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DURHAM'S 2022 TOP DOG WINNER IS HUNTER MCCLUSKEY
Hunter is a 6 year old, Lab-mix, rescue. His favorite activities include hiking and swimming. You can find Hunter on most days laying in the sun in his front yard. Hunter and the McCluskey family will be presented with a gift basket at the Town Council Meeting on Monday, May 16, 2022.
The Top Dog raffle was created to motivate and remind dog owners to license their pets every year by April 30, as state law requires. Residents were automatically registered for the Top Dog raffle if they obtained a dog license before April 30.
The raffle may be over for this year, but it’s not too late to license your dog! Please visit the town clerk’s office or click Online Dog License Renewal to renew your dog’s license online.
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The Town Council meetings in May will be held on Monday, May 9th and Monday, May 16th.
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Community members should be aware that Main Street, from Edgewood Road to Garrison Avenue will be SHUT DOWN on Saturday, May 7, 2022, from 11 AM to 6 PM for UNH Unity Day. This is an annual event for the University and will feature events taking place on the front lawn of T-Hall, H-Lot, and the surrounding areas in and around those locations.
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The Planning Board has a busy agenda for next Wednesday, May 11. The board is finalizing its review of the Mill Plaza project and continuing its review and public hearings for the proposed parking lot at 19 Main Street (on Church Hill) and the proposed new mixed-use building at 74 Main Street (at the juncture with Pettee Brook Lane). View the agenda HERE.
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And ... Sunday is Mother's Day! :)
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TOWN COUNCIL GOALS DEVELOPMENT UNDER WAY FOR 2022/2023 - Check out the latest draft to be discussed Monday evening, 5/9.
At the Town Council meeting on Monday evening, May 9th, 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 comments and suggestions submitted by Councilors and Administrator Selig HERE.
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Bobcat in Durham! Courtesy Dan Keefe
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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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ORHS PRESENTS YOU'RE A GOOD MAN CHARLIE BROWN, May 5 and 6 at 7:00 pm and Saturday May 8 at 2:00 pm or 7:00 PM in the ORHS auditorium. Tickets are available online (https://www.showtix4u.com/events/orhs) or at the door.
If you’re looking for a good local activity for the entire family tonight or tomorrow, Charlie Brown may just be your man!
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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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DID YOU KNOW? - How do you find out what's really recyclable?
As Durham residents, we have a very helpful tool available to us whenever we’re unsure of whether or not an item is recyclable. Whenever you have a question, use the search engine on this website to find out how to most efficiently dispose of an item.
http://www.recyclesmartma.org/
In addition, you can always email us at:
Durhamrecycles603@gmail.com
with questions about composting or recycling. We are here to help!
Brought to you by the Integrated Waste Management Committee
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Watercolor of Durham Public Library. Courtesy Ellie Lonske
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ICONS OF DURHAM POSTER NOW AVAILABLE AT TOWN CLERK'S OFFICE – IMAGE #2 - The Durham Public Library on Madbury Road.
The beautiful poster “Icons of Durham” created by Ellie Lonske is now available. You can acquire the poster (in a rolled tube) 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 we are including a rendering of one image with a brief description, starting at the upper left of the poster and moving across the rows. Here is image #2, the Durham Public Library. Our wonderful library has 35,580 physical items in the collection and offers a multitude of informational, entertainment, and cultural resources in various formats.
The Town’s original collection was stored in the basement of the Dimond Library, built in 1958, in the center of the UNH campus. A temporary new space was created in a storefront at Mill Plaza with a dedication ceremony on July 21, 1997 with Governor Jeanne Shaheen as the keynote speaker. The Library Friends, Board of Trustees, and other champions of the library worked together to establish a new stand-alone library for the community. The current 10,500 square-foot building was completed in July 2013. The structure, incorporating a portion of an existing brick single-family house, is noted for its energy efficiency, durability, easy maintenance, and environmental sensitivity, not to mention the building’s beauty.
The Durham Public Library strives to be a place of creativity and innovation that supports literacy and growth both inside and outside the four walls of the building. Come by to see what this outstanding facility has to offer.
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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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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.
