
For 13WHAM ABC
Edward Barrett, a World War II veteran, arrives home to a warm welcome at the Frederick Douglass Greater Rochester International Airport in Rochester N.Y. on Feb. 22, 2024. Barrett was given the chance to visit the National WWII Museum in New Orleans. Servicemembers lined the halls to give Barrett the recognition he deserves upon his return.

Cheerleading teammates of Zoe Houghtling gather for a candlelit vigil as they share prayers and hopes for her safe return in Rochester N.Y. on Mar. 25, 2024. Zoe vanished the day before and was believed to be in danger but has since been found safe.

Firemen from the Rochester Fire Dept respond to a burning home on Copeland St. on Apr 8, 2024. Crews had to use multiple strategies due to the dangerous conditions inside the home, including holes in the floor. The home was torn down the next morning.

Army Veteran Samuel Mammano greets his wife Annette upon returning home from Honor Flight Mission 83 from Washington, D.C at the Frederick Douglass Greater Rochester International Airport in Rochester N.Y. on May 26, 2024. Honor Flight, a nonprofit organization, honors American veterans by providing free trips to visit war memorials in the nation's capital.

Samantha Vega performs during the Latin Pride celebration at International Plaza in Rochester N.Y. The event, which celebrated both Latinx and LGBTQ+ cultures, featured music, dance, and performances, with Vega’s set adding a vibrant touch to the festivities.

The University of Rochester underscores the significance of adaptive sports within the community through an exhibition wheelchair basketball game, hosted by the Student Athlete Advisory Committee at the U of R on Apr 10, 2024. The event features the Rochester Wheels and Rochester Rockets, offering peer mentorship opportunities for individuals interested in participating.

Firemen from the Rochester Fire Dept respond to a burning home on Copeland St. on Apr 8, 2024. Crews had to use multiple strategies due to the dangerous conditions inside the home, including holes in the floor. The home was torn down the next morning.

Rabbi Nechemia Vogel teaches children from the Rochester area how to bake their own matzah, alongside lessons on the story of Passover, at the Jewish Community Center in Rochester, N.Y., on Apr 7, 2024. Leading the Model Matzah Bakery class since 1983, Rabbi Vogel emphasizes the importance of passing down the traditions of Passover to future generations. 'Jewish survival really depends on our ability to transmit the values and traditions...these children one day will become parents themselves; they will tell it to their children as it's been for thousands of years,' says Rabbi Vogel, highlighting how the message of passover should be taken to heart.
The ladies and organizers of The Jennifer House gather for a prayer before sharing dinner in Rochester, N.Y. on Feb. 14, 2024. The Jennifer House has been a sanctuary for women facing homelessness, fleeing domestic violence, justice involvement, and re-entering society from jail, in-patient treatment, and the streets. For two decades, it has provided a safe and healing home, offering support and refuge to women in various challenging situations.

The University of Rochester underscores the significance of adaptive sports within the community through an exhibition wheelchair basketball game, hosted by the Student Athlete Advisory Committee at the U of R on Apr 10, 2024. The event features the Rochester Wheels and Rochester Rockets, offering peer mentorship opportunities for individuals interested in participating.

Community members gather at Parcel 5 on Monday, July 29, 2024, to honor the two women killed in a mass shooting at Maplewood Park the previous day. The vigil, held nearly 24 hours after the deadly shootout during a cookout that also left five others injured, provided a moment of reflection and solidarity for those grieving the tragic loss.

Family and friends of Tyasia Manning gather at Pulaski Park on Tuesday, July 30, 2024, to release balloons in honor of her life. The emotional gathering was a tribute to Manning, whose memory was celebrated by loved ones in a peaceful and heartfelt ceremony.

Family and friends of Tyasia Manning gather at Pulaski Park on Tuesday, July 30, 2024, to release balloons in honor of her life. The emotional gathering was a tribute to Manning, whose memory was celebrated by loved ones in a peaceful and heartfelt ceremony.

A child from the Reed-White family opens a gift as Cricket Wireless marketing manager Heather Omahne looks on during a surprise holiday giveaway on Dec. 4, 2024. The Reed-White, Isaac and Nelson families — all longtime members of Rochester’s Boys & Girls Clubs — each received up to $5,000 in gifts through the 12 Days of Cricket campaign. “They deserve a little light and a little brightness too,” Omahne said.

Nazareth University students gather in Smyth Hall on Tuesday, Sept. 10, 2024, to watch the highly anticipated presidential debate between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump. The viewing party, hosted by Professor Tim Kneeland and his American presidency class, provided students an opportunity to watch the candidates face off for the first time.

Jerome Blocker’s brother, left, takes a selfie with another mourner beside a newly installed ghost bike at the corner of Norton and North streets in Rochester on Friday, April 25, 2025. Blocker, 62, was killed in a crash while riding his bike at the intersection on February 21. The ghost bike, painted white, was placed by members of the cycling community with the support of Blocker’s family as a memorial and a call for safer streets.

Participants bow their heads in prayer before the start of the March of Remembrance at Cobbs Hill Park in Rochester, N.Y., on Sunday, April 27, 2025. The march, held in solidarity with Israel and against antisemitism, commemorates the end of the Holocaust 80 years ago and responds to rising global antisemitism following the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel.

A woman reflects on the lives lost during the tragic attack one year ago, as she stands in a room dedicated to remembering the 1,200 Israelis killed in the deadly assault that sparked the ongoing war in the Middle East. Hundreds of people gathered at Temple B'rith Kodesh on Monday, Oct. 7, 2024, to honor the victims and commemorate the anniversary of the attack.