Tag Archives: Village of Webster

Webster community mailbag

3 Sep

Lots of notices came across my email in the few weeks I was out of town, so I’ll do my best to catch up.

Concert to benefit St. Jude

This coming Saturday Sept. 7, the 3rd annual St. Jude Benefit Concert will take place at Gazebo Park on North Ave., from noon to 6 p.m.

Three bands will take the stage, including Red, Hot and Blue; Shades of Grey; and local favorite Sarah De Vallière. Food will be available from Pub 235 and Guida’s Pizza. There’s no charge, but donations will be accepted to benefit St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. So bring your lawn chairs, coolers and blankets and enjoy a full afternoon of tunes for a good cause.

NY Hope Garage Sale

NY Hope’s huge annual garage sale returns next week, with three days of bargains.

You probably all know about this incredible event from years past, so let’s get right to this year’s details:

Here are the details:

  • Sale begins Wednesday, Sept. 11, 6 to 8 PM; Preview Night, Murphy Hall at Holy Trinity Church, 1460 Ridge Road. For a small admission fee, be among the first to shop.
  • Thursday, Sept. 12 and Friday, Sept. 13, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
  • Saturday, Sept. 14, 10 a.m. to noon only, everything is half-price!

All proceeds go to Webster NY Hope, which serves the needs of residents in the 14580 zip code, providing food, clothing, household goods and furniture to those in need.

It’s chicken barbecue time again!

St. Martin Lutheran Church will hold its Fall Drive-Thru Chicken BBQ on Saturday, Sept. 21 at the church, 813 Bay Road, Webster. The event begins at 4:30 p.m. and will continue until all dinners are sold out.

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

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

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

For our 55+ friends

I got the latest edition of the Webster Recreation Center 55+ newsletter recently. It’s always packed with tons of information, but I pulled out these tidbits in particular:

This month’s Talks on Tuesday schedule features a new informative presentation each month. They run from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m., there’s no charge and all community members are invited (not just Rec members). Registration is requested. This month’s programs include:

Sept. 10: SOCIAL SECURITY 101. Troy Gribnau from Edward Jones will answer your questions about Social Security, including how it fits into your retirement plan, when you should start taking benefits, how to the taxes work, and more. Registration is requested. Search for activity# 346940-C.

Sept. 17: ASTRONOMY FOR SENIORS. NASA Ambassador Jim Porter will help you discover the rich hobby of astronomy, with just a small pair of binoculars. Activity# 346940-D.

Sept. 24: MEDICARE. Sara Mason from Mason Wealth Management will host a workshop to help you understand what all the pieces of Medicare mean — parts A, B, C, D and Medicare Supplemental Insurance. Learn when you can make changes and why you should review your plan annually. Activity# 346940-E

And this last program I pulled out because it’s becoming more and more important these days to be able to spot AI-generated fake news:

Tuesday Sept. 10, FAKE NEWS & HOW TO SPOT IT TECH WORKSHOP, 9 to 10:30 a.m.

Join technology instructor Daniel Jones to learn how to spot what’s real, what’s true, and what’s not. Learn about:

  • disinformation: How it spreads and how to recognize it
  • personal responsibility
  • the rise of deepfakes
  • fact-checking resources
  • terms you should know

Please register for activity #346014-A.

Oh, one more thing from the Rec Center.

If you’ve got game, you might be interested to know that the Rec Center has groups that play Canasta, Rummikub, competitive Scrabble, Mahjong, Bridge and Bingo every week. Check the newsletter for details about these and lots other 55+ programs.

Want to read more about Webster’s history?

The Webster Museum is developing an outreach newsletter for friends, members and supporters with more general information about the museum and local history. If you’re interested in being added to the distribution list, send your email address to WebsterMuseum@gmail.com.

ALSO, the museum folks have a mystery that they need help solving. Does anyone know how or why the penny-farthing (the high-wheel bicycle) came to be the museum’s logo? They’ve done some digging through their archives but haven’t been able to come up with anything. Let them know if you have any clues!

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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).

(posted 9/3/2024)

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Village Quilt Shoppe celebrates five years

30 Aug

A bit of happy news came across my email the other day: the Village Quilt Shoppe has just celebrated their fifth anniversary. That’s especially encouraging news since we’ve been hearing so much about businesses closing or leaving town in recent months.

It doesn’t seem like it’s been five years since Vanetta Parshall and Monique Liberti opened their cute, friendly little Village Quilt Shoppe at the corner of East Main and Lapham Park in the village. But it’s so great to see their continued success, since they had a rather rocky start.

Just three months after they opened their doors in August 2019, and just days before the Village of Webster’s White Christmas celebration, disaster struck when a water leak from the apartment above the shop came through the floor and destroyed much of their merchandise. They had to close for almost a month to regroup and restock. But, determined not to lose their dream shop, they persevered and survived that early setback.

