Women’s Club hosts annual Card and Game Party

17 Aug

The Women’s Club of Webster has announced the date for one of their most popular social events of the year, their annual Card and Game Party

Usually held the first week of November, this year’s event is scheduled for Tuesday, Sept. 29 from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at Glendoveers, 2328 Old Browncroft Rd.

Even though this is a brand new date for the party, it still promises the same great fun and friendship as in previous years. Participants can play any number of card games or, if you don’t like card games, bring a game of your choice. You can play with friends or take advantage of the opportunity to meet some new people. There are door prizes, raffles, 50/25/25 drawings and more. 

Coffee and danish will be served beginning at 10 a.m. with a buffet lunch at 12:30, including salad, eggplant parmesan, chicken French, roasted rosemary potatoes, fresh vegetables, rolls and butter, with cookies and brownies for dessert.   

It all takes place on Tuesday, Sept. 29 at Glendoveers, 2328 Old Browncroft Rd. Donation is $45 and reservations are required by Sunday, Sept. 20. For tickets, send a check payable to the Women’s Club of Webster to Diane Miller, 428 Seneca Park Ave., Rochester, 14617. Make sure to include the names of anyone you would like to play with. 

The Card and Game Party is one of the biggest fundraisers of the year for the Women’s Club of Webster. Proceeds will be used to further the club’s mission to support local charitable, cultural and educational causes. To learn more about the Women’s Club of Webster, visit the club’s Facebook page.

* * *

(posted 8/17/2026)

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).

Mark your calendars now for a stinkin’ good time

15 Aug

The Webster Garlic Fest is returning to the Webster Recreation Center on Saturday and Sunday Sept. 12 and 13.

This is a great family festival for anyone who loves all things garlic, and it keeps getting bigger and better every year. Somehow, organizers have managed to squeeze 170 vendors into this year’s festival, including crafters, food vendors, distilleries, wineries, 13 food trucks, and of course lots and lots of garlic growers. There are so many vendors that they’ll fill the gymnasium and spill out onto the Rec Center grounds. Many of them provide tastings, samples and demonstrations. (Click here for a complete list of vendors.)

But even if you’re not a big fan of garlic, there are a lot of non-garlic vendors — like craft vendors and home goods — and plenty else to see and do. Like, you can cozy up to some alpacas and baby goats (who like to wear pajamas) — and they all love to take selfies. There’ll be demos at the vendor booths, you can learn how to make your own flower arrangements, Wally the Balloon Guy will be making balloons for the kids, there’s a duck pond, and step up to the dunking booth to drop Webster Supervisor Alex Scialdone (and other Town officials) into the tank!

You also won’t want to miss the crowning of the 2026 Webster Garlic Fest King and Queen, and meet County Snackula, the Garlic Fest’s very own garlic-loving vampire, fresh from the castles of Transylvania.

The Webster Garlic Fest will be held Saturday Sept. 12 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday Sept. 13 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Webster Recreation Center, 1350 Chiyoda Dr. There’s plenty of parking in the Recreation Center lot, and even more across the street in the former Xerox parking lot, where free shuttles will be transporting guests back and forth.

Single-day tickets are only $5, and children Under 12 are free. They’re sold at the door or you can click here to buy some in advance and save some time in line.

Proceeds from the Webster Garlic Fest will benefit

  • Wreaths Across America: Honoring and remembering veterans resting in local cemeteries on National Wreaths Across America Day, December 13, 2025.
  • Blue Star Mothers ROC NY8 (military families): Building Care Packages for locally deployed service members and helping military families in our area.
  • Gold Star Mothers Rochester (mothers who have lost a child, spouse, sibling, or parent in active duty): Helping community veterans-in-need with meals, resources, and year-round support.

Click here for a gallery of photos from last year’s festival.

* * *

(posted 8/15/2026)

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).

Webster community mailbag

14 Aug

Next Town of Webster “community office hours”

Join Town Supervisor Scialdone and other Webster representatives to talk about the local issues that matter most to you. The next scheduled dates are

  • Tuesday, Aug. 18 from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. in the  Webster Town Board Room, 1000 Ridge Rd.
  • Monday, Aug. 31 from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. in the  Webster Town Board Room

If you can’t make it to either of these dates, no sweat; they’re scheduled regularly. Details are posted on the Town of Webster website.

