🌱 Stormy or Mild Winter + Ay, Chihuahua! Shelter Pets + Omicron

Happy Friday! Here's everything you need to know about what's happening today in the Bedford area today.

First, today's weather:

A bright sunny day and windy. High: 54. Low: 34.

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Here are the top stories today in Bedford:

1. Will New Hampshire have a snowy winter this year? Winter weather can be difficult to predict, weather experts say. WMUR meteorologist Kevin Skarupa reported that last winter, parts of the state were buried under 3 to 4 feet of snow from one mid-December storm, but then had mild winter weather through January. The Arctic, the North Atlantic Ocean, and the Eastern Pacific Ocean determine if New England will have stormy weather over the winter. What does the NOAA official forecast say? They are predicting a milder than normal winter in New England this year. (WMUR)
2. With the omicron variant looming, colleges say they are up for a renewed COVID-19 fight and plan to do everything they can to limit the spread of the virus. As colleges brace for the worst, many believe that actively getting booster shots is their best hope. Their new resolve comes from new disruptions in campus life as numbers of infections soar. A recent online petition against a booster mandate for students only received a few signatures. UMass freshman Emily O’Brien, 18, of Bedford, New Hampshire, said the booster shot is a reasonable demand. She was already planning to get a booster shot and said a mandate by the college would "probably increase" how many students would get a booster shot to prevent future lockdowns. If the past 6 months have shown us anything, she said, a lot of younger healthy people "won't bother to get a vaccine if it's not a requirement." You can read more here: (TIME)
3. Say hello to these dogs and cats that found themselves in a Bedford area shelter and need a loving home. The N.H. Animal Reduce League and other nearby rescue shelters want to let you know there are pets that are waiting for you. Patch has partnered with Petfinder to help these shelter dogs and cats find their forever homes. Meet Anubis, an adult female Chihuahua, a small dog with a big personality, and Brady, an elegant sweet, and loving male gray and white cat. Carl is a 2-year-old friendly Black Lab mix. And then there is Bo, a beautiful and gentle 2-year-old Great Pyrenees. You can see all of the cats and dogs in our area that would love to find a home for Christmas. (Bedford Patch)

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Today in Bedford:

• The Craftworkers' Guild Annual Holiday Fair. (10 a.m.)
• Holiday Charcuterie Workshop. (6 p.m.)

From my notebook:

• Bedford N.H. Police Department: "The Bedford Police Department is asking for the public’s assistance in identifying suspects involved in a theft of a purse from Whole Foods on Friday, Dec. 10. The cards were later used in Manchester at the Mall of NH." (Facebook)
• Bedford Athletic Club: "BAC is offering two 6-week sessions." (Facebook)
• Bedford Hockey: "Junior Varsity NHJVHL season opener tomorrow Friday, Dec. 17, 2021 at 5:40 p.m. versus Londonderry at Tri-town." (Facebook)

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Events:

• Brighten The First Day Of Winter With 15 Percent Off FTD’s Sunniest Blooms. (Dec. 21)
• New Year's Eve — Interactive NightLife Experience. (Dec. 31)
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You're caught up today! See you tomorrow morning with another update.

— 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.