Friday Updates - January 16, 2026

Friday, January 16, 2026

Courtesy, Internet

Mid-January always brings a noticeable shift in Durham as we settle into the new calendar year and prepare to welcome UNH students back to town. As campus and neighborhood activity ramps up, staff across Town departments are focused on keeping everyday services running smoothly during the heart of winter (despite the current January thaw!).

Up until this week, it’s been a busy stretch for our Public Works crews, who diligently monitor each storm, plowing and treating roads and sidewalks, and working to keep downtown and school routes as safe and passable as possible. 

This is a moment to pause and reflect as the community observes Martin Luther King, Jr. Civil Rights Day on Monday, and remembers his lifelong work for civil rights, justice, and nonviolent change. The Town Offices and Library will be closed on Monday, January 19, for Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday. There will be no change to trash pickup.

This week also marks the opening of the filing period for local elective offices, an important opportunity for residents to step forward and help shape Durham’s future. For details on which positions are available and how to file, please see the information included below in this week’s Friday Updates.

New Hampshire Public Radio covered the transporting of Christmas Trees last Saturday to Hickory Nut Farm. To read the NPR article, click HERE.

To read the Administrator's Year End Wrap-Up for 2025, please click HERE.

HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT PROPERTY ASSESSMENTS AND LOCAL TAXES?

Durham Assessor, Darcy Freer, and Town Clerk/Tax Collector, Rachel Deane have created information on the assessment/revaluation process and local taxes to help residents understand the process behind their tax bill.

To learn more about property taxes and the tax rate, click HERE.

To learn more about Assessments and what the Assessor does, click HERE. For a great YouTube video on this subject, click HERE.

To learn more about what Exemptions and Credits are available to residents/taxpayers in Durham, click HERE.

ELECTIVE POSITIONS OPEN FOR MARCH 10, 2026, DURHAM ELECTION - Filing period begins Wednesday, January 21, 2026

The 2025 Town Election will be held on Tuesday, March 10, 2026, at the Oyster River High School, Multipurpose Room, Coe Drive, Durham, N.H. The polling hours are 7:00 am - 7:00 pm. Candidates interested in running for Town office should file their declaration at the Durham Town Clerk-Tax Collector's Office starting on Wednesday, January 21, 2026, at 8:00 am, through Friday, January 30, 2026, until 5:00 pm.

• Three positions for Town Councilor (3-year term)
• One position for Town Councilor (2-year term)
• Two positions for Durham Public Library Board of Trustees (3-year terms)
• One position for Moderator (2-year term)
• One position for Supervisor of the Checklist (6-year term)
• One position for Town Clerk/Tax Collector (3-year term)
• One position for Town Treasurer (3-year term)
• One position for Trustee of the Trust Fund (3-year term) 

DURHAM’S UNUSUAL CHARTER FORM OF TOWN GOVERNMENT – Town Council/Town Manager

There are two basic forms of town government under New Hampshire law: (1) traditional, board of selectperson/town meeting form; and (2) town council/town manager form described in RSA Chapter 49-D. Each form has several variations.

The board of selectperson/town meeting is the traditional, "pure democracy" form of town government, where the voters themselves, acting at town meeting, are the legislative body of a community. Budgetary, legislative, and other questions are put before the voters in the form of warrant articles, the merits of which are debated, and then voted on at the meeting held on or around the 2nd Tuesday in March.

The selectboard acts as the governing body and carries out the decisions of the town meeting and manages the prudential affairs of the town over the course of the year including town property and municipal staff. The board of selectpersons sometimes creates “administrative assistant" or “town administrator” positions, which have only those powers specifically delegated to them by the selectboard, which can change from year to year as the selectboard changes. Madbury and Lee each have a town administrator, which fall into these categories. Alternatively, a town at the annual town meeting may adopt the provisions of RSA 37, establishing a statutory town manager position. The town manager is selected with special reference to education, training, and experience to perform the duties of the office, and without reference to political belief. When a town manager position is created, the management of town property and the hiring and firing of municipal staff is transferred from the selectpersons to the town manager. The selectboard, therefore, assumes a policy focus with the town manager carrying out the day-to-day responsibilities of managing the municipality.

