Love Note #15: Your story will eventually be the envy of cities that have fallen on hard times

Name: 585

Years in ROC: All of em

Current home: Swedge

Dear Rochester,

You’re without doubt the most underappreciated girl I’ve ever met. Your personality is second to none, undoubtedly a consequence of your perpetual under appreciation.

You’ve remained standing after your largest employer has virtually vanished in a single generation.

You’ve endured the most offensive and undeserved negative commentary by your own residents and those from other cities who feel some sadistic need to put you down.

You’ve been to hell and back and stand to fight another day, another year, decade, century. Your future is a question mark.

I am overwhelmingly confident, however, that your future is blindingly bright.

You’ve taken more blows than most cities have and will ever know. Beyond that, you’ve withstood these seemingly endless assaults alone.

Unlike your neighbor to the west, which has been showered with billions (literally) of cash, you have quietly stood by, fighting an arguably unwinnable fight with few allies.

Your informed observer is likely aware that your bleeding has come to an end because quite simply, there is little left to take from you. You have experienced profoundly awful days in recent memory. Those days, if not already gone, are nearing their end.

What remains is a city with a proud past and a future that will reveal a renewed Rochester, filled with more pride than its ever known.

Rochester, your future is not defined by the success or self-induced failure of two or three companies. Rather, your days, years and decades ahead will reveal a city with incomparable will. Your story will eventually be the envy of cities that have fallen on hard times.  

Without outside aid, you’ve saved yourself from disaster. What’s more, you’ve paved the way to your own unassailable success story without a compass.

You still have a daunting list of complicated issues to work though. While all of your admirers are painfully aware of each of those issues, we are even more aware of your perseverance and stubborn unwillingness to fail despite astronomical odds.

You’ve been through more than you deserve, Rochester. Fortunately, all of us admirers, secret and known, will continue to support you by playing whatever role we can to help see our beloved home through any tribulation. You’ve more than proven that you deserve our unwavering and unconditional loyalty, love and sheer admiration.

Love always,

585

Love Note #14: These are a few of my favorite things

Name: Pamela Rodgers

I Am: Consultant, MC Coach; StressPoint, Effective Strategies for Healthy Living 

Years in Rochester: 38 

Current Home: Homes Acres 

Dear Rochester,

My friend Laura's co-creation of Rochester Love Notes inspired me to write a fan letter to you, our city. I have never written a fan letter but you deserve our attention. I'll move past my shyness to proclaim my affection. Here are just five things I love about you:

The Public Market on a cold, snowy Saturday before the Christmas Holiday. Here I'll run into other like minded souls all bundled up to buy fresh produce, wreaths, trees or something from the indoor market. I end my visit with a warm cup of Joe and might run into the Market Band belting out oldies and maybe see a Santa or two!

The Patrick O'Rorke bridge is a beautiful structure but far more important is the man our city chose to honor. Patrick O'Rorke was born in Ireland in 1838 and emigrated with his family a year later, moving to Rochester in 1842. O'Rorke began distinguishing himself in school as very bright and graduated high school with highest honors. He was appointed as a cadet to West Point where he graduated first in his class. In 1864, in one of the most bloody battles of the Civil War at Gettysburg, O'Rorke led his Union brigade into a heroic battle to capture Little Round Top. He was killed in the Confederate counterattack while hoisting his units colors, attempting to encourage his men forward. His funeral in Rochester was attended by hundreds. The event was credited with unifying Rochester's diverse community and instilling pride in our city. An important thing to remember when admiring and passing over the bridge that holds his name.

I admire the hours given by over 250 medical volunteers at the St.Joseph's Neighborhood Center.The Center provides comprehensive health care, counseling, adult education and social work to individuals and families who lack access to health insurance. Director Christine Wagner, SSJ. reports that over fifteen hundred patients have visited the medical center totaling over twenty thousand visits per year! What's not to love?

I love the wine column written by Holly Howell in the Democrat and Chronicle. Howell, a Rochester native, is one of a few Certified Sommelier in our city. That may sound very serious (and high honor) but Holly is down to earth with her suggestion to branch out a bit and try wines perhaps unknown to us. Holly is a HUGE advocate of our Finger Lakes wines, suggesting we all ask to see more on local restaurant's wine lists. Reading Holly's column is a fun way to go to school. 

The yearly Rochester International Jazz Fest! I can buy a Jazz Pass that let's me select from hundreds of music venues in downtown Rochester in the pretty month of June. Or dance in the street to some of the best free musical entertainment to be found in one place, anywhere. Created by John Nugent, Artistic Director and Marc Iacona, Executive Director. The title sponsor is Xerox. It's a must. This is our city at her best!

So pardon my fan letter to our lovely city. It's a love fest and maybe I've gotten over being shy about it. Who else? What do you love about our unique city?

Love,

Pamela

New Year's Resolutions

The beginning of 2014 brings new hope, exciting new opportunities, and new leadership to Rochester. With a new year before us, the Rochester Love Notes team resolves to breathe new life into our mission to share a message of deep love for Rochester with a global audience. Here are our official 2014 resolutions, all brainstormed with love. Happy New Year!

In 2014, Rochester Love Notes resolves to: 

1. Rally around Rochester's first woman mayor as she takes office and leads our City into a new era

2. Forge new connections and collaborations with all the groups – large and small, nonprofit, grassroots, and otherwise – working to revitalize our City

3. Help to spread the word about re-imagining vacant properties in the City as vibrant places. Every day.

4. Support efforts to continue to bring back Downtown. By eating there. By shopping there. By walking there. And bringing friends there.

5. Be a commercial  - or “Brand Ambassador” – for our City wherever we go.

We hope you had a great holiday season, and that 2014 brings you many opportunities to embrace and fall in love with the City of Rochester, NY.

Love,

Laura/Tanya/Ana