New village hairdressing salon strives to be inclusive

26 Apr

The Village of Webster recently welcomed a new salon to town, and it’s a little different in a few big ways.

Shear Inspiration, owned and operated by Jessica Warren, held its grand opening last Friday, complete with balloons, lots of food, games, prizes and a photo booth. It’s located at 33 North Ave., which many will recognize as the address for Beyond Cuts Salon, owned by Robyn Whittaker. Jessica has actually been working with Robyn for five years, and has a dedicated client list all her own. So Shear Inspiration is not really a “new” salon.

The change in name (and signage over the front door) reflects more of an administrative shift. Jessica has bought Robyn’s equipment and responsibility for the building and retail side of things. It’s the next business step for Jessica, and a step closer to retirement for Robyn (who still plans to be around for a few years).

So there’s nothing much different at 33 North Ave. … at least on the outside, anyway. On the inside, Jessica has created a business model which you’d be hard-pressed to find anywhere else.

At Shear Inspiration, Jessica serves adults and children of all ages and abilities, but has also created an inclusive community space that specializes in serving the deaf and neurodivergent communities. She brings to her business many years of working with clients on the autism spectrum, and is committed to creating a safe space for them, including having an entirely separate sensory room which they can use at any time.

Jessica, whose youngest daughter is deaf, is also fluent in American Sign Language (ASL), which facilitates direct communication with the deaf community.

Jessica writes,

I’ve been involved with the deaf community since we learned my daughter was deaf at 1 year old. … I’ve been cutting the hair of my daughter’s friends since they were all little, some of whom also are on the spectrum. So through consistency, and patience, I’ve also learned a great deal about autism, the different ways it presents itself in children, and how to work with those children to build a relationship of trust and confidence so that they allow me to cut their hair. I have different methods for each and every child, as they are all different. The fun is trying to discover what works, and when it does, the joy we both feel!

I have many kiddos who come see me for their hair that are on the spectrum, so I felt having a safe space for them (for all children) when they come to the salon was important. With my own research, and trial and error through the years, I have found some great sensory friendly toys and learning tools and wanted to implement them into my kid space. I also wanted the feel of the whole salon to be calming, or “chill” as you walk in the door.

Thank you, Jessica, for providing a valuable service to an under-served population.

Shear Inspiration is located at 33 North Ave. 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)

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(posted 4/24/2024)

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New gardens bring Hope to our neighbors in need

25 Apr

It might be hard to believe that in a community as beautiful and bountiful as Webster, many of our town’s residents live below the poverty line. Among them are households with children and parents that have jobs, the elderly or disabled, and refugees who have settled in Webster away from their war-torn homelands.

For the last 25 years, Webster NY Hope — one of Webster’s most awesome community agencies — has been helping these neighbors in need by providing food to as many as 80 Webster families each week. For the last ten of those years, the agency has been supplementing their food distribution with fresh vegetables, harvested from a large garden created in 2015 by Girl Scout Katie Roy, who built it as a Gold Award project.

The garden has been a tremendous asset; last year alone, Hope volunteers harvested more than 500 pounds of fresh produce, which was often distributed on the same day that it was picked.

But that garden has seen better days. The wood surrounding the container beds was rotting away and the whole garden needed renovation. So this year, Hope volunteers are replacing that garden in a creative way, and would love for the entire Webster community to join the effort.

A stone plaque tells some of the garden’s history
The original, rotting wooden containers had to be removed

The new garden will feature 27 individual raised containers, each measuring 5′ by 5’17”, placed in rows with aisles between them to allow access. Project Manager (and Hope volunteer) Mark Dembs explained that even though they’ll be installed within the garden’s original fenced-in area, the aisles between them will be narrower, allowing for more growing area.

“The reason we did 27 is that it gives us about 17 percent more growing area than previously,” Dembs said. “But were also doing it so that we can add six more as needed. We don’t want to bite off more than we can chew right away.”

Hope volunteers decided not to just replace the rotted-out wood, since using more weather-resistant pressure-treated wood is not a viable option for a garden. Instead, they went with the aluminum planters, which have an added bonus: the tall sides allow for the option of installing a memorial sign on the side of each one.

And that’s where the greater Webster community comes in.

