🌱Private Contractors Underpaid + House Fire Fundraiser + Hamlin is Awake

Good morning, Buffalo. I'm here in your inbox per usual to tell you everything you need to know about what's going on around town, including news on...

• Fundraising efforts to support the family of the Dartmouth Ave house fire
• Updates on Damar Hamlin, who woke up yesterday but remains in critical condition
• A stabbing in a Buffalo Public School

But first, today's weather:

Cloudy, snow showers, 1-3". High: 37. Low: 32.

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Here are the top stories in Buffalo today:

1. The city of Buffalo pays private contractors 25% what the state pays and 46% below the county, which likely played a factor in snow removal efforts during the blizzard. Nathan Marton, commissioner of the city’s Public Works, Parks and Streets Department, told Common Council members that a couple of contractors from last year said they would not engage in emergency calls for the price that was being offered for their services. Read more at The Buffalo News.
2. Community members are coming together to raise money for the family of the Dartmouth Avenue fire that happened on New Year's Eve. The grandmother is currently in a medically-induced coma at ECMC and of the five grandchildren in the house, only the infant survived. Their grandfather, Clarence Liggans, and the rest of the family is in desperate need of rebuilding their home and the belongings. To learn more about these efforts and the fire, visit WKBW 6.
3. Damar Hamlin, the Buffalo Bills safety who experienced cardiac arrest on Monday night, is awake in the hospital. According to CNN, Hamlin is holding hands with his family and is able to write. Although he is not yet able to breathe on his own or talk, the first question he wrote on the clipboard after waking up was, "Did we win?" For live updates on Damar Hamlin, visit CNN.
4. A 16-year-old girl has plead guilty to the stabbing of a 17-year-old girl at the Buffalo School of Culinary Arts and Hospitality Management. She has received six months in jail followed by five years of probation. Since she was granted youthful offender status she won't have a criminal record. More details can be found at WGRZ 2.
5. People, Places and Things, a play about addiction and recovery, is having a second chance after having to close four performances in at the onset of the COVID pandemic. The show, which originally opened at the Kavinoky Theatre, opens on January 12th at Shea's 710. Read more, and find details about free tickets, at WKBW 7.

Today in Buffalo:

• Laser Cut Signs in the Tech Lab! The Foundry, 6:00 P.M. - 9:00 P.M.
• Paw Patrol Live! The Great Pirate Adventure! Shea's Performing Arts Center, 6:00 P.M.
• Chunky Knit Bills Blanket Workshop! Buffalo Cider Hall, 6:00 P.M. - 9:00 P.M.
• Deep Cuts Happy Hour w/ DJ Oldskool! Hot Mama's Canteen, 6:00 P.M. - 9:00 P.M.
• First Friday Wine Class! Freedom Run Winery, 7:00 P.M. - 9:00 P.M.
• Elvis Lives! Lancaster Opera House, 7:30 P.M. - 9:30 P.M.
• The Underground Presents: The Holidaze! OSB Ciderworks,8:30 P.M. - 2:30 A.M.

Saturday in Buffalo:

• Foundations of Horticulture! Buffalo Botanical Gardens, 10:30 A.M. - 12:30 P.M.
• UB Bulls vs. Northern Illinois (Men's)! Alumni Arena at SUNY Buffalo, 12:00 P.M. - 2:00 P.M.
• UB Bulls vs. Central Michigan (Women's)! Alumni Arena at SUNY Buffalo, 2:30 P.M. - 4:30 P.M.
• Snow Falls! Goat Island, 1:00 P.M. - 3:00 P.M.
• Paw Patrol Live! The Great Pirate Adventure! Shea's Performing Arts Center, 10:00 A.M., 2:00 P.M., & 6:00 P.M.
• Buffalo Sabres vs. Minnesota Wild! KeyBank Centre, 7:00 P.M. - 8:30 P.M.
• Johnny & the Man Kids / SMUG / Lower Expectations / We Were Blank! Nietzsche's, 9:30 P.M. - 11:30 P.M.

Sunday in Buffalo:

• Paw Patrol Live! The Great Pirate Adventure! Shea's Performing Arts Center, 10:00 A.M. & 2:00 P.M.
• Pour Me a Strong One Acrylic Paint Class! Freedom Run Winery, 1:00 P.M. - 3:00 P.M.

From my notebook:

• Dogs For Damar: "As we all wait and pray for updates about Damar, we wanted to acknowledge the compassion of the Cincinnati Bengals and their fans" (Dogs Of Buffalo via Instagram)
• Last Week's Snow: "Hard to believe that this blanket of snow that covered #UBuffalo is nearly gone now! ❄" (University at Buffalo via Instagram)
• "Buffalo Strong" Themed Skate: "Join us this Friday as we re-open the rink for the first time in 2023 with our 'Buffalo Strong' themed skate." (Buffalo Waterfront via Facebook)
• Ice Age Cave Bear Skull: "Have you ever seen an Ice Age cave bear skull from Romania? In our Behind-the-Scenes tour: Geology Rocks, you can learn about the rock cycle, marvel at our minerals, and discover our large fossil collection. What you see on display is ..." (Buffalo Museum of Science via Instagram)
• Buffalo in Blizzard: "A view in my city……….. Buffalo NY………. . . #buffalo #buffalony #ny #wny #716 #billsmafia #blizzard #mainstreet #igersbuffalo" (Kevin Rybczyński via Instagram)
• Dog in Need of a Home: "New girl Chloe was all ears 👂 when we told her she’s officially up for adoption! Check out this adorable little honey! She’s been very lovey with volunteers and did great playing with dogs in her assessment too. 👏🐾🧡🎊 " (City Of Buffalo Animal Shelter via Instagram)
• Fisher-Price Casting Call: "EVENT SPOTLIGHT: Fisher-Price Casting Call⁠ ⁠ 📆 Thursday, January 5 and Saturday, January 7⁠ ⁠ 📍 Fisher-Price Creative Studios, 636 Girard Ave, East Aurora NY 14052⁠ ⁠ ⏰ 8:00 am - 5:00 pm⁠ ⁠ 👇 ABOUT THE EVENT: ⁠ ⁠ Are you the proud pa..." (Step Out Buffalo via Instagram)
• Must See Concerts this Month: "There's a lot of great shows coming to Buffalo this month! Head to our link in bio for all the ones you won't wanna miss." (Step Out Buffalo via Instagram)

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Events:

• BUFFALO NY LOCK & KEY SINGLES EVENT at Lockhouse Distillery • Ages 21-59 • Better than Speed Dating! (January 7)
• Add your event

Thanks for following along and staying informed. I'll see you around!