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Capt. Lee Alexander, US Navy (ret), lays the wreath at Memorial Park on Memorial Day. Courtesy Todd Selig
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Today is 603 Day -- a day to celebrate all the things that make the NH great.
A reminder that DURHAM DAY will be held tomorrow, Saturday, June 4, 2022, from 12:30 - 2:30 PM on Main Street in downtown Durham. See more information and details below in the Parks & Recreation Section.
Durham Farmers' Market, now operated by Seacoast Eat Local, opens Monday, June 6 at the 66 Main Street parking lot downtown Durham. From 2:30 - 6PM every Monday through October 3rd, you’ll find local seasonal offerings from various local farms.
UNH Reunion Weekend will take place on the Durham campus, June 2 – 5, 2022. A variety of events are scheduled over the course of the weekend with the largest gatherings taking place on Saturday, June 4. All events are set to end by 10 pm with the exception of the annual after party on Thompson Hall Lawn on Saturday evening which ends at midnight. A full event schedule and a list of classes celebrating can be found on the reunion website: http://www.unh.edu/reunions.
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Rachael Blansett, Courtesy World Wide Web
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RACHAEL BLANSETT CONFIRMED AS ORCSD’S FIRST DEIJ COORDINATOR
On June 2nd, the ORCSD School Board voted to approve Rachael Blansett as the district’s first ever Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Justice (DEIJ) Coordinator. This decision, made after deliberating for almost half an hour in a non-public session, is the culmination of years of work and marks Oyster River’s commitment to DEIJ by joining the small list of New Hampshire school districts with this type of position.
According to a more detailed article in Oyster River High School’s Mouth of the River (MOR), as the DEIJ Coordinator, Blansett will work with teachers, administrators, and students to integrate DEIJ throughout the district. She will lead trainings for teachers, revise curriculums so they align with district values of equity and inclusion, and act as a resource for anyone in the Oyster River community to ask questions about DEIJ. This position’s creation has been in the district’s strategic plan for the past three years, and after significant work from administration and the DEIJ committee, Blansett has been hired to fill the role.
Read a full article about this development at MOR HERE.
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Durham police officers downtown on Main Street during Monday's Memorial Day ceremony. Courtesy Todd Selig
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TRANSPARENCY BETWEEN THE DURHAM POLICE DEPARTMENT AND THE COMMUNITY IT SERVES IS ESSENTIAL...
Each January, the Captain at the Durham Police Department prepares a summary analysis of all incidents involving force; internal affairs; pursuits; bias; and our efforts related to our hiring process, just to name a few. The reports document the department's conduct during the preceding calendar year and are submitted for review by the Chief of Police.
The submitted reports are a requirement of the CALEA accreditation (Durham is a nationally accredited police department) process that embraces “best practices” in the law enforcement industry. While it may seem like a normal and logical analysis that every police department documents their conduct, this is not the case.
Often police agencies may have solid policy in place but do not adhere to them (!), leaving the department and the community it serves at risk.
The following is a breakdown of several reports the police department makes available to the community to maintain a level of transparency and trust that is vital for citizens to remain confident in the police officers that serve them every day.
Response to Resistance Analysis
Ultimately, the response to resistance report allows for an analysis of all force used by a Durham Police Officer.
What can be discovered are the existence of any trends or patterns such as individual officers using too much force or does an officer resort to using force more than other officers? Are there training programs that would enhance officer safety or are there policy deficiencies that may create challenges for the staff and/or those being arrested?
Additionally, the analysis serves to share with the community that power that is bestowed to the Durham Police by Durham Town Code and informs the community of how that authority is being used. View the report HERE.
Internal Affairs Analysis
Employees are provided with and are expected to adhere to standards of conduct that help ensure that everyone is maintaining the same moral compass heading and providing fair and impartial enforcement activities to the greater Durham community.
The standards of conduct also enforce the notion that it is a requirement of the department to impose sanctions when or if these standards are violated. Any violations of department standards are investigated and summarized in an internal affairs report.
The five specific functions of the departments internal affairs process are to protect the public; protect the department; protect the employee; remove unfit personnel and correct any problems that may have been caused by faulty procedures.
The internal affairs report is an annual statistical report that is made available to the public and is posted in the front lobby of the Durham Police Department. It is also made available to all employees. The report helps to identify training needs as applicable and is used by the department’s training committee for future planning. View the report HERE.
