Tag Archives: Missy Rosenberry

New museum program pairs story time with history

29 Jan

The Webster Museum is introducing a brand new program in February, designed to help history come alive in a fun way for elementary-aged students.

It’s called “Story Time at the Museum,” and the first one is scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 7 at 2:30 p.m. This month’s theme is Valentine’s Day. Children will share a story, learn about the history of this special day, examine some antique Valentines and make their own Valentine greetings.

The Valentine’s Day-themed story time is just the first in what organizers are hoping will be a regular first-Saturday-of-the-month event, each month pairing delightful stories with interesting historical lessons. On March 7, the story time program will be all about quilts and quilting, and highlight the museum’s current display of historical quilts.

There’s no charge to attend and all ages are welcome. The Webster Museum is located at 18 Lapham Park 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)

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(posted 1/29/2026)

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Willink Theater Club presents (the delightful) Disney Descendants this weekend

28 Jan

We’re all familiar with Maleficent, Jafar, the Evil Queen and Cruella De Vil, some of Disney’s most infamous villains. We grew up watching them, cheering when their evil plans went awry, and later introducing them to our own children. But in all that time, it probably never occurred to us that those villains might have children of their own.

Well, they do. And now those children are teenagers. In Willink Middle School’s production of Disney Descendants this weekend, you’ll get to meet them, in all their teen-angst, evil glory.

The energetic musical tells the story of the villains’ four troubled teenage offspring — Mal, Evie, Carlos and Jave — who with their parents are imprisoned on the Isle of the Lost. They’ve never before ventured off the island. But when they’re sent to attend prep school alongside the children of beloved Disney heroes, they have a difficult choice to make: should they follow in their parents’ wicked footsteps or learn to be good?

More than 100 sixth, seventh and eighth graders have been working hard for four months to bring Disney Descendants to the Willink stage, and their efforts have created something magical. With catchy Disney-esque tunes (including a few you might recognize), high-powered dances and clever costuming, the audience is swept along through a surprisingly heartwarming story of friendship and adventure.

One of the things I enjoy most about attending a middle school musical like this is the opportunity to see talented young singers and actors just beginning their journeys in the performing arts. Their acting and voices may not yet be fully polished, but it’s easy to see the natural talent underneath. Watching those skills grow and develop as these young performers move on to the Thomas High School stage will be a real pleasure.

Disney Descendants will be performed in the Willink Middle School Cafetorium , 900 Publisher’s Parkway, on Friday, January 30 at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday, January 31 at 1 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $11 for adults, $7 for students and senior citizens, and free for children age 2 and younger. Click here to get yours now.

Here’s a slideshow of more photos from the rehearsal:

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(posted 1/28/2026)

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

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Bring the family, play some games, have some pizza at St. Martin Family Game Night

27 Jan

Sometimes, when it’s really snowy and cold out, the best thing to do is to hunker down with the family and pull out a board game. This coming weekend, St. Martin Lutheran Church will give you the chance to do that when they host their Family Game Night, Saturday from 5 to 8 p.m.

Participants can bring their favorite board games or card games, but a variety of games will also be provided at the event. Attendees are also invited to bring a potluck dessert or snacks to share. St. Martin volunteers will be serving up pizza and chili for all.

The event is open to the entire community and is designed to provide a welcoming, family-friendly evening of food, games, and fellowship. There’s no cost and you don’t have to register. Family Game Night is intended for all ages and offers an opportunity for community members to spend time together during the winter season in a warm, inclusive environment.

“This event is about creating space for families, friends, and neighbors to connect in a relaxed and enjoyable setting,” Sharon Haffen, who is organizing the event, said. “Whether you come with a favorite game or just come ready to play, everyone is welcome.”

Family Game Night is this Saturday, January 31, from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. at St. Martin Lutheran Church, 813 Bay Road in Webster. For more information, email stmartinwebster@gmail.com or call (585) 671-1899.

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

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

(posted 1/27/2026)

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It’s time to register for Community Arts Day

26 Jan

I usually don’t post this particular blog until the middle of February, but I think we all need a little breath of spring today, so I’m going to shout it to the rooftops: IT’S TIME TO START THINKING ABOUT COMMUNITY ARTS DAY!

This annual event, held at Webster Schroeder High School, is a family-friendly festival which showcases the musical and artistic talents of Webster School District K-12 students, and invites dozens of community groups to display their great contributions to our community. This year’s event is scheduled for Saturday, April 11 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

So that’s still a few months away, but I got an email today saying that registrations are now being taken for community groups, vendors and performers who’d like to participate in this year’s Community Arts Day. For $35, community groups can have a table to share information, calendars of events and sign-ups. Vendors can sign up for $50. Additional opportunities are available for auditorium, gymnasium and small stage performances. Click here for more information.    

