Summer in the Village

July 14, 2010 (click here for earlier columns)

Peter D. Elder

Village of Webster Mayor

The Jazz Festival and Taste of the Village was winding down on Saturday night (July 10th) as Tom Spoonhower (the President of the Business Improvement District) and I began to talk about Movies in the Park, the first of which was on Tuesday, July 13th. I asked Tom how everything was going, and he replied “busy.” That is an apt description of summer here in the Village of Webster.

Each year, the Village plays host to concerts, festivals and special activities. I was so glad to see the huge turnout for the Jazz Festival on Saturday night. There must have been almost a thousand people on West Main Street listening to the great music and having a great time. I enjoyed talking with many Village residents. The crowd was a mix of Village residents, Town residents and people coming from as far away as Macedon – all there to hear the great Jazz and all seeing our beautiful Village (the new Gourmet Food store on West Main was enjoying some good business that night).

Our Village is full of melodies during the summer. Check out the remaining Friday Night Concert Series at Veterans Memorial Park on North Ave on July 23rd, 30th and August 6th, 13th and 20th. Concerts start at 7:00pm and last until 9:00pm. If it rains, the concerts will move indoors at the Coach Sports-Bar at 219 West Main Street. Also enjoy the sounds of our very own Webster Village Band. The Band plays Thursday nights at the Bandshell at Harmony Park on the corner of Phillips Rd and Foster Dr on July 22nd, 29th and August 12th, 19th, and 26th. Concerts start at 7:00pm and the rain location is 900 Cherry Ridge Blvd, across from Schoeder High School. On a normal Friday, between 100 and 250 people attend the Friday Concerts and the Band has enjoyed a similar attendance. I have enjoyed meeting so many of you at our Parks enjoying the wonderful music.

You can also enjoy movies in the Veteran’s Memorial Park beginning on Tuesday, July 13th and continuing on July 20th, 27th, August 3rd, 10th and 24th. The movies will begin at dusk, around 9:00pm and last about 90 minutes. The list of movies being shown is at websterbid.com.

If you like the fresh taste of fruits and vegetables or strolling near booths of handmade craft items, the Village of Webster Joe Obbie’s Farmers Market is for you. Held every Saturday morning until November 6th, from 8:00am to 12:30pm, the Market has a cornucopia of items from the traditional farm products, to honey, maple syrup, jewelry, hand woven bags, plants and more. Many of you are joining me each morning – so many, in fact, that last Saturday, many of the fruit vendors sold out!

There are other events occurring this summer as well. Our premier event, Village Days, is being held on Friday evening, August 13 and all day August 14th. The Festival will begin on Friday night at Veterans Memorial Park on North Ave and runs from 9:00am to 4:30pm on Saturday. There will be children’s activities including magicians, ice cream eating, and model airplane flying contests. The Garden Tour is on Saturday, July 24 from 1:00-4:00pm. The event is a joint effort of the Webster Museum and Historical Society and the Village Historic Preservation Commission. Details on the Garden Tour are posted on many flyers around the Village and also at villageofwebster.com.

Finally, don’t miss the Fireman’s Carnival this week from July 14-17. The Fireman’s Parade starts at 6:30pm on Thursday. Fireworks are on Saturday, July 17th at midnight. Many of you may have the same memories as I do of going the Carnival each year and seeing the Parade on Thursday, or walking in the Kiddy Parade as both a child and then as parent of children or of being so tired your parents carried you to the car after the fireworks, and then doing the same for your children. All good times: all here in our Village.

Don’t you miss out on Summer in the Village. If you have questions about the schedule of events, suggestions about our activities in the Village or if you are holding an event you would like us to post, please contact me at (585) 662-9906; or email me at pelder@villageofwebster.com.