Tuesday, May 10th at 3:00PM – Human Rights Commission
Thursday, May 12th at 8:30AM – Land Stewardship Subcommittee
Wednesday, May 18th at 8:00AM – Integrated Waste Management Advisory Committee
Monday, May 23rd at 7:00PM – Conservation Commission
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DURHAM IS CONSIDERING MAKING GREENER ENERGY THE DEFAULT ELECTRICAL SOURCE FOR THE COMMUNITY AS PART OF COMMUNITY POWER AGGREGATION OF NH EFFORT - Learn more at an upcoming web presentation on May 9th.
The New Hampshire Network is a statewide organization dedicated to “Linking citizens statewide to share information and implement actions for a sustainable New Hampshire”. This organization will hold a web-based presentation entitled “COMMUNITY POWER: Get some for your town!”, to be held May 9 from 5:30 to 6:30 PM. The presentation will provide information on how to proceed with achieving community power, including what options are available, where a community can find assistance in working toward community power, where regulations currently stand with the NH Public Utilities Commission, and other items. Among the presenters will be Henry Herndon and Lisa Sweet of CPC-NH, who attended our recent Durham Earth Day Commemoration.
To register for this event, go to: https://www.newhampshirenetwork.org/events
Durham is considering Community Power. This presentation is important for Durham’s residents to become better informed about Community Power, as well as how the Granite State will acknowledge and adapt to the impacts of climate change. We hope you take the time to watch this presentation!
NH Network: environment, energy, climate https://www.newhampshirenetwork.org/
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NATIONAL ELECTRIC VEHICLE (EV) INFRASTRUCTURE PROGRAM – Durham & UNH worked together and submitted a list of potential sites for potential future investment
The University and Town have coordinated with the Strafford Regional Planning Commission in creating a priority list of sites for public EV charging infrastructure installation (or expansion) in Durham. See the list by clicking HERE.
The list represents a summary of our progress and conceptual plans to date.
All of the sites are located on either town or UNH owned properties.
These high demand sites are within approximately 1 mile of US 4 - which is a major east-west corridor and < .5mi from NH 155/155A and NH108.
UNH and Durham look forward to NHDOT and NHDES development of programmatic and application rules.
A thank you is extended to Steve Pesci, the Durham Energy Committee, and SRPC.
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l-r: Jim Brown, Brendan O’Sullivan, Kelley Fowler, and Aimee Rouillard-Routhier
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DURHAM FIRE DEPARTMENT MEMBERS ATTENDED 2022 ESO WAVE TRAINING LAST WEEK
Fire Marshal Brendan O’Sullivan, Captain Jim Brown, Administrative Assistant Kelley Fowler, and Secretary Aimee Rouillard-Routhier recently attended ESO Solutions training in Austin, TX on the Fire Department’s Records Management System (RMS). The training included topics such as fire incidents and activities, properties and inspections, asset management and inventory, community risk reduction, National Fire Incident Reporting System (NFIRS), and scheduling. The attendees reported that the sessions were invaluable for team members in learning the best practices to collect and utilize data as well as learning the full capabilities of the platform.
This training supports the FY 2022 department goal to continue to develop the department’s RMS. The department switched to the ESO software platform last year when it was learned that the support of the previously utilized RMS platform was being discontinued.
The department wishes to extend their appreciation to the community for their ongoing support of training which allows the department to improve the health and safety of firefighters and the community through the power of data.
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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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NEXT DURHAM HOUSING TASK FORCE MEETING IS MONDAY, MAY 9th
The Durham Housing Task Force is meeting this Monday, May 9, at 10:00 am in Council Chambers. The agenda may be viewed HERE. The task force will get an update from Nick Taylor, Director of the Seacoast Workforce Housing Coalition (and an advisor to the task force) about various activities in the state house related to housing; discuss public works issues related to housing with Public Works Director Rich Reine; and continue its work examining potential changes in the Durham Zoning Ordinance to foster more housing opportunities.
The mission of the Durham Housing Task Force is to identify, analyze, and advocate for a balanced and diverse supply of housing that meets the economic, social, and physical needs of the Durham community and its residents in order to maintain a vibrant community. View more information HERE.
