Ever since Water Street Music Hall lost its entertainment license back in 2016, Rochester hasn’t been the same. The once-top venue in the music scene was the victim of violence and financial insecurity, causing the city of Rochester to question its safety.
In one infamous incident, a band arrived at the music hall, only to be met with a closed venue. In another notorious case, songwriter Anna Nalick had to wear mittens during a January show when the heat didn’t work. While it’s estimated that buildings eat up to 40% of the nation’s energy, Rochesterians weren’t sympathetic to the venue: many people walked out as a result.
In March 2016, it wasn’t surprising when the city refused to renew the club’s entertainment license. About 33% of small business owners report that a lack of funding is a top business challenge.
The city cited eight separate instances that hindered the venue’s safety and public welfare. Among these incidents included gun violence, traffic violations, and on-site brawls among patrons. Under Title 18, aggravated assault and battery is a Federal crime.
The music hall did not appeal its sentencing and closed, thereby allowing Syracuse-based venue Funk ‘n Waffles to take over in 2917. Here the new business witnessed calmer streets and more relaxed shows, but Rochesterians failed to adopt the new business. As such, Funk ‘n Waffles was unable to book national acts and headliners, causing further financial difficulties for the venue. After all, you will have to pay quarterly estimated taxes if your business owes income taxes of more than $1,000, regardless of business type. In only a year and a half, they closed their doors.
Owner Peter Sewell didn’t waste any time reclaiming the space.
After working on reinventing Water Street Music Hall for almost a year, Sewell announced the venue’s reopening this October. Dubbed “Water Street 2020,” he wants patrons to recognize the tried and true atmosphere of Water Street that Rochesterians grew up with. But he was sure to add a few new fixtures to entice new customers.
The newest remodel includes a new sound system, moving lights, and updated bathrooms. These will offer a huge return on investment for the venue, especially if they qualify as start-up expenditures for the new space. The biggest change, however, is the club’s new restaurant: Jack’s on Water Street.
Jack’s on Water Street will feature some of Sewell’s favorite cuisines from his time in Las Vegas. The venue has also ditched its old stage for the sake of making more room for restaurant seating. This was a smart move on Sewell’s part: up to 69% of home remodels involve renovating the kitchen. Even though he has wanted Water Street Music Hall to feature a restaurant for a long time, this will be a key aspect of the venue’s revitalization project.
Sewell named the restaurant after his rescue pitbull Jack, one of the 75 million pet dogs loved throughout the United States. But don’t think the food is made for Fido: Sewell’s head chef once worked for Wolfgang Puck and Bellagio’s Steakhouse.
In its heyday, the club witnessed top acts and more sold-out shows than the owner could count.
“We’ve had 300 sell-outs over the years and we were named the number one club in Rochester for multiple years,” reminisces Sewell in an interview with WHEC.
Though Jack’s on Water Street has already opened, the music venue side, Water Street 2020, is slated to open this weekend.
“I want people to know, ‘It’s the Water Street I grew up with,'” explains Sewell. “I’ve had so many people tell me, ‘I was there for my first-ever concert, it was a high school battle of the bands.’ I’ve had so many people say to me, ‘My first concert was, fill in the blank, at Water Street.'”
Hopefully, this venue will serve as someone’s first concert for more years to come.
The months between the end of summer and the start of the hectic holiday season are ripe with opportunities to create wonderful memories with your friends and family. While the autumn weather gives you plenty of sunny days and the changing leaves create a beautiful backdrop, you can spend your weekends doing all of the things that make fall in upstate New York so special.
There are plenty of important things to do before winter hits — especially when it comes to preparing your vehicle for the snowy roadways. On average, there’s a rear end collision on U.S. roads every eight seconds. And we’ve all seen how dangerous 490 can be during a snowstorm.
Although we’re well into the fall season, you still have plenty of time to indulge in some fall fun before winter settles in. Professional services firm Ernst & Young conducted an internal study of its employees and found that for each additional 10 hours of vacation time employees took, their year-end performance ratings improved 8%. Whether you’re taking a nice fall vacation back home or you currently live in Rochester, there are plenty of fun things to do around here! Save the gutter cleaning you need to do twice a year for another weekend and take the family out for a day full of activities. Let’s dive into seven activities in the Rochester area you need to check out while fall is still in full swing.
Admire the Fall Foliage
One of our region’s most striking features at this time of year is the fall foliage. As the leaves change out of their summer greens, we get to see swathes of brilliant reds, oranges, and yellows take over the landscape. A great way to see the changing colors is by riding aboard the foliage trolley, which is an attraction at the New York Museum of Transportation in Rush.
This 1920s-era trolley goes along its two-mile route every Sunday until Oct. 27. Along the route, you’ll see rural scenes with wells — which were first constructed over 8,000 years ago — and pastures with farm animals. And, of course, plenty of trees with those brilliant leaves. On Saturday, Oct. 19, the trolley will take on the role of the “Halloween Express” and bring riders to a nearby pumpkin patch where they can pick a pumpkin to decorate back at the museum.
Take a Hike
If you’d rather see the fall foliage more actively, try hiking along trails in Rochester’s parks. There are plenty of family-friendly options with fewer hills, such as Corbett’s Nature Park in Brighton and Oatka Creek Park in Wheatland. For a bit more of a hiking challenge, you could try Washington Grove in Rochester’s Cobbs Hill Park or Mendon Ponds Park in Pittsford and Mendon. As just one mile of hiking burns an average of about500 calories, you’ll be getting plenty of exercise while you revel in the beauty of the changing leaves on whichever trail you choose.
You could also take a day trip to a nearby state park to see some stunning scenery. Letchworth State Park is a favorite of New York nature lovers and Watkins Glen State Park offers breathtaking views of waterfalls as well as the fall foliage. To catch the leaves in their times of peak color change, check New York’s weekly fall foliage report. With this report, you’ll know where you should go each weekend. For instance, you would know that driving out to the Ithaca gorges this weekend would allow you to see the area’s near-peak foliage, with about 75% of the leaves transitioning to their fall shades.
Pick Apples
Plucking apples straight from the tree is an activity that people of all ages can enjoy. There are many orchards and U-pick farms in the Rochester area that allow visitors to pick fruit from their hardwood trees, which can take twenty years or more to reach full maturity. These welcoming orchards and farms include LaMora Farms in Ontario, The Apple Farm in Victor, Whittier Fruit Farm in Ogden, and many more.
Pumpkin Patches, Corn Mazes, and Apple Cannons, Oh My!
Larger farms in the Rochester area have been transforming their usual fields into centers for fall fun over the years and this autumn you’ll find plenty of places offering a variety of activities. Typically, these farms feature corn mazes, hayrides, pumpkin patches, apple cannons, and more. They usually have areas where visitors can grab a warm bite to eat and hot apple cider as well as autumn treats like fried cakes and pumpkin goodies.
Wherever you live in Rochester, there is probably a fun-filled farm near you. Some of the most popular spots include Stokoe Farms in Scottsville, Long Acre Farms in Macedon, Schutt’s Apple Mill and Wickham Farms in Penfield, Ford Farm Market in Chili, and Zarpentine Farms in Hilton. Whichever farm you choose to spend the day at, remember to bundle up to avoid catching one of the one billion colds Americans get every year. Temperatures tend to dip and rise wildly in the fall, but wearing layers and having a pair of gloves in your pocket can help keep you toasty during your day of fall fun.
Go To A Haunted House
We couldn’t end this list without including at least one Halloween activity. If you’re into the spookier side of fall, be sure to make it to a haunted house before the season’s over.
While this may not be the best place for every family, it’s the perfect activity for a group of friends who want to feel the fright. Even the chipper friend of the group who’s among the 30% of people who smile more than 20 times per day won’t be able to hold back a few screams and looks of distress as you traverse a haunted house. Keep in mind that haunted houses tend to get busier as Halloween approaches. Try to go sooner rather than later, or else you’ll face long lines outside the house that might be spookier than what’s lurking inside.
