🌱 ❄️ Snow State of Emergency + Boxes of Love + Machine Gun Arrest

Hello, everybody! Keep reading for everything you need to know about what's going on in town these days. In today's issue, you'll read about these stories...

• 💌 Buffalo Dream Center's Boxes of Love and Pastor Johns!
• 📜 A high school assignment turned history museum exhibit!
• 🗓️ Lots of events for the day today!

...and more!

❄️ But first, today's weather: Breezy with snow flurries. High: 39. Low: 30.

❄️I recommend keeping informed about the lake effect snow as the day goes on!

Here are the top stories today in Buffalo:

1. In response to the weather reports of incoming lake effect snow, Governor Hochul has announced a state of emergency that will go in effect this morning at 10 A.M. and last through the weekend. As of 4 P.M. today, several highways are closed for commercial traffic, including the I-90, I-190, I-290, and the skyway. A travel advisory will go into effect throughout the entire county tonight at 7 P.M., and all unnecessary travel this weekend is discouraged. Read more about the storm at WIVB 4.
2. The Buffalo Dream Center, with the help of Pastor Eric Johns, is sending food packages and wrapped presents to over 3,000 families this Christmas. Volunteers gathered yesterday evening to package these "Boxes of Love." In addition to this contribution, Pastor Johns will also be spending next week living outside and in shelters with unhoused residents of Buffalo, NY. This will be his 24th year of raising awareness and being there for those who may need it during the holidays. Learn more at WKBW 7.
3. A Buffalo resident, Angel Flores, was arrested after Homeland Security intercepted a package from China containing parts to create several machine gun conversion devices (MCDs). He now faces up to 20 years in prison. Find out more at WSYR.
4. The Buffalo History Museum is opening an exhibit of downtown photographs originally taken as a high school assignment in the 1970s. Professional photographer Charlie Hahn, who is now based in North Carolina, captured these images of Chippewa Street without realizing how much it would change in the next few decades. He says, "actually to shoot these photos when I was so young I didn't realize what I was doing. As far as how they were going to be seen today." For more information, visit WKBW 7.
5. Earlier this week, a pedestrian suffered a head injury during a hit-and-run incident in Amherst, NY. People with security camera footage near the intersection of Sweet Home Road and Chestnut Ridge Road are being asked to contact the local police. Read more at WIVB 4.

Today in Buffalo:

• Literacy NY Buffalo-Niagara Work Experience Program! West Room, Buffalo and Erie County Public Library. November 17th, 9:00 A.M. Details!
• Wellness Walks presented by Independent Health! Tifft Nature Preserve. November 17th, 10:00 A.M. Details!
• Friends Book Donation Days! Buffalo and Erie County Public Library. November 17th, 11:00 A.M. Details!
• Let's Do Lunch with Courtney S. Lennon, author and Texas music historian! Evans Bank. November 17th, 12:00 P.M. Details!
• Collections Live: Herbarium! Buffalo Museum of Science. November 17th, 12:30 P.M. Details!
• Evening with an Icon: Fred Smerlas! Buffalo History Museum. November 17th, 6:00 P.M. Details!
• Turnstile and Snail Mail Concert! Town Ballroom. November 17th, 6:00 P.M. Details!
• Bourbon, BBQ, and Cigars! Soho Buffalo. November 17th, 6:00 P.M. Details!

Buffalo Chatter:

• Snow Storm Joke: "Keeps us on our toes. Tw: joeya1" (Step Out Buffalo via Instagram)
• Christmas Giveaway: "*GIVEAWAY ALERT!* We're teaming up with 500 Pearl to give away 2 tickets to the Christmas Spirits Holiday Market & an overnight stay for 2 at the Aloft Hotel.⁠ ⁠ You and a friend will enjoy an intimate shopping experience amongst 20+ loc..." (Step Out Buffalo via Instagram)
• Dog Memories of the Fall: "IF THIS IS IT for Fall… let’s look back at how gorgeous it was 🍁 #dogsofbuffalo #fallrewind #winterstormwatch #snowiscoming #goodbyefall #fourseasons #buffaloweather #peakcolors #fallleaves" (Dogs Of Buffalo via Instagram)
• Learning at the Buffalo Museum of Science: "Check out the comparison of water storage between rain and snow falling on a mountain in the winter. One side of the mountain shows snowfall; the other side, rain. Both provide the same amount of water. One side releases water right away..." (Buffalo Museum of Science via Instagram)
• BPS Weekly Updates: "Wednesdays with Williams, a weekly update to all things BPS!" (Buffalo Schools via Facebook)
• National Community Foundation Week: "We are celebrating National Community Foundation Week with our peers across the country. If you would like to learn more about community foundations, check out this video that gives a closer look at what we do!" (Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo via Facebook)
• Ice-Skating Lessons: "THIS WINTER! Learn to ice skate with the help of Skate Great, Inc.! Choose from two sessions this season for select Saturdays from 10:15 am-11:00 am. Register for a session at: www.sk8gr8.com/registration/" (Buffalo Waterfront via Facebook)

You're officially in the loop for today! See you all tomorrow morning for your next update.