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George Payne
George Cassidy Payne is a Rochester-based nonprofit leader, educator, and advocate for sustainable economic development. With a philosophy and social work background, George has spent over two decades addressing issues of equity, public policy, and crisis intervention. His community development and environmental sustainability expertise informs his commitment to strengthening Rochester’s regional economy.
Bringing history to life: Becky Wehle and the living legacy of the Genesee Country Village & Museum
On a warm July morning, I reached Becky Wehle by phone. Even across the line, her voice carried the kind of ease and purpose that makes you want to lean closer. Thoughtful yet brimming with ... more
Wild Woman Retreat at Light on the Hill: A conversation with Lindsay Cray
I first reached out to Lindsay Cray for insights on Rochester's Lower Falls Gorge while working on an article for The Conservationist. What began as a conversation about geology and ecology quickly deepened into something ... more
Echoes of Bigfoot in the Finger Lakes
From the fog-laced shores of Canadice Lake to the moss-covered ridgelines of the Bristol Hills, something stirs. It lives not in confirmed sightings or trail cam photos, but in the imagination, the mystery, and the ... more
Where the trails still speak: Walking native paths in the Finger Lakes
In the Finger Lakes, history doesn't just live in museums; it grows underfoot. From the wooded corridors of Watkins Glen to the quiet meadows around Hemlock Lake, the trails of Western and Central New York ... more
SACRAMENTAL SOIL: Will Ouweleen and the spirit of the Finger Lakes
Philosopher. Biologist. Deadhead. Reggae lover. Winemaker. Defender of free speech. Soul Rebel. Builder. Concert promoter. Green energy guru. Institutional fundraiser. Community organizer. Keeper of First Nations history. Champion of all things Finger Lakes. Will Ouweleen ... more
Reimagining the Little Finger Lakes: A hidden gem’s bold new identity
Tucked quietly among the folds of New York’s rolling hills lies a secret the state has long kept to itself. The Little Finger Lakes—Honeoye, Canadice, Hemlock, and Conesus—are four shimmering pearls set into a landscape ... more
A shepherd of wholeness in a fractured world
Jorge Mario Bergoglio was born on December 17, 1936, and died on April 21, 2025. He entered the world at a time when fascism was rising, dictators were consolidating power, sovereign nations were being invaded, ... more
The Cost of Crypto: How a Quiet Finger Lakes Town Became Ground Zero in a National Energy Battle
In the rolling hills of New York’s Finger Lakes — a region famed for its wineries, trout streams, and eco-tourism — an old power plant is at the center of a new and troubling trend ... more
Hidden cost of flying elsewhere: How Rochester can lead the way in sustainable air travel
Every year, thousands of travelers in the Rochester-Finger Lakes area bypass Greater Rochester International Airport (ROC) in favor of flying out of Buffalo, Syracuse, Toronto, or even New York City. On the surface, it might ... more
Rising from the hills: How the Little Finger Lakes are shaping a sustainable future
Tucked away in the rolling hills of western New York, the Little Finger Lakes region may not have the name recognition of its larger counterparts—but that’s exactly what makes it special. Here, mist rises from ... more