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Little Treasures

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Pups, Potential, and the Final Days of Summer

I love August in Rochester. The days are beautifully warm, the lilac leaves are full, and there is that undeniable hum of anticipation in the air as we prepare for a new school year. This month, we are leaning into that energy with our "Kids & Pets" issue—a celebration of the beautiful chaos, incredible potential, and pure joy that the youngest and fluffiest members of our community bring into our lives.

As a parent, I will be the first to admit that navigating the modern world with children is an ever-present challenge. There is no instruction manual, especially when it comes to managing the world of smartphones and social media. I found myself nodding along with our feature on digital parenting. Local families from Irondequoit and Hamlin and Dr. Meredith Gansner from Golisano Pediatric Behavioral Health share some practical advice on creating family media plans and building offline connections. I appreciate learning from the experts— and from other parents who seem to have figured out the right balance!

Speaking of keeping kids grounded, this issue also shines a spotlight on the incredible ways Greater Rochester youth are stepping out of their comfort zones and into leadership. From the Young Entrepreneurs Academy (YEA!) sending local students to National Competitions, to the hands-on business training at Biz Kid$ and WellVentions, our community is proving to be a wealthy launchpad for future CEOs. Seeing these young minds turn simple ideas into real-world enterprises is nothing short of inspiring.

And finally, let's talk about our stars on the cover. Having two pups of my own, I appreciate what it takes to capture a pet's true personality. Local fine arts photographer Jen Semmler has perfected this craft with her "tricks and treats" methodology, catching local canines in moments of pure, alert joy. Her gorgeous work does more than just decorate library walls; her emotional end-of-life portraits and volunteer work with Operation Freedom Ride show the true heart behind her lens.

Inspired by Jen, I did my absolute best to capture my own furry family member in the photo accompanying this letter—though I think I'll leave the true masterpieces to the professionals!

Whether you are enjoying the final lazy days of summer with your kids or cuddling up with a beloved pet, we hope this issue brings a smile to your face.

Thank you for reading, and here's to a beautiful conclusion to our Rochester summer.

Warmly,

August 2026

PUBLISHER

Betty Dolce | betty.dolce@citylifestyle.com

EDITOR

Katrina M. Randall | katrina.randall@citylifestyle.com

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Colleen Farrell | cmfarrell81@gmail.com

Sarah Keeler | sarahkeelerb@gmail.com

Marie Gillette

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER

Renée Veniskey

BETTY DOLCE, PUBLISHER @ROCCITYLIFESTYLE

Corporate Team

CEO Steven Schowengerdt

President Matthew Perry

COO David Stetler

CRO Jamie Pentz

CoS Janeane Thompson

AD DESIGNER Mary Albers

LAYOUT DESIGNER Kathy Nguyen

QUALITY CONTROL SPECIALIST Megan Cagle

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city scene

WHERE NEIGHBORS CAN SEE AND BE SEEN

1: Ribbon Cutting Ceremony for the new Main Street Fairport location of The Mayeu Financial Group 2-4: More fun with Mayeu Financial Group at their 25th Anniversary Celebration 5-7: Mystic Market lit up ARTISANworks with tarot readers, crystals, reiki, and flash tattoos.

RENÉE VENISKEY

business monthly

From Rochester to Roswell: Lunar Moon H20 Has Landed

Lunar Moon H2O has officially landed at the International UFO Museum and Research Center in Roswell, New Mexico. Founded by local entrepreneur Danielle Dyminski, the moon-charged water brand is making waves far beyond New York, proving that bold ideas and a little cosmic inspiration can take a Rochester business all the way to the stars.

Palmer's Market Completes Major Renovation in Henrietta

Palmer's Market on Jefferson Road in Henrietta completed a major renovation, expanding the meat and seafood market by approximately 40%. The five-generation family business, serving the Rochester area for over 175 years, doubled its meat room, added café seating, and updated the storefront with new signage and expanded inventory. Palmer's celebrated its grand reopening on May 23 with a ribbon cutting, food tastings, and giveaways. More info: https://palmersdirecttoyou.com

RPO Names Tonya McBride Robles President & CEO

The Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra announced the appointment of Tonya McBride Robles as president and chief executive officer, effective Aug. 17. A classically trained singer with more than two decades of senior executive experience, McBride Robles previously served as vice president of Expanded Education at the New England Conservatory in Boston and as chief operating officer of both the Baltimore and Nashville Symphonies. She succeeds Curt Long, who led the RPO for nine years.

ARTICLE BY MARIE GILLETTE

BEYOND Lemonade STANDS

Rochester Youth Are Learning the Business of Entrepreneurship

A lemonade stand, often a first taste of entrepreneurship, is simple, hands-on, and full of early lessons in pricing, customers, and profit. Across the Rochester area, youth explore business ownership on a much larger scale through programs that teach leadership, financial literacy, product development, marketing, and real-world business skills.

For more than two decades, Young Entrepreneurs Academy (YEA!) has helped young entrepreneurs turn ideas into reality. Founded in 2004 at the University of Rochester with support from the Kaufman Foundation, YEA! has grown from a local after-school program created by Gayle Jagel into an initiative serving thousands of students through chapters across the country and around the world.

