Rochester Touts Great American Main Street Status

City celebrates award given in April by National Trust for Historic Preservation.

With Rochester's newly minted status as a Great American Main Street Awards winner, Mayor Stuart Bikson sees big things on the horizon for the city and its downtown district. "We feel this really puts us on the map as a downtown," Bikson said Tuesday during a press conference at the Royal Park Hotel touting the city's award.  The National Trust for Historic Preservation announced on April 14 that Rochester had been chosen as one of just three winners in the U.S. in the group's 2013 Great American Main Street Awards. The honor is rare and coveted amongst cities with vibrant and historic downtowns, and it turns out the third time was the charm for Rochester, according to Kristi Trevarrow, executive director of the Rochester Downtown …

•  1 Comment
• Photos (1)
• Videos (1)

Tiffany Dziurman Stozicki

9:06 am on Wednesday, May 22, 2013

Congratulations to the DDA, City, volunteers and all who helped make this award possible!   more ›

MI Earth Day Fest Continues Today With Parade in Rochester

Parade, pep rally greet Day 2 of annual festival.

The MI Earth Day Parade will kick off Day 2 of the MI Earth Day Festival. The parade steps off at 11 a.m. Saturday east of the Rochester Mills Beer Co. building at 4th and Water streets and ending at the festival's main stage with a pep rally until noon. Rochester Police bikers will lead a parade of green walkers, bikers, musicians, performers, drummers, pets, dancers, displays and more. Lineup for the parade will begin at the activities tent at 10:30 a.m. in the parking lot behind the Rochester Mills building. Marchers may park in any available public parking lot. The parade route is a half-mile. It will run north to the Paint Creek Trail and follow the trail south to Second Street, then west onto Third Street and north along Water, …

•  6 Comments
• Photos (2)

Patricia Kane

8:39 am on Tuesday, April 30, 2013

Thanks-in our neck of the woods (city) there is no night time--at least not on our property. A couple of neighbors decided to turn the night into day-6 carriage lights (backyard/garage only) and illuminate right through our house and a rental. Pocket size yards, 20 foot driveways and the illumination is 150 feet beyond their property line. There is no reasoning with this "mind set" and the …   more ›

Patch Tips

Rochester Skateboard Expert Shows How to Shop for a Board

Steve Robertson from South Street Skateshop in Rochester gives tips on buying the right equipment.

Whether it's you or your son or daughter looking to ride, Steve Robertson from Rochester's South Street Skateshop wants to make sure you choose the right skateboard. According to Robertson, it's important to get a board that feels right, including the right width and curve. Other things to consider, according to Robertson: Watch the clip above for Roberton's tips and good luck riding!

• Videos (1)

Local Runner to Complete Boston Marathon in Rochester

A runner from Shelby Township will get her chance to finish the final leg of the Boston Marathon Thursday during a run in Rochester.

Nancy Smith was nearly one mile from the finish line of the Boston Marathon when she was directed off the course after the explosions at the finish line. While she was unable to finish her 13th marathon on April 15, she will have her chance Thursday in Rochester. Smith, a third-grade teacher at Roberts Elementary, and Stephanie Schreiber Bland will take part in the Your Pace or Mine Running Club run dedicated to the 2013 Boston Marathon at 6 p.m. Thursday, April 25, at Rochester Municipal Park, 608 Seventh St, Rochester. They will be wearing their bibs and shirts, and will have medals placed around their necks at the finish. "I'm so grateful to them for providing this sense of emotional closure for me," Smith wrote in an email. "I know the…

•  1 Comment
• Photos (1)

Melissa Gronzo

9:53 pm on Tuesday, April 23, 2013

Yeah Nancy. We are so proud of you!!   more ›

Spring Gallery Stroll Comes to Downtown Rochester Tonight

Event runs from 6-9 p.m. at 9 businesses in downtown Rochester.

Downtown Rochester's galleries and businesses are ready for this year's Spring Gallery Stroll, which runs 6-9 p.m. on Friday. This year's event covers nine local businesses and galleries, including first-timers Holy Cannoli's, Dessert Oasis Coffee Roasters, Trent Design and Subjectively Objective: A Photographic Gallery. The twice-yearly gallery strolls provide an opportunity for art lovers and those looking for a fun evening on the town to walk from one site to another, discovering new artists and meeting area business owners. Participating galleries include: Check the map at the right of this story for locations to plan your walking tour. The exhibit is supported by the Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs, the National …

• Photos (1)

DDA Allowing Rochester Donors to 'Own' a Piece of Downtown

Downtown Development Authority launches Downtown Streetscape Sponsorship Program.