Then COVID struck, and they had to close again for three more months.

But thanks to a solid core of loyal customers, the little business navigated a global pandemic and came back stronger than ever.

To celebrate the occasion, Vanetta and Monique are hosting a special celebration week during the first week of September. From Sept. 3 through 7, they promise “a week filled with fun, special offers and daily surprises. Each day will bring a new special, and there will be free gifts and treats to enjoy.”

To cap off the week, on Saturday Sept. 7 they’ll be hosting a Color Workshop, perfect for anyone who finds choosing colors for their projects a bit challenging. There’s all sorts of other special events coming up, too, so check out their website for more details.

The Village Quilt Shoppe is located at 21 E. Main St. in the Village of Webster.

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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).

(posted 8/30/2024)

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The Irish are coming to town!

29 Aug

Danny and Jessica Barry and their beloved Barry’s Old School Irish pub might not be gracing our village’s four-corners anymore, but they’re coming back into town next week in a big way.

The Barrys will be holding their 5th annual Barry’s Irish Festival on Saturday Sept. 7 from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. at Webster Fireman’s Field, just down the road from their former pub.

This is great news for anyone who trucked all the way out to Hilton for the Barrys’ last four festivals, which they held on their farmhouse property. And it’s also good news for those who didn’t want to truck all the way out there, but who love Irish dancing and music, because this is a rip-roaring festival.

Barry’s Irish Festivals feature everything we love about Irish culture: live Irish music, Irish beer, dancers, bagpipers, and Celtic crafts. There’s plenty of non-Irish stuff too, including food trucks, kids’ crafts and games, raffles, lots of vendors, lawn games and more. It’s also going to be a great opportunity to reconnect with the Barry’s Old School Irish community, many of whom we haven’t seen in a year. Basically, it’s a great family event, hosted by a great family.

  • Bands will include the Connemara Social Club, Rusty Kettle, Lucky Enough, Everheart, Gavin Barry’s Rebel Banjo Circus, The Irish Lassies, Celtic Cross and 1916.  
  • Food trucks will include Netsins, Sammies n’ Sweets, The Melt Truck, Schutt’s, Rustic Taco,
    and Webster Hots

Admission is $19.98 ($17 plus $2.98 Eventbrite fee). Click here to get tickets (but I imagine they’ll also be available at the gate.)

Click here to visit the Facebook event page for more details.

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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).

(posted 8/29/2024)

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Happy (your name here) Day!

27 Aug

A few weeks ago I posted a blog about how I happened upon a fun group of people at The Coach celebrating Helen Miller Day. It got me to thinking about what other “days” have been named in honor of people.

The Village and Town both hand out these proclamations fairly regularly, and I asked my friends there to look back into their records to see who else has been recognized recently. Many thanks to Webster Village Clerk Heather Halstead and Webster Town Clerk Danene Marr for doing that for me. Following are some examples I pulled from their lists.

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The first time I really became familiar with this practice was back on Nov. 17, 2017, when the Village of Webster proclaimed that day to be Carol Klem Day.

Carol was a well-known face and well-loved personality in the Village of Webster before she passed in 2018. For more than ten years, Carol penned the Village Focus column in the Webster Herald, and was basically the village’s biggest cheerleader. She was the eyes and ears of Webster and her name became synonymous with all things good about the Village of Webster. I was honored to attend her proclamation ceremony.

Several years earlier, the Village of Webster proclaimed March 26, 2009 to be Patti Cataldi Day. Before her current term as councilwoman for the Town of Webster, Patti served in many capacities for the Village of Webster, including as a trustee, director of the Business Improvement District, Planning Board member, and several others.

There have been many instances when the Village didn’t name an actual day in honor of someone, but just sang their praises and thanked them for their contributions to our community. One of those times was Oct. 28, 2021, when the Village recognized John Bucci, owner of The Music Store, on the occasion of his retirement after 32 years in the business.

And, just a few months later, on Dec. 9, 2021, Danny and Jessica Barry and their beloved corner pub, Barry’s Old School Irish, were recognized on the occasion of the pub’s 10th anniversary,.

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As I mentioned, the Town of Webster also hands out these proclamations on a semi-regular basis. Here are a few of their honorees:

Feb. 19, 2021: Caleb Hoag, Savage Kitchen Day. Caleb Hoag owned Savage Chef, at 5 East Main St. in the village, before closing a few years ago. In addition to running a successful meal-delivery business, Caleb also would donate hundreds of meals every week to various community groups, and made financial contributions to World Central Kitchen and Feeding America.

May 20, 2021: Bella’s Bumbas Day. Run by Webster residents Marty Parzynski and Rebecca Orr, Bella’s Bumbas builds miniature wheelchairs for children with a wide variety of mobility issues. To date, they’ve shipped 2,650 chairs to children in 66 countries, charging the parents only for shipping.

