News Blog

The Rochester Transit Service will hold a “How to Ride the Bus” orientation from 10 a.m. to noon on Tuesday, April 29, at the RGRTS administration building, 1372 East Main Street. This is the first of a series designed to help first-time riders or those who might need a refresher. It is free and open to the public.

The workshop will be conducted by RTS Customer Service and includes a test ride on an RTS bus.
The orientation will cover how much the fare costs, how to purchase fares and use the farebox, how to request your stop and get off the bus, and more.

Information on how to ride the bus is also available at www.rgrta.com.

For more information or to register, contact RTS Customer Service at (585) 288-1700 or email [email protected].


The North Winton Village annual neighborhood meeting is at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, April 30, at Browncroft Baptist Church, 420 Winton Road. Special guests will be Rochester Deputy Mayor Leonard Redon and county District Attorney Sandra Doorley.


There will be a community speak out against police violence at the corner of Bartlett Street and Jefferson Avenue from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Thursday, May 1.

And there will be a march against police violence and racism from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, May 3, starting at the corner of Bartlett and Jefferson.

The events are part of the Flying Squirrel’s "Springing into Action Against Police Brutality and Misconduct" series. BY CHRISTINE CARRIE FIEN


Thursday is a crucial date in the long, sad saga of Irondequoit’s Medley Centre.

That’s the deadline for mall owner Bersin Properties to make an approximately $3.8 million payment to the Town of Irondequoit, East Irondequoit School District, and Monroe County Industrial Development Agency. If the company doesn’t come through, COMIDA will terminate Bersin’s tax-incentive agreement and Bersin would likely face legal action.

The company, which is owned by developer Scott Congel, failed to make its annual payment earlier this year. And officials say it also failed to meet investment requirements, which resulted in approximately $3.5 million in penalties.

Bersin Properties representatives have said the company didn’t have money to invest in the mall once it lost its financing from Japanese bank Nomura. Congel has unsuccessfully argued that his tax agreement should be renegotiated.

State Assembly member Joe Morelle has said that it may be time for a new developer — one who can secure financing – to take over the redevelopment of the moribund mall. BY JEREMY MOULE 


Rochester Downtown Development Corporation will present “Downtown Rising,” a look at projects going on downtown, on Friday, May 2.

About six projects will be discussed, such as the new downtown grocery store, the Inner Loop, and the Hive lofts project.

The event will be held at the Rochester Riverside Convention Center on East Main Street. An exhibit of project design renderings will be available from 11 a.m. to noon, followed by a luncheon and speakers from noon to 1:30 p.m.

Individual tickets: $45 for RDDC members; $50 for non-members. Reservations: [email protected] or 546-6920. BY TIM LOUIS MACALUSO