Whether you spend the remaining autumn weekends exploring a local pumpkin patch or gathering the courage to face a spooky haunted house, you’ll be taking advantage of all that fall has to offer. If you can’t fit everything in before the temperatures plummet and snowflakes start to fall, don’t worry. Autumn will come again next year and bring all of its fun festivities with it.
Mayor Lovely Warren recently announced a new effort to promote homeownership in the city of Rochester. She wants to expand the homeownership tax breaks that the city currently offers in downtown Rochester to all city neighborhoods.
That program, called Core Housing Owner Incentive Exemption (CHOICE), has been successful in recent years at turning the once-desolate downtown Rochester into an area where people actually live. According to Gary Kirkmire of Neighborhood and Business Development, CHOICE offers a significant tax incentive to people who build homes and live in them, encouraging growth through owner-occupancies and construction in residential neighborhoods.
The incentive is a nine-year declining tax exemption on city, school, and county property taxes. In year one the exemption starts at 90% and is 10% by year nine. There are no discounts thereafter, but this steep cut on property taxes could be very helpful for new homeowners. Although the vast majority of American employees pay income taxes, which account for about half of federal revenue, the additional burden of property taxes is often what disrupts the dream of homeownership for many. Interested participants can claim the exemptions for new owner-occupied, market-rate housing construction or renovation.
For 24% of recent home buyers, the primary reason for the recent home purchase was a desire to own a home, while 9% purchased due to a job-related relocation or move, and 8% bought for the desire to be in a better area or a change in family situation. Warren hopes that the structure of this new incentive will help close the gap between the assessed property values in various city neighborhoods and the cost of new construction.
“We have people who want to live, work and play in our city and we want to give them that opportunity and giving them that opportunity to actually build and design their home the way that they want, to design it on some of the land that we have available in many of our neighborhoods,” said Warren.
Imagine Monroe, a local industrial development agency, administers the tax agreement. The city is still seeking approval from Imagine Monroe to expand CHOICE to other neighborhoods in Rochester. If approved, the program would allow for single-family homes — the median of which is about 2,386 square feet — and two-family homes that are owner-occupied. Homeowners can even combine CHOICE with other incentive programs. According to Kirkmire, developers such as Habitat for Humanity and Greater Rochester Housing Partnership can take advantage of the program as well.
It’s important to note that studies show that the average amount it takes to sell a house in the U.S. is around $15,200. The city’s plan could also open the door to new housing options, including tiny houses. Down state, specially in Suffolk County, the median home price is $415,000. Records show that these homes would likely be most appealing to empty nesters and millennials. While empty nesters may see the draw in tiny houses in their ability to downsize, millennials are looking to grow financially, with about 96% of millennial investors interested in making a real estate investment. A tiny house offers an affordable option while still giving millennial investors a viable piece of real estate.
Despite the city’s insistence that CHOICE is a successful program, some critics think otherwise. Democratic City Council candidate Mary Lupien has seen CHOICE’s impact and believes that it favors the wealthy. Lupien says that the focus on middle and high-income neighborhoods is a focus on development that doesn’t need financial support. She instead points to the many vacant lots in Rochester that need investment.
“If it is not targeted, the CHOICE program will further gentrification and increase inequality,” Lupien said in a joint statement released by her and Rachel Barnhart, Democratic nominee for Monroe County legislator.
Barnhart has said that the majority of people who will apply for the tax break would have built anyway. According to Barnhardt, the break wouldn’t encourage homeownership for renters who occupy some of the 42.58 million housing units in the United States, but simply help the wealthy build homes they would have built anyways. She points to the new builds on East Avenue and Park Avenue that have happened in the last decade without assistance from CHOICE.
Lupien believes that focusing on other programs in which construction is already subsidized could help more low-income residents get into homeownership. As the United States is the second largest construction market in the world and continues to see growth, the price of new home construction is often beyond the budgets of low-income residents. If a program subsidizes the cost of construction, these residents could more often afford becoming homeowners. Lupien sees this outcome as a huge step for the Rochester community.
In the face of these criticisms, Kirkmire counters that low-income neighborhoods would not be shut out because market-rate prices would be proportionate to the area. He maintains that if the program helps develop all 600 vacant lots in the city, all of the city’s residents would be able to benefit.
City Council still needs to approve the CHOICE expansion proposal before it goes into effect. The public will be able to give input on the proposal as well.
The summer festival season in Rochester continues this weekend with the 43rd edition of the Park Ave Summer Art Fest on Saturday, Aug 3 from 10a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday, Aug 4. from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. This annual celebration of arts and culture stretches for a mile and a quarter along Park Avenue from Alexander Street to Culver Road. Every year, this part of the picturesque Park Avenue neighborhood transforms into a mecca of shopping and entertainment. Better yet, admission is completely free.
Over 350 artists, exhibitors, and craftspeople from the U.S. and Canada set up between the curb and sidewalk. With more than 40 festival food favorites adding to the already culinary-rich landscape of Park Avenue, you can easily indulge in the $7.99 billion U.S. food and drink industry. As festival-goers flood Park Avenue to visit each booth, eat as much food as possible, and go to the stages that have a rotating schedule of musicians, the street closes to vehicular traffic.
It’s important note if you’re considering setting up a shot at any festival in the future, you need to properly advertising throughout the event. Full priced merchandise performed 18% better with signage than without. To avoid any confusion when you arrive at the festival, let’s run through the arts and entertainment that you can’t miss and take a look at how they’re handling parking and safety.
Arts
The global art market was valued at almost $64 billion in 2017. The focal point of Park Ave Fest is its mass celebration of the creative spirits local to the Rochester area. This year is no different. Whether you’re looking for one-of-a-kind pieces to give to your loved ones at the holidays or to decorate your own home, you won’t lack for choice at Park Ave Fest. There will be booths selling:
Sculptures
Pieces crafted from wood
Paintings
Ceramics
Body care products
Drawings
Fiber accessories, apparel, and crafts
Jewelry
Glasswork
Photography
And much more!
The best part of shopping at Park Ave Fest is that you’re able to interact with the artisan you’re supporting. Many of the booths are run by women-owned businesses and while they may not be among the percentage of female CEOs in Fortune 500 companies who made history by topping 5% for the first time in 2017, these hard-working women deserve your support. By buying from them, and all of the other deserving artisans, you’ll be helping real families.
Music and Entertainment
To break up your day of perusing, the organizers of Park Ave Fest have crafted a lineup of musicians to fill every hour of the two-day festival. There will be three stages along the length of Park Avenue and the first bands go on at 10:15 in the morning. At the east end of the festival, there will be the Alexander Stage on the corner of Alexander Street and Park. In the center of the festivities is the Oxford Stage on the corner of Park and Oxford Street. The third stage will be the Somerton Stage at the west end of Park Avenue between Somerton Street and Culver Road.
As a festival built for families, there will be a Kids Park designed to entertain the little ones. This shady tree-lined park will be on the Park Avenue side of the Rochester Museum & Science Center. Additionally, there are all kinds of delecious meals to be enjoyed across Park Ave. Americans consume more chicken than anyone else in the world. In fact, it’s the number one protein consumed in the United States. There will be plenty of tasty chicken during the festival, for sure!
Kids can enjoy a wide variety of activities including bounce houses, Bristol Mountain Aerial Adventure, a Euro Bungee attraction, and a rock-climbing wall. While 45% of Americans have trouble falling asleep, your kids will have no problem drifting off the dreamland after a day filled with these fun activities. To further ensure you tire out the tykes, there will be additional bounce houses, obstacle courses, and other interactive inflatables for young festival-goers in the 7-Eleven parking lot near the corner of Park Avenue and Berkley Street.
Parking and Street Closures
To get to the festivities, you’ll need to know a bit about where you can park and what roads will not be accessible. Road closures during big events like this are essential in preventing car accidents, which injure 3 million people every year in the United States. Luckily, the only road closure will be where the festival is setting up. Between Alexander Street and Culver Road, Park Avenue will be closed from 9 a.m. until 7 p.m. on Aug 3 and from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Aug 4.