From the Webster Chamber of Commerce

The Webster Chamber of Commerce‘s next Eat, Drink, & Connect event will be held Tuesday, Aug. 18, from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at Ryndock Realty, 1250 State Route 104.

The event is open to Webster Chamber members and prospective members. Opportunities to host an event are a Chamber member benefit, earning increased visibility for the host business. Bring a door prize to increase your business’ visibility and maybe win a prize for yourself. There is no fee to attend, but registration is required.      

Mark your calendar for Tuesday, August 25 for Webster Night with the Rochester Red Wings. First pitch is at 6:45 p.m., and two of Webster’s very own will be involved; Jerry Christopher will perform the National Anthem, and Chamber president/CEO Barry Howard has the honor of throwing out the ceremonial first pitch. Purchase your tickets by clicking here, and use promo code WEBSTER26.

The Chamber’s health insurance enrollment service, rocENROLL HEALTH, is sponsoring the Village Gazebo concert on Friday, August 28. The concert will feature The Earthtones beginning at 6:45 p.m. Bring your lawn chair, relax with family and friends, and enjoy a wonderful summer evening.

The Chamber’s next monthly meeting will be on Friday, Aug. 28 from 7 to 8:30 a.m. at the Webster Golf Club. The program will be “AI – How Your Business Can Use it Effectively.”

The monthly meetings are opportunities to network, meet new contacts, develop current business relationships, learn, and earn visibility for your business or organization. This is the largest monthly Chamber networking event within the Greater Rochester area, with 85-110 attendees. Bring a door prize for visibility and your business card, to take your chances on winning a door prize! Online reservations are required by 9:30 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 27.

Learn about composting

The folks at Color Webster Green have a pretty interesting class coming up next week.

It’s all about Backyard Composting and will be held at the Webster Recreation Center on Wednesday, Aug. 19 from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.

Participants will learn step-by-step instructions, tips for composting with limited space, how to use compost, and much more.

This is a free event and family-friendly, so children ages 8+ are welcome to join. For more information and to register, click here.

Rabies vaccination clinic

The Town of Webster, in cooperation with the Monroe County Dept. of Public Health, is sponsoring a free Rabies Vaccine Clinic on Wednesday, Aug. 19 from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Webster Highway Department, 1005 Picture Parkway.

Dogs, cats and ferrets are all welcome. Remember that New York State and the Town of Webster require proof of a current rabies vaccination to legally license your dog.

Health and Wellness Fair needs vendors

The Webster Business Improvement District (BID) is looking for vendors to participate in their 4th annual Webster Health and Wellness Fair on Saturday, September 12.

The fair is designed to showcase businesses and professionals throughout our community that address all aspects of health and wellness. It will be held at Lattimore Physical Therapy, 70 Barrett Dr. from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. During this time, vendors will have a table where participants can learn about the services you offer and your role within their health and well-being. From 10 a.m. to noon there will also be a free shredding event.

Businesses and professionals who focus on all aspects of health and wellness, including but not limited to physical, mental, environmental, social and financial health, are encouraged to participate.

RSVP by Friday, August 21 at info@websterbid.com

Cars and beers

Save the date for this year’s Main Street Car Show and Beer Walk, scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 19 in the Village of Webster.

Registration is now open to car owners who want to sign up to show off their old and/or fancy vehicles. Registration is required, and space is limited. Click here to register.  

Beer Walk tickets will be available soon on the Webster Business Improvement District website

From the Recreation Center

The Webster Recreation Center invites everyone to a Say So Long to Summer end-of-summer event at Rochester Challenger Miracle Field on Friday, Aug. 21 from 6 to 8 p.m. It will be an evening of games, music, food trucks, temporary tattoos, and community groups. The event is free and open to the public, and no registration is required.

Miracle Field is located at 1008 Ridge Road.

And these events are especially for community members ages 55+: (click here for more information on all of these)

  • Marvelous Monarchs Trip to the Strong Museum — Monday Aug. 24, 11 a.m. (cost $20)
  • Summer Sizzler — Wednesday Aug. 19 at the Arboretum (cost $10)
  • Salute to Seniors at Ontario Beach Park — Friday Aug. 21 (free)
  • Program on Hearing Loss and Cognition — Monday Aug. 24 (free)
  • Dave Ruch concert: The Erie Canal — Tuesday Aug. 25, 4 p.m. (free)
  • Red Wings trip –Wednesday Aug. 26 (1 p.m. game start)

And while we’re talking about the Rec Center, word has just crossed my email that the annual Mud Run is coming up on Saturday, Sept. 19.

