Tag Archives: Village of Webster

Halloween in the Village is coming!

18 Oct

halloween

It took a while, but I finally have gotten into the Halloween mood. Perhaps it was visiting Victor last weekend, seeing all of their light pole scarecrows and making plans with friends to attend Victor’s very adult trick-or-treating Spooktacular in a few weeks. Maybe it’s that the weather has turned very fall-like (OK, downright cold) and the trees are really beginning to change.

In any case, let’s talk Halloween.

The Village of Webster’s annual Halloween in the Village is coming up on Saturday October 27. The highlight of this event is the Trick-or-Treat Trail, where kids can get into their costumes and trick-or-treat all through the village, stopping by dozens of businesses for treats.

Here are the details:

  • A costume contest will kick off the day’s activities from 11 a.m. to noon at the Community Meeting Room, 29 South Ave. (adjacent to the fire house). Prizes will be awarded for best costumes. To be entered into the contest, you must arrive between 11 and 11:30.
  • The Trick-or-Treat Trail itself will run from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Look for the orange pumpkin in the windows of the participating businesses. (Or just follow the crowds of kids.)
  • The Webster Museum on Lapham Park will host an open house and usually has a fun scavenger-hunt for the kids.
  • The Fire Department will also have an open house, which is always very popular with the kids. Along with candy and other treats, the firefighters will be handing out fire hats and goodie bags and will have lots of demonstrations and hands-on activities.
  • The village’s Festival Wagon will also be making the rounds if you’d like to enjoy a horse-drawn wagon ride around the village.

I’ll be there with my camera, as I am every year, snapping photos of as many cute kids as I can. If you’d like to check out last year’s gallery of photos, click here.

Several other events you’ll want keep on your radar include the Friends of Webster Trails’ annual Hot Cocoa Hike the evening of Oct. 27; Barry’s Old School Irish’s 7th anniversary party on Saturday Nov. 3; a craft show at Schlegel Elementary School also on Nov. 3; and a magic show to benefit Miracle Field on Saturday Nov. 24. More details to come about all these soon.

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I wish Webster had scarecrows

17 Oct
Turning Point

Probably my favorite scarecrow in Victor, created by The Turning Pointe dance studio.

Fairport does it up big. This year Victor is doing it, too. Business owners all along the town’s main streets are lashing scary and whimsical scarecrows to the lamp posts near their shops.

Fairport’s done it for years, and they’ve become such an important part of the village’s Scarecrow Festival that it’s even named after them. Victor is doing it for the first time this year as part of their second annual Spooktacular Victor event. In both cases, the scarecrows are a main festival feature. But they also will draw families to town at other times, which means more foot traffic for local business owners.

I really wish Webster would do this to. Or more accurately, I wish Webster would do it AGAIN. As recently as five years ago the village did organize a scarecrow contest, and even invited community members to vote. You know what that means: people actually had to COME INTO TOWN to look at them, and that can only mean good things.  And what nice decorations they made for when thousands of adults and children descended on the village for the Trick-or-Treat Trail.

So c’mon, Webster BID. Can we do this again next year? Think of how nice they would look alongside those beautiful planters, and what a nice addition they would be to our village’s Halloween events.

Here are photos of a few others in Victor:

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Quilting for a cause

16 Oct

quilt

I recently heard about an event being hosted later this week by the Webster Quilt Guild which I wanted to let you know about.

On Saturday October 20, the Guild will host its 6th annual Quilt Pink Day. This is a  nationwide event; locally, quilters will come together to benefit the Breast Cancer Coalition of Rochester, for whom they’ve already make 200 quilts.

If you’re interested in joining them, it’s at Plank South Elementary School, 715 Plank Road (entrance is off of Scribner), from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. All you need to bring is your sewing machine and basic sewing supplies. The Guild will have fabric and blocks cut up to sew into the quilts.

The event is being led by Guild members Michelle Sanderson and Jen Martin, who have worked tirelessly on this program over the years. Kudos to the entire organization for the good they’re doing for our community.

But there’s more! The Webster Quilt Guild, now celebrating its 43rd year, is constantly doing great things for our community. On the first Monday of every month, for example, they host their “Chat and Charity” group at the Goodwill store on Webster Commons Blvd. in Webster, led by Gretchen Stumme and Cheryl Bond. They describe this group as a “fabulously fun group of friends working on charitable projects.” Some of the projects they’ve completed include “shirt savers” for Mary Cariola Center, and “fidget quilts” for St. Anne’s. Their current project are “no-no bags” for Strong Pediatric.

