Friday Updates - April 8, 2022

Friday, April 8, 2022

ORMS demolition. Courtesy DCAT Studios drone

WANT A MEMENTO FROM THE OLD ORMS (1935-2022)?

With the demolition and removal of the building, ORMS will be saving a few hundred bricks from the original 1935 structure. If you would like a brick as a memento, ORMS will be accepting donations to benefit our after-school clubs. Bricks will be available in the ORMS front office shortly after the removal of the building in early May. 

If you would like us to reserve you a brick, feel free to contact the ORMS office at 603-868-2820, and you will be added to the list!

MOHARIMET SCHOOL IS LOOKING FOR COMMUNITY HELP

The Moharimet community is looking for people to lead or co-lead small groups during our Day of the Artist celebration on June 2nd. The school hopes to offer a wide range of artistic experiences for our students to enjoy through small-group sessions throughout the day. The goal is for children to feel what it’s like to create art or express themselves artistically. The emphasis will be on fun and learning and not on the perfection of the finished product.  

Past celebrations have included sessions on: coil clay pots, watercolor painting, whittling, soap carving, potato stamp making, origami, and drumming. High-level experience from group leaders is not necessary, but a desire to help children in your community learn is a definite plus. If you’ve ever wanted to share your love of art, here is your chance.  

Interested in participating? Please contact the Moharimet front office (603) 742-2900 and be prepared to give: 

• your name 
• contact information 
• a description of the art you would like to share 
• grade levels most likely to benefit from your program 
• size of group you would be able to accommodate 
• your hours of availability during the Day of the Artist

SWAP SHOP IS NOW OPEN!

The Durham Public Works Department and Swap Shop Volunteers would like to remind residents that the Transfer Station’s Swap Shop does not accept certain items. While we would like to keep reusable items out of the waste stream and the landfill, indoor storage space is limited, and other safety concerns must be considered. When entering the Transfer Station, it is mandatory to stop and check-in with one of the Attendants to review the items you wish to donate to the Swap Shop. The Attendant(s) will evaluate each item(s) based on the criteria below to determine if it will be accepted. A bulky waste coupon may be required in situations where the item(s) is not accepted. We encourage residents to discuss other options for donating their goods with the attendants and Swap Shop Volunteers. A reminder that users of the Swap Shop are encouraged to remain at the facility for no longer than thirty minutes during any one visit to allow other residents an opportunity to view and take items.

The following is a list of items that are not accepted at the Swap Shop:

• Dirty, moldy or stained items. Stained fabrics may go into the Ecosmith Textile Recycling bin.
• Broken, non-functioning or items missing pieces (a chair without a leg, desk without a drawer or drawer knobs, etc..)
• Boxes full of unsorted items (unless approved by a Transfer Station Attendant or Swap Shop Volunteer.)
• Upholstered furniture (mattresses, box springs, chairs, couches, headboards, pillows, etc.).
• Electronic items (all of which require an electronic coupon for disposal):

- Refrigerators

- Dehumidifiers

- Air Conditioners

- Other items containing a refrigerant

- Televisions

- Computer Monitors

• Construction materials of any kind (wood, shingles, sheetrock, insulation, etc.)
• Concrete, bricks, stone, solid fill.
• Appliances larger than a microwave (appliances containing refrigerant that have an electronic coupon will be considered for donation).
• Hazardous Materials or Chemicals (oils, gas, diesel, kerosene, propane, oxygen, mercury containing items, etc.)
• Food, beverages, cosmetics
• Textbooks, dated manuals, reference books (can be recycled using the Discover Books bin)
• Skies, ski boots, snow boards
• Child safety equipment (car seats, helmets)
• Weapons
• Broken glass (including glass from picture frames)
• Clothing and shoes (Use the Salvation Army bin for clothing and shoes in good condition. The Ecosmith bins for these and any stained bedding, towels, fabric stuffed animals, etc.

ASSISTANT TOWN CLERK/ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT RETIRES

After twenty-seven years of service, Donna Hamel will retire from her position as an Assistant Town Clerk/Administrative Assistant on May 31, 2022. The Town of Durham extends a sincere thank you and congratulations to Donna for the dedication, hard work, and the courtesy she has provided the community over the past twenty-seven years. Please stop by the Town Clerk’s Office before May 31, 2022 to wish Donna a happy and well-deserved retirement.

