🌱 🏛️​ African American Veterans Monument + State Money + Hispanic Heritage Month

Hi, I hope everyone managed to have a nice weekend despite the game yesterday! Let’s ease back into the swing of things by learning what’s happening in the community today, including:

• 🏛️ New African American Veterans Monument revealed
• 💵 Is the state money promised after the Tops shooting going to reach Buffalo’s East Side?
• 🔬 Museum of Science celebrated Hispanic Heritage month this past weekend

☁️ But first, today's weather: Mostly cloudy, with showers and wind. High: 60. Low: 53.

Here are the top stories in Buffalo today:

1. A new African American Veterans Monument, which was six years in the making, was unveiled this weekend at Buffalo’s Naval and Military Park. The $1.8 million monument, designed by local artist Jonathan Casey, who unfortunately died prior to its completion, currently hosts 550 names. This is the first monument that honors black veterans from all wars in the nation, and consists of twelve pillars to represent the twelve wars that black Americans have fought in.
   To learn more and to see a video of the monument, visit WGRZ 2.
   
   
2. The $50 million promised to reach Buffalo’s East Side following the Tops mass shooting is still inaccessible in most of the ways it was promised. The Buffalo East Homeowner Assistance Fund established to help people late on bills, for example, has been applied for by 800 people in eligible zip codes and only 100 applications have recieved responses. As vice chair of Voice Buffalo, Jerome Wright, puts it “we have an upgrade of a Tops market at the loss of 10 lives and the traumatization of the entire community and we’re not going to stand for that anymore.”
   More details can be found at WIVB 4.
   
   
3. The Hispanic Heritage Council helped the Museum of Science celebrate Hispanic Heritage month this past weekend. Maritza Vega, the vice president of the council, comments,“Providing a place where people can feel the heritage, and others can learn about it, it’s one of the most important things you can do is teach history, teach people about people, and what better why by showing cooking those flavors, those smells, by dancing.” The council is creating the Hispanic Heritage Institute, which is hoping to open in the next two years.
   Read more at WIVB 4.
   
   
4. The Goo Goo Dolls played a hometown show at KeyBank Center Saturday night. County Executive Mark Poloncarz, despite being booed by the crowd, acknowledged how important the relationship between the band and city is and named September 24th “GooGoo Dolls Day” prior to the performance.
   For more details about the concert, read Amy Yakawiak’s review via The Buffalo News.
   
   
5. Deputies discovered a stolen car on Niagara Street this past weekend. The 30-year-old male driver, Marc M. Bartholomew, had eight license suspensions and was subject of an arrest warrant in the town of Amherst. Bartholomew was charged with criminal possession of a vehicle, aggravated unlicensed operation, and a traffic violation.
   Learn more by reading The Buffalo News.

Today in Buffalo:

• Literacy NY Buffalo-Niagara Work Experience Program! West Room, Central Library. September 26th, 9:00 A.M. Details!
• Escape the Library Escape Room! Anna Reinstein Memorial Library. September 26th, 12:00 P.M.-10:00 P.M. Details!
• University at Buffalo’s Department of Art Visit Speaker’s Series: Dara Friedman! Center for the Arts. September 26th, 6:30 P.M. Details!

Buffalo Chatter:

• Otter’s Tailgate: "Fish is on the menu for today’s tailgate! ❤️🏈💙 #GoBills #SquishTheFish" (The Buffalo Zoo via Facebook)
• Pugs and Small Breeds Adoption: "Our adoption center is open both days this weekend. On Saturday we will be there from 11:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. and on Sunday we will be there from 11:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. The below dogs will be in attendance on Saturday and their ho..." (Buffalo Pug & Small Breed Rescue, Inc. via Facebook)
• Pawty Invitation: "You’re invited to a Tailgate Party! 🏈 #dogsofbuffalo #buffalobills #dogsofbuffaloboosterclub #squishthefish @buffalofambase @buffalobills @thebuffalofanatics #billsmafia #nfl #billsdogs #buffalofanatics #whereelsewouldyouratherbe" (Dogs Of Buffalo via Instagram)
• Kaylena Marie’s Bakery: "SOB SPOTLIGHT: Come for the Cinnamon Rolls & Stay for the Handcrafted Breakfast & Lunch Options at Kaylena Marie’s Bakery If your perfect weekend involves treating yourself to brunch at your favorite local cafe, then you’re going to wan..." (Step Out Buffalo via Instagram)
• Gala at the Gardens: "We’re off to a beautiful start for the 2022 #GalaAtTheGardens. Beautiful plants, lights, music, and people! 💚🌱 #PlantedAndGrowing" (Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens via Facebook)
• Central Terminal: "A view in my city……………. Buffalo NY………… . . #billsmafia #buffalo #buffalony #ny #newyork #wny #716 #buffalocentralterminal #trainstation #oldclock #vintagewatch #aviewinmycity" (Kevin Rybczyński via Instagram)
• Sunset & Pup Photograph: "BUFFALO SUNSET 🌅 @nora_the_st.berdoodle 🐕 #dogsofbuffalo #buffalosunset #bernedoodle #buffaloouterharbor #lakeeriesunset #lakeerie #edwardcotterfireboat #fireboat" (Dogs Of Buffalo via Instagram)

I hope you feel in the loop and ready to start this week. See you all tomorrow morning for another update! :)