The group’s regular meetings on the third Friday of every month feature some great activities, great discussions, and plenty of new friends and socializing.  The meetings are held at the Webster United Methodist Church on East Main Street.

Read more about the Webster Quilt Guild on their website, here.

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Webster community mailbag

4 Oct

mailbag iconSome important local business news leads today’s mailbag.

Another business lost

I learned just a few days ago that Metro Sports Brokers in the Village of Webster is closing.

I don’t know much more about the story, as I haven’t had a chance to talk with owner Tom Spoonhower yet, but on the shop’s Facebook page, he’s using the term “retirement/closing sale” for the deals you can get in the store this week.

I’m sorry to see another long-time business leaving the village, but I wish Tom the best in everything.

News from the Knuckleheads

knucklehead-logoOn a happier note, changes are in the wind for one of my favorite brew stops, Knucklehead Craft Brewing.

Owner Len Dummer sent out a message a little while ago that co-owner George Cline and his family have decided to leave the business.

Len wrote,

We have decided to go in different directions. The Dummer family will be continuing on with Knuckleheads … We thank the Cline family for all of their hard work and dedication to Knucklehead and we wish them the best in their future endeavors.

These last 3 1/2 years have been fun and a learning experience for all of us. We never expected to meet and create such wonderful friendships with our customers.  It is tough for us to look at you as customers…..we see you as friends and fans of Knucklehead!

As Knucklehead approaches its fourth anniversary, the brewery is making plans to be even bigger and better. The Town Zoning Board recently approved their plans for an expansion to the current space. More to come about that.

You can read more about both these announcements in this article posted yesterday in the D&C.

Webster Fall Fest

The Town of Webster and Webster Parks and Recreation will kick off fall with the annual Webster Fall Festival, on Saturday October 13 from noon to 4 p.m. at Gosnell Big Woods, 680 Vosburg Road.

This is an awesome family-friendly event with donuts, cider, wagon rides, children’s crafts and games, pony rides, food trucks and live entertainment. Admission is free and there’s plenty of parking.

All proceeds from the event will benefit Challenger Miracle Field of Greater Rochester.

UCC Oktoberfest

After enjoying the Webster Fall Fest, head on over to the United Church of Christ on  Klem Road for their annual Oktoberfest, from 6 to 9 p.m.

This festival is as much history as celebration for the folks at UCC. They said in their press release,

Oktoberfest is a German celebration that takes place when the late summer/early fall crops are harvested, it is also a time to tap barrels of wine and brew that had been sealed the year before. Communities gather to give thanks for blessings received. There is music for singing and dancing, tables are laden with food and drink – and a feeling of “gemutlichkeit” rules the day!

The forbear denominations that merged to create the United Church of Christ were from the German Evangelical and German Reformed traditions. The Oktoberfest will honor those traditions with live music, singing and dancing, and a performance by members of the Rochester Schwaben Verein, a German dance club!

Tickets are $5.00 per person, and German specialties like Schnitzel, Sauerkraut, Potato Salad, Bratwurst, and desserts like Apple Strudel and Black Forest Cake will be available for purchase. Tickets are available at the church between services, or you can call the church office at 585-671-3757.

The Oktoberfest is Saturday October 13 from 6 to 9 p.m. at the United Church of Christ, 570 Klem Road, Webster.

Library book sale — and important news

Let’s start with the important news part.

Next Monday October 8, the Webster Public Library will be CLOSED for staff training. Plus, they’ll be closing early on Halloween, October 31, so make sure you stop in for all your spooky needs before 5 p.m. that day!

Now on to the more fun stuff: The Webster Library Fall Book Sale, sponsored by the Friends of the Webster Public Library, Thursday Oct. 11 through Sat. Oct. 13.

This is a great time to stock your library. Hardcover books are only $1 each, and paperbacks only 50 cents. Credit cards are accepted.

All the books are new to the sale, so don’t think you’ve seen it all before. There will also be DVD’s, Blue Ray, music CD’s and LPs — definitely something for adults, teens and children. including cooking, gardening, hobbies, biographies, religion, history, sports, travel, foreign language, performing arts, humor and more. There will even be a chance to win a book gift basket raffle.

The sale hours are Thursday, October 11 from 10 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.; Friday, October 12 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. On Friday and Saturday you can fill a bag for just $4.

The Webster Public Library is located at 980 Ridge Road, at the back of the plaza.

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

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The best blood drive EVER is back

25 Sep

blood drive

Plans are coming together for October’s Webster Community Blood Drive.  

This is the one you all know for those big white signs that pop up all over town the weekend before the drive in front of several of the sponsoring businesses. This year’s drive will be Wednesday October 10 at St. Paul’s Church and Thursday October 11 at the Webster Recreation Center.

