Tag Archives: Village of Webster

Even more to love from M.O. Pasta

25 Aug

It’s really kind of hard to believe, but M.O. Pasta, that great little pasta shop on East Main St. in the Village of Webster, just celebrated its third anniversary.

Since opening in Webster in April 2023, M.O. Pasta has become a local favorite for authentic, handcrafted fresh pastas, small-batch sauces, take-and-bake kits, pastries, and fresh breads. Owner Mike Oldfield built a loyal following even before launching the storefront, and that community has grown steadily over the past three years through glowing word of mouth.

And now, M.O. Pasta is getting even better.

About a month ago, Mike expanded his services next door into the former Fella’s Tattoo and Gift Shop at 7 East Main, which moved out in April. It was perfect timing, opening up a spot for Mike to start offering pasta classes and private events (like dinners and team-building classes), something which was always in his long-range plans.

So it’s not so much an expansion as it is additional space. The room is long and thin, measuring about 800 square feet. On one wall hang photos from his trips to Italy, and on the other, a collection of pasta-making tools. A handsome table extends the length of the room, long enough to sit 14 comfortably, but leaving plenty of room for Mike to stack the bags of flour he imports straight from Italy. Some day he’d also like to set up a table in the front window and make pasta, “just like you’d see in Italy.”

Mike’s already hosted several classes in the short time since the classroom opened, and his September and October schedules are already filling up. If you’re interested in joining a class or scheduling one for your friends or co-workers, contact Mike through his website, Facebook page or Instagram to check availability. Or better yet, stop into the shop.

M.O. Pasta is located at 5-7 East Main St. in the Village of Webster.

* * *

(posted 8/25/2026)

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

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

Tags: , , , ,

Webster community mailbag

14 Aug

Next Town of Webster “community office hours”

Join Town Supervisor Scialdone and other Webster representatives to talk about the local issues that matter most to you. The next scheduled dates are

  • Tuesday, Aug. 18 from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. in the  Webster Town Board Room, 1000 Ridge Rd.
  • Monday, Aug. 31 from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. in the  Webster Town Board Room

If you can’t make it to either of these dates, no sweat; they’re scheduled regularly. Details are posted on the Town of Webster website.

From the Webster Chamber of Commerce

The Webster Chamber of Commerce‘s next Eat, Drink, & Connect event will be held Tuesday, Aug. 18, from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at Ryndock Realty, 1250 State Route 104.

The event is open to Webster Chamber members and prospective members. Opportunities to host an event are a Chamber member benefit, earning increased visibility for the host business. Bring a door prize to increase your business’ visibility and maybe win a prize for yourself. There is no fee to attend, but registration is required.      

Mark your calendar for Tuesday, August 25 for Webster Night with the Rochester Red Wings. First pitch is at 6:45 p.m., and two of Webster’s very own will be involved; Jerry Christopher will perform the National Anthem, and Chamber president/CEO Barry Howard has the honor of throwing out the ceremonial first pitch. Purchase your tickets by clicking here, and use promo code WEBSTER26.

The Chamber’s health insurance enrollment service, rocENROLL HEALTH, is sponsoring the Village Gazebo concert on Friday, August 28. The concert will feature The Earthtones beginning at 6:45 p.m. Bring your lawn chair, relax with family and friends, and enjoy a wonderful summer evening.

The Chamber’s next monthly meeting will be on Friday, Aug. 28 from 7 to 8:30 a.m. at the Webster Golf Club. The program will be “AI – How Your Business Can Use it Effectively.”

The monthly meetings are opportunities to network, meet new contacts, develop current business relationships, learn, and earn visibility for your business or organization. This is the largest monthly Chamber networking event within the Greater Rochester area, with 85-110 attendees. Bring a door prize for visibility and your business card, to take your chances on winning a door prize! Online reservations are required by 9:30 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 27.

Learn about composting

The folks at Color Webster Green have a pretty interesting class coming up next week.

It’s all about Backyard Composting and will be held at the Webster Recreation Center on Wednesday, Aug. 19 from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.

Participants will learn step-by-step instructions, tips for composting with limited space, how to use compost, and much more.

This is a free event and family-friendly, so children ages 8+ are welcome to join. For more information and to register, click here.

