Collaborators on a new book about the Town of Gates are hopeful that those who pick it up will see their hometown in a new way.

"Town of Gates: County Cornerstone," which will be published this month, marks the town's bicentennial.

The book updates its predecessor, which came out in 1963 to mark the town's sesquicentennial. "From the Wilderness: Town of Gates Sesquicentennial" was, for decades, the only one dedicated to the town's history, according to Sue Swanton, one of the volunteers who has worked on the new book.

In addition to the town's roots, the book also features information on community groups, churches and schools and agencies like the Gates Fire District and Gates Volunteer Ambulance Service. There are also chapters on landmarks around town and early businesses.

The 168-page tome features over 300 photographs, mostly in color. It includes writings from John Robortella, the former editor of the Gates Chili News.

The numbers are scary, and unfortunately, nothing new in Rochester. But a new report released by the New York State Education Department breaks down the graduation rates across the state, and just as in previous years, Rochester is among the worst.

The report looks at "on-time" graduation rates which is considered by August of a student's fourth year. In August 2012, only 48.6% of seniors graduated on time. That's practically unchanged from the year before with a rate of 49%. Buffalo saw a 7% drop in on-time graduates, bringing their percentage slightly below Rochester's at 47.8%. And in Syracuse, a little over half of students graduated on time.