Tag Archives: town of webster

20 years of storytimes and counting. Join the party!

4 Oct

Reading skills are a critical component of educational success, and the earlier we can instill a love of reading in our young people, the better. It’s a goal we can all help to achieve with our own children, and any children we happen to have the privilege of teaching.

Jason Poole has been one of Webster’s most dedicated champions of that cause; he’s been leading storytimes and other children’s programming at Webster Public Library for 20 years.

(Keep reading for news about a party at the Recreation Center later this month to celebrate the anniversary!)

Jason Poole, currently the Webster Public Library’s Outreach Coordinator, was hired by the library on Oct. 3, 2003 as a clerk in the children’s room. He immediately started doing programming, working his way up the children’s library ladder, first as a library assistant, and in just a few years — after getting his Masters in Library Science — as a full-time librarian. Every step of the way, Jason was the story guy.

Every library worth its salt offers storytimes for children. But Jason has always found some unique twists to keep his young charges interested. For starters, before he came on board, live music wasn’t a common storytime element. Jason not only plays his guitar during his programs, but also writes songs. He also frequently teams up with other librarians to read stories, which was unusual but common now at WPL, which adds an extra layer of fun to every book.

Jason has even taken his storytimes on the road, performing at Ridge Park, at the village’s White Christmas celebration, at the Recreation Center and in the schools. And during the pandemic, he and his colleagues took the storytimes outdoors to the Harmony Park band shell on Phillips Rd., which is still a well-attended weekly event all summer.

It’s not all fun and games, of course. Well, it is fun and games, but Jason’s storytimes are not JUST about the stories. He explained,

Some people are good at doing educational storytimes, and there’s always a performative element to it. While I do want to incorporate those elements, the big thing I want is to create a safe space for parents and kids to have fun, feel safe and feel valued. Those things are really important. Some of the songs that I’ve written for storytime follow that theme of value yourself, of knowing that its okay to feel out of control, or sad or feel emotions.  

When I write songs for the kids and the grownups, one of those things I try to do is phrase it so a kid can understand it on one level, and the adult can understand it at a deeper level. I want everybody in my storytime to feel that they matter in that space. That’s really important to me. Everyone being welcome. 

I don’t want to be the focus…. I’m a performer but I’m also a facilitator.

The kids aren’t the only ones who get something out of Jason’s programs. They give him as much joy as he gives them.

“On a bad day,” he said, “I go into a storytime and see the kids dancing and singing, and realize this is the stuff that matters.”

In that space, it feels like what I do matters. It’s an honor and a privilege and I’m very grateful to have been in a place where I can be a part of that with everybody, creating a space for people to have that experience.

He added, “How incredible it’s been to be connected with this community. To see kids grow up and become adults and to have parents come up to me years later and tell me how much those storytimes meant to them.”

“I can’t believe I’m being paid for doing this.”

Haven’t seen one of Jason Poole’s storytimes recently? He holds them every Wednesday from 9:30 to 10 a.m. at the Webster Public Library, 980 Ridge Rd., so come on by.

Even better (or also), join the fun when Jason joins his youth department colleagues to celebrate his storytime anniversary with a party at the Webster Recreation Center on Saturday Oct. 14 at 6 p.m. Of course there will be stories, but also, pizza and cake!! Registration is not required but encouraged so the library knows how much pizza to buy. Click here to register. (It’ll take less than 30 seconds.) See you there!

For your enjoyment, here’s a selection of photos from Jason’s history with the library:

Stories in the park, 2011
With Shana Lynott, 2015
With Shana, 2016
With Colleen Hernandez, 2022
Webster Post, 2004

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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 10/4/2023)

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Webster community mailbag

29 Sep

Let’s get right to it …..

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

Shows are scheduled for

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

More to come about this.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

This is a free event and no registration is required.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Webster Library is located at 980 Ridge Rd.

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

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(posted 9/29/2023)

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Sloppy fun ahead

20 Sep

The Rec Center’s third annual Mud Run has been scheduled for Saturday Sept. 23.

The Mud Run is a a non-competitive, untimed, adaptive one-mile run/walk along the Recreation Center’s obstacle course/fitness trail which loops around the back of the facility. Some of the run will be through water and mud, and there will be some challenging obstacles. What’s really neat about it is that kids and their adults can do it together. It’s only $5 per person, and the event includes some pretty cool swag, and lots of food.

