Hot on the heels of Webster’s Memorial Day Parade and Remembrance Ceremony, here’s another great way that you can show respect for our local veterans.
It’s a project called “Stoned Cleaned,” and its mission is to clean veterans’ headstones at Webster Union Cemetery. Spearheaded by Stephen Cataldi, the project was originally a five-year volunteer effort begun in 2019. Community turnout was so massive, however, all of the cleaning was completed in 2022, well ahead of schedule.
But now it’s time to do it again.
Two headstone-cleaning sessions have been scheduled in the next several weeks: May 31 and June 14. Participants are asked to bring rubber gloves and safety goggles if you have them. Wear clothes you can get wet and a little dirty. You’ll be provided with cleaning supplies, buckets, brushes, D2 Cleaner and hoses, plus full instructions.
You’re welcome to clean any headstones, including those of friends and family members, even if they aren’t veterans.
This year’s project is being held in conjunction with Webster Union Cemetery Historian Cherie Wood and Wreaths Across America — Webster.
It all happens Sunday, May 31 from 9 a.m. to noon and Sunday, June 14 from 9 a.m. to noon at Webster Union Cemetery, 345 Webster Rd. (at the corner of Woodhull). Click here to sign up for either date. Spots are limited.
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(posted 5/25/2026)
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Memorial Day 2026 dawned gray and cool in Webster, but the gloomy weather did little to dampen the annual Memorial Day Parade and Remembrance Ceremony.
Hundreds of community members lined South Ave. and Main St. to watch the parade, which was led by local veterans, who received much applause and many a “thank you!” They included this year’s honorary grand marshal, Bill Ruoff, anArmy veteran who served in the elite 82nd Airborne Division, and who also served as Mayor of the Village of Webster. They were followed by first responder units from Webster, West Webster and Penfield, Boy Scouts, and of course the Webster Marching Band. It all made for a rather short (only about 10 minutes long), yet meaningful parade.
Marchers gathered at 9 a.m. at Spry Middle School, where they lined up for the mile-long parade. It traveled along South Ave to Main Street, then west to Webster Rural Cemetery for the remembrance ceremony.
It was a very nice ceremony, as usual. It’s always the same every year, but the solemn prayers and speeches always manage to remind the assembled crowd what this day is really all about — not barbecues and family gatherings and a three-day weekend, but to honor those who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our country. I am always especially heartened to see all the children in attendance, who (I hope) are being taught the real meaning of Memorial Day.
Thank you to all who organized and participated in today’s events.
Click here for a Facebook gallery with some photos from the parade, memorial ceremony, and many of the community members who came out to honor our veterans. Or if you don’t have Facebook, click here.
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(posted 5/23/2026)
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This Memorial Day weekend, almost two dozen restaurants throughout Webster and the Greater Rochester area are joining an effort to honor and remember veterans who never made it back home.
It’s a project called “White Tables Across America.” In each participating restaurant, a single, small, empty table is tucked in an area apart from the main dining area. It’s set for one, symbolizing that someone is missing from our lives — a fallen service member, POW or MIA.
The table is covered with a white tablecloth, signifying the purity of the service member’s emotions when answering the call to serve. In addition to a normal table setting, on top of the table are placed:
a single red rose, symbolizing the blood shed to ensure America’s freedom
a yellow ribbon tied around the vase, representing a demand for proper accounting of those who are not with us today
a lemon slice, reminding us of a captured soldier’s bitter fate
a black napkin, representing the sorrow of captivity
grains of salt on the plate, representing the countless fallen tears of families as they wait
an inverted glass, because they can’t toast with us
a white candle, for the hope that all our missing will return someday.
Finally, an empty chair is placed next to the table, a seat that remains unclaimed. Fully arranged, the table is a simple, yet powerful symbol of remembrance, each element representing the physical and emotional burden of a soldier’s absence.
These small memorials — also known as Fallen Comrade Tables or Missing Man Tables — can often be found at various military facilities, museums, veterans’ agencies, public events and civic spaces. Here in Rochester, though, the effort has become more organized, thanks to the efforts of Brockport resident Sarah Fisher and her five-year old son Brax.
Sarah explained how she decided to get involved.