Parking will be available on one side of the side streets in the Park Avenue neighborhood. As these spots will be in high demand, the Greek Orthodox Church of Annunciation located at 962 East Ave is offering off-street parking for $5 per car.
Free parking will be available behind Gleason Works on University Avenue and at Monroe Square on Monroe Avenue. To transport you from these free lots to the festival, there will be roundtrip shuttle service for $3 that runs throughout the day. The shuttle is accessible for wheelchairs and there will also be a limited number of handicap parking spots available at Parkleigh, located on the corner of Park Avenue and Goodman Street.
For general information on the festival when you’re there, you can go to the Festival Office just west of Oxford Street.
There will also be first-aid service available next to the 7-Eleven parking lot. If you feel ill during the festival, don’t hesitate to visit the first-aid tent or go to an urgent care center nearby, which can often provide expert medical treatment with wait times of 30 minutes or less. Anyone who sees suspicious activity during the festival or becomes separated from their child should seek the help of Rochester Police Officers, who will be on patrol throughout the festival, or Festival Block Captains who will be wearing light blue polo shirts and bright yellow messenger bags.
With a sunny weather forecast, it’s sure to be the perfect weekend for Park Ave Fest. Step out of your homes and give your HVAC systems a break from keeping you cool by stopping by the festival this Saturday or Sunday. You’ll eat delicious food, hear wonderful music, discover new artists, and make memories that will last for years to come.
There’s a lot to look forward to this weekend in Upstate New York; between the Rochester Pride Parade and the Ithaca Grassroots festival, we’re planning on spending a lot of time outside. Unfortunately, the heat might try to ruin your summer fun as temperatures soar into the 100s.
The Atlantic hurricane season officially runs from June 1 through November 30 each year. During those months, some U.S. city residents have to constantly worry about storms ruining their livlihood. Rochesterians, on the other hand, don’t have to worry about hurricanes, but they do need to watchout for extremely high temperatures. The heat and humidity are expected to be so bad that Rochester City Mayor Lovely Warren has officially announced a heat emergency for Friday and Saturday, making it the third excessive heat warning ever issued for the region.
According to weather reports, the heat index is supposed to reach a high of 108 degrees Fahrenheit in some locations. The last time we experienced such temperature highs was back in 1936.
In light of the new warning, the city’s emergency plan is preparing public buildings to provide relief from the heat. The Democrat and Chronicle notes that some pool hours will be extended, libraries will serve as cooling centers, and hydrants will be opened to beat the heat.
While we can expect a few spotty showers throughout the region, these cooling events won’t be enough to offer relief from sweltering temperatures.
Local area doctors note that the heat can be particularly damaging for older people and those with compromised immune systems.
“For people who are elderly or have underlying medical problems… the consequences can be more severe. The heat can cause their medical conditions to be exacerbated or for them to become more ill in a very rapid manner,” explains Dr. Mike Kamali who serves as the chair of the URMC Department of Emergency Medicine.
Kamali recommends that people stay in air-conditioned locations as much as possible this weekend, especially if you’re out and about. It might also be worth investing in a new HVAC system for your home; the average house has nearly doubled in size since the 1950s, making it more difficult to keep cool. However, energy-efficient models have aided in keeping cool air in and hot air out.
While these increasingly high temperatures might not be enough to make you one of the 45 million people who move each year, it’s certainly enough to make you stay in your Rochester home. But if you’re planning on camping, attending Rochester Pride, or visiting Grassroots, you can follow these helpful to stay cool.
Drink plenty of water
This point might seem obvious, but its importance bears repeating: without enough water, you might find yourself suffering from heatstroke or worse. It’s recommended that you drink at least two liters of water each day, but you’ll need to drink even more in extreme heat to replenish the water that your body loses through sweat.
“When you start to feel hot, you start to sweat,” continues Kamali. “Your body is trying to get rid of excess heat and usually, you can do that as long as you’re staying hydrated and making attempts to cool yourself off.”
Bring a water bottle with you wherever you go and try to heat hydrating, healthy foods throughout the day. These include grapes, watermelon, and other fruits with high water content. It’s recommended that you already eat five servings of vegetables each day, so try to avoid particularly salty or heavy foods when you’re spending time outside. Keep in mind that if you’re thirsty, you’re already dehydrated. Also, use this time to enjoy some delecious frozen treats. It takes 50 licks to finish a single scoop of ice cream — so take your time and stay cool.
Stay out of the sun
Planning a party involves organizing hundreds of details, from invitations to decorations, food and activities. Whether you’re plannig a few parties this summer or not, it’s best to find shade whenever possible, whether that means idling under a tree or wearing an oversized hat. Consider getting a few extra fans and setting up some large tengs for added shade. This will help keep you cooler and prevent the possibility of sunburn.
Dress in loose-fitting clothing
While you might not be able to access air conditioning in the middle of the Pride parade, it’s vital that you do whatever you can to stay cool. One way to do that is by wearing, light, loose-fitting clothing. Light colors will help reflect the heat from your body while the loose fit will help wind cool your skin. You can also try wetting your clothing to stay cooler since the damp patches will catch the wind and further cool you down.
Know the signs of heatstroke
The young and elderly are at particularly high risk for heatstroke and heat exhaustion. Here are the symptoms you should watch out for when you’re worried a loved one is suffering from the heat:
Confusion
Slurred speech
Nausea and dizziness
Very hot, dry skin or profuse sweating
Seizures
Loss of consciousness
Go swimming
If you’re spending too much time in the sun, try to get to a pool or other body of water after your festival. Pools with glass finishes maintain their integrity indefinitely, making this a great option for apartment buildings, public watering holes, or your local gym. If you’re by the lake, don’t hesitate to take a dip. Just be sure to layer on the sunscreen to prevent sunburn.
Stay safe
Remember that the Pride Parade starts at 1 PM on Saturday, right when the sun is at its peak. If you have to venture outdoors this weekend, try following these tips to stay safe. Rochester may be under a heat warning, but that doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice your summer fun.
On average, Americans move once every five to seven years. It can be difficult to find a new home in a neighborhood you like and at a price that won’t break the bank. Luckily, you can’t go wrong with moving to Rochester.
Rochester sits atop Realtor.com’s list of the hottest real estate markets, so how can the emerging generation take advantage of it?
In May, the real estate listing service released the data. It ranked markets based on where homes sell in the least amount of time and where the site gets the most listing views. In other words, Realtor.com ranks markets based on how fast homes sell and how many searches there are in that particular market.
According to the site’s data, the median days that a home in Rochester, NY sits on the market is a measly 31. In other words, the typical home will sell in about a month. In other parts of the United States, it’s far different. It’s fairly average to see a house stay on the market for six to twelve months in most places.
All markets are different but, on average, you’re going to pay five-to-six percent of the sale price to your Realtor. So, for example, if you sell your house for $300,000, you’ll have to pay a commission of around $18,000.
While the news is glad tidings, does it matter to Millennials?
To qualify for most loans, you need to keep your credit score above 700, with a score of 619 on the FICO score and lower being qualified as “bad.” According to the Federal Reserve reports, 90% of mortgages taken out in 2019’s first quarter were by people who had credit scores of at least 650, while 75% had a score of 700 or higher.
Millennials account for around 34% of home buyers. This generation of those between the ages of 23 and 38 have had a trying path towards financial wellness, having had to deal with crushing student loan debt and the unfortunate circumstance of dealing with the 2008 economic crisis’s fallout. Consequently, Millennials have an average FICO score of only 665, according to Experian.
It gets worse. Experian also reports that Millennials have an average credit card balance of $5,231, carry an average student loan debt of $34,770, and have a total debt of $80,666 and up on average.
The upshot is that houses in Rochester cost less than the average price of a home. The Huffington Post reports that the median home price is $188,900. According to the Greater Rochester Association of Realtors, the region’s median sale price is $140,000.
