Tag Archives: NEQALS

EMS Week: your chance to learn more about our local first responders

12 May

Next week is National EMS Week, an annual opportunity for community members to learn more about our local first responders — who they are, what they do, what kind of training they require, and more.

National EMS Week, this year scheduled from May 15 to 21, celebrates our area’s EMTs, paramedics and other staff members. As part of the week-long observance, Northeast Quadrant Advanced Life Support and Webster Emergency Medical Services are hosting a variety of community events at their EMS base, 1030 Jackson Road in Webster.  

It all begins Saturday May 14, when local artists Music of the Stars will hold a concert at the EMS facility. Moondance will open the show from 4 to 7 p.m. and Music of the Stars will play from 7:30 to 10 p.m. There’ll be food and adult beverage trucks beginning at 4 p.m. Tickets are $20 in advance (click here to purchase) and $25 at the door.

On Sunday May 15, NEQALS will host a Community Health Fair and Open House from noon to 4 p.m. More than 20 area organizations will be at the fair including local law enforcement, University of Rochester’s Mobile Stroke Unit and a variety of health and wellness businesses. Attendees can get hands-on experience with EMS equipment, see EMS demonstrations from professionals, register for the bone marrow donor list, take photos with Doc McStuffins and tour the state-of-the-art EMS base and ambulances. 

Other events this coming week include:

  • Monday May 16: WHEN’s Narcan/Naloxone Training, 7 to 8:30 p.m.
  • Tuesday May 17: Stroke Recognition Training, 6 to 8 p.m.
  • Wednesday May 18: Community CPR Training, 7 to 9 p.m.
  • Thurday May 19: Stop the Bleed Training, 6 to 8 p.m.

All of the training sessions will be held at the EMS Base, 1030 Jackson Rd. They’re free of charge, and all require registration EXCEPT the Stroke Recognition Training. To register, email community.education@neqals.org and include your name, address, email address, phone number, the event and date.

Parking will be at the EMS Base. If necessary, overflow parking will be at the Ukrainian Cultural Center (1040 Jackson) and the Elks Club Lodge (1066 Jackson).  

* * *

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

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 5/12/2022)

 

Tags: , ,

Learn more about the new NEQALS facility

28 Feb

If you’ve been wanting to learn more about the brand new NEQALS facility on Jackson Rd., here’s your chance.

On Tuesday March 1 from 6 to 7 p.m., Northeast Quadrant Advanced Life Support will be hosting its first “Learn About EMS” meeting at the new headquarters, 1030 Jackson Rd.

Community members are invited to check out the brand new facility, take a tour, see the advanced life support equipment and ambulances, and understand how EMS works in Webster. Members of the NEQALS Board of Directors will be on hand to answer any questions.

Everyone is invited, and there’s no charge or need to register.

* * *

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

Tags:

NEQALS is finally getting a REAL home

21 Sep

It’s been years in the making, but NEQALS will soon have a beautiful new home to call its own.

NEQALS (Northeast Quadrant Advanced Life Support) has been providing emergency life support in Webster, Ontario, and Penfield for 35 years. The agency’s roots go back to 1985, when a handful of Xerox employees were trained to provide emergency services to the Xerox campus.

In the years since, NEQALS became a separate entity and expanded to meet the growing need for emergency services in our area. But they’ve never had a permanent home, bouncing around among several locations in town, each with varying amounts of space for staff members to sleep and have meals.

That will finally change, with the construction of a new, dedicated headquarters building on Jackson Rd. next to the Ukranian Cultural Center.

The land was purchased almost six years ago, kicking off a long period of fundraising. Thanks to community donations and a grant from Senator Pam Helming’s office, enough money was finally raised for the project’s down payment.

The handsome new facility will have space for ten fly cars and ambulances, office space, bunk rooms, conference rooms, a kitchen, and more. Construction should be completed by next April.

Our dedicated first responders deserve this space, and I’m thrilled to see they’re finally getting it. Most of us don’t think much about our local EMTs and ambulance service until we need them. But when we do, it’s comforting to know they’re just a phone call away.

