Directory/Civic

Civic

84 locations in Rochester, NY

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Arthritis Foundation

The Arthritis Foundation is a national nonprofit organization with an Upstate New York Chapter office in Rochester that serves 31 counties in the Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse, Utica & Binghamton areas. Our Chapter office is located in Rochester, with branch offices in Syracuse and Buffalo. We offer a variety of programs and events throughout our whole chapter area. We can also assist you in finding a physician to improve your quality of life. Since arthritis comes in more than 100 forms, the Chapter provides informational brochures that can help you understand the complexities of the disease and make informed decisions about your treatment. 1

NET

NET stands for "Neighborhood Empowerment Team". These organizations are 'mini-city hall's' around town giving people local access to government features. From the City Departments web page: The Neighborhood Empowerment Team (NET) Office consists of ten teams of City employees, with one team assigned to each of the ten Neighbors Building Neighborhoods (NBN) sectors. Each team includes property inspectors and sworn Police personnel to focus on resolution and prevention of chronic quality of life, nuisance, and disorder issues. Traditional Certificate of Occupancy and property complaint services are also provided by NET. The NET teams are based in six site offices located throughout the City. NET Area Office Location A 1494 Dewey Avenue B 492 Lyell Avenue C 998 Genesee Street D 846 S. Clinton Avenue E 212 Webster Avenue F 500 Norton Street And here I thought they were glorified police substations.... ? — Yeah, unfortunately it looks like that is what they are turning into. Plex neibhborhood group meets at the Gensee st. NET office —

Irving Place

Early City Hall, Mar 2009 BradMandell Irving Place served as Rochester's City Hall for over a century. It is often known as Old City Hall and is located in the City Hall Historic District. The building is bounded on three sides by West Broad, South Fitzhugh and the street Irving Place. It was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1974. Irving Place was built using Lockport stone. The architecture is a combination of Romanesque and Ruskin Gothic styling. At the time of its construction, the Erie Canal ran through town where today Broad Street is (the subway runs in the old canal bed under this street). When Irving Place opened, the Broad Street entrance of the building opened directly onto the canal. In the early 1970s Irving Place was bombed by Mafia members on Columbus Day in the infamous Columbus Day Bombings. Photos

Monroe County Water Authority

The Monroe County Water Authority (MCWA) provides drinking water service to most of the suburban towns in Monroe County. If you're moving to a suburb like Webster, Penfield, Greece, Henrietta, or others outside the City of Rochester, your water service will likely come through MCWA. If you're moving within the City of Rochester, water is managed by the City's Bureau of Water. In both cases, you'll want to confirm who your water provider is and set up your account before or shortly after move-in. For rentals, water may be included in your lease — check with your landlord. MCWA draws water from Lake Ontario and Hemlock and Canadice Lakes in the Finger Lakes region. Rochester's water quality is consistently rated excellent. Website: mcwa.com | Phone: (585) 442-2000

Center for Governmental Research

The Center for Governmental Research was established by George Eastman in 1915 as a nonprofit research and consulting agency for businesses as well as government. "George Eastman, the visionary leader who created Eastman Kodak, founded a bureau of municipal research in Rochester NY in 1915 “to get things done for the community” and to serve as an “independent, non-partisan agency for keeping citizens informed.” Over more than 9 decades CGR has grown from a bureau focused on the needs of one city into an organization with far broader reach. ... Our major focus areas are government management, economic analysis, public finance, workforce development, program evaluation, children & youth services, health, human services, education, criminal justice, public safety, community profiles, shared services/consolidation, and organizational development. We are also skilled at census data interpretation, strategic planning & facilitation, and surveys & analysis." 1 1Wesite About Us