Jagel, a Boston native who has called Rochester home for nearly four decades, says her mission has remained unchanged over the years: “to inspire young people and help them step into their own confidence, demonstrate how they can turn their ideas into enterprises.”

YEA! guides students through every stage of launching a company, from developing business plans and establishing operations to building websites and pitching investors. Jagel says the program “propels entrepreneurial thinking,” beginning with identifying student passions and opportunities to turn those interests into viable businesses.

The year-long program connects participants with business leaders, mentors, educators, and community volunteers, while guest speakers, business visits, and investor panels provide hands-on experience. It culminates in a youth version of “Shark Tank” (notably, Rachel Zeitz, a Boca Raton YEA! student, pitched

her Gladiator Lacrosse business to the real “Sharks” at age 15, becoming one of the show's youngest contestants).

Beyond business ownership, students build leadership, communication, problem-solving, and financial literacy skills while gaining confidence in their ability to turn ideas into action. The goal, Jagel says, is not simply to teach entrepreneurship but to help students become entrepreneurs, arming them with “a solid process they can repeat back at their high school, off in college, off in the world.”

Community support has been a hallmark of YEA! since the beginning, Jagel says. “It's a virtuous circle. Students are energized and enthusiastic, and then the adults begin to see opportunities and become excited, too.”

She believes young people possess a unique entrepreneurial advantage. “Kids aren’t afraid to try things,” she says. “Adults have mortgages, families, responsibilities. Help a young person think about what’s possible, and they’ll go for it.” That willingness to take risks, embrace creativity, and solve problems is precisely what YEA! seeks to nurture.

For 22 years, the organization has shown students that entrepreneurship can begin with a simple idea and the willingness to act. This year's YEA! students from the Golisano Institute for Business & Entrepreneurship demonstrated exactly that spirit.

YEA! Winners Advanced to Nationals

Three regional winners advanced to the 2026 YEA! National Competition, hosted by the University of North Texas in June. Rory Nearpass, an avid outdoorsman and rising ninth grader at McQuaid Jesuit, developed North Dry, a device designed to dry wet hiking boots.

Lily Loewenguth and Arianna Iorio launched The Insider, a company that creates audio and video highlight reels to help student-athletes showcase their leadership, communication, and character to college recruiters.

Inspired by her father’s entrepreneurial success, Iorio, a rising senior at Honeoye Falls-Lima High School, joined YEA! to learn how businesses are built. Her favorite memories include preparing for investor presentations, making new friends, and advancing to nationals. “The program taught me how to communicate with a wide range of people, especially those whose knowledge and experience could help support our business,” she says.

Loewenguth, a rising junior at Our Lady of Mercy School for Young Women, joined YEA! to learn business fundamentals and challenge herself. “I enjoyed having the opportunity to take ownership of the process and learn by doing,” Loewenguth says. She credits the program with strengthening her public speaking, pitching, marketing, sales, and website-development skills while boosting her confidence.

Though previously afraid to make mistakes, Loewenguth says she learned, “Entrepreneurs have the freedom to make decisions, try new ideas, and build something in a way that reflects their own vision. That realization helped me become more confident and trust myself throughout the process."

Iorio’s mother, Catrina, says Arianna “has always been innovative and driven,” and YEA! “gave her the opportunity to turn an idea into a real business concept while building confidence, public speaking skills, and professionalism.” Watching the investor presentations was especially rewarding, she says.

Loewenguth’s mother, Erica, says, “My favorite moments were when the students and sometimes parents had the opportunity to hear firsthand stories from business owners and entrepreneurs. Learning about both the successes and challenges involved in building a sustainable business is invaluable.”

Confidence Beyond YEA!

Andrew Smolowyk, a 2025 Fairport High School graduate now attending the Golisano Institute for Business & Entrepreneurship, credits YEA! with helping shape his future. He entered the program as a high school junior who didn’t consider himself particularly entrepreneurial.

“It’s a virtuous circle. Students are energized and enthusiastic, and then the adults begin to see opportunities and become excited, too.”

Gayle Jagel with contestants at a national competition

“I had a lot of aspiration but not a plan,” he says. That changed with YEA! when he identified a deficiency in baseball training equipment. Inspired by golf technology, he created Sweet Spot, a batting sleeve that fits over a baseball bat and identifies the exact point of ball contact, giving players immediate feedback.

The innovation earned Smolowyk third place at the 2025 YEA! National Competition, and the experience helped him discover a path forward, as he admits, “I wouldn't even have known about Golisano if it hadn't been for YEA!”

Today, while focusing primarily on his studies and helping revive his father’s Snap Alert mouse trap alert business, Smolowyk plans to continue developing Sweet Spot and feels confident in his future. The greatest lessons he learned through the YEA! program were: “Put yourself out there, learn new things, find what’s best for you, and get out of your comfort zone. That's how you grow.”

Long-Term Perspectives and Life Lessons

Geneseo native Eric Meyer, one of the program's early graduates, transformed his passion for filmmaking into the successful Spotlight Video Productions in YEA! And the experience inspired his entrepreneurial spirit through the 20 years since then, as he’s built several successful businesses through his career, including McLean Meyer, his current international real estate development and hospitality firm.

He says YEA! was “the most life-changing program [he] ever participated in,” and it gave him “the confidence, courage, and tools to believe in [him]self and pursue [his] dreams.”

