Friday Updates - August 5, 2022





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Friday, August 5, 2022



 





August 1st means fresh corn is IN at Tecce Farm in Durham! Check out their complete list of products by clicking HERE. There’s nothing like Tecce corn!



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The Durham Town Council will hold only one meeting in August, which will be on Monday, August 15, 2022.

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The Planning Board has a busy agenda for its meeting next Wednesday, August 10th. View the agenda HERE.

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Several Town departments impacted by COVID this week. Unfortunately, we have had a number of members of our staff at both DPW and the Town Hall contract Covid over the last two weeks. As some team members have recovered and reported back to work following isolation, others have come down with the virus and are now out of the office.  



 



ATLANTIC BROADBAND OPERATING AS BREEZELINE MOVES FORWARD WITH CABLE/HIGH SPEED INTERNET INSTALLATION IN DURHAM

You may recall that a cable television franchise agreement was approved by the Council in 2021 for Breezeline Communications (formerly Atlantic Broadband). The work includes installation of aerial and underground fiber within Durham.  


Recently Public Works met with representatives of Breezeline and JBC construction, who will be performing the initial installation of the underground work. The majority of underground work will take place on residential roads and an excavation permit will be issued which will contain certain conditions such as, Traffic Management Plans, public shade tree protection, bonds and insurances, as-builts, construction notifications to impacted residents and restoration requirements. The roads being impacted by the initial phase of underground work are noted below.

 

Roads impacted include:  Worthen, Edendale, Roysann, Britton, Mill , Carriage, Surrey, Sullivan Falls, Cold Springs, Corson Lane, Ross, Meader, Ellison, Strout , Noble K Peterson, Coe, Sofie Lane, Shearwater, Razorbill, Cormorant, Morgan Way, Williams Way, Tirrell, Deer Meadow.  

Unfortunately, earlier today Breezeline's contractors hit the power line while excavating within the Deer Meadow neighborhood and took out power to the area!



 





THE DOG DAYS OF SUMMER HAVE ARRIVED IN DURHAM – It will continue to be very hot so please plan your activities accordingly.

Afternoon heat indices today and Saturday will reach the middle 90s in Durham and southern NH with widespread middle and upper 90s on Sunday across southwestern ME and south-central NH south of the mountains. Scattered showers and thunderstorms expected through Monday, some of which may contain gusty winds and torrential downpours. 

A Heat Advisory is in effect across portions of New Hampshire, including Durham.



 



DURHAM/UNH HOSTED NORTHERN NEW ENGLAND PASSENGER RAIL AUTHORITY STATION OPERATION MEETING THIS WEEK AT OYSTER RIVER MIDDLE SCHOOL - Moving Northern New England Forward.

This week, UNH and Durham jointly hosted the first in-person monthly station ops meeting in about two years as a result of Covid. Meetings had been constrained to Zoom for safety reasons. The meeting was held at the new Oyster River Middle School. Representatives from each of the stations along the Amtrak Downeaster line traveled to Durham by train, were transported by Wildcat Transit to the school, and were treated with an informative tour provided by the ORMS principal and vice-principal.  


The Northern New England Passenger Rail Authority is a customer-focused, fiscally responsible public transportation authority created by the Maine State Legislature in 1995 in response to a public initiative led by TrainRiders Northeast. NNEPRA was at the center of the restoration of passenger rail service between Boston and points within Maine in December of 2001. Of course, this included the Durham/UNH station!  


NNEPRA continues to provide leadership, support, and coordination for the many operational partners and capital projects involved with developing and maintaining successful passenger rail service in Maine, NH, and Northern New England.

A thank you is extended to the Oyster River Middle School for graciously hosting the meeting.



 



DID YOU KNOW? - Gently Used Books

There are several ways you can pass on your new or gently used books. The Durham Transfer Station has a collection bin for new and used books. Discover Books is committed to supporting schools and literacy efforts and to  diverting discarded books from landfills. 