Pursuits Analysis and Review
The Durham Police Department requires all officers directly or indirectly involved in a pursuit to prepare a report.
The primary pursuit officer must prepare an investigative report which shall include any supplemental reports as required. The on-duty supervisor must prepare an administrative review letter and forward the letter, with all applicable reports to the captain for verification of policy compliance.
The administrative review letter identifies at a minimum: the reason for the stop; the reasonableness of the pursuit compared to the reason for the attempt to stop; aspects of the pursuit that were positive; aspects that show need for improvement, and training/equipment/policy needs for the individual officer(s), and/or the department.
The pursuit report provided to the Chief of Police at the end of the year not only provides an annual analysis of the pursuit reports and critiques submitted during the previous calendar year, but it also provides an annual review of pursuit policies and procedures, even if there were no pursuits reported during the previous calendar year. View the report HERE.
Bias Analysis
The Durham Police Department does not condone the use of bias in its enforcement programs or in the conduct of day-to-day business as it may lead to allegations of violations of the constitutional rights of the citizens we serve. It undermines legitimate law enforcement efforts and may lead to claims of civil right violations. Additionally, bias alienates citizens, fosters distrust of law enforcement by the community and invites media scrutiny, legislative action, and judicial intervention.
The departments annual bias report includes a thorough breakdown of our hiring process for the previous year. Inquiries would have been made about the candidate’s attitudes and behaviors that would suggest bias toward any people or groups. Our hiring process is supported by a polygraph and psychological examination, followed by an intensive background investigation. Our traffic stops and field contacts are reviewed for patterns of biased based profiling as well as a further review of any internal affairs investigations. Our response to resistance reports are reviewed for trends and patterns that would suggest bias is being used by any officer or groups of officers when their enforcement actions resulted in force being used to safely bring a person into custody.
Finally, a review of department training ensures all assignments continue to be based on the demands of the community, the needs of the agency and officer requests. View the report HERE.
EEO Plan Analysis
The Durham Police Department maintains an EEO (Equal Employment Opportunity) Plan that helps to ensure equal opportunities and employment conditions for minority persons and women. It is revised every four years.
The plan itself provides an analysis of current employment, historical perspective, plan objectives, goals, executive summary that includes facts and issues challenging the agency, the plan itself, a demographic analysis of the State of New Hampshire, Town of Durham and the department, progress made towards stated objectives and goals, and suggested revisions.
The EEO Plan analysis report breaks down data derived from the previous year’s hiring process. The analysis report includes a description of progress towards the objectives spelled out in the plan, any revisions to the plan if needed, and demographic data regarding sworn personnel currently serving our department. The analysis helps to answer if the selection process was fair and impartial as conducted and if we are continuing to adhere to best practices. View the report HERE.
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Town Council Chair Kitty Marple providing some remarks during Monday's Memorial Day celebration on Main St. Courtesy Todd Selig
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MONDAY, JUNE 20TH - ROUTE 108 ROAD CLOSURE IN DOVER FOR NHDOT CULVERT REPLACEMENT WORK. Work Will Require Road Closure For Five Days between Dover/Durham.
The New Hampshire Department of Transportation announces that a culvert replacement and utility line relocation project is scheduled to begin Monday, June 20th, at 9 am on NH-108 in Dover.
The culvert work is located between the junctions of Freshet Road and Grapevine Road and will require NH-108 be closed to through traffic for five days. A detour for through traffic will be in place from the junction of Route 108/US-4 in Durham to the junction of Route 108/Mast Road in Dover. Through traffic will be detoured via routes US-4, Madbury Road, NH-155, Pudding Hill Road/Mast Road. Detour signs will be installed to direct traffic around the closure. For more information or questions please contact NHDOT District 6 office at 603-868-1133.
PLEASE NOTE: The road will remain closed until the work is completed.
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Michael Mone reading the Gettysburg Address on Memorial Day. Courtesy Todd Selig
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ATTENTION LOCAL DURHAM BUSINESSES: DIGITAL TOOLS OUTREACH MEETING FOR SMALL-AND-MEDIUM-SIZED BUSINESSES - Friday, June 17, 2022, 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
The Office of Advocacy, an independent office within the U.S. Small Business Administration, is holding an outreach meeting in Durham, NH on June 17th to hear from small businesses about their views on access to and use of digital tools. The use of digital tools is a key enabler for SMEs to innovate, grow and compete. Its uptake varies significantly across sectors and regions. Beyond training and education gaps and market access barriers, SMEs face challenges regarding access to technologies, data, and finance.