April 22, 2022: Charles Sexton Day. Charles Sexton was Webster’s first Recreation Director, and the first African-American Recreation Director in New York State. During his 34-year career with the department, he introduced the town’s first programs for senior citizens and launched the summer youth camps. He was also instrumental in establishing what was once known as North Ponds Park, renamed Charles Sexton Park in 2022 in his honor.

Sept. 1, 2022: Ruth Hilfiker Day. A long time resident of Penfield and Webster, Ruth worked for more than 20 years in the Penfield School District. On Wednesday Aug., 31, 2022, Supervisor Flaherty was invited to her 102nd birthday party, and at the next Town Board meeting, named a day in her honor.

So there you go. Several more holidays you can celebrate, if you like, and raise a toast to these people who have made a difference in our community.

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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).

(posted 8/27/2024)

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First Responders 5K returns to the village next week

23 Aug

One of my favorite 5K races of the year returns to Village of Webster streets next Friday night, and I will definitely be there, as I have for the past several years.

It’s the First Responders 5K, and I especially like this event for a few reasons. First, it’s in the Village of Webster, so I don’t have to travel very far to participate. For that matter, since it begins at the south end of Fireman’s Field, I can walk to the start line from my house. PLUS the course runs right by my house. And a lot of my friends run this race with me, which always makes it more fun.

I also like supporting 5K events that raise money for good causes. The First Responders 5K benefits the First Responders Special Treatment Agency (FRST Agency), which is dedicated to helping first responders and their families deal with mental trauma.

The race is scheduled for Friday Aug. 30 at 6:30 p.m. It will BEGIN AND END at the south side of Fireman’s Field on Sanford St., and take racers through east-side village neighborhoods. Cost is $43, or $19 for active first responders (advance registration required). Each racer will also receive a t-shirt, and food and drink after the race.

My family will once again be setting up our “refreshment” stop on Fuller Ave., with water — and beer — so watch for our signs!

To register for the race, and for more information including a course map, click here . They’re also looking for volunteers, which is an easy gig and nets you a t-shirt, too. You can also find out more about that opportunity on the website.

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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).

(posted 8/23/2024)

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Village introduces new website

15 Aug

A few weeks ago I posted a blog about the Village of Webster’s new online newsletter, View From Main Street. What I didn’t mention in that blog is that the Village has also recently updated its website.

Right from the get-go, website visitors are greeted with some photos highlighting the village’s summertime floral beauty. Below that, there’s an easy-to-navigate menu directing visitors to several of the most popular landing places on the site.

Also on that home page is basic information about where Village Hall is located, the office hours and phone numbers, plus a quick-view calendar of events.

And that’s all. That’s everything on the home page, which is great. It’s attractive, clear and clean. No trying to fumble through a lot of information you don’t need. Just choose the topic you have a question about — meetings, passports, residential services, what have you — and with one click, you’re there.

Combine the new website with the new bi-weekly newsletter, and Village of Webster residents have two great places to get Village news.

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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).

(posted 8/15/2024)

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Photos from the 2024 Webster Jazz Festival

11 Aug

I don’t know what it was about this year’s Webster Jazz Festival, but on Saturday night there was a LOT more dancing in the street than I remember from any years past.

Perhaps it was the gorgeous weather, and it certainly had a lot to do with the great music coming from the stage. But I also think that the Jazz Festival has really found its groove (pun intended) and has become known as one of our village’s best family events of the summer.

Once again this year the event drew huge crowds, which seemed to grow bigger every minute as the evening progressed, this despite the Heroes and Hidden Heroes music festival taking place just down Main Street at Fireman’s Field. And those who did stay until after dark to watch Prime Time Funk close the show were treated to a charming display of twinkly lights strung along and across Main Street and through the trees.

Congratulations to the Webster BID for putting on another great event (and especially to Tom Spoonhower), to all the restaurants who set up shop to provide dinner, and to all of the performers for putting on an outstanding show.

Friday night’s Jazz in the Pubs was well attended, too, by the way. Even though the threatening forecast earlier in the day caused the street festival to be canceled, the pubs were packed as people hopscotched around the village to sample five different bands.

Click here to see my gallery of … well, only about 80 photos this time, all from Saturday night. There’s a lot of dancing.

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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).

(posted 8/11/2024)

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Happy Helen Miller Day!

9 Aug

There was a local holiday — of sorts — celebrated last Thursday Aug. 1. It was Helen Miller Day, and even though it’s an annual event, you’re forgiven if it passed you by unnoticed. I wouldn’t have even known about it myself had I not happened upon the celebration that evening at Coach Sports Bar in the village.