The town council/town manager is the second form of town government (with a few possible variations) allowing a town to adopt a charter establishing a representative body - the town council - which has powers analogous to those of a city council. The charter must provide for the appointment of a town manager by the council, who shall have all the powers of town managers as set out in RSA Chapter 37 (the town manager may be referred to by a similar name - in Durham it is the “administrator”). The council may have as many as 15 members (!), and must have an odd number unless the vote of the chair is reserved for breaking ties. Durham’s town council, approved in 1988 at Town Meeting and put into effect in 1989, has 9 members, each with 3-year staggered terms. At the time, Durham wanted to ensure there were a large number of members sitting around the table in order to bring multiple perspectives to weighty issues facing the community such as adopting ordinances, zoning, the budget, bonding, etc.  

The adoption of a town council-town manager charter eliminates the traditional board of selectperson/town meeting form of government.

The town council functions as both the governing body and legislative body, as do city councils in cities. Where the town council is both the governing body and the legislative body, it generally has all the powers and duties of selectmen, city councils and boards of aldermen, and may address all matters that general law requires to be done at town meetings, all as provided by RSA 49-D:3, l(a). In Durham, the buck stops with the town council.

Durham's town council may both make local laws (called ordinances) and adopt a budget without further action of the town. The "administrator” develops and proposes an annual budget to the town council per the town charter. Only bond questions on a single issue with proposed debt in excess of $2.3 million must be approved by referendum. Referendum matters may also be brought to a vote of the town.  

The Town of Newmarket operates under a slight variation of the town council-town manager format. In Newmarket, the town council may adopt ordinances, but the budget still requires adoption by the community at a special annual budgetary town meeting.

The only other town in NH that operates exactly like Durham is Derry, NH. Durham and Derry are in essence the only two towns in NH that have the governmental structure of cities with a council/manager format.

View the Town of Durham's Charter HERE.

INTERESTED IN RUNNING FOR TOWN COUNCIL? - Here is what you need to know.

In order to run for the position of Town Councilor, you must:

• Be a registered voter in Durham, NH - Only registered voters of the Town are eligible to hold office.
• Candidates must meet New Hampshire voter registration requirements (U.S. citizenship and be at least 18 years old by election day).
• Meet the residency requirement - You must have been a resident of Durham for at least 90 days immediately preceding the election and remain a resident throughout your term. Moving out of Durham during your term makes you ineligible to continue serving.
• Not be a full-time or regular employee of the Town of Durham.
• There are no campaign finance restrictions or requirements.

Town Council elections are nonpartisan; party affiliation does not appear on the ballot. Newly elected Councilors take office on the Monday in March following the election. Council meetings are generally held the first and third Monday evenings of the month. Town Councilors have 3-year terms. For more information and to access a Declaration Form, please click HERE, or email kedwards@ci.durham.nh.us.

PLEASE NOTE: This year there is a Councilor opening for a 2-year term due to the unexpected death of Councilor Eric Lund. When filing your Declaration Form, please indicate whether you are running for a 3-year term Council position or the 2-year term Council position.

Although over the years the Town Council on several occasions has opted not to move forward with a change in parking rules to allow charging out-of-town residents at Wagon Hill Farm for parking, Administrator Selig has asked DPD to develop a new program concept around this idea, potentially utilizing our ParkMobile app. This approach would use modern technology to help the Town avoid the significant upfront cost of purchasing and installing two pay-and-display meters (a significant change from the last time discussed).

Mr. Selig’s sense is that implementing a reasonable parking fee for out-of-town visitors, together with the anticipated rental income from the farmhouse apartment tenant a little later this year once construction is complete, would provide the most viable options for revenue generation at the property over the near term. Over time, events held at the property (such as within the now sprinklered three-season barn) might also represent an additional potential income stream, as could some TBD charge for viewing envisioned historic display rooms within the Bickford-Chesley House. Note, alcohol is not allowed on Town property by local ordinance.

An ordinance change by the Town Council would be necessary to charge for parking at Wagon Hill Farm. Durham residents could utilize their resident/taxpayer vehicle stickers to park for free. 

Admin. Selig would bring the plan to the Land Stewardship Subcommittee to obtain feedback on the idea prior to bringing something to the Council.

Feedback to the Town Council can be provided at council@ci.durham.nh.us if readers have thoughts about such an approach.  

The Town of Durham and its project partners, including the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF), Strafford Regional Planning Commission, NHDES Coastal Program, ACOE, Great Bay Stewards, GBNERR, PREP and University of New Hampshire are pleased to announce that construction for the Wagon Hill Farm Phase 2 Living Shoreline Project is set to begin.