Rabies vaccination clinic

The Town of Webster, in cooperation with the Monroe County Dept. of Public Health, is sponsoring a free Rabies Vaccine Clinic on Wednesday, Aug. 19 from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Webster Highway Department, 1005 Picture Parkway.

Dogs, cats and ferrets are all welcome. Remember that New York State and the Town of Webster require proof of a current rabies vaccination to legally license your dog.

Health and Wellness Fair needs vendors

The Webster Business Improvement District (BID) is looking for vendors to participate in their 4th annual Webster Health and Wellness Fair on Saturday, September 12.

The fair is designed to showcase businesses and professionals throughout our community that address all aspects of health and wellness. It will be held at Lattimore Physical Therapy, 70 Barrett Dr. from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. During this time, vendors will have a table where participants can learn about the services you offer and your role within their health and well-being. From 10 a.m. to noon there will also be a free shredding event.

Businesses and professionals who focus on all aspects of health and wellness, including but not limited to physical, mental, environmental, social and financial health, are encouraged to participate.

RSVP by Friday, August 21 at info@websterbid.com

Cars and beers

Save the date for this year’s Main Street Car Show and Beer Walk, scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 19 in the Village of Webster.

Registration is now open to car owners who want to sign up to show off their old and/or fancy vehicles. Registration is required, and space is limited. Click here to register.  

Beer Walk tickets will be available soon on the Webster Business Improvement District website: 

From the Recreation Center

The Webster Recreation Center invites everyone to a Say So Long to Summer end-of-summer event at Rochester Challenger Miracle Field on Friday, Aug. 21 from 6 to 8 p.m. It will be an evening of games, music, food trucks, temporary tattoos, and community groups. The event is free and open to the public, and no registration is required.

Miracle Field is located at 1008 Ridge Road.

And these events are especially for community members ages 55+: (click here for more information on all of these)

  • Marvelous Monarchs Trip to the Strong Museum — Monday Aug. 24, 11 a.m. (cost $20)
  • Summer Sizzler — Wednesday Aug. 19 at the Arboretum (cost $10)
  • Salute to Seniors at Ontario Beach Park — Friday Aug. 21 (free)
  • Program on Hearing Loss and Cognition — Monday Aug. 24 (free)
  • Dave Ruch concert: The Erie Canal — Tuesday Aug. 25, 4 p.m. (free)
  • Red Wings trip –Wednesday Aug. 26 (1 p.m. game start)

And while we’re talking about the Rec Center, word has just crossed my email that the annual Mud Run is coming up on Saturday, Sept. 19.

This non-competitive, family-friendly run is is always great wet, muddy fun that the kids especially will enjoy. The event includes fried cakes and apples from Schutt’s Apple Mill and Herman’s Farm Market and several vendors. Plus, the Webster and West Webster fire departments will be there to rinse you off with their pump truck.

The run is scheduled from 10 to 11:30 a.m. at the Rec Center, and you don’t have to register for a specific time. more information to come about this.

* * *

(posted 8/14/2026)

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

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

t

Tags: , , , , ,

August History Bit: Edna Struck Park

12 Aug

In this month’s History Bit, we highlight a little Village of Webster park with a long history.

Edna Struck Park is the little grassy median on the east side of the village where Lapham Park makes a slight jog at the corner of Elm St. Those who live in the village have come to take the pleasant little green space for granted. But not everyone knows the park’s rather interesting history, or that at one point many years ago, it was almost eliminated altogether.

Back in the 1890s, the land was owned by Russell Lapham. Where the park now stands was actually part of a baseball field, complete with a grandstand and ticket office. Home plate was located about where Edna Struck Park is now, and the pitcher’s mound was in the front yard of the home at the southeast corner of Lapham Park and Elm.

The Town of Webster team used the village field for four years, hosting teams from all around the county, until the Lapham family decided to convert the tract into building lots. As the neighborhood grew, the little traffic island park was created. Early photos show a peaceful green space shaded by stately elms, with a sign warning drivers to “go to the right.”

Even with that warning in place, the island has been known to befuddle drivers. In the late 1960s, Curt Gerling, then editor of the Webster Herald, wrote an article suggesting the island be removed after he had trouble negotiating the curves one night. Concerned about the article, several neighbors came together and decided the best way to save the park was to make it more attractive, planting crabapple trees and petunias.

