Good morning, Rochester.

Rochester Beacon celebrated eight years on Sunday following its Oct.

18 launch and continues to grow despite challenges faced by local newspapers. The nonprofit plans to boost support through its NewsMatch fundraising campaign starting Nov. 1 to help double its revenue for long term sustainability.

Willow Family Justice Center opened at Skyview on the Ridge Tuesday, Oct.

20. The new facility brings together agencies to offer counseling, a clothing closet, a food pantry, and a wellness space for survivors.

Phoenix Tailings, a Massachusetts-based company, will build a 500,000 sqft rare earth separation facility at Eastman Business Park to process materials used in electric vehicles, electronics and defense gear — operations will start in 2027 with full production in 2028.

USA TODAY’s Readers’ Choice Awards picked Long Island MacArthur Airport as the best small airport and ranked Frederick Douglass Greater Rochester International Airport ninth + the results were announced on Oct.

20.

Wegmans was named the top retail workplace on the 2026 Fortune Best Workplaces in Retail list (11th year in a row) based on survey responses from over 76,000 retail employees.

Employees will celebrate with mini cupcakes and clementines on Saturday, Oct. 24 at 11 a.m.

Tickets are on sale for the 34th annual 'The Nutcracker' tour at West Herr Auditorium Theatre this December; the ballet airs on Thursday, Dec.

10 at 7 p.m. and features over 40 performers, including local talent through the Dance With US program (with a debut Rat King puppet).

The Little Theatre, a Rochester staple since 1929, marks its 97th anniversary with a series of independent film screenings, music performances and arts displays (including Halloween features) on East Avenue.

Penfield Players is hosting Blithe Spirits, a play that mixes horror and laughs at the Penfield Community Center.

It will run from Oct. 23 to Nov. 7.

Amazon will hire over 1,500 seasonal, part-time and full-time workers locally ahead of the busy holiday season and post job openings weekly from October through December at its Fulfillment Center on Manitou Road in Gates; workers logging at least 30 hours weekly become eligible for healthcare starting Jan. 1.

Gov. Hochul announced that Phoenix Tailings will invest $375 million in a rare-earth processing facility at Eastman Business Park, Greece.

The project will create at least 90 jobs and begin construction early next year, chosen for its strong manufacturing talent and transport links.

RCSD teachers at The Children’s School No. 15 are addressing AI-related cheating by engaging in one-on-one conversations and meeting monthly to share ideas; the district is also introducing an AI chatbot that allows teachers to input lesson materials + lets students choose personalized learning routes.

Rochester City School District is weighing a $465K school-safety plan that would create a command center and add mobile safety units as its contract with the Rochester Police Department expires in March.

Superintendent Eric Jay Rosser said he will update the board on community support by early next year.