Tag Archives: Missy Rosenberry

Webster remembers 9/11

13 Sep

The Village of Webster held its annual September 11th Memorial Ceremony at Veteran’s Memorial Park Monday evening.

The ceremony was a very nice affair once again. It lasted a little less than 45 minutes, and was well represented by first responders and local and regional politicians. The Webster Village Band and the Chorus of the Genesee both performed, enhancing the event with some beautiful patriotic music selections.

Perhaps 50 community members attended the ceremony. Most were older, but I was heartened to see a handful of children in the audience. Kudos to the parents for bringing the kids and helping them appreciate the gravity of that day, a day which changed their world in ways they don’t even realize.

Several officials spoke, including Village of Webster Mayor Darrell Byerts, who opened and closed the proceedings. But I was especially touched by some of the things that Monroe County Legislator George Hebert said, including, “On that terrible day, our nation became a neighborhood.” So true.

Thank you, Village of Webster, for continuing this tradition and reminding us all of the sacrifices made that day.

Here are a few more photos from the evening:

The West Webster Fire Department created their 9/11 Memorial Flag Garden once again this year, filling the grassy area in front of Station No. 1 on Gravel Rd. with 413 miniature flags, memorializing the first responders who lost their lives that awful day.

Attached to each flag was a card with the name and photograph of a firefighter, police officer or EMT who died. Individually, the flags were enough to bring you to tears as you considered the bravery and sacrifice exhibited by each one. Together, they were a simple, yet stark reminder of the great number of lives lost that day.

The flag garden is gone now. It was planted last Friday and removed on Tuesday. Here are some photos if you didn’t get to see it:

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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 9/12/2023)

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You can help students discover the joy of writing

11 Sep

I kind of like to write.

It’s basically my hobby. I have fun doing it, I’m kinda good at it, and the skills I’ve developed over the years have led to good jobs and success in those jobs. I attribute all of that to my parents and teachers who encouraged me to write as much and as often as possible.

And that’s why, when I heard about an opportunity to help young people improve their writing skills and find out that writing can actually be FUN, I jumped at the chance.

It’s a Pen-Pal Program sponsored by Webster Parks and Recreation for people 55+. You can read about it it the flyer, but this is what it says:

Remember the old days when you used to write letters? Join the Webster 55+ folks and the Autumn Lane second graders as we become pen-pals.

Sign up and you will be assigned a second-grade student to write a letter to each month. Then in May, we will take a trip to Autumn Lane to meet your pen-pal in person!

You must be committed to this program for an entire year.

Autumn Lane Elementary School is on Maiden Lane in Greece.

The program will run from October 2023 through May 2024. To register, visit the Webster Parks and Recreation website and search for activity #346905. Or call the Rec Center at (585) 872-7103. There’s no cost, just your commitment to help some students fall in love with 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 “Follow Me” link on the right side of this page.

(posted 9/11/2023)

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Happy birthday Dorothy!

10 Sep

Saturday afternoon I was honored to be on hand for a 100th birthday party held for Dorothy Humphrey. It was held at Cherry Ridge, and attended by a large crowd of friends and relatives, some of whom had come from as far as Colorado.

While Dorothy is technically my neighbor — she still owns the house a few doors down from me on Fuller Ave. in the village, which she and her husband built 75 years ago — she’s lived at Cherry Ridge for several years now. She’s been there since I moved onto Fuller four years ago, so I’d never met her before the party. This was a great opportunity to get to know her a bit better.

Dorothy and I had a very nice conversation, and I met many of her family members, who delighted me with their stories. Like how Dorothy was your stereotypical lunch lady at Spry, how she’d send a dollar bill to every one of her nieces and nephews on their birthdays until they were 16, and how she was a world-class quilter.

Dorothy with my friend Shirley, and sons Dave and Skip
Dorothy visits with Rita, a friend and fellow quilter

Thank you to my friend Shirley, Dorothy’s daughter-in-law, for this opportunity to finally meet my neighbor. And happy 100th birthday Dorothy!

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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 9/10/2023)

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Oktoberfest kicks off Challenger Week

9 Sep

Webster’s annual Oktoberfest is returning to Webster Fireman’s Field next Friday and Saturday Sept. 15 and 16. Anyone who’s ever attended this event already knows it’s a great time, but this year it marks just the beginning of a week of activities to benefit Challenger Miracle Field of Greater Rochester.

Opening at noon Friday Sept. 15, with events through Saturday evening Sept. 16, this year’s festival will feature authentic German cuisine from Swan’s Market, beer and wine by Cobblestone on Main, Nancy’s Fried Dough and Helmut’s Strudel of WNY, all set to authentic local and regional German bands and musicians. 

The Oktoberfest will be open both days from noon to 10:30 p.m. Tickets will be sold at the door for $5 from noon to 3 p.m. on Friday only, and $10 all other times. Children under 12 are free when accompanied by an adult. 

Later in the week, Miracle Field will be hosting the Zac Brown Tribute Band (Thursday Sept. 21 at  8 p.m.) and then the Rochester Regional Cornhole Tournament (all day Sunday Sept. 24). Both events will also be held at Webster Fireman’s Field.  

Sponsorship opportunities are available. If you’re interested, email oktoberfest@rochestermiraclefield.org. For more information about the Oktoberfest, click here.

Challenger Miracle Field of Greater Rochester, located at Ridge Park, 1008 Ridge Rd., provides people with developmental, physical or intellectual disabilities a barrier-free, safe, accessible place to experience the health benefits and joy of play through baseball, other team sports, and adaptive recreational equipment.