One of those neighbors was Edna Struck, who lived on Park Ave. and became known as the “First Lady of Lapham Park.” For years, Edna carefully tended to the trees and flowers. After she passed in 1991, her neighbors erected a marker in her honor, identifying Edna as the “Neighborhood Gardener.”

The unpretentious little green space quietly beautified the Lapham Park neighborhood for more than 25 years, and in 2005 was designated an official local landmark. Then, in 2019, it once again befuddled a driver. In February of that year, someone was driving down Lapham Park much too fast and, instead of navigating the jog in the road, plowed right through the park, mowing down the trees and plants, and inflicting significant other damage.

It took a few years, but eventually efforts began to bring the island back to its original beauty, led by the village’s Historic Preservation Committee. On May 9, 2024, Edna Struck Memorial Park was officially rededicated in honor of “our neighborhood gardener.” So next time you stroll by, pause a moment to appreciate this little park’s long history, and remember Edna.

* * *

(posted 8/12/2026)

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

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

After more than three years of TLC, including planting new grass, trees and flowers, and installing a new stone and memorial plaque, Edna Struck Memorial Park is looking beautiful again. On Thursday May 9, a dozen local officials gathered to officially rededicate the 130-year old park in honor of the village’s “neighborhood gardener.”

Tags: , ,

Webster community mailbag

31 Jul

Christmas in July (in August)

Webster Comfort Care Home’s Christmas in July Market will be open this year to the public for the first time, on Saturday August 8 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The WCCH folks wrote,

We’ve had so much fun sharing our Christmas in July Market with our staff, volunteers, residents, and their families, and now we’re excited to invite the public to join us for a special shopping event!

Browse a wonderful selection of handmade items created by one of our talented former residents. While you’ll find plenty of Christmas décor and gifts, you’ll also discover beautiful handbags, dolls, and many other special handcrafted treasures. Not everything is Christmas-themed, so there’s truly something for everyone!

It was our resident’s heartfelt wish that these handcrafted items be sold to benefit the Home, making each purchase a meaningful way to honor her generosity while supporting our residents and the compassionate, no-cost, end-of-life care we provide.

Whether you’re getting a head start on your holiday shopping or searching for a one-of-a-kind handmade gift, we hope you’ll stop by and support the Home.

The Webster Comfort Care Home is located at 700 Holt Rd., at the corner of Klem.

News from the library

Here are a few August notes from the Webster Public Library:

  • The August Community Exchange is jewelry. This is a great chance to update your bling.
  • The August Donation Station benefits Rescued Treasures Pet Adoptions.
  • The local band Ivy’s Home will present a concert at the library on Monday, Aug. 3 from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. They describe their playlist as “original music and covers that merge folk songwriting with the classic roots of Anericana.” Registration is required.
  • Learn All About Prehistoric Plants on Thursday, Aug. 6 from 4 to 5 p.m., when Jack Kowlack presents a fun and informative program. Are there plants in your yard that dinosaurs munched on? Did prehistoric plants look anything like plants today? Learn the answers to these and more questions. Registration is required.

And don’t forget about the library’s brand new College and Transition Fair. Its goal is to support individuals with disabilities who will no longer get support from the school system for their services; to answer the vexing question, “What do you do when the bus stops coming?”

Among the more than two dozen organizations which will be represented are colleges that have programs for people with disabilities; those offering workforce development options; a few organizations looking for volunteers; some housing, dayhabs and support options, and more.

It’s scheduled for Saturday, Aug. 8 from 10 a.m. to noon inside the Webster Public Library, 980 Ridge Rd. (at the back of Webster Plaza). There’s no cost and you don’t have to register, but if you would like a reminder, click here to sign up.

These events, by the way, are just a small sampling of all the great activities for children, adults and families going on ALL THE TIME at the library. It’s too hard for me to tell you about all of them, so I highly suggest you sign up for one or two of the library’s emailed newsletters so you get all the details. Click here to sign up.

Cold beer and cool cars

The Webster BID is taking reservations now for the second annual Main Street Car Show & Beer Walk, scheduled for Saturday, September 19.

