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Rise and shine, Rochester! Nursing leader earns national honor, chipmaking vouchers accelerate innovation, a candlelight Coldplay concert, and more. Let’s get to it!
— Cait Baker
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📰 In the news
Spotlight on nursing excellence: Rochester’s Shari McDonald, chief nursing officer at Rochester General Hospital, was named to Becker’s national Chief Nursing Officers to Know list, and the hospital has earned its fifth Magnet designation — read the full story.
Bridging research and chipmaking: Six Central New York businesses received over $350,000 through NY THRIVE vouchers to speed semiconductor innovation, with RIT and the University of Rochester among partners moving ideas to market — get all the details.
Building futures with fair pay: Carpenters Local 276 has partnered with Rochester and Western New York groups to open carpentry careers for workforce program participants, with new members already working on projects across the region — see which groups are involved.
Strategic growth strengthens capabilities: Rochester advisory firm 1RDG has joined Doeren Mayhew after a January 20, 2026 acquisition, adding new offices and broader audit, tax, and advisory services for construction, health care, and more — read the full acquisition story.
Gold continues to hold strong: After its best year in decades, gold remains near historic highs as investors look for stability amid inflation and debt. American Hartford has a free guide that covers everything you need to know. They’re also offering up to $25,000 of free silver on qualified accounts – check it out here.
Nothing prepares you for a pet emergency: I learned that the hard way after charging $10k to a credit card for life-saving surgery on my cat, Miss Stache. As soon as we got home, I signed up for Spot. It’s super affordable – and reimburses up to 90% of the bill.
Compare car insurance rates (it’s free): The average car insurance bill is roughly $175/month. I was paying more until I took a few minutes to compare quotes where I live. I ended up switching and cut my premium in half. Even if you’re not ready to switch, it’s worth checking – this comparison tool makes it easy.
*We do our best to avoid paywalled articles. If any slip through, let me know which ones and I’ll permanently remove them from our source list!
Highlights this week:
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🫶 We got your back
Unite for community impact: Registration is open for Day of Caring, the Rochester region’s largest single-day volunteer event on Thursday, May 21, organized by United Way of Greater Rochester and the Finger Lakes. Agency project registration is open now. Volunteer sign-ups open March 2 across Monroe, Ontario, Wayne, Wyoming, Livingston, and Genesee counties. See how to get involved.
Major DMV technology upgrade: Monroe County DMVs are closed today for Presidents Day and will remain closed tomorrow for a statewide system rollout. Offices also closed Friday. The shutdown supports a major tech upgrade moving about 30 million records. Services are expected to resume Wednesday, February 18, pending state approval. See what’s changing at DMV.
Fresh cut, zero fuss: Between creative colorists, gender-neutral pricing, and an artsy vibe at the Rochester Public Market, Gallery Salon is a reliable go-to for hair that needs a reboot. From quick trims to bold color, guests leave feeling put-together and maybe a little smug.
Old-school pastry magic: Craving a cookie tray that vanishes fast, or a cannoli that actually crunches? Since 1929, Savoia Pastry Shoppe has sweetened Rochester with Italian cookies, pastries, breads, and cakes. Ideal for weeknight fixes, weekend gatherings, or stocking the freezer for future-you with something dangerously good.
What do people see when they search your name? Search results can surface past mistakes or outdated information that no longer reflects who you are. BetterReputation helps remove and clean up unwanted content so your online presence matches your real life today. Not worried about yourself? Doesn’t hurt to mention it to family or friends who might be.
Access cash without selling your home: A reverse mortgage can help cover everyday expenses, support healthcare needs, fund home improvements, or reduce pressure on 401(k) withdrawals – all while staying in your home. Longbridge offers a free calculator to estimate how much flexibility your home could provide, with no commitment required.
The weight loss game has changed: New GLP-1 medications work with your body’s natural hormones to help reduce appetite and support steady weight loss under medical supervision. Remedy Meds connects you with licensed clinicians online to see if you’re a good candidate. They’ll evaluate your health, provide transparent pricing, and ship medication straight to your door.
