🌱 Tom Brady Official Resolution + Vanishing Snow + PFAS Update

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

First, today's weather:

Partly sunny and breezy. High: 55 Low: 26.

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Here are the top stories in Bedford today:

1. New Hampshire Senators Maggie Hassan, Jeanne Shaheen, and seven other state senators from Massachusetts, Maine, Vermont, and Rhode Island honored Tom Brady with a resolution in the U.S. Senate. It started out with a list of proclamations: "Whereas Tom Brady, commonly known as “TB12” or “the GOAT,” was born in San Mateo, California, on August 3, 1977..." and ended like this: "Whereas Tom Brady brought incredible joy to New England and all of Patriots Nation, who loved watching him play; and Whereas Tom Brady played his final NFL game on January 23, 2022: Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the Senate— (1) honors the legendary career of Thomas Edward Patrick Brady, Jr., whose leadership, tenacity, and hard work defined a generation for Patriots Nation and whose legacy will continue to live on for years to come; and (2) wishes Tom Brady a fulfilling post-professional football career as he bids farewell to the gridiron." You can read the full story here: (Manchester Ink Link)
2. Bedford, Merrimack, and the surrounding communities struggle with PFAS contamination from the Saint-Gobain in Merrimack, while patients with cancer want answers. Former Bedford resident Carol Williams said she believes her cancer was caused by exposure to PFAS chemicals after 36 years living "just over the Merrimack town line." She had no family history of cancer. The embattled plastics plant has been under fire for contaminating groundwater and wells with "forever" chemicals that have been used since the 1950s to create household products to repel water, like stain repellents, stain-resistant carpets and couches, cookware, and food packaging. In November, the Department of Environmental Services warned people not to eat fish caught in five lakes in southern New Hampshire because of dangerously high PFOS levels (a type of PFAS) including Beaver Lake in Derry, Robinson Pond in Hudson, Horseshoe Pond in Merrimack, Canobie Lake in Salem, and Cobbetts Pond in Windham. You can read more about this story here: (New Hampshire Public Radio)
3. The future of winter in New Hampshire was the subject of a recent UNH study. Researchers found that winters are warming faster than summers in North America, and it impacts everything from ecosystems to the economy. Elizabeth Burakowski, research assistant professor in UNH’s Earth Systems Research Center, noted that winters are "vital to all of us" and that immediate and serious action needs to be taken. Cold weather in the winter is vital for woodland animals, to prevent the spread of invasive forest pests, and is essential for ski resorts in New Hampshire and North America to make snow, which is a multi-million-dollar industry. At the current pace, starting in 2040 to 2069, ski areas in North America "will face up to a 50 percent decline" in their ability to make snow, said Burakowski. You can read the full story here (with a subscription): (The Union Leader)

Today in Bedford:

• Couples "Date Night" Workshop. (6:30 p.m.)

From my notebook:

• This Weekend's Bedford Area Prep Sports Schedule: (Bedford Patch)
• Bedford Events Calendar: See what's happening this weekend: (Bedford Patch)
• Bedford: Check out three local houses on the market: (Bedford Patch)

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That's it for today. I'll see you soon with your next 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.