🌱Holiday Bell Ringers +Unexpected Mall Fire +'Do Not Eat' Alert

Happy Tuesday! Let's get caught up to start today off on an informed note.

First, today's weather:

Cool today with some sun. High: 40. Low: 25.

Shoutout to our premier local sponsor:

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Here are the top stories today in Bedford:

1. Holiday Bell Ringers: Alison Goedecke and co-worker Nigel Harris from Goedecke Paint, Flooring & Design Center in Bedford volunteered with the Salvation Army ringing handbells to help collect donations for The Salvation Army. First-time bell ringer Lisa Bellman was outside the state liquor store in Bedford bundled in a heavy winter coat smiling and greeting passers-by despite the cold wind. With every ring of the bell and every smile, a message of holiday giving and goodwill rang out in the winter air. More volunteers are needed this holiday season. You can find out more here: (WMUR)
2. Mall Fire: If you are planning to head to The Mall of New Hampshire for holiday shopping, you may see a section closed off near Best Buy. On Sunday, a massage chair that malfunctioned caught on fire at 1:25 a.m., setting off the alarm. Manchester fire Battalion Chief David Flurey said the fire was quickly contained and doused by sprinklers, but caused water damage and smoke billowed through the mall. The Food Court and several businesses were closed on Sunday. On Monday businesses reopened for holiday shoppers, but a Food Court sign said restaurants are "closed for cleaning" and will not reopen until after they are inspected. Security guards were in the mall at the time of the fire, but no one was injured. (The Union Leader)
3. Do Not Eat" Order For Contaminated Deer, Fish, In Maine and New Hampshire: Maine officials issued a "do not eat" order after the discovery of "forever chemicals" in deer in central Maine. PFAS chemicals are man-made chemicals used to manufacture plastics and are also found in household products. Once the soil and water become contaminated, experts say they remain contaminated because "forever chemicals" do not break down in nature. PFAS chemicals have been linked to cancer clusters and thyroid problems. Some have questioned if it is safe to eat deer in other parts of the state where there may also be contamination. Maine officials said they are testing for suspected contamination in industrial waste sites and in places where septic tank sewage was spread as fertilizer. New Hampshire is not in the clear. The Granite State issued a similar warning about eating deer meat and fish after finding PFAS contamination in Southern New Hampshire. The controversial Saint-Gobain plastics plant in Merrimack was the source of groundwater and drinking well contamination in Merrimack, Bedford, and Litchfield, and continues to release PFAS chemicals, according to environmental officials. (The Union Leader)
4. Comet: If you have a telescope or binoculars and you are up early, you may be able to see Comet Leonard, the brightest comet of the year, just before sunrise. The comet will be visible in the east to the left and below the red star Arcturus. To find Arcturus, trace an arc from the handle of the Big Dipper and look for the red star. (WMUR)

Today's Bedford Daily is brought to you in part by our friends at Ring, the home security company. Ring does a lot more than doorbells: check out their full suite of smart home products at Ring.com. And thank you Ring for helping to make local news happen in Bedford!

Today in Bedford:

• The Craftworkers' Guild Annual Holiday Fair (10 a.m.)

From my notebook:

• Bedford (NH) Public Library: "Browse and check out our new children's materials!" (Facebook)

From our sponsors — thanks for supporting local news!

Featured businesses:

• Healthy Buffalo — Look good in the Buff and Eat Buffalo meat! It's healthy! (Visit website)
• MJ'S Market, Inc — MJ's Market, A Cannabis Destination, Opening Late September! (Visit Website)
• RD1 Fitness — “A new way to 'fit' fitness into your daily routine.” (Visit website)
• Tiger Warrior Dojo — Commitment to Excellence. (Visit website)
• Add your business here

Events:

• MHS Swim Team Fundraiser. (December 9)
• How to Talk to Your Parents About Estate Planning. (December 9)
• Great New England Holiday Shopping Extravaganza. (December 10)
• New Year's Eve — Interactive NightLife Experience. (December 31)
• Add your event

Housing:

• Seeking one roommate. (Details)
• Add your listing

You're up to date today! See you tomorrow with another update. If you find that these newsletters have helpful information, consider inviting some of your 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 contact me at paula.constance.patch@gmail.com.