This non-competitive, family-friendly run is is always great wet, muddy fun that the kids especially will enjoy. The event includes fried cakes and apples from Schutt’s Apple Mill and Herman’s Farm Market and several vendors. Plus, the Webster and West Webster fire departments will be there to rinse you off with their pump truck.

The run is scheduled from 10 to 11:30 a.m. at the Rec Center, and you don’t have to register for a specific time. more information to come about this.

* * *

(posted 8/14/2026)

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).

t

August History Bit: Edna Struck Park

12 Aug

In this month’s History Bit, we highlight a little Village of Webster park with a long history.

Edna Struck Park is the little grassy median on the east side of the village where Lapham Park makes a slight jog at the corner of Elm St. Those who live in the village have come to take the pleasant little green space for granted. But not everyone knows the park’s rather interesting history, or that at one point many years ago, it was almost eliminated altogether.

Back in the 1890s, the land was owned by Russell Lapham. Where the park now stands was actually part of a baseball field, complete with a grandstand and ticket office. Home plate was located about where Edna Struck Park is now, and the pitcher’s mound was in the front yard of the home at the southeast corner of Lapham Park and Elm.

The Town of Webster team used the village field for four years, hosting teams from all around the county, until the Lapham family decided to convert the tract into building lots. As the neighborhood grew, the little traffic island park was created. Early photos show a peaceful green space shaded by stately elms, with a sign warning drivers to “go to the right.”

Even with that warning in place, the island has been known to befuddle drivers. In the late 1960s, Curt Gerling, then editor of the Webster Herald, wrote an article suggesting the island be removed after he had trouble negotiating the curves one night. Concerned about the article, several neighbors came together and decided the best way to save the park was to make it more attractive, planting crabapple trees and petunias.

One of those neighbors was Edna Struck, who lived on Park Ave. and became known as the “First Lady of Lapham Park.” For years, Edna carefully tended to the trees and flowers. After she passed in 1991, her neighbors erected a marker in her honor, identifying Edna as the “Neighborhood Gardener.”

The unpretentious little green space quietly beautified the Lapham Park neighborhood for more than 25 years, and in 2005 was designated an official local landmark. Then, in 2019, it once again befuddled a driver. In February of that year, someone was driving down Lapham Park much too fast and, instead of navigating the jog in the road, plowed right through the park, mowing down the trees and plants, and inflicting significant other damage.

It took a few years, but eventually efforts began to bring the island back to its original beauty, led by the village’s Historic Preservation Committee. On May 9, 2024, Edna Struck Memorial Park was officially rededicated in honor of “our neighborhood gardener.” So next time you stroll by, pause a moment to appreciate this little park’s long history, and remember Edna.

* * *

(posted 8/12/2026)

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).

After more than three years of TLC, including planting new grass, trees and flowers, and installing a new stone and memorial plaque, Edna Struck Memorial Park is looking beautiful again. On Thursday May 9, a dozen local officials gathered to officially rededicate the 130-year old park in honor of the village’s “neighborhood gardener.”

It’s BINGO time again!

9 Aug

The amazing folks at Making Spirits Bright are gearing up for their second annual BINGO with Making Spirits Bright fundraiser, scheduled for Sunday, September 20 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Webster Recreation Center.

I was a part of last year’s event, calling the numbers alongside Mike Petzing, so I can tell you for sure that it’s a whole lot of fun, AND it was a very popular event, so you might want to get your tickets early. Tickets are just $15 for kids under 18, $25 for adults and capped at $75 per immediate family. Click here for tickets.

Participants will each get 10 games with three boards each game, plus light refreshments and drinks. Extra BINGO cards will be available for purchase, and there’ll be plenty of unbelievable raffle baskets to take a chance on.

Jamie Buss and Tracy Nappi are the driving force behind Making Spirits Bright, a nonprofit organization established in 2014 with one simple mission: to provide smiles for families in need during the holiday season. Over the last 12 years, Making Spirits Bright has helped around 600 families, mostly through generous donations from community members, who sign up to fill families’ wish lists.

