Features

Reconnect Rochester hosted a community event Tuesday, Dec. 2, 2025, at the Little Theatre featuring a screening of the PBS documentary Walkable USA , followed by a panel discussion with local leaders about efforts to make Rochester a more walkable city. Panelists: Shawn Dunwoody of Dunwoode Design and vice president of Hinge Neighbors; Galin Brooks, president and CEO of the Rochester Downtown Development Corporation; and Erik Frisch, deputy commissioner of neighborhood and b

When a seminary built for contemplation decides its place is no longer above the city but within its noise, movement, and longing, the ground shifts beneath it. After more than a century overlooking Highland Park, Colgate Rochester Crozer Divinity School (CRCDS) has stepped off its hilltop and into the pulse of downtown Rochester. For a 206-year-old institution, the move to the historic Sibley Triangle Building signals more than a change of address. It signals a shift in mora

Rapper Toosii, a Syracuse native, Announced He Will Join Syracuse University Football Program Syracuse native and platinum-selling rapper Toosii is returning to his roots — not on stage, but on the field. The 24-year-old artist, known for hits like “Love Cycle”  and “Favorite Song,”  is set to join the Syracuse University football program, the school confirmed Monday. Toosii, born Nau’Jour Grainger, will enroll as a non-traditional student-athlete and participate as a walk-on

Shoppers across the United States are pouring into stores and scoured online retailers Friday as Black Friday 2025 kickes off, but early indicators show consumers are spending more cautiously than in previous years despite an aggressive push from retailers to offer deep discounts. According to retail analysts, this year’s Black Friday traffic is strong, but shoppers are prioritizing essential items, gifts, and modest electronics over large luxury purchases. Economic pressures

Sister Grace Miller, who dedicated decades of her life to serving the city’s most vulnerable, died Thursday at age 90. Known for her radical compassion and unwavering advocacy, Miller’s work transformed Rochester’s response to homelessness and left a lasting legacy of care, dignity, and inclusion. Who was Jesus the Christ? Scholars, theologians, and seekers have offered countless answers: a Jewish rabbi, a rebel against Rome, a Buddhist sage, a Hindu avatar, the Messiah, God

Rochester, NY — November 24, 2025  — EDceptional, a Charter Sector Support Organization dedicated to helping Rochester charter schools thrive through innovative solutions and strategic partnerships, announces the appointment of Paul Miller as its first Chief Academic Officer. Dr Paul Miller Miller brings more than 25 years of experience as an educator, school leader, and nonprofit CEO dedicated to transforming educational systems for excellence and equity. He most recently se

On a crisp Rochester morning, a teenage Anqesha Murray-Cody might have missed school if it weren’t for her high school bus driver, who knew she had a tendency to sleep in and would call with a friendly reminder to get up and go. Her mother, she recalls with a laugh, “didn’t make me go to school. She was kind of hippy-like in that way.” That quiet persistence from her community, paired with a freedom to explore, planted the seeds for a life defined by curiosity, resilience, an

Bishop Troy Anthony Bronner, a nationally respected preacher, author and the founding pastor of Elim Christian Fellowship in Buffalo and Rochester, died this week, leaving behind a transformative legacy that reshaped urban ministry in Western New York and beyond. He was 62. Elim Christian Fellowship announced his passing and asked the community to keep his family and congregation in prayer. [Funeral arrangements are listed at the end of this article.] A Dynamic Preacher and

The Rochester Board of Education’s October 30 meeting drew a full house — and for good reason. After months of frustration over payroll chaos, Rochester City School District (RCSD) employees came forward to share exactly what it’s been like living with the fallout from the district’s new Oracle payroll system. The tone was emotional, honest, and at times, tense, as teachers, aides, and staff described missing paychecks, incorrect deductions, and mounting financial stress. Sin

Raising the Barcode, Inc. held its 4th Annual Fundraiser on Thursday, Oct. 30, 2025, at La Luna Restaurant in Rochester. Founded by Brittany Read, the nonprofit organization aims to help students transition into young professionals through mentorship and career development programs. Read, a 2016 graduate of Joseph C. Wilson Magnet High School and a 2020 graduate of Howard University with a bachelor’s degree in legal, strategic and management communications, began hosting coll

The federal government has been partially shut down since October 1 after Congress failed to pass an annual budget. The impasse has led to widespread disruptions affecting millions of Americans, with immediate consequences for federal employees and low-income households relying on government programs for food and health support. More than one million federal employees are currently without pay. Approximately 730,000 workers are continuing their duties without pay, while about

The nostalgic beats of the 1990s will take center stage this Sunday, Oct. 26, as ROC Fest: I Love the 90s Tour  returns to the Rochester Sports Complex from noon to 6 p.m. The event promises not only chart-topping hits and throwback energy but also a strong message of community, service, and local pride. Organizers announced this week that hip-hop legend Tone Lōc —known for his gravelly voice and party anthems “Wild Thing” and “Funky Cold Medina”—has joined the festival’s lin