One of my favorite events of the entire year — and not just the holidays — is coming up very soon.
It’s the annual St. Martin Lutheran Church Evening with Santa, on Friday Dec. 6 from 6 to 8 p.m., and I love it for so many reasons: there’s free pizza and cookies, crafts and games for the kids, and it’s my chance every year to get a photo with Santa.
But what’s really neat about this event is that the church puts it on not just for their parishioners, but for all their fund-raiser event patrons, their neighbors and their families, and for pretty much everyone in the community who’d like a fun evening out with the kids. And they would truly love everyone to come to enjoy the evening’s festivities.
The highlight of the evening, of course, is Santa himself. And I mean, the REAL Santa, whom you might know from the Village of Webster’s Winter Wonderland festival and Parade of Lights. Every child will have an opportunity to talk with Santa and tell him their secret wishes (you can skip the mall lines). Bring your phone and take as many photos as you want, but St. Martin will also be taking photos for everyone, and they’re really good. It’s a great opportunity for a beautiful family photo.
Children (and adults) can decorate their own Christmas cookies, listen to Santa himself read The Night Before Christmas, enjoy some games, write a letter to Santa and sing along with Santa. And everyone gets free pizza.
When the lights dim, Pastor Kory will read the Christmas Story to children of all ages. It’s all absolutely free, but participants are asked to bring a few non-perishable food items for the St. Martin Little Free Pantry food cupboard.
It all happens Friday Dec. 6 from 6 to 8 p.m. at St. Martin Lutheran Church, 813 Bay Rd., Webster. Santa will arrive by fire truck just before the event, so make sure to be there early and bring your camera!
(The beautiful photo above, by the way, came from the 2022 event when Santa visited with 8-month old Emory.)
* * *
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).
Kittelberger Florist‘s popular Bouquet a Month cards will be available through Dec. 7 at the Webster Museum, 18 Lapham Park in the Village of Webster.
For just $40, your card entitles you to one fresh bouquet every month for 12 consecutive months, which you will pick up at Kittelberger, 263 North Ave., Webster. They’re available at the museum during normal open hours, Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday from 2 to 4:30 p.m., and proceeds will benefit the museum.
Holiday Shopping Friday Night Faire every Friday through Dec. 13. Holiday shop with new vendors every week, 11/29, 12/6 and 12/13 from 7 to 10 p.m.
Holiday Photos will be offered every Sunday in December. Click on the flyer for times.
Pancakes, Pups and Pictures on Sunday Dec. 8 from 9 a.m. to noon. Features a Pancake Breakfast with Santa and photos. $20/adult. $10/children. Proceeds will benefit Operation Freedom Ride. Operation Freedom Ride. On-leash dogs are welcome.
An Ugly Sweater Silent Disco on Dec. 20 from 7 to 10 p.m. Cost is $15 and proceeds benefit the Verona St. Animal Society. Click here for tickets.
It all happens at Woofs Canine Club and Indoor Dog Park, 187 W. Main Street, Webster.
Meet “Webster’s Santa” at the Women’s Club
The Women’s Club of Webster’s December meeting and luncheon will take place on Thursday Dec. 19 at the Penfield Country Club, 1784 Jackson Rd.
This month’s speaker is “Santa Jim” Lockwood, a professional Santa who many residents will recognize from the annual Parade of Lights and Christmas in July at the Joe Obbie Farmers’ Market.
Social hour begins at 11:15, followed by a brief meeting and lunch. Entree choices include chicken French, Reuben sandwich or Caesar salad. All lunches will come with fresh fruit, coffee, tea, or cold drink. Price is $24. Send your check with choice of entree made out to Women’s Club of Webster no later than December 12 to Carolyn Rittenhouse, 405 County Line Road, Ontario, NY 14519. If you think your check will be late, phone Carolyn at 585 -265-1303.
And remember, the The Women’s Club of Webster’s super-popular Holiday Cookie Sale returns to the Webster Public Library on Saturday, Dec. 14, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. (or until sold out, which is pretty quickly). Proceeds from the sale benefit the club’s scholarship funds and many other programs and not-for-profit organizations in the Webster community.
Families of Young Children Asked to Take Census
Parents/guardians residing within the Webster Central School District (CSD), and who have children ages birth to 5 years residing in the household, are being asked to take a brief young child census survey that will be used to forecast student enrollment for the foreseeable future.