Following a productive site visit with the project contractor, T-Ford Construction, on January 14th, initial site preparations are scheduled to get underway.

This critical restoration project aims to enhance coastal resilience by:

• Stabilizing the seaward edge of 1,470 linear feet of existing tidal marsh.
• Stabilizing 365 linear feet of upland slope and rebuilding tidal marsh areas.
• Installing 1,185 linear feet of new walking trail, 1,800 feet of adjacent fencing, a trail bridge and observation decks.

The project is supported by a $1,994,539 grant from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) National Coastal Resilience Fund. Durham Public Work is working Streamworks to provide construction phase engineering, monitoring and inspection services.

Initial work consisting of tree clearing for equipment access and construction improvements is expected to begin in February. Tree removal is planned for a 2-4 week duration while the ground remains frozen. This timing is intentional to minimize soil disturbance and environmental impact within the regulatory permitted time frame.

Residents should anticipate daily trail closures in active work areas. These closures are necessary to ensure public safety while heavy equipment is operating and creating potentially hazardous conditions.

Once the winter tree work is complete, site activities will pause until spring. At that time, the shoreline restoration and stabilization portion of the project will commence.

The Town thanks residents for their patience as we work to protect and restore this vital community resource

The Town has issued a Notice of Award to SumCo Eco-Contracting, LLC for the Mill Pond Dam Removal and Oyster River Restoration Project in the amount of $3,142,193. This award initiates the formal contract award process. The Town and SumCo will be working to finalize the construction schedule. More information will be shared with the public well in advance of any construction activity. 

On October 6, 2025 the Town Council approved award of the construction contract for the Mill Pond Dam Removal and Oyster River Restoration to SumCo Eco-Contracting, LLC in the amount of $3,142,193 and Construction Phase Engineering Contract to VHB, Inc. in the amount of $394,950, subject to receiving remaining federal funding grant from NOAA, and/or subject to approval of an FY26 Capital Item in the amount of $900,000 (which was subsequently approved as part of the FY26 budget). A portion of funding is also allocated for required Section 106 mitigation costs and construction contingency, if required.

The Town received the Wetlands Permit from NHDES for this project on June 13, 2025. Construction bids were opened on June 20, 2025.

The project is funded through over $4 million in state and federal grants that the Town has sought and been awarded, including:

• $284,226 from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) via the NHDES Critical Flood Infrastructure Grant for design and permitting.
• $290,000 from NOAA’s Community-Based Restoration Program for fish passage design at the Oyster Reservoir Dam.
• $150,000 NHDES Watershed Assistance Grant for Construction.
• $100,000 USFWS Grant for Construction.
• The Town has received a partial NOAA grant installment of $1,924,701 from NOAA.
• The remaining grant installment of $1,322,500 is currently under a federal review process and NOAA grants management does not have a timeline of when the funding will be released. 

This restoration effort will improve fish passage, restore natural river functions, and address safety concerns. As part of compliance with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act, federal agencies and consulting parties have evaluated potential impacts on historic and archaeological resources. Mitigation measures have been developed to offset adverse effects and will be formalized in a Memorandum of Agreement (MOU). The MOU is under final review with the Army Corp of Engineers

The Implementation Start Date (i.e. removal of the dam and restoration of the river channel) is planned to begin in 2026. 

For more details about the overall project including the NHDES Wetlands Permit and Contract Documents can be seen HERE.

REGISTER TO VOTE BEFORE THE ORCSD DELIBERATIVE SESSION AND TOWN ELECTION

The Supervisors of the Checklist have scheduled a session for registration or changes to registration on Tuesday January 20, 2026, from 6:15 – 7:30 PM at the Durham Town Hall. A new checklist will be printed within a few days after that. 

This is the Checklist that will be used at the ORCSD Deliberative Session on Tuesday February 3, so be sure to register by January 20 if you wish to have a vote at that meeting. Durham residents may NOT register at the Deliberative Session, and you MUST be registered in order to vote that night. The current checklist is updated up until November 13, 2025. There is a copy of this checklist in the Clerk’s office and in the foyer of the Town Hall, or you can check app.sos.nh.gov/voterinformation.

You may also register to vote any time before or after January 20 in the Town Clerk’s office whenever they are open until about 10 days before the March 10 Town/School Election. There will also be at least one more Supervisor Session before that date.