Check out the link HERE to learn more about Discover Books and the great work that they do. 


In addition, the Swap Shop at the transfer station will take new or used books in good condition. 


Also, the Durham Public Library is accepting books  in good condition the last week of each month. The Friends of the Durham Library will re-sell them to support the library.  

Brought to you by the Integrated Waste Management Committee


Questions about recycling or composting? Email us at Durhamrecycles603@gmail.com



 





The chart above is derived from data collected at the Durham WWTP by UNH Assoc. Professor & Durham resident Paula Mouser and her team of researchers at the University.



DURHAM, NH WASTEWATER TREATMENT FACILITY SARS-CoV-2 BIOMARKER RESULTS SUMMARY

24-hour flow weighted composite samples were taken from July 31-August 1, and August 3-4, 2022 at the Durham WWTP. These samples were preprocessed and extracted using a solids separation, Ceres Nanoscience viral concentration, and Kingfisher extraction approach. Two viral markers (N1 and N2) were quantified via Bio-Rad QX200 ddPCR.

Results: Both SARS-CoV-2 N1 and N2 viral biomarkers were detected for the composite samples taken July 31-August 1, and August 3-4, 2022. Viral biomarkers decreased from last week, with levels on Monday and Thursday remaining relatively level.

Biomarker levels are near the average of values reported for wastewater facilities in the NH surveillance program for this week.

Health officials working with UNH researchers have launched a new COVID data tracking project with a number of wastewater treatment plants in New Hampshire, including Durham.

With so many Granite staters testing for COVID-19 at home, state data on new cases isn’t as useful an indicator of COVID-19 levels as it used to be. People who are asymptomatic or who do not have easy access to testing may not be tested at all, which has always been a disadvantage of counting individual test results. And positive at home test results are not reported to the state database. 

This approach of tracking wastewater Covid concentrations is helpful because we can see what’s happening without the need for personal test data.

While the wastewater data does not show how many people in a given community have had the virus, it does reflect changes in levels of COVID-19. People infected with COVID release the virus in their feces. Even if they do not have symptoms, it can be found in wastewater.

Wastewater monitoring can be used as an early predictor of whether the virus is spreading in a community. It can also help state officials, local businesses and residents make decisions about COVID-19 safety protocols.

State health officials are expected to regularly test wastewater levels at about two dozen wastewater treatment plants. There are 78 municipal wastewater treatment plants in New Hampshire. Durham was one of the early adopters of the program.



 



MILL POND DAM REMOVAL PROJECT SECTION 106 PUBLIC INFORMATIONAL MEETING

Following the referendum vote on March 8, the Town has been advancing the design and permitting for the removal of the Mill Pond Dam, which does not meet current dam safety standards. 

Due to the historic nature of the Mill Pond Dam, the removal involves what is known as Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 (NHPA), which requires federal agencies to consider the effects on historic properties of projects they carry out, assist, fund, permit, license, or approve throughout the country.  The public were invited to an informational meeting which took place on July 14, 2022, at 6:30 PM. The meeting was held to provide the public with an opportunity to learn about the Section 106 process, receive an update on the project status, and provide input on cultural resources under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act. 

The meeting can be viewed by visiting this town website link HERE.



 





AUGUST 20TH IS FARM DAY!

Visit farms in Durham, Lee, and Madbury, all offering a wide range of free, family friendly activities and opportunities to purchase locally grown food. Some events have a fee and/or require pre-registration. 

View full list of activities HERE.


Hosted by the Durham and Lee Agricultural Commissions and farmers in Durham, Lee, and Madbury.


To find farms in the three towns click HERE. If you eat, you're in!



 



DATA VERIFICATION FOR 2023 REVALUATION IS UNDERWAY

As you may be aware, the State of New Hampshire requires all real estate within the municipality to be reappraised at least every five years (per RSA 75:8-a) so property tax assessments are at their full and true value. To keep in compliance with this law, the Town of Durham has contracted with Municipal Resources, Inc. to reappraise all residential and commercial properties in Durham for TY 2023.


