Interview by Emily Hessney Lynch.

Published March 29, 2018.

Where are you originally from? What brought you to Rochester?

I grew up in Connecticut near Springfield, Massachusetts. I moved just outside of Utica when I was 16. Looking back now, I see it as a time when my family all grew together, but at 16, I did not want to move. I stayed in Central New York for two years and then moved to Rochester to attend St. John Fisher College.

Since staying here after college, Rochester has started to feel more like home. I attended Warner for graduate school and did student teaching in the city and in Webster. I felt like I could find a place where I fit here in Rochester. Now, I work at WXXI as the Manager of Educational Training and Family Engagement and I love it!

What is your favorite part of living in Rochester?

I feel like I belong. When people think there’s not much to do here, they’re not paying attention or looking hard enough! We have so many awesome things. From the arts community to our interesting restaurants, it’s just a really motivated community. I’m constantly seeing things that I’m like “Oh, I would go to that, I would do this.” I’m part of this system here, and I love seeing it grow. Development is important too, and it shows people care about the city. Being connected to people who love it here makes it even shinier.

Do you have any favorite/secret Rochester spots? 

The Central Library is a treasure. It’s big and awesome, and the children’s library has an amazing staff. The neighborhood libraries are great at serving their patrons’ specific needs, but Central serves everyone, from the City proper to Monroe County as a whole. There’s a wow factor when you walk in. You can see the old and the new/updated, and it shows how much we’ve grown.

The Toy Library at the Lincoln Library is another great spot. It’s this cool space where families play and can borrow toys. They have everything, from kitchens to castles! It’s at Avenue D and Joseph, and is such a hidden treasure. The library promotes it but lots of families still don’t know about it, so it’s never bustling.

What's the most unique or interesting event you've attended in Rochester? 

Fringe Festival. My husband is a sports guy, so he’ll choose more sports activities, and I’ll choose city stuff like Fringe. In the past, I’ve encouraged him to come check out the free events on Fridays and Saturdays during the festival, and there’s always something weird and unexpected going on. It’s like being in a theatre performance. You get to go to things you’d never think about. All you have to do is pop in and you have the chance to grow as a person. Just step into it.

A few years ago, my parents came to RoCo’s 6x6 exhibit with us. My dad is “not an art person,” but he just sat on a bench and took it all in. The exhibit’s not something you would stumble on normally, but we get to visit it here without much effort. My dad loves Rochester so much now that he says if he had to retire to a place with cold weather instead of warm, he’d pick Rochester!

Do you have a favorite charity/nonprofit you like to support? 

All of our pets are from the city pound, so we love Verona Street. The work they do is so needed. It’s really easy to give back to Verona Street by doing something as simple and small as buying and donating extra dog food and treats. Additionally, I work at WXXI and love public media and the work we do.

Rochester also has tons of different grassroots ways to give back. My mother-in-law saw a Facebook post that inspired her to knit together plastic bags to make mats for the homeless, and lots of people participated in this project!

If you had $100 and 2 hours to kill in Rochester, how would you spend the money/time? 

The first thing that comes to mind is giving it to a good cause, like buying books for kids or dog food for Verona Street.

If I had to actually spend time and money on myself, I’d go back and visit places I haven’t been to in awhile, or visit new coffee shops. I’d go to the MAG and hang out and enjoy it, or go get lunch at a new restaurant. But most likely, though, I’d probably donate it and go home and snuggle with my dogs.

What's your favorite neighborhood in the city? 

The North Winton Village--it feels most like a neighborhood to me. My husband grew up there and a lot of his friends settled down in that area too. We can walk or ride our bikes to visit our friends. Some of them own bars or restaurants in the area too, so we can visit our friends’ establishments. Also, neighbors really want to get to know each other here. It’s nice, and there’s a more mellow vibe overall.

What's the best place to get a garbage plate?

Dogtown. There are always a lot of options. It’s not super frilly, but it’s also not dirty. It’s a cute and tiny place, but they’re not trying to impress anyone. It’s not fancy, but you also don’t feel like you’re gonna die afterwards.

What is your personal coping mechanism for cold/gray weather?

We like to go on vacation to warmer places. We always plan them for chilly times so we can get away. Even little trips, like visiting my sister in Philadelphia, helps break up the winter.

I also try to stay moving by doing yoga at home or going to the gym. I can’t just sit at home on the couch. I do try to catch up on books, seeing friends, and spending time with family. Winter lets you not feel guilty about not getting out.

What is your favorite Rochester memory?

I got married at City Hall, and it felt so awesome and magical there. It felt different because it was such a special day. And yet, regular duties happen there all the time! Our amazing officiant made it feel special too. Of course, your wedding day is an important day, but it felt extra-important because of the historic, beautiful, gigantic space.

What makes Rochester unique?

The people and what motivates them. I’ve watched awesome things happen here--new business ventures, festivals, and more. People aren’t afraid to try things here. We’ve had so many different identities as a city, that we can try new things and see what sticks. I work with families and it’s fun to watch them explore too.

What do you think could be improved?

There’s definitely an overlap of work being done and we could be more efficient. Many folks are working at the same issues, but not together. Lots of politics come into play. We just need to keep working. We can make a huge impact if we join together. There’s a lot of collaboration, but I still want more!

If Rochester was a drink, what would it be?

It would be a craft beer. We have so many small breweries, and I think that’s telling--it shows that people want to try new things and seek out places that carry those kinds of unique beers. We’re trying to be cool, and figure out what younger people want and how to get them to stay. We’re seeing a ripple effect, and it’s nice.

What advice would you give to someone who's new to Rochester and wants to start getting to know the area?

Get your library card! And, exploring is key. Say yes to a lot of things, and you’ll start to see so much of what our community is. Go to Hart’s, even if you don’t buy anything--you’ll start to see who our people are. Check out places that seem like nothing--sometimes that’s where the most interesting people are. You’ll learn something new and be surprised. Be willing to go anywhere and everywhere. Put yourself out there. We have so many staples in our community, but also tons of smaller, hidden things. Those smaller things give you a broader view of our community.