NEWS // Pittsburgh News Roundup

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NEWS JAN. 3 ROCKS RALLIES FOR DAMAR

AS NEWS SPREAD OF Damar Hamlin's collapse during an NFL game in Cincinnati, his family and friends back home watched on in horror.

Hamlin’s uncle, Dorian Glenn of McKees Rocks, last week spoke to CP about the pain and shock that followed. "It was like a gut punch," Glenn said. "It hurt my heart seeing my nephew collapse on the field like that. No one knew what was going on."

Hamlin now appears on track for a steady recovery and his fundraising efforts for children in his hometown community have soared above $8 million. On Jan. 9, family, friends and supporters gathered for a vigil at Sto-Rox football field in solidarity for his ongoing recovery.

CP PHOTO: JARED WICKERHAM Supporters and members of the community attend a prayer for Damar Hamlin at Sto-Rox Junior-Senior High School on Mon., Jan. 9 in McKees Rocks.

CP PHOTO: JARED WICKERHAM Gabriel Fontana at work

NEWS JAN. 5 GABE FONTANA DAY

PITTSBURGH HONORED retired cobbler Gabe Fontana Jan. 4 with Gabe Fontana Day in the city. After learning the trade in Italy at age 6, Fontana emigrated to America and ran a shoe repair store on Forbes Avenue for 48 years before shuttering in December.

Before his retirement, CP profiled Fontana for a Nov. 16 cover story, in which he described the ups and downs of a long career in a dying trade.

READ MORE ONLINE AT PGHCITYPAPER.COM

NEWS JAN. 11 MOON OFFICIALS MOVE TO STAMP DOWN LGBTQ LIBRARY CONTENT?

MEMBERS OF Moon’s public library board tell CP they are concerned about recent moves by the township to replace library board trustees with individuals they say are “distinctly unqualified” political appointments. Library trustees believe this conflict stems from a December 2021 moral panic over a library Facebook post about featuring a children’s book about drag queens. They fear supervisors are intent on censoring content about LGBTQ people. •