Good morning, Rochester.

On Thursday, Rochester seniors and students from the summer service program gathered at Cascade Creek (an Anthem Memory Care community) and made friendship bracelets for Red Cross volunteers aiding Texas flood relief.

United Way of Southeast Minnesota is asking residents to donate backpacks filled with school supplies for 3,600 students from preschool to high school at 44 local schools as part of its Running Start for School campaign, which began 20 years ago—donations will be accepted online until September 5th.

The park-and-ride lot at Rochester Community and Technical College closed on July 1 due to low use and ended free bus rides for most college students.

Students who need transportation will have to purchase discounted RPT passes or use a limited number of passes provided by the college starting August 1—officials said the change reallocates resources more efficiently.

Rochester will end free bus rides for most students at Rochester Community and Technical College as its park-and-ride lot closes on July 1 due to low usage; starting August 1, RCTC will offer limited RPT passes for students with urgent transportation needs, and RPT will still run two bus routes with stops every 20 to 30 minutes. This change aims to better allocate transit resources across the system.

ROCOG is working on a new Safety Action Plan to improve road safety for drivers, bicyclists and pedestrians using federal data from the Safe Streets and Roads for All program.

The council asks for community feedback online until August 24 and at local events starting July 19 — with the plan set to be completed by the end of the year.

Annual Insidewalk Sale Clearance Event

10 AM – 4 PM — Galleria At University Square — Visit our biggest sale of the year with incredible deals on amazing products!

Pairs and Team Jigsaw Puzzle Contests

1-6 p.m. — Thesis Beer Project — $40 entry — Compete in pairs and teams to see who can solve puzzles the fastest and enjoy the chance to win prizes.

Docker with Kubernetes Administration Training

9 a.m. to 5 p.m. — Northrop Community Education — $2490 — Gain essential skills in container management and orchestration with Docker and Kubernetes over five days.

I.M.P. Motorsports Autocross Day 1

5-10:30 p.m. — Graham Park - Olmsted County — $22 Adults, $15 Preteens — Experience thrilling motorsports action at the autocross event.

German Language Meetup

4-6 p.m. — Define Conference Room — Free entry — Practice your German with speakers of all skill levels in a welcoming environment.

Enterprise Linux System Administration Training

July 28 to August 1 — Northrop Community Education — $2190 — Enhance your Linux skills with in-depth system administration training and hands-on labs.

Myron Elkins Concert

7-8:30 p.m. — Mayo Civic Center — Tickets available — Enjoy a night of country music with rising star Myron Elkins as he headlines a charitable concert.

P’tit Café in Rochester

2-3:30 p.m. — Café Aquí — Free entry — Engage in French conversation while enjoying coffee and delicious treats with fellow enthusiasts.

August Rochester Minnesota Female Entrepreneurs Meet-Up

2:30-3:30 p.m. — Collider Foundation — Free entry — Collaborate on content creation while connecting with fellow female entrepreneurs in Rochester.

Let's Speak German

4-6 p.m. — Define Conference Room — Free entry — Practice your German in a friendly atmosphere with coffee and snacks available.