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🌱 Patch AM: How worried should Buffalo parents be about Oishei’s flu surge?

Coming up: Buffalo Theater: A Christmas Carol at Alleyway Theater on the Buffalo Patch calendar

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Friday December 26th Patch AM
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Hello Buffalo! Here's our latest buzz. Let's get into it. ☀️

In today's newsletter:

  • How worried should Buffalo parents be about Oishei’s flu surge?
  • Why three sheriff’s helicopters are headed to Buffalo’s airport.
  • How did a Buffalo case reveal gaps in America’s missing-persons database?

Also on today's calendar: Candlelight: Christmas Classics and 6 more events.

Find out what's happening in Buffalofor free with the latest updates from Patch.

Today's riddle: What did the clock say when it ran out of batteries? 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

Find out what's happening in Buffalofor free with the latest updates from Patch.

  • Friday: Colder with an icy mix, 1-3", with a high of 33 and low of 27 degrees.
  • Saturday: Low clouds, temps: high: 33, low: 29.
  • Sunday: Periods of rain, with a high of 41 and low of 36 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

1. Flu cases surge at Oishei Children's Hospital as doctors warn of severe season (wgrz.com) — Nearly 380 children tested positive for flu in one week at Oishei Children’s Hospital in Buffalo, driving emergency room visits sharply higher and lengthening wait times. Doctors say New York is among the hardest-hit states and urge families to get flu shots now, especially with severe Flu A (H3N2) circulating and holiday gatherings underway.
   

2. Why Mercy Flight will soon house three Erie County Sheriff's helicopters (buffalonews.com) — Erie County is expanding its sheriff’s helicopter fleet to three aircraft, all to be housed with Mercy Flight at Buffalo Niagara International Airport, in what could be the county’s priciest equipment purchase ever. Local officials are wrestling with multimillion‑dollar costs, grant uncertainties, and even tariffs on key parts, raising questions about how this aerial program will be funded.
   

3. 'For the missing to be found': National database helps solve missing person cases, but gaps remain (wkbw.com) — A national missing-persons database called NamUs is helping Western New York investigators, including in a Buffalo case where Cynthia Salter’s remains were identified 30 years after she disappeared. Advocates say it’s vital for Erie County’s 86 listed missing people, but warn outdated or sparse entries can still slow efforts to bring families answers.
   

4. Smuggler gets prison time for wildlife trafficking (fingerlakes1.com) — A federal wildlife smuggling case has unexpectedly boosted conservation work at the Buffalo Zoo, which used seized rare Cora mud turtles to start the species’ first assurance colony. Prosecutors say a Brooklyn man shipped hundreds of reptiles overseas in mislabeled boxes, leading to a two‑year prison sentence and a modest fine tied to his arrest.
   

5. Dan Higgins: Amy Betros has gone, but the work and the joy continue at St. Luke's (buffalonews.com) — St. Luke’s Mission of Mercy on Buffalo’s East Side is carrying its Christmas worship and outreach forward after beloved co-founder Amy Betros’ death at 71. Christmas Eve Mass drew worshippers, singers, and volunteers who arranged poinsettias and a Nativity scene, while colleagues reflected on Betros’ legacy of joy and service to Buffalo’s most vulnerable neighbors.
   

📸 Around Buffalo

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💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

  • VFW Warns Buffalo Veterans – Don’t Leave Benefits Money on the Table —Sturges Word Communications Read on Patch
  • Reimer Home Services Unveils Interactive Exhibit at Explore & More Children's Museum —Erinn Lyden Read on Patch
  • To the man in the big truck behind me at the Tim Horton's on Maple Rd near North Forest this morning.
    Thank You for buying my coffee. I put my cup out the window so you could see I gave you a wave and thanked you. You gave me a thumbs up. That, an… (Nextdoor Cheektowaga Airport)
  • Anyone lose a cat?
    She’s very sweet and has a collar, been hanging out in my yard for 4 days. (Nextdoor PLDG West)
  • Another powerful storm system that could soak Southern California with its wettest Christmas in years rolled into the region on Thursday, potentially... (X: SPECNews1BUF)
  • Two adults and four children have been displaced following a fire in the town of Hartland on Wednesday night, the Niagara County Sheriff’s Office... (X: news4buffalo)
  • TradeJobsWorkforce posted a job opening for Hotel Night Auditor in Buffalo. Apply here.
  • Lactalis American Group, Inc. posted a job opening for Machine Operator Trainee - 3rd shift - Ricotta Packaging in Buffalo. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Buffalo here.

Ok Buffalo! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: I guess I’m out of time.
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!

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