And while you’re there, check out the opportunities to become an event sponsor or make an in-kind donation.

Organizers are also looking for interested community members to join the planning committee and help make this event a success. Email CAD@websterptsa.org to find out more about volunteer opportunities.

Community Arts Day is a Webster PTSA-sponsored event, created in 1976 as a joint venture with each of Webster’s schools to raise money to support cultural arts activities in our 11 buildings. CAD showcases our children’s artistic, vocal, musical, and theatrical talents. It also involves the whole community in a day to celebrate cultural arts, bringing in 2000+ people to enjoy activities from art displays, musical performances, craft demonstrations, community exhibits, craft vendors, sweet treats, a carnival space, and more. So make sure to put Saturday, April 11 on your calendar now for this year’s Community Arts Day.

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(posted 1/26/2026)

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

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“Munchie” could use our help

25 Jan

It’s been a really tough six months for Luis “Munchie” Carrasquillo.

Back in July, Luis took a leap of faith and opened up his Roc City Empanadas restaurant on South Ave. in the Village of Webster, an expansion of his very popular food truck business. At first he found it a bit challenging to balance the busy food truck with a new restaurant, and the hours he was open seemed very sporadic. Then, in early September, the restaurant went totally dark, and people started to question whether Luis was really committed to the village.

The reason for that, we came to learn, was a distressing one.

On September 3, Luis was involved in a frightening accident. He was on the shoulder of Five Mile Line Rd., helping a friend secure a fence to her trailer, when another driver struck him. The impact sent him flying ten feet. He suffered a compound fracture to his leg and was losing blood rapidly. A veteran who happened on the scene applied a tourniquet, most definitely saving his life. (Click here to read the blog I wrote back then with the whole story.)

Luis spent weeks in the hospital, undergoing multiple surgeries, skin grafts, and intense recovery procedures. He’s still facing a long road to healing — physically, emotionally, and financially. Because of his injuries, he hasn’t been able to work, and Munchies Rock City Empanadas is struggling to stay afloat. His friends and family members have been doing their best to try to keep the doors open, but the bills are piling up, rent and equipment costs continue, and the future of his restaurant hangs in the balance.

For over 20 years, Luis Carrasquillo has been a pillar in our community, serving delicious food with love, donating meals to local events, and showing up whenever someone needs a helping hand. He’s never asked for anything in return because that’s just who he is. But now he’s asking for our help.

Luis’ family members have set up a GoFundMe campaign to raise money to help cover Luis’ medical and household expenses and ongoing rehabilitation, and to help keep his restaurant running until he can get back on his feet.

If you can spare even a little something, Luis would be eternally grateful, and you’d be helping someone who’s given so much to our Webster community. Click here to make your donation.

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(posted 1/25/2026)

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).

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Wreaths Across America wants your veterans’ stories

23 Jan

The annual Wreaths Across America Day is still many months away, but the national Wreaths Across American organization is already ramping up its efforts.

Recently national organizers revealed that the 2026 Wreaths Across America theme is “Remember Me: Stories From the Home Front.” The idea is to ensure that the individual names, families, and sacrifices of our veterans are not just recognized collectively, but remembered personally.

Karen Worcester, Wreaths Across America Executive Director, explained on the website,

“We often speak of “our service members” as though they are one unified group. Yet within that group are countless individuals, each with a name, a family, and a story that helped shape the freedoms we cherish today. While we honor them collectively, we can sometimes overlook the deeply personal sacrifices: the parent who never met a grandchild, the young recruit asked to shoulder more than any teenager should, the veteran who returned home carrying memories too heavy to share.”

Behind every wreath laid in December lies a deeply personal story, she added. Like Kevin in Home Alone said, “Maybe they don’t forget about you, but they forget to remember you.”

To support this effort, local Wreaths Across America Coordinator Cherie Wood would like to share your veterans’ stories. She’d like to hear about your service or the service of a veteran family member or friend. Include where they served, when, stories and a photo or video. They don’t have to have been local soldiers, or have died in battle. They can be from conflicts long ago or much more recent. Because everyone who served has sacrificed something. Email your stories to WebsterWreaths@icloud.com.

