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A beautiful spring Tulip in Durham. Courtesy Todd Selig
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Happy Friday the 13th!
President Biden ordered flags at half-mast today until sunset on Monday in recognition of the one million Americans who have died thus far as part of the Covid-19 pandemic and the loved ones left behind.
The sign refresh at Wagon Hill Farm is complete with the exception of areas along the sensitive shoreline where installation will follow tree trimming/removal within this zone as part of ongoing shoreline stabilization efforts.
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TOWN COUNCIL GOALS DEVELOPMENT UNDER WAY FOR 2022/2023 - View the latest revised draft to be discussed Monday evening, 5/16.
At the Town Council meeting on Monday evening, May 16th, the Town Council will continue its discussion and process of developing its goals for the upcoming 1-3 years.
Council members have submitted suggested changes to the Administrator’s office for incorporation into the draft 2022/23 goals, which have been incorporated into the newest draft goals list and will be further discussed at Monday night’s meeting.
Residents may view the updated draft goals list for 2022/23 with HERE.
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UNH COMMENCEMENT MEANS INCREASED TRAFFIC - The best bet is to seek alternatives routes during this brief period.
The Durham Police Department would like to remind residents that UNH will be hosting 4 commencement ceremonies on Memorial Field in front of the Whittemore Center this year.
Although there should be very little impact on traffic congestion related to the Friday, May 20th ceremony, there will most certainly be an impact related to the 10 AM and 1 PM ceremonies taking place on Saturday, May 21st and Sunday, May 22nd. To decrease the impact of additional traffic, shuttle buses will be used to transport graduates and their families. Part of that route will necessitate the buses using Madbury Road and Edgewood Road before they stop by the Wildcat statue on Main Street to be dropped off.
The Durham Police recommend all residents find alternate routes on those days to alleviate any possible congestion. Congratulations to all graduating students and their families!
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Durham resident and Durham’s representative to the Pease Development Authority (PDA) Noise Compatibility Study Committee, Michael Lehrman (left), and resident Malcolm McNeill (right) outlining concerns over the PDA Air Cargo proposal at the May 9th Council meeting. Courtesy Todd Selig
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COUNCIL SET TO FINALIZE LETTER TO PEASE DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY ON MONDAY EVENING EXPRESSING CONCERN OVER PROPOSED AIR CARGO OPERATION PROPOSALS – Late Friday Seacoast Online released a story indicating Pease air cargo facility plans have been scrapped.
Recent discussions about a possible air cargo facility at Portsmouth International Airport at Pease (PSM) have raised community apprehension and concern about, among many issues, the impact on resident health and well-being from increased large aircraft operations and noise, particularly at night. Please note that aircraft pass over parts of Durham at less than 1,000’ above ground level (AGL) on their approach to PSM, and departing aircraft can be as low as 3,000’ AGL. Other concerns expressed are regional, and include negative impacts on the overall environment, the Great Bay Estuary, wildlife, and on our regional infrastructure, potentially leading to a notable degradation in the quality of life throughout the Seacoast Region.
At the Town Council meeting on Monday, May 9, 2022, the Council received a very informative and helpful presentation from Durham residents concerning this matter.
After a brief discussion, Council consensus was to craft a draft letter from the Town addressed to the Pease Development Authority to be reviewed and endorsed by the Town Council at its May 16, 2022 meeting. The final letter would be sent to the PDA prior to its Board of Directors meeting scheduled for May 19th. Administrator Selig said he would be attending that meeting and if the opportunity existed, he could read the letter as well at that time.
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COUNCIL TO TAKE UP RECOMMENDATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISION ESTABLISHING A RELIGIOUS HOLIDAY POLICY FOR TOWN BOARDS AND COMMITTEES
At the Durham Human Rights Commission’s meeting on March 15, 2021, at the request of Durham resident Loren Selig, commission members held a discussion to consider whether the Town of Durham should adopt a policy similar to the policy recently adopted in Portsmouth, NH to discourage any public meetings on commonly accepted religious holidays such as Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, etc.
Ms. Selig attended the meeting and asked that the Durham HRC move forward with adopting the same sort of proclamation or acknowledgment, which recognizes that people who observe other religious experiences are often excluded from critical town, city, and school board meetings and presentations. She asked the HRC to work with the Durham Town Council, and ideally the ORCSD, to take on a similar policy.
In addition, Ms. Selig said that the Portsmouth policy added only Jewish holidays, but she would recommend that Durham also include Eid al-Fitr and Ramadan. She said there are other religions besides Judaism where the major part of the celebrations is in the evenings and carries on to the next day such as the Muslim and Hindu faiths.