When he returned to speak at YEA!’s 2026 national competition, Meyer shared lessons from failed startups, rejections, layoffs, and other setbacks. He credits YEA! with teaching him resilience. “YEA! taught me to take risks, trust myself, and persevere through challenges from a young age,” Meyer says. “Failure is okay if you learn from it and grow from it. The best road to success is making your own way rather than following the crowd."

That message resonates with Jagel as she reflects on more than 20 years of helping students launch businesses and discover their potential. "It's all about leadership, ownership, potential, and promise," she says. "I created this to be fun and empowering."

For Rochester-area students and thousands more across the country, YEA! continues to demonstrate that entrepreneurship is about more than profits. By connecting young people with mentors and real-world opportunities, the program helps them build confidence, solve problems, and pursue their ambitions.

Rochester is Ripe with Opportunities for Young Entrepreneurs

Rochester-area colleges and universities offer opportunities that expose younger students to innovation, business concepts, and entrepreneurship, providing students with early experiences on college campuses while introducing them to creative problem-solving, leadership development, and entrepreneurial thinking. These experiences can help students envision future educational and career pathways while building skills that are valuable in a variety of professions.

Together, organizations such as YEA!, Biz Kid$, Prosper Rochester, and the Young Entrepreneur Marketplace help local youth explore entrepreneurship in meaningful ways. Whether students become business owners or pursue other careers, the lessons learned through entrepreneurship—initiative, creativity and innovation, resilience, communication, and leadership—can serve them well throughout their lives.

Building Future CEOs

Biz Kid$, offered through the City of Rochester's Department of Recreation and Human Services, helps Rochester youth explore entrepreneurship through hands-on experiences that help them learn business fundamentals while developing leadership and teamwork skills. Biz Kid$ Camp participants engage in activities focused on idea creation, budgeting, branding, pricing, sales, and business decision-making. The program is offered through camp sessions serving youth ages 10–18. Participants are encouraged to think creatively, develop business concepts, and build confidence as future entrepreneurs. Biz Kid$ helps youth develop skills including leadership, social communication, creativity, public speaking, professionalism, and graphic design through entrepreneurshipfocused programming.

Andrew Smolowyk, a 2025 Fairport High School graduate now attending the Golisano Institute for Business

Entrepreneurship With Community Impact

For some Rochester youth, entrepreneurship also serves as a vehicle for personal growth and community engagement. Prosper Rochester operates WellVentions, a job-readiness and career-exposure program that combines social-emotional learning with business training. Through the program, youth develop products and help manage a business presence at the Rochester Public Market. Participants gain experience in product development, marketing, customer interaction, and sales.

Prosper Rochester reports that youth participants have sold more than $125,000 in products through the WellVentions program over the past decade, with proceeds supporting training, student stipends, and additional product development. The organization's website also notes that more than $200,000 from product sales has been reinvested in training opportunities and program growth, reflecting the continued expansion of the initiative.

The organization describes its mission as helping youth develop both workplace readiness and life skills while providing meaningful opportunities to apply those lessons in real-world settings.

A Marketplace for Young Entrepreneurs

Learning business skills is one thing; finding customers is another. The Young Entrepreneur Marketplace was created to give young business owners an opportunity to showcase and sell their products. According to founder Matthew Wagstaff, the idea emerged after years of mentoring young people and observing that many entrepreneurship programs taught business concepts but offered limited opportunities for students to apply those lessons in a marketplace setting.

Inspired by a similar youth event in Buffalo, Wagstaff launched the marketplace in Rochester in 2019. The organization hosts events featuring vendors who are 18 years old or younger, creating an environment where young entrepreneurs can gain experience interacting with customers and presenting their products to the public.

For participating youth, these events provide opportunities to practice communication, marketing, customer service, and sales skills while receiving feedback from real customers.

Learning Opportunities Beyond High School

Entrepreneurship education does not stop with youth-specific programs. Rochester-area colleges and universities also offer opportunities that expose younger students to innovation, business concepts, and entrepreneurship.

Programs hosted by local institutions often provide students with early experiences on college campuses while introducing them to creative problem-solving, leadership development, and entrepreneurial thinking. These experiences can help students envision future educational and career pathways while building skills that are valuable in a variety of professions.

Together, organizations such as YEA!, Biz Kid$, Prosper Rochester, and the Young Entrepreneur Marketplace help local youth explore entrepreneurship in meaningful ways. Whether students become business owners or pursue other careers, the lessons learned through entrepreneurship—initiative, creativity, resilience, communication, and leadership—can serve them well throughout their lives.

Eric Meyer, one of the program's early graduates

Picture A PERFECT DOG

Jen Semmler Captures Dogs at Their Most Joyful—and Most Themselves

ARTICLE BY KATRINA M. RANDALL PHOTOGRAPHY BY JEN SEMMLER

Step into Jen Semmler’s photography studio and you might be greeted by a curious chorus of squawks and squeaks. Over the course of the three years she’s focused solely on dogs, a methodology has formed that she’s dubbed “tricks and treats.”

Those squeakers and squawkers allow her to get her subject’s attention so she can get the picture she wants. “It’s all done very fast, and the dogs have no idea what’s going on. But they’re happy. They get lots of treats, they just have no idea why,” Semmler says.

