We joined in celebrating the grand opening of Elevate Dance Center’s new space on Pitkin Street. The woman- and minority-owned studio brings people together through dance, culture, and community. Welcome to downtown!

Today, Mayor Malik D. Evans was sworn in for his second term and delivered his inaugural address, reflecting on Rochester’s progress and outlining the work ahead. Watch the address: cityofrochester.gov/inauguration

Happy New Year, Rochester! Wishing our community a safe, healthy, and hopeful year ahead. Thank you for all you do to make our city stronger — we’re excited for what’s to come!

Happy Kwanzaa, Rochester! As families and communities come together to honor the seven principles — unity, self-determination, collective work and responsibility, cooperative economics, purpose, creativity, and faith — we wish all who celebrate a meaningful and joyful Kwanzaa.

Merry Christmas, Rochester! Wishing our community a happy, healthy holiday. May your day be filled with warmth, peace, and time with who or what matters most.

A shoveled sidewalk makes a big difference. As winter weather continues, please remember to clear sidewalks in front of homes and businesses to help keep Rochester safe and accessible. Learn more: cityofrochester.gov/snowremoval

A simple tradition with a powerful message: Good Night Lights First responders shine lights outside Golisano Children’s Hospital for the holidays. It’s a reminder to patients and families that Rochester is thinking of them, supporting them, and standing with them. (📸: RPD)

It may not feel like it with today’s warmth, but winter is here. As the season continues, Mayor Evans is reminding Rochesterians of their shared responsibility to keep sidewalks and streets safe. Learn more: cityofrochester.gov/news/mayor-evans-reminds-rochesterians-winter-snow-responsibilities

Mayor Evans and Project SEARCH interns met yesterday for a meet-and-greet at City Hall. We’re proud of these interns and grateful for the energy and insight they bring to our city! Learn more: cityofrochester.gov/projectsearch

Winter break fun is happening at R-Centers! Stay busy during the holiday season with special hours, activities for kids and families, meals on select days, and more. Learn more: cityofrochester.gov/winterbreak2025

Civic engagement starts early in Rochester! Mayor Evans swore in new class presidents at John Williams School No. 5 after students campaigned, voted on real machines, and learned how elections work through Pillars of Hope and the Monroe County Board of Elections. Democracy in action!

Champions. History-makers. Role models. Yesterday at City Hall, we celebrated the Monroe Red Jackets — the first RCSD team to bring home a state football title. From an undefeated season to a championship win, this team showed what hard work and teamwork can achieve. Rochester is proud!

Get in the spirit: Join us tomorrow from 6 to 9 p.m. for a special edition of Holidays at the Market! Shop with local vendors, enjoy festive music and lights, take a horse-drawn carriage ride, visit with Santa, and more. Learn more: cityofrochester.gov/holidaysatmarket

Thank you to everyone who joined the Office of Violence Prevention for the Jefferson Avenue Winter Warm-Up. Families came together for some holiday fun with music, crafts, and food — building connection and community at the Willie Lightfoot R-Center!

A major housing milestone! Thanks to community partners, Tyler is now the proud owner of the city’s first two-story modular home at Cedarwood Terrace. This home represents a shared commitment to expanding safe and affordable housing in Rochester.

Rochester pride! Today, we welcomed the Monroe Red Jackets to City Hall to celebrate their undefeated season and New York State Class B championship — the first state football title in RCSD history. Congratulations to the players, coaches, and our community!

Refuse and recycling reminders for Rochester residents: Keep your neighborhood clean and collection running smoothly with these helpful tips. Learn more: cityofrochester.gov/refuse

Happy Hanukkah from Rochester! Mayor Evans joined community leaders at City Hall for the annual menorah lighting this morning, recognizing one of the many faith traditions celebrated by Rochesterians. Chag sameach to all who are celebrating Hanukkah!

Chag Sameach! The City of Rochester wishes a warm and meaningful Hanukkah to all who celebrate. May the Festival of Lights bring peace, joy, and hope to you and your loved ones!

Saturday is the final day to pick up emergency food checks at the Rochester Public Market. Eligible families can receive $20 in coupons per family member to help stretch their food budgets. Learn more: cityofrochester.gov/freshconnect

Rochester is proud to be a CHARM community partner for #NYMuralDay! With support from the NYS Council on the Arts, Gov. Hochul, and local artists, we brought new murals to Carter St. R-Center and Sully Branch Library — bringing fresh color and energy to our public spaces.

Rochester honored Marketview Heights leader Martin Pedraza last night! Mayor Evans and Council President Meléndez recognized his decades of service as a veteran, organizer, and mentor. Thank you, Martin, for all you’ve done for our community.

City employees showed their creative side at “Beyond Our Desks,” our first-ever employee art show! The exhibit in City Hall’s Link Gallery features artwork from colleagues across departments — from public safety to libraries, planning to human services.

The school selection process is now underway for the 2026-27 academic year! This Saturday, Dec. 13 at 1 p.m. at Adams R-Center, explore options for students entering Kindergarten, 7th or 9th grade. Learn more: www.cityofrochester.gov/events/schoo...

Today, we were proud to welcome the World of Inquiry School No. 58 seniors to City Hall for their annual College March. Each year, seniors walk together to declare their plans for life after graduation and to thank the mentors who helped them get here. Rochester is cheering you on!

At the RDDC Vision Future Luncheon, Mayor Evans highlighted the progress we’ve made — from safer streets to major housing and downtown investments — and the “we, not me” partnerships driving it. As he begins a second term, the message is clear: Keep pushing. Rochester is ready to take off.

