Tag Archives: Village of Webster

Webster’s a bit cleaner thanks to Color Webster Green

25 Apr

Thank you to the volunteers from Color Webster Green (CWG) who have been spending some of their free time recently cleaning up our town.

Last Tuesday evening, four dedicated volunteers pulled on their heavy gloves, grabbed some garbage bags and scoured the eastbound Bay Rd. 104 off-ramp for trash. They called the effort “Walking With a Purpose.” Becky Collins, one of the event’s organizers, wrote, “We picked up so much trash we could barely haul it back to our cars! Lots of people honked their horns and waved or shouted out thanks for cleaning up.”

Some of the trash found at the “Pick up the Parks” event

Last Saturday April 18, Color Webster Green also participated in the annual “Pick up the Parks” event organized annually by Monroe County. For three hours that morning at Webster Park, a dozen CWG volunteers (including four children) collected a total of six huge bags full of trash, including a broken chair, a 1970-era jump rope, acrylic nails, broken pieces of a plastic sled, many broken pieces of glass bottles, beer cans, single-use heating pads, doggy bags, and several pieces of fireworks containers. 

Color Webster Green is planning to meet every month — probably on Tuesday evenings — to pick up trash. If you’d like to join them, you can get updates on the schedule at the CWG website and Facebook page.

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(posted 4/25/2026)

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A quick update on The Coach

23 Apr

If you’ve passed through the Village of Webster recently, you’ve likely noticed that renovations to the The Coach Sports Bar are still a work in progress. Both the inside and outside have a ways to go before the taps start flowing again at the popular local hangout.

It’s been more than a year since the devastating St. Patrick’s Day, 2025 fire that tore through The Coach. It started behind the bar, and while the building remained structurally sound, the heat, smoke and water damage meant that the whole place had to be gutted. Owner Fritz Sierk was originally hoping that he’d be able to reopen in time for the Super Bowl last February (which he fully expected the Bills to be playing in). Clearly, that date came and went as unexpected delays and construction hurdles kept pushing the reopening date down the road.

But things are finally nearing completion and Fritz says he hopes to open in a “couple of weeks.” And when he finally does, the wait will most definitely have been worth it.

Some of the highlights of the new space include a larger, more comfortable bar space with better lighting; a large overhang on the back deck to accommodate smokers, replacing the old “smoking hut” which had to be removed to enlarge the bathrooms; a small, fenced-in patio at the east end of the building, providing additional seating; a 140-inch LED wall replacing the four huge TVs on the west wall of the seating area; and there are two new “garage-door windows,” very much like the one at the Mary Wee Pub across the street.

But Fritz is especially proud of those new bathrooms. They’re much larger and completely updated, and feature individual rooms with doors, rather than stalls.

Fritz is really looking forward to showing off the “new” Coach to the community.

“I’m excited to finally open,” Fritz said. “It’s been long enough. The place is just amazing. It’s certainly not the old Coach but I think it’s got enough personality to be good. I like the openness, the ‘Mary Wee’ windows, the soffit around the bar … and the bathrooms are incredible.”

In the end it’s still going to be the same, familiar Coach that we all know and love. Just a little bit better.

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(posted 4/23/2026)

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The doctor will see you now — at the Webster Museum

16 Apr

If you’re interested in hearing more about the history of medicine in Webster, you’ll want to attend a fascinating talk this Sunday afternoon, April 19, at the Webster Museum.

The talk, which begins at 2 p.m., will be presented by Dr. Colin Scott, a retired medical practitioner and museum volunteer, who has been conducting extensive research into medical practices throughout history. On Sunday he’ll share some of that research, including stories of the lives of local doctors, nurses, and patients over the years, focusing especially on the 1800s.

Dr. Scott will begin his talk by tracing the development of North Penfield and Webster, using three Webster physicians as guides: Dr. Oliver Reynolds, Dr. John Dunning and Dr. Charles Reitz. You’ll hear about the Pultneyville skirmish and how Webster was on the front lines in the War of 1812; about the Reynolds’ Corner Building and its focus on patent medicine production and distribution; about Dr. Oliver Reynolds’ medical practice, and how he was removed by the Monroe County Medical Society because of his patent medicine business; about Dr. John Dunning and his drive to improve the educational facilities in Webster and surrounds; and how Dr. Reitz provided a kind of bridge between the 19th and 20th centuries.