I experienced this personally last month when I took that spill off my bike and had my first-ever ambulance ride to the hospital. We didn’t have our car, so knowing that transportation to get medical treatment was going to come to ME took away some stress during what was a pretty traumatic experience.

I hope you’ll never need to call NEQALS, never have to have one of their ambulances respond to your home or auto accident. But if that terrible day does occur, you’re going to appreciate having these dedicated first responders at your side.

Fundraising continues for the new facility. Please consider throwing them a a few dollars next time you have the chance.

Here are some more photos from the ground breaking:

  • Local and state officials joined NEQALS officials at the ground breaking.
  • Attendees were encouraged to sign a poster and a helmet
  • Photo courtesy Bay Bridge Photography
  • Courtesy Bay Bridge Photography
  • Courtesy Bay Bridge Photography
  • Courtesy Bay Bridge Photography
  • Courtesy Bay Bridge Photography

Tags:

Webster Community Blood Drive a huge success!

5 Jun

IMG_2089

Local first responders gather in the Webster Recreation Center parking lot at the end of the community blood drive.  

Wow.

Just wow. That about sums up my feelings after seeing the final tallies from this week’s Webster Community Blood Drive.

This biannual drive is always a very popular one because of the raffle prizes, but even without the promise of those prizes, our Webster community came out in record numbers. Word from the Red Cross folks is that the two-day drive attracted 191 donors, who (counting double reds) donated 197 units. Both days’ goals of 85 units were blown away in what is the best Community Blood Drive in recent memory.

IMG_20200604_173733001

Many donors also took the opportunity to write encouraging notes on posters for the first responders. 

But not only that! When the Webster community heard that this year’s drive was being held to support local businesses and first responders, they answered the call, dropping eight gift cards and more than $450 in cash into the box on the welcome table. One kind donor also included several nice notes and “Miraculous Medals.” All of the donations will be distributed to members of the North East Quadrant Advanced Life Support, the Webster Volunteer Fire Dept., and the West Webster Volunteer Fire Dept.

So THANK YOU to the Webster (and surrounding) community members who came out in support of this week’s drive by donating blood and/or cash and gift certificates. You all helped save hundreds of lives through your donations, and showed some much-need support those first responders in our community who also save lives.

A personal thank you to Monroe County Legislator Matthew Terp and Webster Deputy Supervisor Patti Cataldi for their work organizing the drive, and to Matt for manning the welcome tent in front of the Rec Center for the entire drive (except when he went inside to donate).

IMG_20200603_131058864_HDR

Matt Terp (right) and Shirley Humphrey welcome donors at the Rec Center.

* * *

email me  at missyblog@gmail.com. “Like” this blog on Facebook and follow me on Twitter.

Tags: , , , ,

Please help spread the word: It’s ONLY A DRILL

25 Jun

The following is a re-posting of the blog I wrote last week about a MASS CASUALTY fire truckDRILL planned for THURSDAY which you’ll want to know about if you live or work or drive anywhere near northeast Webster.

* * *

On Thursday June 27, Town of Webster emergency response agencies in conjunction with the Webster Central School District will be running a large-scale emergency drill at Schlegel Rd. Elementary School.

What that means is that beginning sometime between 8 and 8:30 a.m. you’re going to be hearing all kinds of sirens and see lots of fire trucks, police cars and ambulances descending on the school.

Don’t worry. It’s only a drill. School will be out for the summer, and while there will be students and adults there, they will be acting out pre-determined roles to simulate an actual emergency.

During the drill, Webster CSD, Webster Police Department, Webster Volunteer Fire Department, West Webster Volunteer Fire Department, Webster Emergency Medical Service, and Northeast Quadrant Advanced Life will simulate and respond to a large-scale school incident to test these agencies’ coordinated response. Several other area fire departments and the Monroe County Sheriff’s Department will also be involved, and the New York State Police will be on hand to provide support.