Applicants for registration must bring with them proofs of identity, age (18 by the next election), U.S. citizenship, and domicile (in Durham). Affidavits are no longer accepted. The list of proofs currently accepted, especially for domicile, is rather complicated. A NH Driver’s License or Non-Driver’s License with your local address is the easiest thing to bring for identification, age, and proof of domicile in Durham. However, it does not prove citizenship, even if it is a Real ID, so you must bring another document for that.  Passport, birth certificate with your current name, or naturalization papers are the best proofs for citizenship. However, if you have voted before in New Hampshire, that will suffice as long as your name can be found on the Statewide Voter Checklist. If you are unsure of what paperwork is necessary and what will be accepted, please call the Clerk’s office at 603-868-5577 or check the Secretary of State’s website https://app.sos.nh.gov/voterinformation and click on the link ‘Registering to Vote in New Hampshire.’

Melting snow this week on the Oyster River. Courtesy, Lori Mendelsohn

PLANNING BOARD VOTES TO INTIATE A ZONING AMENDMENT ON BUILDING HEIGHT DOWNTOWN

On Wednesday, the Planning Board voted to initiate a zoning amendment addressing building height in the Central Business-1 District. There has been much discussion by the Planning Board, the Town Council, and the public about an amendment first proposed by the former Housing Task Force to increase building heights in the Central Business-1 District) to enhance development for the purposes of adding housing and bringing more business downtown.

The Central Business-1 District encompasses the core downtown in a triangle framed by Main Street, Madbury Road, and Garrison Avenue plus the handful of lots located on the southerly side of Main Street, above Mill Plaza. There is a lower height limit in the easterly section of the Central Business-1 based on the perception that this area is more visually sensitive. The discussions have been focused on whether the easterly and westerly sections should have different height limits; whether the limits should be three, four, or five stories; whether a fifth story should be allowed by conditional use (a zoning tool that gives the Planning Board discretion in reviewing applications); whether there should be design requirements pertaining to the fourth story in the easterly section in addition to the requirements contained in the Architectural Regulations; and what the building height should be.  

What might seem to be a simple issue is actually quite complicated. While strong opinions have been expressed from two general points of view (that assertive restrictions are needed to protect downtown character vs. that restrictions should be contained in order to attract development) with another view that bolder and more creative action is needed to strengthen the downtown and that changing height limits will not make any real difference. You can watch the lively public hearing on Wednesday HERE, starting at 22 – ½ minutes. 

There are now three possible amendments before the Town Council: a) the amendment initiated by the Planning Board seen HERE, b) an amendment proposed by the Town Council earlier seen HERE, and c) the original amendment proposed by the task force seen HERE.

[Note, a question came in late-today to the Administrator's Office asking for clarification on the complicated Council discussion from late-fall 2025 that lead to b) and c) above, and this will be researched next week.]

PLANNING BOARD MEETING INFORMATION FOR JANUARY 28

At the Planning Board meeting of January 28, there will be a public hearing on zoning amendments that are necessitated by recent state legislation, a discussion about amendments proposed by the Housing Task Force (now sunsetted) to expand residential development in the town, and continued discussion (time permitting) of a proposal from the Durham Energy Committee to add provisions for electric vehicle charging stations in the site plan regulations. To see the preliminary agenda for the meeting, click HERE.

HOW SIGNIFICANT WAS DURHAM’S ROLE IN THE START OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTIONARY WAR?

Please join the Durham Historic Association on Saturday, January 24th at 2pm in the Town Council Chambers to find out! Thomas F. Kehr, Revolutionary War historian will present his latest research into the local events that precipitated the start of the American Revolution shedding new light on past scholarship.

Thomas Kehr is the former president, historian and member of the New Hampshire Society of the Sons of the American Revolution. Through his efforts in 2000, the National Society, Sons of the American Revolution officially recognized participation in the raids on Fort William and Mary as American Revolutionary War service. Mr. Kehr achieved his J.D. from Rutgers University School of Law and his BA in History from the University of New Hampshire. He actively engages in research, writing and lecturing on New Hampshire during the early Revolution. He is also known for his first-person portrayals of John Langdon, appointed ‘Agent of Maine’ on the Piscataqua by the Continental Congress, and later Senator and Governor of New Hampshire. This presentation promises to be a fascinating look at what really happened and who the players were.

This lecture is the first in a series of presentations by the Durham Historic Association recognizing the 250th Anniversary of the American Revolution.