Staff members from MRI have started the process of measuring the exterior and inspecting the interior all structures in Durham to make sure the data regarding each property is accurate. Post card notifications will be mailed to residents letting them know they will be working in specific neighborhoods during the next few weeks. If, for any reason you are not comfortable allowing an interior inspection, we kindly ask you to verify information at the door. If you are not home, a notification will be mailed to you requesting an inspection or to verify information by phone. If you do not wish to have a representative from MRI visit your property, please notify the Durham Assessor’s Office as soon as possible. All MRI representatives will have a photo ID and a Municipal Letter of Introduction.  


Any questions regarding the project should be directed to the Durham Assessor’s Office at 603-868-8064. Updates regarding the project will be posted in the Friday Updates newsletter and through mailings. We greatly appreciate your cooperation throughout this project.



 





Example of Durham’s Climate Message Markers. Courtesy Strafford Regional Planning Commission & Thomas Starr



DURHAM’S SEACOAST REMEMBRANCE PROJECT – Using the arts to advocate for climate resiliency action.

A few weeks ago, the Strafford Regional Planning Commission (SRPC) was approached by folks from the National League of Cities after they saw our Climate Remembrance Project in Durham. They wanted to highlight the project (and did!) as part of their work in writing up fact sheets on how municipalities can use American Rescue Plan Act funds for art-based projects!


The Seacoast Remembrance Project was launched through a partnership amongst the Town of Durham collaborating with the Strafford Regional Planning Commission, University of New Hampshire’s Cooperative Extension, and New Hampshire Sea Grant, and Northeastern University. 


The project aims to strengthen the public’s awareness of climate change and insight from the messages. The public art project installed markers throughout the town inscribed with messages about the future facts of the area that could be possible with or without climate action. 


For example, one sign reads, “All downtown buildings powered by 100% renewable energy. – July 20, 2040” and another reads, “Wagon Hill closed for summer due to health concerns related to outbreaks of ticks. – June 8, 2044” 


Each market sign includes a QR code that linked to the project’s platform; it included additional climate information and action steps the town is taking to address climate change.


You can learn more about the project and see a map of all the sites (think scavenger hunt for your family) on the Town web site



 





ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT JEN JOHNSON CELEBRATES 27-YEARS WITH DURHAM POLICE DEPARTMENT

This week marks the 27-year anniversary of Administrative Assistant Jennifer Johnson’s employment with the Durham Police Department. Jen began her tenure with the Durham Police Department as a police explorer. After graduation from college, Jen joined the department as a full-time Administrative Assistant. 

Chief Rene Kelley describes Jen as the “go to person for all things – big or small.” 

Jen has been instrumental in the department’s work on accreditation and ensuring that all administrative tasks, and there are a plethora of such tasks, are completed in a timely and professional manner.  

Jen is the face of the department as she is usually the first person to greet citizens when they visit the police station. Chief Kelley stated that it has been his absolute pleasure watching Jen grow from a high school student to a now 27-year member of the agency. “Jen is an exceptional person and employee and I hope to work with her for many more years to come.” 

Congratulations Jen on your many years of dedicated service to the Durham community!



 



OYSTER RIVER SCHOOL BOARD NEWS FOR AUGUST 3, 2022

The first day of school for students in Oyster River will be August 31, 2022.


The Grand Opening Ceremony for the new Oyster River Middle School building will be August 23, 2022 between 11:00 and 1:00 and will include ribbon-cutting, music performances, refreshments, and tours of the building. The entire community is invited.


Facilities projects have been in progress at all four schools over the summer. Some projects still in progress include partial air conditioning of the science wing and progress on tennis courts at ORHS, doors at Mast Way, and air handlers and retaining wall replacements at Moharimet. At ORMS, landscaping is in progress with some sod going down this week, the playground should be completed before school starts, murals have been painted inside, and preparation for turf field installation is under way with completion expected before winter.