Day by day, technology grows. Back in 2016, there were over 3.5 billion internet users. Over just three years, that number has increased to 4.33 billion. Not only is technological growth shown in internet usage, but in vehicles as well. In recent years, more and more consumer electric vehicles have been introduced and developed. With more than two dozen models now commercially available, some 800,000 Americans have made the switch to driving electric. These unique vehicles will supposedly help reduce fossil fuel consumption and curb carbon emissions over time. Keep in mind, if you plan on going off-roading, you’re going to need certain tires. There are four main types of off-road tires: all-terrain, mud-terrain, snow/winter, and sand. However, is this really the case? What are the benefits of driving electric? Like any vehicle choice, electric cars come with a series of pros and cons.
No Need For Gasoline
When driving an electric car, there’s no need to stop to fill up your tank. When you’re anticipating a drive, simply plug in your car and get ready to go. This ultimately results in reduced carbon emissions from burning gasoline. However, you’ll need to know in advance when you’re planning a trip, since fueling an electric car takes longer than just adding a few more gallons of gas to your tank. Additionally, while you’ll still be saving money by not paying for gas, expect your electricity bill to climb a bit. One thousand watt-hours equals 1 kilowatt-hour. Your utility bill usually shows what you are charged for the kilowatt-hours you use. More than likely, you’ll see increased usage as a result of charging your electric vehicle at home.
High Performance, Low Maintenance
One of the best benefits of switching to an electric vehicle is the changes it will make to your vehicle maintenance schedule. Electric cars tend to require less maintenance than their hybrid or traditional counterparts. Why? In traditional cars, you have much more to worry about, particularly when it comes to caring for the engine and selecting the right oil. According to a recent survey, 89% of lubrication professionals consider an oil’s viscosity index when selecting a lubricant.
However, because electric cars operate differently, you won’t need to worry about changing the oil in your car’s engine ever again. Likewise, electric cars tend to be easier on the brake pads as well. If you’re looking for a car with low impact that’s easy to maintain, an electric vehicle could be a good match for you.
All Energy From Somewhere
While your car might not use gasoline anymore, the electricity your car now uses has to come from somewhere. While many people don’t think about the source of their electricity on a regular basis, not all electricity is necessarily renewable. Forests are often felled for the purpose of clearing space for generating electricity. Since hardwood trees can take upwards of twenty years or more to reach maturity, that clearing alone has a significant impact on the environment. If you want your electric car to really help with reducing emissions, you’ll have to make sure your home’s electricity is coming from a renewable source.
Not So Cost-Friendly
By value, ocean vessels carry 53% and 38% of U.S. imports and exports, respectively. In 2018, the U.S. imported $325.3 million worth of electric vehicles — the 10th most across the globe. Driving electric might mean you don’t have to pay for gas anymore, but that cost-saving advantage comes at a price. Electric vehicles, generally speaking, still tend to be a bit more expensive than traditional cars. Additionally, because these cars are still so new, it’s much more difficult to find one to purchase used. If going electric is on your to-do list but still outside your budget, you may want to consider waiting a few years. As these cars advance further, more affordable options will start to become available.
All vehicles have their pros and cons, but this is especially true for new electric vehicles. While they might be great for some, they’re not always the best choice for everyone. Can you see yourself purchasing an electric car sometime in the near future, or is this environmental trend just a flash in the pan?
Rochester resident Cindy Dudak experienced the unique sadness that comes with a beloved pet going missing when her pet bird Missy, a conure parrot, flew out of their Seneca Towers apartment. Dudak has also now experienced the wonderful happiness and sense of relief that comes with that same pet returning home. What’s strange about this story is that these two feelings happened over a year apart.
On April 12, 2018, Dudak accidentally left the apartment’s sliding balcony door open for a just moment. In that sliver of time, Missy took the chance to spread her wings and got outside. A gust of wind swept her up, depositing the parrot into a nearby tree. Before Dudak could successfully coax her back inside, two larger birds chased Missy off of her perch and away from her home.
“There were no leaves on the tree, so she was like a sitting duck. If I were younger, I would have climbed the tree myself,” said Dudak, 66.
Short of scaling that tree, Dudak did everything she possibly could to get Missy back home. She walked around the neighborhood with her carrier and favorite bell-adorned toys, hoping the parrot would hear the familiar ringing and come back to her. She then scouted the area by bike and car, but to no avail.
Dudak contacted lost-pet organizations in the city and surrounding suburbs to post information about her missing bird. She got in touch with the Humane Society of Greater Rochester at Lollypop Farm and made sure notices about Missy were posted to the Lollypop Spotters Facebook page. According to the Social Media Marketing Industry Report, nearly two-thirds of marketers cited Facebook as the most important social platform.After a couple of weeks, Dudak realized how much stress the search was putting on her body and knew she had to slow down.
Despite the weeks and months that were passing, Dudak didn’t stop praying for Missy’s safety. She also held on to Missy’s cage, toys, and perches around the apartment. Perches allow a conure parrot to have the run of an apartment, whether that apartment falls in the median rent of $1,492 per month or well above or below it. According to Lollypop spokesperson Ashley Zeh, parrots are happiest when they can spread their wings and fly around. Dudak’s perches ensured Missy could do this, but she was apparently looking for a grander adventure.
That adventure ended on June 7, 2019 when Missy flew into a building under construction. Thankfully, the construction project hadn’t gotten around to installing energy efficient windows, which lower energy bills by 7% to 15% when compared to standard windows. Without those money-saving panes in place, Missy was able to sail in through a fourth-floor window.
She found a new perch on a construction worker’s shoulder and refused to leave it. The building this unsuspecting construction worker was in was less than two miles from Seneca Towers.
Luckily, Dudak wasn’t one of the 35.5. million Americans who move every year. She had stayed put, stayed hopeful, and Missy had returned home. The two were reunited less than 24 hours later after Dudak received a long-awaited email. A worker at Birds Unlimited, a pet store in Penfield Dudak had contacted when Missy initially went missing, had seen a post on the Lollypop Spotters page about a conure that had been turned into the Perinton shelter. Dudak checked the post and started crying when she saw the parrot looked just like Missy.
When Dudak arrived at the shelter, they confirmed that the band number on the found parrot matched Missy’s and the year-long separation between pet and owner ended. But history has shown us that time is relative, as when French revolutionaries tried to institute a 10-hour clock after the French Revolution. Just like the revolutionaries, time certainly seemed to have no meaning for Missy and Dudak, as the two were thick as thieves again almost immediately.
“She came right over to me, and I was so happy,” Dudak said.
Zeh has said that she cannot remember a pet bird being found after going missing for such a long time, making Missy’s story quite unique. Although a recent study has found that dozens of parrot species typically kept as pets are now living in the wild in states across the Northeast and Midwest, many were shocked that Missy survived the harsj Rochester winter on her own. After all, Missy’s species of parrot is native to the forests of South America and as a pet bird she shouldn’t have been accustomed to foraging for her own food.
Yet despite all odds, Dudak has her beloved Missy back in their Seneca Towers apartment. Dudak now knows to never give up hope on a lost pet and, hopefully, to never leave a balcony door open with an adventurous parrot inside who likes to spread her wings.
June is unofficially recognized in the United States as LGBT Pride Month, even if Rochester typically waits until July for Pride Week. This year, however, is sure to have a Pride Month to remember, as 2019 marks the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall uprising that led to increased recognition and rights for LGBT people across the nation. However you plan to get involved this year, use these tips to make sure you’re celebrating Pride Month respectfully and supporting the LGBT community appropriately.
Make Mindful Merchandise Choices
Many companies and organizations have started to pick up on Pride Month as a commercially viable opportunity, meaning you’re likely to start seeing rainbow products on shelves everywhere. However, not everything with a rainbow on it means your money is supporting the LGBT community. The U.S. apparel market is expected to grow to an estimated value of $385 billion by 2025, and any apparel company with a good marketing team is going to start putting rainbows on their clothing if they notice it sells better around Pride Month. Whenever possible, try to support your local, smaller, LGBT-owned stores; you’ll be helping individual creators directly this way.