Lollypop Farm, Humane Society of Greater Rochester

Help increase this number ! 3-2008 Flat Stanley in Rochester Appointments are required. Please see https://www.lollypop.org/adopt/schedule-an-adoption-appointment/ Lollypop Farm, the Humane Society of Greater Rochester, is a nonprofit organization committed to building lifelong bonds between people and animals through education, community outreach programs and the prevention of cruelty. Lollypop Farm offers many services and programs in support of this goal, including: Animal adoptions Volunteer opportunities Dog training and obedience classes Annual Barktober Fest, 5-mile run and walk Educational tours Lollypop Farm Camp for kids Pet Assisted Therapy Pet Pantry (food bank providing pet food) Pet Peeves, Free Behavior Help Line (585) 295-2999 Senior-for-Seniors adoptions Pets are Welcome (listings of landlords that allow pets) SNIP (Spay/Neuter Incentive Program) Animal cruelty investigations and law enforcement Pet cremations and cemetery Farm walk and petting area The Farm Yard includes a Farm Walk and Petting Area, which are a great place to bring your children and grand-children to learn about animals and people caring about animals. As of July 2020, the Farm Walk and Petting Area remains closed due to the Covid pandemic. The shelter itself contains many educational exhibits about pets and farm animals for kids and adults alike. Lollypop Farm is an open-admission animal shelter. This means that they will not turn away any pet based on age, health issues or injuries, behavioral problems, or aggression. As an open-admission shelter, they are able to provide shelter and care to animals who would otherwise have no safe refuge. In the Greater Rochester community, Lollypop Farm has the largest capacity for animal care and is the only organization to accept stray and unwanted pets of all species. Awards Won City Newspaper's 'Best of Rochester' Awards in 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018.1 Related Links * Lollypop Farm Campus Tour

Jonathan Child House

The Jonathan Child House is a Greek mansion constructed in 1837 for Jonathan Child, Rochester's first mayor. It is part of the Third Ward Historic District. The historic marker out front reads: Jonathan Child First Mayor of Rochester 1834 — 1905 built the house in 1938 and lived here with his wife, Sophia Eliza Rochester Child, until 1840. Full History Jonathan Child sold the mansion in the 1840's and various residents through the years occupied it. In 1885 it became "The Pillars", a fashionable boarding house. In 1920 the Washington Club occupied it. The Fourth Church of Christ Scientist acquired the building in 1933 and it was purchased by the Landmark Society in 1957. They leased it to the Bureau of Municipal Research in 1961 and later became the Rochester Health Commission. Edwards Restaurant, previously in the Academy Building at 13 South Fitzhugh Street, relocated here in early 2002.1 The Jonathan Child House was acquired by Pillar Media Enterprises, LLC in 2011 and renovated into a special events venue called Rochester Pillars and a restaurant called Artisan Cafe. Both ventures closed in 2014. on July 1 2014, Tango Cafe moved their business to the home to have expanded ballrooms and parking. Today, the surrounding neighborhood is known as the Cascade District and has been the target of revival efforts.

Open Door Baptist Church

Open Door Baptist Church Bill Finnerty (Senior Pastor), Paul St. Dennis (Pastor of Adult Ministry) Jonathan "T Bear" Stansel, (Pastor of Children's Ministry), Jonathan Schallmo (Pastor of Worship Ministry). About Open Door Baptist Church is an independent Baptist Church located in Churchville, NY. As of January 2023, Open Door has over 1,000 members and regular attenders each week. Open Door primarily uses the King James Version of the Bible, but is not strictly "KJV only", and occasionally uses the English Standard Version/ ESV. The leadership structure of the church is self-governing and independent, typical of most Baptist churches, and is comprised of deacons. The deacon election process is first done by a member nominating a candidate, after which the candidates are then considered by the existing board of deacons, which decides who to place on the ballot, for an election by the members. History Open Door Baptist Church was founded by Sam Hannah and Tom Hauser in 1977, after they both graduated from Thomas Road Bible Institute (now Liberty University). They began a home bible study and ministered to the people of Rochester by leading worship and teaching from the Word of God. From this home bible study, Open Door Baptist Church was organized with 36 charter members. The church continued to grow and on Easter 1998, services were held in a newly constructed building, where the church currently meets on Scottsville-Chili Road.