Completing the census is a young families’ first connection with the school district. It enables Webster CSD to keep in contact with families as their children approach school age. When families share their email address with Webster CSD through the census, it enables the district to notify those families when their children are eligible for prekindergarten and kindergarten registration.
The form can be found on the Webster CSD website beginning Dec.1 and will be available through January 6, 2025. Families who do not have access to a computer can participate by calling Student Registration at (585) 216-0029.
A look ahead at two great library events
These two events at the Webster Public Library won’t be happening until January, but I think you’ll want to get them on your calendar early.
The library will host a Preschool Open Houseon Monday, January 6 at 6:30 p.m. Representatives from preschools and nursery schools in the Webster area will be available to chat with parents and provide information about their programs. Registration is not required.
This next event sounds really cool, and will most certainly will fill up quickly.
It’s called the Library Fan Fest, on Sunday Jan. 19 from 4:30 to 8 p.m., an afternoon and evening of immersive literary fun for all ages. Participants can visit five different literary realms: The Dragon’s Den (fantasy), The Queen’s Ball (Regency era), The Fairytale Forest (princesses & fairytales), Mythology Camp, and the Comics Cafe (comics & superheroes). Each realm will offer themed crafts, activities, treats, and more. Visit with live animals, have a tarot card reading, learn a Regency-inspired dance, get your face painted, visit the Candy Shoppe, meet characters from your favorite fairy tales and comics, and more. Costumes are highly encouraged.
This event is for literary lovers of all ages. There’s no charge, but you must register. Registration for this event will open Sunday, Dec. 1. Click here to register.
Also from the library, remember that the Friends of the Webster Public Library will be hosting their Holiday Book Sale from Nov. 27 through Dec. 23 during normal library hours. A nice selection of gently-used books with winter themes will be available at great prices.
Two more reminders
The Country Gardeners of Webster will hold their annual Garden Club Holiday Sale on Saturday December 7 from 9 a.m. to noon at the Webster Recreation Center, 1350 Chiyoda Drive.
This huge sale features fresh wreaths, arrangements, poinsettias, centerpieces and gifts that are created by hand by the club members. This is always a very popular event, so you want to get there early.
The Webster Arboretum will also be there with an information table, holiday plants and a holiday raffle.
The sale is the Country Gardeners’ annual fundraiser, so think about decorating your own home, and purchasing gifts for family, friends and holiday hostesses. Admission is free.
The Webster Lions Club’s Annual Pancake Breakfastwith Santa has been scheduled for Sunday Dec. 8 (note the new date; it’s been scheduled for the first Sunday in December for years).
It will be held at Webster Schroeder High School from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. Santa and his elf will be there for the children, as well as the Lion Club’s Lion. Plus, there’ll be lots of great raffle items and free vision screening for kids ages 6 months to 12 years. And of course, breakfast: pancakes, sausage, scrambled eggs, juice and coffee. Admission is free but donations will be gratefully accepted.
The Pancake Breakfast with Santa Fundraiser is one of the ways the Lion’s Club earns money to help those in need. This year, donations will be made to the Webster Community Chest, Webster Hope and other charities.
* * *
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 Village of Webster posted their latest bi-weekly newsletter on Monday, and once again it’s packed with great features about local businesses and upcoming events.
a look at the Village’s newest restaurant, Annette’s
info about this year’s Festival of Trees at the Webster Museum
a preview of the Winter Wonderland holiday festival
a list of upcoming Village meetings
And that’s just THIS week!
Since the newsletter was introduced in August, View From Main Street has become a valuable source of local news and information, and seems to continue getting better each time. So make sure to check it out.
Click here to see the newsletter, then check the Village of Webster websiteevery few weeks to see the latest edition. Just click on the “news” link and it will bring you there.
* * *
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 Friends of the Webster Public Library will be hosting their Holiday Book Sale from Nov. 27 through Dec. 23 during normal library hours. A nice selection of gently-used books with winter themes will be available at great prices.
And don’t forget about the The Friends of the Webster Public Library’s annual hat sale is going on now through Saturday Nov. 23. Adult hats start at $8, children’s hats at $4. Buy one for yourself, buy some for gifts and support the library!