Give What You Can
While some progress has been made since the Stonewall uprising fifty years ago, many LGBT people still face discrimination and struggle on a regular basis. Pride Month is an excellent opportunity to support non-profit organizations that help improve life for the LGBT community and provide much-needed resources. You might even find yourself wanting to give more often; 55% of those who engage with nonprofits via social media have been inspired to take further action.
Not all organizations will require the same sorts of donations or support. Check with local organizations like the Out Alliance to see what donations are needed. Some will prefer physical items like food or clothing, while others collect money to help support LGBT families directly. Surrogacy for gay men typically costs anywhere between $100,000 and $200,000, and many look for financial support from local non-profits that you can help support with your donations.
Avoid Gatekeeping
If you plan on attending one of the many Pride Month events taking place over the next few weeks, either as part of the community or as an ally, remember that not everyone in the LGBT community is able to be open about that part of their life. What might look initially like a straight couple might not be, or they may be there to support a loved one. Pride events are intended to be supportive for all members of the community regardless of whether they can safely be out or not; make sure you’re doing what you can to make sure everyone feels welcome.
Many people see Pride Month as an opportunity to have fun, celebrate, and attend events decked out in rainbows. However, Pride Month exists for a reason, and on the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall uprising, it’s important to remember why people are celebrating. Enjoy Pride Month responsibly, and be sure to support your local organizations and businesses while celebrating.
The city of Rochester is gearing up for a few major construction projects that are all looking to change its current landscape and affordability. One program that will shift the housing market in Rochester is the Mission-Based Affordable Housing Partnership.
New York State Attorney General Letitia James came to Rochester on May 18 to announce to program. According to the announcement, the program will grant up to $1.4 million to mission-based organizations that are looking to develop available land into affordable housing. Nonprofit civic institutions will also be eligible for the grant. This program will extend beyond Rochester into Erie county as well as areas of Central New York and the Capital Region.
When James visited earlier in the month, she met with local political and faith leaders at F.I.G.H.T Village, a champion of affordable housing in Rochester led by Minister Clifford Florence. The organization has been pushing for affordable housing in Rochester since the 1960s. Its challenges lie in combatting the placement of low-income families in cheap but old homes that present dangers such as lead paint, which is still present in about 57 million homes in the United States.
“We’re fighting with racism, we’re fighting with the lack of jobs, affordable housing, education. So the issues are the same as they were 50 years ago, but we have to have the will to do what it takes to change it,” Florence said.
With the new partnership, organizations like F.I.G.H.T will finally be able to give Rochester residents a permanent solution for stable and economical housing. Too often, homeowners facing financial troubles turn to temporary fixes such as hard money loans, which typically have a loan-to-value ratio in the 60% to 70% range. Now F.I.G.H.T will be able to give residents another option by working with trustworthy developers. These professionals can help guide organizations through the construction processes, which are often long and complicated. For instance, unlike traditional mudjacking where a minimum waiting period of 24 hours is necessary, builders can use raised concrete right away.
A typical family spends about a third of its annual heating and cooling budget — roughly $350 — on air that leaks into or out of the house through unintended gaps and cracks.Since there are around 17 million shipping containers in the world, and only 6 million of these in use — approximately 11 million shipping containers are currently unused and could be converted into affordable homes for people all over the United States.
The Flower City Habitat for Humanity and the Autism Council of Rochester are also partnering to bring housing for an underserved community in the city. The two organizations plan to develop autism-friendly homes for families that have children with autism.
Not only will the program get more families closer to being homeowners, the number of which in the country is down to 63.4% from 69% in 2004, but it will also provide the space and modifications that children with autism need.
Objects such as compression swings can help balance the behavior and emotions of children with autism, but they don’t fit very easily into a two-bedroom apartment. The housing will also include sound and light sensitivity and a stockade fence in the backyard that measures six to eight feet high to ensure kids don’t wander into the streets while they play.
The final piece of news in Rochester construction is the proposed Rochester 2034 comprehensive plan. This plan aims to increase density and create more varied uses for certain city arterials. According to city officials, the proposal won’t result in many dramatic changes, but will instead reinforce or restore the downtown area’s historic form and character.
The rezoning efforts would aim to balance the stark differences in poverty rates, education levels, unemployment, minority population share, and more seen between the neighborhoods with the highest and lowest demands. In the southeast and crescent, two areas that are polar opposites to one another, two-thirds of residences are rentals. This is higher than the citywide average and with 33% of renters moving every year, there isn’t much permanency in either of these zones.
No official zoning changes are underway now, but they will go be brought to the neighborhoods and go through normal approvals when it comes time.
The plan will also focus on street-level retail around the East End area, Sibley Square, and Midtown. Establishments like local restaurants and independent coffee shops, which have about $12 billion in annual sales, will help guide the rezoning process in these areas.
The proposal is both more flexible in regulations regarding minimum lot sizes and parking and more adamant about higher standards for the design of mixed-use and multi-family building projects. Although no details of the plan are definite quite yet, the city will hire a consultant to review its zoning code and map once the plan is adopted.
Even though most people know Rochester for Kodak or its signature garbage plate, more people have started to take note of Rochester’s thriving arts scene. From new featured art at the Memorial Art Gallery to the local artists showcasing their skills at its countless festivals each year, folks from across the state have indulged in the local art for which Rochester is known.
Now that the Lilac Festival has wrapped up for the season, it’s time to set our sights on the next upcoming Rochester-based event: the Corn Hill Arts Festival.
This annual event will be entering its 51st year as a Rochester staple event. Taking place in the Corn Hill district, hundreds of craft exhibitors and food vendors will peddle the best art and grub that Rochester has to offer.
This year, more than 325 artists are expected to line up and down nine streets to present and sell their best work starting on July 13.
But if you’re an up-and-comer, don’t worry: the festival will also feature its 11th annual display of the Emerging Artists Expo. This exposition is designed to celebrate emerging talent in young artists aged 15 through 25. The event will be taking applications until May 31, so be sure to submit your work before the deadline in only a few days.
The Emerging Artists Expo is a great opportunity for rising artists to showcase their work and begin interacting with the local community. Those who are accepted to present at the event will be given a 10 ft by 10 ft booth on Eagle street, giving them ample space to feature art and compete for a cash prize at the end of the festival.
“The Corn Hill Arts Festival is a perfect opportunity for young, emerging artists throughout Rochester to showcase their talents and highlight their impact on the community,” notes Denise Cook, the CEO and director for MVP Health Care.
If you’re one of the many artists attending the event, whether new or old, here are some of the top tips you can use to prepare your exhibit for the festival.
Consider the size of your booth
Artists will be given a booth that measures around 100 square feet. This will include any tables, staging, or other displays you want to incorporate in this space. The size is akin to those that you would see in trade shows. But while there are more than 252 convention centers for trade shows across the country, there’s only one Corn Hill Arts Festival. To make an impact with this crowd, you’ll need to use your space dynamically.
Your first step should be buying a tent to shield your guests and art from the sun and rain. This will protect your art from the glare of the hot sun and the sporadic rain that Rochester handles on a daily basis. While you might think your tent detracts from your booth’s aesthetic, this is a valuable tool for many artists. Try pinning your artwork on the walls of your tent and hanging dangling pieces, like wind chimes or jewelry, from its connecting rods. This will create an interactive space for your customers.
Create emphasis on certain pieces
While most artists typically showcase their art on a few tables, you can bring as many tools and displays as you want for your tent. This includes stacking boxes, drawers, shelves, and more. Though you shouldn’t make your tent look too cluttered, you can utilize these unique components to feature more of your artwork than you ever thought possible.
You can add points of emphasis in your booth by displaying art at multiple levels to highlight statement art pieces and organize like-groups. Many artists will organize their space through a number of different categories, including:
Color
Style
Medium
Collection
Price
Other artists may even include cultural sections that highlight their personal backgrounds. This offers a unique opportunity for the artist to make connections with buyers. For example, artists showcasing traditional Mexican art may feature a collection of unique pieces for a higher price. It’s estimated that Mexican-Americans make up the largest population of immigrants in the United States at 26%.