We celebrated 10 graduates of the RPD’s Workforce Development Program — a yearlong commitment that included more than 1,000 hours of community service. These graduates now move on to the police academy to continue their journey. Their dedication moves Rochester forward. Congrats!

Rochester history on the gridiron! Congratulations to the Monroe Red Jackets — the first RCSD team to win a state football championship. The team capped off an incredible season with a 34-0 victory in Saturday’s title game. Your hard work paid off, and you made Rochester proud.

Thank you to all who joined us for the Lighting of the Liberty Pole and Parade to ROC Holiday Village! The streets were full of music, energy, and holiday spirit — and the fun is just getting started as ROC Holiday Village continues all month long! Learn more: rocholidayvillage.com

We kicked off International Human Rights Week this morning at City Hall alongside the Greater Rochester Community of Churches’ Faith in Action Network. Mayor Evans and County Executive Bello issued a joint proclamation reaffirming our community’s commitment to fairness, dignity, and equity for all.

The Park Avenue neighborhood embraced the spirit of the season last night at the annual Holiday Open House! More than 100 businesses opened their doors for a community celebration featuring a choir performance, tree and menorah lighting, a visit from Santa, and more!

Nutcrackers at the Rundel Memorial Library! This holiday exhibit features more than 100 nutcrackers collected across 30 years by longtime RPL leader Ana Suro, who retires this month after 23 years of dedicated service. Free and open during library hours through Jan. 24 — come check it out!

Mayor Evans joined UCLM and community partners today to announce a new public dashboard tracking Rochester Police body-worn camera usage. This collaborative effort strengthens transparency and helps build trust between RPD and our residents. Learn more: cityofrochester.gov/rpd-bwc-dashboard

Cleanup is moving forward at the former Vacuum Oil site on the Genesee River! The next phase of remediation is underway as we work to restore the area, support future riverfront redevelopment, and improve connections for nearby neighborhoods. Learn more: www.cityofrochester.gov/news/city-ro...

We celebrated our fall ROC City Fellows at City Hall! More than two dozen interns contributed across departments and shared their work during a poster session with staff and community members. Thank you for your dedication to Rochester! Learn more: cityofrochester.gov/roccityfellows

Emergency food checks will be available at the Rochester Public Market on Saturday. Eligible shoppers can receive $20 FreshConnect coupons to use on SNAP-eligible items at the Market. Learn more: cityofrochester.gov/freshconnect

Help shape Rochester’s new civil rights heritage park! Join us tonight at 6 p.m. for a virtual meeting to learn about and share input on the future Minister Franklin D. Florence Civil Rights Heritage Site at Baden Park. Let’s build this together! Learn more: cityofrochester.gov/civilrightspark

Think you bake the best holiday cookies in Rochester? Prove it! Enter the Holidays at the Market Cookie Contest and drop off a dozen of your favorites at the Public Market this weekend. Winners will walk away with bragging rights — and cash prizes! Learn more: cityofrochester.gov/cookiecontest

The tree is lit! We kicked off the holiday season in the City Hall atrium this morning with music from the School of the Arts choir and orchestra — and a special visit from Santa. The celebrations continue all month long. Happy holidays, Rochester!

COMING UP: The annual City Hall tree lighting, featuring musical performances by the School of the Arts orchestra and choir and some very special guests! Streaming live at 10:30 a.m. here: cityofrochester.gov/treelighting2025

Mayor Evans and County Executive Bello today celebrated the 10th anniversary of Poder 97.1 FM, the Ibero-American Action League's radio station. They issued a joint proclamation honoring Poder’s decade of service and Ibero's community advocacy during the ROC the Day telethon.

Join the celebration! Watch the annual City Hall Tree Lighting tomorrow at 10:30 a.m., featuring performances by the School of the Arts band and orchestra. Let’s share some joy — wherever you are. Live stream: cityofrochester.gov/treelighting2025

Check out what happened this week in the City of Rochester.

Small Business Saturday is tomorrow! Explore local shops, restaurants, and makers, and support the people who help our neighborhoods thrive. Shop local this holiday season and help our community flourish!

Happy Thanksgiving, Rochester! Today we’re grateful for you — the people, families, neighborhoods, and businesses that make our city special. However you’re celebrating, we wish you a safe and joyful holiday.

America’s favorite Christmas tree is in Rochester! Congrats to Genny's iconic Keg Tree, voted Best Christmas Tree by Newsweek readers. Hundreds of kegs, thousands of lights, and a whole lot of Rochester spirit. Cheers! Learn more: newsweek.com/readerschoic... 📷: Genesee Brewery

This month’s Mayor on the Block brought us to the Lyell Avenue neighborhood — listening, learning, and connecting with residents. These walk-and-talk visits give neighbors a chance to share concerns, celebrate progress, and talk about what matters most in their community.

Behind the scenes: City Hall's holiday tree is up! Don’t miss the annual tree-lighting ceremony with School of the Arts choir & orchestra, Wednesday, Dec 3 at 10:30 a.m. Watch live: cityofrochester.gov/treelighting2025

Join us Saturday, Dec. 6, as we kick off this year’s holiday season with the annual Liberty Pole Lighting & Parade to ROC Holiday Village! Spread the word, bring your festive spirit, and we’ll see you downtown! Learn more: cityofrochester.gov/libertypolelighting2025

Congrats to the Frederick Douglass R-Center’s Rhythm Robotics team — winners of the Program of Merit Award from the NY State Recreation & Parks Society, a statewide honor celebrating innovative and creative youth programs. We’re proud of these innovators representing Rochester on the state stage!