Good morning, Rochester.

The Mayo Clinic Damon parking ramp demolition in downtown Rochester is underway while family-owned Watson Recycling carefully removes glass to be recycled at its Albert Lea facility — the company has collected more than 250,000 pounds of glass and 1.5 million pounds of steel and aluminum and hopes to encourage more recycling in future projects.

Spark Children’s Museum of Rochester opened its new exhibit—Sparky’s Garage—at Apache Mall where kids can pretend to work as mechanics by crawling under a kid-sized SUV and playing as a service tech with tools and parts.

The exhibit is open Tuesday to Sunday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The city announced that the Silver Lake Dam modification and sediment removal project will now start in September next year instead of November because state and federal permitting delays slowed review times—staff shortages extended the timeline.

The new schedule aims to lower costs and reduce disruption for local businesses and recreational users.

Rochester City Council approved a 5.95% preliminary tax levy on Monday with a 5-2 vote that sets a $6.6 million increase in next year’s taxes—this measure can now only be lowered or held steady before final approval on Dec.

1.

The Olmsted County Housing and Redevelopment Authority held a ribbon cutting on Sept.

22 to celebrate the opening of Trailside Apartments—a new affordable housing complex for seniors over 65 that finished two months early and under budget at $12.8 million. County housing director David Dunn said all 36 units have been leased amid high demand and the county will study the project for future efforts.

Rochester City Council will meet Monday, December 1, to certify a preliminary 2026 tax levy of about $118 million and adopt an operating and capital budget of nearly $664 million that sets a ceiling on future increases.

The council will also consider FAA funds for a new 3,000-gallon airport rescue and firefighting vehicle — a necessary upgrade to replace the 1990 model with scarce parts.

2025 NF Symposium

8:30 a.m.–5:00 p.m. — Mayo Clinic — Registration required — Engage with experts at a hybrid symposium focused on neurofibromatosis.

Champions of Wellness Healthcare Summit 2025

10 a.m. – 5 p.m. — Mayo Civic Center — Special hotel rates apply — Leaders in healthcare explore systemic well-being and clinician wellness.

October Rochester Minnesota Female Entrepreneurs Meet-Up

2:30-3:30 p.m. — Collider Foundation — Free entry — Join fellow female entrepreneurs for bookkeeping tips and valuable networking.

OpenShift Fundamentals Training

Oct 6-8 — Huntington Learning Center Rochester — Check online for pricing — Dive into the essentials of OpenShift with hands-on Linux training for software development.

World Ballet Company - The Great Gatsby

7:00-8:30 p.m. — Mayo Civic Center — Ticket prices vary — Experience the glitz and glamor of the Roaring Twenties through a Broadway-style ballet adaptation of Fitzgerald’s classic.

Blippi: Join the Band Tour

2-3:30 p.m. — Mayo Civic Center — Ticket required for entry — Experience a lively music performance with Blippi, Meekah, and friends for the whole family.

Fall Ball Family Festival

2-6 p.m. — Camp Victory — $5 per person or $25 per family — Enjoy activities like pumpkin painting, mini ziplining, and apple cider at this family-friendly festival.

Girl Named Tom Concert

7-9:30 p.m. — Mayo Civic Center — Ticket prices vary — Experience the award-winning harmony of the sibling trio who captured hearts on The Voice.

Cans for Kids

8 AM – 12 PM — Ronald McDonald House Charities Midwest MN, WI, IA — Donations accepted — Bring aluminum cans for recycling to support children and families in need.

Rochester Hot Cider Hustle

Half Marathon, 10K, & 5K — — Rochester, Minnesota — — Participate in a festive race with sweet swag and hot cider at the finish.