Tag Archives: Webster Garlic Festival

Garlic Fest success kick-starts expanded Wreath Across America effort

21 Oct

I heard some happy news the other day.

The very moving and heartwarming Wreaths Across America ceremony will be expanding in Webster this year to two more cemeteries.

Wreaths Across America is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to place a wreath on the grave of every veteran in the country. Last year, the movement reached Webster; on Saturday Dec. 17, more than 300 adults and children gathered at the official Wreaths Across America ceremony at Webster Union Cemetery to help lay more than 650 wreaths. (Click here to read my blog about that day.)

Cherie Wood, Wreaths Across America’s Location Coordinator for Webster, recently told me that the effort will not only be returning to Webster Union Cemetery this December, but also to Union Hill and Webster Rural cemeteries.

The good news is, that means hundreds more veterans will be recognized on National Wreaths Across America Day on December 16, 2023. The not so good news is that hundreds more wreaths will need to be sponsored in the next few months to honor those veterans.

The effort is off to a strong start thanks to the Webster Garlic Festival, held in September. Almost 100 vendors filled the Rec Center gymnasium and outdoor walkways, and an estimated 3,000 people attended. It was a very successful event, especially considering it was the first Garlic Festival held in a few years. The proceeds were shared among Wreaths Across America; the Blue Star Mothers, who create care packages to send to our deployed servicemen and women; and the Gold Star Mothers, who support emotionally and physically injured veterans.

PLUS, in addition to the money raised from vendors and admission, our generous community members sponsored 400 wreaths during the festival.

As I said, that’s a good start for this year’s Wreaths Across America effort. But we’re adding two new cemeteries this year; almost one thousand veterans are buried in Webster Rural Cemetery alone, and another 56 at Union Hill. Together with Webster Union Cemetery, we’re talking almost 1,700 veterans.

We’re going to need more wreaths.

Individual wreath sponsorships are just $17, and $5 from each will go directly to the Blue Star Mothers, who will use the funds to prepare and ship care packages to deployed servicemen and women (every dollar you donate stays in Webster). This is a great chance for families to honor their own veteran relatives who are buried in these three cemeteries.

Click here to sponsor a wreath (or several) and click here to see and follow the Wreaths Across America Facebook page to keep up on all the latest news.  

Please sponsor your wreaths by Nov. 20, because that’s when the order needs to be put in.

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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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(posted 10/21/2023)

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Webster community mailbag

31 Aug

I always thought that the height of summer marked Webster’s busiest months. But looking at my page-long list of events coming up in the next several weeks tells me I was way wrong.

Most of these I’ve touched on in earlier blogs, so I’ll just remind you of them and give you links to follow in case you need more information. But let me start off with some detail about a race taking place in the village this Friday night, the First Responders 5K.

The race is scheduled for Friday Sept. 1 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. You can see the exact route in the map below.

Several roads on the east side of the village will be affected, and Rt. 250 between State Rd. and Main St. will be closed for a short time after the race begins to allow the runners through.

I always run this race, so I look forward to seeing you on the course. Cow bells, shouts of encouragement and high-fives are always appreciated. You can register up till noon Friday. Click here for more information.

The next meeting of Webster’s Visionaries Low-Vision Support Group is Wednesday, Sept. 6, from 10:30 to noon at the Webster Recreation Center, 1350 Chiyoda Dr.

The Visionaries is a support group for adults with low-to-no vision. Members of this support group share their interests and opportunities with others, encouraging those with visual impairment to get the most out of their lives.

The meeting is presented this month by Goodwill Vision (formerly ABVI), which offers services for those with low and no vision. For more information, contact Ed Wilkonski at 585-265-4167, or email wingstwofly@rochester.rr.com.

The Village of Webster will hold its annual Sept. 11 Memorial ceremony on Monday Sept. 11, beginning at 6 p.m. at Veteran’s Memorial Park on North Ave.

The Webster Village Band and the Chorus of the Genesee will both be performing. Community members are encouraged to attend.

The annual Webster Rocks ALS music festival returns Saturday, Sept. 9.

The festival is held to raise awareness for ALS in memory of Kacie Jones, a longtime employee of the Coach/Rubino’s, who passed away from ALS at 31 years old, less than two years after he was diagnosed. Proceeds will benefit organizations that fight to change the standard of case and empower people with ALS. (Visit www.healingals.org or www.teamgleason.org for more information.)

The festival will be held Saturday Sept. 9 at the Webster Firemen’s Field on Ridge Rd. Click here for more information.

That same day, Saturday Sept. 9, there’s another FREE concert taking place at Veteran’s Memorial Park on North Ave.

It’s the second annual RHB St. Jude Benefit Concert, featuring the Red Hot and Blue Band, Sarah De Vallière, The M-T-V Jam Band and The Tug Hill Band. Pub 235, Guida’s Pizza and Terry’s Tips And Beef will also be there with some great food.

More info on the flier.