I’ll start us out with a story about my paternal grandfather:

On April 25, 1918, 21-year old Orville William Best, from Kansas City, Missouri, volunteered for military service to fight the Germans in WWI. After basic training he was sent to France in June, 1918 as part of the 89th Infantry Division.

Soon promoted to Corporal, Best served in both the Mihiel Offensive and the Meuse-Argonnne Offensive in Northern France. On Nov. 3, 1918, during the third phase of Meusse-Argonne, and just eight days before the armistice and end of the fighting in France, Corporal Best was injured in a mustard gas attack by the Germans, and suffered a machine gun wound to the stomach.

Best survived his injuries, recovering in an Army hospital in France, and returned to the United States in March 1919. He lived the rest of his life in Kansas City, married to his wife Blanche for more than 50 years, but he struggled with respiratory issues all of this life.

For his service to our country. Corporal Best was awarded the American Victory Medal (with France Bar), the Service Medal from the State of Missouri, and a Purple Heart.

Now it’s your turn. This year, let’s do more than just remember the battles that were fought. Let’s really try to remember the individual soldiers who sacrificed so many things when they were fighting for our country. Email your stories to WebsterWreaths@icloud.com.

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(posted 1/23/2026)

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).

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Webster Rec invites you to work out before you chill out on Super Bowl Sunday

21 Jan

If you’re planning to spend a lot of time on the couch on Super Bowl Sunday (like I am), you might want to consider starting off your day with a fun workout.

The Webster Recreation Center has cooked up a FREE Super Bowl-themed “Football & Fitness” sampler workout on Sunday Feb. 8. Beginning at 9 a.m. you can sample four workouts with four different instructors, split into four “quarters” with a brief halftime. Each 15-minute quarter will be a different exercise format — a dynamic warm up to mimic how athletes warm up, a cardio power section, upBeat barre and a yoga/mobility/stretching cool down. Participants are encouraged to dress in their favorite team’s colors and/or gear.

The Rec Center will also be raffling off two Super Bowl-themed prize baskets with multiple ways to earn tickets: one for just showing up, one for wearing your team colors, and one for bringing a non-family member or friend with you. Prizes will be awarded at the end of the event before everyone leaves.

It all happens at the Webster Recreation Center, 1350 Chiyoda Dr., beginning at 9 a.m. on Super Bowl Sunday, Feb. 8. There’s no cost, registration is not required and you don’t have to be a member of the Rec to join the fun.

And while we’re talking about the Rec Center, here a smattering of information about a few other programs coming up:

  • Candy Bar Bingo, Friday, Jan. 30 from 6 to 7 p.m. All ages are welcome (3 years and up), but you need to register each player individually. Bring one full-size candy bar per person to participate. Register for program #101201A.
  • February Break Camp registration is now in progress. It will run from Tuesday through Friday, Feb. 17 to 20, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day. Cost is $185. Register for 121006-A.
  • Here’s a look at upcoming Talks on Tuesday topics:

* Jan. 27: Fraud Prevention (Activity #146940-D)

* Feb. 3: Medicare (Activity# 146940-E)

* Feb. 10: Chocolate, a Tasty History (Activity# 146940-F)

* Feb. 17: Stocks, Bonds and Your Portfolio (Activity# 146940-G)

* Feb. 24: Cold Weather Arthritis (Activity# 146940-H)

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

And if you like to make crafts, this monthly program is for you:

It’s called Craft Co., a crafting group which meets the second Monday of every month from 11 a.m. to noon. Upcoming crafts include a Pinecone Floral Arrangement (Feb. 9), Rock Painting on March 9 and Decorate a Planter on April 13. Cost for each session is $12. Register for Activity #142212.

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(posted 1/21/2026)

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).

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A quilt-lover’s paradise at the museum

20 Jan

The Webster Museum’s annual Quilt Exhibit — called “Stitched Stories” — has returned, and if you love anything and everything about quilting you’re not going to want to miss it.

Stitched Stories offers an illustrated journey through Webster’s history, told through the evolving designs, colors, fabrics and intricate patterns of heirloom quilts. Over the years, the museum has been the fortunate recipient of many vintage quilts. Most are documented in detailed binders that include their history, the artisans who created them, and, in many instances, their appraised value. These textile treasures capture decades of Webster history in their stitches.

More than 20 quilts of different sizes have been placed on display throughout the museum, from doll-sized mini-quilts, to a small cot quilt, to a full-sized courthouse steps quilt. They hang in exhibit cases, decorate the vintage parlor and bedroom, and adorn walls and railings. With some pieces dating back over 170 years, each stands as a testament to months of patient needlework and intricate craftsmanship.