Before Semmler made dogs her primary focus, she spent 10 years photographing children and families, particularly high-end couture photo shoots featuring little girls in handmade designer gowns. But the niche was hard to market, and when a cheaper competitor entered the space, she pivoted.

As a passionate dog lover, who has three of her own—a Great Pyrenees named Apollo, an older female hound mix Adrian (after the love interest in Rocky), and Odie, a coon hound-labrador mix— Semmler decided to turn her focus to canines. Since no one in the area was doing dog photography, and she'd already taken portraits of dogs through the years for herself and friends, she decided to put her fine arts background to use.

Having worked with children previously as an educator and photographer, she started by trying music to set a calming mood. But she quickly realized that wouldn't work the same way for dogs. "I had to find that catching the dogs by surprise made them look better than when they were overly relaxed," she says. "The dogs are so happy, but they're alert, they straighten their bodies. When the dogs are feeling relaxed, they're hunchy, and it's not the best aesthetic."

"Getting that moment of excitement has led to the best results from them," she says. "I figured that out pretty quickly."

You wouldn't know it from the finished product, but while Semmler is shooting, the dogs' owners are usually right next to them, feeding treats and helping keep them entertained. Unless they want to be in the photo themselves, Semmler edits them out.

Semmler has four touchpoints with her clients, a process that takes time and care. First, there's a consultation, then the photo session itself, followed by an ordering appointment where she sits down with clients and guides them through the images, even showing them what the final artwork will look like to scale in photos of their own homes. Once the artwork arrives, Semmler delivers it directly to her clients.

Given her profession, Semmler gets to see and play with a variety of dogs during her sessions. "It's always so funny and so cute to see the different quirks dogs have," she says. "I had one come in where the owner had taught her to sneeze on command. It was a little dog with hair down to the floor, so when she sneezed, her hair was just whipping through the air." Another dog, a greyhound, knew how to bow on command.

But Semmler is also realistic that not all dogs are friendly, and she's open to working with them anyway. "Your dog just can't actively try to attack me," she says, noting she's held sessions with dogs who wear warning vests not to be petted. In those cases, the owner stays close by, along with another dog familiar to the subject, who serves as a calming intermediary.

This is one reason her pre-session consultation is so important. it's where she learns about a dog's personality and temperament ahead of time. "In between those barks and growls is a dog that's smiling," she says. "Those owners that have dogs that are more

aggressive, that aren't able to do things they wanted to do with their dog in life, they get to see these portraits of their dogs being happy and friendly, the dogs they know at home. That can be emotional for them, which is very sweet. I like when I can help them with that."

She also does end-of-life sessions with dogs and their owners, which can be highly emotional. "A lot of times, the dog has passed by the time they come back in three weeks. They haven't seen these photos, and seeing those moments again helps bring them back to that time with their pet. It's very sweet to be able to give that back to someone," she says.

Semmler's business has grown largely through partnerships with local businesses and community spaces. She got her start doing a general model call at the Clothesline Festival three years ago, seeking out interesting breeds to photograph. Each year, she curates an art show at the Webster Public Library, now in its third year, displaying 17 canvases on the library's large art wall before the collection travels to the Henrietta library, and Junction361 in Fairport. Eventually, the art is disseminated to local veterinary offices and animal organizations, including Perinton Vet, Rochester Emergency Vet Services, Ruff Day Pet Resort, and The Village Vet.

Recently, she's also been working on a permanent display at the Fairport Public Library, themed around dogs and books,

including a session with an elderly dog named French Toast styled with cookbooks and a pot, another dog wearing headphones to evoke an audiobook, and a "classics" shoot featuring leather pouches and public-domain literature.

Semmler has also partnered with ROC Dog, a therapy dog training organization, photographing four sessions of certified therapy dogs to help decorate their new training facility, a connection she made after noticing the space's bare walls on social media and reaching out directly. The collaboration inspired her to certify her own dog, Apollo, as a therapy dog. "I never knew there were so many places that used therapy dogs," she says.

The dog photographer also lends her talents to charitable causes. She's worked with Operation Freedom Ride, a dog rescue, over the years to help dogs that were

struggling to get attention on social media. She also raises money for the rescue at local festivals like Canal Days, Clothesline, and Purple Painted Lady, where she hands out stickers made from her dog portraits, with any donations going directly to Operation Freedom Ride.

Semmler may run a business, but at her core, she's still a people person, or, more accurately, a dog person, whose first passion is working directly with her clients. “My goal isn’t to make perfect pictures, it’s to make a perfect picture of your dog,” she explains. “I’ve had some people ask me about buying artwork, but it’s not really the goal or the focus. The goal is to make art that people will have in their homes that they’ll cherish and love.”

For more information, visit jensemmlerphotography.com.

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Doing Good Quietly

Each month, the team at ROC City Lifestyle strives to highlight a lesser-known nonprofit in our region. Rochester and the Finger Lakes are home to so many organizations working to make our communities better, more equitable places to live, learn, and grow. There were so many, in fact, that for our August issue, themed Kids & Pets, it was hard to pick just one.

