🌱Organic Dairy Farm Crisis + Famous In N.H.+ Metformin Recall

Happy Tuesday, Bedford! I'm Paula Constance, your host of the Bedford Daily, with everything you need to know to start your day. Thank you for your feedback, suggestions, and likes. Please share with friends and neighbors if you see something in the Bedford Daily they may like to know. Here are the top stories and events in our area today.

First, today's weather:

A mostly sunny day and windy, colder. High: 25. Low: 9.

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Here are the top stories in Bedford today:

1. When Gary Hirshberg, the founder of New Hampshire's Stonyfield Farms, heard that two major food corporations planned to cancel contracts with 135 small organic dairy farms in the Northeast, he knew someone had to do something to help save the small, family-run dairy farms. He said he knows many of the farmers personally and if large corporations buy organic dairy products from farms in the Midwest, the family farms in New Hampshire and the Northeast would go under. The local economy could lose upward of $68 million. Horizon, a major customer, plans to cancel their contracts. Without contracts, local farms may not survive. When Hirshberg learned of the crisis he came out of retirement and formed local partnerships. He hopes regional supermarkets will step up and commit to buying more local organic dairy products to support New Hampshire and Northeast organic family farms. You can read the full story here (if you subscribe): (The Union Leader)
2. What celebrities are you most likely to see in New Hampshire? Comedian, actress, and writer Sarah Silverman, who was born in Bedford and raised in Manchester, said she loves ice cream from The Puritan and everything from the Red Arrow Diner. Seth Meyers, The Late Night host, was born in Illinois and lived in Michigan until the age of 10 when his family relocated to Bedford, which he says he considers to be "home." Many well-known celebrities spend time in the Granite State. You can read more here: (wokq.com)
3. The common diabetes medicine Metformin used to treat Type 2 diabetes has been recalled over a cancer-causing impurity. Viona Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is recalling several lots of their diabetes medication over a potentially cancer-causing impurity. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced the recall on Jan. 12 and includes 23 lots of Viona’s Metformin HCl Extended-Release Tablets, USP 750 mg, which "likely contains unacceptable levels of the impurity N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA)." The announcement said the 23 recalled lots of metformin were shipped nationwide and are packaged in bottles of 100 pills with expiration dates between June 2022 and January 2023. Several pharmaceutical companies manufacture metformin, but the recall affects only Viona’s products. You can read more about this story and the recall here (with a subscription): (The Union Leader)

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From my notebook:

• Heart For Kindness Because Kindness Matters Art Show: Kindergarten through Grade 8 students living in or going to school in Bedford are invited to draw or paint a picture with the theme of kindness. Use your phone to take a picture of the drawing and mail it to BedfordLionsKindnessPoster@gmail.com before Jan. 22. For more information, go to Facebook Bedford NH Lions Club, or www.BedfordNHLionsClub.org "Art Contest for Youth" or text Lori Wiley at 603-494-7020. (Bedford N.H. Lions Club)
• Bedford School District: 2021-2022 School Calendar. (Bedford School District)

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• Great North Woods And White Mountains Regions Virtual Job Fair. (Jan. 20)
• BAE Virtual Retirement Seminar. (Jan. 21)
• January 2022 Information Sessions! (Jan. 26)
• Now through Jan. 28 — New Year's Deal with Symphony NH! (Jan. 28)
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That's it for today! I'll see you soon.

— 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.