Last Memorial Day, I felt it was the right time to begin having age-appropriate conversations with Brax about the true meaning behind our federal military holidays. Memorial Day is more than a day off from school or a holiday picnic. It is a day to remember and honor the men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice for our country.
As part of a Memorial Day homeschool lesson plan I created for Brax, we set up a symbolic POW/MIA White Table in our home. Afterward, I thought: why not bring this tribute into our community? That would offer patrons a safe place to pause, reflect, and hold fallen service members and their families in their hearts.
So she reached out to several west-side restaurants to see if they’d be interested in hosting a table, and ultimately set up three White Tables last Memorial Day, then five on Veterans Day. That number grew even larger this year, with 21 restaurants participating across the Rochester area. Here in Webster/Penfield, those include the Mary Wee Pub, Proietti’s, Cobblestone on Main and Flaherty’s. Even if they were a bit short on space, they made room for a table.
At the Mary Wee, for example, Mark Petzing noted, “We don’t have a lot of space here, but we’ll make room for their table. Because some things are more important.”
Brax arranging the White Table at the Mary Wee PubThe completed table
Sarah calls their mission White Tables Across Rochester, and she hopes to continue adding more restaurants every year. Beyond the restaurant displays themselves, Sarah’s also developed mini-homeschool lesson kits tailored for children of different ages. Participating families are paired with a local establishment to help set up their display to generalize their learning and give back to the military community.
“Our hope is to encourage meaningful conversations, foster community involvement, and help younger generations better understand the sacrifices made by our service members and their families,” she said.
Sarah and Brax spent the last few days delivering the White Table kits and setting them up at each of the 21 restaurants. (Brax insists on doing the setup all by himself.) Keep an eye out for them when you’re out and about this weekend, and pause for a moment to remember our fallen and missing service members.
Finally, Sarah shared this touching story:
Yesterday, after completing one of our White Table setups, we noticed a $20 bill left beneath the wine glass. … (I) learned that it can symbolize a quiet act of gratitude and generosity, almost like a toast to those who served and sacrificed. It felt incredibly touching to witness such a meaningful gesture and to see our community coming together in support of honoring our fallen service members. That’s what it’s all about!
If you know of a restaurant interested in becoming part of the White Tables Across Rochester effort next Memorial Day, email Sarah atssegal11@yahoo.com.
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(posted 5/23/2026)
email me at missyblog@gmail.com. “Like” this blog on Facebook and follow me on Instagram and Threads (@missyblog)
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Two of Rochester’s premier a cappella choruses (which both hail from little ol’ Webster) — the Chorus of the Genesee and Rochester Rhapsody — will join forces (and voices) on Saturday May 30 for Harmony in the House, a special performance of ringing chords and feel-good musical fun.
The musical treat will feature both choruses and six different a cappella ensembles, including the quartets Achording to Us and Kircher Park Four, which both hail from the Harmony House. The Mercy McAuley Choir will also be performing.
The choruses promise “contemporary a cappella hits, show-stopping barbershop classics, and high-energy numbers that will have you smiling and tapping your toes,” and a finale where the combined Chorus of the Genesee and Rochester Rhapsody choruses will perform three songs together.
Plus, in addition to the beautiful music, there’ll be door prizes, raffles and more.
It’s acapella vocal harmony at its finest, which all happens on Saturday, May 30 at 3 p.m. at OurLady of Mercy High School, 1437 Blossom Rd. Advance-sale tickets are $20 each, and as a thank you for buying in advance, if you buy two tickets, they’ll throw in a third one for free. Tickets at the door will be $25. Click here for tickets, and feel free to add an extra donation (please and thank you) to benefit the Chorus of the Genesee.
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Just a quick blog today to pass along a heartfelt message from the folks at the Webster Arboretum, following up on this year’s Day of Caring.
Day of Caring is a massive, community-wide volunteer event typically hosted by local branches of the United Way. It brings together thousands of volunteers from local businesses, schools, and neighborhoods to complete hands-on service projects.
This year’s Day of Caring was held on Thursday, May 21, and the Webster Arboretum was one of the chosen beneficiaries. Volunteers from several organizations descended on the Arboretum grounds and did an outstanding job weeding, pruning and mulching, making the Arboretum even more beautiful than it usually is.