In September 2021, The U.S.-E.U. Trade and Technology Council (TTC) held its inaugural meeting to reaffirm the TTC’s objectives to coordinate approaches to key global technology, economic, and trade issues, and to deepen transatlantic trade and economic relations, based on shared democratic values. Various working groups comprised of federal agencies were formed to support these initiatives. The Office of Advocacy is a member of the Small- and Medium-sized Enterprises (SME) Working Group.
The purpose of the listening sessions with SMEs and underserved communities is to develop recommendations for U.S. and EU policymakers through the TTC that will help accelerate SME access to and the uptake of digital technologies.
View more information regarding this meeting HERE.
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HAPPENINGS AT THE JUNE 2ND HISTORIC DISTRICT COMMISSION MEETING
Dir. of Planning Michael Behrendt reports the Historic District/Heritage Commission had a busy meeting last night. The commission held a site walk across the street at the old Town Offices for the proposed Tideline Public House project. The lot is in the Historic District so various changes are subject to review, including planned structures, changes to the outbuildings, new brickwork and a crushed stone patio, light structures, and signage. The project is also being reviewed now by the Planning Board.
The commission will have a table with lots of good information at tomorrow’s Durham Day. Members are also starting to plan for a community workshop for the benefit of property owners, businesses, and residents located in the district, possibly to be held this fall. The commission continues its discussions in coordination with Public Works about how best to rehabilitate the Courthouse (also known as the “old, old Town Hall”) and protect the Smith Chapel jewel. We learned recently that the old brick sewer pump station at the Old Landing was deemed eligible for the New Hampshire State Register. That is quite an honor for a structure with a rather lowly use. The commission will discuss ways to enhance the small green space on the north side of Town Hall where the Lafayette plaque was recently installed.
Finally, the commission voted unanimously to reappoint Larry Brickner-Wood as its chair and Charlotte Hitchcock as its vice chair. We are fortunate to have such dedicated leaders on our boards and commissions. Some will remember when Larry served as Durham Town Administrator in the early 1990s. Current long-time administrative assistant Jen Berry worked for him. She said, “Oh, Larry is a great guy. He was wonderful to work for.” When he left as Durham's Administrator, he went into the ministry. And Charlotte, a resident of Riverwoods, has been a gift to the commission, bringing much energy and vast experience in architecture and historic preservation.
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MADBURY ROAD COMPLETE STREETS PROJECT UPDATE INTERACTIVE PUBLIC COMMENT MAP – DPW would like to hear from YOU!
Durham Public Works and the Madbury Road Complete Streets Project Team are in the initial planning phase for construction improvements to the approximately 8,200 lineal foot Madbury Road corridor, connecting Main Street in downtown Durham to Route 4.
The Design phase is scheduled to continue through 2022/2023 with the first phase of major culvert construction tentatively planned for the 2023 construction season. The Town was successful in obtaining substantial American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding totaling over $608,000 for these critical culvert and drainage improvements and continues to aggressively pursue funding for other project components, including water distribution system replacement, sewer collection system rehabilitation and stormwater/ drainage system improvements.
The Project Team has scheduled a Public Project Information and Local Concerns Meeting for Wednesday June 15th beginning at 6:30 PM at the Durham Public Library and cordially invites the public to attend.
In addition, please click HERE for a Madbury Road Complete Streets Story Map which provides important project information along with an opportunity to take part in a project related survey and use an interactive map where residents and business and corridor users can identify concerns and issues.
Please contact Durham Public Works at (603) 868-5578 if you have any questions.
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On Tuesday this week, the Department of Public Works held a barbecue for Janice Richard who has left the town's employment and has accepted another position. Janice served as the DPW's Assistant to the Public Works Director for 16 years assisting many Durham residents throughout that time. Although she will be missed here in Durham, we wish Janice the very best with her new employment! Pictured above on the right is Janice's husband and DPW Water Superintendent Dwight Richard who manned the grill during the event. Courtesy Todd Selig
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2023 FULL REVALUATION TO BEGIN THIS SUMMER
The State of New Hampshire requires all real estate within a municipality to be reappraised at least every five years (per RSA 75:8-a) for property tax purposes, so 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. (MRI) to reappraise all residential and commercial properties in Durham for tax year 2023. The project is to be completed over a two-year period beginning in 2022.