Throughout this tale, Dr. Scott will trace the evolution of 19th-century medicine, illustrating the era’s pivotal shifts with a curated slideshow and an exhibit of authentic medical instruments.

The presentation will begin at 2 p.m. No registration is necessary. Refreshments will be served. The Webster Museum is located at 18 Lapham Park, in the Village of Webster.

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(posted 4/16/2026)

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Village of Webster’s newest bakery will open Friday

14 Apr

If you love baked goods, you’ll be very excited to learn that Sweet Shenanigans, the Village of Webster’s newest bakery, is set to open its doors this Friday April 17.

Sweet Shenanigans, located at 15 East Main St., is owned and operated by Brittany Butler and Kyle Babcock. They’re basically taking over the space recently vacated by the Kiss Me Cookie bake shop. There are still a few final touches to finish up, one last inspection to sign off on, and an outdoor sign to install. Plus, they have to do a LOT of baking, but they’re just about ready to go.

It helped that their new shop was pretty much a turn-key operation, given its recent history as Kiss Me Cookie. They had to make a few electrical adjustments, and get some more commercial equipment like coolers and freezers, and some more display cases. But in general, it did not take them much time to bring everything up to snuff.

Brittany and Kyle both have backgrounds in baking and food service. Brittany has been baking for 15 years, mostly out of the house, often distributing through local bakeries and restaurants. But, she said, “We kind of got to the point where we’re like, yeah, we should do this for ourselves. It’s fun!”

They started seriously thinking about making the leap about three years ago. But finding the right place proved to be a challenge.

“We looked all over the Finger Lakes” Kyle said. “We had a couple decent places lined up — one in Macedon and one in Geneva — and they just fell through. … (Then) this place opened up in Webster, and we jumped on it.”

“We kind of just fell into it,” Brittany added. “I just so happened to be looking at the right place at the right time on the right day on the internet.” So it was if fate led them to our little village, and they couldn’t be happier. The response from residents and neighboring businesses has been “great,” Brittany said. “Everyone is so lovely. Everyone’s been so welcoming, so supportive. It’s been fantastic.”

Brittany and Kyle have a clear vision for carving out their own niche among the village’s bakeries, starting with a signature line of artisanal breads.

For example, “We’re going to do salty bread,” Kyle said. “People look for that. A nice sturdy solid loaf topped with sea salt.” They’ll also be baking up a variety of pastries, like danishes, turnovers, cookies, cannolis, peanut butter bars, cinnamon rolls, their own version of Pop-Tarts, and other “fun stuff.”

My husband and I are particularly looking forward to sampling Sweet Shenanigans’ Czech kolaches, which we first discovered on our trip to Prague last year. Think sweet, brioche-like yeast dough filled with fruit, cheese or poppy seeds.

Sweet Shenanigans is located at 15 East Main Street, two doors down from the Village Quilt Shoppe. Their sign hasn’t been installed yet, but in the meantime, look for a shop full of sweet treats and smiling faces, and follow your nose to some delicious baked goods. Their regular hours will be  Tuesday through Saturday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. You can connect with them on Facebook, Instagram (@sweetshenanigansbakes) or TikTok. Call 585-478-3603 or email sweetshenanigansbakes@gmail.com.

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(posted 4/14/2026)

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There’s lots going on at Annette’s

10 Apr

My husband is a huge fan of jazz, and apart from when the Webster Jazz Festival comes to the village every summer, opportunities to see jazz locally are few and far between.

So I was very excited to learn from a friend that Annette’s Restaurant on West Main St. in the Village of Webster hosts jazz bands twice a week. After she shared that news with me, it was only a few days later that we decided to head down there after dinner to check out the scene. We were not disappointed.

The band that Saturday evening was the Darryl Parker Quartet, who filled the cozy space for two hours with smooth jazz and blues favorites. We met up with some friends and thoroughly enjoyed the atmosphere — pints, appetizers and pleasant conversation. The ambiance at Annette’s is a perfect complement to jazz performance. It’s small and intimate, so it’s easy to hear the music. The audience members were clearly all there to hear the musicians, so it was like we all were sharing the musical experience.

Annette’s hosts live jazz bands every Tuesday and Saturday night. The Darryl Parker Quartet will be there pretty much every Saturday, and Tuesday’s bands will rotate among Indigo Breeze, Melvin Henderson & Paradigm Shift, the Stewie Evans Trio, and others. There’s no cover charge, but reservations are a good idea.