The town currently does not hold any meetings on the federal holidays of New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Civil Rights Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Indigenous Peoples’ Day, Veterans’ Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas, and all Durham Town Offices are closed for these holidays.
The HRC agreed that the Portsmouth policy could be used as a model and amended to reflect what Durham would like to do in terms of adding other holidays where town meetings would not be scheduled.
At the Durham Human Rights Commission meeting on May 10, 2022, commission members were provided with a draft resolution that takes into consideration those particularly significant religious holidays of the Jewish, Muslim, and Hindu faiths, as well as Juneteenth (June 19). Commission members voted to move the resolution forward for the Town Council’s adoption. If adopted, these additional holidays will be taken into consideration by all Town boards, commissions, and committees each year when scheduling their respective public meetings.
The item will be part of the Town Council’s agenda on Monday, May 16th.
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WAGON HILL FARM TRIBUTARY BRIDGE PROJECT UPDATE
Durham Public Works continues to make steady progress working with Horizons Engineering in advancing the design of the Tributary Bridge Project, which will replace the existing bridge and stream crossing at the location shown below. The existing crossing is in disrepair and results in significant erosion and sediment transport into the fresh water and tidal wetlands (Photos 1-3 below). Recently, the wetland permit plans, labeled as figure 1 below, were submitted to the NHDES Wetlands Bureau for review. Following review and comment from the NHDES, construction plans will be finalized, and bidding will take place. Project design is funded by a Moose Plate Grant with the proposed construction funded through the Seacoast Reliability Project mitigation payment. It is anticipated that construction will commence in late 2022 or spring 2023, dependent on regulatory review timeline.
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2022 SIDEWALK PROGRAM - COMPLETE!
Over the last several weeks, Durham Public Works and its paving contractor, Continental Paving, have been hard at work on 2022 Sidewalk Program improvements. The degraded concrete surfaces on Newmarket Road from Schoolhouse Lane to #12 Dover Road and on Dover Road from Bayview Road to Park Court were removed and select areas of granite curbing were reset. A new 4” thick concrete sidewalk was poured along the Main Street portion and surrounding the Old Town Hall / Courthouse and truncated detectable warning plates were installed at the road crossings for ADA compliance. Both teams performed exceptionally well, completing the program in a timely manner and within established budgets.
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SEMI-ANNUAL GATE VALVE EXERCISING AND WATER MAIN FLUSHING PROGRAM - COMPLETE!
The UNH/Durham Water System completed its semi-annual gate valve exercising and water main flushing this week. The flushing program helps to keep the water distribution piping clean and ensures the delivery of high-quality water to our customers. Gate valves are exercised to ensure proper operation so that pipe section isolation can occur during an emergency event.
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Spring Bulky Waste Curbside Collection Week provides some interesting sights. Courtesy K.J. Meline
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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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COUNCIL APPROVES 2023 REVALUATION PROPOSAL - Here's what to expect in the months to come...
At Monday night’s Council meeting, upon the recommendation of the Assessing Office, the Town Council approved the proposal from Municipal Resources, Inc. to update the residential and commercial property tax assessments for tax year 2023 that is to be conducted over a 2-year period.
According to Article 6 of the NH State Constitution, property values are to be “brought anew” at least every 5 years. Assessments were last statistically updated in 2018, utilizing the existing assessment information. However, a full revaluation in Durham has not been completed since 2002, which includes measuring the exterior of the buildings and inspecting the interior. According to the NH Department of Revenue Administration, as of 4/1/2021, property tax assessments in Durham reflect an average of 72.5% market value.
During the summer of 2022, the data collection phase of the project will begin, where staff members from Municipal Resources, Inc. will be measuring the exterior of all structures on each property. Income and expense questionnaires will be mailed to the appropriate commercial, industrial, and apartment complex owners asking for rental income and operating expenses for the different types of properties.
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. If property owners are home at the time of their visit, they will also request an interior inspection. This will help to get an accurate description of your property and to verify the overall condition and quality of construction, which is not always apparent from the exterior.
If residents are not comfortable allowing an interior inspection, we kindly ask that you verify some information at the door. If residents are not home at the time of their visit, a notification will be mailed asking property owners/residents to contact their office to schedule an interior inspection. If there are tenants, please notify them that someone from MRI will be dropping by. If property owners do not wish to have a representative from MRI on their property, please notify the Durham Assessor’s Office as soon as possible.
Representatives from MRI will carry photo IDs, Municipal Letters of Introduction, and have their vehicles listed with both the Assessor’s Office and Durham Police Department.
The Durham Assessor’s Office will be keeping Durham residents informed of the on-going project by posting articles in the Friday Updates and by individual mailings if required.
