Forty years ago this week, the R.T. French Company whipped up a tasty treat for the dogs at Lollypop Farm - people crackers.  Humane society official Shari Anderson handed out the tasty little tidbits.  That year, French contributed people crackers to more than 200 other shelters across the country.

Meantime this week in 1968, workers climbed on scaffolding to hang hundreds of lights on this huge tree at Main Street and East Avenue in downtown Rochester.  Two days later, Midtown would come alive for the traditional start of the Christmas shopping season.

Twenty years ago this week, by this time, When the exodus of stores and shoppers to the suburbs had already begun, downtown Rochester actually threw a parade to whip up the Christmas spirit.

Ten years ago this week, a spectacular fire devastated a community gathering place that served some of Rochester's neediest residents.  The Green Acres Food Pantry on Joseph Avenue was stocked for the holidays when the fire broke out.  The fire was ruled an arson.  With community support, Green Acres relocated to another part of the city.