But sometimes some of those wish lists go unfilled, and many include big-ticket items. That’s where this family-friendly afternoon of BINGO will come into play (pun intended).

And business owners, Making Spirits Bright is still looking for event sponsors. For as little as $100 you can get some great visibility for your business, a ticket to the event, have a lot of fun and feel good about supporting a terrific organization. Click here for more details.

* * *

(posted 8/12/2026)

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).

News from the Women’s Club of Webster

7 Aug

As September nears, the Women’s Club of Webster is ramping up for a new year of luncheon meetings, social gatherings and special events.

The first luncheon of the year is scheduled for Thursday, Sept. 17 at Capitano’s, 1400 Empire Blvd. (in the dugway). Social time starts at 11:15 a.m., followed by a short business meeting, a buffet lunch featuring fresh fruit, a house salad and selection of gourmet sandwiches, and a program. Because so many new members have joined the group in recent months, September’s program will be kind of a get-to-know-you activity.

Cost is $25 and reservations are required by Sept. 3. Please mail your check made out to Women’s Club of Webster to Kim Tauriello, 303 Philips Rd., Webster.

Later that month, on Tuesday Sept. 29, the Women’s Club will host its annual Card and Game Party.

Coffee and danish will be served beginning at 10 a.m. with a buffet lunch at 12:30. You can play cards or bring a game of your choice. Play with friends or take the opportunity to meet some new people. There are door prizes, raffles, 50/25/25 drawings and more.

It all takes place at Glendoveers, 2328 Old Browncroft Rd. Donation is $45 and reservations are required by Sunday, Sept. 20. For tickets, send a check payable to the Women’s Club of Webster to Diane Miller, 428 Seneca Park Ave.,, Rochester, 14617. Make sure to include the names of anyone you would like to play with. Click here for more information.

Regular attendees, please note that this is a brand new time of year for the party, which is normally held in November. Different time, same great fun!

With the fresh new year, the Women’s Club has also announced a fresh new slate of officers, and I’m honored to say that I am one of them.

Introducing, from left to right: Diana Holzwasser, Past President and new Corresponding Secretary; Marge Martellotta, Board Secretary; Barb Kassnoff, Treasurer; Carol Sullivan, First VP; me, President; Kay Vargo, installation officer; and Terri Bennett, Second VP.

In my new role as president, I’m looking forward to continuing to build our membership by helping develop new social opportunities and finding new ways to spread the word about our group’s mission to support local charitable causes.

If you’re interested in finding out more about our club, and perhaps attending one of the luncheon meetings or happy hours, please email me! We’re a very welcoming group and have a lot of fun.

* * *

(posted 8/7/2026)

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).

Lala of Webster named Webster Chamber Business of the Month

5 Aug

Congratulations to Lisa Schlonski and Lala of Webster, honored as the August 2026 Business of the Month by the Webster Chamber of Commerce

I am especially pleased to share this news, and agree wholeheartedly with the Chamber’s decision to honor Lala’s as a business of the month. I’ve been a friend of Lala’s — and owner Lisa Schlonski — since the adorable gift shop first opened in November 2018. I knew back then it was an outstanding addition to the Village of Webster, offering a variety of home decor and gift items that couldn’t be found anywhere else.

That’s still the case, but in the years since the shop opened, it’s become so much more. Here’s what the folks at the Chamber of Commerce had to say about Lisa and her shop:

***

Located at 38 East Main Street, Lala’s is owned by Lisa Schlonski and has become much more than a place to shop. It is a warm, welcoming part of our community – and its story began during a very difficult time in Lisa’s life. 

After losing her husband in 2015, Lisa knew she needed a project, a purpose, and a reason to put herself back out into the world. She believed that surrounding herself with people – meeting customers, talking with them, and helping bring them a little happiness – would also help lift her up. 

Lisa began by purchasing a gift shop in Bushnell’s Basin, where she remained for two years. When the opportunity arose to open a store in Webster, she closed that location and created what we now know as Lala’s. What Lisa jokingly describes as an “expensive hobby” gradually became a successful business. Lala’s has now been open for nearly eight years and has grown to include eight part-time employees. 

