Water safety, utility bills, and a food drive

From the blog · Adam Stetzer

Lead levels in school water, rising RG&E bills, a new face at Mendon High, George Eastman Museum workers organizing, Dion Dawkins and Wegmans running a food drive on Calkins Road, and Pittsford's Halloween Fest — it's a full week. Here's what's worth knowing.

Lead in School Drinking Water: 70% of Monroe County Schools Exceed State Limit

70% of Monroe County school buildings — 102 of 146 — had at least one water outlet test above the state's 5 ppb lead limit in 2023–25, nearly double New York's 42% statewide rate.

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James Bates Joins Mendon High School as New Assistant Principal

James Bates joins Mendon High School as assistant principal October 9, 2026 — the Pittsford Board of Education formally approved the hire at its September 8 meeting.

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George Eastman Museum Workers Move to Unionize Under Workers United

About 75 non-management workers at the George Eastman Museum filed an NLRB union election petition on August 31, citing wages that haven't kept pace with Rochester's cost of living, high turnover, and unclear job descriptions.

Huddle for Hunger Comes to Rochester: Dion Dawkins and Wegmans Bring the Bills' Food Drive to Calkins Road

The Calkins Road Wegmans hosted the first-ever Huddle for Hunger Rochester drive on September 20 — six years into the Wegmans–Bills Foundation partnership, the event reached Monroe County for the first time.

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Why Your RG&E Bill Is Going Up — and What Albany Has to Do With It

RG&E electric bills rose 2.9% on June 1, 2026 — but that was a partial measure; the utility's full rate case would bring the increase to $33.12 per month per customer.

Pittsford's Family Halloween Fest: Come for the Crafts, Leave a Can for a Neighbor

The Pittsford Family Halloween Fest 2026 runs noon to 2 PM on October 25 at Spiegel Pittsford Community Center — crafts, games, prizes, refreshments, no registration needed.

Upcoming Events

Mon, Sep 28 · 5:30 PM

Fabulous Films: Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu — Free Movie Night at Pittsford Library, September 28

Fisher Meeting Room, Pittsford Community Library, 24 State Street, Pit

Tue, Sep 29 · 6:30 PM

Historic Barns of Pittsford — Free Talk at the Library, September 29

Fisher Meeting Room, Pittsford Community Library, 24 State Street, Pit

Wed, Sep 30 · 6:00 PM

The Kennedy-Baldwin Meeting: Part 2 — Free History Talk at Pittsford Library, September 30

Fisher Meeting Room, Pittsford Community Library, 24 State Street, Pit

Wed, Sep 30 · 10:15 AM

Meet a Firefighter! Pittsford Fire Department at the Library — September 30