Interview by Emily Hessney Lynch.

Published March 20, 2020.

Where are you from? How did you end up in Rochester?

I’m originally from southern Georgia. When my dad retired from the Navy, we moved to Oriskany, New York. I attended Wells College in the Finger Lakes, where I met my wife Sami. She got a job in Rochester so we moved here together. 

We moved into the wedge and lived in this old bakery on Gregory. I’d never lived in an urban environment before; being able to walk to bars, coffee shops, and parks was really cool. Growing up, everything was a 30 minute drive away.

What are some hidden gems you've discovered around Rochester?

There’s a lot of cool parks, Abraham Lincoln is one I really enjoy. It has great views of the bay and hills to explore. Four Mile Creek Preserve up in Webster is a cool small one too. 

What are some of your favorite local nonprofits to support?

I’m the Board Chair of the Southeast Area Coalition (SEAC). It’s an organization that helps empower community groups and neighborhood organizations in southeast Rochester. If you have an informal community group and need a fiduciary or funding to start a project or interface with a government organization, SEAC can help you with that. Small neighborhood groups don’t want to deal with becoming a 501c3.

I’m also a fan of Lollypop Farm. That’s where we got our dog, Winston, and my wife has worked there for about five years now.

Tell me a little bit more about your involvement with your neighborhood.

I’m involved with the Pocket neighborhood of the North Winton Village. We try to build community and encourage people to get to know their neighbors. We have cleanup events, an annual potluck, and meetups at restaurants and bars. Living in a city can feel isolating sometimes. It’s one of those weird paradoxical things where there are so many people around that you don’t get to know your neighbors. You might not knock on someone’s door, but you might go to a potluck.

If you have $100 and two hours to kill in Rochester, how would you spend the money/time?

I’d probably go to a brewery. We have at least six within walking distance of our house! Some of my favorites are Lost Borough, Sager, and Fairport Brewing on University. Maybe I’d find a garbage plate somewhere. If it’s summertime, I’d go up to Netsin’s as well. 

What's your favorite garbage plate place? 

It depends on the context. If I want to enjoy a well-made garbage plate, Tryon City Tavern has a great one. I always bring out of town guests to Dogtown or Bill Gray’s (get the tater tots there!) If it’s 3am and we’re drinking on Monroe Ave, then it’s Mark’s Texas Hots. We went there on our wedding night in our wedding outfits!

What's your favorite thing to eat in Rochester other than a garbage plate? 

Zemeta--the Ethiopian place on Clinton--it’s incredible. 

What is your personal coping mechanism for cold/gray weather? 

I do a volleyball league at Hotshots and being out on a sandy volleyball court is a lot of fun! And sometimes, you just have to get over the thought of being out in the cold. Going on a nice winter hike is great! There are no mosquitos, and it’s not that bad once you’re out there. 

What's your favorite Rochester memory? 

There’s a day last summer that was really nice. My wife and I rode our bikes to Swiftwater Brewing. We grabbed dinner at McCann’s Meats. I had a neighborhood activity we were doing that day. Afterwards, we rode our bikes to Lost Borough afterwards. When you ride your bike through the city, you see things from a different perspective. 

What makes Rochester unique? 

We have a lot of creative, interesting people who go out and try stuff. It’s an energy I haven’t seen in other places I’ve lived. Whether it’s launching a small business, an art project, or a band--I know so many creative, interesting people--they don’t let barriers stop them from going for it. On the neighborhood side I see it a lot--”We’re just going to do this thing, why not?” Rochester builds community and makes things interesting.

What would you like to see change in Rochester within the next year?

I would love to see the education system improved- but what you do about that is a bigger discussion. It’s not just a money thing. It’s going to require outside the box thinking. It’s going to take some of that to find new and different ways to approach education in an economy that’s quite different than how it was when the education system was built. By the time I have kids that attend RCSD, maybe it will be better. It’s gotta start somewhere. 

If Rochester was an animal, what would it be? 

Probably a dog--there’s a sense of curiosity, energy, and friendliness to the city that I really appreciate. Much like a dog, sometimes people are scared of the dog. But when you get to know that dog- I think of our dog, Winston. People are terrified sometimes, but then they realize he just wants to lean up against you. I was terrified of Rochester- people would tell me, “that’s the city with the highest murder rate! You don’t want to live there!” But then I moved here and got to know it. 

What advice would you give to someone who's new to Rochester and wants to get to know the area? 

Pick a neighborhood, start walking around, and go visit some businesses. I think you have to see it by foot or bike. You’ll miss a lot of stuff if you’re not doing that. Get out and walk around, see what’s going on.