Commemorative Bricks from the 1935 Oyster River Middle School are available. Please call the ORMS office (603-868-2820) to reserve one.


The ORCSD IT department is rolling out the Oyster River Care program to help families manage the cost of accidental damage to school-issued computers. Details will be included in fall registration materials. 


As of July, most school board meetings will be held in the ORMS Concert Hall. The next meeting is August 17 at 7:00 pm. An easy way to contact the school board is to email orcsdsb@orcsd.org. Links to meeting agendas, materials, minutes, and videos are posted online at https://www.orcsd.org/school_board



 





Benjamin Sietz (far right) and other members of Troop 154 prepare to install the structure he designed to make oyster cages at the town landing more accessible.



EAGLE SCOUT PROJECT OVERVIEW - BENJAMIN SIETZ

In September 2021, Natalie McCoulough from The Nature Conservancy in New Hampshire reached out to Troop 154 in Durham to ask if the Scouts would like to build a structure at the town landing to make their oyster cages more accessible. 



The cages were hanging on ropes and were difficult to retrieve and work with on the ground. Ben Sietz is a Life scout in the troop and found this request interesting and offered to undertake the project as his Eagle Scout project. 

 

Eagle Scout is the highest rank in the BSA Scouting program and Life scouts who are working to earn the rank must complete an Eagle Project. The intent of the Eagle project requirement is to have the Scout demonstrate the leadership, planning, and practice of helping others that he or she has learned throughout their Scouting journey.


Under the mentorship of Mr. Frank Taylor, (Ben's Eagle Coach), Ben met with Ms. McCoulough to coordinate the planning and preparation for the project. Together, they identified the location, required permissions, and concept of what they envisioned for an oyster crane.


Ben provided a design for the oyster crane and had it reviewed by Mrs. April Talon, the town engineer. With this done, he then wrote is project proposal which included a list of the key stakeholder, project plan, supplies and materials, cost estimate, and potential roadblocks and ways to overcome them.

 

Once he had his project proposal reviewed and signed by Mrs. McCoulough, the Troop Scoutmaster, and the Troop Committee Chair, Ben submitted his proposal to the BSA Abanaki district Eagle Board of Review for review. He presented his proposal to the Board of Review and received their approval in January 2022.

 

Ben then worked with Ms. Brianna Group from The Nature Conservancy in New Hampshire to coordinate the purchasing of the material and coordinated the working sessions for building, install, and set up of the oyster crane. With the help of about 15 scouts from his troup, (between May and June) and under the Ben's supervision, the scouts built the 10' x 5' structure, transported it to the Town Landing, dug and poured the footing, and installed the crane.   

 

In July, Ben put on the finishing touches, installing the ropes, placing signs, and mulching around the base to avoid tripping hazards.

 

Kim Arlen from The Nature Conservancy in New Hampshire will by using the oyster crane as part of the Nature Conservancy’s Citizen Science Projects and for Oyster Workshops.



 



FIRE DEPARTMENT FIRST QUARTER INCIDENT RESPONSE AND RISK REDUCTION REPORTS

Below are the Fire Department incident responses and risk reduction reports for the 2nd Quarter of 2022.











 



DPW SEEKS EXPERIENCED WASTEWATER CHIEF OPERATOR

Durham Public Works, located in the beautiful Seacoast region of New Hampshire, is a recognized leader in the Public Works field and operates an awarding winning state-of-the-art wastewater treatment facility utilizing the four-stage Bardenpho Process for nitrogen removal. We are seeking a highly qualified team member to join an exceptional team of public works professionals to serve in the role of Wastewater Chief Operator.  