The stories behind how many of these organizations came to be are still undiscovered in our pages, and we look forward to sharing more of them in subsequent issues. For now, we want to offer a bird's-eye view of 10 organizations doing meaningful work focused on youth or animals.

INVESTING IN TOMORROW

Glow Up Girl

Founded in Wayne County in 2022, Glow Up Girl serves girls in grades 3–12 through programming designed to build confidence, leadership, and connection. The name of the organization was drawn from a popular social media trend and doubles as an acronym: “Girls Leading Our Way through Unlimited Potential.” The organization was built around a trauma-informed approach that serves all girls while specifically supporting those facing challenges.

Programming includes an after-school drop-in program with homework help, a book club, financial literacy, nutrition education, and unstructured time for bonding, as well as a six-week summer program featuring field trips, an equine camp, and mental health support through partnerships with Wayne Behavioral Health Network and Optimal Health.

Looking ahead, Glow Up Girl hopes to expand beyond Wayne County and diversify its funding so it's no longer solely dependent on grants.

For more information, visit: https://glowup-girl.com.

Rochester’s Child

Since 1990, Rochester's Child has worked to ensure Monroe County's most vulnerable children have access to high-quality early care and education, from birth through age 8. Through fundraising, grant-making, and partnerships with community leaders, philanthropists, and early childhood experts, the organization has raised more than $4.8 million and given 450 grants for quality improvements. This includes helping 2,800 students in Rochester attend high-quality pre-kindergarten programs.

The organization’s advocacy has included the "Sing, Talk, Play" campaign, which encourages parents to support their babies' brain development. The organization also led a fundraising campaign in 2008 that helped restore $8.3 million in child care subsidy funding after cuts threatened access for vulnerable families.

For more information, visit: racf.org/collaborations/ rochesters-child.

ARTICLE BY KATRINA M. RANDALL

HOPE585

HOPE585’s mission is dedicated to giving youth who’ve been in the foster care system the skills and hope they need to build fulfilling lives. Programs include a community-supported foster home in Monroe County, where a specially trained foster mother helps teenagers who are close to aging out of the system develop life skills for the transition to adulthood.

Through Bridge to Hope, the organization pairs young adults with mentors who build lasting relationships, while the Crisis Counseling and Case Management program offers mobile, short-term support for youth in crisis.

HOPE585's work is based on the Science of Hope, an approach that treats hope as a mindset that can be taught and strengthened.

For more information, visit: https://hope585.org.

Family Promise of Greater Rochester

Since its founding as the Rochester Area Interfaith Hospitality Network in 2004, Family Promise of Greater Rochester (FPGROC) has helped families facing homelessness find stability. Today, the organization offers three primary programs: a shelter program providing year-round emergency housing in community-based apartments; a prevention and diversion program that helps families avoid eviction or secure new housing through financial assistance; and an aftercare and stabilization program, which offers up to a year of support once families transition into permanent housing.

For more information, visit: https://www.fpgroc.org.

Family Promise of Ontario County

Did you know there was two? In fact, Family Promise is a national network. Locally, Family Promise of Ontario County came together in 2016 to help homeless and low-income families by providing support and help to achieve independence. The organization offers programs that include emergency shelter, eviction prevention, shelter diversion, and ongoing stabilization support.

This year marks a major milestone, with Family Promise of Ontario County partnering with the Shill Cares Foundation to open the Shill Family Center, the first homeless shelter for families in Ontario County. The facility provides apartment-style shelter for up to seven families at a time and is run by 24-hour staff, also offering case management and employment support. With the Shill Family Center now open, Family Promise of Ontario County and its partners are already looking to expand with additional facilities in Geneva and Canandaigua.

For more information, visit: familypromiseontariocounty.org.

PAWS IN NEED

Operation Freedom Ride

Founded in 2018, Operation Freedom Ride is an animal rescue dedicated to saving the lives of dogs and cats in need. Born out of a passion for animal welfare, Operation Freedom Ride rescues animals locally from shelters, owner surrenders, and strays, while also transporting dogs and cats from overcrowded kill shelters in the South to safety.

The organization operates no physical shelter and instead relies on a network of foster homes to care for animals until they're adopted.

For more information, visit: operationfreedomride.com.

Freedom Farmhouse

Freedom Farmhouse's journey began in 2018, when the organization’s founders purchased a property unknowingly home to a colony of 16 barn cats. Despite never having owned cats before, they spayed, neutered, and vaccinated the entire colony within their first year.

Today, Freedom Farmhouse is dedicated to providing compassionate care, rescue, and sanctuary for animals in need, creating a safe place where they can thrive physically, emotionally, and socially. The organization hopes to inspire a more humane, compassionate approach to animals by raising awareness of their inherent value and unique personalities, and offers sponsorships that help cover food, care, and shelter for the animals in its care.

For more information, visit: freedomfarmhouse.org.

Finger Lakes Cat Tales

Founded in February 2022, Finger Lakes Cat Tales is dedicated to rescuing, rehabilitating, and rehoming cats across Monroe, Ontario, Wayne, Seneca, Livingston, Yates, and Cayuga counties. The organization takes in cats through colony feeding networks, community members, and collaborations with other rescues. The organization utilzes experienced trappers who also run Trap-NeuterReturn programs to help control and improve the lives of community cats.

