Cover Story
Rochester’s big decision on police oversight
Sometime this spring, City Council may vote on legislation that will dramatically change the way Rochester handles accusations of police misconduct. While activists have been pushing for reform for decades, for the past two years there’s been a particularly concerted effort, and city officials have now come up with two proposals. One, from Mayor Lovely…
Clergy urge Council not to change police accountability legislation
City Council might amend it’s Police Accountability Board proposal to allow former law enforcement officers to serve as members, and a group of Rochester clergy are speaking out against that idea. Members of the Roc/ACTS Religious Leaders Caucus gathered at Baber African Methodist Episcopal Church on Meigs Street this afternoon and called on City Council…
2019 Party in the Park concerts offer plenty of variety
With the 2019 Party in the Park concert series, there truly is something for everyone: hippies, pop fans, reggae fans, classic rockers, and folks that get the blues.
2019-20 Eastman Piano Series promises captivating performances
With a trio of high-profile concerts, the next season’s Eastman Piano Series promises performances by some of the top international piano soloists in the scene. All of the featured musicians are accomplished technicians and engaging performers.
Lightfoot in line to serve as Council’s next VP
Rochester City Councilman Willie Lightfoot has been nominated to become Council Vice President, Council President Loretta Scott says. Has to be be confirmed by City Council at its meeting Tuesday night before taking the vice president position. Lightfoot has served on Council since 2018 and is chair of its Public Safety, Youth, and Recreation Committee, a…
Halstead appointed to Legislature seat
Perinton resident Kara Halstead is the new County Legislator for Monroe County’s 18th District. Legislature President Joe Carbone appointed her to fill the vacant seat, which covers parts of East Rochester and Perinton, last week. Monroe County Republican Committee chair Bill Reilich submitted her nomination on the party’s behalf. The seat had been held by…
Review of the RCSD’s budget proposal offers praise and caution
The Children’s Agenda annually reviews the Rochester City School District’s budget in an effort to give parents and the public a more transparent and analytical look at how the administration is planning to spend hundreds of millions of dollars each year. In its report on the proposed $924.5 million budget for the 2019-2020 school year, the non-profit …
CRCDS names its next president
For the first time in its 200-year history, Colgate Rochester Crozer Divinity School will be led by a woman. The school announced today that it has named Angela Sims, a vice president at Saint Paul School of Theology in Kansas and Oklahoma, as its next president.
Activists plan rally highlighting Rochester’s housing problems
Activists concerned about the lack of quality, affordable housing will hold a rally and march in downtown Rochester on Thursday to call attention to the area’s housing needs and to push for state legislation to address those needs.
Legislature passes Dinolfo’s plan to boost preschool special ed rates
The Monroe County Legislature has unanimously approved legislation, submitted by County Executive Cheryl Dinolfo, that will raise reimbursement rates for preschool special education providers by 15 percent. Dinolfo has emphasized that this is the first rate increase for preschool special education providers in a decade. The Legislature voted on the proposal during its meeting Tuesday…
COMEDY | Jon Lovitz
Chances are pretty good you’ve laughed at Jon Lovitz sometime in that last 30 years, whether you remember him from Saturday Night Live in the late 1980s, were a fan of the cult animated series “The Critic,” or you know him from one of his numerous films or his more recent voice acting in cartoons…
SPECIAL EVENT | Happiest Hour
The cold, damp weather of the past few weeks has us all dreaming of the balmier days ahead. This week you can enjoy the tropics, or at least some tropical-themed crafts and activities, at the next Happiest Hour event at The Strong. The series features adults-only after-work events for unwinding with food, drinks, music, and…
ART | AIR exhibit & Bill Stewart sculpture
This month Main Street Arts is displaying more than 100 works of art by 40 alumni of its artist-in-residence program, which has been in place since 2016. In the main level gallery, “Artist in Residence Alumni Exhibition” continues through May 17. And opening this week in the second-floor gallery is ‘Eccentric Energy: Sculpture by Bill…
![ART | ’20[19]’ Print Club of Rochester](https://i0.wp.com/www.roccitymag.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/choice_event4-94b4ab52a159fcee-e1755042718907.webp?resize=640%2C448&ssl=1)
ART | ’20[19]’ Print Club of Rochester
The Print Club of Rochester is one of the oldest clubs in the country dedicated to fine art printmaking, having been in existence since 1930. Celebrating its artist members who’ve been part of the club for 20 years or more, this month the organization is hosting an exhibit of their works of art at The…
SPECIAL EVENT | Antique Show and Sale
Get your weekend antiquing done in one stop at the Genesee Country Village & Museum’s Annual Antique Show & Sale. A variety of Western New York’s antique dealers will showcase their collections in different locations around the village grounds, featuring furniture, books, paintings, jewelry, textiles, and collectibles. While you’re at the museum, you can catch…
HIP-HOP | KZA K’Lee
Homegrown, hard-hitting hip-hop artist KZA K’Lee comes equipped with biting knowledge, reigning supreme over rugged, hyperactive beats. His gritty and ruthless style has been gestating through multiple releases — including his latest LP, “Straitdrop Magazine” — collaborations, and visually fresh music videos. Influence from contemporary artists like Mick Jenkins and Kendrick Lamar are apparent, as…
RECREATION-KIDS | April Break Earth Programs