This is a mega-fun event that the whole family will enjoy together. I mean, what kid doesn’t enjoy getting super muddy, and especially love seeing their mom and dad get muddy with them? I had so much fun last year that I went through the course TWICE.

Visit the Webster Recreation Center website and search for program #301201. You can sign up for any 15-minute wave between 10 a.m. and noon. The Webster Recreation Center is located at 1350 Chiyoda Drive, off of Phillips Rd.

Thank you to all of this year’s sponsors, and especially to Gleason Orthodontics, which has long been a very generous sponsor of community events.

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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 9/19/2023)

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Webster’s new dog park will soon be open

19 Sep

Construction has begun on the new dog park planned in Webster Park.

In a recent press release, Monroe County Executive Adam Bello announced that ground has been broken for the dog park, which will be located in the large grassy area at the corner of Lake Rd., and Park Rd., which leads into the campground.

The 1.5-acre dog park will include separate areas for large and smaller dogs, agility equipment and drinking stations. Construction is expected to be complete by the end of October. The project is being funded by a $250,000 grant secured by Assemblymember Jennifer Lunsford, part of the Go Outside Monroe Initiative, dedicated to modernizing the county’s parks system. The funds will also be used to repair and replace existing equipment on the nearby playground.

When completed, the new Webster facility will be the third dog park within the Monroe County
Parks system, joining active locations at both Ellison Park and Greece Canal Park. Dog park users must be registered. For more information on how to do that, 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)

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(posted 9/19/2023)


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Webster Pediatric Dentistry opens new location

15 Sep

Webster Pediatric Dentistry (WPD) officially opened their new offices on Tuesday with a ribbon-cutting at their new location in the Crosspointe Professional Park.

The event celebrated WPD’s move from its original location on West Main St. in Webster, where it had been since the 1970s.

The practice is now owned by Dr. Lisa DeLucia, who has been with Webster Pediatric since 2010. When she took over the business in 2021, she almost immediately saw the need to make a fresh start and “put my own stamp on things.”

“We needed an updated space that fits families today,” she said. “We needed a little more privacy, but also have the ability to treat multiple kids at once.” The previous office had two floors, she explained, so “this space works better. We’re all on one floor, which is more accessible, and team-dynamic-wise, being on one level will be a really nice thing.”

Dr. Lelucia’s husband and three children (who got to skip school for the occasion) were on hand for the ribbon-cutting, as well as local dignitaries including Senator Samra Brouk, Assemblyman Brian Manktelow, Legislator Mark Johns, Councilwoman Ginny Nguyen and Webster Chamber of Commerce President Barry Howard.

The new Webster Pediatric Dentistry office is located at 1110 Crosspointe Lane, Suite D, right next to the Webster Chamber of Commerce offices. Community members are encouraged to attend an open house the evening of Oct. 12 for a tour of the new facility. Follow the Webster Pediatric Dentistry Facebook page for details.

Here are few more photos from the event:

I’ve actually blogged about Webster Pediatric Dentistry before. You’re probably familiar with the huge moose painted on the side of the original WPD office on West Main St. in the Village of Webster, then owned by William Salminen (or at least he was a practitioner there). In 2008, just after I started writing this blog, I got curious and tracked down the mural’s history.

I found out that it was Dr. Salminen’s wife Carol who had (what she called) the “crazy idea” to paint the animals on the building as a welcoming menagerie for their young patients. She even added animal tracks on the sidewalk leading to the door. Four years later, a juvenile moose was added to the mural.

Sadly, the new practice will probably never have a moose on the wall. But I don’t think he’ll be leaving the village anytime soon.

Another ribbon-cutting of sorts was held Thursday afternoon by the Town of Webster at the Webster Highway Department on Picture Parkway. It was a groundbreaking ceremony to mark the start of construction of the new, much larger facility.

This from the press release:

The current Webster highway facility was constructed over 50 years ago and no longer fits the needs of the Highway Department. This new facility is the culmination of several years of research, planning, and collaborative work across multiple departments and agencies. On February 24th of this year, the Webster Town Board voted 5-0 to approve the potential $28+ million bonding for this new highway facility.

The new facility will provide ample space for all of the highway equipment, with 30 truck spaces, a 6-bay mechanic shop, and a streamlined traffic flow design. New spaces for staff include locker rooms, break areas, offices and training rooms that will accommodate up to 60 employees. Safety and technology upgrades are also included in this project, to improve workflow and efficiency. Employees will continue to work in the existing facility while construction takes place and provide the same level of service to our residents.