If property owners have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact the Assessor’s Office at 868-8064.
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Watercolor of Riverwoods front entrance. Courtesy Ellie Lonske
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ICONS OF DURHAM POSTER NOW AVAILABLE AT TOWN CLERK'S OFFICE – IMAGE #3 - The Front Entrance to Riverwoods
You can acquire the beautiful poster Icons of Durham by Ellie Lonske for a $100 donation to the Durham Historical and Cultural Resources Trust. Just stop into the Town Clerk’s office to place an order.
Each week or so in Friday Updates we are featuring one rendering. Here is image #3 of a brass and woodwind band performing in front of Riverwoods. Riverwoods Durham, a 34-acre continuing care retirement community (CCRC), was completed in early 2020. A CCRC allows residents to remain in the same community when there are changes to their health. This facility includes 150 independent living units, 24 assisted-living apartments, 24 memory-support apartments, and 24 skilled-nursing units. Residents of Riverwoods communities, including the original Riverwoods in Exeter, are known for their active and engaged lifestyles: walking through nearby wooded preserves and downtown; hiking and cross country skiing in the Town’s many conservation lands; serving on myriad committees; becoming involved in the library, community store, newsletter, and numerous clubs; and getting to know their host town (at least for those who are new to Durham).
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2022 ROAD STRIPING PROGRAM ONGOING
The Durham Public Works Traffic Control Division has performed exceptionally well over the last few weeks striping and symbol painting within the downtown corridor and surrounding major collector roads, completing 200 stencils and 90 crosswalks. The Department’s contractor, Industrial Traffic Lines, performed center and edge line painting this week, completing 16 miles of double yellow center and 9 miles of single white edge lines.
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CYBER EXTORTION SCAMS
The Durham Police Department has seen an increase in reports from victims of cyber extortion scams in which scammers befriend victims online and then coax them into performing compromising act on camera. Afterwards, the scammers use the video footage or images of the act to extort money from the victims. The scammers will often use social media (Snapchat, Instagram, or Facebook) to contact the victim.
In several of these cases, the scammers have successfully sent the video footage or images to victim’s friends accounts on social media (Snapchat, Instagram, or Facebook). In most cases the scammers will delete the temporary social media accounts they used to contact the victim. Due to the technological complexity, it is often almost impossible to identify and prosecute the person responsible.
What You Should Do.
- Remember that whatever happens on the Internet is likely to stay on the Internet and is accessible to everyone.
- Do not trust strangers with photos or videos of yourself.
- Do not agree to requests that might put you in a compromising position.
- Never give your personal details to strangers online.
- Never accept friend requests from accounts that you do not know.
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SERVE WITH LIBERTY VOLUNTEER PROGRAM OF GREAT ASSISTANCE TO DPW
Over the last two weeks, The Town of Durham was host to nearly 60 volunteers from Liberty Mutual Insurance. The Durham Public Works Department coordinated 7 days’ worth of projects throughout Town and included:
- Installation of new and rehabilitation of old parking and trail marking signs at Wagon Hill Farm.
- A spring clean-up of the Durham Police Department and Durham Public Library (raking, mulching, loaming/seeding).
- Planting of 500 annual flowers within Memorial Park and the traffic island at Main/Madbury including edging and mulching of the planting beds.
- A fresh coat of paint on the dugouts of the rear field at the Father Lawless (Woodridge) Fields.
- Playground maintenance, mulching, raking, and trail maintenance at Jackson’s Landing.
- Raking and a stick/branch/litter pickup of the Schoolhouse Lane Cemetery.
The spring construction season and curbside bulky waste collection has consumed a great deal of the Department’s resources this year, making in-house beautification projects like this difficult to complete in a timely manner without assistance from volunteers. The groups did a fantastic job and we sincerely appreciate their efforts!
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DURHAM PLANNING BOARD - Mill Plaza, 19 Main Street, and Tideline Public House applications
This past Wednesday the Planning Board voted to deny the site plan application for the Mill Plaza project. On April 27 a motion to approve the conditional use for a mixed use with residential project failed. Since that use was not approved the site plan application had to be denied. The board will finalize details of its action on Mill Plaza at the meeting on May 25.
The Planning Board will also review a new project from Durham residents Scott and Karen Letourneau for Tideline Public House and a food truck court at 15 Newmarket Road, behind the old Town Offices.
The public hearing for the proposed parking lot at 19 Main Street is continued to June 8. The board asked Mike Sievert, the design engineer, to prepare prospective images of the site from one abutting lot and from Chesley Drive. The board will likely start its deliberations on the application very soon.