If you have a fancy or old car you’d like to show off on Main Street, click here to register. Space is limited. Tickets for the Beer Walk will be available soon on the Webster Business Improvement District website. 

This is a hugely fun event, so stay tuned for more details and plan to be there.

Women’s Club meeting scheduled

The Women’s Club of Webster has announced details for its September luncheon meeting.

It will be held on Thursday, Sept. 17 at Capitano’s, 1400 Empire Blvd. The event begins with social hour at 11:15, followed by a short business meeting, lunch and a fun program.

Lunch will be a buffet including a selection of gourmet sandwiches, coffee tea and soda, and assorted desserts. Cost is $25. Please send your check made out to the Women’s Club of Webster to Kim Tauriello, 303 Phillips Rd., Webster, NY 14580, by Sept. 3.

* * *

(posted 7/31/2026)

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

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

Tags: , , , , , ,

Webster Jazz Fest celebrates 20th year with its biggest line-up yet

30 Jul

The 20th annual Webster Jazz Festival is just two weeks away, two days of music, dancing, good food and great friends.

This year’s event is scheduled for Friday and Saturday Aug. 14 and 15, kicking off with “Jazz in the Pubs” Friday evening beginning at 5:30 p.m. Ten different bands are scheduled to perform at ten different village pubs and restaurants, with staggered start times, so you can visit visit several (or all) of the venues for a drink and a bite to eat, and enjoy as many bands as you like. The musicians represent some of the best from the Rochester music scene, including some returning favorites and some new faces.

Also that night, the Jazz Festival Street Fair returns with vendors set up up and down West Main.

It’s like enjoying 10 free concerts, and some great shopping, while strolling through the village.

The music continues Saturday night when jazz takes to the street.

Beginning at 4 p.m., an outstanding lineup of musical entertainment will perform from the big West Main Street stage, featuring musicians from around Rochester and Upstate. There will be some tables and chairs set up, but they go pretty fast, so plan to bring your own, set them up in the middle of the street and enjoy music all evening long. Food and drinks will be available from village merchants.

Here’s the line-up for both nights:

Friday, August 14, 2026 — Jazz in the Pubs

  • 5:45 p.m.: Andy Calabrese, Peter Chwazik and Mike Rotondo Trio at The Cobblestone on Main, 108 West Main St.
  • 5:45 p.m.: Mel Henderson and Marvin Dolly, guitarist extraordinaire, at Threads & Tonic, 20 West Main St.
  • 6 p.m.: The Bill Tiberio Band, one of Rochester’s favorites, at the Harmony House, 58 East Main St.
  • 6:15 p.m.: The Jazz Generation Trio (Eli Behlok, Jim Allchin, Don Feigel) at JoJo’s Bistro and Wine Bar, 42 East Main St.
  • 6:15 p.m.: Carlton Wilcox at The Main Dive, 5 West Main St.
  • 6:30 p.m.: Joe Chiappone, Vince Ercolamento and Mark Terranova Trio at Annette’s American Bistro, 27 West Main St.
  • 6:30 p.m.: Gregg Dougherty-Herman with Sheldon Tripi on the Brimont Bistro Patio, 24 West Main St.
  • 6:45 p.m.: Tim Forester, John Nyerges, Dan Vitale Trio, at the Mary Wee Irish Pub, 2 West Main St.
  • 7:45 p.m.: Paradigm Shift at Ploty’s Hometown Tavern, 27 West Main St. (in the back)
  • 8:15 p.m.: Deepak Thettu, with special guests Judah Sealy and many others, at The Coach Sports Bar, 19 West Main St.

Saturday, August 15, 2026 — Jazz in the Street

  • 4 p.m.: Sarah DeValliere and the Rhythmwell
    • Sarah De Vallière & the Rhythmwell have electrified the regional scene with high-energy performances, elite musicianship, and De Vallière’s commanding stage presence.
  • 5:15 p.m.: Todd East and Casino Royale
    • Blind since birth, Todd discovered his passion for music at an early age, playing piano and singing by the age of three. By fifteen, he had already launched his professional career. A native of Marion, New York, Todd went on to earn degrees in Music Education and Music Theory from Nazareth College, further refining his craft and deepening his musical foundation.
  • 6:45 p.m.: Walter Chatman and The Dream Team
    • The Dream Team consists of three bands in one, featuring Judah Sealy on saxophone, Tyrone Coley on bass, Armani Works on keyboard, Walter “Cordell” Chatman on drums, Bacari Smith on saxophone, and Chelse Smith and Lauren Sealy on vocals.
  • 8:30 p.m.: Prime Time Funk
    • NY’s ultimate funk band closes out the festival

