Friday Updates - April 12, 2024

Friday, April 12, 2024

Monday's solar eclipse from Town Hall. Courtesy, Todd Selig

Durham Public Works’ Spring Newsletter is now available HERE.

DURHAM TOWN CLERK-TAX COLLECTOR'S OFFICE CLOSED WEDNESDAY, APRIL 17, 2024 FOR STAFF TRAINING

The Durham Town Clerk-Tax Collector’s Office will be closed on Wednesday, April 17, 2024, so that staff may attend a workshop to receive training and updates from the NH Department of Revenue Administration (DRA) and the NH Tax Collector’s Association.  The Town Clerk-Tax Collector’s Office will resume normal business hours on Thursday, April 18, 2024. Please email Rachel Deane if you have any questions or need assistance at rdeane@ci.durham.nh.us.  

DURHAM HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION ISSUES STATEMENT CONCERNING TOWN COUNCIL RESOLUTION #2024-10, A RESOLUTION CALLING FOR CEASEFIRE IN GAZA

Following lengthy public comment and ensuing Council discussion, the Town Council voted March 4th to approve Resolution #2024-10 of Durham, NH, a resolution acknowledging the impact of the Israel-Hamas conflict in Gaza and Israel on residents of the Town of Durham, NH; affirming the Town’s stance against hate, bigotry, and discrimination; and calling for the immediate: safe release of all hostages, the provision of humanitarian aid to civilians in Gaza, and a durable bilateral ceasefire among the parties to the Israel-Hamas conflict in Gaza and Israel.

To review the Town Council resolution, please click HERE.

To watch the Town Council meeting on DCAT On Demand, please click HERE.

The resolution has been conveyed to Durham’s US Congressional delegation and to President Joe Biden.  

Following an initial conversation on March 7, 2024, on April 5, 2024, the Human Rights Commission discussed Resolution #2024-10 and adopted a statement to transmit to the Town Council in regard to this matter and the process utilized concerning the above referenced Resolution.

To review the Human Rights Commission’s statement, please click HERE.

To watch the meeting of the Human Rights Commission on DCAT, please click HERE

CELEBRATE THE 50th ANNIVERSARY OF THE OLYMPIC OIL REFINERY DEFEAT 

The Durham Historic Association invites you to attend its annual meeting and 50th Anniversary Commemoration of the Defeat of the Olympic Proposal on Saturday, April 27th, 2024 at 2 pm in the Council Room of the Durham Town Hall.

Following the election of officers the DHA will present The Battle for Durham Point and America’s Energy Future, a brief video chronicling the events of 1973-74 when the Town of Durham faced the prospect of Aristotle Onassis building the world’s largest oil refinery on Durham Point. Ten panelists will explore the issues and outcomes of this intense nine-month fight that took place 50 years ago.

This meeting is a chance for newcomers to join one of oldest historical societies in New Hampshire. It’s also a good time for current members to renew their memberships.

To learn more about the defeat of the oil refinery, click HERE.  

NH CHILDREN’S TRUST OFFERS SUPPORT TO OYSTER RIVER FAMILIES

New Hampshire Children’s Trust (NHCT) is the statewide organizational lead for the prevention of child abuse and neglect. NHCT works to strengthen families and communities across the Granite State so that all children can thrive.

April is Child Abuse Prevention Month, and members of the Oyster River community may be interested to know that the NH Children’s Trust Prevention Resource Guide is available for download HERE.

As the focal point of the Main Street portion of the Durham Historic District, the 175-year-old steeple of the Community Church is as important to the historic identity of Durham as it is to the identity of the church. Despite regular church maintenance, the steeple is in need of a significant refurbishment and the Friends of the Steeple are moving forward with careful plans to ensure that the work preserves the appearance, while replacing rotting elements and reinforcing the internal structure.  The total cost for this substantial work, which must be done high in the air, is $205,000!

To help fund the revitalization of this Durham icon, the Friends are applying for grants, one of which is from the NH Land and Community Heritage Investment Program (LCHIP). LCHIP requires at least a 50/50 match, which the Friends are working to raise from church and community members who value the historic character of Durham. Broad community support is essential for a successful LCHIP grant application.

Details, including the project, the history of the spire, and pictures of its condition can be seen at this web site HERE, which also provides the opportunity to make a donation for interested community members. 

Saturday, April. 20, 3-5 PM, The Barn at Powder Major’s Farm. Join in for the Oyster River Community Read CLOSING EVENT in collaboration with the Durham-Great Bay Rotary Club. 

Community Connections: Ways to Make a Change in Our Community. 

Meet the local non-profit groups working to overcome poverty. There will be LIVE MUSIC and refreshments. RSVP HERE.