The Wastewater Division works closely with our partner, the University of New Hampshire, to provide wastewater collection and treatment services to both the Town and University. The Department is a fully integrated and progressive using modern equipment and facilities to achieve its goals. In 2023, the Treatment Plant is scheduled to undergo $3.8 million in process upgrades as part of its detailed Capital Improvement Plan.


In this important role you will report to the Superintendent of the Public Works, Wastewater Division and undertake challenging and rewarding work involving the operation, construction and maintenance of the Town’s Wastewater Treatment and Collection System. 


This full-time position offers excellent medical, dental, life, and disability coverage, paid time off, and eligibility in the State of New Hampshire retirement plan. Salary range for this position is from $26.04 to $33.02/hour, depending upon qualifications.


The successful candidate will have a minimum of five years of municipal wastewater related experience, a strong knowledge of all aspects of various mechanical systems, pumps, electrical, computer, laboratory techniques, regulatory reporting, SCADA associated with the treatment process, and the ability to troubleshoot and repair all associated equipment. 


Applicants will have a New Hampshire Class B CDL license with a clean driving record or the ability to obtain within one year of hire and the ability to hold or obtain a tanker endorsement. Possession of a New Hampshire Grade III Wastewater Operator license at a minimum is required. Applicants will be required to be on a rotational standby and required to work rotational weekends once per month. The position requires emergency response on a 24/7 basis and works in adverse weather conditions performing occasional strenuous physical labor.


Applications and a more detailed job description are available at the Department of Public Works Main office or online at http://www.ci.durham.nh.us/jobs. Please send resume and cover letter to Town of Durham, Department of Public Works, Attn: Shannon Shaw, Acting Assistant to the Public Works Director, 100 Stone Quarry Drive, Durham, NH 03824 or by email to sshaw@ci.durham.nh.us



 





NATURE IN YOUR BACKYARD TOUR - Durham, Dover and Newmarket - Saturday, August 13, 2022, 9 am - 1:30pm

https://extension.unh.edu/event/2022/08/nature-your-backyard-tour-durham-dover-newmarket


About the Event:

Are you curious about pollinators? Or frustrated by invasive plants? Are you interested in sustainable approaches to landscaping that can improve wildlife habitat value on your property? Join Extension and the Durham Conservation Commission for a Nature in Your Backyard Tour. The tour will highlight 4 properties in the Seacoast area that feature different approaches to ecological landscaping and enhancing wildlife habitat on small acreages. Landowners will guide participants on a walking tour of each property. Tours will last approximately 40 minutes.


The event will start at the Milne Nature Sanctuary in Durham, where you will have the opportunity to hear about the history and stewardship of this town-owned parcel and its native plantings before heading out to visit the three additional tour properties. Additional information on parking and tour locations will be provided upon registration. Tour attendees will rotate between the remaining three sites with tours beginning at 10:30 am, 11:30 am and 12:30 pm.


Tour Sites and Descriptions:

Durham:  The landowners' primary goal in planting much of their one-acre landscape is to support "ecological effectiveness" - a successful relationship between and among insects, birds, mammals, amphibians and reptiles, and the plants themselves; all existing in a harmonious relationship in support of a healthy ecosystem. Their original inspiration to develop this landscape was spurred by the work of entomologist and writer Doug Tallamy of the University of Delaware. The property was a cattle pasture as recently as the 1950’s, and the landowners have worked with several local native plant professionals and experts in its current design, planting, and efforts at invasive plant removal. They have also incorporated the surrounding woodland landscape into the design and functionality of the space.


Dover: This 6-acre property has been tended by the landowners for more than 5 years. The landscape is a mix of meadows, forest edges, wetlands, perennial gardens, honeybee hives, and a greenhouse for growing vegetables and native plants. Each year they have adapted their management strategies, letting seasonal meadows go un-mowed to increase forage for pollinators and managing invasive plants. This tour will focus on their technique for optimizing compost processing from onsite materials, such as grass clippings, and incorporation into their plantings. They will also discuss their process for native plant propagation.