The last full revaluation in Durham was performed in 2002. Since that time, the town has performed statistical updates utilizing the existing data to update assessments. However, it has been observed in the Assessor’s office from sold properties that interior renovations have been occurring (i.e., replacing kitchens/baths that may not require building permits yet enhance the value of the property). Since, by law it is the assessor’s responsibility to value your property for market value, it is time to perform a full revaluation which includes measuring the exterior and inspecting the interior of all structures.
There are five major phases to a full revaluation: Data Collection and Sales Review, Market Analysis, Valuation, Field Review, and Informal Hearings.
During the summer of 2022, the data collection phase of the project will begin where staff members from MRI will measure the exterior and inspect the interior of all structures in Durham to make sure the data regarding each property is accurate. An exterior photo of the property will also be taken to update the assessment record card. Postcards will be mailed when they are working within a particular neighborhood. Due to the large volume of properties to be reviewed and time constraints to complete a full revaluation, appointments for inspections will not be scheduled in advance.
The Durham Assessor’s Office is very conscience about the spread of COVID. As a result, representatives from MRI will be wearing face masks and taking every precaution while visiting properties. If, due to COVID or for any other reason the property owner is not comfortable allowing an interior inspection, we kindly ask that the MRI representative be able to verify information at the door. If the property owner is not home, a notification will be mailed requesting an inspection or a phone number where someone can be reached. If the property includes tenants, they should be notified that someone from MRI will be dropping by to measure the exterior. If the property owner does not wish to have a representative from MRI visit their property, they should notify the Durham Assessor’s Office at (603) 868-8064 as soon as possible. All MRI representatives will have a photo ID, a Municipal Letter of Introduction, and their vehicles will be listed with both the Assessor’s Office and the Durham Police Department.
Updates regarding the project will be posted in the Friday Updates Newsletter and through mailings if required. To become a subscriber of Durham’s weekly Friday Updates Newsletter, you may sign up from the home page of the Durham web site at http://www.ci.durham.nh.us/.
We greatly appreciate the cooperation during this project. If there are further questions, please do not hesitate to contact the Assessor’s Office.
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Courtesy Getty Images via The Guardian
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THE PRIMARY INGREDIENT IN ROUNDUP HARMS WILD BUMBLEBEES
According to an article in The Guardian, the critical ability of wild bumblebees to keep their colonies at the right temperature is seriously damaged by the weedkiller glyphosate (the primary ingredient in Roundup), research has revealed.
Glyphosate is the most widely used pesticide in history, intended to kill only plants. The harm to bumblebees – vital pollinators – was not identified in regulatory risk assessments, which only test whether a pesticide rapidly kills healthy, individual bees. However, the collective failure to regulate colony temperature could have a massive impact on its ability to produce the next generation, the scientists said.
The damage seen in the study occurred when the colonies were running short of food. This is common in farming regions, where wildflowers can be killed directly by glyphosate. The research is the first on wild bees, of which there are 20,000 species, though glyphosate had already been shown to harm honeybees by damaging larvae and the senses of adults.
Durham is a Bee City USA thanks to the efforts of the Durham Agricultural Commission.
Read the full article in The Guardian HERE.
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DID YOU KNOW? - Composting Organic Waste
Composting matters! Our future environment is dependent on communities changing small habits. Composting organic waste is an easy way to make a difference in the waste stream.
If you are curious about composting but don’t have the space or time to start a a backyard compost, there is an easy alternative.Mr. Fox is a local composting business that offers both residential and commercial service.
For $16 per month, Mr. Fox will provide residential service by giving you an 8 gallon lined compost bin and pick up your compost curbside twice/month.(Weekly service is also available for $32/month).
Mr. Fox also picks up compost at our transfer station if you would prefer to bring your compost there.
