Tag Archives: Missy Rosenberry

News from the Friends of Webster Trails

5 Apr

Got my quarterly newsletter from the Friends of Webster Trails (FWT) a few days ago, which is always good for a blog post. Even though I’ve been a member of the Friends for years, it always amazes me the untiring effort this group puts in every day of the year — not just in the warmer months — to not just maintain our current trails but build more.

You can read the whole newsletter here, but I’ve pulled out some tidbits which I found particularly interesting:

  • For starters, the Friends have a brand new website. The one they had before was pretty good, but this newly updated site is a big improvement. The great maps are still there, plus there are more photos, news about the trails, an interactive event calendar, and more integration with social media. (Click here to read the blog I wrote about the new site in February.)
  • Couple of opportunities to meet some of the volunteers and learn more about the Friends: on Saturday April 13, the Friends will have an information table set up at Community Arts Day, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. You can learn about some of the plans they have for 2024 and learn more about volunteer opportunities.
  • Also on Saturday April 13, the Friends will be presenting a program on Trail History at the Webster Public Library from 11 a.m. to noon. You’ll hear a brief history of the more than 20 miles of trails in Webster, and discover some hidden gems in the trail system. Registration is requested.
  • On Saturday April 20, Earth Day, the Friends will be working at Gosnell Big Woods Preserve clearing vines and dense foliage along the split rail fence. They’ll also be doing some tree and shrub potting at the ReTree Nursery. Both projects could use a lot of hands, so check the newsletter for details about how you can help.
  • The Friends will be attending the Webster Public Library’s Summer Reading Kickoff Party on June 21 at Charles Sexton Park from 5:30 to 7 p.m. They’ll have an information table there and will be revealing a Kids Summer Reading List related to trails.
  • Denise Bilsback, Membership Chair, reports that the membership total is down a bit, but only because she cleared out some deadwood. (Hint hint: make sure you renew your subscription!) But, she says, “we continue to get a steady stream of new members monthly.” (Yay!)
  • Want an easy way to help out? The Friends need some mowers. The FWT will provide the mowers and the volunteers just need to do the mowing and put the mower back in the trailer for Parks and Rec to pick up. Should be just a few hours a month. Email contact@webstertrails.org for more information.

I didn’t even get into the individual reports from the trail stewards, most of which reported all kinds of work clearing trees, replacing boardwalks and gates, and much more. The work continues nonstop so that we all can fully enjoy the great natural resources that Webster offers.

According to a new trail counter recently purchased by the Friends, use of the trails is huge. The Bird Sanctuary Trail, for example, had more than 900 hikers during one week last December. So it’s great to hear that new members continue to join the Friends, but memberships still are a small percentage of those who actually enjoy the trails.

So please, check out the new website, and when you do, PLEASE hover over that “become a Friend” tab and drop $10 (or $15 per family) to become a member and help the Friends of Webster Trails continue to do great things for our community.

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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 4/5/2024)

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Blue Star Mothers hosting annual Military Baby Shower

4 Apr

Calling all local military families!

The Blue Star Mothers NY8 Chapter of Rochester are making plans for this year’s Military Baby Shower, and they’re looking for more families to shower with gifts.

The event, scheduled for Sunday May 5 at the Cottreall-Warner American Legion Post on Ridge Rd., will shower up to 20 babies with “Baby Baskets of Loving Care,” each filled with gifts for moms and their babies including baby clothing, handmade outfits, homemade blankets, sweaters, booties and hats, diapers, wipes, baby supplies, toys, and more. The new mamas will also be offered chair massages and other pampering at the event.

Active duty, veterans and military spouses of active duty and veterans who are expecting or have children up to 6 months old are welcome to register for and attend the shower. (Must be a resident of Monroe or Wayne counties.)

The Mothers have been pulling together donations for many months, but they’d love to get a lot more. If you’d like to help out, you can donate to their baby gift registry through this Amazon.com link.

Blue Star Mothers president Amy VanDerwerken said, “We love how the local community comes together to support this event. They allow us to provide diapers, clothes, wipes, bibs, blankets, bottles, toys, books, etc.” Besides the many individuals who donate from the Amazon Baby Shower list, they also receive donations from several local businesses and community organizations.