Daryl Parker Quartet
Indigo Breeze

BUT THERE’S MORE!

Annette’s also has brought regular live comedy to the village. The most recent show featured Dario Joseph, Cindy Arena and Kevin Markman. Information about upcoming shows can be found on Annette’s website or Facebook page.

PLUS, one Saturday afternoon each month, Grateful Line Danze Crew comes to Annette’s from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. for line dancing. They teach anyone who wants to learn, and the music is 80’s and 90’s (think Michael Jackson, Billy Joel, that kind of thing).

So check out Annette’s, at 27 West Main in the Village of Webster, ’cause there’s lots going on!

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(posted 4/10/2026)

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Learn more about firefighting at WVFD RecruitNY Open House

9 Apr

We all respect and appreciate the hard work our volunteer firefighters do, and their dedication to protecting our homes and businesses. But few of us have really been behind the scenes to find out more about WHO these local heroes are and specifically what kinds of tasks they perform.

It’s easy to think that volunteer firefighters are larger-than-life figures who spend their entire lives fighting fires and doing nothing else. But those men and women you see in the turnout gear? They’re people like you and me who have normal jobs. They’re bus drivers, teachers, IT professionals, retirees, electricians … and next weekend they are cordially inviting you to meet them in person and — even better — consider joining their ranks.

On Saturday, April 18, the Webster Volunteer Fire Department, located at 35 South Ave. in the Village of Webster, will be hosting a RecruitNY Open House from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the South Ave. station. The informal, drop-in event is designed for community members who want to get involved or simply learn more. There’s no set schedule and no pressure, just an open opportunity to meet the members, explore the equipment, learn about some of the procedures and and see what it means to serve your community.

If you’ve never been in a firehouse, you might be surprised by what you see there. Yes, it’s built to function as an all-hazards emergency response station, but it’s also a place to gather. There’s a workout facility, community meeting space, a big kitchen. … Paul Spatola, one of the event’s organizers, wrote that, “Our members’ kids are running around the firehouse all the time, it’s awesome!” 

Bring your spouse and children along as well, because, obviously, volunteering is not just a personal commitment, but a family commitment as well. So bring along anyone who would be part of your journey. There’ll be plenty to see and experience for all ages.

And don’t worry if you don’t want to be one of those firefighters who actually run into a burning building (but you might!). There’s a role for everyone. Some members serve as interior firefighters, others contribute as exterior firefighters or fire police. Everyone plays an essential role in keeping our community safe.

And also don’t worry — there’s no expectation to commit on the spot. If you’re interested, you’ll be connected with a Webster Fire peer recruiter who can guide you through the process at your own pace, from learning more to applying, to on-boarding. So even if you’re just curious, stop by and ask some questions. You won’t be pressured into anything.

Paul wrote, “So many people do not take the hardest step — applying — because they don’t know what they don’t know. We’re your neighbors. Come say hi and ask us about the department. Ask us why firefighters love being firefighters.”

“We’re looking for people in our community who are interested in doing the hard work, who are team-oriented and goal-focused. People who want a bit of excitement, and a lot of camaraderie. Is it hard? Yes. We do hard things, and we’re good at. We’re proud of our tradition of service to the community. We want our community to be proud of that service, and want them to get involved to support and join us. 

So stop by next Saturday to check out the fire station and meet some of the firefighters. Perhaps you’ll want to join the Webster Volunteer Fire Department family. And by the way, the West Webster Fire Department is also looking for new members, so if you live on the west side of town, reach out to them for more information!

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(posted 4/9/2026)

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

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The story behind the Village of Webster’s iconic signs

2 Apr
The old …
… and the new

A little more than a week ago, I posted a blog about the handsome new Village of Webster signs that have been installed along the approaches to the village. The reaction to that blog was mixed. Most people commented that they liked the signs, but several lamented the loss of the old ones.

Perhaps the most impassioned comment I got was from Jenna Urso, who wrote about how her father and grandfather had created the hand-carved signs almost 30 years ago, and how Webster wildlife artist Ray Easton painted the beautiful birds depicted on each one. I had two immediate thoughts when I read her comment. The first was, “Hmmm, that’s some interesting history,” followed immediately by “WHAT birds?”

I’ll sheepishly admit that I never once took note of the native birds adorning the center of each sign. But discovering that charming detail and being teased by a single scrap of the signs’ history sent me straight to a meeting with Jenna to uncover the rest of the story.