The Webster Jazz Festival is an outstanding event that really brings out the best the Village of Webster has to offer. The streets are packed with people, the hanging baskets and planters are in full bloom, and after dark the street is lined with twinkly lights. There’s dancing and drinking and eating, lots of great music, and so much fun for friends and family. Plus there’s no admission.

Plans are still being finalized, but you can stay up to date on them all and read more about 2026 Webster Jazz Festival and the featured bands on the Webster BID website.

* * *

(posted 7/30/2026)

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

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

Tags: , , ,

Creativity as therapy at the new Serenity Life Creative Studio

19 Jul

It was sad to see Mabel Jane’s Vintage Shop close its doors at 10 North Ave. not too long ago. However, it’s nice to know that the storefront won’t stay empty for long, and will soon welcome a new, art-focused proprietor to the village.

The new shop — which will be more like an art studio — will be called Serenity Life Creative Studio. It’s an extension of Serenity Life Counseling Services, which already has two locations at 93 West Main St., and 98 North Ave. Owner Mattye McKibben is working hard to renovate the space so she can introduce it to the Webster community in August.

I asked Mattye to tell me more about her vision for her new studio, and she sent me something so detailed and perfect, I decided I couldn’t write it any better. Here’s what she wrote:

* * *

Serenity Life Creative Studio is built around the concept of Open Studio Art Therapy—an approach that combines the freedom and joy of creating art with the presence and support of trained Creative Arts Therapists in a welcoming, community-centered environment.

Rather than feeling like a traditional therapy office or a typical paint-and-sip studio, we’re trying to create something that blends the best of both worlds. We want people to be able to stop in for a girls’ night, a parent-child outing, a date, a family activity, or simply an hour of quiet creativity, while also knowing that licensed Creative Arts Therapists are part of the environment should they want a deeper therapeutic experience. Our hope is to bridge the gap between clinical art therapy and everyday community life, making creative wellness feel approachable, welcoming, and accessible for everyone.

The studio is staffed by a team of licensed Creative Arts Therapists from Serenity Life alongside Studio Peers whose role is centered on hospitality, customer service, and helping artists have a wonderful experience. We often say we’re blending clinical care with hospitality. We want people to feel genuinely welcomed from the moment they walk through the door.

The heart of the studio is what we call our Art Bar. Instead of walking up to a traditional bar to order a drink, guests walk up to the Art Bar to order creativity.

Artists browse our Studio Menu and choose from curated creative experiences like watercolor, acrylic painting, drawing, clay, seasonal collections, and more. From there, our Studio Peers and Creative Arts Therapists help personalize each experience by recommending projects, customizing materials, suggesting creative add-ons, or helping someone discover a medium they may never have tried before. Every creative box is assembled specifically for that artist before they settle into the studio to create.

The Art Bar is designed to make creativity feel approachable. Instead of wondering what supplies to buy or investing hundreds of dollars before knowing what you’ll enjoy, everything has already been thoughtfully curated. Guests simply choose an experience, and we take care of the rest. For parents, it also means all the creativity without all the cleanup. Families can enjoy creating together and leave the paint, glitter, clay, and mess with us.

It’s also where so much of the conversation happens. Questions are asked. Ideas are shared. Kids excitedly choose their next project. Friends compare what they’re making. Parents discover new activities to enjoy with their children. It’s less like checking out at a store and more like being welcomed into a creative community.

Beyond the Art Bar, we’ve intentionally designed the studio to feel less like a classroom and more like your favorite neighborhood coffee house crossed with a cozy library and an inspiring art studio. Warm lighting, books, comfortable seating, music, coffee and tea, vintage furniture, and thoughtfully designed creative spaces encourage people to slow down, linger, and enjoy being together. We want it to feel calm, welcoming, and restorative—not rushed or crowded.

At its heart, though, this is really about connection.