Resources
If you would like to learn more, here is a website link for Mr. Fox: https://mrfoxcomposting.com/
For information about what you can compost with Mr. Fox (it’s more than you think!), please check out this link:
https://mrfoxcomposting.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Compostable-Items-.pdf
Brought to you by the Integrated Waste Management Committee
Questions about recycling or composting? Email us at Durhamrecycles603@gmail.com
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SEACOAST EAT LOCAL FARMERS' MARKET OPENING DAY
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 will be 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: 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.
This market is still growing, if you or someone you know is interested in becoming a vendor, please visit our site HERE.
Make sure to follow on social media for updates, or go to their website: http://seacoasteatlocal.org/.
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LINDA H. HOLLISTER SWAP SHOP RULES
A Reminder For Residents - Durham Public Works and Swap Shop Volunteers would like to kindly remind residents to please limit their visits to 30 minutes or less due to high traffic volumes and limited parking availability. Additionally, minors under the age of 18 who visit the Swap Shop must be accompanied by a parent / legal guardian at all times.
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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.
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NEW INTERACTIVE VIEWER FOR SOLID WASTE AND RECYCLING
The Durham Public Works Team is often asked questions about the Town’s Recycling and Solid Waste programs. Questions such as, “How much does a bulky waste coupon cost?” or “Is my milk carton recyclable?” are common. To assist in alleviating some of the confusion, the Durham Public Works Team in conjunction with the Integrated Solid Waste Advisory Committee (IWMAC), has created an Interactive Public Viewer for residents which can be viewed here Where Do Durham's Trash and Recyclables Go? . Residents and others can visit this site to learn more about the Town’s program and familiarize themselves with the services offered. Everyone is encouraged to visit the site as it describes the Department’s policies and procedures for our recycling and solid waste programs.
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Amtrak Downeaster at the Durham station. Courtesy Todd Selig
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THE AMTRAK DOWNEASTER IS CELEBRATING 20 YEARS OF SERVICE TO DURHAM WITH $20 FARES IN JUNE
The Amtrak Downeaster is celebrating 20 years of train service with $20 round-trip fares on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays in June! Book now and ride from Durham to Brunswick or Boston or any station in between for $20 or less. Use promotion code v471 and book 3 days in advance of travel to take advantage of this opportunity.
Read more information about the Amtrak Downeaster HERE.
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NOTICE TO VOTERS – Declaration of Candidacy for the 2022 NH State Primary
The 2022 NH State Primary will be held on September 13, 2022 at Oyster River High School, 55 Coe Drive, Durham, N.H. 03824. The polls will be open from 7:00 AM until 7:00 PM.
Declaration of candidacy filings may be received June 1st -- June 9th through the mail or hand-delivered. All filings received on the last day (June 10th) must be made in person by the candidate. Pursuant to RSA 652:20, the Durham Town Clerk’s office will be open on the last day of the filing period until 5:00 PM to accept filings in person by the candidate. Please call the Durham Town Clerk’s office at 603-868-5577 if you have any questions about the declaration of candidacy process. There are fees and forms that must be completed. Do not email declaration of candidacy forms.
Declarations of Candidacy to be filed with the NH Secretary of State at 107 N. Main Street, State House, Room 204, Concord, NH 03301:
- GOVERNOR
- UNITED STATES SENATOR
- REPRESENTATIVE IN CONGRESS
- EXECUTIVE COUNCILOR
- STATE SENATOR
- COUNTY OFFICER
Declaration of Candidacy to be filed with the Town Clerk a 8 Newmarket Road, Durham, NH 03824:
- STATE REPRESENTATIVE
- DELEGATE TO THE REPUBLICAN STATE CONVENTION (ELECTION)
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DURHAM IS CREATING ITS FIRST CLIMATE ACTION PLAN, AND WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU
This Climate Action Plan will outline what actions Durham will take to reduce its emissions and increase its resiliency to climate change impacts. Because emissions come from all of us, the Town cannot accomplish this task on its own and needs community input and buy-in for these actions to be successful.
Sustainability Fellow Cathy Fletcher presented the proposed plan at multiple Town committee meetings throughout May. If you missed it, a recording is available at this link, and you can read more about the plan on the Sustainable Durham website.
We also have an online survey open now, so share your feedback today!
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“Pot of gold at end of the rainbow.” Well, it's Durham of course! Courtesy Jim Hornbeck
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TAXPAYER ASSISTANCE - Low and Moderate Income Homeowners Property Tax Relief
The Low & Moderate Income Homeowners Property Tax Relief program was designed to lessen the economic burden of the State Education Property Tax on certain at-risk taxpayers.
