Celebrating Italian heritage, exploration and the American dream. More than 600 people gathered at the Diplomat Banquet Center in Gates for the 78th annual Columbus Day luncheon to hear from local Italian-American dignitaries about their ancestral roots. Meanwhile, Rochester's Native-American community celebrated its first Indigenous Peoples Day Monday as proclaimed by the City of Rochester. 

Hosted by the Italian Civic League, the Columbus Day luncheon highlights local Italian-American achievement. This year's event drew a standing room only crowd. Elected officials including District Attorney Sandra Doorley, Sheriff Todd Baxter, State Senators Rich Funke and Joe Robach, Assembly Members Joe Morelle and Peter Lawrence, several judges, county legislators, town officials and candidates were in attendance working the crowds.