Abandoned Structures

Rochester has its fair share of fun abandoned buildings and public works. Most famous is the several miles of intact underground tunnel which is the Abandoned Subway. On Elmwood Avenue there is a partially Abandoned Psychiatric Hospital, the largest building being 17 stories tall. 690 St Paul St. (3/4 abandoned) 1630 Dewey Avenue Abandoned Church in Mt. Hope Cemetery Abandoned Delco Plant Abandoned Manchester Yard Abandoned Psychiatric Hospital Abandoned Penfield Rinky Dink mini golf course Abandoned Subway Air Force Plant 51 Beebe Station (RG&E) Abandoned Eastman Dental Dispensary Incinerator Plant Seneca Army Depot Abandoned Hotel External Links The Monroe County Page of the National Register of Historical Places is an excellent reference tool for finding abandoned buildings and discovering their legal owners. IndustrialNewYork.com Urban Exploration Location listings This site is incredible, many listings of little known locations in the Rochester area. The group responsible is also locally based. As of April 2010 link does not work, see some of it on the Internet Archive ForsakenPlaces.com Cool site with lots of photos of Rochester-area abandoned places. As of April 2010 link does not work (parked page,) see some of it on the Internet Archive

Monroe County DMV

If you're moving to Rochester from out of state, New York requires you to transfer your driver's license and vehicle registration within 30 days of establishing residency. The Monroe County Clerk's Office operates DMV services at multiple locations. You'll need: your out-of-state license, proof of identity (passport or birth certificate), proof of NY residency (utility bill, lease, bank statement), your Social Security card, and proof of insurance from a NY-approved carrier. If you're registering a vehicle, you'll also need the out-of-state title and a completed vehicle inspection from a NY-licensed station. Pro tip: Make an appointment online if possible. Walk-in waits can be long, especially at the downtown office. The suburban satellite offices (Greece, Henrietta) sometimes have shorter lines. Website: monroecounty.gov (search "DMV") | Main office hours: Mon–Fri

Covenant Presbyterian Church

Covenant Presbyterian Church is a congregation of the Orthodox Presbyterian Church (OPC), located on Dewey Avenue in Greece. Per Covenant Presbyterian's website, the Orthodox Presbyterian Church is a denomination formed in 1936 to maintain the Biblical beliefs and practices abandoned by liberal churches. Our congregation has testified to the Gospel of Jesus Christ in Rochester since that time. Our beliefs come from the Bible, God's unfailing guide in matters of faith and life. The Bible's teaching is summarized in the historic Westminster Confession of Faith, our doctrinal standard. We proclaim the Bible's timeless message through expository preaching and careful teaching. (Beliefs) See also: Orthodox Presbyterian Church (Wikipedia)

Flower City Habitat for Humanity

Flower City Habitat for Humanity 1 is a nonprofit organization with hopes to eliminate poverty and substandard housing in our city. Since its beginning in 1984 the volunteers have built and renovated over 175 houses. They are the second largest group affiliated with Habitat for Humanity International in the North Eastern United States. FCHH works year-round, Tuesday through Saturday. FCHH typically builds several homes simultaneously on one street to make the most profound impact on a neighborhood. Targeted streets in the past include Cuba Place, Maria Street, Brown Street, Rauber Street, Silver Street, Fulton Avenue and Trust Street. They are currently working in the JOSANA Neighborhood. In late 2005, a study was conducted to measure the impact that FCHH is having on the Rochester community. It showed the Habitat homes since 1984 have added $5.6 million dollars to the city's tax base and that this number increases by roughly $500,000 each year. This is possible because Habitat homes are typically assessed to be worth twice the value of their older neighboring homes and non-habitat homes on a street targeted by FCHH have seen a marked increase in their own value. Each Habitat home costs about $65,000 to build. This money is typically raised through church coalitions, corporate donations, or groups of individuals. Habitat homeowners are selected by committee and must have stable employment and significant need for the home - i.e., children or other dependents. Future homeowners must contribute 500 hours of 'sweat equity', or labor to both their home and other Habitat homes. Once the house is built and occupied, the owner makes monthly no-interest mortgage payments until the house is paid for in full. Flower City Habitat also operates the Restore. This enterprise collects donations of quality used and surplus building supplies and sells them at discount prices. All profits made by the ReStore fund the construction of additional homes.

