A few weeks ago I posted a blog about a group of Rochester-area students and adults who traveled to El Salvador on a service trip for Young Life. Forty-one high school students and adults — from Young Life, Browncroft Community Church and Grace Road Church — participated in the nine-day trip, which took them to a rural part of the country called Baja Lempa in the village of Taura.
The group has returned safely, and I recently received a very nice email from Dustin Bailey, one of the organizers, reporting on what an incredible experience it was. Not only did the team accomplish an amazing number of building and painting projects, they grew much closer as a faith community.
And when I say an amazing number of projects, I mean AMAZING. Here are some highlights, pulled from Dustin’s email:
This week we got to see the completed house from last year that many students worked on and begin the work of building a house for another family to be completed this summer. We did a lot of digging and moving sand.
We spent a lot of time working on the greenhouse – inside and out! We came alongside the young people who work in the greenhouse to turn over the soil, replace irrigation, treat the soil, replace growing posts, clean the mesh walls, pick weeds, and prepare for the next planting later this month.
We also cut back a forest in order to prepare the outside of the greenhouse for the planting of papaya trees. This could be a huge benefit for the community as a papaya tree can produce up to 150 papaya per year and they can sell them for $1 – $1.50 each.
The mural on the wall by the playground was in need of updating. The students worked with the niños of the village to pick out their favorite characters to bring them joy as they play on the playground. Our team designed the mural and added much color to the playground area.
A special project we were able to help with was a fence project that Pastor Santos began years ago. Enclosing the church property and protecting it from dogs, chickens, cows and other animals has always been a dream of the community. A member of our team is a welder in Rochester and lent his skills to Santos’ son, Daniel, to help finish his father’s project.
But as important as all those projects were, Dustin stressed, were the connections they made with the people of Taura.
The relationship is always the project and our team was awesome meeting the people of Taura, playing with the niños, and serving the community. We even mourned together with the community as we watched a video put together by the family of Pastor Santos who passed away in July 2024. We were honored to be a part of the 16-year friendship between Young Life and the people of Taura.
Welcome back, team. Thank you for making this world a better place. (And thanks, Dustin, for the great report and photos!)
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A Thomas vs. Schroeder high school basketball game is always highly competitive and definitely worth watching. But the one happening on Wednesday March 12 should be … well, interesting, and dare I say, a little short on actual basketball talent.
It’s a Charity Basketball Game, scheduled for Wednesday night March 12 at Webster Thomas High School.
The family-friendly event will pit Thomas/OWL staff and faculty against Schroeder/GOAL staff and faculty in a friendly winner-take-all-bragging-rights game. Usually the game includes some super-fun halftime activities featuring competitions between Thomas/OWL students and Schroeder/GOAL students. Concessions will be available.
Suggestion donation for admission is just $5, and this year’s beneficiary is the Webster Health and Education Network (WHEN), a community coalition which promotes healthy, substance-free behaviors and lifestyles in our Webster schools and greater community. Additional donations would also be greatly appreciated.
The game begins at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, March 12 in the Webster Thomas High School gymnasium, 800 Five Mile Line Rd. Enter on the east side of the building, near the field house.
The schools’ PTSAs host this game every year. I haven’t been to one in a long time, but I do remember actually playing in one when I was working at Webster Thomas many years ago. What I remember most about it, actually (aside from how poorly I played) were the fun costumes and wigs that many of the teachers wore, and how much laughing there was. It was an enjoyable experience both on the court, and for everyone in the stands as well.
So make sure to mark your calendars for this fun night, and come out and support the Webster Health and Education Network in their effort to keep our kids safe and healthy.
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Looking ahead to events and warmer weather next month — and this coming summer — in today’s mailbag!
Win a pair of Beats headphones
In an effort to reach out to a younger audience and impress upon them the importance of leading a healthy lifestyle, the Webster Health and Education Network (WHEN) has instituted aBeats headphone giveawayvia Instagram.