I stopped by the museum on Tuesday afternoon to see the exhibit for myself, and discovered how LITTLE I know about the history of quilting. For example, there are so many different designs, popular during various times — like the wedding ring design, flying goose quilt, nine-patch quilt, crazy quilt and the “beginner friendly” courthouse steps design. (I did not consider that anywhere near beginner friendly myself.)

The Woodhull quilt
Bicentennial quilt

Some of the history was very interesting. The tiny doll quilts, for example, were popular from the late 1800s to the mid-1900s, often made by young girls just learning to sew. Cot quilts, used on a small bed or cot, were just the right size for a soldier in the Civil War to tuck into his backpack. The album panel quilt, crafted by Minerva Green Woodhull, has writing on it by her father-in-law, Byron Woodhull, who was Webster’s first supervisor. And I particularly liked the Webster Bicentennial heritage quilt, depicting a Webster map and squares representing historical highlights, made in 1976 by members of the Webster Quilt Guild.

An informative binder near the museum’s front entrance provides some background about each of the quilts on display. There’s even more information about each in the museum’s library, if you’re interested. Just ask one of the volunteers about that.

The Webster Museum is located at 18 Lapham Park, in the Village of Webster. They’re open 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 “Subscribe” link on the right side of this page (or all the way at the bottom of the page if you’re on your phone).

(posted 1/20/2026)

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Meat raffle! Meat raffle! Meat raffle!

18 Jan

My eldest daughter, who lives in Buffalo, works at a city school which hosts a meat raffle every year as a fundraiser.

This is a very Buffalo thing, and it’s a LOT of fun. You pay an entry fee, then throughout the evening you can purchase tickets for $1 each to take chances on winning all sorts of different meat prizes. You win when the huge number wheel spun by the host lands on your ticket number. The prizes include steaks, hot dogs, bacon, burgers, chicken and lots more. It’s really exciting and so much fun.

I’ve been watching for when this very Buffalo thing started showing up in Rochester — and it finally has. On Saturday, March 28 from 5 to 9 p.m., the Webster Comfort Care Home will hold a meat raffle at the Genesee Valley Moose Club in Henrietta. Advance-sale tickets are only $10 ($20 at the door), and there’ll be a cash bar and food available for purchase.

The event will feature meat, fish and seafood packages from Meat Man Dan, other raffles and prizes, and a chance to win a 5-cubic foot chest freezer from Orville’s Appliance, a $200 value. (It would be a great place to keep all of your meat raffle winnings, just sayin’.) You don’t have to be present to win the freezer … or even attend the meat raffle at all. Click here to purchase freezer raffle tickets.

All proceeds from the evening will benefit the Webster Comfort Care Home. Sponsorship packages are also available.

More information to come about this fun event, but make sure to put in on your calendar now, and consider getting your tickets 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 “Subscribe” link on the right side of this page (or all the way at the bottom of the page if you’re on your phone).

(posted 1/18/2026)

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“Mail Call: Letters from Home” returns and needs your help

17 Jan

Chances are good you’ll remember the first-ever Mail Call: Letters from Home initiative last spring, designed to bring some joy to our local service members stationed abroad. Community members were encouraged to write out cards, letters and notes for the troops, which would then be shipped overseas in care packages prepared by the Blue Star Mothers of Rochester.

The effort kicked off in earnest in April, and by the beginning of the month, mailboxes had been set up in a dozen Town and Village of Webster businesses to collect the messages. Then it was just up to community members to answer the call.

They did that, big time.

Children and adults alike, from all walks of life, embraced the challenge from day one. Individuals, neighborhoods, businesses, schools, after-care programs and Scouts all started making cards. Churches, social groups, veterans, the VFW, American Legion, nursing homes, and active duty units all made cards. The Chamber of Commerce and Webster Public Library even hosted card-making events. By the end of the month, Webster blew the original goal out of the water, completing an amazing 1,558 cards and letters.

It was such an amazing response that Cherie Wood, the Mail Call organizer, has brought it back again this coming April. Her goal once again is 1,000 cards and letters, and while the mailboxes won’t be installed again until April, it’s not too early to start actually writing out some cards. Just tuck them aside for a few months; it would be a great way to kick-start the effort. It would also be helpful if you have some blank cards which you can donate to the cause. They come in very handy when places like the library have community events. Just put them aside, too, and stay tuned for more details about where to drop them off.

Lots more info to come about the Mail Call: Letters From Home 2026 initiative. Stay tuned and start writing!

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

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

(posted 1/17/2026)

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