We’re intentionally creating a place where generations naturally share the same creative space. On any given afternoon, you might find grandparents creating with grandchildren, friends gathering for a girls’ night, parents and children spending intentional time together, teenagers sketching after school, or someone simply enjoying a quiet afternoon with a cup of tea and a watercolor set. We believe making art side by side creates conversations and relationships that don’t always happen in everyday life.

Webster has so many wonderful restaurants and gathering places, and we wanted to contribute something different to our community. We often joke that instead of meeting friends to grab a drink, why not meet them to order some art? Our Art Bar is our take on a modern gathering place—a creative destination where people can celebrate birthdays, meet after work, enjoy a date night, or simply unwind together. It’s another option for people looking for meaningful ways to connect outside the traditional restaurant and bar scene, including those embracing alcohol-free lifestyles or simply seeking a slower, more intentional way to spend an evening.

Ultimately, we’re trying to create something that doesn’t really exist in our area—a true fusion of hospitality, creativity, and clinical expertise. Our hope is that creativity becomes the common ground where hospitality, community, and emotional wellness naturally meet.

We’ll be hosting several community “Get to Know Us” events throughout August before officially opening around the start of the school year. During this introductory phase, visitors will be able to explore the studio, experience the Art Bar, and enjoy discounted creative boxes as a way of getting acquainted with the space. We’ll also be gifting a limited-edition keepsake to our first 100 artists as a thank-you for being part of the beginning of this journey.

* * *

Here’s a selection of photos Mattye sent showing part of the building process and her vision of what the studio will look like when it’s all done.

Check out the Serenity Life website to learn more and pre-register in their system. Pre-registering is the best way to receive studio updates, invitations to their opening events, and be among the first to hear when reservations become available.

* * *

(posted 7/19/2026)

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

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

Tags: , , ,

Our village is hoppin’ with live music

15 Jul

One of the best things I love about living in the Village of Webster is all of the opportunities to see live music, especially during the summer months.

Last Friday, the Village’s weekly Friday Night Concerts in the Park series began, which will continue through the end of August. (Click here for details.) But those weekly concerts are just the tip of the iceberg.

For starters, Annette’s Restaurant at 27 West Main St., has live jazz pretty much twice a week. JoJo Bistro at 42 East Main St. has a performer every Thursday night. And Pub 235 at 235 North Ave. ALSO has live music every Thursday night. Every one of these opportunities is a great excuse to have a date night, enjoy some music and get a nice dinner.

Visit the Webster BID website regularly to get updates on who’s playing where and when.

And stay tuned for more information about the biggest music event of the entire summer, the Webster Jazz Festival, celebrating its 20th year in 2026. It’s taking place Friday and Saturday Aug. 14 and 15, with the ever-popular Jazz in the Pubs on Friday night and Jazz in the Street on Saturday.

When all the details are hammered out, you can click here to see who’s playing. But in the meantime, mark your calendars.

* * *

(posted 7/15/2026)

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

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

Tags: , ,

Friday night concerts return to the gazebo

4 Jul

The Village of Webster summer music season officially kicks off this Friday July 10 with the first in the Friday Night Concerts in the Park series, featuring the Red Hot and Blue Band.

RHB plays Americana, Roots, and Blues Rock music that will get you dancing and bring back a lot of great memories.  

Coming up later in the summer at the gazebo:

The concerts begin at 7 p.m. at the gazebo on North Ave. and admission is free. Bring the whole family, some folding chairs and a blanket, and a cooler if you’d like, then enjoy some beautiful music.

The concerts are brought to you by our Village of Webster business association.

* * *

(posted 7/4/2026)

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

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

Tags: , ,

Fresh Mediterranean flavors are coming to the heart of the village

3 Jul

The Village of Webster’s newest restaurant is bringing a taste of the Mediterranean to Main Street.

The new Tabbouleh Mediterranean Restaurant is poised to open early next week at 3 East Main Street, in the easternmost half of the old Jeff’s Computer shop.

The restaurant is owned by cousins Halat Hama and Harda Hamagharib, both Iraqi Kurds, with help from their friend, Blnd Abdullah.