There, gathered mostly in a far corner of the Coach patio, was a boisterous crowd of 30, all friends or family members of the late Helen Miller, who passed away in 2012. They come together every year on the first day of August to laugh, share stories, raise a pint and remember a lady who was a true friend to Webster.

Helen Miller was a long-time Webster resident and very involved in her community. Among other organizations, she belonged to the Iroquois Club, Webster Democratic Party, the Women’s Club of Webster, the Webster Softball League and two golf leagues.

But Helen was also an artist, perhaps best known for works of art which still grace our daily lives here in Webster, including the mural and stained glass windows in the Community Meeting Hall, and more stained glass at the Webster Volunteer Fire Department and Webster Arboretum.

Helen loved Webster so much and was such an important part of our community that in 2009, then-Mayor Jake Swingly proclaimed August 1 to be Helen Miller Day in the Village of Webster. And so it is that every year since 2012, when Helen passed away, her friends and family come together every August 1 to celebrate Helen Miller Day.

Her daughter Diane said the annual event is a celebration “of Mom’s love of people and life.” After all, according to her obituary,

Helen looked for any excuse to get everyone together to have a party. Thank you for teaching us to love with all our hearts, to laugh often to turn the negative to a positive, to enjoy every minute and share it all with family and friends. … Unforgettable is her positive attitude and ability to “Love You More.”

Helen Miller clearly had a kind spirit and a zest for life, setting an example for us all. And you know that if she’s looking down on these annual festivities, she’s smiling and laughing along with everyone else, and her heart is full.

And rest assured, on August 1, 2025, you’ll find me at the Coach, raising a glass to Helen Miller.

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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).

(posted 8/9/2024)

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Another reminder about the Jazz Festival

8 Aug

Unless you’ve been living under a rock for the last month, you already know about the Webster Jazz Festival coming up this Friday and Saturday.

The fun begins Friday night at 6:30 p.m. with “Jazz in the Pubs,” featuring five different bands playing in five different pubs, at staggered times so music lovers can travel from one to another to enjoy a wide variety of fine jazz. (Keep reading for the schedule.) And P.S. the Jazz in the Pubs street event has been cancelled due to the rain.

Then, Saturday night is the big-time party beginning at 4 p.m. with an outstanding lineup of musical entertainers performing on the West Main Street stage. Bring your folding chairs and coolers, and just set up camp for the evening along with thousands of your friends and neighbors.

Here are the schedules:

Friday Aug. 9

  • 6:30 p.m.: Andy Calabrese and Peter Chwazik at Cobblestone on Main, 109 W. Main St. Calabrese is a pianist, educator and music producer and Rochester-based Chwazik is a bassist and guitarist.
  • 6:45 p.m.: Sarah De Vallière at JoJo’s Webster, 42 E. Main St.An award-winning composer, classically-trained pianist and outstanding singer-songwriter, performing “cinematic folk rock with nuances of jazz and pop.”
  • 7:00 p.m.: Marvin Dolly & Mel Henderson at ROC Style, 5 W. Main St., performing “organic, funky grooves with street-level ambiance.”
  • 7:15 p.m. Joe Chiappone & Vince Ercolamento at Ploty’s Tavern, 27 West Main St., jazz guitar and saxophone.
  • 8:15 p.m.: Bill Tiberio Band at the Coach Sports Bar, 19 W. Main St., original contemporary jazz in a multitude of styles.

Saturday Aug. 10

  • 4:00 p.m.: CMD, re-imagining old rock and pop hits on piano, bass and drums
  • 5:15 p.m.: Sofrito, Latin jazz quintet
  • 6:45 p.m.: Smooth jazz sounds from Judah Sealy, a graduate of School of the Arts and Roberts Wesleyan College
  • 8:30 p.m.: Prime Time Funk, 10-piece powerhouse of passionate musicians who write, arrange, and perform a world-class combination of funk, jazz and R&B 

By the way, there’s no admission charge for any of this.

To find out more about the 2024 Webster Jazz Festival, and read more about the featured bands, visit the Webster BID website.

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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).

(posted 8/8/2024)

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The village is bloomin’ beautiful

7 Aug

Just in time for this weekend’s Jazz Festival, the Village of Webster is looking beautiful.

Up and down Main Street, brightly colored annuals are bursting from flower beds and overflowing the luxuriant baskets hanging from the light poles. Things look especially attractive in front of Village Hall, as well they should, since it’s going to be pretty much front-and-center during this weekend’s festival.

Together with the always impressive planters which dot the sidewalks and the twinkly lights strung through the trees, it’s a charming look for our little village, giving it a very welcoming, small-town feel.

Thank you to anybody and everybody who had a hand in planning, planting and maintaining these summertime gardens.

Here’s a selection of photos in case you haven’t been in the village recently:

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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).

(posted 8/7/2024)

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