It’s easy to enter; just visit @WHENdfcc on Instagram, and post a picture of you doing something happy and healthy, like going for a walk, playing a sport, etc. Comment and tag two friends, follow WHEN on Instagram and share the WHEN post to your story. See more about this great giveaway on Instgram or click here.
Wednesday March 3 is the last day to enter.
Looking forward to summer!
Enough with this snow. Here’s something to help you look past all that.
Plus, the Webster Jazz Festival returns Aug. 15 and 16.
The gazebo concerts begin at 7 p.m. at Veterans Park 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. Check out the BID website to stay up to date on details for these and all this summer’s village events.
News from the Arboretum
The Webster Arboretum has a beautiful new website which is very much worth a few minutes to check out. The new design is very easy to navigate, highlighting the trails, gardens and wildlife which abound in this beautiful natural area.
Scroll down a bit to read about this year’s slate of educational programs, a different one every month through November, ranging from hummingbirds to lilacs, bonsai trees to hydrangeas.
I’ll let you know more about each of these as they get closer, but here’s what’s happening in March:
Invasive Insects, Thursday March 20, 7 to 8 p.m.: Presented by Camille Caceci, the Invasive Species Project Coordinator with Finger Lakes PRISM. Invasive species are one of the biggest threats to our environment, and as scientific professionals, hobbyists, or passersby, we encounter them almost every day. But what makes a species invasive? How many are there? Learn more about them at this fascinating presentation.
The presentation will take place at the Curry Building at the Webster Arboretum, 1700 Schlegel Rd. Prior registration is requested for all these programs. They’re all free and will be held rain or shine. Visit the Webster Arboretum website for more information and to register.
And ALSO, mark your calendars now for the Arboretum’s annual Spring Plant Sale, Saturday May 10 from 8 a.m. to noon.
Women’s Club March luncheon will feature Webster history
Sharon Pratt from the Webster Museum will be the guest speaker at the next Women’s Club of Webster luncheon, Thursday March 20 at the Nutcracker Family Restaurant, 2159 Empire Blvd., Webster. Sharon will speak about what life was like for women in Webster’s early days.
The event begins at 11:15 a.m. with social time, followed by lunch at noon and Sharon’s presentation. Enjoy a buffet featuring roast beef, roasted chicken, rice pilaf, pasta primavera, salad, hot mixed vegetables, hot and cold beverages and warm camaraderie.
Cost of the luncheon is $25. Send check made out to WCW by March 13 to Carolyn Rittenhouse, 405 County Line Road, Ontario, 14519. If you have any questions, or you think your check will be late, phone Carolyn at 585-265-1303. New members are always welcome.
WCSD prekindergarten lottery is open
Registration for Webster Central School District’s 2024-25 prekindergarten lottery is now available online. Registrations will be accepted through Friday, March 14 at 10 a.m. Children who are 4 years old on or before Dec. 1, 2025 but who are not eligible for kindergarten, are eligible for prekindergarten enrollment for the upcoming school year.
Webster CSD PreK is a play-based program that engages students in social and emotional skills with a heavy emphasis on communication. The district offers both full-day and half-day options for families. Locations are determined by the lottery and according to the child’s home catchment for kindergarten.
For more information and to complete registration, please visit Webster CSD’s prekindergarten web page atwww.websterschools.org/prek.
Vintage Book Sale, Saturday March 22, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Shop more than 200 fiction and non-fiction books, published between the 19th and early 21st centuries. Prices begin at $8.
The free community exchange in March is GAMES. Bring in a game that you don’t use anymore, and pick up a new one!
The Donation Station in March will benefit the Webster Public Library’s very own Free Food Pantry, located on the sidewalk right by the front door. Bring in non-perishable food items to help keep the pantry stocked.
The Seed Library will be open for the season on Monday March 3
For adults:
St. Patrick’s Day Celebration, Saturday March 1, 1 to 2:30 p.m. Celebrate the Emerald Isle with music from the band Merriwick, Irish tea and beautiful pictures of Ireland! Registration is required.