The Rochester Downtown Development Authority (DDA) is offering the opportunity to “own” a piece of downtown through its new Downtown Streetscape Sponsorship Program, according to DDA Executive Director Kristi Trevarrow. Items available include street benches ($1,000), corner gardens at all intersections ($1,500), trees ($2,000) and corner planters with four-season plantings ($500), according to Trevarrow. All sponsorships are total amounts are for five-year term, with the exception of the trees, which are forever.  Each sponsorship includes a commemorative plaque with a dedication of the donor's choice, Trevarrow said. “The Main Street Makeover resulted in a beautiful new streetscape that enhances the downtown experience,” Trevarrow said…

•  10 Comments
• Photos (1)

Ron Harman

7:59 pm on Thursday, April 11, 2013

NOTE!!!! ..... The Most recent Post By brendisernest ??? THE POST MADE TONIGHT AT 7:30PM BY brendisernest IS NOTHING MORE THAN A SOMETIMES VIRUS LOAD LINK!!! GO THERE AT YOUR OWN COMPUTER'S RISK!   more ›

What Should Move Into Firebrick Gallery & Pottery Studio Space?

Visions for Vacancies: Former pottery studio sits empty in downtown Rochester.

In a downtown with a business base as dense as Rochester's, sometimes a vacant building can stand out, calling extra attention to the fact it's not currently occupied. Such is the case with the former Firebrick Gallery & Pottery Studio space at 404 S. Main St., a bright red storefront in the heart of downtown.  What would you like to see in this space? Chime in with suggestions in the comments below. We'll run this as a weekly feature here on Rochester Patch, highlighting vacant properties and prompting some brainstorming from readers about what they'd like to see in town.

•  38 Comments
• Photos (1)

David Gifford

3:50 pm on Thursday, May 9, 2013

There is a Little Caesar's in the K Mart. Dan Good, Hungry Howie's, Domino's, Tower Pizza, Smack Water Jack's. We have a lot of pizza in this town!   more ›

MI Earth Day to Return to Rochester on April 26-28

Event features healthy living exhibits, food and family-friendly activities.

One of the planet's largest Earth Day events, the MI Earth Day Fest, returns to downtown Rochester on April 26-28 after a three-year hiatus. The 2010 event drew more than 50,000 attendees. Featuring green and healthy living exhibits, presentations, programs and networking, as well as entertainment, awards, food and family fun, the MI Earth Day Fest will highlight environmental issues and solutions through education, product/service innovation and community building. Admission is free. The event is sponsored by Pure Eco Environmental Solutions, Republic Services, Bosch Automotive and Meijer. "Earth Day is the world's largest secular observance, and we're joining the celebration with an event planned to inspire, entertain and educate about …

•  1 Comment
• Photos (1)

If You Rob Us in Rochester, You're Going To Be Caught, Shop Owner Says

Pamela Krampf expresses her gratitude to police and to the downtown restaurant that was instrumental in solving the armed robbery at her jewelry store.

The owner of a downtown Rochester jewelry shop that was robbed at gunpoint last fall said this week she is "extraordinarily happy and thankful" that the men who police say are responsible for the theft have been caught. On Tuesday, Rochester Police announced the arrest of three men in connection with the robbery of Antiques and Fine Jewelry by Pamela. Two men, Johnny Matthew Hall, 32, of Troy, and Kevin Andrew Papuga, 22, of White Lake Township, were charged with armed robbery in the case. A third man, whom Rochester Police have not identified, is cooperating with police and was charged in Macomb County on an unrelated narcotics charge.  "We hope this is a deterrent, that if you come and rob us in Rochester, you're going to be pursued …

•  3 Comments
• Photos (1)

Ron Harman

3:42 pm on Sunday, March 24, 2013

Good Reply Bob!   more ›

Chicken Shack Tip Leads to Arrests in Downtown Rochester Jewelry Theft

Police say a meal at the Rochester restaurant just before the November robbery of Antique's by Pamela led to the arrests of two men. A third man has cooperated with police and is charged with an unrelated crime.

The men responsible for restraining an employee of a downtown Rochester jewelry store with duct tape while robbing the store at gunpoint last fall have been caught, police say. Rochester Police Chief Steve Schettenhelm announced the capture of the three men on Tuesday morning: two have been charged with armed robbery and face life in prison; the third man cooperated with police and is being charged with an unrelated crime. Schettenhelm said a meal at Chicken Shack just before the Nov. 2 robbery of Antiques by Pamela ultimately led to the arrest. At 10:45 a.m. that November Friday, three men wearing hoodies, hats and sunglasses walked into the store, where a woman was working alone. The men bound her hands and legs with duct tape and placed…

•  6 Comments
• Photos (2)