Cookies cookies, cookies!
The Women’s Club of Webster’s super-popular Holiday Cookie Sale returns to the Webster Public Library on Saturday, Dec. 14, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. (or until sold out, which is pretty quickly).
Proceeds from the sale benefit the club’s scholarship funds and many other programs and not-for-profit organizations in the Webster community.
Country Gardeners‘ holiday salecoming soon
The Country Gardeners of Webster will hold their annual Garden Club Holiday Sale on Saturday December 7 from 9 a.m. to noon at the Webster Recreation Center, 1350 Chiyoda Drive.
This huge sale features fresh wreaths, arrangements, poinsettias, centerpieces and gifts that are created by hand by the club members. This is always a very popular event, so you want to get there early.
The Webster Arboretum will also be there with an information table, holiday plants and a holiday raffle.
The sale is the Country Gardeners’ annual fundraiser, so think about decorating your own home, and purchasing gifts for family, friends and holiday hostesses. Admission is free.
Will it actually snow this year?
I’ll be writing a more in-depth blog about this soon, but here’s your reminder that Webster’s Winter Wonderland returns to the streets of the Village of Webster on Saturday Dec. 7 from 3 to 6 p.m.
This very popular family-friendly event features carriage rides, crafts for the kids, cookie decorating, live music, story time, and a visit with Santa at the Village Hall. Then, at 6:30 p.m., make sure to get your spot for the Parade of Lights along Main Street.
Details are still being finalized, so watch for a more complete blog soon. Let’s hope we actually get some snow this year and it really LOOKS like winter.
Mark your calendar for Breakfast with Santa
The Webster Lions Club’s Annual Pancake Breakfastwith Santa has been scheduled for Sunday Dec. 8 (note the new date; it’s been scheduled for the first Sunday in December for years).
It will be held at Webster Schroeder High School from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. Santa and his elf will be there for the children, as well as the Lion Club’s Lion. Plus, there’ll be lots of great raffle items and free vision screening for kids ages 6 months to 12 years. And of course, breakfast: pancakes, sausage, scrambled eggs, juice and coffee. Admission is free but donations will be gratefully accepted.
The Pancake Breakfast with Santa Fundraiser is one of the ways the Lion’s Club earns money to help those in need. This year, donations will be made to the Webster Community Chest, Webster Hope and other charities.
Looking ahead …
The Webster Quilt Guild would like me to tell everyone that they’ve scheduled their annual Quilt Show on April 12 and 13, 2025 at Holy Trinity Parish Hall, 1460 Ridge Rd.
This is a big year for the club; they’re celebrating 50 years of quilting together. Next year’s show will feature more than 200 quilts, both past winners, new quilts, and a display of our the quilts they made for the Breast Cancer Coalition and Asbury Storehouse will be available. Plus there will be some great raffles.
Admission is only $5 for adults, and under 12 are free.
* * *
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).
If you’re a fan of Abbott Elementary, then this first mailbag item will interest you.
One of the best characters on that show is Jacob Hill, played by Chris Perfetti. What you may not know is that Chris is a 2011 Webster Schroeder grad. You may have seen him in Schroeder’s annual musicals (my favorite was when he was the Cat in the Hat for Seussical). He’s had many roles in TV and film since graduating, but his work on Abbott Elementary has become his breakout role, and has won him a Screen Actors Guild Award.
Several weeks ago, Chris was featured in the New York Times, in their “What actors do on Sundays” column. My husband, a regular NYT reader, shared the link with me, and the link should work for everyone, NYT subscribers or not.
Click here to see the article. (Photo above courtesy the New York Times).
The Diary of Anne Frank Coming to Thomas Stage
Webster Thomas High School will present the moving drama The Diary of Anne Frank later this month.
The play is based on Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl, the true story of Anne Frank, a Jewish girl who kept a diary while hiding from the Nazis in Amsterdam during World War II.
I’ll be writing more about the production soon, but I wanted to give you all a heads-up because tickets are on sale now.
Show times are Thursday, Friday and Saturday Nov. 21 to 23 at 7 p.m. each evening, at Webster Thomas High School, 800 Five Mile Line Rd. Seating is reserved. Tickets are $10 each and can be purchased online in advance here. Tickets are digital and can be printed at home.