The Integrated Waste Management Advisory Committee often gets questions about what to do with shredded paper. With tax season approaching, the group thought it would be timely to share the information and options we know of when disposing of or repurposing shredded paper.

Can I recycle shredded paper?

Shredded paper cannot be recycled and must go in your garbage bin, unless you choose to use it in other ways (see the link below).

Why can’t I recycle my shredded paper?

Once shredded paper arrives at the recycling center, it either ends up floating all over the place like confetti or, if it gets wet, it turns into pulp. Either way it isn’t captured for recycling. 

What about Shred Days?

Service Credit Union, Piscataqua Savings Bank and other local organizations offer free community shred days for secure document destruction, allowing residents to bring personal papers to mobile shred trucks to different locations.

Scheduled 2026 Seacoast Shredding Events

• Newington, NH: Saturday, April 4, 2026, from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM at the Walmart Parking Lot (2200 Woodbury Ave).
• Hampton, NH: Saturday, June 6, 2026, from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM at Service Credit Union (887 Lafayette Road).
• Newington, NH (Fall Event): Saturday, September 12, 2026, from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM at the Walmart Parking Lot (2200 Woodbury Ave).
• Portsmouth, NH: Piscataqua Savings Bank typically hosts an annual Shred Day in the spring (often April or May). 

**NOTE: Be sure to call and confirm these events when the dates get closer.

What are other options for shredded paper?

Shredded paper is compostable as long as it's not colored or glossy. If you are adding a lot of shredded paper to your home compost pile, add some grass to lower the carbon-to-nitrogen ratio.

**NOTE: Home compost pile only - Mr. Fox does NOT accept shredded paper for composting.

There are also many options to repurpose your shredded paper. Check out the link HERE to learn more. Instead of shredding, use a sharpie to black out the sensitive information on your paperwork. Once this is done, the paper can be recycled.

Brought to you by the IWMAC Committee 

Questions about recycling or composting? Email us at: DurhamRecycles603@gmail.com

Check us out on Instagram: sustainable.durham.nh

Not sure if an item can be recycled? Check here: www.Recyclesmartma.org

Want to learn more about the Swap Shop? Click HER

Durham is home to countless wetlands, including highly productive salt marshes, seasonally wet vernal pools, and ecologically important freshwater wetlands. 

Wetlands provide essential benefits including flood control, water purification, groundwater recharge, shoreline stabilization, erosion control, recreation, protection from storm surge, and habitat for fish and other wildlife. These systems face several major threats: development within and near wetlands, contaminated runoff, the spread of invasive species, and sea level rise.

Protecting wetlands involves maintaining adjacent natural vegetation, controlling the spread of invasive plants, providing room for marsh migration inland, and avoiding disturbance within buffers. Wetlands are protected under state and federal laws. Adjacent buffers (with a few exceptions) are protected only under local ordinances.

Individual wetlands must be delineated on site by a certified wetland scientist who examines three things: hydrology, soils, and vegetation. Thus, the map above shows only very approximate locations of likely wetlands.

Want to help the Durham Conservation Commission and Land Stewardship Subcommittee in a fun way? 

Get started with A Community for Naturalists · iNaturalist (link HERE), and join a worldwide community of almost 4 million observers. To date, over 291 million observations have been uploaded to the database, and 31,000 of them were made in Durham alone.

All you need is a smartphone or camera and you can start contributing to our Town's wildlife and plants database.

Check out the "Durham Biodiversity Project" page HERE.

On Tuesday, February 3, at 6:30 p.m. at the Durham Public Library, Ranjit Bawa will give a presentation on an overview of non-native woody trees and shrubs present in New Hampshire, and in the northeastern US more broadly; including identified species, predictors of growth, and management strategies for control. A notable portion of the talk will be devoted to considering the economic estimates of eradication and mitigation of spread. 

Ranjit Bawa is an assistant professor in Natural Resources and the Environment at UNH. He holds a Ph.D. In Forestry from the University of Georgia. His background is in applied natural resource economics, with a focus on valuing ecosystem services, much of which involves examining ecological-economic trade offs associated with land-use change. 

This program is sponsored by the Durham Conservation Commission and the Land Stewardship Subcommittee.