DURHAM PUBLIC WORKS TRAFFIC/CONSTRUCTION ADVISORY

Mill Road Construction Activity between McDaniel Drive and Academic Way- Please be advised that a contractor will be completing roadway borings along a short section of Mill Road between McDaniel Drive and Academic Way on Monday, April 11th. The roadway will be restricted to one lane in the work area with alternating traffic between 7:00 am and 12pm noon. Access to adjacent residences, businesses and institutions within the work areas will be maintained at all times. Disruptions to both pedestrian and vehicle traffic are expected to be minimal however we ask that the commuting public allow additional time to reach their destinations. We thank you for your patience.  For additional information please contact Durham Public Works at (603) 868-5578.

OYSTER RIVER SCHOOL BOARD UPDATES

The last day of school for the 2021-2022 school year is officially set for June 17, 2022.

Oyster River schools will be closed the week of April 25-29 for Spring Break.

Removal of the old ORMS building is proceeding smoothly. As the building is removed, materials are sorted on-site by type, and it is expected that 91% of the old building material will be recycled. Abatement (safe removal) of asbestos and other hazardous materials started in March and was completed before demolition began. Removal is expected to be complete within the next month.

A grand opening and ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new ORMS building is planned for August 23, 2022, upon completion of the field and other site work over the summer. Watch for details over the summer.

The State Board of Education will hold its meeting in the Oyster River Middle School recital hall on May 12.

The School Board approved creation of a Fall Spirit Team cooperative with Portsmouth High. If approved by NHIAA, New Hampshire’s governing body for interscholastic athletics, this would run in parallel with the successful Portsmouth-Oyster River ClipperCats Football cooperative team.

The School Board thanks community members who took the time to participate in the ORCSD Community Communication Survey conducted by the UNH Survey Center. The School Board received results late last week, including 11 pages of comments.

ASSESSOR TO INSPECT PROPERTIES REQUIRING BUILDING PERMITS IN THE COMING WEEKS

It’s that time of year again when assessor, Jim Rice, will be inspecting all properties in Durham during March and April that have recently undergone new construction such as building new homes, additions, made renovations or have recently been demolished.    

If you have any questions, please contact the Assessing Department at (603) 868-8064.  

APRIL 15TH APPLICATION DEADLINE IS FAST APPROACHING FOR PROPERTY TAX EXEMPTIONS!

April 15th is the last day to submit applications for property tax exemptions and veteran tax credits.  

Applications and information pertaining to property tax exemptions and veteran tax credits may be found on the Town’s website under the Assessing Department.

If you have any questions, please contact the Assessing Department at (603) 868-8064. 

Pictured are Chief Kelley, Gabi Selig, Deputy Chief Holmstock, and Detective Sergeant Lavoie getting ready to enjoy some delicious chocolate chip cookies made by Gabi’s Goodies for Good. This month, Gabi is raising money for Walk MS and brought some of her left over cookies to her friends at Durham PD.  

THE SUN IS SHINING – DURHAM PD REMINDS EVERYONE TO BE AWARE WHO YOU ARE SHARING THE ROAD WITH! 

With an increase in sunshine and warm winds, citizens will also see an increase in pedestrian traffic, motorized and non-motorized scooters, and increased bicycle activity. The Durham Police Department would like to take this time to remind everyone about some of the laws and related facts that help govern motorized devices, bikes, and pedestrians alike.  

Motorized Devices/Scooters: The Town of Durham has a town ordinance that governs the use of motorized devices such as electric scooters. Motorized devices are any device with a gas or electric engine and wheels joined to the bottom of a narrow platform that may or may not have vertical handles fixed to the platform, frame or wheels that is powered without the assistance of human peddling, pushing, or gliding. It does not include items designated for elderly or those with disabilities.  

