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NY SMART-I Corridor gets $40 million in federal funds
The New York Semiconductor Manufacturing and Research Technology Innovation Corridor consortium has received $40 million in federal funding. Rochester is part of the NY SMART-I group, with Buffalo and Syracuse. Over the next five years, the consortium will serve a critical role in supporting Upstate New York’s continued growth into...
Supreme Court ruling clouds Rochester diocese bankruptcy
As the Roman Catholic Diocese of Rochester’s nearly five-year-old bankruptcy inches closer to a to a final settlement, a new U.S. Supreme Court decision could have an untold effect on the diocese’s case. In a 5-4 vote last Thursday, the court majority blocked the bankruptcy plan for OxyContin...
Rejection of the Purdue Pharma bankruptcy plan is a good long-run verdict
Overdosing on opioids has resulted in the deaths of over 500,000 Americans. A key player in this saturnine saga is Purdue Pharma, formerly owned by the Sackler family, which introduced its blockbuster painkiller drug OxyContin into the U.S. market in 1996. It is now well known that Purdue Pharma aggressively...
UR addresses new era of campus security
This year, the University of Rochester’s commencement weekend looked a little different. Alongside the regular festivities celebrating the graduating class, there was a noticeable security presence sporting distinctive bright red polos—employees of Patriot Protection and Investigations, a Rochester-based private security firm. The scene reflected a shift occurring across...
The Jazz Fest ends on a note of ‘Rejuvenation’
The Rochester International Jazz Festival will close its 21st edition with the hypnotic groove that is funk. With the original members of the Meters, George Porter Jr. and Leo Nocentelli, the evening pays homage to the group’s iconic album “Rejuvenation.”. The event marks a milestone—it is the 50th...
Rochester airport gets $18M in state funds
The Frederick Douglass Greater Rochester International Airport has received $18 million in state funds to modernize the main terminal and related areas to better accommodate travelers. The $38.1 million modernization project received the funds from Gov. Kathy Hochul’s $230 million Upstate Airport Economic Development and Revitalization Competition which is part...
A joyful evening on Day 8
Samara Joy is back to thrill a Rochester audience with her velvet voice on Day 8 of the Rochester International Jazz Festival. Joy, who has won two Grammy Awards—for Best Jazz Vocal Album and Best New Artist—is known for her vocal range and control, and her ability to convey emotion with grace. This is her third straight year at the Jazz Fest.
Victor Farmington Library hosts readathon
The Victor Farmington Library held its first readathon Thursday. Its goal: to spread a love for reading and for community members to view the library as a resource. The library staff was inspired by the Tompkins County Public Library Foundation Readathon that has been running for 12 years. That event has had success in growing the library’s community and attracting donations, which is what the Victor Farmington Library hopes to achieve.
Hall of Famer Oates headlines Day 7
Hall of Famer—both Rock and Rock and American Songwriter—John Oates is in Rochester tonight. Oates, well known for his duo act with Daryl Hall, has performed for decades. Hall & Oates released 21 albums and sold over 80 million units. One of their memorable performances was at Live Aid in 1985 and on the song “We Are the World” with artists like Stevie Wonder, Michael Jackson, Billy Joel, Bob Dylan, and Paul Simon.
The closing of a 156-year-old college
As Wells College prepares to close, some alumni say there is more to the demise of the 156-year-old institution than meets the eye. “There’s a lot of suspicion and there’s a lot of rumor, and the challenge is trying to get to the truth here,” says Caolan MacMahon, a 1985 graduate of the college.
A voice that carries from Iceland to Rochester
Those who have tickets to see Laufey—the show is sold out—are in for a treat. The Icelandic-Chinese singer-songwriter is expected to mesmerize audiences with her signature mix of cultural heritage and musical influences at the Rochester International Jazz Festival on Day 6. Laufey released her first single while...
Meeks, Geraci win Democratic primary contests
Incumbent Demond Meeks on Tuesday won the Democratic primary race for state Assembly seat in the 137th District. Meeks beat City Council member Willie Lightfoot Jr. in a low-turnout day for Democratic Party voters, winning with 66 percent of the vote. In another closely watched race, Michael Geraci edged former...
The beat goes on at the Jazz Fest
As a young boy, Joe Dyson started playing music at his church. His talent attracted attention, placing him at the Louis “Satchmo” Armstrong Summer Jazz Camp, an education program focused on the next generation of artists. That experience propelled Dyson, a drummer and composer, into the world of...
Good neighbors, great music: FLO premieres ‘Two Corners’
Finger Lakes Opera has enlivened the past 10 summers with productions of standard operas such as “Carmen,” “The Barber of Seville,” and “Aida.” This summer, FLO celebrates the beginning of its second decade, and its commitment to the community, with an unusual new opera, to be presented this weekend.
A diverse Day 4 lineup
It is quite a lineup for Day 4 of the Rochester International Jazz Festival. Jazz singer Stacey Kent will captivate fans with her music at Kilbourn Hall. Kent, who learned the piano at an early age, has recorded with a number of legends, collaborated with Nobel Prize winner Kazuo Ishiguro and won several accolades.
Perch Energy plans to enter Rochester-area market
Residents of Greater Rochester who want to help the climate or reduce their electricity bills may soon have another community solar option. Perch Energy, a Boston-based community solar service provider, plans to enter the Rochester-area market next year. Founded in 2016, Perch has approximately 45 employees who work in Boston,...
Bringing the funk
There’s a party on stage tonight. The Aquaducks, a high-energy funk and soul band from Nashville, brings their fun approach to performance, weaving influences from the likes of Earth, Wind & Fire and Stevie Wonder. No strangers to the Jazz Fest, the Ducks’ tours take them across the...
Live in London and now Rochester
Bluesman Christone “Kingfish” Ingram is slated to perform as part of the Jazz Fest’s free Headliner Series this evening. Ingram has had a meteoric rise, creating his first album at 19 years old, performing two songs in the Marvel TV show, “Luke Cage,” winning a Grammy, and, most recently, recording an album in front of a live crowd, “Live in London.”
Day 2 brings Lee Ritenour to Kodak Hall
On Day 2 of the Jazz Fest, some notable names will perform, including the Lee Ritenour Band, the Jonathan Scales Fourchester and Janet Evra. Spanning five decades, guitarist Lee Ritenour‘s career incorporates music from an array of genres, from ’80s pop to Brazilian jazz. Ritenour has had several hits—“Is it You” and “Get Up Stand Up” on Spotify, earning 18 million and 9 million streams, respectively. Other songs include the three-part symphony “2020” on the album “Dreamcatcher,” his first solo record.
A new venue debuts on the Jazz Fest’s first day
The Inn on Broadway makes its debut as a venue this evening at the Rochester International Jazz Festival, starting with a performance by Allison, Cardenas and Nash. Each member of the trio melds their expertise to create music tinged with the blues and folk music and free playing. Bassist, composer and producer Ben Allison has been performing and recording his own brand of original music for nearly three decades. He is credited with the theme for the NPR radio program “On the Media,” in addition to albums and awards.
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