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It's spring and the Hummingbirds are back! Courtesy Richard Meyer
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DURHAM DAY 2022 TO BE HELD ON DOWNTOWN MAIN STREET - June 4th
Durham Day is coming to the Downtown Main Street area on Saturday, June 4, 2022, and Durham Parks & Recreation is hoping Durham residents will join them for this event!
Durham Parks & Recreation is encouraging the businesses, restaurants, organizations, and committees of Durham to take part by coming outside and being an active part of the event. The event will be similar to the annual Downtown Trick-or-Treat activity and will include a self-guided walking tour down the Main Street area filled with activities, entertainment, food, and tables showing off Durham.
This is a great way for Town boards, committees, commissions, and downtown businesses to promote their business/organization/restaurant to the Durham community.
Businesses are asked to print and display the flyer listed in the link below at their establishments, and to complete the appropriate participation forms also provided below and return to recreation.ci.durham.nh, or mail to 2 Dover Road, Durham, NH 03824.
Flyer
Business/Organization Participant Form
Restaurant Participant Form
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INVITATION FROM THE DURHAM ENERGY COMMITTEE - SEEKING TWO NEW MEMBERS - Consider getting involved!
The Durham Energy Committee is a fun, dynamic volunteer organization dedicated to lowering carbon emissions and promoting best environmental practices. We have two openings for new members, and a number of other ways to get involved.
Here are a few highlights of ongoing projects at the Durham Energy Committee:
- The committee is advancing toward implementing Durham Community Power. The committee is developing informational opportunities in the next several months for townspeople to attend, ask questions and become informed. When implemented, community power will allow Durham to be able to reduce its carbon emissions by up to 6,000 tons per year, at competitive electric rates. Stay tuned-more information below!
- The committee is conducting an ongoing study regarding electric vehicles and the need to plan for providing charging infrastructure as EVs become more popular is urgent and timely, as was quite evident at Saturday’s event. It’s important for the town to get ahead of the curve in planning for our future.
- The town’s association with UNH Sustainability Fellows has provided an important boost in developing and interpreting research data on the town’s carbon emissions. Reports on these studies provide a road map for the town to follow in future energy-related work. Additional studies and projects are in the wings which will ask more important questions and stimulate action.
- Look for a display table provided by the Durham Energy Committee at the upcoming Durham Day Celebration on June 4th!
We welcome your interest! If you would like to participate, please contact us at dec@ci.durham.nh.us. We look forward to hearing from you- thanks!
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2022 CRACK SEALING PROGRAM - COMPLETE!
The Durham Public Works Department’s contractor for its Crack Sealing Program, Indus, Inc. of Braintree, MA completed the 2022 Crack Sealing Program this week. Indus applied 2,400 gallons of 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.
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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.
A draft plan is available on the Sustainable Durham website for community review, and we are collecting feedback through an online survey that will be open until May 31st.
UNH Sustainability Fellow Cathy Fletcher will also be presenting the proposed plan at the following meetings throughout May. The public is welcome and encouraged to attend.
Wednesday, May 18th at 8:00AM – Integrated Waste Management Advisory Committee
Monday, May 23rd at 7:00PM – Conservation Commission
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UNH COOP EXT. PLANT A ROW PROGRAM FOR 2022 – Plant an extra row in your garden this summer for those in need.
During the pandemic and beyond, more Granite staters are facing food insecurity. Most significantly, access to fresh and healthy, local produce.
Plant A Row is a neighbors-helping-neighbors initiative, organized through 4-H and UNH Cooperative Extension in Strafford and Rockingham County.
The idea behind this effort is simple: Planting an extra row in your garden or an extra container and donating the produce from it to a participating food pantry or a neighbor in need will directly benefit local food pantries and their patrons to get access to fresh and local produce, and overall healthier choices.
When people sign up to plant an extra row, they will be provided with a garden kit (fabric garden, row marker, sticker and colorful tote bag), growing tips, activities, recipes, and other resources.
Participation is open to all ages, and participants don’t need to be 4-H members to sign up. Participation in this program is free.
More information about the program and how to register can be found at the links below.
https://extension.unh.edu/resource/plant-row-strafford-county-4-h
https://www.facebook.com/UNHExtSC
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SPRING BULKY WASTE CURBSIDE COLLECTION ONGOING
The Durham Public Works Department Highway and Solid Waste Teams have been hard at work on the 2022 Spring Bulky Waste Curbside Collection Program over the last few weeks. Over 100,000 pounds of bulky waste material have been collected and transported to Waste Management’s Turnkey Landfill in Rochester, NH.
A reminder that this program is for residentially created bulky waste items only and the maximum load per household is 6 yd3 or one truck load.