North Clinton Avenue

North Clinton Avenue is the northern continuation of Clinton Avenue. It is divided from South Clinton Avenue by East Main Street. Traveling north, it passes through the following city neighborhoods: The Midtown District The St. Paul Quarter and St. Joseph's Park (forms border between the two) Upper Falls Group 14621 Long Acre Road forms the border with Irondequoit. North Clinton continues for another eight blocks before terminating at Rogers Parkway. Located on North Clinton Traveling north. City of Rochester - Downtown 5 : AA-1 Pawn 87 : Amudam Cafe 111 : School Without Walls 115 : Exotic Desires Hair Salon 126 : Red Front Liquor 150 : Icon Photographic 175 : YWCA Intersects with Andrews Street, Central Avenue and the Inner Loop. Also part of the unfortunate Main St. East/North Clinton Avenue Retail District. City of Rochester - Northeast This section begins at the Inner Loop. 235 : Huther-Doyle 247 : Sew-In City 265 : Urban League of Rochester 485 : Martin Luther King, Jr. School No. 9 500 : Baden Street Settlement Upper Falls Boulevard marks the beginning of La Avenida, Rochester's Hispanic (mostly Puerto Rican) district, which stretches about 0.7 miles to Avenue D. It continues into the Group 14621 neighborhood, which has its southern border at Clifford. Don Samuel Torres Park is bordered by North Clinton, Oakman St, and Siebert Place. 610 : SneakerTown 759 : Brooklyn Express 765 : Avenue Street Wear 774 : MetroPCS 790 : Valero 804 : Wang's Chinese Restaurant 821 : Boost Mobile Store by Upstate Wireless 828 : La Marketa 852 : AutoZone 859 : St. Michael Church 869 : Generations Child Care 886 : Ezin Grocery 892 : Clinton Liquors 914 : His & Hers Beauty & Apparel 924 : Geland's Restaurant 927 : Uptown Express 939 : Pentecostal Holiness Church 953 : Lilac Coin Laundry 973 : El Pilon Criollo Restaurant 980 : El Morro Bakery 997 : Clinton Fast Cash 1000 : Rite Aid GNC 1015 : Felix Barbershop 1025 : Triumph the Church & Kingdom 1028 : Advance Auto Parts 1050 : 1050 Mini Mart 1055 : Family Dollar 1062 : Rent-A-Center 1086 : Cruz Auto Repair 1102 : Barranquitas Mini Mart & Deli 1152 : Treasure Cove Clothing 1155 : Hickey-Freeman La Avenida officially ends here. 1171 : Group 14621 Community Association 1185 : Heart & Soul Community Free Methodist 1195 : Borinquen Bakery 1207 : Rochester Fire Department Engine 2 1226 : Wadi Bana Market 1233 : Under Da Gunz Tattoo Shop 1273 : La Yavucoa Grocery 1340 : Good Guys Deli" 1382 : Smart Guys 1415 : International Square - See page for list. 1429 : Motor Import & Collision 1430 : Michael's Liquor Store 1456 : Remy's Bar 1459 : East Side Services 1460 : Steve's Empire Collision 1470 : Mr. Goody's 1475 : Culligan Water 1500 : Truform Manufacturing Corporation 1524 : P & R Industries 1535 : ASK Auto Recycling 1550 : New Born Fellowship Church 1625 : Spatola's Party Rental 1647 : Radiator Shop 1711 : Penske Truck Rental 1733-1781 : Ridge-Clinton Plaza - See page for list. 1816 : Burgos Income Tax The historic St. Michael's Church is on the corner of North Clinton and Evergreen St. Major intersections are Upper Falls Boulevard, Clifford Avenue, Norton Street, the Keeler Street Expressway, and Ridge Road East. Irondequoit This portion is almost entirely residential, with the exception of a few scattered businesses, mostly on corners. 2185 : Atlas Eats 2201 : Artistry of Dance See Also Family Dollar Arsons New York Central Railroad Station William Lyman Links North Clinton rising - City Newspaper (2006-06-28)

Immanuel Baptist Church

Pastor Rachel McGuire Children of Immanuel Immanuel Baptist Church is a Baptist church on Park Avenue that describes itself as: Christ-centered community seeking to serve God by word, worship and action, to welcome all people with love, and to be responsible stewards of God's creation. We are nurtured by the biblical tradition, the teachings of Christ, ecumenical sharing, and God's continuing revelation. Immanuel Baptist Church began in 1923 with a membership of one hundred and six. The group met at Colgate Rochester Divinity School until the building was completed in 1926. Today, the church is Our Community Treasure and opens its doors to everyone, whether they seek spiritual inspiration or simply want to experience one of Rochester's most charming works of architecture. Our congregation is diverse and active in the community. Church members helped initiate the Park Avenue Merchants Association, the first "official" Park Avenue Summer Arts Fest, and the Cobblestone School. Who we are, the essence of our spirit... IBC is: A welcoming, accepting, caring and loving community A gathering place to experience and share our collective spiritual journeys A healing place A congregation of shared ministry, education and leadership in which each person is encouraged to share gifts and insights A place of worship, which is rich and varied in prayer, word and music A place to share the good news of God's inclusive love A congregation committed to neighborhood outreach and social responsibility A place to serve, individually and collectively, and to be served1 Immanuel Baptist Church is a member of the Association of Welcoming & Affirming Baptists in support of the GLBTQ Community. 1Website description