Jenna told me that her grandfather, Charlie Urso, was inspired by all of the charming village signs he saw on his travels through New England. He approached the Town Board in the late 1990s with his idea to create and donate some signs to make the village more attractive for business owners and shoppers. With help from his son Charles, they hand-carved two signs, painted them with gold leaf, then reached out to Easton to add the birds. Those first two were finished and erected in the summer of 1999. The Town loved them so much that the artistic team was asked to create two more.

Charlie Urso carving one of the signs
Ray Easton with the one of the first finished signs

The project was a labor of love for her grandfather, Jenna said.

My grandparents have been Webster residents since 1962, when they moved here to start a family. They loved the family-friendly feel and beautiful nature in Webster and knew it was the perfect place for them. It does not surprise me that my grandfather chose to donate his talents to the village; he has always been the most kind and generous person. He also has a genuine love for this town, choosing to stay here in his community year-round rather than spend half the year down south like many Upstate New Yorkers.

Learning more about the story behind the signs myself has been a joy, especially watching my father reminisce about the time he spent working on them with his dad.

Replacement of the old signs with the new also brought back fond memories for Ray Easton.

Charles … had a passion for his craft of hand-carved gold leafing. The part I played was painting a familiar, local or indigenous bird on each sign. An American Robin greeted people approaching from the west, where a Great Blue Heron stood on the eastern side. From the south you had three Canada geese, and from the north a Northern Cardinal. They were great signs for many years, with a warmth and sense of community, and I’m glad to have played a small part in the history of the great village of Webster.

There’s been some talk about perhaps displaying one of the old signs at the Webster Museum. They’re a cherished piece of Village history, so I hope someone can make that happen.

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(posted 4/2/2026)

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A positive look at all those &%$*@! potholes

28 Mar

Everyone pretty much agrees: the potholes this year are AWFUL — worse than we can remember seeing in a long time. We can thank the extra harsh winter we had this year, complete with its repetitive freezing-then-thawing-then-freezing again cycles. But knowing why it happens doesn’t mean we’re not going to gripe about it. Especially when one of those huge holes takes out a tire or ball joint.

So until the Town and Village and New York State have a chance to get out and fill all those holes, we have to look for the positives in the pothole situation. Like how serpentining around them makes you feel like you’re the main character in Mario Kart. Or how you can have fun playing “Count the Potholes” with your kids as you drive them to school.

Photo by J. Thomas

But here’s something neat that two of my readers actually alerted me to: the potholes on Main Street by Golden Boys are so deep that you can actually see down to the original brick pavers.

I reached out to Webster Town Historian Lynn Barton to see if she could provide some historical details, like how long ago it was that Main Street was paved with bricks. She believes the bricks were laid sometime in the 1920s, perhaps when the Blue Line Trolley was rumbling through town, but she can’t be certain. So those potholes could be revealing a hundred years of history.

If you get the Webster Herald, you’ll want to check it out next week; Lynn will be submitting a “brick” photo dated 1937. She also sent along the photo below, taken in 2015 in front of Barry’s Old School Irish when the Village was doing some work there. “Every time they need to dig up the road, we lose bricks,” she said.

You never know how and when local history will enrich our lives. We just have to look for it and appreciate it.

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(posted 3/28/2026)

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Webster community mailbag

26 Mar

Know your numbers!

This Saturday, March 28 from 9 a.m. to noon, Lovely You Aesthetics on North Ave. is hosting a “Know Your Numbers Day” as part of the salon’s Go Red Lovely campaign. It’s an opportunity to get your blood pressure checked for free, and get a few gifts as a reward: a Go Red Lovely T-shirt and a $25 Lovely You gift card to use at a future date.

There will also be a CPR instructor on site giving hands-on demonstrations, PLUS if you make a donation to the American Heart Association, you’ll be entered to win a $500 gift card.

This is a walk-in event with no appointment needed. So stop in anytime between 9 a.m. and noon, do something good for yourself and help out the American Heart Association.

Lovely You Aesthetics is located at 82 North Ave. in the Village of Webster.

Speaking of knowing your numbers …

The Webster Recreation Center invites community members who are 55+ to a fun and exciting “Singo Bingo” game on Friday April 17, beginning at 5:30 p.m.