More to come.
Festival of Trees
I’ll have a more detailed blog or three about the Village of Webster’s annual Winter Wonderland festivities. But I always like to give a social shout-out to the Webster Museum and their annual Festivalof Trees, which they host during the event.
The Festival of Trees will be held on Saturday, December 7 during Winter Wonderland. Museum visitors will be invited to vote for their favorite decorated mini-Christmas tree among 17 beautiful and creative entries which have been set up throughout the museum. (Online voting will also be available at webstermuseum.org.)
The museum will be open from 2 to 6 p.m. with live music beginning at 4 p.m.
Also this year, the museum invites everyone to help decorate their “Museum Memory Tree” by hanging an ornament with the name of a loved one or pet whom you’ve lost. The museum is also resurrecting its popular holiday raffle (so bring some cash), and will be offering the also very popular Kittelberger Florist “bouquet a month for a year” coupon booklet.
It all happens Saturday, Dec. 7 during the Village of Webster’s Winter Wonderland.
New hats and old books
A few quick reminders from the Webster Public Library about some programs this month:
The Friends of the Webster Public Library’s annual hat sale is going on now. Adult hats start at $8, children’s hats at $4.
A Vintage Book Sale will be held on Saturday, Nov. 16 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Prices start at $8.
This month’s community collections are cookbooks and recipes, and the Keeping our Promise donation station.
Mark your calendar for Breakfast with Santa
The Webster Lions Club’s Annual Pancake Breakfastwith Santa has been scheduled for Sunday Dec. 8 (note the new date; it’s been scheduled for the first Sunday in December for years).
It will be held at Webster Schroeder High School from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. Santa and his elf will be there for the children, as well as the Lion Club’s Lion. Plus, there’ll be lots of great raffle items and free vision screening for kids ages 6 months to 12 years. And of course, breakfast: pancakes, sausage, scrambled eggs, juice and coffee.
The Pancake Breakfast with Santa Fundraiser is one of the ways the Lion’s Club earns money to help those in need. This year, donations will be made to the Webster Community Chest, Webster Hope and other charities.
Rec Center 55+ Monthly Newsletter
I recently got emailed my copy of the Webster Recreation Center’s 55+ newsletter, which is always packed with great programs for all of us taking full advantage of our active later years.
There is SO MUCH STUFF that I’m not going to go into too much detail here, just highlight a few things, and recommend you check out the newsletter for yourself and sign up to have it delivered monthly to your email box.
Technology Workshop, Tues. Nov. 12 from 9 to 10:30 a.m. FREE
Doctor’s Orders entertains during lunch on Wed. Nov. 13. FREE
Muslim Countries Wanderings, the Tuesday Travelogue on Nov. 12 (registration required)
The Lunch Bunch is going to Applebee’s on Nov. 15
The Holiday Party is scheduled for Wed. Dec. 11
And that’s just a sampling. Check out the newsletter for yourself to find out lots more.
Yum. Cookies.
The Women’s Club of Webster’s super-popular Holiday Cookie Sale returns to the Webster Public Library on Saturday, Dec. 14, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. (or until sold out, which is pretty quickly).
Proceeds from the sale benefit the club’s scholarship funds and many other programs and not-for-profit organizations in the Webster community.
* * *
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’ve been hearing from some friends that they’ve seen people inside the new Annette’s Restaurant and are wondering if it’s open yet.
Well, sorry, I found out that it isn’t officially open QUITE yet. They’re inviting some friends and family members in on Friday night to give their staff some practice and iron out some kinks. But the restaurant won’t be open for everyone else until this Saturday, Nov. 9.
Owner Nan Kent told me that beginning Saturday, Annette’s will be open for lunch and dinner. You can check out the menu here, but Nan was particularly excited to tell me about a few of the desserts, an apple/pear tart and a flourless chocolate cake. The rest of the menu looks pretty delicious, too.
I don’t need to tell you more about Annette’s here; just stop on in and check it out for yourself. The restaurant’s hours will be Tuesday through Thursday 11 a.m. to 8:30 p.m., Friday and Saturday 11 to 9:30, and closed Sunday and Monday. They’re already taking reservations (call 585-645-6002).
