🌱 50 Crashes +Big Composting Announcement + Colleges Fight Surge

Hello, neighbors! It's me again, Paula Constance, your host of the Bedford Daily.

First, today's weather:

Partly sunny today and breezy. High: 40. Low: 30.

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Here are the top stories today in Bedford:

1. Accidents kept authorities scrambling after New Hampshire's first brush with winter weather. State police reported more than 50 accidents, crashes, and spinouts with the first snowfall and icy conditions on Friday night. Troopers are asking drivers not to drive in storms this winter. Staff Sgt. Daniel Baldassarre with the New Hampshire State Police said if you have to drive during slick conditions to keep a safe distance from other cars, and give snowplows and DOT workers the room they need to treat the roads. Police also reminded residents of Bedford and around New Hampshire about Jessica's Law, requiring drivers to remove snow and ice from the roof of their vehicle before driving. Law enforcement said fines for driving cars with snow or ice on the roof range from $250 to $1,000. (WMUR)
2. The Department of Environmental Services announced that the public comment period is now open for proposed changes to composting rules that could make it easier for small-scale composting projects and streamline the permitting process. Composting is popular in Bedford, and officials say that composting is the state's preferred strategy to manage waste, while landfill "is the least preferred" method. Michael Nork, who supervises material management at the Department of Environmental Services said there's a lot of pent-up interest in diverting food waste from landfills. According to the EPA, food scraps make up a quarter of the waste in landfills across the U.S. The DES will have a public hearing Dec. 13, and written comments will be accepted through Dec. 20. You can find out more here: (NHPR)
3. Colleges plan to step-up measures to fight COVID-19. College students returned to classes after Thanksgiving break on Monday, bringing fresh concerns of a new surge in COVID-19 cases as the world hurries to battle the rapidly-spreading Omicron variant. New Hampshire has the highest rate of active COVID-19 infections and hospitalizations than at any point during the pandemic. With a new variant looming, colleges are ramping up measures to protect student as they head into the end of the semester. Officials are cautious, but say that COVID-19 vaccines and regular testing are the reasons campus life has "mostly returned to normal." (Yahoo News)

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Today in Bedford:

• Tri M music honors society inductions. (6:30 p.m.)
• Smyth Public Library Virtual Presentation by Rare Book Specialist Ken Gloss. (6:30 p.m.)

Bedford Patch Notebook

• Animal Rescue League of N.H.: "Beautiful balsam fir trees on sale! Proceeds benefit the animals." (Facebook)

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Thanks for following along and staying informed! See you tomorrow with another update. If enjoying reading these newsletters, consider inviting friends and neighbors to follow along. You can send them this link to subscribe.

— Paula Constance

About me: I am a freelance writer, author, and media producer. I am committed to media projects that empower, engage, and help make the world a better place.

Have a news tip or suggestion for an upcoming Bedford Daily? You can reach me at paula.constance.patch@gmail.com.