Acceptable items include bulky waste (mattresses, box springs, upholstered chairs, couches, painted/stained decking, rugs/carpeting/padding, pressure treated wood, etc). Certain electronics (computer monitors, televisions, and laptops) and refrigerant containing appliances (refrigerators, freezers, air conditioners, water coolers, dehumidifiers) will be collected but REQUIRE an electronics/appliance sticker which are available for purchase at Durham Public Works.
Unacceptable items include small items (plastic sheeting, flower pots, bird houses, etc.), leaf/yard waste, brush, hazardous materials (oil-based paints, motor oils, gasoline/diesel/kerosene, propane tanks, lightbulbs, mercury containing items, etc.), and solid fill (dirt, concrete, stone, brick, asphalt, etc.)
Public Works crews will drive down each roadway ONCE. Items placed by the street after your road has been completed will NOT be picked up.
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MAY IS BUILDING SAFETY MONTH
This coming week we are highlighting Understanding the Four Phases of Emergency Management. Natural disasters are increasing in severity and frequency. Preparing for devastating events like hurricanes, floods, snowstorms, tornadoes, wildfires and earthquakes helps individuals and communities increase the health and safety of their population during a disaster, protects the local tax base, ensures continuity of essential services, and supports a faster recovery in the aftermath of a disaster.
For more information on each phase, click on the links below.
Phase 1: Disaster Mitigation
Phase 2: Disaster Preparedness
Phase 3: Disaster Response
Phase 4: Recovery from a Disaster
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EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY - Administrative Assistant to Durham's Planning, Zoning, Building, and Assessing Office
Due to a planned upcoming retirement in the Administrator's Office in early 2023, the Administrative Assistant in the Planning, Zoning, & Assessing Office (PZA) will be transitioning over to become the Administrative Assistant in the Administrator's Office. This will create a vacancy in the PZA position. The Town of Durham, NH is therefore accepting applications for the position of Administrative Assistant to the Planning, Zoning, Building, and Assessing Offices. This is a full-time, 40-hour a week position starting on August 29, 2022.
The Administrative Assistant is primarily responsible for receiving and processing of building permits, scheduling of inspection appointments, responding to landowner requests for assistance, records and file maintenance, receiving applications and assembling information for meeting packets. The Administrative Assistant also provides administrative support to Land Use Boards (Planning Board, Zoning Board of Adjustment, Historic District Commission and Conservation Commission), municipal officials, Town departments, landowners and project applicants. Duties also include assisting the public with general questions about assessing and property assessments. Performs other related duties as requested. View the full job description HERE.
Associates degree and three (3) to five (5) years of experience in a similar field of administrative work or any equivalent of education and progressively responsible experience with additional relevant work experience substituting for the required education. Must have strong computer, organizational and customer service skills. Must be able to multi-task and prioritize multiple projects.
Please mail resumes with references and cover letters to the Town of Durham, Attn: Karen Edwards, 8 Newmarket Road, Durham, NH 03824 or email them to kedwards@ci.durham.nh.us. Resumes will be accepted up until June 17, 2022
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The handsome Thompson Inn is deemed eligible for listing on the state register. Owners Lori and Steve Lamb were recognized recently by the Durham Heritage Commission for their excellent renovation of the building. Courtesy Carolyn Singer
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MAY IS PRESERVATION MONTH ACROSS AMERICA - Durham has a lot to offer in terms of our rich local history.
The National Trust for Historic Preservation declared May preservation month in 2005 in order to promote historic places and heritage tourism, and to demonstrate the social and economic benefits of preservation. Here is a reminder to appreciate the countless outstanding resources that we have in Durham!
The Durham Historic District, which is established through the Town’s Zoning Ordinance, is also a National Register District. The General Sullivan House on Newmarket Road is designated as one of only a few dozen National Historic Landmarks in New Hampshire.
A substantial portion of the historic UNH campus (encompassing 1,558 acres!) has been deemed eligible for the National Register of Historic Places. Its jewel, Thompson Hall, is individually listed in the register.
The Town owns three notable historic structures – the Old Town Hall/Courthouse, Smith Chapel, and the Bickford-Chesley house at Wagon Hill Farm. The entirety of Wagon Hill Farm is listed on the New Hampshire State Register, in large part due to its agricultural history.
Some more contemporary buildings, such as the New England Center on Strafford Avenue, are recognized for their significance.
There is a wealth of information about our resources here on the website of the Historic District/Heritage Commission: https://www.ci.durham.nh.us/boc_historic
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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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A REMINDER TO MOTORISTS AND BICYCLE USERS ALIKE TO PLEASE SHARE THE ROAD!
As Spring arrives and more bicyclists begin to share the road, please be aware of Durham’s use of shared lane markings known as “sharrows”.