Webster Hope invites community members to help provide fresh produce for their neighbors in need, while at the same time honoring someone in their own lives. For a donation of $200, you can sponsor one of these handsome containers. Your donation will cover the cost of the container, including all the soil and irrigation needed to keep it healthy. It also includes (if you want) a vinyl sign attached to the side with your business, organization or family name included. Webster Hope volunteers will lovingly care for the gardens, and you’ll know you’re helping your neighbors in a big way.

Hope volunteers Mark Dembs and Vick Lynd assemble
one of the planters
The finished planters will look like these, but more square

For more information, email Margery Morgan, Webster Hope, Inc. Director, at websternyhope@gmail.com or call (585) 265-6694. (I’ve also posted a form below which you can run off to sponsor your container.)

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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 4/25/2024)

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A sneak peek at Little Women

24 Apr

Holy cow, does Webster Schroeder High School have some amazingly talented actors.

I’ve long known that was the case, and have remarked on that before here in my blog. But Wednesday evening I was reminded of that again when I was invited to sit in on the final dress rehearsal for Schroeder Drama Club’s presentation of Little Women, which will take the stage this weekend, April 24 to 27.

Set in the years following the Civil War, Little Women is Louisa May Alcott’s American classic, a story about family and love, success and heartache which draws heavily from Alcott’s actual life story. It opened on Broadway in 2005 as a musical and ran for 137 performances before heading out on a national tour.

The 22-student cast, led by Veronica Sanberg as Jo, does an exceptional job telling the story of the Marches, a not-too-poor-but-definitely-not-wealthy family, how they find joy in simply being together, and how they appreciate the things they have rather than long for the things they can’t afford. Our hearts are lifted when the sisters get married, and are saddened when a life is taken. (I’m not sniffling, you are.) There was even a point in the dialogue where I LOL’d. And this is a drama.

The performance was captivating, and I can say that because I was … well … captivated throughout the entire production. This coming from someone who has never read Little Women, and had no idea what it was about. I was a little afraid that, as a period piece, it might be kind of dull. But when intermission rolled around, I found myself hoping against hope it wasn’t the end of the show so I could find out what happened to these young women.

I was especially impressed by the four sisters — portrayed by Veronica Sanberg, Emily Schiffhauer, Kathryn Sullo and JimmaLy Ortega — who did an exceptional job instilling each character with an individual personality. And it’s always a joy to see Schroeder’s other amazing lead and supporting actors return to the stage. (How do they have the time to participate in back-to-back productions?) And they’re all supported by seven equally talented tech crew members, who did a great job making the dress rehearsal go seamlessly.

The set design is charming, the costumes beautiful. Schroeder’s Little Women is a must-see event.

Check out these photos (including the slideshow above) then check out one of the performances for yourself. Little Women will take the stage Thursday, Friday and Saturday April 24 to 27 at 7 p.m., with a 2 p.m. matinee on Saturday April 27. Tickets are $10 each and can be purchased in advance here.

Webster Schroeder High School is located at 875 Ridge RD.

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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 4/24/2024)

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WCSD music teacher wins RPO’s Outstanding Music Educator award

22 Apr

Congratulations to Webster Schroeder music teacher Kim Derse, who was recently recognized by the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra (RPO) with its 2024 Outstanding Music Educator Award in the category of Instrumental Music ( Strings).

Derse has been with Webster School Distrtct since 1994, having previously served schools in Connecticut, and West Genesee and Baldwinsville, NY. She has a legacy of positively impacting generations of students, having taught every level of strings in the district, including working at four elementary schools and Spry Middle School before enjoying a long tenure at Webster Schroeder High School.

Outside of school, Derse has shared her love of music with the Webster Methodist Church as its Handbell Choir director for more than 15 years, and has performed with the Women’s Philharmonic Orchestra and numerous pit orchestras for theatrical productions. During her years teaching elementary strings, she also started a Suzuki program for early grades and taught summer lessons.

Each year, RPO opens nominations for outstanding music educators and professional musicians in the Rochester area to honor those who inspire. Derse was nominated for the award by Michael Roller, Webster’s Director of Fine Arts, and Webster Schroeder and Thomas music teacher Laura D’Angelo.

