Life + Culture

Nurses Honoring Nurses

Monroe County’s Honor Guard Offers Final Tributes to Caregivers Article by Sarah Keeler | Photography by D.P. Soule Photography; Submitted When a nurse’s life and career come to an end, a small but meaningful ritual performed by a local nonprofit ensures their service is remembered. The Nurses Honor Guard (NHG) of Monroe County was founded in 2024 with a simple but powerful mission: “nurses honoring nurses.” The volunteer group attends funerals and hospice bedsides to perform ceremonial...

Life + Culture

Forces of Nature

Building Something Bigger on Their Own Terms Article by Katrina M. Randall | Photography by Kelly Kester Photography "There is no limit to what we as women can accomplish," Michelle Obama once said—and the women of Rochester are living proof. They aren’t just living up to that sentiment, they’re setting a new standard. These women are healing, building and rebuilding, renovating, designing, and creating. Our region is home to women who are thriving in male-dominated fields and leading the way...

Life + Culture

Women to Watch

Rochester's Next Chapter Is Being Written by Women Article by Staff | Photography by Submitted Christina Shipley, Maison & Bouquet Christina Shipley brings a well-traveled aesthetic to Schoen Place in Pittsford, where she recently opened up Maison & Bouquet. She describes her “European-style” boutique as a “love letter to the ‘collected life’—a jewel box of a space." She was raised in Los Angeles and spent her childhood absorbing the art of living well. Shipley says: “A home should look...

Life + Culture

Space to Breathe

The Rise of Women’s Retreats Across the Region Article by Marie Gillette | Photography by Submitted Deep in the woods, alongside lakes, in a subterranean greenhouse, along wooded trails winding through the seasons, women gather. They arrive carrying accumulated exhaustion from holding it all together, the quiet ache of roles that leave little room for their own voices, a longing they can’t quite put into words. Somewhere in the circle, around the fire, on the earth, they begin to set it down. ...

Life + Culture

Genesee Land Trust

Protecting the Places We Love Article by Sarah Keeler | Photography by Submitted As Earth Day approaches, many Rochesterians will head outside—to a favorite trail, nature preserve, or farm stand. What they may not realize is that a local nonprofit has been working for decades to ensure those landscapes remain protected for generations. Founded in 1989, the Genesee Valley Land Trust is dedicated to protecting land and water for wildlife, farmland, and families across the region. Its service...

Life + Culture

Beyond the Spotlight

Service That Continues Beyond the Newsroom Article by Marie Gillette | Photography by Submitted In Rochester, certain faces once felt like part of the family. Don Alhart. Doug Emblidge. Ginny Ryan. Jennifer Johnson. Norma Holland. For decades, they entered homes daily, trusted neighbors delivering the news. Yet, for each of them, serving the community was not limited to stories they reported on air. It was, and remains, a personal investment in the place they call home. For these...

Arts + Culture

Behind the Frame

Spotlighting Local Creativity This April Article by Katrina M. Randall | Photography by Submitted When we invited local artists and photographers to submit their work for consideration on our cover, the response was nothing short of inspiring—from moody waterscapes to iconic Rochester watercolors and everything in between. This issue is themed “investments," and for these artists, the investment is in their creativity and artistic voice, something we’re proud to celebrate in our April issue. ...

Life + Culture

Memories Over Materialism

Choosing Experiences Over Gifts to Create Lasting Memories Article by Katrina M. Randall | Photography by Submitted When Bradford and Jilly Berry’s daughter Harper was five, the then-Gananda residents decided that before she started school, they would travel. They sold their house, bought an RV, and set off across the country “to show her all the places materialism kept us from seeing,” Bradford says. While their journey was extraordinary, the sentiment behind it isn’t. More families are...

Finance + Legal Services

Investing in Peace of Mind

Helping Loved Ones Navigate What’s Next Article by ROC Staff with Brian Blaustein Advice to invest in your future, whether it’s for college, emergency funds, or retirement, is a common refrain. But investments aren't always measured in dollars. A letter of instruction is a way to invest in comfort and guidance for the people we leave behind and simplify their lives during an already difficult time. It’s never too early to create a letter of instruction, and it should be updated as your...

Life + Culture

Modern Homestead Movement

From City Yards to Country Hills Article by Sarah Keeler | Photography by Submitted A quiet but growing movement is taking root across the greater Rochester area. Homesteaders—locals committed to cultivating their own food sources and raising livestock—are redefining what it means to live deliberately in the 21st century. Once seen as a fringe lifestyle relegated to rural areas, homesteading concepts have come to be embraced by city dwellers and suburbanites alike. At its core, homesteading...