DID YOU KNOW?  - Solar Eclipse Glasses and Car Seat Recycle

This week, IWMAC has TWO timely topics to cover, so be sure to read through to the end!

Solar Eclipse Glasses

Before you toss your solar eclipse glasses, here are a few alternative options:

Save them for the next partial solar eclipses visible in New England: March 2025, August 2026, and January 2029. 

Donate them! US-made paperboard glasses that have the manufacturer's address and contact info and that bear the ISO logo can be donated. All other types are not accepted and will be discarded due to liability and quality issues.

Lenses must be in good condition, without perforations, tears, or punctures.

There are drop-off locations in New England through Astronomers Without Borders (AWB) HERE or you can mail glasses to Eclipse Glasses USA at:

Eclipse Glasses USA, LLC

PO BOX 50571

Provo, UT 84605

Car Seat Trade-In Event

Target stores are hosting a Car Seat Trade-In Event from April 14-27, 2024. Customers who trade in their old car seats will receive a 20% off bonus toward a new car seat, car seat base or select baby home gear. To learn more, please check out the following link HERE.

Source: Northeast Resource Recovery Association 

Brought to you by the IWMAC Committee.

Not sure if an item can be recycled? Check here: www.Recyclesmartma.org

Massachusetts-based Torrington Properties acquired a number of existing student housing projects in Durham in 2018 and 2019 and have been diligent in maintaining these sites. For example, they recently hired masons to repair the stone wall (a veneer over a cinder block substructure) that their predecessor built in front of the former Orion site on Church Hill across from the US Post Office. 

Torrington also purchased the Mill Plaza last June. Principal Matt Morgan has indicated that they are focused on enhancing the property now, but it is possible that there would be some kind of redevelopment in the future. Mr. Morgan noted that they understand the history of the site and are certainly sensitive to the concerns of the community.

UPDATES FROM THE DURHAM HOUSING TASK FORCE 

The mission of the Durham Housing Task Force is to analyze the New Hampshire Seacoast regional housing inventory and to advocate for a balanced housing mix within the Durham community, providing a variety of choices that meet the economic, environmental, social, and physical needs of the community’s current and future residents, including those of varying financial resources. The task force will share pertinent items related to housing in Friday Updates periodically.

Outreach effort. The task force recently completed an informal outreach to hear stories from individuals and employers (businesses and organizations) in the community about the housing situation in town and in the region. This initiative was not a formal or scientific survey (the task force expects to conduct a survey later this year). Rather, members of the task force spoke with various employers and workers who they were able to contact readily and who seemed to be in a position to share an important perspective. These comments are offered to provide only a general, anecdotal sense of what different individuals are experiencing/observing. This link HERE will take you to the task force website. The two questionnaires are at the very top on the left side.

Housing impacts on the School District & local taxes. Former Town Council member Jim Lawson and Al Howland, a member of the task force and a former school board member, gave presentations to the Housing Task Force on Monday about the structure, budget, and capacity of the Oyster River School District and the potential impact of a large residential project on the school district. You can watch the meeting on DCAT HERE. 

Housing challenges across the state. Below are two videos that speak to the broader challenge in New Hampshire. These films were produced by Jay Childs. Communities and Consequences I and Communities and Consequences II.

DURHAM PUBLIC WORKS CONTENDS WITH LATE-SEASON NOR’EASTER

Durham Public Works’ Snow and Ice Control Team battled a late-season Miller “Type B” Nor’Easter for 35 hours straight beginning late last Wednesday evening.

Temperatures Wednesday evening fell from near 40 degrees to the lower 30s as heavy precipitation, initially in the form of rain, transitioned to snow via “wet-bulbing” or evaporative cooling. Heavy, wet snow intensified overnight into the morning hours Thursday and accumulated to 6” by early afternoon. 

The storm caused extensive impacts to the electrical grid and transportation network due to fallen trees and branches. At the height of the storm in Durham, three local roads as well as two state-maintained roadways were closed to vehicular traffic.

Durham Public Works spent the better half of this week cleaning up 20 sites that were impacted by trees falling within the public right-of-way. 

DURHAM PUBLIC WORKS SEEKS SEASONAL LABORERS - A great summer opportunity for Oyster River students 18 years of age and older.

The Public Works Department is seeking several highly motivated team members to join an exceptional team of Public Works professionals to serve in the role of Part-Time Seasonal Laborer.

The successful candidates will assist the Operations Manager and Buildings and Grounds Supervisor in completing routine public works projects such as landscaping, park and facility maintenance, and road maintenance.

The salary for these part-time, seasonal positions is $16-18/hr, depending upon qualifications. These 40 hour/week positions run from May-August and normal work hours are 7:00am – 3:30pm, Monday – Friday.