The Arboretum would like to thank the following organizations for their hard work and support: Carestream Finance, L3Harris, Paychex ENS, TRSS and Winn Residential.
Now’s the perfect time to swing by the Arboretum, 1700 Schlegel Rd., to appreciate this beautiful local resource. Thanks to the many helping hands, it’s in full bloom and looks awesome.
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(posted 5/21/2026)
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Webster seniors looking to connect with local services will soon have two fantastic opportunities right in their backyard. The Webster Recreation Center and Webster Public Library will each host an upcoming Senior Resource Fair tailored specifically for community members ages 55 and older. The events will bring together dozens of organizations from across the Greater Rochester area, offering information on everything from senior living and recreation to meal programs, legal services, and more.
The first of the two events is scheduled at the Webster Recreation Center on Wednesday, May 27 — National Senior Fitness and Health Day — from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. It will feature health and information vendors, a free yogurt bar, free health assessments, mini fitness demonstrations, cornhole and tours of the Rec Center. Plus there’ll be some raffle prizes.
The event is open to the 55+ community. You do not have to be a member of the Rec Center and no registration is necessary. Just pop in when you can! The Rec Center is located at 1350 Chiyoda Dr., just off of Phillips.
This is the Rec Center’s second annual Senior Fitness Day, and I was able to check it out last year. It was a lot of fun and the yogurt bar was a real treat. (And by the way, my husband Jack will be there promoting his Aging…better blog.)
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A little more than a week later, on Thursday June 4, the Webster Public Library will host their very first Senior Resource Fair from 3 to 5 p.m.
Almost 50 organizations have signed up to be at this fair:
101 Mobility of Rochester
AARP Smart Driver Program
Aging…better (newsletter)
Caring Transitions
Catholic Charities Family & Community Services
Center for Disability Rights
Churches Offering Meals for Everyone
ConnectCare MD
Coordinated Care Services
Cornell Cooperative Extension of Monroe County
Corretore McLaughlin, Attorneys at Law
Eastman-Rochester New Horizons Program
ElderONE
Elevate Dance Center
Episcopal Senior Life Communities
Excellus Medicare Advisor
Finger Lakes Mobile RNs
Happier at Home
Heathwood Assisted Living and Memory Care
Jewish Home – Lilac Grove Community
Kindsoul
LawNY
Legacy at Clover Blossom
Lifespan
M&T Bank in Webster
Monroe County Office for the Aging
New York Life financial professional
Oasis Rochester
PPL First
Rainbow Seniors ROC
Senior Helpers in Rochester
Senior Medical Care – Dr. Luis Postigo
Senior’s Choice Care Management
Seniors Helping Seniors
SMT Mobile Notary
Social Security Services
St. Ann’s Community
Surrogate Son
Sweet Home Photography
TekHub
Veterans Affairs – Rochester Vet Center
WASPS (Webster Senior Transportation)
Webster Comfort Care
Webster Community Chest
Webster Recreation Center 55+ Activities & Services
WellFitRoc
Willard H. Scott Funeral Home
Your Best Move
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(posted 5/18/2026)
email me at missyblog@gmail.com. “Like” this blog on Facebook and follow me on Instagram and Threads (@missyblog)
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Leading off today’s mailbag, this happy bit of news from the Webster Arboretum:
The Webster Arboretum is proud to announce that it has now achieved Level 1 Accredited Arboretum status through the ArbNet’s Morton Register of Arboreta, the world’s only international accreditation program specific to arboreta.
The Webster Arboretum stands as a distinguished natural asset within the Webster Community. The site features one and a half miles of walking trails, curated gardens, a serene pond, and preserved wooded areas, offering an inviting environment for those seeking tranquility. Throughout the seasons, native and rare species of trees and plants enhance the landscape, providing picturesque views reminiscent of fine artwork. The harmonious integration of natural beauty with thoughtful human stewardship sets the Webster Arboretum apart as a valued resource.
Their collections include a variety of exceptional species: tree peonies, magnolias, witch hazels, and numerous mature oaks—a keystone species in the region. Noteworthy specimens include Quercus robur ‘General Pulaski,’ a distinctive dwarf curly leaf English Oak; Pinus sylvestris ’Moseri,’ a rare dwarf Scots Pine; and Pterostyrax, an impressive epaulette tree that reaches thirty feet in both height and width. A particular highlight is the Sequoiadendron giganteum ‘Pendulum,’ a striking giant weeping sequoia prominently featured in their courtyard.
