Good morning, Rochester.

Construction is underway on the $8.2 million renovation of Genesee Crossroads Park after a groundbreaking ceremony held Tuesday, Sept.

8 in downtown Rochester — the project upgrades public spaces, lighting, landscaping and ADA access while improving connections to the Riverway Trail.

Rochester Animal Services is hosting fee-waived pet adoptions today and on other select dates through October under its Rescue Effect campaign (sponsored by the ASPCA) at venues such as 1 Morrie Silver Way and 184 Verona St for adoptable animals from both shelter and foster care.

Among Friday's events, MCC holds an 8 a.m. ceremony and Spencerport hosts a 10 a.m. wreath-laying; a memorial is unveiled on South Avenue at 11 a.m., and Eastman and St. John Fisher University hold an 11:30 a.m. concert and 3 p.m. stair climb commemorating 9/11 victims and first responders.

Rochester Fringe Festival will start Sept.

15 and continue through Sept. 25 as the JCC hosts 37 shows on three stages—mixing returning favorites and new acts such as Bear Bergman's solo show.

Blackfriars Theatre launches its 77th season with the Tony Award winning play "Eureka Day," running from Sept.

10 to Sept. 20. The show is described as a raucous, comedic experience that follows a consensus-based school in Berkeley, California facing a mumps outbreak.

School started Tuesday for local students, and a report compared school supply prices at Walmart, Target, and Staples.

The report found Walmart offered lower prices on items like a 4-pack of highlighters at $1.87 + more competitive backpack deals than its competitors.

At Harley School, students in a year-long hospice elective build meaningful bonds with older adults and learn life lessons on care and empathy.

The program holds a spring remembrance ceremony where students share transformative experiences with community members in Rochester.

Students returned to school Tuesday, Sept.

8, as Rochester City Schools and several Monroe County districts began classes after Labor Day. Local stations offered live coverage from locations like the Gananda Central District to mark the day.

Rochester is accepting proposals for the Bloomberg Youth Climate Action Fund that will award $50,000 in grants to environmental projects led by local youth aged 15 to 24.

Proposals are due Sept. 25 and selected projects will run until April 15 while co-design sessions foster community collaboration.

This week, local ophthalmologist Dr. Matthew Haynie explained the importance of early eye exams during back-to-school check-ups at ARC Rochester (demonstrating steps for parents when a child does not pass the vision test).

Section V voters can now vote for Football Athlete of the Week based on game highlights from Aug.

31 to Sept. 6, with polling closing at 8 p.m. Thursday (the winner will be announced on Instagram Friday).

Jessica Pegula reached the U.S. Open quarterfinals for the third time after winning matches on Friday and Sunday at Arthur Ashe Stadium, and she faced Emma Navarro on Tuesday at 7 p.m. ET (she holds a 4-0 record over Navarro).