While none of them has owned his own place before, Halat has worked in several different restaurants. It was he who suggested to his cousin that they open their own business “in a nice neighborhood.” Last December, when he was Ubering a customer to the village, he noticed the “for lease” sign in the computer shop window. He contacted the landlord, signed the papers, and by February, renovations had begun.  

Transforming the old computer shop into a family restaurant has truly been a labor of love, requiring floor-to-ceiling renovations from repainting, to tearing out carpeting and counters, to drywalling. And that was all before installing new kitchen equipment.

“We did everything by hand,” Blnd said. “Every nail, every drywall, every mistake was ours. There were days filled with drywall and mud and a problem turned into ten problems and then there were days where you didn’t know what to do because there were so many things to do.” 

“It definitely was not easy,” he continued, “but … we learned to appreciate the process that we put into it. We appreciate the empty pizza boxes, the cold coffees that we didn’t get to finish drinking, the wounds we got from making mistakes. I’m sure if we had hired contractors to do the work for us we would not have loved the place as much as we do.”

What they’ve created is a cozy, bright, welcoming atmosphere which somehow seems to lighten your day as soon as you walk through the front door. It’s not a big place, but there are chairs and benches to fit 28 people comfortably, and proprietors who will welcome you with big smiles that reflect their sincere pride at being part of our country and the Webster community.

“We have a vision for this restaurant,” Blnd said. “We want everybody to feel welcome. Somebody who’s had a very rough day or a mom with a lot of kids, they deserve to feel seen, to be heard. A lot of time people go about their day not feeling heard.”

The menu features a wide variety of salads, pastas, soups, appetizers, pita pockets, specialty plates and more, including vegetarian and gluten-free options — and tabbouleh, of course. All Mediterranean, but with a Kurdish twist.

They don’t have a liquor license, but patrons are welcome to bring their own beer, wine or other alcoholic drinks; the owners will hand you a glass and ice and you can pour it yourself. Or you can choose from a variety of American and international soft drinks in the cooler.

Halat and Harda display their hearts on their sleeves — and their walls. The photos hung throughout the restaurant are of Erbil and Sulaymaniyah, their home towns in the Kurdistan region of Iraq; vintage photos of their shop on Main Street; and right when you walk in the front door, prints of Betsy Ross, Benjamin Franklin and Alexander Hamilton.

They’re thrilled to be part of the Webster community and deeply touched by the warm welcome they’ve received.

“We’ve been overwhelmed by the amount of love we’ve gotten,” Blnd said. “One of the biggest things about Webster is how the community hugs one another. Everyone knows everyone. We want to be part of that family.”

“We had a big dream with a small idea and small pockets. We are happy to turn it into something like this.” 

They’re still finalizing a few minor details, but Halat and Harda hope to be able to open their doors this coming Monday or Tuesday July 6 or 7. Let’s make sure they feel as welcome as they want us to feel.

Tabbouleh Mediterranean Restaurant is located at 3 East Main St. in the Village of Webster. You’ll find them on Instagram (@dineattabbouleh) and soon on their website, Facebook and Reddit (but they haven’t been set up yet).

Check out the slides below for a look inside the restaurant and a look at the whole menu:

* * *

(posted 7/3/2026)

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

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

Tags: , , ,

Light up the night at Party in the Park

29 Jun

You know those Family Game Nights the Webster Business Improvement District (BID) folks would have occasionally on Main Street? They had music and dancing and snacks and games, and sometimes beer.

Well, there hasn’t been one of those in a while, but the BID is kind of bringing it back in a few weeks with their brand new family event, “Party in the Park.” It takes place Saturday night, July 11 from 6 to 10 p.m. at Veterans Memorial Park, and it’s a little bit different — and I think better — than the Family Game Nights.

For starters, the BID organizers will be providing glow sticks, so the kids can light up the night as the sun sets. There’ll be games, food provided by Webster Hots, ice cream treats from Sips & Scoops, DJ music from Cassano Studios, and lots and lots of dancing.

This is going to be a great family-fun event, and a really nice way to enjoy a warm summer evening. It’s totally free and all ages are encouraged to attend. It’s Saturday, July 11 from 6 to 10 p.m. at the gazebo, 28 North Ave. in the Village of Webster.

* * *

(posted 6/30/2026)

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

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

Tags: , , ,

← Older Entries