Newmarket: The landowners have been creating and experimenting with landscaping for wildlife, beauty, and food on their one-acre yard for 25 plus years. They enjoy growing vegetables, herbs, fruiting shrubs and trees for themselves and to share with the local wildlife. To keep up with the needs of the wildlife that visit their property they have learned to adjust by overproducing or changing how or what they grow. They incorporate native plants as much as possible and let nature do its thing in some corners of their yard. They love to watch bees, flies, butterflies, hummingbirds, and other pollinators drawn to their yard. Turtles, turkeys, foxes, deer, bear, opossum, squirrels, chipmunks, rabbits, and many other wildlife visit too. As the climate changes, trees grow taller, invasives invade, and they are constantly thinking about how to be more sustainable and reduce our impact on the planet.


What to Bring:

The entire event will be held outside, please dress appropriately for the weather. Bring snacks and water. 


Cost: Free, registration is required. https://learnforlife.unh.edu/portal/events/reg/participantTypeSelection.do?method=load&entityId=236369037



 



DURHAM POLICE - SEASONAL PARKING ENFORCEMENT OFFICER

The Durham, NH Police Department is seeking applicants for the position of Seasonal Parking Enforcement Officer (PEO). Applicants selected to serve as the part-time PEO will enforce state and local parking laws and ordinances for our nationally accredited police department. This position works flexible hours during the University of New Hampshire academic school year. Part-time parking officers will not work holidays, summertime months, or any time the University is not in session. This position pays $16.00 an hour.


PEO duties will include state law and local ordinance enforcement, collection of parking meter monies, parking meter repair, traffic direction and control, some radio communications, maintaining access to meters during the winter, and other duties as assigned or as applicable. Training and uniforms will be provided.


Minimum qualifications for this position include a high school diploma or GED, the ability to walk and/or stand for a minimum of 8 hours each day, lift/carry a minimum of 50 pounds for short distances, and must read, write, and verbally communicate in the English language. Applicants must have a valid driver’s license. The qualified candidate will be subject to a background check and reference check.


A Letter of Interest and Resume should be emailed to Sandra Hebert at: shebert@ci.durham.nh.us. This position will remain open until filled. The anticipated starting date from this selection process is Monday, August 15, 2022. This date is subject to change.


Job Type: Part-time

Pay: $16.00 per hour



 



SEACOAST EAT LOCAL FARMERS' MARKET IS OPEN FOR THE SEASON

The Town of Durham is excited to welcome Seacoast Eat Local as the new management of the weekly Farmer’s Market in Durham. The Farmer’s Market is located at the new pocket park and parking lot at 66 Main Street. Please find information below for hours and location along with other helpful information. 


Location: Downtown Durham Pocket Park and Parking Lot at 66 Main Street 

Market Day and Time: Mondays 2:30 PM-6:00 PM, excluding holidays

What: Local vendors selling: Jams from Marti Gooze, Vegetables, flowers, small batch natural body care, pottery, textiles, broth, and goat's milk fudge and cheeses.

Music: A variety of local artists will be playing music the entirety of the season. Musical stylings expected include acoustic, bluegrass, folk, blues, and Americana. The opening day musician plays Acoustic Americana.


Make sure to follow on social media for updates, or go to their website: http://seacoasteatlocal.org/.



 



DRIVEWAY PERMITS - Tis’ the season for re-doing driveways!   

A friendly reminder that anyone who wishes to modify (by moving a driveway entrance, paving of an existing gravel drive, or repaving of an existing paved drive) or construct a new driveway from a Town controlled road cannot do so without a written permit issued by the Department of Public Works.

 

An application for a driveway permit can be obtained from the Public Works Department or online HERE.


The application fee is $100. 

 

Questions should be directed to Town Engineer April Talon at (603)-868-5578.