Here’s a really good example of how Miracle Field serves our special needs community.

Next time you visit the fully-accessible Karpus Family Playground at the field, you’ll notice an new a. addition, a picture board which visitors can use to enhance communication. Here’s some more information about it:

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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 9/9/2023)

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Photos from the Garlic Festival

9 Sep

I stopped by the Webster Garlic Festival this morning for a few hours and wanted to share some photos with you in a bonus blog today.

This is a terrific event (and I say “is” because it continues tomorrow). There are SO MANY garlic and craft vendors, a good number of food trucks and food vendors, even some things for the kids to do. There are also some great opportunities to support our troops by creating a personal message to be included in a care package, and sponsoring a wreath for Wreaths Across America.

You can pet an alpaca, have an ice cream cone, start your Christmas shopping, check out some demonstrations (like garlic-twisting), and learn more about some Webster community organizations. All for just $5 per person (12 and under free).

All proceeds from the Garlic Festival benefit Wreaths Across America Webster, dedicated to placing a wreath on the grave sites all 3,000 veterans in our seven Webster cemeteries. Proceeds also support local military families through Blue Star Mothers Rochester NY8.

This Webster Garlic Festival continues tomorrow, Sunday Sept. 10, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Webster Recreation Center, 1350 Chiyoda Dr.

Click here to see lots more photos from today.

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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 9/9/2023)

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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)

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(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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Webster Garlic Fest: great family fun, great way to support our military

5 Sep

Today I want to post one more reminder about this week’s return of the Webster Garlic Festival, which will be held Saturday and Sunday at the Webster Recreation Center. But in addition to revisiting all of the fun, family-friendly activities happening at the festival, I want to especially highlight the real purpose behind the event: to support our veterans and active military.

There will be several opportunities at the festival to do that. Included in the more than 100 vendors who will be displaying their products and offering samples and demonstrations will be tables set up by the Blue Star Mothers and Wreaths Across America.

The 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. One of their biggest ongoing projects is sending care packages to our locally deployed servicemen and women across the globe.

At the Mothers’ “Stars For Our Heroes” booth, families will be able to write a message on a wooden star, which will then be included in November’s care package shipment.

Wreaths Across America is an organization whose mission is to place a wreath on the grave of every veteran in the country. Webster joined that effort last December when, on National Wreath Day, more than 300 volunteers gathered at Webster Union Cemetery to lay more than 650 wreaths. Organizers hope to expand to more cemeteries this year.

At the Wreaths Across America booth, community members can choose an “Adopt a Hero” ornament from the Christmas tree and sponsor a wreath in honor of a particular veteran. Sponsorship costs just $17, with $5 of each sponsorship donated to the Blue Star Mothers to help fill and ship their care packages.

And this is going to be really cool: 100-year old Ann Greene-Wier will be giving a presentation at the festival, talking about her first husband, who died in the Battle of Bulge during WWII, and her second husband, a WWII B-17 fighter pilot who was shot down over Holland, captured and spent almost three years in a German POW camp. Ann will share a diary that was kept during the prisoners’ time there.

Ann will give her presentation on Saturday, September 9 at 11 a.m and Sunday, September 10 at 11 a.m. 

And now details about the other fun stuff:

This year’s Webster Garlic Fest will be held Saturday Sept. 9 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday Sept. 10 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Webster Recreation Center, 1350 Chiyoda Dr. It promises to be the biggest one yet. Organizers report that almost 100 vendors, food vendors and food trucks, wineries and distilleries will be there, offering a wide variety of treats from clams, garlic shrimp and lobster tails from Ontario Seafood, to barbecue from Mission BBQ and fresh pasta from M.O. Pasta. (To see a whole list of vendors, visit webstergarlicfest.com.)

Plus, there will be free demonstrations, lots of family activities, informational displays from local agencies, and wine and whiskey tastings. So even if you’re not a huge fan of garlic, there will be plenty of vendors and activities for the entire family.  

Admission is just $5, with ages 12 and under free, and will be sold at the door. Find out more on the Webster Garlic Fest Facebook page, or visit the website here.

All proceeds from the Webster Garlic Fest will benefit Wreaths Across America in Webster, and the Blue Star Mothers of Rochester, to build care packages for our locally deployed servicemen and women. 

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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 9/5/2023)

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Register now for the National Fallen Firefighters Bike Ride

5 Sep

Recently news crossed my radar about a great benefit event which will interest our cycling community in particular.

It’s the National Fallen Firefighters Bike Ride, being held in conjunction with the annual Memorial Stair Climb and Family Walk which is held every year at Innovative Field.

While the stair climb is held at locations all over the country, I’m told that the bike ride is unique to our West Webster Fire Department, so this is a chance to be part of something really cool.

The ride is being held this coming Saturday Sept. 9, and will begin and end at the WWFD Station 1 on Gravel Rd. Registrations will be taken on-site (cash or check only) beginning at 7:30 for anyone who’s not pre-registered, with welcome ceremonies beginning at 8:30.

Two courses are offered, one 9.2 miles long and a second one 19.5 miles long. Both courses take riders north from the station to the lake (see the map below). A breakfast will be held following the ride at 11 a.m.

Cost is $35 per rider, benefiting the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation. Click here to register (scroll all the way down to register as an individual rider).

The ride is being held in conjunction with the annual Rochester 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb and Family Walk, being held this year on Sunday Sept. 10 at Innovative Field. These events honor and remember the FDNY firefighters who selflessly gave their lives so that others might live on September 11, 2001.

For more information about both of these events, click 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 9/4/2023)

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