Blue Star Mothers are mothers, stepmothers, grandmothers, foster mothers and female legal guardians who have children serving in the military, guard or reserves, or children who are veterans. The Baby Shower for Military is one of the group’s most important service projects. Each year BSM NY8 honors up to 20 local military families, and for some of these expectant mothers, it may be the only baby shower they get, since they’re usually stationed far away from their close relatives.

“We hope to continue growing and working with the community to be able to support our local military families,” VanDerwerken said. “We could not do this military baby shower event without that support.” 

The Military Baby Shower will be hosted by the Cottreall-Warner American Legion Post on Sunday May 5 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. It’s totally free for the first 20 women to register. To sign up, or for more information, contact one of the Baby Shower Committee Co-chairs, Amy VanDerwerken and Jill Harris, at 1VP.NY8@BlueStarMothers.US.

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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 4/4/2024)

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Buy Girl Scout cookies, support our deployed troops

3 Apr

If you’re a big fan of Girl Scout cookies like I am, you know that the cookies have arrived and the troops are hard at work delivering them. But if you missed out on ordering this year, or you REALLY need more Thin Mints to toss in the freezer, have no fear. I know of at least one troop which will be selling them at local businesses in the coming weeks.

Webster Girl Scout Troop 60344 will have a table set up in these locations on these dates:

  • Sunday, April 7: Lowe’s Home Improvement, 900 Five Mile Line Rd., 1 to 4 p.m.
  • Friday, April 12: Edge Barber Shop, 205 North Ave., 4:30 to 7:30 p.m.
  • Saturday, April 13: Edge Barber Shop, 205 North Ave., noon to 3 p.m.
  • Saturday, April 27: Walmart, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.  
  • Saturday, April 27: Walmart, 1 to 4 p.m.

They’ll not only be selling cookies to all of us, they’ll also be taking orders for cookies which will be included in care packages being put together by the Blue Star Mothers for our locally deployed troops, which will be mailed out in June.

Service members love Girl Scout cookies, as you can imagine. They’re a small taste of home. And even after they’ve been bounced around the world and even if they arrive in crumbs, they’re still treasured. So plan to stop by one of these tables this month, pick up some extra cookies for yourself, and help spread smiles around the world.

You can also purchase cookies online to be included in the care packages. Click here to get to the website, and make sure to indicate “Have Girl Scout Troop 60344 deliver the cookies” so you don’t pay for shipping. And please add the word “Care” before their name (like, Care Missy Rosenberry). This will let the troop know the cookies will be donated to our service members. (Best to stay away from chocolate cookies since they might melt in transit!)

Questions? Contact Cherie Wood at  WebsterWreaths@icloud.com.

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

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

(posted 4/3/2024)

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Ron Kampff: Citizen of the Year!

2 Apr

I was reading the most recent newsletter from Challenger Miracle Field the other day, when I came across a bit of news which made me stop in my tracks. It’s the kind of news that should be shouted from the rooftops, and I was surprised I hadn’t heard about it earlier.

At last month’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade, Miracle Field Vice Chair Ron Kampff was honored as Citizen of the Year.

If you’re at all familiar with Miracle Field, then you know about Ron Kampff and why this award was so well deserved. Ron is a Webster treasure; the heart and soul of Miracle Field, and the driving force behind the creation — and continuing success — of this incredible facility. He commitment to fostering inclusivity within our community is unparalleled.

The Rochester St. Patrick’s Day Parade website published a whole write-up about Ron and why he was recognized. It reads, in part,

Ron is most proud of being able to help both children and adults with disabilities in our community. During his 30 plus years of being a board member of the Webster Little League, he was able to start a challenger baseball program in 2001, which has grown from 32 participants to over 150! He has also been a member of the Kiwanis Club of Webster, where he has served as president. Continuing his mission to help others, Ron and a good friend started raising money in 2014 to build a facility designed for kids and adults with special needs. Hence, Challenger Miracle Field of Greater Rochester was born! They now operate year-round and offer a variety of sports and special events on and off the field. Ron was fortunate enough to also establish a Beep Baseball team for the blind and visually impaired. Taking it a step further he helped form Rochester Area Blind Athletes, Inc where he serves as Vice-President…and Ron says, “Miracles really do happen!” 