A sharrow is a large painted arrow on the road that accompanies an image of a cyclist and is intended to encourage sharing of general-purpose travel lanes by automobiles and bicycles.
Durham has sharrows on many of its arterial and collector roadways, notably in areas where narrow lanes exist and where cyclists are encouraged to ride away from parked cars.
A reminder that many residents use our Durham roadways for walking, biking, jogging, hiking, and taking babies/dogs/children for a walk. Please drive carefully around all of these potential uses!
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ROTARY CLUB OF DURHAM GREAT BAY LILAC SHRUB SALE COMING UP MAY 13-15th.
The Rotary Club of Durham Great Bay is selling lilac shrubs to support its Charitable Fund. The Charitable Fund supports lots of great causes locally like scholarships for local high school seniors. Lilac Shrubs are available in Blue, White, and Red and will be in 3 gallon containers ranging in size from 18-24 inches. Once they mature the shrubs height will be between 8 and 10 feet.
These shrubs will be ready to plant and make a great gift! Pre-Order your shrub today at https://www.nhlilacsale.org/. View more information in the flyer HERE.
All plants must be picked up on May 13,14, and 15, Friday, 12-5 PM, Saturday, 9-5 PM., and Sunday, 10-5. We recommend picking up Friday if possible to keep your shrub out of the elements.
Thank you for your support, always.
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LaRoche Farm, Bennett Road, Durham. Courtesy Theresa Walker
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DURHAM FARM DAY IS NOW "OYSTER RIVER FARM DAY" - Date set for Saturday, August 20th.
The Durham Agricultural Commission is excited to announce that Durham Farm Day has become Oyster River Farm Day! Mark your calendars for Saturday, August 20th for a day long celebration of farms and gardens in Durham, Lee, and Madbury! We are working with the Lee Agricultural Commission and farmers in Madbury on free, family friendly events that celebrate agricultural production on farms and gardens in all three towns. If you eat, you’re in!
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UNH OUTDOOR POOL UPCOMING SEASON
While the weather has not given us a hint about summer yet, our team has been preparing for this summer’s Outdoor Pool season.
UNH Recreation plans to open for limited hours from June 1 through June 17, with longer hours after that.
June 22 will be School’s Out Community event from 3pm-6pm.
Membership is shifting to MVP passes (Multi-Visit Pass) due to popular demand.
Here are the options:
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View updated details HERE.
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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 the following session for both accepting applications for new voter registration and changes of political party affiliation, as well as requests for other corrections to the checklist:
Tuesday, 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. Please note that anyone who will have turned 18 by September 13, 2004, may register at this time, or any time during the summer at the Town Hall.
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2022 ROAD PROGRAM UPDATE
Durham Public Works contractor for its Road Program, Continental Paving remain hard at work on 2022 roadway improvements . This week, targeted areas on Durham Point Road received a 1.5” milling and replacement with fresh bituminous asphalt. Rutting and alligator cracking of the roadway in these areas have resulted in numerous delaminations and potholes in recent years.
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DURHAM PUBLIC WORKS NOW HIRING A PROJECT ENGINEER
https://www.ci.durham.nh.us/publicworks/department-public-works-public-works-job-opening-project-engineer
Durham Public Works, located in the beautiful Seacoast region of New Hampshire, is a recognized leader in the Public Works field. We are seeking a highly qualified team member to join an exceptional team of public works professionals to serve in the role of Project Engineer. In this exciting role you will take on challenging and rewarding work involving water supply, wastewater collection and treatment, coastal resiliency planning and construction, sustainability, street and highway design and construction, solid waste management, technical reviews, and stormwater management.
Durham Public Works is a fully integrated and progressive Department with modern equipment and facilities. The position includes performing civil and environmental engineering activities associated with the investigation, design, maintenance, and construction of public works projects. The position requires a Bachelor of Science degree with major course work in civil engineering from a recognized college or university with a minimum 3 years of responsible experience in the field of civil engineering, including design and inspection. The successful candidate must be proficient in Microsoft Office computer software applications, stormwater modeling software, and geographic information system software. Must also have competency in using engineering/survey instrumentation.
Salary range for this position is from $65,233 to $83,024, depending upon qualifications. This position includes a generous benefit package, NH Retirement System, Health, Dental and Paid Time off. A copy of the job description is located on the Town of Durham’s website: https://www.ci.durham.nh.us/publicworks/public-works-administration.
Send resume and letter of interest to Town of Durham, Attn: Janice Richard, Assistant to the Public Works Director, 100 Stone Quarry Drive, Durham, New Hampshire 03824 or by email to JRichard@ci.durham.nh.us by 4:30 PM on April 22, 2022.