Congratulations to the Arboretum, a true Webster community gem!
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Speaking of the Arboretum, here’s a great way to support them while having a delightful evening out in the village.
On Thursday May 28 from 5 to 7 p.m., Lala of Webster (at 38 E. Main St.) will host a “Sip, Shop and Savor” event to benefit the Arboretum.
Shop three floors of value at Lala’s, and choose an item valued at $15 or more to donate to The Webster Arboretum. As a thank-you, you’ll get 20% the rest of your purchases. Then take your receipt next door to Jojo’s Bistro and Wine Bar, and get 20% off there, too. Jojo’s always has live music on Thursdays, so it’s a great opportunity for a date night!
Great food for a great cause
Now onto another great local resource.
The Webster Comfort Care Home will be the beneficiary of the Webster Masonic Temple’s monthly spaghetti dinner fundraiser on Friday, June 5 from 5 to 7 p.m.
Enjoy a full meal including: salad, bread, spaghetti with your choice of sauce, meatballs, ice cream, a cookie, and a drink (bottled water, tea, and coffee). Cost is $12 for adults and $6 for children and can be purchased in advance (click here) or at the door. While you’re there, check out the bake sale and raffles, all to benefit the Comfort Care Home.
The Webster Masons hold a spaghetti dinner on the first Friday of every month from October through June and each benefits a Webster charity or not-for-profit organization.
ALSO from the Webster Comfort Care Home, the community is invited to their new “Yoga in the Yard” classes, which will be held on Sundays June 7, July 12 and August 16 from 9 to 10 a.m. Registration is not necessary, and there’s no charge for these sessions, but donations would be gratefully accepted.
The Webster Comfort Care Home is located at 700 Holt Rd.
Join the Rec Center’s Fitness Focus Group
The Webster Recreation Center is calling all community members to join their Fitness Focus Group, which will help shape the future of the Rec Center’s program, facilities and group exercise options.
Here’s a great description of what to expect, from Fitness Coordinator Jay Verna:
The mission of the Fitness Focus Group is to foster open communication, gather diverse member perspectives, and support continuous improvement of our programs, equipment, and facility. Through thoughtful engagement and shared ideas, the group will help ensure that our fitness offerings continue to meet the evolving needs of our community. The group will meet periodically to review ideas, discuss emerging needs, and work together to support a welcoming, effective, and community-focused fitness environment. My goal is to keep time commitment to a minimum and give the community a voice as we look to improve our fitness facility, equipment, and group exercise programming.
Community members interested in contributing can contact Jay at jverna@websterny.gov with their information and a brief note about why they’d like to participate. Submissions are open through May 31.
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(posted 5/19/2026)
email me at missyblog@gmail.com. “Like” this blog on Facebook and follow me on Instagram and Threads (@missyblog)
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Webster’s Memorial Day Parade, kind of the unofficial kick-off to the summer season, takes place on Memorial Day, Monday May 25.
Here are the details:
9:00 a.m.: All groups participating in the parade will assemble at Spry Middle School on Sanford Street. All active duty and ex-service men and women are invited to take part in the parade. Any veterans who would like to ride in the bed of an Army truck are asked to be at Spry by 9 a.m.
9:30 a.m.: Parade moves out from Spry, down South Avenue, turning west on Main Street and proceeding to Webster Rural Cemetery.
9:50 a.m. (approx.): Parade arrives at Webster Rural Cemetery.
The Remembrance Ceremony will begin at approximately 10 a.m., or whenever everyone arrives and gets settled.
In addition to honored active military members, auxiliary members and veterans, also expected to march in this year’s parade are the Webster High School Marching Band, Boy Scouts and (hopefully) Girl Scouts, firefighters and more. Click here to see a gallery of photos from last year.
This year’s honorary parade grand marshal is Bill Ruoff, anArmy veteran who served in the elite 82nd Airborne Division, and also served as Mayor of the Village of Webster.
This is always a very nice parade, and the ceremony that follows it at Webster Rural Cemetery is always moving. I highly recommend bringing your children to see both the parade and the ceremony, so they might begin to understand the huge debt we owe our servicemen and women.