Abandoned Chapel in Mt. Hope Cemetery

Decayed organ. The Abandoned Chapel in Mt. Hope Cemetery lies just a few feet from the road within the fence bordering Mt. Hope Cemetery near the southerly Mt Hope Ave gate, a few blocks from Elmwood Avenue. It is one of two chapels in the cemetery. This is the south chapel; the north chapel and crematorium, which are also unused, are behind the fountain back a ways from the cemetery's northerly gate on Mt Hope Ave near Robinson Dr which goes through Highland Park. The Friends of Mount Hope refer to this Chapel as the "1912 Chapel," based on the date it was first used. The Chapel's windows and doors are all secured. However, the main entryway is loosely secure at best. Visitors, who can access the interior, are treated to a breathtaking site of light filtering through the glass down onto the decaying pews left inside. The Chapel is small and was built by the city for funeral services of those being interred in the cemetery. It has not been used in many years because of serious structural problems which are easy to see if you look over the outside of the building. Excessive differential settling of the foundation caused the problems. It's a very pretty little building, but the repair expenses cannot be justified by returning it to use as a chapel. However, a number of years ago, the city indicated an intent to reuse it as a mausoleum by creating spaces (niches) inside for interring cremated remains. The prospective sale of the niches was expected to justify the repair expenses. I don't know what happened to that plan. The Friends of Mt Hope Cemetery is a great source of information about this and other structures in the cemetery. 1912 Chapel, photos and article on the local commercial website nyfalls.com Exploration Photos Status Rumor as of April 20, 2009 has it that the chapel will be undergoing restoration as part of a grant (whether to the City of Rochester or Mt. Hope Cemetery itself is unknown) from the Federal stimulus package. As of Feb 28, 2009, the chapel was boarded up and could not be entered.

Gilbert McCurdy

Gilbert McCurdy was the son of John C. McCurdy, who founded McCurdy's in 1901 and who operated a department store at 285 Main Street East in Rochester. Gilbert took over the business, expanded it and attracted fame by co-developing the Midtown Plaza with Maurice Forman and making McCurdy's Department Store a key player in the plaza. Gilbert McCurdy was extremely active in the First Baptist Church of Rochester being responsible for the commission of the "McCurdy Cross" which graces the sanctuary.

Gardens of First Unitarian Church

The Gardens of First Unitarian Church is a beautiful seven-acre park in the Cobbs Hill Neighborhood that is owned by First Unitarian Church of Rochester. It was founded in the 1960s by master gardner Madlyn Evans out of a jumble of overgrown forest. Today, the garden is maintained by a group of volunteers coordinated by the church's horticulturalist. Located at the back of First Unitarian's property, the garden is best accessed from Nunda Boulevard. In Their Own Words But the Garden is more than just the plantings themselves. Its many pathways guide church-school and pre-school students as they explore and learn the importance of nature. You’ll find benches for resting; Peace Cairns that mark and memorialize loss; a Labyrinth for walking meditation; a Memorial Wall with the inscription "To Live in Hearts that Love is not to Die" marking the area where the remains of over one hundred church members are scattered; a stone Council Ring for small group meetings; a Monarch Butterfly Waystation; a Community Vegetable Garden and flowering backdrops for weddings and other occasions. Photo Album

Greatest Community Garage Sale

Greatest Community Garage Sale is a popular community garage sale series located at the Rochester Public Market. The sales, which feature a mixture of dealers, community and church groups, and just plain folks cleaning out, have become an institution in our community. Garage Sales are scheduled for the following dates in 2008: Sundays 8:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. April 20, 27, May 4, June 15, 22, 29, July 6, 13, 20, 27, August 3, 10, 17, 24, September 7, 14, 28, October 12. You folks might be interested in using these pages for forming a Friends of the Public Market community on the internet: http://rocpublicmart.blogspot.com/ Thanks and enjoy.