 



FIND OUT WHAT'S HAPPENING ON CAMPUS EACH WEEK IN UNH TODAY ... AND VIA THE UNIVERSITY’S ONLINE CALENDAR PAGE

UNH Today is the official online publication of the University of New Hampshire. It delivers news, events, and multimedia devoted to bringing community members a weekly glimpse of the remarkable things happening on campus, in New Hampshire, and around the world.

As a subscriber, you'll learn about student and faculty achievement, the impact of UNH in the community, and timely information on the arts, sports, and special events that make UNH (and in part Durham) a vibrant place.

You may sign up to begin receiving UNH Today by clicking HERE

As you know, there is always a great deal happening on campus, and many events are not mentioned in UNH Today. Many other campus happenings can be researched via the UNH online calendar, which can be accessed HERE.



 



RAYMOND A. LAROCHE ST. TRANSFER STATION AND RECYCLING CENTER NOT ACCEPTING SALVATION ARMY DONATIONS AT THIS TIME

Due to staffing shortages at the Salvation Army, donation bin service has been temporarily suspended. As a result, the Raymond A. LaRoche Sr. Transfer Station and Recycling Center will not be accepting these donations during this time. Residents are encouraged to seek an alternative outlet for these items or hold onto them until service returns. 



 





The LaRoche Farm. Courtesy Eleanor Lonske



 



ICONS OF DURHAM POSTER - IMAGE #15

The LaRoche Farm – Image #15.  The beautiful poster “Icons of Durham” created by Ellie Lonske is now available. Just stop into the Town Clerk’s office to place an order. 


The LaRoche Farm on Bennett Road has been operating for over 100 years as a diversified family farm. It has been a highlight at the annual Durham Farm Day event.



 



DURHAM PD REMINDS CITIZENS TO REMAIN VIGILANT FOR SOCIAL SECURITY SCAMS

Recently one of our citizens received a notification (above) claiming to be from the Social Security Administration. The letter informed the receiver that their social security number would be suspended within 48 hours due to suspicious activity. The person receiving the notice immediately recognized the letter to be a scam. The letter showed some of the telltale signs of a scam such as different size or different color font. The Social Security Administration may call you in some situations related to an account you may already be working on with them or if you have requested a call. According to the Social Security Administration, they will never:

  • Threaten you.
  • Suspend your SSN.
  • Demand immediate payment from you.
  • Require payment by cash, gift card, pre-paid debit card, internet currency, or wire transfer.
  • Ask for gift card numbers over the phone or to wire or mail cash.
  • Ask for personal details or banking information to give you a Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA).
  • A caller saying there is a problem with your SSN or account.

Don’t be fooled! You should look out for:

  • Any call asking you to pay a fine or debt with retail gift cards, wire transfers, pre-paid debit cards, internet currency, or by mailing cash.
  • Scammers pretending they’re from us or another government agency. Caller ID or documents sent by email may look official, but they are not.

How to protect your family:

  • If you receive a questionable call, hang up, and report the call to our Office of the Inspector General.
  • Don’t return unknown calls.
  • Ask someone you trust for advice before making any large purchase or financial decision.
  • Don’t be embarrassed to report if you shared personal financial information or suffered a financial loss.
  • Learn more at http://oig.ssa.gov/scam.
  • Share this information with friends and family.

Learn more about fraud prevention and reporting at https://www.ssa.gov/scam/.



 





 



 



TOWN OF DURHAM FACEBOOK AND TWITTER ACCOUNTS

Did you know that the Town has a Facebook & Twitter account and frequently posts Durham & UNH news, happenings, and articles of interest in our area and the seacoast?

Like us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter.