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YAHOO! NOW THAT SPRING HAS ARRIVED, DANDELIONS HAVE STARTED TO BLOOM!
To encourage a positive attitude toward dandelions, the Durham Agricultural Commission Bee Friendly Program offers the following truisms:
- Dandelions are not weeds but bee-utiful spring wildflowers.
- A lawn never has too many dandelions – only too little time in which they bloom.
- Not mowing your lawn is a form of “purposeful inaction” that yields positive outcome.
- The urge to mow your lawn in May is an irrational state-of-mind that can be overcome. It is not an indication of lazy neglect. Instead, demonstrates purposeful respect (for a healthy environment).
- Not using lawn herbicides leads to more wildflowers, beneficial pollinators, and beautiful songbirds.
- Honeybees and bumble bees visiting dandelions in the early spring contributes to sweet results the rest of the summer.
To learn more, visit http://beecityusa.org/no-mow-may.
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DURHAM, DOVER, NEWMARKET COMPETE TO INCREASE CRITICAL BLOOD SUPPLY - Here's how you can help and everyone can win.
During a nationwide shortage in blood donations, municipal leaders of Durham, Dover and Newmarket are holding a friendly blood-drive competition in May. The towns are competing to see which community can donate the most blood to the American Red Cross.
The coronavirus pandemic caused blood shortages and distribution challenges across the country. In September, the Red Cross declared a national blood shortage and by January the organization declared its first national blood crisis. At the peak of the shortage, the Red Cross had less than a one day supply of critical blood types. Typically there is around a week’s worth of supply nationally.
“We kind of just expect that the blood will be there when we need it, right?” American Red Cross spokesperson Jennifer Costa said. “We don't go to surgery and wonder if the doctor will have the anesthesia. We expect it’s there, and I think that's often the case with blood donation too when, God forbid, you need it. But the reality is, the blood will not be there if not for complete strangers who roll up their sleeve and donate blood regularly.”
The losing city or town managers will buy lunch for the manager in the winning community. The winner also gets exclusive bragging rights. Those who donate blood can win raffle prizes available in each of the three communities.
The idea came about after former resident and Town Councilor Firoze Katrak pitched the idea to Selig, inspired by the Census Challenges the municipalities held in the past.
Read a complete article in Foster's Daily Democrat HERE.
Register for the Red Cross blood drive in Durham graciously sponsored by the Community Church of Durham on May 25th HERE.
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DURHAM FIRE DEPARTMENT STAFF MEMBERS ATTEND 2022 FDIC TRAINING
Captain Gary Kustra and Assistant Chief Randall Trull attended the Fire Department Instructor Conference (FDIC) in Indianapolis, IN from April 26, 2022 through April 30, 2022. FDIC is one of the world’s largest fire service training conferences and is attended each year by over 34,000 people from 64 countries. While attending FDIC, department members attended a multitude of courses to sharpen their skills in classes designed to improve their capacity as growing leaders.
FDIC classes are instructed by high-impact instructors with significant experience in the fire service sharing their experience with those in attendance. FDIC offers over 150 classes with an opportunity to network with worldwide leaders in the fire service.
For the past several months, the fire department has been engaged in an ongoing fire officer development program. Assistant Chief Trull and Captain Kustra are excited to share what they learned at FDIC with the team.
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WELCOME BLANKETS FOR UKRAINIAN REFUGEES COMING TO THE FREEDOM CAFE IN DURHAM MONDAY EVENINGS...
Please join us at the Freedom Cafe on Monday evenings, 7-9 pm. We are knitting or sewing welcome lap blankets for Ukrainian refugees coming here to the US.
Bring your own supplies if you have them but we have supplies too. (We can also show you how to knit a basic stitch if you’re new to knitting.
We are making these small welcome blankets approximately 30" x 50". You can also sew or knit your own at home and bring them on Mondays, 7 - pm.
Please call Wendy Brooks at 603-343-6680 with any questions.
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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.
Fascinating stories about the history of African Americans in New England are now at the fingertips of residents thanks to the work of scholars, librarians, and nonprofit organizations as part of the 2022 UNH Summer Literacy Institute.
But how to integrate these powerful stories into K-12 language arts classrooms? Come join UNH for this workshop where instructors tackle how best to bring these stories into classrooms and schools.
This three-day workshop explores storytelling, literature, and social studies amid the expansion of digital archival collections to illustrate how teachers can successfully bring these narratives into their curriculum and classrooms. The program asks two central questions:
- What are the stories of freedom that we ought to share?
- How can we use archival material to enrich our reading and analysis of literary texts written by writers of color?
View more information HERE. Register HERE.