Growing Orchids in Rochester, Saturday March 8, 1 to 3 p.m.
Make It Monday: Glass Bead Suncatchers, Monday March 10, 6 to 7 p.m. Grades 4 and up are welcome. Registration is requested.
Teen Library Club, Wednesday March 26, 6:30 to 8 p.m. Hang out with your friends and get more involved in the library and the community. For grades 6 to 12. Registration is requested.
For kids and families:
Flute Storytime, Saturday March 15, 2 to 2:30 p.m. Join flutist Jaclyn Breeze for a 30-minute program featuring two picture books and flute pieces. No registration required.
Spring Equinox Drop-In Crafts in the storytime room. Friday March 21 and Saturday March 22, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. All ages are welcome and registration is not required.
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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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Here’s some good news for any of you who were disappointed to discover that — thanks to the really stinky weather last Sunday — the Webster Museum decided to postpone their very popular Antiques and Collectibles Roadshow. You’ll be happy to hear that it has been rescheduled for this coming Sunday Feb. 23.
If you’re curious about the value of a favorite piece, you’re invited to bring it in and Frank and Greg Palma will take a look at it, and share their expertise and insight into the history and value of the item.
The program begins at 2 p.m. at the Webster Museum, 18 Lapham Park in the village. There’s no admissioncharge, and free refreshments will be served.
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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 “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).
The Webster Museum is bringing back the very popular Antiques and Collectibles Roadshow, featuring Frank and Greg Palma, on Sunday, Feb. 16 beginning at 2 p.m.
If you’re curious about the value of a favorite piece, you’re invited to bring it in and the Palma brothers will share their expertise and insight into the history and value of the item.
There’s no admission, and free refreshments will be provided.
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And while you’re at the museum, make sure to check out their latest exhibit, Let it Snow!, celebrating winter in Webster in the days before remote car starters, heated seats and snowblowers.
A significant part of the exhibit will feature winter clothing. Until the 19th century, winter attire more often consisted of a cloak than a sleeved jacket or coat. Wool was the predominant material of choice for both cloaks and coats, and while it provided a measure of insulation, wool tended to be heavy especially when wet.
Outdoorsman, inventor and retailer Eddie Bauer developed the first quilted down jacket in 1939 after a run-in with hypothermia on a chilly hunting trip. Since the 1930s, the development of lightweight, waterproof, and less expensive synthetic materials further impacted the way we all dress on those cold winter days in Webster.
Read more about vintage winter wear and Webster snow sports at the Let it Snow exhibit, on display now.
The Webster Museum is located at 18 Lapham Park in the Village of Webster. It’s open Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday from 2 to 4:30 p.m.
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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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Today’s Bit of Webster History celebrates a notable birthday. Last week, the current Webster Village Hall turned 60 years old.
The current Village Hall, located at 28 West Main St., was constructed in 1964 on the former site of Klem Chevrolet. In 1921, Walter Klem and his brother Frank took over the Johanson blacksmith shop, and eventually started selling Chevrolets. In 1963 the property was sold to the Village and Klem Chevrolet later moved to 740 Ridge Road.
The Klem building was demolished and construction of the new Village Hall began in 1964. Officials moved into the new building in the middle of January, 1965 and the first official function held there was a meeting of the Village Board.
On January 27, 1965, the Village hosted a grand community celebration and open house. The event was advertised in the Webster Herald as an opportunity for village residents to “view and inspect the new village hall and its facilities, which include Customer Counter, Billing Machines, Vault, Mayor’s Office, Meeting Room and DPW Office and Garage.” Vice-Mayor Donald King was on hand to show off the facility, assisted by Trustees Milton Case and James Hall and several staff members. Mayor Hawley couldn’t be there because he was ill.
Prior to 1965, the Village Hall was located next door in the area which is now an entrance to the back parking lot behind Village Hall. The two-story building was constructed in 1912. The first floor housed the Fire Department’s equipment, along with three steel cells used as the village and town jail. Two big front rooms on the second floor were used for village and town offices. A large assembly room in the back was used for elections, trials, and various meetings. The basement served as a warehouse for the public works department.