This is always one of the most popular and well-attended drives of the entire year, and stands out among all others because of the tremendous support it receives from Webster businesses.

Once again this October, every presenting donor will be handed ten raffle tickets, which can be used to take chances on more than two dozen prizes being donated by local businesses.

The complete list of prizes is still being finalized, but some of the sponsors already include:

  • Barry’s Old School Irish
  • Beyond Cuts Salon
  • The Chicken Coop
  • Gift cards from Eastway Liquor
  • Kittelberger Florist
  • Knucklehead Craft Brewing
  • Natural Alternatives
  • Rubino’s
  • Schutt’s Apple Mill
  • Strike Back Martial Arts
  • The Garage Sale Store
  • World Gym
  • La Bella Vita
  • Hegedorn’s

We’re pleased to welcome a brand new sponsor this fall as well, Flaherty’s Three Flags Inn.

One of the most popular coupons of all — from Bruster’s — will be returning. Every presenting donor will receive Bruster’s “Pint for a Pint” coupon, good for a free pint of ice cream or a free ice cream cone.

The Webster Community Blood Drive is scheduled for Wednesday October 10 at St. Paul’s Church, 783 Hard Road, and Thursday October 11 at the Webster Recreation Center, 1350 Chiyoda Drive, from noon to 7 pm each day.

Walk-ins will most certainly be welcome, but the best way to get in and out quickly for this über-popular drive is to make an appointment by calling 1-800-REDCROSS (1-800-733-2767) or by logging onto http://www.redcrossblood.org. 

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

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Beer walk in the books

17 Sep

The Village of Webster Beer Walk seems to have been rather successful. I stopped by Ploty’s Hometown Tavern towards the end of the event and owner Eric Plotzker said that he had been very busy most of the evening.

If you weren’t part of the fun, here’s a quick summary of what it was all about: Participants paid $12 for a mini pint glass, and then stopped at Burke’s, Barry’s, The Coach, The Filling Station, Ploty’s and Brimont Bistro to sample different beers at each location.

Given its success, I’m sure it will happen again.

If bourbon is more your thing, remember that the village will be holding its second annual Bourbon Bash on Saturday November 10. The details are still being hammered out for this event, but last year’s was held at the Harmony House, featured several distilleries and local restaurants, and live music.

Stay tuned for more details here, or you can check the BID website as plans come together.

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

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The Village of Webster remembers 9/11

12 Sep

IMG_9270

When I was in school yesterday, naturally I was thinking a lot about the events of September 11, 2001. It was, and will always be, a seminal event in the lives of most adults. But as I looked around at the schoolkids, I couldn’t help but think that it’s really ancient history for them.

They, and about a quarter of our current population, were not alive that day. They don’t remember the shock, disbelief, and profound sadness we all felt as we saw those awful images.

That’s why it’s more important than ever that we continue to set aside some time every year to remember. To its credit, the Village of Webster does a nice of that every year, and has done so now for 17 straight years.

Yesterday’s 9/11 Remembrance Ceremony at Veterans Memorial Park was a dignified, yet powerful mix of ceremony, patriotic music and memories. About 75 people braved cloudy skies to attend, most relaxing in quad chairs, many standing for the entire 45-minute event. On the west side of the park, Webster firefighters, first responders and an honor guard stood at attention. On the other side of the gazebo, local and regional political representatives waited their turn at the podium.

The speeches were a mix of memories, sorrow for lives lost, praise for the first responders who gave their lives as they rushed to help others, and gratitude for those who still do so every day. They were punctuated by performances by the Chorus of the Genesee and concluded with the performance of “Taps” by Steve Forman.

It was a very nice and meaningful evening. Thank you to the Village of Webster for helping up remember.

Click here to see a gallery of photos from the event.

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Webster community mailbag

10 Sep

I’ve got a couple of local events for you, happening on Wednesday, and photo of a surprising new friend at Plank Road North!

Volunteer Fair

This Wednesday, the Webster Public Library will host a Community Volunteer Fair from 3:30 to 6 p.m.

Volunteer Fair flier Fall 2018If you’ve ever thought about spending an hour or two a week — or more — using your many skills to help out a worthy organization, this is your chance to find the perfect fit. You’ll be able to connect with almost a dozen local agencies including Challenger Miracle Field, Friends of the Webster Public Library, Friends of Webster Trails, Heritage Christian Services, Maplewood Nursing Home, Never Say Never Foundation, Webster Comfort Care Home, Webster Museum and Historical Society, and the West Webster Fire Department.