Of course, that same weekend, the Webster Garlic Festival returns to the Webster Recreation Center on Sept. 9 and 10. I’ll be posting another longer blog about that again soon, but in the meantime, here’s the website for more information. Word is that more than 100 vendors have already signed up and more are trying to get in every day.

Two huge garage sales are happening the following weekend, Webster NY Hope’s annual sale, scheduled for Sept. 14 to 17 at 1450 Ridge Rd, AND the Webster Museum’s Barn and Vintage Sale on Sept. 14 thorough 16. These are always very big events, so make sure to make time to stop by both.

More to come about these soon.

Community members are invited to attend an official groundbreaking ceremony for the new Webster Highway Department facility at 1005 Picture Parkway on Thursday Sept. 14 at 2 p.m.

Webster Town Board members, Highway Department staff members and local dignitaries will hold a brief ceremony, followed by the groundbreaking. Click here for more information about plans for the new facility.

The Third Annual Webster Recreation Center Mud Run is returning on Saturday Sept. 23. This event is tons of wet, muddy, so-much-laughing fun for the entire family. I will definitely be there, and try to get even muddier than I did last year. (Check out the photo.) More about this later as well.

The Oktoberfest returns to Webster’s Fireman’s Field on Friday and Saturday Sept. 15 and 16.

The event runs from noon to 10:30 p.m. both days, and will feature live German music, German cuisine from Swan’s Market and Helmut’s Strudel of WNY, and beer and wine by Cobblestone on Main restaurant.

Tickets will be sold at the door. On Friday from noon to 3, they’ll cost only $5. After that, and at all other times, tickets will be $10. Children under 12 are free when accompanied by an adult.

Organizers are also looking for volunteers to help with the event. Visit the website for more information.

Reminder that the 4th annual Barry’s Irish Festival takes place Saturday Sept. 16 from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. at The Barry Patch Farm, 2668 Brick Schoolhouse Road, Hilton. Tickets are available at the pub for $15 (2 West Main St., Webster), and can be purchased online here. You can also get them on the day of the festival, when they’ll be $20. Kids 16 and under are free.

Visit the event’s Facebook page for more information, and if you have any questions, email Danny and Jessica at Barrysirishpub@gmail.com.

St. Martin Lutheran Church will hold a Drive Thru Chicken BBQ on Saturday, Sept. 23 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.

Looking forward to fall, the Webster Recreation Center’s annual Pumpkins on Parade has been scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 28 from 7 to 8:30 p.m. I literally bounced in my chair when I saw the notice, because I enjoy this event so much. Start thinking now about what kind of creative jack-o-lanterns you and your family can carve. Click here to see the Facebook event page for more details.

And of course, you can start your day earlier in the village at Village of Webster’s Trick-or-Treat Trail, scheduled for Saturday Oct. 28, from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. More info here.

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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 “Follow Me” link on the right side of this page.

(posted 8/31/2023)

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It’s official –the Garlic Festival is back

24 Jan

garlic

I know, I know. I already told you last October that the Garlic Festival was returning. But now it’s really, really official, because the call has gone out for vendors.

The name has been changed — it’s now the Rochester Garlic Festival instead of the Webster Garlic Festival — but all of the other great things about the festival have not changed. There will be lots of garlic vendors and cooking demonstrations, other vendors and community agencies, live entertainment, food trucks and more. PLUS all proceeds will benefit Challenger Miracle Field!

The Rochester Garlic Festival is scheduled for Saturday Sept. 14, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday Sept. 15 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Webster Recreation Center.

BUT FIRST the festival needs vendors. Organizers are now accepting vendor applications. For details about booth fees, visit the Rochester Garlic Festival website, or click here to download an application.

Make sure to check the website frequently for updated festival information. You’ll also want to follow the festival on Facebook and Instagram.

Still have questions? Email Katie Kovar at info@rochestergarlicfestival.com. 

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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 Garlic Festival is coming back!

24 Oct

garlic

I am excited to share some very happy news with you today: The very popular Webster Garlic Festival will be returning in 2019.

Just three years old when the Garlic Fest took a hiatus in 2018, the young festival had quickly become a draw for anyone who loved all things garlic. The event featured garlic vendors and cooking demonstrations, and lots of other community agencies and general vendors selling everything from cheese, honey and jams to hand-made jewelry and greeting cards. Plus, there was live entertainment and food trucks.

In its three years, the event raised $43,500, and a good chunk of those proceeds benefited Challenger Miracle Field.

It was a very big event, which naturally takes a lot of people to pull together. A small but very dedicated core group of volunteers was able to pull it off for the first three years, but decided to take a break for 2018.

Next year, though, the festival will return, and the folks at Miracle Field themselves will be leading the way. The dates are set — September 14 and 15, 2019 — at the Webster Recreation Center.

So mark your calendars now, the the Webster Garlic Festival is BACK!

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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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Garlic Fest checks presented

20 Dec

Miracle Field

Representatives from the Webster Garlic Festival and the Kiwanis Club present a check to Miracle Field for $2,000. Miracle Field would also received an additional $14,000 from this year’s proceeds. 