Save the Date! – Saturday, March 14, from 10:00 a.m. - noon in the Town Council Chambers of the Town Hall, the Durham Agricultural Commission and UNH Cooperative Extension will be hosting a free workshop on Raising Chickens in Your Backyard for any residents interested in starting and maintaining a healthy flock.

EPA FEDERAL DISCHARGE PERMIT UPDATE FOR WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT

On November 3, 2025, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a new National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) General Permit to New Hampshire Medium Wastewater Treatment Facilities -- including Durham!

Unlike an individual permit tailored specifically to the UNH/Durham plant, this is a "blanket permit" that applies a uniform set of stringent requirements to approximately 21 "medium-sized" wastewater facilities across the state (those with a flow between 1 and 5 million gallons per day). This new permit is scheduled to take effect on April 1, 2026.

The new permit introduces more stringent requirements for all facilities and has the potential to increase both operational and capital costs for the eligible facilities.

The permit mandates new monitoring for various pollutants, including PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) and Adsorbable Organic Fluorine (AOF). This increased frequency and complexity of testing is expected to raise UNH/Durham’s annual laboratory expenses upwards of $30,000 annually.

The permit also establishes new, highly stringent effluent limits for copper (5.7 µg/L monthly average and 8.8 µg/L daily maximum). Historic data suggests the Durham facility’s current treatment processes may not be able to consistently meet these levels, potentially requiring a substantial capital investment in new treatment technology or outfall modifications.

While the permit provides a two-year compliance schedule to meet these new copper requirements, the Town and University (which shares in the operational and capital cost of running the plant) anticipate that meeting these levels within such a short timeframe is likely not achievable. Engineering, design, and construction of the necessary upgrades alone would typically take much longer than 24 months. As a result, the treatment plant may face a period of non-compliance, which could lead to an Administrative Order on Consent (AOC) with the EPA. An AOC is a negotiated road map which would establish an alternative schedule for the Town to achieve compliance, potentially offering more flexibility and time to implement the most cost-effective and technically sound long-term solutions, while avoiding costly litigation.

The Town and University are currently evaluating all available legal and administrative options to mitigate the impact on our customers. To view the entire permit and additional infor-mation, along with comments provided by all communities impacted by this permit, please click HERE.

The Town of Durham and University of New Hampshire remain committed to environmental protection and will continue to update the community as we work toward a solution that balances regulatory compliance with fiscal responsibility.

Durham Fire Department members recently completed a 35-hour confined space rescue technician program with Capital Technical Rescue and Safety Consultants.

The training was designed to meet the needs of the emergency response team to include fire department staffing, equipment, and typical incident responses. Training curriculum was conducted in accordance with National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) standards 1670 and 1006.

Confined Space Rescue Technician training topics included: hazards, lockout/tagout, personal protective equipment, entry, basic ropes & rigging, air monitoring/ventilation, supplied air respirators/self-contained breathing apparatus, patient packaging, retrieval methods for horizontal and vertical spaces, retrieval systems, incident command/risk assessment, and communications.

The Fire Department extends their appreciation to the following partners for their assistance in making this training possible: Durham Wastewater Treatment Facility, Durham Public Works, UNH Athletics and Whittemore Center, and UNH Department of Earth Sciences at Morse Hall.

On Tuesday, January 20 and Friday, January 30, from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm, there are police trainings schedule to be held at the New England Center, located at 15 Strafford Avenue. The trainings will involve the New Hampshire State Police K9s and their Special Response Teams and will focus on odor detection and active threat response. There will be several police cruisers parked in the area during the training hours. There will also be highly visible police training signs posted at the location.

CIRCLE DANCES RETURN FOR 2026!

Come learn dances from a multi-cultural folk dance background, accessible to many ages, body types and experience levels. Steps taught at all dance sessions. No experience or partner needed. Cost: sliding scale of $5-25. For more info email: dance@livinglandpermaculture.com

Dates:

Fridays: January 23, February 27, March 27, April 24 & May 22, 6:00-7:30pm, at the Community Church of Durham, 17 Main St, Durham NH 03825.

Saturdays: February 14 & March 14, 2-4:00pm, at the Community Church of Durham, 17 Main St, Durham NH 03825.

ARA SPONSORING A FREE VIRTUAL PRESENTATION ON THE WORK OF FORENSIC ANTHROPOLOGY IDENTIFICATION AND RECOVERY

The Active Retirement Association (ARA) invites you to a FREE VIRTUAL presentation via Zoom by Amy Michael, PhD, Biological Anthropologist and Director of the Forensic Anthropology Identification and Recovery (FAIR) Lab at UNH. Learn how Professor Michael’s training in bioarchaeology and her fieldwork in the United States, Belize, and Albania inform search and recovery methods in northern New England for solving challenging cold cases.