The game is a musical twist on the classic game of bingo. Sing along to your favorite tunes while matching song samples to titles on your Bingo card. Fantastic prizes await. Cost is $3 per participant and registration is required. Visit the Rec Center’s registration page and search for activity #141086.

The Webster Recreation Center is located at 1350 Chiyoda Dr.

Women’s Club April meeting … and cookies!

Adam Traub, Director of the Webster Public Library, will speak at the Women’s Club of Webster’s April luncheon meeting, scheduled for Thursday April 16. Mr. Traub will highlight the many programs and materials the library offers for seniors.  

April’s luncheon will be hosted by Proietti’s Restaurant, 980 Ridge Rd., Webster. Social time begins at 11:15 a.m., followed by a business meeting at noon, lunch at 12:30 p.m. and Mr. Donovan’s presentation at 1 p.m. 

Enjoy a buffet featuring a variety of pizzas, salad and a cannoli. Cost is $19. New members are always welcome, and warm camaraderie is included at no charge. Send check made out to WCW by March 12 to Carolyn Rittenhouse, 405 County Line Road, Ontario, 14519. If you think your check might be late, or if you have any questions, call Carolyn at  585-265-1303.

This also from the Women’s Club:

Give blood, enjoy homemade cookies. The Women’s Club of Webster will be assisting once again this year at the American Red Cross Blood Drive scheduled for Thursday, April 9 from 1 to 6 p.m. at the Webster Firemen’s Exempt Building, 172 Sanford St. Women’s Club members will staff the canteen, offering donors homemade cookies, congenial conversation and a friendly word of thanks for giving the gift of life. Walk-ins are welcome, but it’s always best to make an appointment. Log onto redcrossblood.org/give, or call 1-800-REDCROSS (1-800-733-2767). If you have any questions, call Katie Hout at 585-353-9964.

Arboretum presents program on lawn care

Carl Schimenti, the Urban Environmental Specialist for the Cornell Turfgrass Team, will visit the Webster Arboretum on Tuesday, April 14 at 7 p.m. to present a program on Lawn Care and Management. Learn lawn care basics such as grass type, water needs and weed control with pre- and post-emergents, fertilizing do’s and don’ts and mowing tips. Please register at thewebsterarboretum.org.  This presentation will take place at The Webster Arboretum 1700 Schlegel Rd in Webster.

Got expired drugs?

Webster Health and Education Network, together with the Town of Webster and the Webster Police Department will host a DEA National Drug Take Back event on Saturday, April 25 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Webster Town Court, 1002 Ridge Rd. (behind Town Hall; look for the blue roof). Clear out your medicine cabinet to help to keep Webster safe. This will be a drive-through event so you don’t even have to get out of your car! 

This is your chance to safely dispose of unused, expired or unwanted medications. Registration is not required, but if you register you’ll get a reminder via email about the event. You can register and get more details here.

The Webster Health & Education Network (WHEN) is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization serving Webster families for 30 years. Research shows that the longer a young person waits before trying drugs or alcohol, the less likely they are to become addicted later in life. WHEN works to delay, decrease, and prevent substance use by underage youth. 

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(posted 3/26/2026)

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

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A much more attractive welcome to Webster

22 Mar

Have you seen them? The Village of Webster has FINALLY installed new welcome signs on the approaches to the village.

I’ve known for a while that the Village Board has been working on replacing the worn-out signs. Their condition had been deteriorating for a long time, and they desperately needed a new coat of paint. They were, in short, a rather embarrassing representation of our village.

When I asked more a year ago about fixing them, I was told that some new ones were in the works. So I’m especially happy to see that they’ve finally been installed.

The handsome new signs — which feature an updated Village logo — are located in three places that I know of: on East Main near Phillips, on South Ave. at the corner of Pontiac, and on West Main near Webster Nails & Spa.

You’ll also notice that the “Where Life is Worth Living” slogan is not included on these new signs. That may very well be because that’s actually the Town of Webster’s motto. The Village of Webster is “Where Life Keeps Getting Better.” (Many people don’t realize the distinction.)

And also, by the way, have you noticed that the white string lights snaking up the Village light poles have not been removed? They appear to be the same “candy cane” strings that were installed for Winter Wonderland, but the red part has been disabled, just leaving the white. They’re rather attractive and I think make the village sparkle and look especially charming at night.

Thank you, Village of Webster, for these new little touches, which help make the village more attractive than ever.

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(posted 3/22/2026)

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

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