Refreshments will be served following the service, at the American Legion Post 942, located at 818 Ridge Road.
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(posted 5/18/2026)
email me at missyblog@gmail.com. “Like” this blog on Facebook and follow me on Instagram and Threads (@missyblog)
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You know your dad is the best. So how ’bout you try to win a great prize for him in the Webster Comfort Care Home’s Father’s Day Raffle?
Tickets are now available for the raffle, which runs through Sunday, June 14. And the grand prize “Thrill of the Grill” bundle, is amazing, starting with a 28-inch Blackstone grill. Plus, the lucky dad will receive:
• Two camp chairs • Four-pack of seasonings & spice rubs from The Spice Lab • Three Dinosaur BBQ sauces • Headlamp • Coleman 50-quart rolling cooler • Life is Good Smashed Burger set
Basically, your dad could host the best tailgate party in the neighborhood.
Tickets are one for $25, three for $30 and six for $100. Click here to get yours.
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Webster Comfort Care Home, located at the corner of Holt and Klem roads, provides free hospice care to the terminally ill of our Webster community. The dedicated staff members and volunteers there uphold the dignity and ease the suffering of its residents, while supporting their loved ones in a warm, home-like atmosphere. It’s an amazing agency that does great things for families experiencing the some of the most difficult times of their lives.
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(posted 5/17/2026)
email me at missyblog@gmail.com. “Like” this blog on Facebook and follow me on Instagram and Threads (@missyblog)
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It’s a sure sign of spring when the Friends of Webster Trails (FWT) volunteers start ramping up their trail maintenance efforts. I learned all about them in the most recent Friends newsletter, which popped up in my email box the other day, my quarterly reminder of how lucky we are to have this organization in our community.
A large portion of the spring newsletter reviewed last year’s improvements to the Hojack Trail, the five-mile long former railroad bed that stretches from Lake Rd. at Forest Lawn to Phillips Rd. Those efforts included adding drainage and resurfacing the entire stretch between Holt and Drumm roads. It caused a little bit of disruption when portions of the trail had to be closed, but the results are fantastic. The trail has been busy all winter with walkers, runners, bikers, and cross-country skiers enjoying the new surface and improved drainage.
The work isn’t done quite yet, though. Later this spring, the Friends will be installing signage at each road crossing, and interpretive signs highlighting the history and the habitat of the trail. They’ll also be adding benches and planting scores of small trees and shrubs. A ribbon-cutting ceremony is being planned for later this summer, to officially reintroduce the new, improved Hojack to the community.
Improvements to the Hojack Trail were just a small part of what the Friends of Webster Trails accomplished last year, including:
Painting the kiosk at the Bird Sactuary Trail, and adding a map and history panels;
Adding an extension to the Herman Rd. Forever Wild Forest Green Trail;
Blazing a new side trail at the John Ungar and Michael Johnson Trails;
Adding a bridge at Vosburg Hollow (thank you Eagle Scout Jacob Bowen), connecting that trail from the Hojack to Gosnell Big Woods; and much more.
Plans for this spring and summer are no less ambitious. Upcoming projects include improving the Red, Blue and Green Trails at Herman Rd. Forever Wild Forest; adding a new boardwalk and walking stick station to State Rd. Nature Preserve; keeping the trails free from downed trees; and many more. And of course, the Friends’ ReTree volunteers will continue their incredible work, raising and planting a variety of native trees.
We have an amazing trail system in our town, and I hope you can see now that the Friends of Webster Trails are the folks to thank for that. These dedicated volunteers are committed to planning, maintaining, and promoting our trails, and advocating for the preservation of the natural character of Webster’s open spaces.
Our trails provide close, easy, and free opportunities for exercise and to spend time in nature for people of all ages. If you’re a regular user of any of Webster’s 28 miles of trails, please consider showing them some love by becoming a member of the Friends. It doesn’t cost much (really, just $15 for an individual or $20 for a family) and the funds go directly to making our trail system better for everyone to enjoy.
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).
I feature the people and places and events that make Webster the wonderful community it is — and throw in some totally-not-Webster-related personal ramblings every once in a while as well.
I love it when readers send me news about the great things happening in their schools or the community, so please email me anytime at missyblog@gmail.com
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