The presentation will take place on Monday, February 2, 2026, 2:00 – 3:30 PM. This FREE virtual meeting via Zoom is open to the public; however, registration for non-ARA members is required at seacoastara@gmail.com in order to receive the meeting link.

The ARA is an organization for people ages 50 and over, whether retired or not. Originally begun by and affiliated with UNH, it has over 350 members from New Hampshire, Maine, Massachusetts, and beyond. The ARA is committed to expanding the world of its members by offering lectures, workshops, discussion groups, films, cultural tours, walks/hikes, on-demand member interest groups, and much more. For more information visit www.aranh.org or to inquire about membership write to arainfo1982@gmail.com.

The Active Retirement Association, a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, is not affiliated with any political, religious, ethnic, or special interest group.

OYSTER RIVER SCHOOL NEWS

Scheduled January School Closures

January 19: Martin Luther King, Jr., Civil Rights Day

January 26: Teacher Workshop Day

Tax Impact Information for Elementary Project

Tax impact information is now available regarding the proposed capital plan for Mast Way and Moharimet elementary schools. Tax impact by town based on a 3.44% interest rate, the projected increase per $1,000 of assessed value is:

Year 1

Durham: $0.06

Lee: $0.11

Madbury: $0.07

Year 2

Durham: $0.31

Lee: $0.59

Madbury: $0.37

Year 1 reflects interest-only payments, while Year 2 includes both principal and interest, which is why the second year shows a higher impact. 

Frequently asked questions are answered on our FAQ webpage HERE.

Tours & Listening Sessions: We invite you to attend one of our upcoming school tours and listening sessions to see firsthand the facility challenges we're addressing. Tour schedule and registration information are available on the district's Elementary Project webpage HERE.

2026-2027 Kindergarten Registration

Kindergarten registration for the 2026-2027 school year will open on January 27. Our in-person registration schedule, registration packet, and requirements are available on our Kindergarten Registration webpage HERE. 

2026 School Board Openings and Warrant Deadline

Individuals wishing to file for a school district opening must do so between Wednesday, 1/21/26, and up until 5:00 p.m. on Friday, 1/30/26: one moderator position (1-year term) and two At-Large School Board members for the ensuing three years. There is no filing fee to register for placement on the ballot. Contact School District Clerk Susan Caswell at 603-550-2592 to set up a time to file, or Wendy DiFruscio at the SAU 603-389-3286 to make an appointment.

Coming Events 

Please consider supporting Oyster River students and staff by attending the following exciting events in our schools! Our full calendar of events is available online.

January 12: ORMS/ORHS Jazz Bands and Guitar Ensemble Concert 6:00-7:30 p.m., Morse Recital Hall at Oyster River Middle School (1 Coe Dr, Durham, NH 03824)

ORMS Drama Performances (Newsies)

All performances are in the Auditorium at Oyster River High School (55 Coe Dr, Durham, NH 03824)

o       January 16, 7:00-3:30p.m.

o       January 17, 2:00-4:40 p.m.

o       January 17, 7:00-8:30p.m.

o       January 18, 2:00-3:30 p.m.

January 20: ORMS 5th Grade Concert 6:00-7:30 p.m., Morse Recital Hall at Oyster River Middle School (1 Coe Dr, Durham, NH 03824)

January 29: Moharimet 3rd Grade World Music Concert 6:30-7:30 p.m. Morse Recital Hall at Oyster River Middle School (1 Coe Dr, Durham, NH 03824)

January 29: ORHS Coffee House 6:00-8:00 p.m., MPR at Oyster River High School (55 Coe Dr, Durham, NH 03824). Coffee House celebrates the quarterly launch of the award-winning student publication Mouth of the River. The $5 admission can be purchased at the door and is one of MOR's primary fundraising sources. Food and drink are included with admission.

February 2: ORHS Blood Drive 9:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Multipurpose Room at Oyster River High School (55 Coe Dr, Durham, NH 03824)

February 7: ORHS Spring Festival Community Day 10:30 a.m.-2:00 p.m. At Oyster River Middle School (1 Coe Dr, Durham, NH 03824)