• Operation of a motorized device is strictly prohibited on any Town sidewalk.  
• Individuals under the age of 16 operating on a public way is strictly prohibited.  
• Drivers must obey all official traffic signals, signs and other devices used to regulate traffic. 
• Motorized devices must be equipped with brakes, lights, and some sort of audible alert such as a bell.  
• During the period of one-half (1/2) hour after sunset to one-half (1/2) hour before sunrise, a motorized device must display a front facing lamp, emitting a white light visible for 300 feet. The motorized device must be equipped with a red reflector on the rear visible from 300 feet.  
• Motorized Devices shall not exceed 15 mph and shall be operated as near the right-hand side of the roadway as practical.  
• Operators emerging from a driveway or building shall, upon approaching a sidewalk or roadway yield the right-of-way to all pedestrians approaching on the said sidewalk area; and upon entering the roadway shall yield the right-of-way to all vehicles approaching on said roadway.  
• Unattended motorized devices may only be parked on streets, sidewalks or other Town properties in areas specifically designated and marked by the Town for the parking of such devices, including but not limited to corrals, pods, and bike racks.  
• If found unattended in violation of the ordinance, efforts will be made to contact the owner and they will be given 2 hours to properly park the motorized device and issued a violation notice.  
• If the owner cannot be located and the 2 hours has gone by, the device will be removed.  
• If a motorized device is left unattended and blocks pedestrian passage on a sidewalk or street or otherwise presents a public safety hazard, it shall be removed immediately.  

Bicycles: RSA 265:143 governs the safe operation of bicycles. It directs that all riders have the rights of and are subject to all the duties applicable to the driver of any other vehicle under the rules of the road. Just as important is RSA 265:143-a that directs all drivers of a vehicle to approach bicyclists with due care and ensure the bicyclists safety and protection by leaving a reasonable and prudent distance between the vehicle and the bicycle.  

• Bicyclists less than 16 year of age must wear a helmet when operating a bike on a public way.  
• Persons riding 2 or more abreast shall not impede the normal and reasonable movement of traffic and, on a laned roadway, shall ride within a single lane.  
• A bicyclist shall wear at least one item of reflective outerwear apparel, such as a reflective vest, jacket, or helmet strip, during the period from ½ hour after sunset to ½ hour before sunrise.  
• A bicycle parked on a sidewalk shall not impede the normal and reasonable movement of pedestrian or other traffic.  
• Every bicycle operated upon any way during darkness shall be equipped with a lamp emitting a white light visible from 300 feet in front of the bike.  
• A lamp or reflector that is visible from 300 feet to the rear of the bike is required when operating at night on a way.  

Pedestrians: RSA 265:34 to RSA 265:37 govern pedestrian laws in the State of New Hampshire. These laws require pedestrians to obey the instructions of any traffic sign or regulation specifically applicable to him/her, unless otherwise directed by a police officer.  

• When traffic signals are not in place, the driver of a vehicle shall yield the right of way, slowing down or stopping, if need be, to yield to a pedestrian crossing the roadway within a crosswalk when the pedestrian is upon the half of the roadway upon which the vehicle traveling, or when the pedestrian is approaching so closely from the opposite half of the roadway as to be in danger.  
• No pedestrian shall suddenly leave a curb or other place of safety and walk or run into the path of a vehicle which is so close as to constitute an immediate hazard.  
• Whenever a vehicle is stopped at a marked or any unmarked crosswalk at an intersection to permit a pedestrian to cross the roadway, the driver of any other vehicle approaching from the rear shall not overtake and pass such stopped vehicle.  
• Pedestrians crossing a roadway at any point other than within a marked crosswalk or within an unmarked crosswalk at an intersection shall yield the right of way to all vehicles upon the roadway.  

As the Durham Police Department focuses their attention on these issue, we wish everyone a safe spring and want remind everyone to remain vigilant no matter what mode of transportation you choose to use. 

WELCOME STATE FARM 

The Town of Durham welcomes all new businesses to Durham and appreciate the opportunity to provide some information about each one in Friday Updates. State Farm Insurance recently opened their office on the first floor of 23 Main Street, the prominent light brown building along Church Hill. They are easy to find with their unmistakable red sign out front.  

State Farm Agent Kyle Woodruff said he and his team “are excited to call Durham’s downtown business district home. Like any good neighbor, the agency’s mission is to be a resource to the greater Durham community.” They look forward to providing “the town’s residents and small business owners with personalized services for all of their personal and commercial insurance needs, including auto, home, life, accident, and illness insurance products.” 

Kyle added that a big focus “is serving UNH’s annually returning students, who are such a large portion of Durham’s population, providing them with coverage for their vehicles and rented premises. One goal is to help promote and encourage a culture of safe living and driving for this busy college community and offer tools for young adults to help them plan for their future beyond school…The agency looks forward to partnering with other local businesses to help keep Durham a great place to live, work, and study in. 