School may not be in session, but kids and adults alike can still enjoy some Earth-oriented educational programming during April break at Ganondagan State Historic Site. Different daily activities will be offered over the course of four days, including nature-based crafts and trail walks in which you can learn about traditional springtime activities of the…
COUNTRY | Gary Allan
Gary Allan’s last record, 2013’s “Set You Free,” debuted at number one on two Billboard charts. The California-born honky tonker struck a gold certification with his first release “Used Heart for Sale” in 1996, and simply owned the aughts with four other gold and platinum records. His versatile tunes can tug at your heartstrings, lift…
JAZZ | Doc Severinsen and the Sonic Era Jazz Orchestra
At 91, Doc Severinsen remains one of the top trumpet players on the planet. His long-term, Grammy-award-winning collaboration with Rochester’s own Jeff Tyzik enters a new phase with the premiere concert of the Sonic Era Jazz Orchestra. In this benefit for Jazz 90.1 WGMC-FM, Severinsen will front a powerhouse ensemble featuring Bobby Militello and John…
CLASSICAL | RPO with Michael Francis and Yekwon Sunwoo
This week the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra offers a great, well-known piano concerto and a great, lesser-known symphony: not a bad deal. You may remember the 1996 movie about pianist David Helfgott,”Shine,” in which he battles through Rachmaninoff’s Third Concerto — one of the virtuosic bruisers of the repertoire. Van Cliburn Competition Gold Medalist Yekwon Sunwoo…
ROCK | River Lynch & The Spiritmakers
River Lynch & The Spiritmakers are on a mission to revive rock ‘n’ roll for future generations. Guitarist River Lynch started a solo electric project after leaving college, eventually finding kinship with bassist Schuyler Skuse and drummer Tim Leverett. Since 2016, River Lynch & The Spiritmakers have celebrated three releases, including its newest single, “Outside…
PSYCH-FUNK | Pigeons Playing Ping Pong
Beyond being delightful imagery, Pigeons Playing Ping Pong is a contemporary call to a musical movement that bloomed decades ago. Perhaps most easily considered a psychedelic jam band, this four-piece is clearly making music they love celebrating live. Their kind disposition, paired with a groovy intelligence—featuring plenty of articulate solos and funky wah-wah pedal —positions…
Feedback 4/10
We welcome your comments. Send them to feedback@rochester-citynews.com, with your name; your city, town, or village; and, for verification, your daytime phone number. Comments of fewer than 500 words have a greater chance of being published, and we do edit selections for publication in print. We don’t publish comments sent to other media. Which housing…
Urban Action 4/10
This week’s calls to action include the following events and activities. (All are free and open to the public, unless otherwise noted.) Ending solitary confinement The College at Brockport will host a program titled “Cruel and Unusual Punishment: Solitary Confinement as Torture in the US Prison System” on Thursday, April 18. Melanie Funchess, director of…
Teachers call for prison divestment
ROC-Teachers Against Student Exploitation, a social justice caucus of Rochester Teachers Association members, has launched a new campaign to get the New York State Teachers’ Retirement System, which manages the teacher pension system, to divest from private prisons like CoreCivics and GEO Group.
Inglis makes conservative case for climate action
Former Republican Representative Bob Inglis of South Carolina, who will speak in Rochester on April 17, advocates for a carbon fee paired with cuts to other taxes or a household dividend. He says it’s a free enterprise solution to climate change that won’t grow government.
Megan Joy May’s practical magic
The artist in residence at Flower City Arts Center performed a bloody, earthy ritual of rebirth at the opening of her photo exhibition. May’s artistic practice involves healing the wound of fear and achieving unconditional love for the self and others.
Integrated metro schools can be a reality in Rochester
City-suburban partnerships could develop integrated pilot magnet schools, similar to national models that are improving outcomes for low-income students.
Album review: ‘Naked Bourbon’
Chris Bethmann ‘Naked Bourbon’ Self-released chrisbethmann.com Rochester-based guitarist Chris Bethmann is a storyteller at heart, capable of producing countrified ingenuity in an ever-changing world. Raised on Americana and having studied jazz at Eastman School of Music, he brings a thoughtful, alt-folk approach to the table on his debut EP "Naked Bourbon," released in December 2018.…
Film preview: ‘The Public’
The film’s central debate is a fascinating one: What is a library that can’t serve the most basic needs of its patrons, and what are the limits of its obligation to its patrons?
Album review: ‘Tree of Shade’
Driftwood ‘Tree of Shade’ Self-released driftwoodtheband.com The Binghamton band Driftwood is back with “A Tree of Shade,” another collection of warm and earthy songs that feel rooted in indie Americana but bloom into full-blown, radio-ready pop. Driftwood strikes a balance between dirt-road weariness and wide-eyed optimism; the lyrics are bittersweet and earnest, but the music…
Axes & Ales opens on East Avenue
Out of the 10 two-handed throws, I got one of them to stick properly. The other nine hit the target, but with the butt of the ax. That is not bad for my first time, if nine-out-of-10 zombies can be stopped with simple blunt force trauma.
Saxophonist Billy Harper comes to Eastman
Billy Harper may not be the first name that comes to mind when you think of tenor saxophonists of the last half-century, but he’s been at the center of some great jazz. Harper will be a guest artist with the Eastman Jazz Lab Band, directed by Rich Thompson, Friday night at Kilbourn Hall.
David Zinman on conducting
It’s been more than three decades since conductor David Zinman concluded his tenure as music director of the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra. When Zinman conducts the Eastman Philharmonia on Friday, April 12, at Kodak Hall, he’ll be joined by violin sensation Joshua Bell for Max Bruch’s Violin Concerto No. 1.