Click here to visit the website and read more.

Ron walked in the parade alongside his friend Billy, accepting congratulations all along the way. Today I add my congratulations, along with heartfelt thanks from the entire Webster community.

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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 4/2/2024)

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Ruff Day Resort celebrates grand re-opening

31 Mar

I always appreciate the opportunity to write about businesses which are not only successful in this difficult economic environment, but are actually growing.

That’s the case for Ruff Day Resort, a daycare and overnight resort for dogs. Owner Amy Holtz opened her first location on Empire Blvd. eight years ago. It didn’t take too long to outgrow that space, and not long ago she moved to a much larger location on Gravel Rd. in Webster, pretty much across the street from Abbott’s.

The new Gravel Rd. location features more than 5,800 sq. ft. of mud-free K9 grass. Inside there’s 8,000 sq. ft. of play area, training and boarding space. There’s also a luxury boarding area with luxury studio apartments, offering a real dog vacation area.

On Saturday April 13, the pup-loving community is invited as Amy celebrates her Spring Fling Grand Re-opening Party and fundraiser for homeless pets from 10 a.m. to noon with tours of the facility, adoptable puppies/dogs from local rescues, refreshments, snacks, photos, prizes and more.

Special guests at the event include New 2 U Rescue, North Paw Rescue, RocDog, Lucabear & Friends Pet Photography, NY Sugar Art, Stop the 22, Mouse Vacation Planning and others. All proceeds from the day will be donated to RocDog, North Paw and New 2 U, nonprofit organizations dedicated to alleviating the plight of homeless and abandoned companion animals.

Can’t make the party? You can also check out the facility when Ruff Day hosts a Community Pet CPR event on Sunday April 7 at 2 p.m. Click here for more details about that.

For more information on Ruff Day Resort, visit www.ruffdayresort.com or call 585-347-4033.

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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 3/31/2024)

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The Webster Public Library: more than meets the eye

30 Mar

I learned something really cool the other day: you can borrow snowshoes from the Webster Public Library.

SNOWSHOES!

They’re just one of 19 “Experience Kits” which the library offers for one-week loans. The kits run the gamut of indoor and outdoor activities, including how-to kits for knitting and crocheting, gardening basics, bug catching, yoga and rock collecting. But there’s also a ghost hunting kit (including an EMF meter), a metal detector, a telescope kit and a GoPro camera — and you can just BORROW any one of them!

Now, I’ve always known that the library is a pretty terrific place, but when WPL Director Adam Traub and Outreach Coordinator Jason Poole spoke at this month’s Webster Chamber of Commerce breakfast they reminded me about some pretty cool things at the library that’d I had forgotten about.

Like, next time you’re on vacation, you can borrow an Empire Pass, which will get you into any NYS Park for free. You can get VIP passes for places like Geva Theater, Corning Museum of Glass and the George Eastman House. You can even borrow a Kindle or a wifi hotspot.

So, now you know. The Webster Public Library is more than just books.

On that subject, here are a few special events coming up at the library which you might be interested in:

Community eclipse event

If you’re still not sure where you plan to settle for the once-in-a-lifetime solar eclipse on April 8, consider joining the library for their Community Eclipse Event at the Webster Recreation Center. The all-ages event will feature eclipse crafts and activities, storytime, a scavenger hunt, photo booth, yoga, bounce house (weather permitting), outdoor games, raffles, refreshments, WPL eclipse merchandise, eclipse glasses for viewing, and more!

It all happens from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the Webster Recreation Center, 1350 Chiyoda Dr. Registration is not required.

Special Needs Parent Resource Fair

The library will host a Special Needs Parent Resource Fair on Saturday April 20 from 10 a.m. to noon. This is especially designed for parents, guardians or caregivers looking for more information about resources and opportunities in our community for children and adults with special needs. More than 50 agencies from all around Rochester are already signed up. Click here to see the list of participants.