The Task Force meets on the second Monday of each month at 10:00 am. If you are interested in serving on this committee please contact the Town Planner at mbehrendt@ci.durham.nh.us
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JOIN THE TOWN AND NATURE GROUPIE TO HELP PULL GARLIC MUSTARD IN DURHAM ON TUESDAY, MAY 10TH, 5 - 6:30 PM!
We’ll be working to remove invasive garlic mustard from the Mill Rd., Stevens Woods, and Milne Nature Sanctuary areas, a great after work opportunity! Please see the below link for more information, and if you can make it, please sign up directly with Tom Brightman at tbrightman@ci.durham.nh.us to save online sign up spaces!
https://naturegroupie.org/experiences/durham-garlic-mustard-pulling-party-0
Read more about garlic mustard HERE.
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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.
The position of the painted sharrow and direction of the “arrows” indicate the position of travel and suggested lane position for the 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.
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OYSTER RIVER SCHOOL BOARD HIGHLIGHTS FOR MAY 4, 2022
This week is Teacher Appreciation Week! Thank you to all who teach our students in Oyster River! And thanks to the PTO leaders and volunteers who went the extra mile to show appreciation this week!
The School Board and Superintendent commended the work of Oyster River school nurses throughout the pandemic. While all school staff have gone above and beyond, school nurses worked tirelessly to ensure they stayed current on (often conflicting) state and federal guidance and worked to apply best practices when working with each student, family, and staff member. This outstanding group of dedicated professionals continues to provide excellent service to the Oyster River school community.
School Start and End times for the 2022-2023 school year were approved by the School Board and will be slightly different than this year. For 2022-2023, the elementary academic day will be 9:15-3:25. The middle and high school academic day will be 8:15-3:00.
The new Oyster River Middle School continues to receive attention and accolades from outside Oyster River. After Sen. Hassan and Rep. Pappas visited on April 20, ORMS has also hosted the New Hampshire School Business Administrators and the NH Seacoast School Superintendents. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen was expected to visit on May 6. On May 12, the New Hampshire state Board of Education will meet in the ORMS recital hall. Visitors for the NH BOE meeting will enter and exit through the recital hall doors and be separated from students and staff except for guided tours.
Assistant Superintendent Suzanne Filippone discussed Competency-Based-Learning and Communicating Student Learning with the school board for over an hour. Elementary and Middle schools will be reviewing the structure and content of report cards and academic progress are shared with students and families, with improvements expected for the fall 2022 semester. No changes to the ORHS grading system are currently being proposed, and any change to grading systems would require approval by the School Board.
The finalists for the position of ORCSD DEIJ Coordinator will each spend one day in Oyster River schools next week visiting schools and meeting with students, staff, and administrators. Members of the community can meet finalists in the ORMS learning commons from 5:45-6:30 on Monday and Wednesday May 9 and 11.
There is no school for students in Oyster River on May 27 and May 30 due to a teacher workshop and Memorial Day.
ORCSD School Board meeting materials are posted online at https://www.orcsd.org/school_board/agendas_and_minutes with links to videos when available. The best way to directly contact the entire school board is to email orcsdsb@orcsd.org or individual school board members.
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Wood duck couple at pond adjacent to the Ray LaRoche, Jr. Transfer Station. Courtesy Bernie Casey
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DURHAM POLICE COLLECT 41 POUNDS OF UNUSED AND UNWANTED PRESCRIPTION DRUGS AS PART OF NATIONAL PRESCRIPTION DRUG TAKE BACK DAY...
This week Durham Police officers transferred 41 pounds and four boxes of unused and unwanted prescription drugs to the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) as part of National Prescription Drug Take Back day. The Durham Police Department maintains a drug take back box twenty four hours a day, seven days a week, in the lobby of the police station. The drugs transferred to the DEA this week have been collected since October of 2021. New Hampshire law enforcement collected a total of 11,811 pounds of prescription drugs during this round of the Take Back Day, which occurs twice a year. The significance of this quantity of prescription drugs being properly disposed of is important – it means they are not falling into the hands of those with substance abuse issues or children, and that they are not going into our ground water systems and polluting the environment.
If you have any prescription drugs that you wish to dispose of, you can do so at any time by coming to the police station lobby. No needles, syringes, inhalers, or aerosol devices are accepted. You should remove prescription labels with personal identification information. If the lobby of the police station is closed, you can utilize the call button outside of the front door to summons an officer who will assist you. Thank you all for your participation in this program and for successfully and properly disposing these medications.