Schlegel Rd. will be closed and Special Police will be diverting traffic from 7:30 a.m. to noon to assure the safety of the actors and emergency responders. Local resident access will be allowed.

Please help spread the word to friends and neighbors.

* * *

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

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.

 

Tags: , , ,

Webster will run mass casualty drill next week

20 Jun

fire truck

(Photo: S. Rosenberry)

If you live, or work, or even find yourself driving around the northeast corner of town with any regularity, please pull out your calendar right now and make a note about this important event.

On Thursday June 27, Town of Webster emergency response agencies in conjunction with the Webster Central School District will be running a large-scale emergency drill at Schlegel Rd. Elementary School.

What that means is that beginning at around 7:30 a.m., you’re going to be hearing all kinds of sirens and see lots of fire trucks, police cars and ambulances descending on the school.

Don’t worry. It’s only a drill. School will be out for the summer, and while there will be students and adults there, they will be acting out pre-determined roles to simulate an actual emergency.

During the drill, Webster CSD, Webster Police Department, Webster Volunteer Fire Department, West Webster Volunteer Fire Department, Webster Emergency Medical Service, and Northeast Quadrant Advanced Life will simulate and respond to a large-scale school incident to test these agencies’ coordinated response.

Schlegel Rd. will be closed and Special Police will be diverting traffic from 7:30 a.m. to noon to assure the safety of the actors and emergency responders. Local resident access will be allowed.

Please help spread the word to friends and neighbors.

* * *

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

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.

 

Tags: , , , , , ,

Lots going on at the library

4 Sep

unnamed

There’s always something going on at the Webster Public Library. Here’s a sampling of programs for children and adults coming up in the next few weeks:

Learn about Ikebana (ee-kay-bah-nah), the Japanese art of flower arrangement, on Thursday Sept. 27 and Friday Sept. 28. During regular library hours, stop into the library’s meeting room for an exhibition of this disciplined art form in which the arrangement is a living thing where nature and humanity are brought together. It’s steeped in the philosophy of developing a closeness with nature.

What should you do in the fall to ready your garden for spring? Learn about Putting Your Garden to Bed on Thursday Sept. 18 from 6 to 7 p.m. Master gardener Jurij Kushner will teach you what to do in the fall to improve soil quality, and protect perennials, tender plants, trees, and shrubs from winter conditions. The program will also explain how to bring in the house plants, how to winterize tools, and how to prepare water sources for the winter season. Registration is required.

Tired of the same old hair styles? On Monday Sept. 10 from 6:30 to 8 p.m., teens can learn Hair Braiding 101, some fun new braiding techniques to try out on themselves or their friends. The class is designed for teens in grades 6 and up (adults and younger children ages 10 and up welcome if they are accompanying a teen), and registration is required.

Children ages 15 months to 8 years old will explore science, technology, engineering and math with the STEAM Powered Play program on Thursday Sept. 13 from 3 to 4 p.m. or 4:15 to 5:15 p.m. Children will learn concepts and practice skills through hands-on exploration and play, such as creative problem solving, critical thinking, self-regulation, pre-math and science, sensory experience, construction and more. We provide experiences with blocks and loose parts, process oriented art, sensory and science, dramatic/pretend play, and language and literacy, and more. Registration required. Children must be accompanied by adults. For more information click here.

Have you always wanted to learn CPR but didn’t know where to go to do it? You can do that at the library, too! NEQALS is offering several classes in Community CPR, First Aid and AED. It is a two-year certification through the American Heart Association. The class is open to everyone in the community from 5 years old and up. Current classes are scheduled for Sept. 29, October 13, November 10 and December 8, all at 10:30 a.m. at the library. Cost is $45 per person. To sign up, email community.education@neqals.org.

The Webster Public Library is located at 980 Ridge Road. Make sure to check out their entire schedule of classes for children and adults.

* * *

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

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.

Tags: , ,

Tuesday Community Mailbag

12 Jun

wine glassSummer’s beginning to heat up in the village of Webster, marked by the first Wine Walk of the season, this Saturday June 16.