Caregivers can come any time during the time of the fair and ask questions and get information. If you’re unable to attend, information about the attending organizations will be available upon request. Registration is not required unless you’d like to be reminded of the event. Click here to register.  

If you are an organization that would like to participate, please email jennifer.paxson@libraryweb.org.

Friends of the Library Book Sale

Mark your calendars for the annual Friends of the Webster Public Library spring book sale. This year’s sale takes place April 24 to 27, with all books priced 50 cents (paperbacks) or $1 (hardcovers).

The Friends Members Night will be April 24 from 4 to 7 p.m. In addition to the great variety of gently used books at great prices, this year the Friends we have added a Mini Vintage and Collectible Book Sale only available on the Friends Members Night.  A small collection of vintage and collectible books in good to excellent condition will be available for $8 to $200. Friends memberships will be available at the door.

The General Public Sale will begin Thursday, April 25 from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., with a bag sale on Friday, April 26 (bring your own bag and fill it for just $5). The bag sale continues Saturday April 27, from 10 a.m. to noon.

All proceeds will benefit the Webster Public Library.  

Diverse Abilities Dialogues — In-person real parent experience panel

If you’re a parent of, or caregiver for, a person with developmental disabilities, this next program might also interest you.

On Wednesday May 1 from 11 a.m. to noon, Parents Helping Parents, Challenger Miracle Field and the Webster Public Library will host a Diverse Abilities Dialogue panel presentation by parents who have children with developmental disabilities. Each parent will talk about their unique situations and answer questions. The parents are not physicians, but can speak about their practical experience dealing with every day issues. 

Panel presenters will be Brittany Jencik, Kim Dooher and Danielle Salamone from Parents Helping Parents; Beth Cunico, Director of Challenger Miracle Field; Mandy Kresge, Chair of Webster SEPTA; and Jenny Paxson from the Webster Public Library. 

Nazareth students will be on hand to offer respite care while you attend the program. 

Registration is required. Click here to register. If you can’t make it, the program will be live-streamed on YouTube and then recorded.

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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 3/30/2024)

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Community collaboration feeds families in need this holiday

29 Mar

More than 150 Webster families in need will have a holiday meal to put on the table this Easter, thanks to a new community collaboration among three local service agencies.

At a well organized and efficiently run drive-through event held Tuesday afternoon, 151 cars pulled through the United Church of Christ parking lot on Klem Rd., each collecting a shopping bag packed with the makings for a complete Easter dinner. Each bag included boxed potatoes, canned corn, canned green beans, apple juice, pasta, pasta sauce, mac and cheese, peanut butter, jelly, and either dinner rolls or sliced bread. In addition, each family received a gift card from Webster NY Hope to be used toward the purchase their choice of protein for the meal (like a ham).

Kris Lombardo, Tracy Dennis, Margery Morgan, Wendy Lesko
The food distribution volunteers

The free food distribution event was coordinated and run by a unique collaboration among three Webster service agencies: Webster NY Hope, Webster Community Chest and Gathering Place Webster. It grew from a need that has existed for several years, ever since the Webster Council of Churches discontinued its holiday food baskets program.

The idea came to Wendy Lesko at Gathering Place and Tracy Dennis at Webster Community Chest almost at the same time. They combined forces with Margery Morgan at Webster Hope, and plans were put into motion.

It was the first time the agencies had collaborated on a project like this. Each organization helped spread the word, and the original plan was to allow only 100 families to sign up. But several days before the scheduled distribution, that number had grown to 151 families, which put everyone into overdrive.

“I sent an email to all of the churches, all of the Scout leaders that I knew of, and some women’s groups,” Lesko said. “I explained the collaboration and our goal. I had a grocery list and asked them to consider signing up.” Several Scout groups and a handful of churches responded, but the group was still far short of what they needed to fill all the bags.

So they sent out another message through social media, this time asking for help from the Webster community in general. By Monday, the day before the distribution was scheduled, all of the necessary items had been collected. Then, that night, 44 community members — adults and lots of children — showed up at The Gathering Place to pack all 151 bags. It took them only a half hour.