FacebookTwitter



 



UPCOMING EVENTS

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Oyster River Otters Swim Team registration is open for the Fall/Winter season, which has an anticipated start date of Sept. 18th. The swim team, which practices at the UNH Swasey Pool, is open to youth who can swim the length of the pool without stopping or pulling on lane ropes. Registration holds a spot for your swimmer. For more information about the team and to register go to our website. For answers to questions email us at otterswimteam@gmail.com 

One World Language School has partnered with the Oyster River School District. We will be hosting Chinese at Mast Way and Moharimet after school during the 2022-2023 academic year. Space is limited to 8 students per class and based on first-come, first-serve. For questions, please call or email Pranav Dadarwala; 207-370-8398 or pdadarwala@oneworldlanguageschool.org


To view more information regarding the above upcoming events, please CLICK THE BUTTON BELOW.



 



 





Durham Parks and Recreation, its Director and Committee, strive to offer a wide range of quality programs, parks, and facilities that encourage all community members to participate in healthy, fun, and enriching activities. Together, they celebrate the essential role public recreation plays in fostering a cohesive and vibrant community.



 



 





"At last, Spring is Here" by Barrington artist Barbara Betjemann, now on display at DPL. Courtesy of Barbara Betjemann



DURHAM PUBLIC LIBRARY



Art is back in our upstairs gallery with an exhibit by local painter, Barbara Betjemann in August! For more information about her work, click HERE or stop by the library anytime to view her work! While you're on our website, make sure to check out our Upcoming Events page where registration is already open for many fall adult programs including philosophy and history programs from the NHHC, spooky genealogy methodology and case study workshops in October, adult art class and the return of meditative yoga!  

Congratulations summer readers! We read approximately 162,831 minutes this summer! For the month of August, make sure to pick up your prize book and Bagel Works gift certificate for participating in our program! And a big thank you to all of our sponsors this year: Oyster River Cycle and Sports, Bagel Works, The Big Bean, Wildcat Pizza, Golick's Barrington, Sweetened Memories, Hop 'n Grind, Monkey Minds Escape Rooms and Bah-mee! For more fun things to do in August and to keep an eye on fall programs (coming very soon!), visit our youth webpage HERE!



In the meantime...have you taken a look at DPL's digital resources lately? The library website offers so many great services to explore, and they're all free with your library card! Check out the list below or browse the site at http://www.durhampubliclibrary.org/


Digital Resources from DPL

Libby (previously Overdrive): for ebooks, audiobooks, magazines

hoopla: for ebooks, audiobooks, movie and music streaming

Kanopy: for movies and educational films

AtoZ databases: a comprehensive research database for job searching, business marketing and local demographics

Ebscohost: a collection of academic, health and consumer databases available for research including Consumer Reports and Explora for Educators

Mango Languages: beginning and intermediate level language learning in more than 70 languages including ESL

Universal Class: Hundreds of certified CTE courses in a wide range of subject matter from computer literacy and software to crafts and hobbies  

The New York Times & Wall Street Journal: daily access to the digital newspapers including NYT digital archive access

Questions? We can help! The library staff is always available to answer your questions during business hours at 603-868-6699 or any time at http://durhampl@gmail.com



 





 



HISTORY IN AN OYSTERSHELL - A Brief History of Durham, NH 1600 - 1976 (A little volume that was the Heritage Project of the Durham Historic Association Bicentennial celebration)

Preface - "Since before God made the first little green apples, oysters have probably been growin in the Oyster River; and some of the largest and juiciest to be found anywhere in the world are still growing here today. The following vignettes from rollicking history of Durham town on the Oyster River are therefore presented between the shells of an oyster."

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1850 - By vote of the town, Jacob Mathes was employed to quarry a stone, 3'10" by 1'10" and marked "DURHAM, NEW HAMPSHIRE" to be used in the construction of the Washington Monument. Inserted in the east wall of the 130' level it has been viewed by astonished Durhamites over the years.



 



Have a very nice weekend. Stay cool!

 

Todd

Todd I. Selig, Administrator

Town of Durham, NH

a: 8 Newmarket Rd., Durham, NH 03824 USA

t: 603.868.5571 | w: www.ci.durham.nh.us

He/him/his pronouns

Everyone can tackle climate change. How can you reduce your carbon footprint?

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