Brighton Presbyterian Church

Brighton Presbyterian Church is a church in the city's Culver University East neighborhood, close to the border with Brighton, and across the street from the East Ave Wegmans. It is part of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church. It is committed to Gospel-centered preaching and teaching, caring and praying for one another and the community, and invites all to experience the presence, healing and hope of God in its midst. The church is committed to supporting groups like Alcoholics Anonymous and Heroin Anonymous as part of its mission as a spiritual hospital. Ministries Christian Education for children and adults (Sunday mornings during the service for BPCkids and BPCteens; 11 am for adults). Wednesdays: PrayerHour, 6 pm; Bible study, 7 pm; both in the Historical Room. Supporting Bethel Express Heroin Anonymous Living Hope Schools in West Bengal, India Rochester Classical Academy Embracing Options Young Life in Belarus and Baltics.

Hudson Avenue

Hudson Avenue is a major north-south route between the City of Rochester and the suburb of Irondequoit. Starting just north of downtown in Upper Falls, it enters the Group 14621 neighborhood at Clifford Avenue, continues into the LeFrois Street Area, and then Irondequoit at East Ridge Road. This part of the town is the district of West Irondequoit. Other major intersections are Upper Falls Boulevard, Norton Street, the Keeler Street Expressway, and Titus Avenue. Hudson Avenue also crosses railroad tracks near Skuse Street in the city. According to VintageViews.org, Hudson Avenue was the first street not located within the City of Rochester to be fully paved in 1898. Located on Hudson Avenue Traveling north. City of Rochester Hudson Avenue in Rochester is impoverished and occasionally dangerous. Especially to the south, it is marred by abandoned buildings, vacant lots, and slumlord housing. Indeed, the homeless shelter House of Mercy serves some of the city's most downtrodden residents. Hudson nevertheless has some active clusters of retail, mostly corner stores, beauty salons, and cell phone places. Several establishments attest to the area's rich history of Eastern and Central European immigration. 180 : UNeedA Tire Shop 211 : Cube Smart 226 : R Community Bikes 292 : First Genesis Baptist Church 390 : Hudson Ave Smoke Shop 393 : Urban Voice 471 : Coalition of NorthEast Associations 585 : Canopy Coin Laundry 634 : Northside Church of Christ 704 : Rochester Fire Department Engine 16/Truck 6 725 : House of Mercy 912 : MetroPCS 1100 : Andy's Candies 1124 : St. Stanislaus Kostka Church 1151 : Pulaski Library (vacant) 1325 : European Meat Products & Deli 1325 : Rochester Polish Federal Credit Union 1490 : Wal-Mart Woodforest National Bank 1535 : Western Regional Off-Track Betting Corporation Irondequoit Hudson Avenue becomes increasingly commercial as you get closer to Irondequoit, although things quiet down and residential use returns north of Hill Court Circle. 1661 : Harry & Gordy's Auto Services 1776 : Jack 'n Jill Child Care Center Inc. 1875 : North Coast Dental Group 1936 : Fireplace Fashions 2017 : Hunt Real Estate Era 2118 : Fairport Savings Bank 2128 : Canandaigua National Bank and Trust 2150 : Irondequoit Animal Hospital 2194 : ALDI 2255 : Citizens Bank 2256 : Boundaries Gym Irondequoit Plaza, Ridge Hill Square, Hudson & Ridge Hudson Plaza are several shopping centers located just off Hudson Avenue that back up to it.

Open Arms Metropolitan Community Church

Open Arms MCC is a Metropolitan Community Church in the East End. They are a very progressive congregation that supports the LGBT community. Founded in 1981. In Their Own Words Open Arms MCC is proud to be a congregation serving people with assorted beliefs, backgrounds and sexual identities. From our origins serving gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered people, we have become an inclusive and affirming congregation that actively welcomes all people. We are called to build bridges that transform lives and transform our world. We are called to welcome others into the experience of a spirituality that is vibrant, inclusive and progressive. We are called to generously share our time, talents and resources. We are called to be beacons of faith, freedom and justice here and around the world.

