Rochester
Morning News
Wednesday, November 26th, 2025
Good morning, Rochester. Here's your local news at a glance for Wednesday, the 26th of November.
COMMUNITY NEWS
- ➤ Rochester Public Market is planning a festive holiday season — community members can expect seasonal events and celebrations as winter draws near. ABC 13
BUSINESS NEWS
- ➤ Oak Hill Country Club will begin a trial on Dec. 1 over a dispute about whether board member Eugene Baldino resigned or was forced out—lawyers for the club claim he quit before a vote. State Supreme Court Justice Daniel Doyle will preside and the trial is expected to last until Dec. 22 as membership tensions and legal filings drive the case forward. Rochester Beacon
CRIME NEWS
- ➤ Local officials warn Monroe County seniors that scammers are using imposter, romance, sweepstakes, grandparent and tech phishing tactics to steal personal information—affected individuals should verify calls and online details before transferring money and report any losses immediately. Democrat & Chronicle
CULTURE NEWS
- ➤ Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra and Rochester City Ballet have teamed up for the 26th production of The Nutcracker, which premieres today at 7 p.m. in Kodak Hall at Eastman Theatre and runs until November 30 — it will return December 5-7 at Fort Hill Performing Arts Center. News 10
- ➤ Kristen Oehlrich is the new CEO of the National Women's Hall of Fame, and the Hall will hold its Sept. 2026 induction ceremony in Rochester to honor women from many fields. Oehlrich brings nearly twenty years of work with art and museums—she will guide plans for new programs while nominees are chosen by public vote and expert review. Democrat & Chronicle
- ➤ Rochester’s Genesee Keg Tree was named Newsweek’s Best Christmas Tree 2026 by reader votes and is built from more than 650 beer kegs — wrapped in over 25,000 lights. The tree will be celebrated at Genesee Brewery’s Keg Tree Lighting party on Dec. 5 with music, food trucks, and special brews. News 10
- ➤ Emmet Otter's Jug Band will perform their Christmas show at OFC Creations Theatre Center in Brighton from today to Dec. 7. Chris Lopez interviewed the band ahead of the event. ABC 13
EDUCATION NEWS
- ➤ Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library of Rochester provided its 100,000th free book to a local preschooler on November 25th at Flower City School 54. State Sen. Jeremy Cooney announced that the state budget included $1 million for Imagination Libraries—$49,000 of which went to the Rochester chapter—and he will push for $7 million for the program next year. WXXI News
- ➤ At Rochester Institute of Technology, a program that trains veterans in electronics manufacturing is expanding thanks to a $700,000 state grant—this grant will provide stipends, job fair access, and transportation, while training covers three weeks of technical skills and one week of workplace preparation. The initiative, led by RIT professors, will serve 60 veterans over the next two years with an 80% job placement rate. News 10
- ➤ Moses Aponte, a recent School of the Arts graduate, is honored for caring for his grandmother’s home while keeping a 4.0 GPA and serving as secretary of the Black Student Union. He now studies business at Monroe Community College—his family friend submitted his award nomination to the Rochester Police Department. News 10
- ➤ Rochester City School District officials are working to fix payroll problems that began on July 2 after switching from PeopleSoft to Oracle and have resolved over 900 of about 2,200 issues while planning to add more payroll staff by year-end. The union says between 100 and 150 summer teachers still have not been paid (missing deduction transfers are also a concern) (officials worry about long-term sustainability). Democrat & Chronicle
GOVERNMENT NEWS
- ➤ Rochester officials announced plans for a year-long celebration of the city's five-petal lilac mark — the Flower City logo — which will turn 50 next year. Mayor Malik Evans said events will include a flag change to a blue background, a documentary premiere, a June festival, and a commemorative book sale in 2026. WXXI News
HEALTH NEWS
- ➤ Patients recovering from brain injuries, strokes and spinal surgeries at Unity Hospital prepared a Thanksgiving dinner on Tuesday at the Golisano Rehab Center—an annual event that has helped them rebuild strength and daily living skills for nearly 20 years. The kitchen activity included tasks like peeling potatoes and preparing recipes to guide their therapy. News 10
- ➤ Michael Apostolakos from University of Rochester Medical Center advised locals six months and older to get a flu vaccine and wash hands to lower illness risks during Thanksgiving gatherings—he also recommended choosing healthy foods and resting at home if feeling unwell. Democrat & Chronicle
LIFESTYLE NEWS
- ➤ Rochester’s airport operated smoothly Tuesday as officials managed more than 52,000 scheduled flights and AAA reported that over 81.8 million people traveled 50 miles or more by car ahead of Thanksgiving, while authorities expect Wednesday to be the busiest road travel day and have issued a Yellow Alert for Thursday and Friday due to an approaching cold front—bringing wind and lake-effect snow that may reduce visibility. News 10
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Race with Grace 5K and 10K
1:30-4 p.m. — 3651 Latta Rd, Rochester, NY — Registration fee applies — Participate in the annual Race with Grace to support the community and enjoy a fun day of running.
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Rochester Americans vs Syracuse Crunch
7:05-8:35 p.m. — Blue Cross Arena — Check event for ticket prices — Watch the exciting showdown between regional hockey rivals in an action-packed evening.
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NUTCRACKER! Magical Christmas Ballet
2-8:30 p.m. — West Herr Auditorium Theatre / RBTL — Ticket prices vary — Experience a magical ballet with dazzling costumes and sets for the whole family.
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Rochester Americans vs Utica Comets
7:05-8:35 p.m. — Blue Cross Arena — Stream on FloHockey — Catch the thrilling matchup between the Americans and Comets in this live hockey broadcast.
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A Charlie Brown Christmas
7:00-8:30 p.m. — Kodak Center — Tickets start at $72 — Experience the heartwarming tale of Charlie Brown and friends this holiday season.
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Winter Faire
10 AM – 4 PM — The Strathallan Rochester Hotel & Spa — Free entry — Experience a whimsical holiday celebration with local artisans and festive activities across two distinct markets.
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& Juliet
& Juliet — 7:30-9:00 p.m. — West Herr Performing Arts Center — Tickets starting at $78 — Experience a unique twist on the classic story of Romeo and Juliet with this vibrant musical.
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Lehigh Valley Phantoms vs. Rochester Americans
5:05-6:35 PM — Blue Cross Arena — Stream online for FloHockey subscribers — Don't miss out on this exciting AHL showdown between two competitive teams.
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Samantha Fish Live
7-10 p.m. — Temple Theater — Ticket prices vary — Experience an unforgettable night of blues and rock 'n' roll with Grammy-nominated artists blending tradition and innovation.
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Rochester Americans vs Utica Comets
7:05-8:35 p.m. — Blue Cross Arena — Check local listings for pricing — Catch the Utica Comets face off against the Rochester Americans live on FloHockey.
No new real estate listings today. You can submit one here.
No new job posts today. You can submit one here.
No new community announcements today. You can submit one here.
TODAY'S FOOD FOR THOUGHT
The creative adult is the child who survived.
~ Ursula K. Le Guin
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