Use lighting
Even though the Corn Hill Arts Festival starts in sunny July, you might still need great lighting for your tent on dreary days. Try accenting your tent with stylish string lights or bright LED lights so your guests can still view your work regardless of the weather outside. These eco-friendly options shine brighter than incandescent lights and are a top choice for businesses looking to utilize signage and more. It’s no wonder LEDs are estimated to receive 53% of the global market for lighting. Even if attendance is low because of the rain, you can be sure that any attendee will be able to check out your art.
Add an interactive component
There will be countless vendors showcasing similar products at the festival. When you want your booth to stand out, you need to utilize any tactic you have at your disposal. One of the most simple ways to encourage people to visit your booth is by adding an interactive component.
This can be as simple or as big as you want. Many tradeshow exhibitors and vendors find that fishbowl lotteries are an easy way to pull a crowd. Those who are acquainted with the Corn Hill Arts Festival might even include a scavenger hunt associated with the event or other forms of group entertainment. The sky is the limit when it comes to showcasing your booth’s creativity!
Use printing
Even if your booth showcases the most beautiful, unique pieces of art, you may not make sales if your customers don’t know your name. When you’re setting up your booth, it’s vital that you invest in great signage to display your name or the name of your company. In fact, it’s estimated that half of all customers who patron a business — or in this case, your exhibit — entered because of its signage.
You should also be sure to include business cards for your customers. Even if someone doesn’t buy a piece of art today, that doesn’t mean they aren’t interested. Offer quality business cards with your contact information, including your social media handles. This will ensure anyone who comes to your booth will be able to find you later. They may even recommend you to their friends, potentially doubling your reach.
With only a month and some change to spare, it’s time to start planning. These are just some of the ways you can stand out at this year’s Corn Hill Arts Festival.
Warmer weather is finally starting to make an appearance in the city of Rochester and that can only mean one thing. Festival season is upon us.
To kick off a season filled with fun festivals for adults and kids alike, we have the 121st Rochester Lilac Festival. This iconically Rochester festival welcomes spring like no other event in the city with its array of fragrant blooms, lineup of performers, and gathering of food vendors. This year, the festival begins today, May 10, and runs through May 19. The festival grounds in Highland Park will be open from 10:30 in the morning until 8:30 at night every day in that period. Since roughly 40% of brides and grooms-to-be are looking for unusual venues that better reflect their personality — Highland Park could be the perfect location, so keep an eye out!
Now that we have the mundane details out of the way, let’s talk about the fun stuff. Read on to find out which events you have to go to and the tasty treats you can’t miss.
Fantastic Flowers
One of the biggest draws for the Lilac Festival is right in the name: the lilacs. With about 1,200 plants featuring over 500 varieties of lilacs, anyone coming for the beautiful bushes won’t be disappointed. According to Mark Quinn, superintendent of horticulture for Monroe County Parks, the lilac shrubs are doing wonderfully and the warming temperatures are helping them bloom on time.
There will be plenty of other floral features in Highland Park’s 150 acres of gardens as well. The park’s entrance at South Avenue and Reservoir Drive is home to an annual bloom of tulips, giving visitors a rainbow of colorful flora. You’ll also see plenty of blossoming magnolia trees, azaleas, and pansies while you walk through the park. Whether you’re a member of older generations that dominate gardening participation at 35% or of the younger generations that are showing an increasing interest in the green-thumbed hobby, you’re sure to love these blooms.
Exciting Entertainment
A festival wouldn’t be a festival without entertainment that gets you moving and grooving. This year’s Lilac Festival has 70 acts throughout the 10-day run that perform from early in the day until after the sun goes down. The performers are a mix of local and touring musicians, including Yonder Mountain String Band, Nobody’s Marigold, Soul Passenger, and many more. To learn about these artists and the other talented performers participating this year, contribute to Google’s 63,000 searches per second and look up the festival’s lineup for a full schedule.
For those looking for some adult-specific fun, the Special Events Tent will be hosting a couple of alcohol-themed events throughout the festival. There are more than 7,700 wineries across the country, but a select 36 of those local to the Upstate area will make an appearance in the tent on Saturday, May 11 at the Wine Tasting Expo. On the following Saturday, May 18, the tent will house a Craft Beer Expo to showcase the area’s beloved brewmasters.
Don’t worry, the kids won’t be left out of the festival fun. The annual Lilac Parade will be held on Saturday, May 11 and feature over 2,500 participants that range from dancers and costumed characters to marching bands and community organizations. On May 13 and 14, the beloved children’s character Arthur will make an appearance to read books and take photos with the little ones.
Tasty Treats
With over 40 food and drink vendors, you would probably need all 10 days to eat your way through the festival. One of the surest places to start your festival food tour is with a famous garbage plate from Nick Tahou’s. The Bacon Dog stand will be offering an equally indulgent Peanut Butter and Spicy Jelly Bacon Dog for anyone who’s had their fill of garbage plates over the years.
But who’s really tired of garbage plates? Certainly not us. For dessert, you can try the Rochester Garbage Apple from the NY Apple Factory. This homemade caramel apple is covered with leftover toppings from their other tasty apples, resulting in the same type of delicious hodgepodge that makes a garbage plate. With all of this tasty sugar, be sure to take care of your chompers and follow the recommended twice-a-day brushing. Otherwise, you might be cursing the festival for your resulting toothache and trip to your local dentist.
Dental issues aside, there’s even more food to enjoy at this year’s Lilac Festival. If you’re a part of the 90% of U.S. households that regularly indulge in a sweet, frozen treat and want to do the same at the festival, keep an eye out for a few key vendors and food trucks. Frozen Flavors will have a stand of their own and Kona Ice will be serving their colorful shaved ice this year.
The possibilities for fun are practically endless at the Lilac Festival. Whether you hop from one live performance to another or decide to sample every bit of food from the local vendors, you’re sure to make memories that will last a lifetime. Or at least until next year’s festival.
Tattoos are becoming more and more popular every year, with 47% of Millennials and 36% of Gen Xers saying they have at least one tattoo. In total, that turns out to be 45 million Americans with ink. This turns out If you have yet to get your first tattoo, your best chance might be quickly approaching, as local tattoo shop Love Hate Tattoo hosts the 11th annual Roc City Tattoo Expo. The expo features a variety of local and visiting tattoo artists, piercers, vendors, and more, and will take place between April 26th and 28th this year.
Eleven Years And Counting
Each year the popular expo has taken place, more and more visitors have stopped by to witness impressive body artists at work or get a piece done themselves. The expo has featured over 400 artists and gathered over 3,000 guests in previous years, and the number only continues to grow as the expo gains attention.
While conferences and expos are the most popular type of event to plan with 62.4% of organizers planning these types of events, tattoo expos like this one are less frequent. The organizer, Joseph DiProjetto of Love Hate Tattoo, has stated that he originally planned the expo eleven years ago as a way to gather some of his favorite artists. Now, the tattoo expo has grown to feature artists from as far away as Japan.
Tips For Attending
If you plan on attending the expo and getting a tattoo, it’s best to show up with a plan in mind. Many artists will have flash sheets available for quick tattoos at reasonable prices and will be accepting walk-up appointments. However, for those looking for a custom tattoo, a larger piece, or a more complex design, consider reaching out to your preferred artist in advance for an appointment. With how busy the expo is likely to be this year, this will give you a better chance at securing an appointment.
The event website features a growing list of artists who will be featured at the expo, giving you the opportunity to research their styles in advance. If you’re looking for a newer style, like the currently trending embroidery style of tattoo, be sure to ask your preferred artist in advance if they’re able to work in this style. Not every artist will be willing to try a new style in the expo setting, but it’s worth asking to get your preferred result.