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📆 Around town this week
Have an event to share? BaseLocal Verified Businesses can submit them for free! Learn more about how to submit an event here →
All events are subject to change without notice. Always check official event pages for the most up to date information.
🎮 Video Game Creation Workshop @ The Strong Museum | Monday (2/16) at 1:00 PM – Sign your teen, ages 12 to 17, up for a five-session game-making workshop at The Strong, led by RIT’s MAGIC Center pro Dennis McCorry. No coding needed, $138, limited spots, and yes, the finale includes pizza, so you can call it STEM, not playing games.
✊ Celebrating Black History @ The Lewis Street YMCA Neighborhood Center | Tuesday (2/17) at 12:00 PM – Lewis Street Y is celebrating Black History with youth talent, the Active Older Adults belting classics, and poetry that actually lands. Expect good food, drinks, and feel-good nostalgia, then brag you supported the neighborhood. Bring the family, friends, and your best clap.
🌱 Gardening with Native Plants @ Olmsted Lodge | Tuesday (2/17) at 7:00 PM – This free talk dives into native-plant gardening as Cornell Cooperative Extension Master Gardener John Nelson covers what to plant in sun, shade, wet, or dry spots, and why it helps birds, bugs, and sanity. Tickets required, ASL provided, curiosity encouraged.
🍺 Birds and Brews @ Rochester Birding Association | Thursday (2/19) at 6:00 PM – Bird lovers and beer drinkers, meet up at Swiftwater for Birds and Brews, all conversation, no binoculars required, excellent pints. Trade sightings, sample the creative menu, and work through a solid tap list, a full bar, and plenty of local charm.
🥔 Make Your Own Potato Gnocchi @ The Commissary | Thursday (2/19) at 6:30 PM – Trade your weeknight pasta for the good stuff and learn to make pillowy potato gnocchi, plus a simple marinara that actually tastes like tomatoes. You’ll roll, shape, and sauce, then sit down to a homemade meal. It’s cozy, hands-on, and strangely therapeutic.
🕵 How to Get Away with a Murder Mystery @ West Herr Performing Arts Center | Friday (2/20) at 3:00 PM – If you like your whodunits heavy on laughs, light on logic, local students in grades 6 to 12 skewer every mystery trope in vignettes. Expect color-coded suspects, airtight alibis, an accent-proud detective, and a gloriously convoluted Rube Goldberg murder device.
🕯 Candlelight: Coldplay and more @ Temple Theater | Friday (2/20) at 7:00 PM – Rochester gets Coldplay and Imagine Dragons, but make it candlelit. In one of the city’s prettiest rooms, you get lush arrangements, a sea of candles, and actual hush. No pyro, just strings, nostalgia, and time to actually listen.
Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar →
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📻 Rochester report
Weather forecast
Today – High: 40°F – Low: 33°F – Precip: 1%
Patchy fog before 11am. Cloudy, with a high near 40. Southwest wind 3 to 7 mph. Later: A chance of rain showers between 7pm and 10pm, then a chance of rain showers and patchy fog between 10pm and 1am, then patchy fog and a slight chance of rain showers. Cloudy, with a low around 33. Southwest wind 3 to 9 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%. New rainfall amounts less than a tenth of an inch possible.
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Tomorrow – High: 41°F – Low: 31°F – Precip: 17%
A slight chance of rain showers before 7am. Partly sunny, with a high near 41. West wind 2 to 8 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%. Later: A chance of rain between 1am and 4am, then a chance of rain and snow. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 31. South wind 1 to 6 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%. New rainfall amounts less than a tenth of an inch possible.
This house is wild
Set on a half-acre in Penfield School District, this 1,900+ sf home sits on a quiet dead-end street minutes from Browncroft Boulevard. An oversized living room joins a galley kitchen with wood cabinetry and half bath. Upstairs are three bedrooms. The lower level includes a family room with wood-burning fireplace and full bath. A dry basement includes laundry hookups.
Take a peek inside →
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🔥 Worth a peek
We’re always on the hunt for useful resources, deals, services, and products we genuinely think you’ll love. Here’s what caught our eye this week:
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