Annette’s is located at 27 West Main St. in Webster (the former Mozzeroni’s). Visit the website here for more information.
* * *
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).
A special program and new exhibit at the Webster Museum honor and give thanks to those who fought in the Vietnam War.
On Saturday, Nov. 16 at 2 p.m., Charles Klauck, a Vietnam veteran and President of Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 20 will tell his story. Plus, attendees will also hear from the Schraders, who met because of the Vietnam War. Nguyen Schroeder escaped by jumping on a ship as it was leaving the Vietnam harbor. They will tell their fascinating love story. Other veterans are welcome and encouraged to attend the presentation to share their personal stories of the war and their service.
The program is free (donations are always appreciated) and refreshments will be served. The museum is located at 18 Lapham Park in the Village of Webster and is handicap accessible.
While you’re there for the presentation (or anytime this month), make sure to check out the new Vietnam War exhibit tucked into the “toy corner.” It features two uniforms actually worn during the war. The one on the left was worn by Spencer Radnich from the US Army, and on the right, the US Air Force uniform worn by Ron Gentle. The patches are from Vietnam veteran Michael Geisler.
The Webster Museum is located at 18 Lapham Park in the Village of Webster. You can find out more at their website here and Facebook page here. The museum is open Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays from 2 to 4:30 p.m. * * *
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 received a couple of emails in the last few weeks with good news about two recent fundraising events.
The first was from Kevin Finn, who every year organizes the Beer Walk for the Village of Webster. This year’s walk was held on Saturday Oct. 19, and Kevin reports that the weather was perfect.
The event completely sold out its 200 available tickets. Participants strolled through the village, stopping at six businesses:
The Coach Sports Bar (where walkers picked up their wrist bands and glasses)
Jojo Bistro and Wine Bar
Finn’s Automotive (where Mayer’s Cider Mill sampled their hard ciders)
Roc Style Chicken and Burger
BC’s Chicken Coop
Lattimore Physical Therapy, where Rising Storm offered their locally-brewed beer
The event raised $3,300 for future Webster Business Improvement District events. A portion was also donated to the Harmony House to help fund their renovations.
The next day, I got this great news from the Webster Public Library’s annual Fall Book Sale, held Oct. 16 through 19: just through sales of $1 hardcover books and 50 cent paperbacks (plus $5 bags at the bag sale), the event managed to raise more than $6,000. The Kittelberger flower cards which were also being offered for sale were also a big hit; 200 of them were sold.
On a side note, I’ve also been told that a very good friend of the library — whom I only know as “Ted” — took it upon himself after the sale to rearrange the book sale area. He managed to more than double the available shelf space for both books and digital materials.
So next time you’re at the library, check out the newly organized space, which is just to the left as you come in the front door. Remember, even though the big Fall Book Sale is over, the book sale area is open all the time, and the prices are great.
* * *
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).
If you happened to be in the Village of Webster during Saturday’s Trick or Treat Trail, then perhaps you were one of the lucky ones to get a not-so-sneak-peek at the new Mary Wee Pub opening at 2 West Main in the old Barry’s Old School Irish space.
Owner Mark Petzing was there with some family and friends handing out candy and giving tours of the almost completed pub. I’ve posted a few blogs in the last few months chronicling Mark’s progress, but I haven’t been in there in more than three weeks, so I made sure to stop in and see where things stand.
I was blown away by how much has been accomplished in those last three weeks.
Granted, the floor still needs to be finished and the kitchen is still in disarray. But the indoor bar is looking beautiful, the spacious indoor/outdoor bar is ready for pints, the jukebox has been installed, and there are a few special touches that people are really going to love, like how the restroom door looks like an Irish telephone booth and the ceiling is emblazoned with the symbols from Ireland’s four provinces.
Best of all, Mark says all the final touches should be completed within a few weeks. So watch for news of a grand opening, hopefully sometime before the end of November.
Here are a few more photos:
* * *
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).
What a spectacular autumn day we had Saturday for the Village of Webster’s annual Trick or Treat Trail. The gorgeous sunshine and not-too-hot, not-too-cold temperatures brought thousands of adults and children to the streets of the village. I think our small business owners enjoyed the day as much as the kids, although some of the first-time participants were a bit unprepared for the number of trick or treaters that would come by.
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
webster on the web 