The store offers unique, thoughtful, and affordable gifts, including home decor, jewelry, accessories, cards, seasonal items, gourmet foods, and products made by local vendors. And, of course, it is also a place where you can show your support for Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills. 

But what makes Lala’s special is the experience Lisa has created. She loves hearing why customers are shopping and helping them find something that feels just right – whether it is thoughtful, funny, sentimental, or something they did not even know they were looking for. Her goal is for every customer to feel welcome and for Lala’s to be a happy little stop in someone’s day. 

That same spirit extends throughout the Webster community. Lisa supports local makers and small businesses, participates in Village events, and created Lala’s Sip & Shop fundraising events in partnership with JoJo’s Bistro. She has volunteered at the Webster Fireman’s Carnival, including working both the hot dog stand and the clam shack, and serves on the board of the Webster Arboretum. 

And then there’s the name. 

“Lala” was Lisa’s childhood nickname because her younger sisters could not pronounce “Lisa.” Over time, the name took on an even deeper meaning: “Laugh and Love, Always.” It reflects how Lisa tries to live her life and what she hopes to teach her son – that even through sadness and difficult times, how we approach each day can make a difference. 

Lala’s is a wonderful example of how something created from a need for purpose and connection can grow into a place that brings happiness to an entire community.

* * *

(posted 8/5/2026)

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).

Bygone Blog: A silly goose story

4 Aug

This is the latest in my on-again, off-again series of Bygone Blogs, in which I’m re-posting some of my favorite blogs from the last 18 years.

This was an amusing little interlude which made me chuckle so much I just had to write about it. It was originally published on November 26, 2012.

Why did the goose cross the road?

I saw the most amusing little scene play itself out yesterday afternoon. As I was driving home from Thomas High School on Publisher’s Parkway, I passed a flock of about 30 Canada geese gathered on the north side of the road. To a goose, they were all peering at the roadway, and standing very still on the grass, a safe distance from the passing traffic.

Well, not quite all of them.  One solitary goose was inching his (her?) way closer and closer to the road.  As I drove slowly past, I watched him creep every so slowly onto the shoulder, while the rest of the flock stood and watched.

I was hooked. I just HAD to see how this was going to play out. So I pulled off to the side of the road to see what was going to happen next.

Step by step, the goose waddled tentatively into the roadway. For almost a minute, he was close enough to the roadside that drivers just went around him.  But at long last, the goose had made his way to the middle of the road, effectively stopping traffic.

Then, and only then, did the rest of the flock start across.

I didn’t hang around long enough to see if all the other geese gave their brave friend a high five or slap on the back. But as I drove away, I did wonder how that poor sap had landed such a dangerous mission. Did he volunteer? Maybe he pulled the short straw. Perhaps it was some sort of goose gang initiation. Or maybe a Birda Poopa Epsilon fraternity hazing.

Or maybe, just like all of us after a long day of work, they just wanted to have a little fun. So they decided to play a game of … you guessed it … chicken.

* * *

(posted 8/4/2026)

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).

Two friends, and their mission to run every street in Webster

2 Aug

For some people, running is a natural passion, a non-negotiable part of their daily routine. For others (like me) it takes a concrete goal just to lace up the sneakers. Two Webster women found a creative way to bridge that gap, doing something that fills both buckets.

Karen Seidel and Angela Oldfield have been running buddies ever since meeting through a Webster Women Runners Facebook group about eight years ago. They meet several times a week somewhere in town and run various distances.

In early 2024, Karen saw a story on the television news that intrigued her. It told of a woman who walked every street in Monroe County. “I knew I didn’t want to do that,” she remembered, “but I started thinking about a goal we could achieve that was not running a marathon, or even half marathon. We could get a map of the Town of Webster and run every street.”

Having set the goal (and getting Angela on board), the first step was to plot the routes. Using a detailed map she secured from Town Hall, plus Google Maps and a program called OntheGoMap.com, Karen starting planning, driving the routes to check details like the route’s distance, where to park, street lights, traffic density, shoulder width and more.

On July 23, 2024, they set their plan in motion with their first run from Dewitt Road Elementary School, guided by directions Karen had written on a 3″ x 5″ card she kept in her pocket.

They started incorporating their goal into their regular routine, eventually shifting the “run every street” runs to the daytime for safety. This also allowed them to actually see the neighborhoods they were running through, which was a major part of their original plan. Every time they completed a route, Karen would color it in on the huge map.