Local merchants participating this time around include Metro Sport Brokers, The Coach Sports Bar, Roc and Soul Fitness, Webster Hots, Sweetwood BBQ, Holistic Health Center, Furnari Jewelry, The Garage Sale Store, MJ Gabel Jewelers, Reggio’s Engraving and Artecho.

Glass pickup will begin at 3:30 p.m. at Kittelberger Florist, 263 North Ave., and ends at 5:30 p.m.. Please make sure to have your ID; each participant must pick up his or her own glass.

Tickets are $15 and can be purchased at the Webster BID website here. Organizers report there might be a glitch on the site indicating that the event is sold out, but that’s not the case. Just keep clicking through, because there are lots of tickets left.

* * *

St. Martin Lutheran Church will host its annual HUGE Garage Sale Thursday through Saturday, June 14 to 16. Hours are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Thursday and Friday, 9 to 2 on Saturday.

St. Martin is located at 813 Bay Road, Webster

* * *

Schichtel-Mark-webCongratulations to Mark Schichtel, the new principal at DeWitt Road Elementary School.

Schichtel is currently DeWitt’s assistant principal, and will officially begin his new position on July 1. He’ll be taking over for Debra Reed, who is retiring at the end of this school year after more than 23 years of outstanding service to WCSD.

Before coming to DeWitt Elementary, Schichtel served as WCSD’s director of science and technology from 2010-2013, was assistant principal at Williamson High School, and taught science in the East Irondequoit School District.

* * *

The NEQ ALS, our local paramedic service, will host its first Food Truck Rodeo and Craft Fair of the season on Thursday June 21 from 5 to 8 p.m. at the Firemen’s Field on Main Street.

There aren’t a whole lot of details yet about what trucks of crafty people will be there, but in the past the trucks have included Netsins Ice Cream, Effortlessly Healthy, Macarollin and Heiztelmans. Some vendors who have shown up before include Young Living, LuLaRoe, Honey and Lace, Pampered Chef, Usborne Books, Tupperware, Perfectly Posh, Tastefully Simple, Lip Sense, XS Energy, and Park Lane Paparazzi.

Proceeds from the event will help the NEQ ALS build a new headquarters building.

Updates can be found on the NEQ ALS Facebook page here.

* * *

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

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.

Tags: , , , , , , ,

Another mailbag!

2 Sep

mailbagI know I cleaned out my email box not long ago, but several other items have popped up in recent days, so here’s another mailbag!

Free Rabies Clinic

On Thursday, September 14, the Town of Webster and the Monroe County Health Department will combine effort to host a FREE Rabies Clinic at a NEW location this time. It will be held at the Webster Volunteer Fire Department firehouse at 35 South Avenue in the village, from 5 to 7 p.m.

If your dog/cat has had a rabies vaccine in the past, bring that current rabies certificate with you for your pet to receive a three-year vaccination, without the certificate the dog/cat will be issued a one-year vaccine certificate.

If you can’t attend the clinic, contact the Monroe County Health Department at 753-5171 or visit the Town of Webster website for information on future Rabies Clinics in Monroe County.

Flapjack Breakfast

The monthly Community Flapjack Breakfasts are back at the First Baptist Church of Penfield, after a summer break.

The first breakfast of the season is Saturday September 16, with proceeds to benefit Willow Domestic Violence Center.

The breakfast will run from 8 to 10 a.m. at the church, 1862 Penfield Road. It includes pancakes, pure maple syrup, scrambled eggs, sausage, and more, all for just $5.00 per person.

Household Hazardous Waste Collection

The Monroe County Department of Environmental Services (DES), the Town of Webster and the Town of Penfield have joined forces to hold an appointment-only Household Hazardous Waste collection on Saturday, September 16.  The collection will take place at the Webster Highway Department, 1005 Picture Parkway, from 7:45 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Most household hazardous waste products (paint, flammables and other chemicals from home-use) are safe when used and stored properly. When they become unwanted and are disposed of improperly, these household wastes can become environmental hazards.