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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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UNH CAMPUS RECREATION SUMMER EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES
The UNH Campus Recreation is accepting applications for a few job openings for the upcoming summer listed below.
Applications are available for download HERE. Applicants 16-17 years of age must meet all youth employment permissions for the state of New Hampshire.
Summer Lifeguard, minimum age 16, $14/hr., Lifeguard certification class (click HERE).
Summer Swim Instructor, minimum age 16, $13-$22.00/hr. Hiring for group ($13/hr) & Private Swim Instructors ($20/hr).
Camp Wildcat Counselor, minimum age 17, $13/hr.
Sailing Junior Instructors, minimum age 16, $10/hr.
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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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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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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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Details will be updated HERE by Friday, April 22.
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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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HERRING AID IS BACK! Saturday, May 10, 2022
After two years without our annual river herring celebration due to Covid concerns, Herring Aid will return this spring when the river herring head back from the ocean to their birth places upstream to spawn the next generation. The event will be held from 10AM to 12 Noon at the Macallen Dam, Newmarket, NH.
As usual, visitors can witness first-hand the great annual migration of the river herring, ask the biologists all those fishy questions, handle the fish, and maybe, just maybe, be daring enough to hold a sea lamprey.
While enjoying a nice day beside the river, visitors can see recently-completed engineered improvements at Macallen Dam, such as the new flood gate, reinforced sidewalls on the south bank, and a spruced-up yard at the NH Fish and Game staging area.
This event is free and will occur rain or shine.
Free parking is available along Route 108 and behind the Newmarket Public Library. Follow the fish signs to the top of the fish ladder.
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SCRAP METAL RECYCLING - A reminder to residents from DPW.
A Reminder From Durham Public Works - Durham Public Works would like to remind residents that items disposed of in the scrap metal pile at the Raymond A. LaRoche, Sr. Transfer Station and Recycling Center must be free of all fluids, i.e. petroleum products used in internal combustion engines. The Transfer Station accepts used oil year-round and gasoline/diesel/kerosene may be disposed of at the Durham Public Works Facility on Household Hazardous Waste Day in October.
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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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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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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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Mallard ducks on the pond adjacent to the Ray LaRoche, Jr. Transfer Station. Courtesy Bernie Casey.
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LEE WELL STRUCTURAL IMPROVEMENTS UNDER WAY - The well will be off line for about a month during this period.
The Durham Public Works continues to progress on a major rehabilitation of the Lee Well and the Pump House Facility. Over the last week, Water Division staff working with Weston and Sampson Engineers field crews began work on a full redevelopment of the well. This included the removal and replacement of all pumping equipment as well as chemical treatments to break down and dissolve mineral deposits within the well casing and screen structures to reestablish well pumping and specific capacity. This process included obtaining a Temporary Groundwater Discharge Permit from the NHDES Drinking and Groundwater Bureau. Additionally, DPW’s roofing contractor, Southers Construction completed a full renovation of the roof structure, soffit vents, trim, and gable siding. A portion of this funding for this project was obtained through the American Rescue Plan Act’s Infrastructure Bill.
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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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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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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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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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This May at Durham Public Library!
Visit our Kindness Rock Garden outside at the library! Our STEAM Saturdays Drop-In Program is back 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 Windsocks and cards for Mom! As always, weekday Storytimes and Baby Lapsit are open for registration each week until May 19th! Next week's theme is Dinosaurs! Visit our website today and stay tuned for information about this year's summer reading program coming soon!
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! Meditative Yoga with JiongJiong Hu will continue through next Tuesday, May 9th, before we take a program spring break. Participants of all levels are welcome to join us for the last class of this session! 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 will open soon for this and all other summer reading programs!
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 - Gen. Lafayette came to town on his tour of the state. He was met at the town line at Lee and escorted to the Town Hall. Bills for his entertainment included "2.00 for making cartridges for cannon" and for "spirits, Vituals etc. for from 150 to 200 for $150.00 to Benjamin Kelly, Dr."
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Have a good weekend and a Happy Mother's 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
Everyone can tackle climate change. How can you reduce your carbon footprint?
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