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DID YOU KNOW? - Returning flower pots/trays for re-use
Spring is here and many of us are thinking about purchasing plants and flowers for planting. When purchasing flowers and plants, please consider purchasing from a store or greenhouse that will accept plastic flower pots and trays for re-use.
Why ask if flower pots and trays can be returned for re-use?
Since most flower pots are dark green or black and are made from a variety of plastic resins, they cannot be accepted for recycling despite the fact they often have a recycling symbol and number imprinted on them. Unfortunately they must be put in the trash.
The reason it is hard to recycle dark colored plastic is because recycling facilities sort plastics by bouncing a beam of light off them. Since black plastic absorbs light, it can't be sorted and goes straight through the system and off to the landfill.
The same is true for really dark colors in general (dark grays and sometimes navy).
Brought to you by the Integrated Waste Management Committee
Questions about recycling or composting? Email us at Durhamrecycles603@gmail.com
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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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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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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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UNH YOUTH PROGRAM WRITERS ACADEMY - A summer camp for kids who love to write.
June 27-July 1 and July 11-15
UNH Department of English
Week 1 runs from Monday, June 27 to Friday, July 1. Week 2 runs from Monday, July 11 to Friday, July 15. All sessions meet 8:30 a.m. – 2:15 p.m., Monday-Friday.
View more information about this program HERE.
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MARINA'S MILES 5K RUN/WALK
Marina’s Miles 5K Run/Walk will start at 9:00 am on Saturday, June 18, 2022 at Oyster River High School in Durham. Registration is $25 and includes a free t-shirt if your registration is received by May 22 ($30 on day-of-race). Registration forms are available on our website (http://marinasmiles.org/) and Facebook page (http://Facebook.com/marinasmiles). Registrants will automatically be entered in the door prize raffle. A virtual option is available; visit http:// marinasmiles.org/covid for Covid precautions.
Help remember an enthusiastically loving person and barefoot championship runner, Marina Slavin, who died in 2013 of a heart infection at the age of 20. Proceeds go to a college-bound student at Oyster River High School (Marina’s alma mater).
Donations for the scholarship are accepted via Paypal (MarinasMiles.org/donate), or a check made out to Marina’s Miles can be mailed to Marina’s Miles, 10 Burnham Ave, Durham, NH 03824. We are a 501c3 charitable organization, so your donation is tax deductible as allowed by law.
Trueworthy and Associates is our major sponsor.
A safe, fun, family-friendly, community event! Remember a treasured member of our community, support education for our youth, and have fun!
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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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MEMORIAL DAY REMEMBRANCE CEREMONY - Monday, May 30th at 10:00am, Memorial Park, Downtown Durham
Durham Parks & Recreation invites the Durham community to a Remembrance Ceremony at Memorial Park on Main Street to pay tribute to those who have made the ultimate sacrifice to serve and protect our country. The ceremony will begin at 10:00am on Main Street with special guest speakers, musical tributes, laying of the wreath at Memorial Park, and more to honor and remember the military personnel that have died while serving our country.
Similar to the Memorial Day event organized last year, there will only be the Remembrance Ceremony at Memorial Park, without the parade prior to the gathering downtown. The Parks & Recreation Committee along with members from the community who help plan and organize this event believe that the ceremony downtown is the most fitting way to properly pay respect to those for which the day is intended.
Please join us on Memorial Day to honor and remember.
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Registration is open for 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! We are already gearing up for summer reading at the library! Summer reading at DPL 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!
Visit our Kindness Rock Garden outside at the library! Our STEAM Saturdays Drop-In Program is going strong in-person at the library each week in May through the 21st. Join us for a new activity each week! Tomorrow we will be making paper airplanes and discoverig flight! Weekday Storytimes and Baby Lapsit are open for registration each week until May 19th! Next week's theme is Water! Visit our website today and stay tuned for information about this year's summer reading program coming soon!
Spring is a great time to update your summer reading lists! Check out our many booklist in the lobby this month and catch up on some great titles! Do you use hoopla for ebook, audiobook and streaming? Bonus borrows on hoopla are back for the month of May and do not count toward your monthly credit usage! Need help setting up hoopla or any of the library's digital services? We can help! For more information on any of DPL's digital resources, library services or general reference, 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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*Academic year commences the third week of August through graduation at UNH in May.
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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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1825-1894 - Mary P. Thompson was daughter of Ebenezer and Jane Demerritt. Educated in Durham and Derry Academies and Mount Holyoke College, she was teacher, author and traveler. Her Landmarks in Ancient Dover is a valuable resource volume for historians. DHA has made 2 reprints.
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From weather requiring the heat to weather requiring air conditioning … in the span of one day! Enjoy the 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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