🌱 🥫Debate over Council Districts + 2022 Life Saving Award + Holiday Food Drive

Hey, Buffalo! Here are all the most important things to know about what's happening in town today, including:

• 🆘 SUNY Buffalo State Officer awarded for saving a life
• 🥫 Holiday food drive details
• 😓 Suicide attempt at the holding center

☀️ But first, today's weather: Mostly sunny and breezy. High: 39. Low: 29.

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Here are the top stories today in Buffalo:

1. The City Council is redrawing council districts without the need to respond to petitions. This led to much dispute during an open meeting this week, in which lawyers from our City Action and concerned members of the public spoke out about how they should be represented and heard in the redrawing practice. Learn more at WGRZ 2.
2. Amanda Mesi, a SUNY Buffalo State Officer, was awarded the 2022 Life Saving Award after responding to a countywide alert about a diabetic man who was two hours late returning from his place of work. Mesi noticed the bar he worked at happened to be down the road from SUNY Buffalo State. Mesi says when she found him, he was nearby on the I-198 and incoherent, although he managed to say "I'm going to die." Emergency paramedics said his blood pressure was dangerously low and he would have died within an hour if he wasn't found by Mesi. For more information, read WIVB 4.
3. NFTA and Feed More WNY are working together to host a Holiday Food Drive. They are accepting donations of canned goods, pasta/pasta mixes, rice/rice mixes, cereal, peanut butter, and stuffing mix. Food can be dropped off at the NFTA Metro Customer Center or the Buffalo Airport Firehouse any time before December 20th. Check out WKBW 7 if you want to know more.
4. On Wednesday morning, deputies had to intervene in a suicide attempt at the Erie County Holding Center. The individual who attempted was released to an area hospital and has since returned to the holding center. Learn more at WIVB 4.
5. Kulback's $8.45 million building in Lancaster will be leased to National Grid upon completion. National Grid will use it to store trucks and equipment, with some office space included as well. Read WGRZ 2 for more information.

An extra tidbit for your weekend: Check out this Buffalo Rising interview with local artist, Bree Gilliam. She is a full-time artist who works primarily in oil paint.

This Weekend in Buffalo:

• Hofbräuhaus Buffalo Christkindlmarkt! Hofbräuhaus Buffalo. Friday December 9th, 4:00 P.M. - 9:00 P.M., Saturday December 10th, 12:00 P.M. - 8:00 P.M. & Sunday December 11th, 12:00 P.M. - 5:00 P.M. Details!
• Festival of Lights! Erie County Fairgrounds. Friday December 9th, 5:00 P.M. - 10:00 P.M., Saturday December 10th, 5:00 P.M. - 10:00 P.M., & Sunday December 11th, 5:00 P.M. - 10:00 P.M. Details!
• Au-Some Evening! Explore & More, the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Children's Museum. Friday December 9th, 5:30 P.M. Details!
• Zoo Lights 2022! The Buffalo Zoo. Friday December 9th, 5:30 P.M. - 9:00 P.M., Saturday December 10th, 5:30 P.M. - 9:00 P.M., & Sunday December 11th, 5:30 P.M. - 9:00 P.M. Details!
• Hot Chocolate Hike! Tifft Nature Preserve. Friday December 9th, 6:30 P.M. Details!
• The Beach Boys ft. The Holiday Vibrations Orchestra! Shea's Performing Arts Center. Friday December 9th, 6:30 P.M. Details!
• Jingle Falls USA! Old Falls Street. Saturday December 10th, 11:00 A.M. - 7:00 P.M. Details!

Buffalo Chatter:

• Simping Sakari: "Felt cute might delete later, idk! 🐻‍❄️❤️ #Sakari" (The Buffalo Zoo via Instagram)
• East Aurora Photo: "It’s time to visit East Aurora for the holidays. 🕰️ #InTheBUF photo by @aliciakwietniewskiphoto" (Visit Buffalo Niagara via Instagram)
• 25 Days of Shelter Dogs: "It’s the 25 Days of Shelter Dogs! 🐾❤️🎄 Ohana is young, friendly, pretty and sweet. She’s a dog whose behavior has actually improved since coming to the shelter! Volunteers have given her lots of training on leash manners, lots of pl..." (City Of Buffalo Animal Shelter via Instagram)
• Buff State Study Break: "Take a study break- Swing by the Union during Bengal Pause today for hot chocolate and holiday photos with @LifeatBuffState, meet representatives from campus departments, and spend some quality time with friends!" (SUNY Buffalo State College via Instagram)
• Downtown Buffalo Christmas Tree: "One of our favorite Downtown Buffalo holiday traditions, music returns to the Christmas tree under the dome at M&T Bank’s Fountain Plaza branch (575 Main St) from Dec. 10 to Dec. 16. Just look for the gold dome! This event is free and op..." (Visit Buffalo Niagara via Instagram)
• Ice Bumper Cars at the Waterfront: "Not skating? No problem! The Ice offers bumper cars for the whole family to enjoy this holiday season (even Santa and Sabretooth love them!) Ice bumper cars are presented by Five Star Bank." (Buffalo Waterfront via Facebook)

That's it for today! I'll see you next week, and have a nice weekend!