I was honored to be present last Saturday when representatives from the Webster Garlic Festival distributed the proceeds from this year’s festival to three very deserving local agencies.

As in the previous two years, the festival’s three organizing agencies — the Rotary Club, Lions Club and Kiwanis — planned to donate the majority of the proceeds to Challenger Miracle Field.  In addition, however, this year each club also chose a different community agency to receive a check.

So, on Saturday morning, Hope Ministry received $2,000 from the Rotary Club; the Webster Community Chest received $2,000 from the Lions Club; and Miracle Field received $2,000 from the Kiwanis Club.

Following that presentation, representatives from all three clubs presented Miracle Field chairman Ron Kampf with an additional check for $14,000.

The Webster Garlic Festival has grown quite a bit from its first year in 2015, when it poured pretty much nonstop for both days. In the last three years it has become one of the town’s most popular festivals, and has raised $43,5000 for local charities.

Organizers are looking for more volunteers to help the festival continue to grow. Planning has already begun, so if you’re interested in lending a hand, contact Richard Comins at recomins @frontiernet.net.

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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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Webster Garlic Festival returns this weekend

4 Sep

garlic banner

This year’s Webster Garlic Festival will be held on September 9 and 10. 

One of our town’s newest — and most aromatic — festivals returns this weekend.

The Webster Garlic Festival will return to the Webster Recreation Center, 1350 Chiyoda Drive, this Saturday and Sunday September 9 and 10.

This festival is basically a garlic-lover’s paradise. You can check out garlic-infused foods, garlic seed and garlic gadgets, and demonstrations about garlic foods and garlic gardens. There will be a dozen garlic vendors, and more than 50 other community agencies and craft and general vendors selling everything from cheese, honey and jams to hand-made jewelry and greeting cards. There are so many vendors that they’ll fill the gymnasium and spill out onto the Rec Center grounds.

There’s live entertainment all afternoon, and if it’s anything like last year, there will also be a handful of food trucks where you can get a great lunch.

Admission is just $5 for adults, with kids under 16 free. Hours are Saturday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

This annual event is sponsored by the Kiwanis, Lions and Rotary clubs. All proceeds will benefit Challenger Miracle Field, Hope House, Webster Community Chest, three outstanding local causes. So even if you’re not a big fan of garlic, come on out for some good eats, good entertainment, and great shopping.

For lots more details, and a list of all the vendors, entertainers and events, visit the garlic festival website at www.webstergarlicfestival.com.

Here are a a few photos from last year’s event , which benefited from awesome weather. Right now it looks like the sun might shine on the event again.

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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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Play ball!

27 Aug

field

A nice photo of Challenger Miracle Field snapped by Mary Holleran

I was honored to be on hand yesterday for the official opening ceremonies for Challenger Miracle Field, a beautiful new sports facility for young athletes with developmental, physical or intellectual disabilities.

It’s located in Ridge Park, 1000 Ridge Road, behind Town Hall. It looks a lot like the Little League fields you’re familiar with, but it’s actually different in a lot of important ways.

It’s totally flat, for starters. There’s no dirt, and no grass. The pitcher’s mound and bases are not raised at all, but instead are painted into the brightly-colored rubberized artificial surface, which allows for all players to round the bases without fear of tripping, whether they’re walking, running, using a wheelchair or walker. The outfield fence is much closer to home than normally, allowing these children a real chance to hit a home run. And the fence is removable so the field can be adapted for other sports.

The field was built especially for the Challenger teams, who are typically given the lowest priority for field availability and only get to play if fields are not in use by other Little League, school or town teams. But the developers also made it clear that the field is available for use by the community; it’s for children and adults of all abilities.

There were a lot of accolades handed out at the almost one-hour long ribbon cutting ceremony yesterday, but one of the comments especially stood out.

At least one speaker called the new Miracle Field a “field of dreams.” That’s a phrase that’s tossed about a lot these days for lesser accomplishments, but I think it fits here.

In Challenger Miracle Field, these kids now have the chance to experience the thrill of playing on a baseball field that looks and feels like the stadiums they see on TV. Every weekend, they can put on a jersey and a baseball cap, step (or roll) up to the plate, raise a bat and be just like any other kid who loves sports.

Thank you to everyone who made this field a reality. Your efforts and dedication have been well rewarded and you are right to be proud.

The work is not done, however. Completely handicapped-accessible restrooms and playground, and a pavilion are still being planned for construction early next year. Fundraising continues to accomplish these goals.

Your next opportunities to help out are at the

Webster Garlic Festival, September 9 and 10 at the Webster Parks and Recreation complex on Chiyoda Drive. Food, fun, and lots of garlic. Hours are 10 a.m to 6 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday.

3rd Annual Run, Walk & Roll, October 8 at Webster Thomas High School, 800 Five Mile Line Road. I’ll be running this one, so please come out and join me and my friends.

You can read more about Challenger Miracle Field — and donate directly through the website — by clicking here.

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

You can also get email notifications every time I post a new blog by using the “Follow Me” link on the right side of this page.

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