Chapter 95, Session Laws of 2021, HB 486 amends RSA 198:57 to increase the income limitations for the receipt of a Low & Moderate Income Property Tax Relief award as well as the maximum amount of tax relief available to an awardee for property taxes assessed on or after April 1, 2021.
- An eligible applicant for the Low and Moderate Income Homeowners Property Tax Relief is a person who is:
- Single with adjusted gross income equal to or less than $37,000; or
- Married or head of NH household with adjusted gross income less than or equal to $47,000; and
- Owns a homestead subject to the State Education Property Tax; and
- Has resided in that homestead on April 1 of the year for which the claim is made.
Applications for the Low and Moderate Income Homeowners Property Tax Relief are accepted only during the statutory filing period - after May 1, but no later than June 30. You can file your claim online at Granite Tax Connect http://www.revenue.nh.gov/gtc by accessing the Apply for Low and Moderate Income Property Tax Relief link located on the Applications Panel. The law allows 120 days for processing from the date of receipt of your completed application.
For assistance, contact the Department of Revenue Administration at (603) 230-5920 - press prompt 2, then prompt 2 again.
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RESILIENT SHORELINE TOUR
What: Resilient Shoreline Tour
When: 1 - 4:30, Wednesday, June 22
Who: Municipal board members, staff and consultants working in the region are encouraged to participate.
Why: To hear from project leads that have implemented resilience projects and network with municipal boards and staff.
Where: Tour will start and end at Henry Law Park in Dover, NH
How: Carpooling will be encouraged, but not required.
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Boy Scouts and Scoutmasters from Durham's Troop 154 B and 154 G attended Durham's Memorial Day gathering. Courtesy Todd Selig
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SEASONAL HELP WANTED AT PUBLIC WORKS
Mowing, general landscaping and facility maintenance, support to other DPW staff, etc. If interested, please feel free to fill out an application at the Public Works office located at 100 Stone Quarry Drive. Pay will range from $14-16/HR depending on experience. All applicants must be 18 years of age and have a valid driver’s license to apply or may be 16 or 17 years of age with signed parental permission.
Applications may also be requested via e-mail at publicworks@ci.durham.nh.us or by calling 603-868-5578. Application and copy of valid driver’s license to be submitted to the Public Works Department.
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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.
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Rendering of Town Pound and the Mark Willey House. Courtesy Eleanor Lonske
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ICONS OF DURHAM POSTER - IMAGE #6
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. Here is a rendering of the Town Pound and the Mark Willey House.
The handsome, robust 5-bay Mark Willey House, situated at the beginning of Durham Point Road, was built c. 1770. The Durham Historic Association walking tour states, “Military rolls for 1812-14 show that Mark Willey served in Captain Wiggins’ Company…[T]he company was activated to serve with other companies from the area when it was feared the British would attempt the capture of Portsmouth…He is thought to have been a carpenter and related to Thomas Wille, Durham’s clockmaker of the 1750’s. The house has seen a variety of uses but is now a single-family dwelling. The Town Pound is close by to the west. In the early settlement this must have been the center of much activity and noise while animals waited within the stone enclosure to be claimed by their owners.” According to a datestone there the pound was built in 1709, rebuilt in 1808, and restored in 1908. In the 18th and 19th centuries towns built pens to hold stray animals to prevent them from damaging neighbors’ crops. Before reclaiming the animal the owner was required to pay compensation for any damage that was caused.
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18th Dover, formerly known as the Newmarket Militia, gave a three-volley salute in memory of the fallen at Durham's Memorial Day event. Courtesy Todd Selig
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SOLID WASTE AND RECYCLING CURBSIDE COLLECTION ROUTE CHANGES EFFECTIVE MONDAY, JUNE 27TH
The Durham Public Works Department would like to make residents along the following roadways aware of a schedule change to their curbside solid waste and recycling collection day:
- Newmarket Road (Durham Point Road to Dover Road)
- Dover Road (Newmarket Road to Route 4 overpass)
- Schoolhouse Lane
- Bayview Road
- Old Landing Road
- Young Drive
- Old Piscataqua Road
To improve the efficiency of Monday’s and Wednesday’s curbside solid waste and recycling collection routes, effective Monday, June 27th, 2022, the scheduled collection will change from Wednesdays to Mondays.