You can watch a video of the entire ceremony here.

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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 9/15/2023)

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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 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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Webster community mailbag

31 Aug

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

More info on the flier.

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

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

More to come about these soon.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

You can also get email notifications every time I post a new blog by using the “Follow Me” link on the right side of this page.

(posted 8/31/2023)

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A renewed appreciation for the Webster Public Library

13 Aug

I’ve really got to visit the library more often.

I’ve recently made a concerted effort to carve out more time in my life to just sit and read. That led me, of course, to the Webster Public Library to pick up a few books. I didn’t know exactly what I wanted, but trusted that the library’s ever-changing displays would guide me.

And, as a reader, that’s one thing I love about the library. Walking in there is like walking into a candy store where the shelves are packed with a dizzying variety of colorful, tasty, carefully-packaged morsels of goodness.

But on my last visit I was reminded that there’s a lot more to the Webster Public Library than just the books.

For starters, there’s the Artists’ Wall just to the left as you walk in. This month it’s displaying some beautiful works by local artist Rose Boccolucci, whose art stopped me in my tracks.

Over near the reference room to the right of the circulation desk, the Webster Museum has set up a display case highlighting the history of the Forest Lawn neighborhood with lots of old photos and memorabilia.

And standing proudly above the biographies in the main collection area are eight of the original Hegedorn’s panels which were rescued from the ceiling above the check-out area when the store closed in June. (I knew the library had adopted some, but it was a nice surprise to be reminded.)

In case you’re wondering, when I left the library, I did indeed have two books tucked in my bag, and they couldn’t be more different: an exploration of the cosmos written by Neil DeGrasse Tyson, and a Janet Evanovich romantic mystery.

Kind of like licorice and Sweet Tarts, actually.

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

You can also get email notifications every time I post a new blog by using the “Follow Me” link on the right side of this page.

(posted 8/9/2023)

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Musical, wet and muddy fun ahead, courtesy the Webster Rec

17 Jul

Today’s blog is dedicated to the Webster Parks and Recreation Department and all of the cool events they have coming up this summer.

The first one I want to highlight is the annual Summer Splash family fun event taking place this coming Saturday July 22 at the First Responders Spray Park, just west of the Rec Center on Chiyoda Drive.

From 3 to 5 p.m., families are invited to the park to see Rich the Magic Man with his bubble foam machine, enjoy free Snowie Ice courtesy Gleason Orthodontics, and of course lots of splashy fun at the town’s best spray park.

There’s no cost, and registration is not required.

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Next, make sure to mark your calendars for this summer’s Music in the Park series, sponsored by the Rec Center at the Kent Park gazebo.

The next concert is on Wednesday July 26, featuring Doctor’s Orders, an acoustic folk and pop duo playing a variety of songs from the Beatles to John Prine, and pretty much everything in between.

The concert will be held Wednesday July 26 from 6 to 8 p.m. at Kent Park on Schlegel Rd. It’s free and open to the public. Bring a chair or a blanket, fill a cooler with dinner and drinks, and enjoy a pleasant evening of music.

Coming up on August 16, the concert will feature Sarah De Valliere and Levi Gangi. Read more about them in the poster above.

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And it’s not too early to pencil this next event into your calendar.

The Rec Center’s third annual Mud Run has been scheduled for Saturday Sept. 23.

The Mud Run is a a non-competitive, untimed, one-mile run/walk along the Recreation Center’s obstacle course/fitness trail which loops around the back of the facility. Some of the run will be through water and mud, and there will be some challenging obstacles. What’s really neat about it is that kids and their adults can do it together. It’s only $5 per person, and the organizers promise that there’ll be swag, fun and food. I can personally attest that it is tons of fun, and I hope to make it again this year.

Click here for more information and to register. You can sign up for any 15-minute wave between 10 a.m. and noon. The Webster Recreation Center is located at 1350 Chiyoda Drive, off of Phillips Rd.

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The most recent Webster Recreation Center 55+ newsletter is packed with great programs for those of us trying to keep our bodies and minds active in these later years. Some of the ones that really caught my eye were:

  • a cookout at the Arboretum
  • the upcoming Tuesday Talks
  • a free estate planning workshop

There’s too much information to repost here, so for more details about all of their great programs this month, click here.

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(posted 7/17/2023)

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