Thank you to the folks at the Village Hall and the Village’s Historic Preservation Committee for pulling all this information together.
Want to learn more about Webster history? Visit the Webster Museum, located at 18 Lapham Park in the village. It’s open every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday from 2 to 4:30 p.m. There’s no admission charge. Or log onto webstermuseum.org. And if you’re especially interested in historic village properties, visit the Historic Preservation Commission website at websterhpc.com.
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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 “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).
I heard on the radio the other day that it snowed at least a little bit EVERY DAY IN JANUARY. And February is starting out pretty much the same way. It’s been a long time since we’ve had a winter with this much snow. Everyone is grumbling about it.
That is, everyone except Village of Webster resident Devin Englerth.
Devin has a hobby that helps her glide through winter (literally) with a smile. Devin is a dogsledder, and when there’s this much snow, it means there are a lot more opportunities to take her dogsled, seven huskies and big black shepherd out for a run. And every once in a while, when the conditions are right, she doesn’t bother going very far to do so.
A few weeks ago, the conditions were perfect, so instead of packing up her dogs and heading to her usual sledding spot far on the west side of town, she hooked them all up and took them out on the streets of the village.
Perhaps you saw them that day. A lot of people did, and photos popped up all over Facebook from village residents surprised and delighted to see an actual dogsled speeding down their street. ‘Cause that’s not something you see every day.
I sat down the other day with Devin (and her dogs) to find out more about her history with the sport, both in the village and elsewhere.
Devin has been dogsledding since 2011, ever since she got her first husky. Not long afterwards, she joined the Seneca Siberian Husky Club, and tries to get out and run the dogs at least a couple times of year. That’s been difficult in recent years when lack of snow has made for poor conditions.
“You have to have a frozen base and the snow on top of it,” she explained. “If you go before it freezes my sled would sink in the slush.”
But not running makes for unhappy huskies.
“(Running) is all they want to do,” Devin said. Even when she goes out to fire up the snow blower they start getting excited, thinking they’re going to get out and go. And when she is able to finally hook them up out in a wide open space, they might be out there for two and a half hours.
The day she decided to run them in the village, “they were going crazy,” she said. They hadn’t been sledding in a long time, and the conditions were good, so “we went all over the east side of the village.”
It proved to be rather challenging. People were coming out to take photos, the dogs kept stopping to say hi to the neighbors, even deciding to go up a driveway or two. So they got tangled up a lot. But despite the distractions, they were out on the streets for more than an hour.
It wasn’t the first time Devin has dogsledded through the village, and it probably won’t be the last. Because sled dogs live to run.
(Thank you to Jessica Cataldi for this great blog idea, and to Stretch Sabin for these videos!)
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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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Are you a regular visitor to our Village of Webster parks? An occasional visitor? Do you like taking your kids to the playgrounds or your dog to run around? Do you enjoy the Friday night concerts at the gazebo every summer?
These are some of the questions that the Village of Webster Parks Committee would like to ask you, to get a better handle on who uses our parks, how they’re used, and how they might be improved.
The Village of Webster maintains six parks within the village boundaries, covering more than 22 acres:
Milton R. Case Memorial Park, 14 acres of woodland with nature trails with entrances off of South Ave. to the east and Wood St. on the west;
Wilmorite Recreation Area on Iroquois St., which features playground equipment and a baseball field;
Schantz Park on State Rd., with an entrance off of Hawley Dr., with a basketball court, tennis courts, baseball fields and playground equipment;
Veterans Memorial Park on North Ave., which has the gazebo and veterans monument;
Harmony Park off of Phillips Rd., which features the Village Band Shell and a big lawn; and
North Ave. Pocket Park, which is that little green space with the gazebo at the corner of North Ave. and Rt. 104.