More information about the Roc City Tattoo Expo can be found either on the event website or by contacting the Holiday Inn at 70 State St. Admission is $10 per day or $25 for the full weekend, and parking will be available.
Ankyloglossia is a condition present at birth that can lead to serious problems for both a child and mother. Ankyloglossia is a scary medical term that not too many people are familiar with. This condition is more commonly known, simply, as tongue-tie, which affects between 4% and 11% of newborn babies.
When tongue-tie is present, an unusually short, thick, or tight band of lingual frenulum (tissue) tethers the bottom of the child’s tongue tip to the floor of his or her mouth. Tongue-tie complications can lead to speech difficulties, challenges with other oral activities, poor oral hygiene later on in life, and all kinds of breast-feeding problems for the mother. Children with poor oral health are already three times more likely to miss school later on as a result of dental pain, and tongue-tie issues can lead to even more problems down the line.
Children should begin regular dental visits at age one. Baby teeth begin to grow around six months and since breast-feeding requires a baby to keep his or her tongue over the lower gum, the baby might chew — instead of suckle — on the nipple, leading to pain for the mother and inadequate nutrition for the baby.
In late March, a Rochester doctor was featured in PEOPLE, covering ankyloglossia, the increased amount of cases, and how it can impact breast-feeding.
“We need to have careful strategies to properly assess, manage, and discuss with parents so they can make the best decisions,” said Dr. Casey Rosen-Carole, Medical Director of Lactation Services and Programs and Assistant Professor of Pediatrics and OBGYN at the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry. “My sense is that the increased diagnosis and management of tongue-tie in the past decade is partially due to increased advocacy, increased breast-feeding rates, less willingness to ‘just bottle feed instead’ and finally, groups of physicians who will work with families and lactation consultants to treat ankyloglossia.”
Here are some common signs and symptoms of tongue-tie:
A tongue that appears notched or heart shaped when it sticks out.
Difficulty moving the tongue from side to side or reaching the upper teeth.
Trouble sticking the tongue out past the lower front teeth.
Additionally, since vaccines prevent more than 2.5 million unnecessary deaths every year, it’s important to stay in contact with medical professionals.You should visit a doctor and/or dentist if any of the following are occurring:
You’re struggling with your own tongue-tie issues.
Your baby isn’t able to properly breast feed.
A speech-language pathologist recommends getting your baby checked.
Your child (if older) complains of tongue-related issues interfering with eating, speaking, or reaching his or her back teeth.
Though only 3% of patients who visit an urgent care center need to be diverted to an emergency department, it’s recommended to visit ankyloglossia and breast-feeding medical professionals if your baby is showing signs of tongue-tie or they aren’t able to properly feed.
“We know the benefits of exclusive breast-feeding for the optimal health and well-being of babies, mothers, and communities,” Dr. Rosen-Carole said. “But each woman has her own unique goals and challenges for breast-feeding her child. My role is to provide the appropriate medical services and support to help her reach those goals.”
People of color in central New York aren’t getting a fair number of jobs in the construction industry, a local study finds. According to a new study by the Urban Jobs Task Force and the Legal Services of Central New York, there’s a major racial disparity in the New York construction industry despite people of color making up a quarter of the state population.
Dodge Data & Analytics’ 2016 Construction Outlook report predicted 6% growth, with the value of construction starts reaching an estimated $712 billion. Researchers analyzed a group of construction projects taking place in New York state including the I-690 project, the Syracuse Hancock Airport Renovations, and the Lakeview Amphitheater in Onondaga.
Researchers found that 88% of the construction workers on these projects were white. Approximately 4% of workers were black or indigenous and only a few workers were Hispanic and Asian.
“Workforces are white in Central New York and we’ve seen it driving by them,” said Andrew Croom, an attorney from Legal Services of Central New York who worked on the study. “Was I ready for how white they were? No.”
The U.S. construction industry is usually a good place for American workers to earn money. Construction projects have public money in them paid for by tax dollars, beneficiaries of government grants, or tax breaks. In 2016 alone, the construction market was worth $1,162 billion and the composite materials market is expected to reach $38 billion by 2023.
The lack of inclusivity in the industry is concerning for many reasons, but especially because it keeps impoverished New Yorkers from finding good-paying jobs. Up to 16% of Rochesterians are living in extreme poverty and 15% of those in Monroe County live below the poverty line.
“You know, living in a city that’s 50% minority and 50% white, I expected a project like I-690 that’s two blocks from my house to be represented by the city where it is,” said Croom. “And it was so far from that, that yes, I found [these] results shocking.”
Urban Jobs President Deka Dancil says there are historical reasons why many people of color aren’t working in construction. The construction of Interstate 81 caused economic and racial segregation, urban renewal, and redlining.
“[This] made the networks of minorities only be with other poor minorities,” said Dancil. “And the networks of white people, for people who had the paying jobs, [were] exposed to the construction trade. I tell you … my whole time growing up in high school, I never even heard a thing about it.”
Dancil also points out that barriers such as non-paid training, lack of transportation, and lack of childcare prevent those who are already living in poverty from getting into construction programs that could lead to higher paying jobs.
Croom says that there are ways to ensure inclusivity in construction projects. LA Metro in Los Angeles is creating workforce agreements within their PLAs and have unions in the community working together.
New York state could see more collaboration with unions and have them more actively recruit in the city with targeted training, Croom says. Syracuse Mayor Ben Walsh recently launched Syracuse Build in an effort to train those in the city who are looking to work on the I-81 project.
However, Dancil says she isn’t as optimistic after seeing years of meetings on the topic of boosting inclusivity in the construction industry. The voices of local residents need to join those of policymakers, she says.
“I think what it comes down to [is] that there has to be a big table,” says Croom, “there has to be collective action to say ‘we’re all here. We all want the same thing.’ So, we have to work together to make those policies.”
Aldi is the common brand of a German family-owned discount supermarket chain with over 10,000 stores in 20 countries. The grocery chain was founded by Karl and Theo Albrecht in 1946 when they took over their mother’s store in Essen, which had been in operation since 1913.
According to the Democrat and Chronicle, Aldi’s is making its way back to the North Winton part of Rochester. Aldi’s has tried for years to open a store in the area, but were blocked by landlords and area residents. Still, the chain has to wait for Rochester to OK the signage before they start their remodeling plans, which would involve reconstructing the former Tops Friendly Markets.
“This is where it hurts,” said Mary Coffey, a co-chairperson of the North Winton Village Association. “Although we are thrilled to death about Aldi’s, the big concern is what is it going to look like?”
North Winton residents have expressed their disappointment over how the former Tops will be remodeled. The plans involve an angled roof and a combination of aluminum and masonry for the storefront veneer. Since 50% of all customers who enter a business do so because of the signage, the visual aesthetic is crucial for both organizations and consumers alike. To put it another way, nearly 85% of people surveyed agreed or strongly agreed that signs can convey the “personality or character of the business.”
“Aldi has changed its traditional look and is going with something more modern,” added James Seitz, president of the Browncroft Neighborhood Association who opposed the original Aldi plan based on its design. “Some people have liked it, and some people think it’s too edgy for the street.”
According to Rochester City Newspaper, Flaum Management, the commercial real estate firm that owns the property, has committed to upgrading the landscaping and lighting across the plaza.
“We are committed to working with the neighborhood associations to create a property that works within the scope of the neighborhood,” said Loren Flaum, VP of finance for Flaum Management.
Local dentist Dr. Susan Bracker is taking action in the face of a national addiction crisis. She has vowed to run an opioid-free clinic in an attempt to lower the number of people who first experience the addictive drug through the prescriptions dentists give out after surgery. Of the 20.5 million Americans 12 or older that had a substance use disorder in 2015, 2 million had a substance use disorder involving prescription pain relievers and 591,000 had a substance use disorder involving heroin. Sadly, as of 2016, about 948,000 Americans reported using heroin.
When patients enter Dr. Bracker’s practice in Greece, the first thing they see is a sign on the door informing them of the change in procedure. Dr. Bracker believes that her small notice on the practice door is more than an indication of how that specific practice operates, but a greater sign of the times.