No registration is required; you can pop in any time between 3:30 and 6 p.m. The Webster Public Library is located at 980 Ridge Road, on the back side of the plaza off of Van Ingen Drive.

Free Rabies Clinic

Also on Wednesday Sept. 22, the Town of Webster in conjunction with Monroe County Health Department will offer a Free Rabies Clinic from 5 to 7:30 p.m. at the Town of Webster Highway Department, 1005 Picture Parkway.

If your dog/cat has had a rabies vaccine in the past, bring the old rabies certificate for your pet to receive a three-year vaccination. Without the certificate the dog/cat will be issued a one-year vaccine certificate.

If you are unable to attend this event, and you’d like to find out about others in our area, visit the Monroe County Health Department online or call (585) 753-5171.

Surprise, Plank North!

Principal Craig Bodensteiner had a happy surprise for staff and students at Plank Road North Elementary School on Friday morning. During the school’s monthly “powwow” pep rally, Bodensteiner introduced a brand new Pioneer mascot, in honor of the school’s 50th anniversary.

Right now, the school’s large new friend has no official name. The students are being given the chance to come up with their own suggestions. So stay tuned!

pioneer

What I’m working on 

I’ve been in contact recently with representatives from two new Webster businesses, which I’ll be writing more complete blogs about very soon.

The first is THRIVE Studio, a new yoga studio opening soon at 865 Ridge Road, on the upper floor.

My THRIVE contact, Kathy Marchaesi describes the studio as a “non-threatening environment for beginners and experienced yogis as well. The owner, Chelle Walczak-Corsi, will tailor the classes to the participant’s skill level.”

THRIVE will be holding a grand opening on Saturday Sept. 22, including free yoga classes, food, mimosas and socializing. More to come about that.

Also, I chatted the other day with Caleb, the new owner of Savage Chef, which will be hosting its grand opening soon at 5 East Main Street in the village.

Savage Chef is a catering and meal-prep service. But Caleb is also considering putting a few tables into the shop to serve breakfast and smoothies.

Lots more to come about this. I, for one, want to find more about how Caleb originally considered opening a landscaping business, but ended up cooking….

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Village schedules 9/11 ceremony

6 Sep

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One of the most solemn anniversaries in our nation’s history comes around again next week. The two simple words by which we all know it belie the horror of the day: 9/11.

The Village of Webster always does a very nice job commemorating the occasion, with a ceremony held at the gazebo at Veterans Memorial Park, on North Ave.

Scheduled for next Tuesday at 6:30 p.m., the event usually lasts around 45 or 50 minutes, and includes first responders, and local and regional political representatives who offer some comments. Last year the Chorus of the Genesee also participated, performing some patriotic tunes.

Members of the Webster Fire Department are planning to congregate at the station on South Ave. at around 6:15 and march as a group to the ceremony. You won’t want to miss that.

Click here to see the blog I wrote about last year’s 9/11 ceremony.

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

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Village autumn events taking shape

5 Sep

Don’t know about you, but as soon as September rolls around, I start looking forward to the brutally hot temperatures turning into the comfortable cool of fall.

And all of the great events that go along with that time of year.

trick or treat

The Village of Webster is already well into the planning stages for some of their best family-friendly events of the entire year, notably the Halloween in the Village and Trick or Treat Trail. This year’s is scheduled for Saturday October 27, complete with the ever-popular costume contest (including one for our four-legged friends) and plenty of treats from local merchants for the kids. More details to come.

Closer to the holiday season, White Christmas in the Village returns on December 1. Maybe we’ll actually get some snow this year. Stay tuned for more information about that as well.

Barry’s Old School Irish has added something new this fall. For the first time ever they’ll host a “Halfway to St. Patrick’s Day” party at the pub on Saturday Sept. 29 from 7 to 11 p.m. Celtic Cross will provide live entertainment, there’ll be Irish dancers, a whiskey toast and Guinness giveaways.  Owners Danny and Jess Barry are encouraging everyone to wear their green for the occasion.

Barry’s lovers will also want to mark your calendars for the pub’s 7th anniversary celebration. A whole week of special events will lead up to a final bash on Saturday November 3, from 7 to 11 p.m. Check the Barry’s Old School Irish Facebook page for more information.

First up, though, is the Village of Webster’s next Beer Walk, scheduled for Saturday Sept. 15 from 4 to 7 p.m. It’s sponsored by The Coach and is certain to be as much fun as the wine walks. Tickets are $12 and can be purchased online here. Check back at the Webster BID website soon for a list of participating “brew stops.”

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

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