Christ Church Schola Cantorum

Christ Church Schola Cantorum (aka Schola Cantorum) is a vocal group of the Christ Church Rochester (Episcopal) in downtown Rochester. The group takes its name from the Schola Cantorum, or Papal Choir from the time of Gregory the Great. 1. Some of the following may be material from the group's CD liner - see Christ Church web page. Performances The vocal group performs the weekly Office of Compline at the church on Sunday evenings at 9 p.m. (October through April). Compline is the name of the last Office (service) of the monastic day - a ceremony of closing prayers before bed. Its origins date back to the 4th Century monastic custom of private prayer and devotion before retiring. St. Benedict is responsible for the name of the office, its liturgical character and arrangement. The group sings the Compline Service a cappella (without accompaniment) and combines Gregorian chant and early, baroque, and twentieth-century sacred motets. Compline is brief (30 minutes) and performed entirely by candlelight. This restful and serene "service" allows listeners to pause and reflect at the beginning of one week - or the closing of another. CC Compline is free (donations accepted) and everyone is welcome. A prelude on the Craighead-Saunders organ is played as the audience arrives. On the first Sunday of each month, Compline is preceded by a Candlelight Concert beginning at 8:30 p.m. featuring area musicians. Free parking is available in the lot on Lawn Street behind Christ Church. Recordings The Christ Church Schola Cantorum is recognized nationally as a leading ensemble for the performance of early sacred choral music and chant, contemporary music, and choral improvisation. The Schola has produced two CDs, both available through GOTHIC Records; the most recent is a recording of the music of David Conte released on the ARSIS label in 2008. Schola recordings have been broadcast nationally on Minnesota Public Radio and Richard Gladwell's radio show With Heart and Voice. In addition to singing compline, the group performs regularly for local music festivals and concert series such as Eastman's annual EROI Festival, the Rochester Early Music Festival, Music at St. Anne's series, the Memorial Art Gallery, Elmira College Concerts, and others. Stephen Kennedy, Director Kennedy is the founder and director of CC Schola Cantorum, is the music director at Christ Church and Director of Chapel Music and Instructor in Liturgical Music at Bexley Hall Episcopal Seminary. He also teaches at the Eastman School of Music and Nazareth College. He has been a performer and lecturer for local and regional events of the American Guild of Organists, and has given choral workshops in the U.S. and abroad. He composes liturgical and choral music as well as chamber music and compositions incorporating computer-generated sounds and improvisation. 1See also Catholic Encyclopedia and Encyclopedia Britannica

Disabled American Veterans

MONROE COUNTY POWERS CHAPTER #15 The Disabled American Veterans is a nonprofit dedicated to empowering veterans to lead high-quality lives with respect and dignity. They accomplish this by ensuring that veterans and their families can access the full range of benefits available to them; fighting for the interests of America’s injured heroes on Capitol Hill; and educating the public about the great sacrifices and needs of veterans transitioning back to civilian life. Services include: Providing free, professional assistance to veterans and their families in obtaining benefits and services earned through military service and provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and other agencies of government. Providing outreach concerning its program services to the American people generally, and to disabled veterans and their families specifically. Representing the interests of disabled veterans, their families, their widowed spouses and their orphans before Congress, the White House and the Judicial Branch, as well as state and local government. Extending DAV’s mission of hope into the communities where these veterans and their families live through a network of state-level Departments and local Chapters. Providing a structure through which disabled veterans can express their compassion for their fellow veterans through a variety of volunteer programs.

First Universalist Church of Rochester

The First Universalist Church of Rochester in full sepia glory. Photo credit: Rochester Public Library Local History Division The church building was designed by architect Claude Bragdon, and serves as a wonderful example of his desire to express the spirit of Gothic architecture through an American form, not relying on the conventions of Gothic architecture, but instead focusing on facilitating the reincarnation of its spiritual thrust. From their website: "Our congregation is a diverse metropolitan group exhibiting a strong intergenerational feeling of family. We are a thriving, friendly group characterized by enthusiasm and activity. Each of us has an opportunity to participate in a variety of church and social activities. We strive to practice the Unitarian Universalist qualities of equality and tolerance which encompass a wide range of religious ideas and beliefs." The church believes in marriage equality, holding that anyone should have the right to marry regardless of their gender. They are a Host Congregation for RAIHN.