“I think this has affected so many people. There’s not a person out there who doesn’t know someone who has died from addiction,” Dr. Bracker told 13WHAM News.
Across the United States, overdoses from opioids have been increasing in men and women in most age groups. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, over 42,000 people died of overdoses from prescription or illicit opioids in 2016 alone.
It may seem like this addiction crisis would only affect those who struggle to manage longterm conditions, such as the six out of 10 baby boomers who are predicted to manage a chronic condition by 2030. However, a recent study from the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) revealed the unexpected risks that prescription opioids from dentists pose to teenagers.
Every year, dentists pull 10 million wisdom teeth from patients who range in age from 13 to 30. About 80% of these patients fill the opioid prescription they receive from their dental surgeon. According to the recent study from JAMA, almost 6% of patients who fill the initial prescription are diagnosed with opioid abuse a year later. Teenagers between the ages of 16 and 18 are among the hardest hit by the addiction.
Public health officials say that the best way to combat the crisis is to tackle the opioid prescription process, which is exactly what Dr. Bracker is doing at her practice. She is encouraging patients to turn to over-the-counter pain medication like Tylenol and Advil. According to the Journal of the American Dental Association, a review of over 460 studies showed that taking these two medications together in appropriate doses is actually more effective than opioid medication on dental pain and leads to fewer side effects. It’s crucial for medical establishments to keep deligent records of every patient — especially when it comes to prescription medications. According to the Gartner Group, 15% of all paper documents are misplaced and 7.5% are lost completely.
“I think we’ve been programmed that, unless it’s a prescription, it isn’t as good. In most of those kinds of extractions, you really don’t need it. Most kids heal really fast and easily,” says Dr. Bracker.
At Dr. Bracker’s practice, they only break their opioid-free policy in extreme cases. Even in these instances, Dr. Bracker only allows doses of the opioid medication to cover three days, well under the seven-day recommendation from the American Dental Association. When she prescribes opioids, she also educates patients on their addictive nature and advises to take them on a strictly as-needed basis.
As 99.7% of adults believe that a healthy smile is socially important, avoiding procedures that cause dental pain is nearly impossible. However, Dr. Susan Bracker has demonstrated that avoiding the use of dangerously addictive medications is entirely possible when those giving out prescriptions take control.
February is Black History Month, and this year’s celebration is a special one for Rochester residents in particular. That’s because February 2019 is also the bicentennial anniversary of famed abolitionist and author Frederick Douglass, who later made his home in the Flower City. Not only is Douglass immortalized throughout Rochester in the form of statues for all to see throughout the year, but the University of Rochester’s Frederick Douglass Institute for African and African-American Studies will partner with the school’s Rare Books, Special Collections, and Preservation library facility to showcase Douglass’s work and life.
Of course, this is not the only way Rochesterians are celebrating. Mayor Lovely A. Warren and Rochester’s Black Heritage Committee are hosting a month-long events program to pay tribute to our country’s proud black heritage. The City Hall Link Gallery hosted a special event to kick off the month with flair. Live jazz music by the Art Beaty Band could be heard as guests appreciated the artwork of 25 local African American youth and adult artists. Attendees also had the chance to sample a variety of specialty African American foods. Considering that an estimated 65% of American consumers purchased specialty foods in 2017, it’s likely the crowd left the event satisfied on several levels. The event may have passed, but the artwork will remain on display through the middle of March.
City Hall isn’t the only place you can experience incredible works of art, either. The Memorial Art Gallery also hosted a Black History Month event that included live jazz performances, art activities for children, storytelling, and even a Frederick Douglass impersonator. During February break, kids can also receive free admission to the museum with the purchase of an adult ticket. Since studies have shown that seeing a beautiful painting can increase the blood flow to the “joy response” part of the brain by 10% (the same effect you experience when you look at a loved one), this can be a wonderful cultural experience for families.
If art isn’t your thing, there are plenty of other ways to celebrate Black History Month in Rochester. There are several gospel concerts planned throughout the month, including one that will take place in the City Hall Atrium on February 27 during the lunch hour. The U of R’s Tournees Film Festival features several selections for Black History Month, as well. The celebrations put on by the city actually continues into March, with the 16th Annual Black Heritage Gala on March 9 and the Community and College Gospel Explosion on March 30. The Memorial Art Gallery will also host a multi-screen film and video installation called Lessons of the Hour, which is inspired in part by Frederick Douglass, from March through May. Residents can also do their part to support black-owned businesses during this month by checking out Embellish Boutique, Simply Simone Naturals, the Arnett Cafe, and more. Black-Owned Business Rochester is an excellent resource to learn about other establishments in the area. Should you feel like staying home and tuning into some local programming instead, WXXI will broadcast television and radio programs throughout the month that feature influential black men and women.
Clearly, there are countless ways to celebrate Black History Month in Rochester, thanks to the city’s diversity and commitment to cultural appreciation and understanding. Don’t miss an opportunity to learn more about the iconic figures that have shaped the black experience, both past and present.
Many of you have noticed our extended hiatus and have begun asking if this is the end for RocSubway. I didn’t think it would be necessary to say anything about it. But for those of you who had followed this blog like religion for so long, you deserve some closure.
A little while ago I lost my job and decided to start my own web design business instead of going back to work for someone else. That was the best decision I ever made for myself. But it also means I now work pretty much nonstop with little time for anything else. What extra time I do have, I put into growing Reconnect Rochester . Reconnect is a nonprofit organization doing amazing work to change the way transportation is viewed in Monroe County. It’s something I’m very proud of. And it began with a seed planted right here.
So I’m not going away, really. I just won’t be posting much here for the foreseeable future. In the meantime you’re welcome to join me over at Reconnect . Or perhaps I’ll run into you somewhere else, helping to make our community better in your own way.
Before I sign off, I want to say thank you.
I’ve gained much more from every RocSubway reader I’ve met (virtually and in person) than what I’ve given on these pages. Always remember there are important lessons for the future buried deep within our past. Everywhere you look in this city—behind every wall and within every person—you will find a beautiful story. We’ve only scraped the surface.
On a recent trip to New York City (my previous home) I came across a poem in the subway by former U.S. Poet Laureate, Billy Collins. I cannot think of better words to close with…
As you fly swiftly underground
with a song in your ears
or lost in the maze of a book,
remember the ones who descended here
into the mire of bedrock
to bore a hole through this granite,
to clear a passage for you
where there was only darkness and stone.
Remember as you come up into the light.
Gilbert Hunt was a trolley and bus operator for Rochester Transit Corporation (the predecessor organization of RTS) from 1907 to 1948. When Gilbert retired in 1948 the Democrat & Chronicle published a story about him and his impressive collection of Rochester transit passes which he amassed over his long career. That collection is now up for grabs…
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After the Erie Canal was rerouted south of downtown Rochester, the Rochester
Industrial & Rapid Transit Railway (the “subway”) was built in
its place as a link between the five different railroads and interurban trolley
lines that served the Rochester area. As the industrial landscape of Rochester
changed, and highways replaced the railroads, the Rochester subway gradually
became a relic of a bygone era. In 1956 the subway was abandoned and much of
its route was converted into Interstate 490 — built to connect Rochester
with the New York State Thruway (I-90). Read more about the history of the Rochester Subway.
RochesterSubway.com exists to help spark
public dialogue around how we can better connect the neighborhoods of Rochester
NY, surrounding communities, and their cultural offerings. Rochester’s
future is written in her past. Let's rediscover it.
![Subway Poem [IMAGE: RochesterSubway.com]](http://www.rochestersubway.com/images/photos/subway-poem.jpg)
![Gilbert Hunt was a trolley and bus operator with Rochester Transit Corporation for 40 years. His collection of transit passes is up for grabs. [IMAGE: From the collection of Gilbert Hunt]](http://www.rochestersubway.com/images/photos/Gilbert-Hunt-1948-02-22_D&C.jpg)
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