Finger Lakes Cat Tales prioritizes responsible adoptions to ensure each cat finds a loving, lasting home.

For more information, visit: fingerlakescattales.com.

Love for Misfit Meeps

Love for Misfit Meeps is a Rochester-based cat rescue founded by Alanna Dalba, who is dedicated to helping handicapped and special-needs cats, as well as those cats who’ve spent long periods in shelters waiting for homes. The organization's name and mission were inspired by Dalba's own cat, Marceline "Marci" Meep, who was born with a neurological condition causing paralysis. Marci was given a life expectancy of just six months, but she ended up living three years, which motivated Dalba to open her rescue.

For more information, visit: misfitmeeps.com.

Hopper Hills Wildlife Rehab Center

Based in Honeoye Falls, Hopper Hills Wildlife Rehab Center is a DEC-licensed facility dedicated to giving injured, sick, and orphaned animals a second chance. The team provides hands-on medical care and rehabilitation plans tailored to each animal's species and condition. The team at the rehab center focus on restricting human contact to keep wildlife wild and ready for release back into its natural habitat across Western New York.

For more information, visit: hhwildlife.org.

SCREENS, SMARTPHONES,

PARENTING

Balancing Safety, Connection, and Screen Time

ARTICLE BY COLLEEN FARRELL

Raising kids has never come with an instruction manual, but for today's parents, the challenge comes with an added twist: navigating a world of smartphones, social media, and screens that didn't exist when they themselves were growing up. For local families like the Arnolds of Irondequoit and the Kowalskis of Hamlin, that means constantly weighing safety

and convenience against worries about what their kids are really doing on their devices.

Between sports, activities, work, and play, and three kids, Alexis Arnold’s family is busy. Deciding to get cellphones for their children came down to safety and convenience. “I think the big thing was just making sure that when they went places, they had a way to call us if there was an emergency or they were staying after school for an event or they needed a ride,” Arnold says.

The same reasons drove Kristin Kowalski and her husband, who are raising three kids, to get phones for their eldest two. She admits how her children use their devices has changed from the original intent. “I’d rather they were outside or reading books or doing crafts but they seem to want to spend a lot of time just on their phones. We have to tell them, ‘Go outside, go do this,’” she says.

It’s a lament familiar to parents. Raising kids in the face of ever-evolving technology can be frustrating, challenging—even frightening. It doesn’t help that most parents grew up without social media and smartphones, said Dr. Meredith Gansner, assistant professor of psychiatry at Golisano Pediatric Behavioral Health & Wellness at the University of Rochester Medical Center.

“This is a weird setting where we’re giving children and adolescents a very powerful tool and expecting them to use it responsibly when we ourselves were never taught how to use it responsibly and many adults don’t use it responsibly,” she says.

To help ensure her kids are being responsible, Kowalski does spot checks on their devices.

“I’m really lucky, but I do hear [about kids] repeatedly making accounts and hiding it from their parents,” she says. She even knew of a child who had a second cellphone—much to her parents’ surprise.

So what’s a parent to do? Dr. Gansner has a few recommendations, ideally long before a child gets access to technology.

Take a hard look at your habits. Do you aimlessly scroll for hours? Use your phone when you should be sleeping? Compare yourself with others online about your looks, your home, your relationship? You might be sending your kids a message that you don’t want to.

Consider your child’s relationship with screens. If they’re little, and you turn off an engaging show, how do they respond? Are they grumpy, angry, or disinterested?

If your child is older, do they lose track of time watching TV and forget to start their homework? Your child’s viewing habits can foreshadow how well, or how problematic, more technology could be.

Make a family media plan. As soon as the first child gets a device, everyone should be on the same page with clear, consistent rules. That way, you head off potential problems like arguments about using tech during dinner time or, worse, your child lying to you about having their phone off when they’re really up late texting. In the Arnold household, unless mom is working, phones aren’t allowed at mealtime.

Discuss basic safety at an age-appropriate level. For ages 6 and up, talk with your child about what they should do if they see something scary or inappropriate or if someone they don’t know tries to talk to them. Kids between the ages of 8–12 should know your expectations about sending, receiving, and posting images, particularly photos.

As your child gets older, talk with them about being able to discern credible information from misinformation, spotting artificial intelligence, and the fact that social media algorithms are designed to keep you online longer and longer. “I don’t think kids should go to college without really being aware of their relationship with technology,” Dr. Gansner said.

Start out small. You wouldn’t let your child who’s just learning how to drive loose on the thruway, right? The same applies to technology. Give more access as they demonstrate good judgment.

Connect offline. It’s imperative to make sure your child’s primary source of socialization is not through technology, Dr. Gansner advises. In the Arnold house, screen time is restricted each day. If someone wants extra time, they must request permission, and if they get approval, it comes with a time limit.

As for what age is the right age for a smartphone, Dr. Gansner says it’s really dependent on the child. “As long as you’re having an open conversation with your kid about what you expect them to do on it, that’s the best thing.”

You can also find some good resources online. Dr. Gansner recommends the American Academy of Pediatrics , whose offerings include a digital media plan, and Common Sense Media , which has app- and game-specific information as well as digital literacy curricula.

realty report

This data is a sampling of sold properties from June 2026. Source: IRES MLS system.