“The community did this,” Lesko said. “It was a really remarkable thing.“

The goal is to hold a food distribution event four times a year: Easter, Thanksgiving, Christmas and perhaps a barbecue or picnic sometime during the summer. And now that the whole team is in place, and they know the effort will be well supported by the Webster community, they’ll be feeding 150 families each time.

More than 40 people showed up to help pack the bags

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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 3/29/2024)

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Santa keeps his word

27 Mar

When children visit with Santa in the weeks before Christmas to deliver their wish lists, they always have a lot of questions. How many elves are at the North Pole? What are the names of your reindeer? What kind of cookies do you like? But one question that Santa doesn’t get very often: will you come to my birthday party?

That’s the question 4-year old Claire Thornquist posed to at least one of the Santas she visited last December. And Santa said that he would try.

Fast forward three months, and little Claire was helping plan her 5th birthday party, to be held at Northern Hemisphere Gymnastics on Barrett Rd. When it was time to put the invitation list together, it naturally included lots of school and neighborhood friends. But it was missing one special person.

“We didn’t know she was going to remember and hold us to that,” Claire’s mother Jennifer said. “But when it was time to do the list for her party, she said, ‘You’re forgetting about Santa. He said he was coming.’ So I really had to make it happen.”

Jennifer’s first thought was that since Santa has a lot going on off-season, they might not be able to find one who had time for them. Tracking down that one Santa who had said yes would not be easy. Then a friend put her in touch with Webster’s very own Santa Jim, known very well in the village for his appearances at the Village Hall and in the Parade of Lights during Winter Wonderland.

“He was more than gracious and actually said that he could squeeze us into his schedule,” Jennifer said, “so I wasn’t going to get worried until it was time to get worried.”

But even though this particular Santa was not the one to hear Claire’s original request, he would not disappoint her. Because Santa always keeps his word.

Santa presents Claire with the first gift of Christmas
Claire and her mom Jennifer with Santa

So on Saturday, March 23, Santa took a break from working with his elves at the North Pole to make a cameo appearance at Claire’s birthday party. Jennifer was a bit concerned that some of the kids would be confused or even scared to see Santa off-season. But she needn’t have been worried. When they saw Santa come down the hall, every single one of the party guests forgot about the birthday cake in front of them and swarmed around the jolly old elf.

And of course, Claire’s face lit up with the biggest smile as she ran to give Santa a huge hug.

Santa’s visit was short, only about 15 minutes, but it was enough time for him to give Claire a very memorable gift — a large silver bell, the first gift of Christmas — and to give every child some individual attention. It was an unforgettable birthday indeed, thanks to a Santa who strives to make every child feel special.

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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 3/27/2024)

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Some more thoughts on the Bay Bridge’s birthday

26 Mar

I’ve said this before, but it always surprises me how many people enjoy my blogs about local history.

Case in point, the recent History Bit piece I wrote about the Irondequoit Bay Bridge. It celebrated a birthday in February, and I commemorated the occasion with a quick look back at when it was built.

Even though I posted it two weeks ago, it continues to get at least a few hits every day, and has received a lot of interesting and amusing comments. I want to thank everyone who chimed in, and would like to share a few of those comments today. (Make sure to read all the way to the end to see the special email I got this morning.)

  • Cindy Frank wrote, “I have pics from construction of the bridge … My dad would drive to Dewitt Rd. and we’d walk down to construction area.” 
  • Ralph Derleth and his grandpa watched from Point Pleasant while carp fishing.
  • Several people report having driven over the bridge before it was officially open. Ralph Derleth, Brian Hegedorn, Tom McCoy, and Don and Judy Herman reportedly it on snowmobiles.
  • George Baker remembers “driving around the barricades of the unopened new bridge and testing the limits of the speedometer of my GTO, more than once.”
  • Linda Abson remembers that her neighbor on Oneida Lake, Bob Patriage, was one of the engineers on the project. He passed away two years ago at age 98.
  • Carol Lindquist posted, “I grew up next to the bridge, my parents took us down to walk on it. One time we took our bikes and I rode my tricycle across it. My mom told me a story: Our first house was on the original Inspiration Point Road which was bought by the state. Our house was put on a trailer and moved all the way across Webster to John Glen Blvd. My mom was driving down the road and had to pull to the side for an oversized load, it was our house! We built a new house in the new Inspiration Pt. Rd.”
  • Nell Herman did some research, and reported, “I Googled the little boy that was taken across the bridge to the hospital. It looks like he became a detective. It looks like he followed in the footsteps of that police officer who made the decision to drive across the bridge.”
  • Dave McKibben sent along this nice story: “My mom told me a funny story of when this was being built… Her grandfather lived close by and would go down to the construction site and “take his tools back.” After realizing he had dementia, the workers would come to his house before their shift to “borrow his tools.” Some would even play along enough to return them after their shift. It was a different time back then…”