Stop by any time Monday through Friday, from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm to say hello to Kyle and Robb Goodell and Bethany Leitz or give them a call at (603) 397-0022

FROM SUPERVISORS OF THE CHECKLIST  

Party change: RSA 654:34, IV states that no person shall affiliate or disaffiliate from a party between the first Wednesday in June and the day before the state primary. This means that no party changes may be made this year after Tuesday May 31. If a voter is registered Undeclared at a primary, they may pick which party ballot to vote, and may then change back to Undeclared as they leave the polling place. However, if they are affiliated with a party (Republican or Democrat), they may only vote within that party and may NOT change party until at least the next day. One may choose to change party INSTEAD OF voting on primary day. Party changes may be made up through May 31 in the Town Clerk’s office at the Durham Town Hall any time during their office hours.  

Registration: Registration to vote may also be done at the Town Clerk’s office at any time up until about 10 days before the election. The Supervisors of the Checklist will be holding two special sessions for both accepting applications for new voter registration and changes of political party affiliation, as well as requests for other corrections to the checklist

Mon, April 25, 5:15 - 5:45 PM, Durham Town Hall

Tue, May 31, 7 - 7:30 PM, Durham Town Hall

Applicants for registration should bring with them proofs of identity, age, citizenship, and domicile. Driver’s license and passport are helpful. Affidavits may be signed under oath if proofs are lacking.

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE 2022 CRACK SEALING PROGRAM IN DURHAM

Durham Public Works has awarded the contract for the 2022 Crack Sealing Program to Indus, Inc. of Braintree, MA. Indus will apply a polymer crumb-rubber modified (PCRM) crack sealant to Pettee Brook Lane and sections of Main Street and Durham Point Road. PCRM is a high-performance crack sealant that consists of a performance-graded asphalt binder cross-linked with an SBS polymer and a proprietary adhesion promoter to produce an asphalt that has the ability to resist deforming at high temperatures while also being able to stretch and flex at lower temperatures. This high-performance asphalt is then blended with a finely ground crumb-rubber. During this blending process, the rubber particles absorb the polymer-modified asphalt and swell, increasing in volume and further enhancing the same properties afforded by the SBS polymer. The result is a material that has unmatched adhesion, elasticity, and load bearing capacity across a wide range of temperatures. Crack sealing operations are scheduled to occur during the week of May 2nd.

LEE WELL STRUCTURAL IMPROVEMENTS UNDER WAY - The well will be off line for about a month during this period.

The Durham Public Works continues to progress on a major rehabilitation of the Lee Well and the Pump House Facility. Over the last week, Water Division staff working with Weston and Sampson Engineers field crews began work on a full redevelopment of the well. This included the removal and replacement of all pumping equipment as well as chemical treatments to break down and dissolve mineral deposits within the well casing and screen structures to reestablish well pumping and specific capacity. This process included obtaining a Temporary Groundwater Discharge Permit from the NHDES Drinking and Groundwater Bureau. Additionally, DPW’s roofing contractor, Southers Construction completed a full renovation of the roof structure, soffit vents, trim, and gable siding. A portion of this funding for this project was obtained through the American Rescue Plan Act’s Infrastructure Bill.

PLEASE SUPPORT THE DURHAM HISTORIC ASSOCIATION AND THE ENVIRONMENT!

For the month of April 2022, the Durham Historic Association will receive a $1 donation from each purchase of a $2.50 reusable Community Bag at the Hannaford store located at 7 Mill Road, Durham NH. 

The Durham Historic Association's mission is:

• To preserve the memory of events connected with the history of the Town of Durham, or of individuals who may have resided there;
• To serve as guardian of the town's history;
• To preserve the artifacts of the town's history;
• To inform and educate the citizens of Durham and others of the history of the town and how contemporary Durham arises out of its past. 

Figure 1. Proposed sampling design and location of sensor nodes.

The class will work with Tom Brightman, Durham’s Land Stewardship Coordinator, to place a sign at the trailhead with general information about the research, explaining that it is a long-term UNH project and what the class is hoping to learn from it. Signage will include contact information for UNH faculty teaching the course, e.g., Jessica Ernakovich and Alix Contosta. Initial signage will be temporary as we collaborate with the Town to develop more permanent options.

The Land Stewardship Subcommittee has reviewed this project and recommended approval. Based on this recommendation, permission was provided by the Town for the effort to proceed.  

This is a very nice example of the collaborative opportunities that exist between Durham and the University of New Hampshire.