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PETS WHO BECOME BEST PALS

Long before pets slept on our couches or appeared on our holiday greeting cards, humans were forming close bonds with animals that provided both protection and companionship. People and animals can often form bonds that feel as strong as the bonds between fellow humans—the dog who waits at the door for their caretaker after a long day, the cat who treats its owner’s head like a lounge chair, or the rabbit that hops out of hiding when it recognizes a familiar face. Animals have a remarkable ability to become cherished members of the family.

Meaningful relationships with pets don't happen automatically or by accident. Animal behavior experts say that trust, communication, and consistency are the foundation of a strong human-animal bond. Just like any healthy relationship, the connection between pets and their caretakers grows through time, understanding, and shared experiences.

For many new pet owners, one of the biggest surprises is learning that affection and trust aren't always immediate.

"One misconception we hear from people is the assumption that their new animal will bond with them right away," says Alex Ferrente, a certified dog behavior consultant and owner of Young Lion Training in Rochester. In her professional capacity, she often encounters new dog owners who become frustrated when their new puppy or rescue dog doesn’t immediately express affection or loyalty.

Building Strong Bonds With Your Animal Companion

ARTICLE BY SARAH KEELER

"In reality, some of them will need time, space, and positive reinforcement in order to feel safe and build a strong relationship with their caretakers,” Ferrente says. The relationship almost always strengthens over time once the baseline level of safety and mutual trust is firmly established.

Research on animal behavior has shown that animals form secure attachments through repeated positive interactions. When pets consistently experience safety, predictability, and rewards in the presence of a caregiver, they learn to associate that person with comfort and security.

Experts like Ferrante point to several evidence-based strategies that help strengthen the bond between human caretaker and animal companion.

RESPECT INDIVIDUAL PERSONALITIES

Just as no two people are exactly alike, every animal has a unique temperament. As a species, dogs are uniquely primed to bond with humans. (Studies have demonstrated that canine brains release oxytocin, also known as the “bonding chemical,” when dogs make eye contact with people.) Even so, individual dogs vary in their inclination toward human bonding. Some dogs seek attention from everyone they meet. Others need time to warm up to new situations. One of the most effective ways to build trust is to meet an animal where they are emotionally rather than expecting them to fit our expectations.

When caretakers learn to recognize and honor an animal's preferences, working with them rather than against them, the relationship often becomes stronger and more secure.

LEARN THEIR LANGUAGE

Animals communicate constantly, even when they aren't making a sound. Tail position, ear movement, posture, facial expressions, and activity levels can provide valuable clues about how a pet is feeling. Learning to recognize these signals can help owners respond appropriately before stress, fear, or frustration escalate.

For example, a dog that turns away, licks its lips, or yawns repeatedly may be signaling discomfort. A cat with flattened ears and a twitching tail may be asking for space.

Paying attention to body language allows owners to become more responsive partners in the relationship. Over time, pets learn that their signals are understood, which can increase trust and reduce anxiety.

USE POSITIVE REINFORCEMENT

At Young Lion training, Ferrante uses only positive reinforcement techniques. She strongly believes that “fear and coercion [are] not necessary in training or behavior modification." In fact, the research shows that fear-based techniques often have the reverse effect, making pets less trustful and more defensive. Instead, experts advise pet owners to reward behavior they want to see more often. Treats, praise, toys, play, or access to favorite activities can all serve as rewards. Pets learn best when expectations are clear and rewards are delivered promptly, helping pets associate their caretakers with positive experiences. Training sessions don't always have to be lengthy or formal. A few minutes each day spent rewarding good behaviors can strengthen the bond between animal and owner.

“One misconception we hear from people is the assumption that their new animal will bond with them right away.”

CREATE PREDICTABILITY

Much like humans, animals thrive when they know what to expect. Consistent feeding schedules, regular exercise, familiar routines, and dependable interactions help pets feel secure. Predictability reduces stress because animals can anticipate what comes next in their environment.

This doesn't mean every day must be identical. Instead, maintaining reliable patterns helps establish a sense of safety. For dogs, daily walks and play sessions can become important bonding rituals. For cats, regular feeding times and interactive play can provide similar benefits. If your pet enjoys cuddling or being brushed, these can become meaningful moments of connection as well.

BE PATIENT THROUGH LIFE CHANGES

Major transitions can temporarily affect a pet's behavior and confidence. Moving to a new home, adding a family member, adopting a new pet, or changes in routine can all create stress. During these periods, patience becomes especially important.

Animals may need extra time to adjust, and some behaviors that appear stubborn or disobedient may actually be signs of uncertainty. Providing reassurance, maintaining routines when possible, and rewarding calm behavior can help pets navigate change more successfully.

When we learn to see the world through our pets' eyes, we become better caretakers. In return, our animals offer something remarkable: companionship, loyalty, comfort, and a connection that enriches everyday life.

Anyone who’s shared their home with a beloved pet knows first hand, a strong bond between animal and caretaker is more than following a prescribed training plan or schedule. It's a partnership built on trust, compassion, and plenty of playful fun.

