Community Corner

🌱 Patch AM: See where Midtown Plaza’s iconic holiday wreath is shining again.

Also, don't miss Deepak Thettu on the Rochester Patch calendar

Patch AM Team's profile picture
Patch AM Team, Patch StaffVerified Patch Staff Badge
Wednesday December 24th Patch AM
Wednesday December 24th Patch AM (Patch graphic)

Good morning Rochester! We're back again in your inbox, keeping you updated with what's happening in and around town. ☀️

In today's newsletter:

  • See where Midtown Plaza’s iconic holiday wreath is shining again.
  • Remember riding the Midtown monorail at Christmastime? Relive it here
  • How a University of Rochester student turned letters into global support

Also on today's calendar: Cleveland Monsters at Rochester Americans and 5 more events.

Find out what's happening in Rochesterfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

Today's riddle: I used to work in a doughnut shop. 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

Find out what's happening in Rochesterfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

  • Wednesday: Breezy in the morning, with a high of 35 and low of 28 degrees.
  • Thursday: Breezy with low clouds, temps: high: 39, low: 19. ⛄️ Brr!
  • Friday: Colder with fluffy snow, 3-6", with a high of 28 and low of 25 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

1. Historic McCurdy's holiday wreath returns to Rochester (13wham.com) — A beloved piece of Midtown Plaza history is back on display in downtown Rochester, as the original McCurdy’s holiday wreath now hangs inside Tower280 beside the restored Clock of Nations. Property owner Buckingham Properties says the installation is part of a broader effort to preserve Rochester’s cultural history, including a section of the old Midtown Plaza Monorail showcased next door at The Grove.
   

2. A nostalgic look at Midtown Plaza Christmas magic in Rochester (stargazette.com) — Rochester residents get a warm trip down memory lane with vintage photos of Midtown Plaza’s famous Christmas displays, monorail rides, and Tuba Christmas concerts. The gallery spans decades of holiday traditions, from McCurdy’s windows to Magic Mountain, capturing how downtown once buzzed with seasonal magic and family outings.
   

3. Spreading good cheer through Letters of Gold (spectrumlocalnews.com) — A University of Rochester medical student is spreading kindness worldwide through Letters of Gold, a nonprofit that sends handwritten encouragement to people like refugees, abuse survivors, and cancer patients. Based in Rochester, the group has mailed over 5,000 letters and launched TINT, an initiative providing sun-safety education and supplies to underserved communities, especially people of color.
   

4. Golden Apple Award: Congratulations to Madison Klidonas! (rochesterfirst.com) — An East Rochester High School English teacher, Madison Klidonas, has been honored with the Golden Apple Award for her energetic, student-centered teaching. Nominated by one of her own students, she’s praised for making class relevant, fun, and a safe space for learning, drawing on a lifelong family tradition of helping others in the Rochester area.
   

5. 'Rochester' named in new Epstein docs (rochesterfirst.com) — Rochester is repeatedly mentioned in newly released FBI notes from the Jeffrey Epstein case, and investigators are trying to determine whether those references mean Rochester. The notes appear to describe photos tied to a witness interview involving clubs and young girls, and News 8 plans to ask the FBI directly about any local connection.
   

📸 Around Rochester

Show off your photography skills and the sights around town! Click here to submit your Photo of the Day to Patch AM!

🗓 Upcoming Events in Rochester

Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!

★ Featured events ★

    Saturday December 27
  • Deepak Thettu
    Brown Hound Downtown, Memorial Art Gallery, 500 University Ave, Rochester
    11:00 am

Want to see your event featured? Click here!

Other local events

📣 Rochester Shout Outs!

Want to say something great about someone in town? Click here to submit your Shout Out to Patch AM! It's free!

🗓 Events Nearby

    Thursday December 25
  • Holiday - Town Hall is closed.
    Brighton Calendar Rochester, NY 14618
    • Saturday December 27
  • Wrestling:Boys Varsity vs Eastridge
    Spencerport High School
    9:00 am
  • Mindful MAGiC: Martyrs Water Meditation
    Memorial Art Gallery , 500 University Ave , Rochester
    9:15 am
  • Cultural Connections
    Children's Center, Central Library Central -
    2:00 pm

Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.

Want to see your business here? Click here to connect with local customers.

💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

  • Please share & repost to help reunite this stray dog!
    FOUND on December 22, 2025 in Rochester, NY 14621 near Keeler street Sharing for a neighbor. For the latest information or to contact the finder,… (Nextdoor Lyell-Otis)
  • Lost dog found at LA Fitness at 1867 West Ridge Rd in Greece at 5 am on 12/23/25.
    Contact Greece Animal Services at 585-581-4025 to get connected with the finder. (Nextdoor )
  • TradeJobsWorkforce posted a job opening for United Airlines Ticket Counter Agent in Rochester. Apply here.
  • AAA of Western & Central NY posted a job opening for Tow Technician in Rochester. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Rochester here.

Ok Rochester! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: I got tired of the hole business.
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!

👉 Help make Patch AM better

We use a combination of real people and machines to tell you what’s happening around town. Learn more about Patch AM.

Share to NextDoor     Share to Facebook

Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

More from Rochester