As they have been in the past, solid waste and recyclables must be placed curbside by 7:00am on your collection day. The collection equipment passes through each neighborhood once and will not return for solid waste and recycling that is placed curbside late.
For commercial properties within these bounds that do not participate in our program, please ignore this notice.
We understand that this change may be inconvenient and disrupt normal routines. However, your understanding and cooperation is appreciated. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the Durham Public Works Department at (603) 868-5578.
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WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT OPERATIONAL CHANGES
With UNH now on summer break, the wastewater treatment facility has taken offline, half its treatment process tanks. This includes a primary solids clarifier, one biological aeration train, one secondary solids clarifier, and one chlorine contact tank. With the decrease in student populations, the wastewater flows are cut by half and loadings by two-thirds. This decrease in flows and offline status allows the Wastewater Division team to perform required preventative and scheduled maintenance of this critical equipment.
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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.
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UPCOMING EVENTS
You are invited to a Labyrinth Walk!, Sundays, May 29th-June 12th
11am-1pm, St. George's Church, Dallas Hall
Please Support Oyster River Womenade During Upcoming NH Gives Fundraising Event - June 7 at 5 pm to June 8 at 5 pm.
Fundraiser Celebrating 50th Anniversary of Dr. Bob Kennedy's Conservation Work with the Philippine Eagle - Thu, June 16, 2022, 7-9PM (doors open 6:30PM) at The Stone Church, Attic Lounge, Newmarket, NH
Marina's Miles 5K Run/Walk - 9:00 am on Saturday, June 18, 2022 at Oyster River High School in Durham
UNH Youth Program Writers Academy - A summer camp for kids who love to write - June 27-July 1 and July 11-15
Stories of Freedom: Expanding the Stories we share in K-12 Literacy, history, and language arts classrooms workshop - July 13-15, 8:30am-2:15pm.
Welcome Blankets for Ukranian Refugees Coming to the Freedom Cafe - Please join us at the Freedom Cafe on Monday evenings, 7-9 pm
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To view more information regarding the above upcoming events, please CLICK THE BUTTON BELOW.
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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.
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DOWNTOWN DURHAM DAY - Saturday, June 4th, 12:30-2:30 PM
Join us on Saturday, June 4th on Downtown Main Street, 66 Main & Jenkins Court for Durham Day! This community celebration is a family friendly event that will have a lot to see and do to keep everyone engaged and having fun! This is the first time it has been held downtown and during the early summer. Previously it was held at Wagon Hill in the Fall, and was attended by several hundred people. We anticipate the attendance will be even greater this year. We’re hopeful to have robust participation from Town boards/committees as well as from downtown businesses.
View more information HERE.
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Registration for this year's Oceans of Possibilities Summer Reading Program at Durham Public Library begins June 13th! Visit our website for more information and monthly calendars! DPL will also be at Durham Day on June 4th downtown! Stop by this fun event to say hi and see all the library has to offer!
We are so excited about summer reading, but first, we welcome a return by art historian and educator Jane Oneail to present Keith Haring: AIDS, Advocacy and Art on June 7th in celebration of Pride Month! Summer reading at DPL officially begins June 27th and we will kick off this year's Oceans of Possibilities theme with the start of our Adult Summer Reading Challenge and a presentation by author and NHHC presenter Michael Tougias based on his book, The Finest Hours: The True Story Behind the U.S. Coast Guard's Most Daring Sea Rescue on June 28th! Registration is open for this and all other summer reading programs that require registration but check out the Upcoming Events page for in-person concerts, movies, drop-in art and more!
Did you know that the library offers free daily access to the Wall Street Journal and New York Times as well as NYT archival access? Check out these and other resources HERE! Need help setting up any of the library's digital services? We can help! The library staff is always available to answer your questions during business hours at 603-868-6699 or any time at durhampl@gmail.com!
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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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1836 - Anti-slavery agitation began when a convention was called in Gilmanton, with John Richardson, Joseph Coe, George Thompson and John Kelly attending. The town Anti-slavery Society was formed with 63 members and Abraham Perkins, Daniel Mathes and Richard Steele as officers.
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Have a very nice weekend. And don't forget to stop by Durham Day!
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
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