TREY & KATIE KENNEDY

ON MARRIAGE, KIDS, AND THE COMEDY OF REAL LIFE

Trey Kennedy makes a living finding comedy in regular life. Marriage. Toddlers. Yoga pants. The Thursday-night scramble between school dropoffs, soccer practice, and whatever has to be done by morning. Twelve years in, it shows: millions of followers across every platform, three stand-up specials, a sold-out Relatable Tour, and a style of humor fans send each other captioned, “Are you watching me?” He delivers the kind of comedy that travels because everyone’s living some version of it.

Katie, his wife of six years, is a former biomedical engineer who also built a modeling career. She’s now raising their kids and co-hosting Correct Opinions alongside Trey — the show where the two of them swap takes on marriage, parenting, and whatever came up that week.

Trey has been at this longer than people realize. An Edmond, Oklahoma kid who grew up playing basketball described himself as a “shy kid who never thought he’d be an entertainer.” He started making videos while attending Oklahoma State University. After building millions of followers on Vine before the platform shut down, he gave himself six months on Instagram and Facebook to see whether he could rebuild from zero. He did. Stand-up soon followed. His first special, Are You For Real?, streams on YouTube; the second, Grow Up, on Amazon Prime; the third, built around the Relatable Tour, wrapped earlier this year. “I’ve been trying to be funny every week for like twelve years now,” he says. A slow climb, made one bit at a time.

ARTICLE BY KALI KASPRZYK

JANIE

“I’ve been trying to be funny every week for like twelve years now.”

Most of what Trey writes lately starts in his own kitchen. Thomas is three and a half, and he is, in his father’s words, “a movie.” He narrates his own life from the moment his eyes open and mispronounces words in ways his parents now repeat to each other because no one else would believe them. His younger sister, Eva, is what Katie calls “the calm one.” With a third now in the mix, the Kennedys are officially outnumbered.

After six years of marriage, Trey and Katie have learned that the partnership runs best when it gets its own time on the calendar. So once a week, they leave the kids with a sitter and go out for coffee. “You need a system,” Katie says. “It’s about taking time to look each other in the eye. Not the kids. Not the cameras. Just each other.”

The same instinct shapes the work. Most of Trey’s trial and error happens onstage or on Instagram, but the first read is always Katie’s. “There’s only been one time ever I’ve had to be like, ‘you’re not doing that,’” she says. The rest of the time, she just laughs first.

FEATURING TREY & KATIE KENNEDY

Trey and Katie talk about marriage, parenting, and the moments that don’t make the Instagram feed.

Watch or listen to the full conversation wherever you get your podcasts.

PHOTOGRAPHY BY

JONES HAIR & MAKEUP BY MIKAYLA CRANE

events

A SELECTION OF UPCOMING LOCAL EVENTS

AUGUST 7TH, 12TH, 14TH

Bands on the Bricks & ROC the Bricks

280 North Union Street, Rochester | 6:00 PM

Free live music wraps up at Rochester Public Market with three shows: Into the Now (ROC the Bricks, Wednesday, Aug. 12, 6–9 p.m.), Appetite for Voltage with What's the RUSH (Friday, Aug. 7), and series finale Giant Panda Guerilla Dub Squad with iGNiTE Reggae Band (Friday, Aug. 14), both 6–10 p.m. No admission charge. Details: www.cityofrochester.gov/bandsonbricks

AUGUST 8TH

Victor Music & Food Festival

Mead Square, 39 West Main Street Victor | 2:00 PM

Mark your calendars for the Victor Music & Food Festival. This free admission event promises a full day of live music and local food vendors for the whole community to enjoy. More info at www.victormusicfoodfestival.com.

AUGUST 8TH

Viciously Crafty Summer Makers Market

41 Russell St, Rochester | 11:00 AM

The Viciously Crafty Summer Makers Market returns to Rochester's Neighborhood of the Arts. This free, family-friendly market features creative local makers offering unique, hand-curated goods. The market spans the block to The Factory Building, plus vendors will line Russell and Elton Streets, including 34 Elton Street.

AUGUST 17TH

The Bountiful Table Classic Golf Tournament

The Links at Greystone 1400 Atlantic Ave., Walworth | 10:00 AM Golf, Silent Auction, Raffles and More! The Bountiful Table, Inc. (TBT) is hosting its sixth annual Bountiful Table Classic Golf Tournament, an exciting 18-hole scramble to support the philanthropic work of TBT. Funds raised from this event go towards the ongoing relief effort to fight hunger in our community, especially to families experiencing economic hardships. For details, visit birdease.com/thebountifultable.

AUGUST 23RD

International Day of Salsa Heats Up North Clinton

828 North Clinton Ave. Rochester | 1:00 PM

Mark your calendars! The International Plaza transforms into an outdoor dance floor for International Day of Salsa, one of the season's biggest signature events. Enjoy live bands, DJs, and energetic performances celebrating salsa music and dance, plus the sights and tastes of a vibrant Latin market. Free and open to all! Bring your dancing shoes!

AUGUST 29TH-30TH

M&T Bank Clothesline Art Festival

500 University Ave., Rochester | 10:00 AM

This two-day festival brings 300-plus artists nationwide to the Memorial Art Gallery's (MAG) grounds to sell their work, plus live entertainment, food trucks, free family art activities, and museum access. Note: MAG doesn't accept Venmo, and all official communications come from @mag.rochester.edu only. Learn more: mag.rochester.edu/clothesline