Derse will be honored at an awards ceremony on May 9 and join RPO Conductor Andreas Delfs on stage at the beginning of the Philharmonic’s concert that evening. (The concert begins at 7:30 p.m.; click here for tickets). She and Matthew Sherrill — from Fairport’s Minerva Deland School, who won in the category of Instrumental Music (Band) — will receive further accolades at the RPO Centennial Gala at the Riverside Convention Center on May 18.

This is not the first year, by the way, in which a Webster music teacher has been recognized by the RPO. Most recently, n 2017, Jeanne Coonan (then working at Spry Middle School) won the Instrumental Music Award for K-12 Band, and Al Heary (then working at Dewitt Elementary) won the Classroom Music Specialist Award.

That history is a testament to the quality of the Webster CSD music department, which, BY THE WAY, was once again this year named honored by the NAMM Foundation with the Best Communities for Music Education designation for its outstanding commitment to music education. This is the 19th time out of the 25-year award’s existence that Webster has received the honor.

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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 4/22/2024)

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Got gnomes?

21 Apr

Who’s up for a gnome yard invasion to celebrate a neighbor’s 91st birthday?

I recently saw a fun announcement on one of our Webster Facebook pages which I wanted to share with everyone, because I think it’s exactly the kind of thing we love to do as a community.

It was an invitation from my friend Rebecca Orr, who asked that everyone help her aunt (whom everyone calls “Nanny”) celebrate her birthday in a special way.

Nanny, who turns 91 on April 26, was in the hospital on her 90th birthday, so she didn’t get to enjoy any birthday festivities then. So this year, Rebecca came up with a fun idea. Apparently Nanny enjoys sitting in the front window of her home at 790 Webster Rd., watching cars go by, people walking, deer crossing, and just enjoying the view. It would make Nanny giggle, Rebecca said, to see her yard fill up with gnomes.

“Nanny loves her gnomes and chillin’ with her ‘gnomies’,” Rebecca wrote. “As the memories fade, we are working on making new ones. Let’s make this birthday one of the best! Maybe we can get one gnome for each year?”

So, if you’d like to join the fun, drop a gnome into Nanny’s front yard anytime. She lives at 790 Webster Rd., across from Waterbrook Crossing — it’s a white house with a yellow front door (but please don’t knock on the door). And if you see her sitting in the window, feel free to give a wave, and feel great about helping make this 91st birthday a forever memory.

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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 4/21/2024)

Left to right bottom row

Kaiya, Arya, Nicole, and Teagan … Thomas on nannys lap and Kenzie standing beside her  ( Nanny has been “nanny” to sooooooooo many kiddos ) 

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The Rochester Ridgemen could use your help

20 Apr

Hey Webster baseball fans — did you know we have a terrific, NCAA-sanctioned and MLB-supported baseball team right here in town? They’re the Rochester Ridgemen, who play a very competitive, 36-game season through June and July at Basket Road Field.

The Ridgemen have been a part of the Webster sports scene since 2012. They compete in the New York Collegiate Baseball League, a summer wood bat league which began in 1978. The league gives college players who have not yet signed a professional contract the opportunity to develop their skills at a higher level of play, gain experience with wood bats, and be evaluated by scouts.

The Ridgemen enter the 2024 season as the NYCBL defending champions, winning the organization’s first-ever title in 2023. The 2024 campaign starts on June 7 with the team’s official home opener on June 10 at 6 p.m. This year they’ll play 15 home games at Basket Road Field, 18 road games, and three neutral site games.

But, before the season starts, they need our help.

Host families are needed to house the 25 visiting players and six team leadership staff members for the 8-week season. And it’s not even a huge commitment. The basics the team will need include:

  • breakfast and a sack lunch (following your normal family menu)
  • a bed (or cot or mattress on the floor) for each player
  • use of your laundry facilities (and the players will take care of their own laundry)

And that’s pretty much it. Players are assigned in pairs to an amazing host family.

Want to find out more? An informational meeting is planned for Sunday April 28 at 4 p.m. at Browncroft Community Church, 2350 Browncroft Rd. There will be a lot more information about hosting, plus updates on how things are coming together for the season. So bring your questions and bring your excitement about the 2024 Rochester Ridgemen season!

