.

The Webster Village Band and the Chorus of the Genesee will both be performing. Community members are encouraged to attend.

The annual Webster Rocks ALS music festival returns Saturday, Sept. 9.

The festival is held to raise awareness for ALS in memory of Kacie Jones, a longtime employee of the Coach/Rubino’s, who passed away from ALS at 31 years old, less than two years after he was diagnosed. Proceeds will benefit organizations that fight to change the standard of case and empower people with ALS. (Visit www.healingals.org or www.teamgleason.org for more information.)

The festival will be held Saturday Sept. 9 at the Webster Firemen’s Field on Ridge Rd. Click here for more information.

That same day, Saturday Sept. 9, there’s another FREE concert taking place at Veteran’s Memorial Park on North Ave.

It’s the second annual RHB St. Jude Benefit Concert, featuring the Red Hot and Blue Band, Sarah De Vallière, The M-T-V Jam Band and The Tug Hill Band. Pub 235, Guida’s Pizza and Terry’s Tips And Beef will also be there with some great food.

More info on the flier.

Of course, that same weekend, the Webster Garlic Festival returns to the Webster Recreation Center on Sept. 9 and 10. I’ll be posting another longer blog about that again soon, but in the meantime, here’s the website for more information. Word is that more than 100 vendors have already signed up and more are trying to get in every day.

Two huge garage sales are happening the following weekend, Webster NY Hope’s annual sale, scheduled for Sept. 14 to 17 at 1450 Ridge Rd, AND the Webster Museum’s Barn and Vintage Sale on Sept. 14 thorough 16. These are always very big events, so make sure to make time to stop by both.

More to come about these soon.

Community members are invited to attend an official groundbreaking ceremony for the new Webster Highway Department facility at 1005 Picture Parkway on Thursday Sept. 14 at 2 p.m.

Webster Town Board members, Highway Department staff members and local dignitaries will hold a brief ceremony, followed by the groundbreaking. Click here for more information about plans for the new facility.

The Third Annual Webster Recreation Center Mud Run is returning on Saturday Sept. 23. This event is tons of wet, muddy, so-much-laughing fun for the entire family. I will definitely be there, and try to get even muddier than I did last year. (Check out the photo.) More about this later as well.

The Oktoberfest returns to Webster’s Fireman’s Field on Friday and Saturday Sept. 15 and 16.

The event runs from noon to 10:30 p.m. both days, and will feature live German music, German cuisine from Swan’s Market and Helmut’s Strudel of WNY, and beer and wine by Cobblestone on Main restaurant.

Tickets will be sold at the door. On Friday from noon to 3, they’ll cost only $5. After that, and at all other times, tickets will be $10. Children under 12 are free when accompanied by an adult.

Organizers are also looking for volunteers to help with the event. Visit the website for more information.

Reminder that the 4th annual Barry’s Irish Festival takes place Saturday Sept. 16 from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. at The Barry Patch Farm, 2668 Brick Schoolhouse Road, Hilton. Tickets are available at the pub for $15 (2 West Main St., Webster), and can be purchased online here. You can also get them on the day of the festival, when they’ll be $20. Kids 16 and under are free.

Visit the event’s Facebook page for more information, and if you have any questions, email Danny and Jessica at Barrysirishpub@gmail.com.

St. Martin Lutheran Church will hold a Drive Thru Chicken BBQ on Saturday, Sept. 23 at the church, 813 Bay Road, Webster. The event begins at 4:30 p.m. and will continue until all dinners are sold out.

Dinners will include a half chicken, salt potatoes, coleslaw, roll, butter and cookie, and will cost $15.

The event will be drive-through only and there will be no advance sales; first-come, first-served. Cars should enter the parking lot, follow the signs, and purchase dinners using exact payment of either cash or
check. Cars will then pick up boxed dinners.

Proceeds from the BBQ will support both St. Martin’s Little Free Pantry and Christmas Stocking Project, which reaches more than 500 local youth in Monroe and Wayne counties.

Looking forward to fall, the Webster Recreation Center’s annual Pumpkins on Parade has been scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 28 from 7 to 8:30 p.m. I literally bounced in my chair when I saw the notice, because I enjoy this event so much. Start thinking now about what kind of creative jack-o-lanterns you and your family can carve. Click here to see the Facebook event page for more details.

And of course, you can start your day earlier in the village at Village of Webster’s Trick-or-Treat Trail, scheduled for Saturday Oct. 28, from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. More info here.

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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 8/31/2023)

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A fond farewell to Nest Things

30 Aug

We’ve been seeing a lot of business news from the Village of Webster these last several months. New businesses opening, others leaving the village. But through all those comings and goings, one business closing has been kind of flying under the radar.

Nest Things, that adorable little second-hand boutique at 11 East Main St., is on its way out. For many months now, owner Gail Maier has been trying to sell the shop, and when that happens, Nest Things will close after almost 20 years in business. 

Gail and her husband Bob bought the historic storefront in 2004, and opened Nest Things the following year. From the very beginning, the shop reflected Gail’s love of second-hand items. She only dresses in second-hand clothes, and only sells previously-loved clothing and housewares, most of which she discovered at garage sales. 

But not just anything made it onto her shelves. 

When she was still on the lookout for items to sell, she said “I would go between here and Honeoye Falls every Thursday, Friday and Saturday and purchase for the store,” stopping at garage sales in every town in between. “I like only things that I think are perfect and wonderful. … They had to be beautiful or very useful and perfect.” The result, for almost 20 years, has been a shop that feels more like a beloved grandmother’s attic than a store. 

Bob passed away in 2013, but Gail has kept the shop running since, driven by her passion for beautiful things and her love for the village and the people in it. But the time has finally come to take a step back. 

So Gail is looking for a serious buyer for the 1906-era building, which includes a two-bedroom, two-bath apartment which has been beautifully renovated but still reflects the building’s rich history.  

To reduce her inventory while she looks for a buyer, everything in the store is 50% off. There’s still plenty to choose from, and Gail is regularly pulling new items up from her basement or down from her apartment, “Things that I’ve loved and cherished but know I can’t use.” 

Rest assured they’re all perfect and wonderful. 

Nest Things is located at 11 East Main St. in the Village of Webster. For more information, check out their Facebook page here or call 585-265-9240.

Here’s a look inside the store and second-floor apartment:

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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 8/30/2023)

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