As you can imagine, Karen and Angela learned quite a bit about our little town in their travels. They noticed, for example, that lots of Webster residents own campers and RVs, people are very supportive of the Marching Band bottle and can drive, there are a LOT of deer (and the occasional skunk and horse), and you can smell donuts baking when you run by the cider mills. Most importantly, though, they learned that Webster is a very friendly town. Fellow runners always waved and made a comment about the weather, and one homeowner even let them use her bathroom.

They also discovered some gorgeous neighborhoods. Among their favorites were the Herman Rd. neighborhood, Inspiration Point, and The Bluffs on the west side of the bay.

In general, the whole project went very smoothly, but there were a few hiccups and difficulties. Like last October when they were planning to run six and a half miles, but got talking and forgot to turn around, so they ended up running nine miles instead. Also, running along Empire Blvd. between Five Mile Line and the AMC Theater was “not ideal.”

“We ran those areas early in the morning when there was no traffic,” Karen remembered. Pre-sunrise darkness, heavy rains and blistering heat were other challenges they needed to overcome — or endure.

Are you wondering if they ran down your street during their quest? They got that question a lot.

“When we told people what we were doing (such as dog-walkers or passers-by),” Karen said, “they inevitably started listing street names they knew and asking us if we had run them. The answer is yes.”

Ultimately, the entire project was a journey of discovery on several levels.

“Overall,” Karen said, “we learned so much about our beloved town. We learned there are beautiful trees and gardens all over Webster. There are all kinds of neighborhoods, dog-walkers, and people who sit on their porch drinking coffee and waving hello.” But they also learned how the power of friendship can help you meet a goal and work through life’s challenges together.

“Some of my favorite runs didn’t necessarily have to do with the place we were running,” Angela said. “It was the conversation. Karen and I have helped each other through highs and lows of life. We’ve given each other advice, we’ve supported each other by listening, and have NEVER once canceled on each other.”

On Saturday morning, July 25, almost exactly two years after they began their quest, Angela and Karen completed the last of their “run every street” runs. It was a 6.4-mile route that took them through the village and along the Rt. 104 bike path, ending by Village Bakery. Several runner friends joined them and family members met them at the finish line to congratulate them on their incredible achievement.

In total, Karen and Angela ran 89 different routes and more than 476 miles. And while they’re not planning another grand adventure like this anytime soon, they are planning to repeat some of their favorite routes in the future.

“We feel great,” Karen said, and “we got to know our town really well.”

* * *

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 8/2/2026)

Buy a brick, support the Webster Arboretum

1 Aug

I often write about the Webster Arboretum, because I think it’s a hidden community gem. Most recently, I told you about the Arboretum’s June’s “Anniversary in the Gardens” party in celebration of America’s 250th birthday, and the Arboretum’s beautiful and peaceful Poetry Trail.

But those were just the most recent reasons the Arboretum got my attention. The Arboretum Association also hosts free informational programs every month and the occasional summer concert. And then of course there’s the Arboretum’s main attractions: 1.5 miles of tranquil, flat gravel trails meandering through specialized gardens, wooded groves and around a beautiful pond. There’s a gazebo (which often hosts summer concerts) and the Curry Building, a spacious lodge which can be rented out for special events.

The Arboretum is clearly a treasured local resource, but it relies on community support. Today I want to tell you about an easy way you can help support their mission and honor a loved one at the same time: purchasing a custom-inscribed brick.

The brick program has been going on for a while, but I’m not sure a whole lot of people know about it. For a donation of $75, you can have a brick engraved with your family’s name, a beloved pet’s name, an inspirational message, your organization’s name, or whatever you’d like. It can commemorate a special occasion (like a wedding, graduation, birthday, anniversary or retirement) or be a memorial for a loved one. It would make a great gift, just sayin’.

Your brick will be placed along the remembrance walkway at the Arboretum, which stretches from the Curry Building to the gazebo.

Whatever inscription you choose, you can be happy in the knowledge that your message will be on permanent display, and equally happy to know that you’ve supported the Arboretum in their efforts to maintain their beautiful facility.

Click here for more information and to place an order.

The Webster Arboretum is located at 1700 Schlegel Rd.

* * *

(posted 8/1/2026)

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).