Finally, I just heard this morning from Mary Alice Moore, the mother of the little boy with the medical emergency who was transported across the bridge that cold morning. She wrote,

That little boy that was taken across the bridge to save his life was my son, Kevin Lohse. It was one of the scariest days of my life. It happened a couple days after his first birthday. I always checked on him and his sister if I got up in the night. When I checked Kevin he was barely breathing and had a very high temperature. Immediately called 911. His bedroom was upstairs but for some reason my husband carried him downstairs to the dining room table and started giving him mouth to mouth.

The first policeman that arrived minutes after we called almost passed out when he saw Kevin. I think he must have been very young and new on the job. Yes, they made the quick decision to open the barricade to get to Rochester General quickly in order to save his life.

I am convinced that I found Kevin as he was experiencing SDS. We came home from the hospital the same day and he was fine after the temperature came down. Only God knows for sure! Kevin and I participated in the ribbon cutting of the Bay Bridge that summer! Yes in fact Kevin is a detective in Ohio.

Do you have some memories from when the Bay Bridge was built? Add a comment on my blog or on my Facebook post!

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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 3/26/2024)

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Neighborhood tradition that began during COVID is still going strong

24 Mar

Those of us fortunate enough to live in Webster know the feeling of community we get from being part of a small town. We wave at our neighbors as we take our walks, hang over the back fence to talk about the news of the day, maybe even organize a block party. But the residents of one Webster neighborhood have taken the idea of neighborliness to a much greater level, with a nightly — and very long-running — happy hour.

The tradition began in March 2020, just as the pandemic was shutting the world down. We were all resigning ourselves to putting our lives, and relationships with our our friends and family members, on hold for the foreseeable future.

That idea didn’t sit well with Jack Turan. He’d heard about how, in small towns all across Italy, residents were opening their shutters, sitting in their windows with their glasses of wine, and singing. The story gave him an idea: how about meeting up with his neighbors, outdoors, to enjoy a beverage and socially-distanced conversation?

That was the evening of March 22, 2020, and the beginning of a nightly tradition in one north Webster neighborhood that has continued every day since.

They call it the neighborhood “Yack with Jack Happy Hour.” Sometimes only two neighbors show up, especially if the weather is iffy. Other evenings it might be as many as 10 or 12. But the nightly streak has been unbroken now for four straight years, and on Sunday afternoon, almost two dozen adults and children gathered at the end of Jack Turan’s driveway to celebrate.

Pizzas on the grill by Jack Turan

Everyone brought a snack to share (there was an abundance of sweets) and someone popped a bottle of champagne for a toast. But that was pretty much all of the officially planned activities for the evening; the rest of the time was spent just like every other night, chatting and laughing with friends and neighbors.

Even after four years, and even though COVID is becoming just a bad memory, there’s absolutely no plans to call an end to the happy hours.

“It will go as long as people want it to go,” Jack said. “There’s times when we say, how long should this go on? Then we look at each other and say, why would we want to end this? … It would be tough if all of a sudden we said, this is our last night.” 

And even after four years, “We still find fun things to talk about,” added Sue Coulon. “I have not been out a night when I haven’t chuckled and laughed.”

Wouldn’t it be great if all had neighbors that would do that for us every night of our lives? 

Jack raises a toast
Duck races — a new tradition? Stay tuned

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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 3/24/2024)

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