The Parks Committee has launched a community-wide survey to gather feedback about how residents engage with these spaces and identify needs and opportunities for improvements. Village and non-village residents are being encouraged to fill out the survey (it takes 5 to 10 minutes) to help guide future park planning. Later this spring, the committee hopes to hold a series of neighborhood listening sessions to give residents even more chances to express their opinions about our village parks.
email me at missyblog@gmail.com. “Like” this blog on Facebook and follow me on Instagram and Threads (@missyblog)
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There’s a great new initiative in the works to bring some joy to our local service members stationed abroad. It’s called “Mail Call — Letters From Home,” and its goal is ambitious: to collect 1,000 cards and letters from Webster community members to be sent to our local service members deployed overseas.
The program’s details are still being sketched out, but the general idea will involve placing “mail boxes” in businesses and agencies throughout the community, where people can deposit cards, letters and notes for the troops. Plans are to collect the letters in April, and then include them in care packages the Blue Star Mothers will be sending overseas in June.
But before all that can happen, the program’s organizers need our help. To make it easier for people to participate, organizers would like to place blank cardsand note paper near the mail boxes at different locations throughout town. So, if you have a moment, check in your basement or attic or junk drawers to see if you have any cards or paper you could donate for the cause. Generic cards and note pads that are not too flowery, and don’t have specific messages like “happy birthday” would be best. And NO ENVELOPES ARE NEEDED. They just add bulk and weight to the care packages.
The care packages prepared by the Blue Star Mothers have all sorts of goodies in them, from candy and cookies to hot chocolate and socks. But more than anything else in those packages, the service members love the cards and letters. It’s a simple thing, but it goes a long way to assure these brave men and women that we are thinking about them.
More to come about this great project. But in the meantime, if you have any cards or blank note paper you can donate (remember, no envelopes), drop me an email at missyblog@gmail.com and we’ll make arrangements to pick them up.
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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 “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).
The 2024 Webster Museum Festival of Trees has concluded, and after counting and re-counting, the winners have been announced.
This year’s contest included 19 beautifully decorated mini-trees, from these organizations and individuals:
American Legion Post 942
Country Gardeners of Webster
Gwen Hoffman
Jack’s Foundation
Lala of Webster
Museum Volunteers
Webster Arboretum
Webster Association of Senior Program Supporters
Webster Citizens Action League
Webster Comfort Care Home
Webster Community Chest
Webster Democratic Committee
Webster Firemen’s Ladies Auxiliary
Webster Garlic Fest (Wreaths Across America)
Webster Grange
Webster Presbyterian Church – Rachel Circle
Webster Quilt Guild
Webster Republican Committee
Well Field Preservation Commission
More than 500 votes were tallied in person and online, and I can tell you from personal experience, it was not an easy choice. But ultimately, the top winner really blew away the rest of the competition.
Webster Comfort CareWebster Arboretum
Taking first place this year, with an amazing 99 votes, was the tree created by the Webster Comfort Care Home. (This is the second year in a row that Webster Comfort Care took the top spot.) In not-so-close second place was the Webster Arboretum with 53 votes. Both winners will receive $25 prize money.
Two other entries were SO CLOSE to taking second that they’ve earned Honorable Mention status: Jack’s Foundation, with 50 votes and the American Legion with 47 votes.
Jack’s FoundationAmerican LegionMemory Tree
A new addition to the festival this year also proved very popular: a Memory Tree, where visitors to the museum could hang an ornament with the name of a lost loved one or pet.
The Webster Museum hosts the very popular Festival of Trees every year. Voting typically opens in early December on the day of Winter Wonderland in the Village and runs through the end of the year. It offers a great chance for local organizations to have a little fun with tree decorating, while drawing some attention to their cause. And having almost two dozen beautifully lit and decorated trees sprinkled throughout the museum makes the museum sparkle during the holidays.
Congratulations to all the winners, and thank you to everyone who participated.
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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 “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).
I feature the people and places and events that make Webster the wonderful community it is — and throw in some totally-not-Webster-related personal ramblings every once in a while as well.
I love it when readers send me news about the great things happening in their schools or the community, so please email me anytime at missyblog@gmail.com
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