To ensure safety and reduce waiting times, appointments are required. Appointments for this collection will be accepted until September 15. To schedule an appointment, Webster residents should call 872-1443 (Monday thru Thursday, 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.); Penfield residents can call 340-8710, or go on-line to http://www.monroecounty.gov/hhw to schedule your appointment. This Household Hazardous Waste collection is open to all Monroe County residents. Waste from businesses will not be accepted.

Food Truck Rodeo

On Thursday September 21, our local paramedic service, the NEQ ALS, will be hosting the organization’s third food truck rodeo and vendor fair at the Firemen’s Field on Main Street, from 5 to 8 pm.

Details are still coming together as to which food trucks and vendors will be attending this time around, but in August the trucks included: Netsins Ice Cream, Effortlessly Healthy, Macarollin and Heiztelamns, and the vendors included Young Living, LuLaRoe, Honey and Lace, Pampered Chef, Usborne Books, Tupperware, Perfectly Posh, Tastefully Simple, Lip Sense, XS Energy, and Park Lane Paparazzi.

For updates, visit the event page here.

Fall Chicken BBQ 

St. Martin Lutheran Church’s bi-annual Chicken BBQ will be held Saturday, September 23 from 4:30-6:30 at the church, 813 Bay Road, Webster.

Dinners of ½ chicken, salt potatoes, cole slaw, roll, butter and beverage are available for $10.  Luscious pie slices and other desserts will also be available for purchase.  A hot dog dinner for kids is $2.

Dinners are eat-in or take-out. Tickets can be reserved by calling the church office at 671-1899, or purchased at the event while supplies last. Proceeds will support the church’s Christmas Stocking Project, which reaches more than 500 youths in Monroe and Wayne counties.

* * *

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

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.

 

Tags: , , , , , , ,

Summer’s not over yet

14 Aug

Whoa.

So the stores are stocking great quantities of school supplies again and I’m beginning to get great quantities of emails from the schools about opening day. Everyone else seems a whole lot more excited about the end of summer than I am.

If you’re like me and you want to squeeze every bit of summer out of the next few weeks, here are a few events to get you started.

NEQ vehiclesThis Thursday August 17, our local paramedic service, the NEQALS, will be hosting a food truck rodeo and craft show at the Firemen’s Field on Main Street, from 5 to 8 pm.

Food trucks that will be on hand include Netsins Ice Cream, Effortlessly Healthy, Macarollin and Heiztelamns.

Vendors will include Young Living, LuLaRoe, Honey and Lace, Pampered Chef, Usborne Books, Tupperware, Perfectly Posh, Tastefully Simple, Lip Sense, XS Energy, and Park Lane Paparazzi.

Live music will be provided by Bryan Prince. Funds raised that evening will help build a new NEQALS base here in town.

Two more food truck rodeos/fundraisers are scheduled for Thursday September 21 and Thursday October 19, all at the Firemen’s Field, and all between 5-8 p.m.

* * *

Summer fun continues in the village these next two Tuesdays, August 15 and 22, with the weekly movies in the park series.

The Secret Life of Pets will be shown on August 15, rescheduled from July.

petsposterTaking place in a Manhattan apartment building, Max’s life as a favorite pet is turned upside down, when his owner brings home a sloppy mongrel named Duke. They have to put their quarrels behind when they find out that an adorable white bunny named Snowball is building an army of lost pets determined to take revenge.

Disney’s Big Friendly Giant is the featured attraction on Tuesday August 22.

In the movie, an orphan girl befriends a benevolent giant who takes her to Giant Country, where they attempt to stop the man-eating giants from invading the human world.

The movies are screened in the village of Webster’s Gazebo Park on North Avenue, beginning at dusk; approximate start times will be posted on the Webster BID website. Bring your chairs, blankets and picnic baskets, and make it a family night out. There’s no admission charge and free popcorn is provided.

* * *

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

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.

 

Tags: , , , , ,