Good morning, Rochester.

The annual Bridging the Gap Thrive Conference will be held from noon to 11:30 p.m. on Oct.

9 and from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Oct. 10 at Mayo Civic Center, drawing 3,000 women for sessions, podcast recording, and fundraising. The event welcomes attendees ages 12 and older (pre-registration).

A Caledonia-based group opposes the proposed 175-mile Gopher to Badger transmission line that would affect Pine Island, Rochester, Harmony + Spring Grove.

The group is urging decision makers to review the project's effects on local communities.

Rochester is taking part in the national Week Without Driving initiative from Oct.

1 through Oct. 8, asking residents to replace three car trips with walking, biking or public transit; participants' reflections will help community leaders address transportation gaps.

A new 7 Brew Coffee shop is set to open on the corner of 37th Street NW and 21st Avenue NW (near Maplewood Square) by late 2026.

The fast-service location features a double-lane looped drive-thru and will offer a full lineup of custom drinks.

Some Rochester business owners say the $619,000 funding for marketing and wayfinding signs is not enough to cover losses from Link Bus Rapid Transit construction, and Lenny Hoisington of Central Bark on 2nd Street Southwest said his dog daycare has faced stagnant growth while calling for direct support.

Beck and Co. Studio is a new women's pop-up boutique that opened in downtown Rochester on Oct.

1 as part of the Downtown Next Door initiative (a partnership between Rochester Downtown Alliance and Destination Medical Center). The shop is open Monday and Thursday evenings, Saturday, and Sunday.

The Rochester Art Center invites proposals from artists for the 2027 Art4Trails program — artists 18 and older or minors with a guardian's sponsorship can apply by Nov.

15. Three winners will receive $3,000 to install artworks at Silver Lake Park, Slattery Park or River Landing in June.

Downtown Dazzle winter-lighted parade returns for its third year, set to light up downtown with festive floats and glowing displays — officials will announce more details on the route and schedule soon.

The Children's Museum of Rochester will host its sixth annual People in Your Neighborhood event Oct.

6-11, where local pros will visit to show kids fire trucks, police cars, garbage trucks + other vehicles while explaining the roles of their organizations.

Rochester's winter parking rules start November 1 and run until April 1 from 2 am to 3 pm; residents must park on the even-numbered side when the date is even and on the odd-numbered side when the date is odd.

Elder Network in Rochester will receive $101,000 to launch a dementia awareness and caregiving support program across five counties (Dodge, Goodhue, Olmsted, Wabasha, Winona) with clinical support from Olmsted Medical Center and Mayo Clinic, offering dementia screening, education sessions and culturally tailored outreach for local communities.