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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 4/20/2024)

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Get your free trees, courtesy the Sierra Club

19 Apr

Now here’s a great way to beautify your property and help the environment at the same time, and it won’t cost you a thing.

On Saturday April 27, members and volunteers for the local chapter of the Sierra Club will be stationed at Webster Park to hand out free trees to the public. 

Your species options will include:

  • Swamp White Oak (Quercus bicolor)
  • Tulip Tree (Liriodendron tulipifera)
  • Serviceberry aka Juneberry (Amelanchier canadensis)
  • Eastern White Pine (Pinus strobus) 

Planting instructions will be included. All trees are bare-root, so please bring a bag or container of water to keep the roots wet until the tree can be planted. 

The event will be held rain or shine on Saturday April 27 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Webster Park (corner of Lake and Holt roads).

Sierra Club members will also be at Seneca Park, Northampton Park and Genesee Valley Park on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. if you find yourself closer to one of those parks that day.

This is the fourth year that the Sierra Club has held this event. The trees are free, but members will also be grateful for any small donations. This beautiful poster, by the way, was created by local artist and Sierra Club Executive Committee member John Kastner.

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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 4/21/2024)

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Grand opening this Friday will celebrate new village hair salon

18 Apr

The community is invited this Friday evening to welcome the village’s newest salon, Shear Inspiration, to 33 North Ave.

Jessica Warren, who has worked for Robyn Whittaker at Beyond Cuts Salon for five years, will be introducing her new salon to the community at her grand opening celebration, Friday April 19 from 5 to 8 p.m.

The event will have food, drinks, a photo booth, door prize raffles, giant Jenga, giant connect four, tabletop cornhole, goodie bags (first-come, first-served) and more. If the weather’s nice, look for some of the games outside. There will also be some ASL interpreters from RIT there to bridge the communication gap for deaf visitors if needed. The door will be open, so stop in anytime between 5 and 8 p.m., and stay as long as you want.

Don’t fear!!! This does not mean that Robyn is leaving the business. This is more of an administrative move. Even though the Beyond Cuts name is no longer over the door, rest assured that Robyn will still be there to serve her own faithful clients under the Shear Inspiration roof. So stop by and say hi to both Jessica and Robyn Friday night.

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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 4/18/2024)

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Webster Montessori School shines bright at fundraiser

18 Apr

Bonus blog today about a great event coming up next weekend (April 27), but you have to get tickets by this Saturday.

It’s called A Roaring Night to Shine Bright, and it’s an exciting fundraiser for the Montessori School.

This annual fundraiser offers an incredible selection of silent and live auction items which range from restaurant gift cards and a crepe-making class to a Christmas Eve visit from Santa and a getaway at the Glen Iris Inn.

Other great items include:

Even those brand new to live auctions will have fun and be comfortable, as you’re led through the process by seasoned auctioneer David Mammano. Simply raise your bidder paddle when you’re ready to make a bid, and the auction team will keep you informed of the current highest bid and guide you through the bidding process.

A Roaring Night to Shine Bright will be held Saturday April 27 beginning at 5 p.m. at Evento East, located in BayTowne’s Street of Shoppes.

Tickets must be purchased by Saturday April 20. For more information and to get your seats, click here to visit the event page.

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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 4/18/2024)

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Webster Schroeder Theater Company will present Little Women

17 Apr

Little Women, the classic tale of love, loss, heartbreak and growing up, will come to the Webster Schroeder stage in four shows April 25 to 27.

Adapted by Thomas Hischak based on the book by Louisa May Alcott, Little Women follows the adventures of Jo (Veronica Sanberg), Meg (Emily Schiffhauer), Beth (Kathryn Sullo), and Amy March (JimmaLy Ortega) as they grow up in Civil War America. The beloved story of the March sisters is timeless and deals with issues as relevant today as when they were written. Click here to see the whole cast list.

The Webster Schroeder Theater Company will present Little Women on Thursday, Friday and Saturday April 25, 26 and 27 at 7 p.m., plus a matinee performance on Saturday at 2 p.m. Tickets are $10 each and may be purchased on the Schroeder Theater Company 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 4/17/2024)

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