The successful candidates must be 18 years of age and have a valid driver’s license or may be 16 or 17 years of age with signed parental permission. Experience with small engine operation, including lawn mowers, string trimmers, and leaf blowers is desired.

Applications are available at Durham Public Works or online at www.ci.durham.nh.us/jobs.

Please submit applications to Durham Public Works, Attn: Shannon Shaw, Assistant to the Public Works Director, 100 Stone Quarry Drive, Durham, NH 03824 or by email to sshaw@ci.durham.nh.us.

Cornucopia Food Pantry at The Waysmeet Center had some brand new, efficient, bright lights installed last week thanks to a mini-grant award from the Seacoast Food Provider's Network! This funding came to the FPN via Granite United Way, and the lights were skillfully installed by our friends at Semo Electric of Rollinsford. We are so grateful for this much needed upgrade and improvement in our clients' shopping experience at our pantry! Thank you so much to our friends at the Seacoast FPN, Granite United Way and Semo Electric! We couldn't provide this important work and service to the community without you.

The Durham Professional Firefighters Local #2253 would like to introduce Smokey the Fire Dog. Smokey will give short tips on Fire Safety, weekly so Parents and guardians can generate conversation with their children about Fire Safety. Keep an eye out in the weekly updates These small questions and tips are a great way for you as a Parent to teach your kids about Fire Safety, the more they know the safer they will be.

WEEK #15

BIKE SAFETY

ALWAYS WEAR A HELMET.

Now that the weather is getting warmer, it’s time to go outside and enjoy time with friends. It is best to always wear a helmet while riding a bike. Even the slightest blow to the head can cause an injury. For more information, click HERE.

NEWS FROM THE OYSTER RIVER SCHOOL DISTRICT

ORCSD Schools Collecting Eclipse Glasses

Are you done with your eclipse glasses? Please consider dropping them off at one of the schools' front offices during business hours and ORCSD will donate them to schools in communities that will be experiencing the next eclipse.

DEIJ Community Event

The ORCSD DEIJ Committee invites community members to One Community, Many Voices: Embracing Belonging this coming May 2, 6:00-8:00 p.m. at the Oyster River Middle School Concert Hall (1 Coe Dr, Durham, NH 03824). Join the district for this special event to share stories, experiences, and celebrate our differences. No RSVP required. For more information, click HERE.

Celebrating Superintendent Morse

Join ORCSD at the Oyster River Middle School Learning Commons on May 16, 4:00-6:00 p.m. to celebrate Superintendent Morse's coming retirement and 12 years of dedicated service to the Oyster River community. No RSVP required. Light refreshments will be served. For more information, click HERE. 

Rescheduled: Moharimet Finding Nemo Jr.

Due to this week's forecast the Finding Nemo Jr. evening performance has been rescheduled to Friday, April 5, at 6:30 pm. At the Oyster River High School Auditorium (55 Coe Dr, Durham, NH 03824). Open seating, no tickets required.

E-Waste Collection April 8-19

ORCSD schools will be collecting electrical and electronic waste (e-waste) between April 8-19. Details about where to drop-off and a list of eligible items may be viewed HERE.

Moharimet Pancake Breakfast April 13

The public is invited to attend Moharimet's 20th edition of its famous Pancake Breakfast this coming April 13, 8:00 - 11:30 a.m. Suggested donations: $6 per person or $20 per family. At Moharimet School gymnasium (11 Lee Rd, Madbury, NH 03823).

Reduced Plastic Lunch Day April 16

On Tuesday, April 16, the ORCSD Sustainability Committee will be hosting a reduced plastic day and join school cafeterias across the US in a nationwide initiative to reduce single-use plastics. On April 16 lunches will be served with limited single-use plastic foodware and packaging. Students who bring their own lunch to school are invited to participate by bringing a lunch free of single-use plastic packaging.

April 22-26: No School - April School Vacation

All ORCSD schools will be closed April 22-26. School will resume on Monday, April 29.

ARTEMIS & NEW HAMPSHIRE - A UNH event highlighting how New Hampshire is helping NASA return the USA to the moon and beyond

Join NASA, suppliers and UNH on Tuesday, April 23, from 5:30 - 8:00 p.m. in the Granite State Room of the Memorial Union Building to celebrate the successful Artemis I mission and learn more about collective efforts to return to the moon to stay. 

This family-friendly event will allow attendees to learn about the NASA Artemis Program, hear from local businesses making critical contributions to the mission, and enjoy interactive STEM and outreach experiences with the entire family.

This event is free and open to the public. Registration is not required for attendance but is appreciated for planning purposes. Parking is available in the Mill Road Lot. To Register, please click HERE.